A Touch of Frost (1992) s15e01 Episode Script

JACK: It's Berland.
Right on time.
That's his van.
- (Dog barks) - With the star attraction, by the sounds of it.
How long shall we give 'em? Let them start.
- 10 minutes.
- Right.
Right, George, give 'em 10.
(Dogs bark excitedly) OK, George.
Get ready.
Wait for my signal, all right? Yeah, well, he's won four fights.
One more, he's a grand champion.
- Neil! - Coming! How much are you betting on him, Dad? - I dunno.
- Sorry.
If I miss getting a bet on cos Neil's made us late, you'll be paying me back after you've paid that student loan.
Let's go! (Engine won't start) You couldn't give us a push, could you, lads? All right, never mind, I'll just call the AA.
- It's your lucky day, mate.
- Oh, right, cheers.
(Chanting and singing) Come on, shift yourselves, you! (Beeps horn) Put it in gear.
What are you doing up there? Now, you idiot! Come here! Argh! - Stay down.
- Appreciated.
Right, George, let's go.
(Dogs snarl and bark) (Shouting and cheering) (Tyres screech) With me, Steve! Go, go, quickly! Now! OK, come on.
- Out you go! - I didn't do nothing! All right, all right! - George.
- Yeah? - Where's Berland? - No.
He's not here.
- Here you go, Neil.
- Oh, there's no need, Mr Berland.
No, no, no, you're all right.
It's the sport that counts, but you know, it's nice to spice it up a bit.
Thanks.
(Laughs) - (Dogs bark) - Berland couldn't have got out.
This was the van that he was in earlier this morning.
It had to be him.
Guv! What? Well, boys, they say it's much better to be born lucky than to be born rich.
What are we gonna do? Well, I don't know about you but I'm going home for a pint.
We can always take him in, Jack.
Bring him in tomorrow.
(Squeal of Berland's tyres) - Cheers, boys.
- Cheers.
You brought us luck, Neil.
If it wasn't for you being late - Yeah, good on you, mate.
- Mmm.
I've lost my grand champion, though.
Well, can't you get him back? Do you ever think my son's a bit of an idiot? "Oh, officer, I know nothing about dog fighting.
What are these dogs doing in the van? Oh, I seem to be here with a collar and lead.
" What about the police, though? Well, Inspector Frost will probably make a visit.
But he knows nobody's gonna finger me.
Don't worry about your mum and dad, Neil.
Nobody knows where you were.
So, what about a pizza, right? - I've got to go.
- All right.
- I'll give you a call tomorrow.
- Yeah.
'Night, Neil.
- 'Night.
- (Clears throat) 'Nighty-night.
- (Door closes) - So, who knew? What? The place was clean.
Who knew? - Dad, Brian knows better than that.
- Yeah, well, I hope so.
Funny that's the first name to come into your head, too.
I think we'll have to have a word with him.
- Well, I don't even talk to him now.
- Hmm.
There's a lot of people who trust me who are banged up in Denton nick right now.
I've lost face.
If it's about some snotty-nosed kid, we'll have to teach him a lesson, right? Yeah, OK.
It's not Sean's fault.
Don't interfere, Sally.
It's none of your business.
(Clears throat) (Brakes screech) (People talking in distance) (Low conversation) She's all right now.
(Low chatter) Quieten down! Come on! - Another one! - Thanks, Jack! Get out! Jack, L5,670.
56.
709 euros.
Oh, very cosmopolitan.
Perhaps he ought to have a national team, eh? You know, fun for all the family.
All right, lock the money up.
It's gonna be a long night for you.
All right, come on, out the way! Chop, chop! Let the dog see the rabbit.
(Brakes screech) (Dogs barking and yelping) There's a good girl.
Good morning.
So, what's the score, Jack? Well, I got 23 prosecutions, maybe.
Every one of the punters, you know, stumbled on the fight by chance.
Nobody's ever been to a dog fight before.
Nobody organised it, nobody refereed it, and certainly nobody owns any of the dogs.
Well, my score's a kennel full of healthy dogs that know only one thing - fighting and killing.
They can never be trusted with people.
Brian, you'd better go.
I don't want the blame if you're late for school.
See you later, Mrs Moorhead.
All that work and they walk away with L100 fines.
Well, some of them have got form, so I hope we can do better than that.
But we missed Berland.
I was hoping for a custodial sentence by now, but that's gone.
- I'm sorry.
- Me, too.
Or maybe I shouldn't be.
I have to wait a long time for resources like that from the police, Jack.
If you hadn't wanted Berland for other reasons Well, I can't get him for money laundering, I can't get him for for drugs.
He keeps his nose clean in Denton.
He's like a disease.
He's infectious.
Well, if you can't find any other way to get him, Berland will organise more fights.
People like him really believe that animals tearing each other to pieces is like going to a Premiership match, only better.
So our interests coincide.
Graham, Helen, we'd better put these dogs down now.
Yeah, I'll be with you.
- You don't think the police will wanna talk to us? - Neil, my dad can handle the police.
- Mum and Dad would go berserk.
- So what? There he is.
