A Copper's Tale The Great Train Robbery

UPBEAT MUSIC

Come.

Detective Chief Superintendant Butler, sir.

I hope you can explain the bloody shambles of this so far, Butler.

Because your Commander Hatherill has singularly failed in that respect.

And now he wants to put you in charge.

I'll be running the investigation a little differently, sir.

Millen tells me you're known as "One Day".

Because that's how long it takes you to catch criminals.

I wouldn't know about that.

You understand whose money these blackguards stole?

The bank's, sir.

The Queen, man! Her Majesty's Mail.

Every single note bears the likeness of our sovereign.

This is not just a robbery.

This is an attack on the very cornerstone of England.

And you, Butler, better remedy that very rapidly indeed.

I'll do my best, sir.

I have to assure the PM you're the man for the job.

Otherwise, it'll be my job, my judgment that will be questioned.

And I do not plan on having my judgment questioned, Butler.

There's been quite enough of that already.

Quite so, sir.

Right, I'm putting you in charge of the investigation,

but I shall expect immediate progress, One Day.

Of course, sir.

(ON RADIO) 'And now an update on the mail train robbery.

'Despite the Postmaster General offering a £10,000 reward

'to the first person giving information

'leading to the apprehension and conviction

'of the persons responsible for the robbery,

'police have as yet failed to make any arrests.'

-Tom.

-Afternoon, sir.

-Do they know?

-Not yet.

As you've probably heard,

the Prime Minister is yelling at the Home Secretary,

the Home Secretary's yelling at the Postmaster General,

and all of them are yelling at me.

We need this fixed, Tom. Very fast.

Mr Millen. Can I ask what you're doing here?

-Who are you?

-Daily Express.

What the hell are you doing here?

DCS Butler, isn't it?

You've got the national press in the middle of your incident room.

There's been a huge amount of interest.

We are five days on. Why don't we know who's responsible?

We've given C11 a list of nicknames the thieves used.

We're waiting for the results.

In the meantime, we've got roadblocks across the county.

The thieves told the train staff not move for half an hour,

so we're searching a radius of 30 miles.

Where did you start?

Pardon?

Did you search outward from the crime scene or inwards from the 30-mile perimeter?

Outwards from the scene.

-It's all very well in hindsight...

-All right, Malcolm.

All the indications are this is a London gang.

You only have jurisdiction up to the county line.

As of now, the Flying Squad, DCS Butler here, runs this case.

What about us?

You'll run the operation, paperwork,

the exhibits and the press. I don't talk to the press.

We'll nick them and bring them to you.

It won't just land in your lap.

KNOCK AT DOOR

Come!

Sir, we've had a tip-off. Call from a local farmer.

We think he might have found the hideout.

27 miles from where the train was stopped.

Not visible from the road. Perfect hideout.

-Don't let anyone in other than a police officer.

-Sir.

-Stay on this spot till you're told otherwise.

-Yes, sir.

'How much is it?'

'£2,631,784...'

CHEERING

'Is there any grub left, please? I'm starving.'

'Get rid of any signs it was ever here.'

'I didn't think we'd nick that much, did I?

'It wasn't supposed to be the crime of the bleeding century!'

'They're looking for military.

'We're making it look like a brick van.'

Afternoon, sir.

Afternoon, Tom. Hope they left me some nice dabs.

Lot to do, Maurice. First-class job mandatory.

I'll make sure you have whatever you need. I don't want to be at trial

and hear you wanted another week or three more men.

Whatever you get here has to convict those bastards.

Job like this must have been planned down to the last inch.

But it's a mess in there.

Why leave the place in a state like this? What happened here?

Any idea who's behind it?

Not yet.

Well, gentlemen, shall we get started?

-How many do you want?

-Six.

-Six. Sure six is enough? Big job.

-Sure.

And who do you want?

Frank Williams and Steve Moore.

Jack Slipper and his DS, Nevill.

Tommy Thorburn.

And Lou Van Dyck.

Sid Bradbury to run the office.

We're five days behind

and we haven't even started.

Talk to your informants.

Who was away those days?

Who's been missing since?

Who's been keeping an unusually low profile? Snouts will know.

The whole squad is ready to give priority to train robbery enquiries.

If you need something, you'll get it. If you don't, tell me.

Why are we the chosen ones?

It's a London job. Most likely south of the river.

You lot know the manors, the characters, the histories.

You've got the contacts.

This'll come down to information on the street.

How is our list of suspects?

Right now, a yard long.

MacArthur's tipped off C11 with a list of nicknames.

They're working on it.

If you believe what you read in the papers,

it's an aristocratic loner IRA mastermind...

I don't want to hear about the papers ever.

Sid here will run the office.

Log the calls, the leads.

Maurice Ray is on forensics at Leatherslade Farm.

Early turn is officially 9am till 5pm.

I'll expect you here till at least 10.

Late turn is 2pm to 10pm. I'll expect you started by 9.

Yeah, nice one. Huh!

You think I'm joking?

You try turning up late and see where your bollocks end up.

Yes, sir. Sorry, sir.

This was a large gang.

We will nick every single one of them.

Starting now.

INDISTINCT CHATTER

# Well, my pad is very messy and there's whiskers on my chin

# And I'm all hung up on music and I always play to win

# I ain't got no time for loving cos my time is all used up

# Just sitting around creating all that groovy kind of stuff

# Well, I'm a man, yes, I am

# And I can't help but love you so

# No, no, no

# Well, I'm a man, yes, I am

# And I can't help but love you so

# Oh, no, no, no, yes, I am

# No, no, no...#

19. 19 names, sir.

11.

Four.

Nine.

17.

32.

32?

Very enthusiastic snout.

My snout reckons criminal activity's all but at a standstill.

