All language subtitles for The Gentle Touch s04e11 Pressures

Thanks, Ted.

Hello, Uncle.

Hey, what's the matter, Grammy? Your
record's stuck.

Gary?

This room here? Yeah.

But you're next door. What's going on?

I don't know. What noise is it? I don't
know.

What's the noise? What we got?

Blood and death threat, multiple, and
messy, and usually messy.

How about you? Where were you?

Watching telly?

What, while all this screaming was going
on? Yeah, well, that's murder squad

business, isn't it?

So hang on, hand over, we're going to
get back to business, yeah?

Right.

Evening, all.

No? No.

Oh.

Why not? Not now. Not now, please.

Do you want something to eat? No. Why
shouldn't I? No, nothing.

Leave it.

Yeah,

all right. Come on, then. Let's hear it.
Have fun with it.

Do what?

Oh, get off it. Don't game play. Just
say your piece, then we... Copy?

What? Oh, yeah, thanks.

Black without.

Black without.

Now, come on, now, don't tell me that
you got from the street door to that

without someone pulling you aside for a
nudge, nudge, wink, wink, quick word.

Look, Bob, it's been a day. I mean,
today more than... So would you

Nathan Roberts.

What about him?

He croaked on me.

What? Well, I heard he'd been spending.

So you had him brought in?

Well, what else?

I mean, when a known face like Roberts
gets quick rich, I want to know how

wouldn't you? Well, I'll be asking some
questions. So you had him brought in,

then what?

And for one minute he was sitting there,
sucking on a roll of your own,

swearing, my life, Inspector. He was
straight as a spear, and the next he

sparked out.

Well, I called for assistance, put out a
shout for an ambulance.

Well, they took him, the ambulance. He
must have still been alive.

Who knows?

I mean, he was DOA at Memorial.

Only a couple of minutes, but whether
I... Well, what are they saying? I mean,

call. No, they aren't, and they won't,
officially.

Oh, but there's a rumour going around.
Oh, yeah, yeah. This time I went too

This time I had separate... And?

I didn't even raise my voice.

But I need it to be said officially.

Well, did they request an immediate PM?

No, I did.

And? Well, according to mastermind, it
could only go through Russell, and I

cannot get hold of Russell.

You dropped in at a...

Been in Crawley Park present earlier.

Yeah, but he didn't come back here.

He's nowhere in his card and his
number's engaged. It has been engaged.

right, all right.

Sooner or later it'll be down. I mean,
the pathologist will find nothing. He'll

put in a report and that'll cause a
death end. Oh, no, no, no, no, no. There

too many. Far too eager.

Now, I'll have to go to the coroner
before I'm in the clear.

And in the meantime, well, maybe I'm
paranoid, but like they say, it doesn't

mean they're not after me.

There, you see?

He's heard. Right, you've heard. I've
heard.

Yeah. Doesn't mean they're not after me.

They're supposed to be on my side. What
do you expect? You know what it's like.

Rabbit, rabbit, and it happens.

Hard luck, but it happens. Yeah, well,
of course it happens. I mean, people die

in front of other people every second of
every day.

It doesn't happen that they drop dead
whilst being questioned by bad Bob

does it? No, it doesn't.

If you do cop for any stick, you...

Go on. You were saying?

Well, you can put it down the way it
worked. It's been a hard case round

but I still say it's hard luck. Hard
luck?

Cobblers, you're a chub to see. Me in it
as all the other... Oh, that's enough,

Barney. It's all right, thanks. Now,
really, thanks.

But I'll speak for myself.

You're wrong, Mr Croft.

I get no more satisfaction out of seeing
you get stuffed than I do hearing a

suspect that's died under interrogation.

Right.

I've said my piece. Now I'm off.

To drown today in best bitter.

Join me?

Don't say.

I'm sorry.

Just seeing those snide smiles.

Still engaged.

Try the operator. Perhaps he's a fault
on the line. Perhaps he's been left off

the hook.

Well, why would he do that?

Well, perhaps he's had enough of today.

Look, Bob, a suggestion. Why don't you
slide off home? Put some distance

yourself and what's happened. I'll hang
on here. I'll keep after Russell. No,

thanks. I'd rather sweat it out here.
No.

Really.

Okay, I'm not good.

Anyway, I have had it.

Soup and a bath, so... Oh, I'm going to
wend my weary.

Yeah.

