Original subtitles

I'm Book and I run a bookshop. You must be here about the job.

You know where I've come from, don't you?

I have a little hobby on the side and I find it's taking me away from the shop more and more.

Well, you must stay with us, mustn't you? Now that you've got the job.

What exactly is it you do? I sell books.

Yeah, but that's not all, is it? Yesterday, out there at a bomb site.

So you don't think they died in an air raid?

Inkerment Street was already empty, wasn't it, Mr. Besson?

Scheduled for demolition. It's a chaotic world, Jack. I have a system.

Do you think it was suicide?

Why would a chemist kill himself with something as horrible as prussig acid? It's murder.

There's a daughter, isn't there?

A right money-grabbing little cow. And then she has the gall to run off with him.

Well, Dad was convinced that Mickey was thieving.

Got the chemist's will through, sir. Daughter doesn't get a beam.

This is a sacred charge, you understand that?

I wouldn't ask this of you if I didn't think you were ready more than that.

That you were the one creature on this earth to whom I could entrust this.

This message must go to Trotty and to no one else. Is that clear? Is that clear?

Good boy. Off you go.

Morning.

Morning.

Morning.

Uh, Doc. Stay.

Can I help you?

Oh.

Yes.

With wallpaper, that is. It's a little early for that.

For what?

Never mind.

I'm looking for a Mrs. Book.

You found her.

Wow, that's a crying shame.

What is?

You're married, that is.

Can I help you?

Yeah, yeah. You got a message from your husband.

Said you were having problems with your alternator.

Mine.

In the car.

That's what I do, see. Cars.

I see. I missed a book sent for you, did he?

Yeah. Yeah. I mean no idea why he didn't go with someone more local but I'll not say no.

Look at that.

I've got a story to tell you.

Hi.

Can I help you?

Yes, please.

Can I help you?

Yes.

I'll help you.

Oh my God.

Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

You're a...

Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

No idea.

Yes.

Yes.

No idea why he didn't go with something more local but I'll not say no.

I'll not say no.

I'll go where the work is, right?

Quite.

Oh, got a light.

Yeah, yeah, yeah, hang on.

Somewhere here.

One minute.

Um.

Ah.

Oh, my God.

There's a reading somewhere.

Where's that last book at you looking at?

Um.

Ah.

Here we are.

So.

So you are a mechanic, Mr.

Mickey.

Mickey Hall.

And, uh, yeah.

Yeah, I've got a garage.

Mile end.

All yours?

Well, no, me and the, um.

Oh, yeah.

Yeah, all mine.

I see.

Um.

If you excuse me a moment,

I need to lay my hands on a, well,

find my car.

Right, oh, yeah.

Well, I ain't going anywhere, so I'm, uh.

The very man.

Oh, good morning, Mrs. Buck.

Ah.

Morning, Eric.

I wonder if you'd be an absolute darling for me, Eric.

Anything for a lady?

Well, as I recall, Sheila's a proud owner of a rather splendid Daimler.

I bet she's got a car on you.

Yeah, is she in?

Can I just pop in to ask to borrow the car?

Nothing about that.

I'm sure she wouldn't mind.

It's just parked round the back.

I'll get the keys for you.

Yeah.

Hello.

Hello.

Hello.

What's up?

Puncture, I think.

As bald as Daddy.

I told him these wheels won't get me to Cambridge.

I don't suppose.

I don't suppose.

I don't suppose.

I don't suppose to borrow the car.

I don't suppose to borrow the car.

No need by that.

I'm sure she wouldn't mind.

It's just parked round the back.

I'll get the keys for you.

Hello.

Hello.

Hello.

What's up?

Puncture, I think.

As bald as Daddy.

I told him these wheels won't get me to Cambridge.

I don't suppose you could help me out.

It's not really my department.

I'm just looking after the place.

I'd be most awfully grateful.

Oh, yeah.

Alright.

