The Fisher King is the third episode of the seventh series of the popular British crime drama Midsomer Murders and originally aired 18th January 2004.
Synopsis[]
Over 30 years ago, archaeologist Paul Heartley-Reade claimed to have found a Celtic spear and chalice in Midsomer Barrow. The relics vanished and there has over the years been extensive debate in academic circles about the find. When the spear is used to kill Gareth Heldman, Barnaby and Sergeant Scott find themselves investigating several local villagers including Harry Green who was fed up with Gareth's advances toward his girlfriend, Vanessa Stone, who had a disagreement with Gareth when he threatened to pull out of a business deal. When a second murder is committed, the police start to unravel a complex web of interrelationships among virtually all of the suspects.
Plot, Part 1[]
Midsomer Barrow 1970, MURDER 1: Nathan Green goes into the barrow and looks around. He sees a chalice and spear head. He hides the spear in the grass near a tree. Then the barrow collapses and Nathan sees a man run away. Nathan goes to the barrow and sees an arm underneath the rocks.
Present day- 2000: Vanessa Stone goes to the bookstore where there is a book signing by David Heartley-Reade. His wife Miriam greets Vanessa. Dr. James Lavery from the Ashmolian Museum ridicules David's book, "The Hidden Celtic Way," while David is signing the books. Lavery says, "Your notion that Midsomer Barrow contains a Celtic ritual spear and chalice is simply fanciful." David responds, "Are you saying that the dig at the barrow never took place?" Lavery says, "As an academic archaeologist, I have to base my assumptions on DOCUMENTED finds. I don't have the luxury of fiction." Gareth Heldman toasts David, "Well done, David. All publicity is good publicity."
Nathan Green goes by the mill and asks his son, Harry Green, if he's going to the pub. Harry has plans to see Vanessa, who his dad doesn't approve of. Harry has whittled a wooden branch to fit into a spear head. Nathan can't figure out why Harry doesn't date a girl his own age. Nathan says, "Son, if there's one thing I do know about, it's women." Harry says, "Yes, Dad. I KNOW."
Gareth asks David what the book is about. David says, "The mythology associated with Midsomer Barrow where the Celts use symbols and rituals to connect with the spirits of nature." Gareth sneers, "You mean it's a load of heavy twaddle? Well, there's no way my mother will allow you to use the Barrow."
Vanessa asks, "What do you want to use it for?" Miriam says, "The festival of the Summer Solstice. The longest day and shortest night." Vanessa says, "Isn't that what the shindig on the common's about?" David says, "Yes. But the Barrow was built to celebrate the Solstice. There's a unique moment occurs when a flaming arrow shot into the sun can release a regenerative power. My father was the archaeologist who first explored it." Gareth says, "David seems to think it's some sort of pagan Viagra."
Gareth and Vanessa walk out of the shop. Harry walks up to meet Vanessa. Vanessa asks, "So, what's wrong with having the Solstice festival at the Barrow?" Gareth says, "My father died there." Vanessa says, "Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't know." Gareth says, "There's your rustic swain, waiting patiently." He then kisses Vanessa. Vanessa says, "Good night, Gareth." Harry hugs Vanessa. Gareth drives off and beeps his horn at them.
Miriam locks up the store. David asks Miriam to talk to Gareth about the Solstice? Miriam says it's not fair to Anne Heldman. David says he may ask her himself. Miriam says, "David, we have to get a divorce. I'm going to see a solicitor." David says, "No, Miriam. It's no ordinary night. Wait and see."
At the Barnaby house, Joyce tells Barnaby she is going to the talk at the library- the one on Arthurian legends. There's a walk to Midsomer Barrow afterwards.
Anne Heldman is tending sheep. Gareth comes up to talk to his mother. He says he is thinking about going into business with Vanessa. He wants his mother to evict Nathan and Harry Green. She says no.
Per Hanson is giving a talk about the Fisher King. He says, "And so you can see how the myth of the Fisher King was incorporated into Arthurian legend. And when the Celts converted to Christianity, and became part of the story of the Holy Grail... In the Arthurian story, a young knight comes to the court of the Fisher King. He must ask the King about the Holy Grail in order to bring healing to the land. When he fails to ask the question, the kingdom remains a wasteland. Finally, there is another connection to the Fisher King myth close to here. But more of that at the end of our walk to Midsomer Barrow. Now I think we should take a short break and help ourselves to coffee."
Miriam goes up to Per and gives him a copy of David's book. Jane Williows comes up to introduce herself to Joyce Barnaby. Jane says, "I'm the arts officer." The speaker, Per Hanson is "from Norway. He's come here to do some research in the archives.
