Original subtitles

Prepare for "The Beast from the East".

We're drawing our air all the way from Russia

where it was -41 this morning.

"The Beast from the East" hits the West.

REPORTER: In Salisbury, members of the public were out

clearing the roads to our hospital to ensure ambulances can get there safely.

REPORTER 2: There have been countless acts of kindness throughout today.

Weather conditions like this really bring out the best in people.

NEWSREADER: After the big freeze, the thaw.

REPORTER: As West Country became one big family

over the last 26 hours or so.

MAN ON PHONE: The community spirit we know in Salisbury is fantastic...

FEMALE REPORTER: Our towns and cities are now clearing

and things get back to normal.

CELEBRANT SINGS: # Oh, Lord open our lips #

CHOIR SINGS: # And our mouths shall show forth thy praise #

CELEBRANT SINGS: # Our God make speed to save us #

CHOIR SINGS: # Oh, Lord make haste to he/p us #

# Glory to the Father and to the Son # — MAN GRUNTS

# And to the Holy Ghost #

MAN GRUNTS

# As it was in the beginning... #

# ...is now, and forever shall be #

# Amen #

WOMAN GASPS

THEY GRUNT

INDISTINCT MUTTERS

CROWD CHATTERS

WOMAN: Can you hear me? Can you...

Echo Lima Seven Nine arriving at the Maltings now.

OFFICER ON RADIO: Roger that, over.

Back please, everybody, back!

Back, far back, please.

SIREN WAILS — Back ladies, back. Right back.

SIREN WAILS — As far as you can, back.

Sir, can you hear me?

OFFICER ON RADIO: He//med 22, location, the Ma/t/ngs, Salisbury.

Two casualties reported, over.

MAN 2 ON RADIO: He//med 22, received, over.

HELICOPTER WHIRS

SIRENS WAIL

Please, pardon me. Right back, that's it.

What's going on?

Can you hear me, madam? Madam, can you hear me?

Sir, can you hear me?

Can you squeeze my hand? — INDISTINCT RADIO CHATTER

HELIMED: OK, the car park's going to Work, yeah?

Zero, four, five degrees.

MACHINE WHIRS

LIQUID SPLASHES

PHONE RINGS

WOMAN ON RADIO: Echo Lima Seven One, What's your sit-rep, over?

INDISTINCT CHATTER

MAN ON RADIO: Three ground units...

Established a basic cordon. Quite a few onlookers, over.

WOMAN ON RADIO: Roger. Casualty status, over.

MAN ON RADIO: May appear to be critical, over.

WOMAN ON RADIO: Roger that.

Look, Control, can We get a pass on this from CID?

It just feels a bit off.

This is DS Nick Bailey at Bourne Hill, come in.

Making my way to the scene now, over.

WOMAN ON RADIO: D8 Bailey, received, over.

Shouldn't be too long. Behave yourselves, yeah?

We try. — SHE GIGGLES

CHURCH BELL CHIMES — Hello, love.

You have a nice time? — Yeah, Nan. Great.

H9Y-

How are you doing?

Yeah, I'm good, Mum. Just...

doing good. — SIREN WAILS

Right, we'll see you soon, love.

Mm!

See you, Mum. — SHE CHUCKLES

See you, love.

POLICEWOMAN: Four, one, eight.

MAN ON RADIO: Echo Lima One Nine, We'/I need samples of--

Afternoon. — Hiya.

MAN ON RADIO: ...for toxicology, over.

Could be fentanyl. The lab is standing by, over.

Echo Lima One Nine. Yeah, A/ex is...

Rather you than me, mate. — Yeah.

What do you reckon, an overdose?

PC: It's a bit weird.

Bloke in his 60s, girl in her 30s, both from one address.

There's not many druggies with credit cards either.

Skripal, "Skry-pa|"? HE MUTTERS

PC: Maybe they're tourists.

No, it says Christie Miller Road, look.

