Inspector Morse - Episode 14: Driven to Distraction [DVD]

When two women are murdered in similar circumstances Morse, Lewis and Sergeant Maitland, an expert in violence against women, set out to catch the killer before he strikes again. Both of the deceased, Maureen Thomson and Jackie Thorn, owned cars, and attention turns to the local dealer where the cars were purchased and its owner Jeremy Boynton. After Jackie's neighbour, Angie Howe, is threatened by Boynton not to reveal his relationship with Jackie, she does so anyway, and he is arrested.

Despite Morse's certainty that Boynton is the killer, he has no evidence against him, and Superintendent Strange steps in to have him released. Morse suggests to Tim Ablett, Jackie's boyfriend, that her unborn child may not be his. Learning that Boynton's been released, Ablett attacks him at his car showroom. While Boynton is taken to hospital, Morse seizes the opportunity to rifle through the company records in search of incriminating evidence against him. This outrages Lewis who refuses to be involved.

After Morse and Maitland work through the night they finally have a breakthrough. Philippa Lau, who was attacked though not killed several years earlier, had previously bought a car from Boynton's. While another man is currently in prison for the attack, Lau receives a threatening phone call that seems to refer to the attack. Strange is not impressed and takes Morse off the case. The killer then strikes again, and since Boynton is in hospital, Morse's theory is finally disproved.

Lewis and Maitland question Lau, who reveals that her driving instructor, Whittaker, had bought the car from Boynton's on her behalf. Lewis realises the car connection among the victims is Whittaker, not Boynton, and rushes to arrest him. Morse happens to be taking a driving lesson with Whittaker at the same time and makes the same realisation when he notices a roll of tape in the glove box. Whittaker confesses to acting out of twisted jealousy after his wife was hospitalised for a serious stroke. He attacks Morse with a knife as they drive at high speed, but after the ensuing struggle, it is Whittaker who is impaled on the knife when they come to a dramatic stop.