A Touch of Frost (1992) s04e02 Episode Script
Unknown Soldiers
Come on, boy.
See you.
Bye.
You've got to talk to each other.
(Speaking in Punjabi) (Speaking in Punjabi) Hello.
You slept well, Mr.
Frost? Yes, like a top.
Yeah, this room will do me.
Better than the Section House.
Policemen have some very nasty personal habits.
Thank you.
(IN PUNJABI) It's no different in India than it is in the European Community.
The new enemy of accountable democratic government is the quango.
A recipe for corruption if ever there was one.
(IN PUNJABI) He doesn't understand you.
Come on.
Giving you a hard time, Meredith? Nothing I can't handle.
Do you think your mate's really in the market for a dishonorable discharge? The army's a dangerous place for territorials who don't know their way around.
I'd watch what you do with that big mouth.
Here you are.
Look at the mess in here.
Bloody well stinks an all.
Back at dinner time.
Bring you a pizza.
Hello, Diana.
Can't you leave him alone? Well, you know what us coppers are like for giving young scallywags a talking to when they've been scrumping apples, or selling Jamboree bags of crack.
He doesn't do drugs.
Really? Open up.
Ah Steven, I thought you'd given up smoking.
Steven! George, downstairs under the window.
Drugs.
You will receive three exposures of three to five seconds at ten second intervals.
You will engage the targets with two rounds per exposure.
Any questions? Meredith! Face the front! This is a firing range, not a playground.
You're thinking again.
It takes years to train the regulars not to.
You TA's will just have to practice at home.
Prone position.
Down.
Ready.
Watch and shoot! Watch and shoot! Steven.
No one's gonna come near the flat.
And just think about what you're doing.
Steven.
This is George Toolan.
I need to speak to you.
At least let your mum go.
Once I'm on my own they can do what they like.
They can just come in here and shoot me.
Please Steven, It's all right.
They won't shoot you.
Once you put the gun down, you're safe.
What am I gonna do? Steven? Let the gun go.
No! Once you put the gun down, it's all over.
I said no! All right, Steven, all right.
Come on.
Let me have the gun.
Come on, it's all right.
You don't want it any more.
Come on, just give it to me.
It's gonna be all right.
Look at them.
They think it's a bloody game.
Here we go.
Two zero.
Two zero, receiving.
Pick up completed and we're on our way back.
Right, see you later then.
(Phone ringing) Leave it.
Hello? Oh shit.
Oh God! Hello.
Yeah, sorry, she Right.
I've made up my mind, we do it.
All right, Jack? Yeah, I'm all right.
Do you want me to put another officer on the Marson case? No, no, I'm fine.
I'm fine.
Well.
Well done.
I know Well done.
Steven.
We're talking about going inside.
Not months, years.
Illegal possession of a firearm, threatening a police officer.
Now, where did you get it? I told you.
I went up to Manchester for a football match a couple of weeks ago met a bloke in a pub, sold me the gun and half a dozen rounds.
Name of pub, unknown.
Name of man, unknown.
I was stoned, right.
And this often happens in pubs does it, eh? People just say, you look like you need a gun.
It's no big deal up there, it's urban warfare, isn't it? No one's going to stick a bottle in your face if they know you're tooled up.
You get respect.
Look Steven.
This actually happened.
Your mother, me and you too, could all be dead.
Now, where did you get it? What did she say? Shut it, or else! You don't have to worry about the "or else", do you? Look, if you sit back and take this crap then You can afford to be a bloody martyr.
I can't.
You stick my neck out, I'll take yours off.
Standard issue for infantry officers until 1989.
Now you can pick these up anywhere in Eastern Europe For a couple of packets of cigarettes.
Look, can we concentrate please everyone.
This is a nineteen year old kid who thinks he needs a weapon to flog a few drugs.
So all he has to do is go out and buy one.
It's as easy as that.
So there might be others.
Yes.
We'll find that out when we know where Marson got his.
If we don't bump into one of his mates down some alley.
Yes, I don't think we need to call in the SAS just yet, Brent, thank you.
You've just said how easy it is to get hold of these guns.
Kids like Marson they just All right.
If I walked in there with a gun one of us would have been carried out in a box.
Maybe Marson.
His risk, his risk Maybe me.
Maybe his mother.
Maybe some of the neighbors.
Maybe one of you.
Now wherever Marson got this gun it was a lot closer than Manchester.
I want to know everywhere he hangs out, and who he spends his time with.
Jack.
What? Armed robbery.
Security van.
Anyone hurt? One of the guards.
All right, come on.
Let's get on with it! Frost.
There's several ways back to Denton on the run, this cuts out the ring road.
Alright, and the run itself? Is it regular? Yeah, we do it most weeks.
And you didn't have time to call your base, I suppose? There was a shotgun blasting the window.
I don't get paid enough to be a hero.
Then he smashed the radio.
All right.
Give the rest of the details to this constable, here, will you please.
And thanks for your help.
What about the other one? Well, it's not as bad as it looks, Jack.
There was no need to hit him.
All right, okay, thank you.
But they gonna take him to hospital just the same, for an x-ray.
All right, that's fair enough.
You Territorials.
You Weekend Warriors.
You will advance to contact through the woods responding to any targets with blank fire.
And I'll be with you to see how you score.
During the exercise you will come under live, overhead and flanking fire from the Regulars.
That's live.
But only those over six meters in height need to worry.
Now what do you do? You remember the drill.
Two rounds rapid.
Down.
Take cover.
You will locate the enemy.
You will move forward.
You will make good use of the cover.
Don't just lie there like slugs.
Got it Richards? Corporal.
Good.
And don't eat the mushrooms.
Right.
Blank ammunition over there.
Live ammunition issued here.
Three mags each.
Move it! So what's Morison after? I owe him for a compass I lost.
He's pushing for the cash.
Pity there's no hand to hand.
Don't be so bloody stupid.
Come on! Get a bloody move on! Come on! You're bloody useless! 21 Alpha.
Cease fire.
Cease fire.
Stop! Stop! Apply safety catches.
Close in.
Come on close in.
You lot, double in.
Right, basically, good for enthusiasm but a bloody shambles.
You were too bloody slow.
And when the targets did appear half of you shot each other.
Aghh! Oh, very bloody funny.
Get up.
And you Meredith.
Bloody well get up.
Meredith, I'm in no mood for jokes.
Get up! Come on, you're in enough trouble as it is.
Medic! Swindon last month.
Lemington the month before and I think there was another one.
It's all there Jack, even down to the smack in the face for no good reason.
Oh, come on.
Look he's only got a nose bleed.
441, we're just passing the camp now.
Can respond.
Who's been shot? Go on, go on and follow him.
Got him? Yeah.
Told you keep pressing that dressing.
Where do you want him, Sir? Straight through to the right.
Soldier's been shot.
Too late for hospital.
Hang about.
Hang about.
We're not going anywhere.
Well, there's nothing we can do.
We don't know that yet, do we? Excuse me, sir.
Yeah, I'm Detective Inspector Frost, Denton CID.
Do you have an appointment? Do you usually inform people in advance when someone's going to get shot? All right, all right, all right.
There you are.
All right? I need to know who you want to see, sir.
Well after a death, I usually start with the victim.
Now where is he? I'll have to check with Look, I'm not going to sit here and argue with you.
A man's been shot and apparently he's dead.
Now I'm not giving you any password because I'm not playing soldiers.
Where's the body? Medical block's straight on, first left then right, sir.
Thank you.
Eleven blank rounds fired.
Nine blanks returned.
459 Kemp.
Okay.
Next! Lance Corporal Morison 867.
Cheers.
(Phone ringing) Donovan, Sir? Yes, Sir.
Mayor Harvey's ready for you, Corporal.
Rounds? Forty live rounds fired by the light support weapon, Sarge.
Twenty live rounds returned.
Hello? Hello? Hello, anybody there? Don't think they've declared war and forgot to tell us, do you? Ah, that looks like it.
Guv, we need the CO's permission to come on to army property.
Do we? The men firing the light support weapons were highly experienced, Sir.
No way would they fire live ammunition at the Territorials, Sir.
The Territorials had live ammunition on the range earlier? It's all accounted for, Sir.
A bullet accounted for this man Meredith, Corporal.
Either it came from alight support weapon, or it came from a Territorial buggering about with a live round.
I don't have an explanation, sir.
Find one! Wishful thinking, bringing him in here, wasn't it? Who are these people, Captain? I've no idea, sir.
Identify yourselves.
I'm Detective Inspector Frost.
Denton CID.
Now how did this happen.
Protocol obliges the police to contact the commanding officer before entering an army camp.
I am the Commanding Officer.
All right.
I know who you are and you know who I am.
There you are.
That's protocol out of the way.
The question was, how did this happen? Do you have trouble with English, Inspector? What? You have no jurisdiction here.
Look, this isn't some brawl in the NAAFI! No it's not, it's a sad and tragic accident, and it's no business of yours.
Isn't there enough real crime your failing to solve? A dead body with a bullet wound is my business until I'm told otherwise.
Now unless you're a coroner in your spare time, you just won't do! Get out of here.
Now! Before I have you thrown out! I don't think so.
You know where the gate is, Inspector.
Do you think Major Harvey's related to Mullett? Jumped-up long streak of It was an exercise, Jack.
A soldier was shot.
The Major's right, it's probably not our concern.
It's still a shooting.
And it's winding you up.
Yes, of course it is.
I had to face a kid with a pistol this morning.
The fact that nobody got killed has got more to do with my horoscope than it has to do with the way we're policing Denton.
Then we've had an armed robbery with sawn off shotguns.
And then some TA whose no older than Marson gets himself shot playing soldiers.
I mean guns are for killing, you chuck them about and someone's going to get shot.
I've had nothing but guns since I got up this morning.
That's not to mention a police station full of detectives who all wanna join the club and get themselves tooled up Iike, like Arnold, Arnold, what's his name.
You know how he died.
He was shot.
I'm afraid I'm not in a position to sign the death certificate.
Do you need a more senior medical officer? It's not a question of competence, sir.
There's going to have to be a post mortem.
That means getting one of the Denton pathologists involved.
We can keep the body in one of the meat freezers here.
His parents are already on their way up here.
What do you recommend? It was an accident, we're going to carve your son up anyway? I think the bullet is still in the body.
Obviously it will help with the investigation.
All right.
But I'm going to have to call the Provost Marshall's Office.
We're going to have to get one of those Special Investigation bods in.
The sooner we can get this report in, the sooner we can get this thing out of the way.
But I want it made absolutely clear, that this accident casts no aspersions on the actual running of the camp.
Do you know the parents? No, sir.
But apparently the father's a retired NCO.
Thank God for that.
Good he'll know the form.
The last thing we want is some hysterical family dragging the army through the courts.
You see, it's not just the money, it's a van off the road.
How long are you going to keep it? Leave it! Depends what we find, Mr.
Scully.
Well you won't find anything, they cleaned it out.
You'd be surprised what our forensic people could come up with.
Four robberies in two months, and now me.
How many more do they need? You think it's the same thieves.
Don't you people read the papers.
Dear, oh, dear.
I ought to bring my super down here.
He thinks I'm the only human being in the world who can survive in such chaos.
Well, that when he thinks of me as a human being at all I've got an insurance claim to fill in.
What about this van? You'll be very pleased to know that Mr.
James and Mr.
Chaplin are both all right I expect the shock of all this has pushed them from your mind.
Oh, well.
Yeah, good.
They weren't hurt, that's the main thing.
Yes.
Now the last contact was made about, what, an hour before the radio was put out of action.
Did you think about contacting them at all? Oh, it's my fault.
Great.
I'm just trying to get a clear picture.
It might help all of us.
It might even help you get on the right side of your insurance assessors.
It's a milk run.
You don't expect anything.
What, despite what you people read in the papers.