I tell you what, mate, let's let Trumpton give that a proper hose down.

God knows what's happened here.

Right, this is DS Nick Bailey.

Can I have a uniform sent to the following address, please?

Christie Miller Road, Sergei Skripal.

INDISTINCT CHATTER

Hiya. — Hiya, Dawn.

Hello, you. How are you?

What's all that about?

Overdose, they're saying.

Nobody we know, though.

POLICE RADIO CHATTER

DOG BARKS IN DISTANCE

DOORBELL RINGS

DOOR SHUTS

He's gone out with his daughter.

Everything alright?

BAILEY: We wanna check there's no other casualties.

Uh, we haven't got a warrant but there is a neighbour with a spare key.

Yeah, should be fine.

Yeah? — Yeah, yeah. Go for it.

Alright, let's have a look

but let her go in first and then you follow, over.

POLICEMAN ON RADIO: Received, over.

HOLLOWAY: Nick!

Yeah? — HOLLOWAY: Nick, you have to see this.

What?

I just googled him.

Do not go in that house. Repeat, do not go in that house, over.

POLICEMAN ON RADIO: OK, sarge, standing by, over.

Now, scroll down.

Bloody hell.

Are these even proper forensic suits?

Not exactly.

Got them off a mate in the Fire Service.

Really? — Well, it's the best I could do on a Sunday.

Alright.

Where's the bodycam, Keith, please?

Yep. — Cheers.

Right, come on then. — BAILEY: I'll go first, guv.

MANT: Be my guest.

There you go.

MANT: Entering the house of Sergei Skripal.

Present are officers DI Mant, DS Bailey and PC Murray.

Time is 00:20 hours, 5th March, 2018.

CLOCK TICKS

Hello?

Hello?

OK.

CAT MEOWS — Oh...

That must be him, look.

Did you get that? Yeah?

MANT: You OK, Nick? — Mm-hm.

GUINEA PIG SQUEAKS

Echo Lima Seven Seven, nothing unusual at the premises.

Standard forensic procedure followed, over.

WOMAN ON RADIO: Echo Lima Seven Seven, acknowledge, over.

Received.

MONITORS BEEP

Finally got one from Medical Physics.

DOCTOR: They really think radiation is a possibility?

Well, they want us to rule nothing out.

I've sent off for every prescription and recreational drug I can think of.

Uh, we'll need to take some bloods for the MoD too.

DEVICE BEEPS

Hm.

MANT: You've been writing that for ages.

How you getting on? — Nearly done, mate, yeah.

HE SIGHS

HE EXHALES

HE SNIFFS

WOMAN ON TV: ...weather, cloudy start, showers this afternoon, highs of seven

lows of one tonight and patchy fog around tomorrow, mainly cloudy.

MAN ON TV: Martin Stark at breakfast

Waking up South I/I/I/tsh/re and West Hampshire

with proper music variety. Spire FM. — Six, seven, eight...

Come on, Tobes.

MAN GROANS

Come on, Tobes.

RADIO NEWS PLAYS INDISTINCTLY

...Ma/t/ngs in Salisbury.. . — MAN GRUNTS

Mum, watch. — No, I am. I am, I'm watching.

...cenz'ra/ car park. — PHONE RINGS

MAN: Great.

More heroic stories have emerged from the snow...

Alistair. — ALISTAIR: Morning, Tracy.

Can you come in earlier today, soon as you can?

Yeah, yeah, of course.

ALISTAIR: I'm sorry about this.

No, no, it's OK. I'll leave now.

MAN GRUNTS — See you soon.

Bye.

Bye. — BOY GRUNTS

Look, Mum, I won!

Oh, I know, I saw.

Ted, can you do the school run?

No problem.

Everything alright?

I'm not sure, Alistair didn't say.

Hey,Tobes“.

Iove you.

Boom!

Love you, boom!

