Original subtitles

Heartbeat, why do you miss when my baby kisses me?

Heartbeat, why does a love kiss stay in my memory?

Hello, Mrs. Brompton.

Aunty Bay said there was some jobs needed doing. That's right.

Come through.

We go back years, you know, me and Peggy.

Yeah, I heard.

You see, I'm moving into sheltered accommodation in a couple of weeks.

Yeah. I reckon you'll miss this place, though, eh? Oh, I'll miss my garden,

And my plants.

Right, well...

What can I do for you?

Come through and I'll show you.

Now, you know it's Aidan's field plough show over at the village hall tomorrow,

don't you?

Yeah, that's right.

Well, I want you to enter this for me, but not in my name.

Oh, well, how come?

Well, it wouldn't have a chance, would it?

Why not? Because he wouldn't let it, would he?

Who? Hector Blooming Plumpton, that pompous ass of a chairman of the

Why? I fell out with him. As to why it were always his pals that won all the

glittering prizes.

Oh, I see.

Anyway, enter in your own name, and if you win anything, you can keep it.

Oh, and if there's anything else you fancy, just help yourself.

Can't take it with me where I'm going.

All right.

Oh, thanks, Mrs. Crompton.

That was a spitfire, wasn't it?

A hurricane.

From Wing Commander's very own.

Oh, David.

You shouldn't have.

Eh?

My favourite colour and all.

Whoever did you know?

Oh, no.

I suppose Mrs Crompton, she wants me to enter it for the flower show.

I've got one and all that she's given me that I'm thinking of entering, too.

Oh, there's nothing like the sheer unadulterated excitement of a flower

get the old pulses racing.

Well, I suppose that depends, though, don't it, Mr Scripps?

On what?

And whether you think your prize petunias are going to be pipped at the

somebody's winter pansies.

Whether you cop for one of the prizes or not.

Look.

Don't mock, Vernon.

I thought Ashfordly puts up 50 quid for best in show.

Really?

Do you think that plant might be in with a shout, David?

Mrs Crompton must think so.

She said that I can keep anything that it wins as well.

You'd better get yourself a proper entry form, though.

And where did you get one of those from, Bernard?

Hector Plumpton's, the chairman. He runs that nursery over on the Eltenby Road.

Right, David, you'd better get over there right away and get yourself an

form. I'll tell you what, I'll come with you, give you a bit of moral support.

Come on, Brownie. All right, all right.

Come on, Brownie, come on. Come on, Brownie, come on.

So

he

runs the place then, does he?

And gives lessons.

So, have you fancied being taught to fly by a genuine Battle of Britain ace?

He's your man, Wing Commander Andy Carters.

DFC, scourge of the Luftwaffe, and heaven knows what else.

So, what happened to his legs, then?

Well, he got one of them shot off over the channel by a Messerschmitt pilot.

He was a bit niftier than he was.

Word has it he was bounced by an entire wing of them.

Still managed to take a couple down with him, though.

Here we go.

Bellamy, isn't it?

Morning, sir.

This is P .P. Walker, Aidensfield Police.

Walker.

Here to inspect Athena the crime, presumably.

Yes, sir.

In that case, this way, gentlemen.

It's always much taken, sir.

I'll show you.

What is it?

It's an explosive wedge.

What does it do? It blows holes in things.

Doors, walls and bits of fuselage that people are trapped behind.

I try to keep a few on the premises. You never know when something like that's

going to come in handy around a place like this.

How many were taken?

A couple.

Well, I wonder why they didn't take them all.

Oh, they were interrupted.

Presumably by the arrival of the security man.

How is the poor chap, by the way? Still with us, I hope.

Only just, I'm afraid, sir.

And he still hasn't regained consciousness.

Good chap, Sam Shepard. Saw service in Korea, you know.

What's the country coming to, eh?

Woke up one morning half asleep With all my blankets in a heap And yellow roses

scattered all around I'm just sitting watching flowers in the rain Feel the

power of the rain Making the garden...

I'm just sitting watching flowers in the rain... Mr Plumpton, I presume.

That is the Mr Plumpton chairman of the Aidensfield Floral Society.

