by David Bishop
Lewis and Jocasta interview Mr Papas. He saw Friday leaving Nicos’ flat at the same time she was also appearing on television. Lewis rushes to help the inspector. Rees comes home and argues with his wife. Morse realises Friday is the killer. She says the baby belongs to them. Lewis sneaks up a back staircase as Friday threatens to drop the baby from a balcony onto a marble floor. She hears the sergeant and spins round. Lewis grabs the baby but Friday falls to her death.
Rees is arrested. Jocasta takes the baby away.
THE MANY CAMEOS OF COLIN DEXTER: The author appears as a porter at Hogg’s college. He can be seen over the old don’s shoulder when Hogg wishes Morse good luck with solving the murder of Nicos.
DRINK UP, LEWIS: The sergeant is sharing a bottle of white wine with his wife at the Greek restaurant.
Morse drinks white wine at the college dinner.
The inspector has a very generous Scotch at Tuckerman’s London office.
Rees invites the inspector into his home for a low-alcohol beer – Morse instantly refuses.
Tuckerman’s wife offers the inspector a drink, but he says it’s a bit early for him.
LEWIS’ KITH AND KIN: After 18 episodes of being heard about and not seen, then being seen but not heard, the sergeant’s wife finally gets a speaking part – and most of that is in Greek! Val has been studying Greek culture and learning the language. Lewis tries to join her at the language classes but is usually busy on a case. His linguistic skills are limited to ordering a beer and discussing the weather. Lewis says he’s not the sort who fancies their teacher. The sergeant’s mother used to say laughing always comes to crying.
SOPHOCLES DID DO IT: Morse suspects almost everybody except the killer. He spends a lot of time discovering Tuckerman was not the murderer. As the end draws near, the inspector believes Rees is the killer and goes to arrest him, hoping to elicit a confession.
ONE FOR THE MORGUE: Nicos Capparis dies of a broken neck when Friday Rees wrenches his head back sharply, crushing a vertebra. She uses the same method to murder his sister, Maria. Friday dies after falling from a balcony onto a marble floor in her home.
MURDERS: two. BODY COUNT: three.
CRYPTIC CROSSWORDS: Morse reads aloud a clue from the Times crossword to Lewis: ‘Old vessel put together in a rare time (1, 7)’. The answer is ‘trireme’. The inspector fills in the answer before his sergeant even has time to consider the conundrum. But Lewis does get the answer unassisted.
QUOTE-UNQUOTE: Strange offers pointless advice to Morse: ‘Try not to antagonise the rich and the famous just for the sake of it!’
Jocasta is not impressed by her first exposure to Morse’s charms: ‘Doesn’t he ever say please or thank you?’
The inspector unwittingly predicts the rise of reality television: ‘What is this modern compulsion to entertain unknown millions with your closest secrets?’
Friday reveals the ruthlessness of her character when lying to Morse about her husband: ‘He cared enough to kill.’
SOUNDTRACK: The story is scored with plenty of Greek musical themes and instruments. A baroque anthem is heard when Morse goes to dinner at the college. The inspector notices that a television programme about Greek ships ends with music by a British composer, Elgar. It is the Introduction and Allegro for strings. Beethoven’s 13th quartet is playing as Morse and Lewis go to question Vasilakis.
IDENTITY PARADE: Sid James makes a posthumous appearance in this story on a television screen, starring in the film Carry On Cowboy. Jonny Lee Miller makes a fleeting appearance as a student asking a question about drugs during Rees’ lecture. He has since featured in such films as Trainspotting, Mansfield Park and in the fifth season of US TV drama Dexter. Martin Jarvis is a familiar face from numerous films, including the blockbuster Titanic.
RATINGS: 15.29 million.
THE VERDICT: ‘Greeks Bearing Gifts’ is a masterclass in misdirection, leading the viewer from one red herring to another. Morse doesn’t grasp the true identity of the killer until the final minutes, and then only after it’s explained to him. He spends the entire story following the wrong leads to the wrong people. The script stumbles when it comes to explaining Friday’s motivation, having her spout a hefty chunk of exposition. But Friday’s efforts to accuse her husband of two murders while professing adoration for him are supremely chilling. This story is a strong effort, but this series’ best is yet to come.
PROMISED LAND
‘This chain of revenge and death. It must break some time.’ Morse goes to Australia searching for answers to an old case, but instead finds guilt, bloodshed and misery.
