Blood Will Out is the fourth episode of the second series of the popular ITV crime drama Midsomer Murders and originally aired 19th September 1999.
Synopsis[]
Barnaby and Troy must deal with upset villagers when two groups of itinerant travellers arrive in the village. One group is related to one of the village landowners while the other is the Smith clan, well known to police as thieves and grifters. Things become far more serious when one of the villagers, a local magistrate and somewhat of a bully, is murdered in his study. There are no end of suspects as both villagers and visitors apparently had motives to rid themselves of him. Slowly, Barnaby and Troy peel away at various village secrets eventually leading to the murderer.
Plot[]
Orville Tudway walks into Martyr Warren leading his horse and caravan. He is a " "Traveller ." Eighteen year old Fleur Bridges rides by on her bicycle. Orville stops at Peter Fairfax's shop. Peter tells him he has a letter for him. Orville reads the letter and his face darkens. Peter asks if it is bad news. "For someone, yeah!" says Oliver.
DCS Tom Barnaby and his wife, Joyce and daughter, Cully, are on their way to a clothing store. Joyce warms Tom, "No picking on the shop assistant." Tom tries on pants, which are too tight. Cully speaks to the sales assistant and he goes off to look for larger pants. DS Gavin Troy walks in the shop. The sales assistant knows him well. He tells Barnaby that they don't have the pants in the larger size. Barnaby says, "That's it. Marks and Spencers. They've stood by me all these years, I shall now return the compliment." Cully says "Canteen lunches" to Troy. "Diet. I'll design it. Gavin, you make sure he sticks to it."
Fleur stops at Will Saxby's home so he can repair her bike. Muriel Saxby watches through the window and later yells at Will for not repairing things in their house but always being at Fleur's beck and call. Muriel says, "She snaps her fingers, and you reach for your toolbox." Will says, "I'll nip into Causton now, if you like. Oh, for God's sake, what do you want?" Muriel snaps, "I want some of your precious time, Will. You give HER enough of it." Orville knocks on the door and walks in. Outside the cottage, Muriel says if she knew he was coming she'd have got something special in for supper. Orville looks at the nearby lake with geese. He tells Muriel not to worry, he'll do supper. Orville asks if some friends of his can park their caravans on his property, to which Will agrees.
In the Bridges abode, Jenny Bridges is eating breakfast when her daughter, Fleur walks in. Fleur mentions that Orville is back in town. Hector Bridges, local landowner and magistrate comments that "we need to lock up our daughters and animals." After Hector leaves, Fleur asks her mother about getting money to go to America.
Tom Barnaby walks in for breakfast and asks what that "smell" is. Joyce tells him it's cabbage soup. He can have as much as he likes. Troy walks in. Cully tells him that her dad can have fruit today.
At the Bridges home, Hector Bridges reports to Barnaby that a goose has been stolen. Bridges says Oliver Tudway stole the goose. He is a "didicoy, vagrant, traveller, call him what you like, it all boils down to the same thing. Thief." Bridges sees several caravans arriving in the field. Bridges says, "It's an invasion. These people are like rats, Barnaby. If you can see one, it means there are ten more close by that you can't."
Barnaby and Troy go to the field to speak to Orville. Muriel and Will are arguing while travellers are pounding in stakes, fires are going and horses let out of trucks. Muriel yells at Barnaby and Troy, "And who the hell are you?" Barnaby says, "Police, madam, I'm Detective Chief Inspector..." Muriel says, "Well, good, you can throw them off our land." Muriel goes off to yell at some people, "Hey, you! Stop that. Put them back." Will says, "Muriel. I say they can stay. This is my house, my land, and I said..." A truck drives up and honks. Muriel says to Oliver, "One or two friends, you said, not one or two dozen!" Orville says that he can vouch for all of them and that they are honest, courteous and clean.
Barnaby says he wants to know what Orville had for dinner last night. Exasperated, Muriel asks if Barnaby is sure he's a policeman. Orville admits that they had "roast goose." Barnaby says that Hector Bridges has lost a goose and he thinks Orville nicked it. Orville says it just "flew into his arms and died." Barnaby says, "This is not a good day to be cute with me!" Orville goes over to some children and tells them to cut out wrassling.
