13x13 - Dangerous Whispers

[bunniefuu]

♪ Heartbeat

♪ Why do you miss

♪ When my baby kisses me?

♪ Heartbeat

♪ Why does a love kiss

♪ Stay in my memory? ♪

FAST-PACED MUSIC PLAYS

MUSIC WINDS DOWN

Her folks have been cut off the phone.

So Gina and I can't even get to talk.

They're quite up-to-date, Liverpool, I hear.

They've got phone boxes and everything.

Of course she's tried, but we keep missing each other.

And you can't conduct a relationship by phone box.

If there still is a relationship to conduct.

Hey, come on. I'll buy you a pint.

LIZ: Cough for me.

COUGHS WHEEZILY

And again.

COUGHS WHEEZILY

Thank you.

Can't seem to shift it no-how.

It's bronchitis, I'm afraid.

I'll prescribe you an antibiotic. Should help clear it up.

Make sure you complete the course.

The damp and that doesn't help.

- The damp? - In the cottage.

The whole place leaks. We've got a big patch in the bedroom.

You're in the tied cottages, aren't you?

- On the Ashfordly Estate? - Aye.

We've reported the problem. Nowt ever gets done about it.

The whole place needs a good shake up.

Needs to move with the times, Ashfordly Estate.

You wouldn't be saying that if it were your job on the line.

It doesn't mean you don't lose your job, Jake,

just because Lord Ashfordly's appointed a new land agent.

He's come in with a reputation as a hatchet man.

There's whole families fighting for livelihoods.

Some of those families have worked on the estate for generations.

There'll be a right rumpus if he starts laying folk off.

VERNON: It's only the slackers that need to look out.

Anyone that does a decent day's graft has got nothing to fear.

It's a good job you don't work there, then.

All I want to tell her, Alf, is how much I miss her,

and that I'm overwhelmed with joy at the thought of becoming a dad.

- Well, you should. - I've tried.

But when we do manage to talk, all we seem to discuss is

how's the weather over there and is Oscar missing her behind the bar.

I know. It's not easy.

Anyroad... Mrs Ventress is expecting me.

I sometimes wish that she was the other side of the Pennine Chain.

Evening, Mr Bellamy.

Nat.

Look, you go on, Alf.

I think that man has something for me.

Oh. Right.

See you, Oscar.

You know I'm straight these days, Mr Bellamy.

Straightish, to be more accurate.

Fair enough. But I don't get involved with anything too dodgy.

Oh, just spit it out, Nat.

It's known I'm handy behind the wheel of a car.

Which is why I still get approached to do getaway work.

- Which I always turn down. - Of course.

There's a g*ng up from London

looking for a driver who knows the local roads.

I told 'em to get lost.

They upped the money.

I still said no. They weren't too pleased.

They've been following me.

They're heavy duty, Mr Bellamy. They've got g*ns.

Right. Tell me everything you know about the job they're planning,

when it's due to go off. Everything.

An armed robbery in the Ashfordly area, two or three days' time.

Bellamy... Gina on the phone from Liverpool.

Oh, right.

Look, Nat... I've got to take this call.

Just hang on a minute. All right?

No... we've not had much rain here either.

Actually, love, when are you planning on coming back?

Gina?

Well, look, Gina, give me your number and I'll call you back.

Gina? G...

LINE GOES DEAD

- Where's he gone to? - No idea.

An armed robbery! And you waltz off to talk to your girlfriend!

Sorry, Sarge. We just kept missing each other

every time she tried to phone.

I'm not interested! A snout giving you information like that!

You should have stuck to him like glue!

We know he wants to talk to Phil, sarge.

It's just a question of waiting for him to make contact again.

Oh, no, it isn't. It's a question of getting round to his house now

and squeezing every last detail out of him.

I'm sorry, Sarge, I promised Nat I wouldn't contact him at home.

I might expose him as an informer.

I don't care. We need hard information, and fast! Move it!

Crane! You know what this Nat Wilmott looks like, don't you?

'Fraid not, Sarge. Before my time.

All right. Ventress.

In case he's not at home, you check out his haunts in town.

