♪ ♪ JAMES: I have got something that may help you.

♪ ♪ They're the notes Alan made when he was writing "Atticus Pünd Takes the Case."

I found all the interviews he did when he visited the hotel.

Imagine that, you can actually hear Alan's voice again.

ALAN: Algernon Marsh had no decency and no scruples.

How dare you search through my desk.

ALGERNON: £980,000.

You can talk to Samantha.

Persuade her to divide it two ways.

And why in God's name would I do that?

Because there are things that Melissa told me about you, Leonard.

PÜND: Were you aware that your wife was having an affair?

Yes, I strangled her in the bedroom!

(screaming) (Miss Cain whimpering) I need to see Katie.

I'm worried about her-- there's something she isn't telling me.

(phone ringing) Yes.

Who's this?

CRAIG (on phone): Craig Andrews.

What are you doing?

CRAIG: She was here last night, and she left her phone.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ (thunder claps) (whimpers) (click) ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ (birds chirping) (breathes deeply) ♪ ♪ (tapping echoes) (tapping continues) (tapping slows) (squeezing) (wings fluttering, birds squawking) (rowing machine pulling) ♪ ♪ (exhales) (branches cracking) (bird cawing) ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ (birds chirping) (people talking in background) MISS CAIN: Good morning, Mr. Pünd.

Oh, Miss Cain.

Please, sit down.

Um, would you like a cup of tea?

Well, I wouldn't say no, thank you very much, Mr. Pünd.

I hope you have recovered from the shock of what occurred yesterday.

To be honest with you, I haven't had a wink of sleep, and the sooner we're out of here, the happier I will be.

Mm-hmm.

I have been checking the train times, and there is a 11:00 from Barnstaple that gets us into London not too late.

I'm afraid I'm going to have to disappoint you, Miss Cain.

My work here is not yet complete.

But I, I don't understand.

John Spencer confessed to the murder of Melissa James, then took his own life.

That was the opinion of Detective Inspector Chubb.

He did not take his own life.

You mean he...?

He was murdered.

Oh, gosh, I don't know how much more I can take of this, Mr. Pünd.

It is not my intention to distress you further.

Mm.

Oh, if you prefer, um, we, we can talk of other things.

No, no, no, I might as well know.

(exhales) John Spencer went upstairs to put on his coat and his shoes.

And when he returned, he was indeed wearing coat and shoes.

Mm-hmm.

Why?

If he was intending to kill himself, why would it matter what he was wearing?

He was an English gentleman?

He'd want to look his best?

Perhaps so, but, um, consider the position of the dagger.

Hm?

It was, uh, near to the bottom of the stairs.

Are you suggesting to me that John Spencer took the knife with him upstairs, stabbed himself, and then came back downstairs again?

I, I don't, I don't know.

And finally, to choose such a method!

There were razors in the bathroom.

He could've hanged himself with a tie.

But to act like the Japanese and inflict hara-kiri on himself is not, I think, the practice of an English gentleman.

(exhales) So where does this take us, Mr. Pünd?

Maybe we should find out who was in the garden.

They caused a diversion.

They could've done it deliberately!

I already know who looked through the window, Miss Cain.

So, do you know who killed John Spencer?

It's not just a question of who murdered John Spencer.

We must ask ourselves why.

Mm.

(footsteps approaching) CHUBB: Good morning, Herr Pünd.

Miss Cain.

(chuckles) Oh, I'm glad I caught you.

I, uh, I just wanted to say goodbye before you went on your way.

I think you'd better sit down, Detective Inspector.

Mr. Pünd has something to tell you.

Oh.

(chuckles) (car horn honks) (horn honking) SUSAN: Can, can you move?

All right?

God.

(horn honks) Come on!

What's your problem, love?

All right, mate, I'll see you down there, yeah?

In your own time.

(rain falling) Jack.

Hi.

(exhales) Is your mum here?

I haven't seen her.

Right, good, well, then maybe you can tell me what's going on.

What do you mean?

Well, I drove past the house this morning, your house, and it's being sold.

Yeah.

Why hasn't your mother mentioned it to me?

