Episode 35 Red Rock

Who?

Me. Surprise.

I want nothing more than to stay clean

and get on with my life. That's all I want.

Why didn't you tell me you were a guard?

You never asked.

Suits you.

What, my beer belly?

-I'm just out of rehab for heroin.

-Do you miss it?

Why do you think I'm so grumpy all the time.

Here we are.

You should come in some time, Mum.

Spill your guts, have a wee cry with my fellow reprobates.

Recovering addicts, I think the term is.

Hey, and the biscuit assortment in the morning is to die for -

custard creams, Jaffa Cakes.

Tempting as that is...

All right, so...

Here.

What's this in aid of?

To do something nice. Get yourself something after.

As far as we can tell,

the overt surveillance on Beady Burke

has been a qualified success.

None of his crew will go near him.

Drug trade on the Ridge has slowed to almost a trickle.

Yesterday afternoon, he threw a potted plant at one of our guards -

a cactus.

A cactus? Did he indeed?

Luckily for our guard, he missed.

He's also made direct threats against you.

We have it all on record.

-Should he follow through?

-He's not that stupid.

Tell me, have we got one piece of solid, actionable intelligence?

Just give it time. He'll break or he'll go under.

Mm. That or our budget.

Conor Tyrell. I wondered where you'd gotten to.

What are you doing here?

Look at those rosy cheeks. I could just eat you up.

-Go on. Get out of here.

-It's not all about you, Conor.

-I'm serious.

-So am I.

-I'm not heartless, just a businesswoman.

-A vulture, more like.

Run along now.

Mop Head.

Dooley, what the hell, man?

Yeah, um...

listen, you couldn't sub me some cash?

-I'm good for it, I promise.

-You know you can't ask me that, man.

-Conor.

-I'm just out of a meeting.

Please.

Look, I'm working a shift at the local cafe. Come with me.

-What for?

-I'll get you a meal, on the house.

I don't need food.

I don't need my hand held. I need money.

I can't help you.

-Hurry up, will you?

-All right. They're in here somewhere.

At least I think that they are.

You've got about five seconds before I break this door down.

-I'm warning you, Niamh.

-Did you not go before you left home?

I did, twice.

Niamh, the keys!

Look what I found.

Oh, thank you, God! Thank you!

RAUNCHY MUSIC PLAYS ON PHONE

What? How is that even physically possible?

The human body, Adie boy. It's a beautiful thing.

That's not right.

She'll do herself an injury like that.

-She's double-jointed.

-Oh.

What am I missing?

MUSIC STOPS Nothing.

Come on. Let me see.

MUSIC RESUMES PLAYING

In work time? Seriously?

Bats for the other side, I'm telling you.

-You're obsessed with him.

-As if.

-Admit it.

You can't take your eyes off him.

Go on. Now's your chance.

Girl in the cafe, either of you know if she seeing anyone?

Yeah, me.

-You?

-Which girl are you talking about?

The pregnant one.

What, Katie? Katie Kiely?

-That's her.

-You and Katie?

-Why not? What's wrong with her?

HE SCOFFS N-Nothing.

INDISTINCT CHATTER OVER POLICE RADIO She's great.

The Kielys are fine, upstanding citizens.

In fact, we could do with more people like them around here.

That right, Paudge?

RTA on Willow Road.

-One man seriously injured. Paramedics en route.

-I got that.

Hold the fort, Sean.

Hey...

Hello? Hello? Are you awake? Can you open your eyes, please?

John, there's no response.

I didn't mean to hurt him. I didn't mean to hurt him.

All right, sir. Calm down. We'll straighten this out.

-I'll check on them.

-Right, seal off the area.

Let's just relax, take a load off. Nice and easy.

-What's your name?

-Victor.

All right, Victor, what happened here?

He attacked me.

I gave him CPR, but he's nonresponsive.

-Please don't let him die.

-Sure, they're doing their best.

Yeah, no pulse.

-OVER WALKIE-TALKIE:

-'Victor 078 to Victor Alpha base.

'Victor 078 to Victor Alpha base.'

Go ahead, Paudge.

'Looks like a taxi robbery gone wrong.

'There's no ID on the victim.

'Male, early 20s, slim, dark hair.

'Looks like a junkie.

'There's track marks near the taxi

'outside the community centre on Gertrude Street.

'The paramedic is working on him now. Doesn't look good.'

-What's he wearing?

-Hold on.

-What?

-What's he wearing?

What's he wearing?

'Jeans, red hoodie.'

