Inspector George Gently

- And it was at that moment that Santa realized then that everybody could see his jingle balls.

(group laughs) Hey!

- [Staff] Go on, we got another cracker!

- We have a letter.

(group chuckles) From the queen.

- Ooh!

- Now, this has been sent to every school, every hospital, every police station in the land.

Chief Super thought it might be better if you read this one out.

Huh?

- Yeah.

- Bit of gravitas.

- Your hat, sir.

- Come on, sir.

(group laughs) - Right.

"In a short time, the 1960s will be over but not out of our memories."

(dramatic music) "Historians will record them as the decade in which men first reached out beyond our own planet and set foot on the moon."

(dramatic music) (gunfire banging) (crowd screaming) - Get down on the floor!

- "Each one of us will have our own special triumphs or tragedies to look back on."

(dramatic music) - [Robber] Get down.

Stay down!

- "Christmas is a festival of the spirit."

(suspenseful music) - Stay down!

Stay down!

C'mon!

(dramatic music) (car engines rumbling) - "I hope all of you will enjoy a very happy Christmas."

- [Robber] Go, go, go!

(dramatic music) - "God bless you all, Elizabeth R."

- Aw.

- Fantastic.

- Hurrah.

(group applauding) (dramatic music) - Come on!

(robber exclaims) (gun clatters) All right, let's do this!

(dramatic music) Go!

- Go, go, go!

- Go!

Go!

(dramatic music) (car tires screeching) (car engines rumbling) (gunfire banging) (security officer yelling) - Come on.

Let's have your cash.

- All right.

(phone ringing) (soft suspenseful music) - Sir.

- What?

(soft suspenseful music continues) (solemn music) (glass crunching) (solemn music continues) (soft suspenseful music) - A Sten gun.

In Durham?

- Mm, 500 rounds a minute, 8 per second.

- Seen one before, then?

- Not on the streets, John.

- Well, I've got all the staff and cashiers and that goin' down to the station to make a statement.

Two called in sick today.

- Oh?

Inside job?

- Who knows?

I wanna talk to the customers and all.

- Yeah, they're pretty shaken up.

Somebody could've died here today.

- Mm.

Yeah, but they didn't, did they?

And we've got their gun.

Early Christmas present.

- I gave 'em a good blast before it'd run out.

I was top shot in my troop.

National Service made a man of me.

- Right.

- Oh, aye, I got a few rounds in, for sure, bloody hooligans.

- Right, so he came right past ya, the gunman, but you didn't see his face?

- I saw his boots.

Workwear.

No business being in my bank.

- Your bank?

- Aye, 10 years service to the T&W.

I take my work seriously!

I should be in line for a reward, I reckon.

- Did you get a number plate?

I mean, you were right here.

- Yeah, it was one of those new Fords.

- Yeah, a maroon Ford Zephyr and a blue Vauxhall Victor.

A lot of people saw that.

I need a number plate.

- Huh!

I was a bit busy.

Doing your job, defendin' the public.

- Oh, is that what you call it?

'Cause we call it illegally discharging a firearm in a public place.

You coulda killed somebody.

- I wish I had.

It might make 'em think twice next time.

- When they're dead, you mean?

- Last week we abolished the death penalty, this week we reapin' the consequences, violent little toerags with no fear of justice!

- Flats and offices on both sides of the street.

There's a phone box there and a pub just up there at the end.

Now, given that the most action that you've ever seen was on the firing range at Otterburn, you stood more chance of killing a bystander than the bank robber.

Arrest him.

Discharging a firearm in a public place without lawful authority.

Now, a number plate, that woulda helped.

(staff chattering) - Ah!

You must be the hero.

- Extend it to Sunderland, if you need to, and Chester-le-Street, if necessary.

- Sir, the cashier, Monica Addison, she wasn't meant to be workin' today.

She said Violet Burns asked her to fill in.

It's meant to go through the assistant manager.

- Is she sick?

- No, pregnant.

- No wonder she didn't call the assistant manager.

- Uh, the deputy manager, he likes a flutter, horses, dogs, owt with legs.

He's behind on his mortgage.

- No.

- What?

- Well, it doesn't take inside knowledge to walk in through the front door and stick up six bank clerks, does it?

- Yeah, but they knew to rob the bank an hour before the cash collection.

- No, no, most bank jobs, it's two, maybe three men, with a pistol and a shotgun.

This is a Second World War submachine gun.

It should've been decommissioned.

Somebody has drilled out the plug and made another firing pin.

(pin clicks) - Well, if, if it belongs to the British Army, can't we trace it?

- Ground off the serial number.

- [John] Did you recognize any of 'em?

- No, they were all wearing gas masks.

- Anything on those getaway cars?

- No, the duty inspector's got pandas out.

Uniforms are goin' door-to-door.

- Christmas Eve.

They'll get a warm welcome.

- Hmm.

- Bloody holiday, right in the middle of my investigation.

- [John] Glass of water, please, for this young man.

- All right?

- Yeah, yeah.

Lad that took on the gunman.

- Lucky not to get himself shot.

- Well, he's not saying much.

He just wants to go home to his mam.

He's only 17.

Thank you.

- Sir.

- Let me talk to him.

- Well, if you think you can do any better.

- It's not that, John.

I know him.

Hello, Kit.

(gentle solemn music) I'm sorry.

- Why are you sorry?

(gentle solemn music) - It's been too long.

(sighs) (car engine rumbling) (gentle solemn music) (gate creaking) (gentle solemn music continues) - Mam!

Got company.

- Company?

I'm not dressed for company!

(soft somber music) - Hello, Edith.

You look well.

- And you were always a very good liar, Gently.

(soft somber music) That was taken 10 years ago, before you knew us.

1959, the dawn of a new decade.

Remember that?

- Oh, yeah.

He was a man you could trust, Derek Brave man.

- How're you doing, George?

- How's that posh school treating you, then, Kit?

They made a gentleman of you yet?

- He's got a girlfriend.

- Oh!

- A- ask him about his girlfriend.

- Mam.

- Well, a man needs his secrets, Edith.

Right, Kit?

- Right, well, um, I'll, I'll leave you two men to talk, shall I?

I'll make meself look presentable.

(cup clatters) - She won't be back down.

(George sighs) - Thank you.

So this gunman, you couldn't get a good look at him because of his gas mask, right?

- No.

- Scary, hey?

- I'm sorry.

- No, no, no.

No.

So you said they were young.

How young?

20, 30?

- Is 30 young?

- Yeah, definitely.

- I suppose, 20-odd?

He, he didn't care.

He just walked into that bank with the gun.

Anybody could've been killed.

- And his accent was local, yeah?

- Yeah.

- [George] Yokel or town?

- City.

- Newcastle?

(George sighs) - [George] I'm gonna get 'em, Kit.

I'm gonna lock 'em up.

- How well did you know Dad?

- (clears throat) We were on the operation together, where he got killed.

- Was he afraid?

- (scoffs) We were all afraid, Kit.

It's what you do next that counts.

- I've got to go, John.

I've got Walter's parents down.

- Just tell us.

- Tell you what?

- Just tell us that this'll be our last Christmas apart.

(phone line beeping) Wait.

Wait.

Wait, Gem.

Just wait.

Pips have gone.

- John?

(fist banging) - Just, wait!

Have you, have you got any coins, yes?

- No!

- You got any coins?

- No!

(phone line whirring) - What?

- No sign of either of them cars.

- Right.

Well, keep lookin'.

- It's Christmas Eve.

My sergeant's callin' us in.

Other duties.

- Are you just goin'?

- I am, sir.

- Hey!

Merry Christmas!

- This came from Forensics.

(soft suspenseful music) (paper rustles) (suspenseful music) What is it?

- It's a bullet from the bank.

(suspenseful music) It's a dumdum.

- Why is it like that?

