Original subtitles

There was a...

Right.

End of overture, chorus in place.

What? The Peter Matthews funeral show. It's about to begin.

Those his brothers?

Must be, yes.

The one on the left, that's Harry.

He's done time.

They're all criminals.

The whole Matthews family.

You're going to have to go and see Kenny Stone, Morse.

Kenny's evidence was A1.

I guarantee that personally.

Before anybody else does, I mean.

We're the only ones that know where he is.

It's always the same with the supergrass. No corroboration.

And this new evidence.

Peter Matthews was driving that car, not... What's his name supposed to be?

Well, it's the first place an inquiry will look.

Ask to...

taunty barristers peeking through my files.

There won't be an inquiry.

Will there?

I lost one of my best policemen on that raid.

And you lost a good friend.

If those bastards can shake the Matthews conviction, they'll say the whole lot

are unsafe.

And the Abingdon gang will be out of jail.

You like that?

Peter Matthews may not have fired the gun. No one ever said that he did, but

was there when it was fired. That's what matters.

Like Tommy bloody Thompson.

He should have got 15 years up to.

Yes, well... The higher up the criminal scale, the less the evidence sticks.

And when you get to the top, nothing sticks at all.

What the hell?

Well, I am damned.

Bernie Waters.

Kenny Stone never mentioned Bernie Waters. Never once.

And they didn't take anything.

Not that I can see.

Nothing to take, for God's sake. Except the petty cash, and he left that.

The hell am I going to get a paper out by Friday?

Must be kids.

And that's someone... You haven't been running exposés?

Corrupt counsellors, that sort of thing?

I'll ask a set.

I'm sorry, I'm afraid I don't. I'll put you on our free subscription list.

That is, if I can find it.

You know, I don't usually indulge myself in editorial, Sergeant.

But next week you wait.

These juvenile delinquents, they won't know what's hit them.

Where the hell have you been?

Firehurst. Local paper turned over.

Serves them right. Get a press.

Look at this, Lewis.

Oh, isn't that the boogie? Bernie Watered?

Yes.

Now, why do you think he's acting like an usher at a wedding?

You see that wreath there?

The only one with no name.

Now, who do you think sent that?

Larry Nelson, of course.

You think Waters could be working for Nelson? He's got a big staff, our Larry.

He doesn't even have to blow his own nose.

I've just had the Chief Constable on the phone, Mort.

Inquiry.

Under Mr Justice Rosen.

Well, they were guilty, weren't they? Of course they were.

With everyone up in arms against prison conditions and young Matthews dead with

AIDS.

You know what they say about funerals, Lewis?

There's always someone who catches his death.

Go and pack your bag. What?

Kenny Stone's confession.

They always hold something back.

We have to link Larry Nelson with that red.

Where did he set the donor?

Hereford.

Not overnight, surely?

Hereford, New South Wales.

Oh, come on, sir. I've got my leave coming up.

Canceled. But we're going to Gateshead to see the wife's mother.

See her at Christmas instead.

We're going to my mum's for Christmas.

You have too many relatives, Lewis. The policeman ought to be free.

What do you want me there for anyway?

You're only going to interview him.

I can't carry my own bag, can I?

I'm a chief inspector.

Matter of fact, I've got cousins in New South Wales.

If Australia hadn't existed, we'd have had to invent it.

But it did exist.

I'm talking about human nature, Lewis.

The need to believe in a heaven on earth.

Somewhere you can put your past behind you and start again.

Think of the convicts coming over those mountains with their tickets of leave

and seeing this.

The promised land.

I'll have to clear it first.

You'll never make a good detective, Lewis. You're too literal.

Kenny Stone must think you're God.

What?

Why, God gives out the promised land.

Like to the people of Israel.

What did they set him up as?

Some sort of mechanic, I think.

Then it's Mike Harding.

His name is Mike Harding, huh?

How much further to Hereford?

Four hours or so.

Time to change over, then.

You'll be pretty bloody grateful, Mike Harding.

The Garden of Eden, is this?

In that case, watch out for snakes.

And the super grass.

Get off.

I thought I'd picked the bloody thing.

What? The Rosenkavalier.

Playing at the Opera House on Saturday. I brought the tape so I could brush up

on him while we're driving across this godforsaken country.

I can't find it.

Never mind.

We'll find something else to listen to.

The money in my pocket, the sweetheart goes along there instead.

A million lonely miles behind, 50 more would be in debt.

I just keep on truckin' till I'm dead.

Whip down on the floor, little she is at the door.

Cops tryin' to bust me, but she knows that she can't trust me.

Rose clear ahead, so you just make up a bed. I'm coming home. Burn that rubbish

off, Lewis, for God's sake.

Oh, I like it.

It's the worst sort of bastardised, phony folk music.

Not Scots, not Irish, not even American.

It's Australian.

Good.

A million lonely miles behind, 50 more with me in bed.

I just keep on truckin' till I'm dead.

I need a drink.

Where is everyone?

Do Australians take fiestas or what?

There is a lot of Italians over here, I know that.

Oh, that there, that says it's a hotel.

Well, let's give it a try.

We're in town looking for an old friend of ours.

Mike Harding?

Another phone.

That's right, yeah.

Well, he'd usually be here for the cup.

But, uh, look, you could try his shop down the street.

He may be working.

Orange juice?

What's the matter with you?

They don't spell Australian beer with four Xs out of ignorance.

They mean what they say.

