Better (2023) s01e04 Episode Script
Episode 4
Let's get the bastard.
Going to need you to
do something for me.
Something not very nice.
Chuck us your phone,
I'll stick me number in.
Put it in as James, yeah?
I made a friend from group.
Oi, are you not worried?
You can carry on working
for Col or you can quit.
Those are the two people that
you get to be, so choose.
Anything that puts Owen
at harm's way, I'll leave.
What if I can get the
Maliks out the way for you?
Phone us in a tip-off, I hard stop them.
You put the gear in the Maliks' car.
- Why?
- Cos I work for Col McHugh.
I always have.
You going to say something?
I don't always know what
to say, I'm not like you.
How did you end up working for him?
Don't matter.
I am where I am.
I wanted to be you.
When I was starting out, me friends
would say, "What you doing, Est?"
And I said, "No, you don't get it.
"There's this DI, she's killing it."
And the whole time,
you were on the take.
It's not like that.
What is it like, then?
It weren't a one-way street.
He gave me a lot of intel.
Most of my big cases turned
on something he gave me.
If it's so mutual, why
does he have to pay you?
Oh, look, does it matter?
It's over, I'm out.
Since I caught you this morning?
No, since before that.
I'm telling you, it's over.
I'm going to bring him in
but it has to be my way.
And he cannot know.
No, don't do that.
Don't treat me like I'm
an idiot, you know I'm not.
No, I know, I know how it sounds
but I promise you I'm not lying.
It's over, Esther.
You know I have to tell Sandy.
- Grass?
- Don't you dare.
Okay, I won't tell her.
If you do tell her
yourself, it's the best way.
I can't.
If I betray him, he will
come for me, for me family.
Not if he's inside.
Well, I'm sorry, if
you don't, I have to.
Please, let me make this right.
Let me finish what I have started here.
- Well, finish what?
- You've done what you've done.
I won't lie for you,
I can't, it's wrong.
- Oh, it's as simple as that, is it?
- Yeah
it is.
You're a good copper.
How would you know?
Lou, what you doing?
You're going to wake Owen.
Lou?
- What's happened?
- It's over.
We have to get all of
this out of the house.
- What do you mean, over?
- Esther caught me doing something for Col
and she's going to Sandy.
They're going to search the house,
so we have to get rid of everything.
- What'll happen?
- Erm, well, I'll deny everything.
Cos I can't co-operate,
Col would find out.
Well, I'll take it all.
I'll burn it if I have to.
So it is over, then?
I'm no use to Col if I get caught, am I?
So resign.
Do it tomorrow
before anything happens.
You were going to anyway.
I know it's not the end
that you wanted, but it's an end.
This is the best we could've hoped for.
- Is it?
- Yeah.
You know, nothing else matters.
None of it's your problem.
We'll be free.
Yeah?
After all this, we get to walk away.
Come on, come down.
I'll sort the money later.
How you feeling?
Condemned.
You've just got to
get through this part.
Mm-hm.
There you go.
Cheers.
Morning, Ma'am.
[OFFICE CHATTER]
[PHONE RINGS]
- Morning.
- Morning, morning.
[PHONE RINGS]
VOICEMAIL: Hi,
you're through to Esther Okoye.
- Leave me a message and I'll get back to you.
- Argh.
Est, call me back,
it's not what you think.
You're going to want to hear this.
What are you playing at?
I need to talk to you.
Jesus Christ, not here.
Col, you have to let me in!
Listen to me, we've got no time.
I've just come from the station and
I've seen something I weren't meant to.
There's a taskforce, you're the target.
I'm not on it, they have
deliberately kept me from it.
They know about us.
They have to. Why else
would they freeze me out?
- Right.
- No, don't. They could've turned someone.
Right. What do they have?
I don't know. But enough for
a warrant to search the house.
- When?
- No idea.
I came as soon as I saw.
They could be on their way
to you right now, for all I know.
You need to clear-out the house out now.
Well, you know I don't keep
anything in the house, you know that.
What's in your safe?
Just your cufflinks?
Everything's encrypted.
You want to take that chance?
Be sure and clear-out
the house and do it now.
[KNOCKS ON DOOR]
Yep?
Ma'am, can I have a word?
I won't be a minute, DC Okoye,
I just need to send this.
You all right?
Yes, Ma'am.
Come on, Col.
[PHONE RINGS]
Sorry, Ma'am, can I, erm?
Sure.
Esther, are you there?
You can't change my mind.
No, this, this isn't about last
night, this is about Col McHugh.
Do you want to bring him in?
- I'm not playing your games, Lou.
- No, this ain't a game.
He's leaving his house
to dispose of evidence,
stuff you could use to nail him.
Well, why don't you bring him in?
You know I can't.
You just say it's from a source
and we'll deal with it later.
Where is he?
- He hasn't come out yet.
- Well, what exactly is he carrying?
I'm pretty sure it's computer
stuff, like hard drives.
You're "Pretty sure"? Forget it.
[PHONE RINGS]
You said you wanted
to make a difference.
Well, here's your opportunity.
I'm parked-up half a
mile from his house.
There's only one road
that goes in or out.
I'm betting he's leaving soon
and I'm betting he's
carrying summat on him
that we could use to bring him down.
You want me to trust you?
Look, if I'm wrong, all that
happens is you look daft.
But if I'm right, you get to
bring down Col McHugh today.
We'll decide what to do about me later.
Esther, you're only going
to get one chance at this.
Get over here now!
Esther?
Sorry, Ma'am. It were a source.
Okay. Do you want to have that chat?
Erm, it's nothing, it'll wait.
Well, it's nothing or it'll wait?
I really need to chase this up.
It could be relevant to the taskforce.
Fine.
Off you go.
It's the old Church Road, right?
- Are you close?
- I'm coming towards you now.
Any sign?
Not yet.
Oh, come on.
Just give him a bit more time.
No, I'm heading back.
There he is.
Everything by the book from here on out.
I'll go back to the station.
Go get him, Est.
ESTHER ON PHONE: In a silver Mercedes.
