The Sands Of Time – The episode opens with Oswald Hartigan (Bob Barrett) excitedly preparing for the arrival of a special clock. He tells Betty Hartigan (Jasmyn Banks) that it’ll be the pinnacle of his collection when Quentin Hartigan (Jesse Fox) enters the room. He reminds him that the 5,000 pounds is coming from his inheritance. He demands money before there is nothing left. Oswald assures him that he’ll receive his inheritance when he dies. Quentin asks when will it be before threatening him if he doesn’t reconsider. While leaving, he tips a tray of refreshments onto the floor. Jake Hunt (Rowan Polonski) is left to clean up the mess.

Father Brown (Mark Williams) and Brenda Palmer (Ruby-May Martinwood) listen to a horse race. When she celebrates their winnings, his pocket watch falls on the floor. She suggests the shilling be utilized to repair the broken crystal. He assures her that isn’t necessary when the door opens. Isabel Devine (Claudie Blakley) enters the room as he tucks the betting sheet under the table. They receive an invitation from Hartigan Manor for an unveiling.

Stan Hoskens (Stephen Kennedy) offers to repair Father Brown’s pocket watch for free.

Jake unveils Oswald’s new clock for Brenda. He tells her that the watch is worth a fortune before they kiss.

Oswald admits to being surprised Stan accepted his invitation. Stan says he couldn’t turn down an opportunity to see a Nightingale clock. Divine asks Betty how she likes being married. Betty describes married life as “wonderful,” even with their age difference.

Lord Quentin starts drinking as soon as he arrives at the unveiling. Oswald pleads with him to leave. Lord Quentin agrees to leave if he receives a check. Stan tries to convince him to leave when Lord Quentin punches him. Oswald tells him that he’s now disinherited. Jake physically forces Quentin to leave.

Jake informs Brenda that he’s returning to London. She tells him that she doesn’t want him to go. He invites her to go with him when Divine approaches.

While refilling Father Brown’s glass, Betty says Brenda is unreliable. When Brenda approaches, she warns that her job is on the line. Quentin and Oswald announce they’ve come to an agreement.

Oswald unveils his Nightingale clock only to discover it has been replaced with a vase. A scream draws everyone’s attention to a lifeless Quentin sprawled on the floor. Father Brown identifies coal dust on the victim’s hands. He tells Chief Inspector Sullivan (Tom Chambers) that Quentin was downstairs at 12:30pm. Sergeant Goodfellow (John Burton) suggests he walked in as someone was trying to steal the Nightingale clock. Father Brown points out his head wound appears to match the décor on the clock.

Sullivan informs Oswald and his guests of his theory that one of them is the killer. Goodfellow says the police need to determine who was upstairs between 12:30 and 1pm. Oswald, Stan, Betty, Jake, Divine, and Brenda were upstairs. Sullivan asks Jake about his altercation with Quentin. Brenda claims he was only trying to keep the peace. Father Brown tells him that Quentin assaulted Stan. Sullivan says everyone present will need to be searched because the murder weapon is missing.

Goodfellow discovers a bloody handkerchief in Stan’s pocket. Stan denies ever seeing it before. Sullivan arrests him on suspicion of murder.

Father Brown suggests the killer planted the blood handkerchief in Stan’s pocket.

Father Brown asks Betty about Quentin pulling her into the clock room. Betty tells him that Oswald’s more interested in clocks than her. She claims he wanted to be intimate in the clock room but she refused. She admits to being relieved Oswald will never know about her intimate relationship with Quentin. They briefly discuss Jake who sought them out for employment.

Father Brown asks Oswald if he knows where Lord Quentin would have gotten coal dust on his hands. Oswald suggests he may have been in the cellar. Father Brown asks how they were able to settle their differences so quickly. Oswald claims to have written Lord Quentin a check.

Divine discovers a document with the name Jakub Horynski who was born on January 19, 1932, in Warsaw. Jake finds her hiding in an armoire. He demands to know what she’s doing in there when Father Brown approaches.  Jake admits to changing his name to escape his criminal past related to losing his family at seven years old.

Divine informs Brenda of Jake’s true identity and criminal history. Brenda reminds Divine of her own criminal history. Father Brown suggests being cautious around him. Brenda assures them that Jake is a good person. Divine asks about his anger issues. Brenda scolds them for not saying anything about it before leaving.

Brenda tells Jake that she received a two-year sentence in Borstal for stealing a dress. He describes her crime as “trivial” compared to the crimes committed by the capitalists. They confess their love for each other. She agrees to go to London with him. He says they’ll leave tomorrow before leaving to rustle up some food. While packing his belongings, she discovers the Nightingale clock in a secret compartment inside the armoire.

