Original subtitles

CHILDREN: # Row, row, row your boat #

# Gently down the stream #

# Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily #

# Life is but a dream #

# Row, row, row your boat #

# Gently down the stream #

# Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily #

# Life is but a dream #

# - Row, row, row your boat # -[ Clattering]

# Gently down the stream #

MAN: Oh, baby!

You're really turning me on!

- You shouldn't say these things. -# Life is but a dream #

# Row, row, row your boat #

MAN: You don't know what you're doing to me.

But you're making me really hot. You know what I mean'?

CHILDREN: # ...but a dream #

[Screaming]

# Row, row, row your boat #

# Gently down the stream #

[Keyboard clacking, DVDs shuffling]

# Row, row, row your boat #

# Gently down the stream #

Silence!

This is a bloody library!

-[ Alarm wailing] - Oh, Brian.

Come on.

# 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 #

SubRIP by docent{mults.org

STANDING: Hold on. We've seen all these.

- HALFORD: And these. - Yep, we've read all of them.

And none of them seemed Worth pursuing.

STANDING: Well, then.

So now we're gonna read them all again.

Why'?

Because the DAC has noticed that a bunch of these files

never seem to get to the top of the pile,

and he'd like to see some of them progressed.

So that's what's gonna happen.

Smashing.

[indistinct talking]

[Door closes]

Well, is this all right'?

This is heaven.

They've got over a million volumes.

And unlike the British Library, they're on open shelves,

so you can browse them yourself.

Terrific.

LANE: And you can take them home.

What, like a library, you mean'?

Look, there's no racks of CDs, DVDs, no misery memoirs.

- No fun at all, then? -It's a proper library.

It smells of books.

- Any progress with these files'? - Nah.

LANE: Yeah, this one's interesting.

Richard Symes, 2007, suspicious death.

Died from traumatic injuries apparently sustained in a fall.

It wasn't interesting last time we looked at it.

Well, among the deceased's possessions

was a London Library card.

Do leave off!

Don't you think you're getting a little bit, uh --

forgive the expression -- obsessive?

Hang on a moment. I think Brian's got a point to make.

- Thank you. - At least I hope he has.

Richard Symes had a load of books

out from the London Library,

some of which he'd taken out just before he died,

which seems a bit odd if you're feeling suicidal.

Accident?

What's he doing falling off a roof

on a cold, Wet night in November'?

Any motive for murder'?

Not according to the original inquiry.

Coroner recorded an open verdict.

What makes you think we're gonna do any better?

Is there any new evidence?

No, but I was wondering,

did anybody ever read these books?

Reading the books might tell an investigator something.

All right, you go and read them. You're a member --

Oh, well, now, no. Now, Sandra, hang on a minute.

I've only just joined.

If I go barging in there with me ex-copper's boots on,

I'll put everyone's backs up.

Just find the books and have a look at them.

Any reader can do that.

Basically, Brian, you'll be drawing your salary

for sitting on your ass with your nose in a book.

Enough said.

Dr. Richard Symes, head

of the Department of the History and Philosophy of Science,

London Municipal University.

He was an authority on botanical sciences in the 18th century.

I've solved this already. He died of boredom.

[Chuckles]

LANE: The body was discovered November 2007.

Now, the postmortem found injuries

consistent with a fall from the roof terrace

of the university library building.

- HALFORD: Witnesses? - LANE: No, nobody saw the fall.

Body discovered by Pavel Illich, a security guard.

Family?

Yes, a widow, Paula Symes.

Ooh, hello. Maybe he didn't die of boredom.

So predictable, Gerry.

Described as an antiquarian book dealer, no children.

- I'll talk to her. - I'll come with you.

Jack, you can go to the university

and check if the security guard's still around

and see if any of his colleagues are available for interview.

- Yeah. - And, Brian'?

I'll get my reading boots on.

[indistinct conversation]

- Pavel Illich'? -[ Russian accent] Yes.

My name's Jack Halford.

I'm with the Metropolitan Police.

We're re-investigating the death of Richard Symes.

You found the body'?

Uh, yes, about Where you're standing now.

Hmm.

Can we get access to the roof terrace'?

Sure.

- This way, please. - Thank you.

Come this way, please.

HALFORD: All this work.

Refurbishing the library, are they?

Never. It's being turned into student accommodation.

More money that Way.

So, Where are they putting the library?

No more library.

HALFORD: Did you know Richard Symes'?

PAVEL: I knew who he was --

security, we have to know -- but not more than that.

HALFORD: What was he doing up here'?

This roof terrace is hardly the Hanging Gardens of Babylon,

is it'?

Library is a no-smoking area.

Students, staff come out here for a cigarette.

According to my information, Symes was a nonsmoker,

so what might have been the attraction

on a Wet November night?

A mystery.

Type in as much information as you have about a book.

[Keyboard clacking]

Mr. Lane'?

Yeah, sorry, sorry.

The display shows that we've got it.

Now click on "availability."

Now you can see the book's available for borrowing.

