A Touch of Frost (1992) s04e03 Episode Script

Can you hear me.
Can you hear me! Yes, we can hear you.
Standby.
Okay.
Go! Come on! Move! Come on! Go.
Go.
Go.
You the witness? Yeah.
I was going to install one of those security grilles.
I don't think I'll bother.
All right, which are your premises? The newsagent.
I don't think this lot are going to ram raid you for yesterday's newspapers and a packet of sweets.
I don't think that's funny.
Well, it's the best I can do at eight O' clock in the morning.
All right, tell me what happened.
Oh, Carol, this is covered in pigs.
Oh, You are a great detective, Frank.
Who gave me that? Your brother.
Good luck party.
Little sod.
I'm gonna be late.
Oh, it's only the second time.
It's only my second day.
What are you doing? Soap.
Oi.
Cheer up.
It's gonna be fine.
Okay, you should really be able to lift it higher by now.
You see what's happening? You must straighten this part of your back, that's it keep your chin down.
There.
Now, feel the line of your energy, pelvis, up to your heart, to the head, there.
Think how elegantly you can stand.
If only.
And be relaxed.
I must look really foolish.
You look wonderful.
Sorry, Guv.
Get your beauty sleep, did you? You need to ask? This is DCI Peters.
All right? He's from London.
Ah.
I haven't trained him yet.
There's been another drive -in.
'Zoot Suit' men's fashion shop on the parade.
Oh, yeah, I know it.
They do some nice gear.
Would you excuse me, sir, while I take him away and attach some electrodes to his head.
I'll be in 210, if you need me.
Thank you.
What's wrong? Why does Mullett hate me so much? What? What? Hello, Vicky? Who is it? It's Boris.
I wanted to catch you before you left.
I'm instituting a patient information group.
Later, O.
K? Just an informal.
Next time please knock.
Oh, Vicky.
Mr.
Newman called.
He said could you meet him a few minutes earlier.
Thanks, Helen, that's fine.
But he said not to ring him.
Vicky, I would like us to talk.
Sure Boris, first thing tomorrow.
See you after lunch, Gwen.
See you later.
Mr.
Meyerbridge? Mr.
Meyerbridge? Hello? I am sorry.
What is it, Gwen? There was someone in the church.
I thought you were just coming in but you weren't.
Well, see if you can find our visitor.
Yes, sure.
Can I move this stuff, Guv? That was Sergeant Pearson's.
He had a two-tier system, unsolved and unsolvable.
Neil White? Never heard of him.
Kim Sug? Kim Suh.
He's a chef.
Some old dear wanted us to charge him for peeing in her garden.
Look, why don't you just put that lot over there on the filing cabinet and let WPC Brent sort it out, then you'll have a nice clean desk.
Ah, Johnny, have you met Detective Sergeant Nash? He's from London.
We met yesterday.
Oh, you certainly made an impression on Johnson.
he doesn't normally get that excited.
I went to London once, had to go and meet the Queen.
She's a lot smaller than I thought she'd be, but then again, size isn't everything, as we both know.
(Phone ring) Frost.
Where? One hundred percent dead.
Not the best way to start your first week, is it? Good morning, sir.
Were you the first one here? With PC Lambert.
The emergency call was made from the telephone box over there.
What call? A woman called emergency services at 12:27.
Said she'd just seen a man assaulting a woman.
'Assault' is not the word I would have chosen.
Then she hung up.
No name or anything.
I reckon she was probably scared.
Yes, she probably was, Simms.
Why don't you go and get those kids out of that phone box? That's right.
You work out when the engine was switched off I'll see if she left a suicide note.
Do we know who she was? I'm running a check on the vehicle, Sir.
What about this? Haven't touched it, Sir.
She was a pretty woman.
Yes.
With a sweet tooth, by the looks of it.
Sir, the car is registered to Victoria Imelda Philips, 16 B, Crayford Road.
What did you say her name was again? Victoria Imelda Philips.
Yes, looks about it.
Has the duty officer been informed? Yes, sir.
Who is it, George Toolan? Well, get the scientific boys down here.
And get a few more coppers to keep back the sightseers.
Yes, sir.
Where does that lead to? Well, I don't know.
Why don't you go and have a look? Right.
Guv.
Right, Guv.
But not now, eh? Get her keys, they're in the car.
It's a question of resources.
I have already authorized an increase in manpower for the Parade, King Street and Hadley Gardens.
But, however alarming these ram-raids may be, we must bear in mind that Denton is not being targeted specifically.
That's what you told us after the first two incidents.
This is the work of a highly organized gang working throughout the country, it is unlikely that they will strike here again.
Someone's going to get hurt, I can tell you that.
Ram-raiding is a crime one normally associates with the more deprived areas of the country.
In Denton, I believe we should regard this new phenomenon as a symptom of our general moral lassitude.
Yeah, yes, yeah.
Ladies and Gentlemen.
Let's not be too preoccupied with this issue.
I can confirm that a team under DCI Peters is working exclusively on this case.
Now, the vehicle used in last night's robbery has already been recovered, so I hope to have some heartening news for you next time we meet.
Was he one of her patients? I hadn't spoken to him before.
Here we are.
Mr.
Newman.
Mr.
Ivanovich?? I'm Detective Inspector Frost.
This is Detective Sergeant Nash.
You don't look like the police.
Well, when you get to CID, they let you wear your own clothes.
Well, none of the practitioners are under contract with the center.
It is, you know, a facility they use.
Vicky ran her own affairs.
But there was a reception book, with appointments? For the patients.
It's confidential, but yes of course you must see it.
Did you leave the building at all this morning? I was here all morning.
I had three patients.
Ah, okay, fine.
I knew that something was wrong.
I see these things coming.
I wanted to discuss it with Vicky but she was anxious to get away.
What, to meet Mr Newman.
I have no idea.
Yeah, come.
Oh, is that for me? Tea, what you asked for.
Camomile.
Oh, right, yes, thank you.
Just how I like it.
So, you said you knew something was wrong.
Yeah, but I didn't know what.
She was imbalanced.
I just could feel it.
What, mentally? No, no.
Against her line.
You know? No.
At our healing center, we do not treat the symptoms of any illness.
We investigate the whole being, it is, you know, holistic approach.
