"(WINDOW RATTLING)" "WOMAN:" "Oh, my God!" "Please!" "Please, no!" "(SCREAMS) Somebody help me!" "(WAILS) No!" "(WINDOW RATTLING)" "Help me!" "Please." "Someone." "Please, help me!" "There's someone in the house!" "Please help me!" "(GROWLS)" "(SCREAMS) Help!" "(PHONE RINGING)" "I'll be up in a minute." "Did you hear that?" "The school teacher's having hysterics again." "WOMAN:" "Please help me!" "Imogen?" "(CLATTERING)" "I think it's Connie." "Of course it's Connie." "Get over there." "All right." "Keep your hair on." "CONNIE:" "Help me!" "Please!" "Please!" "There's somebody in my house!" "There's somebody in my house!" "It's Connie." "I gathered." "Oh, thank God!" "Thank God." "Could you come down and let us in?" "He's on the stairs." "Or the landing." "I think he's on the landing." "Don't you think he might have scarpered by now?" "You think so?" "What with the noise, sort of thing." "Well, you could throw the door key down." "Just a minute." "Not a lot of fabric in that nightie, is there?" "I mean that in the nicest possible way." "Oi, oi." "Neighbourhood Watch is here." "What's happened?" "Connie thinks there's an intruder." "Again." "Still on the landing, she reckons, having screamed the house down." "Well, maybe we should suspend judgment, until we can ascertain what has actually occurred." "Well, maybe we should suspend judgment, until we can ascertain what has actually occurred." "Yeah." "Precisely." "I've just remembered." "There's a spare key under the flower pot." "Right, OK." "Got it." "OK." "Don't you worry, Connie." "We'll be up there in a moment, sweetheart." "(FLOORBOARDS CREAKING)" "It's all right, Connie." "We're here." "(SIGHS)" "Did you see someone?" "Shh." "Don't worry." "If there's anyone in the house, we're gonna find them." "Right, lads?" "Yeah." "Yeah." "Do you want to go and look around, then?" "Yeah." "Right." "There was definitely someone there." "I swear." "Imogen!" "Are you all right?" "There was someone on the landing." "Really." "Well, that's awful." "Do you think perhaps you need your dressing gown?" "I'm serious." "There was definitely someone in the house." "Why is this happening?" "(WHIMPERING)" "JONES:" "Overactive imagination, according to some of the neighbours." "This is from the officers who answered the call." "What about the other neighbours?" "Well, not quite so dismissive." "Someone was seen loitering not far from her cottage two weeks ago, late at night." "Someone was seen loitering not far from her cottage two weeks ago, late at night." "Then a month ago she told friends she thought someone had been in her house - reckoned things had been moved." "But she has been found sleepwalking a couple of times on the village green." "In a bit of an agitated state, apparently." "I mean, whatever the truth of it, the officers who answered the call said she wasn't putting it on;" "that she genuinely was very frightened." "What does she do, this lady?" "She's the village school teacher." "Oh, Connie." "Connie Bishop." "Yes, the Mrs Barnaby knows her." "Well, I've always taken her for a very serious, sensible young woman." "Well, there's no sign of a forced entry." "Windows shut, back door locked." "She kept a spare key under a flower pot, though." "And who knew about that?" "Only half the village." "Only half the village." "Yeah." "CONNIE:" "And twisting!" "Keep going." "Jacqueline, can you take over, please?" "Listen to Jacqueline." "Mr Barnaby?" "Miss Connie Bishop." "This is Detective Sergeant Jones." "Mr Barnaby?" "Miss Connie Bishop." "This is Detective Sergeant Jones." "'Connie', please." "Beautiful spot." "Oh, we're very lucky." "The building was donated by Harold Frobisher 60 years ago." "Oh, we're very lucky." "The building was donated by Harold Frobisher 60 years ago." "About last night..." "Ah." "I'm afraid I may be wasting your time." "I think I must have been dreaming." "Well, let's hope you were." "Well, better that than having a real intruder." "Well, yes, I suppose so." "The officers who attended the scene said you were sure it wasn't a dream." "Well, yes." "I do remember waking up and then hearing the noises." "The footsteps on the landing and creaking floorboards." "But people do sometimes dream they've woken up, don't they?" "When they are, in fact, still dreaming." "I can't think what else it could have been." "I mean, I didn't think much about it at the time, when Jim said the back door was bolted." "Councillor Hanley, Neighbourhood Watch man - one of the first on the scene." "And all the windows were closed." "I was leaning out of my window, calling for help." "I would have seen anybody escaping through the front door." "So, there couldn't have been anybody there." "Now, listen." "I understand absolutely what you're saying, but just to be on the safe side, and for your own peace of mind," "I think you should consider changing the lock on the front door." "Really?" "Really." "And you mustn't leave your spare key under the flower pot." "Yes." "Fair enough." "Now, this is my number." "And do not feel embarrassed to give us a ring the second you think you've got another intruder." "All right?" "There you go." "That should help you sleep more easily." "You're very kind." "I'm sure there won't be anything." "Odds are she was imagining it." "But the fact that back door was locked from the inside doesn't rule out the possibility there really was an intruder, does it?" "And if there was an intruder, he could have left by that back door, come in again with the others, locked the back door from the inside before anyone saw it, to make it look as if no-one could have left that way." "Hmm." "Yeah." "Or just stayed in the house and pretended to come in with the others." "Yes." "Yes, I think we ought to keep an open mind." "Yeah." "Chairman of the Frobisher Night committee?" "I never understood why she was appointed in the first place." "I can't see her running it for much longer." "Can you?" "Leaning out of windows in the middle of the night, screaming?" "Are you certain there's nothing in it?" "Oh, please!" "She lives in an utter fantasy world." "No, allowing her to continue as Chairperson just wouldn't be fair to her." "Quite apart from the charity." "We have to take steps." "And frankly, I'd like to know what's on her conscience... ..because there's something there, causing all the nightmares." "(SIGHS)" "Oh, hello!" "Looking lovely, as usual." "Thank you." "If it's to do with Committee business, we must wait for Connie." "If you would just let..." "And did anyone tell Connie that the meeting had been brought forward?" "Mrs Stroud, don't you think it would be kind to take a little weight off Connie's shoulders just now?" "Mrs Stroud, don't you think it would be kind to take a little weight off Connie's shoulders just now?" "(CLEARS THROAT)" "I'm just canvassing opinion." "Mrs Richardson?" "Miss Bishop is here." "Ah, Connie, come in!" "Come in." "You made it." "How are you feeling?" "Oh, I'm fine." "You don't look your usual