British Network Television
‘Father Brown’: S03.E07. “The Kembleford Boggart”
Moxley accuses the travellers of stealing from the church
This episode opens with Father Brown (Mark Williams), enjoying a nice cup of tea with his friend Aggie (Polly Hemingway), being defeated at chess. Father Brown, indicating a lack of luck with his bishops, is possibly referencing Bishop Talbot (Malcolm Storry) as they never completely see eye-to-eye on anything.
Before Father Brown can entice Aggie into a rematch, noting the distinct sound of Bridgette McCarthy’s (Sorcha Cusack) voice, the parish secretary is approaching the traveller’s wagon. She is accompanied by Jeremiah Moxley (Simon Williams).
When Mrs McCarthy finds Father Brown with Aggie, noting the tone in her voice, it clearly sounds like she doesn’t appreciate him welcoming the travellers to Kembleford. The parish secretary, repeatedly criticising other people for falling short on their so-called Christian ideals, frequently shows herself as being a tad unchristian. Mrs McCarthy, for someone that professes to follow Jesus, is the least Christ-like person in the series.
Mrs McCarthy has bad news for Father Brown. A chalice has been stolen from St Mary’s Catholic Church. Mrs McCarthy, along with Mr Moxley, immediately conclude one of the travellers stole the chalice. Mr Moxley references having seen Alfons (Philip McGinley) run from the church yard with his own eyes. There is a brassiness in his voice. The person Mr Moxley saw could have been anyone.
The travellers arriving in Kembleford before the chalice was taken is merely circumstantial. There is nothing to suggest a traveller had anything to do with the chalice being taken from the church. With villagers not willing to look towards one of their own, something which is common in such communities, travellers are usually the people first blamed whenever a crime is committed.
Travellers, when it comes to small English villagers, are always on the receiving end of mistrust and suspicion. Mrs McCarthy’s tone, the same as that expressed by Mr Moxley, exemplifies this point perfectly. Mr Moxley sees travellers as pagan interlopers that occupy other people’s land. He conveniently forgets the country possesses a pagan history that predates Christianity by thousands of years.
Alfons, Aggie’s son, threatens Mr Moxley to keep away from them or he will have to be carried away in a box. Demonstrating his willingness to fire off a rifle, needing something for the pot, Alfons kills a wild rabbit. If push comes to shove,recognising their animosity towards each other, there is nothing to suggest Alfons wouldn’t shoot Mr Moxley.
The episode, immediately after the opening credits, take us to a stately manner house where we find Hannah Moxley (Nathalie Buscombe) expressing her thoughts to Father Brown regarding a curse. In this telling, as Miss Moxley regales Father Brown with the story, she references a baby having been cursed. The mention of a boggart adds a agree of mystery and horror to the story which Father Brown finds thrilling.
Not entirely sure what a boggart could be, as Mr Moxley makes his presence felt, Father Brown is told that it is “an unwelcome little imp from another world” that causes nothing but trouble.
Mr Moxley, having expressed surprise at seeing Father Brown at the travellers camp earlier that day, adamantly believes no all souls are worth saving. Father Brown, “respectfully” disagreeing with Mr Moxley, doesn’t share this view as he insists the travellers are always welcome at St Mary’s.
In reference to Lady Felicia Montague (Nancy Carroll), one of Father Brown’s closest friends, it is revealed the priest is to escort Miss Moxley to a book reading where the young writer is to regale her fans with the latest yet unfinished offering.
Mr Moxley, if it were not for Father Brown, would not have allowed his daughter to do the reading. It seems clear, from Mr Moxley’s words, he has yet to accept his daughter is an adult capable of making her own decisions. Father Brown, unlike Mr Moxley, recognises Miss Moxley is 22-years-old. Despite this point, not that he cares, Mr Moxley doesn’t want his daughter associating with “with every Tom, Dick, and Sid in Kembleford.”
The reference to Sidney “Sid” Carter (Alex Price), even though he doesn’t make an appearance in this episode, shouldn’t go unnoticed. Lady Felicia’s chauffeur has a reputation for womanising. If you saw the previous episode, even though Sid was undercover as a seminary student, he didn’t allow the celibacy requirement to stand in his way.
