British Network Television
‘Father Brown’: S03.E09. “The Truth in the Wine”
Father Brown attends Colonel Forbes-Leith’s vineyard open day
Only a few seconds into the episode, noting Lady Felicia Montague (Nancy Carroll) wanting to save her palate for the wine tasting, Bridgette McCarthy (Sorcha Cusack) can’t stop herself criticising her ladyship. Considering the parish secretary’s shortcomings, gossiping at the expense of others, Mrs McCarthy has no room to crow.
Colonel Anthony Forbes-Leith (Daniel Ryan) and Lady Edna Forbes-Leith (Sheila Reid) welcome their guests to the wine tasting. Agreeing with Lady Felicia, recognising Colonel Forbes-Leith’s appearance, he is rather yummy in a heroic sense.
Henry Gibbs (Gareth Jewell), playing a casual game of cricket with Sidney “Sid” Carter (Alex Price), noticeably looks at maid Emily Fletcher (Georgina Leonidas) like she’s a piece of meat. A brief exchange of words between Mr Gibbs and Father Brown (Mark Williams) suggests that there could be something amiss. What could Colonel Forbes-Leith possibly have against Mr Gibbs?
The Truth in the Wine, the ninth episode in the third series, is the first instalment Sid appears in since The Upcott Fraternity. Despite this point, recognising the character’s absence, there are references to Sid in both The Kembleford Boggart and The Lair of the Libertines.
Gregoire Bisset (Edward Akrout), the person that made the new vineyard possible, is introduced to the guests. There is a nervousness in his voice which suggests he is much more comfortable speaking his native French.
The colonel referenced having learned French when he was a schoolboy; however, that was a long time ago. It seems, since there apparently wasn’t much call for him to use French, the colonel’s ability to speak the language became a tad rusty.
Mrs McCarthy, looking down her nose at the Frenchman, is not completely unexpected as she frequently has a low regard for outsiders. The parish secretary, even though she professes Christian values, seems the least Christ-like character in the series. Mrs McCarthy’s attitude towards Monsieur Bisset, other than him being French, possibly stems from the way Miss Fletcher looks at him.
Relative to the Father Brown run, even though the production has currently seen several series televised, each one is set in the Summer of 1953. It’s like the series is stuck in a time bubble.
The Truth in the Wine is one of those Father Brown episodes that starts off gently and soon takes a sinister turn when a dead dog is discovered in a white wine barrel. The dog had been a gift from Colonel Forbes-Leith to Mabel Grayson’s (Emma Cunniffe) son Tom. Who could possibly have a vendetta against Colonel Forbes-Leith and his family?
Miss Fletcher, looking for Tom, crosses paths with Mr Gibbs. There is no excuse, even if he is drunk, of Mr Gibb’s behaviour. No man should ever force themselves on a woman. He deserved being bitten.
Whilst Monsieur Bisset explains wine production, nearby Mrs McCarthy converses with Mrs Greyson regarding the poor dog. Mrs Greyson believes it was Mr Gibbs that placed it in the wine barrel. Miss Fletcher catches Monsieur Bisset’s attention and draws him away from the guests. The Frenchman’s anger at Mr Gibbs, observed by the colonel, doesn’t go unnoticed.
Father Brown offers Lady Edna a nice cup of tea. Tea, as Lady Edna correctly observes, is for people that spend their time gossiping. Brandy is better for shock. The locket hanging around Lady Edna’s neck, containing the key to her late husband’s heart, is likely not a casual reference as nothing ever included in a Father Brown episode leads nowhere. The same is equally true of casual glances, winks, and nods.
Lady Edna being absent from St Mary’s Catholic Church has been noticed. information soon comes to light, with being Colonel Forbes-Leith in the diplomatic corp, it turns out “the real army couldn’t get rid of him quick enough.” The colonel didn’t get his eye patch during the way. That was from his childhood days when he was walking behind his father’s horse.
There is significant animosity between the colonel and Mr Gibbs which seems to have been ongoing for many years. References to monies owed is a common theme in Father Brown episodes. A physical confrontation between the two men was inevitable as neither of them appear to respect each other.