sparkling self." "Are you sure you're feeling up to it?" "What exactly is wrong with the heating at the hall?" "Good question!" "And then there's the leaking roof." "Zukie's suggesting that we hire an all-weather marquee for Frobisher Night." "Zukie's suggesting that we hire an all-weather marquee for Frobisher Night." "On the green." "And I really think a sizable chunk of what we raise should go towards the new hall this year." "Do you know how much all-weather marquees cost?" "Oh, don't you worry about that." "Don't worry?" "Frobisher Night is about trying to raise money, not squander it away on expensive marquees." "Now, you mustn't get upset." "I'm not getting upset." "And we've always had Frobisher Night at the hall." "Darling, if we want to attract the kind of people who are going to bid serious money at the auctions," "Darling, if we want to attract the kind of people who are going to bid serious money at the auctions, then we've got to provide the kind of venue in which they'll feel at home." "Oh, dear." "You have been badly shaken, haven't you?" "I'm perfectly fine." "(CRYING) So stupid!" "I'm sorry. (SOBS)" "Ah, Jenny, tea." "Perfectly timed." "(CONNIE GROANS)" "It's not about raising extra cash for good causes." "It's about raising her profile with the local bigwigs." "The glitterati." "That's what ladies who lunch a lot live for." "She's right about us needing a new hall." "The school gets way, way too much of the proceeds, anyway." "And if we're honest, there aren't enough children to even justify it being there." "The school is the heart of the village." "And the children are the future." "Feel a song coming on, Jim?" "(LAUGHS)" "Oh, you can laugh." "We have to make a stand." "Somebody has to." "At the end." "Jim...!" "What is it with him these days?" "(DOOR CLOSES)" "I told her we could stump up the money for the deposit, but she just wouldn't have it." "She has no vision." "And fewer and fewer people attend each year." "And why people support her..." "When you say 'we' can stump up the money for the deposit..." "Oh, I'm sorry, babes." "I should have mentioned it, but I didn't think you'd mind." "It's only a few hundred." "A thou at the most." "Two." "You don't mind, do you, Howie?" "You know how grateful I can be." "It's not about the money." "It's about everyone taking part." "Isn't it?" "Come on, then." "(PHONE RINGING)" "Hello?" "No, no, I was just about to go up." "(RAIN SPLASHING)" "No, everything's fine." "(WHIMPERS)" "(BLEEP)" "MAN ON COMPUTER: 'So, tell me a bit about yourself, Nymphette 73.'" "I'm a bit bi, a bit hetero." "A bit of everything, really." "'Sounds promising.' You'd better believe it, Sunnyboy!" "No wonder you're always feeling tired." "Mum!" "'Who's that?" "' Mum!" "Well, thanks a lot(!" ")" "You should get out more." "MAN:" "Nice big smile, please." "Look at the camera, please." "Nice big smile." "(DOG BARKING)" "(FLOORBOARDS CREAKING)" "(BARKING)" "(CREAKING)" "(RAIN SPLASHING)" "(CREAKING)" "Mungo?" "(THUNDER)" "(RATTLING)" "(RATTLING CONTINUES)" "Who is it?" "(RAIN SPLASHING)" "(THUNDER)" "(SCREAMS) Help me, please!" "She's certain she bolted the back door before she went to bed..." "This way." "And?" "And when she came down, it was wide open." "He must have got in when I let Mungo out, before I locked up." "You left the door open?" "I let Mungo out." "The phone rang, so I answered it." "I was only gone a minute." "And you think someone entered the house during that time?" "That's all I can think of." "Who was it made the phone call?" "Lettie." "Mrs Stroud." "Sir..." "Yeah?" "You should see this." "What is it?" "You stay there." "The blood's hardly congealed." "It's Councillor Hanley, the Neighbourhood Watch guy." "I noticed that Miss Bishop's hair was damp." "It was wet." "Did she have a shower?" "Well...we didn't realise there was a body at the end of the garden, sir." "We thought she should warm up." "She was muddy and cold through from the rain." "Right." "Get forensics." "Yes, sir." "(TEARFULLY) I can't believe it." "Poor Jim." "Have you any idea what he might have been doing in your garden, back of your house, middle of the night?" "No." "Is there anything missing from the house?" "I haven't looked yet." "Well, if you could." "At some point." "Don't be ridiculous!" "OFFICER:" "Madam!" "Connie..." "Oh, you!" "What is going on?" "You poor girl." "Is it true?" "It's Councillor Hanley?" "Yes, it is." "I knew there was something wrong." "I knew it." "How did you know?" "He was troubled." "He was very troubled." "I should have taken more notice, listened to him." "Sir, Mr Bullard's here." "Ah." "She can't stay here." "I'm going to take her back to our house." "She can come with us." "Yes, that's very good." "We'll talk again tomorrow." "Yeah." "Excuse me." "Well, Tom, it was a very sharp knife." "Used approximately one and a half hours ago." "About the time the intruder was in Connie's house." "Assuming there was one." "I still can't believe it's happened." "Terrible." "I see you're looking after Connie's dog." "We always have Mungo when Connie's at work." "Home from home, isn't it, boy?" "He knows us pretty well now." "Now, Mrs Stroud..." "Oh, thank you." "You said last night you thought Jim Hanley was 'troubled', and you felt you should have listened to him more." "Yes." "It was a conversation we had in the pub." "This is the Black Swan?" "Yes." "I was talking to him about the Frobisher Committee." "Ah, Frobisher Night." "The dinner-dance thing?" "Yes, and how I wished he hadn't resigned the chairmanship." "Yes, and how I wished he hadn't resigned the chairmanship." "And then he started talking about...?" "Reputations and secrets." "He'd had a few drinks by then, so I wasn't taking him too seriously." "'Something about how sometimes secrets have to be revealed.'" "Go on, Councillor - get it off your chest." "It's always best, you know." "(WEARILY) Easy for you to say." "Don't be such a drama queen." "Nah, nah, let the poor man drown his sorrows." "What are you having, Jim?" "Nah, nah, let the poor man drown his sorrows." "What are you having, Jim?" "At the time, I thought it was just Jim being his moody old self." "At the time, I thought it was just Jim being his moody old self." "You knew the Councillor quite well?" "40 years." "I served with him at the council for 20." "But I don't think I ever knew him really well." "He was very polite and reasonable, but there was always something in reserve - you know?" "Mrs Stroud, do you know why Jim Hanley resigned from the Frobisher Committee?" "I know he didn't enjoy it as much as he used to, before Zukie and the rest joined." "I know he didn't enjoy it as much as he used to, before Zukie and the rest joined." "We had to put up with them because Zukie's husband has been so generous over the years." "We had to put up with them because Zukie's husband has been so generous over the years." "To the charity." "Poor man." "She well and truly has got her claws into him." "What about friends and