Foxtrot, golf, 16,
November, uniform, hotel.
No passengers visible.
You'll never guess who Esther's tailing.
It's Col McHugh.
Supposedly, he's moving
some incriminating evidence,
- she's had some intel.
- You're kidding. Is she on her own?
At the moment, yeah.
We're getting units out to her.
She's not to pull him
till she's got backup.
SANDY ON SPEAKER: Maintain
contact, at a distance.
- Let's just see where he gets to.
- Yes, Ma'am.
He's barely pushing the speed limit.
Proper careful.
Yeah well, you would be if
you had something on you.
Stay far back as you can, DC Okoye.
Just turned onto Green Lane.
Heading for the A658.
That's towards Bradford Airport.
Wait, hold up.
What? What's happened?
He's pulling into a petrol station.
He's getting a bag out the boot.
Large holdall, looks heavy.
- Could be a handover.
- Or getting rid.
POLICE RADIO: With you
in two minutes. Over.
Shall I go now?
SANDY: Uniform there?
Almost.
No, no, no, You wait for them.
Sorry, Ma'am, he's going inside.
I'll lose sight of bag.
SANDY: DC Okoye!
Col McHugh!
DC Esther Okoye,
Central Yorkshire Police.
I have reasonable grounds to suspect
you may be carrying stolen
or prohibited articles.
You'll have to ask my lawyer about that.
Erm, Mr McHugh
under Section One of the Police
and Criminal Evidence Act of 1984,
I'm legally permitted to
carry out a stop and search.
I can also use reasonable
force, should you resist,
which could lead to your arrest.
You will be entitled to a
copy of the search record.
I'll give you a reference number.
Ma'am.
May I look inside your bag, please?
Could you open it for me, please?
SANDY: What is it?
It's um
nothing.
What do you mean, "nothing"?
It's just
office stuff, some printer paper.
Packs of Post-It notes.
- Post-Its?
- Is he messing with us?
Don't worry about the
reference number, hmm.
[DOORBELL RINGS]
Busy?
You sure I shouldn't have me chair?
No, you won't need it.
You won't need that, either.
No phones today.
They only tell you what to do.
Leave it. Me and you
are going off grid, bro.
I can't leave it.
My parents would freak.
What are you, ten?
I can turn it off.
Done.
Go on, then.
Come on then, bro, let's
go on your big adventure.
Better not be shit, though.
OWEN ON VOICEMAIL: Hello?
Hello?
Okay, old voicemail joke.
But admit it, I got you.
It's Owen, leave a message.
Tell them to get a wriggle on, yeah?
We're going to lift by Monday.
All right, I'll be two minutes.
Okay, guys, we need to speed up, yeah?
See you.
[PHONE VIBRATES]
PHONE: One new message.
LOU: Ceri, I'm so sorry.
I tried to set Col up and he knows,
so don't come home.
He might have people watching the house.
I'm going to find Owen,
I'm going to sort it.
I'm so sorry. It'll be okay.
Owen?
Owen, are you here, love?
- OWEN ON VOICEMAIL: Hello?
- Owen, Owen, love.
Hello? Okay, old voicemail joke.
But admit it, I got you.
It's Owen, leave a message.
Owen, love, you've got to call me
back, it's important, okay? As soon as.
I love you. Bye.
[PHONE VIBRATES]
- Yes?
- Your lad's safe, for now.
I don't believe you.
Yeah, you do.
The farm.
Half an hour.
Alone
or we drown him.
What's up with you?
- I thought you said it wasn't far?
- It's not.
I use the chair for a reason.
Where are we going?
A bit further down here.
We'll be well away, trust me,
- it's worth it.
- All right.
Give us a drag of that.
Here you are.
- Nice one, mate.
- It's all right.
Come on, you coward! Open the gate!
Come on! Come out!
What's the matter with you?
- You really want to be seen here?
- Is she in there?
Lou?
No, of course not.
If he hurts her, Alma, I'll kill him.
You'll do nothing. I don't know
where Col is, he doesn't tell me.
So get back in your truck.
You came, you shouted, you can tell
yourself you did something,
maybe it helps you.
Told you it were good.
You don't like it?
I do.
Bit of a weird place for your
dad to take a little kid, though.
Yeah!
But I were a proper mentalist.
Tasmanian Devil, he used to call me.
And sometimes it'd get so bad, he'd
just chuck us in car and take us
somewhere far away from anyone.
Let me run wild.
Funny thing is though
whenever he brought me here
I'd just be chill.
I'm not, erm
I think I knew.
It's okay.
Don't feel embarrassed.
Why would I be embarrassed?
[PHONE PINGS]
I thought you said no phones.
I thought it were off.
It's excruciatingly obvious that
it's your girlfriend,
which is completely fine.
Did you think I thought someone
like you could be miraculously
walking the Earth unattached?
What were that?
You want to capture the exquisite
awkwardness of this moment forever?
Don't know.
Summat people do.
Argh!
[SHE COUGHS]
You see that?
You see it, Slack?
Where's Owen?
What have you done with him?
Col, where is my son?
You tried to set me up this morning.
You've been working against
me for a wee while now.
Has Owen ever shown you a
picture of his wee friend James?
That's him.
Apparently, you and Ceri have been
arguing for years now about a man.
Owen doesn't know his name but
recently you've been
talking about stabbing
him in the back, getting rid of him.
He, he doesn't know.
He thinks he's having
a nice day out with his,
with his pal down by the water.
Please, Col.
Maybe that doesn't have to change.
Maybe he doesn't have to get hurt.
So long as we don't have any more lies.
- I have no more to tell.
- No, good, good.
So, why?
I wanted to bring you down.
Really?
I see. And why is that?
- I can't explain it.
- Well, try and do better.
Okay.
The night that we nearly lost Owen
I asked for him to be saved.
And then he was saved.
And when I went back to work
I realised that my part of the
deal was stopping you.
Why?
Because it's wrong.
Oh, ha-ha.
You hear that, Bulge?
"Because it's wrong."