Why would she?

Because I'm her sister-- we talk all the time!

I don't know-- why don't you call her?

Well, as if my life wasn't complicated enough at the moment, I've lost my phone.

I've left it in London-- so, please, please, Jack, tell me what's going on.

I can't talk about it.

What do you mean, you can't talk about it?

I... Do you know when she might be back?

She said 4:00.

Okay, well, uh, can you do me a favor, could you call her?

Tell her I was here, and say that I'll look in around 4:00-- can you do that?

She might not answer.

Then leave a message.

Are you all right?

(breath trembles): Yeah.

I'm fine.

(inhales deeply) (shears snip) These are nice.

(chuckles) They're for the church.

Third Sunday after Trinity.

Ah, of course.

(both chuckle) You know, I've been, um...

I've been thinking.

Mm?

What about?

About the money.

(sighs): I've been thinking about nothing else.

You know, I wonder if we should accept it.

There are others in much greater need than us.

You know, I don't know anyone in the world as good as you.

(chuckles) But actually, I was having second thoughts about what you said when we got the news.

What was that?

About Algernon.

Maybe it is wrong of us not to include him.

But I thought you said that's what Aunt Clarissa wanted.

Well, yes, that is what she wrote in her will.

But, well, she's no longer with us.

And really, it's up to us what we do with the money.

Uh, up to you, I mean.

But I, I thought we'd decided.

Hm... Well, he, he's your brother.

Perhaps if we give him a share, he might find himself.

What, what sort of share?

Uh, well, I mean, that's not really for me to say.

Twenty percent?

Thirty?

(chuckles): I really don't know, Leonard.

I must say, I'm surprised.

What was it you said just now?

"People in greater need than ourselves."

Well, that wasn't what I meant.

I'm taking these to the church.

I haven't offended you, I hope.

Not at all, you've just surprised me.

And maybe you're right.

I'll think about it.

♪ ♪ (door opens and closes) You're absolutely sure, Mr. Pünd?

I do not believe John Spencer took his own life.

Well, if he didn't kill Melissa James, then who did?

That is indeed the question, Detective Inspector.

But there is perhaps one person we've overlooked.

Well, who's that?

Miss James wrote a letter of love, but she failed to address it.

"My darling darling."

PÜND: Indeed so.

Do you know who she meant?

I have an idea.

♪ ♪ ALGERNON: "My darling darling."

Yes.

Yes, she was going to send this to me.

At least, I assume she was.

You were more than her financial adviser?

That what you're saying?

(exhales): Well, one thing led to another, I'm... Oh, don't look so shocked, Leonard.

She was bored of John Spencer-- you must've known that.

Um, what time did your relationship with Miss James begin, Mr. Marsh?

About six months ago, I think?

Oh.

It's not against the law.

CHUBB: Maybe so.

But I'll tell you what is against the law.

(exhales) Is that your automobile parked outside?

Uh, yes.

Can you explain the damage to the front fender?

No, no, no, I, um...

I hadn't noticed it.

On Wednesday of last week, a man by the name of Henry Dickson, an opera singer, was hit by a car as he was out walking.

The driver did not stop.

Mm-hmm, and what about it?

A car similar to yours was seen by a witness.

There was damage to the fender and evidence of a blood stain, and... We have a cigarette found at the scene of the crime.

Ooh!

The same brand you're smoking now.

(clock pendulum swinging) (inhales) Oh, for heaven's sake, Algernon, tell them it isn't true!

You win some, you lose some, Leonard.

Tell me, how is Mr. Dickson?

Well, you didn't kill him, if that's what you mean.

Oh!

(laughs) Oh, it's not too serious, then.

Uh, maybe a rap on the knuckles?

Maybe a fine?

I don't need to worry about that, do I, Leonard?

You'll take care of me.

♪ ♪ Mr. Pünd!

Mrs. Collins, you... You will forgive me for intruding.

No, not at all.

Everyone is welcome here.

But I'm afraid I bring bad news.

Your brother, Algernon... What's he done this time?

He hit a man in a traffic accident, and failed to stop or offer assistance.

