Episode 2: Part 1 Hinterland

Like your own company, do you?

Don't you?

I was born here. I haven't got a choice.

-We've all got a choice, Delme.

-Right.

Good.

Oh, arrived at the farm.

-It's for you.

-Thanks.

PHONE RINGS

POLICE RADIO

Call came this morning, sir. Didn't leave a name. Said there was something here we should see.

-Did we get the caller's number?

-Pay as you go, sir. Untraceable. Male caller.

-Victim's name?

-Idris Williams.

-Victim's car?

-I believe so.

-Find out when it was last driven.

-Yes, sir.

CAMERA SHUTTER

Trauma to the back the head.

Single blow.

Time of death?

Working on it.

NEEDLE ON RECORD PLAYER

TENOR SINGS OPERA

It's like stepping back in time.

Cameras. I don't see any cameras.

Stolen?

Idris Williams. 69 years old.

Lives alone. No wife. No children.

What's the latest on the car?

Regularly taxed and serviced until six years ago.

Hasn't been driven since.

So how does he get about?

He doesn't. Idris doesn't go out into the real world.

The world comes to him.

-Sir?

-Nearest shop? Four miles away, you say?

-Pont Erwyd, sir.

-That's too far to walk.

There was food in the freezer. Find out who does deliveries.

-What about neighbours?

-Closest farm is two miles away, sir.

Talk to them. See what they know.

Let's get the name and addresses of every farm hand

and mechanic that's ever worked on that mountain.

It may be a ghost town now but go back ten years,

Parc y Boda was a fully functioning farm.

Get on to local pawn brokers. And see if anyone's been trying to off-load camera gear.

-You think it might have been a robbery?

-It's a line of inquiry.

-No sign of forced entry. Suggests the victim knows his killer.

-Or he doesn't lock the door.

The man liked to take pictures. Thousands of them. Trees.

Rivers. Mountains. Look at them. What's missing?

Faces.

Hundreds of images. And not one single face.

The man likes his own company.

He must have shared these pictures with somebody.

Let's find out who else gets to see these photographs.

Maybe he didn't want anybody else to see them.

They look pretty depressing to me.

What's this place?

That could be anywhere.

Old wrecks like that are ten-a-penny round here, sir.

Moving out?

The world's gone digital - haven't you heard?

Is that your father's name above the door?

Who's asking?

I'm here about an old customer of his. Idris Williams.

Lived up on the mountain.

Something happened?

We found his body this morning.

It looks like Mr Williams was murdered.

I thought perhaps your father might remember him. Is he about?

Dad passed away nine years ago.

I'm sorry. What about you?

Do you know the man I'm talking about?

Sorry, I don't remember him.

He used to shop here.

Him and half of Aberystwyth.

Well, if you do remember anything. Give me a call.

It's a nice shop.

Did you know him?

I went up to the farm a couple of times in my vet training days

to see how things were done.

-And since then?

-Not really my patch.

The vet's name was Vaughan. Thomas Vaughan.

Do you remember where this Thomas Vaughan was based?

He had a practice over Tregaron way, I think.

Used to come over in his Triumph.

What are you doing?

Phoning the office. We need to talk to him.

You'll have to dig him up first.

Old Vaughan's been dead 30 years.

It was an odd thing, you know.

When he died there were three or four of us in the running to take over.

Old Caradog Williams, Idris's father, had over 300 acres up there.

Dairy herd, sheep, it was quite an operation.

He'd have been one hell of a client.

-I take it you didn't get the call?

-Nobody did.

Caradog Williams passed away shortly after

and over a period of 12 months, Idris sold the herd,

got shot of all the machinery, and shut the whole place down.

The Williams place hasn't been farmed in decades.

MATHIAS: 'What sort of a man does that?'

'A man who's had enough.'

Enough of what? Running a farm?

He wouldn't be the first.

'No, I don't buy it.'

Why didn't he just get somebody in to run the farm for him?

