As the curtains rise on this installment of "Sherwood," Daphne Sparrow (played by Lorraine Ashbourne) retrieves a handgun with deliberate precision. Mickey (portrayed by Philip Jackson) emerges from the shadows, his curiosity piqued, inquiring about the firearm's presence. Daphne, citing the Bransons, expresses her reluctance to take any unnecessary risks. Mickey, seizing the moment, takes the gun and discharges it with a resounding bang.
Elsewhere, Ian St Clair (David Morrissey) pays a visit to Lisa Waters (Ria Zmitrowicz) at the Royal Kings Hospital, requesting that a few officers be placed on rotation there. He discloses the suspected attempted murder of a politician, casting a shadow of suspicion over the premises. In a private conversation with Harry Summers (Michael Balogun), Ian confesses Lisa is a friend and admits his uncertainty about the effectiveness of his actions. He shares details of the threats Lisa received prior to the attack, anticipating a media frenzy akin to their past experiences.
Roy Branson (Stephen Dillane) meets with Jarrod (James Burrows), who warns him that the Bottomley killings have stirred unrest in the streets. Armed citizens are preparing for confrontation, a scenario Roy views with disdain. He tasks Jarrod with uncovering who dares to encroach upon his territory and dealing with them decisively, promising a 50-50 split of the profits thereafter. Additionally, Roy seeks information on Kyre's murderer and inquiries about Jarrod's willingness to assist with the Sparrow family matters. Jarrod defends the Sparrows, noting their respect towards him, but Roy interrupts, accusing them of betrayal. He declares the age of honor obsolete.
Meanwhile, Dale (Josh Rowlands) pays Jordan (Tyrese Eaton-Dyce) a visit, seeking more product. Inside, Stephie (Bethany Asher) informs Jordan of Lisa's injury, urging him to contact Ryan. Jordan reminds her of the established rule: Ryan (Oliver Huntingdon) initiates contact, and that's final. Scott Rowley (Adam Hugill), equally concerned, checks in with Ryan, who admits to being unable to reach anyone. Ryan reassures them that trust takes time and insists they can rely on their connections. Scott, however, craves direct communication.
Elsewhere, Franklin Warner (Robert Lindsay) and Samuel Warner (Robert Emms) engage in a tense discussion regarding Lisa. Franklin wonders about the fate of the file she possessed on him, while Samuel reproaches Franklin for withholding his government affiliation. Franklin admits to occasional assistance from unexpected quarters, prompting Samuel to inquire about his inheritance and knowledge of the ongoing developments.
The Chief Constable (Jennifer Hennessy) addresses the media, delivering a statement about Lisa's attack. When Harry is prompted to brief the press on the investigation's details, he notices Ian lurking in the background and seeks a private word with him, setting the stage for further revelations.
He becomes visibly distressed and abruptly dashes out of the room, leaving Ian to check on him. Harry, with a reluctant admission, confesses that he's not alright. Meanwhile, the Chief Constable expresses dissatisfaction with Harry's abrupt departure from the briefing. Ian gently requests Jen to give them a moment of privacy.
In the confines of their private conversation, Harry unburdens himself to Ian, revealing how he's haunted by nightmares that awaken him in the dead of night. He admits to blacking out at the safe house where the Bottomleys were staying, and ponders aloud how the killers managed to track them down. Stressing that the stakes are too high for any missteps, Harry underscores the gravity of the situation.
Returning to the briefing, Ian fields questions about seeking external assistance amidst the Ashfield killings. A reporter's inquiry if they've lost control prompts Jen to insist otherwise, but Ian acknowledges that the fear has resurfaced. He announces a departure from the unwritten rule of silence, urging anyone with pertinent information to step forward and aid their efforts.
Privately, Jen laments their lack of unity, labeling Ian's actions as reckless, foolish, and self-serving. Ian stands firm in his resolve to no longer mislead the public. Elsewhere, Rory Sparrow proudly shows Mickey the van he's acquired, envisioning it as a versatile vehicle for business ventures. Their discussion veers into争执 over family involvement and their collaboration with the police, ending with Rory being advised to stay put due to the prevailing dangers.
As Ian peruses through the seized items, he discovers Lisa's note detailing the growth within the premises and intelligence about Thatcher's spy. He tasks Marcus Clarke with retrieving CCTV footage from city hall, where they spot a passerby resembling Franklin. Ian informs Harry of his plan to duplicate some documents, intending to hold off on involving Franklin until he consults his source.
