Silk (2011–2014): Season 3, Episode 2 - Episode #3.2 - full transcript

Martha defends footballer Jordan Sinclair, who has attacked fellow player Dean Trent on the pitch in front of thousands - with Clive Reader prosecuting. Just before going into court Martha ...

You are this close to extinction.

I'm the only reason you're allowed
to carry on existing,

so get used to me, Billy.

Well, I can't get a visitor's order.
Why? Because David won't ask for one.

Probably it's too upsetting
for him to see you.

Do you want a career prosecuting

or the odd bone tossed your way
by a clerk running Shoe Lane
on booze and bullshit?

I've got Nicola at the CPS
all set to make you her main man.

I can't be only a lawyer, Clive. But,
Martha... Will you just leave me alone?

Look at that, Jake.

Heritage to die for.



Absorb and aspire.

Elizabeth I was here, Jake,

the third-greatest virgin
of all time.

Who are the...?
The Madonna and Madonna.

Maybe she stood right here, Jake.

Hm?

And her thoughts?

"Who comes after me? I'm childless.

"To whom do I bequeath
my throne and isle?"

There comes a time, Jake,

when a man in my position
has to turn his thoughts to legacy.

Our two greatest inventions are
today incorporated in one woman.

Law and football.

You all set, miss? Oi!



Wahey!
Fancy a mortgage fraud, sir? Good.

Because I've got you one.

Legacy.

Le-ga-cy.

Legacy.
How do you spell it, Jake?

I-T... boom!

Jesus Christ. Oh, my God.

What's up, Beth?
Oh, time of the month?

Out of her nose, Billy? Well,
it's hard being a woman, John.

Right, no team colours today, boys.
Today we are neutral.

But we're West Ham. And we will be
again. But for now... we're Swiss.

Swiss? Neutral.

We have a visitor this morning.
You all right, Beth?

I tell you what,
why don't you take the day off?

No, what is it? It's a week,
isn't it, basically, give or take?

No, I'm fine. Really.

Oh, I love women!

Hello, miss. Billy, a word?

Yes, miss.

I was thinking of giving up.
So was I.

Got down to two lighters a day.

But what's a life without vices?

Mm.

Talking of which,
I'm off to Bury St Edmunds, Billy,

to avenge the newly molested
of Suffolk.

Then the molesters will soon regret
their molesting, miss.
There's the thing.

Miss? I'm back on sex, Billy.

And you so loved fraud.

It's a return, isn't it?
Yes, miss.

And whoever it's returned from is doing
something bigger and better? Yes, miss.

I've been in silk six years.
Sloppy seconds are a bit...

I'm so glad we took you on
at Shoe Lane, miss.

It was touch and go for a while.

There was a small concern about one
of your vices getting out of hand.

I was able to reassure them.
"She'll be fine," I said.

"I'll make sure of it."

Beautiful cathedral in Bury,

should you feel like a little
purifying of the soul, miss.

Worth a visit.

Big day, miss.
It's only a con, Billy.

Legal and football history.
My three raison d'etres.

Jordan Sinclair elbowed Dean Trent
in the face, breaking his jaw.

Jordan Sinclair here?
This very morning.

Sickening. There's no place
for violence on a football pitch.
Thank you, Jake.

Need any help, Marth? Only my
grandfather played in goal for
Port Vale. So, it's in the blood.

Mm. And, er... who do you support,
Clive? Chelsea.

So, er... not really in the blood,
then.

Alan? Martha.

Not in court?

No, legal conference.

Most people would look forward
to a couple of days at Hogwarts.

But...

Most people don't have
a son with schizophrenia.

I'm sorry.

I've had lots of hugs from clients
who've got off over the years,

but none like the hug
your son gave me.

David wants help.

Give it to him.

The trial's listed for a week.

Five days of famous footballers
rubbing shoulders with Shoe Lane

all over the front pages.

Me against Martha.

Oh, um... Nicola wanted me
to tell you, again,

just how talented
she thinks you are.

I didn't, by the way. Mm-hm.

Ah!

There you go, sir -
one big, fat mortgage fraud.

It clashes.

With? Prosecuting Jordan Sinclair.

Oh. Yeah. You didn't know?

Yeah, yeah. Must have just...
Slipped your mind? Yeah.

I'm withdrawing my offer of help.

Ah, no, I didn't mean it about Chelsea.
They're a lovely football club.

