Kavanagh QC (1995–2001): Season 2, Episode 6 - Job Satisfaction - full transcript

(Radio chatter)

(clamouring and shouting)

(Shouting continues)

REPORTER: Mr Kavanagh. Mr Kavanagh.

(clamouring)

(Distant shouting)

What's all this, Sammy boy, eh?

Homework?

Give me the book back, Connor.

How can you read this stuff, eh?

It's boring.



I'm trying to prepare my defence here...

you moron..

I'll bet you look a right
prat in that court.

Poncing around, playing
at being your own brief.

Have you told the jury
what it feels like yet?

What what feels like?

Oh, you know what I mean, Sammy.

Picking up a shotgun.

Doing the business on your mum and dad.

Make you feel good, did it.
When you pulled the trigger?

What's so bloody funny?

(Laughs)

You are, Connor.

You're such a classic,
working-class, criminal stereotype.



(Laughs)

Aaargh!

(Laughs)

(Laughs hysterically)

SAM: There is more to this vicious assault
than meets the eye, Your Honour.

What are you talking about, Mr Wicks?

I think the attack was instigated
by my half-brother.

Duncan Pembridge.

You are saying
that a prosecution witness in this case

arranged to have you beaten up in prison?

Exactly.

It sounds a highly unlikely scenario.

But whatever happened,
it has no relevance to this inquiry.

Duncan put them up to it.

I'd say that was relevant.

JUDGE: You are wasting the courts time.

This case is about the murder
of David and Alice Pembridge.

Your misadventures on remand
have nothing to do with that.

The reason my sister and I are here now
is because of our half-brother's vendetta.

Now. I submit that the assault
has everything to do with this case.

JUDGE: I'm not going to spend
any more time on this.

Kindly call in the jury.

Oh. Mr Wicks...

this alleged incident must not on any
account be brought up in front of the jury.

Do I make myself clear?

Yes!

Hm?

Your Honour.

Sam... Sam...

Are you all right?

Yes. It's just a cut. It's really nothing.

Er... no, no, no. You must not talk to
each other in that informal manner.

You might easily give the impression to the
jury that you are colluding in your defense.

We would not want them to think that you
were advising your sister on what to say.

Would you, Mr Wicks?

The thing is. Sam's utterly impossible.

Never listens to advice.
Always thinks he knows better.

KAVANAGH: That cleverness will bring our
client down with him if we're not careful.

There's only so much a
solicitor can do, James.

I made it clear to Caroline that if she knew
anything untoward about Sam's role in all this,

she should help her own case and say so.

You know what her attitude to that was.

KAVANAGH: They stand or fall together.

Indeed.

I feel sorry for the girl.

I mean looking at her, it's hard to believe
she could have been involved in this.

If she'd distance herself even slightly
from her brother's story,

we might get her off the
murder charge, at least.

Loyal to a fault.

Mr Pembridge.

Could you tell the count
your relationship to the accused?

They are my half-brother and sister.

They are David Pembridge's children
by his first marriage?

Yes.

They took their mother's maiden name
after the divorce.

And on his remarriage. did your father continue to
provide financially for his first two children?

PEMBRIDGE: Yes he did
He was exceptionally generous to them.

More so than the law required?

That's a leading question.

It's putting answers into
the witness's mouth.

I am happy to rephrase the question.
Your Honour.

In what way
was your father generous to the accused?

He told us all that we would have
an equal share in his estate.

He also frequently loaned Sam
large sums of money.

Why did he do that?

Sam had all sorts of business schemes
over the years.

Dad often helped him get started.
Then bailed him out when they crashed.

Which they always did.

PROSECUTOR:
Was the defendant. Sam Wicks. ever refused

when he asked your father for money?

Yes. Once.

And when was that?

In November of last year.

Sam asked for a loan to start up
some sort of publishing company.

We told Sam it wasn't on.

And how did he react?

He was very angry.

Mr Pembridge,

could you please tell the court

what happened at the Pembridge farm
on December 16th?

It was a Sunday morning,
so none of the staff were about.

I came in at about 11

and found Sam and Caroline
with Mum and Dad.

The atmosphere was very bad.

Dad took me aside

and said that Sam
was still going on about the loan.

Dad wouldn't change his mind about it.

I lost my temper
and told Sam a few home truths.

I was fed up with the whole business,
so I went back out to the fields.

I wish to God I hadn't.

Did you see your father
again, alive, that day?

I saw him outside the house at about one.

And did you see Sam or Caroline Wicks
again that day?

I saw their car leaving just after three.

And what time did you return to the house?

Just after four.

And what did you find?

Mum and Dad weren't in the living room,

so I thought they must have gone out.

So, I went into the kitchen
to make myself some tea.

They were both er...

lying on the floor...

There was blood everywhere.

On the floor...

the walls.

They were unrecognisable.

And what else did you notice. Mr Pembridge?

My father's shotgun
was lying on the floor by his side.

There was also a blanket
on the floor near it.

Is this the blanket?

Yes. (Clears throat)

It's a travel blanket
my mother kept in the living room.

(Murmuring)

Where was your father's shotgun kept.
As a rule?

