(soft music)
(birds singing, flies buzzing)
(crows cawing)
Can I have a sweet?
You've got to wait till we get there.
But I'm hungry.
Just go that way.
You keep changing it.
Go on. Just go that way
and then I'll give you a sweet.
(Sam sighs)
(eerie creaking)
(sinister music)
Sam?
(eerie creaking continues)
Sam?!
(trees rustling)
(sighs)
(creaking intensifies)
(crows cawing)
Hey, Sam.
You still want a sweet?
(flies buzzing)
(ominous music)
(gasps)
(loud buzzing) (horror music)
(theme music)
(dramatic music)
(car rumbling)
(birds singing) (tyres crunching)
(knock on door)
DAVID: So, it sounds like you had a bit of a shock.
That's why your mum called me, okay?
Do you think you could tell me what you saw?
They won't say.
Alright, it's okay.
Now, you know you're not in any trouble. Alright?
It just sometimes helps to... to talk about things. Hmm?
It was an angel.
She had wings.
Angels fly, you idiot.
Maybe she fell.
Maybe the angel was sleeping.
(sombre music)
Can you remember where you saw her?
Willow Hole. In the woods.
Can't you give them something?
Uh, yeah, you... you wanna...?
(clears throat)
So, the best medicine is rest.
Keep their routines.
If you notice any changes to their behaviour,
give me a call, day or night.
Erm, and we'll see how they get on.
Counselling is something we can look at, if you...
I'll let you try and convince Gary of that.
Can we go out now?
Yeah, only in the garden.
- Come on. - Okay.
Don't go any further.
Your dad's on his way home.
(door opens)
(scrubbing)
He'll only get 'em filthy again
the minute he steps on the pitch.
But Gary...(scoffs)
It's all about appearances.
You know, we don't know what they saw.
I think it might be Sally Palmer.
What makes you say that?
(mysterious music)
I had a dream about her.
She was stood at the bus stop, crying.
I... I asked her what was wrong,
but she wouldn't say.
I looked down the road,
and when I turned back, she'd gone.
(David exhales)
We have dreams for a reason.
(loud knocking on door)
(door opens)
- Miss Yates? - That's me.
- Thanks for coming. - I am DC Hodges.
Er, we need to talk to your boys about what they saw.
It might be better if you just spoke to us.
And you are?
Dr Hunter from the village surgery.
We need them to show us what they found.
No, er... no, they're not going back to the woods.
I know where they're talking about.
I'll take them.
Thank you.
You wanna follow me?
(door closes)
(ominous music)
(car starts)
(cars driving)
(tense music)
DC HODGES: You got any kids of your own?
No.
They all get a bit silly when they go back to school.
It's probably just a deer carcass or something.
Right, this is it.
Path bears round to the left, and that's Willow Hole.
- Aren't you coming with us? - No.
(woods creaking)
DAVID: Within four minutes of death,
the human body starts to decompose.
The beginning of a transformation
that continues long after the heart has stopped.
As putrefaction causes the body's own bacteria
to destroy itself,
nutrients are released,
becoming a feast for a multitude of other organisms.
(vomiting)
(high tempo music)
DAVID: In this way, death, far from being the end,
is in fact a new beginning.
The past not so much forgotten as hidden,
as scattered patterns and successions
that death imparts now become essential clues
to understanding the final moments of life.
(car rumbling)
(wind chime tinkling)
(knocking on door)
(door opens)
Hello?
Sally?
It's David.
Sally?
It's David.
(tense music)
(goat bleating outside)
(ominous music)
(goat continues bleating)
(flies buzzing)
(water pouring)
DCI MACKENZIE: How long since you last saw Miss Palmer?
DAVID: Er...
Roughly will suffice.
A couple of weeks ago there was a...
a barbecue at the Black Lamb, a pub in the village.
And she was with you?
No. But we spoke.
And after not seeing her since then,
you just decide to come here today?