And light beer is an invention of the Prince of Darkness.

Just a thing on a day like this. Not too heavy.

And is that your idea of being inconspicuous?

Asking for Mike in a bar full of Australians?

I'm going to start somewhere.

God almighty.

Moment.

For a grass deer, old dear.

Those bloody public schoolboys in the High Commission.

And they're no jokes can kill.

Business looks good. All those waiting to be done.

Then why isn't he here doing them?

Must be a very law -abiding place.

He couldn't leave the Queen sitting out like that in Hereford, England.

Tim?

Mic about?

No, it seems not.

Thought the bastards might get back to work once the cup was over. Must have

for once.

You're new in town?

That's right.

Yeah, well, take my advice. Get your mower done in Cowra.

You wait for Mike Harding till your grass was hay.

Oh, get out of it.

You're from England?

That's right.

You like it here?

Nice grunt, wasn't it?

Yeah, for bushfires.

If you see Mike, tell him he just lost another customer.

See ya!

Is this place expecting a royal visit or what?

If it is, the Hardings must be Republican.

Not made much of a job of fading into the background, has he?

How many children's he got?

There were two when they left England.

Is Mr.

Harding in? Mike Harding?

No.

What about Mrs. Harding?

You just missed her. She had to go and see Gran.

Where's that?

Old people's home.

Go ahead.

Hello?

Dad!

Dad, where are you?

She's OK, I suppose.

No, she had to go and see Gran.

Somebody rang.

Are you coming home?

Well, when?

There's a bloke here who wants to talk to you.

Thanks.

Mike Morse.

Morse, Thames Valley.

How are you?

Mike?

He's coming all this way and he won't even talk to us. Not everyone would like

to understand his own voice.

I scared him, that's all.

He can't exactly have been expecting to hear from me.

And?

What the hell's been going on here?

Bess?

Bess?

Oh, Anne.

There's nothing you can do just at the moment.

Is she going to be all right?

We'll have to wait and see what the doctor says. I'm sure she'll be okay.

You go and have a cup of tea, and I'll come and get you, all right?

Has someone found out?

What?

About us.

Has someone discovered where we are?

No, no.

No one knows who doesn't have to.

How many is that?

Seven. Two of whom are in this room.

Then what's he doing here?

And who did this to my mother?

We're just two old friends from England come to look you up.

See how you're doing.

Fine.

We're doing fine.

Now go away.

Sugar? Who?

Please. Sorry.

You know, so long I've forgotten my manners.

All right.

Is your mother going to be okay?

This is the second one. She's never really got a speech back from the first.

My auntie had a stroke.

She lost her speech. She was right. There's rain in six months. It doesn't

here.

I'm sorry.

It's the heat.

I just can't come to terms with it somehow.

It leaves me... Not cold, surely.

...wrung out.

Kids out here, you know, they get worms.

You have to worm them.

Thought you'd forgotten all about her.

Never.

Am I going to issue air?

I hope not.

I just want a word with Mike, that's all.

Mike's gone fishing.

I don't remember him fishing in the old days, Anne.

No, it's new.

Come on.

Where's the river if it doesn't rain?

He took off suddenly last week.

Losing streak?

He was always too fond of the horses.

He's not fond of them, he loves them.

Do you know where he is, eh?

He's done it before.

Whenever there's trouble.

He just disappears.

Comes back eventually.

Does he owe any money?

Ten years and still no change.

Kenny Stone started as a stable lad, Lewis.

He was hoping to be a jockey, but someone stole the tea money from the

room. That wasn't Mike.

He'd have given anything to stay there.

You see, Lewis, how important it is to get the facts right.

One wrongful accusation could lead to a whole life of crime.

It was only of a petty crime with him.

There was nothing petty about the Abingdon bank raid, Anne.

Mike wasn't also ran, Mr Morton.

He was there because other people told him to be there. You know that as well

I do.

You're very loyal.

What else should I be?

When you got Mike to grass... We persuaded him, Anne.

You and me, together.

That this is what you wanted.

Yeah, well... You saved him from one sort of prison, but you condemned us

to another.

Sentence for life, that's what you gave us, Mr Morse.

A real old -fashioned marriage.

I slept with him and he slept with me.

Would you ever marry?

No.

You should try it.

Anne!

Could you come?

Excuse me.

Doesn't sound like much of a new life you gave her.

No.

Promised land full of promissory notes.

So you reckon she does know where he is?

Of course.

She's protecting him, as always.

Protecting him from what?

Himself.

Why should a woman like that waste her life on a man like him?

What do you reckon about this?

About what?

About who frightened the old lady.

I don't know.

Let's hope it's a coincidence.

Small place like this, the local police should have a pretty good idea.

Oh, that's not weaning.

What for?

Driving around Australia.

You can buy them second -hand.

Where are you going?

Just want to find out how much they go for.

Yeah, you buy them cheap in Sydney.

Don't spend a year driving all around. Look, it takes at least a year of time.

We haven't got a year, Lewis.

The Justice Rosenthal Inquiry starts next Monday week.

And when did you look in again?

Half three.

About. We're supposed to check him every hour.

I'm not really scared of Scott.

He? Well, no woman would... I mean, an old man... I think we both know who you

mean, Sal.

Did you see him round this afternoon?

What?

Mike. Mike Harding.

Mike? Well, no, I didn't mean that it was... You sure?

