As the curtains lift on this thrilling episode of "Beyond Paradise," Douglas Bevan (played masterfully by Jeff Rawle) informs Mark Wisdom (Dewi Wykes), with a hint of finality, that he'll catch up with him downstairs. Their departure is swift, followed by the securing of the premises. DI Humphrey Goodman (embodied by Kris Marshall) crosses their path on the bustling street, unaware of the drama that will soon unfold.
Later that night, under the cloak of darkness, an uninvited guest forces entry into the tranquil setting. Upon his return the following morning, Douglas Bevan's sharp eyes detect the absence of something precious. Meanwhile, Anne Lloyd (portrayed with elegance by Barbara Flynn) immerses herself in the meticulous preparations for the impending weddings, her every move watched intently by Martha (Sally Bretton).
In a different corner, Margo (brought to life by Felicity Montagu) alerts Kelby (Dylan Llewellyn) and Esther (Zahra Ahmadi) to the arrival of the station review, her skepticism evident as she believes the reviewers will pen their opinions as they please. Kelby, eager to please, offers to fetch the review, but his gesture is met with skepticism, tinged with humor, as his motives are questioned. Esther's gentle reminder about the impending wedding brings them back to the present.
Douglas's call to the police station sets another wheel in motion. Margo shares with Kelby the concerns about Christie Close and a suspected assault on a vulnerable elderly resident. Meanwhile, Humphrey, indulging in a quick bite, is joined by Martha, who confesses her inability to proceed with their wedding plans. Her admission weighs heavily on the air.
Ella Woods (played with warmth by Souad Faress) recounts to Kelby how the attackers, disguised as maintenance workers, claimed to be there to fix her Internet. Her granddaughter's warning echoes in her ears – not to let anyone access her computer. Despite her protests, one of them shoved her, causing her to stumble backward. Ella believes she would recognize the attackers if she encountered them again. James swiftly intervenes, escorting Ella to the ambulance. Just before they depart, Chief Superintendent Charlie Woods (Jade Harrison) arrives in a rush to check on Ella, her presence adding a layer of urgency to the scene.
Left alone, Kelby attempts to inform Charlie of the incident, but she directs him to file a report at the station and assigns the cyber crime unit to investigate Ella's computer for evidence. Martha's conversation with Humphrey reveals their shared frustration over the unwanted wedding details. He insists that they cannot simply abandon their own wedding plans. Martha suggests that Humphrey should address Anne about it.
Douglas, sharing his woes with Esther, reveals that an art deco masterpiece, insured for a whopping 75,000 pounds and crafted by Francis Tucker, has been stolen. He warns that if the news spreads, the owners of the prized possessions may opt to withdraw them. Esther delves into how the thieves gained entry, while Douglas shares his frustration at the cameras' failure to capture the rear door, leaving a blind spot in their security.
Douglas finds himself puzzled as to why the alarm failed to sound, given the gallery's comprehensive motion sensor system. Yet, he still had to manually deactivate it that very morning. Meanwhile, outside, Esther bumps into Parris Connor (Georgia Mann), who reveals that her boyfriend, Mark, works at the museum.
At the police station, Kelby informs Margo about Ella's plight, disclosing that the thieves had emptied her bank account. Kelby expresses his desire to assist, but Charlie opposes the idea. Margo reminds Kelby that it's his case since their team was the first to respond to the call. She urges him to showcase his abilities to Charlie. As Kelby prepares to dive into the investigation, Esther enters with news about Douglas and the museum heist.
Anne is engrossed in wedding arrangements when Martha arrives. Douglas greets Paris, who is already aware of the theft. Mark clarifies that they're searching for a gift for his mother's birthday. Martha confides in Anne, emphasizing that their wedding should reflect their desires. She wakes up feeling unexcited about the wedding day. Humphrey concedes her point, recalling their discussions about a modest ceremony with a close-knit group. Martha admits they didn't voice their thoughts earlier because it seemed inappropriate given the circumstances. Anne speculates that they might have assumed she was embarrassed by a man's behavior and stepped in to compensate for the absence of the bride's father. Anne admits that thinking about Richard made her realize what an extraordinary man Martha's father was and wanted to honor his memory by ensuring Martha had the wedding she deserved.
Martha proposes scaling down the wedding, to which Anne agrees, stating they can do whatever they wish before departing. Martha suggests letting her calm down first. Esther wonders aloud why the alarm didn't sound, while Margo learns that the duo of thieves has a history in other areas. Their modus operandi involves using a Wi-Fi blocker outside homes to disrupt internet connections, then knocking on doors pretending to offer repairs, thus evading doorbell cameras. Margo suspects that Kelby holds the key to uncovering their secrets.
Kelby interviews Ella for descriptions of the suspects, acknowledging her limited helpfulness but still finding value in her input. Charlie enters and learns of Kelby's efforts, asserting his role as the attending officer and intending to continue the investigation. Ella notes the absence of the cyber unit, prompting Charlie to instruct Kelby to report all information directly to the hub.
