Midsomer Murders Wiki
Don't have an account?
Register
Advertisement
Register
Midsomer Murders Wiki
Midsomer Murders Wiki
2,405
pages
in: Series Five episodes

Murder on St. Malley's Day

Sign in to edit

Murder on St. Malley's Day is the fifth episode of the fifth series of the popular ITV crime drama Midsomer Murders. It was first shown on 22nd September 2002.

Synopsis[]

The Devington school has a long history of educating the privileged members of society and many have gone on to illustrious careers, such as in the Diplomatic Service. The Talbot family in particular has a long association with the school with three generations having attended. Barnaby and Troy investigate when there is a murder at the school. They find ongoing feuds between the school and villagers, a conspiracy theorist who thinks the school is the centre of criminal activity, students who are having drinking parties at the local pub, and the ongoing affairs of the school's secretive Pudding Club. The discovery of a long-held school secret leads to the discovery of the murderer.

Plot, Part 1[]

MURDER 1: A car's headlights are seen in the distance. The road is blocked by traffic cones. A man gets out of the car and starts to remove the cones. Someone comes up behind him and hits him with a crowbar. He is dragged off of the road. The assailant looks in his trunk at a gold statue. The man is then placed in the trunk of the car and driven toward Devington school.

At the school, a group of boys are pounding their spoons on the table saying "Answer, answer, answer, answer..." Daniel Talbot gets up to leave. Marcus Heywood demands to know if Daniel has been discussing club matters with outsiders. Marcus tells him his first loyalty is with the club. They start to fight. School porter, Ludlow stands outside listening. The Headmaster, Jonathan Eckersley-Hyde, approaches. Then Ludlow and the Eckersley-Hyde enter and tell the boys to desist. The Headmaster lectures the boys. He tells them Daniel's grandfather, Sir Walter Talbot, is gravely ill. Eckersley-Hyde says he will take Daniel to his grandfather. Marcus offers his hand to Daniel and says "Our thoughts will be with you." Daniel hesitates, but eventually shakes Marcus' hand.

Daniel comes to his grandfather's room and his mother, Miranda Talbot, hugs him. His father, Anthony Talbot, urges Daniel to come to the bed where his grandfather lies. Walter wants to know what time it is. Daniel tells him it is five past midnight. Eckersley-Hyde says it is feast day of St. Malley, patron saint of Devington School. Walter points to a photo of himself winning the St. Malley's Day race. Anthony tells his father that Daniel will win the race for him. Walter then dies.

The next day, DCI Barnaby and wife Joyce attend the St. Malley's Day race along with Sylvia Woodard and her husband, George Woodard who are hoping to get their boy into the school. Eckersley-Hyde gives a speech. Eckersley-Hyde holds up a football. He yells for Ludlow to ring the bell, which is late. Then he throws the football to the boys. Marcus throws the football to Daniel, who stands for a minute. Then he runs. At the nearby girls school, girls come to cheer on the boys. Marcus waves and blows kisses. Daniel stops to talk to Dudley Carew, who tells him to run. Boys in the village throw things at the runners. Men at the pub cheer the boys. Daniel starts to get winded and slows down. He falls and Charlie Meynell wrenches the football away from him.

Plot, Part 2[]

MURDER 2: Marcus tackles Charlie and Daniel gets away. He veers off the path and someone else meets him. Daniel asks "What the hell are you doing here?" Later, Daniel slowly arrives at the end of the race grasping his stomach and falls to the ground. His mother goes over to him. Anthony Talbot goes over and yells at him. "Oh, really, Daniel! Do get up. If you don't reach the steps, you can't win the race." Barnaby goes over and realizes that Daniel has been hurt. "Somebody get an ambulance!"

On a bus, Julia Carter watches all the police cars. She comes into her house and sets down her backpack. Her father says, "I thought you were going to stay with your mother." Julia says, "I changed my mind."

Barnaby and Troy go to the Talbot residence. Anthony says, "Let's cut the waffle, shall we, and get to the point. There's only one line of investigation worth pursuing. The village. Midsomer Parva. Many years ago, the St Malley's Day Race was the occasion when scores were settled between school and village. Pitched battles were fought and I'm glad to say the school usually came out on top. However, nowadays we do things rather differently. We respect each other's role in the community and that sort of nonsense. However, there are still some in the village who resent the school." There were local youths on the village green who verbally abused and threw missiles at the boys who were taking part in the race. Anthony tells the detectives that Daniel was happy at Devington- "He was school captain, won colors for cricket, ruggers, fives. Daniel wanted nothing more than to win the race for his grandfather."

