Midsomer Murders Wiki
Don't have an account?
Register
Advertisement
Register
Midsomer Murders Wiki
Midsomer Murders Wiki
2,405
pages
in: Series Three episodes

Judgement Day

Sign in to edit

Judgement Day is the third episode of the third series of the popular ITV crime drama Midsomer Murders and was originally aired on 29th January 2000.

Synopsis[]

The village of Midsomer Mallow is in competition for the title of the "perfect village," Barnaby and Troy are investigating a series of break-ins in the area. When the thief is found murdered, there are no end of suspects: a jealous husband; a spurned girlfriend and her irate parents; one of the robbery victims who is not being entirely truthful with the police; and finally several members of the village committee whose only concern is how the death will affect their chances in the perfect village competition.

Plot[]

1955: Ruth Weston and Michael Weston are heading out to celebrate their anniversary. Their daughter, Annabel Weston, is angry that they are leaving. In the kitchen, she throws her plate of food on the floor. She tells her babysitter, Mrs. Foster, that she hates her. Later, the baby-sitter is watching a TV show. The door creaks. Someone creeps up on the babysitter and stabs her with a knife.

The parents arrive home. They look around uneasily. They look in on the babysitter and find her bloodied body. They race upstairs to her daughter's room. Their daughter is in bed. Over on the chair, a bloody knife is sitting on a stuffed toy.

Present day:

Villagers of Midsomer Mallow are meeting to discuss the Perfect Village Competition. Bella Devere calls her husband Marcus Devere. They need to be on their way. Bella's 20 year old daughter, Caroline Devere, says goodbye. She is going out. The vet, Gordon Brierly is examining a dog. His wife, Laura Brierly, tells him it's time to go. The butcher, Ray Dorset, is serving food: "We're going to have sausages, chicken wings and pasties." Bella and Marcus are serving wine. "The apricot and elderberry has turned out absolutely tip-top this year." Barbara Drinkwater is leading the orchestra. The judges will be Rosemary Furman, the editor of Country Matters, Frank Mannion, who does a gardening program and a member of the public who won a contest, Joyce Barnaby.

Joyce Barnaby is excited that she won the prize. She gets to be a judge for the Perfect Village Competition. A week away from home, first class travel and a big dinner at the end. Cully Barnaby will be coming over to take care of her husband, She's working on a book about the Causton playhouse. DCI Tom Barnaby. Joyce tells Tom there had better not be a grisly murder going on. He says no, they are investigating a spate of burglaries.

Caroline Devere is in bed with Peter Drinkwater. He gets up and leaves to join his partner, Jack Dorset, to go rob Greyfriars House. They break into the house, steal some items and vandalize, Someone watches them while they are stealing. Jack suddenly feels that someone is there. Peter smashes a bowl and a painting. They race away. The next morning, Barnaby and DS Gavin Troy go to investigate. This is the 7th burglary in 2 months. Edward Allardice was away in London and didn't get home until 1:00 in the morning. He tells them that he may have mentioned something to the butcher about being out of town. Allardice says he saw a white van when he was driving home. "If ever I get my hands on the little bastards that did this, I'll kill them," says Allardice. Barnaby says how did you know there were two of them? Well, they always come in pairs, don't they?"

Barnaby and Troy look at tire tracks outside. They determine that Allardice couldn't have seen the perpetrators if he were coming from London. He is obfuscating.

Barnaby and Troy go to interview Ray Dorset, the butcher. They ask if there has been anyone new to the village? He mentions that Peter Drinkwater came to live in the village earlier in the year. He is Mary Drinkwater's nephew or great-nephew. He lived with her for awhile and then moved into the farm- Windy Whistle farm. He's a bit on the wild side. After the police leave, Jack asks his dad why he spoke about Peter that way- he's a friend. "He's trouble," says Ray. "And he's leading you into trouble."

Over at the vet surgery, Peter rolls off of Laura Brierly. She tells him he needs to go. "If Gordon found out about you, he'd neuter you." Laura pays him 50 quid. She threatens to tell his girlfriend, Caroline. Peter leaves. Gordon Brierly watches him walk off.

At Windy Whistle Farm, Barnaby and Troy try to interview Peter, but he drives off.

Caroline walks into her house and her parents confront her. Bella says "Peter Drinkwater, You're seeing him again, aren't you?" Caroline says that she is 20 years old and she can see who she likes. She walks out. Laura Brierly comes by to talk to her.

