Painted in Blood is the third episode of the sixth series of the popular ITV crime drama Midsomer Murders and originally aired 17th January 2003.
Synopsis[]
Joyce Barnaby discovers one of her fellow Watercolor Society members murdered, and husband Tom, assisted by DS Troy, has yet another case to solve. The case take a peculiar twist when Barnaby is ordered off the case and replaced by a senior officer from the National Intelligence Squad. This is especially so when the senior investigating officer is never present and the case is seemingly left in the hands of a DS and a DC who appear less than competent.
Plot, Part 1[]
Linda Tyrell is up on a country road viewing the village of Midsomer Florey through binoculars. She focuses on a particular window and watches the inhabitant close the curtains. While she is getting into her bag in the trunk, two boys go by on their motorbike. Then she takes photos against a white background of Tony Carter. They kiss, he leaves and the boys drive by and try to steal her bag. One boy strikes Linda in the face and takes the bag. Major Godfrey Teal, who is walking by, comes by to pick her up. She pushes him away and he falls to the ground. Linda drives away.
Joyce Barnaby is packing her bag to go painting in Midsomer Florey with the Midsomer Watercolor society. She can't find her brushes and Barnaby points out they are in her bag.
The artists come to work on the green. Barrett Filby is the instructor/leader. He introduces Joyce and discusses the process. Finding a fresh way of looking at the village is the challenge. Barrett is rather handsy, touching Joyce's shoulder and playing with Ann Carter's blouse. Ann says she plans to focus on her house. Alan Pinkney wants to know if he should use a 2B pencil to make a pencil sketch. Barrett says, "If that's what turns you on." Mrs. Bainbridge says she is going to use Gouache.
At the police station, Major Teal comes to speak to Barnaby. He remembers Barnaby from the golf club- Jubilee Dinner. Teal tells Barnaby that he came to a woman's aid and she hurled him to the ground, called him all the names under the sun and ran him over, almost. Teal says she was extraordinarily handsome. Barnaby says there has been a spate of bag snatching and they have set up a special operation entitled "Pond Life." Barnaby takes Teal to see Sgt. Troy. and tells Troy to take a statement. Major Teal says Troy is too young to be a sergeant.
Tessa Hawksley tells Joyce that her husband, Colin Hawksley, is being forced to take early retirement. Colin is the manager of the local bank. They are closing it down and it's going to be a wine bar. Tessa says, "Quite appropriate really since he's taken to drink. Does yours? Does your husband drink? Most of them do- it's the only pleasure left to men of a certain age."
Joyce is setting up her easel and an older woman comes over and kicks her out saying it's her space.
Troy reports that the bag snatching sounds the same as the others. The woman has not reported the theft yet, which is odd since she was assaulted. Teal didn't get the license plate number since he was lying in the road admiring her ankles.
On the green, the artists are painting away. A man is painting the window frame on one of the houses next to the green. Ann sees her husband Tony passing by. He says he is going for a walk. Tony looks at Ann's painting. Barrett thinks she is making real progress. Tony gets in Barrett's face, threateningly.
Out on the road, Linda tells Tony that her bag was stolen, along with his passport photos. The camera and the strongroom receipt were also stolen. He takes off Linda's sunglasses and she has a black eye.
Plot, Part 2[]
MURDER 1: The watercolor students break for lunch. On her sketch, Joyce sketches the clock hands. She goes to look at some of the other artists' paintings and finds the older woman's hat and body in the bushes.
Troy and Barnaby come to investigate. Troy reports to him that Barrett Filby has a record for forging paintings by John Constable- 10 a day. Dr. Bullard pulls a paintbrush from beneath the woman's body. Troy reports that the woman's name is Ruth Fairfax. She moved in the village 6 months ago. She came down every day to paint, rain or shine.
Tony Carter greets his wife, Ann. She wants to know what is going on. She says, "You're up to something.." and he claps his hand over her mouth. They go outside and she says she doesn't think the house is bugged. It's just his way of not telling her anything. Tony says he is tired of being caged up for 4 years.
