(Thunder rumbles)
(Wings fluttering)
(Gasping)
All... flesh... is... grass!
(Gasping)
All... flesh... is... grass!
FITZ: No. No. You don't want to leave me.
What you want is ritual humiliation.
No problem. I can give you what you want.
I'm sorry. My life's a mess. I've fouled up.
Emotionally, I'm incompetent.
I can't express feelings.
I have to cover them up with smart patter and abuse.
Intellectually, I'm a hypocrite, yeah.
Able to dissect, diagnose, treat the faults and flaws of every personality but my own.
I am, physically, a wreck, corkscrewing my liver, sandpapering my lungs.
Yes, I have to admit, I wonder hf Wee Willy Winkhe will ever light me with his candle again.
I love you, Judith.
Those three words, I love you, they are the truffle you find after snouting through the shit.
I'll change. I'll try.
Marriage hsrt five furlongs on the flat on a spring afternoon at York.
It's four miles over fences at Newton Abbot
on heavy ground with November mist descending.
That's better. Do I detect a smile?
So long as I can get a smile out of you, I'll know that you've not really left me.
Not here. Please, Judith, don't cry. Come on. We can work this out.
We're intelligent, sensitive people. We can see our way through this mess.
Thank you, thank you. I owe you one!
Look me up in the rear in the Basketmakers' Arms.
The study's at the front. Dining room. Utilities.
Kitchers down there and this is the living room.
Right, living room first.
- Fitz. - You don't want to leave me.
- You want ritual humiliation, right? - I'm selling the house.
- I'll give you anything you want. - We go halves. Down the middle.
- Listen to me... - I don't want anything off you.
And I'm sorry! My life's a mess.
What?
I'm perfectly able to look after Katie. I expect you to do the same for Mark.
What?
I get Katie, you get Mark. That's the deal.
If you care to sign these papers, everything can be settled amicably.
Marriage isn't a five furlong race on the flat on a fine spring day in York, Jenny.
You're not funny!
Can you come back another time? He's about to turn nasty.
Ah!
Grr!
In the car and go.
You're being far too civilised about this, Fitz.
You've got to learn to let your anger out, celebrate it, express it!
Otherwise, one day it'll just turn on you like a badly-treated dog.
You've got to take it for walkies, throw it a stick, give it a bone!
It's the only way you'll ever be free!
Free!
Bitch! Harridan!
Harpy! Witch!
Wife!
(Glass smashes, tyres screech)
Not any more, Fitz!
I'll send you the bill.
MAN: Out there is hatred, confusion and bedlam.
People without direction, wandering blindly, desperate people.
Hungering for certainty in a world of snowflakes.
But in here is fellowship, love and peace.
The peace of those who have surrendered themselves to the Lord. Amen.
ALL: Amen.
Now, er... Joanne.
Would you care to read?
(Whispers)
"Charity beareth all things, belheveth all things,
hopeth all things, endureth all things.
Charity never faileth.
But whether there be prophecies, they shall fail.
Whether there be tongues, they shall cease.
Whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.
For we know in part, and we prophesy in part."
Thank you, Joanne. You read beautifully.
Dean, would you like to finish the chapter?
Dean?
Dean! Read. Read the book.
Do what Mr Kenneth tells you.
"But when that... which is... perfect is come,
...then that which is in part shall be done away.
But when I became a man, I put away childish things.
For now we see through... a glass darkly."
Kenneth and I love walking holidays, too.
Especially in the Lake District. It's very special To us. It's where we spent our honeymoon.
Excuse me, I think there's a young man here I want to meet.
Hello!
I'm delighted you brought him along.
Never too early to start.
Thank you very much.
You don't see the world "through a glass darkly".
You see it through your fingers.
I see you. You see me.
So glad you could come this week.
I think it's great you passed first time. What does that say about the power of prayer?
- Hello! - Denise, hello, how are you?
DENISE: Very well, thank you. How are you?
Good night!
- Off on my rounds! - Ah, bless you.
See you later.
I'm taking Dean back to the factory, to ensure he knows what to do while I'm away.
- Will you be long? - A couple of hours.
- I'll see you in the morning. Eight o'clock sharp! - I'll be ready.
Right, young man.
- Show willing! - Yes, Mr Michael.
Bye.
See you next week!
Joanne, can I give you a lift?
(Children squeal as bell rings)
Have you seen Katie Fitzgerald here?
Rosie! Rosie, have you seen our Katie?
Is she staying behind? It's not her soccer night?
- She's not here any more. - What, is she sick?
She's gone.
What kind of gone?
To another school.
What?!
Rosie! Rosie, don't be scared.
It's me. It's me.
It was a shite school, anyway!
- They got away in good time, then? - Yeah.
Kenneth's so fussy about punctuality.
- If you're a minute late... - Michael was ready by seven. Sitting waiting.
Norma, is everything...
Ginny...
Is everything all right?
With you and Michael?
Michael?
Oh, yes, yes!
- No, it's... erm... - What's wrong?
Norma, what is it?
Mm?
If it had been anything else...
If someone had just told me...
I'm sorry.
How long have you known?
I didn't know.
But I was suspicious.
How long have you been suspicious?
Ever since she came to the church.
I feel so stupid.
If you were suspicious, who else was? Who else knows?
- Michael? - He said he didn't.
You told him?
Who else?
Filthy little tart!
Hop in.
Better than the school bus.
"Charity beareth all things, believeth all things...
hopeth all things, endureth all things."
You read those words so beautifully the other day.
Thank you.
And they are such beautiful words, aren't they?
Yes.
Yeah, they are such beautiful words.
Is Mr Trant at home?
Mr Trant is not at home.
Mr Trant is in Cardiff with his brother, moving his mother to their sister's home.
Mr Trant will not be back until tomorrow.
As I'm sure he must have told you.
You'd better come in.
I've got something to show you.
Look at them! Look at them!
What's the matter? Can't you even look at them?
Do you find them disgusting? They make you feel sick?
Cos I tell you, I tell you, they make me feel sick, utterly sick!
- It's sickening... - It's not.
It's not sickening. It's not disgusting.
Only the photos make it look like that.
How can you say...
We love each other.
He said he loved you, did he?
He does love me.
And I love him.
You believe that, do you?
It's true. We do love each other.
We want to live together, we want to get married and...
Married?
- Yes. Because... - He's already married.
He'll get a divorce.
Divorce?!
Marriage is a holy sacrament!
You can't believe that Kenneth...
Oh, God help you. Surely you can see that he'll never, never...
He will.
For the baby.
I don't know, Norma. I don't know what to do. She...
What?
Oh, would you?
Oh, bless you, Norma! Bless you.
"Safe sex is breast worship."
"Come play in my wardrobe."
"I'll tie you and tease till you say please."
Oh, God! Hello.
Well, don't you say hello when you lift the phone?
No, this is not a dirty phone call.
Yes.
This is your daughter's erstwhile husband.
Charming.
Didn't use to hang up when you thought you were onto a good thing, did you?
Hello, yes, it's me again. Vlad the lmpaler! Is my wife there? I'd like to talk...
Where?
She doesn't have any friends. Not of her own.
They're our friends.
Well, just give me the number, then, will you?
Look, I want to talk to my daughter and my wife, you old bast...
Sorry. Sorry. Slap wrists.
Mustn't lose my temper.
I'd like at least to talk to Kate.
Right. Well, would you convey a message to her?
Would you ask her to phone me at the house? Can you manage that?
Please!
Thank you! You're very kind!
A case for patricide in a nutshell.
Have you told your parents? How are they going to take it? What are they going to say?
Have you... told them?
No.
- But you can't just carry on as if... - Kenneth will.
Kenneth?
JOANNE: He'll talk to them first.
Do you mind if I use the loo?
No, it's upstairs.
I know where it is.
Maybe you're right.
Maybe I ought to tell my parents first.
Kenneth will speak to them later.
- She knows where it is! - Ginny...
She knows. She knows where it is.
She's been here before. He's brought her here. He...
I suppose he took her upstairs to our bedroom. I suppose they...
Ginny! Shut up! Now, listen!
I have always tried to be a good Christian, but...
Oh, God, help me.
Help us!
Do you realise what you're doing to him?
You'll ruin him!
You only care about the baby! You don't give a damn what it'll do to...
You'll ruin his career! He'll have to leave. He'll never get another position!
And his family, his mother!
You selfish little bitch!
You did it deliberately! Didn't you? You knew what you were doing. You led him on!
You came to the Fellowship and...
Oh, God! The Fellowship.
Do you mind if I ring my dad and ask him to collect me?
That won't be necessary.
No, you can stay the night here.
Here?
GINNY: Talk to Kenneth tomorrow.
I can't stay the night here!
Please! I can't stay the night!
You're staying here!
(Screams)
Right, bye, Michael. Love to Norma.
- Any problems, Dean? - No problems, Mr Michael.
Good. Good boy. I'll put the kettle on.
RADIO: Fisher. South-westerly four or five. Occasionally six later.
