Rillington Place (2016): Season 1, Episode 3 - Reg - full transcript

- She pretty, Reg?
- Hard to say from this angle.

Well, you keep your
bloody hands to yourself.

We're not long married, Mr Christie.
Could do with some privacy.

I'm not having any more.

If you get rid of it,
you'll have rid of me.

I have...
helped couples in similar situations.

He's trained as a doctor, Tim.
I trust him.

You've just got to tell Mr Christie
everything's all right.

Bad news, I'm afraid.

What did you do to her?

They'll think you killed her.
You could hang for this.



If anyone asks, you just say...
Beryl's gone away.

They found the bodies.

Your wife, and your daughter.

- No. No.
- To make this easy on yourself,

I suggest you make
your confession now.

I never done it, Mum.
Christie done it.

Christie's the one
saying you done it.

short pieces by
anonymous composers.

They're based on a plainsong setting
and are taken from

a volume of organ music printed by
the 16th century publisher Attaingnant.

The prosecution calls witness
John Reginald Halliday Christie.

I do solemnly declare
that the evidence I shall give

shall be the truth, the whole truth
and nothing but the truth,

so help me, God.



On the 8th November last year,
you said in your statement

that you recalled being woken
by something in the night?

Yes.

We were in bed, both in bed,
my wife and I, and...

we were startled by
a very loud thud,

like something being
dragged across the floor.

And is it true or is it not true

that the next time
you saw Timothy Evans

he told you that Mrs Evans
had gone to Bristol with the baby?

Yes, that's true.

What kind of character
would you say the defendant was?

At first he seemed decent enough.

What changed your opinion?

The drinking.

And the rows.

It was so bad once that I...
I had to call the police out.

Another time he almost pushed
Mrs Evans out the window.

Your witness.

Mr Christie.

Did you know that Mrs Evans
was pregnant in November of last year?

My wife told me.

I'm sorry, could you speak up?

My wife told me.

Well, I'd like to suggest to you

that you attempted to perform
an illegal abortion on Mrs Evans.

And in the process thereof,
Mrs Evans lost her life.

In fact, I must suggest to you
that not only are you responsible

for the death of Mrs Evans,
but also for her little girl.

That on the Tuesday evening,
with Timothy Evans' help,

you carried the dead body of Mrs Evans
down to Mr Kitchener's flat.

No, no, no.
That's absolutely ridiculous.

At the time,
the fibrositis in my back

was so bad I could scarcely bend.

I had to crawl out of bed,
and if I wanted to pick something up

off the floor, I had to get down
on my hands and knees.

It's physically impossible.

In fact, I am still under a
great deal of treatment for the pain.

Would you like a seat, Mr Christie?

Yes, please, Your Honour.

You are, are you not,
a man of good character?

Well, I have had some trouble.

Would that be the conviction for
the malicious wounding of a young woman?

A crime for which you were sentenced
to six months' imprisonment?

Yes, yes.
But... it was an act of self-defence.

No further questions,
Your Honour.

Who was she, Reg?

I didn't want to worry you, Ethel.

I was renting a room from her
for three and tuppence.

A not immodest sum,

which I felt should include
hot water and a mattress.

She disagreed with me
and came at me...

with a cricket bat.

They should've taken her
away there and then,

but she told them it was all me.

I'm just glad you weren't
there to witness it.

I've witnessed it now,
haven't I, all right?

Along with every Tom, Dick and Harry
in that courtroom.

Ethel.

I've been through enough today.
I need you by my side.

I can't be more than
ten paces from a WC,

never mind my fibrositis.

It is most inconvenient.

It's incapacitating is what it is.

I can imagine.

I should be at home in bed,

not facing the Spanish Inquisition
in a crowded courtroom.

I can give you some more pills.
Strengthen the dose.

I don't need more tablets.
I need a doctor's note.

I can't be expected
to stand there in my condition.

I'm unfit to testify, Dr Odess,
that's the long and the short of it.

Mr Christie, for me to sanction
your absence from court,

you would really
need to be gravely ill.

At death's door, so to speak.

What is it, Ethel?

How do we know
it weren't the builders?

The builders?

We both know it wasn't the builders,
don't we?

How do we know?

Well, the noise. The thud...

that woke us up.
It was on a Tuesday, wasn't it?

