08x19 - Fire And Ashes

[bunniefuu]

# Heartbeat

# Why do you miss when my baby kisses me?

# Heartbeat

# Why does a love kiss stay in my memory? #

I love you!

Of course I do.

I think.

MIKE: You think?

GASPING BREATHS

Well, I just don't see why we have to sell the house!

Well, how else can I buy the wood I need?

Er...

Borrow it!

Well... Well you can't borrow wood.

Please lend me half a ton of teak

so I can... build a boat.

Of course, I'll let you have it back.

MOUTHS

Borrow the money?!

FOOTSTEPS

BOY: Mummy, there's someone here to see ya.

He says...

He says... BANGING AT WINDOW

He says...

Grow up, Julian! Go away, the pair of you!

That was very good, very good.

Mike, leave a beat after Maggie's line "sell the house".

There should be a laugh there.

Oh, oh, no, no. I was just filling in for Neil.

No, I-I-I agreed to help with the sets.

I-I couldn't act in front of...

You just did and were very good. Wasn't he, Maggie?

- Oh, yes. - No, look, really look.

It's really Neil's thing. It's very good but I er...

I couldn't possibly er...

Neil can't. He's too busy.

I can't get anyone else. You're perfect.

And if you don't do it, we'll have to cancel the play.

Yeah, but that's blackmail.

So? Arrest me.

EXCLAIMS

GRUNTS

COUGHS

LID CLATTERS

SNIFFS

Maggie, I'm sorry, I... I just wouldn't have the nerve.

But you? It's fantastic! The way you can cry just like that.

It's amazing!

Yes, I know.

SNIFFS

What's wrong?

It's nothing.

DOOR CLOSES

- Any idea how it started? - Could have been this.

Ashes from a fireplace. Hot cinders.

Oscar?

Cleaned out the fireplaces earlier?

-I beg your pardon? - There are ashes in the bin.

I've not had a fire for over a week.

That's a long time for the embers to stay hot enough to start a fire!

- Wouldn't you agree, Bellamy? - Yes, Sarge.

So you think it was started deliberately?

Well, either way, you two...

Sort it out!

BOTH SIGH

How was it?

Oh, OK.

FLAMES CRACKLING

GENTLE CLASSICAL MUSIC PLAYING

Go on. "What a lovely fire. Is that supper I smell cooking?"

Yes. Lovely.

-Neil. - Mm-hm?

Sorry. What?

- Oh, it doesn't matter. - No. No. Come on. Spit it out.

I'm pregnant.

SCOFFS I beg your pardon?

I'm four weeks overdue.

But you can't be.

Well, yes, that's what I thought, but er...

LAUGHS WRYLY

SNIFFS

- It might be a false alarm. - I've had the test.

It's positive.

I don't know what to say.

- Are you pleased? - Yes! Yes!

KISSES

I think I'm still taking it in... But, yes. Yes, I am.

KISSES Are you?

I don't know.

Come on, Fred.

GROANS

TELEPHONE RINGING

Fred? What's going on? I...

What? Oh-oh, yes.

First Class Holidays, that's right.

STAMMERS

Yes, Mr Anderson.

No, I got the cheque all right.

Yes. Yes. W-we'll see ya... See ya on Sunday.

W-what? O-on Saturday! That's...

I'm sorry. I'm looking at the wrong line on the...

Yes. S-see you Saturday evening.

What? Saturday morning. Right.

Yes. Thank you, Mr Anderson. Thank you.

DOG BARKING

Maggie, life doesn't always go according to plan.

You think I don't know that?

SIGHS Sorry, yes, of course you do.

We both do.

Look, the first few months are a funny time.

Your hormones will be going...

Neil! I don't need a medical lecture.

I know how I feel. Oh!

Go and sit down!

I'm not an invalid!

SIGHS

SIGHS

What you need, what we both need...

is time to get used to the idea.

- I've had four weeks. - It's a shock.

It's a total change of plan.

Why don't we go away for a bit this weekend?

- No, I can't. - You can!

We can get Alison to cover you.

Maggie, this is important.

We both need some time away from everything to...

You know... adjust.

I don't want to adjust.

I don't want this to happen!

All right, but at least we can talk it through.

OK?

So, if I book us into a nice hotel somewhere?

Yes?

Maybe. I...

I'll think about it.