Has this only just occurred?
Yeah.
Oh, no.
Oh, no.
- You found God?
- No, it's not like that.
He found you?
No, I'm too canny for him,
he can't track me down.
I don't know what to tell you, Col.
Now, here's the question.
Why didn't you just walk away?
Because you're the problem.
I'm to blame for you.
- If it wasn't for you
- Oh, I'm the problem?!
I'm the problem?
- You're a drug dealer.
- I give people something they want,
something they choose
to buy freely, Lou.
The drugs you sell ruin
people's lives, you know that.
Oh, God! If only people choose a
more respectable way of
ruining themselves, eh, Bulge?
Like drink and fags, and
takeaways, and betting,
and anything else with a tax code.
- Oh, you can't compare the two.
- Oh, can I not?
My da never broke the law for his fix.
Every last drop of
alcohol, legally obtained.
And that was such a great comfort to us.
When he shat himself
at Christmas dinner.
When he threw a pan of
hot oil over my mother.
When he died at 54 years old,
all small and yellow,
with a wee pregnant tummy.
If it's bad for you but feels good,
people are going to find a way to do it.
Legal, illegal, that's
just the prevailing wind.
It has fuck all to do
with right and wrong.
Chemicals don't have morals.
Oh, Jesus, don't try
and justify what you do.
Why not? Why not?
You know how many heroin addicts
there were in Britain
in the 1960s? Around 300.
And do you know where they got
their gear from? Do you know that?
Boots. Boots, The
Chemist, on prescription.
And then the politics
changed and well, here we are.
But all of this was a choice, Lou.
What about all the people that you hurt?
You don't even know
half the stuff you do!
We did all this together.
No! If I'd never met you
You were looking for me, just
like I was looking for you.
We're exactly the same.
We're the same.
We want to skip a few
rungs together, don't we?
We want to fucking get somewhere,
and fucking do something.
And all their rules out there
are a fucking joke to us.
But I know that.
I know who I am and so does
everyone else around me.
But you, you're a fucking liar!
You are a liar!
You lie to every person around you!
Me, Ceri, Owen, yourself!
You're even lying right now!
You are not as honest as
you think you are, Col.
My da held me underwater once.
Didn't he, Bulge? My da.
Jesus Christ, the fear, the panic.
Now imagine
imagine Owen just
looking up at his pal, James
and just thinking, "Why, for
God's sake? Don't do this to me."
In fact, no, I wouldn't let that
happen, that wouldn't be fair.
I'd get him say it was because of
you, first, so at least he'd know.
No. You fucking touch
him and I'll kill you!
And if I don't, Ceri
will rip your eyes out!
That's what you're going to think now
but most people, when
someone they love gets hurt
and it's their fault, it rips the
fight out of them, it breaks you.
Is that what happened to you?
Is that what happened to you, when
Aoife killed herself with your gear?
- WHISPERS: Don't.
- Or what, you'll kill me again?
You'll kill me twice?
You supplied the drugs that your
daughter used to kill herself.
You know that.
She knew that, the
whole world knows that!
But I'll bet you a tenner I'm
- the first one to say it out-loud.
- Don't you
- The truth, you want the truth?
- Don't you use her name.
No-one talks about Aoife
because everyone knows
that she fucking hated you.
And she used your drugs to end her life.
- But chemicals don't have morals.
- Bulgey.
"You know who you are"?
That is who you are, Col!
And when I'm gone, there'll
be no-one else to tell you.
No more lies, I promise.
I promise.
Oh, go on, just get it over
with, I haven't got all day.
[SHE SNIFFS]
Argh!
Argh!
Go home.
Donal will bring Owen back unharmed.
And this is the last
time we see each other.
One fucking chance.
Ever come after me again,
Lou, everything changes.
[PHONE PINGS]
Oh.
I can't tell whether
that's good news or bad.
It's good news.
But we should probably head back.
After
a swim.
Yeah?
Come on.
Right. If you want to
have a look at me cock,
do it now
and not when I come out. Yeah?
Okay.
Woohoo!
Argh!
Come on!
Come on, mate!
What are you waiting for?
Oh.
Woo!
OWEN ON VOICEMAIL: Hello?
Hello?
Okay, old voicemail joke
but admit it, I got you.
It's Owen, leave a message.
CERI: Lou, what's happened?
Is Owen okay?
Yeah, everything's okay. Just come home.
Owen?
CERI: What's going
on? Are you all right?
Lou?
I'll explain, just come home.
Thanks for an
odd and confusing and hypothermia-y day.
Yeah, look, mate
- I'm sorry about the whole
- Like I said
it's cool.
James
if you don't want that, then
what are we doing?
Is this just like a field
trip version of the group?
That's fine, by the way.
It's just nice to have
some sort of road map.
I don't know.
It's
it's just good to
talk to someone, in't it?
See you at Sad Bastards Group?
LOU ON VOICEMAIL: Owen, love,
you've got to call me back,
it's important. Okay? As soon as.
I love you.
Bye.
Mum?
What's this voicemail about?
Mum?
Tell me what's going on?
Nothing.
Don't matter.
Everything's okay.
I'm going for a shower.
You're his son, aren't you?
And?
- What were you doing with Owen?
- Nothing, just talking.
I-I swear.
He don't even know who I am,
he thinks I'm from the group.
You're James?
Whoa, whoa, whoa!
- You're fucking James!
- No, no, no, no, no, no!
It's done, it's done, it's
over. I swear, I swear.
No harm done, yeah?
I were never going to hurt him.
Ah!
Me da will fucking kill you!
If I ever see you here again
What happened?
Boss?
Boss, just listen to me!
Just listen to me.
You can't do this!
Boss, you do this, we'll never be safe.
- She'll come again.
- What happened?
Slack.
She tried to stitch him
up and he let her walk!
Alma, if he doesn't deal
with her, we're done.
Everybody will know you can take a
shot at Col McHugh, he don't fight back.
I've made my decision.
It's not just you!
What about your people?
They go down with you!
It's a fair question, Boss.
I were an O'Brien man
through and through.