Yes.

Well, I have a friend here who has a couple of plants he'd like to enter into

the show this year.

Are you a member of the society?

Well, no, not as such, but he has every intention of joining as he's just got

his allotment up and running.

Is that right, David?

Oh, yeah, that's right.

And what sort of plants are you thinking of exhibiting?

As a society, we do have certain standards.

Well, one of them's definitely a fuchsia. A yellow one.

A yellow what?

A fuchsia. Um, I don't think so.

Do you have a problem with fuchsias?

Yellow fuchsias.

Well, only that it's highly unlikely I would say that he'd have one to exhibit,

or anyone else for that matter.

Why? Because, young man, no such plant exists.

Although a lot of people have spent a lot of money trying to develop one.

So, if we did have a yellow future, that would be worth a bob or two. A lot more

than that. Look, if you must, go down to the office, find a form there, fill it

in, be down at the village hall by ten tomorrow.

Well, she'd say it was her future.

And she would definitely know, right?

Well, there's nothing that Mrs Crompton doesn't know about plants. Well,

according to me, Auntie Peggy, anyway.

Really?

Why do I get the feeling that the fickle finger of fate is suddenly pointing in

our direction, David?

Sergeant Ganley?

Detective Inspector Ganley. Now, actually, Walker.

Congratulations, sir. Thank you. Is your sergeant in?

Yes, sir.

Yes.

Detective Inspector Ganley, to be your sergeant.

Good evening, sir.

This report you sent us about explosives being stolen from Cranley Airfield.

Oh, yes, sir.

There's a firm operating in the Middlesbrough area using explosive

break into security vans.

And you think it might be the same mob who did the airfield job?

We don't know anybody else using that sort of gear.

And they must be getting their supplies from somewhere. So, any progress with

the inquiry?

Well, nothing so far, sir.

What about the security guard who was clobbered? Has he not given you anything

yet? No, and is unlikely to for some time, according to the hospital.

Well, if you do turn up anything fresh, push it through to me.

I gather you used to be in CID, Sergeant.

Yes, that's right, sir.

Well, don't go getting any fancy ideas.

Let me know straight away.

Oh, and make that for my eyes only, will you?

Right, sir.

Walker.

You know him, do you, Walker?

He was a detective sergeant over at Middlesbrough when I was there. Bit of a

high flyer.

And so was Icarus, and the ground to him.

So do we know how much they got away with?

An entire month's payroll, apparently.

£2 ,000.

And no doubt in my mind it's our friends from Middlesborough again.

Why the forensic?

On the way, sir.

Well, when they get here, tell them to take that car apart, if necessary.

Sir?

Anything? All he could tell us is that there was two of them, and they were

wearing masks.

But he did manage to get the number of the getaway car.

Well, that's something, I suppose, you'd better check out.

It's almost certainly nicked if this gang are half as professional as Ganley

reckons they are.

Right, Sarge.

Just the one night, is it, Mrs Parker? That's right, yes. I've just come up for

the flower show.

All right, lovely.

So, will I be seeing you at the flower show tomorrow, then?

They're not really my thing, they're flower shows.

The word is, this year, Lord Ashfordly, as president of the society...

has lumbered his charming and handsome young estate manager with running the

whole thing.

Really? And he, from what I hear, can't wait to offer a certain gorgeous young

doctor a drink and a sandwich over there at last night.

If you put it like that, how could a girl possibly refuse?

Oscar, is that or is that not a future?

Oh, don't ask me. Ask Alf.

He's the one devoted to gardening these days.

Right, Alf? Look, just because Mrs Ventress gave me a cold frame for my

doesn't mean I've suddenly turned into Percy Thrower.

Well, I'd say that was definitely a fuchsia, and not just any old fuchsia

either. What do you mean?

Well, growers have been trying to develop a yellow fuchsia for years. It's

become a sort of holy grail of flowers, they reckon. And that is certainly

yellow.

Right, well, in that case, David, I think without further ado, we'd better

this somewhere safe.

At least until the unveiling tomorrow.

All right, Mr. Bowman.

Put

me

through to Ruff, will you, please, Ruff?