family of the Councillor?" "Not really." "Divorced years ago." "No children." "We were wondering whether the man I saw outside Connie's house might have anything to do with it." "You were the one who saw this man acting suspiciously?" "Yeah, he rushed off when he saw me." "Otherwise, I don't think I'd have noticed." "So, what was he doing?" "It was dark." "I didn't get a good look, but it was in almost the same place Jim Hanley was killed, so I just wondered." "OK, that's it." "(BELL)" "Inside." "Thank you." "Hi." "Hi." "I thought I'd just..." "I heard about last night." "Sounds terrible." "Wasn't great." "Anyway, I just wanted to say, if there's anything I could do..." "I wanted to thank you for the other night." "I was just helping out." "I don't normally hang out of windows, calling for young men to come and rescue me!" "(CHUCKLES)" "I don't know what the women of the village think of me." "Oh, well, we've all been there." "I mean..." "I didn't mean..." "Because obviously, we...we haven't erm..." "Yeah..." "I think that's my phone." "Thank you, Justin." "(DOOR BELL)" "Good morning." "I'm Detective Chief Inspector Barnaby from Causton CID, and this is Detective Sergeant Jones." "We'd like to talk to Mrs Richardson, please." "Come in." "Thank you." "This way." "ZUKIE:" "If we get the hall back in proper condition, it's something the whole community can use." "MAN:" "Let me think about it." "We're not talking about a huge amount of money..." "MAN:" "Let me think about it." "We're not talking about a huge amount of money..." "Mrs Richardson..." "Just a minute." "It's far less than you donated to the school." "That was money well spent." "Mrs Richardson?" "(ANGRILY) Will you please..." "Inspector Barnaby, and Detective er..." "Constable..." "Who was it?" "Inspector Barnaby, and Detective er..." "Constable..." "Who was it?" "Detective Sergeant Jones." "This must be about Councillor Hanley." "Terrible thing." "Thank you, Jenny." "That'll be all." "This must be about Councillor Hanley." "Terrible thing." "Thank you, Jenny." "That'll be all." "Yes, it is about Councillor Hanley, and we're talking to everyone that knew him." "Of course." "Oh, this is my husband, Howard." "Mr Richardson." "Shocking." "Please..." "I really only knew him from the Committee work." "He seemed a pleasant enough man." "Er..." "Mr Richardson, did you know him at all?" "Erm...nice man, I thought." "I can't imagine he had any enemies." "Wasn't anything to do with Neighbourhood Watch, was it?" "We just don't know, sir." "He was very fond of Connie, of course." "'Very fond'?" "Well, if I'm brutally honest, it was...bordering on obsession." "Connie didn't mention it?" "How did this erm...obsession manifest itself?" "Oh, body language." "He couldn't disguise it." "It was very odd." "Still, some people like needy types, don't they?" "Were you aware of it, sir - this obsession?" "I didn't see much of him, so I couldn't really comment." "There's no question it had anything to do with Connie?" "We're not ruling anyone out or in at this moment, sir." "Where were you both between 11:30 and 12:30 last night?" "I was in bed with my husband." "We went up at about 11, didn't we, Howard?" "I came up a bit later." "You were already asleep, actually." "It must have been about 11:30." "And ten times five, William, is...?" "Fifty." "Brilliant." "Fifty." "Look!" "(LAUGHTER)" "Can you take over, please?" "Listen to Jacqueline." "OK, shh." "Next one." "Who can tell me eleven times five?" "I was just passing, and I thought I'd er...drop in and disrupt your class for a bit." "Well, ten out of ten!" "No, it's about that lock you needed changing." "I'd say the Councillor had a bit of a soft spot for Connie." "Not sure I'd say he was obsessive." "And his relationship with Zukie Richardson?" "He put up with her." "Like we all do." "God knows what old Howard sees in her." "No fool like an old fool." "His money inherited?" "Oh, no." "Started his own electronics company." "Retired now." "Is he involved in a lot of charities?" "Yeah, but understated." "You know?" "Put a shed-load into the village school." "They've got the building as long as they want it now." "All repairs and upkeep taken care of." "They've got the building as long as they want it now." "All repairs and upkeep taken care of." "Everything?" "The whole lot." "Good evening." "I saw you at the school today." "Really?" "I didn't have you down as a curtain-twitcher." "I hope you're not taking advantage of Connie's vulnerable state." "She's asked me to go and take a look at her front-door locks." "Not that it's any business of yours, mate." "Is there a problem?" "It's laughing boy who's got a problem." "Just...just don't take advantage of her." "I'm going round to Connie's later to sort out her locks... as I think you suggested." "It's amazing, innit?" "You try and do your bit to help." "All you get is sculptors abusing you." "Keep it civil, gentlemen." "Planning notice." "(KNOCKS AT DOOR)" "Oh, an extension." "You'd need a ladder to get into the upstairs windows." "Yeah, it's fairly secluded, if there was a ladder handy." "There are window locks." "I think they're OK." "I can get Laurence to have a look when he comes." "That's a good idea." "What a lovely garden you have." "Thank you." "I see you've got a planning application for an extension." "Would you lose a lot of the garden?" "Quite a bit, sadly." "Assuming the permission comes through." "Actually, I'm not sure it will now." "Jim was always positive about the chances, but as he's gone..." "Jim was always positive about the chances, but as he's gone..." "Was he on the planning committee?" "That's right." "I hope that doesn't make me sound callous." "No, of course it doesn't." "I'll miss him." "Hm." "Miss Bishop, we have to ask: do you have a boyfriend at the moment?" "No, I don't." "And to be honest, I can't really see the relevance." "We've heard that erm..." "Councillor Hanley was interested in you... romantically." "'Obsessed' was the word used." "That's ridiculous." "Jim was just a nice man." "We got on well." "We were friends." "You didn't ever feel he was attracted to you?" "No." "Not in that way." "And I think it says more about the people making the accusation than the person they're accusing." "I can probably make a wild stab at who it might have been." "I think Connie could do with a bit of company, now that she's back at the cottage." "That's right." "She'll be getting all spooked over there on her own." "What about it, Justin?" "I'm sure she'd be pleased with a bit of company." "Play your cards right - you could get your slippers under the bed and get your old house back into the bargain." "That's not funny, Vince." "Why not?" "We all know you hated selling the place." "You could have your cake and eat it there." "Oh, I don't think our sculptor would know his cake if it jumped up and bit him on the snout." "(CHUCKLES) Talking of which... ..I'm feeling a little bit peckish myself." "Evenin', all." "How's Connie