Cracker (1993) s01e06 Episode Script

One Day a Lemming Will Fly

Bogart at the end of Casablanca.
No, he doesn't die.
His motive's still pure.
Pure-ish! Jimmy Cagney, at the end of Angels With Dirty Faces.
No.
Come on! Pat O'Brien asks him to scream.
He says, "Don't do this to me, Father.
Don't take away the only thing I have left.
" He screams because he's frightened.
No, no.
He wants them to think he's frightened, right, so they don't copy him and end up on death row.
He's a Catholic.
-So what?.
About to die.
Heaven and hell.
It could be true.
OK.
So, it's a million-to-one against.
So, he does what the priest asks him, cos it's his only chance left.
Impure motive.
He does it to save his own skin.
God! My all-time favourite movie, and you've just ruined it for me.
Aaaarghh! It's Julie.
Are you in bed?.
Tim's there, isn't he?.
Has he left?.
He said he was going to yours yesterday.
He never got there.
I'll phone you back.
He'll be all right.
Police.
I'll tell you, if Cagney's in hell, he's watching British movies.
You dirty rat.
Room With A View yet again?.
You dirty rat.
Where's Eddie G?.
Where's Bogart?.
Sleep in our bed tonight, Fitz.
Please.
Evens, spades;, six to four, hearts;, five to one, clubs and diamonds.
Any more bets?.
Yeah.
600 to four, hearts.
Diamonds win.
No.
A mistake.
One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight.
Nine.
Hearts win.
I'm sorry.
Yeah.
If it's any consolation, you very nearly got away with it.
It was a mistake.
You owe me a grand.
Aaaarghh! Oh, Jesus Christ! He didn't take a coat.
He had no money.
His dad's less than a mile away, and he never got there.
He hasn't been seen since last night.
Tim! Tim! Tim! -Tim! Tim! -Tim! Tim! You didn't think ofringing to see that he'd arrived?.
He often goes round to his dad's.
Can you remember what he was wearing?.
Trainers, black denims, long-sleeved T-shirt.
It was the last thing I said to him, actually.
I said, "You're not going out in that.
Put your coat on.
" Police?.
-Yeah.
Any news?.
It's my husband.
I don't live here.
We're separated.
I'm DCl Bilborough.
This is DS Penhaligon.
A DCl?.
Oh, Jesus.
They think he's dead.
Sir! Sir! Mrs Lang, what size shoe did he take?.
Did he take?.
Does he take.
Seven.
Seven.
Slip of the tongue.
Thanks for being so understanding! Yeah?.
Right.
They've found a seven.
I'll tell them.
It means nothing, Andy.
It means nothing! There could be a perfectly innocent explanation for this, Mrs Lang.
Get Fitz.
-We don't know he's dead.
Missing two days.
Didn't take a coat or any money.
And we've found his shoe.
Do you think he's alive?.
It speaks volumes about a person, Panhandle, the way they suck a sherbet lemon.
Me, I'm a cruncher.
I like to pop 'em in.
Crunch.
An explosion of sherbet.
Instant gratification.
Judith is a roller.
She likes to roll 'em around her mouth for ages.
Noisily.
You see, as a child, she got more pleasure out of making the other kids jealous than she did out of the sweetie itself.
I think you're probably a sucker.
Am I right? I think you probably like to make it last.
Yeah.
I bet you could suck that sherbet lemon wafer-thin before you got even a hint of sherbet.
Yeah.
Thus indicating a massive guilt complex.
Stay in the car, Jane.
I want to know why they're separated, and why they didn't report it for 24 hours.
Looks like the brother's hiding something, too.
My wife's in labour.
Looks like the kid's dead, but don't tell 'em that, OK?.
Did you choose Tim's trainers?.
He chose them.
Does he have any friends?.
Of course he's got friends! Would you wear these?.
Wouldn't be seen dead in 'em.
Cos your mates would give you stick?.
Yeah.
Tim hasn't got any mates.
-Greg Stephens.
Greg Stephens is a mental retard.
Did you have a row with Tim recently?.
Not recently, no.
Why didn't you phone when he didn't arrive?.
I wasn't expecting him.
Look, we feel bad enough.
Don't make it worse, OK?.
I'm sorry.
Did you have a row with Tim recently?.
Look, he hasn't run away.
He's got no money.
He left his books - poetry.
It's a load of crap.
If he was running away, he'd have took them with him, so he hasn't run away.
Mmm.
Would you mind if I had a look round his room?.
This is my room.
Yeah.
Reminds me of my son.
The unmistakeable whiff of smelly feet.
You know, at Christmas, he doesn't hang his sock up - he just stands it up.
Finished?.
Yeah.
False alarm.
Jesus! Thank you.
I'm sorry.
Hey, hey.
I'm sorry.
I'm sorry.
I'm sorry.
I'm sorry.
I'm sorry.
You keep your mother out of your room - yeah?.
Yeah.
But Tim lets her in here?.
-Yeah.
Phew! When I was his age, I was into Biggles! Who's his English teacher?.
You think he's dead?.
In confidence?.
Yeah.
We fear the worst.
Saves me doing it to the kids.
The art of teaching today: just keeping your hands off the little bastards.
How's his mother handling it?.
-She fears the worst, too.
Do you know Tim well?.
Hardly know him at all.
Bit of a loner.
Bit effeminate.
Gets picked on.
Do you live alone?.
At the moment, yeah.
I'm thinking about getting married.
To somebody on the staff?.
Yeah.
If you're watching this, Tim please phone.
Whatever it is, whatever you've done, whatever you're running away from we can sort it out.
If somebody's holding Tim If anybody watching this is holding Tim If anybody watching this is holding Tim If anybody's holding Tim I'm sorry.
If anybody watching this has any information Police.
or any information that may be relevant, please contact your local It's really important you tell me.
-Keep her talking.
You wouldn't find this place unless you knew it.
Come on, boys.
