01x02 - Episode 2

Episode transcripts for the TV show, "Better". Aired: 13 February 2023 – present.
After her son almost dies, corrupt police detective Lou attempts to make amends for her sins and escape Col, the powerful criminal she has been working for.
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01x02 - Episode 2

Post by bunniefuu »

I'm so sorry, everyone,

something's come up.

He was still breathing. Just.

Don't ask me to do something like

that again. It were too close.

I wouldn't be here without you.

It's Owen, just come

straight to the hospital.

I'm afraid Owen has

bacterial meningitis.

- He could've been like that the whole time.

- Well, where were you?

- You didn't check on him for three hours!

- Where were you?!

Please don't die. Please don't die.

- What did he look like?

- He had a balaclava on.

But you could still see his dodgy teeth.

I can't make this one go away,

Col. Everyone knows it's Noel.

This can never happen again, Lou, okay?

- Promise me that.

- No.

"No?"

Do you know what I'm not, Col?

I'm not the all-seeing eye.

I'm not a miracle worker

or the bloody Invisible Man.

And I'm not a lifetime guarantee

that no-one from your firm

will ever get nicked again.

So, yeah. No.

If I judge that I have no choice,

or it's better for you to

take a little hit for once,

or someone's breathing down my neck

and I have to be whiter-than-white,

then I will do what I

have to, for both of us!

You can keep putting that vibe

on, Bulgey, you do not scare me!

How long have we been friends, Col? Hmm?

19 years?

Now, God knows you've got no

shortage of bootlickers lining up

to tremble at your every word.

But I'm not one of them.

I provide you with

something more valuable.

I don't bullshit you, and

I treat you like an equal,

like a partner, like a pal,

because that is what

we're supposed to be.

You're right. I'm sorry.

Leave it with me.

- You okay?

- Yep.

What the hell's going on?

- Where've you been?

- Don't matter. I'm fine.

What do you mean, it doesn't matter?

Can we just talk about it

in the morning, Cer, please.

- Has she been out?

- Yeah, but I'm not waiting till the morning.

I've been having kittens here.

That lad I pinched.

Was one of Col's.

Col told me not to.

But I did it, anyway.

Okay. Why?

I don't know.

I don't know! He'd messed

up this old lady's face.

- And I don't know, can we please leave it?

- No.

You said, "Something's changed".

Earlier on, you said,

"Something's changed".

- What did you mean?

- I was just having a moment.

- You don't have "moments".

- Well there's a first time

for everything, all right?

But it's over, okay? I've

sorted it with him, it's done.

I could really live without

the third degree tonight, Cer.

- I'm going to take her out for a wazz.

- I've just told you, she's been out!

Please don't die.

What the hell are you doing?

He asked me to.

And you just agreed?

They're only going to

remind him of what he's lost.

He hasn't "lost" anything.

He's going to get better.

- You know that he might not.

- This is who he is, Ceri!

Lou, we have to let go of

some things, so that he can.

Don't try and play the hard man, Donal.

Marta. Been too long.

Col.

Sorry to hear about your daughter.

Thank you for meeting

here. My schedule's tight.

I understand. If you don't mind

going through the rigmarole?

It's a drug port. Chemotherapy.

I'll still need to, er

So, got to chat to our friends?

We did.

- And we passed on everything you wanted us to.

- Good.

But I'm sorry, the news isn't good.

They can't increase

your order any further.

The amount stays the same, for now.

That's a real shame.

That's a real shame. Can I ask why?

The whole region has

had two very dry summers.

That means poor harvests, poor yields.

You're lucky not to

have a reduced shipment.

So, we should've listened to

the tree-huggers, is that it?

What if I offered a wee premium?

Say, I don't know, like

5% over the top or?

It's not about money.

The product isn't there.

You've increased your order

twice already in a year.

A lot of hungry mouths out there, Marta.

And if I don't feed them,

then somebody else will.

You see, our friends have

put me in a real bind.

They'll be very sad to hear that.

Could they not introduce us to

someone else? Who's got surplus?

Your son? I can see it.

Can you?

I'm sorry, I have to make a flight.

Bye.

