The Rising of the Moon The Mrs Bradley Mysteries

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WHIP CRACKS

EXTENDED DRUMROLL

The greatest knife-thrower in all the land!

Ladies and gentlemen, please show your appreciation for Castries.

And next, Little Bernard will be eating...fire!

Ladies and gentlemen, Little Bernard!

MUFFLED VOICES, HORSE NEIGHS

Aggh!

CORK POPS

-When do you think they'll play a proper tune?

-It's innovative, George.

Oh, innovative, right.

Thank you.

Oh!

I can't make up my mind whether he looks vaguely fascinating or fascinatingly vague.

-I think you're about to find out.

-PHONE RINGS

-Hello?

-'Mrs Bradley.'

-Inspector Christmas here.

-Inspector who?

-Henry Christmas.

-'We've met before.'

-Ah, yes.

-'I'm not interrupting anything, am I?'

-Not at all.

I've been acquainting myself with a book of yours - an intriguing read.

Wait till my memoirs are published.

I was drawn to - "To understand the psychology of the outcast,

"one must ask, has he or she rejected the norms of society or simply challenged them?" Unusual theory.

'That's why I decided to call you.'

-I find myself in an interesting predicament.

-What makes it so interesting?

-I'm in Little Fordham. A young woman was murdered here tonight.

-And?

'The murder took place at a circus.'

Very gruesome. The victim, a foreigner, belonged to the show.

I'd have the case solved by now if the other travellers had co-operated.

-The phrase "blood out of a stone" springs to mind.

-Why should they talk to me?

Facts are my forte. Psychology and the criminal mind is yours.

-'And your powers of persuasion.'

-Almost on a par with yours.

-Have I managed to spark the flames of your curiosity?

-I'm positively aglow.

Can I get the bill, madam?

# You're the cream in my coffee You're the salt in my stew

# You would always be my necessity I'd be lost without you

# You're the starch in my collar You're the lace in my shoe

# You would always be my necessity I'd be lost without you

# Most men tell love tales Find each tale dovetails

# You know each known way This way is my own way

# You're the sail in my love boat... #

The quintessential English village - not the first place one associates with murder, but consider...

once the peas have been picked, the preserves preserved,

what else is there to do but die of boredom...or kill to avoid it?

Circuses don't appeal to me. Clowns give me the creeps.

-The less said about magicians, the better.

-What's wrong with them?

-I was once badly scarred by audience participation.

-Really? In what way?

-I'd rather not go into it, madam.

-Circus performers fascinate me.

-The art of illusion, deception.

-It's more practice than art.

I bought this to prove it.

Now, pick a card... and don't tell me what it is.

Queen of diamonds.

More practice, perhaps.

-Glad you could help, Mrs Bradley. We haven't moved the body. You'll want to see it?

-Of course.

-This way.

-Passing the time, Mr Mooney?

-Moody.

Yes, circus performers are. Amuse yourself. No idea how long we'll be.

Someone has obviously decided to give the audience a grand finale.

No murder weapon, no fingerprints. Likely motive, robbery. Her purse was stolen with the night's takings.

From these wounds, I'd say the attack was hurried, spontaneous.

-Not enough bruising for a major struggle.

-A tiny nick on the neck.

-Not a wound one associates with an attack of this nature.

-She was the target in a knife-throwing act.

-Nicked in a performance.

-If there was a struggle,

there'd be nasty scratches.

Rather an ironic death, since she was so adept at dealing with knives.

-The cuts run left to right, so the killer was probably right-handed.

-I found this where she was nicked.

-A scarf?

-Part of her costume.

-So we're missing a scarf, her purse

-and the murder weapon.

-But to find them, we'll have to get by the travellers. I'll need your help.

An eavesdropper never hears anything good about themselves, Mr...?

Oh, Moody. George.

They've got more important things to talk about.

Oh, poor George(!) Feeling left out?

This must all have come as a bit of a shock for you.

-How very observant.

-You probably knew the dead girl quite well.

Tell me, what is a chauffeur doing asking questions about a murder?

-Would you rather Mrs Bradley talked to you?

