Original subtitles

Good night, Ian. Good night, Steve.

You got onion?

Yeah, well, the gays have shot them in before I could stop them.

I said I didn't want any onions.

Right.

Did you get them?

Oh, yeah.

What colour?

Just you say.

No, thanks.

I'm not having that over me head. You got onion on it.

Lovely.

It's a bit of a joke, isn't it?

It's a bit of a laugh.

Leave us, man. We're not going in for the Olympics. It's not our living. You

telling yourself that when you're in a tight corner.

Fitness is the key to survival, son.

Anyway, I'm not opening up this deli dump every week. They're putting in all

these hours trying to get you fit when you don't turn up. Well, why don't you

tell the blokes that they'll come? I mean, we're here, aren't we? For the

time in eight weeks, yes.

There's Martin over there. Four sessions out of nine.

Red, white all season.

Blimey.

There's Bob here.

Three and eight. Come on, Sammy. Look, give it a rest, don't you?

This is marvellous, isn't it?

Well, there's only young here. There's Steve.

Made it their business to be here every session.

And Steve's only an honorary member.

If my mum did the same job as this, I wouldn't dare not shop either.

Made you an offer you couldn't refuse, did she, Sam?

Sammy like that?

Sammy.

About next Wednesday. Can I have a word?

Don't tell him you're not coming, Bobby Blue Eyes.

To break your old dad's heart.

I'm nobody's dad that I know of. I might have ended up with a great ox like you

for a son.

What's any minds on?

I was going to tell you well in advance, but... We only just decided to bring it

forward.

Our mum's coming down from Manchester next week and... It seemed like a good

idea if... Yeah, break it to him gently, Ian.

Send him to think of it more as gaining a daughter.

Yeah.

Carol and me.

We're getting engaged.

She wanted a party. What with the mum being down and all, the date seemed to

sort of set itself.

Well, that's great, Ian.

Congratulations.

Give it another couple of years and, well, maybe I'll consider it too.

Oh, yeah.

And just see your mum giving you permission to make her a granny looking

she does.

We can only 19, Ian.

And she's 20.

Perhaps I like her all the way.

Don't lecture me, Sam. I'm not used to it.

I've been on my own since I was 15. I know what I'm doing.

And the week after?

Will you be here then?

Of course I will. You've broken his heart, young Ian.

He had such plans for you.

The first gold medalist inspector on the force at 25.

I'll break your fat backside next session, Sergeant, if you don't leave

Congratulations.

Thanks. Come on!

You lot!

I should have told him before.

Yeah, when he did have a chance to.

It's true what John said. I've only just realised.

I mean...

Not having any parents of my own and always chatting things over with him.

I suppose he got to think of himself as my dad.

Yeah, I can understand that.

Which reminds me, as a single parent of a family myself, Mum's cooking a supper

tonight. I'll see you.

all fresh in Berwick Street.

But I had to work through the lunch hour.

Anyway, there's no wet fish shop round here anymore.

Not anywhere else come to that.

So, when I saw these, I bought them.

Frozen TV paella dinner.

Smells different.

Do you think they make them in Spain, then fly them over? That's right.

What doesn't get eaten on the plane, they sell in the delicatessen.

Anyway, they say it's fresher bought frozen than fresh.

That don't make sense. Don't argue with me.

You want to try shopping after school for a change instead of skiving off

joining every society going?

They're not having enough time to do your homework.

Well, as you made me join the police athletics club. Well, that's good for

I mean, playing the guitar might exercise your right arm. Doesn't do much

the rest of you.

Anyway, it's free.

Why don't you avail yourself of the opportunity then, my mate?

Oh, I can just see you and Bob Croft jogging in harmony along the misty banks

the Serpentine before returning to Seven Dials, fitting mind and body to enforce

the law.

You did give up the drama group, didn't you?

Yeah. You did as well.

Oh, that'll be Jimmy. We've got a power out at the station at 8 .30 tonight.

Mum, you haven't missed your supper. That's right.

I asked him to call early so I wouldn't be texted.

Bye.

At least you don't have to wash it up.

You know, you do very well, considering all your show is that old crap you can

stay at home and watch on BBC Two.

Silly not to bank it daily, though, wasn't he?