Barnaby continues, " Hector Bridges, you may not like him, but..." Will interrupts, "Nobody likes him, Inspector, he's the most hated man in the village." Orville says, "That's why someone tried to kill him, no doubt. Six or seven years ago. I'd have thought you'd have known that." Barnaby asks when Orville and all will be leaving. Wilbur says, "Sunday week." Tilly Dinsdale rides up on her bicycle and says, "Inspector! Move these people on. They've no right to be here." Barnaby tells her they're on private land with the owner's permission. Tilly asks what about the others, by the church? Whose permission have they got?
Barnaby asks Troy if he noticed that Muriel had a lot to say for herself until someone mentioned the attempt on Hector Bridges' life. Thereafter, silence. Troy says that Orville nicking that goose was like he was sticking two fingers up at Hector and taunting him. They approach the travellers at the church. Barnaby yells, "Smith!" Several people come forward. "They're not really all called Smith. It just makes prosecuting them damn near impossible," says Barnaby. Michael Smith strolls up. Barnaby says to Troy, "Burglary, car theft, and, of course, trespass." Rachel saunters up. Barnaby asks when are they leaving? Michael says Sunday week. John Smith, their grandfather, joins them. Barnaby describes John as a "master at deceiving gullible yuppies, so you'd better watch out, Troy." Smith says, "I traded that car in good faith." Barnaby replies, "A car which used to be two cars. Now, listen, you lot. I want no thieving, no fighting, and no dumping of rubbish on England's green and pleasant land. Is that clear? I take that silence to mean "yes"." Barnaby and Troy walk away. Barnaby wonders what they are up to- "Horse trading? Big punch-up? A bit of thieving?" Troy says, "I think we're on a wild goose chase, sir."
At the police station, Barnaby opens a file on Hector Bridges, "He was run over seven years ago. They interviewed Peter Fairfax, who owns the village shop. No further action was taken. Bridges was found by his wife, whose name was Muriel. Same as Mrs Saxby." Troy serves Barnaby cut up apples for lunch.
Tilly Dinsdale calls the police station and complains that the travellers are still there by the church. Barnaby tells her that they are on common land. They have every right to be there. Felicity Dinsdale says to her sister and Peter Fairfax that one of the children threw gum on her windscreen and she made the fatal mistake of turning on her wipers. Tilly tries to call Hector and Peter takes the phone away. Peter says, "Hector will only make it worse. He's that kind of man. Everything he touches turns to misery." Tilly calls him anyway.
Barnaby arrives home. He asks Cully about her interview. She tells him it went fine and she got the job. She looks at Joyce and says it's a TV commercial for tissues. Barnaby grimaces when he sees there is cabbage soup for dinner.
Late at night, Barnaby receives a phone call. Fleur says, "Hector Bridges is getting some old friends together. They're coming to the house. They're going to tow the travellers out of the village. You must stop them." Barnaby and Troy drive out to the Bridges house. Barnaby and Troy pass the men in army trucks and go in the house. Hector is in his office going over a map with a colleague in army fatigues. Bridges introduces Major Harry Tomkinson, a friend of his. Hector's wife, Jenny walks in pulling on her robe. Troy picks up a baseball bat. Bridges says to Barnaby, "You obviously know what's afoot, Barnaby. Time for a blind eye, wouldn't you say?" Barnaby says, "Not that kind of copper. I like to poke my nose into everything." The Major says, "Dangerous game." and Barnaby replies, "Don't you rattle any sabres at me, Major. I'd like your friends out of this village in five minutes. If not, I'll summon an armed response unit. The can be here in 20. And you can play rounders with them." Bridges says, "Do as he says, Harry." The Major leaves. Bridges wants to know who tipped him off the police. Barnaby says, "For god's sake, you're supposed to be a Magistrate." Bridges says, "Don't you lecture me." Barnaby says, "All right. I'll leave that to the Lord Chancellor, to whom this matter will be reported. And that brings me back to the business of your goose. I'd say it had been well and truly cooked."
Outside, the Major tells the squadron that the gig's off. Troy says to Barnaby, "You just took on a whole platoon, sir. Mind you, the armed response unit's only 20 minutes away." Barnaby says, "Yeah. Pity we haven't got one."