Who's your second favourite
team? I'm prosecuting you.

Right.

Sinclair? Yep.

Right.

It's Manchester City, isn't it?

Your second team? I was going to ask
you - want to go for a drink later?

We probably shouldn't if we're
against each other.

There's that bar in Exmouth
Market that's got table football.

Imagine if the press got hold of it.
Miss? Your client's here.

He's gorgeous.

Oh, and this is Amy,
the new pupil. Hi.

Hello. She's roaming.

Not attached to anyone
in particular. So, up to you.

We're against each other
in the same trial.

Who do you want to be with?

I think that's an unfair question,
don't you? How is she supposed to decide?

Would you like to meet
Jordan Sinclair?

Harriet! A word.

Billy?

There are things you need
to understand.

Whenever you talk to someone,
you talk to me afterwards,

because if I'm not in the loop,
then we're dead in the water.

That's a lot of metaphors.

When you get silk,
your caseload goes just like that,

and all your old junior work goes
to feed the huddled masses
who missed out.

I'm getting famine,
death and violins, Billy.

I'm killing myself
to keep Clive Reader busy.

In the pub. Where I got him
a nice, big mortgage fraud. So?

When I come back and find that Clive
Reader is already doing a case,

all my work is wasted, and all
because you didn't tell anyone!

It's the 21st century.
Computers do the talking.

The case is in the system, logged
and booked. You can see it on
your phone, even in the pub.

You undermined me.
You went to the pub.

Because if you're a serious clerk,
that's what you do.

Do you think I like doing what I do
to my liver? I do it for chambers.

So, all the clerks together,
drinking selflessly,

scribbling in diaries
like you're all in Bleak House.

I made two phone calls
to Nicola at the CPS,

got the brief, logged it
on the system,

and if we don't all start operating
like that, then we're all dead.

Oh...

You don't have to be in the pub
to see it on your phone,

because, unlike you,
it works without a drink.

You're unique, Jordan,

the first footballer in this
jurisdiction to face criminal proceedings

for something physical
that happened on the pitch.

You elbowed Dean Trent in the face, and
they throw the kitchen sink at you.

Why me? Wrong question.

We won't be going anywhere
near the fairness issue.

Why's that?

Because English juries have waited
a very long time to try a footballer...

..for the kind of bad behaviour

that everyone else goes
to prison for.

They look at you and your money...

..and your attitude,

and they say, "About bloody time!"

So, self-defence.

Yeah, I knew he was coming.

Big lump like that.
And I knew he was going to do me.

And that's when your elbow...

Yeah. Self-protection.

"I've done your mum and I'm going
to do you." Trent was threatening
you earlier.

I went to take a throw-in and he
was off the bench, warming up.

And?

Well, he gave me the ball,
which was a bit weird, cos
they were 1-0 up and in no hurry...

..but as he did,
he said that thing about my mum.

And he smiled as he did it?

There's cameras everywhere.
He's not stupid.

And when he came on...

You won't know this.
No disrespect... Look,

why don't you put your phone
away and try me?

There's a difference when
an opponent's going to hurt you.

You can sense 'em looking for the
right kind of 50/50 challenge

so they can break your leg.

The right kind, meaning a tackle
that can be made to look,

what, clumsy or committed
or wholehearted?

And you can't know the difference
unless you've been there and felt it.

Now, did you do anything
to provoke him?

I mean, was there a moment when you
made him feel, "You know what?

"I really, really hate
this cocky little bastard."

Well... after he came on,
I did this trick.

Right, you know that... that
drag-back thing that Johan Cruyff did?

Well, I made
a bit of a mess of it, actually,

but it sort of worked
and it made him look stupid.

Players like Trent think
that's taking the mickey.

There's no call for skill like that
in his book.

He got angry
and he started intimidating you?

I know what you're saying.

"Tell the jury
that you were scared of Trent,

"and it will help self-defence
stand up better in court."

Dean Trent...

doesn't scare me.

Hm.

Prison will.

I need to take this.

It must be important.

Sorry. He's... young.

Yeah, and it's very hard for him
earning 90 grand a week at his age.

I mean, how much do you earn, Amy?

Um... well, nothing.

Not yet.

Trent's a psycho.

But Madden doesn't let it get out.
His agent?

No-one wants to hear it,
because they're all in his pocket.

So... so he and Trent
share the same agent?

