Gently Evil Inspector George Gently

So she says to us, "Why are you always mumbling all the time?"

I says, "Why am I always mumbling all the time?" She says, "Aye, why are you always mumbling all the time?"

I says, "You know what your trouble is, pet?"

-You can't tell talk from mutter.

-Thanks, mate(!)

Here's a topical one. A bloke goes up to Twiggy.

-Pay him off, man, Tommy, for hell's sake!

-Howay, son, you're off.

Did somebody die or what?

Your bingo books are now on sale in the lounge!

Give us a Mackeson, pet.

Eyes down in ten minutes!

Yours, bonny lad?

What? Oh, yeah. It's me daughter.

Bonny little lass. What's she called?

Leigh Ann.

Must have got her face from her mother.

Eh. You'd think butter wouldn't melt in their mouths at that age, yeah.

Yes, well it wouldn't.

You look at photos like these and you think, "Look at that little smile,

"look at the light in them eyes... whole life ahead."

But you don't know what that life'll be, do you?

Nobody knows how a bairn's life'll turn out.

Do you recognise him?

Is it you?

No, it's Adolf Hitler.

I cut it out of a magazine!

Adolf Hitler!

Look at his cheeky little face!

Beautiful woman.

Thanks for showing it to me.

You must really regret that you couldn't have children.

Well... They'd have been grown up and gone by now anyway.

But they'd still be there.

And you don't have anybody, do you?

Why's that then? Married to the job?

Or would it be disloyal?

Two years since she died, isn't it?

I just hate the idea of you being lonely, George.

I'm alone. I'm not lonely.

Well. I'm not alone.

I've got Leigh Ann. And now I've got me Mum and Dad again.

But I am lonely.

Though not as lonely as I was when I was living with a man who didn't want me.

I've given up trying to give John advice.

-There you go...

-PHONE RINGS

-No, no, no, no...

-Yes. Yes!

Well... thank you, Lisa.

That was very nice.

Is there a Mr Gently here?

Excuse me...

It's through that door, Mister.

Just get home, pet, go on.

Somebody get hold of these kids and get them home.

Chap down the corridor heard loud voices about a couple of hours ago, peeked out through his doorway

and he saw this bloke running towards the stairs.

He had a cut on his face, blood running from it.

But our chap did nothing. Because apparently she made a lot of noise.

Drank a lot. Had a lot of male visitors.

Somebody's whacked her pretty hard there.

What's all this about? Hanky covering her eyes?

What you looking for?

-There must be a poker here somewhere.

-Reckon it was the murder weapon?

-I know it was.

-Why?

Dark smudges in with the blood.

You didn't see them, did you? What?

You thought her mascara had run? It's ash.

-Have I done something to offend you, guv?

-No.

-Here we go.

-You found it?

Birth certificate...

for one Agnes Charlton.

-Is that her then?

-No. Born 1953.

Mother Domenica Charlton, aged 19.

Maybe this is the mother then.

Make her what? Early 30s...

Reckon?

Be about right, wouldn't it?

Does it give a father's name?

-Yeah.

-You all right?

Sir, the woman's brother. Mr Paige.

-I want to see her!

-No, you don't.

-She's me kid sister!

-Yes, Mr Paige, but you don't want to see her, believe me. Do you live nearby?

I'm at me mother's at the minute, but I was in the pub.

Well, we'd best go and tell her.

She'll know by now. The whole town knows.

Take me to your mother's, and we'll talk about it there.

All right? Just wait in the car.

-Take him, will you?

-Right lads, all yours.

You stay here and take a full statement from this chap and any other residents you can find.

When did he last see her alive, anybody know about boyfriends etc.

The man with the cut on his face...

has he seen him before, would he know him again.

And send someone to check all the hospitals in case somebody comes in looking for stitches in his face?

Saturday night in Newcastle, we'll get the phone book, but do it anyway.

I'll be back.

Do you have any idea who might do this to your daughter, Mrs Paige?

Only her neighbour said that Domenica had a lot of visitors.

-Men.

-We loved Domenica, Inspector,

we love her. She was always...

-fragile, when she was a bairn, you know.

-She has a daughter.

Aye... Agnes.

Where is she?

She lives with her Dad on the coast.

Agnes is upstairs asleep.

She wanted to stop with me tonight.

-You'd better bring her down.

-You fetch her, Darren.

Do I have to tell her?

Well, somebody's got to.

Where on the coast, Mrs Paige?

What? Oh, Alan. High Blyth.

Would you

write his address down for me, please?

Just here.

There you go.

< GIRL CRIES OUT

How's that child going to live with this?

When did the marriage fail?

It never worked.

It had no chance.

-I want me mammy, Nana.

-Your mammy's in Heaven, Agnes.

I don't want her to go to Heaven, I want her here!

Agnes...

is it all right if I talk to you?

I don't want to answer questions!

I want me Mammy back!

I'm sorry, Agnes. Tomorrow...

Come on, pet. You can sleep in my bed.

Agnes's father, Domenica's husband is... Alan Charlton, correct?

Did your sister have a regular boyfriend, Darren?

Any enemies?

Everybody loves Domenica.

I know that you think bad of her for the way she lives.

Everybody who knew her loved her.

She was that sort of lass.

You were obviously very close. I'm sorry.

-When did you last see her?

-Yesterday?

Did she seem OK? She didn't mention any problems with her... boyfriends?

No.

-Or her husband?

-No.

Would you mind having a look at this for me, please, Darren?

Dear God. What's she put that for?

Did your sister think her ex-husband was an evil man?

No, she loved him.

And he worshipped the ground she walked on. It'll kill him, this.

So? Why would she write that?

Domenica was...

-fragile...

-Fragile.

Yes.

When you use the word "fragile" what exactly do you mean by that, Darren?

There were times when she...

were taken away. For her own safety, like.

