As the curtains rise on the eleventh installment of "Father Brown," Eddie Devine, portrayed by Barney Wilkinson, strides back to the comforting embrace of his mother, Mrs. Devine (Claude Blakley). With a grin, Eddie declares his unwavering intention to attend the Olimpicks, an event too cherished to miss. Mrs. Devine, keenly aware of Inspector Sullivan's (Tom Chambers) concealed presence nearby, hastily attempts to usher Eddie out of sight.
The scene shifts to a lively conversation between Brenda Palmer (Ruby-May Martinwood) and Father Brown (Mark Williams), who delve into the quirky delights of the Olimpicks. Brenda's eyes widen as she learns of the eccentric contests—shin kicking, dwile flonking, stone lifting, and the whimsical wife carrying. Mrs. Devine and Eddie soon join their ranks, with Mrs. Devine proudly displaying the trophy she's kept since Ronald's last participation.
Just then, Chief Inspector Sullivan and Sergeant Goodfellow (John Burton) arrive, adding an air of formality to the gathering. In a private moment, Brenda inquiries about the timing of Mrs. Devine's confession regarding her relationship with Chief Inspector Sullivan to Father Brown. Yet, Father Brown's concern deepens, pondering when she will reveal this to Eddie, given the tumultuous circumstances that led him to abandon Kembleford two years prior. Mrs. Devine had cited frustration over Eddie's perception that clearing out her late husband's shed amounted to erasing his father's memory. Father Brown muses that they were both grieving, albeit in disparate ways.
A boisterous announcement echoes through the megaphone, signaling the end of a game of hide-and-seek for Stanley Mossop. Shirley Warner (Amy Trigg), confined to a wheelchair after a fateful slip on a slick floor, engages Eddie in conversation. Meanwhile, Brian Fleming (Kelvin Fletcher) approaches, adding warmth to the gathering. They fondly peruse photographs from the 1952 Olimpicks, inspiring Brian to propose participating in the wife-carrying race with Isabel, in honor of Ronald. Mrs. Devine eagerly endorses the idea.
During the opening ceremony, the townsfolk felicitate Dr. Geoffrey Fleming (Toby Williams) on his MBE for his contributions to medicine. Geoffrey, mindful of past tragedies, warns of the risks of heatstroke, recalling the loss of Thomas Taverner in 1952. He confides in Father Brown that while winning holds immense significance for his brother, it doesn't resonate with him in the same manner. Mr. Redshaw, a seasoned competitor, announces his return to stone lifting, lamenting Patty Denmore's withdrawal. Brenda's curiosity piques upon learning about Ursula Fanshaw (Barbara D’Alterio), a legendary shin-kicker whose prowess promises to steal the show.Brown asserts confidently that they have Brian in their sights, labeling him as a master in the obscure art of dwile flonking. He then engages Miss Denmore in conversation, who reluctantly confesses her withdrawal from the games. Allegations surface against Brian, accusing him of tampering with his shin-kicking shoes—despite the undeniable presence of steel tips, Brian vehemently denies any wrongdoing. William, unwavering in his conviction, demands Brian's disqualification. Geoffrey echoes this sentiment, sending Brian into a rage so intense he lunges at Geoffrey. The altercation is swiftly quelled, prompting Geoffrey to seek solace indoors with Shirley, counseling her to seek him out should she experience any discomfort.
Brian fumes, accusing the chemist of stealth, planting the steel tips on his shoes. Meanwhile, Sullivan inquires about Eddie with Devine, who reveals a lack of anticipation and reluctance to disclose anything on that day. Elsewhere, Brown, indulging in a drink, watches helplessly as Goodfellow becomes Ursula's repeated kicking target. In a twist of fate, Ursula triumphs in the spinach-eating contest after a slick switch of plates with Geoffrey. Her victory is short-lived, however, as she succumbs to illness and passes away. Father Brown, realizing the deadly nightshade in her system, deduces she was not the intended target. The bowls, left unattended for a quarter of an hour, offer a window of opportunity. They track down the source of the nightshade.
Brown and his companions agree that consulting Dr. Fleming and Shirley about their observations is paramount. Devine stands firm in his belief in Brian's innocence. Confronted by Sullivan, Brian confesses to entering the spinach-eating tent to regain composure. Sullivan, noticing red marks on Brian's hands, places him under arrest on suspicion of murder.
In the jailhouse, Father Brown converses with Brian, who admits to being stung by Geoffrey's victory in '52 but steadfastly denies any intention to harm or cheat. Brian reveals witnessing Geoffrey in a heated exchange with someone in the first-aid tent earlier. Soon after, Geoffrey shares with Father Brown his brother's perennial jealousy. Brown delves deeper, questioning Patty and Geoffrey about their altercation. Patty reveals she was administered pills with adverse effects, forcing her Olympic withdrawal. Geoffrey, puzzled, struggles to identify anyone harboring resentment towards him. Brenda informs Father Brown that Shirley saw no one exiting the spinach-eating tent. Eddie joins Devine and the rest to deliberate on the investigation, unraveling a web of intrigue and suspicion.He doesn't appear overly thrilled by the magnitude of changes Isabel has undergone since his absence. Brown and Brenda ponder how Eddie will react upon discovering his mother's new relationship. Brenda finds it hard to fathom that a man could perish in the intense heat. Father Brown remarks that no one realized he was in distress until it was past the point of no return. Geoffrey, too, was left helpless by the time he found out. Thomas's wife, heartbroken, packed her bags and returned to Scotland following his demise.