They did, along with half
of football, until he dropped him.

Why?

Jordan wouldn't plead,
and Madden wanted to protect Trent.

Who was that?

No-one.

Yeah, but who was it? Nobody.

So, Jordan, who's more important
in your life than me right now?

My mum.

Caroline?

Yes?

Anthony Ashton. Tony.

Sorry. Have we met?
Probably, in passing.

We're against each other.

Oh, darling, I'm sorry.

I didn't know.

Don't you start young these days?

David, it's Dad.

Er... they don't let you out
of these places once you're in.

So, I won't be around
for a couple of days.

But you can ring me and, um...

OK. Bye.

It's me again. Um...

I love you.

So, why are you doing a bog-standard
rape out in the sticks?

I'm sorry?

I wasn't expecting
to be up against a silk.

A favour to my senior clerk.

I'm hoping sex leads to money.

Hm. Much like Stacey Grant.

Really?

Oh, please.

A girl from the back office has
a few too many, makes eyes at the boss,

and then cries rape when he doesn't
want to get engaged the next morning.

A toast.

To first impressions.

If she looks like she'd drop her
knickers for an alcopop,

he may live to pull another day.

If she turns up like Miss Jean Brodie
at a job interview,

you're as screwed as she was.

I couldn't have put it better.

I've been hearing those jokes
for as long as I can remember.

The reaction is like a litmus test.

So, what does this one tell you?

That you've never been
up against a silk before.

Come on, we're off.

Oh, I can't. I'm in court.

Right. OK.

First time? Yeah.

What is it?

Everything. Um... warrants, lots
of shoplifting and no instructions.

It's going to be fine.

Absolutely, yeah.

Um... what's a warrant?

An arrest warrant's issued when
someone fails to turn up at court.

Right, yeah.

Now, listen. Just get the basics
right. Everything else will follow.

Go and see your client,
ask for instructions,

and if you don't feel ready,
get an adjournment.

OK.

Don't rush, deep breaths...

Mm.
..stand up for yourself.

You'll be great.

Clive, read this.

Are you staying?
Just for the kick-off.

Nicola, listen. I've just got to say
thank you for this brief.
Honestly. It really means a lot.

My grandfather played for Port Vale,
so it's in the blood. Wow. Really? Wow.

Who do you support?

Chelsea. Brilliant. Me too.

I'm just going to, um...
My opponent.

Bit senior to come to court.
Jealous, Marth?

What was she saying? Oh, um...

Six weeks before this incident,

you go to a hotel,
hire a suite, trash it,

and the manager who tries
to get you removed gets punched.

Yeah, that wasn't...
Ah, no, hang on. It gets better.

Your agent, who is now
giving evidence against you,

takes out an injunction
to stop it getting in the papers.

I mean, why didn't you tell me?

I cannot work in the dark.

They said it couldn't be mentioned.

From now on, you tell me everything
and you say it as it is.

OK?

That wasn't how it looks. Right.

I treated some mates from back home,

only some of them got rowdy
and people complained.

Oh, how unreasonable of them!

Well, it wasn't me.
I tried to calm them down.

Then Madden paid off the hotel
manager but only to be quiet about me.

So, my mates got done, and I didn't.

We fell out, they went to the papers,
and Madden got an injunction.

How do you feel about home?

Do you miss it?

You've come a long way fast.

When I first came to London,
it was in my early days at the Bar.

I was frightened of everyone -
judges, other barristers, clerks.

So, I put on this kind of angry front
to compensate.

Thanks.

Mr Rankin?

I'm Amy.

I'm Amy. Yes.

Your barrister.

Sort my warrants and my methadone.

Get my script, yeah?

Right. Script? Yeah.

Script? Yeah.

Right.

OK.

How many warrants are there?
And from where?

Yeah. Methadone, yeah...

Er... why did you fail
to appear at court last time?

Um... too ill.

When was the last time?

The 16th at Camberwell Green?

Right.

My methadone. Thanks.

I need a doctor.

Christopher Rankin. Cell four.

He's been seen.

When?
This morning. Fit to attend court.

Yeah, but he's not well.

Has he collapsed? No, but...

Self-harm, suicide,
vomiting, threats or fainting?

No.

Then he's well.

Do I look like a social worker?

Do I?

You can't use this. Similar fact evidence.
Shows how he loses his temper.

It's never similar fact.

I know.

What?

Your client's not talking to you,
is he?