See you GUYS-

MUSIC ON RADIO: "He's Frank" by The Monochrome Set

# But now the red's in his eyes, he's no longer a prize #

WOMAN: Nick? — Hiya.

Sorry I'm late.

Or early. Do you want a cup of, uh... a cuppa?

WOMAN: Oh, yeah. I'd love one.

HE SIGHS

WATER RUNS

HE SNIFFS

KETTLE BOILS

BAILEY: Morning. — Good morning.

You alright?

Oh, legend!

Hello. — Hello.

Rough night?

Weird night, yeah.

Mm.

What's up with your eyes?

With my eyes?

Yeah, your pupils are tiny.

Are they? — Yeah.

Mm...

Mm.

Oh! _ Daddy!

Here she is...

Big girl, hello. — Daddy!

Hello. — Girls, go on down and get some cereal.

I'll be there in a sec, OK?

Go on. HE SNIFFS

You sleep now, yeah?

Alright. — GIRLS GIGGLE

HE SIGHS

RADIO REPORTER: Without Water because pipes have burst.

Wiltshire's weather, well, it is looking bright for a time this morning.

LOCK CLICKS

Morning, Annie. — Morning, Tracy.

ALISTAIR: We're on a conference call.

Are you still there, Dave?

DAVE: Yes, yes.

OK, Tracy's here now too.

Thanks, no one else in the room? — Uh, no one else.

Tracy, hi. It's Superintendent Dave Minty over at VI/I/tshire Police.

Hiya, Dave. — Hi, um...

We have a bit of a situation developing regarding the two people Who collapsed

yesterday at the Ma/t/ngs.

We think there's a significant risk to public health

and We 're gonna need your expertise.

Are you CBRN trained?

CBRN trained?

Yeah, chemical, biological, radiological-- - Oh, yeah. No.

I mean, yeah. I know what you mean.

Yes, I am.

Good, um, security clearance?

Tracy's Category One, Dave.

DAVE: OK, um...

Tracy, can you make your Way down here as qu/ck/y as possible?

Myself and DOC Mills will brief you when you arrive.

Wait, Dave.

We need to minimise the risk to the public immediately.

Do a call round of the first responders at the scene.

Just ask 'em how they're feeling, would you?

DAVE: OK, Will do.

OK, bye, Dave. — DAVE: Bye.

I've got a food hygiene seminar this morning.

Don't worry about that. Owen's gonna cover it, OK?

Um...

Good luck.

Yeah.

HE MUTTERS

RADIO PLAYS INDISTINCTLY IN DISTANCE

HE GROANS

MONITORS BEEP

INDISTINCT CHATTER ON RADIO

KNOCK ON DOOR — MAN: Come.

Ah...

Paul.

Dave.

Have a seat.

Tracy, everything you're about to hear is Cat One protected, OK?

Understood.

The two people who took ill at the Maltings yesterday

are Sergei and Yulia Skripal.

Father and daughter. They're Russian.

OK.

Sergei was a high-level MI6 agent

inside Russia's GRU intelligence service.

Now, he was moved to the UK as part of a spy swap.

For some reason, they put him in Salisbury.

Right.

The initial toxicology results suggest that this is not a drugs overdose.

So what do we think it is?

We don't know yet.

Samples of their blood have been sent for testing at Porton Down.

Mr Skripa|'s background rang some alarm bells.

Not just with us, in Whitehall

because of the Litvinenko case in 'O6.

Do you think this is an assassination attempt?

MILLS: We wouldn't want to speculate publicly.

Privately, everything's on the table, yeah.

But that was polonium, right?

MILLS: Right. But the Skripals have been checked for radiation.

There is none. — MINTY: Now, we are setting up

a Gold Command Operation Centre here in the building

to run the public health response.

And since you're the director of Public Health for Wiltshire

we're gonna need you right at the heart of this along with us.

So, any questions?

Anyone else reporting ill?

Not so far. — DOOR BUZZES

We have to track back.

