Professor T

[Indistinct chatter] [Woman singing in Italian] Hello.

Dad?

Wilfred: Jasper.

[Heart monitor beeping] I can sit with your mother for a while.

You do realise hospital-acquired pneumonia has a top-line mortality rate of 75%?

One in four chance of survival.

Once I have showered and completed a course of antibiotics, I shall return.

-Has he gone?

-Huh.

Yes.

How are you feeling?

As Rembrandt is my witness, I heard the pearly gates open.

They could do with some oil.

Oh, no, don't fuss, Wilfred.

There's work to be done.

As you're probably aware, I took a tumble.

Mm.

From your attic.

Fortunately, the floor was there to break my fall.

My intention was to retrieve and destroy the cache of diaries and that thing of Jasper's.

-Would you like me to-- -Oh.

You know where to find the spare key.

Under the smiling Buddha.

-Let's go.

-Wait.

Who's gonna keep you right when I get to Norwich?

It won't happen so much when you get to Norwich.

Well, it better not.

[Cell phone rings] Oh, it's Paul.

I'll catch you up.

-Yeah.

-Hi, Paul.

-Looks like an RTA.

-It does.

However, we found a trace of silver paint and a dent.

Might've been enough to make it veer off the road.

According to the paramedics, the driver had internal bleeding and head trauma.

The airbag had been used and not replaced.

-OK.

Thank you.

-Cheers.

Victim's Marianne Tierney, 35 years old.

And the good news, we get to tell the husband.

What's the address?

He's at the gym on Fountain Street.

-Shall we?

-Yeah.

Man: Come on, come on!

Let's go!

No, no.

Heels, heels together, heels together.

Go back round again.

Come on.

No, you need to work on your height.

You need to work on your height, get higher.

Next, come on!

She said she'd be a couple of hours.

Did she say where she was going Um... She was, uh... She was meeting a friend.

-You didn't ask who?

-Huh!

I called every friend I could think of.

Um...

I must've called Marianne, uh.. 30, 40 times.

[Voice breaking] And, uh... Am I gonna wake up from this?

"Am I gonna wake up?"

You never know when it's gonna end, do you?

-What?

-I don't know.

It's-- it's like he called her 40 times, right?

He's up all night.

He loved her, and... she's gone.

Sorry.

Sorry.

Let's go.

[Man singing in Italian] Ah!

You are here.

Well, your phone message didn't leave me a lot of choice.

Did it not?

Perhaps you misconstrued the nuance.

Jasper, I'm beyond the boundary of what is appropriate just by being here.

And yet you tell yourself?

I tell myself we're close to a breakthrough.

And then you will be finished with me.

Perfect.

My mother had a fall.

She was apparently in the attic.

I need to know what she was looking for.

And I'm here...why?

I cannot go in the attic.

Of course not.

It's a good attic.

-Is it?

-Yeah.

A clean attic is a sign of an empty life.

Oh.

I think I might've found what she was looking for.

I--I--I...

I cannot read these.

You will have to do it.

Oh, no.

Um...

I am trusting you, of course... only to impart the information which is absolutely essential.

Hmm.

You don't want to know about your mother's love life?

Thank you for your humour.

I mean, are you expecting to receive Adelaide's permission?

Because this is your mother's property.

I'm bound by a code of ethics.

I see.

Ha!

Everything I wish to know may be contained within this volume, and yet we are unable to read it.

I--I--I do not want my mother to know that we have seen these.

We shall have to put them back.

You mean, I'll have to put them back.

May I?

Oh.

Yes, it was, uh...

It was like that when I found it.

Narcissistic.

That was one of the words they asked me to spell.

Conscientious, that was another Trying to make everyone happy.

Um... this is triggering a memory.

Um...my seventh birthday party, in the cellar, peering through the door, and I can see my father's feet suspended in mid-air.

Man: It's not your fault.

We're gonna fix this.

And I can hear his voice, talking.

Could it have been somebody else?

Is that blood?

We'd like to speak with whoever's dealing with the car accident on Downham Road, please.

-Yes, of course.

