Original subtitles

You don't understand.

No, stop,

please. Why are you doing this to me? I don't want money.

I can't stand it anymore.

Excuse me.

Oh, thank God. Help me. Please help me.

Come on, love. Are you hurt? No, no, I'm all right. But him, you keep him away

from me.

I think you'd better come along with me, sir.

Shall we go, sir?

Yeah, right. And you'll send someone round with it?

Well, right away.

Yeah. OK, I'll give you a message, and thank you. Bye -bye.

Ooh, just what I need. Put it here.

You'll be lucky. It's for her ladyship. Ooh, hang about.

Yes.

Oh, Jim. Oh, Jim.

I'll run Harper's. Let me come around with the lady's hand.

Oh, get someone to bring it in. Oh, do you have some? Are you all right? Have

you burned your hand?

No, no, no, I'm fine. I'm just a bit weak. Use these, Joan. Can you get Lady

Mirella another cup? Thank you. I'm sorry to be such a nuisance.

Perhaps you'd better bring the next one in a baby's bottle. Oh.

So, she really is a ladyship.

Really and truly.

Toplifting, was she?

Well, here's the best idea.

Well, then why'd you nick her?

I didn't. I rescued her from a rather tasty number.

I nicked him. Oh, fancy him, dear.

Where is he?

Downstairs with the heavy mob.

I only wanted to speak with her.

What about?

Something private.

You'll have to do better than that.

What was this private something?

It doesn't matter. Not now. Oh, yes, it does. It matters to us.

You were trying to pick her up, weren't you? Pick her up?

Do you mean... That's horrible.

No. What do you mean, horrible?

Good -looking woman? Not short of a few, Bob.

Prefer older women, then, do you? No, but he seems to. You're disgusting.

She's a lady. Oh, and you'd know the difference, would you? Do you know what

reckon? Nope, and I don't want to. In spite of your posh talk, I reckon you're

some kind of gigolo looking for a rich woman.

I don't know what you're talking about.

And neither, I suspect, do you? You suspect? You suspect? No, Sonny, we do

suspecting. That's our business, our trade, and you are a very suspicious

character.

Now, then, why did you want to speak to her and don't give me any more of this

I've -got -a -secret crap?

I wanted to ask Lady Morell a question.

What question?

Can you remember the first time you saw him?

Yes, it was about three months ago, not long after my husband died.

That would be, what, June?

Yes, June.

Where was he?

Outside my flat.

Lounge Square?

Yes.

I glanced out of the window one evening and he was standing on the pavement

opposite. He looked flared and rather lost.

Well, I thought no more about it. And then about two hours later... Yes, it

have been all of that because it was starting to get dark and I went to draw

curtains and he was still there.

Just standing, looking up at my window.

What did you do?

Well, I telephoned down to the porter. He went out to speak to him.

He gave one last glance up at my window and he walked away.

What did the porter say?

Oh, he said something about him being a burglar, you know, spying out the land.

Ridiculous.

Why is it ridiculous?

Well, it certainly didn't look like a burglar.

Oh.

What did a burglar look like, Lady Morell? If only we knew.

Did the young man say anything to the porter?

Yes. He said he was sorry if he'd worried me.

And then he said something rather odd.

He said he had a right.

Had a right? What?

To worry you?

No. No, I think he meant just to be there.

Well? The young man hasn't been very forthcoming.

You got a name? The name on the credit cards and checkbook reads R .D. Viscov.

Are you in charge here?

That's why they call me Gov.

Name? It's that.

Now, we've got a name on some documents found in your possession, but we're not

to know they're yours.

So, name?

Roland Deedis.

It's better.

Just one day you say so.

Date of birth?

14th of June, 1957.

Address? Flat 4, Nevan Chambers. That's what, uh, Oldscore?

Yes.

All right, Mr. Davis, now we know who you are, perhaps we can stop buggering

about. What were you doing molesting the widow of a high court judge in a

department store? I was not molesting... Mr. Davis, you are in a very parlous

position.

Do you know what parlous means?

No parlous?

Ify, yub. Only more so.

Much more so.

Well, my reasons for wishing to talk with Lady Morrell were private and

personal, very personal.

I've already caused her a great deal of distress. I don't wish to embarrass her

by... by brooding those reasons about to all and sundry. Do you know brooding?

Well, I'm a few bars. Start me off.

All right.

Frank.

Now, he's not all and sundry. He's strictly regulations. That's to stop me

hitting you or you hitting me.

Mr. Davis, do yourself a favor.

I'm waiting.

The next time was at the Royal Academy summer show.

You know that feeling you get when someone's watching you?

Well, I turned round and there he was, not ten feet away, standing in a

staring.

Staring?

Well, maybe not staring. He was just looking at me very intently as if he

thumbing me up.