Listen, Scott, I didn't say... Well, did anyone come in between half two and

half three that you didn't know?

Watch carefully, Lewis.

A kangaroo cop leaping to the wrong conclusion.

She liked to keep those open to catch the breeze.

So Mike could have just walked straight in off the rail.

It wasn't Mike, I'm sure.

And what about these gentlemen?

See them walk in?

No.

Suspicious characters.

They drink orange juice.

Only when they're driving.

Glad to hear it.

Scott Humphreys, Hereford Police.

I hear you're friends of Mike and Anne's.

Word gets around pretty fast in Hereford. It's a small town.

Anyone drink an orange juice on Melbourne Cup Day?

See Mike this afternoon?

No. Pity. He's going to need a good alibi.

Do you mind me asking why you didn't tell the Hardings you were coming?

Well, we were just passing through and I remembered this is where Mike and Anne

lived. Well, you've got to be going a long way from anywhere to be passing

through Hereford, mate.

What are you fellows doing in Australia, anyway?

British Government Commission.

Looking at the way you fellows ranch cattle.

With the change of climate coming, the greenhouse effect, we think there'll be

lot more cattle ranching in Britain. Well, I hope you haven't bought that mad

cow's disease with you.

You think you bought that?

What do you think he thought we were, a policeman?

How is she?

I think not too good.

Was she recovered, do you think?

I don't know.

Where's Anne?

Did you visit us from England before? How long have you known them?

I don't know the younger one. More than ten years.

Is he the reason Mike's gone walkabout?

What?

What is he, Anne, an old flame or something?

If you only knew.

Knew what?

It makes sense to me your old flame turns up after ten years. For God's

Scott.

Come on, Anne.

Mike's mad at you and he takes it out on your mother. Don't be ridiculous.

Well, come and tell him, Mr Morse.

He thinks Mike's the one beat up my mother.

Mike? Not a violent type.

The opposite.

Oh, yeah?

Well, you should have seen what he did to the TAB at Martin's Creek the last

time he went AWOL.

TAB? It's like our batting shop. Well, he was very angry with himself for

so much.

Did your mother keep any money in her room?

I look after all the old people's valuables for them.

Jewellery?

Odessa rings, and she's still wearing those.

So, Mike knew there was nothing to take. What would he be looking for?

We're going to have to call in the days from Trumbull here.

Your mother's not too well. It's a serious offence.

They're going to want to talk to Mike, that's for sure. Well, we all want to

talk to him.

I need to get back. Can you give me a ride into town?

Of course.

Sash, will you call me?

Sure.

What do you want here?

Information. Mike told you everything he knew.

This is something he may not have known he knew.

I certainly didn't.

Someone turned up at a funeral recently.

Someone I wasn't expecting.

Someone who might just leave me to Larry Nelson.

For God's sake. If Mike can make one simple connection...

It's a question of justice, Anne.

Finally doing justice.

Who's funeral?

Peter Matthews.

What's happened?

We have a bit of a problem in British prisons with AIDS.

See you later.

Larry's the one that should have been in prison all these years, Anne. You know

that as well as I do.

Fresh information would mean a new trial.

Could do, yes.

In England, with Mike in the witness box. Yes. Cross -examination,

He can give his evidence behind a screen.

You think a screen will make a difference? I thought 12 ,000 miles

difference.

No, Mr Morse.

Sorry.

May not look much what we have here, but we've survived.

I want to keep it that way.

Thanks for the offer.

My family needs me at home.

Suggest you go on hunting yourself.

Anne.

You can't think I've come halfway round the world to give up this easily.

What are you afraid of?

No one here will know anything about it. You don't know what it's like.

Waking up every morning, seeing a sunshine and suddenly remembering.

Ten years of wondering who's going to come round the corner.

You can't be frightened here, surely.

Those people have long memories.

You have my personal guarantee, Anne. What more do you want?

Well, we'll see what Mike says.

He'll say what I say.

You've heard what your friend... There's a lot of people going to want to talk

to him.

I can't hope there's no friends of ours. I should have thought that was obvious.

If Mike won't come to me...

And you won't tell me where he is. I'm afraid I'll have to go to Mr.

Humphreys and tell him everything.

You're a bastard, Morse.

Always were.

We made a pretty good team last time.

Are you going to help me or not?

I don't know where he is.

If I did, I still wouldn't tell you, but I don't.

We've got to find him. Whether she's lying or not, we've got to find him.

Offer her a lift, Lewis.

Use your fabled northern charm.

I'm going to visit the Hereford Plead.

Yeah, well, I knew you weren't cattlemen.

Not in those shoes.

The thing is, there's a lot of money involved, or we'd have left it to a

contact. I hear how much.

I am not at liberty to say, but my client is not going to leave a penny of

Mike Harding unless she can be sure he's changed his ways.

She doesn't want to see it all go into the bookies like it used to. Well, she'd

better give it to Anne. He's still gambling everything he's got.

She won't be pleased to hear that.

nor that he attacks old women. What makes you so sure about that?

That wasn't his style in England.

I don't know. Maybe the sun's got to him.

Look, they have a row.

She's stronger than he is. He takes it out on someone else, like the bloke on

the bar stool next to him, or Lily Marchant.

In these circumstances, don't you think that Anne should have some sort of

protection?

You're a private detective.

You fancied the job? I just thought... Look, we run a one -man station here, Mr

Morse. Haven't got time to get involved in domestic quarrels. Look, if Mike's

crazy enough to attack his mother -in -law, don't you think it's possible he

might turn on his wife or family next?