-I'd rather nobody did.

Although, I must admit, I quite like a man in uniform.

-SHE LAUGHS

-Don't worry, George, I'm not going to devour you.

I don't eat meat.

What about the knife-thrower? Was he close to Coralie?

Tut-tut! George! Curiosity killed the cat.

I've never been over-fond of cats.

-We're not over-fond of people poking their noses in where they're not wanted.

-Just making conversation.

-Do you ever take that off?

-It's my own hair.

-I suppose they're your own feet.

-Would you recommend this?

-I recommend you stay away from us...

or there could be two dead bodies.

One murder investigation is enough.

To find Coralie's murderer, we'll need your co-operation.

Without it, I'll have to take you in for questioning. It's up to you.

As I said before, Inspector, you won't find the murderer among us.

I suggest you look elsewhere.

-Obstructing justice is against the law.

-Laws made for you, not us.

I won't give you another warning. SHE WHISPERS TO HIM

George...I need your body.

-I hope this works.

-I hope so too.

But it's the best way I can think of gaining their trust.

I can't do it!

Not without her.

Much obliged, madam.

-Bravo, George.

-Well, there's no point doing these things half-cock.

They'll be more co-operative now.

-We're looking for Little Bernard.

-You found him.

What do you know about Coralie Dubois' background?

Only that she came over from France years ago. Paris, I think.

She kept her affairs to herself.

Including her affair with Mr Castries?

You'd have to talk to him about that.

She wasn't the only one.

I see an older woman in your life.

Really?

Millionairess?

Then another gentleman appears. >

He may have designs on this lady for whom you have...a certain fondness.

Maybe you can tell me about Coralie.

The crystal isn't so clear now.

I warned the poor girl to take care.

The crystal told me she KNEW the one that took her life.

-Were they close to her?

-Possibly.

To find the killer, do not look under one stone.

But, beware...

..when the moon rises, the killer will strike once more.

-I'm not going on without her.

-I could take her place.

No-one can ever take her place.

We'd like to talk to you and Mr Castries, madam.

See the others first, huh? He's too upset to talk at the moment.

Such scratches indicate a passionate relationship,

which is why my late husband's body was totally unscathed.

Castries lost more than just a partner in his act.

-Madame Marlene seems keen to take her place.

-He doesn't like the idea.

-She's dangerous with that whip.

-Don't policemen like corrective discipline?

-There are exceptions.

It's a crime passionnel. The lovers argue. The knife-thrower lashes out.

The real truth lies with Coralie Dubois.

What brought her to England? Was she always a traveller?

I'd like to think her epitaph would be more than just "murder victim".

Who knew her best? We were closest to her.

She always made a fuss of Daisy. She gave her this. It's from Paris.

< Everyone here thought the world of her.

What about Madame Marlene? Could she have resented Coralie?

This is in confidence.

She didn't care for her much, no.

She's got a soft spot for Castries.

He's always been her favourite... despite his temper.

"Despite his temper." A lovers' tiff with Castries killing his paramour.

We haven't talked to the clown or Castries himself.

-I'll leave that to you while I search his caravan.

-Fine.

# From there down, there's too much feet

# Yes, your feet's too big... #

-How long have you been with the show, Mr Burlington?

-20 years.

Before that, I was at my father's troupe and WE were the best around.

-My grandfather worked with Miss Kitty Linzie's educated Mexican donkeys.

-Why did you leave?

I was in a double act and I lost my partner.

Did she, um...disappear?

She found someone else - a tumbler called Ted.

I told her she was too good for him, but you know how women are.

With your experience, you must have the respect of the other artistes.

I did, when I was the main attraction before Castries turned up.

-Madame Marlene IS protective towards him.

-Besotted with him, more like.

I knew it was a mistake letting a woman run the show.

-Castries makes the most of it.

-He hasn't the temperament.

-In what way?

-He's always flying off the handle, throwing tantrums.

HE BEEPS THE HOOTER

Usual, please, Ruby.

I'm surprised you haven't sorted our pest problem out yet.

Pests? The freaks in that show. Have you seen it?