I consider it is not possible to treat someone unless you are feeling well in yourself.
With Vicky it was lost.
Really? I can tell you are skeptical.
No, it's just that I find it difficult to accept health advice from a chain smoker.
Yeah, I am sorry to smoke.
I haven't had a cigarette for years.
A filthy habit.
I am sorry, I'm very sorry.
What was your relationship with Vicky? There was no relationship.
You can ask anyone who works here.
No, I'm sorry, I didn't mean that.
What I meant was, was she a friend, or did she just work here? I would like Vicky to have considered me her friend.
Did she discuss her problems with you? If she had done that, she might still be alive.
All right.
Thank you.
That's a lovely girl, that, Helen, Guv.
Oh, yeah, so when are you booking in? They do this free assessment, to find out exactly what your body needs.
In your case, it's the receptionist, I should think.
Ah, what's your good news, Simms? Not a thing, Guv.
Have you spoken to all the locals? No-one saw anything before we turned up.
What, an old sports car? Aren't there any spotty ten-year-olds Iiving round here? They'd have been at school, wouldn't they, Sir? Yeah, alright, clever dick.
Here, Simms? Yes, sir.
Find a bin for that, will you? Yes, sir.
Right, is it working now? Good, thanks.
You got any change on you? It's all right, don't look so worried.
Look, what I want you to do is when you've given those to forensic, take a photograph of Vicky to all the local shopkeepers.
See if you can find out what she was doing here.
Also, see if anyone's heard of our Mr.
Newman.
PC Lambert's been along there already.
Yeah, I know and he didn't find anything, did he? One of the golden rules of detection is, if you don't find something, keep looking.
Good afternoon.
Can I help you? Detective Sergeant Nash, Denton CID.
This is the murder.
Do you recognize this girl? Take a closer look, it's not a great photo.
All right, Guv.
Well, there's a man with a long face.
Nobody recognize here? No.
Well, you'll be sorry to hear that we haven't found the knife.
We found a bit of an air rifle and a rusty old radiator, which I'm having fitted in our office.
Go on, go and get a cup of tea.
Cheer up.
Get me a cup too, two sugars.
I've got an address for her parents.
Manchester.
Oh, well.
Let some other plod break the bad news, eh.
And a message from Mr.
Mullett.
Oh, lovely, he's left me something in his will, has he? He wants to see you as soon as you get in.
Right, I'll let you know when that is.
This is a nasty one, Jack.
Yes, I know, terrible.
Any ideas? No.
Nice, young girl, in bed by ten, was supposed to be meeting a man at twelve-thirty, apart from that I've got no idea.
I'm gonna go down a take a look at her in a minute.
Well you do pick them, Jack.
Yeah, I know, I wish I didn't.
All right, come on, listen up, Iet's have your attention, please.
Right.
Vicky Imelda Philips is our VIP.
No form, no friends, nice, quiet, young woman according to her landlord, a certain Mr.
Bannister.
And no jokes, please, about leaning on the witness.
Vicky was a self-employed physiotherapist.
Thank you.
Have a discreet word with Detective Sergeant Nash here, if you don't know what one of those is.
A ball breaker.
Yes, all right, thank you very much, I'm glad you mentioned that because Mr.
Toolan here has got some information which might shed a bit of light on that, George.
Well, Miss Philips saw a number of her patients at the Lotus Healing Center on Cotham Road.
The only thing we have on the establishment are two complaints from last year, alleging that some of the therapists were using it as a knocking shop.
Now, both complaints came from the same patient, a man who thought he was being over-charged.
All right, all right, come on, pack it in.
I can't imagine there's anything in it, but as you take statements from her patients, find out which part of their body she was working on.
All right, come on, let's get going, come on! Jack.
Good afternoon, Sir.
I was wondering whether or not you'd found somewhere to live? No not yet, Sir.
I haven't had time to look for anything.
But you must.
Make time.
Why, has someone been complaining? No, no, no not at all.
I'm sure that everyone at the Section House will be sorry to see you go.
Very friendly bunch, Sir.
Are they? Oh, yeah.
Ah, good, good.
Who needs a mortgage? Yes.
Well, that was all, really, Jack.
Good luck.
Thank you, Sir.
Eighteen wounds in her neck, shoulders, and upper back.
The knife had a single sharpened edge, very sharp, approximately six inches in length.
One inch wide.
Two principal veins were punctured and both lungs.
The attacker was right handed.
Well, that eliminates a lot of people, doesn't it? He's not squeamish, this one, is he? I'm from London.
Cause of death was most likely heart failure.
There's no indication that she reached out, tried to stand up or defend herself in any way.
No lacerations on her hands.
Fingernails perfect.
There is something here which might be of interest.
What is it? Oh, he's so young, isn't he? It's a diaphragm.
A contraceptive device.
Oh, right.
Yeah, of course, it's all condoms nowadays.
I can see what it is now.
Is there anything else in there we should know about? Spermicidal jelly.
Excuse me, Alan, although there's no sign of intercourse having taken place recently.
Excuse me, sir.
I see right, okay, well thank you.
The killer would get very bloody, wouldn't they? Standing above? Well, it depends.
Well, she wouldn't exactly gush, it wasn't an artery.
All right, come on then, what's your bright idea? A six-inch blade? And that's big.
You'd have to bring it down from up here to get it in so deep.
You would see the knife.
Broad daylight.
The telephone caller said she saw a woman being 'assaulted'.
If you witness someone being stabbed in the neck, you don't say 'assaulted', I don't think.
You said so yourself.
Conclusion? Either the caller saw something that happened before the stabbing.
something completely unrelated.
Doubtful.
Right.
Or she saw Vicky being struck before the knife came out.
There's no evidence of any former blows.
Of course the caller saw more, that's why she didn't stay on the line.
I also know that because she hasn't come forward.
We ain't going to find her.
Well, with respect, Sir, I don't see how you can know that.
Experience.
Hello, Bill.
Hello, Jack.
Has something come back for me on this Philips murder? From emergency services.
It's the call from the car park.
All right, yeah.
Mr.
Nash, your wife called, twice.
Nothing urgent, I believe.
Also something from forensic.
No, nothing yet.
No? Could be in that big brown envelope, marked urgent, for the attention of DI Frost.