It had to be him.
What do you mean? He came to a dog fight with us two months ago.
Same place.
He walked out.
Now he's a volunteer down at the RSPCA.
There was an RSPCA woman there yesterday.
Come on, Brian's a pillock, but he's not gonna risk saying anything.
Look, my dad said someone did.
Who else? P-shoo! Do you own this transit van, LX54NFD? Ownership's not disputed.
Well, it was used to transport dogs to a dog fight yesterday afternoon.
You know perfectly well my client owns a van and car hire business.
Yes, well, I would like all the paperwork regarding the hire of this van that you were seen driving yesterday morning, Mr Berland.
And you've been found guilty on two previous occasions of crimes regarding dog fighting.
And this van was used to transport dogs to a dog fight that you claim you knew nothing about.
And yet you arrived on the location just after the first fight had started.
Why were you there, then, Mr Berland? My client was trying to circumvent the football traffic, a short cut, on his way to buy some pizzas.
There must have been a glitch in the sat nav, right? Quattro stagioni's my favourite.
What's yours? What's all this, then, George? Morning, Jack.
A mugging down in the underpass last night.
- Oh.
- Very nasty.
The woman's gonna be all right, but she's in hospital.
- Right.
- He could have killed her.
We got some tyre tracks.
A mountain bike of some sort.
If the bike's local, we might get a break here.
We also found the woman's bag just dumped outside there.
- Right.
- It's with forensic now.
- Very good.
- But after all that, the cash was still there.
Go on! Nobody local with this sort of form, is there? Nothing as violent as that, Jack, no.
I don't know why people still use places like this.
I mean, they're not safe, are they? I've been here before.
Yeah, too many times.
No, no, I don't mean like that.
I mean I mean, exactly this place.
It was a long time ago.
A woman got mugged and she was badly hurt.
Yeah.
Yeah! (Applause) - Mate, he's not gonna admit it.
- Yeah, so what? He needs a smacking.
- How's it going, Brian? - What's your problem, Sean? You, er, broken up any dog fights lately? - Yeah! - (Crowd groans) (Snarling) So, when you get fed up with football, you get a few mates around, a crate of beer, and you watch a dog fight.
There'll be another day.
I don't like Berland living on our patch either.
We know he's heavily involved in drugs.
But there's no evidence he's up to anything in Denton or the county.
There's a limit to how much time we can devote to him.
Well, he's trouble.
Sooner or later, he's gonna be our trouble.
The Met have got him down for three murders.
He may not have pulled the trigger, but he signed the cheques.
He has an irritating and clever solicitor.
Mr Salmond has submitted a file of harassment complaints.
More won't help.
Hello, mate.
- What have you been doing? - Homework.
You're weird, mate.
- Anybody would think you liked doing it.
- I do.
That's how weird I am.
All right, boys? - All right, Dad.
See ya.
- Bye, darling.
See you later.
So I followed Brian after school.
Now who's weird? He's at the RSPCA.
So? I thought we'd go and see him.
Are you still here? I'm off in a minute.
I won't be that long.
I can give you a lift home.
It's OK, Mrs Moorhead.
I'm heading to the library.
Oh.
(Laughs) You know, most vets would be struggling with this after a couple of years at college.
I'd be struggling now.
It's good to know a bit about what the vets are doing.
Mmm.
Well, I've got a few muggings or attempted muggings in that area over the last two years.
Nothing violent, not in the underpass.
Nothing using a bicycle.
No, it was a lot longer than two years.
Anyway, I'm not trying to find a connection.
It's just nagging me, you know.
It's the same crime in the same place, and a bike.
The handbag we found with money still in it.
Hmm.
When you say a long time? Yeah, it must be, I don't know, 20 years or more.
That's a long time between muggings.
Yeah, I know.
It's just annoying me that my brain isn't working as it used to.
Whereas yours is still like a well-oiled machine.
But if you can't remember, well - What? I - You know, "can't" is not a word in Mr Trigg's vocabulary, Inspector.
No, but the thing is, Jennifer, if you want to get the best service out of him, you have to wind him up.
You'd get an even better one if you gave me more information than muggings and 20 years.
Well, now we've got Jenny here, she is going to download the entire contents of your brain cell onto a floppy disk.
Then we can access anything at any time at all.
Computerisation is just a tool, Jack, that's all.
It only works if the right person's using it.
- That means not me? - No, I didn't say that.
- Did I say that? - All right.
Let's see who comes up with it first.
It's not a game.
- I'm up to 1992.
- You've got enough to do, Jenny.
If Inspector Frost wants this information because he can't remember it himself, I will endeavour to find it for him.
All right, come on, off you go.
Chop, chop.
How's the RSPCA cow, Brian? Hmm? Have you had a good old chat with her? You're nuts.
My dad's not pleased.
Good.
That's made my day.
(Laughs) No shit? - You shouldn't have done it.
- I haven't got the guts.
But whoever did, I'd shake his hand.
Get off! - I didn't do anything! - Hit him, Neil.
