Single-Handed (2007) s02e01 Episode Script

(RADIO CHATTER) So what's the story? You're late.
You know I have to drop the kids off at school.
This is a bloody waste of time, isn't it? Does the Inspector think the father's going to drive by here with a sign in the back window 'abducted baby on board'? This is all for the benefit of the cameras, Jack.
The way I see it, the wife chucks the husband out and tells him he'll never see his child.
Finbarr, it's called stop and search.
So the husband thinks to himself, "Oh, yeah, is that right? Well, I'll make sure you'll never see him again either, you miserable bitch.
" Whack! Revenge.
That's what this is all about.
Revenge.
That child will be dead by now.
And the father.
Everybody knows that.
So what's the point? All vehicles, OK? All right, boss.
And make sure everyone gets a good look at that face.
Good morning, ladies.
And how are you this fine day? Who do we have on first? Mr Gerard Driscoll.
Retired Sergeant Driscoll.
Out all night and nothing to eat.
I don't know where you're sleeping.
I'm all right.
You had no need to move out of here, you know.
There's plenty of room.
I don't mind.
I was never that keen on the place anyway.
And I can always find a bed for the night somewhere.
What sort of example is that to be setting? Coming out of a different door every morning? Am I supposed to be some kind of role model now? Your father was.
Anyway, there's a bed here if you need it.
Anyway, there's a bed here if you need it.
Your father might like it if you stayed around for a while, given the circumstances.
I don't think so.
It might take his mind off things is all I'm saying.
I don't understand why he can't go to the surgery like everybody else.
I don't understand why he can't go to the surgery like everybody else.
He's plenty of time on his hands now he's retired.
You know what he's like about doctors.
He was grey when he came in yesterday.
Once this tribunal's over he'll be back to normal.
You wait.
You think he's putting it on? Your father has never taken a day off in his whole working life.
Not one.
And now they're ringing in with bad backs, stress.
It's convenient is all I'm saying.
It's a national disgrace is what it is.
Your father kept the peace here for 30 years and this is how they repay him.
Put him up on trial.
It's a tribunal, it's not a trial.
Judges? Lawyers? Having to account for every decision he ever made.
Question after question? It's a trial all right.
Then he should have got legal representation.
Have everyone thinking he'd got something to hide Have everyone thinking he'd got something to hide when your father never did a thing wrong in his life? Jack.
Jack.
How are you, Maggie? Did you take his blood pressure? Yeah.
It's up a little.
A man's blood pressure would be up with this one taking it.
I don't understand how when he hasn't an ounce of fat on him.
And, what if it is up anyway? Sure, some engines run faster than others.
Isn't that right, Doctor? So, Jack, have you found this missing father and son yet? No.
This new inspector of yours - O'Kane? Must be in his element with all the toys out, huh? That helicopter was over here all day yesterday.
Imagine the cost.
Kiss goodbye to your overtime for the next 12 months.
Isn't it money well spent? Well, if they find them, yes.
But you can't solve every problem with expensive bits of kit like helicopters.
All I ever had was a bike and this.
Did he try the little bastard theory before he called in the cavalry? The first thing you do whenever a child is missing is look under the bed in case the little bastard's hiding.
Well, this one is well and truly missing.
And it's the father that has him.
What makes these men do it, I wonder? In this case the mother's family.
They should hold a tribunal on them.
That would be a proper use of public money.
As for their kids, I'd sterilise the lot of them and save the rest of us a good deal of trouble and expense.
Doctor thinks you're joking, Dad.
Indeed I am not.
I'll bet that neither of the parents is working.
Am I right? I'll bet that neither of the parents is working.
Am I right? They're students.
Oh, students.
Wouldn't you know? And we should be supporting young families.
Oh, should we? Yes.
I thought you were big on families.
Aren't they the foundation of a civilised society? Civilised? We're a long way off being that out here.
What he means is we know the mother's family from a long way back.
They be travellers.
Most of the crime round here is down to them.
Whatever.
They're young parents and I'm their doctor.
And I treat all my patients the same whether I approve of them or not.
I want you to have an ECG.
I haven't time to be going into hospital.
You won't have to.
I've got everything at the surgery.
First thing tomorrow.
I've got everything at the surgery.
First thing tomorrow.
I'll have to see what time I'm needed.
He'll be there.
I'll walk you out.
All right.
See you.
Is he putting this on? You can't fake high blood pressure.
You don't know my father.
Your mother's worried about him.
She's been married to him for over 30 years.
She ought to be used to him by now.
Let's see what the ECG says.
Well? Ah.
The world is run by women now.
That's a tough one you're up against in court.
I've seen her on the telly.
Don't you worry about me.
It'll take more than a jumped-up head girl like Justice bloody Foster to see me off.
I'm sorry, there's no sign yet.
So, what we want to say to you, Padraig, if you're watching, is that you are not in trouble.
We love you and we're just concerned for you and for little Conal.
We just want you to get in touch now.
We just want you to get in touch now.
Obviously we'd appeal to anyone who has any news to contact the Gardai straight away.
Are you looking for anyone else in connection with the disappearance of the child? No.
It's pretty clear cut.
The father had made threats and he was seen driving the child away from the house.
Was I looking at the right camera there? I thought I came over a bit cross-eyed.
Huh? Maybe it was the lights.
Did you not think of getting the child's mother up there in front of the cameras next to the grandparents? What? This one here? Yeah.
People identify with the suffering of a mother.
That grandfather's a great man, Jack.
Decent, hard working.
And the wife's a good-looking woman for her age, isn't she? If I'd put this one up we'd have half the country saying good luck to the fella for taking his baby and clearing off.
That's all we need - the two brothers sticking their noses in.
You never stopped warning me.
Are you pleased now? There's no point in going to the guards.
This is all for show.
And do you wonder, the amount of times they've had you two in? All he's saying is - You should have left it to us.
You mentioned a development.
I did.
We've put on a bloody good show so far, haven't we? Top class, I'd say, but the ASU, Air Support Unit, are wanted over in the Midlands and the overtime's making your lawyer's fees look like your walking about money for a Friday night.
We're pulling out? We're going to make the best possible use of the available resources.
Have you told her? Oh, no.
This is your investigation, it's your inquiry.
She'll take it from you.
You're the senior officer here.
Was.
I'm leaving you in charge.
What? Do you not want a bit of responsibility? Come on, Jack.
You were the first here when the kiddie went missing.