See you later, Clive. Yeah.

We're doing all right,
wouldn't you say? Sorry?

Keeping the professional
and the personal separate.

I just felt it.

Bang on the side of my jaw,
and I went down, sparko.

Broken jaw, fractured cheekbone,
lost three teeth.

You've seen the pictures.
You were hit by something?

Jordan Sinclair's elbow.

He waited for me and he flung it.
I didn't even see it coming.

Was it thrown deliberately?
Er... don't lead.

Your Honour, I apologise.
My learned friend is quite right.

I'll rephrase the question.

What were you thinking at the time?

That it was deliberate.

Did you do anything
to, er... provoke the attack?

Nothing.

You spoke to him from the
touchline before you came on, when
you were giving him the ball back.

It was just banter.

You've been a footballer at the
very top level for over a decade.

Has anything like this
ever happened to you before?

Never. It's cowardly.

Not what the game should be about.
The game's better than that.

So, a bottle of white wine...

four cocktails,
that you can remember,

and six or maybe seven shots?

Yes. You made it up, didn't you?
Embarrassed and needing to save face.

You've invented this
rape allegation.

No. I didn't. I didn't!

Miss Grant, have you ever suggested
that you weren't drunk?

Never. Thank you.

Could it have been more shots?

Might it have been eight or nine?

It could have been.

Thank you.

"I've done your mum
and I'm going to do you."

Do you recognise those words? No.

That's what you said
to Jordan Sinclair, isn't it?

Here's the ball,
big smile, vicious insult.

I wouldn't use a phrase like that.
It's offensive.

When were you coached
on what to say in that witness box?

I've not been coached.

So, no sitting around discussing
the evidence with, say, Ben Madden?

I've not spoken to Ben about this.

You turn questions round,
don't you, into denials?

I don't turn them round
into denials.

You threaten people
you're playing against.

I don't do threats.

How did you feel when he did
that Johann Cruyff trick on you?

50,000 people in the ground.
Millions on the telly.

Embarrassed, Mr Trent?

Humiliated?
I know what you're after.

I wasn't wound up by him and I didn't
try and use threats to control him.

Like I say, the game's better
than that.

Ben likes that phrase, doesn't he?

He's right.

So, it WAS his phrase?

He might have said it first.

And you repeated it...
but you weren't coached?

No, I wasn't.

I was elbowed.

We need to nail Madden.

Him and Trent are as tight as you
like. He's more than just an agent.

We need an angle. You said
he's got journalists in his pocket?

Yeah, loads.

Tonight, find me a story about
yourself that you can't explain,

that got in the paper by magic.

I'm just very quietly
tipping you off.

I'm sorry?

You've got a big decision to make.

Your shoulder is about to be tapped,
as they used to say.

How do you know?

Terrible gossips, judges,
when it comes to new colleagues.

Oh...

Oh.

David. It's Dad.

Yes, sorry, of course, you know
it's Dad cos you're calling me.

Miss Grant was drunk, wasn't she?

She was.
Very drunk?

Yes.

Unsteady? Red-eyed? Slurring?

She was, yes.

In fact, she'd drunk so much,
she'd been sick on her dress.

To be fair to you, that's the sort of
witness we're dealing with, isn't it?

I think it's important
that we get that clear.

And of all the women in that bar,
she was the one you wanted
to have sex with?

The slurring, drunk, weepy one,
who smelled of vomit?

No, no, it wasn't like that.
She was drunk, OK...

And you chose her because
of her drunken state, not despite it.

She wasn't attractive,
she was a mess.

But she was vulnerable,

and because of that, you hunted
her down and you raped her,

didn't you, Mr Flinders?

Um... Your Honour. Madam.

You are not wearing a wig, nor am I.

This is not the crown court.
You call me madam.

Madam, um...

..a number of pieces of information
have come to light

which, um... which mean
I've been unable

to take full instructions
and I... I...

You've had all day.

But there have been,
um... difficulties.

Let me give you some advice,
Miss Lang.

Don't dress up what you say in court

by making it sound like how you
think lawyers are supposed
to sound in court.

Try and sound like yourself,
or your career won't work.

Plain speech, Miss Lang.

Can I have an adjournment, please?

No.

Um...

Christopher Rankin, I've been told,
is in need of a DIP and a PSR.

An FDR is a possibility
and maybe a DDR too.