Don't.

Ballistics report.

The g*n you got off Noel Wilkes

is the same one that

k*lled Thomas Ajazi.

The kid who was sh*t in the pub.

Now don't get excited,

I've already checked.

Wilkes is in the clear.

He were in Manchester overnight,

got him all over the cameras

at the Premier Inn, but he

has to know the sh**t, right?

I mean, I know he won't

talk, but would you mind?

You have got a way.

Anything for you, Phil.

Here, Cowpat, speaking of Wilkes,

what happened to his cousin?

Interview and a lift home.

What, no victim support or counselling?

There's no note on the file.

Counselling? She took a kebab

to her cousin and got stoned.

- He took her hostage.

- For three minutes.

He fired a sh*t at us.

If you're over Garforth way,

will you give her a knock later?

Why would I be over Garforth way?

This is Jade. Don't leave a voicemail.

Hit me up on WhatsApp.

Hiya, Jade, it's Detective

Inspector Louisa Slack.

We met the other day in

brief, but memorable fashion.

Can you give us a call

back when you get this?

Just want to check you're okay.

Jade? I'm a friend of your cousin.

I heard what happened. You okay?

I'm fine, thanks.

- How do you know Noel?

- From work.

I just check you're okay. You

don't, you don't need something?

I'm fine, ta.

Who you tell about your cousin?

What're you on about?

Police found the flat.

You told someone where he was. Who?

No-one. I didn't tell no-one, look

Oi! What you doing?

You can't just come in

here! Oi! Leave me alone!

We could just press pause.

You know me, I'm all

for extra business

but we're ticking along nicely.

A second supplier doubles our risk.

Yeah, good idea, Curtis.

That's a very good idea.

Let's press pause.

Better yet, let's just take a gap

year and go travelling, y'know?

Maybe we could all volunteer

on a f*cking elephant sanctuary.

We do not "press pause".

Not now, not f*cking ever.

We go forward.

And we keep pushing as

hard as we can, right?

Get what we need elsewhere.

She's got cancer.

Marta.

Stop trying to cheer me up.

Yeah?

You sure?

Okay.

Cheers.

Bulgey spoke to Noel's cousin.

She swears she didn't tell anyone

else where the safehouse was.

He believes her.

Kevin's chasing the CPS, and

he'll let the rest of us know.

Now, here's a good 'un.

Terrace in Hyde Park is

having a loft conversion.

The builders are putting the

steels in when they get a look

in next door's skylight,

the blind's broken,

and it looks

like the Rainforest Cafe in there.

A car dropped by, the

electric's been bypassed.

And, yeah, wouldn't you

know it, the council tax is paid

by somebody who appears to

have d*ed seven years ago.

Well, there has been a bit of

chat about the McHughs having

a farm 'round there somewhere.

The most amazing part of the story

is the conscientious builders.

They can come and do my pointing.

Do we really think McHugh would

bother with a domestic dope farm?

I'm dubious. He makes

millions importing coke.

I don't know why he'd bother

with a little weed grow?

Well, it's being raided.

Esther, you stay across it.

Okay, go forth.

Erm, the Super weren't

exactly cock-a-hoop with

your Noel Wilkes arrest.

Few too many rules bent for his liking.

He wants it tidied up.

So, the informant that

told you where Wilkes was

you're to get them on the books,

in case he changes his plea.

And Esther's going to

be asked for her side.

But, well, unless she lands

you in it, that should be that.

- All right?

- All right, cheers, San.

This can never happen again.

Ever. You promise me that?

No.

Est?

- We're going in.

- Let me know what you find.

And hold your breath, or

you'll get the munchies.

Police! Police! Police!

Stay where you are!

Nobody home! Police!

Nobody home.

- What do you think?

- Oh, love it.

- Mm-hm.

- Love that one.

- Maybe for the six best units?

- Hmm.

Colum?

Sure, that's that's the one.

Pretend to care, darling.

Men.

One second.

Me Hyde Park grow just got raided.

Is it clean?

Is it clean, Donal?

- Yeah.

- Right, right,

well, clear the other two out. Now.

