The Thin Blue Line (1995–1996): Season 2, Episode 4 - Alternative Culture - full transcript

Hmm.

Good evening, everybody.

Sometimes one does
despair of today's youth.

To them concepts such as honor,

duty and self-restraint

are as foreign as a frenchman

and no more acceptable.

On the other hand, of
course, it is important

not to judge people too harshly.

We were all young once,

and although we may
not have attended raves,



I seem to remember that
Saturday morning at the pictures

could get pretty wild.

Let he who has never
chucked a gobstopper

at John Wayne during the kissy bit

cast the first stone.

For young people, as we shall see,

are like the last banana
in the fruit bowl-

Not all bad.

I tell you what, I'll be glad when
they've fixed our showers and toilet.

I hate sharing the blokes'.

There's a pair of jocks in that locker

that's developing its own ecosystem.

It's not what you need when
you're feeling delicate.

Had a little drinky last night, did we?



Just a bit. My tongue's
got so much fur on it,

I may need a license
to keep it domestically.

Drinking like that's terribly
bad for you, you know, Maggie.

Really, Pat? And there was me thinking

that having a brain
like a pickled walnut

and a mouth like a rat's bum

was a bit of a health cure.

Instead of poisoning your body,

you should be concentrating
on rejuvenating

your physical and sensual sides.

The way I feel this morning,

you couldn't rejuvenate my sensual side

if you chucked me into a
bath full of chippendales

and asked me to find the soap.

Blimey!

Sharing the gents with a load
of women. It's a disgrace.

The place'll stink like the
perfume counter at boots.

They'll be in there

dibby-dabby, lippy-lappy,

powder-poofing, bonnet-boofing,

squirty-squirty,

"only be a minute, I've just
got to re-grout my crow's feet."

I get all this at home, you know.

I'm talking about
alternative healing, Maggie.

I've just joined a well-woman group.

You can do rebirthing,

reflexology, shiatsu massage.

You have to let it all out.

Please, Pat. I'm having enough
trouble keeping it all down.

And if you haven't got time for shiatsu,

just have an enema.

You can do it at home in five minutes

with an ordinary garden hose.

Tweezering and plucking,

and using my bic on her legs,

and slapping the glandular
oils of some dead whale around

like it didn't cost 15 quid a jar

which I have to bleedin' earn.

Well, I'm off the booze now, anyway.

- My little sister's coming to stay.
- Oh, that's nice.

No it's not. She's completely boring.

Goody-flippin'- two-shoes.

If she sees me with so
much as a half of cidrax,

she'll tell my mom, who'll
immediately ring up in floods

and read the entire Koran
onto my answer phone.

Perhaps your sister would like to
come along to my rebirthing group?

You recreate the moment you
emerged from your mother's womb.

Oh, I'll see if I can persuade her.

Maybe she'll come out a bit more
interesting second time around.

I shout, "come on, Tina!"

She says, "I'm just
gonna have five minutes

on the bum wobbling machine."

Then she leaves the
top off the toothpaste.

Blimey, Fowler, I
thought at least at work

we could keep the birds out of the bog.

Sharing lockers is brilliant.

I cannot believe I'm
actually going to be changing

in the same room as Constanble Habib.

But not at the same time.

True, but it's a step in the
right direction, isn't it?

Right, that's it, you
lot. Come on, time's up.

Get out of it!

- Good morning, Inspector Grim.
- Oh, it's still morning, is it?

Blimey, I thought it was later.

Evening at least, or
else sometime next year.

Doesn't time fly

when you're hanging
around outside the bog

waiting for a bunch of
women to stop fannying about?

You do get yourself worked
up, don't you, Inspector?

You really should try
and diffuse your tension.

Have you thought about
irrigating your colon?

Not really. I don't
do a lot of gardening.

Inspector Grim,

it is 8:51 and 42 seconds.

With respect, if you consult your rota,

I think you'll find that
male time begins at 8:52.

I told you, Fowler.
Women, all the same-

Totally toiletarially territorial.

- Now look, Derek-
- Inspector Grim,

we don't like this situation
any more than you do,

- and with better reason.
- What better reason?

- Lots of better reasons.
- Name a better reason.

We've been properly
toilet-trained for a start.

Yeah, you lot seem to think

you're supposed to stand
on the bog and aim outwards.

Drips!

Women are obsessed with drips!