It was most unnerving.

Yeah, that's what it must have been.

And what was this? This was the fifth time that you'd seen him. Were there any

other times? I mean, before this morning?

Oh, yes, lots.

In Harrods Food Hall.

Another day, coming out of my hairdressers, everywhere I went.

I was almost afraid to go out.

Lady, why on earth didn't you report this to the police?

I felt embarrassed, Inspector.

How would it have looked?

A woman of a certain age claiming that she's seeing things.

What would you have thought?

I would have looked into it.

I mean, if someone had been Harrods, what do you want to know about it?

Well, now, look, you tell me exactly what happened this morning.

I went to Harford to buy a present for my niece.

While I was standing at the counter, someone came and stood beside me.

I didn't even need to look. I just sensed that it was him.

I was terrified.

I turned round, and he reached out as if to touch me, and I just panicked. I had

to get away from him.

Who is he? What does he want from me?

Sergeant, back the right.

The what?

Lady Morrell's handbag.

Yeah, thanks, Dan.

You took your time. I went to the wrong bloody nick, didn't I? West End Central.

Oh, now, look, I told that man seven dials. Why the hell didn't he tell me,

silly old poof?

All right, give it here. Mr Floyd said I was to give it to her person.

She's an old and valued customer.

Don't you trust me? Why should I? The way I've been messed about today, I

trust anybody.

All right, suit yourself.

This way.

Excuse me, ma 'am. Young lady has bought Lady Morel's bag.

Oh, that is kind of you. Thank you very much.

Mr. Floyd said I was to ask if you'd be good enough to check the contents,

madam. Oh, no. Sure, there's no need for that.

Oh, very well.

Yes?

Checkbook? Keys?

Wallet?

It's all here.

Oh, please.

Take this, and thank you very much. Oh, I couldn't, madam. Oh, no, no, no, I

insist. It's been so much trouble for you, and it must have quite ruined your

lunch hour. Please.

Well, thank you very much.

This is the young girl who was serving you.

Did you see what happened at the counter?

No, I'd gone to get a silver picture frame from the main showcase.

When I got back, the lady had gone.

There was just her handbag on the counter.

Did you see anyone else there? I mean, before you left the counter?

No. Mind you, I was gone for a few minutes.

Right, well... Thanks very much.

Oh,

tea. Thank Mr. Floyd for me. And tell him I will take that picture, friend.

Can you charge it to my account and send it to me? Yes, of course, madam.

I don't know, madam. Three by four, madam.

Give me your card.

He just gave you a tenner. Why not? You can afford it.

Can you get a lunch break?

Yeah, if I'm a good boy.

Do you want to buy me a burger?

Buy your own.

Why not? You can afford it.

Cut off, then.

Hey, can you get Lady Morel another cup of tea? She hasn't come to the library.

Ah, it must be Nostalgie de la Vue.

What? It means a yearning for mud. Rich folk have it.

So indulge the lady.

Maggie, a minute?

Yes.

Lady Morel still in there? Yes. What's she like? She's a lovely lady. Why?

You reckon she can stand another shock?

What kind of shock?

Our mystery molester downstairs is claiming that she's his mother.

What? The man said.

You want to tell him?

Give me a minute.

Do you mind if I have a cigarette?

Thank you.

Filthy habit.

Where is he?

Downstairs.

May I see him?

Why, don't you think it would be better to wait until we've checked his story?

I think I've kept him waiting long enough, don't you?

27 years.

Oh, it's him.

He knew all those details.

He even looks like...

His father.

Please let me see him.

Well, if you're sure. Yes, I am sure.

I don't even know his name.

Devis.

Roland Devis.

Roland.

I like that name.

Lady, well, you don't want him to see you like this.

No.

No, he mustn't see me like this.

It's just that all those years, I don't think a week went by

when I didn't think about him.

Was he all right?

Happy?

Now I'm going to find out and I'm afraid.

Well, I expect he must be afraid too.

Yes.

Yes, he must be.

My husband knew nothing about him.

He tried to speak to me and I treated him like a criminal.

Yes.

Hello.

Hello.

What would you have said?

A little less so. You weren't there.

I think even your command of the English language might have dried up.

And that was the big dark secret. That Lady Muck was up at the dock when she

just a chit of a girl.

Oh, how delicately you put it. What's the matter with you? Don't you like

endings? It's not ended yet, though, is it?

Well, it hasn't as far as we're concerned.

All right.

Who shouted it? Paul or Sundry?

Sundry. I knew I should have got to talk about it.

Maggie, same again? Yeah, I was in Clemmons with Ice, right?

Pete? Oh, not the same.

Jack?

What did he say? He'll have the same. Bitter lemon, sour grape.

Double squash, right?

