Ep 4. Campaign For Silence

Bergerac is a popular British detective drama series that aired from 1981 to 1991. The show revolves around Detective Sergeant Jim Bergerac, played by John Nettles, who works for the fictional Bureau des Étrangers in Jersey, Channel Islands. In season 1 episode 4, titled "Campaign For Silence," Bergerac investigates a series of murders related to a land development deal.

The episode begins with a bomb explosion in the house of Arnold Litton, the chairman of the Jersey Development Corporation (JDC), a company that has been planning a major development project in the island. Fortunately, Litton was out of the house at the time, but his wife was injured in the explosion. Bergerac and his team start investigating the incident, and soon they find out that it was not an accident but a well-planned attack.

Bergerac meets with Litton and learns that the JDC's project is facing strong opposition from the local community and several environmental groups. They believe that the development will damage the island's natural beauty and harm the wildlife. Litton is convinced that the opposition is responsible for the attack on his house and tells Bergerac that he wants them to be silenced.

As Bergerac starts digging deeper, he discovers that the people who are opposing the JDC's project have formed a group called "Campaign for Silence," which is led by a local priest, Father O'Neill. The group has been sending threatening letters to the members of the JDC and their families.

Bergerac suspects that the group might have some connection to the recent murders of two JDC employees, but he cannot find any evidence to prove it. He also meets a young woman named Karen, who works for the JDC and is a key witness in the investigation. Karen tells Bergerac that she has received threatening phone calls and thinks that someone is following her.

Meanwhile, Bergerac's personal life becomes complicated when he gets involved with a woman named Marianne Bellshade, who is the daughter of a wealthy businessman. Marianne is living in Jersey to avoid her ex-husband, who is a dangerous criminal. Bergerac tries to keep his relationship with Marianne a secret from his colleagues, but they soon find out and warn him about the risks of getting involved with her.

As the investigation progresses, Bergerac and his team uncover a complex web of deceit, greed, and corruption behind the JDC's project. They find out that Litton and the other members of the JDC have been involved in illegal activities to secure the land for the development. They have bribed local officials, forged documents, and even hired hitmen to eliminate their opponents.

Bergerac confronts Litton with the evidence and tells him that he will be arrested for his crimes. But Litton refuses to go down alone and threatens to expose Bergerac's relationship with Marianne to the media. Bergerac realizes that he has been caught in a trap and tries to find a way out.

In the final scenes of the episode, Bergerac manages to outsmart Litton and arrest him for his crimes. He also reconciles with his colleagues and Marianne, but he knows that his life will never be the same again.

Overall, "Campaign For Silence" is an engaging and thrilling episode of Bergerac that explores the themes of corruption and power in a small community. The investigation is complex and well-paced, and the characters are well-developed and relatable. The episode also offers a glimpse into the personal life of Jim Bergerac and shows how his job can affect his relationships and his sense of morality. Fans of detective dramas will definitely enjoy this episode of Bergerac.