The plants are almost mature. Two

more weeks, I'll have it down

Clear the other two out! Today, Donal.

- Do you have to be so hard with him?

- Aye I do, aye.

He never gets to impress you.

You never give him the chance to.

You ask me, she can't be trusted.

You don't know what

you're talking about.

Listen, we don't know

what we don't know.

The weed farm could've been anything.

Neighbours, electricity company.

And as for Noel, maybe

there WAS a tip-off.

Maybe some little knobhead

with a beef saw Noel there.

Or maybe Noel did tell someone

else, you wouldn't put it past him.

I'd say, give her the

benefit of the doubt. For now.

Tie her off.

Never trust a dirty cop.

Once they're bent,

they just keep bending.

Donny Boy?

Er

One thing, maybe, but two?

Nah.

I'm with Bulgey.

Well

if you're really not sure you

can trust her, then test her.

Give her a job.

If she doesn't do it

I didn't know if

he was going to lamp me or

fall sobbing into my arms.

I don't think he knew either,

so he just stomped off.

Suppose it's me own fault for being

such a positive male role model.

Hello?

- You listening?

- Sorry, sorry.

Er, what you going to do?

Well, I'll see if he turns up tomorrow.

His work's actually all right.

How's the business going?

Without the stake in the yard, I mean.

- What, the legit part, you mean?

- Hmm.

Steady-ish.

Why'd you ask?

Uh-oh.

It's worthy of a pause.

Hey.

It's okay. Whatever it is, it's okay.

Er

I'm not sure I can do it any more.

Do what?

Who, Col?

- What's he asked you to do?

- No, no, no, it's not him. It's me.

After Owen

..everything just

feels different, y'know?

And I'm not sure I

can keep doing it. No.

I know I can't.

Well, can you just stop?

No, I can't, I can't just

tell him that we're done.

What if in six months' time,

I have to arrest one of his? Then what?

I have to resign.

But if I'm not a copper any

more, then I'm no use to him.

Resign? It's your whole life, love.

- The only thing you've ever wanted to do.

- I know, I know that.

Would we manage, though?

Without his money, I mean?

The stake in the yard?

Well, we might be able

to cover the mortgage.

But the Martengrove fees

Owen'd have to go back to the old place.

- No. Oh, God, no, absolutely not.

- We'd have no choice.

No, no! Well, there's the

stash in the loft. That'd cover it.

They don't take cash.

Well, it's only another two years,

and if he's still in the chair,

- we could get a grant. Maybe, I don't know.

- Maybe. Maybe.

Who's giving us a grant

for Mauritius next year, though?

What has Mauritius got

that Scarborough hasn't?

You know, for once in our marriage,

it'd be nice to know what you

were going to say before

you actually said it.

We'd be broke.

But we'd be free.

I need to say summat.

Is this going to spoil me porridge?

Owen's coming home later.

And, er, he's going to need me.

And

Ah, bloody hell, I'm thinking

about hanging it up, San.

Are you, bollocks?!

I'm sorry.

I'm re-evaluating my

life and what's important,

and I need to focus on me son.

Yeah, and we'll help you with that.

Reduced hours, whatever you need.

Yeah, but I need to be really there.

Not there with my brain on me desk here.

I've made me mind up.

Lou. Owen nearly d*ed.

The second you're back at work,

you're in a hostage situation

where a sh*t's fired.

I don't think you're ready

to make this decision yet.

You're also the best officer I've

got, I can't afford to lose ya.

I won't get the funding to replace ya.

It'll be Cowper that

has to fill your shoes,

he can barely fill his own.

Don't repeat that.

Just don't write the letter yet.

I won't accept it.

I was bringing you in to get

your take on putting together

a task force, to have a cr*ck at McHugh.

The lab have pulled a late print

from the Thomas Ajazi crime scene.

- From someone linked to McHugh?

- Mm. Harrison Sprewell.

Entry-level scrote in the crew.

Flew to Spain on an

impromptu holiday the morning.

After the m*rder.

So, Sprewell kills Ajazi in a

spat with Endri Marku's crew,

McHugh puts him on a plane,

g*n gets passed to Wilkes.

Sounds plausible.

