Inspector George Gently

(suspenseful music) (birds squawking) (water burbling) (Wilhelm grunts) (suspenseful music) (birds squawking) (Wilhelm speaking in German) - Bloody hell!

(stick clattering) Bloody, bloody hell!

(engine roaring) (suspenseful music) (people chattering) (board scratches) (door thuds) - Doctor says he won't come until he has a body, sir.

- What?

What, he thinks it's just an eyeball down there?

Somebody leaned over the Quay and dropped out?

- He says he needs a body, sir.

- (sighs) Unbelievable.

- I've got something here.

- Right here, Serge!

Serge!

- Right.

Good.

Tell him we've got one.

Uh, shouldn't we call out Chief Inspector Gently, sir- - No, no, no, he's on leave.

Right?

Go on, doctor.

(vehicles humming and rumbling) (door clicks) (uplifting music) (door thuds) (keys rattling) (birds squawking) (feet scratching) - [Civilian] Please let me through.

- [Officer] Stand back.

- Well, then I need to talk to whoever's in charge.

Well, who is in charge?

- It's all right.

It's all right.

I'm in charge.

How can I help?

- I'm missing my father since last night.

- Okay.

- Since we're to come here to meet and go on our boat, and I'm hearing now there's a body in the water.

- Yeah.

Can I take your name please, sir?

- Wilhelm Schmeikel.

My father is Gunter Schmeikel.

- Gunter Schmeikel, um, I'm Detective Sergeant John Bacchus.

Now is that your boat over there, sir?

- Please, I have no need to talk to you.

I wish to speak to the commanding officer.

- I'm in charge, Mr.

Schmeikel.

- You?

- Yeah.

- No, a mere sergeant- - Detective sergeant actually.

- No, no, no.

You do not understand.

My father is missing.

He's an important man.

- Yeah.

- Very important.

- We'll try our best for you- - No, no, it's not good enough.

It's unacceptable.

- Wilhelm!

This is Gunter.

(suspenseful music) (water pattering) (Trudi murmuring) - Sir, sir, sir, please.

I need to... Excuse me, sorry, but can you just tell me the man that's been- - It's my father-in-law.

It's- it's Wilhelm's father, Gunter Sch-Schmeikel.

- Gunter Schmeikel.

(feet clacking) (bell tolling) - Why didn't you call me?

- Because 30 seconds ago, it was just an unidentified eyeball.

I thought you're on leave.

- Not now, I'm not.

- Right, right.

Is there anything I can do then?

Get you- you cup of tea, perhaps?

- No, thanks.

Listen, look at the body.

- Well, the eyeball was hooked up by a fisherman, - I'm not talking about the eyeball, Sergeant - He's all twisted.

- Yeah, we'll get to that.

Look at his hands.

What do you see?

- Nothin'.

- And what does that tell you?

- That he didn't struggle.

Yeah, 'cause he would've torn his hands to shreds trying to get out of here, but he didn't - Turn him over.

Pull up his jacket and shirt.

(clothing rustling) That spine's been snapped.

- He didn't struggle because the attack paralyzed him.

Meaning he was actually alive when he entered the water.

- Correct.

- Shall I call off the doctor then?

- I'll have a stab at the time of death if you like, you fancy a bet?

10 or 12 hours.

- Alright, you're on.

(people chattering) So you were just passing then, were you?

- Well, I had a looking at the station.

Yeah?

- On your week off?

- We've got a name yet?

- Yeah.

Gunter Schmeikel.

- What's that, German, Austrian, Swiss?

- Well, it's not Geordie, is it?

Taylor's talking to his son and his daughter-in-law.

And that's his boat over there.

- Very nice.

(keys rattling) (birds squawking) Any wallet or cash?

- No, just that.

(lock clattering) Must've cost a few bob, this.

All right for some.

I thought they lost the war.

(lid scratches and thuds) (feet clacking) Log book.

It says here they left Hamburg six days ago at a German O level.

Top of me class.

- Well, that's a relief.

Passport in the name of Gunter Schmeikel.

It's him all right.

- Overnight bag.

- See if there's a wallet.

(bag rustling) - No, no, there isn't.

Hey, hey, listen.

I had this German pen pal that came over to stay from Dusseldorf when I was 17.

Elka, she was called.

Oh man, she had hair down her hair, face like an angel.

Gosh, she was- she was beautiful.

- Good.

(birds squawking) (camera clicks) - I took the son and daughter-in-law back to their hotel, sir, about a mile up the hill.

- You left them on their own?

- Well, you never said those were suspects or anything.

- Well, of course they're suspects, man.

- Some folks in the crowd said the deceased was drinking with some locals in the Mariners Rest last night.

- Hold on, Taylor.

(book thuds) We'll use your car.

(door clicks and clatters) (suspenseful music) (door thuds) (people chattering) - Yeah, well, how do you fit a pram to an MG?

Three into two does not go.

(keys rattling) I did all of her maths and all.

(suspenseful music) (vehicle whirring) - Mrs.

Schmeikel's in the coffee lounge and, yes, Mr.

Schmeikel's still in his room on the phone.

- Room number?

- 14.

- Do you mind if I listen in or?

- I'm sorry.

I didn't quite catch that.

- Can I have the headphones please, babe.

(headphones clattering) Thanks.

(wire clacking) Yeah.

- What?

- Oh, he's speaking in German, him and another man.

- Saying what?

- Well, it's a bit tricky, isn't it, when you can't see the lips moving.

- What if the speaker doesn't have the face of an angel?

Interrupt him, please.

Tell him Detective Inspector Gently would like to speak to him right now.

Go and get him.

- [Receptionist] Mr.

Schmeikel?

Yes, I have a detective Gently for you.

(feet clacking) - A chief Inspector.

This is more like it.

No offense intended, Sergeant.

- Right.

- Chief Inspector Gently.

- Yes.

Thank you.

You can leave now.

- Shall we, um... - My father had been drinking all evening with his so-called friends and, well, I'm imagining him trying to get into the dinghy and, well, and he goes.

- What if I told you we think his back was broken?

(Trudi speaking in German) - You all right, Mrs.

Schmeikel?

- Yes.

- Now you mentioned that your father was important.

- He owns a large pharmaceutical company in Bremen.

- That makes him important.

Does it?

- Can you tell me what happened to your hands, Mr.

Schmeikel?

- (scoffs) This, this you get from the North Sea when you're no good at sailing.

It's ridiculous.

This whole thing is ridiculous.

- Ridiculous in what way, sir?

- My father, he was a prisoner of war.

Shot down in '44, lift off, a bomber pilot and then billeted?

- Billeted, yeah.

- Billeted, yes, on a pig farm, which 20 years later, I apparently must visit and stay at so I can learn how pig farmers do business.

So my father, he stays on the farm, and we come here.

- Did you argue with your father over this?

- They argue all the time.

- These pig farmers, are they the friends that he was in the pub with last night?

- The Hardyments?

Yeah.

- [John] Hardyments.

(people chattering) (accordion blows) (people chattering) - Gunter, Gunter, Gunter.

Come on, let's do "The Worm Song".

Let's do "The Worm Song".

- Hmm-mm-mm.

No, no, no.

I can't remember it.

- Of course you can.

- Who taught you, huh?

- Oh wait, man, let's wind the clock back 20 year.

♪ Oh, whisht, lads, haad yor gobs ♪ ♪ I'll tell you all an awful story ♪ ♪ Whisht, lads, haad yor gobs, ♪ ♪ I'll tell you 'boot the worm ♪ (Gunter drowned out by clamoring) (group cheering) - And where were you?