All you need to do is note down the shelf mark,

and you can find it.

Well, I think I've got the hang of that.

Thanks very much, Emma.

Just ask if there's anything you need help with.

What's your particular area of interest?

Yeah, well, oh, books, really.

[Chuckles]

Well, you've come to the right place.

[indistinct conversations]

[Knock on door]

Mr. Halford, the vice chancellor.

- Jeremy Ventham. - Jack Halford.

Thank you for seeing me, Mr. Ventham.

It's "Doctor" actually,

but we don't go in for formality at LMU.

Oh, not being a varsity man myself,

I don't grasp all the distinctions.

- Sit down, Jack. - Thank you.

I told your secretary that we're, um,

investigating the circumstances of the death of Richard Symes.

Yes, uh, very sad business.

Can you think of any reason

why he would have been on the roof terrace that night?

Your guess is as good as mine.

I was hoping to see some of his old colleagues,

but, of course, his department doesn't exist anymore, does it'?

That's right, Jack.

History and philosophy of science --

bit ivory-tower for us.

Doesn't out it with LMU's target demographic.

Really?

A bright kid with straight A's

or the International Baccalaureate

wants to hear about accountancy, management economics,

company and commercial law.

She's made an investment. She's heavily leveraged.

She wants to see big-time payback.

When was the Symes department closed down'?

Just after his death.

How did he feel about the department closing down

and the imminent end of his career?

Well, nobody wants to be in a situation like that,

but, uh, I mean, the fact is,

poor old Richard wanted to go on living in the 1960,

when he was a student.

Academia was a different world back then --

jobs for life, "grants," not loans.

Cloud-cuckoo-land. It couldn't last.

We all had to grow up.

And he accepted it'?

I think he found ways to live with it.

JASPER: Yes, all right. Till after lunch, yes.

Am I right for Bibliography?

Dear me, no. This is Biography, "A" to

Two more floors to go.

You're new here, aren't you'?

Yes.

Don't worry. We still get lost.

And we've been regular users for 30 years.

Follow us!

LANE: Thank you.

I'm Jasper Urquhart, by the way. This is my wife, Sophie.

Brian Lane. How do you do'?

What's your field, Brian'?

LANE: Sorry'?

What are you researching into'? If it's not a secret.

Oh, well, uh, history and philosophy of science

and so forth.

Oh, interesting.

That's rather close to our own field.

LANE: Oh'? What's that, then'?

The corn field.

SOPHIE: Oh, Jasper, you Wicked man.

Or the fallow field or the pasture.

We're economic historians, Mr. Lane,

and we specialize in the Agricultural Revolution.

Fantastic.

Not a fashionable topic in today's academic world,

but we struggle on.

Religion that way, Bibliography this Way.

HALFORD: I must say, I'm a bit surprised

at the university closing its library.

Wasn't cost-effective, given the overhead.

If the students need books,

there's our excellent and highly profitable shop,

but, quite frankly, Jack,

LMU's new Multimedia Learning Resource Center

is a far better source of information access

than any old library.

It's the digital age.

Books are history.

Yes, well, thanks for your time, Jeremy.

Um, we may need to talk again.

Of course, Jack.

Uh, as a matter of interest, what's your academic discipline?

Oh, I came up through the business school.

Before I became vice chancellor,

I was head of the Department of Financial Control.

There's no end to what people study these days, is there?

[Chuckles]

Check out our prospectus, Jack.

You might find something that appeals.

Oh.

Thank you.

[Light clicks]

Thought this might help.

Thanks.

Oh.

Any assistance we can give, feel free to ask.

Thanks very much.

Shh!

STANDING: Oh, that's a bit posh.

-[ Car alarm chirps] - I've never met a rich widow.

PULLMAN: She doesn't own the business. She just works here.

STANDING: Well, maybe someday.

PAULA: Richard's sudden death

was a deeply traumatic experience for me.

These past three years, I've moved on.

I really see no purpose in reopening the matter.

PULLMAN: The cause of death was never established.

The cause of death was Jeremy Ventham.

What exactly do you mean by that?

I don't mean that he pushed him off the roof.

He just destroyed Richard's life, that's all.

How'?

Richard believed in giving his students the very best,

and he expected the best from them.

I know that because he was my teacher 20 years ago.

Richard believed in academic standards.

So, what did Jeremy Ventham do Wrong?

Ventham thinks that the university is a degree factory

and that the students are customers.

So they should get what they want for their money.

Meaning'?

Meaning high marks for average achievements

and pass marks for no achievement at all.

Richard objected to this,

but Ventham told him to teach to their expectations.

When Richard tried to defend his department's integrity,

Ventham decided to close it down.

When you say this was the cause of your husband's death --

I don't know whether he took his own life,

but I know he felt betrayed and abused.

ESTHER: Brian'?

You know, Esther, I ask myself if I'm not wasting my talents

in the rough and tumble of criminal investigation.

I'm sure I'm better suited to the life of the mind.

Quite possibly.

Look, will you please come and have a look

at the cracks in the plasterwork upstairs?

