Death's Shadow

Series Two, Episode One
Death's Shadow
Airdate	20 January 1999
Village or Location	Badger's Drift
Writer	Anthony Horowitz
Director	Jeremy Silberston
Episode guide
Previous	Death in Disguise
Following	Strangler's Wood

Death's Shadow is the first episode of the second series of the popular ITV crime drama Midsomer Murders and was originally aired 20th January 1999.

Synopsis

Barnaby and Troy investigate the murder of a man in Badger's Drift beheaded. There are many possible suspects, including villagers who oppose the plan to redevelop a major property, Tye House, into a golf course and residential housing estate.

Plot, Part 1

Dream of 30 years ago:

A school bell is ringing. Children run out to the playground. Five boys slip away through a gate. Boys are shown throwing rocks at the windows of the school. One boy is blindfolded. The others yell and tease. Then they run away. The boy calls out for Simon. Adult Simon goes over to the boy and slips a noose around his neck.

Plot, Part 2

Present:

Simon Fletcher wakes up from the dream. He drinks some water. Smokes a cigarette and looks at photos of actors. On top is one of Cully Barnaby.

DCI Tom Barnaby and his wife, Joyce Barnaby, discuss what to do for their 25th Wedding Anniversary. Cully Barnaby comes in the kitchen and asks if they are still going on about the anniversary. She suggests going on the Orient Express. Joyce decides that she wants to retake her wedding vows. Joyce says, "The first time we got married, it was a registry office, and your father was in the middle of a case. You didn't say, "I do." You said, "I've got it!" And that was the last I saw of you until the honeymoon. This time, I want to be the centre of attention. I want flowers, and all our friends." Joyce turns to Cully, "And I want you to be my maid of honour." Cully tells her parents that she has a place in a summer workshop with Simon Fletcher, the famous director. Joyce says, "Let's book the church."

Barnaby and Joyce drive to St. Michael's church in Badger's Drift.

Stephen Wentworth tells his wife, Angela Wentworth, that he is going over to the church. He has a police inspector coming to see him. Angela says, "Oh, don't tell me, Stephen. You've been found with your hand in the steeple fund...I was only joking, darling. After all, stealing the small change would be much too daring for you, wouldn't it?" Stephen tells Angela that the police inspector wants to retake his marriage vows. Angela says, "Maybe he wants somewhere small and insignificant. Well, he got the right man for the job."

Stephen greets Barnaby and Joyce at the church, which is under construction. They discuss the service and Stephen suggests Barnaby and Joyce pick out the hymns,

At Dr. Barbara Henson's office, Richard Bayly gets bad news. He has a brain tumor. He will have to have surgery and then radiotherapy and chemo.

Richard runs into Ian Eastman, a local real estate agent, who asks if he has made a decision about Tye House. Richard tells Ian he is going with Erickson's in Causton. Ian is very angry.

At Ian's home, his wife, Brenda Eastman, asks what's happened. Ian says, "I just met Richard on the way here. Richard bloody Bayly. He's giving Tye House to Erikson's. The biggest development this village has seen in 20 years, Brenda says, "Ian, I'm sorry. You know he's not well? It's something in his head. A tumour, or something."

Agnes Sampson rides her motorbike past Tye House. She arrives at her sister, Claire Williams' house. She is furious because she has found out that the new development which will have a retirement village and golf course will be removing trees. Reginald Williams and Claire are going to a meeting at the church.

At Stephen's home, the committee discusses preparation for the Grand Village Fete. Ian is doing coconuts, Brenda is doing cakes. Reg is doing Archery. Claire is doing palm reading. Richard Bayly says he's not sure he will make the fair this year. He has a brain tumor. Stephen will be doing Tombola. Ian asks Charles to help with the Coconuts. They still need someone to open the fete. Angela refuses. She doesn't like the fete. It only fills the village up with people from the Causton estate, is noisy and dirty and doesn't raise much money. Reg suggests getting a celebrity to open the fete.

Simon Fletcher is driving up from London. David Whitely sees him and calls out, but Simon ignores him.

Richard asks to speak to Stephen at the end of the committee meeting.

At the Barnaby house, Joyce and Tom discuss hymns for their wedding vow-renewal ceremony. Cully has to go rehearse lines for the Duchess of Malfi she is doing with Simon Fletcher.

Claire finds that her sister Agnes is not in her room. Reg says she's hardly been out since she moved in. They should make the most of it. Cocoa and Bed!

Dr. Henson receives a call. She is worried. Stephen Wentworth is at the church praying.