And when you were takin' over, when
I went with you, I got a lot of grief.
Traitor, all that.
I threw in with you because I could
see you were the right man for the job.
And I never, ever doubted that.
- Till now.
- Bulgey, Curtis, would you?
She tried to hurt us
and you just let her go?
Make up your mind, Alma.
Either you want out of this life
or you want me to kill a woman who
was sitting at our table two weeks ago.
Police officer
a friend of 20 years,
a mother to a wee lad.
You love her?
Not like that, and you know it.
Sometimes, I wish it was like
that, it wouldn't make you weak.
What was I supposed to do?
Keep us safe.
But you haven't done
that in a long time.
Mum!
I don't get it.
Why would he just
let you go?
Cos he cares about me?
Have I ruined it?
No.
I ruined it.
A long time ago.
But he's not going to
change his mind, so.
But it's his son.
Yeah.
[KNOCK AT DOOR]
What was that this morning?
Did you know he had nothing on him?
Or maybe this whole thing were
about tying me up in your mess
and making it harder
for me to go to Sandy.
Est, I'd never do that to you.
Yeah, forgive me if I
don't take that as gospel.
She's asking me all sorts now.
How the tip came in, how the source
knew what were going
on in McHugh's house.
I've already had to lie to her.
I'm sorry, I
I really thought we had a shot at him.
Well, then, what happened?
I tried to smoke him out, and
he saw straight through me.
And then he took Owen.
What?
Is he okay?
Yeah he's okay, he's upstairs.
Lou, we have to go in now. You
need protection, you need to
- make sure that your family is
- Look, he's given me one last chance.
Okay? He'll leave us alone
if I leave him alone.
But if I breathe a word
against him, the deal is off.
So you go do whatever you have to.
Okay? I get it, I really do.
But I will deny everything,
to protect Ceri and Owen.
Well, then, I'm fucked then, aren't I?
It'll be my word against yours.
A two-year DC grassing on a DI.
God, not just any DI.
Plus, I took your dodgy tip.
And I've lied to Sandy, I'm
halfway to discrediting meself.
Jebem ti! How dare he?
Da?
Da
I want to be there.
Whoever you send, I'm going with them.
Whoever I send?
Whoever I send?
God forbid you fight
your own battles, Donal.
- Col!
- What?
You took the man's son, got
a hiding for it. Fair's fair.
Now, if you want to keep
going, that's up to you.
But judging by the
state of your wee face
you might want to leave it be.
[BULGEY SPITS]
That your resignation, is it, Bulge?
What happened to you?
It's okay, Mum, it's okay.
Did you even fight back?
Not dead, then.
It's the best possible result, Slack.
- I'm touched you came to tell me.
- [SHE SCOFFS]
What?
He's still out there.
So are you.
I don't go in much for guilt, meself.
The one thing I do know about it,
is it's ours and ours alone.
- He can't atone for you.
- [CAT MEOWS]
Well, what do you want me to do?
How about the right thing?
I mean, if I turn myself in now,
I put me family in danger.
You put them in danger first
time you took his money.
They've never been safe.
[CAT GURGLES]
You okay?
Only usually makes that
noise when I kick it.
Did you take it to the vet in the end?
Yeah, nowt doing.
Do you know how much
they want to put it down?
World's gone mad if it's
cheaper to keep it alive.
[DOG BARKS]
Yeah, daylight robbery.
Although it barely resembles
a cat any more, Vern.
I know you.
You were the O'Briens' knifeman.
They should've pensioned
you off years ago.
Argh!
Argh!
Argh!
Col let me go!
His head's gone, mine hasn't!
I knew you'd come again.
Argh!
- Don't fucking touch me.
- Listen to the man.
- Call 999, Vernon!
- They'll never get here in time.
You need to go.
You need to leave, even my
neighbours will report a gunshot.
Don't touch anything.
Come on, come here.
Have some of that.
Rinse them again.
No, use your top.
Then get rid of them
clothes when you get home.
- This isn't going to work, Vern.
- We can but try, but you need to
skedaddle, now.
- Well, where will you go?
- I've got a little bolthole in
Guadalajara for just such eventualities.
The jet's fuelled and waiting.
No, Vern Don't worry.
It'll be all right, I'll spin them
a good yarn, you won't feature.
I can't let you do this.
I shot him, didn't I?
Because of me. Because he followed me.
- If I hadn't come here that day
- Yeah, but you did and I'm glad.
I never helped anyone before.
Now, come on, piss off,
you've got your family to think of.
Me and my pal, we need to be alone.
You're going to go
down for the gun alone.
No I'll tell 'em I
got it in a jumble sale.
Zip it up.
- I'll come visit ya.
- Will ya, bollocks.
How suspicious would that look?
That's it, now, come on, go
Go on.
[OPENS, CLOSES DOOR]
[CAT MEOWS]
Oh, sod it.
[KNOCKS ON DOOR]
Er
you might want to get out.
[DIAL TONE]
Emergency, which service?
Fire, police.
- I'd say, send the lot.
- Address?
Yep. 51 Drakefield Street, Seacroft.
And what's happened?
Well,
I've shot an intruder dead
then set me house on fire.
Err, someone's on their way.
Right.
That's my story and I'm sticking to it.
[GLASS SHATTERS]
Oh.
You okay?
Erm, fine.
- Yeah?
- Yeah.
You want the bad news or the good news?
Um
- The bad news
- Mm?
I've overcooked the pasta.
The good news, there's loads left.
- Okay.
- Give us that.
[HE CLEARS THROAT]
Come on
You sit down.
I'll get a bowl.
Give my legs a rub, will ya?
They're sore today.
What's this? Spa treatment?
- Right, I'm next.
- [VOICES BECOME MUFFLED]
Quick question for ya.
Are you recovering from a serious
illness which almost killed ya?
All right, maybe not,
but I am out on site every day,
risking my life,
up and down wobbly ladders,
dodging falling bricks,
all to provide for my family.