You mean your sister was mentally disturbed.

She got sectioned twice.

Why would you carry your daughter's birth certificate around in your handbag?

Where's Leigh Ann's birth certificate?

-Her mother's got it, I suppose. In a drawer somewhere.

-Exactly.

Well, look, from what we know she was crackers, weren't she.

I mean, when Alan Charlton walks in, he won't have horns and a tail, will he?

-Taking their time, aren't they?

-Tell me again what the bloke down the corridor said.

That Domenica was shouting.

There was a man's voice raised and he saw the bloke with the cut face

but he can't say exactly what time any of this happened...

on account of being out of his mind on Brown Ale, probably.

-But he thought he didn't have a local accent.

-Scottish accent, he thinks.

But he was drunk. He was useless.

All the same, best let the hospitals know we'd particularly like

to hear about a Scot who needed treatment for a cut on his face.

Sir?

How do we play this with the husband, sir? Light or heavy?

What do you think?

-Heavy.

-Correct.

It was a savage attack, I'm afraid.

And her eyes had been covered with a handkerchief.

-Who would want to do that?

-You can't think of anybody then?

Me? No.

So...

Where were you earlier on tonight, Alan? Say from six o'clock onwards.

-I was at home.

-Alone?

As it turned out.

Normally Agnes is with us but she wanted to get the bus over to her Nana's.

-Not her mother?

-She isn't allowed to go to her mothers.

-For obvious reasons.

-On your tod then.

Can anybody vouch for this?

-What are you trying to say?

-I'm not trying to say anything, Alan.

I'm just trying to establish where you...

That's my wife on that trolley.

You know?

The woman I married...

The mother of my bairn...

Taylor.

Sir?

Mr Charlton can go and see his daughter.

I'm sorry... We'll talk again tomorrow.

No other injuries apart from the ones to the head.

Signs of sexual activity but not of rape.

Died between 5pm and 9pm yesterday.

-What was in her stomach?

-Nothing.

-Bloodstream?

Alcohol and amyl nitrate.

She used the drugs to keep going, I would guess.

Sir... Scotch bloke got four stitches put in his head at ten o'clock last night.

Gave his name as Smith.

-He's rooming at the Seamen's Hostel in Jarrow.

-Have him picked up.

Take him to Domenica Charlton's.

Sir...

Beauty sleep will have to wait.

YAWNING

I rang you earlier on, see if you fancied a pint.

I was out...

With your wife.

Did you have a nice time?

Very.

She keeping all right?

Why don't you ask her?

Hang on... What do you mean "out with your wife"?

Is this something you do regular?

Is that a problem, John?

What did she say about us?

What... you think we talk about you?

Here's our Scotsman.

All I want to say is one thing - you're old enough to be her father.

Mr Smith, is it? Apologies for dragging you out of bed.

-What's this about?

-What did you do to your head?

I walked into a wall, why?

-Happens to you a lot, does it?

-When I'm steaming, yeah.

Come with me, will you please?

Have a look at this gentleman here, please, Mr Hill, and tell us

if he's the man you saw leaving Domenica's flat last night.

Come close. He won't bite.

No, I don't think so.

Nah, I don't think so.

-Are you short-sighted, Mr Hill?

-Blind as a bat, actually.

-Where are your glasses, man?

-They're broke.

Did you wear them when you saw the man?

No, man, they're smashed.

Thank you very much, Mr Smith and again, my apologies.

Any sign of that poker?

No, sir.

What we looking for, guv?

A good recent photo of Domenica.

Guv...

Happy as anything, weren't they?

Must be six, seven years ago that...

-Anything?

-No... Not yet, sir.

All right...

Thank you. What sort of a place is this?

Used to be a fishing village. Nice little beach this...

been here a few times with my wife and my daughter.

County built the council estate as overflow.

People like the Charltons, they flocked here from Newcastle.

Fresh air and that for the kids, nice little school, plenty of work at the power station

and steel plant

down the coast.

Paradise compared to Byker and Wallsend.

What's going on up there?

There's a camp site.

Gets used a bit in the summer. When we get one.

If they come back at all this year, that is.

There's a little lass fell off the cliff last year while she was playing.

Not good publicity for a holiday destination, is it?

Paradise, you say.

But Domenica left her daughter and went to a life of drugs, alcohol and casual sex. Why's that?

Women are never happy.

I'll just pretend you didn't say that.

Because you can take the people out of the slums, but you can't take the slums out of the people?

Let's ask her husband.

Morning.

How are you feeling today?

Agnes, how are you today?

She's OK, considering.

Agnes, this is Sergeant Bacchus.

That's a funny name.

Yes, well he's a funny bloke.

Hello, Agnes.

In a little while, Agnes, I'm going to ask you to go with this nice lady

for a cup of tea, because I want to speak to your Dad on his own, OK?

Agnes should stay with me, I think.

You said they wouldn't get us on me own.

It's all right, pet. It's me they want to talk to.

I'm not going on me own.

Well. We'll cross that bridge when we get to it, shall we?

For now I want to ask you both when was the last time you saw Domenica?

Er... months ago. I cannot be exact.

Agnes?

Just tell the man, Agnes. It's all right.

She didn't go straight to her Nana's.

I saw her yesterday tea time.

After school I got the bus to Byker and went to see her.

Then what happened?

Well, I fell down and got me skirt muddy so she hit us.

And then?

She give us some juice and she said "I'm busy, go and find your Uncle Darren in the pub

"or go to your Nana's, but tell them not to hit you cos I've already done it",

so I did.

When I spoke to your Uncle Darren last night

he didn't know that you were at your Nana's.

Me Uncle Darren's a drinker, isn't he, Dad?

He says, "Oh, Agnes, I love your mother.

"She's perfect." He's daft.

Agnes, there's nowt to laugh about.

Guv... can I have a word?

