Pierre (2026) s01e02 Episode Script
Episode 2
1
Too many of our clients
are behind on their payments,
not to mention paying
our staff on time, for once.
Pierre - erm I'm behind
on the rent. Just a glitch.
If you want some money,
Eli, go and get yourself a job.
I'm not YOU, OK?
Everything that's good
in life is being taken away from us.
What's wrong with you?
Oh, just a little health issue.
You're new to this, aren't you?
That's the third time that
a guy's either stopped me
in the street or
pulled me over driving.
We're not charging him?
My client feels
that as a young black man,
he's being victimised.
I've been taking notes.
Records of me
and my mates being stopped.
You keep coming at the police,
they can make your life
extremely difficult.
I've got truth on my side -
and truth trumps everything
every time.
I'm going to find out who did this.
No, don't.
I'm going to find out and
I'm going to get this sorted. No.
Don't you bloody say that!
Because that is a promise
you don't break.
BIRDS TWEET, VOICES OF
CHILDREN PLAYING
Oh, Lord, my God
SWING SQUEAKS
When I, in awesome wonder
Consider all
The worlds thy hands have made
I see the stars
I hear the rolling thunder
Thy power throughout
The universe displayed
ALL SING: Then sings my soul
My Saviour God, to Thee
How great thou art!
How great thou art
Then sings my soul
Then sings my soul
My Saviour God, to thee ♪
SHE SOBS
How great thou art. ♪
How are you, er how are
you holding up, Brenda?
No, sure I am.
Look,
if there's anything I can do,
please just let me know.
You said you'd find out
who did this.
Well, there'll be an investigation.
POLICE SIREN WAILS
We'll wait for the outcome,
and then they'll take it from there.
The police are going to
look into themselves, are they?
Are you sure the police
were involved in Michael's death?
He made videos about the police
DOG BARKS
and then the graffiti
of that one police officer.
And then suddenly he's stabbed,
and all of a sudden,
I'm hearing about gangs,
I'm hearing about drugs.
Where are you hearing this?
Rumours spread fast around here, yeah?
And I can guess how they start.
Didn't take long for the council
to get that graffiti down, did it?
Nice to know they can
shift their asses when they need to.
The fact they've even sent him
is a provocation.
This is Chantelle.
She was a good friend of Michael's.
Chantelle, really nice to meet you.
Nice to meet you. Er
can I show you one of
Michael's videos?
..Sings my soul ♪
I'm going to need you to tell me
where you're going tonight.
You don't have to say anything -
you don't have to say anything!
Take your hands out your pockets.
Who are you?
What are you doing on the block?
What have you got behind your back?
Just your local friendly police
officer harassing black youth.
I'm not sure this constitutes
evidence of Tanner's involvement
in Michael's death.
He made loads of these.
He probably found something
about him - that, and the graffiti.
Having your name splashed
all over the estate -
if that's not motive, then what is?
I'm just not sure it
explains what's happened here.
Now, you promised
that you'd help find out
what really happened here.
And I will.
And I'm holding you to that.
All right, yeah.
Come on, come on, let's go.
Michael liked you.
Yeah. His exact words were,
"That lawyer guy's a twat,
but he's all right."
That's high praise.
From Michael?
Seriously, it really is.
Seven.
Seven out of ten?
For ginger nut and bourbons?!
You got a bit of spice,
a bit of sweet -
that's a classic biscuit combo,
generating a taste bud sensation!
Yeah, I'm giving you a seven.
I'd say seven is a solid score
for a solid selection, Dan.
Oh, my God, this country's
gone to the dogs. Thank you.
Morning. OK, let's keep this short.
Anything to raise?
Yeah.
I'm going to follow up on
the security guard Miriam assaulted.
She claims that
he was harassing her,
but I'll see if that checks out.
Pierre?
Er, I'm back on
the duty roster - again -
and I have a client making a plea
for theft in Magistrate's Court
this afternoon.
That's not Lenny, is it?
The very same.
Love Lenny.
And he always gets caught,
which makes him an excellent client.
And I've got a few
meetings about cases
that go heavy on paperwork,
which, as we know, we could do with.
Bring in the big bucks.
If you need any support,
I can help out.
-Much appreciated, Alecia.
-Kiss-ass. HE CLEARS THROA
PHONE RINGS Kiss-asses
get ahead in life, Danny -
smart arses, not so much.
Erm
Michael Felton's aunt thinks
that the police might be involved
in his death somehow.
So, erm - I'm going to
take a look at that.
Are you serious?
Involved how?
Like I said,
I'm just gonna follow it up.
What do you mean, follow it up?
Just have a look at it.
OK. All right.
Meeting over. Let's all pretend
that we're diligent
and serious people.
PHONE RINGS
Pierre?
His aunt doesn't understand
how any of this works,
so I'm just gonna, you know,
put the word out.
OK. OK, fine.
But you were late filing three times
in the last two months,
which means that I can't claim
the legal aid on those cases.
It's 200 quid a pop - I can make
it up out of my own pocket.
Which isn't really
a long-term solution,
and it makes the books look sketchy.
Pierre Look, I understand
that this young
man meant something to you.
I'm just saying prioritise.
Sure.
Lish - I need a favour.
Could you, erm, drop
down the estate and, erm
see if you can find out
anything about Michael?
Ask around,
see what kind of kid he was,
what people thought about him.
I actually have my own work.
I will be forever in your debt.
You're already in my debt
because you haven't
paid me my full wages.
Fine. Yep.
But I'm expecting good things.
100%. Dan - do us a favour.
Pop down to internal investigations,
speak to an old pal of
mine called Amar Chadi
Boss - I've got to file these forms.
Pierre - you wouldn't
be asking our staff
to cover your workload
so you can go off and do
your own thing, would you?
I wouldn't dream of it.
PHONE BUZZES
Pierre speaking.
Yeah, I'm on my way now.
How come you got
out of it and I didn't?
The power
of no.
So, you initially came involuntarily
as a witness to a break-in,
and then you were
arrested for assault?
I'm saying I barely touched the guy.
It was a controlled
crescent kick, yeah, and I You
You don't
Whack! Like that.
You know? Some Khabib-type shit.
Can you please sit down?
Yeah. Sit down.
Thank you. Thank you, thank you.
And, er, what were you doing
in your father's shop at 3am?
Come on, Pierre, you know me.
I was out, man. Ha!
But nah, obviously there's a really
comfy sofa in the back
of my dad's shop,
so sometimes if I'm out late,
or I'm working early,
man, I just crash there.
Sure. Obviously, my dad don't
really know I do that, though.
So if you could just
keep that one hush-hush,
cos he's quite stressed
at the minute. Oh, really?
Yeah. You know, since everyone
started working at home,
it's, like, people don't
even wear suits as much.
That's why he started
a jewellery concession, though.
And it was when you
entered your father's shop
that you saw the intruder
with a metal pipe in his hand?
Brother - I thought it
could have been a gun.
Did you mention that to the police
when you made your original
statement?
Er, I don't remember.
I strongly advise
that goes in any statement
you make from here on.
Yeah, yeah, 'course. Yeah, yeah. Hm.
Bro got lucky, you know.
You see these fists?
Weapons.
I could have killed him, bro.
I strongly advise that does not go
in any statement you make
from here on.
Yeah, yeah, yeah,
I get you, you know.
We're concocting a story, yeah?
We're not concocting anything, Amir -
we're just presenting
your version of events.
Presenting. I like that, you know?
You're the guy, you know, Pierre.
I'm glad somebody thinks so.
Pierre Jeffreys, that
-PIERRE SNEEZES - Bless you, Pierre.
-Thank you.
Important we just
don't give the police
any reason to look further at this.
Yeah, yeah.
Amir. Amir You OK? Huh?
Yeah, Mum.
I'm good, I'm good, I'm good.
He take care?
Yeah, yeah. He's good, Mum.
Pierre Jeffreys, Amir's solicitor.
Sofia Ahmed, his mum.
Hi. Nice to meet you. Did they really
arrest him for defending himself?
The person that broke
in has made a counter-claim.
It's just a tactic,
I really wouldn't worry about it.
The important thing is, the police
DOOR OPENS
are not bringing charges.
OK, good. That's him!
That's the guy! What?
They're letting him go? Brilliant.
It's a farce.
No, no. Amir, chill, chill, chill.
Daniela - what are you doing?
Everyone's entitled
to fair representation, Pierre.
You don't do legal aid.
