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Spoilers Ahead!
Bad Blood Continued...
Brooke drives the DCS to the army base. Foyle climbs out of the car and approaches an armed guard at the entrance who immediately tells him that there's no admittance beyond that point. Foyle says that he wishes to speak to Captain Halliday. The guard says that it's not possible.
Foyle takes a breath and says, "Well, there's been an outbreak of anthrax here in Hastings and he's responsible for it. If I'm not in his office within the next two minutes, I'll be back with the army, the police, the Home Guard and the press. Would you feel able to convey this to him at your earliest opportunity."
***
Shortly afterwards, in Halliday's office and as Wilcox looks on, the captain sternly warns Foyle that if he repeats anything he hears in that room, the world will fall in on him from a very great height. Foyle's remarks dryly, "Will it." Halliday says Foyle doesn't understand. He says not even the prime Minister knows what is being done at the base.
Foyle replies, "Right. Well, what you don't understand is that I don't care what falls on me from a very great height, neither do I care who doesn't know what. I know that you're responsible for the death of one young woman and the potential death of another. And unless you tell me exactly what's happened, everybody's going to know at least as much as I do."
Halliday sits in uncomfortable silence. Wilcox jumps in and explains to Foyle that they were experimenting with sheep. He says the carcasses were sent elsewhere for testing and by the time they'd discovered one had fallen off the lorry, the infected animal had been taken to a farm. They watched the farm and when the cattle fell ill, they took them because they wanted to stop the infection spreading.
Foyle asks what infection he means and Halliday scowls at Wilcox when he replies that it's a toxin by the name of anthrax and that if it's breathed in by anyone, it's 99% certain that the person will die almost at once. When Wilcox says that infection through the skin is less rapid, Foyle asks, "But still fatal?" Wilcox tells him that the general health and fitness of the victim can make all the difference.
When Foyle asks what the cure is, Wilcox says that an epidemiologist called Simon Higgins might be able to help him but Halliday says flatly that Foyle will not be able to speak to him without his authority. When Foyle asks why, Halliday defends what they're doing by saying that many injured in the bombing of London died from blood-poisoning because the sewage and water systems had been wrecked.
Foyle asks what his point is and Halliday replies why not go straight to the blood-poisoning - easier all round, less expensive, less long term damage.
Foyle is silent for a long moment then asks where he can find Higgins.
***
In the base sick bay, Higgins tells Foyle that if there are any traces of anthrax left on Sam's skin, it will kill her, so she must be thoroughly washed and then given a large dose of streptomycin. He offers no guarantee that it will work. Wilcox goes to fetch some streptomycin from their supply.
Higgins apologises to Foyle, saying that it's all his fault. He explains that he is team leader but was careless when testing the nerve gas organophosphate and he blinded himself. He says that he was unable to supervise the anthrax trials and that Halliday should never have allowed the carcasses to leave the area.
Higgins asks if Foyle is going to try to expose what they are doing at the base, and when Foyle remains silent, says they tried to recruit Henry Styles, who was with them at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, and that it drove him mad. He says that he expects that they'll make him disappear. "I wouldn't want them to do the same to you."
At that moment, Wilcox returns with the streptomycin. Higgins says that what they're doing, they're doing for their country, the same as everyone else. Foyle follows Wilcox to the door.
***
At the hospital, the doctor tells Foyle that he has given Sam a shot of streptomycin and asks where he got it from. Foyle ignores the question and asks how long it will be before they know if it's working. The doctor says he'll wait a couple of hours then give Sam a double dose if he has to. Foyle asks what happens then. The doctor says that there's nothing more he can do and at this point it could go either way.
***
Foyle stands at Sam's bedside, looking down at her with great concern as she breathes uneasily in her sleep.
***
The three occupants of the Wolseley are in sombre mood as Brooke drives Foyle and Milner to their next call. Milner leans forward and comments quietly to his boss that what they're doing doesn't seem to be the right sort of thing in the circumstances. Foyle replies that there's little else they can do. Milner says, "I can't believe she might die. She'll pull through, won't she, sir?"