Nick him if necessary. But get him in here!

Right, Sarge.

Needed to talk to his girlfriend. It's unbelievable!

MAN: There's tiles missing off all these roofs. Water seeps in.

- You say you've reported this? - To the agent.

He were more interested in the wellbeing of the estate's livestock

than its workforce.

They say there's a new man taken over.

They reckon this one going to be even tighter about spending money.

GOES INTO COUGHING FIT

Well, he's going to have to do something.

This is a definite health risk.

MUSIC: 'Man Of Mystery' by The Shadows

Ben! Welcome! Spot on time, too!

- Very good! - Thank you, My Lord.

- It's good to be here. - Good to see you.

Come on in. How was your journey?

Fine, thank you, yes. Lord Arran sends his regards.

- Ah! How is he? - Very well.

What impressed me at the interview

was your keenness to get to grips with figures.

Paperwork, and so forth.

Estate management is like any business.

If the books don't balance we're all in trouble.

Well, good. Excellent.

Last chap I had never seemed to grasp that.

To be frank...

The whole way we manage things here needs a jolly good sort-out.

You've a free hand.

I relish the challenge.

Right, well, let's take a spin round the estate, shall we?

- Show you what's what. - Great.

VERNON: That's typical of this country.

BERNIE: What is?

Piece here about Lord Elsinby.

He transformed his country estate from a medieval mausoleum

into one of the country's favourite fun parks.

I've been there. They've got one of those safari parks.

With wild animals, and that.

You know. Lions, tigers. Gerbils.

Well, the gerbils aren't in... They're in the children's zoo.

Anyway, he had the lot. Funfair, miniature railway, go-karting...

An entrepreneurial man of vision who moved with the times

and made himself a few bob.

What are you getting het up about, then?

He popped his clogs last month

and the family are facing crippling death duties.

They're gonna have to sell off the whole estate.

What, even the gerbils?

Yes, David. Even the flaming gerbils!

That's the trouble with this country.

If you do get off your backside and actually achieve something,

they penalise you! - You've got no worries there, then.

Says they can't sell the estate as a whole.

They're gonna have to flog it off in bits and pieces.

Although thinking about it...

That might just represent an opportune and timely venture.

Oh, dear.

He's just got off his backside. Always a worrying sign, is that.

MUSIC: 'Look Through Any Window' by The Hollies

♪ Look through any window, yeah

♪ What do you see?

♪ Smiling faces all around

♪ Rushing through the busy town

♪ (Where do they go) Moving on their way

♪ Walking down the highways and the byways

♪ (Where do they go?)

Nat! Are you there?

It's Phil Bellamy. I need to talk.

Nat!

Mrs Wilmott, are you in there?

Hello?

♪ Oh, you can see the little ladies

♪ In their gowns when you

♪ Look through any window, yeah

♪ Any time of day

♪ See the drivers on the roads

♪ Pulling down their heavy loads... ♪

Right, Phil. I'll tell him.

Over and out.

Phil says there's no-one in at the Wilmotts' house.

He's left a note asking him to contact us as soon as possible.

- What about Ventress? - Nothing.

DOOR CLOSES

Morning, madam. How can I help you?

It's my husband, he's disappeared.

How do you mean, disappeared?

Well, he's not been back all night.

Missing for just the one night?

Yeah. But he's never done it before.

If I may be frank, madam, in our experience,

if a man doesn't come home to his wife,

it's usually for one of three reasons. A domestic row...

Or he's got into an all-night drinking session with his pals...

Or possibly he's with another woman.

No. My Nat and I don't row. And he never drinks to excess.

And he reckons dealing with one woman at a time

is enough for any man.

Did you say Nat?

Nat Wilmott, my husband.

He's disappeared! I'm very concerned!

As I said on the telephone,

I've always put a high priority on the welfare of my employees, Doctor.

It hasn't been very effective.

Those cottages are terribly run down.

That's exactly why I've hired Ben Norton. He's got the right pedigree.

Top degree from agricultural college.

Second in command on the huge Arran estate. And first class references.

Now, do go in.