In the house, Bridges turns on his wife. "A straight answer, for once. Did you or did you not tell the police what was going on?" Jenny tells him off. "He just caught you red-handed in the act of being a bully." Hector complains about the lack of loyalty.
Fleur goes and sits beside Orville who is roasting sausages over a fire. Fleur admits that she called the police, although it was her mother's idea. She takes a great interest in Orville's welfare. Fleur asks about coming with Orville when they leave. Orville tells her that none of them are actually going anywhere, but she should be.
Troy goes over to Barnaby's house to report that the traveller's have gone berserk. As the detectives are driving to check on the berserk travellers, horses and carts pull out in front of their car. They are having a chariot race. There is a fair going on and betting on the race. Bridges is there along with the Dinsdales. Bridges complains about Barnaby who he thought was "One of Us." He and Tilly leave "the rabble." Barnaby bets 5 pounds on the Smith racers. At his house, Bridges gets out one of his guns and starts loading it. Orville comes in and confronts him about a letter he received from an old comrade.
Tilly is feeding her pigs when the race starts. She then hears a gunshot. Troy gets a call that Bridges has been shot. At the crime scene, Barnaby notices a belt on the floor and wonders why he took off his belt. Jenny Bridges tells Barnaby that whoever shot Hector did Fleur and herself a favor. She also reports that the killer stole a wine cooler.
Muriel reports that she heard the shot at 3:15. She went to the house and saw a man running from the house. Barnaby says this is the second time someone tried to kill Bridges. 7 years ago, Muriel reported an attempt on Hector's life when she was married to Bridges. At the time Jenny was married to Will Saxby. So Fleur is his daughter. Troy searches Orville's caravan. Barnaby says he knows that Orville and Hector were both in the army. Barnaby tells Troy to go talk to the Smiths while he searches the other vans. Troy says, "And the moment my back's turned, you won't wolf down that Mars Bar?" Barnaby asks, "What Mars Bar?" Troy says, "the one in the glove compartment that you thought I hadn't noticed."
Rachel Smith leaves her trailer and her brother, Michael, wants to know where she is going. She says, "Why, do I need your permission?" She is on her way to go to the movies with Stefan Miller in the village. Her brother objects. Meanwhile, Troy and constables search their caravans.
Back at the Barnaby household, Cully says that she knows Stefan Miller and says he was a good bloke. But, he had a spot of bother with Hector Bridges about a year ago and threatened to kill him then.
Barnaby and Troy visit Peter Fairfax' shop. Barnaby wants to know what Fairfax knows about the Saxby-Bridges marriage go-round. Fairfax says there is nothing to tell. It was a straight swap. Barnaby asks about Stefan Miller who Bridges sentenced to 3 months for stealing a motor bike a year ago. Then Peter hired him to work in his store. Barnaby says he thinks someone tried to kill Bridges 7 years ago and maybe it was Fairfax. Peter says a car like his was seen traveling the same road. There was no evidence and no charges brought.
They go to interview Stefan Miller, but he runs away as soon as they get to his door. Barnaby tells him they will look round the cottage on their own. Stefan comes back. He says he didn't kill Hector. Michael Smith walks in and wants to know where his sister is. Rachel appears upstairs. John Smith arrives. Michael tells Rachel to come on, there is work to do. Barnaby tells John Smith to keep Michael away from Stefan. He then tells Stefan that the Smiths are dangerous people to cross.
At the Dinsdale farm, Felicity and Peter are playing a game and Tilly seems in a daze, missing Bridges. Peter asks Felicity if there was ever a romance between Bridges and Tilly. Felicity says if there had been, she would have done anything to break them up. Tilly listens in from the next room.
Late that night, Tilly hears a noise. The gates to the pigsty are making the noise. Tilly calls to Felicity and Peter, who are still playing the game. Tilly puts on her coat and runs outside. The traveller's are stealing pigs. Peter loads a shotgun. Felicity and Peter run outside. The travellers can be seen in the moonlight. Peter shoots. The travellers run in different directions. One falls.