Okay, that business at Crawley Park
Cres, I mean, was it as gaudy as the

grapevine suggests?

Well, it didn't do a thing for the
appetite. Good night.

Is this any way to deal with it?

Whatever it is?

Well, it's obviously my way of dealing
with it.

And it is something you can't discuss?

Or won't discuss?

And how am I supposed to deal with it?

In your way.

For God's sake.

No.

For my sake.

Will you please talk to me?

Let me in if something's happened.

Something happened.

Something I couldn't understand.

Something I'm trying to understand that
will take less time to be understood if

I'm left alone, given the time.

Look, you've got a bad cold.

When you go to bed, get some sleep.
Sleep?

Look, I want to know what's happened.

What's happening?

I've already told you it's something I
don't want to talk about until I know

what I'm talking about.

Whatever that might mean. Latin.

Roughly, the times are out of joint.

Makes you wonder why we bother. Makes
you wonder, Inspector. I ask myself no

such questions.

I know.

For those who long for old Sal law and
order, we are window dressing.

For those who practice the politics of
chaos, we are an Aunt Sally.

Only within the narrow confines of
traditional cops and robbers do we

according to form, which brings us
around to you and your dead robber.

Do you get hold of your governor?

No, sir.

He was dropped off by his driver,
intending to go home, but it appears

there has left the receiver off. All
right.

Let's assume that's the case.

And that being the case...

I'll take up the slack.

Request priority PM on Friend Roberts.

Thank you, sir. I'm not doing it for
your sake. How many times do I have to

say... Did I say that you did?

No, sir, I did not.

That's not to say there aren't those who
wouldn't. I can paint my own picture.

Yes, I'm sure you can.

So, enough said.

See me in the morning.

And between now and then, forget it.

After all, who would argue without Mr
Roberts that the world would be a poorer

place?

Till tomorrow.

Oh, tempera. Oh, what the hell would you
know about it?

What time is it?

Half past eight.

Good morning.

No, not good morning.

Fast and cool.

That's hardly surprising, is it?

What time did you say it was?

Between half eight and nine.

No.

Leave them drawn. Leave them drawn?
Leave them drawn.

And the light? Do you want that switched
off? Do you want darkness?

That's what I want.

That's what I want.

Well, some strong black coffee wouldn't
go amiss, would it?

Janie.

Nothing.

Nothing? This is all about nothing.

Do you want some breakfast?

No, no.

Just... Will you phone in for me?

You're not going to work? No.

Ask for the welfare officer and tell
him... Tell him it's a touch of

gastroenteritis. It'll just be a day or
two.

All right.

Oh, and do I replace the receiver after
making the call?

Well, yeah.

Yeah, but if it rings... Yeah, I know.
Well, I answer it and you're not

available except... At all, under any
circumstances.

No.

I... I know. I know.

We're just going to... We're just going
to have to... What's that? Hair of the

dog?

What is it?

I was going to pass out.

Passed out.

What do you think it could be?

What do you think?

Well... I doubt it. Doubt what?

That it's what you were thinking.

Maybe I should phone Peter soon.

No, why? What are you thinking?

I think it might be a good idea if he
called round for a chat with you. You

still haven't said why.

I don't think I have to.

What do you mean?

Of course...

As I spent the night getting legless,
falling asleep in the armchair.

Since when was that cause?

It's the cause that concerns me.

The why.

Why you came in last night looking like
death warmed over.

Why you had to withdraw into silence and
solitude and scotch.

Why?

What happened?

Nothing.

Nothing.

Hasn't happened before.

Hundred and more times.

Just couldn't handle it.

Couldn't handle myself.

I'll call the station and make you some
coffee.

But no call to Peterson. No talking to
Peterson. No talking to anyone. Or

else... What?

You'll start knocking me around.

Or sleeping around.

Or will you just dive deeper into the
bottle? We've seen all three things

to other police husbands who'd had to
handle more than their share.

And then more.

You're a great help, aren't you? I mean,
really. You're just about all I...

Dr. Peterson, please.

No, I'd like to speak to him personally.

Russell. Janey!

Yes, I... No.

Never mind.

Thank you. I'm sorry.

I'm sorry.

Well, what's the verdict?

I've been ordered home.

What, suspended?

Mm -hmm.

No, not yet. I am not in a fit and
proper state to perform, and so on and

on. I think you could do with some
sleep. I wouldn't disagree with him, but

you've got it all clear.