So you bought this story?

Why not? She did.

Well, she would, wouldn't she?

Now, what do you mean by that?

I mean, she's recently widowed, rich and lonely.

I get you that point, Jack. All that repressed guilt, sexually terrified.

Well, how do you work that out?

I mean, she admits she had a child.

And then often marries a man old enough to be her father.

Too old to get it up.

Sorry, Mag. I keep forgetting you're not one of the lads.

Now, think about it.

She was a sitting duck.

You say he never showed till her old man snuffed it.

That's right. Why?

Shows great delicacy of feeling, does that?

Although cunning.

I caught judges you do not mess with.

And she inherited a bundle.

No kids by our marriage.

Where are they now?

Well, actually, they've gone off to have lunch together.

Cozy. Guess they'll be paying. You don't love people very much, do you?

No, not a lot.

My basic rule of thumb is always assume people are wrong. That way you can only

ever be pleasantly surprised.

Never let me down.

Well, all right, then tell me this. If he isn't a son, how do you know all

details about her? I mean, about the baby's birth, the adoption, all that.

me that.

Just the question he'd have wanted you to ask to put you off the more obvious

one. Yeah, what's that?

Look, he knew where she'd had the kid, when, and that she'd had it adopted,

right? Right.

But he only knew her maiden name.

So how did he find her?

How did he find her after all this time?

He's a villain.

Right one. Smell of a Marlowe.

Yes, hello?

No, I'm still here.

Is he still at lunch?

Well, is there anyone there that can talk to me?

No, no, it's all right, Marlowe.

Hang on.

I'm off to lunch. All right. Any trouble occurs, cope.

I'll, uh, be back about four -ish. It's a long lunch.

Family business.

All

right.

Do you see what I just saw?

It depends what you think you just saw. Oh, I saw it all right.

Russell, with a very fanciable bird.

Yeah? She was a cracker.

He's really letting himself go.

She couldn't have been more than 20.

Really? Oh, hello. Mrs Hardesty?

Yes, this is Detective Inspector Forbes, Seven Dials Police Station.

Yes, that's right. I was wondering if you could help me. I'm making some

inquiries about how an adopted person can find their real parents.

No, no, no, it's not me. It's someone who's helping us.

Yeah. Well, no, I realise that you can't give that sort of information on the

phone. I was wondering if I could pop round and see you.

With this afternoon.

Yeah, fine.

OK.

No, it's all right. I'll find it.

Right. Yeah, tell.

He's back to being a suspect, is he? Yeah, thanks to you.

Don't you detect the usual few degrees of frost?

No, not this time.

Set me straight. You were right.

So much raw emotion flying around this morning that I wasn't asking the right

question. Now I'm going to. Better late than never.

Yes, well, preventing crime is better than solving it.

How's that for a thought for the day?

You're convinced he's up to no good, aren't you?

Yep. She's a rich woman and very vulnerable.

You talk to him.

How does he strike you?

Shifty. One minute, all love intent are concerned for the lady. The next?

Arrogant, sarky, too bloody cocky by half.

Highly indignant at the suggestion that he might be a crook.

Overconfident? Way over.

You might almost say innocent.

Oh, no, look, man, you've questioned innocent people, folks with nothing at

to hide.

But for some reason, even the innocent ones sort of clam up, their mouths go

dry. For good or ill, they're uneasy, they're scared of the law, right?

Not so Roland.

He was so, I don't know, cool.

Acted a part.

Playing with us, you know what I mean?

Anyway,

thanks anyway.

Any time, Meg.

Here. What do you reckon to Russell's new bird, then?

You said she was attractive.

Calendar stuff.

What's he got that I haven't?

A doper.

That was absolutely delicious.

And how clever of you to suggest it.

John and I often ate here.

He always had the halibut.

Yes, I know.

The waiters, they all seem to know you.

They do a passable silver, let's go.

Sauce was a little too sticky for me.

And these, well, they just don't know, do they?

What don't they know?

Two forks for fish, always.

Oh, really?

Oh, yes, a friend of mine called these Edwardian Aravis.

Isn't that amusing?

Look, love, I didn't ask for the history of the British Civil Service. What are

you doing about it?

Well, that's what you said last week, and the poor little bitch is still

waiting. Now, no more excuses. Just pull your bloody finger out.

Well? Detective Inspector Forbes, we spoke on the telephone.

Sit yourself down.

Do you realise this...

Poor girl lost her payment book three weeks ago and she's still waiting for a

new one.

I don't know, trying to get the DHSS off their arses is like banging your head

against a brick wall.

She's got an 18 -month -old child with acute bronchitis.

Why am I shouting at you?

Because I'm here.

Sorry.

Why are you here?

Jodie Prosser said you might be able to help.

Prosser?

