Silent Witness (1996) s15e06 Episode Script

This is a human bone.
Where did you get this? It's not about me.
It's my mum.
They came from Arnold Mears.
- I thought he was in prison.
- He is.
You know why you're here, Annie? He said there were more bodies than the three he'd been tried for and he wanted to tell me where they were.
And you never told the police? Helen Karamides has been accused of retaining tissue samples from dead infants.
I've brought you something.
It's some research.
I'd like your opinion on it.
You take such an interest in me, Doctor.
Is that professional? Or personal? Silent Witness Season 15 - Episode 06 "Paradise Lost" Parte 2 Who the hell is that? - You took your time.
- Yeah.
I tend to be a bit busy at 5.
30 am.
What's the plumber's mate still doing here? Long story.
Right, so this plumber's guy collects body parts? - His mother does.
- Sorry, obviously, no the plumber guy mother collects Annie Farmer was Arnold Mears's appropriate adult.
Arnold Mears? I thought appropriate adults were for - juveniles with absent parents.
- Well, apparently under the Mental Health Act, it's standard procedure.
When the police arrested Mears, he was obviously disturbed and someone classified him as vulnerable.
Vulnerable? So, what do you think you've got here? I've only just started examining them, but four individuals.
Approximately 15 bones each.
And Mears went down for how many? Three counts of murder.
All women under 20.
Right, so these four making seven? - 12.
- 12.
Mears told Annie that he's killed 12 girls altogether.
And you believe him and her, for that matter? I don't know.
But it's worth finding out more, isn't it? I can send samples for DNA comparison with the - missing persons database.
- This is police business.
I know.
But Annie says that if we get the police involved, then Mears will stop talking and we'll never know the final figure.
Apparently, he calls these hand bones his souvenirs.
Then when she's collected all of them, he'll tell her where the rest of the bodies are.
Right.
She's been digging up these bones for five years, Harry.
So, the idea is that once she's collected a kind of full house in this game of finger bingo, then he will come clean and reveal the whereabouts of the rest of these bodies? Come on.
He's just playing a game with her, isn't he? Maybe you're right.
But if you won't help, he will destroy my mum.
Hello? What? When? She came to see me last night.
I didn't think she What happened? Nothing really.
We talked.
She was angry.
At me, I thought.
She gave me a package containing some research material.
I didn't open it.
What was she looking at on the computer? Good morning, Dr.
whoever you are.
I sort of hope it's you, Leo, and I sort of hope it isn't.
Because if it is someone else, then you'll only be interested in the what, not the why.
The dosage.
The temperature.
The alcohol.
I could save you the trouble.
But if it isn't someone else, Leo, then you might as well know that in the cabinet over there are all the tissue samples you youcorrectly allege I retained without proper permission.
I wrote to tell her that the Institute was opening disciplinary proceedings against her.
Yes, I ducked out of asking bereaved parents if I could section the brains of their dead infants.
Yes, it was improper and unethical.
But I knew, in the very fibre of my bones, that only a thorough practical study of infant brain tissue could shed light on why some infants die, not necessarily because they've been shaken but for some reason we don't yet understand, causing untold misery to some parents and in a few cases, unspeakably cruel miscarriages of justice.
Maybe some pathologist will carry on my work.
Maybe even you, Leo.
So, I've counted out ten milligram each.
I intend to ingest them with, what, at least 500 millilitres of Scotch.
So, what is the correct salutation in these circumstances? Cheers? Good health? - Or just good night and good luck? - Please turn it off, will you? Catherine Morrison.
Harriet Green.
Louise Alsop.
Why do they sound so familiar? Arnold Mears's victims.
Arnold Mears? The guy who killed several girls a few years ago.
Helen was the pathologist on the case.
What? I'll get some paint, do it up nice.
Like a proper bedroom again.
Maybe I should go and see him one last time.
No.
That's that's all over with now.
- Maybe he could help us.
- Help us? What with? You didn't tell him about Tina, did you? Course not.
So, these bones you're talking about are evidence of crimes, - of multiple crimes.
- Yes.
Why haven't you shown them to the police? Annie Farmer asked me not to.
- Come on.
- I was about to, and then you called This is not your fault, Leo.
Is this the letter you wrote her? - Yes.
- She hasn't opened it.
She had opened this.