- Let's hope you never find out.

(car engine rumbling) (car tires screech) (dramatic music) (car door thuds) (dramatic music continues) (dog barking) (dramatic music continues) (phone ringing) - Yep.

- Christmas mornin'?

- Don't start.

He was sat on his own doin' nothing and you were sat with your mam, wishin' you were doing nothing.

- Yeah.

- Besides, there's no one else.

(car door thuds) All right?

- Merry Christmas.

- Merry Christmas.

- Happy Christmas.

- Well, here we are, Joseph, Mary, and the little Baby Jesus.

What have we got, then?

- Blue Vauxhall Victor.

I've got a witness that saw it driving through Rowan Street.

Two flat tires.

Rowan Street's about a mile away from the bank.

- That's very good.

Did uniforms get that?

- No, they didn't.

I did.

- [George] All right.

It was a joke.

- I walked the route all bloody night.

I found blue paint on a traffic island.

No sign of the car, though.

Now it's not gonna get very far, is it, two flat tires?

- It's just us then?

- Yeah.

Well, we can sing carols on the way.

(Rachel chuckles) (gentle dramatic music) (car engine rumbling) (car doors thud) (gentle dramatic music continues) All right, meet at the Arches, 4 o'clock.

(gentle dramatic music continues) (dog barking) (gentle dramatic music continues) (ducks quacking) (gentle dramatic music continues) (birds chirping) (door rattles) (gentle dramatic music continues) (gentle suspenseful music) Merry Christmas.

- Merry Christmas.

(gentle dramatic music) (dog barking) - Anything?

- [George] No.

You?

- No.

(sighs) - I'll get 'em to organize a proper search tomorrow when they're back on duty.

- It's worth a try, I suppose.

- Do you want a lift home?

- Oh, no, it's all right.

I'm gonna go and meet some friends, retrieve what's left of me Christmas.

- You sure?

- Aye.

Wey aye.

See yous later.

- Mm.

(crowd chattering and laughing) Where to?

- (clicks tongue) Home, please.

- On your own?

- Yeah, Gemma's still in London.

She's coming down next week.

- It's happening then, is it?

- Yeah, yeah.

(car doors thud) I'm gonna look after her, her and the kids.

So what if he won't give her a divorce.

So what?

- What if something happens to you?

- (scoffs) Well, she'll get me pension, won't she?

- Not if you don't marry her, she won't.

- Really?

- Really.

That kid who took on the gunman?

His father was Derek McDonald.

He was a sergeant in the squad when I come up here from London, the one who got killed in Operation Tulip, yeah?

- Yeah, I remember.

- Yeah?

Well, we all thought that him and Edith were married, but it turns out they weren't, because Edith's first husband wouldn't give her a divorce.

So she got nothing.

Think about that.

(car engine rumbling) (Rachel panting) (wind whooshing) (vocalist singing indistinctly) (soft eerie music) (car tires screeching) (footsteps tapping) You will find Every woman, man, and child Has Santa on their mind (eerie dramatic music) (vocalist singing indistinctly) (footsteps tapping) (suspenseful dramatic music) (vocalist singing indistinctly) (eerie dramatic music) (intense suspenseful music) - Excuse me!

This is the police, will you step out of the car?

(soft eerie music) (vocalist singing indistinctly) (suspenseful music) Please, will you step out of the car!

(suspenseful music) (vocalist singing indistinctly) (intensifying dramatic music) (Rachel gasps) (body thuds) (vocalist singing indistinctly) (wind whooshing) (foreboding music) (John blows raspberry) (footsteps tapping) (trunk lid clicks) (foreboding music) - You all right?

- Yeah.

There's, um, there's bullet holes in the back of her shoulder, sir.

- You did well.

- Thank you.

(John exclaims and sniffles) (John groans and sniffles) - I think it's been emptied, sir.

I wonder if she was tryin' to stop 'em, or summat?

And she got in the way.

I dunno.

- Or maybe it's her car.

They held her up, used her for the robbery, killed her.

- [John] It's a blue Victor, Rachel.

That's not really a lady's car, is it?

- What, the blue bit or the Victor bit?

- Didn't it occur to you that she might've been one of 'em?

- My point being is, Rachel, would you drive a Vauxhall Victor?

- No, but I'd reverse one over you.

- She did.

- [John] Did what?

- Drive one of these.

She was the getaway driver.

- [John] What?

- There's a bloody great hole in the back of the seat.

- Why would they kill her?

- They didn't.

The doorman did.

(police radio chatter) - I've never seen a wound like that, sir.

- That's a dumdum for you.

Bullet flattens on impact.

Mm.

- Where would you get them from?

- Easy enough to make.

- And why would you use them?

- Bigger bang, innit?

(soft ominous music) - If you're gonna rob a bank, you might take a gun, you might even take the scariest gun you can find, but if you load it with dumdums, you really wanna hurt somebody.

(ominous music) - Let me out on police bail?

You should be giving me a great big bloody reward!

That's what you should be doin'.

Yeah!

Oh, there he is!

I'm gonna have you.

I'm a hero!

I tried to stop them!

- We just found the getaway car, Mr.

Grayson.

Two back tires blown out.

- Oh, so it's mine, then, is it, the reward, huh?

I stopped that car.

Oh!

- You stopped it all right.

You killed the driver.

- Good.

The bastard would've killed me.

- She was a teenage girl.

Now what kind of reward would you think was appropriate?

Put him back in the cells.

- Oh, come on, man, it's Christmas!

Lockin' me up for doin' my job.

Do you think this is right?

- [George] (clicks tongue) Red diamond.

- [John] Well, maybe she liked cards.

- No, it's not that kind of diamond, John.

Interesting haircut.

- She's trying to look like a bloke.

Passerby ID'd her as a man.

- A hat would do that.

- She's a bootboy.

She's one of 'em skinheads.

- What's that, a fashion statement?

- No, it's one of them, innit?

It's a bollocks-to-you statement, that.

I've seen them at the football, sir.

They all wear these boots, right?

And they wear braces and that, and they cut their hair short, and they call themselves skinheads.

And they're nothing but trouble, sir.

She's a bootboy.

(dog barking) (children yelling) (John sighs) (jaunty upbeat music) (vocalist singing indistinctly) - What do you want?

- Hairy.

(group laughs) - Go on!

- Go on, get out!

(bottle thudding) (group yelling) - Get out!

- Go on!

(group yelling) (door thuds) (upbeat music) (dog barking) (soft upbeat music) (door thuds) - Excuse me.

- What do you want, hairy?

- Listen, just, I'm tryin', I'm just, just lookin' for me sister.

Bit worried about her.

We haven't seen her in weeks.

- What's her name?

- Her name's Virginia.

Virginia Hoar.

(waitress laughs) H-O-A-R.

That's a funny name, isn't it?

Um, she's probably callin' herself something different now, for obvious reasons.

Well, she's about your age, maybe a bit shorter, brown hair.

She's got a diamond tattoo here, on her, on her wrist.

It's quite recent.

Is that a skinhead thing, that?

No?

Anyway, she's a good girl, really.

She's just gone a bit wild and me mam, her nerves are shot.

She's worried sick.

- She calls herself Lexie, Lexie Dodds.

- You do know her.

- I- I worked with her a while back.

- Here?

- No.

A club.

Made this place look like the Ritz.

Last I heard, Lexie was hangin' round with some scary bugger round Raven Street flats.

Wouldn't want my sister there.

- Oh, right.

- Found her.

- Oh, great.

- She's on the Council register.

- Oh, Alexandra Dodds, uh, was taken into care in '63, Allinson House, and she left last year.

- Allinson House.

That's Carlton Street, yeah?

- Yeah.

I'll meet you there.

- No, no, no, no.

You get on down to Raven Street, show 'em the photograph, ask them about the skins.