-You squeeze through a hedge.
Couples use it.
Could you show us it?.
-No.
I'm married.
The man I was with is married.
Yeah?.
She's ringing from home.
Police.
I'll tell them.
Are you sure?.
-Yeah.
You've found him?.
- Shall we go in there?.
Mr Lang I'm afraid it's very bad news.
He's dead?.
I'm so sorry.
How?.
He was found hanging.
He didn't kill himself.
My son It's early days yet.
did not kill himself.
My son did not kill himself.
It's very early days yet.
I'm sorry.
-It's all right.
It's not all right.
- It is.
It's all right.
It's not all right.
It's not all bloody right.
Will you stop patronising me, right?.
Right.
I thought you were a gobshite in there, sir.
Withholding his name is a criminal offence.
What's his name?.
He's got a wife and three kids.
What's his name?.
Did you have sex?.
Mrs Perry, we've got Forensic at the scene.
If they find anything, they'll want to know whether your boyfriend left it or anyone else.
You understand how important that is?.
Yes.
Did you have sex?.
-No.
So, what's his name?.
I'm not going to tell you his name.
Here she is, Little Red bleedin' Riding Hood.
-I'm handling it.
I'm going round to your old man right now to tell him what you've been up to.
Let me handle it.
-I'll find out who this fancy man is, and tell his missus.
He's got three kids.
- Everything.
Every bloody thing.
Three kids?.
His kids are still alive, aren't they?.
We're talking about the death of a child, OK?.
And you've got the cheek to fart around, wasting our time! I want her banged up.
Bang her up right now.
Bang her up and throw away the key! Wasting our time, withholding evidence! Right?.
OK.
Francis Bates, Did you get hold of Path?.
-He'll be an hour.
He's at a fancy-dress party.
Francis Bates -I heard.
Go and pick him up, the pair of you.
Then get Fitz.
I want him with us.
Boss No offence, right?.
Right.
It's getting so we can't shit without Fitz.
From the bank.
God! His grammar is atrocious.
Your economics is worse.
I know people who owe more than this.
-Robert Maxwell, maybe.
Well, we've got bigger problems than that, haven't we?.
Such as?.
Do you know you use up more calories eating celery than the stuff actually provides?.
Such as our marriage.
Well, I want to solve those problems, Fitz.
You don't.
You like crisis.
Gives you an excuse to drink and gamble.
Take away the crisis, you take away the excuse.
Bullshit.
Bullshit as in "I can't think of an answer right now, so I'll just pretend it's all beneath me"?.
Ten minutes.
Hello?.
Ten minutes.
Right.
-Right.
I'm going to have to lay it on the line.
You don't have the right to lay anything on the line.
And that puts you in a very powerful position, doesn't it?.
I was wrong, so I've got to suffer in silence.
No.
I don't want half a relationship.
I want us to sleep together.
I want sex.
I like sex, for God's sake.
Yeah, we know that.
Naughty Fitz! You're supposed to be mature.
House-trained.
You should be able to talk this through like a rational human being.
Well, I'm not a rational human being.
I'm blazing.
I'd like to cut that bastard's balls off! Glass ofwine, dear?.
Shit.
I can give you ten minutes.
Look I'm a psychologist.
I can help This way.
How was Moscow?.
You've dragged me down here for this?.
We think it's murder.
- You think it's murder?.
What's this?.
And this?.
Breaks in lividity.
Caused by?.
-Pressure.
He was left face down after he died.
Bruises to the front and sides of the throat.
None whatsoever at the back.
He's been strangled, left face down, and then strung up.
He's been dead about And you're a DCl?.
-I knew it was murder.
I wanted it confirming.
You've confirmed it.
Thank you.
You can get along to your party now.
What are you going as?.
A man jogging.
That's all.
Your girlfriend didn't mention a jogger.
She was in the car.
I was having a pee.
-Can you describe him?.
It was dark.
Nothing else?.
Tracksuit top with a hood.
I got back into the car, and we started to mess around.
She took off.
I chased her for a bit.
Chased her?.
She likes that kind of thing.
What kind of thing?.
Rough.
We were just about to We were just about to start, when we saw it.
A 13-year-old boy.
-I didn't know who it was, or how old he was.
We just ran.
You left a 13-year-old boy swinging from a tree.
She's married.
I'm married.
I've got kids.
You could have phoned anonymously.
-We did.
She did.
12 hours later.
You left his parents clutching at straws for 12 hours.
If it had been left up to you, you wouldn't have phoned at all.
Your missus finding out about your bit on the side means more to you than a child's death.
For Christ's sake, what kind of a man are you?.
Hey, hey, hey He could have been alive.
Didn't that enter your head?.
He could have been alive.
You could have saved him! We've got what we want.
All right?.
-It's human nature.
If a child's in trouble, you don't go away from him.
You go to him! Human bloody nature! Otherwise, you're not a human.
You're some kind of bloody animal.
Boss -We were there.
We were there, waiting with them.
You tosspot! You prick! You bloody animal! and then they told.
You prick! You We don't do a thing until the full postmortem.
Then we say it's murder, stick the family on telly I'd like to speak to them first, please.
-I'm talking.
Appeal to this jogger to come forward.
Meanwhile, talk to every kid in the school.
What do you think?.
- I think you should go home.
I'd like to look round the house in the morning.
The family have been through enough.
You're putting them on the telly - is that some sort of relaxation therapy?.
They like going on the telly.
It's a comfort for them, isn't it?.
Seeing themselves on telly.
Can I speak to you a minute?.
Shut it.
Don't you ever do that to me again.
-Do what?.
Suggest that my private life's interfering with my work.
I've seen you in tears, sobbing your bloody eyes out, and I didn't say it to you, so how dare you say it to me?.
I am sorry.
I'll ring her in a minute, see how she's doing.
-All right.
We're not sleeping - that's why She's a week overdue.
Her blood pressure's up and down every minute.