I'll see what Mickey's got.

Thanks, Elvis.

Oh.

There must be a repair kit back here somewhere.

Oh.

Oh, yeah.

Oh, yeah.

Oh, yeah.

Oh, yeah.

Oh, yeah.

Oh, yeah.

Oh, yeah.

Oh, yeah.

Oh, yeah.

Oh, yeah.

Oh, yeah.

Oh, yeah.

Oh, yeah.

Oh, yeah.

Oh, yeah.

Oh, yeah.

Oh, yeah.

Oh, yeah.

I really appreciate this.

I feel like he puts things in those random places.

Oh, yeah.

Oh, yeah.

Oh, yeah.

Oh, yeah.

Oh, yeah.

Oh, yeah.

Oh, yeah, oh.

Wow, yeah.

Oh, yeah, oh, yeah.

Pick me down, you're too late.

Oh, yeah, oh, yeah.

I feel like it was too late.

in those random places.

Oh, yeah.

Nice car.

Guys, I feel like I've got on the rent.

Maybe I should put my specs on.

Maybe.

Thank you very much, Mr. Hall.

That was, uh, that was quite a ride.

Yeah, not at all, love.

And, uh, any time you want to go a bit further, Sunday, maybe?

Hmm.

Desperately tempting, though, that is.

I find I'm washing my hair that evening.

Besides...

Besides?

I think perhaps your dance card may soon be a little full.

Quick word, Mr. Hall.

Well, isn't this nice?

Who are you?

We thought, Mr. Hall, that it was high time we had a little chad.

Listen, I know my rights.

Straight out of the blocks.

Disappointing.

Dear me, Mr. Hall, one point deducted already.

Point?

What are you talking about?

Listen, you can't stick anything on me.

There you go again.

What?

Why?

Textbook.

Quotidian.

Banal.

What?

You see, the inspector and I have been through this routine a hundred times.

A thousand.

You have no idea how tedious it is having to listen to the same old stock responses from

gnarly old lags like something from the musical.

Hold your hand out, you naughty boy.

Hold your hand...

That's probably enough of that.

So here's the question that you would ask, were it not for your fear of me dinging you,

well, why would I want to kill poor Mr. Harcup?

Well, why would I?

I wouldn't hurt a fly.

I never did it.

But you meant to go into the shop.

Yeah.

Yes, all right.

I went there to talk things for him.

To reason with him.

Now me and Marula got a little one on the way.

Oh, did you go with the express intention of filching the Jade Elephant and replacing him?

That's a dirty lie.

Oh, bravo.

Haven't heard that one in a while.

You should put copper at the end, though.

What?

That's a dirty lie.

Copper is much more effective.

But you ain't a copper, is you?

Oh, fair point.

No, I ain't.

Isn't.

Aren't.

But I do have a special letter from Churchill.

So?

Anyway, you can't prove that I did that.

No, but it's very probable you'll admit.

What happened then?

I waited outside the shop.

I knew he'd be in.

He never goes anywhere except Mondays and Thursdays.

Play dominoes, down the pool.

I waited too well after seven, but there was no sign of him.

So you went into the flat?

No sign of him.

But first she'd come out.

Who?

The char.

Mrs. Dredge.

Coming out of the chemist acting all shifty.

Yeah, well, you know all about her.

She had something in her coat.

Trying her best to keep it hidden.

Didn't let her see me, obviously.

Whom is this?

About six.

Now go on.

Then someone else come.

But it's my Piccadilly Circus on your name, look.

Couldn't see him properly, what me eyes and that.

Oh, yes, we've heard all about.

But it was a hymn.

I do know the difference, mister.

Your reputation precedes you.

And he was all bundled up.

Scarf.

Overcoat.

After he left, I went to the flat.

The door was shut, but I know my way around a lock, so...

In I went, and...

That's when I found him.

Marula's dad, that is.

Stone dead.