Mainly fair, good...
Norma! Just dropped Michael at the yard.
Everything all right? Is there anything...
Virginia's in the dining room.
KENNETH: Virgina, this hi monstrous!
You surely can't believe ht! Any of ht!
VIRGINIA: The truth, Kenneth. The truth!
KENNETH: Fantasies, that's all they are! VIRGINIA: They are not fantasies!
KENNETH: Don't be stupid. She's 16 years old! She's 30 years younger than I am!
At that age, a girl... well, their imagination runs riot.
Michael.
I wasn't aware of it.
Perhaps she did have a crush on me.
girls of that age often do get a crush on an older teacher.
- They start fantasising about... - Is she fantasising about being pregnant?
Pregnant?
She told you that?
Yes.
You'd take her word against mine?
It's not just her word!
What, then?
Has somebody been slandering me? Even I have enemies.
You mean malicious gossip?
No.
Virginia...
No, no, no, no. No.
Virginia.
Now, we've always trusted each other.
All I ask...
is that you trust me now.
Kenneth!
Thank God you're here! Tell her, Kenneth! Please tell her!
- What are you...? - Tell her you love me!
Love you? You're out of your mind.
I told you. The girl's fantasising. She's sick.
Sick?
Sick. Yes, a sick child!
I'm not a child. I'm pregnant.
You're lying. She's lying!
Ginny.
Oh, God.
Oh, God, forgive me.
I was tempted and I fell.
Oh, I have sinned most grievously.
Oh, Vhrghna, oh, forgive me.
Forgive me!
(Boxing commentary on TV)
WOMAN: Here they are.
Has Joanne ever stayed away before, Mrs Barnes?
- Oh, Mary. - Jane.
No, never. I mean, never without letting us know.
I've sat by that phone all night. I couldn't think what else to do.
How old is she?
She's 17.
She had her birthday last month.
Did she have a party? I'm sorry, I don't know your name.
Mr Barnes.
She's not the party type.
PENHALIGON: Is that First Communon?
MRS BARNES: Oh, yes.
She loved that day.
Her favourite ever, she says.
Yes, yes, yes!
That's a brilliant right hook.
Would it be possible to take this photo?
Yes.
I would like it back.
PENHALIGON: Of course.
I hate to lose any bit of her.
It's the only solution.
What is?
Abortion.
I-I don't know.
In normal circumstances, we couldn't countenance such a thing.
But...
Quick. Painless.
And Joanne's parents need never know.
Nobody need ever know except us.
I think Norma's right. It's one solution.
No.
It was God's will that I became pregnant. I'm not having an abortion. I'm having your baby!
I'm going home now.
I'm going home and I'm going to tell my parents that I'm pregnant.
Kenneth...
I want you to come with me.
With you?
He's the father.
There's no need to tell your parents that Kenneth is the father.
Oh,
but I do.
I'm going to tell my parents.
I'm going to tell the whole school!
Um...
Joanne...
Wait.
Oh. Look at you!
You look a sight!
Here.
You don't want to face your parents looking like that. You'd frighten them to the death.
Now don't look so tragic.
Cheer up, eh! It doesn't suit you.
Now, would you like to try a smile?
Just a little smile?
There. That's better. That's much better!
Isn't that better?
Oh, yes, much better.
KENNETH: Now,
no more conflict.
No more dhvhshon.
We are all united as humble servants of the Lord.
Let us pray for his guidance.
Joanne,
let us pray.
(Whispers) Let us pray.
There's something about the family, sir.
Door-to-door, local search, local radio and TV, but we know this already, don't we?
- He watched a boxing match, sir. - Come again?
Joanne's dad, he didn't seem bothered. Just watched the fight.
- Is that a crime? - I have an instinct about this, sir.
What d'you want to do?
I want Fitz to talk to him.
(Sighs)
Have you got something to say?
- No, sir. - Nothing at all?
- No, sir. - Well, you may as well piss off, then!
Sir.
- What's up? - They're reaching for the batphone!
Lots of school.
Sports day, school trips...
Joanne's very involved at school.
(Boxing commentary) - Not just on the work side. Socially as well.
Any boyfriends?
Joanne, I mean.
Joanne's a good girl.
My Katie.
Course, she's not got those hormones pumping through her yet.
I'm sure I won't be ready when she hs.
A good girl.
Katie is the goodest, most intelligent, the funniest,
the most attractive girl the universe has ever seen.
And one day she's gonna be snogging on the doorstep with some spotty string of slime,
not good enough to clean her shoes.
I know it, but I'm never going to be ready for it.
No.
It doesn't reflect on us or our kids if they start to explore their sexuality.
Perhaps...
Joanne is not that kind of girl.
(Video rewinding)
Have you any idea however...
(Phone rings) - Excuse me.
(Boxing video plays again)
Hello.
Joanne, is that you?
Hello?
Yes.
- Oh, I'm sorry. - (Rewinds video)
(Plays video) - No, there's no news of Joanne.
Yes. Bye.
Father O'Ryan.
Wanted to know if there's any news on Joanne.
He wants to help.
The parish priest, is he?
Yes.
(Video rewinds)
Joanne used to be very devout but...
(Video plays)
Well, she hasn't been going for a few months.
You know what they're like at that age, the young ones.
I take it you've tidied up?
No.
This is just as she had it.
(Joanne whispers a prayer and sobs)
(Footsteps)
Joanne's room. Very bare, wasn't it?
Monastic, like a cell.
Her mother said she used to be very devout.
Even so, you'd expect a few pop stars on the wall, wouldn't you.
Cliff Richard, maybe or the Pope.
Are you buying me another beer?
It's your round.
I'm temporarily embarrassed.
A chaser too maybe.
Two halves and a whisky, please.
His daughter is missing.
The one thing he cannot admit to his wife or himself,
that dank sewer stink coming up from his guts that tells him she's in trouble.
Cheers.
It's just like a doctor or it's just like a dentist.
The last person you want to see when there's trouble is a detective,
whose very existence confirms your worst fears.
Face it, Panandle, the last person anybody wants to see is you.
Judith's pretending to leave me again.
What? What did I say?
You can spot a guilty cough in a football crowd and not notice World War III in your living room.
- Ah, you've seen my living room. - Have a nice evening on your own, Fitz.
(Starts bleeping wildly)
I was beginning to think you'd ditched me.
The Headmaster is expecting us.
Excuse me, young man, this is a school.
That's where I started.
Good morning. Kenneth Trant. How do you do?
I'll ask her form mistress to send some of her friends along to speak to you.
You won't be disturbed in there. Shart be a moment.
Put it out, Fitz!
So, really, you're her only friend?
It's all Right, Sarah.
We just want to make sure that Joanne is safe and well. You won't get her into any trouble.
You're in the year below Joanne, right?
Yes.
Didrt she have any friends in her own year?
- Did Joanne have a boyfriend? - No.
Her parents thought she was too young for that.
Were you pals with Joanne outside the school? Did you go to raves and all that?
No?
Her parents wouldn't let her.
They were very strict.
They wouldn't even let her wear make-up.
- And she wanted to? - Oh, yeah. Yeah, she wanted to.
She wanted to be like all the other girls.
She said she couldn't wait to get away from home.
She said once she wanted to run away to London.
Thank you, Sarah.
FITZ: You said her parents were strict. How strict?
I mean, did they ever hit her?
Sometimes.
Thanks. You've been very helpful.
- Don't tell Wise. - I have to tell him something.
- He'll have her down as a runner. - Well, she might be.
Show me a girl who runs away and I'll show you a girl who's tried to make friends and failed.
Joanne never even tried.
I'll show you a girl who's tried alcohol, tobacco, soft drugs. That's not Joanne.
I'll show you a girl who's had rows with her parents, who sagged off school.
That's certainly not Joanne.
She's not run away.
"And I heard another vohce from heaven saying.
Come out of her, my people,
that ye be not partakers of her sins and that you receive not of her plagues.
For her sins have reached unto heaven and God hath remembered her iniquities.
Reward her even as she rewarded you, and double unto her double according to her works.
In the cup which she hath filled, fill to her double.
How much she hath glorified herself and lived deliciously,
so much torment and sorrow give her.
For she saith in her heart: I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow.
Therefore, shall her plagues come in one day, death and mourning and famine.
And she shall be utterly burned with fire.
For strong is the Lord God who judgeth her."
This isn't a runaway.
Cheesed off at home, sticks out her thumb, down to the smoke and never looking back.
In her school uniform? It's what she was wearing.
Sudden impulse? She runs off with a fella? She's up the jack and she runs off with a fella?
Joanne has never tried tobacco, alcohol, drugs.
She's never sagged school. That is not your typical runaway.
Fitz-speak.
Is it?
Yes.
OK, carry on. But I want proof. I want proof a crime's been committed.
Right.
Hiya! How are you?
How are you?
Are you getting taller or am I getting shorter?
Yeah, polhce. 257 here.
