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Death of a Hollow Man

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Death of a Hollow Man is the second episode of the first series of the popular ITV crime drama Midsomer Murders that was first broadcast on 29th March 1998 and is the only episode so far to have been adapted by Caroline Graham herself, who was the author of the book of the same name. It starred John Nettles and Daniel Casey as DCI Barnaby and DS Troy and featured a guest cast consisting of Bernard Hepton, Debra Stephenson, Janine Duvitski, Angela Pleasence, Nicholas Le Prevost and John Cater.

Synopsis[]

The body of Agnes Gray, a woman who loved only animals, is found in the river—but she did not drown. And then her cousin Esslyn Carmichael is tricked into killing himself on stage during an amateur production of the murder mystery Amadeus. DCI Barnaby has to get to grips with clues which include adultery, dramatic ambition, stolen religious art, and large donations to animal charities, before unmasking a killer who proves to be mad. Meanwhile, love begins to blossom between Cully Barnaby and Nico Bentley, one of the cast of Amadeus...

Plot[]

In a dark room, Agnes Gray lights a candle and starts praying. Someone creeps up on her and smashes her head. Repeatedly. Her dead body is disposed of in a lake.

At the Corn Exchange Building in Causton, Deirdre Tibbs parks her bike. There is a playbill outside promoting Amadeus by the Causton Players. Deirdre is the stage manager for the production. In the back David Smy and Colin Smy carry in scenery.

At the Barnaby household, Joyce Barnaby hurries through her meal so she can get to rehearsal on time. Joyce says that the costumes have arrived. They are so beautiful. She doesn't know how Harold Winstanley affords them. DCI Tom Barnaby says maybe his import/export business is booming.

At his home an arrogant, pretentious and elderly Harold hurries through his meal and blasts his wife, Doris Winstanley, for saying supper instead of dinner. Doris handles publicity for the production. Harold asks if she got the Amadeus publicity out. She has, but she hasn’t done the Ferndale Centre- there is no direct bus route. She asks her husband if he would mind taking them and he fobs her off. “When you see Peter Hall sticking up posters let me know. I shall be happy to join him.” He drives away.

At the theater, David says hello to Deirdre who says she is running late. She couldn’t get her father settled. David offers to help. “Oh, thank you, David! I need that little table with the cakes on. And Salieri's wing chair,” says Deirdre.    Actors arrive for rehearsal and in back, Barnaby paints a background scene.

At the bookstore,  Avery Phillips and Tim Young do inventory. Avery says, “I still think we should have done this on Sunday.” Tim replies, “Ah, but Harold wouldn't be in a fury because we've missed rehearsal.”

Nicholas Bentley arrives at the theater on his bike and rushes inside. Rosa Carmichael, Esslyn’s first wife, takes a drink from her flask. Nico kisses Rosa’s hand. He looks at the new costumes and picks up a sword.  “Salieri. Kapellmeister. Tutor. Patron saint of mediocrities. Murderer,” says Nico to a costume. Joyce is ironing costumes. “Don’t be silly,” she says. “He killed Mozart,” says Nico. “Never proved,” says Joyce. “A life for a life,” says Nico and stabs the costume with his sword.

On the lake, two boys row out with their dog in a boat. Agnes' body is seen below the water.

Harold shows up in the theater and yells at Deirdre. “Where are my actors?” He says. Deirdre says, “Well, I'm not um... Rosa.”  “I know where Rosa is, you stupid girl. What about lighting and design?” Says Harold.  “Oh, yes. Tim and Avery are stocktaking. But they'll be here on Thursday, Deirder replies.  “I need them here now! Today. Not Thursday. You should have told them. David tells Harold off, “It's not Dierdre's fault. Anyway, I need her to help me with the interval tape. All right?”

Harold yells for Esslyn Carmichael. “Where is my star?” “Here I am, maestro!” says Nico.

Harold rants, “I’m not in a humorous vein today, Nicholas. Where is Esslyn? God, what am I doing here? Casting pearls before uncultured swine. I, who directed a number one tour of Spider's Web. (Nico starts juggling rolls. Rosa laughs at him) With the original West End cast. (Rosa mouths the same line at the same time). One critic said he'd never seen anything like it in the whole of his theatrical life.”  Esslyn shows up with his new wife, Kitty Carmichael. Rosa looks on jealously.  Harold continues, “How often Johnny G would turn to me for advice.' Harold, love, he would say, dear boy, this speech of Prospero’s…Where the hell have you been? The first night is barely a week away.”