She trusts you.
If something happens to that kid and we could have prevented it We can't just walk away from this.
Who's walking away? Watch my lips - reallocating resources.
Can I at least have a liaison officer? Liaison officer? And what's that lazy fecker Finbarr doing? Hold her hand.
Reassure her.
Keep hope alive.
How's your father by the way? Stressed.
Stressed? I'd say he is bloody stressed.
I'd be offering a bit of support if I wasn't chasing round the country looking for this one's brat.
I'd be offering a bit of support if I wasn't chasing round the country looking for this one's brat.
I made my choice.
If anyone's to blame it's you two, trying to drag him down to your level.
trying to drag him down to your level.
The guards don't give a shite about you or little Con.
You know that.
Ask this one here what they're up to.
Yeah, you! Sneaking off.
He won't face us, will you not? They don't give a shite about the likes of us.
Come on now, lads.
We're talking to our sister.
Well, your sister's done talking to you.
I hope for his sake you find Padraig before we do because if he's touched one hair on that beautiful young child's head, I'll cut his throat.
Don't treat me like an idiot.
Eilish.
I know what's going on here.
We've swept every inch of the county.
He's left you to do his dirty work for him, hasn't he? Wanker.
We have to try something different.
And what would that be, I wonder? A fucking crystal ball? And don't pretend like you care And don't pretend like you care because you're just doing what you've been told.
Three days - is that what my child's life is worth? Three days? I know what this is all about, don't you worry.
Where you come from - Bollocks.
Where you come from - Bollocks.
Who your family are, that's got nothing to do with this.
You look me in the eye and tell me that this happens when you have a decent house and a nice job.
Did you see me up there on the television, I wonder? I'm his mother and they're treating me as if I'm the guilty one.
Go on away with the rest of them.
I'm not going anywhere.
Well, I don't want you here.
I don't need anyone to hold my hand.
I have a family of my own, thank you - Eilish, I have a family of my own, thank you - Eilish, will you just listen to me? Hm? You think my baby's dead.
I know it.
You think my baby's dead.
I know it.
You think Padraig has killed the two of them so there's no rush.
You can sit back and wait for the bodies to get washed up somewhere.
You can sit back and wait for the bodies to get washed up somewhere.
Is that what you think is going to happen? It's what he said he'd do after I'd kicked the lazy bastard out.
He wouldn't let me keep his son.
If he couldn't have him, no-one could.
Well, I still think there's a good chance we'll find them.
I'm being honest with you.
I'm being honest with you.
When's his birthday? Last month.
He's just turned two.
Do you know something? I think if your child was dead, you'd know.
I think if your child was dead, you'd know.
How? You're his mother.
I think you'd know.
You do believe that, don't you? You do believe that, don't you? I go to his room and I smell his clothes.
And, this morning, I heard him calling me as clear as anything.
And that's what you have to hang on to.
But then I get this picture of him lying out there in the wet and cold, his hair all thick with mud - But that's not what you feel, is it? You believe your baby's alive and you have to hang on to that, Eilish.
Look at me.
Tell me.
Tell me you haven't given up hope.
We'll find him.
The helicopters couldn't find them.
All those people out there searching couldn't find them.
What makes you think that you can? In all the thousands of miles of nowhere, just one guard.
In all the thousands of miles of nowhere, just one guard.
One guard and you.
Let's turn our attention to Mr Michael Patrick Flannery.
Now, Mr Flannery was stopped 32 times by yourself and colleagues on a number of what I'm going to call pretexts - faulty lights on his car, driving too slow, et cetera, et cetera.
But on none of these occasions was he ever charged or arrested.
Never was a single, solitary charge brought against Mr Flannery.
Does that seem at all odd to you? I expect we were exercising a bit of discretion there.
You might not be familiar with the way things work in these parts.
You might not be familiar with the way things work in these parts.
Perhaps you'd care to enlighten counsel.
Well, you have to do that sometimes in a place like this where we all know each other and we all have to rub along together.
You make a professional judgement based upon the circumstances.
And there might be occasion on which you decide to take no action? Of course.
Even when you know an offence has been committed? Sometimes a gentle warning sends out the right message.
One would think Mr Flannery might have got the message after 32 warnings.
Not if you knew Mr Flannery.
Mr Flannery claims he was the victim of a campaign.
He claims, furthermore, that you were orchestrating that campaign, that you were manipulating other Gardai to assist you.
That is a very serious allegation, Mr Driscoll.
It is.
And there was never anything like that going on.
Did you ever meet with colleagues to discuss how you might harry and harass Mr Flannery? I did not.
Stopped on his way to work, stopped on his way home, going to church, once on his way to a funeral.
Really, one is left to conclude that Mr Flannery must have been remarkably unfortunate during those 17 months.
How do you account for that? Well, I would say it was just what you said - bad luck.
Are you a superstitious man at all, Mr Driscoll? Not in the normal way, I'm not, your honour, no.
Some people do seem to have more than their fair share of bad luck, don't they? I mean - Mr Flannery seems to have had more than his fair share.
Perhaps he walked under a ladder or broke a mirror, something of that sort.
It would be something more serious than that.
Really? What, like offending the fairy folk or some powerful local deity? Or perhaps he simply got on the wrong side of a humble garda sergeant, someone like yourself? Carry on, please.
Let us leave the unlucky Mr Flannery.
The worst he suffered was inconvenience.
Others, however, were not quite so fortunate, were they? Others served terms of imprisonment.
Does that bother you? Wasn't it the job I signed up for? I would hope that anybody who ended up in prison would have had a fair trial first.
They might have counted themselves unlucky to be caught by the likes of me but a trial would have been conducted by educated legal gentlemen and ladies like yourselves.
I'd hope there wouldn't be too much luck involved there, wouldn't you? I think Mr Driscoll has tried our patience long enough.
If you have no further questions.
No, Your Honour.
Thank you, Mr Driscoll.
Will I be required again, Your Honour? Let us hope not.
Although, one never knows when we might welcome a little comic relief.
Tell me how you met Padraig.
At university.
Were you working there? You were a student? I'm not saying you don't have the brains.
I'm sure you do.
You think you know me.
I'm just saying it can't have been easy.
I wasn't academic myself.
Because of where I come from? Because of my family? Because of where I come from? Because of my family? No, it wasn't easy.
It was hard work.
I had to do everything at home, including look after those two lazy shites.
