Inspector George Gently (2007–2017): Season 2, Episode 1 - Gently with the Innocents - full transcript

So if I had to put it in a nutshell,

the job is a case of 1%
inspiration, 99% perspiration.

And 100% desperation.

Any questions?

Sir? Sir? Sir? Sir?You got a gun?

Not one of my own, no. Anybody else?

Well, how do you kill people?Sir?

I bore them to death, apparently.
Can you kill Fat Freddie for us?

Quiet! Have a bit of respect.

All right! What do you want
to be when you leave school?

William Burroughs.



What?Sir?!

He's the only serious
novelist currently working,

and you've just confirmed my opinion that the
police force is an obsolete, reactionary monolith.

Right.Sir?Yes, Freddie.

I want to be a policeman, sir.

Will you remind me why I had to do that?

To get to know the community you serve.

The England of tomorrow.

Well, if that's the England
of tomorrow, we're stuffed.

What are you doing?

I'm looking up "monolith".

Sir? Mrs Laura Fenwick
on the line again.

Third time this week.

Please tell her I will call her
back as soon as time permits.



Yes, sir.

You get that stupid grin off
your face.Go on, then. Who is she?

Hello.

Right.

Get your coat back on.

XK140, that.

I saw it.

Sergeant Blacksmith, sir.

Local nick?

Yes, sir.Victim known to you?

Alfred Peachment. Aged
about 75. Let's have a look.

Oh, God.

What do these injuries tell you?

Well...

Uh...something sharp,
and...you know, heavy, as well.

No injuries to the body, sir.

Found a weapon yet?We're
searching the shed now, Mr Gently.

Something sharp and heavy.

Take your pick.

Something missing.

Keep searching the garden.

Back door's been forced, sir.

Any ideas, sergeant?The position
of the body would indicate...

Sergeant Blacksmith.

Victim disturbs a burglar, or burglars,

chases them into the garden...

..there's a fight, the
old man's beaten to death.

Sir. Excuse me.

He was selling the house and a
Mrs Davidson, who found the body,

was here to view the property.

Yeah, that's right.

Live here alone, did he?

He had a wife but she left him years
ago. Do you want me to find her?

Uh, no, it's all right, I
can manage that, sergeant.

CID takes over the case now, right?

What's the story? The place just
got too much for him, did it?

I imagine so, sir.

Big old place. What's the history?

It's been all sorts over the
years. It was a school at one time.

Was he a teacher? His wife
did the teaching, I think.

But that closed down years ago,
after the Children's Act of 1947.

The Act brought in a load
of rules and regulations.

A lot of little charity
schools decided to close down.

After that he just lived in it.
You're very well informed, sergeant.

I like to know the
community I serve, sir.

Mr Peachment a keen gardener, was he?

No, sir. He was too frail for that.

I was wondering if you'd notice.

Notice what? The gardens
are very well tended.

Oh, yeah, yeah. That's obvious.

So?

He had a lad do the garden for
him. His name's Harry Carson.

And where can I find him?

There's no sign of him,
sir. I can get onto that.

Did the shed have a lock on it?

No.

Ask Mrs Davidson to go inside, will you?

Shall I let the body go?

Yes, Sergeant Blacksmith.
Very impressive.

Thank you, Mr Gently.

Something annoying you, sergeant?

He's a bit of a swot, him, isn't he?

"Children's Act, 1947, sir."

What is he going on Double
Your Money or something?

I should imagine he's studying
for his Inspector's exams.

He's a keen lad.

Sir, nobody is keener
than me on that promotion.

I just don't make a
song and dance about it.

Well, maybe you should. There's
only one Inspector's job going.

I'm in property. The house
and land were for sale.

As of this morning, they belong to me.

So you had an appointment
with Mr Peachment?

Like a handover? No, he
had no reason to be here.

Right. So, how exactly
did you find the body?

I went through the door to
the garden and there he was.

Dead?

Well, obviously.

Any sign of anybody else?

No.

You didn't see a lad called
Harry Carson, for instance?

I don't know anyone called Harry Carson.

I didn't ask you if you knew
him. I asked you if you saw him.

He's the gardener.

No.

Had you been to the house before?

No. Why?You bought the
place without looking at it?

I'm not intending to live in it.
I'm going to redevelop the site.

Demolish the house?Yes.

So, right, you found the
body, you drove to a phone box,

you dialled 999, you came
back and waited for the police.

And that's all I know,
so can I go now, please?

Do I detect a local
accent, Mrs Davidson?

It's not Mrs Davidson,
it's Miss Davidson.Sorry.

And yes, I was born in Hexham.

May I go now? Is this
not a listed building?

Yes.

So you would need permission
to demolish the house?

The local authority's already
passed a demolition order on it.

Town And Country Planning Act,
guv. Also 1947, by the way.

So, if a planner wants to
demolish a listed building,

they have to prove it's in
serious danger of collapse.

Doesn't look like it's collapsing to me.

The surveyors disagreed.

If Mr Peachment had sold you the house,

how come his stuff's still here?

He was supposed to have moved out.

But he didn't.

Did Mr Peachment want to
leave his house, Miss Davidson?

No. He didn't.

But this demolition order
meant he had no choice.

That's a stroke of luck for
you, innit?What does that mean?

Well, maybe you've got
friends here from the old days.

You know, folks on the local authority,

or planning committee even.

I have no friends here, Mr Bacchus.

Of any kind. And please
tell me when it becomes

an offence in this
country to build houses

because that's when I'll emigrate.

That's Harry Carson.The gardener?

Mh-hmm.

He's already on our books.

He's been cautioned for
violent behaviour three times.

