On the Beat Doctors

'And our top story. Figures released today reveal that crime

'across Letherbridge is at an all-time high...

'..with a number of notorious estates experiencing what can only

'be described as a crimewave, including muggings,

'burglaries and drug-related incidents.'

"Crime In Letherbridge Reaches Record High"?

Well, if they let us from behind our desks,

maybe we could do something about it.

I've got a day of paperwork, paperwork and more paperwork.

-Sarge, that's the privilege of rank.

-Mm.

# ..the hippie

# The hip, hip a hop and you don't stop, a rock it

# To the bang bang boogie... #

Ah, good. I was worried about you, I thought something had happened.

Barry, what are you doing here?

Monday 21st March, I'm here to escort you, as arranged.

But you're early. You're very early.

Ah, well, yes, but, you see,

the situation at St Phil's can be extremely challenging, parking wise.

I know Joe who runs the security down there.

If I was to put a wheel out of place,

he'd never let me hear the end of it!

But the appointment's not till this afternoon.

It pays to be prepared.

But I'm not prepared. I'm not ready.

Look at me, I haven't showered or anything.

Don't panic!

You sort yourself out. I'll go wait in the car.

I could do with sorting out the glove box, anyway.

Honestly.

MUSIC: Rapper's Delight by Sugarhill Gang

Morning.

'Scuse me, mate.

Love a bonfire, me.

No school?

Don't blame you. I hated school.

-You'll get in trouble though, mate.

-Don't care.

-Ah, no. Not out of gas, are you?

-Shut up.

-Shame.

-Looks like you'll have to leave it.

-You leave it.

Ah, but that's the problem, innit? I've seen you now.

Can't just ignore you.

You need to get to school, mate.

No! No way!

Well let me take you home, then. I can't just leave you out here.

Might burn down the whole estate if you get that lighter working(!)

It's a dump! It wants burning down.

Nah, I can't let you do that. Sorry.

-Can't stop me.

-Could arrest you.

You wouldn't.

Might have no choice.

I'm 12.

Don't matter. Still stick you in the cells.

What's your name?

Don't.

Where's your mum and dad? Won't they be worried?

-Don't have a dad.

-Your mum then.

She won't care.

Right, a night in the cells it is then.

All right! It's Ziggy.

You ready?

Can I just finish my coffee first?

Are you scared?

I'm not scared. But I am nervous, yes.

Look, why don't we just take things really casual.

If we don't make a big deal out it,

then Harry won't think it's a big deal.

I'll just tell him you're one of my friends, and you want to say hello.

Yeah, I'm your friend.

Ben, I'm not...

I just want to meet him.

I really, really want to meet him.

Oh, why don't we tell him I'm a doctor?

I am a doctor.

In that case he'll hardly notice you.

-You can go now.

-Best see you in, hadn't I?

What's he done now?

It's all right, he's not in any trouble.

Just wanted to bring him home safe.

Well, now you have.

-You know, he really should be in school, Mrs...?

-Stella.

What do you want me to do, drag him there kicking and screaming?

Get inside, you, as if I haven't got enough on my plate?

Told you what she's like.

Hold on! Look, I'm sorry.

I meant it, he's not in any trouble.

I really think I might be able to help.

What could you possibly do to help us?

Look, It's tough. For you an' all.

Why don't you let me have a chat with him?

Worth a try, isn't it?

Come on then.

Valerie!

You're not ready. It's quarter past ten.

-I'm not going.

-Valerie!

Get in, would you?

Just for a minute.

I'll do you a cuppa?

You must think you're involved with a mad woman.

I don't think that.

I wouldn't blame you.

I feel mad.

Absolutely barmy.

But this is it.

This...thing.

This tumour has either gone, or it hasn't.

Me knowing isn't going to make a blind bit of difference one

way or the other.

I can't do anything about it.

So, I've decided, I don't want to know.

I do understand how hard this is for you, you know.

Well, then you'll understand my decision.

Look, why don't we go inside.

We can have so much more fun in there...

No.

There's nothing I'd rather do, than go in and spend the afternoon

with you.

But you know we can't do that.

Come on, Valerie.

Knowledge is power. You need to be brave.

Face this head on.

I can't. I can't.

You can.

And I'll be by your side every step of the way, even if it means

I have to park illegally.

Sulking.

-He's having a hard time at school?

-He's only been there two weeks,

I've told him, just give it a chance.

-Why'd he move schools?

-Er, cos we got moved here.

