Original subtitles

CAMERA SHUTTERS CLICKING

JOURNALISTS CLAMOURING

Serving ministers are advised never to bring lawsuits.

If you're in office, you're supposed to put up with anything. That's the deal.

But I knew very well that lies were being told about me

not because of anything I'd done, but because of who I am.

I'm proud to be one of the few politicians who actually comes

from the same background as the majority of people I represent,

and I never forget that.

So I fought. And I won.

To quote the national poet,

"Thrice is he arm'd that hath his quarrel just."

Thank you. CLAMOURING RESUMES

One of the country's most popular politicians brought off the gamble

of his life this afternoon, when a jury found for the

Transport Minister, Peter Laurence, against a newspaper, which claimed

he had exploited his position in government for financial gain.

But the case fell apart when key witness for the defence, journalist

Charmian Pepper, surprised the court by changing her story.

- You're welcome. - Say thank you to your counsel.

- I never doubted it for a moment. - I'm glad you're happy.

It's open and shut, but thanks all the same.

Well, that's one way to thank you.

What's he saying? Any fool could have got me off?

I don't care. They're always the best cases.

- The ones you win? - No, the ones you win when you suspect

your client is guilty as hell.

Still a bloody taxi. We're going to the ministry, for God's sake.

Maybe, but you're not on government business. Not formally.

That's so typical of her.

- You know the Prime Minister. - Yeah, I do. Petty.

Charmian?

Charmian, why did you change your story?

Ms Pepper, why did you change your story?

Any comment, Charmian?

Anything I say will only get me in worse trouble.

I'm saying nothing. Thank you very much.

Let's get back to Chambers.

- Sorry. - Oh, sorry. My fault. Sorry.

Everyone knows these have not been easy years.

My three years in office have coincided with a period

of extreme turbulence in Western economies.

But what's pleased me is since we inaugurated this access scheme

at Number Ten, how British business and finance has really stepped up

to help the Conservative cause.

And we're very grateful.

We are always here to listen to your legitimate concerns

and to help enterprise to thrive.

That's our job. Thank you.

You're on good form, Dawn.

Mind you, we need to be on good form every day.

I don't remember begging being part of my job description.

Let me. I'm Chair of the party.

I ought to be swaying continents.

All I ever do is ask for money.

Ah! You and me both.

Prime Minister.

- Prime Minister. - Julia!

- How much? - This afternoon, 200,000.

Well, I'm due £200,000 worth of boredom so that's a fair exchange.

Depends if you want to win the next election.

The briefing you asked for on Peter Laurence. MI5 put it together.

Oh! In an hour?

It was quick because it already existed.

What? They had their eye on him?

They'd be derelict if they didn't.

Ah, yes. Of course.

- Croydon. - You can't take it away from him.

All that stuff about the tough background is true. He's authentic.

Retail, retail, selling furniture,

property...

Oh! Then politics.

And with all those think tanks in between.

British American Development Forum, is that a charity?

It was meant to be, but the charity commissioners didn't agree.

And its purpose, aside from dodging tax?

Transatlantic understanding.

- Well, if that isn't fishy...! - What do you want me to do?

Oh, it's a simple test. I've done it before.

What you do is you open a copy of Who's Who. You look up Peter's official entry,

then you compare it to this. Whatever he's left out, that's what we're looking for.

- He'll have left it out for a reason? - Oh, certainly.

Whatever it is, he'll want it to be forgotten.

And I'm happy to say Peter Laurence is with us.

After 15 rounds in the High Court, back in his weekly spot,

telling the truth and taking your calls.

Thank you very much, Mick. Good to be here.

No. I'm a member of the government and this is government policy.

No, but you... You have to forget about Brexit.

It's in the past.

It was a national trauma, as you call it, and...

But it's a trauma we came through. It's over.

I'm not interested in the old arguments.

The world is changing so fast,

and the exciting thing is keeping up.

Brown sauce.

CHUCKLES

No, no, that's a good point.

I am a relaxed Conservative who admires progress.

I admire anybody who finds a cause that they genuinely believe in,

and I'm at peace with all kinds of causes.

It could have been Nelson Mandela or the suffragettes,

I don't have to agree with every word of it.