They wanted to take her in and induce it, but she wanted it natural.
"Natural" means up every half-hour for a piss, every hour for cramp, every two hours waiting for contractions.
I said to the nurse, "Take me in.
She's only having a baby - I'm having kittens.
" Have you got a minute, Andy?.
Well, what do you want, Andy?.
Andy! What are you doing, bursting into my classroom?.
Come here! Get him off! Get him off! For Christ's sake, get him off! What do you think you're doing?.
What good can that possibly do?.
Now, calm down.
All right?.
You knew what was going on.
You did nothing.
You did nothing! It's down to you, Cassidy.
You and every teacher in this shit-hole.
You knew what was going on.
You did nothing.
He trusted you.
He told you everything.
You never lifted a finger.
You want the truth?.
You'll despise the truth.
You would have preferred it to have been suicide?.
He were always a victim.
Murder - he's a victim to the end.
Suicide - well, that's some sort of choice he's made.
Some sort of courage he's shown.
I didn't hope.
I didn't pray.
I knew.
I knew it wouldn't be suicide.
Because suicide's a bomb under the kitchen table, every member of the family cut to pieces.
He wouldn't do that to you.
He loved me.
Have you got a son?.
-Yeah.
18.
You'll know, then.
Your son's born.
One day you'll watch him play football for t'school take him to Old Trafford buy him his first pint.
Not Andy.
Anything I wanted, he did the opposite.
But that were OK, cos Tim were born.
I'd do it all wi' Tim.
Tim turned out to be a girl.
Guilt.
They told me it was murder.
I felt relieved.
The blame lay somewhere else.
I didn't think about Tim, what he went through.
I do now, but then, when they told me the moment they told me I didn't think about his pain and his fear.
I just felt relief.
Guilt?.
I wanted a crisis.
We rowed over Tim.
We separated over Tim.
Just give me a nice little crisis, I thought and I'll go back and sort everything out, and everything'll be OK.
Together again.
Well, I've got my crisis.
There's always guilt.
I've spoken to dozens of parents who've lost their children.
They've all been blameless.
They've all felt guilt.
"If only we'd said this.
If only we'd done that.
" If only you'd made Tim wear his coat, and delayed him by two minutes, by two seconds he would never have been at that place at that time.
He would never have met his killer.
May I read you something?.
It's a father talking.
"She was young, vulnerable.
Pictures used to flash before my eyes - my daughter lying dead in a ditch.
I told myself all fathers thought that way.
All fathers saw these pictures.
But then it happened.
It's as if I willed it to happen.
I saw those pictures in my mind, and I willed it to happen.
You know just what he means, don't you?.
Well, guilt soon goes.
Grief remains.
But grief is your friend.
It lets you mourn, remember, cry.
If you want my autograph, you can form a line.
All right?.
This is the brother of the victim?.
-Yeah, right.
Thanks.
What's your name, son?.
-Tom Rope.
And your address?.
-145 Huntley Road, Hulme.
Come here! Get him off me! -I want a word with him.
I just want a word with the little bastard! Put him in a cell! Number three.
Shit-head! Yeah?.
I'm gonna put you in a cell with Andy.
Right?.
Just the two of you! I didn't mean it, right?.
I was lying.
You picked on Tim for years.
Now you can show his big brother how it's done.
I'm scared of him, OK?.
-All right?.
Shut up.
Shut up! You're a big bully, aren't you?.
Yeah.
And a coward.
Yeah.
"I give this heavy weight from off my head and this unwieldy sceptre from my hand the pride of kingly sway from out my heart.
With mine own tears, I wash away my balm.
With mine own hands I give away my crown with mine own tongue " No! In the car.
Why did you go for those boys?.
Look, I've already told him why.
-Tell me.
They used to pick on Tim.
Tim asked for your help, didn't he, Andy?.
But you didn't give him any.
Now he's dead, you feel guilty.
Look, it was happening in school.
His teachers there - you know what I mean? They should have done something.
And they didn't?.
-No.
You're lying.
-Look, Cassidy had a word.
Gobshites like that don't understand a word.
Why didn't you do something?.
I've told you - it was happening in school! The teachers should Bzzz.
Lie.
Look, it's their fault.
They should sort it out.
-Bzzz.
Lie.
It's not my responsibility.
-Bzzz.
Lie.
Piss off! Excuse me.
I've just left your mother.
Ifyou'd helped Tim, you might have saved her some of that pain.
Don't tell me you don't feel guilty about her broken heart and grief.
Look, I've got mates.
They took the piss out of Tim all the time.
He was a little faggot.
Are you saying I should have stood up for Tim against my own mates?.
Yes.
-Well, that's bollocks! All right?.
Yeah?.
Tell me everything you know about Mr Cassidy.
This morning, with Mr and Mrs Lang Yeah?.
I thought you were brilliant.
You should hear my pillow talk.
Are you OK?.
No, I'm afraid of heights.
That's a lie.
Nobody's afraid of heights.
They're really afraid of themselves, what they might do.
If I do survive this, will you let me take you out and get you pissed, and make a pathetic attempt to seduce you?.
Stay away from me.
-I will.
If you come near me, I'll jump.
I'd much sooner jump in my own time, so please stay away from me.
OK.
enough, you know.
Why so high?.
Too much time to think.
You might change your mind halfway down.
Lemmings.
We laugh at lemmings for throwing themselves off cliffs, but I have a suspicion that the lemmings will have the last laugh because one day What's your first name, by the way?.
Nigel.
-Nigel! God, I'd be suicidal.
One day, Nigel, a lemming will fly.
Tim Lang didn't kill himself.
He was murdered.
Pigeons did it, you know, millions ofyears ago.
Threw themselves off cliffs.
Millions of pigeons over thousands and thousands of years.
Thudding, dead, to the ground.
And then, one day, a pigeon flapped, and it didn't hit the ground quite so hard.