Yeah, no, I was nearby.
I-I just took your officers to Farnham Woods.
Yeah, I know.
- Did you not try calling her? - No.
What's your relationship?
Er... friends, I suppose.
Did she have any family?
No children, erm...
No family locally that I know of.
Hmm.
Any other boyfriends?
I wasn't her boyfriend.
Honestly, I...
I don't know her that well.
Just well enough to let yourself into her house.
Okay, well...
that will do for now.
How can I get hold of you?
Manham Village Surgery.
Okay.
Alright, thank you.
(ominous music)
(car driving)
(car tyres crunching)
(engine cuts)
(car door opens)
(car door closes)
(door opens)
(sighs)
Sorry I'm late.
I'm not aware that it's a crime.
Yet.
Is it?
Janice, you're a wonder.
I may have to cancel your sabbatical.
And by the way, David, I took care of your 12:30.
Suspected appendicitis,
but I sent her off to A - Sorry.
- ...as a precaution. - Thank you.
David, you look as if you've seen a ghost.
Not me, erm...
Sam and- and Neil Yates
thought they'd found an angel
in Farnham Woods.
I, erm, I think it was a dead body.
Oh, sweet Jesus.
Well, how are they, the boys?
Shocked.
Taking it in.
I'll check on them tomorrow.
My god.
Have they got any idea who?
Well...
Linda was worried about Sally Palmer. I...
dropped in to her house.
Something's not- not right, erm...
There was a smashed mug on the floor, a...
half-written letter to Linda.
We'll see. I...
Awful. Not in Manham.
I'll, er, leave the notes in your office.
DAVID: I'll put that phone call in.
By the way, David,
if you are dropping in on those boys again,
tread carefully.
I've known Linda and Gary longer than you.
Gary's calmed down a bit, but still.
I'm just doing my job.
All the same, it's you I'm worried about.
I'll be fine.
I got your message.
Tomorrow 4pm for George Mason.
(door opens)
David.
You know where I am.
Thanks.
(door closes)
(tense music)
(police radio chatter)
(people chattering)
(leaves rustling)
(children shouting, playing)
(school bell rings)
JENNY: Nice.
(children chattering)
I think this actually fits very good to your picture, right?
Yeah, it's good.
(thumping sound)
CHILD: Miss Jenny, Miss Jenny!
Neil?
(ominous music)
Neil, can you hear me?
Neil?
(footsteps approaching)
They've had the bloody bitterns' eggs.
No.
(clanging)
The bastards cut through three bloody fences.
I need you to hold the fort
and chase up those funding applications, would you?
What are you gonna do?
(loud clanging)
Less you know about that, the better.
The Wi-Fi's down again. Will you take a look at that?
Dan, get that loaded up, eh?
DAN: Yeah.
(clanging)
(threatening music)
(banging and clanging)
(container door squeaks open)
(metal clanging)
(container door slams shut)
You okay?
Yeah.
(knocking on door)
Hi.
Thank you for coming so quickly.
Of course.
So, this is Neil.
He fainted.
Hello again.
How you doing?
I'm fine. I'm okay.
Yeah?
Did something happen?
Was- was something said, or...?
Like I told Miss Krause, I'm alright.
Good. Can I check your pulse?
Thank you.
So, how did Norwich get on last week?
I'm Ipswich.
Oh, sorry. Ipswich.
(sighs) They got turned over by QPR.
Neil's a top player.
- Yeah? - Mm-hmm.
What position?
Thinking... striker?
Midfield.
It's the strikers that get all the goals,
but midfield's the most important position.
DAVID: Right.
I think you're match fit, young man.
You're gonna be alright.
Erm, are the parents on the way?
- MISS KRAUSE: His father. - Okay.
Do you just wanna wait here for a couple of minutes?
We're gonna have a quick chat outside, okay?
Good lad.
(door opens)
We're keeping an extra eye out.