A baby, eh?

Wow.

WIND GUSTING

Here, Rupert.

Will you get out of here?! Look what you've done!

RUPERT WAILING

Sweetheart, shh! Shh, shh, shh.

It's all right. It's all right. What is it?

Darling, it's all right. It's all right.

WAILING CONTINUES

What happened? What is it?

'It' is a screaming child trying to disturb me when I'm working.

There were seven of us here when I was a child.

Was your father a writer?

Did your mother have the children under control?

There's loads of room in the shed. You can make a study.

- What's so funny? - You are!

Keep away from my rehearsals.

I'm not above giving you a walloping, you know?

Oh yeah?

And when my dad found out,

he wouldn't be above giving you an even bigger walloping.

MOCKING LAUGH

MUSIC: 'Chattanooga Choo-Choo' by Big Band

- David. - DAVID: Oh.

- Good morning, Mr Greengrass. - Not for me, it's not.

I-is this gonna be ready in time?

I could get it done it by tomorrow night.

Tomorrow night? The guests...

The guests are gonna be here in the morning!

CLAUDE: Which is probably more than I am!

CLAUDE SNEEZES

MUSIC CONTINUES

Here comes another disease.

Greengrass!

What do you want, Blaketon?

Do you mind telling me what this is?

Yeah.

It's a four-masted whaling schooner that got lost in the fog.

Why don't you go do likewise?

It's an eyesore, destroying a local resource

and a visual amenity.

It's a field, and it's my field, and you are trespassing!

There are such things as planning regulations, Greengrass.

- And you know it. - I do.

And if I use this for agricultural purposes

and I'll probably keep chickens in it,

you don't need planning permission.

Really? And since when did your chickens need curtains?

SNEEZES VIOLENTLY

Mind your own business.

EGGS CRACKING

SIGHS

Another day, eh?

- What? - Well...

Doesn't it get to you sometimes?

- How do you mean? - Sitting here.

Nothing happening, except Alf cracking his eggs.

- ALF: Do you want one? - Go on then.

- CRADDOCK: Bradley? - MIKE: Er, yes, Sarge?

This report about a fire. Anything in it?

Er, no. The incident seemed trivial enough.

But any unexplained fire warrants a degree of alertness.

Well, yes, Sarge.

Excellent. You might bear that in mind, Bellamy.

What, Sarge?

Just because it looks like nothing's happening, doesn't mean nothing is.

I wouldn't want you adopting slothful habits.

MUSIC: 'Little Children' by Billy J. Kramer

# Little children you better not tell on me

# I'm telling you

Got any string?

# You better not tell What you see... #

- Elastic band. - Perfect.

JULIAN: Come here, little doggy.

GRUNTS

- You can't! Give her to me! - Oh, she'd love it!

Poor little dog don't get much fun.

No, she wouldn't. Give her to me! Tell him, Trevor!

Don't be so wet. He's only kidding.

LAUGHS SOFTLY

MUSIC: 'Long Live Love' by Sandie Shaw

HUMMING TO MUSIC

# I have waited a long, long time

# For somebody to call mine...

- Hiya, Maggie. - Hello.

I've come to ask a favour.

Yeah?

Oh, no! Definitely not!

What?

I'm not taking part in the play.

Oh, no, no. It-it's not that, it's erm...

Well, you know this weekend away you're going to have.

- Yeah? - Could I come?

What, you and Neil?

No, just me.

Well, it's nowt special, you know?

It's just a crummy old caravan on the coast.

Sounds wonderful.

OK.

I mean, yeah, of course you can.

MUSIC CONTINUES

I don't want to be a nuisance or anything.

No, you won't. I was only going on my own because Debbie let me down.

It'd be really nice.

Am I allowed to ask why?

Well, er, I just fancied a break. That's all.

Well, great then.

- OK, bye. - Ta-ra.

I'll, er, bring my bucket and spade, shall I?

You won't have time for sandcastles.

We'll be up all night dancing and picking up fellas!

LAUGHS NERVOUSLY

KNOCKING SOFTLY

Come in.

Oh, Jackie, love. I-I'm sorry to trouble you.

I just wondered if I could have a quick word?

- Yes, of course. Take a seat. - No, I won't stop.

I've got a bit of a cold. It's just...

Could you tell me whether I have to have planning permission

to keep a-a sort of railway truck in one of my fields?