- Your mum's not here yet. I thought we... - Mum gave me this.
Oh, I see.
Can I have an ice cream?
God, I'm so stupid. I've come away without my wallet.
Mum left some money in with her letter.
Oh, I didn't know your mother was psychic.
I've forgotten my bag. Can I have a 99?
(Grunts)
That's him! Bloody pervert! Menacing our kids. You bloody child molester!
No, no, no, you've got it all wrong.
That is my daughter. I was picking up my daughter from school.
They can't all be your daughters!
Excuse me. Just mind your own business, will you!
Mind your own... Piss off!
Did you see that? Go on. Arrest him!
6'1 ", 19 stone, Caucasian.
Severe yellowing to the fingers of the right hand.
Exhibits tremulousness when deprived of alcohol.
Permanently wrinkled suit. Old appendix scar. Large mole to the left buttock.
Thank you, love, we've got it.
Yes, that's him, that's my husband.
And this is my wife, and this, as I have already explained, is my daughter!
I should like the names and divisional numbers of the arresting officers...
Because when I finish with them, they will be sorry they left traffic patrol!
Come on, Katie, we're going home.
KENNETH: Say ht, Joanne. Say ht.
I've...
I...
VIRGINIA: Say ht!
Confess. Save your soul.
I...
have...
I... have...
She can't.
She can't say it!
It's her sin that's stopping her.
I have committed...
I have sinned...
I have corrupted...
I love you!
Forgive me!
Please...
...forgive me!
It is God's forgiveness you must ask, Joanne. Not mine. Not ours.
I must atone...
You must be punished.
I must be punished.
MRS BARNES: Come home, Joanne. Come home to your mum and dad.
Wherever you are, whatever you're doing, whoever you're with...
...we can accept it.
All that matters is that you're well.
Any other problems we can sort out, you, me and your dad.
Is there anything you'd like to add, Mr Barnes?
My wife has said everything.
Thank you, ladies and gentlemen.
KENNETH: Lift up your voice with strength.
Lift it up.
Be not afraid.
Say unto the cities of Judah.
Behold your God.
JOANNE: Behold my God.
Out of the depths have I cried unto thee, O, Lord.
Lord, hear my voice.
Let thine ears be attentive to the voice of my supplication.
Lord, have mercy on this poor sinner.
ALL: Lord, have mercy.
She that hath committed iniquity.
ALL: Forgive her, O Lord.
- And grant redemption. - (Joanne chokes)
She that hath sinned against thee.
ALL: Forgive her, O Lord, and grant redemption.
She that hath done wickedly.
Forgive her, O Lord, and grant redemption.
That she may enjoy the blessings of eternal life.
ALL: Eternal life.
MICHAEL: Open the doors, Dean.
Come on, get the box.
Come on, Dean, get the...
That's it.
I... er...
I have to go now, then, Dean.
No questions.
No questions asked.
JOANNE: Dean...
- Please... - I...
(Car horns)
(Siren)
Oh, Joanne!
- Dean, lad. - Mr Michael.
- Morning, Michael. - Morning, Mike.
No problems?
No problems, Mr Michael.
- I'll put the kettle on. - (Mobile rings)
Trant Packaging. Ah, Ken.
All right.
Yes, er... all clear.
No problems.
What? Church?
Yes. Oh, I see, yes.
Well, I suppose we'd better. I'll see you there.
Dean!
DEAN: Fire. Fire. Fire.
Police. Ambulance, please quick. Fire. She's hurt. She's dying.
Hello, caller? Hello?
MRS BARNES: Joanne?
Can you hear me?
You can hear me, can't you?
You're all right now.
You'll be all right.
But...
It doesn't matter.
Just tell us what happened.
Can't you?
We can't get anything out of her. So, you're here to find another way in.
She might have tried to top herself. She's three months gone and she's only 17.
Has she been sexually abused?
No, but she's been into something dodgy.
Her body was covered in daubings. Signs, equations, stuff like that.
- Yeah? Can I get some photographs? - Uh-hmm.
She had nasty bruising to her arms and knees.
It could be an attempted abortion, and she had more pills inside her than Boots.
We need to find out where she was last week, and who with.
MRS BARNES: I know she can hear me.
But, no, she still won't say anything.
It's as if we're to blame.
- Are we to blame? - No, of course not.
Look, see her again tonight.
Can we give you a lift home?
Joanne?
My name's Fitz.
I'm not a policeman.
I'm a shrink.
Which probably means you don't want to talk to me, either.
Accidental. Nobody hurt. Nothing suspicious. Just plain bloody carelessness.
No body.
Who called you?
Lad over there.
Goalkeeper short of a full squad, if you ask me.
Cheers, pal.
I'm Detective Constable Harriman. You work here?
What's your name?
No-one. Nothing.
Shall I start with something a bit easier?
Dean Saunders.
You reported this fire?
Yes.
You said somebody was dying.
The first angel sounded, and there followed hail and fire mingled with blood. All flesh is grass.
Anagram? Eight letters? What?
I'm sorry, officer, you're unlikely to get anywhere with Dean.
Off you go, lad. I'll pay you for the day.
You all right, sir?
All flesh is grass.
MICHAEL: Dean.
Home.
So, erm...
My nod towards equal opportunities, have to do one's bit.
- He called us as well as the fire services. - The boy panicked.
He threw a cigarette in the waste bin. He panicked.
You sacking him?
Where else would he get a job? He'd just end up on the street making your job more difficult.
Have to do one's bit.
I will not pass on the other side.
Morning.
Ladies and gentlemen, I'm sorry to say, at this stage, I will be unable to answer any questions.
However, we do have a short statement.
Missing teenager Joanne Barnes was today found in a shopping centre near her home.
She was semi-conscious.
Any persons who may have information that may help the police investigation,
may contact DCI Wise, Anson Road Police Station.
Confidentiality is assured.
She is in intensive care now and is seriously ill...
but we understand that her condition is stable.
We would again appeal to anyone who may have seen her over the past week...
- I thought Michael said... - Yes.
We'd better go back.
No.
No, we must go to the Fellowship.
They blame themselves, your mum and dad.
Do you know?
They think they're to blame for what happened to you.
Do you think that, Joanne?
They love you so much.
They're so proud of you.
They can't understand what's happened to you.
They think they're to blame.
I don't know what they've got to be guilty about, your mum and dad.
Maybe they think they were too strict with you.
Maybe they regret hitting you.
When they were angry with you, they did hit you?
(Faintly) No...
Mum... Dad...
Not even when you told them you were pregnant?
Mum... Dad...
Little angel...
Can't...
You couldn't tell them?
Hail Mary, full of grace,
the Lord is with thee.
Blessed art thou amongst women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
They didn't know you had a boyfriend, did they?
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee.
Who is he?
Who is he, Joanne?
Holy Mary, Mother of God, the Lord is with thee.
Pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death.
You don't want to die, Joanne?
Somebody's done this to you. Who was it?
Who made you take those pills?
Who gave you the drink? Who drew those things on your body? Who is it?
No. Not die.
All flesh...
All flesh is grass.
Jojo!
You little bitch!
A name. Who?
Bless me, Father, for I have sinned. I have committed...
Who is it?
- He...! He...! He...! - Who?
Fitz, lay off.
All flesh is grass!
Help! Help!
What have you done?
Help! Help!
You two, out of here!
- Help! Help! - Shh!
Shhh. It's all right, it's all right.
It's OK. It's OK.
It's OK.
It's OK. It's all right.
I don't know how many of you have heard the news about Joanne Barnes.
But I have to tell you, she is, at this very moment, lying dangerously ill in hospital.
Now, whether she was the victim of an attack,
or whether her wounds were self-inflicted, is not yet determined.
The police are investigating the matter
and will, I'm sure, be appealing for information from anyone who knows Joanne.
Brothers and sisters, while we wish them every success with their inquiries,
I believe that we would be wise to keep our distance.
We all know how deep and widespread
is the prejudice and the bigotry against non-established churches such as ours,
which the tabloid newspapers delight in encouraging.
So, let us protect ourselves and our church from the scandalmongers.
Now, I know that you'll all wish to join me in offering a prayer for Joanne's recovery.
Almighty and eternal God,
hear thou, we beseech thee, our humble offering for a member of our flock, Joanne Barnes,
who lies grievously ill in hospital.
KENNETH: You left that idiot to do it!
- He's not an idiot! - You didn't tell me!
He knows how to work the machine. It's his job.
He's always had a soft spot for the girl. You must know that.
- I thought it would be all right. - Well, it isn't all right, is it?
You fool, Michael. You bloody fool! If that boy starts blabbing...
Why isn't he here?
Where is he now?
(Heart thumping)
JOANNE: Bless me, Father, for I have sinned.
I've killed ht.
Help! Help!
All flesh is grass.
(Car horn blares)
Help! Help!
DEAN: Police. Ambulance. Fire. She's hurt! She's dying!
JOANNE: All flesh is grass!
He...! He...! He...!
VIRGINIA: You little bitch!