Outside, the detectives speak to Miranda Talbot. She says, "I shudder to think of my son lying here side by side with that old monster," referring to Sir Walter. "He commanded, people obeyed." Any shortcomings on Daniel's part were blamed on her. Anthony and Walter were very competitive. There were some arguments recently about the school and the Pudding Club. Miranda tells them to talk to Eckersley-Hyde.

Barnaby and Troy go to Devington to see Eckersley-Hyde. Ludlow comes up and tells Troy not to walk on the grass. Marcus Heywood comes up and says he will take them to the Eckersley-Hyde. Troy gets a call and tells Barnaby that a knife was found in Friar's Copse.

Barnaby asks Marcus if he saw or heard anything. Marcus says no. Barnaby talks to Eckersley-Hyde. He says that Daniel was upset about his grandfather's death. His relationship with his father was excellent. Barnaby says, "Apparently there were some arguments recently about the school." Eckersley-Hyde says, "What teenage boy doesn't argue with his father?" Barnaby continues, "And the Pudding Club? They argued about the Pudding Club?" Eckersley-Hyde says, "I doubt that very much." Barnaby asks what is the Pudding Club. Eckersley-Hyde says, "Back in the mists of time, when food in school was less palatable than it is now, some senior boys pooled their resources and arranged to have meals delivered from London. The catering has improved but the club survives. It's a tradition, and we're rather keen on tradition here at Devington." Now it is a social club. Members dine once a week on suet pudding and are allowed to walk on the grass in Main Quad. They also receive a pair of cufflinks. Eckersley-Hyde was once a Devingtonian. Daniel, his father and grandfather were all members of the Pudding Club. A scholarship is awarded to members who show particular promise and who are interested in the diplomatic service.

Troy and officers go to look at the knife found in the woods of Friar's Copse.

Eckersley-Hyde takes Barnaby to Daniel's room. Barnaby finds a backpack with dirt and mulch on it. Toothpaste and a razor are in the backpack. Barnaby asks to see Charlie Meynell. Eckersley-Hyde warns Barnaby that Charlie has a bit of an attitude problem. Charlie tells Barnaby that he was robbed of the race. He caught Daniel, grabbed the football and Marcus jumped him. The Pudding Club fixed it so Daniel would win. Daniel was the only one of those "arrogant bastards" Charlie actually liked. Daniel was only a member of the club because of his dad. Charlie says, "He's a psycho. Daniel wanted out of the club, he hated it as much as me. There was a huge bust-up between him and his old man over it. You can't leave the Pudding Club once you're in. It's not done. It's bad form. I heard there was a bit of a ruckus in the Pudding Club room the night before the race. Between Daniel and Marcus Heywood. Heywood accused Daniel of fraternising with the villagers. Betraying club secrets. It's pathetic. They're like kids in a gang."

Ludlow knocks and tells Barnaby that Troy is in the refectory. Troy is enjoying fantastic sausages. Troy tells Barnaby that the weapon is a "steak knife with a serrated blade and a distinctive bone handle. It was found 30 or 40 yards from the path the boys were running along. Forensic are checking for prints and blood type. A chap called Dennis Carter called. He's a groundsman here at the school, moonlights as the local taxi service. Anyway, he was driving past Friar's Copse yesterday, roundabout the time Daniel was attacked. Said he saw something. Wouldn't say on the phone. He sounded very nervous. You know what they're like in these villages." Mrs. Bosworth asks Troy how he liked the sausages. Troy says, "Delicious, Mrs Bosworth." Barnaby sees a boy come by with lobsters. Mrs. Bosworth says, "They're for the top table. Now then, what about pudding? How about a little spotted dіck and custard?" Troy would like some, but Barnaby says they don't have time.

