All language subtitles for George Gently S07E02 - Breathe in the Air x264

(Seagulls crying)

(Sighs)

Ripped By mstoll

Have I got time for a shower?

All the time in the world, guv.

I've been asked to see the ACC
this afternoon.

To discuss you.

Me?

What now?
I haven't done anything.

You must've done something,
John.

They're making you up
to inspector.

Eh?

Give over. (Chuckles)

(Toots horn and chuckles)

Whoo!

GEORGE: This is exactly
how you found her, is it?

- You haven't moved anything?
- No, sir.

Thanks.

How did you find her?

We stopped to look at the
Hillman parked at a funny angle.

Somebody's given her a whack.

Unless she took a tumble.

Car keys.

Let's take a look.

The locals could have done this,
you know. I was fast asleep.

She's topped herself.

What are we supposed
to do about it?

Big bruise on the side
of her face, John.

(Rattling)

Keys.

She's a GP.

"Dr Valerie Cullen."
And the address of her surgery.

Is there a note?

No. There's nothing.

Let's leave it for forensics.

(Whistles)

Dr Cullen isn't here.

I can put you on
Dr Plant's list.

I don't want Plant.
I want her.

Well, you cannot have her
cos we don't know where she is.

Excuse me.

Well, I'll come back
when youse find out!

(Sighs) Yes?

We'd like to talk to somebody
about Dr Cullen, please.

Give me strength.
Her surgery's cancelled.

- We don't know where she is.
- We do.

What a terrible waste.

JOHN: You don't seem
that surprised, Dr Plant.

Valerie suffered terribly
from depression.

Awful mood swings.

We just couldn't find a way
to control it medically.

So she lived with it -
I thought... successfully.

But...

Uh...

I know she did find it
oppressive,

thinking about
what the future held.

I'm sorry?

About 18 months ago,
we found that she had

an extremely nasty condition
called motor neurone disease.

Is that where you go all jerky
like a spastic?

No, you're probably confusing it
with multiple sclerosis.

Right.

Uh, was she married, Dr Plant?

Yes.

Andrew Cullen.

- Also a doctor.
- Here?

No.

No, Andrew works for
the Factories Safety Board.

I'll get you his address.

Thank you.

I should perhaps tell you
that he and Valerie have been

living separately
for over a year.

Nobody here knows that
except me.

Did she mention suicide?

No.

I mean, did she ever mention
suicide to you, Dr Plant?

Yes. Once.

After she was diagnosed?

No, it was after that.

When her marriage broke down.

Why did it break down?

I think you should ask
her husband that question.

(Car door shuts)

You all right, guv?

Yeah.

Yeah, I'm just thinking
about Valerie Cullen.

Well, you can understand
why she did it.

Husband might be relieved.
Who knows?

I hate this part of the job, me.

GEORGE: Oh, yeah. Me, too.

They're saying
Dr Cullen's not here,

ring in and make an appointment.

It's the police, Vera.

She's looking in his diary.

Have there been any calls
for Dr Cullen today?

One from his wife's surgery
about two hours ago.

- Did he take that call?
- Aye.

When I said it wasn't his wife.

Always had to tell her
he was out.

What's he like?

If he was made out of chocolate,
he'd eat himself.

Right.

Found him for youse.
Here's a surprise.

(Classical music in background)

Somebody telephones you to say

that your suicidal wife
didn't turn up for work,

so you take yourself
out for lunch.

I bet that ruined his spaghetti.

Dr Cullen?

- What's happened?
- I'm afraid it's your wife.

Very sorry to have to tell you
she's been found dead.

Yes. That's Valerie.

There's no toxicology report
as yet...

...but there are traces
of barbiturate

in the syringe
that we found next to her.

Plus she's got this large bruise
on the side of her face

and two loose teeth
on the same side.

- Know anything about that?
- No.

I haven't spoken to her
for weeks.

- Did she leave a note?
- No. Not on her.

- You were separated?
- She left me over a year ago.

- Where was she living?
- I never went.

I didn't ask you that.

She was renting
a little two up, two down.

Place called Easterhope.

What made her do it,
do you think?

Sergeant,
I have been expecting this

since the first day
I met Valerie.

She just couldn't cope
with life.

Why did she leave you?

The marriage was a failure.
We'd let it drag on.

Dr Cullen, do you mind if I ask
who your lunch companion was?

Her name is Anna Zweig
and she is a work colleague,

nothing more, nothing less.

Zweig.

Local lass, is she?

Swiss.

Can I please get out of here?

Would you just write down
your wife's address, please?

Guv, are you seriously looking
at something apart from suicide?

Well...
two loose teeth in her mouth.

How do we know that somebody
didn't thump her unconscious

and then inject her afterwards?

A lot of doctors in this story,
John.

Yeah, but... Look, she had
a failed marriage, right.

She had this toffee-nosed get
for a husband, she was depressed

and she had this
motor racing disease thing...

Being told that you're ill
doesn't mean

you want to kill yourself.

She couldn't cope with life
to start with.

- He says.
- Yeah, all right, he said.

But who knows
what went on in her head?

Well, I'd like to know.

All right.

All right. I'll look into it.

(Knocking)

- You asked for me, sir?
- Rachel.

I'm buying John a drink
this evening

to celebrate his promotion
to inspector.

- Oh. Congratulations, sarge.
- Thank you.

Inspector. (Laughs)
Not before time.

So join us.

- Oh, well, I think I'm...
- She wouldn't want to.

Of course she would.

So, Rachel. This means
I'll be needing a new sergeant.

She's not a sergeant.

Ever hear of sergeants' exams,
John?

- You're taking your exam?
- Next month.

Mr Gently suggested it.

We don't need
a uniformed sergeant in here.

No, but we will be needing

a detective sergeant
to replace you, wont we?

So, Rachel, how do you feel
about joining us in CID?

Guv, what is the point
in training them up?

They just go off
and have bairns. What's...

That's why we don't have
any female detectives.

Well, then maybe it's time
that we did, hey?

- Think about it, Rachel.
- No. I... Yes!

Yes. Sorry. I'm saying yes.

Excellent. Well,
it's a double celebration, then.

7:30, Town Arms.

