Original subtitles

I want to tell the truth.

The truth can go to hell.

And if you don't get that into your head right now,

forget about the rest of your life.

Do you believe he didn't do it?

Ben didn't murder Melanie Lloyd. If he didn't, who did?

That's the wrong question!

By the time I've finished with Melanie Lloyd,

the jury will have her down as borderline satanic.

Reckless and dangerous, don't you think?

Where's this going, Ms. Slaughter?

You think I killed her.

I'm saying I love you, Ben.

And nothing will change that.

Being a listener in this place is like being a priest.

Roll up your sleeve.

I don't want to.

You'll be back for more. Sooner or later.

"Everyone knows who did the Stock Hill murder."

Why don't you, Box?

This prosecution is safe.

Mr. Stone will not be blowing anything out of the water.

I want results on both cases, Box.

You set this up?

You're his?

Is the defense case

that Robert Lloyd murdered his daughter?

This is wrong!

Both will tell us of the Good Samaritan

and what he was doing at the time you suggest

he was murdering his own daughter.

What did you want to be?

What mattered to you before you came in here?

Football.

I had a trial with West Ham.

You didn't get in?

It was me and another kid from school.

What, they took him and not you?

Mm-hmm.

Do you want me to find him, have him killed?

What?

Um...

You can have anything you want in here.

If you have the right friends.

I think you're going down.

I want you to get used to that idea.

Makes it easier when it happens.

The temperature regularly tops 100 degrees,

and the roads are often no more

than tracks of mud or sand.

- Thanks. - No problem.

Just think.

This time tomorrow you'll be in your own bed.

See you around.

Hooch...

No.

Don't lie to me.

I let you down, betrayed you.

That's all.

What did you have for breakfast?

Five cigarettes.

You nervous?

It's my first murder.

Me too.

You did not commit this murder.

What standard of proof

does the prosecution need to reach

before you can convict this defendant?

You must be sure beyond all reasonable doubt.

Nothing less will do.

What you are about to do now

is probably the single most important duty

you will ever be asked to perform.

The consequences are profound.

The stakes could not be higher.

Now go and consider your verdict.

- Question from the jury? - No.

- Verdict? - Could be good.

It's a murder trial.

It would be indecent to convict him after an hour and a half.

All rise.

Will the foreman please stand?

Have you reached a verdict upon which you are all agreed?

Yes.

Do you find the defendant guilty or not guilty of murder?

Guilty.

This was a vicious and evil murder.

Right from the moment you committed this terrible crime,

you have done everything possible

to obstruct the judicial process.

Thank goodness the police,

the prosecution, and this jury

have had the good sense to see past your deviousness.

The criminal justice system

is too strong for you, Ben Coulter.

There is only one sentence I can pass,

and that is one of life imprisonment.

Take him down.

I know what a bad man looks like.

I know what he smells like.

That stink is in every single breath I take.

I live me life with them down there.

I'm your real jury.

You didn't do this.

Believe me.

Lifer's are supposed to get their own cell.

As you know, we don't have the space.

Okay. You're a con. So you work.

Kitchens.

It's a good job.

Work hard, you keep it.

Wait. Flitcroft.

Why you doing this?

Why are you giving him the best job?

It's because you don't think he did it, isn't it?

Good night, boys.

You're not eating.

No, I'm thinking.

You know how it is with men.

Thinking and eating at the same time.

Way too hard.

You've always done that.

What?

Self-deprecating jokes get you out of answering hard questions.

You lost a trial.

In my experience it's very rare for the jury to get it wrong.

Look...

It's lonely as hell when you lose, but...

another day, another brief.

You look across a table at someone new

who very badly needs your help,

and with wig and gown,

you go on and you fight for them.

Hello?

Ben?

I just wanted to say that, um,

I don't blame you.

It's not your fault.

Okay?

Bye.

Present narrator, his childhood,

and the terrible history...

Move on.

Featherweight.

Make a wish.

I came to apologize.

- I made some mistakes. - Yes, you did.

But that doesn't mean we can't make this right again.

You know, you're the first barrister to ever come here.

20 whatever years

of conferences at chambers.

Never once here.

You're a real rule-breaker in every sense.

What about the boyfriend? Stuart Napier.