So naturally, you thought you should call the police.

Well, that wouldn't have been a very wise thing to do, would it?

I almost just legged it.

And then I remembered about the ornaments.

The jade figures.

Months ago, he told me about how precious they was.

I...

I thought no one's gonna miss one of them, aren't they?

Alas, for you, that wasn't quite the case.

I had my little chess set with me.

So I swapped one.

Then I took off.

Straight home, I swear.

I never killed Harker, but I never even touched him.

He was dead when I got there.

All right, son.

Maybe you're telling the truth.

Maybe you're not.

But let me assure you, if you are lying,

do you think you can take Scotland Yard for a ride?

I'll come down on you so hard,

you won't be able to see straight till Christmas.

I'll throw the bloody bock at you.

Do we believe him?

Bent as dog's hind leg.

Yeah, but is he a murderer, though?

I need to think.

Do you have time to queue?

I'm planning a casserole.

This your stopping moaning, love?

Chance would be a fine thing.

Come on, Eni.

It's sharp now.

It's not going to wrap itself.

Yeah.

She's new.

Out of the way, you.

We'll be all bleeding, day.

Right.

You're watching.

Over, over, under, under.

Here we go, lovely.

Bye.

All right, come on in.

Let's be having you.

Don't have to turn you vegetarian.

Our cat brought home a pigeon the other night.

And?

Well, Mrs Bliss was sorely tempted.

We had plenty of pigeons in the war.

Nothing wrong with a bit of pigeon.

Yeah.

Yeah, I know, but now it's all over.

I mean, we want to weigh him a bit higher, don't we?

We are all of us in the gutter,

but some of us are looking at the starlings.

Right, bugger this.

All right.

Excuse me.

Police business coming through, coming through.

Police business.

Police business, thank you.

Sorry, sorry, madam.

Police business, thank you very much.

Oh, but you're bloody tired like the rest of us.

I'm so sorry, madam.

It's urgent police business.

One minute.

Oh, madam.

Sorry, I could just ask you to take a few steps outside.

It's urgent police business.

Afternoon, Eric.

Afternoon, sir.

Now, stewing steak.

I've kept it aside, sir.

You are a prince amongst men.

Oh, you've got something just there.

Eh?

Oh, excuse me.

Powdered egg.

Bit of a rush breakfast.

How's Sheila?

Well, sir.

Well.

She's driven up to Sheffield.

A nice family.

Yes.

Terrible about George Arkham.

Suddenly is.

Mind you, I.

I wager old base art won't shed any tears.

Oh?

I never got on.

Many are running during the Blitz.

Ark up was a stickler for the rules.

Always on at Mr. Base Art for being too slack.

Blackout curtain, showing light, that sort of thing.

Rub your tick.

Right then.

Where are we up to with the murders?

Murder?

There's only one, as far as I know.

Uh, yes.

Well, Mrs. Dredge says she saw the chemist at approximately 6pm.

We have only her word for that.

Yes.

Hang in!

But Mickey Hall did say he saw her leaving the shop around that time with something in her coat she wanted to keep hidden.

And she has a strong motive now we know she inherits the heart.

Oh.

So, Harkup appears to have died somewhere between 6 and 10, according to Dr. Calder.

An awful lot could have happened in those four hours.

Indeed.

Now, we're presuming the killer called round.

No sign of forced entry.

So, Harkup knew them?

Probably.

I've told you this before.

Hear me out, Mr. Arkup, please.

It's about Marula.

I suppose you'd better come through.

So, he let them in.

There was some sort of chap.

The killer proceeds to pour prussic acid down his throat.

Harkup croaks.

Literally, I should imagine.

But why did he take just the one piece?

Why do I want to grab the nut?

Then it would look like burglary.

Whereas he wanted to make it look like suicide.

There we are, sir.

Oh, bless you, Eric.

Oh, um, anything for dog?

I'll spoil you.

You do.