That's it.
Bit young to be married, aren't you? How old were you? I asked first.
Twenty-four.
Same as me.
All right, let's drop it then.
assaulted, it's a car park, but I don't know.
We know your location, love.
What is your name? Not all the kids would have been at school that morning.
See who was bunking off.
Hello, Police, how can I help? She's being/been assaulted.
It's a car park, but I don't know.
We know your location, love.
What is your name? Let forensic pick the bones out of that, will you? Good grief, look what they managed to get out of Vicky's organizer.
Addresses, client and personal.
personal finance.
Scheduler.
Carole, hi.
I don't know, hang on.
My wife wants to know if I'm coming home, Guv.
(Phone ring) (Noise) Meyerbridge.
M.
E.
Y.
Eight Riverside Gardens.
Very nice too.
Jonathan Adam Meyerbridge.
Oh, at last, go on, tell me he's out on bail for murder.
ABH.
Go on, sounds promising.
One year suspended for two years.
Yeah go on.
Drunk and disorderly, drunk driving.
Those were both ten years ago.
Nothing since, and Guv, I really have to go.
Yeah, all right, just one more.
One for the road.
Lemon, L, Lemon as in gin and tonic.
Terence.
41 Eastleigh Chambers.
Left! You know, I've never met anyone who drives so much like me, it's uncanny.
I wouldn't have imagined you living down here, Guv.
Why not crummy enough? No, but I mean Well, I don't live down here.
Oh, you mean we're still working? Well, not exactly.
Pull in, just over there, will you.
Who lives here, then? Jonathan Meyerbridge, actual bodily harm, drunk and disorderly.
Riverside Gardens.
He's working late.
It doesn't look like a haven for criminals.
Oh, I don't know.
There are a lot of unreturned library books down here, I bet.
Oh well, take me home, Frank.
(Phone ring) Section House.
Yes, who do you wanna speak to? Yeah, hang on, I go and get him.
(Door opening) Evening, sir.
Constable.
What's that, more rules? The kitchen cleaning rota.
What's my name doing up there? Can you not do alternate Wednesdays? No, I certainly can't.
You can always substitute.
Here it is, substitutions.
As long as you let the house committee know by the first of each month.
I don't believe this.
Why, what's up? Someone keeps nicking my food.
They don't do they.
Let's have a look.
They haven't touched mine, look.
Well, you're a DI aren't you.
Bring it up at the next house meeting.
I will.
And he's had a go at my milk an' all.
Oh, some people, dear.
Are you going to be this early every night? I thought you might put up some shelves up before you retire.
I do I want to retire.
Get away from all this.
All this murder.
Oh, I know, I saw it on the news, every half hour.
Watching television is the only thing to do in this place.
Inspector Frost got a mention.
Oh, don't Carole, he's doing my head in.
(Phone ring) Hello? Hello, Guv.
Thank you.
All right, yeah.
See you, then.
Frost? Yeah, he said, get a good night sleep.
You see, he's not so bad, is he.
He wants me to pick him up in the morning.
What time? Six-bloody-thirty! Look at that car, look.
Hello, love.
Is Mr Jonathan Meyerbridge at home? It is Milly, isn't it? Yeah.
My word, how you've grown.
You don't remember me, do you? Yeah, I do.
Ah, so, still keeping out of trouble? I suppose you must be otherwise I would have heard about it.
Milly was one of How do you do.
Milly, there's no need to leave us, it's perfectly all right.
Jonathan Meyerbridge.
Detective Sergeant Nash.
Inspector Frost.
Barnabas! You're running.
He that hasteth with his feet, sinneth.
Yes, sir.
Milly, would you.
Yes, I'm very familiar with Milly's unfortunate past.
There are no secrets in this house.
She looks after your children? Yes, I have three children.
Actually, it's not Milly I've come about, sir.
A young woman was murdered in Denton yesterday.
Yes, I heard.
A local woman? Vicky Philips.
Oh, good God, I know her.
She's a nurse, a physiotherapist.
Your name and address were found in her organizer.
Well, yes you would, she treated me after a fall.
Can I ask when was the last time you saw her? Well, it was winter.
It must have been a year ago.
I can find out the date if necessary.
Only your name and address were found in her electronic diary, that she bought just six weeks ago.
We found the receipt.
Well, that's curious.
Now why would she enter those details? Maybe she thought you were gonna fall over again.
Well, I can only suppose that Miss Philips perhaps thought she might see me again one day in the future.
And you had no further contact with the young woman? No, none whatsoever.
How many times have you met Vicky Philips, all together? Oh, on a dozen occasions, no more.
Time enough to get to know someone? Would you say that you were friends? Not friends, no.
No, but friendly? Yes, I suppose so.
Did she know you were married? Well, do you know, I have no idea.
And I can't really see that it's relevant.
Where were you between twelve- fifteen and twelve-thirty, yesterday? I was at the New Union Hall, on Eton Road, where I hold a lunch-time scripture meeting every Tuesday.
Who else attended this meeting? Three members of our church.
The butcher up at Holly Grove? Yes, Mr.
Sykes was there.
He didn't leave his shop until twenty past twelve.
Well, I can't say exactly what time he arrived.
I usually prepare my notes in the office there, until we begin at half past.
And who saw you before that? Gwen Holland, our church secretary.
And the third person? Betty Gunner.
Who is blind.
He's lying but he's very good at it.
I wonder if I could get a search warrant on suspicion? Well, maybe not.
Listen, what I want you to do is dig out anything you can find on Jonathan Meyerbridge.
Go right back to his birth certificate.
Now I know he's been up before the bench a couple of times.
So get in touch with WPC Brent, see if there are any press reports.
What's the story on the live in? Milly Atkinson.
Her mother died and she was taken into care.
Got caught nicking cigarettes from the local shop.
Set her bedroom on fire.
Broke the arm of a social worker.
I had to tell the poor woman I couldn't charge a twelve year-old.
Jesus, and she's looking after his kids? Yeah.
Blimey, look at that.
I should have been in the Magistrates Court four and a half minutes ago.
Do you reckon you can make it? I don't even know where it is Guv.
Bang goes some more tax-payer's money.
She was the one, wasn't she? I knew her.
Jonathan.