In a case in the hall.
The shells were locked in a drawer.

And how many people knew
where the gun and the ammunition were kept?

Apart from myself and my mother,
only Sam and Caroline, that I know of.

Could you tell the court a little more about
the circumstances of your birth, Mr Pembridge?

- Do I have to answer that?
- Yes.

I was born
before my parents were able to marry.

How long before, exactly?

11 years.

It's the case, isn't it,

that for over 11 years,

your mother and my father
had a clandestine affair?

During that time. the fact that he
was your father was kept secret.

It was only much later
that he acknowledged you as his son,

divorced my mother and married yours.

- That has nothing to do with anything.
- I think it does.

You've always held a grudge
against Caroline and I.

Rubbish.

I will decide what is rubbish, Mr
Pembridge. You will answer the question.

No. I have never held a grudge.

Oh.

You resented us...

for having the life
that you thought was rightfully yours.

This has nothing to do with it.

JUDGE: I will not tell you again.
Answer the questions.

No. I did not resent
anything about your life.

It's a ridiculous suggestion.

SAM". If my sister and I are
convicted of this murder...

then you become sole beneficiary
of our father's will, don't you?

You disgusting...

You need all his money to run the farm,

and that's why you want us out of the way.

It's you who wanted the money! He wouldn't loan
you what you wanted, so you murdered them.

You're lying about the time we left.
So that you can pin it on us!

You're taking advantage of this tragedy.

- You killed them...
- You'd tell any lie that suited you!

Be quiet, both of you. Mr Pembridge...

you will behave yourself
in the witness box.

Mr Wicks.
Even though some may feel it ill-advised.

The undertaking of your own defence
is your right.

And the count is obliged to help.

But I will not have you
barrack and abuse the witnesses.

And you will keep your emotions in check.

Now,

do you have any further questions
for this witness?

No.

I have no questions for this... person.

(Door opens)

KAVANAGH: Mr Pembridge,
when you went back into the house at four.

The front door was open, wasn't it?

Yes.

Wasn't normally left open, was it?

No. not normally.

You told the police that the only people
who had keys to the front door,

apart from yourself and your parents.

Were Sam and Caroline Wicks.

That wasn't strictly true. was it?

PEMBRIDGE: Yes /I is we.

Are you saying your mother was not in the habit
of leaving a spare key under a plant pot?

She did do that sometimes, yes.

Why didn't you tell that to the police?

I forgot. It wasn't important.

Anyone could have picked up that key
and walked in.

That's ridiculous.

Yes.

I suppose so.

You didn't tell the police
about this spare key,

because you didn't want to turn attention away
from the people you believe to be guilty.

Namely my client Caroline Wicks
and her brother Sam.

No, it just slipped my mind.

You're not interested in any evidence
that might help to clear them.

- I don't understand what you're insinuating.
- Don't you?

I'll make myself perfectly clear. then.

I suggest
you are prejudiced against the defendants

and your evidence is tainted as a result.

That's the game, is it? Have a go at
me to distract attention from them?

You are prejudiced, aren't you?

I deny that.

KAVANAGH: Very well

How would you describe your relationship
with your half-brother and sister?

We're not close.

I wouldn't pretend otherwise.

There was a permanent state of simmering
hostility between you and them...

That wasn't my choice.
They were the ones who harboured a grudge.

- You hate them.
- Could you blame me if I did?

Yes. I hate him

I feel sorry for her.

Why do you feel sorry for her?

Because she's completely under his thumb.

She'd do whatever he asked her to.
She'd walk off a cliff.

(Sam laughs uncontrollably)

KAVANAGH: Mr Pembridge...

a large number of items
were stolen from the house, weren't they?

A few things. Some silver, a few ornaments.

It's obvious Sam took those,
just to make it look like a burglary.

KAVANAGH: I suggest it's
only obvious to you.

It the atmosphere was so bad
when you went in during the morning.

How do you explain the fact that
by your account.

Caroline and her brother stayed for at
least a further four hours. until three?

I have no idea.

Actually, they left before one.

No, definitely not.
It was three when I saw Sam's car leaving.

That is what you want to believe, because you
saw your father alive after one o'clock.

And if my client and her brother had already
left, they couldn't have killed him.

I saw them leaving at three.

You convinced yourself of that,
because you desperately want it to be true.

The fact is. Mr Pembridge.

You are incapable of giving any
objective evidence to this jury.

(Clears throat)

(Whispered conversation)

- Lizzie.
- It's your dad. He's had a stroke.

I had this notion that charity work mostly
involved sitting in a helicopter with Bob Geldof.

(Laughs)

The truth is, this place
is just bloody hard work.

You look pretty good on it, though.
You're developing that sort of heroic aura,

that makes those of us who do
nothing at all feel so guilty!

That's what I wanted to talk about.

I want you to do something for me, Julia.

I want you to consider putting a hold
on your extremely promising legal career...

to go to Africa
and help run a refugee programme...

enduring frankly appalling hardships,

and earning almost no
money into the bargain.

For a year or so.

Golly.

Do you spring this on all your friends?

Only the ones I think are up to the job.

Believe me. Julia. I know what I'm doing.