Eddie informs them that someone has taken the picture of Brian's mishap. He willingly agrees to retrieve the negatives so they can produce another copy. Goodfellow enlightens Brown that Brian is the sole beneficiary of Geoffrey's life insurance.
William announces to the group that the police have apprehended Ursula's murderer. Sullivan and Devine sneak off for a quick kiss but are promptly intercepted by Eddie, who becomes upset, prompting Devine to chase after him. Brown successfully retrieves the negatives of the photographs and realizes that the secret is now out in the open. Brenda checks on Eddie, who's indulging in a drinking spree. She insists that Isabel would never intentionally cause him harm. Eddie laments that she's acting like a teenager on what's supposed to be his father's day. He reveals that his mother occasionally felt a sense of relief after his father's passing. Brenda counters by saying that Isabel constantly talks about his father. She had lost her mother, and time doesn't heal all wounds.
Father Brown tells Brenda that Devine must be relieved that Ronald will no longer endure his suffering. Amidst the celebrations, William revels in his victory at the Stone Lifting Competition. Later, Father Brown discovers that William has been using amphetamines to boost his stamina and strength. Pretending to be inept at sports, William claims he was made captain because no one else volunteered. Father Brown expresses his disappointment before inquiring if his pharmacy closely monitors amphetamine prescriptions. William responds that Dr. Fleming prescribed them to him. Father Brown suggests that Dr. Fleming risked his reputation by prescribing amphetamines to William, framing Brian for cheating, and undermining Patty's chances of winning, considering the greater risk of not doing so. William agrees to spill the beans if Father Brown lets him lift the trophy if Hambleston prevails. Father Brown accepts the deal. He further alleges that Shirley is confined to a wheelchair due to Dr. Fleming's actions.Father Brown inquires of Brenda regarding the dynamics between Shirley and Dr. Fleming. Brenda harbors the belief that Shirley harbors a deep fear of the doctor. He further probes, asking whether Shirley delves into medical research within the library's confines. She confirms this to be true. Meanwhile, Devine notifies William that her original partner for the Wife-Carrying Competition, Brian, is unable to participate. William warns her that failing to secure a replacement will result in the points being bestowed upon Hambleston. Reluctantly, Sullivan agrees to take Brian's place, and the exciting competition commences.
Father Brown engages Shirley in conversation, wondering if William has inquired about why Dr. Fleming chose to prescribe painkillers instead of sending her for x-rays after her fall. Shirley reassuringly states that no one in their right mind would question their trusted physician. He reveals that William is convinced her mobility issues could have been mitigated had her fracture been diagnosed sooner. Shirley declares that she has uncovered incriminating evidence pointing to Fleming's culpability for her disability. Though she steadfastly denies any involvement in poisoning the doctor, she vows to expose him to the General Medical Council.
In an exhilarating turn, Devine and Sullivan emerge victorious in the Wife-Carrying Competition. Eddie, unable to contain his curiosity, announces their relationship to the residents of Kembleford. Devine offers heartfelt apologies for keeping this from Father Brown and Brenda, who already shared in the secret. Father Brown assures her that Eddie will eventually come to terms with the news. As he recounts Dr. Fleming's oversight in Shirley's diagnosis, his eyes catch a peculiar detail about the geranium planter. Interrupting his narrative, William announces that Eddie has stepped in to replace Brian in the Toe-Wrestling Event, only for Sullivan to triumphantly defeat Eddie in a thrilling match.
As Father Brown scrutinizes a photograph, it reveals a crucial piece of evidence pertaining to the ongoing case. He confronts Patty Denmore, confronting her about her affections for Thomas, a married man, and highlights the fact that her initials are etched into the Geranium planter. She insists that Thomas' demise was unnecessary. retorts that the photograph does not incriminate him, but Patty firmly disagrees, tearing the photograph into shreds. Returning to the present, Patty confesses to lace the food for the eating competition with Nightshade. After swapping bowls, Ursula Fanshaw falls gravely ill from poisoning. Father Brown proposes that Patty and Fleming had been keeping each other's lethal secrets.
In another flashback, Patty, in a state of panic, tells Dr. Fleming that he should have been the one poisoned, not Ursula. She threatens to expose him if he betrays her. In the present moment, Patty agrees to turn herself in after bidding farewell to Thomas. Father Brown informs Brenda of Patty's confession as he spots her fleeing. He trails her to a tent where she is threatening to end Dr. Fleming's life. her that Thomas would want her to cherish the remainder of her life.
Back in a fragment of memory, Dr. Fleming is determined to outperform Brian in a Barrel-Rolling Competition. Thomas, feeling unwell during the competition, seeks Fleming's assistance as Fleming approaches with his barrel. Fleming promises to return shortly to help him. Returning to the present, Fleming boasts about his victory before expressing regret to Patty for failing Shirley. Patty curses him, wishing that he loses everything.
The Barrel-Rolling Competition begins, and ultimately, Brian emerges victorious, clutching the trophy. Goodfellow inquiries about the competition rules regarding drug use, glancing accusingly at Dr. Fleming. William, staring back at Fleming, walks away without responding. Fleming urges Shirley to report him to the General Medical Council.
Later, Eddie declares his intention to return to London. Devine reveals that her father made her promise never to live her life alone. She assures Eddie that no one can replace his father's place, but Sullivan brings her joy. He departs. Father Brown reassures Devine that Eddie will return to Kembleford when the time is right. The episode concludes on this note.