Hit him! No, get off! Get off me! (Distant shouting) Get off him! Get off! Leave him! Come on, Brian, just say it! - Come on, just admit it! Come on! - I haven't done anything! I haven't done anything! Please! (Knife thuds into flesh) Hey! Leave him! Leave him alone! Brian, are you all right? Brian Oh, my God.
Oh! (Sighs deeply) I knew he wouldn't make it.
If I'd been quicker I thought I was stopping a fight, that's all.
(Sobbing) (Woman sobs hysterically) MRS MOORHEAD: (Crying) I've got two children.
Not much younger than Brian.
Same school.
I offered him a lift.
Why didn't he take it? He just wanted to go to the library, that's all.
Did you know either of the boys who attacked him? No.
I don't think so.
Would you recognise them? Yes.
Mm.
- When did it happen? - A couple of hours ago.
It's hard to get the story out of him.
He was upstairs when I got in.
- Was he in a fight? - It's not about a fight.
Listen to me, Gerry! It's on the radio.
A boy was stabbed and he's dead.
I wanted to teach him a lesson.
If he'd just taken it I know.
It got out of hand.
That's what happens when you have a knife.
What were you thinking? But he pissed on us, Dad! Didn't he? I won't let you go down for this, son, all right? No.
No, we've got to deal with this properly.
Oh, my God, the police are gonna come.
Yes, well, maybe they will and maybe they won't.
But if they do, you weren't there, Sean, right? - He can't say that.
- (Whispers) Shut up, Sally.
He didn't mean to do it.
We've got to tell the truth.
I think we should call the police.
Look, Sally, some little shit is dead and he shouldn't be, right? What matters now is that our son walks away from this without ruining his life.
He wasn't there.
That's what he says, that's what Neil says.
It's a mistake.
A mistake for Sean.
It's what friends are for, son, yeah? You'll find there's no shortage of people willing to swear you were somewhere else.
George, what have you got? Ah.
Kitchen knife.
You can get one of these pretty well anywhere.
Any fingerprints? Well, the first glance from forensics says it's clean.
But they hope to do better down the lab, prints or DNA.
Any more witnesses? Yes, sighting of two youths seen running across the bypass.
But that was about 10 minutes after Mrs Moorhead got here.
It's all very vague, Jack.
What about the camera outside the RSPCA building? Yeah, pointing the wrong way.
Right.
But why? Why? - Who were they? - It could have been a random attack.
Or they could have been waiting for him.
Well, Christine says that she would recognise them.
Also, they were familiar to her.
Now, if that's the case, it means that Brian Shanklin probably knew his attackers.
I didn't know Sean had a knife.
Have you said anything to your mum and dad yet, Neil? - No, they're not back.
- OK, here's what you do.
You go upstairs, get out of those clothes, give them to me, get in the bath and wash yourself.
You wash yourself to within an inch of your life, you understand? You and Sean were at my garage, cleaning cars.
That's the story, and I've got witnesses to corroborate it.
- Why did he have to take a knife? - I don't know, Neil.
Don't know.
But neither you nor Sean are going down for this.
Clothes, bath.
Neil.
Get on with it.
What about the woman? What woman? The RSPCA inspector.
She saw us.
- I've just been to see Brian Shanklin's parents.
- Oh, yeah? Seems like a boy who was never in any trouble.
There's no hint of gangs or drugs or violence.
Yeah, well, parents don't know everything, sir.
I reckon those boys were waiting for him.
It frightens me, Jack.
I won't pretend it doesn't.
At times like this, you're fortunate not to have children or grandchildren.
Oh, well, there's always an upside to every downside, isn't there, so they say? Yes, well, carry on.
- We've got it! - Well, don't give it to me.
No No, the underpass.
- Yeah, you see it was 1989.
- Just a minute, just a minute.
First things first.
Who got there first, Jenny or Trigg? Well, I'd been working on that year a couple of weeks ago.
So it was already scanned in.
There wasn't much in it, was there, Mr Trigg? A woman was attacked in the same underpass on 21 st May, 1989.
Her handbag was taken, recovered with the money still in it.
We assumed the attacker just dropped it.
He used a bike as well.
Very similar.
Oh, yeah, I remember.
We thought it was a mugging, but we got it wrong.
Well, I got it wrong.
The motive wasn't theft.
It was a violent attack on a woman.
- And his name was - Joseph David Formby.
Yes! Because we pulled him in for another attack two years later.
Three.
1992.
Yes, well, the woman was lucky to be alive.
But not before he'd attacked and killed another woman in Croydon.
Is that right? - Yes, but we got him in the end.
- What do you mean, you got him in the end? That's no consolation to a dead woman.
- Anyway, what happened to Formby? - Died in Wormwood Scrubs four years ago.
- A coincidence.
- A coincidence! Coincidences make me uncomfortable.
Not as uncomfortable as remembering a mistake that cost a woman her life.
Anyway, thanks.
So that's Jennifer 1,Trigg nil.
But a very close result.
Sweetheart.
- Something's happened.
- This is quite difficult, Neil.
It's about Brian Shanklin.
Yeah, I know.
He's dead.
