Professor T

[Voices whispering] Man: All rise.

You may be seated.

Members of the jury, the defendant Professor Jasper Tempest stands before you charged with the attempted murder of one Simon Lanesborough.

Oh!

Whoa, whoa, whoa!

Jasper?

Simon: Go on.

[Gunshot] Judge: It is your duty to determine whether the defendant is guilty or not guilty, based only on the facts and evidence provided in this case.

As the defendant has waived his right to enter a plea, it is incumbent on me, given the presumption of innocence, to register a plea of not guilty.

Ingrid: Acerbic.

Rude.

Distant.

Sometimes, he'll just completely ignore you.

The professor's students will agree he can be frightening.

Not to me.

I'm made of sterner stuff, but if you didn't know him, hoo, beware.

Solicitor: Ms. Snares, you're familiar with the term "character witness"?

Of course.

Adelaide: I read somewhere, it may have been "Crime And Punishment," that when a son is on trial, the mother is equally judged.

-Mrs. Tempest... -Just a minute, please.

I need to say this for the record.

Dean: The professor is an exceptionally popular and highly respected member of our faculty, but unfortunately, given the circumstances...

Thank you.

Prosecutor: Your Honour, if I may, I'd like the dean to be allowed to finish his thought.

Go ahead.

Well, it's just...

It's a terrible shame.

Solicitor: Would you care to outline some of the professor's positive qualities?

Sense of humour.

He once called a hall full of students "a flange of rutting baboons."

Ha!

Adelaide: When Jasper was a child, I strictly forbade him from ever touching his father's gun, and you can strike any Freudian connotations from the dark recesses of your minds.

Solicitor: Mrs. Tempest, if we can...

There is no connection whatsoever between my proficiency as a mother and my son releasing a fusillade into the ceiling of the local police station.

Dean: The Appointments Board has somehow seen fit to give the professor's post to another man.

Prosecutor: A man?

Dean: Well, a professor.

But just as qualified?

No.

That's the pity of it.

Nowhere near so well-qualified.

Paul: Professor Tempest has been invaluable in helping us solve a number of murder cases.

Helpful in what way?

Psychological insights, profiling.

In most of the cases, we wouldn't have got a conviction without him.

Solicitor: Could you give the court an example?

I could tell you about the most recent one.

This was two weeks ago in aid to HMP Mandrake.

Without the Professor's help, we would have convicted an innocent man.

[Opera music playing on radio] [Footsteps] Got my release date.

Hmm.

Aren't you supposed to say, "Well done," or something?

You want me to congratulate you on something that is so obviously causing you distress?

[Shouting and chatter] Mr. Burridge.

Oh.

Steddon.

[Buzzer] Woman, on P.A.

: All prisoners to remain in their cells till further notice.

I repeat all prisoners to remain in the cells until further notice.

[Indistinct chatter] [Camera shutter clicking] Thank you.

[Radio chatter] Man: Copy, sir.

Paul: Thank you.

First on the scene was Professor Tempest.

And is he a suspect?

Several blows to the right parietal with a blunt instrument.

You think that'd be the professor's MO?

The professor would use poison.

It could be a double bluff.

A towel smeared with blood has been sent to the lab for tests.

We're assuming it was used to wipe prints from the murder weapon.

-Do you have the murder weapon?

-No, not yet.

The officer in charge of the workshop has reported a hammer missing.

The prisoners will remain in lockdown during the investigation.

Yeah.

All right, cheers, Paul.

Shall we go?

-Morning, ma'am.

-Morning.

Hines: I believe congratulations are in order.

You're back with your husband.

Why are you here?

People get jumpy before a court case.

Is there anything in your statement you need to change?

Wouldn't want you facing charges for perverting the course of justice.

Not when you've salvaged your career.

Got your marriage back on track There's nothing I want to change.

OK. OK.

Morning.

[Exhales] -Come through.

-Thank you.

I need a list of everybody who had access to the workshop, times they checked in, times they checked out.

