Between the Lines (1992) s02e07 Episode Script

I have made seven applications for promotion over the last two years.
For the first two, I was interviewed but unsuccessful.
For the last five, including the replacement of DCC Barton, I was not even granted an interview.
I wonder if you'd be prepared to tell me why.
There is a tendency to promote people until they've reached a position beyond their capabilities.
we wish to avoid that.
I am, at the very least, the equal of all those short-listed.
- That is your opinion.
- Not just mine.
It isn't the opinion of the police authority.
Or, for that matter, the Home Office.
we have the responsibility of appointing officers and we make our decisions based on the applicants' abilities and qualifications.
You mean the applicants' abilities, qualifications and sex.
- No.
- There were no women short-listed.
Apart from you, there were no women applicants.
- And I was unsuitable? - That must be the implication, otherwise we would have offered you an interview.
As you're demonstrating now, your approach is rather abrasive.
Unlike that of many of my male colleagues.
And some of your off-duty activities do not reflect your seniority in the force.
- Such as? - I don't think it would be helpful.
I think it would.
I'd like to know what these off-duty, unsuitable activities are.
- I am talking in a general sense.
- I see.
So my off-duty behaviour is generally bad? - Is that it? - Miss Lewis - Ms.
- Ms Lewis - we have tried to be fair to you.
- And you have failed.
As there is no grievance procedure, and you have no intention of being straight with me, I wish to notify you that I shall be pursuing this matter with the Association of Chief Police Officers and also with the Equal Opportunities Commission.
In which case, we feel it would be better for all sides if you took extended leave with full pay until the matter is resolved.
why? Just to allow you to be free to pursue your chosen course in this.
That's not necessary.
And for us to investigate such allegations of impropriety and misconduct well, the alternative, I suppose, is for us to consider suspension.
- Afternoon, Mr Boshier.
- Afternoon.
Can I see your pass, please? - what's my name? - Boshier, sir.
- Do I work here? - Yes, sir.
Thank you.
Oh, there's a couple of gentlemen to Ah.
Roger, these gentlemen are from Special Branch.
Oh.
Detective Inspector Jardine.
And this is DS Hume.
- Good afternoon.
- what can I do for you? It's with regard to the articles about the royal conversations.
- Yes? - More particularly about the tape.
- Mmm? - Do you have it in your possession? - Let's start again on another tack.
- Certainly, sir.
- why not just tell me what you want? - Right.
From your articles in the paper, you have a transcript of a royal conversation.
You indicate that this came into your hands, directly or indirectly, from a source within GCHQ at Cheltenham.
Perhaps it would be better to continue in my office.
Certainly, sir.
You also indicate that experts are checking the conversation's authenticity.
we therefore took it that you were in possession of a tape recording.
The possession of the tape, or even a transcript of it, has implications under the Interception of Communications Act of 1985 and the Security Service Act of 1989.
I think this is a matter for our lawyers.
- Yep.
- I agree, sir.
This is a letter from the Director of Public Prosecutions.
were you to name your source, you would not be liable to prosecution.
- Oh, how kind.
- So when you've spoken to your lawyers - perhaps we could arrange a meeting.
- Mm, perhaps.
we intend to get a production order for the material in question.
- Gentlemen, this way, please.
- Thank you, sir.
- Good luck, guv.
- Thanks, Vickie.
I hope you kick 'em where it hurts.
I'll certainly try.
So Boshier is saying the tape was stolen from his desk last night.
- well, he would.
- why? It's obvious.
There was no tape.
Angela, there are denials and denials.
well, this is an emphatic denial.
The minister has disclaimed Ml5 involvement before - and come close to being embarrassed.
- This time he's safe.
- Are you sure? - Yes.
Good.
See, the editor's squawking dirty tricks and, if it won't blow up in our faces, we are tempted to authorise an inquiry.
Never start an inquiry unless you're certain of the outcome.
- Absolutely.
- It's likely to be very difficult to prove that there never was a tape.
Ah, but just to have the chance to see our side score a goal for a change.
And to give that slimy little slut Boshier a roasting.
- I already have 12 active cases.