My colleague could take over in the morning or... We'll see what we can do.

Now, who is this little old lady of yours and why is she so rich when I'm

I'm afraid I'm not at liberty to say.

Oh, you amateurs have your little secrets, eh?

Uh, there's a son, isn't there?

David? Oh, Dave left home.

What's he doing?

Well, he's working as a roustabout, a place called Columba.

About an hour away.

What do you want with Dave?

My client might skip a generation, you see. Leave it to the kids instead.

Oh, yeah?

Yeah, well, he might know where Mike is.

They're always pretty close.

Well, if it's only an hour, I might make a visit.

That's an hour by plane, mate.

And you'll have to wait till tomorrow morning because there's no lights on the

landing strip.

Thanks.

Mum, where were you?

Sorry, love. Where are the twins?

I took them over to my house.

Was Jay called again?

No.

Well, did he say where...

Oh, Phil, hi.

It's you.

No, he's not here.

I'm sorry. No, I don't.

No, I... Yeah, I know, Phil.

Yeah, Phil, I know.

I've got to go. It's twins.

Yeah, OK.

Goodbye.

God, look at this place.

Turn my back for two minutes and then make it a good sky.

I'm sure she'll be OK.

What? Your mum.

Oh, yes.

Thanks.

How long's she been out here, Mrs Harding?

Oh, she came out after bed, Dad, and if you're supposed to be my friend, you'd

better call me Anne.

Oh, right.

Sorry, Anne.

Well, I have to fetch the twins now, Sergeant.

Thanks for the lift.

All right.

Thank you, Liz.

I knew you'd come in useful.

Okay, thanks a lot.

Do you happen to know Anne's mother's name?

A real one.

Marchant. Lily Marchant.

Why? She takes a tile here at the Gazette.

Anne had it at the house.

So what?

Peter Matthews. It's front page news.

She made out she didn't even know he was dead.

Why on earth would she lie about that?

Something else occurs to me.

The Tilehurst Gazette was done over the week before we came out, remember?

Nothing taken, not even petty cash.

What would you look for in a newspaper office if not petty cash?

Liars.

Names and addresses.

What?

Subscription lists?

Go on.

Well, suppose somebody knew that Mrs. Marchant was Anne's mother and that

come out to Australia, but they didn't know where.

And they wanted to know, because they needed a son -in -law's new name and

address, urgent.

And whoever burgled the office found Lily Marchant's name, came out here,

out she couldn't speak, so ransacked the room.

And if this person or persons unknown is or are after him...

That arm's right to be afraid after all.

I'm sorry about this afternoon.

It's okay.

You're doing your lengths tomorrow.

It's a late start at school.

Ooh, watch out, Hayley Lewis.

Night.

Winford, coming home?

I don't know, love.

Soon I hope.

What are you doing here?

Your friend Mr Morse thought you might need some protection.

Your shift.

I'm quite capable of looking after myself, you know. I've done it for ten

It's for your own safety, honestly.

Yours and the kids.

How can you bear to work for a bastard like Morse?

He's trying to help you. He's trying to help himself?

He's a bastard.

I suppose I should offer you some coffee, Sergeant.

Or is it tea?

A cup of tea would be nice, thanks.

And my name's Robert.

My friends call me Robbie.

Yeah, I can imagine that.

What are your dollies called, Tracy?

meh

It's about your father.

What about him? I want to talk to him.

Who are you?

My name's Morse.

Ah, you.

Then, with great solemnity, he recited the following fine moral lesson.

A pudding thief, as I've heard tell, quite lost a noble feeling.

Spent all his days and nights as well in constant pudding stealing.

He stole them here. He stole them there.

He knew no moderation.

He stole the coarse. He stole the rare.

He stole without cessation.

He stole the steak and kidney few that housewives in a rage hid.

Don't stop.

Of course you had to. Look, it'll be okay. We just have to keep our nerve.

No, no one's going to find out anything.

He stole the infant's pudding, too.

Yeah, and stay away from here, please.

I love you, too.

Do you want some more tea, Robbie?

Do you remember much about England?

I remember my name.

Don't. I remember yours, too.

You got us out of here, right?

I suppose so.

Yeah, well, they'll hate you for it.

And what about you?

No, I think it's good.

England's finished.

Is it?

Crowded little island somewhere off Europe. Who cares?

Dave. The Hereford policeman, Scott Humphreys... Oh, yeah, what about him?

He seems to believe it was your dad that terrified your gran.

Yeah, well, Scott Humphreys is a gang.

He says your dad can be quite violent.

Is he ever violent at home?

With Mum.

But there's a lot of aggro.

Oh, yeah, you could say that.

Then you take your dad's side.

Look, I don't take anybody's side.

When I left time, I left the good.

Why did you leave, Dad?

I don't know. I just wanted to get away.

Who from?

Mum, Dad, Scott Humphreys, the whole bloody lot of them.

Dave, I badly need to know where your father is.

And if you do know... Look, I told you, I don't.

I don't care.

I don't believe that.

But you don't care.

He'll turn up.

Boomerang Bill, that's what we call him.

He always comes back.

He's compulsive.

Stuck in habits he can't break.

Where did you get that?

Our school psychiatrist.

Only intelligent person there.

She reckons Dad loses on purpose because he feels trapped.

If there's no escape, well, what the hell does it matter what you do?

