Original subtitles

What's going on? Why are we here?

What's the big mystery?

Who cares? There's a tab.

Someone else is paying.

- Evening, all. - Oh, evening.

What's this about, then?

December the 9th?

Is it?

You haven't twigged, have you? UCOS?

Three years old today. Happy birthday.

- Oh. - Happy birthday.

Look, the reason men don't remember dates

is because they're too busy.

Men don't remember dates 'cause they don't care.

Why's the table set for five places?

Every silver lining has a cloud.

It was his idea, and he's paying for it.

Oh, well, in that case...

- Good evening. - Evening.

- Evening. - No, don't get up.

Now, look, before we get stuck in,

I just want to read you something.

Congratulations to you all.

Your dedication, hard work, and success

are an inspiration.

And that's from the commissioner.

- Oh, very nice. - Ooh!

Policy Planning Review was all about you today.

Nothing but plaudits.

As a result, I have senior officers queuing up

to pass on problem cases.

Oh, great.

Jack Halford?

- That's me. - I'm Luke Hanson.

It's all right. We're police officers.

- Keep still, son. - He's clean.

All right, Gerry. Let him go. Sandra.

Well, Jack?

Luke Hanson.

Ricky Hanson's son.

♪ It's all right, it's okay ♪

♪ Doesn't really matter if you're old and gray ♪

♪ It's all right, I say it's okay ♪

♪ Listen to what I say ♪

♪ It's all right, doing fine ♪

♪ Doesn't really matter if the sun don't shine ♪

♪ It's all right, I say it's okay ♪

♪ We're getting to the end of the day ♪

Subtitling made possible by Acorn Media

1997.

I got nicked for burning my old school down.

I'd been expelled. I had previous for arson.

My girlfriend gave me a false alibi.

The caretaker was badly burned,

so they done me for attempted murder.

Come March, I'd served eight, was about to get released

when your lot happened to find out

I'd hijacked a fag lorry in Dover.

Same time, same night as the fire.

So the problem is...

You can't have been in both places at once.

Exactly.

They made one sentence concurrent with the other,

let me go,

and here I am.

So the real arsonist is still out there,

and you want us to help you get him?

Look, I've written it down in the envelope.

If I could go to anyone else, I would do.

Why didn't you tell the police about the hijack originally?

Are you serious? I'm not a grass, mate.

And what does your dear old dad make of all this?

I dunno. I don't see him no more.

I don't see anyone from back then.

Not even Lysette Perry, your girlfriend?

Ex.

No.

Your dad must have contacted you when you got out.

Yeah, yeah, couple of times, yeah.

But I just... I told him I wanted to be on my own.

He said, "Fair enough, you are. You're dead to me."

Always did have a way with words.

Listen, I don't really care if you believe me or not,

but I didn't burn that school down.

Somebody did, and they let me take the rap for it.

And what exactly will you do if we find them?

Well, maybe the old Luke,

yeah, would've paid them a visit.

But now, you do your job,

that's enough for me that they go through what I did.

Jail.

That'd do it for me.

All right. Thanks very much.

Ta-ta.

Prison did something to him.

Yeah.

Did something to Hitler.

So, Ricky Hanson. Mate of yours?

Biggest murdering, thieving,

lying piece of morally bankrupt shite

I've ever laid eyes on.

Oh, nothing personal, then?

We were on his case a long time.

We?

Yeah, I was on Jack's team.

We linked him to three separate murders,

including his own brother.

Was the last case I worked on before I left the job.

Funny old world, isn't it?

Luke's just told me...

Luscombe... the school that burnt down...

They've rebuilt it.

He's there this afternoon giving a talk to the kids.

Sandra, could I have a word, please?

Giving a talk to the kids?

Isn't that what we used to do?

I wanted to tell you last night

before we were rudely interrupted

that as a result of the success of UCOS,

it's been made very clear to me

that were you to apply for a promotion,

a lot of people would be very happy to see you to get it.

This week's police notices.

They're advertising applications

for the head of the murder squad.

Now, obviously, I'd be sorry to lose you

from one of my areas of control,

but, anyway, I passed the message on.

What did he want?

Oh, you know,

just stressing the need for delicacy, sensitivity.

Asshole.

You think it's a laugh, yeah.

Once they shut that door on you, it's not so funny.

It's just you, on your own.

And no matter how big you are, how hard you think you are,

there's always someone bigger, harder, nastier on the inside.

Worse, he could even fancy you.

Or you. Or you.

Or you.

And all you've got to protect yourself with

is a toothbrush.

A lousy toothbrush.

So if you think jail's an easy way out, don't.

'Cause it ain't.

- Mr. Simson. - Oh!

First time you ever called me that.

Thanks for coming in, Luke.

I'm really pleased you've turned a corner.

Yeah. See you around.

I'll be honest... When he went to jail

I gave a little prayer of thanks

that I'd never have to see him again.

- And now? - Unrecognizable.

Tell me, after he was expelled,

did his father have anything to say?

Oh, a lot. Most of it unpleasant.

We had to call the police.