And then, the day after that one of them flew because it followed its instincts, Nigel.
Man suppressed that instinct, which is why man will never fly, Nigel.
Come on.
Let's do it.
Come on.
Let's follow our instincts.
Let's fly.
I'm gonna do it.
Come on - you do it.
Come with me.
Top of the world, Ma! For Christ's sake! For Christ's sake! You asked about his mother.
- "How's his mother handling it?.
" Yes.
His mother, not his parents.
Well, his parents have split up.
How did you know that?.
-I taught him.
Yeah, well, you've taught hundreds of kids.
Did you know all their family backgrounds that well?.
No.
So, you knew Tim particularly well?.
-Yeah.
Yeah.
So, why did you lie to me?.
Huh?.
I found a book of Wilfred Owen in Tim's room.
Did you give that to him?.
Erm I might have done.
-Oh, come on! You give a book of poetry to a 13-year-old boy? That's intimate.
You would remember that.
Look I did a stupid thing.
I'm sorry.
I'm a bit depressed and a bit drunk.
If you're going to charge me, then charge me, but I won't answer more questions about Tim.
What shall we charge you with?.
Well, I don't know.
Anything.
Trespass.
Wasting police time.
I don't know.
Murder?.
You like to keep fit.
-Yeah.
Burn off that anger.
Stops you taking it out on the kids.
I was joking.
Do you jog?.
-Yes.
Were you jogging three nights ago?.
Erm Were you jogging three nights ago?.
No.
Where were you?.
-At home.
Alone?.
My girlfriend she was with me.
Do you believe him?.
-No.
She thinks you killed Tim.
I didn't.
- Mm-hm.
I asked you if you lived alone.
Do you remember that?.
Yes.
"But I'm thinking of getting married.
" It's true.
I am thinking of getting married.
Yeah, but why articulate it?.
Huh?.
A simple yes or no would have been enough, unless you think something's implied by living alone.
Such as?.
You said, "I was at home with my girlfriend", not "I was at home with Jo or Leslie or Sammy.
" You said, "I was at home with my girlfriend.
" What is your girlfriend's name, by the way?.
Leslie.
-Leslie! How did I guess?.
I've no idea.
You wouldn't say, "I was at home with Leslie", because Leslie could be a man, and that's the very last thing you'd want anyone to think.
Right?.
You think I'm gay.
-No.
No, you think you're gay.
Ah! Super-sleuth.
Do you know, this man can fill in a Sun crossword in under three days.
I'd like you to accompany me to the station.
-We'll bring him in.
The boss said -No.
We'll bring him in.
You're gonna wish you'd jumped.
I think that's understandable - wanting to know what the police are doing.
I can understand how you're all feeling, but I'd like you all to go home.
We pay your wages.
Right?.
We got kids - they play in the woods.
We want to know what the bloody hell you're doing about it! A bit of information.
Understand?.
Do that once more, and I'll have you arrested.
-Oh, yeah?.
The bloody press know more than me! My son's been killed.
I'm getting information off the press - that's not right.
Just let me through, all right?.
All right, all right! We've picked up a shirt-lifter.
Who is he?.
-We're bringing him in.
Oh, great.
Where does he live?.
Jesus Christ! Die! Die! Escort three to control.
Request urgent assistance.
Repeat: urgent assistance! We're outside the station, surrounded by a hostile crowd.
Die! Die! Oh, Christ! -Die! Die! Oh, for Christ's sake! - Repeat: urgent assistance! Are you OK?.
How was that allowed to happen?.
A crowd like that outside our own door! You told them he's gay.
Gay?.
A miserable sod like that?.
Yeah.
-I told them he was a shirt-lifter.
What's going on?.
I was just about to come in and tell you, sir.
There's a hostile crowd outside the station.
Get onto Brighton Road nick.
A bit of backup.
Discreet.
That's my middle name.
- I'll speak to three of them.
In there, in my own time.
Pick the biggest mouths.
Right.
-Why wasn't I told about this earlier?.
Will you listen to me?.
-I am! Stay within the law, or you'll end up in there.
Did Cassidy do it?.
We're conducting our enquiries with vigour Did Cassidy do it?.
- Is that clear?.
Yes! I want to know.
Will you listen to me?.
We're conducting our enquiries Are you charging him?.
- We're optimistic Are you gonna charge him?.
- I'm not gonna say any more.
I'm gonna take you upstairs and bang you up Your girlfriend's coming down.
She likes trap two, does she?.
Don't turn your back.
He says he was with you.
Yeah, he was.
- You've remembered?.
Yes.
-He says you went to the theatre.
You're lying.
He hates the theatre.
He says he cooked you a meal.
Yes, he did.
-What was it?.
I can't remember.
- What was it?.
Chicken.
-Just chicken?.
And vegetables.
Broccoli, potatoes, peas.
Wine?.
-Yeah.
What kind?.
-Dry white.
What then?.
-Erm we listened to music.
Classical?.
-No, it was jazz.
Sex?.
No, thanks.
-Did you have sex?.
Yes.
-What was it like?.
None of your business.
What would you say if I told you he was queer?.
I'd say that you were the one with the moustache.
Do we have to check all this out, Leslie?.
No, you don't.
It's the truth.
You're lying.
That's OK.
But if we have to prove you're lying, we will come down on you like a ton of bricks.
You've been his alibi for years, haven't you, Leslie?.
No.
He's gay, but he won't come out.
That's understandable.
He's a teacher.
Clause 28 and all that.
He needs a woman, a member of staff, to prove to the whole school that he's straight.
He talks marriage.
He lets it known that he's talking marriage, but it is just talk.
He never names the day.
How long have you known him?.
Three years.
Three years, and all that time, not one suspicion?.
He tried to kill himself.
I know what you're thinking - you'll have to leave the school.
"Poor old Leslie, hanging on to Cassidy like grim death, and all the time blah blah.
" Some of them will laugh at you.
That's OK.