(Crow cawing)
What do you mean she ran?
- Ran! Ran! - She couldn't run!
Mr Kenneth, please, I'm sorry.
- Where did she run? - Away. Run away. Out.
Out? Out of the factory?
- Yes. Out. Away. - Was anyone here?
- Did anyone see her? - No-one see. No-one see nothing.
- No, Mr Kenneth. - All right. All right, Dean.
It's not your fault. Stop it now. Stop crying.
Stop it!
Right, Dean.
Now listen to me.
If anyone asks... Are you listening?
Yes, yes, Mr Kenneth.
If anyone comes,
if anyone asks any questions,
you tell them... you tell them about Mr Michael who's always looked after you,
who's always cared for you.
And Mr Kenneth.
A good man.
A man of God.
Your minister.
You understand, Dean?
(Blues instrumental)
Want your paracetamol?
I wasn't drunk.
- Yeah. - I wasn't.
Why don't you sleep upstairs?
That's your mother's room.
Where was I?
Good puzzle, this.
There's not one answer, is there?
Oh, God, you haven't. Tell me you haven't.
You have! I was up all night arranging this.
- You mind your own business. - I was helping.
I don't need your help. What do you know anyway?
Well, the big bang, the big crunch. But like you said, you don't need my help.
Well, try me.
Come on. Don't play games. Try me.
Right. Look.
The universe begins at the 10 to the 43rd second after the big bang. Planck time.
Warping, or walking?
Yeah, Max Planck.
Before that instant, the normal laws of nature simply don't apply.
It's just a boiling mass of space and time.
Anarchy?
Yeah. Cosmic anarchy.
Then the core bursts, and the rips in space and time appear as these.
Cosmic strings.
You've gotta stop smoking those bus tickets, son.
Then the four main forces separate.
FITZ: Enlighten me.
They divide into nuclear, electromagnetic, um... something else and gravity.
I can't believe you flunked out of your A levels.
I'll give you a grant.
- You don't have any money. - Well, I'll bloody earn some.
It'll be won’t it to see you not waste your life.
Well, on the scale of these equations, my life makes no odds anyway.
Yeah, well, nor anybody else's life. Now, what's this one?
That one, 1.40.6?
Yeah, you got me on that. I think they're talking about the beginning of life, and the end.
Birth and death?
Yeah.
The business?
Yeah.
FITZ: No, you're absolutely Right.
I could've phoned and I should have. I'm very sorry.
Yes. Yes, they were in my wallet.
Look, I'm sorry, Katie.
Katie, I was not pissed.
I was not... Where did you learn that word?
Oh, fine. Blame everything on me.
I was not pissed. I was working. Ask Mark.
(Doorbell and knocking)
All right! All right!
No, not you. It's the doorbell. I have to go. It might be urgent.
No, not more urgent than you, obviously. Katie?
Katie?
Shit.
If you're Jehovah's Witnesses, I've got a Rottweiler.
Sorry. That was Katie. I should've taken her to football yesterday.
I had the tickets. She didn't know how to get hold of me while we were at the hospital.
She thought I was out gambling or down the pub.
Are you all right?
Joanne's dead.
She was murdered.
(Heart thumping)
JOANNE ON TAPE: Blessed art thou among women,
and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary,
Mother of God...
(Tape off)
FITZ: What do you notice? There are no smudges.
So, we're not looking at some elaborate foreplay.
She is naked. Willing, obviously.
You couldn't do those drawings on her hf she was struggling.
Right?
After sex?
Well, in that case, we're not looking for a wham-bam-thank-you-ma'am individual.
He lingers, he talks to her. Explains what all the symbols are about.
Maybe even shows her them in the mirror. This is no spotty adolescent.
Or even he did the drawings after he'd made her take the pills,
in which case she couldn't struggle at all.
Did all those drawings on her dying body. Now that's power.
That's arrogance.
A dying girl, and she was just a canvas for his artistry and his so-called intellect.
What is all this?
You don't know about Planck time, then?
Planck time.
The instant just before the universe was created.
Just after the big bang, and there was nothing but a boiling soup of space and time.
No rules and no law, just anarchy and chaos.
Joanne's lover saw sex in death, and vice versa.
He was a morbid and manipulative lover,
who in the end wanted to combine the two in one moment of perfection.
FITZ ON TAPE: Somebody's done this to you. Who was ht?
Who made you take those pills?
(Joanne whimpers)
Who gave you the drink? Who drew those things on your body? Who is ht?
JOANNE: No. Not die. No.
All flesh...
All flesh is grass.
- Jojo! You little bitch! - I've heard that before.
"All flesh is grass."
I've heard that before.
Which is Joanne's church?
St Timothy's.
- Dean Saunders. WISE: Who?
He started the fire.
Dean Saunders.
Community-care case. He kept talking really weird like that.
"All flesh is grass." He said it.
Bring him in for questioning.
Take Beck with you.
His boss said Saunders had an accident, but I think that's bollocks.
- Can I help? - Afternoon, Mr Trant.
I'm impressed.
One small fire, two visits. Two officers.
Is Mr Saunders around?
Dean, why?
No, he-he's not in work today.
- What? Is he sick? - A touch of this bug that's going around.
- Could we have his home address, please? - Why on earth...
Really? One small fire?
We need to question him concerning another matter.
- What's that, then? - His address?
I-I'm not sure I...
You've got to have his address for national insurance.
The fire. My records. Filing cabinet. Ashes, I'm afraid.
You must know where he lives.
- How many employees on your books? - 34. Look, he should be in tomorrow.
Burns your office down, you give him the day off. This is wasting our time.
He's not in any trouble.
Wasting police time is a criminal offense.
A law-abiding citizen like yourself wouldn't want a record.
So just tell me where he lives, or we're having you in.
Please.
That's better, isn't it? A bit of politeness gets you further in the end.
Now I think of it, I may have Dears address in my Filofax.
Thank you, sir. We'd be most grateful.
(Baby crying)
Hello, Dean?
Father O'Ryan?
DS Penhaligon. This is Dr Fitzgerald.
It's about Joanne?
If you could just spare us five minutes of your time, please?
Come into the sacristy.
Why is it whenever you're in church, you always feel as if you're being watched?
Because you are, Dr Fitzgerald.
I saw you lecture once.
Oh.
That level of cynicism must be hard to sustain.
Not at all.
At times like this, I can only remind myself that there is a purpose to everything.
That God's love reveals itself in all our fates.
That level of idealism must be hard to sustain.
It is,
extremely.
But you, Dr Fitzgerald, as an unbeliever,
how do you reconcile yourself to such tragedies?
I don't. I don't even try.
As a psychologist, my job is to listen and understand.
That must be difficult.
Well, your job is to listen and forgive. That must be even harder.
Well, I'm not the one who forgives.
Wish I could believe that.
Still, we're both confessors, Father.
You're as exposed to the dirty realities of life as I am.
Does that not disturb your faith?
In man. Not in God.
Father, could you tell us about Joanne, please?
Of course. She was always a very devout girl.
Regularly attended mass and benediction, but we haven't seen her here since Christmas.
I believe she was recruited into a local sect.
PENHALIGON: Who recruited her? - Her headmaster, I believe.
Trant.
You know him?
Yes. Do you?
No, but I'm not entirely happy about the way he uses his position at school.
To do what?
To recruit young people into his sect.
Could you describe these young people? I mean, do they have anything in common?
Yes, they're all rather lonely individuals.
And they're all girls.
I take it, Doctor, that you're a lapsed Catholic?
Why?
Because you're so serious in your mockery.
Don't knock the mock, Father. But you're right, anyway.
Bless me, Father, for it is 22 years since my last confession.
The next one should be won’t hearing. I shall look forward to that.
Thank you, Father.
Father. Father...
Dean?
She's... She's...
What is it, Dean?
She's in heaven now.
- Who is? - (Door closes)
Joanne?
Help me. Please, Father, help me, please.
- What's the matter with you, Dean? - Me. You.
What were you saying about Joanne?
The box...
In the box...
Come on. Come on.
Come on.
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
What do you want to tell me, Dean?
Dean?
(Dog barks)
Gotcha!
Definitely furry.
I had this vacation job once when I was a student, postman, you know.
You wouldn't believe the number of different kinds of letter boxes there are.
Big, wide, generous ones, welcoming enough
for a kid to get their arm through so they can take the key.
Vicious little snappers you could hardly get a postcard through.
Vertical ones high up, vertical ones low down that just about do your back in.
Then they had these ones with furry brushes inside them.
You put your hand in, it was all squidgy like you were being disinfected.
(Doorbell)
Furry.
Mrs Trant?
About Joanne Barnes...
Oh.
Yes.
Could we speak to your husband, please?
One moment, please.
Ah, hello again! Please come in.
If you'd like to go through.
Doing some research, Doctor?
Did you make any sense of this?
Couldn’t make head nor tail of it.
You like this sort of thing?
No, no, it was a Christmas present. How about you?