Do you feel trapped?

Why should I? I got out.

It's a big country. There's a lot to explore.

It's wilderness.

Unmapped, I like that.

But it's so... empty.

Yeah, that's why I like it.

You can listen to yourself, really hear your heartbeat.

If your father does get in touch, you'll let me know.

Ah, yeah, maybe.

Any message for your mother?

Ah... You can tell Karen I love her, if you like.

I'm afraid she's a lot worse this morning, Anne, and the doctor doesn't

move her out of intensive.

She's probably just playing truant.

Karen's never missed a day of school in her life.

Karen!

Karen!

What the hell's been going on in here?

Oh, it's always like this.

She hasn't been home, I'm sure she hasn't.

Gone to friends?

But Harleen tried everywhere, and anyway, she's in strict training. She

legs, and she comes directly home to change for school.

Come here.

Why couldn't he leave us alone?

He's ruined my life once.

Oh, my God.

Karen.

All right.

All right.

Lewis?

I hope this isn't going to be a waste of trips, Scotty. The old lady's dead,

Glenn.

Oh, shit.

And we still can't find Mike Hardy.

You lied.

You lied to me.

No. Someone in England has found out where we are. We don't know that.

Oh, what crap, Mort.

What really brought you out here? I've told you I want to stop a lot of

who belong in jail from getting out.

And I want Mike to give the evidence that'll nail Larry Nelson and put him in

there with them.

And I want Mr Justice Rosen to hear the truth, the whole truth. Truth?

When you lie the whole time, when you're lying now.

Anne, I don't care, and it doesn't matter whether you believe me, but

else certainly does want to see Mike urgently.

Someone who's not as polite as we are.

Someone who's prepared to attack an old lady and kidnap a young girl in order to

get to him. Now, it's vital for his own and Karen's safety that we find him

first.

I'm going to the police.

All right, good.

But we'll have to tell them who you and Mike and we really are.

The first thing they're going to want to know is where Mike is.

So are you going to tell them?

Are you going to offer me a ride to the station, or do I have to walk?

God knows why, but she's still lying.

What? Well, she knows where Mike is.

This morning, before all this, he phoned her.

Thank you, Lewis.

So, first your husband disappears, then your daughter, and you're telling me

there's no connection?

I don't know.

There could be. Look, why did Mike leave home?

We had a row.

A row?

Yes. Well, a big row, a small row.

It's happened before, Glenn, more than once.

Where does he usually go? Nowhere special, I don't think. He just drives

Isn't it Karen we should be worrying about?

Do you say something? We should get something on the local news tonight.

It's the only way we can communicate with the kidnapper and Mike Harding at

same time.

In fact, better make it the national news. Mike could be anywhere.

Why not the BBC World Service?

Assuming that the man that got Karen is the same man that attacked Mrs.

Marchant, he mustn't know that she's dead. Whatever happens, he may panic.

So a complete news blackout on the murder and... That's all right.

Thank you, Lewis.

An SOS, of course, for Mike Harding saying that his daughter is dangerously

The kidnapper will understand that, but Mike won't. I thought you were running a

one -man station here, Scotty. Yeah, I thought so too.

Who's the pain in the arse?

Private detective from England.

Drinks orange juice.

Funny how all this should have started the minute a Pommie T -tape of pain in

the arse blows into town, eh? Look.

We have to find this man before... You don't have to do anything, mate.

You've just got to sit back and let the professionals get on with their job. He

is a professional.

We're here on confidential business.

Been a little economical with the truth with one of our fine Australian

policemen, Chief Inspector.

Can I see your authority from the New South Wales Police?

I'm afraid the business is so confidential I have to keep it even from

you want to check with the High Commission.

Oh, yeah.

Well, they're in Canberra.

And I'm afraid even the British High Commission can't give you the right to

carry out an investigation in New South Wales.

Yep.

Yeah, it's Gary, Tim.

Can we, um... Oh, yeah.

Right.

Yeah. OK.

Scotty, Gary will get the details of the harvester's car, while the chief

inspector and I have a quiet little word together.

OK.

Glenn, that was Tim. He said we've got to go with the urgent missing person,

keep the kidnap back and say the girl's dangerously ill.

Just what you suggested, sir.

Yes, sir. You did, sir. Didn't you, sir? What a clever pommy bastard you are,

sir.

Okay, Mrs. Harding.

What's the make of car, please?

Um... Panel van.

Hold it.

And, uh... Colour?

Green.

Registration?

N -U -H -6... 8 -9.

That was 18 Wheels of Love heading for your front door by Breaker Breaker and

the road trains. Great track, eh?

It's 2 .52 here on the Best in the West 2KR, your station.

Now, here is an SOS message from Mike Harding of Harding Mower Repairs in

Hereford.

Travelling in a green Holden panel van, rego number NU8689, last seen in the

Hereford area.

Hasn't anyone told you, Chief Inspector?

Transportation stopped 120 years ago.

Jesus.

I mean, if you've got to go on sending your crims abroad, why not New Zealand?

I mean, nobody had noticed there. The Hardings like the sound of Australia.

Yeah, well, I don't like the sound of them.

Have you any idea who this Larry Nelson might have sent?

Could be one of 20 people.

Probably someone I don't even know.

So we're looking for an Englishman in Australia.

Oh, well, it shouldn't be too difficult.

I've let in just about anyone in these days.

Poms are a small minority.