In the boat, the boys are fishing and snag Agnes' body while the dog whines.

The players rehearse. “I’ll go to England. England loves me,”says Nico/Amadeus.  Esslyn/Salieri, “We were, yet again, in the library of the Baroness Wald... “ Deirdre says, “Waldstaten.”  Esslyn continues, “I know, I know! Waldstaten. That room, fated to be the scene of ghastly encounters between us. Again, too, the compensating crema al mascarpone.”   Nico says, “I was there when I was a boy. They absolutely adored me. I had more kisses than you've had cakes. When I was young everyone loved me.”

Esslyn interrupts, “He's doing it again! Masking me at every turn.” Nico says, “No, I'm not.”  “Yes, you are. Horrid Nicholas,” says Kitty.  Harold says, “I’ll say whether he is or not, thank you.”  Esslyn says, “Salieri is the lead. People come to see me. Again and again.”  Nico responds, ”Only because they couldn't believe their eyes the first time.” “How dare you!” says Esslyn.  “Oh, don't be so pompous. Everyone knows you're only an accountant,” says Nico.  Esslyn replies, “And everyone knows your chances of getting into the professional theatre.” Joyce comes out, “Kitty, could you just try this on?”  Sorry. Sorry.” Joyce brings an outfit over to Kitty.  Harold rolls his eyes.

Nico goes over to talk to Harold, “I think Esslyn should play Leopold Mozart. He's described as a jealous, dried-up old turd.”  Harold says, “Leopold Mozart is not in the play.” “Are you sure? Page 49” Nico says, “Only in spirit. You mustn't allow Esslyn to do as he likes. He’ll unbalance the whole play. You must be firm with him. You were firm with Sir John.” Harold says,”Oh, he was a joy to direct. A true professional. Then he acknowledged my talent.” Nico replies, “It takes one to know one, Harold.”

A pregnant Kitty says to Joyce, “Another few weeks and I won't need padding at all.” Rose pricks her finger on her needlework. Kitty says, “Rosa? Darling, have you pricked your finger? Maybe she'll go to sleep for 100 years. Give us all a break.” Rosa rushes backstage. Esslyn laughs.  Joyce follows Rosa backstage to her dressing room. Rosa tells Joyce “20 years we were married. And he'd never give me a child. It was never the right time, you see. We were too young. We didn't have enough money. The business wasn't established. But then, when the business was thriving, he'd give me all that moralistic claptrap. 'No sort of world to bring a child into.' Then to get Kitty pregnant! Sometimes I don't know which of them I hate the most.” She cries.

At the lake, police gather to examine the dead body. Barnaby and Troy show up. Dr. George Bullard says she had a bang on the side of the head.  Barnaby looks at the woman’s face. “Do you know her sir?” asks Troy. Barnaby says “No, But he knows who she is.” He looks at the chain with a key around her neck.  

Esslyn is summoned to the morgue to identify his cousin, Agnes Gray.

Troy says, “I knew we had a case when I saw that terrific crack on her head. No water in the lungs, dead when he threw her in. Stands to reason.” Barnaby replies sarcastically, “Why do we bother with the usual procedures? We could just come straight to you.”  Troy goes on, ‘Tire-lever, didn't they reckon, on the report?” Barnaby replies, “Yeah. Or a crowbar. You could say he'd done the poor woman a kindness.”  Troy asks, “Pardon?” Barnaby says, “She was suffering from advanced cancer. Never treated.” Troy says, “I didn't see that.”  Barnaby says, “Nobody's perfect.”

Barnaby and Troy go to Agnes' house. The back door is open and the home is trashed. They talk to a neighbor, Jenny Evers. Barnaby tells her that Agnes had an accident. She didn’t know Agnes well.  They would chat about holidays sometimes. She’s always going away. She went to Austria in the spring. Jenny thought she’d gone off again when the car disappeared a week ago. Troy asks Barnaby how he knows Agnes Gray. Barnaby explains that she used to come to the plays Joyce’s drama group put on. Esslyn’s part of the group too. Troy says, “He's a cold devil. He looked down at her as if she was a lump of meat.” Barnaby tells him that Esslyn is not known for his affectionate nature. Barnaby asks Troy if he wants to do lunch. Troy says he has to shop for his mother’s birthday.

