Edge of Darkness (1985): Season 1, Episode 1 - Compassionate Leave - full transcript

There must be a reason
for that kind of behaviour.

He's scared shitless of jimmy.

In God's name, man,
I'm not asking much!

I'm asking you to delay the enquiry
until we get back from Blackpool.

It's only two weeks!

I've been in your office, Ronnie.
I've seen your workload.

You've got cases piled on your desk -
frauds, rapes, robberies.

You should welcome an opportunity
to get some of that cleared up.

I want to get THIS cleared up.

So do I - it were me
that wanted you called in, remember?

But poking around in Blackpool
during the Trades Union Conference?



- It's not on!
- It was fraud, jim!

We're talking about 300 bloody votes,

and what were my majority? 2,300!

Ronnie,
we're on the brink of another strike,

and you want to divert attention
to a so-called election fix

Is that what you want?

What are you trying to do, Ronnie?
Discredit the union?

Don't you think there's enough
people want to do that?

Stop playing by the rules, Ronnie.

They don't cover this contingency.

- Have you got a light, please?
- Yeah, sure.

Thank you.

There's someone down there.

Down the track, in the bushes.



Right. Are we agreed, then?

Can we have a show of hands,
then, brothers?

You chose a good one there, Harold.
He's stubborn but he's OK.

Not some clown trying to get himself
on " News at Ten".

It's going to be tough
over the next two weeks.

I'm not looking forward to it.
See you when I get back.

- Have a good trip.
- I will!

- I thought someone was down there.
- A bloody reporter more than like!

Didn't look like a reporter to me, boss.

Because of this week's clashes
with pickets,

Scotland Yard are investigating
complaints of police brutality.

Craven.

- Well?
- He wants it put off.

- Till when?
- Indefinitely.

- Did you agree?
- No.

I only agreed we won't go to Blackpool.

- What are you doing now?
- Picking up Emma. Why?

There was a geezer
hanging around you in the meet.

- Ross said it was a reporter.
- Maybe.

- I'll take a look.
- Don't catch pneumonia. It's pissing down.

Cheers, Derek.

The Government has launched
an election manifesto

to attract the growing Green vote.

"The Greening of England" calls for
a radical approach to the environment.

Students contribute, but not to the
kind of nuclear state that they want.

They face you with closure
and say it's in the name of economy.

I say look behind it.

Look at the mentality behind it
which is so suspect.

It is a siege mentality.

We see ministers winding up
the drawbridge on the open society...

Yesl

and threatening a rerun,
dare I say it, of the Middle Agesl

I say this, too, that I believe that
there are new forces in our society.

New forces, new loyalties, new ideas
not yet articulated

which may yet come to our rescue.

Some of them will come
from the Labour Party.

Some of them will come from other
associations perhaps not yet formed,

but I say this - that in whatever
shape these new forces manifest themselves,

they will come from you,
the despised students of humanities.

It is you and your generation

who will have to confront
the frightening dangers ahead,

you who will have to deal
with the dangers that I've outlined.

I believe you and your generation,
the new rising generation...

you do have the courage,
the optimism and the determination.

And I believe you will
do what the nation...

Comrades, sisters, I think we should
now put the motion to the vote.

Due to this latest crisis
in Western capitalism,

the corporation's running
a reduced bus service.

The last bus has been brought
forward by one hour.

May the tellers please
make themselves known?

Where's your coat?

Did you catch any of the speeches?

I got stuck in a crowd of your sisters.
It was difficult to concentrate.

You think of nothing but sex these days!

- Do I?
- You should try and grow out of it!

Why?

Because there are other things!

The whole world's falling around
your ears and you don't even care.

- What about the union enquiry?
- We're making progress.

- Are you going to Blackpool?
- No.

Good. The press would have had a field day.

I can't say I'm sorry.

Who's going to look
after you when I've gone?

I'll find some little number. Set her up.

- That's not funny!
- Give us your hand.

When are you going?

- Soon.
- Have you found someone?

