07/01/2014 River City

Tonight is going to be amazing.

Yep. It's going to be wicked.

ALL: Happy New Year!

What about Jamie, did he make a move?

You must've got a wee kiss at the bells. C'mon, who was it?

Will you leave it?!

What's wrong with you?

How's my brother?

He's about to be charged with rape.

I want to see him.

I'm afraid he's in custody and he's staying put

-until the courts reopen after the holidays.

-This is ridiculous.

Who's making this accusation?

Step forward, number four, please.

-I didn't do it.

-Save it for the trial, Jamie.

I swear to you, she's making the whole thing up.

'Um, what about a trial shift next week,

'then we can take it from there?

'You're very sure of yourself.

'Well, I've never had any complaints.

-'Oh, is that an invitation?

-Might be.

'Here, Zinnie, do you want to come back to my place afterwards?

'Yeah, why not?

'You were so hot behind that bar.

'Never let it be said, I don't know how to treat a lady.

'You were what I was thinking about all night.

'You were so hot behind that bar...'

VOICES OVERLAP AND BLUR

PIERCING, HIGH-PITCHED TONE

VOICES AND TONE FADE

DISTANT SHOUTING

HE SIGHS

It's just a change of clothes. PHONE RINGS

All I want is to give them to him myself.

Sorry, pal... Hello?

-All right, OK.

-No, that's fine. Bring him down.

All rise.

Please confirm your name.

James Matthew McAllister.

And your address.

20 Highgate Road.

Thank you.

My Lady, I move my client, James McAllister, be granted bail.

My colleague's correctly outlined his objections,

'alluding to the heinous nature of the alleged offence

'with which Mr McAllister is charged.

'Together with a fear that Mr McAllister's presence

'in the vicinity of her home may cause Ms Hassoun distress.

'However, I need not remind you that there is a presumption

'in favour of bail, no matter the severity of the alleged crime.

'I have discussed this with my client.

'His brother has offered temporary accommodation,

'away from the alleged victim.

'Further, my client is willing to accept

'any conditions your Ladyship may wish to impose.'

Terms are as per:

Not to go within a reasonable distance of the complainant.

I'll clarify what was set.

Clarify? You've only just come out!

Mr McAllister, I deal with a lot of these cases.

It's hard sometimes to keep on top of every one.

The nub is, he's to stay with you, not leave Glasgow,

be available to the police, et cetera.

I'm sure you can fill in the blanks.

Isn't that your job?

And I'm already late for my next appearance.

Just be grateful for the time of year.

The prisons are chocka.

If not, your brother may very well be heading there right now.

So, if you'll excuse me.

Bro!

-Thank you.

-Hey.

I'm...so sorry.

Hey, you've nothing to be sorry about.

Let's just get you out of here, eh?

Right. So he's free to come and go?

No, conditions were set.

Obviously this is a temporary set back. We'd have much preferred him to stay in custody.

But Jamie has to stay at his brother's flat.

And he's not come anywhere near you, Zinnie.

He knows not to breach those terms.

They still let him out?

So what does that mean, that they believe him?

No. There's no presumption of innocence or guilt at this stage.

That'll only come when a jury's shown evidence

and then asked to make up their own minds.

And what if they don't believe the evidence?

Because at the end of the day, it's only my word against his.

Look, I've never pretended this was going to be easy.

But we do have a really strong case.

And you have my assurance that I'll do everything I can

to achieve the correct result.

And we're grateful. Right, Zinnie?

Everyone's doing what they can.

DOOR CLOSES

You don't know how good that feels.

That place was rancid.

It was a jail. What do you expect?

Yeah, but I'd not done anything.

Didn't stop them treating me like I had.

Fingerprinted, all my stuff taken away.

They treated me like I was guilty.

Just try and forget about it, eh? There's bread and cereal.

What about my things?

We'll collect what you need later.

OK.

So...what now?

You stay here. Don't talk to anyone.

You don't go out.

Oh, come on! I may as well be back in jail.

Oh, and what, you'd rather give that cop an excuse to put you there?

The court could've kept you in prison, you do know that, don't you?

One step out of line and they will.

It's just, I still can't get my head around it.

One minute, everything's sweet. Next, all this.

