From the Shadows WPC 56

Brigadier Morris, the man fights for his country,

survives the war, only to be murdered in his own home.

William Sheppard, I'm arresting you on suspicion of the murder

of Brigadier Morris.

Sooner or later, we all have to pay.

The William Sheppard I saw in that interview room

is not the man I've known for 20 years. He needs medical help.

William's escaped?

And whose wonderful idea was it to put him in there in the first place?

I don't need your perks to do my job properly.

You won't last five minutes if you don't play the game.

Well, if it's all the same to you,

I'll stick to doing it my way.

Next time, I'll make sure the whole world knows exactly what you are.

An officer who puts his troops before himself,

how admirable.

I should have come home earlier last night. I'm sorry.

I'll make it up to you.

Where were you?

At work.

You know I've got a lot on.

-It's easier to get things done when the office is quiet.

-That's a lie.

-I'm sorry.

-You left at six o'clock.

You told Susie you'd be going straight home.

All right. I...should have said.

-I went to the pub.

-Who with?

No-one. I was alone.

-Then why lie about it?

-Because I didn't want you to worry.

The truth is, I've been drinking more than I should lately,

and I know how you feel about that, with your father and everything.

Don't you dare bring that up so you don't have to admit what's been going on.

-What are you talking about?

-You were with another woman, weren't you?

-No...

-That's why you don't want to touch me.

Don't say that. Of course I want to touch you.

Charlotte, please, don't talk like this.

You're perfect. You're everything I want.

Why would I even look at another woman?

I know I haven't been much of a husband lately.

I've been so busy at work...

It's not fair on you,

I am so sorry.

We can try again?

Tonight.

This just came for you. Postmark USA.

Thank you, Sergeant Swift.

Have you had a chance to think about what I asked yesterday?

Yesterday?

You know...

Well, I asked if...

Will you go on a date with me?

Oh, that.

-I'd love to.

-Really?

HE LAUGHS

Smashing!

Well, that's just...

-Thank you.

-Aren't you forgetting something?

When?

Oh! Um. How about tonight?

That doesn't give a girl much time.

No, you're right, I'm sorry.

But I like a man who's decisive.

Oh, you do?

Well, good.

Tonight it is, then. I'll pick you up at seven.

I'll look forward to it.

Any closer to finding him, sir?

No, men like Sheppard know how to disappear. They were trained to.

Nobody really disappears though, do they, sir?

I mean, there's always a trail.

Where would you start looking?

I suppose I'd want to know exactly what he was trained for and why.

It might help us...

I mean, you, predict his next move.

OK. Tell you what, why don't you contact the War Office?

See if you can access his military records.

Me, sir?

It's your lead.

You don't mind if I borrow him for a while, do you, Sergeant?

Keep him for all I care.

Sarge.

Oh, and Perkins, try to get Brigadier Morris' record too.

Yes, sir.

Hello, War Office, Whitehall, please.

DI Sawyer.

When was this?

We'll be there as soon as we can.

-Taylor.

-Sir?

-There was an assault on a nurse

at Edmund Hall Psychiatric Hospital late last night.

She says it was William Sheppard.

I managed to reach some scissors and I stabbed him.

He let go, so I screamed.

Do you remember where you wounded him?

-On his hand.

-Did he say anything to you?

No.

After I screamed, he heard others and he ran.

-But you're certain it was William Sheppard?

-Yes.

I saw him clearly.

You said it was dark.

You were frightened.

It was him, without a doubt.

But he had already escaped.

Why risk coming back just to attack you?

If you understood psychosis, you'd know that violence

and irrationality go hand in hand.

We don't doubt that, Doctor.

Find him, Inspector, before he harms anyone else.

TINKLE OF BELL

SHOPKEEPER: Thank you.

SHOPKEEPER: Thank you very much.

Good job in there, Taylor. Always helpful to antagonise the victim.

-Sir, I was just being thorough.

-No, you were looking for holes in her statement

because you don't want to believe it's true.

Maybe I don't. Is that so bad?

Look, I just don't believe that he would harm a woman, sir.

This is a man who read me bedtime stories.

He built us a treehouse at the bottom of the garden one summer.

Yes, yes, he was a soldier, so was everyone, so were you.

It doesn't change who you are inside, does it?

And I just...

Sir, are you even listening to me?

Hmm?

Yes, yes, yes, the trees in the summer.

What?

I'm making a serious point here

but obviously you've got other things on your mind.

-Are you a little jealous?

-No.

No, I just don't want Sheppard to get blamed for something

-he didn't do.

-OK, enough.

