Gently in the Blood Inspector George Gently

Maybe it was a hoax, sir?

Here we go.

He's got us.

Your informant did say eight o'clock, did he?

Yeah.

-What do we do, sir?

-Let's go.

WHISTLE SOUNDS

Hey! Come back!

POLICEMAN: Come on, boys. Come On.

-Did you get a look at him?

-No.

-You OK?

-Right in the knackers.

Give me some light on this, will you?

Oh, yes.

Here, John.

208 British passports, all of them expired.

Which wouldn't matter to whoever was buying them, because they'll put new dates and names on them.

Yeah, but where've they all come from, sir?

No, but here's the thing,

not one of those passports has been reported lost or stolen, so what's that tell you?

Well, who has passports?

People fed up with Butlins.

WHO has passports?

Passport Office.

Any idea who tipped you off?

-Well, I dunno his name, but I think I know who he was.

-Tell me?

Well, think about it, sir.

I get an anonymous call telling me exactly where and when this bloke,

Jimmy Cochran's gonna be standing last night with 200 passports on him.

I'm thinking about it. Go on.

Well, who else knew that information and who wasn't there?

-The buyer.

-Correct.

-Very good.

-Thank you very much.

The expired passports are all sent to London to be destroyed.

Well, we know some that never got there. How come?

No, I can guarantee the honesty of all the people in this office.

Oh, right. No need to talk to them, sir.

Case closed.

200 British passports, worth on the black market upwards of £100 each

and you're telling me they've been sent to London by normal post?

No security van, no courier, not even special delivery?

-It's just the system.

-I see. Who was in charge of this particular batch?

-I was.

-Your name, please.

-Maggie Alderton.

-Right, Maggie.

-Did you personally bag these up for despatch?

-Yes.

-What then?

And then I took them to the post room.

Anybody sign for them?

-No.

-Again, Chief Inspector, it's just the system.

Mr Saint, you don't have a system.

You might just as well stick them on the counter at Woolworths with a sign saying "Please help yourself".

I shall want the names and addresses of everybody in this room and your post room.

We shall also be carrying out background checks, just so you know.

Don't let me interrupt your work any further.

Right, address, please?

Did they arrest the... whoever it was who had the passports?

No. No, he got away.

-Address, please, Mrs Alderton?

-It's Miss Alderton

and I live on the Westbury Estate in Shields. 22 Gaynes Way.

Can we hurry this up, I have to go and pick up me son?

-Do you want me to contact the school and say you'll be late?

-He's six weeks old.

Oh.

Keen to get back to work, weren't you?

Yes, I was.

Is that OK with you?

Does the name Jimmy Cochran mean anything to you?

No.

It's her, I'm telling you.

It's Maggie Alderton.

Women don't go back to work that quick

-unless there's a reason.

-Maybe she needs the money.

Have a look at it.

She's not married, she's got a baby with...you know?

So we know she likes a bit of the old tar brush.

We're talking about stolen passports,

which is what foreigners are after.

You and me's going to fall out if you use words like that.

Tar brush?

I was in Notting Hill six years ago when the riots happened.

I'm not starting a riot, am I? I'm just saying.

Words like "tar brush" and "coon".

-No, I never said "coon".

-When it comes to racialism the police force has got form, and I won't have it!

You saying I'm a racialist, guv?

I'm saying...

It's easy to get this stuff wrong.

Just think before you speak, OK?

-OK.

-OK.

What was it like in Notting Hill, sir?

Put it this way,

I saw things I never want to see again on an English street.

It was like Mississippi.

Apart from that, you're right.

Maggie Alderton was in charge of consignment of passports so we need to find out about her.

Who are her friends? And despite her denials,

was there a connection between her and this Jimmy Cochran man?

Yeah, no, he wasn't a...

He didn't have dark skin.

I saw enough of his face to see that, sir.

No, but he did have the passports she said she sent to London. So who is this Maggie Alderton?

Does she spend more than a clerical assistant earns? Get onto it.

Yeah, and who's the father of the child? Am I allowed to ask that?

-Yes, Sergeant, you are.

-Where will you be?

Looking for Jimmy Cochran. If you're right and he has been grassed up, he's gonna be on the warpath.

Stay out here.

LAUGHTER AND INDISTINCT CHATTER

Jimmy?

Surprised to see us, Hamed?

What happened to you last night?

-You never turned up.

-I trusted you, Hamed.

I was there, nine o'clock, like we said.

Shake hands with an Arab, you count your fingers after.

Now you should watch your mouth.

-Where were you at eight o'clock?

-I'm a businessman, man, Jimmy.

-I was busy.

-Busy? Busy shagging your sister?

Those passports cost me money, I want it back.

Plus another grand for your double-crossing.

Then me and you are finished. I'll find another customer.

Nah, nah, Jimmy.

See, I'll find another supplier.

I know just the one.

You haven't got a business without me.

Jimmy, man,

you're just a little cog in the wheel.

The bike belongs to me now.

I know who gets you the passports, man.

No, you don't.

Do I look stupid? She works in the Passport Office, man.

And yeah, maybe I was shagging somebody last night.

MUTED LAUGHTER

Start sniffing round Maggie, I'll kill you.

It's not me doing the sniffing, Jimmy.

That why you grassed us up? Cos of her?

I grassed you cos you insult us.

You insult me sister, you insult we all.

You like the money I give you,

-but you think we're vermin.

-Aye.

I'll see you later, Hamed.

When you least expect it.

Hey, Jimmy.

How's the bairn doing?

Somebody's had it in for you, Jimmy.

-I wonder who, eh?

-Ah, hey, man...

Shut your face, Rana!

Get us another drink. Any idea, Jimmy?

See, that's what we were laughing about when you come in, like.

It could've been any of us. Except Rana, he's a homo.

Right. Here!

Nah, Jimmy.