At the police station, Barnaby has found information about Drinkwater. "He's got a record. Nothing very serious - two police cautions, taking and driving away, shoplifting... And a 6-month suspended sentence for assault." Troy reports that the van that Allardice reported seeing- M-923-FBW. A white Renault Trafic, registered to Ray Dorset in Midsomer Mallow." Ray has a 21 year old son, Jack Dorset. He works in the shop and the shop is the center of gossip in any village. People tell Ray when they're going to be away and Jack tells Peter.

The orchestra is rehearsing. It is their last rehearsal before Judgement Day. Mary Drinkwater says she wants lots of energy and pizzaz.

Caroline is crying on the steps outside her house. Ray Dorset drives off in his van. Allardice looks at the damage on his portrait. Gordon tells Laura to finish an operation. Gordon leaves. At Windy Whistle Farm, Peter is packing up things. He hears a noise outside. Someone picks up a pitchfork. There is a knock on the door. Peter goes to answer it. He gets stabbed with the pitchfork and falls to the ground.

As the police drive to Windy Whistle farm, Ray Dorset passes them. The police head into the house. They find a computer. A uniformed officer calls out. They've found Peter Drinkwater's dead body. Pathologist Dr. Dan Peterson reports, "One of the prongs cracked a rib and went straight into the heart. Must have taken quite a lot of strength. ..Skewered him like a spud on Guy Fawkes night. I wouldn't be surprised if it shattered the spleen and the kidney, too." They find Gordon Brierly's credit card under the body.

Barnaby to Jack, "We have an eyewitness who places your father's van at the scene of at least one of the houses broken into. We've also recovered several of the missing items from Windy Whistle farm and I must warn you, we're gonna have those checked for fingerprints." "They were using my van?" says Ray.

Jack says, "We were at school together, Pete and me. The break-ins was his idea." Barnaby says, "But you had a good job with your father. Why'd you get involved with him?" Jack says, "I hate the bloody job. Bowing and scraping behind the bloody meat counter. That's no life." Barnaby says "Would you say he had any enemies?" Jack laughs, "Who hated Peter Drinkwater? ( Scoffs ) Be easier to ask who didn't." Ray tells the police that he had no idea. If he had, he would've stopped them. Ray tells the police that he did see a Red Renault coming out of Windy Whistle farm when he was making his deliveries. Mr. Devere has a Renault.

The Devere's are playing scrabble. Caroline walks in. She tells them Peter has been killed. Caroline says she thought she loved him, but she didn't. "He's dead and I don't care, but you got what you wanted."

Cully greets Barnaby when he arrives home. "What news, then, of the judging?" Barnaby asks. Joyce says, "They've booked us into the Castle Hotel at Wisden and the first meeting's on Friday. The other judges- Rosemary Furman and Frank Mannion. "And they were going to have Annabel Cross, but at the last minute she's let them down. They've managed to get Samantha Johnstone to step in." Cully adds, "She writes the Sister Claire Chronicles. Life in an English village through the eyes of a retired nun." Barnaby reports that they got the burglar, but he didn't have much to say.

Barnaby and Troy go to speak to the Devere's since their Renault was seen at Windy Whistle Farm. The Devere' claim they haven't seen Peter Drinkwater lately. Barnaby says, "Then how would you explain the fact that your car was seen leaving Windy Whistle farm just before three o'clock yesterday afternoon? Exactly the same time Drinkwater was killed." Marcus admits it was him. "I did go to see him but he wasn't there, at least, I tooted, you know? There was no answer so I drove away. The fact is, he's been carrying on with Caroline. Our daughter. I wanted to know what his intentions were." Bella says, "You can't really think my husband had anything to do with what happened, Mr Barnaby. He was with the National Westminster for 37 years."

Barnaby and Troy go to interview Caroline at Causton nursery. Caroline says she and Peter were in a relationship, but she ended it because Laura Brierly told her about her and Peter.

Barnaby says that Edward Allardice actually threatened to kill "the little bastards" who took his stuff. "Let's take his property back to him. I want to know why he lied about that white van."

The Perfect Village Committee meets to decide what to do since Peter was killed. Should they call the event off? They decide to go ahead.

