This summary is in no way intended as a substitute for viewing this fabulous episode.
A briefish summary for now until the other is done.
Spoilers ahead!
Hastings, March, 1943.
Two young men walk across a Hastings beach, on their way to a large, imposing country house. Breaking in and attemtping to steal items from the museum-like interior, the owner of the house catches them and holds them at gun-point. "From now on," he says in a Spanish accent, "you work for me."
Returning to his home, Foyle is surprised to find his god-daughter Lydia and her young son, James, waiting on his front steps. Lydia has no where to go and her son, traumatised after his school was bombed, no longer speaks. Foyle, reluctantly, it seems, allows them to stay.
In a building in a forest, discussions are underway over the viability of a bomb that is being developed. A test is scheduled for the next day.
The secretary from the bomb project is escorted home by one of the scientists. Her husband, watching from a window, isn't pleased.
Sam arrives at 31 Steep Lane to collect her boss but the door is answered by James, and then Lydia. Intrigued, Sam chatters away as they walk to the car. Foyle kindly offers up information about Lydia and James before Sam bursts with curiosity.
At the police station, the new Assistant Commissioner, Mr Parkins, is waiting in Foyle's office. He wants Foyle to look into an illegal gambling ring that has been operating on the coast. Not impressed, Foyle informs the AC he already has a sergeant investigating. Foyle is working on something he considers more important - uncovering a gang of sabatouers. The AC says he was told Foyle could be insubordinate. "Well, I'm here to remind you that you're not indispensible." He then asks to borrow Foyle's driver for the week he'll be in Hastings. The AC isn't amused when he meets Sam.
Foyle checks with Milner on his progress investigating the gambling ring investigation. Milner informs Foyle he'll be playing crown and anchor that evening. He'll get some names, make some arrests "and get the Assistant Commissioner of your back."
On an isolated beach, a group of men look out to sea. One has binoculars, another a film camera. A large, low-flying plane comes into view and drops a cylindrical container into the sea. The container splashes and then breaks up. The man from the Admiralty isn't pleased.
In a building on the wharf, men are gathering for the gambling. Milner, Mr Richards (the secretary's husband) and the two young men are all in the crowd. Richards is eventually ejected and given twenty-four hours to pay his debts. Milner attracts suspicion by asking too many questions and is set-upon by two of the gambling thugs on his way home. The two young lads come to Milner's rescue.
Sam attends to Milner's wounds while Milner suggests that he try finding the two young men who helped him. His supicions have been aroused by their youth and ready cash for gambling.
Frank, one of the young brothers, visits their 'boss' Mr De Perez to try and get out of their 'agreement' with him. Mr De Perez is not sympathetic. He gives Frank another job to do.
Lydia is depressed about her situation and leaves the house to post a letter and jump off a cliff.
Milner visits Mr Richards to ask for his help in identifying Frank and Terry. While he is there the two gambling thugs turn up but move on when they see Milner at the house.
Foyle arrives home to find James alone, reading in his room.
Walking through the forest at night along the Melton Road, an elderly man hears a gunshot from the research building. He reports the incident to Sergeant Brooks.
Frank and Terry argue over the job they are expected to do. They have to bomb something. Terry suggests they just leave and let Mr De Perez report them and see what happens but Frank says he'll find them, he's got friends. They walk to the research building with their suitcase bomb but they see people there, moving something out of the bilding. Terry and Frank follow them.
Foyle introduces Sam to James. Lydia hasn't come home. Sam offers to keep the boy company while Foyle searches for Lydia.
Sergeant Brooks gives Milner the report on the shot heard on the Melton Road. Foyle asks Sergenat Brooks to organise a search for Lydia.
Milner visits the building on Melton Road but they can't give him any information on the gunshot. Professor Townsend, it turns out, knows Foyle. Milner sends some constables off to search around the building and into the woods. They eventually find the body of Mr Richards.
Foyle and Milner speculate that Richards may have been shot because he owed money. Foyle calls into the nearby building to see Professor Townsend.
The really short version:
Sam tries to get James interested in speaking again and takes him for a picnic to the woods.
Frank and Terry are desperate to get rid of the suitcase bomb and decide to find a secluded spot in the woods to blow it up.
Professor Townsend and Captain Boothroyd do their best to keep Foyle's investigation from disrupting the project. Evelyn Richards finally confesses to shooting her husband in self defence. He had arrived at the building late at night, drunk and carrying a bunch of flowers but after he had become aggressive and endangered the project, she had shot him. Mrs Richards said she had then called both Professor Townsend and Hans (the Danish scientist who had walked her home). They had decided to move the body and deny any knowledge of the event so they could concentrate on the tests.