Yes... Will you excuse us for a moment?

She was there last night. After the murder, outside the tenement.

She was at her Grandmother's, tucked up in bed.

No, no, sir. I am telling you.

She was there when I arrived.

She spoke to us. She said, "It's in there, Mister."

Get her out of there.

Will you bring Agnes out and sit with her in number two, please?

-You say nothing about anything!

-Whoa, get back in there.

Say nothing about what, Agnes?

You won't put him in the gallows, will you?

No, we don't do that any more...

Agnes.

Was your mother alive when you saw her last?

Yes, all right, go on.

Come on, luv.

No wonder she's screwed up. She saw him do it.

Don't LIE! Don't you keep lying!

Just tell me that you lost your temper and I'll believe you!

This isn't right! Your sergeant's a bully.

-Shut up, you.

-He should be given a break, something to eat.

A break!? You want a break!

I'll give you a break!

I've a mate down the corridor that brings in a rhino whip every time he talks to blokes who kill women!

-I really object to this!

-He's only kidding.

Do I put that bit in about the rhino whip?

-No...

-Put that I apologise for my rudeness to...

-what's your name again?

-Simmons.

-Sarah Simmons.

-Mrs Simmons.

Miss Simmons.

I'm not interested in your marital status, pet.

I'm not asking you out on a date, I'm asking your client to start telling the truth!

John.

May I?

Alan.

You haven't got an alibi.

Your wife abandoned you and your daughter to go and live a debauched life.

Which the court will see as a motive.

And when I spoke to your daughter she said that the last time she saw her mother... she was dead.

So is there something you'd like to get off your chest, Alan?

All right...

Stand up, please, Mr Charlton.

Alan Charlton, I'm charging you with the murder

of your wife, Domenica Charlton on the 5th February just gone.

You do not have to say anything but anything you do say will be taken

down and may be used in evidence against you. Do you understand?

Yes.

Are you really going to make me do this?

Are you going to make me put Agnes in the witness box and let the prosecution loose on her?

-She's only a bairn, man.

-It's your choice.

OK. If you won't tell me what happened, Agnes will have to.

Wait.

You do not have to say anything, and I advise you not to.

What about Agnes?

-Can they question her in court?

-Yes.

Alan...

Your daughter was at your wife's house last night. I saw her.

I think

you murdered your wife in front of her.

No...

Now your daughter is all screwed up.

She loves you, she wants to protect you,

but she will end up telling us everything.

Everything. So why don't you give her a break, Alan?

SHE SIGHS

You promise you'll leave Agnes out of it?

You make your statement. Then I'll tell you what I will or won't do.

I had warned

Domenica time and again.

I didn't want Agnes hanging around that place if she was going to go on living like that.

She told me

Agnes was none of my business.

What did she mean by that?

Why did she cross out your name and put "Satan"?

Domenica was...

ill, Mr Gently.

She couldn't help herself sometimes.

This was just another way of...

-taunting us.

-According to your marriage licence, you and Domenica got married

four months before Agnes was born, yes?

Agnes was an accident.

Domenica didn't want the bairn.

I made her have her.

She never forgave me...

or Agnes.

We "ruined her life" apparently.

So what happened last night, Alan?

I went

looking for Agnes when she didn't come home from school.

I found her with her mam...

and some bloke.

They were both drunk.

-I chased him.

-You chased him?

Told him to get lost.

He just went.

-Did he have a Scottish accent?

-No.

No, he was local.

-Positive?

-Yes, positive.

-Did you hit him?

-No.

Well, I might have done.

He just ran.

-Then what?

-I told Agnes

to go to her Nana's.

I tried

one last time

to reason with Domenica.

She hit us, she spat at us...

I lost my temper.

I had just

-had enough.

-Then what?

Then what, Alan?

I killed her.

I killed Domenica.

How?

-With a poker.

-Where is it?

Bottom of the North Sea.

Why did you cover her eyes?

I just...

-I don't know why I did that.

-No reason?

I don't know.

You do mad things when you're in a state.

They were staring at us.

Yes, staring open, so...

-You'll keep the bargain?

-Yes.

Agnes can go home.

Home?

She doesn't have a home now, Mr Gently.

Well, he can cancel the milk for about 15 years, I reckon.

They'll plead provocation, crime of passion, defence brief will

demolish the wife's reputation so he could get away with 12, actually.

-Fancy a drink to celebrate?

-No.

What's the matter, guv?

You know what's the matter. The handkerchief.

Somebody put in on her after she died. Why?

Who?

I don't think it was Alan Charlton.

Our blind witness talked about a man with a Scottish accent.

Alan said the man he found with Domenica had a local accent. So which was it?

What difference does it make?

You still don't think Charlton did it, do you?

Too many loose ends.

He had no alibi, he had a motive, he knew what the murder weapon was and he confessed.

What was all that about a rhino whip?

Eh? Oh, no, no, no...

he only does it to frighten them.

I've never seen him use it.

Well, good. Have a nice weekend.

Yeah, you an all, guv...

-Nice motor.

-What do you want?

There's no need to be like that.

You are probably the most offensive human being I've ever met.

You just need to get to know us a bit better.

What you doing later?

-Ever heard the word "protocol"?

-What protocol? Your client's coughed.

Go on.

A little drink. Mebbes a bite to eat.

-The Goose in Howden.

-Howden?

-Up near Kielder.

-That's miles away, isn't it?

-Well, do you want a drink or don't you?

Yeah, yeah, of course, just

remind me how to, er?

A68 towards Wooler...

..follow the signs for Kielder

then Howden.

And the pub's called The Goose?

The Wild Goose, actually, but you can't miss it.

I'll be there at seven o'clock.

If you're not, I'll be gone at five past.

No, no, no, I'll be there.

