Hamish Macbeth (1995) s01e05 Episode Script

Wee Jock's Lament

1
Look at it. (Clicking tongue)
I can't even say the place names up here.
Harry, what are we doing here?
We should be heading south
for Glasgow, no' north to Oslo.
The roads to Glasgow are gonna be blue
with police out looking for us, Francie.
- Good afternoon.
- Hello.
Can I help?
No. It's finished.
Aye.
Oh, a Westie. I've got one myself.
He's called Jock.
This wee one's called Jock too.
Well, I suppose it's a common enough
tag for a Westie, eh?
- I'm Hamish Macbeth.
- Rose Hart.
What a beautiful name.
I'm afraid we'll have to go in now,
Hamish.
- To Lochdubh.
- I'll give you a lift back.
Is there luggage
or anything you'd like to take?
No.
Good dog. You're a fine wee dog.
Stay in, now, wee Jock.
(Car passing)
There's just a tad
over the half-pound, Esme.
Well, then, let me pay you for it,
Mr Campbell.
Pay, she says. What's a tad
to a grocery tycoon like myself?
Well, if you're sure, Rory.
I mean, it does look
like top-quality bacon.
The kind that'll crisp up nice
for breakfast.
Oh, I'm sure it will, Esme.
- Can I see you out, Esme?
- Thank you.
Oh, my, isn't that just a grand vision
of womanlihood there, boy?
What do you reckon, Rory?
I've just had a warning.
- Did you see anybody you recognised?
- No.
I heard a car, as clear as I'm hearing you.
But there was nothing there.
Right, Rory Campbell,
you can get me my messages.
My boy and I would prefer to be home
before what's going to happen happens.
- Jock!
- (Barking)
Here, boy. Here, wee Jock.
Come here.
- Watch the dog.
- I can see it, I can see it.
I'm just saying.
Stay. Stay, wee Jock.
Oh, no! Not you!
You aimed straight for it. I told you
and you aimed straight for a dog.
I thought I saw the boy for a second.
- I saw the boy.
- What boy?
Harry, that's no' possible.
Come on, get us out of here
before the police come.
(Jimmy) It's wee Jock, TV John.
They drove straight at him.
I tried to shout but Jock wouldn't stay.
It's happened.
It's wee Jock, Hamish.
(Jock whimpering)
(Jimmy) They ran straight at him,
Hamish.
What am I gonna dae?
Maybe Doc Brown can save him, Hamish.
I'm afear it'll hurt him.
Young Lachie's got a gentle way
with the beasts.
- I'll get him, Hamish.
- Give us your jacket.
Put it on there.
- Gently.
- All right. Come on.
(Jock whimpers)
(Thunder-like rumbling)
What's that?
It's wee Jock, Doc.
God, I know that sounds really stupid,
but it is.
Come away in.
(Francie) I'm no' a smug man, Harry,
but I have to mention the P-word.
I did say we needed petrol.
That's it. That's the sign, Francie.
That's the one.
It's a road sign. So what?
That's the sign
that the voices told me about.
- It's the starting point.
- The starting point for what?
For our new lives of devotion and prayer,
Francis.
Out there in the wilderness.
We're gonna be monks, you and me.
We're gonnae build
our own little monastery.
I mean, we do have a lot to repent for,
Francie.
We committed the greatest sin,
you and me, what we did.
Aye, I know, Harry.
I don't need reminding.
But oot there?
We'll never survive oot there.
What we gonnae eat, drink, live in?
We'll be in the midst of His abundance,
Francie.
We'll dine on the fruit from the trees.
We'll drink the sweet water
from the cool, clear streams.
And as for a roof,
we'll use the forest pines
and the mud from under our feet.
Are you gonna repent with me, Francie?
Or do you intend going south,
straight into the arms of the police
that are sure to be waiting for you?
(Whispers) Will you go?
I saw a woman in the Land Rover.
Who was she?
Her van broke down. I gave her a lift
and that's it. I don't know.
Did Jimmy see who did it?
Aye, he said there were two men.
They seemed to be dressed alike
and one of them had white hair.
(Door opening)
I've had to give Jock a wee injection,
Hamish.
There was nothing
could be done for him.
It was wee Jock's time, Hamish.
I had a warning.
Don't
Don't give me any more nonsense about
warnings and premonitions.
Wee Jock was killed by men.