Barnaby and Troy deliver the stolen goods to Allardice. He says he didn't really mean it when he said he wanted to kill the burglars. They wonder how he got part of the vehicle's license number but didn't recognize the white van itself. Allardice gets offended by the questions and asks them to leave.

Joyce leaves on the trip. Cully is driving her. Rosemary Furman is also on the way to the competition. Frank Mannion finishes his TV program and then heads out. At the train station, Samantha Johnstone is drinking. Joyce arrives at the hotel. She is nervous. Cully says goodbye. At the hotel, Rosemary complains, "Oh, God. Country hotels. Tea is made in the bedroom and teenage waiters with acne at reception. I'm so glad you could make it, Samantha. I thought you might have been back in that - what's that psychiatric place you go to? The retreat?" Frank walks in. He greets Samantha and kisses her. Rosemary says hello to Frank. She hasn't seen him since she fired him. Joyce walks in. Rosemary says they have Kirkbridge this afternoon and Midsomer Manor tomorrow. Samantha adds alcohol to her tea.

At the police station, Barnaby shows Troy a file about Allardice. "He was telling the truth about that car crash, it was six years ago. He was driving and according to that report, he was drunk." There's no death certificate for his wife, Jane Rochelle, she was in the same business, an actress, and, apparently, she survived.

Barnaby and Troy go to see Gordon Brierly. He isn't there so they interview Laura Brierly. She admits to the affair with Peter Drinkwater. She says her husband was lacking in the sex department. The police show Laura Gordon's credit card. Gordon comes in. He doesn't know how Peter got his credit card. He lies to the police, claiming her was operating on a cat with Laura the day Peter was killed. Laura asks him after the police leave why he lied.

At the village of Little Kirkbridge, the villagers are dressed up and Morris Men dance. Joyce calls Tom later- "We got long sword dancing, clog, and molly dancing, a Norfolk border dance with sticks, and finally they all put antlers for something called an Abbots Bromley Horn Dance. ..I thought they were rather fun. But I don't think the others were very impressed-Rosemary has hay fever. Samantha, the writer, well, she's completely depressed. Frank Mannion's alright, although I'm afraid after dinner he disappeared with one of the waiters."

In the bar, Samantha invites Joyce to join her. Samantha orders two whiskeys for herself.

At home, Cully asks Tom why he didn't tell Joyce about the murder. "I don't see how you can be a perfect village when you've got a homicidal maniac running around with a pitchfork," says Cully. Tom tells Cully about Edward Allardice. "Edward Allardice? Edward Allardice did four seasons at the Playhouse. You know he was married to Jane Rochelle? Back in the '60s, she was said to be one of the most beautiful women in the world. She made a lot of films in America but then she died in a car accident, I think. Is he really living in Midsomer Mallow? Yep. Do you think I could meet him? Oh, he could tell me everything I need to know."

Laura Brierly finds pants of Gordon's with blood on it. He tells her they need to go in the wash. She asks if it is animal blood? She looks scared.

In Midsomer Mallow, Marcus Devere is mowing the lawn, the tents are going up, the food and wine are prepared. Chairs are being put up. Signs posted over the tent. The judges get in a van to go to Midsomer Mallow.

Cully walks over to Edward Allardice's house to get an interview for her book. He shows her around his home. Cully asks if she can record their interview.

The orchestra warms up. The tables are set up. Laura Brierly can't figure out how they can go ahead with the competition so soon after Peter's death. Gordon asks if she misses him?

The judges arrive. "As head of the Midsomer Manor Committee I'd like to welcome you and your fellow judges to Midsomer Manor. As you can see, we've arranged perfect weather for your visit to our perfect village," says Marcus Devere. Rosemary introduces the judges. Bella leaves the welcoming committee and goes to the table with wine on it. She says she thought she thought she saw someone take something.

Gordon Brierly takes the judges on a historical tour..from the 3rd century AD to the present day... "You're actually standing on what we believe was once a Saxon burial ground. I thought we'd start with the medieval alms houses small parts of which actually date back to the 14th..."

Barnbaby and Troy show up. Cully finishes her interview and says she is walking to the village. Allardice says he will come with her. Back in the Allardice house, a woman with severely deformed hands finds Cully's tape recorder.