Leave it to us, Mrs Wilmott. Let us know immediately if he does show up.

Yeah. Thanks.

Right. Details of his car and plate number. I'll put out an alert on it.

Make enquiries. Known acquaintances, cronies in pubs, the bookies etc.

- Right, Sarge. - And you, Ventress.

But you'll need someone to work the radio and answer the phones.

Oh, no, I won't.

I need you all on your feet and out in the streets. Find him!

Ah! Ben.

I'd like you to meet our local GP, Dr Liz Merrick.

Pleased to meet you, Mr Norton.

I'd say the pleasure's entirely mine.

Liz is a bit concerned about the state of some of the tied cottages,

how they might be affecting the health of her patients.

Ah, yes...

I've unearthed a couple of letters

from what I take to be my predecessor's correspondence file.

I'm afraid the last chap wasn't too strong on the paperwork, Liz.

Tiles missing, leaky roofs, damp in bedrooms, that it?

Yes. I've seen it for myself.

It's disgraceful to expect people to live in those conditions.

Hm. I agree.

I'm formulating a proposal to deal with the whole matter.

There you are, you see? On the ball already. We'll leave you to it, Ben.

I'd give it urgent priority.

For a doctor as charming as you, it shouldn't be a problem.

Mr Norton, please don't patronise me.

Bronchitis is nothing to smile about.

Actually, for a woman, I gather she's a damn good doctor.

SONG: 'That's Right, Baby' by Marianne Faithfull

♪ That's right, baby

♪ It seems to me you've won

♪ Sleep tight, baby

♪ You had a lot of fun

♪ Try to make a fool out of me

♪ And I'm the fool who just couldn't see. ♪

Ah, Blaketon!

I'd like you to meet my new right-hand man, Ben Norton.

- Ah, how do you do? - How do you do?

Thought I'd introduce him to the local watering hole.

Two pints of Best, I think, if you'd be so kind.

Just a half for me, thanks. I want to get stuck in this afternoon.

Keen as mustard, this fella.

He'll shake the place up, I can tell you!

- That's a good thing, is it? - The bank seems to think so, yes.

Apparently I need some figures in black on my statement.

So these rumours about redundancies could be true, then?

I'm assessing all aspects of management.

But if we need to rationalise the workforce

to produce a leaner business environment, then we will.

In plain English...

That's yes, then.

Come on, Oscar, that's confidential.

Let's take a pew, shall we, Ben?

Er, Mr Norton.

Vernon Scripps.

Lord Ashfordly knows me as one of the driving forces

of the business community here in Aidensfield.

Right. Good to meet you.

It's a pleasure to hear we've got a man of vision and enterprise

at Ashfordly Hall. - I don't know about that.

My brief is simply to put things on a more commercial basis.

So you'd be open to any money-making ideas,

appropriate for an estate of that size.

Definitely.

If you've a proposition, my door, as they say, is always open. Excuse me.

Yes...

Yes, he's very promising.

Hm.

Seems to me his plan to balance the books

is just simply throw people out of work.

These old estates, Oscar, have got to evolve.

You've got to move with the times.

Sarge.

He's not been seen by anyone in the town since yesterday.

But he's a survivor, is Nat.

- He'll be all right. - It's not him I'm worried about.

We've a prospect of an armed raid here in the next couple of days

and no idea what the target is.

Banks, post offices, warehouses, firms with wages deliveries.

We can't watch out for them all.

Couldn't we get Division to draft in more men, Sarge?

I was hoping we'd find Nat Wilmott first.

Then I'd have something firmer to tell them.

As it is, I have to inform HQ there may be a robbery planned

but we've no detail on it.

Embarrassing, given the reasons for our lack of information.

KNOCK Come in.

There's a Jake Clarke, forester on the estate, asking to see you.

Can't he wait till surgery?

He knows you've seen Lord Ashfordly about the tied cottages

and he's got something to tell you about them.

OK.

No, please stay. The more folk know what's going on, the better.

It's a confidential memo from the new agent Norton to Lord Ashfordly.

Seems Norton's got a plan for doing up the tied cottages on the estate.

