Eternal Law (2011) s01e01 Episode Script

Whenever human beings are in trouble, that's where you'll find them.
Perhaps a tinker or a tailor, a soldier or a sailor.
Perhaps a nurse or a bin man or a stranger in the street.
Perhaps, even, a young lawyer, lying in a cornfield on a starry Yorkshire night.
Sorry, forgot to tell you about the bumpy landing! This is This is beautiful.
Give it a day or two, you'll change your tune.
I'm in the choir.
I'm good at changing tunes.
God help us! This isn't a world in trouble.
It can't be! That's what you think, is it? Come on.
Now! Will you come on! Stop bloody singing! Tom.
Yes, Tom.
I'm a Tom, not a Thomas.
Good for you.
And you're a Zak.
It's all brilliant, isn't it? 'In 200 yards, veer left.
'Recalculating.
'Turn right.
' What? 'Turn right.
' Right.
All right.
I'm doing it.
I'll talk to Mr Mountjoy about this.
Sticking a complete rookie on me.
It's a disgrace! You must have been like me once, Zak.
I was never like you! Is this the place? This is the place.
Awesome! Bloody hell! Sorry about that! Couldn't be.
He doesn't do that.
What's the matter? The woman in the car.
He doesn't do that.
Follow me and try not to touch I'm not going to touch anything! What was that? Just one man on two wheels! Best keep your singing to yourself.
I'm so sorry! Absolutely beautiful! Get off me! I'm so sorry.
I was just Forgive him.
He's an idiot.
You touched my daughter? Yes, I did.
Do you want some? Zak, do I want some? I don't think you do, no.
Come on.
Sorry! Bless you.
Sorry! It's good here, isn't it? See if they recognise me.
Zak Gist.
Suits you.
As does the new body.
Very fetching.
Mrs Sheringham.
I had no idea.
Mrs Sheringham? THE Mrs Sheringham? Let's get on with it.
What are the pubs like? Mr Greening, I presume? I won't bite! Everything you need is in this house.
Reference books, legal papers, the internet, 1,000 years of knowledge at your fingertips.
Chicken or fish? Chicken or fish? Just because you've heard this a dozen times, Mr Gist, doesn't mean Tom has.
You know he's a chorister, don't you? How long will we be here for? The tour of duty is as long as Mr Mountjoy says it is.
But do your best work and you'll be home before you know it.
I'm here to assist you both in any way that I can.
You are here to help humans.
You help them by taking on their cases and by winning their cases.
Don't get emotionally involved with them, don't sleep with them, don't kill them.
Isn't that right, Mrs Sheringham? You can guide, you can advise, comfort.
But you mustn't do it for them.
You mustn't intervene.
Mr Mountjoy gave them free will.
Which is why it couldn't have been her.
Who couldn't have been whom? Her.
Hannah.
Have we got our first case yet? Not yet, Tom.
Don't get too excited.
He'll ease you in with some unpaid parking fines or a flasher.
Now do you tell me it's a coincidence? Stay down, Hannah.
David! David! David, he's been shot! On the roof! I'll do it.
No, I'll do it.
What happens if we get shot in this world? It hurts to buggery.
Sammy! Sammy! I'll get him! No! Hannah! Your driving hasn't improved.
You You know my name.
Do I know you? I'm a lawyer.
Zak Gist.
Don't be frightened.
I'm not frightened.
Got him! Not bad for a chorister, Mr Gist.
Amazing! Is it always like this? So exciting? People nearly died.
How is she? She's in surgery now.
She'll be fine.
As long as it amuses Mr Mountjoy! Don't worry, Zak.
We'll send that man down for what he did today.
He'll feel the full force of the law.
Tell him, Mrs Sheringham.
You're to be his defence counsel.
Excuse me, I'm looking for my wife.
I don't know where she is at the moment.
Hannah? Is there anyone I can phone? Boyfriend? Husband? No.
May I ask what you were doing in York? On my way to an interview to be a junior tenant.
At Jerusalem Chambers.
I worked there.
It's a terrible place! Who invited you for interview? Can't remember.
What's it to you, anyway? When you've recovered, after the hearing, go home.
I'm not going home! I'm sorry to tell you the position's been filled.
You bastard! What have I ever done to you? A thousand things.
What? Goodbye.
Hey! Hey! Ruby! Where have you been? Ruby! Where have you been, love? Dad's going away again, isn't he? Not if I have anything to do with it! He's going away again! You know he is! Please, don't give up on your dad, Ruby.
Not like every other bugger out there! Ruby! Ruby! I'll bloody have ya! Liars! Liars! Ruby! Come inside, love! Liars! Bugger off! Tell me about Sean Yearling.
Father of Ruby, son of Harry.