"DR WHO" IS ON THE TELEVISION

KNOCK ON DOOR

GENTLY: Evening, Mrs Paige. Could I see Agnes please?

-I told you he'd come.

-Of course.

-Agnes, just...

I will need to speak to her alone.

-Come in.

-Thank you.

He wants to talk to Agnes on her own.

-She's upset, man, she won't know what...

-Would you mind, please?

How are you, Agnes?

I'm OK.

There's something I have to ask you.

It's nothing to worry about.

Cos it makes no difference to what will happen to your Dad.

Do you understand?

Were you there when your Dad hit your Mammy?

No. I ran away.

Was there anybody else in the room?

No.

Did you go back in?

Afterwards?

Why, Agnes?

To see her. She was dead.

Did you do anything?

Could you tell me about it?

Her eyes were open.

I put me hankie over her. Like this.

Excuse me.

-Is there a pub round here?

-What, here?

Yeah. Here. Is this Howden?

Aye. But there's no pub here.

What pub you looking for?

It's called The Goose...

Or The Wild Goose?

I think somebody was having us on.

Sorry.

The Wild Goose chase...very clever.

In goal, Ronnie Simpson. Right back, Bobby Cowell.

Left back, Ron Batty.

Right half Jimmy Scoular. Outside right, Len White.

It was Agnes. She covered her mother's face.

Poor little lass.

And Outside Left, Bobby Mitchell!

Thank you and goodnight, sensation seekers everywhere.

Used to come here with John.

When we could drag him away from the pub or work.

I feel sorry for him, cos he'll turn round in 15 years

and say, "Oh, Leigh Ann's all grown up and I missed it."

-But he sees her, doesn't he?

-Yeah, he has her every other weekend.

But what does he do?

He buys her things. He doesn't know how to do anything with her.

When I go to pick her up she can't wait to leave.

She never mentions him any more.

She's forgetting him.

I don't want her to grow up without a Dad.

-What's that mean?

-It means I'm going to ask for a divorce.

And I'm going to find somebody else.

For me and for her.

I shouldn't really. She's never seen her mam smoke.

I'll take her for a paddle.

-Would you?

-Yes.

Come on, sweetheart, let's go for a paddle. Come on.

You can bring your bucket.

You don't need your spade.

All right, bring your spade, come on.

Won't be long, Geraint, then we'll go on the beach now, OK?

Cup of tea first, though.

No, straight to the beach.

Isn't that right, Geraint?

Straight to the beach as soon as I park the car.

Geraint?

-Geraint!

-Geraint!

-Geraint!

-Geraint!

Geraint!

-Geraint!

-Geraint!

Geraint!

-What's going on?

-I found him on the steps down to the beach.

"Going for a paddle", he said.

See you. Have a nice holiday.

Hey, thanks.

Who was that masked man?

That was The Lone Ranger.

You're supposed to be on holiday.

This is personal.

So what are you trying to do...

-make me look like a fool?

-Do you think you need help?

I went round to my in-laws yesterday afternoon.

Have you any idea what that costs me?

Why... did you take a taxi?

I had to grovel.

"Can I please see my daughter?"

"No, you can't, it's the wrong weekend and anyway they're out.

With Mr Gently again.

-Well, as you said, it wasn't your weekend.

-OK, what's going on?

There are people

laughing at me.

Who is laughing at you exactly?

-Everybody.

-You fancy a cup of tea?

-Get out.

-Get out.

I'll tell you what's going on.

Your wife is lonely and confused.

Has been confused. I don't think she is any more.

She just wanted a friendly face to talk to.

You can talk on the phone.

You don't need to take them both on days out.

Hang on. "Has been"

confused. What does that mean?

There are two things not going on between me and your wife.

The first one is so obvious I'm not even going to say it.

-Everybody else is.

-The second is that I am not a go-between.

If you want to know what's on your wife's mind, you go and ask her.

You're looking for a smack in the gob, mate.

Sir. There's a two-year-old boy's gone missing from a camp site.

Taylor, this is CID, it's not the Mountain Rescue Team.

Why don't you come back when there's a crime.

How long's he been missing?

-22 hours, sir.

-That's too long.

Bring me the details.

OK if I come along, guv?

He's called Robin. According to his folks he's never wandered off before.

Thanks, love.

Robin... Robin...

Robin, where are you?

Robin...

Darren?

Oi!

Hello. Me and me mam moved into Alan's house with Agnes. I heard a little lad's gone missing.

That's just the other side of the camp site, isn't it?

No, no... It's a long way away from the camp site.

How is Agnes?

Just watching the telly with her Nana.

I think I'd better go and make the tea.

Is there anybody in that family that's not totally crackers?

It's going to be dark soon.

I don't like this.

That little boy who went over the cliff last year. How far away?

That was half a mile. It was a little girl.

What killed her?

Injuries sustained in the fall as far as I remember.

You know it was an accident. Kids were playing on the cliff edge and, er...

She fell over. And the kids didn't tell anybody, so they didn't find the body until the next morning.

So the other kids actually saw it happen?

It wasn't my case, guv.

I just think the kids denied being there in case they got into trouble.

So we don't know how she went over?

Who found her?

I don't know...

-Taylor!?

-Sir.

Remember that kid that fell over the cliff last year...

-who found her?

-Er...

Some bloke passing by.

I took the call myself.

What he was just walking his dog on the beach?

No, he was on his way to work in the steel works.

Five o'clock in the morning.

He's walking to work along the beach?

No, no, he said he was driving along in his car on the top road.

Sir, you can't see the bottom of the cliff from the road.

Get me that man's details and I want the forensic on that dead girl.

On my desk tomorrow morning. Come on.

Mr McManus?

-Aye?

-We'd like to talk to you about the death of Laura Gadd last year. Is there somewhere we can go?

Yeah.

So. You stopped the car because you needed a crap and that is why

you went down to the beach and that is where you found the body of little Laura Gadd...