Do you really think he's reformed?

Luke, I mean.

My evidence helped put him away. You saw he just shook my hand.

- Mm. - Anyway, good to meet you.

- Bye-bye. - Bye.

You just want to have another go at his dad.

Must be the masochist in me.

Do you really believe that Ricky Hanson

burned down this school and let his son take the rap for it?

He killed his brother.

That was never proved, Jack.

Here we are. This is it.

- Lysette Perry? - Ohh.

What is that smell? It's disgusting.

Oh, no, sorry. I know what it is.

You got to be coppers, right?

We're not policemen, as such.

Just ask what you want to ask

and shut the door on your way out.

We're here about your ex-boyfriend, Luke Hanson.

He's not my ex-boyfriend.

He's a worthless piece of crap.

Well, you were quite close, then?

He don't want nothing to do with me.

I don't want nothing to do with him.

At his trial, you were done

for attempting to pervert the course of justice

by giving him a false alibi.

It's what you do when you love someone, isn't it?

Just out of interest,

where were you on the night of the fire?

With my mum.

That's how you knew I was lying.

Oh, you looking at my tits now?

If I am, it's only because

that's obviously where your brains are.

Ha ha. That's funny.

Finished?

Look, a man nearly died in that fire.

You don't seem very bothered.

I'm not.

Can we get out of here, please?

Yeah, well, tell Luke

that I'm seeing someone else now, won't you?

Someone older. More mature.

In fact, you can tell him I hope he gets cancer.

After going out with her,

it would probably come as a relief.

Ah, at least he's got a nice view.

Gary Kendal?

I'm thinking of making it my Christian name.

Sorry?

Pause. Pause Kendal.

That's what most people do first time they meet me.

Hope you don't mind mugs. I can't stretch to saucers.

- Thank you. - That's fine.

I'm sorry.

You weren't there, were you?

Eh?

So, he didn't do it, then?

Hanson?

Luke? Apparently not.

You know him?

Who didn't? Little sod.

Suppose he's a big one now.

No, no, no. He's reformed.

Oh, I'm glad.

That makes two of us, then.

"Re-formed," get it?

What do you remember about the night of the fire?

Uh, it was very hot.

Not much.

Saturday night, I used to walk round the school.

Check the grounds.

Police tried to talk to me at the time.

Ask me who'd done it.

I was too ill.

All I can remember

is lying there in bandages for four months,

not working.

Haven't worked since.

Didn't you get any compensation?

Oh, yeah. I retired to the south of France on it.

It's gone.

All I get now is invalidity benefit.

With a view.

As it wasn't Luke Hanson,

do you have any idea who it might have been?

I wish I did.

If you find out, do tell me

because I should like to meet them.

Face-to-face.

Well, we can eliminate Lysette Perry

because her true false alibi

proves she couldn't have set the fire.

She has trouble lighting a fag.

It could have just been an angry pupil.

Well, a lot of research

links arsonists with sexual deviancy.

You know, psychosis, psychopaths.

Ricky Hanson's middle name.

Right.

And this fire-raiser is completely indifferent

to hurting people.

So, Gerry, starting tomorrow,

trace all known arsonists south of the river at the time.

Brian, the fire started near the sports hall,

and apparently, there was some sort of toy fair going on,

so tomorrow, you and I will go back to the school,

ask them about that plus any other problem kids

they had at the time.

Jack?

I'll go and see the head of the tribe.

So we have a full night of racing here at Leytonstone

for you tonight.

The first race coming up in a couple of minutes' time...

Who'd you want, then?

- Frieda. - No chance.

Hello, Ricky.

Blimey.

You're a bit lost, in't ya, Jack?

The cemetery's that way.

I'm exactly where I want to be. At work.

Really?

I heard you had to give up the day job.

Sickness in the family or something, weren't it?

Talking about family, I spoke to your boy yesterday.

That fire he got sent down for.

Seems he didn't do it.

Was too busy nicking cigarettes.

You've lost me, Jack. What son?

You wouldn't know anything about that fire?

Luscombe School?

What happened to that blonde bird

you used to knock about with?

What was it? Sheila?

Sandra. That was it.

She still around? I liked her.

She liked your Luke. Thought he was straight.

Unlike the pond life that spawned him.

You know, you really should take it easy, Jack.

Rest. Put your feet up.

Go home to the wife.

Oh, forgot.

You ain't got one.

My only regret about leaving the job, Ricky.

You.

Well, what goes around comes around.

How about that?

My dog's come in at 5 to 1.

That's the difference between me and you, Jack.

I'm a winner.

Say hello to Blondie.

♪ Doo dee dee doo doo ♪

Yes?

Are you Gerry Standing?

Who wants to know?

Emily Driscoll.

Oh, yeah?

I think you might be my dad.

- Did you know... - Probably.

Arsonists are among the most highly intelligent of criminals.

Well, why do they get caught, then?

Well, they don't, quite often.

Ours wasn't, was he?

Average IQ of 140.

That doesn't sound very average.

No.

Did you know they also tend to be loners, obsessives,

with few friends and an inability to form

meaningful, long-term relationships?