Prosser. Oh, yes, probation officer.

Nice chap.

Terrible kid.

How? He said you used to work with an adoption agency.

That's right.

Before I came here.

Unwanted babies to unmarried mothers seemed like a logical progression.

So what's your problem? Well, a young man has turned up claiming to be the

illegitimate son of a very rich woman.

So? Well, he knew all the details about our baby's birth, the adoption,

everything. What I want to know is, if he is a crook, how could he have found

all that out?

And how long is a piece of string?

Perhaps he met a man in a pub.

Would Jerry process that there was a way that adopted people could find out

details from their birth records?

There is, but not crooks.

Since the Children's Act of 75, adults who are adopted can apply to the

Registrar General for details of their natural parents, usually the mother.

They have to fill in a form giving details of adopted parents.

Name, date.

But if your bloke is a crook, he wouldn't have any of those, would he?

What if he used somebody else's name, a friend that he knows has adopted?

Impossible.

Why impossible?

Well, they don't just send the details back by return of post, you know.

If they have anything, the chap would have to see a counsellor.

A counsellor? Why?

As a safeguard built into the Act.

The counsellor has to interview any applicant to make sure they understand

full implications of what they're doing.

Implications?

Well... Think about it. Even if he finds his natural mother, and that's bloody

difficult, it could cause ructions.

Chances are she's married, had a family, never told her husband about her past.

The man would be shocked when he comes knocking at the door for all of them. I

see what you mean.

Then again, he may have some idealised picture of his mother.

What happens if you find some drunken old trollop with a bottle of meth under

the bed?

The counsellor has to make him aware of all the emotional hazards involved on

both sides.

Not to mention the shock he may be causing the real parents.

I'm not with you. The real parents? The adopting parents, dear.

They are the real parents, aren't they?

The natural mother gives birth, the real parents give the love. That's a

different people.

Well, this young man claims that his adoptive parents were killed in a car

when he was 13.

That's when he found out that he was adopted.

Oh,

poor kid.

Or set to mourn Mum and Dad, only they weren't Mum and Dad.

Oh, think how confused he must have been.

If it's true.

Anyway, a chum of mine at Oxford had the father in advertising and he took me

on. It's all a bit bogus, actually, but the money was good.

I was with them for three years and then decided to have a go on my own.

Was that wise, with the recession and everything? Oh, yes.

The less money people have to throw about, the more they need people like me

persuade them to buy stuff they don't need.

That sounds frightfully cynical.

Oh, it's not my theory, you understand.

No, my ex -boss, he used to say, invention was the mother of necessity,

long as that was so, we'd all make a lot of tin.

I see.

Do you make a lot of tin?

All comes and goes.

Mostly goes, hence my present embarrassment.

Oh, I'm glad you reminded me.

I must let you have that check.

Pas de vent, Mother.

Waiters can be so censorious.

Oh.

Something to follow?

No, no, thank you. Just coffee. Yes.

And I wonder if they have a really good Armagnac.

What did the woman think?

Can you tell me her name? No, I'm afraid I can't do that.

But she is absolutely convinced.

She says that he even looks like his father.

Well, that doesn't prove anything.

After 27 years, he could look like an orangutan and she'd see a resemblance.

wants to.

When a woman's given away a child, Whatever pressure she was under at the

After which she's haunted.

Never lets go.

Wondering, worrying.

I used to get letters from women desperate to find their adopted child.

interfere.

Just to make sure they were all right.

Letters that would break your heart.

Nothing I could do, of course. The law doesn't allow it.

Yes, lady... The lady in question said something like that.

Nearly.

Look, proving he's the crook may be a bit of a pill.

Let's try it the other way round. See if he's on the level.

Can you do that now?

I can have a go.

I've got a lot of contacts. I could make a few phone calls, cut a few corners.

I'll need to have his name, though.

All right.

Well, that's apparent.

Turn the power a bit.

Well, get out, Pete. Maggie's going to walk about.

You've got a bone in your arm.

Well, I was a parrot.

They turned the polar bear and he said, if I catch you wearing my pyjamas

again... Back to Paul's office.

May I speak to the inspector, please? I'm afraid she's out on an inquiry,

Oh. Do you know when she'll be back?

No, I can't say. Can I take a message?

Yes. Would you tell her that Ruth Morrell rang and ask her to come and see

It's rather urgent. She has my address.

Yes, of course, Lady Morrell. I'll tell her the moment she gets in. Thank you.

She wasn't there.

Right.

No. No.

No record of an application for birth records from anyone called Delith.

Damn.

Did she say where he was born?

Yeah, maternity home just outside Godalming.

What for?

That was the name of the village. Yes, do you know it?

Of it, yes.

Very posh.

Expensive. Used to cater for well -heeled ladies.