Yep, just give me five minutes.

Why is there no CCTV?

-Power cut.

-In a prison?

New automatic gates keep tripping the mains.

Killer saw his chance.

Yeah.

Can somebody take me to see Professor Tempest?

Sure.

I thought you would have some suspects for us.

Time you've been here, you must've formed some impressions of people.

Prison Officer Steddon did not believe in rehabilitation.

When you deny that, you deny hope.

He sold drugs to those inmates who could impose upon their families or corrupt solicitors to smuggle money into the facility.

Anyone who tried to escape his influence was victimised.

He was the diseased heart pumping poison around an already toxified system.

Every prisoner on this wing had a motive to kill him.

Here you are.

Where are you hiding them?

Eh?

You want me to wreck the place, do you?

I know... that you have got drugs in here, yeah?

You're in here for GBH, you're an animal.

Don't act like you've changed.

Hey?

Nobody changes.

[Clattering] Clear that up.

It's only stuff.

Heh heh heh.

Ah, got to give this place a clean!

What a beautiful day it is!

Aw!

[Knock on door] -Got a name.

-Mm?

Emil Rhodes.

According to his cell-mates, Steddon had been targeting him for months.

Smashing up his things, making life hell.

He wasn't the only one.

Steddon was a drug-dealing bully boy.

OK, here we go.

Emil Rhodes, five years, GBH, due for release in six weeks.

Is he gonna jeopardise that?

His cell-mate overheard him planning the murder with the guy who's bunked up with the prof. Shall we take one each, or... -Dan.

-Sorry, your call.

No, it's not that.

Are you OK?

Yeah.

It's just since we're back together, I don't know.

I don't know.

It's like I... wake up with Lisa... and then you're my boss... and I... Yeah, I don't know where I stand, and it's like we're not together.

Right.

Well, it might take some time to adjust, but we'll figure it out.

Yeah.

Heh.

Yeah.

Get on with it then.

I...I actually quite like that -Right, I'll see you in a bit.

-All right.

Woman, on P.A.

: Please be aware that the lockdown will remain in place until the safety of all staff and inmates can be established.

[Distant banging] Emil, we've heard from a number of inmates that Officer Steddon picked on you.

Why did he do that?

He was a dealer.

I was one of his regulars.

Then I quit.

Some of the youth look up to me.

Yeah, I know, crazy.

Anyway, they quit, too, reduced his revenue stream.

-The prison workshop... -The Hobbit Shop.

-I take it you don't work there.

-Slave labour.

-Looking at your history... -Mm, yeah, not good.

To say the least.

You have a clear motive for killing Steddon.

I might be the one in a thousand prison actually saved.

Now, am I going to risk that to take out Steddon?

You were overheard planning Steddon's murder.

Ha ha ha!

Aw.

Yeah?

Yeah.

By who?

[Knock on door] Burridge: Emil.

-These are for you.

-Cheers.

-Boss.

Is there-- -Nothing, sorry.

Wrote to six people.

Nothing.

I'm meant to be out in a week.

You know there's classes.

Show you how to work a smartphone, find somewhere to live.

Yeah, yeah, I applied, man, I applied.

Who'd you give the forms to?

Uh, Steddon.

-Steddon?

-What?

Think he didn't post them?

I know how we deal with Steddon Emil, voice-over: Them that will tell don't know, and them that know don't tell.

Tch.

Dan: How long have you been doing shifts in the prison workshop?

A year.

Officer Burridge said it would help with my parole.

You were working there today?

Yeah.

Making bunk beds.

What happened?

There was a power cut.

Got turfed out early.

Does Emil Rhodes work there?

Yeah.

Well, you were overheard talking about Prison Officer Steddon.

Can I go now?

Why?

Why do you want to go?

You're asking about Emil.

I don't talk about other people -Got it.

-Great.

Workshop roster for today.

You're on it.

First day.

You told me you didn't work there.

