Series 2, Episode 6 (Happy Valley)

Plot

Whilst dropping Ryan Cawood (Rhys Connah) off at school, Catherine Cawood (Sarah Lancashire) goes to speak to headmistress Mrs Beresford (Olwen May) in her office about her belief that Miss Wealand (Shirley Henderson), who is really Frances Drummond, is grooming her grandson to like his father, Tommy Lee Royce (James Norton). Mrs Beresford protests, saying that Miss Wealand came to the school with an excellent CV, and Catherine leaves, walking past Frances in the school corridor.

Catherine and PC Shafiq Shah (Shana Zaza) go to check on Daryl Garrs (Robert Emms) at his mother's farm. When they arrive, they discover Daryl's shot body in the kitchen, with his mother Alison Garrs (Susan Lynch) unconscious next to him. Catherine realises that Alison has taken an overdose of diazepam and then drank a large volume of vodka and whiskey. With the help of Shafiq, Catherine carries Alison outside onto the front doorstep. Catherine asks Alison who shot Daryl, and after a long time, Alison reveals it was her. Catherine questions why she would shoot her own son, before seeing Daryl's damaged red car, matching the description of a car seen leaving the scene of the last murder. Catherine arrests Alison and waits with her until the paramedics arrive at the scene.

DI Jodie Shackleton (Katherine Kelly) tells DS John Wadsworth (Kevin Doyle) that they are almost certain that Daryl is guilty of all the murders except the one of Vicky Fleming (Amelia Bullmore). Detective Superintendent Andy Shepherd (Vincent Franklin) phones Jodie from the scene of Daryl's murder, saying he'd be surprised if Daryl wasn't the murderer. He also says that he wants to push people to think about what happened on the night of Vicky's murder by publishing more photos of her in the media. He also expresses concerns that someone on the investigation team may have committed the murder, with a particular concern about John because he had Vicky's phone number stored on his phone and because of his marital breakdown. Following a news broadcast about Vicky, Neil Ackroyd (Con O'Neill) tells Catherine about how Vicky blackmailed him and eventually ruined his life. Catherine passes on Neil's details to a distant John. After an investigation meeting, John tries to make his escape. Graham Tattersall (Steve Edge) arrives at the police station, believing that he has some useful information with regards to the Vicky Fleming case. He is interviewed by Catherine, and he explains that he was having an affair with a married woman when her husband returned from work on the night of Vicky's murder. Baffled, Catherine asks for the name of her husband, and he reveals it to be John. Catherine goes to report this information to Andy, but sees John in the corridor, who sees Graham behind her. John runs out of the police station and into his car, followed by Catherine. John arrives at Hebden Bridge railway station, and runs onto the railway tracks. Despite being instructed not to, Catherine and PC Gorkem Tekeli (Mete Dursun) follow John. John stands on the ledge of the railway bridge outside the police station, with the police station staff gathered and observing from the street below. Catherine tries to negotiate with John to stop him jumping, and appears to be successful, before he deliberately falls off the bridge and onto a driving car, killing him. Catherine, distraught, walks back to the police station.

Mike Taylor (Rick Warden) shows to Catherine that the Miss Wealand is in fact Frances Drummond. Catherine phones her sister Clare (Siobhan Finneran) to explain to her who Frances is, and that she visits Tommy in prison. She later finds out that Miss Cecily Wealand was in fact Frances' dead sister, and that Frances must have stolen her personal documents. Frances is then arrested at the school for fraud, but asks for Ryan to be allowed a relationship with his father. Later that evening, Frances is released on bail, and Catherine goes to visit her at her house. Catherine tries to explain to Frances who Tommy is and what he has done, but Frances rejects everything that Catherine says, revealing that she is engaged to Tommy. Catherine then tells Frances that she is infatuated with Tommy because "he is pretty", but Frances passes this off as jealously, and Catherine leaves. Mike passes on the list of people who have visited Tommy in prison to Catherine, who reads it to Frances, revealing that Tommy was engaged to at least three other women. Tommy is suspended from receiving visitors and phone calls. In his cell, he receives a letter from Ryan, which says that he forgives him. Tommy then looks up at the window, optimistic about the future.

Catherine visits Alison in hospital, and tells her that she is always available to talk to. She then goes to visit Becky's grave with Clare, Ryan and Daniel (Karl Davies). Catherine talks to Clare about Alison's story, revealing that Daryl's grandfather was in fact his father, and that Alison removed Daryl from society as a way to protect him, which ultimately led to him becoming the man he did. The four then go on a walk in the Yorkshire hills, and Catherine silently observes Ryan, scared that he will become like his father.

Broadcast and Reception

The episode was watched by 9.34 million viewers in the first seven days of its broadcast.