Edge of Darkness (1985): Season 1, Episode 3 - Burden of Proof - full transcript

I want Lowe,
and I want him in one piece.

Sixth floor.

Good luck.

Have you got a number for Craven?

- Yeah.
- Call him.

- It's seven o'clock, Craven.
- I brought your file back.

It was never meant to leave
the goddamned apartment!

- Did you photocopy it?
- No, sir.

- Want some breakfast?
- Yes, please.

Merryweather won't be up till noon
and Kelly got called out.

- Out?
- Yeah, Athens.



Somebody shot the station chief.

Bad business, that.

Boiled eggs?

Can I help you?

Detective Inspector Craven,
please. Room 7016.

- Did he leave a number?
- I'll just check.

"To go into the shadows" -
what does that mean?

It's an Italian expression,
much used by the Red Brigade.

It means to abjure the world,
to become a terrorist.

Your daughter was a terrorist.
You might as well get used to it.

It says here she went to Northmoor
looking for plutonium.

It doesn't say anything about being armed.

No, plutonium is the key word here.

People who mess with
plutonium are terrorists.



- What do you know about Northmoor?
- Only what I read in the report.

It's a low-grade waste facility run
by a company with a very long name.

There is no evidence of
plutonium in Northmoor.

Why are you trying to convince me
about your daughter?

I was only asked to give
you sight of the report.

- She was not a terrorist.
- She sure believed in direct action!

- Cutting corners.
- Breaking into offices, stealing files.

The sort of thing we do every week!

But we have a licence
to do it, Craven. She did not.

Unless you gave her one.

Excuse me.

Jedburgh. Yeah, he's here.

Come on, Rachel.

You know, I like this city,
even in the rush hour.

- I could have taken a cab.
- I'm your magic helper.

I gave Pendleton my word I'd guide you
through these difficult times.

OK, tell me what you know about Gaia.

It's an organisation of scientists

who believe it is their duty to save
the planet from the human race,

which they believe
are trying to destroy it.

They're very dangerous people.

People who put trees and flowers
before people are beyond reasoning with.

They don't believe in humanity
except as a form of moral pollution.

My daughter never expressed such a view.

She probably did, a dozen times
a day, but you never noticed it.

- What happened?
- The bastard jumped.

- How far did he fall?
- Six floors.

Whereabouts from?

He's still alive. Just.

How many police officers
were involved in the arrest of Mr Lowe?

How is Lowe?

Not too well. He fell off a tower block.

- Why?
- He didn't want to be taken alive.

- Nobody will believe that!
- You arsehole, that's what happened!

We followed procedure.
We got to the door...

- With the two DCs, yes.
- What happened at the door?

Nothing. It all happened inside.
All bloody hell broke loose.

- I want you to talk to him.
- How is he?

Not well. Not well at all.

We can go in now.

I want Craven to talk to him alone.

One of our men has to be present.

We'll only get the other name
if he sees him alone.

If you wish to see him,
you should go in now.

Wait here.

- When did you pass?
- Last Wednesday. I took it at 4.15.

- He didn't keep me out for long.
- Is that your first time?

Certainly was! I got it first time round!

You must have bribed the instructor!

I was driving Ann
to the hospital at the time.

Twice a week for radium treatment.

Something in her manner told me
not to talk about her illness.

Every time I tried to discuss it,
she warned me off.

The doctor, of course, told me nothing.

I realised it was serious

when I found she'd bought clothes
for Emma that were much too big.

I volunteered to take them back
but she said no.

It was only later it occurred to me
her choice had been deliberate.

She knew she was dying,

and she wanted to stock up on things
like clothes for Emma before she went.

I remember it clearly.

Dropping Ann off.

Seeing the pain in her face.

And then confronting Lowe
a few minutes later.

Craven.

You can come in now.

Take it easy.

Lowe...

This is Mr Craven.

Can you hear me?

You've been hurt,

but you're safe now.

No one can reach you here.

He had committed a brutal
killing in pursuance of a theft,

and there was a sexual element.

There was no evidence to speak of,
and nothing of a forensic nature,

so we needed a statement,
an admission of guilt.