But some of them will pity you.
And if you lie to us now, they will despise you.
Were you with him three nights ago?.
No.
Nigel! What have they told you?.
Well, it's a pack of lies! -I'm I'm sorry.
For Christ's sake, it's a pack of lies! They told her you're gay.
I'm not.
Mmm.
She believed them.
I think if you told my wife I was gay, she wouldn't believe you.
There has to be suspicion.
Shall I prove it to you?.
Somewhere private?.
What were you doing three nights ago?.
I stayed in.
-With Leslie?.
Yeah.
-That's not what she told us.
I marked books, I jogged, I marked some more books.
The fancy man.
Bates.
What was he wearing?.
You jogged.
Through the woods?.
On the road.
What was he wearing?.
Bob! You live near the woods, but you prefer to jog on the road?.
Go in there, and ask her to ask him what he was wearing when he was running.
There's a good track through those woods, isn't there?.
So you have used it in the past?.
A long time ago.
You get a lot of kids in the woods.
You're a teacher, fair game.
They shout things out.
It can wind you up.
You're jogging to try and relax.
That's why I don't use the woods, OK?.
OK.
Now, why did you try to kill yourself?.
I'd had a few drinks, I was just depressed.
Yeah.
What about?.
The Exchange Rate Mechanism.
What were you wearing that night, when you were jogging?.
Tracksuit, trainers.
-Would you mind if we went to get them?.
I would.
Yeah, I would.
OK.
Did you have that on?.
Yeah.
-Could I borrow it for an hour or two?.
Thanks.
Would you like a cup of tea?.
Can I come in?.
The wife's in.
It's about your statement.
You were in the woods with your girlfriend, and you saw a man jogging?.
Yeah.
Who is it?.
Christian Aid.
Was he going fast or slow?.
Quite fast.
Well, there you are, you see.
-Look, won't this keep?.
No.
Jogging.
People think slow.
But he was going fast?.
Yeah.
-Running would be more accurate?.
Running from the scene, yeah.
They just want it accurate.
We want you for an ID parade.
You can change your statement then.
What do I tell my wife?.
- You'll think of something.
I taught the boy! When you teach kids, you get close to them.
I've had nits off bloody kids, never mind bits of fibre! The thing is, he wore a shirt and tie at school.
He put that T-shirt on at 5pm.
So between 5pm and the time of his death, you touched him.
Another thing about T-shirts.
I have a teenage son, so I know about these things.
You do not put on your best T- shirt to go and see your dad.
You save it for copping off.
You wear it to impress somebody you fancy.
He fancied you, didn't he?.
You were his teacher, and very properly, you resisted.
But that night, he came to you, didn't he, in that T-shirt?.
A blond, beautiful teenage boy.
Those arms, those eyes, that smile.
I don't blame you for weakening.
Nobody does.
I marked books.
I jogged.
And then I marked some more books.
That's all.
Pick him.
Pick him, pick him.
This man.
Yes, brilliant! This man's here because he taught the boy, isn't he?.
I know him.
He teaches my son an' all.
It is not this man.
It is definitely not this man.
How do you know?.
-Sorry?.
That he's not the jogger Bates saw.
Bates told us he wasn't.
He was lying.
Chief witness goes up to chief suspect.
Definitely not him.
Bollocks.
He wants to keep himself out of court.
Doesn't want some smart-arse barrister asking what he was doing in the woods.
It's David Bilborough.
I've been ringing my wife.
Could you just see if the car's there?.
Thanks.
Keep away from Fitz.
You're starting to sound like him.
What do you mean by that?.
- You know what I mean.
I don't.
I don't know what you mean, and I'd like you to explain, so Hey, hey, hey.
-It's nothing to do with you, OK?.
Nothing.
I'd hate to come home to you in a flat week.
Thanks, yeah.
She's in the garden.
Would you please explain, sir?.
Do you think he's guilty?.
Yeah.
Do you?.
You're gut instinct.
Is he guilty?.
Yeah.
I know he's guilty.
Our job is to get as much evidence as we can against him.
That's our job.
No bloody philosophy, thanks very much.
Whatever's going on between you and Fitz is affecting the way you do your work.
We expect a result, we get sweet FA, and you talk about progress.
That's Fitz-speak.
I get enough of him.
I don't want it from a member of my team.
Don't give me any crap about keeping my private life separate, because you obviously can't.
Hello, me again.
What's she doing in the garden?.
I'm bothering you, I know.
Could you pop across, and tell her to go in and relax?.
Tell her I said she's got to go in and relax.
Thanks.
Pulling bleeding weeds.
I can't keep my private life separate?.
I haven't been fussing over my wife for the last half hour.
I think that's a bit below the belt.
She's been pregnant before.
They lost it.
I've spoken to some of the ringleaders, and have backup standing by.
It's under control.
Can you charge Cassidy?.
Not yet, no.
You know what'll happen if you let him go?.
-I can handle it.
How's the wife?.
No change.
You should be with her, David.
We can hold the fort for a few days.
Don't do this to me.
He's guilty.
It's only a matter of time before he coughs.
Please don't do this to me.
Please.
OK.
You're letting him go?.
-We can't hold him without evidence.
You must have had evidence to pull the bastard in! The man is innocent.
I'm sure we're going to have more questions, but he's free to go.
You said you had enough! - You said you were optimistic! You two aren't! You're not leaving till Mr Cassidy is safely away.
You're holding us, and letting that bastard go! I have reason to believe a crime will be committed if I let you go.
Therefore you're staying in the station.
All right?.
I don't believe this.
OK.
The, er, meter ran out.
I had no pound coins.
Is this your handwriting, Mr Cassidy?.
Yes.
"I'm sorry.
I'm sorry.
I'm sorry.
I'm sorry.
" This is Timothy Lang's book.
I know.
So?.
Do you remember those Hamlet cigar ads?.
I had a great one.
The guy tried to gas himself, right?.