I knew her.
It's all forgotten.
Then there's nothing more I need to know.
Haven't you got any notes? No, don't need any.
It's all in here.
Regina versus Smith.
I'll only be ten minutes.
Ten minutes? Yeah, sorry about that.
It was the wrong case.
Regina versus Patel.
Hello, here's a friend of ours that's the butcher up at Holly Grove.
Who's the other bloke? It's Edward Gull, solicitor, member of the Police Community Forum, and general know all.
I have found the love of God and a good woman.
Not another drop will touch my lips.
He was a drinker.
Yeah.
I was sliding into an abyss.
God showed me how far a man could fall before he became my savior.
She liked the look of his face.
Yeah, I bet she did, she changed his life.
How did they manage to get into a national newspaper, though? Her maiden name was Cawley.
Well? Cawley's water biscuits? Oh, so, she had money.
Very interesting.
Thank you, Jane.
Jack? Yes.
Mr.
Mullett would like to see you.
All right, I shall hurtle down there as soon as I've had my coffee.
I've checked out the financial data, from Vicky's organizer.
There have been ten payments into her deposit account in the last year, each one four hundred pounds in cash, paid in at different banks.
Different banks.
That's not uninteresting.
For you, sir.
All right, thanks, yes.
Frost.
All right, hold on.
Frank.
Camomile tea lady.
What else did they want to know? Well, that was all.
I made it perfectly clear that I no longer had any association with the woman.
But you must keep nothing from me, Jonathan.
I've told you everything.
Very well.
I would say then, that everything now depends on Ruth.
Why is that? Because I can think what you dare not.
If you can't even imagine, that Ruth might have murdered this woman, then you must be more in love with your wife than I thought possible.
It's a horrendous idea and I pray that you give it no more thought.
I will pray.
I know that you are innocent Jonathan, and I will do everything in my power to protect you.
We must walk through this fire together.
I saw light under the door.
I was about to go in, when I heard him talking.
I thought there must be someone with him.
What was he saying? It was all in Polish.
Then he started shouting.
I was worried, so I watched him through the door.
He was bent over in a chair, as if he was asleep.
Then he took all the letters away and closed the cabinet.
What happened to them? I burned them.
What did they say? They were just letters.
How are you, I am fine.
I don't know these people.
One, if you did put a match to letters that were addressed to Vicky, you've destroyed valuable evidence, that's a criminal offence and I can put you in prison for that.
And two, I don't believe you.
Those letters meant something to Vicky.
They obviously meant something to you, the way you were behaving last night.
You can't protect her, Boris, she's dead.
Who was it? Her lover? Her lovers? What was it? Look, did he sign himself Mr.
Newman? Did he use his real name? Where did they meet? You knew that she was seeing another man and you couldn't bear it because you were in love with her.
You tried to dissuade her.
That's what you were doing in the car park, pretending to start your motor scooter.
Helen saw you from the window.
You know what? If I had feelings for someone, I could never destroy anything so precious to them.
You wrote these love It's perfectly all right.
My wife knows everything.
You wrote these love letters to Miss Philips.
Yet, when I spoke to you earlier, you said that you hadn't seen her for a year.
Well, perhaps a few months.
Whenever it was, it was ended perfectly amicably.
We were doing wrong.
People were being hurt.
Miss Philips understood that and she was very sensible about it.
So it wasn't you that she arranged to meet yesterday? No.
Mr.
Newman.
Is that what you call yourself? Sometimes? I don't know a Mr.
Newman, and I have no idea what she was doing yesterday.
When we found Vicky, she was wearing a gold chain round her neck.
Now we understand that gold chain was a gift.
Yes, I did give her a chain, a long time ago.
You gave her the chain two months ago.
Look at this letter.
It's not dated, but it's postmarked even earlier, Iess than a month.
Can you explain that? Not easily.
That's all right.
I don't mind complicated explanations.
I'm used to them.
From tomorrow I shall be in York for two days, at a writers seminar.
If you have any further questions, I'd appreciate it if you'd address them to my solicitor, Edward Gull at Gull and Maitland.
Who is also the minister at our church.
I know him.
Stop it, Ruth, stop it! Why? What else am I gonna find? Mommy? Miss Holland.
Was Mr.
Meyerbridge at the New Union Hall between twelve and twelve-thirty on Tuesday? Yes.
And how can you be sure? I saw him.
Where? Through the door.
It's glass.
Oh, right Hello, Milly.
I'm collecting the kids.
That's all right.
I'll walk a little way with you.
It was funny, us meeting like that, wasn't it.
You were waiting for me.
No, I don't mean just now.
I meant yesterday.
Mr.
Frost, things here are going really well.
I don't want nothing to spoil it.
But, Mr.
Meyerbridge knows all about you.
I mean, now that everything's out in the open, there's nothing left to be afraid of, is there? Do you know why I came round the house yesterday? Vicky Philips.
Mr.
Meyerbridge brought me into his study just after you left yesterday.
I was all in tears, cause I thought you'd told them something new.
Milly, really, as if I would.
I don't know, I wasn't thinking.
They were both in there, him and his wife.
And he told me that him and Vicky had been secret friends for a couple of years.
Oh, yeah? And that I would hear all sorts of lies.
Not from me, love, not from me.
How did his wife react to this revelation? She's always the same.
She doesn't get upset.
How did you get to meet the Meyerbridge's? I was up for shop-lifting and one of the solicitors was a friend of theirs.
Mr.
Gull.
He was good to me and he got me this job.
Do you live in, do you? Yeah.
I got my own bathroom.
Oh, that is nice.
This Mr.
Gull.
Do you see him any more? Yeah, he often comes to the house.
He gets on really well with Jonathan.
I see.
How does he get on with Mrs.
Meyerbridge? With Ruth? Well, they're friendly, it's Jonathan he comes to see though.
What does he come to see him about? I don't know.
They're writing some religious book together, all right? Mr.
Sykes, Miss Holland, Jonathan Meyerbridge, Milly Atkinson.
All told us 'exactly' what you told them to say.
The truth.
That is what I would expect from any one of my clients.
Yes, of course.
Does help to massage it a bit though, doesn't it? What are you thinking of, in particular? Gwen Holland.