He don't seem to want to talk to you, do he?

Maybe he likes silent movies.

Well,

what have we here?

Hope you got a licence for that.

I wonder if it burns.

Reminds you of Gone With The Wind, doesn't it?

You make sure you put your hat on before you let the Lord see you.

I was on with a promise before the chief calls this meeting.

Ah, shame.

Still, never mind.

She'll wait for you if there was to.

Oh, she'll wait. It's the big iron bird that won't.

Oh, is she going away?

Yeah, Switzerland.

Finished being finished.

Meanwhile, she's getting her education back in.

Oh, no.

She's passing on a bit of what she's learned.

Funny.

Funny, isn't it?

Seemed to lap me on them soft birds.

Look out!

Wait.

Come on, take a look.

I'm a peace officer.

Well, well.

It's a little Sir Galahad.

Shall we show you how we discourage him from a long career in the force?

That's a good girl.

You know, you may call yourself a cup of darling, but you're still just a bird

to me.

You're scared, aren't you?

Shouldn't have called for help then, should you?

That baby couple will be quite unwell.

Should have just handed it over quietly if you can't come with us. And you

really can't, can you?

Yeah. Come on, let's go.

The other one's waking up.

Aren't you suited to the life, do you know?

Pathetic cow!

What's that, Mum? Are you OK?

Oh, Steve.

Hey, Mum, what is it?

What's happened?

We... Jimmy and me...

We got involved in a robbery.

We were just driving to the station.

We got involved.

Jimmy's in the hospital.

It's possible fractured skull. One of them hit him as soon as we got out of

car.

I was on my own.

I told them I was a police officer and they laughed at me.

They just laughed.

Then a PC arrived and tried to... tried to stop them.

They really took it out on him.

More so because of me, I think.

No, but he was so young.

Oh, I treated him like a carcass in a butcher shop.

I'm kicking him.

I'm kicking him.

Stephen Lou Five Harding. Ian.

Ian? Age 90.

But I know Ian. I was with him training this afternoon. He's getting engaged

next week. Well, he's going to be in hospital for a long time, Stephen. I put

him there.

You know that's not true.

Ian, he chose to join the force. He believes in it.

He knew the risk. Oh, God, you sound like a recruiting poster.

What could a boy of that age know the risk?

I mean, what experiences he had of animals like we came up against tonight.

I was so frightened, Steve. You know, for the first time in my life, I

what I had to lose, and I didn't want to.

I didn't want to be disfigured. I didn't want pain.

It's bottles, what Jimmy calls it.

Losing your bottle.

Oh, and Steve.

Mine is gone.

How is she?

Well, how's Jimmy?

He'll be okay. No fracture.

Seems he's ignoring my request for a lawnmower job. May have saved his scalp.

Goes well for your advice, too, in the future.

Bob, won't you take a second statement from Maggie?

She was pretty badly shaken up last night. What's she doing now? Going

the funny part.

Well, not many of them wear stocking masks, have them taken, do they?

No, but it is worth a try.

Good morning, madam.

Dave sent me round to take a statement.

Could I have a cup of tea and a cup of cream?

Oh, come on.

I've not fed you a line like that for at least 24 hours.

Oh, you see anything you fancy?

If you knew what I went through last night, you wouldn't find it so bloody

funny. Sorry, sorry.

I thought humour was supposed to be an antidote for suffering. I will.

OK, just give me the facts, ma 'am.

I've given you the facts. I've left out nothing, believe me.

They all say that.

I mean, you've not asked me anything yet.

That shouts.

Only the most important thing of all.

With a haul.

You just how much it was you threw at them?

Not enough.

No?

£2 ,106.

Any more and it would have been over -generous. I think it happened between

getting together in the car.

People walk away from fights at dark alleys.

No, the only witnesses were the old couple that you saw.

I suspect they thought they were watching the telly.

So that leaves you, Jimbo, who spent most of his time asleep, and the

unfortunate PC who came to your aid.

Have you heard any more, Bob?

That's how he is.

Bloody little fool, if you ask me.

What else could he do? He couldn't just stand there watching while she got

beaten up.

I would have done.

Say this.

No, seriously.