I think we'd better sit down.

No, if you did that, you'd have to put the meter on, wouldn't you?

Of course. How else am I supposed to earn a living?

I thought just like, you know,

as a favour you could just give me a yes or no.

It depends on what you're going to use it for.

For holidaymakers.

To use it residentially you need permission.

If you have it as part of a collection or use it for storage,

you won't need planning permission.

Well, thank you...

SNEEZES

Haven't you got a handkerchief, Claude?

I'm not allowed to lend it to anybody!

Anyway, thanks very much, love.

COUGHS VIOLENTLY

I just need to be on my own.

Maggie, that's exactly what happened before!

You not communicating.

You're trying to keep everything to yourself,

and me stuck on the outside somewhere.

SIGHS HEAVILY

We've got to learn to share things.

KISSES

Not run away from each other.

SIGHS

SIGHS

I do understand how you feel.

- Do you? - Yes.

Yes.

Don't go.

Please.

Oh, Neil, it's all arranged.

MUSIC: 'Lohengrin' by Wagner

TELEPHONE RINGING

PAN CLATTERS

RINGING CONTINUES

RADIO OFF

Aidensfield Police.

Have you called the fire brigade?

I'll be there in a minute.

TELEPHONE RECEIVER CLATTERS

FLAMES CRACKLING

BIKE ENGINE REVVING

ENGINE OFF

CRASHING

SLOW MELANCHOLY MUSIC

STEAM TRAIN CHUGGING

Come on!

That was close. I thought you'd stood me up!

MAGGIE: No fear!

Don't worry, Neil. I'll look after her. Ta-ra.

Bye.

WINDOW CLOSES

GUARD'S WHISTLE TOOTS

MUSIC CONTINUES

TRAIN CHUGGING

CRADDOCK: Things seem to be escalating, Bradley.

MIKE: Looks like it, Sarge. I found this here last night.

SNIFFS Smells like petrol.

Any witnesses?

Er, Mr Sanders thinks he saw some kids here earlier.

Did he recognise them?

He reckons one of them could be Trevor Chivers.

Ah. Well, you'd better go and find him then.

GINA LAUGHS AND SCREAMS

Come on, I'll race you to the end!

DOG BARKING

MUSIC: 'Albatross' by Fleetwood Mac

Oh! Don't start getting all middle-aged on me!

Cheek! I've just got a bit of a headache, that's all.

Get some fresh air inside you then.

Come on, deep breaths.

Oh, what's the matter, Maggie?

You've hardly said a word since we left Aidensfield.

Have you and Neil had a row or something?

-No. - Well, what, then?

Oh...

- It's nothing. - Come on.

I said nothing, Gina.

I didn't come away to be interrogated.

And I didn't come away to drag around an old misery guts.

Cheer up, will ya?

I know. Let's go and have some pie and chips.

DOG BARKS

GINA: What's the matter?

Do you think we could head back, Gina?

I'm just feeling a bit queasy that's all.

Yeah! 'Course we can.

Thanks.

DOG BARKING

So when's it due, then?

You're not, are ya?

Really?!

Hey! That's brilliant news!

GINA LAUGHS

Why didn't you tell me before?

TELEPHONE RINGING

HAMMERING

TELEPHONE RINGING

HAMMERING CONTINUES

TELEPHONE RINGING

Aidensfield Post Office.

Well, what number are you calling?

Well, er, no. That's not First Class Holidays.

That's a public telephone box.

And no, I'm afraid there's no deluxe holiday accommodation there.

Just a tatty old railway carriage in the middle of a rubbish tip.

And I sincerely hope you haven't sent Mr Greengrass any money.

CHUCKLES

KNOCKING

BIRDS TWITTERING AND CALLING

MIKE: We were wondering if we could have a quick word with Trevor?

What about?

There was a fire down at Sander's Farm.

So you rushed straight up here, did ya?

No, we didn't just rush straight up here.

He was seen down there just before it happened.

Did anyone see him light it?

-No. - But you race straight up here?

Has it occurred to you I might just want to ask if he saw anyone

or anything suspicious?

Was he at, er... Was he at home yesterday evening?

And if I say he wasn't, I suppose you'll assume he's done it!

When you see him, just ask him to come have a chat.

Ah. Thanks very much. Very helpful(!)

