Death and Dreams is the second episode of the sixth series of the popular ITV crime drama Midsomer Murders and was originally aired on 10th January 2003.
Synopsis[]
Barnaby and Troy investigate an apparent suicide that is just a tad too elaborate for them to accept at face value. There are no end of suspects: the ex-wife, her soon-to-be new husband who also happens to be a dispensing chemist and the doctor and counsellor who treated him at a nearby clinic. When other residents of Midsomer Worthy are killed, the detectives must try to determine the common link among all the victims.
Plot, Part 1[]
MURDER 1: It is night. A radio is playing. In the kitchen, Martin Wroath, drugged with Tenzine, is seated in a chair with his feet on another chair and a thin rope tied to his foot and connected to a shotgun trigger fixed on top of a cupboard. Then the rope is pulled, triggering the shotgun and shooting him in the chest to make it appear as suicide. A silver trophy cup is near him.
DCI Tom Barnaby and DS Gavin Troy head to the scene of the crime. They examine the kitchen and speak to the housekeeper, Mary May, who found the body. She last saw Martin Wroath 2 days ago. She only comes in 3 days a week. He owed her 4 weeks' wages.
Troy passes Cully Barnaby at the mobile library. Troy says, "Some of us have to work for a living."
Barnaby goes to see Sarah Wroath, Martin's estranged wife. Mary May goes to the drug store and tells Gordon Leesmith that Martin killed himself. Gordon closes the shop.
Sarah tells Barnaby that Martin caused her so many problems. She's been living with Gordon while waiting for her divorce to come through. Martin would get drunk and come round and shout insults at her. He got depressed and tried to get help at Mercy Park psychiatric hospital.
Mary May goes to the mobile library and tells everyone about the death. Hannah and Ettie Moore come in. Barnaby gives Troy a wine goblet to take to forensics. Gordon comes home to Sarah, who is holding a baby. Gordon says, "He's dead. That bastard's dead. Our troubles are over! Oh, Sarah, what would I do without you?"
Barnaby and Troy go to Mercy Park. Barnaby tells Troy that he has used the Dr. Jane Moore on a couple of difficult cases. She does psychological profiling. Troy says, "Oh well, these dried up old academics are all right for a bit of theory long after the event, but your Dr Moore doesn't have to go out and find it first hand, does he?" Jane Moore walks up to the detectives. She is not dried up or old. Barnaby says, "It's good to see you, Jane," Tony Parish walks up. Jane says he's their resident counsellor.
Jane gives the detectives a tour of the hospital grounds. They have a survival course with ropes. Barnaby tells Jane he has come to ask about Martin Wroath. Jane says, ”Martin. He was here on a voluntary basis for a while. But he discharged himself a few weeks ago. He liked his drink too much. Of course he wasn't allowed that here.” Barnaby says, “Martin Wroath is dead. He was found with gunshot wounds." Jane exclaims, “Martin? That's terrible. How? What happened? I used to visit him regularly. On an unofficial basis. Try and get him to come back. But I was wasting my time. You're not trying to tell me that he killed himself? He was a natural-born gambler, always looking for an easy way out, a way that would benefit him. He'd never take his own life.”
Jane arrives home, tired and depressed. Ettie says excitedly, “A man’s dead. His head was shot off and there was blood everywhere.” (Now how exactly did Ettie know that?). Jane says the man who died was one of her patients.
Barnaby goes back over to Martin Wroath’s home and looks over the crime scene. He hears footsteps upstairs. Mary May comes down the stairs with a bag full of things along with her husband, Mick May. Barnaby tells her to put the items in the bag back where they belong. Mary says, “We just wanted something back for what we're owed, that's all.” Barnaby says, “This happens to be the scene of a police investigation, Mrs May. Are you aware of that?” Mick says they got in the back door and Mary gives Barnaby the keys reluctantly. Barnaby asks if Martin Wroath had any visitors recently? Mary says, “No. Except that doctor woman. She was always here.”
