Better (2023) s01e03 Episode Script

You've increased your order
twice already in a year.
Never trust a dirty cop.
If you're really not sure you
can trust her, then test her.
The lab have pulled a late print
from the Thomas Ajazi crime scene.
- From someone linked to McHugh?
- Enough to have a run at the man himself.
Leeds Station, Platform 12.
She turned up, but ran
off before making the drop.
Going to need you to
do something for me.
Something not very nice.
- So, quit the force.
- That's what I were going to do.
But then, I'm just running away.
And he gets to stays
exactly where he is.
But would he be where
he is today without you?
He's got to go down.
Ha gave me a load of flannel about
how he needs a woman to deliver it,
someone he can trust. He's testing me.
So, deliver it.
If you want to bring him down,
you're going to need
to keep him on side.
- What is it, anyroad?
- Cash, he says.
But it's sealed. If
I open it, he'll know.
I take it you honed this
technique in the evidence room?
Helped me sustain a pretty
respectable cocaine habit
in the early '90s.
[DING]
He can't know it's been tampered with.
Don't panic.
Well, I think it's fair to say
he doesn't entirely trust you.
And if you're serious
about taking him down,
you're going to need him to.
You need to deliver it.
[PHONE VIBRATES]
Morning, Ma'am. Morning.
I heard you met me
evil twin the other day?
Talking some crap about
putting her ticket in?
You're staying?
'Course I'm staying. Just a wobble.
And the McHugh taskforce I'm in.
If you'll have me.
Let's get the bastard.
Er, mate, turn around.
Turn around, it's closed.
Sorry. We can't put our
hands on that amount of white.
But if you want to move into brown?
Our customers aren't the choosiest,
Mehmet, but they do sort of
know the difference.
Sorry. I wish I could help.
But, er, why not just up your order?
Can't. Can't give us any more.
Bad crop. Climate change thing.
Col, make the jump.
You won't regret it.
I'll think about it. Cheers, Mehmet.
Let's talk to Jimmy.
Bradford Jimmy? Who supplies the Maliks?
You got a problem with that?
[HE SCOFFS] Now, you want to
risk the peace in Bradford? It's
It's what? Go on.
It's reckless.
And it's not like you.
Oh? Tell me what I'm like, then.
I'd really love to fucking hear that.
You're careful.
Uh-huh. Or you were.
Until
recently.
That's fair enough.
You're entitled to hear an explanation.
So here it is.
I want to do this
because it's what I want to fuckin' do.
Okay?
Bulgey. I need to speak to Lou.
[PHONE VIBRATES]
CERI: What you doing?
It's not even six yet.
Er, I couldn't sleep.
So, thought I'd take Kiwi for a wander.
You off to see Col?
Yeah.
Why lie?
Are you going to tell
him that you're resigning?
Maybe.
But that is not going to be
an easy conversation to have.
Can, er, you drop Owen at his
next thing, then I'll pick him up?
And his meds are ready to go.
Kiwi!
You all right, Artem?
[THEY KISS]
- Appreciate it, more than you know.
- No worries.
Listen, I wanted to ask you something.
- What do you know about Jimmy Erskine?
- Erm
Major rat poison importer.
Supplies the Maliks.
Biggest gang in Bradford.
We're doing a wee bit of business
with him in Bradford Friday night.
- Okay, do the Maliks know?
- No.
So, we're going in on tippy-toes.
Be good to know if he's being
watched by your lot, y'know?
- Well, that'd be Bradford, not us.
- Right, well, can you find out?
Not without them asking why I'm asking.
Everything all right?
Yeah.
Just, erm
Owen coming home, and him
being back, but not, y'know?
I get it, I get it.
Will you get him something
from me? Could you do that?
- Artem'll give you the money
- Oh, no, no.
- Just something he loves
- No, Col, we're all sorted.
Thank you.
He insists.
Come on, Kiwi.
All right, Bulge?