-Thank you.

[Sighs] It's gonna be all right, hmm?

It's gonna be all right.

Yeah.

Young man: Peter Tierney's my coach.

Seb's in the national gymnastics team.

Seb: We've got the World Championships coming up.

Woman: In two weeks.

I think it's fair to say that Seb hasn't been fully applying himself.

I had a row with Peter.

And Marianne-- Marianne is Peter's wife-- she called me, wanted to meet.

To patch things up.

She's done this before.

We arranged to meet at The Bistro.

On the way, I missed the turning.

Driving back, my... my car glanced against...

It happened to be Marianne's car.

Did you see her crash?

Tell the truth.

I didn't know it was Marianne.

It was dark, heavy rain.

In my rear-view, I saw the car leave the road.

The fact is, he saw the driver... Just let Seb answer.

I saw her get out of the car.

Dan: You still didn't recognise Marianne?

Well, no, but I assumed... whoever it was-- I assumed she was fine.

And you didn't think to check?

I was worried I might be over the limit.

So what did you do?

I went to The Bistro.

I waited.

I called Marianne, I got no reply.

I started to worry, so I drove back.

The ambulance was there, and that's when he recognised the car.

I didn't know what to do.

It's all right!

It's all right.

He told us this morning.

It's all right.

We're not gonna be able to prove dangerous driving or being over the limit.

Issue him with a summons for leaving the scene.

Lisa: One thing that doesn't add up, Seb said that Marianne Tierney got out of the car.

Despite suffering from injuries that killed her.

Ask forensics, see if there's any mud on her shoes.

Well, to consign any sort of book to the flames fills me with horror, but to see all your moments, your thoughts, your days turn to ash.

Wilfred, what about the award?

Now residing in a landfill site near Elsenham.

Ahh.

Good.

Then Jasper is safe.

[Footsteps] Darling boy, where have you been?

Mother, I spent the night right here in a building swarming with MRSA and galaxies of mutating bacteria.

You weren't here when I awoke.

I am a disgrace, an errant son.

You haven't brought me flowers.

Why were you in the attic?

Oh, dear boy, it's my house.

I shall visit the attic whenever I please.

Nice one, Dad.

[Yawns] Jackson: Here we are then.

It's a little cooler in here, eh?

Lisa: Yeah.

[Continue indistinctly] OK. What did you say, you want some tea?

Hi, Dad.

No, I'm not--I'm not cancelling.

I, um... No, I'm fine, I'm fine.

Uh, I need a favour.

Professor: Narcissistic personality disorder and the snow plough parent.

[Cheering and applause] Thank you, thank you.

We have a lot to get through.

[Cheering and applause] Narcissistic parents seek the attention, adulation, and compliance of their children.

To achieve this, they oscillate between clingy emotional blackmail and cold, distant behaviour.

The children of such parents often grow up to become childless adults.

Treated by the parent as an adjunct, they are unable to countenance the separation that having a child of their own would create.

The narcissistic parent will react with contempt, rage... psychological abuse, and physical violence, when the objectified child unwittingly reneges on his obligation to act as the source of narcissistic supply.

Right, so we know Marianne Tierney, 35 years old, six weeks pregnant, suffered a retrosternal haematoma caused by the impact of the steering wheel and a bleed on the brain caused by the internal whiplash, but that's not how she died.

This just came in.

Petechial rash here, plus the mucosal oedema on the pharynx confirms that Marianne was suffocated.

Seb: In my rear-view, I saw the car leave the road.

Mother: The fact is, he saw the... Lisa: Let Seb answer.

Seb: I saw her get out of the car.

Dan: You still didn't recognise Marianne?

Professor: Pause.

Forensics confirm that the mud on Marianne's shoes and clothes indicate that Seb was telling the truth.

The killer wanted the car crash to look like the cause of death.

Or... Marianne was murdered by someone that she knew.

The killer took the risk of being caught in order to remove the body from public view.

Whose relationship with Marianne was complicated enough to produce that urge?

"I want her dead, but I do not want her on display."

Who is our first interview?