It's meant to be temporary until they find us something else

but until then we're stuck.

He hates it. I don't blame him.

Have you been here at night-time? It's like a warzone.

Anyway, you should be out there catching real criminals,

not hanging round persecuting little kids.

I told you, he's not in any trouble. I just want to help.

Are you for real?

I live not far from here. I know what it's like.

Look, I can see he's a good kid.

My mobile number, just in case.

I'm happy to come and have a chat with him if you think it'd help.

I'm Danny, by the way. Danny Powell.

I'll see if I can get him to school, all right?

Hey, Spud, how you doing, you all right?

Hey, Harry.

This is my friend, Niamh. She's a doctor.

A nice one. And it's my morning off, so you're safe.

Is that Jess?

Well, how is Postman Pat going to deliver all his letters,

without his trusty sidekick?

-Am I right?

-I didn't have you down as a Postman Pat fan.

Oh, you've no idea.

# Postman Pat, Postman Pat

# Postman Pat and his black and white cat

# Early in the morning

# Before his day is dawning

# He picks up all the postbags in his van. #

Do I pass?

Wow, you are really privileged!

Thank you, Harry.

High five!

Ziggy! Come on now!

Ziggy?

Do I have to come in there and drag you out, cos I will!

It's getting cold.

Don't want it.

I don't care, you're eating it.

You can't make me do anything.

You're eating them beans because there'll be sod all else.

Get off me!

Do you want us to get chucked out of here as well?

Cos that's what's going to happen, and then we'll be really stuck.

I hate you!

Yeah, yeah, well I hate you too!

Zig! Ziggy!

-You've worn him out!

-Oh, I wasn't thinking,

I was having such a great time...

Niamh, I'm joking.

He's had a great time. He loves you.

Do you think?

He's a really special little boy.

Yeah, I know.

Wish I didn't have to go to work.

-Will you say goodbye from me?

-Course I will.

Thank you.

I'll call you later.

-He's gone!

-Right. The important thing to do is to keep calm...

No, the important thing is you find my son!

Listen, this happens all the time, I promise, they always come back.

You had a fight, he ran off, he'll come back when he's hungry,

-I promise you.

-You didn't see him. He's not like other kids,

he's got a lot of anger, do you know what I mean?

He's stayed out overnight before, on the streets.

It's like he hasn't got that in his head, you know, that voice

that says, "No, I shouldn't be doing this, it's dangerous".

Roads, fires, fighting, putting the neighbours' windows...

I don't know what to do with him any more. I probably shouldn't be

telling you this, you'll go and tell Social Services.

-Why don't we go back to the flat, and...

-Just do something!

Right, what about your old place?

Yeah. What about it?

Kids don't run away FROM places, they run TO places.

Places that they feel safe.

-He mentioned he was missing your old flat?

-When did he say that?

Before. Look, give us the address and I'll check it out.

Well, I'll come with you.

No, you wait at yours, in case he shows up there.

Stella, I'll find him, I promise you.

Well, here we are.

How're you feeling?

It's like it's happening to someone else.

What will happen, exactly, when you go in?

Well.

They will give me an injection of low dose radiation

that travels to places in the body that use glucose for energy,

so the cancers will show up on the scan because they use glucose

in a different way to, you know, to normal tissue, without cancer.

Then they'll scan me.

It's a big machine, and I slide into it on a table.

And I could be in there for anything up to an hour.

I'm not sure I can go through with it.

Believe me,

I'd get in there with you, if I could.

But as they probably have rules against that kind of thing,

I've brought along the next best thing...

Oh, Ricky Delaine.

-ANSWERING MACHINE:

-'Hiya, this is Danny. Leave me a message.'

Police, please.

OK, Stella, just calm down and then we'll take some details

about Ziggy, is that all right?

He's been acting weird ever since we got here,

I thought he might be involved in, well you don't know, do you.

It's all over the press this is the worst estate in Letherbridge.

Let's just go back to this morning, how was Ziggy then?

OK, so, he went out, to school so I thought, but he didn't go to school.

Then one of your lot brings him home,

we fall out, then he, you know, runs off.

You mean a police officer?

Yes, Danny.

So you've already rung the police?

No, I phoned this Danny, he brought Ziggy back,

he thought he was bunking off from school and that,

and he gave me his mobile number.

I ring it and he's out there looking for Ziggy now.

Right, so this Danny, did he give you his full name?

Yeah, Danny Powell.

Danny Powell?

That doesn't ring a bell.