Would you like it, Rats?

No, no, no.

He won't mind.

Toodle-pip.

Enjoy your day, gentlemen.

See you later.

Oh, Beryl.

Hello.

Mrs. Dredge has motive and opportunity.

Mickey Hall, motive and opportunity.

What about Marula?

Mickey says the bundled-up stranger is a man.

Yeah, but then he would.

If they were in it together.

Did they know that Harcup is going to disinherit them?

Hello, Jack.

Sir?

Ah, ah, ah.

Not for you.

What have you done?

Oh, tidied up.

Tidied up.

Oh, dear.

Well, you said you wanted things cataloguing.

So, I need to put it in a proper order.

You've only done these shelves so far.

Yeah.

Sorry.

Takes time, you know.

Thank God.

Put it all back.

Hey?

Put it all back just as it was.

I told you I have a system.

You said that...

Catalogue it, I said.

Not desecrate it.

Christ.

Book.

I'm sorry.

He said soon as men did, eh?

Well, I think I might have done something right.

You found something?

Yeah, I have.

It's been cleaned recently.

The residue you can see.

This remains a silver polish.

Meaning?

Meaning that it got into the ground recently.

Probably dropped.

Or something far more sinister.

What are you getting at?

1665, year of the plague.

Yeah.

Very specifically, the year of the plague.

Not a year or two before.

Capital.

Too convenient.

Horribly.

Where better to hide a tree?

They're in a forest.

Eleven skeletons in the plague pit from the 17th century.

And the 12th from 1946.

Oh, bloody hell.

You said earlier, murders.

Plural.

Yes.

Linked?

Oh, I should think so.

Top of the class, Jack.

Really, I should give you the afternoon off to go to the pub.

So I will.

More specifically, the bull.

Where the late Mr. Harkup used to play dominoes.

Take Nora.

Nora?

I believe you've met.

She's good at this sort of thing.

You could learn a lot.

Ah.

Something.

Very much something.

What's this?

A list of addresses and a very particular question.

I'd be ever so grateful if you'd go on a little field trip for me.

All right.

If you cook tonight.

I am.

Casserole.

Oh, casserole.

Oh, my God.

Oh, my God.

Very irregular, this. Kiddies on the premises.

I'm not a kid.

You look like one.

Appearances can be very deceptive.

I'll have a drink if that's what you're worried about.

That would make it worse.

She'll have a lemonade.

Oh, what?

And I'll have a bottle of mild, please.

All right.

Thanks.

You'll have to get these.

What? I haven't got any money.

No.

Ask Mr. Book.

We'll advance you your wages.

There you are.

Thanks.

Take the change.

You were saying, Mr. Harcott?

That's right, son.

Every Monday and Thursday.

Is it just over there?

Mr. Well-beloved, the butcher.

Mr. Bass Hart, the RP warden.

Mrs. Akers from the junk shop.

Mr. Quillen, the tailor.

It's like happy families.

Mr. Toovey from the cobblers.

Mr. Harcott.

Oh, God rest his soul.

Yeah.

Are you with the coppers, then?

In a manner of speaking.

I mean, I don't mind.

I was in the force myself back in the day.

Ah, poor old Harcott.

Didn't seem the type.

You know, to do himself in.

But then, do they ever.

I know.

We had a teacher.

Life and soul drowned herself in a weirdo.

How was he when you last saw him?

Well, that's the thing, you see.

I saw Mr. Harcott just the day before.

Oh.

Yeah.

Very out of character, it was.

Yeah, he marched in here in the middle of the day.

He was a man of very regular habits.

So it did seem a bit queer.

Yeah, seemed like he had a lot on his mind.

Said he was sitting on a secret.

Obviously, eating him up a bit.

Did you get it out of him?

The secret?

Ah, not at first.

No.

More than my life's worth, he said.

He said that?

This very word, son.

And the next day?

Dead.

Did he, um...

elaborate?

