Original subtitles

Give me your teeth and another batch in ring. They're my teeth. I can show you

the bill.

Do it yourself.

How's the fluff in there?

Blood and filth on the northern one has poken all.

I can't find any of them sweets.

Takes the taste of the dust out of me mouth.

Right, well, that is one pound and 75 penny.

Damn, I'm 45p short. Will tonight be all right?

Sorry, love, I asked for all.

Oh, suit yourself, you miserable old sod.

Here, just give me them sweets. You can stick that back on the shelf. Look, if I

make one exception, I have to make two.

Here.

It's all there. You don't have to bite the coin.

Do you want a bag?

What, and pay extra?

Give them here. I'll miss me bath.

60p.

And another four pounds.

Eh? I gave you five pounds.

What's your game?

You just put it in the till. Five pounds.

Have I?

And you've got the serial number, I suppose.

I don't need it. Look, it's there on top.

On your bike, Sambo.

OK.

Hey! Hey! Put that back, you thieving little... You're the thief, not me.

Right, chocolate.

Put back the chocolate.

Get off!

Thank God.

I thought I was a goner.

Wildy came at me with a bottle just because I was trying to stop him nicking

stock.

You saw that, Mr Croft, didn't you?

No.

Oh, well, it's a bit early yet.

You're going to be late.

Huh?

Second day running.

Oh, I can make up the time.

Would you like bread?

No, I'm not hungry.

But you said last night, come three in the morning, you were prowling the house

eating digestive.

I didn't mean to wake you up.

No, I couldn't sleep either.

I heard you dropped the lid of the biscuits in. Oh, look, Mum, why don't

just get off to work?

I promise I'll phone you the moment there's any news. No, it's not the same.

want to be here. In case it's bad.

Won't be bad.

Yes.

Well, I'll get this down here.

Oh, I can't. No.

Oh, give it here.

Just like Dave's mum.

What? Mrs Isaacs. Any problem, stop him with grub.

You say Colin and Ian got there yesterday?

That's right.

Perhaps they come in batches, alphabetically.

What, Colin Taylor and Ian Wilson?

Just a thought. Oh, for God's sake, Mum, leave it out. What? The mother hen bit.

For once in your life, just let me be able to... I'll go.

It's Carmel.

Ether for you.

Grade A?

History grade A? French grade B? Oh, dear.

Well, I did warn you my French was a bit crumbly. Oh, it is marvellous. Oh, I'm

so proud of you. Oh, God, I think I'm going to cry.

Oh, no, I'm not. I'm not trying to fix my face again. Oh, I told you I knew it

would be an incredible band of Bob Croft. Oh, I see. You're just relieved

can hold your head up at work. Oh, no, of course not. It is that I've been

driving them potty with a fence for days.

What do you do in lunchtime?

Well, I don't know, mooching, I suppose. Well, mooch on down to Seven Dials.

I'll buy you a big drink. Or we'll invite Peter and Jake and have a real

Why not? You mean they thought I was going to screw it up too? No, of course

not. About 12 .30, all right?

OK.

Oh, my son, the genius, is feeding his face.

Genius.

Now, that man is going to need six or seven stitches in his head, and from

I saw... What did you say? No, I know what I saw, and it'll all be in my

which brings us back to you being in big trouble.

Well, you keep saying... Hello, Mr Russell, it's Steve Forbes.

I just wanted to let you know Mum's on her way in.

Fine. You get your results?

Yes, she waited on a bit for the post.

Worth waiting for?

Results worth being late for?

Oh, yes. Well, yes, I think she thinks so.

I'm relieved to hear it. No doubt I'll get chapter and verse from her later.

Anyway, congratulations.

Well, I hope you go easy on her if she overdoes the proud Mum act.

Yeah, I'll try and make allowances.

Anyway, Steve, if that's all...

Look, Mum's having a bit of a do at lunchtime to celebrate, and if I'll be

there, I wondered if I might have a bit of a chat.

Yeah, fine.

That's assuming I get an invite.

No, sir. I mean a private chat.

A private chat?

Without Mum.

Well, that could be a bit difficult.

I would appreciate it. It's just that I need another man's advice, and I'd

rather Mum didn't know about it.

Well, it all sounds a bit cloaked and daggy. Yeah, all right, all right. I'll

see what I can do. Sometime this afternoon, yeah? Oh, great. I wouldn't

you, but it's no bother. It's just that we'll have to choose our time a bit

careful.

Sometime after lunch, yeah?

Right, thanks.

Goodbye.

What do you mean, not bad? It's fantastic.

Yes.

Look, I know you're on late turn, but if you want to pop into the tank at

lunchtime, I'm buying, OK?

Oh, can't you?

Oh, yes, I see. Well, try not to get too much non -drip gloss in you here.

OK, Jake, I'll see you. See you.

Good morning.

Is it? Hadn't noticed.

