British Network Television
‘Father Brown’: S03.E15. “The Owl of Minerva”
Father Brown is stunned to learn Inspector Sullivan is wanted for murder.
The third series finale, The Owl of Minerva, with a curious scene with Bridgette McCarthy (Sorcha Cusack) at the presbytery. The scene isn’t as much concern Mrs McCarthy as it is does what can be heard broadcast in a news report on the radio.
The Radio News Reader (Owen Brenman), even though there is no reference to the individual’s identity, reports a man absconded from custody whilst being transported from court to HMP Gloucester. The prison referenced in the episode, during the period Father Brown is set, is very much real. HMP Gloucester opened in 1791 and closed in 2013.
Elsewhere in Kembleford, noting the increased police presence, there is an ongoing manhunt specifically for this individual. The editing on this episode, whilst fairly good, doesn’t completely hide the person’s identity from television viewers.
The tie he’s wearing, when we see a closeup on the handcuffs, is an immediate giveaway. It’s Inspector Sullivan (Tom Chambers) and he is in serious trouble. The last place one would expect the police inspector to seek help is the most logical choice. Inspector Sullivan is hiding in the confessional when Father Brown (Mark Williams) enters his side.
The episode, with much of the story being retrospective, is told from Inspector Sullivan’s perspective. The police inspector, in a voice-over, takes us to the day he was in Wenlock Woods with DC (Detective Constable) Frank Albert (Harry McEntire). A body was located at a notorious spot where people are known to commit suicide. Inspector Sullivan notes the presence of an exotic feather on the individual’s clothing. DC Albert recalls his grandmother owned parakeet with similarly coloured feathers.
Inspector Clive Trueman (Adrian Scarborough), with a uniformed bobby at his side, shows up at the scene. There is more than a modicum of tension between the two police inspectors. Inspector Trueman, having worked with the South African Police, had been brought to the county on the personal recommendation of the Gloucestershire Constabulary Chief Constable. This police inspector’s facial expression suggests that there is something going on behind the scenes which the Chief Constable would rather kept out of the newspapers.
The dead man in the woods, identified as investigative journalist Norman Finley (Jerry Willey), had been a reporter for the Gloucester News. This journalist had been working on a huge expose, one that he had planned to sell to a national newspaper, before his untimely death.
As Inspector Sullivan explains the situation to Father Brown, taking us to Kembleford Police Station, we find the police inspector conversing with DC Albert. DC Albert, eager to prove his ability to solve a murder investigation, wants Inspector Sullivan to let him take the lead. The detective constable’s enthusiasm, commendable to a fault, is perplexingly odd. Sergeant Daniel Goodfellow (John Burton) seems impressed with the new detective constable and his abilities to get the job done.
Noting curious anomalies in the medical report, without wasting a moment, the police inspector pays a visit to medical examiner Dr Jock Hamilton (Ron Donachie). Dr Hamilton, not used to having his reports questioned, addresses Inspector Sullivan’s queries. The investigation, as we soon discover, took Inspector Sullivan and DC Albert to the Greensleeves residence. This is where we meet Jeffrey (Jay Villiers) and Harriet Greensleeves (Natasha Little).
Sir Jeffrey, as Father Brown correctly observes, is justice of the peace. It turns out Father Brown is nowhere near as familiar with Sir Jeffrey as Sidney “Sid” Carter (Alex Price). This eventuality, since Sid has been known to break a few laws, isn’t all that surprising.
DC Albert, having noticed a feather on Lady Harriet’s clothing, references his grandmother’s parakeet. This feather matches the one that was previously found on Mr Finley’s clothing. It’s surprising how DC Albert was able to keep this information to himself without blurting it out. One can’t exactly arrest the wife of a justice of the peace without concrete evidence.
Innocently inquiring about black eye, with a gardening reference which sounds plausible, Lady Harriet tells the detective constable of how she was hit in the face when pruning back a juniper tree. Sir Jeffrey, not happy with the way the detective constable expresses his thoughts, takes the visiting police detectives to task and informs them he will be speaking with the Chief Constable regarding their conduct.
By the time Inspector Sullivan gets back to the police station, in his office, the police inspector finds Inspector Trueman and Police Commissioner Busby (Gareth Hale). Police Commissioner Busby, occupying Inspector Sullivan’s chair, has already been informed of what occurred at the Greensleeves residence. There is something rotten about this police commissioner.