Dan: The husband Peter Tierney.

He is also Seb's coach.

Yesterday, the killer was playing a part.

Today, they have awoken in anticipation of act two, in which they are shocked to learn that Marianne was murdered.

They have rehearsed their reaction.

Do not let them use it.

Withhold the information that this is a murder inquiry.

The resulting tension will almost certainly cause them to act out.

In what way?

We shall have to wait and see.

Professor: Back at work?

Lisa: This is Professor Tempest.

He's assisting us with the case I'm just letting my friends know that my wife's dead.

is that OK with you?

Dan: Peter... -we spoke to Seb Vermorel.

-Why?

-He was a witness to the crash -Seb?

What did he see?

Well, he saw the car leave the road.

He didn't know it was Marianne until he was driving home.

Is that why he's not here today?

I believe he's your star.

-Yeah, he could be.

-Could be?

He lacks discipline.

Dan: He came into the station with his mother and father.

-The mother had discipline.

-As what?

-A gymnast.

-What happened?

Professor: Broke her neck performing the Thomas Salto.

A move now banned.

You've done your research.

Did you know your wife was pregnant?

What?

Your wife was six weeks pregnant.

I had no idea.

Lisa: What do you think?

Professor: It requires four facial muscles to express surprise.

These expressions range from "I did not know that" to "That is incredible."

Peter Tierney's reaction was at the far end of the scale.

Not only did he not know.

I would say that he thought it impossible.

Why?

Why impossible?

The obvious answer would be that he is infertile.

-Marianne was having an affair -Did he know?

Possibly, or he may have simply suspected an attraction.

To Seb?

He could've followed her to prevent them meeting, found her after the crash.

-We need to bring him in.

- Yeah.

-Where's Peter?

-He left.

[Panting] Hey!

Hey!

[Glass breaking] Hey!

-Seb!

-What are you doing?

Calm down!

What did you do to my wife, eh?

Argh!

Mr. Vermorel: Hey, Peter.

what are you doing?

Ugh!

This is insane!

He could've saved her.

Mrs. Vermorel: No!

No!

No!

Peter: Argh!

-Leah!

– Dan: Get off him!

Get off him!

Get off him!

Ah, ah, ah, ah!

You accused Seb Vermorel of killing your wife.

You think he got her pregnant?

Tsk.

The way they behaved together.

The signs were there.

I...

I just chose to ignore them.

Lisa: You said he killed her.

Peter: Yeah.

If he saw the crash, why didn't he stop?

Mr. Tierney, we have evidence that your wife was murdered.

Lisa: And it wasn't the crash that killed her.

She was suffocated.

What?

No.

No.

No!

-No!

No!

-Peter... -Peter, Peter.

-Get an ambulance.

Dan: Yeah, yeah, there's blood, Lisa.

Get one quick.

Have you got a handkerchief?

Peter, can you hear me?

Peter?

Seb.

Just Seb.

Lisa: Seb, your coach seems to think that you were sleeping with his wife.

[Scoffs] No.

Well, we know from Marianne's phone records that she called your landline.

Well, she wanted to meet.

Why didn't she contact your mobile?

It was out of charge.

Who knew about the call?

Nobody.

Just me.

Did you know about your son and Marianne?

No, of course not.

He just turned 17.

So... You know, I--I--I saw you at the Silver Fir yesterday.

I was visiting my mum.

Was that your dad?

Let's just stick to the subject Leah: If I'd got even the merest hint of an affair, I would've put an end to it.

I mean, an affair with the wife of the national team coach?

If you want to end your career, that would be the quickest way.

Apart from injury.

Well, these things happen.

Dan: So Seb took your car?

Without my knowledge.

What were you doing that night?

I was at home.

Uh... Leah was watching a cookery programme.

I asked what you were doing.

I watched it with her.

Professor: Duane Vermorel takes his family responsibilities very seriously When asked about his alibi, he spoke about his wife.

Her innocence is more important than his own.

Or maybe he's not innocent.

Hmm.

Professor?

Bring Duane Vermorel back first thing tomorrow.