It wasn't me.

But I know who it was.

Jimmy, man. She's always liked Arabs.

Cannot get enough of us.

Tell me his name, Hamed.

Tell me the Arab's name, we're all square for last night.

You can keep the money.

It must still be love, is it, Jimmy?

Even though she let an Arab give her a bairn?

I said, tell me his name.

All the names sound the same, man.

I know you're not the father, Hamed.

If I thought that, you'd of been dead six weeks ago.

BANGING

Maggie!

Maggie!

Tell me.

Cause of death probably strangulation, but I'll have to look inside to rule out drowning.

-Anything else?

-Yeah, I'd say she's been raped, but I'm not the expert at that.

-Dead how long, do you think?

-24 hours, more likely 12, 15.

And assuming the body was washed ashore. How long in the water?

-Best guess.

-12 hours?

But I'll know more later.

Any sign of the baby at the flat?

Oh, no, no. We found the door off its hinges, sir.

Neighbours heard it being kicked in about 7pm last night, nobody bothered to call the police.

Apparently the guy's caused bother there twice in the last month.

-Jimmy Cochran?

-Think he took the bairn, sir?

-I don't know.

Prevailing current goes that way, but it's fairly weak.

Let's find out where she died.

Won't we be better off at the flat, sir?

The baby, Sergeant.

This person who grassed Jimmy Cochran, definitely a male voice?

Oh, yeah, yeah. It wasn't Maggie.

So, that's not why she was killed.

-No.

-What did you find out about her?

Well, she was head girl at grammar school.

She was meant for university, but ended up in a crappy job.

Her parents disowned her.

What does that sound like to you?

-Sounds like a man.

-Yeah, you can bet your savings on it.

-Haven't got any.

What about the parents? Would they have the baby?

On holiday. We're contacting them now.

Oh, yeah, now this is worth a look, sir, Frenchman's Cove.

It's secluded, sir.

I used to come up here with Lisa and we used to... You know?

We used to...

Once too often, I think.

What's that?

-Oh, Jesus.

-Get an ambulance.

Get an ambulance!

God damn you!

-All done?

-Yes, sir.

Right.

-Cheerio.

-Ta-ra.

Her purse, sir. It was still in her pocket.

Right, let's have a look at that.

Jimmy Cochran, unless I'm much mistaken.

There's a lot of talk on the estate, sir,

about the fact that she had some bloke in here with her yesterday.

What? Not Jimmy Cochran you mean?

No, before he came. About five o'clock.

-An Arab fella, in his 40s.

-Name?

-No, sir.

-Description?

Well, you know what they say, sir?

They all look the same?

Well, aye!

Wait till I tell Mr Gently what you just said.

-I never said it, sarge, it's them out there, man.

-Yeah.

Mr Gently's just been on the phone from the hospital.

The baby's very poorly.

The doctors aren't expecting him to live.

Right.

OK. I think it's a fair assumption that Jimmy Cochran was the man in Maggie's life,

until this older Arab man comes along and takes her away, I dunno, but she has a baby by him?

I also think it's a fair assumption that Jimmy and Maggie were selling passports.

So, did her new Arab boyfriend want the business as well as the girl?

Could it have been him that tipped us off about Jimmy?

Did our informant have an accent?

Geordie. Jimmy turns up at the flat looking for them both,

kicks down the door, takes her away, murders her and leaves the Arab guy's baby to die out in the night.

Did you find out about her finances?

Bank account takes her pay cheque every month and she spends it on food and rent. Nothing else goes in.

All right, release this to the press.

Tell them we're seeking two men in connection with the murder of Maggie Alderton,

Jimmy Cochran and an Arab man in his 40s.

MUSIC: "Be My Baby" by The Ronettes

# And if I had the chance, I'd never let you go

# So won't you say you love me?

# I'll make you so proud of me... #

Why do you live this way?

You're Arab boys. You're Muslim.

Why are you drinking and gambling? Why don't you work?

-Rana, don't go on with this bad life, man.

-Why don't you mind your own business

or you can swim back to the Yemen?

What did your elders teach you in the Zawiya?

-Is this what the prophet teaches you in the Koran?

-This is Shields, man, not Ta'izz.

An Arab is an Arab.

A Muslim is a Muslim. It's your blood.

I've got my passport.

-Anything?

-Nothing, sir, it's clean.

-You finished with this card?

-Yes.

Thank you.

"I will never stop loving you.

"There will be revenge."

Have the newspapers reported the murder yet?

It's in the early edition of the Post, sir.

Does it say where she was murdered or where the baby was found?

No, no, we never told them that.

Only where the body washed up.

Ah. Whoever left the flowers knew where she was murdered.

-Make sure these photos are on my desk today.

-Yes, sir.

Was it Jimmy that did it?

We're trying to find out.

We can't find Jimmy.

Would you like to see your grandson?

You might not have very long with him, I'm afraid.

I'd just like to take Maggie home, please.

This is painful, but I have to ask,

who was the father of Maggie's baby?

Well, we assumed it was Jimmy's at the time, didn't we?

But it obviously wasn't.

So why did you assume that?

She was crackers about him. Had been since she was at school.

-What you sitting out for?

-Cos I'm scared of the water.

Are you scared now?

No.

Destined for great things, that's what the school said.

But all that got forgot about once Jimmy arrived on the scene.

She was out with him the whole time.

-Failed her exams.

-Did she want to marry him?

Aye, she did.

Maggie? Will you do your buttons up, your Dad's here!

-Jimmy, you were supposed to go home an hour ago.

-Mr Alderton...

Hi, I want to ask you two things.

First, can I marry your daughter, please?

No, you can't, now go home.

In that case can you lend us a pound till the weekend?

Eh, what a cheeky bugger he is.

Home, and you, bed, you've got exams the morra.

'I told her to forget about him, steady herself and resit her exams.

