[ Camera shutter clicks ]
- Recently crowned "face of the '60s,"
Birdie shot to stardom a mind-boggling 18 months ago.
She really has captured the spirit of the age,
recently launching her very own fashion label.
Every girl wants to be her.
Men can't take their eyes off her.
[ Camera shutter clicking ]
But what everyone really wants to know is...
Who is Birdie?
Well, you've become what's known as a trendsetter.
Sales of your inaugural range
have been flying out of the shops.
Is it true you design all the pieces yourself?
Well...
- Every one. [ Record scratch ]
Got her finger on the pulse, she has.
Max Savage... Birdie's manager.
[ Camera shutter clicking ]
And what light can you shed
on Britain's first fashion superstar?
- Oh, I'll tell you everything...
but at a press conference, far away from swinging London.
You see, Birdie is about to return to her nest.
- Where is she going? - Tell us more.
[ Reporters clamoring ]
I'm sorry.
I told you before.
- It'll do you good to get back to your roots.
See how far you've come.
Max, I can't do this.
What?
- Y-You don't even consult me anymore.
- Birdie, it's my job to make decisions for you.
- These clothes aren't remotely me.
I-I'd never come up with them.
- But just saying you did makes them desirable.
You are the face, the supposed brains,
and the figure.
We need to monetise that, make hay while the sun shines.
- Have you even looked at my designs?
'Course.
No offense, but you're just a pretty face.
I need to express myself.
Look, be a good girl,
shut your cake hole,
and do what you do best...
Looking gorgeous.
Unless you want me to leave you in "Great Slumber"
or whatever it's called.
- Please don't make me go back there.
♪♪
- We don't want this kind of thing here, do we, Dottie?
It's an embarrassment.
And imagine finding out your daughter's
coming home like this!
Who's coming home?
Shirl's lass.
- My little Birdie is so busy these days.
I mean, who can blame her for forgetting her old mother?
- One dreads to think what she might be wearing...
Or not wearing, for that matter.
- Whatever she's wearing, Vera, I can't be more proud.
- I must say, this is jolly exciting.
To see Birdie fly home, so to speak.
- I have absolutely no idea who that is.
- Oh, Sarge, she's only the most famous,
not to mention the most beautiful woman in the country.
And I sat next to her in maths!
And we are here because...?
Crowd control.
Exactly.
- She's here. She's actually here!
Look at them.
The clothes, the hair.
You literally saved her life.
I knew you'd hate it here.
Let's go back to Chelsea.
Nonsense.
Take a look at your home for the next few days, eh?
Gone up in the world, ain't you?
It's literal rags to riches.
Moribund to modern.
- The world needs to see that you came from this place.
Makes my creation all the more remarkable.
Hey, I've got your back, okay?
All you need to do is look sensational.
♪♪
Alright.
Let's get this over with.
Clever girl.
[ Cheers and applause ]
- It's worse than I thought, Dottie.
A walking obscenity!
- She's naked as the day she was born!
Hello, love.
- It's good to see so many friendly faces.
I know you'll all be wondering why Birdie's returned,
but keep it under your hats, will you?
I don't want the nationals here, least not till Friday,
when I shall reveal documentary maker Verity Martin
is examining Great Slaughter's role in this phenomenon.
Soon, this place will be firmly on the map.
- What if we don't want to be "on the map?"
- But don't you want to be part of it?
Be interviewed, get your moment in the spotlight.
- What if I ain't got nothing nice to say?
- You can say whatever you like, Tom.
Any questions?
What on Earth is Birdie?
Miss Thimble, it's me.
- Would you like to come to tea, love?
5:00?
And you are?
Mrs Shirley Turner.
Robin's mother.
She'd love to.
Thank you, everyone.
Interviewees, if you'd like to follow Moses here,
he will make you, um... [ Clears throat ]
camera-ready.
- Right this way. Follow me.
Are you gonna tell me
why you're actively inviting criticism?
- Sweet cheeks... - Don't call me sweet cheeks.
Poppet...
What do you think showing a streak
of outraged old biddies will do?
- I suppose make her more attractive to the youth market.
Clever girl.
Now go get set up.
Oh, and poppet?
Bit of lippy wouldn't hurt.
- That's not part of my job, Mr Savage.
It is now.