And you're sure nothing happened?

I don't mean the way they're saying.

-But anything that might have made her accuse you?

-No!

She was as up for it as me. Ask anyone.

She was the one coming on to ME.

Whatever changed after that, it wasn't my doing.

Thought she'd be there.

It was a bail hearing, Jamie, why would she be?

Besides, what good would it have done?

Don't know. I just want to ask why she's doing this to me.

I don't know.

-Maybe she doesn't, either.

-But if I could speak to her...

Have you not listened to a word I've said?

From now on, you leave this to me.

Hey. Sorry, I didn't mean to wake you.

Thought you'd today off?

I have.

We could do something...

or just stay in here.

And have Billy walk in on us?

Who knows when he'll be back?

No. Course not.

What's that supposed to mean?

I'm just wondering what you get out of this.

Me? Or is it knowing you're getting one over on him?

We both agreed the rules.

KNOCKING

Come.

Sir.

Just going over the club's CCTV.

Tox report.

OK, give me the headlines.

No Rohypnol, no GHB. But Zinnie did have alcohol in her bloodstream.

0.19.

Great. McAllister's defence team's going to have a field day.

Oh, I do not enjoy the thought of letting this family down yet again.

No.

None of which means we give up.

Jamie might have better manners than his Uncle Billy,

but he's still a Kennedy where it counts.

CAR LOCK BLEEPS

Zinnie, Zinnie...

What are you doing here?

I didn't expect to see you.

I was going to call you later.

-See if you'd talk to me.

-Why would I?

Please, Zinnie. The last thing I want is to give you a hard time.

Well, go away, then! You've nothing I want to hear.

Even though...I'm on your side.

I know this isn't something you wanted.

If you let me, I can help you.

OK. What?

Things are different, I get that.

That doesn't mean we can't make it right.

You can't work with Jamie, OK, but I've got other clubs.

What are you saying?

This isn't easy for either of us, Zinnie.

I'm still trying to make sense of what happened.

The last time I saw you two, you were laughing and joking.

Just tell me what he did to upset you and I'll make it right.

What he did to upset me?!

Or is it me that did that?

What?

I know you were angry at me.

But if this is your way of trying to get back at me

because of what happened between us,

then it has to stop, before it blows up in everyone's faces.

What do you mean, "everyone's faces"?

If this goes much further, Zinnie, it'll get out of hand.

Jamie's lawyers will go after you every bit as much as yours will him.

Me?

They'll find out about what you've been doing - the escorting.

Do you really want everyone knowing?

How would they find out?

You'd admit that you pay girls to sleep with you?

But that's not somewhere we have to go.

If this is about me, just tell the police you made a mistake and...

I'll make things better.

Why should it be about you?

Then, what do you want?

-Zinnie...

-What's going on?

It's OK, I'm going.

Think about it.

No-one needs to know anything.

You OK?

I can't believe he had the nerve!

What makes him think anything he could say

would make a blind bit of difference?

What did he mean...

..when he said that nobody needed to know anything?

I don't know.

Zinnie, if he's putting some sort of pressure on you...

I mean, what exactly did he say?

He just said that no-one is going to win.

I'll be made out to be as bad as Jamie.

No way. Look, he's just trying to protect his brother.

What if he's right?

What if I go to court and no-one believes me?

Why wouldn't they?

-You didn't do anything wrong.

-No, you didn't.

And, right now,

the only person that's got anything to be afraid of is him.

You told me they weren't allowed anywhere near Zinnie.

No, those were the conditions placed on Jamie.

The court had no cause to apply the same to his brother.

Right, so he can just get his brother to do his dirty work for him

-and that's OK, is it?

-Is that what Zinnie said McAllister was doing?

It's more what she didn't say.

Look, I'm scared she's going to drop the charges.

Have you reason to think that?

She's wanting to do what she always does -

stick her head in the sand.

And why should that beast be allowed to intimidate her,

on top of everything else?

It's not fair that him

and his brother think they can just push people around.

No. No, it's not.

Knew it wouldn't last.

And you're in luck - I've just taken on two new girls.

That's not what I'm here for.

What, have you got a whole new list of clubs

-that my girls are barred from?

-I explained that. Something else.