In a machine but still
he was killed by men.
When I find out who did it, they're gonna
wish they'd never been born.
What would you like done
with wee Jock's remains, Hamish?
What?
Aye, we've had a bit of
a warm spell lately, you know.
It's been up to 17 degrees Celsius,
you know.
What do you want done
with all this stuff?
Take what you want for yourself
and dump the rest. I don't care.
Oh, John
Er, you could do me one favour.
(Thunder rumbling)
(TV John) er, suddenly
in Lochdubh High Street,
wee Jock Macbeth,
friend and faithful companion
of Hamish Macbeth,
police constable.
His passing brings such deep sorrow.
Yes, I heard about the tragedy,
Mr McIver.
But wee Jock
we haven't had this before.
He's never been dead before,
Mrs McLeod.
But creatures, Mr McIver.
I imagine the editor might object
to having a dog in the deaths column.
John, what brings you here?
It's wee Jock Macbeth. He's been killed.
And they want it in the deaths column.
Oh, I'm so sorry.
- And Hamish?
- Oh, bereft, Isobel.
- And there's the matter of rates.
- Is he at the station?
Oh, I'd leave him be just now
if I were you, Isobel.
Yes.
I'm sure Constable Macbeth
will pay whatever's necessary, Flora.
Put the notice in, will you, please?
If you say so, Miss Sutherland,
but I will not be answerable to the editor.
You're just a reporter yourself, after all.
(Chattering in background)
(Man) One, two.
Testing. Testing.
From Cameron and his boys
with deepest sympathies.
That's a lot of sympathy.
- Are you sure you'll manage it?
- I'll manage.
(Man) Testing. One, two.
Good evening, everybody,
or should I say, "Howdy, partners"?
I'm Freight Train Jackie Dallas
and this here's my good woman Dale.
We'd sure appreciate it if you was to give
us a big howdy to make us feel at home.
So just you holler good and loud,
"Howdy, Freight Train, Howdy, Dale."
(All muttering) Howdy, Freight Train,
Howdy, Dale.
- Yes. Did you hear that, Dale?
- I did, Freight Train.
Go for it, darling.
Now, you good folks, just listen up now,
cos old Freight Train's
got a song to sing.
A sad and a very lovely song.
Old Shep was a dog ♪
(Shocked whispering)
(Glass smashes)
God, you're not that bad.
Hamish, Mr Freight Train meant no harm.
I know, I just wanted
to explain what happened.
You see, Mr Freight Train
There's a white dog barking
in the darkness.
- There's a white dog
- What's the matter with him?
It's one of his turns.
He'll be all right in a minute.
Stay and sing for 'em, eh?
Isobel, try and get them back,
darling, eh?
Sing them a song.
Get 'em back.
What did he mean, John?
A white dog in the darkness.
That man's got the second sight,
Hamish.
I doubt if he understands it,
but he's got it.
Something's happening, Hamish.
Something's happening.
Oh, rubbish.
(Wind howling)
Harry!
Maybe we should just gi' ourselves up.
I mean,
it's no' working out just right, is it?
You trust in Him.
Trust in Him.
After a good night's sleep,
come a new morn, it'll be OK.
Trust me. Trust me.
In the morning we'll be skipping over
that heather like a pair of young bucks.
Harry Dobbs will no'
let his old mate Francie doon.
You just cuddle yourself down here
and get yourself some sleep, OK?
- (Thunderclap)
- Agh!
You'll not let me sleep in,
will you, Harry?
(Wind howling, caravan rattling)
(Woman) I'm sorry, but I did knock.
- I thought you'd left or something.
- No. No.
I went for a walk.
So I see. You're soaking.
I'll be all right.
I hate troubling you
under the circumstances.
Aye.
- Where's your dog?
- Oh, he'll find me when he wants to.
Do you know who
Two men in a grey car.
I saw a grey car
and two men running up on the hillside.
Did one of them have white hair?
Come on, did one of them
have white hair?
Yes.
One of them had white hair.
And where exactly did you see the car?
Five miles north of the village.
(Glass smashing)
(Rattling)
Go away.
Leave me in peace.
Leave me alone.
(TV John) Hamish, no.
(Dog barking)
Jock!
Jock!
(TV John) It was wee Jock's time.
You can't do this, Hamish.
Hamish.
No!
Agh!
(Lachlan) Put it down into second.