[PHONE RINGS]
BULGEY OVER PHONE: Get as
close as you can to the boy.
[INDISTINCT CHATTER]
- DONAL: Yes, mate.
- Hiya.
I can't face this shite twice a week.
Sooner or later, I'm
going to have to do a bunk.
You up for it?
I could be.
Chuck us your phone,
I'll stick me number in.
- Just put it in as James, yeah?
- Yeah.
You're not going to text
me all the time, are ya?
Oh maybe.
I've got an idea how to get at Col.
He's got some business in
Bradford on Friday, with a supplier
called Jimmy Erskine.
Sounds like a deal.
He told me to check if
he were being looked at.
If I tip off Bradford, they
do extra surveillance on Jimmy.
Start an investigation,
that could lead to Col.
That's a punt-and-a-half.
If a deal does go down, they'll
just nick 'em all to pad the stats.
No, but at least he loses
manpower, cash, drugs. It's a start.
No-one's going to mount
surveillance on a phoned-in tip.
Need a proper informant,
to sell the story.
Oh, sod off.
My head would be on a spike above
the door before I could speak.
You must know someone?
Er
Someone I could go
and see. A Bradford face.
Did a lot of work for
me back in the day.
She'll want quite the sweetener, mind.
You know I'm good for it.
Leave it with me.
Why you helping me, Vern?
Summat to do.
Right, three threads
that can lead to McHugh.
Thread one, the Hyde
Park cannabis farm. Est'?
A few hours after the raid,
a semi in Morley and a lock-up
in Wykebeck were cleared out.
Front doors swinging in the breeze.
I mean, both properties clearly
being used as grows, similar set-ups.
Yeah, well, that reeks of McHugh.
No-one else is that disciplined.
Right. But nothing we
can tie back to him yet.
I mean, we've got the two
minors we found at the property,
but it seems it all went
through their gang boss.
And they never saw anyone
else leave the house.
I mean, I'm talking to Border Force
to trace the trafficker, but
It were worth a try.
Thread number two is a Noel Wilkes.
Now, as embarrassing as it is
for me to discuss that daring and
heroic arrest, it is my opinion
that Noel is never going to flip.
Like most of McHugh's
people, he's loyal.
And that's why this task
force has its work cut out.
McHugh keeps his crew small and tight.
He imports, processes, and
wholesales to other gangs,
so someone else shoulders
the risk of street dealing.
Everything's at arm's length,
which is why it's 12 years
since his last conviction.
The last time he were in court,
the NCA brought an Unexplained
Wealth Order against him,
that were three year ago.
Not only did the bugger beat it,
his lawyers got a formal
apology out of 'em.
Well, if he's so untouchable,
why are we even bothering?
Because 70% of the cocaine in
this city flows through him.
The sheer scale of the damage
that he is responsible for
Gossip is, McHugh's been
stepping up activities recently.
Getting more aggressive
with other groups,
pushing into new territory.
He's also apparently investing a
lot more on the legit property side.
- But why the change in pattern?
- It's hard to say.
There's not much on him
personally, but his daughter
er Aoife topped
herself year before last.
Overdose.
The Coroner reported an open verdict.
Right. Well, regardless, either way,
he took his eye off the
ball for a few weeks.
Product stopped flowing.
Competitors moved in, until he
came roaring back with a vengeance.
And he hasn't looked back since.
I mean, we do all
grieve differently, eh?
[HE CHUCKLES]
Erm, thread number three, Thomas Ajazi.
The kid found in the pub, Phil?
Harrison Sprewell.
The prime suspect in the murder is
still on his toes in southern Spain.
But we do have a tasty new titbit.
This partial footprint
in the blood has unusually
poor definition around
the edges and on the tread.
Now FSI are used to seeing that.
So, their own prints come up off
a scene when wearing shoe covers.
And so, they had another look,
and realised the blood pooling
dates this print to the time of death.