Not my cup of tea. You didn't miss much.

I'm telling you, they give me the creeps.

Tell them to leave. You had trouble with them?

You could say that.

You're on the council, John. There must be something you can do.

Out of my hands, I'm afraid.

The next one's on the house... IF you manage to get rid of them.

You know how to persuade a man, don't you, Ruby?

Her past - Coralie ever talk about it?

All I know is that she was from France and she had Romany blood. She was born under the stars.

-Did you two row last night?

-Bit of a barney. Something and nothing.

-We never got the chance to make it up.

-So you were still upset with each other during the act?

-She wasn't her usual self.

-Oh?

She seemed...tense. It wasn't like her.

Whether we'd had a row or not, she was always really calm.

But not last night.

She started to become edgy.

-It put me off.

-That would account for the, um...small cut to her neck.

I must have lost my concentration for a second.

-I think we have our murderer.

-A rather obvious hiding place.

-Can't have had much time.

-Are you taking him in?

-I have no choice.

Would you hold this?

Why do men think women are impressed by a combination of brains and brawn?

It wasn't me!

They're right, of course.

Well, we're quite a team, aren't we?

-You can be the cream in my coffee any day.

-Why, thank you, Inspector!

-Let's hope we work together in the future, Mrs Bradley.

-I can't wait.

Mooney.

It's obviously been one of them. Worse than vermin!

I didn't do it! I didn't do it!

He would say that.

I'm telling ya, it wasn't me!

I didn't do it!

-Are you all right?

-I'll live.

Councillor John Forrester. Best if we move these travellers on, for their own safety.

They'll be leaving tomorrow now the suspect's been arrested.

Not a moment too soon. ..Come on, boys.

It was easier to solve than you thought, madam.

The evidence was there, pure and simple.

As Oscar Wilde wrote, "The truth is rarely pure and never simple."

-You think the Inspector could be wrong?

-Well...

-Hmm?

He could've killed her in the act and made it look like an accident.

-The evidence was in an obvious place.

-Exactly.

If Castries didn't do it, who would kill Coralie in such a vicious way?

Whoever it was, he must have a sick mind.

Or SHE might have.

We will remember her with love and affection,

but take some comfort from the fact

that she is now with the Lord.

Forever in our hearts and in our prayers, we will remember her.

It's like a pauper's funeral. So much for being equal in the eyes of the Lord.

Some of us are obviously less equal than others, madam.

-If the Inspector's wrong, who else had a motive to kill Coralie?

-Madame Marlene.

But she wouldn't put the evidence in his caravan.

Castries would be locked up.

-Which one of them tried to incriminate him?

-If ANY of them.

We questioned the obvious suspects, the outcasts.

Let's take a look at the more respectable locals instead.

Celestine Venus did say we should look under more than one stone.

-Oh, yes, and beware the rising of the moon.

-Which gives us 13 hours.

In that case, one stone we should be looking under is the Red Lion pub.

Is that really necessary?

It is if I don't want my takings down. We don't want no riffraff here.

It's bad for business. This is a respectable, friendly place.

So I see.

-What can I get you?

-Nothing, thank you. We're helping the police with their enquiries.

Bit late for that, isn't it? They've got the murderer.

-Nothing but trouble, them.

-Not a fan of the travelling show?

Why'd I wanna see a load of freaks?

-You weren't at the show on the night of the murder?

-No. I was working.

Now, if you don't mind, I've got customers to serve.

-She's lying. Yesterday she said she was at the show.

-See those nails?

Coralie might not have been the only one who had a fling with Castries.

-Some extra-curricular congress? Bit of how's-your-father, madam?

-Mm.

-She's a hard-boiled customer. We should let her stew, then grill her later.

-Good idea.

I'm going to find out just how far Castries spread his charms in the village.

See you on the green.

-May I look around?

-Help yourself.

What an extraordinary weapon!

Have you had it long?

As long as I can remember.

-I feel safer having it here, what with this terrible murder.

-Mmm.

Particularly with all these strangers around.

And that's just what these travellers are - strange.

It's a shame, ruining the peace of your beautiful village.