If he knows the community he serves,

how comes Sergeant Clever
Clogs didn't know that?

Can't know everybody.

What do you make of Cora Davidson?

They're all at it, man.

Who are at what?

Property developers,
local authority and that.

Little backhander
here, greasy palm there.

And what is your evidence for this?

I don't need any evidence. Did
you see the way she looked at us?

Here's a tip, sergeant.

Don't put that in your Inspectors exam.

Question 23, what are the laws
of evidence in corruption cases?

John Bacchus' answer, "They're
guilty if they give you a funny look."

How do we know Cora
Davidson didn't kill him?

Why would she force the
lock? She had her own key.

To make it look like a botched robbery.

Maybe. A lot of blood came out of
that old man. Did you see any on her?

She had time to clean herself up.

I asked her the exact
time she made the 999,

but we've only got her word for
it, what time she got to the house.

Go on.The old man found evidence
the demolition order was bent, right?

So he threatened to expose her.
That is why he was at the house.

She couldn't stand the thought of losing
the money she'd make, so she topped him.

Sir, she's greedy!

She's got pound signs hanging
in festoons from her eyes!

Find the gardener.

All right, all right.

One question though. Was she
or was she not hiding something?

100%.Then let's bring her in!

When we know what to ask her.

Meanwhile, find out what
happened to Enid Peachment

and then find me at Harrison House.

It seems you have a visitor. One of
the lads you spoke to this morning?

Ah, not Fat Freddie!

Evening all!

Good luck, sergeant.

I was thinking,

maybe I should just destroy
the system from the inside.

You know the most contra-instinctual
thing a writer could do?

Join the police force.

Contra what?

You all right, sergeant?Sir.

What's happening here?

Chief Inspector, Philip
Morgan. What are you doing here?

Doctor Morgan's here
because... Be quiet.

I was the deceasedman's
GP. I'm retired now...

No, I said, what are you doing here?

I was looking for some papers

that I thought might've caused
embarrassment to poor old Alfred.

Medical things?No.

Mr Gently, I happen to be
on the planning committee.

Alfred wrote us some rather
silly letters, silly allegations.

I thought he might've kept copies.

He thought the decision
was bent? Yes.Was it?

Of course not! What
exactly was he alleging?

I can't remember the details.

And why exactly did the planning
committee decide to demolish the house?

It had become a blot on the landscape.

Really? Have you any idea who
would want to kill Alfred Peachment?

I think when you find Harry
Carson, you'll find your answer.

Poor lad can't keep control of his
temper. I've known him all his life.

And why would Harry Carson lose
his temper with Alfred Peachment?

That I don't know. But
he loves the garden.

Maybe Alfred told him
it was to be bulldozed.

Is that what you think happened?

No, sir.

Why would Harry Carson
force the back door?

How well do you know
him? I know him well, sir.

Empty your pockets, please.What?

Empty your pockets!

I suggest you spend tonight

trying to remember the details
of those silly allegations.

Because I want to hear them.

Tomorrow morning. Police
Headquarters. 10 o'clock sharp.

Sir, I can vouch
for... You're suspended.

Sir, I've got exams in a couple of days!

Oh, you can sit them.

If you think it's worth your while.

How do you and Morgan know each other?

He was...Don't give me any flannel about
knowing the community you serve, either.

He was our family
doctor when I was a kid.

Now, this is a close-knit
little community, innit?

Go home.

Sir?

This is a letter dated two
years ago from Cora Davidson,

offering to buy Harrison House.

Sir?Here is Alfred Peachment's
reply, politely declining.

And what happens next? A
demolition order is passed.

How convenient.Sir!What?

Harry Carson is in the garden.

I'm walking down the side of the house

and he just walks past us,
like nothing's happened.

Harry Carson?

Harry?

You've got blood on your shirt.

He hasn't said a word.

What's all that about?

He has the right to remain silent.

Yeah, but literally not a word.

Do you think he looks capable of murder?

If the garden was his life...

And apparently he has a temper.

The stains on his shirt match
Alfred Peachment's blood group.

The same as his own.
So it proves nothing.

Sir, I know you're busy...

But Mrs Fenwick?

She keeps calling. What do I say?

Same as last time.

She's just somebody I used to
know a long time ago, all right?

Yeah, yeah.

Harry? Mr Gently and me, we...

We're trying to help
you. Do you understand?

Well, then you need
to talk to us, Harry.

Something's happened to Mr
Peachment. He's been murdered.

Did you know that?

Come on, Harry, talk to us.

How did you cut your hand?

Were you at Harrison House this morning?

Harry, if you did this, it
is best that you tell us now.

Was it you?

Guv, he can't talk.

Can you write, Harry?

Can you write? Can I
take his cuffs off?Yeah.

Who killed him, Harry?

Write it down.

Sir!

Get men in here!

You said he was off this case.

He's known the lad a long time.
We need somebody he trusts.

Why did you ask him to
write? Course he can't write.

He's never been to school
in his life. You OK?

Why didn't you tell us he was dumb?
The locals call him "the dummy lad".

You should let the doctor check you out.

I'm fine.

You're a clod, aren't you?

You can't bash people because
you bloody well feel like it.

Can you?

Did you think Mr Bacchus was taking
the Mickey about writing?You what?

He wasn't, Harry.I wasn't.He
thought you were, though.I wasn't.

Yeah, but he thought you were, though.

Mr Bacchus says he's sorry.

Don't you, sergeant?

Do it.

Sorry.

Harry. Did you know the house
was going to be demolished?

And your garden with it?

If I ask you a question, will
you give me the right answer?

Good lad.