Debs who forgot to keep their legs crossed in taxis.

All very discreet. Had to be.

We're talking about the days before the pill and abortion on demand.

Run by a Dr McKeown. I met him once.

House? House of Commons.

A crowd of us went to lobby about the abortion bill.

Good man.

Small, shock of white hair.

Must be dead by now.

The clinic closed, I think, but it was all strictly above board.

He used to arrange private adoptions, found good homes for the kids.

Just think, I owe Dr McTernan.

Oh!

Hello, Maureen. Hi, Mrs Arden. Look, love, could you be a sec?

Oh, OK.

Hello, Rebecca.

How's my best girl?

This is Rebecca.

Hello. She's lovely.

Could you... I won't take a minute, dear.

Thanks.

Look, you leave this with me and I'll have a sniff around.

I can't promise anything of mine. Thanks very much, Mrs. Howell. Dear, I didn't

mean to put you to all this trouble.

No trouble, dear. It's that poor woman I'm worried about.

If he is a crook, it'll cut her to ribbons. Yes, well, perhaps we can prove

isn't. Then we can both leave soundly and nice.

Right. Goodbye, thanks. Anything comes up, I'll ring you. Right. Yes.

Come on in, Maureen.

I'll put the kettle on.

Oh,

I think I found you a playpen. But the fuckers are being difficult about a high

chair. I don't know. I'm not a bloody keeper.

No, I don't. Hang on. Maggie, it's for you.

Oh, ma 'am, there was a message.

It's the boyfriend.

Hello, Mike.

Where you been?

Working. Look, I'm at Lady Morel's flat.

She's been done for stuff worth a quarter of a million.

What? I'm rare.

Ma 'am, there was a message.

It's like your message will have to wait.

Love has tripped.

No, you're wrong.

Quite wrong.

Roland had nothing to do with this. How can you be so sure you know practically

nothing about him?

Inspector Tamberl is right, Lady Morell. He turns up this morning with Pastor

Nuneau robbed. It's got to be more than coincidence.

But how could he have done it? He was at your police station all morning.

Then we went to lunch.

We were at the restaurant till gone three.

We went to the bank and then I dropped him off at the travel agent and came

straight here.

We were only apart for 20 minutes at the most. How could he have done it? He may

not have been working alone. He may have had an accomplice. Now you're being

absolutely ridiculous.

Look, I understand how you feel. Believe me, you don't want to think badly of

Roland because you think he's your son.

He is. He is my son.

What exactly was taken?

A very important collection of portrait miniatures.

Did Roland know about these miniatures?

Well, he may have done. It's a very well -known collection.

He never mentioned them.

But Roland knows he can have anything I have. Why should he rob me?

Why did he go to the travel agent? To book a cruise.

We thought about it at lunchtime.

Chance to get to know each other and to talk.

It seems like a good idea. You say you went to the bank. Did you give him any

money?

Yes, yes, but the deposit.

Well, he explained that he was short of money. How much?

What? How much money did you give Roland?

Four thousand pounds.

As much as that.

Cruises are expensive.

And you were expecting him two hours ago.

I think you've seen the last of him, don't you?

He'll be long gone by now.

You're wrong.

Both of you.

I don't care about the money.

But, Roland, you just don't know him.

He's got such courage.

His adoptive parents were killed when he was just a child. He went to foster

parents, council homes, but he rose above all that.

He went to Oxford on a scholarship. He got a first -class degree.

You can't be right.

You just mustn't be right.

What's going on?

What's happened?

Inspector, what is all this?

Oh, Rowan, thank God.

Are you all right?

Won't someone please tell me what's happened?

Lady Morell has been robbed, sir.

Robbed? When?

Mr. Davies, where were you between now and when you left Lady Morell?

I went to the travel agents.

Which one?

Hayes and Greenway, Piccadilly Arcade, to book a cruise.

We sail in three weeks.

Have you been there all this time?

Well, no, I... Where else have you been, sir?

I had some business to attend to, and then I went back to my flat.

It suddenly dawned on me that my passport might be out of date, so I went

to check it out. And is it?

No, if it happens, but I haven't used it for some time, and I wasn't sure.

Now, you are sure?

Yes, thank you. Quite sure.

You say you've booked a cruise?

Yes.

Here we are.

Thank you very much, Mr. Deavis. I'm sure you'll appreciate in the

we have to ask these questions. I told you, but you wouldn't believe me.

I did tell them, Roland.

That's all right, Mother.

They're only doing their job.

Well, I can see it must look pretty fishy to them. They have to rule me out

suspect. I quite understand.

Well, I don't.

I'm sure you only have my best interest at heart, Inspector, but I would like

you to leave now. But, Mother, the lady was only being thorough.

You mustn't blame her.

