The Brittas Empire (1991–1997): Season 3, Episode 1 - The Trial - full transcript

Gordon Wellesley brittas,

you are charged that you did, on 13th
November 1992, murder Julio escobedo,

Eduardo Ramirez, Juan mendoza,
Robert petchard, Ian trehearne -

also known as "big Gary"
- and Raymond watts.

It's all a misunderstanding.

That you did have in your possession controlled
drugs of class a, namely heroin and amphetamines,

contrary to the misuse
of drugs act of 1971.

I've explained all that!

And that you caused grievous bodily
harm to Alice whiteley, grace Beattie,

Agnes swinton and Doreen Laverne-Smith,
all of whitbury retirement home,

contrary to the offences against
the person act. That was a mistake!



Do you understand the charges?
No. It's all a mystery. As I was saying...

Do you understand
the charges, mr brittas?

I understand the words. In that case,
kindly tell the court how you plead.

I shouldn't be pleading
at all. This is all wrong!

Do you plead
guilty or not guilty?

Not guilty.

Thank you. Except
possibly for the old ladies.

Members of the jury, the main
facts of this case are not in dispute.

On the day in question, the police
arrived at whitbury leisure centre,

to find the lifeless bodies of seven
men lying outside the squash courts,

one of whom had been beheaded by the accused.
I'm telling you - that was an accident!

Quiet!

To understand the circumstances
behind these extraordinary events,

I must take you back to whitbury leisure centre on
what, at first, seemed to be a normal Autumn day.



A Friday.

Friday the thirteenth.

Can we have a
solvent? It's no good.

I think she's having
another vision.

Can't we wake her up?

That's not wise. No, no!

Not more blood in here, please!

Carole is here as a receptionist, not to see
into next week with her inner eye! Wake her up!

She's coming round. Where am I?

Mr brittas! Can I help you?

Could I have a solvent? Of course.
I got these pictures inside my head.

Bottom drawer!

I saw danger, from a distant land!
She's warning of some disaster.

We don't need to look
that far to find a disaster!

Shouldn't you be sawing logs?

I'm just on my way.

Mr brittas. What now?

You've got a telephone stuck to you. I'm aware of
that, Colin. That's why I need the solvent. Carole!

Mr brittas.

He's... er... back, then, is he,
mr brittas? So it would appear.

What are you going to do?
About the superglue maniac, Colin,

or about finding a
deputy with a brain?

About the men "from a distant
land". How many times have I told you?

These visions
are all in the mind,

aren't they, Carole? Yes.

There's no distant
land and no men.

They're back. Who? The Bolivians.
I still don't like the look of them.

Why didn't you like them?

Hard to say. They'd book squash
courts, but never actually play.

They brought kit, but
never got changed.

I remember hearing one of them say,
"it's perfect. Nobody ever comes here."

I thought they were
up to something.

Then he told you to
look for lost property?

Yes... i think he was a bit
upset about the glue business.

Glue?

Someone has been putting glue on
things they know mr brittas will pick up.

So, having told you to leave the men in the
changing rooms, he then went there himself?

Yes. At about the time
of his lavatory inspection.

Yes... Pine freshener's a little
strong, but not bad overall. Thanks.

But surface gloss isn't everything.
It's the detail that counts.

Did we do behind
the cisterns? Why?

Often overlooked, it's just the sort of place
where an unsightly splash can harbour...

What's this?

It looks like one of the
locker keys. Number 124.

Shall I find out whose
it is? Think, Gavin!

But if we find out who the
owner is, we can give it to them.

How will we know if
it's the right person?

Anyone can say,
"number 124. That's mine."

One day, you may learn, Gavin,

that not everyone's so honest.

Take that to my
office. Yes, sir.

Then the person claiming it

need only describe the contents, complete the
paperwork and pay the administration costs.

What could be
simpler? ..Yes, mr brittas.

So, mr brittas went in
and picked up the key?

Yes. He just found it there.

"Just found it". Of course (!)

He told you not to find the owner of
the case, but to take it to his office?

Yes.

Is that the place
for lost property?

No, but...

But what?

-I'm sure he had a reason.
-I'm sure he had!

What was in the case?

-I had a quick look.
-And?

£650,000 in ten-pound notes.

Door bangs

can I help you at all? What?

Is there any problem?
We've got spare toilet paper.

No, I was just, er... I'm fine.

Excuse me! You're not
Edward Barrett, are you?

Why?

You're holding
up my competition.

What?

The whitbury newtown
squash tournament.

Me? In a tournament?
They all say that.

Your application form states that you
are automatically entered when you join.

I'm in the final! How come?

You had byes in the earlier
rounds, and some in the later rounds.

The final! That's not bad.

Indeed! But when can you play?

How about now? Now? Yes. Well...
You did come in to play squash?

Yeah... I know your opponent is in the
building. Court 4. Don't forget your racquet!

Right.

Timothy! I've completed my
inspection, and was impressed. Good.

Just one small
worry about crevices.

Sorry?

As I said to Gavin, it's not just the
bits we see, but the bits that get behind.