Padraig must have been a breath of fresh air then? Fella with ambition, someone who could look after himself.
Padraig? He's a mummy's boy.
He's had everything done for him.
Yeah, but after you had Con.
Padraig doesn't do responsibility.
He's useless.
So what were you going to do? You must have had some plans.
I had some plans.
He was going to finish his degree and get a job and then I was going to go back and finish mine.
Surely the college helped you out? Don't they have facilities for mothers these days? You still need money.
Oh, he promised he'd get a job but he just sat all day playing with Con.
I wanted a husband and I ended up with two babies.
Watch their faces when they see me.
Maybe you should wait here and let me talk to them first.
All right? Mrs Burke.
What's she doing here? I was hoping she might sit down with you and your husband.
Oh, no.
I'm not having that one anywhere near my home.
Fine.
That one doesn't give a shit.
That one is here to tell you the guards are calling the search off.
Did you know that? Is that true? No, it's not true.
There's been a shift in emphasis, that's all.
And I'll tell you why because they think that your precious son has done away with himself and my baby, that they're lying at the bottom of the lake.
They've given up looking.
Will you get her away from here before I? Eilish! I fucking hope he is dead because he's no bloody good as a father.
My child deserves better! You wicked, foul-mouthed little bitch.
How dare you bring her here? Shut up and let me speak.
Now do you see what we've had to put up with? Padraig was at the university studying for his degree before that one got her claws into him.
I suppose I got myself pregnant, did I? Sergeant, we are dealing with Inspector O'Kane.
He knows where to find us if he has anything to report.
Well, Inspector O'Kane has handed over to me.
I'm the Investigating Officer now.
I'm the Investigating Officer now.
Diarmuid! In that case, you'd better talk to my husband.
Didn't I tell you? I'm the mother of your grandson in case you'd forgotten.
Do you think I could ever forget that? Diarmuid, will you get out here now and talk to this guard before I do something I regret? Sergeant.
We've done everything we can to help.
We've given you the names of all his friends, relatives, anyone he might have gone to.
If we had any idea where he was, wouldn't we have told you by now? Just you wait till my two brothers get hold of your precious son.
Just you wait! That is enough! Will you get back in the car now? Go on.
Go on! We love our son, Sergeant.
And we love our grandson despite his mother.
And you really have no idea where he might be? No.
None.
Because if you did know it would be a very serious offence to withhold that information.
You told me yourself, Gerry.
There's only one chair in that witness box.
You're on your own up there.
For Christ's sake.
What are you worried about? How often have you given evidence in a court of law? Often enough to know that these bastards are different.
They're in a different class of bastard altogether.
Well, just don't try to be clever.
And remember, if they ask you about confessions, you just remind them that any confession that you ever acted on was always backed up by good solid evidence.
What if they bring up cases where we had to do a bit of work off the record? The only way they're going to find that out is if they can prove some sort of conspiracy.
Now, with a thing like that, nothing was ever written down, was it? No.
Remember, if you do find yourself in a corner, you can't remember.
You say nothing.
They can't prove anything if they have nothing to go on, can they? (PHONE RINGS) Hello.
Who is this? Malachy? Malachy Doran? No.
No.
And I don't want you calling here again.
Do you understand? (DIALLING TONE) (DIALLING TONE) (DIALLING TONE) Hi, this is Padraig's phone.
Leave me a message at the beep and I'll get back to you.
(BEEP) He doesn't have any of Conal's things.
Only what he was wearing that day.
It's not difficult to buy some baby clothes, is it? He may have been planning this for a while, you know.
Padraig? Planning something? He loves Conal, doesn't he? Then he isn't going to hurt him, is he? You have to hang on to that.
You need to sleep.
Are you gonna be all right here on your own? I've always been on my own, one way or another.
My phone's switched on all night.
I'll check back first thing.
You're mad! You don't know what you're missing.
You might have been better off with a flask of soup.
You might have been better off with a flask of soup.
No.
No.
This is perfect.
Argh! From here to eternity? If you think I'm getting in there Didn't bother Burt Lancaster.
And he was only wearing a skimpy little pair of shorts.
Deborah Kerr wasn't wearing rubber.
It's only got one zip.
(FIREWORKS) Shall we just go back to mine? You look freezing.
Look at you in your little rug.
You go on ahead home.
I'll follow you in a minute.
Friends of yours, Cathal? No.
Dubs.
Over here for the surf.
There's a few of the local lads.
Are you selling this stuff? I'm not making anything.
It's just a few bottles to get the party going.
Will I be dragging a body out of there in the morning, you think? No, no.
I'll keep an eye on them.
I thought you were away at university.
Study leave.
Here, did you ever bump into Padraig Burke there? I know Padraig all right.
Run away with his baby, hasn't he? The guards were all over the university.
Bastard still owes me 50 euros.
You knew him well, then? To be lending him money? I won't be falling for that one again.
I won't be falling for that one again.
Family seem have plenty of cash.
What was he spending it on? He dropped out after he got involved He dropped out after he got involved with that Riordan girl, the one with the two brothers.
He was always hanging around campus, scrounging.
It takes money to raise a family.
I know.
But I saw exactly what happened to my 50.
Straight down his neck.
He's a drinker? Drink, smoke, whatever he can get his hands on.
What's the problem? Cathal.
I don't want to spoil your little party.
Was Padraig using drugs regularly? Everyone has a bit of something, don't they? What was he using? I don't know.
Hash? Grass? Bit of coke? Anything else? Maybe.
Maybe.
You know that child of his is only two years old? Are you all right? I thought you'd be home a bit earlier, that's all.
I had to talk to Finbarr.
He's starts work in the morning.
I ought to go along, you know.
You have an appointment with the doctor in the morning.
And you know the first thing she's going to say to you, don't you? One pint.
That's all I had.
I'm serious.
Will you stop your fussing? Anyway, I'm finished with Justice bloody Foster so I think I'm entitled to a bit of a celebration.
What is it? Nothing.
Nothing at all.
Eilish? Oh, Jesus Christ! Both of them.
Both of them.
Not just him, which would be bad enough - both of them.
She'd been clean since the baby was born.
And you say nothing.
And you say nothing.
Because it's not information that you're entitled to.
What? They're my patients.
Patient confidentiality.
That's not how we do things around here.
Is that right? Well, as your father subtly reminded me yesterday, I'm not from round her, am I? This is me you're talking to.
There are rules, Jack.
