British Network Television
‘Father Brown’: S02.E07. “The Three Tools of Death”
An apparent murder isn’t what is seems
Sir Aaron Armstrong (David Calder) observes his daughter, Alice (Alice Henley), as she undergoes brutally painful electroshock therapy. The therapy, administered by a psychiatric doctor (Martin Fox), is used in an attempt to restore Alice’s memories and revert her depressive state.
Alice’s depression stems from the recent death of her mother. It turns out, in flashback scenes to the day her mother died, Alice accidentally shot her when the pair were out hunting. It was from Alice’s shotgun the fatal bullet came. Sir Aaron, unable to witness the pain his daughter endures, walks away from the treatment room door.
Shortly thereafter, a few paces down the corridor, Sir Aaron crosses paths with loan shark Edward “Eddie” Monk (Nick Moran). Eddie, a seriously nasty piece of work, warns Sir Aaron that he could be soon joining his wife. All Eddie wants of Sir Aaron is for him to settle his debts.
The following day, at St Mary’s Catholic Church, we find Father Brown (Mark Williams) conducting Lady Armstrong’s funeral. Nearby, even though it is unlikely he was invited, Eddie is seen speaking with James “Jim” Magnus (Matthew Ashforde). Jim, Sir Aaron’s chauffeur, is warned there will be a visit payed to his mother the next day. It’s collection day and Eddie wants his due.
Father Brown, having noticed the marks on Miss Alice’s temple, quickly expresses his disgust for the use of such barbaric treatments. The Catholic priest notes to the parish secretary how little progress has been made since Pope John XXI. Pope John XXI, according to Father Brown, apparently believed the consumption of roasted rodents could cure hysteria.
Mrs Bridgette McCarthy (Sorcha Cusack) tells Father Brown, in a round about way, she has offered her assistance to Sir Aaron. The Catholic priest, momentarily perplexed by Mrs McCarthy’s phrasing, quickly gets the gist of the matter. The parish secretary should seriously consider her words and the contextual meaning before opening her mouth.
Father Brown offers his help to Sir Aaron. Seeing the benefit of spiritual matters, noting Mrs McCarthy would be at Upper Court that evening, Father Brown is invited to accompany the parish secretary to the residence.
At Upper Court, after returning home, Sir Aaron directs his chauffeur to collect his daughter’s things from the hospital and the shotgun from Kembleford Police Station. Jim, trying to speak with Sir Aaron about something important to him, is sharply cut off. Whilst Sir Aaron has a lot on his mind, noting the tone he takes with Jim, there is hardly justification for such behaviour.
After Jim drives away from the residence, noting the presence of a large brown van, Sir Aaron looks disturbed and hurriedly walks down the driveway towards the road. Sir Aaron’s facial expression, even though we don’t see anyone near the vehicle, suggests he would rather not speak with the van driver.
Sir Aaron, observing the truck from a relatively safe distance, finds himself face to face with Eddie. Eddie, the owner of the vehicle, discreetly tells Sir Aaron “time’s up.” It looks like Eddie, carrying a knife, isn’t beneath threatening Sir Aaron’s life. Eddie wants the money he’s owed. Sir Aaron, like a lot of aristocrats during the period this series is set, has fallen on financially troubling times. His wealth, not what it once was, has diminished significantly over the years.
The next time we see the brown van, with Eddie in the driver’s seat, it is being driven down the driveway towards the main road. Father Brown, on his trusty bicycle, is arriving at the gateway to Upper Court when he crosses paths with Eddie and his van.
Eddie, believing Father Brown is a “fruitcake,” gets angry with the Catholic priest and tells him to watch where he’s going. Not missing a beat, something Father Brown is known for, he offers the driver a toffee because chewing is apparently good for reducing anger. Eddie, not accepting the toffee, drives away in a huff.
As Father Brown arrives at the house, with Mrs McCarthy seated on the back of Sidney “Sid” Carter’s (Alex Price) flatbed, we see the parish secretary all blustered. Mrs McCarthy, having preferred to sit on the back of the flatbed, had placed a religious statue on the passenger seat.
Sid, not taking kindly to Mrs McCarthy accusing him of “driving like a mad man,” was annoyed by the lack of gratitude. Even though Father Brown correctly observes Sid does tend to drive erratically, if Mrs McCarthy needs to get anywhere in the future, the parish secretary might want to consider buying a bicycle.