How come a scrape like
that can afford a lawyer like you?
I'll be in touch.
Sorry about that. Look, erm
Please, just take my card.
If you need anything, just call me.
They owe him a bloody apology.
CAR STARTS
It was our shop
that was broken into.
I'm very, very sorry. Come on.
We'll get it sorted. Thank you.
Take care, Amir. Amir!
Take care.
Yeah. I will, Pierre.
Brenda. Hi.
How was the rest of the vigil?
How are you doing?
Sorry, that's a silly question.
Not if you mean it.
I, er
I don't know.
It just doesn't feel real.
I don't know
if that makes any sense.
I-I-It does. I-It really does.
Chantelle's been helping me a bit.
She's put some of Michael's
videos on a memory stick
for me to give to you.
She wanted you to have them.
Yes, yes. Erm
I-I've just got a few
things to take care of,
and then I'll drop by.
Michael
Michael was a good boy.
Don't let people tell
lies about him, yeah?
He deserved better than that.
I know.
I know.
Look, erm, in the meantime
I'll see what I can do.
And I'll try and
find out more about this
this Tanner.
Thank you. Er, sorry.
Sorry, I have to go, yeah.
PHONE BUZZES
PHONE RINGS How may I help?
Have you got any availability
in Meeting Room One?
OK
He's just not interested
So we'll push back
and do it the way Chadz!
Just a minute.
Amar! Long time no see.
Yeah, man. You're looking well.
You lost some weight?
What do you want?
18-year-old client of mine was
stabbed. On the Chadwick estate.
Yeah, I heard. Well, before
he died, he told me he was being
harassed by a young
officer called Mark Tanner.
Whoa, whoa, whoa!
Stop right there, Pierre.
Based at Fenwick nick? Have you got
any idea how many police officers'
names passed across my desk
that are suspected to be corrupt?
Probably hundreds.
Try thousands. Look,
do you know anything about him?
You do know that I
cannot just give out information.
Come on, Chadz - look,
the family are grieving.
Look, I'm not after details.
Just a an indication if he's
someone who might have a bit of form.
You know what I mean?
That's all I'm asking.
Just a straight favour.
I'm not making any promises.
I'll take that as a yes.
Ugh Chadz - come on.
PHONE BUZZES
Pierre Jeffreys.
Stains on this one.
Yeah
Amir, bring the letter - he's here.
Please. Yeah.
Hiya, Amir.
He just showed up here
and handed it to me.
OK, let's have a look at this.
They're saying Amir
hit him too hard.
They're saying they've got
a doctor's report.
This must have given you
a bit of a fright, I imagine.
Listen to me - they're saying
Amir will be arrested.
What this is, is note paper.
It's nonsense,
but it's nonsense written by
a solicitor on headed notepaper with
a lot of legal jargon designed
to scare you off.
The law gives a lot of leeway
to self-defence,
particularly since the other guy had
a weapon.
Trust me, we can ignore this.
Maybe we should just leave it.
I mean, this person
didn't take any stock.
And what if this solicitor is wrong
and Amir gets in trouble?
But it's the principle.
We can't just let people break in.
Listen, listen.
Are you sure he
wouldn't get in trouble?
As sure as I can be.
That's not going to be good enough.
Look, thank you for your time.
We're going to leave it.
We can't just let this guy get away
with it.
Yeah, well, it's not
really your decision, OK?
Well, actually, it sort of is.
HE SPEAKS OWN LANGUAGE
Yeah, but, dad, come on.
HE SPEAKS OWN LANGUAGE
THEY SPEAK OWN LANGUAGE
Hey, dad, though
THEY ARGUE IN OWN LANGUAGE
It's fine. We're gonna drop it, OK.
Come on. It's fine.
If you change your mind,
you know where I am.
Thank you.
PIERRE CLEARS THROA
I'm sorry - it's the
end of the quarter.
Things always get a bit stressful.
Does the name Sean Lambert
mean anything to you?
Er Er what was that?
What was that name again?
Sean Lambert.
HE EXHALES Erm
No. Er, is he, er
Is he a footballer?
No.
No, he's not.
DOOR BELL TINKLES, DOOR SHUTS
What's happening here, Daniela?
My client is making
the claim of assault.
Come on! You've tried this before.
The police have told
you there's nothing doing.
What's changed?
My client has now been
re-examined by
a medical professional Oh
so now you've got your own doctor?
Who assures us that the injuries
our client received at
the hands of your client give a
clear indication of excessive force.
We're going to present
this information to
the CPS and leave it in their hands.
Daniela, your client broke into
my client's parents' shop,
tooled up. My client
is perfectly entitled
to use reasonable force
to defend himself.
Reasonable. Not excessive.
The threshold is very high.
You know that. You've seen
the bruises on my client's face.
So now you're sending
threatening letters.
Kung fu Billy
feels threatened by a letter.
Don't tell me, he's worried
about paper cuts?
A process server turns up on their
doorstep, with a legal letter?
Of course they feel threatened.
My client has instructed me,
and that's the end of it.
Why is Sean Lambert paying
for your client?
Why would Sean Lambert
have anything to do with this?
Really?
I saw you and your client getting
into Lambert's car this very morning.
Why is Sean Lambert paying
for one of the best solicitors
in town for some
jumped-up little toe rag
breaking into a dry cleaner's?
I don't understand it.
If your client chooses to withdraw
their support for the case
Dee which seems reasonable given
nothing was taken from the premises,
I could see if my client
is amenable to
withdrawing their
allegations of assault.
You know this won't wash.
You've got no case here.
What's Lambert got on you?
Always a pleasure, Pierre.
PHONE BUZZES
Lenny, I'm just on m
Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa!
Hold fire, hold fire.
Do not do that, Lenny.
Do not do that. I'm on my w
I'm on my way.
HE PANTS AND GROANS
Leonard! Leonard!
Please tell me you have
not entered your plea.
Oh, no, no. It's fine.
Hugo said it'd be
all right if he did it for me.
Always a pleasure to be of service.
Hugo, you have literally just
stolen my client.
No. This charming young
man is my client,
whom I've just represented in court.
PIERRE SIGHS
What, have I done something wrong?
Hug is a poacher. He literally hangs
around court stealing clients.
Shame on you, Pierre.
You left this wonderful boy alone
in the wilderness.
I came to his rescue.
Do not trust this man.
He just wants to represent you
so he can claim the legal fees.
I-I'm sorry, Pierre. I
I waited, I-I swear I did.
Always joyful to see you, my friend.
Come now, Leonard,
let us discuss strategy.
As with all important decisions
TRAFFIC SOUNDS DROWN VOICE
KNOCK AT DOOR Pierre.
I spoke to some people
that knew Michael.
Friends, kids that he
went to school with. Mm-hm.
Oh, he loves sport.
He ran a kids' club.
Popular. Nice kid.
Didn't even smoke weed.
But
Why is there always a but?
He moved school in Year Eight.
Now, I need to get this confirmed -
but it seemed like from
what the kids were saying,
he got excluded
from his previous school.
-SIRENS SOUND IN STREET - For what?
-Pulling a knife out on another kid.
PIERRE SIGHS
Thanks, Lish.
PHONE BUZZES
Hello? I'm here.
Just walking through now.
Are you still right for lunch, yeah?
Sorry, mate.
I've got too much on.
Oh, come on.
You've got to eat. You'll hurt my
feelings if you stand me up.
OK. Yeah, I'll be, er
I'll be right there.
Stay beautiful for me.
You get this frown line when
there's something on your mind.
You've got it now.
Talk to me.
OK. Well
I think you're being
too hard on Eli.
I know leaving university
was a big deal,
but I just think you need to
go a little easy on him.
That course costs money.
His accommodation costs money.
You know you sound
like an old fart, right?
He gives up on things too easily.
He's soft.
He needs to learn the value of
the things.
RONNIE SIGHS
We chose to give our kids
a better start in life than we had.
You know? Food on the
table, comfort, stability.
You chose to be his dad.
You and Cee both made that choice.
Don't blame him
for the life you gave him.
Your Shelly's not like that, though,
is she?
Oh, no - all the football training,
the dedication?
He hasn't found his path yet,
but he will - if you let him.
Yeah. You're right.
Oi!
Come on. What else is going on?
MUSIC PLAYS ON RADIO IN CAFE
It's
It's this Michael Felton -
lad who got stabbed.
He was your client, wasn't he?
Yeah, I mean,
I barely knew him, but, erm
he was arrogant, cocky
trying to make things
happen in his life.