But she never went back to school.

Got herself a pen-pusher's job in the Passport Office.

My daughter threw herself away on a man who never did an honest day's work in his life.

How does Jimmy earn his living, do you know?

Not really,

but I doubt if much of it's legal.

Maggie thought she could turn him round, you see, straighten him out.

Maggie always believed in Jimmy.

Always saw the good in him when nobody else could.

Were they happy together?

Happy?

She talked about nothing but "happy".

I kept telling her, "Maggie, there's more to life than being happy!".

And when did Jimmy find out about Maggie's son?

Same day we did.

There she is.

You didn't have to come in on your own. You only have to ask. I'm still your mother.

Was it a long one? You were 18 hours, they thought I was a goner.

He was off somewhere.

Little place called El-Alamein, Maggie.

Lot less blood spilt where I was.

He was no bother, Mam.

- Did they have to cut your cervix? - No, Mam, he was like shelling peas.

Well, you got off lightly.

Mine's still raggy. Well, I suppose we better have a look at him.

Aye.

Dad?

Maggie?

Dear God, did you not even tell Jimmy?

Maggie?

Beautiful as ever, Mrs A.

Here you are. Bobby.

Don't smoke it all at once.

How's the little mother?

I'm really glad to see you, Jimmy.

You know what this is?

-What?

-It's the first day of the rest of my life.

I'm gonna get a job, gonna look after you, Maggie.

And I mean it this time.

You better take a look, Jimmy.

Ah, he hasn't come out with a face like yours, has he, Belle?

Jimmy? I don't...

He's yours.

The bairn's yours.

Don't look at me like that, Jimmy.

You had all that time to say and you never said?

Jimmy, I promise...

So she never told you who the father was?

We...never actually spoke to her after that day.

Won't get the chance now.

What difference does it make? His name wasn't the issue.

Mr Gently, >

we don't even know any coloured people.

Well, Maggie did.

On the day of her murder an Arab man was seen going into her flat.

Well, that'll be it.

It'll be him that killed her.

Bob fought in Egypt, didn't you, pet.

And he always said the same, that they're all the same.

What about Jimmy?

Did you ever see him after the baby was born?

No.

He hasn't been back to his digs.

Any other places he used to go to? Any haunts?

He used to go to this horrible little club called The Shoreline.

-Used the place to meet his "business associates", he used to say.

-Business?

Posh way of describing a bunch of layabouts and crooks, if you ask me.

Where is this place?

I know it, it's on the front.

But you have no idea what kind of business he was doing there?

On the night before Maggie was killed

we failed to arrest a man trying to sell stolen British passports.

We're pretty sure that that was Jimmy.

Have you any idea who might have been supplying Jimmy with those passports?

Mr Gently,

I understand you're only trying to do your job, but my daughter...

she might've made some mistakes in her private life, but my daughter was as honest as the day is long.

On my life. On a stack of bibles this high.

Maggie was as honest as the day is long...

Can you sign there, please?

Maggie was carrying these three photographs in her wallet.

One was of her and Jimmy, which I need to keep.

One was of you two.

And the third was your grandson.

Would you like to keep these two?

That photograph's out of date, by the way.

Jimmy's got a DA now.

Duck's arse.

She couldn't even look at that photo.

I don't understand what all that's about.

Blood, John.

It's about blood.

Same as it is for Jimmy Cochran.

That mixture of sexual jealousy and racial hatred will make him capable of almost anything.

Even destroying another man's baby.

Just get yourselves home, any more news soon,

I'll let you know in the morning. Go on.

See you.

How was she killed?

Hm?

Maggie, how was she killed?

Oh...

she was raped and strangled.

Did you know anything about her private life? Did she have any boyfriends?

Well, there was obviously speculation about that in the office.

Cos of this, you mean?

-Aye.

-Did she ever tell anybody who the father was?

Not that I know of.

Oh, come on, Mr Saint.

She had a bairn with a darkie

and nobody asked who he was?

We keep ourselves to ourselves.

Right.

Did you ever see her with a man?

How would I do that?

Did she have any special friendships with any of the men at work? Do any Arabs work here?

In a passport office?

How's the baby?

It's hypothermia. He was left on a cold beach all night.

It's not looking good.

So, you don't actually know anything about Maggie Alderton?

It's not that sort of office.

We don't pry into each other's business.

You felt as though you could vouch for her honesty.

-Well, it never occurred to me anyone here could be...

-She was stealing passports, man!

Might've cost her her life. Maybe you should've pried a bit more.

Maybe it was something to do with the baby, you know?

Someone jealous, angry with her.

Like who?

Well, I wouldn't know.

Did she ever mention the name Jimmy Cochran?

No.

Where were you last night, Mr Saint?

I was at home.

Anybody with you?

No, I live alone.

Did you ever visit Maggie's flat?

-No.

-But you know where it is?

Well, obviously, it's on file.

Did you know that she was stealing passports, Mr Saint?

Of course not.

'Course not.

Write down your name and address, will you?

-I've already given it to you.

-Write it down.

-I've got a card.

-Write it down!

No, no, it's not his writing.

-But Philip Saint was lying through his teeth about something.

-Bring him in?

-No.

-Why not?

Because, as you keep telling me, what's the point in bringing somebody in for questioning

-when you've got nothing to ask them?

-So some progress is being made in your education then.

No water in Maggie Alderton's lungs, by the way.

She was dead before the tide took her off the beach.

Was there anything came back on those tyre tracks?

Yeah, both offside tyres were badly worn on the outside.

Oh, good. Yeah, that should narrow it down to about 5,000 cars in the Shields area(!)

Anything interesting in Maggie's desk?

Oh, yes. Of course...

The baby's birth certificate.

-Father?

-Unknown.

-That would've been too easy, wouldn't it?

And there was also this.