I'll see you later.

- Right.

Raven Street.

Great.

(phone handle clatters) In these shoes.

(Rachel chuckles) (residents yelling) - Mr.

Ellison.

I'm DCI Gently.

Very nice of you to see me.

Thank you.

- Gentlemen?

- [Resident] You having a laugh!

- This way, please.

- Thank you.

(door thuds) - Lexie's father died six years ago.

That's when she came to Allinson House.

- What about her mother?

- Her mother, Ruby, walked out on them when Lexie was little.

She has a tattoo of a ruby on her wrist.

(door rattles) (switch clicks) I don't know what you think she's done, but she's all right, that girl.

- But she is a skinhead, yeah?

- [Ellison] Oh, they're not all a bad crowd.

- What's their thing?

(switch clicks) - They were born into slavery.

That's how they see it.

Working class with no work, oppressed by the black and the blue, the priests and the police.

(chuckles) That's how come she got along with an old squeezebox like me.

- (chuckles) What did you talk about?

- Uh, music, mostly.

She still comes round sometimes.

I grew up on the stuff the skins are listening to now.

You know, soul, rock-steady, ska.

The sounds of liberation.

- I'm afraid I have some bad news for you, Mr.

Ellison.

I'm sorry to tell you, but Lexie is dead.

Is, uh, is that Lexie?

(somber music) - Yes, it is.

What happened to her, an accident?

- (scoffs) Something like that.

Do you mind if I ask you some questions?

- Hmm.

- Thank you.

- Take a seat.

- Who were her friends here?

- She found it hard to trust people, I think.

There wasn't really anyone else.

- She left her stuff here?

- Yeah.

(sighs) - May I?

- Yeah.

- [George] Let's see.

- Um, I kind of got the feeling she wasn't really anywhere, yet.

Lost, you know?

- (sighs) She find the skinheads or did they find her?

- She was hopin' to go to college.

She wasn't findin' much work.

She did some shifts at some nightclubs.

There was one, uh, the Long something.

- Long Shed?

- You know the place?

- I knew it.

Jazz club.

- (chuckles) The world turns, huh?

These skins do music nights down there.

I went along once.

Didn't like it.

- [George] Who's that?

- That's, uh, Ruby, her mother.

- Who's that?

- Burdon.

(foreboding music) - Was he there, the Long Shed?

- Yeah, he was there.

King of the place.

(soft ominous music) I had a feeling he had his claws in her.

- You didn't like him?

- He didn't strike me as a lad who cared about the liberation of an oppressed people.

20 years I work in Scottswood, and never scared of any man, but I did not know what to make of this one, sir.

- Jonjo Burdon, 25, no fixed abode.

Did a six-month stretch three year back.

- Was it guns?

- No, it was drugs.

- I thought that was hippies, not skinheads.

- No, no, no.

No, it wasn't weed.

Look.

Dexamyl.

Some form of amphetamine.

- Using or selling?

- Both, I think.

Raven Street CID says that he's behind most of the gang fights, though he never gets his hands dirty.

They say he keeps a pack around him.

Do you think he's a contender?

(gentle dramatic music) (car engine rumbling) (dramatic music) (handbrake rasps) (switches clicking) Hey, hang on, hang on.

Are you just gonna walk in there and ask for Burdon?

(car door thuds) - Yeah.

- He might not be in there.

Do we even have a plan?

- Same as always, John.

Do what I do.

- Look, let's just wait for the Black Marias, right?

They'll be five minutes.

- What's the matter, John?

Don't you think I'm up to it?

- I think it'll be wise to wait.

- Yeah.

- [John] Sake!

(upbeat music) (crowd yelling) - Lookin' for Jonjo Burdon.

- Huh?

- Yeah, that's right, I'm on the guest list.

- Oi.

- Right!

Leave it.

- Bovver boots, slaphead, your grandad's braces and a choirboy shirt.

Hmm?

No, I give up.

What have you come as?

(head thuds) (bouncer grunts) - Oi!

- Hey!

(crowd yells) (Jonjo whistles) (bouncer grunts) (upbeat music) - So this is it, is it?

Your nearest and dearest?

How did little Lexie fit in?

(upbeat music) (head thuds) (onlookers exclaim) (George laughs) - There was no need for that, Officer.

We're happy to help ya with your inquiries.

Ha!

Come on, lads!

We're goin' for a little trip.

(crowd yelling) (upbeat music) - Right, come on.

Out you get.

- All right, lads.

- All right.

- Through that door there.

(group chattering) (jaunty upbeat music) (John whistling) (jaunty upbeat music continues) (camera flash whooshes) Come on.

- Get off, me.

- Hands out of your pockets.

(camera flash whizzes) - Are you getting that?

Did you see?

(jaunty upbeat music continues) Stand up straight.

Right, turn left.

Ah, we've got a comedian here, Taylor.

- [Taylor] All right, lad, don't, don't cry.

It'll be all right.

It'll be all right.

(door rattles) (John sighs) (door thuds) - You shoulda let him bleed.

This is exactly what he wants.

He's enjoying this.

Look at him.

- He's been yanking your chain, hasn't he?

(John sighs) What'd you get out of him?

- An official complaint for police brutality and that thing on his head, that's his evidence.

Right, uh, Ravenhill CID, they've been through the entire estate.

All known houses and addresses and dosses, and so on and so forth.

They've even had the Long Shed upside down.

There's nothing, there's no guns, there's no money, there's no gas masks, or anything.

I was hoping they'd find some pills or drugs, or summat, but there's nothing, it's clean.

(sighs) It's like they knew we were comin'.

- Alibis check out?

- Of course they do.

It's toerags vouching for other toerags, innit?

- Lexie?

- He claims he didn't know her.

He says "A lot of silly little girls come into my club."

That's what he says.

What about the others?

- Eh, they're either scared of him or in love with him.

Or both.

- (clicks tongue) Well, what is it?

What have we got?

Huh?

Dead getaway driver, that's about it.

- The scarface.

What's his name?

- Milner.

- Milner.

He's ex Royal Marines, served in Aden.

The other two are borstal graduates, right hard bargains.

They're perfect for him.

- Yeah, but Sten guns and bank robberies, and that?

Are they up to that?

- I honestly don't know, John.

I wanna look him in the eye.

(door clicks) - Right.

(door thuds) Oi!

(soft suspenseful music) Oi!

(knuckles rapping) It's the guilty ones, sir, that pretend to sleep.

It's because they know that they're gonna need their energy.

(footsteps tapping) (foot thuds) - I never seem to have a problem finding my energy.

- (laughs) No, that'll be because of the Dexamyls.

Am I right?

Right, then, come on.

Sten guns.

- Every thug has a gun these days.

I don't care for them myself.

- You shared a cell with a Frank Butler at Low Newton.

Am I right?

- Poor Frank.

Nice fella.

- For an armed robber.

Hanged himself.

- Maybes.

(soft suspenseful music) - Come on, all your little friends, all here, they've told us everything.

(Jonjo laughs) The Sten guns, the getaway car, little Lexie.

So come on.

How'd you wanna play this?

(soft suspenseful music) (foot thudding) (feet thudding) (hands thudding) Right!

Stop that, you little bastard, otherwise I'll give ya another dent in the head.

How about that?

(feet thudding) (hands thudding) (Jonjo howling) (skinheads howling) - Oi, oi, oi, oi, oi, oi!

- [Skinheads] Oi, oi, oi, oi!

Oi, oi, oi, oi!

(hands thudding) (skinheads yelling) - Oi!

(skinheads yelling) Yeah!

(table banging) (skinheads howling) (skinheads yelling and chanting) You hear that?

(skinheads yelling and chanting) (Jonjo howling and laughing) (skinheads yelling and chanting) (dramatic music) - He's laughin' at us.

He doesn't care about the money.