Which is odd.
"And, this once known, shall soon return, "And bring ye to the place "where thou and Death Shall dwell at ease.
" - Paradise Lost.
- Is it? - Who sent her that? - I think I can tell you.
I can confirm that a body has left the home of Dr.
Helen Karamides, the pathologist at the centre of the shaken baby controversy.
We have no details at the moment but it is not believed that the police regard this death as suspicious.
May we have a comment, please? A respected colleague of ours has passed away.
- It's too soon to comment.
- Is it connected to the court case? Is it true that she was about to be struck off? Like my colleague, I have nothing to say.
Dr.
Alexander, what has happened here? No comment.
1st July, 2011.
Interview between Helen Karamides and Arnold Mears.
Good morning, Doctor.
I'd like to go back to your family, Arnold.
You think the boy's unhappy because he's poor? No brothers and sisters.
You didn't have a mother.
I did have a mother.
Of course I did.
In a biological sense.
But how well did you know her? What was she like? You take such an interest in me, Doctor.
Is that professional? Or personal? Of course, I forget.
You're intimate with all your patients.
- I don't have patients.
- Oh, yes, you do.
Dead ones.
Slight yellowing of the eyes.
Spider nevus on the right hand.
On both hands.
Some reddening of the palms.
Do you think I'm mental, Doctor? I think you're ill.
So, it's not my fault? It's very difficult to prove that sort of thing.
Would you like to look inside my brain? You could prove it then, couldn't you? Perhaps.
There I'd be, sitting there on a shelf in your laboratory, in a glass jar.
My poor damaged brain looking down on you for eternity.
- Did you feel anything? - When? When With the women.
You mean when I cut them? Yes.
Did I feel anything? - Do you? - Well, that's different.
I'm a scientist.
Didn't you wonder what they felt? Do laboratory animals have feelings, Dr.
Karamides? You regard yourself as a scientist? I like that.
You and I are the same.
Like two little peas in a pod, with one small difference.
And what's that? You do the postmortems.
I do the pre-mortems.
Some enlargement to the liver.
Microscopic changes are consistent with the external indicators of liver disease seen on the initial examination.
All right, Arnold? Mum.
No.
Helen Karamides was utterly determined to prove her theory.
There's a mass of material.
MRI scans.
Statistical analyses.
Clinical reports.
And most intriguingly of all she was very, very interested in Arnold Mears.
She interviewed him for 40 hours.
- She could not keep away from him.
- Why? Judging by her PM reports on his victims, she was formulating a theory about Mears's personality.
She thought that he lacked affect - had no difference between pain and pleasure - - but that he wanted to find out.
- He experimented on his victims? Karamides thought so.
But then she made the most interesting discovery of all.
Take a look at this.
This is a scan of Arnold Mears's brain.
- Look at that.
- Scarring.
- On a massive scale.
- I've never seen anything quite like it.
Where did he get injuries like this? Fighting? Prison? Childhood? She thought he was a shaken baby.
That's why she was interviewing him.
Trying to find out about his childhood, trying to get inside his head.
He obviously got inside hers.
And you've examined these remains? Just a preliminary study, yes.
But the cuts and scratches on the distal bones are clearly visible.
- Indicating? - That Annie Farmer's story is probably true.
That they were hacked off by a blade of some kind.
- They were still alive? - Impossible to say.
Well, their suffering's over now, thank God.
Though not the agony their families went through.
But you've brought that one stage closer to resolution.
What are you going to do? Our job, I hope.
The way it should have been done in the first place.
The original team were so keen to put Mears away, they stopped at three bodies.
Didn't push him any further.
Understandable, I suppose.
But a case isn't over till it's over.
- I'll be in touch.
- Thanks very much.
- You will be sensitive, won't you? - Sensitive? Well, it's just that Annie Farmer told me all this in confidence.
Mrs.
Farmer should have gone to the police a long time ago.
I know, but as I was trying to explain, - she didn't feel she was able to.
- Try telling that to the families.
Concealing evidence is a serious offence.
Dr.
Alexander feels, we all think, that Mrs.
Farmer acted from the best motives.
I'll do what I can.
But our priority has got to be finding where Mears buried these poor women.
Of course.
H264.
Open up.