Historically, as Commissioner Busby correctly observes, what occurs between a man and his wife is no concern for the police. Fortunately, with times having changed significantly since the 1950’s, domestic abuse is very much a police matter.
The police commissioner, instead of chastising DC Albert for his conduct, suspends Inspector Sullivan for a few days. Inspector Trueman is placed in charge of the Kembleford Police Station. It is here that DC Albert arrives with new information.
With Inspector Sullivan off the case, with nowhere else to turn, DC Albert tries to bring this new evidence to Inspector Trueman’s attention. The detective constable tries and fails to explain his position. the case, according to Inspector Trueman, is closed. The investigative journalist’s death was deemed a suicide.
The next time we find Inspector Sullivan, noting that he had been suspended for a few days, he is relaxing at home with a drink when the telephone rings. DC Albert, not happy with how the case had been closed, calls Inspector Sullivan.
The detective constable believes Sir Jeffrey had the police commissioner remove Inspector Sullivan from the case because they were onto something. DC Albert asks Inspector Sullivan to meet him in the Evidence Room because he feels there is something he might want to see.
During DC Albert’s mostly one-sided conversation with Inspector Sullivan, even though we don’t see the person the detective constable addresses, we can assume it is either Inspector Trueman or Police Commissioner Busby. It is likely the figure is kept out of the scene because it might have spoiled something for the audience.
Father Brown, still conversing with Inspector Sullivan in their respective confessional boxes, recalls that that was the night of the Police Benevolent Fundraiser. Looking at the story from Father Brown’s perspective, remembering a brief conversation with Dr Hamilton, there were a few pleasantries exchanged before Lady Felicia Montague (Nancy Carroll) drags him away.
Moral support, noting the Greensleeves are at this fundraiser, Lady Felicia is in something of a state best left undefined. Lady Felicia, with a vested interest in keeping Sid out of prison, believes Inspector Sullivan is overly zealous charging her chauffeur.
Sir Jeffrey’s facial expression clearly suggests he doesn’t agree with Lady Felicia’s assessment. Father Brown, seemingly very good with linguistic gymnastics, finds a way to support Lady Felicia’s position.
Meanwhile, whilst Father Brown, Lady Felicia, Sir Jeffrey, Lady Harriet, Police Commissioner Busby, and Inspector Trueman are apparently all at the Police Benevolent Fundraiser, Inspector Sullivan has arrived at Kembleford Police Station and is on route to the Evidence Room.
It is here that the suspended police inspector discovers DC Albert in severe need of medical attention. He’s been stabbed. Police Commissioner Busby and Inspector Trueman discover Inspector Sullivan with the dead DC Albert. DC Albert is holding a curious sterling silver necklace.
What could the significance of the necklace be? What, before he died, could DC Albert have possibly been talking about? What is B-34709?
It was only a matter of time before Mrs McCarthy made her presence at the church felt. Father Brown, needing more time with Inspector Sullivan, directs the parish secretary to hold the police off from entering the church.
The face-off between Inspector Trueman and Mrs McCarthy, even though it is moderately entertaining, shows the parish secretary willing to stand her ground even in the face of strong authoritarian opposition. It does however buy Father Brown enough time for Inspector Sullivan to change clothes with a nun and hide in plain sight.
Seeing the suspended police inspector hiding only a few feet away from Inspector Trueman and Father Brown, recognising Inspector Sullivan’s own words used against the priest, is somewhat amusingly entertaining. Later in the episode, mainly because of Father Brown’s observations, we discover inspector Trueman had noticed Inspector Sullivan and decided to keep it to himself.
Not finding Inspector Sullivan at the church, before leaving, Inspector Trueman tells Father Brown to not interfere in the investigation. If Inspector Trueman knew Father Brown as well as Inspector Sullivan or Chief Inspector Valentine (Hugo Speer), something which is clearly obvious, there is no way the priest will steer clear of it.
Shortly thereafter, at the presbytery, Sid takes a certain amount of delight seeing Inspector Sullivan in handcuffs. Continuing his story, with Lady Felicia, Mrs McCarthy, Sid, and Father Brown wanting to hear what happened next, Inspector picks it up with him in the Interrogation Room with Police Commissioner Busby and Inspector Trueman.
When Inspector Sullivan speaks of the medallion in DC Albert’s hand, the one referenced earlier as a necklace, Inspector Trueman states there was no medallion when they found the detective constable. There is something seriously fishy with this entire situation. Inspector Sullivan, when asked by Father Brown to describe the medallion, references PM something V.