- Great.
- Meanwhile...

Here's Valerie Cullen's keys.

Here's her address.

See if you can find out
why she killed herself.

- Guv, you asked me to do that?
- Perfect.

Well, you can do it together,
then.

Easterhope.

My friend used to live there
when we were growing up.

Really. You had friends?

Well, one less now, yeah,
cos she died when we were 15.

Right. We're off. Come on.

Thank you.

Assistant Chief Constable's
office again, sir.

Bananas are being gone.

"Where's Gently?" "Why are they
still sitting here waiting?"

- "They"?
- They.

(Sighs)

Inspector Nunn
acknowledges his mistakes

in his handling
of rape complaints.

They weren't mistakes.
He ignored evidence.

Bear with me. He'll be leaving
the Constabulary forthwith.

What? Sacked on full pension?
He should be prosecuted.

No, I've got a transfer.

I'm joining the Met.

Vice Squad.

So an officer with a proven
record of violence to women

goes to join the Vice Squad.

Which brings me to
the problem of your sergeant.

What problem's that, sir?

Any way you look at it, George,

there was a vendetta
against Inspector Nunn

conducted from your office.

But why would you look at it
that way, sir?

Are you saying
it was just a coincidence

that these charges
were brought against Walter

at a time when your sergeant
was trying to steal his wife?

Completely separate issues.

Concerted action to discredit
a fellow officer, George.

I can't allow Bacchus's
promotion to go forward

under these circumstances.

John has been held back
far too long already.

He makes too many mistakes.
Look at his file.

I won't accept it.

A bloke shags my wife
and you make him inspector?

Where would the justice be
in that?

Don't you talk to me
about justice.

- You're a borderline criminal.
- George.

I mean it, sir. This is
a resignation issue for me.

Bacchus's promotion
goes forward.

Now, let's draw a line
under this.

Dennigs has shut down.
I didn't know that.

- It's quiet, isn't it?
- Esther's Dad worked there.

- Who?
- My friend.

Oh, yeah. What she die of again?

Cancer.

Gently.

Tell Inspector Bacchus

if his shadow ever falls across
me again, I'll break his back.

I'm not your messenger boy.

There's one from Gemma.

She says goodbye.

She's coming with me to London.

I've forgiven her.

What we looking for?

Suicide note would be favourite.

Then I might be able to get
George to accept the obvious.

Wait. Rachel. Wait, wait.

Now, this isn't her mess, is it?

The place has been turned over.

- Look for forced entry?
- Yeah.

Where's the dog?

(Groans)

Have you got a bag?

- Control to 724. Receiving?
- Uh-uh, uh-uh. Excuse me.

John Bacchus's private line.

John Bacchus
speaking personally.

Forensics will be there
in about ten minutes.

Stay in the area, let them in,
then come back to HQ.

Right.

It is mine.

It belongs to the Constabulary,
actually.

It's in my car.

Were you an only child,
by any chance?

Where are you going?

Oi!

(Door hinges squeak)

(Door clangs shut)

- Boo! (Laughs)
- (She gasps)

What are you doing in here?

Esther's Dad used to come

and do the maintenance here
on a weekend.

He used to let us come and play.

Bet it was a bit like
Disneyland, this,

when you were a little lass.

Sort of.

(Giggling)

Do you miss her?

Yeah.

Come on.

GEORGE: No sign of forced entry?

Someone's got a key.

Or maybe she did it herself,
actually,

searching for something
in a hurry before she left.

- Any other prints in her car?
- No. Just hers.

There you go.

Lovely.

- Cheers.
- Cheers.

Congratulations,
Inspector Bacchus.

- Thank you very much.
- Inspector Bacchus.

- Thank you.
- Cheers.

Go on, then.

What did Davenport say about us?

I thought he hated me.

Nothing much.
Sang your praises.

- Like what?
- Tell you later.

Do you want me
to come back in a bit?

No, no, nothing.

Look, we're not here
to talk about work.

This is a celebration.
Cheers.

- Cheers.
- Cheers.

(Laughs)

We should search her office,
though, at the surgery.

And question her husband -

who youse both think is dodgy,
yeah?

He's one of those blokes.

Can't walk past a mirror
without having a little look.

Bit like you. (Laughs)

(Laughs)

So, why are you so sure
that she killed herself?

Think about it, Rachel.

She's got this motor neurone
disease, right.

This time next year,
she'll be sat in a wheelchair

with breakfast
dribbling down her chin.

What would you do?
I know what I'd do.

Guv, can I just say something?

Get used to it, John.

- What?
- Working with Rachel.

Right. Fine.

John.

Shut the door.

(Engine off)

(Sighs) Just so you know...
Walter Nunn got off scot free.

No reprimand,
no charge, no nothing.

He's transferring to London.

Dirty Squad.

Yeah.

It's the job
you've always wanted,

but he got it and you didn't

and it's just something else
you have to get used to.

And there's something else.

Just in case you were
getting your hopes up...

...the marriage is patched up and
she's going to London with him.

Good night.

Good night, John.

(Sighs)

Do you want to take a seat?

- Hello again, Mr Gently.
- Morning.

We'd like access to
Dr Cullen's surgery, please.

First on the left at the end.
It's open.

- Thank you.
- Dr Cullen's already in there.

- (Door opens)
- Hey.

Are you looking for something?

Well, anything that might shed
a light on this awful business.

Such as?

This is our job, actually.
Come on.

- Did you find anything?
- No.

- Do you want me to search him?
- Are you calling me a liar?

Yeah, I am. I think you're also
lying about the Swiss maid

that you were having lunch with.

Just a "colleague".
Seemed pretty close to me.

"Close." What does that mean?

It means she won't need to yodel
when she needs you.

Dr Cullen, we think someone

paid a visit to your wife's
house, searching for something.

Any idea who that might've been?

- Valerie's house?
- Yeah.

The one you said
you'd never been to.

How would I know?

Mr Gently, Dr Plant
needs to speak urgently.

OK.

She writes from Easterhope...

(Clears throat)... dated
two nights ago at 9pm.

"Dear Michael...
You will know by now

that I took the coward's way out
after all..."