Right then, how about we start with the real star of this show?
I discovered her at a party.
She had a commercial face.
It inspired me to create her break-out look.
And now the world and his wife knows
how pulchritudinal she was.
- I think you'll find it's "pulchritudinous."
Stop interrupting me!
Then stop making up words!
I need a break.
- Perhaps, if the camera's still rolling,
I could say a few words?
Moses, cigar, now!
Yes, Mr Savage.
[Angrily] Anything you say, Mr Savage.
♪♪
- I just wanted to say, if things get too crazy
and you need to be escorted anywhere,
I'm your WPC.
Oh, Peggy!
It's so good to see a friendly face.
Congratulations on the uniform.
- Thanks. It's nothing compared to what you've done.
I still can't believe we used to be friends.
We still are.
You will be interviewed, won't you?
Oh, no.
- No. - Think of the exposure.
Millions will see it, worldwide.
Who knows? It could even open doors for you.
What kind of doors?
Mr Savage!
The dribblers are ready.
This is not Carnaby Street.
This is Great Slaughter,
where we wear clothes which are all-encompassing.
Anything else is moral turpitude.
Weren't you young once?
I beg your pardon!
- I must say, this is all jolly exciting.
- Do you have any perspectives on Birdie to share?
- No. Not especially.
Although I do love a camera.
Hello there.
Cut!
What she's done is incredible.
It just shows you, anyone can do anything.
I mean, she's been all 'round the world.
And what about you?
Me?
Just to Weston-super-Mare on the Button annual holiday.
- Sounds like you've got some living to do.
- Don't go tryna make us look like a country buncha condents!
Next!
- I've bin to London 'ere, next to the escalator. [ Laughs ]
- Yes, alright, alright, alright. Yes, thank you.
Birdie's look?
Well, actually, it was me who...
- Time to wheel in the next dribbler, if you don't mind.
But what kind of bird?
I have the most marvellous repertoire of bird calls,
such as the green-winged macaw.
[ Imitating bird call ]
Cut!
This whole thing has been a car crash!
No.
It was perfect.
Ha!
[ Clock ticking ]
♪♪
- Her schedule must be jam-packed.
Clearly.
- When was the last time you saw her, Mrs Turner?
Two years ago, when she left.
Back when she was just plain old Robin.
- She couldn't even show her face
at her own step-father's funeral.
Robin never accepted Harold.
She was a daddy's girl.
- Could you ever have imagined that Robin
was gonna become famous?
No, never.
But her father, Andrew...
God rest his soul.
- always thought she was gonna do great things.
He never doubted her, not once.
Where can she be?
[ Clock chimes, bird trills ]
♪♪
Shirley, dear, perhaps...
She's not coming, is she?
[ Church bell chimes ]
♪♪
[ Thunder rumbling ]
♪♪
What's wrong with your face?
Nothing.
"Nothing." Out with it.
I need recognition.
My designs are literally everywhere.
I pay you extra for those.
And you have my gratitude.
Your gratitude?
The world needs to know that I am an artist.
[ Door opens ]
Where've you been?
- Collecting last week's footage from the lab.
I'll give dinner a miss.
- Why don't we watch that together?
No thanks, poppet.
Moses is right.
This isn't fair on either of us.
- The new range has been a massive success.
- And there won't be another unless I'm genuinely behind it.
I-I don't care about the money.
Well, I do.
So I see.
You've been spending ever such a lot lately.
- You are giving me a splitting headache, you know that?!
I'm gonna have a bath.
We'll speak in the morning.
♪♪
[ Banging on door ]
♪♪
What's going on?
He never sleeps this late.
And his door's locked.
But...
thankfully I'm more than a pretty face.
Really?
♪♪
Et voila.
[ Dramatic music plays ]
♪♪
[ Screams ]
♪♪
[ Camera shutter clicking ]
Alright, Sister, out with it.
- Well, I believe there was an altercation.
So, the late Mr Savage was...
here,
and our attacker was here.
And you know this because...?
All contact leaves a trace,
thus when Mr Savage struck our attacker,
it resulted in this stain on the wall here.
The sticky, sinewy appearance indicates
that the viscosity of the blood was increased by saliva.
Ergo it came from the attacker's mouth.
Right.