Well, don't dismiss the idea out of hand.
Think about it for a while.

If there's anything you need to know.
Just give me a call.

(Water gurgling)

LIZZIE: There's no point
rushing up to Bolton...

if that's not what your mother wants.

We can go on the weekend.

You can make your decision about the trial
after that.

Its just the thought of Sam Wicks

crashing about the courtroom
like some unguided missile.

If I went away how, God knows what he'll have
done to his sister's case by the time I get back.

Jim...

she said your dad's OK.

There's not a lot we can do up there.
Anyway.

I've known the Pembridge
family all my life.

I used to help Alice in the farm shop
in the summer months.

How well did you know
Sam and Caroline Wicks?

Extremely well.
I would recognise them anywhere.

Mrs Tully.
Could you tell the count what happened

on the afternoon of December 16th?

I was driving along the road
that runs past the Pembridge farm,

when I saw a car coming
very fast towards me.

I thought we were going to crash.

I had to pull sharply to
the side of the road.

Did you recognise the car?

MRS TULLY: Yes. I knew Whose
it was as soon as I saw it.

It was Sam's car.

Did you see who was in the car?

MRS TULLY: Sam and Caroline

You're sure it was them?

It was their car.

What time did this incident take place?

About three o'clock.

Thank you, Mrs Tully.

(Sam clears throat)

Mr Kavanagh.

It's my turn next, isn't it?

Mr Kavanagh.

You were very close to Alice Pembridge,
weren't you, Mrs Tully?

We were very good friends.

I probably knew her as well as anyone
outside the family circle.

She was such a good woman.

She had to put up with so much.

What exactly do you mean by that?

I mean she made every effort to establish
a good relationship with Grace's children.

But they took every chance
they could to hurt or humiliate her.

KAVANAGH: Did she tell you that?

No. she wasn't the type to complain.

So. how do you know?

Well it didn't happen while you were there.
Did it?

MRS TULLY: No. norm front of me.

KAVANAGH: So how do you know?
- It was common knowledge.

Common knowledge?

You mean village chitchat,
gossip in the pub?

Of course not!

Was it Duncan Pembridge who told you?

No.

Now, about this business
of the car, Mrs Tully.

At what speed were you driving
when you saw it?

About 30mph,
but the other car was going much faster.

And when you saw this car coming towards
you, at great speed, in your lane.

You naturally took evasive action?

Yes, that's right.

You turned sharply to the side of the road.

And yet, while all this was going on, you still
had time to see that Sam and Caroline Wicks

- were in the other car?
- Yes.

Who was driving?

Sam.

Sam was driving.

KAVANAGH: You don '1' seem very sure.
- I'm sure it was Sam.

What was he Wearing?

I don't know. There was no time to see.

What about Carmine Wicks?
What was she wearing?

MRS TULLY: (can? remember.

The fact is. that at the time.
You weren't sure who was driving.

It was only after you heard of the arrests
that you began to believe it was them.

I'm completely clear in my own mind
about what happened.

You are predisposed
to think the worst of the defendants.

And this prejudice against them
has led you to a conclusion

that goes far beyond what you actually saw.

I've no questions, Your Honour.

Couldn't have done it better myself.

Thank you for coming, Mrs Tully.

That was most helpful.

The blanket
was wrapped around the gun barrels.

The victims were then shot
from point-blank range.

PROSECUTOR:
And what was the purpose of the blanket?

To muffle the sound of the shots.

Did you find the fingerprints of the
defendant, Mr Wicks, on the gun?

Yes. On the stock. on the trigger guard.

And along the barrels.

Were there any other prints on the gun,
Dr Ashurst?

There were prints matching those
of Duncan Pembridge and his father,

as well as others that remain unidentified.

Could these have belonged
to one of Mr Pembridges employees?

No. All the farm workers were
fingerprinted. None of them matched.

So, there are fingerprints on the gun
that remain unidentified and unexplained.

Thank you. Dr Ashurst.

Africa? You're out of your mind.
You're ill.

One of those hysterical fits
intelligent women are prone to.

(Laughs) At least you
think I'm intelligent.

I'm not ill. I just want
to do something different.

You can't leave the most noble
of professions to work for...

charity.

Come on, Jeremy,
you must have felt like a change.

Felt like a change? The Bar isn't a bus,
Julia. You can't just get on and off.

There is a big world out there, Jeremy,
beyond the Inns of Court,

and I'd like to see some of it.

And maybe do something helpful
at the same time.

Julia, my dear, get a grip on yourself.

Believe me, I understand
the pull of compassion.

I was watching a programme on TV
just the other night about...

oh, some famine or other.

Bloody awful situation.

Made me feel dreadful.
Do you know what I did?

Switched over to another channel.
I felt better almost immediately.

If you want to do something useful,
sign a cheque.

Oh, thank you, Jeremy.

I knew I could rely on you
for a perceptive overview.

But...

what about all your friends here?

They'll miss you.

I'll miss you.

As... As a chum. Co-worker.

KAVANAGH: Miss Wicks.
How Would you describe your relationship

with your father and his second wife?

(Faintly) It was all right. We got on.