Troy goes to the bookstore to buy his mum a present for her birthday. Avery greets him. Troy is very uncomfortable with Avery. Nico comes in. He is supposed to dust every morning in exchange for the room upstairs.  Tim walks in and Troy tells him, “If you're in a hurry, mate, I should try Smiths” not realizing that Tim is co-owner of the store.

Troy comes back to the office with a car vacuum set for his mum. Barnaby says "Your mother doesn't have a car."

Barnaby and Troy go to Esslyn's office. Barnaby tells Esslyn that Agnes Gray was murdered. Barnaby asks Esslyn to tell him about Agnes, “Esslyn says she did the same job. for 25 years, took early retirement. “She spoke excellent French and Italian. Although her degree was in Art History. She always sent holiday postcards from the Uffizi or the Louvre or some other dry as dust mausoleum.” Agnes identified with the weak. She was a loser. Troy says, "Blimey, Imagine having that as your only living relative."

Rosa turns over photos of Esslyn. She smashes one.

Barnaby and Troy look around Agnes' house. Barnaby finds a book with religious pictures. Troy finds a rosary. In her desk Troy finds a letter with a donkey on it. “Dear Miss Gray, thank you from the bottom of our hearts for another wonderful donation to the five acre field and new stables. The £150... £150,000.”  Barnaby requests every bit of paper bagged.

Rosa skulks in the bushes watching Esslyn and Kitty's home. (Because she has nothing better to do??)

Esslyn goes to the lawyer’s office. He says “All monies and the proceeds from the sale of her house go to various charities. They're carefully listed in some detail. You won't find your duties as executor too onerous.”  The lawyer passes Esslyn a manila envelope.

Rosa continues to skulk, watching Kitty's red convertible from a distance.

Esslyn tells his secretary she can have the afternoon off and hustles her out of the office.  He examines the contents of the manila envelope.  Inside is a spreadsheet.

Rosa scrapes her key over the side of Kitty's car.

Esslyn calls Kitty and tells her he is going to be home late. He tells her to go to rehearsals without him. Kitty is in bed with someone. Rosa looks up at the window and sees Kitty with another man.

Barnaby and Troy are amazed at how much money Agnes Gray had in her account. “Unbelievable. Sixty-what-was-it?” says Troy. Barnaby says, “£860,000 over seven years.” Troy says, “Maybe she won the lottery. And then to give it all... to animals! “ Barnaby replies, ‘Everyone needs something to love.”

Barnaby sees Rosa at Esslyn's office. Rosa knocks on the door and looks through the mail slot Essay ignores her. He continues to go through the spreadsheet.

Barnaby watches TV where the announcer says, ”Causton CID, who are investigating the murder of Agnes Gray, from the Midsomer area, would like to talk to anyone who knew her. They are also anxious to trace her car, a Ford van, registration number B920 BOO."

Esslyn calls someone “I don't want money. You know what I want. Not such an ugly word as murder. Oh, yes, I have proof, all right. Monday night. I'll give you till Monday.” He puts the spreadsheet through a shredder and pockets a floppy disk. Esslyn arrives home and as he is on his way upstairs, receives a phone call. From Rosa. (Who tells him about Kitty's man friend). Kitty sits up in bed smoking. Esslyn has punched her. He tells her, “As soon as tonight's out of the way I'll start divorce proceedings. The child will be provided for. You can provide for yourself. Judging by how quickly you jumped into my bed you shouldn't find that hard.”

At the Barnaby home, Joyce worries about First Night. “At least you can’t forget your lines,” says Barnaby (she doesn’t have any). “I can forget my moves,” retorts Joyce.

Barnaby gets a call from someone who heard the appeal on TV. It is Miss Marshall. Barnaby and Troy meet her at the church. She tells them that she was assigned to take her under her wing when she decided to become a nun. She was lonely and troubled. She had done something very wrong and wanted to put matters right before she died. It wasn’t straightforward. Apparently another person was involved.

Esslyn races to the theater, almost running over Tim. In the Bookstore, Nico is dusting. Nico tells Tim, “I’ve things on my mind. Secret things. Let's just say that soon, my life may be miraculously transformed.”  Tim says Esslyn ran a red light.