You like flowers, don't you?

Well, I could take them or leave them, Sarge, depending on whether the park

keeper's looking or not.

Good. I'd say you were the ideal man for parking duty at the flower show today.

Sarge, surely that's a job for a special.

A personal request of Lord Ashfordly himself.

I'm sure of the traffic chaos there last year cut through the local special.

He'd prefer to see a real live police officer there this time.

Thanks, Sarge.

Bonjour. Good morning, is that the editor?

Vernon Scripps.

Hobbs Scripps Funerals.

No, I don't want to put a death notice in.

Look, I take it you will be covering the Aidensfield parishes?

Well, could I suggest that your representative gets in touch with me as

he gets there?

I could just have a story for all.

One of national, if not international importance.

Now then, David, you know the plan. We keep the future under wraps until the

last minute. Right. Then, when the press have all assembled, we unveil it and

sit back and watch the offers roll in. Right, let's get down there.

Yes,

Walker? The getaway car, Sarge.

Yes? Belongs to a local vicar.

They've no idea, though, when it was stolen, because he was away at some

conference or other.

But where was it stolen from?

Right outside his vicarage here in Ashfordly.

Ah.

Also, Sarge, the other car that was abandoned belongs to a local builder.

Now, why would a gang who are planning a major hijack nick two cars locally?

Why not steal them in Middlesbrough, if that's where they operate?

Good question, Sarge.

The words that was used to blow the security van.

Counter forensics.

Find out if the serial number survived the blast.

I already did that.

And? Well, the one that was used was definitely one of the two stolen from

Crenley.

Excellent.

Walker!

Further developments?

Sort of.

You perhaps heard about the security van that was hit yesterday? Yes.

Apparently the blighters used an explosive wedge on it. One of yours,

according to the serial number on it. Really?

Good Lord.

That's what they wanted them for.

If nothing else, original, I suppose.

So how many people knew that you had the wedgie stored here?

Quite a few, I imagine. People pass it here all the time. It's hardly a state

secret. I can show you a list of the people I teach, flying club members and

on. Do you have any members from the Middlesbrough area?

Not that I can think of, but the lads here can show you our records.

Anyone hurt in the attack?

No, not seriously, sir.

Oh, that's a good thing.

What about poor old Sam Shepard? Any news on him?

Still unconscious, I'm afraid.

But he will come round sometime, won't he? There's no guarantee, apparently.

Oh, really?

Ready when you are, Wing Commander.

Thanks, Bill.

Well... Excuse me, Constable, I have this daily appointment, you know, with

Almighty.

What does he mean by that?

Well, it says he sees it.

He says when he gets up there, it's like touching the face of God.

I reckon he would get somewhere.

I will fly a yellow flippin' star in your sky.

When the wind is high.

When the wind is high.

I will focus you to the moon.

If you're not in store.

If you're not in store.

In letters of gold on a snow -white kite

I will write I love you

And send it showing I love

you For all to read

So you're Bill Pennington, right?

You're the one who found Sam Shepard.

Oh, me and Brownie here.

We'd come on duty early, and there he was.

Thought he was a goner at first, right, Brownie? I'll see.

And how long have you two worked here?

Ooh, seems like a lifetime.

No, no, no, we knew the old Winko from the war, you see.

Used to put his creek back together for him again every time he pranged it.

And when we'd heard he'd bought this place, we was the first people to ring

see if there's any work going.

Oh, I see.

Those explosive wedges they took, you'd find them on most airfields, would you?

As part of emergency equipment?

Well, fairly common, I'd say.

They're safe, are they? Well, they haven't blown up on our faces so far.

Then again, presumably you've never had cause to use them so far.

That's true.

I tell you, crazy like a fox, that one. Always was.

Now, the old man said you wanted a list of members.

Ah, everything all right for you, Mr. Plumpton?

Seriously cramped, as usual. I don't expect we'll manage.

Good grief.

What's this when it's at home?

Oh, it's, uh, snowy... Uh, snow on the... something.

Foreign, is it?

Oh, no.

No, I got it off a friend of me auntie's.