We're not used to such things in Little Fordham.

-At least they've got the killer now.

-Did he ever come into your shop?

No...but SHE did.

The dead girl. I kept a close eye on her.

Well, you can't be too careful, can you?

More evil in her than in a witch, I shouldn't wonder.

Casting her spells on innocent folk like us.

They're all the same!

Young, pretty...

Excuse me.

I've got something on the stove.

A cauldron, perhaps?

Dare you. Someone might see.

HE CLUCKS LIKE A CHICKEN

-Can I help you, lads?

-We were only looking, mister.

-We've never seen a real Rolls-Royce.

-I think you'd better come with me.

It's just like gliding over ice.

Wait till we tell Dad and Mrs Cockerton about this!

I saw your dad. Did he take you to the travelling show?

No, he says we're too young.

Will you come back to mine for some of Mrs Cockerton's barn loaf?

Can't pass up an offer like that.

-Guess what card I've got.

-Ten of clubs.

Yes!

How did you do that?

Mind power.

Make yourself scarce. Make it worth my while.

-Make it worth your while?

-Am I interrupting something?

-Him.

I was enquiring as to when the show was moving on. We don't want a repeat of yesterday's hostilities.

This used to be a peaceful village.

Being a councillor doesn't mean you can order us about. I've worked with Barnham, you know.

I wonder if he was violent with him as well.

Do you always greet people in such a cordial fashion?

This is for protection if you must know. You can't trust these people.

-I don't know what you're snooping about for. They've caught the murderer.

-Tying up loose ends.

Murder is no business for women. You should be at home, not throwing yourself under horses.

Given the choice of staying at home with a man like that, or throwing oneself under a horse,

I know which I would choose.

-Would you show us how to do some card tricks, Mr Moody?

-Maybe later.

-Have another slice, George.

-No, really.

Go on. You could do with a bit of fattening up.

Thank you.

-Is there a Mrs George to look after you?

-No, I'm not married.

-I'm divorced, actually.

-Really?

It's not easy being by yourself, is it?

I know I've found it a struggle since my poor Ernest died during the war.

Was he killed in action?

No, he choked to death...

..on a slice of Madeira.

-Can we go and sit in the Rolls again, please?

-Aye, go on, then.

-Hooray!

Don't go breaking anything.

Sorry.

Go on.

-Just one more.

-Really, I couldn't.

-I'm not interrupting?

-This is Mrs Cockerton.

We've already met.

Where's Peter and Frances' mother?

Passed on, poor soul.

John does his best for them, but it's not easy.

It would take someone very special to replace his wife.

A few have tried to coax him into marriage. Silly, young articles. DOOR OPENS

-These two claim they had permission to sit in your Rolls. I hope they've not been any trouble.

-None at all.

We drove right round the village.

Hope he didn't charge you. Might not afford the bill.

-Have to come out of your pocket money.

-I starched all your shirts.

There's vanilla fancies for after tea.

Not for me, Mrs Cockerton. I've got to be in the Red Lion later.

No, I haven't forgotten our bike ride. Bike RACE.

No prizes for guessing who comes last.

-I think you've made some friends there.

-They're nice lads.

-Can't be easy, not having a mother.

-No. Something strike you as odd?

-Mrs Cockerton?

-Apart from her. What was missing from the photographs?

-There weren't any of their mother.

-Mm. Too painful a reminder, perhaps.

-For Mr Forrester or Mrs Cockerton?

-Why would it be painful for her?

She'd do anything to keep women away from John Forrester - even to the point of murder.

Can't you lot read?

Go on. Out!

These people are friends of mine. I'd like to buy them a drink.

And have one yourself.

I'll have a large rum, ta.

Oi, dragon breath. Watch it!

-Why'd you call him that?

-He's a fire-eater, isn't he?

-I thought you said you hadn't seen the show?

-Someone must have told me.

I'm a Burlington.

-How much of the show did you see the night of the murder?

-I told you, I didn't see it.

Why do you keep going on about it?

The killer's inside and he ain't coming out.

They'll do more than that if he's found guilty. They'll hang him.

It's possible that someone is withholding evidence.

