3. The Big Freeze by Dominic Minghella
Things are never quite what they seem in the small Highlands village of Lochdubh. When "Big Geordie" disappears after a dust-up in the pub, who has a motive for removing him? And what is the connection with the mysterious break in at Rory's shop, where only large quantites of salt are stolen? While Hamish MacBeth sorts it out, the MacCraes, father and son, conduct a booming and illicit trade selling lobsters. And to complicate matters further, the current love of Hamish's life, Alex, returns to the village with her London publisher. Hamish has to juggle emotional problems (which he's never been very good at) with ensuring that he doesn't get the credit for solving the case, so as not to be transferred from his beloved Lochdubh.
A well-meaning 'outsider' tries to take control of the Lochdubh village festival, and introduce 'traditional' highland food and activities, when the locals just want a bouncy castle for the kids. Local reporter Isobel Sutherland is mooning over Hamish, but he is blithely ignorant of the fact. He is in seventh heaven when he discovers that the author of his favourite pulp westerns is now resident in Lochdubh.
There's been a break in at the Major's place, but when Hamish investigates, he soon realises that it was an inside job, done to claim the insurance money the Major desperately needs. Hamish aids and abets his friend to make it look as though this is a job by the notorious "raspberry ripple gang", whose calling card is a carton or two of half-eaten raspberry ripple ice cream left at the scene of the crime. While Hamish is sweating over his law-breaking activities, two other events cause further havoc in his life. Technology comes to the police station in the form of a computer linked to Inverness 24 hours a day, and Alex briefly comes home again, seeking a commitment from Hamish that he finds it very hard to give. When TV John starts to act strangely, steals the office petty cash, and then runs away, Hamish cannot understand it. But when he learns from the madly jealous Rory that John has been spotted visiting Schoolteacher Esme at night, things start to fall into place. When a police convoy pursues TV John, "escaping" in a beat up old Lada, they manage to accidentally catch the real crook, and John reveals that he is deeply ashamed that he never learnt to read. Alex delivers a speech at the local school prize giving in which she talks of love and commitment, and Isobel, finding it hard to listen to this, quietly leaves.
Hamish has a run-in with Cameron Dicks, his bank manager, who bounces his cheques, and demands that Hamish get his bank account in order. Unable to pay for his groceries - not even enough for a tin of dog food for Wee Jock - Hamish is coerced by Rory into taking part in the Lochdubh amateur production of West Side Story. The cast make up in enthusiasm what they lack in youthful vigour and numbers. When Hamish queries who will play the Jets when there are clearly scarcely enough men to even play the Sharks, the answer is that they will double the roles. But don't they meet and fight? asks a bemused Hamish. "It's amazing what you can do with a little reworking of the script", says director Isobel. Playing the young lovers Tony and Maria are Phyllis Dicks, the bank manager's daughter, and Jimmy Soutar, whose father Duncan is heavily in debt to the bank. It is obvious that the two are in love, but when it transpires that Phyllis has been sneaking out to rehearsals against her father's wishes, trouble ensues. When Cameron Dicks catches his daughter "in the act", as it were,, he forbids her to take part, and won't let her see Jimmy. He then forecloses on Duncan Soutar's mortgage. Hamish and the villagers conspire to solve the problem creatively, and with the help of some insider information from aging hippy and commune leader Zoot Macpherrin, they get just the ammunition they require. Meanwhile, Isobel has been making her interest in Hamish plainer, and he finally begins to take notice. She drops by his house after rehearsal to return his script, and before long, they are drinking whisky and almost get to their first kiss when - in bursts TV John in disarray, concerned for Hamish because of the "Karmic Surge" he can feel coming from the house. The episode ends with a rehearsal rendition of "Stay Cool" from "West Side Story", with Hamish singing the lead vocal.