- It's not about the money.

It's about risk, thrill.

He's got the jump on us, John, and we got nothing.

- [Taylor] Sir?

- Just one sec.

What are we doin'?

- Release him.

Follow him every step of the way.

- Guv, no, no.

We haven't got the manpower.

It's in Newcastle.

It's not our patch.

- Well, we'll get Raven Street CID on it, every available man.

That bastard's gonna slip up- - All right.

- Sooner or later.

What?

- McDonald lad's here.

He wants to talk to ya.

- I heard about that girl.

- Hm.

- The one who died.

If I'd have got the gun off of him- - No, no.

It's not your fault.

You didn't bring a Sten gun into the bank.

You didn't kill her.

- It is my fault.

I could've- - No, what could you have done against six men.

Huh?

- Do you know who did it?

- Yes, I think I do know who did it, but I- I can't prove it, it's... - But if I identified them?

- No.

You said you didn't see 'em.

You can't lie, even to say something good.

- I know.

(fists banging) (skinheads yelling) - You okay?

- Guv!

(skinheads yelling) (fists banging) (skinheads continue yelling) - You're lettin' them go?

- (cheers) Happy Christmas.

- [Skinheads] Happy Christmas!

(cheering and laughing) - God, I wanted to nut that smug bastard.

Why don't we put him in a lineup, sir?

See if Kit picks him out.

- He saw them here.

Any lawyer would laugh us out of court.

- Thanks.

It's all changin', isn't it?

It's gettin' to the point now, where I don't even understand the crime.

- Well, the people of my generation thought just keep your nose clean, work hard.

Young people, nowadays, they know that's a lie.

I mean, these toerags, John.

What if they're the future, hey?

(phone ringing) What then?

(phone continues ringing) Yeah?

Edith?

Who did this to you, Kit?

Was it the lads you saw at the police station?

- I don't know.

Their faces were covered.

- Where were you?

I told you to stay out of town.

Were you meeting your girl?

- What girl?

(phone ringing) - I'll get it.

- I was getting me mam's prescr- prescription, and um, they just came at me.

One of 'em pushed me down and then they started kicking me.

- [Edith] George, it's for you.

- All right.

Hello?

- We've lost Burdon.

Raven Street followed him as far as Neville Street and then they lost him at the train station.

He must've doubled back.

- He won't go to the hospital.

- I'll get a patrol car to check every now and again.

Just keep him at home.

- What's this about, George?

What's he done?

- He hasn't done anything wrong.

(drawer whooshes) - Is it something to do with this?

They say his grades are bad, he's been skipping classes.

And kicked him out of the Cadets.

(gentle poignant music) - They're taking his scholarship away?

They might just as well expel him.

- I think he's being bullied, but he won't say anything.

He just doesn't fit in.

A boy needs a dad, George.

And if he doesn't get one, he finds his own.

Good ones, bad ones.

You were one of the good ones.

(gentle dramatic music) - I wanna help now, Edith.

It's not too late, is it?

I mean, I- I- I feel like everything's speedin' past me and I can't catch up.

- You should've had kids of your own.

- Well, we weren't that fortunate.

And then.

(sighs) (soft somber music) And Kit is important to me.

His future is important to me.

(poignant music) - Guv?

What's the point?

What is the point?

You've already made your mind up, haven't ya?

- I'm still waitin' for a rational objection.

- She's a girl!

And she's not even a proper detective, man!

- No, but she's up to it.

- Ah, I don't know.

- Look, Burdon's a narcissist, he loves havin' his own reflection look back at him, so let's give him the attention he wants and he might just open up.

- A short-skirted piece of attention?

- Yeah.

- All right, all right.

All right.

Well, if we're gonna have female coppers, then we might as well use them for what they're good for.

- Morning.

- Morning.

- Rachel, weren't you saying, the other day, that, uh, long hair is difficult to manage and maintain?

- No.

- Ah, mm.

Chief Inspector's got summat he'd like to tell you.

- Well, actually, I can tell you both at the same time.

This isn't effective until the New Year, but as of January the 1st, you're not gonna be a WPC anymore.

Congratulations, detective sergeant.

(Rachel laughs) - Congratulations, pet.

(Rachel exclaims) Detective sergeant.

(Rachel gasps) Now are you gonna give her the bad news?

(staff chattering) (typewriter keys clacking) (door creaks) Hello, mate, I don't think we've met.

(laughs) - Shut up.

Aye, funny.

- Whoo-hoo-hoo!

- Aye, you can laugh, but it's me mam you'll have to answer to.

- Understand, Rachel, if you start to feel threatened in any way, any way at all, you get out.

But I think you're ready.

You're gonna have to be now, aren't you?

(Rachel scoffs) (George chuckles) - When this is over, Mr.

Gently, you're payin' for Vidal Sassoon.

- It's a deal.

- Oh, my goodness.

(jaunty rock music) (crowd chattering) Excuse me.

(jaunty rock music continues) (crowd continues chattering) A beer, please.

- [Bartender] There you go.

(jaunty rock music continues) - Scotch!

(crowd chattering) What are you drinkin'?

- I'm all right, thanks.

- You sure?

- I've got one, thanks.

- Right.

- Geez.

(jaunty rock music continues) (crowd chattering) (jaunty rock music continues) (crowd chattering and laughing) (upbeat rock music) (crowd chattering) (upbeat rock music continues) - She'll be fine.

Say it, John.

(dog barking) - She'll be fine.

(upbeat rock music) - Those pills?

- I haven't got any.

(upbeat rock music continues) (crowd chattering) All right, man.

(upbeat rock music continues) (crowd chattering) Can I have a beer, please?

(upbeat rock music continues) - Come on, little dance.

Come on, a little dance for us, come on!

- I'm all right, thanks.

- Man, beer, please, mate.

Cheers.

- Get out me face, man!

- One dance.

- Can you get your hands off me?

- Just once dance!

- [Rachel] Can you get your hands off me!

- Whoa, hey, hey!

(laughs) (upbeat rock music continues) (crowd chattering) (group laughing) (Rachel sighs) - That's right, piss off!

Right dive, isn't it?

So you're too classy for this place then?

- Nah.

Why do you come here, then?

- It's my dive.

So what's your excuse?

- I heard the music was good.

I heard wrong.

- (chuckles) That's 'cause you don't know how to listen to it.

Sound of the oppressed people.

- What, you're black now, are ya?

- I'm oppressed.

I live in a ghetto and the police like to batter us.

May as well be livin' in Kingston Town.

At least I wouldn't be freezin' my arse off.

- Deep.

Dope.

(footsteps tapping) Oi!

Where do you think you're goin'?

We haven't finished our debate yet.

Where do you work?

You're a shopgirl.

(Rachel scoffs) Nah.

Teacher.

You have that look.

- What look?

- Naive hope.

Still think ya can better yourself.

Lux beauty soap and desperate dreams.

- Aye, well, it's better than stale fags and the dole.

- Who's on the dole?

Hey?

Do you wanna go somewhere?

- (laughing) Aye.

What, back to yours, eh?

You think you're so irresistible, don't ya?

Them little tweety birds in there must just swoon off their perches whenever you whistle.

(Jonjo laughs and whistles) - Tomorrow.

Tomorrow night!

Okay, you win.

Broad daylight.

Raven Street.

Be there or I'll find ya.

(suspenseful music) - Tomorrow, Raven Street flats.

Lunchtime.

I'm, I'm meetin' him tomorrow.

- Good girl.

- Anything looks beautiful if you're lookin' down from high enough.

(soft upbeat music) From space, Newcastle looks like the Hangin' Gardens of bloody Babylon.

(soft upbeat music) Buy your way out.

It's the only way.

- Some class warrior you are.

- Class warrior?

(laughs) I'm no poxy Trotskyite!

- (chuckles) What are you then, skin forever?