That's right.

Do you expect me to believe that?

There's nothing in your statement about being caught short.

-Well... I was a bit embarrassed, know what I mean?

-You were a two minute drive from work...

You couldn't wait two minutes. What?

-Are there no toilets here?

-Have you never needed a crap, Sergeant?

I've never needed a crap detector.

Not when it's a pile as big as this.

I understand you were once cautioned for a sexual offence, Mr McManus.

Ten years ago. The girl told me she was over 16.

-How the hell was I supposed to know?

-Like them young, do you?

Look, the police believed us or they'd've charged me.

No, no, a caution is a charge.

Do you like little boys as well, Neil?

What's this about?

There's a campsite near the cliff top. Do you know it?

-No.

-Never been there?

-What's this about?

A little boy went missing from there on Sunday. You must know about that.

-Yeah, I heard about it.

-So?

Come on,

you're pulling my leg.

-Where were you Sunday afternoon and evening?

-At home.

Alone?

-No, my wife was there.

-So your wife could corroborate that?

I was out...

I was out for a drive. On my own. I was just driving around.

Really?

-Anybody vouch for that?

-No.

-No...

I need you to come down to the station with us, please.

Have his wife brought in.

He was lying though, wasn't he, sir?

-100%.

-I love it when Jocks think they're clever.

Excuse me. Is there any corner of mankind that you don't have some kind of problem with, Sergeant?

Rhetorical question, I presume that.

-I just want to dig deeper into Rob Roy's past, OK?

-Sir?

-Busy.

-There's a bloke called Williams here.

Says some man's been behaving suspiciously with his young lad at the campsite.

And this was definitely Sunday, same day Robin Pershore was taken away?

Yeah, we'd just arrived, see?

We'd left Geraint sitting in the car, only he wandered off the way he does and this chap had his hand.

Leading him away? Or bringing him back?

Well, it's hard to tell, isn't it...

We spotted them and shouted, you see.

Would you recognise this man again?

-Oh, yes.

-Can you describe him?

Big fella, fair hair and he had a beard.

-Hello, Agnes.

-Hello.

Is your Uncle Darren in?

No.

Do you know where he is?

He's on me Dad's allotment. He's took it over.

Right. Where's that?

Where is it, Agnes?

They tell me you have something more to say.

I was with a lass called Angela.

-On Sunday.

-Angela.

That's a nice name.

Tell me about Angela.

She was the wee girl that showed you where I was today.

Very nice. And?

The wife doesn't have to know about this, does she?

-About what?

-Angela's married to the next-door neighbour.

Oh dear.

-We have to be careful, obviously.

-Obviously.

So we do it in the car.

And that's what you were doing on Sunday afternoon?

Angela.

Yeah.

And she'll tell me the same story?

-If she has to.

-She will have to.

So you're not satisfied within the marriage, I take it?

Angela the only woman you're seeing outside the marriage?

-What's that got to...?

-Just answer.

Look...

I get it where I can. OK with you?

Perfectly.

Does the name Domenica Charlton mean anything to you?

No.

What?

Is that the tart that was done in by her husband?

Got what was coming to her.

Because?

Shagging other men?

Oh-ho! I'd have done the same if I was him.

I see. But you never knew her?

No.

So, you and Angela.

Angela is married, you said?

Yeah.

Well, let's hope her husband doesn't give her what's coming to her, eh?

You give her a lift to work, I take it?

That's how it all started.

Every so often you find a deserted bit of cliff top,

pull the car over and start the day with a smile.

On the beach?

On the back seat. In a lay-by.

Mr McManus, we've already established that you can't see the beach from the road.

So how come you found the body of Laura Gadd?

Somebody else found it. Came tapping on the car window.

-A man.

-Can you describe him?

Heavy-set bloke, fair hair.

Mr Paige can I have a...

Oi!

Get off, get off! Get Off!

Hands behind your back.

There he was at the window.

-I'm trying to get me pants up and Angela's trying to...

-All right.

What did he say?

"There's a girl dead on the beach, you better call the police."

-Then what?

-Then he ran off.

I went down to the beach and found the wee girl and...

then I phoned the police.

Why didn't you mention this man to the police?

He saw what we we're doing.

I didn't want him saying anything to the police about me and Angela.

Which way did he run?

-Towards High Blyth.

-Would you recognise him if you saw him again?

I don't know. It was a year ago.

The windows were all steamed up, you know?

Angela confirmed your alibi.

You're free to go.

If I were you, I'd modify my behaviour in future.

If my granny had handlebars, she'd be a fish.

Yes...

You have no reason not to answer this question truthfully.

Is this the man who tapped on your car window and told you there was a dead girl on the beach a year ago?

That's him right enough.

Good. Nice meeting you. Give my love to Angela.

Mr Williams.

Is this the man who had your son's hand on Sunday? Please be sure.

I'm not sure.

Would you like a closer look?

What were you going to do to my son?

What were you going to do to him?!

-HE WHIMPERS

-What were you going to do to him?!

I'll kill him!

What were you going to do to him?!

You were present at the scene of one death - Laura Gadd - a year ago

and one abduction - Robin Pershore - on Sunday! This is no coincidence!

Where is he, Darren?

You tell me what you've done with Robin Pershore!

You tell me or I swear

I will beat it out of you!

-Don't let him hit us, please.

-I wouldn't dream of stopping him.

HE SCREAMS AND WHIMPERS

Tell us!

Tell me!

-Tell me!

-He's in the shed!

He's in the shed.

Oh, God! The shed, I didn't look.

SIREN WAILS

Come on. There we go.

There you go. They'll take you home to Mummy. Go on.

There's food and drink in there and all. Looks like he's been well cared for.

Good.

Darren Paige, I'm charging you with abduction and false imprisonment.