...."And that brings us back to the green where we started. And also to the present day. We have a fete here every summer, bonfire night, pancake races and Easter egg hunts. Midsomer Mallow isn't just a village, it's a community. And in conclusion, I have to say that we certainly find it perfect." finishes Gordon. Samantha looks around. "Are you looking for someone," asks Joyce. "I'm not sure," says Samantha. Roy tells the judges, "We have home-made wine and all the food is locally grown. If you'd care to step this way."

Barnaby and Troy walk up. Mr. Devere asks him not to mention the murder. He doesn't want him to spoil their chances of winning the competition. Barnaby tells him he is there unofficially. His wife is one of the judges. Barnaby says he hasn't said a word about the murder.

In the tent, Barnaby greets Joyce. The orchestra play loudly. Troy asks if they are serving any beer. They are not.

Cully comes to the tent. Joyce tells Barnaby that "Rosemary Furman hates the countryside. She lives in London, and as far as I can make out she never leaves it. I mean she edits Country Matters from the heart of Soho. She and Frank Mannion are at each other's throats the whole time. He can't stand her. The only decent one is Samantha Johnstone. I think I'd better go and rescue her," Joyce goes over to Samantha.

Cully tells her dad she saw Allardice. The house was creepy.

Joyce goes to ask Samantha if she is alright. "No, I'm not alright. I've just seen someone in the... street," says Samantha. Then she asks for another drink. Bella Devere pours a glass of wine. Ray goes up to speak to Frank Mannion. Rosemary grabs the glass meant for Samantha. "God, that's disgusting." Over at the wine table, Bella Devere is bending over in pain. She falls and knocks over all the wine glasses. Laura Brierly screams. Rosemary Furman is on the ground. Dead.

Pathologist, Dr. Peterson, says it looks like cyanide. Rat poison. Her skin is abnormally pink. If put in a glass of wine, she wouldn't have tasted a thing. The other woman, Bella Devere, she only took a sip. The doctor sent her home.

Laura tells Troy what she saw- A little boy carrying a glass of wine on a tray and Rosemary took it and drank it. Gordon walks up and Laura tells him to leave her alone. "Did you poison her? You've gone mad. Go away!"

Joyce asks Barnaby what happened. He tells her Rosemary Furman died. She might not have been the target.

Troy interviews Ray. He says "She saw him, you know. Mrs Devere. Just after the judges arrived and that lady introduced us. That's when she saw someone in the tent....Taking one of the bottles."

Bella tells Barnaby she didn't see who it was. The sun was in her eyes. Bella thinks they were trying to kill her.

The Brierly's arrive home. Gordon says he didn't kill Peter. He wanted Laura to think he did. Gordon saw him leaving here. He knew what the two of them were up to. "It's disgusting. You're old enough to be his mother," says Gordon. "You disgust me. I want you to move out of my house. I don't want to see you again. I don't want to know you." Laura cries.

Barnaby and Troy discuss the case. Could it be the poisoned wine was meant for Samantha Johnstone? Samantha is packing her suitcase at the hotel. She calls reception when there is a knock on the door....When the police arrive, Mr. Mannion is leaving. They find Samantha stabbed in the back.

At the Barnaby's, Cully and Joyce are shocked to hear that Samantha is dead. Joyce says Samantha was worried about someone she had seen.. in the street. Joyce says, "she was an unhappy person. Clinically depressed. In fact she hinted that she'd tried to commit suicide. She was committed for a while. She spent six months at a place called Sebdon Manor." Barnaby and Troy head to Sebdon Manor.

Marcus brings Bella a drink. "You gave me quite a scare," ( Softly chuckles ) "I love you. You know that? Everything's gonna be alright."

Barnaby and Troy meet with Doctor Sellers at Sebdon Manor. They ask about Samantha Johnstone. "She committed herself. An attempted suicide.,,Marital breakdown. Lack of self-esteem, leading to alcoholism and problems with drսgs... " Samantha was particularly attached to one of their most notorious residents, Annabel Weston. "In 1955, Annabel was 7-years-old, Her parents were wealthy and hardworking. The father was an accountant. They had a big place near the coast. Charmed life. ..the child must have had some sort of argument with the housekeeper, a Mrs Foster. Anyway, the child went down into the kitchen. She pulled out a knife. And...well, she butchered the housekeeper. Stabbed her. Seven or eight times. Then she went to bed. She was asleep when her parents got back. The knife was being held by one of her stuffed toys. There was never any question that she did it. She admitted as much to her parents. She didn't like the housekeeper, so she killed her. She had no idea she'd done anything wrong. She went to various secure institutions before going to Brogmore. She was there for over ten years. She certainly wasn't a threat to anyone, anymore. So she eventually ended up here. Samantha Johnstone took Annabel under her wing. There was something of a child still about Annabel. Samantha became something of a surrogate, here at the Retreat." Barnaby and Troy race out of the office and head back to Midsomer Mallow.

