Between the Lines (1992) s01e04 Episode Script

come to nothing.
I know the statistics, Mr Hardcastle, and you know the circumstances surrounding the majority of allegations.
The complainants are either out of control or out to get the police.
Investigations are carried out thoroughly and efficiently.
I wonder what you think about this.
A constituent of mine made a complaint about a violent attack on a young woman by two CID officers six months ago.
Absolutely nothing has happened.
I'm not in a position to comment on a specific case, Mr Hardcastle, as you very well know.
My constituent was told at the very beginning by a police officer at the same station as the accused men - Becket Park - that he should forget the complaint because everyone else would.
This is idle hearsay, Mr Hardcastle.
You have no business identifying a case that may be sub judice.
- Piss off, mate.
- It was only Hey! I told you to piss off.
I hope you were wearing a condom, old son.
I thought we had a deal, Mary.
That was bloody months ago.
I've got to earn my living.
I said I wanted you out of London.
I meant it.
Custody documents.
Incident report books.
Loads of other guff.
All accounted for.
And you're right where I said you would be.
Alan Hanson and Mike Siddons didn't assault anyone.
All I know is we couldn't prove anything.
Another file full of conflicting evidence.
You've been there too long, Maureen.
You should be out catching villains.
Yeah, yeah.
Sergeant Connell.
How's it going? - You take care, Harry.
- Yeah.
Keep in touch.
Is that it, then? Official? The investigation will not proceed any further.
Yeah! Always a pity to see old friends go, Sergeant Connell.
Sarge.
There you go, Mikey.
Piece of piss.
Put your long face back in the locker.
The first of many.
Tonight's going to be a celebration.
- I'll be there.
- Meanwhile, pub time.
And Mikey is buying.
I asked Mr Hardcastle why a Tory MP was taking a hard line with the police.
- This is too serious for party politics - Balls! Knock it on the head.
Any suggestion we're selective about complaints means serious damage.
Hardcastle had no right bringing in we're not gonna get far arguing parliamentary etiquette with him.
No fudges.
Either Clark gets evidence to bring serious charges against these clowns or they're completely exonerated.
And if that embarrasses Mr Dunning Scotland Yard.
James Hardcastle from the House.
I pushed Dunning hard - harder than he's used to.
He couldn't give me any answers but he was rattled.
Something will happen.
- It's an interesting idea.
- Hm? A system of justice which depends on the degree of public embarrassment its guardians are exposed to.
A fragile thread on which to hang our liberties, hm? I know how much you've put into this, Mr Feldman, but it's hardly Dreyfus.
Of course, we mustn't forget that even if the police did behave badly, it's only a prostitute who was beaten up.
If I thought that, I wouldn't be fighting for you.
You will get your reward in heaven, if not sooner.
who knows? - Thank you for talking to me.
- Mr Feldman.
I'll be in touch.
Hanson and Siddons both admit being there.
Their amiable chat with Mary Shibden is Feldman's vicious assault.
Did they do it? Did they do it? Did they do it? The tom's disappeared and she didn't want to make a statement.
It's Feldman's word against theirs and no victim.
PCA are going to give us a dispensation on it.
No tom's going to take on a complaint like this.
But Feldman took her to Accident & Emergency at the Royal Free.
- She was stoned.
- Do you want to take this? what did they say at the hospital? She'd been knocked about a bit.
She's always knocked about a bit.
She's a tart, drug addict.
Story of her life.
I won't know that until tomorrow.
Yeah.
I've got to go.
Yeah.
I'll call you.
Yeah.
Bye.
- Sorry.
- Siddons and Hanson are lying.
No one there thinks that having a go at a prostitute is the worst thing to do.
Or an addict.
Is that it, sir? No, it's not.
Our elders and betters want a result so get one.
- what? - what are we opening it up again for? Do it! - Maureen.
- Evening, sir.
Ooh, that's a sexy haircut, Inspector.
I called in at Becket Park on my way back.
I'm not sorry to see the last of it.
That DI Corbett I know my flies aren't undone.
what's so funny? Tony? It's me.
I thought you'd be on your way.
- I'll be five minutes.
- They'll be here soon.
- And so will I.
- I will strangle you if you're late.
If the lights are against me, I'll pick up a neck brace.