- We were here.

We were here until we were to meet my father at the Quayside at 10:15.

He insisted we sleep on the boat to catch an early tide.

- So you left the hotel last night.

What time?

- Um, 10 o'clock, yes?

- 10.

Yeah.

- Did you see or meet anyone?

- Um, no.

No one.

And when my father doesn't come after half an hour, we come back here.

- Did your father have a wallet?

- Yes.

The inside pocket of his jacket, why?

It is gone?

- Yes, could I ask who were you talking to earlier on the phone?

- I had to inform the company to let them know.

- My father-in-law's employees are like his family- (Wilhelm speaks in German) - Uh, you will be needing our passports.

I will go get 'em for you, yes?

(Wilhelm and Trudi speaking in German) - Excuse me.

Could you speak in English, please?

- Excuse me.

Her English is not good enough.

(feet clacking) (door thuds) - Um, I must... - By all means.

(door thuds) - I can read German.

I just, I can't do the oral - Poor old Elka.

Right, once you've collected the Schmeikels' passports, get someone to track down China.

I want him here drunk or sober as soon as you can.

- Why do we need him?

- Just do it, please.

(birds chirping and hooting) (feet thuds and clacks) - They're looking in all the pubs in Durham for China and the pathologist's ripping the body open already.

- All right, let's visit the pig farmer.

- Oh, right, one minute.

(John pants) (items knocking) They're pretty well off, some of these pig farmers.

- A hundred quid for this car?

- Yeah, hun...Hundred pound for an MG is a bargain, man.

- Well, yeah, but why are you selling it so cheap?

- I dunno, just... - Have you got money problems, Sergeant?

- No.

(birds squawking) Yes.

- What, are you just feeling a pinch or are you actually in debt?

How much do you owe?

- Look, sir, it's nothing I can't manage.

I'm taking the inspector's exam soon, which I'll pass.

- Well, yes, I'm sure you'll pass, but I can't see a vacancy for an inspector coming up in the near future.

- Well, then I'll transfer to another force where they've got more room, somewhere bigger.

- And how long is that going to take?

- Look, sir, it's all in hand.

- Yeah, good, because a copper in debt is open to temptation.

- I resent that actually.

- What, you think it can't happen to you?

I've seen it a dozen times.

A dozen promising careers ruined.

Just try to offer some friendly advice.

- Yes, sir.

I heard your advice.

Don't get into debt.

Thanks for the tip.

I'm selling me car, aren't I?

Sorry, sorry.

Honestly, it all gets straightened out.

(suspenseful music) (door thuds) (ground crackling) (suspenseful music) I reckon Mrs.

Schmeikel knows more than she's allowed to say.

(brake cracks) (birds squawking) Ugh, what's that smell?

(bucket clattering) (suspenseful music) Shoes.

- Oh, yes, what you want?

- Detective Sergeant Bacchus- - House Jar!

- Where's that flash bugger?

Looks like a tough.

- Afternoon.

I'm Detective Chief Inspector Gently.

This is Detective Sergeant Bacchus.

We'd like to ask you a few questions, please.

- A bloody Londoner and a big wig and all.

It gets worse and worse.

- Welcome to the north-south divide, sir.

- Well, I'm just about to have me dinner.

- So you can either wait there or go in.

(ground crackling) (birds chirping) I'm shocked.

Shocked.

I am.

I'm shocked.

- I am.

- We were with him last night.

- Who'd wanna do Gunter?

- Nobody.

Why would they?

I gave him a wave as we drove off.

I can barely eat.

(farmer slurps) - Can I ask you about last night?

- Aye, ask what you like.

(slurps) - You went to the Mariners?

- Aye.

- And what happened?

- 'Cause I haven't seen Gunner since he was billeted here.

But as soon as he's back, he's back in his loft where he was as a POW.

Two nights he slept there.

He helps out with the pigs and everything.

Him and I together, different type of form.

I know a- a- ph...Um.

- Pharmaceutical man?

- Aye, a pharmacut-a pharmaceutical man.

That's right.

Aye.

But he mucks in like it's 20 years ago, you know, and he loves it.

We took him to Hadrian's Wall.

'cause I taught him to be a bird man.

And these rare ones flying in, you know, quite to do about it.

Before you know it, it's his last night and we're all in the pub and he's buying drinks for everybody.

(water burbling) (people chattering) - No, really, already, you have given enough.

- Then when I'm gone tomorrow, the drinks are still on me.

- One black and tan, sir.

- Thank you.

Keep it, please.

- Singing "The Worm Song".

- Aye.

Aye.

Oh he can tell you all about the worm, hell.

Whisht, lads, haad yor gobs, for the man who's buying your drinks, Gunter Schmeikel!

- Yeah!

- Say hail!

Say hail!

- Oi, forgive and forget, young lad.

- Or I'll slap your chops, fella!

- Smile, smile, it's all in jest.

♪ He caught a fish upon his heuk ♪ ♪ He thought looked very queer ♪ ♪ But whatt'n a kind of fish it was ♪ ♪ Lambton cuddent tell.

♪ ♪ He wasn't fash to carry'd hyem ♪ ♪ So he hoyed it down the well ♪ ♪ Oh, Whisht, lads, haad yor gobs, ♪ ♪ I'll tell y'all an awful story ♪ ♪ Whisht, lads, haad yor gobs ♪ ♪ I'll tell ye 'boot the worm ♪ (group laughing) (friend applauds) - Fancy a drop of warm brew, Chief Inspector?

- Yeah, it'd be very nice.

Thank you.

(farmer murmuring) - What was that?

- He says you're a lot like Gunter.

- You weren't a bomber pilot though, were you?

- Oh no.

Not a bomber pilot, no.

- No.

You gotta be posh to be a bomber pilot.

Not your Alec Douglas-Home, posh, (spits) well, posher than you.

Ah, he'd have like you.

You would've like him.

Well, everybody liked Gunter.

- End of the evening, what happened?

- Well, he's back to Deutschland first tide, so come out the pub and I gave him a hug.

- What time was that?

- 10 o'clock sharp.

Golden rule, we're up early in the morning, you know?

- Which way did go home?

- Along the Quayside and back up the hill.

- See anybody else?

- Don't think so, no.

- Yeah, we did.

That son of his, near his hotel.

'Cause I said, "Oh you've missed him.

I'm sorry, but he didn't like us.

- Oh, you didn't like him?

We're Nordists.

- So you saw him and his wife walking towards the Quayside?

- Hmm-mm.

No, no.

She wasn't with him.

He was on his own.

He wouldn't have brought her down.

She's just a mouse.

- Mm-hmm.

- If there's anything I can do, just give us a shout.

- Thank you.

(ground crackling) - Did you see the young lad scoping around, the one that left?

- I did.

Speak of the devil - In the pub last night.

Well, there's this new bloke behind the bar called Shavers.

It's a big bastard, like you wouldn't cross him.

Anyway, we're with Gunter.

A mate of mine at the bar says Shavers has been mouthing off about the Nazis and that.

(customer laughing) (people chattering) When a few others walk out and protest, he comes with 'em.

♪ whisht, lads, haad yor gobs ♪ ♪ I'll tell you all ♪ - [John] What time was this?

- Just after nine.

- Right.

Thanks, we'll be in touch.

- We saw him again that night when we were leaving.

In the car park in the shadows watching us.

I didn't have a good feeling but, say goodbye to Gunter and looked back, and he'd gone.

- Mr.

Shavers?

- Aye.