Next morning Troy arrives to pick up Barnaby at his house. Barnaby says to Troy, "Today is raw vegetable day, Troy, so if you're going to crack any jokes, do so now. Get it over with." Troy tells him that both Hector Bridges and Orville served in the Falklands, after which Orville resigned his commission. Then Troy receives a phone call. It's Miss Dinsdale reporting on the theft of their pigs. At the Dinsdale house, Barnaby tells them they are not allowed to shoot at people. Troy goes to collect cartridges. Felicity tells Barnaby that Peter "Thinged one of them." Tilly corrects her, "Winged him." Barnaby asks Felicity about Tilly's affection for Hector Bridges. Felicity says she fancied him like mad when they were younger but he only had eyes for her. Felicity disliked him as he was a bully and in her opinion, shooting was too good for him. As they leave, Barnaby tells Troy to check the bullet cartridges against the ones found at Hector's.
John Smith goes over to Stefan's house. He tells Stefan he wants to talk to him about Rachel.
On their way to speak to Will Saxby, Troy drives the car into the ditch. Barnaby tells Will that, "If my daughter had been abused by a Hector Bridges, I might have wanted to kill him." Will says, "It would be a strange man who didn't. Fleur told me about it four years ago when she was 14. So, if I killed him because of that, it makes me very slow to anger." Farm workers manage to get the car out of the ditch. Muriel Saxby drives up to see what's going on. She goes and puts her arm around Will. Will says Hector denied abusing Fleur.
Barnaby asks Orville if he knows about the pig rustling last night. Orville knows nothing about it. Barnaby asks about the Falkland Islands. Orville tells him nothing. As they drive away, Barnaby throws a carrot out the window.
At the Bridges house, Jenny and a clerk are making an inventory of silver and other goods, she says for probate. The detectives speak to Fleur about Hector abusing her. Fleur says that is in the past. Barnaby says, "Those who were abused, sometimes themselves become abusers. Not that it applies to Fleur, though. Because Hector never touched you, did he? Why did you say he did? To punish him for ousting your father? Or did you plan to tap into him for something you wanted?" Fleur slams down her tea and walks out of the room. Barnaby asks Jenny who benefits from Hector's will. Jenny says, "Muriel gets a third, which bugs me a little, but I'll manage on the rest." Jenny says she plans to stay in the house. In their car, Barnaby tells Troy that Jenny lied about one thing- the clerk doing inventory is with estate agents- she's selling up and moving on. Troy gets a text about a fax received at the office about Fairfax.
Jenny, Will, Muriel and Orville meet to discuss the situation. Jenny says, "What we did not put into this equation was Barnaby. And the fact that he might have a brain." Will asks, "Do you think he knows what happened?" Jenny says, "Well, why else does he keep coming back? More questions, more subtle intimidation." Muriel says, "He doesn't come to us, Jenny, it must be something you're doing." Orville says, "Does it matter who's to blame?" Jenny says, "Oh, well, of course not, but she never misses a chance to score points." Muriel says, "Just as you're always the one to spoil things." Will says, "Oh, I don't think that's fair, love." Muriel says, "Who was the driving force behind our well sniggered-at change of partners? You? That'll be the day. At least Hector could be fun. Until you and your wretched daughter took him over." Will exclaims, "He was also a dangerous man, which is why we're all stuck in the same boat with that bloody copper getting nearer and nearer...We've got to do something. Any ideas? Well, I've got one. But it needs putting into practice now."
Barnaby and Troy go to speak to Peter Fairfax in a cemetery in back of the church. Barnaby says, "Kent CID said you lived with a Catherine Hamilton for ten years. She died in a car crash near Dover seven years ago. The driver of that car was Hector Bridges." According to the inquest, Hector was stone cold sober, which Peter didn't believe. So Peter began visiting for the odd day and eventually moved to Martyr Warren. Peter denies wanting to kill Hector. This is because he met Felicity Dinsdale. He says he was with Felicity all afternoon on Saturday.
Michael and Rachel argue about her dating Stefan. Barnaby and Troy come over to talk to them about the pig rusting. Michael says they are vegetarian. The detectives go into John Smith's trailer. When they enter they find him on the floor with a bloody head. He is dead. Dr. Bullard says John fell backwards, hit his head on the corner of the basin. He's been dead for two hours maximum. Troy finds the missing silver wine cooler in the trailer.
