Place of Execution s01e02 Episode Script

1 Yesterday afternoon, 13 year old Alison Carter walked out of her home, and simply disappeared.
Has Alison ever stayed out this long before? Never.
Are you the father? Yes, stepfather.
I'm pulling out of the film.
What do you mean? Mistakes were made.
The warehouse fire that destroyed the evidence, did we check it, see if there was any suspicion? You've found something you don't like.
Is that a threat? Answer my question.
Time to tell Mummy baby's not coming home.
Place of execution 1x02 Trad.
Rev.
What did you exactly discover in that mine? 'We discovered some items of clothing clearly belonging to her.
And there was a lot of blood.
in the area where we found the clothing.
' - 'But no body?' - 'But no body.
' 'Please leave a message after the tone.
' George, it's Catherine.
I'm coming to see you.
Call me please.
Thanks.
'From then on because of what we discovered we knew that Alison was dead.
' Happy Easter, sir.
Oh.
Happy Easter.
Thought I might find you up here.
You know, whoever took Alison must have known her well.
Known her habits.
Known her movements.
Known the area.
Do you know who lives there? No-one.
It's owned by the estate.
Just rented out for holiday lets.
We should get a list of everyone that stayed there in the last year.
I spent half my childhood doing this, driving round England with your gran.
Every summer after my dad died we'd get in the car and just drive.
Then when we found somewhere she'd lock herself in her room, start tap-tap-tapping away.
And I'd be free.
Free to dowhatever.
Sasha! Mum! Listen, we'll be there soon.
We'll be meeting George Bennett, so don't forget to thank him.
- What for? For getting you out of the police station.
Or I'd ruin your film? No.
You'll prove yourself to be a spoiled and ungrateful brat.
What does that make you? A crap mother? What brings you out here on Easter Sunday, Tommy? The lads have found two bullet slugs down the mine.
Ballistics say they come from a Webley service revolver.
We've got to find that gun.
We might know where it's come from.
Two months ago there was a robbery in a house in Barrowdale.
It's about 20 minutes that way.
Cash and jewellery were stolen.
And a Webley revolver belonging to the owner Col Carey.
Doesn't mean it's the Webley.
I know.
But Carey's been a friend of the Hawkin family for years.
The squire's often a guest there.
Hawkin breaks into his friend's place and nicks all the jewellery.
There was no break in.
Everything was in one drawer in the library.
Isn't it about time we acknowledged the bloody elephant, sir? The one living over there.
He was in the field the day Alison disappeared.
He's connected to the murder weapon.
His wife's bloody petrified of him! Well, he's a supercilious shite.
It's still a long way from being a murderer, Tommy.
Hello, Margaret.
Can I have a word? George isn't available.
But isn't that his car? Margaret, why has your brother dropped out of the film? Because it won't do anyone any good.
He was OK with it before.
Why has he changed his mind? - I don't know.
- Well, er look, I'm staying at Morton Lodge.
Could you ask him to call me? I have somethng he needs to see.
Come on, Sash! Don't muck around with that thing.
Come on.
Give it here.
Didn't he want to talk to you? - We'll meet later.
- Great.
I'll practise my thank-you speech.
Come on, Sasha, don't be a What is the problem with George? It's complicated.
Over my head you mean.
Well, George wants to pull out of the film.
And I want to persuade him not to.
But I also want to find out why he's suddenly doing this.
Maybe he just doesn't want to be on TV.
Well, I wouldn't.
I could never do what you do, have a camera following you around, be filmed all the time.
Oh, well.
You get used to it.
I want to know why you're fannying around.
A dozen lads down that mine, and nowt to show but a broken arm.
Sir, we know what the murder weapon is.
What murder? You haven't even got a body.
You've used up my overtime budget and we're still in bloody April! So either piss or get off the pot.
Sergeant, I'm pulling in Philip Hawkin.
- On what grounds? - He's a suspect in a burglary.
I must be bloody mad.
Sergeant, my office.
Have you ever owned a Webley revolver, Mr Hawkin? No.
Have you ever visited the home of Colonel Carey? He's a family friend.
What's this about? - Were you in his house two months ago? - I might have been.
God knows, there aren't many people round here with whom one can have a decent conversation.
Don't you ever talk to your wife? There's a difference between talk and conversation.
Did Colonel Carey ever show you where he kept the revolver? I didn't even know he had one.
So if we tested the desk where he kept the gun, we wouldn't find your fingerprints? I may have touched his desk.
What would my fingerprints prove? By themselves nothing.
What does that mean? It means I don't believe you, Mr Hawkin.
One day you're gonna slip up.
When you do I'm gonna be there.
I'm not gonna give up until I get the man that killed her.
My daughter is missing.