Best we've had on 'em in years.

Enough to have a run at the man himself.

Christ! Do you know

what, you're dismissed.

Ma'am.

For f*ck's sake.

Thanks for meeting me.

About yesterday, I'm sorry.

- I didn't know about the raid until it was

- Let's forget about that.

Ever find yourself looking back?

You know, pining for those old times?

Just you and me. Remember all that?

Two black sheep just hustling,

shinnying up that greasy pole, just

striving, getting one

over on the bastards,

I f*cking love all that. Miss that.

Now you could say we've

made it, but the truth of it is

it's just more difficult to

keep hold of it all, isn't it?

You lose things.

You've lost more than I have.

Come on, I've got coffee.

I'm glad we're doing this,

because there's something

I need to ask you, too.

Okay. Ladies first.

I just need a wee favour.

Trying to do an exchange with somebody.

Should be a very simple handover,

but she's getting a

wee bit jumpy, y'know?

Sent one of the boys first-time round,

but she bailed at the sight of him.

So, now she wants to do the

switch in public, with a woman.

And I'm the only woman you

know, is that right, Col?

- How about Elise?

- I need a grown-up.

Look, I know it's beneath you, but

Say "no" if you're not

comfortable, y'know?

- What would I be delivering?

- Just cash.

In return, she'll give

you a wee bit of envelope,

with a bit of paperwork

that I need inside.

That's it, it's all pretty

simple, pretty easy, y'know

- Why's it all wrapped up like that?

- She asked for it.

I don't know.

Maybe she wants to keep it in her

f*cking fish t*nk or, I don't know.

- Is everything all right, Col?

- Mm-hm.

Look, if you don't

want to do it, just say.

I would, but the boy's

coming home later, and

f*ck, is that today?

Ah, Jesus, all right.

Forget it, forget it. I

It's fine, I'll find someone else.

What was it you wanted to say?

Er, just wanted to warn

you about your other grows,

cos NPAS are going to come up

tomorrow with the infrareds,

and they'll spot them a mile off.

Okay.

- You sure?

- Yes.

Okay.

Leeds Station, red scarf,

platform 12, 5pm.

Okay.

- Take care of him.

- See ya.

- All good?

- All good.

Okay.

Home sweet home.

I can walk in.

Kiwi.

I was going to put a party hat on her,

but she'd probably just have eaten it.

What do you think to

these, eh? Bit easier?

Also in your bathroom, I've

put some dispensable ones

Can I just check myself?

Yeah.

Why'd you leave that light on?

So it's like she's still here.

But she's not.

Yes, I know that.

Are you all right?

Any luck with Jade Wilkes?

Sorry, no answer at her address.

Neighbour's not seen her.

I can keep trying?

Yeah.

Est. Tell me you've found

Col McHugh's driving licence

in a bag of potting soil.

You should get over here. Now.

First sweep didn't turn up much.

Couldn't get it open ourselves.

PC Morgan noticed a leak running

out from inside the wall there.

It's urine.

Torches, people, come on!

The translator said they

heard us come in yesterday.

And just about managed

to get down to the cellar,

squeeze into that hole.

Like they'd been taught.

No food, no water.

No way to get themselves out.

God, they're younger than Owen.

Do they know who they're working for?

No. They only saw the trafficker.

The lad were brought

here to tend the crop.

We don't know what

the girl's been doing.

Hopefully just cooking and cleaning.

- I thought McHugh didn't use kids.

- Yeah, I thought so, too.

I can change

Yeah?

She turned up, but ran

off before making the drop.

Like she got spooked or summat.

Well, look, um

I'm going to need you

to do something for me.

Something important, and not very nice.

Why can't he just talk to us?

Yeah, cos teenagers love talking to

their parents about their feelings.

I know I did.

I just, I really don't like the

idea of outsourcing our son's

mental health to some bead necklace

and a dozen fuckups sitting in

- a circle, for God's sake.

- It's not about us, is it?

He needs someone else to talk to.

Someone that's got no skin in the game.

- What do you want?

- Vernon Marley?

It's DI Louisa Slack,

Leeds Organised Crime Team.