Copy of a letter she got from Somerset House, asking for a birth certificate for a Thomas Jamil Ali.

-This our Arab man?

-That's what I'm thinking.

Somerset House say, we've got no trace on him. But I think she was getting this man a passport.

And if she couldn't find his birth certificate?

Well, she could get him a forged one.

Wouldn't be difficult for her, would it?

Guv, by my reckoning, if it was Jimmy Cochran murdered Maggie he'll be long gone by now.

-He's not gonna be sitting having a cup of tea with his ancient mother, is he?

-I'll take that, son.

Jimmy? Your guess is as good as mine, pet.

He doesn't live here, then?

He hasn't lived here since he was 14.

He moved to Shields. Sit down.

You asked him to leave, I'm told.

He was too much of a handful for us, love.

Truth is, we were too old to bring up a lad like him.

I was 42 when we took him. What's he done this time?

Jimmy was adopted?

Aye.

What was he like? Tell me about him.

Never knew such an awkward kid, ungrateful.

And he could start a fight in an empty room. Schools wouldn't have him.

We sent him to the brothers in the end.

Is he in trouble?

Brothers?

The Monks had a school in Sunderland.

We thought they might tame him, cos the brothers were famous for their discipline,

in fact they were hard as nails.

They used to make him lie flat down on the classroom floor and they'd pull him up by his cheeks.

But it didn't do any good, in fact he come out vicious.

Jimmy had a girlfriend called Maggie Alderton. Do you know her?

No. Why?

When was the last time you saw him, Mrs Cochran?

I've only seen Jimmy the once since we chucked him out the door.

In the middle of Newcastle. He crossed the street when he saw us.

He's done something bad, hasn't he?

Maggie Alderton has been found dead.

Dear God. Jimmy?

There's bad blood in that lad. I always said it.

We're also looking for this bloke, there.

Does he mean anything to you?

-Or the name Thomas Jamil Ali?

-I don't know any Arabs, Sergeant!

Mrs Cochran, would you recognise Jimmy's handwriting?

Aye.

Aye.

That's the one thing the brothers drummed into Jimmy. Nice handwriting.

He'll "never stop loving" her, even though he felt he had to kill her.

But he wants "revenge" on whoever fathered the child.

The Arab guy.

Yeah, exactly.

Jimmy's going nowhere till he's settled that account.

TRICKLING

What's his name, Hamed? Where is he?

Who give her the bairn?

Jimmy, man,

Jimmy man, I was having you on?!

-I didn't know!

-Tell me his name!

-Jimmy, he's an Arab, man, I cannot.

I'll open your thoat! I swear to God.

Tell me his name!

Ali... Thomas Ali.

-Where is he?

-I dunno, Jimmy.

He got chucked out the boarding house same time as Rana.

Far as I know he's living in a van.

No more, Jimmy.

I want that money!

I'll bring the money to you.

-Tomorrow.

-You're a liar.

I'll bring you the Arab, I'll bring you the Arab. Jimmy, please...

This is your last chance, Hamed. You bring him, I'll kill him.

You don't bring him, I'll kill YOU!

He's mad, I'm telling you.

He's not as hard as he thinks he is.

Pint of lager, please.

Rana?

What you doing, mate?

Having a game of pool.

-Why? Care to join me?

-Nah.

This is our place.

It's for us.

Are you telling me there's a colour bar operating in this club?

No, he's telling you to go and play pool somewhere else.

Get us a drink, Rana?

I'm looking for a man called Jimmy Cochran.

Any idea where I could find him?

Are you a copper?

Me? No, I'm a businessman.

What sort of business?

Buying and selling.

Jimmy was selling something for me a couple of nights ago.

Only I never heard back from him. The pint of lager's mine.

-Fancy a frame?

-Sure.

-Winner takes all?

-Why not?

Well, rack them up, Rana.

Heads.

Your break.

You've got some balls coming here, haven't you?

Jimmy owes me a lot of money.

I need to collect it.

Jimmy says you were paid up front.

Yeah, well, Jimmy doesn't always tell the truth.

But if you could tell me where I could find him, I would show my gratitude.

-How?

-What would you like?

To cut out the middle man.

-Jimmy not a friend of yours then?

-No, he's not.

I take it you do have customers waiting?

Always.

Where do they come from?

You don't need to know that. Just say the tide brings them in.

Yes, I heard about Jimmy's girlfriend.

Is that why he's gone AWOL?

Aye, you knew her, did you?

In a professional sense, yes.

Jimmy was very angry about the baby.

Yeah.

He did seem a bit narked.

What was her name?

Maggie Alderton.

-What did she look like?

-5ft 3, short blonde hair. Very pretty.

-What does Jimmy look like?

-5ft 10, clean shaven, not very pretty,

got burns on his face and neck.

Well, that proves you read the Evening Post.

Yeah, that photo's a bit out of date.

Jimmy's got a quiff these days.

How'd he get the burns?

Well, a fire, I should imagine.

I never asked him. Did you?

Chip pan fire when he was a bairn.

-Killed his Mam.

-So, you gonna tell me where he is?

Give me a phone number.

Maybe we can do business direct.

No, no, no I told you, I've got unfinished business with Jimmy first.

Look, you'll never see your money or the goods he had off you.

And you won't be seeing Jimmy again either after tonight.

HE SIGHS

Give me your phone number, I'll be in touch.

Who do I ask for?

-Philip Saint.

-Hamed.

Nice to meet you, Hamed.

You win, Philip.

I'll tell Jimmy you were asking after him.

You an Indian, Mr?

Take the knives in. How much?

Tanner apiece.

Daylight robbery.

Missus?

On the house.

I don't want anything sharpening today.

Guv?

-You're nicked.

-Hay!

I wish you wouldn't do that, sir.

There's no sign of them, guv. What do you want us to do? Taylor's had three pints already.