Take cisterns. Things can get behind
them, and when unsightly splashes...

What's this?

It's a locker key. I can see that!
Shall I ask who it belongs to?

No, thank you! As I was explaining
this morning, the snag with that is...

Good lord! They must
be breeding in there!

-You never saw inside the case?
-No.

No, because you weren't
allowed to find whose key it was,

you weren't allowed to open the locker,
and mr brittas took the case to his office.

Yes.

One more question, mr whistler. When you came into
the changing room, where exactly was mr brittas?

He was by the board,
with a customer.

You told the police that he had
his arm around the man's shoulder.

Yes.

Which would imply, would
it not, that they were friends?

-Not necessarily.
-No?

Well, maybe they just found that
they liked each other. It happens.

Thank you, mr whistler.

Right! Lost property forms.

Julie, could you send
Carole along with the solvent?

Hello, Julie?

Morning, Carole. Mrs
brittas! I've had a vision.

Oh, dear. Blood was
dripping from the walls.

Here?

It was terrible! There
were corpses everywhere!

-Including my husband's?
-Sorry?

Just a thought. You
don't believe this, do you?

It seems terribly real!

But it's your imagination,
the whole thing.

It's my imagination. I
came to ask if Gordon...

There you are! With
you very soon, my darling.

Carole, the
solvent, please. Yes.

Did you get my prescription?
It's upstairs, my love.

I'll get it soon. No, I'll
go. It's in my briefcase.

What's this? I think
it belongs to Colin.

Colin, can you come out
here, please. Now, Colin!

I'm sorry, mr brittas. I
was syringing my ears.

I felt this irritation, and I appear to
have flushed out a couple of woodlice!

One thing at a time.
Have you been using that?

Yes, and once I've
done the other ear...

You leave a chainsaw in a public
area? Supposing a child came in,

mistook it for part of his woodwork set and ran
off to show his friends? You'd have carnage!

I didn't think. Take it to my office,
and I'll lock it safely away. Right.

Phone rings

hello. Yes. It's
your wife, mr brittas.

Hello.

Gordon, these pills are all for
me, are they? Only there's no label.

'Yes, the doctor said to take
one whenever you need to.' Right!

'If you run out, he'll give you
some more, all right?' Ooh, great!

-Were these the pills, mrs brittas?
-Yes. Yes, I think so.

And you presumed that they
were to relieve your depression?

Yes. I thought that the doctor
had got it right. They really worked!

These were found in the
brittas' bathroom, my lord.

They are an amphetamine
known on the street as "uppers".

Would you describe
your husband as wealthy?

Not really. He gets a bonus on his
salary for every hundred customers.

And the bonus last year?

..I don't think there
was one last year.

Which is why I find myself asking
how he could afford that nice coat.

This? This was a present from...

..This bedridden uncle,
uncle Simon. He gave it to me.

Along with the Mercedes
in which you arrived?

Oh, that's... On loan. It's
being collected this morning.

By uncle Simon?

-Well... i don't know if...
-Thank you. No more questions.

You may step down, mrs brittas.

Do you think I could
have the pills back?

Prosecutor: You are the
secretary? Julie: 'Fraid so.

Prosecutor: Did the defendant
ask to see a mr Barrett?

Julie: Yes. He was outside
the gym, making a call.

The stuff has gone,
but there's no money.

There wasn't a key!

Bernie thinks they might be pulling a fast one. He
reckons a bit of heavy artillery might be in order.

You're wanted. (Later.) What?

Mr brittas wants you. Why?

To give you a cup.

Ta-da!

For me? Fairly won, mr
Barrett. Congratulations!

And I can keep it? Take it
home! Build a display cabinet for it.

The whitbury newtown squash
champion's trophy. Yes, indeed!

While we're on this
particular tack... a cup!

Here you are, the town's squash champion. Now, have
you thought of using that position to help others?

Sorry?

It's easy for us, with our
cosy, middle-class lives,

but not all the kids out there have
the advantages of you and me. Eh?

If we could bring them here, with
champions like you, miracles might happen.

Miracles?

The smile of a child, when he takes
those first strokes across the pool.

Someone's expression
when they win a trophy,

and realise that life's a bit more
than getting into drugs and crime.

See what I mean? Oh, yeah. It
can happen, but we need you to help.

I wish that all leisure centres...
Phone rings excuse me.

Brittas. I'll be right down.

Excuse me. Duty
calls. Bear it in mind.

Comprende?

Eh, que pasa?
Morning, gentlemen!

Mr brittas, these are the men.

Yes, I can see that.
How can I help you?

We are finding di squashi court.

Good... You haven't
been here before, then?

Friends we meeting
in di squashi court.

You don't understand!
What is it, Carole?

They're from my
vision with the corpses!

They look healthy. Give
them the tickets. That's 40p.

Let's go!

Ah, mr mendoza! I've brought
along two of your friends.

They say they're only watching,

but if they're tempted to play,
tell me and I'll get some racquets.

Well, enjoy your game. They
come off that back wall like bullets!

More supporters,
mr watts? You what?