OK.
Leave now and save your life.
I'm on my way.
Dinner with an old mate.
I was at Hendon with him.
- Sounds good.
- Great.
Not only does he resent the fact that I'm a superintendent, but he thinks anyone in complaints investigation is a pillock.
Should get him to transfer.
we can show him he's right.
I've got one of the Becket Park tapes Sir, I've really got to get off.
It won't take a minute.
DC Siddons would like to propose a toast.
Right.
- To Clark the nark! - Hooray! Clark! Making the streets a safer place for villains.
At least he's got his coat off.
we'll have to get him in better form if he's going to join the Lodge.
Hey, Michael.
Control them, Harry.
Control.
Same again, Dick? I'm getting a round in.
- I'll give you a hand.
- Gin and tonic.
I hope you're not going to make a habit of asking Sergeant Connell round to Becket Park.
I know you like her but she keeps strange company.
Even Clark's only doing a job.
Even Clark.
Rather him than me.
- I mean, she's got to be a dyke.
- Bollocks! I knew Maureen Connell when she was terrified of walking her first beat.
I don't think there's a Mr Connell.
And every wPC who doesn't fancy Dick Corbett's a dyke? It's the truth! Same again.
Table seven.
I appreciate all the support you've given the CID on this one.
So do all the lads.
Anyhow, I've got a bit of good news for you.
I'm stepping down as Master of the Lodge and so you're the next master.
That is, if you want it.
what the bloody hell do you think? Let's have a round of whisky chasers with that one - large ones.
'Ey up.
Here we go.
Oh, my God.
where do they dig 'em up? # Maybe it's because I'm a Londoner # - Do you like London town? - Eh? I sometimes wish I lived in a villa in Acapulco.
Right.
Every tom we can find.
I want to find out who knows Mary Shibden and where she is and how they get on with Becket Park CID, especially Hanson and Siddons.
Good evening, girls.
Listen You saw two men shouting at a woman - Mary Shibden? Yes.
One of them slapped her face.
The other one punched her.
I called out, "Leave her alone!" Or something like that.
They shouted that they were policemen and told me to piss off.
- which I did I'm sorry to say.
- Marty Ja.
You want me to continue or have you formed your opinion? - I'm sorry? - You know all this.
I assumed they sent a senior officer to sniff out if I was a pathological liar.
It was felt that someone should reassure you that your complaint is being pursued.
I thought it might be.
I listen to Today In Parliament too, Chief Superintendent.
I badger my MP unmercifully.
He even talks to me.
Don't you find it odd that the effect of proving I was stalking the Caledonian Road in search of a prostitute would have been to somehow neutralise the attack on Miss Shibden? That it somehow made it OK.
Does that bother you at all, Mr Deakin? - Nice evening? - I'm sorry.
- Something came up? - Yeah.
And who exactly was she? She was exactly Chief Superintendent Deakin wanting my balls for not getting someone else's balls.
- It's nearly bloody midnight! - They've thrown a case back at me.
- I called you.
I said I'd be late.
- You said you'd be back at ten.
I really don't need a row with you.
If I don't sort this one out, it could damage me.
I thought they'd still be here.
Steve never leaves before finishing the brandy.
I said you were on your way.
And if Steve said, "That's a job for you, Sue" once, he said it a hundred times! He was never hot on conversation.
Just once we try to do something! Try to make some ordinary, pleasant thing happen and you screw it up, like you screw everything up.
Did you sit at the end of the road until they'd gone? You needn't have bothered.
They were telling me how early they had to get up when they arrived! Sorry, just missed you.
I didn't mean to be so short earlier.
There's a bit of shit flying around.
I will try for tomorrow.
I can't promise, though.
All right.
Cheers.
Hello? Nobody there.
I wonder if it's the same nobody who phoned twice last week.
- So who is she? - I'm not in the mood, Sue.
who is she? Play your own games but leave me out.
I don't care who was on the phone.
Maybe it was a wrong number.
Maybe it was one of my hundreds of ex-girlfriends, dying to hear the sound of my voice.
Either way, I couldn't give a stuff.
There's nothing ex about this one.
Good night.
Do you think she called to say good night? That's sweet, isn't it? I screwed up tonight.