Lowe, this is Mr Craven, remember?

Ronnie Craven.

I'm here to help you.

I developed
a soft approach in interrogation,

which with certain prisoners
meant spending time alone with them.

It would involve holding hands
and being physically close.

Sometimes, I even kissed Lowe.

Lowe, can you hear me?

And it worked.

He was a brutal man,
though not without resources.

He knew what I was doing, and the kind
of pressure I was putting on him.

Now, you're hurt. You're hurt badly.

Who is it you're afraid of?

Driving Ann to the clinic each day
made it easy to share his torment.

Soon, we were like lovers,
and lovers have no secrets.

Eventually, he signed a statement,

and when it was produced
in the High Court, he was convicted...

I've lost my daughter.

By which time, Ann was dead.

I want to know who killed her.

OK. Thank you.

- Morning.
- Good morning, sir.

- Mr Harcourt's table, please.
- Yes, of course.

Thank you.

Breakfast?

Yes, a large malt on the rocks,
black coffee with honey.

Yes, sir.

No need to play the Texan,
we can take it as read.

You're history. Heseltine is cutting
Intelligence by 15 per cent!

We're funded by the
Prime Minister's Office.

And the Arts Council.

He has us down as a
band of strolling players.

- And the Commonwealth.
- As professional historians.

- And the GLC.
- A lesbian co-operative.

- Frick and Frack.
- What about Lowe?

The Met picked him up, then they
dropped him from the sixth floor!

Oh, dear.

I gave the report to Craven
like you asked me to. He read it.

- How did he react?
- Stout defence of daughter.

Doesn't see much beyond her death.
Under pressure but hanging in there.

He knows a damned sight more
than he pretends to.

So do you, Pendleton. Why don't you
tell me what the hell's going on?

If we knew, you'd be the last to be told.

- Grogan?
- He's flying in for the enquiry.

He's going to buy IIF.

- So he's gonna own Northmoor?
- And what's in it.

Trouble, right here in River City.

Jerry, how are you?

I hope you had a pleasant flight.

An 80-knot tailwind helped us along!

- You piloted the plane yourself?
- Yes.

On the long hops, I like to take over.

Flying exercises the
right side of the brain.

Most of our days are
spent in left-side activity.

You've lost me, jerry. We never got
beyond the cortex at school!

Well, what's the situation?

The cave's down to 500 rads
but the chamber's still too hot.

So, in a few more days, we can get in.

- Yes.
- That's OK.

What about the sale?

That's making a few waves.

- That's only to be expected.
- Hmm.

Lowe...

Lowe, who was the other man?

Surprised him as he ate breakfast.

There was a struggle.

An attempt was made to take him
down the emergency stairs.

At this point, he broke free
and reached the window.

From where he jumped?
He wasn't handcuffed?

None of the officers
was carrying handcuffs.

I've got a name.

Who is McCroon?

A gunman. Ex-Provo.
Part of the fall-out from Belfast.

You put him away?

Eight years ago,
but he had nothing to complain about.

He must have had something
to turn up on your doorstep.

If he did, he was paid to.

Someone gave him a gun, a car,
my address, details of my movements.

There's not one ounce of evidence
to support that notion!

You think two misfits like Lowe and McCroon
can turn up out of the blue?

They came looking for you, they shot her.
It's just one of those things.

Let me off here. I'll walk.

Give us a chance!

You just killed the chief witness!

I'll call you later.

He's got a point.

I think he's cracking up.

Let's go.

- Are you angry?
- Yes, I am! I'm angry!

Well, don't be angry at me!

What the hell were you up to?

What the hell do you think you were doing?

- I knew what I was doing.
- Did you?

- Like hell you did!
- Yes, I did!

You took on the most dangerous business
on earth. God knows what was down there!

- We nearly made it.
- They were just waiting for you!

You didn't stand a chance!

Come on, Daddy. Get up!

This is no time to break down!

You've got to be strong
like a tree. Don't break!

Please, Dad, don't break.

Please!

What I want to know is,
who the hell let you in there?