Singularly unsuccessful because it's natural gas.
Right?.
So he decides to console himself by lighting a Hamlet cigar.
He lights it up.
Boom! The whole house goes up.
As the dust settles, a camera goes in, finds the packet, and it says, "Smoking can seriously damage your health".
Oi, Cassidy, you pervert! -Bastard! I'll get you, you bastard! I'm arresting you on suspicion of causing criminal damage and endangering life.
You do not have to say anything, but anything you do say Tell him he's dead! Cassidy, you're dead, mate! Put them in the van.
-Just wait till I get hold What are you going to do about that?.
I suggest you spend the night in a hotel with DS Beck and Fitz, OK?.
Yeah, OK.
-We're over here.
Why Beck?.
Sir! Cos Beck'll keep his mind on the job.
You won't.
As soon as this is sorted, I'm off.
Yeah?.
Where?.
Anywhere.
Just so long as there's not the faintest chance of bumping into a copper.
Ah, Moss Side.
I've got two weeks due.
I'm taking it.
With Peter?.
-Probably.
I'll miss you.
Can I play the dirty old man for just one minute?.
You've made a career out of it.
What's another minute?.
Young women are wasted on young men.
You'll be off on holiday with Peter, right, and you'll want him to rub oil on your back, and he'll be reading or something.
He'll do it, but he won't want to.
Now me, I would rub oil on your back until Boots ran dry.
Do you fancy a quick one?.
Can't.
-Why not?.
Minute's up.
That's what you'd like, though, isn't it, Fitz?.
Me on the side, your wife and your kids to go home to.
Yes.
I think most men would.
In fact, if any man says otherwise, he's a liar.
Answer this.
Not a joke, not a put-down.
A straight answer, yeah?.
Yeah.
Will you come away with me?.
What, instead of Peter?.
Yeah.
I know what you're thinking.
- Don't tell me what I'm thinking.
"I've paid the penance.
I might as well commit the sin.
" No analysis, please.
Just a straight answer.
Drop Fitz at the hotel, and back to the station.
Right.
Is he paralysed?.
The answer is yes.
Yes to what?.
I've asked him to come away, and roger me rigid for a fortnight, sir.
Are you telling me to mind my own business?.
Yes, I am, sir.
The station.
This is posh.
Bloke in there with a silver cane taps your dick twice when you've finished.
Suit you, that job.
Drink?.
No, I'll get my own.
Sauce for Suzy, or Night of Lust?.
Night of Lust.
Suzy's a lesbian.
Shall I tell you why I can't stand lesbians?.
Please.
Queers are OK.
As long as I don't turn my back on you, you're OK.
Two queers doing it, that's two women going spare.
But two lesbians doing it, that's two men going short.
You can tell he reads The Guardian, can't you?.
We don't have the suspect with us! Please all disperse! Just go home.
-Who's in there, then?.
Please all go home.
We don't have him with us.
You're not nicking me dad! These two These two men have broken the law.
I can understand why they've broken it, but to understand is not to excuse.
For the last time, let me through! Look, it's my brother murdered, and you're nicking my dad! They've broken the law! And you will all be under arrest - You're not listening, are you, wanker! Get the backup! Mrs Lang, would you step aside, please?.
You're breaking my arm! I want the mob dispersed.
I don't care how you do it.
Disperse the bastards.
I've done nothing, you soft sod! You obstructed a police officer, sunshine! In there! Behave! You've broken my son's arm, you bastard! I want a lawyer down here, and a doctor! It's under control.
I've sent backup in.
It got a bit out of hand, but it's under control.
Sorted.
You've brought those men to this nick?.
My officers made the arrest.
Taking them elsewhere would be bowing to that lot out there.
You're needed.
Come on, lads.
Come on.
Didn't even consider it, did you?.
I did, sir.
-The effect it would have.
I did, sir.
They were obstructing.
You're not charging him?.
-Yeah.
Go up to the canteen.
I've sent backup in, sir.
You go up to the canteen, have a cup of tea.
Stay there.
Go and have a cup of tea! "I'm sorry.
I'm sorry.
I'm sorry.
I'm sorry.
" What are you sorry about?.
You're sorry because?.
- I'm sorry he's dead.
You're sorry because you killed him.
I'm sorry he's dead.
You're lying! You're sorry because you killed him.
I didn't kill him.
Explain the fibres on your watch.
I've no need to explain anything.
They prove you touched him sometime between 5 o'clock and the time of his death.
You touched him.
Did more than touch him.
Oh, for a common or garden rapist! Them I can understand.
Sick bastards like you, shoving bits of metal into kids! Homophobia.
-What kind of hobby is that, huh?.
What possible pleasure can you get out of that?.
Homophobia - a morbid fear of I know what Fitzophobia is - a morbid fear of men who talk through their arse! Stay out of this.
You were about 14 when you came over here, right?.
This is the suspect.
New boy in school.
Difficult age to make friends.
The girls would talk to you.
A new face - girls like that.
But the boys We've got clout.
When we bang you up, you're going to be begging for Section I don't want protection.
The boys ignored you, didn't they?.
You think the screws will give you protection?.
Are they shite! I don't want it.
One boy in particular.
You wanted to be near him, you wanted to hold him, and touch him.
It bothered you.
Those screws have kids of their own.
They'll leave your cell door open, they'll turn their back.
Then the lads will be in, and they won't be shaking your hand.
You know what I'm saying?.
- You thought you were gay.
Will you shut it! You loved that boy.
You are talking crap.
It kept you awake at night.
"Am I queer?.
Am I queer?.
" "The girls talk to me.
They must see it in me.
The boys ignore me.
I'll prove I'm not queer.
" How do you prove you're not queer?.
You pick a fight.
Who do you fight?.
Whose face do you smash to a pulp?.
The boy you loved.
Bollocks! He's done this before.
He looks in there, and in there for something sick, something twisted.