I say, "Tina, wear a pair of slippers."

Please, really.

Really, now. Please, please.

Now, now... Now, please.

Really.

The situation is as it is, and we
must simply make the best of it.

I've scheduled a meeting
with the regional auditor,

but he is notoriously tighter

than an Italian tenor's trouser buttons,

so I hold out little hope for
extra funds this financial year.

Clearly, I cannot take money
from our crime-fighting activities.

Why?
We never solve any burglaries.

Why don't we investigate half as many, sir?

We'd cut our failure rate by fifty percent,
and afford new toliets into the bargain.

Such cynisim is depressing in one so young,
Habib.

Now, if you'll excuse me,
I'm late for my morning movement.

Look what I've got, Frank.

Some of that new male
Calvin Klein perfume.

Dead cool, dead street.

Really gets the babes horny.

You know, I reckon when Constanble
Habib gets a whiff of this,

she'll say, "whey-hey!
Climb aboard, big boy!"

And fall at my feet.

Kevin-

Kevin, it'll take more
than a whiff of perfume

to make Maggie Habib fall at your feet.

Maybe you should try chloroform, eh?

It's supposed to be evocative
of a man's testicles.

No, I don't mean that.

What is it that blokes
have that makes them sexy?

Mmm... Sunglasses?

No, it's close to testicles,
only a little bit longer.

Testosterone, Kevin. Look
at it wrapped in a towel.

Give us a splash. I've got
lager seeping out my pores.

In the boozer till 2:00.
16 cans of special brew

and nothing to eat but peanuts.

I could've pebbledashed the pub.

2:00?

That's way past closing time.

Closing time's for plebs, not us.

The lock-in is a
traditional copper's perk.

Like sticking your siren on
when you're late for dinner.

We're having anothe lock-in on Friday.
How about coming out?

Heh, You be careful, son.

Once, when I was starting
off as a Constable

I got drinking with some other
silly young coppers when, suddenly

in walked our Chief Insepctor.

I looked at my watch.
It was 1'o clock.

Quick as a flash, I put a pint on
my head and pretended to be a table.

- And what did the Inspector do?
- He ordered a pint.

It was 1'o clock in the afternoon.

You see, Kev, no problem.

There's a big illegal
late-night drink Friday.

Lots of the boys're coming
out. You come out too.

Yes, I don't know about that, Gary.

As a policeman I just don't feel
comfortable breaking the law.

- I know that sounds stupid-
- Look, mate...

coppers stick together.

And if we have to bend the
rules, then we do it together.

That's the police culture.

And you'll do a lot better on the force

if you admit you're one
of us from the start.

- So you come out, all right?
- I'm out on Friday.

Yeah.

Um... Patricia?

Regarding the current
dysfunctional nature

of the non-male persons' locker room...

the ladies loos, yes?

Well...

I wonder if you could
inform your compatriots

of the female variety

that I am, of course,
arranging for the ladies'...

you know, the ladies', um...

machine...

to be moved.

The what?

The ladies' machine.

You know, the mechanized purveyor of...

purificatory dressings.

Swabs...

sanitationary compresses...

applications-
internal and external-

Ladies', for the use of,

as and when required,

traditionally...

on a monthly basis.

Raymond,
there's nothing embarrassing about tam-

No, no, no, no.

No, what an idea.
Blimey. Embarrassed? Ha!

I talk about them all the time.

Rarely not talking about them.

Get quite boring on the
subject, as a matter of fact.

Oh, no. Anyway...

the, um- well, the, um...

thingy machine will be relocated

in the male locker room

in a suitably discreet darkened corner.

Unless of course, you'd
rather we put it in the cellar?

You know, to save embarrassment.

- No, the locker room will be fine.
- Oh, good, good.

So in the broom cupboard behind
the cistern it goes, then.

The vile scourge of drugs
has arrived in Gasforth.

Some people won't admit it,

but I for one am not gonna
bury my head in an ostrich.

Kids are already taking "E"

Openly, in clubs.

And that is only the
thin end of the bush.

Today, it's "E."

Next week it might be "F..."

Possibly even "G."

Tomorrow night there is gonna
be a rave at the Old Gasworks.

C.I.D. officers,

led by Detective
Inspector Derek Grim-

In the person of myself,

for that is me-

Will be in attendance, and
also it is where we will be.

That is all.

Furtther information, as and if and when,
and as and if required.