UK TX: 27 March 1991
SCREENPLAY: Julian Mitchell, based on characters created by Colin Dexter
DIRECTOR: John Madden
CAST: Rhondda Findleton (Anne Harding), John Jarratt (Sergeant Scott Humphries), Max Phipps (Detective Inspector McAllister), Con O’Neill (Paul Matthews), Noah Taylor (Dave Harding), Philip Anthony (newspaper editor), Kevin Leslie (barman), Bill Young (farmer in Ute), Vanessa Patterson (Karen Harding), Marie Armstrong (Sash), Maureen Green (Sal), Paul Hunt (shearing foreman), Peter Browne (Detective Warrender), Shayne Foote (barmaid)
STORYLINE: Oxford police watch the funeral of Peter Matthews, who died of AIDS in prison after being convicted of involvement in a bank robbery by the Abingdon Gang. The Sun newspaper publishes a story in which Peter’s mother claims to have new evidence proving her son was innocent. Among those at the funeral are bookmaker Bernie Waters.
Strange says Morse will have to talk to Kenny Stone, the supergrass whose evidence led to Matthews’ conviction. The superintendent fears the whole gang could go free if Matthews’ conviction is proven unsafe. Lewis, meanwhile, investigates a burglary at the offices of the Tilehurst Gazette. Petty cash was left untouched and there was little else of value worth stealing.
Strange learns there’ll be an inquiry into Mrs Matthews’ claims. Morse believes there’s a link between Waters, the Abingdon Gang and Oxford crime boss Larry Nelson. The inspector thinks Stone held something back in his confession and wants to prove a link to Nelson. The detectives go to Australia to see Stone. Ten years ago he was given a new identity – Mike Harding.
The detectives drive to the small country town of Hereford, where Harding now lives with his family. But Harding is conspicuous by his absence. They try his family’s home. Harding’s wife Anne has been called away to a nursing home, where her mother Lily is a resident. Harding’s daughter Karen answers the phone – it’s her father calling. Morse tries talking to him but Harding hangs up.
The detectives visit the nursing home. It’s being watched by a man in a camper van. Lily is transferred to an intensive care unit after having a stroke. Her room has been ransacked. Anne believes Mike will come back eventually. Lewis notices the camper van, but Morse calls him away before the sergeant can investigate it further.
Morse and Lewis meet the local policeman, Sergeant Scott Humphries. He thinks Mike frightened Anne’s mother, precipitating the stroke. Morse pretends to be a private eye looking for Harding. He convinces Humphries that Anne and her children need protection.
Lewis finds a copy of the Tilehurst Gazette at the Hardings’ house; Matthews’ death is front page news. The sergeant links the burglary at the Gazette to the attack on Lily. Somebody traced the old woman from the newspaper’s subscriber address list. That means somebody else is in Australia, looking for Harding.
Morse flies to a sheep farm where Harding’s son Dave works. The young man denies knowing where his father is. Lily’s condition worsens in the meantime. Karen is abducted while Anne is at the nursing home. The kidnapper has Karen record a message saying Harding must come forward in the next 24 hours. Humphries calls in detectives from a nearby town. Lily dies. Morse clashes with the detectives and Anne reveals the inspector’s real identity. Morse is obliged to tell the detectives the truth about the Hardings and why he has come to Hereford. Detective Inspector McAllister thinks it was Harding who abducted Karen. The police
have radio stations broadcast a message for Harding, telling him to come home.
Dave approaches Morse, saying his father called him. Harding is in trouble. Dave knows where his father is but needs a lift. Lewis, meanwhile, goes drinking with Humphries. The sergeant realises his Australian counterpart is having an affair with Anne.
Dave takes Morse to an old caravan Harding keeps in a quarry. They find his dead body inside. He committed suicide by shooting himself.
Anne says Harding’s confession was a pack of lies. Peter Matthews was innocent; Larry Nelson’s son-in-law was the driver for the bank robbery. Harding grassed the whole gang except the one closest to Larry, as an insurance policy against retaliation. Harding killed himself because he thought Morse had discovered the truth.
When the kidnapper phones, Morse offers to bring Harding to a meeting. The detectives watch a video from the funeral, looking for clues to the kidnapper’s identity. Lewis recognises the driver of the camper van – it’s Paul Matthews, Peter’s younger son. The meeting is arranged for an abandoned railway siding. The local police call in sharpshooters. Morse blames himself for the three deaths. He faces Paul alone, unarmed.
