The Murder Room Part 1 – The episode opens with Marie Annette Strickland (Anastasia Hille) explaining the “Murder Room” to a group of visitors. Tallulah “Tally” Clutton (Sorcha Cusack) reminds Ryan Archer (Nathaniel Christian) of their work when he stares through the window. Marcus Dupayne (Nicholas Banks) receives a positive phone call.

Swathlings Girls Academy – When Caroline Dupayne (Michelle Duncan) disciplines Victoria Mellock (Rose Galbraith) for her refusal to comply with a staff member’s demand. She threatens to have her removed from the school if she doesn’t treat the staff with respect.

Strickland tells visitors about the 1930 “Blazing Car Murder” in which Alfred Rouse murdered a derelict before faking his own death.

Angela Fox (Robinah Kironde) informs Dr. Neville Dupayne (James Esler) that Mrs. Shaw reported her husband is worse. He says the Dementia Unit doesn’t have any open beds before suggesting Mrs. Shaw will need to care for her husband until one of them dies. He reluctantly agrees to visit them later. She reminds him of the Trustees’ meeting at the museum.

Dupayne Museum – Strickland explains the 1934 “Brighton Trunk Murder.” Pointing at a trunk, she claims 26-year-old Tony Mancini utilized it to conceal his mistress, Violet Kay after beating her to death. Tally greets Neville as he speeds past her in his vehicle. Marcus informs Caroline and Neville that the museum scored the Paul Nash murder which their father failed to accomplish. After Marcus hands them a copy of the new lease to look over, Neville demands the “charade” end. Strickland working on a project overhears them arguing over the lease. Neville tells them of his plan to establish a private clinic which Caroline suggests is against his principles. They disagree over the relevancy of the museum. Irate, Neville bumps into Muriel Godby (Sylvestra Le Touzel) with a tray, spilling coffee and shortbread over the front of her dress.

Ryan listens as Muriel and Tally discuss the “dreadful” meeting. Catching Ryan eavesdropping, Strickland orders him to finish before saying goodbye to the women. He asks Tally if she has a plan for when she can no longer live there. She assures him there are always job openings for housekeepers. She arrives for her history class to discover it is canceled. As she walks home, Marcus tries the light switch but nothing happens. A fire is started before a car speeding past Tally forces her off the road. When the driver gets out of the vehicle to check on her, he says, “It looks like someone’s lit a bonfire over there.” Approaching the burning car, she sees a man’s body sitting inside.

DS Daniel Tarrant (Alistair Brammer) informs DCI Adam Dalgliesh (Bertie Carvel) of the scorched vehicle’s owner, Dr. Neville Dupayne. He says the family hasn’t been able to get in touch with him. DS Kate Miskin (Carlyss Peer) says the witness, Tally, believes she saw someone fleeing after the fire broke out. Douglas Anderson (Bailey Patrick) suggests Petrol was utilized to start the fire before pointing out the missing ceiling light bulb. Ruling out accident and suicide, he says the victim didn’t remove the petrol can from the scene or fasten his seatbelt. When Dalgliesh questions the missing ceiling bulb, Anderson says blown bulbs are generally left until they are replaced. Noting only one garage door is closed, Dalgliesh suggests if the victim was planning to commit suicide, he would have shut both doors.

Tally claims to have been mowed down by a vehicle at 7:20pm. She describes the man’s voice as “well-spoken” and “familiar.” She tells Kate that the suspect said, “It looks like someone lit a bonfire over there.” At the museum, Dalgliesh points out that Alfred Rouse told several passersby, “It looks like someone’s lit a bonfire over there.” He asks Muriel if there is any petrol in storage. She claims Ryan, the gardener, purchased more petrol from the museum’s petty cash last week.

Dalgliesh shows the rucksack found in the boot of the burnt vehicle. Marcus tells him that Neville had a similar rucksack. Dalgliesh warns them to be prepared when the victim is identified. Caroline breaks down sobbing. After identifying Neville as a museum Trustee, Marcus claims he was stressed at the 3pm meeting. Caroline contributes a heavy workload to his stress. He says Neville departed at 3:20pm for St. Oswald’s Hospital. He admits to leaving the museum at 5pm to have dinner with his family. Caroline informed him of the fire at 7:45pm. She claims to have returned to Swathling’s Academy when the meeting ended. She generally stays at the museum on Friday nights.

Ryan stays with Major Rupert Arkwright (Robin Soans). When Daniel arrives to take him in for questioning, he asks about Tally. Rupert urges him to go with Daniel. Ryan identifies the petrol canister as the one he filled up last week. Daniel asks if he utilized the petrol. Ryan claims Tally suggested putting the mowing off because of the rain. Daniel asks if he returned the key to the peg after locking up the shed. Emptying his pockets, Ryan pulls out the shed key. He denies having anything to do with the fire. Kate says they don’t have reasonable grounds to charge him. Daniel points out that Ryan had access to the petrol. Dalgliesh questions Ryan and Rupert’s relationship. Daniel suggests it is “sexual.” Dalgliesh orders his fingerprints and a detective constable to follow him.

Kate and Dalgliesh question if the murder is a copycat of the “Blazing Car Murder.” They identify the victim as Neville. Dalgliesh orders the museum closed, with the exception of private tours, until the murder investigation is complete. A search of Neville’s home renders a monthly issue of the “Handbook of New Socialism” and a note that reads, “See you later” with hearts.