Yep.

- What's he like?
- You wouldn't like him!

- What's for supper?
- Ratatouille.

I bet it's tinned! It always is,
and you always pretend it isn't!

- You can't tell the difference.
- Yes, I can!

Ready? Go!

I've got this new recipe!

You open a tin of tomatoes,
a tin of aubergines...

Craven, you bastard!
You bloody murdering bastard!

- It's your turn now!
- DON'T!

Don't ...tell.

I've known her since she were a kid.

He'd only been here about a year
when his wife died of cancer.

Jesus Christ! What can you say?

They'll give him extended leave,
I expect, until he gets sorted out.

Do me a favour.
Get out front and tell me if you see Ross.

It's all right. He's here.

- He's in there.
- How is he?

He won't budge.

Hello? Yeah, hold on a second, will you?

Hello, yes. Yeah.

Come on, Ronnie. Let's get out of here.

- This is no place for you.
- I'm staying.

Come back to my place. Get away from here.

I'm staying.

They've been turning out
as far as Newcastle. Everybody's out.

It was you he was after.

He called me out...

but she ran forward.

It was a shotgun.

He fired both barrels.

We'll get the buggers, Ronnie.

I promise you.

Forensic's finished, sir.

Just a couple of swabs, Ronnie.

I'll leave a man here.

I don't want anyone in the house,
and it's too wet for him out here.

They may be back.

I'll see you first thing in the morning.

Jones...

I want a car at the end
of the drive. Three men. Armed.

Hi, Dad, it's Emma.
I'll be at college till ten.

If it's still raining,
will you pick me up? Love you. Byel

Ratatouille?

And it's tinned, I bet!

Don't worry, Daddy.
I promised Mummy I'd look after you.

What will you do with the child? In your
job, you don't have enough spare time.

- We'll manage.
- Have you thought of boarding school?

I think you should sleep
with me tonight, Daddy.

I guess so.

♪ It was the time of the preacher

♪ When the story began

♪ The choice of a lady

♪ The love of a man

♪ And how he loved her so dearly

♪ He went out of his mind

♪ And she left him for someone

♪ That she'd left behind

♪ He cried like a baby

♪ He screamed like a panther
in the middle of the night

♪ And he saddled his pony

♪ And went for a ride

♪ It was the time of the preacher

♪ In the year of 01

♪ Now the preaching is over

♪ And the lesson's begun

♪ But he could not forgive her

♪ Though he tried and he tried
and he tried

♪ In the halls of his memory

♪ Still echo her eyes

♪ He cried like a baby

♪ He screamed like a panther
in the middle of the night

♪ And he saddled his pony

♪ And he went for a ride

♪ It was the time of the preacher

♪ In the year of 01

♪ Now the lesson is over

♪ And the killing's begun ♪

West Yorkshire police
station, can I help you?

My name is Pendleton. Could I have
a word with the Chief Constable?

I've had to stand down the night
watch, sir. They're dead on their feet.

That was Whitehall showing an interest.

- A man called Pendleton.
- There's nothing here for them.

- Are you sure?
- Yeah.

Who the hell is Pendleton?

I don't know, but he came
through on the direct line.

What's Godbolt doing here?
Doesn't he know what's going on?

I only heard news when I reached
conference. I came straight away.

I appreciate your coming.

As you know,
I lost a son down the pit at 20.

Sit down.

He'll be given a spot of leave -

you know, just to sort himself out -

which means he'll have
to come off your enquiry.

Well, I'll be sad to see him go.

It's difficult, investigating a union...

but Ronnie has a certain tact -
a rare quality in a Yorkshireman.

I know what you mean!

So, who's going to replace him?

He's a right evil bastard!
Don't worry about him.

How is it going, sir?

Well, there's plenty of stuff coming in,
but nothing really concrete.

- Any joy with the cartridge cases?
- No, we're still working on it.

Run that through the system. Let me know
as soon as you have something.

Give us a shout, Sue, if anything crops up.

