Original subtitles

Thank you.

Keep the kite flight that he did when I was a boy.

Could be another Roman skull, sir.

The archaeological dig's just over the hill there.

That's practically followed me out here.

I suppose skulls are flavour of the month at the moment.

Tell us it was I, Claudius.

We'll go home for breakfast.

I think you'll be having breakfast here.

The Romans cremated most of their dead.

But the two skulls they found over there last month?

They were the exception.

That's why the archaeologists are having such a field day.

You know, I think this one had its teeth removed and its jawbone broken

deliberately.

Hey, look, he's got another one.

Don't talk about me.

Don't look at your own head, that's it.

It's not a place to see it.

Right, excuse me. I'll take that if you don't mind. Come on, then.

It gives a point. Come on.

Sir?

One of the truck drivers just found it.

Why did he leave it there?

Because he already had it in his hand, sir. He was posing with it for a

photograph.

Well, put it down.

Here.

I was going to play football with it.

Exactly the same.

She's removed job once more.

Somebody's private graveyard.

Is that the last one?

Yes. Well, let's hope your project succeeds.

We won't have to go through this every month.

I think it's a long way off.

Just make sure you get the credit for it, that's all.

Hello?

Is this Maryhill Police Station?

Could I speak to Inspector Jim Taggart?

I see.

When will he be available?

No, could you just tell him Mrs. Gilmore?

Mrs. Gilmore.

Annie Gilmore.

He knows her.

Thanks a lot.

A female.

The fact that the sutures haven't closed on top gives an approximate age between

21 and 30.

Can you narrow that down?

Got anyone in mind?

I may have.

Mid to late twenties?

Of course I can't say how long they've been in the ground. Or if they were

buried at the same time.

That'll be up to soil analysis.

Or how they died.

I can tell you how they didn't.

There's no injuries to the cranium.

Only the jaws.

And they're definitely post -mortem.

They found hair strands in the soil around both the skull sites, sir.

Both blonde.

Oh, there was a phone call from Annie Gilmore.

I thought there would be.

We've widened the search area, sir. Nothing yet.

But the rest of the bodies could be buried somewhere else.

It's more than likely.

It's interesting that the jaw was damaged.

As if the murderer knew enough about forensic dentistry not just to pull the

teeth. We've done the usual checks on missing persons.

Of course, one stands out. Janet Gilmore.

Same age, same colour of hair.

Has her mother been in touch?

Naturally, sir.

Couldn't we superimpose a skull on a portrait of her like they did in the

case? Well, we're informed, sir, it wouldn't be successful for a number of

reasons. First of all, she has quite a full faith in the photos we have.

And the way that she wears her hair covers a great deal of her faith.

I believe in the Ruxton case, the victim had a thin, angular face with high

cheekbones. Aren't you a bit young to remember the Ruxton case?

It was a classic of his kind, sir.

Sorry I didn't contact you sooner. It's been a busy day.

You think me a terrible nuisance.

I keep ringing every time.

As soon as I saw the papers, I had to know.

The situation is we don't know yet.

The papers say two skulls were found.

That's right.

Is there a possibility?

I mean, are they female? I know you can tell.

Annie, I don't want to build up their hopes like last time. If there's a

possibility, Jim, I want to know.

Well, they're both female, about Janet's age, blonde hair.

Yeah.

There's a possibility.

It's almost four years to the day.

It will be next Friday.

It'd be strange if she were found almost four years to the day.

We won't know for some days yet. I've been patient for four years. I can wait

few more days.

Would you like a drink or something? Some supper? No, no, Annie. I've got to

home. I'll keep you informed.

One way or the other?

One way or the other.

About those skulls.

How would you like an opportunity to impress your superiors?

Go on.

Large whiskey, please.

There's an old university chum of mine, Professor Peter Huckman.

He's an expert at facial reconstruction from skulls. Yeah, I've heard of it.

He's scored some amazing successes.

Uses a technique which is based on the relationship between the face and the

skull contours.

There's a lot of work in America.

There's not much he stays there, is there?

He's here.

He's just joined the Department of Anatomy at Glasgow University.

As a matter of fact, his first job was to put faces to the skulls of those

soldiers they found.

Excuse me, I'm looking for Professor Peter Hutton.

I'm Hutton.

I'm Detective Sergeant Michael Jordan, Maryhill Police Station.

Could I have a few words with you before your press conference?

What about?

It's a private matter. It'll only take five minutes.

My cold tournament will be about half past ten, OK?

Stephen Andrews, eh?

He's the girl I was going out with.

Oh, well.

Has he still got that ridiculous beard?

He still has a beard, yeah.

He likes beards.

The reason he grew it.

More to the point, can you help us?

Do you know my work?

Very little.

Most of it's been in the archaeological field.

Not long back, I put the faces on two Egyptian mummies in Cairo.

Ours are a bit more recent.

The last criminal case I worked on was in America, the year Chicago had done a

trunk case.

The murderer was a travelling salesman.

Kept the skulls of three hitchhikers in a trunk in his bedroom.

I put the faces on all three. We identified two.

What do you already have with them?

They're both in their mid -twenties, that's about it.

Samples? Blonde, both cases.

Sorry to be mercenary, but there would be a fee in it for the department.

That's not up to me to authorise.

Chicago police were more than generous, I remember.

Look, it's not official yet, so I'd be obliged if you didn't say anything.

Stephen Andrews, eh?

Someone come and see me.

I'm sure he will. Lots of things I'd like to say to him.

Sorry to keep you waiting, ladies and gentlemen.

Now, this is Flavius Herambulus and his fellow artillery, whose name we don't

know. I've invented Flavius because it's a common Christian name at the time.

Excuse me, but could you tell us more about the work you're doing on the two

murder victim skulls found yesterday?

I haven't started yet.

But you have helped police forces before.

Yes. And you will be able to reconstruct their faces just as you could with the

two Roman ones.

Well, the principle's the same, yes.

I told them not to say anything.

What are you?

A one -man band?

I'm running this investigation.

I thought I was using my initiative, sir.

Well, use it, but keep me informed.

What is this guy?

Some kind of witch doctor?

As I see it, General, we have nothing to lose.

And one of these?

You believe to be the skull of... Janet Gilmore.

That's right.

And for obvious reasons, I don't know what she looks like.

Have you the hair?

Yeah.

It's the hair sample from skull number one.

And that's for number two.

Hey, how long will it take?

Well, the two Roman skulls, I'm working on for the exhibition at the museum next

week. Well, that can wait.

They've been about for 2 ,000 years.

You can hang with her a bit longer.

Dr. Nielsen, we have the woman on the telephone for you. A Miss Kramer.

She wouldn't say what it's about.

Thanks, Kristen.

Dr. Nielsen?

Yeah?

I... I could be available tonight.

Dr. Nielsen? Yes.

Jill Kramer, management question. How do you do?

Can I get you a drink?

Thanks very much.

I'll have a pint of heavy.

Could I have another mineral water, please?

Certainly, madam. You drink dangerously.

I drive dangerously, which is why I drink mineral water.

You're what they call in the business a headhunter.

I'll get straight to the point.

Landsberg Chemicals in Liverpool are looking for a toxicologist of your

qualifications, and I... Toxinologist.

I'm sorry?

I work with natural toxins, as we think from toxic substances.

So, our biggest competitor wants to poach me.

What exactly do you do with these natural toxins?

Jean, I've told you before, I don't like cats.

He keeps me company during the day.

At least you can speak to her, Doug.

And who'd walk it? You'd never find the time.

We're having a burn supper on Friday. I thought I'd tell you.

That'll be nice.

You will try to be there.

You know me, Jean?

Always try.

By the way, we're having a disabled piper.

Oh, no.

He's a friend of Margaret MacDonald's. You mean you're having bagpipes in the

house? Yes.

He will be disabled if the neighbours come round.

Tiger. Sergeant Norwich, the skulls have gone missing at university.

What?

Are you telling us that somebody broke in here and stole the wrong skulls?

Someone broke in here and stole the Roman skulls and the plaster cast I made

your skulls yesterday.

I mean, your skulls are quite safe on the bottom of the cupboard over there.