And because he's felt it, because he's thought it, he thinks we all have.
Well, we haven't.
Some of us are normal! Are you giving her one?.
Who?.
Penhaligon.
Where was I before I was so rudely interrupted?.
Section 43.
If we say yeah, you get it.
If we say no, you don't.
And if you don't, you end up in court with your dick in a jar.
Do you understand what I'm saying?.
Yes.
Yeah?.
Penhaligon, boss.
What are you doing?.
What do you think I'm doing?.
Your wife's gone into labour.
Is the crowd dispersing?.
Just about.
Drive me to the hospital, then get onto Beck.
Cassidy's got to cough.
Right.
Something I ate.
It's your arrogance, Fitz.
A nice young bit of stuff like that, and you are hanging around her.
I wouldn't even dream of it.
Yeah, well, I've got my hair in the right place.
Read it, please.
I can't.
I've had this for years.
I'm not shaving it off just cos a bunch of queers start growing them.
It's beneath me.
I'm not that insecure.
Do you understand what I'm saying?.
Keep your hair on.
Read it, please.
No.
Because that's what made you kill him.
"First ice.
Tears on the classroom floor.
I start to grieve.
He opens the classroom door.
He tells me to leave.
First ice isn't nice.
" Why "First ice"?.
It's a poem about a girl in a telephone box I She's been hurt.
I read it to the kids, and get them to write about a time they were hurt.
"He opens the classroom door, and tells me to leave.
" That's you.
It is, isn't it?.
Beautiful.
More a girl than a boy.
You want to hold him, touch him, explore.
He's crying.
"It's all right, Timothy.
It's OK, it's OK.
" He's screaming.
You've gone too far.
He'll tell his mother.
His mother'll tell the police.
The police'll come round to the school.
One hand's enough.
Such a delicate throat.
The eyes won't close.
You squeeze and you squeeze, but the eyes won't close.
You turn him over, face down in the mud.
You hold him.
You run.
Where?.
Home.
You pace the floor.
"I've strangled him.
I strangled him.
" A rope! You go back.
He's still there, cold.
You pick him up.
There's air in the lungs.
It gets squeezed out.
Sounds like a groan.
For one terrible second, you think he's still alive.
I marked books.
I jogged.
People must have seen me jogging.
And then I came home and marked some more books.
Good girl.
Oh, it's got a lovely mop of hair.
That's it.
Right, come on.
Pant now, love.
Try and relax.
Relax.
Relax! Relax! Relax! Relax now.
Pant now.
Pant, come on.
Will you sod off! Confess.
Plead guilty.
It will be over in a flash.
Deny it, there'll be a trial.
Week upon week, detail upon detail.
Your mother squirming and cringing.
You've done this.
My flat, my job, my mother, Leslie.
All because you decided I was gay.
What gives you the right?.
What makes you so bloody arrogant you can decide that after five lousy minutes?.
Because I'm right.
You're wrong.
Are you married?.
-Yeah.
When was the last time you gave your wife a good seeing-to?.
When was the last time?.
That's my business.
You've poked your nose into mine for long enough.
I haven't killed somebody.
You have.
-I haven't.
Bring her down here.
She's probably gasping for it.
I'll slip her one.
You can ask her what she thinks.
All those times you made love to Leslie, she faked it every single time.
Why else would she believe you were gay?.
Huh?.
She felt the need to fake it.
She knew you needed reassurance.
She knew that deep down, something was wrong.
I marked books, I jogged And then you marked more books.
Did you ever tell Tim off?.
Of course I told Tim off.
More than the other children?.
-No.
He was special.
You'd have to hide that.
You'd tell him off more than the others.
No.
You were standing.
He was sitting down, head bowed.
"Look at me when I'm talking to you, boy! Look at me! Look at me!" Then he'd look up.
Those blue eyes, those long blond lashes.
More a girl than a boy.
And his eyes were saying, "Please, stop this.
Please, stop this! Please stop this!" How did that make you feel, Nigel?.
Grey.
What?.
They were more grey than blue.
"See me, Tim.
See me, Tim.
" And what, he'd go to your desk?.
I'd go to his.
Well, not just his, every pupil's.
Ah.
So, you'd squat?.
You'd be really close.
Touching.
Going through his work.
You'd exchange glances.
Be inches away.
Inches away from those eyes, huh?.
That was it, the moment you'd been waiting for, the moment that would get you through the day.
He really was that special to you, wasn't he, Nigel?.
He disgusted me.
And what were they saying, those eyes, the last time you saw them?.
"Please, stop this! Please, stop this! Please stop this!" You want to atone.
Yes.
That's why you tried to kill yourself.
A life for a life.
Yes.
I don't want that much, Nigel.
Just confess.
I know you want to confess.
You've killed a child, Nigel.
That's a terrible, terrible burden.
You want to share it.
I'm here, Nigel.
I'm willing to share your burden.
You're willing to share my burden?.
Yes.
I won't let you forget you said that.
I won't forget it.
I killed Timothy Lang.
Come on, darling.
You're the most beautiful woman that's ever lived.
Come on.
Argh! Come on, darling.
Good girl, good girl.
It's a boy.
Hi.
I was thinking of going away for a while.
On your own?.
Yeah.
You look terrible.
- Well, I haven't slept.
Then sleep.
How often have you wished me dead?.
-I've lost count.
So you could sleep with other men with a clear conscience.
I've put it to dozens of couples.
I don't give a damn how many people you've put it to.
You're wrong.
I've had opportunities, Fitz.
More than most.
Men see me.
They see you sitting next to me.
Overweight, pissed, arguing with someone at the next table, totally ignoring me until you've smashed him into an intellectual pulp.
They assume I'm available.
-Yeah, I know.
I enjoy it.
-Yes, I've seen you.
All that effort to impress is wasted, because they haven't got a tenth of that, or a twentieth of that.
I've loved you for 25 years, and I have never wanted anyone else.