Now why would Sprewell wear blue
shoes and not bother with gloves?
This isn't Sprewell.
His mam confirmed he's 6'1", size 12.
These are much smaller.
We have a second person at the scene.
What'd you reckon, Lou?
Think it could've been a planned hit?
Maybe.
S sorry I think that
Oh, it's m-my husband.
Might be about me son.
Okay, shall we all take five?
[SIREN BLARES]
- Hello.
- Vicky Endersley?
- Yeah?
- DC Esther Okoye.
- Sorry to trouble you, can I?
- Yeah, of course, come in.
[VIDEO GAME PLAYS]
You lock all the doors and
windows at night? Keep the keys?
- Yeah.
- We've had traffickers throw notes into gardens.
- Phones, too.
- It's not me first rodeo, love.
Ta, though.
Look. I'm not supposed to be here.
I just wanted to check up on 'em.
Here's me personal number.
Anything you need, day or night,
just let me know, okay?
Thank you.
That's not the corpse of Vernon Marley?
Nice to see you too, Lynny.
Have you got a sec? I'm retired.
This is my shop now.
You even in working order?
It's just a chat I'm after.
Come on.
Don't mind me, just picking
up the granddaughter.
Oh, this is nice. Bijou feel.
- Aye, aye.
- Don't take the piss.
It's mine, and it's safe.
- Safe?
- I'm looked after.
- You come to grovel?
- Eh?
[SHE GROANS] Yep. That
sounds about right.
- You haven't aged a day.
- Ahh.
You neither.
I
[INDISTINCT CHATTER]
I've come to ask a favour.
No favours, no freebies.
This favour's paid. Well paid.
- Go on.
- I need you to go into Bradford nick with a tip.
Today. Make 'em listen. They know you.
That's quite the favour.
- What's the tip?
- Jimmy Erskine.
Col McHugh's lot are coming to do
some business with him tomorrow night.
I thought you could tell 'em
one of your clients blurted it
during his vinegar strokes.
Dropping some big names there, Vern.
- Dangerous names.
- 500.
Half now, half later.
A grand.
Today.
And another after.
Sort of people you're talking
about, I reckon it's worth it.
- So, your mum's got some big news.
- Oh, Cer, can we not?
What is it?
I don't need chivvying along, ta.
Mum, what is it?
I've been thinking
about quitting my job.
But I'm not going to.
Not for the time being, at least.
Okay.
Wow.
Well, what's changed your mind?
Er, stability. Continuity.
I don't know, maybe thinking I
could actually do some good.
- Okay.
- What?
It is possible, you know?
There's some good coppers out
there trying to do the right thing.
And a few bad apples, too.
I changed my mind, okay?
And I don't appreciate being smoked out.
But you said you couldn't
work for Col any more.
That you were ready to chuck
your career away to stop.
And now you're staying? Just
like that? What what's changed?
He wouldn't be where
he is today without me.
If I quit, he just keeps doing it.
- So what?
- So, I can't have that! It's wrong.
- And you've only just realised this?
- Yeah, and I'm going to do summat.
What like? Confess?
No, I can't be found out.
Well, what, then?
I promise, I will always keep us safe.
You can't promise that, Lou,
because it sounds as if you're
talking about stabbing him in the back!
MUFFLED: And that doesn't
sound very bloody safe to me.
COL: Suddenly, about
50 thousand-dollar chips
roll out of this guy's sleeve,
onto the table, tink, tink, tink,
tink, tink, tink, tink, tink, tink.
Like I've pulled the lever,
and he was paying out!
- [THEY LAUGH]
- And what did you do?!
I didn't do anything.
Casino lads, you know, they might've
done something, but I didn't ask.
I wasn't feeling that concerned for
his welfare by that point, y'know?
- [LAUGHTER CONTINUES]
- Fucking
Col, I swear, you have no idea how
boring most of these dinners are.