Mr Moxley curiously suggests, when it comes time for his daughter to take a suitor, he will have some involvement in that decision-making. It does’t seem he has bothered to ask Miss Moxley how she might feel about him interfering with her life-changing choices. The hug Miss Moxley gives her father before she and Father Brown leave seems a tad “final.”
Later, on route to Lady Felicia’s residence, Miss Moxley speaks of her father still seeing her as a little girl. She doesn’t believe he will ever see her as anything more than the child she once was. Father Brown, recognising Miss Moxley’s concerns, talks about weddings and it being the bride’s happiest day. Personally, not that I will ever marry, I don’t see how being treated as property could elicit happiness from someone.
Miss Moxley, seeing her father as being unreasonably strict, doesn’t allow her to access her own finances. She hopes, if her second novel is published, her father will see how much she has matured. When it comes to this second novel, from Father Brown’s perspective, he doesn’t see why the latest offering wouldn’t be published. Miss Moxley asks Father Brown to read her yet unpublished work.
In the background, as Father Brown and Miss Moxley continue on their walk towards Lady Felicia’s residence, we see Alfons stepping out of the hedgerow into the lane. His direction is towards Moxley House.
Having arrived at Lady Felicia’s residence, seeing how many people had shown up for the reading, Miss Moxley becomes visibly nervous and suggests to Father Brown that they can’t all be there for her. Father Brown, having already seen many of Miss Moxley’s readers come from further-a-field than Kembleford, speaks of the gathering as being merely local fans.
The next time we encounter Mrs McCarthy, with a visibly excited expression, the parish secretary hoped to speak with Mr Moxley regarding him making a statement to the police. Mrs McCarthy is every bit as unwelcoming to the travellers as Mr Moxley. Father Brown suggests the parish secretary take the night off and enjoy a nice glass of sherry. We, even though Mrs McCarthy can be seen partaking of a second glass of sherry, wouldn’t want to comment on the parish secretary’s alcohol consumption.
Lady Felicia, welcoming Miss Moxley to her home, introduces the young writer and Father Brown to Harry Grandage (Ben Deery). Mr Grandage, a journalist by occupation, is a fan of Miss Moxley’s writing. The journalist considers The Darkest Rose, Miss Moxley’s first published offering, a modern masterpiece. Curiously, written by Laurel Black, a novel titled The Darkest Rose the was published Friday, 20 July 2018.
Father Brown, with Mr Grandage having referenced the north Sea Floods of 1953, notes so many lives were affected. He’s not wrong. As a social historian, having attained a graduate degree partially revolving around history, I find it gratifying screenplay writer Jonathan Neil took the time to include historical facts in his work.
The combination of a high spring tide and a severe European windstorm over the North Sea, in real life, caused a storm tide to hit a significant stretch of the British coastline. Further, noting the UK didn’t suffer alone, both the Netherlands and Belgium were impacted by the storm.
Meanwhile, at Moxley House, we find Mr Moxley opening a letter. Miss Moxley’s voice, reading from her work, is used in par as a voiceover for the scene. The scene quickly transitions back to a visual of Miss Moxley reading to the gathered guests.
Mrs McCarthy, critical of Miss Moxley’s latest work, doesn’t seem to feel the writing is worthy of the word literature. With an obviously sheltered mind, possibly only having read The Bible, there is a good chance Mrs McCarthy isn’t familiar with the works of Joseph Conrad or Edgar Allen Poe. Even if Mrs McCarthy had only read her religious text, one that contains numerous stories, it would be hard pressed for her to not recognise certain risque passages.
Lady Felicia, in contrast to Mrs McCarthy’s attitude, feels locking Miss Moxley away from the world could be damaging. Leading a sheltered life, especially in the earlier 1950’s, is likely not something Miss Moxley wants for herself.
It is here that Father Brown, even though Mr Moxley directed him to keep his eyes on his daughter at all times, loses track of the young writer. No luck finding Miss Moxley, with Mrs McCarthy suggesting that they walk across the fields as a short cut, Father Brown feels this is a splendid idea. It is clearly hoped that they meet with Miss Moxley as she makes her way home.
Having made their way all the way back to Moxley House, without having crossed paths with the young writer, Father Brown and Mrs McCarthy curiously discover the residence front door open. Oiling the door hinges might be a good idea. If there were someone within earshot of the door, noting how loud the squeak is, no one would be able to enter the house undetected.