(voice trembling): Has he been arrested?

Inspector Chubb is with him now.

This is so typical of Algernon.

I'm not gonna give him anything!

I'm sorry?

I've inherited some money from an aunt of mine.

Quite a lot of money.

I wanted to tell you from the start, but I wasn't sure it was relevant.

Mm, and, and you were considering sharing it with your brother.

Well, my husband was dead set against it to start with, but now he's saying we should.

I just don't understand him.

I'm not sure I want to keep any of it.

There's something I wished to ask you.

Were you aware that your brother was involved in an affair with Melissa James?

An affair?

An adulterous affair?

Oh, yes.

No, I had no idea!

Are you quite sure?

He has admitted to it.

(exhales): It, it's such a wicked thing to do, it... She is a married woman, and to commit adultery is unforgivable.

It's a crime against God.

(exhales) Sometimes I feel like St. Daniel, cast into the lions' den.

Murder and wickedness-- it, it's all around me.

You blame Miss James.

For her weakness.

I blame both of them.

And at the same time, I find it hard to believe.

Algernon and Melissa?

She was better than that.

How could she have set her sights so low?

(church bell rings) (bicycle bell rings, church bell rings in distance) (knocks) Mrs. Endicott, my name is Susan Ryeland.

We met at Aiden's house.

Yes, I remember.

I wondered if I could have a word with Derek.

Come in.

Thank you.

(chuckles) Derek?

You have a visitor!

He's only just woken up.

Oh.

He was working last night.

(both chuckle) He had his shift at the hotel.

Can I get you some tea?

Uh, no, thank you.

Do you have the day off?

No, I only work part-time.

Oh.

Yeah, and Roxana's at a play date right now.

I can't do more than that.

I had a heart attack two years ago, and the doctors told me to take care.

Oh, I'm sorry.

No, I'm fine now-- got Derek here.

And Aiden and Cecily look after me very well.

Mm.

So you enjoy working for them.

Oh, they're lovely people, and they both live for that child.

Oh, what Aiden must be going through right now.

Mm.

Sorry.

(voice breaking): Don't bear thinking about.

What do you think might have happened to Cecily?

No, I don't know-- I try not to think about it.

Aiden says it's something to do with that book of yours.

Atticus Pünd.

You met Alan Conway?

Yeah.

Yeah, he, he came here, asking questions.

He talked to everyone.

(footsteps approaching) He said it was for research.

DEREK: Who is it, Mum?

This is Susan Ryeland, you know?

(chuckling): Oh, yeah.

She's helping the police with their... Oh, hello.

...finding Mrs. MacNeil.

Yeah, is there any news?

SUSAN: Uh, no, I'm afraid not.

She were just asking about Alan Conway.

The writer?

Didn't like him.

Well, that's what I wanted to ask you.

What actually happened when he came here?

Alan recorded his conversations with everyone else, except you.

Why was that?

Well, that's easy to explain-- I didn't let him.

ALAN: Well, it's a, a lovely house-- have you been here long?

GWYNETH: My husband and I first lived here when we were married.

So, Derek, you have been here your whole life.

GWYNETH: Oh.

Excuse me, Mr. Conway, what are you doing?

No, Alan, please.

I just thought I'd record this.

Oh, no, I, I'd prefer if you didn't.

Sorry?

I, I don't want to be recorded.

Well, it's just for me-- I have a terrible memory.

I don't really want to talk about what happened at all, if you want the honest truth.

And I, I don't think you should be writing about it, either.

Seriously, Gwyneth?

♪ ♪ I think you should go.

(gasps) ♪ ♪ SUSAN: Well, that explains why he put you in the book.

He did that to Aiden, didn't he?

He did it to anyone who annoyed him-- I'm sorry.

It's not your fault, dear.

Some people just don't know how to behave.

(chuckles) There was one other thing I wanted to ask you.

I wonder if you know Martin and Joanne Webster.

They just live up the road.

Yeah, we know them all right-- the odd couple.

You can say that again.

Been here 20 years, never once invited us into their house.

GWYNETH: And you'd think they'd be more hospitable.