I think we could be talking about subsidence.

Why don't you get that Polish bloke to have a look at it'?

He can't deal with subsidence. It might need underpinning.

It could be an insurance job.

Well, whatever you decide, my dear.

I'm beginning to feel I could spend the autumn of my days

in scholarly seclusion,

unearthing the mental and spiritual riches

of the world of literature.

Why not go the whole hog and become a monk'?

You've already got the haircut.

Contrary to what you told my colleague, it's been put to us

that you were forcing Richard Symes out of a job

because he refused to lower his standards

to get more students through the system with higher grades.

Richard Symes wasn't a martyr for academic standards.

He took the offer of early retirement

because I gave him a choice --

either go quietly with a generous retirement package

or face criminal prosecution and dismissal.

For what?

The theft of books from the university library.

Some valuable items went missing.

Books of the same description

appeared in the antiquarian market.

You know Paula Symes is in the rare book trade?

Yes.

We believed she was in charge of what you'd call the handling.

How did he get the books out of the library?

I have no idea.

We had an electronic security system.

If I'd known the details,

I could have sacked him on the spot

instead of buying the bugger off.

Was any of this reported to the police?

That's not what I wanted, for the sake of LMU's image.

But confronted with my suspicions,

Symes seemed happy enough

at the prospect of taking the money and going.

It's a sad, sordid story, but that's all there is to it.

[Sighs]

[Clatter]

Look at the state of this lot.

I only hope they appreciated what they're getting.

University wasn't an option when I was young.

It was a privilege of the elite.

It's not much of a privilege now.

In fact, most of them are up to their necks in debt for it.

Yes, well, I hope it inculcates a sense of adult responsibility.

- I doubt it. - No, no, no. Now, look.

Is that deep, or is it bloody obvious?

I think you'd have to have a degree in philosophy

to work that one out, Jack.

Yeah, well, a bit late in the day for degrees now.

-It's never too late. - Come on, Sandra.

How could I possibly hold my own with all these smart kids'?

When I was at university, you didn't have to be a genius,

and it's certainly not got any harder.

Well, maybe.

- Pavel, hello. - Oh, hello.

Uh, this is Pavel Illich. He found Symes' body.

This is my colleague, Detective Superintendent Pullman.

Orr duty'?

Security is a part-time job.

I'm also a PhD student in economics.

Working your way through college?

Well done.

Isn't that Jasper Urquhart?

Yes, it is. Yes.

We were told the Urquharts had retired.

Well, yes, but they came back, part time.

Teach economic history as option to economics undergraduates.

- Big demand for that, is there'? - PAVEL: No, not really.

As Henry Ford say, "History is punk."

- HALFORD: Bunk. - PAVEL: Yes.

A soft option for wankers.

Economists with any brain wants to do what I'm doing --

learn to build mathematical models of derivative trading,

join the merchant bank, and make megabucks.

So, why were the Urquharts brought back?

Vice chancellor says economics students

need more breadth of cultural understanding.

If you excuse me, I have a meeting with my supervisor.

Doesn't sound like a Jeremy Ventham line to me.

Brian, join me.

Oh. Thank you.

Are you settling in as a library member'?

Yeah, very well, thank you.

Good.

Now, Brian, tell me, as a philosopher of science,

do you support Kuhn's idea of revolutionary paradigm shifts?

Or are you tempted

by the radical antinomianism of Feyerabend'?

I try to keep an open mind.

[Chuckles]

Mm.

I'm sure it's very wise.

So, what brings Jasper and yourself to the library?

We're academics. Where else will we go'?

Especially since our university library has been taken over

by a Multimedia Learning Resource Center...

full of undergraduates playing with their mobile phones.

Point taken.

What exactly are you researching, Brian'?

Bibliographical questions in my field of interest.

So, how is the work progressing?

Mm...

I can't quite see the wood for the trees at the moment.

Really?

You know, sometimes it helps to talk things over.

Oh, I think I've got to work this one out for myself.

HALFORD: If Symes was a thief,

maybe that's what he was doing on the roof.

STANDING; What?

The university library has an electronic security system.

All the books have to be checked at the desk.

Otherwise, they set off an alarm

when they go through the turnstile.

But Symes may have found a way 'round that.

He takes the books onto the roof,

chucks them down to an accomplice,

who takes them off to Paula to be fenced.

Okay, okay, if we go with that,

then we could be looking at an accident.

Symes leans over too far.

Yeah, but what about this accomplice,

the book catcher on the ground'?

At the very least, he would have witnessed the death.

Right, so we're looking for an accomplice/witness.

And murderer.

There was a criminal conspiracy. Thieves fall out.

Nicking library books is hardly a criminal conspiracy, is it'?

I mean, I can't see middle-class professional people

killing each other over it.

There could be a lot at stake, Gerry.

Talking about book theft's made me realize

what Symes' reading list was all about.

Go on.

Well, I thought it must be about particular subjects

or authors or periods of history.

But that was all Wrong.

