CHURCH BELLS PEAL
DOG BARKS
FAINT CHORAL MUSIC
Who's there?
MUFFLED CRIES
From the grandeur of the Mass of Thanksgiving,
to the pastoral delights of Lady Felicia's garden,
I think we'd all agree
that today has been a day to raise the spirits.
Awards for distinguished service are to be cherished.
I can only quote from the tribute of Pope Pius himself.
"For the devout duty, the boys of St Bartholomew's
"will always be in your debt."
I saw it first!
Please join me in congratulating Father Ignatius.
POLITE APPLAUSE
Or should I say Monsignor?
POLITE APPLAUSE
I thought he'd never finish.
Bishop likes to rise to the occasion.
Isn't it marvellous? Our very own prelate.
Moving service, Monsignor.
Oh, "Reverend Father" will suffice.
I've persuaded Father Ignatius to stay for dinner.
Won't you be needed at your mission?
The country air will be good for the boys.
They're certainly... full of high spirits!
Abandoned as infants and brought to my care.
- Poor mites. - Pair of tearaways! - Behave!
Or it's straight back...to Coventry. HE PANTS
Why don't I show you the Japanese garden?
I've got a marvellous idea for a fundraising gala.
I'm surprised he isn't wearing a halo.
Oi, oi, look out.
- Ah, Brown. - Bishop.
- Glad you could join us. - My Lord.
- Oi! - Ignatius and I were fellow seminarians.
A sterling example of what we aspire to achieve
without the distractions of amateur sleuthing.
I was hoping to catch Professor Ambrose.
An update on his quest for the Lannington Rosary.
I imagine he's busy with his research.
There's no fool like an old fool, eh?
- Ambrose wasn't at church on Sunday. - He has been rather remiss of late.
Probably nursing a hangover somewhere.
- I'll pop in later on my rounds. - Bit out of your way, isn't it?
Not if you drive me.
Looks like a break-in. One of the neighbours called us.
- You were right to be concerned. - Where is Ambrose?
- I was hoping you could tell me that. - I haven't seen him all weekend.
By all accounts, a bit of a queer fish.
My friend Ambrose is endearingly eccentric.
Yes. That's one way of putting it, Father.
I suppose you'd better come inside.
Not you.
HE LAUGHS
Place appears to have been ransacked.
Although with all this mess, it's difficult to tell.
Retired academic.
All his papers. How distressing.
Years of research.
And what exactly did this "research" entail?
Renaissance Theology. Nothing that would interest you.
Perhaps the professor went on holiday.
- Without telling the milkman? - Like you said - endearingly eccentric.
A thief took advantage of an empty house...
Any thief worth his salt would have stolen that.
- Unless they were disturbed. - Or looking for something else.
I'd rather you didn't touch anything, please, Father.
Checking for prints.
Tape-lift method - something we perfected at the Yard.
- Fascinating. - Modern policing.
Still no substitute for good old-fashioned detective work.
Chloroform.
He wouldn't disappear without telling me.
Why would anyone want to hurt Ambrose?
Father, this package just arrived for you.
Ambrose's handwriting. Postmarked two days ago.
So it must have been posted before he went missing!
Wow, Mrs M, the local constabulary can sleep sound in their beds(!)
I went to a lecture at the Newman Society.
Ambrose was keen to talk about his recent discovery.
The usual sceptics were there.
Lysette Penhallick was an English noblewoman.
The Lady of the Manor of Lannington.
As devout as she was wealthy.
Her rosary was somewhat, well, ostentatious.
It was emeralds and mother-of-pearl.
An early-Renaissance status symbol, really.
It also appears in the family coat of arms.
As a lesson in true faith,
the Blessed Virgin appeared in a vision
and bestowed upon the rosary miraculous healing powers.
Lysette soon discovered she had a religious notoriety -
the sick and the dying demanded to be cured.
So she sought sanctuary in Briars Priory
after she has taken holy orders.
Her final days are lost in mystery.
No-one even knows where she's buried.
After she died, the relic disappeared.
The priory was looted during the dissolution of the monasteries.