I don't know what they're on about
and I'm the barrister.

Mr Rankin, as a-a-a long-term
heavy heroin user,

finds it hard to take on board.

Frankly, he finds it hard
to take anything on board.

He neither knows nor cares
if it's day or night,

or whether he's remanded in custody
or released on bail.

There are far too many lawyers in his
life, madam, and not enough doctors.

I'll adjourn this case for a week.
Thank you.

Thank you very much.

And when you come back,

as you insist you have insufficient
instructions to proceed today,

you can explain to the court
in plain speech,

why your solicitors should not
pay the cost of today's hearing.

I'm sorry I punched you in the face.

Can we be honest with each other?

I like you, Jake.

I like you. Yeah, but not
the way that I like you.

You're my friend.
Let's not mess that up.

We could try.

Let's not try to mess it up, OK?

But one day I'll be...

It's a family thing.

Billy and me.

Family.

No, Jake.
Billy's going to be here for ever.

Then it's going to be John
or Harriet, not you.

Work, family.

Not family, family.

You're winning, aren't you? Sorry.

Is it really awkward when
celebrities come to chambers,
and we send them to prison?

Don't feel awkward, sir.
It's me. It's unconditional.

Out of interest,
why do you dislike Dean Trent?

I'm West Ham, sir. We pass.
We love players who can pass.

Dean Trent can't.
He stops people passing.

He's anti-football.

I can't love him.

Night, sir. Yeah, night.

And the real reason?
He didn't get you the brief.

So, like the big child he can
sometimes be, he's not on your side.

What's going on?

Word has it Alan Cowdrey's heading
upstairs... the bench, full-time.

Right. Really?

So, there'll be a vacancy
for head of chambers.

Another drink?

William Lamb.

Er... the results, please.

The PSA is down? That's great!
Thank you.

Thank you. When... when do I
have to come in for the next test?

Great. OK. Thank you. Bye.

Liverpool Football Club have played
over 5,000 matches in their history.

Only once ever have
they come back from three goals down
at half-time to win.

Istanbul. Mm. The miracle of.

So...

Whatever Rafa Benitez said to them
at half-time, that's you now.

Oh, I'm a dumpy Spaniard?

With a shot at ultimate glory.

Are you all right, Billy?

Yeah.

To summarise, then, Mr Madden,

Jordan Sinclair told you that he'd
attacked Dean Trent deliberately,

that Trent was history now,

and that you should concentrate all
your efforts on his career instead?

He did, and I was shocked.

Thank you.

Boom.

How long have you represented
Dean Trent?

Since he was a kid,
more than a decade now.

Very successfully. Very.

And he has some huge
sponsorship deals, doesn't he?

You probably helped broker them?

I think I did more than just help.

And doubtless...
they've got morality clauses in them?

So, if he's found to, say, well,
hurl foul abuse at someone

or be publicly offensive,

he'd be seen as toxic in the eyes
of the people who pay him,

and those contracts
could be null and void?

He didn't, though, did he?

That's you, or Jordan, mud-slinging.

I don't represent thugs.

Your evidence about Jordan Sinclair
inventing Dean Trent's threats

is completely manufactured
and self-serving.

No.

Your suggestion's a smear,
and you know it.

Sinclair admitted it to me,
and I wasn't having it.

Dean Trent's been with you
a long time, hasn't he?

He's seen you in action. Is it that
he knows where the bodies are buried?

Hm?

Best keep him happy,
because he knows everything,

whereas Jordan Sinclair,
new kid on the block, knows nothing?

Look, I've got no bodies.
You've got no defence.

Right pair, aren't we?

If we could let Miss Costello
ask the questions, Mr Madden?

Last year, according to FIFA,

28% of all transfer fees
went to football agents.

Footballers aren't the only people
with agents, Miss Costello.

If I broke the law, or told lies,
and needed your services,

I could contact Billy Lamb
to negotiate your fee.

Talented people need agents.
Fact of life.

But barristers prefer to call 'em
clerks.

Dean Trent's got one.
You've got one. Same thing.

Your Honour, if I could just
take instructions for a moment?

Please.

I'm talking to you for effect. Nod.

Did you find the story?

Yeah, me out at four in the morning
the night before a game,

drinking and kissing some girl.

And you couldn't explain it?

No, it didn't happen. Sure?

I'm positive. He's slippery.

He is.

Well, two can play at that game.
Do it.