That night, Simon smokes a cigarette down by the old school. He hears voices from his past. A car drives by and Simon hides. Richard Bayly sits in the dark at his home. Ian Eastman sneaks out of his house. Dr. Henson stops at Richard's house. Someone opens the gate to Richard's house. Richard sits in the dark sniffing a pear. Someone takes an ax off the wall.

Stephen wakes up and turns on the light. He tells his wife there is someone in the house. He asks Angela what time it is. He goes downstairs to investigate. Stephen sees an open window downstairs and closes it. On the wall, something is missing.

Plot, Part 3

Murder 1: The next day, the housekeeper, Mrs. Bundy, goes to Richard Bayly's house. A minute later she comes running out screaming.

At the police station, Tom Barnaby asks Troy what his favorite hymn is. He tells Troy he is getting remarried. Troy says he didn't know he was getting D-vorced. They get a notice about a crime.

Barnaby and Troy arrive at Richard Bayly's house. Dr. George Bullard greets them. Bullard says it's pretty bad. Most of the body is in the hall. The head bounced into the living room. Mrs. Bundy found the body and slipped in the blood. A single blow took the head clean off. An officer found an ax in back. Dr. Henson walks up and is worried Richard committed suicide. At her office, Dr. Henson tells the detectives Richard was doing a major development. Barnaby asks how ill Richard was. Dr. Henson indicates he would likely have survived the surgery.

The detectives go to the church and speak to Stephen Wentworth. Stephen says he saw Richard last night at the committee meeting. Richard told Stephen he wanted to leave money to the church. Stephen tells them his Indian sword is missing. It was his father's- a souvenir from Calcutta. Angela tells the detectives that Stephen woke her up last night. Stephen says they don't lock their doors.

The detectives go to speak to Claire Williams in the cemetery. She is laying flowers on Jennifer Bryce's grave. She used to work in the post office. Claire has tea with the detectives. She says it seems so wrong to kill Richard when he was already dying. There was a petition against the Tye House development. Her sister, Agnes, was in charge of the petition. Everybody liked Richard. Some people disagreed with his development plans. Claire goes home and tells Reg and Agnes that Richard Bayly has been murdered. Agnes is doing a puzzle. She denies being out of the house the previous night. Then she cuts a puzzle piece to make it fit.

Ian Eastman says he had nothing to do with the development at Tye House. He tells Barnaby and Troy that Richard developed the old school and Agnes Sampson was against it. David Whitely refused to sell Richard access to Tye House. After the detectives leave, Ian tells Olive he is going to "slip out" for 10 minutes.

Ian goes home and talks to his wife, Brenda. She is looking at their bank statement. She finds there is hardly anything left in the account. Ian claims the expenditures were for business expenses. Ian tells Brenda Richard has been killed. He tells Brenda to be bloody careful what she says.

David Whitely tells the detectives that "I knew Richard Bayly and I couldn't stand him. I was estate manager here, remember? After your little investigation, Henry Trace sold up and left. You did me out of a job. A few months before he left, Henry sold me the lodge and a few acres at a knockdown price. Mainly because knocking it down was about all it was worth. I've been living here in the caravan while I've been trying to make it habitable. Richard Bayly was trying to buy me out. I suddenly found I could name my own price. Richard always was a pompous bastard, even at school. He said I was blackmailing him. Now that he's gone, I'm rather hoping that whoever takes over the development is gonna be more willing to listen to reason."

At the Causton Playhouse, Cully and Simon rehearse a part of The Duchess of Mali. Cully has a rope around her neck. Simon says to her, "Yet methinks, the manner of your death should much afflict you. This cord should terrify you." Cully replies, "Not a wit. What would it pleasure me to have my throat cut with diamonds? Or to be smothered with cassia? Or to be shot to death with pearls? I know death hath ten thousand several doors for men to take their exits." Simon says, "Thank you, Cully. That was very good. The Jacobean death. The throat cut with diamonds. We're talking about death as spectacle, death as entertainment but also as the gateway to something more terrible. 'Cover her face, mine eyes dazzle,' as Ferdinand will say, as the death of the duchess triggers retribution and more murder." The session ends and Simon goes to speak to Cully.

The two go out for a drink. Simon tells Cully he was born In Badger's Drift. He left when I was sixteen and has never been back. Simon says, "I always do a summer course, and when they told me it was down here, well... I didn't want to come. But then I thought, sometimes you have to go back. Sometimes it can help." Cully asks if he has heard about the murder- A property developer-Richard Bayly. Simon has a flashback, ( Breaking glass ) Children throwing rocks at the schoolhouse. Cully goes on, "My dad's in charge of the case. He's a policeman. A DCI." Simon says he doesn't feel well and leaves.

