Death in the Slow Lane is the first episode of the fourteenth series of the popular British crime drama Midsomer Murders and first aired 23rd March 2011. John Barnaby makes his first appearance after taking over from his cousin Tom who retired at the end of series thirteen.
Synopsis[]
The new DCI John Barnaby arrives in Causton after his cousin Tom's retirement. DS Jones shows him around and their first case is a murder at a classic car benefit. Jones must adjust to his new boss in order to save the day.
Plot, Part 1[]
49 YEARS AGO:[]
It's Silverstone Saturday, the British Grand Prix, 49 years prior to the main events. The best drivers are racing, including Jamie Brooks in his Ferrari, a young Peter Fossett in his Lotus and Stirling Moss. The race starts and No.9 Brooks sets the early pace, but soon No.47 Duncan Palmer takes the lead in his Cooper with No.53 Peter Fossett on his tail. Fossett makes a last effort to outrun him, but Palmer wins the race on his Cooper. An angry Peter Fossett then watches Duncan Palmer being crowned and acclaimed.
45 years later: A girl from Darnley Park school meets on the fields near it with her boyfriend. They go to the old Darnley Park barn, crawling through a hole in the old door. As they are about to make out on a stacking of hay blocks, the ones near them collapse onto something suspicious. The boy goes to check it out, removing a block and revealing an old sheet on top of something. He partially takes it away, finding the front to an old Cooper with the race numbers 47. As he takes it completely, he discovers, to the girl’s horror, an old skeleton in the driver seat with its right hand reaching down to an old pistol lying on the ground...
PRESENT DAY:[]
In the present, DCI John Barnaby, who has taken over his cousin Tom's job and DS Ben Jones are walking over a bridge and Jones points out various people to Barnaby and the crimes they have committed. One woman walks up to Jones and says "I hear you're running the show now. I did like that Mr. Barnaby but he wasn't really one of us. 20 years- you barely get acquainted." Jones points out that "This is the new DCI, cousin of the other Barnaby." John Barnaby has moved to Causton from Brighton where his wife is a teacher, finishing the term.
Barnaby and Jones drive up to Darnley Park, which is a girls boarding school run by a "terrifying woman, Harriet Wingate." "Private school?" asks Barnaby. "Oh yeah," says Jones. "No peasants here."
Darnley Park is hosting the "Concord d'Elegance," a fancy car competition to raise money for charity, with Darnley Park being the charity. Jones tells Barnaby that he became interested in Classic Cars four years ago when the skeleton of Duncan Palmer was found in a sports car in the barn on Darnley property. Tom was on holiday so Jones got assigned to the case. "Tom took a holiday?" inquires John Barnaby. "Joyce threatened him," replies Jones. The Palmer case was a suicide. Palmer purportedly disappeared in the Lake District. He was shot in the head and the gun found next to the body.
Harriet Wingate greets the detectives asking why Jones didn't get the job of DCI. Ms. Wingate requests the police's help to keep an eye on the car competition since a girls school tends to be an "irresistible magnet to young men." She requests that they keep a particular eye on the "Yobs from the Moorpark Estate." One of the fellows from the nearby council houses was found in the chapel cloisters, Thomas Brightwell. He was trying to sell illegal substances according to Ms. Wingate. "Its the sort of thing those chaps do."
Ms. Wingate goes to a Governor's Meeting. Jamie Cameron, a local businessman and chairman of the board, says they are hemorrhaging cash and students are not coming to Darnley. Cameron says that they should turn Darnley into a state school. Jessica Wingate, daughter of Harriet, agrees with Jamie. Harriet disagrees with the idea.... "Look at the girls who have come out of Darnley- cabinet ministers, MP's, academics, scientists.. This weekend, Kate Cameron, European Businesswoman of the year is coming down..." "What? You invited my ex-wife?" asks Jamie. "10 years (they have been divorced)- surely you're not still squabbling?" The point is, says she, they have never given in. Harriet appeals to other members of the board- "Are you really going to spend the rest of your lives hiding your heads in shame because you voted it out of existence? Those who want to fight on, raise your hands.." The board votes to keep the school the same as it is.
Barnaby and Jones go to Moorpark. Jones knows several of the boys living in Moorpark. "The place isn't too bad, only a handful of idiots." The council supports the arts and some of the residents participate in drama classes with Jessica Wingate. Jones confronts Thomas Brightwell as to what he was doing at Darnley Park. He warns Thomas to stay away from the school. As soon as the cops leave, Thomas is on his phone. "3:24," remarks Barnaby. In case we ever need to find out "who he called the moment we left."