David is dressed up in boots and has his fishing equipment. He says to Miriam, "The Fisher King. How was the talk?" Miriam says, "Nice man. Norwegian archaeologist. Per Hansen. I enjoyed it. Anyway, I gave him a copy of your book. You never know. He might review it. Enjoy your fishing."
Gareth and Vanessa are discussing the Mill project. She has blueprints and all. She says, "It'll cost a bit more doing it this way but there are grants. And by restoring a heritage site, I get free publicity for the bakery." Gareth says, "Maybe we should be partners instead." Vanessa says, "I don't want a partner. I've put months of work in to this. This has cost me a fortune. With solicitors, planning applications.." Gareth touches her face and then puts his hand down her shirt. Vanessa walks off.
David walks past Harry who is in the river trying to spear fish. David asks if there are many trout in Parson's Pool? Harry says not if the pike's been up there. He's trying to spear the pike.
The participants of the tour are walking toward the barrow. Jane Willow talks to Joyce. She tells Joyce that Vanessa wanted a change of scene after her divorce. Per Hansen says, "Midsomer Barrow. There are different versions of the story. Either... an old king must die.. "
Gareth has followed Vanessa. He grabs her and tries to kiss her. Vanessa pushes him away and tells him to "Get off me!" Vanessa gets away and climbs over the railing.
Jane Willow sees the argument and says, "Oh, my God! That's my daughter." She leaves the tour to got see if Vanessa is OK.
Plot, Part 2[]
MURDER 2: David is fishing. He finishes and is walking down the path with his fish when he sees the body of Gareth Heldman.
DS Dan Scott arrives and says, "Dead man's name was Gareth Heldman. 36. Single. Local landowner. Ran the family estate." DCI Tom Barnaby says, "Georgie Bullard reckoned he was killed by stab wounds to the thigh. It cut his femoral artery." Barnaby shows Scott the weapon used to kill Gareth which is missing a spearhead. Harry Green, the river keeper, is brought up by the constable. Harry has a bruise on his face. Barnaby asks about that and Harry says he slipped on some river stones. David Heartley-Reade found the body. He says that he saw Harry spear fishing. Barnaby asks if the weapon was part of your spear? Harry says yes, but it's missing a spear head. Harry left it by the river. He used it to spear pike, which lurk at the bottom of the river. Spearing them is the easiest way. Harry says his dad found the spear head years ago.
Nathan Green walks into Anne Heldman's house. Anne hugs him and starts crying. "I've been punished. I always knew it would happen but not like this!" He holds her.
At the Barnaby's, Barnaby asks Joyce if she saw anything. She tells him they saw Jane's daughter Vanessa arguing with a man on the other side of the river. It looked like a lovers' tiff. Then they went off in opposite directions. Jane went after her daughter to see if she was OK. Per told them to take a moment alone on the Barrow to soak up the magic. Joyce was lying on the grass with her eyes shut, enjoying the peace and quiet. She didn't see anything.
Vanessa is at her bakery. Harry walks in. Vanessa sees his bruised face. He tells her he got in a fight. He saw Gareth trying it on with Vanessa. Harry says he didn't kill him and walks out.
Barnaby goes to talk to Jane Willow. She says she saw her daughter and Gareth arguing. That's why she went after her. She didn't see Harry down by the river or talk to Gareth.
Scott goes to talk to Miriam Heartley-Reade. She confirms that David went fishing. She says, "He came home in a terrible state. Gareth was his cousin. Gareth wasn't terribly interested in family." Scott asks about the photo on the front of David's book. Miriam says it is a picture of an Iron Age ceremonial spearhead and chalice. Three thousand years old. They would have belonged to a Celtic chieftain. David's father found them in Midsomer Barrow 30 years ago.
Barnaby interviews Per Hanson. He explains the gloves on his hands- Eczema. Too many years grubbing about in the earth. Per Hanson says his talk was about the Fisher King, "a wealthy lord who suffered a wound to his thigh. The Dolorous blow." Barnaby says, "That's how our victim was killed." Per gives him a book by David Heartly-Reade. Barnaby says he found the body. Per says "How apt- A symbolic death at the Barrow and the expert finds the body. All myths and legends boil down to human nature in the end. There's a little bit of the pagan left in all of us, don't you think?"
Scott interviews Vanessa while she is arranging bread at her bakery. She tells him she is buying the old water mill on the Heldman estate. She says, "We'd been negotiating for weeks and yesterday he threatened to go back on his word. He changed the deal" Scott says, "Is that all it was about?" Vanessa says, "I shouldn't speak ill of the dead but Gareth wasn't a nice man. He thought we should be partners. I disagreed." Scott asks, "Did Harry see you with Gareth? Come running to your rescue?" Vanessa says, "I didn't even know Harry was at the river." After the tussle with Gareth, she went to her car and gave her mom a lift to Causation.
