British Network Television
‘Father Brown’: S03.E03. “The Invisible Man”
The circus brings with it far more than the village can cope with
Whenever a circus arrives in Kembleford, noting the frequent number of deaths, there is never not a mystery for Father Brown (Mark Williams) to solve. The source material for this episode can be found in G. K. Chesterton’s 1911’s published short story collection The Innocence of Father Brown.
The previous year, when the circus was in the village, Laura Hope (Justine Cain) had promised to marry clown Reggie Smythe (Sevan Stephan) or hypnotist Arthur Welkin (Guy Henry). Miss Hope promised to marry the first one that made his fortune.
This promise Miss Hope made, seemingly unbeknownst to both the clown and the hypnotist, was merely in jest as she was never really serious. Miss Hope, since that promise was made, became romantically involved with Nicholas Wallis (Joe Layton). The obvious gentleman’s agreement, as both men shock hands, should have been taken as an indicator they believed her commitment to them.
Miss Hope, in the company of her boyfriend, Father Brown, Mrs Bridgette McCarthy (Sorcha Cusack), and Lady Felicia Montague (Nancy Carroll), is shocked to discover Mr Smythe intends to hold her to this promise.
Father Brown, always the optimist, suggests that they speak with the two men concerned after the circus show so they can clear up the matter. The show, a classic British circus, is certainly entertaining. Mr Smythe and Mr Morris, in their respective clown costumes, are a humorous spectacle.
Mr Smythe wanting to leave the show, abandoning his double act with Marvin Morris (Kobna Holdbrook-Smith), was obviously shocking. Further, not that we should be surprised, it is revealed Mr Smythe would be leaving behind his relationship with Enid Flay (Kiruna Stamell).
The show takes a sinister twist when Mr Welkin, as part of his hypnotist act, calls for a volunteer. It is here that he insists the volunteer be Miss Hope. Mr Welkin, even though he’s billed as one, is no Grand Wizard. This is not someone anyone should trust. Miss Hope, after the show, doesn’t seem quiet herself.
Elsewhere, angered by what she discovered from Mr Morris, Miss Flay confronts Mr Smythe. She punches him in the face. This is a woman that, despite her size, packs a serious punch. The blood on Mr Smythe’s face proves it. Seconds later, after Miss Flay leaves the tent, a knife is thrown in Mr Smythe’s direction. Mr Welkin makes his presence felt.
Meanwhile, hearing Mr Smythe calling for help, Father Brown and friends rush to the tent. Mr Welkin has already exited the tent by the time Father Brown and companions arrive on the scene.
Not long thereafter, with it being a potential death threat, Inspector Sullivan (Tom Chambers) and Sergeant Daniel Goodfellow (John Burton) arrive at the circus.
Kembleford Police Station, as the police inspector correctly notes, doesn’t have the resources to provide Mr Smythe with the kind of protection he needs. It’s a village not a major town or city. Even though Father Brown believes Mr Welkin is a dangerous man, all Inspector Sullivan can promise is a brief search of the village.
Obviously, when the clown gets down on one knee to propose to Miss Hope, Mr Wallis isn’t amused by this seemingly unwanted display of affection. Men as Lady Felicia correctly observes, can be somewhat delusional when they believe themselves in love.
Father Brown and Mrs McCarthy accompany Mr Smythe to the bed and breakfast establishment where he had arranged accommodations. Even though the Catholic priest didn’t want to leave him alone, noting his insistence, Father Brown and Mrs McCarthy left him to his own devices.
Meanwhile, somewhere on the outskirts of the village, Inspector Sullivan and Sergeant Goodfellow look for the elusive Mr Welkin. The police inspector momentarily believes he spotted the villain. It was merely a scarecrow. Mr Welkin is soon spotted making his way across a field.
Elsewhere, at the Hope residence, Mr Wallis prepares a meal for his “damsel.” he didn’t want to leave Miss Hope on her own with a mad man on the loose. Miss Hope, looking through the window, sees Mr Welkin starring at her. The lightening storm is a prefect effect for the scene. It adds a degree of danger which wouldn’t have been present if it hadn’t been used.
Mr Wallis, having headed out of the house, soon crosses paths with Inspector Sullivan and Sergeant Goodfellow. It is their intent to locate and apprehend Mr Welkin.
Meanwhile, seated out side the bed and breakfast, Mrs McCarthy is complaining to Father Brown that they had been sat there for at least half an hour. Not long after the police inspector shows up, accompanied by Sergeant Goodfellow and Mr Wallis, there are screams heard coming from Mr Smythe’s room.
When they get to the room, it’s too late. Mr Smythe had been stabbed in the stomach. The last word Mr Smythe utters before his death is “Welkin.”
Inspector Sullivan’s reference to it being a crime scene, noting how both Father Brown and Mrs McCarthy were still there, it suggests the police inspector wants them both gone. He simply doesn’t want Father Brown’s help.
