Second Sight is the fifth episode of the eighth series of the popular ITV crime drama Midsomer Murders and originally aired 23rd January 2005.
Synopsis[]
DCI Barnaby and DS Scott investigate the death of a man in the village of Midsomer Mere. He had just been ejected from a pub for fighting but the post mortem shows a series of burn marks on his skull indicating he may have been subject to electric shock. Barnaby and Scott have their hands full determining who the murderer is.
Plot, Part 1[]
At night, animals scream, birds shriek, dogs bark. A man removes his barometer from the wall. In the background, a forecast is being announced: “Another low developing, expected southeast Iceland…”
At the Luck in the World pub, Jimmy Kirby throws out a man and says, “Clear off! Go on!” The man, John Ransom, stumbles off and holds his head. He starts screaming. Lucky Lol Tanner locks the door of his shop, Lucky Lol Tanner’s Betting Shop, hears the screaming looks around. Jimmy Kirby comes out of his pub and says, “Hey, what's the matter? He didn't hit you that hard.” John swings his fists at Jimmy.
Little Mal Kirby writes down numbers on a clipboard. He sets his barometer and shines the glass. The forecast continues in the background. ...
MURDER 1: John struggles against several men trying to hold him from hitting them. Jimmy tells the men to, “Get a doctor for him. Get a doctor.” John stops struggling and Jimmy sets him down on the ground. “He's dead,” says Jimmy.
In the morning, at the Barnaby’s home, DCI Tom Barnaby’s toast pops up and he starts buttering it. Joyce Barnaby says, “Why can't you tell me?” Cully Barnaby replies, “Cos, it's meant to be a surprise.” Barnaby says, “Hello, Cully. You know your mother does not like surprises.” Cully says, “Well, she'll like this one.” Barnaby says, “Will she? Why? Is it a good one?” Cully says, “No, no, no, no. You're not catching me out like that.” Barnaby says, “I don’t suppose I could ask you a couple of questions, could I?” Cully responds, “I thought I wasn’t obliged to say anything unless I wish to do so.” Barnaby says, “Well, feel obliged.” Cully says, “I’m taking you to dinner.” Barnaby says, “Are you? Somewhere nice?” Cully says, “Mmm. The Crown. Tonight.” Barnaby says, “The Crown!!” Then the phone rings. Barnaby says, “I’m going to have to suspend this interview. But she'll crack if we give her some breakfast.” Joyce asks, “So is it a special occasion?”
At the morgue, Pathologist, Dr. George Bullard, shows Barnaby the dead body. His name is John Ransom, 24 years old, well-nourished male. According to his license, he lived at Midsomer Mere, where he died. He had been in a fight, but his death had more to do with electrical burns- 14 across his scalp. There are small traces of adhesive on the skin. There is also a phenomenal amount of alcohol in his blood. Bullard had the brain scanned and the dark area on the scan looks like an embolism. Bullard says, “My guess is somebody got him drunk, stuck electrodes in his head and deep-fried his brain.”
In the village of Midsomer Mere, Scott is interviewing Jimmy, who says, “He went completely berserk.” Barnaby drives up and asks Scott where his tie is. Scott pulls one out of his pocket, which is floral and doesn't match his shirt. He reports, “The landlord's in there. He reckons he threw the bloke out and who then turned on him.” Scott puts on his tie, which doesn’t go with his shirt. Barnaby goes in the pub and speaks to Jimmy Kirby. Jimmy says, “I threw him out. I went to close the door, he started wailing like a banshee. He went completely off his nut, took six of us just to hold him down. Do you know, before he died, he got this funny little look in his eyes? (Scott comes in) Like a drunk man who'd just seen half a dozen ghosts.”
Barnaby says, “I want to go to Lower Mere House. I need to talk to the deceased's next-of-kin. Scott says, “What do you reckon, sir? One too many horror films?” referring to Jimmy. Barnaby says, “I don't know about that. What I do know, if memory serves, is that Lower Mere House used to be an asylum for Midsomer's insane.”
