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- Rufus Barron. - I'm sorry?

- You are Rufus Barron? - Why?

Do you have any identification, sir? We're police officers.

We want you to come to the station.

Well, no, I can't.

Rufus Barron, I'm arresting you for theft

and obtaining property by deception.

- You do not have to say anything. - What am I supposed to have nicked?

The receipts for the office lottery syndicate?

Yeah, you wish.

- I'm grateful to you for coming. - It sounded official.

Well, there are certain facts in our possession.

Ah!

Well, to be candid, I had no knowledge

that Haughton was using inside information.

I assumed that my future son-in-law was trying to ingratiate himself

by getting me to sell my One-Way shares and thus make a bit of money.

And did you, Joe?

Yes. A tidy sum.

I'm beginning to wish I hadn't.

Joe, it's your ex-son-in-law I need to talk about,

not the Home Secretary.

Deed?

Hasn't he settled down?

He had an affair with a claimant who was before him.

Impossible. Deed is neither stupid nor corrupt.

- Fortunately, he found against her. - Now she's complaining?

She is not. That is hardly the point, Joe.

Lady Everard witnessed the woman leaving the digs.

Vera can't give evidence.

The Secretary of State, the Lord Chancellor is loath

to have Deed sitting any longer.

He'll need the consent of both Houses of Parliament to sack him.

Deed must do the decent thing.

These are the salient facts in the case he heard.

I came to warn you that the Lord Chancellor,

or whatever he may call himself now,

the Secretary of State for Constitutional Affairs,

is gunning for you.

That sounds like fun.

He may have cause.

Did you have an affair with a claimant?

To have done so would place you beyond the pale.

It flies in the face of all we stand for.

I behaved foolishly, not corruptly.

Your brother judges take a different view.

- Are they all against me? - So it would seem.

- They want you to resign. - I'd better take counsel's advice, then.

Come in.

- Sir John Deed, miss. - Can someone organise tea?

Yeah, sure. The resident judge's clerk at Sussex confirmed you

- sitting for the last 10 days. - Thank you, Tony.

Okay.

- You should sit permanently. - I'm not as confident as you.

Jo, you'd be as smart on the bench as you are at the bar.

I can't see them appointing me.

I was caught bunking off from my last Judges' Seminar.

I don't think they'd be stupid enough to hold that against you.

You did behave badly.

So, you think I should resign?

Why does this always have to be about you?

Why can't you just once think how I might feel in all of this?

You asked me not to go away,

but right now I can't see any evidence for why I should stay.

I just came here for some advice.

There you are, you see, you're avoiding the issue.

I don't know why I didn't just go to South Africa when I had the chance.

Because you have two sons and a career here.

Yes, John, and you!

- It's not like I don't want to change. - Oh, come on, you're not stupid.

Judges are always being told not to exist in ivory towers,

divorced from reality, to be humans. Perhaps that's what you're after.

Can sleeping with a claimant be regarded as human frailty?

I don't think my fellow judges see it that way.

Then clean up your act, John.

You could marry me.

Yeah, yes, I could.

But I'd need something more from you than just an echo of a promise.

- You can't force Deed to resign, Ian. - We might if we publicly shame him.

Be careful you don't put your department out of sorts with most judges

rather than Deed. They could close ranks,

particularly with the way they feel about the executive.

Then we'll isolate him, Monty.

He shan't have another case here, nor at the Strand.

We'll shut him out completely.

Well, there's a way to add pressure and keep the judges on your side.

Peer review the case where he allegedly acted improperly.

If his brethren find him wanting, he'll have nowhere to go.

We'd need the right judge.

Michael Niven would be at pains to be fair.

- And Deed meanwhile? - Get him out of the way.

Find him something non-controversial.

Deed would find controversy in a bus-lane violation.

A High Court judge is needed to lecture at the Judges' Seminar at Warwick.

We could send him there.

Monty, my clerk tells me that there's nothing for me to hear.

- Have we run out of cases? - I wish that were so.

So, why is there nothing for me?

There's concern over whether you're fit emotionally to hear cases

because of the indiscretion with the claimant.

Am I tried and found wanting?

I warned Rochester he'd need to be sure of his evidence.

Is he?

A number of the brethren want you to resign.

Where do you stand, Monty?

Well, if it's true, John, it shows a grave error of judgement.

Can we legitimately peer review Deed, Michael?

I don't see why not.

We do it all the time in the Court of Appeal.

Will the judges support him?

Those I've spoken to are furious with him.

He must stop hearing cases until this matter is dealt with.

We can arrange that.

The Listing Officer's still saying there's nothing for you.

Does he have any untried cases in that office?

When hasn't he?

Tell Mr Wilson I want him to bring all cases awaiting trial here.

No, actually, I'll go myself.

Do you think you should, Judge?

- My lord, may I help? - Why is there such a shortage

of cases for trial, Mr Wilson?

Are the Home Secretary's policies so successful?

It's a shortage of suitable cases for your lordship to hear.

This one? Donald Langham, accused of decapitating a prostitute.

The resident judge has reserved that to himself, my lord.

Date rape?

Mr Justice Everard, my lord.

And the civil action - Cardinal Waste Management PLC?

- That's not ready, my lord. - I'll read the papers anyway.

But, my lord, Mr Justice Everard is to hear it after his rape case.

- It's far too dull for Vera! - My lord, it's not ready...

This could be an unimaginable nightmare for local authorities.

If the claimants were to win this, it could prevent local councils

from ever burning rubbish again.

That would be terrible, Judge.

It might prevent us from producing so much.

No, Judge, people would just chuck it anywhere.

I'd like all parties in court tomorrow to hear submissions.

All rise.

Mrs Mills, I believe I have an application from you.

Is this to be heard now, my lord? We're not ready.

What is the application?

It's to order Cardinal Waste Management PLC

to open their incinerators at Peaks Farm.

- And the purpose is? - So that the expert witness,

the epidemiologist, can take dioxin readings from the chimneys.