But, er, speaking of paying out,
I suppose we'd better talk
business for at least five minutes.
Aye, well, make it
three and it's a deal.
[LAUGHTER]
Well
- everyone's delighted with Shearhills Rise.
- Good.
We're projecting an even better
return than we'd hoped, so
- Good.
- happy days!
- Good.
- And, erm,
the Sheffield development?
Well, erm
the feeling is, we'd love
ya to be onboard in Sheffield.
But it's a much bigger
project than your own,
and there are other institutional
investors who, erm
Well, they might not feel entirely
comfortable working with you.
Oh?
I told you.
I told you.
And why would that be, Howard?
Do they think the Queen looks the
other way on my money, or what?
No, no, it's, er
It's unfair, we know that,
but, erm, at this scale,
there's a certain optics problem.
What optics problem?
Like cataracts or something?
No, what we mean is
I know what you fucking mean!
If you're angry with
me, shout. Be brave.
- But don't bring this into our home, okay?
- I can't be one of those people.
I'm not asking you to be.
We don't even need
this. We're doing well.
We're about to be doing
even fucking better.
And it could all be gone like this!
I need something else, for me and Donal.
Something that can't
be taken away so easily.
- And where am I in all that?
- In prison, dead.
- [HE SCOFFS]
- What?
You're so careful, it couldn't happen?
Come on, I know who you are.
I know you can't change.
But I can't be left with nothing.
We've lost enough.
[SHE SIGHS]
[PHONE RINGS]
- Yeah?
- BULGEY: It's on with our friend in Bradford.
Two of ours are meeting two of
his tonight for the handover.
Speak later.
I can't do this any more.
You and me.
Not like this.
You said we'd be free of him,
this weight that's been on us
for so long I'd
forgotten it was even there.
And now it's gone, I can't go back.
We will be free of him. I promise ya.
- I just need to sort it
- Well, quit, then.
I can't just walk away. Cer,
- people are going to die.
- What, dealers and scumbags?
- It's never just them, you know that.
- It's not your responsibility.
- Yes, it is!
- I don't care, Lou!
I care about our boy.
I care about this family.
You-you can carrying working
for Col, or you can quit.
Those are the two people
that you get to be, so choose.
Anything else, anything that puts
Owen at harm's way, I'll leave.
And I'll take him with me.
Where the fuck is Jimmy?
They should be here by now.
[TYRES SCREECH]
Fuck, it's the Maliks,
we've been set up!
[SHOUTING]
[PHONE RINGS]
It's Saturday morning, Phil.
Two McHugh group members were
attacked in Bradford last night.
Artem Davydenko and Kane
Woodling, beaten and knifed.
They're in hospital,
but they're both stable.
- Has Bradford been in touch?
- Not yet.
Okay, well, let me know.
You can reach me all day.
Cheers, Phil.
What's happened?
Your pal shafted us.
The Maliks showed up instead of
Jimmy and battered Col's lads.
- What exactly did you tell her?
- What we agreed!
Well, wherever she took it,
it weren't Bradford nick.
It don't make sense.
The Lynne I know would never
leave a grand on t'table.
Vernon, people change!
Shit.
She said she were being "looked after".
She pays a crew for protection.
- The Maliks!
- She must've taken it to them.
I'm so stupid. I thought I knew her.
Okay, this is now
going to escalate, Vern!
And Col is going to retaliate
and people are going to die,
because of me.
- Wait!
- I need to find Col and fix this.
Come here.
Here.
- What the hell is that?!
- I'm not a popular man.
Take it, keep it at home.
You don't know who knows what now.
I'll be all right, I've got a
spare buried under t'garden gnome.
- No joke.
- Okay, don't be daft! Go put it back now.
Or better yet just get rid.
Slack, I'm sorry!
- [DOOR SLAMS]
- I'm s
COL: Fucking Jimmy.
- So, what's our next move?
- What's our move?