The man you've been sleeping with for the last month.
I stuck to the rules.
You need a court order.
You know that.
A child is living with two junkies.
You're their doctor, A child is living with two junkies.
You're their doctor, you know what's going on, you should have - I was caring for them.
Did it occur to you the child might be at risk? I was keeping an eye on them.
If I thought this would happen - You're supposed to be professional, for God's sake! It was privileged information.
It was nothing to do with the Guards.
So we have half the country out So we have half the country out there searching for them and all the time you knew they were using? What more would you have done Jack? Tell me.
We have no other leads.
We don't know where to start.
We have no idea where they might be.
And all this time - Do you think I didn't want to tell you? I was bound by bloody patient confidentiality! You had a piece of information that could be vital! They were coping.
Most drug users can function quite normally day to day.
Most drug users can function quite normally day to day.
The problems start when - Spare me the fucking drugs awareness lecture! I know it off by heart.
I've seen what drugs can do.
Surely, surely, you could have told me, Maggie.
Now tell me where Padraig was getting his drugs.
I don't know.
I prescribed the methadone.
I mean where was he getting them before you became his dealer? That's unfair, Jack.
That is bloody unfair! Are you quite comfortable there, Garda Colvin? Oh yes, I'm fine, thank you, Oh yes, I'm fine, thank you, my lord - ErI mean, my lady.
Your Honour will be fine.
I'd like to start by reading you something.
It was said by your first Commissioner almost 90 years ago.
It sticks in my mind and in yours, too, I dare say.
READS: An Garda Siochana will succeed, not by force or numbers, but by their moral authority as servants of the people.
Exercising that moral authority can be a frustrating job at times, I imagine.
Yes, at times it can.
What sort of things would you say frustrates a guard the most? Ah, well, now, that's an easy one.
Seeing a guilty man go free.
Ah, well, now, that's an easy one.
Seeing a guilty man go free.
That would frustrate most of us, I think.
You see someone you know to be guilty but you have no firm evidence on which to make an arrest and so the criminal, for that is what you know him to be, goes on his way as free as a bird.
Garda Colvin, this inquiry has been set up to look into cases where guards are alleged to have coerced people into making confessions in order to secure a conviction.
Cases where that 'moral authority' I mentioned has been betrayed.
We have heard testimony from many hundreds of people over many hundreds of hours.
Let me ask you a straight question.
Have you ever been involved in such a thing? Never.
Tempted on occasion? Look, as you said yourself, Your Honour, seeing someone getting away with it right under your nose - well, it can be frustrating.
Indeed it can.
Please continue.
How long have you been the guard here, Mr Colvin? Ten years.
For most of which time you were working with Garda Sergeant - now happily retired - Gerard Driscoll.
I was.
You got on well together? I mean, you saw eye to eye about how the job of guard in a remote area like this ought to be done.
I think we did.
You made a formidable pair, I imagine.
Wewe tried to do a good job.
Were you respected? Yes, I'd like to think so.
I think people would say we were fair, you know.
I think people would say we were fair, you know.
But firmwhen the need arose.
But firmwhen the need arose.
When the need arose, yes.
Let me turn then to the case of Mr Eamon Sullivan.
(PHONE RINGING) WOMAN: Good morning, Doctor's Surgery.
That's right.
Ten till five, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday.
(PHONE RINGING) You're out already.
How did it go? Hold on, hold on a second.
I thought we'd agreed to say nothing.
We talked it through, step by step.
Do you not remember? This was all sorted 24 hours ago.
All right, now you listen to me.
I hope you've covered your tracks cos you've a hell of a lot more to lose if this goes arse ways.
than I do.
I've already got my pension.
I'll see you at the station in an hour.
Will you tell the doctor Will you tell the doctor I may be retired but I haven't all day to waste waiting for her to decide when to turn up.
Is that my dad's car there? Yeah.
Grand shine you've got on it.
I hope he paid you in advance.
I don't know how either of you find I don't know how either of you find anything in here.
Oh, Jesus.
Just doing a bit of homework.
Just doing a bit of homework.
You're not thinking of taking You're not thinking of taking that lot with you? Did you know they've called me back to the tribunal thanks to your man here? thanks to your man here? That's state property.
Is it? Well, my signature is on the bottom of every page.
Do you know how much trouble I'll be in if this gets out? Come on, Jack.
It's just a loan, that's all.
Just for tonight.
You don't want me sitting here till the morning going through everything, do you? You need to decide whether you're working for me or for him.
It could be you up there one day, Jack.
I know.
I know.
I'll be in the Jeep.
Are we going somewhere? Yeah.
Our missing father - turns out he's a drug addict.
If we can find out who's been supplying him, then maybe we'll find Padraig.
Did nobody consider the possibility that there might be a drug connection here? You know, you always looked an idiot in that cap? She should have been there to see you.
That one's too busy looking after the poor and needy.
Well, did you make another appointment? No, I did not.
Let them call when they can fit me in.
Oh, look at you now.
Getting all anxious again.
This is nothing to do with the doctor.
This is nothing to do with the doctor.
I'm back in front of the tribunal.
Finbarr.
But you said it was all over.
Eithne, with these people, it's never over.
A good jockey always knows who's coming up on his shoulder.
I think you know this man.
I think you've been selling him heroin.
Heroin? Never seen him before.
Do you not follow the news? Half the country's out looking for him.
Look at him when he's talking to you.
Who gave you the lip? Why? Are you going to catch him for me? Ah no.
We wouldn't have time for that.
But what he'll do to you will be a whole lot worse unless you tell me where that fella's getting his smack from.
A name.
It's all right, Jack.
We're all right here.
Thanks.
You've had visitors, Danny? You've had visitors, Danny? It was just a bit of a misunderstanding.
That's all it was, Jack.
Who did this to you? You think he's going to tell you that? Nothing for you fellas to worry about.
They'll kill him next time! No, they won't.
Are there illegal drugs on these premises? Drugs? Danny.
For now, I don't care about whatever shite you've got yourself involved with.
To be honest with you, I wouldn't care less if your friends came back and tried to put a bullet through each of your kneecaps.
I'm looking for a father and his son.
The father is a drug user, I need to know where he gets his stuff.
You can tell me.
I don't know about - Jesus! Matt and Martin Rioardan.
And they were here asking the same thing, weren't they? Where did you send them? Come on! Shannahan's.
Now they're asking questions about things going back before the flood.