At his home, David is typing and looking at pottery. He hears a noise. When he goes to check he finds the spear head on a table. Barnaby and Scott go over to David Heartly-Reade's home. David tells them come in. "I've got something to show you. It's from the Barrow. The ceremonial spear my father found. It has to be." Miriam asks, "Is that what was used to kill Gareth?" Scott says, "We have to take this for forensic examination." Barnaby says, "Where did you find it?" David says, "Lying there. On the hall table. The front door was open. Here's the original drawing my father made in his diaries. (He shows Barnaby the drawings in a notebook). Roger Heldman gave my father permission to excavate the Barrow. It was his land. (Flashback: man entering the barrow) 30 years ago. The spear and the chalice were in a stone chamber inside the Barrow. (Man sees the chalice and spear) My father left them exactly as he found them. So a colleague could see them in situ. In Celtic mythology, the spear and the chalice are highly symbolic objects." Barnaby says, "Well, there's the spear... Where's the chalice?" Miriam says, "There's one in the Ashmolean Museum identical to the drawing in Paul's diary but supposedly from another site. Dr Lavery, the man who found the Ashmolean Chalice, knew David's father and he's not at all happy about David's book." David says, "But now the spear has been found." Barnaby says, "Why were these treasures just left inside the Barrow?" David says, "That night, there was an accident. The entrance to the Barrow collapsed and Roger Heldman was killed. My aunt had the chambers sealed up again." Barnaby asks, "Your aunt being Anne Heldman, Gareth's mother?" Miriam adds, "She's never been back to the Barrow since." David says his father left when he was a few months old and never contacted my mother again. They heard eventually that he had died in a car crash. Nathan Green may have known the spear and chalice were there. He was paid to do the heavy digging. Nathan Green might have taken the spear and passed it on to his son to fish with. David says, "Midsummer Solstice is drawing near. A moment of mystic power. The spear is a sign that we must seize that moment." Barnaby says, "Mr Heartley-Reade, someone may be trying to incriminate you. But equally, for all I know, you may have placed the spear there yourself."
In the car, Scott says Roger Heldman's death was accidental. He's asked for a copy of the police file as well. Dr. Bullard confirms the spearhead as the murder weapon. Both the deaths may be linked to the spear as well as to the Barrow.
Vanessa walks across a field and sees Harry working on a dock. She tells him that the policeman asked her about his fishing spear and said it was missing. Harry says, "So you told them I took a pop at Gareth because I was jealous?" Vanessa says, "Why didn't you tell the police you had a fight if that's all it was?" Harry says, "Because I'm their No.1 suspect. That's why." Vanessa says, "Harry, you would tell me, wouldn't you, if...?" Harry gets angry, "You think I killed him?" Vanessa says, "No! But I don't understand." Harry walks off and drives home.
At home, Harry comes in and shuts the door. Nathan assumes Vanessa dumped him now she found she can't buy the mill after all. Harry says, "Anyway, she can still buy it." Nathan says, "Anne won't sell. She knows I'm not happy about it. Now you can find a nice girl your own age. Your own sort. Businesswoman! Furthering her ambition. That's the business she's in." Outside, Barnaby and Scott overhear Nathan's comments. Harry falls into a chair. He says, "Dad! Who do you think killed Gareth, Dad?" Nathan says, "I've no idea. But like you say, he had it coming. Took after his father. Treated everyone like he owned them. Even his own mother."
Barnaby and Scott knock on the door. Harry says, "Oh, you're after me, I suppose." Barnaby says, "No, we've come to see your father." Barnaby asks Nathan to identify the spear. Harry says that it's his fishing spear. Barnaby says, "That was used to kill Gareth Heldman." Scott says, "Harry says you found it. Years ago." Nathan says, "That's right." Barnaby says, "Was that when you were working on the archaeological dig? That was taken from the Barrow 30 years ago. That spear disappeared on the night Roger Heldman died." Nathan says, "Paul Heartley-Reade said he'd found something precious. So I went back up to the Barrow that night. It was Heldman's land. I wanted to take something of his. Something PRECIOUS. (Flashback: Nathan in the barrow. He picked up the spear. He hid it and then the barrow collapsed and someone ran away.) If Roger Heldman was murdered, there were plenty who were glad to see him dead. I know who had most reason. Paul Heartley-Reade- he wasn't David's father, was he? Everyone knew Roger Heldman was David's father."
At the bakery, Jane encourages Vanessa to talk to Harry again. On her way out, Jane spies Nathan Green outside.