Later, during the dead of night, Mr Gibbs breaks into the Forbes-Leith. Whilst there is gunfire heard, we don’t learn what occurred until the following morning. Father Brown, as promised, has a book for Colonel Forbes-Leith. Mr Gibbs is dead. If one can’t speak ill of the dead, nothing there is nothing good to say, it is better to remain silent.
Inspector Sullivan (Tom Chambers) should seriously consider not telling Father Brown he can’t be involved in police matters because there is no way the Catholic priest wouldn’t investigate a crime. Sergeant Daniel Goodfellow (John Burton) with Father Brown apparently having left the room, asks the police inspector what he thinks happened. Father Brown, soon discovered by the police inspector, remained standing outside the open doorway.
The police inspector’s annoyance of the Catholic priest, not exactly well-founded, stems from Father Brown possessing better detective skills than the so-called professionals. It doesn’t matter how much Inspector Sullivan claims Father Brown meddles, noting the results, there is no denying the priest has accomplished great things. The priest, despite Inspector Sullivan being annoyed, continues to hang around the estate.
Sergeant Goodfellow, in a pond, finds the weapon used to kill Mr Gibbs. Inspector Sullivan correctly observes the colonel knows a significant amount about guns for someone that was stationed with the diplomatic corp.
Colonel Forbes-Leith’s choice of words, in conversation with Father Brown, is amusing. A few weeks earlier, with reference to Mr Gibbs arriving at the estate, that was the first time the colonel had “laid eyes on him.”
Inspector Sullivan, wanting to speak with Miss Fletcher alone, tells Father Brown to leave. Miss Fletcher, knowing what coppers are like, doesn’t want Father Brown to leave her alone with the police inspector. The police inspector, having received information from the Metropolitan Police, understands Miss Fletcher has a colourful history. Inspector Sullivan, unlike Father Brown, isn’t the kind of person that believes people can turnover a new leaf.
The story of how Miss Fletcher met the colonel, highly heroic, causes problems for Colonel Forbes-Leith when it was revealed he did own a gun. Further, noting that Mr Gibbs had previously bragged about serving with the colonel in the British Army, it is questionable whether that had really occurred.
Colonel Forbes-Leith, at Kembleford Police Station, is questioned by Inspector Sullivan. Even though military records show Mr Gibbs and Colonel Forbes-Leith served on the same British Army base, the same could be said for thousands of other men. The estate accounts don’t look pretty. When Father Brown arrives at the police station, even though there was a promise made, the colonel feels it pointless because the police inspector wants to see him hang.
Father Brown receives a call from the police inspector because he requires assistance with the colonel. It appears the colonel tried to kill himself. Inspector Sullivan feels attempted suicide could be a sign of a guilty mind. Father Brown, seated with the colonel in his cell, recalls how there was a reference to schoolboy French. Colonel Forbes-Leith, if he was stationed in Tunisia, would have known far more French than that taught at school level.
This is the second episode this series where a character is seen pretending they are someone they aren’t. The person masquerading as the colonel is Sergeant Joseph Hawkins. Father Brown was able to discover the discretion because he managed to call in a favour from Lady Felicia.
The real Colonel Forbes-Leith, according to the Foreign Office, died in Tunis in 1945. It was the colonel’s idea for Sergeant Hawkins to assume his identity. Colonel Forbes-Leith gave the sergeant his life because he wanted someone to build his vineyard. This was Sergeant Hawkins’ chance to become something better. No one in Kembleford new the real Colonel Forbes-Leith was dead. Father Brown wants people to know the real Sergeant Joseph Hawkins.
Miss Fletcher, Mrs Grayson, Lady Edna, and Monsieur Bisset all have their secrets. Lady Edna, earlier in the episode, stated the locket containing the key to her late husband’s heart. Her late husband only ever cared about money. The locket, an inside joke, contained a spare key to the safe. Lady Edna was the one that shot and killed Mr Gibbs. It was obviously self-defence.
Sergeant Hawkins dedicated his life to fulfilling the real Colonel Forbes-Leith’s dying wish. Lady Edna, recognising the sergeants commitment to her, the family, and the new vineyard, insists he keep the title colonel because Colonel Hawkins sounds much better.