Paul fires two warning shots at Morse. The inspector tries persuading Paul to surrender. Anne runs out into the open, offering herself in Karen’s place. Humphries tries to stop her. Morse grabs Karen. Paul shoots Humphries twice, before turning his weapon towards Morse. A police sharpshooter guns Paul down.
Afterwards, Anne says Harding left her because of the affair with Humphries. She agrees to testify at a new trial in England.
THE MANY CAMEOS OF COLIN DEXTER: The author is not seen in this story, but screenwriter Julian Mitchell does make a cameo appearance, talking to the priest after Peter Matthews’ funeral in Oxford.
DRINK UP, LEWIS: Lewis orders a light beer when the detectives arrive in Hereford. Morse calls low-alcohol beer an invention of Lucifer. He orders orange juice instead.
When Morse starts quoting French philosopher Blaise Pascal, Lewis concludes his boss is suffering from a serious shortage of beer. The inspector irritates a barmaid by refusing her recommendation of Rhine Riesling wine. He consults a guide and chooses the Mount Adam Chardonnay. Lewis drinks a can of Foster’s beer.
The sergeant takes Humphries to the pub. They drink at least three schooners of lager each before staggering drunkenly down the main street.
PEOPLE JUST CALL ME MORSE: There’s no mention of Morse’s Christian name but that of Lewis is revealed at last: Robert, but his friends (and Morse) call him Robbie.
LEWIS’ KITH AND KIN: Lewis protests about going to Australia. He’s due some leave to visit his mother-in-law at Gateshead. Morse cancels the leave and suggests his sergeant see her at Christmas. Lewis says the family is seeing his mother at Christmas. ‘You have too many relatives, Lewis. A policeman ought to be free,’ Morse replies brusquely.
The sergeant soon remembers he has cousins in New South Wales. Lewis says one of his aunts had a stroke, but she made a full recovery within six months. Lewis considers his wife a good lass, despite her not being from the north of England.
Once the case is concluded, Lewis decides to stay on in Australia. His wife is flying out to join him for a fortnight’s holiday while the children stay with her mother.
SOPHOCLES DID DO IT: Morse believes Harding was murdered, until it’s proven to be suicide.
ONE FOR THE MORGUE: Peter Matthews dies from AIDS before the story begins. Lily Marchant dies from a stroke after being frightened by Paul Matthews. Mike Harding commits suicide by shooting himself. Sergeant Scott Humphries is shot dead by Paul Matthews. Matthews himself is shot dead by a police marksman.
MURDERS: one. BODY COUNT: five.
MORSE DECODED: The inspector says there are times he wishes to God there was a god – a just god, dispensing justice. He would like to believe in that. Morse’s doctor says he shouldn’t eat red meat any more. Unfortunately, Morse hates chicken. He started in the force with Ron Pigot, the policeman who got killed in the Abingdon bank robbery.
QUOTE-UNQUOTE: Strange gets philosophical: ‘You know what they say about funerals, Lewis? There’s always someone catches his death.’
The sergeant asks why he has to accompany Morse to Australia. ‘I can’t carry my own bags, can I? I’m a chief inspector!’ replies his boss.
Morse is scathing about the amber nectar: ‘They don’t spell Australian beer with four Xs out of ignorance. They mean what they say.’
Detective Inspector McAllister is not taken with Morse: ‘Funny how all this started when the Pommy teetotaller pain in the arse blows into town.’
SOUNDTRACK: The hymn ‘Abide With Me’ is heard during Peter Matthews’ funeral. Morse is irritated when he can’t find his tapes of Strauss’ Der Rosenkavalier. He wanted to listen to it before attending a performance at the Sydney Opera House. Lewis switches on the rental car radio and finds an Australian Country and Western station, much to Morse’s horror. He calls it the worst kind of bastardised, phoney folk music. Lewis likes it, of course. All the Country and Western songs in this story were specially composed by Barrington Pheloung. They include ‘Keep on Truckin’ till I’m Dead’ and ‘Eighteen Wheels of Love Heading for Your Front Door’. Der Rosenkavalier is heard in the final moments of the story, leading into the theme music.
BEHIND THE CRIME SCENES: The climactic sequence where Morse walks along the railway lines for his confrontation with Paul Matthews is a visual allusion to the film High Noon.