"So pondering, "and from his armed peers Forth stepping opposite, "halfway he met His daring foe, "at this prevention more Incensed "and thus securely him defied.
" What's all that about? It's from Book VI.
The very heart of the poem.
Where the Son of God charges Satan and his legions, - drives them into hell.
- Fascinating.
You read that to those girls before you hacked their hands off? No.
I read it to myself.
What can I do for you? You went down for three murders.
- But there were more, weren't there? - It's all a bit of a blur.
You don't remember how many women you killed? I've got a medical condition.
Something wrong with my brain.
I tried to get my head around it, but there's something wrong with my brain.
Well, let me help you.
We have evidence that you murdered as many as seven young women.
I'm offering you the chance to tell us where they are.
- Seven, you say? - At least.
No, I'm sorry.
Nothing's coming.
Maybe you made a mistake.
We have scientific evidence.
- What evidence? - Bones.
From the hands of at least four individuals.
You've been talking to Annie Farmer.
Hello? You're not answering my calls, Annie.
Are you bored of me? No.
No, of course not.
Have you found someone else to talk to? What? I had a visit from a policeman.
I told you what would happen if you talked to them.
I didn't talk to the police, I swear.
The policeman mentioned your name.
He was very specific.
We've known each other a long time, Annie.
I would hate to think we couldn't trust each other any more.
You can.
You can.
You can trust me.
I do hope so.
Because if I thought I couldn't, we wouldn't have our little chats.
Just when you were about to get exactly what you wanted.
Am I? Yes.
Do you want to visit me today? We can talk about Tina.
Really? Yes.
Just tell me who you were talking to.
Then we can have our chat.
Dr.
Alexander.
Nikki, Nikki Alexander.
- Everything all right? - Just a couple more questions, - if you wouldn't mind.
- Of course.
For Dr.
Alexander.
- It's about Annie Farmer.
- What about her? I've spoken to the governor of the secure unit where Mears is being held.
Mrs.
Farmer has visited him 31 times in the last three years.
Now, that's almost once a month.
I told you, she feels she's got to.
And I've checked with the other prisons where Mears has been held, and there's a similar pattern.
She can't stop.
That's the point.
Now, I'd say that was a pretty full diary, even for a wife or a partner.
What are you implying? I just need to be sure we're not dealing with a romantic obsession here.
- What? - She's a lonely woman.
- It wouldn't be the first time.
- I don't think that Annie's like that.
Or maybe she just enjoys the attention.
What, you're saying that she digs up bones to make herself look important? He was her moment of glory.
She wants to hang on to it.
- Have you been to see him? - Obviously, I've re-interviewed him.
Did you tell him about Annie? I'm back, Mum.
Mum? Mum.
Does she seem familiar? It's difficult.
Do you think you remember her? Yes.
I remember her.
- What's the matter? - Mum's gone to him.
- Are you sure? - He rang when I was there.
I know it was him.
They've got a code, a signal he uses when he wants her.
- She ignored it.
- So? He rang back after I'd gone out.
- How do you know? - Because I just know.
And this time she's taken Tina's picture with her.
Who's Tina? - My sister.
- Your sister? She left home when she was 16.
Walked out one morning after her and Mum had a row, and that was that.
You think that Mears has got something to do with her disappearance? No, I don't.
I think she's just out there somewhere.
I tried to tell Mum this, but it's almost like she wants it to be true.
To end the not knowing.
She thinks it's fate that took her to Mears.
- God's will.
- Andy, the best people to help your mum now are the police.
No.
I told you, didn't I? If the police find out, he'll punish her.
You don't know his power.
He's poison.
He can make her do anything he likes.
Andy, the police are already involved.
They've spoken to Mears.
And they will help your mum, I promise you.
I'm sorry.
We had to do tell them, no choice.
But I trusted you.
Mum trusted you.
I took you to her.
I I thought you'd help us.
These are human bones, evidence of terrible crimes.
I'm talking about my mum.
He knows.
You've given her away.
He'll find a way to kill her now.
I'll never forgive you.
Where is she? Please.
Tell me, please.
Where did you bury her? I'm not finished.
Tell me.
Please tell me where she is! = A little goodbye kiss.
- Go on.
Tell me.
Please.
Come on, come on.
Please.
Yep.
You're quite sure she's not still in the building somewhere? OK.
Thanks.
