‘Father Brown’: S08.E10. “The Tower of Lost Souls”
By: Shain E. Thomas
Tags: BBC, Television, Series Eight, Father Brown, E71e100

The Father Brown series eight finale opens with a body having already been found. Within seconds of the opening shot, we see Inspector Gerry Mallory (Jack Deam) arriving at the crime scene. Sergeant Daniel Goodfellow (John Burton) is at the crime scene when the police inspector arrives.

Inspector Mallory, with how he frequently wants to do the least amount of work possible, suggests the cause of death must be suicide. Sergeant Goodfellow correctly points out there is no suicide note.

George Oakley (Cal Macaninch), a caretaker and gardener for Helmsley Tower, discovered Reginald Brody’s body. Alistair Helmsley MP (Gyuri Sarossy), the owner of the tower, is shocked by the apparent suicide. Mr Helmsley is an elected member of parliament. The MP tells the police inspector if there is anything he can do to assist with his investigation, he can be found at his house.

As Inspector Mallory and Sergeant Goodfellow walk away, the MP turns to George and tells him that his wife Emily (Susannah Wise) has some jobs for him to complete.

Sergeant Goodfellow discovers something odd about the condition of the body but doesn’t immediately broach the issue with Inspector Mallory as he is busy elsewhere. Knowing Inspector Mallory, he’s probably sightseeing from the top of the tower. The sergeant tells Inspector Mallory Mr Brody had been wearing a scarf. The police inspector doesn’t consider it significant.

The scene transitions to inspector Mallory and Sergeant Goodfellow arriving at the Helmsley residence. Before Inspector Mallory can move forward with any meaningful investigation, Scotland Yard’s Chief Inspector Valentine (Hugo Speer) arrives and informs the Kembleford police inspector that he will be taking over.

Elsewhere, at the presbytery, we see Bridgette “Mrs M” McCarthy (Sorcha Cusack) telling Lady Penelope “Bunty” Windermere (Emer Kenny) and Father Brown (Mark Williams) that it seems Reginald Brody had jumped from the top of Helmsley Tower. Given that this is a Father Brown episode, it’s more likely Mr Brody was pushed. Father Brown doesn’t approve of making assumptions.

Meanwhile, at the top of the tower, we see Chief Inspector Valentine, inspector Mallory, and Sergeant Goodfellow inspect the scene. The sergeant tells the visiting chief inspector that the door wasn’t as much locked as it was barred with a chair. Inspector Mallory believes it a plain and simple case of suicide. Chief Inspector Valentine correctly notes, given his experience of the village, nothing is ever plain and simple.

Sergeant Goodfellow tells the chief inspector about the scarf he found wrapped around Mr Brody’s neck. With it not being winter, the sergeant felt it a tad odd. Inspector Mallory is immediately dismissive of Sergeant Goodfellow’s observations. When Chief Inspector Valentine asks about the scarf’s colour, the sergeant states it was red. What could the colour indicate? Without acknowledging the police inspector, Chief Inspector Valentine leaves the top of the tower.

Elsewhere, we see Mr Oakley hanging a banner reading Helmsley Foundation for Veterans. Even though the MP suggests that he should cancel the fundraiser, his wife tells him that raising money for veterans isn’t going to make him look heartless.

Mr Helmsley is surprised to see Chief Inspector Valentine taking an active interest in the case. The chief inspector informs the MP that the body found at the foot of the tower was that of Reginald Brody. Mr Brody was the father of Phillip Brody, the MP’s former gardener. The chief inspector notes that this isn’t the first time Mr Oakley happened upon a dead body in mysterious circumstances.

When William Helmsley (James Anderson) suggests to Chief Inspector Valentine that Mr Brody’s death might not have resulted from a suicide, he states he is exploring the possibility. Chief Inspector Valentine had referenced Natasha Lipinski. Mrs Helmsley seems rather gleeful when Mr Oakley suggests he had wrongly arrested Phillip Brody for Ms Lipinski’s murder.

Image Credit: IMDb.com

Back at the police station, in the police inspector’s office, we see Chief Inspector Valentine briefing Inspector Mallory and Sergeant Goodfellow about his suspicions. Unbeknownst to them, Father Brown has arrived at the police station and is listening to what is being said. Noticing the creaking of floorboards, the chief inspector opens the door.