Mrs Freeman.

What? Mrs Freeman. Clock.

A few months back. Wait a minute. Oh, yes, the woman had a valuable anti

story. Yes, I remember. I think you've got a photograph somewhere. Why?

Just had this bump in from the yard.

List of goods recovered from a garage in Hornsey.

Item 446, Louis 15th, Ormolu, cartel, clock 30 inches high, after the manner

Charles Cresson. Yeah, could be.

That'd be a great thing, judging by the photograph. I wouldn't give it out.

Oh, to each his own. Give her a bell, would you? She'll be required to go over

and identify it. Oh, and while I think of it, I want you, Bob and Young, what's

his name, my office, by 11 .30.

Bit of stock taking, yes?

Yes, sir.

Oh, uh, Steve, get his results.

Yes, good morning.

Good? Fantastic, you'll never believe it. Good morning.

Right, come on then, laddies, speak up.

Well, it's only a suggestion, sir, but with all due respect... Oh, I like it.

Yes, your ire heat me all you like, laddie.

Go on.

Yeah, well, perhaps he feels a natural hostility to you, I mean, being the

arresting officer, so I thought... Would you like to have a go on your own?

Yeah. Yeah, good thinking.

Where you go, then?

Oh, before you do, get me a coffee, will you, Maggie?

What? Oh, yes, white, no sugar. Thanks, Peter.

He's shaping up.

Yes, he's keen. I would like that one.

You know, there's an interesting case downstairs.

Found him battering hell out of my newsagent on the way to work.

Why interesting?

Well, he's black.

Very well spoken, and refuses to give his name and address.

He's in charge.

Probably with violence, for starters.

You know... Steve's got three A -levels. Good ones.

Great. Mind you, never could see much point in collecting useless bits of

Useless? Oh, come on, Maggie. There are kids out there with first -class degrees

on dole cues.

What do you think of A -levels, Sergeant?

How do you mean, sir?

Well, are they of any use to you?

A bit of a sweat at the time, but I'm glad I got them.

That's not what I asked. My son's got three.

Oh, that's terrific, ma 'am. You must be well pleased.

Yes, I am.

It's a matter of fact I'm having a little celebration with my dad at

this minute, to be honest.

Oh, yeah, fine. Wasn't there something about you wanting another go at our

friend downstairs?

Yeah, well, I did do it. It's all time like the present, isn't it?

Right -o, sir.

How many did you get?

What? Eight of them.

Four, sir.

Mrs Freeman, DI4, seven dials. Good morning.

Did they bring you some refreshment?

Yes. All right?

Adequate. I'll tell the chef.

No, thank you.

Something amuses you.

Nice try.

Your idea or his?

Whose? Croft, is it?

Inspector Croft, yeah. What idea?

Just planned you to soften me up.

No, that was my idea.

All right.

Winston Mandela, 245 Hennage Road.

Well, that's a bit more like it.

Which only leaves the white weir nicked from Blair and Sons.

Fridges, freezers, washing machines. Anything?

I put out a few wanted posters and just had a call from Jack O 'Thomas.

Promising? Better be.

I've got a meet at the Graves' lunchtime. Right, keep at it. Maggie,

this report.

Just give it back to young Phillips. My compliments. Tell him it's gobbledygook.

What's he done? Swallowed a dictionary?

I think he believes it pays to improve your word to the power.

Oh, I see what you mean.

Oh, are the two Fs inefficacious?

Hmm. Still, he made the change when I was proceeding in a westerly direction.

Yeah, we'll just get him to redo it, eh?

And try to explain that no -one ever won a Nobel Prize for Literature writing a

report on a break in a safeway. When's he due back?

He shouldn't be long. He's checking out our friend downstairs' address.

Our gentleman chocolate thief.

What do you think?

Well, I haven't seen him in so long. Philip thinks that he's intransigent.

He would. Is he?

There's more to it than that.

I just can't seem to make him understand that he's in serious trouble. It's as

if he doesn't believe me or just doesn't care.

Why don't you have a word?

Well, yeah, if you think I'd be of any help. Are you sure? Any tips?

Well, he tries to give the impression he's very laid back about the whole

but I reckon he's so uptight he's liable to implode.

I mean, he didn't resist arrest, had no ID, but did have just over 18 quid on

him. Oh, so if he was flashed, why did he steal?

I'll get the newsagent's statement this afternoon.

If he's up to it. I mean, he was a bit groggy last time I saw him. Right, sort

it out among you. Yeah, that's it, isn't it?

Oh, uh... Either of you fancy playing Aunt Sally at a student debate on the

of police in the erosion of democracy?

Well, it could prove instructive. Did you know we were being used as cat's

by a fascist elite?

I wonder what would have been giving me those headaches.

No, thanks.

I pass.

Oh, Maggie.

Uh... I've got to dash over to Vine Street. May not be back in time, so...

round in for me, would you? Oh, thanks.