Lady Morrell?

Excuse me.

Maggie? Yeah?

I'm going home.

No, I'm going back to the office. I've got a touch and report, sir. I've just

got to finish the inventory and I'll pop round, OK? Oh, right.

Nearly finished?

No.

Fancy a touch of the colour of curry, house?

Hmm? What?

Skip it.

Is this what it would be like?

What?

Marriage. Us two sitting at opposite ends of the sitting room, both typing

our reports.

Not always.

I might be ironing.

I hate ironing.

Perhaps that's what love is. Never having to say who's going to do the

Oh.

Why do you put up with me?

Well, you're a reasonably good -looking woman, and you do a good breakfast.

Oh, ask a silly question.

He's a crook.

Who is?

Davis. Ah, but can you prove it?

No, it's another thing.

What is?

Well, hanging around, just staring at her.

I mean, if he really is her son, why didn't you just go up to her and just

to her... What? Hello, Mum?

Well, right, yes.

Too shy?

Softening her up?

Fattening her up for the kill?

You've been watching too much telly.

Hi, do you see Turnbull's handling the robbery?

Yes, sir.

But you don't think Devis is involved?

No. Oh, come on, he's got to be. He's a villain. I'd put money on it. Fiver?

Right. Your own?

You heard that, Gop.

You reckon Devis is bent? So why the bet? I can't prove it. If I can't, I'm

sure Slater can't. So even if neither of us get a collar on Devis, at least I'm

five quid to the good.

There's got to be a flaw there somewhere.

Mum, there's a woman called Hardesty on your phone. Thanks,

Joan.

Oh, Joan.

You nick Devis?

What do you think of him?

Oh, she could eat him with a spoon, gov. Thank you, Joan.

Yes, Mrs. Hardesty. Look, would you get to the point, please?

We got him.

Nailed him. You're devious.

Well, how?

What have you got?

Someone told me about a midwife.

She lives in Godfrey. She used to work at that clinic. You know, the one that

closed. And what's her address?

No, it's not her you want.

She told me about the caretaker.

The house is derelict now, but he still lives in a cottage on the ground.

Yeah.

What's it got to do with him? His name, dear.

Deavis.

Reginald Deavis.

Mrs Hardesty, you are a gem, and you have just lost me five pounds.

You fancy a trip to Godalming?

What for?

Deavis, we're going to leave.

Well, if it concerns Lady Muriel, yeah, let's watch our backs.

Mike Turnbull's going to call me about that robbery. Would you tell him I think

I've got a lead on Davis?

Check.

That girl.

The handbag girl.

What about her?

Well, I might reckon that someone used keys to get into Lady Morel's flat, and

that girl had access to her handbag.

Check it out. Give Mike a ring.

Jake, will you put a tail on Davis? I may need to pick him up in a hurry.

Nothing too obvious. If he gets on to us, he might make a break for it.

Will you fit?

I'm with her.

Um, she wouldn't have had time not to rob that flat before coming here with

bag. Ever heard of Key's cut?

Wally White?

Mr. Davis?

Yeah?

We're police officers.

We'd like a few words.

Just a minute.

Roland, is it?

That's right.

You don't seem very surprised.

I'm not.

Do you always get police officers calling about Roland?

No. You're the first.

Only a matter of time, though.

What's he done?

We're just making a few inquiries.

Must be something bad if it's Roland.

Why do you say that?

He's rotten.

I'll make tea.

Adopted? Well, he would say that, wouldn't he?

Why would he, Mr. Davis?

Well, he always found me and his mum a bit of a disappointment.

A bit of an embarrassment.

Not what he wanted.

But Roland was born here, wasn't he? Oh, yeah.

November it was.

Scorpio, see?

My Vera was up at the house helping in the kitchens when her pains come on.

Old McEwan took her straight up to the delivery room.

Couldn't have had better treatment if she'd been one of them rich ones paying

all them guineas.

Well, she had to have a caesarean.

Rolling up to leave his scar, didn't he?

Scorpio, see?

When did you last see him?

He had some funny ideas.

Even as a kid.

Always reading, putting himself full of nonsense.

He got a book once from Guildford Library all about you and non -you. Do

ever read that book?

No. Yeah, I do. It's a load of rubbish.

Not to Roland, it wasn't.

His Bible.

Well, me and Vera, we thought it was some kind of a game, so we tried to join

in.

Serviettes his napkins, dentures his false teeth.

He really got angry with his mum when she forgot and called it the toilet. Had

to be the lavatory.

U stands for upper classes.

Oh.

That's what we had the big row about.

What? The lavatory.

The toilet.

When he was still at college.

Oxford.

No, teacher training college, Snaresbrook.

You see, one of my Vera's bonds come up.

And she only had five.