Oh, no. No, not yet. What is it? The
report is being withheld pending further

detailed investigation.

Before you ask, even yourself, the
answer is still no. I didn't touch him.

The tin lid at Russell's gone down with
some gut bug. Well, that's too bad, I

thought. No, Bob, wait.

Now, listen.

Listen, can you keep it together until
this evening? Well, why?

You do as you're told. Go home, get your
head down. At least get your feet up.

Look, as soon as I can, I'll pop over to
Streatham. I'll call in accidentally on

purpose, on Jamie.

It's better that way, really.

That's right.

I'm drinking again and I'm smoking
again.

So I see.

Well, suddenly the warning that they can
seriously damage health didn't seem to

work anymore.

Self -pity?

Maybe.

Then who are you to... Forget it. You
call it what you like. Where have you

been? Does it look like I've been? What
do you think I've been? You just

happened to drop in on John Peterson,
did you? No, I'm not. I'm inclined to

think now. It would have been a waste of
your time.

I wonder if I haven't wasted a great
deal of that. Meaning?

Meaning... Do you want me to wipe that?
No!

I want... Oh, yes?

Bill, please, please let me get on to
Peterson.

No. No quacks.

I don't want him here. I don't want to
go and see him. He's out. Understood?

He isn't a quack, Bill.

He isn't even just our GP. He's a
friend, a close friend. I do not have

friends. I'm a policeman. I have
colleagues and acquaintances. I do not

close friends. No, I've never accepted
that.

Then you've never heard the voices drop
when we've walked into a room. You've

never looked at the faces.

Won't look me straight in the eye.
You've never felt the air of discomfort,

sudden guardedness, that, hey, watch it,
old son, that's the old Bill.

So what do you intend?

To work it out, work it through in my
own way, in my own time, to my own

satisfaction. That means sitting here,
peeing off a few bottles, smoking like a

chimney, then so be it, all right? No,
not all right.

The one thing I do not need is a heart
-to -heart with John Peterson. The one

thing I do not need is him writing up a
note that's going to get sent straight

on to the yard, suggesting that... What?

What do you think he would diagnose?

With him?

Who knows?

You've heard him explaining away
everything from a coronary to an

toenail in psycho jargon. No, I have not
heard him do any such thing. What I

have heard him say is... Is that my
intense aches and pains his patients

from are neurosis -related. So, what do
you think he'd diagnose?

Is that what you're afraid of?

Why, you won't.

That he might dare to suggest you're not
supercop, not immune to the stresses

and strains that your promotion
prospects might... Oh, I give up!

Who is it?

Helen.

What do you want?

Nice to see you too.

Do I get asked to come in? Look, Helen,
if you've come round here to wage war,

I'm all out of fight for the moment.
You?

Never.

Oh, I do hear tell you're in trouble.

Are you in trouble?

No.

Oh, but maybe somebody's... How did you
hear?

How do you think?

A word here, a word there.

Not what I'd call a gracious style of
living.

No, but then what I've got left out of
my wages after what you... Oh, no, no.

Never mind, never mind.

For the length of time that's spent
here, if I get fitted up on this

There'll be a closing of ranks, won't
there?

Not any more.

It's much better to give one put -up DI
the heave -ho than run the risk of yet

another teleprobe.

So, why are you here?

Because what dashed our marriage on the
rocks makes me one of the few who might

be of some comfort to you. Because we
used to walk the same wire cut. I

you'd called a truth.

Yeah, so I did.

So, look, why don't you leave now before
the battles begin again?

Thanks. But no thanks, right?

Yeah. And I always thought it's the
thought that counts. It does, and I do

you, but I don't want a shoulder or any
there there. I'm not in that kind of

need. Oh, and what kind of a need are
you in?

Or are your needs being catered for?

You still think that that softens every
blow, eh? Solves every problem.

Well, it's the one place where we had
peace in our time.

You must admit.

I was sometimes.

Hmm.

I admit.

Yeah, but then again, they were tired.
Helen, we've been here before.

True.

Tell me, how's Maggie Forbes?

Hey, she's doing her bit.

Giving her all?

Oh, hey, I'm kidding.

Listen, at least let me come back and
clean up this car, see?

And, um, no strings attached.

Well, you want to play housewife.

Well, take it or leave it. It's an offer
made in good faith, and one you can

hardly refuse.

All right, I'll take it.