Maliks just put two of ours in
hospital and stolen 80 grand.
A fucking big move is
what it shall be, Curtis.
- Wars are never good for business.
- This is more than business.
He's right.
All right.
Well, you're looking to expand.
If we really took care of the Maliks,
Jimmy'd have no choice
but to sell to us.
And with them gone,
maybe we could even
Don't say it.
Maybe even take over Bradford.
[PHONE CHIMES]
The copper wants to meet.
[INDISTINCT CHATTER]
So, was it the Maliks?
That jumped your boys?
So, what now? Start a war?
Maybe we need a wee war.
This isn't like you. What's the angle?
There'd be other benefits to us, if
the Maliks were out of the picture.
Don't do this, Col, it's a bad idea.
You tried to steal their supplier,
you got caught, let it lie.
I can't.
There's an expectation.
What if I can get the
Maliks out the way for ya?
Don't have to be complicated.
All you've got to do is get
one of your runners to plant
some class A in their car.
Phone us on a tip-off, I hard stop them.
They get a stretch as big as
the stash you're willing to lose.
Boss, we've got to hit 'em.
I get it, you don't want to lose face.
Do it my way, and Aftar and
Adib Malik will be playing
"hunt the soap" by the weekend.
No mess, no fuss, no risk to ya.
No dead bodies.
How would a Leeds DI collar
Bradford's top dealers
without raising eyebrows?
I'd do it round here,
somehow. On my patch.
Need to be soon.
I can't have people wondering
why I'm not punching back.
Just tell me when.
Boss.
Well, this could be hard to explain.
Fuck's sake, turn it off!
Who drives off covered in soap?!
- Do you know her?
- Yeah, Marriott.
Keen, green, and clean.
- How dark are these tints?
- Well, not dark enough.
Bulge, get out. Tell
'em they've missed a bit.
Leave the door open, yeah?
Oi! You missed a bit.
Do it properly.
There we go.
Fuck.
It's funny how you used to
live for that feeling, y'know?
Coming that close to fate
and just getting away with it.
But these days, fate's a cock tease.
Bulge, give her the phone.
You're meeting too much.
That's the new encro.
Server's in Thailand.
It's safe to talk.
No names and places, though.
I'll make it happen.
Bulgey'll be in touch when it's on.
That's 1-10.
CERI: Well, it needs to
be 1-40 for damp course.
The slabs'll have to come out.
That adds another day.
Two, maybe.
Sorry, boss.
Yeah.
Right, sod this. Come on, lads,
we're off to t'pub. I'm buying.
[PHONE RINGS]
VOICEMAIL: It's Ceri, leave a message.
I'm sorry about last night.
There's nowt I care about
more than you and Owen.
But I have to put this right.
I just, I can't explain it
Message deleted.
[PHONE RINGS]
ZAARA: Hello?
Hello?
Is anyone there?
Apushi mek!
Hiya, sweetheart.
You're a good girl, aren't you, Kiwi?
Okay, so I made a friend.
From group. We're going into town.
Yeah, I'll get him to
drop me off if I get tired.
No, I have not been groomed.
Does that cover it?
Er, no, that does not cover it.
You're not ready to go out on your own.
- I won't be on my own!
- Who is this lad?
His name's James.
He comes to the group
cos his girlfriend died.
He didn't kill her, far as I know.
Ha-ha. Very funny.
Sorry, love, I just I
don't think it's a good idea.
You're I hate saying
it, but you're vulnerable.
Mum! I might need this chair
for the rest of me life.
I-I need to get used to it.
You need to get used to it.
What if something happens?
It already did.
I'll drop you off.
Wherever.
Come on.
Oi! Are you not worried?
'Course I'm worried. But he's right.
You take Kiwi out? I'm going to
pop to me mum and dad's after.
Why?
Yeah. Fine.
Love, Owen, keep your phone on!
Why would I turn it off? I'm not 100.
- You all set?
- Yeah.