At the theater, people start arriving for the play. Actors are in costume. Harold greets people at the door. “Ah, good evening, sir! Sir John is devastated not to be here. The journey was just too much…” Doris takes the money. Esslyn puts on his makeup and makes rude comments about Deirdre's father. David Smy slams his dressing table. Nico tells Esslyn his problem is that he is "too full of the milk of human kindness." Other actors hissssss. He has quoted from the Scottish Play. What, Macbeth?" says Nico. One actor says he has to go outside the dressing room and turn around three times. Nico asks if that is clockwise or counterclockwise. Deirdre's father comes backstage to wish her luck. Deirdre tells him he is not supposed to be out by himself. She takes him to a seat.

Harold says to a guest, “Bold effects are, as you know, my forte. You can never have too much verismo.” She asks what verismo is.  Troy finds a seat. Barnaby and Cully go backstage to wish Joyce good luck. Nico bumps into Cully on his way downstairs. Kitty tells Rosa she knows she broke her and Esslyn up and keyed her car. “You don’t think that breaking us up is going to bring him back, do you? Want to know how he described your sex life? It was like humping a tranquilized cart horse." says Kitty. Rosa rushes out. She sees Esslyn backstage. Barnaby and Cully take their seats.

The play starts. "Assassin! Assassin! Assassin! Salieri! Assassin! Salieri! I know who started the tale. I know who started the tale. The old man's valet. The old man's cook.." Joyce comes onstage as the cook. Nico and Kitty play their parts as Mozart and his wife. Esslyn views them angrily. After the first act, Esslyn spits out cake that he eats onstage- it is absolutely vile.

During the intermission, guests go to get drinks and snacks. Harold smoozes with the guests. Troy talks to Cully, “Very good, isn’t it. I reckon on a par with East Enders.” “Cully says “The one playing Mozart is.” He’s never been to the theater before. Cully says, “this isn’t the theater.”

Avery gets out sandwiches for himself and Tim. Tim goes to fix a spotlight. Harold chews out Deirdre. “Where's the three-minute buzzer?” He calls her a “brainless, moronic, cretin.” Doris sits down, looking exhausted. Nico comforts Kitty, who has the bruise on her face. She tells him she walked into an accountant. Esslyn watches him with a dark look on his face.

The second act starts. Kitty’s scene with Esslyn is off as she is angry with him. She slaps him and calls him a “rotten shit.” They struggle and he throws Kitty to the floor. (Don’t think that is part of Amadeus).  Kitty says, “If he lays another finger on me, I’ll frigging kill him. Bastard!”  Nico goes onstage and Esslyn turns his ring to the inside and shakes Nico’s hand and gives him a dirty look. Nico gets first aid backstage. The play continues and Mozart (Nico) dies.

Esslyn’s last scene, “I will go to become a ghost myself. I will stand in the shadows when you come here to this earth in your turn. And when you feel the dreadful bite of your failures. And hear the taunting of an unachievable, uncaring God... Joyce. I will whisper my name to you. Salieri, patron saint of mediocrities. And, in the depths of your downcastness, you can pray for me. And I will forgive you. Vi saluto!”  Esslyn takes a razor from his butler (David Smy) and slits his throat as Joyce and David watch. He falls to the floor, dead.

Joyce and David gasp. Joyce screams. Barnaby and Troy run onstage and Troy shuts the curtain.  Deirdre’s father runs out of the auditorium. Barnaby tells the audience that there has been an accident and asks them to stay in their seats.

Police officers arrive and paramedics remove the body. David Smy tells Tom, “I’m absolutely certain, Tom. The tape was on the blade when Dierdre checked the razor. I was here.” It just sits there till the end of the play. Anyone could have tampered with it. Bit risky. People are using the props table all the time. But the lights are dim, actors milling about... David says, “Well, you can't just whip it off. You'd need a knife and you'd have to be careful. That thing was bloody sharp.”

