BANTLING BOY

First Broadcast: January 16, 2005

Bruce Hartley, owner of the famous Bantling Boy, along with his wife, hope for another round of success in the Causton Gold Cup. Marianna Hartley doesn't actually own the horse - but three others do too. Bruce Hartley's father left it divided to four people: Bruce himself, who keeps the horse in his own stables, Dr. John Osgood, the village doctor, Trevor Machin, wheelchair-bound and the Hartley family's ex-gardener and Joanna Craxton, who nursed Bruce's father when he was ill. However it seems to be the cover up of a secret reason the syndicate don't want to expose.

Bruce's mother, Angela, knows of the secret but wasn't left a share. She spends her life looking after her young-minded brother Geoffrey Bantling, and nine-year old Peter Craxton, Joanna's son. Peter and Geoffrey share a liking of war battles and computer games - Peter's favourite game is 'The Secret of the Ring.'

At the Causton Races, the Barnabys have placed a bet on Bantling Boy to win, as have many other villagers. The horse's trainer, Jake Foley, is angry that Bruce has disallowed him from riding the horse and a more professional jockey was put on him instead. Bantling Boy wins, and millionaire Sam Tate offers Bruce money to buy the horse; but it ends with a row and Bruce punches Tate in the face.
Marianna calls on Dr. John Osgood, her secret lover. Bruce also calls a meeting with the syndicate. Joanna and Trevor want to sell the horse for money, but Bruce disapproves and they end up not selling as Osgood is on his side. That evening, Marianna is abused yet again by Bruce, who also earlier argued with his poor mother, Angela. During that time, Bruce is murdered in the stables with a hammer.

Barnaby and Scott, who have already eye-witnessed Bruce's reputation, take the case and find themselves having to dig over the similarities between the Bantling men and into the family history to find the killer that strikes again on Dr. John Osgood. But this time, he is gagged with a triangular white cloth - ritualistically silenced. Barnaby is sure that past affairs have something to do with the present ones.

 

DCI Tom Barnaby

John Nettles

DS Daniel Scott

John Hopkins

Joyce Barnaby

Jane Wymark

Cully Barnaby

Laura Howard

Dr. George Bullard

Barry Jackson

Angela Hartley

Caroline Blakiston

Bruce Hartley

Simon Kunz

Marianna Hartley

Anna Wilson-Jones

Geoffrey Bantling

Philip McGough

Ray Craxton

Shane Attwool

Joanna Craxton

Julia Ford

Peter Craxton

Thomas Grant

Trevor Machin

Richard O’Callaghan

Dr. John Osgood

Barnaby Kay

Sam Tate

Geoffrey Freshwater

Jake Foley

Charlie Condou

Major Dickson

Hugh Dickson

Bookie

Stewart Harwood

Vicar

Paul Viragh

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Screenplay

Steve Trafford

Director

Sarah Hellings

Producer

Brian True-May

Page Links

Stunt Animal Works -

Animal Dramatics

Behind the Scenes -

Graphic Work

Filming -

Dorney, Berkshire

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