She told us she saw Jonathan Meyerbridge through a pebble- glass door, at twelve-thirty.
Perhaps you told her to say that he was in the office from twelve o'clock.
I am certain that she told you the truth.
Well, of course, she's terrified of you though, isn't she? Nonsense.
You know, you should be very careful when you make allegations that you can't substantiate.
Are you going to bring charges against my client? Which one? Jonathan Meyerbridge.
Oh, I don't know, it's early days.
Things will reveal themselves.
Well let's hope that they do.
You represented Jonathan Meyerbridge when he was accused of actual bodily harm didn't you? Jonathan apprehended a youth, who was running from the scene of a crime.
A woman in her eighties had been beaten unconscious.
Her teeth broken.
Jonathan took hold of the youth, who struggled and accidentally gave himself a small bruise on the cheek.
But we all know how fallible the law is.
Good-bye, Inspector.
Goodbye.
You look absolutely knackered, if you don't mind me saying so.
I was stuck in a car on West Gardens till four this morning.
We got a tip off.
How about you? Me? Four o'clock this morning? I was in bed.
Vicky Philips.
Right, how far have we got with our case, then Frank? Nowhere.
There you are, that's a fair assessment.
The prime suspect is a religious author from Riverside Gardens with a conviction for ABH.
However he got it by protecting an old aged pensioner.
So, public enemy number one, turns out to be the local hero.
So, no, we are not doing brilliantly at all.
Oh dear.
My great grandfather built the house.
He actually laid the bricks.
We were taught self-reliance from an early age.
But you and your husband are not employed? What a strange thing to say.
Of course we are.
I work for various charities and Jonathan is an author.
Do you ever join your husband on any of his book beanos? He prefers to go alone.
Why do you ask? Well, it's just that he's managed to keep Vicky Philips a secret from you for over a year.
I wonder what else he managed to conceal.
Have you ever read any of Jonathan's books? No.
I'm sure they're too specialized for me.
Not at all, they're written for the common man.
Jonathan has an integrity that is absent in most of the people one meets nowadays.
He has a great moral strength.
Is that why he can have an affair with a nurse? I can't deny that I feel an immense relief now that she's gone.
Someone's answered your prayers then, have they? I believe that everything turns out for the best, in the long run.
Do you.
Getting stabbed in a car park is hardly the best thing that could have happened to Vicky, is it? Who are we to say? So when did you go out then, Milly, on Tuesday morning? Twelve.
We went up to the playground.
It's just behind the carpet warehouse place? You and who else? Me and Mrs.
Meyerbridge.
We were there until a quarter to one.
And who told you about the murder? It was on the news, two o'clock.
It didn't go out on the bulletin until four.
County Radio.
And what time did Mr.
Meyerbridge Ieave for the church? I couldn't say.
Well, he always tells you when he leaves the house.
It's a bit odd that he didn't tell you, isn't it? He doesn't always tell me.
He said he told you.
Well I didn't hear nothing.
I might have had my radio on.
Okay, right.
It's Meyerbridge, but I haven't got any evidence.
Meyerbridge was in the New Union Hall when the murder was committed, so I am led to understand.
Where did you get that from, Mr.
Gull? You may or may not know that Edward Gull, apart from being a solicitor and a minister of religion, is also an outspoken member of the Police Community Forum.
Dear, oh, dear, oh dear, what a busy man.
If Gull chooses to bring a complaint, it will stick and you'll be off the case.
And what, may I ask, has Mr.
Gull got to complain about? You've been parking your car outside the Meyerbridge house at night.
Yes, dedication to my job.
What I'd really like to do is to give his house a good going over, but I'd need a search warrant for that.
You'll need something very substantial before a warrant is authorized.
Gull also said that you've been making slanderous statements about his clients.
Gull is fixing Meyerbridge's alibi.
Can you prove that? Be careful, Jack, Edward Gull could make trouble.
Just because Gull appeared on Radio Four's 'Thought For The Day', It doesn't mean we have to take any notice of him.
What about the call from emergency services? Well, forensic are trying to clean up the recording.
As soon as we get a recognizable voice, we could put out an appeal on television.
I think it would be very useful if you could do that, for us sir.
You know, appeal to the mystery caller to come forward.
Yes, very good idea.
Appeal for witness.
Right, now, change of subject, have you heard about our Ram-raiders? I'm sure I haven't.
But what have they done now? Landwicke's was broken into last night.
Landwicke's.
Old Landwicke's? What did they get away with? Half a ton of ladies corsets? A security guard tackled the gang.
He's now in intensive care.
Catching this ram-raiding gang is our top priority.
I've been called in to see county this afternoon.
So as you have no new leads on the Philips case, I want you to help DCI Peters full time.
Do you understand me? Exactly, sir.
It's exactly like the others.
A Japanese four-wheel, four villains.
Where, oh where are they now? It takes just fifty seconds, and all you've got left are coat hangers.
The vehicle used in this raid belongs to David Smethurst.
He claims it was nicked, but has two previous convictions for handling stolen goods.
We've had to return the vehicle to him.
Big Dave? I thought he was in the clear.
We've had information that Smethurst was away from his home on each night that a raid took place.
I want him watched twenty-four hours.
Mind the carpet.
It comes a bit loose as you turn the corner.
We could look from downstairs love.
Well, you can see much more from up here.
Number forty-two.
Curtains are drawn, can you see? Big Dave's there now, is he? Sleeping.
The hall light switches on at nine p.
m.
At eleven he leaves the house, and he gets back at three a.
m.
What's that, every night, is it? Most nights.
I've written it all down.
Does anyone visit the house? No, never.
At least not while you're watching? Well, that's all the time, love.
I mean with these break-ins every week.
And I feel vulnerable on my own.
Of course.
Oh, I see you like music.
Oh no, it's my daughter's room.
We don't get on.
She's always round the boyfriend's.
Are you going to read me my rights? It's just a couple of things, sir.
You were down for the kitchen yesterday.
I couldn't help noticing It wasn't done.
Right.
It didn't matter too much, because we can always re-schedule.
And the other thing? We've got a mouse, sir.
Well, I'm not feeding it.
It's been seen outside your door, and we were wondering whether you were keeping food in your room.
As it happens, I do keep biscuits in my room, because they wouldn't last five minutes in here.