getting on, do you think?" "Maybe you should ask her yourself." "If you care for her." "Do you?" "Course I do." "It's just, every time I get near her, I start talking gibberish." "I'm all right until I get close to her, and then some halfwit takes control of my brain." "Oh, dear." "You have got it bad, haven't you?" "But you know, it's not the end of the world." "If someone's fond of you, they'll put up with the occasional bouts of drivel." "(IMOGEN SNORTS)" "Well, that all seems secure enough." "When Justin had the house, he made sure they did a good job." "Well, he may be all right with household security, but he's not so hot on manners." "I couldn't believe what he was saying down at the pub just now." "What did he say?" "Well, he was going on about how keen you were on him." "'Gagging for it' was the charming phrase he used." "I know." "I always thought he was OK." "But that wasn't the worst of it, I'm afraid." "He said he might hitch up with you, because he might end up living in his old house again." "'Having his cake and eating it' was the way he put it." "Amazing how wrong you can be about people, isn't it?" "But then again, maybe it was just his idea of a joke." "I don't know." "Mmm." "Now, this is the lock you want fixed - yeah?" "Yeah." "The marquee's booked." "It's going to be fabulous." "Oh, hello, darling." "Zukie." "How lovely to see you." "Coming to Frobisher Night?" "Frobisher Night?" "When's that?" "Oh, you must come!" "It's going to be totally different this year." "We've got an all-weather marquee on the green, fantastic caterers, a top DJ person." "Nothing at all like previous years." "You must come." "Well, I..." "Leave it with me." "I'll drop the tickets round." "Say no more." "See you there." "OK, thanks." "Zukie!" "All the tickets are gone." "I'll sort something out." "She's just the kind of person we need." "Morning." "Oh...absolutely fine." "I'm really enjoying living in my lovely cottage." "I didn't realise you liked it quite that much." "Sorry?" "I've never 'gagged' for anything in my life!" "He was chairperson." "Considered a bit of a tough nut, was Councillor Hanley," "He was chairperson." "Considered a bit of a tough nut, was Councillor Hanley, when it came to planning applications." "Why do you ask?" "Well, I was wondering about the planning application for Connie Bishop's house." "Ah, the extension." "What's the situation there?" "Oh, it has every chance of going through." "Jim had actually told me, off the record, that he thoroughly approved." "Connie's sister and the three children are moving in." "Er...a bad divorce, and it was all very difficult, I think." "Pretty much homeless." "Jim was very pleased at the idea of more children in the village." "Bolster the school numbers." "We've heard the relation between Jim Hanley and Connie Bishop described as...an obsession." "We've heard the relation between Jim Hanley and Connie Bishop described as...an obsession." "Obsession?" "No." "Mildly infatuated, possibly." "In an 'older man, younger woman' kind of a way." "But he would never have done anything." "Oh, Mrs Richardson." "Ah, I've caught you in." "Excellent." "What a lovely garden you have." "Oh, thank you." "Well, we do try to keep it nice..." "Yes." "Erm..." "I wanted to ask you a favour, Jean." "Well, if we can help in any way..." "Oh, it's Mrs Richardson." "Hello there." "Lovely day." "Yes." "I was wondering about your tickets for Frobisher Night." "I wondered whether you might give them up this year." "Give them up?" "Oh, but we go every year." "Yes, well, that's rather the point." "We wondered if you might give somebody else a chance this time around." "Have you actually ever bought anything at the auction?" "Well...we got that sirloin of beef that time." "Didn't we, Ted?" "Well...we got that sirloin of beef that time." "Didn't we, Ted?" "That's right." "Yes, well, a sirloin of beef isn't really what it's about this year." "We do have some lavish and extraordinary lots." "So, if you don't feel you can realistically contribute, you might want to give somebody else a chance." "Have you got them handy?" "There we are." "All done." "CONNIE:" "Thank you!" "Would you like me to be a key-holder for the spare?" "Might be a little bit safer than where it was before." "Or someone else." "Just...don't leave it under the flower pot." "No, no." "You keep it." "Thanks." "Trust me." "I'm a locksmith." "Hello, hello." "It seems a rather nice little Rioja has found its way into my tool box." "How extraordinary(!" ")" "Oh." "And there's a corkscrew, as well." "How about that?" "What do you say?" "Do you know, I could just do with a drink." "I'll get the glasses." "(MAN LAUGHING)" "(RAIN SPLASHING)" "(MAN LAUGHING)" "MAN: 'Kill him.'" "'Kill him.'" "'Kill him!" "'" "(GROANS)" "(RAIN ON WINDOW PANES)" "(FLOORBOARDS CREAKING)" "LAURENCE:" "I can't move." "Come on." "I'll have to stay the night." "You can't stay the night." "I can stay the night!" "(CHUCKLES) You can't stay the night." "Why not?" "The wine is stronger than I thought." "Have mercy on me." "Come on!" "All right." "You can stay in the summer house." "(DOG BARKING) Come on, then." "Show me where it is." "(RAIN SPLASHING)" "Oh, my God." "Oh, my God!" "Oh, my God!" "Oh, my God!" "(SCREAMS)" "(PHONE RINGING)" "(Hello?" ")" "(No, no.) Well, I'm awake now." "No." "Oh, sorry." "Go on." "Go on." "(POLICE RADIO CHATTER)" "I hope you find the killer soon, Tom." "I'm looking forward to a decent night's sleep." "I think Mrs Barnaby feels the same way, too." "OK." "From what I can see, the murder weapon is similar or the same as the one used on Councillor Hanley." "And look at the way he's lying - it doesn't take much effort to cut a throat." "Doesn't look like there was a struggle." "There was a fair amount of alcohol." "He was probably comatose." "Time of death?" "1:30, give or take half an hour." "He'd come over to change the locks, and then produced a bottle of wine." "We had a drink or two." "Why was he in the summer house?" "Well, he said he was too drunk to get home." "I think he was making a kind of clumsy play to stay the night." "I said he couldn't, but he could stay in the summer house, so I..." "And then?" "And then I went back into the house and went to bed." "Why did you go back out to the summer house at er...what time was it?" "About 2:30." "At 2:30." "Why did you go back out there?" "I had a bad dream." "I just woke up feeling a bit..." "dehydrated, hung-over," "I just woke up feeling a bit..." "dehydrated, hung-over, and I remembered that Laurence was in the summer house, so I went to see if he was still there." "and I remembered that Laurence was in the summer house, so I went to see if he was still there." "The weather was foul." "You must have had a very good reason to go back out to the summer house." "(DOOR OPENS) I just wanted to see if he was OK." "Er..." "Mrs Stroud's here to see Miss Bishop, sir." "Yeah, ask her to hang on for a bit, please." "But I think you ought to stay