I don't care how nice he was to you when you were a child.

People change, they snap. Sometimes they just lose their minds.

You need to keep your personal feelings out of this, Taylor,

or you're no good to me.

TILL BELL

No good?

I'm not sure.

Yeah, it can be a little dry.

-Try the 1910 edition. It's a better translation.

-Oh, thanks.

I'm pretty new to all this.

Well, Marx is a good place to start.

Have we met somewhere before?

No, no, I don't think so.

I work for Austin, are you on the assembly line?

No, no. I'm a writer.

Really? What do you write?

Articles mostly, for the Daily Worker.

Well, that and some very bad poems.

Maybe I could interview you some time.

What are conditions like on the factory floor?

Well, I'm reading this, aren't I?

If you're interested, there's a meeting coming up.

Eight o'clock, Radleigh Community Centre, last Friday of every month.

Maybe I'll see you there.

Maybe you will. Nice meeting you.

What's your name, by the way?

I'll look out for your articles.

It's Carl Saunders.

-Thank you.

-Thank you.

Has Sheppard confessed to the murders?

Have you charged him yet? At least tell me that, please?

What's your name again?

David Meyer. Birmingham Chronicle.

OK, David Meyer. Have you got your little notepad?

Excellent.

Brinford Police don't comment on any ongoing investigation.

If the Birmingham Chronicle want to keep abreast of changes,

they can damn well wait until we're ready to release a statement.

Now, go away.

Thank you.

Oh! Rumour has it a certain sergeant finally asked you out.

He did! I'm off to get my nails done,

then straight home to get ready.

Have a nice time

-and I want all the details tomorrow.

-SHE GIGGLES

As you all know, William Sheppard absconded

from Edmund Hall Psychiatric Hospital yesterday evening.

He's since been identified in the assault of a nurse on the premises.

They failed to apprehend him and he's still at large.

If you see this man, call for backup -

he may be armed and is to be considered extremely dangerous.

-PHONE RINGS

-Thank you, Detective.

Fenton.

Yes, sir.

Of course.

I'll see you there.

-All right, there you go.

-How'd you get on?

I didn't, sir. Sheppard and Morris' service records are sealed.

I told them what it was for but they still refused.

Sorry, sir.

Don't be. If a door's locked, we'll find another way in.

It's a pity the army couldn't protect Brigadier Morris the same way

they do their service records.

You're back early. Not at work today?

No, Mrs Logan. Things to do.

Been to the Post Office, I see.

Yes. Ta-ra then.

You haven't seen Patches anywhere, have you?

No, Mrs Logan, but if I do I'll let you know.

Something's not right.

Mrs Goodwin in number 27

said her cat's been missing for over a week.

And it's no coincidence that Chinese restaurant's just opened up

-down the street.

-What do you mean?

-What do you think I mean?

They eat them, you know.

They do not.

You shouldn't say such things.

Have you seen their menu in the window?

All full of nasty foreign letters.

"Meat Dishes," it says.

Not chicken, not beef -

just, "meat". It's enough to turn your stomach.

You may laugh, but there's been nothing but trouble

since all these foreigners been coming here.

Burglaries right on this street!

MUSIC: Londonderry Air (Traditional)

Right, once more from the top, eh?

One, two, three...

MUSIC CONTINUES

And then the chorus comes in again and... Well, you get the idea.

Excellent! Well done, everybody. Same time tomorrow, yes?

Sarge, wait a minute.

-There'll be cymbals in the next one, Tommy, I promise.

-No, I just wanted to say, good luck for tonight.

I just thought I'd get home, you know - spruce myself up.

-Bit of aftershave.

-Present her with some posies

-and then it's off to Ming Woo's.

-Ming what's?

Ming Woo's - a Chinese restaurant.

Where better to woo a woman than Ming Woo's? Eh?

Take it up with your mother, it was her idea.

So, if a bomb were to drop, we'd all be stuck down here together?

I think I'll take my chances outside.

Is there a reason for this visit,

or are shifts getting shorter these days?

-I wanted to talk to you.

-We talk at dinner.

Just you and me - and we don't talk at dinner. You talk,

-me and Mum just...

-Annie, get to the point.

I know you're upset with me.

-What I said about you being a civilian...

-Oh.

You were right.

It's over.

Time to move on.

That doesn't mean that I don't still need you.

Dad, I'm in the middle of this case, but...

it feels like I'm on the outside.

If I just knew what you knew...

Then what? You'd be better at your job?

It doesn't work like that.

Right now, I'm the only one who believes William's innocent

but I need more to go on than just my gut.