Barnaby and Scott drive out to Lower Mere House. The door is open and no one answers Barnaby’s knock. Scott goes off to look for someone. Dr. Gregory Ransom comes down the stairs. He is John’s father. Scott goes to look at the yellow car in front of the house which has a bag full of money and a betting slip.
Dr. Ransom says he last saw John yesterday afternoon. “He took my car. If he was true to form, he went to some pub, where he would've stayed until he got into a fight or was too drunk to start one.” Barnaby asks how Dr. Ransom feels about the loss of his son. Ransom says, “John had no love for me, or anyone else, for that matter. His only concerns were for himself, for his appetites. Let's just say my feelings for John were conditioned by the fact that I knew him for what he was.
Scott comes in and shows Barnaby the bag of money (6 grand) and the betting slip. Ransom takes the bag and tosses it on his desk. Ransom says, “From Lol Tanner- An unlucky bookie. If you want to know where John was yesterday, start there and work your way to where he died.” Barnaby tells Scott to locate Lol Tanner. Then he tells Dr. Ransom that he is obliged to investigate the death of his son, who had a number of injuries on his body. Specifically, 14 small contact points spread evenly across the top of his skull. Dr. Ransom says, “He got those courtesy of Max. His brother. When he wired John up inside the cage.”
Plot, Part 2[]
Dr. Ransom shows Barnaby the cage: “It's a Faraday cage. Blocks out stray electromagnetic radiation. It means that a signal from a radio or a mobile telephone can't get in. The machine measures brain activity. The contacts were fitted to John's scalp. He was wired in yesterday morning.” Max Ransom comes in and says, “Being a lab rabbit for me.”
Scott goes to Lol Tanner’s Betting Shop and there is no sign of him. Out by the road, Scott spies Preaching Pete Kubatski serving tea and cookies.
Max tells Barnaby, “Pa made his money in the '50s. Helped develop the polygraph with the Yanks. This machine measures brain waves. Alpha, theta, delta. Alpha is the one that's interesting, though, 8-12 cycles per second. See this curve? That's what your brain is doing when you daydream. Or perhaps engage in imaginative thought. This machine can teach people to produce alpha.”
Scott follows Pete to his church. He asks Pete if he knows where Lol Tanner is. Pete suggests he look for him in the pub. Emma Kirby comes in the church. She tells Pete that they can’t go ahead with her daughter, Christine’s, baptism. Then she starts to cry.
In his basement studio, Max says, “John's natural ability to guess at hidden cards was way above average. It increased tenfold after producing alpha. It's what we're investigating. Precognition. ESP. The way that some people seem to be luckier than others and some...You picked a red triangle, a blue and red square, then a black cross...” Barnaby turns over the cards he has picked and Max got them all right. Max continues, “..have what we call second sight. The ability to predict events which should be unpredictable.”
In the church, the baby cries. Pete tells Emma that they should go ahead with the baptism to bring folks together.
In the pub, Scott finds Lol Tanner, who is drunk. Jimmy Kirby tells Scott, “Whoever told you you could wear that flowery tie with that shirt, they want locking up in their own police cell.” The crowd laughs. Scott says, “I don't know what you're laughing at. You're our chief suspect.”
Barnaby tells Scott that he wants him to find an electrician. Somebody who can check over a Faraday cage. Scott shows Barnaby Lol Tanner. Scott tells Barnaby that, “Word is John Ransom put him out of business yesterday and he spent the afternoon in the pub.” Barnaby says, “That explains the high level of alcohol in his blood. But I've also discovered where John spent the morning. He was wired up to an electric chair in an experiment for his brother. And I’ve also discovered something rather interesting about Midsomer Mere.” Scott says, “Everyone knows what’s going to happen next.” Jimmy Kirby told Scott about the Kirbys and the Ransoms. The Kirbys are supposed to be able to see into the future. They call it second sight.
The detectives go into the pub. Scott tells Barnaby that Jimmy Kirby knew what tie he was wearing before he came into the pub. Barnaby quips, “I should think everyone between here and Causton knows you're wearing it. Don't tell me you believe all this?”Scott says, “No, I'm just saying that my nan was superstitious.” Barnaby retorts, “Well, Scott, luckily for this investigation, my nan wasn’t.”