Got out of prison a week ago after a two-year sentence.
For? Causing death by careless driving.
Hit and run.
He says he stopped, but the man was dead.
He panicked and drove off.
So why was he sent down? In the car with him was his then partner, Lucy.
The jury was on Sean's side until she told them that he was drunk and didn't stop.
Today was Lucy's wedding.
So Sean Yearling tried to shoot the bride? We'll go and see Sean in the morning.
See what he has to say for himself.
I've rather missed this bit! Tell us what happened, Sean.
You'll feel better when you tell somebody.
We can't help you if you won't help yourself, Mr Yearling.
Sean I didn't ask for no lawyers.
And we didn't ask for you.
But here we all are! What are your instructions, Mr Yearling? I hear what you're saying, Mr Yearling.
Thank you.
Diminished responsibility? Are you sure? You saw he head butted a table! He'snot a very nice man, is he? He's a delusional psychopath with breath like a dying warthog! But he's our dying warthog and we have to do the best for him.
Why do we have to defend a man like that? Mr Mountjoy believes even the most desolate sheep deserves a chance of salvation.
Then again, he also likes Mantovani! Sean left a man to die.
He shot at people.
So he needs our help more than a saint.
Here we are.
Jerusalem Chambers.
It's not too bad, I suppose.
Zak, it's this way.
This place is ghastly! How can I work here? You're not actually working.
I'm thinking! It's Gist and Greening, I think you'll find.
Mrs Sheringham, I'm not one to complain, as you know, but I simply can't work here.
I'm not an accountant.
I know nothing of IT.
Mr Gist, there's someone to see you.
How de do.
How do you do? My son's no angel, Mr Gist.
But he's not a bad man.
But we do think he's mad.
He was sent down on the word of that bitch Lucy! A jury agreed with her.
Spat at in the streets, stones through the windows.
Ruby gets bullied.
Tell me about Ruby.
Things must be difficult.
She lost her mother when she was two.
Then this Lucy comes along.
She liked her! "Her new mum.
" She thought! And her new mum sent her father to prison.
Lucy said Sean had been drinking.
No! He hit the man, drove off, didn't stop to see if he was alive.
She's a liar! I know my son, Mr Gist.
He'd never do that! I won't lie to you, Harry.
It doesn't look good.
He's got a grudge, he gets out of prison.
She's getting married.
He didn't shoot those people! He had the gun in his hand.
Just give him a chance, Mr Gist.
That's all I ask.
If not for his sake, for Ruby's.
Pissy old world, isn't it? What do you want? I'm Zak.
I'm your father's lawyer.
What do you want? I have to convince a jury that your dad is innocent.
He is innocent.
Have you got any evidence I can present to court? Did you see anything that day? Hear anything? I just know he wouldn't do something like that.
He's my dad.
Well, if you think of anything, Ruby, let me know.
Don't let them take him away again, please! Shall I speak to Lucy? Hear her side of the story? No, don't do anything unless I tell you to.
I can't help if you won't let me, sir.
Help? You know nothing about anything! Zak, I should tell you that I hate anddespise negativity.
Don't make the mistake I give a rat's fart what you think, you pompous twat.
If you and are going to do this May I? It's you.
Ha, of course it is! Hannah's well, I trust? That is a turn-up for the books, finding her here.
So it's true.
He's sending the Altos.
When I heard how catastrophically you'd screwed up your last time, I opened a rather splendid bottle of '73 Bouchard Morey-Saint Denis.
The '73? I'm touched! To be honest with you, I didn't think I'd see you again, old thing.
No.
Thought Mr M would wave a red card for that offence.
This gentleman, and I use the term very loosely, is going to be counsel for the prosecution.
Pleased to meet you.
And I you, Tom.
Enough! Enough! You know what he is? And you're speaking to him like he's normal? Really, I'm not that bad.
Sit down.
Don't you even talk to me! Mrs Sheringham.
I'd heard it would be you.
Gentlemen, you've work to do.
Unlike you poor boys, I am positively encouraged to get jiggy-jiggy with the natives.
Chorister.
Chorister.
What does it mean, Zak? Is it all hands to the pump? Mr Mountjoy having a bit of a panic? See you in court.
A fallen angel.
An actual fallen angel! Just stay away from him.
Look and learn.
Lucy! One moment, please.
I'm Zak Gist, Sean Yearling's lawyer.
If I could have a quick word? I've nothing to say.
This isn't just about Sean.
It's about Ruby.
Ruby has got nothing to do with me.
Not any more.
If you could help this family in any way.
My husband is lying in a hospital bed because of this family.
If you've got a decent bone in your body Listen.
Quiet! What are you doing? I'm stopping the noise.
For God's sake! Help me! Hey! What do we do now? We run.
