Midsomer Murders - A Worm In The Bud [DVD]

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There are some untied endings at the end. For example, why was the first victim in the bushes six hours before she is found in the pond? That is never answered, though the murder mystery is built on this fact... Simon goes over to Bernadette's. He says, "I went to Abbey Farm last night. I didn't know someone was going to kill James. He wasn't even there. I'm frightened, Bernadette. I went to the farm. I went home. I was on my own. He could have been there dead when I was." Bernadette says, "Did anyone see you at Abbey Farm? No. Then you weren't there. And you weren't on your own, you spent the night with me. An alibi from an eminent barrister should even shut Barnaby up."

At the police station, Barnaby says Susan Bartlett drowned between 10pm and 2am. No sign of struggle. Except Julie Fielding saw Susan's body lying in Setwale Wood earlier that afternoon. It doesn't make any sense. Barnaby concludes, "As I was walking up the stair I met a man who wasn't there. "He wasn't there again today. I wish, I wish he'd stay away."

Simon tells his mother he is selling the farm. As soon as Susan's funeral's over, Grange Farm goes on the market. Victoria says, "Simon, you can't throw away a lifetime's work. And what about all the other lifetimes? Your father's, your grandfather's, down the generations. We are a part of Midsomer Worthy. We matter here. It's madness. No. The answer is no." Simon says, "I can buy another farm. I can't buy my way out of what's going on in here." Simon points to his head. Jonah is outside watching the conversation. Later that evening, someone lurks outside Victoria Bartlett's home. They watch her through her window. She turns out the lights. The lurker starts cutting flowers. Barnaby and Troy arrive. Troy tells Barnaby the deceased is Susan Bartlett, local farmer's wife. Sam says, "I pulled her out. I couldn't leave her in there. I knew there was nothing I could do for her. She must have been dead since yesterday afternoon. My daughter saw the body. We didn't believe her. But not in the pond. Somewhere in the bushes. I just thought it was one of her stories." Barnaby goes to Mrs Harrington's house. Victoria says the flowers will grow again. Barnaby wants to know if there Is anyone she would regard as being an enemy or someone her son would? Victoria says people often fall out with each other but she doesn't know anyone who would do such a thing.

Simon and Bernadette have words. Simon doesn't care about a court case against Harrington anymore. Bernadette says Simon will get Abbey Farm when this is all over. Ever since they've met Simon banged on about what you could do with more land. Bernadette says she can make that happen. Simon says, "Can't you wait till she's buried?" Bernadette retorts, "What is the period for abstaining from carnal knowledge of your mistress when your wife dies? If she'd walked out you'd have thrown a party. It's the same woman." James Harrington - drugged with Valerian and placed in a pit of mud, in which he asphyxiated to death. One of the people that know about valerian locally is Jonah Bloxham. As Barnaby closes in on Bloxham, Bloxham is found in his blazing house. He is just about alive and taken to hospital. In his burnt out house Barnaby finds the remains of a photo of a child. Later he finds the remains of a similar photo on the bonfire of Victoria Bartlett, Simon Bartlett’s mother. Victoria Bartlett is not at here home, but the children have seen her being taken away at gun point by Hannah Harrington, James Harrington’s mother. Julie Fielding tells her brother, Sean Fielding a story.. " The children walked through the woods for hours and hours. The trees got bigger and bigger and it was getting dark. There was lots of thunder and animals made horrid rustling noises in the night - foxes and wolves and a huge big bear." Julie spies the dog from the woods. Julie and Sean follow the dog. The barks and comes after them. Sean tosses him sausages. Jonah comes out and says no one comes here. he says, "I know who you are. You come again and I'll have you. You will know the winepress of the wrath of God."

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Most of the script is well written as "A worm in the bud" has a lot of colorful characters, compelling subplots and very tense solution that I didn't see coming. Some of the residents of Midsomer Worthy are trying to prevent James Harrington from turning Setwale Woods into a housing estate. Led by a solicitor, Bernadette Sullivan, and a local farmer, Simon Bartlett, who also happen to be having an affair, they have not had much success in court. When Bartlett's wife, Susan, is found dead in the woods, Barnaby and Troy must first determine if her murder is related to the planned development or something as yet unknown. The information provided by two inquisitive children, who see the investigation as a fascinating game, proves invaluable in solving the crime. James is at a phone booth at night making a call. "Hi, how's it going? Shut up. I'll tell you when I see you. Don't keep me waiting. Any trouble and you know what's going to happen." Simon goes to James house at night and yells for him and blasts his horn. No answer from James. Barnaby and Troy exit the courthouse. Simon Bartlett and James Harrington get into a fight. Barnaby goes over and breaks it up. James goes to a playground and speaks to his wife, Caroline Harrington. He has won the court case and will sell his farm and then they can put their separation behind them. Caroline says she can't trust him as long as Susan Bartlett is around. Barnaby explains to Troy, "Susan Bartlett had to be replaced by any woman who could provide a grandchild. But Harrington worked it out. He put the flowers in Victoria's garden. Not to say, "You're next." Just, "I know you did it." Troy says, "But why would Bloxham frame Simon Bartlett?" Barnaby says, "He found out what she'd done, but he wasn't part of it. Yes, she learned all about valerian from him some 40 years before. But Bloxham was trying to incriminate Simon because Simon was about to break his mother's heart by selling the farm. The farm was everything to Bloxham. He grew up there. And Victoria, she was five years younger than him, but she was like a kid sister. Hannah said she idolised him. And he loved her. But they couldn't stay kids forever. So he turned the only time he was happy into a private world. He had to protect it. Even Simon was expendable. Victoria didn't see it like that."