Now they're asking questions about things going back before the flood.
All the way back to Malachy Doran? Malachy Doran? That's 30 years ago.
Jesus, the vultures are gathering all right.
He phoned here.
He wants to see me.
He phoned here? What did you say? I want nothing to do with him.
But it's odd, he turns up out of the blue and a child goes missing.
But it's odd, he turns up out of the blue and a child goes missing.
No.
Nah, that won't be him.
That child's been taken by the father.
Doran's been lying in the long grass all these years just waiting for this.
He's back here to watch me sweat.
Maybe.
But men like that don't change.
They can't change.
They can't change.
Ready? Off you go.
Excuse me! Excuse me! Excuse me! Two young fellas who came in? Haven't seen anybody.
Is that right? Yeah, it is.
You two.
Outside.
Now.
So, how did your persuasion techniques work on that lot in there? Well enough.
You got what you wanted? They've told you who his dealer is, haven't they? The guy that was supplying Padraig? Maybe.
Who is he? Where is he? We're not telling you anything.
Is that right, yeah? Padraig and Eilish were both using.
Eilish never went near anything till she got mixed up with him.
Yeah, but he has the child - your nephew.
The one you're supposed to be so concerned about.
Now, you've done your own bit of detective work and you know where he is.
and you know where he is.
We've just come from Danny's.
Forced entry.
Assault.
I could arrest you now and then none of us are going to find them.
Your decision, boys.
So, what's it going to be, huh? So, what's it going to be, huh? Padraig.
Padraig.
Padraig! Padraig! Where's the child? Look at me.
Padraig, what have you done with him? Where is he?! Padraig, look at me! Padraig! You useless sack of shit! USHER: Mr Gerard Driscoll? We've searched every inch of this place.
We've searched every inch of this place.
He could have wandered off and got lost.
There's a stream a few yards from the door.
He could have got washed away.
Christ only knows what the fecker's done with him.
We don't even know for sure if he brought him here at all.
No, no, no! Stick to the book.
I want the truth out of him, but I don't want to see any tribunals heading my way when I'm retired.
You say you've called the doctor? Right, wait till she's examined him before you do anything else.
Clear? Understood.
Understood.
Keep an eye out for the doctor.
Padraig.
I want you to listen to me very carefully because we might not have much time left.
Your son, Conal, is missing.
You understand that? And you care about Conal, don't you? He's the most important thing in the world to you.
Yeah.
And to Eilish, his mother.
Now, I want to find Conal so that the three of you can be together again.
Does he like you to read to him? Books.
Stories.
Yeah.
What's his favourite? One about a snail.
It's in a book.
And did you take that book with you? When? When you took Conal? When you took Conal? Yeah.
We were going for a walk.
Good.
Now, you tell me where you went for the walk.
Now, you tell me where you went for Christmas.
It was when I think it was Christmas.
No, it wasn't Christmas.
It was four days ago.
You took Conal from his mother.
No.
Yes! And then you went to a man to buy drugs.
And then when you had the drugs, you drove out to that place in the forest where we found you.
But there was no Conal! What have you done with him? I don't remember.
I think you do remember.
I don't know! I don't know! Padraig, that child of yours is two years old! He can't look after himself.
If you've left him somewhere, he'll be frightened.
He's going to want his mother.
Please, I can't breathe.
Aren't you worried about him? Of course I am.
Or is it too late for that? Can you give me something? Have you done something to him? Have you hurt him? I need something now.
Is he dead? Is that it? No.
Have you killed your own child? No.
I don't know.
You DO know! Please help me! Now, Padraig, I'll tell you what's going to happen.
You are going to stop whinging about yourself and you are going to tell me where Conal is.
Please, something's happening to me! Yes, it is.
And it's going to get worse, a lot worse unless you tell me where he is.
I want Eilish.
Will you get her? Fuck you! I don't know.
I just want Eilish! I don't care what you want! I don't know.
I just want Eilish! I don't care what you want! Think about the child! Please, I just I don't know.
I don't remember anything.
You have to get someone here.
Call someone here.
Tell me where the child is! Please don't hurt me! Tell me! (WAILS) Will you think about what you're doing here! He knows.
Of course he knows.
But does it matter? What? The child is already dead.
I'd be all in favour of kicking the shite out of the fella to get at the truth.
If I thought he was alive, I'd be the first one in.
But I am not putting myself on the line for any reason.
Go outside.
Go on.
(DOOR SHUTS) I have had enough.
You are going to listen to me! Tell me this isn't what it looks like, Jack.
You useless bastard! What have you done with him? You have to help me.
Tell them they made a mistake.
Where's my baby? Did you bring me some stuff? Eilish! Eilish! Finbarr! Get her out of here! Try that again now and I'll arrest you! He knows where the child is! So talk to him like a human being.
That is what I am trying to do.
Without a witness or a solicitor, your sleeves rolled up like a butcher? Grow up, Maggie! A child's life is at stake here.
Now will you just leave me - To beat it out of him? To do my job! You're not the only one with a job to do here.
He's my patient.
I want to examine him.
Oh, what a great idea! Let me see him! Let's forget about the child he's stolen and hidden out in the wild.
Let's think about HIS welfare instead.
I don't give a fuck about his welfare! He has rights too! Not while I have him! And you haven't eaten.
You are in no fit state to interrogate him.
God, Jack, do you want to end up like your father? Finbarr.
Will you see these ladies out? Think, Jack! Tell them! No.
Please! I don't care what he does to you, as long as he gets to the truth.
I don't know the truth.
I don't know what happened.
You took Conal.
When? You know what you've done with him.
When did I take him? She knows it's not true, so why is she saying it? Tell them why, Eilish.
Eilish? Of course he took my baby.
Who else would take him? I would never harm him.
You know that.
Hold on.
You did threaten to take him, didn't you? You did say that you'd make sure that I would never have him.
Who else would take him? Eilish! I didn't do it! Eilish, this is important.
I didn't do it! Eilish, this is important.
You told me that you saw Padraig driving away from the house.
And little Conal was with him.
Is that true? Is that what you saw? Eilish? Yeah.
And it was Padraig's car? Eilish? Yeah.
And it was Padraig's car? Yeah.
Was Padraig driving? Who else would be driving it? Of course it was Padraig.
Did you actually see him driving? Eilish.
You want Conal back, don't you? Eilish.
You want Conal back, don't you? Of course I do.