Can I ask a simple question?

How many skulls are we talking about here?

Two, sir.

None on the moors? Just a plaster cast.

Make them be made again.

You heard us worried there.

These skulls are one of the most important archaeological finds in

century, and I'm responsible for them.

The box we brought our skulls in.

That isn't it.

You're interested in a box?

Ours had Strathclyde Police written on.

Now, where is it? How should I know?

I'm a professor of anatomy, not cardboard boxes.

It's your lab.

You're responsible for everything, isn't it? I'm not responsible for security of

the university, nor do I spend the night with my work.

This has never happened before in any other country.

What's going on?

Who are you?

This is Carl Young, my research assistant.

We've been burgled, the Hamian skulls have gone, and the police are more

interested in cardboard boxes.

We've every right to be. That is not the box we brought our skulls in.

I must have put them back in the wrong boxes last night.

Why, does it matter?

Of course it matters.

The person that stole them thought they were stealing ours.

I want 24 hours surveillance on that place from now on.

It wouldn't have been too difficult for the thief, sir.

Button's name's in the door.

Just find the department and hide out till night.

Is it a ghoul? Is it our murder?

I think a ghoul would have found plenty without opening cupboards.

But on the other hand, why did the murderer have fear of his victims being

identified? Unless he'd connected to them in some way.

Just the man.

You know there's a quarterly work study with the accountancy team at 5 .30?

Derek gets back from the Far East tomorrow and wants the report.

I go home at 5 .30.

I hear you've been to Liverpool.

Yeah. School of Tropical Medith.

I was hoping to obtain an Australian Taipan.

That's a venomous snake that grows to a length of 12 feet.

Well, I hope I never have to meet one of those.

You never know.

You might one day.

Have you heard?

There's a powwow with the accountants.

I heard.

It'd be nice if we could get on with the job of being scientists.

That bloody woman wouldn't know what sodium chloride was if she ate it.

Capetito, Tim Hilton.

No thanks, Dennis.

Oh, my God, what's in this tea?

Just the usual, Dr Mackay. I think I'll need one of your anti -venoms after

drinking this.

You'll be replaced by a vending machine boy.

Well?

Have you accepted?

Can't I give them my answers tomorrow?

I bet you will.

They won't be pleased here.

They'll probably top Landsberg's offer just to keep me.

Will you stay if they do?

It's not just the money, Christine.

It's the system in this place.

I can't wait to see the look on Derek Hamlock's face when I tell him. What

when you tell your wife?

She'll just have to accept it.

Does that belong to one of the heads?

I can't say yet.

The other one's this way, sir.

Have fun with the jigsaw puzzle.

See that woman?

Tell her to go away. I don't want her here.

That's Janet Gilmore's mother.

Right, sir.

You notice anything about the arms, sir?

Crossed over the chest.

On both chest.

I don't know why you let a boss you around.

I wouldn't have a woman above me.

Where are you off to?

Just meeting a new client.

He has his own catering business, but hasn't kept any accounts for three

which should be fun.

Are you having dinner with him?

Well, we're not sitting on a street corner, if that's what you mean.

I want to talk to you before you go out.

God, that sounds ominous.

I went to Liverpool today.

Landsberg Chemicals. They're Casco's biggest competitor.

They've offered me a job.

Ten thousand a year more than I'm making here.

Increased research facilities.

I'm tempted.

Only ten. I'd have thought you were worth more than that.

I want to talk it over with you.

It would mean selling up.

Leaving Glasgow, moving to Liverpool.

Starting anew.

I don't know how you feel about that.

I have clients in Glasgow.

I can't just give them up. You could get clients in Liverpool.

I don't want to go to Liverpool. I like it here.

We have to disrupt our lives so you can earn an extra 10 ,000 a year, which we

don't need. It's not just the money.

You've never complained about research facilities before.

It's not just them.

I haven't got time to talk about it now.

I'm late as it is.

God, he will throw these things at me.

I can't make the decision on my own.

Douglas, you've made lots of decisions in your life.

I should have thought the answer to this one was obvious.

She wouldn't go until she's seen you, sir.

I have to come just to see for myself.

Chief Dawkinson or something?

Kept in touch with her ever since Janet Gillimer disappeared.

Even when there was nothing.

She wouldn't tell me what was happening.

I could see you'd found something.

You shouldn't even be down here.

Jim, I've been sitting at home for four years, wondering, waiting. I just can't

sit at home anymore.

Ken died doing just that.

I know she's dead.

I just want to know where she is and how she died. Annie, she may not even be

dead. You don't believe that, neither do I.

Part of me wants to believe it.

And part of me wants you to know, well, you know, one way or the other.

What have you found?

Two skeletons.

Clothes. What about clothes?

Annie, no evidence of clothes.

Can I just go and take a look?

No.

No, Annie.

I'm not letting you walk out here.

We can tell things from skeletons. Measure the height.

At the moment, we have a guy putting faces on two skulls.

I know.

I read.

I will.

You'd have read then that two skulls were stolen.

The wrong ones.

Who would do that?

At the museum.

Still trying to placate the archaeologists.

You better take your skulls.

And these are the new cans?

Yep.

Peter had to recreate the missing pieces of jaw from a molding compound.

The teeth belonged to a girl of approximately the same age.

You just have to have these things lying around?

Sorry I asked.

What do you drill into it for?

They're just specific points where we insert cocktail sticks to the thickness

the soft tissue before putting the clay on.

I don't mean to sound disrespectful, but isn't Professor Hutton meant to be

doing it?

This is merely groundwork. It's done to calculations.

Peter takes over when it comes to the sculpting.

I've watched him do it. He's quite a genius.

Good afternoon, Mr. Rummler. Hello, Rosemary.

Ah, good flight.

Oh, fine, thanks, yes.

Connection to Heathrow is the worst part, of course.

Always is.

Dr. Nielsen wants to see you sometime today, urgently.

Tell him it's impossible.

Can you see him? Find out what he wants?

He must think it's so important, Derek. He wants to see you personally.

There was a phone call from a woman. She said it was very urgent.

Wouldn't leave a name, just a telephone number.

Did you say what about?

No, just that she wanted you to ring her the moment you got back.

Can you give me a few minutes, please?

Sure.

They're getting careless.

To Landsberg?

Down here, yeah.

They've offered him 10 ,000 a year more.

More research facilities, more everything.

Oh, don't worry, I'll up their offer.

There's no way I'm going to let Douglas go to Landsberg.

By the way, did you have to leave your home number with Caroline? I didn't know

what else to do. I had to talk to you. Well, she could have looked it up, you

know.

Three years ago, they beat us with a heart drug, but we still have them at

clinical trial stage.

I'm more concerned about us.

Can I see you tonight?

I've missed you.

Tonight I've got to spend it home with the kids.

They expect Daddy to bring them back presents.

You know what it's like.

No, I don't know what it's like.

Tomorrow? I'm doing a client's account of tomorrow.

I suppose I could get rid of him by nine.

Look, don't worry about it. The last thing I'm going to do is let Douglas

you off to Liverpool.

Scientists are like children.

Give them a few presents, hmm?

He'll stay.

Just got Dr. Andrews' preliminary report on the two skeletons, sir.

They do fit the skulls.

One would give an overall living stature of between 5 foot 5 and 5 foot 6, and

the other between 5 foot 4 and 5 foot 5.

Danny Gilmore was 5 foot 5.

There are a lot of females, sir.

Soil samples are going off, so with any luck we should find out how long they've

been in the ground.

So while we wait for the scientists, Danny Gilmore waits and hopes.

Hopes that it isn't.

Hopes it is.

She wants an end to wandering, and I can't help blame her.

I know it's not my place, sir, but you've become pretty personally involved

her over the years.

It's not your place.

Jim, there's a spider in the bath.

Will you come and get it out, please?

Did you hear me?

Would you come and take it out for me, please?

Aye, all right.

Come on, you. It's time you earned your crust.

What are you doing with Timmy?

I'm going to put him in the bath. He can eat it.

You're not going to kill it.

I want you to catch it and put it outside.

Gene, it's a spider.