If she wants to be a copper and tell us all what's what, then she must take her

chances with the rest of them and not expect to be rescued every time things

tricky. I read that in America, Chicago or somewhere, the policemen were

petitioning against the women.

that they were fed up with being called out to help women police officers who'd

waded in, only to have it knocked out of them by some heavy mob that they hadn't

stirred up in the first place.

Exactly. I mean, I'd have thought it was obvious that some seven -foot buck

nigger knocking off a drugstore is bound to be stirred up even more by one of

those Barbie doll women jumping out of a... Mustang, was it?

Mustang, or whatever they drive, and squeaking halt in the name of the law.

Leaving some other poor bastard to pay for it.

I mean, why put them in the front line?

If you've got to have them to keep everything equal, then keep them busy, I

don't know, stripping women at airports. Well, I mean, you've got to have a

woman to do that.

Why?

Ah, Detective Chief Inspector.

The Detective Inspector and I thought you were never coming, huh, Peter?

Scotch. Scotch.

Well,

of course you can't.

generalized about a thing like that.

I mean, there was that one a few months back.

Wonderful what she did.

Have you got a light?

Yes.

Yes, of course.

One thing to remember, man or woman, we never forget.

Right, I'm off.

D .I. Forbes office.

Oh, er, yes, I'll see if she can talk.

Eskimo?

Yes, Eskimo?

Got something for you, love.

That bit of bother you were in last night, read about it in the papers.

What?

I know them.

Real wrong -uns. Used to run a kiddies charity racket until they took the

off places.

Been up north quite a while, then suddenly last night they were back.

Saw them in the fox about 10 .30, looking well -pleased.

What do you get, Eskimo?

Jack O 'Brien, Wally Smart.

Ring any?

No.

And you've got an address?

Well, they've got this lock -up near Blackfriar Railway, Archers, but you'll

have to be smartish. They were talking of moving on.

Right, I've got it.

Tara's come home.

Well, shall I call for your car? Jake's back. No, no, it's all right. There's

time.

If it's only one, leave.

Look, give it to Deanna Crawford when she gets back, okay?

Don't, I'm not...

Oh, Chief.

So what happened?

Jimmy, how are you feeling?

All right.

Got to hit me a bit harder than he did to get through my barnet.

Mischief's with me, though, don't you?

She'll be back.

He looks in a state.

I'm afraid so.

Them little nurses have been in there all day like jack -in -the -boxes.

Seems our charmers had steel tips on their boots.

Pigs.

No, gov, that's what they call us.

What's happening? Where are you taking him?

Intensive care. His condition has deteriorated rather rapidly, I'm afraid.

We can keep a closer eye on him there, though, OK?

But it was ten minutes.

I mean, fifteen at the most.

The paraffin heater was still hot. And the pot still simmered on the gully's

stove. Only you could make a lock -up garage sound like the Murray Celeste.

point is, Garth... The point is, if we'd acted quicker, the villains would have

been apprehended by us, sorry, by you, and not by a patrol car on the M1 who

lucky checking a taillight failure. You know what I'm saying.

Maggie Forbes was in possession of that information one hour before it reached

me, and she did nothing.

Now, what are you going to do about it?

Russell.

Hello, Captain.

Yeah, yeah, that's right.

West Mercia Police, holding them till morning.

Well, yes, I know.

Yeah, yeah.

Yes, of course.

Uh, what about 9 .30?

9 o 'clock.

Thank you. All right.

Right, now go.

Now, get this.

When he thinks I need advice on how to run my department, he gives it, I take

it. But I don't take it from some overheated Scot with an axe to grind. If

were to follow up every snout's tip -off, we'd exceed our annual petrol

allowance in a week.

As you're going to be busy in the morning while I collect our two

No, no, you will not.

I'm going to bring them in myself.

I want them down on our sheet unmarked.

As you wish.

Bob,

I've changed my mind.

Why don't you come with me?

9 .30?

I should be in a very good mood by then.

Mum, it's Mr. Russell.

Homework.

Bill.

I thought you'd like to know.

We got him.

We? Well, West Mercia Constabulary, in point of fact.

Nicked for no tail lights on a motorway.

I see.

Maggie, I've got to ask you.