She might even have been murdered.
And you are accusing me without a shred of evidence.
Are you out of your mind, Inspector? Or just out of your depth? Sir.
- Sir! - What? - Hang on for just a minute.
He's right.
We've got nothing on him.
I blew it.
There's nothing we could have done short of beat it out of him.
I let him get to me.
I let him get to me! He would have let something slip, I know he would.
- Why didn't I wait? - Excuse me, sir.
Right, then.
Let him go.
- Don't you want me to get him a lawyer? - What's the point? - I'll tell Culver.
- So that's it? - Case closed? - Sir! Sir! - I've Ruth Hawkin on the phone.
- Keep your voice down, you lummox! Sorry.
She's hysterical.
- You've to come to Scardale now while her husband's not there.
- Move, move! - No matter what he threatens, he does not leave, OK? - Yes, sir.
I came in to turn the heating down.
When I took the cover off I saw something behind.
It's one of his shirts with blood on it.
I left it.
I couldn't touch it.
One, two, three.
We're going to need a warrant.
I want all cameras, everything from these drawers.
- Tommy.
Can I leave you with this? - Where are you off to, sir? I'm going to look in his darkroom.
I want every camera and roll of film taken out of the cupboard, logged, and taken to the station.
- Sir! - What have you got? Let's have a look.
Scardale lead mines.
Sir.
I've just found a map of the mines Tommy? Erwe've found a map of the mines in Hawkin's study, sir.
I've found his safe.
Could you ask Ruth if she knows where the key might be? Yeah.
'So Tommy went off to look for the key.
- And you waited?' - 'Yeah.
I waited.
I wanted to get the safe opened.
I dreaded it being opened.
Pandora's Box.
You never know what's going to come out.
' - No luck with the key, sir.
- No.
I've found the key.
It was taped under the shelf with this.
Looks like the same stuff used for muzzling the dog.
Shall we? That's it.
I think we'd better take notes.
Right.
Inside the safe we found an envelope containing black and white images.
The first photo is of Alison Carter sat on a bed in her school uniform.
The second photo, Alison Carter again sat on the bed.
This time there is a man.
It's Philip Hawkin.
Photograph number three - Sir, if he's in that picture, who's taking the photograph? The camera's on a tripod.
Automatic shutter.
The third photograph Philip Hawkin undressing Alison Carter.
The fourth photograph Philip Hawkin now undressed.
The fifth photograph Alison Sweet Jesus! 'Want to know why I never married, Catherine, never had kids? Because of what I saw in that room.
Because I never knew there was that amount of cruelty in the world.
And no child of mine was ever gonna run the risk of meeting it.
' Right.
That it really is it.
Come on.
Those photos of Alison are porn, aren't they? - Oh God! I knew you shouldn't have seen this stuff.
- Why not? I mean, Thousands of kids will see it, millions.
It's what you wanted.
No! Catherine Heathcote.
- 'Catherine?' - George.
Oh, George.
Thanks for ringing.
'There's a cafe in Queen's St off the square.
Meet me in 15 minutes.
Yep.
OK.
I'll be there.
Right.
- I've got to go out.
- Are you seeing George? - I'd like to come.
I'd like to thank him.
- Another time.
- But - For God's sake! I've got to work.
- But Mum - Get yourself ready for bed.
I'll be back.
'Now we had the evidence we needed.
The case had moved on considerably.
' I'm Alfred Naden representing Mr Hawkin.
You must be Following your client's arrest this morning, Mr Naden, I obtained a search warrant from Morton magistrates.
I executed that warrant this afternoon.
During the search we discovered a safe hidden in Mr Hawkin's darkroom.
When the safe was opened we found eight photographs, which when examinated contained pornographic images of Alison Carter.
As a result of the evidence I am charging you, Mr Hawkin, with rape.
They're fakes.
I want to see this evidence.
Are you sure you want your solicitor to see it, Mr Hawkin, at the risk of him walking out on you? I want to see them.
I tell you they're fakes.
Everyone knows you can fake a photo.
We have the negatives, too.
You can fake those as well.
First you fake the photo then you photograph the fake, and bingo, you have a negative.
Give me a ciggie.
One of your cigarettes.
- Are you denying this is you in these photos? - Of course I am.
- Are you denying you raped her? - Yes.
We also found a bloodstained shirt in your study.
What?! Identical to the shirts you have made in London.
It's stained with blood which will match that on Alison's underwear.
There was no shirt in my study.
But that's where it was found.
As well as the gun.
What gun? A Webley .
38, identical to the one stolen from your friend Colonel Carey.
I already told you I didn't know he had a gun.
- You're trying to fame me.