with Mrs Stroud again." "At least until forensics have finished here." "Oh, my God." "What?" "I've just remembered." "Laurence said he knew who the murderer was." "Oh, my God." "Well, who was it?" "He didn't say." "He just said he knew who it was." "Connie, what did he say, exactly?" "I'd been going on about how people in the village thought I was crazy, and half of them probably thought I'd killed Jim Hanley, and he said he knew I hadn't." "I said it was sweet of him to say so, but he couldn't really be sure, and he got sort of irritated and said... he knew I hadn't done it, because he knew who had." "I told him he should tell the police." "I said he could be in danger, if he knew who it was." "And then he said he didn't mean it." "That he'd been joking." "But he wasn't joking." "I know he wasn't." "How did you know?" "Because he asked me not to mention it to anyone." "And you don't say that if you've been joking." "And he gave no clue at all as to who he thought the murderer was?" "No." "No, he didn't." "Did you tell anyone about this?" "Did you make any phone calls?" "No." "I've only just remembered myself." "What do you think, sir?" "Is she telling the truth?" "You remember Mrs Stroud going on about Jim Hanley in the pub, talking about secrets and reputations?" "Well, Laurence was there too, and I wonder if Laurence got the Councillor to explain who he was talking about." "The thing I hate most about all of this is how suspicious it makes you of everyone." "I just..." "I can't trust anyone." "I'm not even sure if I trust myself any more." "Sometimes I think I'm going mad." "MRS STROUD:" "You're bound to feel wobbly." "I can't believe what Justin said." "I thought he was OK." "Now I find out he's a complete..." "How could he?" "What are you talking about?" "You didn't hear what he said in the pub?" "Apparently, he was telling everyone he thought he'd get hitched up with me, so he could get his old house back, and how it would be easy, because I was 'gagging for it'." "Justin didn't say that." "Who told you?" "Was it Laurence?" "He was there." "I know he was there." "So was I." "Laurence and Vince were winding Justin up." "They were the ones talking about him having his cake and eating it." "Justin was actually defending you." "Defending me?" "Well, of course he was." "Wasn't Justin upset at what Vince said about getting his shoes under Connie's bed?" "Wasn't Justin upset at what Vince said about getting his shoes under Connie's bed?" "Yes, he was." "Definitely." "See?" "Nice cup of tea?" "Oh, thank you." "I don't like to speak ill of the dead, but that swine Laurence must have been trying to put you off Justin to give himself a better chance." "Justin loves you." "You must know that." "He doesn't?" "Of course he does." "He's mad about you." "Isn't he, Imogen?" "He is." "It's just, he doesn't have the courage to tell you." "I was so rude to him outside the shop today." "Oh, he'll get over it." "And what's he going to think about last night?" "Talk to him." "Explain what happened." "Everything's going to be all right." "Come on!" "(DOOR CLOSES)" "JONES:" "So, if what Connie said was true... ..Laurence may have been killed to stop him revealing who the murderer was." "But why here?" "And why last night?" "And how did the killer know Laurence would be in the summer house?" "At half-past one in the morning." "Could it have been the lurker..." "from a couple of weeks ago?" "Back again." "Happened to see them." "Well, if it was the lurker who was the killer... ..that means our besotted Councillor Jim Hanley was not." "I think it's time to talk to the wise man of the village." "(CAR HORN)" "ZUKIE:" "I'm just relieved we took over when we did." "Connie's obviously in no state to do anything now." "We're not cancelling Frobisher Night?" "Absolutely not!" "Deposits have been taken." "MAN:" "Come on!" "Oh, and I've managed to get commitments from two more local celebrities and an Honourable." "Oh, and I've managed to get commitments from two more local celebrities and an Honourable." "Wonderful!" "I'll see you." "See you." "MAN:" "About time." "Do you think, Vince, that the er...the lurker... was someone local?" "It was a bit odd, old Jim Hanley being found there." "In the same spot where Imogen saw the Peeping Tom." "Do you think Jim Hanley was, you know, that way inclined?" "Well, there were pointed comments from his wife before they divorced." "She definitely gave the impression that he was one of life's voyeurs." "Being a Peeping Tom is pretty reprehensible behaviour, but having your throat cut seems a bit extreme." "I don't think we should jump to any conclusions about the motive just yet." "I think there's something you should know." "It's not definitely suspicious, but it was a bit odd." "In the circumstances." "Yes, go on." "It was yesterday, just here." "I saw Connie talking to Justin, and they had words." "She was very off with him." "Anyway, it was all because of a lie that Laurence told." "Saying Justin was only interested in Connie because he wanted to get his old house back." "'His old house'?" "Yeah, where Connie lives now." "Two years ago, when Justin split up with Claire..." "That's his ex." "Lovely girl." "Didn't deserve her." "..they had to sell the house, and Connie bought it." "Anyway, I was thinking... if Justin found out what Laurence had been saying about him, he wouldn't be too pleased." "No, I was never too keen on Laurence, but that was not a nice way to go." "Darts team will miss him." "Pushed his luck, though, with his womanising." "Hmm." "That's true." "There'll be one or two people out there with motives." "Not mentioning any names." "Yeah, but he's got to be on their list, though, hasn't he?" "What with his being smitten by Connie, and Laurence trying to muscle in on the two of them." "I'm not saying he's the murdering kind, of course." "Very decent of you, Vince." "Thank you(!" ")" "Mind you, I'm not so sure you could say the same about the subject of his affections." "Definitely a troubled soul, our Connie." "What with her nightmares and sleepwalking and screams in the middle of the night." "Who knows what's going on inside that head of hers?" "Connie's the gentlest of people." "Absolutely." "Lovely person." "I'm sure you're right." "But it's worth bearing in mind that anyone who's shown any amorous interest in her so far" "But it's worth bearing in mind that anyone who's shown any amorous interest in her so far has ended up with their throat cut." "I'm going off this pub." "Oh!" "I thought I might find you here." "Hello." "Oh, sorry." "Do you want to go in?" "Actually, Justin, it was you I wanted to talk to." "Oh." "Shall we...?" "So, er...how have you been getting on?" "Well, I'm staying at Mrs Stroud's, but it's not ideal." "I've decided to go back to the cottage tomorrow." "The police should be finished by then." "Are you sure you'll be all right there on your own?" "Well, that's why I wanted to talk to you." "You know you said, if there was