***
At Ted Cartwright's house, Foyle hands Leonard the letter he had received and asks him why he didn't sign it. Leonard asks how he can be so sure he wrote it and Foyle says that it was sent to him but very few people know he's involved in the investigation and it wasn't any of the others, unless … He looks at Leonard's father, who says it wasn't he. Milner explains that there are traces of ether on the paper. Looking at Ted, he says they know he, as a vet, uses it.
Leonard admits that he wrote the letter. Foyle asks him why he went to the Hythe police and Leonard replies that he knew they'd got the wrong man because Ashford wouldn't kill anyone. Foyle asks if the reason he's sure they have the wrong man is because he's the right one. Leonard doesn't answer, so Foyle asks why Jenkins tried to kill him. Leonard asks, "Did he?" Foyle says he tried to shoot him when they were both with the Navarino, which is how he got the scar. Leonard says he told him how he got the scar, it was shrapnel. Foyle says that he knows what a shrapnel wound looks like and Leonard's wasn't caused by shrapnel.
Leonard asks how Foyle knew it was Jenkins. The DCS explains that Jenkins was the only one with a gun. No one on board merchant vessels, including Royal Navy officers on DEMS duty is permitted to carry firearms. One small firearm is kept on the bridge, that's where Jenkins was and he shot the hinges off a door with it.
When Leonard admits that Jenkins did try to kill him, Foyle asks if that is why he killed Jenkins. Ted Cartwright is shocked when his son admits that, too.
Leonard says that Jenkins was a bully and a coward, who nearly killed him when the Navarino went down, and that he only shot down the door to save himself. He describes what happened when he found himself in the freezing water. He saw Jenkins on a piece of wreckage and called to him for help, but as he reached out, Jenkins fought him off. When he persisted in trying to climb onto the wreckage, Jenkins shot him. He would have died if someone hadn't found him and pulled him into a life boat.
Leonard's father asks why he didn't report it. Leonard replies that it was just Jenkins's word against his, as there were no witnesses. Ted says that he could have told him and Leonard says he wanted to but he couldn't because his father thought the world of Jenkins, just like everyone else.
He says he took the trocar from his father's case and, knowing where Jenkins drank, followed him when he came out of the pub. He couldn't let another man hang for what he'd done, so he went to see Fielding and wrote the letter to Foyle.
Milner takes Leonard out to the car. As Foyle prepares to follow, Ted Cartwright says that the DSM was given to the wrong man and that Jenkins got what he deserved in the end. He says that his son is due to be back on his ship in two days, and asks what good it will do to lock him up when his country needs him. Foyle replies thoughtfully, "None at all, Mr Cartwright" and leaves the house.
***
At 5pm, as Milner is leaving the station, Brooke asks how Sam is and he tells him that there's still no change.
Edith has come to speak to him and they talk as they walk along the street in the sunshine. He tells her that he doesn't know what will happen to Cartwright but thinks he won't be hanged. Edith says that Jenkins was a horrible man and she knew what he did to Elsie. She says she doesn't know why she didn't tell Milner and that perhaps it was because he was with the police. She says that she has come to apologise. She stops and turns to Milner and says that they got it wrong all those years ago. She explains that she knew Jane was wrong for him but didn't say anything because she was young and shy. She says she's not going to let him walk away from her again. The two look at one another for a moment and then they kiss.
***
Fielding and Foyle sit drinking in a public house. Fielding tells his friend that he owes him an apology for the way he treated him and asks about something that he doesn't understand - why Jenkins said Elsie's name just before he died. Foyle asks, "Did he?" Fielding says it seems odd when there was no love lost between them. Foyle says, "Elsie … or LC." Fielding thinks for a moment then chuckles when recognition dawns: "Leonard Cartwright."
Foyle says, "Just a thought."