[VOICES FADE OUT]
[SIRENS BLARE]
[INDISTINCT CONVERSATION]
Going to need you to
do something for me.
Something not very nice.
Chuck us your phone,
I'll stick me number in.
Put it in as James, yeah?
I made a friend from group.
Oi, are you not worried?
You can carry on working
for Col or you can quit.
Those are the two people that
you get to be, so choose.
Anything that puts Owen
at harm's way, I'll leave.
What if I can get the
Maliks out the way for you?
Phone us in a tip-off, I hard stop them.
You put the gear in the Maliks' car.
- Why?
- Cos I work for Col McHugh.
I always have.
You going to say something?
I don't always know what
to say, I'm not like you.
How did you end up working for him?
Don't matter.
I am where I am.
I wanted to be you.
When I was starting out, me friends
would say, "What you doing, Est?"
And I said, "No, you don't get it.
"There's this DI, she's killing it."
And the whole time,
you were on the take.
It's not like that.
What is it like, then?
It weren't a one-way street.
He gave me a lot of intel.
Most of my big cases turned
on something he gave me.
If it's so mutual, why
does he have to pay you?
Oh, look, does it matter?
It's over, I'm out.
Since I caught you this morning?
No, since before that.
I'm telling you, it's over.
I'm going to bring him in
but it has to be my way.
And he cannot know.
No, don't do that.
Don't treat me like I'm
an idiot, you know I'm not.
No, I know, I know how it sounds
but I promise you I'm not lying.
It's over, Esther.
You know I have to tell Sandy.
- Grass?
- Don't you dare.
Okay, I won't tell her.
If you do tell her
yourself, it's the best way.
I can't.
If I betray him, he will
come for me, for me family.
Not if he's inside.
Well, I'm sorry, if
you don't, I have to.
Please, let me make this right.
Let me finish what I have started here.
- Well, finish what?
- You've done what you've done.
I won't lie for you,
I can't, it's wrong.
- Oh, it's as simple as that, is it?
- Yeah
it is.
You're a good copper.
How would you know?
Lou, what you doing?
You're going to wake Owen.
Lou?
- What's happened?
- It's over.
We have to get all of
this out of the house.
- What do you mean, over?
- Esther caught me doing something for Col
and she's going to Sandy.
They're going to search the house,
so we have to get rid of everything.
- What'll happen?
- Erm, well, I'll deny everything.
Cos I can't co-operate,
Col would find out.
Well, I'll take it all.
I'll burn it if I have to.
So it is over, then?
I'm no use to Col if I get caught, am I?
So resign.
Do it tomorrow
before anything happens.
You were going to anyway.
I know it's not the end
that you wanted, but it's an end.
This is the best we could've hoped for.
- Is it?
- Yeah.
You know, nothing else matters.
None of it's your problem.
We'll be free.
Yeah?
After all this, we get to walk away.
Come on, come down.
I'll sort the money later.
How you feeling?
Condemned.
You've just got to
get through this part.
Mm-hm.
There you go.
Cheers.
Morning, Ma'am.
[OFFICE CHATTER]
[PHONE RINGS]
- Morning.
- Morning, morning.
[PHONE RINGS]
VOICEMAIL: Hi,
you're through to Esther Okoye.
- Leave me a message and I'll get back to you.
- Argh.
Est, call me back,
it's not what you think.
You're going to want to hear this.
What are you playing at?
I need to talk to you.
Jesus Christ, not here.
Col, you have to let me in!
Listen to me, we've got no time.
I've just come from the station and
I've seen something I weren't meant to.
There's a taskforce, you're the target.
I'm not on it, they have
deliberately kept me from it.
They know about us.
They have to. Why else
would they freeze me out?
- Right.
- No, don't. They could've turned someone.
Right. What do they have?
I don't know. But enough for
a warrant to search the house.
- When?
- No idea.
I came as soon as I saw.
They could be on their way
to you right now, for all I know.
You need to clear-out the house out now.
Well, you know I don't keep
anything in the house, you know that.
What's in your safe?
Just your cufflinks?
Everything's encrypted.
You want to take that chance?
Be sure and clear-out
the house and do it now.
[KNOCKS ON DOOR]
Yep?
Ma'am, can I have a word?
I won't be a minute, DC Okoye,
I just need to send this.
You all right?
Yes, Ma'am.
Come on, Col.
[PHONE RINGS]
Sorry, Ma'am, can I, erm?
Sure.
Esther, are you there?
You can't change my mind.
No, this, this isn't about last
night, this is about Col McHugh.
Do you want to bring him in?
- I'm not playing your games, Lou.
- No, this ain't a game.
He's leaving his house
to dispose of evidence,
stuff you could use to nail him.
Well, why don't you bring him in?
You know I can't.
You just say it's from a source
and we'll deal with it later.
Where is he?
- He hasn't come out yet.
- Well, what exactly is he carrying?
I'm pretty sure it's computer
stuff, like hard drives.
You're "Pretty sure"? Forget it.
[PHONE RINGS]
You said you wanted
to make a difference.
Well, here's your opportunity.
I'm parked-up half a
mile from his house.
There's only one road
that goes in or out.
I'm betting he's leaving soon
and I'm betting he's
carrying summat on him
that we could use to bring him down.
You want me to trust you?
Look, if I'm wrong, all that
happens is you look daft.
But if I'm right, you get to
bring down Col McHugh today.
We'll decide what to do about me later.
Esther, you're only going
to get one chance at this.
Get over here now!
Esther?
Sorry, Ma'am. It were a source.
Okay. Do you want to have that chat?
Erm, it's nothing, it'll wait.
Well, it's nothing or it'll wait?
I really need to chase this up.
It could be relevant to the taskforce.
Fine.
Off you go.
It's the old Church Road, right?
- Are you close?
- I'm coming towards you now.
Any sign?
Not yet.
Oh, come on.
Just give him a bit more time.
No, I'm heading back.
There he is.
Everything by the book from here on out.
I'll go back to the station.
Go get him, Est.
ESTHER ON PHONE: In a silver Mercedes.