- Chick Shavers?

- Did you see where he went?

- Nah, we just drove off.

- And did you see anyone after that?

- Only dung on your shoe.

You know, Gunter's son coming down the hill.

- Thank you.

- Thanks.

(ground crackling) How, you know that old nut you're driving, will you take 25 pound for scrap?

- No, I won't.

(suspenseful music) (Inspector Gently laughing) - Touch me one more time.

- [Officer] Get in.

- Mr.

Shavers, thanks for coming in.

Please sit down.

- Note I won't be stopping.

(feet clacking) - You're aware, Mr.

Schmeikel was found dead this morning?

- Look, I didn't even know what year we did in the war.

- Sit down - Yelling at folk to put up blackout curtains, I expect, but I was kickin' that scumbag where they came from.

And I saw things that are buried into here, eh, here.

So you and the rest of the world can forgive and forget, but not me.

- Right You just calm down.

- I've had it with you.

(John squealing) (bones crackling) (fist thudding) (Mr.

Shavers groaning) (Mr.

Shavers and John crashing) - I'm all right.

- (chuckles) I miss my vocation.

Suspected broken back.

Everything else just as we thought, Taylor?

- [Taylor] Sir?

- They tell me you are a wrestling fan.

Oh, well me mom is, sir.

I'll just take her along, like.

- Name Chick Shavers mean anything to you?

- Oh, aye.

I saw him in Barrack once.

He's retired now.

Did his knee in.

Oh, he was a nasty piece of work.

Played the part well though.

Did some horrible things to the Wise man of Borneo.

Nearly broke his back once.

- Thank you.

- Sure.

- So if we cuff him, do you reckon you can manage Shavers on your own?

- Yeah, of course.

- Good, well I should stay out of his reach though.

- I object the Nazis coming here flashing the money around.

I object.

Okay?

'Cause where's my money, eh?

Where's mine?

I thought we won the war.

- This is 1964, Mr.

Shavers.

- There speaks a man whose pockets are full.

Listen, I don't go looking for them.

Right?

But if they turn up on my doorstep and wave it in me face, then yeah.

- What else did you do?

- What do you mean what else?

- Well, I have a witness that places you in the car park when Gunter Schmeikel left the pub.

- Witness?

Don't you mean half-wit?

One of the Hardyments?

(laughing) Witless more like.

- Mr.

Shavers, did you follow Gunter Schmeikel down in the Quay?

- No.

- 'Cause his back was broken, see?

Well, as we know, you're quite capable of doing that, aren't you?

(sirens wailing) - No, no, no, no, no, no.

No you don't, you!

(group crashing) - Whoa!

(group crashing) - Look, just calm down, all right?

Let's get on with it.

- All right.

I did go to the Quayside, aye.

But I was on me way back, and this is the truth, right?

'Cause I admit it.

I hate him.

I hate Jerries.

And all right, I did wanna do something else, and I knew what that somethin' was.

So I went down to the Quay to set the boat drift.

This is about nine.

And I arrive and there's their flash boat with no one around, or I think there's no one around.

But then I clocked this car, 'cause whoever's in it turns on some lights.

So I turn away- - Hang back, hang back.

Who was it?

- I don't know.

- Well, didn't you recognize him?

- I'm not looking.

Am I?

I'm waiting to set the boat adrift.

I just want the bloke to go.

But he stays.

He just sits there.

- Calm down.

- And after half an hour waiting, I lose me appetite.

Gave up, go back to the pub and arrive just as the Hardyments and the crowd are heading off hame, and that's the God's honest.

- And what type of car was it?

- I don't know.

a dark saloon, can't be sure.

That's all I can tell you.

- Right.

(paper rustles) (mischievous music) Would I be right in thinking that Chick Shavers isn't your real name?

- Well, it's the name I used professionally and it's the one I'm known as now.

- Right, yeah, see, (smacks teeth) I'm afraid we need your name that's on your birth certificate.

(mischievous music) - Malcolm Fairey.

- Sorry?

- Malcolm Fairey!

- Thank you.

(officers chuckling) (birds squawking) - You know, none of the locals, well, except for the fairy in the blue corner, none of them have a bad word to say about our German bomber.

- Yeah.

Gunter Schmeikel seems to have been a decent fella.

- Oh yeah, yeah.

For somebody who dropped bombs on people.

You know, I can just about remember the docks being bombed.

Civilians were killed, innocent people.

- Ever hear of Dresden?

Our bombs created a firestorm that killed 50,000 civilians for no particular reason that I can think of, except to terrorize a nation.

- Yeah, well, Jeremy should've thought of that before they started the bloody war.

- Right, Chick Shavers tells us that there was a car at the Quayside when he left.

- Yeah.

- When he got to the pub, the Hardyments were saying goodbye to Gunter.

And the Hardyments drive along the road up the hill where they see Wilhelm coming down.

- Yeah.

And he's on his own.

He hasn't got his wife with him.

- According to the Hardyments.

- Yeah, meanwhile, Gunter's walking from the pub to the Quay.

- We assume, where he met his maker.

Let's see what time the Schmeikels booked back into their hotel.

- Okay.

- That should be interesting.

(doors thuds) (suspenseful music) (feet clacking) - China.

- Well, you did say drunk or sober.

- No, no.

Mr Bacchus, I'm sober as a lamb.

I'm ready and willing to do whatever it is Mr.

Gently is ready and willing for me to do.

- Drunk man.

- Taylor?

- Sir?

- Go to my house.

I want this man scrubbed, shaved, and put in one of my suits with a shirt and tie with shoes on.

And socks, my socks, and brought back in.

- Mr.

Gently, sir, I cannot let another man perform intimate... (money rustles) - And if I'm pleased... Scour, Taylor.

Head to toe, quick as you can.

- Yes, sir.

(doors clattering) - His name's Robert Stratton.

He's a warden for the National Park.

He was on the Quay last night monitoring bird migration.

(suspenseful music) I don't know what I'm told, sir.

He came in off his own accord.

He's there with his daughter.

That's her, 'cause his wife's not well.

- Oh.

- And his daughter's apparently a bit.

(whistles) - We got to the Quay around nine.

- Yep, um, sorry.

Bird watching at night?

- Yeah, oh, we don't do it all year round, just when the migrations are on.

You don't have to see them.

You see, you can hear them coming in.

And we've had a couple of mergansers turn up on one of the lakes from Denmark.

- The red merganser's a scruffy bird.

It's not very common in these parts.

It's got a tufty head.

Very untidy looking.

Always bedraggled, always, always.

- That's the one.

- But you weren't out and about last night.

You were sitting in your car on the Quay?

- Angled, yeah, so I'm looking out to sea, which is what I must have been doing, 'cause I didn't see anyone arrive.

But there's suddenly this big chap turns up, uh, down by the dinghy moorings.

He looks in my direction and he turns away and he walks up and down a bit.

You know, pacing like.

Um, and then I'm checking the skies again, he's gone.

- And what happened then?

- Well, some curlew and oystercatchers come over.

- We're not greatly interested in the birds.

Oh, I'm sorry, no, um.

10 past 10, another chap turns up, a slight amount quite tall.

I cannot give much of a description, I'm afraid, but he- he- he's sitting on one of the bollards and he's tapping his thighs, you know, like he's drumming along to a song.

And, well, as I say, I decided to call it a day, and I drive off.

Was this the man who died?

- One minute.

Can I go and get the passports?

- [Inspector Gently] Yeah, go ahead.

(paper rustles) - Alice.

Alice, no, stop it.

I'm sorry, here, here.

