The Word Of The Condemned – Episode 7 opens with Father Brown (Mark Williams) visiting Samuel Harrow (Paul McEwan) in prison on behalf of Lady Felicia (Nancy Carroll). Harrow openly admits to Felicia’s suspicions that he had nothing to do with her goddaughter’s (Sophie Blackthorn) murder. After Father Brown relays the information to Felicia, they decide to investigate themselves.
Lady Felicia meets with Father Brown, Brenda Palmer (Ruby-May Martinwood), and Isobel Devine (Claudie Blakley) to discuss the case and why she thinks Harrow is innocent. Her belief that Harrow is innocent centers on a letter and a visit from a young man named Daniel Price (Tom Blupett). Daniel believes it was Sophie’s husband, Ralph Blackthorn (David Burnett). Although Father Brown reads the letter, its cryptic meaning eludes the group.
At the suggestion of Lady Felicia, Father Brown, Devin, and Brenda pay a visit to the famed Blackthorn Institute, which offers access and training to the latest crime-fighting techniques and technologies. The institution and its staff were a huge part of Sophie’s investigation, in particular, Professor Prichard (Silas Carson). After Devine embarrasses herself with the Professor, she and Father Brown randomly meet Daniel Price, who is reinvestigating Sophie’s case as well. While Daniel shares his discoveries, Brenda interrupts with the request for Devine’s car keys, so she can listen to a horserace.
Felicia encounters an old friend, Audrey Hatby (Belinda Owusu), who just happens to be working as Prichard’s assistant. Ralph soon draws the room’s attention with a toast to Sophie’s memory and a thank you to Professor Prichard for believing in the institute. The toast is abruptly ended when a Pattinson Butcher delivery guy interrupts with the delivery of a bloody package that is determined by Prichard to be a pig’s heart.
Ella Blackthorn (Kate Bracken) attempts to explain away the delivery as a mistake, but by the time Brenda returns, most of the guests have left. Prichard offers Father Brown’s group a “behind the scenes” look at the institute and his lab, which is interrupted by Daniel. Prichard doesn’t take the interruption kindly. After Prichard’s harsh response, Daniel is shown taking some kind of medication, which results in a seizure minutes later. His dying words are, “Notebook.”
While Inspector Sullivan (Tom Chambers) questions the guests as a group, Prichard snaps at Audrey’s suggestion that Daniel was poisoned. Ralph expresses a bit of anger when Sullivan makes an unkind remark about death following him around. With a storm gathering outside, Prichard gets Sullivan to agree to an autopsy at the institute, which confirms Audrey’s poisoning suspicions.
Much later that evening while reviewing Prichard’s notes on the Harrow case, Father Brown and Felicia find copies of the taunting letter Harrow sent the widowers. Sullivan arrives at about the same time they realize the letter to Ralph is missing. After confirming the poison came from the institute, Sullivan takes possession of the files. With Sullivan and the case notes gone, Father Brown and the group debate the fate of the notebook. Audrey suspects it was stolen and then destroyed. This is confirmed later with a visit to the building’s incinerator
Ralph continues to maintain his innocence and admits to destroying the letter when Sullivan questions him. Sullivan still arrests him. Upon learning of the arrest, Father Brown privately approaches Felicia and asks if she still believes Ralph to be innocent. She claims she does and believes that Sophie would back her. Father Brown promises to do everything he can to prove Ralph’s innocence if she shares everything she knows about him.
Father Brown makes Ralph the same promise and asks about the contents of the letter. Ralph admits to destroying it because it made him look guilty. Ralph also admits that he had a very brutal and poor upbringing. When Ralph makes an offhanded remark about how everyone could tell he loved Sophie, even Pricahrd, Father Brown begins to suspect the Professor.
Prichard admits to caring for Sophie but at the same time claims that seeing her so happy with Ralph was enough for him. While searching the darkroom for copies of photos from Daniel’s camera, Father Brown realizes this is likely where someone gained access to Daniel’s medicine. Suspicion begins to fall on Audrey when Devine mentions that it was Audrey who shined a light on the poison.
Upon locating Audrey with the new information, Felicia learns that Audrey’s mother was employed by Sophie’s family. A broken vase would not only lead to her unemployment, but it would result in Audrey dropping out of school to take up the financial burden.
Father Brown makes the shocking discovery that Daniel spent much of his life in and out of mental institutions when Ella shows up outraged that Sullivan left Ralph unattended and handcuffed. They soon find themselves in search of candles and flashlights when the storm knocks out the power. After reuniting with the others, Felicia goes in search of Devine who got separated from Brenda. Brenda appears to be fascinated that Audrey’s light has a red bulb. Audrey explains that it was designed specifically for the darkroom. The group finds themselves returning there after Audrey mentions someone leaving a mess behind. With Audrey’s help, they discover copies of vehicle tires.
While searching for Devine, Felicia overhears Ella tell Ralph that she will always protect him. He says she’s done more than enough when she lied to the police for him. Brenda, Father Brown, and Audrey are in the middle of analyzing the photographs with the assistance of Prichard when Sergeant Goodfellow (John Burton) arrives. Upon learning that Daniel Price was poisoned, Goodfellow mentions meeting with him two days prior and his inquiries about stolen vehicles. He reveals that a Pattinson delivery van was mistakenly reported stolen. Brenda connects the name to the van she saw earlier while listening to the horserace.
Sullivan locates Devine but is unable to unlock the door to get to her. While attempting to open, he is attacked from behind.
Father Brown, Brenda, and Felicia step into the hallway to further discuss the evidence when they overhear Devin’s pleas for help. Upon discovering Sullivan and Brenda, Sullivan realizes that his handcuff keys were stolen during the attack. They manage to catch Ella right in the middle of releasing Ralph. The accusation about the stolen delivery van leads to the discovery that Ella and Ralph aren’t related, although Ralph always thought of her as a sibling and nothing more. It would be Sophie witnessing Ella trying to make a move on Ralph that led to her death.
The episode finishes with the unveiling of the institute’s dedication to Daniel and the news that Ralph is paying for Audrey to continue her education.
Father Brown Review
A very intriguing yet overplayed plot. To make matters even worse, it felt like everything was thrown together right at the end, making the entire story somewhat confusing. Once again, I cannot deny being surprised by the plot twist, but it felt a bit drawn out. I am beginning to appreciate the equality between the main and support cast. It might just be me, but Father Brown doesn’t feel like a lead character. I would, however, like to possibly see some kind of main storyline, although that might change the entire dynamic of the show. I’d give this episode a 4 out of 10 based on the fact that everything felt rushed and a bit confusing.
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