(Lachie Junior) It is.
Into third. Into third.
Clutch. Your clutch. Clutch, boy.
(Beeping)
- (Lachlan) Are you fit, Rory?
- I'm ready.
- So we're just waiting on TV John, then?
- Aye.
Nah, nah. I just cannot believe
this premonition business.
Are we really saying Macbeth is going
to execute the men that killed his dog?
Why not? He dearly loved that dog.
If you don't believe in premonitions,
maybe you can tell us where Macbeth is.
Or how come the official revolver's
missing from the safe
along with the official ammunition.
We don't even know where they went.
They were driving north
and Hamish knew that.
Macbeth wants them to himself, Doc.
We have to stop him.
Clutch. Your clutch.
Get your clutch. Your clutch, boy.
(Bird twitters)
(Harry) Did you catch anything?
Were there any birds?
Aye. Millions.
And they landed
everywhere but ma loop.
I'm sorry, Harry.
I just ran out o' patience.
What are we gonnae do?
Say a prayer wi' me, Francie.
Lord, Francie and me
are in dire need
of some nourishment here,
and I was just kind of wondering
if there was any
(Whispering)
What?
I said, "Ask him for a tin opener."
Lord, Francis has just pointed out
that we might need a
Bet you never guessed
that manna came in 57 varieties.
Right. Let's get after them, then.
(Hamish) So er what you two boys
doin' away out here.
Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme, is it?
Ah, that was a good one, that,
Mr Macbeth.
But no,
in actual fact, Francie and me,
we're corporate executives.
We're on an initiative course thing.
They stick you in the middle
of somewhere and see how you fare.
- What you doing out here?
- Well, I live out here, Mr Dobbs.
I didnae fancy what passes for life
in society these days,
so I packed up, moved out here.
What, you mean
you just tramp the hills and stuff?
Yeah, sometimes.
When I get fed up tramping
I fly about the hills, Mr McGilp.
Fly? What, are you saying you can fly,
Mr Macbeth?
No, I'm saying if you two are corporate
executives then I can fly, Mr McGilp.
No, no. See, I reckon that's prison gear
you're both wearing.
And I reckon you left
before you paid your full debt to society.
Just what exactly do you intend
to do about that, Mr Macbeth?
Depends what you were in for, Mr Dobbs.
Robbery.
Well, as I have nothing much worth
stealing I guess you're nae threat to me.
You're absolutely right, Mr Macbeth.
You have nothing to fear from us.
I mean, why would we want to harm
what the Lord sent?
I mean, do you actually think in this vast
expanse we bumped intae each other?
No, no. You were sent, Mr Macbeth.
For what, Mr Dobbs?
To show Francis and me
the way of the wilds.
And then after that to point us
in the direction of trees and forests.
Trees? What do want trees for?
We need the timber.
Build this little monastery.
We're exactly the same as you,
Mr Macbeth.
We're heart-sick of society.
It's all grief back there.
Well, I could stand the company
for a day or two. Teach yous what I can.
God bless you, Mr Macbeth.
What's your first name, by the way, as
we're gonna be travelling companions?
- It's Hamish.
- Harry.
Francie.
Well, I suppose I could start
by showing you how to build a wee fire.
- Brew you up a cup o' tea.
- Now you're talking.
Hey. Let me assist you.
Er, it's Macbeth's tracks all right.
He was running hard.
- How far ahead is he, TV John?
- How the hell would I know that?
I thought you could tell
that kind of thing.
In the pictures, those Indian scouts
can scrunch up droppings in their hand
and tell you everything.
I'm happy to say, Lachie Junior, that
Macbeth hasn't left us any droppings.
But if he does,
you can do the scrunching up.
Now, let's get a move on.
You know what the boy was driving at.
Hollywood's got a lot to answer for.
Hollywood, eh?
And here's me thinking it was genetic.
- Campbell, would you like a fat lip?
- Take it easy, Lachlan.
Here, have a suck on this.
- No, I'll pass on that, if you don't mind.
- I don't mind.
- Can you feel it?
- Aye.
Now, just like I showed ye,
whip it out.
I did it! I did it!
I caught my ain fish!
Hamish, that was wonderful, man.
(Laughing)
It was, Francie.
(TV John) He's caught up with them.
There were three of them here.
Well, I was right. Not a cadaver in sight.
- Macbeth must be taking them in.