Maybe not always
the right things, but
he was carving out his place
in the world, you know? Mm.
Sounds like he got under your skin.
Well, his aunt - nice lady
she's just worried that
he's going to be written off
as just another black
kid who's got caught
up in things that he shouldn't have
been involved with. Sure.
And there's this copper, Mark Tanner.
He accused him of harassing him.
The one he did the graffiti about.
You heard about that?
Yeah, well, we all did. It wasn't
exactly subtle, was it? Well
she's asked me to look into it.
She swears Michael's a good kid.
Mm. Said he would never get
involved with knives or drugs.
And I wanted to believe her,
you know? I kind of still do.
But I've just heard something
about Michael that's
made me think maybe I've
got this wrong.
You know? Maybe
Maybe he wasn't the kid
I thought he was, you know?
It's just thrown me a bit.
What, you can't trust your gut?
I just I just don't want to be the
one who has to tell the aunt that
the nephew ain't the boy
that she thought he was. Mm.
Feel like you're letting her down.
Yeah.
Ah, mate. Look
you can only do
what you can do, Pierre.
You you want to see
the best in people.
But it's hard, especially
in our line of work.
I can see this one's got to you.
I'll keep my ear to the ground.
I hear anything about the case,
I'll let you know.
COFFEE MACHINE HUMS, COFFEE TRICKLES
Oh, you look good.
I mean, unusually good -
but damn, you look good!
I've got a peer-assessed lecture.
Another one?
They're making everyone reapply
for their jobs.
Pain in the ass.
You'll smash it, you always do.
BASS RIFF PLAYS Morning.
Eli.
BASS RIFF CONTINUES
Eli!
Good morning.
Oh. Er, morning.
Nice to see you out of bed early.
BASS RIFF PLAYS
Are you applying for
some of those jobs today, babe?
Er, yeah. Yeah, yeah.
Where are you applying?
Foot Locker, JD Sports, and
just a few places
on Oxford Street.
OK.
What?
No, I mean, good for you.
So, it's a done deal, then?
He's not even completing
his first year at uni?
Give him time, hm?
They've let him defer -
there's no rush.
OK, you're right. I know.
Have a good day.
Let me know if you hear about
those blood tests, yes?
Mm-hm.
BASS RIFF PLAYS
Is it a radio you've
come for, Pierre?
Or a television, even?
Aren't most of these things obsolete?
Are we finding our way towards
a metaphor?
I saw you yesterday, Sean.
Outside Kensal Rise nick.
In your Jag. Saw Daniela Harcourt
and her client get in there, too.
What is he to you?
Me sister's idiot godson.
Anthony. Couldn't hold his
own balls without droppin' 'em.
Families, hey? But what can you do?
Well, you could pay an expensive
lawyer to lean on my client -
persuade them not to pursue charges?
So I advised my client
to ignore Daniela's
legalese bullshit, and
allow Anthony to be prosecuted.
And you know what, Sean?
They were going to take my advice.
But then suddenly,
the father became agitated,
decided to just suddenly drop
the whole thing.
How strange!
You know what's even stranger is
that when I mentioned your name,
he started shaking.
Sounds like a phobia. How awful.
Even if I knew something,
which I don't
why would I help you?
Because you like me, Sean.
SEAN LAUGHS
Let me tell you a story
a friend of mine told me about
a friend of his.
A friend of a friend?
Exactly so.
So this fella goes to a broker,
who lends him the money at
a very favourable rate.
PIERRE SIGHS Did he now?
When the time came to
repay the loan,
the fella says, "I can't."
"I need more time."
So the broker, a reasonable man,
gave him more time.
But when the new
deadline come around,
the fella says, "I need more time."
And so on and so on,
till the broker
finally had enough.
So they came up with this suggestion
as to how to get some money
together to repay the loan.
Was this suggestion, by any chance
a staged burglary?
There's always a chance, Pierre.
And the job was interrupted.
You see the problem.
Sean, perhaps this broker
could cut this friend of
a friend of a friend some
slack?
Perhaps.
But no. How do we solve.
It, Sean? Come on!
Well, I would suggest
this friend of a friend of
a friend find a way
to pay the broker back.
Because even the
patient man has his limits.
PHONE BUZZES
Chadz. Look, I'm not telling you
anything that you wouldn't
get from an FOI request,
but out of the kindness of my heart,
I'm saving you the wait.
That officer you mentioned,
Mark Tanner? Well,
he's got a clean bill of health.
Ah.
No rumours, no whispers.
He's as clean as a whistle. Nada.
OK.
Thanks, mate. Yeah, yeah.
No problem. You're welcome.
Chadz, got to go.
Brenda, I'm so sorry.
Pierre, shall I come to you?
No, no, no. I'll be right there.
KNOCKS ON DOOR
I'm really sorry
I couldn't make it yesterday.
It's all good.
DOG BARKS
Here.
Chantelle said he recorded loads.
Now - there's some stuff
on there that he didn't
put on anywhere on his socials
or anywhere else.
She's convinced there's
something on there that
will help explain why he died.
Brenda,
I don't mean to sound negative,
but I do need you
to understand that
POLICE SIREN WAILS this might
not work out the way that you want it to.
What do you mean?
Well, there's a possibility,
just, you know, a small possibility,
that we won't find anything
that incriminates the police
or that explains
what happened on this thing.
I just need you to be prepared
for that.
Well, you promised you'd help.
A-And I will.
I just can't promise that you'll get
the outcome that you want.
Has something changed?
PIERRE SIGHS It has, hasn't it?
Why didn't you tell me that Michael
had been excluded
from school for carrying a knife?
That's the story you heard.
Are you saying it's not true?
He was excluded,
but it wasn't like that.
Brenda, you just have
to tell me the truth.
These things are important.
He was in an art
class holding a scalpel.
Some kid shoves him.
Michael turns around with a scalpel
in his hand.
All of a sudden,
the other kid is, like, "Miss!"
"Miss, he's threatening me."
He had a craft knife in his hand,
in an art class,
but all anyone sees
is a black boy with a knife.
People like us, Pierre -
people don't believe us.
And for some reason,
Michael thought you were different.
But maybe you're not.
Maybe you're just another man
that sees a young black man
and thinks the worst.
Look, I'm just trying to ask
I can't talk to you.
I'm too angry.
SIRENS WAIL
SHOP DOOR BELL TINKLES
Hey.
Hey.
How's, er, business? Oh, you
know - swings and roundabouts.
Mr Malik
Usman, please.
Usman.
Can I be, erm, frank?
This isn't strictly legal advice -
more just a general heads-up,
as someone who's known
Mr Lambert for a long time.
You mentioned that name before -
I'm sorry,
I just don't know who that is.
Usman, please.
I've just spoken to Sean.
Did he send you here?
Sean Lambert is not my client.
Neither is your son any more,
to be honest.
This is just, you know,
one family man to another.
If you take out a loan with
Sean Lambert, it needs to be repaid.
We had an arrangement.
It's not my fault that the person
he sent messed things up.
That is not my problem.
How much do you owe him?
18 grand.
Do you have any means
of paying him anything?
Not unless YOU lend me the money.
I can barely pay my own staff.
So, what do I do?
Call him. Come to some arrangement.
He's a businessman.
Sean Lambert is not a businessman.
He's a crook.
Whatever you think of Sean
DOOR BELL TINKLES
Yes, Pierre.
Hey!
What's going on? You good?
Yeah. Good, good.
DOOR SHUTS Looking sharp, man.
Everything all right? Yeah.
Mr Jeffreys was just looking in.
Very good of him. It's all
part of the service, you know.
Yeah, all right.
Put that in the back for me.
Ooh, sh
Careful, son. Sorry, Dad.
Usman - your son clearly cares
about you. Just be smart, yeah?
OK. I will call Sean Lambert.
But can we please just
keep this between us?
Sure. You promise?
Yeah, yeah. Good.
DOOR OPENS AND SHUTS
PHONE BUZZES Hello, mate.
MAN: Pierre, I sent you a text.
I clean forgot. Listen, do you mind
if I push? I've had a bit of a day?
I'm leaving the office now.
You can meet me at the casino.
OK. OK, I'll be there.
Don't ignore me again, Pierre.
Drink.
Do I need one?
You have diabetes.
Type 2.
It's a serious condition,
but eminently manageable.
If I talk to you now,
you won't take it in, so
have a read.
Any questions, call me -
any time, night or day.