I admire anybody who just stands strong

and... and free and doesn't give over their life to apology and guilt.

To me, conservatism is about loving the idea of the future.

Don't you sound like a lovely man!

Yes, you pick a system to suit the team.

If I say one more word about Manchester United...

Exactly. I rose through the system and I want everyone else

to have that chance, too.

They got you this time, didn't they, Peter?

- They called, that newspaper. - Right.

They nearly had you!

Well, all I can say to that, William of Walthamstow, is in your dreams!

He doesn't look worried to me, Billy. He looks radiant!

OK! CHUCKLES

You need to listen to this.

On your personal. It came through yesterday.

I didn't want to bother you till after we got the verdict.

Who is it?

It's somebody that says she's your daughter.

Which one? The one who doesn't speak to me or the other one?

Neither of them.

- Then who? - A new one... she says.

A third. Another daughter.

I'll cancel all your appointments.

BUZZES

CLICKS

BUZZES, KEYS RATTLE

BEEP

Is that Peter Laurence?

We were told he's visiting a constituent.

What's wrong with that?

Just that Steff lives in Tower Hamlets.

What makes you think you're my daughter?

I don't claim to be your daughter.

Then what is this?

I was sent by your daughter.

Where is she?

Not ready to meet you yet.

- She sent me. - Is she a fellow inmate?

Let's be clear. I've got two daughters, they're both legitimate.

I know for a fact that the younger one is studying at Leeds at the moment.

I expect her to get a first class degree in mathematics

and I've got a pretty good idea of where the older one is, too.

Yeah? Where's that?

That's none of your business.

VOICES, CLANGING

My friend reckons you were a bit of a Jack the Lad back in the '90s.

Notting Hill, was it?

Yes, I... I... lived in the Ladbroke Grove area.

She could have read anywhere.

Do you remember the name of every woman you slept with?

No. Do you?

Do you remember the colour of every woman you slept with?

I'm not going to have this conversation, least of all with someone I don't even know.

You know that I have something on you,

or else why would you even be here?

- You're NOT my daughter. - Did I say that I was, though?

- Come on, let's go. - Not yet.

What do you mean, "Not yet"?

Are you in on this?

I had a preliminary conversation with Steff last night.

Without telling me?

I wasn't going to let you walk into anything sight unseen.

We saw you on the news coming out of the court.

- We? - Your daughter and me.

So she is in the prison?

So she is your daughter?

Have you been in a prison before?

Two of my constituents have ended up inside.

Mm-hm.

Bet you're full of stupid ideas.

- Am I? - Your party is.

So you're not a Conservative, then?

You think we're all high as balls,

drugs flown in on drones so we can have cell parties and shoot crack.

Truth is, prison is mostly just boring.

Then it got really interesting because I met your daughter.

Tell me her name.

BUZZER, DOOR CLANGS

A daughter that I don't know about.

Given that I didn't meet anyone who actually claimed to be my daughter.

No, but we did meet someone that knows an awful lot about you.

Yeah, she said it herself - prison is boring.

They've got nothing to do, except read Wikipedia.

She's obviously been prepped by someone.

I thought you handled it beautifully, Minister.

Sure. But what exactly did I handle?

Someone who might bring about a paternity suit.

Arms up, please.

Thank you.

Officer, I understand the need for security on the way into prison,

but on the way out?

I just want to be sure you're not smuggling

anything out. It's Parallax procedure, sir.

Could you turn around for me?

Parallax.

At some point, you're going to tell me

why you think that was a risk worth taking.

I made a judgment call.

And looking at Twitter, there's a significant minority

who think you've already taken a blow.

As you say, minority.

You went to court to defend your reputation.

There are some people that don't like that.

They think it's un-English. They think that politicians should

suck it up and be good sports.

I won! I won the bloody case!

It was something we had to do and you know why.

Now a woman is threatening to remind the electorate

- that you used to sleep around. - Jack the lad!

How many years since you heard anyone say that?

- Worse still, in West London. - Oh, so it's a postcode effect, is it?

I'm a phoney because I lived in Notting Hill.

More to the point, you've slept with so many women that you can't even remember.

Can I just say that back then nobody was counting.

Maybe you had a baby. Maybe you didn't.