Quickly noting Sir Aaron’s state, muddy clothing and visibly shaken, both Mrs McCarthy and Father Brown quickly comment. When Father Brown references the van driver, not wanting to address the question, Sir Aaron tells the Catholic priest the man was simply looking for directions.
Peter Royce (Andrew Knott), Sir Aaron’s private secretary, expresses his concerns for Miss Alice’s health. Mr Royce suggests to Sir Aaron continued treatments at the hospital wouldn’t be remotely beneficial. Sir Aaron, noticing how Mr Royce speaks of his daughter, realises his private secretary may have developed inappropriate feelings towards his daughter and promptly fires him.
Sir Aaron wants him packed and out of the house by the following morning. Their brief conversation, as heated as it was, doesn’t escape Father Brown’s attention. Neither does it go unnoticed by Mrs McCarthy.
Father Brown suggests to Sir Aaron that he check on Miss Alice. Not seeing any need to concern the Catholic priest, Sir Aaron takes a moment to speak with his daughter privately. Referencing Joan of Arc, with a visible anger, Miss Alice feels the treatments are like being burned alive.
There is a momentary scene where we find Jim in his bedroom counting what little coinage he has to his name. He, like Sir Aaron, is obviously financially burdened. Jim’s thoughts are most likely revolving around his mother and the threatening Eddie.
The next morning, as Mr Royce rushes out of the house with his suitcase, we see Father Brown seated outside. Mrs McCarthy makes herself useful and brings to Father Brown his breakfast. Father Brown is curious where Mr Royce is going in such a hurry. Mr Royce, not a particular fan of the Catholic Church, scoffs at the possibility the Catholic priest could possibly know how to help Miss Alice in her time of need. Father Brown merely states he will do his best.
Mr Royce’s tone, not escaping Mrs McCarthy, is suggestive of Atheism. Mrs McCarthy clearly has a strong dislike for Atheists. Noting the strong differences between when this series is set and present day, given how the majority of Britons prefer to not hold onto religious beliefs, it would be interesting to see how she would cope in the current British cultural climate.
Father Brown, on hearing a strange sound coming from nearby, investigates it. He soon discovers Miss Alice attempting to destroy the shotgun. Miss Alice, not wanting to get into a conversation with Father Brown, refuses his help. Father Brown, feeling the need to return to his seat, discovers Sir Aaron’s body partially hidden in a bush. Sir Aaron’s hands, suggesting he has been murdered, are curiously bound.
Inspector Sullivan (Tom Chambers), on his arrival, isn’t surprised to find Father Brown. The police inspector, not until he is shown where Sir Aaron’s body landed, doesn’t initially comprehend Father Brown’s reference to the ground. The working theory is that Sir Aaron, with his hands bound, was tossed out of the first floor window (British definition) and his body was dragged into the shrubbery moments later.
Naturally, as the police inspector has intimated in previous episodes, Inspector Sullivan wants Father Brown to leave the detective work to him. If the police inspector was half the detective Father Brown is, noting Inspector Sullivan’s seemingly poor observational skills, there would be no need for the Catholic priest to become involved.
Father Brown shows an already frustrated Inspector Sullivan to Sir Aaron’s study. It is here that Father Brown notes The Three Tools of Death are present: a revolver, a knife, and a rope. The police inspector, having spotted the safe open, finds it empty. Inspector Sullivan, recalling how Jim had been observed driving away from the house, immediately suspects Sir Aaron’s chauffeur is the killer.
Elsewhere, somewhere in Kembleford, we see Jim behaving somewhat suspiciously. Outside her house, when Jim draws near, we find Hilda Magnus (Lynne Verrall) speaking with a uniformed bobby. Nearby, as Jim makes an almost unseen exit from the area, Sid catches a glimpse of Sir Aaron’s chauffeur.
Mr Royce, on having heard what happened to Sir Arron, returns to Upper Court. Inspector Sullivan informs everyone that Sir Aaron’s car has been located in Kembleford. Mrs McCarthy, immediately thinking the worst of Jim, notes no one else would have employed him. the parish secretary isn’t as generous as Father Brown.
Father Brown, always thinking kindly of people, had believed Jim a reformed character. Inspector Sullivan, noting how Father Brown was staying at Upper Court, requires a statement from the Catholic priest. Mrs McCarthy chooses to remain with Miss Alice whist Father Brown cycles to Kembleford Police Station.