Speak up, please, Miss Wicks.

We got on.

Where did you live after the
break-up of your parents' marriage?

CAROLINE: With Mum.

She germ. though.
She had to go to the hospital

Did you see your father much in those days?

Not to begin with.

More after Mum died.

Was there any tension or disagreement
between you when you met?

No. Nothing serious.

I mean, we had rows sometimes,
didn't we, Sam?

Please, er... address
your answers to Counsel.

KAVANAGH: Did you have a row
on the morning of December 16th?

No.

Duncan made that up.

His evidence about the row that morning
is untrue, then?

The only person angry was Duncan.

He hated us being on our own with Dad.

He wanted to know everything.

But Dad was talking business with Sam.

Poor Duncan. He'd get so upset.

KAVANAGH:
What time did you leave the house?

Lunch time.

Before one.
We went for a burger. Didn't we, Sam?

Sorry.

KAVANAGH: In her evidence.

Mrs Tully described a near-accident involving
what she believed to be your brother's car.

What do you say to that?

It never happened.

KAVANAGH: It never happened?

Thank you, Miss Wicks.

(Sam coughs)

Do you remember when Dad and I
used to go clay-pigeon shooting?

Is that the one
where you throw plates up in the air?

(Laughter)

SAM: I used Dad's shotgun. didn't I?
- Yes.

So, that's how my fingerprints
got onto the gun.

DUNCAN". That's a bloody lie!

You never did that with Dad.
He wouldn't have trusted you with his gun!

Sit down immediately.
Or I will have you removed.

This is a bloody farce! He's feeding her...

Mr Wicks is cross-examining
in a perfectly proper fashion.

He has every right to ask...

He might as well have a bloody parrot...

Your Honour, I find Mr Pembridge's
intervention highly intimidating.

How can I get a fair trial?

I think you are being
mischievous, Mr Wicks.

However. I will not let this
court descend into anarchy.

Remove that man immediately.

I suggest you go for a long walk.
Mr Pembridge. and calm down.

Don't touch me. Get off!

(Murmuring)

JUDGE: Now silence'

Mr Wicks.

Caroline...

are you absolutely sure

that we left the house before one o'clock
on December 16th?

Yes.

Were Dad and Alice alive when we left?

Yes.

Do you know anything about how they died?

It must have been a burglar.

Did you murder them, Caroline?

No.

Did I?

Er. . Caroline?

No, you didn't.

PROSECUTOR: Miss Wicks. do you remember
the night of October 12th {est year?

You and your brother went to the
Poacher restaurant in Chorley village

with David and Alice Pembridge. didn't you?

CAROLINE: / can? / don? really remember.

Well, do you remember the argument
between David Pembridge and Sam Wicks?

An argument so violent that you
were asked to leave by the manager?

No.

Are you saying it didn't take place?

- I can't remember.
- Very well then.

What about the morning of November 23rd?

Did you go to your father's farm that day?

I don '1' know which days we went.

You went with your brother that morning.
And another argument developed.

This time in front of the farm manager.

Voices were raised. and atone point
your brother shook his fist.

That's true. isn't it?

I'm not saying...

I didn't say we were perfect.
We were just a normal family.

This argument was over money, wasn't it?

The money your father wouldn't lend him
to start his new business.

- You have lied to this count haven't you?
- No.

Your father had no intention of giving you
or your brother any money, did he?

Yes. Sam needed it.

On the morning of December 16th
he told you both yet again

that he would not give Sam his loan.

And a violent argument ensued. didn't it?

I can't remember...
I can't remember what he said.

There was a row, wasn't there?

Leave her alone!

Sit down. I will not warn you again.

Look, he's bullying her. It's not fair.

Sit down.

I put it to you that the truth of this matter is
that following a final argument over the loan.

You and your brother took your father's gun
and shot David and Alice Pembridge dead.

Now. that's the way it happened. isn't it?

No.

You've done nothing but lie about it since,
have you?

- You love your brother, don't you?
- Yes.

- You'd do anything for him?
- He looks after me.

He told you what to say at this trial.
Didn't he?

He gave you the words to memorise.

- I want to stop now.
- But it's impossible to sustain these lies.

I'm not lying.

The sad truth is that when it became clear
that there was no more money

to be squeezed from your father.
You cynically and cold-bloodedly

murdered him and his wife.
To lay your hands on your inheritance.

That's the way it happened, isn't it?

I wish they weren't dead!
I wish they hadn't been shot. I miss him!

(Caroline sobs)

He was my dad.

(Buzz of conversation)

We make a good team, Mr Kavanagh.

I hadn't thought of it quite that way.

I always wanted to be a lawyer, you know.
Maybe I'll take it up when this is over.

What do you think?

I wouldn't like to say.

A cautious answer, Mr Kavanagh.

I like that.

I erm...

I wanted to thank you.

For looking after Caroline.

Just doing my job, Mr Wicks.

She's erm...

never been the same
since our parents broke up.

I've had to be like a... father to her.

You know whats really tearing her up?

How much Duncan hares us

He'll never be happy
until he's destroyed us.

Completely.

CLERK". The count will rise.

PROSECUTOR: A motive for murder
is clearly identifiable.