Kitty sobs in the dressing room and Avery consoles her, “I can't believe it. Who would do such a dreadful thing? Everyone liked Esslyn.” Avery says,”Obviously not quite everyone, darling.”  Nico says, “Perhaps it was an accident.”  Harold says, “Of course it was an accident! The tape got torn or something. It's outrageous, keeping us shut in here like naughty children. It's that stupid girl's fault. If she'd checked the thing properly…” Tim says, “Deirdre is not stupid. And I doubt whether this will prove to be her fault." “Then why has she disappeared?” asks Harold. Nico tells him, “Her father ran off straight after it happened. I heard Tom was talking to David Smy about it. “  Harold goes out and tells Troy, “David Smy?! He's an assistant stage manager. The lowest of the low. I should be seen first. I'm in charge.”  Troy says, “The police are in charge here. Now, if you'll please…”

Nico goes to check on Joyce in the dressing room, “How is she?”  Cully says, “Not good. The paramedics gave her some stuff but it's made her pretty sleepy.” Nico asks, “Is there anything I can do?” Cully says, ‘I don't think so, but thanks all the same.” Barnaby comes in. “Cully, I'm sorry, I should have got these to you before.” He gives Cully the car keys.  “Joyce?” says Barnaby.  “Tom…” says Joyce.  “Cully's going to drive you home. I'll follow as soon as I can,” says Barnaby. Nico offers to drive. Barnaby says that would be fine as long as Nico comes in tomorrow.  

Barnaby tells the others he will be in touch to arrange interviews. Harold proclaims, “I elect to be seen now.” Avery asks Kitty what she is doing- she shouldn’t be by herself tonight. Avery invites her for supper. Tim gives Kitty a dirty look. Kitty tells Avery she will go to a hotel. Harold says to an empty room, “I can tell you now, Tom, I felt a sinister frisson to this production from the very beg... “ Tim tells Avery that when he sits down to supper with someone, he wants to be able to get up again, referring to Kitty as a suspect.

David Smy asks his dad if he is coming. His dad is quiet and doesn't get up. Deirdre is out in the dark looking for her father. The police pick her up.

Rosa tells Barnaby that “Esslyn wasn't a very nice man, sometimes mean. But... we were young together. We were very happy for a while.” Barnaby asks, “Can you think of anyone who'd want to kill him? Rosa says, “Kitty, of course! He only married her because she was pregnant. Chances are it wasn't even his.” Barnaby says, “What makes you say that?”  Rosa says, “She's having an affair. Esslyn was going to change his will and start divorce proceedings.” Troy asks, “Do you have any idea who her lover was?” Barnaby asks,  “Or how... Esslyn found out?” (Rosa told him). Rosa says, “Tom... How was I to know what she'd do? I'd do anything, anything... to take it back.”

In the audience seating, Doris is asleep. Harold blasts Barnaby, “I don't know what you're playing at, constantly passing me over like a boot boy. How am I supposed to retain the respect of my actors? One thing I cannot stand is high-handedness.” Barnaby says, “Harold, it's getting very late. And I'm on the verge of losing my temper. Earlier on tonight, when you were backstage, did you see anything out of the ordinary? Someone handling the props who doesn't normally?” Harold says, “I was hardly backstage at all. People expect to see me front of house. It's the only chance they get to mingle. I went to wish the actors good luck. You followed me down there, I believe, Tom. The buzzer was late at the end of the interval, so I popped round to chivvy that utterly clueless stage manager. I thought the second part was... much improved, didn't you? Except for the er... utter shambles at the end.”  Troy asks, “Are you sure you know what's going on here, sir?”  Harold says, “Certainly. Someone has sabotaged Amadeus.” Barnaby asks, “Did you have any reason to wish Esslyn dead?” Harold rages, “Me?! He was my leading man! My star. Now I've got to start all over again, training Nicholas.” He walks out. Doris wakes up and follows Harold who drives off without her. Barnaby asks, “Neil, will you take Mrs Winstanley home? It's Martyr Warren.”  Doris says she didn’t mean to be any trouble.

Troy says, “He's really lost it, hasn't he, that bloke?”  Barnaby says, “A long time ago.”  Troys says, “Just the type we're looking for.” Barnaby says, “Perfect! He couldn't have done it. He wasn’t in the wings more than 3 minutes altogether. I don’t understand why it was done this way. It was so risky, so complicated.”  Barnaby wonders if the murderer couldn't wait, if tonight was his last chance.

The police find Deirdre’s father up on a roof. Deirdre is worried her dad will be frightened if the policeman goes to get him. The policeman goes up the ladder and tries to get Mr. Tibbs down. “Washed in the blood of the lamb. Streaming. Streaming everywhere.” He jumps off the roof.