When two strangers drive through Lochdubh, one of them "sees" a young boy run a cross the road, and in swerving to avoid him, accidentally strikes and kills Hamish's beloved pet west highland terrier, Wee Jock. The driver doesn't stop, and Hamish, devastated at his loss, sets out on a determined quest to track them down and exact punishment. TV John, Doc Brown, Barney and the MacCraes, fearing what Hamish might do, or what harm might befall him, set off in pursuit, and in the process do a bit of "male bonding". Hamish has a bit of blood-letting in mind, but when he catches up with his quarry, who are cold, wet, tired and hungry, he doesn't immediately reveal his identity. It transpires that these men have been responsible for a hit and run accident which killed a young boy (the vision seen at the beginning) while committing a robbery, and they have disposed of the body in a loch. Hamish gets them to confess, and to tell the child's parents what happened to their boy. In their gratitude, they give Hamish a west highland puppy, also named Jock. At the end of the episode, Hamish says a farewell to the departed Jock, while TV John plays "something sad" on the bagpipes.
A group of city office workers set out from Lochdubh on a confidence-building team-spirit exercise which involves a long trek and a steep climb, under the leadership of arrogant and commandeering Colonel Maxwell. Sensing a story that might even get published in "The Scotsman", Isobel goes along for the trip. In due course, Hamish joins the party, where he finds dissention and difficulty, as well as major personality clashes. Accidents start to occur as people tire. Maxwell pushes people beyond their evident capacity, and leads them into danger. When he falls from the cliff face, the only way to save others is for Hamish to cut Maxwell's safety rope, and let him fall to his death. With great anguish, Hamish does so, but his own life is thrown into great danger. Isobel, desperately trying to prevent Hamish from falling, tells him she loves him. At the last second, Hamish is rescued by village reinforcements, led by TV John. As they return to the village, Hamish is in a deeply emotional state from the trauma of the excursion. He finally recognises what a fine person Isobel is, and they fall into an embrace, clinging to each other for dear life, both weeping. Back in Lochdubh, Alex has come home again. She is very excited, because she has made a huge decision about what she wants to do with her life. As soon as Hamish enters the bar, in front of the whoe village, Alex asks him to marry her. Caught unawares in an impossible situation, Hamish is struck dumb as he looks from the silent anguish of Isobel to the excited and happy Alex . . . .
And a major cliff hanger ensues, not to be resolved until series two.
1. A Perfectly Simple Explanation
3. Isobel Pulls It Off by Dominic Minghella
A Perfectly Simple Explanation
A small religious sect, led by Malachi McBean, puts a curse on Lochdubh, which Malachi regards as 'Gomorrah' since Hamish MacBeth is living there in sin with his partner - Alex. When Hamish speaks privately to Isobel, it becomes clear that he has made his choice in an attempt to do the honorable thing, but Isobel holds on to her dignity by claiming that there is now nothing between them. No one can fathom why the group has suddenly become so staunch in their behaviour. Isobel goes to the commune to interview Malachi and his followers, but is accidentally injured when Malachi drives away in his tractor, rolling over her foot. Hamish, stoically ignoring personal insults, is enraged when he learns that Isobel has been hurt, and begins an investigation. When Malachi's barn burns down, he swears that he saw Hamish there, in the guise of the devil, with burning eyes, cloven hooves and a tail. Alex feels hurt when she thinks that Hamish is leaping to Isobel’s defence, not her’s. After many red herrings and false conclusions, it turns out that there is indeed "a perfectly simple explanation", albeit an amusing and most unexpected one, to account for Malachi's behaviour.
When a life belt washes ashore, Hamish investigates the fate of the seaman who has not returned to Lochdubh. Meanwhile, Barney sets up a tourist "whale watching" operation, which guarantees passengers on his boat a whale sighting. This is revealed to be a scam - a wooden frame, canvas covered whale on a rope, operated by a motor under the charge of Lachie Junior. Inevitably, things go wrong. While Lachie is having problems with the motor, he comes a cross some plastic sealed packages, which he decides must be cattle feed. When he feeds them to the cattle, however, they "trip out" in a bovine way, since they've been munching on marihuana. Hamish lead an expedition to the site of the package, and dives down to discover the missing boat, still with its captain aboard. In a second plot strand, a mystery young man has come to Lochdubh, and has grown very friendly with Agnes. They go on a trip to a remote island, and are spotted together by Barney. Beside himself with jealousy, Barney drives his boat at the island towards them, forgetting that Hamish is still below and attached by a line. Hamish disappears, and Alex, frantic, dives in to search for him. Finally he is found, battered and bruised, inside the fake whale carcase.