Just a minute! I asked you all to wait outside.
Listen, the press conference will start in half an hour.
Now, please, outside.
He's coming, he's coming! Say nothing.
Say nothing.
Yeah?.
I was getting sick of the jokes, right?.
So, I got rid of it.
I was going to keep it, just to prove I've got nothing to prove.
But I haven't got to prove I've got nothing to prove, so I got rid of it, right?.
Could you give us that again, Jimmy?.
Hey, hey, calm down.
Calm down! Calm down.
I'm off.
Stay for one, stay for one.
Tell Peter if you want a tan, he's got to let you out of the bedroom now and again.
And don't speak with your mouth full.
Coffee?.
What do you want?.
- I've come to help you.
I lost my job, my flat's been destroyed, Leslie's walked out, and my mother's being persecuted.
Apart from decapitation, what else can you do for me?.
You were living a lie.
You're a happily married man, are you?.
Hm?.
Never thought of adultery, or just walking away from it all?.
You don't.
You go on living your lie.
You're a hypocrite.
There are worse things, Nigel.
To hell with the consequences, with who gets hurt, just so long as you can expose lies.
Not your own, of course.
Other people's.
That's got nothing to do with truth.
Just utter selfishness, you bloody hypocrite.
You're the murderer.
Get out of the bloody pulpit.
You said you were willing to share my burden.
Do you remember that?.
Yes.
I didn't kill Tim.
Don't believe you.
I'm not gay.
I fancied him because he was a girl.
Nigel, I don't mind you telling me lies, but come on! He knew.
He'd talk to me at school.
In the staffroom, they'd laugh.
"Takes one to know one", they'd say.
I'd laugh too.
But then he came round to my flat.
He needed to talk.
He frightened me.
In the staffroom, they'd laugh.
It brought things out in me.
I chased him away.
He died that night.
Are you saying you didn't kill him?.
I as good as killed him.
All you saw was guilt.
The same guilt that Andy felt, that his parents must have felt, or anyone who ever knew him.
That's all.
No more.
Tell me you didn't do it! I did not kill Timothy Lang.
What's wrong, Fitz?.
An innocent man's confessed?.
The killer's still out there?.
No.
You were wrong.
That's what's bothering you, isn't it?.
You arrogant bastard! If you want to punish yourself, I'll fix something up for you, you selfish, twisted little prick! But there's a killer out there! He's going to strike again.
Retract your confession.
- I want him to kill again.
Retract your confession right now.
I want him to kill again.
You said you'd share my burden.
That's my burden.
I'm responsible for the death of a child.
If he kills again, you'll know what it's like.
You'll be able to share it.
You did promise.
Am I right?.
You did promise.
Oh, my God! Oi! Oi! Fitz?.
He didn't do it.
How do you know?.
-I've just spoken to him.
He told me.
And you believe him?.
-Yeah.
Is he going to retract his statement?.
No.
Then what's the problem?.
- He didn't do it! We got a result.
It's up to CPS now.
Hey, sarge! Sarge?.
Will you behave yourselves, the pair of you?.
Will you just grow up! Look, I don't give a shit about the result.
He didn't do it.
It's the truth that counts.
- I've got a press conference.
I got the statement off that man! That means I'm resp - DS Beck got the statement.
What?.
-DS Beck got the statement.
After shrewd and persistent questioning, the witness made his statement.
That man couldn't get Edward the Confessor to cough.
I got the statement - Why don't you piss off?.
Jimmy.
Why don't you just piss off?.
-Jimmy! I've had to put up with you all night, and the novelty is wearing a bit thin! Why don't you just button your baldy lip! Tell them I'm coming.
If you don't stop this now, we're finished.
I'm out of here.
Have you finished?.
It's the truth that matters, not the result.
The truth! Here endeth the lesson, yeah?.
Yeah.
If I let him go, what have we got left?.
Nothing.
What do you want me to do?.
He didn't do it! You told me he did.
I pursued one sole line of enquiry, and you want me to tell the boss I was wrong?.
I'd be back pounding the bloody beat.
You want me to tell that lot I was wrong?.
They'd lynch me.
You want me to tell his mother I was wrong?.
I'm charging him.
He's innocent! Can you live with that, because I can't?.
Right.
Everyone ready, yeah?.
A man was arrested this morning in connection with the murder of Timothy Lang.
That man has since been charged, and will appear in court in the morning.
That's all.
Thank you.
What evidence do you have for arresting this man?.
Boss? -IShut it, Jimmy.
Any more bodies?.
He can'tjust leave like that! You're hopeless.
It's like a habit.
-So what?.
Keep your nose out.
-I'm serious.
It's either find a job, or go back to college.
You've got till Christmas.
Under certain terms - you'll get up when the rest of us get up, not spend the whole morning lying in bed.
I'm sorry.
There's nobody here to take your call.
If you'd like to leave a message for Fitz, Judith, Mark or Kate, please speak after the tone.
Message for Fitz from DS Penhaligon.
I think you've forgotten our appointment, Fitz.
College is just crap.
You're beginning to sound more like your father every day, Mark.
Look, it's a well-known fact - if you come from a posh house, you do well at school.
The posher the house, the more dosh your old man's got, the better you should do, right?.
Well-known fact, yeah?.
That proves it, then - Prince Charles is thick as pigshit.
Poshest house in the country, loads of dosh, and he gets CSE in metalwork! And as for his brothers! Thick as pigshit, the lot of them.
What do you call a one-eyed dinosaur?.
I wanna tell you the natural facts That a man don't understand the good book right, that's all That's all He's gotta have religion now, I tell you, that's all He can go to the college or go to the school But if he hasn't got religion he's an educated fool, that's all Oh, well, well, that's all You've gotta have more love, more understanding every day of your life, that's all People are fine to one another, and they think they're doing swell All they want is your money, and you can go to woah! That's all Oh, well, well, that's all They've gotta have religion now, I tell you, that's all
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