Yeah, why not?

Who am I to look a gift horse?

Gift horse?

Well, it's better than cow or bitch.

We progress.

Take care.

And don't let them get to you.

Without getting in some of your own.

Yeah.

Now, listen, you... I don't give a toss
what they're saying.

For lunch.

Just as Robin and Rosie swallowed their
last mouthful.

Dinner is served.

Rosie had it too.

Just don't kick it all through, because
one of those tricks is enough for today.

Janie. Janie.

I'm sorry that there was no need.

I'm sorry.

Bill, I don't know what's eating you
exactly, but whatever it is,

don't turn me out.

It's more a matter of moment.

Me being turned in.

Not able to look on.

Where's yours?

I've had it.

Cottage cheese and an apple. I'm weight
-watching.

It's neurosis -related.

But I'll come and keep you company. I'll
just switch the set off.

Would you want something to drink?

Lager or there's a drop of that white
wine there? No, nothing.

You don't want it, do you?

Look, if it's the pizza, I can easily
get you some.

No, it's not. No, no, no.

There's nothing wrong with it. I swear,
it's... It's me.

Sorry.

Don't be.

It means I don't have to sit here and
watch.

Mouth -watering.

Look, are you sure there isn't something
I could get?

No, nothing.

Bill?

What is it?

Then what do you think John Peterson
would make of this?

I don't know.

What do you make of it?

I don't know.

Then make sure of it.

I didn't say that John wouldn't make

something of it.

Only that I didn't even know.

I know, Heinz.

It's been a long time.

What else?

Since something made me weep.

Maybe too long?

Maybe you just made something of it.

That's all down to me.

So, you want to know all there is to
know about the late Mr Roberts, right?

Right. And wrong.

Look, I don't give a damn what he was
into, what he was getting into, or who

was getting into it with work -wise.

What I want is the personal up -and
-down diary of his most recent past.

A sort of blow -by -blow account.

What's that supposed to mean? Come on,
Maggie.

It's out and about and spreading.

Your sidekick. The Scotsman. Crofty's
right in it. And more brewing up. So?

Oh, so it's no skin off mine.

He stuck one on him. It's not
surprising. Yeah, but he didn't.

Beatty said he didn't, and I believe
him.

I wouldn't be doing this if I didn't.

No.

So what you want from me is someone who
did stick it on him. Maybe cut and

bruise him a bit, yeah?

Yeah. That's picking trouble, Tom.

Expenses?

Hold them down.

Yeah, yeah, yeah. I'm sure you'll read
it.

Yes, we must always be accountable.

Anything else?

Good.

Yeah, what... Oh, yeah, Maggie.

Yeah, no, look, it's beginning to build.

Yeah, there's some... Somebody keeps
phoning.

There's some joker who's just been
offered my citizen.

Yeah, yeah, I know that, but it'll be
the Nationals next, won't it? I mean,

look, when are you going to get round to
see Russell, eh?

Yeah, OK.

But, look, I mean, I've had it. I'm
going to leave this thing off the hook,

I'll buzz you, OK?

Yeah, right, OK. Cheers.

Here, now we've got all we need.

The press have come crawling out from
under. Next thing, there'll be cameras

microphones. Oh?

Well,

we're nothing to go on. I mean, tell me,
what have they got?

Oh, God, if somebody snuffed it whilst
in our hands, that's all they need to

started. And once started... Look,
listen, I think I might pop over to

Streatham, see if I can't have a word
with Russell, see if I can't get him to

step on some brakes.

Talk to Bob.

Poor Bob loves a few. Well, he's been
getting more calls.

Yeah, and he's writhing to them. Look,
can you hang on here, keep tabs?

Will do.

Go. Go on.

Oh, Maggie.

Hello, Jane. What are you doing down
here? And don't say you just happen to

part of it. Of course, Lucy, I do. I
know better.

No, I came to see if I could have a word
with the boss. Is he in bed or up

about? He's out.

Come in.

Oh, thanks.

Just gone. I'm stretching his legs,
getting some air. Awake?

Oh, you know, these bugs out of the
blue, bang.

Will you wait?

Do you mind?

You have to ask.

Come on.

Can I get you something?

Oh, no, thanks.

Just to sit in a comfortable chair
without a desk stuck in front of it.

It's been one of those days.

Yes, it's been another one of those
days.

So, how have you been?

Swinging between so -so and suicidal.