No trace of the rosary was ever found.
And it's been missing ever since.
I may be a step closer to finding it.
Lysette Penhallick's prayer book. THEY MURMUR
I discovered it languishing in the Ashmolean archives.
What makes you so sure it belonged to Lysette?
She wrote her name on the inside cover.
Lysette knew the true value of miracles.
I'm convinced she hid the rosary
to save it from falling into the wrong hands.
The clues to its whereabouts are contained in this book.
- And there's a letter! - Addressed to me.
"Dearest Father Brown..."
AMBROSE: "..as my life's work is finally reaching its conclusion,
"I fear others may be out to steal the prize."
"I may be in some danger."
"I therefore entrust the Mysteries Of The Rosary to you,
"and your safekeeping."
"I know I can count on you to find it."
"Begin with the Hail Mary. My prayers go with you."
"Your friend, Ambrose."
Whoever broke into Ambrose's house was looking for this.
This rosary he mentions. Valuable, is it?
- It's reputed to have healing powers. - You don't say?
Its veneration as a holy relic makes it almost priceless.
- How long has it been missing? - About 500 years.
Forensics are testing the handkerchief.
We'll keep you informed of any developments.
- If Ambrose has been kidnapped... - That's pure conjecture.
We have to take his disappearance seriously.
Believe me, Father, I'm trying to.
- Now, I suggest you let us get on with it. - The letter.
I'm confiscating this as evidence.
Still telling them how to do their job?
And what brings you here?
Thank you. Misunderstanding in the village shop.
Wait for me outside.
You look tired, Ignatius.
A headache. The work at St Bartholomew's can be challenging.
You must think our Cotswold concerns trivial.
What news on Professor Ambrose?
I ran into your parish secretary.
The police are investigating.
Prone to bouts of melancholy, so I've heard.
Seemed content with his research.
The Lannington Rosary?
Its very existence has always been disputed.
Well, if you doubt its veracity
then you must doubt the miracles attributed to it.
We'll say prayers at the mission for his safe return.
Maybe for once you should just leave this to the police.
The rosary could lead us to Ambrose, or whoever it is abducted him.
That's all well and good...
Some of these prayers have been embellished with roses.
"Begin with the Hail Mary", he said.
If a single rose marks the first clue...
Well, that's easy.
Mary Our Lady first appeared to Lysette...
- At Lannington. - Yes!
And the Hail Mary is inscribed on the shrine.
Oh, this is the life, eh, Father?
Flash motor, nice bit of scenery.
Kind of Felicia to lend you the Rolls-Royce.
Well, you know, she's got a bit of a soft spot for me.
Yes, she has.
Listen, this rosary's been missing for 500 years. Must be well-hidden.
When it could have done so much good.
You really think we're going to find it?
Faith is the substance of things hoped for.
HE CHUCKLES
Faith? It's going to take a bleeding miracle!
The shrine is at the end of the Rosary Walk.
Well, you go and look for your clues and I'll go look for the pub.
HE GASPS FOR AIR
Give me the book!
This man is a priest. Show some decorum.
- Oi! - FATHER BROWN COUGHS
Father Brown. It's been too long.
Flambeau.
I wondered when you'd turn up.
Be thankful I did, or your adventure would have ended prematurely.
The rosary is too good a prize for you to resist.
It seems we're not the only people searching for it.
What the...
What have you done with Ambrose?
The fate of your professor is of no concern to me.
The whereabouts of your relic? Now, that's another matter.
The Lannington Rosary belongs to the church.
Which is why they've asked me to find it.
You knew he wasn't dead!
I had my suspicions.
He's up to his eyes in this. I can smell it.
Wait here.
The man is a psychopath, in case you'd forgotten.
You expect me to believe that you are working for the Vatican?
The Holy See hired me as a mercenary.
- They wanted the best. - So what's in it for you?
There's been talk of an amnesty, a papal dispensation.
- You paid a visit to Ambrose's house. - Kidnapping is hardly my style.
I was looking for the prayer book when the police arrived.
But Ambrose made contingency plans.