On route back to Kembleford, laying in wait for Father Brown as he passes by, we see Eddie pull his vehicle onto the road and follow the Catholic priest. There is a clear intent to drive Father Brown off the road and possibly kill him. The bicycle, one Father Brown fondly refers to as Bucephalus, is wrecked.
Armed with a knife, something which is his weapon of choice, Eddie threatens Father Brown to remain quiet about what he has seen. It doesn’t take long for Father Brown to realise Eddie, merely terrified of being linked to Sir Aaron’s death, is innocent.
With the use of the word crucifix, something Father Brown immediately notices, Eddie being Catholic is revealed. Father Brown reminds Eddie of certain requirements associated with the confessional. The seal of the confessional is recognised in law as sacrosanct. Eddie, after giving it careful thought, confesses to intimidating Sir Aaron.
Eddie, even though he is a well known loan shark, was one of several people Sir Aaron owed money. Sir Aaron owed a fortune to every building contractor in the county. As for the debt Mrs Magnus owed to him, when Eddie was at her residence, her son arrived and paid it off in full.
Later, because Father Brown managed to make Eddie feel guilty, we see the loan shark returning a rocking horse. Father Brown is good at highlighting the right thing without directly referencing it.
Meanwhile, back at Upper Court, Miss Alice wants to take Mr Royce to her bed. Mr Royce, hesitant to comply with her request, doesn’t initially feel it appropriate. He needs up on the bed with Miss Alice. Mrs McCarthy’s presence, albeit brief, is completely unobserved by both Miss Alice and Mr Royce.
Elsewhere, at St Mary’s Catholic Church, Sid crosses paths with Mrs Magnus. They are both looking for Father Brown. Seconds after Mrs Magnus leaves, on hearing a curious sound come from the confessional, Sid pulls back the curtain. Jim punches Sid in the face and runs from the church.
Inspector Sullivan and Sergeant Albright are looking for Jim when Father Brown, with broken bicycle in hand, arrives back in Kembleford. Sid tells Father Brown about his encounter with Jim. Noting the condition of Bucephalus, with little else to do, Sid sets to work mending Father Brown’s bicycle.
Mrs Magnus, catching Father Brown’s attention, discuss Jim. The Catholic priest, wanting to meet with Jim, directs Mrs Magnus to have her son meet him in the barn behind the pub at 20:00. It is Father Brown’s intent to take Jim’s religious confession. Unbeknownst to both Mrs Magnus and Father Brown, nearby, Inspector Sullivan overhears their conversation.
The next time we return to Upper Court, somewhere in the grounds, Mr Royce is trying to comfort Miss Alice. As Father Brown arrives, noting Mrs McCarthy’s presence behind a tree, the Catholic priest is curious as to what she could be doing.
Spying on Miss Alice and Mr Royce, recalling how the parish secretary happened upon them kissing, Mrs McCarthy references “fornication.” Mrs McCarthy, with her steadfast archaic views, doesn’t seem to have entered the twentieth century.
The parish secretary doesn’t seem to get not everyone embraces her religious beliefs. Further, something Mrs McCarthy frequently does, not everyone cherry picks their religious text.
Mr Royce, not thrilled to see Father Brown, leaves the Catholic priest with Miss Alice as he wonders back to the residence. Father Brown, something the bishop shouldn’t be aware of, doesn’t care for sermons because he frequently finds them too boring. He is merely there to provide Miss Alice a little compassionate assistance. Miss Alice is convinced she isn’t supposed to recall the events surrounding her mother’s death.
Father Brown believes Mr Royce loves Miss Alice. he’s not wrong. If anything, noting his concern for Miss Alice, Mr Royce has already established that several times. All Mr Royce wants, despite whatever it is Mrs McCarthy might say, is the best for Miss Alice.
With it beginning to rain, something it frequently does in the British Isles, Father Brown has his umbrella ready for use. Father Brown, being his usual investigative self, happens upon the remains of a recently burned fire. Within the ashes, the Catholic priest finds several silver buttons. On close inspection, noting how unusual they are, Father Brown realises the buttons were fashioned from silver coins.
Later, when Father Brown arrives at his prearranged meeting, Jim has already arrived in the barn. It is here that Jim tells Father Brown that Sir Aaron allowed him to use his car so that he could visit with his mother. Jim, as he tells it to Father Brown, found an envelope filled with money on the driver’s seat.