Oi! Come back! I don't think they like us very much.
Are you all right? Prosecution's about to start.
You're home sick.
It's the most natural thing in the world.
I don't like it here, Zak.
No way! Look, it's Terry! It is, it's Terry! My God, whoever did that hasn't seen him recently! He should be holding a pie, not a dove! They'll need a bigger bit of glass! There.
He's got nothing apart from us, Tom.
'It was a pretty day, wasn't it?' The market bustling.
The scent of, I don't know, fresh fruit in the air.
It was a good day to be alive.
But for several people, it was nearly their last day alive.
Your Honour Sit down, Mr Gist.
Because that morning, this man this man woke up and he picked up a gun.
He calmly walked into the centre of the city and indiscriminately opened fire on its people.
Innocent people.
Now, the defence is going to argue that at the time of committing these acts, this man didn't know the difference between right and wrong.
Whereas my contention is that he knew exactly what he was doing.
He was attempting to commit murder.
What is this man doing? He does that, Your Honour.
I'm sure he means no offence.
I will have respect in this court.
The opening speech went well.
They're odd, aren't they? People? That's one word for them.
What's on your mind, Tom? Well, Sean bought meat before he shot at people.
Isn't that a bit strange? Three pork chops, to be precise.
How long between him buying the meat and the first shot being fired? Nobody mentions it.
Hannah was there.
She's a trained lawyer.
She may have noticed something.
All trained lawyers notice is their hourly rate! Let's talk to her.
No.
Surely it must be worth Go on your own! Why can't you come? Because Go on your own, Tom.
He's a weird one, isn't he, Mr Gist? I thought he might have come himself.
Just to run me out of town! He's busy.
Miss English, how long was it between seeing Mr Yearling buying the meat and the first gunshot? I really wanted that position.
Bloody Gist! Miss English, this might be important.
I don't know.
Two minutes? Can you be more specific? I was taking photos in the square.
I remember the wedding bells started ringing at exactly two.
The man, Sean, stuck his face down the lens.
There.
What time did I take it? Two minutes and five seconds past two.
Thank you.
You've been very useful.
Tell your Mr Gist Tell him he's a rude bastard! And he'll never see me again.
I'll tell him.
'I've got a theory.
' God help us! Go on, then, let's hear it.
I bumped into Ruby Yearling, remember? Sean Yearling was with her.
He wasn't carrying a weapon, I'm sure.
He must have hidden it on the roof earlier.
He wasn't that cold-blooded, surely.
Take your shoe off.
Pardon? Shoe off, please.
I realise this is overwhelming for you, but Sean has a bad limp from when he was attacked in prison.
He had two minutes from when Hannah first saw him to when he fired the first shot.
Go.
Faster! I can't go any faster.
Something amusing you, Mrs Sheringham? And stop.
Could you get up those stairs, take the rifle from where you've hidden it, take aim and fire in the next 90 seconds? No, I couldn't.
So Sean Yearling didn't fire the first shot.
An adjournment? Yes, Your Honour.
Additional evidence has come to our notice that we believe the jury should hear.
Then let them hear it.
The evidence requires further investigation by both us and the prosecution.
You'll have no problem from our side, Your Honour.
Justice must be done! If I thought for one moment, Mr Gist, that this was a delaying tactic It isn't.
Let's get this farce over with! I done it! I knew exactly what I was doing.
Still your tongue, Sean! And you know what? I enjoyed every bloody second.
Order! Told you he was mad! What's the point of an adjournment if he's pleading guilty? The legal term is desperation.
Mr Gist! Lucy? Can I help you? No.
It's nothing.
I was What is it? Nothing.
Lucy? Lucy! I'm not being told the truth.
That makes me cross.
You're cross quite a lot.
What could Lucy know that's so important, Richard would keep it from us? Don't move.
What? Do not move! What? Get off me! Look at that.
Ladybird.
Coccinella septempunctata.
We're in the middle of a trial for attempted murder and you're mucking around with beetles? It's so beautiful, though.
It is pretty.
Your house is on fire, your children are gone.
That's a bit harsh.
I sometimes think if people could see the outcome of their decisions, they might act differently.
That wouldn't be free will, though, would it? No, it wouldn't.
What are you doing? It's our last chance.
We're not allowed to interfere.
Sorry, can't hear you.
"What loneliness is more lonely than distrust?" George Eliot.
God, she was a frightful bore.
You know the disgrace is in losing the war, Tom, not the battle.
We haven't lost the battle.
Not yet.
What's he up to, Mr Mountjoy? What's happening, Tom? Don't mind me.
No, it's just seeing choristers in the front line.
It offends my sense of sport.
I once sat at Mr Mountjoy's side.