If you won't do it for me, at least do it for him.

Do what?

Something happened in the war, didn't it?

Please, Dad, I need to know.

Oh.

Oh, yeah.

Eee!

MUSIC: Ooby Dooby by Roy Orbison

# Hey baby, jump over here

# When you do the ooby dooby, I just gotta be near

# Ooby dooby, ooby dooby, ooby dooby, ooby dooby

# Ooby dooby, dooby, dooby, dooby, dooby

# Dooby do-wah, do-wah, do-wah

# Well, you wriggle to the left, you wriggle to the right

# You do the ooby dooby with all of your might

# Ooby dooby, ooby dooby, ooby dooby, ooby dooby

# Ooby dooby, dooby, dooby, dooby, dooby

# Dooby do-wah, do-wah, do-wah... #

MUSIC CONTINUES

PATCHES MEOWS

Oh.

How long have you been sitting there, Patches?

Come on, come on.

Let's get you home, prove you're not in a chop suey.

DOOR SLAMS No.

No!

No, no, no, no, no!

Oh, no!

No names, no specifics.

Agreed?

We were trained to go behind enemy lines.

Sabotage mostly, cutting lines of communication.

Our German was passable

but it would have fooled no-one if we'd been captured,

so Brigadier Morris, he taught us to become invisible more or less.

It kept us alive.

There was a lot of blood on our hands.

I don't mean combat, somehow it's...

It's easier there.

I'm talking about witnesses who'd turn us in, destroy the mission.

Civilians who got caught up in...

It was a brutal time, Annie,

but it was the only way to win and we had to win.

We were there, you know, when they liberated the death camps.

I never knew men could do such things.

It helped - at least, after -

to know that we were on the right side...

but William,

he never learnt to live again.

He started drinking.

His fiancee broke it off.

He could have been happy.

But he let it all fall away...

..including his friends.

Apart from me, of course.

And the Brigadier?

Well, they were never exactly friends

but there was respect, you know.

Until one day, they fell out about something. I never knew what.

-Can you guess?

-Something to do with a mission they'd stayed behind for,

just the two of them.

I knew better than to ask what it was.

They were the sort of men that would take their secrets to the grave.

Morris certainly did.

As far as we know....

..he was...tortured before he died.

We think the killer may have needed information.

Do you have any idea what it could have been?

No, I don't.

I've told you everything I know.

Thank you, Dad.

JAUNTY MUSIC PLAYS

PATCHES MEOWS

HE WHISTLES AND HUMS

PATCHES MEOWS

PATCHES MEOWS

PATCHES PURRS AND MEOWS

Susie?

Susie!

Thank you, sir. Goodbye.

That's for you.

-Ta.

-Shall we?

Usual, please.

I spoke to my father today.

And?

It's as I thought, sir, he doesn't know anything

but I'm more certain than ever that the answers are buried in the past.

Something Morris and Sheppard did that only they knew about.

Like what?

A secret mission.

Whatever it was, Sheppard couldn't live with it.

It destroyed his life, drove him to drink.

And got Morris killed.

What was it Sheppard said?

Sooner or later, everyone's got to pay.

So we're back at square one.

Everything hinges on finding Sheppard.

Sorry to interrupt, sir. We just got a call from a lady -

a burglar's breaking into the house next door.

-Can you deal with her while I check it out?

-Yeah.

POLICE SIREN

Help, somebody!

About time, he could have murdered her by now!

-So is this your neighbour's house?

-Yes, she lives alone.

I heard her shouting for help and when I went out the back

I saw someone climbing in through the kitchen window.

< Help! Somebody!

-See?

-OK, everybody...

-Oh!

Oscar, stop that!

He wants to be a reporter.

-Everybody stay here and I'll check round the back.

-OK.

-Oscar, Oscar!

-I'll get him.

Looks like he's stuck.

What's he wearing?

Some sort of disguise?

What does it matter? Do something.

OK. Everyone stay here.

Right, you, the game's up.

I'm a policeman.

Tommy?

-Miss Nightingale?

-Yes!

Please help me. I'm wedged in.

What on earth are you doing climbing through your own window?

If you must know, I got locked out trying to catch your stupid cat.

-Patches is alive?

-All right, everyone...

Oh! Do you mind?

As you can see, it's all just been a big misunderstanding,

so you can all move along now.

Taylor...

help me pull her out.

Surely we should push her in? I mean, she still needs to get inside.

-I could kick the door down.

-Don't you dare!

OK, well, then we're going to have to push.

You ready?

Oh!

Oh.

All right, fun's over, everyone. Back to your homes now.