I gave up halfway through.
Felt a bit let down, really.
I thought I was going to find all the answers in there.
Well, you're looking in the wrong book.
You think I'd find all the answers in there?
The answers are in there. Whether you find them depends on you.
- Do you believe in God, Doctor? - I can never catch him in.
KENNETH: Don't worry, I won't try to convert you.
Why not?
Would you expect me to?
- Well, you do proselytise your faith, don't you? - Proselytise?
Yes. You have recruited several of your pupils for your church.
I wouldn't exactly say "recruit".
That's why I used the word "proselytise", to convert from one faith to another.
Yes, I do know the meaning of the word, Doctor.
FITZ: But you don't like ht.
And you won't have "recruit".
What would you rather? Draft? Enlist?
Are you here to debate semantics with me?
No, I'm here to talk about Joanne Barnes.
Can I offer you some tea?
No, thanks.
- Coffee? - No, thank you.
I don't think I can add anything to what you learned from young Sarah at the school.
Oh, you know what she told us?
Yes, of course. She reported to me later.
She said that Joanne was lonely and that she was having problems with her parents.
When did you last see Joanne?
Sunday night. At our church.
Your church?
Yes.
Well, surely you must have known that Joanne was a member of our church?
Why must we?
Her parents would've mentioned it.
She was there every Sunday night and sometimes during the week as well.
Why didn't you mention this when we were at the school?
It hardly seemed relevant to your inquiries. She didn't go missing that night.
She was at school the next day, as usual.
How did she seem that Sunday night?
No different from usual.
She took her turn of reading a verse. Her usual self.
Are you a member of the church, Mrs Trant?
Yes, my wife's a member.
(Sobs)
Excuse us, Doctor.
Virginia hasn't slept since all this happened. It's left everyone at the school feeling shattered.
And at the Fellowship.
Poor young girl, such a waste of a life.
Yes. That's why we want to catch the maniac that did it.
BECK: Do that one more bloody time and I'll chop them off!
Before you're cautioned, before you see a solicitor,
before my boss starts interviewing you, you've got a chance.
One chance, Dean, to come clean.
Do you understand?
Can I have some water, please?
I know everything, Dean.
I just want you to tell me.
I've been to your flat. I've seen.
We see through a glass darkly, then face to face.
Face to face. You, me, now.
I talked with Joanne.
Before she died, she told me everything about you.
The disgusting things you did.
What you did to her.
How you hurt her, wrote those things, the things you said.
Joanne told me everything, you little scumbag.
And I'm nailing you.
Make it easy on yourself.
Confess.
Confess now, Dean, or I'm throwing you to the wolves.
A lovely girl like that.
You touching her, defiling her.
Disgusting things you did to her will be done to you twice over.
Confess or you're in trouble, Saunders, I swear!
- He's in custody? - He's just helping us with our inquiries.
Know anything about his family?
He never mentions them.
All I know is his mother died. Or ran away.
- I'd no idea, he... - No idea of what?
That his mind was so deranged?
Yes. I...
Well, I have to disagree with you there.
I don't think what we saw at Dears flat today was the work of a disordered mind.
I would say it was the work of a classically-tutored intelligence.
A knowing, ordered, considered brain.
Not exactly the way most people would think of Dean.
No. Er, I mean... l...
What's his background?
Special school, bullied, poor attendance? Metalwork, Art?
Dears er... He's...
That kind of...
What about yourself? Poly?
- University. - Leicester?
- Hull. - Engineering?
Correct.
Then marriage, suburbia, working in Daddy's factory?
Yeah.
Yeah. The '60s really passed you by, didn't they, Michael?
BECK: God, I deserve this.
Done some good, eh?
- Put a man down. Cheers. - Cheers.
Steve.
I'll tell you, a nasty little...
WISE: Just a minute!
What's the gob on you for?
I'm putting a man down.
Join the party.
- I think you're making a mistake. - I don't.
Bit like a doctor, really, aren't you?
You've lost me.
You tend to bury your mistakes.
WISE: Come in!
He's innocent.
Then why did he confess?
Wise by name, thick by nature.
Look, here's a list of Dears bible-thumping buddies.
Everyone on it should be treated as a suspect, sir.
Reading the Bible's not a crime.
Particularly the Trants.
These are all...
- Respectable, solid citizens? - Yeah.
Dears just a scapegoat, sir.
Just let me talk to him.
Oh, yeah. That'd go down well with Beck, wouldn't it?
If he retracts his confession, what have you got?
Not a lot.
I just want a chance to get to the truth, if that's not too radical.
The confessiors being typed up.
In the meantime, if you want to speak to him, that's OK with me.
- By the way, Fitz, are they your own teeth? - Yeah?
Look after them. Floss them and clean them. And don't ever call me thick again.
What do you see?
Me.
What am I doing?
Mirror.
Tell me.
Crying.
Mum gone away.
Kids...
...pushing, kicking.
Calling names.
Don't like fighting.
The school bell goes, you stay behind?
Yes.
Hide under the desk till the janitor throws you out.
It's dark.
Cold.
They'd still be waiting.
Run through the fields, through the bushes.
Clothes torn, muddy, no-one to notice, to ask after you.
Cold in bed.
You keep your clothes on.
What did they call you?
The Smell.
Every time you go into the classroom...
"What's that terrible smell? Please, miss, can we have the windows open?"
Bring in air fresheners, spray you.
But there was one teacher who looked after you, treated you right.
Miss Morgan.
- What did she teach? - Art.
You're good at drawing.
Yes.
Drawing.
Copying.
Like the writing on the walls?
Yes.
Copied.
Copied Joanne.
And me.
He'd covered the wall of his flat with writing, like on Joanne. Kenneth's equations, all that.
That's why they arrested him. They'll break him down.
- They'll get it out of him. - Get what?
They know he didn't dream all that up by himself.
The psychologist said it was the work of a classically-tutored mind, a clever brain.
- Oh, Kenneth. - They'll be onto us.
Michael, sit down!
Is there any chance that you could talk to Dean? He trusts you.
- You mean go to the police station? - No!
But...
What if he tells them about Joanne?
What can he tell them? He saw nothing.
Virginia, you heard me tell the police
that the last time I saw Joanne was at the prayer meeting on Sunday night.
- Yes. - When was the last time you saw her?
Well, when we all...
Think, Virginia. When was the last time you saw Joanne?
At the last prayer meeting.
Norma?
At the last prayer meeting.
Michael?
They won't believe it...
When was the last time you saw Joanne?
At the prayer meeting.
That's all we've got to say. What matters is that we all say it, and then we're safe.
Dean is deranged. He should have been put away years ago.
You think they'll take his word against ours?
The boy is guilty.
He must be made to pay the price for his sin.
Let us pray.
What else?
Man on fire.
- What else? - Woman bleeding.
- What else? - Flying glass.
- What else? - Postman Pat.
- What else? - Flowers.
- What else? - Space.
- What else? - Baby crying.
- What else? - Joanne.
Where is she?
Through the mirror.
Describe her.
All flesh is grass.
Did you give her tablets, Dean?
No.
Did you give her drink?
No.
FITZ: Do you know who did?
No.
Why did you confess?
They said.
Dean, you've made a statement to say that you helped Joanne to die.
Is that true?
No.
- You wouldn't do that? - No.
I...
I lo...
I lov...
Why can't you say it?
Why can't you say that word?
Have you never said it to anyone? Have they never said it back to you?
It's just a word, Dean.
Say it.
I lo...
...love her.
Joanne?
Love her.
I...
Love her.
Stefan Kiszko spent 16 years of his life
banged up for a crime he couldn't possibly have committed.
Looks odd, sounds odd, he must be the killer. And do you know what finally sent him down?
Hmm? A hastily-sought and eagerly-accepted confession,
that he only signed because he was confused and frightened
and just wanted to go home to his mammy.
- Dears confession... - Was got under pressure.
You can't afford to make a mistake on this one.
Are you infallible?
Yes. The other guy's an impostor.
Look, all I'm asking is that you talk to him with me for five minutes.
I'll just listen.
Open number three, please!
Ten minutes, no more, Fitz. OK? Right.
Jesus! Key!
- Key! - Oh, God!
WISE: Just a minute.
Do you think I'm to blame for Dears death?
Yeah.
I'm not. But if I were, I'd expect a bit of sympathy from you, Jimmy.
You know exactly how it feels.
Are you all right?
You haven't seen me like this. OK?
Right.
What's up?
Bilborough was a mate of mine. It gets to me now and again.
No-one's blaming you.
Why should they?
What for?
What do you know? What have you heard?
Albie gave you a load of bullshit.
You let him go, he killed Bilborough.
No-one's blaming you.
Piss off!
So, you told everyone?
What?
That Bilborough's death was down to me.
I didn't.
I didn't!
- Then it was you. - Wrong.
You're lying!
Look, if you want to talk to somebody about this...
Oh, Christ!
You know what I'm going to say...
...but I'm going to say it anyway. Right?