Drugs. Drugs.

What is wrong with young people today,

with their uppers, downers,

poppers, toppers,

speed, whizz, crack, junk,

smack, splosh, zing,

bonk, barf, oink, wham-bam?

Oops,
I've just destroyed the family brain cell.

Can't they amuse themselves
without chemical stimulation?

Haven't they heard of monopoly?

I suppose they're
just not as boring-

I mean, as sensible as you were, sir.

They're looking for
something more exciting.

Exciting?

Have you ever had hotels
on Mayfair and Park Lane?

You can make a fortune.

That damn sounds more exciting than
flinging your head with chemicals and,

pranzing about,
drinking Lucozade for eigh hours.

I can nothing exciting about that,
whatsoever.

Well, that's not quite true.

I do recall, that as a youngster

I could get pretty worked up at
the prospect of a glass of Lucozade

But, great plates of wobbly custard,

why this need for sensory stimulants?

When I was an adolescent,

my idea of a major sensory stimulant

was sucking on a fisherman's friend.

Have I said something
amusing, Constanble Goody?

Oh, yes, sir, definitely.

Really? Then perhaps you'd
like to explain the joke to me.

Yes, I will.

Well, sir, you said

that you were stimulated

by sucking on a fisherman's friend.

And I think that's very funny.

I see. And why do you find
it funny, Constanble Goody?

They're horrible, aren't
they? Everyone knows that.

I'm gonna clean up this town, Boyle.

Drugs are the effluence of society,

and I'm the toilet duck.

I'll show these bloody kids

when Grim of Gasforth puts
his backside on the line,

they can't just stick two fingers up.

Yeah.

If kids want to
destroy their bodies

why don't they drink 10 pints
of larger like sensible adults

what's wrong with being bored,
anyway?

The rest of us have to sit
at home in front of the telly,

- why shouldn't they?
- I'll tell you what, sir,

me and some of the lads have organized

A lock-in after tomorrow night's raid.

Why don't you get in on it?

I don't know, Boyle. I don't
normally do that sort of thing.

Oh come on, sir.

You spend all evening
chasing drug addicts

and you can't even have a
little drinky at the end of it?

That can't be right, now can it, eh?

Kevin!

What are you doing?

Just giving you a whiff
of my "testostricles."

I shall speak to your mother.

Oh, Maggie, Maggie,
Maggie, Maggie-

Can I talk to you about something?

It's just that I've got
a sort of moral dilemma.

You see, Gary Boyle
has been going on at me

about coming out.

- He wants you to come out?
- Yes.

He wants me to come out and
admit that I'm one of them.

What's it got to do with
him? Tell him to bug off.

No, no, no, you see in so many ways,

I feel that I'd actually
quite like to, you know?

But it isn't easy, what with
being a policeman and everything.

Oh, I see.

Well, whatever you decide to do, Kevin,

I want you to know I think
you're being really brave,

and I really admire you.

This perfume is sex dynamite.

I'm gonna dunk my trousers in it.

- Do you want a splash?
- Listen, son,

A woman likes to smell a man

as nature intended-

Sweat, guinness and pickled onions.

You can't bottle that.

I'm off for my rebirthing.

Ah, yes, rebirthing.

Just remember to pick me up at 10:00.

Patricia, I'm hardly likely

to leave a newborn
baby to fend for itself

in the sports center car park, now am I?

Mmm.

There's one reborn every minute.

You don't think much of
sergeant Dawkins' interest

in alternative inner
healing, do you, sir?

Why is everybody searching
for this something inside them?

Patricia and her quest
for the inner woman,

children and their drugs.

It's an alternative culture now, sir.

People are asking questions,
they want to know who they are.

Then they should damn well
look at their passports.

Alternative culture, heh.

I remember when our idea
of alternative culture

was turning over to ITV.

People have too much choice these days.

Did you know that you can
get an almond mars bar?

An almond mars bar?

Mars bars got by for over 50
years without almonds in them.

Yes, sir.

They've put caramel in the wispas.

We live in a debauched, hedonistic age.

Young people are addicted to pleasure.

Not all young people, sir.

My little sister's addicted
to organized religion,

- exams, and net ball.
- Mmm.

She sounds like a very fine young woman.

Proof that not all young
people are decadent wastrels.

Ah, Maggie-a young lady for
you. Says she's your sister.

- Hello, Maggie.
- Hello, Nazia.