No.

Surviving, you know.

Yes, I know.

Did it help to talk about it? No charge?

Yes, it probably would, but no offence,
I'm not sure I should.

You do know that nothing said will ever
be repeated.

Yes, I know.

It's Bill.

He's... He's not had... got

gastroenteritis, has he?

Was that a guess or something I said?

Suspicions. He's had more than he can
take.

Should have to take.

It's time to turn to something else.
He's had offers.

Has he thought about them when we
considered it? Retirement?

Often.

Don't you all?

Don't we?

No, but he won't.

He'll go down into the depths, wrestle
his demons, drag himself out and go back

to it.

Some see the light.

Say enough is enough, except one of the
offers. Settle for some safe, soft

number and start... I shouldn't be
talking to you like this, saying these

that you must have had to say to
yourself.

Often.

Was it something sudden, or was it tied
to something specific?

I don't think so.

Except maybe in the sense of one time
too many. I hope this isn't what you

called about.

No. No, honestly, yes.

No, I just came to update him on some
happenings.

Oh, it can't hurt. It would make matters
worse.

It might even help in a roundabout sort
of way.

Either that or he just won't want to
know.

Somebody else is in trouble.

Bob Croft.

What kind of trouble?

He was in the wrong place at the wrong
time, which puts him in the wrong, until

it can be proved otherwise.

Do you think that hearing about that is
going to help?

What do you think?

Maybe. What can that be, I wonder?

0186.

Please, can you hang on?

Yes, yes.

Hello?

No, it's a friend.

Detective Inspector Forbes.

What?

Oh, I see.

Thanks.

Understandable.

Yeah, well, there is nothing else I can
do.

Right.

Look, Jake, when Bob does ring back...
Could you hang on there?

Right, explain.

Tell him I'll be going straight home
from here.

Right.

OK, thanks, Jake.

You too.

What are you doing here?

Waiting for you.

Well, because Janie got on the blower
and you just had to answer the call.

for once, your gold guide act is not
appreciated. There's the door. Janie!

not here, Bill.

What's going on?

Where is she?

She's on her way to Edward VII Hospital
in Morden to be with her son, Paul.

Paul? He's been involved in a road
accident. He's in ICU.

An accident? What sort of road accident?
He and...

He and some others from the school, they
were on an outing at Chessington, the

zoo.

The minibar. Yeah, well, what's the
score, they say? If he's in intensive,

got to be bad.

It's not good, Bill. I'm sorry.

Look, Jenny said to ask you to wait
here. She'll be in touch.

Look, Bill, that isn't the reason that
I'm here. I mean, I...

It was quite coincidental, my being
here. I mean, Jane, it didn't... I came

see you.

Why don't you sit down?

Did you hear what I said, Bill?

What? I said that I came... Yeah, yeah,
I heard you.

Did I say how bad it was?

No.

No, not precisely.

Just that his condition was critical and
that they were doing what they can, all

that they can.

All that they can.

What if I've done as much, all that I
could?

What? I don't know. I don't understand.

I only know that my response is...

Paul have always been somehow suspect,
ambivalent.

Maybe that's true of all parents of born
abnormal kids deep down.

Maybe it's only true of male parents.

Maybe just me.

Who knows? Maybe. Maybe.

One thing I'm certain of is that...

I've never felt comfortable with him.

Easy in the relationship.

It's always troubled me. It should be
that way.

Oh, see, Kate.

Why don't you come see me?

Oh, little Kate, look, if there is
anything that I... Yeah, you can answer

question. Why don't you come see me?
Really, little Kate. Why don't you come

me? Come check up on me.

Bob Croft.

He doesn't bother.

A suspect he was questioning died and...
And what?

Well, the family, to see if they weren't
truly wound up, egged on, used the

usual. It already involves MPs and an
action group, the media.

So what do you want? What do you expect
from me?

Your support.

Your presence.

What difference do you think that'd
make? It'd make a difference to Croft.

come on.

He's no wide -eyed innocent. He knows
what's what.

If he thinks the thing's being loaded,
then he buys himself a brief, gets on to

the Federation, always assuming.

And I do.

And anyway, I'm on sick leave, as you
doubtless know.

Oh, I see.

What do you see?

Something I find hard to believe.

Well, when do you think you might
recover from this sickness?

Are you able to return to your duties?

I'll be back when I've decided if I'm
coming back. Well, if you've got doubts.