Here you are.
You know, your mum, she's
not finding any of this easy.
- She struggles when she can't
- Control everything?
Yeah, sort of.
So, that's it, is it?
It didn't leave me braindead.
I know summat's going on.
- I'll wait till he gets here, shall I?
- Please don't.
I'd like to meet this James.
Dad. I'm okay.
Okay.
Have fun. Be safe.
[PHONE CHIMES]
- NOEL: Yeah?
- BULGEY: Got a favour to ask.
There's a fella in there
with ya, name's Zada.
He needs an introduction to
some friends of ours, today.
Okay?
- Mehmood Zada?
- Yeah, and what?
Get off me! Get off me!
[PRISONERS CHEER]
[ALARM BLARES]
[SHE SNICKERS]
Relax. She's not a police dog.
Black Mercedes GLC.
LS70 VKA.
The Maliks will be visiting
Oakdale Prison, 11am tomorrow.
- Got it?
- Tomorrow?
Problem?
How do you know they'll be
visiting Oakdale tomorrow?
I need to justify the stop.
You remember Mehmood Zada?
The cabbie you fitted up
to cover for our lad Kevin?
He's a Maliks' uncle, or summat.
An innocent man doing
eight years, thanks to you.
They're visiting him.
How'd you know that?
He's helped us out again.
Had himself a little accident.
[OWEN CHUCKLES]
- You got it?
- Right, right.
Get up, yep, that's on, push.
This place is ace.
I used to come on a weekend.
I'd sit here while she were in there.
Always buying weird shit.
Mad clothes.
Your girlfriend?
No.
No. Sister.
Before she died.
Oh, right.
Sorry, you only ever said
"someone close", I didn't
S'alright.
Is it wrong to ask how she died?
It were an accident.
I come now to remember her.
Can't do it at home.
No?
My folks are a bit
weird about it.
We never talk about it.
You need to go easy on that.
I don't want to go home.
Why not?
I don't know.
Things are weird.
Super-tense like
something's going
on with me mum and dad.
Stuff they don't want me to know.
You know what parents are like.
What sort of stuff?
You can tell me, you know?
Sad Bastards Squad forever, eh?
[PHONE VIBRATES]
BULGEY: We've got a problem.
We couldn't get the gear in the car.
We're going to have to call it off.
No, wait, wait, we can still do this.
Erm, I'll do it when I pick 'em up.
I've done it before.
How soon can you get me summat?
She says she'll plant it
when she pulls 'em over.
Somebody'll drop something
off in the next hour.
Artem Davydenko's discharged
himself from hospital,
despite having a broken
collarbone. Shall we pick him up?
On what charge? Having
his head kicked in?
Right! Everyone! On me for a sec.
We've just had an anonymous tip.
Bradford's famous Malik brothers
are coming our way right now,
supposedly holding. So, do we pull 'em?
They're on the road
now, we'll have to move,
and it'll have to be a hard stop.
I say we do, Ma'am. Even
if it's bollocks, at least
they'll know they don't
have the freedom of the city.
- I can lead.
- Okay.
I'll call ARU. Get moving.
RADIO: Target vehicle's just
about to pass junction three.
Now's the right time, dispatch, over.
Copy that, Lima Delta. OCT,
does that work for you, over?
OCT here, dispatch, now
is good for us, over.
Copy that. Let's let
them know we're here.
All units, go for stop.
[SIRENS WAIL]
[TYRES SCREECH]
Right, we're up.
- Out of the car now! Get out! Get out!
- Get out the vehicle!
Hands on your heads!
Do it now, walk towards me!
- Move! Move! Move! Come on!
- Do it now! Hands on your heads!
Down on your knees, get
down on your knees now!
- Do it now!
- Do it now!
Cover on!
Don't make it difficult. Don't move!
Fuck is this?!
Welcome to Leeds, lads.
- Any chance of a passcode?
- I'm afraid we've forgotten them.