Lots of pissed off villains out there, cos we're all over them.

Cross-reference the names, Sid, and see which ones come up most.

What about your list, Guv'nor?

The one from C11. You were checking the results.

Whose name's on that list?

John Thomas Daly,

Douglas Gordon Goody,

Roy John James,

Bruce Richard Reynolds,

Charles Frederick Wilson.

Bloody Reynolds. Makes sense.

-Sense of what?

-We've been tailing him for a while.

Had him marked as being involved in safe-blowing raids.

We picked up a mate of his, Billy Still, a while back.

Past few months, Reynolds has been going out on a motorbike.

-Buckinghamshire direction.

-Whereabouts in Buckinghamshire?

We never found out. Whenever he was on the bike,

we couldn't tail him without being spotted.

How long ago was this?

Six months. Maybe longer.

We fancied him for the airport robbery at Comet House and all.

Who does he meet?

Goody, Wilson, James.

All part of the same firm. South London boys.

Frank, bring me everything you've got on Reynolds.

Let's have those names, boys.

Right.

Early 30s, Battersea boy.

Got an interest in an antiques business, but that's just a front.

What's his form?

In and out of trouble since he was a lad.

House-breaking, shop-breaking, two stints in borstal.

Lasted four days on National Service before scarpering.

Ended up in Wandsworth.

Various thefts, more time in the scrubs.

What sort of thefts?

Handbags, two overcoats,

eight pairs of slippers and a portable wireless.

What was his last conviction?

30th May this year. Poaching.

-Poaching?

-Yeah. £10 fine, Ongar Magistrates Court.

£10? And you think he fixed up the train robbery? Give it here!

Yeah, but the thing is, he was only ever nicked for small stuff.

But he's got a reputation for classier stuff.

Odds on he was part of the BOAC airport raid,

maybe even the ringleader.

We were told that him and his firm were planning something.

That's why we put a tail on him.

One question, then.

If this Reynolds was the potential ringleader of the airport robbery

and if you think he was the brains behind the train robbery

and if you had a tail on him,

how come we haven't got a bloody clue where he is?

I want him in my cells, Frank, now. Get on it! Go on!

Yes, sir.

Are you sure you don't recognise anyone?

No.

-Is that the train driver?

-Yeah.

He's not picking anyone out.

Says it was too dark and they were wearing balaclavas.

That would make things difficult.

Poor sod. Taking a whack like that for doing his job.

Have you checked known addresses for Reynolds and his firm?

-No sign of any of them.

-Good.

Nothing says guilty like a disappearing act.

-Mugshots of suspects up there.

-Sir.

How'd they get hold of that farm?

Mr Field, Leonard Field, came to me...

Ooh, I'd say on or about 21st June this year.

He had the particulars of sale from Midland Marts,

the agents for Mr Rixon, the vendor.

I did the conveyancing for Leatherslade Farm. It's all here.

Your clerk, Brian Field, introduced Leonard Field to your firm?

-Yes.

-But they're not related.

No. No. No relation at all.

Complete coincidence. I suppose you could say it's a funny thing.

How did Brian Field know Leonard Field?

I believe they met in connection with the trial of Harry Field,

Leonard's brother, over horse doping.

Would you have expected Brian Field

to view Leatherslade Farm with Leonard Field prior to purchase?

-No.

-Yet he did.

The owner, Mrs Rixon, has a very clear memory of it.

Unusual for a solicitor to accompany a buyer on a first viewing.

Perhaps Mr Field wanted a second opinion.

Leonard Field paid the deposit money to you.

£555 in cash.

Which you then paid to Midland Marts.

Standard procedure.

Did you issue Mr Leonard Field with a receipt?

A what, sorry?

A receipt for the transaction.

I don't see one in this file here.

Do you know, I can't remember.

You wrote to the vendor's agent

requesting vacant possession of Leatherslade Farm

-upon exchange of contracts rather than completion.

-I did.

Possession normally occurs on completion, not exchange.

Why was this different?

The purchaser wanted to carry out extensive redecoration.

He wanted to start as soon as possible.

And you signed the contract on Leonard Field's behalf.

He didn't sign it at all.

All absolutely legal.

You represented Gordon Goody at his trial for the BOAC airport robbery.

I believe we did. And that he was acquitted.

PC Milner?

Afternoon, sir. Exhibits officer.

Aylesbury sent me. They said you needed help.

Yes. This whole area needs scouring.

Look around, see what you can find, lay it out.

Any prints, palms, fingers, boots or feet, let me know.

Right, sir.

Yes, sir.

Carry on.

Good lad.

Mrs Clarke?

-Yes?

-We've come about the garage to rent.

We rang earlier.

Saw the ad in the newsagents on Castle Road.

Yes. Do you live locally?

No, but we're often in Bournemouth on business - it's ideal for us.

Oh, no. I'd prefer to rent to people from the area, really.

What about if we agreed a slightly higher price

than you mentioned in the advert?

Oh, I don't know.

Three months in advance? That would all be in cash.

That's what? £7, 10 shillings all upfront.

Now.

Let me get you the key.

Roger Cordrey, florist from Brighton.

And Mr William Boal.

-Yes.

-Now the woman who owns the garage is a policeman's widow.

So as soon as they'd gone, she called in.

We went down to the garage, they scarpered separately.

We chased them down and brought them in.

Did they leave anything in the garage?

They did. Austin A35 van. Boal had the keys on him.

And we found this inside.

Bloody hell! Did you count it?

£56,047. In ones and fives.

Those are the keys Boal had on him when he was arrested.

There's an address here.

Where'd the money in the suitcase come from, Roger?

Fella I met at Brighton Races.

-Name?

-Freddie.

Freddie what?

Just Freddie.

-You met him before?

-No.

Seen him since?