Good. And how's, er, how's little Sam?
He's okay.
- Yeah. - Yeah?
But this must be shocking for everyone.
I'm a relative stranger in Manham.
It's only my second term.
Where's Neil?
Er, he's in here.
They never should've been in school today.
Come on, boy. We're off.
Sam, you alright?
Taking 'em fishing.
Okay.
Goodbye.
Actually a really good idea.
Yeah, fishing.
Is that medical advice if the head asks?
Yeah. I don't see why not.
(laughs)
(tense music)
(people chattering)
(police radios crackling)
(knocking on door)
I was, erm... hoping for a word.
Okay.
(keys jangling)
(door unlocks, opens)
- Come in. - Thank you.
Nice place.
(door closes)
It's a lovely village, Manham.
Bit of a change from London.
(laughs softly) Yeah, yeah.
So, I, erm, did a spot of research after our chat.
You've got quite the CV, Dr Hunter.
Very impressive.
Let's see. Er, after your medical degree,
you switched to a PhD in forensic anthropology,
followed by a stint
at the University of Tennessee Body Farm.
Quite the high flyer.
"The Role of Entomology in Time-Since-Death Analysis."
"The Chemistry of Human Decomposition."
(tense music)
(water gushing)
Yeah.
I wrote those.
And yet here you are out here,
pretending to be a country doctor.
(dramatic music)
(distant) I can't help wonder why you didn't mention it.
(sighs) There's, erm...
lots of other forensic anthropologists.
I can give you numbers.
Yes, but you're here now.
We checked phone records.
Sally Palmer didn't text
or make outgoing calls since the barbecue.
Without confirmation, I'm stuck.
- DNA? - A week to process.
- Fingerprints? - No skin left.
Next of kin?
She has a brother we're trying to locate.
Look, time since death would be a great start.
Seemingly, you're not just a specialist
in human decomposition, you are the specialist.
(distant) Please, I need you to take a look.
It-it-it was another life.
(dark music)
I'm sorry. I-I can't.
Okay, well, I'll, erm...
I'll leave you my personal mobile.
And you can call me any time.
Day or night.
Thanks.
(sinister music)
(David breathing heavily)
(people chatting) (car hoots)
BEN: Thank you, Andrew.
ANDREW: I'll get these.
BEN: Nice one, mate.
Cheers.
Do you mind if we, er, grab a seat?
Twisted my bastard knee chasing poachers last night.
- It's open season out there. - You want me to take a look?
Nah, it's not that bad.
Besides, they'll be the ones needing you if I catch 'em.
You talking to anyone in particular, bud?
What's that, Shane?
Mind your own business.
- Anyone... - Alright, Tina?
- Alright? - Mind if we squeeze in?
If you've showered.
He has, for both of us.
Hi.
- Hi. - Doc.
- You wanna... - No, thanks.
Who's that?
TINA: Journalist from Norwich. Kamal.
He's been buying enough drinks.
Bloody Brenners, getting their side of the story in first.
Relax, mate.
You know how hard it is
to get a breeding pair of bitterns established.
Can you play darts?
Not really, no.
Great. I might beat someone.
- Really? - Yeah, come on.
- Good luck. - Alright.
- DAVID: Ah. - Almost.
You sure you don't want me to explain the rules again?
No, I think you'll find I'm getting better.
(ping) - Oh.
Oh, my app guilts me
when I drink more than a couple of pints.
- Diabetic? - Yeah.
Type one.
I'm stable, but... oh.
- No, I've got it. - Okay.
But I'm rubbish at wearing my bracelet.
Okay...
Nice.
(Jenny laughs)
Wow.
(people chattering)
This is so mad.
A body's been found
and no one in here's talking about it.
Yeah. It's an English speciality.
We like to bury our head in the sand.
That's why everyone's here tonight.
To ignore it?
Pretty much.
JENNY: I can see that.