In the police station, Barnaby shows Troy the Post-mortem report. There were large amounts of alcohol in Martin Wroath's system, plus an almost equal amount of an anti-depressant drսg. The cup contained traces of the same tricyclic drսg. He would have been unconscious at the time he was sitting in that suicide contraption he was hooked up to. So it was murder, not suicide.
The detectives go to see the chemist, Gordon Leesmith. He is out leading the marching band through the village streets. Ettie and Hannah watch from the sidewalk and laugh at the band. Villagers watch the band go by. Barnaby walks in front of the band and holds up his badge. They trip over each other.
Meanwhile, Jeff Haskin drives up to his barn, which is full of ropes and starts to wind up a rope, then slams it on a table. Sarah is dusting at her home and notices a cup is missing from the mantle.
Inside the village hall, Barnaby shows the cup found at Martin Wreath’s house to Gordon Leesmith. It is Gordon’s cup. Barnaby tells him the cup was found beside the body of Martin Wroath and contained traces of a tricyclic drսg called tenzine. Barnaby asks if Gordon’s pharmacy stocks that particular drսg. Gordon denies killing Martin and says that Martin may have stolen it from his house. Gordon tells Barnaby that this is a small village and he has two important roles to play. People look up to him so he can't afford trouble.
Troy comes to visit Cully on the mobile library bus. He asks Cully about Dr Jane Moore. Cully says that she helped Barnaby with a difficult case. Troy says, “Must have had you and your mum a bit worried.” Cully says, “Why should it? It was a working relationship.” Cully drops Troy off at Mercy Park and tells him the locals aren't too sure about Dr Moore. “They don't like what she's done here. They're a quiet lot. They don't do much with their lives. Maybe she was just too much of a high flyer for them…She's a widow. Lives with her children. Her husband was killed in a climbing accident about three years ago.”
Back at Mercy Park, Tony Parish tells the detectives that Martin Wroath was prescribed tenzine while he was at Mercy Park. He wouldn’t have been able to get hold of it after he left. Tenzine has a high оvеrdоsе danger rating. It can only be taken under strict medical supervision. Tony then gets a call and goes outside to deal with a patient, Dean Hunniset. Dean is up on the climbing structure and swings on a rope off the structure and kicks Tony over.
Jane tells Barnaby that Dean Hunniset has been in institutions from orphanages upwards most of his life. She had him moved to Mercy Park as part of a rehabilitation scheme. He needed to be reintroduced into society. He's allowed authorized absence to do a part-time gardening job in the village. Barnaby takes Jane over to Martin’s home to view the murder scene. He tells her that Martin was drugged and didn’t kill himself. Jane says the last time she visited Martin was a week ago. He was drinking too much, depressed & missing his wife. He really loved Sarah.
Jane says, “By the way, tomorrow's our first anniversary at Mercy Park. Tony thinks we should celebrate at my place. Will you come?" Barnaby says “I'd like that very much, thank you.”
At the party, Tony Parish goes to the kitchen and tells Hannah, Ettie and Guy Moore, who are preparing food, that he thinks everything is going well. Tony says, “Like I've always said, nothing's too good for your mother. I'd do anything for her.” (Hannah and Ettie giggle).
Jane sees Barnaby and takes him outside to talk. She tells him, “You must know that I took this job when my husband died. It was a downward step. But I decided I needed something a little less demanding while I grieved for him. And now it's taken off, in a big way… And the kids- they're great. They stay so close to me. Sometimes they act like parents. But at least Hannah and Guy came through it all right. It was a terrible time for them. They were there when Andy fell to his death.”
Troy tells Cully that “at the moment your dad's listening to Jane Moore's opinions more then he's listening to mine…I’m also quite good at knowing what goes on in people's minds. It's part of the job. He should know that. Police officers and psychiatrists have different objectives- we lock them up and the shrinks let them out again.” Cully tells Troy to relax- it’s a party. She grabs his hand and takes him to where a violinist is playing a folk tune.