About... midnight.

He must've been moving her
across the boards.

The weight of her. He must've done
it when he came in from work.

She was fine when I left her.

She said...
she didn't want to go through with it,

and by the time I'd packed my bag,
she was fast asleep from the pill.

You should never been up there
in the first place.

Don't I know it?

Telling her you're a doctor!

I was just trying to help, Ethel.

Showing her those medical books,

like you know
the first thing about it.

Now that's enough!

I'm a bag of nerves, Ethel.

Let's not mention helping Beryl

with her... Well, her problem.

Or we'll be dragged into this
good and proper and before...

before you know it,
they'll be saying I killed her.

Honestly, I don't think
I'll sleep a wink tonight.

Not a wink.

I do solemnly declare
that the evidence I shall give

shall be the truth, the whole truth
and nothing but the truth,

so help me, God.

Mrs Ethel Christie?

Yes.

You are the wife
of the last witness.

Do you remember one night in November
being wakened by a bump?

Yes, I do.

Did you hear anything unusual
after the noise which woke you up?

Well, afterwards...

I heard a noise as if...

furniture was being moved about.

Did you ever go into the Evans' flat
after the bump in the night?

No, I don't think so.

So far as you know,

did Mr Christie ever
go into the flat after that night?

No, I don't think so.

Thank you, Mrs Christie.

Your name is Timothy John Evans?

Yes, sir.

How old are you?

25.

Is it true you confessed
to the murder of your wife and child?

I have confessed it, sir, but it's...
it is not true.

So you did not put your wife's body
down a manhole?

- No, sir.
- Well, why did you say you did?

Well, that's what Mr Christie told me
he was going to do with her.

Why did you suddenly
go to the police?

Because I was getting worried
about my daughter Geraldine.

So, you confessed to murder because
you were worried about your daughter?

No...

When I found out my daughter was dead
I had nothing else to live for.

And wasn't it also a lie that you helped Mr
Christie carry your wife's body downstairs,

when we know he was
physically incapable of doing that?

Or even carrying the child?

I heard what he said...

but I still say I helped him
carry my wife's body.

I did it all
on the advice of Mr Christie.

And this is the same Mr Christie you allege
performed an illegal abortion on your wife?

And yet we know she was
killed by strangling, not by abortion.

Can you suggest why Mr Christie
should have strangled your wife?

Well...

He was home all day.

He was home all day.

That is a circumstance.
It is not a reason.

Again...
Can you suggest why he strangled your wife?

No, I can't.

Then can you suggest why he should've
strangled your daughter, two days later?

No.

The prosecution recalls
John Reginald Halliday Christie.

It appears from
what we have heard today

that Mr Timothy Evans' sole line
of defence rests on attacking you...

A perfectly innocent man.

He alleges that you killed Mrs Evans
while performing an abortion.

Whereas,
no evidence of any abortion exists.

Mr Humphreys is making
the assumption that his witness

is innocent
and the defendant is not.

You cannot describe Mr Christie
as a perfectly innocent man.

What were you doing
in the First World War, Mr Christie?

I was in...
Duke of Wellington's Regiment

and Notts and Derby.

And I was gassed twice.

I was blinded for three months.

I never spoke
for three-and-a-half years.

Blinded?

And you could not speak
for three years?

Three-and-a-half years.

The last time
you were in trouble with the police

for any offence
was in 1938, correct?

- Yes.
- 12 years ago.

And in this last war,
despite your disabilities,

you served with
the Reserve Police for several years?

Is that right?

Yes, sir.
I was commended on two occasions.

So, you are an injured war veteran
and a commended officer of the law.

The man who accuses you of murder

and abortion and swearing his life
away is a self-confessed liar, who,

on a previous occasion, attempted to
throw his own wife out of the window.

Yes.

Timothy Evans...

The jury finds you guilty of the murder
of your daughter Geraldine Evans.

You will be taken from here
to a place of execution,

and there you shall hang by the neck
until you are dead.

It wasn't me.

Murderer! Murderer!

Don't you dare call him that.
He's a good man!

Egg, Mrs Christie?

Thanks.

He'll have the shock of his life
when he opens the door.

He'll be bowled over.

We don't want to be any trouble.
We can always stay at a bed and breakfast.