Well, they need doing up, don't they?

Tell her, Doctor. Tell her what his little plan is.

Mr Norton is recommending

that the tenants be moved out while renovation takes place.

Their jobs would go under labour force rationalisation.

And the renovated cottages would be rented out

as profitable holiday lets.

Where did you get this?

Someone on the house staff got it to me.

Now, don't tell anyone I give it to you. My job could be at risk.

I just thought you should know what's afoot, Doctor.

No, I appreciate it's not much to go on, sir.

But the source is usually reliable.

Well, I'm afraid my officer was called away on other business

for a moment and...

Yes, sir.

No backup without concrete info. Understood.

Yes, I'll call you as soon as we have anything definite.

Elsinby Estates? Ah, good afternoon.

Vernon Scripps here,

Managing Director of Scripps Business Environments.

We should refuse to work till Ashfordly gets rid of him.

CRIES OF ASSENT

Hang on a minute, Jake. You've all got families to feed.

Striking now will bring misery to you

sooner than it will to Lord Ashfordly.

So we let him get away with turfing people like Wilf here

out of their homes and out their jobs?

I'm just suggesting you get legal advice

on tenancy rights, employment rights.

Then you'll know where you stand.

Who's going to pay? Ashfordly has an army of lawyers to fight his corner.

No. I say we hit him where it hurts, in his pocket!

Down tools! Without a workforce, that estate's unmanageable.

Jake, before you take a step like that

you should talk to Lord Ashfordly.

When he sees the strength of your feeling, he may reconsider.

He's hired Norton to get rid of workers

and use their homes for profit.

We want Norton out and the best way to do that is to strike!

CRIES OF ASSENT

Lord Ashfordly's a decent man. Somebody should talk to him.

OSCAR: He may be a decent man but what about the new bloke?

What did you make of him?

JENNY: They're all very angry, Dennis. And every right to be.

Things could turn ugly on Ashfordly Estate.

Great. That's all I need.

Had a bad day?

Got a dressing-down from HQ, that's all.

Why?

Phil Bellamy was being given a tip-off about an armed robbery.

He broke off to take a phone call from Gina.

Can you credit it?

By the time he'd finished whispering sweet nothings the snout had gone.

I had to cover for him when I reported to Division. Stupid idiot.

That's a bit harsh.

Why? It was an idiotic thing to do.

People have private lives as well.

Gina's pregnant with his baby.

I can understand why he'd want to talk to her.

Maybe, but not if it puts lives at risk.

It's a question of priorities.

And the job's always a priority for you.

We've been here before, haven't we?

You know, I'm really glad that Phil puts his wife-to-be

and future child before work.

And if I rang you from Liverpool or someplace,

I hope you might at least be bothered to say hello,

whatever you were doing.

DOOR SLAMS

PHONE RINGS

Yes. Merton.

Steve. Yes. What is it?

It's abandoned in a field off the old Whitby road.

No, there's no sign of Nat.

But there are bloodstains in the car.

There are several sets of footprints, Sarge.

Possibly he was abducted after a struggle,

dragged to another vehicle, then away.

Whoever these people are, seems like they mean business.

I could tell he was frightened.

I should never have left him.

This is not your fault, Phil.

Not much for Forensics to go on.

If they've done him any harm I'll never forgive myself.

They won't harm him too much if they want him to drive the getaway car.

They may have given up on that.

Could just be holding him so he doesn't blab before the robbery.

And afterwards? He knows too much.

Nat said they were a London g*ng, didn't he?

Yeah.

They must be in temporary accommodation locally.

Where? Hotel? Guest house? B&B? Rented cottage?

Come on. We haven't much time.

Got a lot on today. I could do with David staying here

and giving me a hand.

I need him in a chauffeuring capacity, Bernard.

I want to make the right impression.

Who with?

This is some nonsense to do with the Elsinby fun park, in't it?

It is not nonsense, Bernard.

Entertainment is a big part of the business environment

on posh estates today. - Vernon...

If you want to create the right impression,

you should go dressed as a clown.

Is that where we're going, Mr Vernon? Elsinby Hall?