How did you know?

It's all at the station.

Good news travels fast. Thank you.

Right, then. I'll go downstairs and have a word with... What's his name?

Mandela. Winston Mandela.

That's one I owe you.

Well, look, if first Steve comes before I'm back, he won't belittle his efforts.

Oh, Maggie, what do you take me for? What you said before.

I was pulling your leg. Joke.

Oh, how bloody how.

Oh! What were you bloody... Sorry, ma 'am.

Patronising little thot downstairs has just had me traipse halfway across south

London to a false address.

Yeah, Winston.

Oh, yeah, if that's his real name, which I doubt.

How did it turn out to be?

I'm sure you're going to tell me.

It's all right, brother.

Do, please, sit down.

Now, I'm Detective Inspector Forbes.

Right, now, what do we know about you so far?

Your name is Winston Mandela and you live in a multi -story car park in

Woolwich.

You have lovely manners.

You like practical jokes and chocolate.

Well, that's a start, isn't it?

All right, if the inspector's somewhere, it's in here. Oh, yeah, fine.

Hello, Steve. Bob Croft. We've spoken on the phone. You know Sergeant Phillips.

Hello. All right.

Well, who's a clever boy, then? No, not again.

Everybody in the nick's on about it.

Shall I get you some coffee?

Oh, yes, thanks. Milk, sweet sugars.

He had a bit of bother then. In the newsagents round the corner.

Philip's been filling you in, has he?

No, I was in there just now.

A man with plaster on his head was telling some woman all about it.

Was he now?

It was a bit odd, though.

How? Well, it seems she was in the shop just before the robbery.

Said she hadn't noticed the bloke who did it.

Yeah, so what's odd? She's no help.

Ah, but he wanted to say that she had.

And that the black chap was acting suspiciously.

Well, well.

What did she say?

She said that she didn't see anything and she didn't want to get involved.

Right.

Here you go.

A bit luke, I'm afraid. Still, your mum shouldn't be long.

Then we can have something a bit more convivial, eh?

Oh, I'm not so sure this is a good idea.

Eh?

I'm not going to get away with being 32 anymore.

No, you'll be married at 12.

The lad will go far, as do you now. Yeah, congratulations.

And Bill Rutledge, this is, and Jane.

Thanks.

I'm going to start saving up.

What for?

I'll have to do a bit better than this when you get your degree.

in London.

I mean, if he can live at home, it'll help beat the grant out.

Ah, you won't need to get that.

Oh, no, it's all right. I told them I'd be here if our joke had changed his

mind. I shan't be as sexy as he can make himself.

That's about what?

Mum's all set for me to go to London University.

And you don't fancy London?

No. University.

Right.

We'll be adding assault on a police officer to the list of charges, as well

wasting police time. Now, do you want to throw something at me and go for broke?

I'm sorry. I just lost my temper. I'm sorry.

My parents will pay for any damage.

Does that mean you're going to stop being stupid and tell me who they are?

Yes. Mr and Mrs Livesey, 26 Kennington Terrace. And your name?

Mark. Mark Livesey.

Ah, Constable, is interview two occupied?

Yes, I believe it is, Madam.

I'll have to take this young man down to the cell and then get someone to clean

this mess up.

I hope you find someone at home. My parents have bitten me.

And you haven't told her yet?

No.

She'll have to know sooner or later.

Yeah, I know. I just never seem to find the right moment.

That's why I want to see Mr.

Russell this afternoon.

You won't say anything?

Of course not.

My love, she's back.

Yeah, English was my best subject, too. I thought you had the gift for words.

Steve, love, I'm sorry. Now, where have I heard that before? Yes, I know, love,

but something's come up. His name is Mark Libby, and he's just clobbered a

constable with his lounge. But I think we have his real name and address now. I

think it's whatever word of his parents.

It's in Kennington, love, and give you a lift. It's OK. As I'm up west, I'll

have a look round the shops. Oh, here, take some money. We'll pop into the deli

on your way home, and you can buy something special to suffer. My treat.

Okay. See you now.

Cheers.

No, no. No, he hasn't been charged.

No, no statement.

Yes, it's all right. He hasn't been hurt.

No. Seven dials.

What time does the court rise?

Not till then.

My God, that'll mean you won't be back in town till after six.

Right. Yes, right, I will.

But you will get back as soon as you can.

All right.

How's the case?

My husband's defending two boys in Oxford County Court. He won't be back

Oh, my God, I can't believe it.

I ring up Kennington Police Station to tell them that Bark's been missing all

night and ten minutes later you arrive and tell me... Is he all right?

He's fine.

Well, where is he?

Is he in a cell? How long has he been there? Your son was arrested at...

Approximately 7 .45 this morning, ma 'am.

My God, that's six hours.

By God's name, didn't you let me know sooner? He's only just decided to give

his real name and address.