Barnaby and Scott go to see Anne Hellman. Barnaby asks if she can think of anyone who would want to kill Gareth. Anne says Nathan called her. Her husband was David's father and Gareth knew that. Anne says, "When Paul, my sister's husband, abandoned her, my sister blamed me..Because I turned a blind eye to... Roger's fornication." Barnaby asks about the death of Roger Heldman. Anne says, "No-one had a truer friend than Nathan Green. Paul was bitter and resentful. He never forgave my sister and abandoned her shortly after. But she never stopped loving him. They were childhood sweethearts." Anne shows the detectives photos of herself, Paul, her sister.
Barnaby tells Scott to find out about the relationship between Anne and Nathan. Scott offers Harry a drink. Harry tells him that he and Gareth had a flaming row that day. Harry hit him. She never liked him. It didn't stop him from trying it on with her, though. Scott asks, "what's the deal between your dad and Anne Heldman? They're like...proper devoted. I stopped being interested in Dad's women years ago. Barnaby asks David about his relationship with Gareth. David says, "I'm sorry Gareth's dead but he wasn't the brotherly type." Barnaby asks about the relationship between Nathan and Roger. David says, "My mother once told me that Nathan had a teenage sweetheart who worked at Priory House. She ran away without a word. She was just a child."
Vanessa goes to apologize to Harry. He says, "It's a bit late for all that." Vanessa says, "You know I never meant it. We both know what Gareth was like. I'm glad you hit him. Forgive me. Please?" Harry says, "They've been asking my dad all sorts of questions too." Vanessa says, "You see? We're all suspects. It means nothing. You know I love you. I really do." They embrace.
David goes over to visit Anne. He has come to ask her about using the Barrow. He says, "We need to restore spiritual harmony to this family. The past is crying out to be laid to rest. The wound has never healed. Please, Anne." Anne says, "I will not allow it." David says, "I have a claim on this land too, you know. Rightfully, I don't need to ask your permission." Anne says, "Oh, you ARE Roger's son." David says, "You must allow us to use the Barrow." Anne says, "Do what you want. You will anyway. Roger always did."
Barnaby and Scott go interview Dr. Lavery. Barnaby says, "According to your statement, Paul Heartley-Reade was staying in Oxford with you the night Roger Heldman died. Can you confirm that he stayed here?" Lavery says, "Oh, yes. Definitely." Lavery shows them the Chalice he says he found with a student in Suffolk.
David puts up flyers in his shop. Miriam says, "David. I've been to see a solicitor. I'm prepared to come with you to the Solstice, but it's not going to make any difference to us. Our marriage is over."
Lavery says it is wishful thinking that Paul found the Chalice. He suggests that his diaries were invented. Scott says, "Dr Lavery, there was another witness to what was inside the Barrow. Nathan Green. He did the digging. He saw the spear and the chalice." Barnaby says, "He left the chalice but he admits he stole the spear. And that spear was used to kill Roger Heldman's son, Gareth." Barnaby shows Lavery the spear.
Per Hansen walks into David's house and looks at arrows and books. David comes in and asks who he is. Per says he wanted to ask about the book. Per says, "I was intrigued by the illustration of the chalice. It bears a striking resemblance to one I've seen in the Ashmolean." David says, "Which Dr Lavery found during a dig in Suffolk." Per says, "But which you claim comes from Midsomer Barrow." David says, "Yes. The spear has already come to light. A local man admits he stole it. At the time of my father's excavation."
Anne and Nathan are in the house. She says she doesn't think she can go on. Nathan holds her.
Barnaby asks if it is possible that Dr Lavery somehow had taken the chalice from Midsomer Barrow and then secretly buried it at his own excavation elsewhere ready for a student to find it? What would he stand to gain by such a fraud?" Per says, "Reputation. But then, perhaps Lavery is right and those diaries are a complete hoax. Like the Piltdown Man. It's what archaeologists dream of. An untouched site that offers up significant treasures. I don't just mean that they're valuable. I mean artifacts that are symbolic. That can be interpreted. Written about. Lectured upon. A life, Mr Barnaby. A fulfilled life."
David brings Miriam a glass of champagne. He says, "To us. Our moment is near. Everything will change tonight, Miriam. Drink." Miriam says, "I can't." David says, "If we connect with the ancient earth mysteries tonight, the gods will absolve the past." Miriam says, "There are no rites or rituals that can change anything for us." David insists, "Miracles can happen, Miriam. The Fisher King will show us the way."