I'm sorry.
I've been to King's Cross station talking to tarts.
Do you want an incident report from Naylor? I certainly wouldn't mind an incident.
It's ages since this bed saw an incident.
Oh, leave it, Sue! So I can look forward to you working late? I've had a difficult day, all right? Does she know you'll be bored with her in a few months? I hope she's not expecting too much.
You've never thought any woman was worth spending money on.
So how long have you been screwing her? - Shut up, - Or is it love? - Don't let your work start slipping.
- I've had enough.
- we've been there before - I am not screwing anyone! - You lying bastard! - I am not screwing anyone! - Just leave it! - why are you doing this? Tony, stop it! Are you satisfied? You believed that Mary Shibden could provide you with information about stolen property? Yes, sir.
what about this fence - Amal Kabir? Kabir was a pimp.
His brother, Mahmood, was fencing.
Mary might know where the warehouse was.
So what was the matter with an interview room? Dragging her in would have been like advertising.
Kabir would have cut her up for shopping his brother.
- Not that she did.
- No, sir.
- Very considerate of you.
- we wanted information, that's all.
Not an unusual situation.
That's what being a detective's all about.
I know what being a detective is all about.
It's not about pulling a woman down the side of a pub and knocking her from wall to wall.
No one touched her.
would you say that punching a woman is not unusual at Becket Park? we questioned her.
That's all that happened.
So we're saying that Mr Feldman took it into his head to walk down the Caledonian Road and pretend he saw two men beating up a woman.
I can't answer for Mr Feldman.
All I can tell you is the truth.
Interview halted at 10:32.
Superintendent Clark leaving the room.
Oi.
Superintendent said "halted".
That means he'll be back.
Sit down.
If Mary Shibden's gone up north, she's had convictions in Manchester, Grimsby, Bradford and Leeds.
- Guv? - Yes, I know that.
The north is all we got out of three hours at King's Cross.
Leeds is where she's collected most of them.
She's worked in Chapeltown.
I've called Manchester, Humberside and west Yorkshire.
If she's working Look, she's working.
She needs her heroin.
They want details.
I won't get results if I tell them we want her to nail some coppers.
Then lie! Say she's an axe-murderer.
Fine.
- Any movement on Becket Park? - well, sir You understand why we have to push this? - Clear results don't come easy, sir.
- I hope they do in this case.
I don't care which way it goes but I don't want fudge.
Get them charged or get them the Queen's Award for Gallantry.
Either will do.
Oh, we're having a barbecue on Sunday.
See if you can make it.
It's time we met your wife.
- why didn't someone get me? - There was no time.
Someone should have made some bloody time.
- That dyke told you it was over.
- She did.
That toe-rag Feldman can't leave it alone.
Some wanky professional complainer.
we're out there taking all the shit all the time and now our own are shovelling more on us.
why didn't you take Mary to the station? we wanted information, that's all.
It was safer for her.
You certainly look after your informants.
Didn't you, sir? It's not exactly an unusual situation.
If Mr Feldman was mistaken, what did he actually see? He saw us talking to Mary Shibden.
And you told him to piss off? I told him that we were police officers and that he should move on.
- So he's deaf as well as blind? - Look why would Mr Feldman say he heard you say, "Piss off.
Police.
Go on, piss off"? You'd better ask him.
They're so bloody complacent.
They know they're lying.
we know they're lying.
They know we know.
Guv, it's not the first time you've heard a detective lie, is it? A woman who has been beaten up by the police is so frightened that she would prefer to disappear.
And you see this as a reason to stop the investigation rather than to pursue it? "Through The Looking-Glass" or what? And this is the same mirror, I suppose? One of the men I saw attacking Mary Shibden is here.
The other is not.
- No.
They're both there, Mr Feldman.
- Oh, no.
- It was rather dark.
- Hah! And my inability to identify one thing very neatly questions my ability to identify others.
I saw both men distinctly.
I can identify both men.
One of them is not here.
I'm not easily confused, Superintendent.
And I will not disappear.
I'd like to welcome passengers now arrived at platform 5 into Leeds.
The train at platform 5 is the 10:33 Intercity from London King's Cross.
This train terminates at Leeds.
You can do what you like with the allegation.
I made a mistake.