Whilst Sergeant Goodfellow correctly observes the air vent in the room is too small for someone Mr Welkin’s size to enter through it, noting Mr Smythe is a much smaller man, there is nothing to suggest he didn’t use it to exit and return. Whilst that is a leap, one Father Brown would make, there is nothing to suggest it could be wrong.
This is when Mr Welkin arrives in the building and makes his presence known to Inspector Sullivan. The episode soon takes us to the police station. Inspector Sullivan questions him as to his whereabouts.
Mr Welkin apparently attended a singalong at the local pub. The name of the pub, notably fitting for the episode, is Cloak and Dagger. This is not a reference to the short lived television series of the same title.
It’s curious how, by law, a person’s final words are considered the truth when anything could be said. It’s known as a dying declaration. There is nothing to suggest that these last words couldn’t be lies.
Sergeant Goodfellow placed a call to the Cloak and Dagger and discovers Mr Welkin was telling the truth. With no evidence to hold the suspect, the police inspector is forced to let Mr Welkin leave the police station.
The following day, at the cafe, we find Miss Hope lost in thought. Mr Welkin tells Miss Hope that she will marry him. There is something in his voice which suggests he might have something which could influence her decision.
Meanwhile, at the circus camp site, we find Inspector Sullivan conversing with Miss Flay. Both Miss Flay and Mr Morris have motives for seeing Mr Smythe dead as it was his actions that saw ends to their respective relationships. Whilst Mr Smythe had a personal relationship with Miss Flay, his relationship with Mr Morris was purely professional.
Elsewhere, at the presbytery, Father Brown, Mrs McCarthy, and Mr Wallis are waiting on Miss Hope to arrive as they have a wedding rehearsal planned. Miss Hope arrives with Mr Welkin. It is here they reveal their intention to marry. What could Mr Welkin possibly have on Miss Hope that could make her want to marry him. She doesn’t know him.
Father Brown questions the plausibility of Miss Hope suddenly wanting to marry Mr Welkin. Something must have occurred to influence the decision. What could that have been?
Not seeing any alternative, noting how the Catholic priest is prone to bending a few rules, Father Brown offers his services for the wedding. They schedule it for the following day. This leaves Mr Wallis almost speechless. Father Brown informs Mr Wallis that he has no intention of marrying them.
Mr Welkin, noting how he has Miss Hope under his thumb, has hr visit the police station and offer false information regarding Mr Smythe’s murder. This information, even though we don’t witness the conversation on screen, brings Inspector Sullivan and Sergeant Goodfellow back to the circus camp site.
Father Brown, not one to leave anything to chance, pays a visit to the circus camp site. He cam be seen watching Mr Welkin as he meditates. The ridiculousness of the scene is readily apparent. Father Brown is literally looking through the window at Mr Welkin. They can’t be more than a few feet apart. It is remarkable how Mr Welkin doesn’t sense Father Brown’s presence.
Inspector Sullivan isn’t surprised seeing Father Brown at the circus camp site. The police inspector has a warrant to search Mr Flay’s caravan. Whilst he doesn’t specify the reason for the search, there is a good chance this search is tied to the information Mr Welkin had Miss Hope tell Inspector Sullivan in their off-camera conversation. After finding the murder weapon in Miss Flay’s caravan, Inspector Sullivan takes both her and Mr Morris in for questioning.
Father Brown, with Mr Wallis’ assistance, searches Miss Hope’s residence for clues. If there is one thing that has always piqued my curiosity, it is how Father Brown is quite adept with a lock pick.
Further, noting his professional lock picking set, there are questions that should be asked as to where he got it. He tells Mr Wallis picking the lock was beginners luck. Beginners typically don’t own such a set of picks.
It doesn’t take Father Brown long to find the clues he seeks. Father Brown figures out the identity of the real killer and it isn’t pretty.
The wedding doesn’t exactly go forwards as planned. Father Brown insists on asking questions of both Mr Welkin and Miss Hope. Father Brown realises the real killer is Miss Hope. Mr Smythe didn’t stay in his room the night he died. He had climbed through her bedroom window and made his way to the ground floor (British definition). She accidentally stabbed Mr Smythe.
Mr Smythe told Miss hope, because his injury wasn’t serious, not to call for an ambulance. That wasn’t entirely true. Mr Smythe returned to the bed and breakfast and made it appear like Mr Welkin had stabbed him with his final word.
Mr Welkin saw everything. He saw Miss Hope place the knife in the rubbish bin and retrieved it when she was back in the house. Needing an alibi, Mr Welkin went to the nearby pub. The pub was within walking distance of Miss Hope’s residence.
Miss Hope, seeing that she has an option, doesn’t go through with the wedding to Mr Welkin. Before Father Brown, Miss Hope, and Mr Wallis can get to the police station, Mr Welkin beats them to the punch. Mr Welkin left a written confession at the police station. He also left a letter for Miss Hope. It is here that Mr Welkin leaves his former life behind and goes on the run from the police.