Then you have to be really sure of what you're saying.
I love him, Eilish.
I'd never hurt him.
Please tell them, please.
He did SAY that he would do it.
And it WAS a blue car.
I don't know any more.
JACK: Christ! If Padraig didn't take him, then who did? We've had people out dragging the rivers, combing the countryside.
The kid could be bloody miles away by now! Charge them.
Own bail of a thousand euro.
What with? Drugs, wasting our time.
Think of something.
You two are not fit to be parents.
They're all yours.
(DOORS BANG) We know you have him.
Yes, I do.
And the child.
Not the child.
You said if we helped you out I told you, if he's harmed - Yeah, you said.
Conal wasn't with him.
Yeah, you said.
Conal wasn't with him.
What's he done with him? Padraig didn't take him.
Eilish saw him do it! No.
Eilish assumed it was him.
She didn't see him.
And you believe that? Yes, I do.
He's a junkie.
He's a junkie.
You won't get the truth out of him.
He doesn't know what the truth is.
He's not the only one round here with that problem.
Now, will you get on home? I won't ask you again.
Neither will I.
Now hand him over to us.
He'll talk to us.
Or will we have to take him from you? You'll have to take him.
If you're man enough.
(GLASS SMASHES) Give it over, will you! If I were you lads, I'd be on my way home If I were you lads, I'd be on my way home before you have the guards after you for driving a vehicle without proper working lights.
Come on.
Yours.
Can I have a word with you? You got your man, eh? Yeah.
But not the child? Look I know I haven't always made things easy for you, and you probably don't want me sticking my nose in now, but your mother's had an odd phone call.
In the normal way of things, I wouldn't mention it.
Go on.
Malachy Doran.
He was a teacher at the school.
Your mother was helping out there.
She wanted to be a teacher in those days.
That's when I first met her.
Anyway, it was all very unpleasant.
But we didn't talk about those things then.
What things? This fellow Doran.
I heard a whisper that he was up to something with the children.
In his office there in the school.
Well, I couldn't have explained something like that to a beautiful young girl like your mum.
Are we talking abuse here? I've no idea if it went that far.
Are we talking abuse here? I've no idea if it went that far.
So what, you put him away? Well, to my eternal shame, Jack, I didn't, no.
I didn't want those little ones trying to tell the priest or the guard I didn't want those little ones trying to tell the priest or the guard what the teacher had been doing to them.
There were no special procedures then, remember.
So, I just frightened the life out of him and off he went to God knows where.
You know, I often lay awake and wondered what harm he went on to do.
But at least he wasn't doing it here.
So this man Malachy.
He's called Malachy Doran.
Has phoned Mum.
Why would he do that? Ohhe was crying over the phone and saying he wanted to come over and see her.
He had things he had to explain, things to be forgiven, for God's sake.
The point is, men like that don't change.
They can't change.
All I'm saying is, you have a child who's been snatched and here's this old paedophile turning up out of the blue.
Now, that might be a coincidence.
This is an old one, but someone might remember him.
You know what they say.
'The dog returns to his vomit, the sow returns to her mire.
' Anyway, these are all in order, so don't panic.
Oh, if they come back looking for Oh, if they come back looking for you tell them they can find me in Mallon's Bar most nights of the week.
I'm taking her home.
Do you know something, Jack? Your attitude - What about it? The first mention of drugs and you write them off.
That's why I didn't tell you.
I might have a lead.
Good.
This fella has family out near Bencross.
And we've had a report from the local school that someone matching his description was seen hanging around outside, watching the kids.
I'm going to look a right bloody fool explaining why we didn't think paedophile in the first place.
Was your father's memory always a problem? It was always selective.
Handy in front of a tribunal, It was always selective.
Handy in front of a tribunal, but fuck all use in the real world.
Get those dogs away! (INAUDIBLE) (SHOUTING FROM INSIDE) Get away from me! Put the bar down, Martin.
Go on.
Thinking of taking us in with that, are you? Go on.
Thinking of taking us in with that, are you? Looks like it's all I've got, doesn't it? Now, listen! I'm sure there's at least one warrant outstanding on the pair of yous even before I check.
Now, listen! I'm sure there's at least one warrant outstanding on the pair of yous even before I check.
That's enough to have you on remand in Mountjoy for the next six weeks before I even get started with any of this.
Get out! You can take that with you as well.
Get in.
Get IN.
We're going, we're going.
What are you looking at? Go on.
Our mother has been putting up with that for the last 30 years.
These two are just the latest and we're sick to death of it.
Of all of you.
Is Malachy here, Mrs Caffrey? For God's sake.
Don't you start.
All right.
Would you leave the poor woman alone? I'm fine.
I'm sorry, Mrs Caffrey, but I have to ask you.
Is your brother in the house? He WAS here.
Now he's gone.
You know why I'm looking for him? The same reason these two were after him and it's all lies! Mrs Caffrey Will you give me a moment to speak with the guard? Please.
Ask your question.
You know there's a young child gone missing, don't you? You know there's a young child gone missing, don't you? And Malachy's the first one that you come looking for.
Because of some wicked lies that were told about him 30 years ago.
Do you know that he hasn't been home since? Not until now, when his mother is dead and buried.
He was a teacher, wasn't he? Trained and qualified.
It was a big sacrifice for our mother and father.
He was in charge of the school when someone started the rumours, telling everyone that he was behaving improperly with the children.
And you remember that? I was a pupil at the school myself.
There was nothing in any of it.
I'd have known.
What happened to your brother? He was taken into the barracks.
No-one knew what was going on.
Two nights he was in there and then my mother and father were told to go over with his little attache case and some clothes and Malachy left first thing in the morning on the bus while we were still asleep and he never came home again.
No-one spoke about him.
His picture was taken off the mantlepiece when people called.
We had a card from England every Christmas and we prayed every night that he would come home to us.
You see, we knew it was all lies got up by the guard.
But everyone was afraid of the guards in those days.
But everyone was afraid of the guards in those days.
But everyone was afraid of the guards in those days.
And love is a pleasure when first it's new But as love grows older, sure love grows colder And it fades away like the morning dew Did you ever hear that one? No.
Ah, there's a lot of truth in them old songs.
And love and porter make a young girl older And love and cocaine make her old and grey And what cannot be cured, love, must be endured, love And now I am bound for Americay Whisky, porter, cocaine and hash.
It's all the same thing in the end.