OK. Well, stick it over there on my table. I'll see if Mr Plumpton can find

category for it.

And what's this?

You can put this down as a fuchsia. Any particular reason why you've got it

stuck in a brown paper bag?

Well, let's just say that at this moment in time it prefers to remain anonymous.

I see.

Let's stick it over there as well.

Scripts.

What the devil is going on? I just heard the reporter from the local rag on

inquiring about some earth -shaking announcement I'm supposed to be making

this afternoon.

Journalist. Do you know, you can't trust them to get anything right, can you?

Well, he tells me it was you who told him. Well, and it... I mean, I didn't

that you would be making an announcement, Mr. Thornton. You didn't?

If anybody's going to be doing that, it's going to be me.

By the way, when the plants are put out, we'd like to put ours out ourselves.

You'll find us in the bar. Come on, David.

Good morning. Can I help you?

Just getting my bearings.

Oh, sorry.

My fault.

Hello, you. Hello.

You're early.

I'm afraid I can't do lunch.

Oh, then you've got time for a coffee at least.

Yes. Good.

Well, you've got yourself a nice little earner here, Oscar.

For your information, Vernon, I do this job for the Floral Society every year.

Free, gratis, and for nothing. And any profit goes straight back into the

Society's fund.

Oh, well, I'll have a small whisky with you then.

No, you won't.

Why not?

We're not open yet.

Mr. Vernon, you'd better come quick.

Why, what's the matter?

Just come with me.

Oh, no!

Now what's happened?

We've been robbed, that's what's happened.

We'll probably have a king's flaming ransom.

Oh, it's true.

Right, Vernon.

What's this about some plant that's gone missing?

Not just some plant.

A yellow fuchsia.

Why would anybody want to nick a fuchsia?

You can pick one up at the market for about half a crown.

This isn't just any old fuchsia. This fuchsia is the Shangri -La of fuchsias.

Probably the rarest plant on the planet.

Worth a flipping fortune.

Right.

Is that right, Alf?

It seems likely, aye.

Right, well, where was this plant left then?

Oh, I put it up here behind this one.

Yeah, obviously somebody knocked it over reaching out for it.

Well, it was definitely here ten minutes ago when I popped out for a coffee.

Well, was anybody suspicious hanging about?

Well, there was a woman. She had a camera.

The one I bumped into.

That's right.

Right.

What's going on, Sergeant?

I beg your pardon?

Forensics tells me you've been under them.

checking out the serial number on the wedge that was used.

That's right.

And they confirmed the wedge was one of the two stolen from the airfield.

I could have told you that myself, Merton, if I'd thought for one moment it

any of Uniform's business.

Did you know that both the cars they used were stolen locally?

So? Well, in view of the fact that the explosives used were also stolen

doesn't that point to it being a local job?

So you don't think it would be a big coincidence, then?

for two different gangs to be using identical MOs on security vans within 20

miles of each other.

If you have any further inquiries for forensics or for anybody else, make them

through me.

All right?

Yes, sir.

And if you should manage to turn up anything else, be sure that I am the

to hear about it.

What do you think, then, Sarge?

I think it's a local job.

We'll have a gandum, I think.

So what do we do?

Leave it to the ID?

It would seem as if we had no choice in the matter, wouldn't it?

Oscar, are you and Alf still in the private investigation business?

Depends what you want investigated.

Well, the theft of our future, of course.

I thought the police were already looking into that. Alf.

far be it from me to impugn your old profession, but I didn't get the feeling

that Phil Bellamy was exactly chomping at the bit to get his magnifying glass

and his deerstalker. You do realise this'll cost you? On this occasion,

money is no object.

Isn't it?

So go to it, gentlemen.

Gird your loins and go to it.

Have you seen the evening papers, Sarge?

No. It seems that gang from Middlesbrough had a bit of bad luck this

Oh? Yeah, the explosive wedge they were using blew up in their faces, literally.

As a result of which, two of them in hospital and the rest in custody.

Really?

Incidentally, Sarge, I hope you didn't mind me not going through Mr Ganley as

ordered, but I rang an old mate of mine who's a DF over at Middlesbrough just to

find out what was happening.