Did Alfred tell you about the
house having to be pulled down?

And your lovely garden with it?

That wasn't today though, was it?

Ask him questions,
don't give him answers.

Were you at the house this morning?

Think carefully.

Do you know anything,

anything about Alfred's murder?

Anything?

Good lad.

Well done.

So, not only a legal
genius. He's a saint an' all.

Nah, saint my arse.

He was leading him by the nose.

We need to find out more
about Sergeant Blacksmith.

His dad was an inspector. In this force?

In that town. Divisional commander.

Topped himself year before last.

Find out if there's any connection
between the Blacksmith family

and Alfred Peachment.Listen, sir.

Who's fault is all this? Who was
pushing Peachment into selling up?

It was Cora Davidson and her
friends on the planning committee.

I want to go after them.Fine by me.

Right.Any sign of the widow?

Oh, yes. We traced her to a house
in Berwick, but it was empty.

Right. Find out when the
will's being read.Right.

And check that 999 call.
- Yep.

Which service do you require?

I'm thinking maybe I should just
go for the fast-track route -

graduate entry into the police force.

Who wants to waste time
plodding around on the beat?

Kevin. A, you haven't got a
degree, because you're only 17.

And B, it's been a long day, I'm
tired, I haven't got me dictionary

with me so I won't know
what you're talking about.

I've got me first poetry reading on
Friday. You know, if you're free...

For clarity, Kevin, piss off and
leave me alone! I'm a detective.

I'm not a careers advice officer.

I'm not a...poetry critic.

I mean, why me?

He's just a kid with a head full
of ideas he's got from books and he

doesn't know what to do with them.
He was hoping you might help him.

Harry Carson hasn't had
much of a life, has he?

No brothers or sisters.

And no parents. They died in the war.

Let's look around
- they might have missed something.

Sir. This is, well, it's brilliant.

Where did you get it?All in the
box marked "Harrison House Legal".

Clearly, Alfred Peachment
threw nothing away.

And the survey condemning
it as structurally unsound

was carried out by Dr
Morgan's brother.Also correct.

And the wife, Enid Peachment,
is Doctor Morgan's sister.

Yes
- tight knit little town, sergeant.

They were stitching up that old
feller up like a kipper, weren't they?

D'you mind if I lean
on Morgan a little bit?

Much as you like.

One man's dead because of decisions
made by your planning committee -

does that bother you, at all?

I've been advised not to say anything.

Oh, you felt the need to
take legal advice, did you?

It seemed a wise precaution given... Can I just
interrupt you there, just for a minute, Doc?

You are a doctor, aren't
you? Well, I used to be.

I keep getting this funny
buzzing sound in me left ear.

It's been driving us mad.

Well, how long has it been going on?
Since you opened your mouth! Right.

What were you looking
for at Harrison House?

Was it this, Dr Morgan?

This is the dead man's copy of
the survey your committee ordered

to be carried out on Harrison House.

A survey which found
the house to be unsound.

A survey which was carried out
by a man called Trevor Morgan.

Now, please tell me it's
just a coincidence that this

damning survey was carried
out by your brother.

And please tell me that
it's also a coincidence

that the person who might benefit
most from this was your sister.

Enid Peachment.My brother's
firm is the most reputable in...

Not only that. I keep getting
sweaty armpits, you know?

Must be all this hot air. And I keep
getting anxiety attacks, and I find

that the only thing that cures them
is if I hit somebody really hard.

Maybe - MAYBE - we
erred on Enid's side.

My sister is elderly. Without the
income from the sale of the house,

she was facing destitution in old age.

Where is your sister now, Dr Morgan?

I would like to ask her some questions
about how Alfred Peachment died.

Enid is at my house.

She needed somewhere
to stay for the funeral.

Did you know Inspector
Clive Blacksmith, Dr Morgan?

Of course.

Of course. Everybody knows everybody
in your little town, I forgot.

And did he also know Alfred
Peachment, by any chance?

Well, yes, they were friends until...

Yes. They were friends.Until what?

Until Inspector Blacksmith died.

Or killed himself, in fact.

Would you have any idea why he did that?

No.

Until what, Doctor Morgan?

Did something happen between Alfred
Peachment and Clive Blacksmith?

Alfred...Alfred asked Clive Blacksmith

to stop the demolition order.

And how was Inspector
Blacksmith going to do that?

Just...

I don't know... exert pressure.
Exert pressure how? On whom?

I see.

And shortly after this, Inspector
Blacksmith took his own life?

Yes.

Oh, merciful God.

The father of our lord Jesus Christ.

Who is the Resurrection and the life.

And whomsoever believeth
shall live though he died.

Whosoever liveth and believeth
in him shall not die eternally.

Come ye blessed...
Well, there's Dr Morgan.

Who's the other bloke?

I bet he's the brother. You know,
the one who did the dodgy survey.

Is there anybody here who
isn't related to everybody else?

Probably all got webbed feet.

Why's she here?

Guilt? Or callousness?

Oh, here we go, look -
the broken-hearted widow.

And this year's Oscar for Best
Supporting Hypocrite goes to...

Guv?

Now, wouldn't you just love
to hear that conversation?

Why did you have to come here
today? You've got what you wanted.

Maybe I like burials.And Harry Carson
- what will happen to him?

Bit late for you to start caring
about Harry Carson, isn't it?

All this has happened
because of YOU. And you.

Harrison House costing you
more than you thought, dear?

Old friends?I've told you, Mr
Gently, I have no friends here.

I have only one friend in the world.
Money. Money never lets you down.

Money always gets you what you want.
Is that what you were talking to Mrs

Peachment about? Or was it what
happened the day her husband died?