- What? - Nothing.

In '76, my mum moved to Woking, where I was born.

She wouldn't ever tell me who my dad was.

Then, last year, she got cancer.

She died two months ago.

Oh, well, I'm sorry.

No, it's all right.

I'm okay, really.

It's just that, at the time, I said it wasn't fair if she went

and I didn't know.

So she gave me this...

and told me your name.

Oh, blimey. This is your mum?

Patricia Driscoll.

You do remember her, don't you?

Yeah, of course, I do. Yeah.

Ah, she was lovely.

Why didn't she tell me?

She said she couldn't trust you.

- She said you were hopeless. - Hopeless?

Unreliable.

She said that she loved you,

but she couldn't take the risk of staying with you.

Yeah, but I am reliable.

And she said look at the hair.

Yeah.

Oh, well, so, what do we do now?

I mean, what do you want?

I don't know.

Don't want anything.

Except a dad, I suppose.

I haven't got any other relatives.

Sorry. This must be a bit of a shock.

Yeah, yeah.

Yeah, it is, actually. A bit.

Look, I don't want to cause you any trouble.

You probably need some time to think about all of this.

There's my mobile number.

Oh, right.

You going? Hold on, hold on.

It's all right. I'll see myself out.

I was deputy head when Luke was permanently excluded.

The week before the fire,

he drove right across the playing fields in a red VW Golf.

Evening of the fire, I spotted an identical car

parked outside the school gates.

Come the trial, that and the false alibi, Luke's history.

Arsonists often suffer from severe learning difficulties,

Asperger's, Tourette's.

Did you have anyone at the school like that?

We had problem children, certainly.

Some of them very difficult to teach.

Any possibility that one of them could have been involved?

No, in my experience,

children threaten to do all sorts of things,

but they never happen.

Now, the fire started near the sports hall,

and, apparently, there was some sort of toy fair there

that weekend.

Not a toy fair. A convention.

Convention?

War-games convention.

War-games convention?

Oh, look.

Oh, you mean toy soldiers.

No, these are not toy soldiers.

- They're... - Miniature figurines.

Bosniak Lancers?

Yeah. Prussian. Seven Year War.

Frederick the Great.

- What, they 28 mill? - Mm-hmm.

Oh, fantastic!

These are all post-1762. Where did you get them?

So, what do you do?

Do you play with them? Battles and things?

No, no, no, not play. Reenact.

You reenact major historical military engagements

but to scale.

My hobby.

Which is why I made the hall available to the organizer.

Who was the organizer?

Victor Pritchard.

Victor Pritchard?

Would you want to speak to him?

I probably have a number somewhere.

Oh, my God, would I.

Yes, we would. Thank you.

- Victor Pritchard. - Yes, Brian.

Due cappuccino.

Thanks.

Oh, sorry. Do you take sugar?

Yeah.

- Huh. - What?

That's exactly how much I take.

Look, I'm glad you could come.

I thought we ought to try and find out

a little bit more about each other.

I mean, are you married, single? Oh, no, no. No.

You said you didn't have any relatives.

I was married. I'm divorced.

Ditto.

Pressures of the job.

Tell me about it.

- I've had three. - Ooh.

So, what do you do for a living?

I'm a police officer.

What? Uniform?

Plainclothes. C.I.D.

What did he call me?

Blondie.

That was the name of Hitler's dog.

Blondie.

But then again, you are blond.

Or do you put stuff on?

Anyway, we have something a bit more concrete.

Well, it's actually more an amalgam of lead, tin, and nickel

to be precise.

What?

Soldiers. The sort they use for war gaming.

Yeah, the weekend the school burned down,

there was a war-games convention in the sports hall.

Ancients, Medieval, Napoleonics.

Where the hell have you been? It's half past 1:00.

Yeah, I know. I'm sorry, but I needed some personal time.

And get this, it was organized by Victor Pritchard.

- Who? - Victor Pritchard.

He is Mr. Table-Top Miniature Battle Re-enactment.

And what's that when it's at home?

- Blimey. This is... - Fantastic.

Yes!

Victor Pritchard?

Take 'em off. They're dead.

All of 'em. Dead. Dead!

Victory!

A whole regiment of chasseur à cheval.

What a waste.

Victor Pritchard?

Oi, Napoleon?

So, the fire destroyed all the toy soldiers,

including yours?

- Toys? - She doesn't understand.

But the insurers paid out a lot of money for those figurines.

To you, especially.

I lost every single army I had.

Sassanids, Seleucids, Varangian.

And that's just the first millennium.

Do you have any idea what it costs

just to paint an army of Nikephorian Byzantine?

I can't even spell it.

So, the insurance didn't cover it, then?

Not even close.

No one in their right mind

would commit such an act of wanton destruction.

So, you don't think it could have been a war gamer?

I never said that.

When we talked to the police about the fire,

we were told it was that boy who did it.

Now you're saying he didn't,

I've a very good idea who it was.

Go on.

Someone with a grudge.

Someone who didn't lose any of their soldiers.

