Original subtitles

Did you kill your wife, Michael? No, I did not.

Stay with us.

Just for tonight.

No, I need to be here for that. The governors are all agreed.

A suspension is a cause.

There needn't be any negative connotation to that. I know you'll have

looked through her phone records and seen how much we spoke.

His name is Stephen Frederick.

He's the dad of the school. He was having an affair with Sarah.

Dylan's dad's been arrested, sir.

For murder.

In case you're working on school.

It does still mean you'll be working on Fina? What did I promise you in 2004?

That you'd find it back that you did it. What have you got in your pocket? Diary

pages. From mum's file of fact.

What are you going to do about them?

Burn them.

we still love each other.

Right?

I'm going to go to Nan and Grandad just for a few nights, make sure they're

okay.

He knew about the affair.

Makes this big song and dance about not knowing anything, but he knew about the

affair. Yeah.

He's gone round to do something about it.

He's clearly agitated, isn't he? Mm.

Don't you think?

If you lied to us about the affair, what else have you lied about?

There's a chance that Sarah might not have been killed until as late as the

third day.

So the rugby match didn't help him? No. Which means his alibi's gone. Which

means his alibi's gone.

We need to bring him in and see what else he's hiding.

Where's Ivan?

Call him to CPS so we can charge Stephen Sudge. Yes, but where?

Don't play the fee of corroboration.

And the forensics will be at the cottage first thing.

I know we don't judge a book by its cover, but... Wait. Can I just call you

back?

Now, I want you to know, whatever happens, this is a safe place.

What do you mean?

What means you can come here, shut everything away. Everyone needs a place

like that, don't they? What do you mean, safe?

Oh, just what your mum used to call it.

Used to call it her safe place.

Right, I'm going to leave the landing light on, just so you don't...

I can't forget where you are.

Okay? Yeah.

Michael Polley, I'm arresting you on suspicion of the murder of Sarah Polley.

Michael Polley has been suspended and Alana Polley is still on compassionate

leave.

The other update is that the police are wanting to talk to you all individually.

I've said I'm sure that won't be a problem for any of us given...

Well, given what's happened.

The message is we are cooperating in every way possible while continuing the

time table.

Can we all please, let's please try not to take this back to our respective

classrooms.

All right, thank you, everybody.

Michael, I would like to make the following statement.

Wally has, of course, been willing and happy to answer all of your questions.

Mr. Polly now believes he has stated more than once that there is nothing

more substantial he can add, either in helping you find the person responsible

for the death of his wife, or in terms of explaining his own whereabouts and

actions during that time.

As such, he will not be answering any more of your questions.

Is that right, Michael?

Why, when we asked you if there was anything else we should know, did you

fail to mention your wife's affair with Stephen Frederick?

Or the fact that you visited his property on the night she went missing.

And you chose not to tell us.

Michael?

Would you like me to read the statement out again?

Or did you hear it the first time?

He's definitely hiding something, but that is not footage of a man committing

a crime.

or even at a crime scene, or thinking about it even anywhere near the victim

of the crime. To be honest, I'm not sure it gives us anything. And Polly knows

it. It shows us he lied, it shows us he gets angry, it shows motive. It's not

evident. No, but it helps. That's how it works. We get there in stages.

If it were me, I'd be working that timeline.

Where were Michael Polly and Stephen Sedgwick during the three-day period

between the last sighting of Sarah Polly and her body being found?

They are our two most credible suspects, but we can't hold either of them without

more evidence.

We have to release them.

So, let's get surveillance on Sedgwick's house as well.

Boss?

Look, I don't know if you know, but I was actually the first person on this

case originally.

I'm just wondering if there's any way I can go back to doing a bit more of that

investigative work.

You're the FLO.

Alongside being the FLO. Annie, that's the job you've been given. And I like

it. So keep doing it, please. Let the team focus on Michael Polley and Stephen

Sedgwick. And don't go over Ivan's head. No.

That's the end of the conversation.

For Ivan.

He's a decent enough guy. I've worked with him.

You're a threat.

Oh, please.

You have two good suspects and I feel like I can't be effective.

Come on.

You could be the person who solves two of Bristol's highest profile cases.

I don't feel like I'm solving anything at the moment. Well, don't speak too

soon.

I said I'd look into the Tina files, and I did.

It was a handbag found, wasn't it?

Yeah. Her handbag?