It's to do with Zinnie.

What's happened now?

What can you tell me about her?

Well, you should know, she works for you.

What I mean is, she stopped working here - why?

She quit.

She was looking for a fast way to make some money.

Maybe she found an easier way of making it.

So...

..do you want to tell me what this is all about?

She...messed up.

Some people may start asking about her.

OK. People? Who?

Police. Lawyers.

I'm trying to make it go away, but, if they do start asking about her,

I need to know there's nothing here connects me.

You know, you're a piece of work!

All right.

Same answer as before - no, there isn't.

At least, not here.

You see, I like to keep all my clients' real names

on my home computer.

Call it my insurance.

And if I'm up against a wall, I will use it.

And if that means your wife finding out, then tough!

So you better hope this, whatever this is, does go away.

Like you're going away.

-You deny harassing Miss Hassoun?

-Yeah, I do.

That wasn't what I was there for.

Why were you there, then?

Looking for a way out of this.

Go on.

One that doesn't involve the courts.

And rather than pursuing a false allegation,

maybe that's something you should be trying to do, too.

Is that right?

No-one's going to win here, Chief Inspector.

Jamie is innocent, yet his name will bandied all over the news.

Ah, what's that - bad for business?

No. And if you think that is what I put first, then you're wrong.

I'm doing this for him. And what about Zinnie?

How's this meant to help her?

The woman was raped.

Are you sure about that?

Tell me, was she flirting - yes or no?

Did she willingly go back to the office - yes or no?

Does a woman her age know what's going on - yes or no?

And what was it Jamie heard - "yes" or "no"?

My brother is no rapist.

No? Then...I'm confused.

See, if you really believe that, why not let a jury decide,

instead of trying to sort things out by yourself?

And what if they get it wrong?

How will she feel, then?

Sending down an innocent man just so she can get back at us.

Oh, "us"?

Jamie. She's twisted things.

And now she's in so deep, she can't get out.

If you really wanted to help her, you'd get her to drop charges.

That's not going to happen.

And if you try and contact Miss Hassoun again,

I will do you for intimidating a witness. Do you understand?

And even if you do manage to intimidate her,

we have still got enough evidence for the Fiscal to proceed.

So, if you really want to help your brother,

I would concentrate on finding him a bloody good lawyer.

Ah! Oh, there you are.

Malcolm, are you wanting this paper?

No, no. You carry on. Just don't go anywhere near the crossword.

Not unless you want her on the warpath even more than she is already.

What, Liz? What's put a bee in her bonnet this time?

You have. You haven't paid the rent this month.

I'm sorry, Malcolm. I clean forgot.

Must be catching.

Wait a minute.

You lost something?

-Wallet.

-Oh.

-Must be in my taxi.

'Hi, this is Mandy. Leave a message.'

Nah. it's not been handed in here.

Cheers for looking, anyway.

'Hi, this is Mandy. Leave a message.'

Yeah, listen, it's me. Call me.

As soon as.

'Yeah, listen, it's me. Call me.

'As soon as.'

MOBILE RINGS

Was just thinking about you.

'There's a first for everything. Expecting somebody else?'

No, Billy, I'm pleased it's you. I miss you.

'So how are things? What are you doing?'

What do you mean, what am I doing?

Stuck in a cold hotel room, bored out of my skull. What do you think?

'Not painting the town red, then?'

Yeah, watching telly.

'Anything good on?'

Same old.

'OK. Since you're not busy, I've something for you to pick up for me.'

Pick up what?

'A package. Some money Lenny owes me.'

Can't Lenny bring it over here himself?

'Why? You've something better planned?

'Course, if you'd rather not...'

Doesn't sound like I've got much choice, does it?

Alex McAllister's been served with a police warning.

Should he attempt to approach any member of the family,

alert the police immediately.

Thank you. You hear?

You really think that that's going to stop him?

If it doesn't, we call the police.

He'll find other ways.

All he wants is to make this as hard for me as possible,

until I give up and he wins.

So, maybe, I should just let him.

What?

What do I get out of this?

All that happens is that more people get to know and I have to put up with them looking.

I'm sure once most people hear the truth, they'll be very supportive.

They'll only hear what they want to hear.