Little Mal is out walking along the road with a shovel. He walks toward the pub and stops when he sees Barnaby’s car.
Barnaby says, “Mr Kirby. There was an altercation yesterday involving John Ransom before you threw him out of the pub. You forgot to mention that, didn’t you?” Jimmy says, “Well, Big Ben gave John Ransom a slap, yeah.” Big Ben is Jimmy’s little cousin.
Barnaby says, “Mr Kirby, John Ransom died last night with cuts and abrasions on his face consistent with having been beaten up. I think it would be a very good idea if you told me what went on and where I can find your little cousin.” Jimmy says, “You can ask all the questions you like, but it won't do you any good. John Ransom always had one foot in his grave. He'd been up in that lab. Why do you think he had to start using his brother, Inspector? Cos none of us would go up there. Some of us have still got the scars to prove it.” Jimmy looks toward a man sitting on a stool at the bar who has electric burn marks on his head.
Jimmy says, “You wanna know what that fight was about, talk to Preaching Pete. If you wanna know what killed the man, you go and tell Dr Ransom you want 200 Quid for the morning to go and sit in his chair. Let Mad Max get inside your skull, like he's doing it with his fingers. But you better book yourself a nice long holiday afterwards cos you're gonna have one hell of a headache.” Jimmy puts coins in the slot machine and starts getting coins back. “You go and see Preaching Pete. He's...polishing his candlesticks.”
Plot, Part 3[]
The detectives go to see Pete. Pete tells them that John Ransom did come and see him yesterday about the baptism of Emma and Ben Kirby's daughter. Emma Kirby was Emma Ransom before she married Ben. The two object to Preaching Pete baptizing the child. Pete explains that he came to Midsomer Mere at Emma Kirby's request. She heard him preaching in Birmingham but grew up in Midsomer Mere and wanted to bring something back. Pete has been given 12 months to bring religion to the village instead of the false religion of scientific reason or paganism.
Barnaby tells Scott to go back to Lower Mere House to get the name of the Ransoms' solicitor and to see if John Ransom made a will and who benefits.
At Emma Kirby’s house, Ben Kirby walks in on Emma and his baby daughter. Ben’s face is scratched. He grabs his bag and slips out the back door of the cottage just as Barnaby knocks on the front door.
Barnaby sees a photo of Emma Kirby with her class from school. She is a teacher at Midsomer Mere Primary. Barnaby asks about her brother John’s death. Emma says
John had second sight. Ben doesn’t have it. Emma and Ben have faith, go to church and believe in the gospel. The families want to stop the baptism of Christine because it puts her out of reach. Emma says, “My family are scientists, pure and simple. Ben's are con artists. Can you imagine Christine's life if they thought she had second sight? She's never going to hear about second sight. She’s 6 months old and is never going to hear about second sight- she's being baptized.
Dr. Ransom burns files at his house. He hears a noise and birds flutter away.
Scott calls Barnaby and tells him John Ransom never made a will. Barnaby calls Joyce to tell her he might be a bit late to dinner at the Crown. While driving, Barnaby is looking at some papers and nearly runs down Mal Kirby. When Barnaby gets out of the car Mal runs away.
MURDER 2: Dr. Ransom goes into his house and calls for Max. Someone comes up the stairs who Dr. Ransom recognizes. Then they push him down the stairs.
When Barnaby arrives at the Crown, he receives a call from Scott about Dr. Ransom’s death. Bullard tells him that he’s been dead for about an hour from a broken neck. He either fell from the top of the steps or was pushed. Scott reports that the front door was wedged open and just about anybody could walk in. The detectives find files in the back yard that someone was trying to burn. Scott tells Barnaby that Ben Kirby had a previous arrest when he was 17 for knocking out a couple of local lads with a pool cue.
Barnaby finally arrives at the Crown later for dinner and sees Joyce walking out. “She wants to do a job where she gets changed in a van.” Cully follows and says, “I should've listened to you. You said Mum didn't like surprises.” The three arrive home and Cully goes to make tea for her mum. Cully says, “It's theatre in education. It'll be interesting.