But one of them came up and she won £1 ,000.

So he put 500 quid in the post office for Roland and used the rest to buy a

brand -new bathroom suite to surprise him.

Avocado green it was. Oh, lovely.

Yeah, same as Mum.

Really? Lovely, isn't it?

Oh, Roland didn't think so.

Oh, no.

When he came home on his holidays, you know what he said?

He said he should have bought a white suite, Dad. All the best houses have

white.

Well, his mum was...

Wasn't he at a tears and just said, why, Roland, why?

And he said, so that they can see that the servants clean it properly.

Coloured sweets are so vulgar.

Well, his mum just, just bust out crying. So I went for him.

Well, after that, he, he bunged a few things in his old hall and off.

It's the last I heard of him.

Oh, no.

No, I tell a lie.

He sent me a card.

Christmas after Vera died.

There was a 20 -pound note stapled to it.

And he'd underlined Mary in red biro.

But I explained about that.

West End Central know nothing about it. You weren't there.

Well, it must have been one of the other ones, then.

Well, I had a try for Bynestreet, Bow Street.

Come on, Judy, we're not playing bloody Monopoly.

You left half us and you had those keys cut.

Now, where?

Who put you up to it, Judy?

What do you mean?

Come on, you couldn't have thought it up by yourself.

It's your boyfriend, wasn't it?

What boyfriend?

It was Roland, wasn't it? I don't know any Roland.

All right.

You can carry the can for the lot.

Quarter of a million.

Do you reckon, Pete?

I don't know, what, five years?

Quarter of a million?

The bastard, the rotten poxy bastard.

He gave me 50.

A lousy 50 quid.

Who did, Judy?

Ah, lovely it used to be.

Not any more, though.

Been left to rot.

Like me.

Speculators bought it in 73, but they couldn't get permission to demolish it.

You say Roland used to play up there?

Yeah, yeah, all the time.

I had to take my belt to him.

It could have been dangerous up there on his own.

What did he do up there, do you know?

Made himself a den.

A den?

Yeah. You know, a den.

You never had a den when you was a kid?

I did.

It was the old doctor's room.

Oh, lovely it was. All that scroll work on the ceiling.

He found some bits of furniture that had been left behind. A couple of chairs, a

table. He even got a bed from somewhere.

He must have spent weeks cleaning the place up, getting rid of all the old

papers and stuff.

Papers? What papers?

Oh, papers.

Teach us, fool. Left behind.

What kind of papers?

Oh, medical papers and that.

Old files and stuff.

It was only written on one side, so Roland used to draw on the backs of

He must have had a room full of them.

Are they still there?

No.

No, I got rid of all his stuff after Vera died.

Clothes, books, papers.

And a bonfire.

Palafin.

Matches. It seemed best.

Did I do wrong?

No, Mr. Davis.

Many thanks, Mr. Davis. Thanks for your help. We may need to get in touch again.

Oh, right -o. But not Roland.

I don't want to set eyes on him.

Ever.

You stop him.

You stop him, Urchin.

Do that.

Oh, well, we've got Lady Morel's stuff back. That girl? Right. She had the key

cut in Harper's basement.

Silly cow. Even asked for Darcy's cash.

Is David involved?

No. What product? A man named Floyd.

Let's charge him, Floyd. Pick up, David. No problem.

Your governor's been on the blower. Seems Lady Morel's doing her fruit about

persecuting her little boy. She's upstairs.

Blast. And he's not her little boy.

You're all right. I'll give him a bell. Where have you got David?

He's downstairs, screaming blue murder about witch hunters.

Witches always do.

Right, give us a couple of minutes. I'd like to sit in on that. Yeah, OK. It

could be nasty.

I don't think I could face Lady Morel right now, not with what I've got to

her. We've got her miniatures back.

They should brighten her day.

For now, I doubt it.

And just what do you imagine you can charge me with?

Well, for starters, how about obtaining money by criminal deception?

Wrong. Oh?

I have obtained no money from Lady Morel.

Well, at least you're not still calling her mother.

Yes, well, that would be a bit ludicrous under the circumstances.

How was Dad?

Still whinging?

Yes, I didn't think very much of you either.

Now then, Lady Morrell gave you £4 ,000.

Correct. A deposit on a cruise. I paid it to the travel agents.

You saw the receipt.

Right, how about obtaining a cruise by criminal deception?

Sorry.

Lady Morrell made me a temporary loan. I repaid her this morning.

And paid the outstanding balance on the cruise for both of us.

Some 7 ,000 pounds in all. Where did you get some 7 ,000 pounds in all?

I sold a small parcel of shares.

You may check this with my bankers and Lady Moreau's.

And in case you intend to be really tired, some I also paid for yesterday's

luncheon. I think that settles the money side of things. Anything else?