IDENTITY PARADE: Noah Taylor is a noted Australian actor who subsequently starred in the Oscar-winning film Shine as the young David Helfgott and in the Lara Croft movies with Angelina Jolie.
RATINGS: 12.06 million. Live football on BBC 1 was the main reason for the sudden loss of three million viewers. This weaker showing dragged the average for series five down to 14.6 million.
THE VERDICT: ‘Promised Land’ is among the best of Morse’s televised cases. The inspector is cast adrift in Australia, a stranger in a strange land, divorced from his beloved beer, music and Oxford. By contrast, Lewis feels right at home in the relatively classless society of Australia. Julian Mitchell’s script has great fun comparing the two men’s reactions to their new environment, before getting down to the serious business of murder and abduction. Morse is horrified to discover he sent an innocent man to prison. Five people die as a consequence and the burden of guilt lies heavily on him. Morse becomes almost suicidal with regret. The locations are overwhelming, blazing sunshine and vast horizons replacing the dreaming spires of Oxford. The photography is stunning and the performances universally good. This is Inspector Morse at the peak of its powers.
SERIES SIX (1992)
David Lascelles moved on after series five to avoid becoming burned out. Replacing him was Deirdre Keir, a colleague of executive producer Ted Childs. She was eager for the show to explore new areas, so the opening story of series six delved into the heartbreak that drove Morse away from Oxford as a young student.
Chief Superintendent Strange had to be written out of the second story because James Grout was too busy appearing in an adaptation of Kingsley Amis’ novel The Old Devils for rival network the BBC. Noted character actor Alun Armstrong was drafted in as a temporary replacement, but Strange was back in harness for subsequent episodes.
Series six sent Morse and Lewis back overseas for another foreign location shoot, this time to Italy. But filming was plagued with problems as high temperatures saw some actors fainting and a faulty camera lens forced subsequent re-shoots. A disused garage in Hertfordshire had to stand in for a 15th century Italian courtyard as a result.
Like the opening episode, the series finale dug around in Morse’s past. ‘Cherubim & Seraphim’ revealed a previously undisclosed step-mother and step-sister, created by writer Julian Mitchell. He discussed these elements with Dexter, securing the author’s approval for these new additions to Morse’s background and family history...
Produced by Deirdre Keir
; Executive Producer: Ted Childs
REGULAR CAST:
John Thaw (Chief Inspector Morse)
Kevin Whately (Sergeant Lewis)
RECURRING CAST:
James Grout (Chief Superintendent Strange in ‘Dead On Time’, ‘The Death of the Self’, ‘Absolute Conviction’ and ‘Cherubim & Seraphim’)
DEAD ON TIME
‘Let’s just say it’s one I owe you.’ A dying academic apparently commits suicide. But there is more to the case than meets the eye as Morse faces his greatest loss and greatest sorrow.
UK TX: 26 February 1992
SCREENPLAY: Daniel Boyle, based on characters created by Colin Dexter
DIRECTOR: John Madden
CAST: Joanna David (Susan Fallon), Samantha Bond (Helen Marriat), David Haig (Peter Rhodes), Adrian Dunbar (Dr John Marriat), Richard Pasco (William Bryce-Morgan), Brendan O’Hea (Telecom engineer), Susan-Jane Tanner (Nurse Rogers), James Walker (Henry Fallon), Martyn Waites (duty constable), Thomas Craig (desk sergeant), Roger Frost (photographer), James Grant (McGregor), Lesley Vickerage (WPC), Christopher Owen (solicitor), Richard Hampton (coroner), Tony Matthews (pathologist), Dominic Keating (Murray Stone), Alexander John (court official), Vincent Pickering (telephone exchange man), Greer Gaffney (Henrietta Fallon), Michael Tomlinson (constable)
STORYLINE: A telephone engineer fixes a loose connection at the home of Henry and Susan Fallon after 5.00 pm. Henry is confined to a wheelchair and calls Susan while the engineer is there to test the line. Henry waves goodbye to Nurse Rogers through the windows of his study. She leaves on her bicycle at 5.45, taking a short-cut to the road. She sees Henry’s son-in-law, Peter Rhodes, driving towards the house. A shot rings out. Henry is dead, shot in the head with a pistol that lies beside him. The curtains in the study are closed. Rhodes sits on a chair, shocked. The police are called. Lewis tells Morse it looks like suicide. The inspector knows the family.