Right.
If you hadn't poked your nose in, that lad would still be alive.
And Joanne's death would be solved. Everything would be boxed off.
- "Boxed off"? - Yeah, boxed off.
Dean killed himself. Joanne died terminating a pregnancy.
Case closed
Dean killed himself because Joanne was murdered.
There's more reason than ever for keeping the case open. Pontius bloody Pilate would know...
PENHALIGON: Fitz!
I haven't been paid yet.
I need an invoice.
Any chance of a sub?
Joanne was murdered and I'll prove ht.
FITZ: This isn't necessary, you know.
I was just winding Wise up.
I'll manage. Always have done. Always will do.
I do not need charity.
I've just got to get on with my life, pay my bills,
and lock the guilt monster away in a cellar until I feel strong enough to grapple with it.
And when will that be?
How many beasts are locked up down there?
How long before they break down the door and tear you apart?
No. That's me talking. I'm the doctor, you're the policewoman, remember?
Do you see me directing the traffic? No. Do you know why?
It's not my area of expertise.
Do not talk nuts to a monkey.
Then stop talking shit to a panandle.
I'm your friend, aren't I?
Believe me, charity does not come into it.
Is F250 enough?
You can give it back to me when our lot pay you.
Thanks.
I know it's a bit early, but...
I know, but I could do with a drink as well.
I keep seeing him there,
in that cell, alone.
What he must've felt.
Michael, what's done is done.
- I should never have involved him. - Don't blame yourself. It's not your fault.
But it is. If Michael had done what he was supposed to do,
he wouldn't have been arrested and we wouldn't be in this mess.
Kenneth's right, Michael.
However, as he died. in police custody,
my instinct tells me they will be eager to close the case.
Oh, Kenneth, do you think so?
I'm sure of it.
I just wish I could be as sure of Dr Fitzgerald.
But remember what we agreed. We speak as a group, with one voice.
As long as we are a group, we are invulnerable.
I haven't done this in ages.
Not with someone.
Me, neither.
Not with Judith?
I can't remember the last time. We always used to, then some time we just stopped.
'85. The rioja.
I think it's over, me and Judith.
Really, this time, over.
Are you sure this is all right?
A big, wide, generous letter box.
I rest my case.
I think I should go, don't you?
No.
There's so much going on for you, Fitz, I don't think I...
I need you.
I'll back you, Fitz, with Wise, with Jimmy... With anyone.
Not that way.
- How? - You know.
I don't.
Already anticipating failure, the retreat.
Make me say everything, and then you can absolve yourself from any responsibility.
Please don't, Fitz.
OK. I'll do ht to me.
I bring you into my home,
having taken every precaution to ensure that it's as inhospitable as possible.
What message am I sending there?
I'm giving you every chance, every opportunity for an escape route.
Which means, of course, that then I can blame it all on you.
I treed. I tried. She led me along, but she couldn't stay the distance.
I'm still covered in bruises from the last time, and all the mistakes I made,
so just make my life easier and go away, will you?
Just leave me alone. Bugger off. I think I love you.
(Microwave pings)
One nine-inch margherita with anchovies.
- You bastard! - What?
You've got the cheek to say a thing like that!
"Nine-inch margherita with anchovies"?
I don't like anchovies!
(Blues music on stereo)
D'you think...
Kenneth, do you really think they'll leave us alone now?
Oh, I'm sure they will.
It'll soon be over, this whole nightmarish thing.
Darling, I'm so sorry,
I'm so deeply sorry.
I was weak, and I fell.
Virginia, I am not worthy of you.
But I will never make that mistake again.
I know.
I do love you.
I love you so much.
Are you sure?
No.
(Clock ticks)
(Ticking gets louder)
(Birds chirp)
Crappy paper, crappy cup of coffee. Morning.
We never did have that little chat, did we?
Oh, God!
Look, I'm sorry.
Does Mum know?
No, no, not yet.
- Your mother left me, if you remember. - Eh?
No, she didn't!
She didn't leave! You drove her away cos you're a...
Cos you're a dickhead!
Yes, well, that's a fair summary of the facts, probably.
I'm older than her!
- Hardly. - (Door closes)
What do you expect me to do?
Spend the rest of my life like Cliff bloody Richard?
And that's my mother's!
He'll be OK.
See you.
Morning.
Where are we keeping the pile of drawings found in Dears bed?
Cabinet.
Only they were found in his wardrobe.
Yeah.
You said in his bed.
No. No, I didn't.
Yes, you did. Didn't she?
Dears bed you said, yeah.
What are you trying to say?
You're doing the talking.
No.
No, come on, lads,
spit it out.
Who was on top?
(Sniggering)
That's my fees to date.
No problems there.
I expect you prefer cash?
Fitz would like another week on Joanne Barnes.
No chance. She's with the coroner in two days' time.
- Well, give me till then. - Beck's winding it up now.
Two people have died, boss. They both belonged to the same religious sect,
which includes Kenneth Trant, Joanne's headmaster,
and Michael Trant who was Dears boss.
Fitz would like to interview all four Trants and I think we should agree to that.
You're asking me to gamble police time and money.
Double or quits, I get a confession.
OK. I'll give you 48 hours.
And Penhaligon.
Take Beck.
No. Beck's no good to me.
Panandle knows the way I work.
Beck's too old-fashioned. Too Starsky and Hutch. He's only got one tune.
I can't do ht without her.
I'll give you odds. Four to six.
- One to two. - God, you're windier than Ladbrokes.
One to two you get a confession.
Done.
You know Joanne was a Catholic?
No.
Oh, yes. A very devout Catholic, according to her parish priest.
A member of the Legion of Mary.
And attended regularly for benediction and confession.
Never missed Sunday Mass...
till last Christmas.
Whoever drew her to your church must have had a tremendous attraction for her.
I'm sure he did.
God.
- Acting through your husband? - Yes.
Drawing her to the Bible.
You don't think it's perhaps possible
that it wasn't the Bible that attracted her, but your husband?
Dr Fitzgerald, she was a 17-year-old girl. My husband is...
A 46-year-old pin-up.
Kenneth?
A pin-up?
I had a crush on my music master at her age and he was no spring chicken!
You know what girls are like at that age.
I don't. I never found out.
Mrs Trant, your husband is a very attractive man.
I suppose it is just possible that Joanne might, well, have fancied him a bit?
I never noticed anything to suggest that and I'm sure Kenneth didn't.
He did say that she was a shy, withdrawn sort of a girl,
not the sort of girl to flaunt her feelings.
Maybe. But that doesn't prove...
We're not trying to prove anything. We can't ask Joanne how she felt, so we're asking you.
We're just hng out loud,
just wondering if perhaps there's a possibility, the remotest possibility,
that Joanne fancied your husband, even though he wasn't aware of it.
It seems very unlikely.
So it's possible?
I didn't say that.
So you're saying it's absolutely impossible?
I didn't say that. I didn't say it was absolutely impossible. I didn't say that!
I think you're not saying quite a few things.
Can you live with that?
I haven't done anything wrong.
No, but somebody has and you know who. Don't you think you've got a duty to tell us?
I know where my duty lies, Doctor!
- I have always tried to live a decent... - Joanne Barnes is lying stiff on a slab.
She's got marks all over her body left by some sick, demented soul!
Please, I don't want to hear this!
Her parents are banging the floor with grief!
- A good girl, Joanne. They kept saying that. - Can't you stop him?
Who is the sick bastard who is responsible for this good girl's death?
Joanne is dead! Dean is dead!
What does it amount to, this decency of yours?
F37,642.
In the present financial year.
That much?
F18,400, Cancer Research.
F6,904, Cerebral Palsy.
F2,005.23 to the Church Restoration.
F1,116, Help the Aged.
A round F1,000 each to Cystic Fibrosis, Guide Dogs for the Blind, Children in Need...
and the Police Widows and Orphans.
Plus several smaller cash payments to the local old, infirm and needy.
I'm currently collecting for Cancer Research. Perhaps a donation might be in order?
I'm afraid you've caught me a bit short, Mrs Trant.
PENHALIGON: She's lying.
FITZ: She's loyal.
PENHALIGON: Next stop, Norma's?
No. Next stop, Sarah.
She's coming. One pound.
You said 50 pence.
Each way.
Come on, Brian. More effort!
Good clearance! Good clearance!
FITZ: Do you not find ht better talking out here?
SARAH: Yes.
Mr Trant seems to get on very well with the kids.
The only time our teachers ever spoke to us was to threaten us with hellfire...
or detention, which was slightly worse.
Mr Trant's not like that.
FITZ: Oh, you're lucky.
You find you can talk to him OK?
I mean, he doesn't mind if you come and tell him your troubles?
Oh, no.
I mean, he doesn't mind.
He likes to know what's going on.
He likes you to go and talk to him.
Mr Grogan.
My history teacher.
All the teachers said, "It's the exams. It's a rough time.
Don't suffer. It only takes a moment to go and see the principal."
Yeah, and three hours to get out.