Father Brown, with Mrs McCarthy, announces himself as he wonders through the house to the drawing room. A curious sounds draws their attention to an upstairs corridor where Father Brown uses Mrs McCarthy’s hatpin to retrieve a key from the opposite side of a locked door. Mrs McCarthy, not surprising to anyone that knows her, disapproves of Father Brown’s behaviour.
It’s a good thing Father Brown did access the room because it is here that they discover Mr Moxley’s dead body. The murder weapon is Mr Moxley’s own letter opener. I can’t say I’m entirely saddened by his murder. It’s not as if he was a nice man. Mrs McCarthy, with her being her usual self, immediately suspects Alfons.
The sound of breaking plant pot draws Mrs McCarthy’s attention away from Father Brown. Father Brown and Mrs McCarthy, having exited the house, soon find the plant pot on the concrete stairs. Miss Moxley arrives home to discover Father Brown and Mrs McCarthy standing outside.
After Inspector Sullivan (Tom Chambers) and Sergeant Daniel Goodfellow (John Burton) arrive, when Father Brown describes Miss Moxley’s unpublished novel, there are curious similarities between the crime scene and the young writer’s work not even the police inspector could miss. There are far too many similarities for it to be mere coincidence.
The following morning, near St Mary’s Catholic Church, we find Mrs McCarthy hurrying to the presbytery. On her arrival, with Father Brown seated in his usual spot, she finds the priest in the kitchen. Not having slept much the previous night, as Mrs McCarthy correctly observes, Father Brown looks dreadful.
Even though Mrs McCarthy seems certain Alfons is somehow involved with Mr Moxley’s murder, knowing what Father Brown suspects, it is clear the parish secretary paid no attention to Miss Moxley when she conducted her reading. Mrs McCarthy insists that somebody be held accountable for the murder. Her tone suggests she doesn’t care if it is the actual murderer or someone else.
The next time we encounter Miss Moxley, with Mr Grandage standing in the background, she is answering Inspector Sullivan’s questions. it didn’t take long for Mr Grandage to cosy (before anyone asks, not that you will, cosy is the standard spelling in British English) up to Miss Moxley. It turns out, taken from a box belonging to Miss Moxley’s late mother, jewellery had been stolen.
Lady Felicia and Father Brown arrive to give their support to Miss Moxley in her time of need. Father Brown, immediately noticing Inspector Sullivan is annoyed with his presence, intimates he will remain as silent as a church mouse. When asked by Inspector Sullivan where she was after the reading, noting Mr Grandage’s immediate facial response to Miss Moxley’s answer, it seems clear there is not a word of truth to it. Father Brown is curious how long Miss Moxley and Mr Grandage could have known each other as their demeanour with one another seems far too relaxed for people that had just met.
Miss Moxley had stated she and Mr Grandage had been walking around the grounds to Lady Felicia’s estate. Mr Grandage, seemingly not knowing how to fully address the problem he faces, supports Miss Moxley’s answer. Instead of adressing any questions Father Brown might have, after Inspector Sullivan leaves, Miss Moxley retires to her bedroom so she can rest.
With there being a disruption in woods, noting the police inspector needing her assistance, Lady Felicia accompanies Inspector Sullivan. The disruption, more than the travellers, is being caused by Mrs McCarthy. Mrs McCarthy wants to see justice for Mr Moxley. Aggie, obviously not knowing that her son walked towards Moxley House, insists that no one at the camp went anywhere near that man.
Mrs McCarthy, on seeing Inspector Sullivan arriving in the camp with Lady Felicia and Father Brown, insults Sergeant Goodfellow when she suggests he has no real authority to do anything. The parish secretary, having recalled the threat Alfons made, places Father Brown in a sticky situation when she references the priest having witnessed the confrontation with Mr Moxley.
Father Brown, clearly uneasy, states that no one was acting reasonably the previous day. Inspector Sullivan presses Father Brown for an answer to his question. The priest, after a momentary glance in Mrs McCarthy’s direction, confirms he saw something of the sort.
Inspector Sullivan arrests Alfons. Mrs McCarthy seems more than a tad self-satisfied. The parish secretary, when making a display like this, there is no easy way to walk it back because everyone has seen her true colours.
Later, at Kembleford Police Station, Inspector Sullivan questions Alfons. The police inspector, even though Alfons stated he had a least a dozen witnesses at the camp, wants to rely on the evidence found.