Foxtrot, golf, 16,
November, uniform, hotel.
No passengers visible.
You'll never guess who Esther's tailing.
It's Col McHugh.
Supposedly, he's moving
some incriminating evidence,
- she's had some intel.
- You're kidding. Is she on her own?
At the moment, yeah.
We're getting units out to her.
She's not to pull him
till she's got backup.
SANDY ON SPEAKER: Maintain
contact, at a distance.
- Let's just see where he gets to.
- Yes, Ma'am.
He's barely pushing the speed limit.
Proper careful.
Yeah well, you would be if
you had something on you.
Stay far back as you can, DC Okoye.
Just turned onto Green Lane.
Heading for the A658.
That's towards Bradford Airport.
Wait, hold up.
What? What's happened?
He's pulling into a petrol station.
He's getting a bag out the boot.
Large holdall, looks heavy.
- Could be a handover.
- Or getting rid.
POLICE RADIO: With you
in two minutes. Over.
Shall I go now?
SANDY: Uniform there?
Almost.
No, no, no, You wait for them.
Sorry, Ma'am, he's going inside.
I'll lose sight of bag.
SANDY: DC Okoye!
Col McHugh!
DC Esther Okoye,
Central Yorkshire Police.
I have reasonable grounds to suspect
you may be carrying stolen
or prohibited articles.
You'll have to ask my lawyer about that.
Erm, Mr McHugh
under Section One of the Police
and Criminal Evidence Act of 1984,
I'm legally permitted to
carry out a stop and search.
I can also use reasonable
force, should you resist,
which could lead to your arrest.
You will be entitled to a
copy of the search record.
I'll give you a reference number.
Ma'am.
May I look inside your bag, please?
Could you open it for me, please?
SANDY: What is it?
It's um
nothing.
What do you mean, "nothing"?
It's just
office stuff, some printer paper.
Packs of Post-It notes.
- Post-Its?
- Is he messing with us?
Don't worry about the
reference number, hmm.
[DOORBELL RINGS]
Busy?
You sure I shouldn't have me chair?
No, you won't need it.
You won't need that, either.
No phones today.
They only tell you what to do.
Leave it. Me and you
are going off grid, bro.
I can't leave it.
My parents would freak.
What are you, ten?
I can turn it off.
Done.
Go on, then.
Come on then, bro, let's
go on your big adventure.
Better not be shit, though.
OWEN ON VOICEMAIL: Hello?
Hello?
Okay, old voicemail joke.
But admit it, I got you.
It's Owen, leave a message.
Tell them to get a wriggle on, yeah?
We're going to lift by Monday.
All right, I'll be two minutes.
Okay, guys, we need to speed up, yeah?
See you.
[PHONE VIBRATES]
PHONE: One new message.
LOU: Ceri, I'm so sorry.
I tried to set Col up and he knows,
so don't come home.
He might have people watching the house.
I'm going to find Owen,
I'm going to sort it.
I'm so sorry. It'll be okay.
Owen?
Owen, are you here, love?
- OWEN ON VOICEMAIL: Hello?
- Owen, Owen, love.
Hello? Okay, old voicemail joke.
But admit it, I got you.
It's Owen, leave a message.
Owen, love, you've got to call me
back, it's important, okay? As soon as.
I love you. Bye.
[PHONE VIBRATES]
- Yes?
- Your lad's safe, for now.
I don't believe you.
Yeah, you do.
The farm.
Half an hour.
Alone
or we drown him.
What's up with you?
- I thought you said it wasn't far?
- It's not.
I use the chair for a reason.
Where are we going?
A bit further down here.
We'll be well away, trust me,
- it's worth it.
- All right.
Give us a drag of that.
Here you are.
- Nice one, mate.
- It's all right.
Come on, you coward! Open the gate!
Come on! Come out!
What's the matter with you?
- You really want to be seen here?
- Is she in there?
Lou?
No, of course not.
If he hurts her, Alma, I'll kill him.
You'll do nothing. I don't know
where Col is, he doesn't tell me.
So get back in your truck.
You came, you shouted, you can tell
yourself you did something,
maybe it helps you.
Told you it were good.
You don't like it?
I do.
Bit of a weird place for your
dad to take a little kid, though.
Yeah!
But I were a proper mentalist.
Tasmanian Devil, he used to call me.
And sometimes it'd get so bad, he'd
just chuck us in car and take us
somewhere far away from anyone.
Let me run wild.
Funny thing is though
whenever he brought me here
I'd just be chill.
I'm not, erm
I think I knew.
It's okay.
Don't feel embarrassed.
Why would I be embarrassed?
[PHONE PINGS]
I thought you said no phones.
I thought it were off.
It's excruciatingly obvious that
it's your girlfriend,
which is completely fine.
Did you think I thought someone
like you could be miraculously
walking the Earth unattached?
What were that?
You want to capture the exquisite
awkwardness of this moment forever?
Don't know.
Summat people do.
Argh!
[SHE COUGHS]
You see that?
You see it, Slack?
Where's Owen?
What have you done with him?
Col, where is my son?
You tried to set me up this morning.
You've been working against
me for a wee while now.
Has Owen ever shown you a
picture of his wee friend James?
That's him.
Apparently, you and Ceri have been
arguing for years now about a man.
Owen doesn't know his name but
recently you've been
talking about stabbing
him in the back, getting rid of him.
He, he doesn't know.
He thinks he's having
a nice day out with his,
with his pal down by the water.
Please, Col.
Maybe that doesn't have to change.
Maybe he doesn't have to get hurt.
So long as we don't have any more lies.
- I have no more to tell.
- No, good, good.
So, why?
I wanted to bring you down.
Really?
I see. And why is that?
- I can't explain it.
- Well, try and do better.
Okay.
The night that we nearly lost Owen
I asked for him to be saved.
And then he was saved.
And when I went back to work
I realised that my part of the
deal was stopping you.
Why?
Because it's wrong.
Oh, ha-ha.
You hear that, Bulge?
"Because it's wrong."
Has this only just occurred?
Yeah.
Oh, no.