Plot, Part 4

At the Barnaby house, Joyce is angry and gives Barnaby burnt toast. She says it isn't fair. Joyce says, "The day you proposed to me, that woman got poisoned. And now, when all I want is to retake my vows..." Barnaby says the vows can go ahead. He doesn't know who killed Richard though. Cully says she is off to the Playhouse. Cully says, "We're doing the mad scenes from 'The Duchess Of Malfi'." Barnaby asks Cully about Simon Fletcher. Barnaby gives Cully a lift to the playhouse. He says, "Look, do you mind if I come inside and meet him?" Cully does mind. "He's a big director and could be really helpful to me." Simon Fletcher walks up.

Barnaby and Troy go to Richard's funeral service. Stephen speak to the congregation, "Richard was not a well man, but on the night of his death, he told me he was not afraid of dying. There is some comfort in that. Even so, we shall all miss him as a good neighbour and a good friend. Richard was a generous man, both with his material wealth and with his time. Helping to organise the fete, for instance. Of course, there were those who felt uncomfortable about his work, his many developments in and around the village. But he loved Badger's Drift. He loved the village. And that's why this week's fete will continue, dedicated to his name. ..Richard lived his whole life here in Badger's Drift. He was a boy here. And he has died here. He has paid the price, as we must all pay."

After the funeral, David Whitely tells the detectives that he heard from Crossbeam Holdings that morning. Richard's development company. They agreed to his price for the lodge. Reginald Williams comes up to speak to them, "Agnes Sampson, my wife's sister. She couldn't stand the fellow. Ever since he bought the old schoolhouse and then sold it." Dr Henson comes up and asks to speak to them. . Could I have a word with you? Not here, somewhere private.

Back at the Wentworth home, Angela gives her husband a weary look and makes snarky comments. Stephen is happy to be a parish priest. But Angela thought Stephen would become an archdeacon or a bishop. Stephen did everything he could over the years, but couldn't rise to the level Angela wanted.

Dr. Henson tells Barnaby and Troy that Richard Bayly wasn't dying. The evening he was killed she received a phone call from Causton Hospital. It turned out there'd been a mistake. He had a non-malignant tumor.

Troy and Barnaby go to see Ian Eastman. They ask him where he was going the night Richard Bayly was killed. They have a witness who saw him. Ian denies it.

Troy and Barnaby go to see Bayly's solicitor. He tells them that Mr Bayly left all to Mrs Margaret Green. She lives in Perth, Australia.

Plot, Part 5

Murder 2: Someone starts a fire under David Whitely's place. He dies calling for help. .

At the Badger's Drift fete, people set up their booths. Simon talks to Cully about leaving suddenly when they were having a drink. He tells Cully he was under a lot of stress and was affected by Richard's death. Stephen Wentworth rides up and asks Simon to open the Village Fete. Cully tells Simon she is going to be there. So he agrees.

Troy greets Barnaby, "There's been another death." David Whitely. George asks, "What the hell is going on?" Barnaby finds an old photo of children at the elementary school. The detectives go to talk to Agnes Sampson. She says, "It's the greed I can't stand. Old building being bashed down and converted for weekenders, who pay double the market value, and that just pushes the prices up and forces the real villagers out. Three oaks and a yew. Beautiful plants. Ancient. But down they have to come so that the weekenders can play their wretched golf. Agnes admits to going to Richard Bayly's house to cut down his pear tree. "I took the axe and went back across the garden. I only got about halfway across when I heard the garden gate open and shut. (Gate creaks) It was actually midnight on the dot, and he had a visitor. I heard them." Agnes says that the person Richard greeted and invited in was like an old friend.

Plot, Part 6

Murder 3: Simon opens the fete. Barnaby goes to the fete. Troy tries repeatedly to hit the coconuts at the booth. People try out the archery booth. Claire reads fortunes at the Fortune Teller booth. Simon walks with Cully. Joyce wins a bear at a booth. Cully goes to get tea. Reg tells Claire he is missing a bow. Someone shoots Simon Fletcher in the back with an arrow. Cully screams and drops the tea. Troy and Barnaby race over.