- Yeah, what about him? - It's not Ben, it's not dad.

You want to know what I think?

I think we had a 10% chance of getting a not guilty

out of this bang-to-rights true bill.

And you blew that chance.

- Live with it. - I can't.

Are you gonna help him?

When did you last see Melanie?

We were supposed to meet up the night she died.

But you didn't?

Look, the trial's over, isn't it?

What's all this about?

Where were you supposed to meet?

A bar.

Are you scared of me?

♫ Clouded and hazy future's clear whenever I'm with you ♫

Why are you scared of me?

♫ Just think of all the things that we could do ♫

♫ To pass the time ♫

I didn't show up.

Because of the way her dad was,

I didn't think it was worth the hassle anymore.

You were finishing with her?

♫ Na na-na-na, na na-na-na ♫

She called me on my mobile that night.

Twice.

You ignored her calls?

♫ It's okay ♫

Where's the bar you were supposed to meet?

It's called Parliament.

♫ And though our future's gone uncertain ♫

♫ It's gonna be all right ♫

♫ 'Cause though I'm leaving ♫

♫ Longing leaves me ever by your side ♫

♫ And all our time together ♫

♫ Is tearing me apart ♫

♫ I can't hold you tomorrow ♫

♫ But I hold you in my heart ♫

♫ And all our time together ♫

♫ Is tearing me apart ♫

♫ I can't hold out forever ♫

♫ But I hold you in my heart ♫

Stone? It's me.

Do you remember the murder on the Stock Hill estate?

Wasn't that the same night Melanie died?

♫ Don't even bother trying to tell me cause you live a lie ♫

♫ Cause in a moment or a minute I can see it through ♫

♫ And have a precious little second of you by my side ♫

♫ It goes... ♫

How are you?

Fantastic.

Really fantastic.

You?

You've come a long way.

You were a lot younger when all this started.

What do you want?

I want to get you out of here.

How?

The jury's verdict.

I think it was unsafe.

Your barrister had

an inappropriate relationship with you.

She made big mistakes.

Her professional judgment was completely up the creek.

What's she say?

One question.

How is a 21-year-old on trial for murder

supposed to know what he's doing

when his barrister is behaving like a... a total amateur?

What would happen to Frances?

Here's the choice.

Her career, your life.

And if you don't do this,

ten years from now,

when you wake up for the four thousandth time

in your tiny little cell and you look in the mirror...

you won't be thinking about Frances Kapoor.

I thought a brief was supposed to look at the unused material

before her client goes to prison for life.

You know what I think is really wrong

with the police in this country?

Institutional sarcasm.

Phone call for you, Jeary.

Who is it?

Yeah, tell them I'm coming.

It'll be part of the forensic report.

Talk to the team about.

Young Jeary said you were here.

- He shouldn't be doing this. - What?

Young police officer should be out on the streets.

But the modern police force

needs top-class bureaucrats, apparently.

Oh, don't let me stop you.

It's fine. I'm done.

So quickly?

You're old-fashioned through and through.

Lessons in life from my old man...

Always hold a door open for a lady

and never underestimate a woman.

There were two murders on that same night.

Melanie and the Stock Hill estate murder.

That's right.

With nothing in common?

Me. They're both mine.

Oh, yes.

Of course.

Freddie.

Leave him alone.

Stop giving him smack.

Wrong way 'round, Hooch.

He comes to me. His choice.

Why are you doing this?

Give me a minute.

He's just so rare.

How do you mean?

An innocent man?

How many of those do we meet in here?

Just makes the fact that he comes to me

for what I can give him

all the more moving.

How do you know he's innocent?

I always know.

I think Melanie witnessed another murder that night.

That's why she wanted to go to the seaside to get out of there.

She was running away.

So, what are you gonna do?

- Solve two murders? - Ben...

This is just about you.

This is about you

and your idea of how you can feel good about yourself.

What about me?

We can go to the police.

The police have got their man.

Right here where they want him.

Please don't come here again.

There you go.

What's this?

My listening days are over.

You can't do that. You're too valuable.

All right?

Petrol station witness.

Up late.

Good result in the Lloyd murder.

My gut's never wrong.

Who's that?