Perhaps he preferred to be alone, didn't like people,

found it hard to form relationships?

-'Or maybe he was making a statement.'

-Such as?

Erasing the past, his father's legacy.

'Leaving it all to rot.'

'A statement? For whose benefit? You saw the photos.'

The only person in Idris's world was Idris.

'No, there was somebody else, we just haven't found them yet.'

Talk later.

Results from pathology. Time of death - Monday pm.

THUMP

OWL HOOTS

DOOR CREAKS

That's right. Williams, Idris Williams.

His father's name was Caradog.

Look at the date. It was taken a week ago.

-You think this is the killer?

-Or the last person to see Idris alive.

-Sir?

-Yeah.

-According to the Land Registry,

the farm never belonged to Idris.

In October 1982, ownership of the farm was transferred.

-Transferred? To who?

-The Guild, sir.

DCI Mathias?

Herbert Rees, Master of the Guild.

-RADIO:

-His body was discovered at the farm after police received

an anonymous call. Police are keen to identify the caller...

Under the terms of the agreement, Idris was made, what they call,

-a non-paying tenant.

-A tenant on his own farm?

From a legal standpoint, yes.

But in practical terms, as long as Idris remained

living on the mountain, he was free to do as he pleased with the estate.

It was his home after all.

-Must be an expensive place to run.

-We manage.

My apologies for the mess. We're in the middle of renovations.

Here we are.

Caradog Williams?

Master of the Guild from 1958 until his death in 1982.

-The man was greatly admired.

-Is that right?

His civic record speaks for itself.

And what about his record as a father?

The relationship between Caradog and his son was complicated.

How?

Idris's mother died when he was very young.

Brain haemorrhage. Sudden.

Rumour has it he had a breakdown. The boy was never the same again.

-And their relationship afterwards?

-Caradog had a farm to run.

Idris was never going to be strong enough to take over the business.

-But Idris stayed there his whole life.

-Yes.

He ran the accounts until his father's death.

And after that?

There was nothing to account for.

You must have known Idris. Had dealings with him. How did you find him?

Cordial. Quiet.

You didn't sense any bitterness in the man? Any anger?

Not that I recall. Why?

You don't think it was a cruel of Caradog,

to deny his own son his inheritance like that?

As far as I know, Idris was happy with the arrangement.

The man had no children. This way he got to live on the mountain

without any concern for the future. Security.

-Isn't that what everybody wants?

-That depends on the price.

Where were you on Monday afternoon and evening, Mr Rees?

-I was in court in the afternoon and here in the evening.

-Alone?

No. With the other members.

First Monday of the month. A little ritual of ours.

Parc y Boda. Idris's farm, right?

-Yes, it's the only farm for miles around.

-Ah.

Well, what's this over here?

-Tramp?

-Maybe.

Talygroes has been empty for the last 40 years.

The man who used to live there was called Eric Roberts. Died 1974.

After he died, ownership of the farm was passed to his neighbour.

-Caradog Williams.

-Yes.

Sir! Cambria Meat Supplies. They've got a driver, Dylan Bevan.

-Delivers meat to the farm once a month.

-Last delivery?

Monday. Hasn't been seen since.

Drives a blue Fiat. Registration N186 JRK.

-Any sign of it?

-No, usually parked out front.

We're trying to trace it now.

Clear!

-Sian!

-Sir?

-There's a photograph of a little girl in uniform. Find out who she is.

Sir!

I'll call forensics.

Sian, we've found the victim's cameras.

Little girl's name is Ffion. She's a pupil in Maes-y-Dderwen.

-The mother's name is Ceri Jones.

-Clean?

Police were called out at Christmas. Domestic. She moved out after that.

-We got an address?

-Yep.

-Good work.

-Thank you, sir.

Ceri Jones?

Do you mind if we come in?

Yeah, I know the place.

We used to go up there sometimes.

-What about Mr Williams? Did you ever meet him?

-Once.

Me and Dyl had a row and he drove off.