- I am aware of that, Tony.
I may also be needed in court on the Lindsay case.
Then it's up to you to Box and Cox.
If someone's nicked this stupid tape then it's a matter for CID, not us.
Good morning, Tony.
Sir Hello, Tony.
Hello.
Chief Superintendent Graves.
Yes, I remember.
Hello.
Take a seat, gentlemen.
- Perhaps you'd start the ball rolling.
- Thank you.
Yesterday, two Special Branch officers paid a visit to a journalist who has been publishing extracts of what he claims to be a tape recording of a certain royal conversation.
The same journalist arrived at work this morning to discover that the tape of this conversation, along with some accompanying files, was no longer in his desk.
His newspaper has been protesting at the highest possible level that the theft was somehow carried out by Special Branch or Ml5 during last night.
The Home Secretary wants us to take these allegations seriously and we're to look into the matter.
why? we should see this as a response to the Citizen's Charter, a move towards more accountability in the security and intelligence services.
So, Tony, your ad hoc liaison committee with Mrs Berridge is made for the job.
I see.
what grounds have they for saying Ml5 or Special Branch took the tape? Habit? Into the lion's den.
- Is that running? - Er I believe it, er, might be, sir.
- Is it on 24 hours a day? - The, er, cameras are yes.
- Do you keep the film? - well, yeah.
Er, I suppose so.
when we've been, like, recording, er, yeah.
- Harry.
- Right, guv.
- Not exactly the Flying Squad, are you? - Excuse me? I reported this at nine o'clock this morning.
- I'm Detective Superintendent Clark.
- Mm-hm.
Detective Sergeant Connell.
- And I'm Angela Berridge.
- Mm-hm.
And what are you? Time and motion? - I'm from the Home Office.
- Oh.
- Quis custodiet custodes? - Ipsos.
well? - where was the tape kept? - Top drawer.
- Is it locked? - Yep.
- Does anyone have a key? - Yep.
Me.
- Apart from you? - Nope.
- when did you last see the tape? - Last night when I left.
And you discovered that it and the files were missing this morning? Mind if I took a look? Help yourself.
what's your part in this? I'm involved in liaison between the police and Ml5.
Do they dock your pension for this? Course not.
well, I pay a bit of tax.
A lot of it's cash in hand.
That's nice.
- So, er, how's Joyce? - All right, you know, coping.
- You on last night? - Till ten.
So, what's the chances of getting into the building? without a pass? No chance.
And all these monitors are taped? No.
we only record stuff when there's some sort of situation on.
So these are only on now because something was nicked last night? That's about the strength of it, yeah.
Can I see the visitors book? You say the tape came from someone at GCHQ? - Look - This is only what I read in your article.
Maybe, but I'd be happier if you were trying to find out who broke in.
If I knew where it came from I'd have a better idea of who'd want to take it.
- what did the Special - what did Special Branch want? what do you think? They wanted to know who gave me the tape.
- what did you tell them? - I told them to sod off.
- who else saw the tape? - what do you mean? Did your editor or the experts you mentioned listen to the tape? well, they were gonna work on it today.
Guv, can I have a word? Security here isn't exactly watertight, and the visitors book is amusing reading.
Yesterday, we had a visit from a Mr Abu Nidal, purpose of visit - international terrorism.
Couple of days ago we had Mr Michael Mouse and - you'll like this one - Mrs S Rimington, KGB.
Have you checked the outside of the building? - No, guv.
- Then do.
And talk to the new shift in the morning.
Right, guv.
Oh, guv, erm I've got that doctor's appointment first thing.
- For Christ's sake.
As soon as you can.
- Right, guv.
what are we going to do, "guv"? I think we're going to have a chat.
Miss Lewis! Miss Lewis! - what are you up to? - what do you mean? You're only interested in where he got the tape.
- This clumsy questioning - Don't patronise me.
I'm not a little lady going the wrong way down a one-way street.
I think that's exactly what you're doing.
God, you people.
Oh, "we" people? what about you people? You're just snuffling around for snippets of information, you're going through the motions.
That's a remarkably apt expression for talking to journalists.