Strickland says, “Everyone loves a good murder” before apologizing. Daniel questions people’s fixation on murder. She says Neville left the Trustees meeting at 3:20pm and she left at 5:30pm. Ryan overheads her suggesting speak he with him. Fleeing the museum, he encounters Tally. He pleads with her to not tell Daniel as he runs away.

Pregnant, Angela tells Kate that Neville was supposed to visit a patient’s wife, Mrs. Shaw after the Trustees’ meeting. Dalgliesh asks for Shaw’s address. She claims to have no idea if Neville was involved with anyone. He shows her the note from Neville’s home. She asks to keep her statement confidential, so her husband doesn’t find out. After professing to love Neville, she says he never felt the same about her. She contributes his “horrible siblings” to his lack of trust. He asks if his relationship with Marcus and Caroline was strained. She tells him that they were meeting to discuss the new lease for the museum that Neville wanted to close.

Caroline assures Dalgliesh that she and Marcus would have convinced Neville to sign the new lease. He suggests Neville wanted the capital released from the sale of the museum. Kate asks if the staff was aware of what would happen if Neville refused to sign the new lease.

Blanche Fielding (Debbie Chazen) informs Dalgliesh of his “Garnett Prize” nomination. She suggests a book tour in America before demanding an answer by the end of the end.

In a flashback, a man wearing a mask asks Tally if she is okay. Back to the present, Tally says the suspect may have been wearing a masquerade mask. She claims they all knew what the Trustees’ meeting was about. Rupert catches Ryan going through his drawers. Daniel admits to believing Tally convinced Ryan to kill Neville to secure her home and job. Kate disagrees before describing the murder as “premeditated” and “brutal.” He informs her of Ryan’s juvenile shoplifting charges. She suggests Neville’s assailant would have struggled to dispense petrol from the petrol canister. She says the petrol may have been transferred to another container in advance. PC (Colette Lennon Dougal) tells them that Rupert’s neighbor called in to report Ryan attacked him before fleeing.

Condemning his “nosy neighbors,” Rupert claims to have hit his head when Ryan pushed him. He blames himself for “cornering” him to try to stop him from taking his money. He explains how his mum’s boyfriend abused him. He suggests Ryan went back to the streets. Daniel asks if Ryan is a “homosexual.”

While speaking with Tally, a piece of furniture captures Kate’s attention.

Roger Denholm (Nick Dunning) tells Dalgliesh that Felix Dupayne co-ran Special Operations. He gives him the name of someone who may be associated with his murder investigation. Dalgliesh says the individual has a strong connection to his case. Roger asks him to immediately inform him when Neville’s murder is solved. When Dalgliesh doesn’t respond, Roger demands he comply.

Strickland is sitting in the museum when Marcus says, “Ca va.” Tally receives a call from a frantic Ryan asking for money. She meets him in the park while Kate hides behind a bush. Dalgliesh shows Marcus a photo of the masked man who spoke with Tally on the night of Neville’s murder. Marcus claims people park their vehicles at the museum after dark. Dalgliesh suggests Neville wasn’t the suspect’s intended target. When the police apprehend Ryan, he warns she will kill him.

Strickland is explaining the “Brighton Truck Murder” when a client tries to open the trunk. She says the museum never opens the trunk because the lining is fragile. Intervening, Muriel raises the lid to see something horrific. Dalgliesh hears her screams from a nearby room. He and Marcus see the body of a girl squeezed inside the trunk.

 

Dalgliesh Review

Dalgliesh investigates a murder at the Dupayne Museum. Felix Dupayne, a former Special Forces officer, left the museum to his three children, Caroline, Neville, and Marcus. Caroline and Marcus are adamant about keeping the museum open while Neville wants to shutter its doors to utilize the capital for a private clinic. After a Trustees’ meeting, Neville is burnt inside his vehicle. Tally is on her way home after her class was canceled when a car forces her off the road. While checking on her, the driver says, “It looks like someone’s lit a bonfire over there.” Dalgliesh recognizes the statement from the 1934 “Brighton Trunk Murder.”

DS Daniel Tarrant believes Tally convinced the gardener, Ryan to murder Neville to save her job and home at the museum. Kate thinks the murder was “premeditated.” Ryan resides with Major Arkwright. Daniel is adamant their relationship is of a “sexual” nature. Ryan was abused by his mother’s boyfriend. Fearing “She” will kill him, he asks Tally for money so he can leave. Kate sets up a meeting to have him apprehended.

Neville was having an affair with his married secretary, Angela who is in love with him. She claims Caroline and Marcus bullied Neville.

After a meeting with Roget Denholm, Dalgliesh believes Neville wasn’t the intended target. Dalgliesh is being pressured by his agent to do a book tour in America. He is nominated for the prestigious “Garnett Prize.” The book tour may be a good way to end the series.

A good episode but a bit drawn out. The guest stars work wonders in bringing their characters to life. Each role is significant for the two-part “The Murder Room.” The episode deserves a 6. Get more Dalgliesh recaps here. Support Reel Mockery by clicking the link. Learn more about onsite advertising by contacting our customer support.