Yeah, we waited a fair chunk of those six hours traipsing across London to a

false address.

Has he been fed?

Your son was offered lunch. He threw it at a constable.

Oh, no, I don't believe it.

No, Mark's a gentle boy.

You're making out to be some kind of thug.

Oh, my husband asked me to ask you.

Was there anyone there when he was interrogated?

When your son was questioned, another officer was present at all times. No,

no. I mean a probation officer, a social worker. Was he on probation?

I just wondered if there was anyone there to represent his interest as a

juvenile.

Mrs. Lively, your son refused to give his age. Well, surely you must have

realised he was a juvenile.

Well, no, it's hard to tell. I see.

If they're black and suspect, they all look alike.

No, Mrs. Lively, that's not what I meant.

Your son is intelligent and very articulate. He seems very mature for his

I naturally assumed he was older.

I'm sorry.

Sorry I shouldn't have said that.

Yes, it's true. Mark's got 11 O -levels. We want him to go to Cambridge.

Oh, that's what makes all this so pointless.

Well, Mrs. Livesey, if you'd like... Oh, yes, right.

I'll get my coat. I must just leave a note for Mrs. Baker. She's my

She'll be worried.

I got you a large whiskey, sir. Fine.

So, what is all this?

It's good of you to spare me the time. You've got five minutes.

Look, Steve, I don't like going behind your mother's back, pretending I knew

nothing about your exam results, et cetera, skulking about.

Nearly dropped a wicket earlier when I offered to stand my corner.

Cheers.

So, what's your problem?

I want to go to Hendon. So, what's your problem?

I think Mum's against it. Think?

Well, I haven't actually told her yet.

Why involve me?

Well, I want to know what you think.

About what?

Whether I should.

Should what? Tell her?

Go to Hendon.

All right.

Why do you want to become a copper?

Well, I just want to do the job. Oh, come on, Steve. You're going to have to

better than that.

First question they'll ask you at the interview.

That's if you get that far.

You mean I might not?

It's not automatic, no.

Look, if that was on the force, your mother's very highly regarded. But that

doesn't make it a family business. You ain't going to get any favors.

I'm not looking for any.

Just as long as you realize that.

All right, let's start again.

What makes you think you'll make a good copper?

Well, I know a lot about the job already, and, well, I worked bloody hard

make a go of it, all right.

That's a bit better.

Tell me something.

How are you going to cope when it comes to collaring villains if you haven't

even got the balls to tell your mother you want to do the job, hmm?

Right, now, you'll be good to go. I'll keep you a moment.

Thank you.

Yes,

we'll check with an interview room free and then get young Mark up for myself.

So I want to know if Bob's off back yet. Right, ma 'am. What do you reckon?

I don't know.

I remembered her husband coming back in the car.

He's a barrister. He specialises in ethnic minorities, people's rights, that

sort of thing. Trouble. Yeah, could be.

You want my advice? You tell her. Tonight, certainly, before you apply to

Hendon. I've already sent him my application form.

That's it, then, isn't it? You've blown it. Why?

Police training colleges have to be careful who they accept, yes?

Your application form goes in, they'll spend a few weeks checking it.

Now, obviously, they're going to learn who you are from what happened to your

dad, then they'll contact Maggie and see how she feels. Any parental objection,

they're going to take that into consideration.

Damn. So, the sooner you make clean breast of it, the better.

If they approach Maggie before you've talked to her, she could give a thumb's

done. Can she do that? What do you think?

I'll tell her tonight.

You'd better add.

Otherwise, you ain't going to make it to the interview.

You still haven't said whether you think I'd be right for the job.

Oh, come on, Steve. You're trying to put me on the spot. Now, don't.

You make up your own mind you want to do the job and to hell with anybody else's

opinion. Okay, so it's a big decision for you, but you know as well as I do,

half police work depends on people being able to take decisions.

Now, if you can't take that sort of pressure... Then I should go to you.

if that sounds unsympathetic. No, it sounds honest.

Thanks.

I'm sorry I bothered you, sir, but, well, I can't ask Dan. I didn't need

man's advice.

I must go.

Look, Steve... I'll tell her tonight.

Bye.

We adopted Mark when he was four.

Thirteen years ago.

Yes, it must be.

David and I are always forgetting to explain to strangers.

Well, you do after all that time.

Ready for an alarm, then. Right.

I did want to see him, but... Don't your sergeant have to be there?

Well, no. I didn't feel that Mark would talk more freely.

Well, I am his mother.

Oh, excuse me. One moment.

I want to know that Bob Croft gets back that statement from the news agent.

Right, ma 'am. And I've got a little job for you. The general feeling is that

you're intoxicated with the exuberance of your own verbosity.

Know what I mean?

I'll rewrite it.

Right, then.

Where's the head?

It's robbing a bit.

Yeah, shouldn't you be at home?