I think those fish have got the measure of you.
I got a couple of perch.
Exactly.
It was alright today? Fine.
He's worked for Denton Security for nearly fifteen years.
I don't think they've ever had a robbery.
Here, let me take the tray.
No, I couldn't let you do that.
Yes, yes of course you could, come on.
It's not often you get a policeman in your house, is it? You might as well get your money's worth.
Thank you.
All right.
Oh, I'm glad to see you've settled in, George.
Come on, do the honors with the tea, will you? Mr.
Frost, I hope you're going to Iet me do something in my own house! Actually I think it would be better I spoke to your husband on his own, Mrs.
James, if you don't mind.
Just in case I bashed myself over the head and stuffed the cash in my boots, Annie.
Did you hear that, George.
Search his boots, after you've poured the tea.
If you don't mind, thanks very much, we won't be long.
Okay.
All right, thank you.
What's this then? Who are these? Your Grandchildren, are they? Yeah.
Harry and Julie.
Well, I just want you to take me through your day.
Anything that you remember you know, your pick ups, anything that was even usual, unusual.
And then we'll talk about the robbery.
Okay? Sergeant Donovan, sir! I gather you've managed to shoot a territorial.
Very careless, Sergeant.
Major Harvey, Captain Carlisle, SIB.
Ah, Captain.
It's fast work.
Plus I'm rather busy at the moment.
Perhaps we could meet up in er Yes, I don't even know what I'm getting into here, Sir.
It's an accident, Captain.
A tragic and unfortunate one.
I'm sure you'll quickly ascertain the facts.
The sooner I get down to it the sooner I can finish.
Death calls for a fairly urgent response, sir.
Yes, I'm sure we can rearrange, carry on, say half an hour.
In the meantime, any facilities? Well a place to change in would be good.
The sooner I'm out of bloody uniform He's looking for a nice neat package.
No fault, no blame.
Everybody at the camp's very shaken, sir.
Especially a Major who's up for promotion.
I like to know who I'm dealing with.
Well, anything new on Marson? Well we're working through the people he could have been buying drugs from.
They're being as cooperative as you'd expect.
Friends? Doesn't seem to have any.
He's either in watching tele or out flogging drugs.
He's a nice ordinary lad then, is he? Kids are afraid of him.
The gun was new, but he has been seen with a knife.
I see.
Shouldn't we be armed? We're trying to find out where Marson bought his pistol.
It's not the 'Gunfight at the OK Coral'.
And when I said I was worried about guns getting into the hands of kids in Denton, that included the police canteen.
You said there's no exit wound? That's right.
Well, ballistics should be able to I.
D.
the gun.
If we can't provide Major Harvey with a no one to blame at all result, someone to clap a negligent discharge job on will do him very nicely.
Jack! Ah, there you are, sir.
You're familiar with these other armed robberies? Yes, I've already been chastised by Mr.
Scully.
He reckons I ought to read a newspaper now and again.
Regional Crime Squad has been sending out information for months.
Yeah I know.
If I read every piece of paper that landed on my desk I'd never be able to get out from behind it.
Do you know it's the rainforests that I worry about.
Quiet road, security van disabled in the same way, shotguns used to scare the guards, two men, and the descriptions tally.
Yeah, I know, I know Scully's very nervous.
He doesn't give a stuff what's happened to his two blokes.
Been waffling on about insurance, he's worried about something though.
What do reckon about Chaplin and James? Ordinary blokes.
I didn't mean that, meant about their statements.
Very clear.
Very similar.
They should be.
Look, Jack, I think I've got to get off.
Going to leave that, are you? I think I am, yeah, I'm late enough as it is.
I said I would be back by eight.
You ought to have a look round you know, at the kitchen.
See how they cook this, it's good.
Home, Guv.
I like to remind myself where it is.
All right, good night.
I read in the paper, the boy with the gun Yeah.
I wish I could say it wasn't all in a day's work.
It is.
Must be old age, you know.
I keep looking back to the days that I knew were bloody grim and keep thinking must be better than some of this.
That is the land of lost content, I see it shining plain, The happy highways where I went And cannot come again'.
A.
E.
Housman.
Oh, yeah, right.
It is a fight, Mr.
Frost.
Better call the police.
(IN PUNJABI TO WAITER) Call the police.
Someone will be hurt.
Yep.
You know the problem with that is, when you get two blokes knocking hell out of each other as soon as a policeman appears they suddenly realize what close mates they are, and they start knocking seven shades of sugar out of you.
My old sergeant used to say, don't get involved, he said, walk around the block a couple of times.
Those were days.
Ah, well.
Right.
Police, police! Come on! Come on mate, get him! Come on! Get him! Come on mate! You bastard, next time I see you Shut up! For you own sake, shut up.
Now, what's all this about? Well done, Constable.
You just beat me to it.
Inspector.
Never could run on a full stomach.
Well, am I gonna get an answer? My mate was killed today.
Shot by some scumbag squaddy who ain't got the balls to own up to it.
John said someone wanted to do him.
Well they bloody did! John was a moody bugger.
Bit of a loner.
Never said boo to a goose most of the time but if anyone got on the wrong side of him Iook, I don't know what happened John was scared about something.
Did he say that? We were having a drink, couple of days ago.
He said someone wanted to do him some damage.
That's a long way from shooting him, though, isn't it.
Yeah, I know.
Could be a wind up went wrong, I suppose.
Who would want to cover it up? Squaddies won't finger a mate.
Suits everyone if it's down to a territorial cock up.
Well, it weren't.
I mean the live ammo had to come from one of the light support positions.
It's that simple.
Inspector? Yes? He is under arrest.
Yes, I know that, Stan.
Look I can't keep you from the cell any longer.
I tell you what though, could you do me a favor? Could you draw me a map of where everyone was.
Just roughly.
At the time your mate went down.
It's not easy.
I know.
I won't hold you to it.
Sarge was expecting two prisoners half an hour ago.
I got one downstairs finishing off a vindaloo and this one up here doing sketch maps.
If I don't get All right, Stan.
Take him a samosa, it's never known to fail.
Do we get a discount? I don't know, ask Said.
Funny that spate of thefts from the Section House fridge stopped, just like that.
After you left.
Bit of a mystery.
It is, isn't it.
There you are that's one less crime to push up the crime statistics.
Go on, get going.
Did you say that Meredith had words with someone before he was shot? Yeah, Neil Morison.
One of the regulars who was in charge of one of the light support weapons.
He said it was about a compass he'd lost.
If you lose equipment you've got to make it up somehow Morison had some access to stores.
He nicked a bit of stuff.
I see.
Is that all? Yeah, but afterwards.
I didn't like the way Morison looked.
I mean he was upset, like we all were, but it was more than that, he looked bloody terrified.
You'd think they'd have something better to fight over than a dead mate.
Squaddies need as much reason to fight as Pit Bull Terriers.
I'm glad that the defense of our country is in such capable hands.
Any news? Special Investigation Branch officer's on board now.
Oh, yeah, who's that? A Captain Carlisle.
You know him? No, not yet.
Insurance come through on the house? You what? Sorry I wasn't on last night.
Indian take-away for the whole relief? That was nothing to do with me.
That was courtesy of the proprietor of the Indian Restaurant.
I think he's trying to boost his takeaway trade.
Oh, well, leave you to it.
See you later.
See ya.
Ah, Jack! Ah, there you are, sir.
I've had rather an odd complaint about you.
Ah well, he didn't take long, did he? Well the man's got his responsibilities, you know.
He's certainly got his little empire.
I'm astonished, Jack.
I don't know what the canteen manager's done to you, but I can't believe a senior officer would behave so childishly.
You what? They had to throw away most of last night's meals, because you flooded the place with Indian food.
That was nothing.
Now if this is some idea of joke, the canteen has to pay its way, Iike everything else, you know.
That was nothing to do with me sir.
That was Said.
He's the proprietor of the local Indian Restaurant.
Yes, well, it's just not good enough.
The canteen manager is very upset.
And he's convinced you did it.
All right, all right.
I'll apologize to him.
Good.
Jack? I pride myself on running a happy station.
Yes.
We all have our part to play.
All right? Yes.
(IN PUNJABI) Peace be with you.
How long are you keeping him for? Till he stops telling us a pack of lies.
I didn't know about it, The drugs, Iet alone the gun.
Come on, he's been done twice for the possession of marijuana.
Crack should be no surprise.
Anyway, it was damn lucky a police marksman didn't put a bullet in his back.
If you want to protect Steven, You remind him that the only way that a policeman will be pointing a gun at him is when he's pointing one at someone else.
His friends might not be so particular.
As soon as you find the bullet then.
Whatever we find, you'll see.
Where did you keep the body? In the meat freezer.
I'm afraid it's all we had available.
Is there something wrong? Only the temperature.
Fine for a side of beef, but a little cold for a cadaver.
We'll have to let him thaw out.
They still serving breakfast? Yep, should be.
Excellent.
I don't think Brent and Stevenson have done very well on their list of Marson's friends and where he went.
Why don't you get onto it, eh? You know the cafes, the pubs, video hire shops, anywhere he went.
Okay, what about the robbery.
Well, let me know what forensic has thrown up so far oh find out about this radio business, will you.
You know,the blind spot.
I'll see Chaplin and James again later.
I'm on my way to the army camp, but you don't know where I am.
Jack, Major Harvey will do his pieces.
And that means Mullett.
I know, I'm going to sell tickets.
(Bang, Bang, Bang,) (Laughing) I thought, I really thought I know.
Scully phoned me this morning.
He just wants to know how long we're going to be off work It's the insurance he's worried about.
Well, you said it'd have to be convincing.
It is.
Any more convincing and you'd have taken my bloody head off! Hey! Good afternoon.
Who are you? I'm Detective Inspector Frost, Denton CID.
Frost! Yes, that's right.
What the hell are you doing here? Well, I was hoping to do my job, but someone's made a right pig's ear of this marking out.
I don't know why they didn't do the job properly and drive a couple of tanks through it.
Major Harvey told me about you.
Ah, Special Investigation Branch, yeah? That's right.
Carlisle.
This is my pig's ear.
It's also my investigation.
I don't know how you got onto the camp, But if being thrown off once didn't make the point, I'll be happy to arrange for you to be thrown off again.
Yes, why not? You certainly know what you're doing.
Scene of the crime completely destroyed.
What crime is that exactly? I'm investigating an accident here.
You may have orders about what you're investigating.
Me, you see, I like to make up my own mind.
My investigation I said.
Not Major Harvey's.
And certainly not yours.
You know what I think? I think Major Harvey would like this all wrapped up in a nice neat little ribbon and dropped in the no further action required file.
I tell you something, great pity the body was moved.
Look, I don't have to get on anyone at this camp, and that includes Major Harvey.
But one thing we will see eye to eye on is that this is army business.
Very cozy.
Get out of my way and get off the camp.
By the time the Provost Marshall's office has been on to your Chief Superintendent, you'll be lucky if he let's you direct the traffic.
You know what? I'm not very good at directing traffic.
But I'm a bloody good detective.
Next time I'll expect an invitation.
Sloppy work.
He was here about John Meredith.
He was poking his nose in.
Something you'd like to say about Meredith? No.
Because, if you have anything to offer up, I'm sure Captain Carlisle would be fascinated to know what you and Meredith were up to.
Who are you? I'm Jack Frost.
No you're not.
Harry, what are you doing? I'm sorry, Mr.
Frost.
It's alright.
I wanted a quick word with your husband.
He should be back any time now, he just popped out for a bit.
He says he's Jack Frost.
Harry, I told you to sit up at the table with Julie.
Can I come in? Thank you.
Are you coming to tea too? Well only in a supervisory capacity.
Mr.
Frost's a policeman.
He's going to find the people who robbed granddad's van.
He doesn't look like a policeman.
Harry.