The career prospects of Assistant Chief Constable Jan Lewis could be severely blighted if the rumours that she has been suspended Yeah, come in.
Sorry, you're probably busy She's taken leave pending an inquiry into certain allegations.
Involving misconduct? I'm afraid that's all I'm prepared to say.
But we'd be grateful if you could avoid turning this into a witch hunt.
Jesus.
He didn't waste any time.
He didn't happen to mention I was going to the Equal Opportunities Commission.
- what misconduct? - No idea.
They probably haven't made it up yet.
I thought I was twice as smart as they are.
I'm not.
You have to be some canny bastard to be chief constable.
It's Hutchisson with two Ss.
- And what is it you do? - Foreign and diplomatic.
Excellent.
Suspended cos she's a dyke? I see.
when did you get in this morning? - About lunch time.
- Yep, hang on.
- Have you finished with me? - I think so.
Thanks for telling me.
I'll be on the next train, I'll be at the hotel 7:30.
Yep, right, bye.
would you say there's much rivalry between journalists? Do they ever steal from each other? These are very leading questions.
Nobody here would steal the tape.
There'd be no point.
They couldn't use it.
- They'd prevent Boshier from using it.
- He's already used it.
- I thought he hadn't published all of it.
- who knows? - Is Roger Boshier here? - You've missed him.
- He's just had some photos sent.
- Leave them here.
Hytner usually does Ml5 and royal stuff, doesn't he? Any idea why the tape went to Boshier? You're pushing very hard, aren't you? I have to earn my wages.
Boshier got the tape because he had the contacts.
That's how it goes.
OK.
Thanks.
You're welcome.
I do think you're barking up the wrong tree, though.
Could you point me in the direction of the right tree? - Goodbye.
- Goodbye.
Shit.
Er, Richard, it's me.
It's just just after five o'clock.
I won't be able to make the movie because there's a bit of an emergency on so I'll see you later, OK? I'm in here, first.
Oh, for Christ's sake.
Piss off! Kate, it's me.
- what are you doing here? - If you let me in, I'll tell you.
universally disliked, and, er, making out that this unpopularity and failure to achieve further promotion was somehow a result of her sex? - That's about the strength of it.
- And she's a dyke.
Richard, don't put words into my mouth.
I don't need to attribute.
Let's just say she's got the biggest balls in ACPO.
This is a great story, but you know what I need.
well, this is tasty, this is very, very tasty.
One asked if Jan and I were having an affair.
- what did you tell him? - To stuff his head up his arse.
Oh, yeah, I saw him as I pulled up.
The reason I came, apart from the fact your phone's off the hook, was I've seen what's in tomorrow's paper.
They have a photo of you and Jan.
- where did they get it? - Outside your office.
This afternoon.
Christ, I just don't believe this.
Look, erm, we've never well that's what it looks like.
where is Jan? She went to London.
She's seeing the equal opportunities people tomorrow morning.
what are you going to do? I don't know.
You're welcome to come and stay with me.
- what about your bloke? - Richard won't mind.
- Mrs Roberts? - Yes.
- Is your daughter Kate here? - She isn't, I'm afraid.
- Any idea where she might be? - At her flat.
No, she's she's not.
Your kettle's boiling.
Queen's guide.
- Mm, I see.
- Sugar? Yes.
Two, please, erm Evelyn.
- Talented girl.
- well, her dad thought so.
Of course, I did too, but I'd never tell her.
well, we'll keep your contribution anonymous, then, shall we? - where the hell have you been? - Did you not get my message? Not till I got back, after I'd waited.
Oh, God.
I'm sorry.
Shit.
Something really serious came up.
I see.
- This is Kate.
- Hello.
I'm sorry if we disturbed you.
As I was standing outside the cinema for an hour feeling like a pervert I, er, I had a lot of time to think about us, Maureen.
And, er, well, there is no us, really, is there? It's a bit of a joke, isn't it? Richard, I'm sorry.
Er, I don't think this is the time No, no.
No.
Er No, I suppose I'm sorry.
Coming.
Kate, that'll be Jan.
Thanks.
Hello, Maureen.