Yes, son.

Eventually, he did.

Now, Mr. Harcott was a very upright citizen.

You see, he suspected one of his pals was cheating at Spotty's.

Spotty's?

Spotty's.

Domino's.

Oh.

Oh.

That was smashing.

Well, Kez's uses.

Better than what you're used to.

Oh, yeah.

So, er, you were saying, er, scarlet fever?

Well, that's what brought us together, yes.

We met on the scarlet fever ward when we were, what, both 12?

And so, what?

You fell for each other right from the off?

Er, it wasn't quite like that, no.

Profitable day?

I'm not sure.

I put my foot right in it.

Oh?

I tried to tidy Mr. Book's bookshelves.

Oh.

I mean, I don't think I did too much damage, but...

And then I was out and about with Nora, detecting.

Well, it certainly put some colour in your cheeks.

So, go on then.

Well, if you didn't fall for each other straight away, when did you know?

You'll forgive me, my dear, but we'll have to know each other rather better before such confidences are exchanged.

Oh, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to overstep, but...

No, not at all. You haven't.

I do hope we'll become fast friends, Jack.

It's complicated.

That's all.

Book and I were inseparable for years.

And then...

Life got in the way.

Love is where it falls, isn't that what they say?

Couldn't trouble you for a lie, could I?

Sorry, I...

I don't smoke.

Sure?

And why are things more than formal between you and your employer?

I resent that question, Inspector.

Nevertheless.

Well, I...

I won't deny there was a degree of...

affection between George... between Mr Harcup and myself.

If you've been doing for someone all those years...

Well, that's my point, Mrs Trench, is that all you were doing?

What my friend is trying to suggest...

So, no, full well what he's trying to suggest...

What he's trying to elucidate, then, is whether this affection took any more tangible form.

Well, what's it got to do with you?

Well, the fact is, Mrs Trench, certain new facts have come to light.

Mr Harcup gave the lot to you, love.

I can't tell you.

Why not?

There was a degree of...

and I...

the degree of...

affection between George...

between Mr Harcup and myself.

If you've been doing for someone all those years...

Well, that's my point, Mrs Trench, is that all you were doing?

What my friend is trying to suggest...

So, no, full well what he's trying to suggest...

What he's trying to elucidate, then, is whether this affection took any more tangible form.

The fact is, Mrs. Stredge, certain new facts have come to light.

Mr. Harker gave the lot to you, love.

The shop at Goodwill's whole estate is all yours.

Never.

I didn't see that coming.

Everything?

Everything.

Is your son at home, Mrs. Stredge?

He's upstairs, in bed.

A late riser.

A war hero.

His Wellington came down over Holland, 44.

Oh, I know. I'm sorry.

Nothing to be sorry for. He survived, didn't he?

Given that we don't believe Mr. Harker took his own life,

you can see why that leaves you in a rather difficult position.

Do you never think I topped him?

The fact remains, you're in a rather sticky position, Mrs. Stredge.

The new will was properly signed and witnessed.

Well, I don't know anything about that.

But you could have done.

You could have found a draft when you were cleaning

and decided to, you know, speed things up a bit.

What, by knocking off Mr. H?

Yes.

Barmy.

No, it's her you should be talking to.

Marula.

And him.

Mickey Hall.

Have you now, Tim?

He is assisting us with our inquiries.

Oh, well, good.

That's something, then.

In fact, Mr. Hall's been most helpful.

He has?

Yes.

Yeah, most helpful.

In fact, he told us that he saw you leaving the chemist shop

the night of the murder.

There's no mystery there.

I told you, I saw him.

Leaving and trying your very best to conceal something.

Bandages.

I told you, for elf.

I wasn't trying to hide.

You lost a leg, didn't you, your son?

Mm-hmm.

How?

One of them worn and creased.

The other almost completely smooth.

His prosthesis must need constant attention.

And painful, I should imagine.