No.

And he gave you all this cash.

Yes.

You best tell him we've got it, then, hadn't you.

Got an address?

Is everything all right?

Yeah, fine.

You don't look fine.

Back pain.

Friend Freddie give you anything else to look after?

Got any other vehicles in the area?

No.

So the Rover 105R, registration TLX279

that we found at Miss Saunders' house in Ensbury Avenue an hour ago,

is that Freddie's...or yours?

Your mate Boal had the key on his keyring.

The six suitcases we found inside,

containing £78,982 in used banknotes.

Is that Freddie's...or yours?

Wimborne Road, you're staying. Above the florist.

The brown briefcase there...

with £5,060

in £5 and £1 notes.

Freddie's? Yours?

The £840 in the bedroom under the pillow.

That Freddie's?

And the £160, 3 shillings and threepence that you had on you

when they brought you in, is that Freddie's too?

In total, £141,218, 1 shilling and threepence halfpenny.

Freddie's a figment, Cordrey. It's all yours.

Where did you get it?

It's from the train robbery.

Who else was on the job?

I never said I was on the job.

Only that's where the money's from.

And that's all you get.

HE INHALES SHARPLY

What's the matter man, you got worms?

I've got a key.

Up me jacksie.

You've got a what up your where?

I shoved it up there when they first brought me in.

It's for the flat in Wimborne Road.

I didn't think Bill would give his up. I think it's stuck.

Can you get a doctor?

HE EXHALES SHARPLY

This'll put the wind up them. Front page this morning.

What's that?

What's what?

Cordrey's Brighton.

Reynolds is South London. That's at least two firms.

That makes sense.

Witnesses on the train said there could have been 20 blokes.

Mark up anyone associated with Cordrey

and anyone associated with Reynolds.

Then check against that new list you've just been writing.

It's not a list, Frank.

DOORS SLAM

You going straight in? We've been working all night.

It's nearly 9. Early turn starts in 7 minutes.

I hope you're going to make me happy.

It's my mission in life, Tom.

Over here.

The whole place was cleaned down.

But whoever was there, left quite a bit behind.

We're working slowly.

So far, thumb marks, finger marks, left palm prints, right palm prints.

Ian hasn't even started on the utensils

and the food containers yet.

That's going to take a fair while longer.

So these prints are just one person?

No. Different.

Definitely not just one person.

All that planning. They leave these bits behind.

Thank God they did.

Well, at least now we've got the prints,

we can start working through possible matches.

That's a long job, though.

Start with these names. Keep the list to yourself.

Make sure those are carefully logged.

We're searching for hairs, fibres and bloodstains.

Any items giving positive presumptive tests will be retained.

So you'll want hair samples from anyone we bring in.

Head and pubic.

We found hairs in sleeping bags and a pair of underpants.

Find a match...

We'd have them by the short and curlies.

-KNOCK AT DOOR

-Come in.

Oh, sorry, sir...sirs!

More evidence from the farm, is it?

Yellow paint found by the vehicles, we think used to paint them.

Put it there, Milner. I'll look at it later.

DOOR CLATTERS SHUT

OK. Let me know what else you can find.

Yes, I know, love, but I can't do anything about it.

We've got everyone breathing down our necks.

We can't clock off early, can we?

Plenty of tip-offs coming through. These are the ones that look kosher.

Lovely. Cheers, Sid.

Really?

Well, you tell him from me, that he owes Jack Slipper a big favour.

Yeah. Where do you want to meet?

Time?

KNOCK AT DOOR

I'm taking the lads down the Red Lion before home.

Morale booster for the long hours. Do you fancy it?

Work to do.

HE SIGHS

Something bothering you, Frank?

Why did you bring me in on this if you don't trust me?

Who says I don't trust you?

They told me working for you would be like this,

but I didn't believe them.

An investigation lives on information.

Shared information.

Otherwise, we can't do our job.

But you, you keep everything close to your chest. Why?

You're the best informed officer in South London, Frank.

Because you drink in the same pubs as these villains.

You talk to the same people.

But the wrong bit of chat, just accidental,

all our work would be blown open.

Is that what you think of me?

I've had cases destroyed by one stray word. Not here.

My snouts give me tip-offs. Never the other way round.

I am bringing you first class information.

And you are giving me nothing.

Not your top names, not what evidence is coming in.

You won't even come for a bloody drink!

You are leading a squad, Tom. A squad works best together.

Lads will be waiting for you, Frank.

-Come on. He's not coming.

-Out of the way, lad.

PUB CHATTER

Right, here we go.

He frightens the flipping life out of me.

When I see him looking, I think, "What's he going to shout at me now for?"

-You walked into that working hours one.

-Don't he have a home to go to?

They reckon the Yard IS his home. Cheers.

-Cheers.

-Cheers.

Are you all right, sir?

Yeah, yeah, yeah. Cheers, lads.

TYPING

Drop me off here, Jock. I'll walk the rest of the way.

-I wouldn't want the engine to wake her. Night.

-Good night, sir.

Leave your details with the constable, thank you.

So, Mr Ahern was giving Mrs Hargreaves

her regular lift to work when his motorbike engine cut out.

So they decided to go for a walk in the woods while it cooled down.

Which is where they spotted this.

-£100,900 sir.

-Roughly the same amount as Cordrey had. Little bit less.

So that's how they're dividing it, hundred grand each.

But whose was it? What was it doing in those woods?

Well, Morris and his men in white coats have lifted 13 prints,

in the fingerprint department. But we found something even better.

A receipt from a restaurant in Hindelang, West Germany.

It's dated February this year. The receipt is made out to...

Herr and Frau Field.

-Brian Field, employee of your friendly solicitor, John Wheater.

-Good.

Mr Field, you arranged the purchase of Leatherslade Farm?