Foyle isn't happy with Mrs Richards' confession and wants to keep digging. The Assistant Commissioner gets involved when the Admiralty ask him to stop Foyle. Foyle is told he can continue his investigation but is instructed to release Mrs Richards who, it turns out, isn't a secretary at all, but a research scientist.
Terry and Frank let loose their bomb in the woods just as Sam and James walk by. The shock effect from the explosion stuns both Sam and James, and James begins talking again.
Lydia is found unconscious on a beach and recovers in hospital. Foyle visits her and tells her she and James have a home with him, for the time being, as someone has to look after them. She asks about his work and he says he has a feeling there will be less of it from now on.
Milner sees Mrs Richards and Hans kissing and the truth behind the death of Mr Richards eventually comes out. Mrs Richards and Hans had planned the killing, enticing Mr Richards to the research building on the pretence of a reconciliation. There they had shot the man and called the Professor with the story of self-denfence.
Mr De Perez, it turns out, has diplomatic immunity and can't be touched for sabotage or coersion.
Foyle visits the Assistant Commissioner at his hotel. The AC tells him no one will be prosecuted, there isn't enough evidence.
"It's not enough."
"Right," says Foyle, slowly rising to his feet. "Well it certainly is for me."
"Foyle!"
"No, this sort of thig, virtually condoned for the sake of the war effort; a man guilty of coersion and sabotage can't be touched while two boys guilty of nothing more than slipping off the rails because of a lack of parental control will get several years with hard labour; assistant commissioners doing their very best to undermine me in front of my staff - yep, I'd say I'd had enough."
"Look, I know you and I got off to a bad start, Foyle. It was my fault and I apologise for it but it's not too late. We can have another look at Mrs Richards. And I'll tell you what...you know a young woman, Lydia Nicholson. I have here a report concerning an attempted suicide, a recommendation to prosecute (he tears the paper in two). You see? Justice can sometimes be manipulated to help the individual."
"Well, your justice perhaps. Not mine." Foyle drops his resignation letter onto the table and walks out.
Foyle walks out to meet Milner and Sam on the jetty. As he walks, his voice reads the letter of resignation.
"Assistant Commissioner Parkins,
I have suggested to you that maintaining the law in time of war is all but impossible. I have now reached the conclusion that I am no longer up to the task and it would seem, therefore, that there can be no useful purpose in me remaining in my position. I am therefore offering you my resignation, effective as of now.
I remain, sir, your obedient servant,
Christopher Foyle."
Two young men walk across a Hastings beach, on their way to a large, imposing country house. Breaking in and attemtping to steal items from the museum-like interior, the owner of the house catches them and holds them at gun-point. "From now on," he says in a Spanish accent, "you work for me."
Returning to his home, Foyle is surprised to find his god-daughter Lydia and her young son, James, waiting on his front steps. Lydia has no where to go and her son, traumatised after his school was bombed, no longer speaks. Foyle, reluctantly, it seems, allows them to stay.
In a building in a forest, discussions are underway over the viability of a bomb that is being developed. A test is scheduled for the next day.
The secretary from the bomb project is escorted home by one of the scientists. Her husband, watching from a window, isn't pleased.
Sam arrives at 31 Steep Lane to collect her boss but the door is answered by James, and then Lydia. Intrigued, Sam chatters away as they walk to the car. Foyle kindly offers up information about Lydia and James before Sam bursts with curiosity.
At the police station, the new Assistant Commissioner, Mr Parkins, is waiting in Foyle's office. He wants Foyle to look into an illegal gambling ring that has been operating on the coast. Not impressed, Foyle informs the AC he already has a sergeant investigating. Foyle is working on something he considers more important - uncovering a gang of sabatouers. The AC says he was told Foyle could be insubordinate. "Well, I'm here to remind you that you're not indispensible." He then asks to borrow Foyle's driver for the week he'll be in Hastings. The AC isn't amused when he meets Sam.
Foyle checks with Milner on his progress investigating the gambling ring investigation. Milner informs Foyle he'll be playing crown and anchor that evening. He'll get some names, make some arrests "and get the Assistant Commissioner of your back."
On an isolated beach, a group of men look out to sea. One has binoculars, another a film camera. A large, low-flying plane comes into view and drops a cylindrical container into the sea. The container splashes and then breaks up. The man from the Admiralty isn't pleased.
In a building on the wharf, men are gathering for the gambling. Milner, Mr Richards (the secretary's husband) and the two young men are all in the crowd. Richards is eventually ejected and given twenty-four hours to pay his debts. Milner attracts suspicion by asking too many questions and is set-upon by two of the gambling thugs on his way home. The two young lads come to Milner's rescue.