I mean it. The good news
is, it's in your hands.
But it will involve a major
overhaul of your lifestyle.
Complete change of diet,
more exercise -
not just the vanity stuff,
proper cardio.
Listen - you are at risk
of secondary complications.
Such as?
Heart attack, for one.
Blimey, don't sugar-coat it, doc.
Sugar-coating it would literally
be a very bad idea.
Pierre - you have to slow down,
improve your diet, get some rest.
I mean it.
Yeah, yeah.
HE SIGHS
You on your own?
Er, Charlotte's around.
OFFICE PHONE RINGS Pierre.
Turns out Miriam's security guard
has some previous
for indecent exposure.
Convicted? No, but do you remember
that lawyer I was seeing last year?
Talisa? You know -
dark hair, glasses,
likes reading
You're using "liked reading"
as a defining characteristic, Dan.
Yeah.
Anyway, she does the legal work
for the supermarket
Miriam's security guard works at.
So I was thinking, I'm going
to go over there,
see how they'd feel
about some adverse publicity,
if it's somehow got out, you know?
Nice, Danny. Nice.
Learnt from the best, mate.
How's that, er, duty case going?
Oh, one of those ones
where the law is straightforward,
but the people aren't.
Turns out the break-in was
an insurance job.
Father got himself into debt.
I think he was too scared to let
the family down
or lose faith with his son,
so he took out a loan from
Sean Lambert.
Oh, yeah. Mr Untouchable.
Didn't you do some work for him?
Years ago, I did the paperwork
on some of his property deals -
the legit side of the business.
Didn't like the way
he treated people.
Mm. Must be annoying -
having principles.
Expensive, too.
Cheers, Dan.
Alecia went home?
I sent her home.
She was shattered.
You know, she's caring for her dad.
Yeah, she said. Mm.
She works hard. We've got
good staff - let's hang on to 'em.
You hear about, er,
Hugo, poaching Lenny?
Yeah. Er, Rachel from
Davidson Stone texted.
She saw the whole thing.
She said it was hilarious.
Sorry you lost a client.
Charley - I know we need the money.
Forget about the money for a minute.
Are you OK?
Forget the money?
Am I hearing you right?!
You just seem a bit weighed
down by things.
Oh, just usual midlife crisis,
you know.
All right. Well, have it quietly.
PHONE BUZZES
You know, I still can't believe
you're still referring to
Debbie Bartlett's teeth braces
as her steel racks.
I sliced my tongue upon
those bad boys.
LAUGHTER
You know
I had a sniff around
that Michael Felton case.
He was holding when he died -
cocaine.
No! No, that wasn't him, Ron! No way!
Look, I'm sure he's a great kid.
I'm sure he's
everything he said he was,
and I'm sure he had his reasons,
but four bags.
It's not Scarface,
but it's low-level dealing.
SIREN WAILS
Do you remember when we were kids?
You were being chased through
this park by skinheads.
Remember?
Yeah.
You stood up for me.
What's that got to do with this?
They were shouting shit.
Horrible shit. And when it
was over, you said,
and I will never forget this -
you said,
"They don't know
what they're doing."
Even as a kid,
you were trying to understand
these scumbags -
like they deserved the time of day.
You're an optimist, and that's good.
But an optimist
will be disappointed again
and again and again.
You're a good man, Pierre.
But you're not Superman.
You can't do this all on your own.
Yeah, I hear you, Ron.
Got my test results back.
Yeah?
Diabetes. Type 2.
Shut up! Yeah.
Got to change my diet a bit.
How much is a bit? Well,
basically, cut out everything in life
that gives me any pleasure.
Still support QPR, then?
THEY LAUGH
CHILDREN TALK AND SHOUT IN PLAYGROUND
TUBE TRAIN WHINES AND RATTLES PAS
You paying your respects?
DRUM BEA
Yes. I live here.
What, you think it doesn't grieve me
when a young lad gets stabbed?
This is my community, too.
You were harassing him
and his friends.
You've been asking about me.
What, did you think
I wouldn't find out about that?
Have you got something to hide?
You think I've got a problem
with black people, don't you?
You said it, not me.
And I'd be fucking stupid enough
to do something like this?
Oh, I don't think you're stupid.
SIREN WAILS
You are barking up the wrong tree.
I swear on my mother's life that you
and I, we're on the same side.
You know what? You know what?
Friend of mine, he's
a criminal psychologist,
and he tells me that
narcissists always return to
the scene of the crime, because
they just can't help themselves.
You have a good evening,
Mr Jeffreys.
DOOR SLAMS
PIERRE SIGHS
PHONE BUZZES
PIERRE SIGHS No!
DOOR SLAMS
F it!
What do you think motivates people
who do something like this?
It's needless.
It don't need to happen.
Think the family will be able
to claim on the insurance?
That's not the point, though, is it?
This is about sending
a message to everyone
who lives around here not
to fuck with Sean Lambert.
You know, it's entirely possible
the police work out who did this.
I don't even doubt it.
But it's always down to
the evidence, though, isn't it?
This is the end, Sean. OK?
Insurance or no insurance.
You've made your point.
Are you trying to tell
me what I can and can't do?
I'm telling you, there are limits,
even for a man like you.
HE LAUGHS
That's what I like
about you, Pierre.
You're a man of principle.
So few of us left these days.
AMIR: Why won't you tell me?
Amir, not now.
No! Just leave it.
If the business was in trouble,
you should have just said.
Amir, not now, please.
What do you mean, not now, Dad?
If you told me, I wouldn't
have showed up, Dad.
You could have trusted me.
It's not that simple.
What do you mean? You know
what's not simple, is Amir.
Amir! Your father thought Get off
me he was doing what was best.
Yeah? Well, look - the entire
business has gone now.
Do you know who did it? Huh?
Because he wouldn't
tell me his name.
You know, don't you? Huh?
Don't you? You know.
No.
I don't know his name.
Bullshit.
F Fuck this, this is all
It's all bullshit.
Amir, stop! Amir!
Don't go like this.
US MAN STRIKES CLOTHES STAND
Come, come, come, come. Come, come.
US MAN SOBS He'll calm down.
It's OK.
DOOR SLAMS
JAZZ BASS RIFF PLAYS
PIERRE SIGHS
Type 2.
I know.
Ronnie called.
He was worried you wouldn't tell me.
It's OK to be scared.
I know.
And it's good.
It's good that we know.
We can
We can do something about it.
"We"?
Well, it affects all of us.
Have you told Eli?
No.
I'm going to leave
that for you to do.
You want to talk about it?
Er no. Not particularly.
I haven't even asked - erm
how was your day?
It was fine.
Honestly, my my day was fine.
I'm gonna have an early night.
Come with me?
I've, erm, still got a
little bit of work to do.
OK.
Don't be too late.
Mm.
ELI HUMS TUNE here?
ELI HUMS TUNE
Whoo-ee!
What?
Just come here.
Why?
Just come here. OK.
HE MOUTHS
Mm!
You all right?
Can I not just give my son a hug?
Yeah, it's nice, it's just
You know.
N-No, it's good. I like a hug.
Good, good.
Having trouble with the files?
Yeah, I just
I think it's something to do with
the format.
Probably just using the wrong
software.
There you go.
OK, guys. Look - with a score
Whoa.
Of 85 for brutality
What is that?
79 for his road rage, 72
for unwarranted stop and searching,
PC David Windsor.
And your collector's item,
with a maximum score of 100
for hassling proud black youth
PC Mark Tanner.
That is sick, man!
You got any more of these?
I probably shouldn't
be letting you watch this.
Oh, OK.
I-It's just that it's work,
and I'm not
Yeah, you ain't got to explain.
Eli
Erm
make sure you get some
sleep tonight.
Will do.
FOOTSTEPS ON STAIRS
yesterday me and my boy,
we went and got a burger.
And trust me,
it was the best burger
I ever tasted.
It was like they put something
in the lettuce.
I don't know what it was. What
did you think of the burger, bro?
Yo, guys, it's your boy.
We're gonna see if we can
find some more examples of everyday
fashion, right? Yo, yo, yo!
We're going right to the very top!
Right to the
might be the best team
in Europe right now. Yeah.
I'm not here to just coast.
We have to get out of this thing,
for me and my people. You get me?
Guys, this is the guy.
This is the guy, PC Mark Tanner.
Look, let me see if I can get him
YOU, my friend?
You were at the crime scene.
So, why is Mark Tanner
giving you money?