If I had known it was going to turn out to be such a rum do,

-I wouldn't have done the conveyancing.

-Of course you wouldn't, sir.

Do you mind me asking where you were on Friday 9 August,

the day after the robbery?

I was at the office, usual working hours, normal day.

-Then I went home and went to bed.

-Any visitors that night?

No. No. Just me and the wife. Very quiet.

-And the weekend?

-We went to a neighbour's christening party on the Sunday.

Very nice.

Well, thank you very much, sir. Just had to clear that up.

-May I?

-Yes, of course. Yeah. Cheerio!

He's lying about having had no visitors.

Derby police received a call from one of Brian Field's neighbours.

They rang because they noticed a large number of vehicles going in and out of Field's driveway

on the night of 9th August. The trouble is, the witness

wouldn't make a written statement, didn't want to make it official.

-What else do we have on him?

-Maurice Ray confirmed

that Brian Field's prints were on the receipt from Germany,

on the holdall with the notes in.

But we can't prove the notes on the holdall are from the robbery,

because the bloody banks didn't keep records of most of them.

That stays within these walls. I don't want anyone getting wind of it.

Field goes on the list of suspects. Who have we eliminated?

Eh, we've eliminated...

Pitts, Kehoe, Sansom, Robinson, Cramer, Hayden Smith, Ambrose and Shakeshaft.

Leaving us with... Lilley, Smith, Daly, Wilson, White, Pembroke,

Goody, James, Welch and Reynolds.

-Connections between them?

-Field represented Goody.

Goody is a known associate of Wilson and Reynolds.

Reynolds is Daly's brother-in-law, suspected of the airport robbery last year.

James was the suspected driver on that.

Welch is connected to Cordrey, who's already confessed.

Lilley is Welch's alibi, and vice versa.

Smith's worked with Wilson on a number of occasions.

-Sir?

-Can you not see we're working here, Slipper?

Very sorry, sir. You're wanted upstairs.

DCS Millen - and he's got Commander Hatherill with him.

What solid evidence have we got connecting this lot

-with the robbery or the farm?

-None at all.

Not until the full forensics and fingerprints come back.

Well get some, will you? Do your jobs! The clock is ticking! Frank, come with me.

-Is my tie straight?

-Yeah, it's fine.

Don't speak unless I tell you. And don't say anything that contradicts me.

You sure you want me in there?

Course I want you in there. You're my best officer.

Come in.

George and I have agreed we're going to publish photographs

of all the wanted men, and their wives,

via posters, newspaper releases and television news bulletins,

-as of this evening.

-No. You can't do that.

We need to demonstrate we're fully aware who's behind it.

-We'll demonstrate that by nicking them.

-And the public are our best allies on this.

The public will only get in the way.

Where are your main suspects right now, Tom?

We don't have exact locations on all of them.

How many do you have exact locations on?

Two.

By turning this into a public manhunt,

you'll be destroying any chance you have of...

Are you just going to sit there and say nothing, Frank?

I thought you, um...

DCS Butler's right. You name these people,

they'll know we're on to them, send them underground.

-And that'll make them harder to find, not easier.

-Don't agree.

They'll have nowhere to hide.

They've got money spilling out of their pockets.

They won't be short of friends. Right now, we have the upper hand

because they don't know what evidence we have or who we suspect.

The moment they get an inkling of that, we lose power.

Secrecy is our best weapon. Do not tell them what we know!

The public are starting to think these men are like modern-day Robin Hoods.

And the press think we don't know what we're doing. We can't go on like this.

I'm not running this for public opinion or the press.

Maybe not, but both of them are making the Home Secretary anxious.

And he's passing his anxieties down the line.

Why would we put their mugshots all around the country?

What does that achieve? When has that ever worked before?

We're in uncharted territory, Tom.

This is the biggest crime this country has ever seen.

Is the, um...is the DPP in favour?

They've voiced their concerns.

If you put these men's faces on a wanted poster

without all the evidence in place, you are jeopardising the chances of a fair trial.

-Frank's right.

-We're prepared to take that risk.

I want to put on record that I am protesting this decision

-in the strongest possible terms.

-Noted. That'll be all, Tom. Frank.

-You all right?

-I want some air.

You fancy having my job one day, Frank?

-Never thought about it.

-Bollocks, you haven't.

Remember this. No matter who you are,

how high you go, there's always a wanker boss.

# I put a spell on you

# Cos you're mine

# You're mine... #

(ON TELEVISION) 'Today, the police investigating the mail train robbery

'took the unprecedented step of publishing the photographs

'of the wanted men and their wives.

'There's a large reward being offered for information

'as to the whereabouts of the gang.

'In particular, Bruce Reynolds, who's suspected of masterminding

'the robbery, in which over £2 million was stolen.'

"Dear Mr Butler, I swear I saw one of them

"robbers yesterday in my local shop.

"He was buying sausages.

"I knew he was not from around here, cos he was wearing smart shoes.

"Yours sincerely, Gladys Williams."

Thanks a bundle, Frank!

What have I done?

Ever since those wanted posters went out, phones are ringing off the hook,

mail's being delivered in sacks. And it's all bollocks.

-Not all of it, is it?

-99 out of 100.

I've had Bruce Reynolds spotted travelling on a coach

across Switzerland in Swiss national costume,

a grey beard and a feathered hat. Roy James has been seen

on practically every racing track in the world.

Jimmy White, his wife and their white poodle were seen climbing in the Austrian Alps.

And Buster Edwards is apparently operating as a mercenary soldier

in the Belgian Congo.

What idiot had the idea to release those photos?

Hooter.

Millen?! I should have a word.

The Great British public only ever add to the confusion.

How's the old grey fox coping?