This is my little sister Nazia, sir.

Ah, splendid, splendid.

Welcome to Gasforth, Nazia.
I'm sure you'll love it.

We have a museum, a small library

and a fascinating 18th
century stone horse trough.

Stuff that. Soon as I got my
glad rags on, I'm out raving.

Better change if you want to come, Mags.

You look like a right
tosspot in that pig's costume.

I've brought you milk.

Can you no be too long learning to walk?
Because I'm parked on a metre.

Thank you, Raymond.

I'm only five seconds and
already my innosense is gone.

Make yourself
at home, why don't you?

All right if I smoke?

You haven't started smoking cigarettes,
have you?

- Just grass.
- Nazia!

Go on, flush that down
the toilet right now.

You realize,
it's actually my duty to arrest you?

Go on then.

- Or at least tell mom.
- You wouldn't.

Just get rid off it, now!

Ooh!

One minute late. Very sorry, Maggie.

That's all right, Kevin.

Kevin... yes, yes, yes.

- I don't want to pry...
- Yes.

...But I was wondering whether you
thought more about your coming out.

Well, yes I have... Lots.

But it's very confusing, you know.

Sometimes I swing one
way, sometimes the other.

- Oh I see... Bi.
- Bye.

Morning, doll. Sorry
to keep you waiting.

I was up all night at a
lock-in. Had to shower off.

Lovely, very
refreshing. Hey-

I found some lovely
scented soap in there.

Peach shampoo and sea-fresh deodorant.

I like having birds in our bogs.

Oh, I could shag myself.

Don't forget I've got my
reflexology this evening, Raymond.

Ah, yes... Reflexology.
Which one's that again?

It's a terrific shortcut
to all-body well-being.

Every part of you is represented
on the sole of the foot.

So any pain or uptightness

can be alleviated by
firmly massaging the foot.

So here is the liver, and
the colon, and the buttocks-

And, uh... Where is the
foot represented on the foot?

Um...

- well, I-
- supposing I had a really sore foot?

How would you soothe my foot?

By grabbing my foot and sticking
your thumbs into my foot?

Raymond, do I ask you
to logically justify

your covering the kitchen table

with a balsa wood model
of a lancaster bomber?

No, but I'll be quite happy to.

Constable Boyle-

For the final time, if
you're going to use my soap,

could you please remove your hairs
from it once you've finished?!

You're Mrs. Squeamish.

It's just benign,
non-volatile dead cell matter.

It is benign, non-volatile
dead cell matter

that grew out of your scrotum!

And I hate it. How do you do it?

I could've stuffed a mattress by now.

Each day I gouge a small
toupee off the soap,

and the next day it's back,

looking like a member
of the grateful dead.

Inspector Fowler-I would
like to lodge a formal protest

against having to share a locker room

with the gruesome fallout
from Constanble Boyle's

rapidly balding bodily parts.

The situation really is most intolerrable.

But, unless I can get some extra
cash out of the regional order tab,

a man who does not recognize the verb:
To spend.

Then I'm afraid we are all stuck
in the same lavotory till Christmas.

No fannying about.

And above all,
no fannying about.

We assemble at 011:30 hundred hours

P.M. in the evening.

That is all. Let's go, go, go.

Big raid this, quite exciting.

Hope we get some dealers,
not just silly kids.

Do you fancy a bit of chewing
gum to calm your nerves?

It's a new brand- fresh n' easy.

Got it out of the machine
in the locker room.

Sounds great.

Gives you a great fresh feel all day...

helps you get on with life

and no leaking.

Which is great, isn't it?

Because I often dribble
a bit if I try and chew

and watch television at the same time.

Oh, yes.

Great satan's sponge-bag,
you imbecile boy!

- Watch where you're going.
- I'm sorry, I'm so sorry.

Sir, with respect,

I think you should be a bit
more understanding with Kevin.

He's a bit distracted, you see.

The thing is he's told
me that he's coming out.

Coming out?

Do you mean coming out

as a "Guardian" reader
would understand the term?

Absolutely, sir.

Oh, I see.

I must go out of my way
to put him at his ease.

Now then, Goody...

um... I've asked you to come and see me

on a matter about which
I feel no embarrassment...

no embarrassment, whatsoever.

Constable Habib has informed me

that you're worried about-

About, um...

coming out.

Well...

I suppose it has been
on my mind sir, yes.