- Well, then, in retaliation, our attacker pushes Mr Savage,
who falls backwards, hitting his head on the chest of drawers
then falling to the floor face-first.
- And then our attacker disappears in a puff of smoke?
- The doors and the windows were all locked from the inside.
And it can't be the fireplace.
- Too messy. And too small for an escape.
A secret passage, perhaps?
- Well, we need to find out what it is
before the press descends on us.
Agreed.
We can identify our attacker's blood type from this.
And if all of them have distinct blood types,
then Bob's your uncle and Fanny's your aunt.
Murder?!
You can't think one of us did it?
He meant everything to me.
Everything!
[ Sobs ]
- We'll need statements from you all.
Yes, and, um, blood samples.
I hope you don't mind a little prick.
This is terrible news.
Terrible.
But it is a splendid twist for the documentary.
Excuse me?
- Would anyone mind if I started filming right now?
- This is a real-life murder investigation,
not entertainment.
I must ask you to keep this under wraps for now
and to stay in this room while the house is searched.
- One of you three must be responsible,
so remain vigilant at all times.
- Actually, there was someone else here last night.
Someone who would definitely want to kill Mr Savage.
Would you like to reveal who?
But...
I only just saw him last night.
- Can you tell us what happened, Mrs Turner?
- I just want to see my daughter, please.
- [ Sighs ] If you must.
I'll handle this.
Don't you get it?
She doesn't want to see you.
Please.
Just let me in.
Alright.
How much?
No!
That's not why I'm here.
Do me a favour, will you?
Don't contact her again.
You're an embarrassment.
[ Door slams ]
- I understand you used to clean Slaughter Manor.
You could have easily got inside.
And right now, you have the most compelling motive for murder.
- Before I left, I saw Robin looking down at me.
She closed her curtains.
So as much as I disliked that man,
it was her choice not to speak to me.
Right.
Well, um, would you mind if I took a blood sample
to eliminate you from our enquiries?
Of course.
Any road, afterwards, I went to Miss Thimble's
for a few rounds of Gin Rummy.
Miss Thimble confirms
that she was with Mrs Turner last night,
but, you know, as if that counts for anything.
- Any joy with un-picking the locked room?
- [Chuckling] Oh, that's very good.
Uh, no.
A rational explanation continues to elude me.
However, Peggy has discovered an item of interest
in the documentary maker's room.
A film roll, sir.
Looks like someone tried to destroy it.
- With our victim's fingerprints all over it.
- Well, we need to see what's on it.
- Yes, well, I've already taken the liberty
of isolating a few frames.
Lights, please, maestro.
[ Clears throat ]
♪♪
- It looks like they're unaware they're being filmed.
Which begs the question,
just what kind of documentary is Miss Martin actually making?
- We can't let this knock us off schedule.
I'll need your mother on camera. Can you set that up?
The documentary is over.
Excuse me?
We're finished.
- Oh, no, darling. [ Chuckles ]
We're just getting started.
I mean, I could run your whole operation.
Moses, you're a designer.
- Mr Savage taught me everything over these last 18 months.
I know exactly what to do.
- What you need, right now, is continuity.
Would you support my designs?
Naturellement.
Right.
Well, in that case...
Then that's settled.
- Time to get this show back on the road.
[ Silverware clanks ]
Of course I'm devastated.
We all are.
But I know that Max is looking down on us right now,
willing us to continue.
He'd want Birdie to live on.
It was his passion project.
- When exactly did he discover your talents as a designer?
- Miss Martin, can I have a word?
Fire away.
- Or would you rather speak down at the station?
Spoilsport.
Very well, Inspector.
Are you alright?
I think so.
Poor Max.
We've decided to soldier on without him.
May he rest in peace.
- Actually, I'm glad you're here.
Are you?
- There's been a shake-up in my team.
I need an assistant of sorts.
Someone I can trust.
Why are you telling me?
Oh, darling, isn't it obvious?
♪♪
- Mr Savage found out you had your own agenda,
which is what?
To expose the truth.
- You really expect people to believe I came up with this?!
- As long as you smile and say so, they'll buy it!
I'll feel like a fraud!
Is that what you want?
- Pick that up! - I knew it!
How dare you!
- I told you, no filming... - No!
- Without my say so! - No!