"Dear Flying Squad, I know nothing about the train robbery,

"but I do suggest that you question Princess Margaret.

"I've seen her in a pub, and she hangs around with a right rum lot."

Tom. I heard what Millen and Hatherill did to you.

Just tell me. When did they last solve a case this way?

Move into an office on that floor and it's all politics.

I pray I never do.

I pray you don't too, Tom.

I can't do it, Maurice. Not if they keep hobbling me like this.

DOOR CLOSES

I thought you might need a piece of good news.

Partial prints taken from the cellophane wrapping

of a Johnson's travelling kit, and a drum of salt.

Both found at the farm.

The previous occupants say they cleared it out when they left.

So they must be from the train gang.

Add in a palm print from a windowsill.

And...

a match with our records.

Give me the name, Maurice.

MAURICE CHUCKLES

DOOR OPENS

WHISTELING

I'm home!

Come here, my little angels.

Charles Frederick Wilson?

Yes, that's right.

Detective Chief Superintendent Butler, of the Flying Squad.

This is Detective Inspector Williams.

We'd like to talk to you in connection with the mail train

robbery at Cheddington. You might have heard of it.

I read about it. But I've never been there.

Well, my boys will search your house while you come with us.

You ain't got nothing strong enough to take me in.

Car's outside.

Listen. Ring him, won't you?

Daddy, where are you going?

Listen, don't you worry. I'll be right back.

Do you know Cheddington, in Buckinghamshire?

I've never been there in my life.

Leatherslade Farm, at Brill?

I read about it in the papers.

I ain't been there, and no-one can say I have.

Where were you on the morning of the 8th August?

I was at Spitalfields Market.

Left home at five and went to work.

Got any receipts for that day? Proof of business done?

It's a market, we don't give receipts.

I saw a couple of fellers. They'll vouch for me.

I've reason to believe they wouldn't be telling the truth.

What reason would that be?

That's for me to know, son. Tell him, Frank.

Charles Frederick Wilson, you will be detained

and taken to Aylesbury Police Station, where you will be

charged in being concerned with others in robbing a Travelling

Post Office train at Cheddington on the 8th of August 1963.

-Dinner time!

-Whay!

-Got any corned beef?

-Corned beef? In your dreams!

Oh, look, it's like feeding time at the zoo!

Oi! That's mine.

You've got to be quicker than that. Rugby training, you see.

Fast on your feet. You should try it.

You are talking to the 1944 Light Heavyweight Champion

Combined Forces Rhodesia.

Now, give me back my sandwich,

or you will get a little right cross on that lovely jaw.

Oh, yeah? Let's see how it's done.

You're the one that needs to be quicker, old son!

Overtime cards, please, lads. No cards, no pay.

Thank you very much,

Thank you kindly...

Oh! Cheese and pickle, my favourite.

Oi. Oi. Hold it!

What's that?

Overtime cards for the squad.

They're working all the hours.

I should hope so.

GENERAL CHATTER

GENERAL CHATTER

Buster Edwards.

Somebody saw the photo we released, phoned in - we've got an address.

-Right, lads, come on - quick.

-Come on, lads.

Oi! You two. What do you think you're having the day off?

Go on, get going.

Old Forge Crescent, Shepperton.

Neighbour rang in to say two people the spit of Edwards

and his wife had moved in next door.

Mr and Mrs Green.

Can't this heap move any faster, Jock?

Dave, George, neighbours.

Mr Green? Mrs Green?

-Open the door, please. It's the police.

-Go on, then.

Police!

Mr and Mrs Green? Anyone here?

No-one here. The house is empty.

Neighbour's say they left about an hour ago. Red Morris 1100.

We'll try and find the plate number.

They didn't even have time to drink their tea.

We'll get fingerprints on it straightaway.

We've sent out an alert on the car.

Well, that's all we can do for now.

All right?

We do not rest. They are not better than us.

Afternoon.

I'll have a nice bunch of roses, please, sweetheart.

Thank you very much, my darling. Have a lovely day.

What were you doing in Leicester, Goody?

A little day out.

I've been staying at the Windmill Pub in Blackfriars

since you lot turned my old lady over.

That lot in the paper - they're mates of mine, so I thought I'd keep out the way.

Seen any of them lately?

No, Mr Butler. I haven't.

Not around 3am on the 8th August?

No.

Where were you, then?

Over the water. Emerald Isles.

Ireland. Who with?

-I'd rather not say.

-What were you doing?

-Bit of shooting, bit of fishing.

-Where did you stay?

Never mind all that.

How'd you know I was at that hotel, anyway?

The hotel florist thought you were Bruce Reynolds.

She saw his picture in the paper. Mistaken for your mate.

That's unlucky, Goody.

Bloody glasses. Could've been worse.

She could've thought I looked like Charlie.

Whose name did you cross out in your address book when we arrested you?

Name of a lady. I didn't want her involved in any misunderstanding.

Margaret Perkins.

Mr Williams, please. We're both gentlemen.

Not one of your mates on the job, then.

I didn't do any job. I was drinking Guinness from the source.

Why did you make a note of the numbers of all the £5

-and 10 shilling notes we found on you?

-Just a precaution.

Mistakes get made.

You ever been to Leatherslade Farm at Brill?

Mr Butler, what would I be doing on a farm?

Preparing to commit a robbery.

Mr Butler, please.

You weren't there on the morning of the 8th August?

Ireland, Mr Butler. Not Bucks, Ireland. You ever been?

You should go, it's lovely.

You travelled to Belfast, by air, on August the 2nd.

With your little old mum, and a man named Knowles.

That's right.

You stayed with a relative.

You returned to England alone on Tuesday August the 6th.

Knowles and your mum travelled back together on Wednesday the 7th.

So, you weren't in Ireland the night of the train robbery.