I don't think anyone can object to you phoning an old friend, Walker.

What did he say?

Well, he reckons the gang have asked for their previous jobs to be taken into

consideration. Including ours? Not all of them, except ours. In fact, they're

categorically denying having anything to do with that one.

And Gamley's furious about it.

Oh, there he is.

Bye -bye.

Is that T -Rex?

Oh, it seemed to have come out in some sort of rash.

I've no idea where I got this from.

Look, what do you think it could be?

I don't know.

I reckon you should get yourself down to the surgery.

Yeah.

Have you had any luck with that list of flying club members yet?

Not yet, Sarge. Well, keep looking. Anyone with a criminal record, anything?

What about the staff, casters and his crew?

Yes, while you're at it, anyone who had anything to do with that airfield.

You don't see a hand, Mrs Ventress.

I don't know, Sarge.

Have you yourself run to the doctors?

Yes.

Right away.

Now then, Oscar, what's the problem?

Well, uh, this is.

Well, you as well.

And me.

What have you all been up to?

Right, Sarge, I checked out the wing commander with the RAF, and according to

them, he's everything he's cracked up to be, and more.

In fact, he begged them to let him carry on flying even after he'd lost his leg.

A regular Douglas batter, then, eh? I also checked up on his two mechanics,

Pennington and Brown, and it seems that their war record wasn't quite as

glorious as Winko's was.

Oh, no?

Well, they were part of his ground crew during the Battle of Britain, but they

spent a lot of their time in custody, flogging black market petrol.

and they've been in and out of prison ever since.

Now, what's he doing taking on a couple with that kind of form?

Well, having met him, Sarge, I'd say he probably felt sorry for them.

He struck me as that kind of fella.

You think we should have a word with him?

Oh, no, not yet.

He's obviously aware of the background, and he won't welcome us steaming in with

unfounded accusations.

So keep on digging.

Exactly.

Right, Sarge.

Now, obviously you've all recently come into contact with something that's

caused this reaction.

Can any of you think what that could have been?

Well, we were all at the flower show. At least four of us were.

And you certainly were there, Mrs Parker.

That's right.

Can you think of anything that you might have touched or brushed against that

might have caused it?

There was a plant, I suppose.

Which plant?

The one that was knocked over.

Oh, aye, we both handled that.

You two must have done as well.

And what about you, Mrs Parker? Did you come into contact with it at all? Not

that I can remember.

And what sort of a plant is it?

Well, you brought it.

Yeah, I don't know anything about it at all, do I?

Oh, but my auntie's friend Edie, she will, I reckon, because she gave it to

Right, David, I need you to find out what sort of a plant it is we're dealing

with here, just in case that's the source.

And meanwhile, I want you all to get yourselves over to the hospital.

We'll see what they make of it.

I'll give them a call now and tell them to expect you, okay?

Alf, meet me in the car.

That Mrs. Parker back there.

Well, what about?

Well, according to Liz, you and Ben Norton left her on her own in the room

the plants were just before that fuchsia went missing.

But she reckoned she never went near the plant.

Well, how come she got the rash as well?

Well, that's a better asker.

You're a mind reader, do you know that?

No on the mountain, it's called.

Oh, David, love, I should have warned you about that.

How do you mean?

Well, cos it's poisonous.

Very poisonous?

Oh, no, not very, but it can give you a very nasty rash if you fiddle with it.

Mind you, it clears up in a couple of days.

Oh, well, thank goodness for that, anyway.

Now, how did he get on with me future?

Oh, I'd love to have seen their faces when they saw it.

They mocked me for years, you know, when I said I was going to try and grow one.

Well, that's the other bit of bad news.

Right, David?

Oh.

Yeah, er, right.

Just keep a regular check. BP, what's the flu is now?

16, I'd say.

Keep an eye on that.

Can I help you? I was wondering what the latest was on Sam Shepard. We'd like to

come this way.

As you can see, no change.

So what's the prognosis, then?

Well, put it this way.

He won't be in any condition to sink his teeth into any of this lot before

they've rotted.

And whoever bought them must have cost a fortune.

Who are they from?

Whoever sent them. They didn't even put the name on the card.