The accused Wanted money.

And when refused a loan. they decided
to obtain it by another method,

namely by killing their parents to inherit the
estate in which they knew they had a share.

The evidence of the witnesses
Duncan Pembridge and Barbara Tully

shows convincingly that the accused lied
about the time they left the house that day.

And... if you accept that they did lie,

then you must ask yourselves...

Why?

KAVANAGH: The witnesses
Duncan Pembridge and Barbara Tully

should be regarded with the utmost caution.

It is quite clear
that their bias against the defendants

renders their evidence partial.

And unreliable.

The circumstances
of the divorce and remarriage

divided the community
in which the Pembridges lived,

and led to strong allegiances,

both for and against
them and their children.

Those feelings ran deep.

And a bitter prejudice remains.

But Caroline Wicks
cannot be judged on local prejudice.

She must be judged on the evidence, and
there is not one scrap of physical evidence

that links her directly to the crime.

SAM: The truth here is

that my sister and I are the victims
of a cruel stroke of timing

On December 16th.

A burglar broke into the
house after we'd left,

and for reasons only he can explain...

he killed them.

That man is sitting out
there somewhere now,

secure in the knowledge that fate,

malicious gossip and coincidence
have combined

to put two innocent people
where he should be.

I'm asking you
to find us not guilty of these charges...

so that the search for the
real killer can begin...

and my sister and I can be given time,

at last...

to grieve for the father that we loved.

All this fuss over nothing!

Matt sends his love, Grandad,
and he's sorry he can't be here.

If I had the choice between here and New
Zealand, I know where I'd rather be.

How is he?

Well, the doctors say it
were mild, as strokes go.

His right hands a big shaky, but he'll make a
complete recovery, as long as he's careful.

You'll have to tie him down, then.

You're not to worry about us.

You've got your work to do.

It's all right. Just a
bit tired, that's all.

I can be back in hours if you need me.

We'll be fine.

I could stay on. The main job's done.

You'll only fret. Go on.

Come back to us when you can.

In his summing-up.

You heard Mr Kavanagh suggest
that this case was about a family feud,

and the antagonism shown
by Duncan Pembridge towards the defendants.

But you might feel...

that that is not necessarily
the vital issue.

You might remember the evidence about
the row on the morning of the killings.

The paucity of evidence for a burglary.
The fingerprints on the murder weapon.

And the motive established
by the prosecution.

And if you were concerned

that much of that evidence
came from Duncan Pembridge.

You may comfort yourself
in the consideration

that his evidence was supported
in important respects by Mrs Tully.

Who told you that she saw the defendants
speeding away from the farm.

Two hours after the time
they told you they had left.

Now. I must warn you

to consider Mrs Tully's
evidence very carefully...

to satisfy yourselves that she was in a
position to identity the defendants accurately.

Let Kate do that, Marjorie. You sit down.

No, it's all right, dear. There's not much.

Actually, I do feel a bit faint.

I'll just sit here a minute. It'll pass.

I'll soon be myself. (Gasps)

Marjorie?

(Panting) Listen...

You're not to say anything to Alfred.

I don't want him worried. It's nothing.

Call an ambulance.

(Groans)

CLERK". Members of the jury. have you
reached a verdict on which you all agree?

We have.

How do you find the defendant,
Samuel Thomas Wicks,

on the charge of murder?

Guilty or not guilty?

FOREMAN: Guilty

CLERK". How do you find the defendant.
Caroline Angela Wicks.

On the charge of murder?

Guilty or not guilty?

FOREMAN: GL///fy

(Murmuring)

Why didn't she say something?

She couldn't have suffered much, love.

How could she not mention a heat condition?

There was nothing to be done.

She didn't want you to worry.

I'm her son. I had a right to know!

Are you all right?

(Door slams)

WARDER: Whats the matter with you, Wicks?

(Crying) I want to see my brother.

You're not going to.
Time you got used to the idea.

I want to see Sam!

Let me see him!

It's obvious he can't look after himself.

Try getting him to admit that.

So. What do We do?

He's never going to move in
with Grahame and Cynthia...

or us, for that matter.

Well, we don't have to
do anything for a while.

Let's stay and see how things look
in a couple of weeks.

(Kavanagh clears throat)
- Jim?

I meant to mention it earlier.

There's going to be an
appeal in the Wicks case.

Oh, for God's sake, Jim,
couldn't you have turned it down?

- Haven't you got enough to do?
- Well, I must do something. No point brooding.

But you've just said
we have to do something about your father.

How can you solve that problem
in the Court of Appeal?

Don't you think
that you're avoiding the real issue?

You haven't mentioned your mother once
since she died.

You've just closed yourself off.

That's why you're so keen to go back
to court. It's so you can hide.

Don't start giving me
that psychiatric mumbo-jumbo.

What do you want me to do?

Go around crying and hugging everybody?

It might be a start.

I'll speak to Dad before
I go in the morning.

I'm not interested. You
can save your breath.

Nobody said anything about a home.

I'm talking about a trained nurse coming in
for a few hours a day

to make sure you're all right.

- Nurses cost money.
- I'll pay for it.