Troy and Barnaby go to Ruth Fairfax's house. She has some sketches hanging up. Mrs. Metcalfe, her landlady, tells the police that there was a too-do last week. A pipe under her basin was leaking so Mrs. Metcalfe had Mike Weatherby, the local handyman, up to sort it out. Miss Fairfax came back early from painting and accused Mike of going through her things. The detectives find no mail, no address book, no family photos. Just a lot of paintings and sketches. Troy finds makeup in the cabinet. Barnaby says it's theatrical makeup.
Dr. Bullard calls the detectives over to the morgue. He wants to show them the body. The woman is actually young and was wearing a fat suit, a wig, theatrical makeup and fake glasses. She was stabbed in the back.
Troy found the murder weapon- A carpenter's chisel. There are no witnesses. Joyce has been taken home by Tessa. Barnaby tells Troy that Ruth Fairfax is actually a young woman.
Tessa tells Joyce all about her husband's drinking. Colin's move to the bank in Midsomer Florey was a terrible blow to his pride. She says by that time the intimate side of the marriage was over by that time- alcohol kills that off. Barnaby arrives home and Joyce offers him tea but Barnaby says he needs a drink. Joyce tells Barnaby that Tessa's husband is the manager of the bank. Tessa says they will be back painting tomorrow. They are doing the paintings for charity so Barrett wants them to "soldier on." Barnaby chugs down his glass of wine and pours another. Joyce asks, "Are you sure you want another drink?"
The next morning, Barnaby goes to the morgue to ask Dr. Bullard about Ruth Fairfax. He says, "She's gone." She has been removed by investigating officer Mark Gudgeon. Troy calls and asks Barnaby to come around to Ruth Fairfax's flat. Everything has been removed by order of Mark Gudgeon.
Outside on the green, the watercolor painters are getting ready to set up. Two men in sunglasses approach them.
Barnaby gets a call and says he has been told that he is no longer in charge of the Ruth Fairfax investigation due to his wife being a witness. He has been replaced by Mark Gudgeon of the National Intelligence Service (NIS). Troy is still assigned to the case.
Linda Tyrell comes by to report a bag snatching. Troy bows out to go liaise with the officers of the NIS. Barnaby takes down Linda's details. Barnaby says there was a witness to the attack and he says she pushed him away and drove off. Linda claims she was in shock and wanted to go lie down. She says there were some statements from her bank and a strongroom receipt, a Poloroid camera and binoculars. Linda says she was up on the road because she was house hunting and she stopped to get a map out of the trunk.
Tessa drives her husband, Colin, to the bank. Colin sits in the car. He says he has flu. Colin goes into the bank. His employees all say good morning. Colin tells Mrs. Partridge will be working downstairs in the strongroom and doesn't want to be disturbed. He goes into the strongroom where he has a bottle of vodka in a drawer and pours himself a glass.
Tony Carter opens his curtains and leaves his house.
Barrett comes by to look at Ann's painting. He likes her brush work. He says, "He could eat it up." Ann giggles.
Joyce tells Barnaby that they were interviewed by DS James Noland and DC Simon Backley. They just asked a lot of questions. They were interested in Mike Weatherby because he drinks. Joyce says she can be sure of Mike Weatherby's whereabouts because she sketched him in her picture and also sketched the time on the clock.
Barnaby lurks in Midsomer Florey and sees Troy. Troy says he is doing "deep background." Troy says he isn't supposed to discuss the case outside of the team. He hasn't met DI Gudgeon yet. Barnaby goes to Ruth Fairfax's apartment. He looks under the basin and into a hidden compartment. He finds a bottle of antibiotics belonging to Angela Browning.
Linda Tyrell looks through her binoculars at Tony Carter's window.
Barnaby walks to his car and encounters Major Teal. Barnaby asks about where the mugging he witnessed took place. Teal gives Barnaby directions.