Hello, ma'am.
Sod the ma'am.
- Hello, Kate.
- Hi, Jan.
Did we make the front page? Only in three of the papers.
I'm sorry, Kate, they've even got to your mum.
well, how - Richard.
- Hello.
This is Assistant Chief Constable Jan Lewis.
Hello.
Erm I'll make the tea.
Thank you.
- what have they said? - what haven't they said? They've dug up or made up the most incredible stories about both of us.
That I was drunk and vomited at a civic function, that I smacked a chief superintendent, that Kate and I are lovers.
Even if it was true, it's the bloody 1990s, for Christ's sake.
Are you pleased with your publicity? I haven't bothered to look.
Did you actually say, "Don't take the piss"? - Not to him.
- who to? - One of the other journalists.
- why? - He was taking the piss.
- Tony! Sir, with respect, I didn't ask for this job.
where the hell are Harry and Maureen? Morning.
Not a bad little write-up.
Gives a good feeling of Ml5 and police cooperation.
Yes.
Erm, I have an appointment now with the Special Branch officers.
Right.
- How's it going? - It's a bit early to say.
Security there is terrible, it could've been an inside job, one of the staff.
- Could've been a break-in.
- You're not enjoying it much? No.
It would've been bad enough without our every move ending up in the papers.
- Never mind, Tony.
Stick with it.
- Yes, sir.
- what sort of time is this? - Sorry, guv - And where is Harry? - At the doctor's.
- why didn't he tell me? - He did.
All right.
I'm gonna talk to the Branch.
Get back to the paper, finish the witness statements.
- what shall I tell Harry when he gets in? - To lie down and take two aspirin.
So what can you do? well, nothing in regard to cure.
Yes? Mogadon, largactil.
Yeah.
I'm sorry.
All the money we've put into the NHS and there's nothing you can do? Motor neurone disease is terminal.
Of course we can offer support, advice, physiotherapy.
My wife's dying.
And all you can do is give us a leaflet and a bloody massage.
Harry.
- Bastards.
- Harry.
Harry! H! Look at me.
Is that it, then? Like a conveyor belt.
Two years, three years, you just drop off the end of it, out of sight.
But you have got me now so be a big boy and look after me.
I won't need a doctor when I can't use my arms and legs and I can't talk.
But I will need you.
- I'm sorry, I - Shh.
- Did you take the tape? - Sir, why would I? I really couldn't give a damn about it.
I was there to deliver a letter.
why should I stick my neck out? You didn't answer my question.
Did you take the tape? No, sir.
- was that it? - what? Your methodical police procedure.
You ask if they stole the tape, they say they didn't and you leave? - Yeah.
Any objections? - Not really.
- Tony, I should be straight with you.
- That would be a break with tradition.
There never was a tape.
Or if there was, it didn't come from Cheltenham.
- How do you know? - It's operationally impossible.
How do you know? The man in charge of intelligence gathering at GCHQ told me.
Oh, I see, that's your methodical Home Office procedure, is it? You ask if they made the tape, they say no and you believe them.
Yes.
He's a friend of mine.
would you be happier if you met him? I'd die of shock.
Tony, why don't we drive down to Cheltenham now and speak to him? Do you want a cup of tea? Er, please.
I, er, I'm sorry about what they're doing to you.
Yeah.
Are you gonna sue? I don't know.
Damage is done, really.
I should think it's cost me my yard.
Really? Small businesses like that run on goodwill.
And I doubt if Jan'll be able to carry on.
- They don't have any morality, do they? - No.
- I'm sorry to have dropped you in it.
- That's all right.
You obviously mean a lot to Mo.
Yeah.
I've only met her a couple of times, but I wasn't surprised she came to help.
No.
Hi.
Shall we? So what's all this about? I'm aware of your involvement with Ml5.
And I wondered if I could do a sort of a deal with you.
I know it wouldn't be very funny for you if your colleagues knew, so I'm prepared to keep the information to myself in exchange for a favour.
It's nothing to do with the tape.
All I want is ten minutes on your computer.
Yes? Oh, hello.
Did she? I see.
But she can't actually do anything? She might even prove useful.