Not far from the club.

There's still the badge.

Well, I have a mate in FRC, and he has offered to do a forensic review.

You would do that for me?

Yeah.

Tina.

And Carol.

That's the mum's name, isn't it?

Yeah. Thank you.

I mean it. Thank you.

Here we go.

Pasta for the lady.

Thank you.

And pizza for the tramp.

I've been thinking about this situation with Michael. Yeah?

Hmm.

If he's not saying anything, then technically, as FLO, I've got the best

job there is, haven't I?

I'm right in there with the suspect.

I could interview him. Without him knowing? Yeah.

That's what I mean, yeah.

You'd be brilliant at that.

But be careful.

You don't know what he's capable of.

Alana not here?

She's gone to her grandparents.

They'll be wanting to look after her. No, she wants to look after them.

She's lost her mother, but they've lost their daughter.

So she wants to be there for them.

That's the type of young woman she is.

Sedgwick's neighbor has CCTV cameras on his house. That's how they knew you were

there, Michael. That's why they arrested you. It's not like they had any choice.

And for what it's worth... Will?

Yeah, please.

And for what it's worth, even though I could see how agitated you were, I

thought you might have been after him, not her.

I wasn't after anyone.

You can't say that, Michael.

You can say you didn't hurt Sarah, and you can refuse to answer any more

questions. You can't just shrug that off like it's normal behavior, Michael.

Prowling around somebody's house like that in the middle of the night, I'm

sorry, no.

He was having an affair with my wife, and she'd gone missing.

So I thought that's where she might be.

And that makes sense, but... Did you see me talk to anybody when I was there? On

this CCTV, you've seen it, yeah?

Yeah. So did you see me confront anyone?

Or... knock on the door.

Well, then.

Well, then.

You say, well, then, like that's all there is to it.

That is all there is to it. So why didn't you tell us about this affair

when we first met, Michael?

You know, if you can sit there and be so matter-of-fact about it, why not be like

that then?

Because... It obviously hurt you, Michael.

I saw you crying.

That was not to do with the affair.

That was because she was gone.

I see.

That was not to do with the affair. I apologise. I'm sorry.

But the question still stands, Michael.

Why didn't you tell us about this affair?

Because people don't expect that of people like Sarah and I.

You know, people in opposition.

It's not easy for anyone, is it?

That's not good enough.

Because I knew and I didn't want to know.

Because it wasn't easy to talk about, that's all.

And it's easier now, is it?

With me?

Charlie X-Ray 655, suspect has returned from the office.

Over.

Not true.

I want you both to hear that from me. What's not true?

I think you both know what I'm talking about.

Why don't you tell us?

Don't talk to him like that.

Like what?

In that voice. It's a perfectly normal question to ask.

What's not true?

That there was something between me and Sarah Polly.

It's all over socials that you killed her.

It's all your fault.

And it's literally all been taken out on me.

At the meeting, we agreed I'll take a week off work.

Whatever you might think of me, or things I might have done... I know what

you've done. Let me just say what I have to say, Claire.

And then you can speak, and I won't interrupt you, okay?

Whatever you might be thinking, let's try and both remember what's the most

important thing here.

That's the kids.

You see it yourself.

Dylan's schoolwork is suffering, and Trey's tests are full on, so the last

week... I'm just trying to make my point.

So the less arguing and stress they feel, the better chances they have.

I know we both agree on that.

Police are going to ask you to help confirm my... I'm just so nearly done,

Claire, please. I'm so nearly done.

You know I didn't kill her.

The police are going to ask you to help confirm my whereabouts around the time

Sarah Polley went missing.

If I wasn't at work, then where was I?

The answer is I was here, in here, watching TV with you, whatever we were

watching, one of your programs.

That's all you have to tell me.

And then all this goes away.

Before we have our proper chat, I... I really need to grab a shower.

These past few days have been... I just want to wash them away.

His son, Dylan, has a special talent when it comes to the rugby.

I mean, he struggles elsewhere academically, but he's a rare talent on

the rugby field.

I mean, I don't tell him that, obviously.

That's how you coach players, but it's a joy to watch.

And the fact that she chose his father or let his father choose how much other

way around it was,

It's a betrayal of our marriage, of course, but the damage it inflicted on

so much more. It's on my family, his family, on the school, on his

reputation. And this boy, who can make so much of himself playing rugby, who

loves it so much, you know, he gets the worst of me because of what I know.