Oh, no.
- You found God?
- No, it's not like that.
He found you?
No, I'm too canny for him,
he can't track me down.
I don't know what to tell you, Col.
Now, here's the question.
Why didn't you just walk away?
Because you're the problem.
I'm to blame for you.
- If it wasn't for you
- Oh, I'm the problem?!
I'm the problem?
- You're a drug dealer.
- I give people something they want,
something they choose
to buy freely, Lou.
The drugs you sell ruin
people's lives, you know that.
Oh, God! If only people choose a
more respectable way of
ruining themselves, eh, Bulge?
Like drink and fags, and
takeaways, and betting,
and anything else with a tax code.
- Oh, you can't compare the two.
- Oh, can I not?
My da never broke the law for his fix.
Every last drop of
alcohol, legally obtained.
And that was such a great comfort to us.
When he shat himself
at Christmas dinner.
When he threw a pan of
hot oil over my mother.
When he died at 54 years old,
all small and yellow,
with a wee pregnant tummy.
If it's bad for you but feels good,
people are going to find a way to do it.
Legal, illegal, that's
just the prevailing wind.
It has fuck all to do
with right and wrong.
Chemicals don't have morals.
Oh, Jesus, don't try
and justify what you do.
Why not? Why not?
You know how many heroin addicts
there were in Britain
in the 1960s? Around 300.
And do you know where they got
their gear from? Do you know that?
Boots. Boots, The
Chemist, on prescription.
And then the politics
changed and well, here we are.
But all of this was a choice, Lou.
What about all the people that you hurt?
You don't even know
half the stuff you do!
We did all this together.
No! If I'd never met you
You were looking for me, just
like I was looking for you.
We're exactly the same.
We're the same.
We want to skip a few
rungs together, don't we?
We want to fucking get somewhere,
and fucking do something.
And all their rules out there
are a fucking joke to us.
But I know that.
I know who I am and so does
everyone else around me.
But you, you're a fucking liar!
You are a liar!
You lie to every person around you!
Me, Ceri, Owen, yourself!
You're even lying right now!
You are not as honest as
you think you are, Col.
My da held me underwater once.
Didn't he, Bulge? My da.
Jesus Christ, the fear, the panic.
Now imagine
imagine Owen just
looking up at his pal, James
and just thinking, "Why, for
God's sake? Don't do this to me."
In fact, no, I wouldn't let that
happen, that wouldn't be fair.
I'd get him say it was because of
you, first, so at least he'd know.
No. You fucking touch
him and I'll kill you!
And if I don't, Ceri
will rip your eyes out!
That's what you're going to think now
but most people, when
someone they love gets hurt
and it's their fault, it rips the
fight out of them, it breaks you.
Is that what happened to you?
Is that what happened to you, when
Aoife killed herself with your gear?
- WHISPERS: Don't.
- Or what, you'll kill me again?
You'll kill me twice?
You supplied the drugs that your
daughter used to kill herself.
You know that.
She knew that, the
whole world knows that!
But I'll bet you a tenner I'm
- the first one to say it out-loud.
- Don't you
- The truth, you want the truth?
- Don't you use her name.
No-one talks about Aoife
because everyone knows
that she fucking hated you.
And she used your drugs to end her life.
- But chemicals don't have morals.
- Bulgey.
"You know who you are"?
That is who you are, Col!
And when I'm gone, there'll
be no-one else to tell you.
No more lies, I promise.
I promise.
Oh, go on, just get it over
with, I haven't got all day.
[SHE SNIFFS]
Argh!
Argh!
Go home.
Donal will bring Owen back unharmed.
And this is the last
time we see each other.
One fucking chance.
Ever come after me again,
Lou, everything changes.
[PHONE PINGS]
Oh.
I can't tell whether
that's good news or bad.
It's good news.
But we should probably head back.
After
a swim.
Yeah?
Come on.
Right. If you want to
have a look at me cock,
do it now
and not when I come out. Yeah?
Okay.
Woohoo!
Argh!
Come on!
Come on, mate!
What are you waiting for?
Oh.
Woo!
OWEN ON VOICEMAIL: Hello?
Hello?
Okay, old voicemail joke
but admit it, I got you.
It's Owen, leave a message.
CERI: Lou, what's happened?
Is Owen okay?
Yeah, everything's okay. Just come home.
Owen?
CERI: What's going
on? Are you all right?
Lou?
I'll explain, just come home.
Thanks for an
odd and confusing and hypothermia-y day.
Yeah, look, mate
- I'm sorry about the whole
- Like I said
it's cool.
James
if you don't want that, then
what are we doing?
Is this just like a field
trip version of the group?
That's fine, by the way.
It's just nice to have
some sort of road map.
I don't know.
It's
it's just good to
talk to someone, in't it?
See you at Sad Bastards Group?
LOU ON VOICEMAIL: Owen, love,
you've got to call me back,
it's important. Okay? As soon as.
I love you.
Bye.
Mum?
What's this voicemail about?
Mum?
Tell me what's going on?
Nothing.
Don't matter.
Everything's okay.
I'm going for a shower.
You're his son, aren't you?
And?
- What were you doing with Owen?
- Nothing, just talking.
I-I swear.
He don't even know who I am,
he thinks I'm from the group.
You're James?
Whoa, whoa, whoa!
- You're fucking James!
- No, no, no, no, no, no!
It's done, it's done, it's
over. I swear, I swear.
No harm done, yeah?
I were never going to hurt him.
Ah!
Me da will fucking kill you!
If I ever see you here again
What happened?
Boss?
Boss, just listen to me!
Just listen to me.
You can't do this!
Boss, you do this, we'll never be safe.
- She'll come again.
- What happened?
Slack.
She tried to stitch him
up and he let her walk!
Alma, if he doesn't deal
with her, we're done.
Everybody will know you can take a
shot at Col McHugh, he don't fight back.
I've made my decision.
It's not just you!
What about your people?
They go down with you!
It's a fair question, Boss.
I were an O'Brien man
through and through.