I fucking knew it.
Too many of our clients
are behind on their payments,
not to mention paying
our staff on time, for once.
Pierre - erm I'm behind
on the rent. Just a glitch.
If you want some money,
Eli, go and get yourself a job.
I'm not YOU, OK?
Everything that's good
in life is being taken away from us.
What's wrong with you?
Oh, just a little health issue.
You're new to this, aren't you?
That's the third time that
a guy's either stopped me
in the street or
pulled me over driving.
We're not charging him?
My client feels
that as a young black man,
he's being victimised.
I've been taking notes.
Records of me
and my mates being stopped.
You keep coming at the police,
they can make your life
extremely difficult.
I've got truth on my side -
and truth trumps everything
every time.
I'm going to find out who did this.
No, don't.
I'm going to find out and
I'm going to get this sorted. No.
Don't you bloody say that!
Because that is a promise
you don't break.
BIRDS TWEET, VOICES OF
CHILDREN PLAYING
Oh, Lord, my God
SWING SQUEAKS
When I, in awesome wonder
Consider all
The worlds thy hands have made
I see the stars
I hear the rolling thunder
Thy power throughout
The universe displayed
ALL SING: Then sings my soul
My Saviour God, to Thee
How great thou art!
How great thou art
Then sings my soul
Then sings my soul
My Saviour God, to thee ♪
SHE SOBS
How great thou art. ♪
How are you, er how are
you holding up, Brenda?
No, sure I am.
Look,
if there's anything I can do,
please just let me know.
You said you'd find out
who did this.
Well, there'll be an investigation.
POLICE SIREN WAILS
We'll wait for the outcome,
and then they'll take it from there.
The police are going to
look into themselves, are they?
Are you sure the police
were involved in Michael's death?
He made videos about the police
DOG BARKS
and then the graffiti
of that one police officer.
And then suddenly he's stabbed,
and all of a sudden,
I'm hearing about gangs,
I'm hearing about drugs.
Where are you hearing this?
Rumours spread fast around here, yeah?
And I can guess how they start.
Didn't take long for the council
to get that graffiti down, did it?
Nice to know they can
shift their asses when they need to.
The fact they've even sent him
is a provocation.
This is Chantelle.
She was a good friend of Michael's.
Chantelle, really nice to meet you.
Nice to meet you. Er
can I show you one of
Michael's videos?
..Sings my soul ♪
I'm going to need you to tell me
where you're going tonight.
You don't have to say anything -
you don't have to say anything!
Take your hands out your pockets.
Who are you?
What are you doing on the block?
What have you got behind your back?
Just your local friendly police
officer harassing black youth.
I'm not sure this constitutes
evidence of Tanner's involvement
in Michael's death.
He made loads of these.
He probably found something
about him - that, and the graffiti.
Having your name splashed
all over the estate -
if that's not motive, then what is?
I'm just not sure it
explains what's happened here.
Now, you promised
that you'd help find out
what really happened here.
And I will.
And I'm holding you to that.
All right, yeah.
Come on, come on, let's go.
Michael liked you.
Yeah. His exact words were,
"That lawyer guy's a twat,
but he's all right."
That's high praise.
From Michael?
Seriously, it really is.
Seven.
Seven out of ten?
For ginger nut and bourbons?!
You got a bit of spice,
a bit of sweet -
that's a classic biscuit combo,
generating a taste bud sensation!
Yeah, I'm giving you a seven.
I'd say seven is a solid score
for a solid selection, Dan.
Oh, my God, this country's
gone to the dogs. Thank you.
Morning. OK, let's keep this short.
Anything to raise?
Yeah.
I'm going to follow up on
the security guard Miriam assaulted.
She claims that
he was harassing her,
but I'll see if that checks out.
Pierre?
Er, I'm back on
the duty roster - again -
and I have a client making a plea
for theft in Magistrate's Court
this afternoon.
That's not Lenny, is it?
The very same.
Love Lenny.
And he always gets caught,
which makes him an excellent client.
And I've got a few
meetings about cases
that go heavy on paperwork,
which, as we know, we could do with.
Bring in the big bucks.
If you need any support,
I can help out.
-Much appreciated, Alecia.
-Kiss-ass. HE CLEARS THROA
PHONE RINGS Kiss-asses
get ahead in life, Danny -
smart arses, not so much.
Erm
Michael Felton's aunt thinks
that the police might be involved
in his death somehow.
So, erm - I'm going to
take a look at that.
Are you serious?
Involved how?
Like I said,
I'm just gonna follow it up.
What do you mean, follow it up?
Just have a look at it.
OK. All right.
Meeting over. Let's all pretend
that we're diligent
and serious people.
PHONE RINGS
Pierre?
His aunt doesn't understand
how any of this works,
so I'm just gonna, you know,
put the word out.
OK. OK, fine.
But you were late filing three times
in the last two months,
which means that I can't claim
the legal aid on those cases.
It's 200 quid a pop - I can make
it up out of my own pocket.
Which isn't really
a long-term solution,
and it makes the books look sketchy.
Pierre Look, I understand
that this young
man meant something to you.
I'm just saying prioritise.
Sure.
Lish - I need a favour.
Could you, erm, drop
down the estate and, erm
see if you can find out
anything about Michael?
Ask around,
see what kind of kid he was,
what people thought about him.
I actually have my own work.
I will be forever in your debt.
You're already in my debt
because you haven't
paid me my full wages.
Fine. Yep.
But I'm expecting good things.
100%. Dan - do us a favour.
Pop down to internal investigations,
speak to an old pal of
mine called Amar Chadi
Boss - I've got to file these forms.
Pierre - you wouldn't
be asking our staff
to cover your workload
so you can go off and do
your own thing, would you?
I wouldn't dream of it.
PHONE BUZZES
Pierre speaking.
Yeah, I'm on my way now.
How come you got
out of it and I didn't?
The power
of no.
So, you initially came involuntarily
as a witness to a break-in,
and then you were
arrested for assault?
I'm saying I barely touched the guy.
It was a controlled
crescent kick, yeah, and I You
You don't
Whack! Like that.
You know? Some Khabib-type shit.
Can you please sit down?
Yeah. Sit down.
Thank you. Thank you, thank you.
And, er, what were you doing
in your father's shop at 3am?
Come on, Pierre, you know me.
I was out, man. Ha!
But nah, obviously there's a really
comfy sofa in the back
of my dad's shop,
so sometimes if I'm out late,
or I'm working early,
man, I just crash there.
Sure. Obviously, my dad don't
really know I do that, though.
So if you could just
keep that one hush-hush,
cos he's quite stressed
at the minute. Oh, really?
Yeah. You know, since everyone
started working at home,
it's, like, people don't
even wear suits as much.
That's why he started
a jewellery concession, though.
And it was when you
entered your father's shop
that you saw the intruder
with a metal pipe in his hand?
Brother - I thought it
could have been a gun.
Did you mention that to the police
when you made your original
statement?
Er, I don't remember.
I strongly advise
that goes in any statement
you make from here on.
Yeah, yeah, 'course. Yeah, yeah. Hm.
Bro got lucky, you know.
You see these fists?
Weapons.
I could have killed him, bro.
I strongly advise that does not go
in any statement you make
from here on.
Yeah, yeah, yeah,
I get you, you know.
We're concocting a story, yeah?
We're not concocting anything, Amir -
we're just presenting
your version of events.
Presenting. I like that, you know?
You're the guy, you know, Pierre.
I'm glad somebody thinks so.
Pierre Jeffreys, that
-PIERRE SNEEZES - Bless you, Pierre.
-Thank you.
Important we just
don't give the police
any reason to look further at this.
Yeah, yeah.
Amir. Amir You OK? Huh?
Yeah, Mum.
I'm good, I'm good, I'm good.
He take care?
Yeah, yeah. He's good, Mum.
Pierre Jeffreys, Amir's solicitor.
Sofia Ahmed, his mum.
Hi. Nice to meet you. Did they really
arrest him for defending himself?
The person that broke
in has made a counter-claim.
It's just a tactic,
I really wouldn't worry about it.
The important thing is, the police
DOOR OPENS
are not bringing charges.
OK, good. That's him!
That's the guy! What?
They're letting him go? Brilliant.
It's a farce.
No, no. Amir, chill, chill, chill.
Daniela - what are you doing?
Everyone's entitled
to fair representation, Pierre.
You don't do legal aid.
How come a scrape like
that can afford a lawyer like you?