You got a minute?

Who's d*ed?

Loads of people, over the years.

Do you remember me,

Vernon? We've met before,

at various do's, years ago,

I'm Bill Slack's daughter

Your father's mouthy

teenage sidekick. I remember.

Come in.

The Central Yorkshire

CID family barbecue.

1990-summat.

You must have been what, 14? 15?

Made quite the impression.

- Perv.

- No, not like that!

Because you were so like your dad.

It were obvious you were

going to follow him in.

And, lo and behold, here you are.

From my old mates in Bradford nick.

They've mellowed in their old age.

Their little notes used to

come wrapped round a brick.

Why'd you keep it?

Nice to know somebody out

there's thinking about you.

How's your mam? I liked her.

She's all right, I think.

Your dad never seemed right for her.

She were never right for me dad.

So?

I've come to talk about you, Vernon.

You were for sale

almost your whole career.

You took money and gifts

from whoever'd offer,

in exchange for tip-offs

and lost evidence.

But in '97, you confessed.

To me dad, among others, out the blue.

I wanted to know, why the

sudden change of heart?

You writing a book, or summat?

Just interested.

Nah.

If I'm under no obligation, I

want to know why you're asking.

An officer in me unit is taking bribes.

I wanted to know the

mind-set before I make a move.

If it doesn't sound too

crass, what's in it for me?

You think you can buy all my

darkest secrets for 40 quid?

Give over.

There's a stack of unpaid bills

and letters from the council in the

corner, they never write with

good news. The red wine you drink

is the cheapest corner shop

dog piss three quid can buy,

and I saw the state of your

fridge when you went for the milk.

- You'd have taken 20.

- Ooh!

You're not very nice.

Here she is. The offending article.

Oh, God! Is it all right?

Far from it, her kidneys are packing up.

Oh, sh*t!

Give it here.

Well?

The last thing the brass ever want

is the embarrassment of

a big corruption case.

They almost always go

for a quiet dismissal,

rather than a prosecution.

Thus has it always been,

thus shall it ever be.

So there I am, back in '97,

not even under formal investigation yet,

but it were coming.

Everyone knew.

I hadn't exactly been careful.

We had my ex-wife's 30th in one of

Tommy Dugan's clubs, for God's sake.

So, I thought I'd get out

ahead of it. Take control.

Get some credit by coming forward.

I went to see 'em, I cut a deal.

I'd cop to a carefully-curated

selection of misdemeanours,

but leave out the worst stuff.

I avoid doing time, they limit

their reputational damage,

and everyone's happy,

well, equally miserable.

Nice job.

You look disappointed.

Were you hoping for the, er,

moving story of how I saw the light?

Me dad said you begged

him for forgiveness.

Did he? Oh, well, that's

classic Bill Slack, that.

- What's does that mean?

- Oh, I don't like to speak ill.

What ill could you possibly speak

about my dad? He were a legend.

Legends are seldom universally

beloved in their own lifetimes.

He solved Sowerby.

Sowerby was solved by the four WPCs

that visited every shoe shop in

the north of England to find out

where the lad got his Chelsea boots.

Then your old man sauntered

in front of the nearest camera,

looking like David Cassidy, and

hoovered up all the garlands.

As per! His only real talent

were for taking credit.

He got the k*ller to

talk. Five hours, it took.

He were ready to blab

before he'd finished his brew!

But there weren't much glory

in a five-minute confession,

not for Beautiful Bill Slack.

Five hours, on the other hand

Joke at the time was, he had

him reciting his times tables.

- Sounds like sour grapes to me, Vernon.

- Oh, you believe what you like, love.

- Thanks for the tea.

- What? Er, is that it?

Owen? Come on, are you ready?

What're you doing?

You liked my dad, didn't ya?

Well, he was good to us, right?

Yeah, yeah, he helped us with

the first flat, didn't he?

Mm-hm.

He never let me forget it, mind.

Do you think I take after him?

A bit, yeah.

- Chair?

- Yeah. It's a bit far.

Hey. You're going to smash it.

Yeah, I don't think you're supposed

to "smash" the support group.

I'm all right from here.