She's already left the prison.
Probably gone home.
- Leo? - Yep.
I'm worried about Annie Farmer.
- Why? - Her son's just come to see me.
And he's convinced that Mears is going to punish her for talking to me.
How? He's in prison.
Look what happened to Helen Karamides.
Mum? Where are you? Look, call me.
Call me.
Please.
- Harry? - What? The DNA results from the bones have come through.
They've all been identified from the missing persons database.
- Good.
- Arnold Mears's DNA - is all over them.
- Very good.
Hang on.
Look at this.
DNA from the bit of cloth.
- And that's not Mears's.
- Contamination.
But it's very close.
And whoever it is, they're not on the national database.
Probably borrowed someone's handkerchief some time and then used it later to wrap the bone.
Mears lived alone.
He was a loner.
The police argued he was the classic solitary killer.
But maybe someone helped him.
Well, you think that's an accomplice? A family member? It's possible, isn't it? I mean, you heard that policeman.
The original team was so desperate to put Mears away that they stopped at three bodies.
If they didn't follow that up, then maybe they missed this, too.
- Mr.
Gladwyn? - Yes? Hi.
My name's Nikki Alexander.
I'm a forensic pathologist.
I wondered if I could talk to you? - What about? - About Arnold Mears.
- I don't think so.
- Mr.
Gladwyn! Annie Farmer's been visiting him in prison and now she's gone missing.
I need your help.
Do you remember Annie Farmer? The things that poor woman had to listen to.
The foulest things.
And the tone of his voice as he said them.
What she was doing there I'll never understand.
It was hard enough for us.
Two of my lads asked to be taken off the case.
But he loved it.
Couldn't wait to confess.
Every last detail.
We've discovered some new forensic evidence, which raises some questions.
Did you ever suspect that he had an accomplice? An accomplice? Another Arnold Mears? God forbid.
Did you think that there might have been more victims? I tried to kill him, you know.
He admitted that he'd killed three girls.
He told us what he'd done to them, the things they said, how they died.
He enjoyed seeing the look on our faces.
Did you ask him if he'd killed any others? Of course, but he just smiled his stupid smile and started reciting poetry.
I called a break, told my DC to go and get some coffee, I put my fingers round his neck and started strangling him.
- What happened? - The DC came back, pulled me off.
Mears just laughed.
He'd won.
I felt soiled.
We were just glad to put him away and forget about him.
And I suggest you do the same.
Can I help? Is there anything in here about Arnold Mears's family background? - Why are you interested? - DNA suggests he might have had an accomplice, a family member.
The police would have mentioned it, wouldn't they? What happens if they didn't know about it? I think he might have bluffed them.
Apparently, he was so graphic when they were questioning him, they just wanted to put him away.
But maybe he was protecting someone, distracting them so that they never asked the right questions.
And? Well, whoever he is, this accomplice might still be out there and Mears might be sending Annie to him.
Well, during her interviews, Helen asked several times about the family.
But he was always very evasive.
She was convinced that he'd been abused as a child so she carried on the investigation.
Looks like his mother died in childbirth.
No siblings.
He was brought up by his father.
Still alive? Yes.
It won't take long, will it? It's just he gets very tired.
It's just a quick swab, that's all.
Mr.
Mears? Mr.
Mears? Mr.
Mears, I'm Nikki Alexander.
I'm a pathologist.
This is my colleague, Harry Cunningham.
Did someone tell you we were coming, did they? Yes.
We want to ask you some questions about your son, Arnold.
Don'tdon't tell him I'm here, will you? Don't worry.
We won't.
- When did you last see him? - It wasn't my fault.
What wasn't your fault? Anybody would have loved her.
She was so beautiful.
She went away.
Did you help your son, Mr.
Mears? Yeah, of course I did! I did everything I could for the boy! But he had Satan here inside of him! But you won'tyou won't tell him I'm here, will you? For God's sake, for God I'm sorry.
I'm so sorry.
Can we take the swab, Mr.
Mears? Yes.
- What do you think? - I don't know.
It doesn't seem very likely, does it? But if not him, then who? The DNA will confirm it.
Yes, but that will take time and meanwhile, we have no idea where Annie is.
And if he wasn't the accomplice, then? Hang on a minute.
Excuse me.
How long has Mr.