Don't know. It's just where the tape stopped.

Stone, it's Ben Coulter.

Yeah, I've been thinking about what you said.

About the appeal.

I've made up my mind.

This way, sir.

Where are we going?

Sir.

Oh, my God!

If you'd just like to, uh, wait here, please, sir.

Thank you.

Hello, Mr. Box.

Bit risky, isn't it, being seen with me?

Oh, those days are gone.

All that old-fashioned honor nonsense

about not consorting with the filth.

Gives me a headache just thinking about it.

You want people to know that we talk?

I'm not ashamed of anything I do.

Order must be kept.

We work together.

What does that make us?

Men of courage, Mr. Box.

What do you want?

Give me a name for the Stock Hill murder.

I have a hunch.

And you know everything about everyone on that patch.

What's your hunch?

Two murders, one murderer.

Ben Coulter didn't kill Melanie Lloyd.

But you know who did.

Your hunch is wrong.

Fine.

Good.

End of hunch.

Sir?

- I saw the wrong prisoner. - Sorry, sir?

Get me Coulter.

You just can't keep away from me, can you?

I can help you.

What?

The judge said this was an evil crime.

That's a big word

in the lexicon of rehabilitation.

Well, spit it out.

Take responsibility for what you've done,

and a parole board can see past that word.

Still after me to confess?

Is that why you're here?

Six years.

You could do as little as six.

You wouldn't even be 30.

Too old to play for the second-best team

in east London maybe, but...

Hold on.

Just a bit longer.

You'll soon be out.

It's over, Hooch.

You can't get out.

Nobody can.

Ben...

I'll see you.

You were wrong.

I didn't take your advice, I haven't moved on,

and I'm really onto something.

That's why I wanted to see you.

- What is it? - It's an appeal.

But I haven't sought leave yet.

I wanted to be the one to give you these.

Professional misconduct.

Barrister and her feelings make it impossible

for the appellant to get a fair trial.

Murders and emotional embroilments don't mix, Frances.

Can I give you some advice

I think you should actually take?

Fight, and fight very dirty.

Call Ben Coulter a liar.

Your word against his.

Convicted murderer

versus female, nonwhite member of the bar.

It's your only hope.

I don't believe he'd do this.

You bastard.

Hello, Frances.

Tell me...

How do you think this trial went

in terms of your performance?

Don't you dare!

Good, clear, objective decision-making?

See, I think Frances Kapoor,

champion of justice, seeker of the truth,

is a barrister with no judgment.

Has he agreed to this? He hasn't, has he?

Do you really think that becoming emotionally involved

with a defendant in a murder trial is fair or just?

- That's not it. - What is it, then?

Beating the system?

You can't do that. It's the best there is.

Ben Coulter knows that.

And in answer to your question, yes, he has agreed.

I am acting under his instruction...

Carefully recorded, properly elicited,

without undue pressure or emotional abuse.

What he wants.

Nothing else.

Confession?

Honestly...

Not mine, Freddie.

Yours.

You know who killed Melanie Lloyd.

Don't you, Freddie?

I need to know.

Get this to Ben Coulter's brief.

She's called Frances Kapoor.

Post it outside the prison. Tell no one.

- Morning. - Good morning. Thanks.

- Hi, mate. - Hi, Dad.

Sir?

I've always felt you believe

you occupy the moral high ground.

You and your gut.

Sit down.

I'm gonna ask you for a second time.

Who's that?

You know who it is.

The Court of Appeal, the whole world knows who it is.

When a man is drowning,

they say his whole life passes through his mind.

What are you talking about?

A letter from a con called Hooch surfaces after his "suicide."

It contains evidence that Melanie Lloyd's killer

and the man responsible for the Stock Hill estate murder

are one and the same.

Would you like a glass of water?

Have a glass of water.

We find that Melanie was followed

from the Stock Hill estate all the way to the seaside

and then all the way back to her house.

And who followed Melanie?

Say it, Box.

Paul Fittipaldi.

Who, it turns out,

as well as being a witness in the Melanie trial,

is good friends with very big criminals.

Then I remember

I've seen my senior investigating officer

watching CCTV footage of Fittipaldi

and deny he knows who he is.

How can that be?

Gross incompetence?