And I should be the best coach, the best teacher he has.

I end up taking it out on him because of her betrayal.

You know, it's cruel.

It's vindictive.

And I, um... Well, I let myself down.

That's all.

How did you let yourself down?

In the weeks leading up to her going missing, I... I was angry.

And...

They did things that I will never forgive Michael for.

Did you notice anything unusual or strange about Michael or Sarah in the

run-up to her disappearance?

Anything at all?

I'd see her going off on walks on her own.

Where she was going, I've no idea.

I just want the rumours to stop.

What rumours are those?

That he... that he killed her. I've not heard that myself.

Not only is it not sunk in, I just can't imagine a time when it will ever have

sunk in. Would you be happy for us to have a look through your phone?

If you wouldn't mind, would you hand over your phone so we can take a quick

look? I will need that back at some stage.

What was your relationship with Sarah like?

She was friendly.

It got on perfectly well.

She did the choir, and then there was the book club.

There was no book club. I wasn't invited to that.

We scrapped it because we couldn't get enough people.

Not enough good people, anyway, but that's fine.

I think she wanted to escape.

She was having an affair.

I saw her by the art room, and I would fear sometimes when I saw Alana.

You can feel it.

It's as if they want it to be him.

You can see it on some of their faces.

But he called her.

He... Michael.

As soon as he knew she was missing, he called her.

I was dropped at the front door as an eight-year-old and I've barely been

away. So trust me when I tell you, it's better now under his leadership than

it's ever been. Well, it hasn't got the best reputation.

Does that mean I always agree with him? Some teachers refuse to work here. He

had his fallouts with the parents.

Yes.

Do I think he has it in him to kill Sarah?

Michael Polley.

He's a wonderful man.

But someone's got to have done it, haven't they?

I can only go on what I know of the man.

And so I'd have to say... No way.

No. Even though I dislike him, I would say the same for Stephen Frederick.

Thank you for that.

I saw you crying.

That was not to do with the affair.

But the question still stands, Michael.

Why didn't you tell me?

Wondered if you'd call?

It's for me to call you, is it?

Right now it is.

That's called playing hard to get.

No, it's called playing hard to get back.

How fast is fast track?

They started looking today.

They should have it in the next couple of days.

So, can we have that drink tomorrow?

The Italian?

Again? Yeah, well, the Italian's our new thing, isn't it?

In that case, how's six?

Yeah, six I can do. Now stop disturbing me. Some of us have got work to do.

I'll see you tomorrow.

Like I said, we will make arrests and continue to make arrests wherever we see

it is helpful to the investigation.

These are two such examples.

Is that not just a scattergun approach?

I'm not quite sure you can describe two of anything as scattergun. What they are

is necessary.

If they were both men in their 50s, would it be safe to say they're parents

at the school?

I'm not going to comment on that. Bob, we're then on to the victim.

I'm not going to comment on that either. But conversations with both the men have

moved the inquiry forward. And both men have been released without charge.

Thank you.

Police fending off a seemingly endless list of

questions this morning.

What they are is necessary.

Anger, what many people deem to be a distinct lack of progress.

But what they're not by the victim.

I'm not going to comment on that either, but... I don't know what's worse,

whether he was known to her or a stranger.

You exorcise?

So? Spare me the dirty look.

You're the one with the dirty look.

Charlie, X-ray 655. Suspect moving off. Over.

The police, still watching.

Case didn't know.

They're not hiding the fact, are they?

They want us to know they're interested in you, Dad.

Definitely fucking reminding.

Sorry.

He wants me to go to the police and tell him the time he was here.

You better not be helping him.

I've seen him acting all nice and shit.

I know what he's up to.

They wouldn't have just arrested him.

Not without a reason.

Get your stuff. I'll take you to training.

Come on, Michael.

Talk to me.

You've arrested Stephen Sedgwick?

Two men arrested.

I was one of them. I presume he's the other one.

I can't tell you that. A man in his fifties. You know I can't tell you that.

But you've let him go.

The other man who was arrested has been released without charge yet. Is that

because you don't think he was responsible or you do think he was

responsible but you can't prove it? And has he denied it, this other man?

Denied? Strangling my wife.

And did he blame me?

Who told you she was strangled? I bet he did. I mean, I would have done that if I

was him.