Who let you do it?

Emma?

EMMA!

Craven!

I want to talk.

You know I'm under surveillance? Since
the break-in, they think I'm connected.

- Who is it?
- I don't know,

- but they think I'm connected.
- And are you?

Don't be stupid! I'm a political agitator,

not a bloody environmentalist!

You're also a police informer.

That's what you do to
keep them off your back.

You should know.
You've worked in Northern Ireland.

When I think of all the dangerous cases...

- What did you tell them about Emma?
- I told them what I knew.

What did you tell them?

Emma thought there was a hot cell
down there.

- Where?
- In Northmoor.

What the hell is a hot cell?

I don't know, but whatever it is,
it turned her on.

Yeah?

Craven here. Superintendent Ross, please.

Chief Superintendent, it's Mr Craven.

- Ronnie.
- I'm sorry I lost my temper,

but we should sort out the alternatives.

McCroon's thumbprint fits
with the gun in the car.

There's a feeling he's still in the north.

Come back with me and stay at my place.

- When are you leaving?
- The 7.15.

- Thanks, but I'll come on later.
- Now that Lowe's dead, I want you back.

I'll see you at the funeral.

I need a couple more days down here.

OK, but no more.

Lesson number one when
fighting terrorism is be ordinary.

Show no distinctive features,
either of dress or behaviour.

Wear nothing that attracts attention.

That put Mac at a disadvantage -
he had red hair.

From Portadown to Ballymena,
he was known as "Carrot Top".

It was only a matter of time
before they got him.

I have an old friend to
see you. Ronnie Craven.

- Do you remember him?
- Hello, Mac.

How are you?

A bit like doing time. Worse really.

No remission for good behaviour.

I don't feel forgotten.

How are the grafts doing?

The worst are over.
And the flesh is healing.

Any of the boys been to see you?

Yes. Lots of visitors. To tell
the truth, I don't need them.

You get so involved in what's going
on here. It's a whole world.

There are people here
from the Somme, from the Falklands.

I'm the only one
from Northern Ireland at the moment.

You should have got out, Mac.
You were pushing your luck.

I know.

But you know what it's like!

Anyway, I had nobody to come home to.

How's Emma?

She's dead.

She was killed.

Gunned down last week.

They say he was looking for me.

- Do I know him?
- McCroon.

What's in it for McCroon?
Why would he do it?

Revenge?

Life's too short,
even for a nutter like McCroon.

There's another dimension to this.

I want to get into the MI5 computer.

They wouldn't let you through the door.

I won't be using the door. I need
an unguarded terminal and tap

straight into the Registry,
but I'll need help.

Have you gone funny?
Become a vegan or something?

I'm serious, Mac.

Emma's dead.

Both barrels of a shotgun
straight in the chest.

I was there, Mac. She died in my arms.

I can't just sit back and watch them
making all the wrong moves!

Leave it with me. I'll see what I can do.

Can we get back
to the Christian concept of sharing,

which is also a fundamental
of trade unionism?

Can we get back to the gentleman
who so tragically lost his daughter?

What stopped you from reaching out to him?

Come on in! Watch
this. Do you want a drink?

Sit down! Come on!

Make yourself at home!

It's not that such things are
motiveless - there were a motive -

it's just that mistakes sometimes happen.

So your friend's daughter's death
was accidental?

That's the second time
that guy's referred to you.

- It's Godbolt.
- I know who he is.

It's what he's saying
that's so damned interesting.

An accident is a result
of divine providence,

a mistake the result of human error.

My friend thinks that some malevolent force

took a hand in his daughter's death,
whereas it was simply a mistake.

You can't explain that to someone
who's overcome with grief.

You have to escalate the rhetoric,
the way you two do,

and talk about God and faith and destiny.

So men make mistakes, but God can't?

In your terms, God, in mine, history.

As far as history is concerned,
history cannot make mistakes.

At that point, we will leave it.
James Godbolt, thank you,

John Parker, thank you. Next week,
the Creation - accident or...?

- What the hell was that all about?
- I don't know.