You don't even know what colour she is. How does that look?

Promiscuity is out of fashion. In your day, sex was liberation.

Nowadays, it's exploitation.

An awful lot of angry women out there and,

100 years ago, somebody gave them the vote.

- Can I tell you something, Duncan? - Please do.

You are hopelessly stuck in the 20th century.

I have always been a rule-breaker.

People like me BECAUSE I break the rules.

That's my appeal. It's my USP.

I hope you're right, Minister.

Voters think of me as a character.

They'd much rather be led by characters than by zombies.

Do I really have to go back in this car? It's filthy.

Peter.

PHONE CHIMES

Whoops!

We've been summonsed to Downing Street.

Summonsed?

Is that the same as summoned?

Or is it better or worse?

Done.

- Bundle. - Cheers, mate.

Thank you.

Ah. You are going to Birmingham. Traffic offence.

Can't someone else do it?

- No. - Why not?

It's a local councillor caught drunk and doing 50 in a built-up area.

I suppose he's saying his wife was ill?

No, his son.

Compassionate speeding. Is that my plea?

Don't sit down. You're on the 07.30 from Euston.

- Oh, and a woman called, apparently. - A woman? Does she have a name?

Margaret. Says she has essential evidence which will affect

- the Peter Laurence case. - She's a bit late, isn't she?

We settled that case an hour ago.

There's a number. Take it.

What, so I can appeal against my own victory?

No, so I can say I did my job.

Do you feel vindicated, Minister?

What does the Prime Minister have to say about all this?

Are you going to sue anyone else, Peter?

Thank you.

Hello there. Hello.

Peter, congratulations.

We were never really worried.

No, nor was I.

Good going. The sooner we catch up the better.

Ah!

Prime Minister.

Ah, Peter! You're a member of government again?

Wasn't aware that I'd left it.

You would have done if they found you were lying.

- Julia. - Minister.

Not really a question of lying.

Not you.

Well, I can't say I understood every detail at the trial.

Sherlock Holmes says somewhere the mind's an attic.

Its walls are not elastic.

Coffee, Minister?

No, thank you.

I have the feeling that you're...

you're trying to tell me something, Prime Minister.

Correct.

A newspaper accused you of profiting from your time in government

and lying about it. You've been found innocent.

My question is, is there anything else?

Is there anything else what?

Well, are there other scandals?

Potential scandals we need to know about, Peter?

I... I did SVQ.

Oh, I know. But standard vetting isn't always enough

in this age of the internet. Kick a dog in the street

and you can be sure some passer-by has got a camera.

I don't kick dogs.

Then what do they say? It's not the lie. It's the cover up.

You keep using that word, "lie".

I'm asking you to shake all the skeletons out of your closet

right now, and that way I can make an informed decision.

- About what? - About your future.

Dawn, there are two things I don't like about your question.

Sounds like we're digging in for a long answer.

First, it implies that there was ever anything in the first place.

Oh, fair enough. I do take that point.

And the second is that... if you're asking me to trawl

through my private life, that is something

we really should be doing at ministerial level.

Well, victory in court certainly made you very hoity-toity.

What are you trying to say? You don't want Julia in the room?

No, I'm just pointing out...

Julia is my eyes and ears. You know that, Peter.

She has time to sweat about the little stuff. I don't.

Oh, so I'm the little stuff now, am I?

No. But if you want to make an enemy of Julia...

No. I absolutely don't. I like Julia.

But as I say, there's a big difference

- between you and me and Julia. - And what's that?

We're elected. She's not.

The weird thing is you paint me as this populist.

I have a lot more respect with procedures than you do.

Ministers have the right to speak together

without the presence of third parties.

I've got the code in the car, if you want to have a look.

I take it with me everywhere.

Julia's my gatekeeper.

- I know that. - Nothing gets past Julia.

I know that, too.

Peter, your decision to sue for libel was risky.

Worse than risky. It was foolhardy.

And I am not willing to have my government put in the dock again.

Me neither.

- So you're saying you're clean? - Squeaky.

And you'll never again resort to the law?

Never.

Good.

Because I'm planning a reshuffle.

Ah. I didn't know.

Nobody does. Keep it that way.

When?