We have to...? — We have to track the Skripa|'s movement

up until the moment they collapsed.

Then anyone else connected with the places they visited, see if they become ill too.

Just like in case of food poisoning.

You have to hand your phone in. — Oh.

It's Tracy Daszkiewicz.

Have you ordered up the CCTV already?

I've requested it, yes.

This is your humble abode.

You ever done anything like this before?

I'll tell you when I know what it is we're doing.

Uh, meeting in 20. Ops room at the end of the corridor.

DANCE MUSIC BLARES IN DISTANCE

DAWN WHISPERS: OK.

SHE SNIFFS

INDISTINCT CHATTER IN DISTANCE

WOMAN:

Dawn, you've made an application for independent housing.

DAWN: Yeah.

And I really feel that I'm making progress

and getting my own place will really mean that I can spend a lot more time with Gracie.

WOMAN: Yeah, well...

I think there are a few things we need to discuss first.

Dawn, you do have some significant rent arrears.

I'm working on that.

I paid some this month.

Some, yes.

But as you know, the council have to feel confident

that you'll be able to keep up with your payments

and you still need to get your alcohol consumption under control.

Yeah.

SHE SIGHS

MACHINERY WHIRS

POLICE RADIO: This is TST two, seven, zero.

We're arriving at the IOU now, over.

TST two, seven, zero received. — INDISTINCT CHATTER

POP MUSIC PLAYS ON RADIO — Hiya.

You feeling better?

BAILEY: I am feeling a bit better, yeah.

Yeah“.

PHONE RINGS

Hello? — WOMAN: DS Bailey?

I'm calling from I/I/I/tsh/re HO. I've been asked to check how you might be.

BAILEY: I feel fine, yeah, a bit...

Nope.

WOMAN: Nothing to Worry about, We're just asking everyone to drop into the hospital.

It won't take long. Staff are expecting you.

BAILEY: OK then, thank you.

Bye.

SARAH: Who was that?

It was, uh...

just work, look, I'm gonna, um...

nip to the shops, alright? — OK.

DISTANT CHATTER

INDISTINCT CHATTER

Oh, thank you. — Thank you.

MILLS: Right, welcome everybody.

For those of you who don't know me, I am DCC Paul Mills.

We're moving quickly here so if you don't mind I'll, uh...

I'll let you introduce yourselves as we go along.

I've just been informed that this is now a criminal investigation

to be run by counter-terrorism command.

They believe that this is indeed some sort of attack

on two Russian citizens.

So, our job in this room is not to find out who did it

but to keep the people of Salisbury safe.

This will be multi-agency, national as well as local

so we're gonna have to work together as a team.

Uh, Tracy, would you like to go first?

Oh, uh, Tracy Daszkiewicz, Director of Public Health for Wiltshire.

Don't worry, there won't be a spelling test. SHE CHUCKLES

OK, so the victims show no signs of radioactivity

but we're still no closer to knowing what the toxin may be.

I think we should assume for now that it's something they ate or drank.

Our goal here is to find the source of the contamination.

Ground zero.

If we can do that then we stand a fighting chance of locking this down quickly

and stopping any contagion.

But the longer it takes...

the worse it's gonna get.

Um, there's just a couple of things I need.

Witness reports from the first responders, that would be really useful.

Sure, no problem. — And I'd like to have a look

at the Maltings too.

Yeah, sure. Dave'|| take you.

I still haven't seen the CCTV.

Well, I'll raise it, but it's gonna be tricky.

Why?

Security services have become involved.

Which ones? — All of them, look...

Tracy, I'm about to go into teleconference with Cobra.

When I say, "I'll raise it", I'll raise it, OK? I promise.

DOOR BUZZES

MACHINE BUZZES

I feel a bit ridiculous.

Better to get you checked out anyway.

Well, your vitals are all fine.

Blood pressure, heartrate.

No temperature, as for the pupils...

They can get like that sometimes when you're run down.

Probably just a virus.