John Hawkwood.

That's not his real name, obviously. It's a...

Nom de guerre?

Hawkwood... famous English soldier in Renaissance Italy.

First he fought for Pisa,

but then he switched allegiance to the Florentines.

But his most famous victory...

Brian, please. You're beginning to frighten me.

His real name is Nigel Midgely.

Yes, well, no wonder he changed it.

You don't get many Nigel the Greats, do you?

Midgely was a bad loser, very bad.

He was kicked out of the tournament that Saturday night

and took all his armies with him.

I was head judge, so he blamed me.

Said he'd get his own back.

By burning down a school?

You have to understand... My armies were better than his.

Can I ask you, do you dress up in military uniform as well?

Don't be ridiculous.

That's reenactment.

Totally childish.

Vengeful war gamers?

Arson's the work of a psycho, not an anorak.

Don't know about you,

but I thought that lot were bloody terrifying.

Or is it a boy thing?

You all right, Gerry?

Yeah, I was given an old photograph with me on it,

and I seem to have lost it.

- Ah! - Sorry.

I was asking 'round about Midgely.

I've got a last known.

Jack? Hang on, wait.

I know where you're going, and I'm coming with you.

That's amazing.

And here's me thinking

I'm gonna have to go to bed on my own tonight.

Not while there are dogs on the street.

Don't blame me. It was Jack said you was easy.

And what sort of man

fails to take advantage of police intelligence?

What sort of man lets his son go down

and doesn't lift a finger to help?

Gary Kendal.

Nice. Just how I like my steak.

Your son doesn't think it's funny.

He thinks he'd like us to catch whoever did this.

I already told the tailor's dummy there, I don't have a son.

That's very strange

'cause you did a lot of screaming and shouting

when a boy called Hanson was expelled from there.

Is that what you call motive?

No wonder they put you out to grass.

You know, if there's one thing I've missed, Ricky,

it's crossing swords with you.

You ain't got no sword.

All you got's a bunch of bleeding candles

in your back garden, you weirdo.

Why are you so pissed off with your son, Ricky?

You got some front.

Who do you think you are, coming in here,

talking to me like I was nothing?

You want to know where I was that night?

Talk to your mates in the flying squad.

Yeah, that's right.

Oh, don't worry. You can't miss 'em.

Big, ugly, and stupid, just like you.

June? Yeah, June?

Over here, love. What do you want?

What do I do?

I mean, imagine telling the women in a family like mine,

"There's another one."

- How do you know she's yours? - Oh, she's mine all right.

No, there are too many similarities.

She even takes the same amount of sugar in her coffee.

- Oh, well, that proves it, then. - Brian, she's a copper.

Trust me, I know. It's genetic.

It's cobblers.

You don't know anything. She could be anybody.

I'm telling you, she's mine. She's really lovely, too.

I had a photo of me with her mum,

but I seem to have lost it.

Get a DNA. Then you'll know.

I can't do that.

Why not?

Haven't I let her down enough already?

All those years not being there?

No, show a complete lack of trust.

The ultimate betrayal.

I'll phone Tower Bridge in the morning

to see if he's lying about the Sweeney.

He is.

Jack, you're always telling me never to get too involved.

Maybe he's just trying to wind us up.

In which case, don't bite, yeah?

All right. Good night.

Good night.

Thank you.

I don't think any of us

has managed to build ourselves back up

to the point at which we were before.

Your next RV is at 8:30 local time

at the restaurant Hamadi, 2 Rue de la Casbah, Tangier.

Do not discuss your mission with any other recruits.

Tell no one that you are here.

See ya.

- See you later, mate. - Bye.

Hello, babe.

Hello, doll.

And fire!

Yes.

And charge.

Hello, darling.

It's just an itch I have to scratch, Esther.

Be fair.

I haven't done it for years, have I?

Exactly.

And then we can buy that big bed.

That nice big bed, remember?

Plenty of room for rolling around.

- Ricky? - Stay there.

Where are you going?

Who taught you to tail people? Stevie Wonder?

Tell me... your boy's ex...

Were you comforting her before or after he went inside?

Listen, you used to waste a lot of time

bothering me in the past.

I'd have thought you'd learned your lesson last time.

Shut it!

What was all that about?

Don't you worry. It's all sorted.

Ah, yeah, forensics?

Yeah, it's Gerry Standing from UCOS.

I wonder if you've got any results for me.

No?

Okay, yeah. Thanks a lot. Bye.

What are you giggling at?

New screen saver. Come have a look.

Where did you get that?!

Hold on. That's...

Give it. Give it back.

Brian, I'm warning you. That is mine.

Listen, you! That is private and very personal!

Oi!

Sorry, I was under the impression we were investigating

a case of arson and attempted murder.

And I suppose you're gonna tell me that is research.

In which case,

have either of you got anything interesting to say?

No. Didn't think so.

Give us it.

Don't start, Brian!

Yeah. Pullman.

Flying squad?

Gerry, Brian, I think we're onto something.

Sorry, yeah, yeah.

I left a message for you last night about Ricky Hanson.