Have you never heard the saying, if you wish to live and thrive, let the spider

run alive?

Well, let it run alive then. I don't like touching those things any more than

you do.

Jim!

Something to keep you busy.

Casco's recess lab was broken into last night. Could be animal livers.

What have you taken?

Sneaks. They're in the switch.

Right. You're missing two saw -stealed carpet vipers, one eastern diamond

rattlesnake and two black mambas. Yes.

And two American violin spiders.

Right. And how dangerous are they?

They're all very dangerous.

The lunatic who took them would be lucky not to be bitten.

You see this fellow?

Most people think the bigger and hairier the spider, the more dangerous it is.

It's not the cave.

The ones that were taken are small, but they're brown recluses.

Probably the most dangerous spiders in the world.

I never realised snake venom could be that useful.

Every species has different enzymes.

We can separate them out using different drugs.

Sounds a dangerous job.

You ever been bitten?

I haven't. Dr. Nielsen has, though, once.

We keep antivenoms here.

So, whoever stole the snakes must have had some experience.

I never thought about it.

Well, they haven't been taken in their containers.

They've been taken out and put into something else.

Who knew the security code to the door?

Just Dr. Nielsen and me.

Though, as you can see, the door's been forced.

Obviously, someone knew who the snakes were.

How valuable would these specimens be?

Worth a few hundred pounds each to a zoo or a collector.

I can think of safer ways to make money.

Thank you.

It's Valentine's Day.

We've not even had Burns Night yet.

You know this business.

As soon as that's over, it'll be Mother's Day.

And then Christmas.

I was just passing by. I thought I'd drop in.

Any news?

Well, there have been a couple of new developments.

Now, this goes against my better judgment, honey.

Tell me.

One of the bodies found was about Janet's height.

Every day, I'm more certain.

I'm going to feel more hellish than you if we're proved wrong.

Then we'll feel hellish together.

Well, there's one other thing.

We've had a report on the soil analysis around the skulls.

It tells us two things.

The first body was buried for about two and a half years.

And the second body, the one we think was Janet's, was in the ground for about

four years.

Oh, yes, tomorrow.

Burned tonight.

Aye. The anniversaries must be difficult.

Will you have dinner with me tomorrow night?

I shouldn't ask. I know.

Well, Jean's having a burnt supper for disabled people with a piper to match.

She'd be here.

Of course.

Och.

On the other hand, I don't suppose she'd miss me.

Levius Romulus, I presume.

Hello there.

Well,

they're back where they belong, eh?

Look, I can't thank you enough.

Well, you can.

By giving me two faces I can identify.

Aha, an old pal of yours.

You haven't changed a bit.

You still look as though you can't afford a decent pair of shoes.

Not what the Strathclyde police are paying me for this job, I can't.

Now look, what are you doing tomorrow night?

I've got a couple of tickets for the Federation burn supper.

Jenny can't go, so why don't you come along as my guest? He's got an important

job to do.

I don't want to lose you, Douglas.

Especially not to Landsberg.

I'm ready to up any offer they've made to you. It's not just the money, Derek.

I know how you feel.

Do you?

I've given 15 years of my life to Casco.

And what do I have to show for it?

The Natalvan business, for one thing.

Uglis.

Uglis, you don't want to bring that up again.

It was years ago.

It was my success.

And Dr.

MacDonald's name's on the paper.

This company's taken the credit for everything I've done.

I'm sorry you feel like this.

That's why I want to go.

What does your wife, Morag, think about this?

She's behind me 100%. Think it over, Douglas.

Your work is far too important to us. I have thought it over.

Nothing you can offer will make me stay, Derek.

So hot and happy.

I wish I was.

Confirms to be thoughtful.

Someone stole the skulls to prevent their identification.

When they found out they had the wrong ones, they were dumped.

How's your snake inquiry?

Something not right about it.

Someone knew the most deadly species to steal. Where they were, and how it

handled. Inside jobs.

Could entertain it.

Entertain me, eh?

Don't tell me.

It's got something to do with those snakes we saw from Caskers.

Yeah. Can we go somewhere quieter?

Sure. Follow me.

You used to be a lab technician at Caskers?

That's right.

Until last year.

I prefer it here, though.

Can you handle snakes?

Can I handle snakes?

He's just a rat snake.

Oh, he's all right.

We'll bring him out for the kids' handling sessions.

Do you want to hold him?

Most people think they're slimy, but they're not.

They're not even dry. They're kind of in between.

Keep your hand underneath him.

Yeah, like that.

You see his tongue in there now?

That's his fencing apparatus.

Do you have many venomous ones?

No, we don't have any here.

We don't have the facilities to keep them.

We've got a guy up from Chester Zoo at the moment advising us on it.

You ever offered snakes to the public?

Sometimes.

Are you wondering what would happen if someone offered to sell us venomous

snakes? And does it happen?

Well, we'd ask a lot of questions to start with.

I think he likes you.

He's cute.

Did you ever handle venomous snakes at caskets?

Doug Nielsen wanted to train me, but I'm too much of a coward.

Have you seen pictures of people bitten by snakes?

Even if you get the anti -venom, you can get tissue damage, gangrene, even lose

an arm or a leg.

You don't risk that in a lab technician's wages.

Do you want to see something really venomous? Okay.

Oh, they're gorgeous.

Gorgeous, but deadly.

Well, they're quite safe to handle.

As long as you haven't got an open cut or lick your fingers after.

Poison arrow frogs.

Some species have enough venom in them to kill 20 ,000 mice.

You could remember you were a policewoman or something.

I grew up taking them home with me. And how do you do?

There has to be an end to any search, Jim.

If I hadn't let the trail go cold four years ago, sir, the second victim,

whoever she is, wouldn't have died. No one could have done more to try and find

Janet Gilmore than you.

Both her and her murderer just vanish into thin air.

Well, at least he's still around.

It's just a thing, sir.

just to prevent Hutton putting faces to his victims.

See, if his victims were random, what's he going to be afraid of?

At least they're looking human.

Tomorrow we should be able to see what one of them looked like in life.

You've got clay in your suit and cigarette ash. Come here.

Still not happy with the other side of the face.

Oh, by the way, just boxed the wire for you when you were out at the dress hire

shop.

Stop!

What's wrong?

I don't know.

Seemed to have cut myself when I...

Down the street?

Can't see anything in it.

Just some wood shaving.

Must be something in it.

I don't have time to worry about that now.

I'll let this damn burn suffer.

See you in the morning.

I'm glad you could make it.

I'm sorry, Jean. I can't. I'm working.

It's always the same.

I bought you these.

They're very nice, but I prefer you.

Save me a bit of haggis.

Peter, do you know Superintendent Jack McVitie?

This is Peter Hutton.

Ah, glad to have the pleasure.

I hear the work's progressing very well. Yes, getting there.

You must be glad to have the two Roman sculls back.

Yes.

It's me, isn't it? Hop in here.

They sometimes go a little mad and turn the central heating pool up.

Tell me, how do you produce ears and nose?

It must be the most difficult thing.

Yes, sir.

There's no exact science for telling the shape of a nose.

No, no, a lot of guesswork.

Oh, Jack.

Ladies and gentlemen, please make your way through to your seats. Thank you.

Are you sure you feel all right?

I think I must be coming down with something.

A few of these will soon put that right.

Please be seated.

Therefore, your Honour's taunting face, great chapter of the pardon race.

Cheers. Cheers.

Here's to the most courageous woman I know.

You can't go on pretending she walked through the door.

Because she won't.

You can't go on blaming yourself either.

Life is for the living.

That's right.

I'm sorry.

I've got the napkin.

Oh, don't worry.

Honey, I said don't worry.

I know, Arnie.

Your pin would serve to mend a mill in time of need, while through your pores

the Jews distill like amber beet.

This knife, see your rustic labored dick, and cut you up with ready slick,

drenching your gut and entrails break like honey ditch, and then, oh, what a

glorious sick.

One brick.

Call an ambulance.

What's that he's saying?

Something about a box.

Like some sort of a bite.

It's okay.

One of these days, this thing's going to cause an injury.

This is a bite on his finger.