Yes, David.

Well, can we go and see the gerbils?

Just get in and drive, will you?

CAR APPROACHES

Morning, Doctor.

- Mr Norton. - Please, call me Ben.

I'm on my way to see Lord Ashfordly.

He's not here, I'm afraid. Away on business till tomorrow. Can I help?

Can we speak in your office?

Be a pleasure. See you there.

You'll have to excuse the mess, I'm afraid. I'm getting there.

- Offer you tea? Coffee? - Nothing, thank you.

- Have a seat. - I'll stand if that's all right.

Are you always like this?

Aren't doctors supposed to cultivate a friendly bedside manner?

Or perhaps I've done something to offend you?

Not me, but quite a few other people.

Who gave you this?

Never mind who gave it to me.

The people you're proposing to evict are my patients.

Wilf Langton has worked on this estate all his life.

He's worked hard, out in all weathers,

and hardly ever missed a day through illness.

- And how do you repay his loyalty? - Liz, listen...

Don't call me Liz, and you listen.

I don't know what sort of business ethics they teach

in agricultural college,

but I think turning hardworking people

out of their homes and jobs is appalling.

Doing it simply to exploit their homes for profit is barbaric.

Yes. Barbaric. Now, you might think that you're quite something.

But in my eyes you're not.

And that's your considered opinion, is it, Dr Merrick?

- Yes, it is. - Then I'm glad you're not my GP.

I prefer someone to make a diagnosis based on facts.

I can read, Mr Norton, and the facts speak for themselves.

You won't get away with this without a fight. I promise you that.

MUSIC: 'The Stately Homes Of England' by Noel Coward

♪ The stately homes of England

♪ How beautiful they stand

♪ To prove the upper classes have still the upper hand

♪ Though the fact that they have to be rebuilt

♪ And frequently mortgaged to the hilt

♪ Is inclined to take the gilt

♪ Off the gingerbread and certainly damps the fun

♪ Of the eldest son... ♪

Yes, a sorry story.

The family's in such a parlous state

they're even selling off Her Ladyship's jewellery.

VERNON: Really?

It's going to the prestigious Fawcett collection in New York.

Shame.

Anyway, as I said,

I have a client in the market for some of the gear you're shifting.

Most of it's spoken for already, I'm afraid, Mr Scripps.

Spoken for?

A fairground in Blackpool has bought the big wheel.

A large estate in Wiltshire is taking our safari stock.

What about the gerbils?

Gerbils?

Children's zoo in Accrington is having those, I believe.

VERNON: Never mind about the gerbils, David.

What's left?

It is quite a popular attraction.

GUARD'S WHISTLE BLOWS

Can we go round again, please?

Why not?

Well, Mr Scripps?

I'm not sure about this.

It's been very popular here. Good money-spinner.

Six carriages. Six seats in each.

Two shillings a ride. That's, er...

Three pound, twelve.

Four trips an hour.

Fourteen pound, eight shillings.

Ten hours a day, peak summer months.

That's over a hundred pounds.

What do we get for the asking price?

Everything.

Engine, carriages, track, signal box...

'Scuse me.

Is there a guard's hat and a whistle?

We'll even throw those in.

So what about... dismantling and shipping?

We'll arrange that.

Aye. Well, you've got a deal, then.

Excellent.

Dr Beeching may have closed a few railway lines down.

You'll be known for opening one up!

Can I have a go of the whistle?

Even better than that, David. You can drive it.

And then you'll be doing what you do best.

What's that?

Going round in circles all day.

TRAIN HOOTER

ALF: Ashfordly Police, Mrs Amos.

Have you had any people with London accents asking for rooms recently?

Oh. You don't do B&B anymore.

Right. No. Fine. Thanks.

- Sorry, Sarge. - We're getting nowhere, are we?

Delta Alpha-- to Control.

Yes, Steve. Go ahead.

Couple of possibilities, Sarge.

Recent lets of property to men who gave London addresses.

All right, you and Bellamy check it out. But go carefully.

'Will do, Sarge.'

He didn't offer to review the plan?