Well that's because I'm in disguise.
That's what killed Meredith.
It should have gone straight through him.
Stopped by the bone.
Well, that looks like a 7.
62 to me.
So? The SA80's take a standard 5.
56.
This bullet wasn't fired by any rifle on the exercise.
Thank you.
Good girl.
I did have a uniform once, but they said I didn't look like a policeman in that either.
So I thought, well, I'll become a detective then instead.
Tuck in everyone.
That sounds like him now.
Hello, Granddad.
Where have you been? I told Mr.
Frost you'd only be five minutes.
I just thought I'd get some air.
I'm sorry to trouble you.
It's just I wanted to clear up a couple of things.
No nearer finding them? No not really.
It's a bit like fishing though, isn't it.
Sooner or later you get a bite.
This is Barry Hockey.
He works with us at Denton Security.
Oh, the third Musketeer, eh? So you three are usually on the van together, eh? That's right, I should have been there too.
I'm using up some holiday.
Oh, I see.
Only I was just wondering if, you know anything else had occurred to you, because sometimes things come back to you, you know, when you've got over the shock.
Nothing in particular.
No, we've been trying to forget about it today.
Yeah, well of course that's understandable.
Aren't you stopping for a cup of tea? No, I've got to catch my bus.
Really, where you going, going into town? Walpole Estate.
That's all right, I go right past there.
I'll give you a lift.
Come on, sit down, have a cup of tea.
Great this.
Sorry to disturb you.
There is a dress code in the mess, Captain.
I wouldn't describe it as rigid, but even on an ordinary evening, well, I think you might just scrape by in the NAAFI.
I thought you might like to know that I've just been talking to the Coroner's Office.
Meredith's death will be regarded as suspicious.
No doubt the completion of your investigation will establish that it isn't.
I'm not sure that it will.
Gentlemen, dinner is served.
Have you seen that on page three? Traces of fish scales.
Hmm? Fish scales.
That's odd isn't it.
Check with forensic just in case they've got, you know, the cartridge mixed up with the cat's dinner.
Oh, goodnight, sir.
Goodnight, Guv.
Goodnight George.
Just chasing up a few loose ends on the armed robbery, sir I'm late as it is.
We can talk on the way out.
My officers do not enter a military establishment without first asking the CO.
Those are the rules.
You know that perfectly well.
From now on, you will keep out of Captain Carlisle's way.
I fully expect Major Harvey to make a complaint to the Chief Constable.
A man's been shot and killed.
He deserves far more attention than a couple of Military Policeman playing detectives.
Regional Crime Squad are screaming for the file on the armed robbery.
I want some movement on the Marson case.
The public knows there are guns in army camps.
It's the guns on the streets they want reassurance about.
I called the station, they said you'd be here.
You fancied a curry? Not exactly.
You'll be pleased to know that your Major Harvey's been in touch with my Superintendent.
But don't worry, traffic in Denton is safe, for the moment.
I'm not here because I want to be Inspector.
The bullet that killed Private Meredith.
7.
62.
Russian.
Which means, it wasn't fired by any of the regulars or the Territorials.
I can't even be sure it was fired from inside the camp.
There's one other 7.
62 bullet which we found lodged in a tree.
Close to where Meredith was shot.
So you think the shot was fired outside the camp? It's a possibility that's all.
Oh, come on.
If you thought it was fired inside the camp, you'd have turned the place inside out, to nail someone, before you come here with an olive branch.
Anyway, the second bullet tells it more definitely I'd say.
I don't think you're going to find an army camp an easy place to work, Inspector.
If you want to go your own way.
Just remember who the policeman is.
Anything you get comes to me, you don't go round me.
We pool what we get.
We could be talking about murder.
Which puts the jurisdiction right back where it belongs.
With me.
Said, two more onion bhajis, please.
On the Captain.
I'll be as brief as I can.
I don't know what it's got to do with the police.
It's an army matter.
There's some doubt about the death now.
It's unlikely that your son was killed as a result of an accident.
What do you mean? The preliminary post-mortem shows that the bullet that killed John could not have been fired by an army rifle.
The Major said it was an accident.
I know this is a very painful time for you, Mr.
Meredith, and for you Mrs.
Meredith.
But do you think that someone might have deliberately wanted to kill or injure your son? Of course not.
I mean did he talk of any trouble? Did anyone threaten him.
It's just something for you to think about really.
It would help me a lot if I could get an overall picture of John, you know, what he was like, what did he do with his time? Where did he go? Who were his friends? Obviously I know about the TA Nothing's going to bring him back to life.
I don't think you understand, Mr.
Meredith.
I understand that John died doing something worthwhile.
That's the part of his life that I want to remember.
He doesn't mean it.
He's never been strong, not with what matters.
He was a sergeant, it's a different kind of strength, all that shouting at people.
Will you talk to me about John? (Doorbell ringing) I've got nothing to say to you.
You've been missing me.
I can see it.
So, what's your lad up to at the nick? I don't know why it's so hard to say.
Not now.
Maybe if we'd said it if.
John was he was a homosexual it doesn't sound much, does it, not now he's, dead.
And do you think this may have something to do with his death? No, I'm just trying to explain why we why my husband can't I think I knew, years ago.
When he was little.
Somewhere inside.
I think he tried very hard, for us.
Not for himself.
There were girlfriends, one especially.
He hurt her a great deal.
Our fault.
When did he tell you? I suppose, three months ago.
He'd met this man, a soldier.
And he'd, fallen in love with him.
John joined the TA because of his Dad you see.
He was never going to go into the army, but he thought the TA would please Richard.
What about this man? John said this was it.
Now he was now he'd met someone he loved, he couldn't go on pretending anymore.
So he told Richard that he was gay, and he was going to tell everyone, family, friends.
And this coming out never happened? He was still adamant, but he fell out with this man.
I never met him, but I know that he came to the house once.
I was out.
I found John, crying.
Neil was his name.
Neil Morison, I think.
John said that he'd come round to get some letters back.
And they'd had a terrible row.
John said that he'd fallen.
But he hadn't.
He'd been hit in the face, hard.
Morison! Stand up! What is this? Shut up! Open your locker.
Do it.
Now! I bet you were teacher's pet on the nature table.
We might as well hand the case over in a decent state.
Yeah.
What happened about the fish scales? Fish scales? The fish scales that were on the door handle and the cartridge of the shotgun.
Asked you about them last night.
Oh, yeah.
What do you mean, oh yeah? Regional Crime Squad would have pulled in every fishmonger within a hundred miles by now.
All right, get onto forensic.
I want to know what sort of fish they were.
Also get out the Ordnance Survey maps and mark up every fishable river within twenty miles radius of the hold up.
Also I want background on Chaplin, James and their mate Hockey.
See if they were close to anyone else in the firm.
Oh, and give Scully a hard time.
He's holding something back.
I know he is.
I'm going to be in the Army Camp.
By invitation.
The letters.
Hot stuff.
I said wait.
For what? He was a witness.
Now he's a very hostile witness.
Not helpful at all.
Left, Right, Left, Right, Left, Right, Left.
Mark, Time! Halt! Right Turn! You know I didn't shoot anybody.
I hope not.
You're out of the Army.
And it can be easy, or hard.
You try and pull me down and I'll make sure you get a spell in Colchester before you go.
You'll be lucky to get out with your balls still on! So how often, Mr.
Scully, would your blokes be carrying twenty five grand on this run? I don't know, it's half that normally.
Well informed thieves, eh.
I know.
That's why they're running rings around you.
Chaplin, James and Hockey.
They always work together? Oh, I see.
They did it now.
My Inspector always looks for an inside job first.
Now personally, I think he's barking up the wrong tree, but he doesn't often get it wrong.
And I suppose it would help if he felt you were telling him the truth, Mr Scully.
Me? Cause see, he thought you were behaving a bit oddly.
Now, I don't know, I wasn't here.
I'd just had a van held up! Look, I'm selling Denton Security.
Not exactly the deal of the century, but with the property, I don't need to nick twenty five grand from my own van.
I'm still fixing the price Wheels within wheels.
They don't want the workforce.
And my accountant's found a way round redundancy payments.
No one knows here.
So you can see why I want to keep a lid on it.
Any luck.
Not yet.
What's the police doing? Don't know, but they're not doing it here.
They want to look at more photos.
They have no reason to suspect you.
We've all been honest citizens all our lives.
That's a lot of credit.
They won't even think about us.
All we've got to do, is sit tight, and wait.
The only real skill is patience.
You're going to stay here all day? Somewhere important to go? They're searching outside the camp, what's that about? That's where the shot was fired.
They're saying it wasn't an accident? Sod off, will you? You were involved in a homosexual relationship with Meredith? No, sir.
We've read the bloody letters.
There was no physical relationship, sir.
And there are fairies at the bottom of my garden.
Morison the question is not whether you can save your career.
But whether you're up for bloody murder.
Excuse me.
Captain.
Interview suspended thirteen thirty nine hours.
Inspector Frost and Captain Carlisle leaving the room.
This is my investigation, my interview.
I don't do hard man, soft man.
I don't play games.
You know, your turn, my turn.
It's going to do him no harm to know where he stands as far as the army's concerned.
Telling a bloke he's out whatever happens is no recipe for cooperation.
No point pretending he's up for bloody promotion.
Looking for poofs went out of my job years ago.
I'm only interested in finding out about Meredith.
Now the shot came from outside the camp.
And we know that Morison didn't fire the gun, all right? Who's in charge here? Police or SIB? I'm in charge of this investigation.
Then I'm talking to you.
They look after their own.
All right, Morison, Ask Sergeant Donovan about John yeah, he wanted to come out, about me paying Donovan to keep quiet.
I'm not the only gay doing it either.
I've paid her three grand in two years.
It is part of your job to look for signs of homosexuality? Investigation of dishonorable conduct is down to SIB, sir.
That's right.
Come on, we're not talking about dishonorable conduct, the bloke was being very discreet.
'Dishonorable conduct' is the general term in Queen's Regs, that a homosexual would be discharged under.
Oh, I see.
So you don't have to dance across the parade ground in a tutu with a carnation stuck between your teeth.
Queen's Regulations is about right.
I don't make Military Law.
No.
So, you would report any suspicions you had? Yes.
What about Meredith? Did you notice anything about him? I hardly knew him.
He was a Territorial.
Morison says you threatened him.
Lance Corporal Morison is flinging crazy allegations around.
Yes, I know the feeling.
We get it all the time.
Usually it's about beating people up in cells.
Those were the days.
I object to being treated as a suspect.
No one's accusing you, Sergeant Donovan.
Someone has to ask the questions.
Thank you very much, Sergeant Donovan.
Morison's out to do someone.
Yes, he said you'd say that.
Look, considering you've got carte blanche to search anywhere the mood takes you, why don't you go and take a look at Sergeant Donovan's stuff.
We know exactly where she was when Meredith was shot.
This is a waste of time.
I think it could be very embarrassing for Major Harvey if I have to go and get a search warrant.
Also I want to interview all the soldiers who were on that exercise.
Regulars as well as Territorials.
I've got all their statements already.
Yes I know, but other people never seem to ask the right sort of questions.
All right? You round them up, I'll do the detecting.
I want Morison put on a charge as soon as possible.
What the hell is going on? Sir, the investigation Is turning into a shambles Captain.
If SIB were doing their job properly, non of these perverts would even be in the army.
Hardly a priority, is it? I decide on the priorities in my own camp, Inspector.
It doesn't include letting you loose on one of Sergeant Donovan's men.
This is a murder inquiry.
Not a list of people who to be nice to.
We now know Meredith was shot by someone outside the perimeter fence.
We know he was a poof.
I suggest why don't you go and look in one of Denton's public conveniences.
It's probably the work you're used to.
I've had Territorials and soldiers hanging about all morning.