All these bibliographies and catalogs include information

about books that are quite exceptionally valuable.

That's the common factor.

So, Symes was doing his homework for the thefts?

So, are we talking serious money, for old books'?

Tens of thousands of pounds, in some cases, millions.

Yeah, but the university was just a poly a few years ago.

They Wouldn't have had rare books lying around, surely?

They might not have known what they'd got.

Right, I want to know more about Paula and her book business.

- Jack, you haven't met her. - No.

So keep an eye on her for a few days, see how she operates.

Right.

PULLMAN: Brian, are you finished in the library?

Oh, dear me, no, no. I still need to be there.

There's some very funny stuff going on.

Like what?

Well, my documents have been suspiciously disturbed.

So have you, from time to time.

And there's something very odd

about the way the Urquharts are behaving towards me.

Just who do they think you are, Brian'?

Just another member of the intelligentsia, obviously.

Morning, sir.

HALFORD: Thank you.

Oh.

[Sighs ] Mr. Lane, this is a library.

According to the original inquiry,

you were both working in the university library

the night Richard Symes died.

- Yes. - Yes, that's right.

PULLMAN: And in your interviews,

you said that you suspected nothing suspicious.

Is that still your recollection?

The first we knew of it

was the sound of the ambulance and the police arriving.

Did you speak to him that evening'?

No, not at all.

PULLMAN: How well did you know him'?

Well, we were in different departments,

but we had interests in common.

Richard was a specialist in 18th-century botanical science,

and obviously that was relevant

to our study of agricultural history.

SOPHIE: In fact, we three collaborated

on an academic paper.

In the Journal of the History of Economic Thought.

Was there anything in Richard's behavior

that might lead you to believe that he would take his own life'?

No, no, not at all.

But you can never tell with people, can you'?

Did he have any enemies?

None that we know of.

What can you tell us about the allegations

that he was systematically stealing the university's books'?

Well, we were aware that books were missing from the library,

but we never suspected Richard.

Item 17 on your list,

a copy of Lewis Carroll's "Through the Looking Glass,"

1872, first edition.

A reserve price of £500 had been set.

However, it's been brought to my attention

that this item is not complete as described in your catalog.

Page 63 is missing.

Due to the incomplete nature of the item,

the reserve has been removed.

Nevertheless, I'll start by asking for £500.

£400'?

£300'?

£250'?

£250 I have. Any advance?

£260, anyone?

£260 I'm bid. Any advance?

Madam?

The bid is £260.

Anyone?

[Gavel bangs]

Sold to the gentleman in the second row.

MAN: Good afternoon, sir.

TIMOTHY: Afternoon. The name is Timothy Mortimer.

- MAN: Mortimer. - TIMOTHY: Mortimer.

And the address is flat 3.

-75 Winchfield Road. - Winchfield.

Winchfield Road, West Hampstead.

Lovely.

[Keyboard clacking]

Great system, this, eh'?

What's your particular field of interest?

Business.

Oh, yes?

Particularly my own and how to mind it.

[indistinct whispering]

[indistinct talking]

[Glasses clink]

HALFORD: His name is Timothy Mortimer,

and he was Richard Symes' research student

at the time of Symes' death.

So, Symes' widow and his research student

are involved in their own book scam.

And now they're getting up close and personal.

And maybe Mortimer was also involved in the library thefts.

We'll call them both in for interview.

You and I will take her. You two, do the boyfriend.

Oh, no, no, no Way. No, Wrong.

Sorry'?

Well, if I show me hand as -- as an investigator,

me cover's blown at the library, isn't it?

Brian, you're not there undercover.

You're just doing a bit of reading.

This has gone way beyond that. I'm definitely being spied on.

And you've said that before.

This is not about my medication.

This case is all about books and libraries,

and that's where it will be solved.

I know it is!

Oi! I'm the governor here.

Yes, we are all clear about that, aren't we, Brian'?

There's no argument who gives the orders around here.

But, I mean, think about this interview with Mortimer.

It's all gonna be about ducking and diving,

a bit of rumpy-pumpy on the side.

I mean, that's my territory, innit'?

I mean, poor old Brian would be way out of his depth.

Maybe Gerry would be better off on his own.

I'm sorry. Look, I just think I'll be more cost-effective

if I can do another couple of days in the library, that's all.

A couple of days.

Yes!

The meter's running.

STANDING: So, what exactly do you do for a living, Tim'?

Well, I suppose I've got what you'd call a portfolio career

at the moment.

I'm still finishing my PhD. I do a bit of teaching.

I make a bit of money as a runner in the book trade.

- What does that mean'? - I buy and sell books.

But I don't have a business premises

or issue catalogs or carry much stock.

If I see a book at a good price, I'll buy it,

try to sell it on quickly to a more established dealer.

See, we've got a little problem.

We think that you conspired with Paula Symes

to defraud the auction house and the vendor

when this book was sold.

Well, that's putting

a particular interpretation on events.

This book was on sale in the shop where you work,

described as complete and offered at £600.