So they're not from one of his visitors, then? Oh, he hasn't had any visitors.

He lives alone, you know.

Keeps himself to himself, from what I can gather.

Mind you, a Mr Carstairs has called to see how he was, of course. Two or three

times.

The wing commander cast us from the airfield.

I believe he was in the raft once, yes.

Now, he's very concerned about him.

Do you mind?

Help yourself.

He's in no condition to read it, even if there's anything to read.

There's nothing on it.

Except for the name of the shop that delivered it.

Thank you, love. You're welcome.

I hope you enjoyed your stay. Oh, yes, it was lovely.

Bye -bye. Bye -bye now.

Mrs Parker.

Oh, there you are again.

How's your rash?

Much easier, thanks.

Funny that, you getting it as well, even though you never touched the plant.

Physically impossible, I would say. Now, why don't you just tell us what you've

done with the fuchsia?

Or shall we leave it to the police to talk to you about it?

You think I took it?

Didn't you?

Look, I'm a magazine photographer, right?

With the Yorkshire Gardener.

And the only thing I took was his picture after I spotted it in here the

night.

And I was lucky to get that, I can tell you. How do you mean?

Well, because that Hector Plumpton, the society chairman, he turned up and

practically threw me out of my ear.

Seemed to me he couldn't get rid of me fast enough.

Now, why was that, do you think?

Why, indeed.

Can't be authentic.

Yes, Sarge. And apparently he's never been off the phone to the hospital

how Shepard's doing.

But more importantly, they insisted on him paying cash. Wouldn't even accept a

check. In fact, almost all of the shops in the area wouldn't allow him any

credit at all.

He owes a lot of money all over the place.

Word has it he's up to his medals in debt.

The only thing he owns up there is that hurricane.

I see.

Which perhaps also explains, if the three of them did do it, why he's been

concerned about Sam Shepard.

Perhaps what he's really concerned about is what Shepard might say if he does

come round.

There is that as well, Clyde.

So what shall we do? Pass it on to CID?

And tell them what, though.

We've flushed out a pair of mechanics with more form than Arkell and a wing

commander who can't pay his debt.

All we have at the moment are suspicions, Walker.

Oh, no.

I think we need to turn up something a bit more substantial than that before we

hand it over.

Right, Sarge.

Where's Bellamy, by the way?

Oh, we got an urgent phone call. Something to do with stolen property.

Look, have you two any proof at all that it was Plumpton who took this plant?

Not really, no.

Then what am I doing here?

Well, what you're here for is to provide us with, well, bottom, really.

Yes, Constable?

It's about this plant, sir.

The one reported stolen from the flower show yesterday.

Oh, yeah, I heard about that. Have you caught the culprit?

Well, the point being, sir, that...

These two gentlemen think there must be another, much simpler explanation.

Oh, really?

And what might that be?

We were wondering whether it might have got mixed up with some of yours and been

brought back here.

By mistake, of course.

Highly unlikely, I would say.

Then you'll have no objection to us having a look around?

I most certainly would.

When I was a copper and someone took that attitude, it usually made me very

suspicious and I'd end up getting a search warrant.

A search warrant?

What, for tracking down some wretched fuchsia? Either way, that's a very nasty

rash you've got there, Mr Plumpton.

You haven't come into contact with the same poisonous plant that we came into

contact with yesterday, have you? You know, the one that was knocked over when

the fuchsia went missing.

What are you suggesting, that I took it?

Oh, perish the thought.

No, it's just Mrs Parker, the magazine photographer, told us that she left you

alone in the room with the plants.

just before the theft was discovered.

I shall have a look around myself, all right?

But I'm telling you this, this is a complete waste of time.

What chance have I got of getting a magistrate to sign a search warrant to

for a flaming fuchsia? Well, I know that.

Alf knows that.

But Mr Plumpton doesn't.

Hey, would you believe it?

Look what I just found.

It was stuck behind a couple of rose bushes.

Good heavens.

Obviously, as you were saying, it must have got mixed up with my stock.

Well, I'll apologise to Mrs Crompton.