Oh, yeah (!) Have
you seen Eddie?

You mean mr Barrett? Of course,
you'll need him for your foursome.

If I see him, I'll tell
him you're after him.

This is all the lost
property. Thank you, Laura.

Are the men up there? Yes, they're preparing
to battle it out on the squash courts.

And you're not worried? Worried?
They're the sort we want in here.

No scruffy trainers and rude
t-shirts! Those are businessmen.

You see nothing wrong? No, I wanted
this. They even bring their friends.

I think we should
watch them... Bangs

what's that?

What?

That noise. Gunfire

sounds like an untuned moped.
Probably Helen going home!

Look, I'll put this away. You go and grab a cup
of coffee and a flapjack. Thank you, mr brittas.

Women! Worry, worry, worry!

Groaning

Mr brittas!

You've seen another
body, have you? Jolly good.

Go and make a mug of warm milk, and by the time
you come back all the dead bodies will have gone.

Happy now? Well, do it anyway!

Pow!

Get down, man, get down!

Come on, punk! Make
my day! Pow! Pow!

Are you all right?
Linda! Gunshot

a remarkable shot,
don't you think?

Yes, and he was hardly looking!

Your employer is evidently
an accomplished marksman.

Mr brittas is good
at all sorts of things.

As the forensic evidence has shown, my lord, the bullets
in the wall matched those in three of the bodies,

and all were fired by the gun
found in the defendant's possession.

-Did he explain why he had a gun?
-He said it was in lostproperty.

Miss lancing has statedthatthere
was no gun in the lostpropertybox

when she gave it
tomrbrittas earlier.

I know. Is there an explanation?

Yes. Well?

I don't know, but
he always has one.

Thank you, miss perkin.
Oh, one last question.

Did you see a chainsaw?
Yes, I think I did.

One gun... White powder...

..£650,000...

Right! Lost property forms.

Colin.

Phone rings Julie!

Whitbury newtown leisure centre.
Can I help you? Colin, the very person.

What?! How many? I'm on my way.

Chainsaw starts up help! Help!

Chainsaw roars

Hello, police? You can't hear me
because I've got a chainsaw running!

Mr brittas...

Carole! Help me!

Switch this thing
off! Carole! Carole!

Help me, for god's sake,
before I hurt someone!

"Help me, for god's sake, before I
hurt someone!" His exact words?

Yes.

-Did you phone the police?
-I tried to...

..But mr brittas had
cut the machine in half.

All the lines were dead.

-And what did mr brittas do then?
-He just ran off down the corridor.

Arms up... And down,
and the left leg out...

God, Colin! What have you done?

They're all dead! What?! I can't
get the police! I've cut the lines!

There's one in here!
He might still be alive!

Let's get the door open! What?

You'll have to speak up!
It must be the chainsaw!

Let's open the door! Get
a sledgehammer or a saw!

Right! Stand back!

Well done, mr brittas!

We'll soon know if
he's ok! The last cut!

Hello, darling.

I brought you
some sausage rolls.

I'm a bit off sausages
at the moment.

Oh, right.

So, how do you think it's going?

What?

I don't think it's all
bad, do you? No?

I mean, what have they got, apart from
circumstantial evidence? They haven't got a motive.

Why would you
kill all those people?

The money?

Money! What money?

They've got the gun, the bodies, the drugs, the
fingerprints... I'm sure it'll turn out all right.

You know what hurts the most?

The prosecutor saying that I
shouldn't have a position of trust.

To see everything you've worked
for just get thrown back in your face.

Come on, Gordon! Never say die!

I mean, perhaps the judge will
make it look better in his summing-up.

Judge: So, members of the jury,
you may believe the defendant

when he says that he came across the drugs
and the money after a lavatory inspection,

and that when he decapitated mr Ramirez, he was
trying to get through a door to give first aid.

If, on the other hand, you believe,
as the prosecution does... Stop!

Stop! Listen!

I was there. I saw
what happened.

Why didn't you come
forward? I know I should have,

but I was scared of getting 20 years,
or being murdered by my gang mates.

I can't hide any more, or stand by and watch an
innocent man suffer. Not after what he's given me.

-What exactly has he given you?
-A sense of worth as a human being.

Dignity. The knowledge that I don't
have to spend my life in the gutter,

that I can use my
talents to help others.

I've spent the last six
months in a leisure centre,

teaching children to swim,
coaching adolescents at badminton,

helping others find the path to
fulfilment that this man offered me.

He showed me
what life can be like.

He's given me... He's
given me a dream.

Murmuring yes!

Oh, my god!

Ladies and gentlemen,
it's a super verdict!

We had to let him
go, David. I know.

But some cases you
hate to lose. I know.

He barred my children from the centre, for
chewing gum! I thought he'd get 30 years.

There's more than
one way to skin a cat.

Come on, my darling. Off we go.
Further questions at a later date.

In you go. There we are.

My entire family were barred
because I didn't use the footbath.

Glue?

A present for you,
and a suggestion -

no-one's done the lavatory seat in
the executive washroom. Goodbye.

Colin!

Not so fast, Colin!