Now, would you like a second go at any of my previous questions?

I think you can deal with my mouthpiece from now on, if you don't mind.

Released on an undertaking to return on the 7th September.

Without any matches on prints or forensics, we can't keep him.

You were shot in the face in the war, weren't you?

Yes.

-Commando?

-I was. Italy.

Did you enjoy it?

Yes. When I wasn't being shot in the face.

You weren't in the Forces yourself?

No, I was kept on the Squad. I was lucky.

Have lots of cases?

Larceny. Receiving. Warehouse breaking.

There was a type of man who saw the war as an opportunity.

A golden period, where normal rules didn't apply.

While others were fighting for country and going without,

this man thought he'd profit.

I went after those men. I got plenty of them.

This lot, the train robbers. They're the same.

Skimming off the top, easy targets,

while other people work hard for a living.

Cowards with coshes.

Talk to your people, Frank.

My people?

You know who I mean. I'm not pissing about any longer.

I will have every last one of this gang, if it kills me.

Tommy Butler's got the bit between his teeth about the train robbery.

Business is going to get very bad for every single man in this room.

Butler's going to have me turning over every villain in South London,

till someone gives that gang up.

Do we understand each other?

Afternoon, James. It's been a while.

Going my way?

You all right?

How's work?

Fine.

Yours?

Every day's a thrill, Tom.

SHOOTING AND SHOUTING

You must have something on Goody.

We know where he is, we've had him in.

He must have left some trace at the farm.

These are his from when he was holed up in London at the Windmill Pub.

Size 10 brown suede Trueform.

He was involved, I'm sure of it.

So am I.

I gave evidence against him at the airport robbery trial.

He got off.

As he walked out past the prosecution,

he pulled apart a piece of evidence to show something I'd missed.

Goody lied on oath, and bragged about it to humiliate me.

He's not getting away with this one.

We must connect him to Leatherslade farm.

These yours?

They look like mine. Can I have a closer look?

Ever loaned them to anyone?

They're shoes, Mr Butler. Course not.

When you were being held at Aylesbury on August the 24th,

Constable Price talked to you, and offered you something to eat.

You said to him, "If you had my worries, you wouldn't want to eat."

What did you mean by that?

I was worried... worried about being fitted up.

PC Price then said to you, "If you unfold your worries to me,

"would you feel better?"

To which you replied "No, brother.

"You'd probably be out digging for the money.

"Did Charlie tell you where his money was?"

Charlie Wilson, you meant.

Buried your cut of the cash, did you? Same place as Wilson's?

I came back here, complying with your bail,

and now you're putting this on me.

Goody. We both know you were there. We've got the proof.

I'd like to speak to my solicitor alone now. If you don't mind, Mr Butler.

I know nothing of this matter and I am completely innocent.

Edwards, James, Reynolds. Where are they? Who's hiding them?

Especially Reynolds.

Everything points to him leading this job.

Tell your snouts, we'll make it worth their while.

I want him here. Now get on it.

-Go on, Frank.

-Guv'nor.

What?

The lads...

We were just, they were just, you know,

some of them are dead on their feet, exhausted.

You've been working us, them, evenings and weekends,

and then there's wives and young kids and they never seen them, so...

Maybe we could work something where everyone has one day off a week,

you know, on a rota or something...

I hadn't finished!

Getting a bit much, is it?

What do you want, a bit of time off? On me?

All expenses paid?

A week in the Costa del Sol?

Dinner out, drinks on the house, tarts on tap?

While you're feeling sorry for yourselves,

that lot are spending the money they nicked.

They're living better than you. And you want time off!

DOOR SLAMS

Bloody hell, Frank. We said, ask him on the quiet.

What did you tell your mum about us?

Nothing.

Don't she ask?

No.

Your life...

All in separate compartments.

Isn't everyone's?

No.

Morning, lads.

Ready for the fight?

He's in a good mood.

Second Thursday.

What's so special about a second Thursday?

Well...every second Wednesday, he sees his fancy woman.

Butler's bunk-up night.

Morning, Sid.

-Morning, sir.

-Morning, Frank.

Morning, Guv'nor.

What are we missing?

I met him once, Reynolds.

Is that a fact?

Been keeping this little gem to yourself, have you, Frank?

When did you meet him?

Just after the airport job. We were keeping an eye, you know.

Funny thing is,

he said, "Send my regards to Mr Butler."

He said what?

I told him you wouldn't have a clue who he was.

He just smiled.

Where is he, Frank?

# I've got you under my skin

# I've got you

# Deep in the heart of me

# So deep in my heart that you're really a part of me... #

Afternoon, sir. Is that your flat up the top?

-Yes, it is.

-How do I access it?

-Through the back and up the stairs.

-Thank you.

# ..I've got you under my skin... #

KNOCK AT DOOR

# I'd sacrifice anything

# Come what might for the sake of having you near... #

Afternoon, madam.

Is there a problem, officer?

We're patrolling the area and we noticed a ladder up against the wall of your flat.

A ladder?

-I think there may've been an attempted break-in.

-What, here?

Are you alone in the flat?

Erm, well, um...

Do you mind if we take a look around?

All right, then.

Officer, come on in.

-All right, lads.

-Crikey, Charlie! Could you put some clothes on, sir.

You caught us by surprise.

-Apparently.

-Oh, my Lord!

It's all right, sweetheart, we might as well tell the truth.

Might we?

Yeah...

Me and this good lady, we...

we shouldn't be doing this.

Her husband's due home in a couple of hours.

I see...

We heard the door and we thought... we thought it was him.

She just panicked. Didn't you?

It looks like your...

lady's flat may have been the subject of an attempted burglary.

You what?!

Ladder up the outside. Must have happened while you were...

deep in conversation.

