The story begins with Dalgliesh (Bertie Carvel) having a flashback of his wife. A banging at the cottage door stirs him awake. Maggie Hewson (Mirren Mack) informs Dalgliesh about Grace. When they arrive at Toynton Grange, everyone is gathered around Grace’s bed. Maggie names the previous passing residents. Nurse Helen Rainer (Sally Scott) tells her to “shut up.” Dr. Eric Hewson (John Hollingworth) orders Maggie to the dining room. Dalgliesh peers strangely at the doctor.

Dalgliesh asks who found Grace. Nurse Rainer admits it was her and she checked for a pulse. Wilfred Antsey (Steven Mackintosh) says, “There is no need to complicate things.” Antsey speaks of their plans to visit Lourdes Day after tomorrow. Nurse Rainer speaks up, saying it is not Dr. Hewson’s responsibility. Antsey says it would make things easier. Dr. Hewson responds, “I’m not here to make things easier.” Antsey asks what he is paying him for. He says, “There are rules.” Julius Marsh (Jonjo O’Neill) says maybe it should be left to the experts.

Dalgliesh asks about the cause of death. Dr. Hewson says Grace was ill but didn’t understand why it would happen so suddenly. The corner is notified of Grace’s death. Antsey goes to alert the other residents about Grace’s death. Dalgliesh remains behind to inspect Grace’s room. He discovers Grace’s dried, pressed snapdragon underneath her bed.

Antsey tells the other residents about Grace’s death. He informs them, the Ridgewell Trust will take over the operation of Toynton Grange. He says, they are a family and must make sacrifices. The Ridgewell Trust has asked Antsey to remain as the spiritual advisor for The Grange.

There will be a vote to decide if Antsey remains at Toynton Grange as a spiritual advisor. Antsey tells Grace she is not permitted to vote because she is not a resident or staff. She smirks, “I live here too.” She angrily exits the room.

Nurse Rainer assures Dr. Hewson he did the right thing. He says Antsey just cares about the pilgrimage. She clasps his hands and says, “He will be gone soon,” as Maggie enters the room. She saw them holding hands. She informs them of Antsey’s decision to hold a vote and not include her. She is angry at Dr. Hewson because he agrees with Antsey. She yells, “I am your wife, I want you to support me.” Nurse Rainer interrupts, “What do you think he’s been doing.” Grace says she knows what her husband has been doing. She asks them if they think she is blind. She accuses the two of sleeping together and calls her husband a “spineless coward.” She calls Nurse Rainer a “supercilious bitch” before rushing out of the room.

Grace continues to verbally threaten Dr. Hewson and Toynton Grange. She enters her room, slaps the door, and screams “aargh!” She packs her bags.

The corner arrives to retrieve Grace’s body as resident Ursula Hollis (Shannon Murray) watches. She tells Dalgliesh her bed is next to grace’s room. Grace’s snoring used to keep her awake. She said her snoring stopped last night and she felt grateful. He says it seems Grace died in her sleep.

Maggie sits alone in her room. She smirks and begins to write a letter.

Dalgliesh visits the local police department. He asks DI Daniel (Barry Aird) to investigate Grace’s death. He doesn’t believe a pressed snapdragon on the floor constitutes an investigation. Dalgliesh believes the suspect put Grace’s book of “Poems” back on her nightstand. He doesn’t believe the staff is responsible. Dalgliesh wants the DI to stop Antsey from visiting the Lourdes. He demands the DI do his job.

DI Daniel tells PS Kate Miskin (Carlyss Peer) Dalgliesh is getting on his wick.

Back at Toynton Grange, the residents are preparing to vote. Antsey asks the residents and staff if they continue to trust him.

Dalgliesh takes a walk on the cliffs.

Antsey walks around the room, he touches Dennis Lerner (Paul Mallon) on the shoulder. Henry votes “yes”. He stands behind Jennie (Storme Toolis) as she says, “Sure, why not.” He touches her shoulder, smiles, and says, “I’m grateful.” Henry Carwardine (George Robinson) shakes his head no. He tells Ursula if she trusts him, he promises to never abandon her. She responds, “OK”.

Dalgliesh visits the Black Tower to inspect a light in one of the windows. He discovers Maggie’s body dangling from a rope. He inspects her fingernails. A suicide note reads, “Eric, I can’t do this anymore, you can go on without me. M.” Dalgliesh is very upset over Maggie’s death. He runs into Julius on his way back to The Grange. He orders him to call the police. He informs him of Maggie’s death.

When Dr. Hewson is informed of Maggie’s death, he rushes out of The Grange, with Nurse Rainer trying to stop him. He enters the Black Tower in a mad rush. Distraught, he scoops up Maggie’s body up in his arms. He is sobbing as Nurse Rainer enters the tower.

PS Kate Miskin is going through Maggie’s bag, which she left at Julius’ house. Dalgliesh says it appears as if she was going away for the weekend. Dalgliesh finds a pin his wife had given him in Maggie’s bag.

Julius is interviewed by Dalgliesh and PS Miskin. He says Maggie was angry at Nurse Rainer and Dr. Hewson when she arrived at his home. He told Maggie everything was going to be ok.

Antsey calls Maggie “volatile.” He says her death does not surprise him. Dalgliesh asks him about blocking Maggie from a vote. He says he knew she would be angry but had no right to be. Dalgliesh tells him the Grange was Maggie’s home. He shows no empathy. Dalgliesh says he believes Maggie would have voted against Antsey. He received a 5 to 1 vote, so her vote wouldn’t have made a difference. He admits to being in his room meditating between 4 and 5 before the vote. He does not have a witness.