Let him know he is the suspect in a murder inquiry.

Tch, tch, tch, tch.

He wanted to do something special to cheer you up.

Did he?

Well, you can tell him it didn't impress me.

Kafka is a noble beast.

He doesn't need to perform acts of meretricious banality.

Are you jealous?

What have I got to be jealous about?

He loves me.

I took him shopping.

Well, you can take that coat off him for a start.

Put it on yourself.

Go for a walk.

-Woo-woo-woo... -Kafka.

Kafka, come here.

[Kafka whines] Good boy, good boy.

Oh, hello, Dad.

-They frisk you?

-Only cos I insisted.

Heh heh.

Did you bring it?

[Exhales] Got it in a little jeweller's in Margate.

Two months' wages.

"To T-M-B-G-I-T-W." What does that mean?

Don't remember.

Dad, I'm a detective.

I can get it out of you.

It was a song your mum liked.

"The Most Beautiful Girl In The World."

Dad.

Ahem.

So, when did your mum tell you she wanted you to have it?

When she was in hospital.

What did you say?

Well, being young... and stupid, I said I wasn't the type to get married.

She'll be smiling up there now.

This Lisa, she's... pretty special?

She's pretty special, Dad.

Is she gonna say yes?

Uh, look, all I know is if I don't ask her I'll regret it for the rest of my life.

So, hopefully yes.

Heh heh.

Where are they?

[Door opens] Why are you showing me this?

Marianne Tierney was murdered.

My God.

How?

Professor: Judging by his demeanour, Duane Vermorel knew that Marianne had been murdered.

I suggest we keep him in isolation and, independently of one another, break the news to his wife and son.

I will gauge their reactions.

[Cell phone chime] Excuse me.

Professor?

[Doorbell rings] As you know, client-therapist boundaries are something I take very seriously... so if you feel that I have overstepped the mark, you must tell me.

-You said it was urgent.

-Mm-hmm.

The smear on your spelling award... -Which you assumed to be blood -You assumed.

I mean, I didn't disagree.

Anyway, it prompted me to requisition... your father's autopsy report.

Without asking my permission?

Do you want me to go on?

[Sighs] Tell me.

Well, while the verdict was death by hanging, as you know, there were some details which impelled me to make contact with the coroner who filed the report.

He's 86 now, his name is Francis Maugham.

He remembered the case.

He told me... that the bruising around your father's neck indicated that the ligature may have been applied postmortem.

While the head injury, which was apparently suffered when the rope was cut and the body fell... That was the blow that killed him.

Possibly.

Why didn't Mr. Maugham insist on a police investigation?

He told me that he was influenced... by an eyewitness account of a young professor of criminology-- Wilfred Hamilton.

The voice that I heard... hiding in the cellar.

That was the dean?

Why has my mother never told me this?

Professor...

I need you to drive me to the hospital.

I think you need to take time to assimilate this... What I need is--is to speak to my mother.

No, you don't need to.

-They're here, they're here.

-OK. Mr. Ridgeway.

My clients came here of their own volition.

Seb freely admitted his involvement.

Considering this is a road traffic accident, you've already subjected the family to a completely unwarranted interrogation.

You're holding Mr. Vermorel with absolutely no reasonable grounds, and you expect them to make themselves available yet again.

They won't be answering any more questions.

And I must insist on Mr. Vermorel's immediate release, or there will be serious consequences.

-I'll talk to my DCI.

-Good.

-Brilliant, brilliant.

-OK?

All right?

We don't need to bother DCI Goswami with this.

So, what?

Release Duane Vermorel?

We've got no grounds to charge him.

Well, it puts an end to the Professor's plan, doesn't it?

That was Malcolm Ridgeway.

He's on a grand an hour.

I reckon that's how rich people act out.

Yeah, you're right.

-I'll let him go.

-OK. [Door opens] There'll be no more questions today.

Oh.

Unless, of course, you'd rather stay.

Your wife and son are waiting for you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Lisa: That was really weird.

It was like Duane Vermorel didn't want to go home.