Why didn't you say anything? Not much to say, is there? - Somebody stabbed him, Neil.
- Yeah, I know.
Well, the school is closed for lessons tomorrow.
But there's counsellors.
I don't know if you want to be with your friends or stay here.
- There's no point talking about it, is there? - You might need to.
People deal with grief in different ways.
Well, I didn't have much to do with him these days, so I'll just stay at home.
Er, what about your dinner? Is that shock or just "So what"? (Knock at door) Is Sean going in? Why don't you give him a text? I've been talking to Dad and we both think that there's something to be said for being with your friends.
Sean can do what he likes.
Well, if you want to talk I'm sure we won't get much sleep.
(Mobile vibrates) What do you want? Are you all right? Say something, Neil.
How about "Don't worry about a thing, every little thing is gonna be all right"? Your dad was probably into Bob Marley.
Look, if I could go back and make it not happen, I'd do anything.
If I could change anything, I'd like to arrange for you to be dead instead of Brian.
If only.
(Mobile beeps) - Gerry, can we please talk? - No.
We can't just lie our way out of this.
- It's more important than that.
- Not another word.
- Ah, Jack.
- Ah, George.
Listen, I don't want the attack in the underpass to be forgotten about in the middle of all of this.
- The uniforms are still on it.
- Yeah, OK.
I think I've got something.
A friend of Brian's, a Paul Timms.
You need to speak to him.
All right.
(Knock at door) Have you got your black trousers? They're not in the dirty washing.
Neil.
It's not a big deal.
I'm just trying to do your washing.
Neil! They're around.
How do I know where? Maybe trousers aren't the only thing I've got on my mind.
Do you clock that smell? Exactly the same smell as my old school.
Ha! I don't know what it is, George, but when we were at school, we managed without our mates getting knifed.
Sean, I don't think your dad is right.
But I can't make him listen on my own.
He said someone threatened him? I don't know if it was a threat exactly.
Brian had fallen out with two of his mates.
He never said why, really.
Then suddenly, they got quite nasty with him.
And this was yesterday? I saw them having a go at him when we were playing cricket.
Just verbal, nothing much.
Nothing heavy.
But I know he was worried.
He said it was to do with dog fighting.
Dog fighting? Is that a normal topic of conversation at this school? No.
I didn't know what he was on about.
It just sounded weird to me.
Oh.
What are the names of these two mates? I need to know their names, Paul.
Who were they? Neil Viner and Sean Berland.
All right, thank you very much, Paul.
You may go now.
That is who I think it is? Yes.
Gerry Berland's son.
No.
No, you can't do this.
You can't take my son like this.
It's a mistake.
Mrs Viner, I'm taking him to Denton Police Station to help with inquiries into the death of Brian Shanklin.
How can Neil help you? He doesn't know anything about it.
He can't.
I'm sorry, Mrs Viner.
Don't worry, Sean, we'll be there as soon as I get hold of Dad.
Get off the bloody phone, Gerry, and answer me.
They've taken Sean away.
What's happening? They're talking about Brian Shanklin as if Neil's got something to do with it.
When Gerry gets my message, he'll have them home.
It's a mistake, a terrible - It's a mistake.
- Yes.
Yes, it is.
Come on.
When did Brian come and work for you as a volunteer? Two months ago, nearly three.
He turned up in reception one day to ask if he could help, just cleaning out kennels, whatever.
I should speak to his parents.
I can't imagine how they No.
I can.
That's what makes it so unbearable.
It would be better if you didn't talk to anyone.
I mean, now there's a witness.
It's best you don't get emotionally involved.
I am emotionally involved.
I was there.
Christine, if you're going to identify these killers, it's going to be a long and difficult journey.
What matters most is your objectivity in court.
I don't feel very objective.
(Sighs) No, I know.
Neither do I.
Thank you.
All right, George.
- Mrs Moorhead.
- Sergeant.
I want you to look at the glass.
Soon, in a minute, you'll see a group of young men.
Now, if you recognise any of them, please point them out.
But I don't want you to feel that you're under pressure to identify them.
If you're unsure, just say so.
And if none of the people resemble those that you saw, that's also fine.
OK? All right, lights.
You recognise one of them? Two.
They're both there.
How sure are you that the two lads you recognise are the ones that attacked Brian? On a scale of one to 10 Thank you.
All right, George.
From the moment we spoke to Neil about Brian, there's been something wrong.
I don't know how he was supposed to react, but the way he did wasn't wasn't right.
It's not just a mistake, is it? If my husband says it's a mistake, it is.
Haven't you got that yet? What are you talking about? The truth, as decided by Gerry.
They were there.
Neil and Sean.
- What happened? - It doesn't matter what happened.
I've lived in Gerry's world for a long time.
And now we're all in it, Carolyn.
And we do what he says.
Yes, that's everything.
That's what happened.
That's what I saw.
Right, thank you.
Er, have you seen either of these lads before? I mean, before you saw them attacking Brian Shanklin? They do seem familiar.
I could have seen them.
I don't know them, if that's what you mean.
Well, it's just they both went to Brian's school, which is the same school your children go to.