Nurse Rainer and Dr. Hewson were together all afternoon. They came late to the vote after going for a walk. Dalgliesh says Nurse Rainer was the last to see Grace and Father Michael before their deaths. He asks her about the affair with Dr. Hewson.

Dr. Hewson denies Maggie suffering from depression. He says she was not taking any medication. Dalgliesh asks about the sleeping pills Maggie was taking. He said Maggie had difficulty “switching off at night.”

Nurse Rainer says her relationship with Dr. Hewson is none of anyone’s business. He asks her about a connection with the Ridgewell Trust.

Dalgliesh asks Dennis about the Meadowlands’ job offer. Dennis says his mother’s expenses are paid from her pension and savings.

Henry says Maggie and Holroyd were “thick as thieves.”

Ursula says Maggie’s problem is falling in love with the wrong man.

Jennie tells Dalgliesh Dr. Hewson will “burn in hell”. Dalgliesh tells Jennie he believes she is responsible for the poison pen letter. She knew there were no envelopes. She is not going to be arrested. Dalgliesh tells her she should apologize to the victims. He angrily walks away.

Dalgliesh escorts PS Miskin to her vehicle.

Dalgliesh and PS Miskin visit the corner. He is upset about being rushed to perform the PM. He says there is no evidence of a murder. He says Grace had a stomach tumor, an oversight of her doctor. DI Daniel asks Dalgliesh if he wants the Lourdes trip stopped. He says, “Lock the place down”, laughing as he walks away.

Dalgliesh explains his theory to PS Miskin. He plans to return to London tomorrow.

The residents visit the Black Tower.

Back at The Grange, Henry, Jennie, and Ursula discuss suicide. Ursula says she thinks about it from time to time. She knows her husband is not coming for her. Jennie says they are the originals and family, they should stick together.

Dalgliesh prepares to return to London when he discovers a note from Maggie. She admits to setting the fire in the Black Tower. She wanted to scare Antsey because he is a “bully and a fraud.” She says Dr. Hewson is under the spell of Nurse Rainer. Antsey was never sick, he just wants everyone to believe it.

Antsey prepares the bus for the Lourdes pilgrimage. Dalgliesh visits Antsey to ask him about his illness. St. Saviour’s doctors could not find anything wrong with him. His barely being able to walk was psychological. He asks Antsey what would happen if the Ridgewell Trust knew about his lie. Holroyd discovered the lie during a hospital visit. He informed Maggie. Dalgliesh believes Antsey persuaded Dennis to kill Holroyd. He denies the allegations.

PS Miskin receives a message from the Foreign Office.

Antsey takes the residents and staff to the Lourdes. Dalgliesh returns to The Grange before he leaves for London.

PS Miskin speaks with the Foreign Office. A gentleman tells her about an associate of Antsey’s who involved with something. She rings The Grange and gets in contact with Julius. She rushes out of the police department to The Grange.

Dalgliesh meets with Julius. He asks about the phone ringing. Julius says they will call back if it is important. He wants to know why anyone would kill Grace. The skin cream packages are sent out twice a year after the return from the Lourdes. He believes Holroyd’s death was not about protecting Antsey, it was about protecting the mail-outs. Julius says it is only holy water and face cream.

Dalgliesh says it is the perfect front for sailors, gangsters, and drug dealers. Marseille, a major center for drug smuggling, which Julius was involved in previously. Dalgliesh believes the smuggled drugs are in the bus with the disabled pilgrimage. Dennis is working with Julius smuggling drugs out to Marseille.

Julius pulls a gun on Dalgliesh as he tries to call the police. Dennis killed Holroyd after he threatened to talk about Antsey’s psychological illness. Julius got Maggie drunk and persuaded her to write a note before he hung her.

Julius forces Dalgliesh into his car at gunpoint. Julius admits to killing Father Michael and Grace with a sheet of plastic.

PS Miskin arrives at The Grange. The door is locked. She discovers Dalgliesh’s pen on the ground. She jumps in her car and leaves.

Julius has Dalgliesh on the cliffs at gunpoint. PS Miskin discovers Dalgliesh’s vehicle at the bottom of the cliffs. She exits her car and runs for the cliffs, with several police officers in tow.

At the edge of the cliffs, Julius tells Dalgliesh to stop. He says Dalgliesh’s body will not wash up for days, giving him enough time to disappear and open bank accounts. He tells Dalgliesh he can jump. His wife and baby died, he “stinks of grief”. Dalgliesh looks over the cliffside in fear before turning and charging Julius. The gun goes off before falling into the bushes. They are in a struggle. Julius is shot in the left shoulder. Julius punches him in the face and jumps up to find the gun. He continues to beat Dalgliesh.

Dalgliesh, confused crawls to the cliffside while having a flashback of his wife running around a marooned ship. Julius kicks him over on his back. PS Miskin and the police make it to the cliffs. She yells for Julius to stop. Dalgliesh tells him it is over. He steps to the edge of the cliffs and falls back to his death.

PS Miskin attends to Dalgliesh.

 

Dalgliesh Review

Another great role for Bertie Carvel. It is always a pleasure to see him in a different role. The acting was superb. I really enjoyed Steven Mackintosh, he was the perfect fit for Antsey. The episode was not as drawn-out as the previous episode, which was definitely an improvement. The ending was not a major surprise, the premise eluded to Julius being the culprit almost from the get-go.  I was surprised the episode ended so abruptly. I would have liked to have seen what became of The Grange. The episode deserves a 7.8.

All Dalgliesh recaps can be found here.