Esther visits the museum to test the alarm, which promptly sounds when triggered. Kelby scours for information on the thieves, while Zoe (Melina Sinadinou) serves Martha and Humphrey at a restaurant. Humphrey reaffirms their commitment to marriage, acknowledging that plans often become more intricate than anticipated. He urges them to proceed with a smile, embracing the wedding as it unfolds.
Hannah Owen (Amalia Vitale) calls Martha to discuss fostering Ryan (Isaac Vincent-Norgate) whose mother is hospitalized. They agree to take him in, and Ryan bonds with Selwyn, expressing excitement about his new environment. Kelby speaks with a witness who saw a black Series 4 BMW Gran Coupe parked outside, adding another piece to the puzzle.
A knock echoed against her door, yet she remained silent, unresponding. She recounted seeing a figure speed away in a vehicle, resembling one of the characters from Coronation Street, affectionately known as Corrie. At the police station, Esther tasked Margo with uncovering potential buyers for the stolen statuette, acknowledging their limited knowledge of Mark Wisdom. Kelby's return brought news of a vehicle, manned by someone who bore a striking resemblance to Peter Barlow, while its companion was bald, with crimson ears standing out.
With their wedding day upon them, Humphrey inquired of Martha about their next steps. She remained hopeful that a solution would present itself. As Hannah departed, Martha set out to find her mother, leaving Humphrey to accompany Ryan. Humphrey commented on Martha's appearance, to which she replied that he'd have to accept her just as she was. Margo handed Esther a list of dealers and confirmed that the background checks on the cleaners had yielded no suspicious findings. Kelby's investigation into the vehicle led to a list of 37 matches registered locally, though Esther reminded him that the perpetrators might not hail from the area.
Humphrey engaged Ryan in conversation about the loss of his grandfather, reassuring him that Hannah believed his mother would return home within weeks and encouraging him to view the situation as an unexpected vacation. Ryan expressed a desire to sleep aboard the boat, while Kelby stumbled upon a camera that might provide crucial insights. Taking Ryan to the station, Humphrey was briefed by Esther on the ongoing developments. As he perused the file, Kelby returned with exciting news: a security camera from one of the shops had captured the suspect vehicle. Running the license plate through ANPR, Kelby pinpointed its location in a nearby pay-and-display car park.
Margo discouraged calling the HUB, preferring to dispatch a patrol car to meet Kelby. Esther learned that the critical period for recovery ended at lunchtime today, spanning 48 hours. The footage revealed Mark and Douglas departing the museum. Kelby and another officer kept watch on the suspect vehicle, while Esther and Humphrey came up empty-handed as the intruders had entered through the rear of the building. Seeing Esther converse with Paris outside, Humphrey speculated that tampering with the alarm would have been easier if one worked there or their partner did.
PC Billy Blake (Sunil Patel) persistently annoyed Kelby until the suspects made their appearance. Billy requested backup, prompting the suspects to flee. Kelby pursued one of them, eventually bringing him down. Humphrey floated the theory that the statuette might not have been stolen at all, questioning what Douglas had failed to notice. He speculated that Mark had concealed the statuette, and since no one had actually entered the museum, the alarm remained untriggered. They had returned later to force the door open, staging it as a robbery.
As Paris strolled through the museum, her hand inadvertently slipped around a captivating statuette, which she then surreptitiously bore out of the premises, as captured by the vigilant security footage. Margo gently reminded Humphrey of the impending nuptials that awaited him. Meanwhile, Martha was still grappling with the mystery of her missing mother. Humphrey, eager to share his joy, informed Ryan of the wedding plans and warmly invited him to stand by his side as the best man. Alas, their celebratory spirits were momentarily dampened as Paris and Mark were apprehended for their misdeed.
Just as Humphrey was about to don his wedding attire, a call from Martha interrupted him. Their meeting revealed a twist: Anne had called off the entire affair. Anne's sudden appearance, however, brought a glimmer of hope as she suggested they could simply reschedule the grand event for another day. Gathered around, Esther, Zoe, and Margo inquisitively inquired about the turn of events. Kelby's timely arrival added another layer to the story, confirming that the perpetrators had been successfully apprehended. In light of this development, everyone decided to partake in a hearty meal to lift their spirits. Miraculously, the statuette was also returned to its rightful place.
Over heartfelt conversations, Humphrey and Martha pondered over the idea of tying the knot despite the hiccup. Charlie, catching up with them, delivered some welcome news: the Shipton Abbot station house would remain open due to its impeccable performance stats. She gracefully acknowledged their achievement and extended an invitation to join in the celebrations. At this juncture, Sandy, the energetic workout enthusiast, burst in, querying if Humphrey would participate in their retro '60s workout session. Charlie, expressing gratitude towards Kelby, commended him for truly listening to her grandmother, Ella, something she admitted she didn't always manage to do. Her heartfelt thanks culminated in a warm kiss on Kelby's cheek.