All most people out there will think is, "That stuck-up cow got what she had coming."

No. They'll be on your side.

And what if I don't want that? Their pity.

Have you any idea how humiliating this already is?

And I'm supposed to go to court and answer questions about what he did, what I did...

I know this is going to be difficult, Zinnie,

and you never deserved any of this.

Didn't I?

How can you say that?

Zinnie, why is it you think you deserved this?

Is it because of the way you were with Jamie before the attack?

I've watched the CCTV

and, no matter your behaviour earlier in the evening,

you'd the right to say no, at any point.

That doesn't make you in any way responsible.

You do understand that?

Is that what you're scared of?

That you were friendly with him and that encouraged him?

Or is there something else you haven't not told us?

-She's told you what happened.

-I know.

But if there is anything else that might influence

the course of a trial, I need to know, so is there?

No. But I want this to stop. Now. All of it.

You wish to withdraw your allegation?

No, Zinnie. Zinnie, you mustn't.

Why not? I let him rape me.

I was too scared to fight.

This is something I can control.

It's my decision, isn't it?

Alex said something to me that I didn't understand.

He said you were only doing this to get back at THEM.

Not just Jamie - Alex included himself.

What did he mean by that?

I don't know.

I think you do.

Was Alex right? Are you doing this to get back at him?

This has got nothing to do with him.

Well, something made him think that.

What's your relationship with Alex?

He's... WAS my boss.

And that's it?

Zinnie, I have to know.

Zinnie.

I slept with him.

How did it end?

Zinnie, are you accusing Jamie because you're still angry with Alex for ending a relationship?

No. There wasn't one.

Zinnie, what is it? Because if all this is some sort of reprisal...

It wasn't about love, OK?

Zinnie, I don't understand.

He paid me. I was an escort, OK?

Are you happy now?

Thanks for agreeing to meet here.

I have to tell you that rape isn't really my area.

The best I could offer is to recommend one of my QCs.

I hoped YOU might take it.

No, but I do have a particular colleague in mind.

Her record in court is outstanding.

I see.

It's just, I was hoping it won't get that far.

There's no proof. Jamie has a clean record.

I thought if the Fiscal saw a big gun attached, he'd be more inclined to...

Drop the case?

In the knowledge that a trial would be a waste of the public purse?

In other words, you wanted to use my reputation to intimidate

the prosecution and Miss Hassoun.

Well, forgive me if I'm surprised, Mr McAllister.

It's just that you've always struck me

as someone who trusts the law implicitly.

And yet, here you are...

Mr Malick, my brother is innocent.

Whatever it takes to keep him out of prison, I'll do.

Well, as I said, my colleague is more than able.

And I'll do my best to keep an overview of things.

Of course, with any case where it's one person's word against another,

there are always ways to, er...tilt the scales.

I take it you are amenable to that?

Yes.

Then the first thing I need is the name of the officer dealing.

DCI Donald.

And where did this alleged incident take place?

At Slate. My club.

There's a temporary closure order. The police are all over it.

I'll be in touch.

HE SIGHS

OK, well, it's not good,

but at the same time, it's not something we can't overcome.

You think?

Alex wants to use the shame that he knows you feel to safeguard Jamie.

He'll undoubtedly try and use it in court.

But whether the jury are influenced, or even if the disclosure's allowed,

it'll only prove fatal if you agree with what he's saying.

How?

Zinnie, Alex is saying that, because you were an escort,

that makes you fair game.

You gave up your right to decide who you do and don't have sex with.

I don't go along with that.

Doesn't matter who it is, every woman in this city

has the right to be protected.

It doesn't make any difference, though, cos he's right.

-HE WHISPERS:

-No.

Not about what Jamie did, but...

..about the shame you feel.

And the reluctance to have people pointing fingers.

Yeah, I can see that.

But what's worse -

that, or knowing you let a rapist walk free?

What do you mean, he wants it all the now?

I told Billy, I'm keeping it in the safe until I get back.

Would I know?

All I get is a phone call and I'm supposed to drop everything.

Do you think I want to be here?

Got somewhere better to be?

MOBILE RINGS No.

Stay and wait here while I fetch it.

Paul.