Very, very painful.

Of course.

Painful enough for morphine.

Why didn't you just ask Mr. Hargham to help?

I couldn't.

Alf needs more than he's ever given by the doctor.

So I need some extra.

I didn't think Mr. Hargham would notice, but he did.

And he assumed Mickey Hall must have done it.

I couldn't tell him it was me.

He was such a stickler, you see, for the rules.

Well, how could I tell him I'd had a way with drugs from his own shop?

You've no idea what it's like, the pain.

My poor elf.

So you dropped in on the pretext of getting bandages, and instead stole more morphine.

Right.

And Mr. Hargham was alive when you left him?

I swear on my son's life.

If you'll excuse me.

Yes, of course.

Oh, and, uh...

When do I get it then?

Beg pardon?

The money.

Not her, then.

No, life is hardened, Mrs. Dredge, but not a killer.

Then who did it?

Them.

Two murders, remember?

Them, then.

Oh, look, I suppose it would be too straightforward for you to just, you know, just tell me.

It would be my...

Well, no.

Not my pleasure.

You're going to need backup, Inspector.

Oh, no, no, sorry, uh, we're just...

Oh, good evening, sir.

Eric.

Oh, we're just closing, I'm afraid.

That's all right.

How's Sheila?

Well, you asked me that, Mr. Book.

Oh, yes.

She's in Sheffield.

What day did she drive up there?

Oh, it was, um...

Thursday.

Yes, Thursday.

I see.

Well, if there's anything special I can help you with, sir, you know, I've got a lot on...

But she couldn't have done that, could she, Eric?

When Trotty borrowed her car.

On Friday.

Come on!

Come on, Eric!

Come on!

Come on!

Come on!

Come on!

Now that, Mr. Well-beloved...

I didn't mean to do her in.

Go on.

Things hadn't been right for some time.

Always raring we were.

And then...

I met her.

In it.

Oh, an old fool and a old beauty.

It's a very old tale.

When did you know, Mr. Book, if you don't mind me asking?

I suspected right away that something was off.

And that was confirmed when I discovered that some of the bones in the plague pit were newer,

though you'd made an effort to age them.

Gravy browning.

And then, Sheila uses it on her legs.

Couldn't afford to get annoyed, aren't you?

Plus the knife marks on them are very distinctive.

I checked your handiwork.

That bone you gave me for dog.

So, for the sake of a future with Miss Enid Clegg,

you sent your wife to meet her maker.

Then found yourself confronting the murderer's oldest dilemma.

Getting rid of the corpse.

Should have been simple for you, not being a stranger to the notion of chopping things up.

Unfortunately, Inspector,

people can tell the difference between the bones of hogs and homo sapiens.

So, I think that after removing the flesh from your unfortunate wife,

flensing her,

you still needed to dispose of her skeleton.

Which is where the caustic soda comes in.

Precisely. Freely available at any chemist.

Getting rid of her body, are you?

Oh, yeah.

Yeah, yeah.

Drains.

It's for the drains, George.

Terrible pulp.

Alkaline hydrolysis.

Was that what you were going for?

I'd read about it, see?

For any of the things you pick up in this trade.

Caustic soda.

Dissolves flesh.

I'd used it before to get rid of carcasses, you know,

but it didn't work properly.

You know, lots of them.

Lots of bones left.

I didn't know what to do, and then...

And then,

Baseheart mentioned the skeletons that he'd found.

Strange to think that if it wasn't for the Luftwaffe,

we'd never have known those poor devils were under our feet all these years.

Have you told the cop this?

Not just yet.

Well, no rush, I suppose, after 300 years.

I've put a tarp over the crater.

Yeah?

Well, you know what kids are like.

They probably run off with the bones and give them to a dog.

Anyway, cheerio.

Oh, no.

Oh, no.

As I said,

where better to hide a tree than in a forest?

Who would notice?

Oh, you.