Dioxins are going into the atmosphere and have seriously affected the health

of both Mr and Mrs Peacock, who live in what was their grandparents' cottage

adjacent to Peaks Farm.

These dioxins, we would argue, have caused both of their children

to be born with teratogenic deformities.

The first child, my lord, had its heart and lungs fused

and lived only a few hours.

The other, their two-year-old daughter, Henri, was born with spina bifida,

no nostrils and only one eye, as you will see in the photographs.

Yes, thank you, Mrs Mills.

Mrs Channing?

We would argue that Cardinal has fulfilled its duty to these parents.

All emissions found

were within the government's permitted safety quotas.

How does the government know what's safe?

Ministers do not live next to the site.

Another issue, Mrs Mills.

Further, my lord, the claimants are now beyond the time

set at the pre-trial hearing for exploring the site further.

Ah, that is a problem.

The claimants are funded by civil legal aid, my lord.

You will be aware how scarce funding from insurance companies

is for this sort of action.

Time limits exist to free defendants from the threat of perpetual litigation.

Cardinal haven't exactly been helpful.

They're trying to stop us getting to the truth.

We just want to know if they were the cause of our baby's problems.

Yes, we understand that, Mrs Peacock.

We don't want this to happen to anyone else.

- Yes. - Mrs Peacock.

I will endeavour to find out what the truth is,

whatever it is. But unless we follow the correct procedure,

however frustrating it might seem, there is a danger that you could be

overturned on appeal if you win here. Do you see?

All right. Mrs Mills, are the claimants close to acquiring additional funding?

There is another application in with the underwriting insurers.

We will need a substantial amount of money to pursue this.

Is the epidemiologist wanting to be paid for this work?

No. Most of the costs involve shutting down the plant.

Perhaps Cardinal could help. Hmm?

My lord, that's hardly fair to Cardinal shareholders.

Well, their rubbish may have caused the problem.

No, I'm ordering the site to be made available.

This is just an expensive fishing exercise.

To shut down the plant, costs £30,000 a day.

Which is a small price to pay for peace of mind.

And that's what Cardinal and the local residents will get if nothing's found.

So I want the case back in 10 days. Mr Harrison?

Yes, my lord, that will be the 29th.

29th.

My lord, I would urge you to reconsider this matter.

No, Mrs Channing. I have ruled.

I've managed to secure a case, Coop, but I'm beginning to wish that I hadn't.

The pictures of that child are harrowing.

Ah, John.

The DCA is pressing for you to go to Warwick

to lecture would-be judges.

Won't I prove a corrupting influence?

I earnestly counsel you to go, out of harm's way.

Ian! ROCHESTER: Home Secretary.

How on earth is Deed

hearing the case against Cardinal Waste Management PLC?

I understood it was in safe hands.

It Was. Deed hijacked it.

It will return into safe hands, I can assure you.

Can you be as sure about the embezzlement case

involving Sir Tim Listfield's PA?

Oh, yes. We're giving it to a recorder. No one is more consistent.

I hope you're right. I cannot emphasise enough how important it is

that this matter is resolved swiftly.

Matters are reaching crisis point with you grabbing the Cardinal case.

I'm doing what I'm good at.

You're setting yourself against your brother judges.

You're setting yourself above us.

There are rules and procedures that govern jurisprudence.

No one judges above that.

If you don't like those rules, John, resign.

Our rules need changing, Michael.

We have a head of the criminal justice system

who thinks he can interfere when he wants to.

And you're lending weight to the argument. You must stop.

Go to Warwick or the consequences could be extreme.

- John, you're only going to Warwick. - Feels like Siberia.

- You don't have to go. - I've got no choice.

Have I been insensitive about Michael?

He was such a gift.

What are you saying?

I don't know.

I think I'm scared that you might have

missed your opportunity with him because of me.

Oh... We think commitment is going to change our lives,

that we won't be able to cope,

and all the time that's what we really want.

Life-changing opportunities.

And that's what I want, Jo. I really do.

Well, we can't get him back for our own selfish needs.

Are they selfish?

He's happy with his father. I have to believe that.

I love you, John.

No matter what you do, I will always love you.

Perhaps that makes me dysfunctional.

Barristers can't enter this way, it's for judges only.

- I'm sitting as a recorder. - Beg your pardon, Your Honour.

- Park in any of the bays. - Thanks.

We have a very nice embezzlement for you, Jo. Don't we, Peter?

- I'm only sitting for 10 days. - Perfect.

The hearing is set down for eight days.

The evidence is straightforward. Judge Lancaster was to hear it,

but his fraud case is running over.

I'll show you what chambers you could use.

Thank you.

- Thanks. - Judge Shakespeare's off sailing.

Well, bet he doesn't like his things being disturbed.

Well, he was a judge advocate in the navy.

Doesn't put up with any nonsense in court.

- Well, I'd best get reading, Judge. - Ben, call me Ben.

Jo, we're a little bit short-staffed,

but I've asked Peter Wilson to keep an eye on you.

But I'll be around if you need any advice.

Thanks.

Mr Cantwell respectfully requests that you know your place.

All rise.

Will the defendant please rise?

Rufus Barron, you are charged with eight offences

of obtaining property, namely money, by deception,

contrary to Section 15 and 15A of the Theft Act of 1968,

by using cheques and false money transfers

to obtain from your employer, Sir Tim Listfield,

the sum of £4.4 million.

How do you plead, guilty or not guilty?

- Not guilty. - You may sit down.

Ah, Mr Cantwell. Am I going to hear from you?

Yes, Your Honour. We would argue that there is no case to answer.

All the money in Mr Barron's account was, in fact, given to him

via transfers signed by Sir Tim Listfield.

Is there evidence to support that?

Mr Barron's defence is that he and Tim Listfield

were going to set up home together.

The £3.7 million was for that purpose.

I thought Tim Listfield was well known

for the famous women he's frequently seen with.

The prosecution's case is that the defendant stole £4.4 million.

The additional £700,000 has never been traced to accounts held by my client.

That doesn't mean he didn't embezzle it.

I think you know, Mr Cantwell, that submissions

for no case to answer are for a later stage.