Yeah, yeah.

That's what I thought. — Yeah.

VELCRO SCRATCHES

How was the bench cleaned?

The, uh...

the Fire Service power-hosed it.

That drain feeds into the watercourse.

So contaminated bodily fluids would have washed right into it.

For God's sake...

Where were they before that?

They visited the cemetery in the morning where Sergei's wife and son are buried.

Yep. — Drove into the city, parked in Sainsbury's

went for a pint in the Mill pub, had lunch in Zizzi's

and then they walked through the Maltings until they sat, uh...

till they sat here.

TRACY: So they walked all round town?

They could have spread it everywhere.

Barricades? — TRACY: Police tape isn't enough.

We need to seal off the whole area from the public.

It will cause a lot of disruption, that's for sure

and we still don't know what this thing is.

However, that's good reason not to take any chances.

I know it's a tough call, but there's literally people everywhere down there.

It's half the town centre. — HE SIGHS

Thanks.

RADIO PRESENTER: The hospital has said there's a multi-agency approach

and Dorset and I/Vi/tsh/re Fire Service

say they were called to the hospital this morning

to decontaminate the area outside the A&E department.

Patients are being advised to attend their scheduled appointments

unless they have been contacted directly.

We'll find out more about this for you.

Um, We're gonna talk about dogs right now, though.

Man's best friend, of course.

Here at I/Vi/tshire Police, the police dogs...

RADIO FAD ES

TRACY: Alastair, hi.

Brace yourself.

We're gonna need to use significant council resources

for a massive job in the city centre.

There could be a serious risk to the public.

No, I've got no idea how we're gonna pay for it.

Yeah, I'm sure we need it.

Got the CCTV.

Well, as soon as possible.

I can't say too much on the phone.

I've got to go.

INDISTINCT CHATTER

MINTY: Right. — Cheers.

Right.

That's them.

Feeding the swans. — TRACY: What's the time stamp?

1 :38.

MILLS: Hang on, what's that? Go back.

MINTY: A boy.

Sergei's giving him something... bread.

They could already be contaminated at this point.

That's going straight into the water too.

DOOR OPENS

Shit, shit, shit.

INDISTINCT WHISPER

The story's breaking. The Russian angle.

NEWS REPORTER: Last night, What happened here

in the centre of Salisbury resulted in teams Wearing ful/ protective suits

de con tarn/na ting the s tre e ts

Where several areas remain cordoned off.

Police, fire services and public health authorities have declared a major incident.

The first sign something was Wrong came yesterday afternoon

When a man and Woman appeared se vere/y unwell in the Ma/t/ngs area of central Salisbury.

The man and Woman are being treated at Salisbury District Hospital.

The BBC has been told that he is Sergei "Sk/rpal"

Russian, 66 years old.

In 2006...

Ross!

Mconv/cted of high treason in Russia.

Ross! — The allegation was

that he was a British spy.

In 2010, he was pardoned by the Russian authorities and came to this country...

Bloody hell. — In return for the release of ten spies

from the US.

Police arrived at Mr "Skirpafls " house in Salisbury.

Got his name wrong.

R E P O RTE R: I/Vi/tsh/re Police said they were in ves t/ga ting

Whether a crime had been committed.

INDISTINCT CHATTER — PHONES RING

MILLS: Yeah.

NEWS REPORT PLAYS INDISTINCTLY — TRACY: Hey.

Hi, you alright?

Oh, yeah, yeah, I'm fine, um...

We need to find everyone who was near to the Skripals on the CCTV footage.

The boy with the bread, onlookers...

find out if they're OK.

Public appeal? — We haven't got time for that.

We need to make more targeted.

Their mobiles, that's how we do it. — Yeah, OK.

No, not OK. It's not straight forward, Tracy, not at all.

Well, I'll... I'll think of something else.

HE SIGHS

Emma.

Get the reservation book of Zizzi's restaurant.