Well, we can't sit there drinking Tizer, looking like coppers, can we?

Go back in. There's gonna be a show down.

-How do you know?

-I just know.

Geronimo!

I love you, Jimmy Cochran.

Let's give it another go, Maggie, eh?

I'll change, I'll get a job. I will.

A steady job, in a library.

Short back and sides and a pin stripe suit.

Jimmy, I hope you're serious.

Cos I'm pregnant.

Really?

OK.

Jimmy.

Jimmy, man, what's the point any more? The Arabs run the place now.

It's finished, man.

Jimmy!

Hamed's saying he's gonna kill you!

-No?

-No.

-Nothing.

Nothing, sir.

HE PRAYS

Maybe he's not coming, Hamed.

Jimmy'll be coming. Never fret.

Where are you, Hamed?! >

Hamed!

Where's the Arab?

Arab?

Well, take your pick, Jimmy.

I'm gonna ask you once more, then I'm gonna cut your face off.

You're finished, man, Jimmy!

The guy you get the passports off? He come looking for a new arrangement.

He hasn't got the balls, man.

Who? Philip Saint?

Oh, and, by the way, he says I owe you nowt, cos you never paid him.

You're finished, man, Jimmy.

The police is looking for you.

You're in the paper.

It's time to leave town.

Aye. Aye!

You know what? I've had enough anyway.

I'm gonna get short back and sides and a job in a library.

THEY SNIGGER

Aye, you win, Hamed. I mean, there's no-one that can beat you Arabs for lying and cheating.

Eh?

You haven't got the guts, man.

You're a coward, Hamed. You're a coward!

-Let's go.

-Come on then, Hamed!

On the beach! Go, go, go!

Hamed!

-Hamed, don't do it!

-You better do it.

I'll cut yer mother's throat, I swear to God. Go on!

Go.

Wait! Police!

Go on. Get away from here.

Here's your tenner back.

Guv?

There's blood on that.

-Sir.

-How's the baby doing?

-Do we know?

-It's not great.

Have we traced the owner of that car yet?

-Taylor's onto it.

-Well, tell him to hurry. I want it now.

-So, what am I charged with?

-So far?

Carrying an offensive weapon.

-I didn't have a weapon.

-You had a bicycle chain in your pocket.

-I was taking it to get mended.

-Tell it to the judge.

-Come in on the tankers, do they?

-Who's this?

The blokes you sell dodgy British passports to.

Do they come in on the tankers?

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

You can act stupid all day long, but you're only digging a hole for yourself.

Because I'm looking for somebody to charge with the murder of Maggie Alderton

and the attempted murder of her baby.

-I don't know anything about that.

-Really?

So where'd you get them bruises?

I got pissed and fell over. Is me solicitor here yet?

Ever go to Maggie's flat?

-Why should I?

-Because you sell passports and she works in a passport office.

Are you the father of Maggie's baby?

HE SNORTS

I wouldn't have minded donating the sperm, though.

Ah, you're disgusting...

Can I hit him, guv?

Not yet.

An Arab was seen going into her flat on the night of the murder.

I think it was you.

Aye, yeah, I saw his picture in the paper.

You know, they want to get better drawers.

I mean, I know we all look the same to you, but he's twice my age, man.

So, you know what he looks like, then?

You know him?

Is he the father?

-Yeah.

-What's his name?

Ali.

Thomas Ali.

The man Maggie was asking about was called...Thomas Jamil Ali.

-It's got to be the same feller, guv.

-You traced that car yet?

-We're still waiting on it, sir.

But we think we know where Jimmy Cochran went to last night after the beach.

He's had a bad beating and someone broke all his fingers.

-Has he said anything?

-Just the word "Maggie".

-Maggie? Is he conscious?

-In and out.

Mr Saint?

I fear I was the indirect cause of this, which I regret.

But if you hadn't lied to us, Jimmy Cochran wouldn't of come calling last night, would he?

I dunno anyone called Jimmy Cochran.

Yes, you do. How long have you been supplying him with passports?

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

-Was Maggie Alderton involved? Or is this just you and Jimmy?

I don't know what you mean.

Oi.

Oi!

Oh, come off it. Shall I give him a shove?

Don't you dare.

When Mr Saint decides to regain consciousness, will you please inform us promptly?

I'm gonna take a crowbar to your bank accounts, pal.

Sweet dreams.

Mr Saint answered the door and was dragged out.

The neighbours called 999, but nobody got a clear look at the assailant.

-Anyone else been inside?

-Nobody's touched a thing, Sergeant.

Right.

"Dear Philip, wishing you a happy Christmas. Love from Maggie.

"PS - Nobody will ever guess our little secret."

DOOR OPENS AND CLOSES

Where's your mate?

What makes you think Thomas Ali is the father of Maggie's baby?

Cos I was at the Alawi helping Rana move out when she come looking for him.

Thomas Ali lived there as well.

Thomas Ali? Him?

-He's looking for somewhere to live.

-He's leaving?

Moving out. We're all moving out. They're knocking the place down.

Hello, Maggie.

Hamed.

What's this? Bit of business on the side?

-No, it's for a friend.

-I could give him a message for you.

-Shut up, Rana! She's talking to me, not you.

Well, if it's not business, who is he, Maggie?

It's about his son. I need to talk to him about his son.

Well, I've never known him. But Rana does.

Will you give him this?

Tell him I need to talk to him. Tell him I've got his passport.

I can give it to him.

No. If he wants his passport back he has to come and see me.

-See you, Hamed.

-How did Jimmy take the news about the bairn, Maggie?

-Who's this bloke, Thomas Ali?

-The one that asked you last week for a boat home.

You told him he needed to get his passport back first.

Him? He's old!

Some lasses like older men.

Did he visit her?

Well, the next day he's coming to me with his passport asking for a boat to the Yemen, so...