The not knowing hits hardest.
Like, who is it, how they died.
Was it a murder?
Yeah. Let's hope the police have some answers soon.
Yes. The village really needs to know.
(glass shatters)
(men fighting, arguing)
Come on, lads.
Come on then!
Come on, mate. Come on.
You're okay, mate. You're okay.
It's okay, it's alright.
You're okay. You're okay. Put that camera away.
You're alright.
(tense music)
Jesus.
This village is like a pressure cooker.
(breathing heavily) Yeah.
(dramatic music)
(water gushing)
(phone ringing)
DCI MACKENZIE: Mackenzie.
Hi, it's David.
Where's the body?
It's at the lab.
She was moved lunchtime. I can meet you there if you...
No, I don't wanna see it.
I'll look where she was found, give my opinion, that's it.
Okay. I'll see you at nine.
(high tempo music)
(water gushing)
(trees creaking)
DAVID: Soon after death, a body begins to digest itself.
Cell walls break down, enzymes are released,
and bacteria from the gut surges around the body,
even into the bones.
Eggs are laid and larvae hatch
to feed on the nutrient-rich broth at their disposal,
whilst insect predators arrive
to consume the larvae themselves.
(splashing)
(distant) David. Dr Hunter.
This is Dr Shah, a forensic pathologist.
Dr Shah, Dr Hunter.
Hi.
How do you do, Dr Hunter?
We've sent feathers to an ornithologist.
Good. Soil samples?
- Already being analysed. - Insects?
Samples have been sent to our forensic entomologist.
- Any maggot pupae? - Yes.
Any empty shells? Any beetles on the body?
- Beetles were not noted. - And the maggots?
Maggots were noted, but not their colouring.
What have we got here? Blowfly mainly.
Bluebottles, greenbottles.
If death occurred in daylight,
they'd have started laying eggs within the hour.
The longer a maggot lives, the darker it gets.
This is seven, maybe eight days old.
Starting to pupate.
I'm not seeing any empty shells, so nothing's hatched yet.
Lifecycle of fourteen days,
but heat could shorten certain stages.
By how much?
There's a few variables to consider.
But from what I'm seeing, I'd suggest
we've got a provisional time since death interval
of nine, maybe ten days.
(flies buzzing)
(eerie whooshing)
Bag, please.
Thank you.
(bag rustles)
You wanted fingerprints.
(sinister music)
Just add water.
DAVID: The body is an archive,
recording information about who we are,
what we did, and what was done to us.
The challenge for the forensic anthropologist
is to correctly read this archive,
looking at the morphology,
chemistry and structure of what remains,
and interpret the facts of life and death,
and the journey from one to another.
(dramatic music)
DAVID: Helen! (waves crashing)
Good?
Yeah. Yeah.
I hope that was useful.
That- that's all I can do.
You were with Sally Palmer at the barbecue?
Yeah.
Along with most of the village.
What's your point?
(car door closes) Some photos from the barbecue.
Who's that with Linda Yates?
Is this a formal police interview?
It's just a few questions.
Okay.
That's Ben... Anders.
Er, manages the nature reserve.
She works there part-time, I think.
Near where the body was found?
Half a mile, maybe.
That's obviously Linda Yates and... and Sally.
They seem like good friends?
I don't know.
That's Dr Maitland, Henry.
Has he always been in a chair?
Road accident.
That's how I first came here as locum,
then as partner when he found out he wouldn't walk again.
He... lost his wife in the accident.
So, what do I call you, anyway?
David? Dr Hunter?
I hope you don't have to call me too much, but David is fine.
(car door closes)
(tense music)
(car starts)
(threatening music)
Hi.
- You alright? - Yeah.
- Do you want a lift? - No, no, you're alright.
It's out of your way. - No, it's fine.
- Are you sure? - Yeah.
Thank you. (car door opens)
Yeah.
Just throw 'em in.
