Collision (2009) s01e02 Episode Script

- It's good to have you back.
- What we have is a major incident with multiple fatalities.
Trust me.
It's easy money.
Anyway - I'm the one driving.
- It's my van.
- See you tomorrow.
The usual place.
- You'll bring it? Joyce all right? I'll take her out this evening.
- Would you mind? - Of course not.
- You'll be late.
- I'll be fine.
Just getting changed.
We should get married.
What do you think? And it gets worse.
I'm talking two black kids in a BMW.
One father is shouting racism, and is threatening to sue us.
That's a mess.
- What do you think? - What is it? What does it look like? It's a charm bracelet.
Do you think she'll like it? Alice, she's your mum.
I've never met her.
- It's a bit expensive.
- How much? £70.
Here.
What? It's her fiftieth.
You can say it's from both of us.
Alice! Get back in your cars.
Stay in your cars.
People trapped.
Assistance required.
Wait there.
Help's on its way.
OK? Stop that car! Are you OK, mate? Stay there.
Get back in your car.
One Diet Coke.
Thanks.
- Cheers.
- Cheers.
You don't drink? - Only at weekends.
- I thought this was a weekend.
I'm on call till ten.
I'm never been out with a policewoman before.
You haven't gone out with me yet.
I was looking forward to the handcuffs.
Excuse me.
I'm sorry, I've got to go.
Just like that? I think it was a mistake anyway.
Thanks for the drink.
She's not moving.
Don't leave me.
- She's not moving! - It's OK, paramedics are on the way.
- Don't let her die please.
- We'll do all we can to help you.
You're doing good, mate.
Just stay calm.
- Are you all right? - I'm all right.
OK, sir, try not to move.
I'll get someone over to you.
Hello, sir, can you hear me? It's the ambulance service.
Can you hear me? It's OK.
We're here now.
Don't move.
Just stay still.
Inspector Stallwood, RCIT.
I'm heading your way now.
Can you bring me up to speed? Yeah.
Two ambulances and one Hi.
This is Jeffrey.
Sorry I can't get - Ma'am.
- Ann Stallwood, Chelmsford RCIT.
- I'm taking over.
Who are you? - Constable Clacy.
- You were the first on the scene? - We were in pursuit of the black BMW when the accident happened.
You're the Met? Yes, ma'am.
- What have we got? - Southbound, four vehicles.
Four seriously injured.
Two others escaped major injury.
Northbound, visual only.
Sanjay, my partner, is with two casualties.
The woman's very bad.
The boyfriend's distressed.
- How's he doing? - I'm afraid we lost him.
I should stand you and your partner down, but you're here, so I'll use everyone I've got.
There's a man injured here.
I think my driver is trapped.
Lock the southbound carriageway down.
Get people in their cars.
We'll use the service station as a temporary field hospital.
Anyone who doesn't require major hospital treatment goes there.
No, no.
Come on please.
Look forward.
Look at the windscreen for me.
It's my neck, my back.
Please can you help me? Are you one of the drivers? It's my mother-in-law.
She's hurt.
Constable, can you wait with him till we get a paramedic over? - Yes, ma'am.
- I was driving along.
Everything was OK.
Then suddenly, cars came out of nowhere.
I think she's not breathing.
- Is she gonna be all right? - She's alive.
Thank God for that! What took you so long? - Traffic.
- Yeah, I know.
- Are you all right? - Yeah.
It all happened just ahead of me.
- If I was like 5 minutes earlier - Yeah.
I know.
I came back to see if I could help out.
Bless you! This man needs attention.
Are you all right? Actually I feel absolutely Come and sit down.
Come on.
Come and sit down.
- Your shoulder looks dislocated.
- It does.
Done some first aid? My ex-boyfriend was into rugby.
It happened all the time.
The macho type, eh? - Look, can I help? - Hold that arm.
Is this gonna hurt? No.
Walk in the park.
All right? You said it wouldn't hurt.
You should have asked the paramedic then.
I'd have lied to him as well.
We'll get you a sling for that.
- My name's Jane by the way.
- Hello, Jane.
I'm Richard.
I'd love to shake your hand.
- Thank you.
- You're welcome.
You have that back.
- Thank you.
- It's all right.
Any time.
I'd better go and help some other people.