And I assume they are going to be interviewed before the day is out? Just about to start, Major.
Sorry about the disruption.
Still, good job there's not a war on.
Regarding police interviews, sir.
On our way, you can give us a bloody lift.
We have one soldier missing, sir.
Missing? AWOL.
Corporal Devenish.
In charge of the exercise.
Yes I know.
So, all present and correct.
James and Chaplin have both been with Denton Security for over fifteen years.
Hockey's been there for six, he's been a River Warden, Book Keeper, Filing Clerk, that sort of thing.
Been made redundant twice.
What about the fish scales? Perch.
Really.
Thought they might have been a Mullett.
Hockey's about to be made redundant yet again.
Those three are gonna find it very difficult to get a new job at their age.
What's the financial situation? Well James has got a house that's worth ten thousand less than he paid for it.
He's had mortgage problems for years.
Really? What about Hockey? There are no obvious signs of financial difficulties.
His wife's very ill though.
Semi-invalid.
Really? Ah, what about Marson? Nothing from him, sir.
You talked to him? No, he's too frightened.
All right.
Magistrate's tomorrow.
We're not going to have any trouble opposing bail, sir? No, We're going to let him go anyway.
Now we're taking you before the Magistrate this morning.
I'm sure your solicitor Yeah, yeah, I know the form, I'll be remanded.
No you won't, you'll be let out on bail, on account of your cooperation.
What does that mean? Well it means that I'm going to let it be known that I'm no longer looking for anyone that might have sold you a gun because you have already told me who it is.
I haven't told you anything.
I know.
It's a lie.
But this bloke, whoever he is, that you'd rather go inside for, rather than grass up, he doesn't know that.
You can't do that.
Mr.
Frost, he'll bloody kill me.
He's a maniac, he'll kill me.
Alpha Bravo 24 from Control, receiving, over? Frost, receiving, over.
The ARV is on site.
I don't need them.
Where are they anyway, over.
Vehicle is a gray, Vauxhall Cavalier, index G466 MWU over.
Yes, I have them, Frost, out.
All right, Andy, put those things away, will you.
Just leave this to me.
Sir.
Give me that cap you've got in the back.
Sir.
Just keep your eye on me, all right? Can I help you, sir? I'm interested in restraints.
What kind? Leather? Chains? Cuffs? Well what you got in the way of cuffs? Latest police issue.
Simple.
Just like that.
Just go like that? Simple.
So are you.
You're nicked.
You got something on it.
Forensic are going to be looking at it tonight Jack.
The fourth man.
Chaplin and James reckon they saw this bloke take part in the robbery.
He's working late.
He should be here soon.
That's okay, my love, we only came in for a chat.
You see sometimes there are odd things that happen in the days leading up to a robbery.
If you want to wait.
Yes, why not? Well I tell you what Mrs.
Hockey my Sergeant here is gasping for a cup of tea.
Do you mind if he puts the kettle on? I can do most things, Inspector.
Making tea isn't a problem.
All right, thanks very much.
Would you like a biscuit? Oh, yes.
Chocolate one would be nice.
I'm sorry Mrs.
Hockey, I won't be able to stay for tea after all.
I've just remembered something rather important.
Sergeant, come with me.
Hockey was fishing.
Below Denton Weir.
I bet he was.
He knows these rivers like the back of his hand.
What time would it take to get from the Weir, to the area of the robbery? If he had a van hidden, fifteen minutes.
And he had a shotgun.
He was a river warden.
'Course, he would have seen all the films, wouldn't he? You know what he would have done? Sawn down the barrel.
You find where they dumped the van, that's where you'll find the shotgun.
I'd start with the river area if I were you.
Upstream and downstream.
Make a day of it.
Be very nice.
Day by the river.
Make some sandwiches.
Take the boys and girls with you.
They're all on the Marson gun.
Give Marson a rest.
Enjoying your meal? As good as ever, Said.
As ever.
Bit empty again in here tonight, isn't it, eh? Yes, very quiet.
Maybe when the pubs turn out, eh.
I hope so.
Steady away lads.
You okay, Steve? All right, Sarge, yeah.
Well done.
What do you want for tea? Anything.
So long as it's not fish.
'Course you do.
Only if it's from the fish shop and doesn't taste of mud.
He could have killed someone.
If you can't handle a gun.
Keep clear.
Oh, you can, can you? You can handle a gun? Course I bloody can.
I've done plenty of shooting in my time.
Target stuff.
But I don't own a gun, not one that can be used.
You had all those replicas checked yet? Why do you think Steve Marson told me that he took the gun from a storeroom in your shop? He's got to say something, hasn't he? Why that? He's been in my shop, I don't suppose he'd know a real pistol from a replica if you hit him over the head with it.
You spoke to Mrs.
Marson yesterday, didn't you? I heard about Steve.
I knew she was in trouble.
Look we went out together for a bit.
It's over but you don't turn your back on people when they're in the shit.
When I spoke to Mrs.
Marson, she told me that you'd threatened her.
I've got no reason to.
She told me to sod off.
I took the hint.
You can only put out a hand.
You're facing some very serious accusations, Mr.
Cavendish.
The penalties for dealing in illegal firearms are very severe.
Think about it.
Replicas.
Duds.
That's all you'll find.
Hey, hey, come here! We've got the van.
Your fingerprints will be on it.
Somewhere.
We've traced it to the car auctions at Stockport where you bought it.
We've got the shotgun.
We'll match it to the iron filings that we found in your workshop.
And your friends, have told us all what happened.
Honesty's a hard habit to break.
I promised my wife, I'd get her a dialysis machine at home, so she didn't have to keep going into hospital she hates it.
I never was going to have the money.
Like everything else I ever promised her.
I never quite delivered.
If he'd been a bit sloppier, they might have got away with it.
See it was too neat.
Hockey that was.
You know tidy mind, everything got to be just right.
He took them through their statements so many times, they all sounded the same.
What do you think they'll get? Oh, I don't know.
They'll go away for a while.
Not for long.
But for those three, if they've got anything left to believe in, a spell inside will finish it off.
Don't you just wish sometimes that you could just say, well, thanks for the confession lads, you know don't be naughty, just go away, don't do it again.
You know? Then everything would be all right.
No, we couldn't do that.
What would we do if we did? Do you know something? There's a smell about illness.
Not illness itself.
Just a smell.
When we went into Hockey's house it was there.
It was how my house smelt, you know, when and afterwards.
And it never went away.
And now I'm living in a room over an Indian restaurant, and it still hasn't gone away.
Morning, Inspector.
Morning.
You're looking very cheerful for a man who's lost one of his main witnesses.
Devenish was picked up last night.
Oh, right that's good work from someone.
He's got a sister just outside Preston.
I faxed a picture up to your mates in Lancashire.
Very predictable, squaddies.
I hope you haven't questioned him.
He's all yours.
Good.
Did you search his room.
Yes.
Carefully taped to the back of the locker.
Russian.
Pick them up on any street corner in Eastern Europe.
Men here have served in Berlin, with the UN in Bosnia.
Do you know, that's exactly the same sort of pistol that was pointing at me last week.
Thank you.
So, two Russian pistols, and a bullet from a Russian made automatic rifle in John Meredith.
We're a long way from Moscow.
I brought it back from Berlin.
Souvenir.
Didn't even have any ammo.
And you'd be surprised to know that an identical weapon, with ammunition was discovered in Denton, just three days ago.
They're not hard to get.
Harder than that.
The serial numbers are just less than a hundred digits apart.
So what? Not gay by any chance, are you Corporal? Do me a favor.
Captain Carlisle and I are still waiting for an explanation for your disappearing act.
Now if it's got nothing to do with John Meredith's death, then what was the pressing engagement? Corporal Devenish declines to answer.
John Meredith was killed by a bullet from a Russian made rifle.
Come on.
I was inside the perimeter fence.
I didn't even have a weapon on me.
Do you know a man called Gerry Cavendish? Lives in Denton.
No.
Well that's strange, because some of your mates tell me that you've been seen drinking with a man who answers his description.
Maybe, I'm not that fussy who I drink with.
Judging by the position, the killer was in when the shot was fired, he'd have to have considerable skill to have hit Meredith.
And you were all in camouflage.
Very difficult to identify anyone, even with a telescopic rifle.
You were quite near Meredith, weren't you? Yes.
Yes.
Because you were a referee, you had a white armband on.
Something to aim at.
You know what I've been thinking? I've been thinking that supposing he was trying to kill you? When he realized he'd shot the other bloke, he'd just give up wouldn't he? Either that or he'd leave it and try again another day.
I thought it was an accident, till I found out about the rifle.
I sold three rifles to Gerry Cavendish.
I got a few guns out of Berlin.
I sold them to him.
I needed money.
He gave me a couple of grand up front.
I didn't realize he was selling them on.
I wasn't into that.
Then he started getting heavy.
That bullet was meant for me.
So he just took it into his head to shoot you did he? He's a nutter.
Gun films, stupid gun magazines.
It's all he thinks about.
So in his head he's a crack shot.
In his head.
He said if I let him down he'd have me.
Wound me.
Just to make the point that he could do it.
I didn't believe him.
Have you any idea, where those guns are hidden? Right, I can go then.
Gerald Cavendish, I am arresting you for the murder of John Meredith.
You do not have to say anything, but it may harm your defense if you do not mention when being questioned something which you wish to rely on in court later.
Anything you do say may be given in evidence.
Bastards! Yeah, I know how you feel, can't get on with the new caution either.
Land of Hope and Glory! Well, you'd better get on with it, then Captain.
This whole thing it's Well, thank you Major Harvey, for your cooperation.
I'll be back and forth for a while.
Still a few things to clear up.
I look forward to the moment when you won't be coming back and forth, Inspector.
Very much.
You off, sir.
Not quite.
Something else has come up.
That'll make Major Harvey's day.
Oh, it has.
And mine.
Captain Carlisle can't bear the thought of our separation after such a rewarding relationship.
So we're going to be investigating allegations of blackmail against you, Sergeant.
And I don't think Morison was the only victim.
Carry on.
Well, it's not going to look good in the papers.
Bad news for the Major's promotion.
It's no skin off my nose how much Major Harvey's embarrassed.
I don't have any more time for prats like him than you, but I am soldier, and if there's a bad smell in the army, it's my job to clean it up.
You prove how clever you are on your own patch.
And this is mine.
And I'd rather do it without the newspapers, and not for the bloody Major's sake.
Well you're no different from him.
Protecting the army is all that matters.
Maybe there's nothing worth protecting in your life.
I'm not ashamed that there is in mine.
Just wait there.
All right.
What are you in for? Drunk in charge of a War Memorial.
Attention! Only thing I ever wanted to do.
Yes.
I'm sorry.
Don't be.
Poofs are expendable.
One less to worry about.
Like John Meredith.
He was only there to try and please his father, and his father probably thinks getting himself shot was the best thing he ever did.
It's just a pity It had to draw attention to Sergeant Donovan's little scam along the way.
Unreliable sod to the last.
I did care about him.
Anyway it's all over for me.
I'll be thrown out in a couple of weeks.
Dishonorable conduct.
That's what they call it.
You knew the rules.
Yeah.
I had a mate who knew them too.
He was the only man I ever really loved.
That make you laugh? No, I'm not laughing.
He was blown into fifteen pieces by a land mine, in the Gulf War.
I know it was fifteen, they picked them all up.
They didn't ask him if he slept with men at the time.
Gentlemen.
The Queen.
The Queen.
Even quieter tonight.
Sadly.
(Speaking in Punjabi) We rely very much on trade from pubs.
All right.
People are, well, a little raucous at times, all very jolly for the most part.
Unfortunately, the news that Inspector Frost is renting a room, has put off these customers.
End of the week? It is very understanding of you, Mr.
Frost.
(IN PUNJABI) Peace be with you.