Let's have the jury in.

Mrs McEwan, how long have you been Director of Human Resources at One-Way?

A year and eight months.

Were you responsible for hiring the defendant?

Yes, when I was personnel manager at Whittakers,

the military communications corporation.

He came to the firm about five-and-a-half years ago

as an accountant. He was good at his job.

What was his job?

To bear down on costs.

After Whittakers was taken over the new managing director,

Sir Tim Listfield, found him very energetic.

Was there any sort of sexual relationship

between Mr Barron and Tim Listfield?

No.

Mr Barron admired him and was fiercely loyal.

But, then, Sir Tim inspires that.

There was certainly nothing sexual.

Rufus may have fantasised about such a relationship.

But Sir Tim is quite definitely heterosexual.

You know that from personal experience with Sir Tim?

It's a legitimate question.

Well, Mrs McEwan? Did you have sex with your employer?

- We did have a relationship. - A sexual relationship?

- Yes. - Just so the jury recognises your bias.

Despite your sexual relationship with him,

Tim Listfield relied totally on Mr Barron.

He was closer to Listfield than you ever were.

He certainly relied on him to keep his financial matters in order,

but there was nothing sexual between them.

Did you know that Mr Barron was arranging

all sorts of corporate hospitality for Tim Listfield and his associates?

- That would have been part of his job. - Did you know that that included

paying prostitutes with whom Listfield would spend the night?

I don't believe it.

Clearly, you don't know Tim Listfield as well as you thought you did.

Isn't it true that he has vast appetites?

Sexual and material.

- Yes? - Your Honour,

Sir Tim Listfield is a well-respected businessman.

This assault on his character is hardly relevant.

Much of this case hinges on one man's word against another's.

I think the victim's character and history are very relevant.

Bisexual contact is not necessarily excluded from those appetites.

Is it?

Mrs McEwan?

What else is the judge going to allow in open court?

I'm assured the case is being carefully managed, Tim.

That's not how it appears to me. Why is Jo Mills sitting as the judge?

She acted for a claimant who sued my company.

That's an entirely separate matter.

We don't want this getting away from us, Neil.

Perhaps it was ill-considered to pursue this prosecution.

The CPS assured me it was open and shut.

Let me talk to someone.

Why was this case given to Mrs Mills?

Temporary judges are usually amenable.

You could have given it to any recorder, any judge but her.

The government doesn't want this case to become a political football.

Sir Tim Listfield is important to this country for all sorts of reasons.

Defence being one.

We will get her on board, Ian.

- Hello, Ben. - How was your second day, Jo?

- Well, like my first, nerve-wracking. - But the evidence is straightforward.

How am I doing?

You're giving the defence a great deal of slack.

Cantwell will take advantage. Rein him in.

I'm sorry.

That bisexual tack, and the prostitute, wasn't really evidence, was it?

No, I suppose it wasn't, but...

Sir Tim Listfield is the victim here, Jo.

You shouldn't allow any extraneous nonsense.

I wouldn't want people to think that you are prejudiced

because of your previous run-in with Listfield.

Jo! A friendly voice.

- Is it friendly? - How are you getting on?

It's like the Arctic wastes, decidedly chilly.

At lunch and dinner my fellow judges hardly speak to me.

- Did you hear from Michael? - Not since his call to say he'd arrived.

You sound down.

Oh, I hope you're turning out better judges than me, John.

I'm sure you're doing fine.

I thought I was until the resident judge took me aside.

It's like being back at school.

Just push back.

I wish I was there.

I wish you were.

Listen, I've got to go.

I'll call you. Bye-bye. Bye-bye.

- Ah, sorry. - She was heading through the wire.

If only we could all shrink down to her size

and escape for an hour or two.

- John Deed. - I know. Morag Hughes.

- Hi. - Hi.

Your lecture on sentencing was pretty hard-hitting.

Oh, good, good, good. We have a Home Secretary

who thinks the criminal justice system is an anachronism.

Can he be so capricious?

Well, if only he was, I could forgive him,

but he panders to a sometimes vengeful public, doesn't he?

- Yet offending rates continue to rise. - Are you surprised?

He favours a punitive system that was seen to be useless 300 years ago.

Oh!

I have another lecture.

Bye.

- Stay. - Well, isn't it worth going to?

You won't get your brownie points if you don't go.

No. I better had then.

Hello.

John?

Who is this?

Oh, sorry, Your Honour. I thought it was an intruder.

- I feel like one. You can lock up. - Goodnight, Your honour.

Could you walk me out of the building?

I have a horror of being trapped in these places at night.

Never remembering all the codes to the locks.

Sergeant Halesworth, when you searched

the defendant's flat and office, what did you find?

At his flat we found a whole wall of photographs

of Sir Tim and Barron. Most were of Sir Tim.

Did he say why these were there?

No, but we also found a number of personal items belonging to Sir Tim.

- Did he explain why he had these? - He said Sir Tim had given them to him.

Sir Tim said he had simply mislaid them,

a pen, gold cufflinks, monogrammed shirts.

We also found a receipt for a Porsche,

a jewellery receipt for two matching designer wrist watches worth £44,000.

A Spanish bank statement

and correspondence from a Spanish solicitor

over the purchase of a villa on the Costa Blanca.

Did Mr Barron have the income to support such spending?

No, sir. He earned £48,000.

We did trace £3.7 million to accounts controlled by the defendant.

The money had left Mr Listfield's account

by means of money transfers, transferred by Mr Listfield.

When we asked Mr Listfield about this,

he said he wasn't aware of signing these.

Further investigation uncovered two cheques drawn

on Sir Tim's account forged by the defendant

for £300,000 and £400,000 in cash.

We've yet to trace these amounts.

The villa in Spain was expensive by British standards.

£550,000!

Yes. All the floors, some walls and the pool were marble.

An expensive car, matching designer wristwatches.

Things that would not go unnoticed in Mr Barron's life?

No, sir, they wouldn't.

Some of these items were purchased

six months before Listfield's allegations against Mr Barron.