Perhaps I should just hang around.

See if I can catch him when he comes back.

Good luck, Alf.

Well, he seems fine enough now but...

There we are. You keep an eye on him.

These tummy things can come and go.

He's been a bit unsettled since we moved.

What about you? Has moving affected you?

SCOFFS

Just a bit.

You seem a bit low.

Well, Archie lost his job.

And our flat was repossessed so...

When Mum died, it seemed sensible.

Well, essential, actually, to move here.

But we're a bit cooped up.

And Archie's very tense.

He's determined to carry on with his writing.

Hasn't earned him a penny, but he won't see sense.

And he and Julian pretty much hate each other and...

LAUGHS WRYLY You know?

I suppose some periods of our lives are harder than others.

Eventually you'll look back on the tough times

and tell your grandchildren they were the happiest of your life.

Yeah, you're right. People always do that.

Do you think they just forget how terrible things really were?

I think so, yes.

Right, I must go.

Stella, don't hesitate to call if you need me, OK?

That's... either of you.

Thanks.

TRANQUIL MUSIC

SEAGULLS CRYING

GINA: You'll feel better after that.

It's the best thing for morning sickness.

Come on, then, what does Neil say?

Oh, he's pleased.

So why was he looking so miserable at the station?

It's complicated.

What do you mean?

Oh, we decided some time ago not to have children.

Not to have children? What, so this is a mistake?

Yes.

But babies are lovely.

Mmm. I know.

And everything's perfect.

You've got a nice house, a nice husband.

- And you're not hard up. - I know, I know.

Is it the actual giving birth that worries you? Is that it?

'Cause I'm sure you'll be fine.

Yes, I'm sure I would.

SEAGULLS CRYING

I was last time.

What?

Neil and I had a baby six years ago.

He...

He died when he was three months old.

That's why I don't want another.

Don't want to risk it.

Oh, Maggie.

Gina, nobody in Aidensfield knows this.

No, no, I won't tell anyone. Of course not!

Oh, Maggie, I'm so sorry.

Well, anyway, there it is.

Come on, I'll get this.

Are you ready?

CLAUDE COUGHING VIOLENTLY

LOW BUZZ OF CONVERSATION

Hi, Mary. Give us a large...

SNEEZES VIOLENTLY

- CLAUDE: Scotch please, Mary. - MARY: It's a bad cold, Claude.

It's not. It's a very good one.

SNEEZES

I thought I heard you, Greengrass.

Why don't you come a bit closer?

With a bit of luck you might catch summat.

No thanks. I've had enough trouble fielding your telephone calls.

How do you mean?

Someone trying to get in touch with First Class Holidays

It seems nobody was manning the switchboard

in that private telephone box of yours.

Had to pick it up, did you? What did they want?

Not much, after I described the standard of accommodation.

I don't think they'll be troubling you again.

Thank you for nothing as usual! They were my first customers.

And hopefully your last!

The sooner you shift that monstrosity, the better.

Is that so?

Well, for your information I've taken the option on another .

And I don't need planning permission to keep them as a collection

or to use them for storage.

Yeah, so you can put that in your bin and burn it.

Oh, please. SNEEZES

# MUSIC: 'I Remember You' by Frank Ifield

# I remember you

# You're the one who made my dreams come true

# A few kisses ago

# I remember you

# You're the one who said I love you too, yes, I do

TREVOR: See you!

# Didn't you know?

# I remember, too... #

- Gotcha! - Get off! I haven't done anything.

I think you'd better come with me, young lad.

Get off! Let me go! I've not done anything!

MUSIC FADES

TELEPHONES RINGING

KNOCKS LIGHTLY

Ah, Miss Lambert.

Greengrass says he can use the carriage for storage

without planning permission.

Yes, well, as I said to Mr Greengrass,

I don't want to discuss this matter any more

except on a professional basis.

Oh, I see. Well, how much?

Four guineas... for a consultation.

Four guineas?

How do I know the information you give me is worth that much?

TELEPHONE RINGS That's a risk you'll have to take.

Hello?

Have you?

Is he? Well, he shouldn't! I'm on my way.

So, do you think it's worth the gamble?

There we are, you're on. Four pounds and four shillings.

Thank you.

COINS CLINK

There you are. That should please you.

FOOTSTEPS RECEDING

?