Michael goes over to Stefan's and attacks him. Troy comes in and tackles him. Rachel goes to Stephan and gently dabs his bleeding face with a cloth. Michael claims John came to tell him to stay away from Rachel. Stefan says, "He came to tell me he didn't want Rachel lugging tarmac the rest of her life, and what was I going to do about it? Look, I've been in the shop all afternoon." Barnaby tells Michael to go back to the camp and wait. Rachel goes with him. She tells Stefan, "I'm all he's got left."
Peter tells the detectives that Stefan Miller was in the shop all afternoon. Tilly says the race had just begun when she heard the shotgun go off. Barnaby and Troy confront Muriel and Will Saxby. She lied about the time. Hector Bridges was shot at three o'clock. She said she heard it at 3.15.
The detectives go to speak to Orville. Barnaby says, "We've been talking to an army widow, Ellen Lampson." Orville says, "17th April 1982, Hector Bridges sent me up a hill with just eight men. There were 12 Argentineans, he said, firing down on us. So, come nightfall, off I went. But there weren't 12 up there. There were 30. And when I came down that hill, I had four wounded and three men dead. And then, just before he died, John Lampson wrote to me, care of the village shop here. Hector Bridges had known the enemy strength all along. He should have waited for reinforcements, but, no, he wanted to press on, take somewhere else, become a hero. I took John's letter, I took a copy of it, to show to Hector the day of the race. He'd been drinking." Orville showed Hector the letter. He said he wants Hector to admit what he did. Hector scoffed at him. Barnaby tells Orville all the travellers can go. He then has Troy go up to the top of the church to observe Orville's caravan. Barnaby says he wants to see what Orville will do when his back is turned.
Barnaby checks for the Mars Bar in the glove compartment. Troy is eating it on top of the church. The traveller's drive off. Michael stops the truck at the shop. He tells Rachel to call him. She gets out and joins Stefan.
Barnaby goes to the Dinsdales. Felicity offers him a slice of chocolate cake. Barnaby savors the cake. He says to Felicity, "When I asked you about Hector you said there was something of the night about him, that he had a dark side, that it would pay me to explore, that he was given to abuse. Is that true?" Felicity says, "Especially after a few drinks."
At the police station, Muriel, Will and Fleur come in and Barnaby says,. "I believe you heard the shot and you went over there just as you said." He surmises that Muriel met whoever did shoot Hector. "I imagine he was in quite a state, so what did you do? Calm him down? Give him a story? And then you took the wine cooler. Described to me a young man who was never there making off with it and then you took the shotgun, which no doubt you disposed of." Barnaby then tells them he really want to see them. He just wanted to get them away from the house. On the roof of the church, Troy watches Jenny go over to Orville's trailer. He races over to the trailer and catches Jenny and Orville in bed together.
Troy goes to the police station and says Jenny admits to killing Hector Bridges. They put Jenny in a cell overnight.
At the Barnaby home, Joyce congratulates Barnaby on his weight loss. The commercial that Cully did comes on the telly. It's a commercial about chocolate cake. Barnaby says, "While I've been eating cabbage soup, you are stuffing your face with chocolate gateau? What sort of daughter are you," Cully says, "I didn't have the heart to tell you. If it's any consolation, they taste awful." Barnaby says, "I wouldn't say that,"
Early the next morning, Barnaby meets with Jenny and Orville. She claims she overheard the argument Orville had with Hector. So she picked up the gun and shot him. Barnaby doesn't believe that. Jenny looks at her watch. It's 6:15. Barnaby says, "Will Saxby, Muriel and Orville in cahoots with you, protecting whoever was behind that door. And I see you here now confessing to a crime you didn't commit. And I ask myself, "would I take the blame for my daughter?" Yes, I would. That's why you sent her away, isn't it? It was going to be to the States but that would take time to arrange visas and I was breathing down your neck."