Barnaby asks Tony if Dean Hunniset got to know Martin Wroath when he was at the hospital? Tony tells him they were in group together and they hated each other. Troy plays spoons alongside the violinist.
Jane goes to the kitchen and tells Ettie she needs to go to bed. She complains, but Hannah and Guy take her upstairs. Tony tells Jane he going home as he is tired.
At Mercy Park, Tony hears something in the backyard of the hospital and goes to the stream. He says, “Dean? If you've been in the stream again after lights out, there'll be trouble. Dean!”
Plot, Part 2[]
MURDER 2:
As they leave the party, Troy asks Cully if she can give him a lift. He asks if they can stop off at Mercy Park on the way home. They climb over the wall and go over to the rope structure. Cully hears something and sees branches moving. Troy climbs on the ropes and gets tangled up. Cully pulls him up and Cully kisses Troy. Then, Cully climbs up on the ropes and at the top she sees Tony Parish hanging from the structure.
The next morning, Gordon comes to the village hall where the band members are hanging out. He opens up a package which has a pink hat and pink and purple jacket.
At the climbing structure, Barnaby asks if Troy saw or heard anything last night. Dr. Bullard says Tony was dragged out of the stream after being drugged and then hung up. Later, Cully tells Barnaby she saw something in the dark, in the trees. Like somebody watching her.
Gordon calls someone and tells them that a "certain item has arrived." He suggests that perhaps they would like to come and see him some time.
Inside Mercy Park, Barnaby tells Jane that “Forensic evidence suggests that Tony was drowned in the stream, yet marks on his body indicated that he'd been forced under the water and held there. He also had some tenzine capsules in his pocket. There are also traces of tenzine in his system.” Jane says, “If Tony had a drսg dependency problem, I'd have been the first to know about it.” In searching Tony's office, Barnaby finds a draft letter saying that Tony had been concerned about Dean Hunniset's behaviour and had recommended that all his privileges be withdrawn.
Barnaby and Troy find Dean doing pushups in his room. They ask where he was last night between 9pm and midnight. He says he was in the canteen at 9:30 talking to Terry. Dean says he didn't kill Martin Wroath. Martin antagonized people, people with problems who couldn't defend themselves. Dean says he defended them. As for Tony, Dean says he didn’t like him because he was weak. He says the hospital needs people like Dr Moore and him. He says he knew there'd be trouble when they put that survival course near the stream, but Jeff Haskin insisted on it and said it was the best place for it.
Barnaby goes to talk to Jeff Haskin. He set up the survival course. Jeff says he likes rope- the feel, the smell. His barn is filled with ropes. Jeff claims Martin owed him money, but he always avoided paying up. They were going into business together. Jeff provided all the time and materials, but Martin lost interest. Jeff shows Barnaby little wooden siege engines (models of catapults, trebuchets) that they had hoped to sell at country fairs.
Troy says he found out what Dean was arrested for- He stole cars, but on the last occasion, the owner tried to stop him. Hunniset then attempted to strangle him. The victim was elderly and had a heart attack at the scene of the crime. Hunniset then tried to strangle one of the arresting police officers. He was found unfit to plead and ordered to be detained at a secure hospital. He's not been in trouble since.
Someone comes up to the backyard of a house and cuts the clothesline.
Barnaby and Troy go to the chemist shop as there has been a break-in reported. Gordon tells them that the loo window was forced and Tenzine was stolen along with a chocolate bar. Quite a large amount of Tenzine was taken.
Barnaby goes to the Leesmith house, where Hannah is babysitting. Gordon is not home. Hannah tells Barnaby that Sarah is upset about the bad things going on in the village, so Gordon took her out for tea. Hannah says she wishes she and her family could go away somewhere quiet.
Saturday, Barnaby and Joyce come to the Mercy Park Open Day festival. The band is playing and there is a bouncy castle, face painting, a vegetable stand, a plant stand, book table and other booths. Troy and Cully visit a ring toss game. Troy says he doesn’t know why Barnaby hasn’t arrested the rope-climbing expert yet.