Yeah.
(IN PUNJABI) Peace be with you.
See you.
Bye.
You've got to talk to each other.
(Speaking in Punjabi) (Speaking in Punjabi) Hello.
You slept well, Mr.
Frost? Yes, like a top.
Yeah, this room will do me.
Better than the Section House.
Policemen have some very nasty personal habits.
Thank you.
(IN PUNJABI) It's no different in India than it is in the European Community.
The new enemy of accountable democratic government is the quango.
A recipe for corruption if ever there was one.
(IN PUNJABI) He doesn't understand you.
Come on.
Giving you a hard time, Meredith? Nothing I can't handle.
Do you think your mate's really in the market for a dishonorable discharge? The army's a dangerous place for territorials who don't know their way around.
I'd watch what you do with that big mouth.
Here you are.
Look at the mess in here.
Bloody well stinks an all.
Back at dinner time.
Bring you a pizza.
Hello, Diana.
Can't you leave him alone? Well, you know what us coppers are like for giving young scallywags a talking to when they've been scrumping apples, or selling Jamboree bags of crack.
He doesn't do drugs.
Really? Open up.
Ah Steven, I thought you'd given up smoking.
Steven! George, downstairs under the window.
Drugs.
You will receive three exposures of three to five seconds at ten second intervals.
You will engage the targets with two rounds per exposure.
Any questions? Meredith! Face the front! This is a firing range, not a playground.
You're thinking again.
It takes years to train the regulars not to.
You TA's will just have to practice at home.
Prone position.
Down.
Ready.
Watch and shoot! Watch and shoot! Steven.
No one's gonna come near the flat.
And just think about what you're doing.
Steven.
This is George Toolan.
I need to speak to you.
At least let your mum go.
Once I'm on my own they can do what they like.
They can just come in here and shoot me.
Please Steven, It's all right.
They won't shoot you.
Once you put the gun down, you're safe.
What am I gonna do? Steven? Let the gun go.
No! Once you put the gun down, it's all over.
I said no! All right, Steven, all right.
Come on.
Let me have the gun.
Come on, it's all right.
You don't want it any more.
Come on, just give it to me.
It's gonna be all right.
Look at them.
They think it's a bloody game.
Here we go.
Two zero.
Two zero, receiving.
Pick up completed and we're on our way back.
Right, see you later then.
(Phone ringing) Leave it.
Hello? Oh shit.
Oh God! Hello.
Yeah, sorry, she Right.
I've made up my mind, we do it.
All right, Jack? Yeah, I'm all right.
Do you want me to put another officer on the Marson case? No, no, I'm fine.
I'm fine.
Well.
Well done.
I know Well done.
Steven.
We're talking about going inside.
Not months, years.
Illegal possession of a firearm, threatening a police officer.
Now, where did you get it? I told you.
I went up to Manchester for a football match a couple of weeks ago met a bloke in a pub, sold me the gun and half a dozen rounds.
Name of pub, unknown.
Name of man, unknown.
I was stoned, right.
And this often happens in pubs does it, eh? People just say, you look like you need a gun.
It's no big deal up there, it's urban warfare, isn't it? No one's going to stick a bottle in your face if they know you're tooled up.
You get respect.
Look Steven.
This actually happened.
Your mother, me and you too, could all be dead.
Now, where did you get it? What did she say? Shut it, or else! You don't have to worry about the "or else", do you? Look, if you sit back and take this crap then You can afford to be a bloody martyr.
I can't.
You stick my neck out, I'll take yours off.
Standard issue for infantry officers until 1989.
Now you can pick these up anywhere in Eastern Europe For a couple of packets of cigarettes.
Look, can we concentrate please everyone.
This is a nineteen year old kid who thinks he needs a weapon to flog a few drugs.
So all he has to do is go out and buy one.
It's as easy as that.
So there might be others.
Yes.
We'll find that out when we know where Marson got his.
If we don't bump into one of his mates down some alley.
Yes, I don't think we need to call in the SAS just yet, Brent, thank you.
You've just said how easy it is to get hold of these guns.
Kids like Marson they just All right.
If I walked in there with a gun one of us would have been carried out in a box.
Maybe Marson.
His risk, his risk Maybe me.
Maybe his mother.
Maybe some of the neighbors.
Maybe one of you.
Now wherever Marson got this gun it was a lot closer than Manchester.
I want to know everywhere he hangs out, and who he spends his time with.
Jack.
What? Armed robbery.
Security van.
Anyone hurt? One of the guards.
All right, come on.
Let's get on with it! Frost.
There's several ways back to Denton on the run, this cuts out the ring road.
Alright, and the run itself? Is it regular? Yeah, we do it most weeks.
And you didn't have time to call your base, I suppose? There was a shotgun blasting the window.
I don't get paid enough to be a hero.
Then he smashed the radio.
All right.
Give the rest of the details to this constable, here, will you please.
And thanks for your help.
What about the other one? Well, it's not as bad as it looks, Jack.
There was no need to hit him.
All right, okay, thank you.
But they gonna take him to hospital just the same, for an x-ray.
All right, that's fair enough.
You Territorials.
You Weekend Warriors.
You will advance to contact through the woods responding to any targets with blank fire.
And I'll be with you to see how you score.
During the exercise you will come under live, overhead and flanking fire from the Regulars.
That's live.
But only those over six meters in height need to worry.
Now what do you do? You remember the drill.
Two rounds rapid.
Down.
Take cover.
You will locate the enemy.
You will move forward.
You will make good use of the cover.
Don't just lie there like slugs.
Got it Richards? Corporal.
Good.
And don't eat the mushrooms.
Right.
Blank ammunition over there.
Live ammunition issued here.
Three mags each.
Move it! So what's Morison after? I owe him for a compass I lost.
He's pushing for the cash.
Pity there's no hand to hand.
Don't be so bloody stupid.
Come on! Get a bloody move on! Come on! You're bloody useless! 21 Alpha.
Cease fire.
Cease fire.
Stop! Stop! Apply safety catches.
Close in.
Come on close in.
You lot, double in.
Right, basically, good for enthusiasm but a bloody shambles.
You were too bloody slow.
And when the targets did appear half of you shot each other.
Aghh! Oh, very bloody funny.
Get up.
And you Meredith.
Bloody well get up.
Meredith, I'm in no mood for jokes.
Get up! Come on, you're in enough trouble as it is.
Medic! Swindon last month.
Lemington the month before and I think there was another one.
It's all there Jack, even down to the smack in the face for no good reason.
Oh, come on.
Look he's only got a nose bleed.
441, we're just passing the camp now.
Can respond.
Who's been shot? Go on, go on and follow him.
Got him? Yeah.
Told you keep pressing that dressing.
Where do you want him, Sir? Straight through to the right.
Soldier's been shot.
Too late for hospital.
Hang about.
Hang about.
We're not going anywhere.
Well, there's nothing we can do.
We don't know that yet, do we? Excuse me, sir.
Yeah, I'm Detective Inspector Frost, Denton CID.
Do you have an appointment? Do you usually inform people in advance when someone's going to get shot? All right, all right, all right.
There you are.
All right? I need to know who you want to see, sir.
Well after a death, I usually start with the victim.
Now where is he? I'll have to check with Look, I'm not going to sit here and argue with you.
A man's been shot and apparently he's dead.
Now I'm not giving you any password because I'm not playing soldiers.
Where's the body? Medical block's straight on, first left then right, sir.
Thank you.
Eleven blank rounds fired.
Nine blanks returned.
459 Kemp.
Okay.
Next! Lance Corporal Morison 867.
Cheers.
(Phone ringing) Donovan, Sir? Yes, Sir.
Mayor Harvey's ready for you, Corporal.
Rounds? Forty live rounds fired by the light support weapon, Sarge.
Twenty live rounds returned.
Hello? Hello? Hello, anybody there? Don't think they've declared war and forgot to tell us, do you? Ah, that looks like it.
Guv, we need the CO's permission to come on to army property.
Do we? The men firing the light support weapons were highly experienced, Sir.
No way would they fire live ammunition at the Territorials, Sir.
The Territorials had live ammunition on the range earlier? It's all accounted for, Sir.
A bullet accounted for this man Meredith, Corporal.
Either it came from alight support weapon, or it came from a Territorial buggering about with a live round.
I don't have an explanation, sir.
Find one! Wishful thinking, bringing him in here, wasn't it? Who are these people, Captain? I've no idea, sir.
Identify yourselves.
I'm Detective Inspector Frost.
Denton CID.
Now how did this happen.
Protocol obliges the police to contact the commanding officer before entering an army camp.
I am the Commanding Officer.
All right.
I know who you are and you know who I am.
There you are.
That's protocol out of the way.
The question was, how did this happen? Do you have trouble with English, Inspector? What? You have no jurisdiction here.
Look, this isn't some brawl in the NAAFI! No it's not, it's a sad and tragic accident, and it's no business of yours.
Isn't there enough real crime your failing to solve? A dead body with a bullet wound is my business until I'm told otherwise.
Now unless you're a coroner in your spare time, you just won't do! Get out of here.
Now! Before I have you thrown out! I don't think so.
You know where the gate is, Inspector.
Do you think Major Harvey's related to Mullett? Jumped-up long streak of It was an exercise, Jack.
A soldier was shot.
The Major's right, it's probably not our concern.
It's still a shooting.
And it's winding you up.
Yes, of course it is.
I had to face a kid with a pistol this morning.
The fact that nobody got killed has got more to do with my horoscope than it has to do with the way we're policing Denton.
Then we've had an armed robbery with sawn off shotguns.
And then some TA whose no older than Marson gets himself shot playing soldiers.
I mean guns are for killing, you chuck them about and someone's going to get shot.
I've had nothing but guns since I got up this morning.
That's not to mention a police station full of detectives who all wanna join the club and get themselves tooled up Iike, like Arnold, Arnold, what's his name.
You know how he died.
He was shot.
I'm afraid I'm not in a position to sign the death certificate.
Do you need a more senior medical officer? It's not a question of competence, sir.
There's going to have to be a post mortem.
That means getting one of the Denton pathologists involved.
We can keep the body in one of the meat freezers here.
His parents are already on their way up here.
What do you recommend? It was an accident, we're going to carve your son up anyway? I think the bullet is still in the body.
Obviously it will help with the investigation.
All right.
But I'm going to have to call the Provost Marshall's Office.
We're going to have to get one of those Special Investigation bods in.
The sooner we can get this report in, the sooner we can get this thing out of the way.
But I want it made absolutely clear, that this accident casts no aspersions on the actual running of the camp.
Do you know the parents? No, sir.
But apparently the father's a retired NCO.
Thank God for that.
Good he'll know the form.
The last thing we want is some hysterical family dragging the army through the courts.
You see, it's not just the money, it's a van off the road.
How long are you going to keep it? Leave it! Depends what we find, Mr.
Scully.
Well you won't find anything, they cleaned it out.
You'd be surprised what our forensic people could come up with.
Four robberies in two months, and now me.
How many more do they need? You think it's the same thieves.
Don't you people read the papers.
Dear, oh, dear.
I ought to bring my super down here.
He thinks I'm the only human being in the world who can survive in such chaos.
Well, that when he thinks of me as a human being at all I've got an insurance claim to fill in.
What about this van? You'll be very pleased to know that Mr.
James and Mr.
Chaplin are both all right I expect the shock of all this has pushed them from your mind.
Oh, well.
Yeah, good.
They weren't hurt, that's the main thing.
Yes.
Now the last contact was made about, what, an hour before the radio was put out of action.
Did you think about contacting them at all? Oh, it's my fault.
Great.
I'm just trying to get a clear picture.
It might help all of us.
It might even help you get on the right side of your insurance assessors.
It's a milk run.
You don't expect anything.
What, despite what you people read in the papers.
I think those fish have got the measure of you.