All right, thanks, Paudge. Keep us updated.

-OVER PHONE:

-'Hi, this is Conor. Leave a message after...'

Cheers. Thank you.

-No Conor this morning?

-He's a no-show.

I thought he was supposed to be on shift.

So did we.

Sure you don't mind covering him?

Are you sure?

I've got baby brain today.

You're a life-saver.

If I don't finish this stock take, Dad will go ballistic.

What can I get you?

Latte, three shots, to take away.

Shout if you need the loo!

-How long will it be?

-Are you that desperate?

I meant the baby.

Another six weeks and the beached whale look is history.

-The family must be excited.

-Yeah.

PHONE RINGS

Detective Walsh.

Yeah. Sorry, Katie. Cancel that coffee.

Yeah, on my way.

The lad's just passed.

Have to let the crime scene boys assess the scene. Sarge!

-Hey, that's two euros.

-Spoilsport.

-Just put it in the register.

-Since when did you become such a buzzkill?

-Exams.

You don't have to tell anybody.

-Table 5.

-Yes, sir.

Mum.

What's going on?

Is it Dad? Is it Stephen?

You say you picked him up from outside the community centre

and that the robbery, attempted robbery, happened here.

Yes.

He tried to take my money box.

What happened then?

He...

He takes the money box, opens the door.

I take the money box back. I then push him.

He fell out the passenger side.

Tell us how you got the blood on your shirt, Victor.

I gave him mouth-to-mouth CPR.

Even after he tried robbing you?

Of course.

You must get a lot of trouble in your line of work -

people running off without paying, trying to steal your takings.

-Yes.

-Must get frustrating.

-It happened like I say.

-Fine.

-Is that it?

-In a hurry, Victor?

I need to get the taxi back on the road.

Your taxi will be technically examined and PSV'd.

They'll release it when they're done.

You should get it back in a couple of days.

I need it. I need to work.

I'm sorry. That's just the way it is.

Let me just check the address you've given us -

flat 87, St Columba's?

Yes.

Except there's only 80 flats in St Columba's.

I attended a robbery there last week.

I said 37. Flat 37, St Columba's.

I'm so sorry.

What happened?

It seems he tried to rob a taxi driver.

Rob someone?

There was a struggle.

He fell trying to get away and banged his head.

From what I understand, it was quick.

I was afraid it was you.

-Why?

-Stupid, really.

He was wearing the same hoodie as yours. That's all.

That's my hoodie.

This morning I gave it to him.

-You saw him? Where?

-I saw him after the meeting.

He was really messed up and he wanted me to help him score.

Right.

Um, well, can you come in to the station?

I want to talk to you. We can wait if...

-I'm OK.

-Are you sure?

If it helps, yeah.

Conor, one thing before.

You don't need to tell them why you were there.

-What do you mean?

-The meeting.

If it doesn't come up, we don't need to go there, OK?

Do you want me to lie?

They don't need to know you're an addict.

Kid tries to do a runner.

Victor, with a three-point turn, dishes out a little payback,

invents the robbery bit to cover himself.

I think it went down like Victor said.

-Death by misadventure.

-On what basis?

I liked the guy.

I think he's hiding something,

but we can't put hunches on our report.

Adrijan, any witnesses?

None who saw the impact.

-I could keep on digging.

-Please.

-And can we check up on the CCTV?

-Yeah.

Lads, Daniel Dooley,

he was a friend of my son's, Conor.

I appreciate you taking the time.

-This has been a big shock for him.

-I understand.

We'll endeavour to make this as swift as possible.

Approximately how long did you know Daniel Dooley?

They met in junior infants.

I was friends with his mum before she passed.

So, were you good friends?

In school, yeah, but lately...

Dooley got into drugs - heroin.

It was pretty full-on and we lost contact for a while.

Yeah, we were all very fond of Daniel.

-Conor, I believe you saw him this morning.

-Yeah, I did.

-Where and when?

-Gertrude Street, just after nine.

And why were you there?

I was on my way to work.

In the Neptune?

That's a bit of a roundabout way of getting here.

Yeah, I was studying late and I just needed to wake up.

Can you describe Dooley's state?

Pretty strung out. Shivering, wanted money.

-For?

-Heroin, yeah.

-And you...?

-Told him no.

You're aware of what allegedly happened afterwards?

He attacked a taxi man, tried to rob him.

Does it square with the man you knew?

No, look, Dooley...

Look, heroin makes people do all sorts of stuff,

but Dooley wasn't a violent guy.

He was a good bloke.