Cheeky bleeders, eh? They didn't take anything.

Not even your clothes, sir?

-HE LAUGHS

-Well, thank you, officer.

I appreciate your vigilance.

But, as you can see, we're fine.

Why don't you show the gentlemen out?

Bruce Reynolds is the most wanted man in the country,

and you didn't recognise him?

He said he was her lover.

-He said what?!

-He was her lover.

He wasn't her lover. He was her husband.

He was a train robber!

We didn't know.

You don't know anything, son.

I'd be surprised if you could find your own arse! Get out of it.

Reynolds' prints all round the place.

Also, Roy James, fingerprints on a dirty mug. Must've been visiting.

Not long ago.

Potato sacks?!

Someone's left two potato sacks in a phone box.

And then called it in.

Which phone box?

-Does it matter?

-Only asking.

Corner of Great Dover Street and Black House Court. SE1.

South of the river, see.

And there was no-one around?

Not by the time we got there.

Well, open it up then, Tom, let the dog see the rabbit!

-Ohh!

-Oh! That stinks!

-Eurgh!

Well?

This must've been buried.

Buried in what?

How much do you think's there?

Tip-off said over 40 grand.

40 grand!

Even so, did we have to tip it on the floor?

We'll be fumigating for months!

Sid, this cash stays in this office.

You're sleeping here tonight, till it goes to Aylesbury first thing.

You want me to sleep with that?

PHONE RINGS

You've slept with worse.

Can somebody answer that bloody phone!

-Here you are, Sid.

-Right! Never mind this sideshow.

Get this cleared up and then concentrate on the villains.

Sir!

Roy James, we've found him!

Word has come in from a female informant.

Roy James is staying in a house in St John's Wood.

Now, this is the plan showing all the entrances and exits.

We've already got observation front and back.

We go there now, recce the place, make our move tonight.

We play this right, sir, we can have him.

Come on, Frank, we'll take my car.

-Oh. Really?

-What's wrong with my car?

It's not the car I'm worried about.

Watch that cor...

We have men on the corner at Abbey Road

and round the back on Carlton Vale. No-one's coming in or out.

SHE KNOCKS ON DOOR

SHE KNOCKS AGAIN

He's doing a bunk.

Go on, boys.

Stay close.

He's gone up the stairs!

-He's headed for the roof.

-Get in there!

Come on.

Stop! Police!

Stay where you are!

He's on the roof.

Stop there!

Hey, stop!

He's going down here.

Evening.

That's nothing to do with me.

In my experience, innocent men don't run.

What else should I have done? Open the door and get myself nicked?!

When you were searched, we found £131.

You normally carry around that amount of cash?

Sometimes.

Two of the £5 notes in your possession were serial numbers

J69 5007 and J94 284281.

So?

Those notes were reported stolen by the National Commercial Bank

of Scotland during the train robbery.

Last night, they were in your pocket.

In your holdall we found £12,041 - damp notes.

Like they'd been buried. In the allotment, was it?

Where you jumped?

Very clever, your escape route,

digging in the garden for a soft landing in case you needed it.

Don't know what you mean.

Also in the holdall we found this piece of paper,

with various figures on it.

There's a list of banknote denominations,

alongside a column of amounts.

That's not my writing.

Beneath the column of amounts, there's a list of expenditure.

You might want to note just here.

The sum of £1,500 next to the word "Brab".

How's your new car, Mr James?

Brabham, isn't it? Congratulations by the way.

Your win at Cadwell Park, very impressive.

The sum total of the amounts column comes to £109,500.

Strangely close to the share some of the train robbers got.

What do you call it, a whack? Is that the slang?

Where's Bruce Reynolds?

Who?

'Today sees the beginning of one of the most remarkable trials

'in British legal history.

'The men in court are accused of robbing a mail train of more

'than £2.5 million in August of last year.

'Aylesbury District Council Chamber has been converted into a makeshift

'courtroom to accommodate the vast

'number of lawyers, public and press in attendance.

'If convicted of the robbery,

'the accused are expected to receive severe sentences.'

All rise.

HE BANGS GAVEL

'After a trial lasting 43 days,

'the jury has taken 63 hours of deliberation to reach a verdict.'

Will the defendants please stand?

On the charge of conspiring to rob Her Majesty's Mail,

how do you find the defendant, Douglas Gordon Goody?

Guilty.

SHOUTS FROM SPECTATORS

On the charge of conspiring to rob Her Majesty's Mail,

how do you find the defendant, Roy John James?

Guilty.

Guilty.

Guilty.

Guilty.

Well done, Tom.

When grave crime is committed, it calls for grave punishment,

not for the purpose of mere retribution,

but so that others similarly tempted shall be brought to the sharp

realisation that crime does not pay,

and that the crime is certainly not worth even the most

alluring candle.

As the higher the price, the greater the temptation. Potential criminals

who may be dazzled by the enormity of the price must be taught

that the punishment they risk will be proportionately greater.

I therefore find myself faced with the unenviable duty

of pronouncing grave sentences.

Charles Frederick Wilson,

Roy John James, Ronald Arthur Biggs,

Douglas Gordon Goody,

you will go to prison for concurrent terms

of 25 years on the first count and 30 years on the second...

SHOUTING

You get less for murder!

..Roger John Cordrey, in respect of the four counts, you must go

to prison for concurrent terms of 20 years...

They don't deserve this!

..Brian Arthur Field, the concurrent sentences of the court

are that on the first count, you will go to prison for 25 years...

What about his children?!

..and on the twelfth count, you will go to prison for five years.

'The long sentences of 30 years handed out to the great train

'robbers has caused a public outcry.

'Questions have also been asked in Parliament regarding

'the severity of the judgment.

'All those found guilty are to appeal.'