How is she? She's having problems breathing Dislocation of clavicle.
Possible fractured ribs.
Her name's Karen Donnelly.
Thanks.
- Ma'am.
- Yes.
I'm Gopal.
You said to remain on duty.
- Go on.
- We have two fatalities, two more critical, half a dozen walking wounded.
- What's the problem? - One missing.
The driver of the van Home 2 Bed.
Have you checked the service station? Run the plates.
See who owns the vehicle.
- 3-9 to base.
- Go ahead.
Can you do a plate check? He keeps looking in your direction Talk to him.
Good-looking man.
Can't keep his eyes off you.
Trust me, enjoy it.
Go on.
Richard, where are you? I'm in a service station on the A12.
I've been in an accident.
My God! Are you all right? Yeah, just a few scratches.
Paul's in a bad way though.
- They had to take him to hospital.
- My God! Look, they want to keep me here make a statement.
I'm so sorry.
I know how important tonight is to you.
No, no.
It doesn't matter.
- Just let me know what happens.
- Of course.
OK.
See you.
- Is everybody accounted for? - Just the van driver.
The vehicle's registered to a - Jeffrey Rampton, Home 2 Bed Furniture.
- Search the whole area.
He could have wandered off in shock.
Have you got the names of the deceased? Sidney Norris and Alice Jackson.
Get onto the next of kin.
And I'll need a statement from you and one from Gopal.
- This should be them.
Excuse me.
- Remember, be nice.
Sorry to disturb you, sir.
- Mr William Jackson? - Yes.
I'm afraid I've got some bad news.
There's been an accident on the A12.
Morning.
- You're late.
- Tell me about it.
And that tie's a bit sad.
Who's gonna notice? - So? - So? How's it going? Are you glad to be back? What are you working on? You don't want to know.
Tell me.
Did you see that collision on the news? The A12? I'm looking into that.
Why? Well it's complicated.
The Met's involved.
There's lots of questions.
I meant why you? Did they ask you to do it? No.
I volunteered.
Right.
Moving onto the Surrey Quays one-way system, that's the A200 Bush Road, lane three is closed for repairs - Well, well.
- Hi, Mike.
Look who they've sent to save the day.
- When did you get back? - Yesterday.
- Didn't tell you I was coming? - They told me.
I didn't believe it.
You're looking good.
I was sorry to hear about what happened.
Fraser has a nerve, putting you in to run the show.
They see it as we all work together to see if we can sort out what happened.
You mean getting us to save your arse as the Met's getting sued? What can I tell you? Two of our own might have caused this.
And there's the race issue.
- The driver was black? - Driver and passenger.
She's dead, and the father's suing.
We'll do what we can to help.
You know Ann's still here? She's the SIO.
She just happened to pick it up.
She was on call.
You know how it works.
- Cup of coffee? - Yeah, definitely.
Cheers.
Let's start the briefing.
As far as we can tell the accident started here, with two vehicles, a bronze Rover 800 driven by Sidney Norris, and a red Ford Ka driven by Karen Donnelly.
The Rover swerved, and the car made direct impact.
Is there any reason why he might have lost control? No.
As yet unexplained.
Then a van travelling at speed in the outside lane tries to avoid them, and ends up crossing the central reservation.
- Making the whole thing worse.
- Exactly.
It was registered with a furniture business.
The missing driver? Probably been drinking, and tried to avoid being breathalysed.
Black BMW, Alice Jackson, one of the casualties.
She died instantly.
She was being driven by her boyfriend, Gareth Clay.
Now at hospital.
The statement by your Met boys says he was doing 83 mph.
- And they were in pursuit.
- Panic.
It looks like that.
Next Richard Reeves' silver Mercedes.
Chauffeur in hospital, followed by a blue Volvo driven by Brian Edwards.
He was travelling with his mother-in-law.
- How is she? - She's bad, but he walked away with cuts and bruises.
- Witness statements? - Nothing substantial.
- They mainly contradict each other.
- Highway cameras.
A much use as a chocolate fireguard.
We also got the data recorder from your boys' car.
- But that's screwed, too.
- What's the problem? God knows.
Faulty chip? We'll try and retrieve some info from the backup memory, but it could take a few days.
If you want to visit the site, I'll get my boys to close it down.