I got a couple of perch.
Exactly.
It was alright today? Fine.
He's worked for Denton Security for nearly fifteen years.
I don't think they've ever had a robbery.
Here, let me take the tray.
No, I couldn't let you do that.
Yes, yes of course you could, come on.
It's not often you get a policeman in your house, is it? You might as well get your money's worth.
Thank you.
All right.
Oh, I'm glad to see you've settled in, George.
Come on, do the honors with the tea, will you? Mr.
Frost, I hope you're going to Iet me do something in my own house! Actually I think it would be better I spoke to your husband on his own, Mrs.
James, if you don't mind.
Just in case I bashed myself over the head and stuffed the cash in my boots, Annie.
Did you hear that, George.
Search his boots, after you've poured the tea.
If you don't mind, thanks very much, we won't be long.
Okay.
All right, thank you.
What's this then? Who are these? Your Grandchildren, are they? Yeah.
Harry and Julie.
Well, I just want you to take me through your day.
Anything that you remember you know, your pick ups, anything that was even usual, unusual.
And then we'll talk about the robbery.
Okay? Sergeant Donovan, sir! I gather you've managed to shoot a territorial.
Very careless, Sergeant.
Major Harvey, Captain Carlisle, SIB.
Ah, Captain.
It's fast work.
Plus I'm rather busy at the moment.
Perhaps we could meet up in er Yes, I don't even know what I'm getting into here, Sir.
It's an accident, Captain.
A tragic and unfortunate one.
I'm sure you'll quickly ascertain the facts.
The sooner I get down to it the sooner I can finish.
Death calls for a fairly urgent response, sir.
Yes, I'm sure we can rearrange, carry on, say half an hour.
In the meantime, any facilities? Well a place to change in would be good.
The sooner I'm out of bloody uniform He's looking for a nice neat package.
No fault, no blame.
Everybody at the camp's very shaken, sir.
Especially a Major who's up for promotion.
I like to know who I'm dealing with.
Well, anything new on Marson? Well we're working through the people he could have been buying drugs from.
They're being as cooperative as you'd expect.
Friends? Doesn't seem to have any.
He's either in watching tele or out flogging drugs.
He's a nice ordinary lad then, is he? Kids are afraid of him.
The gun was new, but he has been seen with a knife.
I see.
Shouldn't we be armed? We're trying to find out where Marson bought his pistol.
It's not the 'Gunfight at the OK Coral'.
And when I said I was worried about guns getting into the hands of kids in Denton, that included the police canteen.
You said there's no exit wound? That's right.
Well, ballistics should be able to I.
D.
the gun.
If we can't provide Major Harvey with a no one to blame at all result, someone to clap a negligent discharge job on will do him very nicely.
Jack! Ah, there you are, sir.
You're familiar with these other armed robberies? Yes, I've already been chastised by Mr.
Scully.
He reckons I ought to read a newspaper now and again.
Regional Crime Squad has been sending out information for months.
Yeah I know.
If I read every piece of paper that landed on my desk I'd never be able to get out from behind it.
Do you know it's the rainforests that I worry about.
Quiet road, security van disabled in the same way, shotguns used to scare the guards, two men, and the descriptions tally.
Yeah, I know, I know Scully's very nervous.
He doesn't give a stuff what's happened to his two blokes.
Been waffling on about insurance, he's worried about something though.
What do reckon about Chaplin and James? Ordinary blokes.
I didn't mean that, meant about their statements.
Very clear.
Very similar.
They should be.
Look, Jack, I think I've got to get off.
Going to leave that, are you? I think I am, yeah, I'm late enough as it is.
I said I would be back by eight.
You ought to have a look round you know, at the kitchen.
See how they cook this, it's good.
Home, Guv.
I like to remind myself where it is.
All right, good night.
I read in the paper, the boy with the gun Yeah.
I wish I could say it wasn't all in a day's work.
It is.
Must be old age, you know.
I keep looking back to the days that I knew were bloody grim and keep thinking must be better than some of this.
That is the land of lost content, I see it shining plain, The happy highways where I went And cannot come again'.
A.
E.
Housman.
Oh, yeah, right.
It is a fight, Mr.
Frost.
Better call the police.
(IN PUNJABI TO WAITER) Call the police.
Someone will be hurt.
Yep.
You know the problem with that is, when you get two blokes knocking hell out of each other as soon as a policeman appears they suddenly realize what close mates they are, and they start knocking seven shades of sugar out of you.
My old sergeant used to say, don't get involved, he said, walk around the block a couple of times.
Those were days.
Ah, well.
Right.
Police, police! Come on! Come on mate, get him! Come on! Get him! Come on mate! You bastard, next time I see you Shut up! For you own sake, shut up.
Now, what's all this about? Well done, Constable.
You just beat me to it.
Inspector.
Never could run on a full stomach.
Well, am I gonna get an answer? My mate was killed today.
Shot by some scumbag squaddy who ain't got the balls to own up to it.
John said someone wanted to do him.
Well they bloody did! John was a moody bugger.
Bit of a loner.
Never said boo to a goose most of the time but if anyone got on the wrong side of him Iook, I don't know what happened John was scared about something.
Did he say that? We were having a drink, couple of days ago.
He said someone wanted to do him some damage.
That's a long way from shooting him, though, isn't it.
Yeah, I know.
Could be a wind up went wrong, I suppose.
Who would want to cover it up? Squaddies won't finger a mate.
Suits everyone if it's down to a territorial cock up.
Well, it weren't.
I mean the live ammo had to come from one of the light support positions.
It's that simple.
Inspector? Yes? He is under arrest.
Yes, I know that, Stan.
Look I can't keep you from the cell any longer.
I tell you what though, could you do me a favor? Could you draw me a map of where everyone was.
Just roughly.
At the time your mate went down.
It's not easy.
I know.
I won't hold you to it.
Sarge was expecting two prisoners half an hour ago.
I got one downstairs finishing off a vindaloo and this one up here doing sketch maps.
If I don't get All right, Stan.
Take him a samosa, it's never known to fail.
Do we get a discount? I don't know, ask Said.
Funny that spate of thefts from the Section House fridge stopped, just like that.
After you left.
Bit of a mystery.
It is, isn't it.
There you are that's one less crime to push up the crime statistics.
Go on, get going.
Did you say that Meredith had words with someone before he was shot? Yeah, Neil Morison.
One of the regulars who was in charge of one of the light support weapons.
He said it was about a compass he'd lost.
If you lose equipment you've got to make it up somehow Morison had some access to stores.
He nicked a bit of stuff.
I see.
Is that all? Yeah, but afterwards.
I didn't like the way Morison looked.
I mean he was upset, like we all were, but it was more than that, he looked bloody terrified.
You'd think they'd have something better to fight over than a dead mate.
Squaddies need as much reason to fight as Pit Bull Terriers.
I'm glad that the defense of our country is in such capable hands.
Any news? Special Investigation Branch officer's on board now.
Oh, yeah, who's that? A Captain Carlisle.
You know him? No, not yet.
Insurance come through on the house? You what? Sorry I wasn't on last night.
Indian take-away for the whole relief? That was nothing to do with me.
That was courtesy of the proprietor of the Indian Restaurant.
I think he's trying to boost his takeaway trade.
Oh, well, leave you to it.
See you later.
See ya.
Ah, Jack! Ah, there you are, sir.
I've had rather an odd complaint about you.
Ah well, he didn't take long, did he? Well the man's got his responsibilities, you know.
He's certainly got his little empire.
I'm astonished, Jack.
I don't know what the canteen manager's done to you, but I can't believe a senior officer would behave so childishly.
You what? They had to throw away most of last night's meals, because you flooded the place with Indian food.
That was nothing.
Now if this is some idea of joke, the canteen has to pay its way, Iike everything else, you know.
That was nothing to do with me sir.
That was Said.
He's the proprietor of the local Indian Restaurant.
Yes, well, it's just not good enough.
The canteen manager is very upset.
And he's convinced you did it.
All right, all right.
I'll apologize to him.
Good.
Jack? I pride myself on running a happy station.
Yes.
We all have our part to play.
All right? Yes.
(IN PUNJABI) Peace be with you.
How long are you keeping him for? Till he stops telling us a pack of lies.
I didn't know about it, The drugs, Iet alone the gun.
Come on, he's been done twice for the possession of marijuana.
Crack should be no surprise.
Anyway, it was damn lucky a police marksman didn't put a bullet in his back.
If you want to protect Steven, You remind him that the only way that a policeman will be pointing a gun at him is when he's pointing one at someone else.
His friends might not be so particular.
As soon as you find the bullet then.
Whatever we find, you'll see.
Where did you keep the body? In the meat freezer.
I'm afraid it's all we had available.
Is there something wrong? Only the temperature.
Fine for a side of beef, but a little cold for a cadaver.
We'll have to let him thaw out.
They still serving breakfast? Yep, should be.
Excellent.
I don't think Brent and Stevenson have done very well on their list of Marson's friends and where he went.
Why don't you get onto it, eh? You know the cafes, the pubs, video hire shops, anywhere he went.
Okay, what about the robbery.
Well, let me know what forensic has thrown up so far oh find out about this radio business, will you.
You know,the blind spot.
I'll see Chaplin and James again later.
I'm on my way to the army camp, but you don't know where I am.
Jack, Major Harvey will do his pieces.
And that means Mullett.
I know, I'm going to sell tickets.
(Bang, Bang, Bang,) (Laughing) I thought, I really thought I know.
Scully phoned me this morning.
He just wants to know how long we're going to be off work It's the insurance he's worried about.
Well, you said it'd have to be convincing.
It is.
Any more convincing and you'd have taken my bloody head off! Hey! Good afternoon.
Who are you? I'm Detective Inspector Frost, Denton CID.
Frost! Yes, that's right.
What the hell are you doing here? Well, I was hoping to do my job, but someone's made a right pig's ear of this marking out.
I don't know why they didn't do the job properly and drive a couple of tanks through it.
Major Harvey told me about you.
Ah, Special Investigation Branch, yeah? That's right.
Carlisle.
This is my pig's ear.
It's also my investigation.
I don't know how you got onto the camp, But if being thrown off once didn't make the point, I'll be happy to arrange for you to be thrown off again.
Yes, why not? You certainly know what you're doing.
Scene of the crime completely destroyed.
What crime is that exactly? I'm investigating an accident here.
You may have orders about what you're investigating.
Me, you see, I like to make up my own mind.
My investigation I said.
Not Major Harvey's.
And certainly not yours.
You know what I think? I think Major Harvey would like this all wrapped up in a nice neat little ribbon and dropped in the no further action required file.
I tell you something, great pity the body was moved.
Look, I don't have to get on anyone at this camp, and that includes Major Harvey.
But one thing we will see eye to eye on is that this is army business.
Very cozy.
Get out of my way and get off the camp.
By the time the Provost Marshall's office has been on to your Chief Superintendent, you'll be lucky if he let's you direct the traffic.
You know what? I'm not very good at directing traffic.
But I'm a bloody good detective.
Next time I'll expect an invitation.
Sloppy work.
He was here about John Meredith.
He was poking his nose in.
Something you'd like to say about Meredith? No.
Because, if you have anything to offer up, I'm sure Captain Carlisle would be fascinated to know what you and Meredith were up to.
Who are you? I'm Jack Frost.
No you're not.
Harry, what are you doing? I'm sorry, Mr.
Frost.
It's alright.
I wanted a quick word with your husband.
He should be back any time now, he just popped out for a bit.
He says he's Jack Frost.
Harry, I told you to sit up at the table with Julie.
Can I come in? Thank you.
Are you coming to tea too? Well only in a supervisory capacity.
Mr.
Frost's a policeman.
He's going to find the people who robbed granddad's van.
He doesn't look like a policeman.
Harry.
Well that's because I'm in disguise.