Any idea what did it?

He was at a burnt supper.

Obviously, it's important we find out.

He did seem bothered by his finger.

That's right.

But he said nothing to her. When you say bite, do you mean like an insect or a

spider?

That's what he was saying.

Something in a box.

Where are you going?

I need to get away for a few days.

It's all in this.

Away? I'm going to stay at the Donington.

I need time to think things out.

Like that, is it? What do you expect?

You've decided without me to go to Liverpool. Now I need some time on my

make my decisions.

I have my own career. You can pick up your career anywhere.

I don't want to.

Hasn't that sunk in? There's nothing except our jobs to keep us in Glasgow.

We only see any of our friends. We don't invite people round anymore. That's not

my fault. Well, tell me, what else is there to keep us in Glasgow?

I just want to stay here.

So you're leaving me, is that what you're saying?

Look, why don't you take the job, get a flat down there during the week and come

home at weekends?

I'm not leaving you up here every week on your own.

No, you wouldn't, would you?

It arrived today.

It just seemed to be full of wood shavings.

Peter reckoned he jabbed his finger on a staple.

You don't expect me to open it.

You saw nothing?

No.

Like I said, I was just clearing away and I heard them call out.

Then he dropped it and it landed just where you're standing.

These wood shavings, they're the same as those in the tank at Carskill, where

the spiders were taken from.

Let's get out of here, huh? I'll probably turn up in some corner

I don't care how it feels.

Emergency.

I couldn't get a hold of Dr.

Nielsen. Do you have the antivenin for the bite of one of those spiders?

Yes, in the lab.

Chief Inspector Taggart, Christine Gray.

Christine works as a chemist at Dr Nielsen's lab.

It was exciting being driven at high speed through red traffic lights.

It wasn't for him.

Morning. How was your burnt supper?

Timmy got killed. We found him out on the road.

He must have been hit by a car.

We buried him in the garden last night.

Sorry. Apart from that, and you not being there, it was fine.

It was one of those nights.

Superintendent Mavitti phoned here for you about half past eight.

Oh, that'd be right. It would have done.

He caught up with me eventually, though.

Now, look, Gina, I've got to go.

I'm sorry about the cat.

I really am.

Well, if I were you, I'd take the job.

You'll kick yourself if you don't. Morag doesn't see it that way.

Well, why don't you do as he suggests?

Get a flat in Liverpool and come home at weekends.

She knows I couldn't do that.

Why not?

Because that's what she'd like.

To be free up here to do whatever she wants.

Without me in the way.

What do you mean, other guys?

I wasn't going to say it.

See, if I was married and I thought that my wife was... You're not married,

Colin.

Don't you get jealous?

It bites me to the bone sometimes.

But it would be a lot worse if I had to lose her to someone else.

Then I'd sooner kill her.

Cobra venom?

There's a party tonight.

Jackie from allergies.

And a new chap from anti -fertility.

They're tying the knot.

Why don't you come over?

See if you're more friends.

We'll think of you together.

I might do that.

I'll see how I feel.

I've just heard.

I don't know what to say.

Well, you could start with how is he?

Um, can I see the room where you keep these things?

Yes. Yes, of course.

This is where we extract the venom from the snakes.

Who's we?

Christine and I.

Did you ever know a girl called Janet Gilmore?

You mean the one who's been missing?

Four years now.

No. Should I?

It's just that somebody's trying to prevent us identifying a skull, which

be horrible.

Are you the only two to handle him? Yes.

Shh. What's that noise?

Just the vipers hissing.

Someone knew these spiders were dangerous.

And you went to home last night.

No, I went out.

I had a lot of thinking to do.

I've been offered a job with another company.

My wife doesn't want to leave Glasgow.

What kept you back this morning?

Oh, I went to the zoo.

A friend works there, in the reptile house.

I wanted to ask you for advice.

There used to be a lab technician here.

What's his name? Colin Murphy.

Look, what is this?

I just wanted to talk to him.

Invite him to a party tonight.

What party?

It's an engagement party between two of the staff here.

I take it most of the people in the building know about your little

Are you implying somebody in this building stole them?

Well, it's a possibility, you have to say.

No.

Frankly, I wouldn't.

Frankly, Dr.

Nielsen. Somebody knew where they were.

Somebody knew what to steal. Somebody knew how to handle them.

I'm not so sure that walking out on him was such a good idea.

I haven't walked out on him.

I just panicked him a little.

I know Douglas.

If he thinks he'll lose me because of this, he'll stay.

Well, I hope you're right.

I lived with him for 17 years.

Besides...

I thought having a hotel would give us a chance to be alone.

This evening.

I can't this evening, I'm afraid.

It's Denny's birthday.

I promised I'd take her out.

So I end up playing second fiddle again.

We've been through all that. We both know the rules. I wouldn't mind playing

second fiddle if you weren't always the conductor.

I'm beginning to feel I'm only useful for keeping Douglas with Casco.

You know that's not true.

Come back to my room now.

Look, I'm not the bloody office boy. I can't just take the afternoon off.

On the other hand, tomorrow would be easier.

I spend my life waiting for tomorrow.

Are you sure it's safe now?

So they tell me.

How long will Peter be in hospital?

Too long.

Unfortunately for us.

I could carry on where he left off.

I mean, the basic facial structures on, it's just a matter of humanising them,

giving them features.

How much experience do you have?

Well, I've done facial constructions on eight men's skulls.

Admittedly, that's more guesswork than these would have to be, but I've watched

Peter on jobs like this.

I worked with him in America.

And that head's in a trunk cave.

I'd welcome the chance to prove I can do it.

Who's that confident?

I don't see what we've got to lose, sir.

Right. We want round -the -clock protection for him. We'll not tell

Professor Hutton has an assistant.

Let this maniac think the work on the skulls is going somewhere else.

You wanted me, sir?

I want the both of you.

I'm sending you to a party.

A party, sir?

There's an ease up at Casco's tonight with the entire research department.

An engagement or something.

I want you to go there, keep your ears and your eyes open, see if there's any

connection with anyone there and Janet Gilbert.

But they know who we are, sir. So?

People get drunk at parties.

They talk.

You let them talk.

You never wish you drank at times like this?

Not here to enjoy ourselves.

If it was a bit more effort you could sound just like Jim Taggart.

I found her tonight.

She still wants time to think.

Go round there.

Have a out with her.

She'll turn round and say I was expecting to find her with somebody.

Why should... Why should I give her the satisfaction?

She treats you like shit, Douglas.

Well, I can see it. Everyone else here sees it.

Which is not worth it. The unspeakable crime of sending a venomous spider

through the post.

Pity somebody didn't send it to our research director.

You don't like it, I take it?

The statement of the millennium.

If you don't take that job and get out of the class going away from her, you're

a fool.

Hey, Colin.

I didn't know you were here.

I thought I'd come back and see you all. Catch up on all the scandal.

The trouble is, she's spent most of her life in what I call the cauldron. Ever

getting anywhere and always coming out the way she came in.

Now she publishes our articles.

So they're her own.

Talk of the devil.

Hello, Dr. McDonald.

Research director.

Who are the police officers?

I was just telling them it's a pity somebody didn't send that spider to Dr.

Nielsen's one.

There might have been a practical solution to his problem.

Doctor?

Apparently, serious complications can arise in some cases.

From what I can glean, the venom went to the kidneys, which became necrotic.

Tragic end to a brilliant man.

Sorry, Stephen.

I know he was a friend.

Is there any connection between this research lab and Janet Gilmore?

Not that I can find, sir.

I've told Michael to put her name up to everyone.

Where is he tonight?

I'll send him to a party.

What I'm working on is trying to grow venom cells from dead snakes' lines.

So it won't be necessary to milk them.

Sounds a lot safer.

And cheaper.

Though whether that helps people who need antivenom is another matter.

What do you mean?

Thousands of people in the third world die of snakebite every year.

Usually poor field workers.

By the time the middlemen have pushed the price of antivenoms up, they can't

afford it.

Sure.

What exactly is Dr Nielsen working on?

I shouldn't really discuss that.

His research is, well, closely guarded.

That's why Casco don't want him to leave.