I'll be staying with a friend from drama school. Causton was never a way of life. It was just meant to tide me over. It's ten shows to begin with. Ten more if we get funding.” Barnaby says, “I understand. It's not the most wonderful job in the world. Not the National. It'll be hard for her, but it's what she wants to do.” Joyce says, “Tom, I just want her to be happy.”
Max Ransom creeps up outside Emma’s house. Barnaby and Scott go in to talk to Emma about her father’s death. Emma tells Barnaby that Ben is out. The baby starts to cry. Barnaby looks out the front door. Max knocks on the door, but when he sees Barnaby he runs. Scott runs after and tackles him. The baby stops crying.
At the police station, the detectives interview Max. Barnaby says, “I need you to account for your movements this evening, starting with what time you left your house.”
About an hour ago.” Max says he went for a walk. Barnaby wonders why he ran when he answered the door instead of Emma. Barnaby says, “I found your research, well, the remains of your research up at the house. Was it you who burned it? You told me that John had a talent for precognition. You cleaned out the local bookies, presumably meaning that your experiment was a great success. Who burned your research?” Max says, “Me. Did you notice the way the kid behaved? Were there floods of tears when I knocked on the door? Come on! You're coppers! Good observational skills. Did you notice whether Christine started crying BEFORE I knocked?” Barnaby suspends the interview and tells Scott to put Max in a cell.
Plot, Part 4[]
Barnaby tells Scott to set up an incident room at the primary school in Midsomer Mere. Also, to get ahold of the Ransoms' solicitor and find out who inherits the Ransom money now.
At home, Barnaby climbs into the attic looking for a box of newspaper clippings. He also brings down a box of magic tricks. He tells Joyce that Cully sees the job as a career starter, not a back-of-the-van job.
The next day, the police set up an incident room in the primary school. Barnaby looks around. Barnaby says, “I think I've figured out what this precognition, this second sight, is all about. A lot of over-fertile imaginations engaged in wishful thinking.” Scott says, “Right, well, the SOCOs have finished in the lab. The electrician is back in, having another look at the Faraday cage. This is the carrier bag from the Lotus, with Tanner's receipt in it. I just found it in Dr Ransom's office minus 6,000 quid. Max is mad- He wants a solicitor and threw his breakfast over the custody sergeant.” Barnaby says, “An odd manifestation of grief for a man who lost his father and brother.”
Barnaby strolls over to speak to Romany Rose on the green of Midsomer Mere. He tells her “The penalties for gaining pecuniary advantages through deception can be very severe.” Rose says, “I am a bona fide psychic.” Barnaby says, “Well, there's a lot of that here. It's funny that a medium to the crowned heads of Europe couldn't spot that I am with the CID. Now, I'm gonna make a prediction. When I get back, that won't be here,” referring to the van. Rose says, “I knew you were gonna say that.”
Mal Kirby is working on one of his weather machines when Ben drives up. Ben says, “You haven't heard?” Mal says, “What?” Ben tells Mal, “I got in a fight with John. The police are all over the house. I need somewhere to lie low, just for a couple of days. Until they find out I didn't kill him.”
At the Ransom house, Scott tells Barnaby that someone rewired up the chair and blew every fuse in the place. The transformer goes up as high as whatever's coming in off the mains. Barnaby goes to speak to Max Ransom. “We've tested the wiring, Mr Ransom. We know what was going on. You were using electrical shocks to reinforce correct answers. Or to put it another way, you'd shock whoever was in the chair every time they got an answer wrong. But then you started upping the voltage, didn't you? Your brother John was given a severe electrical shock just before he died. Severe enough to leave burns on his body. You started with 50 volts and then you worked your way up, didn't you? But you were so determined to get him to give you the right answers, you ended up giving him enough electricity to kill him.”
Max says, “If you trust science, second sight might help you find your killer.” Barnaby says, “I'll tell you what. Why don't we run a little test, eh? I was so inspired by your demonstration the other day. I thought I'd come equipped to do a little experiment.” Barnaby places cards down on the table. “Now…find me the nine of diamonds. How about the nine of any suit? Pick up any diamond. How about a red card? Evens? You've no more got second sight than I have. You simply memorized the flash cards in the cage to show what you can do.” Barnaby tells Scott to have the custody sargeant to hold Max for the full 48 hours.