He obviously kept his purchases hidden.

When you pressed Mr Barron about these purchases,

what was his final answer?

He said he'd bought them for Sir Tim Listfield.

He said they were in love.

He used Tim Listfield's money to purchase items for Tim Listfield.

Why, then, was he charged with theft and deception?

Sir Tim had no knowledge of the purchases.

£3.7 million was taken from his accounts.

Sir Tim is a billionaire.

A few million could be withdrawn without him immediately noticing.

You choose to believe he had no knowledge of this?

Yes, sir.

Was there something inherently more trustworthy about him?

His knighthood perhaps?

Does he have a proven track record for truthfulness?

- I would imagine he does, sir. - You imagine, Sergeant?

Is that a contradiction in terms? An imaginative policeman?

Mr Cantwell, amusing, but not relevant.

Would you say Tim Listfield was being truthful

when he over-valued his company in order to secure third-generation

phone licences from the DTI? Or when, on taking over Whittakers,

he promised all the jobs were safe, then sacked 35% of the workforce.

Your Honour, this really has no bearing on the case.

It might have.

But only if Mr Cantwell asks Sir Tim Listfield that question

rather than this police officer.

This judge is paying us back for our past.

I'd say she is.

How long will I be here?

They never specify, Tim.

I got called yesterday. Are you in the mugging case?

I can't waste time here, Clive.

I'll speak with someone, boss.

As the criminal justice system

comes under increasing pressure from government,

the most contentious issue that you will ever have to

deal with as judges is separation of powers.

The purpose of the criminal law courts

is to determine whether a defendant is guilty as charged.

Politicians should not and must not play any part in that process,

and it's up to judges to resist them when they try.

This Home Secretary is neither enamoured of the judiciary

nor enthusiastic about juries, while every day

he's forcing through legislation

that has the gravest consequences for our civil liberties.

We tend to acquiesce in the erosion of our rights

by our ignorance and indolence.

So, the question I put to you is this, how can judges hold the line?

Is it up to judges to do that?

In a democracy we elect politicians to enact laws to make a safe society.

In an ideal world, that would be the case. But consider this.

A parliament that is elected by an ill-informed and apathetic public,

will consist largely of power-hungry self-interest.

- Where does the fault lie, Judge? - Well, with each one of us.

We must all take responsibility

for the fact that certain elements of government

are removing some of the safeguards to effective protest.

It's up to judges to stand firm.

Can one man ever prove bigger than the system?

No.

But he can provide an effective brake

to a process that is accelerating out of control,

and cause it to be examined more closely.

Any other thoughts?

My concern is whether the evidence from my wife

would be solid enough to sanction Deed.

You really need the woman he allegedly slept with.

We'll risk what we have, Monty, while the judges are with us.

Mr Powell, how long have you been

Sir Tim Listfield's account manager at your bank?

Just over four years.

So you'd know his signature, we can assume?

- Yes. - Could you look at these statements,

Lines 15 to 24, the money transfers, and tell me who signed these?

- Sir Tim Listfield did. - And where did the money go?

Into accounts controlled by the defendant.

Money freely given to him by Tim Listfield?

Sir Tim Listfield says he knew nothing about them.

And you believed him?

Yes, I did.

Then we come back to the question, who is the more honest?

Listfield or Barron?

Well, Mr Barron did forge Sir Tim's signature on two cheques

for cash totalling £700,000.

Thank you, Mr Powell.

Unless you tell me what you did with that £700,000, we're stuffed.

- I can't tell you, Mr Cantwell. - I can't defend you unless you do.

Those two cheques for cash remove all of your credibility.

- I gave it to Tim. - What?

£300,000 and £400,000 in cash? What for?

- Rufus, you forged his signature! - He asked me to.

- It wasn't the only time. - Oh, so what are you telling me?

He asked you to forge his signature? Is he stealing from his company?

No.

He would never do anything wrong.

He was so busy. I had to run lots of things for him.

Yes. Did he need cash?

- I'm sorry. - Rufus, you could go to prison.

I can't say.

It seems there was a culture at One-Way whereby Rufus Barron

would sign cheques for Tim Listfield and draw out large sums of cash.

- Is he saying what for? - No, he won't say.

Either he's protecting him or he's scared.

Either way, I'd like to subpoena bank records

back as far as Rufus Barron taking over Tim Listfield's affairs.

This is ridiculous. You can't do that this late on.

Well, if it helps us to find the truth.

Our defence is that Listfield gave Barron the money.

The untraced £700,000 from cheques Barron forged

was drawn at the request of Tim Listfield.

Finding further cheques could corroborate that.

Your man's a fantasist, Brian!

With all fantasists there's always an element of truth.

- Is there enough to start this search? - We'll only know by looking.

I will adjourn and let you search the bank records.

- Judge, Tim Listfield is not on trial. - No, I know.

I'll pulverize that little rat.

Someone's got to get a hold of this trial, Clive.

I was assured it would be straightforward.

We can't stop the defence looking at the records now the judge has ruled.

- What did you get, Steve? - The girls in MI5 say

this judge is very emotional. Lots of pressure points.

Jo.

It would be as well not to let the defence

delve into Listfield's business affairs.

It depends on its relevance, doesn't it, Judge?

Ben, we're all friends on this side of the bench.

Now, this is a clear-cut case, Jo.

The money was taken from Listfield's account

- and ended up in Barron's account. - Mmm-hmm.

Keep the whole thing running smoothly. Justice delayed is justice denied.

Swift results are what we want.

Now, my door is always open, Jo, if you need any advice.

That's what the resident judge is there for.

Just what does Rufus Barron know about your business, Tim?

Nothing very alarming.

At the risk of repeating myself,

I don't think this case should have been brought.

Tough on crime? Isn't that your stand?

It was still an unnecessary risk.

Neil, he dipped his snout into my trough and took £3.7 million.

Perhaps he was relying on you not doing anything about it.

Then he'll get a big surprise.

John, I've never felt so pressured.

The resident judge clearly thinks I'm going to mess up.