I was going to say, you must be freezing.

Tell me the perfect Monday, OK?

You're in a police room. You might come across it one day. Who knows?

No, tell me.

I'm intrigued.

Well, what you do is you...

You take a hypodermic full of cobra venom and you inject it into someone's

button.

Apparently, cobra venom's impossible to detect unless you're actually looking

for it.

And the last place you're going to find a puncture mark is in the belly button.

So how do you get your victim to lie still while you do it?

I will. That's the difficult part.

So where did you learn this?

Dr. Nielsen.

I worked at Casper's for two years.

Trying out a lot of things.

I think I better take him home.

Do we get the feeling that people are too ready to talk to us? Only too well.

Here we are, Douglas.

Home.

Hey.

I think she's in.

The light just went off up the stair.

Our car's not here.

I just went out, I thought.

Come on in and have a nightcap.

No thanks.

You need your bed, Douglas.

Come on in and have a drink.

I've had enough.

Get to your bed.

All right, all right.

Thanks for the lift.

Do you, erm... Do you want to come back with me?

If you don't mind, I'd rather go straight home.

I'll cook a really good spaghetti bolognese.

After quiche and pizza.

Your stomach must be lead -lined.

Just for a nightcap, then.

I've got to let the dog out.

OK.

Dr. Nielsen?

Doctor?

Got on to Christine Gracer. She's coming out, but she's not happy about doing it

on her own.

Luckily, there's a guy at Glasgow Zoo at the moment. He's got experience in

handling venomous snakes.

He's on his way.

Where's Nilsen's wife?

At her cell.

Marital tiff, I'm told. Some tiff?

I wouldn't go in there if I were you.

Do we know if he's dead?

I'm not sure. I'm not going to play John Wayne to find out.

Probably more afraid of us than we are of it.

Fill that to the poor soul that went in there.

It comes within the definition of wild animals, Jim.

The name's Sullivan.

I'm expecting.

There you are, my beauty.

There's no need for that.

You know something, Constable?

One of the mysteries of life are contained in those venom glands.

He's quite safe in here.

Are we safe in there?

Well, I'd look around. I couldn't see any others. It looks like someone broke

at the back.

Oh, he's dead.

It's unusual for a snake to kill outright.

Sometimes it's the shock that does it. I've seen a chap die of a heart attack

after being bitten by a harmless gopher.

Thanks for the autopsy.

He's been bitten five times.

This should interest you.

He's a snakeskin, sir.

He was under bed with them.

It would appear so.

Well, they like warm, dark places.

He'd have settled down, stayed there till he felt cornered, then strike

repeatedly. Suddenly you know a lot about reptiles.

Yeah, I've met one or two in my time.

Why is it so hot in here?

Well, the killer could have turned the heating up, sir, so that the snake would

remain active.

I think I've just found out what it's brought to the house, then.

Well, we're not far off it now.

We went home and dropped him off, that's all.

But we didn't go in because we didn't want to get involved with these marriage

problems. Now, you just told us his wife left him to stay at a hotel.

Aye, that's right, but she did. But she'd come home.

There was a light one up the stairs.

How do you know it was his wife? Well, who else could it have been?

Mind you, he said her car wasn't there, so maybe it couldn't have been.

So you're saying when you took them home, there was somebody in the house,

his wife's car wasn't outside?

Aye, that's right.

Ask Christine. She was with me. She saw it too.

Well, somebody knew how to handle the snake that killed him, and you worked at

Casco's. Come on, you don't think I would kill Douglas.

He was a friend.

Last night you had an interesting conversation with my colleague about how

commit a perfect murder.

Douglas told me that, about injecting cobra venom into someone's belly button.

don't even know if it works. Why did he tell you that? I don't know.

He was just joking.

Well, I think he was a bit.

About how he'd kill his wife without anyone ever knowing how she died.

Looks like maybe she got to him first.

Don't worry.

Simply don't open the door.

Two scientists dead.

Both tops in the field.

I mean, is there anything in that?

Nielsen was a boffin. A research consultant.

His research would have been worth millions to the company.

They don't like to lose these guys, especially not to their competitors.

But he accepted the new job.

Yeah, with a company called Landsberg, Casco's biggest rival.

Apparently he was approached through one of these headhunting agencies.

Well, he definitely accepted it.

Trouble is, his wife hadn't. So Casco benefits.

I don't think murder's a boardroom topic, sir.

Hi. Do you know if Mrs. Nielsen's in room 620?

There's a do -not -disturb thing on the door.

I'll try a room for you if you like.

Right, thank you.

There's no answer, I'm afraid.

Okay, thanks very much.

Can I help you?

No, I'm just waiting for someone.

Can't you read?

Get out!

Mrs Nielsen?

Detective Constable Reek, Maryhill Police Station.

It's about your husband.

In flagrante delicto, sir. Tell us in plain English.

They were doing it when I walked in.

Derek Amlett's the managing director of Casco Pharmaceuticals. It's a real nest

of vipers we have here.

Where are they now?

Well, I brought Mrs Nielsen in, sir, but Mr Amlett had to go back to work.

And you let him go?

He was very forceful, sir.

He wasn't very happy at me interrupting.

He said he had an important meeting with two Indian businessmen. To discuss

what? The Kavasutra?

Sir, Carol Young's just gone down.

One of the faces is ready for photographing.

Have I interrupted something?

No, you haven't.

She's your task, I'm happy to see.

How much longer do I have to stay here?

Until we're satisfied that you've told us everything.

I've told you everything.

Did you want your husband dead?

No.

He was a good provider.

Besides, Derek has a wife and family which he won't leave, so you can't lay

at my door.

Why the hotel?

That coming from you is pretty rich.

You saw for yourself when you barged in. Or do women detectives only write about

it in their notebooks? I am supposed to be the grieving widow, remember?

We don't see much of that.

OK.

I'll tell you the truth.

I was calling his bluff, hoping he'd realise that losing me was more than his

new job was worth.

You wanted to keep him, even though you were having an affair with his boss.

Is it a crime to want to hang on to your husband?

Besides, I was doing Derek a favour.

The company didn't want to lose him either.

Mrs Nielsen, sir.

Detective Chief Inspector Taggart.

When are you going to tell me how he died?

In our time.

I'm his wife.

I have the right to know.

Where were you last night between 11 and 12?

I can't remember.

See, we were informed.

There was someone upstairs in your house when your husband came home.

Well, it wasn't me.

Where were you?

You give me a straight answer.

I'll give you one.

Someone put a venomous snake in his bed. It bit him five times and he suffered a

heart attack.

I'd still sleep with him.

It could have been me.

Would he have known the difference?

One of the faces is ready, Annie.

I've not seen it with filth yet.

But before we photograph it or publish it, I think you should look at it

yourself.

I'll look up the shop.

About last night, I'm sorry.

What's there to be sorry for?

Inviting you to dinner and making a complete fool of myself.

We've both waited a long time for this.

Maybe we both make fools of ourselves.

That's Janet.

No doubt.

Hair's not quite as it used to be.

And her face was fuller.

But it's my Janet.

As if she'd come back from the dead.

One of the signs is now being identified as that of Janet Gilmore, who went

missing from her home in Glasgow four years ago.

It was on the 24th of January, almost exactly four years ago, that Janet

Gilmore, a 26 -year -old DSS Clarkess from Bayliston in Glasgow, disappeared

after a row with her parents.

Her car was later found abandoned, and it was believed at the time that her

abductor had driven it to the spot.

There's Jean.

Out.

Good job you were vigilant, sir.

I could hardly have missed it, could I?

Where's your problem?

It's in the box.

It moved.

Well, have you looked inside?

Suicide's not fashionable this month. Did nobody tell you?

Right.

Let's have a little look then, shall we?

What is it? Hello, Mrs. Taggart. I would just stay here if I was you. What's

happening? Is it a siege?

Not exactly.

I think this is for you.

Is it for me?

Mrs. McKeever up the road must have left it. Her cat has a litter.

She knows I don't use the front door.

With damn luck, there's two detectives here to see you.

Show them in, would you please, Karen?

Thank you.

Come in.