Barnaby and Troy go to the hospital to talk to Deirdre.  Troy wonders if Mr. Tibbs could be guilty since he went backstage. Barnaby says if that’s all it takes, so was he. Troy says, “Yeah, but you're not one sandwich short of a picnic.”

Deirdre tells Barnaby and Troy that her father has fractured ribs and a broken leg. Deirdre says that she checked the razor and the tape wasn't snagged or torn, as Harold has suggested. The only time during the play when the wings were completely empty was when Deirdre went to the loo.  When she got back, Harold was yelling at her about the buzzer being late. Barnaby sends Troy to interview Tim and Avery and he goes home to check on Joyce.

Avery tells Nico that he worries about what Tim is doing. “I know it irritates Tim but... I can't help it. Every time he goes to the post or shopping or the library I keep thinking... is that what he's really doing? Or is he seeing someone?” Nico says, “I’m sure he’s got more than enough on his plate coping with you.” Avery replies, “But what can he see in me, Nico? I mean, he's so elegant and... oh, handsome and austere. You know, sort of spiritually opulent. I think it's partly because he hasn't always been gay. I was making sequined jockstraps for Paddington when I was three. But Tim... Well, he veered. Hither and yon. All the way through adolescence. He even got engaged at one point,” Nico says, “I’m sure he's turned his back on all that now.” Avery says, “I suppose you think that's funny? You're a cruel, heartless boy! You wait till you fall in love.” Nico says, “I think I'm just about to.”

At the Barnaby home, Cully stirs soup. Nico asks about her theater jobs. At the hospital, David Smy comes to visit and brings Deirdre a bouquet of roses. Barnaby arrives home and checks on Joyce, who is still groggy. She keeps seeing Esslyn’s death over and over again. He finds Cully and Nicholas in the kitchen. Barnaby reminds Nico about his interview at 2. Cully invites him to lunch and then suggests he ride back with her dad.

Doris is on the phone calling the press. Harold walks in. He wants to know if they are all coming. She is on hold and he hangs up the phone- "on hold at daytime rates!"

Troy goes to interview Tim and Avery. They are sitting down to have their lunch. They were in the lighting box. Tim pours wine. Avery offers Troy a glass. Troy asks, “Can either of you think of anyone who might have wanted to harm Mr Carmichael?” Tim says, “Well, you've got a wide field. The man was a heartless shit." Avery laughs. Troy asks Tim if he's had personal experience with that.

Troy reports to Barnaby that he got zilch at the bookshop, “The little fat one wasn't backstage at all. The thin, sarky one, briefly, but with Colin Smy.”  Barnaby says, “I got nothing out of Nicholas, except that Esslyn had crushed his hand. Made a hell of a mess of it.” Troys says he bets Nico is Kitty's fancy man. Barnaby says he better not be (since he's flirting with Cully.

They go out to see Colin Smy.  He was due at the station at three. Colin says he killed Esslyn because he was an awful man- "Sneering, laughing at everyone, cruel." Colin says he cut the tape off the razor and flushed it down the toilet. Troy says no he didn’t, they tried that and it floats. David Smy shows up and Barnaby tells him that his father has confessed to the murder of Esslyn. David says, "Don't be daft." Colin thinks David did it when he saw him doing something to the cakes Esslyn eats on stage. "Esslyn was particular vicious about Deirdre's father." So he shook Vim all over the cakes Esslyn eats on stage. Barnaby is furious that the two wasted police time.  David tells his dad that he has asked Deirdre for supper that evening. Colin says "Really, I didn't know you fancied her." David says, "I don't fancy her. I love her."

Harold drives up to the front of the Corn Exchange and a reporter comes up to do an interview from the Causton Echo. Harold asks where the others are. She says they are off dong the "good stuff." Harold drives off.

Barnaby and Troy interview Kitty. She tells them that Rosa is so full of bitterness. She led Esslyn a terrible life. Barnaby says, “So, you didn't take the tape off the razor yourself? You'd had a serious quarrel. He'd knocked you about on stage.”  Kitty says, “That was part of the play.” Troy says, “You said that if he touched you again, you'd kill him.”  Kitty replies,  “People say wild things when they're angry. Can you imagine me doing anything like that?”  Barnaby says, “He'd discovered that you were having an affair. He was going to change his will, sue for divorce.” "And what about the baby, poor fatherless mite," says Kitty. Kitty says she didn't touch the razor!