- Where to? John O'Groats?
They're heading north.
If I had murder in mind, Doctor, I'd lead
my prey to where they'd never be found.
Macbeth's picking his spot.
There's plenty hours of daylight.
I suggest we march on at the double.
Tell me, Francie, um
you do know your pal's no' well?
Aye, I know he needs serious help.
What can I do?
And he is my friend, Hamish.
My God, me and Harry grew up together.
Served our apprenticeships together.
Got made redundant together.
I cannae desert him noo.
I'm just hoping he comes back
to his senses and we can go back home.
Even hoping
we could go back to the nick.
Aye.
(Lachlan) Will we catch them in time,
John?
Well, I'm banking on
my vision being accurate.
The scene of the crime
was very, very specific.
It wasn't just wilderness.
If we can intercept Macbeth
before he reaches that spot
Has anyone got tomater?
Tomater?
It's tomato. What have I told you
about speaking properly, boy?
You're in the company
of educated people here.
Who?
Well, the doctor there.
You're letting yourself down
something awful.
- And what about the way you speak?
- Me?!
(Doc) I'd tread wary, Lachlan.
The linguistic development of offspring
is crucially affected by the parents.
I can pass myself off anywhere. You'll
no catch me asking for a "tomater".
I wasn't asking for a tomato.
I have tomato.
What I was about to ask for,
before I was interrupted,
was if anyone without tomato
was happy to exchange,
I'd be willing to part with a tomato
for, say, a bonano.
No, what you were asking for
was a slap in the chops.
That's nice talk.
And in front of the doctor too.
Boys, boys. We shouldn't be squabbling
on a night like this,
with full bellies and a raging fire.
We should be engaging
in a spot of male bonding.
I'm for that, Rory.
(Lachlan) Aye. Aye, you're right, Rory.
I'm sorry, boy.
(Lachie Junior) What
(Lachlan) Aye?
- What did he mean?
- What?
Male bonding.
Well, it's you know
it's what men do on the trail,
round the campfire.
They sort of let their feminine side
come out, you know.
- That's right, Doc, in't it?
- Something like that.
- Yeah. Good night.
- Good night.
(Cocks gun)
- (Yelling)
- What?
- What is it, Harry? What is it, man?
- (Yelling)
- Harry!
- The boy, Francie.
The boy.
- As clear as the day we killed him.
- There's nothing there, Harry.
Look. Look. There's nothing.
It was a dream, Harry.
It were just a dream.
Yeah.
You're all right. You're all right.
- He's sleeping.
- You lied to me.
You told me you were robbers,
no' killers. I'll no' travel with killers.
We're no' killers, Hamish.
What Harry was talking about
was an accident.
You'd better tell me about this accident
so I can make my mind up.
You've still got a lot to learn.
You havenae got a hope of surviving
out here.
I'm not telling you more
till I get the truth.
I mean it, Francis.
Seven year ago
we robbed a warehouse,
got a load of VCRs.
It was early Sunday morning.
It went like clockwork.
We were driving the van
along this quiet road
when this wee boy
he just stepped oot.
Harry tried to stop.
He hit the brakes so hard,
I nearly went through the windscreen.
I was KO'd, Hamish.
Harry telt me what happened next.
It was clear the boy was dead.
Harry was sure we hadn't been seen,
so he put his jacket aur the boy
and put him in the back of the van.
By the time I came to my senses,
it was too late.
Harry had dumped the van
with the boy inside.
I take it the boy was never found?
No.
Harry panicked.
We'd a van load of stolen goods.
You're talking a lot of jail time.
He panicked because we're no' killers.
You can see what it's done tae him.
Tae him?
What about the parents?
The boy's family?
What's it done tae them?
You could have contacted them
anonymously, told them where he was.
No, we couldn't.
Harry left his jacket in the van
and there was something in it
that could identify him.
What?
A bloody laminated bingo card.
That's what.
The boy's dead, Hamish.
Nothing can bring him back.
I always told myself as long as
the boy's family didnae know the truth,
at least they could hope.
I had to tell myself something.
No. We couldnae tell anybody
where the boy was.
We'd been branded as murderers.
Right, are we fit, then?
Let's get going.
Hamish?
- It's no use, John. We'll have to stop.
- He's right, John.
- How about you?
- I could run for miles yet.
Then you go on.
When you find them, come back here.
They're still heading north,
so keep the sun on your right shoulder.