That's what killed Meredith.
It should have gone straight through him.
Stopped by the bone.
Well, that looks like a 7.
62 to me.
So? The SA80's take a standard 5.
56.
This bullet wasn't fired by any rifle on the exercise.
Thank you.
Good girl.
I did have a uniform once, but they said I didn't look like a policeman in that either.
So I thought, well, I'll become a detective then instead.
Tuck in everyone.
That sounds like him now.
Hello, Granddad.
Where have you been? I told Mr.
Frost you'd only be five minutes.
I just thought I'd get some air.
I'm sorry to trouble you.
It's just I wanted to clear up a couple of things.
No nearer finding them? No not really.
It's a bit like fishing though, isn't it.
Sooner or later you get a bite.
This is Barry Hockey.
He works with us at Denton Security.
Oh, the third Musketeer, eh? So you three are usually on the van together, eh? That's right, I should have been there too.
I'm using up some holiday.
Oh, I see.
Only I was just wondering if, you know anything else had occurred to you, because sometimes things come back to you, you know, when you've got over the shock.
Nothing in particular.
No, we've been trying to forget about it today.
Yeah, well of course that's understandable.
Aren't you stopping for a cup of tea? No, I've got to catch my bus.
Really, where you going, going into town? Walpole Estate.
That's all right, I go right past there.
I'll give you a lift.
Come on, sit down, have a cup of tea.
Great this.
Sorry to disturb you.
There is a dress code in the mess, Captain.
I wouldn't describe it as rigid, but even on an ordinary evening, well, I think you might just scrape by in the NAAFI.
I thought you might like to know that I've just been talking to the Coroner's Office.
Meredith's death will be regarded as suspicious.
No doubt the completion of your investigation will establish that it isn't.
I'm not sure that it will.
Gentlemen, dinner is served.
Have you seen that on page three? Traces of fish scales.
Hmm? Fish scales.
That's odd isn't it.
Check with forensic just in case they've got, you know, the cartridge mixed up with the cat's dinner.
Oh, goodnight, sir.
Goodnight, Guv.
Goodnight George.
Just chasing up a few loose ends on the armed robbery, sir I'm late as it is.
We can talk on the way out.
My officers do not enter a military establishment without first asking the CO.
Those are the rules.
You know that perfectly well.
From now on, you will keep out of Captain Carlisle's way.
I fully expect Major Harvey to make a complaint to the Chief Constable.
A man's been shot and killed.
He deserves far more attention than a couple of Military Policeman playing detectives.
Regional Crime Squad are screaming for the file on the armed robbery.
I want some movement on the Marson case.
The public knows there are guns in army camps.
It's the guns on the streets they want reassurance about.
I called the station, they said you'd be here.
You fancied a curry? Not exactly.
You'll be pleased to know that your Major Harvey's been in touch with my Superintendent.
But don't worry, traffic in Denton is safe, for the moment.
I'm not here because I want to be Inspector.
The bullet that killed Private Meredith.
7.
62.
Russian.
Which means, it wasn't fired by any of the regulars or the Territorials.
I can't even be sure it was fired from inside the camp.
There's one other 7.
62 bullet which we found lodged in a tree.
Close to where Meredith was shot.
So you think the shot was fired outside the camp? It's a possibility that's all.
Oh, come on.
If you thought it was fired inside the camp, you'd have turned the place inside out, to nail someone, before you come here with an olive branch.
Anyway, the second bullet tells it more definitely I'd say.
I don't think you're going to find an army camp an easy place to work, Inspector.
If you want to go your own way.
Just remember who the policeman is.
Anything you get comes to me, you don't go round me.
We pool what we get.
We could be talking about murder.
Which puts the jurisdiction right back where it belongs.
With me.
Said, two more onion bhajis, please.
On the Captain.
I'll be as brief as I can.
I don't know what it's got to do with the police.
It's an army matter.
There's some doubt about the death now.
It's unlikely that your son was killed as a result of an accident.
What do you mean? The preliminary post-mortem shows that the bullet that killed John could not have been fired by an army rifle.
The Major said it was an accident.
I know this is a very painful time for you, Mr.
Meredith, and for you Mrs.
Meredith.
But do you think that someone might have deliberately wanted to kill or injure your son? Of course not.
I mean did he talk of any trouble? Did anyone threaten him.
It's just something for you to think about really.
It would help me a lot if I could get an overall picture of John, you know, what he was like, what did he do with his time? Where did he go? Who were his friends? Obviously I know about the TA Nothing's going to bring him back to life.
I don't think you understand, Mr.
Meredith.
I understand that John died doing something worthwhile.
That's the part of his life that I want to remember.
He doesn't mean it.
He's never been strong, not with what matters.
He was a sergeant, it's a different kind of strength, all that shouting at people.
Will you talk to me about John? (Doorbell ringing) I've got nothing to say to you.
You've been missing me.
I can see it.
So, what's your lad up to at the nick? I don't know why it's so hard to say.
Not now.
Maybe if we'd said it if.
John was he was a homosexual it doesn't sound much, does it, not now he's, dead.
And do you think this may have something to do with his death? No, I'm just trying to explain why we why my husband can't I think I knew, years ago.
When he was little.
Somewhere inside.
I think he tried very hard, for us.
Not for himself.
There were girlfriends, one especially.
He hurt her a great deal.
Our fault.
When did he tell you? I suppose, three months ago.
He'd met this man, a soldier.
And he'd, fallen in love with him.
John joined the TA because of his Dad you see.
He was never going to go into the army, but he thought the TA would please Richard.
What about this man? John said this was it.
Now he was now he'd met someone he loved, he couldn't go on pretending anymore.
So he told Richard that he was gay, and he was going to tell everyone, family, friends.
And this coming out never happened? He was still adamant, but he fell out with this man.
I never met him, but I know that he came to the house once.
I was out.
I found John, crying.
Neil was his name.
Neil Morison, I think.
John said that he'd come round to get some letters back.
And they'd had a terrible row.
John said that he'd fallen.
But he hadn't.
He'd been hit in the face, hard.
Morison! Stand up! What is this? Shut up! Open your locker.
Do it.
Now! I bet you were teacher's pet on the nature table.
We might as well hand the case over in a decent state.
Yeah.
What happened about the fish scales? Fish scales? The fish scales that were on the door handle and the cartridge of the shotgun.
Asked you about them last night.
Oh, yeah.
What do you mean, oh yeah? Regional Crime Squad would have pulled in every fishmonger within a hundred miles by now.
All right, get onto forensic.
I want to know what sort of fish they were.
Also get out the Ordnance Survey maps and mark up every fishable river within twenty miles radius of the hold up.
Also I want background on Chaplin, James and their mate Hockey.
See if they were close to anyone else in the firm.
Oh, and give Scully a hard time.
He's holding something back.
I know he is.
I'm going to be in the Army Camp.
By invitation.
The letters.
Hot stuff.
I said wait.
For what? He was a witness.
Now he's a very hostile witness.
Not helpful at all.
Left, Right, Left, Right, Left, Right, Left.
Mark, Time! Halt! Right Turn! You know I didn't shoot anybody.
I hope not.
You're out of the Army.
And it can be easy, or hard.
You try and pull me down and I'll make sure you get a spell in Colchester before you go.
You'll be lucky to get out with your balls still on! So how often, Mr.
Scully, would your blokes be carrying twenty five grand on this run? I don't know, it's half that normally.
Well informed thieves, eh.
I know.
That's why they're running rings around you.
Chaplin, James and Hockey.
They always work together? Oh, I see.
They did it now.
My Inspector always looks for an inside job first.
Now personally, I think he's barking up the wrong tree, but he doesn't often get it wrong.
And I suppose it would help if he felt you were telling him the truth, Mr Scully.
Me? Cause see, he thought you were behaving a bit oddly.
Now, I don't know, I wasn't here.
I'd just had a van held up! Look, I'm selling Denton Security.
Not exactly the deal of the century, but with the property, I don't need to nick twenty five grand from my own van.
I'm still fixing the price Wheels within wheels.
They don't want the workforce.
And my accountant's found a way round redundancy payments.
No one knows here.
So you can see why I want to keep a lid on it.
Any luck.
Not yet.
What's the police doing? Don't know, but they're not doing it here.
They want to look at more photos.
They have no reason to suspect you.
We've all been honest citizens all our lives.
That's a lot of credit.
They won't even think about us.
All we've got to do, is sit tight, and wait.
The only real skill is patience.
You're going to stay here all day? Somewhere important to go? They're searching outside the camp, what's that about? That's where the shot was fired.
They're saying it wasn't an accident? Sod off, will you? You were involved in a homosexual relationship with Meredith? No, sir.
We've read the bloody letters.
There was no physical relationship, sir.
And there are fairies at the bottom of my garden.
Morison the question is not whether you can save your career.
But whether you're up for bloody murder.
Excuse me.
Captain.
Interview suspended thirteen thirty nine hours.
Inspector Frost and Captain Carlisle leaving the room.
This is my investigation, my interview.
I don't do hard man, soft man.
I don't play games.
You know, your turn, my turn.
It's going to do him no harm to know where he stands as far as the army's concerned.
Telling a bloke he's out whatever happens is no recipe for cooperation.
No point pretending he's up for bloody promotion.
Looking for poofs went out of my job years ago.
I'm only interested in finding out about Meredith.
Now the shot came from outside the camp.
And we know that Morison didn't fire the gun, all right? Who's in charge here? Police or SIB? I'm in charge of this investigation.
Then I'm talking to you.
They look after their own.
All right, Morison, Ask Sergeant Donovan about John yeah, he wanted to come out, about me paying Donovan to keep quiet.
I'm not the only gay doing it either.
I've paid her three grand in two years.
It is part of your job to look for signs of homosexuality? Investigation of dishonorable conduct is down to SIB, sir.
That's right.
Come on, we're not talking about dishonorable conduct, the bloke was being very discreet.
'Dishonorable conduct' is the general term in Queen's Regs, that a homosexual would be discharged under.
Oh, I see.
So you don't have to dance across the parade ground in a tutu with a carnation stuck between your teeth.
Queen's Regulations is about right.
I don't make Military Law.
No.
So, you would report any suspicions you had? Yes.
What about Meredith? Did you notice anything about him? I hardly knew him.
He was a Territorial.
Morison says you threatened him.
Lance Corporal Morison is flinging crazy allegations around.
Yes, I know the feeling.
We get it all the time.
Usually it's about beating people up in cells.
Those were the days.
I object to being treated as a suspect.
No one's accusing you, Sergeant Donovan.
Someone has to ask the questions.
Thank you very much, Sergeant Donovan.
Morison's out to do someone.
Yes, he said you'd say that.
Look, considering you've got carte blanche to search anywhere the mood takes you, why don't you go and take a look at Sergeant Donovan's stuff.
We know exactly where she was when Meredith was shot.
This is a waste of time.
I think it could be very embarrassing for Major Harvey if I have to go and get a search warrant.
Also I want to interview all the soldiers who were on that exercise.
Regulars as well as Territorials.
I've got all their statements already.
Yes I know, but other people never seem to ask the right sort of questions.
All right? You round them up, I'll do the detecting.
I want Morison put on a charge as soon as possible.
What the hell is going on? Sir, the investigation Is turning into a shambles Captain.
If SIB were doing their job properly, non of these perverts would even be in the army.
Hardly a priority, is it? I decide on the priorities in my own camp, Inspector.
It doesn't include letting you loose on one of Sergeant Donovan's men.
This is a murder inquiry.
Not a list of people who to be nice to.
We now know Meredith was shot by someone outside the perimeter fence.
We know he was a poof.
I suggest why don't you go and look in one of Denton's public conveniences.
It's probably the work you're used to.
I've had Territorials and soldiers hanging about all morning.
And I assume they are going to be interviewed before the day is out? Just about to start, Major.