I was there when you gave your statement to Superintendent Clark.
- It didn't sound like a mistake.
- You weren't there three days later.
why? what happened? Switch the tape off.
I'm not making any more statements.
I was out of my tree last time.
It was a pack of lies.
And the bruises? You think there's a shortage of blokes to knock me about? I'm not talking into that tape.
I don't want to talk to you.
I don't want to talk to anyone.
I'm out of London.
what else do they want? - I can't stay long.
- Stay a bit.
Not really.
About an hour.
Oh, Tony.
we've hardly got started.
I can't stay long.
Do you want the starter and the screw or the screw and the pudding? It's not easy for me, Jenny.
- I can't make it any easier.
- It's not working, is it? It's doing some pretty nasty stuff to me.
I can't handle it.
what do you mean? The only pressure I've put on you is trying to find some time for each other.
I thought that was the point of all this.
I don't have to sit around waiting for you, Tony.
There are other offers.
Maybe you ought to take one up.
we're not doing each other any good.
I thought we needed each other.
- I know we want each other.
- I've got to sort things out.
- what's new? - Look I'm just sick of listening to myself lying all the time.
I will call.
Don't bother.
Have you seen either of the detectives since the alleged assault? Has either Siddons or Hanson spoken to you since? Has either of them threatened you? They're just the monkeys who dance about.
It's the organ-grinder who turns the handle.
- Are we gonna talk about it? - I don't think so.
I am sorry.
I'm very sorry.
Good.
what's happened to the dressing table? - It's gone.
- It could have been mended.
- I don't think so.
- It could.
I didn't want it mended.
I wanted it out.
Huxtable's asked us to a barbecue next Sunday.
- Good.
- Don't blame me if it isn't.
Hello? Maureen, hi.
How's it going? It was Corbett, not Siddons, who was outside the pub.
- Corbett? - Siddons is carrying it for him.
Mary Shibden's been warned off by Corbett.
That's why she's in Leeds.
I think so.
Hang on.
It goes deeper.
Three days after the complaint was made by Feldman, after you interviewed Mary, she was picked up and taken to Becket Park.
She saw Corbett in a cell on his own and he beat the shit out of her.
That's beautiful, Maureen, beautiful.
See you.
Yes.
These are the men.
Thank you, sir.
we'll be in touch.
Don't you think it would have been better if all this had gone unchallenged, Superintendent? My job's investigation, Mr Feldman.
That's what I do.
And you can't make an omelette without breaking eggs.
There are those who believe that if the police were fully answerable for their actions, they'd be tied so tight that no one would be convicted of anything.
In a dirty world, a policeman who can't fight dirty I think there's a line, Mr Feldman.
But no one knows where to draw it and most people don't even want to think about having to draw it.
I'm no different, you know.
I walked away too.
That's one response to the problem of survival.
Be invisible.
Make no waves.
It doesn't work.
Thank you, Mr Feldman.
Mary was picked up after we interviewed her and taken to Becket Park by a uniformed officer.
True? I can't answer questions I don't understand.
You spent some time in a cell talking to her, alone.
I don't think so, Sergeant.
She was released the following morning.
She spent eight days in hospital with a broken jaw - which you gave her.
Bollocks.
we have a statement from Shibden.
It puts you outside the Chancellor's Arms.
It puts you in the cell four days later.
You'll also find that Mr Feldman will be able to identify you.
Hanson and Siddons were there.
No one's disputing that.
I'm disputing it.
My guv'nor wants it disputed all the way into a courtroom.
Everything that happened is recorded.
Mary Shibden says that Corbett came into her cell.
He threatened her.
And then he hit her several times to make the point.
I don't remember Shibden being here.
If DI Corbett had wanted to talk to her, he would have followed regulations.
It will be in the book.
If Corbett was in there to warn her off, you knew about it.
You know about everything that goes on in this station.
we'll be seeing you.
Feldman has no reason to lie.
You have.
So's Hanson, so's Siddons.
He's got a reason to take a complaint for me? He's your boy.
He'd climb a tree for you.
You've got promotion coming up.
Mary Shibden's a vicious little doped-up tart.
Feldman's some sort of senile old lefty who wants to be a hero before he pegs it.