People start coming to the barrow for the festival. Anne walks with Nathan. She doesn't want to go. He says he will look after her. Miriam greets Anne. She asks her to light the bonfire. People play games. Jugglers juggle. David gives Anne a torch to light the bonfire. There are tents up. David says, "At this place of mythic power and wisdom, we lend our strength to the sun. Let the festivities begin." Vanessa puts a straw wreath on Harry's head. She says, "There. Suitably pagan. According to David's book, Midsummer's Eve is when all the Earth's feminine energy is released. A very good night for sеx, apparently." Harry says, "Go home now, then, shall we?" They kiss.
Barnaby arrives with Joyce. David and Miriam greet them. Barnaby says, "You've got a good crowd, haven't you?" David says, "They lend strength to the magic. To our ceremony of communal healing. The sun will rise. The world will change tonight." Barnaby greetsScott. Joyce greets Jane and Per Hanson. Barnaby goes to get a sausage. Jane and Joyce throw flowers on the fire. Anne recognizes Jane. Jane says her daughter Vanessa owns the bakery in the village. Anne asks if she's seen Nathan yet. Jane says she'll see him in her own time. Jane used to be nursery maid to Anne's son. She doesn't have happy memories.
The sun sets. People continue to party. Music plays, people play drums. Scott tries to juggle. Per Hanson laughs at David. Anne says, "Excuse me. Do I know you?" Per says, "I don't think so." Vanessa goes to speak to Anne. She says, "I've spent months putting together my proposal for the mill." Nathan says, "Just leave her alone." Vanessa says, "This is nothing to do with you." Nathan says, "She is NOT selling." Vanessa says, "Why don't you just stop interfering?" Harry says, "Leave it out, Dad." Nathan says, "Anyway... David seems to reckon that the place belongs to him. Roger Heldman's son and heir. You should try cosying up to him. You're good at that." Anne asks Nathan to take her home. Joyce tells Barnaby that Jane worked for her years ago. Vanessa asks Miriam whether David is claiming the Heldman estate? Miriam says, "No, of course not. He couldn't care less about it. He was just desperate to celebrate the Solstice here on the Barrow."
Scott asks, "So when is the big moment?" Miriam says, "At sunrise." Scott says, "And we're talking cosmic climax. Is that it?" Miriam says, "I've got to go. I daren't be on my own with him. He believes that if he can become one with the new sun, our marriage can be reconsummated." Vanessa says, "Right. You're coming home with me." She tells Harry she is taking Miriam to her house. Harry says to Scott, "Their marriage has been on the rocks for ages."
Scott talks to David who is practicing with a bow and arrow. David says, "The instant the sun appears on the horizon, we shall send flaming arrows into the dawn. Fire into fire. The glorious consummation. When the Earth Mother joins the Sky Father. The land is made potent again. Desire fulfilled."
Barnaby asks Joyce if she wants to leave. Joyce says they must wait for sunrise. He asks if Jane Willows spoke to Nathan Green. Barnaby thinks they're old friends. Scott comes up. Barnaby wants to know what he's laughing at. He says, "David Heartley-Reade. He's lost the plot, sir. Well, his wife left him tonight. Now, how about this for a theory. Gareth Heldman was having an affair with Miriam Heartley-Reade so David killed him." Barnaby says, "I'll tell you something. Roger Heldman was also Vanessa's father." Scott says, "Bloody hell! He managed to put it about a bit, didn't he? Roger by name, Roger by nature."
Plot, Part 3[]
MURDER 3: David goes to the barrow. He asks Harry if he has seen Miriam but Harry says no. Per says, "Well, David. Soon the sun will rise on a new day. A new Fisher King will be crowned." David climbs to the top of the barrow and readies his arrow to fly. Barnaby tells Joyce, "He's adding his light to the sun's. He thinks it'll give him power to save his marriage." David shoots his arrow at the sun and someone shoots an arrow into his back.
Harry runs to the bakery and pounds on the door. Vanessa comes downstairs. Miriam is asleep on the couch. Harry tells Vanessa that David is dead. At the festival site, police are scouring the fields. Scott says, "He was desperate to find his wife last night, sir." Barnaby says, "So they could loose off their arrows simultaneously. A mystic union with the rising sun. There was someone here last night who was by the river the day Gareth Heldman died. And she had reason to kill him. Jane Willows. Some years ago she worked at Priory House. She was one of Roger Heldman's victims. If her daughter Vanessa was fathered by Roger Heldman, and I think she was, and she thought she saw Gareth Heldman assaulting... his own half-sister." Scott says, "Why would Jane Willows want to kill David Heartley-Reade?" Barnaby says, "So Vanessa could inherit the entire estate." The detectives go to speak to Jane Willow. She's heard about David's death. Vanessa called her. Barnaby says, "Miss Willows... did you know that David Heartley-Reade was actually Roger Heldman's son? He's a few years younger than your daughter. You'd left by the time he was born. Last night, you told my wife you'd once worked as a nursery maid for Anne Heldman. And David Heartley-Reade told me that Nathan Green was once sweet on a girl who'd worked for the Heldmans. And... ..that Roger Heldman had assaulted her." Jane says, "I was 16. It was my first job." She became pregnant with Vanessa. And she left the village. She has never talked about it to anyone. On the afternoon of Gareth's murder, when she saw him and Vanessa arguing, that very hard for her. Not only a Heldman, the son of a man who'd raped her, but also her half-brother. He even looked like his father. Jane says she went to see that Vanessa was safe. She looked after Gareth as a baby. She couldn't kill him. Vanessa doesn't know that Roger Heldman was her father. Jane asks Barnaby not to tell Vanessa. She must be the one to tell her.