Soon as we can, and it suits my purpose to promote you.

- To promote me? - Yes.

Good, because I was...

- I was half thinking that you might... - Sack you?

What on Earth made you think that?

I've got you pencilled in for a great office of state.

Well, I am, of course, delighted.

- You can't say which? - Use your imagination.

You know as well as I do who's failing.

Let's just say not everyone's as versatile as you are, Peter.

DISTANT SIREN WAILS

That's it.

Got the Chinese coming for dinner.

Well, thank you, Prime Minister.

No, I know the way.

Thank you very much.

Thank you.

CAMERA SHUTTERS CLICK

Yes! Got my car back.

- More important, I got Sydney back. - Sir.

All is well with the world.

- Come in. - Thank you.

You've met our proprietor?

Never.

Lady Roche is down from Scotland for the day.

So you're Charmian Pepper?

We're just congratulating you on a journalistic first. We break

records on this paper and this is a record broken, surely the most

disastrous lawsuit in our history.

Joe's been wonderful.

He couldn't have been more loyal, really stood by his writer.

At some cost.

- I know it's bad, reputationally. - Is that a word?

But it's not going to mean hard cash, is it?

Alisha.

Insurance companies are the same as everyone else.

They don't like paying.

I'm sure.

Nobody pays these days unless they have to.

Even then, they don't.

But they have to pay, don't they?

I mean, insurance companies are in the business of risk.

This lawsuit was always a risk.

How naive are you, Charmian?

Did you just come up the Thames on a banana boat?

What is this, the 1950s?

- You think my word is my bond? - You don't think I'm naive?

I can't believe you worked as a financial journalist.

Worked?

Charmian, you changed your story!

I know.

In court, under oath. You changed your story.

I had no choice.

You claimed Peter Laurence was in Washington DC

in January 2015, collecting fees he didn't report.

I know.

But he wasn't, was he? Not according to his diary.

- The diary had been altered. - Altered?

Had been tampered with.

Then why didn't you say that in court? Why didn't you SAY that?

- Because I knew. - Knew what?

- Because I knew it would sound feeble. - So it does.

And impossible to prove,

given there was no sign of alteration on the computer.

Yeah. Bit of a can of worms, that, wasn't it?

- I'd seen the physical diary. - So you keep saying.

I saw it.

I saw it myself with my own eyes. I know he was there.

But you can't say when you saw the diary, and you can't say where.

- I can't. - No.

Come on, Joe! It would breach confidentiality.

Unfortunate, that, isn't it?

I didn't think yielding on that point would turn out to be crucial.

Yeah, well, it was. Reputationally, as you would say.

With respect, Joe, there's no point in going over this.

Our insurance was on the basis of what the defendant was going to say.

Sorry?

Is there a problem?

Are you saying that the insurance was conditional?

All insurance is conditional.

If you'd like to see it, it's laid out in a series of clauses.

As soon as you altered your story, a new clause kicked in.

Are you saying, because I changed my story,

the paper's no longer indemnified?

When you arrived I thought you were a shrewd appointment,

Charmian, I really did. You were getting access.

Short skirts were a help,

and like how every banker wanted to take your home.

Well, OK, maybe not home, but at least to a hotel.

Well, that's another blow to the patriarchy, I guess.

I was wrong.

You just cost your employer £1.5 million,

and that, Charmian, is why we're letting you go.

In the circumstances.

- Why aren't we taking the bridge? - Student march, sir.

What are they marching about? Their own fees, I suppose.

I get the impression it's more general, sir.

How you've robbed them of their future.

Me personally?

No, sir.

All of you.

APPLAUSE

There they all are!

Gathered to strew rose petals in my path. Thank you so much.

- Thank you. - Congratulations.

Thanks, Nick. Thank you.

Wonderful news, Minister. Congratulations.

- Everyone's delighted. - Thank you, Joy.

We didn't know if you'd be back tonight.

No. I think I'm going to go out and celebrate my victory, if that's all right.

- Well, in that case... - In that case, this case.

Slight pile-up, I'm afraid.

It's all right. That's fine. Thanks, everyone.

You're, erm, Peter Laurence, aren't you?

Yes, I am.

Fantastic!