-He was my mate, you know.

-I...

I think you've got everything you need.

Thank you, Conor.

We're sorry for your loss.

What's a junkie doing

getting into a taxi if he's not planning on robbing it?

Agreed.

-Leave that.

-It's fine. Nearly done.

Sit down and take a break, will you?

BELL RINGS

-You closed?

-He's quick.

A keeper.

-I don't suppose there's any chance...

-What do you want?

Coffee to go. Working late.

-What's that smell?

-Oh, that's my new aftershave.

Sweet-and-sour chicken, fried rice and all the trimmings.

I'm happy to share.

I'll get you some plates.

Hey.

How are you?

Dad's taking Stephen training tonight, so it's just us.

Hello?

-Take half an hour. Talk to me.

-I can't. My exams start next week.

Five minutes, then.

What happened today wasn't your fault.

You should've seen him this morning. It was bad.

I should've known.

You did what you could.

You don't get it all.

-What don't I get?

-That it's totally my fault.

-You had to cut your ties.

-That's... That's not it.

-What then?

Dooley wanted money, all right?

Ten euros. I had it in my pocket right here.

You gave it to me, and if I'd given it to him, he'd still be alive.

-Conor, you can't think like that.

-It's true.

I just...

I need to get some air, go for a walk or something.

I'll pick up an Indian on the way back.

-Well, we can get it delivered.

-No. I just need to walk. I'm OK.

"All things are difficult before they're easy."

"Happiness is an inside job."

You know, someone actually gets paid for writing these.

Might be an idea to stop for a breath.

Haven't brushed up my Heimlich manoeuvre recently.

Sorry. I'm eating for two.

-Are you sure there's not more than one in there?

-Don't even joke.

Runs in the family. His family, not mine.

Families, eh?

You don't say much about yours.

-Knew it.

-Knew what?

Knew it wouldn't take long. Someone's said something, have they?

Boo!

Niamh told me about your friend.

We used to come here, me and Dooley.

One night we got hammered on cider,

woke up covered in flea bites all over.

Mum thought I'd caught the measles.

I wish we had some booze right now. You didn't bring any, did you?

No. Sorry.

You could get some. I've got money.

No.

Well, I'm sure there are other ways that we could amuse ourselves.

My dad has been inside twice, my brother once.

This is none of my business.

My brother is on first-name terms with half that station.

Don't even get me started on my mother.

This one will probably have a criminal record

before he's out of nappies.

Don't suppose there's any chance you're winding me up?

Guessing not.

Thanks for the dinner. I should lock up.

Hey, don't be like that. Can I give you a lift home?

-Thought you were working late.

-I am.

Come on. Let me drop you home.

Did you not hear what I said...about my family of undesirables?

I heard. I'm not going out with them.

You're not going out with me either, pal.

This is true.

I could've done something.

Like what? Got him to move in?

Just been there for him, you know.

They say in recovery, remove yourself from any figure

who might cause you to relapse, and I did.

I stopped going to places I knew he'd be. I blocked his number.

My best friend, you know.

I shut him out.

I had everything handed to me on a plate,

and no-one died on me, no-one beat up on me.

My parents were always there for me.

HE SIGHS And I turned my back on him.

You're not a bad person.

All right.

Davey boy, you've been avoiding me.

Are you mad? I'm off to college, Laser. Hitting the books.

If you've got a problem with me, you tell me to my face.

Ah, it's all right. I've been slack. I owe you, mate, big time.

No, I don't think you do.

-They pulled you in, you didn't say a word about me.

-What?

The petrol station.

Your Ma told me they kept you in overnight.

They had nothing on us.

-You would've done the same, Laser.

-Still, fair play to you.

My Ma was wondering about that holiday you promised.

Sure, yeah. No, I'm good for it, but, uh, cash flow.

That's all right. She doesn't like the heat, anyways.

No, no. I'm working on it. I'm going to be needing you again really soon.

Thanks for coming by in person. I'll be in touch.

-You rang?

-Come on.

What is it?

-That was CHIS.

-About Davey?

-They've turned him down.

-SHE SIGHS

Too young, too scared, too eager to please.

Make sense of that.

Can you go back and appeal it?

I made his case.

Beady is only one aspect of the operation.

Laser is moving in, showing no fear.

Davey's our one chance

to break the drug trade on the Ridge wide open.

They've made their decision.

When they decide...

that's it.

Are you going to charge Davey for the petrol station robbery?

-I'm going to have to.

-So, that's it?

-After everything he's done for you?

-It's Nikki's case.