Later, Barnaby asks Scott how much he knows about Antonio Salieri. Antonio Salieri was suspected of the murder of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart on December 5th, 1791 out of a great jealousy for the great genius he himself did not possess. Barnaby thinks the case of Salieri is similar to that of Max Ransom- killing people for the gift of second sight which he did not possess.
Emma comes to the police site and tells Barnaby that she is concerned about Mal Kirby.
Plot, Part 5[]
The detectives drive over to Mal’s house. It is pouring down rain. Scott asks about the mini house on Mal’s land. Barnaby says, “That is a Stevenson screen. It houses instruments for measuring temperature, humidity, and barometric pressure.”
Ben Kirby sees the police drive up and runs out the back door of Mal’s house. Mal hides from the police. Barnaby comes in the door anyway. Barnaby says, “Mr Kirby? Little Mal? You're the man in the lane, aren't you? I'm Detective Chief Inspector Barnaby. Are you all right?” Scott comes in the house. “This is Detective Sergeant Scott. We want to ask you about Ben Kirby, Emma Kirby's husband. We want to speak to him about a fight in the pub with John Ransom. Emma thinks you know where he is.” Mal says, “He's not here.” Scott taps on his barometer. Mal says, “Don't bloody touch that! Don't touch nothing! Don't touch that again or I'll kill you. It's a scientific instrument. Mustn't be disturbed.”
Barnaby says, “Ben Kirby?” Mal says, “Ben was worried about hitting John Ransom. He was here last night and...he's gone now.” Barnaby asks, “What about Max Ransom, Mal? Did he want you to take part in those experiments? Did he want you to sit in the cage? I'm talking about second sight, Mal. Emma says that you have it and that Max had asked her to come here to talk to you about it. Sorry. I'm trying to understand why a man with second sight needs that (barometer) and a Stevenson screen to tell him about the weather.” Mal says angrily, “You listen to me. I don't use it. Second sight's nothing to smile about and joke. It's not a blessing neither and if I don't choose to use it, that's up to me.” The police leave.
Barnaby tells Scott to go down to the cashpoint at the garage and take out 100 on expenses, then spend the rest of the afternoon in that pub, losing every penny. Barnaby wants to find out once and for all whether second sight is for real or a hoax. He drops Scott off at the pub. Then Barnaby chases after Preaching Pete. Pete says, “This church has been empty for years. No congregation. No believers. I've got to pluck Midsomer Mere like a burning brand from the fire. They said that in Birmingham. I quadrupled the congregation. They needed a PA for all the folk who couldn't get in. That's why they call me Preaching Pete. I said I'd do the same here. So, a baptism would be quite a victory. It's a symbol of a hope-filled future. Little Mal won't even set foot inside church. He's ducked every wedding, every funeral, every christening for the last 20 years. He's what's wrong with this village, Inspector.”
In the pub, Scott plays cards and loses all his cash. Then Scott and Barnaby are told about the big mirror behind the bar. Jimmy can see all of Scott's cards.
Bullard calls Barnaby and tells him that John died from a simple blood clot from a blow to the head. Barnaby asks Bullard to lift a couple of DNA samples from both the bodies.
Max Ransom leaves the jail and turns down police protection. Bullard tells Barnaby that John Ransom’s DNA profile is different from his father’s. Barnaby says, “Apart from them not looking alike, precognition or second sight, if it exists, is inherited. Inherited in this case through the Kirby bloodline, not the Ransoms. What threw me was that Max Ransom appeared to have it, but he doesn't. John Ransom did have it. But for one reason and one reason alone. He was part Kirby.”
Barnaby tells Scott to get after the solicitor and find out if any Kirby benefits from the death of the male Ransoms and if any of that hinges on Ben and Emma baptizing their child.
Ben goes to Pete’s house and tells him that the baptism is off until after the funerals.