So where do you want to start? I'm sorry.
It's been a year.
You've blanked me for a year.
I had a lot on my plate.
You know how it was.
What, I was one problem too many? Come on.
I said I was sorry.
What more do you want? I could have been there for you.
Well, I just didn't know what to do or what to tell Jo.
Perhaps you could have tried the truth.
Right.
One of us could ask to get reassigned.
Don't look to me for that.
This is my case.
I'll stick to it.
If you want to get reassigned, that's up to you.
I didn't think so.
Let's just get on with the job.
I don't have to talk to you.
Why wouldn't you want to? - I know why you're here.
- We want to find out what happened.
You want to tell me it was my fault, but it wasn't.
- You were speeding.
- That's what they say.
I was doing 80 mph, if that.
There were lots of people going faster.
- Do you remember the collision? - No.
Not really.
Shit! It all happened so quickly I saw them in the mirror.
They put their lights on.
They scared the hell out of me.
- You panicked? - No.
What are you supposed to do? You're doing 80 mph, and suddenly you have flashing lights in your eyes.
I didn't even see the van.
It was their fault.
Have you ever met Alice's father? He came to see me in hospital.
First time we'd ever met.
And? I don't think I was ever his favourite person.
- Not after what happened.
- He blamed you? He blamed you your lot.
You only picked on us cos we were black.
You know what I mean.
What do you call a young black guy in a BMW? - Target.
- Target.
Excuse me.
Could you help me please? - Are you all right? - My name's Karen Donnelly.
I was there.
- The crash.
- The red Ford Ka.
There's something I need urgently.
- I've left it on the backseat.
- Don't worry.
Your car will be safe.
- It's been impounded by the police.
- No! You don't understand.
I have to have it here with me.
- What are you missing? - An envelope.
I left it in the back of the car.
It's a private matter.
It's very important to me.
I have to have it with me here.
What are you doing out of bed? - We'll take a look.
- My keys, can you get my keys? - I'm sorry.
She's not meant to be up.
- We'll see what we can do.
Tolin.
Yeah.
That's great.
Thanks.
- They've got Gopal and Clacy in.
- Do you want me to come? No.
Probably better if I do this one on my own.
- They might see you as the enemy.
- Don't you all.
Bingo.
There's one.
BMW, 83 mph.
Must be my birthday.
I reckon it was more like 85 mph.
Put the lights on, and went after him.
How long were you behind him? It couldn't be more than a minute or so.
Then suddenly a white van rammed across the carriageway.
The driver Gareth Clay hit it head on.
That was it, cars smashing into each other left, right, and centre.
Alan was driving.
He managed to swing us out of harm's way.
We were lucky, bloody lucky.
It was carnage out there.
You talked to Gareth? Are you OK, mate? She's not moving! He was dazed.
Didn't know what was happening.
His girlfriend was a mess.
Don't worry.
I'm here.
The engine had stalled, but the radio was blaring, and the air conditioning still on full blast.
So I leaned in and turned it all off.
Was the window shattered? No.
The panel was crumpled, but the window was open.
- The air conditioning was on? - Like a fridge in there.
You know, I stayed with him until the paramedics got him out.
- And now he's blaming us! - Yeah.
I heard.
Calling us racists.
We couldn't even see the driver from where we were sitting.
We get suspended, and some bastard tries suing us.
That's the girl's father you're talking about.
And my heart bleeds, but it wasn't our fault.
You listen to me.
Alice Jackson was 23.
She was his only daughter.
And now she's dead.
So you show a wee bit of fucking respect.
- Dave.
- Karen.
What are you doing here? Let's pop round the corner for a drink.
Isn't the office better? No.
It's crazy in there.
We'll get more privacy in the pub.
Come on.
Thank you.
Are you OK? Not if you want the truth.
Ever since we've met it's been one thing after another.
- You're having second thoughts? - And third thoughts.
- But you're going ahead with it? - I'm here, aren't I? You're making the right decision.
That's easy for you to say.
You get your story, print your headlines, and move on.
That's not what this is about.
You know that.
This is the final name, Locust.
Does it mean anything to you? Maybe that should tell you something in itself.
It'll be on the hard drive.
You get it.
- And then? - Maybe we can meet back here tomorrow.