(car door closes)
- Thank you. - No worries.
(car door closes)
- How are the boys? - They're alright.
A bit quiet.
- Yeah. - Yeah.
So, if it's okay to ask, was it Sally?
Police matter, I'm afraid. I... can't say.
I know the police are meant to be reassuring, but they aren't.
You mentioned your dream about her.
Yeah. I don't know, er...
She must've been on my mind, and that's how it came out.
I hadn't heard from her.
I thought I'd done something wrong.
If she was going away, she always said.
(ominous music)
All I had to do was call, but I didn't.
I'm stupid sometimes.
(church bells ringing)
(music becoming threatening)
(lawnmower rumbling)
Hey!
- I said... - What?
Cut it straight, in lines!
- Sorry. - Do as I bloody tell you.
Alright.
I think Sally was trying to find something out.
But maybe I got it wrong.
She made everyone brave.
She made me brave.
(soft music)
(hand slaps car roof)
Where you been?
Shopping.
Hi, Gary.
Heavy bags.
(bags rustling)
(tense music)
LINDA: Thank you.
No worries.
(lawnmower rumbling)
(dramatic music)
(chickens clucking)
(car rumbles to a stop)
Yeah, go on. You'll do.
Don't sound so surprised.
(laughs) Yeah, but George,
I need you to get used to Dr. Hunter here.
Not going anywhere, are you?
No, no, no, no.
But we do try and share the work, eh.
He doesn't bite, and he is a real doctor, you know?
It's no skin off my nose.
I'll be in my box soon enough.
Not if we can help it, George.
You mind if I take a look at the ankle?
Pop your foot up.
May I...?
- Who did this dressing? - The grandson.
Yeah, it's a nice job, but...
maybe let the nurse in next time.
Give that grandson of yours a rest.
(tense music)
(brakes squeaking)
(bell rings)
- Hey. - BEN: Morning.
Is he here?
- He's waiting. - Okay.
- See you. - Yeah.
(ominous music)
(Ben sighing, grunting)
(ducks quacking)
I wish I could draw like you.
Just practice, yeah?
(leaves rustling)
How about that one, over there?
That's a shoveler, yeah.
Come autumn, the male will have two white marks
one each side of his face.
Really?
I didn't know that.
Yeah.
There's not many who do.
How about you try and write the word up...
Yeah, no, I can't do that.
Just practice, Dan.
Come on!
(tense music)
GARY: (shouting) What the hell are we meant to eat?!
LINDA: Look in the fridge! You know what time I -
GARY: (shouting) Oh, yeah, every fucking night!
LINDA: Exactly!
You always were a fucking bitch! (dish smashes)
(tense music) (trees creaking)
(gasps)
(sinister music)
(gasps)
(urgent knocking on door)
(bird cooing outside)
- Sally? - No, Linda Yates is missing.
She didn't show up to work this morning.
Ben Anders made the report.
We've established that she left her house
yesterday evening, but she didn't return home.
I gave her a lift yesterday.
- Yeah, we got it on CCTV. - Her bags were heavy.
What was her state of mind?
She was anxious.
She was talking about Sally.
Erm...
- She seemed frightened. - Of Gary?
I wondered.
Look, I want you on the search.
You know these people.
(trees rustling)
DCI MACKENZIE: Does she always run alone?
Yep. And she liked to keep fit.
Liked?
That's what I said.
She also ran to work at the nature reserve
each morning, correct?
Yeah, twice the distance by road and petrol what it costs...
And her evening run, was that a-a regular thing?
Oh, she's always bloody training.
So, who knew apart from yourself?
How the heck should I know?
Probably half the village.
I'm sorry to be putting you through this,
but we're asking everyone the same questions.
Where were you the remainder of the evening?
At home with the boys.
Where else was I gonna be?
Did you try and call Linda?
Several times.
You can check my phone.
Tried her mum and all.
Why not report her missing last night?