This must be embarrassing for all of us.

It may be embarrassing for you.

It's not embarrassing for me or him.

Sit down. Yes.

Sir, what would you like to know?

Well, you can start by telling us how many of your scientists' wives you've

to bed with.

I have a wife and family.

I'm extremely happy with them.

Who was Dr. Nielsen working on?

Is that relevant?

If it wasn't, I wouldn't have asked.

Research consultants are free to work on whatever projects they choose.

And very often, neither I nor even Mrs. MacDonald, that's our research director,

knows exactly what they're doing.

Suppose he was on the verge of another breakthrough.

Losing him to Landsberg would have been quite a blow.

You think he was killed for that reason?

We poach scientists, too. It happens all the time.

Unfortunately, you can't buy loyalty.

Maybe you can, by manipulating their wives.

If that's everything, I have a meeting in a few minutes.

Oh.

Your secretary has kindly cancelled the meeting.

Where were you between 11 and 12 the night before last?

With my family.

And where was Mrs. Nielsen? Well, I don't know. I'm not a keeper.

Look, if you are going to check up with my family, I would appreciate it if you

could be a little discreeter.

We are men of the world, after all.

Drive over to the research centre.

See what you can get out of Christine.

You don't want to talk to her too?

No.

I'm going to be a man of the world, Mike.

I'll have a cup of tea while you're here.

You were one of the policemen at the party the other night.

That's right.

It's Dennis, isn't it?

It'd be terrible what happened to Dr Nielsen.

He was really nice to me.

He used to let me watch him milk snakes sometimes.

But not touch them, I take it?

Only once.

It got a baboon viper.

It got cold and hibernated.

And you let me touch that.

I'd like to have a snake as a pet.

But my mum won't have them in the house.

That's prejudice for you.

Born of ignorance.

Thanks for the tea.

I wondered when you'd come.

I, uh... I need to talk to you about what Dr. Nielsen was working on.

I know you were reticent the other night, but, well...

Things have changed.

When I got in this morning, every one of his notebooks, every file had been

removed. Who by?

Probably Dr. MacDonald.

Do you know why?

Probably they want to know the same things as you do.

Christine, Mr. Amlott would like to see you across in the main building

immediately. This is police business, Dr. MacDonald.

I appreciate that, but this is company business.

I'll, uh...

Give you that statement later, if that's all right.

Yeah, fine.

Dr Mackay, Allergies Department.

Good morning, Dr Mackay.

My name's Jill Kramer. I work for a company called Management Quest.

Perhaps you've heard of us.

I'm at present representing a pharmaceutical company who are looking

with your qualifications.

I wonder whether you'd be interested in meeting me to discuss the matter.

It's Thorne Camfield, UK Division.

I see.

I'm extremely flattered.

What about this evening?

I'll look forward to seeing you.

I'd a hunch I'd find you here.

The flower shop was closed and you weren't in the house.

I just didn't feel like facing the public.

I promised Ken the day we found her, I'd come and tell him.

As much as you promised the dead.

Did Janet ever end connection with a company called Casco Pharmaceuticals?

No. Not that I can think of.

Did she know anybody there?

If she did, she didn't tell me.

Mind you.

That was nothing strange.

You know, when I keep going back thinking about her, I get the feeling

whole parts of her life we never discovered.

She never took any drugs.

I would have known.

I'm not necessarily saying she did.

Those days, you were very cynical.

You couldn't believe a girl Janet's age could be so innocent.

Ah, well, it was just that...

After she had a row with you and her father, she never went to her friends,

never went to the people you'd expect her to.

She just vanished.

Where does this pharmaceutical company fit in?

I don't know.

That young man that created Janet's face, could you ask him, could I keep

Aye, I've no objection.

I'll ask him for you.

With a very drained feeling walking into that room.

Mr. Bean.

As though... she'd never really been

missing at all.

Dr. Mackay?

Yes. Jill Cramer, kind of looked bad.

Can I get you a drink?

Thank you. I'll have a dry sherry.

And a mineral water for me, please.

Well, you've been very helpful, Christine.

Dr. Nielsen was very lucky to have you as a research assistant.

How's your project, by the way?

Fine. Good.

There is one other thing, Mr. Amlott. Oh?

I don't feel I can go on working without Dr. Nielsen.

We were very much a team and... Had he left, I would have gone with him.

I've written a letter of resignation.

Have you spoken to Dr. MacDonald about this?

No.

Well, don't you think you should?

Your project's very important, Christine.

Makes her expensive to buy and keep.

Being able to produce venom cells in the laboratory from dead glands could save

us thousands.

Not to say a revolutionising work with natural toxins.

Look.

Take this back and think about it, hmm?

After all, we're all scientists, Ken.

We don't like to hurry things.

I've been working late.

Nine hours I spent with him.

Going through every file, every note. I'm exhausted.

Yeah, I know the feeling.

Oh, do you mind if we leave it till tomorrow?

I do, I'm afraid.

Oh, I thought you'd say that. Come on.

You always take your dog to work, do you? He stays in the car so I can let

out. Oh, you'll be hungry, won't you, Brandy?

Yes.

What about you?

I don't think so. I've eaten.

You don't mind if I make myself something?

Oh, not at all.

I've been reading a copy of The New Scientist. I didn't want it to appear

ignorant. I'll give you something to read while I'm making supper. It's an

article on research into drugs using enzymes and snake venom.

With all the credit taken by Dr MacDonald, our research director.

Thanks. If you're hot, I'll turn the heating down. It shouldn't be so high.

Randy.

Brandy, hold on.

Come on, then.

Okay, Brandy, I'm going to...

What did you say about the heating? Oh, I've turned it down. It shouldn't be so

high.

And take off your tie.

And apply a tunic here as tightly as you can.

It's very important I don't move around.

Sure.

Now will you take me to Casco and then on to the hospital?

Well, I wasn't going to leave you here.

When you get to the lab, you'll find the antivenoms in the fridge, marked.

Some are polyspecific, which means you treat bites from a number of different

snakes.

There's a list on the inside of the fridge door which tells you the numbers.

They're all numbered.

I think the soft -scaled viper is number seven, but check the list. Soft -scaled

viper number seven.

Do you have any idea who'd want to do this to you?

None at all.

I should have realised, sir. The heating was on cool when we came in.

She told me it shouldn't have been.

Do you know why someone wanted to kill her?

I did ask her. She couldn't think of any reason.

She spent all of today being debriefed on her boss's research.

Who by?

Derek Amlett, the MD, and the research director, Dr MacDonald.

She's going to tell me all about it tonight.

So?

So, what have you got for me this time?

Another kitten.

It's a saw -scale viper.

It's in the kitchen.

Aggressive little things.

They kill more people than any other snake I know.

Excuse me.

He's a cheery soul, eh?

Beauty.

You can go in now. Did there be any others?

I didn't see any.

Thanks.

I'll, um... I'll keep this one at the zoo with the other one, so you know what

you want to do with it.

How long are you up here for?

Well, I was planning to go back south tomorrow, but, um... I can stay a bit

longer if you want me to.

I'd appreciate that.

You don't seem to have any fear of them.

Fear?

Oh, you've got to have fear.

See that scar there?

Eastern diamond rattlesnake did that. The one on the face?

I've had her.

You've got to have a lot of respect.

These creatures have been around on this planet for a lot longer than we have.

Well, whoever did it must have known her domestic routine.

The dog food in the cupboard.

And the fact that she'd feed her dog when she came home from work.

What have you got there?

A letter.

A resignation.

She wanted to leave Catholic too?

I have visitors.

Thanks, John. Thanks, Danny.

Ah!

Young policewoman who enters bedrooms without knocking.

I'll not be embarrassing you, then.

Christine Gray's in the hospital.

Someone tried to kill her tonight.

I'm sorry to hear that.

I believe she spent most of the day with you and Dr. MacDonald.

filling you in on Dr. Nielsen's research. That's right. She did. Very

she was, too.

She also wrote this.

It's a letter of resignation.

I know. I read it.

I told her not to be so stupid.

To go home and think about it.

Yeah, well, someone didn't give her the chance.

You're accusing me.