Rana?

He's the guy who pours your drinks for you, yeah?

-Did you see this passport?

-Aye.

What was the full name on it?

-Thomas Ali.

-Not Thomas Jamil Ali?

-Nah.

-Give us a look.

-Why?

Cos I don't get paid if they won't let you on the boat.

Bloody hell!

It's a real one!

I wonder who give him that, eh? Boat leaving tomorrow night.

You'll be in a hurry, are you?

No. I need a few days. Some things I've got to do.

Same time next week, then.

Thirty quid for me, thirty quid for the captain.

The crew's white, so you'll be sleeping on deck.

Great.

But if I were you, I'd go tomorrow, old timer.

There's a bloke called Jimmy Cochran looking for you.

-He'll cut you in half when he finds you.

-He's looking for me? Why?

You know why. Do yourself a favour.

Get on the boat.

Where can I find him?

Oh, that's what everybody wants to know!

The bairn got left on the beach. Look!

Oh, that's Jimmy, by the way. And I think the one with the hook nose and the hooded eyes

is meant to be you, pal.

Where were you the night Maggie Alderton was killed?

Me?

Do you not think you're spoilt for choice, like, with Thomas Ali and Jimmy Cochran?

I'm asking you, where you were.

-I was playing pool with the lads.

-Anybody else verify that?

You mean anybody white?

No, I mean anybody who wasn't in your gang.

Well, Jimmy Cochran, he come in.

-What time was that?

-Six o'clock?

What did he want?

He claimed I owed him money. I told him to get lost, he went.

Owed him the money for the passports?

The ones he was bringing you the night before?

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

-Where'd he go afterwards?

-To her place.

-And how do you know that?

-Because I told him about her looking for Thomas Ali at the boarding house.

-Why did you tell him that?

Just to see the look on his stupid face.

And did you tell Jimmy Thomas Ali's name?

Yeah, later on, aye.

After he'd smashed me head into the side of a car.

-You drive a car, Hamed?

-No.

-Why not?

-Disqualified.

Describe Thomas Ali to me.

Big nose.

Shifty eyes.

Now, you give me one more stupid answer, sunshine, I'm gonna come over there and smack you.

Now, he came looking for a boat home, yeah?

Why'd he do that?

He's too idle to swim.

A young woman has been raped and murdered!

And her baby's hanging onto life!

-So you show some respect, you little...

-What?

Black bastard?

Dago? Tar-brush?

Say it if you like, Mr Gently.

You know you want to.

I won't tell anybody. I've got used to it.

You see, you learn to put up with it at school.

Scratch the surface with any of yis and you're all the same.

-Who is?

-The British.

-You're British.

I was born in Britain.

-Well, then you're British. So am I. So was Maggie Alderton.

-I'm not British, I'm Arab.

Oh, yeah? And what does the prophet Mohammed have to say about playing pool and drinking whisky?

Where I come from, they'd cut your tongue out for saying that.

-Tyne Dock?

-Where my blood came from. The Yemen.

What was the name on the passport?

Was it Thomas Ali or Thomas Jamil Ali?

Thomas Ali.

Any idea who Thomas Jamil Ali is?

I've never heard of him.

Mr Saint? Wakey-wakey.

Mr Saint?

Hello, Mr Saint.

Sorry, did I disturb you?

Right...

So, what was the little secret?

I dunno. I dunno what she meant.

Oh, yes, you do.

-Where did you get all this stuff?

-I stole it.

From her desk. From her handbag.

I just wanted things...

I wanted things she'd touched.

-She knew I was doing it.

-Oh, yeah?

She was lovely. She didn't mind. She never said a word.

We pretended she didn't notice.

She used to leave me things to find. That was our little secret.

What else did you want from her?

Was it something that she would never give you?

Maggie Alderton was raped before she died.

Was it the sex that you wanted from her, Philip?

Maggie could never give me what I wanted.

No-one could give me what I wanted.

What was that, then? What more did you want from her?

She'd already given you a way of selling the passports, didn't she? Via Jimmy.

I met Jimmy through her. At an office party.

He came up with this idea.

She played no part in it, I swear.

Maggie didn't have a dishonest bone in her body.

What was the little secret, then?

Everyone who met Maggie loved her. I wanted to be her.

I wanted to BE Maggie.

You're not supposed to be here, Sergeant. We agreed a procedure.

-If you could come back...

-I've got my job to do.

-Yes, so have I.

-Well, make it quick.

-I've got his medication to do.

-All right.

What do you mean, you wanted to "be her"?

How can you "be her"?

What, you wanted Jimmy?

That thug?

DOOR OPENS

Here's your laundry. The stuff you had on when you were admitted.

-Thanks, Evelyn.

-I need to question this man.

Trousers, pullover, shirt.

Stockings, suspenders...

..and panties.

Oh, they're gonna love you in Durham jail.

Did Thomas Ali kill Maggie Alderton?

See, now why do you automatically think "Arab", when you think "criminal", eh?

Because he was seen entering her flat and then later on he comes to you looking for a boat home.

You knew he'd been to her flat, you knew he was the father and you knew she'd been murdered.

And what do you do? Inform the police?

No, you promise him a boat home!

Would you like to explain that?

Blood.

Well, I've got a better explanation. Money.

-KNOCK ON DOOR

-What?!

-Sir, may I have a word?

-The car belongs to an Abdullah Ali al-Hakrana, sir.

-Who?

Abdullah Ali al-Hakrana.

I'm guessing he's an Arab.

Really? CID could use men like you(!)

-Address?

-No, not yet, sir. This fella's brief's at the front desk.

He wants to know whether we're charging him or letting him go.

He's talking about a racially-motivated police force and blah, blah, blah.

He's an Arab and all.

All I've got on him at the moment is carrying a bicycle chain in his pocket.