- I knew you were a snake in the grass.
- Who are you working for? - Myself.
This Birdie nonsense makes a mockery of everything.
She doesn't deserve all the attention.
This notion of celebrity... It's meaningless.
- Young girls all over the country are lapping it up.
Wearing her threads.
- She's not a designer, she's your puppet.
When my film comes out,
her credibility will go up in smoke.
You know what I think?
You're jealous.
Of her money, her visage.
- Most women have to fight for success,
but she gets rich because of the way she looks,
even though she's utterly talentless?
Camera loves her.
And believe me, it hates you, poppet.
You're a dog's dinner.
- And you are a pea-brained, misogynist arse!
♪♪
I want you gone before I wake.
And if you try to put any of this so-called documentary out,
I'll see you in court!
- So you killed him to save your own skin?
- [ Door slams ] - [ Exhales ]
Max Savage's death was nothing more than fortuitous.
I can continue to show her for what she is.
Birdie isn't real. She's just a front.
All the groovy kids have been taken in.
And will that satisfy you?
Ruining a young girl's life?
- People deserve to know the truth.
So yes, he sacked me.
But I'd hardly kill to cover that up.
It's not worth my liberty.
- If Mr Savage really was pulling her strings,
what happens now?
- Fortunately, Moses was waiting in the wings.
He's done rather well out of all of this, don't you think?
♪♪
Oh, my.
- The chance of lifetime, she said.
And who knows what other doors it could open?
Well, what kind of doors?
- When the world sees me, styled by a professional,
my life could change forever,
just like Robin's.
[ Cheering ]
[ Groovy music playing ]
[ Camera shutter clicking ]
♪♪
[ Thud ]
- Well, it would be a shame to lose you, Peggy.
You are something of a rising star.
- It doesn't feel that way to me.
My life is...
so dull compared to Robin's.
Theodore Roosevelt said that
"comparison is the thief of joy."
Were you not happy before Robin returned?
- Not a peep about Savage's death in the press.
Yet another benefit of Ruth's departure.
What have you got for me, Sister?
Anything on the blood? [ Timer dings ]
- Our Lord has answered your call with serendipitous timing, Sam.
Out of all of the samples taken, there was only one match.
- Oh. - Let me guess.
Moses Valentino.
Negative.
Oh, my giddy aunt.
I'm so sorry, Peggy.
What?
- Why didn't you say anything before?
- I-I knew it would look bad.
- Obviously, you didn't kill him.
- Button. - Sorry, sir.
- What were you doing in his room in the first place?
I knew he was having a bath.
So I took the chance to get some clarity.
♪♪
- What do you think you're doing?
You've been ripping me off.
- Wrong end of the stick, Birdie.
As usual.
- Oh, you pay me to have my own range.
10 percent of what you get.
It should be the other way around.
When are you going to realise?
I am the organ grinder, you are the monkey!
- No. I am the one they want to photograph.
- You are replaceable. - [ Laughs ]
You think it's that easy?
Your contract is fully binding.
I own Birdie.
We'll see about that.
- I'd only ever think about releasing you if, uh...
Yes?
If you stop being so...
frigid.
Get off me!
You're nothing but... But a parasite!
♪♪
Oh, that's awful.
- And that's when you pushed him in anger?
I didn't touch him.
- We only have your word for that.
- When I left the room, he was fine.
Moses can vouch for that.
Mr Valentino?
He knocked on the door,
with one of Max's disgusting cigars.
A cigar?
♪♪
Have you made your mind up?
No, not yet.
What will Dad think?
- Is that any reason to hold you back?
Leaving this place was the best thing I ever did.
- Must have been hard seeing your mum with someone else.
Is that what she said?
That's not why I left.
Then why did you?
Hello, my love.
Everything alright?
- I thought you might need some support.
I see.
Please, I just want to talk.
Come to the house at 4:00.
Thank you.
My little bird.
You're one of the best, Peggy Button.
I've always said so.
♪♪
Fish bums!
Just as I thought. And I was very thorough.
Close, but no cigar.
Yes.
Very good.
- Then I suppose it disappeared into thin air, too?
Unless Birdie was lying.
Or...
it went up in flames.
♪♪
Bingo!
Good man!
- So perhaps the reason why the room was locked
is because I have the killer right here.