He was only interested in how I got hold of his confidential memo.

You didn't tell him?

Of course not.

So how did he justify what he's doing?

To be honest, I didn't give him much of a chance.

I'm afraid I lost my temper.

His whole attitude makes me very angry.

He seems to have made a lot of people angry.

Now we down tools from tomorrow.

We hold a demo with placards demanding that Ben Norton be sacked.

SHOUTS OF ASSENT

Well, he's always been a bit of a hothead, our Jake.

- Aye, that's true enough. - I agree with his cause.

But sometimes it's advisable to go about things with a bit of caution.

I wish you'd tell that to Vernon.

He's had another hare-brained get-rich-quick scheme.

Taken his chequebook with him.

Lumbered himself with I don't know what. I fear the worst.

Bernie. Where will it end?

CHANTING: Out! Out! Norton out!

BLOWS GUARD'S WHISTLE

OSCAR: I hope you lot haven't got much on tomorrow.

Oscar. What do you mean?

Well, the workforce over the Ashfordly Estate

are coming out on strike in the morning.

They're blocking the roads in and out of the estate.

It's going to need policing.

I heard about these cottages. What's Lord Ashfordly playing at?

I wouldn't bother.

He's not back till tomorrow.

It's the new bloke that's stirring all this up.

Seth, there's a number of trees been felled around here recently.

- Can you tell me why? - Dunno. Diseased or something.

I just do what I'm told.

Where's the chap you work with? Jake, is it? Jake Clarke?

He's gone to a meeting. Most of the estate men are at it.

Meeting?

They've got... grievances.

They think they can discuss them on the estate's time, do they?

If they're not careful,

some may find they haven't got jobs to come back to.

MUSIC: 'Don't Bring Me Down' by The Pretty Things

♪ I'm on my own

♪ Just wanna roam

♪ I tell you, no

♪ Don't want a home

♪ I wander 'round

♪ Feet off the ground

♪ I need to roam

♪ From town to town

♪ I say I think this life is grand

♪ Say I dig it, man

♪ Don't bring me down, babe

♪ Don't bring me down

♪ Don't bring me down Don't bring me down ♪

Good afternoon, sir.

Something the matter, Constable?

Just a routine call, sir. I gather you recently rented this property.

Yes, I have.

We like to say hello to visitors in our area,

especially in remote places like this.

Well, that's most reassuring.

Are you here on business or pleasure?

Entirely for pleasure.

- You come up on your own? - Yes.

The wife's strictly a beach-and-suntan sort of person.

I love to get the boots on, go up in the hills hiking.

Spotted a pair of peregrine falcons this morning.

Absolutely magnificent.

Would you like a cup of tea?

We'd love to but we have to be off.

OK. Well, erm, thanks for calling by.

Thank you.

Nice chap.

Nice car, too.

I hope that pair are as thick as they looked

cos we can do without the local law sticking their oar in at this stage,

can't we, my friend?

CHANTING: Out! Out! Norton out!

You'll not get on to Ashfordly estate today.

Appreciate if you could turn around, please. Thank you.

Norton out!

Hooray!

If there is to be a robbery it's likely to be today.

And without hard info

Division still aren't prepared to draft in extra men.

We also have the demonstration on the Ashfordly Estate.

Ventress, you'd better handle that.

You two I'd like out on patrol, showing a presence.

We can't cover everything, but park up occasionally

outside the banks, the post office etc.

These firms are expecting a wages van today, so keep an eye out.

I'll man the radio and phones and respond as backup

as and when necessary.

- Right, on you go. - Sarge.

MUSIC: 'A Fistful of Dollars' by Ennio Morricone

Right, we're on.

Security van's on its way to pick up the goodies.

Wait in that side road.

By the time the van gets there, I'll be right behind 'em.

CHANTING: Norton, out, out, out! Norton, out, out, out!

Norton, out, out, out...

What the devil's going on here?

Ask Ben Norton, My Lord.

Ben? Why?

He's planning on throwing families out of their homes.

And we're not gonna stand for it, are we, lads?

If you've got a grievance,

you come up to the Hall and discuss it in a civilised manner.