Father Brown initially thinks it is Mr Royce that Jim speaks of when referencing other people in the household with a motive for killing Sir Aaron. Even though Father Brown correctly observes Miss Alice adored her father, noting how it was Sir Aaron that allowed the so-called medical treatments, Jim believes she had a reasonable motive.
Back at upper Court, in the drawing room, Inspector Sullivan tells everyone Jim had been arrested. The Catholic priest, noting how ridiculously rough they were, mentions how Jim suffered a broken arm. The police inspector, in defence of his men, states Jim shouldn’t have resisted arrest. Father Brown doesn’t buy into the excuse. Neither does Mr Royce.
Mrs McCarthy, noting how he doesn’t care for police brutality, refers to Mr Royce as being godless and a Communist. These are the kinds of comments, remembering when the series is set, a certain American senator would have made. Mrs McCarthy can’t help but be her true self at all times. This isn’t a complement.
Father Brown reveals the buttons he found earlier that day. Recognising the buttons, remembering she purchased a blazer for Mr Royce, Miss Alice looks to him for an explanation. Mr Royce had been wearing that very blazer the previous evening. Inspector Sullivan, suspecting Mr Royce of possibly destroying evidence, arrests him on suspicion of murder.
Father Brown feels, noting how Inspector Sullivan is looking for a simple conviction, the police inspector is chasing after a wild goose. There is more to this case than the police inspector cares to admit.
The following morning, when Sid arrives at Upper Court, we find Mrs McCarthy carrying a breakfast tray out to Miss Alice. Father Brown, according to Mrs McCarthy, isn’t ready to leave the residence as there is something playing on his mind. Mrs McCarthy, repeatedly denouncing Atheists, shows her true colours time and again. She’s arguably the least christian Catholic in this series. Miss Alice doesn’t believe G-d exists.
Miss Alice, not really paying attention to anything Mrs McCarthy has to say, expresses her thoughts to Father Brown. It is here Miss Alice reveals to Father Brown, the night her father supposedly died, she found him in his study. Sir Aaron, tied up when she found him, was notably drunk. Sir Aaron, as we see in a flashback, made his daughter leave the study.
Mr Royce, as Father Brown works through a possible scenario in his mind, must have discovered Sir Aaron trying to commit suicide. This is why Mr Royce tied him to the radiator. It was to prevent Sir Aaron from harming himself. Mr Royce prevented Sir Aaron hanging and shooting himself. It is established Sir Aaron wasn’t murdered.
At Kembleford Police Station, as Sid waits for Father Brown, we find the Catholic priest visiting with Mr Royce. Inspector Sullivan grants Father Brown five minutes with his suspect. Mr Royce reveals to both Father Brown and the police inspector what happened the night Sir Aaron died.
Mr Royce, with him having tied Sir Aaron to a radiator, went to his room for a bottle of whisky. On his return to the study, noting Miss Alice hurrying from the room, Mr Royce found the ropes cut and no sign of Sir Aaron. Sir Aaron is discovered dead on the ground outside. Mr Royce his the body and burned the suicide note to protect Miss Alice. He didn’t want Miss Alice to assign herself blame for her father’s death.
Realising Miss Alice now knows that she effectively let her father kill himself, with no time to waste, Father Brown and Sid rush back to Upper Court to prevent her from doing anything stupid. it doesn’t take them long to find Miss Alice’s suicide note. Miss Alice’s body is discovered in the lake. Sid, not thinking about his own safety, jumps into the lake.
Miss Alice’s near-death-experience, something which the so-called medical treatments didn’t accomplish, she suddenly recalls what happened when her mother died. The shotgun Lady Armstrong was carrying malfunctioned. There was nothing Miss Alice could have done to prevent it.
The following day, at Upper Court, we find Father Brown with Miss Alice and Mr Royce. Even though Miss Alice is now free of the burden of self-guilt for her mother’s death, finds she self not completely forgiving herself for what happened with her father.
Father Brown, looking at the situation logically, tells Miss Alice that her father would have found a way to kill himself somewhere down the line. Mr Royce reveals to Miss Alice that her father transferred the estate into her name before his death. Miss Alice, because Sir Aaron’s debts died with him, is financially safe.
The episode closes, with Sid having arrived at Upper Court, with a newly repaired Bucephalus. Sid challenges Father Brown to a race back to Kembleford.