- You believe the cigar was poisoned?
Quite possibly.
- And thanks to Birdie, we know exactly who gave it to him.
Yeah.
- Yes, I took him a cigar, from the box in the drawing room.
Because?
- I wanted an excuse to talk to him.
What about?
- To see if I could convince him to let me be in the documentary.
To get the recognition I deserve.
And what did he say?
He agreed, of course.
Said my contribution had to be acknowledged.
I think that's a lie.
My WPC observed Mr Savage cruelly rebuff you
when you asked to be in the documentary.
What can I say?
He changed his mind.
- I understand that you've taken over as, uh,
Birdie's management?
Yes.
- You've done very well from Mr Savage's death, haven't you?
- A lucky byproduct of his unfortunate demise.
I think you despised him.
That's why you poisoned the cigar before you took it to him.
- If it was poisoned, it had nothing to do with me.
Can you prove otherwise?
Trust me.
We have our ways.
- Well, then, until you have any actual evidence,
I think you'd better let me go, don't you?
♪♪
Oh.
Hello.
I'm here to see my daughter, please.
- Of course. Robin will be right down.
After your interview.
- What? - I'll be quick. Come along.
I have a huge scrapbook.
Every article, picture.
Everyone in Great Slaughter keeps them for me.
She's my greatest achievement, you see.
Makes my life worthwhile.
Were you a good mother?
Most of the time.
- I think our audience will want to understand
why the two of you are estranged.
We're not.
Not anymore.
Come here.
We've let bygones be bygones.
That's all I ever wanted.
And cut.
You can go now.
What? Robin.
There is no Robin.
Only Birdie.
We're done here.
[ Footsteps retreating ]
- Oh, dear. [ Door opens ]
If needs be, we can audition an actress
for the role of your mother.
Someone who fits more with your aesthetic.
- I don't really want to do that.
- It's fine. We got what we need.
Fair enough.
I thought you could sign your contract
in front of the press tomorrow.
Make an event of it, hmm?
Why not?
As long as I can read it first.
Of course.
- Oh, and that dress you left out... it's not really me.
I'm going to wear one of mine.
You designed that?
- Yes. D-Do you like it?
It's...
- It's nice. It's impressive.
For a beginner.
But with the eyes of the world on you,
you need to be cutting-edge, don't you?
Wouldn't you agree?
- Uh, for a press conference, yes.
I suppose you know best.
Clever girl.
♪♪
[ Whimsical music plays ]
♪♪
I must confess.
This cigar has left me somewhat stumped.
Very good, Sister.
Now, it says here, Robin's signing with her new manager
in front of the world's press at midday.
Oh, crumbs.
Then it would be helpful for your friend
if we can prove Mr Valentino poisoned the cigar
before she puts pen to paper.
But with what?
♪♪
Certainly strong alkal...
[ Sniffs ]
Hang on, could that be...?
[ Sniffs ]
Oh, I think it is.
- What is it? - Bleach.
Now I know where to look.
Do ya?
- Oh, I most certainly do, dear Peggy.
- This is the same contract I had with Max.
All you've done is change his name.
- [ Scoffs ] Darling, you know we're a team.
Hmm?
The contract is only a formality.
It's just the way things are done.
- Well, I can't bring myself to sign it.
Then I suppose...
you'll have to find someone else with the vision
to take you into the stars.
Best of luck, Birdie.
Wait.
I-If that's the way it is...
As long as I'm listened to.
Absolument, darling.
It's time to get my gladrags on.
Are you quite sure about this?
[ Horn honking ]
I don't have a choice.
- Now, there's something you don't see every day.
♪♪
Oh, yes.
Yes, this is the one.
How do you know?
Fascinating.
It's been punctured.
But with what?
Perhaps with these?
- Ow! - Oh, dear.
And it looks as though our culprit did the same.
And left something behind.
- Right, if I can establish the blood type,
I should be able to identify them.
- But that'll be too late for the press conference.
[ Telephone ringing ]
What's through there?
- Um, Mr Savage's room, I believe.
- So that means that whoever was in here...
could hear Robin and Mr Savage.
Oh, no.
Hear what?
- I think I might know why it happened.
Why?
Atonement.
Peggy?
[ Exhales ]
Oh, hello.