Why didn't you act on Eskimo's tip -off right away?

He's been wrong before.

Anyway, I didn't think an hour would make that much difference.

What is it?

Bob Croft's pride hurt because he didn't make the pinch himself and didn't get a

chance to... No, no, don't say it, love, don't say it.

Bob's a good copper, he's a professional.

And I'm not?

Ah, maybe you're right.

Maybe I've always cared more about what makes people break the law rather than

notch up a high nicking score.

I mean, what makes people want to bash old grannies on the street for 40p?

Kick kids... Ian Harding's in intensive care.

Did you know?

They moved him when I was there.

Janey's up in the hospital now.

I'm on my way.

Do you want to come?

Think I've done enough for that young man, don't you?

Oh, Sam.

I don't need to let you in, Chief.

He's very sick, you know. Yeah.

Do me a favour, will you? Have a word with the doc. Use your professional

technique I've got.

You know what he's waiting for?

The dying declaration.

Always struck me as a bit of old Victoriana.

Judge and jury accepting as gospel anything that was said on the way out.

Three and could say much without a lot across his face.

Come, sir. Come sit down.

I've got us some poison up in this, you know.

What are his chances?

40? 60?

Less.

Oh, no.

Gone? Yeah, I would say so. Do you fancy a coffee with... No.

Because I know how it's made. I used to work here, remember?

Who's he?

Sam.

If you say so.

Sam who?

Taylor. Sam Taylor.

Ex -RSM, now a Metropolitan Police physical training instructor. He drags

overweight, unwilling policemen through the streets and parks of London, trying

to make them fit.

I'm saying nothing.

It wouldn't have me too much of a risk.

Competition? I'd never stand it.

That's your son?

Well, Ian trains with him regularly. You know what these hard cases are like. I

think so.

Young Steve Forbes turned out, as I seem to remember.

Maggie's son?

Well, he's not old enough. I saw him at his father's funeral. He looked so young

standing there next to his mother.

She's in trouble.

Maggie Forbes?

I want you to talk to her. Now, this business is not to side with. I think

nerve has gone. I think it's temporary.

But I don't want a resignation landing on my desk. I can prevent that.

I think you can help.

Of course.

Easy.

I mean, we must spend at least ten minutes together each year at your

sherry extravaganza.

So what could be more natural than for me to call round in the middle of the

year to inquire about her mental state?

She's a detective, Bill.

And you've been married to one for over 20 years. Oh, come on, don't tell me

you've learned nothing.

She'll be here tomorrow?

Slightly. Well, let's hope your young police wins.

I'd like to be alone with those bastards for five minutes.

Oh, yeah?

Well, you're not going to get the chance. Because Daddy's coming with us

sure. Seventeen minutes late. I want to walk Kip to him.

Briefcase. My office. Go get it. At dub.

You seen the paper, Guff? Nope.

Letter on page 32. Should put us in line for a fair amount of flack.

Let's have it.

From our detective chief superintendent, retired.

How much longer will the police force in this country continue to expose its

officers to even greater risks by allowing women officers in the front

When will they realise that by doing so they provoke criminals to even greater

acts of violence from which the male officers are then obliged to rescue?

Retired, you say? I was sworn I just had a one -sided conversation with him.

Oh, yeah, there you go.

Fox and Punchbowl Wilts.

Spiritual omen of all disgusted ex -PCSs.

Won't make maggots, do you? Not exactly made mine. Right,

let's go flash a blue lamp on M1.

You should have just handed it over quietly if you couldn't cop with us.

And you women can't, can you?

Reckon you're suited to this life, do you, love?

You pathetic...

DI Forbes.

Can you tell me, please, has there been any improvement?

I'm afraid you'll have to ask the doctor. He's been sensible.

He'll be able to tell you if there's any change after he's examined the patient.

Excuse me.

He's gone, hasn't he?

No, not yet. He's still alive.

But he won't be for long, will he?

I don't know.

We must hope.

Yes, we must.

Doesn't look good to you.

I'm afraid not.

This girl was in last night.

Yeah?

Yeah, they were getting engaged next week.

Cried her heart out, she was.

Aged at 19, my God.

Come on, you can't have been much older.

18. I was 18.

Lovely.