-Lise... -I think he might've -wanted to confess.

-Lisa.

Yeah?

-You're leaving.

-Yeah.

People can, um... drift apart.

Yeah.

Lisa, I'm in love with you, and... Hmm.

-Lisa Donckers... -Hmm!

will you marry me?

Well, you picked a really romantic place to propose.

Well, this is where I fell in love with you.

Will you?

-Yeah.

-Yeah?

-Yes, yes, Dan.

-Yeah?

Ohh.

Well, what took you so long?

[Footsteps] -Where is my mother?

-Jasper.

Where is my mother?

She's having her physio.

What's wrong?

You were there... when my father died.

You made a statement to the coroner.

-Yes, I did.

-Why did you never tell me?

-Did you kill my father?

- Jasper... You killed him, and you made it look like suicide!

No more lies, please!

Adelaide: Jasper.

Sit down.

You want to know what happened.

Sit down.

You are correct.

Your father did not commit suicide... but your assumption about Wilfred is wrong.

He was out of control, and I was doing-- Wilfred.

Hmm.

Your father loved you, Jasper, but he had...problems.

On the morning of your seventh birthday... your father was drunk.

[Echoing] No!

No, Jasper!

What is this?

Adelaide, voice-over: He threw the cake on the ground.

Jasper!

Adelaide, voice-over: I shouted.

Ohh!

Adelaide, voice-over: He hit me.

You grabbed his arm.

Did I?

I--I do not remember.

You were trying to protect me.

Then--then he picked you up by your throat.

Aah!

Adelaide, voice-over: I thought he was gonna kill you.

So, I...I hit him.

Unh!

Adelaide, voice-over: Oh, the force I used... You ran away to the cellar, you wouldn't come out.

I called Wilfred.

Wilfred: We're gonna fix this, we're gonna fix this, all right?

No, but how can we fix it?

How?

Wilfred: It was my idea to make it look like suicide.

I--I...I do not remember.

I do not remember him attacking me.

I-- I do not remember you hitting him.

I-- I'm glad you couldn't remember.

You... allowed me to believe it was suicide.

My whole life...

I have been blaming myself.

He did it because he was ashamed of me, because I was not worth living for.

Jasper, you were seven years old.

The truth would've been devastating.

The truth would've allowed me to believe that you loved me.

From the moment you opened your eyes, your beautiful green eyes... everything I've done was out of love for you.

Mother... you are a narcissist.

You cannot help it.

Everything you have ever done.. it was for you.

How could she do that?

How could she do that to her own son?

-What are you going to do?

- What am I gonna do?

My mother committed murder.

I have to inform the police.

-Jasper.

– Man: Cambridge Police.

Would you put me through to DCI Goswami, please?

Man: OK. Just a minute.

She's busy.

-Yes, yes.

I shall hold.

-Jasper, um...

I think you're rushing into this.

Something just occurred to me.

[Sighs] It's been staring me right in the face.

Leah Vermorel killed Marianne Tierney.

I could not see it because I have spent decades denying the truth about my mother.

Jasper, you need to think about the impact -this is going to have on her... -If I fail to report this, how can I in all conscience inform the police of Leah Vermorel's guilt?

What nature of hypocrite would that make me?

What, you really think these crimes are the same?

Dr. Goldberg, I have to tell the truth.

If I do not tell the truth, I do not know who I am.

Listen, listen.

Marianne Tierney was killed in cold blood.

Mm?

Your mother acted to save your life.

Jasper!

Goswami: DCI Goswami speaking.

Hello?

DCI Goswami, this is Professor Tempest.

Goldberg: Oh, Jesus Christ.

Goswami: Yes?

I'm calling with information about a murder.

Goswami: I'm listening.

Professor?

Professo-- [Call ends] I--I...

I did not know I could do that.

[Sniffles] You made a breakthrough.

Jasper!

What I did, you don't have to report.

-No.

-I'll do it.

Please pass me my phone.

Mother... if you do that...

I shall be forced to tell the police that you are concussed and extremely bewildered.

Oh, Jasper.

Wait.