Then,

there was this,

of course.

Eric here,

though exhibiting a lively skill at improvisation,

is not an imaginative man.

No offense.

I'd go for it.

More game.

Mate is mate.

He rather overdid it

by planting the coin in the plague pit.

That rang an alarm bell

straight away.

So,

armed with a description of our suspect,

my wife made a short,

instructive tour

of the local curio shops.

Oh,

how do you know

he hadn't gone further afield

to get the coin?

Unimaginative,

remember?

Anyone conceiving so clumsy a clue

would never stray far

from their own neighborhood.

Eric was very much

in the frame

when I noticed the clincher

in the queue

at the butcher's.

Notice what?

Powdered egg.

Oh,

you've, uh,

you've got something

just there.

Eh?

Excuse me.

Powdered egg.

Bit of a rushed breakfast.

Such an intimate thing to do.

With absolutely no acknowledgement

from Mr. Wellbeloved.

Uh-huh.

I thought.

Uh-huh.

How's Sheila?

Well, sir.

Well.

She's driven up the Sheffield.

A nice family.

I inquired with Sheila's family

in Yorkshire.

They've seen neither hide

nor hair of her,

of course.

So,

it all looked rosy.

And then?

I've got the note.

I suspected something of the kind.

Some sort of vague threat.

Urgent that we talk.

I don't want to have to take this

to the authorities.

I hope we can sort this matter

between ourselves.

George,

look.

And you assumed

it was about the murder.

Of course.

What?

And it wasn't?

No.

What?

Then what was it about?

Domino's.

What?

Mr. Harcup was a stickler

for the rules,

as we know.

He suspected you of cheating

at his favourite pastime.

That's all it was.

No, no, no, no, no.

No, it had to be a threat.

About Sheila,

what else could it be?

So?

What happened next?

I had no idea

I could buy him off.

With cash?

With beef?

So he went round?

I was scared.

You know, scared of what he might say.

What if he wouldn't listen to reason?

You know, there was poison everywhere,

all round.

And so I kept him talking.

I just need you to tell the truth.

No, but George, just take...

Tell the truth, Eric.

And then I took my chance.

I got hold of him.

And then I poured the poison down his throat.

Right.

You poisoned him, did you?

Oh, yes.

Yeah, it's horrible.

Nothing else?

Aye.

You see, that's very interesting, Eric.

Because before he was poisoned,

George Harcup was struck over the head.

And the weapon left a bloody residue in his hair.

You remember there was blood,

but no wound, Inspector?

Yes.

Dr. Calder analysed it for me.

Cow's blood.

Ah.

And you would have known that, Eric,

if you'd been the one who'd hit him

with a joint of beef.

No.

Yes, no, no, no, no.

I remember now.

No, I did hit him.

I don't think so.

So who did?

Enid.

Obviously neglected to mention the part

where she clobbered Mr. Harcup.

Was it her idea?

From the start?

No!

She was...

Enid found me

after I'd strangled.

After Sheila died.

She just took charge.

I didn't know what to do.

Enid was so...

calm.

Methodical.

And...

We reckoned we was going to be okay

until...

What the hell can we do now?

Leave this to me.

Bye.

Bye.

Bye.

Bye.

Bye.

Bye.

Bye.

Bye.

Bye.

Bye.

Bye.

Bye.

Bye.

Bye.

Bye.

Bye.

Bye.

Bye.

Bye.

Bye.

Bye.

Bye.

Bye.

Bye.

Bye.

Bye.

Bye.

Bye.

Bye.

Bye.

I had to finish the job and make it look like suicide.

She poured plastic acid down poor Mr. Harcum's gullet.

Don't we just say that I did it?

Please.

I mean, I'll swing, won't I?

I obeyed it.

The law must take its course.

I'm sorry Eric, I truly am.

But I'm even more sorry for George Harcum.

Poor Sheila.

Oh.