Troy says, "It looks like it was fired from behind the palm-reading tent. In full view of everyone too. It must have been someone with nerves of steel." Barnaby says, "Or someone who didn't care if he was caught or not." Cully tells Barnaby that Simon was asking about the case that morning. Simon asked about the Badger's Drift Primary School. He didn't say why. Richard Bayly, Ian Eastman, Dave Whitely and Simon Fletcher went to the school.

Barnaby and Troy go to Ian's office, but he isn't there. Olive tells them where he is. In a house with a For Sale sign up. He is in bed with Charles. Ian says, "I am not a homosexual. In fact, it disgusts me, this need I have. I was paying him, you understand. It's a business arrangement. There's nothing wrong with that. " Barnaby says, "I'm not interested at all in your private life, Mr Eastman. I'm here because I want you to tell me about Badger's Drift Primary School."

Ian explains, "Richard, Simon, David and me, we called ourselves The Sign Of Four, you know, like in Sherlock Holmes. We were a secret society, had our own passwords, that sort of thing. It was just a game. But it all went wrong. Another younger boy wanted to join us. He was a friend of David's, so we agreed. But we said he had to pass through an initiation ceremony. You know, to prove he was worthy. We were just eleven years old, he was ten. You have to remember, we were just children. Well, first of all, we made him smash a few windows in Mrs Trace's greenhouse... Then there were games... They were all leading up to the main initiation. The test of endurance. It was Simon's idea. He always did had a sense of the dramatic. Trial by gallows, that's what he called it. We never meant to hurt him. He had to stand there for five minutes, with a rope round his neck. On his own. If he took the rope off, if he touched it, he couldn't join us. We didn't go far. David had some cigarettes. We smoked them, about a minute away. And we never thought the rope would hold. We never told anyone. They all thought... They thought he'd killed himself. They thought it was suicide...We were children. We were terrified. And years later, it was too late. What good would it have done, telling anyone? No one knew who his father was. Nine months later his mother died. His name... was Felix Bryce."

Barnaby and Troy go to talk to Agnes and Claire. On the way to the church, they speak to Angela Wentworth.

Plot Denouement

At the church, Joyce and Cully are waiting to plan the wedding vow service. Barnaby and Troy come in. "Stephen Wentworth, we're arresting you for the murders of Richard Bayly, David Whitely and Simon Fletcher." Stephen says, "They... killed my son." Barnaby says, "Nobody knew anything about it, until Richard Bayly was wrongly diagnosed with a brain tumour, and felt a need to do what any dying man would do. Confess...Forty years ago, you had an affair with Jennifer Bryce. She gave birth to a child, a boy. And she called him Felix, which means happiness. And Stephen, after you. But neither of you ever told anyone about it." Stephen says, "I couldn't. Jennifer understood that. The parish would never have accepted it. And Angela had such plans for me. I was going to be a bishop." Barnaby continues, "But when he was ten years old, Felix died. You thought it was suicide...And then, out of the blue, Richard Bayly told you what had really happened all those years ago because he didn't know who he was talking to, the father of the boy he killed. The man whose life he'd ruined. He just wanted to get it off his chest...And once you'd got rid of Richard Bayly, no stopping you, was there? All the rest had to be punished, didn't they?" Stephen says, " I didn't care if I was caught...Those men took away the only... good things in my life. I killed them because I wanted to. I'm glad I did." Barnaby says, "Those men were children when your son was killed. It was an accident."

Stephen asks to go say a prayer and then runs up the stairs with Troy chasing him. He jumps off the roof. In front of Angela.

Joyce and Tom Barnaby get ready to head off on a trip for their anniversary. Cully says, "The Orient Express to Venice. It's so romantic." Joyce says, "With our luck, the driver will probably be killed." Barnaby says, "Murder on the Orient Express? Been done!"

Cast

• John Nettles as DCI Tom Barnaby
• Daniel Casey as Sgt. Gavin Troy
• Jane Wymark as Joyce Barnaby
• Laura Howard as Cully Barnaby
• Barry Jackson as Dr. George Bullard
• Richard Briers as Stephen Wentworth
• Judy Parfitt as Angela Wentworth
• Julian Wadham as Simon Fletcher
• Dominic Jephcott as Richard Bayly
• Christopher Villiers as David Whitely
• Nick Dunning as Ian Eastman
• Jessica Turner as Brenda Eastman
• Vivian Pickles as Agnes Sampson
• Anna Cropper as Claire Williams
• Gordon Gostelow as Reginald Williams
• Mossie Smith as Barbara Henson
• Terence Corrigan as Charles Jennings
• Nick Robinson as Felix Bryce
• Eileen Davies as Olive Beauvoisin
• Timothy Bateson as Mr. Jocelyne
• Marlene Sidaway as Mrs. Bundy
• Neil Conrich as Police Constable Angel
• Matt Adams as Young Ian (uncredited)
• Pauline Kurks as Village Cyclist (uncredited)

Galleries

Body Count

Prior to the Episode

Felix Bryce
Put on top of a chair and had a rope tied around his neck and to a tree branch. The chair then lost balance and fell, making Felix to remain in the air and accidentally hang himself 30 years ago.