He knows us well enough, he was always in and out of the hotel.

I used to help unload his vans.

SUSAN: I'm sorry, we're, we're talking about Martin Webster?

Yeah, he's got a laundry business in Woodbridge.

He used to do all the sheets and towels at the hotel.

Used to?

Cecily fell out with him.

She stopped using them.

Let me get this straight.

Martin Webster was the brother-in-law of Frank Parris, and he also knew Cecily Treherne?

Mm, course he knew her, but...

They definitely weren't friends.

(knocking) (birds chirping) SUSAN: Martin.

I thought we asked you not to come back here.

You knew Cecily Treherne.

I met her a few times.

You do know she's disappeared.

Everyone knows that.

In fact, we're all getting a bit fed up with it, to be honest.

She used to use your laundry service.

The two of you argued.

Yes.

Why?

(chuckles) I really don't think that's any of your business.

And you and I have spoken enough.

(door slams) Why does she keep coming here?

That's a good question.

I think she's becoming a bit obsessed about it all.

What are we gonna do?

You want me to do something about it?

(quickly): No.

Look, don't worry about it, dear.

She doesn't know anything about us, and she's not gonna find out anything, either.

I'll make sure of that.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ LAWRENCE: Susan.

(gasps) I didn't realize you were back.

(exhales) You made me jump.

I'm sorry.

After what happened, this, uh, this whole corridor can be a bit unnerving.

Do you want to look at room 12?

Uh, no.

Nothing much in there.

How was London?

Uh, actually it was useful.

Uh, I got all of Alan's notes and the interviews that you did, and everyone else.

And what are you doing here?

I'm trying to work something out.

Derek Endicott was on reception the night that Frank Parris was killed.

He heard the dog bark and he came up the stairs.

(Chase barks, whimpers) SUSAN: That was when he saw a figure in the corridor, someone he thought was Stefan.

That's what he told the police.

Yes, but it would've taken Derek less than five seconds to get from the dog basket into the corridor, and by that time, Stefan had already disappeared.

Or he'd already gone into the room, he had a key.

Yes.

Yes, Stefan had a key for all the rooms.

Yeah, but what happened after that?

I mean, what would you do if a complete stranger came into your room?

I'd shout for help.

So why didn't Derek hear anything?

Frank Parris could've been asleep.

In which case, Stefan wouldn't have needed to kill him.

He could've just taken the money and left.

What are you saying?

Just that whatever happened here, it wasn't what we think.

And for that matter, why did the dog bark in the first place?

(sighs): I'm, I'm afraid I can't help you.

Actually, maybe you can.

I listened to the recordings, and there's something that Cecily said.

He wasn't the only young offender working in the hotel.

My father was running a program.

So, what other offenders did you have working here?

I don't think I should be sharing that information.

Lawrence, I'm trying to help you find Cecily.

The only way I can do that is to know what she knew.

So... Who was it?

LIAM: That's it, keep that wrist strong, squeeze.

(pop music playing in background) Liam, I need to talk to you.

I'm busy.

No, this won't wait.

It's gonna have to.

Okay.

I know you have a criminal record.

You served six months in Long Bay Prison in Sydney for providing your clients with steroids.

All right.

I'll talk to you, okay?

Just not here.

LIAM: Testosterone, boldenone, Anadrol-- it's no big deal.

I was getting it cheap from Thailand, like everyone else.

But then the police caught up with you.

Six months-- I did four.

And then you came to London?

It was easier to get new clients away from home.

What sort of clients, Liam?

What exactly were you doing?

I was a personal trainer.

What do you think I was doing?

Did you come from Melbourne?

No, Brisbane.

So why don't you tell me the truth about what was happening here with Stefan?

I don't know what you're talking about.

(laughing): I think you do.

The last time I spoke to you, you said that you felt "sorry for the poor bastard" because of the way they treated him here.

What did you mean by that?

He was a skivvy.

He'd work a 12-hour shift.

Toilets, gutters, the roof, the trash-- you name it.

You know how much they were paying him?

They were trying to help him.

(laughs): Come on, darling.

Their so-called youth offender outreach program?

