Ep 4. Blood

In the fourth episode of season 2 of Black Books, titled "Blood," Bernard and Manny come to the conclusion that their bookshop is in desperate need of a makeover. To achieve this, they decide to hold a sale where everything in the store is half-off. However, things take a strange turn when a customer appears in the store asking for a particular book.

The customer is a young woman named Alice, who is very particular about the type of book she wants. Manny, who is more than happy to help, tries to find the book for her, but is surprised to learn that it hasn't been printed in many years. Sensing a potential sale, Bernard becomes interested, and tells Manny to offer Alice a rare vintage copy of The Little Book of Calm for a significant amount of money.

Despite Manny's protests, Bernard goes ahead with the sale, and Alice agrees to buy the book without even looking at it. However, when she leaves the store, Bernard notices that she has left her mobile phone behind. After trying to get in touch with her without success, Bernard and Manny become increasingly worried about her safety.

Their fears are soon confirmed when they hear on the news that a young woman has been found dead in the neighborhood. Devastated by the news, Bernard and Manny start to feel guilty for selling her a book and begin to obsess over the possibility that they were the last people to see her alive.

As they struggle with their guilt, they decide to take matters into their own hands and start their own investigation. With the help of some of their eccentric neighbors, they embark on a wild and farcical journey in search of the truth. Along the way, they encounter a host of weird and wonderful characters, including a fortune teller, a psychic, and a pack of angry dogs.

Despite their best efforts, however, they soon realize that they are in over their heads, and that they need to hand the case over to the police. But when they try to communicate their findings, they are met with indifference and even ridicule. Undeterred, they continue their investigation, risking life and limb in the process.

In the end, they manage to crack the case and solve the mystery of Alice's murder. But their triumph is bittersweet, as they must come to terms with the fact that their reckless actions may have put them in danger as well. As the episode draws to a close, Bernard and Manny put the events of the day behind them and return to their bookshop, ready to start anew.

Overall, Black Books season 2 episode 4 is a hilarious and engaging episode that showcases the comedic talents of its cast. With its brilliant mix of satire, absurdity, and wit, it is sure to leave viewers laughing out loud and eager for more.