The episode unfolds amidst the serene ambiance of Saint Mary's Church, where Mrs. Devine (portrayed by Claudie Blakley) gracefully presents a tray laden with scones to Father Brown (Mark Williams) and Brenda Palmer (Ruby-May Martinwood). Their quiet conversation is soon interrupted by the arrival of Hercule Flambeau (John Light), who queries them about a recently posted obituary for Gabriel Hawksworth (Ian Gelder). Despite Father Brown's ignorance on the matter, Gabriel's funeral is inexplicably scheduled for that very day.
It transpires that the obituary was a cunning deception orchestrated by Flambeau's estranged father, a revelation that leaves Flambeau anything but pleased. With some persuasion, Gabriel finally manages to elaborate on the rationale behind this deception.
The narrative deepens with the introduction of Drake Underwood (Adrian Schiller), as Gabriel recounts the daring heist of a diamond-encrusted crown of thorns that led to the tragic murder of a museum guard named Elliot Tucker (Jacob Greenway). Though Gabriel maintains his innocence in pulling the trigger, he bears a heavy sense of responsibility, believing that his inadvertent slip about Luther Underwood (Aaron Sidwell) served as the catalyst for the murder. Gabriel is driven by a desire to assist the widowed guard and her young son by retrieving the crown from Drake and donating the proceeds to them.
Moved by Flambeau's turmoil, Father Brown steps outside to offer him solace, unwittingly uncovering a heart-wrenching tale: Gabriel had abandoned Flambeau and his mother merely a week after enlisting in boot camp, leaving an indelible mark on Flambeau's life.Upon his return to Gabriel's side, Flambeau grudgingly agreed to lend a hand, albeit under vastly divergent conditions. He harbored a desire to retain the crown for his personal gain and liquidate the remainder of Drake's treasures, presenting them as gifts to his family. Gabriel, though reluctant, eventually conceded, and the pact was cemented with a firm handshake.
Meanwhile, Drake was immersed in the bliss of proximity to his beloved collection, until Luther burst in, venting his frustration over being sidelined in their forthcoming caper. Drake's attempt to dismiss him only fueled Luther's ire further by labeling him impulsive and trigger-happy. Just then, Gabriel's unexpected arrival at the doorstep, seeking employment, interrupted their exchange. Luther's hesitation was palpable, whereas Drake readily welcomed him onto the team. From a distance, Brenda, Father Brown, and Devine observed Gabriel's interaction, intrigued. Once Gabriel was invited in, Devine signaled Flambeau with a flash of headlights, giving him the green light.
Drake briefly touched upon the museum heist before extending Gabriel an invitation to participate in an impending bullion heist. Gabriel accepted, using a pretext of a persistent need to relieve himself to disarm Drake's treasure room's security. Rejoining Drake outdoors, Gabriel discreetly signaled Brenda and Devine, who relayed the message to Flambeau.
Flambeau almost made a flawless escape until Drake, searching for a finer wine to toast Gabriel and Luther's latest triumph, stumbled upon him. When Drake drew a gun on Flambeau, Gabriel stepped in, leading to an accidental discharge that alerted both Father Brown's group and Luther nearby. Brenda and Devine were dispatched to summon Chief Inspector Sullivan (Tom Chambers), while Father Brown remained to lend a hand. In the chaos and the subsequent foot pursuit, Gabriel inadvertently dropped the sack of stolen goods and was compelled to abandon it. Gabriel and Flambeau managed to reach their escape vehicle, but a high-speed chase would have ensued if not for Father Brown puncturing Luther's car tires, bringing the pursuit to a halt.To the utter astonishment of everyone present, Sullivan issued a dual command to Sergeant Goodfellow (John Burton): to update headquarters promptly on the ongoing robbery and, astonishingly, to apprehend Brenda and Devine as accessories to the crime. Drake, equally disgruntled, unleashed a torrent of verbal abuse upon Luther. Prior to Sullivan's arrival to interrogate them concerning the robbery, it came to light that Flambeau had managed to slip away with the crown, leaving Gabriel to grapple with the loss of the other stolen goods.
