December 1138. In the Benedictine Abbey of St. Peter and St. Paul in Shrewsbury, Abbot Herbert has been relieved of his position and duties and summoned to London, leaving his ambitious subordinate Prior Robert in charge.
Gervaise Bonel, his family and household have moved into a house owned by the Abbey as part of a deal in which Bonel gave to the Abbey his lands and manor in return for food, clothing and lodging for life.

Narrator ... Sir Michael Hordern
Brother Cadfael ... Philip Madoc
Brother Mark ... Ian Targett
Richildis Bonel ... Pat Heywood
Abbot Heribert ... Timothy Bateson
Prior Robert Pennant ... Geoffrey Whitehead
Sergeant William Warden ... Ian Hogg
Edwin Gurney ... Richard Pearce
Hugh Beringer/Steward at Mallilie ... Alan Barker
Brother Rhys/Judge ... Norman Jones
Meurig ... Kenneth Price
Aelfric ... Mark Straker
Aldith ... Jane Whittenshaw
Sybil Bellecote ... Petra Markham
Brother Edmund/Martin Bellecote ... Timothy Carlton
Brother Petrus ... Fraser Kerr
Edwy Bellecote ... Stephen Garlick
Brother Simon/Ifor ap Morgan ... Michael Turner
Brother Barnabas ... Terence Edmond
Adapted by Bert Coules
Produced by Lissa Evans