Valuable was her research.

You're getting really paranoid, you know that?

You think just because employees want to leave, we take contracts out on their

lives, eh?

Christine was working on a project, that's all.

Growing venom cells from dead glands.

Research assistant stuff.

If you want to know who tried to kill Christine, look in her personal life.

She had a boyfriend, perhaps.

Oh, yeah, that would be the same person that killed Dr. Nielsen.

Someone put a snake in her flat.

Then I suggest you start looking for a maniac, because only a maniac would do

something like that.

Excuse me.

More sport?

Why did you come here? I wanted to talk to you.

I've been trying to get in touch with you all day, but your secretary keeps

telling me you're busy.

I was.

Yeah, well, don't look. You'll only encourage her.

Doctor, she's having a reaction.

I've racked my brains, Jim.

Janet never said anything about a company called Casco. Or that girl,

Gray.

Well, it was a connection, Annie.

Somebody didn't want her identified.

And whoever that somebody is had strong connections with Casco Pharmaceuticals.

That's not important now.

Janet's back with us. That's all that matters.

Did you ask about the head?

No, I'm sorry. I forgot.

It was almost as though he'd done it from life.

Don't you want to know who killed her?

Right, who can tell me what this snake is?

Wrong,

he's a python.

He's just a young one, and he's very tame.

Now, who can tell me what pythons do with a prey?

Crush them. Aye, that's right.

And what's the one thing you should never, ever let a python do when you're

handling it, hmm?

Well, I'll tell you before this one does it to me. That's coil round your neck.

Oh, get off me!

Right, who'd like to touch it?

Me!

There we go.

That's very gentle now.

Oh, he's perfectly tame. He won't hurt anyone.

It was an allergic reaction to the anti -venom.

That's all that's very common.

It gave me adrenaline and antihistamine.

What's that in your eye?

You're bleeding.

She's bleeding.

It's coming out of her mouth and her eye.

She's bleeding internally.

It's not your fault.

If I'd just been a few seconds quicker.

If I'd been on the ball, which I wasn't. Look, Michael, you can't blame

yourself. The central heat was turned on full. Full up in her flat.

Just the same as it was in Dr Nielsen's.

This is becoming a disease.

First Dr Nielsen, now you.

I hope I don't meet with the same fate.

How much are Thorne Camfield offering you?

Ten thousand less than the figure you're about to offer.

Oh, credit us with some generosity.

And, of course, there is the convention in the States in March.

How would you like to spend a month over there, at our expense?

That's very kind of you, but I've been here a long time, and I feel the grass

has rather reached my ears.

When are we going to have dinner tonight, hmm?

Talk about it.

Caroline, could you book a table for Dr Mackay and I at, um... Any preference?

Well, there's a good new French restaurant just opened.

Slightly expensive, of course.

I'll do it for you straight away.

And Chief Inspector Taggart's here.

He'd like to see Dr MacDonald.

She won't keep you a minute.

She was only talking to us a few hours before.

For what purpose?

To find out what Dr. Nielsen was working on before he died.

Well, you're the research director, didn't you know?

Research consultants are the boffins in this business. They have a roving brief

to carry out research.

Sometimes no one knows what they're up to.

What kind of research was Dr.

Nielsen involved in?

Molecular genetics, immunization, the use of neurotoxins to try and cure

muscular dystrophy.

All this was snake venom.

Natural toxins.

That's Dr. Mackay, one of our research consultants into allergies.

He's just been poached by the multinational Thorne Canfield.

Does that happen all the time?

Head hunting?

He was got at through the same agency that approached Dr. Nielsen.

He said allergies?

Yes. He's one of the top men in his field.

What's eating you?

Christine Grey died, sir.

Half an hour ago.

Aren't we diverging from the real matter?

That whoever's killing these people wants to prevent us identifying the

Yes, sir, but until the second phase is completed, we can go no further.

And when will that be?

I hope it's completed by tomorrow, sir.

See what we've got here, sir, are three scientists, all dead.

All working on valuable projects. Now, a third one wants to leave Casco. This

same Dr Mackay. Yeah, we met him at the party, sir.

Real boffin. Bit of a wag.

How vital is his work?

I've been into that too, sir.

He was regarded as one of the best brains in the country into allergy

Aren't we being just a little paranoid?

Can we afford to ignore him?

After Christine's death, we can't afford to ignore anything.

He blames himself, naturally.

Then in hindsight, I wish we all had it. It was the benefit of foresight, sir.

And I did.

I didn't want to spend another whole day trying to ring your office to be

brushed off by your secretary.

Why are you trying to avoid me, Derek?

I'm not.

Douglas is dead.

That changes my future. It changes ours.

Does it? Well, of course it does.

Aren't you curious to know who killed him? I'd like to know who tried to kill

me. What?

The night he died, I went back there just to collect a few things. I was in

bedroom with that creature.

Do the police know that? Of course not.

If I told them I went back to the house, they'd think we'd murdered Douglas

together. You know how their minds work.

What about your car?

I parked it a block away for the very reason that if Douglas came home, I

sneak out.

Well, I think you should tell the police.

When can I see you?

Look, this is a hard decision for me to take, but I've been thinking.

I want to spend more time with my family.

They and this job take up so much time, it's getting difficult.

Try and understand.

Understand?

You've been using me just to keep Douglas with your bloody company.

That's nonsense. You know it.

What have I got?

Nothing!

The big difference between you and me is that Douglas never meant anything to

you. My family mean a great deal.

Mr. Gregory.

Wrong.

Detective Chief Inspector Taggart, Maryhill Police Station.

You are Jill Kramer?

Yes. I'm supposed to be meeting the chairman of Alan King International.

Oh, well, you'll have to put up with me till he comes.

Could I have another tonic, please? Can I get you? No, nothing.

So, uh... This is your hunting ground?

It's where I do most of my business.

Is this where you met Dr. Nielsen from Casco Pharmaceuticals? Yes.

I heard about his death. It was very tragic.

I mean, does this happen often to your, what shall I call them, clients?

I'm not sure what you mean.

Well, you're in the business of poaching people for other firms, doing their

dirty work.

There's nothing dirty in wanting the best people for your company.

Some people are too valuable to be sold.

Especially in the scientific field. I mean, how does that work?

Usually, the company for which they work offers to top the salary the other

companies offered.

Sweeteners are offered.

Sometimes they take them, sometimes they don't.

And Dr. Nielsen didn't.

Are you suggesting he was killed to stop him from leaving?

No such things happen.

A few years ago...

It was a suspicious death, that's all.

He was a computer services operator for the defence contractor, Gare Lockhart. I

met him on behalf of a Dutch firm.

He was drowned in the sea off Helensbury.

Doctor... Doctor Mackay!

I've kept you to jam donuts.

I hear you're leaving us.

You hear wrong.

You're the one who's leaving us.

You're to be replaced by a vending machine. You're not caught.

efficient.

I'm sure you'll find another position somewhere.

The best I can do.

As with the other one, I've had to invent the ears and the lips and the

hairstyle, but the shape of the face is quite striking.

Maybe Professor Hutton would have been quicker.

No.

No, you've done very well.

It'll go in the papers tomorrow.

By the way... Janet Gilmore's mother asked me

if she could have the bust you made of her daughter.

She likes it that much?

Of course, it may have to be used in evidence at any future trial.

Could do a cath of it for her.

I should be pleased with that.

We're the final addition.

We'll get her tomorrow as well.

Somebody recognizes her.

This was her room.

I've kept it just the way it was.

It's a copy.

Mr. Taggart said the original might have to be used as an exhibit in any trial.

Trial? Yeah, of whoever killed her.

I wonder.

Do you know what you've done for me?

I only carried on where Professor Hutton left off. You must have known her.

It's science.

That's all.

She had two.

Which one she wore depended on the mood she was in.

She was wearing the moon the night she disappeared.

It shouldn't be on them, eh?

Probably nobody else's, the combination.

Dr Nielsen used to change it every few months.

There was no snakes crawling around in there.

Snakes give me the willies.

Oh, don't worry.

Are you sure you're not imagining it?

Her name was Mary Hume.