(soft upbeat music continues) - Screw that.

Most skins are just young kids lookin' for the next big thing.

I'm the end of the story.

(pills rattle) - Purple hearts.

So that's how you make your money.

Them kids were poppin' them like sweeties in the club.

(soft upbeat music continues) - That's just me paper route.

(soft foreboding music) Those'll make the hair stand up.

(Rachel laughs) - What hair?

I think you're all talk.

(Rachel sniffles) Show me.

Show us what you're into.

(suspenseful foreboding music) - Life without a safety net.

(intensifying suspenseful music) (wind whooshing) (Rachel gasps) - Don't, man!

(suspenseful music) - You said you wanted us to show ya.

(suspenseful music continues) - Stop it.

Slimy toad.

Who do you think you are?

Me Uncle Bernie?

Why are you in such a hurry?

- It's later than you think, girl.

(soft suspenseful music) (wind whooshing) (bright upbeat music) (skinheads yelling) (can clatters) - They're like a pack of dogs, man.

- My dogs.

(bright upbeat music continues) There you go.

(mug clatters) (soft bright upbeat music) So your dad died in Burma?

- A month before the war ended.

So you feelin' sorry for us?

Poor little Jonjo.

Spell in borstal sorted us out.

(bright upbeat music continues) Wait here.

(bright upbeat music continues) (door thuds) (soft foreboding music) (suspenseful music) - I was just waitin' there.

(groans) (fist thuds) (dramatic suspenseful music) (suspenseful music) (skinheads chuckle) (Jonjo sighs) (door thuds) - Lessons in loyalty.

(soft bright upbeat music) (sighs) Sugar?

- Nah.

It's his half-brother.

I've checked him out.

Stewart Murdoch, 25, occasional delivery driver, no record.

- Well, they are gonna need another getaway driver, aren't they?

They close, him and his brother?

They are fighting about something.

- (sighs) They're goin' to the football together tomorrow.

- Yeah.

Taylor's tryin' to get tickets for that.

Crime doesn't pay.

Gets you stubbies at the Gallowgate End.

(George laughs) - You all right, Rachel?

- Yeah, sir, (sighs) I dunno, it, it's like he came out wrong.

- Like a sheep with two heads?

What are we doing, Guv?

- I think we'll follow the brother.

- Guv, why don't we just stop him, talk to him?

- No, I said we're just gonna follow him.

- [John] Well, it's been scintillating stuff so far, hasn't it, hey?

The Rotary Club, the Empress, linens for the Great Northern.

No gunsmith's so far.

Hold on.

(gentle suspenseful music) - Well, now.

- Yeah, all right.

- [George] Wait 'til he's gone, then do some more diggin' at the bank, John.

- [John] Right.

(gentle suspenseful music) (car door thuds) - You look a bit like Sandie Shaw.

(Rachel chuckles) - Right then, sir.

Stewart delivers clean shirts to the bank manager of the Derwent every week, right?

But he also delivers to one other bank, Tyne & Wear.

- The one that was robbed?

- Yes, the one that was robbed.

Now I got chattin' to the bank manager's secretary and she said that she's called the laundry to complain about Stewart 'cause he was loiterin' around the bank, supposedly chattin' up all the cashiers.

- Like casin' the joint out for Jonjo.

- That's it.

- Right, so Stewart's not the driver, he's reconnaissance.

- Yep.

They're gonna hit the Derwent.

- It's just when, isn't it?

- Well, I can find out for ya.

- [George] Mm-mm.

- Well, I can't exactly go and have tea with my mam, can I?

Not 'til this mess grows out.

- That's true.

(upbeat music) (crowd chattering) - [Rachel] How's your big brother?

- What?

Oh, yeah, he's okay, mostly.

When he behaves.

(upbeat music continues) (crowd chattering) I'm busy.

(jaunty upbeat music) - Does it not bother ya, all the aggro?

I heard the other lot carry guns.

- The hairies?

Nah, they're too busy smoking dope to cause aggro.

- But the guns, though!

Do yous carry guns?

- Your problem is you ask all the wrong questions.

- Well, what's the right questions?

- Heads or tails?

- So nothing matters?

- Guns matter.

Stick one in someone's face and watch 'em find out who they are.

(jaunty upbeat music) (crowd chattering) Here.

Get us some drinks.

(jaunty upbeat music continues) (crowd chattering) - Four beers.

I'll be back in a minute.

(jaunty upbeat music continues) (muffled jaunty upbeat music) (muffled voices chattering) (suspenseful music) - [Jonjo] Go on.

(Jonjo speaks faintly) (Stewart speaks faintly) - Why's that?

(Stewart speaks faintly) You're not as daft as you look, are ya?

Pretty little thing.

- Thanks, Jon.

- Nice work.

Go on, now, piss off, will ya?

(dramatic music) (upbeat music) (crowd chattering) - You're his latest.

- I'm no one's latest.

We're friends, that's all.

- Sorry, my brother doesn't have friends.

He always gets what he wants.

- We'll see about that.

- You either give him something he wants or something even sweeter.

It's a shame.

You seem nice.

- Thanks.

- That's not what I meant.

He'll use ya.

That's what he does.

(jaunty upbeat music) (crowd laughing and chattering) (jaunty upbeat music continues) (jaunty upbeat music continues) - Sorry about that.

- You will be.

- I'll make it up to ya.

(jaunty upbeat music continues) - You're takin' us to the football?

- Nah, I'm busy.

It's a gift.

Take a friend.

Summat's come up.

(crowd laughing) (jaunty upbeat music continues) - Tomorrow the Derwent Bank, then?

Bloody hell.

- Aye, Jonjo gave up his tickets, changed his plans, as soon as he met Stewart.

- [John] It's gonna be busy.

- We have to assume they'll be armed.

- Let's just pull 'em in now, the whole lot, him, his brother, the whole gang.

Right?

Just pull 'em in before they even get a chance.

We know it's them.

We can use the drugs.

- Sir, he, he did admit to sellin' the purple hearts.

- I don't care!

I want to know about guns.

- Gun.

One gun.

And even then, it might have been a lucky find.

- (sighs) Well, we've got to catch 'em with their hands on the money, on a gun.

- What, you're gonna let 'em do it?

- No, I'm not.

We're gonna be there to stop them.

- This is nuts.

(dog barking) - Oh, wait, wait, wait, wait.

Close your eyes.

- What are you doin'?

- Just close your eyes.

Don't come in yet.

All right, you can come in, but just keep your eyes closed.

(footsteps thudding) 'Cause it's Christmas.

- Christmas was last week.

- Well, I was in London last week.

(foot thuds) - Ow.

- (chuckles) This is our Christmas.

(door thuds) Now.

(both laugh) This is what you wanted, isn't it?

Just you and me.

(gentle romantic music) (lips smack) So how was work?

- Ah, you know.

- Hmm?

You wanna talk about it?

Walter never wants to talk about work.

- Well, we're just.

(blows raspberry) We're fixin' to do something tomorrow and I don't think it's a good idea, but the boss is, well, he's.

(sighs) - Well, you trust him.

You know that.

- I did.

But he's ill and I dunno.

- You're an inspector now.

- What does that mean?

- It means it's time you were your own man.

(gentle romantic music) (lips smack) - Oh, is this it, Gem?

Your life down there and away-days with me?

- No, no, come on, let's eat.

You can get your present after.

I don't have to go until tomorrow lunchtime.

- Right.

(sighs) (gentle romantic music) (wine sloshing) - What?

(gentle poignant music) - I don't want this.

- Oh, sorry, they ran out of turkey, it's chicken.

- I don't mean the food, Gem.

It's just.

This is not enough, once a month.

Once a fortnight maybes, if we're lucky?

Look, I'm not, I'm not a woman.

I'm not just a bit on the side.