Oh, everybody thinks they know better than a recorder, Jo.

- Just keep pushing for the truth. - He told me not to waste time.

Hey, hey, come on! You're the judge.

Listfield is thoroughly corrupt.

Expose that and you lance the boil.

- I wish I felt as confident as you. - Look, just keep your nerve, Jo.

Couldn't you come back from exile and help me?

Well, it seems that I don't have very many friends at court.

Those I do have, have counselled me to stay put.

I got a bag, don't worry. Thank you.

- I have a message from Michael. - What?

He says he's still safe.

Hey, wait. Are you all right?

Did you see?

- Hello. - Is Marc there?

Dr Thompson's just going into theatre.

Can I speak to him, please? It's Jo Mills.

I'll see if I can get him for you.

- Jo! How nice. - Is Michael all right?

- Yes, he's fine. He's in school. - Are you sure he's all right?

Of course. You okay? Jo?

Yes. Yes, I'm fine.

I'll talk to you later.

Your Honour, our search of Tim Listfield's bank records

has revealed some further 18 cheques signed by Rufus Barron for cash.

Listfield hasn't claimed that any of this was stolen from him.

We would like to offer this evidence for examination by the prosecution,

and expert witness.

Your Honour, I must protest this late evidence.

If the police investigation had been more thorough,

they might have discovered this.

Regardless, it's still too late.

I will allow it. How much time will you want?

Well, 24 hours, I suppose.

Is there anything useful we could do meanwhile?

I could get on with the examination in chief

of Sir Tim Listfield.

Then let's get the jury back.

I have never, I would never, I could never allow Rufus Barron

or anyone else to sign my cheques.

Not only is it against the law, under the Proceeds of the Crime Act,

it would leave me totally vulnerable to theft.

It's a crazy notion.

Jo.

You shouldn't be letting this evidence in.

- But what he's found is relevant. - Ridiculous.

Sir Tim Listfield is not on trial here. He's one of our leading industrialists.

Now, get a proper grip on proceedings,

or you'll be obliged to discharge the jury.

Why should the jury be discharged? How can it?

I think it's Listfield. You know how well connected he is.

- The resident judge is supporting it. - You're not making any sense.

Is Ben hearing the case through you?

Well, he's certainly trying to tell me how to conduct it.

Are you losing it, Jo?

I thought I was doing all right.

I'm doing what you suggested, putting pressure on Listfield.

But it's gone wrong.

Then fight back. I'll help.

Let me see this evidence that Cantwell's found.

- Would you, John? - Yes, of course.

Thank you.

Did you hear from Michael?

Something strange happened in the marketplace.

A man said that Michael was safe.

- What sort of man? - I don't know.

It was weird.

Good evening, Your Honour. Just checking.

- Jo, are you all right? - Yeah, I'm fine, I'm just a bit jumpy.

It was the security guard.

Is Michael all right?

Yes, yes, he's having a great time.

He really likes his half-brothers.

Oh, that's good.

I do miss him though.

Yeah.

Let me see the new evidence.

All right. Thanks, John. Bye-bye.

- Can I help you? - Sorry to disturb you, Mrs Mills.

Henderson is my name. Could you come with us?

It's a matter that concerns national security.

What do you mean?

If you don't mind, madam.

Would you mind telling me where we're going?

I'm not at liberty to say.

Could I see your ID again, please?

Excuse me.

- Jo. - John.

Jo?

Do you want to try mine?

Do you know where we are?

I think it's time to explain.

Exactly why am I here?

Oh, that's not for me to say, Mrs Mills.

Well, someone's got to tell me.

In due course.

It's depressing about your little boy.

Michael, isn't it?

What's happened? What are you saying?

I'm just making conversation.

How do you know Michael?

You must be careful.

Accidents happen. Look.

Michael.

No.

Oh, my God.

Oh, God.

Did you get much from the lectures?

The administrative judge advised me not to socialize with you.

Why is that?

You mean you don't know?

Yet you chose to ignore that advice.

I think you're dangerous.

I like that.

Do you?

Excuse me, Judge.

Mimi.

Something seems to have happened to Mrs Mills.

Mr Harrison said she wasn't in court this morning.

She's not answering either of her phones.

Has he checked with the police? She might have had an accident.

Hello, this is Jo Mills.

Please leave a message and I'll call you back.

Jo, this is John. Can you call me?

Judge, the administrative judge is after you.

- Oh, goody. - John!

I'd strongly advise against leaving.

In fact, I'd go further. There could be very serious consequences

if you desert your post.

I'm sure you'll find a replacement for me, Alan.

John.

Jo! Jo!

Jo, it's John!

Jo!

Jo!

Jo, what happened? Are you all right?

Are you all right? What?

No, this can't happen. I won't let it happen.

We'll bounce them straight into jail.

Who? They didn't give me their business cards.

- It has to be connected to Listfield. - Stop it.

When I saw that window plummet to the ground I thought I was going, too.

- They are not getting away with this. - How are you going to stop them?

But if they can do it to you, they'll think they can do it to anybody.

I don't care!

They threatened Michael.

- You are not gonna abandon this trial. - Stop it, stop it.

I won't let you.

Hello.

Yes, this is John Deed.

I see.

Uh-huh.

Thank you.

Stay very close on this one. I want no stone left unturned.

Yes, thank you. Thank you.

- There is a Maurice Henderson in MI5. - And?

He's on sick leave.

The building belongs to the MOD. It's been empty for over a year.

And there are no windows missing.

There's full-time security and CCTV cameras.

Nobody saw you enter, nobody saw you leave.

There was nothing captured on the cameras.

They must have turned them off.

They were on all night. The police looked at every tape.

I can't go through with this trial, John.

Yes, you can.

I thought they were abandoning the trial.

It seems there's another judge on the scene.

Can they do this?

I don't think so.

We are finding out now.

I've got to make a call.

Neil, I'm the victim, not the perpetrator.

This is getting completely out of hand. Do something.

Hold on a moment.

Pull over.

Tim, what does this PA know?

That's not the point. Take this seriously.

I am.