Sorry about the disruption.
Still, good job there's not a war on.
Regarding police interviews, sir.
On our way, you can give us a bloody lift.
We have one soldier missing, sir.
Missing? AWOL.
Corporal Devenish.
In charge of the exercise.
Yes I know.
So, all present and correct.
James and Chaplin have both been with Denton Security for over fifteen years.
Hockey's been there for six, he's been a River Warden, Book Keeper, Filing Clerk, that sort of thing.
Been made redundant twice.
What about the fish scales? Perch.
Really.
Thought they might have been a Mullett.
Hockey's about to be made redundant yet again.
Those three are gonna find it very difficult to get a new job at their age.
What's the financial situation? Well James has got a house that's worth ten thousand less than he paid for it.
He's had mortgage problems for years.
Really? What about Hockey? There are no obvious signs of financial difficulties.
His wife's very ill though.
Semi-invalid.
Really? Ah, what about Marson? Nothing from him, sir.
You talked to him? No, he's too frightened.
All right.
Magistrate's tomorrow.
We're not going to have any trouble opposing bail, sir? No, We're going to let him go anyway.
Now we're taking you before the Magistrate this morning.
I'm sure your solicitor Yeah, yeah, I know the form, I'll be remanded.
No you won't, you'll be let out on bail, on account of your cooperation.
What does that mean? Well it means that I'm going to let it be known that I'm no longer looking for anyone that might have sold you a gun because you have already told me who it is.
I haven't told you anything.
I know.
It's a lie.
But this bloke, whoever he is, that you'd rather go inside for, rather than grass up, he doesn't know that.
You can't do that.
Mr.
Frost, he'll bloody kill me.
He's a maniac, he'll kill me.
Alpha Bravo 24 from Control, receiving, over? Frost, receiving, over.
The ARV is on site.
I don't need them.
Where are they anyway, over.
Vehicle is a gray, Vauxhall Cavalier, index G466 MWU over.
Yes, I have them, Frost, out.
All right, Andy, put those things away, will you.
Just leave this to me.
Sir.
Give me that cap you've got in the back.
Sir.
Just keep your eye on me, all right? Can I help you, sir? I'm interested in restraints.
What kind? Leather? Chains? Cuffs? Well what you got in the way of cuffs? Latest police issue.
Simple.
Just like that.
Just go like that? Simple.
So are you.
You're nicked.
You got something on it.
Forensic are going to be looking at it tonight Jack.
The fourth man.
Chaplin and James reckon they saw this bloke take part in the robbery.
He's working late.
He should be here soon.
That's okay, my love, we only came in for a chat.
You see sometimes there are odd things that happen in the days leading up to a robbery.
If you want to wait.
Yes, why not? Well I tell you what Mrs.
Hockey my Sergeant here is gasping for a cup of tea.
Do you mind if he puts the kettle on? I can do most things, Inspector.
Making tea isn't a problem.
All right, thanks very much.
Would you like a biscuit? Oh, yes.
Chocolate one would be nice.
I'm sorry Mrs.
Hockey, I won't be able to stay for tea after all.
I've just remembered something rather important.
Sergeant, come with me.
Hockey was fishing.
Below Denton Weir.
I bet he was.
He knows these rivers like the back of his hand.
What time would it take to get from the Weir, to the area of the robbery? If he had a van hidden, fifteen minutes.
And he had a shotgun.
He was a river warden.
'Course, he would have seen all the films, wouldn't he? You know what he would have done? Sawn down the barrel.
You find where they dumped the van, that's where you'll find the shotgun.
I'd start with the river area if I were you.
Upstream and downstream.
Make a day of it.
Be very nice.
Day by the river.
Make some sandwiches.
Take the boys and girls with you.
They're all on the Marson gun.
Give Marson a rest.
Enjoying your meal? As good as ever, Said.
As ever.
Bit empty again in here tonight, isn't it, eh? Yes, very quiet.
Maybe when the pubs turn out, eh.
I hope so.
Steady away lads.
You okay, Steve? All right, Sarge, yeah.
Well done.
What do you want for tea? Anything.
So long as it's not fish.
'Course you do.
Only if it's from the fish shop and doesn't taste of mud.
He could have killed someone.
If you can't handle a gun.
Keep clear.
Oh, you can, can you? You can handle a gun? Course I bloody can.
I've done plenty of shooting in my time.
Target stuff.
But I don't own a gun, not one that can be used.
You had all those replicas checked yet? Why do you think Steve Marson told me that he took the gun from a storeroom in your shop? He's got to say something, hasn't he? Why that? He's been in my shop, I don't suppose he'd know a real pistol from a replica if you hit him over the head with it.
You spoke to Mrs.
Marson yesterday, didn't you? I heard about Steve.
I knew she was in trouble.
Look we went out together for a bit.
It's over but you don't turn your back on people when they're in the shit.
When I spoke to Mrs.
Marson, she told me that you'd threatened her.
I've got no reason to.
She told me to sod off.
I took the hint.
You can only put out a hand.
You're facing some very serious accusations, Mr.
Cavendish.
The penalties for dealing in illegal firearms are very severe.
Think about it.
Replicas.
Duds.
That's all you'll find.
Hey, hey, come here! We've got the van.
Your fingerprints will be on it.
Somewhere.
We've traced it to the car auctions at Stockport where you bought it.
We've got the shotgun.
We'll match it to the iron filings that we found in your workshop.
And your friends, have told us all what happened.
Honesty's a hard habit to break.
I promised my wife, I'd get her a dialysis machine at home, so she didn't have to keep going into hospital she hates it.
I never was going to have the money.
Like everything else I ever promised her.
I never quite delivered.
If he'd been a bit sloppier, they might have got away with it.
See it was too neat.
Hockey that was.
You know tidy mind, everything got to be just right.
He took them through their statements so many times, they all sounded the same.
What do you think they'll get? Oh, I don't know.
They'll go away for a while.
Not for long.
But for those three, if they've got anything left to believe in, a spell inside will finish it off.
Don't you just wish sometimes that you could just say, well, thanks for the confession lads, you know don't be naughty, just go away, don't do it again.
You know? Then everything would be all right.
No, we couldn't do that.
What would we do if we did? Do you know something? There's a smell about illness.
Not illness itself.
Just a smell.
When we went into Hockey's house it was there.
It was how my house smelt, you know, when and afterwards.
And it never went away.
And now I'm living in a room over an Indian restaurant, and it still hasn't gone away.
Morning, Inspector.
Morning.
You're looking very cheerful for a man who's lost one of his main witnesses.
Devenish was picked up last night.
Oh, right that's good work from someone.
He's got a sister just outside Preston.
I faxed a picture up to your mates in Lancashire.
Very predictable, squaddies.
I hope you haven't questioned him.
He's all yours.
Good.
Did you search his room.
Yes.
Carefully taped to the back of the locker.
Russian.
Pick them up on any street corner in Eastern Europe.
Men here have served in Berlin, with the UN in Bosnia.
Do you know, that's exactly the same sort of pistol that was pointing at me last week.
Thank you.
So, two Russian pistols, and a bullet from a Russian made automatic rifle in John Meredith.
We're a long way from Moscow.
I brought it back from Berlin.
Souvenir.
Didn't even have any ammo.
And you'd be surprised to know that an identical weapon, with ammunition was discovered in Denton, just three days ago.
They're not hard to get.
Harder than that.
The serial numbers are just less than a hundred digits apart.
So what? Not gay by any chance, are you Corporal? Do me a favor.
Captain Carlisle and I are still waiting for an explanation for your disappearing act.
Now if it's got nothing to do with John Meredith's death, then what was the pressing engagement? Corporal Devenish declines to answer.
John Meredith was killed by a bullet from a Russian made rifle.
Come on.
I was inside the perimeter fence.
I didn't even have a weapon on me.
Do you know a man called Gerry Cavendish? Lives in Denton.
No.
Well that's strange, because some of your mates tell me that you've been seen drinking with a man who answers his description.
Maybe, I'm not that fussy who I drink with.
Judging by the position, the killer was in when the shot was fired, he'd have to have considerable skill to have hit Meredith.
And you were all in camouflage.
Very difficult to identify anyone, even with a telescopic rifle.
You were quite near Meredith, weren't you? Yes.
Yes.
Because you were a referee, you had a white armband on.
Something to aim at.
You know what I've been thinking? I've been thinking that supposing he was trying to kill you? When he realized he'd shot the other bloke, he'd just give up wouldn't he? Either that or he'd leave it and try again another day.
I thought it was an accident, till I found out about the rifle.
I sold three rifles to Gerry Cavendish.
I got a few guns out of Berlin.
I sold them to him.
I needed money.
He gave me a couple of grand up front.
I didn't realize he was selling them on.
I wasn't into that.
Then he started getting heavy.
That bullet was meant for me.
So he just took it into his head to shoot you did he? He's a nutter.
Gun films, stupid gun magazines.
It's all he thinks about.
So in his head he's a crack shot.
In his head.
He said if I let him down he'd have me.
Wound me.
Just to make the point that he could do it.
I didn't believe him.
Have you any idea, where those guns are hidden? Right, I can go then.
Gerald Cavendish, I am arresting you for the murder of John Meredith.
You do not have to say anything, but it may harm your defense if you do not mention when being questioned something which you wish to rely on in court later.
Anything you do say may be given in evidence.
Bastards! Yeah, I know how you feel, can't get on with the new caution either.
Land of Hope and Glory! Well, you'd better get on with it, then Captain.
This whole thing it's Well, thank you Major Harvey, for your cooperation.
I'll be back and forth for a while.
Still a few things to clear up.
I look forward to the moment when you won't be coming back and forth, Inspector.
Very much.
You off, sir.
Not quite.
Something else has come up.
That'll make Major Harvey's day.
Oh, it has.
And mine.
Captain Carlisle can't bear the thought of our separation after such a rewarding relationship.
So we're going to be investigating allegations of blackmail against you, Sergeant.
And I don't think Morison was the only victim.
Carry on.
Well, it's not going to look good in the papers.
Bad news for the Major's promotion.
It's no skin off my nose how much Major Harvey's embarrassed.
I don't have any more time for prats like him than you, but I am soldier, and if there's a bad smell in the army, it's my job to clean it up.
You prove how clever you are on your own patch.
And this is mine.
And I'd rather do it without the newspapers, and not for the bloody Major's sake.
Well you're no different from him.
Protecting the army is all that matters.
Maybe there's nothing worth protecting in your life.
I'm not ashamed that there is in mine.
Just wait there.
All right.
What are you in for? Drunk in charge of a War Memorial.
Attention! Only thing I ever wanted to do.
Yes.
I'm sorry.
Don't be.
Poofs are expendable.
One less to worry about.
Like John Meredith.
He was only there to try and please his father, and his father probably thinks getting himself shot was the best thing he ever did.
It's just a pity It had to draw attention to Sergeant Donovan's little scam along the way.
Unreliable sod to the last.
I did care about him.
Anyway it's all over for me.
I'll be thrown out in a couple of weeks.
Dishonorable conduct.
That's what they call it.
You knew the rules.
Yeah.
I had a mate who knew them too.
He was the only man I ever really loved.
That make you laugh? No, I'm not laughing.
He was blown into fifteen pieces by a land mine, in the Gulf War.
I know it was fifteen, they picked them all up.
They didn't ask him if he slept with men at the time.
Gentlemen.
The Queen.
The Queen.
Even quieter tonight.
Sadly.
(Speaking in Punjabi) We rely very much on trade from pubs.
All right.
People are, well, a little raucous at times, all very jolly for the most part.
Unfortunately, the news that Inspector Frost is renting a room, has put off these customers.
End of the week? It is very understanding of you, Mr.
Frost.
(IN PUNJABI) Peace be with you.
Yeah.
(IN PUNJABI) Peace be with you.