VALERIE: Others will ask,
"Why not a bottle of pills

and not this ghastly syringe?"

But you, more than anyone, know

how my illness has affected
my ability to swallow... "

"So I've made my choice

even though
I hate and fear needles.

Some doctor I made, eh?"

(Sniffling)

She was actually a wonderful...

She was. She...

She had an extraordinary
rapport with patients.

Everybody loved her.

Take your time, Dr Plant.

"You know, too, that there were
two loves in my life."

Medicine was one.

Being a doctor
was the greatest privilege.

Serving the poor was the thing
that rescued me

from a life
I might otherwise have spent

in the selfish pursuit
of my own appetites.

The second...great love...

"...was Andrew, of course.

When we met, it was
love at first sight for me.

A genuine coup de foudre.

He was the light in my world

and though we have had
our differences,

he remains - deep down -
a good man, Michael.

Please believe that.

For my sake,
be a friend to him...

...in the days, months
and years ahead.

With gratitude
for having known you,

and in admiration of you...

...I... I take my leave.

Your friend and colleague,
Valerie Cullen."

I think that letter
really belongs to me.

No.

When I'm sure of the reasons
for your wife's suicide,

then I'll return this letter
to Dr Plant.

It's addressed to him.

Until then, it's evidence
in an unexplained death

and belongs to the Coroner.
Thank you.

Thank you.

Dr Cullen, I'm gonna have to
trouble you to come in

and let us take
your fingerprints.

Aye, he really wanted to
burn this letter, didn't he?

What did she see
in a bloke like him?

Sometimes people
fall for the wrong person.

Don't they?

Right, well,
we've got a suicide note.

- Are we done?
- Why? Why did she end her life?

I don't know how many more
reasons you need.

I honestly don't.
Heidi the Goat Girl?

(Laughs) Yeah, maybe.

Did you see that look
in Plant's eyes?

Oh, yeah. Yeah.

If looks could kill,

Cullen would be dog meat,
wouldn't he?

Yeah, no, Plant hates him.

So do I, actually,
and I've only just met him.

I think he has
that effect on people.

There's more to this.

Her letter was
clearly asking Plant

to forgive Cullen for something.

I've got some tasty stuff on Dr
Andrew Cullen if youse want it.

- Such as?
- He's barely a doctor at all.

You wouldn't trust this bloke

to take your pulse
without breaking your wrist.

Anyway, he was born to
dirt-poor parents in Blackpool -

unlike his wife, Valerie, who...
sorry, was, an Honourable.

A what?

Well, it means that she's -
was - the daughter of a Baronet.

You know, a silver spoon
to eat your cornflakes with

and all of that -
private schools.

But she turns her back
on it all to train as a GP

and come and work
in the industrial North.

Anyway... they met at
medical school, but where...

Where's all this coming from?

Mainly that gobby woman

who answers the phone
at the Safety Board.

Anyway, he's worked in
the same practice as his wife

three times, and the same thing
happens every time.

He gets sacked and then she
leaves with him out of loyalty.

So, eventually he can't get
a job anywhere as a GP,

so he ends up
as a factory doctor,

which is where you end up
when you're useless, apparently.

Right. Well, see, I don't know
where any of this gets us.

"Deep down", she said.

"Deep down he's a good man."

Which implies
that he's done something bad.

And don't say
Heidi the Goat Girl.

I'm sick of hearing it.

What's in Easterhope?
Why Easterhope?

What is in Easterhope
for Valerie Cullen?

It was nowhere near
her practice,

so her patients
didn't live there.

Show me Easterhope.

Actually, Rachel knows the place
much better than I do.

I've got a mountain of paperwork
I need to do.

Right.

Let's go.

Mr Gently,
can I just say something?

Get used to it.

- What?
- Working with John.

Gently.

Andrew Cullen's prints, sir.

Apparently they're all over
the place in his wife's house.

Thank you.

The whole place depended
on the factory that closed.

Do you know them?

Yeah. It's er...

It's my best friend's
mum and dad.

- Oh.
- I haven't seen them for years.

Do you want to say hello?

Yeah?

Yeah.

I've come to say goodbye, John.

Hello, Mrs Carlin.

Rachel?

Eeh!

Hey, man, Rachel!

Hi.

If you'd give us half an hour,

I would have done the twist
with you.

But I'm jiggered after
me game of tennis, you know.

Why've you gone in the police?
Could you not get a proper job?

Eh, Rachel, he never changes!

This is Chief Inspector George.

He's her boss,
so no showing her up!

Mr George.

Pleasure to meet you, Mr Carlin.

(Wheezing)

What I've got, George,
is emphysemia.

Me lungs are shot.

Norman, man,
it's not called "emphysemia".

It's called emphysema.

Won't matter how they spell it

when they put us in the box,
Bridgie.

(Wheezes and coughs)

We shouldn't tire him out.

Rachel, this has done more
for him than a million doctors.

He gets no company, pet.

Valerie's been good, though.

- Who's that?
- Oh, Valerie.

He likes his Valerie.
She's not his proper doctor.

She just calls round.

I like her, me.
She's got a lovely smile.

She brings that little dog
she's got sometimes,

- doesn't she, Bridgie?
- Greedy thing for biscuits!

George, she says that but she
spoils him rotten every time.

That dog gets more to eat
than I do!

(Laughs and wheezes)

Suffering hell.

GEMMA: That was not the plan.

JOHN: Yeah, it was.

You've got your
lacy knickers on, Gem.

(Sighs)

Detectives.

Next time, wear your grandma's
apple-catchers,

then I'll know its goodbye.

There isn't gonna be
a next time, John.

I can't do this any more.

Gem...

Walter's asked me for promises
and I've made them.

You've made promises before,
Gem.

On the altar.

Hm.

Thanks.

Anyway, you know,
he's... changed.

He's a different man.

Never works nights any more.

Yeah?

Says it's time for him
to stay home,

and spend more time
with me and the kids.

Any plans?

Plans?

No.

Same.

Same life.

Except I can't, John.

I can't.

I can't live in the dark.

I want to live in the light.

Live with me in the light.

Why did Valerie call round,
Norman?

Did she examine you?

Examine us? No.

Take any blood samples?