Harriet Wingate welcomes Kate Cameron and Peter Fossett. Harriet takes Peter on a tour and he wants to see Palmer's old car. Jamie confronts his ex-wife, Kate and asks what she is doing here. It is his weekend with Charlotte. She is there to "beat him in "Best in Show."
Charlotte asks Kate if she brought any nice presents from Europe (drugs). Kate asks her how much money she made and is disappointed at how much there is. Charlotte had kept some of the money. Kate wonders if she should deal directly with the drug dealer. Charlotte flounces off.
Barnaby goes to his new home. Jones asks if he needs any help, but Barnaby declines. He walks in the house and says, "Hello, you haven't unpacked much."
Plot, Part 2[]
John Barnaby'is new home is full of boxes that are unpacked and his dog, Sykes. Barnaby talks to his dog about his relationship with Jones, which isn't faring well and a neighbor drops by with a "Welcome to Causton cake." She would like to come in and have tea, but Barnaby tells her it's his medication time. He gives some cake to Sykes.
Back at the barn, Jones is very happy to meet Peter Fossett. Fossett mentions Palmer's car was found in Coniston Water. So he was confused when Palmer was found at Darnley. Jones and other restorers have put the car back together and it's probably worth £ 100,000 now. One of the judges for the competition, D.J. Dave Dogboy Day, drives up. He does volunteer work at Moorpark. He has gone on to be a successful DJ. Squealing girls surround him. Harriet Wingate says to Jessica, "What are you playing at? I do not want our girls contaminated by the dross that crawls out of that estate."
Schoolmates, Nerys and Bethan are reviewing video on their phones. "I bet they didn't mean us to film them doing that!." From her window, Charlotte Cameron calls out to her schoolmates "Oy, Charley's Angels here!." They go up to her room in Darnley. Charlotte has a new mission for her Charley's Angels. They are to take a screwdriver to Thomas Brightwell, Charlotte's "little povvo friend on the estate. He's the young King Arthur and must perform great deeds to win the fair Guinevere." The girls run off.
Fossett tells Day that "classic cars are as much a work of art as pictures in a gallery." Preservation and provenance are equally important. Jones is in the police station complaining about his new DCI. Barnaby is perusing old Motor Sport magazines. He wonders why a man (Duncan Palmer) would stage his own death in the Lake District but actually do the deed down in Midsomer. Another neighbor brings a welcome gift to Barnaby's door. Fossett demonstrates how to start a classic car using the crank to Day. Barnaby goes to the pub and converses with the locals to get to know the place. One man suggests he got the job DCI due of to being a part of the Barnaby dynasty. Barnaby replies that he got the job through normal channels and by sleeping with the commissioner.
Day introduces himself to Kate Cameron. "You uh, want a hand?" Who are you, says Kate. "Dave Day, Dogboy Doggy, the other judge with your old man." "Do you know anything about cars?" Not much, just doing my thing for charity, says Dave. "How much," Kate asks? "How much to give me best in show?" She asks him to just get her car started while she goes to a LaCrosse match. As girls run by on the way to play LaCrosse, Day sees Charlotte running by. He calls out "Yo, Chas. Is that you? Oh my days it is you! What are you doing all dressed up like a St. Trinian girl? Where's the party at?" Charlotte scowls at him. "Oh my days, you're still in school, innit? Oh, you're a bad girl. It's all right. Secret's safe with me. Won't say a word to no one." Charlotte runs off and Day says to himself, "She said she was 25 your honor."
At the LaCrosse game, Charlotte scores a goal. Kate: "Well played, Charlie. God, this takes me back. Darnley did so much for me." Harriet: "Well, maybe you could do something for Darnley." Kate: "I'd love to. But with my company on the verge of collapse, I can't spare a penny." Harriet is actually wondering if she would be on the Board of Governors." Kate: "What about Jamie? Isn't he chairman?" Harriet: "For the moment."
Nerys and Bethan arrive at Thomas Brightwell's home and deliver the screwdriver. "This is your sword. Charlie says you're going to go slay a dragon for her." Thomas calls Charlotte. Charlotte says she "can't do it." She doesn't have the key and she can't steal from her mother. She tells him to "Just Do It" or no sweeties.