- Congratulations. - That's very kind. Thank you.

- Any chance of a selfie? - Yeah, sure.

- Here, let me. - Shall we do it against... Yeah.

- Oh, you go in the middle. - OK, all right.

You took it to the bastards. Well done.

- Fake news. - I don't think I'll be trying that again.

- All right? - Nice to meet you.

Yeah. It's nice to meet you. Take care.

- Thank you. - Bye-bye.

- He's wonderful, isn't he? - He is indeed!

NEARBY SIREN WAILS

So, Sydney, we're going through the usual rigmarole again?

I'm afraid so, sir.

Are you going to be doing any work?

Probably not.

- In that case... - I know.

He'll take a taxi.

- Thank you, sir. - All right.

Sir?

Can you advise in the morning... where do I pick you up?

I'll call you.

JAZZ SAMBA MUSIC PLAYS

Thanks very much.

- Have a good evening. - Goodnight.

Thank you.

Ah! There she is.

I've been waiting for you.

I saw the result on television.

Well, I've always said it, there are no victories in politics.

You just avoid setbacks.

Losing that case would have been worse than a setback.

- It would have been a rout. - I was nervous.

You were? For me, really?

- Just a little. - Yes, so was I.

I'd have been roadkill.

She would have had me for dinner with redcurrant jelly.

Still, you saw off your enemies. You blew them against the wall.

There was some sort of technicality, have I got that right?

Er, no. It wasn't a technicality.

Their case just fell apart.

It's actually sort of embarrassing.

The journalist changed her story. Why was that?

Do you really want to go into this? It's in the past.

They claimed you're on the way to privatising the NHS.

Let's not say privatising. Let's say preserving.

Let's say giving it the future it deserves.

And she said there was a trail of shell companies and offshore funds.

I'm not sure any layman could possibly follow.

Oh, so now I'm a layman, am I?

Let's go to bed.

SIREN WAILS

Hi, my name's Charmian. I'm an alcoholic.

- ALL: - Hi, Charmian.

Erm...

Today I was sacked from my job.

I always knew journalists were bastards...

...but not a single colleague stepped forward to say sorry...

...and I knew if I didn't make it to this evening's meeting

I was going to lose it.

I'd have had a bottle of white wine by now, without even noticing.

Just have a nice buzz on and be starting my second.

The problem with getting sober, for me, is that I...

I only managed it a few months ago.

Well, 94 days.

APPLAUSE

And I've been expecting, like...

...a reward...

...and I know it's bad luck, but at the same time,

I happened to get into a lot of trouble with a very powerful man

and he has been pursuing me with absolute determination...

...to destroy me...

To destroy my reputation...

To destroy my livelihood. Um...

Sorry, erm...

I'm not going to say any more.

I'm sorry. I didn't mean to upset you.

Forget about it.

We were both in the same courtroom this week.

On different sides.

I go to the meeting every night.

Everything that's said is completely confidential.

I know that.

If there wasn't a safe space it would have no value at all.

It's not my usual meeting.

I wondered...

If you're just going home to an empty flat,

and it's none of my business if you are...

None.

I wondered if you'd like to have a coffee with me.

For what it's worth, I didn't think what happened today was fair.

You were working for Peter Laurence, so, that's it.

I was on his team, yeah.

So, there's nothing more to say.

There's a lot more to say.

It's a bit late for coffee.

I'm not going to turn on the lights.

It would suggest a level of confidence I don't have.

No, nor me.

I want to give you my news.

What news?

I told you I was up for a job in Austin.

- Mm-hm. - I got it.

- In Texas? - Mm-hm.

You going to take it?

It's one of the greatest libraries in the world.

Tell me what you're thinking.

What am I thinking...

I'm thinking, wow.

Wow good or wow bad?

Both. Just taking it in.

On one level I'm very happy for you.

And on another level?

Well, it's not about me, is it?

We've always been free, both of us.

Congratulations.

And I went by Downing Street this afternoon...

Did you, why?

Same as you. New job.

What sort of job?

Well, stinking Bishop has been making an absolute pig's ear

out of being Foreign Secretary.

Well, that's wonderful.

Did Dawn say, "Foreign Office"?

Not in so many words but it was pretty obvious.