How long?

Oh, right.

Okay.

Yeah, cheers. Bye.

Ricky Hanson is screwing Lysette Perry.

So?

He's screwing his son's ex-girlfriend.

What, Ricky Hanson set a fire

in order to have his son put away

so he could get his leg over a brainless chav?

Sandra, you know him as well as I do.

He could have set fire to the school...

No, no, he couldn't

because he was under 24-hour observation by the flying squad

five days either side of the blaze.

They just rang to tell me.

He warned me off last night.

He said he thought I'd learned my lesson the last time.

Now, what do you think that means?

I think it means you've got to stop your obsession with him.

It was a warning.

He may not have lit that fire himself,

but you don't know he didn't order it.

No. I don't know the pope didn't either. Give me a break!

Now, what about the arsonists? Have you traced them yet?

No, no, I haven't had time yet.

You've had three days!

What's the matter with you all?

Are you inefficient or bone-idle or simply stopped caring?

When are you going?

When is it? Your promotions board?

Does this make it easier?

Convincing yourself that we're not up to it anymore?

Is that what you're doing?

You leaving?

Well, yeah, I've had a chance to...

Oh, come on, you know as well as I do how difficult it is.

How many women chief superintendents are there?

It's my career.

When are you going?

Actually, no.

You don't ask me what I'm doing. I ask you.

She can't do that. She can't just go.

She is.

But I have to have continuity.

I can't function without...

She doesn't care about us.

Brian, she didn't say that.

She doesn't, Gerry.

It's not that she doesn't care.

She doesn't care about us.

Hold on. Where are you going, Brian?

Wait! Oi!

Well, not you and all, Jack.

Unfinished business.

Oh, bollocks.

Morning. Can I help you?

Good morning. I'm Detective Superintendent Pullman.

I'm looking for Nigel Midgely.

Nigel?

It's the police.

Hi. I'm D.S. Pullman

from the Unsolved Crime and Open Case Squad.

We're reinvestigating a fire

that took place at Luscombe School 9 years ago.

- Reinvestigating? - Yeah.

The boy who was convicted we now know couldn't have done it.

So, why do you want to talk to me?

I understand that you were

thrown out of the war-game tournament

that was taking place there at the time

and you weren't too happy about it.

- Who told you this? - Is this Victor?

This is Victor. The little git.

You threatened to "Get your own back."

Is that true?

When you see Victor, will you tell him that this is pathetic?

Yes. Yes, I did say that.

Because Victor had me thrown out of that tournament

out of pure jealousy.

- Jealousy? - I'd beaten him

the last three Ancients competitions we were in.

But you were thrown out.

I didn't care.

'Cause I'd already got my own back.

Rosanne.

Victor's my ex-husband.

That's what this is all about.

You left Victor for Nigel?

Wouldn't you?

Where were you at the time of the fire?

He was with me. That was the day I left Victor.

Where?

We stayed in a hotel.

Does it have a name?

Yes. The Viceroy in Kensington.

Nigel can't do dates or places.

He has a form of Asperger's.

It's mild.

Okay. Thank you.

Standing. UCOS.

Hi. It's me. How's it going?

Yeah, I'm right on top of it.

Good. Can you put Brian on, please?

Uh, no, I can't. He's just stepped out.

All right. Jack, then.

Uh, no. He's gone to the loo.

Hm. Okay. It'll have to be you.

Will you phone the Viceroy Hotel in Kensington?

Yeah, hold on, hold on.

The Viceroy Hotel. Yeah?

And find out if a Nigel Midgely and friend

stayed there the night of the fire.

Oh, and also check under the name of Hawkwood as well.

Yeah, will do.

Gerry, listen, um, could you...

Could you say to Brian and Jack...

Could you just say sorry?

I should have...

We'll talk when I get back, okay?

Yeah, yeah. I'll, um...

Yeah, I'll tell 'em when I see 'em.

Yeah. Bye.

Ten years ago, how old were you?

16.

I came 'round to your house.

Yeah, I remember.

Your uncle Jim had disappeared.

He was presumed dead, although the body was never found.

Word was he'd messed up on a drug deal... a fairly big one...

And your dad was not too impressed,

so I really fancied him for it.

What, my dad?

Oh, yes, he did it all right, and I let him know I knew it.

Well, why didn't you nick him then?

I might have done, only my wife was run over.

Hit-and-run.

I jacked in the job so I could look after her.

A couple of years, she died.

Your dad ever mention anything like that?

What do you mean?

Hit-and-run. Her name was Mary.

No.

I don't believe you.

Look, believe what you like. I'm telling you no.

Come on, you don't owe your dad any loyalty.

He doesn't have any for you.

Maybe, but he's still my dad.

Yeah, like he's still giving Lysette Perry one,

as he was nine years ago.

Oh, come on, now, you're not all that dim.

Why do you think her alibi was so crap?

Oh, hang on. You do know.

You're not that dim after all, are you?

Shut up.

No, no, just a minute. Let me work this one out.

Your dad told you to take the fall for the fire

and not the fags

because the fags would have implicated him.