Isobel decides it is time to forget Hamish and make a new start. As a symbolic gesture, she buys a new car, gets a haircut and makeover and some new clothes, joins a gym in the neighbouring town of Cnothan, and meets an attractive and attentive man named Gary. She applies for a job at a big newspaper in the city, but is turned down when she admits that she didn't file a potentially big story on the death of the Colonel. (See A Bit of An Epic She had given up the story to protect Hamish. Driving back to Lochdubh in her snazzy new car, Isobel spots some unusual activity with some men and a car. She stops to take some photos, and just eludes capture as they chase after her. Hamish registers Isobel's new appearance, getting a bit of a shock from the fact that she has changed her look, and has clearly decided to give up on him. He displays jealousy when he thinks Gary has spent the night with Isobel, and this in turn upsets Alex, who is feeling very unsure of his love. The village holds a collective ticket in the national lottery draw, and there is a huge celebration when their numbers come up. Each of them plans how they will spend their windfall. Unfortunately Lachie Snr, who bought the ticket, has lost it, and has to confess this to the village. The next night, Hamish encounters Gary outside Isobel's place and arrests him, in a friendly manner, for drunk driving, placing him overnight in the police cell. Alex is disgusted. It transpires that Gary has been trying to steal back Isobel's photos, which show a new car prototype that would be worth a lot of money. He is exposed, and Isobel demands that he arrange to purchase a new bus for the village, if he doesn't want her to reveal all.
Lachie McCrae Jnr and his pal Jubal McBean have begun to operate a local pirate radio station, which all the villagers enjoy and many contribute to - Isobel is "news queen", Alex is "book lady", Lachie Snr gives advice on chickens, etc. Alex's spot, reading chapters of Thomas Hardy's Far From the Madding Crowd, which she does with great emotion and heart, is particularly popular. A couple of officials come to Lochdubh to investigate the pirate station, which takes to the road in a van. The female officer is deeply troubled by premonitions of great danger and sadness which she cannot explain. TV John also feels a premonition of tragedy. Hamish and Alex's relationship is on the brink of collapse. Alex yearns for a clear comitment which Hamish cannot give her. He feels he is living a lie, as he is in love with Isobel, and is miserable because he doesn't want to hurt Alex, but can't think how to tell her. She brings matters to a head, and when she confronts him, he admits the truth. Both are terribly unhappy. Alex, to save her dignity, plans to leave Lochdubh, but first she intends to honour her promise and complete her reading of the Hardy novel on air. When Hamish is forced to close down the pirate station, Alex takes it as a personal betrayal, and tells Hamish that he couldn't possibly understand what it means to keep a promise. Desperately upset, she steals the pirate radio van, and drives it out of town to a high pass in dark, stormy weather. In her state of emotional distress, she isn't thinking clearly, and when the van gets stuck, she climbs out to investigate and accidentally falls to her death. Hamish is devastated, and the village is in shock.
Grieving and feeling responsible for Alex's death, Hamish sails to a deserted little island, a former haunt for him and Alex. On arrival, he sets fire to the boat, climbs to a hilltop, and pulls out a revolver, intending to kill himself. When he hears the completely unexpected sound of a woman singing, he discovers Belle, a woman in her 60s who has come to visit the island, and has stepped on to a land mine left over from the war. She dares not move for fear it will detonate. Hamish spends a day and a night with her, careless of his own safety, trying to support her, as she grows weaker and more in danger of falling. As they spend time together, he gradually purges his demons, and is restored to a sense of life. Back in Lochdubh, a temporary replacement constable is shattered by the time TV John and the villagers have finished with him. When John realises where Hamish must be, he sends Isobel and the Major to look for him, and they arrive in time to rescue Belle from the landmine. Hamish, still withdrawn and dark with grief and guilt, comes home. Isobel is distraught that he had contemplated suicide, and never turned to her.
Isobel has left Lochdubh for a job on a city newspaper. Lachie Jnr gets a job as undertaker's assistant, and he and his father have a touching farewell.