So, almost the first thing that Anne Harding did when you got here was tell

a lie. A small one, apparently, but not the only one. Lewis?

Her husband phoned her this morning.

She said if they both kept their nerves, nobody would find out anything.

I mean, isn't she taking this thing seriously?

For God's sake, a mother's dead, a daughter's been kidnapped?

It was before she knew about either of those. But she hasn't changed her tune

since.

Well, if you ask me, the daughter's perfectly safe.

What?

Well, in my experience, when two people go missing from a small Australian town,

they're usually together, especially if there's family trouble.

I reckon the girl's with her father. In my experience, fathers don't kidnap

their own children, except in divorce cases.

It could explain a lot, though, sir.

Yes, sir.

Explain everything, sir.

For God's sake, why would he get his daughter to record a message in which

pretends to be kidnapped?

In which she says, we have to find Mike Hardy. To scare the hell out of his

wife! It's the... It happens.

It's ludicrous.

Mr Morse, you've been very helpful. If you'd like to call around in the

I'll let you know how we're getting on.

Sir.

You are... A visiting private inquiry agent. Remember?

That's NU8689. Now, listen, a bit of bad news for you, Mike. Your daughter Karen

is seriously ill and she'd like to hear from you as soon as possible.

It's important, so give her a call, eh?

Soon as you can.

OK, the news with Trevor Goodwin will be along shortly, but in the meantime,

here's a track off Bobby Smythe's debut album.

Callister's an idiot.

He's terrible.

You don't have any jurisdiction.

You can't keep crime within bureaucratic boundaries.

God, it's hot in here.

We'll switch on the air conditioning.

I don't know how to work it.

Three positions.

Low, medium, full blast.

Lewis? Yep.

Don't say that. You're not an author.

Why is she lying?

To protect him, you say?

From whom?

Us.

But we don't represent any kind of threat.

Of course we do.

Well, then what?

When he phoned, she seemed to think he might be losing his nerve.

You don't think he's a sore migraine to top himself, do you? No.

Wrong odds.

When it comes to the great perhaps, Mike Harding will follow Pascal.

Who's that?

A tipster?

Pascal, Lewis.

Blaise Pascal, a French philosopher of the 17th century.

Not much use to us, then.

He said that there were no good and sufficient reasons to either believe or

disbelieve in the truths of religion.

It was just the totter, whether there was a god and an afterlife and all that.

But the safer bet is that there is one.

Because if there is, you win. And if there isn't, it doesn't matter anyway.

Neat, don't you think?

I think you're suffering from a serious shortage of beer.

A real gambler will always choose life over death, Lewis.

What do you think about God and that?

Do you think there's a God?

I think there are times when I wished to God there was one.

A just God.

A God dispensing justice.

I'd like to believe in that.

I'm off for a swim.

I'll see you at dinner.

The Ryan Riesling is very popular.

Just a moment.

Just a moment.

No, no, that's the one. The Mount Adams Chardonnay. We'll have that.

My doctor says I can't eat that anymore.

And you're a cattleman.

I suppose I'll have to have chicken. I hate chicken.

What do I have to do?

Go over and see that girl over there. She'll give you a portion to cook.

Cook?

Do I have to cook myself?

Right so.

What the hell are you doing here?

I caught the mouth on him.

There's some deathly trouble. He called just after you left.

I think I know where he is, but I haven't got a car.

Aren't you going to call them?

Who? The Aussie detectives, McAllister and Warrender.

Certainly not.

But surely that boy came to see me.

I wonder if he is farther about my business.

which is not within Macalester's jurisdiction, just as the kidnap, as you

kindly pointed out, is not within mine. It could be risky.

I'm quite capable of looking after myself, thank you. Don't you think we

let them decide what's best?

This isn't an Oxford college.

Why don't you get back to your steak, Lewis?

It should be just about leathery enough for you by now.

You told me you didn't know where he was.

I thought if Dad didn't want to see you, that would be his business.

I think it's time someone started telling me the truth.

Hi.

I don't think you're supposed to be here, Sergeant.

I was just wondering how Anne is.

Oh, Scott's taken her down to the hospital.

No, they're giving her something to help her sleep.

Oh, right.

Good thing.

Probably.

Well, goodnight. Yep.

I hope so.

She alright?

Yeah, she'll be fine.

She's not your average Sheila.

She's had a lot to put up with.

You don't know the half of it.

What are you up to?

I don't know.

It's been early for bed.

You don't fancy a beer, do you?

Yeah, why not?

I'm pretty fed up in Britain.

Yeah?

Very long hours.

Too much all the time. And you have to work for that bugger Mort.

Doesn't help.

He's an arrogant bastard. I mean, I don't know how you put up with him.

Get used to him.

I couldn't take it. I mean, no offence, but a sergeant with you mob is some sort

of gopher.

In Christ, does he expect you to pick up his undies when he drops them on the

floor? Not quite.

Yeah, but you have to call him first.

Yeah, well...

Call him a lot of things.

Look mate, I got 400 square mile of territory.

All mine. Yeah? Yeah.

I know half the people by name, and they all know me.

Scott Humphries carries bags for nobody.

You know, some are smarter... What's the pay like?

The pay?

Well... Do you want another skimmy? Yeah, yeah, why not?

Hey, Blue!

Where are we?

Oh, look, it's not far now. Just keep on going.

We haven't seen a house for 15 miles.

What makes you so sure he'll be there?