But he said you'd be okay

because Lysette would give you a cast-iron alibi.

Shut up.

But he stitched you up, didn't he, eh?

Well, you were a bit of a liability, weren't you?

Little loudmouth, expelled from school, arsonist.

You've got to hand it to the old man, though, eh?

Not many men of his age can screw the son and the girlfriend

and both at the same time.

Come on, get up! Get up!

Hang on, hang on.

What am I giving away here, 40 years and two stone?

No, I think I'll stay where I am.

I don't know nothing about your hit-and-run.

You understand me?

- Get out. - Going straight?

You're about as straight as the Circle Line.

Brian, I'm back!

Brian!

Flippin' soldiers.

Hmm.

Grenadier Dragoons.

Elite unit.

Move at double-speed.

And they haven't even fired yet, so...

Yes.

Very good.

Have a go.

I will.

Excuse me.

This is great.

Hi, Sandra. How's it going?

Good. I think I've identified a possible suspect.

He has a behavioral disorder which...

No, I meant the other thing.

Oh, yeah. I'm seeing them on Monday.

It'll take all day, though.

Good. And do the chaps know?

Yeah, they do.

Well, look, they'll miss you when you're gone, I'm sure.

But they'll be very pleased for you as well.

Good news on the case.

Hopefully this will speed things up.

Thanks.

No!

You're kidding me.

What, you saw all this?

Oh, man, that is fantastic.

Well, thank you so much. You've really cheered me up.

Thank you.

What was that, then?

The Viceroy Hotel.

On the night of the fire,

the police were called to a disturbance.

A Nigel Midgely

and Mr. and Mrs. Victor Pritchard

were taken into custody

as a result of Victor bursting into the King Henry Suite

and finding his wife stark-naked,

tied to the four-poster bed.

Cue massive punch-up.

They were taken to the cells

and released the next morning with no charge.

Where are the other two?

Eh, lunch.

Late lunch.

Who are Rodney Prentiss and Emily Prentiss?

Which case are they from?

"Comparative DNA analysis of wine glass

and Rodney Prentiss's blood sample

confirms that Rodney Prentiss

is not the putative father of Emily."

I'm still waiting.

Not the father?

They're not from a case, are they? You did this.

Great.

Have you any idea what would happen if Strickland found out?

Did you do this on purpose?

What?

Did you do it deliberately

just because I applied for promotion?

No.

I am Rodney Prentiss,

and, obviously, Emily isn't my daughter.

Emily's a girl... Well, no, a woman...

I never knew existed.

Then suddenly she pitches up out of the blue

and says she thinks she's my daughter.

I'd known her mother years before

and, well, I thought...

No, I was convinced that she was.

Why didn't you use a commercial company to run these tests?

Oh, they take weeks.

Patricia... That's Emily's mum... she died of cancer,

and Emily hasn't got anyone else.

No family. Nothing.

Just me.

Least that's what I thought.

Okay, Gerry, you go and see her

and just do what you have to do.

I'm sorry, Sandra.

Thank you.

I surrender.

Bloody hell, we've won.

Bloody hell, you have.

Next!

I think you'll find that's me.

Let battle commence.

You been shopping?

How did you get in here?

You left the back door open.

No, I didn't.

You'd better call the police, then.

You'd better get out of here.

Or?

Ricky told me you were a nutter.

He should know.

Hey!

You parked the car outside the school.

Luke's car.

Ow! Get off me. You're mad.

Now, what did Ricky give you for doing that?

Does it pay well being a drug dealer's whore?

Now, Ricky told me all about you,

how much of a saddo you are.

Until he gets bored with you.

Well, he ain't bored yet, is he?

Maybe, but it's only a matter of time

till you do something to piss him off.

His brother pissed him off, and he's somewhere under the M25.

And look what happened to Luke when he was a naughty boy.

He deserved it.

What about Gary Kendal? Did he deserve it?

That piss-head? He probably started it himself!

Oh, oh, you didn't know Kendal was a drunk?

Oh, right. That's right. Ricky told me you're a shit copper.

Yeah, said you were a right big loser.

Such a loser you even managed to lose your wife.

And such a crap detective

that you couldn't even catch the killer

when he was staring you right in the face!

A full and exhaustive trace of all known arsonists

in the Greater London area at the time

excludes any possibility...

D.S. Pullman.

Why is there no mention in the case file

of Kendal being a drunk?

Jack?

I think you should find out.

Jack?

Ah! There you are.

Oh.

Look, is this okay? Do you like Greek food?

- Yeah, great. Lovely. - Sit down.

No, it's good here.

We had a birthday bash here the other day from work, you know?

Thought you said you'd retired?

Well, no, semi.

I work for UCOS, which is Unsolved Crime...

Yeah, I know all about it.

Anyway, it gives me all sorts of ways to find out things.

Yeah, look, I thought we'd start with some meze.

Is that all right? It's a sort of, uh...

- Starter. - That's right!

Lovely. Great.

Okay, we'll just have some meze for two, thanks.