Why, no.

Million questions, mind.

"What've the doctors told you
about your chest?"

"When did the coughing start?"

I said, "Valerie, it's not
the cough that carries you off,

it's the coffin
they carry you off in!"

(He laughs and wheezes)

(Coughing)

She laughed her head off,
didn't she, Bridgie?

You'd think they were courting,
the way he goes on.

"Ooh, Dr Tambling's coming
this afternoon.

Give me hair a brush!"

It's her maiden name.
Tambling.

She's married?
Divvent break me heart.

I could've told you that,
Norman.

She had a wedding ring on, man.

Did she...

Has she never spoken to you
about her husband, Norman?

Never mentioned him once.

You know why?

She didn't want to scare us off.

Married women, man,
George, they're the worst!

(Coughing)

Gem, you wouldn't... just go,
would you?

You wouldn't disappear
without saying owt?

- Go where?
- I don't know.

Say if Walter got a job
somewhere.

- He's got a job.
- I know.

But say if he got another job.
Somewhere else.

Move away, you mean?

Yeah.

No.

Why you asking that?

No reason. Just...

Gem, don't go. Please.

I've got to, John.

This was a mistake...

...and it's my fault.

I'm going that way,
you're going that way.

Don't look back.

What other questions
did she ask, Norman?

"How long have you lived here?"

"How long
did you work in Owen's?"

Owen Linings.
It changed its name to Dennigs

- when it got took over.
- Aye, I meant Dennigs, sorry.

Erm, Valerie can answer
all of this better than us

cos she wrote everything down.

And she only lives
200 yards away.

Bridgie... Norman...

I hate to tell you this, but...

...Valerie killed herself
two nights ago.

Valerie did?

Why?

(Norman sobs)

Why do you think she was asking
all of those questions?

More to the point, what did
she do with the answers?

She wrote everything down,
Bridget said.

So who might not want those
answers made public?

- Who benefits by her death?
- (Drink being poured)

Who?

- Valerie Cullen.
- Oh.

Him, I suppose.

There's a lot of it.
The Tambling Inheritance.

Who?

Sir Edward Tambling.
Her father.

Made a lot of money
making shoes,

gave a lot of it to the
Conservative Party, naturally.

Knighted in 1958,

died in 1959.

Left half a million quid
to each of his three daughters.

Well, that's a motive
for murder, guv.

- We've got a suicide note.
- I know.

And I can't explain that.

Is there something
getting you down?

You know what's getting me down.

John, stay out of it.

No. I can't stay out of it.

Let them sort their marriage.

He hasn't even told her
that he's going to London.

He hasn't even told her.
She's blind to him.

She thinks that the reason
that he's home every night

is because he wants to be
with the kids all of a sudden.

That's none of your business.

- I'm going home.
- No, come on.

Don't be like that.

Here, have another one.

- All right?
- Yeah.

- I can manage.
- I've got it.

I don't need help!

Right.

(Birdsong)

How much do Safety Board
officers pull in these days?

I don't think this came out of
his wages, do you?

Rattle his cage for me, John,
will you?

Aye. All right.

- Hiya.
- Hey!

Have you ever heard of
the law of trespass?

What?

- Well, have you?
- Trespass, yeah.

Yeah, it's an offence, isn't it,

involving unjustifiable
interference?

Know what I mean?

Miss Zweig, we didn't meet
properly last time.

I'm Detective Sergeant Bacchus,
soon to be Inspector.

This is my guv'nor, Detective
Chief Inspector Gently.

Yes. I remember. Inspector.

Andrew, I can see
you're busy, so I'II...

No, please, Miss Zweig.
Stay.

I can't offer you any tea.
I have no help today.

Doesn't matter.
We won't be here very long.

Help?

Did they not teach you to boil
a kettle in Blackpool, eh?

Did you meet
the other Dr Cullen?

- Uh... no.
- Oh.

I'd show you a picture but there
doesn't seem to be any.

There's one in the drawing room
if you need it.

- No, I'm all right.
- And, Sergeant,

I don't need a photograph
to remind me of Valerie.

There's one of you
in Easterhope.

I don't remem...

I thought you said
you'd never been there.

So how come your prints
are all over the place?

Yes, I made a mistake
when I said that.

I forgot.
I've been there once.

When?

Three nights ago.

She rang me.
She sounded very depressed.

So I drove over there
to try and calm her down.

Did she seem suicidal?

Well, was suicide mentioned?

I can't remember.

I see.

So then you just forgot about
that visit altogether?

Do you know of a factory
in Easterhope called Dennigs?

Yes, I do.

Did you ever visit there
as part of your duties

for the Factories Safety Board?

Several times.

- Why?
- Part of my job

is to check on the health
of the workforce.

- On behalf of the owners?
- No, no, for the Safety Board.

I'm totally independent
of the owners.

- Oh.
- But it's closed now, anyway.

It closed some time ago.

When was that?

Ah, four or five years ago.

It closed on December 20, 1965.

Three and a half years ago.

You're very well informed,
Miss Zweig.

Inspector, you are
a very intelligent man -

unlike your Sergeant,
who only thinks he is -

and I think you already
asked yourself,

"She is Swiss.
Dennigs is Swiss.

Oh, my golly,
is there a connection?"

Is there?

I'm on the board of Dennigs'
parent company Silvexpo.

We're a Geneva-based
multinational

that deals in synthetic fibres.

I see.

And you consider yourself
to be completely independent

of the owners
of Dennigs Linings?

Totally.

And you're a chemist,
Miss Zweig?

Oh, yes, but I haven't been
in a laboratory for years.

I'm Head of Business Affairs
these days.

I now dream of extended lunches
instead of extruded plastics.

- Is that how you met?
- It's how we met again.

We first met at
Badminton Horse Trials.

We have a shared passion.

And how long have you been

having an affair
with Dr Cullen, Anna?

Ah, you see - clever.

And when did you stop
beating your wife?

So, then, Dr Cullen,

why did your wife go to live
in Easterhope of all places?

I've really no idea.

Just a strange coincidence,
was it?

All right, well...

Just one more question

and then I'll leave you to
your... shared passion.

What were these linings
in Easterhope made of?