It's where he always ends up.

Where no one can get to him.

Me wife.

Me wife, she's not from the North.

I met her when I came down south, you see.

But she's a good lass for all that.

Lucky.

Yeah, well, a wife.

You need a wife in this job, with all the stress and that.

You need the stability, man.

Yeah.

Yeah, well, that's easier said than done, Robbie, I mean.

She's got to be... Yeah, she's got to be... Oh,

yeah.

Troubles of the heart.

That's always been my problem.

Troubles of the heart.

Got another one?

Is this his van?

Yeah.

Must be down in the quarry.

And why would he come here?

He's got another caravan down there.

The ten roofs, man.

What about them?

I don't think I... You know, I don't think I'll ever get used to them.

Everyone says that.

A couple of months.

I think they'll never say anything else. Sorry.

Hey.

It's what's under the roof that matters, Robbie.

Got the right woman. This is the best little country in the world. The best.

Right woman.

Why is it that the right woman...

is always shacked up with the wrong man, eh?

Eh?

Come on, Robbie!

What are you doing?

Dad dad

Dad it's late

Dad

God, what was that?

What did he actually say when he called? I don't know.

He said he was apologising to me.

Have you got any idea why?

No.

For not being a good dad, I don't know.

Nothing. He wasn't making any sense. I thought he was up to something.

And when was this?

When exactly was this, Dad?

Just after Mr. Morse left.

So, what time did you leave the farm?

Noon, I suppose. Which is about the time, according to your off -sider, that

Mike Harding ran in his wife to tell her how much he loved her.

I can't believe he killed himself.

Not a gun was in his hand, Morse.

Only one shot had been fired.

If Larry Nelson went to the trouble of sending a hitman to finish him off, do

you think he'd be stupid enough to leave a trail?

He'd make it look like suicide.

Nelson's got to him first, and we've come all this way for nothing.

Well, we'll see what Bransick says.

Now, that may take a bit of time.

There are so many bloody footprints around, we can't tell who the hell's

here.

It's supposed to be a New South Wales inquiry, Morse, not a British one.

And whoever the kidnapper is, we mustn't let him know that Mike Harding's dead.

He knows already. He killed him. If he killed him, how come he's still got the

girl?

You can worry about your bloody pom inquiry, mate. I've got to worry about

See you back in town.

Happening to me, Lewis.

I don't know what I'm doing anymore.

Well, if he did kill himself, maybe we should try and find out why.

Perhaps it's a hand.

Maybe that's why he did it.

A hand?

I think she could have been seeing someone.

What are you talking about?

Well, I was drinking with Humphreys last night and I think they could have been

having a thing.

Maybe Mike found out.

Humphreys?

That's not possible, surely.

He's a policeman.

He's an Australian policeman.

Anyway, you heard her tell Mike she loved him. Or maybe it wasn't Mike on

farm.

And McAllister's right.

We still don't know where the girl is.

God, what does it matter what the row was about?

But you lied to me earlier. So I lied!

One more lie, what difference did one more make?

We've been living a lie from the moment we came here. What do you mean?

Ten years ago, Morse, your trial, your confession, what you got was lies.

Lies? Kenny said you'd believe him, and you did, didn't you?

Your policeman friend was dead, and you wanted convictions, the more the

merrier. So between us all, we killed an innocent man.

Peter Matthews?

But Peter Matthews was guilty.

Peter Matthews wasn't driving the car.

He wasn't anywhere near the raid.

He was sitting at home with his mother.

He was a horrible man.

But he thought he was irresistible.

And if he did resist, he didn't like it.

Arthur's at me.

I told him to get his clammy hands off.

One day, he got annoyed.

I got annoyed.

And he started pushing me, slapping me about.

And then Kenny came in.

The car was driven by someone else.

Who? Larry Nelson's son -in -law.

We shot the whole gang, except the one closest to Larry.

It was our insurance.

We thought we'd be safe.

I thought you found out.

He always came back before.

Whatever happened, he always came back.

Yep?

Mum? Is mum there?

She says I can only speak to mum.

It's Karen. Get a tray for me.

Karen, love, it's me.

Are you all right? I'm okay, Mum.

Mum, he's dead.

Karen?

Who's there with you?

24 hours is up.

He's dead?

24 hours and it's up.

He's going to kill me.

Mum, you've got to talk to Dad.

Say he still hasn't come back yet. Keep it going as long as possible.

Please, love.

We're looking everywhere for him.

You know what he's like when he goes off like this? He could be anywhere.

He was very depressed, you know, about the way things were, about Dave leaving.

This is Chief Inspector Morse.

I'm the man that put the Abingdon bank robbers in jail.

I'd like to talk to you.

I want to talk to Kenny Stone.

Bring him with me.

Stay there.

I'll call you back.

Just what the hell do you think you're up to? An English voice, but who the

was it?

That one.

What about it? You remember the van when we arrived?

What van?

Oh, a camper.

The sort you go around Australia in.

It was parked outside the old folks' home. The driver of that, that's him.

That's Paul, the younger brother.

He's got no record, nothing at all.

What colour?

Caucasian. No, no, the van.

Oh, mustard?

Plates?

I don't know.

It's not familiar.

They look quite old.

Second hand, probably.

Nobody buys those things new anymore.

Get a message out right away, Gaz. Mustard Coloured Tampa Man. I'm on my

What are you planning to do?

Talk to him.

I don't know.