The thing is, what I pick up off the antiseptic grapevine, if he makes it,

young copper isn't going to be much of a ladies' man.

Not for a bit, anyway.

Oh, Christ, Jimmy, those bastards. I could kill them myself.

Maggie? I know, I feel the same.

Mrs. Russell?

Well, if you'll excuse me, I've got to go and sign off now.

My left's waiting, so... See you.

My son is only two years younger than me.

Please be hardy, I don't...

Think of him as a kid. Two years, that's all. Really, the paper policeman

assaulted while trying to rescue a woman officer. Police man, do you get it?

Oh, Christ, it's only two years. Maggie, my son's the same age as that

constable. And let me tell you, it doesn't get any easier.

Look, I'm without a car.

Could you give me a lift?

You look as though you need to talk to someone.

I mean, how strange it always feels being at home during the day.

So quiet.

Not a few years back.

No. Oh, no, not when Steve was at home. Not during the day.

Then I was felt a bit out of it.

As if it was all going on somewhere else, then I should really be there.

And yet you're thinking of giving it up?

Not just to sit at home all day, no.

Mind you, after all these years, perhaps I could get used to it.

Oh, I doubt that. I never could.

Not that I ever really gave it a try.

I need a change.

I'm sick of coming up against thwarted, petty little minds, violence.

Now being responsible for the loss of a life and all because of my job.

There could have been any woman in that house. No, I'm afraid that's just not

true, Janie.

It was made only too clear to me by those thugs that the reason they were

putting the boot in was because I was a woman trying to do a man's job.

One of them kissed me.

I couldn't have felt more degraded if he'd raped me.

There'll always be people like that.

It's not hard to work out their reasons.

You're a threat. They're used to using women, not being disciplined by them.

But, Maggie, you told my husband that you cared about the reasons behind

turning to crime.

I mean, people who've lived respectable lives for 60 years.

Kids who turn violent for no apparent reason.

Okay.

Bob Croft may have it over you in the smash -and -grab GBH department, but if

was stopped for pinching a couple of tins of tuna from the supermarket, I'd

sooner talk to you or any other woman officer than him.

I mean, it's not as though it's all strong -arm stuff.

Understanding and gaining people's confidence are just as important, and

where you have the edge.

Hello, Chief, it's me.

Look, I've just had the hospital on.

Mrs Russell, is she with you?

Yes, why?

Well, I tried to get her home, but they couldn't.

Jimmy, what is it?

Her car.

She's parked it across some top geezer's space and he's screaming blue murder.

Right, I'll tell her.

Bye.

Nice try.

What's happened?

Your car, Mrs. Russell.

It's blocking a consultant's access.

He hasn't been seen near the hospital for six months.

I still meant what I said. Yes, I'm sure you did.

That bit about gaining people's confidence, you see, that could be quite

problem, because that's what I've lost.

Oh, yes, Miss, you should discuss me again.

Tell Bill he'll have my resignation on his desk in the morning, OK?

Maggie, I just got back with your assailants.

How are you?

Fine. I've had excellent company.

Now, what about this note? Do you want me to act on it?

What note?

The note you left on my desk, the threat about Steve, your son.

Oh, I... I thought that was all part of the rest of it, the general hate postbag

I got this morning.

Billy, do you think it's serious?

Probably not.

Probably? Well, almost certainly not.

It's just that you've got the same rights as anyone else. You receive a

you're entitled to have it investigated.

Bill, I've got to go.

School's in here.

Christ, Bill.

Take care.

Hello? What are you doing here?

Get out of that car. Someone's lost

Steve. Number. Oh, for God's sake, Robbie, stop. Quick.

I'll put it through.

TCI Russell. Hello, sister.

Yeah.

Yeah.

I see.

Yeah. Thank you, sister. Thanks for letting me know. Bye.

Yes?

You what?

Look,

there's no need for you to come in.

If you give us the keys, I'll fetch them.

No. I'll come in with you.

I've got the keys on a chain.

Well, you've got five minutes, haven't you?

Down for a cup of tea?

No, please, Bob.

Let me handle this.

It's my son.

I know what's going on in that man's mind. I should have really liked it at

hospital. Now, look, Maggie.