You do not have to say anything, but anything you do say will be taken down

and may be used in evidence against you.

You'll also have to answer questions about the death of Laura Gadd.

Did you push her off the cliff, Darren?

Huh?

Huh? No?

How did you know her body was there then?

Look...

..you want to do it the easy way this time, Darren, or the hard way?

-Hard way then.

-No, please.

I'll leave you to it, John.

My sergeant's less inhibited when I'm not here.

-How did you know her body was on the beach?

-I'll come back in half an hour, John?

-HE SCREAMS

-Agnes! Agnes told me!

Agnes told you?

Don't be pathetic, man.

He's lying, guv.

Any idea where I can find her?

All she said was she was going out to play.

You could try the campsite.

Where are the kids?

-DISTANT VOICES SING

-# The farmer's in his den

# Ee aye addio

# The farmer's in his den.

# The farmer wants a wife

# The farmer wants a wife

# Ee aye addio

# The farmer wants a wife. #

You have to pick me, it's my game.

# The wife wants a bairn

# The wife wants a bairn

# Ee aye addio

# The wife wants a bairn. #

Agnes?

What's funny, Agnes?

Yous.

Yous think you can see us.

I know you cannot.

Maybe he wasn't lying.

Tell the Press Office I want nothing leaked about this. She must have anonymity.

The papers'll have her name before the day's out. Somebody here will tell somebody something.

John, this is a case like any other.

Not any more, it isn't.

She's been given a solicitor.

Oh, you're joking!

You think I asked for it? Her dad asked me to take this on.

-Great.

-Sort yourselves out.

OK, look. It was a childish prank. I apologise.

No hard feelings?

Apologise to her.

I apologise.

Good.

We have reason to suspect that Agnes may have been involved in the death of Laura Gadd

who disappeared from a campsite near her home.

-Her uncle is lying to save his own neck.

-Possibly,

-but I have to question Agnes just like I would any other suspect.

-She says she knows nothing,

but I think she's being loyal to her uncle. She's a child.

If you'd been at that campsite, and seen the look on her face as she singled out this little lad...

-There is such a thing as evil.

-Evil?

-Is this the line your questioning's going to take?

-No, it isn't.

I don't believe in evil people, but I do believe in evil actions.

I feel there's a lot we don't know about Agnes. She's clearly disturbed.

-Then she should be in a psychiatric unit, not a police station.

-Maybe.

Right now I have to decide if she's a killer.

-How are they treating you at the children's home, Agnes?

-They're horrible.

All you get is, "How do you feel? How do you feel?" They're like the Daleks.

And how do you feel, Agnes?

What am I getting wrong for? Just for playing The Farmer's In His Den?

How is it you were able to tell your Uncle Darren about Laura Gadd's body being on the beach, Agnes?

I didn't. Why's he saying that?

Now why do you think he might say that if it wasn't true?

I don't want to get me Uncle Darren in trouble.

-It's all right.

-You must tell us the truth, Agnes.

Did you tell Uncle Darren where to find Laura Gadd's body?

I don't even know who she is.

You do know who she is, Agnes.

-How did you know her body was there?

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

She fell off the cliff playing Blind Man's Buff, anyway.

-How do you know that?

-It was in the Chronicle.

Where were you three days ago, Agnes, when little Robin Pershore was taken away from the campsite?

You don't have to answer that, Agnes, if you don't want to.

-I thought we were here to talk about what happened to Laura Gadd.

-Yes, we are.

-And the abduction of Robin Pershore.

-Why have you got a funny name?

Never mind that! Where were you on Sunday?

If you have bairns, they'll get the funny name.

-Barney and Beryl Bacchus.

-Just answer the question, please, Agnes.

They'll get laughed at. It'll be your fault.

-Have you got a bairn? I bet you cannot see her!

-Why don't you just shut your face, Agnes?!

OK.

-Is this your client refusing to answer questions, is it?

-Go and get a cup of tea, John.

-Guv.

-Go and get a cup of tea.

-Hello there. Would I be speaking to Domenica?

-Domenica?

-Domenica's dead.

-I'm so sorry. How embarrassing.

That's local bureaucracy for you.

-Sorry, you would be?

-Her mother.

Right. My name's David Cohen, I'm with the Children's Department.

I've been sent here to speak with you for a few minutes.

It's about a...young relation of yours, I believe.

Your grand-daughter, possibly?

Agnes?

Agnes. Yes, that's right. Agnes.

-You better come in.

-Thank you.

So Agnes's dad murdered her mother?

Wow.

Yes, I think it's starting to ring a bell, actually.

Did nobody tell you this?

Would you believe that? No. My first day on a new job, a stranger to the region, and they tell me nothing.

In at the deep end. You don't mind if I take notes do you, Mrs Paige?

I want to keep myself straight.

-Surely to God they put it in the notes.

-Yes, you'd think so, wouldn't you?

No.

HE TUTS

Shocking.

How am I expected to be Agnes's case worker if they don't give me all the facts?

-Case worker?

-Did I not say? I'm in charge of Agnes's welfare while she's in care.

Agnes says you're lying, Darren.

She also says you're daft and you're a drinker

and you told her that you loved her mother, your own sister.

Do you think you're a normal person, Darren?

I didn't mean to get Agnes in trouble.

Well, you have. She's in care

and she'll have half of Fleet Street trying to find out her name and address by now. All because of you.

Oh, look. Waterworks again.

Are you a lass, really, Darren?

Or a bit of a queer bloke? What did you say you did to Laura Gadd before you pushed her?

I didn't do anything to anybody.

So you're sticking to your story that it was Agnes who told you where the body was?

What about Geraint Williams then?

I found him with Agnes. She was just taking him for a walk, she said.

And tell me, Mrs. Paige, what do the neighbours think of all this?

A 13-year-old girl being questioned over the death of a toddler.