Oh, come on, Maggie, please. Don't play
games with me. I've been at it too long.

You've been talking to Janie.

Janie's been talking to you.

No, no.

I'm not going to get heavy with her.

Especially not... Yes, well, Janie
doesn't have any doubts.

She says you're determined to fight it
alone because she believes that's the

only way it can be fought. I mean, it
shouldn't be any point in winning.

Well, sometimes... Maybe...

All said and done, the only way to win
is to quit. Quit?

If you're not up to it, yes.

Well, you think you feel it.

I don't know. That's what I'm trying to
work out.

And when I know is when I'll be back to
pick up or pack up.

Well, I don't really hope it's the
former.

Why not? I'd best be off. I mean, unless
there is anything at all that I...

Thanks.

Look, we all wish him well.

This is mop.

And by, dustpan and brush at the ready,
as promised.

You are joking, aren't you?

Nope, not joking. Do I enter?

You may have had your reasons for
thinking our marriage was a mistake, but

having to live in a slum wasn't one of
them.

Here's your daily rag and suppose.

Where's your hoover? I brought
everything else with me. Ah, bedroom.

Speaking of which, what are you doing
still in your pit?

One of my complaints about our marriage
was that you were too early to arrive,

sir.

You look lousy.

Yeah, well, then I look how I feel.

I thought you needed a wash and a shave.
And some breakfast inside you.

Weren't you able to sleep?

I wasn't able to sleep.

What's got into you? What's all this
shale and hearty, bright and breezy?

Why not?

It's all coming apart at the seams.

So what?

Let it rip.

Come on, eh?

Why's the phone off?

Ah, the crazies. And the gentlemen of
the press. It's better silent than

Ah, I was thinking of just jacking it
in, the joke.

Because... Now you're joking.

So they're making some hay.

But the sun won't shine very long for
them.

Cause will be established, you'll be
exonerated, and they'll move on to their

next mischief. Screw them.

Yeah, well, that's easier said.

No. But don't give them the
satisfaction.

Not you.

No, no, no, no. You're right. Not me.

Right. I'm going in.

They can either back me or sack me.

So that checks out with Cullens this
week, right? Right. Thanks a lot.

Good morning.

How are you?

Good.

Has Bob been back like that?

Yeah, but I decided against telling him
about the coach crash.

Paul, I thought, well, you know, it
wouldn't help.

Didn't he phone you?

No, he didn't.

He's down, Jan.

Well, he'll serve us.

How about the governor?

What did he say?

Yeah, the signal.

Like it wasn't enough, the kid was born
spastic.

Do you get a chance to mention Cullen?

Thank you.

Look, will it wait, or do you want to
take it upstairs? Well, it'll wait.

be wise to pay him a visit, though.
Dangle of carrots, top him pudding out

elsewhere. Yes, we'll do it. When were
you thinking what?

Well, now's as good a time.

That'll give me enough time to get there
and back before they bring on Russell's

son. That's a case of hello, goodbye.

That's my phone.

Hello, goodbye.

Hey, come on back. I've brought you some
coffee. Go on.

I'm just tossing and turning.

They're better off in hospital, on hand.

No point in love. None.

Isn't that what they told you?

Well, yes, but they couldn't say.

They can't say.

If there should be any change... Then
they'll let us know. They'll phone here.

But if it'll help, I'll... I'll go in
later.

I'll drop in on him and see if I can
talk to someone, yeah?

Are you in any fit state?

I mean, you've been in such a state.

Don't worry about that. It'll sort
itself out one way or another.

Don't worry.

So easily said.

Yeah, I know.

And you know what I'm saying.

I know.

Okay, then.

You go and get ready.

So one of us is ready. Here's your call.

For the past five, six months, maybe
more, Roberts has suffered from

Right, exploding skull variety.

Blackout successor.

In fact, Nathan Roberts has not been a
well man.

Well, did he consult a doctor? I mean,
one that is still on the medical

register? Would you believe he actually
shelled out for a Wimpole Street fat

cat? More spending.

Name of the fat cat?

That I don't know. But he is also, I'm
assured, a consultant at Middlesex.

So, I have to find a consultant.

Probably a neurologist.

that had a private practice in Wimpole
Street and is attached to the Middlesex.

Well, there can't be too many.

One phone call should do it.

Well, what do you think?

What am I supposed to think?