I'm more than that.

- Well, I- I- I mean, I think this is something.

It's a lot, to me.

- No, it's not real life, Gem, and that's what I want.

I want that with you and the kids, and maybe one day have some of our own.

I want everything.

- Oh, so it's just girls who have to make do with being on the side?

- Leave him!

You've got, you've got reason to, Gem.

I know you don't love him.

- Oh, do you?

You talk about real life.

This is it!

Nobody gets it all.

It's bits and pieces, if you're lucky.

- That's enough for you, is it?

- Well, it's just how it is, John.

Go and find some slip of a thing, just out of school, if you're lookin' for hope and glory, and watch them drain from her when she finds out what men are.

- I'm not like that.

I would never hurt you.

You know that.

(John sighs) Are you saying you don't love us, Gem?

(gentle poignant music) - Here, now, this is what I've got to offer ya.

- (clicks tongue) If anyone ever had a chance, you know it was us.

- A girl only gets one chance.

(gentle poignant music) (suspenseful music) (slow dramatic music) (gun clicks) (suspenseful music) (gunfire banging) (bullet casings clattering) - Which one are you, Butch or Sundance?

- Look, I don't know about you, sir, but I'm going to be ready for them, all right?

- What's wrong, John?

- There's another magazine there, sir, if you fancy having a pop, Pop.

- John.

What's wrong?

- She's gone, all right?

She's gone to London, to him.

(gunfire bangs) (bullet casing clatters) - I'm really sorry, John.

(magazine clunks) - Are ya?

- Yeah.

- Really?

Well, you don't have anybody, sir.

In fact, you don't even need anyone, so don't pretend you understand.

All right, now, come on.

Let us see what you got.

(George chuckles) Come on.

What are you scared of?

Is it the shakes?

Is that it?

Is it your nerves, sir.

Huh?

- Is this about the bank job?

Are you worried about that?

Because that's good, you should be.

- No, I'm worried about you.

I don't think you're up to it.

- (sighs) I don't have to prove myself to you, John.

- No, I'm exactly the person you need to prove yourself to.

(magazine rattles and clicks) (soft suspenseful music) (gunfire banging) (bullet casings clattering) (suspenseful music) (gun clicking) (gentle dramatic music) (gun thuds) (suspenseful music) (dramatic music) Thank you.

You've all got your cards, haven't ya?

- Yeah.

- Cards, lads.

- Yeah.

- Check.

- Thank you.

- Serial number.

(gun clicking) (dramatic music continues) Gun, magazine, full box.

- Thank you very much.

Webleys for these boys, please.

- Check.

Check.

(gun clicks) Sign, please.

(dramatic music continues) Ammunition.

- [George] All right, John?

- Yeah.

- Make no mistake, today will be a success if nobody fires a shot, all right?

All right?

- Sir, yes, sir.

- Let's go.

There you go.

(dramatic music) - Guv, all the money's been taken to a safe place and all the cashiers have, uh, been sent home.

- Right.

Well, all my men are behind the cashiers' desks.

I will be in the bank at all times.

(energetic dramatic music) (lock rasps) (energetic dramatic music continues) (car doors thud) - Little stiffener, lads?

(energetic dramatic music continues) (car engine rumbling) (staff chattering) (George clears throat) - [John] All right?

- Something's wrong.

It should've happened by now.

- Well, look, there's another half an hour yet, isn't there?

- They'd be cutting it fine.

They close at 3: 00.

(dishes shattering) (gun clicks) Oh!

Oi.

Pull it together.

- Sorry, sir.

- Nothing to worry about, there, madam.

Just a little bit of, uh, staff training, that's all.

If you'd like to follow me.

Your money is always safe at the Derwent.

(gentle suspenseful music) (doorbell buzzing) (lock clicks) (dramatic music) (foot thuds) (group yells) (woman screaming) - [Robber] Drop it!

Shut up, man!

Shut your mouth!

Get in there, now!

(dramatic music) (gate clatters) (dramatic music continues) - [Robber] Right, everyone on the ground, stay still!

(woman screaming) (robbers yelling) - Right, you!

Fill these bags.

And don't you be thinkin' about puttin' any of those bait packs in.

We've done this before.

(suspenseful music) (alarm ringing) Where's that comin' from?

Who's done that?

(alarm continues ringing) Turn it off, now!

You!

Turn it off!

I said, turn it off, now!

This is what happens!

(gunfire banging) (robber yells) (women screaming) Damn it!

I said, turn it off!

(alarm continues ringing) Here!

Fill those bags, now!

- I think they must've called it off.

- No, look, I say we sit tight, 'cause you never know, they might even hit the bank when it's closin', sir.

- Nah.

They were on to us.

They must have seen the mobile units.

- You don't know that, sir.

- Ah, we're wastin' our time, John.

What are we thinking?

That Burdon beat up Stewart because Stewart didn't wanna hit this place, because he was afraid it would lead back to him.

- Sir, we have gunshots at Haymarket.

- That's on Stewart's route.

(suspenseful music) - We're in the wrong bloody bank.

(dramatic music) (alarm ringing) - Move it!

Come on!

(dramatic music) (car door thuds) (car engine rumbling) - Right, Northumbria Bank, right, left onto Ward Street.

It's in Haymarket.

Left here, sir.

(dramatic music) Oh, look at this!

(car horns honking) It's the bloody match, isn't it?

- [George] This is why they've done it today.

(car horns honking) (dramatic music) - It's gridlocked.

(dramatic music) (car horns honking) (car engine rumbling) Right, lads, we're on foot.

Quick.

Come on!

(car horns honking) (dramatic music) (alarm ringing) - Come on, man!

(alarm continues ringing) (dramatic suspenseful music) (intensifying dramatic suspenseful music) - Armed police!

Stay down!

- They've gone!

(alarm continues ringing) - Help!

Help, can I have some help here, please!

(alarm continues ringing) (dramatic suspenseful music) - United!

- United!

United!

United!

United!

(fans clapping) United!

United!

United!

United!

(car horns honking) United!

United!

United!

United!

United!

United!

(fans continues clapping) United!

United!

United!

United!

(alarm ringing) - I'll get the police at St.

James's Park to have a look.

- [Fans] United!

(footsteps tapping) - Newcastle got their descriptions?

- Yeah, yeah, and the brother.

And I've got panda cars going out to Burdon's home and Retford's Laundry.

- How's the lad who was shot?

- He'll be all right.

(George sighs) 48,000 quid gone.

(George gasps) - Three Sten guns.

It's a good job we didn't come in on 'em.

It would've been a bloodbath.

Why'd they dump 'em?

- So they could get away, unnoticed?

I don't know.

Because he can.

He's got as many of these guns as he wants, it seems.

- Well, now he can tool the barrels and make his own firing pins, he has.

A gun factory.

Oi, oi, oi, oi (upbeat rock music) (crowd chattering) Oi, oi, oi, oi Oi, oi, oi, oi - Have you seen Jonjo?

- Nah.

His brother phoned earlier, told me to buy you a drink.

(upbeat rock music continues) - Get off.

(eerie upbeat rock music) (upbeat rock music) Oi, oi, oi, oi - Hey, man.

Can you get out me way?

(upbeat rock music continues) Oi, oi, oi, oi (lock clicking) (door thuds) - [Jonjo] Hello, Rachel.

It's me, Jonjo.

I got out, like I said.

- Mam?

- [Jonjo] Just a bit quicker than I'd planned.

- Mam?

- Is that you, pet?

I'll come down.

- No, no, Mam, it's, it's all right.

I- I'll be up in a minute.

(suspenseful music) - [Jonjo] I would've loved to have taken you with us, seen your face, now I know who you really are, now I know where you live.

(dialer whirring) (suspenseful music) - Hello?

I- is- is DCI Gently back yet?

Yeah, no, it- it- it's Rachel Coles.