Are you questioning me, Chief Inspector?

No, but I will want to. So
stay in the area, please.

I'll be staying until the
bulldozers leave, Mr Gently.

Run a complete background
check on Cora Davidson.

Find out where her money came from.

And where do you want the widow?

I want her walking down
memory lane, sergeant.

You must have many memories of
Harrison House, Mrs Peachment.

Happy ones.

I had my son Laurie here.

Oh, was your son unable
to attend the funeral then?

Why have you brought me here?

It seems you wrote several letters
in support of the demolition.

Oh, yes.

The best thing to be done to
this place is to pull it down.

Sorry, pet, you didn't
answer me question.

Why wasn't your son at the funeral?

Laurie lives in Tasmania, sergeant.

He has a sheep farm.

He emigrated as soon as he was
18, and I should've gone with him.

Who wants to live in England now?

All these foreigners.

Boys with long hair, girls
flashing their backsides

at all the men every
time they bend over.

Everything's a mess.

Do you know Harry Carson?

Oh, all these questions.
"The Dummy Lad"?

Oh, the lad that did the garden.

It seems possible that he may
have murdered your former husband.

Yes...well, he never
was right in the head.

He was still my husband, you know?

You weren't divorced?

Why not?

Because that's not what you do.

Have you injured
yourself, Mrs Peachment?

I fell.

That's what happens when you get older.

Your legs let you down.

When did you last see your husband?

Yesterday morning at
the funeral parlour.

Yes. Before that?

Years ago.

So then I'd be mistaken in
thinking that you might've been here

at the house on the day he was murdered?

Why on earth should I want to come here?

Did the late Inspector Blacksmith

try to influence you against
the demolition of the house?

What influence would he have over me?

Any idea why he killed
himself? None at all.

Tired of living, perhaps.

So, you'll inherit the house?

I own half of it already, sergeant.

Yeah, but it's no value to you
until it's sold though, is it?

Which it has been.

To Cora Davidson.

Tell me, your husband clearly didn't
want to sell, but once he knew he had

no choice, why didn't he
put it on the open market?

Why give Cora Davidson a free run?

She made a very good offer.

£20,000.

Which you'll inherit,
now that he's dead.

The will was read
this morning, sergeant.

Alfred left his share to charity.

Cora Davidson. Harry Carson.

He had a motive.Of sorts.

Both had the opportunity, both had the means
- shed full of tools.

Yeah, and he was covered in matching
blood which he can't explain.

And she paid over the odds
for the house.What about Enid?

Now, she obviously hated him.

But why?

And why did their son leave for
Tasmania as soon as he could?

Tasmania. About as far away from
England as you could possibly get.

Why did she leave in the first place?

Something to do with the
school closing down maybe?

Oh, God, good old
clever clogs Blacksmith!

"Children's Act? Oh,
that's 1947, Hughie!"

Correct, sergeant, you've
got yourself 16 pounds!

Would you like to double
your money, go for 32?

"Yes, I'm thinking of taking
me paralysed Mam to Lourdes...!"

Guv?Sergeant Blacksmith said,

"Of course Harry Carson can't write,
he's never been to school in his life".

Well, you can't go to school
if you can't talk, can you?

So why was there a school
photograph on Harry Carson's wall?

Recognise it?

Harrison House.

What do we do now?

On the day of the murder,

Philip Morgan, aided and abetted by
Sergeant Blacksmith, took a huge risk

by going to Harrison House
to try and find something.

Monday morning we start taking that
place apart til we find out what.

That 999 call, sir. The time that Cora Davidson
said it was made is correct according to the log.

See if Sergeant Blacksmith
was part of the response to the 999.

Sir.Yep?

Yeah, OK.

All right! No, no, no. No, I'm
not going to be home til later.

Because I'm going to a poetry reading.

I don't care if you don't
believe me, actually!

And listen, how many times have I
told you never to call me at work?

Lisa...!

Want some advice?

Not really.

Take a good look in the
mirror some day soon.

Thanks.

Sergeant Blacksmith wasn't a
part of the response team, sir.

He was already there when they arrived.

So, what was he doing there?

Anything else before I go home, sir?

The background check on Cora Davidson?

In front of you there,
sir. Anything show up?

Attempted suicide. 21
days in Styal Prison.

Goodnight, sir.

Goodnight, Taylor. Taylor!!

Alfred Peachment's will.

He left all his money to charity.
Find out which charity, will you?

Oh, I can already tell you, sir -

it's all over tonight's
Evening Chronicle.

He left it all to a children's home.

Goodnight, sir.Goodnight, Taylor.

Evening.

Oh, God.

Gave me a heart attack then.

I thought you were going
to a poetry reading.

Starts at eight.

So why are you here?

Why are you here?I asked first.

Because there's something wrong,
guv. There is something wrong.

Exam revision time.

Suicide Act, 1961.

Oh, Erm.

Yeah, I know this one. It's...
yeah, it decriminalised suicide.

And prior to that?

Well, attempted suicide was
still punishable by a prison term.

Correct.

And Cora Davidson served one.

Seven years ago.

Really?

Have you any idea why she did it?

No.

Quite like to ask her though.

Can you imagine that? You think
you've topped yourself and then

you wake up in hospital and
they go and stick you inside.

Any luck?

I mean...

Quotes for repainting
the front of the house.

1953. 1941.

Quotes for repairs to the cellar steps.

Letters to the Ministry
of Supply for the siting

of pylons for the National Grid -

"not across my land,
thank you very much."

It's just, it's endless.

This'll make you laugh.

Did you know that they were both MBEs?

What cellar?Here, look.