And when you were takin' over, when
I went with you, I got a lot of grief.
Traitor, all that.
I threw in with you because I could
see you were the right man for the job.
And I never, ever doubted that.
- Till now.
- Bulgey, Curtis, would you?
She tried to hurt us
and you just let her go?
Make up your mind, Alma.
Either you want out of this life
or you want me to kill a woman who
was sitting at our table two weeks ago.
Police officer
a friend of 20 years,
a mother to a wee lad.
You love her?
Not like that, and you know it.
Sometimes, I wish it was like
that, it wouldn't make you weak.
What was I supposed to do?
Keep us safe.
But you haven't done
that in a long time.
Mum!
I don't get it.
Why would he just
let you go?
Cos he cares about me?
Have I ruined it?
No.
I ruined it.
A long time ago.
But he's not going to
change his mind, so.
But it's his son.
Yeah.
[KNOCK AT DOOR]
What was that this morning?
Did you know he had nothing on him?
Or maybe this whole thing were
about tying me up in your mess
and making it harder
for me to go to Sandy.
Est, I'd never do that to you.
Yeah, forgive me if I
don't take that as gospel.
She's asking me all sorts now.
How the tip came in, how the source
knew what were going
on in McHugh's house.
I've already had to lie to her.
I'm sorry, I
I really thought we had a shot at him.
Well, then, what happened?
I tried to smoke him out, and
he saw straight through me.
And then he took Owen.
What?
Is he okay?
Yeah he's okay, he's upstairs.
Lou, we have to go in now. You
need protection, you need to
- make sure that your family is
- Look, he's given me one last chance.
Okay? He'll leave us alone
if I leave him alone.
But if I breathe a word
against him, the deal is off.
So you go do whatever you have to.
Okay? I get it, I really do.
But I will deny everything,
to protect Ceri and Owen.
Well, then, I'm fucked then, aren't I?
It'll be my word against yours.
A two-year DC grassing on a DI.
God, not just any DI.
Plus, I took your dodgy tip.
And I've lied to Sandy, I'm
halfway to discrediting meself.
Jebem ti! How dare he?
Da?
Da
I want to be there.
Whoever you send, I'm going with them.
Whoever I send?
Whoever I send?
God forbid you fight
your own battles, Donal.
- Col!
- What?
You took the man's son, got
a hiding for it. Fair's fair.
Now, if you want to keep
going, that's up to you.
But judging by the
state of your wee face
you might want to leave it be.
[BULGEY SPITS]
That your resignation, is it, Bulge?
What happened to you?
It's okay, Mum, it's okay.
Did you even fight back?
Not dead, then.
It's the best possible result, Slack.
- I'm touched you came to tell me.
- [SHE SCOFFS]
What?
He's still out there.
So are you.
I don't go in much for guilt, meself.
The one thing I do know about it,
is it's ours and ours alone.
- He can't atone for you.
- [CAT MEOWS]
Well, what do you want me to do?
How about the right thing?
I mean, if I turn myself in now,
I put me family in danger.
You put them in danger first
time you took his money.
They've never been safe.
[CAT GURGLES]
You okay?
Only usually makes that
noise when I kick it.
Did you take it to the vet in the end?
Yeah, nowt doing.
Do you know how much
they want to put it down?
World's gone mad if it's
cheaper to keep it alive.
[DOG BARKS]
Yeah, daylight robbery.
Although it barely resembles
a cat any more, Vern.
I know you.
You were the O'Briens' knifeman.
They should've pensioned
you off years ago.
Argh!
Argh!
Argh!
Col let me go!
His head's gone, mine hasn't!
I knew you'd come again.
Argh!
- Don't fucking touch me.
- Listen to the man.
- Call 999, Vernon!
- They'll never get here in time.
You need to go.
You need to leave, even my
neighbours will report a gunshot.
Don't touch anything.
Come on, come here.
Have some of that.
Rinse them again.
No, use your top.
Then get rid of them
clothes when you get home.
- This isn't going to work, Vern.
- We can but try, but you need to
skedaddle, now.
- Well, where will you go?
- I've got a little bolthole in
Guadalajara for just such eventualities.
The jet's fuelled and waiting.
No, Vern Don't worry.
It'll be all right, I'll spin them
a good yarn, you won't feature.
I can't let you do this.
I shot him, didn't I?
Because of me. Because he followed me.
- If I hadn't come here that day
- Yeah, but you did and I'm glad.
I never helped anyone before.
Now, come on, piss off,
you've got your family to think of.
Me and my pal, we need to be alone.
You're going to go
down for the gun alone.
No I'll tell 'em I
got it in a jumble sale.
Zip it up.
- I'll come visit ya.
- Will ya, bollocks.
How suspicious would that look?
That's it, now, come on, go
Go on.
[OPENS, CLOSES DOOR]
[CAT MEOWS]
Oh, sod it.
[KNOCKS ON DOOR]
Er
you might want to get out.
[DIAL TONE]
Emergency, which service?
Fire, police.
- I'd say, send the lot.
- Address?
Yep. 51 Drakefield Street, Seacroft.
And what's happened?
Well,
I've shot an intruder dead
then set me house on fire.
Err, someone's on their way.
Right.
That's my story and I'm sticking to it.
[GLASS SHATTERS]
Oh.
You okay?
Erm, fine.
- Yeah?
- Yeah.
You want the bad news or the good news?
Um
- The bad news
- Mm?
I've overcooked the pasta.
The good news, there's loads left.
- Okay.
- Give us that.
[HE CLEARS THROAT]
Come on
You sit down.
I'll get a bowl.
Give my legs a rub, will ya?
They're sore today.
What's this? Spa treatment?
- Right, I'm next.
- [VOICES BECOME MUFFLED]
Quick question for ya.
Are you recovering from a serious
illness which almost killed ya?
All right, maybe not,
but I am out on site every day,
risking my life,
up and down wobbly ladders,
dodging falling bricks,
all to provide for my family.
[VOICES FADE OUT]
[SIRENS BLARE]
[INDISTINCT CONVERSATION]