Barnaby and Troy go to talk to Dennis Carter. Dudley Carew watches from his house. Carter says, "I was on my way back up to the school to mow the first XI cricket pitch, so it must've been about half three. I was coming through Friar's Copse, this motorbike came round the bend the other way. He was going that fast, he almost had me in the ditch." Carter's daughter Julia walks in. Troy says, "We're asking people in the village if they might've seen someone or something out of the ordinary." Carter says, "I saw Paul Starkey riding that bloody motorbike away from Friar's Copse, that's what I saw." Julia says, "Paul Starkey wouldn't murder anyone." Paul Starkey is Ray Starkey's son, landlord of the Chalk and Gown. Carter says, "He's a bit of tearaway, motorbikes and so on. Then there was that business up at the Annexe." Barnaby asks, "What's the Annexe?" Carter says, "They're allowing girls at the school now. They board in the village at the Annexe. Cause nothing but trouble." Barnaby says, "What kind of trouble?" Julia says, "What kind do you think?" Julia says she was at Causton bus station and missed her bus, then changed her mind and came back home.

Dudley Carew whispers to the police as they are coming out of Carter's home. They go into Carew's house. He says, "You must understand that I can only talk in the broadest terms. The eyes and ears of Devington School are everywhere in this village. My main area of research is Devington School and its malign influence on 20th century history. Take the Vietnam War. Or the invasion of Afghanistan. In every case, a trail of blood leads back to Devington School. I have documentary proof that Lee Harvey Oswald was here, in Midsomer Parva, two weeks before he assassinated President John F Kennedy. Now where's that paper? Someone has been interfering with my filing system. You! Did you touch anything on this desk? Eh? Did you?" Troy says, "I haven't been near your desk." Barnaby says, "You were a pupil at Devington School, weren't you, Mr Carew? That's you in this school photograph. You're sitting between Anthony Talbot and Jonathan Eckersley-Hyde, if I'm not mistaken." Dudley says, "I was there briefly. The standard of teaching was abysmal so I left. Enquiring minds were not encouraged. And it's much the same now, as poor Daniel would have told you. Daniel was a fine young man, an honest young man, and he paid the price for it. ..The picture is incomplete. All I say is, look at the school, not the village. That is where you will find the answer. The school."

Barnaby and Troy go to the Chalk and Gown pub. Mrs. Bosworth is there with Martin Fulmer, who is in charge of sports at the school. Troy notices the knives at the bar- the same as the knife that stabbed Daniel Talbot. Barnaby and Troy ask to speak to Paul, but his father says he is not there. As they leave the pub, Paul drives up on his motorbike.

At the police station, Paul says he wasn't in Friar's Copse yesterday afternoon. Troy comes in and asks to speak with Barnaby. Troy says they've found some fresh tire tracks in Friar's Copse made by a motorbike. They also found cigarette butts, Starkey's brand. Barnaby says he believes Starkey is lying and that he was in Friar's Copse yesterday afternoon. But I doesn't think he killed Daniel Talbot.

Barnaby receives the forensic report on the knife. There are no prints. The blood matches Daniel Talbot's. Traces of ammonia, ascetic acid and other chemicals: A common cleaning agent. They arrest Paul Starkey.

At night, the pudding club boys go to Charlie's room and carry him to the pudding club room. Anthony Talbot says, "Gentlemen! If I may have your attention, please, for one moment. The police have arrested the man who killed my son, Daniel. He's a villager. But that doesn't mean it's over. Outsiders will see this as an opportunity to snoop and pry into the affairs of the school. But you must remember that your first loyalty is to the Pudding Club. Always. Loyalty is our greatest strength." He looks at Charlie. "Carry on, gentlemen." The pudding club boys start tapping their spoons on the table. Anthony Talbot leaves, but Marcus follows him. "There's something you really ought to know about Paul Starkey, sir. It's about him and Daniel."

Anthony tells Eckersley-Hyde that he will "ask the police to interview Marcus Heywood at the Manor, away from prying eyes." Eckersley-Hyde is concerned that there was a meeting of the Pudding Club without his knowledge. "You no longer take me into your confidence. Take poor Archie Bellingham. It says here he was due back from Kuala Lumpur. I thought he was posted to Paris with you." Anthony says, "Has it not occurred to you that information like that may be confidential for security reasons?"