I know what you're suggesting, but I'm not confused about maybe seeing them at the school.
Those were the boys who killed Brian Shanklin.
All right.
Good.
Thank you.
Erm Well, you'll have to know eventually, so you might as well know now.
The first youth that you identified was Sean Berland.
Gerry Berland's son.
So what are you saying? Well I'm partly guessing, of course, but erm from what I learnt from the school, it seems that Brian went to a dog fight with Sean and the other lads some months ago when they were all friends.
But Brian was so disgusted by what he saw that he ended the friendship.
And came to me to volunteer.
Mm-hm.
Now, it seems that either Sean or his father thought that Brian was the one who tipped us off.
No.
No, surely not.
(Sighs) What have I done? No, no.
It's not what you've done.
You didn't know any of this at all.
I'm part of it my actions.
We we did the right thing but you're telling me because of that, Brian is dead.
No.
Look, you can't think like that.
- It's under control, Tom.
- What? My solicitor's in there.
He knows what he's doing.
Neil didn't have anything to do with what happened.
He doesn't need a solicitor.
It won't cost you, Tom.
What do you mean cost me? Look, it's all sorted, all right? In the meantime, do what any good solicitor will tell you and just say nothing.
Just go home, Tom.
I'll call round and see you and Carolyn later.
You have my client's statement.
It records everything he did yesterday afternoon in detail.
It tells you exactly where he was.
It also gives the names of people who saw him and can vouch for him.
Mm.
They all knew his father, Gerry Berland, right? Since he was cleaning vans at his father's garage, that shouldn't come as a surprise.
(Frost chuckles) Half the people in this statement have got criminal records as long as your arm! Mr Berland is a man who believes in giving people a second chance.
Anything wrong with that? There's a lot wrong with this statement.
The speed it was produced, for a start.
I can say the same about the speed in which you put my clients in front of an identity parade.
I will be saying it too.
I don't believe any of that.
And do you know why? Because I have a witness who saw you and Neil at the same place where Brain Shanklin was stabbed.
Cos that's where you were, Sean.
Weren't you? Got anything to say? Mr Viner is shaking his head.
What about the argument you and Sean had with Brian at the school? I didn't have any argument.
Did you speak to Brian Shanklin? Why would I? He wasn't a mate.
Did you hear Sean threaten him? No.
- Ever been to a dog fight? - Inspector, we've already established where both my clients were yesterday.
If you need clarification, they will assist but if you're proposing a fishing expedition, I would advise them to only answer questions that directly relate to why you brought them here.
What I propose, Mr Salmond, is an investigation into the murder of Brian Shanklin in which your two clients were at the scene of the crime.
Now, I need answers to all the questions I ask, no matter how long it takes.
(Hissing) (Dog barks) Lovely day, Mrs Moorhead.
Mine's not been great.
But then you'd know all about that, wouldn't you? What do you want, Mr Berland? Oh, we've got a lot more than animals on our minds, haven't we? Why did it happen? Why did what happen? You know Brian Shanklin is dead.
I don't think you'd be here unless you knew something about who killed him.
I know absolutely nothing about Brian Shanklin.
All I know, it's got nothing to do with my son.
You think I'm happy about what this could mean for your son and his friend? I'm not, Mr Berland.
Save it for your cats and your canaries.
This isn't something we can argue about.
Look, Neil and Sean are innocent.
- You shouldn't be here.
- What good does it do you banging up my son? Unless it's for revenge on me.
What do you think I am? I've always admired the way animals fight to protect their young whatever it takes.
Frost.
Christine.
What? When? No, no, no.
You stay there.
I'm coming over.
No.
It's all right.
No, I'm on my way.
(Smashing) - How long, Mr Frost? - I don't know.
Just wait.
- It's your money.
- Not if I can help it.
Good evening, sir.
- Ah, is Gerry still here? - Who shall I say? Never mind.
I'll find him myself.
- You can't just barge in, sir.
- Can't I? You just watch me.
Inspector Frost.
Always a pleasure.
Mi casa es su casa.
- I am so sorry, Mr Berland.
- It's all right, Della.
Just piss off.
Now, either your solicitor is not earning enough, Mr Berland, or you don't listen to what he says.
You know what I love about you, I never understand a word you're saying.
If you so much as say hello to Christine Moorhead, or even look at her, I will arrest you.
Sorry.
That was that was stupid but as a parent, you can imag Of course you're not.
Right.
Right.
But I just wanted to speak to her parent to parent, you know what I'm saying? Intimidation was never in my mind.
She made a mistake.
I'm interested to know why you should think that Mrs Moorhead is a witness.
It's not a secret, is it? No.
If she was a witness, the only people who would know that would have been at the scene of the crime.
Mm? You told me I'd be attacked in a court.
You didn't tell me I'd be threatened.
Bullies don't impress me much but on top of everything Well, he won't go near you again.
Are there any other witnesses? No.
I wish it wasn't just me for all sorts of reasons.
Still Look, we'll keep a close eye on you.
We'll have patrol cars going past your house, beat officers as well.
Berland will know that.
Oh, and there'll be me too.