Yeah, I'm on my way over the now.

KEYPAD BLEEPS

What you playing at? I left a message.

And I got it, but then this came up.

So what's so urgent?

Not here.

But you don't know for sure it's in our room?

I've looked everywhere else.

Look, Billy's not there. All I need you to do is get it and get it back to me.

Not there? But for how much longer?

He's got me here, fetching money. Why's Billy want that if he's not

-on his way back from Liverpool?

-Well, did he say that he was?

No, but that's him all over.

I'll go and think the room's empty and he'll pop out the bathroom.

-It's his way of keeping me on my toes.

-Well, what're you waiting for?

The quicker we find it, the better.

Me? I'm stuck here, waiting for Lenny.

Who knows how long that'll be?

I'm really sorry.

Sorry for scaring you. Sorry.

HE BREATHES DEEPLY

DOOR BANGS, FOOTSTEPS

I'll...make us some lunch, shall I? There's that pasta that could do with being eaten.

-You've hardly had anything. If you fancy something different...

-Leyla, will you stop?

We can't just ignore this. I need you to talk to me.

Aren't you going to say something?

Zinnie, what do you want me to say?

Just...anything.

Anything's got to be better than pretending nothing's happened.

I just...I don't understand how you could have got to that place...

Willing to do something like that.

I mean, did you see an advert, or...?

It wasn't...

It was...Pippa.

Rape? Tell me you're kidding me.

It gets worse.

The investigating officer is DCI Donald.

The club's closed. Crawling with police.

Maybe Donald's spotted a way to go through the books without having to tell anyone what he's up to.

-Is there any way he could've found out about you and Jamie?

-You think I'm that careless?

You tell me, Lenny.

Either way, till we know what's going on, we keep clear.

Yeah, well, I could've figured that out for myself.

Make sure you have.

And you'd better be certain there's nothing there for Donald to find.

DOORBELL RINGS

Hey. Whoa, what are you doing?

Hey. What you...?

Just couldn't keep your trousers on, could you?

So how... How did she talk you into it?

It wasn't all her doing.

I wanted to earn money and she said she could help.

By selling yourself?

That is not what I thought it was.

I thought all I was there for was to make a client feel good.

But it was more.

How many...

..did you sleep with? How many?

None. Only Alex.

And I only went with him because... I liked him.

I only found out afterwards that he'd paid and...

the minute I did, I stopped.

But you still took it?

Even when you knew, you still took his money?

And I shouldn't have. I see that now.

I'm not trying to wriggle out of it. I'm not proud of what I did.

I just... I thought what I'd done was finished.

There didn't seem any point in refusing the money.

I suppose.

None of us had any.

I thought it was better off in my purse than anywhere else.

The money you gave me for rent...

..that was from him?

You gave me money that had paid for...

SHE SIGHS

Can you not get a lassie the same way as other boys do, eh?

-Course I can.

-That's not what it sounds like.

-But she's lying, about the lot.

-Oh!

"I didn't do it, mister." Not heard that defence for a while.

-But I didn't.

-That's as may be. Thing is, we've got a problem.

You think I don't know that?

Don't misunderstand me, son, you're the problem.

Our arrangement. Without you in there, how's that going to function?

Alex is sorting it.

Alex! Oh, well that's that sorted, then, isn't it(?)

No... Even if he can't, it's her word against mine.

Are you thinking of going to court?

-Good luck with that, son(!)

-What do you mean?

A Glasgow jury,

deciding whether you spend the next half a dozen years avoiding

the nonces...or maybe you think you can stick it out in the main wing.

Or maybe sharing a cell. Couple of guys with a daughter on the outside.

Either way, you're going to be their favourite target.

But what else can I do?

All I know is, this needs straightened out,

-and if I was you, I'd get it done before your Uncle Billy gets wind.

-What's he got to do with it?

You really don't know him, at all, do you?

See, I'm a guy who likes to talk, to reason, to see things round.

Your uncle... he's more for the direct approach.

I don't understand.

We need the club open. We need you in it.

With that lassie accusing you, that's not going to happen.

The way Billy will see it is, maybe the city would be a better place

without her in it.

No... You can't be serious.

A trip you don't come back fae,

unless some trawler's unlucky enough to catch you in its nets.