No, you sure? I'll

just take you inside

We'll just meet you

here when you're done.

My name's Owen.

Three weeks ago, I got sick.

Meningitis.

Almost d*ed, and, well

I guess that's my trauma.

Hi, Owen.

I'm Shaheen.

It's not my first time here.

Hi, Shaheen.

I got diagnosed with

PTSD three years ago.

Welcome back.

All right. I'm John.

I'm a train driver.

And I'm here because I hit someone.

On the tracks.

Hi, John.

Do I have to say summat?

No. But it might feel good to.

Right, well, erm

I'm James.

First time here.

I guess

you know, someone I love

d*ed.

And that's why I'm here.

Hi, James.

Thanks, James.

Hi, I'm Gayle.

And I was in the Army.

He's fine.

Oi?

- This is good.

- Yeah, No, I know. It's not that.

What is it, then?

Just a scrambled head, that's all.

Owen, Col, quitting

Look, this is going to be

really good for us. I know it.

Yeah, me, too.

Just all the secrets.

Sometimes I just want

to go into Sandy's office

and tell her everything.

What?

What?

You talking about confessing?

No, not talking about owt.

I'm just saying

No, no, no, you don't just say things.

I know you. There's always an angle.

You're testing the water.

This is what you do.

What you on about?

When there's something going on up

here that you think I won't like,

you run it past me

first, real casual-like.

You actually considering this?

No, no! It just, it

weighs heavy sometimes.

- That's fair, in't it?

- No.

It's not f*cking fair.

What does that mean?

You gave up your right to a

clear conscience when you first

started taking his money.

You made your bed years ago.

- Yeah, and you got in it with me.

- Yeah, I did.

And that makes me a

bottle-job shithouse.

And maybe it is too late for

me to start standing up to you,

but here I am.

You've got a son back there who

needs you now more than ever.

That you're even considering this

- You could do real time!

- Look

- It's madness!

- They're not going to prosecute, Ceri

What, you want to take that

risk, do you? What about Col, eh?

I know you think he's your friend, Lou,

but he's also a f*cking drug-dealer!

He'd come after ya, he'd come after us!

Can you not see how selfish this is?

Yeah, but you are selfish, yeah?

You know that, it's fine, that's

who you are, it's part of you.

It's what makes you strong. But this

Do you want a brew?

Oh, no, thanks.

I've no way of carrying it through.

I'll do you half.

I'll carry it so you don't spill.

I hope your girlfriend's

picking up the slack.

On the w*nk*ng front.

Erm no, not at t'moment.

- Live with your parents?

- Yeah.

How've they taken all this?

Me dad screwed handle on

everything in the house that moves.

That's his way of

talking to me about it.

Me mum

I don't know.

- Sugar?

- No, thanks.

- Oh, nice and strong, too, please.

- Okay, mate.

Big Boy's Massage Parlour!

Y'all right, Noel?

Slack!

Is this you calling to say it's

a case of mistaken identity?

Cos you know I want my compo.

Oh, no, afraid I'm just checking in.

- How'd you mean?

- You doing okay?

Head down, nose clean, all that?

You know that's not like me.

I'm already running gaff, aren't

I? Got to show 'em who's top dog.

Speaking of which, how is she?

Who?

Kiwi.

- You've taken her to the pound, ain't ya?

- What, no.

I promised I wouldn't.

She's living with me.

- Don't lie to me.

- No, I swear down. Me son loves her.

Tell me this, though, how come

she shits more than she eats?

You can't feed her that

cheap supermarket crap.

- Order online.

- Okay.

Look, I know you probably

haven't got a court date yet,

but don't waste your remand time, okay?

Find out what courses they've

got. Programmes. Training.

Get your head set now.

You're in there for a while.

Well, don't want you to

miss the cheese course.

But I do want to ask you summat.

Yeah, I knew you weren't just

calling to see how I were.

It's about your cousin, Jade.

I want to check she's okay, but

I can't seem to track her down.

Yeah, yeah, she's not

going to be at home.

She's minding our nan's

flat while she's in Jamaica.

Lovell Green.

Bedford House, number 46.