Aye, hi, can you get him to give us a call as soon as he gets back?

Yeah, no, he, he knows where I am.

(phone handle clatters) (tense foreboding music) (suspenseful music) (car engine rumbling) (suspenseful music continues) (car door thuds) (intensifying suspenseful music) (suspenseful music) (suspenseful music continues) - Stewart?

You in there?

Come out, Stewart.

I- I know you must be frightened.

I would be.

I can protect you.

(suspenseful music continues) (door clicks) (intensifying suspenseful music) (suspenseful music) (gun clicks) Dead.

(soft suspenseful music) - No, nothing.

His own blood, though.

That's 24-carat psychopath, innit?

I reckon he had a little thing for you.

- For me?

- Yeah, I think it takes a lot for someone to deliver their dirty laundry at your doorstep.

And in that interview, he barely looked at me.

Then, when you came in, he just wanted to impress ya.

All that shoutin' and "Oi, oi, oi," and all that.

- Is she okay?

- She'll be all right.

- I've called round every nick from Aberdeen to Truro.

There's no sign of him.

- Well, find the guns, we'll find Burdon.

That's one relationship he won't give up on.

- And these are all of the confirmed firearms incidents over the last three years.

(taps finger) No Sten gun.

- What about the unconfirmed ones?

- I reported this six month back.

- And did the police attend?

- Did they?

Hell.

Said it was poachers.

Rapid-fire?

That's not shotguns.

- No.

- Don't I know you?

- I don't think so.

- Rachel?

- Well, I want to search the whole area again, the local gun clubs, the Army base at Herrington.

He's picking up these decommissioned weapons from somewhere.

- Guv, it's New Year's Eve, man.

We're stretched to breaking.

- We'll get the Territorials to help.

- I'll tell you what we'll do, we'll get the groundkeeper in.

- Yeah, that's funny.

- How about that, hey?

He took a bit of a shine to Rachel, hey?

"Do I know you, pet, from somewhere?"

We can get him in.

I'm sure he'll come in.

What's going on out there?

- Oh, it's a big'un, isn't it?

Think New Year's Eve times 10.

There's a message from the Met there.

(group yelling) - They've picked up a fella in London who just bought five recommissioned Sten guns.

- Well, it's not just our problem now then, is it?

- Right, he claims he did a deal in a pub with a Geordie lad who told him there were plenty more guns where these came from, finest Northumberland craftsmanship.

- It's him.

He's gone.

(suspenseful music) (staff chattering) - You on tonight?

- No.

- That's a shame.

Could've been your lucky night.

- Constable!

(John laughs) (staff chattering) - Hey, you should lose the wig.

A lot of blokes love a slaphead.

- Aye, well, I'm sure they do.

It's just I don't like those kind of blokes.

- What's your plan?

- What, for the 1970s?

- No, tonight.

You've got to plan your celebrations out, otherwise you'll peak too early, like that lot.

- [Rachel] Aye, well, that lot think it's the end of the world.

- I certainly intend on reaching oblivion tonight.

- Aye, well, the world's just beginning for me.

I'm a detective sergeant in the Northumberland Police Force.

I mean, 10 years ago, a girl like me would've been making tea.

That's progress, isn't it?

- Women sergeants.

Be jetpacks and robot dogs, next.

(Rachel groans) (door thuds) (door rattles) (George sighs) You comin'?

(door thuds) Come on.

(claps hands) Hey?

Glass of warm Asti Spumante?

Hey, droppin' the lips on a lass at midnight.

- Sounds a bit ritzy for me.

- All right.

- Anyway, I got some thinking to do.

- Yeah, I know.

- What?

- I know, Guv.

- And what do you think you know?

- Doesn't matter.

I just thought for once, maybe this decade, we could've had a proper conversation.

- Let's have a conversation now.

What are we gonna talk about?

Um, I know.

Let's talk about your love life.

- Guv, I know that you're sick!

- I'm sick of this place.

- You'll be, uh, you'll be thinkin' of retiring, won't ya?

Not being able to trust your judgment.

Not that I understood your judgment, anyway.

- Sod off, John!

- (claps hands) Now we're havin' a conversation.

Here we are.

Come on.

What is it?

Parkinson's, that's my guess.

(George laughs) 'Cause that's my guess in the sweepstake that we've been havin'.

(hand thuds) - Steady as a rock.

- Oh, it's gone, has it?

Oh, good.

Well, in that case, I'll sleep well.

- Oh, good.

- I think you've forgotten how to tell the truth.

In fact, I don't even think you know what it is anymore.

- It's not Parkinson's!

It's MS.

Multiple sclerosis.

It affects the central nervous system.

(clock ticking) - Right.

(soft gentle poignant music) Well, you can treat that.

Can't ya?

Surely.

I mean, these days.

- No.

There's no cure.

Good news is though, I haven't had any symptoms for a while.

I could be symptom-free for years.

On the other hand.

(soft gentle poignant music) Am I foolin' myself?

- Hey, no.

No, no, you've got to stay positive.

(soft gentle poignant music) (George sighs) Hey, come on.

Come out with us.

Come out, have one, and then you can go.

No, sod that.

Stay out, get bladdered, man.

- I'll think about it.

(soft gentle poignant music) (George sighs) (staff chattering) (dramatic music) - All right?

(dramatic music continues) (suspenseful music) (dramatic music) (John sighs) (car door thuds) - Get me a radio.

(car engine rumbling) John, pick up, pick up, pick up, pick up.

(static crackles) (car brakes squeal) - Go ahead.

- [George] How far have you got, John?

- Not far.

Guv.

(footsteps tapping) - What did the gamekeeper say to, uh, Rachel again, that she looked familiar?

- He thought he knew her.

He was just flirtin' with her, the randy old bugger.

- What if he was confusing her with Lexie?

What if Lexie was there when they were testin' the Sten guns?

- So you think she's the link to the source?

- [Officer] All right, John?

While you- - Go back to the gamekeeper, see if this photo jogs his memory.

- Aw, guv, man.

I wanna be.

- John.

John, it'll only take half an hour.

And if you can't get me on the radio, then call me at Allinson House, that's where I'll be.

- [John] All right.

(door clicks) - [Ellison] What are you looking for?

- Don't really know, to tell you the truth.

(phone ringing) - Hello?

Inspector.

- Thank you.

Hello?

- Uh, right, sir.

Yeah, I've just come back from the gamekeeper now, and you were right.

He recognizes Lexie from the photograph.

He reckons she was loiterin' round the grounds this last summer, with another lad.

- Was it Burdon?

- Well, that's just it, sir.

He swears blind that he's never seen Burdon before.

- Oh, my God.

(soft suspenseful music) (TV crowd cheering and whistling) (keys clatter) (bottle clink) - [Reporter] In Trafalgar Square, the temperature was below freezing.

(speaks faintly) - Not out celebrating?

- I'm sorry, um, Mam never said.

Were we expecting you?

- No, it's a, it's a spur of the moment thing.

- [Reporter] The new decade will be the decade of- - Did you buy her that?

- And economic growth.

- Out of your savings account?

- All she does is sit in.

At least now she can do it in color.

(George chuckles) - Enjoying themselves, and expressing confidence in- - Come and talk to me, Kit.

(door thuds) You know that old tradition they've got up here?

First foot?

First one through the door on New Year's Eve after midnight either brings you good fortune or bad portent.

The start of a new decade, you wanna be careful who comes through your threshold.

10 years of bad luck?

You don't want that, mate.

- You've just got to be better than the past.

- (slurps) Cheers to that.

(glass clinks) - Actually, um, I only came back to check on Mam.

Um, I'm actually goin' for a drink with some friends in the village, so.

- Yeah, you're a good lad, Kit.

Don't let me keep you.

(footsteps tapping) That girl of yours, she was daft to let you go.