Troy and Barnaby interview Paul. Troy says, "We got the results back from the lab, Paul. The tire tracks match. It was you in Friar's Copse, wasn't it?" Barnaby says, "You were there at the same time Daniel Talbot was stabbed. The attacker used a knife from your father's pub. Now do you understand, Paul, what kind of trouble you're in?" Paul says, "I didn't kill him. My Dad'll go mad. I was in Friar's Copse because I had a message to meet Dave Winch. He works up in the kitchens up at the school. Mrs Bosworth and my Dad, they've got this little deal. Any surplus left in the school kitchens, my Dad helps her get rid of." Barnaby says, "Like leftover lobsters?" Paul says, "He never showed up. I hung around for a bit, then I went home. I thought that was a bit weird 'cause he usually comes in himself or Marcus Heywood brings the message. Marcus is always in the Chalk and Gown. Yeah, it's out of bounds to the school, but there's a room upstairs Dad let's them use. Boys from the school. Some of the girls, too. Dennis Carter takes them in his old banger. Don't tell Dad I told you. He'll kill me."

Barnaby assumes Winch set Paul Starkey up. Or he didn't send the message in the first place. Troy gets a call. It's Anthony Talbot.

Barnaby and Troy drive to the Talbot home. There, Marcus says, "My sister Arabella is in the 6th form at Devington, sir, and she and Daniel were, well, an item. You know, seeing each other. It didn't seem important until I heard that you'd arrested Paul Starkey. He was always pestering Arabella, hanging round the Annexe and so on. He was sort of stalking her. Barnaby asks, "Marcus, do you know someone called Dave Winch? I believe he works in the school kitchens." Marcus says no. He also denies going to the Chalk and Gown. The Chalk and Gown is strictly out of bounds.

After Marcus and the Eckersley-Hyde leave, Anthony Talbot says, "The boy comes in here to help and what do you do? Make a string of vile insinuations." Barnaby says, "I'm making enquiries, Mr Talbot, not insinuations." Talbot says, "I hope you're not one of these chip-on-the-shoulder types who always take the criminal's side, Barnaby." Barnaby replies, "No, I'm one of those let's-do-the-job-properly types."

Back at the school, Barnaby talks to Arabella. She says, "Paul just sort of hung around, you know? He's boring. He seemed to think I fancied him which was just ludicrous. He's gross. And anyway, he's from the village." Barnaby says, "So, you told him you were going out with Daniel, and what, was he upset?" Arabella says, "He was really hacked off." Barnaby asks to look at Arabella's French notebook. He notices her handwriting. Barnaby asks, "You ever go to the Chalk and Gown? This is not about breaking school rules, Arabella. I'm not interested in that." Arabella sighs and says, "I go sometimes with Marcus and the Pudding Club lot. There's nothing else to do around here, is there?" (Class bell rings)

Barnaby tells Troy to ask Paul about Arabella Heywood, Marcus Heywood's sister. Ask whether he knows her and how well, but don't make a big thing of it.

Barnaby talks to Mr Charlie Meynell. He is walking across the grass. Barnaby notices the cufflinks he is wearing. Charlie denies that he ever said he hated the Pudding Club. He denies that he said Daniel wanted to leave the Pudding Club. He also denies mentioning a row between Daniel and Marcus Heywood the night before the race.

Barnaby goes to search Daniel's room and talks to Mr. Ludlow. Ludlow says he has worked at the school 35 years. His father was Porter at Devington before him. He was Porter when Sir Walter Talbot was a pupil. Sir Walter was a great man who did a lot for the school and Anthony Talbot is keeping up the tradition. Ludlow is the steward of the Pudding Club. He takes the puddings to the club room, tidy up afterwards. Ludlow denies there was a fight in the Pudding Club room the night before the race. Barnaby asks Ludlow to see if Marcus is in his room and while Ludlow is gone, Barnaby snitches a greeting card from Daniel's bulletin board.

Later Barnaby shows Troy the card. He thinks Arabella Heywood did not write the card. It's the wrong handwriting. He doesn't think she ever went out with Daniel at all. Barnaby tells Troy to go to the school, drop in on Mrs Bosworth, and talk to Dave Winch. See if he really left a message for Paul Starkey at the pub.

Barnaby asks Dennis Carter about the pub run. Dennis says Marcus usually calls from the school. Carter drives behind the school and waits for them to climb over the wall then runs them to the Chalk. They go in through the back door. Daniel Talbot didn't go to the Chalk and Gown. He went to Dudley Carew's.

At the school, Marcus comes in the kitchen. He has a cigarette in one hand and a drink in another. He lights the cigarette and notices Troy talking to Dave Winch. Marcus shoves his cigarette in one of the puddings.