That man wanted to tell five million people

that your daughter was murdered by mistake.

He's trying to tell you something.

Unfortunately, you weren't here
so you missed it!

What's a hot cell?

Shields said there's a hot cell in
Northmoor, which is why Emma went there.

- Shields said that?
- Yeah.

Get some sleep, you need it!

Harcourt asked me to give you this.

Meet him tomorrow,
ten o'clock at the Commons,

details inside and don't be late.

- What about Godbolt?
- I'd get to him before the other side does!

Good of you to keep us informed.

If Shields knows about a hot cell,
he may be useful.

We'll be busy. The enquiry into
the Northmoor takeover starts today.

I'll just check the van.

SHIELDS!

? See the light in their eyes shine

? Listen to their words like swords

? The Christian militia is marching now

? There's a witch hunt coming

? Born out of all the American fears

? There's a witch hunt coming

? Hell fire for all of us here

? Hold on to your sanity as best you can

? While some Hitler claims
to be the Son of Man

♪ The Christian militia
is marching now... ♪

We got a problem.

- Are you here for the enquiry?
- I'm here to talk to Mr Bennett.

- Are you buying I.I.?
- We've discussed it.

- Do you anticipate any problems?
- No.

Is your bid an attempt
to head off the enquiry?

I don't subscribe
to the conspiracy theory of history.

What is your interest in I.I.?

Nuclear waste management is going to
be big business. I.I. is ahead of the game.

What will be Mr Bennett's position
if you acquire the company?

I'm sorry?

What will be Mr Bennett's position
if you acquire the company?

I won't make any changes
in the management structure. Thank you.

Mr Craven?

Jedburgh sent me. He thought you
might need some help.

- Do you work for him?
- No, I'm just a friend,

but we do have interests in common,
like Gaia.

- Hello, Clemmy.
- Hello, Guy.

And how's my favourite tart?

He won't be needed. I've seen the list.

The fact he's not on the list
does not mean he's not needed.

I stand corrected.
When you're finished, I'll be by the door.

- Who was that?
- She's just a friend of jedburgh's.

Polly!

- Hello, my darling, how are you?
- Come and meet a friend of mine.

This is Polly Pelham,

Honourable Member for Plowhill,
and Shadow Energy Spokesman...

- Person.
- Mr Craven.

- Not in the Intelligence Service?
- No, a policeman.

A proper job! Guy, I'm afraid,
has rather gone to seed,

and is keeping bad company.

She means the Intelligence Services.

He's being set up, aren't you?
You and Harcourt - such babes in arms!

My father, a Cabinet Minister,
told me to keep away from Intelligence.

They either fall out of windows
or push people under trains,

and are always short of cash!

It's because
they're so grubby that we're here.

How naive! You couldn't
put a dent in the S.I.S.

You're just a pimple on their bum.

- So why HAVE we been brought in?
- To muddy the water.

There's obviously something
very subterranean going on.

If you have information,
I'd like to have it.

You're the spy, find out
for yourself! I must go.

Goodbye, Mr Craven. Keep an eye on him.

- Do you know that man?
- I know his face.

He's the man we think
had your daughter killed.

What's he doing here?

- I'll find out.
- Will it be necessary to go to the plant?

No. It's a political battle.
It will be fought down here.

- He's here to give evidence.
- What the hell does he know?

It's time to go in.

- What's going on, Bobby?
- Come on, let's get in there.

See you at the hotel.

Well, you certainly upset Mr Bennett!

Is that why I was brought here?
To upset Bennett?

I want him to know that you're on to him.

- On to him?
- Well, aren't you?

Cup of tea?

Is there anything else I can do for you?

Yes, I need a witness. Well-spoken,
a police officer, and well-motivated.

A daughter having recently been
murdered would be useful.

You want me to be a witness?

We'll provide you with the information

to blast Bennett out of the water.

Why me?

Our intelligence comes from people
whose cover we can't afford to blow.

Anything coming from you
could have been picked up

while investigating your daughter's death.

No, thanks.

Sorry.

The purpose of this session
is to examine the consequences, if any,

of the takeover of International
Irradiated Fuels Limited

by the Fusion Corporation of Kansas.