Barnaby goes to talk to Emma. He wants to know about her father’s will because John died of a head injury. He was struck with a blunt instrument- he didn’t die as a result of acting as guinea pig in Max's experiments. So, the killer is probably still out there. Max himself is at risk. Dr. Ransom was not John's biological father. Barnaby asks, “Did John know his father was a Kirby?” Emma says, “Max knew. He'd taken samples from Jimmy and the others. He knew John had Kirby DNA. John wanted to know who was going to be godfather. I told him we wanted Little Mal.” Barnaby says, “And why would Little Mal's presence as a godparent upset John?” Emma says, “I'll show you.” Emma drives with Barnaby over to the primary school. She points out where Ben used to sit.
Emma says, “I was seven. We'd just come in off the playground. (Flashback: Mal Kirby is running to the primary school. A truck at the top of the hill starts to rolll down the hill toward the school. Mal comes in the classroom and tells everyone “I need everybody to stand up. We're gonna play a game. Like Ship To Shore. The one who gets furthest away from me wins the prize.” The children run away from the windows and outside . One child still sits at his desk and Mal grabs him and runs and the truck crashes into the school.) There is an article about the incident on the wall of the schoolroom. Emma says, “If it hadn't been for Mal, half of us would have been killed.
The newspaper article says “Mal Kirby, the 21-year-old farm worker, cannot explain the impulse which drove him from his tractor into a sprint to Midsomer Mere Primary where 27 children and their teacher had been sheltering from the rain, moments before a lorry crashed there.” Emma says, “I stopped believing in luck when I was 7.” Barnaby says, “Which is when your mother met Little Mal, John's real dad.”
Plot, Part 6[]
MURDER 3: Barnaby drops Emma off while Max lurks in the trees outside Emma’s house. It is pouring outside. The baby starts to cry. Max hears a movement behind him. Someone picks up a branch and slugs Max over the head with it. The baby continues to cry. Emma opens the door and the baby stops crying.
Barnaby goes to see Mal Kirby. Barnaby says, “There's a special connection between you and Ben Kirby. Something you haven't told me. Something to do with the fact you haven't always been a recluse. Once, you were the hero of the village. Emma showed me the classroom. And she also showed me the photo...of you with the children. The ones you kept out of harm's way. Like I think you're trying to keep Ben out of harm's way now. I know that you are the father of John Ransom. He got his gift from you. That's why Max wants Emma to persuade you to go to the lab. And it's also why Max wants the child, Christine, isn't it? Because she's like John. A child of a Kirby and a Ransom. And Dr Ransom knew. That's why he told me his feelings for John were always conditioned by knowing what he was. But Mal, I cannot make the other connection. Between a man responsible for an act of integrity and bravery...and a compulsive, obsessive recluse, always making notes about the air pressure. Why aren't you in the pub with Jimmy?”
Mal says, “Second sight's not to be celebrated. If I choose not to use it, that's up to me. Barnaby says, “We've met before, haven't we? Mal? And I mean apart from me trying to knock you over last night.” Mal says, “Oh, I've been waiting for you to be there almost 20 years. WAS using it (second sight). Hell of a lot. More even than Jimmy. Card games. Horses. And then, one day...under a clear blue sky...I sat down on the village green...to see how far I could see into my own future. I saw all the way. Right to the manner of my own death. It starts with you and the black car. It almost ran me down in the lane and then you get out and you ask me if I'm all right. And then...it ends in a storm....not like the one at the school. Like '87. And me dead in the doorway of the church.” The phone rings and Barnaby pick it up. Scott tells him that Mal Kirby is the chief beneficiary of the Ransom estate in the event of both John and Max Ransom dying. And Max Ransom has just been murdered.
Bullard reports that Max has been dead for less than an hour hit by something like a tree branch.
Pete opens his letter from the Bishop. The letter says that indicates that Pete is going to be relocated to a different parish.
Barnaby goes through some old papers and finds an article about when he was a DC and encountered Mal Kirby. He collects Scott, who is sitting on the car eating an ice cream cone. They get in the car and Barnaby speeds off. Scott says he thinks the whole thing is a con job.