There's only four great offices of state.

Prime Minister, Chancellor, Home Secretary, Foreign Secretary.

As Bishop's the only one making enemies

and being generally incompetent, it's pretty clear where I'm headed.

I thought Dawn hated you.

No, she doesn't hate me.

She fears me, which is different.

Great Britain is going to be redefined...

...as what?

As what, exactly? Can't all be nostalgia.

Dunkirk, White Cliffs, and Winston,

so what's it going to be?

This is the moment we start again as a nation.

Nothing more ambitious than that?

I thought you liked ambition.

Well, I must do, mustn't I?

Did you tell your wife?

No.

Your daughter?

♪ The opposite applies

♪ To Morning light

♪ Another fresh face

♪ Another row, right, right, right, right

♪ And I'm totally wired

♪ T-t-t-totally wired

♪ (Totally wired)

♪ I'm totally biased (can't you see?)

♪ I'm totally wired... ♪

NIGHTCLUB HUBBUB

- Lily, I told you to slow down. - I think I should speed up.

Just to say, I've been thinking about what you said last night.

Oh, yeah, which part, that I badly needed the ride?

No, no, not that.

- Though I'm pleased you did. - Me, too.

No, it's, erm... It's what you told me about being sacked.

Well, what about it?

Well, look, it's none of my business, but...

...off the record, if you don't mind, I'd, erm...

...I'd quite like to give you legal advice.

PHONE BUZZES

Luke.

I wanted you to know I bumped into Charmian Pepper.

Bumped into?

- What the hell does bumped into mean? - She lost her job.

What do you want me to say? She libelled a public figure.

Yeah, I know, I just thought you should know.

SHE SIGHS

VOICEMAIL: Hi, this is Margaret. Leave a message.

All rise!

- Morning. - Good morning.

- Morning. - Morning, Peter.

- Minister. - Joy.

You've obviously heard.

How do you know everything before I do?

A great office of state - Whitehall Telegraph.

I will obviously be taking you with me.

I would love that, sir.

- Duncan. - Minister.

Minister. The diary.

What is it, sir?

Got a, erm... I don't know what that is.

Doesn't matter.

I always keep another, a spare. I'll change.

- It's fine. - I know how much you...

- Three young children, you know. - I remember.

- She's getting worse. - Tell me about it.

You can't get rid of her, under any circumstances.

Joy knows everything.

You don't have to remind me.

She knows what you did.

What we did.

Problem?

SHE SIGHS

- You like working for him, don't you? - Why wouldn't I? I don't know.

He seems picky.

He has standards. Once you get to know him, he's just the best.

- Minister. - Yes.

Briefing for the electrification meeting.

- Deficit funding paper. - Thank you.

Cycle paths, Network Rail recommendations,

- Gatwick airport expansion... - Hold on, hold on.

Why am I doing this, "road haulage meeting"?

- It's cabinet today, it's Thursday. - There is no Cabinet meeting.

- Why not? - My information is it's been cancelled.

Why?

Because as of this moment there is no cabinet.

So why hasn't she called me in?

There's a delay.

What sort of delay?

I think you'll find the Prime Minister is having

a degree of difficulty imposing her will.

What the hell is this? Just tell me.

Certain people who were meant to quit aren't quitting.

Apparently, she's having a particular problem with Bishop.

Bishop. But he's the one that everyone wants to get rid of.

He is the fatberg in the drain of government.

Why won't he go?

Bishop and Dawn had a meeting at breakfast. He's pushing back.

- Pushing back? - Yeah.

She told me I was going to be promoted.

Peter...

...you are going to be Foreign Secretary.

You know as well as anyone, it's like any reshuffle,

pushback is always a part of it.

What leverage does Bishop have, do we know?

It's just something to do with the holiday.

Oh, no, not that.

The holiday Bishop took with Dawn.

Everybody knows about Majorca. That's been going round for years.

In Westminster, yes.

It's some chatty waiters

and dirty bedsheets...

It's a lot of allegations and no proof.

We don't know.

That is ridiculous.

Even so...

You could put wheels on that woman, she still wouldn't be a bus.

Keep out of it, Minister.

Play the long game.

His daughter's on drugs and she's not even trying to hide it. And...