-It might save him.

-Terrible to have that on your conscience, especially if you knew him well.

-Quite.

That someone may be unaware that withholding evidence is an offence.

-Three years in jail.

-Minimum. ..Can I get you another drink?

Yeah, that'll be nice.

-Top of the bill.

-Top of the bill.

Ha!

You kill me, Archie. You really do.

Now I come to think of it, I did go to the show that night.

If I tell you, I don't want it getting out round here, right?

I've my reputation to consider.

We must leave before it's too late.

Take great care. He's out there somewhere.

I'll come with you, just in case.

Can we go, Tom? >

Come on, then.

I'd been entertaining that Castries the first night the show came here.

He said he'd see me the next night, but when I got there, he said he couldn't see me.

Didn't want to upset his lady friend.

He's got more nerve than I thought - showing his face in here.

I'll be with you in a minute, John.

< No-one gives me the rub-off.

I gave Castries a piece of my mind. Then we heard a scream.

-Did you see anyone run away?

-No.

I know he's a rat, but I wouldn't want him to hang for something he didn't do. I'll take that rum, ta.

So, Inspector Christmas was wrong.

Castries can't be the murderer.

GLASS SMASHES

Someone's in a hurry.

Certainly got a temper on him. You saw what he was like with me earlier today.

-Whatever he's up to, he doesn't seem to want us around, does he?

-Come on.

Before we lose him.

I know we like to think he's a great magician, but he can't disappear.

I didn't do it.

Course you didn't, Archie.

-Give me the razor, Archie.

-I didn't do it.

Give George the razor, Archie.

-I've got officers looking for Archie Burlington. He won't get far.

-Specially with feet that size.

-Has Castries been released?

-Yes, but the natives aren't exactly friendly.

I'll keep him at the station. He can thank you for avoiding the hangman.

Good job I got you on the case.

-What made you suspect Archie Burlington of being the killer?

-I didn't and I'm not convinced he is.

-Despite standing over the body with his own knife?

-Rather too obvious.

The attack on Madame Marlene was far more frenzied than that on Coralie Dubois.

The killer intended to kill.

-The second murder was planned?

-Precisely.

-It would be a ridiculous plan to kill, knowing he was being followed.

-Maybe he wasn't a great planner.

-Why'd he want to kill her?

-He didn't take her purse.

You may have interrupted him. We know he hated women. That's a motive.

Archie's misogyny is obvious,

whereas an attack of this nature is far more motivated by an internal anger -

an anger usually kept under control, unless the man or the woman feels threatened.

-The threat - women, in this case - has to be removed.

-Exactly.

-So, if he feels threatened again, he could kill again?

-Very likely.

To understand this second murder, we must look at the first victim.

Why kill Coralie Dubois?

If it wasn't simply because she was a woman, what was the reason?

Unless your doubts are vindicated, I think we should stick to the facts.

The suspect, found with his own knife in his hand, is now on the run.

Show time.

The next man who tries his forearm skills will spend a night at the station.

Until we find the killer, go home and lock your doors.

It should never have come to this. You should have moved them on when I asked you to.

As I just said, Mr Forrester, go back home for your own safety.

-Not much we can do until they've caught Archie.

-I suppose not.

Go to the car. I'll follow later.

You're not convinced by the Inspector's version?

No, but I AM convinced that someone wants us to believe that Archie was the murderer.

Can we get some sweets?

It's not safe out there. We'll run all the way.

Oh, go on, then, but come straight home.

Go out the back way. I've locked the front.

Drive. >

Where did you find that?

You should know you can't keep anything from me, John.

Don't try any funny business.

I think that's your job.

Now you've run away from the circus, what'll you do?

I'll find something.

Hard to find a job when you're on the run.

I wouldn't like to be in your shoes. No offence.

If you gave yourself up, things would be easier.

-Maybe it wasn't such a crime after all.

-I wouldn't count on a judge agreeing with you.

I suppose I should have just told the truth from the start.

So, what is the truth?

You SHOULD have told us this from the start.

May I come in for a moment?

Yes, of course.

I didn't realise it was half-day closing.