Father Brown questions why Oswald who’s typically a private person holds a public unveiling for the Nightingale clock. Divine informs him that Oswald and Stan fell out after Lady Harriett passed away. Brenda rushes in to tell them that Jake’s guilty.

Oswald tries to convince Sullivan to release Stan because Jake is Lord Quentin’s killer. Sullivan reminds him that the handkerchief in Stan’s pocket has his son’s blood on it. Father Brown informs him of Jake’s real identity.

Father Brown tells Stan that the check Oswald made out to Lord Quentin hasn’t been located. He suggests the money would have never been enough to satisfy him. In a flashback, Oswald tells Stan that his marriage to Betty is a mistake. They embrace as Lord Quentin approaches. Back to the present, Father Brown asks if he threatened to blackmail them. Stan assures him that he nor Oswald could kill anyone. Father Brown says they were in love. Stan claims Lady Harriet’s death changed Oswald which is why he married his maid, Betty. Father Brown asks what significance the clock played in their relationship. Stan says it was commissioned by a Polish King for his new wife in the 18^th century.

Father Brown promises to help Brenda learn to read so she’ll have more opportunities. Divine says Oswald will unveil the clock at 2pm before it becomes evidence in Lord Quentin’s murder. Brenda receives a call from Jake.

Brenda admits to letting Jake in the house so he can get the clock.

Oswald enters the clock room to find Jake with the Nightingale clock. Jake assures him that he only wants the clock when Father Brown approaches. Jake claims the Nazis stole the clock from his family before they were arrested and sent to Auschwitz. He denies killing Lord Quentin. Father Brown discovers coal dust on Oswald’s tie. Oswald says he never tied it.

Father Brown finds Betty at the train station. He suggests she pushed the unveiling back an hour so she could get the 2pm train. He says she needs to get away before her pregnancy becomes obvious. He believes the coal cravings are due to her anemia.

In a flashback, Betty informs Lord Quentin of her pregnancy. He tells her that Oswald is a homosexual. He says Oswald and Stan were just getting cozy before demanding the pregnancy be terminated. When she refuses, he threatened to make her have an accident. He grabs her and she hits him with the clock. She cleans his blood off the clock with a handkerchief and conceals his body underneath furniture.

Back to the present, Betty claims Lord Quentin had intended to kill her baby. Father Brown tells her that his death was self-defense. She asks who would believe her. She admits to framing Stan because he was with Oswald.

Oswald gives the Nightingale clock to Jake when Betty and Father Brown arrive.

Brenda tells Father Brown and Divine that she’s going to London with Jake. Divine reminds her of his temper. Brenda says they both lost their parents at a young age.

Stan returns Father Brown’s newly repaired pocket watch.

Brenda asks Divine to take care of Father Brown. She says he’s been a father to her before boarding the train where Jake is waiting for her. Jake tells her that the Nightingale clock will put him on the same economic status as the Hartigans. She reminds him of what he said about the clock being all he had left of his family. He claims they want him to auction it. She accuses him of lying to her so she’d let him in for the unveiling. He tells her that the clock will set them up financially. She leaps from the moving train as the episode comes to an end.

 

Father Brown Review

Lord Quentin becomes irate with his father, Oswald for acquiring a Nightingale clock for 5,000 pounds. He confronts Oswald in front of his guests, demanding money before his inheritance is squandered away. When Stan intervenes, Quentin punches him. Oswald announces he has been disinherited. An employee, Jake forcibly removes him from the room.

Brenda finds herself in love with Jake. Divine and Father Brown are none too happy because Jake has a bad temper.

Quentin and Oswald reach an agreement before the unveiling of the clock. Oswald removes the cover to find the clock missing when someone discovers Quentin deceased on the floor. A laceration on his forehead is determined to be from the clock. Coal dust is found on his hands.

A bloody handkerchief is found inside Stan’s pocket. He’s immediately arrested on suspicion of murder while Father Brown sets out to find the real killer. Oswald and Stan were involved until Lady Harriet died when he married his maid, Betty on a whim. Betty and Quentin were having an affair.

Jake is actually Jakub Horynski from Warsaw. His family’s assets, including the Nightingale clock, were confiscated by the Nazis. He sought employment with Oswald to reclaim what he believed belonged to him. Brenda forgives him for lying and agrees to go to London with him.

Betty and Quentin got into a verbal dispute over her unplanned pregnancy. He demands the pregnancy. When she refuses, he threatens her with an accident. He grabs her and she hits him with the clock.

Oswald gives the Nightingale clock to Jake. After finding out Jake planned to sell the clock, Brenda changes her mind about going to London.

The episode deserves a 6. Get more Father Brown recaps. Support Reel Mockery by clicking the link. Ask about our advertising packages.