Barnaby sees Lol Tanner pass by and goes after him. Barnaby sees Lol putting money in the fridge. Lol says, “The cash is mine by rights. I was the one who was cheated. All I wanted to do was talk to the father. I wanted to tell him what I thought of his weasel of a son. I walk up there, front door's open. I walk in, saw the carrier bag. I could hear him arguing with his other lad in the kitchen. Bag was on his desk. Six grand was in it. I decided I must need it more than they did. So, I...I took it. They were both still alive when I walked out.” Lol says he’s been shacked up with Romany Rose since she arrived. Lol tries to take the money and leave but Barnaby says no since he is implicated in 3 murders.
Emma is at her home crying and praying and the baby starts crying. Emma looks around and goes to the door and says, “It's you.”
Romany Rose goes to the police station to pick up Lol Tanner. She says, “Let him go and I'll give you all the help you need to solve the murder.” Barnaby says, “I'm afraid I have had it up to here with all this hocus-pocus. My sergeant took the trouble to look you up on the computer. Romany Rose, Flower of the Carpathians. Alias Gloria Pitt from Audenshaw, Manchester, with convictions for deception, fraud, theft. Wanted for interview by every police force from here to Blackpool. I'll give you one hour's head start before I start phoning them.”
Ben Kirby shows up at the police station to let Barnaby know that Emma and Christine are missing. At Mal’s house, his barometer falls and breaks. Barnaby and Scott rush to Emma’s house looking for them.
Plot Denouement[]
At the church, Pete opens the baptismal pool. He places a bible on the side.
Barnaby tells Scott to round up the Kirby’s and see if they’ve seen Emma. Barnaby goes to see Little Mal. Barnaby tells him that he remembers where they met before. He did Mal a favor. Barnaby tells Mal he needs a favor in return. Barnaby drives Mal to Jimmy Kirby’s pub to get his help.
At the pub, Scott reports that no one has seen Emma and they just want to play cards. Mal comes in and tells Jimmy to leave it. Jimmy says, “ever played 52 Card Pick Up?” And throws the cards on the floor and tells Scott to pick 'em up. Mal says, “No, YOU pick 'em up. You pick 'em up...and I'll bet you I'll see every single one of 'em.
Jimmy turns over a card and Mal says, “Nine of Diamonds.” It is the nine of diamonds. Every card he turns over, Mal identifies correctly. Mal puts a coin in the slot machine and coins spill out. Mal leaves and looks toward the couch.
In the church, Pete has the baby Christine, who is screaming. Emma is locked in a back room and is pounding on the door. Pete prepares to baptize the baby. Mal and the detectives rush to the door, but it is locked. Pete carries the baby to the baptismal pool. Mal pulls up a gravestone and pounds the door open with it. Pete hits Mal over the head with a candlestick. Barnaby comes in and Pete hits him. Ben Kirby runs in and Pete tries to hit him. Emma cries from the back room and Ben goes to let her out. Scott runs in and subdues Pete.
At the police incident room, Barnaby shows Pete the letter from the bishop. He says, “Preaching Pete Kubatski was, indeed, for a limited period only. Because you've failed in Midsomer Mere, haven't you? John Ransom came to see you the day he died. He was upset and liked to torment people. And he tormented you, didn't he? He used his precognitive powers to tell you that letter was on its way, didn't he? Despite a lifetime believing the future was known only to God, you believed John Ransom. And when he died from his injuries, you tried to place the blame on Max and his experiment.
You used the little knowledge you gained to rewire the chair. (Flashback: Pete is rewiring the chair when Dr. Ransom comes home. As Ransom comes down the stairs, Pete pushes him and he falls down the stairs..) And then it was you and Max. Faith against science, battling for little baby Christine. But you couldn't stop him going to see his sister, could you? And Emma and Christine were very special. They were the only congregation you'd got.” Pete says, “Leave Emma out of this.” Barnaby says, “Why? Because she's pure?” Pete says, “No. Because Emma's mine.” Barnaby says, “She's not yours, Mr Kubatski. Nor is baby Christine. She no more belongs to you than to Max. Max, who you killed with the first weapon that came to hand.” (Flashback showing Pete hit Max over the head with a branch).