As long as Barron doesn't know why he was forging those cheques

they can only incriminate him further.

- He doesn't know what the cash was for? - Of course not. He's a PA, that's all.

Good. Let me call someone.

I'll ring you right back.

Ian. Neil Haughton.

I'm led to believe Deed is trying to take over this case.

I know. It's not acceptable.

Ian, this could threaten the government.

I do understand, Home Secretary.

We'll make sure it doesn't.

Tell me, how?

The right decision was to abandon this trial.

It's not my view, Ben.

But this is not your case. You can't take it over, John.

Lord Merriman in Bolton v Bolton was quite clear about that.

I'm not taking it over.

Mrs Recorder Mills is still the judge of record.

She's still there for the interlocutions.

I am a High Court judge sitting as I would

to advise a probationer.

As much as I might enjoy bringing Deed to heel,

how do you propose it's done?

You are the presider, Monty.

- You have the authority. - Only if he accedes to it.

I'll speak to him.

It's your flouting the rules like this, John,

that's put you beyond the pale.

- I'm trying to uphold the law. - That's not how it appears.

A High Court judge should be the very embodiment of the law,

not put himself above it.

There is political pressure on this case and I won't have it.

John, you're becoming obsessed with corruption in high places.

Sir Tim Listfield is not on trial, nor is the Home Secretary.

Maybe they should be.

That's not for you or Mrs Mills to decide.

If you do, the rule of law will start to break down.

Oh, God, man. Do we have to kidnap you to save you from yourself?

Was Mrs Mills kidnapped?

I believe what she told me.

I've always found her too emotional for the bar, much less the bench.

If you don't stand back from this,

I'm going to have to talk to the Lord Chief Justice.

Jo, we can do this.

What if they hurt Michael?

We can't allow ourselves to be held to ransom in this way.

If we do,

the law is lost.

Come on.

With respect, my lord.

Are you now hearing the case instead of the learned recorder?

No, Mr Sorrell, I'm sitting as a winger, as is my right.

Refer all points of law to Judge Mills.

Mr Cantwell?

Your Honour, the handwriting expert has confirmed that the

18 additional cheques for cash were forged by Rufus Barron.

Mr Cantwell, this could indicate

that your client is involved in additional crimes.

No. We would argue there was a culture

whereby the defendant was encouraged to sign cheques on Listfield's behalf.

Only if the jury agrees

that the defendant wasn't stealing from his employer.

If you run this as part of your defence

the CPS could be obliged to add further charges to the indictment.

Might I have a short adjournment?

20 minutes, Mr Cantwell.

All rise.

Don't go there, Mr Cantwell, please.

Don't ask me about those cheques.

It's the only way I can defend you.

It's clear the cheques were forged by you,

but we have to know where the money went.

Because it doesn't look good, Rufus.

You were drawing out huge sums of cash. It looks like you were stealing it.

I can't tell you.

Are you protecting someone other than Listfield?

Look, Rufus, having a love affair and his giving you the money,

it's a perfectly valid defence.

It only falls down if you had the money

from his forged signature and we don't show where it's gone.

I won't hurt Tim.

No matter what he does to me.

What he's doing to you is ruining your life.

It was a bribe.

Over a business deal.

Well, I guessed that much.

Who for?

I can't tell you.

You mean you won't.

Mr Cantwell?

We are not going to pursue the culture

that allowed Rufus Barron to sign Listfield's cheques.

I would instead like to resume by cross-examining

Sir Tim Listfield.

Sir.

Do you know how much money you have in the bank?

Not enough for bloated rats to steal.

Didn't you, in fact, give Mr Barron the money?

Why would I give him £4.4 million?

Because he promised you love and loyalty.

Mr Cantwell, you're either a complete fool

or a fantasist like your client.

Answer the question.

A lot of people working for me are loving and loyal.

I treat them right.

I don't give them my hard-earned millions.

All the money that went into accounts

controlled by Mr Barron was money transferred by you,

that you signed over to him.

What about the £300,000 and the £400,000 he forged cheques for?

That money has never been traced to the defendant.

Well, he forged my signature.

You badly used your vulnerable PA, who was helplessly in love with you,

asking him to hide away money from the woman you were divorcing,

under the pretence that you'd run away together.

You're talking about nearly £4.5 million.

I could have half the country for that sort of money,

if I was so inclined.

Is that how you saw Mr Barron?

As a commodity to serve your sexual appetite?

He stole my money.

You are bisexual?

Do I have to answer this drivel?

You can simply say you're not, if it's not true.

Well, of course it's not true. I've had three wives.

That must mean something, even in this cock-eyed court.

Sometimes marriage is a means to disguise the fact.

You'll just have to take my word.

Oh, I'm sure the jury will happily take your word, sir,

just as the DTI did

when you inflated the value of your company

in your application for third-generation phone licences.

Just as the workers at Whittakers did before you sacked 1400 of them

after promising you wouldn't.

But I did keep another 4000 in work.

Sir, I put it to you again. You are bisexual.

The money you gave Mr Barron was a nest egg

for the two of you to set up a secret home together,

and to stop, I quote,

"My money-grabbing wife from getting it."

I've reached a settlement with my ex-wife.

And once you'd reached that settlement

you demanded the return of the money you'd had Mr Barron hide.

But he believed your story that you'd run away together.

He was serious about you. He wanted to make it work.

So you cast him aside and accused him of stealing your money. Yes?

You're as mad as he is.

I'm heterosexual.

I've never had sex with a man. Not any man.

And if I did it certainly wouldn't be with a fat poof like that.

Tim, I've lost weight like you said.

Rufus, listen to me.

Whatever you had or think you have with Tim Listfield,

it's over.

- But I did lose the weight. - Rufus, look at me.

It's a fantasy.

He doesn't give a fig about you or your feelings. He never did.

He'd happily see you go to jail for 10 years.

The only way that can happen is by keeping quiet

and not telling about those two cash payments

for £300,000 and £400,000.

Rufus, can you imagine what 10 years in clink will be like?

It won't be pleasant.

