As the curtains rise on this installment of "Beyond Paradise," Gabriella Dalmori, portrayed by Alicia Charles, engrosses herself in crafting exquisite chocolate delights. Her tranquil sanctuary is momentarily disrupted by Martin Gaffney, played by Matthew Gravelle, who attempts to lure her out for a social gathering with acquaintances. Gabriella, unamused, sharply dismisses him from her premise. Shortly thereafter, Kenny Pluckley, embodied by Brandon Fellows, enters, coinciding with Martin's reluctant departure.
With Martin's exit, Kenny springs into action, embarking on his delivery rounds. His first stop is Sherie Howard, portrayed with grace by Holly Atkins. Subsequently, he visits Dr. Lionel Jennings, brought to life by Abdul Salis, and concludes his rounds by delivering to Lizzie Dyer, portrayed by the talented Bebe Sanders. A harrowing discovery unfolds as Peanut finds Sherie slumped to the ground.
Elsewhere, Humphrey Goodman, charismatically played by Kris Marshall, tenderly offers Rosie (Bella Rei Blue Stevenson) her morning meal. The serene moment is briefly interrupted by Martha Lloyd (Sally Bretton), who arrives speculating that Rosie's mother eagerly awaits her visit. As Humphrey prepares to depart, a call from DS Esther Williams (Zahra Ahmadi) pulls him back. Their meeting reveals a chilling revelation: three poisoning incidents have occurred, with Dr. Jennings, a psychotherapist, being the latest victim. Upon inspecting the scene, they notice one chocolate missing and Humphrey promptly orders lab tests on the remaining chocolates. A note bearing a quote from "Forrest Gump" catches his eye, prompting him to hypothesize that other victims might have consumed chocolate as well.
Martha engages in a heartfelt conversation with Anne (Barbara Flynn) about Rosie's emotional withdrawal. Meanwhile, Hannah plans to escort Rosie to the prison at 10 am. Anne gently reminds Martha of the importance of self-care before departing. Martha learns of Rosie's heartfelt gesture—a picture for her mother, who supposedly plans a trip to Spain with her. Attempting to divert her thoughts, Martha encourages her to consider other matters.
At the precinct, Kelby (Dylan Llewellyn), Margo (Felicity Montagu), and their colleagues dissect the poisonings. Margo informs them that Dr. Jennings is on a ventilator, while the hospital awaits the right moment to interview Sherie and Lizzie. Gabriella, worried about the potential ruin of her business, faces questions from Humphrey about contamination during the chocolate-making process. She insists her shop is free of such substances and reveals that an individual named William Marshall placed the order the previous night, with Kenny handling the deliveries. Gabriella recalls Martin popping in while she was crafting the chocolates, copying the note from the order. She alleges that Martin, harboring resentment since her arrival, has been antagonistic towards her. Martin, questioned by Humphrey and Esther, firmly denies any involvement in the poisonings, suggesting instead that Gabriella's brash demeanor has alienated locals. He politely offers rum and raisins to the officers before they leave.
Esther receives a call from Archie Hughes (Jamie Bamber), whom she initially rejects due to work commitments but eventually agrees to meet later. Humphrey seeks to question Kenny, who steadfastly asserts his innocence, maintaining that no one could have tampered with the chocolates in his van, painting a vivid picture of his unwavering innocence amidst the unfolding drama.
Kenny continues his tenure at Willowview, sharing tales of Gabriella and Martin's once harmonious relationship, now fractured by a mysterious incident. Inside the police station, Kelby updates Humphrey on the victim's profiles, painting a picture of lives now intertwined by tragedy. Sherie, owner of The Snip and Style salon, meticulously crafts hairstyles, unaware of the looming shadow that binds her to others. Dr. Jennings, a therapist who relocated two years prior to establish his practice, now finds himself entangled in this web of mystery. Lizzie, working at the Erotic Emporium on Pullman Road, remains a loose thread in this intricate tapestry, with no overt connections to the others.
Kelby's revelation that William Marshall passed away weeks ago adds another layer of grief. Margo's assurance that the chocolates contained no digoxin dispels one theory, leading Humphrey to speculate that another food item might be the culprit. The duo delves deeper into the suspects' profiles, seeking clues.
Sherie, visited at the hospital, reveals her ignorance of the other victims, innocently mentioning her solo chocolate indulgence while worrying about her emotionally attached dog. Esther, compassionately, vows to explore options for the canine's well-being. The medical report confirms a consistent 5mg of digoxin in the victims, all of whom consumed only chocolate.
Kelby meets with Reverend Kate at the police station, candidly discussing his failed relationship with Charlie. Meanwhile, Dr. Hodges inspects Anne's mole, urging immediate medical attention, mindful of the sensitivity of the situation. Anne hesitates, fearing the emotional toll on her daughter, Martha.
Kelby's determination to apprehend the vandals targeting the church drives him to stake it out that night. Margo and Humphrey examine CCTV footage from the chocolate shop, capturing Gabriella, Martin, and Kenny entering and exiting, leaving few leads. Kelby faces a roadblock when the therapist's assistant refuses to digitally share the patient list, hinting at a possible patient-victim connection.
Esther focuses her investigation on Sherie's clientele, while Humphrey engages in a phone conversation with the Chief Superintendent. Martin confronts Gabriella, questioning her statements to the police and expressing disbelief in her accusations. Gabriella finds his morning presence suspicious. Margo unearths Martin's financial woes and bitter divorce, revealing his living arrangement with Gabriella and his estrangement from his wife.