Security.
That's what you want to put your mind to.
Anyway, I'd love to stay and talk, but I've got to be in church in ten minutes.
We are not to be brought into the kingdom of God by sheer terror.
Those who describe the horrors that await the unbeliever, do a disservice to us all.
For what use is a convert who has not willingly embraced Jesus Christ? Who has not asked forgiveness of God? If we have a duty, it is to reveal to the unbeliever what they are foregoing.
The wonder of God's love which is there for every man, woman and child.
Finally, let us not forget the love we must give one another.
Today we extend our love to the young woman in our community whose life was cut short so brutally.
Victoria Philips.
A beautiful young woman in the prime of life.
Why God chose her we shall never know.
Ooh, that wasn't very nice.
Is that what we came here for? I think we've put the wind up them.
Well, it's hardly worth the overtime.
Listen, Guv.
Would you like to meet my wife? Not now, eh? I've had enough excitement for one day.
How is she, by the way? Why do you ask? Because it's a friendly thing to do.
Because I work with you.
Pretty bad actually.
She says she can't wait to get out of this place.
Oh, well that's the Denton detail, that is.
The first six years are the same for everyone.
Look at that, I've missed a free pizza.
It's expired.
All right then, don't smile.
Bloody right I won't.
So are we off this murder then, or what? No.
Not at all.
We are the elite Frank, we can do two jobs at once.
I'll bet Carol was delighted when she discovered that you were going to spend more time in the bedroom with me, than with her.
Yeah, she was beside herself.
Well, she'll have to be, 'cos there's no-one else.
Least I hope.
I bet this will turn out to be a complete and utter waste of time.
Well, why didn't you tell Mullett that? Because this is Mullett's brain-wave.
Well, at least it is until nothing happens, then the whole thing will be my crummy idea.
Hello.
I see the neighbors are up.
Now what's he doing? He's thinking.
Oh, dear I must give up this filthy habit.
Oh, that feels empty, perhaps I'm hungry.
Oh yeah, yeah, I definitely look hungry.
I'll go off and make myself some Haute Cuisine.
You know, steak pie, chips and mushy peas.
Goodnight.
Knock, knock.
Oh, I can hardly see a thing.
Here, let me, Mrs C.
Oh, thank you, Frank.
Very nice.
Lovely.
I'll be downstairs if you need anything.
Right.
Thank you, Frank.
What the hell are we doing here? Gypsy cream? It strikes me as odd, that no one around here remembers her, an attractive young woman like that.
I couldn't say.
Why, because you've been told not to? You're very pally with Edward Gull, aren't you? He's my solicitor.
What was so important that you had to bend his ear on the courthouse steps, I wonder? That's my own business.
I don't know this part of Denton, at all, you know.
We abide by the law in Holly Grove.
Oh, yeah.
I'm looking for somewhere to live.
Do you think I'd like it round here? I really couldn't say.
Did you see Jonathan Meyerbridge at any time, here, in Holly Grove on Tuesday? I did not.
Did you leave the shop at any time that Tuesday morning? Only afterwards when I came back from church.
I went to my home for a few minutes.
Oh, yeah, where's that, up stairs, isn't it? No, I don't use my rooms here.
I have a house opposite.
You went to call Jonathan Meyerbridge.
Why? Did I? I really cannot remember who I called.
Oh yeah, it was Jonathan Meyerbridge.
One minute twenty seconds I've checked.
I cannot recall.
Oh well, must push on.
No rest for the wicked.
I tell you one thing.
I'll have half a pound of them sausages.
(Door opening and footsteps) How did you get in here? Miss Philips' keys.
I see you tidied the place up.
Changed the sheets.
I said that Jonathan could use these rooms.
I never saw the young woman come in here.
See no evil, hear no evil.
Who were you phoning just now from your place? Was it Edward Gull? To ask him what you should do? Jack.
Mr.
Meyerbridge is here with his solicitor.
Oh, wonderful.
Is the jungle room empty? It's free.
All right, put him in there, I'll be with you in a minute.
Right.
Frank, give Mr.
Sykes a five minute break, so he can stretch his legs.
Then meet me in the main interview room, will you? Mr.
Meyerbridge feels there have been misunderstandings in the three interviews conducted with him.
My client has prepared a statement, which describes in detail his relationship with Miss Philips.
I trust this will end the needless intrusion into his private affairs.
In detail.
Not much for two years of being in love, is it.
It wasn't love.
Well, four hundred pounds a month is a bit steep, for someone you didn't love.
Oh, I see that your client hasn't informed you.
Well, this is the four hundred pounds a month in used notes, paid into the young woman's bank account every month.
Mr.
Meyerbridge, was Vicky blackmailing you? No, I simply wanted to reward her.
Did your wife know about this largesse? My wife has no knowledge of this.
Inspector, I think it would be propitious for my client and I to discuss this matter further before helping you with your enquiries.
Fine, we have no reason to keep you here any longer.
But just before you do run away, can you tell me why you closed that account last month.
Because the relationship had come to an end.
Oh, I see.
So Vicky was bonking someone else on Tuesday.
She didn't waste much time.
You're right, it couldn't have been love.
Mr.
Meyerbridge, you and Vicky used to meet regularly in a room above Mr.
Sykes.
Can you tell me the last time you arranged to meet her there? It must have been some time ago.
It's a direct question, give me a date.
My client doesn't remember.
Does he decide everything for you? Oh, Mr.
Gull, would you like to join us next door? We're going to interview Mr.
Sykes I will send someone from my office.
Mr.
Gull has left? Yes, I'm sorry.
He had to go.
I don't want anyone else.
Well, we don't need anyone else.
Would you like a cup of tea? He's left me.
'Man that is in honor, and understandeth not, is like the beasts that perish'.
What's that the bible, or Shakespeare? I see you've cut your fingers.
There they were together all those days, directly above my head.
taking me for a poor fool.
How did you find out? I heard her laughing, at me, I expect.
I saw her leave, then a few minutes later Jonathan left.
I went upstairs.
All those months he was reduced to this.
I thought of killing him at first.
I couldn't get the idea out of my mind.
I felt he should be punished for what he had done.
Yes, she was to blame, wasn't she? You knew what time she arrived.