That evening, Day comes out to start Kate's car just as Brightwell is stealing the drugs from the box on the side of the car. Brightwell slinks off. Jamie Cameron comes by and asks what Day is doing. "Just remember, she likes to kill and eat her mates when she is finished with them." Thomas is still watching from under the tree, he then disappears off into the night. At Darnley Park the lights are on and some girls are still about.
Dave Doggy Dave is pumping the accelerator while reading the manual. He gets out and goes around the front, inserts the crank handle. Doggy cranks and the motor bursts into life. Dave straightens up and he drops to his knees, arms aloft in worship of the car. Unseen by Doggy, as he’s bending down, a figure slips into the driving seat. He looks up and his eyes widen and surprise as he sees the unseen figure in the car. The figure shoves the car into gear, revs it and accelerates into Doggy.
Plot, Part 3[]
John Barnaby'is new home is full of boxes that are unpacked and his dog, Sykes. Barnaby talks to his dog about his relationship with Jones, which isn't faring well and a neighbor drops by with a "Wel
Pathologist, Dr. George Bullard is at the scene the next morning and says it was likely an accident. Jones asks for fingerprints. Kate comes over and wants to get to her car, but Jones says no. Jamie Cameron confronts her "you left a novice in charge of a five liter tank?" apparently thinking it is an accident. Harriet wonders who will judge the competition now. Jones says "You're still going ahead with the event???" Harriet says "I'm sure that is what Mr. Day would have wanted." Jones looks at Barnaby furiously who says "It's the boarding school thing. Leaves them unacquainted with normal human emotions." I guess that's your Psychology studies, says Jones. Common sense, says Barnaby. Barnaby talks to Nerys and Bethan who are videotaping and making a Video Diary for their class. He tells them to keep it up.
Jamie drops by Jessica's office. She is sad about the death of Day who had been doing really well. Then they start making out. Nerys is videotaping outside the window. At the police station, Jones is not too pleased with Barnaby who told him they are not there to "police the middle classes." He scoffs at Barnaby's degree in Psychology. Charlotte meets Brightwell in a field near the school. He gives her a bag of drugs. She kisses him and makes plans to meet him Friday night at 10. Barnaby asks Jones about his report on Day's death. He asks why he wanted to get fingerprints. There were no fingerprints on the gear shift. Ben realizes it must have been a murder not an accident.
Kate is angry with Charlotte since the Metal Box on her car has been broken into (by Thomas Brightwell). Charlotte denies knowing who took the contents. Jones comes by and asks her why she is messing with the car- it is a crime scene. Jones tells Ms. Wingate and Kate that this is now a criminal investigation. Barnaby asks to talk to Kate alone. He asks what caused the breakup of her marriage. Kate said Jamie was too stupid and "rubbish in bed. I dearly love the middle classes. So quaintly moralistic," says Kate. Kate runs a trucking company. Jamie talks to Barnaby about Kate. "Kate is a ball busting bitch. Ruthless Corporate Raider." Kate and her father are "thick as thieves." She judges everyone by their tangible successes.
Fossett comes by to judge the cars. Kate tells her father to rule her out from winning best of show. Kate blocks the broken box on her car when Barnaby comes by. Brightwell is found wandering around the car show. Jones tells him he will be watching him. Barnaby observes Nerys and Bethan videotaping a car. He asks them what they do with their video diaries. They upload them on the English Studies computer for assessment. But not all of them. Some are not suitable for uploading... Fossett presents the prize of "Best of Show" to the Cooper T-45, the car that belonged to Palmer and was restored by the restoration team Jones participated on.
Plot, Part 4[]
Harriet Wingate angrily walks down the hall and shows Jessica a DVD of herself and Jamie making love, which was apparently uploaded by mistake? Jessica says it has nothing to do with her mother. She loves Jamie and he loves her. Harriet says "You Stupid, Stupid Girl. What would a man like him see in you?" "In me he sees someone who doesn't abuse and humiliate him." Harriet says Jessica will have to go. Imagine the damage if this got into the gutter press. Jessica continues watching the video after her mother walks off. Jessica drives over to Jamie's home and they watch the video of themselves. Jessica says "that's the way I like it, u huh, u huh." Jessica asks Jamie what he thinks of her "Plan." Jessica goes to her mother's office. Harriet says she has nothing more to say to her. Jessica says she will release the video to the press unless Harriet retires. Jamie and Jessica will then turn the school into a proper school. Harriet apologizes and they hug.