Now, a page has recently been tipped in.

I believe that's the technical term?

A repair has been effected.

That's nothing unusual.

I think what I witnessed between you and Timothy Mortimer

speaks for itself.

A copy of a book changed hands at auction.

A copy of the same book was for sale in the shop.

You're making a lot of inferences

after snooping into my personal life.

I think you'd have a hard time proving anything.

PULLMAN: Maybe.

But then you and the business you work for

would also have a hard time

whilst we were conducting the investigation, don't you think?

STANDING: We want your cooperation

in our investigation into the death of Richard Symes.

Now, in view of your recent conduct,

you'd be well-advised to come clean

about what you were doing in the past.

Do you understand?

Yeah.

Richard Symes was stealing valuable books

from the university,

and you were putting them onto the market for him.

That's right, isn't it, Paula'?

Richard thought that Jeremy Ventham

was subverting the standards of the university.

He knew Ventham wanted to destroy his department

and to get rid of him.

The library itself was scheduled for closure.

Collections that had taken decades to build up

would be dispersed, probably at knockdown value.

That's if they Weren't just dumped into skips.

Surely that Wouldn't happen.

PAULA: It's happened before,

with libraries being wiped out by bean-counting barbarians.

So Richard decided to go

for what Ventham would no doubt call payback.

He smuggled out some salable books,

and I found buyers for them.

When you say "salable books," what are we talking about'?

Nothing very rare or precious --

maybe, What, £50 to £100, mostly.

And can we be clear about the method and who was involved?

[Camera shutter clicks]

[Camera shutter clicks]

Richard brought the books out onto the roof terrace

and then threw them down to me, and then I took them to Paula,

and she sold them on in the trade.

Thank you, Tim. That's very good.

So, you were in the car park the night of Richard's fatal fall.

- No, not that night. - Oh, come on!

He was at it that night, and you were his accomplice!

No, I didn't know he was taking books that night,

-so I didn't go. - So, Where were you'?

That's difficult.

[Camera shutter clicking]

Oh, Brian, I wanted a word with you.

We need a free and full exchange of views, Jasper.

When did your affair with Tim Mortimer begin, Paula'?

Um, Tim was very supportive

in the months after Richard's death.

Eventually a relationship developed.

Okay, so, just to be clear,

you're saying that it started sometime after Richard died'?

Yes.

We don't believe you.

STANDING: Paula was, what, 20 years younger than Richard?

Something like that.

And you met her when you were his student.

Graduate student, yes.

Very attractive woman, eh'?

Intelligent, independent.

When did the affair start?

I tried to help Paula out as much as I could

after the shock of Richard's death.

We started seeing each other quite frequently,

and then we both realized

that we were strongly attracted to each other.

I don't doubt it.

But what I do doubt is when it started.

I think it happened While Richard was alive.

Look, son, we're gonna be talking to people --

friends, neighbors colleagues.

We're gonna be checking hotel registers,

credit-card bills, bank accounts.

Now, believe me, I've been there,

and if you were at it, someone will know about it.

Someone always does.

So you'd be better off to come clean right now.

Okay, the truth is, Paula and I started a relationship

about six months before Richard's death.

Was he aware of it'?

I don't know.

LANE: So, why have you two been spying on me'?

Why are you so interested in Richard Symes'?

I'm a scholar in the same field.

No, you're not, Brian.

You've no scholarly publications to your name.

And you're quite ignorant about the basics.

Look, we're not here to discuss my credentials.

We're here because of your outrageously underhand conduct.

Well, the truth is,

we realized you must be looking for the same thing as ourselves.

Yes, and you thought you'd take a shortcut

by plagiarizing my research.

Well, let's see just how far you've got.

We are, of course, talking about a particular book, aren't We'?

Stolen by Richard Symes from the university library?

[Laughs] He shouldn't have done that.

We're the ones who found it.

We took it to Richard because it was in his specialist field

to ask if it really was --

No, shush!

Let's see what Brian thinks it might be.

Well, we're obviously talking about a work

of considerable value, aren't we'?

We're talking about a major work

about 18th-century botanical science.

Look, I'm not prepared to reveal my hand any further Without --

Without having some convincing evidence of your good faith.

Bullshit.

Don't forget I could ruin your reputations

with the evidence I've got.

Right, what have we got here'? Photos.

[Cellphone beeping]

And you've just deleted them.

Pleasure talking with you, Brian.

It was both amusing and instructive.

Now, you've a well-supported alibi

for the night of your husband's death.

But, of course, Tim could have killed him, couldn't he'?

The night Richard died, Tim was with me.

HALFORD: The police found you at the hotel

to notify you of the death,

but they don't record the presence of anyone else.

I got a call from reception

to say that the police wanted to speak with me.

I didn't know what it was about.

Tim hid out in the bathroom.

I didn't particularly want the police

in on my adulterous relationship.

Thanks, Paula.

I think we've made significant progress.

Richard Symes, married to a much younger woman,

who in turn takes a young lover --

classic scenario for murder.