- Why ? Because you have nothing and your necks are on the line, and you are making up all this rubbish Are we making up you raping the girl, you piece of shit? It's all faked I tell you.
I will present this information to the Director of Public Prosecutions, Mr Hawkin.
And I'm going to charge you with murder.
George.
Thanks for meeting with me.
Well - Do you want something? - No, no thanks.
HmmDid you get to Scardale? Have you managed got us into the Manor House? No.
The owners are still not interested with any film.
Like you apparently.
Yes, like me.
Can you tell me why? You said you had something I need to see.
You worked in Vice in Manchester before you were posted to Morton.
Right? When you were there did you have any access to child pornography? Why are you asking? When I was doing background research on you for the film I came across some student magazines you'd contributed to.
And I found an article you'd written that you never told me about.
Interesting piece on photo montage and the manipulation of evidence.
I didn't realise you were such an accomplished photographer, George.
George, you have to talk to me! George! You have no idea! But you've got to tell me what happened! You've found something you don't like haven't you? Maybe you shouldn't go digging.
'Pandora's Box.
You never know what's going to come out.
' 'You've got to tell me what happened!' Sasha.
Sash! Sash! Sasha! Oh, Christ! Sasha! Sasha! Wake up.
- Wake up.
How much have you drunk?- I'm going to be sick.
Come on.
Come with me.
Come on.
Talk to me.
Get off me! I want my dad.
Get away from me! I want my dad.
Why aren't you going home? He destroyed her long before he killed her.
Not now.
I have to work.
Oh, hello.
I stayed here when I was little once.
One of those summer trips with Gran.
Is this where it happened? Yeah.
That's the back of the Manor House.
She walked out of there and was never seen again.
- Hi, Keith.
- 'Catherine.
' - Have you spoken to George? - Not yet.
- 'Why not?' - I'm going to interview him later today.
I've got my own camera with me, so I'll shoot it myself.
What? - Are you still having doubts? - Who told you I did? I know you.
We've worked together a long time.
- Is there something you're not telling me? - No! George is fine.
It's just a case of nerves.
I'll keep you posted, don't worry.
Whose nerves exactly? Catherine Heathcote's or George Bennett's? George Bennett's.
- Why? - Stuff started to come up.
What stuff? I'm not playing 20 Questions with you.
There are issues with the evidence George used with Hawkin.
- The abused photos? - Yes.
- Get it checked.
Get it analysed.
We can't.
It was destroyed in a warehouse fire six months ago.
- It was before Catherine spoke to him about the film? - About the same time.
George Bennett.
Well, well.
I've heard another version of that.
Still burning the midnight oil, Bennett? You've met Chief Superintendent Martin? - I have.
Good evening, sir.
- Bennett Can you make this murder charge fly? Well, the weight of evidence is compelling, sir.
We found the murder weapon wrapped in Hawkin's blood-stained shirt in his study there were also powder burns on the shirt.
We also found a map of the Scardale Mines.
None of which adds up to a body.
We also have the two bullets fired from the gun in the mine where we also found Alison's blood- stained, semen-stained clothes.
But not Alison.
The pathologist estimates more than three pints of blood were spilled at the scene.
Three pints, sir.
Do you believe he didn't do it, sir? All the evidence is circumstantial.
How often do you get a corroborated witness account of a murder? Not often I admit, but .
.
Hawkin is an important man.
Well thought-of in the community.
Not when they see these.
There's your motive for murder, sir.
The girl's getting older.
She's no longer in awe of him.
She threatens to tell.
She has to die.
As for proving murder without a body, there is a precedent, sir.
John George Haig, the acid bath murderer.
- Convicted, no body.
- Forensic traces pointed to his victim.
1955 a Polish ex-soldier is murdered by his partner.
No body.
The prosecution claims his partner fed his body to the pigs.
And again a conviction.
Sir, Philip Hawkin is a child rapist and a murderer, and he cannot get away with this.
Very well.
Thank you.
Drink.
Get some sleep, Bennett.
Why are we going back to see George? Because I'm not finished.
How did you meet him? I met him in Bosnia.
He was on the war crimes commission there.
I thought he was an exceptional man.
You liked him because you thought he'd make a good film.
No.
Not that.
Becausehe was like my father.
Well, he was like I'd always imagined my father to be like, if he'd lived.
Here we go.
Doctor, I need to find out about George Bennett.
- I'm sorry, I can only give information to his family.
- I'm a close personal friend.
But not family.
Look, I'm a television reporter.
I've been working on this film with George.
- It's crucial I find out how he is.
- Because you are a friend or a reporter? Both.
- Sorry.
Hospital policy is very clear.
- Please! Just tell me if he's gonna make it! Jesus Christ! Mum! What are you doing? You can't go in there.
- I'm going in.
Stay here.