This is bullshit-and-a-half!
I'm going to check the car,
Est'. Tell 'em to chill out.
Check the boot for concealment.
Bloody hell's all this?
That is pakora.
We'll have to strip it down,
Ma'am, back at Shipcross.
All right.
Dispatch, can we have a
full forensic lift, please?
Copy that. On its way. Stand by.
- What's with the food?
- For the Sadida Centre Food Bank.
Of course, you'll make
sure it gets there safely.
Oh, we'll do our best.
It's a good schtick, this,
I like it. I've seen it before.
The Robin Hood drug dealer.
Sorry, you've lost me.
Oh, humour me for a minute, Aftar.
Let's say a pillar of the community
like yourself did, in fact,
shift millions of pounds' worth
of gear every year on the side.
How might that square?
What with you being a role model,
and a good Muslim, and all that?
Hypothetically, of course.
Hypothetically?
I think it'd depend on
who he was selling to.
If it's to people who wouldn't
piss on him if he was on fire,
but the community got the
rewards, I think I'd understand.
His "community" got the rewards. I see.
And do the "community" get a go
in your Merc? Is there a rota?
The best thing about
this hypothetical person?
He doesn't have to
justify himself to you.
ESTHER: Car's registered
to their events company.
Nothing outstanding.
Other lad's Khafiz Zada.
- No record.
- Zada?
His dad's in Oakdale.
Got attacked.
We were taking him to visit.
Feeling good about your morning's
work so far, Detective Inspector?
KHAFIZ: What you looking at?
Baggies containing white powder, Ma'am.
- Good work, lads. Good work.
- Yes.
Aftar Malik, Adib Malik,
and Khafiz Zada,
- you're under arrest
- Get this on record! Whatever that is,
it's been planted!
You won't find our fingerprints on it.
Your statement has been
noted and will be treated with
the seriousness that it warrants.
"No comment" all round
from the Malik brothers.
Go easy on Zada. He's
got nowt to do with this.
Sure, but you know the Maliks'll
get him to say the coke's his.
- Keep trying.
- Ta.
It's a dirty business, doing good.
I'm not doing good.
I'm making things worse.
- You stopped a gang war.
- Which I started.
With a little help from you.
Now, Mehmood Zada's in a hospital bed.
His son's in a cell.
And if it weren't for me,
they'd both be at home.
So, maybe you're right,
maybe there's no way out.
No free way out, no.
Say you did manage to send McHugh down,
and he never suspected you.
What would you do, then?
Go clean. Go straight.
That settles the bill, does it?
What do you mean?
McHugh picks up the whole tab.
You don't pay a penny.
Well, I pay by shutting him down
and risking everything to do it.
Pull it off, though,
you'll come out golden.
No confessing to your own crimes.
Well, what would you call 'em?
I thought all confession was selfish?
Here's what I think.
You reckon you get rid of Col,
and your guilt goes with him.
But I'm not so sure.
You're trying to make a deal
with your own conscience.
But the conscience doesn't negotiate.
Tell me this, Vern, if you're so wise,
how come you let your pal
in Bradford sell us out?
Well, I'm only a carrier of wisdom.
I don't suffer from
the condition myself.
I should go.
[CAT MEOWS]
She pulled it off.
Maliks are off the street.
Still think we should've hit 'em.
Need me for this?
No.
Love these houses.
Col!
I was going to call you.
About the dinner the other
night, we didn't mean to
What kind of stone is that?
Er I don't know, actually.
Listen, I know what the gossip is.
I get where it comes from, y'know?
I've committed the heinous crime
of being an outsider who's done
a wee bit okay for himself.
And, granted, when I was
young, I was a very silly boy.
But say that it was all true.
Say I really was all those
things that people say that I am.
Did I choose to be?
Do any of us choose?
We're made the way
we're made, aren't we?
And we get stuck where we get stuck.
You didn't choose to be
this, did you, Howard?