I'm not really up for visitors today.
Can you come back another time?
What am I looking at?
Did you hurt yourself?
- I pricked it when I reached up for a syringe
in the store cupboard at the Manor.
Just like you did.
You've lost me, love.
- We found a drop of blood on the floor.
If I test it, will I find that it's AB negative?
Your blood type, Mrs Turner, which is exceptionally rare.
Lord forgive me.
- How did you get inside the house?
- I knew about the key under the pot from when I cleaned there.
I just had to see her.
♪♪
Birdie?
Birdie, where are you?
- Is that where you heard the argument?
I own Birdie.
I'd only ever think about releasing you if...
- Yes? - If you stop being so...
frigid.
Get off me!
You're nothing but a parasite!
[ Slap ]
♪♪
[ Inhales sharply ]
♪♪
- All I could think about was protecting my little bird.
I owed her that.
Because...
you... you failed to protect her before?
I noticed there were no pictures of your second husband here.
It was more than Robin not accepting him, wasn't it?
Did she leave because he hurt her?
I didn't believe her.
Well, I couldn't.
But when Harold's heart gave up
and he lay right there on the floor, he confessed.
What happened next?
♪♪
[ Ominous music plays ]
♪♪
[ Coughing ]
♪♪
- I didn't mean to kill him, I swear.
- The cigar wouldn't have killed him in itself.
Hopefully, you're looking at manslaughter at best.
I'm sorry, Mrs Turner.
I'm arresting you for the murder of Max Savage.
You are not obliged to say anything
unless you wish to do so,
and anything you say may be put in writing
and given in evidence.
That's alright, love.
You're only doing your job.
I know.
Now I need to make a detour on the way to the station.
To honour Max's memory,
we will proceed with his original plan...
A US tour,
a feature-film documentary,
a second Birdie clothes range designed by me,
Moses Valentino, Birdie's new manager
and creator of her original, iconic look.
If you would do the honours, darling.
[ Dramatic music plays ]
♪♪
S'cuse me, s'cuse me.
- Birdie, I believe you were in the middle of something.
Sorry, everyone.
Two ticks.
♪♪
I can't thank you enough.
♪♪
Why did you do it?
- Well, I had a second chance to protect you.
What I should have done in the first place.
- Because you took his word over mine, I thought...
What?
That you didn't love me.
No!
I could have never not love you.
It was just, I couldn't bear the thought
of what was happening.
I'll never forgive myself.
I want you to.
How can I?
Because I do.
I really do.
I'm so proud of you.
Your father would be, too.
Now you're free of that man,
you can do things on your own terms.
- That's not the way things are done.
Says who?
Look at everything you've achieved.
You, my little bird.
You're the bravest girl I ever met.
I have to go.
I'll come see you, I promise.
Peggy.
With me.
♪♪
- What the hell do you think you're playing at?
I'm going to manage myself.
- Have you gone loop-de-loop?
Perhaps.
Only time will tell.
Then what about me?
- You're a brilliant designer, Moses.
We can collaborate.
But final decisions are mine.
Understood?
I'll have to think about it.
I'm impressed.
Thank you.
Robin, I'm afraid to say
I haven't always had your best interests at heart.
Right.
- I find the whole Birdie thing an inauthentic farce.
Well...
I couldn't agree more.
How about we start the whole documentary again
and keep it real this time?
I'd love to.
Peggy, I believe you have some packing to do?
Thank you, but I'm gonna stay.
Your world... it's...
it's my escape, not my reality.
But I really love reading about it.
Come here.
- Also, I think I'm quite good at my job.
Of course you are.
Now, I have to get out of this dress.
Then I have a confession to make.
So I'm ashamed to admit
that I didn't design my range after all.
None of it was really "me."
- Birdie? - Yes?
Leonard Foxby, BBC.
How do you expect your fans will feel about this?
Betrayed, probably.
- So how can you ever regain their trust?
- Because now I want to show everyone who I really am.
It's time for Birdie to fly away. [ Chuckles ]
- Well if you're no longer Birdie,
then who exactly are you?
Who I always was, underneath.
Robin.
Robin Carter.
Daughter of Shirley
and friend of the finest WPC in the county,
Peggy Button.
- Good work, Button! - Well done, Peggy!
Well done!
♪♪