That'll put him off.
Thanks, Jack.
All right.
Have you eaten? No.
Do you fancy an Indian? Yeah, sure.
Oh, good.
I'll just get my coat.
Thanks.
Good morning, Marek.
Er, that difficulty with the RSPCA woman I told you about, it's just not working out.
- She's not getting the message.
- OK.
You may have to lean on her a bit harder, OK? - That's not a problem.
- Good man.
He's arranged a solicitor for Neil, can you believe that? Not a word to me.
I can't talk to my son.
Yet Gerry Berland has got his solicitor in there with him.
- Perhaps it's best.
- Why? I don't believe this has anything to do with Neil.
I can't find Neil's clothes.
I know what he was wearing when he went out yesterday.
I know what trousers he had on.
They are not in the house.
- I know what shirt.
I have looked everywhere.
- You want to talk about washing? I am talking about the fact that every piece of clothing our son was wearing yesterday has disappeared.
You don't need to ask me why I do it, Jack.
- You know why already.
- Do I? Fluffy bunnies.
I work for the RSPCA because I'm a woman who simply adores fluffy bunnies.
No, sorry.
Don't do sarcasm.
I don't confuse animals with people.
Animals fight and kill to survive.
They're not vicious or perverted or cruel for fun, or because they're too lazy to care.
So they need protection? Well, aren't you out there because if you weren't people would be even more unpleasant than they are? Mm.
Yeah, well, there is that.
Also, to give people directions when they get lost.
Once upon a time.
We know that how we treat animals is part of how we treat each other.
Truth or dare.
What do you mean? Why are you a policeman? And don't tell me it's because you couldn't think of anything else to do.
No, it was because of the uniform but I looked so scruffy in it, they put me in CID.
Why? I don't know why.
It's just ever since I was about 14, it was something I wanted.
I had no theories why it mattered.
I just believed that it did.
- And did it? - Well, on a good day.
I seem to have spent most of my life with the worst things that people do to each other.
I shouldn't be surprised by it but I still am.
Exactly.
Well, that means it still matters.
Yeah.
Well, it's just part of the job, that's all.
But it is something to do with truth, you know, when bad things happen to people.
That's the least that they deserve.
Sometimes it's it's all there is.
You're laughing at me.
No.
No.
It's just when you said that, you looked I don't know younger.
- Now you are laughing at me! - No! Anyway, look, it's erm You know, it's getting late, isn't it? I think we er I'll get the bill.
I didn't realise the time.
Why don't I get this? No, no, no.
Excuse me.
Well, next time I pay.
- I'll just get my coat.
- All right.
The boys attacked Brian Shanklin because of you you and dog fighting? Oh, come on, Tom.
You stopped wiping Neil's arse a long time ago.
He's a clever lad.
It's his business what he does.
You made Neil lie to the police and you've come here to tell us that after your son knifes another boy, Neil has to keep lying to the police? We all do? That's exactly right.
If Sean was carrying a knife, then Neil was the boy who pushed Brian Shanklin onto it.
That's what happened.
Well, I'm not taking it.
Neil has to tell the truth.
There's no choice.
Damn it.
Good-looking lad like Neil going into prison.
(Tuts) What about his place at Oxford? That's gone, isn't it? You understand what I'm saying, don't you? Oh, I get the threat.
Good.
Cos you need to.
Morning.
Keep the change.
Ah! Just the man I want to see.
- Can I give you these, sir? - What do I want with these? These are taxi receipts, sir.
Apparently somebody decided to stick a knife in a couple of my tyres last night, not to mention the brick through the kitchen window.
That's terrible, Jack.
Do you know who? Have you caught anyone? No.
No, a neighbour of mine saw someone running down the back alley of his house.
Couldn't get a description.
Anyway, Uniform are on the case.
Obviously somebody that I upset some time ago.
There's a long list.
Well, you seem to be taking it very nonchalantly, Jack.
If there's anything I can do to help Yes, there is actually, sir.
You could pay these taxi receipts.
Thanks very much, sir.
- Jack.
- Sir? I assume none of these taxis were of a personal nature.
Nothing I ever do is of a personal nature, sir.
Oh, by the way, I'll let you have the bill for the kitchen window and the new tyres later.
Are you sure you want to go to school today? I mean, there's no pressure on you.
It's fine if you do but if you just wanted to stay at home I don't know.
I think we'd both like to see our friends for a bit.
Yeah, but I don't want to get into all the counselling stuff.
Well, see how it goes today.
You can always finish this afternoon, go to your dad's a day early.
Have you spoken to him about Brian? He'd already heard something on the news.
He didn't believe it could be our school.
Well, nobody can.
No.
But I'll phone him.
I'm sure he'll be able to get over and pick you up.
Are you gonna be all right? Oh, yeah.
I'll be fine.
I've still got to talk to the police again.
Best thing if I go into work, really.
Not give myself time to think.
I'll be fine, guys, really.
I'm sure you will.
What's that supposed to mean? - The mysterious Inspector Frost.
- Oh! What's mysterious about Jack? Nothing.
Your parents are here.