At Vanessa's house, Miriam comes downstairs. She is going down to the river. She says, "After a death, the Celts cast their most precious possessions into water as offerings to the gods. They believed that lakes and rivers were... ..gateways to the other world. David believed that too. I have to give this (her ring) back to him." Vanessa says, "I'm coming too."
Barnaby goes to talk to Nathan Green. He left the Barrow with the spear and went down to the river. It was ages ago. When he heard Heldman cry out, he went back and saw someone running away. Barnaby says, "You thought you saw Anne Heldman running away. You thought that she had murdered her husband. I'm certain that she believes it was you who murdered her husband. In revenge. After he'd assaulted your girlfriend Jane Willows. Anne Heldman did her best to cover up for you because she was actually pleased to be rid of her husband. You see, Mr Green, for 30 years you thought you owed her a debt of honour. Did you repay that debt last night? David Heartley-Reade was threatening to claim the Heldman estate. Did Mrs Heldman want him killed?" Nathan says, "No. She's grieving for her own son. She'd never want another death."
Vanessa and Miriam go to the river. Vanessa asks, "What really happened between you and David?" Miriam says, "David's obsession with... absolution and mystic power. The Solstice. You must have wondered what it was all about." Vanessa asks, "Was he impotent? Something to do with who his true father was. I know nothing about my father. Mum thinks she's protecting me but I'm desperate to know." Miriam says, "Roger Heldman was my father too. David was doing a postgrad year in America when we met. Right from the start there was this amazing bond. We knew we belonged together. We decided to get married. We sent our parents postcards. We thought we could continue to live as brother and sister. Till David discovered all these myths and legends that would make it all right again." Vanessa says, "So the Solstice... ..was when the gods would give him permission... ..to have sеx with you again." Miriam says, "It drove him mad."
Barnaby and Scott watch Lavery sneaking around the Heartley-Reade house. He picks up a rock and prepares to throw it through a window. Barnaby says, "Stop! Police. What are you doing here?" Lavery says, "I was hoping to find Mrs Heartley-Reade." He wants to buy the diaries for the museum. He says, "You'd be amazed people's actions after a death. They suddenly start throwing things away." Barnaby says, "But you said the diaries were a fraud. Why would a museum want them? Dr Lavery, would you tell me something? How did you really come by the chalice? Was it, in fact, a payment for the false alibi you gave Paul Heartley-Reade?" (Flashback: Paul Heartley-Reade goes in the barrow and takes the chalice. He sets the chalice down under a tree. Roger Heldman goes into the barrow. Paul sneaks up and loosens some rocks on the ceiling. When Roger Heldman comes to the entrance, the rocks fall down on him, killing him. Paul grabs the chalice and leaves.). Anne Heldman thought that Nathan Green had killed her husband. So when you said that Paul was with you in Oxford, she had no reason to disbelieve your story. You believed only Paul and Roger ever entered the inner chamber but Nathan Green had been there and had seen the chalice too." Lavery says, "It's my word against his." Barnaby says, "I'm not really interested in the chalice but you have committed a serious offence, Dr Lavery. You provided Paul Heartley-Reade with a false alibi. You are an accessory to murder. You come to the police station this afternoon and make a statement. (Someone watches them talking) Three o'clock this afternoon."
Scott says, "So Paul Heartley-Reade murdered Roger Heldman. How does that bring us nearer to who killed Gareth or David?" Barnaby says, "There is one question we haven't asked ourselves. Whoever killed Gareth left the spearhead on David's table. Why did he do that? To incriminate David maybe? There is one other child of Roger Heldman who has a claim on the estate. That's Jane Willows's daughter. Vanessa."