Any news?

No.

Are you OK?

Ross has had us up all night
going through your notebooks.

He's convinced it's someone you put away.

It could be.

When you see him, will you give him
this list? It's the final selection.

- OK.
- Ron...

- Are you sure you're all right?
- I'm fine.

Poor bastard!

I had to stand them down, Ronnie.
They're away from here by now.

In London, I should think.

The road blocks will stay till noon.

Then I meet the press. Do you want to come?

I've been working on the assumption
that this was a grudge killing.

She stepped out in front of the gun.
That's what you said last night?

- Yeah.
- But it was aimed at you?

I'm sorry, sir. I'll come back later.

So it has to be someone on this list.

I want to get down to the college.
Pick up her stuff.

We should go through this list,
unless you think it's a waste of time.

This afternoon.

Is there anything
you want me to tell the media?

Just get her age right.

She was 21, not 19 as the radio put it.

There's a note from Muntsey.

The coroners are postponing
their report pending your identification.

- Can you manage that?
- I'll go down now.

- Are you sure?
- Yes, I'm sure!

Ronnie...

Officially, you have nothing
to do with this enquiry.

Unofficially, keep me informed.

Thank you, sir.

Here you are, Mr Craven.
I've taken out all the fat.

Thank you, Shirley.

It was such a shame.
She was such a little beauty.

C'mon, lass.

You'll have us all at it in a minute!

We bypassed casualty.

There's always some bright young
spark looking for kidneys.

She wouldn't have minded.

She's the property of the court now,

but tell that to someone
with a kid on a dialysis machine!

Ronnie, you're not
the first dad who's been down here.

- This is not a test in stiff upper lip.
- Let's get on with it.

I don't believe in repressing feelings.

Don't lecture me, Muntsey!

- Is this your daughter?
- Yes, sir, it is.

LEAVE IT!

What was the cause of death?

Shock, massive haemorrhaging.
The heart went into fibrillation...

I wanted to kiss you
but it would have embarrassed Muntsey,

so I asked for some scissors
and cut off a piece of your hair.

It was still damp, and despite the Glycol,
it smelt of rain and crushed grass.

She were a nice girl.
She had a nice smile an' all.

- And she never complained.
- Get lots of complaints, do you?

All the time. I open too late,
the showers are cold,

flickering lights - I'm not an
electrician - and dust on the court.

They'd have you on your hands
and knees if they could!

- Is this it?
- That's right.

Open it.

I'll get you something to put it all in.

- Who is it?
- Darius jedburgh.

Howdy!

- What the hell are you doing here?
- Just got back from Texas.

Brought you a present from Houston.
Satellite photos. Northmoor.

- The kid was right.
- The kid is dead.

She was killed last night by a gunman.

Latest reports suggest
he was after her father.

- He's a policeman.
- Reckon he knows about all this?

Into the washer.

Not thatl

The colours will runl

Put it on cold wash.

I've done that.

Godbolt.

- I'll just keep it warm for you.
- Nail him if you can.

- How long will you be away?
- A couple of weeks.

Break-ins, mostly kids. Craigmills area.

And that's the lot.

Thanks, Ronnie

I'm going to London.

Why?

That's where they'll be and I want
to be there when they're picked up.

Did Emma have a boyfriend?

Yes.

I don't know the latest.

Terry Shields, Gladomir Road, N10.

- The Met checked him out.
- And?

And they gave him a clean bill of health.

He's a political agitator, evidently.

What about this list?
I've narrowed it down from 50...

- Suppose it's none of them?
- I'm not with you.

Suppose it's nobody on the list?
Someone else?

So this has nothing to do with revenge?

I don't know.

OK. Look after yourself
while you're down there.

I'll let the Met know you're coming.
We'll be in contact daily.

I suppose there's nothing else
I should know before you go?

About Emma, for instance?

Not that I can think of.

I've only been to London on
two occasions not connected with business.

Both times with your mother.

The first time,
we went to Buckingham Palace

where I received a medal from the Queen.