Whilst he doesn’t recall what the third letter is, Father Brown recognises it as a C. PMCV … Per me Caeci Vident in Latin for Through me the blind become sighted. The Isle of Minerva. The medallion Inspector Sullivan speaks of, not good news, is the seal of the Illuminati. Membership of the Illuminati, according to Father Brown, is a closely guarded secret.
Scenes of Inspector Sullivan in the dock at the courtroom, with Dr Hamilton, Inspector Trueman, Police Commissioner Busby, and Sergeant Goodfellow giving testimony, seems almost surreal.
Opposite Inspector Sullivan, presiding over the courtroom, is Sir Jeffrey. This is the one episode where, noting the police inspector’s position, we should have learned his first name. not once is there a reference to Inspector Sullivan’s first name.
Inspector Sullivan, not wanting to get Father Brown, Mrs McCarthy, Lady Felicia, and Sid more involved, insists they not help him any further. Lady Felicia, having placed a call to the governor of Southern Rhodesia, has discovered something interesting about Inspector Trueman.
No one, with there being no record of him with the South African Police, has ever heard of this Inspector Trueman. Sid, causing a distraction for local police, manages to spread a rumour of there being a criminal sighting in Hambleston.
Breaking into the Kembleford Police Station’s Evidence Room, even though there are uniformed policeman floating around, is relatively easy for Sid and Inspector Sullivan. When in the Evidence Room, not that anyone should be surprised, they are soon discovered by Sergeant Goodfellow.
If there is one person at the police station that can be trusted with keeping this information to himself, noting their professional relationship over the past few series, it is Sergeant Goodfellow. Inspector Trueman is standing in the doorway. This could have gone one of two ways.
Father Brown visits with the medical examiner. The priest, making it sound as if he regrets not noticing Inspector Sullivan’s apparent instability, is obviously trying to get information out of Dr Hamilton. The medical examiner takes a call that momentarily pulls him away from the office. Father Brown, with Dr Hamilton out of the office, takes advantage of this opportunity.
Something completely unexpected, mainly because he doesn’t have an alternative plan, Father Brown places a call to Inspector Trueman telling him where he can find Inspector Sullivan. police move in on the suspended police inspector at the train station. It was his intent to retrieve something from a train station locker. There is a strong possibility that this something could be the article the investigative journalist had been working on before his death.
Father Brown, was seemingly unaware of Inspector Sullivan’s presence, meets with the medical examiner in a secluded location. The priest, even though he knows Dr Hamilton has dangerous friends, only wants honesty. The breaking of twigs draws their attention to someone else’s presence.
The medical examiner wants to know if Father Brown came alone to their meeting. The same is true of Father Brown. He wanted to ask Dr Hamilton the same question. Sodium pentothal, sometimes used as a “Truth serum,” was found in Mr Finley’s body.
DC Albert’s killer, remembering he spoke French when Inspector Sullivan found him, was a woman. Lady Harriet and Police Commissioner Busby, as Father Brown sees it, are the ones responsible for killing Mr Finley and DC Albert.
Running through the woods, Inspector Sullivan soon crosses Lady Harriet. Remembering Inspector Sullivan had discovered a feather on the dead journalist’s clothing and then later on Lady Harriet’s jacket, there are obvious dots to connect. Lady Harriet, with a gun in her hand, looks to kill Inspector Sullivan before he can cause her more problems. They soon end up back with Father Brown and Dr Hamilton.
Father Brown and Inspector Sullivan escape. Lady Harriet, disappointed with the medical examiner, shoots him in the back. It doesn’t take long for Lady Harriet to catch up with them in her car. Inspector Trueman, waiting for them at an underpass, seems ready to take Inspector Sullivan into custody.
The priest, working with Inspector Trueman, reveals they have all the evidence they need to take Lady Harriet and Police Commissioner Busby down. Inspector Truman, an undercover persona, is with Special Branch. He was there to complete an ongoing case involving the police commissioner. Lady Harriet, Police Commissioner Busby, and Sir Jeffrey, in an off-camera scene, were all detained and charged accordingly. Can you imagine how satisfying it is to see corruption uncovered?
This episode sees Tom Chambers last regular appearance as Inspector Sullivan. Me makes a guest appearance as Inspector Trueman/Inspector Sullivan and Chief Inspector Sullivan in the seventh series episode The Sacrifice of Tantalus and the eighth series episode The Tower of Lost Souls, respectively.