I won't be beholden.

You're being totally unreasonable.

And you're interfering.

(Alarm rings)

She'd only been there a few seconds.
She's not seriously hurt.

Prison will kill her.

You've got to get her out of there.

That rests with the Court
of Appeal, Mr Wicks.

Well...

at least we won't have
the jury to worry about.

I'd rather put my faith in the judges.

At least they're qualified
to examine the evidence properly.

I've...

I've been studying the precedents.

And. in my opinion.
There are two grounds we can win on.

The newspaper coverage was prejudicial,

and the prosecution
kept on asking leading questions.

The leading questions go nowhere.

The evidence would have come out anyway.

And I don't believe the Court of Appeal would
ever find the media coverage prejudicial enough

to make the conviction unsafe.

The papers put us in here.

It was a campaign of vilification.

Now, I want you to nail them.

Perhaps I'm not making
myself clear, Mr Wicks.

The coverage may have upset you,

but as grounds for overturning the
conviction it's a nonstarter.

Mr Kavanagh feels that Judge Ransomes
summing-up was seriously flawed.

God, he was against us from the start.

I doubt that

but whatever the reason. It offers
us a number of avenues for argument.

All right.

If you say so.

You're the expert.

Mr Wicks...

if you're not happy.
You have every right to look elsewhere.

No.

I'm putting my faith in you, Mr Kavanagh.

I'm very confident
you're not going to let me down.

(Julia clears throat)

It was very decent of you, Jeremy.

No, it was the least I could do.
Would you like a brandy or liqueur?

Mmm. Both, please, in the same glass.

The truth is. I...

I do have an ulterior
motive for this invitation.

Oh, I thought you just wanted
to wish me goodbye in style.

Well, that's partly it, of course. Erm...

The thing is, I've been thinking.

Ah...

And I'm sure it's the right thing...

for both of us.

The thing is...

(Pants)

The thing is...

I want you to marry me.

(Laughs)

Oh, my God.

- You're serious?
- Yes, I'm deadly serious.

But why?

Because, despite appearances,
were right for each other.

We're total opposites.
We don't agree about anything.

We're utterly, completely,
and hilariously mismatched.

No, no, that's the whole point.
Don't you see?

We're suppressing what we really feel
beneath a facade of bickering

It's not a facade, Jeremy.
We're genuinely incompatible.

I know why you're going to Africa.

You're struggling to fill a void
in your emotional life.

Sacrificing your best years to the starving
isn't the answer.

- Oh, and you are?
- Yes.

It's suddenly become clear to me.

God! When I think of the years I've wasted
with ghastly debs and braindead bimbos...

when all along, what I've wanted
is someone with guts and spirit.

Backbone.

Someone, in short, like you.

Well...

I can honestly say I'm surprised...

No, that doesn't sound quite right.
I think...

I think "astounded" might be the word.

Well?

Absolutely, unconditionally, no!

Don't rush into anything.

- Jeremy...
- Now. don't say another word.

Just give yourself some time
to get used to the idea.

I think you'll find I'm right.

A-N-T. "Ant"? That's a bit feeble.

Dad's got his mind on higher things.

What's that supposed to mean?

Nothing.

It's just.
You've hardly been here since Gran died.

And even when you are.
You wish you weren't.

It's not fair to leave it to Mum.
You should be here with Grandad.

Oh, don't be so bloody self righteous.

Shhh...

I suppose you're going to
say she's got a point!

I wish you'd stop shouting.

Caroline Wicks
tried to commit suicide this morning.

She's all right. but she won't
last another five minutes in jail.

Do you want me to walk away from her?

- She's not your responsibility.
- Isn't she?

- There are other barristers.
- Maybe.

But there isn't one who knows what this
appeal is about in the way that I do.

Now, that's not vanity. That's fact.

And if you want to know, there's a lot
of things about this case I don't like.

Starting with that brother of hers.

But it is my responsibility
to go through with it,

and I am bloody well going
to do it, all right?

And if you believe
I wouldn't rather be with my family...

you're not as bright
as I thought you were.

Holidays.

All seven letters.

I'd like to see somebody beat that!

JUDGE: Mr Kavanagh...

we've all read the
papers in this appeal.

Er... since the grounds
ultimately amount to stating

that the learned judge's conduct
of the trial was prejudicial...

we thought it only right to inform you
that we have not.

For ourselves.

Found, on reading the transcript material,

evidence to substantiate that complaint.

May I then refer Your Lordships
to page 40 of the transcript?

Section E to G.

JUDGE: Ah yes

This is where
the learned judge stopped the defendants

chatting amongst themselves
before they gave evidence.

KAVANAGH:
They were not about to give evidence.

That is the heart of the matter.

The implication to the jury
that they were colluding

was wholly unjustified.

Mr Kavanagh, the learned judge

was very quick on another occasion
to ref! Mr Pembridge -

and therefore the jury -

that Mr Wicks was carrying out
a perfectly proper cross-examination.

The grounds for this appeal, my lord,
are cumulative.

I would ask you to recall what the learned judge
said to the prosecution witness, Mrs Tully.

At the end of her evidence.
He went out of his way to thank her.