No fingerprints on the knife, he was wearing gloves.

Do you know a man called Ab... What? What was it?

-Abdullah Ali al-Hakrana...

-I've never heard of him!

-All right, you can go.

-Right, you, let's go.

-No, wait! Sit down.

-Oh, come on, man!

-Sit down!

Tell his brief we're charging him with GBH.

-We haven't got any evidence on him, sir.

-Doesn't matter. I'll keep him here all day.

And then go to the Shoreline Club

and see if you can find a young Arab boy called Rana.

Abdullah Ali al-Hakrana. Bring him in.

Sir.

PHONE RINGS

Tom, put that in evidence for us?

Sir, we can forget about Philip Saint.

Or should I call him Philippa? He didn't kill her.

-How do you know?

-He was trying to get into her knickers.

-Come on...

-Literally. He's only a bloomin' transvestite!

Ha, ha! Where are you going?

WE are going to find out who Thomas Jamil Ali is.

ENGINE RUMBLES

-Can I show you something, Maggie?

-Depends what it is.

It's my dad. Died in the war.

-Torpedo.

-Handsome devil.

HE SOBS

I'll be with you in a minute.

There's a fella round the corner normally does you lads.

-Give me a shave.

-I'm gonna be a while...

-I'll wait.

Now, trim?

Short back and sides and give me a shave.

'What happened to Jimmy's real parents, Mrs Cochran?'

-Does it matter now?

-Yes, I think it does.

-My sister died in a fire.

-Your sister?

-Yes.

His mother was my sister, Alice.

What was her second name?

Jenkins.

-Alice Jenkins.

-This is how Jimmy got his burns?

The chip pan fire that killed his mother?

Aye. He was lucky.

HE EXHALES IN PAIN

What happened to your neck?

-What?

-Your neck.

-Mind your own business!

Looks like a burn.

-You were on the beach...

-Keep your head still, will you?

-Is it?

-Is it what?

-Burns.

-Who the hell are you?

-My name's Ali. I used to be a sailor.

Well, Ali, tell someone else your life story, will you?

I'm not interested and I don't want to buy photos of your sister shagging a camel.

-I haven't got a sister.

-Chuck him out!

-Or I'll put him through the wall!

-Come on, out.

Go on!

LOCK TURNS

-I didn't mean anything!

-Just finish your job.

-And his father?

-He was a sailor in the Merchant Marine.

His ship was torpedoed in the Atlantic. All hands were lost.

-And his name was Jenkins, too, I take it?

-Yes.

'You're him, aren't you?'

You're the one that give Maggie the bairn.

-Well, you better be good with that, or...

-Shave him.

-Oh, man. You've got us all nervous.

-Go.

Go.

I'll finish it.

DOOR SLAMS

When I was a boy,

my father used to come home from work.

He'd put lather on his face and say,

"Son,

"shave your father's face."

Maggie was one of the best people I ever met in my life.

She loved you with all her heart.

You didn't kill her, did you, Jimmy?

Kill Maggie?

I'd rather cut my own throat.

What was your maiden name, Mrs Cochran?

Jenkins.

And your sister Alice's maiden name was Jenkins too.

So what was her married name?

We begged her not to marry him.

She knew she'd lose all her family and friends.

She said it was for love.

What good did love do her when she walked down the street and they called her those names?

What good did love do her when they came to the front door that night?

We did it for the best!

We thought he'd been drowned.

And Jimmy had come out white.

I knew a woman just like her once.

Her name was Alice.

When I got back on dry land...

..Alice was dead.

They put petrol through her letter box.

Hate came into my heart

and lived there...

-..till Maggie brought love back into my life.

-That bairn was yours.

In a way.

Alice bore me a son while I was at sea.

The letter said she'd called him Jamil.

The petrol burned his neck. But he lived.

Jimmy?

Jamil.

Thomas Jamil Ali.

I did it to give Jimmy a better chance in life.

Better for him to look illegitimate?

There's worse things to be than a bastard.

My wife's sister brought him up in Newcastle. He was no longer Jamil.

He was...

Jimmy.

And I was told he was dead.

Maggie found all this out, Jimmy.

She got the truth out of Agnes Cochran.

Then you know what she did, Jimmy?

What?

She wrote us a letter saying I had to surrender my passport to her office for an official check.

Then she wouldn't give us it back...

..until I visited her flat and listened to her story.

'Go and find Jamil, Thomas.'

All they give him of his father was a photo of a stranger.

I think they cut it from a magazine. A sailor but the wrong sailor.

A war hero but a white one.

-Why haven't you told him yourself, Maggie?

-Cos he wouldn't believe me.

And because every lad needs to hear his story from his father.

Maggie!

-Maggie.

-JAMIL SOBS

Who killed her?

I don't know, Jamil.

Come and shave your father.

-Leave it down. Put the blade down.

-Aye.

Son...

No more blood.

Steady now, steady.

You fought in the war, for this country?

They took my wife.

They took my son.

They said, "Only white sailors now."

Then they took my job. Then they took my home.

Maggie wanted to give you back your son...and your grandson.

I never knew her but I believe Maggie was the best of us, Mr Ali.

Aye.

And I need to find her murderer.

Was it Jimmy?

No.

-Do you know who it was?

-No.

You know a young man called Rana. Tell me about him.

Rana has lost his way.

He doesn't know if he's British, Arab, good boy or gangster.

He's lost.

He's weak.

I'm not who I thought I was.

Maggie Alderton loved Jimmy Cochran.

She loved Thomas Jamil Ali.

She loved you with long hair, short hair, dodgy passports, whatever.

Maggie had enough love for everybody.

It wouldn't have mattered to her what I was.

-She even had time for Hamed.

-Hamed?

-Aye.

They were at school together.

Little Black Sambo's what the teachers called him.

Know what she did? And only Maggie could do this.

She took him home for his tea.