We used to call him Taphead.
Somebody had once said that he had water on the brain.
He was barking! Absolutely barking!
But Grogan was different.
He always seemed to know exactly what you were going through
without the subject ever arising.
He used to make you cups of tea in his wee cubby-hole.
Get the ashtray out. Made you feel human, you know?
That's what I call a real teacher.
FITZ: I'm surprised you prefer to talk to us here?
Why? It's fascinating.
New experience for me.
Virginia Trant told us she thought it possible that Joanne fancied her husband a bit.
What do you think?
"Fancied" him? Did Ginny say that?
What do you reckon?
Bit of a giggle.
I'm not sure, but I think she was a bit upset about it.
- Upset? - Uh-hmm.
About a schoolgirl taking a shine to Kenneth?
She'd have had to be pretty insecure to feel upset about that.
Was she? Insecure?
Well, you've met Kenneth. Any woman married to him might feel a bit insecure.
But he never gave her any cause.
How do you know?
Well, I'd have...
Well, Ginny would've told me.
Anyway, he didn't.
Don't you think Kenneth would've been flattered by Joanne's pash.
Might even have encouraged it.
A middle-aged man getting the eye from a 16-year-old girl, a pretty girl?
Don't you think he might've got a kick out of that? I know I would.
He didn't notice. And he didn't need those "kicks".
So who got Joanne pregnant?
If not Kenneth, you mean?
If not Kenneth.
For a psychologist, you're a pretty poor judge of character.
I'm better with women. Arent' I?
Dean made Joanne pregnant. He was sweet on her.
You should have seen him at the meetings, he couldn't take his eyes off her.
Always pointing at her. He was crazy about her.
You knew that, didn't you?
Oh, yes. Crazy about her.
Crazy for her maybe.
But crazy in his head.
Only in his head.
Classic hopeless romantic passion.
He idealised her, but he never laid a finger on her.
Dean never had a proper relationship with Joanne.
He came to the house one weekend when Michael was away.
He knew he was away, of course.
Anyway, he pushed past me down the hallway, into the sitting room. Sat on my sofa.
He had grease on his trousers. I wondered if it would wash off the sofa.
He had his eyes closed and he was chanting from the Bible.
I didn't pay it much attention.
To be honest, it doesn't mean that much to me. I'm not sure that I believe at all.
I made a mistake. I got too close, he touched me.
I didn't like it, I told him.
Still... his hands. I pushed him away. He came back.
He wouldn't let go. He was hurting, and all the time this Bible stuff.
And then the words changed.
To personal things.
About my body. You know.
Crude, crass words for things.
I walked out of the room, out of the house, into the town.
Came home in the evening. Nothing was missing.
Dean was never a thief. There was no sign that he'd ever been there.
Well, save for the stain on the sofa.
And Michael, what did he say?
You did tell him?
No. I didn't want to upset him.
I didn't want to hurt him, to get him into any trouble.
Kind.
You don't believe me, do you? Why should I make it up?
To divert attention from Kenneth.
Did you meet him through Virginia?
Yes. We were at school together. We met then.
Ah, she saw him first.
There was never anything between Kenneth and me!
Nothing fulfilled.
Would you have married him?
He didn't ask me. He asked Virginia.
And Michael asked you. That wasn't the question.
You're obviously very attracted to Kenneth.
- Do you ever think hf you'd married him... - No point in thinking.
Let's take it as read, then, that Kenneth Trant may have harboured thoughts about Joanne.
She was a young girl.
He saw a lot of her. Who could blame him for having those thoughts?
The question - the life with a recommendation of a minimum of 20 years question - is...
did he act upon them?
Tell me, Doctor,
is a man happier who acts on his instincts, or who represses them?
When you lit that cigarette, I know that look.
- I don't think this... - And you knew it too.
And you were as jealous as hell because he lit my cigarette!
I'm sure I've nothing to teach you about jealousy.
Could I have another one, please?
- You love him, don't you? - Who?
Kenneth.
Kenneth?
Kenneth. You love him. You've always loved him.
Ever since that first dance.
At the church hall. What was ht? Mungo Jerry?
David Essex? You remember.
You remember. You fell for him then, and you've been in love with him ever since.
No!
And then he went and married Virginia.
The idiot! He would've been so much happier if he'd married you.
Kenneth and Virginia have a very happy marriage.
Did Kenneth Trant have sex with Joanne Barnes?
No!
Cross your heart and hope to die?
I'm beginning to think that you're jealous of Kenneth. He is just not that sort of a man!
He has never been unfaithful to Virginia!
With any other girl?
Any girl! Any woman!
You can keep your cigarette, thanks.
Do you know Sarah Jennings?
Sarah?
Schoolmate of Joanne's.
Classmate, actually.
SARAH: Out of all the girls at school, he picked me.
He's always wanted a child and she could never have them.
So, as soon as I leave school, we're going to live together.
He's a wonderful man.
I feel... special when he's there.
He loves me more than anything. I'll never want anyone else.
Kenneth's wonderful.
I love him.
Right, so the paper's shredded and dropped down,
then the hydraulic ramrod compresses it. It comes out as a block. What happens then?
MICHAEL: It goes for recycling.
Right.
We saw your wife this morning. She dropped into the station for a chat.
She was dressing the church hall earlier, she was telling us.
She had pollen all over her fingers.
What's the attraction of all these new religious groups?
Hmm?
Rock combos singing for Jesus.
One World weirdoes.
Bible-thumpers.
I'm a left-footer myself, lapsed.
We didn't read the Old Testament.
Do you believe all these old Hebrew stories are true? I mean literally true?
Every word?
Yes.
Sign this, please.
Your wife thinks it's a load of old rubbish.
Says she only goes for the company. See her pals, see Kenneth.
Like other people go to the pub, she said. Just an excuse to get out of the house.
Do you go to the pub, Michael? You don't mind me calling you Michael?
- No. - Smoke?
You don't smoke, don't drink, don't gamble. What do you do, Michael?
Sex, is that your scene?
Come on, a sly wank in front of Baywatch on a Saturday night is hardly a mortal sin.
You go to church, ht's like going to the launderette.
There's no point in going unless you've got stains you need to wash away.
And you're the one that believes in whiter than white, aren't you?
Me? I'll back dishcloth grey as pretty well the colour of everything.
You're not a good man, Michael, but you're not a bad one.
You're somewhere in between, just like the rest of us.
Go on, admit it.
Admit to that chocolate bar underneath your pillow.
Admit to taking the change when you're undercharged.
Admit to lust, envy, avarice. I do.
And you have to admit to all those things, before you can admit to what you did to Joanne!
Carry on with your soliloquy.
I've got two mens work to do.
How long have you been a member of the Church, Michael?
Ten years.
Who introduced you? No, don't tell me.
Kenneth, big brother. He joined, so you had to join.
Do you always do what he does?
Correction. Always try to do what he does.
But you can't, can you?
You don't have the charm.
What was it like competing in the sex market with somebody like Kenneth?
God, I ache for you. It must have been murder. Always second best, always second choice.
Even to the woman you married.
Of course, you and Norma are well matched.
She was always second choice, too. To Virginia.
Her best pal. Virgina the belle of the ball.
Virginia introduced Norma to Kenneth.
He swept her off her feet. She fell head over heels madly in love with him.
And the years have not altered her.
She stills burns for him, still longs to touch him.
She's still as obsessed with him now as she was when she first met him.
She admits it. She brags about it.
- She told us this morning, didn't she? - Yes.
I had to feel sorry for her.
How does it feel, Michael?
Your wife loves another man, always has done.
I know.
You know?
I knew when I married her.
If you'll excuse me, I have to see to the waste collection.
(Dog barks)
JUDITH ON ANSWERPHONE: You're pathetic, Fitz, spending your days like this!
â™? You can call me anything, but do not call me fat!
â™? I was built for comfort
â™? I was not built for speed
You should know better!
â™? But, baby, I'll give you everything you're gonna need
You haven't played that one for years.
It always made your mother laugh.
Yeah, I've just left her.
Have you? Where?
Where?
Oi! Come back here. You're not too old for a...
- Yes, I am. - Yes, you probably are.
- I never hit you anyway. - That time.
Oh, yes. Once in my life. A light slap, if I remember.
- You hurt me. - Well, you'd been bad.
I was a kid. Kids don't know anything.
Where's your mum and Katie?
Who's asking? You or your girlfriend?
These beans have got mould in them. How can you live like this?
Where are you off to now?
Listen. If you cared, you'd have asked me before now.
Don't wait up.
Well, look, at least get Katie to keep in touch, give me a phone or something, will you?
Yeah.
(Click)
FITZ: I'm sorry, but I'm afraid you'll have to come back to my surgery
for a more thorough examination.
Kenneth Trant is coming in for questioning, sir.
Willingly?
Very willingly. Smug bastard. He's as guilty as hell.
We've gone right to the edge with the rest of that family,
but they all draw the line at Kenneth. Totally obedient.