And made you custodian of the rosary's secrets.
And you think I need your help to solve the clues?
Surely two heads are better than one? You need my protection.
Your protection? Last time I met you, you pointed a pistol at me!
Regrettable, I know. But here I am, a changed man.
The commerce of saints and the business of miracles,
it's all so archaic.
"Ave Maria gratia plena."
The prayer book has brought us to the shrine.
I imagine the shrine will send us somewhere else.
This prayer of Lysette's is embellished with two roses.
The second clue must be contained within.
"Sous la rose je fleurie."
"My soul sings up towards heaven as I flourish under the rose."
The second clue.
Champagne.
- The woman's name is Penhallick. Lives at Tibberton Manor. - Yes.
'..left of the family estate.'
- Yes, I have that. - 'She's the last surviving descendant.'
Mrs McCarthy, you are a brick.
'Promise me you will be vigilant.'
Yes, of course. I will keep a look out, yes.
- 'The man is a villain, not to mention a heathen...' - Yes.
Yes. Well, good night, Mrs McCa...
Good night! Goodbye!
You Catholics are so unfailingly virtuous.
There's a prayer in there for everything.
You could not resist stealing it, could you?
You want to save your friend, you need to learn to trust me.
According to my parish secretary, "I flourish under the rose"
is the motto of the Penhallick family,
and there is a surviving member, at Tibberton.
Perhaps they can shed some light on the mystery?
Tibberton? You do realise Tibberton's 60 miles away?
We'll make an early start in the morning.
Yes, the earlier the better. There's a warrant out for your arrest.
Hmm. Back from the dead.
I'd ask you to join me for a bite to eat
but I've decided to dine in my room.
Don't forget to say your prayers.
- Morals of an alley cat. - Yes.
TOILET FLUSHES
HE BREAKS WIND
You do realise we're consorting with a known criminal?
- It's hardly consorting. - It's all right for you, I've got previous!
Are you sure this is the only room they had left?
The man is a compulsive liar.
All that guff about working for the Vatican!
Perhaps he has changed.
FAINT CREAKING AND MOANING
That's always been your trouble, Father.
You only ever see the good in people.
CREAKING AND MOANING CONTINUES
I am telling you, once he gets his hands on that rosary,
you will not see Flambeau for dust.
He'll be off like the hare at Haringey.
HE GROANS
CHORAL MUSIC
HE GASPS FOR AIR
You really think your priest will find you?
Finding the rosary is all that matters.
And what if he decides to keep it for himself?
Then you must make good on your threats.
Then perhaps we should remind him what's at stake.
He's only gone and stolen the Rolls. I warned you, didn't I?
What on God's earth am I going to tell Lady F?
This was pushed through my door this morning.
"Find the Rosary or lose your friend. You have until seven."
- A ransom note. - It tells us everything and nothing.
- HE GROANS - You all right, Sid?
- You look a bit queasy. - I was on and off that khazi all night.
Must have been something I ate.
We have to find the rosary, before it's too late.
- Well, we're stuffed without a motor. - HORN TOOTS
We needed petrol. Isn't she a joy to drive?
How did you get hold of my keys?
On second thoughts, don't answer that.
- We're wasting valuable time. - HE GROANS
Clearly he's in no state to join us.
You did this!
He's poisoned me or something.
The man is paranoid, as well as disagreeable.
Make sure Sullivan reads it.
Whoa, whoa, whoa! I am not about to leave you with him.
Never alone, Sid. It's the perk of the job.
- Maybe you should sleep it off? - You know where we're heading?
And how am I supposed to get there?
- How does it feel to be a fugitive? - You can never run far from God.
No matter how hard we try.
- Our treasure hunt excites you. - I'm doing it for Ambrose.
And not for the thrill of the chase?
Imagine the things we could steal together.
I thought you'd turned over a new leaf.
You know, for a priest, you're sorely lacking in faith.
Maybe I'm sorely tested.
I thought you'd welcome another chance to save my sorry soul.
HE GROANS
- KNOCKING AT DOOR - Who's there?
KNOCKING CONTINUES
Where is he?