I said it was slave labour.

Didn't say I didn't work there.

When the body was found and lockdown was imposed, -where were you?

-Can't remember.

You were in the shower.

Got sweaty in the workshop.

Were you washing off Steddon's blood?

Ooh!

Nearly caught me out there Was about to say yes, then I thought, "Wait, hold on, don't say that."

-Is this a game to you?

- Pretty much, yeah.

If you didn't laugh, you'd--what is it-- beat somebody to death with a hammer.

Ha ha ha!

Woman, on P.A.

: Due to lockdown, the serving of lunch will be at least 30 minutes late.

Any inmates found smoking will be... [Door slams] ["Sogno" by Compagnia D'Opera Italiana, Antonello Gotta playing] [Gotta singing in Italian] [Bones crack] ["Sogno" fades] Mr. Haq... is this your handiwork?

I need a brief.

Thanks.

You're gonna be placed in solitary.

Do you understand what I'm saying?

You'll be there until the police have concluded their investigation.

Is there anything you want to tell us?

I needed help finding a job, and Steddon blocked me.

Judge: Please bring in the next witness Mrs. Christina Brand.

[Door opens] Miss Carver, your witness.

Detective Chief Inspector Brand how long have you known the defendant?

Over 25 years.

And in that time, have you ever known him to be in any way physically, verbally in any way violent?

Absolutely not.

Never.

What, in your opinion, were Professor Tempest's intentions on the night he discharged the shotgun in your office?

I believe he came to help.

He thought I was in danger.

Can you describe what happened?

I was about to arrest DI Lanesborough.

Professor Tempest entered the room.

I was distracted.

I... DI Lanesborough caught me with a blow to the head, and Professor Tempest fired his gun into the ceiling.

Why?

To attract attention.

Did it work?

Two constables rushed into the room and had him restrained in seconds.

We've heard Simon Lanesborough's account.

Did Professor Tempest aim the shotgun at Lanesborough's face?

No.

Thank you.

Judge: Mr. Turnbull.

Turnbull: DCI Brand, a police officer with years of experience, retirement and a generous pension to look forward to.

A lot to lose, wouldn't you say?

-When you put it like that.

-How else should I put it?

It's either a lot to lose, or it isn't.

Yes, it is.

And as well as being an experienced police officer, are you also a mind-reader?

-I'm sorry?

-A clairvoyant, perhaps?

I'm just trying to work out how you knew with such precision what was going through Professor Tempest's mind when he came into your office with a fully loaded shotgun.

Is it not the truth that you told Tempest that Lanesborough was on his way?

Because, as we've already heard from your answerphone message, you'd lured Lanesborough to your office with a promise of a surprise.

Judge: DCI Brand is not on trial.

Turnbull: Your Honour.

Miss Brand, what possessed you to invite Simon Lanesborough, a man whom you knew to be dangerous, to your office?

I mean, you said in your statement you were unarmed.

Why weren't you armed?

Why take that risk?

Judge: Mr. Turnbull, please restrict your questions to the actions of the defendant.

Turnbull: Rather than rushing to save you could Professor Tempest's desire to confront Simon Lanesborough with a fully loaded shotgun have been motivated by jealousy?

No.

Were you and the professor lovers?

It's a legitimate question.

A long... A simple yes or no will suffice Yes.

Judge: I'm calling a short adjournment.

One hour.

[Gavel bangs] [Indistinct chatter] Adelaide: Ah, DI Rabbit.

My son isn't the only Tempest with deductive powers.

The clouds have parted.

-Have they?

-I know Jasper is protecting DCI Brand.

Protecting her from what?

The prosecution lawyer sailed dangerously close to the truth.

Was she unarmed?

Well?

Mrs. Tempest... DCI Brand intended to murder this Lanesborough.

Jasper protected her.

If you think for one second I'm going to allow my son to play patsy for this woman, you don't know Adelaide Tempest.

Wilfred.

[Gagging] Sir?