Make a list of every bird you've seen this month.

(paper crackling) (pen scribbling) - It's very good of you to have come in so promptly.

- Was this the man that you saw at the Quay?

- Uh, look, I was some way away.

I cannot of swear to it.

- [John] Right.

What about these two?

- Oh yeah.

They were at the hotel.

- Right.

- I popped in for a drink on the way down.

They were at the bar.

Very smart.

I passed this one as I was going home.

He was coming down towards the Quay.

- Was he with anybody?

- No, he was on his own.

He's carrying two bags.

Yeah, I'm sorry.

She's... Yeah, Alice, leave it.

There you go.

Go on, carry on.

- I'm John Bacchus.

- Aye.

(speaking indistinctly) - All right, all right.

All I wanna do is ask you a few questions.

That's all, all right?

- I only meet him twice.

But Gunter, he is like someone you have known for years.

He is so, he looks at you when you speak.

Looks into you, is interested in you.

And has such a smile.

I think (sighs).

(Amata speaking Italian) (Inspector Gently speaking Italian) (Amata speaking Italian) (Inspector Gently speaking Italian) - (sighs) He's married.

What a pity.

Gunter, he spoke Italian to me once.

Though his the wife was Danish.

- Was Danish?

- She died this year, he said to me.

- So did mine.

- I'm so sorry.

- When Gunter left last night.

- With the Hardyments?

- Yes.

Did anyone else leave?

- The ones that don't like German buying the drinks and have walked out, they come back in through the other door.

I have been working the bar for half an hour or more on my own.

And the drinks are free.

But now Chick is back to help.

- And Chick Shavers came back when?

- Gunter and the Hardyments go and Chick is next to me straight away.

- And stays here?

- Yes, if you think of anything else you would like to ask me.

- Thank you.

(feet clacking) (birds squawking) Call the station.

They can let Chick Shavers go.

Got an alibi.

(vehicles humming) - Mr.

Gently, sir, how have we done?

Will I do?

- Have you got a comb, Sergeant?

Give it to him.

(John sighs) (mischievous music) What'd you find out?

- Bloke in there says ask the Hardyments about a woman called Molly.

Lived with him during the war and then had a thing with Gunter, and then she later topped herself.

- China, come with me.

- No, you... (stones crunching) - China, that's my suit.

Don't put fag ends in it.

- Right, Mr.

Gently.

- If I'm passing you off as a police officer, at least try and act like one.

(whimsical music) (feet clacking) I have a problem.

The Hardyments only remember driving past you, Mr.

Schmeikel.

You alone.

Not Mrs.

Schmeikel.

- She was with me.

- I was there.

I was with him.

- Another witness only saw Mr.

Schmeikel walking down the hill.

- They're lying.

- Why would they do that?

- Who is the investigator here?

Perhaps the Hardyments wish to point the finger at me because they did it.

- Um, I'm sorry.

Are you accusing the Hardyments?

- Yeah.

Why not?

They get drunk and they kill him.

- Wilhelm, (speaks German).

- Kill him for what reason, Mr.

Schmeikel?

- For- for being German and successful.

A combination you cannot bear because we are more determined than you.

More industrious, more ingenious, and this, this makes you angry.

(John chuckles) Oh, how possible, I'm sorry.

I forgot, you British are so pleasant.

(Trudi speaking in German) (Wilhelm speaking in German) - Leave 'em to it.

- I apologize for my husband.

He's upset.

- I'm curious though as to what motive you think the Hardyments would attribute to you if they thought that you had killed your father?

- Ridiculous question.

- Wilhelm?

- Are you considering us now suspects?

(Wilhelm speaking in German) (Trudi speaking in German) (Wilhelm speaking in German) - Did you get all that?

- She asked him not to be rude and, well, then he was rude.

Then he told her to leave it to him from now on.

- They were having a row, I think.

- And before that?

- Well, she was saying, why would the Hardyments kill Gunter when he was making them such a generous offer.

- What offer?

- Yeah, what offer?

- How do I know?

He told her to shut up.

Never mention it again.

- Well done, China.

- Thanks, Mr.

Gently.

- May be needing you again.

- Yeah, (speaks German) it means never.

(phone ringing) - China never got off the beach at Dunkirk.

He spent five years in various stalags, mm.

(door thuds) (dog barking) (ducks squawking) (dishes clattering) - Pull up the credit.

Yeah, well you might think this is what you had before.

Well, there's a lesson in that.

Put dears between your business.

- None for me.

Thank you very much.

- Oh yeah, man.

Tuck in, tuck in.

- Are you back with news?

- Just some questions.

- All right, well, we like a bit of a quiz.

So, we'll follow it.

- Who's Molly?

(suspenseful music) - Who told you about Molly?

- Why don't you just tell us about her?

(chair clattering) - Jimmy, sit down.

Jimmy, Jimmy!

(door clattering) (door thuds) (suspenseful music) (door clatters) Molly was Jimmy's mom.

She was the daughter of a neighboring farmer.

And when she got pregnant out of wedlock, this was January, 1940, the father kicked her out, the bastard.

Molly was training to be a teacher, you know, something worthwhile.

So Mabs and me, we took her in.

When Jimmy was born, Mabs looked after them so she could finish her training.

And she became a wonderful teacher, so we're told.

Then the war ended in, till year after, '47, 2nd of May.

Anybody saw it coming?

She took her own life here on the farm.

Up in the loft where Gunter stayed.

No reason why.

No last note.

Just an empty bottle of pills.

- Where was Gunter?

- Repatriated.

He'd gone back two weeks before.

Aye, the how she died and the way and the why.

Got everybody talking, you know, making assumptions.

- Did anything happen between Molly and Gunner?

- No.

The only two people that can answer that are dead.

But I'm sure there's- I'm certain nothing happened between them.

- Well, what about Jimmy then?

He must've been about, I dunno, seven when Molly died?

Maybe he saw 'em, you know, saw 'em together.

Maybe he knows something.

- Look, when Gunter comes back again, aye, everybody's talking again, you know, was it to do with him?

But he hadn't been here long, you know, and he's looking around the farm.

We're all traipsing after him.

(ground crackling) - Nothing has changed.

(chuckles) Nothing.

All is as it was.

Everything, only us.

We have changed.

Look at y'all.

Jimmy, you were that size and your mother, Molly, what is she now?

She's a head teacher?

Must be such a fine teacher.

Will I get to see her too?

- No, we lost mom a long time ago, Gunter.

- You had all these pairs of eyes staring at him looking for a hint of guilt, a trace of bad conscience.

And all we saw was love and sadness.

Same as what we all felt.

- And yet he spent two nights in the loft where she killed herself/ - Yeah, but we didn't tell him much where it happened.

- Mind if I have a look?

- Well, it's not much to see.

(suspenseful music) (ground crackling) (ducks squawking) (door clatters) (light clicks) (feet clacking) There you go.

(feet clacking) Like I said, not much to see.

(door clicks and thuds) (feet clacking) (drawer clatters and scratches) - Sir?

- That's Gunter's.

He must've left it here.

- He didn't take it to the pub?

- Can't be done, he must've left it here.

- Fingerprints.

- Fingerprints, what do you want fingerprints for?

- Did Gunter make you any kind of offer while he was here?

- Who told you all that?

- Did he?

- Well, I didn't really understand what he was on about, something to do with them giving his shares in his firm for free.

But I've heard all about shares.

I didn't like the sound of it.

So I said no.

But he kept bringing it up, you know, and saying that he wanted to thank me for everything I'd done for him.