Asbestos.

- White asbestos.
- Mm.

Till now the asbestos industry
has been regulated

by a statute of 1931

which forbade asbestos dust
from escaping into the air.

So the workers had to have
proper overalls and masks,

and the place had to be
properly ventilated...

- Bloody hellfire.
- Are you all right?

Yeah, sorry, carry on.

The Act stated that the place
had to be kept clear of...

Ow. Massive spelk.

Look at that. It's like
a bloody telegraph pole.

Well, have you not got
any tweezers?

Yeah, they're in me handbag
for when I do me eyebrows.

(John laughs)

Right. Shall I come back later?

No. Just ignore him.

So these new regulations
that are coming in next year

will change the rules for
places like Dennigs, yes?

Well, no. No, that's the point.

The new regulations are for
factories that use asbestos.

The 1931 regulations
are for factories

that actually made asbestos.

Bloody hellfire.
I can't get it.

For God's sake, man.

Where is it? Hm?

Ready? One, two, three.

Hey, look at that.
Hey, she got it.

So, Owen Linings -
later Dennigs -

always did manufacture the stuff
rather than just use it.

So they've always been covered
by the regulations.

They just chose to ignore them.

So the law was clear?

There should have been controls

over the amount of asbestos
in the air, and there wasn't?

- Yes.
- And men like Norman are dying.

So what's the Factories
Safety Board been doing?

Well, exactly.

Let's find out.

Guv... I think Rachel
should be along.

Yeah, yeah. Good idea.

Go on, then. Won't kill you.

Thanks.

- Hello.
- Hello.

We'd like to speak to
Mr and Mrs Carlin, please.

Mr Carlin's very poorly,
I'm afraid,

and Mrs Carlin's gone out.

She has a night out once a week.

It is important.

She always writes it down,
where she's going.

- Does she do this every week?
- Aye.

And every few months
she goes away for a proper rest.

The company sends a car for her.

- Company?
- Silvexpo they're called.

They pay for me as well.

You'll find her there today.

She loves her housey,
does Bridgie.

- Thanks a lot.
- Thank you.

Bye.

CALLER: Seven and four, 74.

- Two fat ladies, 88.
- House!

- (Disappointed groans)
- House called.

Ohh...

It's a new card and a new game.

Eyes down for your first number.
And it is...

On its own, number six.

Four and seven, 47.

Five and three, 53.

(Numbers being called
in background)

I thought for a minute you'd
come to tell us he was dead.

A bit of us will be glad.

You must think
I've got a heart of stone.

No, Bridgie.

I had three year of it
when Esther got her cancer.

Now I've had two and a half
year with Norman.

What kind of cancer
did your daughter have, Bridget?

It was called...

It's a long word.

I have to say it in bits,
like a bairn.

Meso-theli-oma.

It's a death you wouldn't put
on your worst enemy.

Bridget, how come Silvexpo
gave you days out and holidays?

Well, they come offering money.

But I couldn't take the money.
It felt wrong.

They said,
"We want to help youse."

What did she call it?
It was in Latin.

Ex gratia payment?

Yeah.

And she saw there was nothing
they could do for Norman,

but she could see
I was tired out,

so she suggested holidays
now and then.

JOHN: Who's the "she"?

Foreign lass.

- Erm...
- Anna Zweig?

Aye.

Did she ask you
to sign something first?

Saying that you would never
claim against them

for Norman's emphysema?

No. No, not that.

Cos the Factory Board
Doctor had already come

and had a look at Norman,

and says the emphysema's
got nothing to do with the dust.

Then he comes back
with a letter for wor to read

saying Norman
had smoked tabs for 30 year -

which was the truth - and that's
what's knackered his lungs.

- And you accepted that?
- He's a doctor.

He's supposed to know.

He's like more high up
than your own doctor,

very well spoken,
lovely looking man.

- Dr Cullen?
- Aye, that's him.

Was it him that offered the
money? The ex gratia payment?

No, no, that come after.
From the Swiss lass.

She offered money
if we signed about Esther.

Esther?

What did you have to sign
about Esther for?

Well, it was to say
she'd never worked in Dennigs

and I kept me house clean
and I cleaned me windows

and always washed
Norman's overalls,

and all that malarkey.

Course, I never knew then
what Valerie told us later.

You can only get Esther's cancer
off asbestos. No other way.

Esther died when she was 15.

She couldn't have
worked for Dennigs.

No, no, no.
She... She played there.

- She played in the factory?
- Mm. A lot of bairns did.

She lived all her life
over the road from it.

It was in the air,
wasn't it, Rachel?

Um...

They used to just dump piles
of the stuff all over the place.

Me and Esther, we used to play
this game called Snow White.

Whenever we came across
a pile of the stuff...

...we used to rub it into
each other's faces.

You know, to...make us white.

She was, though.

The fairest of them all.

The lads were mad for her.

She was so bonny.

But she got the cancer
and you didn't, Rachel.

- I'm sorry, pet.
- It's all right, Bridgie.

Did Valerie say how she knew
this about asbestos, Bridget?

She never said.

But she was positive, she said.

When did she
first tell you this?

Just a couple of weeks ago.

She wanted to have a meeting
for the whole town.

She called it,
and then she cancelled it again.

When was this?

Two days before she died.

She said Dr Cullen
would be there.

She probably shouldn't be
on this now, guv.

I'm not gonna take her off it,
not unless she asks.

- Think she will?
- Not a chance.

(Sobbing)

What made Valerie Cullen so sure

of the link between asbestos
and mesothelioma?

Worked it out from the questions
she was asking in Easterhope?

Maybe. She wasn't taking
any tissue samples, so...

Do you think that's why
she called the meeting?

To let people know
what she'd found out?

Why would she want Cullen there?

All he'd say is...
"You shouldn't smoke tabs."

(Chuckles)

She calls a meeting.

Cullen says that he went to see
her because she was distressed.

She cancels the meeting - again.

36 hours later she's dead.

See, I don't believe him
when he says

that he went there
to calm her down.

What was he looking for
in her surgery?

And why was her house searched?

Do you need me
any more today, guv?

No.

But thank you.
You did very well today, Rachel.