You do not stand in the road shouting at me.

JAKE: There's nothing to discuss.

Sack Norton, or we'll not go back to work!

ALL: Out! Out! Norton out! Out! Out! Norton out!

ALL: Out! Out! Norton out!

We mean it, my Lord. He goes, or you've got no workforce.

ALL: Out! Out! Out! Norton! Out! Out! Out! Norton!

ALL: Out! Out! Out! Norton! Out! Out! Out! Norton!

ALL: Out! Out! Out!

Vernon, will you never learn?

You've spent every penny

and borrowed up to the hilt for a toy train!

If you don't sell it on, you're bankrupt!

Bernard, you have to speculate to accumulate.

It's the golden rule of the business environment.

Codswallop. You should've had a definite buyer lined up!

I have! Ben Norton's going to have it for the estate.

It's a real money-spinner! It's just what he's after.

When Lord Ashfordly sees the disruption Ben Norton's caused,

he may not even have a job anymore.

What disruption?

What the blazes is going on, Norton?

The whole place seems to be on strike.

I'm starving. Where's Cook?

I'm afraid she walked out as well.

I haven't had my breakfast yet.

I go away for hours, the whole estate falls to pieces!

What the devil are you playing at? It's really not my fault, my Lord.

I hired you to improve things, not ruin me!

Sort it out! Or you're fired!

Forced to make my own damn breakfast!

What are you doing back, Bellamy?

I know I screwed up, Sarge. But I'm still a good copper.

This isn't the time. You should be out on patrol.

And a good copper has instincts.

That chap from London we visited yesterday,

staying at a cottage on the moors.

Up here for some hiking, you said.

Yeah. He was just a bit too glib.

So as we left I mentally made a note of his number plate,

scribbled it down later.

It's been gnawing away at me, Sarge.

Look, can we run a check on this car number?

And why not? We've precious little else to go on.

All right. See you around, Arthur.

CHEERING

There's been no trouble, has there, Alf?

None at all. Seems to be perfectly good-humoured.

They seem to have almost everyone's support.

He won't add to the good humour, though.

Out! Out!

Norton! Out!

ALL: Out! Out! Norton out! Out! Out! Norton out!

I'll say this for him. He's got guts coming here. One brave man.

Or a rather stupid and arrogant one.

Are you sure this is wise, Mr Norton?

I don't think you'll be very welcome here.

I want a word with Jake Clarke.

ALF: I doubt he's in a mood to negotiate.

Oh, I'm not here to negotiate.

I want to ask him

why he's been chopping down perfectly healthy trees.

According to vehicle registration records

this plate number doesn't exist.

Which means either you memorised it incorrectly...

Or I got it right and they're false plates.

Look, shall I go up there, Sarge?

It wouldn't be wise to go alone.

But if I go with you, we leave Steve Crane holding the town on his own.

ALL: Norton out, out, out! Norton out, out, out!

He's inflaming things by being here.

Unless you're here to say the holiday cottage scheme

has been abandoned, I'd go back if I were you.

There isn't a holiday cottage scheme.

The memo you gave me was typed on estate-headed paper.

But it was a fabrication.

So there's no plan to do them up?

Yes, there is. But only to give the present occupants

somewhere decent to live.

The holiday cottages are an invention to blacken my name.

LIZ: Why? Who'd want to do that?

ALF: Jake Clarke.

Mr Norton's discovered he was felling estate trees,

selling the timber to a factory, and pocketing the cash.

My predecessor seems to have been in on the scam.

You'll see. They pretended the trees were diseased.

Jake realised it wouldn't take me long

to get onto what had been happening.

He's obviously orchestrated a campaign to get me out.

I suggest you tell Norton to clear off before someone gets hurt.

I think Mr Norton would like a word with you first

about felling trees and selling the timber.

And forging memos.

Oi! You! Come back!

I think Lord Ashfordly'd like to have a word with you.

Quite something, isn't he? This Mr Norton.

- No sign of the Jag. - We might have missed them.

Could be carrying out the robbery right now.

Or else this man was legit and you just got the number wrong.

