- Sgt. Gavin Troy: [approaching Linda Wagstaff's home] It's like it's been dumped by Thomas.
- DCI Tom Barnaby: Pardon?
- Sgt. Gavin Troy: The tank engine.
- DCI Tom Barnaby: Oh. I used to read that to Cully.
- Ron Pringle: Oh, to be in England.
- Betty Pringle: We are in England, Ron.
- Ron Pringle: I meant the scene, Betty. I meant you couldn't be anywhere else.
- DCI Tom Barnaby: What's that?
- Sgt. Gavin Troy: What's what?
- DCI Tom Barnaby: That.
- Sgt. Gavin Troy: Chicken korma.
- DCI Tom Barnaby: In a sandwich?
- Sgt. Gavin Troy: The world has moved on from cheese and tomatoes, sir.
- [takes a bite]
- Sgt. Gavin Troy: It's lovely.
- James Fitzroy: Barnaby.
- [pause]
- James Fitzroy: Yeah, Chief Inspector Barnaby, eh?
- DCI Tom Barnaby: Yeah, that's right.
- James Fitzroy: Yeah, just popped over for a couple of days, boar hunt yesterday. The village we're twinned with. Damned good chase, and we got a kill, huh. That's why we've been putting our nosebags on today.
- [pause]
- James Fitzroy: Oh, this is my wife, Sarah.
- Sarah Fitzroy: Hello.
- DCI Tom Barnaby: This is my wife, Joyce, and my daughter Cully.
- Sarah Fitzroy: Oh, Cully Barnaby. You're going to be in "The Importance of Being Earnest," aren't you? At the Causton Playhouse.
- Cully Barnaby: Yes, I have to go back and rehearse.
- James Fitzroy: Sarah is on the committee there.
- Sarah Fitzroy: Friends of the Playhouse, you know.
- Cully Barnaby: Oh, really?
- James Fitzroy: She'll bore you to death, I dare say, before you can get the play on. Well, we mustn't bore you anymore. On you go, Sarah.
- Sarah Fitzroy: Bye.
- James Fitzroy: Almost forgot, we had a murder in Upper Marshwood, some old tramp. Superintendent Pringle's on the case.
- DCI Tom Barnaby: Yes, he's standing in for me while I'm on holiday.
- James Fitzroy: Damn fine chap. Had the bloke who did it inside within a week. Now that's what I call police work.
- [laughing]
- James Fitzroy: Yes, yes, on you go, Sarah. Go on, go on, go on. Bye.
- DCI Tom Barnaby: Ron Pringle solves a murder while I'm away. I'll never hear the last of this. Ron Pringle, he's an oaf.
- Cully Barnaby: Dad, forget about Ron Pringle. You're on holiday.
- Dan Peterson: What clinched it was a schoolboy howler. The gun was in the right hand. But Ben Gurdie is left handed.
- DCI Tom Barnaby: How did you know that?
- Dan Peterson: He was a manual worker. The left hand has got the calluses and harder skin. That was the hand he used most. Well, it's easy to confirm it with his wife.
- DCI Tom Barnaby: So whoever wanted to make it look like a suicide put the gun in the wrong hand.
- Dan Peterson: You're dealing with a murder.
- DCI Tom Barnaby: I was pretty sure.
- Sgt. Gavin Troy: You never said.
- DCI Tom Barnaby: Well, it didn't add up, did it, Troy?
- Sgt. Gavin Troy: [as they leave Linda Wagstaff's house] Perhaps you shouldn't have mentioned that photograph. It really clammed her up.
- DCI Tom Barnaby: I'm aware of that.
- Sgt. Gavin Troy: You think that was her lover?
- DCI Tom Barnaby: Yeah, quite probably.
- Sgt. Gavin Troy: Amazing, isn't it? Him fancying her?
- DCI Tom Barnaby: Yeah, I daresay she didn't always look like that. People do change as they get older, Troy. Even you.
- Sgt. Gavin Troy: Yeah, I suppose so.
- [last lines]
- DCI Tom Barnaby: I've got some spare time. What say we take your mother out to lunch?
- Cully Barnaby: How about that new French place, The Gastronomique?
- DCI Tom Barnaby: I'll settle for steak and chips at the Fox and Hounds.
- Ron Pringle: All right. All right, lads. Let's have none of that.
- Billy Gurdie: It's just a bit of fun. Not hurting anyone.
- Ron Pringle: Listen to me. You know who I am?
- Billy Gurdie: You're a copper.
- Ron Pringle: I'm Superintendent Pringle. I just moved into this village where I hope to spend a very happy retirement. Soon I'll just be a neighbor like anybody else. And I intend to get on with everyone.
- Billy Gurdie: You have your work cut out to do that here.
- Ron Pringle: What's your name?
- Billy Gurdie: Gurdie.
- Ron Pringle: What Gurdie?
- Billy Gurdie: Mister Gurdie.
- [laughing]
- Billy Gurdie: Billy to a chosen few.
- Ron Pringle: Yes, I've heard of you, Billy Gurdie. You're known to make trouble. Well, a word of advice, don't make trouble with me. Even when I'm retired I'll still have friends.
- Billy Gurdie: [softly after Ron leaves] Git.
- Joyce Barnaby: Poor Betty.
- DCI Tom Barnaby: Yes, she really loved him. God, what a bloody awful day.
- [pause]
- DCI Tom Barnaby: Is Cully still rehearsing? Is she?
- Joyce Barnaby: Oh yes, it's the opening soon. Must keep that first night free.
- DCI Tom Barnaby: Oh yes, right, right, right.
- [phone rings]
- Joyce Barnaby: I'll say you're not here.
- DCI Tom Barnaby: No, no, l'll get it. Hello, Barnaby.
- [pause]
- DCI Tom Barnaby: Right. Well, thank you. Thank you very much for calling.
- [Hangs up]
- DCI Tom Barnaby: That was the vet. Ron Pringle's horse was doped. Ron Pringle was murdered.