Jennifer Bryce
Died of depression 9 months after Felix's death due to being heartbroken.

In the Episode

Richard Bayly
Decapitated with an Indian sword.

David Whitely
Locked inside his trailer while he was sleeping and burned alive after the trailer was set on fire.

Simon Fletcher
Shot in the back with an arrow.

Stephen Wentworth
Committed suicide by jumping from the top of the scaffolding surrounding the church.

Supporting Cast

Angela Wentworth

Ian Eastman

Brenda Eastman

Agnes Sampson

Claire Williams

Reginald Williams

Barbara Henson

Charles Jennings

Olive Beauvoisin

Mr. Jocelyne

Mrs. Bundy

Episode Images

Arrests

• Stephen Wentworth murdered:
  • Richard Bayly
  • David Whitely
  • Simon Fletcher
  • This is the fifth time a murderer dies before they can be arrested. Previous episodes where the murderer dies before being arrested are The Killings at Badger's Drift & Written in Blood

Notes

The following actors and actresses who appeared in this episode have also appeared in the following episodes:

• Christopher Villiers - The Killings at Badger's Drift
• Marlene Sidaway - The Killings at Badger's Drift, Written in Blood and Judgement Day
• Timothy Bateson - Written in Blood and Orchis Fatalis
• Judy Parfitt - Days of Misrule
• Julian Wadham - The Creeper
• Dominic Jephcott - Four Funerals and a Wedding
• Jessica Turner - A Sacred Trust
• Terence Corrigan - Dead Man's Eleven
• Eileen Davies - Dead Man's Eleven and Hidden Depths

Trivia

• A coconut shy is a traditional game frequently found as a side-stall at English fun-fairs. The game consists of throwing wooden balls at a row of coconuts balanced on posts. Typically a player buys three balls and wins each coconut successfully dislodged. In some cases other prizes may be won instead of the coconuts. The word "shy" in this context is an English term meaning to toss or throw.
• During a conversation with the priest, there is reference to the Rainbirds who were characters in the first episode of the first season.
• Second episode where Joyce witnesses death: Simon Fletcher shot with an arrow; Stephen Wentworth jumps off the roof of the church. Previously she witnessed a death in Death of a Hollow Man.
• Last appearance of Christopher Villiers as David Whitely.
• This episode marked the debut of Eileen Davies in the role of Olive Beauvoisin and Terence Corrigan in the role of Charles Jennings.
• Fourth episode where Cully Barnaby is in a play- summer workshop- rehearsing a scene from The Duchess of Malfi
• Olive Beauvoisin is mentioned in The Miniature Murders

The Trials and Tribulations of DS Gavin Troy: At the fete, Troy tries repeatedly to hit the coconuts at the booth and misses.

Quotes

“

DS Gavin Troy: So, where is the body? Dr. George Bullard: Mostly in the hall. The head rolled into the living room. Or it could be brought there as well.

”

“

Cully Barnaby: You're still not going on about the anniversary, are you? Joyce Barnaby: It's 25 years, Cully.... The first time we got married, it was at a registry office. And your father was in the middle of a case. D.C.I. Tom Barnaby: Ah, the Pimlico Poisoner. Joyce Barnaby: You didn't say I do. You said I got it! And that was the last I saw of you until the honeymoon. This time I want to be the center of attention.

”

“

Cully Barnaby: Come on, Mum. It's going to be great. Rolls Royce. The Orient Express to Venice. It's so romantic. Joyce Barnaby: With our luck, the driver will probably be killed. DSI Tom Barnaby: Murder on the Orient Express? Been done.

”

Goofs

• When Ian Eastman says that Felix was not to take off the rope around his neck or to touch it, Felix is shown with his hands tied behind his back. This would have prevented Felix from touching the rope at all, and would never have indicated a suicide rather than a murder because no one could hang himself once his hands had been tied behind him.
• When the trailer is set on fire and the door blocked, the occupant wakes up soon thereafter. Despite numerous windows being present in the trailer, the occupant fails to break any of them out to escape.

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