Paula gave Mortimer an alibi.

Well, she would, Wouldn't she'?

STANDING: Yeah, but Mortimer

could easily have traveled to the book fair with her,

but he would still have had time to get back in the evening

and push Symes off the roof.

No, the book's the key to it.

Not more bleeding books.

Go on.

I fronted up the Urquharts today.

They've admitted spying on me.

They're trying to track down a book

stolen by Symes from the university library.

- What book'? - I don't know.

They cottoned on to the fact I was bluffing and clammed up.

Brian, does this help us with Tim and Paula'?

Symes stole the book.

Symes was killed. The book's missing.

If Tim or Paula are now in possession of it...

Well, we can hardly confront them with it

if we don't know what it is.

It's something the Urquharts wanted Symes' opinion about.

So it's got to be in an area Where they had shared interests,

history of agriculture or botany.

They did all write a paper together.

What about?

It was some kind of journal, wasn't it'?

LANE: No, no, no. This is important.

Journal of the History of --

- Turnips, probably. - Turnips'?

No, no, no, Journal of the History of Economic Thought.

That's it.

The library's still open. I can check this out tonight.

It's not that urgent, Brian.

Sandra, it's the thrill of the chase.

[Keyboard clacking]

The Journal of the History of Economic Thought.

Yes?

Well, Where is it'?

Learned journals are on level 7, right at the top.

[Sighs]

PULLMAN: Going-home time, Jack.

Uh, yes, yes. I'm on my Way.

L, uh, had an e-mail from the university.

There's an Emma Curran.

She was the librarian on duty the night that Symes died.

I couldn't track her down at all.

Turns out she's now using her married name -- Emma Woodford.

Works for the London Library.

There's a job for tomorrow.

Yeah.

You know, when we were still in the job,

Brian applied to a university as a mature student.

Really?

What happened'?

They interviewed him.

Oh.

Ah!

2005.

"Arboriculture in the French Enlightenment."

You've lost me already.

Arboriculture -- the science of tree cultivation.

LANE: Richard Symes and the Urquharts

Wrote this paper together.

I thought you were trying to work out

what this mystery book Was.

Well, have a bit of patience, and I'll get there.

Now, part of this paper is about a fellow called Henri Duhamel,

and a lot of the references are to Symes' PhD thesis

on French botanical scientists,

so I'm assuming that Symes Wrote that bit of it.

Now, the Urquharts wanted Symes' opinion on a book,

so they must have thought it was potentially rare and valuable.

And remember, the Urquharts knew

that Symes was an authority on Duhamel.

Hold on, hold on.

So, are you saying that this unheard-of French bloke

Wrote a book that was Worth nicking'?

A list of the top 10 antiquarian book prices of all time.

In 2006, Duhamel's "Traite des Arbres Fruitiers" --

that's "A Treatise on Fruit Trees" --

sold for $4.5 million.

Good God!

- Bugger me! - LANE: Worth nicking, eh'?

Worth killing for.

Sandra'?

[Police radio chatter]

If I had a copy of Duhamel's "Traite,"

I would have disposed of it through the trade,

and I'd be living in the Bahamas.

As well as searching your premises,

We'll be investigating your financial records.

Waste as much time and public money as you like.

[indistinct talking]

Sit down, Mr. Halford.

Thank you.

EMMA: Uh, I don't think I can really add anything

to the statement I made at the time.

I was on duty at the university library,

but I didn't know anything was wrong

until the police and ambulance arrived.

Did you speak to Richard Symes that evening'?

Only to say hello.

How well did you know him'?

Well, we knew each other professionally but not socially.

Did you notice anything out of the ordinary

in his mood or behavior that evening'?

Not at all.

HALFORD: As a member of the library staff,

you must have noticed that books were going missing.

EMMA: Yes.

Jasper and Sophie Urquhart made a lot of fuss about it.

Did they'?

EMMA: Yes, but books do go missing from libraries.

Quite apart from readers failing to return them,

they can be mislaid or mis-shelved.

Or stolen.

Yes.

Did you know that Richard Symes was suspected?

No.

[sighs ] Right.

Some decisions need to be made.

- Mm. - About the work on the house.

Whatever you decide, dear.

ESTHER: If we don't do something, and soon,

this house could fall down 'round our ears.

Did you hear what I said'?

House fall down around us.

Well, you got anything to say about that?

Poe!

What?

"The Fall of the House of Usher."

Made me think of Edgar Allan Poe.

[Grunts]

[Sighs]

What are you looking for'?

"Tales of Mystery and Imagination."

- Why? Because that's the answer!

[Sighs]

There you are.

Esther...you're a genius!

[Smooches]

Hey, hey, I've cracked it!

[Laughs]

I know Where the book is.

Really?

Yes, I said from the start

this whole case would be solved in the library.

Is that it'?

No, that's Edgar Allan Poe.

What's he got to do with it'?

Well, he wrote a story called "The Purloined Letter."

A compromising letter goes missing,

and the great detective discovers it in open view

in a domestic letter rack.