Stop protecting Listfield.

Tell me where the money went.

Will you tell me?

Your Honour, a matter of grave concern has arisen.

Might I see you in chambers?

All rise.

Mr Barron said £700,000 cash withdrawals

were a bribe for over-runs on defence contracts.

- Is there evidence of that, Brian? - He says there is.

Oh, it gets worse.

The bribe was for a cabinet minister.

That is a very serious allegation.

It is likely to incriminate your client as well as Listfield.

I did warn him of that.

Did he name the minister?

He did.

Only two items on your bank statement remain unexplained.

Only two items have any interest to this court at the moment.

17 and 24.

Cash withdrawals for £300,000 and £400,000 respectively.

That's a lot of cash.

Almost three quarters of a million pounds.

Can you tell us what happened to it?

- No, I can't. - Oh, you can't.

Or you won't?

Well, I assume my thieving PA took it to fuel his fantasies.

We can account for all the money you gave him.

I gave him nothing apart from his salary.

£300,000 and £400,000 in cash.

Huh?

Well?

Well, ask him.

He forged my signature.

On your instructions

so that you could distance yourself from the money, is that not so?

No.

Isn't it also true you used the money for a bribe?

I know nothing of any bribe.

Isn't it true that you bribed a cabinet minister?

You needn't answer that question if you feel

that it might incriminate you.

Well, it certainly will if I don't answer it.

Mr Cantwell, your client is a total fantasist.

And isn't it true that these payments

were for helping facilitate double and triple billing

for equipment on defence contracts that were ludicrously over budget?

- Total garbage. - Sir, I ask you again.

Were the two cash withdrawals on your account

for £300,000 and £400,000, Lines 17 and 24 on the statement,

money to bribe a cabinet minister?

No.

And whoever told you that is a total liar.

Oh, it is you who has the record for lies and deception.

Is it not, sir?

Get Deed off this embezzlement case.

We're trying. He doesn't respond.

Well, this is ridiculous. Aren't you in control of your judges?

At this rate they'll be running the country instead of the cabinet.

Is the Lord Chancellor up for Deed's public humiliation?

Let's try the newshounds first.

Is there nothing else in your canon?

Only a move to split him away from Mrs Mills.

She is still officially running the case.

Thank you, Rosie.

Two great legal minds.

I'm optimistic of a solution.

Neither Joe nor I can find the answer you want, Ian.

But Deed slept with the claimant,

and before giving judgement.

- That is a separate issue. - And he gave judgement against her.

Perhaps she was a poor lover. That hardly excuses him, Joe.

It does not.

This judge is completely out of control.

There must be some way to bring him to account.

Yes, Ian. Impeach him.

I hardly think the Lord Chancellor

will welcome that degree of publicity for the bench.

With what Deed is threatening to expose, he may have no choice.

- Hello. - Jo, it's me. Are you ready?

Sir John. Jill Miro.

I'm a journalist. Do you mind if I ask you some questions?

Yes, I would mind.

Is it true you had extra-marital relations with a woman

who was a claimant in your court?

- Did you ask the claimant? - Yes, I did.

Then you have your answer.

Perhaps you'd like to set the record straight, Sir John.

All right. Extra-marital means adulterous.

Adultery is voluntary sexual intercourse

between a married man and a woman who is not his wife.

- I'm not married. - But you shouldn't have done it.

It seems you've written your story.

Sorry about all this.

- Feeling any better? - A bit.

Little by little, huh?

Sir John, did you have an affair with Morag Hughes

at the Judges' Seminar in Warwick?

Any comment, Sir John?

Sir John, any comment?

Would you believe me if I told you it wasn't true?

I'd be obliged to. You're a High Court judge.

She was a plant. I spotted her a mile off.

I think Laurence James put her on to me.

I don't know where I fit into your life, John.

All that seems to drive you is the perpetual struggle

against the club that you so much want to be in.

John.

I've heard the DCA are intending to impeach you.

Surprise me.

They're going to offer you a way out.

As shabby as this is,

you might be advised to take it.

Your Honour, the prosecution declines to go on with this case.

John, can they do this?

John, what should I do?

This isn't acceptable.

I think it best if I direct the jury to acquit.

No.

Mr Sorrell, you've closed your case.

Mr Cantwell should have the opportunity to present his.

But we would argue for a dismissal. There is no case to answer.

That's not as I read it, Mr Cantwell.

Let's have the jury back.

Then I intend to call Rufus Barron.

Mr Barron,

can you tell the court

how £3.7 million came to be in your personal account?

I took it out of Tim's account and put it into my account.

Why did you do that?

I believed I was going off to a new life with Tim.

This is rubbish!

I'm sorry, Tim.

Did you have any sort of relationship with Tim Listfield

other than employer/employee?

Yes.

He plucked me out of the accounts department of Whittakers.

We'd met at the Christmas party.

It's all lies.

- Did he make you any promises? - He said he found me very personable.

As we got closer he said he knew where this was going.

We couldn't fight it.

Did Listfield fight it?

No, he didn't.

He didn't want to.

He was going through such a terrible time with his wife.

People think he's just a ruthless businessman, but he's not.

I've seen him at his most vulnerable.

Thank you.

Why are you here, Mr Barron?

I don't understand the question.

Why are you standing trial

instead of living the life of luxury with Tim Listfield

with whom you say you had an affair?

I'd put on a lot of weight.

One day he just said, "You're too fat for me."

You're too fat?

It was very, very hurtful.

This decent, hardworking businessman

just left you with all his money, did he?

No, he put the police onto me.

You betrayed his trust. You stole from him.

No, he gave me the money.

Mr Barron, you're a fantasist. This whole story,

the love affair, the castle in Spain,

Tim Listfield telling you to put the money into your account

to keep it from his divorcing wife is a lie, isn't it?

- A fantasy. - No, it's all true.

The facts are, Mr Barron, that you placed bank transfers

made out either to cash or bogus concerns

in front of your busy, trusting boss and he signed without close attention.

You repeatedly siphoned his money into your account,

sometimes forging Sir Tim Listfield's signature.