Here, don't be daft.
It's nice to see you.

Aye, it's no trouble.

It's been ever so hard,
ain't it Reg?

I treated that lad like a son.
Lent him money.

Tried to teach him
to read and write,

and this is the thanks I get...
Accusations of the foulest nature.

You would never have known it,
to look at him.

He seemed like the gentle type.

Well, you just met him
for five minutes.

Living with him, you saw a different
side altogether. The rows.

The drinking. The fights.

It must be hard still living there?

Aye, we want to move,
but you know what the council's like.

Snails'd get more done.

You want to watch that, Reg.

Janice works for the council now.

Do you, love? That's nice.

Anyway, Harry, you wouldn't
believe the state of place now.

Way the street is. It's filthy.

Isn't it, Reg?
And all them immigrants.

You...
ever think about coming back here?

For good, I mean?

It doesn't look like much,
but they'll be up within the year.

- Plumbed bathrooms, central heating.
- Central heating, Reg.

Sky-high bills, no doubt.

Lovely views.

- We'd never get one.
- Never say never.

Janice can pull a string or two.

Can you?

I'll have a word
with my friend in Housing,

he'll get you on the list.

- We don't want to be any trouble.
- No, it's no trouble.

- What do you think, Reg?
- I think we're getting carried away.

Hello. Beresford Brown.

Can I help you?

We've moved in upstairs.

Moved in?

Mr Christie.
I'll be up later to go over some rules.

What rules would that be?

The house rules.

You work for the landlord?

No, no, no...

But I happen to be
the longest-sitting tenant.

They're your rules, then,
not mine.

Evening.

- He's a nice enough chap.
- He was laughing at you.

What're you talking about?

Reg's house rules.

Why've we come back?

We could have had
a nice new house,

but that's not
what you wanted, is it?

All I want
is a bit of piece and quiet, love.

You're invisible down here.

No prying eyes.

Creeping out at night.

Well, I won't keep your dirty secrets
a day longer, do you hear me?

You need to lie down, Ethel.

Lie down?

I sent an innocent man to his death
because of you.

That baby was fine
when I went up to check on her.

Tim were out at work.
It couldn't have been him.

It should've been you at the end of that
rope. Do you hear me? It should've been you.

I'm taking you to see Dr Odess.

You'll do no such thing!

Y... You're not to blame, love.

It's the strain,
it's taking its toll.

- Odess'll know what to do.
- I won't see him!

Well, have a home visit.
Maybe he'll come here.

Perhaps he'll...
bring the head doctor.

Second opinion.

- Ethel?
- I've been attacked.

Her upstairs.

The darkie.

She hit me!

She accused me
of blocking her in the hall.

Are you going to stand for that?

Your own wife being physically assaulted
in her own home.

By a foreigner.

If that's not the thin end of the wedge,
I don't know what is!

They take you here
and they take you there

and they make you feel
like a millionaire.

Did you talk to him?

Yes, I did, love.
There'll be no more trouble.

All right.

Ethel, darling.

Mr Christie!

I was just coming round
to see Ethel.

She's still in Halifax,
I'm afraid.

- She's had to extend her stay.
- Why's that, then?

Her brother took a turn
for the worse.

We might have
to move back permanently.

Well, that'd be a shame.

It's families for you.
You can't put a price.

Well, if she's not back by Christmas
you'll have to come to us.

Thank you very much.

I suffered the first one
at the Evans trial.

I was the star witness, you know.

Dr Odess told me.

My concern is what happens
during these lapses, what I might do...

that I might injure myself...

or, God forbid, somebody else.

The other day, Mrs Christie, she found me
in the middle of the kitchen floor.

No idea how I got there.

I think you should come in,
stay for a while.

That way we can
get a proper look at you.

No, no, no, no.

I don't think
I could leave my wife.

She's terrified
of the neighbours.

- And why is that?
- They're coloureds, you see.

I don't want to take up
much more of your time.

I just wanted to
put you in the picture, as it were.

It's one bedroom, but because it's...
You're on the ground floor,

- you've got the garden, see?
- Is it nice?

It's very nice.
Decent size, too.

Some of these so-called gardens, they're
like somewhere you'd exercise a prisoner.

You're funny.

- All right, Rina?
- Alex, Mr Christie.