Go on.

How's the new WPC coming along?

Chip off the old block?

Hard to say.

Sergeant Taylor was born with a stick up his backside.

She's not as uptight,

but she acts as if she can wear his stripes without earning them.

-Same again?

-Mmm.

I should be going.

My wife,

she worries, since the shooting.

Understandable. Nasty business.

Yes, sir.

Is there something you wanted?

I'm careful about who I ask for favours.

Of course.

I need you to check a name for me.

Off the record, it's for personal reasons.

No need to involve anybody else.

Carl Saunders.

Who is he?

Communist sympathiser.

Let's just say he's consorting with people he shouldn't.

If there's dirt on him, find it.

I'll make it worth your while.

What is that - a rain coat?

A slim suit.

I was trying to look perfect for my date.

Where's Sergeant Swift?

I hid from him and he left.

Now he thinks I stood him up and everything's ruined.

Where do you think he might be?

Er, he was going to take her to Ming Woo's,

but I doubt he's there now. He could be in the Tavern.

Good, good, we can still salvage this.

Right, you find Sergeant Swift and get him in that restaurant.

-But...

-Go!

Does my hair look all right?

JAUNTY MUSIC

You all right, Sarge?

I didn't expect to see you here.

Well...

that makes two of us.

What happened to your date with Miss Nightingale?

There was no date.

Why would there be?

Why would a woman like Susie want me?

She liked you enough to say yes, didn't she?

I'm sure she wouldn't just stand you up.

I said I'd pick her up at seven.

She wasn't there.

I'd say that's pretty clear.

Wait a minute, you went to her house?

That's normally how it works, son.

But I heard her say she was going straight to the restaurant.

Well, you couldn't have done, I never said where I was taking her.

Yes, but you told me

and I mentioned it to WPC Taylor,

who must have told Miss Nightingale, which is why she got it in her head

that she was meeting you there.

-But why would she...

-It doesn't matter why, Sarge!

The point is, she's probably sitting in Ming Woo's right now

-wondering where you are.

-What time is it?

Well, it's ten to eight.

Oh, damn!

Oh!

Hold on, hold on!

There.

Look, wait - I could give you a lift.

Go get her, Sarge.

It would have been booked under the name Swift.

-Do you still have the table?

-I'll have a look.

-Thank you.

How do I look?

Just lovely.

-Now, breathe.

-SHE LAUGHS

If you'd like to follow me.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Oh.

Susie, I'm so sorry I'm late.

-I thought we were supposed to...

-It doesn't natter - matter.

-I'm just glad you're here.

-Oh.

Erm, here.

Ooh - crackers.

Thank you.

Thank you.

MAN COUGHS

Hello again.

If you're here to see Dr Ellis, I'm afraid he's out today.

Actually, I came here to see you.

Me? How can I help?

I was wondering if you'd let me take a look

at William Sheppard's psychiatric records.

-The patients' files are confidential.

-The thing is,

I really need to know if he has a history of violence.

It would really help our investigation

if I knew anything more about him.

MAN SCREAMS IN DISTANCE

-I'm sorry, I really can't.

-Come on.

Just a quick peek.

I won't tell anyone if you don't.

What did William Sheppard seem like to you when he was here?

It's hard to tell, he was sedated most of the time.

-To be honest...

-Shh.

Sorry. What were you saying?

I was saying, I was surprised he was able to break out of here -

he couldn't lift his own head up most of the time.

Maybe he was faking.

I mean, he had it in him to attack Nurse Hartley.

I saw the man who attacked her.

-What?

-I was right next door.

After I heard her scream, I saw him running down the corridor

and if you ask me, he looked nothing like Sheppard.

-Why didn't you say anything?

-Because she's my boss.

And you're sure it was somebody different?

-Pretty sure.

-Can you describe him?

Medium build, dark hair and much younger -

I'd say early twenties.

-What's going on?

-Look at this.

Has Sergeant Swift seen it yet?

He certainly has.

It's always nice to discover you've been lied to.

Actually, Sarge, if you think about it, it's quite flattering.

Well, Susie only hid from you because she wasn't looking her best.

That worked out well for her, didn't it?

Well, she can't find out about this, it'll kill her.

Not a word to Miss Nightingale, understood?

No jokes, no funny looks. If she gets wind of this,

you've got me to answer to, right?

But what if she sees it in the paper, Sarge?

There's not much here.

Sorry, that's all we have.

"Recommended for the Petra Project," what is that?

If they knew I were talking to you, I'd lose my job.

I won't tell them how I found out. Please, this could really help.