No, it's not true.

Tim Listfield never so much as looked at you

with any sexual connotation, did he?

He did. He did, he loved me.

Are you telling this jury

that a man whose name has been connected romantically

with some of the world's most beautiful, most glamorous women

was only pretending to be heterosexual?

The fact is, your humble job

brought you into contact with the super-rich

and you thought you should be super rich.

But instead of earning your riches, you chose to steal them from your employer,

then make up cruel, hurtful lies to disguise what you are.

A thief and a liar

with no regard whatsoever for Tim Listfield's feelings.

- That's not true. - It's exactly true.

There can be no other explanation.

Sir Tim Listfield is a knight of the realm,

a provider of thousands of jobs,

a wealth creator,

a decent, honourable man.

What about the cash he made me get to bribe people?

Including people in government.

- Well, this is another fantasy. - It's the absolute truth.

Mr Barron, do you have evidence of the people who were bribed?

Look at the statements.

Stop this now or it could get completely out of hand.

No, it would look as if we're suppressing sensitive evidence.

Mr Barron.

Item 13, the statement, Line 27,

the withdrawal of £100,000 in cash.

That was a payment to two officials in the Department of Trade.

Yes. Why were they being bribed?

To help pass double and triple billing on defence equipment.

He also gave a minister of state

£700,000 in cash on two separate occasions

to accept his company's over-runs

on their original estimates for radar equipment.

What were these, Mr Barron?

The company estimated £680 million

to develop a new radar system for the navy.

It went over budget by £700 million,

due almost entirely to double and triple billing.

- That's a lie! - Silence.

They were extra development costs.

Thank you, Usher.

Do you have anything to substantiate this?

Yes.

I have photocopies of every extra bill.

Things that were paid for twice and three times over by taxpayers.

He bribed the minister to sign off on these extra charges.

Line 17 and 24 on the statement,

a £300,000 and a £400,000 cash withdrawal a month apart,

which he made me sign cheques for.

Where are these details?

My instructing solicitor has gone to collect them

from Mr Barron's mother's house.

Thank you, Mr Cantwell.

Who was the minister?

Neil Haughton.

But he named the current Home Secretary.

It's totally libellous.

I'll sue anyone who prints one word of it.

What's our legal system worth

if anyone can be libelled and with no redress?

The PM will have Deed's guts.

Mrs Channing.

- What the hell are you doing? - Mrs Channing, my lord.

You should never have let that happen.

- It's your way of getting back at Neil. - No such thing.

He couldn't defend himself. You should have defended him.

He could apply to make a statement in open court.

- It warrants a judicial enquiry. - Oh, with you heading it?

What are you trying to do? Destroy Neil's career?

It's so mean-minded.

I was never that, George. If there isn't an inquiry

it will look like a cover-up.

There's nothing to cover up.

Neil didn't take Listfield's money.

How do you know?

How do you know, George?

They go way back before you.

That doesn't make them corrupt.

Look, I know Neil. He's worth over 70 million.

Why would he risk his position, his credibility, his liberty?

Because he thinks he won't get caught.

Why do you think he brought your father in

on the One-Way shares scam?

End this now. Stop the trial.

Or what?

I get pushed out of a window?

- It didn't happen. - No?

I know who I believe.

Mr Cantwell, where is your instructing solicitor

and his startling evidence?

Regrettably, my lord, it wasn't to be found.

Do the diaries actually exist?

Mr Barron insists they do.

He said they showed minute details of meetings with the people

he says were bribed by Listfield.

All the meetings corresponded

with large sums of money withdrawn in cash.

Well, he is a fantasist, Brian.

Without any evidence this is all just speculation, John.

Is there evidence that Listfield had homosexual relations with the defendant?

Only Barron's word.

My client was married three times.

A new lady caused his latest divorce,

not a man.

Possibly Mr Barron is a fantasist.

We have to let the jury take a view on that.

That would be to risk reputations

that do not deserve to be put at risk, my lord.

Listfield, civil servants, even the Home Secretary.

All on the uncorroborated story

from a man who seems unable to tell fact from fiction.

The alternative would shriek cover-up, wouldn't it, Ian?

It's your call, Jo.

I would like all the evidence thoroughly examined and investigated.

However, you are not trying anyone other than the defendant.

You have heard all sorts of allegations against the Home Secretary

and Sir Tim Listfield.

Allegations are not evidence.

On the other hand, where you believe that an allegation is supported

then you may act if you find that it's relevant.

Remember, the defendant does not have to prove that he is innocent.

The prosecution must prove his guilt.

Now, would you please retire and consider your verdict?

- These are only photocopies, Steve. - He must have the diaries well hidden.

The girls will find them.

Stand up, please.

Will the jury foreman please stand?

On the first count on the indictment,

obtaining property by deception,

how do you find Rufus Barron? Guilty or not guilty?

Not guilty.

Excuse me.

Congratulations again, Rufus.

Not only are you a free man, you're also a rich one.

Tim will never forgive me for what I've done.

Oh, get real, Rufus.

There was no love affair, was there?

He did ask me to hide money from his wife.

But did he ask you to buy a sports car and a home in Spain with his money?

- Thanks for everything, Mr Cantwell. - Mmm-hmm.

Oh, you know he will sue you to get his money back.

I'll take your case on, for cash.

This situation can only get worse.

Not only is Deed pushing for a judicial inquiry

into the affairs of Haughton and Listfield,

he has the civil action

involving Cardinal Waste Management PLC.

It's a sister company of Listfield's.

You can't take the case away from him now he's started it.

We can, Monty, and we will.

You must wrest it back.

I will not.

Then we will draft in Michael Niven to do so.

Ah, Mimi.

Mrs Mills, might I have a word with John?

Of course.

You were quite right to resist that offer.

It was scandalously political.

It's beginning to feel as though we are all working

for Her Majesty's Government PLC.

Just be careful.

Thanks, Monty.

He hopes you'll consider sitting full time as a judge, Jo.

It gets better and better.

John, nobody believes what happened.

I do.

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