You knew she always arrived on Tuesday, so you waited for her car.
Who? Vicky.
Vicky Philips.
Is that how it happened? You just popped out of your shop for a couple of minutes.
Just a drop more blood on your apron.
You've been into the room, haven't you? You can still smell her perfume.
Good morning, Jack.
Morning.
Are we close to getting a statement from Sykes? No, he's still rambling and confused.
Forensic haven't been able to turn up any matching blood and none of his knives matched the murder weapon.
We've got nothing on him.
We're going to let him go.
But he was able to describe the injuries in considerable detail.
So were half a dozen of our so called newspapers.
For which one of our number will receive a nice little backhander.
She's being/been assaulted.
It's a car park, but I don't know.
We know your location, love.
What is your name? Can you give me your name, please? Oh I don't know, it sounds worse than before.
Is she saying she's been assaulted? Or she's being assaulted? The lab says it's 'being'.
Yeah, well, I don't know.
What with all that racket someone must have seen her making that call.
How do you know that Mr.
Meyerbridge was in the New Union Hall at twelve o'clock, Miss Holland? If you didn't get there until quarter past, or later.
Because he always is.
He's very particular about things, in timekeeping.
What about the man behind the door? You said there was someone else in the church, you saw, about what, half past twelve.
I didn't find out.
Oh, I see.
Excuse me, all right.
And was Mr.
Sykes with you then? No, he arrived at exactly half past.
I see.
No, please, thank you.
G.
G.
Holland.
What's the G stand for? Gwendoline.
Gwendoline.
Very attractive name, Gwendoline.
What exactly do you do here, Gwendoline? I give people mortgage advice.
Mortgages.
Do you really.
I used to have one of those.
Mortgage.
I used to have a house.
You know, three-piece suite.
Two beds, suitcase above the wardrobe.
All went up in flames.
It's all right, no-one was hurt.
I live in an institution now.
Along with all the other inmates.
Much to my Super's insistence.
He said that he wouldn't let me sleep in the cells anymore because it was lowering the tone.
Anyway, you made a statement to my Detective Sergeant about the meeting in the New Union Hall on Tuesday.
Yes.
Do you want to amend that statement? Do I need to? No, no, no, no, no.
It's just that we put off submitting these things, in case someone remembers something, or someone gets confused.
We are human, you know.
I saw Jonathan Meyerbridge at twelve-fifteen exactly.
Maybe you weren't there at all at that time.
Your manager said that you rushed out of here on Tuesday.
Why, were you late? No, I left my bag behind.
I had to come and pick it up, that's all.
And how late did that make you? Sorry, I couldn't help noticing, that, do you never wear a watch? No, my last one got broken I just, I never replaced it.
Only there's no clock in the New Union Hall.
So how would you know it was 'exactly' twelve-fifteen when you supposedly saw Jonathan Meyerbridge? You like Jonathan, don't you? Yes.
He's a very good-looking man.
He's very good man.
Oh, yeah.
Yes, everybody says so.
So, what's the truth about him and Vicky? They were madly in love.
And you were the alibi.
Should anyone ask.
When he was supposedly up at the New Union Hall, preparing his notes.
He confided in me.
What about Edward Gull? Did he know? He must have.
Because he knows everything, doesn't he, Gwen? Yes.
And what about you? Are you madly in love with Jonathan Meyerbridge? Someone's going to see you like that.
Put the curtain rails up then.
What time are you back? Dawn.
You can go out you know.
We don't have a baby.
I've noticed that.
I'm not likely to have one either.
Anyway, who'd want to raise a family in this dump? Oh oh, here comes the lecture.
Carole, we've been here seven days.
I know.
I scratch 'em on the bedroom walls.
Look, I thought coming out to the sticks to live would be a load of fun.
I'd have a few trees to look at, and you'd be in before eleven every night.
But it ain't gonna be like that, is it? If I'm going to be on my own, I'd rather be in London.
I tell you, Denton, Frank, it's I haven't got time to argue with you.
Exactly.
Don't bother waiting up.
There she goes.
Bloody hell, Mrs C You nearly gave me a heart attack.
Who is she? It's a new one.
It's always a new one with him.
He likes novelty.
Sometimes they leave the curtains open.
Why don't you get a television Iike everyone else? I like this, it's real life.
You always work in twos do you? On these jobs? Oh, yes, yes, yeah, that's right, yes, always, yes.
Oh.
Well, I'll leave you to it.
Yeah, thanks.
You know where I am? Yes.
If you need me? Yes, okay, thanks.
Don't you ever leave me alone with her again.
What's up? Don't you trust yourself? We don't need a warrant.
Oh, no.
Rubbish, Frank, it's in the public domain.
Alright, here we are.
What are you doing, Guv? Won't be a minute.
Quick, open the back door.
Come on.
There you go.
What's this? Listen to this stuff.
'The call is to self-knowledge, which is a painful process we naturally shrink from'.
Oh, yes, 'It is the prophesies of Isaiah, throbbing with expectancy'.
God, the works of a great writer, eh? Now, whatever you do, don't get excited.
Six inch, narrow blade.
Do you think they lost the last one, Guv? This is a very special moment, Frank.
Hallelujah.
For what we are about to receive, may the Lord make us truly thankful.
Amen.
(Doorbell) Matthew.
Elbows.
On the nineteenth of this month you purchased a kitchen knife from Abott's, in Knighton Lane.
Yes.
One of our knives was missing, I replaced it.
Did you ever find out what had happened to this missing knife? Well,at first I thought it must have been accidentally thrown out with the rubbish.
Then what? Then what did you think? I thought Milly may have taken it.
She is still unable to ask for everything she wants.
And what would she want with one of your knives? I have no idea.
Do you know what I keep asking myself? I keep asking how would you notice that a kitchen knife was missing? You don't cook.
If you're going to continue, I would like my solicitor to be present.
Give Gull a call, will you.
This interview is suspended at 1402.
Guv.
That's interesting, Frank.
(Doorbell) Jonathan? Jonathan? Mr.
Gull? Are you not working today? I am unwell.
What do you want? I've got some bad news, I'm afraid.
A member of your church has just killed himself.
That was a nasty moment just now, wasn't it? You thought I was talking about Jonathan.