I interviewed her for a job with the Lapithids two and a half years ago.

She was going to work with Dr Nielsen and Christine.

She accepted the job, but then she never turned up on the first day.

Anyone could be mistaken after this length of time.

Derek, I am not mistaken. I have a very good memory for Faith.

She came from New Zealand, Christchurch.

What do you plan to do?

Tell the police, I suppose.

Yeah, I suppose I must.

I'll call in this afternoon. I have to collect the children from school today.

Well, excuse me. Right.

Do you know where Annie is?

I haven't seen her for two days.

She never said anything to me about going away.

She took the lemonade, too.

Okay, thanks.

Honey?

Dear Jim, you'll want to know why.

The truth is, I've nothing left to want.

Janet's come home to me now, and I'm happy.

We're all reunited.

Thanks for being a friend over the years.

Annie.

Oh, I don't think so. I've got to call in somewhere on the way.

Oh, please, listen. All right, go on, pile in.

Come on, Susie. We don't all just barge in in front.

Message from ambulance control.

There's been another snakebite victim.

It's Catholic's research director.

Well, it doesn't look like an eastern diamond rattlesnake.

The soft -skilled viper's already turned up, so it must be the other black

mamba. You'll get a degree in natural history after this.

She said the girl's name was Mary Hume.

She planned for a job about... Two and a half years ago, but seemingly she never

turned up for her first day.

Maureen interviewed her.

Which department was she going to work at?

Dr. Nielsen's department, toxinology.

And you told Dr.

McDonald she might be wasting our time.

I told her she might be mistaken.

This girl must have a personnel file somewhere.

Yeah, Maureen said she checked that.

But it was missing.

Why didn't anybody check as to what happened here?

I don't know.

People get a better offer.

Don't bother to let you know.

It happens.

You know, if people weren't dying, this would be exciting.

Just tell us what species it is.

Oh, it's a black mamba.

This is bitter.

Sir.

The Met have got a missing persons file on Mary Hume.

She came here from Christchurch, New Zealand.

A PhD in molecular genetics.

No connection with Glasgow.

No reason for her to be up here. Unless she saw a job advertised at Casco.

Well, she left her bed fit in London. She must have stayed up here somewhere.

Sir?

That's the connection.

Janet Gilmore walked out after a row with her parents. She didn't stay with

friends, any of the people you'd expect her to stay with.

Suppose she was looking for a flat or a room, so unadvertised.

It must have been a very accurate likeness for Dr Macdonald to recognise

after just one interview.

So was Janet, sir.

He's a very clever young man.

Aye, he's that all right.

Maybe it doesn't do to get too close to the dead.

Or too close to the bereaved, Jim.

Sorry, but it's chucking out time. Oh, that's all right. I've finished.

Very good.

Fascinating.

You want to see the phylobates?

They're even prettier.

What are they?

They're dendrobates.

Poison arrow frogs.

There's lots of different species.

I must have missed them.

We don't have any on display.

I keep some at home.

They're a hobby of mine.

Aren't they dangerous?

It's their skin secretions that can kill you.

You know, the South American Indians rub the poison on the darts.

I was watching you handling that python.

Oh, the kids love it. I think he's dangerous, but he's a big softy. You're

good with him.

It's a knack.

I'd like to see these... Filobates. Aye.

My name's Madeline.

My friends call me Maddie.

She's receiving the anti -venom now, sir.

Let's hope they can save her.

She's the only one that can answer the rest.

Like why three people had to die to prevent two faces from being identified.

Only one face, Michael.

Mary Hume.

There's no connection between Janet Gilmore and Mary Hume.

Except they met the same murderer.

This Mary Hume died even before she started at Catholics.

What was the point in killing Dr Nielsen and Christine?

That's a good question. And the method? I suppose they'd recovered.

Michael, show me these antivenoms.

They're what are called polyspecific.

One antivenom cures the bites from several species.

What's the cure?

Well, Professor Hutton wasn't cured.

No, that was Christine Gray.

You knew enough about these creatures to know which were the most deadly.

You'd have to know about those as well.

You could stack the cards.

Make sure your victims died.

It changed the antivenoms.

Who's that?

It's the vipers.

Somewhere in the snake room.

Uh, hello.

Dennis?

What are you doing here?

Uh... Mr.

Franks, the security man, he asked me to wait here till the man putting the new

lock on gets back.

I should have a sheriff's badge, eh?

Dr. Nilsen, he used to let me come in here and watch the snakes.

You've been here a lot of years, Dennis.

You must see a lot of things that happen.

What like?

Well, people who have worked here.

Do you remember Dr Nielsen meeting a New Zealand girl called Mary Hume?

She was going to come here and work as a research assistant.

New Zealand?

I remember her.

She worked here for a couple of days.

Are you sure?

She was nice and friendly.

That's how I remember her.

And she worked in Dr Nielsen's lab?

Uh -huh.

What happened to her?

She never turned up for her first day.

Dennis, if she never turned up, how could you work here?

She came in to get to know the job before the Monday she was supposed to

I mean, she was keen.

Do you know where she lived?

With Colin.

He was a lab technician here.

I'd like to have been a lab technician.

But I haven't the brains.

Don't worry, Dennis. You're doing fine.

How did Colin explain her disappearance?

He said she'd changed her mind.

Gone back to New Zealand.

Son, we've just won your sheriff's badge.

They're gorgeous.

Where did you get them from?

A dealer.

They're really difficult to obtain.

I'm a member of the Dendrobated Society.

Really?

While you're here, would you like to stay for a spaghetti bolognese?

I'd do a nice one.

I'd love that.

What's the matter? You're not shy.

Kim, maybe you should go.

Oh, that's a fine thing. Ask a girl to stay for dinner and then tell her she

should go.

Kim,

why don't you go upstairs and have a quick wash and I'll make us a meal.

Who else holds the anti -venom to the Black Mamba? We keep one at Chester. I

shouldn't think there's one there, eh? Get in the phone to them. Tell them we

need one up here right now.

We'll arrange for a car. What's happened?

Oh, never mind that. There's a life at stake. Where's Murphy? He's gone home.

Do you live in this big house all on your own?

It was my parents.

They used to be taking lodgers, but I stopped.

I don't get any privacy.

I noticed a bottle of perfume in the bathroom. That's why I asked.

I hope you don't mind. I put some on.

One of the lodgers who lived here must have left it.

Is that all they've been to you?

Lodgers?

Yeah.

So what made you interested in frogs?

It was the toxins that interested me.

I used to work in a lab where we studied them.

Snakes, spiders.

Don't mention that word.

Spiders, I hate them.

Phylobates terribilis, that's a really unique poison. Would you like to hear

about it?

I have a feeling I'm going to.

It's called the batrachotoxin.

It's a neuromuscular poison.

Causes interference with the maintenance of cell membrane electrical

polarisation. In short, muscular paralysis.

Charming.

It's like the American Indians roast them to extract the poison, but you can

it just by massaging their glands.

And do you think they look so harmless?

There's no antidote.

And no treatment either. It's without doubt the most potent animal toxin

I think what fascinates me is that something so beautiful can be so deadly.

You know, I should be scared of you.

I'm like the python.

A big softy.

Well, he had to kill his ex -colleagues from Casco before they identified Mary

Hume and connected her with him, but he overlooked one person.

I wonder how he met Janet Gilmer.

Well, after she walked out on her parents, she had to have somewhere to

Stop breathing.

Please don't fight.

Thanks for meeting us.

Is he the one?

Probably.

So, Colin, anything else?

I thought a cobra venom, injecting it into the belly button.

But it's how you get them to lie still.

Anyway, I don't even know if it works.

The mother of one of your victims took her own life today and I'm glad.

I'm glad because she never had to know what kind of...

Drink, sir.

I could have killed him, Michael.

God help me.

I don't think it's us that needs the help.

Oh, shoot.

Sometimes I wonder.

Yes, I know the city like a lover.

Little bear, it's hard to love another. But I found that there's no meaning

in time. There's no meaning in today.

City life is strange. You take your share of...

Repair and Synchronization by Easy Subtitles Synchronizer 1.0.0.0