Kevin Whately returned to his role from INspector Morse, and in the two-hour film, the Oxford policeman has a new, younger partner – and a female boss – as he investigates the murder of an American college student. Five years after the death of his long-time police partner Morse, Lewis – now an Inspector – returns to the Thames Valley police and his stomping ground of the university city of Oxford. Back in the UK from a two-year attachment on the British Virgin Islands, Lewis finds himself teamed up with the much younger Hathaway, and reporting to a new boss in the figure of Chief Supt Jean Innocent, played by Rebecca Front.
Regan Peverill, a gifted American student, is found shot dead in a sleep laboratory. The prime suspect is Danny Griffon, a friend of Regan’s and fellow maths student at Oxford University.
Just off the plane from a two year job attachment in the British Virgin Islands, Inspector Lewis is temporarily assigned the case and Sergeant James Hathaway is temporarily assigned to assist him.
Danny is the son of formula one racing driver, Johnny Griffon, who died in a tragic car accident. On the death of his father Danny became heir to Griffon Motors, a luxury sports car company, currently facing bankruptcy and in merger talks with a Japanese company. Until Danny comes of age, the company is being run by his Uncle Rex, Johnny’s twin brother, and Tom Pollock, a family friend. Danny hates his uncle, believing that Rex is responsible for his father’s death, and convinced that he is having an affair with his mother Trudi; an accusation they both deny.
At the time of his father’s death, Danny was cautioned for criminal damage when he attacked his uncle’s car. Inspector Morse was the investigating officer. Lewis discovers a cryptic clue among the case papers that indicates Morse had uncovered a Griffon family secret.
Then Danny is found dead by the river, having apparently committed suicide. The gun found in his hand is the gun that was used to kill Regan. Lewis’ superior, DCS Innocent, believes it’s an open and shut case; Danny killed the girl and then killed himself. But Lewis and Hathaway aren’t so sure. The findings at the crime scene indicate that Danny didn’t die where he was found; a second party must have moved him there.
Denniston, Danny’s tutor and confidante, tells Lewis that Danny came to see him the night before he died. Danny was in a terrible state having found out that Rex had slept with Regan. Danny believed that Rex killed Regan and then tried to frame him for her murder.
Hearing of Danny’s death, Jessica, Tom Pollock’s daughter, who was in love with Danny, attempts suicide at the very spot where Danny’s body was discovered. That evening the body of Tom Pollock is found wrapped in a shower curtain in the boot of his car. Rex is caught on a CCTV camera parking the car at Oxford train station.
Having cracked Morse’s cryptic clue and discovered that Trudi was actually having an affair with Tom Pollock and not Rex Griffon, Lewis decides to confront them both.
Why did Trudi and Rex try to cover up the murder of Tom Pollock and what really drove Jessica to try and kill herself? And were these events linked to the murder of students Danny Griffon and Regan Peverill?
It is Danny’s computer that gives Lewis the proof he was looking for. Regan Peverill had emailed Denniston and Danny the night she died because she had found a critical flaw in Denniston’s famous mathematical proof that had won him a Field’s medal.
When the case is solved, Innocent reluctantly agrees to keep Lewis on in CID, rather than moving him over to a training post which had been her first suggestion. Hathaway has been assigned to a new inspector, but asks Innocent that he remain as Lewis’s bagman.
The screenplay for Lewis was written by Stephen Churchett, from a story by Russell Lewis and was directed by Bill Anderson; executive producers were Michele Buck, Damien Timmer, Ted Childs and Rebecca Eaton of WGBH, Boston.