- You'll get into trouble.
Well, if I do, you'll have to come and rescue me.
It's OK, Sash, I've been in worse places than this.
- Can I help? - I want to see George Bennett.
- Are you a relative? - Yes.
I'm his niece.
(Don't leave.
Please don't.
) (Don't leave) I'm so sorry.
- Swindells.
- Sir? I'll do that.
Righty-o, sir.
What if she's not the only one? What, you mean other kids? See, he's 41.
And in my experience sex offenders don't just start, they develop, try stuff out.
In your experience? I did a year with Vice in Manchester.
Sexual offences.
What, against kids? Yeah.
Sometimes.
Unfortunately.
See, the trouble is we've looked at Hawkin, He's lived his whole life in Scardale.
Apart from this he's clean.
What are you gonna do now? You're not gonna give up, are you? I don't know, Sash.
What's this? Just some stuff I did when I was a kid.
Gran gave it to me.
Is that me? - Is that how you saw me? - I guess.
I was just a camera? You always had one.
Just trying to make sure that we I remembered, you know.
You're right.
I'm a crap mother.
I guess we'd better get back, then.
Face the music.
Nicola, hi.
It's me.
Do we still have an address for Tommy Clough? Eryes.
Why do you want it? - Can you get it for me? - He didn't want anything to do with the film.
Just get me the address, Nicola.
Bear with me.
48 Willingham Lane, Bartleby.
A pen.
'On the coast near Berwick.
' You're not going all the way up there? 'This is to do with George, isn't it?' You've discovered something.
Like what, Nicola? Maybe he's not as squeaky clean as he's cracked up to be.
- Catherine- Gotta go.
- No, wait.
- Catherine, Keith is - What? I can't protect you, Catherine.
Then don't.
Bye, Nicola.
Right.
Change of plan.
We're going to the seaside.
Shit! Catherine.
- Keith! - Glad I caught you.
And Sasha, too.
I heard about George.
Hospitalised.
Obviously I'm really sorry.
I know you're fond of him.
But we have to be practical.
What does it mean for us? Well do you want to know the truth? What else have you been telling me? - I think we should stop the film.
- I can't do that I'm afraid.
- Why not, Keith?- Cancelling a high profile network programme at this late stage - is the story.
Isn't that what you want to avoid? - What do you mean? I mean the other story.
The one you don't want to tell.
Am I right? Retelling a famous murder story is good television.
Exposing a detective who bent the truth for a conviction is great TV.
There is no evidence Bennett did anything wrong.
Then why run round England like a scalded cat? Does George have some sort of hold on you? - What? - Is he your Daddy? No, of course not.
But he can't be crucified without a fair hearing.
- Fair hearing or cover up? - I'm not covering anything up, Keith.
I just don't have the full story yet.
I just need more time.
Hm? You can have 24 hours.
And only I work on this.
Not loyal Nicola.
Or anybody else.
'I just waited.
It seemed like an age.
I wanted to get that safe open.
I dreaded it being open.
Pandora's Box.
You never know what's gonna come out.
' II want to talk.
To apologise, you mean.
Did you bring cigarettes? This is your last chance to tell me where her body is.
I don't know where she is.
Tomorrow you go on trial, and you'll be convicted.
And you'll hang.
No judge will hang me with the evidence you have.
The judge is Fletcher Sampson, when he sees those photos you'll hang.
The photos are fakes.
That's what the jury will be told.
- That's what they will believe.
- Please, Philip! Please.
Put her mother's mind at ease.
You do that and you could be out in ten years.
Have a life.
She was such a beautiful girl.
Yes.
Beautiful.
Does she keep you awake at night, little Alison? All those photos of mine you had to help find her, where are they? Do you have them on your wall? They're evidence.
Evidence of what? What do you see when you look at her George? Please tell me where she is! I didn't kill her.
- Tommy Clough? - Yes.
- I'm Catherine Heathcote.
I'd like to talk to you.
- I know who you are.
Good.
I'd like to talk to you about George Bennett.
I'd like to talk to you about George Bennett.
Three days ago he withdrew from the film I'm making about him.
He won't tell me why.
Yesterday he had a massive heart attack.
- I think the reason might be something to do with the fact Oh, good.
Could we start again? My name is Catherine We're not starting anything.
If my friend George dies, I hope his death haunts you to your grave, you fucking vulture.
Don't talk to my mum like that! She's trying to help him.
She even risked her job for him.
Why can't you see that? Come on, then.
For Christ's sake, Catherine, go! There are alternative explanation for every piece of evidence.
Were you obsessed with Alison Carter? So you believe Hawkin was guilty? As seen! I didn't kill her.
What have you done? Get out! Are you agreed upon your verdict? We are.