Are you a useless police officer?

That would be your way out, Box.

"I am an incompetent police officer."

Do you want to take it?

Your hand is shaking.

You made a deal, didn't you?

You've let criminals police criminals.

Whatever I've done,

it's always been for the greater good.

We're supposed to protect the public.

That's what we're for.

But you lot, with your budgets and your form filling

and your cutbacks.

The whole police force is turning into one big office.

I was merely allocating the meager resources I was handed.

You haven't got the courage to tell me.

But there is one last thing you can do.

Everybody?

Everyone?

Um...

Well, he's home.

My son. Your friend.

And we just want to say

how crucial your support has been to us

through all of this.

And I know it sounds like a cliché,

but, my God, you find out who your friends are

at times like these.

So, anyway, we knew that he'd get his freedom,

and, um, we just want to say thank you for all your support

and your loyalty and your faith.

You've given our son his future back.

To Ben.

- To Ben. - To Ben.

I thought this would be a bad idea, but...

You know your dad.

You know, I spent quite a lot of time in here

while you were away.

Away?

Sorry.

Do you want to be on your own?

You know, when you talk to me now,

the first thing that you say...

is that you're not Dad.

As if that gives you access.

Access?

I'm your mum.

You thought I killed her.

At least...

you and me were honest with each other.

You know, that...

gives us a chance, doesn't it?

Gives us somewhere to start.

Don't want to be alone tonight.

Expected 40s, 982 by 1800 Tuesday.

Low Hebrides 968 and low southeast Iceland 972

expected 100 miles northeast of Iceland 971...

They'll win.

The appeal.

Forget the trial.

Forget the Court of Appeal.

What about the other man?

You know, back in the '70s there was a deodorant.

Norsca.

I used to spray it everywhere. Even in me shoes.

The smell was lovely.

It was clean, pure.

Like Norwegian pine.

It's what fresh evidence smells like, Ben.

They know who did this. It wasn't you.

And Frances?

Well, the ball is already rolling

with the bar conduct committee.

There's nothing we can do.

We couldn't know new evidence would be found, Ben.

Going for the mistrial, it was the right option.

You know, she was the only person

who actually wanted to hear what I had to say.

Do you really think things would have been different

had I let you tell me everything at the start?

This is justice.

It's rough, but it's right.

You're free, Ben.

Go and live your life.

♫ Better stop dreaming of the quiet life ♫

♫ 'Cause it's the one we'll never know ♫

♫ And quit running for that runaway bus ♫

♫ 'Cause those rosy days are few ♫

♫ And stop apologizing ♫

♫ For the things you've never done ♫

♫ 'Cause time is short and life is cruel ♫

♫ But it's up to us to change ♫

♫ This town called Malice ♫

♫ Rows and rows of disused milk floats ♫

♫ Stand dying in the dairy yard ♫

♫ And a hundred lonely housewives ♫

♫ Clutch empty milk bottles to their hearts ♫

♫ Hanging out their old love letters ♫

♫ On the line to dry ♫

♫ It's enough to make you stop believing ♫

♫ When tears come fast and furious ♫

♫ In a town called Malice ♫

♫ Yeah-eah-eah ♫

♫ Ba-ba-ba-ba ba-ba-ba ♫

Penalty!

♫ Ba-ba-ba-ba ba-ba-ba ♫

♫ Ba-ba ba-ba-ba-ba ♫

♫ Struggle after struggle ♫

♫ Year after year ♫

♫ The atmosphere's a fine blend of ice ♫

♫ I'm almost stone-cold dead ♫

♫ In a town called Malice ♫

♫ Ooh-ooh, yeah ♫

♫ A whole street's belief ♫

♫ In Sunday's roast beef ♫

♫ Gets dashed against the Co-op ♫

♫ To either cut down on beer or the kid's new gear ♫

♫ It's a big decision in a town called Malice ♫

♫ Ooh-ooh, yeah ♫

♫ Ooooooh ♫

♫ The ghost of a steam train ♫

♫ Echoes down my track ♫

♫ It's at the moment bound for nowhere ♫

♫ Just going 'round and 'round, ohh ♫

♫ Playground kids and creaking swings ♫

♫ Lost laughter in the breeze... ♫