I'll be in touch.
Sorry about that. Look, erm
Please, just take my card.
If you need anything, just call me.
They owe him a bloody apology.
CAR STARTS
It was our shop
that was broken into.
I'm very, very sorry. Come on.
We'll get it sorted. Thank you.
Take care, Amir. Amir!
Take care.
Yeah. I will, Pierre.
Brenda. Hi.
How was the rest of the vigil?
How are you doing?
Sorry, that's a silly question.
Not if you mean it.
I, er
I don't know.
It just doesn't feel real.
I don't know
if that makes any sense.
I-I-It does. I-It really does.
Chantelle's been helping me a bit.
She's put some of Michael's
videos on a memory stick
for me to give to you.
She wanted you to have them.
Yes, yes. Erm
I-I've just got a few
things to take care of,
and then I'll drop by.
Michael
Michael was a good boy.
Don't let people tell
lies about him, yeah?
He deserved better than that.
I know.
I know.
Look, erm, in the meantime
I'll see what I can do.
And I'll try and
find out more about this
this Tanner.
Thank you. Er, sorry.
Sorry, I have to go, yeah.
PHONE BUZZES
PHONE RINGS How may I help?
Have you got any availability
in Meeting Room One?
OK
He's just not interested
So we'll push back
and do it the way Chadz!
Just a minute.
Amar! Long time no see.
Yeah, man. You're looking well.
You lost some weight?
What do you want?
18-year-old client of mine was
stabbed. On the Chadwick estate.
Yeah, I heard. Well, before
he died, he told me he was being
harassed by a young
officer called Mark Tanner.
Whoa, whoa, whoa!
Stop right there, Pierre.
Based at Fenwick nick? Have you got
any idea how many police officers'
names passed across my desk
that are suspected to be corrupt?
Probably hundreds.
Try thousands. Look,
do you know anything about him?
You do know that I
cannot just give out information.
Come on, Chadz - look,
the family are grieving.
Look, I'm not after details.
Just a an indication if he's
someone who might have a bit of form.
You know what I mean?
That's all I'm asking.
Just a straight favour.
I'm not making any promises.
I'll take that as a yes.
Ugh Chadz - come on.
PHONE BUZZES
Pierre Jeffreys.
Stains on this one.
Yeah
Amir, bring the letter - he's here.
Please. Yeah.
Hiya, Amir.
He just showed up here
and handed it to me.
OK, let's have a look at this.
They're saying Amir
hit him too hard.
They're saying they've got
a doctor's report.
This must have given you
a bit of a fright, I imagine.
Listen to me - they're saying
Amir will be arrested.
What this is, is note paper.
It's nonsense,
but it's nonsense written by
a solicitor on headed notepaper with
a lot of legal jargon designed
to scare you off.
The law gives a lot of leeway
to self-defence,
particularly since the other guy had
a weapon.
Trust me, we can ignore this.
Maybe we should just leave it.
I mean, this person
didn't take any stock.
And what if this solicitor is wrong
and Amir gets in trouble?
But it's the principle.
We can't just let people break in.
Listen, listen.
Are you sure he
wouldn't get in trouble?
As sure as I can be.
That's not going to be good enough.
Look, thank you for your time.
We're going to leave it.
We can't just let this guy get away
with it.
Yeah, well, it's not
really your decision, OK?
Well, actually, it sort of is.
HE SPEAKS OWN LANGUAGE
Yeah, but, dad, come on.
HE SPEAKS OWN LANGUAGE
THEY SPEAK OWN LANGUAGE
Hey, dad, though
THEY ARGUE IN OWN LANGUAGE
It's fine. We're gonna drop it, OK.
Come on. It's fine.
If you change your mind,
you know where I am.
Thank you.
PIERRE CLEARS THROA
I'm sorry - it's the
end of the quarter.
Things always get a bit stressful.
Does the name Sean Lambert
mean anything to you?
Er Er what was that?
What was that name again?
Sean Lambert.
HE EXHALES Erm
No. Er, is he, er
Is he a footballer?
No.
No, he's not.
DOOR BELL TINKLES, DOOR SHUTS
What's happening here, Daniela?
My client is making
the claim of assault.
Come on! You've tried this before.
The police have told
you there's nothing doing.
What's changed?
My client has now been
re-examined by
a medical professional Oh
so now you've got your own doctor?
Who assures us that the injuries
our client received at
the hands of your client give a
clear indication of excessive force.
We're going to present
this information to
the CPS and leave it in their hands.
Daniela, your client broke into
my client's parents' shop,
tooled up. My client
is perfectly entitled
to use reasonable force
to defend himself.
Reasonable. Not excessive.
The threshold is very high.
You know that. You've seen
the bruises on my client's face.
So now you're sending
threatening letters.
Kung fu Billy
feels threatened by a letter.
Don't tell me, he's worried
about paper cuts?
A process server turns up on their
doorstep, with a legal letter?
Of course they feel threatened.
My client has instructed me,
and that's the end of it.
Why is Sean Lambert paying
for your client?
Why would Sean Lambert
have anything to do with this?
Really?
I saw you and your client getting
into Lambert's car this very morning.
Why is Sean Lambert paying
for one of the best solicitors
in town for some
jumped-up little toe rag
breaking into a dry cleaner's?
I don't understand it.
If your client chooses to withdraw
their support for the case
Dee which seems reasonable given
nothing was taken from the premises,
I could see if my client
is amenable to
withdrawing their
allegations of assault.
You know this won't wash.
You've got no case here.
What's Lambert got on you?
Always a pleasure, Pierre.
PHONE BUZZES
Lenny, I'm just on m
Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa!
Hold fire, hold fire.
Do not do that, Lenny.
Do not do that. I'm on my w
I'm on my way.
HE PANTS AND GROANS
Leonard! Leonard!
Please tell me you have
not entered your plea.
Oh, no, no. It's fine.
Hugo said it'd be
all right if he did it for me.
Always a pleasure to be of service.
Hugo, you have literally just
stolen my client.
No. This charming young
man is my client,
whom I've just represented in court.
PIERRE SIGHS
What, have I done something wrong?
Hug is a poacher. He literally hangs
around court stealing clients.
Shame on you, Pierre.
You left this wonderful boy alone
in the wilderness.
I came to his rescue.
Do not trust this man.
He just wants to represent you
so he can claim the legal fees.
I-I'm sorry, Pierre. I
I waited, I-I swear I did.
Always joyful to see you, my friend.
Come now, Leonard,
let us discuss strategy.
As with all important decisions
TRAFFIC SOUNDS DROWN VOICE
KNOCK AT DOOR Pierre.
I spoke to some people
that knew Michael.
Friends, kids that he
went to school with. Mm-hm.
Oh, he loves sport.
He ran a kids' club.
Popular. Nice kid.
Didn't even smoke weed.
But
Why is there always a but?
He moved school in Year Eight.
Now, I need to get this confirmed -
but it seemed like from
what the kids were saying,
he got excluded
from his previous school.
-SIRENS SOUND IN STREET - For what?
-Pulling a knife out on another kid.
PIERRE SIGHS
Thanks, Lish.
PHONE BUZZES
Hello? I'm here.
Just walking through now.
Are you still right for lunch, yeah?
Sorry, mate.
I've got too much on.
Oh, come on.
You've got to eat. You'll hurt my
feelings if you stand me up.
OK. Yeah, I'll be, er
I'll be right there.
Stay beautiful for me.
You get this frown line when
there's something on your mind.
You've got it now.
Talk to me.
OK. Well
I think you're being
too hard on Eli.
I know leaving university
was a big deal,
but I just think you need to
go a little easy on him.
That course costs money.
His accommodation costs money.
You know you sound
like an old fart, right?
He gives up on things too easily.
He's soft.
He needs to learn the value of
the things.
RONNIE SIGHS
We chose to give our kids
a better start in life than we had.
You know? Food on the
table, comfort, stability.
You chose to be his dad.
You and Cee both made that choice.
Don't blame him
for the life you gave him.
Your Shelly's not like that, though,
is she?
Oh, no - all the football training,
the dedication?
He hasn't found his path yet,
but he will - if you let him.
Yeah. You're right.
Oi!
Come on. What else is going on?
MUSIC PLAYS ON RADIO IN CAFE
It's
It's this Michael Felton -
lad who got stabbed.
He was your client, wasn't he?
Yeah, I mean,
I barely knew him, but, erm
he was arrogant, cocky
trying to make things
happen in his life.