And I said to him words are enough.

- What did you do for him?

- Naut, as far as I was concerned.

But he said it was the community, the way we lived.

(suspenseful music) You're not looking as friendly as you were.

- I'd like the fingerprints of everybody on the farm, please.

(suspenseful music) Where's your car?

- Still at the station.

- All right.

Pick it up.

Scrape China off the bar and earn yourself some overtime.

I want that wallet dusted and crosschecked for fingerprints.

Find out anything and everything that you can about the Schmeikels and their company.

That's where China comes in, by the way.

Get on the phone to the German embassy.

I want a flavor of this company.

The business will reflect the man.

(doors clattering) (suspenseful music) (doors thudding) - Thanks for the overtime.

- By the way, who gave us the heads up on Molly?

- The Golton, fisherman that hooked out the eyeball.

- Yeah.

- Friend of Chick Shavers.

- Is he now?

(suspenseful music) (glasses tapping) - Chief Inspector, what can I get you?

- No, no thank you.

I'm on duty.

(people chattering) I wondered if you noticed the other night whether Gunter Schmeikel paid for his drinks from a wallet?

- A wallet?

Yes, he did.

- Bert Galton, is he here?

- (sighs) You know, I leave at the end of next week.

I don't know in Italia (speaking in Italian).

And I was wondering, did your wife ever make you resort you risotto di zucca?

- Yes, she did often.

- (giggles) Oh, I've said the wrong thing.

- No, no.

Amata, you seem like a very lovely woman, and it's been a pleasure to meet you.

I have to go now.

- Good luck, Mr.

Gently.

(suspenseful music) (door thuds) - Oh, sir.

Postmortem.

The lower spine has splintered from pressure.

Not a blow.

They're gonna do more tests on that.

Fingerprint boys are still working on the wallet.

Too slow.

- I know.

I know, I have bullocked 'em, sir, but listen to this.

German police in Bremen are investigating Wilhelm Schmeikel for fraud, major fraud.

- What's he been up to?

- Illegal transfer of funds from his father's company into accounts of his own.

- Why would he need to steal from his father?

- Because Gunter was in the process of turning this company into a cooperative, making every employee into a shareholder and effectively disinheriting Wilhelm.

- Pick him up.

- Right.

(feet clacking) (China snoring) - Gov, urgent call, disturbance at the Mariner's Rest.

(vehicle whirring) (fist thuds) (fighters grunting) - Clip him, man!

(group clamoring) - Keep outta this, you!

(fist thuds) (fighter groans) - He's the one telling you, is he?

- You're nicked, the pair of you.

- Bit of a mover, aren't you, eh?

- Cuff him.

Call for assistance.

- No way man, let him finish here.

(group laughing) - I hear you've had a bit of a result, Chief Inspector.

I hear the young Nazi kill the old Nazi.

Joy Unconfined, eh.

- Shut up, Mr.

Fairey.

(group chattering) Who's been doing all the talking round here?

- Not me, sir.

- Well cut it out.

Do you hear me?

You are still on my radar.

(suspenseful music) (vehicle whirring) (engine roaring) (tires screeching) - He's ditched his wife and escarpment, sir, he's on the bus to Newcastle.

He's gonna try and get a boat.

- I thought you took his passport.

- Dual nationality, sir.

He's got a Danish one, an old.

- Mother was Danish, Amata told me.

(suspenseful music) (door clicks) (door creaks) - (sighs) I tried to stop him.

- Didn't telephone us soon, did you?

- I told him, "This will only look bad.

This will implicate you."

- Your English is excellent, isn't it?

Yes, well, while we're at it, let's clear up one other thing.

Did you or did you not walk down to the Quayside with your husband?

- I was going to, but I was feeling ill.

I needed to lie down for a while,, so I stayed here at the hotel and he went on ahead.

(suspenseful music) - Collect your things and come downstairs, please.

(engine roaring) (suspenseful music) (vehicle whirring) (suspenseful music) (stones crunching) - Take your time.

(Taylor panting) Not that long.

- The station just called to say that a warden from the National Park claims to have seen Gunter Schmeikel.

- Stratton, we talked to him yesterday.

- No, sir, another warden who saw the dead man's photo in the paper this morning, and remembered seeing him in the park near Hadrian's Wall two days ago.

He was with a group of people, but Gunter Schmeikel was seeing in conversation with Stratton, who then went off with him, sir.

- The man who arrived just before you left the other night, the man we assumed was going Gunter Schmeikel, you said he sat on a Ballard.

Which one?

- That one there.

- So the car's pointing virtually straight at him?

- Yes.

- And when you start your engine, the headlights come on and he's right in your beam?

- I suppose so.

Yes.

- And presumably looks up.

- Well, if he did, I don't remember.

- Well, did he or didn't he?

You're looking straight at him.

- Well, I was driving off.

- Yes, and in order to leave, you have to go into reverse and then come forward again.

- But when I reverse, I look behind us.

- A colleague of yours, a fellow warden says that he saw you two days ago with Gunter Schmeikel at the National Park.

He says you spoke to him and then you went off together on your own.

He says he recognized the deceased from the newspaper photographs.

- No, no.

It can't be the same man.

- Well, it was though, wasn't it?

- Well, I met a lot of people that day.

- A lot of Germans.

(Robert stammers) - Listen, what can I say, um?

I'm sorry.

I- I never connected the two men.

- Well, you can now.

The man who sat on the bollard, was he the same man you went off with on the moors?

- Don't shout at him.

Why you shouting?

- Alice, stop it, please.

- It's all right.

It's all right.

Alice, it's all right.

You're quite right.

You're quite right.

I shouldn't.

- You shouldn't.

A man called Gently shouldn't shout.

- No, you're right, Alice.

I'm sorry, I apologize.

- My dad sometimes shouts only in the house, never outside.

He mustn't shout outside.

Only in the house.

- Do you blame us?

- No.

- It never occurred, of course it was the same man.

- Well, thank God for that or we'd be looking for another German.

(Robert chuckles) But the man on the moors, why did you go off with him?

- Uh, well, everyone was hoping to see a merganser.

Jim, he was with Jim Hardyment.

But Jim's got gout these days and asks if I can take him down to the lake.

So I said sure.

Yeah.

But, you know, I only point him in the right direction.

- I may need to speak to you again Mr.

Stratton.

- Of course, again, I'm- I'm sorry.

Um, me mind's all over the place.

- Alice, am I forgiven?

(dramatic music) (vehicle whirring) - Got ya, got ya.

(engine roaring) (dramatic music) (horn honking) (engine roaring) (water splashing) (tires screeching) (door clicks) (door thuds) (dramatic music) - Police, sorry about that- hey!

You stay right where- you stay where you are, right?

- Yeah.

- Ah!

- Hey, what happened then, hey?

Your father find out you're stealing from him?

- Ah!

- Hey, come on.

Sorry.

Sorry, it's just me.

Chief Constable was busy.

- [Wilhelm] Ah!

- All right, you can go now.

Thank you.

- Listen.

- No, no, no.

In the car.

- Please, first, just please listen.

This could be as important for you as it is for me here.

- Please, listen!

- No, no, no.

You listen!

You don't know how much trouble you're in, right?

No, no, I know, I know.

I know you hang people here.

And- and if the tide is against me, which it is, then no one is going to understand.

So my father's company, mine now, we can pay our way.

- I am not following you.

- Oh yes you are.

You are very smart and- and I've been watching you.

You have connections, and I'm not trying to avoid anything.

It's just that in Germany, we do not have the death penalty.