I'd offer you tea, only I've given the housekeeper the day off.
I'm all alone in this big, empty house.
Believe me, Madame, we are gentlemen.
Mademoiselle.
FATHER BROWN CLEARS HIS THROAT
We wanted to ask you about the Lannington Rosary.
The mystery of its disappearance has always intrigued me.
I'm not sure I can enlighten you.
It was all such a long, long time ago.
You attended the lecture at Oxford. I remember your perfume.
I have a vested interest.
I'm the last of the family line, you know.
I find it hard to believe you've never married.
I've had offers, of course.
Never thought I'd end up on the shelf.
You are a woman in your prime.
Lysette's later years are unaccounted for.
- It was rumoured she fled to France. - A sensible course of action.
The Lannington Rosary brought nothing but trouble.
It was more of a curse than a blessing.
She must have been difficult to live up to.
How exactly can I help you, Father Brown?
We need to find that relic as a matter of urgency.
I had you down as pilgrims, not bounty hunters.
- We believe there might be letters. - Family correspondence.
Perhaps an heirloom might provide a clue?
Most of the heirlooms are long gone.
Though I can't let you leave without seeing the painting.
The only proof that the rosary ever existed.
An Albrecht Kraus. I may have to come back and steal it.
A cloister garden. A priory cloister garden?
I've always found piety rather a burden.
Wouldn't you agree, Father Brown?
It's a burden some choose not to live with.
Classical imagery.
The lilies allude to the subject's piety,
the roses represent the Blessed Virgin.
There are three of them.
It's a prayer of veneration. "Fidelis Usque ad Mortem".
"Faithful unto death".
It's telling us where Lysette is buried.
Well, don't just stand there. Go after them!
According to Ambrose, Lysette took holy orders at Briars Priory.
The Bridgettine Sisters.
It's less than ten miles from here. Little more than a ruin now.
You really think she took the rosary to the grave?
- What better place to hide it? - The priory has been searched.
Maybe they missed something.
Well, one of us needs to open it.
- Oi! - Ah! I need to borrow your bicycle.
I have to find a rosary. It's been lost for 500 years.
It's a ransom for my friend. I'll bring your bicycle back.
- Oi! - COW MOOS
"I flourish under the rose..."
Empty.
She's been playing us for fools with these blessed riddles.
There must be something else.
"Oratio Humilis Accessus."
The Prayer of Humble Admission.
Humble, lowly...
A simple way in. A door.
A low door.
HOLLOW THUDS
"Domine fac ingrediar coram Te.
"Grant, O Lord, that I may come before thee..."
Et voila.
THEY STRAIN
What can you see?
Not much.
It's an old burial chamber.
It's been left undisturbed for quite some time.
The priory sisters must have built it...
What were they trying to hide?
- Looks like Ambrose was right. - Ambrose...
has served his purpose.
ALARM BELL RINGS
Give me a leg up.
There never was a papal dispensation, was there?
I can't climb out of here on my own.
I really thought you had changed.
If they catch me, it's prison.
Perhaps that's the best place for you.
Do you want to save your friend, or don't you?
If I help you up, you'll leave me in here.
Why don't you go first?
Spread out and search the grounds.
The suspect could be armed.
You stay here. You're no use to anyone.
Sod that for a game of soldiers.
- The rosary... - HE SIGHS
Please?
I think that belongs to me.
- Take the ransom. - Tell me where Ambrose is.
The rosary is not yours to barter with.
Do you think I won't use this?
Take it. Do the right thing.
Father Brown?
- If I were you, I'd shoot the priest. - Shut up.
Police! Throw down your weapon!
Flambeau!
He won't get far with a bullet wound.
I wouldn't be so sure of that.
See what you've done? Your professor is as good as dead.
I had it in my hand.
CLOCK BELL CHIMES
Where is he?
- Now that'd be telling. - You know they'll lock you up?
- I failed him. He said I would. - Move.
Who have you failed?
I should arrest you for obstruction.
- How did you find me? - Tip-off from the local force.
A priest made off with a pensioner's bicycle.