It's a rip-off-- it's a way to get cheap labor to keep this stinking hotel running.

You've stayed here long enough.

Where else am I gonna go, with my conviction?

Besides, it's not the half of it.

So what's the other half?

Cecily Treherne was okay.

But her sister Lisa's the devil.

She had her claws into Stefan from the start.

In what way?

What way do you think?

Nice hunk of 22-year-old Eastern European flesh?

She was in a relationship with him?

Well, I wouldn't call it that.

But they were having sex, if that's what you mean.

Poor sod couldn't say no to her.

After all, she was running the hotel.

She had complete power over him.

(laughs) Did he tell you this?

No, he didn't talk about that kind of stuff.

But he was miserable whenever she was around.

You know, I actually saw them once?

Tell me.

LIAM (voiceover): I'd gone out for a run.

There's a circuit that takes me through the woods.

And I'd just set out, and that's when I saw her.

(couple moaning in distance) I mean, it was pretty obvious what was going on.

I couldn't help but wonder who it was, and that's when I saw them.

Stefan and Lisa going at it, hammer and tongs.

When was this?

A couple of weeks before the murder.

And it was definitely Stefan and Lisa?

That's a fair question, Sue.

Susan.

Whatever.

It was night.

There was some distance between us.

To be honest, my first thought was that it was Aiden having it away with Lisa, which would've been a laugh.

(laughing) Was Aiden like that, promiscuous?

No way.

Cecily would've kicked him out if he did.

And anyway, it wasn't him.

Aiden has a tattoo on his shoulder, it's like a big tadpole.

(voiceover): I could see quite clearly, it wasn't there.

Could've snuck away right then, but would you believe it?

I stepped on a branch.

(branch cracks, Liam gasps) (voiceover): Went off like a gunshot, the guy turned around.

It was definitely Stefan.

Did he see you?

I don't think so.

Well, he never mentioned anything.

So why did Lisa fire him?

Well, she accused him of stealing.

But everyone knows it was Natasha.

It wasn't him.

Maybe he'd given her the old heave-ho and she wanted to get rid of him.

I know what I'm talking about.

She's doing the same thing to me.

Anytime she needs a root, I'm her first port of call.

And do you?

Yeah, I don't mind-- keeps her sweet.

She pays a little extra on the side.

Oh!

Was there anything else you want to know?

Uh, no, no.

(chuckles) Definitely not.

Mmm, great.

Thank you.

KATIE (on voicemail greeting): Hi, it's Katie, please leave a message.

Katie, uh, I've managed to lose my mobile, but I've been trying to get hold of you.

Jack says you'll be home by 4:00.

So, I'm gonna come over now.

Okay, bye.

(receiver replaced) (sighs) (man talking in background) ♪ ♪ (engine starts) (car door closes) (doorbell rings) Hi.

Did you get my message?

Yeah, sorry, um, just having a bit of a day.

Can I come in?

Of course.

SUSAN: You didn't tell me!

And you asked me to go to the garden center so I wouldn't see the sign outside.

You got a buyer, then?

(milk and tea pouring) We've just exchanged.

And you lied to me, Katie.

You told me that you had decorators in.

I don't see any sign of any decorators anywhere.

And Jack.

He's dropped out of university.

He's a mess.

He looks utterly miserable.

Has this got anything to do with Gordon?

You never talk about him.

He's never here.

(blows out): Why do you want to know?

Because I care about you, Katie.

And we don't have any secrets from each other.

Gordon's left me.

What?!

Oh, my...

When?

Six months ago.

I didn't tell you because I didn't want you to be worrying about me.

You've got enough on your plate, and anyway, there's nothing you could do.

I could've been there for you.

I didn't want you there.

I wanted you here.

I couldn't ask, and anyway, I didn't want to.

Why not?

Because I felt so bloody stupid!

And I still do now.

(inhales) He started working late, in London.

First one night a week, then it was two nights.

And then he... (sighs) ...sweet-talked me into renting a flat near the bank to save money.

Can you believe that?

Our money-- our joint account.

All to support his sordid little love nest.