So all I ask is for you to work on my extradition, you know, to have me sent back to Bremen.

For that I will give you 20,000 pounds, 'cause I did not kill my father, did not, did not.

Look, to show good faith with one phone call, I put 5,000 pounds into your bank account today.

Now all I need is you give me your account number, yes?

(John sighs) (engine roaring) (door thuds) (door clatters) (people chattering) - Wilhelm Schmeikel, any news?

- Uh, no, sir.

- Postmortem tests?

- No, not yet, sir.

I've just been told, there are two sets of prints on Gunter Schmeikel's wallet, Gunter's and Jimmy Hardyments'.

- Jimmy, could you tell me, please, why your fingerprints were on Gunter's wallet?

- I took it to see if he had a photo of me mom in it.

- When was this?

- In the pub on the last night.

(people chattering) He was singing the song and threw his jacket to us.

When he finished, I was still holding the wallet.

- At your service.

- That's it.

(crowd clamoring) - I hadn't looked in it yet in case anybody saw us, 'cause it felt like a thief, so then I kept it.

I put it in the bedside cupboard up in the loft as if he'd forgotten it.

- And was there a photo of your mum in it?

(sighs) Jimmy, do you think Gunter was responsible for your mother's death?

(somber music) (Jimmy sobbing) - I don't pretend that Wilhelm's relationship with Gunter was easy.

It wasn't.

I think maybe they disagree about everything.

But to be the son of a successful father, it is hard.

Then on this trip to be presented to these, Wilhelm calls them peasants, and they are.

In the best sense they are.

But then his father is saying, "These people are what we must be like.

This is what our company must be like.

This is how we must look after one another."

But, really, this is not business.

- And you met the Hardyments where?

- Wilhelm's father studies birds and the Hardyments took us to the moors.

- Tell me about that.

- There's nothing to tell.

We don't like the Hardyments.

And I'm sure the Hardyments don't like us, but Gunter is happy, so happy.

But someone tried to snatch his camera.

They didn't get it, but Wilhelm was very angry.

He wanted to find this person because it happened while Gunter was off at the lake.

But then Gunter was saying, "Leave it, leave it."

So we leave it.

Please, I have to keep saying this, because I know it is true.

Wilhelm could never have killed his father.

Never.

This I know.

- Your husband is being investigated for fraud, Schmeikel, for stealing from his father, perhaps in anticipation of his father disinheriting him.

Did you know that?

He never told you, did he?

Do some thinking, please.

(feet clacking) (door clatters) - Mr.

Gently?

- China.

- I was asked to take a call from Bremen from the police there.

They couldn't speak English, but they wanted you to know that half an hour ago, Wilhelm Schmeikel instructed his bank to transfer five grand into the account of Sergeant John Bacchus.

And they want to know whether they should let the transfer go ahead.

- Where is Sergeant Bacchus?

- He just came in, sir.

With the German in handcuffs, looking very happy with himself.

- Gov, Wilhelm Schmeikel wishes to make a statement.

I'll get him lined up for you.

- Not yet, Sergeant.

- Yes, tell him to go ahead with it.

With me, please.

(feet clacking) I want your opinion on Robert Stratton.

- They're here now.

We've got 'em now.

- I'm talking about you letting it fester for years, man.

- I thought it was the best thing to do at the time.

- Mr.

Gently, look what we've just dug up.

- Look, sir, I think we need to talk to Wilhelm as quickly as possible.

- You stick with me.

- I was the one found Molly, you see?

And there she was on the bed holding this box.

And when I saw them- - You should've read them.

Or at least told somebody about them.

- I couldn't, it wouldn't've been right.

They were too personal.

Well, she wasn't hiding 'em, was she?

I didn't want anyone doing nothing stupid.

I going after whoever had made her do such a thing.

That's why I did it.

(sighs) I took 'em outside to where she used to sit and read and buried 'em under a tree.

- Know what you're blabbing for.

- Because he thinks our Jimmy did for Gunter, don't you?

- Well, if our Jimmy done it, we're all in it now, because he was with us.

Oh, how, man, he must be nearly 20 years old.

I mean, what are they gonna prove?

- Let's find out, shall we?

- I'm not opening 'em.

- I don't wanna know who they're from.

- May I?

(paper scratching) When you took Gunter out onto the moors, I gather you met Robert Stratton, one the wardens?

- Bob Stratton, aye, Gunter was telling us about the night he got shot down and Bob joined with.

- And Gunter went off with him?

- Well I asked him to show him down to the lake.

- How long have you known Robert Stratton?

- Well, he came here just off the war.

Sunderland man, what a life he has, yeah?

Wife on the verge all the time.

And that poor lass of his, he does everything.

He's a sound bloke.

(vehicles rumbling) - They're all censored.

I mean, you know, there's a few clues in that.

If you see a phone box, do you mind if I stop and make a quick call?

- Something urgent?

- No.

(engine roaring) (car squeaking) (ground crackling) (fire crackling) (feet clacking) - Hello.

- Hello, come in, come in, come in.

- Hello?

Oh, oh, sorry, sorry.

- [Robert] Sorry, can you give us a minute, please?

- It's me mom.

She's in, they're altogether.

Look, me mom.

She's in, they're altogether, look.

- Alice, come on.

Pack in it, come on.

Sorry, you know, me wife cannot wash or dress herself at the moment.

- Mr.

Stratton?

- Yeah.

I- I was gonna come and see you.

'Cause I realized that I must've also seen that young German couple from the hotel before, you know, on the moors, part of the Hardyment group.

I mean, I never spoke to 'em at the time, but, and the, I guess, they couldn't have recognized me either, 'cause, well, they would've said something in the hotel perhaps - It's just that the young wife says that when Gunter Schmeikel came back from going off with you, he complained that someone tried to snatch his camera.

- What, did she say it was me?

Hey, I didn't steal... Wow, would I steal his camera?

Now listen.

No, no.

He was was a strange one, that one.

- I didn't say that she'd accused you, Mr.

Stratton.

But please go on gun.

Gunter Schmeikel was strange in what way?

- Well, you know, he was odd.

I mean, yeah, nice enough to start off with, but when we got down to the lake, he, you know, he turns on us, "Go, go on, go on."

And starts saying I was spying on him.

Well, you know, I just walk away.

I leave him to it.

- And yet this was the man who was behaving so strangely earlier in the afternoon that you failed to recognize him at the Quayside?

- Yeah, well, I've already explained that.

The man at the Quayside didn't bring to mind that man, not once.

- Italy, '44.

Durham Light Infantry.

- Aye, you?

- Middlesex Regiment, then joined up with the Cheshires.

- Aye, took a bit of a hammering.

- I did.

- We had a quiet time for the most part.

(suspenseful music) (fire crackling) (door clicks) - Sorry, I think your wife's... - No.

Come on.

Come on, no, no.

Amy, Amy, come on.

Alice, don't.

Don't do that, Alice, don't!

- Alice, come away from the fire.

Away from the fire.

That's a good girl.

- Thank you.

Thanks.

- What happens when you're working?

Um, they stay in their rooms - Does that... Does he lock 'em in?

(somber music) (fire crackling) (door clicks) Is Stratton a suspect?

- Yeah, of course he is.

Why?

Would that help or hinder you?

- Don't understand the question.

- Would that be good or bad for you?

- For me?

Um, I don't get you, Gov.

- The police in Bremen rang.

Wilhelm Schmeikel's transferring 5,000 pounds into your account.

- I was gonna tell you.

- Well, you've had two hours.