And as for Mary being pulled in by the uniforms, so what? I wasn't there.
I suppose Harry Ross is lying as well.
we shall be asking him, Inspector.
They don't come any straighter than Sergeant Ross.
Yes! well played, Robbie! we've won the Met Cup three times.
First time was the year I stopped playing.
winning's a bigger thing now.
we weren't bothered.
Come on, George! Mark him tight! Good lad.
Good days.
The best.
- Don't let them run away.
- I think I already have.
Don't be daft.
I was expecting a call from your guv'nor Not a social visit.
But it amounts to the same thing, doesn't it? - I wanted to talk to you first.
- His idea? He thinks you're protecting Corbett.
So do I.
You know what you're doing to my station? Your station is getting a very dodgy reputation.
- Not forgetting results.
- And you're sure? Dick Corbett pushes a bit too hard sometimes.
- It doesn't make him corrupt.
- He's corrupting his department.
Siddons is already perjuring himself and Corbett's got you lying for him.
No.
Is there a difference between a woman getting beaten up by a pimp and beaten up by Becket Park CID? Do you think one's all right? I always had a soft spot for you, Maureen.
It doesn't mean Clark can send you in to soften me up.
I'm not senile.
But you are lying.
You don't do it very well.
why are you doing it at all for a pillock like Corbett? They say rubber heels is a good career move these days.
I hope it's doing you good.
I'll be at CIB tomorrow.
Till then, I assume my time is my own.
Lying puts a hell of a strain on people.
It really screws some of them up.
You've seen it a thousand times.
Come on, you wankers! work, work! Let's go! How long was it before anyone went in there after Corbett's visit? wasn't not going in a way of pretending it hadn't happened? If we'd known, she would not have been left.
I'd have called a doctor.
So you're saying DI Corbett was in the custody suite? He did go in the cell? I did not see Inspector Corbett.
All the events are recorded in the custody records.
So he walked in with a paper bag over his head and you went and sat in the bog with the PCs for half an hour? You've got my records.
Is it common knowledge that Siddons is standing in for Corbett? That Corbett and Hanson beat up Mary Shibden and that Corbett's a bit touchy about his promotion prospects? All I know is what Siddons and Hanson have told me.
I've given you all the information I can.
Interview halted, 11:31.
You owe the job more than you owe Corbett.
It's not too late to climb back.
You know Corbett was in the cell.
You must have seen him.
Yes, he was there.
He was there and I chose to ignore it.
- You must be Sue Clark and Tony.
- Mrs Huxtable.
It's Elizabeth.
Brian is appalling at introductions.
He's appalling at everything except cooking and having conversations about policing in the '90s.
If only Tony could cook.
Let's have another drink.
I sense another boring politician looming.
Tony, meet James Hardcastle.
You probably saw him on Newsnight slagging off CIB.
Tony's investigating Becket Park for us.
Commiserations.
You must have spent more time with that Semite Feldman than I have.
He has all the litigiousness of his race and all the bloody-mindedness of old age.
You see? All this stuff about the rights of the individual is claptrap.
Underneath it all, he's a real hard-boiled Tory.
Believe me.
Trevor Dunning tells me you've got a case against these detectives.
we're getting there.
He thinks you've done a good job, even if you did need a kick up the arse from me.
It's far from being watertight.
If the DPP drops it, it still looks better for the Met and there'll be some disciplinary fall-out for the officers.
It shows willing.
where there is darkness, shed a little light.
Trevor.
One of Brian Huxtable's untouchables.
Do you know each other? No, but Sue and I have been talking about you.
Tony, Trevor Dunning, Deputy Assistant Commissioner.
- Sir.
- James Hardcastle.
Jimmy's one of the new breed of MPs.
They know nothing about anything except how to get on to the telly.
Come on.
I got you on telly too.
So we got these people down at Becket Park? Brian says we've got a range of charges.
we've got a case.
All yours, then, James.
Oh, and next time I come in for a select committee, can I have Bernie Grant instead of you? I want someone who's not going to give me such a tough time.
That stupid old bastard.
All they've done is turn up a lot of shit.
when it's spread around, all it'll do is smell.
I didn't expect to see you here.
Oh, I'm the token career policewoman.
Is it not elite enough for you now? No.