I was with Julian.

- Where? - At his house.

Mr Sanders said he saw you at the hayrick.

Maybe, but then we went to Julian's house.

The fire was nothing to do with me.

DOOR OPENS

FOOTSTEPS APPROACHING

The solicitor is here. Wants to have a word.

When you call a duty solicitor,

it would be polite to wait until they arrive, wouldn't it?

They were quite happy to help us with our enquiries.

Is my client under arrest?

Not yet.

So you don't have sufficient evidence to charge him?

CRADDOCK: As I said...

Then I suggest you contact us againwhen you have

a properly-constructed case for my client to answer.

Sergeant.

BLAKETON: Here we are, Bellamy.

It clearly states under the parish bylaw dated ,

that no carriage shall be driven more than five yards

onto common land or open moor.

Yeah...

But that would be a horse and carriage.

Isn't it?

It says carriage.

Now, if that railway carriage isn't a carriage,

I'd like to know what is!

BRAKES SQUEAL

HANDBRAKE PULLS UP

ENGINE OFF

- Sorry, I got held up. - Finally!

I'll get Rupert.

Are you going to your auntie's looking like that?

When did 'you' last look in a mirror?

CAR APPROACHING

GROANS Oh, who is that?

WHEEZING COUGH

CAR APPROACHING

RUNNING FOOTSTEPS

PHIL: Claude!

CLAUDE COUGHS AND WHEEZES

CLAUDE SNEEZES VIOLENTLY

Greengrass!

CLAUDE MUTTERING

Wha... What are you doing here?

Your railway carriage is breaking the law, Claude.

CLAUDE: Can't you see I'm dying?

Under the Aidensfield parish council bylaw dated ...

I... I... I'll get my solicitor onto it.

She can only work for one of us, and she's working for me.

You've paid her? You... You...

GROANS You must be desperate.

Be that as it may, you've got hours to shift it.

I can't.

I've lent it to that new bloke, Archie Roberts.

I've rented it to him for storage.

David's putting his stuff in at the moment.

He'll just have to move it out again, won't he?

GROANS

Evening, Betty.

Hello, Trevor. What are you doing here?

Keeping out of trouble.

ARCHIE: Sorry, everyone.

Ah. Good, you're here, Mike.

Let's just crack straight on with the boat building scene, shall we?

Er... Er...

Hang on a minute. Have you found me a new wife?

Er, but...

Maggie asked me, as a favour.

SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC

BRAKES SQUEAL

RUPERT FUSSING

RUPERT WAILING

It's all right, sweetheart, yeah.

RUPERT WAILING

Be a brave boy and Mummy will be back in a sec, OK?

WAILING CONTINUES

MUSIC BOX PLAYING TUNE

RUPERT: Mummy!

WAILING CONTINUES

I'm just popping down to Mrs Carter's to phone for Dr Bolton.

JULIAN: All right.

MUSIC BOX PLAYING TUNE

RUPERT: Mummy!

RUPERT WAILING

FOREBODING MUSIC

RUPERT CRYING INSIDE

LAUGHTER

I don't know what I'm gonna say to Neil,

but that bloke with the ginger hair really fancied you!

BOTH LAUGH

Oh! MAGGIE LAUGHING

Ooh, I'll put the kettle on!

MAGGIE: Ooh! Brrr!

MAGGIE SIGHS

- Thanks ever so much, Gina. - What for?

Ah, you know, putting up with me.

LAUGHS

Taking me out of myself.

It's really good talking to somebody who's outside of it all.

Yeah, and being outside of it all,

I can tell you straight, it's gonna be fine.

Do you really think so?

Yeah.

You and Neil are gonna have a lovely baby.

And he'll be a great dad and you'll be a great mum.

And you'll love it all so much, you'll probably have half a dozen!

BOTH LAUGH

FLAMES CRACKLING

MUSIC BOX PLAYING TUNE

OMINOUS MUSIC

I'll just try ringing once more.

DIALLING

I love you. Of course I do. I think.

You think?

JACKIE: Yes. But I don't see why...

Stuart, for heaven's sake!

There's another fire! Look!

PEOPLE EXCLAIMING

STUART: Over there.

FLAMES CRACKLING

Fire! Fire!

STELLA: Oh, God!

Rupert!

Rupert!

CAR APPROACHING AT SPEED

Rupert!