Gentlemen, a toast. To the train squad!

Hooray! The train squad.

The snitches!

CHEERING AND LAUGHTER

GENERAL CHATTER

30 years.

Bit steep, don't you think?

Shouldn't have done the job in the first place, should they?

That's it then, lads. Time to go.

Frank, that's got to go to C11.

OK. You take that upstairs.

TYPING

PHONE RINGS

Hello?

'I've got him, sir.

'Buster Edwards. He surrendered. Given a written statement.'

I'll be in.

This is DCS Butler.

Where were you on the 7th and 8th of August 1963 - Wednesday night,

Thursday morning?

No idea. A lot of time's passed.

I'd say I was definitely indoors.

Indoors?

Definitely.

Where were you on the 6th August, 1963? A Tuesday.

I would have been indoors then too.

Unless there was boxing on.

I might go and see the fights, if there was boxing.

Do you know Leatherslade Farm?

Yes.

I was going to clean it up.

But I got scared, so I didn't. I wasn't at the train.

I've said so in my written statement. You've got it there.

Do you know the persons associated with the robbery

whose photographs have appeared in the press, and on television?

Some of them. I don't want to name them.

It does no good.

Do you know Bruce Reynolds?

I don't want to answer that.

Why now?

What?

Why give up now?

Dozen and one reasons. They didn't matter on their own.

But put together, they do.

My little girl, Nicolette.

I want her brought up in England.

She speaks better Spanish than English.

My wife misses her mum and dad.

Wants them to see their granddaughter. She's been on at me.

It ain't a normal life, on the run.

People are just after your money.

And now the money's run out.

I won't get 30 years like the others.

Not if you only cleaned up. Like you said in your statement.

That right, sir?

Where's Bruce Reynolds?

No idea.

30 years' service. MBE. A fine career, Tom, congratulations.

Here's to a well-earned retirement.

-I don't want it.

-I beg your pardon?

I want to stay on. I want your dispensation to keep going.

-You've got a pension coming!

-The job's not done.

-What job?

-The train robbery. Reynolds.

I've got Frank Williams all lined up to take over.

He's waited long enough as it is.

Not until I get Reynolds. I want to see it through.

Please...sir. Frank'll understand.

We're going to miss you, Tom.

I'm afraid you're going to have to be patient a while longer.

What do you mean? You're retiring. You've done your time.

It's like I told you, Frank. There's always a wanker boss.

PHONE RINGS

Jock, I've just had a very interesting telephone conversation.

-I fancy a drive.

-Sir.

All ready, sir.

Hello, son. Is your daddy in?

-He's in bed.

-Is he?

-Bruce, what's going on?

-Stay there.

Hello, Reynolds.

You took long enough.

Your dad's done a few things he shouldn't.

I'm going to have to go away for a while now.

You look after your mum. Do as she says.

You be a good boy. You're the man of the house now.

Remember, your dad loves you. He always will.

Be lucky, son.

It's time to go.

(You know who to call.)

How'd you find me? Someone grass?

I heard you refused retirement. I'm flattered.

I've been thinking of giving myself up for a while.

All that stuff in the newspapers about me being the mastermind,

I wouldn't pay too much attention to that.

Worried you'll get the same as the rest?

30 years. It's a disgrace.

There's rapists and murderers doing less than half of that.

30 years for nicking a bit of cash.

Don't break the law, you don't get the sentence.

No guns, no violence.

-Apart from the driver.

-He got up and drove the train.

He can't have been that bad.

Jack Mills got shingles from the shock.

His right hand shakes constantly.

He can't sleep, he's off sick.

He's a broken man.

How could we have known that'd happen, eh?

He went to work that night. That's all.

You and your mates ruined his life.

You've been doing this long enough.

Every crime has a victim, somewhere.

You haven't ever given them a thought.

You know what sending everyone down for 30 years does?

It means every little crook takes weapons now. Guns on every job.

Cos if you're going to get 30 years without a gun,

you might as well take one.

It can't be any worse.

The moment that judge did that, everything changed. Whole attitude.

The moment he passed that sentence, he brought guns into every job.

It's always someone else's fault.

Why'd you come back? Money ran out for you too?

You know what amazes me? You had no plan.

From the second you took the cash, no plan at all.

Just run and spend and hope. You're not stupid.

But you're no mastermind.

You got lucky. Very lucky.

But none of you were bright enough to ride your luck.

And the paint. On Gordon's shoes? He's certain it was never there.

He was done up. Convicted on false evidence.

Bill Boal was never in the gang. You got that wrong.

You convicted an innocent man.

So, a convicted liar is challenging me on the truth?

You know what's funny, Mr Butler?

You think you set the rules.

But you've been chasing me for so long.

Your life has been following what I do.

Not any more.

Why did you do it?

A job that big.

Never going to get away with it. You must have known that.

You've got to dream big, Mr Butler.

What are we here for, if we don't make our mark?

It was never just about the cash. It's the buzz.

Building the team, finding the job,

planning the job, carrying it out.

It's the camaraderie. Trusting other men with everything you know.

With your life.

You above all people should know what that feels like.

# I was born by the river

# In a little tent

# Oh, and just like the river

# I've been running ever since

# It's been a long A long time coming

# But I know a change gon' come

# Oh, yes, it will

# It's been too hard livin'

# But I'm afraid to die

# Cos I don't know what's up there

# Beyond the sky

# It's been a long A long time coming

# But I know a change gon' come... #

Good night.

# Oh, yes, it will

# Then I go to my brother

# And I say, brother Help me, please

# But he winds up knocking me

# I got on my knees

# Lord, there's been times that I thought

# I couldn't last for long

# But now I think I'm able to carry on

# It's been a long A long time coming

# But I know a change gon' come

# Oh, yes, it will. #