Sticking your neck out a bit, aren't you? You and your good reputation? Is he worth it? Is he? I've been watching you and Meyerbridge.
I think that you're unnaturally fond of him.
He was falling in love with Vicky, wasn't he? You couldn't bear that.
You were jealous.
That's about the truth of it, isn't it? You oaf.
You can't get anywhere with this case, and rather than admit that, you want it taken away from you.
Well I'll be most happy to oblige.
You'd better get dressed.
Jonathan Meyerbridge is in custody.
He wants to see you.
I did not murder Vicky Philips but I did see her at Holly Grove.
She had begged to see me again.
She wrote letters, which I destroyed.
She telephoned me.
And I agreed to see her once more.
You agreed a time.
It was to be before the scripture meeting.
I parked some distance from Holly Grove.
I didn't want Si Mr.
Sykes to see me or my car.
And when I arrived, her car was the only one there.
What time was this? It was about, twenty past twelve.
I was going to be late for the meeting, but I wanted to deal with this there and then.
I wanted to get it over with.
I don't know exactly what time I saw the body.
I panicked and I ran.
I wish to see Mr.
Frost.
Well, if you would like to wait, someone will help you as soon as possible.
Now.
Did you murder Vicky Philips? Say yes, if you mean yes.
Otherwise, say you did not.
Do you wish to make a statement? She deserved it.
You don't have to say anything more.
But you do want to say more, don't you, Ruth? Hadn't she been a thorn in your side? Everything would have been perfect if she just wasn't there.
Yes.
I would like to request some time alone with my client.
Ruining people's lives.
What did you do with the knife? I disposed of it.
Whereabouts? Your clothes would have been covered in blood.
Where did you dispose of them? I think I You were in the playing field with Milly, between twelve-fifteen and one o'clock.
Of course.
My client wishes to retract her statement.
Do you wish to retract your statement? No.
Nash, go and check her story with Milly, will you? Right, Guv.
Would you perjure yourself to protect them? I don't know what that means.
Would you tell a lie, to protect Mr.
and Mrs.
Meyerbridge.
I still don't know what you mean.
You said you were with Ruth Meyerbridge when the murder was committed.
I didn't know what you were gonna ask me.
Yeah, I was with her.
I know the times exactly, I get the time checks off my radio.
Please leave me alone.
Ruth Meyerbridge.
I'm not going to charge you with wasting my time.
You came here in here out of desperation, to defend your husband, who I also am not going to charge.
Sit down.
But, if you'd all helped with this investigation at the outset, your friend Mr.
Sykes would still be alive.
Of course, it could still be her.
Who's that? Ruth Meyerbridge.
I mean, her only alibi is the live-in, right, who'd say anything, wouldn't she, keep everything sweet.
I mean, I've seen someone do a fake confession Iike that before it's like, they're trying to take the blame.
What is fake.
She did it for love.
I don't see how you can know that, Guv.
Experience.
The balloon's up.
Let's go.
Tell you what, I'm gonna miss those sandwiches.
Come on, come on! All right, come on, just don't lose him.
Hurry up, hurry up! All right, let's overtake him, shall we? Let's block him in.
Police.
On the ground! Now! Get down! Now! Don't you bloody move! We could have done with some firearms out there.
All right, don't gloat.
It could have been very different.
Anyway, Mullett's not going to make you a DI on the strength of recovering three lawn mowers and a shed full of Victorian garden furniture.
He's not our Ram Raider, is he? Excuse me.
He had forty mowers in that bloody shed.
Well, that's forty crimes solved in one night, it's quite a clear-up rate.
The computer's going to notice us next month, Jack.
True.
Are you buying? You've seen me drinking before.
In the past.
Which is where I wanna be.
I loved Vicky.
More than you love me? More than your children? It's different, it's different.
She didn't pity me.
Will you please go and lie down.
On my bed, or your bed? How dare you say such a thing.
It's not even dark.
You think I killed her don't you? Whatever happened, I would forgive you.
Guv, listen to this.
This is new from forensic.
And we'll have that record straight after.
.
Where's the woman? Hang on, hang on, hang on.
We know your location, love.
What is your name? 'Safeguard your children's future with Royal Southern.
' It's County Radio.
Well? It was being broadcast when the woman called in.
Guv, it's her radio.
We're a couple of fools, aren't we, Milly? Are we? Oh yes.
It was Mr.
Gull, wasn't it? He was the one who told you to say that you were with Ruth up in the playground.
He gave you the perfect alibi.
Yeah? And after you'd done it, you telephoned the police from the car park.
You switched your radio on so we wouldn't be able to hear your voice properly.
Why did you do it, Milly? Was it because you fancied him? It wasn't that.
Jonathan was gonna leave.
He was going to shack up with her.
How did you know that? Because I listen.
Stupid cow.
She thought she could take him away from us, his family.
She wanted to buy a flat with him.
They used to talk about it on the phone.
And you thought you would have to find somewhere new.
But it's good she's gone.
Jonathan doesn't know that yet.
No.
I expect he'll come to realize it, in time.
Is that what you were wearing? The knife's in there as well.
All right.
I'll take care of everything.
Matthew's birthday.
I'll just leave it here.
Bit crowded, isn't it son.
I suppose you've just dumped all this on here, have you.
No, I'm turning over a new leaf.
I'm shoving all mine in my drawers.
Seventeen.
Milly will be the same age as Meyerbridge when she gets out.
But she'll still be just a kid.
You know, she asked me if I could get her a cell to herself.
I said they only give those to people who've been very very bad.
I hope they look after her.
Who's that, Guv? I thought you should be the first to know.
You're having a baby.
I'm going to leave the force.
Bit quick, isn't it.
Yeah, well, it's not gonna work.
If I stay, I'll lose my wife.
Well, you don't want to do that.
Yeah.
You know, she misses her family and stuff.
Yeah.
But you've got a future, son.
Not without her I haven't, Guv, I would never have given it up.
Well, with respect, Sir, you and I are very different.
Yes, yeah, I expect you're right.
So, uh I'll tell Mr.
Mullett in the morning.
You've got the makings of a very good copper.
Do you want a lift? No.
I've got my expenses to do.
I'll see you in the morning then.
Yes.
Eight o'clock on the dot.