-Was there something in particular you wanted?

-Not really. I just wanted to have a final look round.

This is pretty.

It's French, isn't it?

Yes, I believe so. Excuse me. I've got to see to something in the back.

Ou sont les garcons?

-What?

-I'm sorry. I just assumed you spoke French.

-Where are the boys?

-They've gone to the shop to get some sweets.

BUBBLING WATER

Where are the boys?

I told you, they've gone out. You can't take them.

-They're staying with me.

-I'm not going to take them.

-You love them very much, don't you?

-They're my whole life.

And you'd do anything to keep them?

-Well, that's natural, isn't it?

-Yes.

Took a while to see the connection between the past and the present.

Couldn't see the wood for the trees.

You probably met Coralie in France and you took the name of Forrester

as an echo of her name, Dubois - "of the woods" - when you returned to England.

Yes, we got married and lived in Paris.

Why did you take the boys away from their mother?

She found someone else - a circus.

She was going to leave me and take them with her.

I should never have married her. I should have known she'd always be a Romany.

Coralie couldn't settle with me. She wasn't a proper mother to the boys.

She didn't fit in with your ideals of family.

She didn't know how to love them as I do.

She didn't know the meaning of love.

You returned to England, assumed a new identity and life,

and, by some terrible coincidence, the show came to your village

and Coralie found her boys again.

I had to stop her. She wanted them back to live with her and Castries.

I'd do the same again if anyone tried to take them.

-I never thought he was the killer. I just thought he'd taken Coralie's boys away.

-Hang on, lads.

Hang on.

-Archie needs a couple of volunteers.

-What for?

He's got a new magic trick to try out. You can learn from an expert.

I can understand why you panicked.

I didn't mean to.

I couldn't believe I'd done it.

I planted her purse and the scarf in Castries' knife box to make it look like he'd killed her.

And when that didn't work, you tried to frame Archie

by killing Madame Marlene.

Do you know, he tried to blackmail me?

He guessed I knew Coralie.

He demanded money.

He wouldn't go away.

And when Mrs Cockerton found out the truth...

..you went even further.

She said she wouldn't tell the police if I agreed to marry her.

More blackmail, you see?

She said... she said the boys needed a mother.

HE LAUGHS MANICALLY

That was the last thing they needed.

I wanted to be a good father to them.

I thought they'd be with me forever!

-Where are they?

-It's all right, John. They're safe.

What have you done to them?

I did love Coralie.

The boys are all I've got! HE SOBS

-Everything all right, madam?

-Yes, George, thank you.

Although you cut it a bit fine.

Queen of hearts.

Well...you two have obviously been practising.

It's mine, Fowler.

You lads take care.

-Look after them.

-They'll be all right. They're practically Romanies.

-Good luck.

Thank you.

-Goodbye.

-Thank you.

Hypothesis - if those are the outcasts of society,

what'll we make of John Forrester - the epitome of respectability?

As George Bernard Shaw once said, "The more things a man is ashamed of, the more respectable he is."

Well, George, has this experience helped calm your fears about audience participation?

It's only confirmed them, madam.

I knew you'd do it, Mrs Bradley. There's a lot you can teach me.

-Call me Adela.

-Perhaps you should join my team.

-I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for my chauffeur.

-Well done, Mr Mooney.

-It's Mood...

-I'm making a statement to the press. I'll tell them of your invaluable assistance.

-Don't trouble.

The less I have to do with the press, the better.

-What'll happen to this place?

-It's going to be a butcher's.

-I'll avoid the pain de cervelles a la menagere.

Brain loaf, madam.

# Blue moon You saw me standing alone

# Without a dream in my heart

# Without a love of my own

# Blue moon

# You knew just what I was there for

# You heard me saying a prayer for

# What I really could care for

# And then there suddenly appeared before me

# The only one my arms will ever hold

# I've heard somebody whisper, "Please adore me"

# And when I looked, the moon had turned to gold

# Blue moon Now I'm no longer alone

# Without a dream in my heart

# Without a love of my own. #

Subtitles by Sarah Aitken BBC Scotland 2000