Are you all right?

[Coughing] Hold steady.

[Coughing continues] Would you help me outside, please?

-Of course.

Come with me.

-I need air.

[Coughs] You can't be in here.

Yet, somehow, here I am.

-Mother.

-Sweet boy.

I must ask you to leave.

Of course you must, but leave I shall not.

I'm going to fetch security.

-What for?

-To eject you.

Well, tell them they'll need grappling hooks and a trebuchet.

Look me in the eye.

Jasper... did DCI Brand have a gun?

-That is sub judice.

-Oh, don't be ridiculous, I can see by your face she did.

She lied in her statement, and that lie has removed your defence.

Truth and justice are not always compatible.

If I speak up, Christina will lose everything.

And if you don't, it is I who shall lose everything.

Darling boy, there are other ways to express your feelings.

You don't have to sacrifice your freedom.

I'm going.

Professor: For the avoidance of doubt, when I return, I shall be changing my plea.

Why would an innocent man want to be seen as guilty?

Lisa: How did Omar convince the parole board that he was a reformed character?

You must've suspected.

I did not suspect that... for the simple reason that my cell-mate did not kill Prison Officer Steddon.

You're familiar with the expression "hang your head in shame"?

It's a cliche.

It is also a residual physical reaction many of us still have.

Omar hung his head when recounting a crime that he committed over 20 years ago, a sign of genuine remorse.

Yet, he reacted to the discovery of the hammer with little more than a shrug.

Results from forensics.

There's traces of Steddon's blood under Omar's fingernails, and his prints are on the hammer.

Well, of course they are.

He found the body.

He took the hammer.

You're saying he wants to take the blame.

Why not just do that?

Why hide the hammer?

He believed the hammer being found gave his involvement more credibility.

What if it wasn't found?

He left pieces of foam rubber on the floor, the bed was unmade.

A flashing neon arrow pointing towards the hammer could not have been more obvious.

I keep snagging on the suspicion they planned it together.

This guy's terrified of getting out of prison, but he can't do the deed that will guarantee he never leaves.

-This guy... -He's got good reason -to hate Steddon.

-And a history of violence.

So, he kills Steddon, Omar takes the blame.

Win-win.

If Emil is the killer, how do we prove it when we've got Omar's prints on the hammer and Steddon's blood under his nails?

And a confession.

What's the professor saying?

He wants to talk to Omar himself.

Prison governor said no.

If we're gonna take another crack at Emil, we need Omar to retract his confession.

I'll talk to the governor.

[Buzzer] The police believe Emil was involved.

No, he wasn't.

Then... perhaps you should tell me what you did.

[Exhales] They are going to charge Emil as an accessory, at the very least.

There was a power cut.

I took the hammer.

On my way back to the spur, I saw Steddon.

I told him I had some cash.

Said to meet him in the laundry room.

To buy drugs?

Steddon was waiting for me when I walked in.

I hit him three, four times.

Took the drugs, took the hammer, and walked out.

Nobody saw me.

What did you do with the drugs?

Flushed them.

Where was Prison Officer Steddon when you assaulted him exactly?

He was, uh... by the main drier.

And you struck him when he was facing you?

No, he was...

When he was turned away?

Yeah.

[Knock on door] Come in.

Mr. Burridge, may I have the key to the laundry room?

Bring them right back.

Anything else?

No.

Burridge: Hey!

I saw what you did.

Steddon: Yeah.

Did you?

Where you want to take it, the governor?

You're making this job harder for everyone.

You're gonna lecture me, eh?

A junkie's dad.

And whose fault is that?

Get your hands off me.

Back in your box.

-Here you go.

-Thank you.

How many times did the judge need to remind the prosecution brief DCI Brand's not the one on trial?

[Cell phone rings] I know.

Hi, Dad.

I'm answering the phone because you called me.

Dad... OK, wait.

Wait.

-Is he all right?

-Yes.

Um...

He thought he was ringing my mum.