So you were talking about finding out things.

You meant about me.

Well, yeah.

I mean, when someone turns up out of the blue,

someone you never knew existed, it's, uh...

It's a pretty good idea to find out if what they're saying is...

- True. - Yeah.

I was born to do this.

It's what I was put here for.

Yeah, well,

let's see how you like a whiff of grapeshot.

Fire!

Two. Hard lines. Your powder's damp.

Right.

I shall charge.

Twice in three days.

People will talk.

People already have.

You didn't tell me you were a drinker.

You didn't tell me you were a cow.

You didn't tell the original investigating team either.

Bit difficult with my lips fused together.

Were you drinking on the night of the fire?

Maybe.

You said that you remember everything before the fire,

but not the fire itself.

Yeah.

Well, Gary, is it possible that you lit that fire,

drunk, not knowing what you were doing?

Is it possible that you started it

and that ever since, you've just blanked it out?

Gary, is it possible?

I tried to beat the flames out.

I don't remember...

It's just what I was told by the doctors

and the nurses on the ward.

All I remember is having a drink,

then walking 'round the school just doing my job,

checking everything was okay.

Nobody.

There's nothing around.

And then, I went back in the school.

And then... then...

then I don't remember.

You went 'round the school outside?

Yes, I said. Just leave me alone.

And there was nothing around?

No! I told you.

What about cars?

What?

Did you see any cars parked anywhere?

A red car?

No. There weren't any cars.

Are you sure, Gary? Are you positive?

Yes, I'm sure.

I keep telling you. I remember everything before the fire,

before everything changed.

What red car?

Artillery.

Here we go.

Come on.

Fire!

Fire!

Fire!

Less than 50%.

I think you need a morale check.

Yes, yes, yes. I know.

I know you know.

Yes!

We did it!

Yes?

Hello, it's Detective Superintendent Pullman.

I got your number from the school.

I was wondering if I could come and talk to you.

It's about the fire.

I'm right in the middle of something just now.

It is important.

Well, I can see you at the school in half an hour.

He should never have pushed through the middle like that.

I'm coming on both sides. Why'd he push through the middle?

Cor blimey, you're on time for a change.

Bloody cheek.

And how's the most handsome boy in the world, eh, eh?

Taking after the female side of the family, obviously.

Did you say everybody's coming?

Yep.

All the wives, all the kids, all en route.

Why? It's not Sunday.

No.

This is my first wife, Carole, my daughter Paula.

This is my grandson, Gerry Junior.

And this is Emily.

My eldest daughter.

Please take a seat.

Oh, I see you've been warring.

War gaming.

I've been speaking to Gary Kendal.

Really?

For a while, I thought he may be responsible for the fire.

But now I think it's highly unlikely.

In fact, I'm convinced he wasn't.

Oh, well, I'm glad, given what he's been through.

So, in the light of that,

I thought I'd come and let you know

where we stand in the investigation.

Right.

Luke has been discounted, as have all the other pupils.

Ditto the war gamers.

Luke's ex-girlfriend is also out of the frame.

I've even considered

whether Luke's father may have been involved.

Well, I did wonder whether that was a possibility.

He has a cast-iron alibi.

I see.

So, in one sense, it makes my job all the more difficult.

But then the optimistic part of me says

I'm simply narrowing down the range of suspects.

You're an optimist?

Mr. Simson, I spend most of my days working

with three older men.

I have to be.

They've been distracted,

and I've allowed myself to be distracted, too.

Otherwise, I would have focused on the obvious question.

Which is?

What's the point?

I'm not with you.

An arsonist sets a fire

to fulfill something within himself.

Sexual, psychological, whatever.

Anyone else does it for an external purpose.

For gain.

Gain?

No one stood to gain from the burning of the old school.

Well, you could say that the school gained.

I've been looking at your Website.

"Although the former site had its attractions,

no one could deny its failings.

It had deteriorated, both in its fabric

and its ability to coax the best from its pupils."

Well, that's certainly true.

"We did have problem children.

Some very difficult to teach," you said.

What the Ofsted report said was you were failing.

The winner of the Age of Reason competition,

with a record score...

And, may I say, a record display of élan...

Is Mr. Brian Lane.

There's also Luke's red car.

Or rather, there isn't.

You lied.

Me?

Gary Kendal walked the entire perimeter of the school.

There were no cars outside, red or otherwise.

So, that's your thesis?

Kendal, a drunk, says no, ergo I lied?

I'm a police officer, Mr. Simson.

In the absence of evidence, having eliminated all suspects,

I have to look at what's left.

I keep getting you.

So, what?

I burned down Luscombe in the hope of being the next head?

I don't know. I was hoping you'd tell me.

What I do know is you knew Luke, and you loathed him.

Something we have in common, I believe.

You were willing to give evidence at his trial.

Evidence you knew no one would doubt,

coming, as it did, from a deputy head.

I was happy to do it.

It's immensely brave,

testifying against a dangerous criminal's son.

In my experience, even other criminals would be anxious

at the prospect.

Perhaps I'm unusual

in having a heightened sense of social responsibility.