- I can meet you here at seven.
- They'll know it was me.
After the weekend it won't matter.
Sunday we go to press.
Monday HDC Chemicals shut down, and your boss is on his way to jail.
Why did you choose me? Why not someone else? If there was any other way, I would have taken it.
But there isn't anyone else.
Print off a copy.
That way they can't trace it back to you.
It's good to see you, my dear.
You obviously had a busy weekend.
Well, I had nothing else planned.
- On a Friday evening? - Don't even go there.
I'd have thought your diary would be booked up weeks in advance.
- I'm getting out, you know.
- You're not serious.
Three more months.
It's all planned.
Pension.
Retirement.
I'm moving to the Channel Islands.
Sark.
No cars on Sark.
It'll be heaven.
Has Karen Donnelly's car been cleared? The Ford? Full working order, or it was.
We've got nothing on it.
She left an envelope on the backseat.
She asked us to get it.
How strange.
I thought you'd be here about the Volvo.
Brian Edwards? He walked away, passenger in critical.
Yeah.
It was his mother-in-law Joyce Thompson.
Was she wearing a seatbelt? It seems not.
But I've asked the hospital to send me the details of her injuries, and the clothes she was wearing.
- There.
That what you wanted? - Yes.
You know, I shouldn't really release this.
It should be bagged up and listed.
And then lost by some bloody fool in the back office.
But - As it's you.
- Thank you.
You're not really moving to Sark, are you? It's a thought.
Cheers.
This is interesting here.
Witness statement from Karen Donnelly.
She saw Sidney Norris just before the crash.
And? And according to her, he was gesticulating at another driver.
- Gesticulating? - Her word.
Shaking his fist as though he was annoyed about something.
And there's something else.
It's not Norris.
It's Morris.
- A mistake at DVLA? - A deliberate one.
We checked his National Insurance.
Sidney Morris, not Sidney Norris.
It's a simple way to change his identity.
But why bother? - Here you are.
Donnelly's envelope.
- Thanks.
You gonna open it? - Didn't you? - She's none of my business.
Exactly.
Could you find out what you can about Sidney Morris? Sure.
It's about time I took a look at the road.
Excuse me.
Can I help you? I'm here to see Karen Donnelly.
She's not well enough to see anyone today.
I know.
I'm her brother, and we're all terribly worried about her.
I just want to see her for two minutes.
Karen, it's me.
James.
Listen.
I'm so sorry.
Are you OK? - There was an accident.
- I know.
I was waiting for you.
I was worried sick.
When you didn't show up I thought What? Did you get it? Where is it? The police have it.
I asked them to get it for me.
The police? The accident.
I don't know what happened.
Listen to me.
Listen.
I can end all this.
I can end all this.
But you've just got to tell me where it is.
The chocolates arrived then.
Thanks.
I have to admit the secretary sent those.
You'd think she could have found a bigger box.
Well, if you need time, take it.
You know your job's waiting for you.
Actually, sir, I don't think I'll be coming back.
I've been talking with the wife.
We're thinking it's time I called it a day.
Because of the accident? - It makes you think.
- I was in the car, too.
What were they trying to tell me? Yes.
I was hoping to catch you.
I can't stay.
I'm going to work.
This will be worth being two minutes late for.
Guess what I've got here.
What have you got there? A date for the wedding.
I know.
It's great.
We were lucky cos they had some cancellations.
Are you all right? - Yeah, yeah.
Fine.
- Are you sure? You haven't been yourself since that pile up.
It's just playing on my mind.
That's all.
Well, you can think about the wedding, take your mind off it.
The 12th of September or the 3rd of October? 12th of September? Dave, that's in two weeks.
- I think - No, you're right.
It's not enough time.
October it is then.
I'll call them, and let them know.
- Love you.
See you later.
- Dave! Right.
This is the Volvo.
Brian Edwards and his mother-in-law Joyce Thompson.
Richard Reeves and his driver Paul Harris.
The first point of impact was here when Karen Donnelly hit Sidney Norris.
The van hit the back of her vehicle, went over the crash barrier, and ended up on the northbound carriageway.
The van ended up here driven by the missing Daniel Rampton.
And the collision point with the BMW was here.
Gareth Clay.
Alice Jackson.
They should have been able to do something, slow down or stop.