Do you know who it is?

Oh...

It's his secretary.

(groaning) And, and how pathetic is that?

Her name's Naomi.

Mmm.

She's 20 years younger than him.

I mean, she's barely older than his own daughter.

Oh, Katie.

No.

I'm so sorry.

Please, Susan, don't.

I don't want your pity.

It will only make things worse.

You may as well hear the rest of it.

He was lavishing money on Naomi-- trips to Paris.

And at the same time, he was maxing out on his credit card.

His company credit card.

So of course, eventually, they found out.

(inhales) And he lost his job.

He's lucky they didn't decide to prosecute.

They're letting him pay it back in installments.

Anyway, the upshot of it all is that we couldn't afford the house.

But you both own it.

Yeah, well, it's a 50-50 split, but it still means downsizing.

It's... (sighs) It's a mess.

And as for Jack and Daisy... Daisy doesn't want to know.

She's furious.

She thinks he's having some pathetic midlife crisis that he's inflicting on all of us.

And as for Jack... Well, you've seen.

He always was the more sensitive one.

I've promised I won't cry, and I'm not going to.

But I can tell you, what's upset me the most is that I feel so stupid.

Like I've been somehow inadequate, and I'm the one to blame.

But you know that's not true.

But course it's not.

It's all down to him, all of it.

But it's still how I feel.

And that's another reason why I didn't want you to know.

Because I've always been the sensible one, haven't I?

Married with two children, a nice house in Suffolk, and a job in a garden center, while you, you've been gallivanting around London, and now Crete, and where's it got me?

I'm not gallivanting anymore.

You're thinking of leaving Andreas.

I couldn't believe it when you told me that.

You two are wonderful together.

He's a good man, and he loves you to bits, and you should be grabbing onto him and holding him with both hands.

You don't know how lucky you are.

Katie, what can I do?

Oh... (sighs) There's nothing you can do.

I'll be fine, I'll get through it somehow.

All I'm saying is, think again.

♪ ♪ (tires squealing, engine revving in distance) (engine revving) (horn honking) What?

(exhales) (horn honking loudly) (horn blaring) What?

Oh... ♪ ♪ (tires squeal) ♪ ♪ (engine revving) What?

Get, get out of the... Get out of the... What are you doing?!

Oh, my... (tires squealing) (Susan exclaims) (grunting) (panting) (car approaching) (sirens chirp, stop) (engine stops) What is it?

(breath shaking) What?!

No!

(sobbing) The body of a young woman's been found in Rendlesham Forest.

I'm very sorry to have to tell you this, Mr. MacNeil, but we have every reason to believe that it's Cecily.

(both crying softly) (voice trembling): No.

Aiden.

There'll have to be a, a formal identification, but in the meantime, I...

I wonder if you recognize this.

(Aiden gasps, Pauline crying) (crying) AIDEN: It's hers.

How did you find her?

Well, we hadn't stopped looking, but in the end, it was a dog walker.

Oh, God.

(weeping): Oh, my God.

(inhales deeply) (exhales) (murmurs) (handbrake engages) (engine stops) (police radio running) What happened?

I thought I told you to leave.

(softly): Oh, God... (radio continues) We've found the body of Cecily Treherne in woodland not far from here.

She'd been strangled, just like the actress in that book of yours.

Oh, I suppose you're gonna try and make something out of that.

No.

Funny, innit?

How real murder isn't quite as much fun as those stories of yours.

They're not my stories.

We've got a husband in there sobbing his heart out, two parents who've just lost a daughter, and an eight-year-old girl who's about to find out she no longer has a mummy.

But I suppose, to you, oh, that's all entertainment.

How can you be so cruel?

(exhales): Because this is my life, and you've got no place in it!

(grunts) ♪ ♪ (car door closes) Susan.

Oh, God.

I was hoping to see you.

I've just heard the news-- I'm so sorry.

Sorry that my sister's been found dead?

Or that your all-expenses paid visit to the hotel is now over?

What?

Well, I don't think there's any further reason for you to stay here, do you?

What is wrong with you?

The hotel is fully booked out next week, we need your room-- I'm just doing my job.