1946. To Alfred and Enid Peachment.

"In recognition of your
service to the local community".

You what?I said, what cellar?

There is a cellar under this house
somewhere, and we need to find it.

Take up the carpets. Tap the walls.

Do it thoroughly, there
might be a hidden panel.

Guv, what you looking for? I'm
looking for signs of change.

For something that doesn't...

That small window. That
must be under the stairs.

Guv, Guvnor. Look.

There's the window.

Harrison House Children's
Home. Medical Records.

This wasn't a school.

This was an orphanage.

"April 12 1945.

"Daniel Mason, aged 11.

"Broken arm. Fell in cellar."

All signed by the same doctor.

The medical officer for
Harrison House, Dr Philip Morgan.

Sir, look at this.

May 18th. Cora Heston.

Cora. "Cora Heston, aged ten.

"Bleeding in the night."

Do you think it's her?Well, if it
is, she's back again as the owner.

Why, after 19 years?

Yeah. But, remember what she said, she
doesn't want the house to live in it.

She wanted the land to build on.

Well. She doesn't want the
house. She wants to demolish it.

She wants to wipe the house
off the face of the earth.

I mean, what are we
saying here? Revenge?

Cora got The Dummy Lad to kill him?

And bloody Blacksmith,
covering their tracks.

You know, he lied about the 999,
right? Cos he was already there.

Sorry."Bleeding."

What sort of bleeding?
What does that mean?

Well.

I mean, do girls start their
em... periods at that age?

Yeah, it's feasible.

Do you think he was cutting them?

Cutting kids with knives or something?

Is that why his face
was all cut to shreds?

No. I don't think he was
cutting them with knives.

And I don't think that that was why a
ten-year-old girl was bleeding in the night.

This never had anything to do with planning
applications or demolition orders, did it?

No.

We need to draw up a list of every
child who ever lived in Harrison House.

And we keep this enquiry
between ourselves for now.

I don't want anybody else to know
about it. You talk only to me.OK.

Wait, wait, what's this?

Well, he's violent.Violent?

He can hardly keep his eyes open,
man. Go on, take the handcuff's off.

No can do.Has he seen a doctor?

Ay, he's had something to
calm him down.Like what?

Largactil. Bang on the
door when you're ready.

Harry!

What's Largactil?

You call it The Liquid Cosh.

Harry.

Harry. I want to show you something.

Do you remember us, Harry?

Are you in this photograph, Harry?

It says 1945 on the back.

It's Harrison House, isn't it?

I don't even think
he knows that we're...

Do you want the pen?

Give him your pen.

You are joking, aren't you?
He nearly killed me last time.

Come on. Go on, son.

Is that you, Harry?

Who are they?

Have I changed that much, George?

Laura.

I was looking for long hair.

It's been a long time.

I was devastated to hear about Isabella.

I was never sure.

Did she ever know about us? Oh,
yes, I told her the whole story.

About how I'd met this
beautiful medical student

who was patiently waiting for
me to come back from the war.

Then I met somebody in Naples.

Isabella was my soulmate. Anyway.

If I hadn't found Isabella,
you'd never have found Ken.

Yeah. Well...

That didn't work out?
Oh, it has to work out.

For the children.

Shall we be bold and
not talk about the past?

Shall we go on our first
date? Well, that's a good idea.

So tell me, Laura, what
do you do for a living?

I'm a clinical paediatrician, George.

I treat illness and injury in children.

Yes...

I think I may need some
help from you, Laura.

I've got all evening if you have.

I think some children have been harmed.

I think someone has been hurting
children.Hurting them, how?

Which children? Who are they?

Broken bones, concussions, scalp
wounds, stitches, vomiting.And?

Bleeding.

A ten-year-old girl
bleeding in the night.

From where?

Records don't say.

But I think this girl has come back to demolish
the house in which she "bled" 20 years ago.

Are you familiar with the
term "paedophile", George?

Yes.It's usually a father or an
uncle. Or a father and an uncle.

They tend to hunt in packs.

And it's never dealt with. Never.

The police
- sorry, George,

the police are hopeless.

Nobody wants to believe this.

Even the wives and the mothers,
they always say the same thing,

"I didn't know".

This wasn't a family, Laura.

This was a children's home.

You weren't going to call me
back, were you? Until this came up.

No. The way I feel at the
moment, Laura, I just have

great difficulty with the past.

I'm sorry. I just needed...

I don't know.

This is real, is it?

This sort of thing does happen on this
sort of scale, I'm not imagining it?

Well, I've never come
across it in that sort of...

organised way. But...if
you believe it, George,

then it's real.

I'm trying not to believe it.

Be careful where this
case leads you, George.

This stuff is corrosive.

Children are so vulnerable.

And every fair from
fair sometimes declines.

By chance, or nature's
changing course, untrimm'd.

But thy eternal summer shall not fade,

nor lose possession of
that fair thou owest.

Nor shall death brag thou
wander'st in his shade,

When in eternal lines
to time thou growest.

So long as men can
breathe, or eyes can see,

So long lives this, and
this gives life to thee.

Thank you.

Thank you, Shirley. A lovely choice for
tonight's theme of The Writer and His Love.

And now... Kevin.

Well, I dunno what that was all about.

This is one I've written meself.

It's called "Love, Bill".

It's a kind of homage to
William Burroughs, who...

none of yous will have heard of.

In fact, you won't
probably understand it.

Anyway, here goes.

"Love, Bill". Oh, to get it
you need to understand that

Burroughs tried to kill his wife.

"Love, Bill".

If I had known sooner,

how much you loved me,

I'd have shot you earlier.

Thank you.