Mr Madden, you keep stories
out of the papers, don't you?

You also put them there.

I influence it.

I can't control it.

Have you ever given a journalist
a smear story about Jordan Sinclair?

Not that I can remember.

Are you sure?

Mr Madden?

Maybe... once. Like I say, it's,
er... my job to take care of things.

You're smearing, I'm smearing?

We're a right pair, aren't we?

'Interesting, the two of them,
Mr Reader and Miss Costello.'

They're like cat and dog in court.

And? Well, maybe not
when they're outside.

You know,

or...? I just heard.

You heard because you're a clerk.

You hear things
before people even say 'em.

Is it awkward, if the cat-and-dog
thing doesn't leave court with them?

You see and then you try and work out
what those silent moments might mean,

whether it's good or bad.

I think it's manageable.

I don't think good or bad
has to come into it.

Don't do it, John. What?

Shuffle papers, write business plans
and all that bollocks.

You're a clerk. Duck, dive, prosper.

Don't waste your gift.

Back you, not Harriet?

When I go, I'm leaving Shoe Lane
clerked.

Not administered.

Yeah?

Will the foreman please stand?

Will the defendant please stand?

Have you reached a verdict
upon which you are all agreed?

We have.

On count one, that of rape,

do you find the defendant,
Gary Flinders, guilty or not guilty?

Guilty. Thank you.

I thought you were good with Madden.

He's tough.

We didn't hurt him enough.

But, well, thank you.

Well, I think you're being
hard on yourself.

I thought I was the one
who gave the team talks.

I'm just saying you stood up for me.

Thank you.

Jordan, it's my job.

Now, when you go in the witness box,
there is nothing I can do.

So, if you want to thank me,
help yourself.

It's hard.
You don't understand football.

I used to go with my dad
to Burnden Park, see Bolton...

..and we used to talk about life
through talking about football,

and then I went to university,
moved away, and he got ill...

..and after going for four seasons
every fortnight,

we never went again, which meant
we never spoke again, really.

See, our common language had gone.

So, no, I don't. I... I... you know,

and I don't think I want to know
about the business of it.

But I do understand football
and what it means.

OK?

Yeah, my dad used to watch me play
when I was a kid,

all the time, every week.

And then he just left...

..left us, me and my mum,

didn't come back.

And then I got signed,
and then I got signed, like, big,

and the money came,
and I got a house and a car.

Four cars.

Mad.

And then he came back
or he tried to.

My mum wouldn't have it. She said he
wanted to know the money and not me.

So, she made me choose.

So, obviously I had to choose her,
cos I owed her.

I wish that was different.

You know what? What Trent said...

About your mum. Mm.

It wasn't just that.

What?

Well, he... he said,

"I've done your mum
and I'm going to do you."

And one more word.

What was the word?

About a year ago,

er... I was...

out with a friend.

We left the bar...

..and out of nowhere,
from behind us...

..there they were,

screaming abuse.

About ten of 'em.

What did you do?

Well, I can do about 10.4
on the 100 metres.

And your friend?

He's...

..he's not so quick.

What kind of bar?

What was the abuse?

What Trent said...

..what was the word?

Faggot.

It's a very ugly word,
but it's the 21st century.

Is it such a terrible secret?

It is if you're a footballer.

Football's 21st century
when it comes to money...

..18th century
when it comes to being gay.

And Trent doesn't even know.

It's just a normal insult
in his world, you know.

If you've got quick feet,
you're a faggot.

If you read the Guardian,
you're a poof.

If you go to the theatre,
you're... you're queer.

That's how his brain works.
That's how football's brain works.

I mean, if I get "faggot"
when he doesn't even know...

..what do I get when he does?

Right, Manchester City
because of their away kit,
you know, the red and black stripes.

And I was Chelsea a long time
before the money came.

Ah, the romance of football.

What's he like? Sinclair?

Shall we stay away
from talking about the case?

No, I mean as a person.

Well...

..he's fond of his phone
and his mum.

You always end up liking them,
don't you?

Spoiled-brat footballers.
Nasty armed robbers.

Martha Costello sees
the good side in everyone.

You can't generalise like that.

Oh, what?
Not all armed robbers are horrible?

Lots of Premiership footballers
are kind, sensitive human beings?

Not all Chelsea supporters
are wilfully blind.

Manchester City play very attractive
football in a very attractive kit...

and are still
everyone's second-favourite team.