I thought we were looking for a book.

It's the same principle. Where do you hide a book'?

In a library.

And that's what Richard Symes did.

He nicked a copy of Duhamel.

He re-bound it with a fake title.

And he stuck it on a shelf at the London Library.

Well, Wouldn't they notice?

No, they've got a million volumes.

How are they gonna know about an extra one

that's not in the catalog?

A book could sit there for years,

especially if it's an obscure subject with a boring title.

Yeah, but why did he do this'?

'Cause he couldn't cash in on the book immediately.

Other people were on the trail of it --

the Urquharts, in particular.

And he was right to be anxious, wasn't he'?

- He was killed over that book. - Maybe.

So, who is it'?

The Urquharts, Tim Mortimer, person or persons unknown?

Oh, I haven't thought about that.

Thank you. And Where amongst the millions of volumes

is this book'?

Well, that's the question, isn't it?

I haven't worked that bit out yet,

but if I could just enter into Symes' mind,

I'm sure I could reconstruct his thought processes.

That would be a very impressive trick, Brian.

But in the meantime, tell you What,

why don't you just disappear back into the library

and leave all the dreary stuff to us'?

Witness statements, interviews, suspects.

I'm sure I'll have the nub of the matter in my grasp.

Mind you don't go blind.

[Laughs]

Oh, uh, I'm supposed to give this to Dr. Urquhart.

We're expecting her any minute.

Uh, thing is, I'm late for another class.

We'll make sure she gets it.

Cool.

That's not how you spell "plow."

It is in the States.

He's probably downloaded the whole thing

from an American Website.

What? Is that what they get up to'?

Yeah, I told you, Jack, doing a degree is not rocket science.

Unless you're doing rocket science, I suppose.

Actually, there are some bits that must be his own work.

For "must have," he's got "must of,"

and he spelled "input" with an

I could do better than this!

So, what's stopping you'?

Well, I Wouldn't come to this place.

I want to be able to stretch the old brain a bit

before it seizes up completely.

Oh, much better places than this, Jack.

Yes, Well.

Oh, hello.

Hi, Sophie.

We would like you to come down to the station with us

to do an interview about the death of Richard Symes.

Oh.

Very well, then.

By the way, a budding Nobel Prize winner left you this.

Oh, thank you.

Well, he's progressing.

Really'? - SOPHIE: Oh, yes.

Last time, he printed out the bit that said,

"For further information, click here."

PULLMAN: There's one thing that puzzles us, Sophie.

Jeremy Ventham seems very keen to have got rid of departments

and teachers who, in his terms, Weren't pulling their weight,

and yet he took you two back on.

So, what favors does he owe you'?

For keeping quiet.

About what?

One evening, we happened to be passing through

the "dogmatic theology" section of the university library,

which was somewhat underused.

And we came across Dr. Ventham

having it off with the librarian, Emma.

Who is now at the London Library?

SOPHIE: Yes.

And, of course, they are both married.

So you blackmailed him'?

In a nutshell, yes, we did, really.

STANDING: What do you know about a book

written by Henri Duhamel called --

well, in English, "A Treatise on Fruit Trees"?

It's very rare and very valuable.

We have information that you found a copy of this book

at the London Municipal University library.

Is that right'?

It's what we hoped we might have found.

But we couldn't be sure.

The title page was illegibly foxed.

Foxed'?

JASPER: Brown staining

caused by metallic or chemical impurities in the paper.

And you drew Richard Symes' attention to the book'?

Yes. He was the authority on Duhamel.

And you were willing to out him in on the deal?

We Weren't thinking about any kind of deal.

We didn't have any notion of the potential value.

We asked a colleague to confirm an academic discovery.

And Where was this'?

In the university library. Richard was working there.

STANDING: What did he say'?

He Wouldn't commit himself.

He asked us to leave the book with him.

Said he needed to study it

and to consult some reference books and bibliographies.

We had classes to teach.

When we looked for Richard later, we couldn't find him.

And the book hadn't been checked out of the university library,

but it wasn't on the shelves.

So we decided to do our own research

on what the book might be worth.

And you realized that you'd been closed out

of a multimillion-dollar scam'?

Oh. If you want to put it in vulgar terms, yes.

And you confronted Symes on the roof terrace the night he died.

SOPHIE: No, no.

We saw him in his office.

He said he'd taken the book to show to his wife

and that she had taken the view that it wasn't a first edition

and that so many of the plates -- the illustrations,

because that's what makes these books so valuable --

were missing that it was almost worthless.

And you didn't believe him'?

Well, we said, "In that case,

why isn't it back on the shelves?"

Well, he didn't have an answer.

He treated us with contempt.

This gives you a motive for killing him.

[Scoffs] But we didn't.

What, you just shrugged your shoulders?

I find that very hard to believe.

SOPHIE: We're not violent people.

We didn't try to hurt him.

We just grassed him up.

Grassed him up'?

Isn't that what you say'? Or is it "dobbed him in"?

We denounced him to the authorities, anyway.