Troy brings Fleur in. Muriel and Will come in too. She says, "Yes. Oh! Mum, what's going to happen to me?" Barnaby says, "I'm sorry I didn't believe that you'd been abused by Hector Bridges. I made the classic mistake that abuse can only mean one thing - sеxual abuse. And you weren't a victim of that. Good old-fashioned brutality never crossed my mind. When we spoke of it up in the woods, you didn't correct me, did you? In case the belt we'd found beside Hector led me back to Fleur and to the fact that he was about to beat the hell out of her with it. The only thing I don't understand is why." Fleur says, "I heard the argument with Orville and what he said about me. That he wasn't going to pay for me to go to America to get away from him." Fleur tells Hector that if Orville doesn't do something with that letter I will. Hector comes after with the belt. Fleur reaches behind her, finds the gun and shoots Hector.
Barnaby tells Fleur he will do everything he can to help her. But he can't help with the death of John Smith. Will says that he thought they were all in our paddock trading horses. John Smith wasn't. He was in his caravan napping. Will went inside the cabin and John went after him. They struggled, he fell and hit his head.
Barnaby and Joyce and Cully go to the clothing store. Cully tells him that they were looking at the pair of chinos last time. The sales assistant only has the pants in red. Barnaby and the assistant argue and Cully says, "Lunch. Carlos's.. He's doing coq au vin with bread and butter pudding." Barnaby smiles.
Cast[]
- John Nettles as DCI Tom Barnaby
- Daniel Casey as Sgt. Gavin Troy
- Jane Wymark as Joyce Barnaby
- Laura Howard as Cully Barnaby
- Barry Jackson as Dr. George Bullard
- Kevin McNally as Orville Tudway
- John Duttine as Will Saxby
- Elizabeth Garvie as Muriel Saxby
- Paul Jesson as Hector Bridges
- Tricia George as Jenny Bridges
- Honeysuckle Weeks as Fleur Bridges
- Rowena Cooper as Tilly Dinsdale
- Phyllida Law as Felicity Dinsdale
- Ian Thompson as Peter Fairfax
- Daniel Betts as Stefan Miller
- Jerome Willis as John Smith
- Nick Moran as Michael Smith
- Elizabeth Thomas as Rachel Smith
- David Allister as Maj. Harry Tomkinson
- Francis Lee as Shop Assistant
- Brett Reylander as Police Sergeant (uncredited)
Galleries[]
Body Count[]
Prior to the Episode
Killed in a car crash 7 years ago.
Died of natural causes.
In the Episode
Shot in the chest with his shotgun.
During a struggle in his trailer he was pushed and hit his head on a basin corner.
Supporting Cast[]
Episode Images[]
Arrests[]
- Will Saxby-
- John Smith (accidental death)
Notes[]
Barnaby is interviewing Felicity Dinsdale and she offers him cake. Troy happens to call him while he has a mouthful. Barnaby claims he is eating a banana. The cake he has sampled turns out to be the same cake that Cully did a TV commercial for.
The following actors and actresses who appeared in this episode have also appeared in the following episodes:
- Brett Reylander - Death in Disguise and A Tale of Two Hamlets
- Kevin McNally - The Noble Art
- Paul Jesson - Talking to the Dead
- Phyllida Law - Dark Secrets
- Francis Lee - The House in the Woods
Trivia[]
- Hector Bridges wears the regimental tie of the Royal Irish Fusiliers. It would be a question as to whether he served in that unit, because it was amalgamated in 1968 (with the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers and the Royal Ulster Rifles) and thenceforth was known as the Royal Irish Rangers.
- Cully tells Gavin that her father's diet for the day allows all the fruit he wants but no bananas, and Gavin replies that he feels a song coming on. The song is "Yes, We Have No Bananas."
- Actress Honeysuckle Weeks (playing the part of Fleur Bridges), is the sister of Perdita Weeks, who appeared in "Death and Dreams" (#6.2).
The Trials and Tribulations of DS Gavin Troy: Troy is on diet patrol, making sure Barnaby doesn't eat anything not on his diet which is designed by Cully. Barnaby checks for a Mars Bar in the glove compartment which Troy found and is eating while on lookout at the top of the church.
Quotes[]
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Goofs[]
When Barnaby and Troy arrive at the house where Hector and the major are planning their action, it is dark. After a brief discussion, they leave the house, when it is now daylight.
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