Call everyone who booked a table yesterday and today.

See if anyone's ill.

Dave, get on TripAdvisor.

Anyone giving a negative review in the last 24 hours

to any establishment in Salisbury.

Call 'em all.

Oh, God. What am I missing?

What the fuck am I missing?

ROSS: As soon as I make this phone call, everything changes.

WOMAN Yeah.

PHONE DIALS

OPERATOR: Emergency, What service do you require?

Police, please.

OFFICER: Hello, how can / help?

Yeah, I'm... I'm calling about Sergei Skripal

the Russian fella who fell ill in Salisbury.

OFFICER: OK, sir. What information do you have?

Yeah, it's just...

Well, he's a mate of mine and...

I think I might be the last person to have spoken to him before it happened.

This could be very important information, sir.

Ho/d on. — Yeah.

Can I have your name, please? — Cassidy.

Ross Cassidy.

Here we are.

ANNIE: Night, night, Daddy.

Come here, mwah.

Mwah. Love you both.

Love you, Daddy. — Good girls.

Wow.

Thanks“. — Well done.

Simon went to every builder's merchant from here to Bristol.

How are you gonna pay for it? — Well, that won't be the problem.

This place is gonna look very different tomorrow morning.

I've already had dozens of calls from local businesses asking what's going on.

What am I gonna tell them about this?

INDISTINCT CHATTER

SHE MUTTERS

NEWSREADER: Tonight, officers in protective suits and gas masks

have been examining the contents of a nearby bin

and a Wide cordon remains in place.

Detectives say they are keeping an open mind about the incident

and are Working to find out Whether a crime has been committed...

SIREN WAILS

...understood to be Sergei Skr/pa/

a former Russian Secret Service agent

convicted in Russia of spying for Britain...

Please, God...

...raise questions about how far afield their investigation will stretch.

HELICOPTER WHIRS

ROSS: How the hell did they find out?

I've only just called the bloody police.

SHE SIGHS

TOBY ON PHONE: VI/I//you help me With if? — TRACY: Yeah.

Alright, Tobes. I'll see you in the morning. — SAT NAV CHATTERS

TOBY: Promise? — TRACY: I do. I love you.

Night, Mum.

TRACY: Goodnight, darling. — Love you.

Love you too.

Are you from the council? — TRACY: Yeah.

Right.

Tracy Daszkiewicz.

Director of Public Health for Wiltshire.

My kids were playing here this morning.

I want a bloody explanation and I want it now.

Well, I tell you what, you make me a cuppa

and I'll tell you everything I can. How's that?

Alright. — Yeah?

Professor Atkins.

Can you set up a call with JIC, please? On the TACIT line.

WOMAN: Yes, sir.

HE MOANS

Hey, babe. Come in. — INDISTINCT CHATTER

DANCE MUSIC BLARES

Come on in, my friends. How are you? Good!

MAN: You've got a drink, yeah?

PHONE RINGS

Dave?

Yeah.

Oh, what?

SCREAMS FROM COMPUTER

LAUGHTER AND CHATTER

SCREAMS FROM COMPUTER

CHILDREN WAIL — FIRE CRACKLES

SCREAMS FROM COMPUTER

FIRE CRACKLES

DANCE MUSIC BLARES

SIREN WAILS

Mm...

HE GROANS

WAILS FROM COMPUTER

SHE SIGHS

HE VOMITS

HE GASPS

HE GRUNTS

HE GROANS

HE GRUNTS

HE GRUNTS

BODY THUDS

HE GRUNTS

PEOPLE SNORE

BIRDSONG

ANNIE SCREAMS

ANNIE: Mum! Mum! — What?

Mum! — What... what's wrong?

What... what's happened? What? What?

ANNIE SOBS

Nick! — ANNIE SOBS

OK, it's OK. It's OK.

It's alright, darling. He's alright.

Just lie down.

Dad? — Ellie, I need you to call an ambulance.