Fielding tries to remember how old he and Foyle were when they met - twenty-one, twenty-two. He says they were young soldiers off to the war but that it was a different world then and they didn't know what they were going to go through. Foyle says that they got through it, but Fielding says that he didn't. He recalls Ypres in April 1915, when the battlefield was enveloped in chlorine gas by the Boche, who released one-hundred and seventy tons of it in an operation they named "Disinfection". He says that he can still feel it burning inside of him.
Fielding tells Foyle to look around him - so much evil, so much bad blood, humanity stinks. All he wants is to go somewhere quiet and watch the sunset. He says that he knows Foyle will go on fighting but he's had enough.
***
When Foyle goes to the hospital later that night, he finds Farnetti sitting in a corridor. The young soldier says he's been there a while but every time he's gone in to see Sam, she's been asleep. He says he has to get back to base and so Foyle tells him to go, saying that he'll stay with her.
Foyle walks quietly onto the ward. When he sees Sam's eyes are closed, he turns to leave, but, in a weak voice, she calls him back. He apologises for waking her, but she says she wasn't sleeping. Foyle tells her that Farnetti has just left and asks if she wants him to fetch him, but she says that she really can't see him just now. Foyle draws closer to the bed and asks how she's feeling. When she replies that she's feeling pretty awful, Foyle tells her that the doctors think she's on the mend.
She says that's good because she's been thinking about something. Foyle remarks, "What, again? You should really try and resist, y'know, you can see where it gets you."
Sam smiles and says she really has been thinking "about whether I'm … " She pauses and when Foyle asks "Crossroads?" says "Yes, that's right."
She asks, "Would you say that I'm sort of … well, quite a useful person to have on the team, sir?"
Foyle replies immediately that he would and that he'd go so far as to say she was invaluable. Sam relaxes and says that, in that case, she thinks it's better that she go straight through the crossroads and not take any turns at all.
"Really. Well, I'm pleased."
"So, you here to take me back to work, then?"
"Absolutely."
"Good."
"Can't go anywhere without you."
"Jolly good."
Sam closes her eyes to go to sleep and Foyle smiles contentedly.
Many thanks to Lynne for writing up the episode for us.
Brooke drives the DCS to the army base. Foyle climbs out of the car and approaches an armed guard at the entrance who immediately tells him that there's no admittance beyond that point. Foyle says that he wishes to speak to Captain Halliday. The guard says that it's not possible.
Foyle takes a breath and says, "Well, there's been an outbreak of anthrax here in Hastings and he's responsible for it. If I'm not in his office within the next two minutes, I'll be back with the army, the police, the Home Guard and the press. Would you feel able to convey this to him at your earliest opportunity."
***
Shortly afterwards, in Halliday's office and as Wilcox looks on, the captain sternly warns Foyle that if he repeats anything he hears in that room, the world will fall in on him from a very great height. Foyle's remarks dryly, "Will it." Halliday says Foyle doesn't understand. He says not even the prime Minister knows what is being done at the base.
Foyle replies, "Right. Well, what you don't understand is that I don't care what falls on me from a very great height, neither do I care who doesn't know what. I know that you're responsible for the death of one young woman and the potential death of another. And unless you tell me exactly what's happened, everybody's going to know at least as much as I do."
Halliday sits in uncomfortable silence. Wilcox jumps in and explains to Foyle that they were experimenting with sheep. He says the carcasses were sent elsewhere for testing and by the time they'd discovered one had fallen off the lorry, the infected animal had been taken to a farm. They watched the farm and when the cattle fell ill, they took them because they wanted to stop the infection spreading.
Foyle asks what infection he means and Halliday scowls at Wilcox when he replies that it's a toxin by the name of anthrax and that if it's breathed in by anyone, it's 99% certain that the person will die almost at once. When Wilcox says that infection through the skin is less rapid, Foyle asks, "But still fatal?" Wilcox tells him that the general health and fitness of the victim can make all the difference.
When Foyle asks what the cure is, Wilcox says that an epidemiologist called Simon Higgins might be able to help him but Halliday says flatly that Foyle will not be able to speak to him without his authority. When Foyle asks why, Halliday defends what they're doing by saying that many injured in the bombing of London died from blood-poisoning because the sewage and water systems had been wrecked.