Jesus, Padraig, you must rue the day you ever set eyes on that one.
Jesus, Padraig, you must rue the day you ever set eyes on that one.
Cup of tea? Cup of tea? Ah, that's lovely.
I have Padraig at the station.
There's no sign of Con.
I don't understand.
Why? Because Padraig didn't take him.
Of course he took him.
She saw him.
She didn't see him.
She assumed it was him.
So it was someone else.
Who? She didn't see him.
She assumed it was him.
So it was someone else.
Who? Let's talk about the drugs.
Why didn't you tell me that Padraig was using? I don't know what you're talking about.
You knew and you should have told someone about it.
We've been out there searching for your grandson for days and we're no closer to finding him.
When did it start? When he met Eilish.
When he met Eilish.
No.
Don't blame that girl for this.
This wasn't Eilish.
This was Padraig.
Your son.
His problem.
OK.
He's a bloody useless junkie.
What were we supposed to do, huh? We give him money for food, he spends it on drugs.
We stop the money, he steals it.
If we go out for an hour, he's in there taking the radio, TV, a bloody hairdryer, anything he can flog for a few quid.
So I have the keys off him and I lock him out of my own house.
My own son.
Two o'clock in the morning.
Pissing rain and he's outside the back door crying like a dog, pleading with me to let him in.
My own child.
What's going on? What are those two doing here? They have Padraig down at the station.
There's no sign of Con.
And they know about the drugs.
We tried to help.
We gave him 1,000 Euros only a day or so before he disappeared.
1,000 Euros?! Should we have let them starve? Knowing what he'd do with it? What else could we do? That bitch wouldn't even let us near our own grandchild.
Will we come down and pick him up from the station? Yeah.
Do that.
What are you looking at? What are you looking at? Trying to get us killed there, Jack, are you? Call them off.
You're taking a bit of a risk, aren't you? A wanted man like you and an old paedo.
You get hold of the guards and you tell them I have nothing to do with this business.
Me? Sure, I'm no-one any more.
It was you that set them on me.
I know that.
You see these two here? Sure, they're only a couple of kids themselves.
Why not put them out of their misery and tell them what you did with the little feller? You must have thought you'd landed on your feet once you'd got rid of me.
The job.
The girl.
A son to look after your little empire when you retired.
But it's coming apart at the seams now.
No-one's frightened of you any more.
I'm not frightened.
Come on.
Get it off your chest.
You'll feel a lot better if you tell me the truth.
Anyway, the guards'll get it out of you one way or another.
Not this time.
He's not dead, is he? Sweet Jesus, don't tell me you've done away with the little feller.
I have done nothing.
Not before and not now.
You know something I don't understand about you fellers? You know what it is? D'you kill them to keep them quiet or is it all part of the enjoyment for you? Mr Gerard Driscoll? You think you're untouchable, don't you? Mr Driscoll, please.
But you're not.
There are people.
People you care about.
I know where she is, Gerry.
Don't you dare go near my home.
The tribunal is waiting for you.
Will you let me finish here? And I'll make sure she listens to what I have to say.
And I'll make sure she listens to what I have to say.
You keep away from my wife, You keep away from my wife, do you hear me? Malachy! Malachy! Please, Mr Driscoll.
(PHONE RINGS) What's going on? I told the parents to come and pick him up.
Have they called? No, they haven't.
I'm supposed to be out looking for the kid, not baby-sitting this lot.
Right! You two are in enough shit already.
Right! You two are in enough shit already.
Where've you put him? Get your coat.
Get in the Jeep.
I was on duty that day.
But I don't know what conversations might have gone on between Mr Sullivan and Garda Colvin.
You were the sergeant in charge.
Wasn't it your duty to ensure that these things were dealt with in the proper manner? Here we have a man charged with possession of a firearm and you ask the tribunal to believe that you and your colleague and you ask the tribunal to believe that you and your colleague didn't discuss the matter? You did see the gun, I suppose? I did see the gun.
But a gun would not have been an unusual thing to see there.
Not in those days.
Just lying about? Like an old stapler or a Biro? Was the gun tagged and entered in the Property Register? Was it sent to Ballistics for examination? Mr Driscoll.
Yes.
Can we get to the point? Mr Sullivan claims never to have seen the gun until after he was interviewed by Garda Colvin.
Well, that's what he says.
A simple question, then.
Did you bring the gun to the station at the request of Garda Colvin in order to incriminate Mr Sullivan? To frame him for possession of a firearm? No, your honour.
I did not.
Earlier, you said that you first saw the gun at about 8:00 in the evening.
You're sure of that? Did I say eight? Well, then, that's right.
Perhaps you can explain why Garda Colvin's notes clearly state that he arrested the prisoner at ten o'clock.
How is it that the gun arrived before the man who is accused of having it in his possession? I don't I can't be sure of the exact order of things, the timing of the events.
I can't be sure of the exact order of things, the timing of the events.
But the order of events is dictated by procedure.
That is what all this is about.
Were you or were you not following procedure? We were.
I was.
I At the time I Are you quite all right there, Mr Driscoll? Glass of water perhaps? Are you quite all right there, Mr Driscoll? Glass of water perhaps? Uh Glass of water? Yes.
Thanks.
And a breath, Your Honour, a breath of fresh air.
Do you need to see a doctor? No, no.
It's a just bit of blood pressure.
I was due for some tests but Very well.
Hearing adjourned.
20 minutes, please.
(KNOCK AT DOOR) Argh! Argh! Gerry's not here.
I know.
It's you I want to talk to.
I can't help you.
I've harmed no one, Eithne.
Not all those years ago and not this time either.
I don't want to know.
My son is going to be here in five minutes.
I am not running away this time.
Malachy.
If you've done something to a child Don't you see what he's doing? He's put this into your head but it's all lies.
There's no-one else I can go to, Eithne.
No-one.
All they ever do is interfere all the time.
Buying him stuff, wanting to look after him.
Trying to help out, you mean? No.
Making me choose between them and Eilish.
It's like Conal's more their baby than he is ours.
Wait here.
Mr Driscoll? Mr Driscoll? I thought I told you to stay in the Jeep.
Why is it such a problem for you to do what you're told for once? Spare key.
Mum? Dad? Mum? Dad? They've taken him, haven't they? Where would they taken him, Padraig? I don't know.
Think.
Think! Answer the bloody phone.
Answer the bloody phone.
He has to pay for what he's done to people all these years.