Charlotte is in her room applying makeup, jewelry and a slinky dress. Nerys is covering for her and staying in her bed overnight. Charlotte gets picked up by a car, arrives at a club and picks up a black bag. Kate and her father Peter are in a restaurant. She is troubled about who broke the lock on her box on her car. They go back to their hotel room.
Later, Thomas Brightwell is discovered dead by the side of a road.
Plot, Part 5[]
Police arrive and find that the car was tampered with. The road Brightwell was on is near Darnley Park. The cops wonder if Thomas was on the way to see Jessica, his drama coach. "Contrary to popular opinion, I am not some woman who will get it wherever she can." Jessica shows Jones the video of her and her lover, Jamie. Barnaby takes off with Jessica's laptop. Barnaby goes to talk to Harriet Wingate. She was in a relationship with Duncan Palmer. Jessica is Duncan's daughter.
Jones gets a call that Charlotte Cameron has been picked up for selling cocaine to an undercover officer. Barnaby and Jones go to interview her. She had a sizable stash of drugs. Dealer size. Charlotte claims that Thomas Brightwell made her take the drugs. He "threatened her." Barnaby says she is lying through her teeth. Barnaby tells her that Brightwell was killed in a vehicle accident.
Barnaby and Jones go back to examine the box on the side of Kate's car. Barnaby tells Kate that Charlotte has been arrested on drug dealing. Barnaby asks Jones to find Bullard and have him examine every inch of the car. Jones asks Jamie if he was aware of Charlotte's drug dealing. Jamie states she is "No daughter of mine."
Kate denies that she knew the drugs were in the car and states that Charlotte was manipulated by Brightwell. "Where does Charlotte's father come into this," asks Barnaby suggestively. He knows that Jamie is NOT Charlotte's father. Kate ignores him and asks that all charges be dropped. Barnaby brings in Nerys and Bethan who have video of Kate and Charlotte and their drug interactions with Brightwell. Supplying, selling and receiving drugs.
George Bullard examined the skull of Duncan Palmer who shows photos of the shooting. Barnaby points out that Duncan was left handed and couldn't have shot himself. Bullard and Jones both accuse each other of not finding out that Duncan was left handed.
Plot Denouement[]
Barnaby calls someone and asks if they can meet up... He meets up with Peter Fossett at the old barn. Fossett bashes Barnaby on the head and hoists him from the rafters. Barnaby had to use all of his psychological training to keep Fossett talking and explaining what he had done. Dave Day was killed because he knew Charlotte from the clubs and could have exposed her. Thomas Brightwell was killed because Fossett saw him stealing the drugs from Kate's car, per Charlotte's request. Fossett also killed Duncan Palmer years ago by luring him to the barn with a fake message from young Harriet, knocking him out and then shooting him and rigging it up to appear to be a suicide. Duncan Palmer had an affair with Fossett's wife. Kate is Palmer's daughter. Not too hard to figure out as Fossett never had red hair in his family. Since Kate was not his daughter, Fossett seduced her and Charlotte is their child. Turns out Duncan Palmer was also in a relationship with Harriet Wingate and Jessica is his daughter.
Jones arrives just in the nick of time to save Barnaby!!
Cast[]
- Neil Dudgeon as DCI John Barnaby
- Jason Hughes as DS Ben Jones
- Barry Jackson as Dr George Bullard
- David Warner as Peter Fossett
- Edna Doré as Granny Brightwell
- Susan Engel as Harriet Wingate
- Lucy Briers as Jessica Wingate
- Tim Dutton as Jamie Cameron
- Samantha Bond as Kate Cameron
- Clara Paget as Charlotte Cameron
- Luke Allen-Gale as Dave Dogboy Day
- Sid Mitchell as Thomas Brightwell
- Gwyneth Keyworth as Bethan
- Daisy Keeping as Nerys
- Darren Clarke as Daniel
- Barry Aird as Jock
- Cate Fowler as Mrs Carter
- Francine Morgan as Deirdre
- Nicholas Asbury as Henry
- Grahame Fox as Nick the Money
- Jack Bence as Freddy
- Josie Kidd as Peggy
- Leah Whitaker as WPC
- Richard Clifford as Hugh Snape
- James Richard Marshall as Young Peter Fossett
- James O'Donnell as Duncan Palmer (uncredited)
- James Philip Shaw as Unruly Youth (uncredited)
- Nick Thomas-Webster as CID Officer (uncredited)
- Chris Wilson as Police Officer (uncredited)
Galleries[]
Body Count[]
Prior to the Episode
After he was lured to the barn near Darnley Park with a love letter and drove his Cooper T45 there, was knocked unconscious with a wooden plank hung by a rope. His car was then brought inside, he was lifted, put in it and made to shot himself in the head with a pistol to make it appear as a suicide. This happened 49 years ago.