Foyle asks what his point is and Halliday replies why not go straight to the blood-poisoning - easier all round, less expensive, less long term damage.
Foyle is silent for a long moment then asks where he can find Higgins.
***
In the base sick bay, Higgins tells Foyle that if there are any traces of anthrax left on Sam's skin, it will kill her, so she must be thoroughly washed and then given a large dose of streptomycin. He offers no guarantee that it will work. Wilcox goes to fetch some streptomycin from their supply.
Higgins apologises to Foyle, saying that it's all his fault. He explains that he is team leader but was careless when testing the nerve gas organophosphate and he blinded himself. He says that he was unable to supervise the anthrax trials and that Halliday should never have allowed the carcasses to leave the area.
Higgins asks if Foyle is going to try to expose what they are doing at the base, and when Foyle remains silent, says they tried to recruit Henry Styles, who was with them at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, and that it drove him mad. He says that he expects that they'll make him disappear. "I wouldn't want them to do the same to you."
At that moment, Wilcox returns with the streptomycin. Higgins says that what they're doing, they're doing for their country, the same as everyone else. Foyle follows Wilcox to the door.
***
At the hospital, the doctor tells Foyle that he has given Sam a shot of streptomycin and asks where he got it from. Foyle ignores the question and asks how long it will be before they know if it's working. The doctor says he'll wait a couple of hours then give Sam a double dose if he has to. Foyle asks what happens then. The doctor says that there's nothing more he can do and at this point it could go either way.
***
Foyle stands at Sam's bedside, looking down at her with great concern as she breathes uneasily in her sleep.
***
The three occupants of the Wolseley are in sombre mood as Brooke drives Foyle and Milner to their next call. Milner leans forward and comments quietly to his boss that what they're doing doesn't seem to be the right sort of thing in the circumstances. Foyle replies that there's little else they can do. Milner says, "I can't believe she might die. She'll pull through, won't she, sir?"
***
At Ted Cartwright's house, Foyle hands Leonard the letter he had received and asks him why he didn't sign it. Leonard asks how he can be so sure he wrote it and Foyle says that it was sent to him but very few people know he's involved in the investigation and it wasn't any of the others, unless … He looks at Leonard's father, who says it wasn't he. Milner explains that there are traces of ether on the paper. Looking at Ted, he says they know he, as a vet, uses it.
Leonard admits that he wrote the letter. Foyle asks him why he went to the Hythe police and Leonard replies that he knew they'd got the wrong man because Ashford wouldn't kill anyone. Foyle asks if the reason he's sure they have the wrong man is because he's the right one. Leonard doesn't answer, so Foyle asks why Jenkins tried to kill him. Leonard asks, "Did he?" Foyle says he tried to shoot him when they were both with the Navarino, which is how he got the scar.
Leonard says he told him how he got the scar, it was shrapnel. Foyle says that he knows what a shrapnel wound looks like and Leonard's wasn't caused by shrapnel.
Leonard asks how Foyle knew it was Jenkins. The DCS explains that Jenkins was the only one with a gun. No one on board merchant vessels, including Royal Navy officers on DEMS duty is permitted to carry firearms. One small firearm is kept on the bridge, that's where Jenkins was and he shot the hinges off a door with it.
When Leonard admits that Jenkins did try to kill him, Foyle asks if that is why he killed Jenkins. Ted Cartwright is shocked when his son admits that, too.
Leonard says that Jenkins was a bully and a coward, who nearly killed him when the Navarino went down, and that he only shot down the door to save himself. He describes what happened when he found himself in the freezing water. He saw Jenkins on a piece of wreckage and called to him for help, but as he reached out, Jenkins fought him off. When he persisted in trying to climb onto the wreckage, Jenkins shot him. He would have died if someone hadn't found him and pulled him into a life boat.