anything you could do for me, to just ask?" "Yeah." "I wondered if you might come over for supper tomorrow." "I think I'm gonna find the evenings a bit difficult, and I could do with the company." "If you're not doing anything." "No, no, of course." "I'd love to." "Oh, great." "About 7:30?" "Great." "See you then." "And the entrance here, I think." "Excellent." "Good." "Excuse me." "I think it's going to be fabulous!" "I just pray there isn't another murder." "Well, they say bad things come in threes." "You know, Jane, sometimes you can be very negative." "(HORN BLARING)" "Not there!" "I didn't particularly like Laurence." "Actually, I positively disliked him." "Ah." "And why's that?" "He was a liar, full of himself, rude." "The list goes on." "And you didn't like him flirting with Connie?" "She should have had more sense than to have anything to do with him." "How long have you known Connie?" "Erm..." "I met her when I was showing her round the cottage." "You lived there with your ex-wife, didn't you?" "Girlfriend." "What happened there?" "She walked out on me." "She needed her half of the house, so we had to sell." "I'm not a wealthy man." "Well, we'll need her contact details." "Well, she's quite good friends with Imogen." "Try her." "Imogen Stroud?" "They used to say they were going to yoga classes, and they were out on the pull together." "I'm not sure which one's worse." "Pretty weird, wanting the house, with all the bad memories of a broken relationship." "You'd think he'd want a fresh start somewhere else." "Mind you, it's pretty odd, Connie wanting to move back in so soon." "Well, people can be funny about houses." "I'd like to hear the ex's side of things, anyway." "Claire?" "Yeah, check up on her, will you?" "See if she really has sunk without trace." "Yes, sir." "Chief Inspector." "Mrs Menzies." "Terrible thing about the murders." "Are there any developments at all?" "We're working on it." "The show must go on, must it?" "Frobisher Night has never been cancelled." "The good causes do rely on us." "And, well, there's just too much invested." "Very expensive, is it?" "Howard Richardson's guaranteeing the fee." "Ah, the millionaire benefactor." "Yes...though I'm not sure quite how many of his millions he has now." "Well, some trophy wives are just more high-maintenance than others." "There we are." "Thanks very much." "Oh, what can I do for you?" "Justin's ex-girlfriend, Claire Cooper." "Do you know how we can get hold of her?" "No, I've no idea." "Well, he said you knew her quite well." "Well, not that well." "We used to go to yoga classes together." "I don't understand why you're asking." "Oh, just general background - you know." "What was their relationship like?" "Not great." "They went out with each other for a couple of years, bought the cottage together, and then they just drifted apart." "Do you know why?" "They were never very well suited." "Do you know if she kept in touch with anyone in the village?" "I don't know." "I haven't heard it mentioned." "(WOMAN SCREAMS)" "HOWARD:" "Drop it!" "Fergie, drop it!" "ZUKIE:" "Leave!" "Oh, my God!" "She just went into that tangle and came out with it." "(ZUKIE TALKING SOFTLY)" "Looks like the murder weapon, sir." "George, what do you think?" "It certainly could be the weapon used." "It looks sharp enough." "I know we can't afford very much, but we've been going to Frobisher Night for 50 years." "And Peggy and June - well, they've been going nearly that long as well." "She asked for their tickets back, too?" "Didn't you know?" "No, I did not." "How dare you?" "Those people have been the lifeblood of Frobisher Night for 50 years, and you tell them to give up their tickets!" "My dear, I think your judgment's a bit clouded." "It's about raising money for charity, and your friends just don't have that much money to give." "It's about the community contributing." "They look forward to it all year." "We're going to raise much more than before." "Well, I won't be there." "I've already given my tickets to the Fullers." "I want no part of it." "Have you heard they found the murder weapon?" "(DOG BARKING)" "Hi." "(DULLY) Come in." "(DOOR CLOSES)" "Erm..." "I brought you some flowers." "They're beautiful." "Thank you." "Oh, I'm sorry." "Look at me!" "I'm really glad to see you." "Oh, what a day I've had." "That Zukie Richardson - honestly...!" "What happened?" "Oh, I don't want to talk about it." "I just want to forget about her and enjoy myself." "She won't be ruining this evening." "Come on." "Let's get some water for these flowers." "Good night." "You know, the first time that sleepwalking was used as a defence at a murder trial was Massachusetts, USA, 1846, when a certain Albert Tyrell was charged with murdering a 'lady of the night'... having set fire to her brothel." "Huh." "He got off scot-free." "Be different if he'd set fire to a nunnery." "Oh, so young and so cynical." "Have you found Justin's ex-girlfriend?" "Not a trace." "No?" "Oh, well, it can wait until the morning." "Well, I've had enough." "I'm off." "Catch up on some sleep." "You did check Missing Persons, didn't you?" "Yes, sir." "I can't find any record of her since she split up with Justin." "All right." "I'll see you in the morning." "Good night, sir." "(CONNIE LAUGHING)" "(CONNIE AND JUSTIN LAUGHING)" "Two extra bedrooms and a bathroom." "And downstairs, it will be a nice, roomy kitchen-diner, and a snug." "And downstairs, it will be a nice, roomy kitchen-diner, and a snug." "Wow." "It looks very good." "What a fantastic evening!" "I've really enjoyed it." "Me too." "(CHUCKLES)" "Oh, is that the time?" "Erm..." "I should be going." "It's been really nice having you here, Justin." "Someone I can trust." "Does that sound odd?" "No, no." "Not at all." "There's a bed made up in the spare room." "How would you feel about staying the night?" "It's just...it's my first night back in the house, and it would be really reassuring to have someone here." "With me." "Of course." "I mean, if you have to get back..." "No, no." "I'd be happy to stay." "Fantastic." "Sometimes...bed is just the best place to be." "Sometimes...bed is just the best place to be." "If you're allowed to get some sleep." "Well, tonight, I have taken precautions." "(MOUTHING)" "What?" "(MOUTHING)" "Very funny(!" ")" "(FLOORBOARDS CREAKING)" "(CREAKING CONTINUES)" "(DOOR HANDLE RATTLING)" "Connie?" "Connie, are you awake?" "Perhaps you should wake up now." "Connie..." "Connie..." "Don't you think you'd better wake up now, Connie?" "Connie!" "(GASPS)" "Connie!" "(WHIMPERING)" "Connie!" "(SCREAMS) Connie!" "(CONNIE SCREAMING)" "(SCREAMING)" "Oh, here we go again." "Open up!" "Open up!" "Open up!" "It's all right." "You're all right." "(CONNIE CRYING)" "Justin?" "Well, yeah." "(PHONE RINGING)" "Aren't you going to answer it?" "I thought you were wearing ear plugs." "I didn't like them." "You can't hear anything." "He's claiming Connie was sleepwalking." "Came into his room and got into bed with him." "What