As the episode opens, Kelly Lord (Daniel Sharman) performs “Kayleigh” by Marillion. When the door opens, he hurriedly switches off the tape player but not fast enough. Barney Peckham (James Nelson-Joyce) demands to know what he’s doing. Kelly claims Mint Ma Lord (Martha Plimpton) asked him to try on the fur coat. Barney says he can go to Alabasas only after he pays him. Kelly claims to be offering the Peckham gang a lifetime deal for five grand. Barney agrees to pay two grand for the lot.

Anthony Lord (George Jaques) gives Kelly a gun with a silencer. He says Mint Ma wants him to send Cindy Carter’s man, Eddie Carter/Eddie Smith/Eddie Wynters (Josh Tedeku) a warning. Kelly claims to have done something similar before.

Detective Alfonso (Bruno Sevilla) tells Gene Lord (Jack Rowan) that witnesses reported seeing him and Cindy Carter/Mercy Wynters (Tahirah Sharif) with Uncle Tony (Dougray Scott) at Club Paradiso before he confronted Ernesto Alvarez (Ramiro Bias) at Escobells. He says Ernesto’s last visitor dropped this earring, placing it on the table.

Cindy tells Mint Ma that Gene is being accused of killing Uncle Tony’s killer, Ernesto. Mint Ma asks if the police are mad for believing her son is a killer.

Alfonso suggests Cindy killed Ernesto to avenge Uncle Tony’s death. Gene tells him if the police had evidence, Cindy would have been arrested, not him. He assures him that not all the English in Costa del Sol are criminals. He says if there aren’t any charges, let him go. Seconds later, he emerges from the police station to see Albert Lord (Jason Femyng) standing by Uncle Tony’s car. Albert sarcastically says “the apple didn’t fall far from the tree.” Gene apologizes for embarrassing him but the police wanted to question him about the death of Uncle Tony’s killer. Albert denies being embarrassed by his arrest before tossing him the car keys.

DI Lindsay (Leanne Best) assures Amelia Russo (Gabriella Fortuna) that the police are working to find the people who killed DI David Russo (Luke Tumber). Amelia asks if the killers fled London. Lindsay says they did flee the country but promises to find them. Amelia blames her for taking away any hope she had of David’s killers coming to justice.

Gene tells Cindy that the police have her earring but unless the other one is found, they have no evidence she killed Ernesto. She says Leonard “Len” Lord (Lex Shrapnel) valued Uncle Tony’s land at 50K and wants to flip it. She suggests he tell Albert about the hotel. He assures her that Albert wouldn’t agree to build on the land because it wasn’t his idea.

Kelly tells Mint Ma that Eddie lives in a flat at Nelson Way. She says Gene needs to know about him. He assures her that he’ll take care of it.

Lindsay and DC Davidson (Joe Hughes) follow Kelly to a block of flats in Nelson Way. She tells him that Kelly needs to be charged with a crime to keep in Bermo. Without him, they can’t get Gene. Kelly is armed when he enters the flat. Eddie attacks him and takes his gun. Kelly claims to be a friend of Cindy’s. Eddie demands to know how he knows his mum.

Len, Mint Ma, Carly Lord (Eliza Butterworth), and Albert sing “Our House” by Madness. Lola Gitano (Melina Matthews) and Manuela Gitano (Ana Santos) introduce themselves as Uncle Tony’s tenant. They invite them to dinner. Albert declines the offer but Gene insists they accept it. Manuela gifts Albert a dead hare before leaving. He says the Gypsies can go back where they come from unless they got 50 grand.

Eddie admits to spending time in jail for stealing a car. When Kelly comments on the poor state of his flat, Eddie says he needs to stay there until his mum comes back. Kelly informs him that Cindy fled to Spain after killing a police officer. Eddie seems shocked his mum murdered an officer. Kelly assures him that it was an accident before giving him some cash.

Gene tells Albert about Uncle Tony’s plan for the land. He says it will push him back to the top. Len reminds him of their being penniless. Albert asks why can’t they build a hotel before saying they’re going to the Gitano’s for dinner.

Kelly picks up his money from Barney to realize he stiffed him for 1,000 pounds. Barney claims they agreed on that amount before suggesting he tell Albert that no one fears him anymore. Pulling his gun, Kelly forces him to open his safe. Barney opens the door, pulls out a weapon, and starts beating him. After shooting him, Kelly grabs the money from the safe before heading out the door where the police are waiting.