...she had sex with a couple of boys on the way out.

It's Lily Laurence.

You see right up her skirt.

I'm not sure.

Hold on a minute. That's Charmian.

Yeah, she's been in.

I don't understand. I thought I let her go.

She's been seeing human resources.

Gender bias.

What the hell's that supposed to mean?

When you fired her you said you'd employed her because

- you admired her short skirts. - That's not what I said.

You said something like it.

She's saying her dismissal is therefore inoperative.

She wants damages. She wants a tribunal.

She was offended, Joe, and she had every right to be.

Rubbish. I know what I said.

Charmian lost us 1.5 million through inaccurate reporting.

The wisest thing is to talk to her.

- Before you say anything... - Oh, I've got a lot to say.

I'm sure.

Can I just say first, that contrary to everything you've been told,

Peter Laurence was in Washington DC on 13 January 2015.

I can't believe this.

He was at a dodgy think tank called British-American,

- selling off the NHS... - According to you.

...In spite of the fact his wife is claiming that he was in New York

- with her shopping. - Can I say something in return?

Go ahead.

Peter Laurence is a passionate fan of the free market.

- You don't like him, Charmian. - I don't dislike him.

A man whose expertise is in retail and property is not your type.

I can understand that.

He wouldn't be popular guest at a Hampstead dinner party...

I don't live in Hampstead.

...but if you want to be a journalist, sorry,

you've got to put personal prejudice aside.

Now, just because he's right wing doesn't mean he's a criminal.

Joe, I'm going to need to be rehired.

Not for ever, just for a few weeks.

- I've taken legal advice. - Who from?

I'm not at liberty to say.

- Why not? - It's private.

I really want you to send me to Washington.

What, you're asking us to pay?

Well, would you prefer if I pursued compensation?

You wouldn't.

Are you sure, Joe? You really think I wouldn't do it?

You mention weeks, how many weeks?

- Four. - Two.

I need to do more digging.

I believe I can access new sources with a bit of luck.

- I'll give you three. Bucket class. - Of course.

- One-way. - No, Joe, sorry, unfortunately not.

I took the liberty of buying myself a ticket.

I'm going to nail Peter Laurence once and for all.

You might even get your one and a half back.

Remember, it's Parallax policy,

any drugs at all and privileges will be revoked.

DOOR RELEASE BEEP

Right, everyone, out of your cells.

Drug search.

Everyone out of your cells.

Off to the canteen.

Up to the canteen, ladies. Thank you.

ANIMATED CONVERSATION

Pick it up, please.

LOUD CHATTER

- Where's the ice cream? - They've stopped all privileges.

Look, don't mug me off. Can you just get me some ice cream?

- I said we ain't got none. - Look, that's all I'm eating, yeah.

Can you just please get me some ice cream?

I want some ice cream! Why are you looking at me like that?

- SCREAMS: - I want some ice cream!

CHEERING

BANGING OF TABLES

Jamie, come on. All right! That's enough!

Keep it down, please.

Orange soup?

It's a clam rissole.

Arugula wrap?

Seaweed with truffle shaved?

PHONE BUZZES

- What the hell is this? - Can we meet?

I'm in Birmingham.

So? Don't you remember you called me?

I told you I had some important evidence,

but if you're in Birmingham, forget it.

Margaret.

It is Margaret, isn't it?

I was Peter Laurence's lawyer.

Why on Earth do you think I'd now want to convict him?

I did a gut check.

You looked much the most intelligent person in the court.

Does that mean that you were in court?

Did I see you?

Who are you? What's your connection to this?

Peter Laurence likes to pretend he's unencumbered.

The bright, fresh future and nothing holding him back.

But he's got a past, just like everyone else,

and his past is a bloody sight more sinister than yours or mine.

Look into it.

SIREN

All right, everyone! Finish up!

- We haven't had a half-hour. - Bang up!

Prison policy, Andrea. We find drugs, we lock down.

You're moving back to your cell.

Come on.

Andrea. No, Andrea!

BANGING

ANDREA ROARS

SHOUTING

We need help! Get help!

RADIO COMMUNICATION: Backup needed...

This looks bad.

Steff, be careful.