about the injuries, sir?" "Er..." "I was trying to hold her off." "VINCE:" "Course you were(!" ") Shh." "She was getting quite...well, amorous." "In her sleep." "Poor you(!" ") Be quiet, please." "I didn't think it would be a good start to our relationship if she woke up... mid-session, so to speak." "CONNIE:" "Let me go." "I'm so sorry." "Oh, Justin..." "It's me you should be arresting." "Can we talk, please?" "Yes." "I'm the one who should be locked up." "For my sake and for everyone else's." "No." "Look, you were sleepwalking." "You woke up in what you thought was a threatening situation and you lashed out." "You woke up in what you thought was a threatening situation and you lashed out." "I do not think that is an imprisonable offence." "But you don't..." "You don't know what you've done when you've been sleepwalking, do you?" "And you don't always know whether or not you've been sleepwalking when you wake up." "You're talking about the murders, aren't you?" "You know I said I had a dream the night Laurence was killed?" "Well, I didn't tell you everything." "When I looked down at my hand, in the dream... ..I was holding a knife." "And I heard a voice, inside my head... ..saying, 'Kill him'..." "..over and over." "And the night Jim Hanley died... ..and I found the back door open..." "(SNIFFLING) .." "I think there were muddy boot prints by the back door." "My sort of size." "And they got smeared with all the coming and going of the police and everything." "But I don't know how they got there." "I know I should have mentioned it before." "I'm sorry." "So, you think you put on your boots in your sleep... ..went outside, killed someone, in your sleep?" "Homicidal somnambulism." "I don't believe in that, Connie, and I don't believe you should, either." "But were there any traces of blood on you?" "On your hands or anywhere?" "I had a shower." "Oh, yeah." "I didn't do it on purpose or anything." "I was just all muddy and wet, and I needed to warm up." "(TEARFULLY) Any traces of blood would have been washed away." "Oh...!" "(CONNIE CRYING)" "(GASPS)" "(THUD) (CHATTER ON RADIO)" "JOYCE:" "The words 'bull' and 'china shop' spring to mind." "Oh, are you awake, love?" "What happened?" "This case, Joyce, is taking a turn...towards the bizarre." "Connie Bishop says that she may be the one who slit the throats of our two murder victims." "Yeah." "In her sleep." "What on earth put that idea into her head?" "Well, she says she's a regular sleepwalker, and she had a dream on the night of the second murder, where she's holding this knife, while a voice inside her head kept saying, 'Kill him, kill him.'" "But I can't believe that Connie Bishop is our killer." "Can you?" "Anyway, she wanted to be in a prison cell tonight." "For her own protection and everyone else's, she said." "So, that's what we've done, to err on the side of caution." "Do you want to turn out the light?" "Oh, I'm really going to drop off easily now(!" ")" "Of course, sleepwalking can be used as a valid defence ...against a murder charge." "Don't tempt me." "Two tickets - you're welcome to them." "Oh, that is so kind of you!" "We'll be able to fit in the Monrows, after all." "You must know them." "She's the model and he's the famous divorce lawyer." "Yes, I do." "A couple of social-climbing non-entities." "But I'm sure you'll get along swimmingly." "Shop?" "Yep." "You released Connie?" "Well, she was talking about booking in for another night tonight, so I said we'd play it by ear." "Got a bit of interesting news, though." "I've just been talking to Justin's ex, Claire, on the phone." "Imogen contacted her after we'd seen her, and explained how we're trying to get hold of her." "So, they did keep in touch." "Yeah." "Anyway, Claire says Justin wasn't violent at all during their relationship." "If anything, he was too nice." "So, there goes your 'body under the patio' theory." "Yeah." "But there is something." "Something about this house." "It all revolves around this house." "Come on." "Murder one on the pathway at the bottom of Connie's garden." "Murder two in the summer house." "Laurence's death." "Let's assume for a moment, shall we, that Connie was telling us the truth?" "Laurence told Connie that he knew the identity of the murderer." "But he didn't tell her the name." "She told him to tell the police, because knowing the identity of the murderer meant that he might be in danger himself, from the murderer." "But Laurence said that the murderer didn't know that he knew." "Perhaps Laurence was blackmailing them...anonymously." "Yeah." "Yes." "And that's probably the best explanation for why he didn't tell the police." "And then he's killed." "Murdered in his sleep." "Cold-blooded, premeditated murder." "As if whoever did it wanted to prevent their identity from being revealed... (FLOORBOARDS CREAKING)" "..or just to get shot of a blackmailer." "But how or when did they realise it was Laurence?" "Laurence was virtually passing out when Connie put him to bed in the summer house." "He couldn't have talked to anyone." "And Connie said that she didn't, either." "So, the murderer knew that Laurence knew who they were, which also means the murderer would have known it was Laurence who was blackmailing them." "Yeah." "But why wait until Laurence comes up here to Connie's cottage?" "Yeah." "But why wait until Laurence comes up here to Connie's cottage?" "Wouldn't that make it more risky?" "I mean, why not kill him as soon as they knew?" "Yeah." "(PHONE RINGING)" "Hello?" "It's voice-mail." "Forensics want me to give them a call." "Oh, yes." "A bit quick for a result on the blood." "I was holding a knife, and I heard a voice inside my head... ..saying, 'Kill him.'" "What on earth put that idea into her head?" "Well, she's a regular sleepwalker." "(STAIRS CREAKING)" "CONNIE:" "Footsteps on the landing." "Creaking floorboards." "People sometimes do dream they've woken up, don't they?" "And they are still dreaming." "I can't think what else it could have been." "(FLOORBOARDS CREAKING)" "Bit of a shocker, sir." "Yeah?" "They haven't got a match on the blood, but they managed to get a partial print off the knife handle." "It's Connie Bishop's." "Definite match?" "Well, it looks like she's tried to wipe it clean and missed a bit." "So, if the blood matches the victim's, Connie is our killer." "So, what's going on, sir?" "Was she genuinely sleepwalking and didn't know what she was doing?" "Or was it all a double bluff, and she was compos mentis all the time?" "That is a very good question, Jones." "We are in a different venue tonight." "As I'm sure you will all have realised, it was the idea and the inspiration of a wonderful human being..." "Hear, hear!" "..who I happen to know rather well." "That's much better, understated like that." "Yeah!" "You're on better form this evening." "Yeah." "I think everything's going to turn out all right." "Course it will!" "(TUTS)" "We've got so many of the same CDs." "Thank you." "You know you