I'll see you in the morning. OK.

I love it, you know,
how deep you go,

how much passion and conviction
you put into everything you do...

when you've got a wig on.

I want you to listen
very carefully...

..and when I'm finished,
I don't want you to say anything.

You elbowed Dean Trent in the face,

because you'd had enough of him
and everything he stood for.

There might have been
a dangerous tackle coming your way,

but that's not why you hit out.

It's bigger than that.

You hit out at the prejudice,

ignorance and the silence
that football demands from you.

In law... Now, forget about life
and fairness and justice.

In law, that's an admission of guilt.

So, if those were your instructions,

I would have to advise you
to plead guilty,

in which case, being who you are,

doing what you did...

..you would go to prison.

So, what do we do?

You're the client. I'm the lawyer.

Now I'm going to ask you,

what are your instructions?

He was going to hurt me.

I feared for my safety,

and although the results
were regrettable...

..my response was proportionate.

I was... scared.

I do listen sometimes, you know.

Putting the extraordinary
evolution of your defence to one side,

and the change from
"I ain't scared of him" in interview

to fully fledged terror
in the witness box,

self-defence based on what?

Maybe you thought a few lies,

smearing the victim, blaming the
agent, might provide the basis for it?

Nobody else backs up your story,
do they?

Loads of people heard him threaten
me. But nobody will speak out.

What, so Dean Trent and Ben Madden
can silence players,

the coaching staff
and the whole of the media,

can they? Yes, and they do.

Er... you invented a story...

about Dean Trent abusing
your mother.

Where would you get
something like that from?

I haven't got it from anywhere.
It's true.

Well, even if it is true, it
wouldn't have scared you, would it?

It would make you angry. No.

Dean Trent was going to hurt me.

I felt threatened,
so I defended myself.

Nonsense. You were angry.

Right, come on, then, what...

what did he say or do

that scared you?

What?

Is this where it all falls apart?

Jordan? Anything?

Anything at all?

I won't let him win.

Clive.

I've, um... I've drafted a press
release.

What for?
Well, there'll be publicity.

One trip out in silk, and one win.
I can trade on that.

I'm not done yet.
I've still got a speech to do.

It's a draft. It can sit and wait,
like Jordan Sinclair.

Only it'll be released tomorrow,
and he won't.

Seems a bit premature.
We own the story.

The story doesn't own us.
It's about communication.

I didn't do enough yesterday.

No.

And they have to believe
I was scared? Yes.

What if...

What if there's someone
who can explain why I was scared?

Why didn't you say?
Well, he's gagged.

He's signed away
his right to speak out.

Uh-uh-uh. In there,
in court, democracy.

If the judge says they can talk,
they can talk.

Who is it, Jordan?

I want to call another witness.
What? Now?

Who? A footballer.

It's just a character witness, OK?

Clutching at straws, Martha?

Your Honour,
the defence calls Tom Stephenson.

Mr Stephenson,

on the day this incident took place,

um... could you tell the court
where you were?

I was in the dugout, next to Dean Trent.
We were warming up on the touchline.

You said
he was a character witness.

He is, the character of football.

Miss Costello?

Your Honour.

And it's agreed that, at some stage,

Jordan Sinclair came over
to take a throw.

Did you hear anything?

Trent just started at him.
The usual stuff.

Abuse about his mum.
His usual routine.

Is Dean Trent often abusive?

Dean Trent is always abusive.

Now, what was your view of the
incident at the heart of this case?

He tried to do him,
tried to break his leg. Why?

He's jealous. Jordan is the future.

He can pass. He's got good feet.

Trent's the past. He's all blood
and thunder. He can't play.

Jordan plays like he's Spanish. Trent
plays like an Englishman in the 1950s.

And are you
the only one who thinks like this?

Of course not. They all do.

They're all scared of him
cos he's a bully.

Even the club's scared.

If they upset him, Madden will cut
'em out of transfers in the future.

It's a stitch-up.

And will you be part of that future?

No.

My knee's gone.

What happened?

Dean Trent happened.

We had an argument before training, and
then he said he'd do me, and he did.

But the press won't print it,
so the public don't know it.

But the players talk. We all know.

Five years in the limelight
and then oblivion.

One more big headline,
now you're finished?

Well, I didn't think I was allowed
to talk about it until yesterday,

because I'd signed this.

They said I'd never be able
to discuss it.