Barnaby goes to talk to Dudley Carew but Julia is in his house. He shows her the greeting card. She admits that she used to see Daniel at Dudley Carew's. He wanted to talk about school and how he hated it and wanted to leave. Daniel had told Dudley something and Dudley was in a terrible state. Julia thinks someone was watching him. That's why he decided to run away on St Malley's Day. Dudley Carew comes back in the house and Julia leaves.

Dudley tells Barnaby that the Pudding Club is all about money. The acquisition of wealth. That's the true purpose of the Pudding Club. Diplomats enjoy many privileges- Immunity, freedom of movement, diplomatic bag. Sir Walter's health had been deteriorating and with it his influence over the school. And a struggle for control of the Pudding Club has been raging. Archie Bellingham was a victim of that struggle. As was poor Daniel. Then, when Dudley finds out that Barnaby was at the race, he says he can't trust him anymore and tells him to leave.

Eckersley-Hyde arrives at the Talbot's home. He asks about Anthony proposing Charles Meynell to the pudding club. Anthony says he is awarding Charlie the scholarship. Eckersley-Hyde is upset that Anthony did not consult him. Anthony says, "Frankly, Jonathan, without my support, I think you'd be hard pushed to find a job teaching dogs to bark." Eckersley-Hyde says, "Veritatem dies aperit. Time reveals the truth."

Plot, Part 3[]

MURDER 3: That night, Dudley Carew hears a noise in his home. He goes down the stairs and is attacked.

In the morning, Mr Fulmer runs up to Carter and tells him to move his heavy roller. It is in the middle of the 1st XI pitch. Carter goes to drive the roller off when he sees a hand. Dudley Carew is laying on the ground under the roller.

Troy arrives at the pitch. Carter runs up and wants to know when they are going to clear the pitch. Barnaby says "Carew was smothered with a meat pudding, flattened by the roller and bashed about the head, though not necessarily in that order." Troy asks, "Think it could be accidental, sir?" Barnaby says, "This is no time for jokes, Troy." Barnaby says the cleaning fluid on the murder weapon is used in cleaning silverware. So why would you use it on a stainless steel steak knife? If forensics can find a drop of that same cleaning fluid on the roller or on Carew's body, we'll know it's not Paul Starkey.

Barnaby and Troy go to Friar's Copse. Barnaby deduces that the whole school was wearing black arm bands in memory of Sir Walter Talbot the day of the race. Daniel wasn't wearing his black arm band when he got back to the school. So it probably came off in the struggle, which means it's probably still somewhere in the wood. Daniel was trying to get away, not go back to the school. The detectives find Daniels arm band and a toothbrush. He'd hidden his holdall in an empty tree trunk. He must have come back for it, but someone was waiting for him. Whoever stabbed him took it back to his room while everyone was in the Main Quad. There was fresh mud and tree bark on it. And they didn't have time to unpack it properly either because his toothpaste and his razor were still in it. It's ironic. Daniel gets wounded but he manages to escape from his attacker. What can he do? The only way he can get help is to go back to the place he was trying to escape from. Where he's welcomed like a hero.

Ludlow comes to report to Eckersley-Hyde that the police are about to remove Mr Carew from the cricket pitch. Eckersley-Hyde says, "Thank you, Ludlow. A troubled end to a troubled life. Death resolves everything."

Barnaby says, "Marcus Heywood and Charlie Meynell have been giving us the runaround since the very beginning, haven't they?" Troy receives the forensic report. There are traces of cleaning fluid on the roller and Carew's clothing. They can release Paul Starkey then. Troy says he knows where Charlie Meynell and Marcus Heywood will be tonight.

At the pub, a celebration is going on to welcome Charlie to the Pudding Club. Marcus says, "Quiet, please! Quiet! Right. Well we're here today to celebrate Charlie's admission to the Pudding Club. There was a time when I thought Charlie wouldn't come up to scratch. But I'm pleased to say he seems to have come good in the end."

Barnaby and Troy go to the pub and can hear the pudding club boys celebrating Charlie's admission to the pudding club upstairs.

"Come on, Marcus. Don't be a bad loser," says Charlie. Marcus says, "Sorry, what have I lost?" Charlie replies, "Now that Daniel's gone, I'm the one. You thought you'd get the scholarship, but I'm afraid it's going to be me now. Anthony Talbot's as good as told me." Marcus says, "You're wrong. And take your hands off my sister." Charlie says, "Actually, I rather think she's got her hands on me." Marcus and Charlie start fighting.