Later, there is a tug of war contest. The participants on one side pull the other side down before the start is announced. Mick May, the announcer, says, “Look, for the third time, will you wait for the signal? Don't you loonies understand English?” Dean gets up from the ground and goes up to Mick and tries to strangle him. Barnaby and Troy come to his rescue. Troy asks why Barnaby has not arrested Dean yet. Mary May comes to her husband’s assistance and wants to know why they haven’t arrested Dean and also says that someone has stolen her clothesline. Troy goes over to her house and sees the clothesline has been cut away. Mary tells him a neighbor's clothesline has also been stolen.
The band plays Auld Lang Syne. Barnaby tells Troy, “I'm not going to arrest Hunniset. “ Troy says, “Why not? He almost killed the referee. Then again, he's got Dr Moore on his side, hasn't he?” Barnaby says, “She believes in him and I respect her judgment.” Troy says, “Mrs May and her stolen washing line, sir. Well, we've got all the help we need. So why not do a bit of psychiatric profiling on that as well?”
Gordon Leesmith arrives back at the hall where the band equipment is stored. He pulls out the flashy new pink uniform from a locker. There is a knock at the door. Gordon goes to answer the door and says, “I’m so glad you could make it.....”
Plot, Part 3[]
MURDER 3:
The next morning, Mick May takes out the trash and notices a flag lying on the ground across the street. The rope for the flag is missing. Band members arrive at the village hall. They see a hat on the ground. Mick tells Sgt. Troy about the trampled flag and the missing rope. Across the street, Sarah knocks on the chemist window. No one answers. Then the band members go in the locker room and see Gordon hanging from a hook on the wall.
Barnaby and the police examine the crime scene. Troy finds Gordon’s suit in the locker. His wallet, credit cards, money and some loose change are in the suit. There are a lot of scuff marks on the floor so he was apparently dragged into the room and probably killed before he was hung up. They also find a paper parcel wrapper with a feather in it. Troy finds out that the wrapper is from Simblet and Sykes. They're an old established firm of outfitters. They specialize in staff wear and uniforms.
Near the cricket field, A farmer is driving a tractor and sees a field of brown cloth hanging from rows of clotheslines. The farmer goes to examine the clotheslines and finds a majorette tunic with pink on the front.
At Mercy Park, Jane Moore tells the detectives that she isn’t sure why anyone would want to kill Gordon. But, she takes the detectives to where there has been another crime... the rope structure in back of the hospital- all the ropes have been stolen from the wooden posts.
Barnaby goes out to Jeff Haskins place and all of his ropes have been stolen. Jeff says he was only gone for an hour for lunch.
The detectives go to tell Sarah about Gordon’s death. Sarah cries and says that Gordon hadn’t told her he was going to the village hall last night. Troy asks if she knew that Gordon had ordered a drum majorette outfit. Sarah says, “He could have bought it. He did always want drum majorettes in the band, but I told him it wasn't right for Midsomer Worthy. They're far too conservative here.” Sarah is asked if Gordon ever mentioned that one of his commemorative cups had gone missing? Sarah says no. He believed Martin Wroath could have stolen it. He was always round to her house. Barnaby asks, “What about your babysitter?” Sarah says Hannah wouldn't have stolen it.
Barnaby goes out to the field to investigate the clotheslines. He removes the drum majorette tunic from the clothesline. Barnaby puts the tunic in his car. He goes to the clubhouse where Ettie and Hannah are sitting on blankets watching the cricket match. They tell Barnaby they always give Guy a picnic when he's playing. Hannah gives Barnaby a cup of tea. Guy comes up and Hannah gives him a cup. Ettie asks Barnaby if he has ever taken her Mum on a picnic.
Feeling tired, Barnaby goes to his car and reclines his seat and takes a nap. Waking up later at dusk, Barnaby gets out of his car and goes toward the clotheslines. Someone puts a rope around his neck and tries to strangle him. Troy drives up, lights on and the attacker runs away. Troy takes Barnaby to Jane Moore’s house and she gives him some brandy. Barnaby says he didn’t see anyone. Jane tells them Dean Hunniset hasn't returned to the hospital. Troy tells Barnaby he needs to see a doctor. Barnaby says, “You know, it's almost as if someone were playing games with us.”