Outside, Drake steadfastly denied any involvement in the robbery until Sullivan produced the search warrant. Gabriel and Flambeau found themselves compelled to embark on a perilous trek through the dense woods, their vehicle having conveniently given out and the sound of approaching sirens echoing ominously in the distance. Upon discovering that Flambeau still possessed the crown, Gabriel passionately pleaded on behalf of the widow. The more Gabriel argued, the fiercer Flambeau's anger flared, culminating in an attempted stormy departure. Gabriel halted him by dropping to his knees and unveiling the heart-wrenching truth behind his desertion of Flambeau and his mother.
During his basic training, Gabriel had encountered and fallen deeply in love with another recruit, Finney. When Finney was tragically killed in action, Gabriel's grief was overwhelming, rendering him unable to conceal their romantic relationship any longer. The prospect of Flambeau discovering their love was too painful for Gabriel to contemplate, prompting his abrupt departure. This poignant confession touched Flambeau's heart, inspiring him to agree to sell the crown for the widow's sake. This revelation, in turn, prompted Gabriel to realize that he had misplaced his address book, which Drake serendipitously discovered while Luther recounted the foot chase to Inspector Sullivan.
While returning to the abandoned vehicle to consult a map, Father Brown caught Gabriel discreetly ingesting pills. Following a confrontation, Gabriel confessed his battle with cancer, while Flambeau retrieved the map. As Gabriel scrutinized the map, a memory of Beechwood Lane resurfaced. Coincidentally, they were mere steps away from the intended address. Thanks to Gabriel's misplaced address book, Drake and Luther now also possessed the crucial location.
Despite Father Brown's persistence in convincing her, Elliot's widow, Grace Tucker (played by Emily Redpath), reluctantly allows them entry into her home. Inside, Gabriel unburdens himself, confessing his role in Elliot's demise, revealing that it was his finger that pulled the trigger. The situation descends into chaos when Grace, having no interest in the crown, succumbs to a rage that culminates in her shooting Gabriel in the abdomen.
Prior to Drake and his men's arrival, Grace is found upstairs in a daze, clutching both the pistol and the crown. Drake, reassuring her, vows to handle everything discreetly, steering clear of police involvement. Using the trail of blood as their guide, they trail Father Brown's group deep into the woods. Amid Gabriel's heartfelt apology, Father Brown's blessing upon his soul, and Flambeau's unexpected revelation of a granddaughter, Drake and his men find themselves with ample time to catch up on developments.
A brief, fiery exchange of insults ensues between Drake and Flambeau, only to be interrupted by Inspector Sullivan and his armed men. After a moment of hesitation, Drake silently signals Luther to take down Flambeau, but one of Sullivan's men acts preemptively. Seizing the moment, Flambeau uses the commotion to snatch the crown from Drake's grasp. As he reaches the main road, he waves down a motorcyclist and, just as Sullivan and his men close in, steals the bike and speeds away.
Frustrated by yet another defeat at Flambeau's hands, Sullivan verbally berates Devine and Brenda before releasing them. Days pass, and Father Brown and Brenda indulge in strawberry scones when Sullivan bursts in with the news that Drake blames Luther for shooting Gabriel. Father Brown, who wasn't present at the time, is unable to confirm or deny the accusation. Before departing, Sullivan requests a private moment with Devine, forgiveness flowing as he tells her he holds no grudge for not coming to him sooner about Flambeau. Their reconciliation is sealed with a tender kiss.
Some time later, Flambeau returns to St. Mary's church, entrusting the crown to Father Brown with instructions to return it to the Vatican and donate the reward to Grace. The episode concludes with Flambeau initiating his confession, the scene setting the stage for further revelations.