We will begin with our first witness,
Mr Robert Bennett,

managing director of International
Irradiated Fuels Limited.

Hi, jerry!

You look tired. You still on Houston time?

- What are you doing here, Darius?
- I'm an energy attaché at the Embassy.

See? A regular diplomat!
Corps Diplomatique!

You're wasted here. You should be
back in the Third World killing Communists!

That's what made you a star, isn't it?

This is the Third World,
and Communists are not the problem.

- So what is?
- You are, and I'm here to warn you.

You're stirring up the natives.
We have our own interests on this island.

Quite apart from the airbases,
there's the golf courses.

The golf courses?

I'm a golfer. When you and your
friends are busy in the stadiums,

who will look after the golf courses?

That is the question I ask myself
every time I address the ball.

Keep talking that way and you won't
pass your next medical!

To know is to die. Remember that, jerry!

Craven! Yo!

Did you see Bennett?

She'll fix up a meeting with Gaia.

Look after him, Clemmy, we may need him!

A man of few words!

When he's sober!

Mr Bennett, you're the Operations Director
of International Irradiated Fuels.

What is the philosophy behind the company?

The company was formed
in response to a demand

for permanent and semi-permanent
storage facilities in the nuclear field,

in particular,
the need to store low-grade wastes

from nuclear installations

without contaminating the oceans,

and also to find a solution
for the disposal of the high-grade wastes

which emanate from our reprocessing plants.

This high-grade waste
must be stored in such a way

that it is impervious to accident,
earthquake, flood and theft.

Your charter calls
for the storage of low-grade waste.

As a first objective,
but we seek a long-term solution

to the disposal of high-grade waste.

To what extent did you have
Government backing for your venture?

We had full support of all the agencies,
and generous grants,

particularly for our research.

For example, we're designing
a vitrification plant,

and we have had a generous measure
of support for this project

from the Government.

- Where did you meet Darius?
- Nicaragua, during the Revolution.

He was photographing a Sandinista hide-out
and his plane ran out of gas.

We found him trying to persuade a garage

to let him pay for a tankful
of fuel with a Diners Card.

His Spanish is appalling.

- You rescued him!
- Not quite.

I was a liaison officer with the
Sandinistas, so we took him prisoner.

We kept him for six weeks and ran up
a huge bill on his card before he left.

It was a CIA account.

So, when did you two become friends?

Later, in London.

What does he know about Gaia?

He helped to found the organisation in '77.

Jedburgh?

I'm at the airport.
I'm returning to Washington.

- Washington?
- I'll be back.

- Did Clementine put you in touch?
- Not yet.

Stick with her, she's OK - but don't
ever give her your Diners Card!

Mummy will sleep on the top,
Emma will sleep on the bottom.

- What about Daddy?
- Daddy will sleep with Emma.

- Mummy will be all alone.
- No, she won't.

She'll be on the top bed all by herself.

All right. You sleep with her.

If I sleep with Mummy,
you'll feel neglected.

- No, I won't feel neglected.
- Yes, you will.

No, I will not feel neglected, believe me!

The best thing is for you and Mummy
to sleep on the bottom

and for me to sleep on top!

But you're the smallest!

What does that matter?
We've got to get it right!

Emma sleeps on top,
Mummy sleeps on the bottom.

You know, Ronnie,

you can't make allegations like this
and expect to be taken seriously.

- Can I have that back, sir?
- We know it was McCroon.

We have Lowe's dying statement,
we have his prints on the car.

Doesn't that satisfy you?
We know why he did it. It was revenge.

Does he have to put a bullet in you
before you'll admit it?

Now, this is going in my safe

and it will stay there
until you come to your senses.

What I want is a warrant
to get into Northmoor.

It's out of the question.

Ronnie, you're not well.

You're depressed.
I think you should see a doctor.

I would like the watch taken off my house.

No.

McCroon isn't going to come
as long as it's there.

All right. If you agree to see
a doctor, we'll take it off,

but not the telephone intercept.
You understand?

OK.