Which. in our submission.

Gave the impression to the jury
that he endorsed her evidence.

There's law on that, Mr Kavanagh,
and it's against you.

In my view.

The jury is more likely to regard that
as a common courtesy.

KAVANAGH: On its own. my lord. it might be.

But, taken with all the other examples of
prejudice set out in the grounds of appeal,

it can have only one meaning.

Er...

It is also your intention to criticise the
learned judge's summing-Lip, Mr Kavanagh?

It is, my lord.

We shall eagerly anticipate that,

after we've taken luncheon.

- We should have gone with the newspapers.
- It's going well enough.

That's all right for you to say.
You're not looking at going back to prison.

Mr Kavanagh's doing his best, Sam.

(Sam growls)

What do you know about it?

We are being destroyed out there.

Can't you see that?

Er... Mr Kavanagh...

I'm most reluctant to stop you.

But... and I'm sure I speak for my learned
brothers, as well as for myself...

there is no more that can
be said on this point...

er... that will assist us.

Then I must seek Your Lordships' indulgence,
because I do want to say two more things.

On... On this same issue?

My lord. yes.

First, the jury were not given a
fair summary of the defences case

on Duncan Pembridge's motive
for giving evidence against the appellants.

The judge made no mention
of Duncan Pembridges failure

to tell the police or the jury

about the spare key his mother kept
under a plant pot at the house.

In the circumstances of this case.
He had to do so.

Second.
The learned judge's direction to the jury

about Mrs Tully's identification of
the accused was wholly inadequate.

He failed to remind them
that she was unable to tell the count.

With confidence, who was driving.

My lords. these matters...

render these convictions...

wholly unsafe...

and wholly unsatisfactory.

(Judge clears throat)

Er...

We have decided...

to allow this appeal.

In View of the matters put before us.

We find these convictions unsafe

and unsatisfactory.

Mr Justice Caxton
will give the judgment of the court.

Is it all right for us to go, Mr Kavanagh?

Yes, yes, you're free now.

What happens now?

Nothing. It's over, Miss Wicks.

I don't know what to do.

- Do about what?
SAM: I'll tell you what we're going to do.

Go out and celebrate.

(clamouring)

OK?

Mr Wicks, what will you be doing,
now all this is over?

Well, we'll be going home and erm...
trying to forget this whole ordeal.

Mr Kavanagh, you've put a cold-blooded
murderer back on the streets.

You must be very proud.

DUNCAN". The appeal decision is an insult.

For reasons that have nothing to do with
truth and everything to do with trickery,

the killers are now free.

The fact that the law can be manipulated by
unscrupulous lawyers fills me with disgust.

Do you mean anyone specific?

They know who they are.

But it doesn't end here.

I'm planning to sue for damages
in the civil court.

I want those two named
as the killers they are.

I'll be up on the five o'clock train.

LIZZIE: Sure you can make it?

(Testily) Of course I can make...

Sorry.

I'm just a bit tired.
I'll see you tomorrow.

(Phone rings)

Forget something?

MAN: How do you sleep Kavanagh?

Who's this?

Doesn't the truth mean anything to you?

Is that you, Pembridge?

- You make me sick.
(Line goes dead)

(Sniffs)

(Door opens)

SAM". Cam'?

Some of these are almost new.

He wants us to get rid of everything.

What are you going to do. Jim? You know
it was Pembridge who made that call.

It was a one-off. He won't do it again.

He threatened you.
What if Kate had picked up the phone?

He's not dangerous.

He just feels betrayed by the system.

I was the nearest target to hand.

Well, you may regard it
as an occupational hazard.

But I don't like it when some embittered
thug threatens people I love.

Do you think I like it?

Do you think I like the thought
that Wicks might well be the killer.

And I was instrumental in getting him off?

Well, I don't. I hate it.

But there's not much I can do about that,
either, is there?

Duncan, hello.

Bye, Grandad.

- Bye-bye, love. Take care.
- Yeah, and you.

I don't think we need to worry.
But if anything does happen...

I'll call the police.
Will you be all right?

Yeah, I'll be fine.
I just need some time alone with Dad.

- Bye, Dad.
- Bye-bye, love.

ALFRED: This is the place.

All I want's a nice wooden bench,
wi' a memorial plaque.

Nothing very fancy.
Just her name and a few words.

She'd be very pleased with that.

Say what's on your mind. son.

I've often wondered how she felt
about the way things turned out for me.

She was proud - I felt that - but...

feeling's not the same
as being told, is it?

Take me back, lad.

Every single one of the cases
that you did that got reported.

Right from the beginning.

She was fascinated.

And bursting with pride.

She always changed the subject
when I talked about work.

She was always a bit in
awe of your learning

So many times I wanted
to talk about things.

She didn't think it was her place to ask.

I used to talk to her for hours
when I was a kid.

Rattle on for hours.

There were so many things
I wanted to say to her.

Don't have any doubts.

She thought the world of
what you've achieved.

Well, she had a higher opinion of me
than I do of myself at the moment.

We're going to miss her, aren't we?

(Dialogue inaudible)

What are you doing?

I've got a headache.

Well...

Let me.