The second time, we went to a hospital
on the Fulham Road for her operation.

We were there for six weeks,
and you stayed with your Auntie May.

What did the Queen say?

"You must be a very brave man, Inspector."

- Did she ask you to stay for tea?
- No!

All that way and no tea?

There was a reception -
we had tea but not with the Queen.

Ann Soames' dad says the Queen
isn't a friend of the miners.

- Ann Soames' dad is a Communist.
- What's a Communist?

Someone who doesn't like the Queen.

Ann Soames' dad says the Queen
is a waste of money.

What's money got to do with it?
Money doesn't come into it.

You would still be dead and so would Mum.

Don't cry, Dad.

I'm not.

It's only natural, but a city
seems to reflect one's memories of it.

Emma always connected London
with that trip to Buckingham Palace,

but I always associate it with cancer.

- Detective Inspector Craven?
- Yes.

Detective Inspector Dingle, C11.
Welcome to the monkey house!

Don't use the booze in the fridge.
This is cheaper.

- That's better!
- Who's paying for this?

We are. Could have put you up
in the section house, but what the hell?

Don't get to meet you lot very often.

When we do,
we like to make you feel at home.

I want to make it clear. I'm on leave.
I'm not part of the investigation.

Of course. I understand.

My guv'nor would like to see you anyway.
Soon as poss, he says.

He wants to sort out a few ground rules.

Mainly about the press.

I'm not giving interviews.

They're persistent buggers.

If you say no, they'll think
you're just raising the price.

Here's to a quick result.

It's in YOUR hands.

Of course.

See you tomorrow.

Which question are you asking first?

First Trident. It's three per cent
of the defence budget.

Six per cent of the equipment budget.

But three per cent of the defence budget.

We could not possibly get such good
deterrent value for that money

as we get in Trident.
Now, should we have Trident? Yes.

- Room 7016.
- Detective Inspector Craven?

- Speaking.
- I'd like a word with you.

- Who are you?
- My name is Pendleton.

Can you meet me in the car park now?

The alternative would be surrenderl

Supposing they threatened you
with their massive conventional forces?

Is our answer to rely
on the nuclear deterrent first?

The nuclear deterrent is
there to deter ALL war, and it has.

Pendleton?

Mr Craven!

We'll talk in my car.

Yours is bugged, like your phone!

We're safe in here. Chobham plate,
I'm told.

Are you from Six?

Good guess, but no. We're attached
to the Prime Minister's office.

Any ID?

No, but you can talk to Sir Maurice
if you like. He heads the office.

8-5-3... 3-5-1-2.

Where did you come across Six?

- Northern Ireland.
- Thick on the ground?

Like blazers at Henley!

You don't like cloak and dagger, do you?

- Where are we going?
- The BBC.

Why?

That's where the Prime Minister is.
I'm looking after her tonight.

You do this for a living?

No, but we're a little short-handed.

My brief's a bit wider than that,
which brings me to your daughter.

What about her?

She was some sort of terrorist, wasn't she?

Terrorist?

- According to her file.
- What file?

Oh, there's a file but
it's difficult to get hold of.

What's your interest in this matter?

The safety of the realm. We like to know
what's going on north of Watford.

I presume you discount the idea
of revenge? No one here believes it.

I'd like to hear an alternative.

Why are you investigating the miners?

Their election officers called me in.
Someone was rigging the ballot.

- Who stood to benefit?
- James Godbolt.

- Is the motive there for murder?
- No.

I'd like you to meet my partner.

I'm here in a very particular circumstance.

I don't think I'd be of any use.

On the contrary,
you could be of enormous help.

The question is, were they after her
or were they after you?

- Call Fox for Delta Two.
- Delta Two received.

Owing to traffic congestion in NHG,
use alternative route Charlie Hotel Bravo.

- Received. Please advise all cars.
- Wilco.

You'll have to walk back,
I'm afraid. We've been re-routed.

Look, give us a ring tomorrow.