Used to do it all the time.

Thought it was funny.

The, erm, the old man saw me crying

and came out into the field, and gave me a glass of water.

How did you find him?

He seemed kind of sad to me.

Living up there on his own, I'm not surprised.

What about Dylan? Did he ever talk about him?

Not really. Didn't have much to do with him.

-You don't know of any issues between them?

-No.

Ffion...

Don't worry, Ffion. She won't bite.

How often does Dylan see Ffion?

-Is that your decision or his?

-Does it make a difference?

Doesn't a man have a right to see his daughter?

Is this Dylan?

It could be anyone.

You recognise the farm?

-Yeah, I know it.

-When you and Dylan went up there?

The place gave me the creeps.

What about Dylan? Did it give him the creeps?

Why don't you ask him?

I know what happened over Christmas, Ceri.

-I should never have called the police.

-No, you were scared. You were right to call.

No. I was tired.

Tired of all the promises, tired of all the drinking.

Does Dylan smoke?

I mean what brand?

Whatever he can get his hands on.

You're not in any kind of trouble, you know that, don't you?

I'm just trying to work out what kind of man he is.

'Cruelty to animals. Could suggest psychotic tendencies.'

Didn't you pull the wings off butterflies when you were a kid?

No, I didn't actually.

'Oh.'

That was the lab, sir.

There's a film in one of the cameras we found at the scene.

It's been exposed to the light. They're doing what they can.

-'I'm on my way back.'

-OK.

-This doesn't make any bloody sense.

-What doesn't?

-Talygroes.

This is the land boundary in 1971,

three years before Eric Roberts died,

the last time Talygroes was listed.

Now look at the boundary here in 1948.

-They're different.

-I know, sir, but there's more.

1956.

1962.

1967.

Talygroes gets smaller and smaller every time.

So Roberts is winding it down.

-Selling it off piece by piece.

-That's what I thought but...

These are the accounts of Caradog Williams's place.

Look at them.

No record of any payments to his neighbour. Nothing.

Why would Roberts do that? Hand his land over like that for no money?

Exactly.

Maybe the farm was too much for him.

He had nobody else to leave it to, no kids.

No. No, no, there were children at Talygroes.

There were notches cut into the doorframe. Find out what happened to them.

Caradog Williams?

I thought perhaps you knew him, sir?

Now why would you think that? Never met the man.

What about his son, Idris Williams? Did you know him?

-No-one did.

-Herbert Rees did.

Herbert Rees has an alibi.

What's the latest on Bevan? You think he's left town?

Traffic are still trying to trace his car, sir.

-You think he might strike again?

-We're doing everything we can.

-KNOCK ON DOOR

-Sir?

There were two children in Talygroes, a boy and a girl.

The youngest, Aneirin, left Aber in the late '60s,

moved up north, Bethesda way. Died 2008.

The older girl, Enid, never married.

-She was still living at Talygroes with her father when he died.

-And after that?

When Caradog took over the land, she was moved off the mountain,

put in a house on the old road to Borth.

Enid Roberts. Find out what she knows.

-Shouldn't we be concentrating on Bevan?

-Sian can handle Bevan.

These maps, right, they're 70 years old, where are you going with this?

Idris took photos of landscapes.

-Apart from the ruin at Talygroes.

-So?

Someone had his photograph taken up there. Who is he?

-Why didn't he want anyone else to see him?

-Have you run this past Prosser?

Do I have to?

Idris Williams may have withdrawn from the world but it doesn't mean he's lost interest in it.

He may be an old recluse to everyone else, but he's not to me.

Photo from the victim's camera, sir.

When was it taken?

Three weeks ago.

-You were up at the farm?

-Yes.

Is that the last time you saw Idris Williams?

When did you last see him, Nia?

Monday.

What time?

-Late afternoon. Four? Five?

-How long were you up there?

Not long. Minutes. He... He was different. Agitated.

He wouldn't let me into the house. He told me I should go.

-You think there was somebody there with him?