You didn't choose to be a
soft-bellied, limp-dicked,
sweaty little bean-counter
whose own wife must despise him?
How often does she let you get
your thunder-thigh over, Howard?
Strictly Valentine's and
birthdays, am I close?
We never chose to be
the people that we are.
But we get punished for
being them, anyway, y'know?
Col, let me talk to the
other partners. Possibly
You do what you think's right,
Howard. You search your heart.
Okay.
It's a cracking house though, really.
You got plenty of smoke alarms?
They just need checking
regularly, though, right?
Batteries run down
quicker than you think.
Evening.
You haven't told me how your day went.
That's right, I didn't.
Come on, I'm trying here, love.
I don't know what you want from me.
I want you to treat me like an adult.
I want you to accept what's happened.
And I want you to be honest with me.
Well, okay.
It's quite a list of
things to work through.
Hmm.
Can I see?
Is this you dead?
I might just be sleeping?
No, I've seen enough bodies.
- How many?
- Too many.
What they like?
Smaller than alive ones.
Sad.
Sort of crumpled.
Do you think about them a lot?
No.
See, I just asked you to be honest.
Okay. Fine, yeah.
I do think about them.
One in particular.
What happened?
Don't matter.
Who were they?
You know I can't tell you that.
Try and get some sleep, okay?
[LOUD KNOCK AT DOOR]
[DOORBELL]
Those kids from the
weed farm disappeared.
About two hours ago.
They got hold of a
phone, messaged someone,
went out a first-floor
window, got picked up.
Oh, I'm sorry.
Are you really?
'Course I am.
- You did the very best you could for them.
- Yeah, I agree.
I did do my best for 'em,
and that's the problem.
My "best" accomplished precisely
sod all, for God's sake.
- Forgive me.
- Esther, trust me, you're good.
I grew up ten minutes from Shipcross.
I loved it.
The place, the people, everything.
That's why I joined the force,
walking cliche, I know,
but I thought I could change
it from within, make it better.
What a joke.
But it seemed simple at the start.
Just be fair, just treat people equal,
everybody gets respect.
And I've tried.
I have.
But week in, week out,
I'm nicking the same lads on the
same streets for the same charges.
A lot of 'em with names like mine.
I'm not fighting crime, I'm
manning a bloody turnstile.
Look, we can't change the law.
But we can put a human face on it.
Why put a human face on
something I know is broken?
Every week that goes by,
it gets harder to tell
myself there's any point.
Look, shall we go sit on the sofa
and talk about it properly?
No, no, I didn't come to talk about me.
- Where do you go?
- What'd you mean?
I mean, where are ya?
You're never at your desk.
You skip meetings.
Forever disappearing, dashing
off, on your own, off the grid.
I mean, you've always got
a great-sounding reason.
And no-one's complaining, you're
the best in the unit, but
where do you go?
You can't police this city
from an ergonomic chair, Esther.
That's a nice line.
You have so many.
I've gone through 50
different explanations.
Told myself that I saw it wrong.
That I imagined it.
But then, I started thinking,
why am I trying so hard
to explain away what I know I saw?
You put the gear in the Maliks' car.
- What? Don't even, Lou.
- No, Esther
- Why would you do that?
- Whoa! Esther! No.
Deny it again,
and I go straight out
this door and go straight to Sandy.
Why?
Wait! Wait. Wait.
Yes, I put the cocaine in the car.
- Why?
- To stop a war.
But, what war?
McHugh and the Maliks made a deal.
Stay out of each other's cities.
McHugh broke it, so the Maliks
went and beat up two of his men.
McHugh were going to hit back.
So, I planted the gear in
his car to protect everyone.
But how would you even
begin to know any of that?
That part, I can't tell ya.
Esther! Esther!
- Get out, Lou
- Esther, just wait!
[SHE SIGHS]
I know all that because
I work for Col McHugh.
I always have.