Jane Willows goes to Nathan's home and knocks on the door. Jane says, "Hello, Nathan." Nathan says, "Jane. My God! I thought you were..." Jane says, "I should never have run away. I should have told you." Nathan says, "It didn't take much to work it out. The number of times I've dreamt about seeing you. Just to know that you were safe." Jane says, "You'll never know how much I missed you. But I couldn't..." Nathan says, "Oh, Jane. My Jane. All this time. 35 years. Why now?" Jane says, "My daughter lives in Midsomer Priors. Vanessa." Anne Heldman walks in the back of the house. She says, "She is a Heldman, Nathan. But she's in love with your son." Nathan says, "You knew?" Anne says, "Only last night." Jane says, "I can't regret the existence of my daughter." Nathan says, "Vanessa. No wonder Harry's so besotted." Jane says, "She knows a good man when she sees one."
Miriam tells Vanessa to wait for her at the mill. Miriam kisses her wedding ring and throws it into the river. She says, "May the river now cleanse the past."
Plot, Part 4[]
MURDER 4: The mill starts up, the wheel turning. Barnaby and Scott walk toward the mill. Vanessa starts screaming, "Somebody help! Help! Help! Somebody help! Help! Somebody help! Somebody! Please! Here! Here!" Barnaby and Scott run over. Harry comes running. Miriam comes over. Scott turns over a body in the river. It is Lavery.
In the mill house, Nathan serves up tea to Miriam, Vanessa and Jane. Harry helps. Barnaby and Scott go outside.
Scott says, "Sisters! That means she and David...Did she know?" Barnaby says, "They found out. She wanted to escape. David wouldn't let her." Scott says, "You don't think Miriam killed him?" Barnaby says, "Miriam? Do you think she could have done that? No, he was...he was her brother. She still loved him. There's only one person who knows the truth about Paul Heartley-Reade. About the spear, about the chalice, about the excavation and the Barrow. They're all connected. I think Anne Heldman holds the key to this riddle."
Barnaby and Scott go to talk to Anne. Barnaby says, "Mrs Heldman, we know that neither you nor Nathan Green were in any way responsible for your husband's death. But there is something we need to know. The night of the Solstice, you saw a man you thought you knew. (Flashback: Per Hanson laughing). There was something about him you thought you recognised. Go back to that. It could be very important." Anne says, "His laugh. There was something about the way he laughed. Paul. He laughed the way Paul used to laugh. How odd. After all these years." Barnaby says, "When Paul left Midsomer Priors, where did he go?" Anne says, "Scandinavia somewhere. Like Norway?" Anne says, "Possibly. I don't understand. Erm...he died in a car crash. The car caught fire. He was..." Barnaby says, "He was burned?" Barnaby and Scott run out and head to Midsomer Priors. Glebe House.
Miriam walks into her house. She takes the champagne glasses to the kitchen and pours them out. She hears a noise and turns around. She sees Per Hanson. She asks, "What are you doing here? Who let you in?" Per holds up a key. Miriam says, "This is my house." Per says, "I don't think so." Miriam says, "What do you want?" Per says, "I want my name. I want my house and I want my work." Miriam says, "I don't understand." Per says, "No, but I was here before and I noticed a letter addressed with your maiden name. I knew your parents, Miriam. And then I understood what David's ridiculous posturing at the Solstice was about. Now, then... ..it should be here somewhere." Barnaby and Scott race toward the house. Per searches the desk drawer and pulls out a knife. Miriam says, "I want you to go. Now!" Per says, "Not very imaginative, your husband, was he? Especially when it came to plagiarising my work. He and Lavery both. Pathetic mediocrities squabbling like children over the work your father FORCED me to abandon. (He points the knife at Miriam's throat). I'm doing what should have been done years ago. Ridding the world of Roger Heldman's bastards."
Plot, Denouement[]
Scott breaks a window and opens the door. Per turns the knife toward him. Scott disarms him. Barnaby says, "Paul Heartley-Reade...I am arresting you for the murders... of Gareth Heldman, David Heartley-Reade... and Dr James Lavery. I am also arresting you for the murder of Roger Heldman. Surgery may have given you a new face but you don't have eczema, do you? And you didn't want to get your gloves dirty while you ate your hot dog. Because your hands are still scarred from the burns when your car caught fire. You'd already taken your revenge on Roger Heldman for what he'd done with your wife. For you it was who murdered him at the Barrow all those years ago. Did you come back to Midsomer intending to kill again?" Paul says, "No, I came back out of curiosity. Just to look around." Barnaby says, "Why did you kill Gareth Heldman?" Paul says, "The spearhead, the one I discovered inside the Barrow. MY spearhead. He came sauntering over the bridge with it after he'd finished trying to roger Jane's daughter. Claimed it belonged to him. Wouldn't even let me look at it. Just like his father."