Thank you.

I'll um...
I'll see you tomorrow, then.

If you'd like my help on
this case, I'd like to give it.

Thank you.

Well, I think I might
push off home myself.

She hasn't gone home, John.

She's headed
straight for the library.

Why?

Cos it's what I would have done
if I was her.

I would want to find out
all there was to know

about mesothelioma.

Wouldn't you?

See you tomorrow.

GEORGE: About time.

(Floorboard creaking)

(Floorboard creaking)

(George grunts and groans)

Hey! Whoa! Whoa!

Shit!

The moon's still a virgin.

Do you want to see it, mister?

Yeah.

TV: Eagle, Houston. Is it
on the stable monitor? Over.

Roger. Eagle is uncoupled.

Roger. It's all looking
good for you.

The Eagle is in flight.

- Copy that.
- (Footsteps thudding)

Altitude 1,500.

Going well.

Roger one-zero-zero. Copy that.

34 degrees. 34 degrees. 650.

Descending to 22.

600 feet. 22 down. 34 degrees.

500 feet. Down at 18.

Malcolm, where's your manners?
There's a guest.

Hello.

59 feet. Descending.

Descending. 30 feet. Descending.

On surface.

- Move to the left.
- Good.

Ship to rest.

We have you copied as landed,
Eagle.

- (Yawns)
- Late night, John?

Guv, you've got me working
at six o'clock in the morning.

I'm allowed to yawn.

Onto that and over there?

You? Not bad.

Whatever it is, it isn't here.
Or it was and they found it.

I met a family here last night,
John.

Another kid with mesothelioma.

Do you know Silvexpo
offered them 500 quid

to waive all rights to complain?

They're getting away
with murder.

Guv, why don't we bring them in
and shout at them for a bit?

She's as hard as nails,
but he's not.

- He's not that clever either.
- Doesn't have to be.

We'll have him in
for questioning,

he'll bring a lawyer...

Well, then, we'll just have to
be cleverer than them.

Trust me, guv.

- I'm an inspector.
- Not yet you're not.

Silvexpo has no responsibility
for Dennigs.

Look, no parent company
has any responsibility

for the actions
of the firms it takes over.

- Huh!
- I'm sorry you don't like that,

- but that is the law!
- Andrew, wait for the lawyers.

- Where are they?
- And in any event,

Dennigs itself was not
responsible for these illnesses.

You can't be responsible legally

for that which you are
not aware of.

Again, that is the law.
As I keep telling you!

When did you start dishing out
free legal advice

instead of syringing
people's ears?

You sound like somebody
who works for Silvexpo,

rather than somebody
who's paid to look after

the health of the workers.

What would your wife think
about that?

Please say no more, Andrew.
Where are our lawyers?

We asked for our lawyers
to be here. Where are they?

Somebody told them
that we were in Newcastle.

- They're on the train.
- Yes, an administrative error.

They'll be here any minute.

You brought us here
under false pretences.

You said it was to investigate
the death of Valerie,

but all you talk about
is Silvexpo.

There is no connection.
Why are we here all these hours?

Valerie Cullen had something
that you needed.

Now, I think that she believed
that Silvexpo and Dennigs

knew a lot more about
the deadly effects of asbestos.

She called a meeting.

You were expected
to attend, Dr Cullen.

She told people that you had
more to say about that.

What was it?

My wife's state of mind
was confused.

I had nothing new to say.

I know nothing
about any meeting.

Then why did she kill herself
the following night?

Why? What passed between you
when you went to her house?

I told you, I simply went
to calm her down.

- Was she calm when you left?
Perfectly.

Did she have a bruise
on her face?

Not that I recall.

I think you're both liars.

And that, Miss Zweig,

is why you've been here
all these hours.

(Door clicks open)

- Hey. Hey!
- John. It's all right.

I represent Silvexpo
and its employees.

Miss Zweig and Dr Cullen
are leaving with us now

or you'll be facing a charge
of false imprisonment.

Surely Dr Cullen isn't
an employee of Silvexpo?

No.

I represent Dr Cullen
as a private individual...

- Of course you do.
...in this matter.

He comes with us too.

I don't know how you do things
north of Watford,

but you're about to be reminded
that the writ of English law

runs all the way to
Hadrian's Wall and beyond.

- Oh.
- Miss Zweig.

Doctor...

(Exhales)

He was posh, wasn't he?

Yeah.

Posher than the Queen.

Posh enough
to lose us our jobs, John.

Ah, well.

I wasn't cut out
to be an inspector.

(Chuckles)

I've come up against
corporate crime before, John.

In London. It's like taking on
the government.

You probably lose.
In fact, you do lose.

These are the worst bastards

you'll ever come across
in your life.

So what does that mean?

Well, for me,
it means it's worth the risk.

I can go today
on two thirds of my salary.

But for you it means...

No.

No, I want to find out
who is responsible

for giving Esther Carlin
a cancer

that gave her a vile death.

And I want to find out why
Valerie Cullen killed herself.

If we can't ask those questions,

then what's the bloody point
in being a policeman?

It's a pleasure to serve
with you, John.

- Guv.
- What?

(Sighs)

You're not going anywhere,
are you, guv?

Tomorrow or any other day?

Me?

I'm not going anywhere.

I wouldn't bank on that
after today's antics.

This woman, Valerie Cullen.

Are you satisfied
it was suicide?

No, I'm not.

I think it's possible
that she was murdered

to cover up the fact
that an entire community

was poisoned
by fat-cat businessmen

who think that their workers,
and their workers' children,

are disposable items
to be entered into

the column marked "dead loss",
and I'm not having it.

- Can you prove any of that?
- No.

Case closed.

I will need to speak
to Andrew Cullen again.

He's hiding something
that he can't live with.

You'll never get him in a room
without ten lawyers round him.

And can I just make
one more point, George?

Those lawyers are
cleverer than me,

they're miles cleverer than him,

and they might even be
cleverer than you.

Case closed.

The Coroner's ready to release
the woman's body.

They want her buried.

And, frankly, so do I.

Out of the depths
I have cried to Thee, O Lord;

Lord, hear my voice.

Let Thine ears be attentive to
the voice of my supplication.