I thought she went out to clear her head.
Why would she need to do that?
We're like any other couple.
Sometimes there's a difference of opinion.
And has she stayed out all night before?
Once or twice.
Where did she go then?
Sally Palmer's.
Why did you wait for Anders to let us know Linda was missing?
You might wanna ask yourself, why didn't he call me first?
You'll have to be more specific, Mr Yates.
Well, you're the detectives.
I reckon she's fine.
(eerie music) Just someone playing games.
Is there anywhere else she may have gone to?
Besides Anders's place...
No.
Not that I can think of.
(background chatter)
You alright?
You think this is a good idea, using most of the village?
No, I don't.
But the profiler thinks the killer might struggle
to stay away, so...
Right.
Okay, listen up, people.
Thank you all for coming. Erm...
We'll be moving east to west,
no more than three metres apart.
I need you to stop on call and wait to proceed.
Please, no broken lines.
We've got nine hours till sunset.
Let's use them all.
(tense music)
DCI MACKENZIE: What makes you think she was coming to you?
Place of safety.
The state she was in some mornings.
Were you and Linda Yates lovers?
No comment.
Did Gary know?
Couldn't tell you what Gary knows.
How well did you know Sally Palmer?
Well enough.
(wings flapping) (dog panting)
(metal clanging sound) (man screaming)
That way.
Oh, geez.
DAVID: Sorry, mate. Okay.
Some first aid, er...
(metal clanging sound) (screaming)
- Trap. - Everyone stop!
- There are more traps out here. - Alright, alright, alright.
- On three, alright? - Yeah.
One, two, three.
(muttering)
Alright, Robert, deep breaths, okay?
We need an ambulance, please!
Have you seen anything like this before?
Poachers.
Brenners, most likely.
What, you don't use these?
No.
(Robert groaning)
Okay. Gonna be alright.
DCI MACKENZIE: I need you to look at the body.
(sighs)
I don't care what happened in your past. This is now.
A woman is missing, a woman you know.
You've got the skills and you're here.
(gasping) (upbeat, tense music)
(seatbelt zips)
(clicks) (car starts)
(water running)
(David shouting) Helen!
(keys unlocking) (water running)
(David screaming)
(rubber gloves snapping)
(David shouting)
(distant) DR SHAH: Dr Hunter?
Let's, er, start with what we know.
Are you alright?
Let's begin, please.
Well, the most probable cause of death is the throat wound.
The angle of the incision would suggest right-handed.
Mm-hmm.
There is a head injury,
which the post-mortem couldn't entirely rule out.
Possibly caused by a fall.
She was still alive when her throat was cut.
How can you know that?
Body's prematurely desiccated.
Couldn't that be due to the hot weather?
Hmm, even in this heat, the body wouldn't dry out so quickly
without considerable blood loss.
You checked the soil for iron levels, right?
Yes. We're waiting for results.
Okay.
DAVID: Even in death there is intimacy in touch.
The body whispering essential clues
to the manner of their demise.
Yet though there can be no consent,
it remains a necessary intrusion,
for even the dead deserve justice.
(tense music)
(birds calling)
(dog panting)
(dog barking)
Hmm.
DR SHAH: What is it?
You-you see the way the... flesh is torn?
Here.
So, a serrated knife was used.
At least partially.
Possibly a hunting knife.
Well, there's no sign the knife wobbled,
so yes, a hunting knife would've been my thought too.
Except the wound to the throat is smooth-edged.
So, a different knife?
Yeah, two different knives.
DAVID: See the angle of the sutures?
DR SHAH: Hmm.
DAVID: 45 degrees. What does that mean?
He or she would have been left-handed.
Exactly. Not just two different knives.
Two different people.
(dogs barking ferociously)
(police whistle)
OFFICER: Let's move!
They've caught the scent! Let's move!
(police whistle)
Over there, to the left!
Good boy, go on, find it!
(dramatic music)