Barnaby and Troy go to interview a hot dog seller who witnessed Agnes Gray driving down an alley. Barnaby gives Troy the key and lets him check the garages in the alley while he goes to have a sandwich. A policeman sees Troy and thinks he is breaking and entering. Troy shows him his credentials. Troy passes on the duty of checking the garages to the policeman. They find the garage with a statue of Madonna and child.

Doris and Harold have lunch together. Doris says “I’m sorry I had nothing ready, Harold. It's not like you to be home at midday.” Harold says, “The life of the mind is what nourishes, Doris. The creative tumult in which the genuine artist must sink... or swim. This is coarse clay by comparison. Is there any pudding?” Doris asks if Harold is going to the funeral. Harold seems confused and says what Funeral- oh Esslyn.  “No, certainly not. Vanya is taking up all my spare time. I must get on with it right now. I'm going to pay a call on Nicholas. I have to get him him into training. One cannot start too soon. He has an antic disposition. But er... we'll soon stamp that out.”

Barnaby thinks the items in Agnes’ garage are things stolen from churches. “Churches have been robbed for years. The stuff ends up in museums or private collections. A 17th-century St Jerome was found in a lake, on a plinth, transformed into a fountain. But Agnes Gray was a Catholic. Any likeness of the Madonna would be sacred. I don't know how she came by it, but I can't see her selling it on,” says Barnaby.

Cully gets a grocery list from Joyce who is still groggy. At the Carmichael house, Kitty dumps out Esslyn’s clothes. 

At the Bookshop, Tim and Avery toast and congratulate Nicholas who has won a place at drama school. Avery says they will expect front row seats at all of Nico's productions. Nico's disappearances were due to his having coaching and voice lessons. The phone rings and Tim says, “Sorry, wrong number.” Nico says he feels he is on the verge of something wonderful.

Harold shows up and tells Nico that he is signing a ten year lease on a real theater. And he has chosen Nico as his leading man. Harold ignores that Nico is going to drama school and rambles on about Oedipus and Hamlet... “There is no reason you shouldn't play all the major roles, under my expert guidance. This is the realization of a dream for me. Sometimes I thought it would never come to pass. Oh, I had my dark nights of the soul. And my enemies, as great men always do. And they are vanquished! As the enemies of great men always are. Well, Avery, I look forward to your designs on Uncle Vanya. And your ideas on lighting, Tim. Nothing fancy it is Russia, you know.” Nicholas sees Cully outside the shop window and goes to talk to her.

Kitty thrusts Esslyn’s clothes into garbage bags. She finds the floppy disk.

A report comes into the police station from Agnes Gray's bank. “A weird-sounding lot paid into her account. Alekbar Georgiades. Count Gottfried von Schlo... Schell.” says Troy. Barnaby says, “I wouldn't like the job of tracking this lot down. Should they prove to exist. Probably false names covering a syndicate. Iffy money, too. Offshore accounts.”

Barnaby gets a call which reports that the statue found in Agnes Gray’s garage is a 16th-century figure, stolen from a church near Innsbruck, 11th of March this year.  Agnes has been smuggling artwork. Troy suggests that she needed someone in haulage. Barnaby says, “Import- Export. How could I have been so blind? Harold!” Barnaby surmises that there were two razors. Harold went backstage twice during the evening. Just before the show began and at the end of the interval. He made the first switch moments before curtain up. He substituted the original one with his. A casual glance at the props tray would reveal nothing wrong. The interval gave him ample time to remove the tape. And then minutes before Act Two, taking advantage of Dierdre's absence, he swapped them back. Poor old Esslyn. Never had a chance. They go to arrest Harold.

Kitty goes to the police and puts the floppy disk through the mail slot. Then she places a phone call to Tim. He is the man she has been having an affair with. She threatens to tell Avery about them. Tim tells Avery before Kitty shows up.

Barnaby surmises that Harold killed Agnes Gray because she wanted to come clean about the thefts of artwork.