-Are they being hostile?

-What did you say your name was again?

Mrs Paige, would you say that

what happened to your daughter Domenica was...evil?

Yes.

And would you say that where evil exists, it can sometimes

maybe be...passed on?

I would.

From a father to a child, perhaps?

There's an evil seed.

I'm sorry, I didn't quite catch that.

An evil seed. There's such a thing as an evil seed.

(An evil seed.)

Sorry I lost me temper with Agnes, OK?

-You can't bring that stuff into work, John.

-Yes, yes, I know.

I've said I'm sorry.

One of them is lying, sir.

Agnes has a history of covering up for the men in her family, yes,

but...I think it's Darren,

I do. And I think that you should let me have half an hour on me own with him.

Sir? Miss Simmons wants to take Agnes back to the children's home. Is that OK?

No. Tell Sarah I want another hour with Agnes.

-I need to question her about her mother's murder.

-OK, sir.

"Sarah," is it? Why not ask her out on a date while you're about it?

Maybe because I'm not an idiot like you are.

Why are we going back to the murder of the mother?

I'll take the lead this time. You keep quiet.

Did the canteen send you something nice for your tea, Agnes?

-She didn't eat.

-Why was that?

-How could I eat with her looking at us?

-Who?

Her. Anybody.

You don't like people watching you eat? Why's that?

Because they're not supposed to see you.

Why not? Why must nobody see you?

Why is he staring at us all the time?

You think I'm horrible, don't you, Mr Funny Name?

You think I killed a little girl. Why does he not say summat?

-Look, this is not helping.

-I didn't kill anybody, I was just playing.

When was this, Agnes?

When are we talking about?

Playing when? Playing what?

Why do you have to ask me so many questions?

Because I'm a police officer investigating a murder.

-Go and get Taylor.

-What?

Just do it.

Could you tell us exactly what you saw and did the night your mum died?

-No.

-Why not?

-Cos I was never there.

-Well, yes, you were there, Agnes,

cos you've already told us that.

I went to get Uncle Darren out the pub.

We went to me nana's and I went straight to bed.

No, you didn't. Your Uncle Darren didn't know you were there.

That's what he says. He tells lies.

Agnes, it is very important

that you tell us what happened when your dad arrived and found you there.

-Nothing.

-I know he's told you not to say anything, but he's wrong.

There was somebody else there, wasn't there? A man.

-Was it somebody you knew?

-You don't have to answer, Agnes.

Why did you go back and cover your mum's eyes with a hankie?

I think he's the evil monster what's got X-ray eyes.

Are you off Doctor Who with them eyes?

-You've had your hour.

-Taylor.

The newspaper accounts of Laura Gadd's death.

Could Agnes have read an account of Laura

and the other kids from the campsite paying Blind Man's Buff on the cliff?

Yes. That was in the papers, sir.

-See?

-Why?

-Why what, sir?

-Why were those things in the papers?

I thought you said the kids refused to say anything for fear of getting into trouble?

-Yes, you're right.

-So why do you say that Laura Gadd was playing Blind Man's Buff?

It was obvious, cos of the blindfold, sir.

Tell me that again?

Why else would she have had a blindfold on?

Laura Gadd was found dead wearing a blindfold?

Yes, sir.

-Why did you go back into your mum's room and cover her eyes?

-Time's up.

Thank you.

This is probably against some Home Office rule somewhere,

but thank you for meeting me.

So what is it that you want to say to me?

Look, Sarah.

Something has happened to this girl.

I thought at first it was the murder of her mother,

but the death of Laura Gadd predates that by a year.

But you can't prove any connection between Agnes and Laura Gadd.

No proof yet, but compelling evidence.

So what I wanted to say was this -

if it does come to criminal charges, I will do anything in my power

to help her through this ordeal.

You're a decent man, George.

If and when I do have to charge her, they'll be a lot of press interest

so I'll try to put a ring of steel around her and her family.

I will also urge the court not to name her unless she's found guilty.

Sorry. You'll get it back in a second.

Too late.

"13-year-old Agnes Charlton."

They've even identified the care home.

-Inspector... Inspector... Has she been charged yet?

-No comment!

Has she been charged yet? Any information at all?

Sir, where have you been? I've been...

Have you seen this?

I will ask you this just once and I will believe your answer. Was this you?

-No.

-Do you know who it was?

-No, I don't.

-Good.

Agnes has been moved to a new place, and I've got uniformed men outside the house in High Blyth.

What are we doing now, charging her or not?

-Have you examined Agnes's school and medical records?

-Yes.

Did you find anything?

A few broken bones, and she bunks off school sometimes.

-Nothing else?

-No.

Is your heart in this? I don't think it is.

-Have you talked to anybody?

-Guv, I'm a copper, not a social worker!

Do I look like a lass with a degree in making tea?

This is not our job. What?

Sir, Darren Paige would like to talk to you.

I take back what I said about Agnes.

You were right. I was pathetic.

I did it.

I took both those little lads away.

Agnes had nothing to do with it.

I killed that little lass and all.

Tell me how you left Laura Gadd.

-What?

-Tell me how you left her.

Did you do anything unusual?

Did you leave anything on her?

Erm...

I'm sick of lies.

Do you have any comments for us, sir?

I've no comment for you.

Chief Inspector, has the child been charged?

What's the evil seed, Mrs Paige?

Or who?

I never said that.

That liar from the paper made it all up.

-Do you believe there is evil in human beings?

-Some.

Do you think Agnes is evil?

HE SIGHS

We are trying to help Agnes, Mrs Paige, I promise you that.

But I need to know the truth.

Help me to help her.

HE SIGHS

We either charge her, guv, or we let her go home.

If she's innocent, if her behaviour is all about the family she came from

charging her with murder would just be one more act of abuse.

She'll never recover.

This is a child, John.