If I don't, she'll know something's up.

Davey is going to be destroyed.

I know.

I'm going to call him now.

You're going to need to tell him in person.

It's only fair.

Can we use your office?

It's better than the back seat of my car.

Paudge, Rory, we have finally found some CCTV of the RTA.

-The angle is a bit awkward, but I got a good look at it.

-So?

It's exactly like Victor said.

Taxi pulls over, door opens, bit of a struggle, victim falls out.

-And then Victor goes back and tries to save him?

-Yeah.

So, why was he so jumpy during the interview?

He'd just seen a man die.

Probably worried we'd try and pin it on him,

which, incidentally, you were all set to do.

Has he turned over his licence?

Well, then we're not finished with him just yet, are we?

Morning.

Are you OK?

-Yeah, fine.

-I have a free class after lunch if you want to meet up.

No, I'm working.

-What's up?

-Nothing.

Conor, tell me what's wrong.

-I think we took things too fast.

-Too fast?

-Last night...

-Was great.

Yeah, it was, sure, but my best friend just died.

My head was all over the place. It was my fault.

-I took advantage.

-You took advantage?

-Come on, Rach.

No, I chose to be there and I chose to do what I did.

Rach!

Thanks for the heads up, Sean.

Appreciate that, about the Kielys.

Those fine, upstanding citizens.

It's not for me to stand in the way of true love.

Quite the romantic.

Come on, man. It's called banter.

-Bit of craic.

-Course it is.

Listen, if you're going to be part of the team,

you need to learn how to loosen up a bit.

One minute they're running around the garden with water pistols,

the next you're watching a paramedic pulling a blanket over his face.

SHE SIGHS I'm sorry, Ange.

Daniel Dooley. 21.

He was a good kid, bright. Took a wrong turn.

-It's a shame.

-You're damn right it's a shame.

How many more kids are we going to lose?

It's gotten out of control.

-Sorry.

-Don't be.

There's no rush on the report.

Conor, any chance of a hand this week maybe?

There's two ham-cheese toasties to go,

and I'm still waiting on that Caesar salad for table three.

No problem.

Calm down.

Calm down, Rachel.

-Hang on.

-What's up?

Rachel having a meltdown.

You wanted something?

Uh, just a Caesar salad.

Sorry. I'm on it.

Rae, I'll call you back, OK?

Let me guess, Victor gave us a false address.

-How did you know?

-Got in touch with the GNIB.

Seems Victor came here on a one-year work permit

which has since expired.

The GNIB wants us to prepare a file on Victor.

A file?

-They sent across the work permit, paperwork.

-What's this file for?

Eventually, an application for deportation order.

He's overstayed his welcome.

And what if he hadn't been robbed, what then?

They would've caught up with him eventually.

But he's clearly a good guy.

I mean, he tried to save the life of the guy who tried robbing him.

Without fear or favour, Paudge.

If Victor goes to ground,

God knows what he'll do to put money in his pocket.

See what you can dig up, send it to the GNIB.

Let them decide.

Are you sure I can't get you anything?

No, I'm good. Did he tell you what this is about?

Hi.

Davey.

-I'll be outside.

-Thanks, love.

Um...

Davey, I've got a bit of bad news.

Your application for CHIS has been knocked back.

I'm sorry.

This was always the risk we ran.

-All those names I gave you...

-I know.

-So, what now?

You can make your case, tell them you were coerced.

-I told you, it's not an option.

-It's over, Davey.

Yeah, for you.

I can't just steer clear of Laser. He's all over me. I know too much.

Hello, Victor.

-How can I help you?

-Taxi driver, nurse. You're a hard worker.

Sure.

I came by your flat earlier.

-Oh.

-You weren't there.

I was here working.

So I can see,

except the elderly gent who answered the door

had never heard of you.

Where do you live, Victor?

I live in my taxi.

Why did you lie to us?

I was afraid.

How did you know I was here?

The GNIB sent over your paperwork. I went through it.

Seems you got a 12-month visa to work here as a nurse.

It expired last month,

so I thought you might still be working.

Please, just let me finish my shift.

Then we can sit and we can talk.

You think I'm just going to tell you what went down?

Davey, one break and this whole thing cracks wide open.

All the drug trade on the Ridge Estate,

all the crime that that brings with it.

You keep saying "we."

Only one of us looking down the barrel of a gun here.

That's not going away until

we put these guys behind bars for a long time.

And when I'm up on a charge, what are you going to say?

"Ah, judge, it's grand. He's with me"?

