Episode 52 (17th April 1973)

Plot
Alison tells Henry she is still thinking about his marriage proposal, but wonders if it's too early following her husband's death. He tells her he's happy to wait. Sam is unhappy about Wilks getting Peggy and Matt's room. Liz mentions to Wilks about the money in the collection. Annie and Joe inspect the redecorated Millhouse. Joe mentions having a housewarming party. Jack pays Penny for her work. Jim watches Jack, Annie and Joe leave for the hospital, leaving Penny alone in the Millhouse. Amos and Alison share a sherry, he asks her if she would consider going into partnership with him and proposes to her; she refuses. Jim creeps into the Millhouse and startles Penny. He becomes nervous when Penny mentions that Beryl's invited him to tea to talk about Sharon. He tells Penny he fancies her. She asks if Trash stopped him trying it on with Sharon. He tries to force himself on her but she fends him off. She leaves him on the floor while she makes some tea. When she returns, he gets up and with her back turned to him, Jim tries to strangle her. Jack and Ruskin are walking back to the Millhouse discussing God, they arrive back to find Penny struggling to breathe on the floor with Jim standing over her. Alison explains to Wilks that she's leaving Beckindale for a while. Liz takes a call from Ruskin and Annie comforts Beryl when they become aware that Jim has confessed to murdering Sharon. Ruskin informs Liz that it was Jim who put the money in the collection, it was the remainder of what he'd taken from Sharon. Beryl is taken to hospital for shock. Ruskin tells Liz that Jim had seen a film in which the killer packed his victim's bag to make it look like they were leaving and once he'd discovered that he'd killed Sharon he planned to do the same, only when he went to pack her bag, he'd discovered it was already packed.

Regular cast

 * Jack - Andrew Burt
 * Annie - Sheila Mercier
 * Joe - Frazer Hines
 * Matt - Frederick Pyne
 * Sam - Toke Townley
 * Wilks - Arthur Pentelow
 * Amos - Ronald Magill
 * Alison - Carolyn Moody
 * Ruskin - George Little
 * Liz - Daphne Green

Guest cast

 * Beryl - Joan Scott
 * Penny - Louisa Martin
 * Jim - Myles Reithermann
 * Mrs. Tolly - Susan Richards
 * Stan - Peter Ellis