You've got a short sentence and they'll make it longer!

And that should bother me, why?

OK, straight away, they want you.

Thank God.

Just one thing, so you know.

There's a news feed saying there are riots at Shephill.

- Does that concern us? - Not at all.

I'm just telling you.

Except let's hope there are injuries.

- Better still, fatalities. - Quite.

SIRENS

OK, all good.

REPORTERS SHOUT AND CAMERAS CLICK

- KNOCKING - Come.

Look. Here it is. Stanfield Titles.

He was managing director.

Oh, what's Stanfield Titles? From his property days?

You said he'd have left something out of Who's Who.

- Oh good, can you find out some more? - I'm on it. Ready for this?

Oh, locked and cocked.

Minister.

Julia.

- Prime Minister. - Ah, good. Peter. Excellent.

- Thanks for coming in so quickly. - Happy to be here.

Well, I've had a complicated day, but at the end of it all,

I've got good news, as promised.

- I am delighted. - I'd like you to take over

at the Ministry of Justice.

- Justice? - Certainly.

I'm sick and tired of all that chopping and changing.

Do you know, there's been six ministers in that department

- over the last four years? - Is that right?

Justice badly needs someone steady, someone competent,

someone intellectually first-rate.

That's very kind of you to put me in that category, Prime Minister.

- Coming from you, that is high praise. - Oh, thank you.

But surely, you already have someone capable in that position, don't you?

Well, we did until a few hours ago.

Things have been moving at the speed of light. You'll do it better.

The Prime Minister has great confidence in you.

- Can I ask a question? - Oh, ask anything you like.

Does this mean that the Foreign Secretary's not moving?

No, unfortunately, the Foreign Secretary is leaving government.

It's a shame to lose Bishop, but there we are.

If you'll remember, when we met, we met yesterday...

Oh, yes, Julia was with us.

You indicated that my move would be to a great office of state.

Well, there it is. Justice.

After all, you seem to enjoy the inside of a courtroom.

Now, you have the chance to see many.

The great offices of state are normally defined as four.

- Justice is not one of them. - Well, if it isn't, it ought to be.

Now, privatisation is one of our flagship policies,

but in the case of prisons, it isn't working.

We need an exceptional minister to sort it out.

Yes, that's right.

Dawn, you know very well

that I have just successfully cleared my reputation.

- I had expected you to reward me. - I am rewarding you.

You've heard about the riots at Shephill?

No, what is Shephill?

- A woman's prison. - Shephill? No.

We need someone to act decisively.

We need someone to act fast, and that's why we've turned to you.

Oh.

Unless of course there's a reason why you shouldn't take on Justice?

- No reason. - No personal reason?

No, why do you ask?

Well, you're not pushing back, are you, Peter?

Would you prefer a time outside government?

They say, don't they, it gives one a greater freedom

to speak one's mind?

I feel as if I have plenty of freedom inside government.

Good.

Then we have a deal.

- Thank you, Prime Minister. - Not at all.

Thank you.

OK.

REPORTERS SHOUT

Are you going to be Foreign Secretary, Peter?

Is it good news, Mr Laurence?

- Well, that was good fun. - JULIA LAUGHS

Did you see his face when I said Justice?

I don't know who your informant was, and I don't want to know.

All I can say is you made a Prime Minister very happy.

- Goodnight. - Prime Minister.

DOOR BUZZER

We need to get a move on.

Anyone finds out we've got these, we're going to be injuncted.

- The proprietor won't like it. - I'll take that risk.

Lady Roche doesn't like unpleasantness.

Then she shouldn't own a newspaper, should she?

Print.

You're not going to give us the scoop then, Peter?

You're not going to tell us where you're going to be next?

I am not, Mick. I'm going to leave that to the Prime Minister.

This is All Talk radio, you've been listening to Peter Laurence

and me, Mick 'The Mouth' Murray.

Until tomorrow.

Not happy?

Off the record, I'm angrier than I've ever been in my fucking life.

PANTING

HE MOANS

SIRENS AND YELLING

CELLPHONE BUZZES

Charmian.

I'm back on. I'm going to Washington. Thank you, Luke.

Thank you so much.

And I know exactly how I'm going to do it.

I'm going to get the bastards.