If Thou, O Lord,
would mark iniquities...

Ahh.

Well, at least he turned up.
Just.

GEORGE: Up all night packing,
I expect.

What's that?

Cop this. He's been made Senior
Medical Officer for Silvexpo.

He's moving to Switzerland.

Struth.

(Service continues
in background)

Is that it?

Does the truth get buried
down there with her?

We've missed something here,
John.

I'm gonna start again.

Let's start
with Valarie's office.

(Whirring)

Love? Love! Love?

(Vacuum cleaner off)

Don't you think
this is a bit pointless?

I agree with you,

but nobody's told me
to stop cleaning her room.

Come back later.
Go on. All right.

It's not as pointless as this,
mind...

If you wanted to hide something
from your husband,

- where would you put it?
- Haven't got a husband.

Well, think like a woman.

I haven't had time to
have a cup of tea this morning

let alone have a sex change.

- Under his nose. John!
- What?

Under his nose.

February, 1962.

Signed by G Inler.

Chief Medical Officer, Northern
Region, Factories Safety Board.

Subject: Asbestos
and Mesothelioma.

1962 they knew
it was killing people.

You just had to
breathe in the air.

Kids like Esther.

Valerie confronted Cullen
with it

and he told his friend, Anna.

Nice.

I thought they were all
supposed to have safety checks?

- The funeral's jiggered him.
- We won't stay long, Bridget.

- I promise you.
- Norman.

Norman. You've got company.

How, George. What fettle?

Oh, canny fettle, Norman.
No bother.

(Norman chuckles)
Listen to him.

We'll get you talking pitmatic
before we're finished.

- Are you all right, bonny lad?
- Ah, yeah.

Fit as a lop there, Mr Carlin.

We wanted to talk to you about
the Factories Safety Board.

What? Those sods?

What happened
when there was an inspection?

They were surprise visits,
weren't they?

The only surprise was
they bothered to come at all.

No, they were never a surprise.

The machines were turned off
two hours before they come.

We cleaned the place.

The Inspector comes in,
has a look...

...puts his meter in
the middle of the floor...

...to measure
the dust in the air.

Then he's took off to Durham
for a slap-up dinner...

...while I put a big polythene
bag over his meter.

You did?

George... it was my job.

And we didn't know
what was in the air.

All we knew was,
"Oh, bloody health and safety.

Bloody nuisances."

If his meter said
shut the line down,

they'd shut the line down...

and we get no bonus that week

because we won't hit
wor targets.

The bonus is
half your pay packet.

Then what?

Ten minutes before he gets back,

we have another sweep up and I
take the bag off his meter.

In he comes, drunk as a monkey,

"Oh, everything's
hunky dory here.

It's a pass.
See youse next time."

And off he goes home with his
little kickback in his pocket...

...and we get on with it.

Breathing in the air.

You think they knew it caused
Esther's cancer, George?

Yes.

They knew three or four years
before it was closed down.

They were told
and they ignored it.

That's the time Esther died.

But, George,
Esther's the only one I know of

that got that cancer.
Was it not just bad luck?

No, it wasn't bad luck, Bridget.

And she wasn't
the only one either.

It can take 50 years
for it to reveal itself.

And I know of at least one other

and there will be more
as the years go by.

And that is what Silvexpo
is so keen to keep a lid on.

George, tell us,

what's the working man worth
to these people?

They only need us
when there's a war on.

You know that, George.

It's the same old racket
everywhere you look.

That's what the lass Valerie
found out in the end.

She was a lovely lass,
but she was naive...

and that's what's put her
in the ground the day.

Naivety.

You cannot beat these people,
man, George.

I can try, Norman.

George.

Don't let them
put you in the ground.

Thank you very much.

(Seagulls squawking)

Mr Inler?

Mr Inler?

I'm DCI Gently.
This is DS Bacchus.

It's about a letter you wrote to
the owners of Dennigs Linings

seven years ago.

I've nothing to say.

We've got the letter, Mr Inler.
So there's no use denying it.

Ernie, would you
get the drinks in, please?

Thank you.

I'm not denying it,
though, am I?

It's just not
my problem any more.

I told Valerie that.

She passed this to you, did she?

It is your problem if you're
a bloke lying on your back,

coughing your guts up
every night.

And if you've already lost
a daughter to mesothelioma.

You let these people down,
Mr Inler.

Gentlemen, writing that letter
cost me my career.

A career in protecting
the safety of others.

A career I loved.

Of which I was proud.

Now, I would just like to
hang on to my pension,

if it's all the same to you.

Your letter refers to
copious data

supporting your allegations.

What happened to that data
after you were sacked?

I left it with the Board,
of course.

- What did they do with it?
- Passed it to the Swiss,

I imagine, because nothing has
ever been made public.

Did you keep a copy?

Did you keep a copy?

Until my severance and pension
arrangements were agreed, yes.

Do I look like a complete fool?

Then what?

Then I signed a confidentiality
agreement with Silvexpo

and then I burned the files
in my garden.

Valerie Cullen came to you
asking for help,

- didn't she?
- Yes.

I gave her a copy of my letter
to Silvexpo.

Then, no doubt, you were visited
by Silvexpo's lawyers.

Yes.

- Did they threaten you?
- Oh, yes.

But I can stick up for myself.

Valerie Cullen couldn't.
I'm afraid she killed herself.

(Sighs)

I warned her.

I told her the persecution
would never stop.

Persecution?

You didn't know?

They were trying to
have her struck off...

...unfit to practice medicine.

And she had nobody
in her corner.

(Gentle knocking)

Oh.

- Would you like one?
- (Laughs) No.

Come on.
If you're gonna join CID...

- Cheers.
- Cheers.

Oh, I better not.

- I'll get the Whirling Pits.
- Eh?

When you feel like
you're falling backwards

through the floor,
and the ceiling spins round.

Yeah.

I may be about to experience
the career equivalent, actually.

I've got Andrew Cullen
and half a dozen fancy lawyers -

most of them Swiss -

coming to town tomorrow,
at my own insistence,

and against
all sensible advice...

...and I haven't got anything new
to say to any of them.

- Why are you doing it?
- Because...