Who told you she was strangled?

I'm sorry.

Alana hasn't gone to her grandparents to help them.

She's gone to get away from me.

So if death is my fault.

Michael, whatever it is you need to say, say it.

It's just you and I, Michael. It's just between you and I.

I wasn't the husband she deserved.

Well, maybe at first, but...

It hadn't been working for a long time, so she found someone else. Someone who

could give her what she needed.

I'm sure she didn't think of it like that.

The affair was my fault. How is it your fault?

Well, she went to him.

Yeah, that's what I mean.

Because I wasn't enough. It wasn't working. I wasn't what she needed.

But she cheated on you.

Yeah. That's her fault.

Michael, you can't go blaming yourself for that, not some chief.

She went looking for what she didn't have.

Michael. The affair was my fault.

The affair that would... Just a symptom.

We mustn't see it like that.

Because that's what affairs always are.

And I couldn't confront her about it, even though I knew.

What do you mean, Michael?

Because confronting sets things in motion.

And you have to talk about why it happened.

And that causes fights and divorce and damages reputations.

And it all comes out.

And I couldn't... I couldn't do that because I was ashamed.

And I'll never forgive myself for that.

When you look on that CCTV, do you see a man who's going to fight for his wife?

No. You see a man who wants to, but... In

the end, he just walks away and gets into his car.

The pathologist at the mortuary, when I asked about the marks on Sarah's neck,

they said they thought she'd been strangled.

So that's how I knew.

Yeah, no problem. Follow me. Thank you.

Just right there for you, sir. I'll just grab you a couple of menus. That's

great, thank you. Cheers.

Hey, babe.

It's me.

Just ringing to say I got our usual table, so hopefully I will see you

shortly.

There we go, sir.

Thank you.

Did you want me to give you a few minutes, pop back when she's arrived?

I would love you to pop back in a few minutes.

OK, no problem. OK. I'll give you a second to have a look.

We are far less convinced that Sarah Polly was in Wales on the day she went

missing. Stephen Sedgwick, we know, was in possession of her debit card.

CCTV on the bridge shows he drove to Wales alone.

No sign of anyone else in the car on the way there or the way back.

We're checking ANPR again and more CCTV and ring doorbells to close the gaps on

his timeline across those three days.

So we're eliminating him.

Not quite. He still needs an alibi for some of the evenings of that week. As we

know, Michael Polley still has some gaps in his timeline.

Annie, if you could ask him for those direct.

Becky, if you could speak to Alana and get her to corroborate, please.

As for the comps with other murder, I would like everyone to be familiar with

the fine details so that we can cross-reference.

Until both men can account for every second of those three days, we're not

ruling them out. This is going to be a late one, folks.

OK? Thank you.

Is this you trying to get back at me or something?

Are we playing games again?

Already?

Cheap.

What are you looking at?

Mind your own business.

Tell him what you've just told me.

It's okay. He'll just want what's right for Sarah.

Please ask if there's anything else I could think of that might help in terms

of Sarah, Michael, people closer.

They asked me the same thing.

They asked us all.

I said there was nothing.

Yeah, that wasn't quite true.

Last term, as I was going past the pictures on Abbey's side, I saw Polly

behind the pavilion in a fight with one of the boys, with James Bowery. Fight as

in handbags, like grabbing and shoving? It was a bit more than that.

And then he saw me, and bear in mind we go a long way back, and he stopped.

And then I went to see him later and explained I'd have to report it, but he

did a number on me.

He'd helped me overcome a complaint about how I was managing my department.

This was...

Before Covid and an email from one of the parents who thought we'd let her son

down. Michael said he'd refer everything up with hang Rory out to dry if he did

anything about it.

Said Barry didn't care anyway.

Yeah, probably wouldn't.

No, that's the point.

No, this wasn't just handbags, as you call it. It was violent abuse.

He almost came for me the other day.

On the rugby patch.

But, uh...

Put it down to the fact that he was grieving.

So do we mention it or do we keep this amongst us because we think that's out

of character?

Come on, mate!

Mate, mate, mate.

What are you getting changed for?

What? Why are you getting changed?

What do you think? There's no need to do any training.

Nobody wants you on the team anyway.

What are you going to do?

Get your dad to kill me?

You probably guess that's shaggy.

Now, Stephen's

colleagues can account for his whereabouts during the day, but we need

to confirm that when he came home, He was in all night.