Mears been a resident here? Well, he was here when I started, about seven years ago.
- Has he always been this frail? - For as long as I've known him.
Has he ever gone out much? Outside the home, do you mean? Staying with family, that sort of thing.
He's never been beyond the seat at the bottom of the garden.
Any further than that, and he wouldn't be able to find his way back again.
Thanks.
Look at this.
Arnold Mears, aged nine years and three months, admitted to hospital with severe concussion on 10th May, 1957.
An accident while playing, is what it says here.
But the police suspected that the father might be responsible.
Well, he may or may not have beaten him up when he was a kid, but It wasn't the father.
It definitely - wasn't Mears's accomplice.
- No.
- Any another members of the family? - There don't appear to be any.
Where did the accident happen? The hospital was in Ladbroke Grove.
No home address.
Mr.
Mears appears to have been a verger at St Chad's.
That's a church down the road.
If I remember rightly, there's an entry in Helen's diary.
Yes, here we are.
She went there three days before she died.
Did she find anything out? Who knows? "let each His adamantine coat gird well, "and each Fit well his helm, "grip fast his orbed shield, Borne even or high, "for this day will pour down, "If I conjecture aught, no drizzling shower "But rattling storm of arrows barbed with fire.
" Excuse me.
Have you been coming to this church for a long time? Many years.
You don't remember someone called Arnold Mears, do you? You might know his name.
He's in prison now.
I think his father was the verger here some time ago.
Everybody knows about Arnold Mears.
Did you know him personally? I met him when he was a child.
- Later? - I wasn't here then.
Did you know if he had any brothers or sisters? Not that I've heard of.
Hehe was a lonely child.
So so I've heard.
Thanks.
Why are you asking all these questions? I'm doing some research.
To try to find out why he did what he did? Yes.
Well, there was another woman here last week asking the same questions.
- Yes, she was a colleague of mine.
- I I told her then everything I know.
I mean, he used to play here when his father was working.
Apparently, he had a terrible accident when he was nine.
Do you know if that happened here? In the crypt, I believe.
Do you know if he was mistreated as a child? I heard that he had no love from his father.
I used to feel sorry for him.
It's probably why he did all those dreadful things.
It still doesn't excuse what he did, though, does it? God can redeem any sinner.
No matter how grave the sin.
Thank you for your help.
I'm so sorry.
I need to take this call.
I'll go up.
- Right.
- Thanks.
Mum! Mum! Mum! Mum! Nikki.
I've got some news.
- Have they found Annie? - No.
No, it's Mears.
He's decided to reveal where the remaining bodies are.
- Right.
- On one condition.
What's that? He reveals them to you.
- Nikki? - Yes.
I'm here.
Don't make physical contact.
Don't give him anything or accept anything from him.
And don't tell him any personal details.
You don't have to do this, Nikki.
No one's going to think the worse of you.
It's OK.
Is there anything else? Yeah, ear piece.
Won't that make him suspicious? We won't be able to communicate with you, otherwise.
Don't worry.
I'll be fine.
- Good luck.
- Thanks.
- Mr.
Mears, I'm Dr - Dr.
Nikki Alexander.
Yeah.
I know all about you.
I did invite you, didn't I? Yes.
You did.
Did your bring your pencil and paper, like a good girl? No, of course you haven't.
Your friends next door will have taken care of all the clerical details, won't they? I hear you want to tell me where the bodies of your other victims are buried.
You're in a hurry.
You got somewhere to go? It's all right, you're perfectly safe.
I can't harm you.
He's taking control.
Doesn't matter if he tells her where the bodies are buried, does it? All right.
Let's talk about Annie Farmer.
Annie? Annie? Annie's gone, I'm afraid, and she won't be coming back.
- Where have you sent her? - I've sent her to find her long-lost daughter.
- No, you haven't.
- No, I haven't.
You've no idea where Tina is.
I was just being polite.
Trying to give her what she wanted.
To tell you the truth, I was getting a bit bored with Annie.
So, you're getting rid of her? Were you bored with Dr.
Karamides? Dr.
Karamides killed herself.
- Nothing to do with me.
- I think it was.
Why are you so concerned? - She a friend of yours? - She was a colleague.
Really? I saw you outside her house, on television.
Yes, I attended the scene of her death.
- In a professional capacity? - Yes.