Right, formal charge done. Sign out.

If you take him to a home room, sir.

Very good of you.

Thank Mrs. Book.

She said you might be a while.

Quite a tale.

Wish I could have sat in on it.

I'm pushing my luck as it is.

What exactly did you do in the war?

It must have been pretty big for you to get that letter from Churchill.

With the inspector to let you have run of the shop like this.

Now, now Jack, don't be nosy.

Where would the fun be if everyone knew everything, eh?

Besides, I hardly had the run of the place not with laughing boy there hovering the whole time.

He's just waiting for his chance to call me.

Slightest malfeasance.

Surely you're a model of respectability, Mr. Book.

You'd be surprised.

They got Ivan Novello for his petrol coupons.

All right.

We're out.

There you go.

Eric?

Eric!

Hey!

Hey!

Wait!

No, no.

No contact.

Enough of that.

That's enough, mate.

Run for Eric!

No, no, no!

No contact, can you-

That's enough of that!

That's enough, mate!

Run for Eric!

No, no, no, no contact!

No.

No contact, no, no, no, no contact!

No!

No contact!

No.

Can you-

No contact!

No contact!

No contact!

No!

That's enough!

Yeah!

Look for Eric!

Run for Eric!

Love you!

Run!

Eric, give me a pull, mate!

After him!

Oh, hell's for hell's.

Eric!

Eric!

It's right!

It's not down here!

Eric!

Come on, man!

Don't be a pull!

You two, that way!

Come on!

You two, that way!

Where did he go?

There.

Home.

The crater.

This is...

Was Inkermann Street.

Which means...

Mr Baseheart's fastidiousness has come good at last.

If the ruddy thing's still working.

All right, well-beloved.

Come quietly.

I see him?

There.

Eric, stop.

Don't lose him.

I'm trying.

I'm going in.

Let me talk to him.

Where are you going to run to, Eric?

There's nothing to be done.

Where will you go?

Eddie!

Eddie!

Hey!

I'm going out.

I'm gonna die.

I'm going to die.

I'm going out.

I'm going out of here.

Are you Okay?

No, no.

No, stay for there.

Ah.

Let me beg you.

No, no, this has won.

I need you.

I need you, rest.

I'm coming you.

you can give up today or tomorrow eric it's inevitable the law must take its course

that's what you said you're not stringing me up

eric no no you shall do that to me i've seen beasts go it's not always kind eric stop

what about enid hmm you better leave the face the rope alone

you're right

she did all this for me yes all for me

i can't leave her face the music can i

if we're gonna go

we go together

for him the hemlock shall distill for him the axe be bared

for him the gibbet shall be built for him the stake prepared

i see him up there with mr book and then

wallop he just fell dropped like stone i mean he must have broke his neck

what's that business

well this is a treat pineapple chunks haven't had these before the war

so what now what do you mean we just go back to selling books

well that's the job jack just jack yeah but that was yeah

it was so bloody exciting can't be like this all the time young man and anyway

who are you you haven't really said

uh

jack blunt

i was brought up in an orphanage like i told you

i made acquaintances with the wrong sort i did time for it oh yeah oh

i was the driver for a smash and grab up mayfair way they got away with a load of mint coats

i got away with two years i missed the war some of it anyway and then

i'll get a letter from the prison reform society an address for a job this address

well there we are then no need to mention it again yeah but why me

why'd you pick me altruism

what giving a second chance to someone felt like the right thing to do yeah but you don't know me from

adam oh he was hopeless wasn't he trotty always wandering around the shop in the altogether getting

his fig leaf trapped in the till i'm serious i mean bloody hell i am grateful and all that but

it's nice here

it's really nice but books is a raft on the great turbulency of life

then you mean books are a raft no no books this place my shop

don't dwell on it jack just accept it it's a second chance but why me why not

you only live once but if you do it right once is enough

you only live once you just have shakespeare may west

so

so