All language subtitles for The Gentle Touch s04e03 Cause And Effect

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.