Leonard's father asks why he didn't report it. Leonard replies that it was just Jenkins's word against his, as there were no witnesses. Ted says that he could have told him and Leonard says he wanted to but he couldn't because his father thought the world of Jenkins, just like everyone else.
He says he took the trocar from his father's case and, knowing where Jenkins drank, followed him when he came out of the pub. He couldn't let another man hang for what he'd done, so he went to see Fielding and wrote the letter to Foyle.
Milner takes Leonard out to the car. As Foyle prepares to follow, Ted Cartwright says that the DSM was given to the wrong man and that Jenkins got what he deserved in the end. He says that his son is due to be back on his ship in two days, and asks what good it will do to lock him up when his country needs him. Foyle replies thoughtfully, "None at all, Mr Cartwright" and leaves the house.
***
At 5pm, as Milner is leaving the station, Brooke asks how Sam is and he tells him that there's still no change.
Edith has come to speak to him and they talk as they walk along the street in the sunshine. He tells her that he doesn't know what will happen to Cartwright but thinks he won't be hanged. Edith says that Jenkins was a horrible man and she knew what he did to Elsie. She says she doesn't know why she didn't tell Milner and that perhaps it was because he was with the police. She says that she has come to apologise. She stops and turns to Milner and says that they got it wrong all those years ago. She explains that she knew Jane was wrong for him but didn't say anything because she was young and shy. She says she's not going to let him walk away from her again. The two look at one another for a moment and then they kiss.***
Fielding and Foyle sit drinking in a public house. Fielding tells his friend that he owes him an apology for the way he treated him and asks about something that he doesn't understand - why Jenkins said Elsie's name just before he died. Foyle asks, "Did he?" Fielding says it seems odd when there was no love lost between them. Foyle says, "Elsie … or LC." Fielding thinks for a moment then chuckles when recognition dawns: "Leonard Cartwright."
Foyle says, "Just a thought."
Fielding tries to remember how old he and Foyle were when they met - twenty-one, twenty-two. He says they were young soldiers off to the war but that it was a different world then and they didn't know what they were going to go through. Foyle says that they got through it, but Fielding says that he didn't. He recalls Ypres in April 1915, when the battlefield was enveloped in chlorine gas by the Boche, who released one-hundred and seventy tons of it in an operation they named "Disinfection". He says that he can still feel it burning inside of him.
Fielding tells Foyle to look around him - so much evil, so much bad blood, humanity stinks. All he wants is to go somewhere quiet and watch the sunset. He says that he knows Foyle will go on fighting but he's had enough.
***
When Foyle goes to the hospital later that night, he finds Farnetti sitting in a corridor. The young soldier says he's been there a while but every time he's gone in to see Sam, she's been asleep. He says he has to get back to base and so Foyle tells him to go, saying that he'll stay with her.
Foyle walks quietly onto the ward. When he sees Sam's eyes are closed, he turns to leave, but, in a weak voice, she calls him back. He apologises for waking her, but she says she wasn't sleeping. Foyle tells her that Farnetti has just left and asks if she wants him to fetch him, but she says that she really can't see him just now. Foyle draws closer to the bed and asks how she's feeling. When she replies that she's feeling pretty awful, Foyle tells her that the doctors think she's on the mend.
She says that's good because she's been thinking about something. Foyle remarks, "What, again? You should really try and resist, y'know, you can see where it gets you."
Sam smiles and says she really has been thinking "about whether I'm … " She pauses and when Foyle asks "Crossroads?" says "Yes, that's right."
She asks, "Would you say that I'm sort of … well, quite a useful person to have on the team, sir?"
Foyle replies immediately that he would and that he'd go so far as to say she was invaluable. Sam relaxes and says that, in that case, she thinks it's better that she go straight through the crossroads and not take any turns at all.
"Really. Well, I'm pleased."
"So, you here to take me back to work, then?"
"Absolutely."
"Good."
"Can't go anywhere without you."
"Jolly good."
Sam closes her eyes to go to sleep and Foyle smiles contentedly.