In the Episode
As he started Kate's classic car with a crank handle and laid down excited of his accomplishment in front of it, the car was put in gear and he was impaled to death with the crank's tip in the chest.
The steering connector from his MGA was almost cut through, making him to lose control of the vehicle at the first turn and be killed in a car crash.
Body Count Notes[]
- All the murders took place in or around classic cars.
Supporting Cast[]
Episode Images[]
Arrests[]
- Peter Fossett- for the murders of
- Duncan Palmer
- Dave Doggy Day
- Thomas Brightwell
- Attempted murder of DCI John Barnaby
- Kate Cameron- for supplying, selling and receiving drugs
- Charlotte Cameron - for supplying, selling and receiving drugs
Notes[]
- First appearance of Sykes the dog.
- Sarah Barnaby does not appear in this episode as she is still teaching class in Brighton.
The following actors and actresses who appeared in this episode have also appeared in the following episodes
- Samantha Bond - Destroying Angel and Shot at Dawn
- Susan Engel - Sins of Commission
- Francine Morgan - Picture of Innocence
- Barry Aird - Shot at Dawn
- A woman meets Jones as he is walking on the bridge with the new DCI Barnaby. She tells Jones that the previous Mr. Barnaby wasn't really "one of us. 20 years- you barely get acquainted."
- A woman brings a cake to Barnaby's door and suggests that she could, "murder a cup of tea." Barnaby tells her it is his "medication time."
- The "Yobs from the Moorpark Estate" or the "dross" who live on the "estate" (who Harriet Wingate refers to) are people who live in government subsidized housing somewhere near Darnley Park. Thomas Brightwell lives in such. Harriet thinks he is selling illegal substances- that's the "sort of thing those chaps do."
Trivia[]
- John Barnaby is Tom's cousin in the show.
- First appearance of Sykes the dog who was previously known as Harvey in the Thinkbox advert. Sykes was a rescue dog.
- "Dave Doggy Day" looks at Charlotte, and says "thought you was a St Trinians.....". Clara Paget, who played Charlotte was in the movie St Trinian's 2: The Legend of Fritton's Gold (2009).
- Bearwood College, Wokingham is used for Darnley Park, this is the second time it has been used as a location in Midsomer Murders having previously been used in the episode Murder on St Malleys Day in season 5 where it was doubled for Devington school.
- The song lyrics spoken by Jessica Wingate, "That's the way, uh huh, uh huh, I like it," is from That's the Way (I Like It) by KC and the Sunshine band.
- Jessica Wingate is played by Lucy Briers, daughter of Richard Briers. Richard played Stephen Wentworth in Death's Shadow.
- Nerys and Bethan are "Charlie's Angels," pets of Charlotte's They are scholarship girls.
Trials and Tribulations of DS Ben Jones:
- Poor Ben has to put up with people asking him why he didn't get the DCI job. (He was too young).
- Ben is having difficulty in dealing with his new boss, who has a psychology degree. Barnaby tells him, "It's the boarding school thing. Leaves them unacquainted with normal human emotions" and that they are "not there to police the middle classes."
Romantic Entanglements:
In case of confusion, here is who is into who:
- 49 years ago, or more, Duncan Palmer had an affair with Peter Fossett's wife and this resulted in the birth of Kate Cameron.
- Duncan Palmer also had an affair with Harriet Wingate which resulted in the birth of Jessica Wingate.
- Peter Fossett slept with his "daughter" Kate, since they are not biologically related. This produced Charlotte Cameron.
- Kate Cameron was married to Jamie Cameron. They have been divorced 10 years and he is having an affair with Jessica Wingate.
- Charlotte Cameron is in a relationship with Thomas Brightwell in order to deal drugs with him.
Quotes[]
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Goofs[]
- Sgt Jones says that when Palmer's remains were found in his racing car under a sheet and under some bales of straw in a barn, it was assumed that the death was suicide since his gun was next to him, without at anytime wondering how after committing suicide the dead man managed to hide himself under a sheet and several bales.
- Not to mention, the bales of hay Palmer was under would not have survived 45 years in the barn; they would have rotted away long before then.