Pete says, “I'm not scared by you. I answer to a higher authority.” Pete starts babbling biblical verses…”Barnaby says, “As Mr Kubatski is already talking to an advocate, I think we can assume he doesn't need a solicitor.”
Barnaby and Joyce take Cully to the train station. Mal shows up with a bandage on his forehead. He gives Barnaby a package. Barnaby says, “I figured out where we met before. Homeless man battered to death in Mere Woods, storms of '87, yeah?” Mal says, “I got pulled in for murder by some prat of a DCI. You said you did me a favour?” Barnaby says, “We should never have brought you in, should we? We had no evidence. DCI said I should charge you. I told the DCI, "I'm a policeman and not a psychic." Instead of kicking me off the force, he let you go.” Mal says, “Thank you. You caught the killer?” Barnaby says, “Oh Mal, of course.”
Cully says goodbye to her parents and the train pulls away. Barnaby and Joyce wave goodbye. Mal says, “She's going to be just fine.”
Barnaby turns around to ask Mal a question, but he has disappeared.
Cast[]
- John Nettles as DCI Tom Barnaby
- John Hopkins as Sergeant Dan Scott
- Jane Wymark as Joyce Barnaby
- Laura Howard as Cully Barnaby
- Barry Jackson as Dr. George Bullard
- Owen Teale as Little Mal Kirby / Young Mal
- Will Keen as Preaching Pete Kubatski
- Geoffrey Whitehead as Dr. Gregory Ransom
- Joe Anderson as Max Ransom
- Tom Frederic as Ben Kirby
- Bill Stewart as Lucky Lol Tanner
- Wanda Ventham as Romany Rose
- Sean Chapman as Jimmy Kirby
- Alexandra Moen as Emma Kirby
- James Hoare as John Ransom
- Imogen Holthouse as Young Emma
- Erin Oliver as Christine Kirby
- Lauren Oliver as Christine Kirby
Galleries[]
Body Count[]
After being thrown out of a pub, was hit on the back of the head with a candlestick and died later in an altercation from internal bleeding.
Lured on the staircase to Max's laboratory by tampering with the power in the house, then approached and pushed down the stairs.
Killed by a blow to the back of the head with a large tree branch.
Supporting Cast[]
Episode Images[]
Arrests[]
Pete Kubatski for the murders of:
And for the kidnapping of Christine Kirby
Notes[]
The following actor who appeared in this episode has also appeared in the following episode:
- Geoffrey Whitehead - The Flying Club
Trivia[]
Trials and Tribulations of DS. Dan Scott:
- Scott comes to the crime scene in a shirt and no tie. Barnaby tells him to put on a tie, so he pulls one out of his pocket which is a floral and doesn't go with his shirt.
Quotes[]
- DCI Barnaby: "Hello, Cully."
- Cully: "Hi Dad."
- DCI Barnaby: "You know your mother does not like surprises."
- Cully: "Yes, well she'll like this one."
- DCI Barnaby: "Will she? Why? Is it a good one?"
- Cully: "No, no, no, no, no. You're not catching me out like that."
- DCI Barnaby: "Don't suppose I could ask you a couple of questions, could I?"
- Cully: "I thought I wasn't obliged to say anything unless I wished to do so."
- DCI Barnaby: "Well, feel obliged."
- Romany Rose: "Hello, gorgeous! Now you've got a lucky face."
- DCI Barnaby: "And I also have one of these. <shows her his warrant card> And the penalties for gaining pecuniary advantages through deception can be very severe."
- Romany Rose: "I am a bona fide psychic."
- DCI Barnaby: "Aye, well, there's a lot of that around here. Only it's funny that a medium to the crowned heads of Europe couldn't spot that I'm with the CID. Now, I'm going to make a prediction. When I get back, <Points to her motor home> that won't be here."
- Romany Rose: "I knew you were going to say that!"
- — Romany Rose to DCI Barnaby as he is crossing the green.
Video[]
Midsomer Murders Series 8 Episode 5 - Second Sight Preview
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