I'm not quite sure I understood what
you were trying to get at, actually.

I mean, aren't poems supposed to
rhyme?Night, Kev, I liked ya pome.

Weirdo.Get in the car, you!
You're a bloody embarrassment.

Hey, hey, there's no need for that.
You that copper he's been on about?

Yeah, might be.Yeah? Well,
stop encouraging him, will you?

He's too stupid to be a police.

Hello, Mr.

Hello.

Do you like poems?

What?Poems.

Oh. Yes, I do.

I been reading one at
school. Can I read it to you?

It's a bit late for you to be
out on your own, sweetheart.

Is that your car?

I don't think that's a very good idea.

How far is your house?

Doesn't matter. I can walk.

Last fag for three hours.

Yeah.

Know the feeling. I was up
at four in the morning meself.

Your dad was an inspector, wasn't he?

Yeah. Yeah, he was.

How come you never told us
that he knew Alfred Peachment?

Everybody knew Alfred Peachment.

Yeah, but not everybody fell out with
him and then killed themselves, did they?

Oh, and by the way, how come you
were already at Harrison House

when the response team turned up?

Hmm? Just happened to be passing?

Good luck with the exam.

Yeah. Good luck.

These what you were looking for?

I don't know what they are.

Yes, you do. Between 1939 and 1948,

these were the medical records
of Harrison House Children's Home.

Of which you were the Medical Officer.

Almost ten years.

During which time there were 137
reports of unexplained injury or

illness among the children.

Children get ill! They fall off ladders,

boys have fights, they climb trees.

And girls bleed in the night.

I never received a day's
pay in all those years.

It was a service to the community.

It was the least I
could do with the war on.

Who appointed you?

The board of trustees.

Alfred, Enid, Clive Blacksmith.

Sergeant Blacksmith's father?

Do you recall Cora Davidson
at Harrison House, Dr Morgan?

I mean, when she was a child?

When she was called Cora Heston?

No.

And Harry Carson?

Hundreds of children passed through.

We took in children from
the bombed out cities.

Cora Heston "bled in
the night" at age ten.

And you examined her.

No, no. That wouldn't've been me.

It's your signature.

Yes! Obviously cases like that,

I wouldn't of conducted
intimate examinations of girls.

That would have been Enid. I simply
signed the report.Mrs Peachment?

I see.

How did the exam go?

I failed.

Who cares about the Road Traffic
Act, when we've... you know?

I was awake all night.

Yeah, me as well, John.

Thinking about me daughter, actually.

I mean,

what does this stuff do to a kid?

Let's ask, shall we?

Why here?

I like the sea.

I find it soothing.

Come to arrest me? No, Miss Davidson.

Or is it Cora Heston?

I assume Davidson is your adoptive name? The
one you took when you left Harrison House.

Would you mind looking at
this photograph, please?

Why?Because I think you're on it.

Mr Gently. Why don't you just
let me do what I came here to do?

Then I can get on with my life.

You came to demolish Harrison House.

That's right.Why?

To make money, sergeant.
Lots and lots of money.

Why did you try and kill yourself?

What?I'm afraid it left
you with a criminal record.

I can't hire a car.

Did you know that?

There are certain kinds of finance
agreement I'm not allowed to sign,

because the law says I'm an ex-con.

Yes, I agree that law was vindictive.

But you didn't answer
the sergeant's question.

I don't have to.

I don't want to see that.

Cora, I need your help. It's
not too late to put this right.

Put it right? You know
absolutely nothing, Mr Gently.

Somebody already put
it right. God bless 'em.

You could help him, you know?

By telling the court I saw Harry
Carson beat Peachment to a pulp?

That would help his case, would it?

Anyway, I saw nothing.

Well, he's going to get a hangman's
noose unless I can find a defence for him.

Don't charge him.There's a lot
of evidence against him.Ignore it.

I can't ignore it! I'm a
policeman trying to uphold the law.

Forget the law. Think about justice.

Look at this photo, please.

Who are these children?

Why are their faces circled?

That's Harry Carson.

That's Daniel Mason.

And the girls?

Her name was Jenny Marr.

And their faces are circled
because they were the lucky ones.

"The lucky ones"? That's
what they were called.

That's you, isn't it? You
were one of the lucky ones?

What happened to the lucky ones, Cora?

The lucky ones got special treatment.

And the other two?

Where are they now?Jenny Marr
was adopted the same time as me.

Daniel Mason seems to
have had a lot of injuries.

Little Danny Mason. He
was especially lucky.

I have no idea where he ended up.

Cora, we are trying to help.

I asked for help for ten years.

You're wasting your time, Mr Gently.

The world didn't believe
me and it won't believe you.

Cora?

We've searched the whole house.

We found a cupboard under the
stairs with some files in it.

We haven't found the cellar.

Do you know where it
is? You're already there.

She's our witness.

Yeah, but she's not going to
testify against Harry in a court.

But I think I know where the cellar is.

Sorry, sir.

No-one's allowed inside.

Hey, do you have any idea
who you're talking to?

Yes, Mr Gently. I was given
specific orders from the top.

The top?The Chief Constable.
Your father in law, sergeant.

This isn't London, Gently. Things
are done differently up here.

Yes, clearly.You've got your man.

Either prosecute him or let him go.

Let's end this business.

What, exactly, should end, sir?

You've got to understand how
upsetting it is to the community

to have you questioning
people about their integrity.

There is no shady land deal.
Just people sticking together.

Can't you simply accept that?

No, I can't.

Are you saying you've got evidence?

Evidence is emerging.
Of corrupt practice?

Of criminal activity.

What crime?

The organised sexual
abuse of young children.

