British Network Television
‘Father Brown’: S02.E02. “The Maddest of All”
Wearing only a hospital gown Felix Underwood returns to the village and says ‘Murder’ before collapsing
Inspector Sullivan’s (Tom Chambers) first day doesn’t go without incident. After briefly tolerating Mrs Bridgette McCarthy (Sorcha Cusack) pestering him about the prize-winning strawberries, observing something odd nearby, the new police inspector witnesses Felix Underwood (Peter Bramhill) in hospital provided clothing. Mr Underwood’s final words being “murder.”
The police inspector, as Father Brown (Mark Williams) provides sympathetic support, interviews Dorothy Underwood (Laura Main). Mrs Underwood explains, because of her husband suffering greatly from shellshock, Mr Underwood was nothing like his former self. Consequently, because of this, their marriage had significantly deteriorated. His brother’s death compounded his issues immensely.
Mrs Underwood, as she tells it to the police inspector, reveals she sent her husband to the Danvers Retreat. The Danvers Retreat, a psychiatric hospital, specialises in treating veterans suffering with shellshock.
Naturally, not willing to take direction from the new police inspector, Father Brown visits the psychiatric hospital. It is at the Danvers Retreat where we meet Dr Walter Henshaw (Adrian Rawlins), various staff members, and patients. There is something unnerving about Nurse Bridget Farrow (Helena Lymbery) which suggests a tendency towards being overly zealous.
Dr Henshaw, when speaking with the Catholic priest, reveals he believed believed Mr Underwood left the facility whilst sleepwalking. When Inspector Sullivan arrives, with the doctor distracted by the police inspector, Father Brown takes advantage of the situation to do a little digging.
Sneaking into the doctor’s office, Father Brown witnesses facility patient Sarah Mulgrew (Tessa Parr) leaving a message on a wall. After retrieving the message, with the Catholic priest being well-versed in biblical passages, Father Brown recognises it as a reference to Romans 10:10: For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
Later, at Mr Underwood’s funeral, the ceremony is interrupted when the sound of knocking and muffled cries can be heard emanating from the casket. Opening the lid to the casket, leaving all attendees stunned, reveals Mr Underwood is alive.
There is a momentary hysteria, something we should have seen coming, where people believed Mr Underwood was resurrected. Father Brown, irritated with such nonsense, puts resurrection suggestions to bed. The Catholic priest, noting how he previously observed the cuts on Mr Underwood’s hand, references the healing that has taken place.
Father Brown draws Inspector Sullivan’s attention to another patient that was released from Danvers Retreat. Benjamin Pennington (unidentified actor), according to information acquired, was released the same day Mr Underwood escaped the facility. The police inspector, frustrated with Father Brown’s apparent meddling, reluctantly allows the Catholic priest to accompany him back to the psychiatric hospital.
Inspector Sullivan and Father Brown, escorted by Dr Henshaw and Nurse Farrows, visit with Miss Mulgrew. When arriving at the well, not expecting to find anything meaningful, Inspector Sullivan and Father Brown discover Mr Pennington’s body.
Wanting to pose more questions, Father Brown seeks out Miss Mulgrew and asks her about Mr Pennington and Mr Underwood. Before Miss Mulgrew can properly answer the Catholic priest’s questions, Nurse Farrow interrupts them. Inspector Sullivan, because of the Catholic priest’s behaviour, is forced to ask Father Brown to leave the psychiatric hospital.
Father Brown, unwilling to allow anyone to sideline him, fakes a believable manic episode to get himself admitted to the facility. The police inspector, even though he sees through Father Brown’s theatrics, allows him to be admitted. Meanwhile, in Kembleford, Mr Underwood experiences flashbacks to the treatment he was given and Mr Pennington. Consequently, because of this, Mr Underwood runs away.
Mrs McCarthy, perplexed by Father Brown’s behaviour, visits with the Catholic priest at the Danvers Retreat. Father Brown uses the parish secretary to obtain for him the key to Miss Mulgrew’s room.
That night, Father Brown searches the psychiatric hospital and discovers a shattered mirror. Needing more information, the Catholic priest sneaks into Miss Mulgrew’s room. Unfortunately, because he finds her sedated, he is unable to get his questions answered.
Jeremy Henshaw (Kenny Wyton), another patient at the facility, is more than happy to assist Father Brown with his investigation. The patient leads Father Brown to a laboratory. It is here that the Catholic priest discovers various psychoactive drugs and dose charts. There is also an audio recording of one of Mr Underwood’s treatments.
Before Father Brown can fully evaluate what he has found, he is discovered by Dr Henshaw and Nurse Farrow. The Catholic priest is soon sedated by Nurse Farrow and strapped to a table.
Dr Henshaw reveals he has developed a chemical formula which allows him to reset of a patient’s psychological identity. Does any of this sound at all familiar? Part of me is wondering why it is I’m thinking of the Star Trek episode Dagger of the Mind. Another part of me doesn’t have to wonder.
The side-effects to Dr Henshaw’s treatment include reducing breathing and heart-rates to undetectable levels. There is also significant memory loss. The doctor tested the procedure on Nurse Farrow.
Dr Henshaw explains Father Brown that he drugged Mr Underwood. He implanted a suggestion in the patient’s mind which made him think Mr Pennington was the German soldier that killed his brother.
Dr Henshaw apparently thought he could get Mr Underwood to forgive the German soldier. This plan backfired in a huge way. Instead of forgiving the soldier, something Dr Henshaw didn’t anticipate, Mr Underwood back belligerent. Breaking a mirror, Mr Underwood used one of the shards to stab Mr Pennington.
The original formula Dr Henshaw and Nurse Farrow used on Mr Underwood was far weaker than the one they had for Father Brown. Because of how slow acting it was, when they were away disposing of Mr Pennington’s body, Mr Underwood made his escape.
The intent behind creating the formula was to heal Mr Henshaw. Mr Henshaw, Dr Henshaw’s son, suffered brain-damage as a result of a car accident. The doctor, having been drinking rather heavily, crashed his car. In addition to his son suffering brain-dramage, Dr Henshaw lost his wife. Father Brown somehow finds away to convince Dr Henshaw his actions have caused too much damage. The doctor, having stopped giving Farther Brown the formula, turns himself into the police.
Shortly thereafter, at the Kembleford Police Station, Inspector Sullivan tries to impress upon Father Brown that he must stop meddling in police matters. Remembering how Father Brown interacted with the previous police inspector, something which is obviously undeniable, the newly promoted DCI Valentine (Hugo Speer) failed to stop the Catholic priest from doing his thing.