Linda is up in the woods cleaning off a shoe and Tony Carter comes up and grabs her arm. Tony thinks someone is after him. Barnaby is walking nearby and Linda and Tony hide behind a tree. Linda says that Barnaby is the cop she talked to about the stolen bag. Barnaby finds an empty poloroid film packet. Tony picks up a thick branch and says he is going to "Sort him out." Suddenly a siren goes off. Barnaby leaves. Linda asks Tony if he is out of his mind. Tony asks if she told the police about the strongroom receipt. Linda says, of course she did, he told her to report it.
Plot, Part 2[]
The police are in the village arresting Mike Weatherby. Barnaby goes to the green to talk to Joyce. She says he missed all the excitement of Mike getting arrested. Joyce says she told the DS about her painting showing the time and the DS said he'd get back to her. In the pub, Troy is drinking beer with the other officers. Barnaby asks to speak to Troy. He tells Troy that Joyce's painting shows the clock and that Mike was painting the window at the time of the murder. Troy blows him off. Joyce goes to show Troy her drawing, but the sketch is gone. Joyce says she might have told the watercolor artists about her painting.
Barnaby looks up Angela Browning online. She was a Detective Constable with a good record. She played a vital role in the investigation of the Heathrow Bullion Robbery where 20 million pounds was stolen from a hijacked cargo plane. Browning was the arresting officer when gang leader Keith Tyrell was apprehended in a London brothel. After that operation, she was recruited into the NIS under DI Mark Gudgeon.
Ann Carter sees Tony walking home and runs off to see what he is up to.
Barnaby finds info on the computer re: Tony Carter aka Tony Mayhew who was number two in the Heathrow Bullion Robbery gang, led by Keith Tyrell. Mayhew was arrested and persuaded to turn Queen's Evidence. Acting on information by Mathew, Tyrell was arrested and 15 million pounds was recovered. Tony entered witness protection and was given a new identity. The National Intelligence Squad operation, led by DI Mark Gudgeon is providing the Carter's with protection and attempting to recover the 5 million pounds.
Troy comes in and tells Barnaby that kids stole a scooter in Causton and crashed it. One is in hospital with a broken leg. Barnaby gives Troy the antibiotics found in Ruth Fairfax's flat. Her name was Angela Browning and she was a detective constable attached to the National Intelligence Squad. "Haven't your new colleagues told you that? That's rather odd, that."
Ann confronts Tony about where he was this morning. Tony says he had to get out. Tony says, "What if we could get out of here, Ann? Find somewhere in the sun, nobody watching us and live even better?" Ann says, "Ah Tony, you haven't found it? You haven't found the money?" Tony says it's not done yet. They have to keep their heads down.
Barrett walks around and looks at the watercolors. He tells Ann that she is getting slapdash in her painting. She says she thinks Tony has found where the money is. She says, "We better be ready." Barrett says, "Might I suggest the south of France." Ann says, "I want you all to myself and I don't mean for painting lessons."
Barnaby goes to the hospital and confronts Jason Hurst. He tells him that since he hit the woman he robbed, that is robbery with violence. Jason says that Richie hit her- she wouldn't let go of the bag.
Mike Weatherby is interviewed by DC Simon Backley and DS James Noland. He says he went into Ruth Fairfax's room to repair a pipe. Ruth Fairfax came up and started yelling at him. Witnesses in the pub heard Mike say he was going to put Ruth right. Troy asks, "Mike, how long have you been working at the Carter's house?" Mike says, "Ten days or so." Troy continues, "And you always parked your van outside the house? Ever leave it unlocked, Mike?" Mike says, "Probably, yeah." Backley and Nolan seemed stunned that Troy interrupted and asked questions. Beckley terminates the Interview. Noland tells Troy to shut up and get out.
Barnaby looks along the roadside and finds the bag that was stolen from Linda Tyrell. There is a strongroom receipt in it, along with poloroids of Tony Carter. Major Teal comes up behind him and asks if he is looking for clues.
