The elderly Emily Simpson (Renee Asherson) is murdered in her home, forcing DCI Tom Barnaby (John Nettles) and DS Gavin Troy (Daniel Casey) to interview many of the residents of Badger's Drift, including Iris Rainbird and her son Dennis, the local undertaker (Elizabeth Spriggs and Richard Cant); Dr. Trevor Lessiter (Bill Wallis), his wife Barbara (Diana Hardcastle) and his daughter Judith (Jessica Stevenson); and Emily's friend Lucy Bellringer (Rosalie Crutchley).