Meanwhile, at Montague Hall, Father Brown converses with Mr Grandage regarding his growing friendship with miss Moxley. Miss Moxley, when Father Brown suggests that he walk her home, decides the best place for her is Montague Hall. She asked of the traveller that had been arrested for her father’s murder.
Father Brown referencing the minor dispute that occurred the precious day, mentions Alfons’ name. Substantive evidence is required. There is something about this scene that feels a tad forced. The body language, especially that seen with Miss Moxley, doesn’t ring true.
Inspector Sullivan, conducting a search of the travellers’ encampment, tells Aggie that her son is in serious trouble. The police inspector locates the missing jewellery hidden amongst Alfons belongings. When Inspector Sullivan returns to the police station, with the stolen items in hand, the police inspector has all the evidence he needs to place Alfons at the scene of the crime. The fingerprint report comes back a match to Alfons.
Elsewhere, back at the presbytery, Father Brown has his nose in a book. Mrs McCarthy, noting how he hadn’t said a single word to her in more than an hour, wants to know what could be so interesting about the novel.
The parish secretary, never really comfortable with how Father Brown inserts himself into police investigations, complements the priest on leaving this murder case to Inspector Sullivan. Mrs McCarthy, obviously not all that observant, hasn’t noticed Father Brown has been investigating Miss Moxley this entire time.
Father Brown suggests Mrs McCarthy might like to accompany him back to Moxley House because they both need a lesson in perspective. The parish secretary’s facial expression quickly changed. She knows, giving her experience with Father Brown always finding tangible evidence, the big reveal is coming and she might be on the wrong side of history.
Back at Moxley House, seeing both Father Brown and Mrs McCarthy approach the building, there is seemingly no time to waste. Father Brown, having located a key under a doorway stone gargoyle, enters the house. Leaving a key hidden underneath a rock or something else was, once upon a time, a common practice in small English villages. Not many people continue this tradition as there are fewer and fewer trustworthy people.
In the attic room, the same one where Mr Moxley’s body was discovered, Father Brown asks Mrs McCarthy to recall what she said when she first entered it the previous day. The priest, having discovered a hidden key in the chimney, draws the parish secretary’s attention to a hidden doorway. This isn’t art imitating life. It’s life imitating art.
Mr Moxley, to his shame, was a grandfather. He had hidden away a child because he hadn’t wanted anyone to know his daughter had been engaged in a premarital sexual relationship. Mrs McCarthy, having opened the curtains so that there be some light in the room, locates the chalice she accused the travellers of stealing.
Father Brown suggests it was Mr Moxley himself that stole the chalice so that the travellers could be framed. Mrs McCarthy, with her obvious bias against the travellers, fell into Mr Moxley’s trap. The priest believes the father of Miss Moxley’s child isn’t the kind of person Mr Moxley wanted in his daughter’s life. That person, if you haven’t yet guessed it, is Alfons.
Later, at the police station, Father Brown speaks with Alfons. The priest reveals all he has learned during his investigation. The baby seen at the travellers’ camp is the one Alfons fathered with Miss Moxley. Miss Moxley had apparently told Alfons to take the jewellery from the house. Thinking about it, not that it takes much thought, Miss Moxley seems to have manipulated Alfons into a corner he can’t get out of without her coming clean.
The real murderer, even though most of the clues point towards Miss Moxley herself, is revealed as being Mr Grandage. He had been at a relatively safe distance from all that took place in this episode. No one saw him anywhere near the Moxley residence. Father Brown, noting a small detail most people would have missed, recalls how Miss Moxley got Mr Grandage’s first name wrong when she dedicated a novel to him.
Mr Grandage and Miss Moxley had been seemingly corresponding with each other for months. Noting how Mr Moxley controlled everything about his daughter’s life, even her fan mail, it is revealed it was Miss Moxley’s father that had been responding to the letters. The handwriting in the dedication didn’t match that he saw in the letters he received from her.
Miss Moxley realises it was Mr Grandage that killed her father. Mr Grandage referencing the word suitor explains the comment Mr Moxley made to Father Brown regarding the same subject. Miss Moxley, wanting a free life away from men that would try to control her, is a 22-year-old woman with the ability to make decisions for herself. Father Brown convinces Mr Grandage to hand himself into the police. This is exactly what he does.