Barnaby goes to the bank and asks what is in the strongroom. Mr. Hawksley says, "It is a receipt for an item deposited in our strongroom. Funnily enough, I've been trying to contact Mr Tyrell. This branch is closing down, Inspector. Mrs Partridge, Mr Miller and myself, we find ourselves surplus to requirements. Yes, Midsomer Florey will no longer have its own bank. Instead it will have a wine bar. Serving cocktails. And an eclectic Pacific cuisine. So we've been notifying depositors that they must remove their possessions from our strongroom by the end of the week." Mr Tyrell has not responded- perhaps he's moved or forgotten. The item in question is rather large." Hawksley shows Barnaby the large linen press. He doesn't have a key as that remains with the owner.
Barnaby tells Linda Tyrell that they have recovered her bag. The camera and the binoculars are gone. Barnaby won't give her the strongroom receipt because it belongs to Mr. Tyrell. Linda says he is out of the country. Barnaby says the receipt is evidence.
Major Teal is at the bar telling people about the bag Barnaby found. Troy goes in to ask Noland and Beckley about Angela Browning. Troy says, "That was Ruth Fairfax's real name, wasn't it? She was a DC in the National Intelligence Squad." Noland and Beckley tell Troy not to tell anyone. As far as he's concerned, the victim was a 60-year-old woman called Ruth Fairfax. They deal with these things in their own way, no outsiders. That's the way DI Gudgeon likes it. Mr Gudgeon would not jeopardise a long and complex operation by spilling the beans to a flat-footed country copper.
Plot, Part 3[]
Troy goes over to Barnaby's house and tells him the NIS didn't question Mike Wetherby about the chisel. Barnaby tells Troy about Tony Carter's real name and about the Heathrow job. The woman who was robbed is Linda Tyrell. Keith Tyrell's wife. The photos in her bag look like passport photographs. So while her husband serves 15 years for armed robbery, Linda's helping the man who put him away to get a new passport. Not all the money was recovered- £5 million was unaccounted for. Keith Tyrell's share, as rumour has it. And Keith Tyrell stored a rather large piece of furniture in the strongroom of the local bank. And the receipt for that was in Linda Tyrell's hold-all when it was snatched.
Joyce comes home and shows Troy and Barnaby her painting. Barnaby asks who a person in the painting is and Joyce says it's Alan Pinkney. Barnaby says, "Why has he got huge whiskers growing out of his ears?" Joyce says, "They're paintbrushes. He's always got brushes behind his ears." Barnaby says, "Could I see your brushes, please, Joyce? Artist's brush No. 8, pure sable. The brush found under the body, that had a brown shaft and the brush bit was made of nylon. Maybe it was the murderer's." Joyce says, "I could see Ruth Fairfax and Alan Pinkney was near her. But I couldn't really see him because there was a tree in the way." She couldn't see him unless she leant back in her chair. Troy says, "What about the money?" Barnaby says, "The money is going nowhere as long as I've got the strongroom receipt." Troy says, "It's good to be back to normal, sir. Sorry about the last few days."
At night, Tony tells Linda that Barnaby knows who they are by now. Which means that he has guessed what's in the bank. They would be better off without the receipt. Tony digs up a gun he had hidden in the ground.
Barnaby and Troy go to the evidence room. They look at Angela Browning' paintings. It looks like Tony Carter was signalling to Linda Tyrell up in the woods. Looks like it was based on whether the curtains were open or closed. Angela Browning must have worked it out. They find Angela's brushes, which are black shafts, pure sable. The one found under the body was shoved in with the rest of them. Troy says, "I'll take this to Forensics, sir, see if I can get Alan Pinkney's fingerprints."
In the strongroom, Hawksley drinks some vodka. He pulls a dusty sheet off of the linen press. He gets his keys...
Barrett tells the artists, "Now then, lovely people, this is our last day in gorgeous Midsomer Florey, so let's make the most of it. Don't forget the charity auction. We want people falling over themselves to buy your masterpieces. So let's see your very, very best work."
Troy enters Barnaby's office and Noland has his feet up on the desk. Troy hides the brush behind his back and drops it in the trash. Noland tells Troy to hand over the strongroom receipt. Barnaby enters and tells Troy to give them the document. Barnaby says, "I don't believe I invited you to sit in my seat, Sergeant." Noland and Beckley leave and Barnaby says, "Remember you were saying earlier that this investigation was a shambles? Well, it is. Well, maybe that's the way Gudgeon wants it. Policemen like money too, Troy. The bank opens in half an hour. I'll go straight there, you take that brush to the lab and track down Pinkney. Try and get a look at his brushes. See if they're like that one. And then we'll just have to wait for the lab results."