I wouldn't mind the store, if you don't got any help.

Take on one, I'd go broke.

Do you know how much I've paid in rates?

Hefty, I could imagine, this area.

Two through.

SPQR. Huh?

Small profit, quick return.

Only have to do 14 hours a day to get it.

Fags, was it? No, it's a statement.

Can't it wait till I shut the shop? It's come up in my busy time. I'm due for

signing off soon. I'd like to get this wrapped up for a good haul. All right,

fair enough. If you don't mind the interruptions, I don't.

I saw a woman leave the shop as I turned the corner this morning. A woman?

Come in here, Benson, please.

Woman.

Oh, you mean Rean.

Rean who?

Oh, I don't know.

Comes in after the night.

She's a fluffer.

A what?

Fluffer. You know, she cleans out the tube stations, the track and that.

like men's work to me. Tough old bird is our Rean.

Mouth on her like a sewer, breath to match.

I'll take it you don't like the lady.

No. And lady she ain't.

So she'd be no use as a witness then.

I didn't see the kid, or so she said.

Well, you asked her. Yeah.

She popped in lunchtime. She won't be much help.

So it's down to you then.

Yeah.

Well, and you.

Me?

Oh, well, come on, Mr Croft. You were here. You saw it happen.

Did I?

Well, what have I got to do? Do I have a diagram? The kid comes out with a

bottle and down I go. Yeah, well, look, that's where I came in, wasn't it? You

lying on the floor, him standing over you with a fistful of chocolate.

Well, there you are, then what more do you want to know? Two seconds earlier

you'd have seen him do it. But it's still your word against his.

A spade?

Two seconds?

You're beginning to interest me, Mr Coombs.

It's the truth, though, help me.

Two seconds.

Look, if you get some smart spade lawyer, them two seconds could be vital.

might even get away with it.

If you could just nudge the truth along for a couple of seconds.

I presume there'd be some inducement.

Eh?

Oh! Oh, well.

Fags is expensive.

Look, we've got to stick together. They're taking over.

Are they?

Have you any idea what the penalty is for conspiring to pervert the course of

justice, Mr Coons? Well, who's going to know if we... I might have known.

You're one of them, ain't you? One of what, Mr Coons? I could have had you

pegged for one of the bleeding art brigade.

Get your orders from up top, will you?

Go easy on the Coons. Mustn't upset them, must we? Oh, no.

See a spade mugging an old lady, do the old lady.

Arrest her for hitting her head against his boot.

Right, shall we get on with your statement then, Mr Coombs? I don't think

should be interested in that. Oh, yes, I am. I am very interested in the truth.

What have you got to worry about anyway, huh? The truth is going to put him

away.

Now, you say he hit you over the head with that bottle.

Now, our forensic boys will come up with a set of his prints from the glass.

Won't they?

And then you're laughing, aren't you?

You, uh, seen Inspector Forbes?

Down in interview one, sir, getting a statement from Mark Lidley.

Who? Chuck Croft called this morning. He's juvenile, by the way. Oh, why

you with her, then?

His mum's down there with him and she doesn't like crowds.

Oh. Well, you know the Home Office recommendation.

Give him every assistant, no cause for complaint.

The Icroft?

Out taking statement.

Fine. You, uh, retyping that report?

Yeah. Maggie, explain?

Well, too many long words. Bit flash.

Flash? You sure you don't mean meretricious?

I'll stick with flash, then. You're learning.

And there's nothing you want to add to this, Mark?

No, it's all there.

Anything you want to change or alter? No, that's what happened.

Do you want me to find it? I think you ought to wait till David gets there. I

want to find it. Well, there's really no hurry.

I've, uh, got to go.

Typed out anyway.

Now, would you like a cup of tea?

You didn't have any lunch, did you?

Yes, please.

Can I stay with you?

Well, I don't see why not.

I suppose you could do with a cup of tea as well.

Now, mark for me.

Sign it. Both pages. Here, here.

Never in the right place at the right time.

I think I was in the nick of time this morning, Mr Coombs. Yeah?

Too bad you weren't in Brixton last year, wasn't it?

Where were you when they bombed me out, eh?

Where was your lot when they smashed all the windows and threw the petrol bombs

in, eh?

14 years I had that shop in Rowden Road.

Good customers.

Most of them black.

All of them had tick.

They were the old ones, you see.

Too proud to owe 10p at the end of the week. They always paid up on the nails,

the young ones.

I even know who did it. I could take you to their homes, but you're not even

interested and you talk about justice.

You're a bastard, Mr Croft.

You are one sick man, Mr Coombs. You need help before you go over the edge.

There may be charges.

I'll be in touch.

And you can get your bloody cigarette somewhere else.

What's this word?

Read the sentence.

Um, I had been out all night and I was... Hungry.

There. That's it.

Do you think it's true?

I don't know.