Couldn't understand why I was answering if I was in the kitchen.

But he's not been eating properly, so... -Lise... -Yeah.

Let's go back inside.

Yeah.

[Door opens] Judge: You may be seated.

Mr. Turnbull.

Turnbull: To remind the jury, DCI Brand has already admitted that she and the defendant were lovers but denied that he came to her office with the intention of murdering her new lover Simon Lanesborough.

DCI Brand, was Professor Tempest hopeful that your romance might be rekindled?

Yes, I believe he was.

And he knew about your affair with Simon Lanesborough?

Judge: Where is this going?

I'm attempting, Your Honour, to establish jealousy as the key motivator for the defendant.

Tell me, DCI Brand, how did a man such as Professor Tempest, a man who so clearly likes to keep his own counsel, how did he communicate the fact that he was still in love with you?

Did you manipulate him?

No, I did not.

Did you tell him Lanesborough was on his way because you knew how deep the wells of jealousy are in this very private man?

You gave him the information, safe in the knowledge that he was almost certain to do the very thing that you wanted to do.

Except you're too canny to risk your position... your job, your family... your pension.

Why take any risks when you can watch Simon Lanesborough, the man who betrayed you, being murdered, -and walk away with impunity?

- Um... Did you or did you not tell Tempest to come to your office?

I demand to change my plea.

[Murmuring] Order.

Silence in the court.

As your plea was not guilty, am I correct in assuming you now wish to plead guilty?

Adelaide: Oh!

Dean: Adelaide!

[Gavel bangs] Judge: Order!

Dean: The lady has fainted!

We need a doctor!

Is there a doctor?

[Knock on door] Yeah?

Come in.

Just drop the keys on the desk.

[Keys jingle] Mr. Burridge... you killed Prison Officer Steddon.

-What?

-You murdered your colleague.

Heh.

Have you taken something?

When you examined the crime scene, there was, for a moment, an expression of surprise on your face.

I assumed you had found something, but your surprise was due to the lack of something.

The hammer.

Someone had removed it.

Are you seriously accusing me?

Have you forgotten where you are?

Professor, voice-over: I know you did not kill Prison Officer Steddon.

His injuries were caused by someone right-handed.

You are, to use boxing parlance a southpaw.

What happened to Prison Officer Burridge's son?

His photograph is no longer on display.

I don't know what you're talking about.

Professor, voice-over: Talking to my police colleagues, I was informed that your son died of a drugs overdose.

You blamed Prison Officer Steddon.

You invited him into your home, and he repaid your hospitality by introducing your son to heroin.

You come in here... you think your morals, your rules, you think they still apply.

In here, they're worse than useless.

You may have justified this to yourself, but are you prepared to let Omar Haq spend the rest of his life in prison?

Omar wouldn't survive outside.

You want him out and me in?

Have you any idea what they'd do to me?

You do realise you are throwing your life away.

Yeah.

Me?

You know, when you walked into my cell I thought, "Somebody's taking the piss."

I mean, could you find anybody less like me?

Turns out... we're the same.

Professor, voice-over: It would be better for you if you confessed to the police.

No.

You've got nothing.

Everything you've said is guesswork.

What are you gonna do with your theory, eh?

You gonna go running to the police?

Let me know when you decide.

Now, get out.

[Door opens] [Door closes] [Sobs] Your mother's fine.

The judge has called us back in I know the cross-examination of DCI Brand has been bruising, but I'm imploring you, you cannot change your plea to guilty.

Yes, I can.

And that is exactly what I intend to do.

Robert J. Walsh: Trouble my way Lord, Lord Trouble my way Is here to stay I know Is here to stay... Professor, voice-over: You killed Prison Officer Steddon.

Walsh: If I can't change... Professor, voice-over, echoing: You murdered your colleague.

Walsh: My ways, yeah Burridge, voice-over: Omar wouldn't survive outside.

Walsh: Oh, my day... Burridge, voice-over: You've got nothing.