Was he on his own?

Yeah, why, what's wrong?

It might be nothing, just give me a sec.

5105, the badge number.

Stan, yeah, Rob Hollins, do we have a Danny Powell on the force?

No, me neither.

Do me a favour, run a number check for me, please? 5105.

Really? OK, cheers, Stan.

Stella, that number you gave me

used to belong to a PC O'Brien from a neighbouring force,

who died ten years ago.

His number was never reallocated.

I don't understand.

What that means is, unless you got the number wrong...

No, that is definitely it.

The person you met this morning was not a police officer.

He's got Ziggy.

He's got my son.

Right, let's take some details

so we can get out there as soon as possible to look for him.

Well, you'll be pleased to know my wedding outfit is sorted,

as is yours, I believe?

Just need to confirm numbers with the venue,

-then let the caterers know.

-Oh, don't.

I know when I switch on my phone it'll be chock a block full of

messages from the caterers, the venue, Mrs Tembe...

There's still piles to organise and so many questions

and I don't know the answers!

Don't panic, why don't you let me deal with them all?

Well, you don't have the answers, either!

Neither of us do. This is so stressful,

I've got a good mind to call the whole thing off.

Now, don't talk daft.

I tell you what, let's simplify.

How?

All these people, mithering, asking difficult questions,

how about I give them one word, which captures us

and our wedding, so no-one can be in any doubt about what we want?

One word?

Yeah.

How about "sparkle"?

"Shimmer"?

"Radiance"?

What about...

"Razzmatazz"?

"Razzmatazz" it is.

Come through now, please.

PHONE RINGS

Probably your mum.

Don't answer it.

So, where you off to then?

Not made a plan?

That's all right.

You got plenty of time yet.

Be dark soon, though.

She's going out of her mind, you know.

Bet she is. No-one to shout at.

She seemed all right to me. But then, what do I know?

I've never had a mum.

Shut up. Everyone's got a mum.

Yeah, well, I never knew mine.

She got ill when I was a baby.

Couldn't look after me.

But you had a dad?

Yeah, I had a dad.

Wish I had a dad.

Yeah, he was brilliant.

He died when I was 11.

For real?

For real.

Who looked after you then?

Oh, everyone.

Sometimes no-one.

I was a bit of a bad one, couldn't stop getting in trouble,

running away and that,

so they kept moving me around.

Then I'd do something stupid and they'd move me again.

I started seven new schools in one year.

Hard being new, innit?

I hate them and they hate me.

They just don't know you yet.

I sat on my own at dinner every day last week.

The thing is...

..and you're not going to like this,

but, what you've got to do is, give it time.

You're tough.

And you're funny.

And the other kids'll see that.

You've just got to stick it out.

Be there,

even when it feels like you can't fit in

and you'll never fit in.

There's a place for everyone in the world somewhere.

-Do you really think that?

-Dunno.

I'd like to.

Why don't you talk to your mum about it?

Nah, no way.

She's all right, you know.

I'm telling you. She gets it.

Or, tell you what, you can talk to me.

I'll look out for you.

If you like.

Getting cold.

I'm starving. You got any food?

I'll do you a deal.

I'll get us a chippy tea if you let me ring your mum

and tell her we're on our way back.

Promise, she'll be all right.

Chips and gravy?

And a battered sausage?

I'll even throw in some mushy peas.

Your mates are here.

Danny, Danny Powell? Danny!

Whoa!

OK, Danny!

-Give it up.

-Leave him alone.

All right, time to give up. Come here.

I'm arresting you for impersonating a police officer.

You do not have to say anything, but, it may harm your defence if you don't mention, when questioned,

something you later rely on in court. Anything you say may be given in evidence.

Well, I've seen it all now. I've just had a patient sing to me.

Sorry, I'm miles away.

What's up?

Oh, you were meeting Ben's son. How did it go?

Not good?

No, it was good. It was really, really good.

He's lovely, and he's five, and he's dying.

And his parents just have to get on with it, you know,

make it normal, but it's just incredible to me,

because how do you come to terms with the fact

that your five-year-old,

your beautiful, five-year-old child is dying?

And there is nothing anyone can do to help?

Come here.

Come on, son. The evidence speaks for itself.

You might as well give us your side of the story.

No? OK. Well, let me tell you what we do know.

We know that your name is Danny Powell.

And you reside at Flat 14, Raven Court on the Churchill Estate,

and you've been there for five weeks. Is that right?