- Well, I was waiting for the money to be in place so that he could've changed his mind.

- Try again, Sergeant.

- (sighs) Look.

Okay, I- I- I wanted to prove to you that I could get things done my way.

Look, Gov, Gov, listen, please, think about it.

The guy wasn't just gonna go and confess, was he?

This is proof.

- And what was he gonna get for his 5,000?

- 20,000.

- 20?

- Five now and the rest when I got him extradited to Germany.

- You can't do that.

- No, well I know that, but he doesn't know that, does he?

He's desperate.

He's desperate because he's guilty.

- And what about Jimmy Hardyment and the Hardyment family?

Jimmy's fingerprints are all over the wallet, and you're telling me you're not bothered by Robert Stratton's memory lapses?

- Sir, Wilhelm Schmeikel killed his father and in an attempt to avoid the noose, tried to buy his we home.

- Thank you.

Right, very good.

Yes, we now need to transfer the 5,000 back to the... But... (pensive music) (phone ringing) By how much?

(phone ringing) Can I call you back, please?

Thank you.

(phone thuds) Your bank can't repay the full 5,000.

They can only manage 4,782.

- My overdraft.

- Which you exceeded and has consequently been canceled.

Meaning as of now, you just took a bribe.

- No, sir, you know that's not true.

- No.

Let me tell you what I know.

You decided to cut corners to incriminate Wilhelm Schmeikel, and what you've really managed to do is incriminate yourself.

Find out who the man is in those letters.

His name is blacked out.

(John chuckles) It's a simple task, Sergeant.

There's lots of circumstantial stuff in them.

- Anyone can do that.

- Yes, so go and do it.

- It's my punishment.

Is it?

- I don't care how you look at it, just do as I tell you for once.

- And what are you gonna be doing while I'm stuck in some office 30 miles away for the rest of the night- - I'm gonna be talking to some senior officers who might just be able to save you from a dishonorable discharge from the police service, hello?

(feet clacking) Speaking.

Tomorrow?

Um, just, uh, ho-hold on a minute.

(phone knocks) (China snoring) (pensive music) Yes, that will be fine.

(pensive music) (paper scratches and crackles) (John sighs) (file slaps) (pensive music) (paper crackling) - Good work.

Good work, Detective Sergeant Bacchus.

(container knocking) (suspenseful music) Excu... Excuse me?

Hello?

- There's no need to shot in here.

- Can I move on to the S's, please?

- Aye.

- Thank you.

S for Stratton!

(glass clinking) (suspenseful music) (China slurping) (glass clinking) (China sighs) - Yes, I can feel myself inhabiting the role of the detective.

(chuckles) Accumulating information, examining motives and evidence, you know?

But I'll tell you how I decide who's done it, 'cause it might be useful to you as a technique, you know?

Outta the mouths of babes in China.

(chuckles) But what I'd do is this.

I ask myself, who would you not want to be right now, China?

- What's it like speaking German after all these years?

- Well, it;s not the speaking of it.

It's hearing it again.

(China slurping) (glass clinks) So are you not going to ask me who I think done it?

- Nope.

I think you should get some sleep, China.

German police and embassy officials first thing in the morning.

- Right, Mr.

Gently.

(stack slaps) (whimsical music) (John sighs) (whimsical music continues) (files scratching) (whimsical music) - Robert Stratton, Robert Stratton.

By the King's order, the name of Corporal Robert C. Stratton, Durham Light Infantry was published in the London Gazette on the 4th of August, 1944.

As mentioned in a dispatch for distinguished service, I am charged to record his majesty's high appreciation.

Signed Secretary State for War.

Mentioned in dispatch for what?

(suspenseful music) (paper rustles) Bloody hell, he killed three men with his own hands.

(suspenseful music) (vehicle whirring) (Wilhelm speaking in German) (door knocking) (Wilhelm speaking in German) - Full postmortem report, and DS Bacchus is on the phone for you.

- Thank you.

Taylor?

- Sir?

- I sent someone to fetch Mr.

Stratton in, is here yet?

- I'll go and check for you, sir.

(Wilhelm speaking in German) - Sir, I've got the identity of the man in the letters.

Molly's man, right?

He was based over here with the royal signals from '45 till he was posted to Palestine where he died of diptheria.

Now this was two weeks before Molly Hardyment killed herself.

And he was married, which may have some bearing.

Although of course none of this actually solves anything since the important thing is that people thought it might've been down to Gunter.

Do you wanna say something, Gov?

- Aye, well done.

Well done.

- Right, am I still on the case?

- You were never off it or didn't you notice?

Sometimes we have to take the long way around, Sergeant.

- Yeah, it's amazing what a bit of donkey work can do, isn't it?

Now, listen, I came up with one more thing, it's the... - Yeah, tell me when you see me.

(mischievous music) (phone clattering) (paper crackling) (mischievous music) (Inspector Gently speaking indistinctly) - Thank you both.

(speaking indistinctly) Well?

- It doesn't look good, Mr.

Gently.

He's begging to be extradited and admitting everything.

- He admitted killing his father?

- Well, he said he'd say he did it if they sent him back to Germany.

But then he said he didn't do it.

One thing's for certain, Mr.

Gently, he don't wanna hang.

- Do you think he did it?

- Yes, well, no.

Well, maybe, the Germans think he did it, sir.

- Hmm.

- I ask you, Chief Inspector, if I wanted to kill him, why wouldn't I have done it out at sea?

Claim as an accident.

- You can't sail and your wife was with you.

- I did not kill my father.

- And I'd be inclined to believe you because to do this, to inflict this amount of pain, and I am assured it would've been in extreme agony.

Well, (smacks teeth) there are simpler and less suspicious ways to dispatch your father.

However, in your latest statement, you still insist that you walked down to the Quayside with your wife.

The truth, Mr.

Schmeikel, might just save your life.

However, if you persist.

- It was too suspicious to say that I was there on my own.

I am being investigated for stealing from my father.

- Oh, good, better.

So who saw you on your own?

- The Hardyments.

- They were the first to pass you, yeah?

- First?

No, the only ones.

There were no others.

(Inspector Gently sighs) - Mr.

Schmeikel, you were seen and passed by two cars.

- No, by the Hardyments only.

There were no other cars.

- You're telling me no other cars?

- Parked Cars, yes.

One on the street and one on the harbor.

- The harbor on, what make?

- Small family car, blue, I think.

(suspenseful music) - Where's Stratton, what room is he in?

- Oh, he's still not here, sir.

(dramatic music) (vehicle whirring) (door thuds) (stones crunching) (dramatic music continues) (door knocking) - Mr.

Stratton?

(window knocking) (door crashes and clatters) (dramatic music) Hello, Mr.

Stratton?

Anybody?

(dramatic music continues) (fire crackling) (dramatic music) (door knocking) (door clatters) (suspenseful music) You all right, son?

- Yes, sir.

(Jimmy panting) - Where's the wife and daughter?

- Upstairs, I think, but he went out maybe five, seven minutes ago.

(dramatic music) (Inspector Gently scoffs) (dramatic music) (bullets rattles and clatters) (dramatic music) (bullets clicking) (gun clicks) (dramatic music continues) - What you doing?

Why are you pulling us?

- Just taking a shortcut.

Wanna get to the top?

- I don't want to.

I don't like it.

(dramatic music) (door clicks) (tires screeching) (engine roaring) (dramatic music continues) No!

- Come on, Alice.

(engine roaring) Oh, come on.

(panting) (vehicle whirring) (Robert panting) (tires screeching) (stones crunching) (dramatic music) (door thuds) (stones crunching) (dramatic music) - When was the best time of year?