Troy wanders around the green where the artists are working. He says to Alan, "That's interesting." Troy looks at Alan's brushes. Tony packs up his gun and escapes from his home. Colin Hawksley opens the linen press which is packed with money. Tony goes to the road and approaches the car in the road.
Ann worries about what Tony is up to. Colin starts stuffing money in his pockets. Mrs Partridge knocks on the door and says, "Mr Hawksley, it's Chief Inspector Barnaby to see you." Colin starts putting the money back in the linen press. Tony walks into the bank and pulls out his gun. Mrs. Partridge drops the tea set she was carrying.
In the strongroom, Barnaby says, "We have reason to believe it contains a large quantity of stolen money." Tony has the bank attendant open up the linen press. He tells Barnaby and the bank staff to fill up the bin bags with money. Tony says, "You help them out, Barnaby, and I might decide not to kill you."
Major Teal walks down the street with his dog and sees Linda Tyrell. He knocks on the window. Teal says, "Morning, dear lady. I thought the car looked familiar. Even though I last saw it from a prone position. What do you want? Don't you recognise me?"
Troy walks in the bank, sees the smashed tea set on the floor and no staff in front. He breaks the fire alarm and the siren goes off. Tony asks, "WHAT'S THAT?" Colin says, "The fire alarm. The fire brigade will come if we don't turn it off." Tony goes out the door and Troy throws a fire extinguisher at him. Tony struggles with Troy and Barnaby goes to help and Troy gets handcuffs on him. Barnaby tells Troy to arrest and caution Mr Carter and asks Mr Hawksley to get the bank back to some semblance of normality as soon as possible,
Ann drives up and sees Linda Tyrell. Police cars start driving up the road with sirens going off and Ann and Linda drive away.
On the green, Joyce continues to paint, along with the other artists.
A white van pulls up and Noland and Beckley get out carrying large bags. They enter the bank and tell Mrs. Partridge they would like to withdraw some property from the strongroom. Colin takes them to the strongroom. Beckley tells Colin to leave. Beckley say, "Five mill, James. (Both laugh hysterically and hug). Noland asks for the keys. Beckley opens the strongroom door and Barnaby and Troy walk in. Barnaby says, "There's £5 million in that thing. The unrecovered proceeds of an armed robbery in there." Beckley says, "This is an NIS matter now. We'll take care of it." Barnaby gives them the keys. Barnaby says, "There is one thing. If we could have some sort of authorization from DI Gudgeon before you remove all that money, just in case." Mr Hawksley locks the strongroom. Troy says, "Someone tried to steal the money at gunpoint half an hour ago." Barnaby says, "Mr Hawksley will unlock the door when your DI Gudgeon shows up." Beckley goes to call Gudgeon.
Plot Denouement[]
Later, the door opens and Detective Inspector Gudgeon walks in. It is Alan Pinkney. He asks, "What's the problem? Barnaby, how dare you obstruct NIS officers." Barnaby says, "Let's not talk about the NIS. Let's talk about paintbrushes. (Barnaby pulls down a paintbrush from behind Alan's ear.). This brush is identical to the one found under Angela Browning's body. Your brush, Gudgeon, which you dislodged from behind your ear when you stabbed her with Mike Wetherby's chisel." Gudgeon says, "This is all nonsense. Get on with packing the money." Beckley says, "There was a brown brush in with the others. I thought it was Angela's." Barnaby says, "Detective Constable Angela Browning did a good job. She found out about Tony Carter and Linda Tyrell, and the strongroom receipt. The only problem was, she was straight. Which meant she had to go. Didn't she, Gudgeon?"
Beckley says, "No violence. You said NO VIOLENCE!" Noland says, "You killed one of your own. (He attacks Gudgeon) YOU bastard!" Troy pulls him off Gudgeon. The police take the NIS to jail.