Whilst Inspector Mallory wants Father Brown to leave them to the investigation, for old time’s sake, Chief Inspector Valentine invites the Catholic priest to remain. Three weeks prior to Mr Brody’s death, Philip Brody died in prison. The chief inspector’s working theory is that Mr Brody found evidence of his son’s innocence and it got him killed.

The chief inspector essentially side-lines Inspector Mallory and Sergeant Goodfellow and works with Father Brown. Inspector Mallory’s facial expression suggests more than a modicum of annoyance.

Elsewhere, we find the MP lost in thought as his wife enters the room. She immediately picks up on the fact that there is something wrong. Mr Helmsley is concerned that Chief Inspector Valentine might suspect one of them killed both Ms Lipinski and Mr Brody. The tone Mrs Helmsley takes suggests a possible involvement in both murders. How exactly does Mrs Helmsley think she can handle the chief inspector? What could Mrs Helmsley possibly have planned for the chief inspector?

Inspector Mallory takes an impertinent tone with the chief inspector which doesn’t go unnoticed. The police inspector and the sergeant find evidence pointing to William Helmsley as being a potential killer. Having had his colleagues bring Mr Helmsley into the police station for questioning, the chief inspector conducts the interrogation.

Chief Inspector Valentine tells Mr Helmsley that a market trader confirmed he had purchased the red scarf from him. This is the same scarf that Mr Brody was wearing when his body was discovered. The scarf is apparently identical to the one that was used to strangle Ms Lipinski. The chief inspector believes Mr Helmsley knows something about both murders but is afraid to come forward with information.

Later, we find Chief Inspector Valentine dining with Mrs M, Father Brown, and Bunty at the presbytery. Bunty wants the chief inspector to reveal stories from his past concerning Father Brown. Bunty tells Chief Inspector Valentine that she met the Helmsleys once. They were friends of her parents. When the chief inspector asks Bunty what she thought of them, she suggests the brother was a bit odd.

Father Brown, as Mrs M correctly observes, was apparently in Rome at the time Ms Lipinski was murdered. That places the murder sometime between the first and second series.

Chief Inspector Valentine tells Father Brown he has missed living in Kembleford, the country air, and the open spaces. Father Brown suggests he should visit more often. The Catholic priest recognises the chief inspector is a good policeman. It’s more than can be said for Inspector Mallory.

Chief Inspector Valentine believes the Mr Helmsley he questioned at the police station placed the scarf around Mr Brody’s neck for a specific reason. It was a message. He wanted the chief inspector to know there had been a second murder.

Chief Inspector Valentine observes the Helmsley residence from the road as trays are being carried into the house through the main entrance. Mrs Helmsley is clearly supervising the event. Did she notice the chief inspector?

Mr Helmsley, Mrs Helmsley’s brother-in-law, is the cue the chief inspector needed to approach the property. Chief Inspector Valentine wanted to speak with Mr Helmsley without his solicitor being present. With Mr Helmsley being a witness, there is no need for him to have legal representation. The chief inspector only wants to know what happened. It doesn’t escape Mrs Helmsley notice that her brother-in-law is speaking with the senior policeman.

They use the top of the tower to speak privately. Mr Helmsley tells the chief inspector that Ms Lipinski saw behind the curtain into the hidden room. He considers his family members evil. What could they be doing that would make Mr Helmsley think his brother and sister-in-law are evildoers?

As Chief Inspector Valentine speaks with Mr Helmsley, he is struck on the back of the head. He falls to the floor. When the chief inspector awakens, we hear Inspector Mallory’s voice in the background. Mr Helmsley is dead and Chief Inspector Valentine has the murder weapon in hand when he’s discovered. Inspector Mallory, immediately jumping to the wrong conclusion, arrests the chief inspector on suspicion of murdering Mr Helmsley. Inspector Mallory recites the chief inspector his rights as Sergeant Goodfellow cuffs him.

It doesn’t take long for Special Branch to dispatch Chief Inspector Sullivan (Tom Chambers) to Kembleford police station. Chief Inspector Sullivan tells Inspector Mallory that Special Branch is obligated to investigate the arrest of a police officer, particularly when the charge is murder.