Something he's not telling us. Just something that... Oh, cosy.

Peter was helping you through a statement. Your arrest.

Ah, I should have got back earlier. I saved you the trouble.

What? You let the kid go.

How come?

Well, I wouldn't go so far as to say that Coombs is an out -and -out villain,

but he does seem to have a pathological hatred of young black people. Seems he

fell over.

An accident.

Well, see what you mean.

This is the boy's statement, and I quote.

The man saw me try to steal the chocolate and came towards me. I was

I saw the bottle of soft drink on the counter. I must have panicked.

I picked up the bottle and hit him on the head. He fell down.

That's when the policeman came in and arrested me.

What the hell is he playing at?

I don't know.

Yet.

I don't see you've got any problem.

You simply drop all charges, drive the boy and his mother home.

They're worth the assault on PC Lyme. Oh, come on. Throwing a dollop of baked

beans in a couple of bangers hardly constitutes an assault with a deadly

even if they were from our canteen. Send him home.

Bob said something earlier about the boy being tense.

I'd like to have a word with him.

I'd like to know why he confessed to something he hadn't done, and where did

go last night?

Now, don't get involved. Leave that to the social worker, Miss Hubble. That

woman, she did it after.

You sure this isn't just to satisfy your curiosity?

No, it's not.

I'm worried about the boy.

All right, today Bob got at the truth. Next time he may not be so lucky. It's

almost as if he wanted to go to prison. Do you think there'll be a next time?

I just don't know.

Is it worth taking the risk just for the sake of a few minutes' talk?

Would his mother go along with it? I think both his parents would prefer it

visit from a social worker.

OK, you've got half an hour. I want a pair of them off the premises by 5 .30

latest. I don't want either of them around when the old man gets here.

Did you phone Oxford?

Yes, sir, he'd already left.

I'm already charging to the rescue. Now, I know this David Livesy is a crusader.

Put me through the mincer at a seminar on policing methods a couple of years

back. Last thing I need is a do -gooder with a severe attack of moral

indignation rushing in here screaming unlawful arrest.

Oh, come on, Gav. Even the most rabid anti -police vigor would see that I had

just cause.

Don't have to convince me, Bob.

Still think it'd be a good idea if you went around when he gets here.

Right. Uh, what about Coombs?

Yeah, leave facts with me.

We may prefer charges. Either way, we'll keep a bead on him.

Yeah.

All right, Maggie, half an hour, and only if the mother agrees.

And, uh,

like it were, before you go home, yeah?

Yes.

All right, I'm off. He who fights and runs away.

Oh, by the way, there was a phone call for you yesterday. I forgot.

Um, Ron Boyce. It's all right, he phoned back.

Yeah, the only Ron Boyce I knew was an instructor, Hendon. That's right.

All right.

You sure you don't want to... Day, any help with the liberals?

No.

Aren't you even vaguely curious?

A couple of colour supplement liberals get a pasty. There's no big deal.

Oh, you're a hard man, Bob.

Yeah, there are some who wouldn't agree with that. I mean, Coombs, for example.

He thinks I'm a member of the Bleeding Hearts Brigade.

He should meet you.

Hi. Oh, by the way, thank Steve for me, will you?

Steve? Yeah, well, he was the one that put me on to Coombs.

He's very observant, tell him.

Thanks.

Oh, Peter.

Please, it is the time.

Peter, do you think you could get another book, please?

Well, now, Mark, we've got a full statement from the newsagent.

We won't be pressing any charges.

But I don't understand. What about Mark's statement? Well, I think Mark was

little confused.

You mean we're free to go? If he wants to.

Of course we want to.

What about the assault, the PC?

Well, I think we can forget about that.

Of course, if you'd like to tell me why you made that statement.

Come on, Mark, we're going home. I'd like to try and explain if I can.

And I'd like a wash, please.

A wash?

I've been up all night and here all day. I feel a bit sticky.

Mark, we're going home. You can have a nice hot bath.

A wash will do for now.

Peter, can you take... This way.

I'm not glad of this opportunity to talk to you, Mrs. Lipsy. I rather think

that's why Mark arranged it.

Oh.

You must realize that your son is deeply disturbed about something.

I mean, why else... Why else would he make a false statement?

I don't know. You tell me.

Does he often spend the night away from home?

No. No, not often. But when he does, it's with friends. We always know where

is. That's why you were so worried today.

Well, of course.

But you only reported him missing just before we got there this afternoon, and

he had been missing all night.

Well, I didn't know he was missing till I came home at lunchtime. And your

husband? Well, my husband was in Oxford all day yesterday in court. He spent the

night at the Randolph.

Well, I left crack of dawn this morning. I didn't think that there was any point

in waking Mark so early.

No, I see.

You go to work?

No, no, not as such.

I belong to a group who run a...

Sanctuary for battered wives.

We were faced with eviction.