Troy says, "How did you know Pinkney was Gudgeon, sir?" Barnaby says, "I'd assumed that Pinkney was working with Gudgeon. But then why would Gudgeon trust a civilian non-entity like Pinkney? It only made sense if they were one and the same person." Troy says, "Flat-footed country coppers indeed. I wish every arrest was as enjoyable as this, sir."
Barrett Filby goes to the strongroom and asks if Colin knows where Ann is? Colin says she went off to the police station with her husband. He was a bank robber called Tony Mayhew. Colin says, "£5 million in cash. I've been sitting inches away from £5 million in cash for four years. You've no idea what it's like to be so close to so much money." Barrett notices the linen press. Barrett says, "Good God! ( Chuckles ) What? It's a linen press, 19th century. Made, if I'm not mistaken... ..by Joseph Wilkinson. I read up on furniture while I was inside. While I was at art school." Colin says, "You think it's worth something?" Barrett laughs and says, "A small fortune, old chum. A small fortune."
At the auction, Colin auctions off the paintings. Tessa comes by and says that Colin inherited a family heirloom. It turned out to be surprisingly valuable. Barrett comes by to ask if he can steal Tessa away? They have to discuss the society's plans for next year. Major Teal bids £100 on Joyce's painting. Joyce looks at Barnaby. So he puts up his hand to bid £150.
Cast[]
- John Nettles as DCI Tom Barnaby
- Daniel Casey as Sgt. Gavin Troy
- Jane Wymark as Joyce Barnaby
- Barry Jackson as Dr. George Bullard
- Leslie Phillips as Godfrey Teal
- John Sessions as Barrett Filby
- Barbara Durkin as Linda Tyrell
- Matthew Marsh as Tony Carter
- Clive Merrison as Colin Hawksley
- Dinah Stabb as Tessa Hawksley
- Denise Black as Ann Carter
- David Mallinson as Alan Pinkney
- Andrew Lancel as DC Simon Backley
- Nigel Lindsay as DS James Noland
- Anna Northam as Ruth Fairfax
- Sheila Reid as Mrs. Metcalfe
- Eamon Geoghegan as Mike Weatherby
- Jean Challis as Mrs. Bainbridge
- Hilary Crane as Mrs. Partridge
- Colin Higgins as Mr. Miller
- Michael Tucek as Jason Hurst
Galleries[]
Body Count[]
Supporting Cast[]
(the undercover identity of DI Mark Gudgeon of the NIS)
Episode Images[]
Arrests[]
Alan Pinkney for the murder of Ruth Fairfax.
DC Simon Backley & DS James Nolan for the attempted robbery of the money in the linen press in the basement of the bank.
Tony Carter for attempted robbery of the bank.
Notes[]
The following actors and actresses who appeared in this episode have also appeared in the following episodes:
- Hilary Crane - Death of a Hollow Man
- Michael Tucek - Garden of Death
- Eamon Geoghegan - Market for Murder
- Matthew Marsh - They Seek Him Here
- Clive Merrison - Habeas Corpus
- Denise Black - The Night of the Stag
Trivia[]
- This is the 1st time Joyce Barnaby has discovered a body. She has previously witnessed death by murder in Death of a Hollow Man, Death's Shadow, Dead Man''s Eleven, Judgement Day & Murder on St. Malley's Day.
- Leslie Phillips as Godfrey Teal later went on to play the Sorting Hat in the Harry Potter film franchise.
The Trials and Tribulations of DS Gavin Troy:
- Troy gets assigned to the NIS (National Intelligence Service) to assist in case previously assigned to Barnaby. He finds out that they are not that intelligent and doesn't enjoy the assignment.
Goofs[]
- Using an easel to paint watercolors is unusual since watercolor painting is done on a flat surface so the water doesn't drip down the page!! (I know this as I am a watercolor artist).
- A 2B pencil would be a bit dark for a pencil sketch prior to painting a watercolor. A 2H would be better.
- Lens covers are on the binoculars in the opening scene.
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