If you need to know where people were that week, then Stephen was here.

Every night after work, he came home.

You haven't been pressured into saying that, have you?

He's lent on you?

I'm not saying it for him. I'm saying it for the kids, because it's true.

Stephen's guilty of many things, but he can't have killed Sarah Polly.

Because he was here with me.

And I'm sorry I've left so many messages, Craig, but I was trapped in a

meeting that just wouldn't end.

I'm not stringing you along, OK? I'm not.

I want this, if you still do.

So, please, just give me another chance.

OK, bye-bye.

They want me to go through those days with you now, Michael. Make sure that

we've got everything covered.

Tuesday the 24th, the day after Sarah went missing. Wednesday the 25th,

Thursday the 26th.

The day her body was found.

Yes.

So, yes, I know my diary. It's been the same for years.

Back-to-back meetings, then lessons, and Simone has it all on record.

And the evenings?

Yeah. You know, I believe you.

Alana can vouch for that.

Yes, we can vouch for each other.

I'm sorry.

Just going to... Hi.

Yeah, I'm really, really sorry. I mean, I literally couldn't get away, so it...

Totally my fault.

So I should have just said, well, I can't now. I'm at work at the school.

You can do it later.

Of course I want to see you.

What? No.

Nobody is messing anybody about. Stop that.

Please. Please.

No,

don't come here. I'm working.

Craig, listen to me. Do not come here. I am at work.

Please.

Craig?

So, uh... No.

Everything all right?

I mean, we can do this later, or tomorrow. I seem to have a clear diary.

No, it's okay. It's fine. You know what it's like.

Juggling work or personal life is very difficult.

Well, never put work ahead of personal life, Annie.

I know. I'm not one to talk, but... If I've learnt anything through all this,

it's that.

We need to know where your dad was on those evenings of the 24th, 25th and the

26th. He was at home.

On all three nights? Mm-hm.

No.

Some of those times you were with me.

Do you remember?

Well, no.

Yeah.

You needed to get out of the house.

You can explain Alana's whereabouts for the time she wasn't at home.

So for those times you were with Paul, can anyone explain where Michael was?

Some of the teachers are talking.

About Michael?

Yeah.

I know you don't want to hear it, but it's true.

You know it is.

Why do you think she came here?

To get away from him. That's what I was thinking.

That's what Sarah used to do.

Alana?

Alana? I don't know!

I don't know.

I thought we were happy.

I thought we were going to have a family. I would have loved to have been

a mum.

But he was never ready, Craig.

And you've both got to be ready, haven't you? Otherwise you shouldn't really go

there.

That's what I've told myself anyway.

And then he met somebody else.

I mean, it didn't work out, but she's... I don't want to say her name. She's too

young for him.

If she was too young or he was too old. Is there a difference?

Yes, there is.

He should know better.

So why is it for all the shit he puts me through, I still try to make it work,

even now?

Maybe it's what you said yesterday. I've given it a lot of thought, what you

said.

The fact that they cheated on us, that's our fault too. No, look, everyone's

circumstance is a difference, Annie, so don't... Sorry.

I shouldn't really be telling you this and blurring the boundaries.

Is that him?

No, I told him not to come.

I can't speak to him now.

He just gets so bloody angry.

Angry? No, no, I don't mean angry. I mean impatient.

I won't be a second. I just need to try and find my phone. Do you know where my

phone is? Yes, it's in your pocket recording our conversation.

Hey.

Hi.

I can't be long. I'm not really meant to leave.

Oh, you'll be fine.

Just get in the car.

There's something I need to tell you.

Well, can't we talk here?

Annie, we'll be ten minutes.

Get in the car.

Come on.

Don't worry. Get in the car.

Craig, I'm in work. You're fine. Get in the car.

Everything all right?

Annie?

You all right?

Yeah, I'm fine.

You sure? Yeah. See?

She's fine.

Now get back in the house with me, please. Thank you, mate. No, you have no

authority to tell me what to do on my property.

I'm going to ask you one more time.

Given the trouble you're already in, do yourself a favor and go back inside.

Take your hands off me.

Go back inside. Take your hands off me.

Go back inside. Take your hands off me.

I'm arresting you for assaulting a police officer.

Is that what you want? You're trying to attack her? Is that what you want?

All right.

All right. Get him up.

Get him up.