Tell her I said sorry, yeah?

I were bang out of order.

Okay. I will, I promise.

You take care, Noel.

United front, okay?

- Thank you.

- Hiya.

- How was it?

- Fine. Good, actually.

I blamed everything on

my domineering mother

and emotionally repressed father.

That's my boy.

- Don't be shy, Dad, I'm knackered.

- Come on, then.

Jade!

Jade, are you in there?

Jade?

Jade?

Jade?

Jade? Jade!

You're okay, you're okay, you're okay.

- You're okay, you're okay.

- Emergency,

- which service do you require?

- Help's coming.

Ambulance.

- DI Slack?

- Yeah?

There'll be extensive

scarring, but she'll be okay.

She's lucky.

Everyone's so f*cking

lucky, aren't they?!

Sorry. I'm sorry.

Please, can I see her?

Hello, Jade.

I'm Detective Inspector Louisa Slack.

Do you remember me?

I spoke to Noel.

He wanted me to tell

you how sorry he is.

So am I. I'm so sorry

someone did this to you.

But I'm going to find them. I promise.

You just need to tell me what happened.

I fell.

To Lou.

All right?

- For your stuff, and a clean trackie.

- Ta.

I'll just wait out front, yeah?

She's still not responding.

What do you want to do?

What happened to you?

If you had your time

again, would you confess?

Well, I it kept me out of prison.

But everything comes at a price.

What price?

Off the top of me head,

one career, one house,

couple of dozen pals, one wife

and one daughter, give or take.

Whose blood is that?

But there must've been a

part of you that was sorry.

That wanted to make things right.

No-one does something like

that out of selfishness.

All confession is selfish.

We confess to unburden ourselves.

To get sh*t of something we

don't want to carry any more.

What's not selfish about that?

Seems to me it's more noble to

carry it the distance, alone.

This officer you're after

she's in deep doo-doo, ain't she?

Now, you wait! I can help.

Let me help.

So, how did you get into this mess?

He started off as me informant.

I were in me first year. Struggling.

f*cked up. Me and my mates got

hurt trying to impress the brass.

I needed a win.

Col gave me plenty.

I built me career off the

back of his information.

But then, he started to

ask for little favours,

turn a blind eye to what he were doing,

and in return, he'd

give me something bigger.

Someone worse.

Were always a fair exchange.

We got close.

It were just us two against

the world, sort of thing.

Money didn't even come into it.

Then a few years later

me husband's business

went down the shitter.

We were nearly bankrupt.

And Col bailed us out.

Made me husband a partner

in the builder's merchant

he launders money through.

Set us up with an income.

And your fella was okay with this?

Didn't really give him much choice.

So, when McHugh's money

started flowing through,

you found you couldn't

say "no" any more?

Mm, it's not that simple.

We cared about each other.

The intel he gave me, I

did good with it, I think.

I were able to tell myself,

I was still a good copper.

Well, we tell ourselves what we need to,

so we can keep on doing what we want to.

But now, you want to stop.

I don't know what I want.

Well, you don't want to go and

tell the whole story to someone

with very little money

and less character.

What's to stop me selling

this information to McHugh?

Oh, careful, Vernon,

I've never met a more

ideal m*rder victim.

It'd just be a wet black stain on

that armchair when they find ya.

So, tell him your lad needs you.

You need to scale back.

If you really are pals,

he'll understand.

I can't do owt for him ever again.

I don't have a decent explanation,

but after me son, I just

"They that were with me saw

indeed the light, and were afraid,

but they heard not the voice

of Him that spake to me."

Didn't have you down as a God-botherer.

I don't like to bother him.

It's an underrated

read, though, the Bible.

I like God's character development

from the Old Testament to the New.

So, quit the force.

That's what I were

going to do. But then

I'm just running away, and he

gets to stays exactly where he is.

Where you put him.

Folk often ask how he

arrived from nowhere

to take over the whole O'Brien firm.

How he rose so fast,

stayed ahead of Plod.

Now we know.

- No, you can't put all that on me, Vernon.

- Not all of it, no.

But would he be where

he is today without you?

There's only one way out.

He's got to go down.
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