Maybe not always
the right things, but
he was carving out his place
in the world, you know? Mm.
Sounds like he got under your skin.
Well, his aunt - nice lady
she's just worried that
he's going to be written off
as just another black
kid who's got caught
up in things that he shouldn't have
been involved with. Sure.
And there's this copper, Mark Tanner.
He accused him of harassing him.
The one he did the graffiti about.
You heard about that?
Yeah, well, we all did. It wasn't
exactly subtle, was it? Well
she's asked me to look into it.
She swears Michael's a good kid.
Mm. Said he would never get
involved with knives or drugs.
And I wanted to believe her,
you know? I kind of still do.
But I've just heard something
about Michael that's
made me think maybe I've
got this wrong.
You know? Maybe
Maybe he wasn't the kid
I thought he was, you know?
It's just thrown me a bit.
What, you can't trust your gut?
I just I just don't want to be the
one who has to tell the aunt that
the nephew ain't the boy
that she thought he was. Mm.
Feel like you're letting her down.
Yeah.
Ah, mate. Look
you can only do
what you can do, Pierre.
You you want to see
the best in people.
But it's hard, especially
in our line of work.
I can see this one's got to you.
I'll keep my ear to the ground.
I hear anything about the case,
I'll let you know.
COFFEE MACHINE HUMS, COFFEE TRICKLES
Oh, you look good.
I mean, unusually good -
but damn, you look good!
I've got a peer-assessed lecture.
Another one?
They're making everyone reapply
for their jobs.
Pain in the ass.
You'll smash it, you always do.
BASS RIFF PLAYS Morning.
Eli.
BASS RIFF CONTINUES
Eli!
Good morning.
Oh. Er, morning.
Nice to see you out of bed early.
BASS RIFF PLAYS
Are you applying for
some of those jobs today, babe?
Er, yeah. Yeah, yeah.
Where are you applying?
Foot Locker, JD Sports, and
just a few places
on Oxford Street.
OK.
What?
No, I mean, good for you.
So, it's a done deal, then?
He's not even completing
his first year at uni?
Give him time, hm?
They've let him defer -
there's no rush.
OK, you're right. I know.
Have a good day.
Let me know if you hear about
those blood tests, yes?
Mm-hm.
BASS RIFF PLAYS
Is it a radio you've
come for, Pierre?
Or a television, even?
Aren't most of these things obsolete?
Are we finding our way towards
a metaphor?
I saw you yesterday, Sean.
Outside Kensal Rise nick.
In your Jag. Saw Daniela Harcourt
and her client get in there, too.
What is he to you?
Me sister's idiot godson.
Anthony. Couldn't hold his
own balls without droppin' 'em.
Families, hey? But what can you do?
Well, you could pay an expensive
lawyer to lean on my client -
persuade them not to pursue charges?
So I advised my client
to ignore Daniela's
legalese bullshit, and
allow Anthony to be prosecuted.
And you know what, Sean?
They were going to take my advice.
But then suddenly,
the father became agitated,
decided to just suddenly drop
the whole thing.
How strange!
You know what's even stranger is
that when I mentioned your name,
he started shaking.
Sounds like a phobia. How awful.
Even if I knew something,
which I don't
why would I help you?
Because you like me, Sean.
SEAN LAUGHS
Let me tell you a story
a friend of mine told me about
a friend of his.
A friend of a friend?
Exactly so.
So this fella goes to a broker,
who lends him the money at
a very favourable rate.
PIERRE SIGHS Did he now?
When the time came to
repay the loan,
the fella says, "I can't."
"I need more time."
So the broker, a reasonable man,
gave him more time.
But when the new
deadline come around,
the fella says, "I need more time."
And so on and so on,
till the broker
finally had enough.
So they came up with this suggestion
as to how to get some money
together to repay the loan.
Was this suggestion, by any chance
a staged burglary?
There's always a chance, Pierre.
And the job was interrupted.
You see the problem.
Sean, perhaps this broker
could cut this friend of
a friend of a friend some
slack?
Perhaps.
But no. How do we solve.
It, Sean? Come on!
Well, I would suggest
this friend of a friend of
a friend find a way
to pay the broker back.
Because even the
patient man has his limits.
PHONE BUZZES
Chadz. Look, I'm not telling you
anything that you wouldn't
get from an FOI request,
but out of the kindness of my heart,
I'm saving you the wait.
That officer you mentioned,
Mark Tanner? Well,
he's got a clean bill of health.
Ah.
No rumours, no whispers.
He's as clean as a whistle. Nada.
OK.
Thanks, mate. Yeah, yeah.
No problem. You're welcome.
Chadz, got to go.
Brenda, I'm so sorry.
Pierre, shall I come to you?
No, no, no. I'll be right there.
KNOCKS ON DOOR
I'm really sorry
I couldn't make it yesterday.
It's all good.
DOG BARKS
Here.
Chantelle said he recorded loads.
Now - there's some stuff
on there that he didn't
put on anywhere on his socials
or anywhere else.
She's convinced there's
something on there that
will help explain why he died.
Brenda,
I don't mean to sound negative,
but I do need you
to understand that
POLICE SIREN WAILS this might
not work out the way that you want it to.
What do you mean?
Well, there's a possibility,
just, you know, a small possibility,
that we won't find anything
that incriminates the police
or that explains
what happened on this thing.
I just need you to be prepared
for that.
Well, you promised you'd help.
A-And I will.
I just can't promise that you'll get
the outcome that you want.
Has something changed?
PIERRE SIGHS It has, hasn't it?
Why didn't you tell me that Michael
had been excluded
from school for carrying a knife?
That's the story you heard.
Are you saying it's not true?
He was excluded,
but it wasn't like that.
Brenda, you just have
to tell me the truth.
These things are important.
He was in an art
class holding a scalpel.
Some kid shoves him.
Michael turns around with a scalpel
in his hand.
All of a sudden,
the other kid is, like, "Miss!"
"Miss, he's threatening me."
He had a craft knife in his hand,
in an art class,
but all anyone sees
is a black boy with a knife.
People like us, Pierre -
people don't believe us.
And for some reason,
Michael thought you were different.
But maybe you're not.
Maybe you're just another man
that sees a young black man
and thinks the worst.
Look, I'm just trying to ask
I can't talk to you.
I'm too angry.
SIRENS WAIL
SHOP DOOR BELL TINKLES
Hey.
Hey.
How's, er, business? Oh, you
know - swings and roundabouts.
Mr Malik
Usman, please.
Usman.
Can I be, erm, frank?
This isn't strictly legal advice -
more just a general heads-up,
as someone who's known
Mr Lambert for a long time.
You mentioned that name before -
I'm sorry,
I just don't know who that is.
Usman, please.
I've just spoken to Sean.
Did he send you here?
Sean Lambert is not my client.
Neither is your son any more,
to be honest.
This is just, you know,
one family man to another.
If you take out a loan with
Sean Lambert, it needs to be repaid.
We had an arrangement.
It's not my fault that the person
he sent messed things up.
That is not my problem.
How much do you owe him?
18 grand.
Do you have any means
of paying him anything?
Not unless YOU lend me the money.
I can barely pay my own staff.
So, what do I do?
Call him. Come to some arrangement.
He's a businessman.
Sean Lambert is not a businessman.
He's a crook.
Whatever you think of Sean
DOOR BELL TINKLES
Yes, Pierre.
Hey!
What's going on? You good?
Yeah. Good, good.
DOOR SHUTS Looking sharp, man.
Everything all right? Yeah.
Mr Jeffreys was just looking in.
Very good of him. It's all
part of the service, you know.
Yeah, all right.
Put that in the back for me.
Ooh, sh
Careful, son. Sorry, Dad.
Usman - your son clearly cares
about you. Just be smart, yeah?
OK. I will call Sean Lambert.
But can we please just
keep this between us?
Sure. You promise?
Yeah, yeah. Good.
DOOR OPENS AND SHUTS
PHONE BUZZES Hello, mate.
MAN: Pierre, I sent you a text.
I clean forgot. Listen, do you mind
if I push? I've had a bit of a day?
I'm leaving the office now.
You can meet me at the casino.
OK. OK, I'll be there.
Don't ignore me again, Pierre.
Drink.
Do I need one?
You have diabetes.
Type 2.
It's a serious condition,
but eminently manageable.
If I talk to you now,
you won't take it in, so
have a read.
Any questions, call me -
any time, night or day.