I thought you'd agree with the chief super.
He calls this Huxtable's Culture Club.
- well, he's not wrong.
- But you're here.
I may be a token policewoman but I don't have a token career.
They all seem very happy about Becket Park.
- You've done yourself some good.
- And you.
Yes.
And me.
No one seems to give a damn now if the DPP throws it back and Corbett and co carry on.
- It could happen.
- I wonder how Harry Ross feels.
No one asked him to lie for Corbett.
we asked him to tell the truth.
- He could have come forward earlier.
- Sure.
we're always falling over people coming forward.
No one's gonna thank you for grassing on your mates.
which is not what we said, what you said.
- why are you laying into me? - I'm laying into myself.
If Corbett gets off, where does that leave Harry? It's not my problem.
Or yours.
well, this all seems very intense.
I don't suppose anyone can join in? It's the usual moans about the job.
Don't be shy, Maureen.
If they were moans about me, that's fine.
I'm sure Tony's approach isn't original.
"My wife doesn't understand me.
" - For God's sake.
- I don't know You usually slam down the phone.
It's not so easy here.
- You're being ridiculous.
- Shut up.
You're not exactly being clever, having a tiff here.
No, no.
You really are wrong.
In fact, you couldn't be more wrong Tony! Come and have a drink.
Under penalty of having my throat cut, my tongue torn out and buried at low water mark, or the more effective punishment of being branded as wilfully perjured, void of all moral worth and totally unfit to be received into this or any other worshipful Lodge or Society of Men.
Sounds like Harry.
Poor old Harry.
The cold shoulder's only the beginning.
So where's your fidelity now, you bastard? I am not having a scene with Maureen Connell.
Never even thought about it.
- So you keep telling me.
- It's crazy.
Having a go at her like that with Dunning and Huxtable yards away.
I'm glad I can see the funny side.
- I don't think I disgraced you.
- It was a wobbly moment, though.
They've asked us for dinner.
I've played my wifely part.
I thought he was going to walk into it.
Huxtable.
Maureen did all right, though.
Anyway, my performance at Mr Huxtable's barbecue was a one-off.
Next time, you can go with your lover.
Oh, for God's I am not screwing Maureen Connell.
I believe you.
But you're screwing someone.
I'd rather she was bored by your new police buddies in the clouds than me.
- Don't be so stupid.
- I'm being honest! I've spent thousands of hours listening to you talking about the job and I wouldn't mind handing that over to someone else.
I bet you don't remember the last time you asked me about mine.
The day of the dinner party, I sat and watched a two-year-old girl die.
Then I went to Sainsbury's to buy the dinner that you didn't turn up for.
It doesn't get easier because it happens over and over again.
- I'm sorry.
I know I should try - Don't bother.
- Come on, Sue.
- I haven't forgotten the other night.
It'll take a lot of forgetting.
I was frightened of you, Tony.
I was out of order, I know that but I wouldn't have touched you.
Maybe.
I'm not sure.
- Sue - It hasn't gone.
And I warn you If anything like that ever happens again, you'll be on your own.
And if you think that'll be easier, it won't be.
If I go, I want every single thing that's coming to me.
I didn't spend all these years for nothing.
And if nothing's all there is, my God, it's going to cost.
# why was he born so beautiful? # why was he born at all # I think you can understand, Harry, that things are a little difficult.
There's bad feeling in CID.
I'm sure what you did was right, but I told the truth.
I'm afraid it's your word against Corbett's.
with no complaint from Shibden about anything that did or didn't happen Take some time off, Harry, and think about retirement.
You're not far off it now.
I'd be happy to recommend we thought we'd give Feldman a sendoff.
Poor old bugger's had a heart attack.
Shame.
Don't let us keep you.
On your bike.
Dead and buried.
Becket Park.
Time well spent.
I gather Mr Huxtable and friends are pleased.
I'm sure it made for nice barbecue chat.
- Thanks, sir.
- Somebody's pleased.
Don't knock it.
A few more notches up the greasy pole for you.
- And that's a result? - For some.
James Hardcastle's got a junior ministerial position at the Home Office.
The Tories need a wet there and he's the most aggressive.
All thanks to his high profile on matters of police discipline - if you believe what the papers say.
Yeuch.