She never asked Bob or Belle, she just brought him in.

Sorry, let me just get this right?

What are we saying here? They went out together?

Nah. No, it was never like that for her. For him...I dunno.

She always said he was a bit stuck on her.

First white lass to ever talk to him probably.

Anyway, Belle told her never to bring him back.

So it just fizzled out. That's when I met her.

No. I was with Hamed the night Maggie was killed.

She's always liked Arabs.

He was still at the Shoreline when I went to see her.

Maggie!

Maggie!

'She'd gone by the time I got there.'

-Did you go straight to Maggie's from the Shoreline?

-Nah.

I went to the cemetery first... to talk to my Dad.

How long? How long, exactly, from when you left the Shoreline to when you kicked the door in at Maggie's?

About half an hour.

When did you last see Maggie Alderton, Mr Hakrana?

I only saw her the once.

The day she brought Thomas Ali's passport to the Boarding House?

-Yeah. What's all this about?

-And you never saw her again after that?

You own a blue Vauxhall.

-Correct?

-Aye.

Anybody else drive it?

Are you sure about that, Rana?

You sit there and you keep your gob shut.

Tell me about Thomas Ali.

He's a good man.

A real Muslim.

In what way is Thomas Ali a real Muslim?

He always helped us. He'd give you anything.

Money.

Advice.

He hates this. All this.

Hates the way we live -

the wickedness.

That's why he's leaving.

-It's not the only reason.

-Hamed. Shut it!

-Wickedness, Rana?

Yeah. Drinking and gambling and...

-..lust.

-Such as what happened to Maggie Alderton?

Do you know who did it, Rana?

An Arab did it.

We're all shamed.

Do you know his name?

Tell him, Rana. Maybe Mr White Man'll give you a medal.

Thomas Ali did it.

How do you know that?

I saw him.

I went to the flat to warn him that Jimmy was coming.

Oh.

Jimmy went round there to confront Maggie,

but you went there first to warn Ali, yes?

And?

I saw Ali bringing her from the flat, pushing her into his van.

-She had the baby with her.

-In its basket?

Yeah. In its basket.

But we found the basket in the flat.

-Rana, man...

-Quiet!

N-N-No!

-She had the baby in her arms.

-Rana, man, the bairn was found in its basket.

It said so in the paper, man.

Basket or no basket, Rana?

It was in its basket.

Why are you lying? The tyre prints of your car exactly match those

found in the sand on the night of the murder. You're under arrest.

-I'm charging you with murder.

-He's bluffing, Rana.

-You can shove off now, Hamed.

-Case closed.

-Don't say nowt! Get a solicitor.

-Nowt about what?

OK, I'll go.

Sit down, stupid!

So what's it to be, Rana?

Are you going to do his bidding forever?

-Are you going to put your neck in his noose.

-Hamed, man!

Rana...we're Arabs.

We're brothers.

You didn't see Ali take Maggie out of the flat

because you weren't there, were you, Rana?

Who borrowed the car, Rana?

I didn't know what he was gonna do.

-He just said he wanted to borrow the car keys.

-OK, look, look.

So I borrowed his car. I drove without a licence -

guilty as charged. You don't know where I went, Rana.

-Nobody knows where I went.

-Tyre tracks on Frenchman's Cove.

-That could've been him!

-I'm sorry.

-You said we were brothers.

-What are you crying like a tart for?!

-When did the car come back, Rana?

-Two hours later.

-Where had it been?

Frenchman's Cove.

He's making this up to save his own skin.

-Rana, they're making fools of us both, man! We stick together, man. We're blood.

-We're not!

I am not the same as you.

How do you know that the car had been to Frenchman's Cove?

I found these on the back seat.

-RANA SOBS

-Cuff him.

HAMED GASPS

I thought...

"If she wants an Arab, why him?

"Why an old man?

"Why not me?

' "Why not little black sambo?" '

Maggie! Get in out of the rain.

Hamed?

-What are you doing here, Hamed?

-Thomas Ali wants to see you.

-I saw him earlier.

-He wants to talk to you again. He says it's important.

Look, he's waiting for you.

Fine.

-There's no need to bring the bairn.

-I can't leave him.

He'll get cold, man.

Well, come on.

Where's Thomas?

Did he say what he wanted?

Is he bringing Jimmy to me?

Hamed?

-Where's Thomas?

-He's not coming.

He's catching a boat to the Yemen.

-What?

-He's dumping you. BABY CRIES

Don't be stupid.

-You're beautiful, you know?

-Look, Hamed, this isn't funny.

-The bairn's crying and I want me tea.

-I would marry you, Maggie.

-What?

-I'd say it was mine. Who would know?

-Hamed...

-I've always loved you.

-I've got to go now, Hamed.

-Wait.

-Hamed, no... Hamed!

-I thought you liked Arabs, Maggie?

-Hamed!

-I won't hurt you, Maggie.

But it got out of hand?

BABY CRIES

She was beautiful, wasn't she?

So, who is this?

No idea.

You have a son who's going to need a father.

You'll have to face charges first, for theft and assault.

But that's your job now, Jimmy.

Jamil.

My name's Jamil.

Thomas Jamil Ali.

-JOHN SIGHS

-I don't understand that, guv.

Why couldn't she just...

I dunno, shake him by the hand even?

Fear.

Six years ago, in Notting Hill, I got frightened

and I called somebody a monkey.

So he assaulted me.

And because he assaulted me, he got sent to prison.

And because he got sent to prison, his son learned to hate white men.

Why did I do that?

Why do we find this so hard, John?

Just off the boat, are you?

No, missus, I was born here.

Sorry, pet, we're full up anyway.

Let him call for the elders of the church.

Let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord.

The Lord shall raise him up. HAMED GASPS

If he has committed sins, they shall be forgiven. Amen.

CRACK!

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