So, if I was you...

-..I'd get it sorted.

-Jamie?

Through here.

KNOCK AT DOOR

Ms Ballantyne. The name is Malick.

Oh, don't worry, we don't use real names here.

You misunderstand. My card.

I'm here on behalf of Alex McAllister.

BOTTLE TOP UNSCREWING, POURING

Join me?

I've told you before, you're not welcome in my clubs,

-and you're certainly not welcome here.

-I love you, too.

Right, this looks like it could do with a rock in it.

Want to go and get us some, son?

All right, then, why are you here?

I like that about you - straight to the point.

It's probably the only thing I like about you.

Thing is, your brother's got himself in a mess.

And since your Uncle Billy's not around, I thought maybe I could...

help.

Like I believe that.

And even if I did, the answer's no. I'm not getting in your debt.

I'll fix it my way.

Course you will.

You know, it's funny, this.

The way you look down your nose to me. You're the one paying for tarts,

and your brother, forcing himself on lassies.

Your Uncle Billy, I think he had a problem with that.

Must run in the family, eh?

You about done? Because I think you've overstayed your welcome.

I think I've said what I came to say.

HE GULPS

No need, son. But think on what I said.

I'll see myself out.

-I already told Alex what the score was.

-He mentioned you'd spoken.

There was no discussion.

I've told him exactly how this is going to work.

Either he sorts this or the deal's off.

I won't be the only loser here.

No-one could expect you to. Which is why I'm here.

It's my intention no-one should lose. May I?

Ms Ballantyne, you and Mr McAllister had business dealings.

They only concern me in regard to how they affect the case against his brother.

Jamie? This is about him?

Miss Hassoun has accused James of rape, yes.

He raped her?

Absolutely not.

However, Miss Hassoun appears intent on pursuing the charge.

Which means Mr McAllister's legal representation will wish

to call her character into question.

Her work as an escort, for example,

certainly begs questions of her moral standing.

You're going to use this against her?

And where does this leave me?

Well, as you've rightly surmised, if this does reach court,

when Miss Hassoun is shown to be your call girl,

you will be similarly implicated.

Charged with living off immoral earnings.

Together with the media interest,

my client's standing in the business world would attract...

This is you trying to help me?

Or...

we could do things my way.

Which, as luck would have it, might be in your interest too.

What I'm here to propose is a way to stop this ever reaching

the inside of a courtroom.

What do I have to do?

Simply tell the truth.

Which is that you didn't pay Miss Hassoun to sleep with Mr McAllister.

Soliciting money for sex was entirely her idea.

As such, there's no way you could be blamed.

In fact, you did the only thing you could -

fired her to safeguard the good name of your business.

You're telling me to lie?

No. No, that would be...unethical.

I'm merely wondering if the account I just outlined

isn't closer to the truth than Miss Hassoun's -

the one that potentially sends you to jail.

If this does go to court, I'll be done for perjuring myself.

It won't get that far.

Miss Hassoun will realise pretty quickly she's only hurting herself.

That the only way to avoid being painted a common prostitute

is to drop all charges.

And then you - and everyone else - can forget this ever happened.

I think he said...

Billy would...do something to her.

Kill her.

Could he do that?

It doesn't matter because he's not going to,

-because we are nothing to do with his world.

-But could he?

Listen. The man's an animal. Maybe he could, maybe he couldn't.

But as long as he hasn't got anything on us, then we're all OK.

You got that?

Yeah.

Yeah.

MOBILE RINGS

McAllister.

Yeah, I own it. So what?

No. No, I don't know anything about that.

Yeah, well, I think your journalist has got his facts wrong.

As I say, no comment.

What was that about?

It was the Clyde Enquirer.

They haven't got any names, but someone's tipped them off about a rape at the club.

You're kidding me!

How long before they do get a name?

How long before the Edinburgh papers find about it too?

Everyone'll see. You said you were fixing it!

You think I want this any more than you?

Well, what're we going to do now?!

Where are you going?

I'm going out. I need to clear my head.

Why's she doing this to me? Why?

Got it. The maid found it.

We'll have to be more careful next time.

I thought I was.

So maybe there shouldn't be a next time.