Kelly is sitting in the backseat of a cruiser when Eddie jumps into the driver’s seat. He hotwires the vehicle and flees the scene.

Mint Ma tells Albert that she’s proud of him for accepting Gene back into the fold. He says Gene might open the door but he’ll be the one walking through it. The Lord family goes to the Gitano’s for dinner. Mint Ma gifts Diego Gitano (Jose Luis Ferrer) a bottle of posh wine. Albert asks Gitano if he ever considers leaving Costa del Sol. Lola and Manuela tell Gene that Gitano will never leave. He suggests they prosper together. Mint Ma informs Cindy of her being a Gypsy before meeting Albert.

Superintendent Southern (Mark Flitton) informs Lindsay of Cindy’s real name, Mercy Wynters. He says she received a 10-year prison sentence for a firearm offense. Eddie is also a Wynters. He accuses Lindsay of unauthorized surveillance and intimidating a witness before asking if she wants to be responsible for another cop’s death. She admits to being nowhere close to finding Gene. After telling her that Kelly fled to Spain where he cannot be arrested, he suggests she threw away her entire career for nothing. She claims to have done it for officer Russo. He suspends her without pay indefinitely.

Wimpy – Kelly tells Eddie about the times his father brought him there. Eddie says his father died when he was young. When Kelly thanks him for springing him from the police cruiser, he asks to go with him to Spain to see his mum. Kelly gives him some cash before leaving.

Gitano invites Mint Ma to dance. Albert demands they stop when it gets too sensual. He orders Gitano and his family to get off his land. Gene tells Albert that he messed everything up. Albert reminds him of how Gitano put his hands all over his mum.

Cindy tells Albert that it’s nice to see his family look up to him. She supports his actions because Gitano and his family didn’t show him any respect. Albert asks Len what he did with the Dutch men’s gun. Len tells him that it’s hidden in the pool table. Albert says Diego must go. Len warns him that the Gitano family outnumbers them. Albert suggests a surprise attack. Cindy takes the gun from the pool table.

Albert enters the Gitano house while Len keeps watch. Pointing the gun at Gitano’s head, he pulls the trigger but the chamber is empty. Hearing the click, Gitano knocks him down. Albert and Len flee as Gitano and his family emerge from the house.

Albert beats Len for nearly getting him killed. Len swears the gun was loaded. Mint Ma orders him to stop. Carly rushes over to comfort to comfort Len. Albert tells Mint Ma that he wants to go back to London. She admits to marrying a dynamic, protective man who saved her from, not one who pities himself. She agrees with Gene that Costa del Sol is their future and she’ll not watch it pass them up. After informing him of her decision to say in Spain, she warns him that he’ll go old alone if he doesn’t make it right.

Albert asks Gene to go with him to Gitano’s to suggest they start all over. Gene tells Gitano that their families have more to gain from friendship than war. Albert admits to being insulted by his behavior before admitting it was a mistake. Gitano warns him that there will never be a motel built on this land. Albert pleads with him but he orders them to leave. Gene complements Albert as they walk away.

Gene informs Cindy that Albert pulled it off. As he walks away, she tosses the bullets over the railing. The episode comes to an end.

 

A Town Called Malice Review

Mint Ma orders Kelly to take out Cindy’s man, Eddie. Kelly goes to Eddie’s flat only to find out that he is her son. He informs him of Cindy being in Spain. Kelly agrees to sell Barney a lot of stolen goods for 2K. When Kelly arrives to pick up the money, Barney gives him 1K. He shoots Barney and flees with his money. He emerges to find the police staring him in the face. He is in the cruiser when Eddie jumps in the driver’s seat. He hot-wires the vehicle and they flee the scene.

Gene convinces Albert to befriend Gitano to improve their chances of building a hotel on their land. Gitano invites them to dinner. Afterward, he and Mint Ma have a sensual dance. Feeling disrespected, Albert orders them off his land. Cindy overhears him asking Len about a gun that they previously confiscated. She foils his plan to kill Gitano by emptying the chamber. Mint Ma demands he make amends with Gitano or he’ll die alone. In the end, it seems they work it out.

The show is impressive but unrealistic. While one could call the Lords a bunch of “misfits,” they are a close-knit family. Albert calls the shots, Mint Ma is the glue that holds the family together.

The episode deserves a 6.5. Get more A Town Called Malice recaps here. Support Reel Mockery by clicking the link. Our onsite advertising can help e-commerce retailers build their brands.