Rory meets Samuel to negotiate the solar panels, learning that other partners earn around a thousand dollars per acre in rent. Ambitious, Rory demands an equal share, outlining his plan to sell energy to the utility company at a competitive price. Samuel inquiries about Rory's family's concurrence, to which Rory expresses confidence in convincing them. Rory also reveals his aspirations for a corporate travel fleet, sensing that Samuel might be pursuing a similar dual strategy. Rory argues that this venture will extricate him from other entanglements.
Ian seeks Daphne out, seeking insights about Franklin. She pleads with him to cease his relentless probing, acknowledging Franklin's presence but portraying him as a man of means who got things done, albeit in a different light.
For decades, she has remained estranged from Franklin, and now the police find themselves unable to match two sets of fingerprints discovered on the documents. Amidst this mystery, Daphne stands out as the sole Sparrow whose prints are not archived, a detail she attributes to her former identity as Jane Jones during her tenure with the Metropolitan Police. Despite her insistence that she did not dispatch the incriminating materials, Daphne refuses to delve deeper into the conversation until she has spoken with another individual first.
Ian ponders whether to bring Franklin in for interrogation, prompting a reminder from Daphne about his earlier assurance that this ordeal would soon conclude. Ryan hands Scott the phone, reassuring him that they will verify the safety of his funds. Agreeing to监督Scott's call, Ryan watches helplessly as Scott fails to establish contact with anyone. Caught in the act by the guards, who warn him it marks his second offense, Scott prepares to confront Ryan. A prison warden informs Ryan that Scott will face additional charges and an extension of his sentence by a couple of years, at least until he is transferred to another wing. The warden suggests that intelligence could yield a favorable outcome if Ryan wishes to formalize an arrangement.
Lisa's toxicology report reveals the presence of liquid spice in her system, leading Harry to speculate that it might have been concealed in her vape pen. He advocates for bringing Warner in for questioning, while they concurrently investigate which gangs are involved in spice trafficking. Elsewhere, Jordan confides in Stephie about Ryan and everything else, expressing his longing for his incarcerated brother. He urges her to obey instructions and be cautious.
In a visit to Rachel Crossley, Daphne learns that her statement alone was insufficient. Rachel admits to feeling an urge to spend more time with Daphne, prompting Daphne to consider revealing the truth about her father. She casually mentions Franklin Warner, acknowledging that it's a complex tale fraught with emotional struggles. Rachel's reminder of Franklin serves as a painful reminder of his existence, making it difficult for Daphne to keep Rachel close.
Franklin arrives at the police station, accompanied by multiple solicitors, and is permitted to bring one into the interview room with Harry and Ian. They question him about his encounter with Lisa, to which Franklin responds that they attempted to converse but she was occupied. After waiting for some time, they departed. Ian inquires if Lisa mentioned knowing anything, to which Franklin derisively dismisses the notion of escaping such gravity. Rachel reveals to Daphne that Roy had Lisa's blood on his fingers, which transferred to a cigarette. Daphne promptly informs Ian about the cigarette, leading the police to initiate a search that unearths crucial evidence. Subsequently, Ann and Roy are apprehended for the murders of Dennis and Pam.
Mickey assures Daphne that they can finally exhale a sigh of relief, crediting Rachel's recall of the cigarette for this breakthrough. Daphne thanks him, disclosing that she had a different name upon her arrival.
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Daphne, a moniker bestowed upon her by her superiors, confided in him, unveiling the authenticity of her sentiments when in his presence. Mickey, aware of her intricate past, shared his own desires to be someone different. He reminded her of his vow to stand by their child, insisting that he had always known. She revealed her true identity as a police officer. Mickey suggested they let it be and refocus on their impending journey.
The following morning, Jordan discovered Stephie's absence, learning she had chosen to sleep at the hospital. Ronan (Bill Jones) and Rory engaged in a conversation with Daphne about their recent events. Ian encountered Rachel, who expressed her hope that the arrest would bring closure. He informed her that he would need to provide a statement. Rachel recounted how the cigarette had almost been enough for her but admitted she must also mention encountering Ann.
Harry called Ian to inform him that Roy was claiming to have acted alone. Ann had already been released, and her protection officers had been withdrawn. Ian relayed this information to Daphne. He then urged Rachel to depart with him. Daphne attempted to reach Mickey, whose phone remained unanswered. Ann picked up the call, overhearing Daphne mention her release. With a gun loaded, Ann prepared to strike.
Daphne hurried home, only to arrive and find Mickey gravely wounded by a gunshot. Ann, seated nearby, inquired about his thoughts as he lay dying. Mickey cursed her, simply responding that he was thinking of himself. Ann mentioned having read that being shot in the stomach was the most agonizing pain. Daphne finally arrived home, confronted by the harrowing sight of Mickey, shot and collapsing. Moments later, police cars screeched to a halt outside. Rachel arrived, offering solace to a devastated Daphne.