Zak tell you that? The whisper of his wings has touched my face.
Then why Because I dared to question.
"Why do we waste our magnificence on them?" It wasn't your place to question.
You know what? I think Mr Mountjoy is starting to agree with me.
We will help him take the wheat from the chaff.
We will help him There is no wheat! There's just piss and shit.
And vinegar.
You'll see that soon enough.
It'll be fun to watch.
I may be new around here, but I deserve some respect.
Mr Greening Did you know that Richard once sat at Mr Mountjoy's side? Mr Greening If I'm to achieve anything round here Mr Greening! Yes, Mrs Sheringham? We have a visitor.
Two mass-produced cheap mugs.
I don't understand.
They were a wedding present.
Hard luck.
But I still don't understand.
I noticed that there was a wedding present from Sean.
I thought it would be something cruel, but Sean Yearling gave you these? I wanted to be a mother to Ruby.
I was just a kid myself.
I didn't ask him to get in that car drunk.
Lucy Go on.
"Good luck to you both.
Me and Ruby moving on.
Sean.
" Lucy, why are you telling us this? Because I suddenly saw how it could be for them.
Happy.
Together.
I couldn't help them before, but maybe now I can.
He sent you a wedding present.
That doesn't sound like the act of a man who was about to shoot David or you or anyone.
I don't know who did do it, but Sean didn't shoot at those people.
It is our contention that the defendant did not open fire upon the people of this city and is not guilty of the crimes of which he is accused.
Mr Gist, you are starting to annoy me.
You asked for an adjournment in order to pursue new lines of enquiry that would uncover new evidence.
Present that evidence to the jury.
The new evidence is in the form of a witness to motive.
A witness to motive?! You stopped this trial Not just any witness.
This is getting very tedious.
You want more time to prepare, Mr Pembroke? No, we just feel that Mr Gist is throwing up an increasingly desperate and spurious line of defence.
The test of admissibility is relevance.
If the prosecution needs more time We have the accused at the scene, his own rifle in his hands, and we have motive.
Let us hear Mr Gist's witness.
I will allow the witness.
We call Lucy Hart.
Your Honour, Lucy Hart is a prosecution witness, to be cross-examined this morning.
Get on with it, Mr Gist! Mrs Hart's new husband was shot in the incident.
She is no fan of Sean Yearling.
Yet she will testify Guilty! Guilty! I'm guilty! I'm guilty! I will have order in this court! He's after Lucy! Get her away! Get down! Sean! Stop this now! The truth, man! She needs to know! He'll get killed! Enough, now! Enough! Come on.
Come here, darling.
Throw it away, Rubes! Now, Ruby! Put it down! Ruby! I'm so sorry, Ruby! That'll learn the lying bitch, Dad.
She won't give evidence against you again.
I did it, Rubes.
I was drunk.
I was arguing.
I wasn't concentrating.
I hit the man.
You stopped to see if he was all right.
No, Ruby, I didn't.
You'd already lost your mum.
I wasn't going to let you lose me.
No! Lucy allowed them! I'll make it all right.
Somehow, I'll make it right.
So all this time, he knew Ruby had fired the gun? He was just covering for her? Ordinary people do extraordinary things, Tom.
Baffling and annoying sometimes, but extraordinary.
I don't know if I can do this.
Harder than hitting top C, I'll give you that! Tom, why do you think Lucy suddenly decided to talk to us? Well I suppose she just felt guilty.
As Tom says, you know, guilt.
You do not interfere in their choices.
You know that! It was the merest prompt.
You do not intervene! Not ever! If it's Jehovah's Witnesses, tell them they're completely wrong.
Zak! Hannah! Not her.
Please! You cruel, cruel bastard! I'll do anything! Anything you want.
Let her live! I won't be tempted.
I won't.
I promise! No!! Hannah! Hannah! Don't say anything.
What the hell are you doing here? When you're better, get on the train.
Please.
Trust me.
Where are you going? Don't go! Where are you going? From Mrs Sheringham.
It's not like I thought it would be.
It's messier.
Sometimes you will be sickened.
Sometimes you will be enraptured.
But and I give you my word on this you will never be bored.
What happens if we fail? If they turn away from us? Honestly? I think Mountjoy might just pull the plug.
Who is she, Zak? Hannah? Someone I knew in a previous life.
Did you love her? We're not allowed to love.
That would be a weakness.
To love, Mr Gist.
To love, Mr Greening.
Hello, little man.
Please help my dad.
Can they take my son away, just because I'm a bloke? They can try! It's a contested interim hearing.
They can do it in their sleep.
Big day for Zak.
Mr Gist, can I buy you a drink? You can no more resist that woman than a moth to a flame.
With similar results! Can we just Bloody calm down! Get in!