Anyone who cuts up newspaper letters to send threats is a nut out here, but a

calculating one. Now, he could be dangerous. No, he didn't send me that

It had a Leeds postmark.

But I'm grateful that you ever did.

It got me here, now.

Come on, Bob, ten minutes.

I can handle it.

I need to.

Ten minutes, mate.

And not one second more.

But Ian's things aren't his, Sam.

No.

He told me they were.

Well, he just said he wanted me to look after them for him.

Sit down, Sam.

I want to... I need to talk to somebody.

Shall I get you some tea?

No.

No, thanks.

Sam, what is this?

I thought you brought me here to look after Ian's training gear.

Oh, no.

No, Steve.

I've been on point, you see.

He'll not need it now.

Well, not yet, but he'll need it.

Why not need it anymore?

He's dead, Steve.

Ian is dead.

No.

William, I'm...

I knew he was bad, but none... None?

Mum said.

Mum was responsible. Mum was the cause. Now it's her turn.

I'll not hurt you.

It's fair I'll be hurting.

Every minute she knows you're missing, she'll be blaming herself,

torturing herself.

Every minute.

So plenty of time.

Plenty of time to talk.

Chat.

Chat about it.

It was your friend, wasn't it?

That was good.

It was okay by me.

Fine.

He used to ask me, you know, what I thought.

Just like a son to his dad.

Well, he was, you know.

He was my son.

Oh, not the result of any union I might have been part of.

They became mine.

Funny.

I never saw much in girls.

Nor they in me.

Too shy, maybe.

Not able to chat them up.

Tell them the sort of things they needed to hear.

Find that hard to believe, don't you?

Sam Taylor shy.

When all I've ever done is shout and roll my head off at you all.

You lot.

Aren't you kids?

You don't find it hard to talk to one another, do you?

Or to anybody.

But I always have.

That is until I met Ian.

The first day he came here.

Skinny young cadet.

I knew.

So you have no one, you see.

No one to care for.

You might have to be careful.

Very, very careful.

Not to show me feelings.

Embarrass him.

Let's get him off.

Well,

I'm not.

There were nothing like that.

It was lonely, I suppose.

I wanted somebody to care for.

A son.

And that was Ian.

He confided in me.

We discussed his ambitions, everything.

What about his engagement?

Mom!

Did you discuss that, Sam?

You want to tell me about the engagement?

It just happened so quick -like.

Her mother just didn't have time.

I understand loneliness.

Believe me.

I've lived with it since my husband was killed.

The harder you look, the less likely you are to find someone.

But you've got him!

He's yours, he's your son!

He's 17 already.

And he'd grown up.

One day, very soon, gone.

I don't mean never seeing him, but once kids leave home, it's not quite the same

ever again.

Oh, I wouldn't have it any other way, but it's hard.

You say Ian's been like a son to you.

Well, you're going to have to face up to that too, letting go.

Maybe.

But you brought the time forward, didn't you?

Madam Detective Inspector.

Yes, well, I've thought about that every minute since it happened, and yes, it's

true, they felt laid into him harder because of me, but they'd still have

it, whoever he tried to help.

He's dead, because he tried to help you!

Dead?

How do you... But he was alive when I left this morning, and that was after...

You're back?

Oh, you know you're lying.

You're just lying to save your place in front of him.

Ian died this morning.

Would that make you feel easier?

Would it?

Would you be able to cope better with him dying and getting engaged and

you on one side?

No! Oh, punish me, steal my son, go to prison even.

But be able to face life because he'd never have left you?

That's not the truth.

You're lying.

Lying!

Lying!

She insisted, Dove. Ten minutes.

You mean she's gone in there on a... It's her son and it's her one chance to

her nerve back. And she knows it. Look!

Christ.

Hard way.

Sam! Hold it!

Got good news about Ian.

What's good news, Sam?

There's only the truth.

And the truth is that he's alive, and he'll probably get well, and if he does,

he'll want his life back from where he left it.

You may be part of it, Sam, but you'll have to share him.

Now, if you can't face that, then you might as well jump.

They'll kick me off the fort.

I might end up with nothing.

You might.

Ten minutes, exactly.

Well, at least she's one lady that doesn't keep a gentleman waiting.