No, you're unusual in being happy about it,

which either makes you reckless

or you have an underdeveloped sense of personal danger.

Courage, I would call it.

In a war maybe.

Ordinarily, people who behave like that

tend to be labeled sociopaths.

And what is the consequence of what happened?

Can we consider that for a moment?

A boy, a hopeless boy, goes to jail and is reformed.

A school, a hopeless school, burns down and is rebuilt.

And all its hopeless former pupils

are scattered to better schools.

Better built, better equipped, better staffed.

Just like this one.

Now, who can honestly say that what happened

wasn't for the best?

Gary Kendal.

Kendal burned because he was a drunk.

The old school was a disaster. It was out of control.

It was becoming a factory for future criminals,

murderers even.

I stopped that.

I probably saved lives.

Yes, I burned down Luscombe.

It was the best thing I ever did.

Is that a confession?

Only between us, I'm afraid.

As I say, I'm a police officer.

But my colleagues are of a different generation,

different standards,

sometimes using questionable methods which I now realize,

in some cases, may be justified.

Yes, I burned down Luscombe.

It was the best thing I ever did.

Hmm. You know as well as I do, you can't use that.

It's useless.

Nah, you're right.

But now I know who the guilty party is,

I can start all over again working to that end.

I'll get you.

And when I do, you'll go down.

That's a shame.

Up till then, you could have made bail.

Oh, Gerry, I'm sorry to bother you.

- Have you seen Brian? - No.

I've been looking for him.

He hasn't had his medication.

And his soldiers are gone.

Soldiers?

His little soldiers that he used to take when he went war gaming.

When he used to drink.

- Listen, why don't you come in? - No, you're obviously busy.

No, no, I'm sorry. I'd better get back anyway.

I'm sorry to bother you.

Try not to worry, and I'll track him down.

I'll let you know, okay?

Sorry, Sandra. I didn't mean to startle you.

- It's okay. - I heard about the arrest.

They said he went mad, attacked you.

- Well, he is mad. - But you're all right?

Yeah, I'm fine.

You really shouldn't have gone there alone.

No, no, I realize that.

I know it's your last case,

but you really don't have to solve it single-handedly.

But it was a great job, well done.

Actually, I don't think it is my last case.

I mean, I know it isn't.

I've decided not to go on Monday.

It wouldn't be for the right reasons,

and I realize it's not what I want

'cause I already have what I want.

Job satisfaction means more to me than status.

If that's all right.

If it's not a problem.

Of course.

- Of course it's a problem? - No, no, no.

Of course it's not a problem. It's a lovely decision.

Excuse me. Brian's gone missing.

Brian's always missing.

No, Esther's worried.

I mean, really worried.

Apparently, he's taken his soldiers.

He used to go war gaming.

But when he did, he drank.

So, what's this "lovely decision"?

Oh, um...

I'm staying.

I mean, in much the same way,

if I was the leader of a Roman army fighting barbarians,

I might apply Lucius Accius' maxim.

Oderint...

Oderint dum metuant.

Oh, not again.

What is this, "Return of the Living Dead"?

I spoke to your tart earlier today.

Really? Which one?

Lysette.

You dirty devil.

She let something slip.

Come on, Jack. Sure it weren't you?

Mary. My Mary.

You ran her down.

You did it.

You know, you really are one sad old man.

Maybe.

But unlike you, I won't be growing older in prison.

Yeah, well, even prison's better

than bouncing off a car bonnet at 70 mile an hour.

You should have seen her handbag fly, Jack.

Went nearly as far as she did.

Waitrose bags all over the manner.

I remember there was lasagna.

Like a bit of Italian, do you, Jack?

She must have bought it special.

Shame.

No supper for you that night, eh, Jack?

You thought you were so great, didn't you?

You thought you was invincible.

You tosser.

You think I spent all my time figuring out a way to kill you?

But then, that's your trouble, innit, Jack?

You think a bit too much of yourself.

Worked a treat.

Like a dream.

Right, here we go.

No, no. I don't drink.

It's not drink. It's champagne.

Brian the Great!

Brian!

- Brian! - Brian!

- Brian! - Come on!

- Brian! - Brian!

You take one sip of that, I'll knock you spark out!

This man is an alcoholic,

and you're a bunch of bloody idiots!

- Come on. - Me cup.

Excuse me.

You don't care about me. You only care about yourself.

She's not leaving.

- What? - I'm not going for the board.

Why not?

Because I'm a bloody idiot as well.

Christ!

It's a disease. Go on.

Does Jack know?

No. We're gonna go and tell him.

- Where is he? - I don't know.

Well, the last thing he said to me

was that he had some unfinished business.

♪ It's all right, doing fine ♪

♪ Doesn't really matter if the sun don't shine ♪

♪ It's all right, I say it's okay ♪

♪ We're getting to the end of the day ♪

♪ High tech, low tech, take your pick ♪

♪ 'Cause you can't teach an old dog a brand-new trick ♪

♪ I don't care what anybody says ♪

Subtitling made possible by Acorn Media