You're supposed to make a speech about
how different it looks and tell me how

terrific I am. Yeah, it's different.

No, and thanks.

You've been great.

It's nothing. Don't mention it.

Hey, you wouldn't want to take another
crack at... What am I saying?

I wouldn't want to.

Now you push off so that I can get on
and get finished.

And get on with my own life.

Hello, sir.

You won't remember me.

No, sorry. Should I? No, sir. Not
really.

Griffith? I was at Seven Dials for a bit
before they moved me out here.

Well, a lot of faces. You know, a bit
difficult to remember them all. Yes,

What brings you in?

Oh, cabbie.

Well worked over.

Three of them.

Kid. Black and white.

Any witnesses? Willie?

Bystanders. Nothing.

No descriptions.

Well, conflicting descriptions apart
from the color mix.

No chance.

What do you do?

That's as bad a beating as I've ever
seen.

That's what happens when you pick up
some wrong ones.

You think you would have known better.
You'll know better next time.

There won't be a next time.

You snuffed it. No. Going to? Maybe,
maybe not.

Maybe better if you did.

I came to tell you it'll be some time
before he says anything.

Anything that makes sense.

Did you get them?

No, they're still out there.

Laughing their heads off.

He would have.

He would have known better.

How do you mean, sir?

You get in there. Stand over him. You're
listening for a name.

He must have known.

Or he wouldn't have chanced it.

Three of them.

Right.

Right. Sir?

No, nothing. It's just my mind suddenly
made itself up. Now, you go on. Get in

there. Remember, you're listening for a
name. Yes, sir.

Jenny.

No. No change.

Yes, love, I know.

I know.

No.

I'm going in.

To work.

That's one thing you don't have to worry
about now.

So I'll see you later.

Not too late.

In the meantime, I'll continue to check
in here.

He accepts that he hasn't the authority
to suspend me, that he cannot, under the

circumstances, order me to take leave,
either annual or sick, but he is in a

position to restrict me to in -station
duties.

Oh, we have a right one there.

And the sooner Russell gets himself
sorted... Sorry.

I heard about his son.

He's still in danger? He's still on the
list, last I heard, but... Russell will

be back.

Soon, though. It won't be too soon.

Oh, hello, Gulp.

Glad to have you back.

Oh, yeah. Better than the devil, you
know. Oh, that too, sir.

Message. D .I.'s Croft and Forbes, my
office, yeah?

Right, Gulp.

Oh, Gulp.

Who are you?

I'm the man sitting behind the desk. Who
are you?

I'm the man whose desk you're sitting
behind.

Ah.

Dan Smedley.

They called me in from Bayswater. And
trouble's enough as your replacement.

You've had a guts problem, I understand.

Bit of an upset, yeah.

There's a lot of it about.

Well, short and sweet, eh?

So, have you said or done anything I
should know about?

Not in the time I've had.

Oh, apart from the Croft case. You
heard? I heard, sir.

I pulled him in out of you.

Reallocated his case, then.

Russell.

Yes, sir, I'm back.

Fine.

Yeah, sure. You want me to tell him?

Yeah, I'll drop in later. All right,
come. Bye.

Well? All right, I've got the gist.

Thank you and good night.

That just about sums it up.

All yours.

I'll do the same for you sometime.

Nice meeting you.

And you.

Russell. Yeah.

All right.

Thank you.

Nathan Roberts.

Yeah. They've established cause of
death.

Cerebral paralysis, natural.

Then it's over.

All over by the shining bob, yeah,
there'll still be a bit of that. So you

ignore all orders and or suggestions so
far given, and it's back to business as

usual, right?

Right, and thank you. Go on.

So, what's gone on in your mind?

First,

a point of information.

The Mount will call apart Crescent.
They've made an arrest, and you're not

to believe... I believe.

What else?

Barrett.

He'd like a word. It's a question of
procedure.

Right. Anything else?

No, sir.

Well, then, get back out there. Amongst
him.

Sir? Like where it hurts.

But...

Yes, love.

Yeah, I see.

No, I'll handle it. All of it.

You just stay there. You stay put,
please.

Yeah, as soon as I can.

Right.

Oh, John, Bill Russell.

Yeah, I've just been notified that my
son Paul is dead.

No, no road accident.

I wondered if you could get around and
see Janie as soon as possible.

No, she's taking it too well.

Yeah, I'd be grateful.

Thank you.