Get the girl away from him, that's what matters.

And in the meantime?

We wait.

I'll pay you back.

Ugarra. Right, great.

Yep, thanks.

Busted camper sighted at Yugara, Glenn.

That kid was about half an hour. He's heading for that sighting at Bangaroo.

The bloody hell's Bangaroo.

Yeah.

Tim's sending all the available cars.

Sharp -shooted?

You bet.

They don't have to do this, you know.

It really isn't our territory.

But it's my fault, though, isn't it?

When justice miscarries, Lewis, when injustice is not only done but seen

to be done.

I've always prided myself.

I've never sent anyone to prison who didn't belong there.

You blame yourself too much. You know that?

You're always blaming yourself.

I have a lot to blame myself for.

Three deaths to start with.

Peter Matthews, Lily Marchant, Mike Harding.

He did kill himself.

And it was because of me.

You don't know that.

I can't prove it, no.

Anne was right, though.

Ron Pygott and I, we started in the force together.

When he was shot in that raid, I wanted revenge.

It's a powerful emotion.

It blinds you.

I let myself be blinded.

I have to make amends.

I still think it's too risky.

I'm old and unmarried.

Don't understand human nature. It doesn't matter.

How old are you?

I forget, Robbie.

I ought to come with you.

Thanks, but I'm the one he wants.

Sure you don't want a gun?

There have been enough deaths in this already.

Put your hands up!

I don't want you. I want Kenny Stone. Where is he?

Paul, the girl's got nothing to do with it.

Let her go.

It's vengeance you want, isn't it?

Well, I'm as responsible as Kenny ever was.

Take it out on the guilty, not the innocent. Keep your hands up!

What are you doing?

I haven't got a weapon, Paul.

I want us all to get out of this alive, if possible. Peter didn't get out alive.

Are you alone?

Yes, I'm alone.

You try anything and the girl is dead.

Do you understand me?

Do you understand?

Let her go, Paul.

I'm keeping her till I see Kenny Stone.

I can't bring Kenny, Paul.

Why not?

Because it's not him you want. It's me.

I want to see Stone!

I was the one that sent your brother to jail.

If there was anything I could do to bring him back, I'd do it.

I'm sorry.

You're sorry?

You sent my innocent brother to jail and you're sorry?

I shall never forgive myself, Paul. You have to believe that.

Have you ever...

Have you ever watched anyone die of AIDS?

No.

He choked them.

He choked to death.

He couldn't clear his lungs.

He got so thin he couldn't stand up.

He used to be big, remember?

Fought with everything he had, but he couldn't win against that, could he?

You sent him to his death.

Yes.

You're a murderer.

No.

It's only murder if you mean to kill.

But I thought he was guilty. You killed him.

Don't you think it's time to stop the killing?

What?

This chain of revenge and death.

It must break sometime.

And there is a way we can stop it.

I don't know what you're talking about.

If it hadn't been for Larry Nelson, there wouldn't have been a raid, would

there?

A police officer, a friend of mine, wouldn't have got killed. No one would

gone to prison.

And Peter would be alive today.

There was a man at your brother's funeral, Bernie Waters.

What about him?

What was he doing there? He's a friend of the family.

Long time?

No.

Paid for the funeral, did he?

What's that got to do with you?

Did he?

So what if he did?

With Larry Nelson's money?

Yeah, I dare say.

It's funny, Nelson only took an interest when your brother was dead.

What do you mean?

Nelson's son -in -law was driving the car in the Abingdon bank raid, Paul.

He was the one that Peter went to prison for. The one he died for.

Shut up.

Larry Nelson wanted your brother dead.

He wanted a martyr so he could get his own gang out.

Shut up!

So how do you feel about Larry Nelson now, Paul?

I don't know what you're talking about!

This predicts down, but I want him to understand!

Was Scott Humphries the reason Mike left?

Did he know why you were both here?

I never told him.

I never told anyone.

I never imagined you would.

You're loyal. You always were.

I wasn't very loyal to Mike.

I think you were.

Amazingly so.

And many marriages like ours.

Enough.

How would I know?

I'm responsible for everything, aren't I?

Aren't I, for coming here?

Will you come to England?

When we started it, we'd better finish it.

Forever, this time.

You came back to Sydney?

Yes. All right.

To tell you the truth...

I wish I'd never come.

Yeah, well, you shouldn't think like that.

It's probably better we find out the truth.

Clear it out of the way, mate. Can you start?

That's a very courageous attitude.

It's Australia, mate.

She'll be right, mate.

Good flight.

Come on. We'll be late for your opera.

Should work out quite well, in fact.

My wife's leaving the kids with their gran.

We'll have a couple of weeks to look around.

Right.

Probably hire a van like Matthew's had.

See what the rest of Australia's like.

You sure you don't mind?

No.

Why should I?

Why don't you stay on a bit yourself?

I've got to report back.

You'll be able to have a good old read on the plane without me chattering away

beside you.

Yeah.

Make a change.

Valerie got one of those last -minute plane tickets.

Gets in 8 o 'clock tomorrow night.

So I'll be able to take you to the airport, leave the car there, pick up

van. By the time I've done that, she'll have landed.

Right.

Thanks.

I'll be off then.

Enjoy your opera.

It's an hour till the matinee.

What are you going to do?

Well, I'll take a ferry, have a look around the harbour.

It's one of the sights, isn't it?

Oh, yeah.

Well, enjoy yourself.