Walking on a pathway, the Moore children discuss Barnaby. Hannah says, “Poor Mr. Barnaby didn't look well last night.” Guy says, “No he didn’t.” Ettie says, “Good job he had Mum there to look after him. Maybe Mum wants to look after Mr Barnaby forever.” Hannah says, “He's married.” Ettie says, “What difference does that make?” Guy says, “Ettie, sometimes you say the stupidest things.”
Barnaby and Troy drive up to Jane Moore’s house. He says, “Doctor said I'd been drսgged, probably with a strong tranquilizer. I'd say tenzine, wouldn't you? Has Dean Hunniset returned yet?” Jane says no and she has to leave for an appointment. Troy and Barnaby go to Dean’s room. They open a closet and out drop the missing ropes. They go over to the shed and Troy finds all the ropes and rigging from Haskin's workshop. Barnaby turns to find Dean with a thick branch in his hand and Barnaby gets him to drop it. The detectives interview Dean at the police station. Dean says he saw Troy and Cully the night Tony was killed. He was going to cut Tony down when Troy turned up. Dean says “I should have stopped it happening.” He says he had to help Dr Moore by stealing rope. He had to stop them killing again. Barnaby asks, “Them? How many are we talking about here, Dean? Two? Maybe three?”
Plot Denouement[]
The detectives meet the Moore children when they arrive on the bus in the village. They talk to Hannah first. (Flashback: Hannah rings Martin’s doorbell. Hannah, all dressed up, says, “Hello, Mr Wroath.” Martin says, “Hello, Hannah.”) Barnaby interjects, “And I expect you made yourself look good. Because Martin Wroath would have liked that. Martin Wroath was that kind of a man. Then what? Did he offer you a drink? A glass of white wine, perhaps?” (Flashback: Guy holding Martin down while Hannah pours wine down his throat. Hannah pulling the string attached to the gun and killing Martin).
Troy asks about Tony Parish, “What kind of a threat was he? But then, he did have a crush on your mum.” Barnaby says, “Did you hope that his murder would help close down the hospital? So that you and you family could get away together? And find that perfect place? We believe that you used the same drսg to fix Tony's drink. At the party, maybe? We also believe that you put some of those capsules into his pocket after you drowned him." (Flashback: The Moore children drowning Tony). Barnaby says, “Hannah, you'll have to tell us. Because we have evidence. And we're going to talk to Guy, and we're going to talk to Ettie. And I feel fairly certain they'll have something to say. And then there's your mother. She'll have to know.”
Hannah says, “You bastard! You were lucky. You were so bloody lucky! I knew how you liked your tea. (Flashback: The girls serving Barnaby tea. Guy trying to strangle Barnaby. Troy driving up and honking his horn while the kids run away.).
Troy says, “Would you like to tell us about Gordon Leesmith? (Hannah laughs) Barnaby says, “You broke into the pharmacy and stole more drսgs. You used up the others?” Hannah says, “I asked Mr. Leesmith for some drսgs, but he refused. He liked me. He wanted me to be his drum majorette. So we stole the drսgs. Ettie took some chocolate. Me, a drum majorette?” Barnaby says, “So he had to be killed?” Hannah says, “Of course. He would have said something.” Troy says, “I'm surprised you didn't drսg him first as well.” Hannah says, “Didn't need to. He was already up for it. He used to ring me saying he'd got a uniform and he wanted me to go and try it on. Ettie and I had such a laugh about it. And then we thought, "Well, here's an opportunity." (Flashback: Knock at the door of the hall. Gordon says, “I'm so glad you could make it.” Guy strangles Gordon while Hannah performs in the majorette costume and Ettie plays the drum and laughs.) Hannah says, “I think we gave Mr Leesmith the performance of his life. No one will ever take our mother away from us. Ever.”