I was there all day, yes, there. I had to get the food in and organise the sit

-in. Actually, I never got home till about two in the morning.

I didn't think that there was... Well, I naturally assumed that Mark would be in

bed.

Yes, I see.

What happened?

When I got home at lunchtime, Mrs Baker told me that Mark's bed hadn't been

slept in. I rang round all the friends I could think of. None of them had seen

him. So I rang the police.

Look, is this relevant?

It could be.

You don't think much of the police, do you?

Why do you say that?

False statement.

False names and addresses.

You must think we were a right bunch of nanas. Not at all. That inspector got

that man to tell the truth. I was very surprised.

Didn't you think he could?

No.

David and Paula were wrong.

Justice can win over expediency.

How old do you say you were?

I'm only like a parrot, really.

I hear that sort of talk all the time at home.

You, Pitt?

Fine.

Oh, sir, this is Mark Livesey.

How do you do? How do you do?

You will apologise to that PC for me, won't you?

Yeah, yeah, sure.

You're more or less accusing me of neglecting Mark. Oh, no.

I'm not. I've seen neglected children.

No, I'm not saying that Mark is neglected.

But he seems very unhappy.

Well,

Mark.

It's difficult to know where to start.

Well, look, Mark, you don't have to say anything.

No, I want to.

I want to try and make some sense.

Look, Mark, why didn't you want us to know who you were?

I needed time.

Frightening things had happened.

I needed time to think about it.

To try and make space around me.

I wanted to know what my ideals were.

That man in the shop, cross -shouting, all of it.

It was as if it wasn't happening to me, as if I was outside.

I'm sorry, I'm not making any sense.

Take your time. You just go on when you feel you can.

Even when I knew I could be in trouble, I kept thinking of...

Causes. Causes?

We're a great family for causes.

We collect them like a stamp.

Save the world, stop the tour, ban the bomb, free the dissidents.

Every week there's a new one.

David and I are very active. We believe strongly in certain things.

We naturally wanted to involve Mark in our beliefs.

Well, it's only natural. You're our son. That doesn't make it right.

Always another demo, another campaign.

Something new to worry about.

When I was little, you took me to a demonstration in Trafalgar Square.

I didn't know it was Trafalgar Square.

I just saw a big crowd and a man standing, shouting into a microphone and

shaking his fist at a tall building.

Hugh and David were clapping, but I didn't know what it was about.

I didn't know it was South Africa House.

I didn't know what apartheid was.

And it was cold.

You could see my breath.

It was cold.

You're only seven and you remember all that time. I remember the cold.

You see, we wanted to involve you.

You were so busy, rushing about, putting things right.

You haven't got time to let me decide how I feel about things.

You say this is good, that's bad.

You stick all your ideas on me, you nail them on me.

It's all right for you.

David was always so sure.

Don't look at me like that. I'm not trying to hurt you.

Have we ever done anything, involved you in anything that you didn't believe in?

Some things, sometimes.

What things? When?

I thought of one this morning.

Hennage Road.

What about Hennage Road?

There's a big old church there and a local council wanted to pull it down.

It was ugly.

It would have cost a fortune to restore it, but there we were with our placards.

Save our heritage from the vandals.

They wanted to pull it down and build a car park. We had to try and save it.

Why? All that money spent to restore it, and what would you have?

Another empty church.

That's a busy shopping area. The people needed a car park, wanted one.

I'm glad they got it.

Mark, have you often felt this way about the things that your mother and father

do? Quite often, yes.

Why have you never told them how you felt?

Because they've been so good to me.

Oh, my God.

I'm sorry. Have I said something wrong? No, it's all right, Mark. Don't worry.

Look, Mark, where were you last night?

Walking.

Walking? Where?

Everywhere. Miles.

Walking? Last night?

No, to start with, a friend of mine from school said he found a great club and

asked me to go with him.

A club?

A reggae club in Brixton.

So I went.

I hated it.

Why? Why did you hate it?

Because I didn't fit in.

I couldn't understand what they were saying.

I tried to join in, tried to make friends.

They just laughed at me.

I think I'm a freak.

There's a boy there called Winston.

At least he talked to me.

For a long time.

He said I was a white nigger.

Oh, Mark. He was right.

You and David lied to me.

You always said that the colour of your skin doesn't matter, but it does.

When I look into the mirror, I see me, but who's that?

Winston thinks I'm a white nigger. That man in the shop called me chocolate. He

just thinks I'm a nigger.

You made me think I was white.

I don't know.

Maybe one's wrong, maybe one's right.

Mark, if only you'd come home last night. I didn't know where home was

I told Winston about you and David.

He said you only adopted me because I was black.

Mark. He just thinks I'm another one of your causes.

You don't believe that. You don't really believe that.

Winston can never know what it's like to be childless.

But he was wrong.

We didn't want a black child or a white child or a Chinese.