Stop it.
All the lies.
But they're catching up with him at last.
Haven't I been watching him in that witness box, twisting and turning this way and that? Stop it.
Answer the phone for Christ's sake.
Is that their boat? It's what they spend all their money on.
Maggie? Is Eilish still with you? We used to go everywhere on it when I was a kid.
Come on, answer the phone.
But you know all about it, don't you? What he did to me.
Ah, Jesus.
Never to enter a classroom again.
Never to come home.
Never Never to see my own father buried.
Jesus.
If you've wasted your life, that's your problem.
But Gerry is a good man.
A brave man.
And whatever he did, he did because it was right.
For Christ's sake, will you get out of the bloody way! (GASPS) Get out of the bloody way! You dropped this.
What did you think you were going to do with him? That's why you gave me the money.
Cos you wanted me out of the way.
Oh, come here.
Let me see you.
We just wanted to give the child the chance of a normal life.
That's all.
Just a chance.
I thought he was dead! I thought I was never going to see him again! We wouldn't have hurt him.
We thought we were doing the right thing for him.
He's my baby.
Not yours.
Mine! Money well spent, after all.
If the press get here quickly, they can still paint this as a happy ending.
Isn't it? The social workers are on their way.
The social workers are on their way.
Come on Jack, you weren't thinking it was all going to be happy families, were you? That child is going into foster care.
(PHONE RINGS) Mum? Who is this? Is that Malachy Doran? Mum? I'm all right.
Will you hear what I have to say first? I thought you might have stood up for me, Eithne.
You know how I felt about you back then.
I never had any feelings for you and you know it.
Yeah, well.
You know what you know.
But I was innocent.
I never got the chance to defend myself, that's all.
Should your father have put those children through a court and all the questions about what he'd done to them? So you left.
I was made to leave.
And my father got the credit for seeing off a threat that never was.
Have you come back now for the tribunal? I did think it was time for me to have my day at last.
When I saw him in there, lying and people knowing it, laughing at the cheek of him, I thought, well, what would be the point of it after all? Gerry Driscoll's history now, thanks be to God.
I'm sorry I frightened you, Eithne.
I'm sorry I frightened you, Eithne.
But I could see it happening all over again.
Accused of something else that I hadn't done.
The guards out after me and things being said about me on the radio.
The guards out after me and things being said about me on the radio.
Well, we're all very touched by that little speech, I'm sure.
Are you going to sit there and do nothing? What would you like me to do, mother? I'd like you to get him locked up.
I've been threatened in my own home.
You want to make an official complaint? I do.
Will you come down to the station with me? And there's still the matter of the missing child.
Have you asked him about that? The child's been found safe and well.
He was taken by the grandparents.
It often turns out to be those that are closest, doesn't it? (PHONE RINGS) Finbarr.
When? What? I'll be right there.
Jack? What is it? It's Dad.
Jesus.
What can I tell you about my father that you don't already know? Gerry Driscoll was a legend, wasn't he? What people like to call an old-fashioned guard.
"Gerry Driscoll", they'd say, "sure you always knew where you were with him, a man who liked to do things the old-fashioned way.
" I've an idea he'd have been pleased with that.
Because there were three old-fashioned things that were very important to him.
Trust, respect and family.
You were Gerry Driscoll's family.
He knew all your secrets and all your fears.
He gave his life to this small place and you rewarded him with your trust and with your respect.
Hard things for a man to live up to.
And the lesson I learnt from my father is that it's worth trying.
And the lesson I learnt from my father is that it's worth trying.
I thank him for that.
May he rest in peace.
Will you stay on in the house? On your own, I mean? Gerry left me well set up.
And I won't be on my own, will I? No.
No, I suppose not.
Of course, I won't stand in Jack's way.
He'll need to find a good woman.
He'll need to find a good woman.
I'm sure he'll take your advice on that.
I hope so.
When you're the Guard's wife out here it becomes your job as well.
I wonder how many women are willing to make that sacrifice these days? Oh, I think there are one or two left.
Finbarr.
I know he was your father, Sergeant Driscoll, but he was an old bastard if you don't mind me saying so.
Still, that was his job, wasn't it? It was, Cathal.
Now it's mine.
I'm bringing no charges against Malachy Doran.
I want you to back me on that.
Have you asked your mother what she wants to do? My father framed that man.
Your father dealt with Doran in the only way he could.
Your father dealt with Doran in the only way he could.
Would we not be better off dealing with the drug problem round here rather than persecuting innocent men? Would we not be better off dealing with the drug problem round here rather than persecuting innocent men? Don't we have dedicated people for that job? There's nothing about Doran in the files.
I've checked.
That's good.
That means we can play this one by the book.
There's still a tribunal in town and I have no intention of standing in front of it.
And as for Doran, just you remember, your father would still be with us if he didn't have to rush back to protect his wife from that man.
Are you wondering when the fighting begins? Well, where I come from, we usually wait for the will to be read.
Look, about what happened in the station Can I ask you something? Can I ask you something? If I hadn't turned up when I did, would you have hurt him? I thought he knew where the child was.
So did you.
Your father wouldn't have hesitated in a situation like that, would he? God, no.
Do what it takes.
Just find the child.
"By any means necessary".
That was his motto.
But if you live your life by that rule, maybe you begin to turn into your father.
maybe you begin to turn into your father.
My father's dead.
But he hasn't gone away, has he? I'm sorry, Jack.
Truly, I am.
I should go.
I'll just say goodbye first.
Can I get you a cup of tea? I'm going to leave.
Thank you for taking the time to come.
I wanted to say, Mr Driscoll obviously I wanted to say, Mr Driscoll obviously had this problem for some time.
His heart won't have failed just like that.
I know my husband, doctor.
And it wasn't his heart that failed him.
I'd like to go.
Are you ready? I'll get my bag.
Finbarr, will you make sure she gets home all right? I thought - You don't have to drive her.
Just put her in a taxi.
I thought - You don't have to drive her.
Just put her in a taxi.
Are you sure? She'll be fine.
Right-o.
There you are, Jack.
Your father was a fine man.
I'm sorry for your troubles.
How will we manage without him, eh? How will we manage without him, eh? Arnica.
That's what they recommended.
You'll need a lot more than arnica if you carry on the way you're going.
Waiting for the perfect wave? Wouldn't that be nice? A really big one that would lift you up and carry you away.
Nothing could take me away from all this.