Do I have to? You don't have to, no.
- Morning.
- Inspector Frost? - Mm? - Have you seen Mr Trigg yet? No.
And unless he's matched Gerry Berland up with a dozen armed robberies, tell him he's missed me, or will have done in half an hour.
It's about what happened at your house.
He told me about it.
Why, does he know some cheap glaziers? Well, he's concerned.
He remembered something very similar happening before.
(Sighs) All right.
Come on.
- Whose is that? - Mr Trigg's.
All right.
I'll drink it on the way.
Thank you.
Oh.
Er Um 16 years ago there was a spate of attacks on our cars.
I know because I was a serving officer at the time.
I had my tyres shredded and a key run along both sides.
It was only six months old, an' all.
Yeah, I remember.
Mine was done at the same time.
Mm.
That brick through your kitchen window Jenny, give me the cards, please.
Ta.
I put her onto this first thing.
- Half an hour and she had the lot.
- Well, you did give me the dates.
- Oh, yes.
I suppose I did.
- Remember? - (Giggling) - Oi, oi, oi, oi, you two! I know we've got two people of exceptional talent in this office but what is the relationship between punctured tyres and kitchen windows 16 years ago? Because it's like the underpass, a crime that happened a long time ago, a crime that was never solved.
Well, not for a long time.
A crime that has happened exactly the same way now as it did then.
Yeah, well? A lot of coppers had their tyres done back then.
But only one had a brick through their kitchen window.
That was you, Jack.
You never liked too many coincidences.
I think we've got too many here.
He'll be home soon.
But for how long? Lt'll be over.
I promise.
She saw them, Gerry.
I don't think she's as sure as all that.
I think she'll come to that conclusion herself.
Jack, it's me.
Everything's fine.
Well, not really.
Erm If you want that meal, come round.
I know you're busy.
I'm supposed to be but Anyway, give me a ring when you get this message.
Inspector Frost? Yes? What's going to happen? You've seen him? Yes.
He will be charged.
- Then will he come home? - I don't know.
It's up to the court to decide whether they'll grant bail or not.
Are you going to oppose bail? I don't know whether you think that lying is the best way to deal with this or you're too stupid to realise that you'll make matters worse.
Because you will.
I just couldn't believe it when the kids phoned me last night.
They must be in a state of shock.
Well, we all are.
They've been in to school today but I think getting away's going to be best.
So, if you could take them out a bit - Why didn't I think of that? - Oh, all right.
You know what I mean! (Sighs) You all right? Er, not exactly, Allen.
That was a stupid question, wasn't it? Sorry.
I just haven't I haven't got my head round this.
Have I got this right? You knew the boys who did this? No, I didn't know them but I recognised them in the line-up.
You Oh, my Well, I bet that wasn't easy.
- It wasn't.
- Hi, guys.
- Hi, Dad.
- You have a good time.
- Don't worry about me.
- See you later.
- You sure, Mum? - I'll be fine.
Talk to you later.
Bye.
Seatbelts! That was very good timing, Jack.
- Oh, was that er, Sophie and um - Joshua.
- Joshua.
- And their father.
Oh, well, it'll give them something all to talk about.
All right.
I don't know what you're so worried about, Sophie.
It doesn't look like she's going to be on her own.
- I think that was Inspector Frost.
- That's what I meant.
Erm, what's this all about? Well, he's not just a policeman.
Mum's always going on about him.
Oh, gossip! Right, Sophie, you will tell all.
The kids were due to go to Allen on Friday anyway.
Didn't seem much point sending them in to school, not with what's going on.
How old are they? Josh is just 16.
Sophie's 14.
They didn't really know Brian but you just don't know how something like this is affecting them.
Where does he live? Your ex, I mean? Surrey.
Just round the M25.
Grim, isn't it? The ex.
It's not where any of us think we'll end up.
But it's been a long time.
Over 10 years.
It's OK.
- Eventually ran out of things to argue about.
- And the kids? Oh, sorry.
For a man who spends his life asking questions, I choose the wrong ones sometimes.
No.
Erm They're fine, most of the time.
You come to terms with the fact that the life you're asking them to live isn't the one they want.
- Excuse me.
- Oh, sorry.
I don't like what we did to them.
I've forgiven Allen most things but Oh not such a bad question after all.
Right.
Hope you like salad.
Oh, yes, fine.
That's nice.
Great.
Yeah.
Um, so what don't you eat? Well, anything that's green or does you good, basically.
Especially salad.
Yeah, well, I've never found a takeaway that does a good salad.
So, what happened to your car? Somebody thought that I didn't need tyres.
Drunks probably.
Anyway, they got away pretty quick.
No, I'm like everybody else.
You know? Some things are not as high on the police's list of priorities as you'd like.
Well, that's not exactly reassuring.
But some things are.
You are.
My mum and dad died a very long time ago now.
They were Denton born and bred.
Well, a bit like me.
I think the furthest they ever went in their life was a day trip to Bournemouth.
You never wanted to leave? No.
Well, you know, sometimes.
I always used to think that no matter how far you go, you always meet the same people there.