-Yeah.

-Did you see anybody?

-No.

A car parked in the yard? A delivery van?

Does the name Dylan Bevan mean anything to you?

-He delivers meat to the farm.

-I don't know him.

When I asked you yesterday if you knew Idris Williams, you told me no.

But you've just told us you were up at the farm.

Why didn't you tell us this yesterday?

-I didn't want anyone to know I'd been up there.

-Why not?

Were you having an affair with Idris Williams?

-It's more complicated than that.

-Go on.

We had something for a couple of years,

and I called it off a year ago when my husband found out.

You promised your husband that it was over?

You promised him that you wouldn't go up there again.

But you did.

Did you still have feelings for Idris?

Did Idris still have feelings for you?

I think the person who took this picture loved you very much.

-'You mustn't tell my husband.'

-Why not?'

I've let him down before. I can't do it to him again.

Where were you Monday night? After you left the farm?

-Home.

-Alone?

-Yes.

-I'm going to have to speak with your husband.

-You already have.

It's Herbert Rees. You met him at the Guild.

Do you think she's telling the truth?

I know the difference between grief and guilt.

Herbert Rees.

His wife was having an affair with Idris Williams.

Alibi checked out, sir. There were nine of them at the Guild.

All of them willing to testify. You want to bring him in, sir?

No. No, he's a solicitor. He'd be all over us.

Find out what you can.

Phone records, business interests, associates. Everything.

They've found Bevan's van, sir. Off Bridge Street.

He's still in Aber.

KNOCK ON DOOR

KNOCK ON DOOR

TENSE SLOW BEAT

Mathias.

Is Daddy still in the house with you now?

He's in the kitchen with Mammy.

'OK, just do as I say, all right. Stay where you are. It's very important.'

Don't go into the kitchen.

BANGING AND SCREAMS

-He's hurting her.

-I'm on my way, Ffion. Just stay where you are.

Keep her talking.

We need back up now. And get an ambulance up there!

Ffion?

Ffion?

Ceri?

Dylan?

'Did it make you feel good? Knocking her about like that?

'Did it make you feel like a man?'

And killing Idris Williams. Did it make you feel like a man too?

-I didn't kill him.

-So what happened then, Dylan?

I went up there like I always do.

Put the meat in the freezer. Picked up my money...

The door was open. There was nobody about.

Had you been in the house before?

But you knew the old man took pictures. You knew he had cameras in the house.

-And you took them.

-You don't know what it's like.

My little girl means everything to me and I got nothing to give her.

And you decided to help yourself?

She deserves the best.

He was on the floor

'in the kitchen.

'I didn't see him at first.'

Pushed open the door and...

There was nothing I could do.

The back of his head was all messed up.

There was blood...

'You didn't try and help him?'

The man was dead.

I got back in the van. I left.

It was only when I got back to Aber I realised I still had the cameras.

But you knew we'd be looking for you.

If you are so innocent, why did you go to Ceri's?

-Why not come straight to me?

-I needed to talk to her.

-To shut her up?

-To stop her feeding you lies.

Like the fact you beat the crap out of her at Christmas? Those lies?

You've seen my record. GBH, ABH.

A few words from her, and it's over for me.

Tonight, why didn't you run?

To prove to her that I didn't do it.

I didn't kill the old man! He was already dead!

I called the police. What more could I do?

The anonymous call, sir.

I couldn't get it out of my head.

The old man...

..lying there.

-An opportunist?

-Yes.

But his fingerprints were everywhere.

Everywhere except the kitchen, sir.

He's the last person I'd put on my Christmas list, sir,

but we've checked his mobile phone records.

He definitely made the call.

So we release him?

No, we eliminate him from our enquiry.

But we charge him under section 47 for assault.

Where next?

I've got an address for Enid Roberts.

An old people's home on the front.

I'll get onto it first thing in the morning. Good night.

We try and encourage them to eat together.

Gets them out of their rooms for a bit, breaks up the day.

