As the narrative of "Beyond Paradise" unfolds in this episode, Stella Ellis (portrayed by Amy Morgan) and George Ellis (Kevin McNally) meticulously hang corn dolls from the rafters, an age-old ritual designed to safeguard their farm from malevolent forces. The serene atmosphere shatters when one of these talismanic figures topples to the ground, heralding a cascade of ominous occurrences. Stella and George witness a chilling silhouette lurking in the shadows after a sudden spill, heightening their unease.
Meanwhile, Rosie (played by Bella Rei Blue Stevenson), with wide-eyed innocence, endeavors to persuade Martha (Sally Bretton) to include chocolate in her lunchbox, citing Humphrey's blessing as her alibi. Once alone, Anne (Barbara Flynn) gently yet firmly prompts Martha to make a decision regarding the contentious treat, before Martha departs for her art class.
Humphrey (Kris Marshall), with a concerned brow, ventures to the Ellis farm, where a protest sign against the proposed wind farm greets him. PC Kelby Hartford (Dylan Llewellyn) informs him that a Scene of Crime Officer (SOCO) team can't arrive until morning. As Humphrey inspects the premises, he notices the fallen corn doll, a grim omen. Esther Williams (Zahra Ahmadi), explaining that the dolls are crafted from the previous harvest and hung as tokens of good fortune, reveals that Stella sustained a minor injury after recalling being forcefully pushed. Stella describes how milk gushed from the tank uncontrollably, and just as she reached to shut off the valve, she was shoved from behind. George's assertion that they've never lost a doll in their four-decade-long tradition underscores the gravity of the situation. The legend whispers of the Cornman's arrival when a doll falls.
Stella recounts hearing a noise and discovering the milk spill, while George enters to witness the Cornman's sinister presence with them. Amidst the chaos, Humphrey accidentally scorches his hand on the stove. George is adamant that the doll's fall was premeditated, suspecting Michaela Robson (Rebecca Lee) of foul play. Stella laments the financial blow—losing that milk will halve their income.
Outside, Esther confides in Humphrey that she knew Michaela from school, sharing a past in the Young Farmers' club. Despite a lingering rift between their families, she doubts the conflict stems from the wind turbines. Stella and Michaela's former relationship, terminated abruptly due to George's threat of disownment, casts a shadow over their history. Michaela's mother, Lotty (Caroline Quentin), shares George's stubborn streak.
When Humphrey and Esther confront Michaela, the conversation is punctuated by Humphrey's accidental shattering of a cat figurine while awaiting Michaela and Lotty's arrival. His hand suffers another burn in the process. Michaela confides in Esther about her birthday celebrations before Lotty joins them, her defense of the wind turbines painting George as a relic of the past, resistant to change, including solar panels. Michaela asserts her alibi, revealing they dined at Kitty Jay's and she spent the evening surfing.
Suddenly, Michaela dashes outside to alert Humphrey and Esther to a blaze engulfing the Ellis farm's hayfield. A hurried gathering of concerned faces rushes to the scene, where they spy a figure resembling the Cornman retreating from the inferno, shrouded in mystery and dread.
Esther dashes after the elusive figure, with Kelby swiftly lending a helping hand. Yet, the Cornman slips away into the night. George emerges from the shadows, casting blame onto Lotty, who vehemently denies any involvement. In the aftermath, Esther discovers an abandoned jerry can, presumably left behind by the perpetrator in their haste. Kelby admits that his concern for the cows had led him to let them escape. Esther reminds everyone that Michaela and Lotty were present when the fire was ignited.
As dawn breaks, Martha and Humphrey escort Rosie to Shipton Abbott Primary School for her inaugural day. Rosie's nerves are evident, necessitating heartfelt encouragement from her parents before she ventures inside. Meanwhile, Archie Hughes (played by Jamie Bamber) sends a flirtatious text to Esther, catching Michaela's eye and leading her to believe that Esther might be smitten. Esther dismisses the notion, revealing that there are still no leads on the fire. Michaela finds herself feeling an unexpected sympathy for George.
Kelby delves into a map, attempting to decipher the culprit's escape route from the previous night. He presents Humphrey with an image of the Cornman and regales him with the legend surrounding the eerie figure. Margo Martins (Felicity Montagu) chimes in, sharing that as children, they used the Cornman to terrify one another. Lab results remain pending. Margo subtly alludes to Esther's potential romance with Archie, prompting Humphrey to recap the previous night's events. He intends to scrutinize Michaela and Lotty's alibis and broaches the subject of the corn doll, questioning who might harbor resentment or seek revenge against the Ellis family.
Margo reveals that George had terminated his farmhand, Rhys Tomlinson, some time ago. Kelby is tasked with interviewing Rhys. Later, a community gathering is scheduled to discuss the turbines. Rhys (played by Oliver Hembrough) confides in Kelby about George's threat to disown Stella over her relationship with Michaela and his own unsuccessful attempts to modernize the farm. Kelby notices a jerry can hidden in Rhys' truck bed. Rhys mentions the Ellises' recent attempts to sell their property.
Martha shares the exciting news of a corporate catering gig with Zoe (Melina Sinadinou) and Anne, who has recently added skydiving to her bucket list and has already secured 11 sponsors. Zoe agrees to assist with the catering and manage college commitments. As Humphrey and Esther bump into Archie, who's delivering wine, George inside is stirring up opposition against the turbines. Stella's altercation with Michaela escalates into a physical shove. Lotty contends that George is personalizing the issue, suggesting it stems from his grievances against her family rather than genuine concern over the turbines.