Ludlow is sitting at the bar while the party upstairs gets louder. Mr. Starkey says it's a private party and makes a move to go deal with the partygoers. But Barnaby tells him that he and Troy will break up the party. Marcus and Charlie are fighting. Barnaby yells, "That's enough!!" He tells Mr. Starkey to have Dennis Carter take the boys and girls back to school. Then he confronts Charlie and Marcus. Barnaby says, "You two have got a choice. Either you start telling me the truth, or I will throw the book at you." The boys agree to cooperate. Barnaby says, "I'll be up to the school first thing tomorrow morning and I want your cooperation please, or I'll charge you both." They agree. Ludlow listens at the doorway.

The next day boys from the school are romping around and swimming in the lake. Suddenly, a dead body pops up from the water. (Thunder peels)

At Eckersley-Hyde 's office, there is a knock on the door. Ludlow says the police have confirmed it's Mr Bellingham's body. The boys are somewhat shaken, but Mrs Bosworth is preparing them a special breakfast. Ludlow asks, "Do you wish to inspect Mr Bellingham's body, sir? Eckersley-Hyde says, "No, I do not, Ludlow. I suppose I better phone Anthony and break the news." Ludlow says, "Yes, sir. Mr Talbot will be most upset about Mr Bellingham." Eckersley-Hyde says, "Indeed he will, Ludlow." Ludlow says, "I'm afraid there's more bad news, Headmaster. Marcus Heywood has disappeared." Eckersley-Hyde says, "Oh, no. What are we to do, Ludlow? Ludlow says, "You'll get us through, Headmaster" Eckersley-Hyde says, "Will I, Ludlow?" Ludlow says, "Yes, sir. I'm sure of it. You're up to it, sir."

At the lake, Barnaby and Troy examine the body. There are Pudding Club cufflinks. It's the missing diplomat. He must've been dead over a week. He has a massive blow to the head. Similar to Dudley Carew.

Troy says, "I've just been talking to Charlie Meynell. Apparently, Marcus Heywood has gone missing." Barnaby and Troy talk to Arabella. They find out that Marcus is hiding in Arabella's room.

Marcus tells the detectives that Eckersley-Hyde told him he was going to put him up for the Pudding Club scholarship but that Daniel was up for one as well, which Marcus thought was really unfair since Sir Walter decides and he was Daniel's grandfather. Obviously, Marcus didn't stand a chance. Marcus says, "Daniel started behaving all weird. He talked about leaving the Pudding Club and about leaving the school and so on. And there were these rumours he was seeing a village girl, so I told the Headmaster. The Headmaster said I'd done the right thing. He said that he'd speak to Daniel's father and they would sort it out between themselves. He said I'd done myself a lot of good. The day of the race, the Headmaster told the Pudding Club to make sure Daniel won the race. But that idiot Charlie Meynell caught the ball. I managed to get it off him. So I lobbed the ball to Daniel but the sad bastard wouldn't run. Then, thank God, he came to his senses and took off. Now I had to try to keep up with Daniel, make sure nobody got to him, but I was completely knackered and by the time we got to Friar's Copse, Charlie Meynell was ahead of me, so I just about managed to keep them both in sight then Charlie caught Daniel. So I gave Charlie a slap or two, and sat on him until Daniel was out of sight. I left the path, looking for a quiet place to have a cigarette, then I heard someone coming through the woods in my direction. There wasn't time to run, so I waited. I couldn't believe my eyes. (Flashback: Ludlow comes along the path. He says to Marcus, "Mr Heywood, I'd appreciate it if you didn't mention seeing me in the Copse this afternoon. To anyone. And I'll say nothing about the cigarettes.) It was bizarre. He was wearing these white gloves that he uses to polish the Pudding Club spoons. He was carrying some sort of bag. But what I couldn't work out was how Ludlow got to Friar's Copse so quickly. Because he was in the Porter's Lodge at the start of the race. You know, it's a physical impossibility. He must have been there because he starts the race. He's the one that rings the bell, you know, it's sort of his big moment." Barnaby asks, "Why didn't you tell us this before?" Marcus says, "Ludlow came to see me that night in my room. (Flashback: Ludlow told me that Paul Starkey had killed Daniel and I shouldn't try to complicate matters. Ludlow says, "Just wanted to refresh your memory, Mr Heywood, about the need for discretion." Marcus says, "There's nothing wrong with my memory." Ludlow says, "I sincerely hope not, Mr Heywood.) Ludlow said that Anthony Talbot would be very pleased. So I thought, great, Pudding Club scholarship in the bag. And then Anthony Talbot tells Charlie Meynell he's getting it. After all I'd done. It should have been me, shouldn't it? I was so totally up for it. I was perfect."