But not Enid?

Enid likes to keep herself to herself.

Any particular reason?

Early stages dementia. She has good days and bad days.

But we do what we can.

Miss Roberts?

Idris Williams.

MATHIAS: 'Tell me everything you know about Talygroes.'

I can't help you, I'm afraid.

Really?

A man called Eric Roberts used to live there.

Next to Idris Williams' place.

Before my time.

That's a pity. See, I've been trying to work out

why Mr Roberts handed over his land to our friend in the frame there.

I can't help you with that. Like I said...

Before your time.

Must be worth quite a bit, the Caradog estate.

Hard to say.

At least now that his son's dead you'll get to cash in.

I take it the Guild has plans?

-Oh, we haven't really thought about it.

-No?

Hardly seemed appropriate while the man was still living there.

Of course.

Must have been galling for you,

watching Idris idle away the years on that mountain.

And then to find out he was screwing your wife.

Still, the man took a lovely photo.

I haven't got time for this.

I've have more important things to do with my morning.

More important than murder?

I think you've known for weeks about the affair.

-The fact it was still going on.

-No comment.

She was up there three weeks ago posing for photographs.

Maybe you went up there to get something signed,

-saw her car in the yard?

-No comment.

The moment you found out about it, that's when it became personal.

All those years of not being able to get your hands on Idris' land,

all those years of waiting while the Guild fell into ruin.

Was that a question?

No comment.

I didn't kill Idris Williams.

As I've already told you, I was at the Guild.

-Let him go.

-Sir?

The man has an alibi. We have no reason to hold him.

-Direct motive.

-We've got to do better than that.

He knows more than he's letting on.

Something happened on that mountain. More than just murder.

People don't hand over their land like that for no reason.

Tom, the history of what happened up there is long gone.

Eric Roberts, Caradog Williams...

The people with the answers are dead.

You need to concentrate on the case. Stop chasing ghosts, Tom!

It's the last one on the end.

Thank you, Carol.

Carol!

-She's gone.

-Shit.

Enid!

I should've stopped him.

I should've stopped him.

I'll call an ambulance.

I should've stopped him.

DCI Mathias?

-Somebody should be here when she wakes up.

-I'll stay.

RINGING TONE

'Hello, it's Meg, leave a message.'

I know you're there, Meg. Pick up the phone, please.

PHONE RINGS Meg?

What is it, Lloyd?

He's letting him go.

'Have you been through all the documents?'

Still going through them now, sir.

Yeah, well, keep going. Rees is involved somehow. He has to be.

-The man has too much to gain.

-I'll keep looking, sir.

-What else do we know about Talygroes?

-Sir?

The same day she finds out about Idris Williams' murder,

Enid Roberts tries to kill herself.

It's too much of a coincidence.

Something about Idris' murder upset her.

Took her back to a place, a time.

"I should have stopped him. I should have stopped him."

Who was she talking about?

-Look at the date.

-1943.

The middle of the Second World War. You don't think that's odd?

I guess it explains why the man couldn't visit.

You think Enid and her German pen-friend here had a child together?

-How else do you explain it?

-She'd be 17.

It happens.

Lloyd, when was the first land transfer between

Talygroes and the Williams' place?

48, sir.

I'll get a copy and put it back where I found it

before she wakes up.

HE BLOWS A SINGLE NOTE

Sir.

Provisional Planning Application for Parc y Boda, the Williams Place.

They want to build 60 turbines, sir.

Bottom of page eight - look who's behind it.

Herbert Rees.

Herbert?

DOOR BANGS

Herbert!

BANGING AND MUFFLED SHOUTING

-What is it?

-Herbert Rees has been kidnapped.

HE GASPS AND STUTTERS

The place is in arrears, two renovation companies waiting to be paid,

one of them threatening legal action.

Idris Williams is dead. Herbert Rees is missing.

And what do I see? My top man chasing after the bloody Luftwaffe.

MACHINES BEEP

Shit!