But in here, it might be OK.

Might I take a look?

Very interesting.

It would appear, Mr Stephenson,

that, standing there,
you can indeed talk about it.

So, that's a financial arrangement
you've reached?

A bit of the commercial stuff you...
you claim to dislike so much?

Dean Trent said,
"I'll do you, you bastard,"

and then broke my leg in training.

Madden made the club keep it quiet,

so they paid me off,
some on the top,

just so I'd sign
a confidentiality clause,

so nobody would see
what Trent's like.

But, standing here, I can talk
about it, and he can't stop me,

and that's killing him, trust me.

A press release?

Are you for real? It's a draft.

It leaked. How?

I've spent 20 years building
Clive Reader.

Five minutes after he gets silk,
you make him look stupid.

But how did it get out?
I don't care!

I'm not the idiot who wrote it!

You don't understand. It's about
winning. It's all about winning!

So, it just magically got out?

You play the hand you've got, John.

It's called clerking.

'Will all parties in Sinclair
please go to Court 1?'

If it's guilty, I promise I'll try and
keep you out on bail until sentencing.

The jury in, please.

Would the foreman please stand?

Would the defendant please stand?

On count one, that of grievous
bodily harm with intent,

have you reached a verdict
on which you are all agreed?

We have.

Do you find
the defendant Jordan Sinclair

guilty

or not guilty?

Oh, yes.

Yes.

Yes. Yes.

Top class.

Top bloody class.

So, what now?

You can play again.

If I want to.

Do you?

Well, if I play, I can't be me, and
I've made enough to leave it behind.

You'd give it up? Maybe.

I've been someone else
since I was 15.

I want to find out...

..who I am.

Thank you. A pleasure.

I sounded off like a ranting idiot and I'm
going to get costs awarded against me.

Sounding off sounds good to me.

Billy. You hid from me.

I'm sorry. I...
And we never hide, miss.

I told her to ask for an adjournment.

It's my fault, Billy,
and I'll speak to the solicitor.

I've spoken to her. It's sorted.

Your pupil took your advice, miss.

She was brave enough
to tell the judge too,

and if there's costs to be paid,
I'll pay them.

Now, get your learned pupil mistress
a proper drink

to celebrate a proper result.

Are you not joining us?
Places to be, miss.

Manana.

Do you mind if I...?
Yeah, go home.

Take that for a taxi.

Thank you.

No hard feelings?

Character witness? Yeah, well...

You tricked me.

Actually, you lied to me.

I thought we could leave court
in court, you and me.

Exactly. Trial's over. You'll never
see Jordan Sinclair again. Nor will I.

So, now you can tell me
what was going on with him.
Wigs are off. Talk to me, Martha.

I can't.

You know what? I'll see you later.

I said I can't tell you, Clive.

Your clients come first every time.

They always have. But where are
they, Martha? Here with you now?

Or are you on your own?

Hello, sir.

The best days stay in your head.

Sharp.

They don't fade. Mm.
You've had a few of those, sir.

I've had my shoulder tapped.

Congratulations... I think.

If being a judge for the rest
of your career is what you want.

It's time, Billy.

I need to be there for David...
and myself.

Do one thing for me, sir.
What's that?

Be sure...

before you jump.

Be very, very sure.

For your sake.

I've loved being head of chambers,
Billy.

I love this place. Always will.

But things change.

Things... happen.

We'll miss you... sir.

You'll always be Shoe Lane, sir.

Wherever you go, whatever you do.

Thank you, Billy.

Good night.

Good night, sir.

I've never seen him
round our house at Christmas.

Who?

John.

What? It's a time for family.

Christmas.
He should have been there.

More family than me.

Who's been talking, Jake?

Everyone.

Except me. You're drunk, mate.

You need to get home. Yeah.

I'll leave you here...
with your family.

I'll get you a cab.

I've got my Oyster.

It's all right for you, isn't it?

You'll be here for ever.

It's going to be tough for me,
Marth.

Did you know about this?

'I just don't feel like
a man.'

I'm just sick of us
always being against each other.

How dare you do that to my husband?

What are you saying? You're in.

There is one thing
I'll be asking for in return.

Facts and figures.
Everything you need to know

to become the next head of chambers.

We appreciate smart young clerks

who've got the nose to get out there
and sniff out the new work.

I'll tell you what,
I'll even throw in a new suit.

So...?