Sam attends to Milner's wounds while Milner suggests that he try finding the two young men who helped him. His supicions have been aroused by their youth and ready cash for gambling.
Frank, one of the young brothers, visits their 'boss' Mr De Perez to try and get out of their 'agreement' with him. Mr De Perez is not sympathetic. He gives Frank another job to do.
Lydia is depressed about her situation and leaves the house to post a letter and jump off a cliff.
Milner visits Mr Richards to ask for his help in identifying Frank and Terry. While he is there the two gambling thugs turn up but move on when they see Milner at the house.
Foyle arrives home to find James alone, reading in his room.
Walking through the forest at night along the Melton Road, an elderly man hears a gunshot from the research building. He reports the incident to Sergeant Brooks.
Frank and Terry argue over the job they are expected to do. They have to bomb something. Terry suggests they just leave and let Mr De Perez report them and see what happens but Frank says he'll find them, he's got friends. They walk to the research building with their suitcase bomb but they see people there, moving something out of the bilding. Terry and Frank follow them.
Foyle introduces Sam to James. Lydia hasn't come home. Sam offers to keep the boy company while Foyle searches for Lydia.
Sergeant Brooks gives Milner the report on the shot heard on the Melton Road. Foyle asks Sergenat Brooks to organise a search for Lydia.
Milner visits the building on Melton Road but they can't give him any information on the gunshot. Professor Townsend, it turns out, knows Foyle. Milner sends some constables off to search around the building and into the woods. They eventually find the body of Mr Richards.
Foyle and Milner speculate that Richards may have been shot because he owed money. Foyle calls into the nearby building to see Professor Townsend.
The really short version:
Sam tries to get James interested in speaking again and takes him for a picnic to the woods.
Frank and Terry are desperate to get rid of the suitcase bomb and decide to find a secluded spot in the woods to blow it up.
Professor Townsend and Captain Boothroyd do their best to keep Foyle's investigation from disrupting the project. Evelyn Richards finally confesses to shooting her husband in self defence. He had arrived at the building late at night, drunk and carrying a bunch of flowers but after he had become aggressive and endangered the project, she had shot him. Mrs Richards said she had then called both Professor Townsend and Hans (the Danish scientist who had walked her home). They had decided to move the body and deny any knowledge of the event so they could concentrate on the tests.
Foyle isn't happy with Mrs Richards' confession and wants to keep digging. The Assistant Commissioner gets involved when the Admiralty ask him to stop Foyle. Foyle is told he can continue his investigation but is instructed to release Mrs Richards who, it turns out, isn't a secretary at all, but a research scientist.
Terry and Frank let loose their bomb in the woods just as Sam and James walk by. The shock effect from the explosion stuns both Sam and James, and James begins talking again.
Lydia is found unconscious on a beach and recovers in hospital. Foyle visits her and tells her she and James have a home with him, for the time being, as someone has to look after them. She asks about his work and he says he has a feeling there will be less of it from now on.
Milner sees Mrs Richards and Hans kissing and the truth behind the death of Mr Richards eventually comes out. Mrs Richards and Hans had planned the killing, enticing Mr Richards to the research building on the pretence of a reconciliation. There they had shot the man and called the Professor with the story of self-denfence.
Mr De Perez, it turns out, has diplomatic immunity and can't be touched for sabotage or coersion.
Foyle visits the Assistant Commissioner at his hotel. The AC tells him no one will be prosecuted, there isn't enough evidence.
"It's not enough."
"Right," says Foyle, slowly rising to his feet. "Well it certainly is for me."
"Foyle!"
"No, this sort of thig, virtually condoned for the sake of the war effort; a man guilty of coersion and sabotage can't be touched while two boys guilty of nothing more than slipping off the rails because of a lack of parental control will get several years with hard labour; assistant commissioners doing their very best to undermine me in front of my staff - yep, I'd say I'd had enough."
"Look, I know you and I got off to a bad start, Foyle. It was my fault and I apologise for it but it's not too late. We can have another look at Mrs Richards. And I'll tell you what...you know a young woman, Lydia Nicholson. I have here a report concerning an attempted suicide, a recommendation to prosecute (he tears the paper in two). You see? Justice can sometimes be manipulated to help the individual."
"Well, your justice perhaps. Not mine." Foyle drops his resignation letter onto the table and walks out.
Foyle walks out to meet Milner and Sam on the jetty. As he walks, his voice reads the letter of resignation.
"Assistant Commissioner Parkins,
I have suggested to you that maintaining the law in time of war is all but impossible. I have now reached the conclusion that I am no longer up to the task and it would seem, therefore, that there can be no useful purpose in me remaining in my position. I am therefore offering you my resignation, effective as of now.
I remain, sir, your obedient servant,
Christopher Foyle."