FLAMES WHOOSH

GASPS

NEIL: Stella?

Doctor, Rupert's in there!

- NEIL: Where? - In his bedroom!

GLASS SHATTERS

CRASHING

CAR APPROACHING

Stand back! Come on, move! Move!

STELLA: My child's in there! The doctor's gone in to get him.

Neil! Neil!

Somebody get a ladder, quick!

You two... You two go check around the back.

Oi! Hey!

ARCHIE: He's my child!

It's my child!

expl*si*n

RUPERT WAILING

GLASS SHATTERS

RUPERT WAILING

Oh, God! Oh, Rupert!

SOBS

Bless you, Julian.

Mummy! WAILS

Take him to Mrs Carter's.

RUPERT SCREAMING

CRASHING

GLASS SHATTERS

Neil!

YELLS No!

RUPERT CONTINUES WAILING

RUPERT: Mummy!

SOMBRE MUSIC

You did everything you could.

Could have done more to find out who's behind it all.

W-we've got to contact Maggie.

Mary at the pub would know. I'd...

I'd better erm...

You'd better sit down and finish your tea.

Mr Bradley!

Could we have a word?

SOMBRE MUSIC CONTINUES

SEAGULLS CRYING

Wakey-wakey!

GINA GROANS

- What time is it? - Nine.

Ohh... I'm having a lie-in.

I know. I'm sorry.

Gina, I've got to go home.

What?!

I've been up for hours.

Just walking about, thinking.

What on earth am I doing here? I ought to be with Neil.

Oh, that's what I've been saying all along.

Yes, well, I see it now.

I was sitting on the front a short while ago and...

And there was this couple with a baby.

And I thought, if only I could let go of the past,

that could be me and Neil.

And it could be great.

SIGHS

Suddenly, for the first time since James died,

I felt... optimistic.

And what you said about Neil was right.

I do love him and he loves me and...

Well, that's worth a lot.

- Did I say all that? - Yes, you did!

Then I realised how much I was missing him.

And I thought, oh well...

I've got to hurry home and tell him how sorry I am.

Good.

And that I'm sure now.

What about the baby?

Yes, I think so.

Well, you'd better get back there quick

and say it before you forget it then!

Well, I'll go and pack.

- I can't wait to see him. - Mmm...

Now you've gone all sloppy on me!

CHUCKLES SOFTLY

Yeah, and the hayrick, that was Julian's idea.

I tried to stop him, but I couldn't.

What about the last one? The house?

I was at the village hall. Couldn't have been me, could it?

No, Trevor. You were at the village hall.

But what about Julian?

Julian Stephens, I'm arresting you on suspicion of arson.

You can't be serious?

At Aidensfield Post Office, at Half Mile Farm,

and last night at Green End Terrace.

ARCHIE: This is ridiculous!

I didn't do it!

You've got to believe me!

Mum, tell them I didn't do it!

It wasn't me.

SOMBRE MUSIC

SOMBRE MUSIC CONTINUES

Mary, erm...

I've got to let Maggie know.

Do you know how I can contact Gina?

Maggie rang this morning.

She'd been trying to contact Neil so he could meet her off the train.

I just froze.

I didn't know what to say.

Do you think I should've told her, Mike?

No. No.

You did... You did fine.

Just fine.

I'll meet her off the train.

FOOTSTEPS RECEDING

DOOR OPENS

We have a written statement from your friend Trevor Chivers.

He says you both were responsible for the two fires.

Dustbin at the post office and the hayrick.

Last night, he was at the village hall all evening.

You were at home unattended.

Another fire broke out and a man was k*lled.

What do you have to say about that?

I didn't do it. I didn't start the fire.

Not very happy about your mother's new relationship, are you?

SCOFFS

No.

And Rupert, the child your mother had with Archie,

are you happy with him?

Yeah, he's all right.

You think I was trying to hurt him, do you?

Why would I go back inside and rescue him then?

Go back in? Your mother said you were inside, but you went out?

Yeah. Wandered down the lane a bit.

When I came back, the fire was already up the side of the house.

So I ran straight in, got Rupert, and took him out the back.

Why not go straight to the front door?

There was fire downstairs already. I just wanted to get to my mum.

I took Rupert along the back lane as everybody was coming out the front,

so we missed each other.