Two?

Where um... (Clears throat)

Where did you go when you
went out yesterday, Caroline?

Nowhere.

I just walked.

You should have waited.

I'd have come with you.

You know I only worry
when I don't know where you are.

I think we should make things right, Sam.

What?

Talk to someone who can help us.

I keep thinking about what we did.

Er...

I've um...

I've told you...

so many times, Caro.

They were cruel...

and evil.

And I had to do it.

They wanted to split us up.

Without the money, I wouldn't have
been able to look after you any more.

Don't forget what they did to our mother.

I couldn't let them do that to us.

It's too much for my head. It keeps going
round and round. I've got to let it out.

But you haven't...

talked to anyone, have you?

Cam'?

It's all right.

I understand.

Let me think about it.

I'll work something out.

If you've got a problem,
go to your own solicitor.

Just tell Kavanagh I'm here.

Either you go now. or
I'll have you thrown out.

He's right. Mr Pembridge.
You've got no business here.

- It's all right. Leave this to me.
- He did it.

- She told me he did it.
- That's nothing to do with me.

She won't go to the police. Someone
has to make her testify at the civil court.

I haven't got a chance without her.

I would advise you not to shout at me,
Mr Pembridge.

You got them off. It's your responsibility.
What are you going to do about it?

Get out of here, Mr Pembridge.

And if you ever come near me or my family
again, I'll have you arrested.

Don't you care? Don't you even bloody care?

Get out of here!

I hardly need add that
Julia will be much missed.

Hear! Hear!

Not least for her valiant efforts
to keep us men in order.

(Laughter)

River Court's loss is Africa's gain.

To Julia.

ALL: To Julia.

You're going to have to compete, James,
if you want Helen as your junior.

I shall be first in the queue.

I wouldn't dream of pushing in, Peter.

I do hope we can work together again
at some point, James.

- No doubt we will.
- I'll look forward to it.

Isn't that the Wicks girl?

CAROLINE: I heard a shot...

and Alice shouted something.

And there was another shot.

When Sam came back in,
I asked him what had happened.

But he just said to take a few of my
favourite things from round the house.

He said Alice wanted me to have them.

Why didn't you say this to the police?

Sam said if he went to prison.
No-one would look after me.

I told Duncan because I felt sorry for him.

But he started shouting at me again.

I panicked.

Please help me.

I've got no-one else to turn to.

I really can't.

It's no longer anything to do with me.

But you can sort it all
out, tell the right people.

Caroline, you've got to tell the police
what you've just told us.

They'll only lock me up again.
I lied in court.

You talk to them for me.

You're one of them.

Tell them I didn't mean to hunt anybody.

They'll listen to you. Please, help me.

Help you do what, Caroline? Hm?

You know

Mr Kavanagh
charges a lot of money for his time, love.

I don't think you can afford him.

- I didn't say anything, Sam!
- Be quiet, now.

Look. I'm sorry for any embarrassment.

CAROLINE: I don't want to go.

Come on.

You've got to rest, Caro.

You're upset.

Come on.

Enjoy the PEW-

Stay here. I'm calling the police.

Wainwright will have the Wicks's address.

Jim?

You've heard what she said. He's a killer.

I can't stand by and do nothing.

Yes, it is an emergency.

Get someone there immediately.

What if nothings wrong when they get there?

Then I'll be prosecuted for
wasting police time. Wait for me.

- (Panting) Sam...
- It's all right.

It's all right.

You just need to... to rest.
You just got everything mixed-up.

- (Whimpers)
- Come on.

SAM". Come on, Cam.

- (Caroline chokes)
- Come on.

Come on. Just a few more.

(Chokes)

They'll help you sleep.

Come on! Please!

Please!

Come on.

(Sam sobs)

(Doorbell)

(Knocking)

What do you want?

We'd like to speak to your sister.
Caroline Angela Wicks.

She's asleep.
She doesn't want to talk to you now.

- It'll only take a few...
- But she's asleep!

She's asleep. She's asleep.

Alpha Bravo 200. This is an active message.

Please send a paramedic and an ambulance
immediately to a suspected drug overdose.

Samuel Wicks. I am charging you
with the attempted murder of your sister.

Caroline Angela Wicks.

You do not have to say anything.
But it may harm your defence

if you do not mention how
something which you later rely on in court.

It was a close thing, but she'll be OK.

I think this time
she will give evidence against him.

Let's go home.

Yeah.

JEREMY: You and I think alike, Helen.

Commercial law is where the smart
barrister's bread is buttered.

It's placid and lucrative.

One can barely imagine
rushing around after ones clients,

trying to stop them
poisoning their sisters!

Morning, James.

Jeremy.

Comfortably established. Helen?

Yes, thank you.

JEREMY". I happen to have got my hands
on two tickets for Don Giovanni tonight.

I...don't suppose...

I hope this isn't going
to set a trend, James.

I wouldn't want to see vigilante barristers
fanning out all over town.

The situation called
for something unconventional, Peter.

I fear whatever comes next
is going to seem a little mundane,

by comparison.

Bring it on, Peter. Bring it on.

Whatever it is, I'm ready.

(Laughs)