Very funny.
Bye.
Juliet 332 Hotel Foxtrot Bravo.
Hello, darling.
Michael! How are you? Fatter than I ought to be.
I noticed! But it suits you, a little middle-aged gravitas.
- And you'll be Tony? - Pleased to meet you.
You'd know if something was taken? Oh, yeah.
If that something was a tape, it couldn't be used anyway.
All the recordings are transcribed here and can only be used on our machines.
Anyway, the conversation that tit put in his paper bears no resemblance to anything we've come across.
Fourth filial Cray computer with link-up to BT's switching centre at Oswestry and the US National Security Agency listening stations.
why the US? I thought Ml5's work was only in Britain.
It is, but the Yanks have listening stations in Yorkshire and Cornwall.
They can pick up conversations on mobile telephones from 30 miles up and beam them down to us.
So the British use the Americans to monitor their own people.
And Japanese cameras and German bugging equipment.
I do a job, I have no particular political beef on this.
we have an intelligence-gathering service.
Some areas are sensitive, be it royal family, IRA, subversion, espionage.
These things go on.
And because we're not pissing about, we use the best tools.
This computer can read over 500 million characters a second, that's four or five thousand full-length novels every second.
Any telephone conversation containing key words can trigger the computer - Prince Charles, let's say, or Tony Clark, or whatever.
The computer will collect the conversation, our personnel vet it and, if valid, it will be referred to the Defence Communications Network.
It is an awesome and watertight system that has been authorised by successive governments, and nobody here is in the business of sending pissy, silly little tapes to crappy little newspapers.
Now, what do you want? The source of Boshier's stories about Jan Lewis and her so-called girlfriend.
You'll be lucky.
Anything about sources will be in his personal basket.
- His private file? - Mm-hm.
- Do you know his password? - No.
well, that's no use to us, then.
Can you get stuff he's written? well, yes, anything he's sent to the subs, anything not in his personal basket.
OK.
Let's take a look at his most recent article, shall we? Ah.
Here's the noble roll of honour.
"Gay Cop For Chop", "Top Cop's Girlfriend's a Haulage Boss", "Ml5 Snoopers' Disgrace", "I Miss You David - The Royal Tape In Full".
God help us.
Can you retrieve "Gay Cop For Chop"? Can I have a go? All right.
But for God's sake, if anybody comes over Don't worry.
- what are you doing? - Document audit.
Here we are.
It's the history of the document, each draft that was saved.
Hopefully Boshier doesn't know about this.
what about if we retrieve the final drafts? Let's see if he's left us anything useful.
- well? - well what? - Are you satisfied? - with what? Now do you believe he works for Ml5? why would someone in Ml5 give me an hour-long monologue about his job? It's supposed to be secret.
Shit.
- And that's all of them.
- And not a thing.
Maybe he's cleverer than I think he is.
was anything taken from your desk? Er, no.
Any sign of anything having been disturbed? I've thought of another tack.
Retrieve the transcript of the royal conversation.
well, well.
It took him four days and five drafts to copy a tape.
Brilliant.
Let's have a look at the first draft.
This bears no resemblance to the final transcript.
He starts out calling the guy Nigel, then he changes it to David halfway down.
- Could you print all these out for me? - with pleasure.
- Miss Lewis? - Yes.
- Roger Boshier, I write for the - I know.
- I wondered if I could have a word.
- Did you? Did you reach a conclusion? well, it'd be sensible to hear your side of things.
The two easiest targets for the press are the royals and Ml5.
why? Because they're outside the law.
Because they can't answer back.
Maybe, but you're not allowed to ask questions about them, not even in the House of Commons.
Look, one is a family of below average intelligence and unbelievable wealth who belong in the Middle Ages, the other is an organisation that exists for its own ends and is out of control.
The only out-of-control organisation is the press.
Did you read Boshier's first article about the tape? Can't you see how manipulated you are by them? Your attitude to Ml5 is To tell you the truth, I am totally sick of the lot of you.
Here she comes again.
welcome to Hades.
what is it now? - A quiet word, please.
- The irresistible attraction of intellect.