What authorities are we talking about'?

We said to the security officer, the nice Russian boy --

- Pavel Illich'? - SOPHIE: That's it.

We said, "We're terribly sorry, but we have an awful suspicion

that Dr. Symes has taken a very valuable book."

Then you tried to find out what happened to the book'?

JASPER: Yes.

To no effect, sadly.

Of course, we realized he'd probably hidden it

in the London Library.

You worked that out'?

Well, any idiot could have guessed that.

[Keyboard clacking]

We'd like you to tell us what you know

about the death of Richard Symes.

HALFORD: All Of it this time.

We've been checking your immigration status.

You're here on a student visa.

And you shouldn't be Working.

And anyhow, that visa expired some years ago.

Where is Accountancy and Financial Control?

We don't get many requests for that.

That's what I thought. Where is it'?

The basement, the rolling cases.

You were told that Symes had stolen a valuable book

from the university.

The next thing that happened was that Symes was found dead,

and the book was never seen again.

And you kept quiet about it.

That'll take a lot of explaining, Pavel.

Yes.

Well'?

You think I killed Richard?

Richard and me, we were like this.

How come'?

He comes to me maybe three months before he dies.

He says he wants me for private security job, cash in hand.

Thinks his wife is shagging that research student Tim.

I follow them both.

And it's true.

Richard gives me, uh, big bunk.

Yeah.

Then Richard says, "I have this little earner going.

Do you want some?"

And I say yes.

He was stealing books from the library.

Throws them off roof to Tim, and his wife, Paula, sells them.

But Richard says, "They're cheating on me.

I owe them nothing."

So I become his partner.

And you became the book catcher?

Yes, I became the book catcher.

So the Urquharts Weren't actually giving you any news.

No. I had caught that book myself.

What did you do with it'?

I gave it back to Richard.

He says, "I'll hide this until I can put it on the market.

It's Worth megabucks."

And the night he died, you were there'?

Yes.

I'm waiting in the car park.

Richard throws some books. I take them to the car.

Then I look up, and there's a fight going on.

Richard and vice chancellor.

Ventham was up there'?

PAVEL: Yes.

Richard falls, vice chancellor disappears.

I check the body, and Richard is dead.

How did Ventham know he'd be there'?

The only person who could have told him was you.

The small problem with my student visa,

vice chancellor also knew about it.

He said he'll keep quiet

if I gave information about Richard

so he could give him the sack.

Oh, so you were spying on Symes for Ventham'?

HALFORD: Busy little bugger, Weren't you'?

Did you tell Ventham about the really big scam,

the Duhamel book'?

Yes, I did.

WOMAN: You've missed the vice chancellor, I'm afraid.

He's flying out to Geneva tonight

for an academic conference.

Will he be at the airport now'?

No, he said he had something to do in town on the way.

Thank you.

[Cranking]

Oi! I'm in here!

Oi! I'm still in here!

Excuse me.

Help!

JEREMY: There's no one here but us, Mr. Lane.

- You've found it, haven't you'? - Found what?

- Aah! - Don't ma . V silly buggers-

Give me the book, and this will all be over.

I can't move!

Slide the book along the floor.

What book'? There's hundreds in here!

Aah! Aaaaah!

Where's Brian Lane'?

Well, I believe he's in the library somewhere.

He's an investigator for the Metropolitan Police.

- Look, I really don't know -- - STANDING: Yes, you do.

You've been Watching him!

And reporting to your boyfriend, Jeremy Ventham.

So, Where is he'?

The basement.

Jeremy said he was just trying to recover university property.

[Groaning ] oi! Hey, no!

Aah! No!

Aaah!

- Aaaaah! -[ Cracking]

Aah! [Groaning]

- Come here! - STANDING: Oi!

All right, that'll do. That'll do.

[Groaning]

- HALFORD: You all right'? - LANE: I've got it.

I've got the book. Look, it's French.

It's 18th century.

And it purports, according to the cover, to be an exposition

of the merits of double-entry bookkeeping.

- That's mine! - Get off.

Whereas, in fact...

...it is an exposition

of the merits of double-entry bookkeeping.

- Shit! - PULLMAN: Come on.

Well, never mind, Brian.

Only another 999,999 volumes to go.

[Sighs]

STANDING: Well, I'm going for a pint.

You going to the library?

I've had it with libraries.

Eh'?

They're full of weirdos.

I thought that's why you felt so at home.

Anyway, they're a thing of the past.

- Oh, really? - This is the way forward.

Linked to the Internet,

it allows me to access the world's literary culture

from the comfort of my own armchair.

Cool. Let's have a go.

Can you play "Football Manager" on it'?

LANE: No, you can't. Be careful.

I've just downloaded

"The Complete Poems of Philip Larkin."

Now, there's a man who spent his life in libraries.

[Chuckles] Here's a good quote.

What's that, then?

STANDING: "Books are a load of crap."

I think you'll find that's an example

of Larkin's use of irony.

Subtitling made possible by Acorn Media

# 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 #