The rosary appears to have vanished, along with your friend Flambeau.
The man you're detaining knows where Ambrose is.
- Well, he's refusing to give us a statement. - We're running out of time.
If you'd been honest with me from the start.
I did what I thought was best for my friend.
Jacob Spender.
He's got form. Petty theft, GBH...
- Nothing as clever as extortion. - Troubled sort.
Spent his formative years in a mission for wayward children...
Which mission?
I need iodine, dressings...
and the sanctuary of your church.
The wound isn't deep.
The bullet only scratched you,
but it will sting.
- I owe you my life. - Then give me the rosary.
Perhaps I should have used it to heal myself.
You begged me for absolution.
Life is too short for penance.
You can live with a guilty conscience,
but do you want to die with one?
One day you'll realise I'm beyond salvation.
The day I give up hope.
I hope you find your friend.
Wait!
Please!
BELL RINGS
Jacob Spender was a ward of this orphanage,
saved by the church from a life of destitution.
Phenytoin.
RUSTLING
You again.
Get off me!
We were only playing hide-and-seek!
HE LAUGHS
Perhaps, young sir,
you could tell me the whereabouts of Father Ignatius?
- Who wants to know? - Oi!
Mind your manners. That's a priest you're talking to.
He sits in the chapel for the quiet.
These his pills?
- Takes them for his headaches. - Hmm.
Jacob?
Jacob's not coming back.
He always disappoints me.
You sent him to steal a holy relic.
I took him in when no-one else would.
I gave him a purpose in life.
Where is Ambrose?
Stubborn old fool. If he'd given me the book...
You're a minister of Christ.
- Have you forgotten your vows? - Do not presume to judge me.
- God will do that. - I was chosen to find the rosary.
- I am blessed. - You are ill.
- You are delusional. - The Blessed Virgin made me a vessel.
The visions were fierce in their clarity.
Epilepsy.
A tumour.
Here.
It changes me.
- The police are on their way. - What good will that do? I'm dying.
Do you believe the possession of this will cure you?
You found it.
Haven't you heard?
He's quite the detective.
I should have known better than to trust a priest.
My need was always greater than yours.
Perhaps Father Brown should be the judge of that.
After all, I still have a hostage to bargain with.
- Where is Ambrose? - Now, that would be telling.
You were working together.
I attended the lecture as an interested party.
We needed the prayer book.
So you hatched a plot to kidnap Ambrose?
- With the help of that idiot boy. - She had the perfect place to hide.
And with your promotion you had the perfect alibi.
While we did all the dirty work.
You were greedy, just like Lysette.
I am the rightful heir to the rosary.
What makes you think you deserve it?
I shall be the second Penhallick with miraculous powers.
Either that, or incredibly rich.
This was ordained.
I must continue God's work.
Sancta Maria, Sancta Dei Genetrix, Sancta Virgo virginum,
make me a miracle. Make me a miracle.
Show me its power.
Can you see it?
Can you see it?!
Heal me!
- Heal me! - It's mine!
No!
Ignatius?
Please!
Heal me.
SHE SCREAMS
Tell you what, it's a good job someone's watching your back.
Easy.
OK, take them away.
That priest has got the rosary!
HE LAUGHS
HE WHISTLES
- Still no nearer to finding Ambrose. - Well, he could be anywhere.
That's her car.
KNOCKING AND MUFFLED CRIES
I was beginning to think you'd never find me.
Good to have you back, Brown.
None the worse for your little adventure.
Any word on the rosary?
A sad loss.
Quite.
Father Brown.
Such a terrible way for poor Ignatius to go.
His passing was a shock to us all.
At least I've still got you.
I never trusted the man myself.
"Stubbornly resistant to improvement."
12 letters...
- Incorrigible. - Of course.
- You know, I think the Penhallick woman might have been right. - Mmm?
The Lannington rosary, it's as much of a curse as a blessing.
Ignatius - living proof.
Yes, I can see now why Lysette hid it.
Well, wherever it is, it's best to stay hidden.
There's something I've been meaning to tell you.
The thieving...!