Have you taken leave of your senses,
Gently? This isn't Egypt, man!

No, sir. This is England.

I think I understand
what's happening here.

I was warned by certain voices

in Scotland yard before I
agreed to your appointment.

But I believe in giving a man a chance.Warned
about what? The death of your wife.

It's clear that what you
needed was a long holiday.

Time for your wounds to heal.

I see it all now. The mind is
a delicate instrument, Gently.

There is nothing wrong with my mind.

Oh, I think there is, Chief Inspector.

You are on indefinite paid
leave, as of this moment.

Well?

What did the old git say?

He told me to get on with it.

Find Enid Peachment, bring
her to Harrison House.

It's time for her to face the music.

Sir, nobody's told me
to... Shut up, Constable.

Sir.Get out of my way. Sir,
I'll have to report you.

Go and report me then!

Sir?

Is she here?

Huh?Is she here?Yeah,
she is. Bring her down.

What was this room, Mrs Peachment?

It was our air raid shelter.What?
Out here in the middle of nowhere?

The Luftwaffe have a grudge
against you or something?

You can't be too careful, sergeant.

And after the war? Well,
we didn't need it any more.

Is that when it was walled up?

I suppose so. I really can't remember.

Why didn't you keep it
as a kiddies' playroom?

Do you remember Daniel Mason
or Cora Heston, Mrs Peachment?

Yes, I remember Cora.

She bled...in the night.

C-c-cora was an
early starter.

Poor thing. It was
very shocking for her.

Why don't you just tell us
the truth, Mrs Peachment?Truth?

Cora was being sexually assaulted and you
knew that it was happening, didn't you?

Was it your husband, Mrs
Peachment? Was it Alfred?

Nonsense! Girls make up stories.
They're always flirting with men.

Especially girls who've
lost their fathers.

They get ideas about men.

Forever...flirting.

And Daniel Mason? Harry Carson?

They were children in your care.

I never knew anything.

Why did you leave your husband?

Why did your son leave
England as soon as he could?

What was he so keen to get
away from, Mrs Peachment?

Mind your step, sir.

No, no, no.Leave it.

My sergeant knows nothing about this.

Both of you will leave
this house immediately.

Take Mrs Peachment home.

Nobody is going to tell us anything.

Not the victims, not the criminals.

The perfect crime.

Why was the cellar boarded up, sir?

Why did she keep looking
into that same corner?

Tell me?

Because there was something there in
that room. Something in that corner.

Such as what?Dunno.

Maybe we're looking at the
wrong part of the story.

Let's ask ourselves this.
Why did it have to close down?

Oh, well, we know that, don't we?

Good old, clever clogs
Blacksmith told us that one.

Yes. The Children's Act of 1948.

Harrison House either couldn't or
wouldn't comply with the new regulations.

Or else they didn't want to be
subject to outside inspection.

Well, he was wrong.

Ha ha. He's not as clever as
he thinks he is then, is he?

Well, unless he's trying to confuse
us. When exactly did it close down?

The last medical entry was...

signed October 13 1947.

Well, there you go. That
was a year before the Act.

It didn't close because of new regulations,
it closed for some other reason. Yes?

Sir. Top floor's asked me to make an
appointment for you with Mr Kanagasundaram.Who?

Mr. Kanagasundaram.Who's he?

He's the psychiatrist the force
uses for officers that need help.

OK. Anytime that suits him.

I've been told this case is closed, sir, and
I've been asked to escort you from the premises.

They're going to charge Harry Carson.

Five minutes, Taylor. Five minutes! OK?

What happened to these
children? Where did they go?

Where are they now?

All of them, including Daniel
Mason, either went to other

institutions or into adoption.

Yeah.The local authority has
an obligation to keep records.

It's your career, John
- I wouldn't blame you.

What do you want me to
do? Find those records.

I'll see you tonight.

Thank you.

No, I said the complete records.

Where's 1947 gone? The last year.

I assumed your colleague had given
it to you already.My colleague?

Sergeant Blacksmith.

Thank you.

New toy.

Mind you, what'll it be like
when everybody's got one?

No more peace and quiet.
This is me little lad, Terry.

You were told that
you were off this case.

Come on, the file? You
went to County Hall.

Great minds think alike, eh?

How did you find the exam?
What is it you're playing at?

Where is it?I was just curious
about what happened to the kids

that were left in Harrison
House before it was closed.

Yeah, why did you say it was a school
when it was a children's home?Did I?

Yes, you did, yeah.

You, who knows all about
the community you serve.

What exactly were you curious about?

That woman Cora Davidson.

Her behaviour struck me as
odd. Sure you saw the same.

And there she is in Harrison House.

Right.

Get it, now please.

It's here.

OK?No, it's not OK. You stay away

from this case, right?

Did Dr Morgan ask you to get
hold of this by any chance?

Dr Morgan?

Why would he ask that?

When was The Children's Act, sergeant?

The Children's Act?

1948.

Correct.

Sir?Sit down. Shut up.

You haven't seen me. Sir,
it was a direct command.

Get your hand off that phone. Taylor.

Do you trust me?Yes, sir.

Good.

What happened to the last
child? Well, that's the point.

I've absolutely no idea.
It was Daniel Mason.

The lad who kept
breaking his bones? Yeah.

One of "the lucky ones". And
Sergeant Blacksmith had this file?

So he could've taken the paperwork?
Why else would he want the file?

Removing evidence of crime from
medical records I could understand.

Sir. Sergeant Blacksmith.

Says you might want to talk to him?

Sir.

There's some paperwork missing
from this file. Did you remove it?