- How do you do?
- Alex.

- Just looking.
- Be my guest.

They're my wife's.

Whatever takes your fancy.

Thank you.

Won't she mind?

No.

She's got more clothes
than she knows what to do with.

Take that one, Rina.
And that one.

I did say just the one item.
It's not a free-for-all, I'm afraid.

Look. I... I'm sorry,
I... I've changed my mind.

I wasn't expecting
a second occupant.

You'll have to find
accommodation elsewhere, I'm afraid.

You what?

You playing at?
Wasting our time.

You said we had the run of the place!

Rina.

No, no, no, no.
You can take the blouses.

Don't worry.

You come back later,
you can have a coat or two if you like.

Just don't bring him, though.

Thanks, Mr Christie.

Come on in, love.

I'll have to put a bit of oil on that.
Bit squeaky.

Go on through.

It's a perfectly safe procedure, love.
Don't you worry.

There you are, love.

Right. Let me get your coat.

Let's have this.

There we are.

You sit down.

There we are.

I know. I know, love.

Let's take those shoes.

Number one.

Two.

Let's just... pop those there.

Don't you worry,
I've done this before.

Be back in a tick.

- Where did you go?
- Have a top up.

Here.

Here.

All right, love.

Bottoms up.

There you are.

Morning, Reg.

Morning.

Can I come in?

- Well, it's a bit of a state in here...
- I don't mind.

Ethel's away.

Housekeeping's not my strong suit.

Moving out, Reg?

Fingers crossed.

The council have found us
a flat in Willesden.

Here, Judy.

It's a two-bed.

Have a seat.

Cup of tea?

No.

There's something you need to know.

There's been three burglaries
on this street in the past month.

That's well above average.

You want me
to keep my eyes open?

- If you don't mind.
- You leave it to me.

- How long's Ethel gone for?
- A fortnight or so.

You're not wrong, Reg.

Wrong?

About your housekeeping.

What's that stink?

It's the neighbours.
They're darkies.

All that foreign food.

Herbs and spices.

I don't know why
they can't eat English.

Anyway, I'll see myself out.

Are you all right, sir?

Yes.

Take off your hat.

I think you need to come with me
down to the station, Mr Christie.

We've got Mrs Christie
under the sitting room,

Hectorina MacLellan, Rita Nelson
and Kathleen Maloney in the kitchen,

Muriel Eady and Ruth Fuerst
in the back garden.

We found this...

Four different types
of pubic hair,

none of which match
any of the bodies found.

Were there others, Mr Christie?

There is something...

Something comes to mind,
but I don't know what...

Is it about Beryl Evans?
Tim Evans' wife?

It could be that.

You do know
I've not been well for a good time?

You said that.

I've been suffering from fibrositis...
enteritis...

Last year I had a nervous breakdown.

Dr Petit from St Charles Hospital
will verify it.

Did you kill Beryl Evans?

I have an idea
that I strangled Mrs Evans, yes.

What about the baby?

Let me assure you, Inspector,

that I've absolutely no idea

what happened to the Evans' baby.

I do not recollect seeing it
on the Tuesday or any time afterwards.

Good morning.

It's all there.
They're saying you killed the baby.

I don't believe I did.

But if I did, it would just
confuse matters to say so...

when they've already
hanged a man.

Even so, the jury'll have you hung,
drawn and quartered

before you can so much
as set foot into that courtroom.

It's a question of
cognisance and culpability.

I have a preponderancy to blackouts,
and so say the finest medical minds.

Without cognisance
there can be no culpability.

You can't hang a man
who's not in charge of his faculties.

Can I have my glasses back,
please?

John Reginald Halliday Christie,

the jury find you guilty of the murder
of your wife, Ethel Christie.

From here you will be taken
to a place of execution

and hanged by the neck
until you are dead.

May the Lord
have mercy on your soul.

Tell them you killed Geraldine!
Tell them my son was innocent!

Is there anything else
you want to tell me, Reginald?

What time is it?

Almost nine.

It can't be.

Do you want to confess now?

Will it help me?

I'm sorry...

for Ethel.

And the others?

It might help
if you could say their names.

Ruth.

Muriel.

Rita.

Kathleen.

Hectorina.

And Beryl.

And the baby?

Geraldine?

That was all.

Are you sure?