You looked upset.
How did she look? Peaceful? Yes.
Liar.
It was pills and booze, wasn't it? What a way to die, eh? Face down in a pool of your own stomach contents.
Dr.
Karamides used to come and visit me quite often.
I think she was half in love with me.
Some women probably do find you interesting.
Exciting.
Do you? No.
- Then why are you here? - You invited me.
Well, maybe if you got to know me a bit better, you might come and visit me out of more than politeness.
Maybe I would.
How often would you visit me? Once a month? It would have to be more than that.
It'd be nice to have something to look forward to.
OK.
More than that, if you like.
We could talk about important things.
What made you happy, what made you sad.
Intimate things.
They'd never let us.
- Change the subject, Nikki.
- What's she playing at? Wait.
Wait.
They would, if it was about the bodies.
I could give you them, - one at a time.
- So, that would make At least.
You're lying.
I may not be an educated man, Dr.
Alexander, but I'm not stupid.
You lie to me again, I'll leave and that'll be the end of your precious Annie.
I don't like the way this is going.
I think she knows what she's doing.
Let's talk about your work.
Do you like it? - Yes.
- Cutting up bodies.
So do I.
Sometimes I cut them up before they were dead.
That was always the fun bit.
You had it easier, though.
Someone got rid of yours.
I had to get rid of mine all by myself.
That was always the difficult bit.
You managed, though, all by yourself.
Or did you have someone to help you? Well, listen, it's been lovely having this chat with you and the rest of the team, but I think this conversation is over.
He's told us nothing.
Come on! Don't you walk away from me! I went to St Chad's today.
That must have been a strange place to grow up.
A little boy all by himself.
Can't have been much of a childhood.
- I was happy enough.
- That's not what I heard.
- Who from? - An old lady I met there.
She said she felt sorry for you.
Well, I'm glad somebody does.
Arnold! Where are you? I know you're in here! You can stay in here.
I'm sorry.
Don't leave me here.
I promise to be good.
- Did your father beat you, Arnold? - What? Dr.
Karamides said she found scarring on your brain.
- Is that how you got it? - My dad? He wouldn't dare.
Is that the best you've got? Get me out of here.
Why did you bring this today? Well, you can't be too careful.
Last time I left it in my cell, I found a cop with his nose in it.
No, leave it alone! I said, don't touch it! To my dearest Arnold, from his loving Mother.
I thought she died when you were born.
Was it your mother who beat you? My mum loved me.
Mum! Where are you? Mum! Mum! But they sent her away.
Why? When my Dad got her pregnant.
She was 13.
They said she was a slut! Wouldn't let her see me! But she wanted to.
My mum, she loved me! She's the only one that ever did! So, how did you damage your brain? Who did that to you? I did! I did! - I did! - Mears! - I did! - Mears! I did! - Hold him! - Stop! Stop it! Arnold! Arnold! Where is she? Where's Annie? Hello? Nikki.
Where? Go away! I'm not here to hurt you.
Are you the police? No, I'm looking for my daughter.
Who sent you? Arnold Mears.
Arnold? My son? I tried to help him.
I wanted to, after what had happened to him.
That's why I came back.
You protected him.
It wasn't his fault.
Where is she? She's here.
Where? I kept her.
I couldn't let her go.
She was the last one and he he hadn't finished with her.
I didn't know what else to do.
She was still alive! - Tina! - She's all right.
I gave her food.
Water.
II cherished her.
I knew one day someone would come.
She's waiting for you.
Up there.
Mum! Where Tina.
Tina.
Mum! Mum? Tina's come back to us.
Mum, that'sthat's not Tina.
God has sent her back to me.
Annie? Are you OK? Mears' last victim.
Soon get you sorted out.
I'm not sure it is.
At least Annie's alive.
- Well done.
- What for? Mears has come clean about the remaining bodies.
It's over.
Hold it.
Stop.
Yeah, we got something.
"FOR NIKKI" My brother was an evil man.
I feel guilty about what he did.
Nikki! Leo, what is going on? Where are you? Do you really think that her work got her killed? - I can't prove anything.
- My daughter has spina bifida.
Are you personally gonna guarantee her safety? It's goes down but I'd rather for a bit of dealing than double murder.
My sense was that she'd made some kind of breakthrough.