This summary is in no way intended as a substitute for viewing this fabulous episode.
Continued
As Sam halts the Wolseley outside the Whittington Gallery, she asks Foyle how long he will be. When he says that he has no idea she explains that Bond Street is just around the corner and she was
thinking of having her hair done. Foyle can't believe what he is hearing, but before he can reply, Sam adds, "For tonight… my father." Foyle struggles with what to say, but just gives up and tells her he'll be about an hour.
Austin Carmichael, the Whittington's curator, explains to Foyle that the gallery houses a collection of works by French Impressionists acquired by Dorothy Whittington, an American living in London and now in her nineties. The contents had all been transferred to a for the duration of the war. Davies transported them, but the security procedure was place of safety in Wales
impregnable. An independent witness supervised the removal. Every picture was entered in a signed ledger and loaded into a lorry, which was then locked and the key kept by the curator. The only other key was in Wales. On arrival in the facility in Wales, every picture was checked off against the ledger as it was unloaded. Foyle examines the ledger and asks about individual letters beside the entries. Carmichael explains that it is his own form of shorthand: W is woodcut, L lithograph, S sketch and D drawing.
***
In the Manor, Anne tells Andrew that she and a friend called Lucy came to the unit together, but the other woman died recently. Andrews asks how, but Anne stalls, at which point they are interrupted by Keller. Andrew tells him that he hasn't a billet, but he can stay at home with his father who is a detective chief superintendent in Hastings. Keller says flatly that he had better stay with him and then tells Anne that she should return to the operations room.
***
In the station, Foyle and Milner agree that Carmichael's security seems foolproof. Foyle considers it unlikely that Davies' wife had anything to do with his murder and continues to ponder the link between Davies and valuable paintings owned by a woman who could well be dead by the end of the war. Foyle tells Milner that Sam will be driving him into Wales the next day and dryly asks his sergeant to "wish me luck".
***
When Sam meets with her father in the Royal Victoria Hotel on St Leonard's seafront her suspicions are confirmed. Her parents are concerned about stories they have heard about young women in the armed forces. Sam jokes, "Up with the lark, to bed with a Wren! That's what they say." Stewart is shocked and says it's no joke. Sam tries to assure him that she will be all right, especially as she is with the police, not the military, but her father tells her that she must return home immediately. He says it would be different if she was doing something important for the war effort, but all she is doing is driving a policeman around and getting involved in murders. Sam protests to no avail.
***
In the Manor, Keller tells Graeme that Pilot Officer Foyle's father is a detective chief superintendent with "something of a reputation". He goes on to say that he overheard Andrew talking to Anne Roberts about Lucy Smith. Graeme looks very thoughtful.
***
In Steep Lane Foyle is a little exasperated when all that his son will tell him about his work is that he has a new Spitfire and is doing test flights. Andrew will, however, tell him about the girl he has met. He says she's the sort of girl you want to run out and buy flowers for, but her aunt runs a flower shop in Hastings, so she probably can't stand the sight of them. He asks his dad if he has ever thought of marrying again after being on his own for so long, eight years, but Foyle doesn't want to discuss it and when his son presses, changes the subject and begins to look through some papers in his bureau.
Andrew heads for bed, telling his father that he won't be in for the evening meal next day as he has a night op. He says, "Sleep well, Dad."
Foyle replies, "And you." He stands staring down at the papers in his hand and when his son has left the room, says quietly, "Take care."
***
The next morning a policeman searching the wreckage of Davies' house finds pieces of a broken statuette.
A jeweller has identified the locket and given the police the name of the owner. Foyle and Milner visit the home of Harold and Enid Smith. Harold was an ice-cream seller until his van was requisitioned for the transport of blood. They are told that the locket was stolen from their house two weeks previously. The theft wasn't reported as the locket had only sentimental value, having belonged to their daughter who had died after falling in front of a train. When asked if the name Graham Davies means anything to them, husband and wife look at each other before saying no. Foyle watches the couple's reactions as Milner explains where the locket was found. Enid searches for an explanation. "Maybe he bought it from someone." Her husband cuts in. "We don't care who had it… we're just glad to have it back."
***
Andrew and Leighton-Morris eat in a seaside tea pavilion. Leighton-Morris complains that he will be stuck in Hastings for another couple of days making a film for the Crown Film Unit about the need to conserve fuel. He asks Andrew what he is doing, but his friend refuses to talk about it. Leighton-Morris takes money from his wallet to pay the bill. Unseen by the two pilots, Henderson is watching.
***
As Sam drives Foyle to Wales she tells him that her father has insisted she return home immediately and so this will be her last drive. Foyle expresses regret. Sam asks if he would talk to her father about it and, although he is not sure it will help, he agrees. Deep in the countryside, Foyle enters the facility in which the Whittington Collection is being kept. Foyle looks at some sketches of ballerinas by Francois Berot. The curator tells him that all 342 items checked into the lorry in London arrived safely in Wales.
***
Anne meets Andrew on the airfield after another tracking exercise and they talk on their way to the Manor. He comments on what he perceives to be a tense atmosphere on the base. She asks him if it is true that his father is a policeman, but is unforthcoming when he asks why she wants to know. Sensing fear in her, he tries to get her to explain, but without success. Andrew inquires about her friend Lucy and she tells him that the woman committed suicide, adding that it was all so wrong. Andrew asks if she wants him to tell his father something, but Anne is nervous and says no. She looks up, sees Keller watching them from the window of his office and tells Andrew she has to go. Anne is summoned to Keller's office. He questions her about her conversation with Andrew and she admits that he asked about Lucy Smith. Keller tells Anne that she is being transferred immediately to the Isle of Wight.
***
During another low night flight a plotter reports with alarm that there is no IFF signal from the Spitfire. As Andrew begins to respond to a radio call, he becomes the target of anti-aircraft guns. Graeme tells him to turn on his IFF signal, but receives the reply that it is on. The plotter reports that Andrew's plane is losing height and then says that she has lost him altogether. The Spitfire's radio cuts out.
***
Andrew manages to land in a field six miles from the RAF station and next morning Graeme explains to him that his IFF must have malfunctioned due to engine vibration. The Group Captain compliments him on his flying ability and tells him to take forty-eight hours leave. Andrew is not satisfied and suggests the possibility of tampering. Both Graeme and Keller dismiss the idea as crazy and Andrew is dismissed.
Foyle goes to the Royal Victoria Hotel to talk with the Reverend Iain Stewart. He tries to explain that Sam is doing a worthwhile job, but her father remains adamant that his daughter return to Lyminster. "If I am to be honest it's my personal feeling that Samantha would be better off at home." Foyle says that he'd rather his son were at home, too, and when Stewart inquires where his son is, replies that he is a pilot with the RAF. Stewart winces, realising that while he is in a position to protect his daughter, the policeman is not in a position to protect his son.
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