Mrs Crompton? Yes, Mrs Edith Crompton. She cultivated the plant.

She used to be a member of your society, I believe.

What I still don't understand is why, if they did do the job, why go to the

trouble of burgling the place for those wedges when they could have just helped

themselves?

Because they would know that we could trace the wedges back to the suppliers

then quite possibly right back here.

By making it look like a burglary, they not only covered the tracks, they also

lay on a big fat red herring as well.

Unfortunately, what they hadn't allowed for was the unexpected arrival of Sam

Shepard on the scene.

So give me five minutes, all right, and then get Bellamy to make that call.

Right, Sarge.

Ah, David, here we are.

One yellow fuchsia.

Thanks, Mr. Blayton. That's fantastic.

Is it burning around anywhere?

What's up? He's just gone home for his tea.

Oh, that's not a problem, is it? We'll catch up with him later.

Right. Oh, right.

So, Sergeant, how goes the investigation?

Well, everything points to it being some sort of copycat job, really.

Copycat job?

There's been a gang operating over in Middlesbrough using an identical MO. We

think that's what gave them the idea.

Them? The local gang.

Oh. Oh, I see.

Cranley?

Yes. Yes, he is. Hold on.

Police station for you.

Hello.

Yes, Constable.

And what sort of shape is he in?

That's terrific.

I'll see you at the hospital in ten minutes.

Right, Sarge.

Good news.

Yes. Sam Sheppard came round about an hour ago.

And he not only remembers the car the bugglers used, he also got his number.

if you'll excuse me. Surely.

Why haven't you two seen David?

Don't see Mrs. Crompton, he said.

Oh.

I said we should have nicked the car instead of using our own.

Never mind about that now.

What matters now is that the minute the police trace that registration back to

here, they'll be back here themselves.

We need to split the money and get out of here sharpish.

Compass!

Well, Sergeant, I suppose this is what's known in the trade as a fair cop.

I don't understand it.

Why would a man like you, a war hero, get himself involved in something like

this? Unfortunately, Sergeant, being a war hero doesn't pay the rent, and it

certainly doesn't pay for my daily communes with the Almighty.

Besides, I was bored.

Out of my mind, in fact.

And planning and carrying out this robbery was...

I can't remember when I last had so much fun.

Well, that's something Sam Shepard is unlikely to have again.

You said he'd come round.

I lied.

Oh, I see.

Oh, well.

As you're obviously going to charge me and keep me in custody for the rest of

life, could I just get a toothbrush?

From the bathroom.

Before you take me away?

Be my guest.

Where's the wing commander gone?

In the bottom.

You've got to add it to the old devil, though, haven't you?

Right, get on to the RAF, somebody. I wouldn't bother.

He's not going very far.

You know where he's going?

Nowhere.

Except to meet his maker.

What do you mean?

Well, watch him. He'll turn and head for the coast.

Where's he headed? Holland? Denmark?

No.

He's flying on vapour. The hurricane's got about five miles of fuel left.

And he does realise that.

Now, what do you think?

Not really cut out for life in prison, the wing commander?

I never had you for a glory hunter, Merton.

No, you'd be quite right there.

But if there's one thing I do object to, it's being ticked off in front of one

of my constables for the likes of you.

So I'd advise against that in future if I were you.

If you want to hang on to that top set of yours.

Now, if you'll excuse me, sir, being off duty, I happen to be enjoying a quiet

drink with my wife.

And you gave it back to her?

Well, it was hers, Mr Vernon.

I mean, all she said was that I could keep any prize money that it made.

And what's she going to do with it?

Flog it to the highest bidder, I suppose?

No. No, she's not going to sell it to anybody.

She said it's going to live on the windowsill of her new flat.

Said it's going to die with her.

Oh, great.

And we didn't even get a handling fee.

After all the trouble I went to.

And just to fill your cup to overflowing, Vernon?

Ah, Bill.

Terrible. Shut up!

Shut up! You get both barrels.

Quite terrifying. Control to Delta Alpha 2 -1. Armed robbery at Redwood House.

The offer is to manage their estate in Kenya.

Kenya? Who's there?

You've got to sort this out down at the station, don't you?