We just wanted a child.

But it's not that easy.

You go to the authorities and you fit in forms and you wait a long time.

Years.

And in the meantime, you're vetted, screened.

You go to more meetings, lectures.

You sit around and hope.

You're sick with hope.

And then, one day, one day, if you're very, very lucky,

you get to adopt a child.

And we were lucky.

Yeah?

I'm off. You said you wanted to talk to me.

Yeah.

It'll lead us to the tent from young Phillips.

I think he's got the message.

It's strictly cat sat on the mat.

You look bushed.

Yes, I am.

How'd it go?

All right.

They're talking at the start. Young Phillips is driving them home.

You fancy a drink?

No, I better not. I'm driving.

Anyway, the way I feel, one wouldn't be enough.

Don't let me stop you. No, I don't.

I've still got Mr. Livesey to see if he really needs to catch one whiff of that

on me breath. I'd be a drunk as well as a fascist. Oh, I think he'd be all

right. He may slang you off a bit, but you know, Mrs. Livesey was quite

for the time they left.

Right, good.

So, you said you wanted a word.

Yeah, well, it was just that I managed to get back in time to have a drink with

Steve and we had a bit of a talk.

About Hendon.

How long you known?

That he'd actually applied this afternoon.

One voice gave me a bell.

I knew someone had been in touch.

Yeah, well, it was a bit of a blow.

I should have recognised the signs.

Heavy hints from Jake.

Even Phillips mentioned it in the car, going over to the Liz's.

And, uh, now Steve sounded you out. He seems to have talked to everyone except

me. Well, I think he intends to get around to that tonight.

Oh, great. That's all I need, a stand -up fight.

Does it have to be a fight?

No, it's just I had the same situation, only in reverse with my eldest.

I wanted him to go in force.

I'd call it vanity, if you like.

He wanted to go in the Navy.

We had one hell of a shouting match. I really put my foot down.

He went to Dartmouth.

He's doing very well.

What does that prove?

Well, sometimes they do make the right choice, even if we can't see them.

Look, Maggie, I was a bit hard on Steve. Go easy, eh?

Thanks, Bill.

I'll handle it.

I'll have to.

Now... Why didn't you tell me? All right, so I'm telling you now. Yes,

after you've talked to everybody else at the NIC, I'll be already applied. No

discussion, just like that. There's nothing to discuss. I want to go to the

police training college and that's it.

Oh, my feelings on the subject just don't matter, I suppose.

I just didn't want an argument.

Why does there have to be an argument? Can't we just talk about it? A

would turn into a row and you wouldn't fight fair.

Fight fair?

What does that mean? Well, are you saying you wouldn't remind me what

to Dad?

That you'd already lost half your family to the job? No.

It's a powerful argument. It's an emotional one. It's irrational and

Well, it's a mother's argument. Steve, I am your mother.

And what about Dad?

I think he would have been proud. Well, do you think I'm not proud?

Of course I'm proud of you.

Even when you were just a toddler, you used to grab your dad's helmet and put

around the room saying, I'm a policeman.

God, we were proud of you even then. Well, then I don't see why you... Oh,

Steve, it was 15 years ago.

The world's changed.

The job's changed so much.

It's before he died, your dad was worried about the violence.

What do you think he would say now about petrol bombs and street riots?

I think he'd say that's all the more reason why someone's got to get out

and do the job and try and keep order.

It's what he believed in.

It's why he died.

He saw the villains robbing that van, but he thought like a policeman.

It was something he had to do.

He was a hero and I'm a widow.

Oh, now, look, Steve, if you think you want to join the force just out of

loyalty to your dad... Oh, look, Mum, it's not that. I promise you.

You only see the worst of what could happen. I've already lived through the

worst that can happen.

I just can't face doing it a second time. Oh, for God's sake, Mum,

show that more people get killed crossing the road in a day than police

hear. I don't care about statistics. I care about you.

I want to go to Hendon, Mum.

All right, all right.

I just hope that you go to university first.

Just to give yourself time to find out who you are.

What do you want?

I can still go to university after my two years probationary period. And at

police force's expense.

You've thought it all out, haven't you?

Except for one thing.

What about?

What do I do?

What do I do when you're out on patrol duty?

You know, a woman this afternoon said something about being thick with hope.

That'll be me, won't it?

Hoping I won't get a call from the hospital to say your ribs have been

by some football hooligans.

Hoping you'll come home safe and sound after a spell on night duty.

Hoping I won't get another call from Russell's office like when your dad...

the hell do you think I've been feeling for years?

At least I know the pitfalls.

It's my life.

And you can't go on protecting me forever.

You can't stop me from joining the force because of what happened to Dad.

Well, I had to try.

Yes.

Look, I'm no hero.

I'll keep my head down when it gets rough, I promise, OK?

Yes.

One thing you haven't thought of?

No.

My son, the commissioner.

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