- You mustn't worry yourself unduly, Goody.
- That's good, sir.

Because Gary Boyle

says that having a
sly quickie after work

is a police tradition.

- He said that?
- Oh, yes.

He says that if a bloke

can't get a couple of stiff
ones down his neck after work,

then what's the point of being a copper?

He reckons that the pub lock-in
is all part of police culture.

Pub lock-in?

You mean you've been asked to
come out for an illegal drink?

That's what's been worrying you?

Yes, C.I.D. do it all the time.

I'm really pleased
it doesn't bother you.

I'll tell you what, I'll
be stuck into the malibu

at the "frog and truncheon" tonight.

And if you do, you appalling youth,

you'll be stuck in a
cell tomorrow morning.

I'm aware there are certain
nod-and-a-wink customs

in which C.I.D. officers ignore the law,

but I will not allow the
corruption of my officers.

Quite frankly, I preferred
you when you were a homosexual.

Get out.

Bang'em up, Boyle,
bang'em in the hull.

All right,

I want urine from all this lot.

Would somebody kindly take the urine?

Check their eyeballs.

If the pupils are dislocated, nick 'em.

Look for the signs of addiction-

A distant stare,

regular truancy,

loss of appetite at mealtimes.

Boyle, Timmy!

You didn't get rid of it, did you?

I'll never forgive you for this, Nazia.

Alright.

Those who've not been
arrested are free to

continue the normal way
of the fabric of society.

The rest of you with me.
Go! go! go!

I have no excuse, sir.

I was protecting my sister.

You understand that I'm
going to have to charge you?

Yes, sir.

You fool, Constanble.

What madness possessed you?

She's my little sister, sir.

My mom would've died.

She'd be-

Go to your desk, Constanble.

Derek...

Constanble Habib is by far
and away my best officer.

She already represents a public
investment of many thousands of pounds.

What are you suggesting,
Inspector Fowler?

I am suggesting...

that we do not charge her.

She has a fine career ahead of her,

and because of one insane
moment of filial loyalty-

I don't believe I'm hearing this!

Inspector high and mighty

snooty snotty hoity-toity Fowler

- wants me to break the law?
- I know!

I know.

But she was just trying
to help her little sister.

And when her little
sister is a drug baron

defending an armored crack house

with a shoulder-held missile launcher,

will it be all right to help her then?

No. I don't like it,

but I know my duty.

We're charging her.

It's been a long night.

Right, Boyle, what about
that drink we were discussing?

- Cheers.
- Thank you very much, sir.

You're very welcome, Boyle.

We can settle up later.

I reckon this raid might
mean promotion for you, sir.

Well, I can't deny I am rather expecting

A call from a grateful chief Constanble.

Ah, I can't see anything
going wrong with that.

Hey, unless we get raided.

All right, you lot-
it's well past closing time.

You're all under arrest.

Out through the bog,
sir, old copper's trick.

The problem with old copper's
tricks, Constanble Boyle,

is that old coppers know 'em.

Don't do me for this, Fowler.

I've never done anything like it before.

A conviction would ruin my career.

Never mind, Inspector Grim, it
was never a very promising one...

unlike Constanble Habib's.

You can't compare
withholding evidence of drugs

with a friendly little lock-in.

Really? I think you'll find that I can.

Also, I think you'll find
that the promotions board

will be inclined to view
any criminal conviction

as something of a blot
on a policeman's record.

All right, I won't charge Habib.

In that case, I won't
charge you or Boyle.

I've got a couple of
outstanding parking tickets, sir.

You think you can get me off those?

I'm terribly sorry to keep
you waiting, Mr. Glockenspiel,

but I've been assembling the
relevant financial reports

regarding the ladies' locker room.

No rush, you won't get
a penny out of me anyway.

I took the liberty of making myself

A mug of bovril whilst I was waiting.

- Your very good health.
- Bovril?

Yes, my favorite beverage-

Nutritious, and above all, cheap.

I saw that cube on your desk.

So I made free with your kettle.

- No!
- Oh, don't worry, I've left you half.

Quick, get a requisition slip.

Mr. Glockenspiel says we can have
as many lavatories as we like.

In fact, he's offered to put
in jacuzzis and a steam room.

Also, he's asked for kebabs, pizzas

and 15 king-size mars bars-

No almonds.

Right then, Henry, let's talk toilets.