Why am I a policeman, Rachel?

Can you win?

Probably not. Unless I can get
Andrew Cullen to crack,

they'll wipe the floor with me.

I haven't got the proof I need.

This, to my mind,
is evidence of malpractice,

but it doesn't actually
prove anything.

Geoffrey Inler says he burned
the proof seven years ago.

- Do you believe him?
- No, I don't.

It's his pension
protection plan.

But, if he handed it over to us,

Silvexpo would sue him to death
in a Swiss court.

What did you decide, Rachel?

You don't miss much, sir?

There is a way of finding out
if you've got it.

A lung biopsy.

There's no cure for it, anyway.
So what's the point in knowing?

Are you afraid?

Petrified.

I'm not sure whether I can live
with the uncertainty.

Something inside me that,
one day, might just kill me.

You'll find a way, believe me.

(1960s-style instrumental music)

You all right?

- You sure about this?
- Yeah.

Positive.

Now, then, Dr Cullen...

your wife injected herself with
a lethal dose of barbiturates

on the evening of July the 18th.

Now, I'm trying to find out
what part in her suicide

might have been
played by yourself

and by Silvexpo Holdings.

Sir, we need to
firmly establish that...

Excuse me... Excuse me.

Now, the Assistant Chief
Constable is here

to represent the Constabulary.

He's not a judge.
This is not a trial.

It's an interview
and I'm conducting it.

Your wife called
a public meeting in Easterhope

to discuss the source
of various illnesses.

Some of the people
who said they intended to go

were told that you
were expected to attend

in your capacity
as Medical Officer

for the Factories Safety Board.

No, I've told you
I know nothing about that.

Why would your wife lie to them?

She told them
that you had something new

to say about Silvexpo.

I'm sorry.

Am I not supposed to say
the word Silvexpo?

Silvexpo are extremely litigious

when it comes to
protecting its reputation.

Neither your job nor your rank

offers you any
special protection at all

from the laws of libel.

Have you ever heard
the name Geoffrey Inler?

- No.
- No?

Then you won't have seen
the letter

that he wrote
to the board of Silvexpo?

GEORGE: In this letter, dated
the 11th of February, 1962,

Geoffrey Inler, in his capacity

as the Chief Regional
Medical Officer

for the Factories Safety Board,
outlines his argument

for a causal link between
asbestos and mesothelioma.

May we have a minute
to study this?

Please.

It seems Mr Inler lost his job

because of these
unfounded allegations.

He never produced any data
to back up his claims.

Do I look like a saint to you,
Constable?

No.

I was expecting to hate you,

but you look like
a decent human being.

Decent human beings
get trampled on in this world.

If they're lucky.

Some of them
die horrible deaths.

In her final letter to Dr Plant,

your wife begged him
to think well of you

because you were,
quote, "deep down a good man".

What did she mean?

- No idea.
- Well...

- Why write that to Dr Plant?
- No idea.

I mean, why would she write
that at all to Dr Plant?

Why not send a letter to you?

I suppose she had
nothing to say to me.

She had plenty to say about you,
though, didn't she? Hm?

I mean, for instance,

how you were
the light of her world.

She wanted Dr Plant
to forgive you.

What had you done?

This is my friend,
Esther Carlin,

and her friend,
on their first Holy Communion.

She can't be here
to speak for herself

cos she died when she was 15.

Of mesothelioma.

I'm here to speak for her.

See you've got a new job,
Doctor.

Highly-salaried
Chief Medical Officer

for a company whose name
I'm not allowed to mention.

Is that what your wife
wanted you to be forgiven for?

Because you sided with
your new employer

against the people whose health
you were paid to protect?

And when you're in Switzerland,
with your new job

and your new wife,
breathing in the Alpine air,

you can forget about
the people of Easterhope,

riddled with disease,

and the dead woman
who just wanted

to turn you back into
a decent human being.

The woman that you denounced

as being unfit
to practise medicine!

Have you any idea
how bloody tedious it is

to be married to a saint?

Andrew...

Can you guess
where Esther lived?

Can you guess who her friend is?

That's me.

We breathed the air together.

Did you hate your wife,
Dr Cullen?

For being a better doctor
than you?

For being a better human being?

For being rich?

Or was it just that
she still believed in

the things that you
used to believe in?

Like um... healing the sick.

Helping the poor.

Will you help me?

Did you ever tell her
that you hated her?

Yes.

Just before the night of
the proposed meeting, perhaps?

The night you went
to..."calm her down".

The meeting that you had
no intention of going to.

You had to go, didn't you?

And it wasn't to help
your distressed wife.

You went because she told you
about the Inler letter.

You told Miss Zweig.

And Miss Zweig told you
to go and get it at all costs.

This has absolutely...

If you don't like it,
you don't have to be here.

(Papers rustling)

Where is it? Where is it?

Argh!

(Groaning)

Andrew...

You're...

You're better than those people.

You don't have to do
what they want you to do.

You don't need their jobs
in Switzerland.

Why?
Because I've got your money.

I don't want your money.

I don't want to waste my life

the way that you've
wasted yours...

...and I don't want you!

I know that, Andrew.

I accepted that a while ago.

I ju...

I just want you to remember
who you used to be.

There's always hope.

Hope.

You stupid woman.

You'll be dead in two years.

What have you got to live for?
Nothing!

What are you doing - waiting for
your wheelchair to arrive?

(Door slams)

ANDREW: She was wrong
about me...

...Inspector Gently.

From start to finish.

I'm not a good man.

Never was.

Not deep down,
nor anywhere else.

But not being a good man isn't
a crime as far as I'm aware,

so have you finished with me?

Was there anything more?

(Low chatter outside room)

Yes. One moment.

This is Malcolm from Easterhope.

We watched the moon landing
together, didn't we, Malcolm?

Malcolm has mesothelioma.

Which, as you well know,

you can only get
from inhaling asbestos,

which is what he did
every day of his life...

until Dennigs Linings
closed down.

I can't prove this, of course.
But...

...I just wanted you to see
what you've done.

Well...

May we go, Inspector?

Yes.

(John knocks)

My name is Geoffrey Inler.

I have some information for you.

Ripped By mstoll