As the curtains rise on another thrilling episode of "Beyond Paradise," Rebecca Thompson (portrayed by Carolyn Pickles) stumbles upon a harrowing scene: a woman, an arrow protruding ominously from her back. Meanwhile, Humphrey Goodman (Kris Marshall) and Martha (Sally Bretton) engage in a conversation about Richard, just as Anne (Barbara Flynn) bursts in, eager to discuss the impending wedding scheduled for the following week, thereby interrupting their discourse.
Esther (Zahra Ahmadi), filled with curiosity, inquires of Zoe (Melina Sinadinou) whether Jack has finally summoned the courage to ask her out. Esther, vowing not to let her emotions cloud her judgment, seeks to understand the unfolding drama. Zoe, unfazed, reveals a tattoo adorning her wrist, which promptly elicits Esther's disapproval, considering her daughter's tender age of sixteen. Esther demands its removal and insists on pursuing legal action against the tattoo artist. A phone call from Margo (Felicity Montagu) then prompts Esther's departure.
At the crime scene, Esther converges with Humphrey, sharing insights into the victim's grievous injuries. The deceased is identified as Niamh Kirby, a passionate birdwatcher, evidenced by the binoculars and bird guidebook found beside her. Rebecca recounts her discovery, explaining she was out for a stroll when a scream pierced the air, drawing her to the tragic scene. Her call for help was made at approximately 8:32 AM, shortly after she heard the distressing cry. Kelby (Dylan Llewellyn) discovers an eggshell nearby, adding another peculiar element to the case.
Once alone, Humphrey confides in Esther, sensing that Rebecca might be holding something back. He also learns about Zoe's tattoo. As Niamh is whisked away to the hospital, her rambling mentions a figure named Lewis, prompting Humphrey to scrutinize the surroundings, pondering how the assailant could have escaped undetected by Rebecca. He resolves to visit Niamh in the hospital, assigning Kelby the task of thoroughly searching the area for clues, with an additional request for a photograph of a nearby billboard.
Zoe arrives at work, sharing her altercation with Esther with Martha, who listens intently to the tale of the tattoo. Zoe reminisces about Martha's advice to cherish memories of her father, explaining that she believed her mother would understand her decision to honor him this way, despite the consequences. Anne joins them for tea, announcementg she has calls to attend to.
Humphrey converses with Lucy (Eva Feiler) at the hospital, who informs him that Niamh remains in surgery and seems to lack immediate family support. Lucy mentions Niamh's utterances about Lewis. Martha considers broaching the subject with Anne, who appears to prefer discussing lighter matters.
At the precinct, Margo is instructed to locate Lewis. Esther enlightens them about the land's ownership by the victim's brother-in-law, Patrick Kirby, who plans to develop a hotel and spa. Margo's memory is jogged by a decade-old case involving the victim's husband and Patrick's sibling, Lewis, who vanished mysteriously. Niamh had accused Patrick of Lewis's murder, filing a formal complaint despite lacking concrete evidence. Patrick countered that Lewis was dissatisfied with his marriage and sought a fresh start, studying flora in a Montana national park. Patrick received a few texts from his brother before he went off the grid. They soon uncover that Patrick also owns the archery club.
Esther reveals that a wildlife activist group, led by Rebecca, has been battling the development for years. Margo is tasked with uncovering any ties between Niamh and Rebecca. Humphrey and Esther decide to confront Patrick Kirby (Mark Frost), informing him of the morning's tragic events, setting the stage for further revelations and twists in this gripping tale.
Patrick acknowledged a misunderstanding from years past, but now regarded it as a distant memory, water long under the bridge. As part of his visualization routine, he often strolled around the burgeoning development site. He received a call from his solicitor, informing him that the activists' funds had dried up. Patrick assured everyone that once the site was developed, there would be ample benefits for all. He decided to leave one particular area untouched due to the risk of subsidence, envisioning it as a nature reserve where guests could revel in its untamed beauty.
When Humphrey inquired about Lewis, Patrick casually mentioned he was pursuing studies in California, focusing on flora. However, both Humphrey and Esther noticed Patrick was missing a bow, to which he hastily suggested it had been stolen. Patrick, who held the only keys to the club, seemed a bit too quick with his excuse. Elsewhere, Humphrey learned that Niamh had successfully undergone surgery. Kelby stumbled upon the missing bow, adding another piece to the puzzle.
At the hospital, Niamh struggled to recall details, her mind a foggy landscape of forgotten incidents. She pondered why anyone would wish her harm, especially as she had been out seeking a specific bird she couldn't name. A bird book clumsily fell from her grasp, spilling out a cryptic note. Niamh dismissed it as mere trash, urging Humphrey to dispose of it. Lucy's arrival prompted Niamh to blurt out that the eggshell's sound reminded her of a peregrine falcon, creatures known for their lifelong mating bonds.
In private, Humphrey confided in Esther, revealing the letter within Niamh's book. It warned her that the land no longer belonged to Lewis and threatened further action if she continued writing to the council. Signed simply with a "P," it hinted at Patrick's authorship. Despite her recent diagnosis of young-onset dementia, Niamh was expected to be discharged soon.