I mean it. The good news
is, it's in your hands.
But it will involve a major
overhaul of your lifestyle.
Complete change of diet,
more exercise -
not just the vanity stuff,
proper cardio.
Listen - you are at risk
of secondary complications.
Such as?
Heart attack, for one.
Blimey, don't sugar-coat it, doc.
Sugar-coating it would literally
be a very bad idea.
Pierre - you have to slow down,
improve your diet, get some rest.
I mean it.
Yeah, yeah.
HE SIGHS
You on your own?
Er, Charlotte's around.
OFFICE PHONE RINGS Pierre.
Turns out Miriam's security guard
has some previous
for indecent exposure.
Convicted? No, but do you remember
that lawyer I was seeing last year?
Talisa? You know -
dark hair, glasses,
likes reading
You're using "liked reading"
as a defining characteristic, Dan.
Yeah.
Anyway, she does the legal work
for the supermarket
Miriam's security guard works at.
So I was thinking, I'm going
to go over there,
see how they'd feel
about some adverse publicity,
if it's somehow got out, you know?
Nice, Danny. Nice.
Learnt from the best, mate.
How's that, er, duty case going?
Oh, one of those ones
where the law is straightforward,
but the people aren't.
Turns out the break-in was
an insurance job.
Father got himself into debt.
I think he was too scared to let
the family down
or lose faith with his son,
so he took out a loan from
Sean Lambert.
Oh, yeah. Mr Untouchable.
Didn't you do some work for him?
Years ago, I did the paperwork
on some of his property deals -
the legit side of the business.
Didn't like the way
he treated people.
Mm. Must be annoying -
having principles.
Expensive, too.
Cheers, Dan.
Alecia went home?
I sent her home.
She was shattered.
You know, she's caring for her dad.
Yeah, she said. Mm.
She works hard. We've got
good staff - let's hang on to 'em.
You hear about, er,
Hugo, poaching Lenny?
Yeah. Er, Rachel from
Davidson Stone texted.
She saw the whole thing.
She said it was hilarious.
Sorry you lost a client.
Charley - I know we need the money.
Forget about the money for a minute.
Are you OK?
Forget the money?
Am I hearing you right?!
You just seem a bit weighed
down by things.
Oh, just usual midlife crisis,
you know.
All right. Well, have it quietly.
PHONE BUZZES
You know, I still can't believe
you're still referring to
Debbie Bartlett's teeth braces
as her steel racks.
I sliced my tongue upon
those bad boys.
LAUGHTER
You know
I had a sniff around
that Michael Felton case.
He was holding when he died -
cocaine.
No! No, that wasn't him, Ron! No way!
Look, I'm sure he's a great kid.
I'm sure he's
everything he said he was,
and I'm sure he had his reasons,
but four bags.
It's not Scarface,
but it's low-level dealing.
SIREN WAILS
Do you remember when we were kids?
You were being chased through
this park by skinheads.
Remember?
Yeah.
You stood up for me.
What's that got to do with this?
They were shouting shit.
Horrible shit. And when it
was over, you said,
and I will never forget this -
you said,
"They don't know
what they're doing."
Even as a kid,
you were trying to understand
these scumbags -
like they deserved the time of day.
You're an optimist, and that's good.
But an optimist
will be disappointed again
and again and again.
You're a good man, Pierre.
But you're not Superman.
You can't do this all on your own.
Yeah, I hear you, Ron.
Got my test results back.
Yeah?
Diabetes. Type 2.
Shut up! Yeah.
Got to change my diet a bit.
How much is a bit? Well,
basically, cut out everything in life
that gives me any pleasure.
Still support QPR, then?
THEY LAUGH
CHILDREN TALK AND SHOUT IN PLAYGROUND
TUBE TRAIN WHINES AND RATTLES PAS
You paying your respects?
DRUM BEA
Yes. I live here.
What, you think it doesn't grieve me
when a young lad gets stabbed?
This is my community, too.
You were harassing him
and his friends.
You've been asking about me.
What, did you think
I wouldn't find out about that?
Have you got something to hide?
You think I've got a problem
with black people, don't you?
You said it, not me.
And I'd be fucking stupid enough
to do something like this?
Oh, I don't think you're stupid.
SIREN WAILS
You are barking up the wrong tree.
I swear on my mother's life that you
and I, we're on the same side.
You know what? You know what?
Friend of mine, he's
a criminal psychologist,
and he tells me that
narcissists always return to
the scene of the crime, because
they just can't help themselves.
You have a good evening,
Mr Jeffreys.
DOOR SLAMS
PIERRE SIGHS
PHONE BUZZES
PIERRE SIGHS No!
DOOR SLAMS
F it!
What do you think motivates people
who do something like this?
It's needless.
It don't need to happen.
Think the family will be able
to claim on the insurance?
That's not the point, though, is it?
This is about sending
a message to everyone
who lives around here not
to fuck with Sean Lambert.
You know, it's entirely possible
the police work out who did this.
I don't even doubt it.
But it's always down to
the evidence, though, isn't it?
This is the end, Sean. OK?
Insurance or no insurance.
You've made your point.
Are you trying to tell
me what I can and can't do?
I'm telling you, there are limits,
even for a man like you.
HE LAUGHS
That's what I like
about you, Pierre.
You're a man of principle.
So few of us left these days.
AMIR: Why won't you tell me?
Amir, not now.
No! Just leave it.
If the business was in trouble,
you should have just said.
Amir, not now, please.
What do you mean, not now, Dad?
If you told me, I wouldn't
have showed up, Dad.
You could have trusted me.
It's not that simple.
What do you mean? You know
what's not simple, is Amir.
Amir! Your father thought Get off
me he was doing what was best.
Yeah? Well, look - the entire
business has gone now.
Do you know who did it? Huh?
Because he wouldn't
tell me his name.
You know, don't you? Huh?
Don't you? You know.
No.
I don't know his name.
Bullshit.
F Fuck this, this is all
It's all bullshit.
Amir, stop! Amir!
Don't go like this.
US MAN STRIKES CLOTHES STAND
Come, come, come, come. Come, come.
US MAN SOBS He'll calm down.
It's OK.
DOOR SLAMS
JAZZ BASS RIFF PLAYS
PIERRE SIGHS
Type 2.
I know.
Ronnie called.
He was worried you wouldn't tell me.
It's OK to be scared.
I know.
And it's good.
It's good that we know.
We can
We can do something about it.
"We"?
Well, it affects all of us.
Have you told Eli?
No.
I'm going to leave
that for you to do.
You want to talk about it?
Er no. Not particularly.
I haven't even asked - erm
how was your day?
It was fine.
Honestly, my my day was fine.
I'm gonna have an early night.
Come with me?
I've, erm, still got a
little bit of work to do.
OK.
Don't be too late.
Mm.
ELI HUMS TUNE here?
ELI HUMS TUNE
Whoo-ee!
What?
Just come here.
Why?
Just come here. OK.
HE MOUTHS
Mm!
You all right?
Can I not just give my son a hug?
Yeah, it's nice, it's just
You know.
N-No, it's good. I like a hug.
Good, good.
Having trouble with the files?
Yeah, I just
I think it's something to do with
the format.
Probably just using the wrong
software.
There you go.
OK, guys. Look - with a score
Whoa.
Of 85 for brutality
What is that?
79 for his road rage, 72
for unwarranted stop and searching,
PC David Windsor.
And your collector's item,
with a maximum score of 100
for hassling proud black youth
PC Mark Tanner.
That is sick, man!
You got any more of these?
I probably shouldn't
be letting you watch this.
Oh, OK.
I-It's just that it's work,
and I'm not
Yeah, you ain't got to explain.
Eli
Erm
make sure you get some
sleep tonight.
Will do.
FOOTSTEPS ON STAIRS
yesterday me and my boy,
we went and got a burger.
And trust me,
it was the best burger
I ever tasted.
It was like they put something
in the lettuce.
I don't know what it was. What
did you think of the burger, bro?
Yo, guys, it's your boy.
We're gonna see if we can
find some more examples of everyday
fashion, right? Yo, yo, yo!
We're going right to the very top!
Right to the
might be the best team
in Europe right now. Yeah.
I'm not here to just coast.
We have to get out of this thing,
for me and my people. You get me?
Guys, this is the guy.
This is the guy, PC Mark Tanner.
Look, let me see if I can get him
YOU, my friend?
You were at the crime scene.
So, why is Mark Tanner
giving you money?
I fucking knew it.