Does your father know you're talking to me?

Well, actually, my father wanted me to have this conversation.

We want to bring an end to his arrangement with you, and we think you should leave.

When?

Tomorrow.

Checkout's at 12:00.

Derek will help you with your luggage.

Susan?

Andreas!

What are you doing here?

What is it, what's wrong?

You tell me.

What?

Where were you last night?

Why are you even asking me that?

'Cause I need to know if you want to see me.

I want to see you more than anyone.

♪ ♪ PÜND: I have asked you to return here today because, well, it seems that events at Clarence Keep did not occur quite as we believed.

OSCAR: Are you telling us that the detective inspector was wrong all along, and it was not her husband who killed Melissa?

Oh.

(chuckles) It is only thanks to the detective inspector that I was able to solve the case.

It was he who made the observation that unlocked everything.

Thank you, Mr. Pünd.

What observation was that?

You compared the murder of Melissa James to the death of Desdemona in William Shakespeare's "Tragedy of Othello."

OSCAR: "Beware the green-eyed monster."

Hmm.

Let us return to the beginning.

We know that Miss James was killed very shortly after 6:28 in the evening.

6:28, yes, that's when she called me.

Mm.

(Melissa sobbing over phone) Miss James?

MELISSA: Please, please, please come round.

I don't know what to do.

I'm so frightened.

Please!

He wants to kill me.

PÜND: "He wants to kill me."

But to whom was she referring?

It was her husband.

It, it had to be her husband.

That would indeed seem to be the case, Miss Cain.

John Spencer was not at the opera.

He lied to us.

I came to the house that evening, as I told you.

I did not see him.

In the moments before he died, Mr. Spencer was obliged to explain to us exactly what occurred.

CHUBB: You never left?

No, I left.

I drove as far as the village.

But I was in no mood for the opera.

I came back.

PÜND: And you confronted your wife?

We had a terrible row.

She told me she was leaving me.

That argument must have taken place after the Chandlers had left to see their relatives in Bideford.

We, we never heard them argue.

PHYLLIS: No, of course we didn't.

We kept our distance, as was our place.

When did you leave the house?

PHYLLIS: At ten past six.

PÜND: So, Mr. Berlin arrives, he leaves.

The Chandlers also depart.

And what of Algernon Marsh?

I'm in the pub.

Lots of people saw me.

Several of them saw you leave.

I'd had enough to drink.

(voiceover): I walked home.

So, Mr. Berlin arrives, he leaves.

The Chandlers also depart.

And that is when John Spencer returns.

He was who she was scared of when she called us.

Evidently, and yet we have a problem.

All the evidence suggests that the telephone call was made from this room.

CHUBB: We found the tissues with her tears down here, and the phone in her bedroom was torn out of the wall.

And yet it is in the bedroom that Dr. Collins discovered the body.

That's right, she was on the bed.

You see?

It does not work.

"I'm so frightened.

He wants to kill me."

Where is Melissa when she says this, and, and where is her husband?

They were both in here.

If Melissa really believes herself to be in danger, why does she return to the bedroom?

And where is John Spencer?

Why does he allow her to make a telephone call for help?

Maybe they argued upstairs after all.

PÜND: And what time is the telephone cord pulled out of the wall?

Does Melissa come down to the living room, call for help, and then return to the bedroom?

He's right, it makes no sense.

All I can tell you is, she was definitely dead, she was definitely on the bed, and she had definitely been strangled.

I, I saw the ligatures.

I, I'm so glad that you chose to mention that, Dr Collins.

You see, it reminds me of a most interesting piece of information that was shared with me by my good friend Detective Inspector Chubb.

She must have put up quite a fight.

The sheets were crumpled, one of the lamps was broken, and there was two sets of abrasions around her neck.

Why two sets of abrasions?

Miss James was only strangled once.

Well, she was struggling, you know?

Maybe the cord slipped, and the killer had to apply it a second time.

That is exactly what I believed, until the moment that you referred to the drama of "Othello."

I don't, I don't understand.

What happens in that play?

Desdemona is strangled by her jealous husband, hmm?