You're a disgrace to the force,
Blacksmith.If I may speak, sir.

I've got something to give you.
My resignation from the force.

Notwithstanding any disciplinary
action or criminal charges

you want to bring against me.
Well, you can count on both.

Where is he, Blacksmith?
What happened to Daniel Mason?

You're coming with me. Sergeant, find Cora
Davidson and bring her to Harrison House.

It's not a request, sergeant.

Sir. We're gonna get
slaughtered for this.So?

Go and get a couple of spades.

What? Why?Just do it.

What was in this corner?

Mrs Peachment kept looking at it.

Why?

What happened to Daniel Mason?

All right, let's find out, shall we?

Stop. Stop.

Daniel Mason's not down there.

Where is he?

I took this from the file.

"Daniel Mason."What is it?

"Adoption. February 1947."

Why did you take it?

Sir. Daniel Mason was...adopted by
Inspector and Mrs Clive Blacksmith.

Are you Daniel Mason?

Yes, sir.You were adopted
by Inspector Blacksmith.

Well, what was that?

Above and beyond the call of duty?

Was he trying to help you?

He wanted one of "the lucky ones".

What happened down here?

What was Enid Peachment staring at?

There was a bath in the corner.

The water was freezing.
It was a punishment.

When you hadn't been loving enough.
How often was this happening?

You never knew when it would happen.

We all had tea together
about half past five.

Then at six sharp we were
sent to our dormitories.

You couldn't wait to
get out of that room.

You were dreading your name being called
out and getting asked to stay behind.

And your name was called?Oh, yeah.

I was a really pretty little girl.

Who was it who called your name?

Peachment.

You?

Alfred wasn't interested in little boys.

But every now and then people from the
Board of Trustees would join us for tea.

When Sergeant Blacksmith,
as he then was,

when he was at the table...

..you knew it would be a boy.

How old were you when this started?

I was nine. Til it happened to me I
didn't really know what was going on.

The kids never talked about it.

Before he took a shine to me...

it was Harry Carson.

"The Dummy Lad".

But I suppose he got too
old, too big, too strong.

Putting up too much of a fight.

So one evening he turned to me.

And you never really talked
about it amongst yourselves?

We were told to keep quiet. We
were told we'd get into trouble.

It's what we ask kids to do,
isn't it? Shut up and be quiet.

Harry heard it so often, he
decided to never talk again.

We're still telling kids.

"Do as you're told. Respect
your elders. Respect authority."

That's starting to change now.

That world's slowly washing away.

But there's a lot of people,

especially in the police,
in the classroom, whatever -

that regret its passing.

But you know what?

I think...

just let it all be washed away.

Because children shouldn't be
asked to take grown ups on trust.

And they shouldn't learn to be silent.

About six months after
Sergeant Blacksmith adopted me,

the House was closed down
as a children's home.Why?

Enid made it happen.

She discovered her own son, Laurie...

..had joined "the lucky ones".

Courtesy of my father.

And Mrs Blacksmith?

Did she never try to help?

I don't know what she knew.

I don't think my mother...

..knows what she knew.

Nobody helps you, Mr Gently.

If Harry Carson hadn't
killed Alfred Peachment...

I would never have
talked about it. Never.

I've always wanted my life to be
about what I can do for myself,

not about what other people did to me.

Cora called me first on
the morning of the murder.

Harry had already run away.

You forced the back door, didn't you?

Didn't you? Make it look like a robbery.

So where's the murder weapon
then? You'll never find it.

I didn't see why Harry
should hang for what he did.

I still don't.

Do you?

What happened that morning?

Come for your revenge,
have you, sweetheart?

Little Cora Heston.

Cora!

Cora.

Remember what you used to say
to me when you were on my knee?

You used to say, "I love
you, Grandpa Peachey.

"I love you". Remember?

And if you didn't like it,
all you had to do was speak.

Ah, it's the Dummy Lad!

Come on, Harry, speak
up! Say something for...

You want love.

So they tell you, this is love.

Take this resignation
letter and tear it up.

I'll do my best for Harry Carson...

..and to see that Morgan and
Mrs Peachment are charged.

With what?

All they did was do nothing.

They'll never tell you
what they really knew.

He doesn't know what he
knew and neither does she.

People don't want to know, Mr Gently.

And neither of us will
ever go into a witness box.

You will go into the witness
box if I order you to.

No, Mr Gently.

I won't.

Go home, sergeant.

Goodnight, Miss Davidson.

Goodnight, Chief Inspector.

I can't thank you.

Leave it, John.

John. Let's go home.

You disregarded a direct order from me.

Yes, sir.

I'm glad you did.

If you prosecute Harry Carson,
will Sergeant Blacksmith testify?

Or Cora Davidson?

No. Both of them would rather
perjure themselves than help

to convict Harry Carson.
And without their testimony?

There's probably enough circumstantial
evidence to persuade a jury.

The wrong judge might hang him.

But that would allow you to put
Enid Peachment and Philip Morgan into

the witness box?Indeed it would.

Which would destroy them both publicly.

With a bit of luck.

And bring shame on their community.
The community has shamed itself.

The decision is yours,
of course, Gently.

All right?

So, why do you want to be a cop?

Because you know what,
Sergeant Bacchus?What's that?

I think this world is a load of shite.

And?

And I want to do something about it.

Right.

Let's go for a walk. Come on.

I'll tell you what it's really like.

Does that not stick in
your throat though, sir?

Morgan and Enid get away
scot free, and she's rich.

Makes me sick.

But I can't stomach the thought of
dragging those three through the courts.

They've suffered enough already.

It ends here.

The past gets buried.

And the truth with it.

Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd