Original subtitles

ALARM

BELLS RINGING

Mc Dog...

ALARM

No sign of an intrusion at Wheelers.

We'll now attend Corderado in Clegg Street.

Perhaps it was an earthquake.

Set all the alarms off. Subliminal.

The earth moved, we haven't noticed. I know the feeling!

There's a ladder, look.

Can I ask what you're doing, please?

Trying to get some sleep!

Where's Sgt Wells?

He'll be back in a moment.

Norman, what are you in for? The usual, sir.

What happened to the hostel we put you in?

The usual!

Seen that flasher lately in the park?

Don't go in the park, Mr Frost. Full of undesirables.

Yeah. Very wise.

Oi, get off that desk!

And you, Jack. Out of it! Got no home to go to?

What's the charge? Criminal damage.

It is not, it's justifiable homicide!

That alarm deserves to die! It goes off if a pigeon breaks wind!

I'll do the owner next!

See you, Bill. Six times in the last fortnight!

ALARM STOPS

Morning, Johnny. Morning, Jack.

Cheers.

Don't forget Mrs McKendrick's dog.

Mullett wants you. Does he? Where are we going?

Corderado. Electrical store. Done for 30 grand's worth.

Oh, dear!

Well? Cry wolf, sir.

Beg your pardon?

Cry wolf. The number of false alarms has gone through the roof.

We think a gang's setting them off, sussing which owners get blase.

CID are happy with burglars plundering at will (?)

What do I tell the Denton News?

Sandy Longford's smirking in my office!

Just leave it with us, sir.

I intend to.

I have enough to do without worrying about crime!

Business community's losing faith, Mr Mullett.

Progress is being made.

Yeah. Mostly by the burglars.

And you see, Sandy...

Many people, including - sadly - the Denton News,

don't look beyond crime figures to measure police success.

It is through our bond with the community that an increase in confidence

and a genuine decrease in crime can be achieved.

So an arrest isn't imminent?

I'm referring to ethnic minorities,

who are a vital part of our community.

Denton has a number of officers drawn -

One black, one brown, one Welsh.

From all parts of the racial spectrum.

I'm pleased to announce our first non-white CID officer.

Carl Tanner joins us from the Basingstoke Crime Squad.

You hope this will defuse racial tension in the town?

What racial tension?

You deny there is any? Of course! That's absurd!

Little rascal, isn't he, sir?

Longford? It's inflammatory.

He's burned his bridges! No more interviews!

Let him buy his own chocolate biscuits!

What about the new Detective Constable?

He'll go to the burglary initiative.

Bring some order to your chaos.

Oh.

I see...

It's out of order - guys queue up for CID,

and he gets the job because of his colour!

How'd you get the job? Offer your body to the Chief Constable?

He's in your office, guv.

Inspector Frost? Yes. I understand you've met the others.

Yeah. They told me to wait in here.

Quite right. It's more salubrious.

Let's have a quick rundown of the filing system, shall we?

In, out, LBW.

LBW? Let the buggers wait.

Um, what's that say?

Mc dog?

Yeah, that's what I thought.

You know why I'm here, sir?

Come to solve our burglaries.

No, sir, it's cos I'm black.

Us whites can't solve 'em!

Positive discrimination.

Two guys in the Crime Squad are better qualified for this.

Oh, that's Mr Mullett.

Forward-thinking. We suffer for it.

Oh, no, I can handle it.

The back-biting. And... I wanted to work with you.

Oh, really? Most people think it's like getting the black spot.

Still, it won't show on you, will it? Come on.

Arthur, what can I do?

Non-accidental injury, St Mary's. Three-year-old boy.

Um, yeah, right. I'll catch you up, OK?

The family's name is Bell. Bronte House, Eastdean Estate.

Matthew Bell - not Natalie's kid?

Welcome to the Eastdean Estate, crime academy of Denton.

Yeah, I've heard about it.

You'll hear a lot more.

If there was a blagging in Benidorm, the gear'd end up here.

You slut! Get out of my flat! Go on!

Miss Natalie Bell? Detective Inspector Frost.

Detective Constable Tanner.

Child Protection Team asked me to visit.

Oh, hello! Who's this?

He's a friend. He's just leaving.

Don't look at me, I don't hit kids.

It's a white man thing.

That's a rather racist remark, sir!

What did he want? I told you, he's a friend!

On home ground now? Unlike you.

What are you doing on home ground? Tryin' to blow me out?

No, I got worried about you when I heard. So you come 'ere?

Child protection is CID's responsibility.

It'd be fishy if we didn't attend. Where's Matthew?

He's at his nan's. No bones broken.

Good. So, who?

Who do you think? Your latest?

Yeah. Phil Aspinall.

He come round last night. Drunk.

Matthew wound him up. Phil can't stand noise, and bang!

Where is darling Phil?

No idea. He threw up on the carpet and left.

Right, we'll nick him.

You do that! The rest is between us, but this ain't grassing.

I'll go in the box if I have to. All right, calm down.

I may be a slag, but nobody hits my kid.

I want everyone to know.

Now, just calm down. We'll get him.

Go and put the kettle on, son.

Sit down there, that's it.

That's what I owe you from our last piece of business.

Don't worry, we'll get Aspinall.

Got anything else at the moment?

It's all right, he's one of us.

I need something on these commercial burglaries.

Come on, Natalie.

You must have something for me.

Davis Clark, Hathaway House, flat 16.

I didn't know he was into burglary.

No, drugs. He's dealing again.

Right, fine. Well, we'll get him.

Come on, Natalie, about the burglaries.

Sorry, no.

There must be something - iffy camcorder, electric drill.

Just leave it!

A real diamond, Natalie.

I've run her for a few years. She's not common knowledge.

Sgt Hanlon, the DCI and you - so let's keep it that way.

Ever used a sledgehammer?

Police! Stay where you are!

Mr Clark? Your doorbell wasn't working.

Come on.

We believe you've contravened the Misuse of Drugs Act, Mr Clark.

What do you mean, man? I'm clean.

Washing is not the habit I'm interested in.

Well? Right.

Anything?

Guv!

Yes?

Mr Clark?

Tragic news, I'm afraid.

Your goldfish is about to OD on cocaine.

I hope the incident was sensitively handled.

I'll give it a decent burial. What?

The goldfish. After the postmortem.

Goldfish are not my concern.

At least this one died happy.

Jack, I think you'd better step into my office.

Yes, sir.

Here. Get a tea. Avoid the turkey sandwiches.

Close the door, will you?

It's a great pity this Davis Clark isn't white.

I'll pop down and get a can of emulsion.

You know what I'm talking about.

The Eastdean Estate is a racially sensitive area.

Because Sandy Longford says so?

No, but he's more in touch than you - and sharper.

While you were arresting black people,

Thorogood's was burgled - in broad daylight.

I had a non-accidental injury to see to - apart from the drugs.

Is that of no consequence - kid getting hit?

Don't be facile. Of course it is!

But that's £200,000 of stolen goods in a month!

When the Chamber of Commerce call to gripe, I'll pass them to you.

Might as well play Chinese Checkers.

Those pins are no use for anything else.

Unless we make an effigy of Mr Mullett...

There has to be some pattern.

The only pattern was the alarms set off on purpose.

What about Thorogood's?

Maybe a different gang.

The alarm was tampered with. If you ask me, someone has expertise.

It certainly wasn't the bloke who cooked this.

Go on. Why don't you go off home to bed?

No, I'm fine.

You're not. You're trying to impress me.

Certainly isn't necessary, son.

I get 'em all thrown at me -

Chief Constable's nephews, demoted inspectors.

As long as you're a pig first and black second, we'll be fine.

Oh, damn! Aspinall.

PHONE

We haven't done anything about Aspinall.

Frost.

Cheers, Arthur.

Wickham's Cash and Carry. Uniform have rumbled a burglary.

Police! Get out of here! Come on!

Wait! Wait!

There's one still here.

Suspects leaving in white van. One still on scene.

CRASH

Oi!

GLASS BREAKING

Looks like a bit of sweatshirt on the glass.

"Emerald green, and a lot of blood."

"Suspect escaped over roof."

Better get in touch with hospitals.

We had a call.

Doctor Shakir? Yes?

You treated a glass wound?

Half an hour ago.

Ten stitches in the right thumb.

Lucky it missed his wrist.

There.

Did he say how it happened?

The usual. Fight outside a pub.

"Person treated is Mark Vivian Lansdale."

"Date of birth 27.02.75."

"Address: 271, Rossetti House, Eastdean Estate."

Yes!

Mrs Lansdale?

Sorry to disturb you so early. Det Insp Frost. Is Mark here?

Yes. In bed.

Could you wake him up? We need to speak to him.

Mark! Mark!

D'you mind if we come in?

Nice consumer durables in the living room.

Mark Lansdale? Get dressed.

I can't talk to Y-fronts.

Where were you at 11pm last night?

Why?

It's simpler if just one of us asks questions.

Were you at home?

No. I was at me mate's house. Your mate? What mate?

I'm not dropping him in it too! Dropping him in what?

In this! You think I've been burgling.

Wouldn't be the first time if you had.

Nothing for two years, Chief (!) Your computer should tell you that.

Have you got a green sweatshirt? Green? I don't think so.

Why's that? Not cool enough?

How d'you manage to look so cool? I mean, Y-fronts apart.

How can you afford it on the dole?

I save me benefit. And I don't do drugs.

What do you do, then?

Stay at home with Mum, wondering which of your three videos to use?

Hurt your hand?

Yeah.

How'd you do that, then? Cut it last night.

What did you cut it on? Glass.

Glass! What sort of glass?

Glass glass. You know, for beer.

So you were in the pub?

I was at me mate's house!

What were you doing? Fighting?

No. The glass broke in me hand when I was washing up.

Did you seek medical care after this domestic mishap?

Went to Casualty at St Mary's. They gave me 10 stitches.

I bet you told the doctor you had a fight.

Yeah.

Now you say you cut your hand washing up.

I was a bit drunk at the hospital.

And washing-up's not very cool, is it?

You wanted to keep your street cred?

Yeah.

In other words, you tell lies.

If I asked, did you cut your hand doing a burglary at Wickham's Cash and Carry and you said no,

I wouldn't know whether to believe you.

You and your boy can believe what you like.

You can't prove nothing.

I've done my good citizen bit.

Now I'm goin' home.

(SUCKS HIS TEETH)

He's got form. He's on the dole, with a flat full of bent gear.

We don't know it's bent.

That's why I'm being upright and not detaining him.

If he burgles, why give the hospital his name?

I don't know! Pain? Shock? Villains aren't supermen.

Guv...

Putting the wind up pond life is better than messing about with pins.

Frost.

Oh, hello, love.

I'm sorry. I haven't forgotten.

Has Aspinall come back?

You're OK, are you?

Good. I just haven't had a chance.

I didn't expect otherwise. I've got something for ya.

About the burglaries. It'll cost. It's more than names.

All right? How's Matthew?

Fine.

Good. Where is he now? Doreen's.

That's his nan's?

I saw you today. On the estate. Oh, yeah?

I was planning to phone you.

I saw you with Mark Lansdale.

He was in the Wheatsheaf last night with Ritchie Gibbs.

Who? Ritchie Gibbs. In my flat.

Oh, yes, him.

Errol Baker was with them.

Was he really?

Ritchie's staying with him.

Did you know Errol bought a van a while back?

No. He doesn't keep it on the estate.

Starting a removals business. I thought Mark worked for him.

Last night I twigged what they're up to.

Where did you get that?!

In the pub last night. Mark Lansdale sold it to me.

They was doing a good trade. I've always said you were a diamond!

I've got to go. Yeah. Natalie...

Hey - Nat...

Natalie, you be careful, right?

Da-da!

Check that out, will you?

Stolen property, Corderado, serial numbers thereof.

We can disturb Mr Lansdale's beauty sleep again.

You see, a lot of people whinge about positive discrimination.

But if you don't have positive discrimination,

you're left with negative discrimination.

That leads to inertia.

Perpetuating the status quo.

I used to quite like them.

You've got to get proportional representation.

What are we talking about now? Politics?

In all ranks.

When you've got a black superintendant, you don't need

to push the Tanners of this world through the system any more.

Cos it'll happen naturally.

How did Mike get there, then?

He's not black. And he's certainly not natural.

PHONE

3291.

Eastdean?

Burning cars?

No, it's a flat, sir.

It's not a public order situation, but you asked to be informed.

What number? What number?!

Dunno yet. It's Bronte House. Oh, my God!

Probably a house fire.

Excuse me, can I come through?

SIREN Inspector Frost. Thank you!

She wasn't burnt.

The smoke got her.

The Super's here, guv.

Right.

Good morning, sir. Cause?

SOCO and Lab Liaison haven't arrived,

but the Fire Officer reckons it was petrol. Arson?

Very.

Was she known to you, the deceased?

Yes, sir, she was.

So, house-to-house enquiries?

We'll start shortly, but I don't expect much.

None of the neighbours saw or heard anything.

There's a conspiracy of silence?

I don't think so, sir.

Meat and drink to that rabble-rouser Longford.

I think I might call a press conference.

Take the heat out of the situation.

I think the firemen already did that, sir.

Carry on. Yes, sir.

I'm pulling Lansdale, Errol Baker and a guy called Gibbs. That all right?

What, for this?

We'll start off with burglary and see what happens.

Burglary? Jack, you've already had Lansdale in once.

I've got fresh evidence.

I had fresh evidence last night.

D'you know what this is, Mark?

A camcorder in a plastic bag.

Correct.

Have you seen it before? No.

Quite sure? Yeah.

Were you in the Wheatsheaf on Rydale St two nights ago?

Yeah.

Yesterday you told me you were in your mate's house.

You asked me where I was at 11pm. We were at the pub before that.

I see. I stand corrected.

So, who's 'we', then, Mark?

Eh?

Who's 'we'?

Me and Errol.

Errol Baker?

Yeah.

And it was at his place you did the washing-up?

Yes! Why didn't you tell me?

I know how you feel about Errol!

I think it's a case of how he feels about us.

I hear you work with him. You hear a lot, don't ya (?)

That give you a problem? Me hearing things?

Yeah.

You're in the removal game.

You, Errol Baker, Ritchie Gibbs.

The serial number on this camcorder

is the same as the one on this list of items that were removed,

ie stolen, from Corderado three nights ago.

So how come you were selling this in the pub?

What did Lansdale say?

Well, he denied all knowledge and went shtum.

So? So it's on to Baker and Gibbs.

There's no way their stories will match under cross examination.

Lansdale's already told porkies.

Natalie gave me their names, Jum.

And now she's dead.

OK.

Thank you.

Yo - watch out.

Morning, Errol. Can you spare us a few minutes? At the nick?

No.

You can't do this, man. This is the 1990s.

I've got a calendar. Thank you, Mr Baker.

Inspector Frost wants him booked in. Oh, and him.

We don't know nothing about no burglaries, all right?

No-one's saying you do. What do you mean, no-one's saying?

Don't give me that!

Waiting for me, son?

Yes, guv.

(SHOUTING)

Errol sounds his usual happy self.

Let's go and grab a sandwich

while he works out his aggression on Sergeant Wells.

What's that? Your Xmas gift list?

No, I've done a bit of digging.

For background, with the PNC and the collator.

These are all people on the Eastdean Estate

who've been arrested in the last two years.

Can you remember which of them Natalie fingered?

Hmm. That one, and that one.

That one.

Him.

All the ones marked with a red spot.

What's the red spot, son?

It means Race Code Three.

Every person Natalie gave you was black.

So? Hadn't you noticed?

No. What difference does colour make if they're at it?

None whatsoever.

Come on, son, get it off your chest.

Do you mean Natalie shouldn't have informed on them

because they were black, or that we shouldn't have acted?

Bit of a U-turn for you, since you hate positive discrimination.

I think it's cause for concern.

My cause for concern is that Natalie was murdered.

With three black suspects!

If they're bang to rights, I'll have 'em - black, white, pink!

Lansdale is not bang to rights, guv.

Nor Gibbs, or Baker - for burglary, or anything.

Maybe everybody else Natalie gave you was guilty, but why no whites?

It doesn't make any sense.

Jack, you're wanted at Reception.

I'll go and nick a few for you, then.

Oi!

What's up with you?

Earache. Why are you here? I thought you were banned.

Mullett changed his mind.

I'm here for an interview. He's realised he needs the Evening News.

You all do.

I don't. Too thick for bog paper, too thin for curtains.

Now things are nasty on the Eastdean.

It's obviously racial.

I've always said this about you, Sandy.

You're in the best tradition of journalism.

Never let the truth get in the way of a story.

Bit like you now, by all accounts.

Lifting people on the off chance? Doesn't go down well now.

I don't lift on the off chance. I act on information.

So do I, mate! Errol Baker's girlfriend phoned me.

She claims Errol was dragged into a police car.

If Errol won the pools, he'd punch the postman.

But he hasn't won the pools, has he?

He's just an old favourite.

Jack? Yes.

Front desk. Yes, I'm coming.

Oh, and Mrs McKendrick phoned about her dog.

Ah, Mr Purcell?

Yeah, right.

Right, well.

I understand you have information.

Yeah. It's about Mark Lansdale, y'know?

And the other two you got in here.

They're innocent. Innocent!

You understand?

Now, you do them, you get done!

I want you to tell me that they ain't gonna get done. Tell me!

ALARM

Tell me!

Stop him! Get him!

Jack!

You prat! I had him then!

Grab him!

Stop him!

Grab him!

Calm down! It's all right, he's here.

Just helping with our enquiries, sir.

From the Eastdean Estate...

you said.

Apparently. His name's Ian Purcell.

He's drugged up the eyeballs.

Have you ever been on the riot training course?

No.

I have.

It's frightening.

Of course when the lid finally blows on the Eastdean Estate,

when the barricades go up and the petrol bombs

and the lumps of concrete start flying...

..it won't be you out there leading the thin blue line.

It'll be me.

With respect, sir, don't you think

that we're just over-reacting a little bit?

Rioters enjoy over-reacting, Jack. That's the whole point of a riot.

Are you trying to tell me that I shouldn't do my job?

Tension is high, a flat was burnt, and you haul black residents off!

I had good reason to pull Lansdale.

Twice? On the basis of a cut thumb?

Cut thumb, and...

None of the goods found in his flat were stolen.

Not one item.

Checks were made as you put on your floor show for Sandy Longford.

And Jim Allen's downstairs. With Lansdale's mother.

I have men friends, right?

Regular men friends.

And one of them works at Jenner's store.

In the electrical department.

The staff there are allowed to buy...

What you call it? Discontinued lines.

Things that don't get sold in the sale.

They buy them cheap. He buy them and give them to me from time to time.

As presents?

Half presents.

Half... you know.

You're on the game, and he pays in electrical goods?

I don't mind.

Them I don't want I sell easy.

But it have nothing to do with Mark.

None at all!

Mark's a good boy. He don't say nothing about his mother.

It might have saved a lot of trouble if he had.

Or if you'd come forward sooner.

Don't make no difference what I said.

It's Mark he wanted.

She'll have to give us the name of her man friend.

But if she does, and it checks out, and the gear came out of Jenner's...

Mullett told you about the blood?

What are you talking about?

At Wickham's. It doesn't match Lansdale's - wrong group.

But the camcorder Lansdale sold to Natalie was nicked out of Corderado!

If he sold it to Natalie.

I can't see we can even stick him on for handling.

All you've got is the word of a dead informer.

Look, Jack, I'm really sorry.

About Natalie. But there it is.

Yes. There it is.

All right for us to crash about?

Yeah, sure, sir.

The seat of the fire was in the hallway.

There's burnt rag. You can smell petrol on the door. No way out.

All right, no need to paint a picture.

Do the living room, will you?

Any idea what we're looking for?

Not a clue, son.

In what was left of the fireplace.

There's nothing much else.

Her earnings.

Still think it was someone she grassed up?

20 suspects, and they're all black.

Mr Mullett won't approve.

Yeah, but if nobody knew?

Come on, we were here two days ago!

I wasn't over-discreet when I met her last night.

So it's your fault she's dead?

Who else's?

She was my snout, my responsibility.

I'm the copper with the common touch, son.

I'm the one that sits in the charge room every night, getting to know life's unfortunates.

Trouble is, I don't get to know anyone.

Or I wouldn't need you to suss out what Natalie was doing.

Oh, come on, guv!

I didn't suss out anything. I don't know why she did it.

It could all be a coincidence.

All I did was use the poor little girl.

Like I use everyone.

For the sake of the job.

Because the poxy job's all I've got.

You know, all this could be a domestic.

Eh? Nothing to do with grassing.

I reckon we should find Aspinall, the boyfriend who hit her kid.

I mean, he's not black, is he?

I didn't even get that right for her.

What are you going to do? Sit there all day, moping?

No.

The bed's too wet.

Come on.

Come on, let's get on with it.

Two Yales.

Have you found the lock?

Front door. It's down there.

Thank you.

Careful, sir. That is evidence.

Yes, I will. All right.

Have you got a bag, please?

Thank you.

Son, be a good little pig. Look for another Yale lock.

Then get these checked for fingerprints.

I'm off to see her mum.

RATTLING COINS

Estate collection. She has a young kid.

All the other filth have put in.

Hmm.

No, I'm her stepmother. Well, you know that.

Or... was, I mean.

Not her real mum. Not that that made any difference.

You were pretty close? Yeah.

Oh, she had a tough life, poor kid.

Real mum died. I come on the scene.

And then her dad walked out on both of us.

Oh, hello, there!

This him, is it? Matthew?

Come on, out. I ain't gonna be long.

Does he know?

No! Well, would you like to tell him?

No...

No, he thinks his mum's gone away for a couple of weeks.

He'll be OK here. You can tell that to social services if they ask.

I know this is a difficult time. Was it torched, the flat?

You're CID. You wouldn't be here for a gas leak.

It definitely wasn't a gas leak. That much I can tell you.

Well, there's not a lot I can tell you either.

Did you know her boyfriend?

Which one? She got through a lot.

Well, her latest. Um...

What was his name?

Oh, yes. Philip Aspinall.

Only that he turned up drunk, bashed Matthew.

Do you know where I can find him?

No... no.

Me and Nat never discussed men.

Too much in common.

Always attracted to scrotes, hoping they'd turn out different.

No chance!

"Inspector Frost from Control."

Yes, Arthur.

"The DCI wants to see you. Now."

KNOCK ON DOOR Come in.

Yes, Jimmy?

Natalie Bell. Initial pathologist's report.

No smoke in the lungs, dent at the base of the skull. Dead before the fire.

So the torching of the flat was either a coincidence

or a botched attempt at a cover-up.

The time of death was an hour or two before the fire,

and the door hadn't been forced.

How can we tell? It was a shambles.

The firemen had to force the door. Which means?

Natalie opened the door to the murderer.

Yes. Or the murderer had a key.

It wasn't an accident, this bang on the head?

No. She was found on the living room floor.

There was nothing to bang her head on.

I met her kid this morning. Natalie's.

First time ever, after working with his mum for two years.

So, what are you looking at?

I wondered what you were doing.

Catching up on paperwork on a needs-to-know basis.

What goes in the bin, no-one needs to know.

Take that to the incinerator. I'm off to the collator's office.

Ooh, any joy with those keys?

Only one person's prints. Confirmed as Natalie's.

And no other locks in the flat.

Won't that mystery Yale fit Mrs Gilbert's place?

Yeah. Of course.

Ah, Jack. Sir.

Jim Allen told me about the cause of death.

Trust a pathologist to muck up a theory!

You'll look elsewhere than Lansdale?

Nobody's out of the frame.

But Natalie's child is of mixed blood,

so things are less black and white.

Not in public order terms, unfortunately.

Tonight will be the test, when darkness falls.

No going home for me, I'm afraid.

No, sir. But Mrs Mullett will be able to do some reading.

What's Tanner doing?

A bit of personal filing for me.

How's he shaping up?

Very well. A right little Black Berkshire.

Black Berkshire, sir. Superior kind of pig. Oink!

Aspinall.

People don't put things back in the right order.

Yes, I know what you mean, Ernie. I have the same problem.

You know...

Ahem! A tidy office is like a red rag to some people.

Aspinall. The name does ring a bell.

He's not on the computer, you say?

Nothing officially, no. I haven't got his address.

That is why I've come to the font of all knowledge.

Leave it with me.

How long? One day? Two?

Aspinall.

Thank you, Ernie.

Hey, Tanner!

Got those keys?

Yes, I have, guv, yeah

Thank you. I've got to go out and see Doreen Gilbert, anyway.

We need someone to identify the body.

Oh, yes, Mr Mullet was asking after you.

I paid you a compliment. I don't think he realises it, though.

When?

Tomorrow morning, 10am.

I'm sorry, she must be identified, and you were closest to her.

Yeah, right.

As we're here, I hope you don't mind.

I found some keys at Natalie's flat. One of the Yales is a mystery.

Does it fit your door? She never had a key to this place.

You can try if you like.

No, if you say so, it's good enough. Philip Aspinall's?

I've no idea.

I told you, I know nothing about him.

Oh, yeah, thanks. OK.

Matthew, don't have any more of them sweet.

Till tomorrow, then. Mm.

Good.

Thank you. Bye.

You didn't tell her what the pathologist said

No, best not to tell her anything. Wicked stepmothers are always in the frame.

You're on mortuary duty with her, by the way.

Me? Yes.

It's called positive discrimination, son.

It means that you get all the best jobs.

By the way, I'm sorry if I got a bit maudlin this morning.

I sometimes get overwhelmed by self-knowledge,

the realisation I'm useless.

It's my only vice... The only one they can't sack me for.

I don't know. I can't make out if you really care or not.

Can't you? Good. Drive on.

NATALIE: "Mark must work for him - Errol drops him off."

"It weren't till last night I twigged what they're up to."

RUSTLING

"Where'd you get that?!"

"In the pub last night. Mark Lansdale sold it to me."

"They was doing a good trade."

"I always said you were a diamond."

"I've got to go."

"Natalie... hey!"

Mrs Lansdale, I'm sorry to disturb you.

Do you think I might come in, please?

Is Mark here?

If he was, you wouldn't be.

What do you want? To apologise.

You could do it in public, not sneak up after dark.

Yes. Well, I hope you'll accept it, anyway.

Manners never were my strength.

Perhaps brains weren't, either.

My enthusiasm gets the better of me. Sorry.

This morning Mark made a collection for Natalie's son -

Are you going to say he nicked the money? No.

No, I just wondered if Mark knew Natalie.

Personally. Personally?

Well, Matthew is of mixed parentage.

And I don't want to be offensive, but...

You don't know who Matthew's father is?

No.

It's no secret. Ritchie Gibbs.

I thought he was new to the area.

He was here before. Left after Matthew was born. Oh.

Not because he's black, and black guys do that (!)

Why, then?

Because Natalie was more of a tom than I am.

As your flat is opposite Natalie's, did you see anything last night?

Not until the fire engine arrived.

Other times? People going to and fro.

I don't take notice!

I think whoever torched Natalie's flat knew her pretty well.

Knew little Matthew spent a couple of nights each week at his gran's.

Either that or he was a complete bastard who couldn't care less.

Sound like you're looking for a white man - either way.

KNOCK AT DOOR

What happened? Morning has broken, and I've brought tea.

The Eastdean Estate?

Non-event. You'll only make page three.

'Police Chief Overreacts' or something.

Your nan won't be long, Matthew. We'll wait in here.

Beep-beep-beep!

Oh, hello, Matthew!

Like to help me play with these cars?

There's a good lad! I'll tell you what we've got to do.

We get these cars into the lift and park them on top of the garage.

Know how to work the lift? See if you can work it out.

It's all right, Hazel, don't worry.

It'll take us a while. Go and have a tea.

Right, you work the lift. Vroom! Vroom!

Up he goes! He's got to go up the top there.

Your mum's boyfriend... Has he got a car?

Yeah. Red one.

A red one! He's got a red car. What sort of red?

That one.

That sort of red? That's a nice red.

Here we go. Up there.

Have you been for a ride in it? Yeah.

Have you? Where did you go?

His house. You went to his house?

Can you remember the address?

33.

33, yes.

King George Gardens.

King George Gardens?

Well, very good.

You drive them. Away they go!

He's crashed into the barrier! Oh, no! We need the ambulance!

Get the rest of the cars. I'll get the ambulance. Vroom! Vroom!

Where's WPC Wallace?

I come to do PR, check up on the bereaved, and what do I find?

You, interviewing a three-year-old, on his own,

in flagrant breach of PACE, Child Protection Guidelines,

and the rules of evidence. I was only entertaining him.

Wallace is useless with cars. Seen how she drives the panda?

You set it up!

So what? He's probably still in trauma after his assault!

He's not in trauma!

How do you know?

All I want is Aspinall, and now I've got his address.

You have the uncorroborated word of a three-year-old.

Then I'll corroborate it.

Hardly scumbag country, is it?

If I'm not back in 10 minutes, send in the cavalry.

(COUGHING)

Sorry. Doorbell always rings when you're in the shower.

Philip Aspinall?

No. Oh. Police.

You ought to fit a mortice lock.

That won't keep Burglar Bill out. Thanks for the advice.

Didn't catch your name.

Cowden. Dave Cowden.

Detective Inspector Frost. Do you own a car?

Yes. It's in for service. Why?

Colour? Red. What's the problem?

Do you mind if I come in?

You don't share this place with a Philip Aspinall?

No. Why?

You don't know anyone called Aspinall?

No, I don't.

I think you've got the wrong address.

You may have read in the paper, there was a fire on the Eastdean Estate.

A woman died. Natalie Bell.

Yeah. Yes, I read about it.

She had a key to your door.

A probation officer?

Inspector Frost's interviewing him.

No link with the burglars? Never mind.

Convicting a white will help community relations.

I first met Natalie when she was 16.

Professional contact?

Yes. She was a young offender, just another client.

Another one to try and keep out of prison.

I like to think I did a good job.

You had a good rapport with her?

Yes, I did.

Then she got pregnant. It was important to be supportive.

I wasn't involved with her officially, but...

You still had a good rapport (!)

On a regular basis.

Why do you have to be so offensive?

I'm not being offensive, I'm just asking.

You had what is known as a 'relationship' with Natalie Bell?

Yes.

Yes.

Highly unprofessional, having over a female client.

There was a lot more to it.

You'd be in cacky if you were found out, no matter how 'meaningful'.

She needed stability.

Someone she could rely on.

She was so tough in some ways, so vulnerable in others, naive almost.

You didn't know her.

She's certainly got stability now. Terminal stability.

Where were you in the early hours of yesterday?

At home. In bed.

Who'll confirm this, apart from your teddy? My partner.

Business partner, dancing partner?

My girlfriend.

Girlfriend (!) You put it about a bit.

The thing with Natalie wasn't exclusive for either of us.

She was your bit of rough.

I did what I could for her. And for Matthew.

Where can we find this partner of yours?

Her name's Sarah Burrows. She's a post-graduate student at Reading.

Hmph!

Sociology.

Don't go away.

Yes... yes.

If you could get the next train up, Ms Burrows,

I'm sure Dave would appreciate it.

Thank you. Goodbye.

Damn. I'd have liked it to have been him.

Well, I dunno.

What was our Natalie playing at, then, son, eh?

If she was cute enough to use me, not vice versa,

why didn't she use Cowden?

She could have stitched him up. Blackmail?

Why was it only black guys she had the down on?

Good old-fashioned prejudice?

With a half-black kid? It must be more personal.

Did you speak to Dad? Ritchie Gibbs, the alleged father of Matthew.

When have I had time to do that? Well, now!

Come on, off you go.

Take Cottam with you, so you can get to know each other.

Jack?

Yes, Ernie?

Aspinall. He's got an uncle.

That clinches it (!) We'll nail him to the floor.

You got a minute? Yeah, decades.

Bear with me. I've started a file.

Unofficial. Relatives of recidivists.

Often, though people haven't got a club number, there's a link.

Here you are. Here you go.

Philip's mother is Eileen Aspinall, married to Raymond Tamplin.

Raymond Tamplin's brother is Peter Tamplin.

Peter Tamplin. First conviction, 1962.

Active ever since, though he's moved around.

Basingstoke nearly got him last year, but he had an alibi.

Yeah, there you are. Tamplin.

Bonded warehouse. Ambush defence.

Alibi his common law wife, Doreen Gilbert.

Further convictions...

The lying cow!

Police, love. Errol's not in.

We don't want him. Ritchie Gibbs, please.

Ritchie!

RAP MUSIC

So it's my turn today, yeah?

Yeah, I knew Peter Tamplin.

Knew him quite well, as a matter of fact.

We're just good friends now.

What about his nephew?

You know Philip Aspinall! Yeah.

Why feed me all that manure? Natalie's dead!

I won't point the finger. One in the family doing that is enough.

Natalie told you about her part-time job?

Oh, yeah! Got quite proud of it.

Specially putting them blacks away.

Why did she do it, Doreen? The blacks.

If you'd seen what Gibbs did to her when he walked out...

He was Mr Wonderful, the best ever, the real thing.

Then he punched her in the face and left.

She hated him, and she could really hate when she wanted.

She hated him and the rest of them.

She was obsessed with it.

Lived for it.

Then you came on the scene. Answer to her prayers, you were.

They have the last laugh, though.

So someone she informed on found out?

No, I'm not. I'm saying that she was a stupid, stupid cow!

Look, get out of here with that thing. Get right outside!

And stay away from the stairs.

Does Aspinall know she was a grass?

No. You sure?

Yes! But he'll think I am if you don't sod off.

And if I go like Natalie, that little beggar's got no-one.

Yes, he has.

He's got his dad.

I keep it.

I was proud of it. I still am.

It's just something we had to clarify.

With the death of Matthew's mum... He's my son, right?

If that's all you wanted to know, you know it.

A birth certificate is only paper. Fatherhood goes deeper.

DON'T you tell me that, man!

I love that boy.

OK, OK, let's just take it easy, eh?

You've had it tough - we understand that.

Why don't you sit down?

We need your help, Mr Gibbs.

To find who killed your son's mother.

You don't have to help us,

and you've seen enough of the police lately.

But, um... you see, anything you can tell us - anything -

would be really useful.

Just for elimination purposes.

And then we'll leave you in peace.

Where can I find Aspinall? I don't know!

You lied in court for Tamplin, and now for his scumbag nephew!

You don't even know him!

You're protecting the guy who hit your grandson - and maybe Natalie.

You're in cloud cuckooland.

Of course he came back! They kissed and made up.

No, not the way she felt about him.

He got her a present. That way you could get round her.

She could always be bought - you know that.

What do you mean, present? What present?

What -

The camcorder.

From Corderado.

What's the matter with you?

What have you seen there? Come here!

That's him, isn't it? Aspinall.

Sit down there. Sit down.

Damn! Where's the phone? Over there, but it ain't working.

Matthew ripped the wire.

I did get away from that bitch.

She was bad news.

In what way, Ritchie?

Every way.

Spiteful, sleeping around...

She didn't look after Matthew right.

You mean she neglected him?

If she had something better to do.

So you walked out?

She was bad news.

But you left Matthew with her.

He was a baby!

You ever hear of a black man allowed to take his baby?

So where did you go?

To Jamaica.

I got an uncle there. But there's no work.

And when did you get back?

Last month.

Nice long holiday, then.

Don't keep doing that. It's not polite.

He asked me for help,

so I'm helping, right?

So you can shut your mouth.

And when you got back here?

Back here to Denton?

I thought she'd be long gone.

Natalie?

Shack up somewhere else, Matthew fostered, adopted or something,

but me see them in the park

and he looked so grown up, y'know?

Such a fine young boy.

Like looking at a photo of meself when me was young.

So I think about it a couple of days when I go up to her.

Nothing heavy.

No hassle.

Just easy.

Just to speak to my son.

And she spit at me!

In the street, in front of my son, she spit at me.

Then me hear she's still on the Eastdean, and about this Aspinall.

And me hear what kind of man he is, and my son in there with them!

And that's why you were round at Natalie's flat?

I meant the other morning.

You know, when we called round I saw you there, yeah?

Aspinall hit my son, and she let him.

She's not fit to have that boy.

I went and tell her that.

Next, I'm with the police, fingered for burglary with Errol and Mark.

Yeah, well, that wasn't quite the next thing, was it?

Before you were in the police station, Natalie was dead.

Ritchie Gibbs, I must caution you that you don't have to say anything.

Anything you do say will be taken down, and may be used in evidence.

Do you understand?

Is there anything else you want to tell me?

Did you see Natalie after the row about Aspinall?

Ritchie?

Did you go to her flat the next night?

Were you still angry about what happened to Matthew?

Best finish this at the nick. Come on, Dad, on your feet.

Hate you! Drop it.

Don't be a prat!

You got the cuffs? No, somebody's nicked mine.

Call for some uniform!

What? We can handle him.

It's only ten minutes. You drive. I'll cuddle in the back.

He'll kill me. Kill me!

What's he coming up here for? Pete left addresses of middlemen.

You just sit there. I'll let him in.

Philip Aspinall?

Who the hell are you? DI Frost.

Phil! Phil!

I never! I never said nothing!

He's taken Matthew!

Frost to Control.

"Urgent assistance required."

What's up? Got a puncture?

I cocked up an arrest. A kid's been taken hostage.

"To all units."

Suspect vehicle white Renault van,

index Bravo three two six, November Lima Sierra.

"Approach with caution. Potential child hostage."

"Leaving Melrose Estate." Melrose?

Driver Philip Aspinall, wanted for questioning.

Child with him is Matthew Bell.

He's got Matthew! Shut it - just stay back.

You have to stop him!

"Heading North on Imlach Road."

Imlach. Where is it?

Across Roper Avenue. Behave yourself!

Leave it. We've got a body.

I've caught him again.

He's turning into Leeson Road.

Shit.

Deserted factory, Horsefield Road. I'm investigating.

The van's here.

I can't see Aspinall.

SIREN

Where's Matthew?! Sit still!

Has Gibbs joined the Specials? No, but he more or less admitted.

Matthew!

Matthew!

SIREN

You all right, are you, Cottam?

Pity.

Matthew! Matthew!

Ritchie!

Matthew!

Matthew! Matthew!

Cuff him.

Cuff him! We haven't time for tag.

Do it!

Matthew!

Matthew!

You all right, son?

Where's the man? Where is he?

Come to me! Quick, jump.

There's a good boy. Well done. Good boy.

Two out of three. You get Aspinall.

Phil?

Phil?

You'll never get out of here.

Why not pack it in before the heavy mob come?

You're only making it worse.

Come on, mate.

Phil!

Oh, come on!

BANG

Got him yet?

I think he's up there somewhere.

Look out!

Right...

That's it.

You lot stay back.

Phil?

Do yourself a favour - it's not worth the hassle.

We only want you for burglary.

CRASH

Phil?

Phil!

All right, guv? No, I'm not. Getting too old for this now.

Get in a situation, things seem a good idea.

Grabbing a hostage, dropping iron bars on filth.

Doesn't mean you're all bad.

Who stitched you up?

What?

Your hand.

Health Centre at Basingstoke.

That's where most of the gear is. Pete Tamplin's got lock-ups there.

He's your man, really. Good old Uncle Pete!

I'm just in cos I know about alarms.

When I was a shopfitter - before he led me astray.

I could tell you where to find him - if it'd do me a bit of good.

It's a trade, though, innit, when you think about it?

The only reason I'm sitting here now

is I slapped that snotty little half-caste.

So you did go round Natalie's flat the following night.

I couldn't leave it, man. I have to tell her what I think.

You were still wound up about Matthew getting hurt.

For the tape, please, Ritchie. Your son get beaten, are you wound up?

And Natalie let you in?

She not afraid of me. Just treat me like dirt.

All right.

So she let you in.

Then what happened? Did you quarrel?

She slag me off.

She laugh at me.

She tell me I got no right.

I the father, and I got no right?!

She tell me that and turn round. I pick up the thing and hit her.

And she fall on the floor.

What did you hit her with?

Something I have in my hand.

A wooden thing, shaped like a boat, you know?

I hit her once.

What did you do with it?

I burn it.

You mean, you burnt the flat.

I hit her once,

and she die on me.

I stand looking at her.

Nothing I can do.

I think to myself...

do a runner, you're bound to get sussed.

Burn the place, and who can say?

Tough it out, man.

Then you still see your boy.

Only she don't burn.

Will I see my boy now?

A good result in the end, guv.

Yes. Wrong colour for Mr Mullett, though.

Still, the Chamber of Commerce will be pleased.

Come on. Come on, let's go out.

Where to?

To see Mrs McKendrick's dog.

I've just remembered it's a witness.

Indecent exposure. It bit a flasher where it counts.

Him and Mrs McKendrick will give me a description.

Can't stop - got to see a dog about a man.

I was going to call you both.

My little Black Berkshire should get any commendation going.

Would you wait in my office, Carl?

What, now, sir? Yes, please.

I'm moving DC Tanner elsewhere.

Already? Haven't had a chance to teach him bad habits.

The placement was misguided.

I now realise officers such as DC Tanner

need to be nurtured and protected.

Not exposed to the prejudiced, insensitive, offensive attitudes

with which you seem to be ingrained.

As long as it was nothing personal.

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