And just like John Spencer, he confesses to the crime.

"She is dead," he says.

"Still as the grave.

I have no wife."

(fingers snap) But then she recovers.

She's not dead, after all.

Exactly.

Strangulation, it kills by restricting the flow of blood or oxygen to the brain.

This I've noted in "The Landscape of Criminal Investigation."

But although unconsciousness will take seconds, death may take several minutes.

So, John Spencer didn't kill her?

He believed that he had, mm?

She had fallen, struck her head.

There was blood.

She was not moving.

We can imagine his horror.

He believed that he had killed the woman he most loved.

He ran out of the room, out of the house, leaving her behind.

But then she woke up.

She woke up.

The telephone cord had been pulled from the wall, so she had to make her way downstairs to call for help, and it was Dr. Collins who answered.

And I, I said I'd be around straight away.

PÜND: But in fact, it took you ten minutes, during which time Miss James returned to her bed, which is where you found her.

MISS CAIN: So, who killed her?

Dr. Collins, of course.

No.

No.

It, that's not possible.

Not Leonard.

(both chuckle) Melissa James was a friend of mine and a patient.

What possible reason could I have to kill her?

"My darling darling.

"We must be brave and tell the world about the love we share."

This letter was addressed to you.

CHUBB: Wait a minute.

Algernon Marsh told us the letter was addressed to him!

(chuckles): He was lying.

Why would I do that?

PÜND: For one simple reason.

You did not wish us to discover that the true lover of Miss James was your brother-in-law, Dr. Collins.

It was all about the money.

Exactly, Miss Cain, the money.

Left to Mrs. Collins by her aunt.

Her brother, ooh, he wanted a share of it.

And he knew that he could blackmail Dr. Collins with his knowledge of the affair.

But that meant shielding him, pretending that it was he, and not Dr. Collins, who was the true lover of Miss James.

This, this is, is nonsense.

You have a wife who is deeply religious, who told me herself she could never forgive the sin of adultery.

Had she discovered the truth about you, she would've left you, which is exactly why you had to kill Melissa James.

She was threatening to tell the world about your affair.

They're already seeing each other.

Then suddenly Mrs. Collins gets the inheritance.

(chuckling): Exactly.

He will have control of the money, but only if she remains as his wife.

£980,000.

How did you learn of the affair, Mr. Marsh?

Melissa told me.

She couldn't stop herself.

She was besotted with him.

So, it's true.

Leonard?

PÜND: Her husband attacks her.

And Miss James, she calls her lover for help.

In so doing, gave him the perfect opportunity to silence her, knowing full well that it would be John Spencer that would take the blame.

(crying): You're a monster.

(sobbing): I can't bear it!

I'm sorry, Samantha.

I really am.

But I mean, Melissa was a star.

She said she was going to go back into the movies.

She talked about Hollywood.

And I thought she was my ticket out of this, this boring village, my boring life.

But then, when you got the money, I realized what a fool I'd been.

I've nothing to say to you, Leonard.

I'll tell you what else is true.

He was blackmailing me!

Swine.

You should arrest him, too.

(chuckling): What?

Take them both away.

♪ ♪ (car door closes) CHUBB: Go on, then.

♪ ♪ (exhales) MISS CAIN: Dr Collins.

I'd never have believed it.

Because he was the least likely suspect?

Because he wasn't a suspect at all.

But there's one thing I don't get, Mr. Pünd.

If Dr. Collins killed Melissa James, who in the blazes killed John Spencer?

Mmm, that is the second part of the puzzle, Detective Inspector.

And I have a confession to make.

The person who killed John Spencer was me.

♪ ♪ (click) ♪ ♪ (groans): I should not have taken this case.

I started all this, and now I'm gonna finish it.

Why won't you take no for an answer?

Don't you want to know who killed her?

I know who killed her.

He's hiding something.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ANNOUNCER: Visit our website for videos, newsletters, podcasts, and more.

And join us on social media.

To order this program, visit ShopPBS.

"Masterpiece" is available with PBS Passport and on Amazon Prime Video.

♪ ♪