(Flashback: Paul says to Gareth, "Hello. What have we here? I'm an archaeologist. Maybe I could tell you what it is." Gareth says, "I think I know what it is. No!" Paul grabs the spear and stabs Gareth with it.) "The next day you found that David had found Gareth's body so you left the spearhead on the hall table hoping to frame David for Gareth's murder. When we didn't arrest him, you killed him. Why did you do that? Was it because of his book?" Paul says, "His book! It was all MY work." Miriam says, "You killed him for that?" Paul says, "How dare he pass my work off as his own?" Barnaby says, "David had taken two bows along with him. One for himself. One for Miriam. But Miriam had left. You found her bow and you made good use of it." (Flashback: Paul shoots David in the book). Why were you so anxious to support Dr Lavery's assertion the diaries were a fraud? It made no sense after the spear was found and you knew Nathan had seen inside the Barrow." Paul says, "Poor Lavery. Always a liability. Just desperate to get his hands on my diaries, wasn't he? Because he knew they'd expose him as a fraud. I enjoyed watching him squirm while you questioned him. I was afraid he intended to kill poor Nathan Green, the only other witness who had seen the chalice and spear in the Barrow." (Flashback: Paul pushes Lavery into the river where the wheel is going). Paul says, "Nathan Green did not deserve to die. He was a good lad. He worked hard on the dig. I love this house. I was born here. I was happy and fulfilled until Roger Heldman took it all. He left me with NOTHING. I had to take it back."
The chalice and spear are returned to the museum. Barnaby reads the description, "Bronze Celtic chalice and spearhead from the stone chamber in the heart of Midsomer Barrow." Scott says, "I never realised archaeology was such a dangerous business. Is the body count always this high, sir?" Barnaby says, "It has been remarked upon." Scott says, "Three murders just to re-label an object in a glass case." Barnaby says, "Well, there's more to it, Scott, than merely "re-labelling". It was a lie. Now it's the truth."
Cast[]
- John Nettles as DCI Tom Barnaby
- John Hopkins as Sergeant Dan Scott
- Jane Wymark as Joyce Barnaby
- Malcolm Tierney as Per Hansen (originally Paul Heartley-Reade)
- Lynda Bellingham as Jane Willows
- Jim Carter as Nathan Green
- Diana Kent as Anne Heldman
- Nicholas Rowe as David Heartley-Reade
- Rebecca Saire as Miriam Heartley-Reade
- Susannah Doyle as Vanessa Stone
- Terrence Hardiman as Dr. James Lavery
- Nick Barber as Harry Green
- Henry Ian Cusick as Gareth Heldman
- Tim Treloar as Uniformed Police Officer
- Sally Beaumont as Hippy (uncredited)
- Michael Thompson as Hippy (uncredited)
Galleries[]
Body Count[]
Prior to the Episode
Killed in 1970 after the entrance to the Midsomer Barrow was arranged to collapse onto him.
In the Episode
Stabbed repeatedly with an antique spear tip in his right thigh and bled to death.
Shot in the back with an arrow.
Hit on the head with a water wheel crank, then fell into the Millhouse duct where he drowned.
Supporting Cast[]
Episode Images[]
Arrests[]
Per Hansen (Paul Heartley-Reade) for the murders of:
Notes[]
The following actors who appeared in this episode have also appeared in the following episodes:
- Tim Treloar - Birds of Prey, Ghosts of Christmas Past and Secrets and Spies
- Nicholas Rowe - The Sicilian Defence
The heirs to the Heldman estate are Vanessa and Miriam.
Trivia[]
- In the breakfast scene near the start, DCI Tom Barnaby is revealed to be a reader of The Daily Telegraph.
- The mill where Nathan and Harry Green reside is the historic Mapledurham Watermill in the English county of Oxfordshire.
Trials and Tribulations of DS Dan Scott:
- In keeping with the DS manner of speaking, Scott asks Miriam about the Solstice, "And we're talking cosmic climax. Is that it?"
- Scott comes up to Barnaby laughing. "David Heartley-Reade. He's lost the plot, sir."
- Scott has a good time at the Solstice Celebration eating and juggling. Before a death occurs.
- As part of his DS duties, Scott has to break a window to get in the house and save Miriam from Per Hansen.
Quotes[]
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Goofs[]
- The celebrations of fertility the Father Sun mating with Mother Earth, don't take place on the Summer Solstice, they take place at Beltane, 1st of May.
- (At about 1:21:45) The "drowning victim" blinks his eyes slightly in the sun.
Video[]
Midsomer Murders Series 7 Episode 3 - The Fisher King Preview
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