We also know that you are 22,

and you are not a police officer, in fact you are unemployed.

But just for the record, my name is Sergeant Hollins,

and to be crystal clear, I AM a police officer.

We know that you've been impersonating a police officer,

wearing the old uniform of John O'Brien, who died in 2004.

We found you with a missing child, Ziggy Bailey.

Do you want to tell me how all that happened?

Come on, if you want to play this the hard way we can.

We will search your flat.

Maybe all this dressing up is a front for something else.

-Maybe drugs?

-No!

Start talking then, because you're up to your neck in this.

-I'm trying to help you.

-I swear, I've done nothing!

Look I'm sorry, all right, I just wanted to help,

I never meant any harm.

-What were you doing with Ziggy Bailey?

-I found him!

-Which is more than you guys have done.

-Oh.

So you think you can do a better job than us, do you?

I am doing a better job.

I've been on the beat for weeks,

if yous lot did any real work you'd have caught me ages ago.

Really? And what else do you do on your 'beat', Danny?

Look at it round here, gangs and drugs

and people getting mugged every other day of the week,

kids wagging it, running riot and all you guys can do

is sit here drinking tea.

OK. Let's take a break.

Interview suspended 15:52.

You can't put him in prison. He's done nothing wrong.

-I beg to differ.

-Well, we don't want to press charges.

He went to your house and pretended to be a police officer!

Yeah, I know, that was a bit...weird.

But he's sorted Ziggy's head out, I don't know how but he has.

-That's as may be, but...

-Why can't you just let him go?

He's the only person round here who's all right!

So what if he dressed up?

Everything OK?

Can you take me home now, please?

Of course, come on.

Well done.

OK, Danny,

I am big enough and old enough to admit that, maybe,

I got you a little bit wrong.

Let's just say that I accept that you're not into drugs,

and yes, you did find Ziggy. But come on, what're you playing at?

Aren't you a bit old for dressing up?

Let's start with how you got the uniform, shall we?

It was my dad's.

Are you saying that your dad was John O'Brien?

Yeah. I've got my mum's name.

-Right.

-When I got my flat, I was sorting my stuff out, moving in.

I've had this box since I was 11,

I hadn't looked in it for years.

Just stuff, you know, birthday cards,

a blanket from when I was a baby, a picture of mum on Weston Beach.

And my dad's uniform.

Go on.

I was just trying it on.

Just to see how it felt.

I never meant to go out in it.

But it fitted,

so I kept it on.

And then I went to the shop

and people, well,

well, they're not used to seeing the police round here.

They acted different. I thought I could help.

You've got no idea. People are desperate.

Danny, if you want to be a police officer,

why don't you do something about it?

-No GCSEs.

-But you can't just take the law into your own hands.

-What would your dad say?

-My dad's not here, is he?

No, he's not.

Look, what's going to happen to me?

I don't know but I have to take this higher.

Sorry.

But, for now, you can go home.

I'm sorry, I don't know who else to call, I don't know what to do.

OK, Ben, just slow down,

tell me what's happened?

I need your help, Niamh, I really need your help.

-You're out! So you're not going down?

-No.

-Yes!

You made up with your mum?

Look, I'm sorry. I never meant to...

I know. Thanks for finding him and that.

Right, well, I'd better...

Do you want to get the bus?

-Yeah.

-Come on then.

I went home to get a shower

and when I came back they wouldn't let me see him, said

he was too tired,

but they're hiding something, I don't trust them.

Surely they'll let you see him?

The consultant said that he needed to rest and it was better

that he didn't see me in this state.

I wouldn't be in this state if they did their jobs.

OK, Ben.

I think you should go home, take a shower and get some sleep,

things might seem clearer in the morning...

Things are clear now.

My boy is lying there, dying

and nobody is doing anything to save him.

What happens if they've missed something?

Even they admit that he's the first case like this they've seen.

What happens if there's some research, or treatment, that they

don't know about?

You're a doctor, come on, this must happen.

I mean, it happens, sometimes, but not often.

But it does happen?

Please Niamh, I'm begging you, look into this.

Ben, I don't think I...

Look, I know it's not fair, putting it on you like this, but...

..I'm just desperate.

I'll do anything.

I really wish there was something I could do to help.

But I don't think there is.

You fancy her. She fancies you.

There isn't a problem.

Let's go on holiday.

Yeah, right.

Do you realise we've never talked about arrangements?

What arrangements?

For when Harry passes on.

No way, am I guaranteed a first just because he's marking my paper!