- She died.

She was never really me girlfriend.

We knew each other when we were little.

- Yeah, I know.

(soft solemn music) I heard you were fostered for a few months.

Didn't know they put you in a home.

- Lexie looked after me.

She was the only one.

- She kept in touch?

- Yeah, I thought she was, um.

(sniffles) We were... - But she was seeing another boy.

- Not a boy.

He was- - Jonjo Burdon.

I know.

And you haven't got a savings account at the Tyne & Wear, 'cause I checked.

(soft somber music) I wish I'd checked earlier.

You knew they were gonna hit that bank, didn't you?

That's why you were there.

- I heard Lexie talkin' about it.

(soft somber music) I thought I could stop her, but.

(soft somber music) Then he came in.

It's my fault she's dead.

I, um.

(gentle suspenseful music) You know, don't ya?

(George slurps and gulps) - But I need to hear it from you.

(foreboding music) - I read about it in the library at school.

- (scoffs) Do those posh gits have any idea what they're teaching you?

- Aye, a little knowledge.

Dangerous thing.

You wait.

This thing's crazy.

(gentle suspenseful music) - Have they not missed it?

- They've got dozens of them.

The cadets use them to march up and down the playground, playing soldiers.

No idea they can make them work again.

- Posh bastards.

Really?

- Yeah.

Here.

(Lexie sighs) - Right.

(suspenseful music) What are you gonna do with it?

- Nothing.

It's just a bit of fun.

(suspenseful music) (gunfire banging) (both laughing) (ominous music) (gunfire banging) One more.

(suspenseful music) You should see what it does on the automatic setting.

(Jonjo clapping) (foreboding music) Do you wanna go again?

- I told you, Jonjo.

Kit's the best.

- She did, ya know.

Always goin' on about her little mate with the big brain.

Always talkin' about Kit.

Always goin' on about Kit, even when we're... You know?

So.

So you really did this by yourself?

- It's not difficult.

(gun clicks) I found a diagram of the firing pin, (sniffles) milled it meself, and then I, uh, unplugged the barrel.

(gun clicking) - So you could do more?

You could earn yourself some money, little big man.

Girls like money.

I was at Allinson House, too.

Right dosshouse, isn't it?

They treat you like you're nowt, nobody.

(gun clicking) (suspenseful music) But I can tell, Kit, just by lookin' at ya, you're not nobody, are ya, Kit?

(suspenseful music) (birds chirping) (gun clicking) (gunfire banging) Whoo!

Yeah!

Whoo!

(ominous music) (gunfire banging) Whoo!

(laughs) - So how many has he got now?

- All of them.

50-odd.

They broke into the school.

Nobody'll notice, 'til term starts.

(sniffles) I came to tell ya.

(suspenseful music) That morning I heard Lexie had died.

But he was there.

(solemn music) He saw me.

(suspenseful music) And you were lettin' him go.

- But you recommissioned 50 Sten guns for him.

- No.

I only did the first one.

He said he had some bloke down the docks with a machine shop.

He'd do the rest for him.

So I showed him how to do it.

- Oh!

- He said he'd kill me mam.

(suspenseful music) He said he'd kill you.

(George scoffs) (soft suspenseful music) I know where he is.

- In London?

You know where he's staying?

- He's not in London.

You know the Raven Street estate?

- Yeah.

- The towers.

(dramatic music) - All units.

All units.

Armed officers to Raven Street Estate, Churchill Tower.

Please acknowledge.

- Roger that, sir.

(energetic dramatic music) (car engine rumbling) (soft suspenseful music) (bottles clink) (solemn music) (TV crowd cheering) (solemn music continues) - Sorry, Mam.

(sniffles) (solemn suspenseful music) (soft suspenseful music) - You get rid of him?

(suspenseful music) (energetic dramatic music) (car engine rumbling) - Food.

Who was the food for?

- You know, you did say you had somebody else to do the guns once.

You said you'd leave me and me mam alone once I'd shown you how to do them.

(soft foreboding music) - You're a craftsman, Kit.

There's not many as about anymore.

His one jammed and yours never did.

I deserve the best, don't I?

(hands thudding) Go on.

Get on with it.

(suspenseful music) - I can't do it.

(dramatic music) - What don't you understand, hey?

I said get those guns done.

(Kit coughing) (solemn suspenseful music) (suspenseful music) (Kit coughing) - No.

(plate clatters) (hand slaps) (ominous music) (hand thuds) (fist thuds) - Do it!

(fireworks whining) (fireworks banging) - [Reporter] It seems that the New Year is the time for the young and that the '70s will be their era.

(gun clatters) (dramatic music) - I said do it!

(dramatic music) (fireworks crashing) Go on!

- No.

(gun thuds) (Kit groans) (dramatic music) (fireworks crashing) - Oi!

Leave him alone.

- And why would I do that?

- I'm here now.

- You think I'm not serious?

- Oh, I know you're serious.

- So what, you've got the place surrounded, hey?

20 pigs lurking in the hedgerow?

- No, no.

It's just me and you, mate, but I'm different from them because I've got nothing to lose.

- Don't.

- Come on.

Let him go.

It's not his fault.

- It's nobody's fault!

Don't you get it?

It's the future and there's no place for little kids or old men!

(intense suspenseful music) (gunfire bangs) Ow!

Should auld acquaintance (clock chimes) (Jonjo screaming) - Come on, come on, come on.

(Jonjo screaming) - I hadn't finished the barrel.

- [Jonjo] (screaming) I can't see!

I cannae see!

- [George] Just an ambulance, Kit.

(TV crowd cheering) Edith.

- [Edith] Mm, George.

- Time to go to bed.

- Ah, I fell asleep.

(solemn music) (TV crowd chattering) (Edith sighs) Where's Kit?

- I'm taking care of him.

(solemn music continues) Happy New Year.

(somber music) (footsteps tapping) (firework bangs) - It's your boss.

(upbeat music) - Hello?

- John, I'm at the McDonald house.

I need you here now.

- Guv, please, tell me that you're jokin'.

- I wish I was.

John, come alone.

(woman laughing) - All right.

All right.

(phone handle clatters) (upbeat music) (footsteps tapping) (George clears throat) (John sighs) (somber music) You all right?

- Is Burdon gonna be okay?

- Well, he'll be well enough to stand trial.

Don't think he's gonna regain his sight, though.

- I hadn't finished the barrel.

(sighs) Never meant to hurt anyone.

(solemn music) - Hey, come on.

Hey?

What are you cryin' for?

- I'm not cryin'.

(somber music) (Kit sniffles) I just, I just wanna put it right.

(somber music) But I can't now.

No one can.

(somber music continues) - Guv.

We need to call this in.

I know what you're thinkin'.

- I'm not sendin' him to prison, John.

I'm not.

Can't.

We can sort this out.

He's only linked to the one gun.

The others were tooled by some bloke in the docks.

We'll go after him.

- Guv.

- He's just a silly kid who fell in love.

- Guv, you're preachin' to the converted here, but.

(gentle poignant music) (John sighs) (soft somber music) Right, do whatever it is you need to do and then we'll call it in.

- You sure about this, John?

- Yeah, of course.

Just do it quickly, please.

(tense somber music) (footsteps tapping) (somber music) (gentle upbeat music) - [John] Done.

The kid's name's nowhere near the charge sheet.

- [George] Thank you.

- How did you know the gun wouldn't work, sir?

- I didn't.

(gentle upbeat music continues) - There's talk about you takin' your pension.

Had enough?

- I shall need your help, if I'm gonna keep on doin' this job.

- "If"?

- I need to do this job.

(gentle upbeat music continues) - You're not goin' anywhere then?

No one else would have ya.

(gentle upbeat music continues) (gentle upbeat music continues) (gentle upbeat music continues) (logo whooshes)