(Chuckles) Yeah, my mum died a long time ago too.
She was living with us when Allen and I got married.
She was in the early stages of Alzheimer's.
It wasn't bad then, but When we knew Josh was on the way, we put her in a home.
But I look back sometimes and wonder if Josh was more an excuse than a reason.
I don't believe that.
I've got nothing but admiration for people who deal with things like that.
Well, if you have to do it you do.
My wife died at home.
You looked after her? It wasn't the real thing.
That's a terrible thing to say.
No.
Things started to go wrong before she became ill.
I was going to leave.
The only reason I didn't is because she was dying.
You stayed.
You didn't have to.
Anyway, er, look, that was a great meal! But I must go because I'm on duty.
Yeah, me too.
Right.
I've got a patrol car keeping an eye on the house and on the clinic.
You've got my telephone number should you need me.
- Right.
- Right.
So, well, thank you, once again.
- OK.
- Erm Well We we just seem to be getting into deep water, I don't know why.
Don't you? Oh, right, I (Clears throat) Yeah, well Thanks.
Right.
Now, we need a charge on the Brian Shanklin murder.
I'm going to have to let those boys go if there isn't one.
All right.
I'll charge them tomorrow.
Mrs Moorhead is obviously a reliable witness but the alibis are extensive.
Any chance of a confession? No.
Afraid not.
Look, when we get into court, I'm not so sure that Sean Berland will stand up to cross-examination.
He's very shaky.
But the other one, of course, he's as cool as a cucumber.
Someone must have seen something.
Yeah, but the thing is, Berland has put the word about that if anyone says anything, they'll regret it.
So, there's nothing.
(Sighs) I don't think that Neil's parents want to go along with it at all.
They know the truth but they're frightened of Berland.
He's sailed very close to the wind, showing us he knows that Mrs Moorhead is our only witness.
But listening to rumours isn't a crime.
That's all he'll admit to.
We just can't get near him.
Under different circumstances, I'd let Mrs Moorhead think about giving her evidence anonymously.
Too late now.
Yeah, well, she's going to need extra protection.
Berland hasn't been idle.
Neither has his solicitor.
Mr Salmond has a complaint with the chief constable you and Mrs Moorhead.
Saying what?! It paints you as an officer with an obsessive grudge, and her as an animal-rights lunatic who cares more about animals than people.
Ah, but no judge is going to listen to that, is he? Take a jury that doesn't want to believe that two boys like their sons and grandsons killed another boy, like their sons and grandsons.
Witnesses swear the boys were cleaning vans.
Tearful parents swear their boys are little angels.
Confuse the truth with an alleged grudge, what have you got? Recipe for a jury that can't make up its mind.
(Unzipping) (Cat meows) (Cat meows) Agh! No! Please stop! All right, go on.
Take him away.
(Laughter) What's up with you lot? Moggy.
Come on.
Just get on with it.
Er, yes, here we are.
Philip Richard Headen.
42.
Several injuries to the face and head consistent with blows from a blunt instrument.
Paint flecks suggest tyre lever or crow bar.
Fairly new.
Skull fractured in two places.
There and underneath.
Death resulted from haemorrhaging of blood and cerebral oedema.
Any evidence of the attacker, you know, blood or tissue? There was blood under the fingernails but not the victim's.
So, all you have to do is find out who it belongs to.
Oh, and there was hair on the clothing.
Human and otherwise.
Otherwise? What do you mean by otherwise? Felis silvestris catus.
What's that mean when it's at home? A cat.
Don't go berserk, you know? We're just making a point.
Give it an hour.
It'll be empty by then.
(Phone rings) Hello, Jack.
No, I'm still here.
Yeah, just about to finish and go home.
You too.
See you soon.
(Sighs) So there's nothing missing from upstairs? Doesn't look like it, does it? No, no.
Just the TV and the hi-fi from down here.
First glance, kids, I reckon.
Was there any money in the house? Just a few quid in the kitchen drawer.
What time did you say the CID boys were gonna get here? I don't think they'll be able to get out tonight, sir.
Oh, really? Well, you can tell them to get off their arses and get down here or my solicitor will be waking up Superintendent Mullett first thing tomorrow morning.
The next time I see him on the golf course, I might mention you as well.
Sir.
(TV) (Dog barks) Hey.
Hey, hey.
Oh, come on.
What's the matter with you? You're keeping everyone awake.
Shh.
Have some biscuits.
There's a good boy.
Good boy.
Go on.
Shh.
Now you sleep tight, OK? See you tomorrow.
(Barks) Ah, Georgie.
I didn't know you worked without the organ grinder winding the handle.
Come on in here.
My favourite girls.
Come on, then.
There you go.
No, don't fight.
(Barking) Oh my God! (Fire alarm) (Barking) Come on.
Sally, out you come.
Here you go.
Come on, then.
Come on.
Budge.
Here you go.
(Phone rings) Frost.
Jack, there's a report of a fire at the RSPCA centre.
I'm on my way there now.
(Barking) (Coughing) Come here, then.
Out.
There's a good boy.
Out.
Go on.