Harold is driving home. At his house, Doris is cleaning the bathroom and finds the razor. She drops the razor in the bathtub as Harold walks in. He hears her fumbling with the razor. He slowly walks upstairs. Doris tries to shut the door on him, but he comes in.  Doris tells him that she won’t say anything and will go away... Harold says, “I think that would be best, Doris. I'm changing my life quite considerably. There'll be no place for you here” He picks up the razor and starts slashing at Doris.  The police arrive and hear Doris screaming. Troy breaks a window and they rush upstairs. Barnaby stops Harold who says, “Well, what a kerfuffle. Still, it couldn't be helped. They would try to stop me, you see. Agnes Gray, Doris, Esslyn... Two stupid women and a man with delusions of grandeur. Well, all back to normal now.” Barnaby tells Harold that they would like him to come with them. Harold says, “That’s impossible. I’m casting Vanya tonight. Scofield will be here in a minute. I've offered him Serebryakov.” Barnaby says, “But, Harold, the press are waiting. Times, Guardian... Michael Billington.”  Doris is taken out to an ambulance. Harold is escorted to a police car, looking around for the press.

At the Barnaby home, they are eating dinner. Joyce says she is feeling fine. Nico says “Esslyn was always boasting that he'd make a great director. Harold never gave him a chance.”  Esslyn was blackmailing Harold.  Barnaby says, “Control of the new theatre and company or he'd expose the business with Agnes Gray.  Kitty found Esslyn's disc, with details of all the transactions on it. And... Harold confessed. In the last of his lucid moments. He'll never come to trial. Poor Harold. Can you believe that anyone would commit murder for the sake of a theatre?”

Cast[]

Galleries[]

Body Count[]

Supporting Cast[]

Episode Images[]

Arrests[]

Notes[]

The following actors and actresses that first appeared in this episode have appeared in subsequent episodes

Trivia[]

  • Thus far, this is the only episode in the series to be written by original author, Caroline Graham.
  • The song playing in the scene when Agnes Gray was murdered and then thrown into the lake, composed by official score and soundtrack composer Jim Parker, is titled "Agnus Dei", which is Latin for "Lamb of God".
  • This is the first episode in which the murderer/murderers don't die and Barnaby and Troy manage to make an arrest.
  • Gavin Troy meets Cully Barnaby for the first time and it's obvious that he really likes her.
  • Nicholas Bentley appears for the first time in this episode and he and Cully begin to have a romantic relationship. It is believed they started dating off-screen before the events of the episode.
  • When Sgt Troy is in the store looking for a gift for his mother, there's a poster on the wall with the name Max Jennings, the writer who appeared in the previous episode.
  • This is the first episode in which Joyce and Cully are tied stronger in the main plot, taking part in the production of the play and attending it respectively.
  • Causton Playhouse is shown for the first time and it is the main location of the episode.
  • This episode featured an uncredited appearance of Fiona Dolman as a Charity Solicitor before returning years later as Sarah Barnaby.
  • Geoffrey Hutchings and Nicholas Le Prevost later appeared together in The Dogleg Murders.
  • First time Joyce Barnaby dresses up in costume.
  • First episode Joyce witnesses a death when Esslyn Carmichael dies in front of her.

The Trials and Tribulations of DS Gavin Troy:

  • Troy says, “I knew we had a case when I saw that terrific crack on her head. No water in the lungs, dead when he threw her in. Stands to reason.” Barnaby replies sarcastically, “Why do we bother with the usual procedures? We could just come straight to you."
  • Troy goes shopping for a present for his mum. He gets her a car vacuum. Barnaby says, "Your mother doesn't have a car."
  • Troy wonders if Mr. Tibbs could be guilty since he went backstage. Barnaby says if that’s all it takes, so was he. Troy says, "Yeah, but you're not one sandwich short of a picnic.”
  • Barnaby gives Troy the key and lets him check the many garages in the alley while he goes to have a sandwich.

Goofs[]

  • When Kitty finds the floppy disc with the incriminating evidence on it it is made of pale grey plastic. By the time she delivers it to the police station it is made of black plastic.
  • When the supposedly dead woman is first seen floating underwater as the rowboat goes over her, she obviously has her cheeks puffed out, indicating that she is alive and holding her breath.

Video[]

Midsomer_Murders_-_Most_Intriguing_Crime_E05

Midsomer Murders - Most Intriguing Crime E05

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