Barnaby interviews Ettie. “I’d like to talk to you about your father.” Ettie says, “He's dead. He was too clingy. Too clingy with Mum. All over her. Kissing and that. He used to send us out of the room sometimes. Because he wanted to be with Mum all the time. He used to make me cry, and it made Hannah angry. She said he wanted Mum all to himself. Dad didn't fall down the cliff. Guy and Hannah pushed him.” (Laughs)
At Jane’s house, Joyce drives up. Barnaby asked her there because he might need her support. Jane arrives and says, “They said you'd found the person responsible for the murders. So who is it?”
Cast[]
- John Nettles as DCI Tom Barnaby
- Daniel Casey as Sgt Gavin Troy
- Jane Wymark as Joyce Barnaby
- Laura Howard as Cully Barnaby
- Isla Blair as Dr. Jane Moore
- Perdita Weeks as Hannah Moore
- Mark Richards as Guy Moore
- Anna Maguire as Ettie Moore
- Jan Ravens as Sarah Wroath
- Philip Fox as Gordon Leesmith (as Phillip Fox)
- Stuart Bunce as Tony Parish
- Jonty Stephens as Jeff Haskin
- Paul Brennen as Dean Hunniset
- June Watson as Mary May
- John Branwell as Mick May
- Barry Jackson as Dr. George Bullard
- Jon Rake as Ron
- Susan Porrett as Sonia
- Sophie Holland as Young Mother (uncredited)
Galleries[]
Body Count[]
Prior to the Episode
Pushed off of a cliff while on a climbing holiday 3 years ago.
In the Episode
Drugged with Tenzine by being forced to drink from a cup, arranged sitting on a chair with his feet on another chair and had a thin rope tied to his foot and to a shotgun trigger that was fixed on top of a cupboard. Then the rope was pulled, triggering the shotgun and shooting him in the chest to make it appear as suicide.
Drugged with Tenzine in his wine, then after he got to the clinic was lured to the stream where he was drowned. After that his body was dragged and hanged from the obstacle course equipment with a rope.
Strangled while Mozart's Rondo Alla Turca was being played on a CD player and then hung on a wall with his lanyard.
Supporting Cast[]
Episode Images[]
Arrests[]
- Hannah Moore
- Murder of her father Andy Moore 3 years ago
- Murder of Martin Wroath
- Murder of Tony Parish
- Accomplice to murder of Gordon Leesmith
- Accomplice to attempted murder of DCI Barnaby
- Guy Moore
- Murder of his father Andy Moore 3 years ago
- Murder of Martin Wroath
- Murder of Tony Parish
- Murder of Gordon Leesmith
- Attempted murder of DCI Barnaby
- Ettie Moore
- Accomplice to murder of Martin Wroath
- Murder of Tony Parish
- Accomplice to murder of Gordon Leesmith
- Accomplice to attempted murder of DCI Barnaby
Notes[]
- The following actor who appeared in this episode has also appeared in the following episodes: Jon Rake - Destroying Angel and Last Year's Model
- Actress Perdita Weeks (playing the part of Hannah Moore) is the sister of Honeysuckle Weeks, who appears in Blood Will Out (1999).
Trivia[]
- This is the first episode in which an attempt is made to kill a main character; as it is an attempt on Tom's life.
- The band that appears in this episode was comprised of members of the City of Oxford Silver Band.
- The music piece that the marching band plays is the "Turkish March" Rondo Alla Turca (Sonata No 11 in A Major) by Mozart.
- Tom Barnaby takes his tea "strong with one sugar."
The Trials and Tribulations of DS Gavin Troy:
- Troy says, "Oh well, these dried up old academics are all right for a bit of theory long after the event, but your Dr Moore doesn't have to go out and find it first hand, does he?"
- Troy is jealous of Tom's relationship with Jane Moore.
- Troy plays the spoons at the party alongside the violinist. Such talent.
- Troy and Cully kiss.
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