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Series 1 Synopses Series 3 Synopses 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 & 8
Series Three:
1. The Honorable Policeman by Daniel Boyle & Dominic Minghella
2. Deferred Sentence by Daniel Boyle
3. The Lochdubh Assassin by Daniel Boyle
4. The Good Thief by Daniel Boyle
5. The Trouble With Rory by Stuart Hepburn
6. More than a Game by Stuart Hepburn
7. & 8. Destiny, Parts 1 and 2 by Daniel Boyle
Series Producer: Charles Salmon
Episode One: The Honorable Policeman
Writers: Daniel Boyle and Dominic Minghella
Director: Jonas Grimas
Tongues are set wagging in Lochdubh when lonely local laird, Major Maclean, returns from holiday with a glamorous fiancée - but is it his animal magnetism or his Highland estate that Serena finds so irresistible? Hamish is to be best man at the wedding, but he already has his hands full coping with Anne Patterson, the over-zealous WPC trainee who's been posted to Lochdubh. His convincing performance as the model policeman sweeps Anne off her feet. Will Hamish resist her undoubted charms - and will he discover the true identity of the Major's fiancée before the knot is tied?
Episode Two: Deferred Sentence
Holidaying alone on the island of Laggan-Laggan, Hamish is drawn into a twenty-year old mystery which has poisoned the community. Why do the islanders shun Hamish's hosts, the Catholic priest, Father McPhail and his Protestant sparring partner, Enoch McDuff? Anxious to avoid being caught in their interdenominational crossfire, Hamish pretends to be Jewish. He is intrigued by Laura McDuff's allegations concerning the mysterious death of her mother all those years ago, but is his interest in her simply that of a policeman who suspects foul play?
Esme has discovered that young Frankie Bryce has and unexpected musical talent and the villagers are pinning their hopes and staking their bets on Frankie's angelic voice winning them the Willie McGraw Trophy for treble singing, the hard-fought annual contest between Lochdubh's Stag Bar and the Dunbracken Arms. But trouble arrives in Lochdubh in the shape of Tusker Gray, Frankie's best friend from Glasgow. Tusker's disruptive behaviour threatens to sabotage the contest and undermine Frankie's will to win. Will Hamish discover Tusker's secret before it's too late?
When fire destroys part of Lochdubh Primary School, Esme is horrified to learn not only that the council intends closing the school for good, but that her lover Rory Campbell has been party to their plans all along. Strong passions are aroused by Esme's ensuing media campaign and with Isobel returning as a TV reporter, Hamish battles to keep the peace. He forms a surveillance unit to track down a suspected arsonist; but there is another mystery in Lochdubh - what is the trouble with Rory?
Lochdubh prepares for the annual shinty match against Dunbracken with a ruthless Lachlan coaching the village team. Las year was Dunbracken's nineteenth win in a row; a twentieth will award then the trophy forever and there's high tension in the air. The Lochdubh players are amazed when start goalie Lachie Junior walks out on the team, then Lachlan turns into a love-sick Romeo, besotted with a voluptuous, leather clad female biker. Hamish however suspects that all is not what it seems, and the villagers hatch a plot to overcome foul play at the match.
TV John's long lost brother, the one-eyed, one-legged, one-armed Kenneth McIver, is sprung from a South American gaol by millionaire Torquil Farquar McFarquar. Ex-patriate McFarquar has a passion for all things Scottish and has heard that Kenneth knows the whereabouts of the real Stone of Destiny, coronation stone of the ancient Scottish kings. Scenting a fortune in the offing, Kenneth sets off for Lochdubh, accompanied by mysterious hypnotist Ava Grimm. Meanwhile, TV John has had premonitions of impending death of someone very close. How can the villagers convince him it's all in the mind?
Concludes the two-part story. Kenneth and Ava have stolen the Stone of Destiny, and TV John is missing. Hamish, Isobel and a posse from Lochdubh embark on a death-defying trek across mountain and moorland in order to rescue their friend and save a treasured symbol of the nation's heritage. As adversity brings Hamish and Isobel closer, myth begins to merge with reality and the ghosts of Scotland's past appear to help them on their way, but ultimately there's no salvation without sacrifice.