You need to step up, Superintendent. Offer me a deal.

I'm not in my right mind? How do you get that?

You're under pressure - I get it - but this is crossing the line.

Weren't you begging me to do something to help him?

Not this! How could you possibly keep this promise?

-If what he says about Laser is true...

-No, stop.

-Stop talking.

-Why?

-The less I know about this, the better.

-Look, I know it's a gamble...

-SHE SCOFFS

..but it's a risk worth taking.

I have a lot to be getting on with here.

This better be good.

I've been thinking, I can make that petrol station robbery go away.

What's that mean?

I'm a superintendent. It means a lot.

All right, so.

What if I was hypothetically to do another with Laser and I got caught,

what would happen? Walk me through it.

Davey, the more you tell me, the faster I can put bodies

behind bars and bring this all to an end.

What if I got caught?

I'd do everything in my considerable power

to make sure it doesn't come to that.

-Can you give me that in writing?

-I'm afraid I can't, no.

So, basically, you're giving me your word, the word of a guard.

-That's your offer?

-It is.

-I'm not going to lie to you, it's going to be risky.

-You think?

I'm sticking my neck out here.

You took me for a ride once before.

I apologise for that.

You better come through this time.

I will.

My mother.

All the money I make, I send it back home to her.

She's sick, can't work. I'm all she's got.

You have my sympathy, Victor, but as of this moment,

you have no legal status in this country.

-Just let me go.

-Where? Back to your taxi?

Look, you'll never see me again. I'll disappear.

-I can't let you do that.

-They'll deport me.

-You don't know that for sure.

-They will.

Just a few more months. Please.

I can tell that you're a good man.

Don't be so sure about that.

Rachel. Rachel!

Look, I want to talk to you.

I'm really, really sorry, OK? I hurt you and I'm just sorry.

I'll tell you what you are - you're guilty.

You wanted to get off and thought, "Rachel's here, why not?"

-That's not...

-You said so yourself. You took advantage.

-No!

You're selfish junkie scum.

You're only out to please yourself, just screw everyone else.

That's not true.

You could've helped Dooley if you really wanted to.

Kosos...

come over.

Keeps telling me I need administrator privileges

to change it.

-Change what?

-This.

-That's the wallpaper on every monitor in the station.

-What?

Nice look, Spartacus.

-Take it down.

-Take what down?

-This.

-Oh, dear.

-Ha-ha-ha.

Now give me your admini...whatever so I can change it back.

It's just a bit of fun, Sean.

-You're going to have to loosen up.

-I'm serious.

-What do I get out of it?

-Me not ringing your neck is what.

-Be my guest.

-Whoa, guys...

-No, put it back, put it back. I preferred it before.

-Don't start.

Paudge, any word from Victor?

None whatsoever.

He must've gone underground.

You said as much.

Circulate a description to the other stations.

Will do.

Your rules say cut all ties with your old life, just say no.

Well, that's crap, cos if I'd helped Dooley,

if I'd...if I'd given him the money, he'd still be alive now.

It's that simple.

So, I think your rules are wrong

-and it's my own stupid fault for following them.

-Conor...

No, no, no. Cos I judged Dooley cos of the stuff that gets said in here.

I thought I was holier than thou, like I was above him or something.

But I wasn't. I was just looking out for myself.

HE SIGHS Exact same as him.

Someone's in the mood. Don't you want to tell me off?

-You know I love being told off by you, Conor.

-Not now, Tracey.

Tough meeting, was it?

-You almost sounded genuine.

-I know. Surprised myself.

It was, not that you care.

I don't really, but I know how it goes.

Someone reasonably intelligent like yourself,

I imagine you're starting to see how flawed it all is.

If it wasn't all so righteous.

Oh, worse than Mass.

Sick of it.

Anyway, I'll see you.

PHONE BEEPS

A lad died yesterday.

He was a heroin addict.

Tried robbing a taxi driver. In the struggle, he fell.

Hit his head.

Angela knew him.

He was a friend of her son's.

-James, don't.

-It's not abstract.

It's a war.

Every day, there's casualties.

And I'm pushing people around,

stymied at every corner waiting for someone else to OK everything I do.

-The rules are there to protect you.

-I know.

I know what I'm doing is risky.

I'm well aware of that.

I don't take that lightly at all.

But what am I doing here

if I can't make a difference to lads like Davey?

-There are other ways.

-Any suggestions?

I don't expect you to agree with what I'm doing...

..but I hope you can understand.

I understand. Just don't ask me to like it.