can stay here, if you want?" "After what happened?" "Well, I might have to tie you down to the bed, but...!" "(LAUGHS)" "I mean..." "I didn't mean..." "I know what you meant." "Bloody people." "Well, he said he'd be here." "Come on!" "Follow me." "Yes, sir." "Yes, please." "Lovely." "What about Connie's fingerprints on the knife?" "Well, if the killer could get into Connie's cottage while she was asleep, he could have pressed the knife handle onto her fingers." "She'd been drinking, had a bottle or two." "The killer knew she wouldn't wake up easily." "Could even have triggered the dream." "(BLEEPING)" "I didn't mention it earlier, because I thought the killer might, you know, be listening in." "Didn't see any harm in suggesting that Connie was our chief suspect." "Lull him into a false sense of security." "But if it wasn't Connie, how did the murderer get into the cottage after killing Laurence?" "But if it wasn't Connie, how did the murderer get into the cottage after killing Laurence?" "She'd just had her locks changed." "I've spoken to Connie." "Apparently, she gave the spare key to Laurence for safe-keeping." "But I've also spoken to Georgie Bullard." "No sign of any key on the body." "I think the killer took the key to get into this house." "Ahh." "I believe our murderer was listening in, when Laurence volunteered to become a key-holder." "Trust me." "I'm a locksmith." "'So, he knew that Laurence would have it with him in the summer house.'" "STEPHENS:" "That's interesting." "It's not just a listening device." "Someone's transmitting to here, as well." "Connected to the amplifier and the speakers." "Better check the radios upstairs, as well." "The on-off switch has been circumvented." "So, you can turn it on remotely?" "Looks like it." "DJ:" "Ladies and gentlemen, can you all take your seats, please?" "(DOOR OPENING)" "OK." "You can listen or play back recorded sounds." "Or speak directly into the microphone." "Kill him." "(OVER SPEAKERS) 'Kill him." "Kill him.'" "It's quite effective." "'If you were half asleep, you might think it was in your head.'" "Right." "Creaking floorboards and footsteps, from the spare room, please." "(CREAKING FLOORBOARDS AND FOOTSTEPS OVER SPEAKERS)" "(APPROACHING FOOTSTEPS)" "(FLOORBOARDS CREAKING OVER SPEAKER)" "Well, I'd be reaching for the baseball bat." "Fooled me!" "(MURMUR OF CONVERSATIONS)" "(LAUGHTER)" "(BLEEP)" "And this is his trading software." "Spread-betting account." "And he's not doing too well." "No, he's not." "(BLEEPING)" "I think it's time now, darling." "Have you turned that off?" "(BLEEP)" "I think you may have just lost your element of surprise, sir." "(GLASS RINGING)" "(APPLAUSE)" "(PHONE RINGING)" "(ANSWERING MACHINE BLEEPS)" "MRS STROUD: 'I'm sorry to trouble you, darling girl.'" "But I think Zukie's Frobisher Night is about to be kyboshed." "I..." "I..." "..have a confession to make." "WOMAN:" "He's not the murderer, is he?" "(LAUGHTER)" "I'd just like to make it clear that..." "I'd like to make it clear that my dear Zukie had nothing to do with any of it." "Howard, just do the speech we agreed." "I shall miss you." "Mr Barnaby?" "I'm sorry." "Howard Richardson..." "I'm arresting you for the murders of Jim Hanley and Laurence Mann." "No." "You do not have to say anything..." "Stop it." "..but it may harm your defence if you do not mention when questioned something you later rely on in court." "Anything you do say may be given in evidence." "Thank you, Sergeant." "Come with us, please, sir." "What...?" "No..." "I'm afraid I'm leaving you with some money problems, as well." "They'll be coming for the house keys any day." "CONNIE:" "Howard?" "Connie." "Connie, why were you so stubborn about keeping the school open?" "This is about the school?" "Yes." "Howard wanted the school to close, so the ownership would revert to him." "Those were the terms of the covenant." "It was worth a great deal of money, and Howard needed it." "So, all that stuff about supporting the school..." "I'd like to go now, please." "(WHIMPERING)" "(MURMUR OF CONVERSATIONS)" "You know, as a cabaret," "I think we're going to have trouble topping this next year." "So, Frobisher Night finished early?" "No, no." "It all went on." "There was a bidding frenzy, I'm told." "They had a record night." "And we got a full confession." "Why did he kill Councillor Hanley?" "Ah." "Well, that all kicked off when Howard failed to blackmail our Mr Hanley..." "Get the light." "What?" "Oh, yeah." "Which is ironic, because Howard himself was blackmailed later on." "Jim Hanley, you see, was the Peeping Tom, and Howard caught him in the act." "Having fun?" "Howard knew that if the council granted Connie planning permission for the extension, and Connie's sister moved back in with her three kids, then that school could go on for one, two years, at least." "But Howard needed that school to fail, so he'd get back possession of the building...and sell it." "But the good Councillor was not for bribing." "I've decided to grant planning permission, so you can do your worst." "And if you decide to tell people what you saw that night," "I shall tell them that you tried to...to blackmail me... which won't do your reputation much good, either." "It's up to you." "Well, it's all sort of academic now, anyway." "She doesn't want you to grant planning permission." "What are you talking about?" "She's decided she can't face the thought of her sister and all the children coming to stay." "But she wants it to look as if she's tried, so as not to upset her sister." "I don't believe you." "Well, look." "Why don't we go and ask her?" "Get it from the horse's mouth." "She'll still be up." "I only spoke to her five minutes ago." "Give me a moment." "I'll just get a jacket." "And he took the Councillor to Connie's cottage, to make it look as though Connie was involved?" "Initially, it was to get him away from his own house - that's what he said." "'But when he saw Connie go to the back door of her cottage to let the dog out, he thought, "Ah, I'll take advantage of that."'" "(GRUNTING AND CHOKING)" "'He said it was an opportunity he could not refuse.'" "So, he nipped inside, hid, waited for Connie to go to bed, and then, using her boots, put her muddy footprints by her back door." "And what about the builder - Laurence?" "Laurence?" "Well, when Howard found out that Laurence knew he was the murderer" "Laurence?" "Well, when Howard found out that Laurence knew he was the murderer and was blackmailing him, to boot, well, he had no choice." "(LAURENCE GRUNTING)" "(CHOKING)" "Then all Howard had to do... ..was to put Connie's fingerprints on the end of the knife, and leave that knife where it could easily be found, as indeed it was, by the little dog." "And he put all those transmitters in himself?" "Yes, he did." "Electrical engineer." "Boffin par excellence, apparently." "You can't trust anyone." "No, you can't." "Well, we can hope we get a decent night's sleep tonight." "I wouldn't count on it."