Now! Can you call an ambulance, please?

The phone's in the kitchen, OK?

Are you in pain?

Darling...

Just breathe, OK.

I'm here.

INDISTINCT SHOUTS — Can I get a few questions, please?

REPORTER: .../ast ten years in the UK and very //tt/e has been heard of him

or known about him... — ROSS: Bastards.

DOORBELL RINGS

I'm sorry, but as I've said to your colleagues

I have no comment to make at this time.

Mr Cassidy, I'm Detective Inspector Lata Mishra

counter—terrorism command.

This is my colleague Detective Sergeant Rob Andrews.

Better come in. — Thank you.

Mo, they're here.

INDISTINCT RADIO BROADCAST

Put the kettle on, love.

MO: Um, how do you take your tea?

Black, no sugar.

No sugar, please. — MO: OK.

PHONE RINGS

SHE SNORES

SHE MUTTERS

PHONE RINGS

Oh, Jesus...

Mum. — CAROLINE: How you doing?

I, uh...

You on your Way, love?

MAN SIGHS

CAROLINE: It's OK.

What's happened has happened.

I'll call you later.

Yeah,bye.

Sorry, love.

She's a bit unwell.

Sick tummy.

Come on.

I was supposed to see Gracie.

I forgot I was supposed to see Gracie.

HE SIGHS — SHE SOBS

Hey, Dawnie, come here. — I've got to change, Charlie.

SHE SOBS — It's OK, come on, it's OK.

Thank you. Oh, cheers! — DOOR BUZZES

Thank you.

Tracy Daszkiewicz.

Not many people get that right first time!

Professor Tim Atkins, Porton Down.

Oh, how do you do? After you. — OFFICER: All electronic equipment

capable of linking to the internet, please.

Phones, laptops, iPads, smart watches, Fitbits in the lockers.

Right, thanks.

Ah. — Professor Atkins.

Yeah.

DCC Mills. — Very nice to meet you.

MILLS: Novichok? — ATKINS: It's a Russian word.

It means, "newcomer".

It was developed by the USSR during the Cold War

and it's one of the deadliest synthetic substances on Earth.

It's so toxic that a spoonful with the right delivery mechanism

could kill thousands.

Salisbury hospital has declared a major incident, just in case.

But if it's so toxic...

how come the Skripals are still alive?

The paramedics assumed that they'd overdosed on fentanyl

so they gave them a shot of naloxone

which also happens to help combat nerve agent toxicity.

Plus, it was cold, further inhibiting the speed

with which the substance took effect.

So, in this case, they just about clung to life.

For now. — MILLS: What does Novichok do to you?

ATKINS: It stops the brain from communicating with the rest of the body.

The victim loses control of every organ.

They all go into overdrive simultaneously.

Very few survive.

But for those that do

what are the long-term effects?

We don't know.

In terms of here in the West

the only two people that we know of that haven't died almost instantly

from nerve agent toxicity are Sergei and Yulia Skripal.

INDISTINCT ANNOUNCEMENT

Is he here? — Just there.

Detective Sergeant Bailey, and Mrs Bailey?

My name's Dr Haslem.

I'm just gonna shine a light in your eyes.

OK, thank you. I'll be right back.

OK.

So...

now we know what it is, can we start testing for it?

ATKINS: The process is difficult.

Let's say we have a deposit of nerve agent here

on this table, so we want to swab for it

so we might take one here...

and get lucky, as it were, and find it.

But if we swab here, just a few inches away...

it'll come up clean

but it's still there.

MILLS: And over time, I mean, does it, um...

ATKINS: Degrade? No.

If left untouched, it will remain lethal for a very long time.

How long?

About 50 years.

CROWD MUTTERS

So if it's on a piece of clothing or-- - ATKINS: Yes.

You could go for days or weeks without touching the precise spot but...

as soon as you do...

well...

you've seen the effects.

In terms of protecting citizens

this is about as bad as it gets.