Just a little matter of pretending to be her son.

As you say, a little matter.

That'll never come to court. You're really usually very sure of that. I am.

Your legal bods would hardly agree to subjecting Lady Morel to that kind of

ordeal. Having to stand up in court and admit to a judge she probably knows

socially she's been a slag.

I think not.

Better you see her a slag.

That is a non -new word.

May I go now? No.

I'll have to check your story with your band.

I've instructed my bankers to tell your people anything they wish to know. I

hope for your sake that the travel agents also confirm your story.

Oh, they will. Hayden Greenway. Piccadilly Arcade.

What was it? I don't know. I stopped myself.

What's that?

It's a load of miniatures. Mine's a Cointreau. Ah, very droll.

What's that say to you? Roland Deavis. He's meant to clean.

It's been muggy for us. Over there. Put away your bulletproof vest.

Thanks. And if the travel agents confirm his story, will he get on to the bank

and check that he's got sufficient funds to cover both checks?

Look, do you mind doing that? Thanks, Jack. Don't thank me. I've got a fiver

riding on this.

Oh, excuse me, darling.

If you're taking those for Lady Murrell, be kind to her. And I always.

Excuse me, ma 'am. What do you think, ma 'am? Sergeant Stiles thought these

might be important. Well, what are they?

Well, it looks like part of an old -fashioned car index system.

Where did he get this from?

Interesting, that. He was keeping oboe on Deaveth all morning.

You know, if I was doing that, some smart -arse defence lawyer could claim

was a threatening gesture.

Mr Dean, I'm so sorry to have taken so long, but these formalities will be...

Still, now that we've got a few minutes... You see, what puzzled me was

managed to find her.

I mean, wherever you got your information from, all you had was her

and let's face it, Miss Ruth Holmes could have gone and married anyone,

she?

You're quite a detective yourself, aren't you? Do I have to listen to this?

No. But it would be a bit churlish not to.

Any case, I want to listen.

Shall I tell you how I think you did it?

Now, I think you'd have needed more information.

I'm sure you know what this is.

I don't.

Mr. Davis was seen to dispose of this in the litter bin this morning.

Nice and tidy.

Miss Ruth Holmes.

Details of a male child, date of birth, weight, etc., date given for adoption.

Ah, here's the most important bit. Her home address.

The Manor House, Melbury, Shropshire.

Now, I may not be a graduate of, um... Now, where was this?

Snaresbrook. Oh, yes, Snaresbrook. Now, I may not be a graduate of Snaresbrook,

but even I can see how easy it would be to go up to Melbury and make a few

discreet inquiries about what happened to the girl from the manor house.

Something like that, was it?

Something like that.

Excuse me, girl.

We've checked with the travel people and Lady Morell.

The bank does have funds to cover both checks.

Thanks, Jack. Well, if you've quite finished... Not quite.

Was it just as easy to find all the others?

I don't know what you mean.

Oh, I think you do need to do this.

Miss Joanna Dyson, Dyson House, Harley Crotch, near Stroud. Miss Harriet Digby

-Stevens, South Eton Place.

Hmm, London. Not so far to travel.

Highgate Village, Belgravia. Rich ladies, rich addresses, baby boys, all

adopted. Coincidence?

Take them all on cruises, did you?

Did you take any money from these ladies? Temporary loans, little parcels

shares?

Why don't you ask them? I intend to, Mr. Davis.

Too bad.

Lady Morella and I could have been very happy.

I'd have been good to her, you know.

Until her cash ran out.

Oh, no fear of that. Do you know how much she's got? I'm sure you do.

To the last penny.

It was only money, and God knows I can afford it.

If we could have been happy, where was the harm?

If only you hadn't interfered.

Oh, I'm sorry. That sounds ungrateful after all your hard work.

Can you give Roland a message for me?

I really don't think that.

Right, I'll see that he gets it.

Thank you.

I just want him to know that he needn't worry about his defence.

I've retained counsel for him. A friend of my husband's a good man.

How on earth should you do that for him?

Because it just doesn't seem fair to let him take all the blame.

Lady Morel, Roland Davis is a cold -blooded swindler.

Why on earth should you bother to help him?

Because I was just as ready to swindle him.

How?

By pretending to believe him.

Pretending?

My son died when he was seven years old.

Cerebral meningitis.

A very clever private detective told me that 15 years ago.

Are you saying that you knew all along that Roland Davis was not your son?

Yes.

But you see, even if all he wanted was money, I wanted my son back.

Roland is such fun.

A son any mother would be proud of.

Except his own?

Yes, poor woman.

I didn't know about her yesterday.

I probably never would have known if you hadn't... Interfered.

I was going to say if you hadn't been trying to be so good at your job,

Inspector.