Kelby prepares for a vigil at the cemetery, while Esther and Archie hike, their serene surroundings interrupted by Rosie's tantrum over peas. Martha attributes Rosie's erratic behavior to her mother's absence, leading to an emotional outbreak. Humphrey advises giving Rosie space, only to discover her destructive outlet. Esther and Archie find solace in nature's beauty, as Rosie gradually regains composure. Martha shares that Rosie's longing for her mother was so intense that guards had to intervene.
Archie addresses Esther with a hopeful glance, inquiring if she had reconsidered her stance. She responds thoughtfully, believing that a mere change of scenery isn't enough to sway her decision. Archie, confessing his desire to impress her due to the weight he places on her opinion, extends an invitation to join him at his place for an intimate listening session of The Cure.
Meanwhile, at the serene yet eerie cemetery, Kelby finds himself surrounded by unsettling whispers and shadows. His keen eyes catch sight of someone surreptitiously replacing flowers at a gravesite. Interrupted by a call from his mother, Kelby finds himself engaged in a breathless foot chase with the mysterious individual, who narrowly escapes but leaves behind a telltale clue—their keys, including a key fob.
The following day, Kelby shares the details of the night's events with Margo, who is promptly joined by Esther. Kelby unveils the dropped keys and key fob, revealing that the IT team is currently tracing the address linked to the fob. Just then, Humphrey arrives, informed that the case has garnered media attention. He's eager to make headway before the Chief Superintendent's arrival.
Charlie Woods, portrayed by Jade Harrison, cuts in, seeking an update on the case. Quick-thinking Humphrey conceals the newspaper while Kelby elaborates on the case specifics. Charlie learns that Martin Gaffney, the owner of the Fudge Pantry, is the prime suspect, though she remains unimpressed. In a private moment, Charlie offers her support to Humphrey regarding his foster placement, suggesting time off or flexible working arrangements. She praises Kelby's prowess as an officer.
Elsewhere, Anne gently cautions Martha about potentially overextending herself in her efforts to help Rosie. She reminds Martha that solving Rosie's issues is a collective endeavor, not a solo mission. As the movie concludes, Rosie emerges, apologizing for her recent act of graffiti on the wall and promising it won't happen again.
Margo senses a deeper undercurrent with Esther and, almost instantaneously, Esther inquires about a woman named Monica who once worked at the hairdresser's. Recalling that Lizzie had been texting someone with the moniker "Mon G" a few months back, Margo speculates that "Mon G" could stand for Monica Grey, who had been terminated approximately three months ago. Esther adds that Monica was also a patient of Dr. Jennings. Kelby, however, discounts Monica's involvement, revealing that she has passed away.
At the serene yet solemn cemetery, Kelby revealed that someone had left roses on Monica’s grave, fleeing before anyone could catch a glimpse. Meanwhile, at the hospital, Lizzie poured her heart out, recounting Monica as her closest companion, whose laughter and chatter had once filled the air, only to abruptly cease. She speculated that Monica’s abrupt silence could have stemmed from an unjust termination by her employer, a blow so harsh that it prompted them to plan a girls’ getaway—a plan Monica ultimately declined. Lizzie, stung by betrayal and anger, refused Monica’s calls until the heart-wrenching news reached her ears.
Elsewhere, Esther and Humphrey discussed consulting the therapist, Dr. Jennings, who had been tasked with Monica’s well-being. On a fateful day, his probing questions had left Monica emotionally devastated, leading to a tragic end shortly after. Humphrey, noting his goldfish’s apparent demise, received reassurance from Dr. Jennings that the creature had been fine post-delivery.
In a bustling restaurant, Zoe attended to Anne, who confidentially shared her upcoming hospital tests, unbeknownst to Martha. At the police station, Humphrey demanded the list of deliveries, weaving a narrative of vengeful poisoning tied to deep affection for Monica. He invoked the enduring bond of Forrest Gump and Jenny, postulating that the perpetrator could be none other than delivery driver Kenny Pluckley, a fellow alumnus of Monica’s.
Kelby’s discovery of a keyfob pointing to Willowview House care home, where Kenny worked, added fuel to the fire. Humphrey painstakingly analyzed the victims, lambasting Dr. Jennings for his failure and Sherie for her bullying. Lizzie’s abandonment of Monica in her darkest hour was also noted. Humphrey proposed that Kenny, who had harbored a schoolboy crush on Monica, had steadfastly supported her until her demise. His weekly visits to her grave, following his pub shifts, were fueled by anger towards those who had deserted her. Kenny, seeking to inflict the pain he endured, allegedly sourced digoxin from the care home and used an elderly man’s card to finance a chocolate order.
Humphrey’s theory posited that the poison never resided in the chocolates but rather on a pen, subtly coated near the top by Kenny. The victims, after indulging in chocolate, fell unconscious, mirroring the goldfish’s fate due to Jennings’ contaminated fingers. Kenny intended to punish, not kill, yet his plans unravelled with his swift arrest.
At the station, Margo offered Kelby solace, urging him to embrace love’s possibilities. Kelby, embracing modernity, turned to dating apps. Post-shift, Esther and Archie’s passionate encounter preluded their intimate evening. Kelby, in a gesture of reverence, restored the flowers to Monica’s grave. Anne, meanwhile, found Humphrey and the team immersed in painting a room, each stroke reflecting their collective efforts to heal and move forward.