- what would you like? - I would like you to tell me where you got the stories about Jan Lewis.
- No, what would you like to drink? - I don't want a drink.
I think you should, it'll soften you up.
How about dinner? what's this? Your fabrication of a royal conversation taken from a nonexistent tape that your newspaper paid £20,000 to buy.
I'm sure your editor and rivals on other newspapers will be thrilled to read this.
So you want me to reveal sources? Either that or I release these.
Tony, I don't know you very well but this isn't like you.
Is something wrong? well, everything.
Apart from that, no.
All I can see is you protecting your boyfriend and his gang of train spotters.
Boyfriend? Do you mean Mike? Oh, Tony, grow up.
Drink? Hello.
Hi.
where's Richard? He's, er, gone.
where? To his brother's.
He said you should ring him.
Has he left? I don't know, really.
Yes, I think so.
Oh, God.
It's all right.
It's OK.
Yes, I know.
I know.
Oh, you didn't.
Yeah, we did.
- Horrid, cruel little boys.
- Yeah, I suppose we were.
we'd be cruel to the animals and the horrid little girls would be cruel to us.
- They were just like you.
- And you've never forgiven us.
Nope.
Yes? Good.
That's excellent.
Right.
Bye.
- will you be staying for dinner? - Erm Oh, Jesus.
Er, no, no, we should be going.
I think I've had too much to drink.
I don't drive.
we do have rooms, sir.
Erm well, I I suppose we could, er look at one.
well, what do you think, darling? - I think it's lovely, darling.
- Good.
Dinner is between seven and ten.
- well.
- Mmm? It is nice, isn't it? Oh, shut up and get your clothes off.
Right.
I wondered what we were going to do till seven.
Er, towels.
- Thank you.
- Thank you.
I think I could fall in love with you.
well, don't.
what if I already have? Tony, don't be so bloody stupid.
Is that why you've been moping around like a little dog? Probably.
You twit.
well, I don't love you.
Then why did you go to bed with me? Because I wanted to.
And? what? Marks out of ten? No, of course not.
I mean doesn't it mean anything to you? Yes, it means something, but well, it's the difference between lust and love.
Oh, and you lust after me? I did five hours ago.
Now I'm just hungry.
So you just went to bed with me because you fancied me.
Mm-hm.
That's a bit irresponsible, isn't it? Are you serious? Are you bloody serious? I'll see you there.
Mm, come in.
Buckingham Palace issued a denial of the alleged contents of the tape.
This is an unprecedented reaction - in all other royal tape scandals they have remained silent.
- wanted to see me? - Mm.
You're causing a bit of a stir.
Oh.
Am I? Yeah.
Two blockbusting front pages in a week.
I understand how it might look, but Yeah, how it looks to us is we thought we might beef up your salary a bit.
That be all right with you? The chief constable refused to comment.
I have nothing to say.
Hello, Tony.
Hello, Mr wenleigh.
- well, what's going on? - what do you mean? with the case.
How's it going? All right.
Hasn't Angela told you? No.
Oh.
Erm, well, I really don't think there's anything to report.
Right.
well, you let me know when there is.
Morning, guv! Oh, I'm sorry.
I'm just leaving.
will Mrs Berridge be coming in today? I've just seen her driving in.
She's parking her car.
Ah, good.
well, I'll try and catch her.
- Goodbye.
- Bye.
- I'll see you in your office.
- Yes, sir.
Your journalist seems to have broken cover.
Christ.
- You don't know anything about this? - No.
I can't believe it.
Harmsworth handed him Jan Lewis's personal file.
Yeah, good, isn't it? It's extraordinary.
Have you seen this? Yes, good, isn't it? He's a reporter.
who's going to tell him anything now? - He has rather burnt his bridges.
- what could've made him do it? I can't imagine.
- That's Harmsworth out of a job.
- And Jan Lewis.
She certainly won't be the first woman chief constable.
Harry, how are you? Feeling better? - I'm fine, guv, I'm fine.
- Good, good.
Let's get to work.
who stole the tape? Hytner, Hutchisson er, Ml5 Did Mo say you were parking your car?