SIGHS

DOOR OPENS

What do you think?

- MIKE: I don't know, Sarge. - CRADDOCK: Nor me.

I just called in, to see if there was anything I can do.

I don't think so.

If you'd like me to meet Maggie off the train, I will.

No, I-I'll do that. But er, thanks, Oscar.

Oscar?

Has that carriage gone yet?

No, not yet.

It'll take a while to organise, I suppose.

Archie can hardly move his stuff back home, can he?

What stuff would that be, then?

DOORS CLICKS CLOSED

Stella, erm... Is it all right if I ask you a couple of questions?

Of course.

Erm, did you go out last night?

Yeah, for a while. We were meant to spend the evening at my sister's.

But then Rupert took sick again so I came straight back.

Had Archie left for the village hall when you returned?

Yes.

Where was Archie in the afternoon?

Erm... Tidying the sheds.

Then he went for a drive I think.

Do you know where he went?

No.

- Why? - Oh, er, I'm...

I'm just trying to get a complete picture of when and how, you know?

It's not looking very good, I'm afraid, Archie.

I'm sure Miss Lambert has already told you

we have enough evidence to charge Julian on two counts of arson.

It's pretty clear in my mind

that a jury will convict him for last night's fire as well.

And that one's m*rder.

Just a minute!

If he admits it and cooperates with us,

it all probably lead to a lesser charge of manslaughter.

Do you want me to talk to him?

Now, look! I'm his solicitor. You can't just...

Jackie, we're not asking or advising anything.

I was just wondering if Archie wanted to help Julian.

You see...

Julian is adamant he didn't start last night's fire.

And I think I know the reason for that.

And I think Archie does, too.

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

You moved all your papers, your writing work,

and your most valuable pieces of furniture up to Greengrass.

I was clearing the place out to make a study.

It was Stella's idea. Ask her.

I did. She didn't know you'd moved your stuff out.

And if you were making a study,

surely the last thing you'd move would be your writing work?

Into the house maybe to give yourself room to clear up,

but all the way to Greengrass?

Unless you wanted to burn the house down and claim insurance.

CRADDOCK: Risking the lives of your wife and child in the process.

This is rubbish! You can't prove any of it.

MIKE: Maybe.

But are you prepared to let Julian suffer for what you've done?

You didn't know who was behind the other fires, did you?

Well...

No, I had no idea.

You didn't know he'd take the blame for this one, but he might.

He just might.

Can you really live with that?

MIKE: With Stella?

All right.

And you'll let Julian go?

With a caution. The same as Trevor.

I had no idea Stella and the kids would be there.

They were all going out, out for the evening.

I didn't mean anyone to get hurt.

Not them.

Not the doctor.

KEYS JANGLING

FOOTSTEPS APPROACHING

I'm sorry, Stella.

FOOTSTEPS ECHOING

GATE CLANGS

It's good to keep busy, isn't it?

Yeah.

But it doesn't stop you thinking, though.

Is this you wondering if you could have saved Neil?

Yeah.

And wondering what I'm gonna tell Maggie.

Oh, Mike.

If I hadn't tried to be so clever and got Trevor out of your clutches

he'd have admitted to the first fires.

With him arrested, Archie would never have tried his little gambit.

-Maybe. - So don't crucify yourself.

I'm not.

But it doesn't make it any easier, does it?

I've still got to stand on that platform

and tell Maggie her husband's dead.

You did a good job today.

MUSIC: 'Day Is Done' By Nick Drake

KISSES

I'll be thinking of you.

# When the day is done

# Down to earth then sinks the sun

# Along with everything that was lost and won

# When the day is done

# When the day is done

# Hope so much your race will be all run

# Then you find you've jumped the g*n

# You have to go back where you began

# When the day is done

# When the night is cold

# Some get by, but some get old

# Just to show life's not made of gold

# When the night is cold

# When the bird has flown

# Got no-one to call your own

# Got no place to call your home

# When the bird has flown

MUSIC CONTINUES

# When the game's been fought

# Newspaper blown across the court

# Lost much sooner than you would have thought

# Now the game's been fought

# When the part is through

# Seems so very sad for you

# Didn't do the things you meant to do

# Now there's no time to start anew

# Now the part is through

# When the day is done

# Down to earth then sinks the sun

# Along with everything

# That was lost and won

# When the day is done #