Anne reached out to Margo, and after the call, Margo imparted their new, crucial task to Kelby. Using a UV light, Humphrey verified that the bow indeed belonged to Patrick. Meanwhile, Esther visited a restaurant, where she discovered Zoe had left early. Their conversation delved into Zoe's tattoo and the subsequent argument. Martha felt a pang of guilt, believing she might have influenced Zoe's decision. Esther too was wracked with regret, confessing she had fabricated a story about Zoe's father singing "Three Little Birds" at her birth. She had lied about his death, distorting the truth—the tragic accident had occurred en route to the hospital, not on the way back.
He had never crossed Zoe's path, yet Esther found herself explaining the reasons behind her deceit to her daughter. Now, Zoe's actions towards her own body were a direct consequence of Esther's untruth, leaving Esther uncertain if she could ever confess the reality to her. Martha arrived home to find Humphrey indulging in a meal, convinced that Anne was merely using the wedding preparations as a distraction from her thoughts of Richard. Martha insisted that they take action, while Humphrey pondered whether it was beneficial for Anne to have her mind occupied elsewhere. He even questioned the severity of a wedding gone wrong.
Returning to her abode, Esther discovered a note from Zoe, informing her that she would spend the night elsewhere. The following day, Kelby presented Margo with shirts he had discovered but agreed to return them upon request. Upon Humphrey's arrival, Kelby speculated that Patrick might have hired someone to shoot Niamh, an idea that Humphrey found hard to believe. Margo proposed that Rebecca had framed Patrick, but Humphrey pointed out flaws in that hypothesis as well. He was eager to confront Rebecca and uncover her secrets.
Esther sought to delve into Margo's personal life by asking if she regretted her tattoos. Margo confessed to regretting one, yet she remained tight-lipped about the reason. The other tattoos, however, represented her journey and identity. When Humphrey and Esther joined them, they informed Rebecca that the victim was on the mend. Rebecca rejoiced as the council had rejected Patrick's development plans, revealing that they had found evidence of a peregrine nesting site. Humphrey noticed a photograph resembling the eggshell fragment found at the crime scene. Reluctantly, Rebecca admitted to taking the photo the previous morning, emphasizing her desperation to prove the nesting. Humphrey suspected she had planted evidence, and she confessed to hearing a scream around 8:10 am. Ignoring it initially, she raced over after capturing the photos. Esther informed her that she needed to revise her statement at the station. Rebecca defended her drastic actions, believing them necessary for the greater good.
As Humphrey and Esther discussed the timeline in the car, Esther felt they had sufficient evidence to arrest Patrick, considering he could have made it to the moor and his solicitor's office within the timeframe. Humphrey agreed to update Niamh while Esther went to pick up Patrick. Just before the police's arrival, a scene of Patrick destroying his office was shown.
Kelby dials Humphrey's number, relaying the disappointing news: no fingerprints were discovered on the bow. Instead, faint traces of wood fibers adorned the nock, hinting at a different clue. Upon entering, Niamh draws Humphrey's attention to one of Lewis's moor-filmed videos, confessing that Lewis harbored a dread of flying and found contentment within the confines of his home. While rummaging through tea supplies, Humphrey stumbles upon notes scrawled across the cabinet doors, one particularly catching his eye: "Archery Club." He informs Niamh of Patrick Kirby's arrest.
Venturing outdoors, Humphrey dials Esther, requesting her presence at the moor along with an arrow. Upon her arrival, he posits a startling theory: Niamh was never the target. Believing she foresaw her memory slipping away due to dementia, Humphrey theorizes Niamh sought justice and safeguarded Lewis's cherished moor. He uncovers a license in Patrick's office revealing their shared ownership of the archery club, hinting at a past connection now severed by Lewis's absence. Humphrey speculates Niamh stealthily obtained the keys and infiltrated the club the preceding night, concealing the bow and employing her body weight to embed the arrow in her back, meticulously orchestrating the evidence to implicate Patrick. They concede Patrick's release is imminent.
At the station, Humphrey proposes keeping Patrick in custody longer, hoping to elicit information about Lewis. He seeks to uncover Patrick's surveyor and obtain a copy of the hotel development report, believing it may lead them to Lewis's whereabouts if Niamh's assumptions hold true. He speculates Patrick buried Lewis at an unplanned development site, motivated by Lewis's refusal to authorize the land's transformation. Humphrey suspects Patrick's motive was murder, driven by Lewis's refusal to sign off on the project. Esther grants Humphrey an hour. He intends to uncover a clue that will reveal Lewis's burial site. Kelby ponders if Lewis actually boarded that flight to Montana, sparking a revelation in Humphrey. Remembering Lewis's metal leg plate, he devises a plan to locate his remains.
After finding Lewis's body, Humphrey informs Niamh they will transport it to the mortuary, vowing to uncover the truth. Niamh expresses contrition, explaining her rationale. Esther updates Margo, recounting Patrick's claim of accidental involvement, followed by a panic-induced burial and subsequent forgery of land ownership documents. Returning home, Esther apologizes to Zoe for her earlier outburst and expresses admiration for her tattoo, revealing her own as a surprise. Martha encounters Humphrey outside, informed by Anne to meet there, realizing they've been orchestrated into a gathering. Kelby welcomes them to their stag and hen parties, and Humphrey expresses gratitude for being surrounded by supportive loved ones. They agree to defer discussing Anne until a more appropriate time.