As they leave Marcus, Troy asks Barnaby, "Why did Daniel change his mind and pick up the ball, sir?" Barnaby says, "What he really wanted was to be last so he could leave the race without being noticed." Troy says, " The only other option was to be in the lead." Barnaby says, "Exactly. Build up a big lead, make sure he wasn't being watched, get away from the path, pick up the bag, change. I think the idea was to cut across to the main road, get the bus to Causton." Troy says, "But Ludlow was waiting for him. But then old Eckersley-'whatsit', the Headmaster, saw Ludlow in the Porter's Lodge just before the race." Barnaby says, "He was lying. Look at the School. That's what Dudley Carew said. It looks like the old fella was right."

Barnaby and Troy go to the school. Ludlow is nowhere in sight. Troy finds an automatic timer. He could have linked that to the electric bell. There was a slight delay before the bell went off. Barnaby and Troy go to the pudding club room. They find silver polish and one of Ludlow's gloves. They find a glove under a panel in the wall. Barnaby knocks on the panelling. They find a way to open the panelling and walk into a room full of statues and artifacts from other countries.

Plot Denouement[]

Eckersley-Hyde arrives and glowers at them. "I suppose there's no point in me telling you the Pudding Club room is out of bounds to non-members." Barnaby says, "None whatsoever." Troy holds up the white glove they found. Eckersley-Hyde says, "Ah. I'm afraid Ludlow has been under pressure of late. Mistakes are creeping in." Troy shakes his head and says, "Look at this lot." Eckersley-Hyde says, "Yes, Sergeant. Look at this lot indeed. Gold from South America, bronzes from Africa, ivories from Afghanistan." Barnaby says, "All stolen by Pudding Club members in the diplomatic service." Eckersley-Hyde says, "A-ha. I hear the paranoid tones of Dudley Carew. He was wrong in one important respect. This is not for our personal enrichment. It is for the school. And the Pudding Club. Sir Walter was a visionary. Under his leadership, the club became an elite within an elite, the creme de la creme, dedicated to furthering the aims and ideals of Devington School. Honour. Service. Patriotism. Old-fashioned values like that." Troy says, "It's still theft, Mr Eckersley-Hyde, whatever you do with it." Barnaby asks, "What about Anthony Talbot?" Eckersley-Hyde says, "I'm afraid he didn't share Sir Walter's high ideals. He saw the Pudding Club as a means of making money for himself."

"Daniel was a sensitive and intelligent boy but his father bullied him mercilessly. As a result, Daniel turned against the school and everything it stood for. I thought perhaps I might succeed where his father had failed. I revealed to Daniel the true heart and soul of Devington School. (Flashback: The Headmaster leads Daniel into the Pudding Club treasure room. Daniel says, "I don't understand. All this belongs to the Pudding Club?" Eckersley-Hyde says , "It belongs to the school. It belongs to all of us. See this? (He picks up a knife) It was once in a museum in Kabul. The museum was ransacked and burnt to the ground. Thanks to the Pudding Club, this piece is safe, here, with us." Daniel says, "You mean it's stolen." Eckersley-Hyde says, "Saved. All of this - saved." Daniel says, "And then sold." Eckersley-Hyde says, "To provide scholarships and books and computers and playing fields." Daniel says, "And my grandfather started this." Eckersley-Hyde says, "You can continue the tradition, Daniel. Trust me." Daniel says, "No." Eckersley-Hyde says, "For the sake of the school." Daniel says, "I don't want anything to do with it," and walks out of the room.)