Oh... my dear sweet boy.

This is...n-not unpleasant.

Ohh!

-See you soon.

-Thank you.

How's your mum?

She's OK, yeah.

Who's gonna visit her if you go to prison?

I--I need to go.

Duane, you have a choice.

You do nothing, we find out who killed Marianne, your whole family will be implicated, or you can just tell me what happened.

Only one person faces the consequences.

I have nothing to say to you.

You were gonna be a grandfather.

We have the DNA results.

Marianne was carrying Seb's baby.

My wife is a good mother.

Your wife?

She, uh...

Sometimes she snaps.

She doesn't mean to.

[Telephone rings] Why'd you get your mother a phone?

[Ringing] Hello.

Duane speaking.

Oh, Marianne.

Yeah, sorry.

Uh... Yeah, I'll just-- I'll give him a shout.

Seb!

For you.

Yeah.

I have messaged you five times.

Why are you ignoring me?

I'm not.

My phone's out of charge.

Duane: Don't do that!

[Sighs] I need to talk to you.

Meet me at The Bistro.

I've had a couple of drinks.

[Sighs] Seb... you sleep with someone, there are consequences.

I'll be there in ten minutes.

[Footsteps] Mum, my phone!

You're going nowhere.

No.

I knew something was going on!

That woman is a whore!

Oh, no, Seb, no, no!

You're throwing away your future!

[Door opens, closes] Duane, voice-over: She went after him.

She... She came back about an hour later.

[Keys clink] What happened?

She had an accident.

-Is she OK?

-She's fine.

Couldn't be better.

[Moaning] Ugh!

Help!

[Sobbing] [Muffled groaning] Leah, voice-over: I did it for my son.

-No.

-No?

Who else is gonna stand up for him?!

Not you!

You're a joke!

Donckers.

Dan, can you meet the Vermorels'?

Yeah.

Just had a full statement from the dad.

Leah Vermorel killed Marianne Tierney.

Wow.

How'd you get that?

Good old-fashioned police work.

-Yeah, I'll be ten minutes.

-Right.

See you soon.

[Ringing] [Door closes] What?

Darling, I'm... -I'm sorry.

-What have you done?

They were gonna find out.

You've told them?

You killed Seb's baby.

What?

[Call disconnects] Argh!

Oh, dear.

The house is occupied.

I'm not sure who.

The Professor is calling.

Hang on, Dan.

Professor?

DI Donckers, I have been remiss.

I should have realised, the focus of your investigation should be... Where are your gloves?

-Lisa, this is important.

- Lisa?

The focus of your investigation should be on Leah Vermorel.

Yes, I'm way ahead of you.

Have a look.

Gonna arrest her as soon as Dan gets here.

[Door opens, closes] Oh, I don't believe this.

-She's making a break for it.

- Let her go.

-No.

-DI Donckers... No, why are people so stupid?

DI Donckers!

T-T-The woman is dangerous!

Get out of my way!

Get out of my way, get out of my way!

[Tyres screech, thudding] [Panting] Ambulance.

This is extremely urgent.

Oh... [Breathes rapidly] [Tyres screech, thud] [Screaming] [Whimpering] Dan: Lise, you still there?

Lisa, can you hear me?

[Sniffles] Dan: Lisa, can you hear me?

[Line ringing] Lisa, on voice-mail: Hi.

You've reached Lisa Donckers.

Please leave a message after the tone.

[Beep] Lise, it's me.

Um, I'm almost there.

it cut out.

Can you call me?

I'm a couple of minutes away.

Just, uh--just call me back, all right?

Dan.

[Car approaching] Professor... I requested an ambulance.

I stressed the urgency.

At Claymore, the old farmhouse.

How long will it take?

I'm cold.

Please hurry!

Lisa.

Lisa... [Car approaching] Dan: Lisa!

I'm sorry.

What happened?

What happened?

Lisa, can you hear me?

No.

Oh, no!

Lisa!

What did they do?

Lisa, can you hear me?

[Sobs] No!

Lisa, can you hear me?

No!

[Sobbing] [Sirens]