But I'll crack him! I know I can.
Cocky, aren't we?
I worked out the other day that in my years at the school,
between 30,000 and 40,000 pupils have been through my hands.
There have been tragedies along the way.
Leukaemia. Car crash. Climbing accident on a school trip.
And now this.
And you don't always know the pupils very well. You can't know them all.
But you always feel it anyway.
Like one of your own.
Hmm. It was different in this case though. In this case you did know the student.
Yes, as I've explained.
You must've known her better than most of your students. She was in your fellowship.
Well, I daresay, yes.
She must have spoken to you?
Of course.
What about?
Usually matters affecting the church, Bible studies.
Not about school or her home?
No, not really.
Not even when you drove her home?
Drove her home?
Are you saying you never drove her home?
From the church?
Where else?
I thought you meant from the school.
Yes, of course, I drove her home from the church. Once in a while.
Dark nights?
Precisely.
Yes. You introduced her to the group at Christmas.
Yes.
A lot of dark nights?
Yes.
So you must have driven her home quite a few times?
Yes. Come to think of it, yes, quite often.
As you say, after all, I introduced her, and being her headmaster...
I felt responsible.
Did she talk in the car?
No, she was a very quiet child.
What age was she?
You don't know her age?
No, you called her a child.
She was 17.
She had her GCSEs.
A young woman, I'd say. Wouldn't you?
Yes.
When I was 17, I would've been most offended for you to think of me as a child.
Well, of course, girls mature more quickly than boys.
You know that.
I should think she welcomed the chance to talk with an older man.
I mean, fathers are no good and boys your own age are worse than useless.
Well, that may be, but she didn't say much.
I was desperate for someone like that.
A sort of uncle.
So, why no kids yourself?
I've had 40,000 children.
Not the same as having one of your own.
I've had a full and fulfilling life.
And your wife?
She's had a busy life, she does a lot of voluntary work.
- You miss out, though. - No. I would say... No, not really.
No.
No, I suppose you can get quite close to some of your kids.
Not in that way.
- What way? - Sorry?
"That way". What way?
There was an insinuation.
What were you insinuating, DS Penhaligon?
Like an uncle.
Yes.
You see, Joanne spoke to me before she died.
She wouldn't speak to her parents. Couldn't face them.
Too ashamed.
Ashamed of what?
Are you going to tell me or do I tell you?
I can't tell you what she was ashamed of.
If she was ashamed.
FITZ: You noticed her at a distance at first,
coming through the school gates in the morning,
Ihnng up for the dinner queue,
gazing up at assembly.
Slightly different from the other girls. Doesn't seem to have a gang.
Something rather vulnerable about her. Maybe she's getting bullied.
And then one day you see her in the corridor. She's crying. She should be at lessons.
You ask her what's wrong. You tell her to come and see you after school.
So far, nothing strange, unusual, untoward.
You're doing your job. More than your job.
Concerned for the pastoral welfare of your students.
She's there for an hour in your study.
A long chat about the pressure of family, not fitting in at school.
There are tears, but smiles, too. Your heart goes out to her. You comfort her.
A friendly arm round the shoulder, a friendly grasp of the hand, a friendly pat of the knee.
- I get your drift, Doctor. - Good.
- You're sick! - Sick as the next man, Mr Trant.
I spent a day in Joanne's company.
I'm not immune to her dependence.
Her softness, her fragility.
I refuse to participate in this.
If you go now, we'll think the worst.
We will.
Well, by all means, think just that.
(lronic cheering and applause)
WISE: Thanks, by the way, Fitz. - What for?
- The drink. - One to two, you lose the bet.
Start spending my winnings, eh?
No hard feelings, but we started spending it yesterday.
WISE: Oh, come on!
BECK: Walkies!
(Whistles as to a dog)
- Aw, don't be like that! - 'Ey, 'ey, leave it out!
Leave it out.
â™? Praise to the Lord, the Almighty, the King of creation
â™? O, my soul, praise Him, for He is thy health and salvation
â™? All ye who hear
â™? Now to His temple draw near
â™? Praise Him in glad adoration
â™? Praise to the Lord, Who o'er all things so wondrously reigneth
Genesis 3.19.
It's not a "1", it's an "l".
â™? Has thou not seen
â™? All that is needful has been
â™? Granted in what He ordaineth?
Isaiah, Chapter 40, verse 6!
What is it, Kenneth? What will I find?
"The voice said, Cry. And he said, What shall I cry?
All flesh is grass, and all the goodliness thereof..."
"...ls as the flower of the field."
Very good, Dr Fitzgerald. Now, how may we help you?
She believed you when you told her she was special, didn't she?
You've lost me, Doctor.
You've always had a way with women, haven't you? Hasn't he, Norma?
Why didn't you have an affair with her?
She's in love with you, has been for over 20 years.
No, not Norma, not a woman.
Not a mature woman. You wouldn't be equal to a woman, would you?
Hmm? You need youth.
Young flesh.
This is outrageous! Can he do this?
this is a place of worship!
Did you wait till she was 16? I bet you did.
I bet, with your perverted sense of righteousness,
you didn't touch her till she was of age!
I'll sue you. You get out now! Leave us in peace or I'll sue you for every penny you've got!
FITZ: She respected you.
She thought you were showing her respect. She thought the sun shone out your arse.
Any teacher will tell you, it is a hazard of the profession...
in the same way, Doctor, as a patient may become emotionally attached to a psychologist.
May find themselves convinced that the relationship goes beyond the professional,
projecting their fantasies onto the therapist.
Now, Joanne Barnes was a lonely child.
Perhaps she was looking for a special relathonship.
Perhaps she found it. But it was not me.
You had sex with Joanne.
(Shocked gasps) - She got pregnant.
Was that the problem?
Hmm? Was that why you attacked her?
Was that why you stuffed her full of paracetamol,
poured gin down her, defiled her body?
Was that it? Because she was a danger to all this? Your church? Your power?
I drove Joanne Barnes home a few times,
and on the basis of this, I am being accused of rape and murder.
I didn't hear any mention of rape.
- I had no relationship with Joanne Barnes. - Then who did?
You know who did.
You had him in custody.
Dean Saunders. That vicious little psychopath.
Now, this man...
This man is desperate,
because he had the real killer in custody and he made a dreadful mess of things, didn't you?
You drove him to his death in a police cell.
Do not project your guilt onto me!
I conceal nothing.
Dean Saunders didn't write that graffiti on her.
You did.
What does it mean?
Hmm? What were you thinking of when you wrote all that graffiti all over her body?
The instant before the universe began, the chaos beyond the Planck wall.
That boiling mass of space and time.
No law, no meaning, no past, no future.
The Big Bang. The instant that the universe was created.
The beginning and the end of life. Sex and death, your obsession.
You see sex in death and death in sex, and beyond that... nothing.
That's what your equations tell me, Kenneth. You've got no belief in God.
KENNETH: Thank you, Dr Fitzgerald.
Let us continue.
"And it shall come to pass that he that is left in Zion..."
FITZ: You're having a crisis of faith, Kenneth, 100 years too late.
It's God or nothing, you cannot have both.
"...that is written as living in Jerusalem."
I believe.
CONGREGATION: I believe. - I believe. I believe.
I will extol Thee, O Lord.
(Muttering)
FITZ: Your relighon is a sham,
an act of theatre for your dreams of power.
Until one day, you start to lose control.
And that Godlike demeanour starts to deconstruct, and what have you got left?
A desperate grope and a hopeless shag in a Godless universe.
"And the voice said...
...Cry.
And he said, What shall I cry?"
O, merciful and forgiving God, cleanse our sins.
You are made holy by absolving me.
Raise your spirits and forgive.
Forgive. Forgive!
They cannot absolve you till you confess.
Confess to me. Say it. I'll forgive you.
MICHAEL: I did ht.
I tormented her, I disgraced her.
I cleansed her and sent her to her God.
And Norma?
- Michael! - Yeah.
- And Virginia? - Yes.
- And Kenneth? - Yes.
He's a liar!
And Dean?
No!
They wanted me to dispose of Joanne.
Package her.
I-I asked Dean to help.
He let her go.
I-I knew he would.
He'd not hurt anyone. Never Joanne.
Dean was absolutely innocent. He always was.
And you'd be prepared to make a statement to that effect?
Oh, yes.
What made you so sure?
- About what? - That he'd crack.
FITZ: I wasn't.
He didn't.
He won't.
He won't confess.
- But now we've got the statement? - Nah, he'll deny all that.
He'll blame Michael and Dean and say it was nothing to do with him.
- And the women will back him up. - They can't.
FITZ: They will!
They will.
Such is the power of faith.
Or sex.
PENHALIGON: Or self-preservation.
Michael will be testifying against them. It'll be their word against his.
D'you know what we need?
- What? - A miracle.
You'll have to perform it yourself, Fitz.
No, not me. I know my limitations, Panandle. What you see is what you get.
Imperfect.
A sex god, but imperfect.