I'll find them, TV John.
Aye. You're back.
Francie was worried that
you'd went away and left us, Hamish.
No, I went to get some breakfast.
- Fish again.
- Fish'll be fine, Hamish.
I'll get the fire going.
Aye. Let's get moving.
- Any sign of the boy yet?
- None.
We should have asked the doctor to go,
TV John.
No, my boy'll pull through.
Any minute now
he'll come tearing over that hill there.
Daddy! Daddy!
Daddy!
Tearing over that hill, will he?
He's been running round in circles.
It went and clouded over.
Macbeth's gonna kill those men.
I saw the gun, TV John.
I saw it clear as day.
It's just a piece of string, Hamish.
It doesnae look much
but it's sound enough.
I cross it all the time.
Well, you wanted forests, Harry.
There they are.
Wa-hey! Hey!
(Shouting)
Hamish, what is this?
- Uh
- Hamish, you were sent.
I wisnae sent, Harry.
I came for ye.
You boys have caused a lot of grief.
Time to put things right.
Down there.
(Gunshot)
My God. He's done it.
(Gunshot)
(Hamish) I had a wee dog, you know.
Remember?
All his life consisted of
was eating, sleeping,
doing his business
and gi'ing me constant affection.
And you two,
you two took him away from me.
(Cocks gun)
- (Gunshot)
- If you're gonna kill us, get on with it.
Because Francis and I will not crawl,
if that's what you think.
- What do you think, Francis?
- Harry's right.
What I'll say is
I don't want tae die, Hamish.
But I don't believe
you'll kill us for a dog.
Believe it. They're just like children.
(TV John) Hamish! This is not right.
They're human beings.
Hamish, you can get grief counselling.
I'll get you the top man from Aberdeen.
- Stay out of this!
- (Harry) Ha-ha-ha-ha!
Can't shoot us now, eh?
There's witnesses there. They'll testify.
No' when I tell them
what you did to the wee boy?
This is for him as well as for wee Jock.
(Cocks gun)
Wait, Hamish.
Is there anything I can do or say
to save my life?
(Children playing)
- You?
- I beg your pardon?
- I'm sorry. I'm Hamish Macbeth.
- I'm Susan Graham, Mr Macbeth.
Please, come in.
(Susan) Robert.
This is Hamish Macbeth.
- My husband Robert.
- Hello.
It was good you came
all the way down here, Mr Macbeth.
We wanted to thank you personally
for what you did for us.
Aye.
I'll get some coffee. Then we can talk.
(Whimpering)
Mr and Mrs Graham
I'd just like to say that
you know, the man who killed your son
well, it was a genuine accident.
No amount of punishment can cause him
more suffering
than his own conscience already has.
We're not looking for revenge,
Mr Macbeth.
All we ever wanted
was to have our son back,
or at least to know
what happened to him.
Now we do, thanks to you.
Aye.
Mrs Graham, do you have a sister?
Or some relative
who maybe looks like you?
I had a sister called Rose.
Why do you ask?
- There was a woman who
- (Robert) Rose is dead, Mr Macbeth.
I'm sorry.
She was looking after my son
when he disappeared.
I often felt she held herself responsible
for what happened to him.
If you don't mind me asking,
when did she die?
S-Six years ago, in a climbing accident.
(Susan) Who was this woman?
Just someone I met.
(Dog whimpering)
Westies.
I've got
- I had one myself.
- (Robert) Yes, we know.
- They told us.
- I buried him up Ben Bheinnie.
A lovely spot.
My friend John's making a wee stone
that we'll place there when I get back.
He was called Jock.
That's a common enough tag
for a Westie.
This wee one's called Jock too.
Jock's the last of Judy's litter.
And, well, Susan and I
were wondering if you'd
Oh, me?
- Who's this?
- Isobel, this is Jock.
No, Jock Two.
(Barking)
Take us home, will ye?
(Indistinct dialogue)
And I'm telling you it was all meant to be.
- I had a warning.
- Aye, I thought you might.
Well, think about it.
If those men hadn't killed wee Jock,
you'd have never gone after them alone.
If the police had caught them, you'd have
never known anything about the boy.
- What if I'd killed them first?
- Ah, you wouldn't have done that.
What will I play, Hamish?
Play something sad, John, eh?
Play something sad for wee Jock.
(Mournful melody)
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