Eckersley-Hyde says, "I failed. Daniel confided in Dudley Carew, of all people. In the end, sad to say, Daniel just wasn't up to it. The day before the race, he packed a bag and hid it in Friar's Copse. Ludlow followed him, and then came and asked me what to do. I told him to do his duty as Steward of the Pudding Club. Tidying up." Barnaby asks, "Archie Bellingham?" Eckersley-Hyde says, "You see this? (He shows them a statue). Years of planning went into acquiring this. Then Anthony and Bellingham decided that they should have it. Bellingham was a petty thief. A second-rater. Typical of the sort Anthony was bringing into the club. Not up to it." Troy asks, "Where is Mr Ludlow now, sir?" Eckersley-Hyde says, "Doing his duty. Tidying up."

Ludlow is marching across the grounds to the Talbot house. Miranda Talbot sees him through the window. The doorbell rings. Ludlow barges in. He says, "I've come to see Mr Talbot." Ludlow goes into Anthony's office. Anthony says, "Ludlow, what on earth are you doing here?" Ludlow says, "Pudding Club business, Mr Talbot." Anthony says, "Not now, Ludlow. I'm busy." Ludlow says, "Sir Walter's door was always open for me, day and night." Anthony says, "Well, mine isn't. Please leave." Ludlow pulls a large ladle from his jacket and says, "I'm afraid this can't wait." Anthony says, "My God." Ludlow says, "You have been very remiss, Mr Talbot. Very remiss indeed." Anthony says, "I'm calling the police." Ludlow smashes the phone. Anthony says, "Ludlow, for God's sake, try and get a grip of yourself. (Ludlow smashes things on the desk) Ludlow, for God's sake, what's the matter with you? Ludlow! Ludlow! There must be some sort of arrangement we can come to for goodness sakes man. (Outside the room, Miranda listens and smiles) I'm sure we can come to some sort of arrangement. There is no need to behave like this, Ludlow. I beg you, please don't hurt me. Miranda! Miranda! Call the police." Anthony falls back on the couch. ( Sirens wail ) Ludlow throws the ladle. "As I always thought, Mr Talbot, sir. Just not up to it." He punches Anthony and then starts to strangle him. The police race in and pull Ludlow off of Anthony.

Sometime later, Julia puts flowers on Daniel's grave. Miranda sees her. "Don't go. You were Daniel's friend, weren't you? I'm pleased to meet you at last. What's your name?" Julia says, "Julia. I'd better go." Miranda says, "You don't have to. Stay for a bit." Julia says, "Alright."

The police carry the statues and treasures out of the school. Barnaby says, "Charlie Meynell was right. The Pudding Club. He said they were like kids in a gang. In the end it wasn't about money, it was about who was in and who was out. Who was the leader. Who was top dog." Troy shakes his head. He says, "School. Supposed to be the happiest days of your life." Barnaby says, "That's what they say, Troy." Troy says, "I never did get that." They see the sign saying "Keep Off the Grass." They walk on the grass...

There is an echo of a teacher scolding.. "Don't run in the corridor, boy. Why aren't you in lessons, boy?"


Cast[]

Galleries[]

Body Count[]

Supporting Cast[]

Episode Images[]

Arrests[]

Notes[]

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

Trivia[]

  • Historic Hall Barn - Buckinghamshire, England - was the filming location for the Talbot mansion.
  • This is the 5th episode in which Joyce Barnaby witnesses a death from murder (Daniel Talbot). Previously she was a witness in Death of a Hollow Man, Death's Shadow, Dead Man's Eleven and Judgement Day.
  • When visiting local crackpot Dudley Carew, Troy picks up and examines a magazine entitled "The Conspiracy Gazette", featuring a cover story "The Truth About Crop Circles" with a crop circle photo on the cover. This magazine from Carew's desk looks strikingly similar to a magazine seen on the desk of Lloyd Kirby, a UFO True Believer in "The Electric Vendetta" which centered around crop circles.

The Trials and Tribulations of DS Gavin Troy:

  • Troy got rather nauseated at seeing Archie Bellingham's corpse.
  • He is learning to handle interviews and business apart from Barnaby.

Goofs[]

In the scene where Marcus Heywood enters the kitchen, lights a cigarette and slowly walks through the kitchen before stubbing the cigarette out in a pudding, the cigarette keeps switching between his right hand fingers and his left.

Video[]

Midsomer_Murders_-_Most_Dramatic_Episode_E09

Midsomer Murders - Most Dramatic Episode E09



Jump to:  Synopsis

Community content is available under CC-BY-SA unless otherwise noted.
Advertisement

Fan Feed

More Midsomer Murders Wiki