Cully goes over to the Allardice house to retrieve her tape recorder. Behind her someone approaches with a knife. "Who are you?" Allardice walks in. He explains to Cully that this is his wife, Jane Rochelle. She has horrible burn scars all over her face.

Barnby and Troy arrive at the Devere house. Marcus says Bella isn't here. Barnaby says "Bella-short for Annabel." Marcus says he knew that Bella killed Peter Drinkwater. Marcus knew who she was when he married her. She answered an ad that he put in the newspaper. He fell in love with her. She was still under supervision then, reporting to the home office. Marcus gave Bella an alibi. Bella killed Peter because she thought he was going to marry Caroline. She couldn't let that happen. She poisoned Rosemary Furman by mistake and herself. She had no idea Samantha was going to be a judge. If she had known she never would have shown her face on the green. Marcus didn't know she was going to kill Samantha. He thought she was asleep.

"But you knew she's killed Peter Drinkwater. And you must have known she was responsible for the poison. What were you going to do? Stand around and let her wipe out the entire village?" says Barnaby.

Marcus says he had already decided what he was going to do. Barnaby and Troy run up to Bella's bedroom. She is dead. Marcus says that he didn't want Bella to be put back in the bin. It would have destroyed her. So he gave her sleeping pills and then... A pillow. It was better for her. Marcus only wanted her to be happy.

Back at the Barnaby house, Cully tells them about meeting Jane Rochelle. She was very badly burnt. They've been living in that house hiding from the world. Barnaby says it is Joyce's fault that he almost thought Allardice was responsible for the deaths. Joyce had said Samantha had seen someone in the street. Allardice was the only person in the street.

Cast[]

Galleries[]

Body Count[]

Prior to the Episode

In the Episode

Supporting Cast[]

Episode Images[]

Arrests[]

Notes[]

The following actors and actresses who appeared in this episode have also appeared in the following episodes

Trivia[]

  • This is the fourth episode where Joyce Barnaby is a witness to a murder. Previous episodes where this occurred are Death of a Hollow Man, Death's Shadow, and Dead Man's Eleven.
  • When the gardening expert is shown filming his TV show, the crew in the background are actually the real Midsomer Murders production crew, including the director hunching over his monitor.
  • While visiting the home of one of the suspects, DCI Barnaby points out that the place is called Lothlorian, and explains to DS Troy that it is from The Lord of the Rings (where it is spelled Lothlórien, by the way). Orlando Bloom, who plays Peter Drinkwater, later starred as Legolas in The Lord of the Rings trilogy directed by Peter Jackson.
  • Last appearance of Dr. Dan Peterson.
  • Marlene Sidaway who portrayed the historic murder victim, Mrs. Foster in this episode also portrayed Mrs. Bundy, a housekeeper who kept house for several victims in the first two series.
  • Caroline Faber and Richard Trinder who are playing the Weston husband and wife in this episode are later playing together again as husband and wife in the episode The House in the Woods.
  • The actor who plays Jack is a very very young Tobias Menzies of Outlander fame.
  • No plays for Cully. Instead she is writing a book about the Causton Playhouse and interviews Edward Allardice.

The Trials and Tribulations of DS Gavin Troy: Troy is rather disappointed that they are only serving wine at the Judgement Day competition.

Goofs[]

  • Marcus Devere twice says he was going the have a chat with Peter Drinkwater "mano a mano" meaning a talk "man to man". This is an incorrect use of the phrase based on the fact that mano sounds like and is spelled similarly to man. "Mano a mano" actually means "hand to hand" and is supposed to indicate a physical altercation.
  • About 5 minutes in, they discover the fatally-stabbed Mrs. Foster slumped in her chair, but her chest movements from breathing are visible.


Jump to:  Synopsis

Community content is available under CC-BY-SA unless otherwise noted.
Advertisement

Fan Feed

More Midsomer Murders Wiki