Yes. A child who has killed a little kid and abducted another one

and was out choosing a third by the time we got hold of her.

She needs to be taken out of society

and society is relying on us to do that - me and you.

Not Sarah Simmons. She gets paid to get people off whether they've done it or not.

-We get paid to get it right.

-And what is "getting it right" in a case like this?

She'll do it again.

If a dog savages your baby in a pram you don't say, "Oh, never mind, it's only a little puppy," do you?!

No, you don't! You get it put down!

I didn't mean that literally.

Do you remember taking a little boy for a walk on the campsite last week?

I wasn't on the campsite last week.

Or any week. I've never been on the campsite.

Why would I even go on the campsite when I haven't got a tent?

You were on the campsite when we found you, Agnes.

That was the first time ever!

So it wasn't you who took a little boy called Geraint for a walk?

Geray-ant? Is he the Jolly Giant?

Everyone's got stupid, funny names these days.

-Answer my question, please.

-I was never on the campsite,

so how could I take a Jolly Giant for a walk?

Well, your Uncle Darren says you did and I believe him.

I also believe that you took Robin Pershore later the same day.

Did you?

Why, Agnes?

Tell us why.

Help me to understand.

I just wanted them kiddies to know what it's like, sir.

What what's like, Agnes?

What it's like when no-one can see you any more.

When you don't exist, really.

Will you stand up for me please, Agnes?

Agnes Charlton, I am charging you with murder

and with two counts of abduction.

You do not have to say anything,

but anything that you do say will be taken down

and may be used in evidence against you.

Do you understand?

Does it mean I can go home now?

All this is all going to be about now is punishment.

That doesn't make sense.

I'm a policeman.

Before that, I was a soldier.

All I've ever known is a world

-where people are held responsible for their actions.

-Even children?

How can it be otherwise?

And that little girl that she killed. And all the others that she would

have killed - there has to be justice for them and their families.

-Through retribution.

-Through retribution, yeah.

Society doesn't have any other way.

-Well, that won't give them peace of mind, George.

-What will?

Understanding.

An explanation.

There already is an explanation if the papers are to be believed.

Yeah. Some babies are just born evil.

What would you have me do?

You're a critic of the system you work in, George,

but you belong to it in the end.

So do I.

Because now I have to walk her through some mindless process which

has absolutely no interest at all in the truth about Agnes Charlton.

She settle down?

Eventually, sir.

Look, guv, I'm sorry.

I know we haven't seen eye to eye on this one, but...

..I do think it was the right result.

We did our job.

Why don't you go home?

Why? There's no-one there.

All over between you and Lisa, John?

Bar the shouting, yeah.

I phoned earlier on

to say goodnight to Leigh Ann and...

..she was busy.

Watching telly.

I'm sorry.

Could have been her, you know, guv.

It could have been Leigh Ann next going for a walk with Agnes.

I kept thinking about that.

You broke your promise.

You said Agnes would never be in a courtroom.

She won't be going into a witness box,

because I believe she'll plead guilty.

And yet, we need to tell her story, don't we?

She didn't kill anybody.

Well, yes, she did, Alan.

She blindfolded Laura Gadd and pushed her off a cliff.

Why?

What turned your daughter into a killer?

A year before you murdered her mother?

Let's start at the beginning, shall we?

You're not Agnes's father, are you?

She never admitted who the father was.

I wanted to marry her anyway.

I didn't care she was carrying another man's bairn.

Who was her father?

Do you know? Who was "Satan"?

Was Domenica a prostitute, Alan?

-No.

-But she saw a lot of men.

Didn't she? And that made you jealous, and so you killed her.

At least that's what you told the jury.

But why mustn't Agnes give evidence?

-What good will this do?

-In terms of her sentence, none.

Agnes is going to spend a good many years in custodial care,

but that doesn't mean it's the end of her life, Alan,

because it depends on the help she can get.

Nobody can help her if nobody knows.

To help her to a future, I need to understand her past.

I'd like to understand as well.

I have a daughter.

And she has a broken home.

I've hurt her. And she's angry.

I think Agnes is angry, don't you?

When Agnes was born...

..the first day of her life...

..Domenica tried to suffocate her.

A nurse saw.

Post-natal depression, they said.

But, Mr Gently...

..Domenica kept trying.

Eventually, I had her sectioned...

..and I took Agnes to the coast to start a new life.

But Agnes kept going back to her,

even though you'd taken her away?

They were drawn to each other.

There is evil in this world, Inspector.

Take my word for it.

There is evil.

And when he came back into Domenica's life...I had to stop it.

Who?

Agnes's father.

Was he the man in the room that night? The Scotsman?

When I saw...

..what was happening in that room...

..something snapped.

I hit him twice with a poker, but Domenica threw herself at us.

I just...

hit her and hit her.

He was gone.

Agnes was gone as well.

Who was it?

He's their father.

He's Domenica's father...

..and he's Agnes's father.

-Mrs Paige know about this?

-Aye, she does.

I don't know about Darren.

What does Darren ever know?

But they both knew what I didn't know.

He'd come back to find Domenica.

They knew that and they didn't tell us.

He'd been in the area two years.

But this time...

..he was looking for Agnes as well.

Agnes?

He did to Agnes...

..what he'd done to Domenica.

When did this start? When did he come back?

Easter last year.

Just a few months before Laura Gadd was killed?

Agnes tried to take Geraint Williams.

You foiled her. Then she took Robin Pershore.

You foiled her.

Why did she start taking children again

over a year after she'd killed Laura Gadd? Why?

Had your father turned up again, Darren?

It was that same morning.

I came out into the garden, and there he was talking to Agnes.

I sent her inside. I told him. I told him that it had got to stop,

but he just give us a smack around the face

and said he'd do what he liked.

I told him I was going to the police. But I couldn't...

you know?

He's me dad.