Maybe we shouldn't risk that.

What do you mean?

Look, I'm just trying to be sensible here.

One of us has to.

Say Billy found it?

I mean, me - well, I'd take my chances.

But I'm not letting that happen to you.

Isn't that my decision?

I'm trying to be grown-up. Look, this past week was a mistake.

Don't get me wrong - a really good one.

-But the longer it goes on...

-A mistake?!

-Well, I wanted it too. I'm not making out that I didn't.

That's big of you(!)

Look, maybe if I'd met you before...

Yeah.

Story of my life.

SHE SIGHS

Well, what are you waiting for? Your end-of-term report(?)

HE SIGHS

We need our heads examined.

You can go if you want.

Nah. I'll stay for a bit.

Gabriel, I'm not forcing you to make this more than you want it to be.

There's probably some lovely woman just waiting there for you.

Safe as they come.

It'll never be that way with me.

I'm sorry. When I gave you that money, I wasn't thinking.

No, it's fine. I shouldn't have reacted how I did,

and... And as for the rest...

well, you've explained, and that's OK.

But it's not, though, is it?

Zinnie, what do you want me to say?

I can't pretend I understand what you did. Or...that I agree.

But what I think doesn't matter.

I'm more worried about what a jury are going to think.

How?

Say it all does come out.

A lot of people, hearing something like that...

What?

They're going to think that a woman who'll consent to be paid

to be with a man - whether she knew what it involved or not - that's...

That's someone who sees sex as something you use.

-But I don't.

-And when she doesn't get what she wants,

-she's just as capable of screaming rape.

-But that's not how it was!

Maybe not, but you have to see what it might look like.

"Maybe, maybe not" - I thought you believed me.

I do. Zinnie, of course I do.

Then you wouldn't say "maybe".

I'm saying...how it might look to other people.

No. No, you're talking about you. You think I could be making this up?

No. No, no, no.

Leyla, I slept with Alex because I wanted to.

I didn't realise any money was involved.

I just... I don't believe this.

You know, I could have coped with anything else -

other people knowing... All I needed was you.

-Where are you going?

-Out.

-Zinnie, please!

DOOR BANGS

CAR BEEPS

What are you doing here? Leave me alone.

I can't, Zinnie.

You need to listen. You have to know the damage you're causing.

-The police told you to stay away from me.

-The papers have got a hold of it.

Jamie's name'll be in there.

How long till people know it's you who's accusing him?

Oh, the papers can't print it, but the internet will.

Is that what you want? Hm?

Then tell me - what is it you do want?

What is in this for you?

Is it money?

It is, isn't it?

-That's why you did this.

-What?!

OK, you win. So how much? No, no, no, no.

-You want to go back to uni, right?

-So?

I'll pay. Fees. Living costs. Whatever.

You think this is about money?

Isn't it? Think about it. In a few years, you'll be gone.

There'll be no more working in bars or shops -

you'll be doing what you want. Making a life.

You'll be someone who matters.

Or you could say no, and then what've you got?

Nothing.

You'll just be that woman who accused a lad and was found out in court.

So go on, take it.

-How can you think that...?!

-Because that is who you are!

I can give you more than you ever dreamt of.

All you have to do is go to the police, and tell them you lied.

I lied?! Well, who did this?

He forced himself into me, held me down. I'm not the liar.

No, no, no. That wasn't him.

Who was it, then?

So, no - I'm not backing down,

and don't kid yourself you're doing this for him.

This is about you.

You're scared that everyone's going to see you for what

you actually are. Well, they will. Cos you're worse than him.

I'm innocent, Alex.

It doesn't matter, not until the trial's finished.

Until then...

Guilty, until proven innocent.

In the end, it'll come down to who the jury believes.

Well, surely they're going to believe Zinnie?

It's not like she'd make something like this up.

-There's a girl who works here, well, used to work here...

-What girl?

-Name's Zinnie...

-Mate, she was a nightmare when she was here.

-Seriously?

-Aye. She even got the polis to me.

-You're kidding me?

-No, she's no' to be trusted.

No, it wasn't a machine. There was definitely somebody there.

It might have been a journalist.

Why would a journalist...

Hey, stop there. I want a word with you.