Slow reactions.
What did you say? - What? - Just now about slow reactions.
Shit! What are you looking for? - You searched this whole area? - Of course.
What about right up here? Ten metres either side, quarter of a mile down.
We have it all bagged.
Kitkat wrappers, chewing gum, the works.
Fine.
Are you OK? Yeah.
I'm all right.
- Get what you want? - I think so.
You'd better get him a coffee.
You look like shit.
It's good to see you.
Just for the record there was 100 times when I wanted to call you.
But you didn't, did you? So are you seeing anybody? Sorry.
It's none of my business.
You're right.
It's none of your business.
The coffee's on me.
Come on.
Hello! I think your admirer's back.
What's he doing here? I bet you a fiver he's not here to see me.
I'll make myself busy.
Cindie, come back! How are you? Didn't expect to see you back here.
- How's your shoulder? - It's better now, it's not poking out at 90 degrees.
You do look a little less like an extra from a horror film.
Thank you.
What can I get you? Do you want to eat? Would you be offended if I said no? No.
I'd think you had some tastebuds.
It does tend to be what people do when they come here though.
Actually I came here to see you.
- Me? - To thank you for helping me that day.
It's just all in the line of duty for a hardworking waitress.
I noticed you didn't leave a tip though.
Perhaps you can let me repay you by taking you out for a drink.
- It's not necessary.
- I'll take you anywhere you want.
- Anywhere? - You name it.
Well there's this restaurant at the top of the Eiffel Tower - I quite fancy going to.
- OK.
You're on.
- You don't know me.
- That's true.
I don't know you.
All right? What's this then? It's on loan from Arse-It.
- What, they let you take it out? - They weren't happy.
That's it.
- Is that what I think it is? - Yes.
Well, Fraser will be delighted.
What about the girl's father? Someone's got to tell him.
Thanks.
She was so beautiful, you know? I used to lie awake sometimes just watching her sleeping.
There was something about her.
I don't think I'll ever meet another girl like her.
I'm sorry.
The funeral's tomorrow? She always did want me to meet the family.
But you met her father.
He came to the hospital.
He told you what to say.
About the police car, making you panic.
- I told the truth.
- Look, I'm sorry.
I'm sorry for your loss, but I can't let you do it.
- What? - This won't go to court.
I found that.
- What is it? - You know what it is.
I love this song.
I tell you for a woman studying to be a lawyer, you sure don't mind breaking the law.
That is the best reason to study it.
- It makes it easier to break.
- Yeah.
Well, don't get too stoned.
I don't want to be the one trying to explain to your parents that spaced out grin on your face when you've been smoking.
If he knew I smoked this stuff, he'd go ballistic.
- How do you know? - Because I'm a policeman.
When the accident happened the air conditioning was on full.
So why would the windows be open? You opened the window to throw it out.
Shit! Get rid of it.
Just get it out of the car.
It's the joint you were sharing when the police car tagged you.
I didn't want to sue anyone.
It was Alice's dad.
I can understand that.
He's upset.
There's a lot of people upset, including the policeman that stayed with you while they cut you out.
What could I do? When he came to the hospital Alice was everything to him.
She was his life.
What was I supposed to tell him? - You could have told him the truth.
- What? That the nice girl who was studying law, and was gonna have big career wasn't home because she preferred hanging around with me - and smoking weed? - OK.
- It would kill him.
- OK.
Look, I don't care what you tell him.
But this is over.
Do you understand? Shit! The envelope! I'm looking for Karen Donnelly.
- I'm afraid you just missed her.
- Sorry? She's gone.
She discharged herself.
I thought she was too ill to be moved.
She is.
She should have been here a few more days.
- Did she just walk out? - No.
Her friends helped her.
What friends? Two men.
I didn't hear their names.
You might still catch them.
They only left a minute ago.
- Maybe we should go to the police.
- No.
We're in this together.
You ever seen this man? - Where did you get this? - Tsegga, - where are you? - I will be with you tomorrow.
Why were you on the A12? You said you were taking her to Sand Hills.
That's nowhere near.
Stop it! - I can't stay.
- Doesn't matter.
- I'm in a relationship.
- It's only a drink.
Don't you dare walk away! - This is just like you.
- What do you want from me, Ann?