All I know is patients selected for the Petra Project disappear,

sometimes for weeks at a time.

No-one knows where they're taken, but when they come back,

-they're different.

-Different - how?

I mean, worse than before.

Sometimes they just scream and scream.

Everybody knows Dr Ellis is a brilliant man. It's not my place to question him.

Petra Project.

Thank you.

You have something for me?

Carl Saunders - I knew I'd heard the name before.

Couple of weeks back, we picked him up on a raid in a queer pub.

I wanted to charge the whole lot of 'em but Briggs said to let them walk.

-I see.

-That's his only arrest.

I could do some digging, look into his past.

Thank you, Sergeant, that won't be necessary.

I have what I need.

Thank you, Vicky.

Could you do me one last, tiny favour? Would you call me

-when Dr Ellis comes back?

-Sure.

May I?

This is my...direct number.

Call me any time if I don't call you first.

-Oh, my God, that's him.

-Who?

The man who attacked Nurse Hartley.

David Meyer - stop!

Stop, police!

CAR HORNS

Stop, stop!

Stop, police!

Oi!

Oi, what are you doing? Get off me.

Come back, he's stolen my bike!

David!

DOG BARKS

MAN SIGHS

I think I've got them all, Sarge.

Good. Chuck them in the incinerator or something. Go.

Thanks - again - for dinner last night.

I had such a lovely time.

So did I.

Wasn't that restaurant magical?

All those lanterns.

Yes - lanterns.

Hey, I fancy a cup of tea. Shall we?

It was the perfect setting...

for a perfect evening.

Well... SHE LAUGHS

..apart from the flying spring roll.

THEY LAUGH

Those chopsticks certainly take some getting used to.

Shall we? How about that tea?

Susie, Susie!

-Well, well, well.

-HE LAUGHS

You never told me there was a full moon out last night, girl.

Excuse me?

What's that thing you're wearing, eh?

Looks like a space suit!

HE LAUGHS

Susie...

One of these days, I'm going to knock that smile off your face.

Susie?

Susie?

She won't come out, Sarge.

Susie? It's John.

Please go away.

It's not so bad, really.

You can't even see your face in the picture.

Anyway,

it'll be chip wrapping by tomorrow.

At least the story had a happy ending -

Mrs Logan got reunited with her cat.

I hate Mrs Logan.

She told the paper that I looked like a fat burglar

and all because I bought that stupid slim suit that doesn't even work -

I'm not one bit thinner.

I don't want you to be thinner.

Susie...

..you're perfect the way you are.

When I saw you in that restaurant last night,

I couldn't believe it was me you were waiting for.

I fell for you

the very first moment I laid eyes on you.

You're the most beautiful woman in the world

and I know I don't have much to offer you, Susie...

You're early.

I can't stay long.

What's happened?

It's Charlotte, she...

suspects something.

I had to lie to her face this morning.

Did she believe you?

I don't know...

But this can't go on.

It's getting too dangerous.

-Do you want to cool it for a while?

-No, Carl,

didn't you hear me?

We have to end this now.

No, don't say that.

It's all the sneaking around, I can't stand it.

-Walt, I...

-No, please don't, just...

She deserves better.

I have to at least try to make things work.

We work - you and me.

You're going to throw that away over some sham marriage?

It's not a sham.

I do love her.

Not like you love me.

I'm so sorry.

Just wait, please...

I'll stay away.

I'll do whatever you want but...

..don't go yet.

Not yet.

I just spoke to our friends at the Birmingham Chronicle.

-And did you find David Meyer?

-He never worked there.

-What?

-They've never heard of him.

Well, who do you think he is then?

I think he's our new main suspect.

PHONE RINGS

Fenton.

How would you like to get that arrest after all, Sergeant?

On a charge that'll stick this time.

I'm listening.

Brewer Street, above Preedy & Sons.

Soon as you can.

Thank you, sir.

Perkins, get Fletch and come with me.

Move it!

FOOTSTEPS NEARBY

Who's there?

I said show yourself.

Gabriel?

David.

What are you doing here?

How did you find me?

I've been following your movements for some time.

-Why?

-To make sure the job gets done right.

Tell me you...

You killed Brigadier Morris?

He got what he deserved.

That wasn't for you to decide.

Do you have any idea what you've done?

Something you didn't have the guts to do yourself.

FOOTSTEPS APPROACH

Police, stay where you are!

Get dressed.

Time's up.

I am arresting you for committing an act of gross indecency

with another male person.

You are not obliged to say anything unless you wish to do so

but what you say will be taken down and may be given in evidence.

Sir.

POLICE SIREN