Everything you've said is guesswork.

Walsh: Lord, there's trouble Trouble my way [Banging on doors, inmates shouting] [Banging increases] [Banging and shouting grow louder] [Banging and shouting stop] [Breathing deeply] Mr. Burridge?

Professor, voice-over: It would be better for you if you confessed to the police.

Burridge, voice-over: No.

[Breathes deeply] Man: All rise.

Judge: You may be seated.

[Whispering] Your Honour... Judge: Would DCI Brand please return to the witness stand?

I believe you want to amend your testimony?

Christina: I...

I failed to tell the truth in my witness statement to Detective Superintendent Hines.

When Lanesborough came to my office...

I was armed.

[Murmuring] I was armed, and I shouldn't have been.

Professor Tempest fired the gun into the ceiling because he... he was afraid I was going to kill Lanesborough.

Judge: And was that your intention?

No.

Lanesborough had betrayed me professionally and personally, and... nearly caused the death of one of my colleagues.

One of my team.

I wanted the satisfaction of arresting him... myself.

Professor Tempest, for all his undoubted brilliance, can... sometimes misunderstand people's emotions.

Judge: Professor Tempest, you want to change your plea?

Your Honour, if I may, I would like to plead not guilty.

[Murmuring] [Gavel bangs] Order!

[Sighs] I should've realised he was a suicide risk.

You suspected he was the killer?

I did not suspect.

I knew.

Why didn't you tell us?

I wanted to give Prison Officer Burridge the opportunity to approach you himself.

Did you see the note he left?

It's a confession.

Paul has his doubts.

Thinks the note could be Burridge trying to help Omar.

Have you spoken to Omar?

He's refusing to speak.

He won't believe Burridge is dead.

Thinks we're trying to trick him.

[Sighs] Professor: The police know Prison Officer Burridge killed Steddon.

They know it was not Emil.

They know it was not you.

Help is available when you get out.

That's not why I said it was me.

Mr. Burridge made life better here.

I felt that...

I could swap my freedom to keep a good man in his job.

[Buzzer sounding] [Doors opening] Woman, on P.A.

: Lockdown is over.

I repeat lockdown is over.

[Indistinct chatter] [Inhaling deeply] [Exhales] Omar!

The prof got in touch.

Said you might need a job?

Somewhere to stay?

Just till you get on your feet.

Come on.

Oh, Kafka, seared sirloin.

Dean: I'm sorry, Adelaide.

In all the excitement, I neglected to ask you how you were.

Hmm?

Your fainting fit this afternoon.

Oh, Wilfred, in the aeons we've been acquainted, have you ever known me to faint?

Not that I can recall.

It was an artifice of the kind I once practised under the proscenium arch as Hero in "Much Ado."

To give Jasper time to come to his senses?

We live in hope.

There is, of course, a downside to his no longer being a guest of His Majesty.

He shall miss the rough and tumble.

Give him more time to obsess with his father.

I'd rather hoped that was a phase.

Full-time employment might help his imagination in other directions.

I'm afraid the professor won't be able to make it.

-He called me.

-He called you?

Why didn't he call me?

Take a wild guess.

[Kafka barks] Well, Kafka and I seem to have lost our appetites.

It's just you and me.

Be like a date.

-Yes.

-No funny business.

Ha ha ha!

Thought I might find you here.

I wanted to say how sorry I am... what I put you through... trying to keep my job.

It was not your responsibility.

I made a choice.

And did you?

Keep your job?

I quit before they could fire me.

I'm still under investigation.

I have no future in the force.

[Sighs] I'm here to say goodbye.

I'm moving to the coast.

With... Michael and the kids.

I'm glad that I've known you.

I am.

I loved you.

Well, I sincerely hope that you and Michael can navigate the rapids and...surmount any difficulties.

Everyone deserves a second chance.

What about you?

You might meet someone, fall in love again.

It is a long way down.

Ahh.