When was that, do you reckon?

- When it was frosty.

(ground crackling) It was cold and frosty.

It was a cold and frosty morning.

- I remember the mist was in the, down there, wasn't it?

- It was, it was like, like we're in heaven.

Like- like me and you were angels, Dad?

(gun fires) (birds fluttering) - Let her go!

Stratton, let her go!

(Alice groaning) (suspenseful music) (Alice panting) - That's a good girl, come on.

(engine roaring) (brake cracks) (door clicks and squeaks) - Sir, what... - Call the station.

Tell them to release Jimmy Hardyment and Schmeikel.

And call an ambulance for Mrs.

Stratton, non-urgent.

(ground crackling) (vehicles rumbling) (door thuds) (doors thudding) (engine roaring) (Wilhelm speaking in German) - Sergeant, whatever part you played, thank you.

(lighter scratches) Much appreciated, as you know.

- Let's get this straight.

I did nothing to help you.

The money's going back into your bank account.

Personally, I think it should be done for attempting to bribe a police officer.

- You know, Sergeant, you are really quite an unpleasant chap.

- Why don't you piss off back the way you came from?

(Wilhelm speaking in German) - Sergeant.

(feet clacking) Trudi?

- Sorry.

(feet clacking) - Are you joining us?

- It's fate, isn't it?

I could've been anywhere on the moors that day.

And if Jim Hardyment hadn't have been there, I'd never have gone over.

But over I went and there's this smart German bloke laughing about being a bomber pilot and how he was shot down over the time 20 years ago.

Laughing about it.

Aye, man.

- What?

- 1944, I'm out in Italy.

- Yeah, you were mentioned dispatches, weren't you?

- Aye.

- For killing three guards?

- They were the enemy.

We'd been captured.

- How did you kill 'em?

- I have admitted killing Gunter Schmeikel.

- You broke their necks, didn't you?

There they are.

There.

- We were unarmed.

We did what we had to do.

- And this time?

- Well, I was trying to tell you, out in Italy after I would escaped, I get a letter telling us me wife and Ben have been killed in an area in Sunderland.

We lived in Sunderland.

- So you killed an innocent man 20 years later?

- Innocent, well, (scoffs) who's innocent in this world, except me daughter?

But I'll tell you, I'd never have thought I'd feel the way I did when I heard that Jerry laughing.

You know, I'm not saying I never thought about me first family, 'cause, well, with me second wife and Alice, you know, who wouldn't wonder what might have been?

But that laughter though.

Yeah, and Jim was joining in as well.

You know, fair dues, 'cause I never told anyone.

- So when you go off with Gunter Schmeikel on the moors.

- Oh, I'm gonna confront them, and I do.

But before I mean to 'cause suddenly... - This is a new cannon.

You know about cameras?

It's the world's first.

(camera clattering) - You think I wanna look your bloody camera?

- What did you do?

- You think... You think you can just carry on like nothing's happened, like standing around laughing and smiling?

Well, not in front of me, mate.

- Just go away!

- Not in front of me!

(suspenseful music) (Robert panting) I don't think you knew what was happening.

'cause I'm like, you know, I'm tongue tied.

I cannot get me words out and, you know, I'm embarrassed.

And I wander off.

Yesterday evening when I knew I wasn't gonna get away with this, I thought about telling you that I went to see him the following night or apologize, and it got out of hand.

You know, how I didn't mean to kill him.

You know, I'd go for manslaughter.

But that still left us with the same problem.

Me wife and Alice, 'cause with me in prison, them two's put away in mental homes and, so... - Better to kill them?

(Robert sobbing) - Better if you'd have let us kill Alice, aye.

You frequent in loony bins, do you?

No.

You know all about them though, yeah?

Well, try putting your own children in them!

If she were dead, I'd be joining her.

As it is, she's left here.

Cared for by who, you?

You?

And I keep feeling this, me the quiet man, the patient man, everyone admires.

But from my, when I got home after that tussle, (sighs) e-I-I got angry.

I cannot tell you, I- I can't sleep for this rage.

Have I gotta do everything by me bloody self?

Can you not see that the bloody fire's gone out?

I can't stop hearing him laughing, like he's laughing at me life.

On the fire.

Some wood on the fire!

(suspenseful music) And I knew I was gonna kill him.

- And end it.

How did the opportunity arrive?

- Well, like everything in life, you need to look.

I figured a rich fool like that will be staying at the hotel, so I went there first.

- Yes, um, we will be spending the last night on the boat.

- Oh.

- My father's already having drinks at- - There's his son settling his bill and telling the receptionist everything I needed to know: where his dad was, what time they were meeting him.

- We're gonna meet my father soon.

- So I drive down to the Mariners, go in.

And there's laughing boy up and singing Geordie songs to everyone.

So that helps fuel us.

But there's too many folk around, so I take myself off to the Quay 'cause I know he's meeting his son there.

And I wait.

- Why did you admit to being the fella in the car?

- Well, I didn't know, it's seen as, could've been the Hardyments, in which case why hadn't I, you know, wound up.

And this time I was still hoping to get away with it.

- (scoffs) So you stitch up the son?

- Can we stick to the order of events?

You're back on the Quayside.

I take it Shavers came and went?

- Thank God.

- And then?

- Well, just in case this Gunter came, parked in the shadows and waited and hoped.

I gave him himself a timeframe at 10: 14, if he hasn't turned up, I'm outta there.

And at nine minutes passed.

♪ Saved coos and calves ♪ ♪ O' the famis Lambton Worm ♪ (suspenseful music) (Gunter humming) (flesh slaps) (Gunter grunts) (knee thuds) (Gunter crashes) (suspenseful music) (water bubbling) - Then I heard someone coming, but I'm happy to wait for him to go now, 'cause I knew when your Gunter went in the water, he went in alive.

- And why was that so important?

Why not just snap his neck and kill him?

- 'Cause when me wife and Ben died in that raid, they weren't killed by a direct hit.

They were in the cellar and a water main burst, but they couldn't get them out because of the fallen mercenary.

So they drowned.

Let's all have a laugh, eh?

(door clicks) - Oh good.

You're still here.

Come with me.

- Gov?

I found out about Stratton's war record last night.

I knew when we spoke on the phone.

(John sighs) What if I'd have told you last night, his wife would still be alive now, wouldn't she?

- For better or I worse.

(people chattering) Come on, I wanna show you something.

(pensive music) (people chattering) - Stay, stay.

- That's right.

You tell him.

You show them who's the boss.

- Come on, come on.

(mellow music) - Don't make fuss of them.

- Good doggies.

- Right, dear, we'll be heading back to the farm then, Mr.

Gently.

- I'm gonna look after the chickens and the ducks and the geese and the doggies.

- Thank you.

- Ah, it's what we're here for, is it?

Come on then.

Hey!

(lips smacking).

- Right, (sighs) now we have to repay that bribe you took.

- Sir, it wasn't a bribe.

I ran up an overdraft.

- Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Right, well, let's clear it.

Here, have this.

- Oh, no, no.

I'm not taking that.

- Yes, you are.

You can repay me 10 pound a month.

10 pound a month without fail.

- I don't want it, sir.

- Have it, there's enough in there so you can keep the MG as well.

Can't have you driving around in something sensible.

Tomorrow, first thing.

- [John] Aye.

- [Jim] (whistles) Here we go.

- [John] Thank you, sir.

(dramatic music) (dramatic music continues) (dramatic music continues) (no audio)