Kelby and Margo continue their investigation into the Cornman, while Esther receives a call from Archie, apologizing for their earlier conversation. Archie proposes coming clean to simplify their lives, but Esther hurriedly concludes the call. Kelby informs Humphrey that Kitty Jay has confirmed Michaela and Lotty's presence, noting their departure sometime after 6:30. Margo adds that no fingerprints were found on the milk tank or the jerry can; however, both bore George and Stella's prints, indicating their use of the milk tank and the farm's ownership of the jerry can.
Kelby asserts that Rhys harbors a fondness for Stella while harboring a deep disdain for George. Furthermore, he possesses an unassailable alibi for the previous evening, as he was diligently employed at the Crooked Billet in Polmarron. Kelby proceeds to recount Rhys's revelations about a potential buyer for the Ellis farm, whose interest waned after George insulted him. Humphrey, convinced that the perpetrator is someone intimately connected to the Ellis family, hastily departs to join Martha in picking up Rosie.
Upon arrival, they discover that Rosie has formed a friendship with Libby. The group embarks on an ice cream outing, where they discuss Rosie's first day, her upcoming lesson, and her assignment to pen a story about Humphrey, Martha, and Anne. They enthusiastically propose throwing a birthday party for Rosie's upcoming celebration. Meanwhile, Esther receives a message from Archie requesting a conversation, which she nonchalantly dismisses as work-related to Zoe. Zoe confides in Esther her decision to leave college, highlighting that she is gaining more practical knowledge at the Ten Mile Kitchen than she ever did in academia. Zoe hastily clarifies her stance, and Esther, relenting, grants her the freedom to follow her path, omitting any mention of Archie.
Anne shares with Martha the exhilarating news of meeting her fundraising goal for the skydive. In a subsequent conversation, Humphrey discusses the party plans with Martha, who is engrossed in the intricacies of organizing it. They ponder the idea of hiring an entertainer, with Martha voicing concerns about gifts and other logistics. Humphrey reassures her, emphasizing that they should only do what feels right given Rosie's temporary stay with them.
Later, Rosie proudly showcases a handmade card for Anne, who confesses to experiencing last-minute anxiety about the skydive. Rosie thoughtfully suggests that if Anne is scared, Humphrey could jump with her instead, reminding Anne of her own inability to participate. Meanwhile, Kelby employs a map in an attempt to decipher the culprit's whereabouts post-arson.
Margo receives a call from the Ellis farm, informing Humphrey and Esther that someone has inexplicably released all the cattle onto the A386 highway. At the farm, Stella expresses frustration upon discovering the escaped animals and laments the impending vet bills. George, discouraged, suggests giving up and selling the farm, to which Stella agrees, noting that her father's intention to sell was never serious in the first place. Humphrey seizes the opportunity to inquire further about the farm's potential sale, prompting Stella to reiterate her belief that her father was never genuinely inclined to part with it.
She faced the daunting task of transporting her father's remains in a humble box. Kelby, undeterred, navigated his way past the docile cows with courage. He then led Humphrey and Esther to an old gamekeeper's cottage perched on the dividing line between the Ellis and Robson farms. Though rumored to be deserted, recent signs of habitation hinted otherwise. Inside, a photograph of Michaela and Stella caught their eye. Kelby further revealed another chamber where the Cornman costume hung ominously.
At the police station, Margo confirmed that Michaela, Stella, and Kelby were the only ones whose fingerprints adorned the cottage. Humphrey inquired about Rhys, to which Kelby responded by relaying the manager's confirmation from the Crooked Billet that Rhys was occupied from 6 PM to 11 PM that fateful night. Esther feared they had hit a dead end, but Humphrey seemed to glimmer with insight. He recalled Michaela mentioning a birthday celebration on the 18th of the previous month, where she proudly showed Esther a gift from her mother. However, Humphrey noticed something peculiar – the bracelet Michaela wore in the photo with Stella, supposedly from a year prior, appeared more contemporary. He deduced that Stella Ellis had the means and opportunity.
Humphrey contended that the photo served as proof that Stella and Michaela were still very much entangled, having feigned their breakup solely to appease George. In truth, their bond remained unbroken. He postulated that Stella, cornered by George's halt on the property sale, conspired with Michaela to coerce him into selling. Using the Cornman as their pawn, they convinced George that he was cursed with a prolonged streak of misfortune. Stella ultimately unleashed the cows as part of their elaborate scheme.
Humphrey reminded Esther that the force of love could bend reality itself. As Stella was escorted away in a police cruiser, George looked on helplessly. Michaela sought solace with Esther, asserting their friendship and claiming they had no other option but to deceive due to George's intransigence. Esther, however, remained unconvinced.
Back at the station, Esther imparted to Humphrey that choices are always within one's reach. She subsequently joined Archie, confessing her desire to quit. Meanwhile, Humphrey and Anne prepared for a thrilling skydiving adventure, with Humphrey reassuring Martha that Anne's vigilant eye would prevent any mishaps. However, the instructor revealed a startling truth – Anne had shattered her legs decades ago, disqualifying her from the jump due to insurance restrictions. Left to jump alone, Humphrey eventually phoned Martha in distress, having accidentally head-butted his instructor. Now, Humphrey and the instructor found themselves stranded on a bridge, awaiting rescue.