No, I'm sure I got it right, Sarge.

Well, either way... let's get back, sharpish.

I'm going to back my instincts one more time, Sarge.

What are you doing?

MUFFLED GROANS

With no warrant we'll be liable for any damage.

MUFFLED GROANS

Nat... are you all right?

Here we go...

Where are they? What's the target? Where is the robbery taking place?

They're after Lady Elsinby's jewellery.

A security van. Being driven to Manchester Airport.

And where are they planning to hit the van?

Come on, man! Where?

MUSIC: 'Ol' Man Mose' by The Swinging Blue Jeans

♪ Once there lived an old man and he had a very funny nose

♪ He lived in a little log hut

♪ Call him ol' man Mose

♪ Well, I went down to his cabin and I looked in through the door

♪ Oh, there I saw a little old man lying on the floor

♪ Well, whether he was dead or not I really don't know

♪ But one thing that I'm certain of, ain't going there no more

♪ Because I found out, ol' man, all about

♪ Ol' man, you know I found out

♪ Ol' man Ol' man Mose is dead now

♪ We believe Mo kicked the bucket

♪ We believe ol' Mo kicked the bucket

♪ We believe, yeah, Mo kicked the bucket

♪ And we believe he's dead

♪ Because I found out, ol' man...

Switch it off! Hands up!

Let's have the keys and your wives just might see you pair again.

♪ We believe Mo kicked the bucket

♪ We believe ol' Mo kicked the bucket

♪ We believe, yeah, Mo kicked the bucket...

Armed police! Drop your weapons!

♪ We believe

♪ He's dead ♪

Maybe you're not as thick as you look.

Well done, Bellamy. I think you've just about redeemed yourself.

MUSIC: 'This Train' by Lonnie Donegon

♪ This train is the train

♪ This train

♪ This train is the train

♪ This train... ♪

Morning.

- Mr Scripps about? - Possibly.

Of Scripps Business Environments?

Sounds like my brother.

I've a delivery for him.

It's our final sale, I thought I'd make it personally.

One miniature train engine, six carriages, signal box,

a mile of single-gauge track.

There are three more lorries are on their way with the rest.

One guard's hat... and whistle.

KNOCK Come in.

I was told I'd find you here.

Ah. Hello. Have a seat.

You'll be pleased to hear I've found good temporary accommodation

for Wilf and the others from the tied cottages

whilst the repair work starts on bringing their own homes

up to standard. - Good.

Not before time.

Well, you can hardly blame me for that.

I moved as fast as I could.

I appreciate that, Mr Norton.

And I apologise for the misunderstanding over the memo.

No apology necessary.

So... apart from the other proposal, that's that.

Other proposal?

I propose we drop this Mr Norton and Doctor stuff,

and continue our relationship on a Liz and Ben basis.

I agree to give it consideration... Mr Norton.

Morning, chaps. Everything all right?

Don't ask, Doctor.

He'd better want it here, Vernon.

Bernard, will you calm down?

Ben Norton will welcome this with open arms.

DOORBELL RINGS

Well, I've discussed the idea of having

a miniature railway in the grounds.

Unfortunately, it simply doesn't appeal to Lord Ashfordly.

But it's a real money-spinner. It takes over £ a day.

I appreciate that. But it's not in keeping

with how Lord Ashfordly sees things developing round here.

That's it, then.

You're bankrupt, I'm stuck with a giant rotten train set

piled up on my forecourt.

Actually, things may not have entirely come off the rails,

if I can put it that way.

Indeed, there may yet be light at the end of the tunnel.

Really?

Before I came here I worked on the Arran Estate.

A miniature railway would be perfect there.

I've spoken to Lord Arran and...

...he's agreed to take it.

Brilliant!

Hear that, Bernard?

In business, Bernard, it always pays to have more than a one-track mind,

if you get my train of thought.

We all occasionally mess up on the job.

Even me from time to time.

Really? Well, we'd never noticed, Alf.

Well, lesson learned, believe me.

Bellamy...

You won't want to take this, then. It's Gina.

In a call box.

- Thanks, Oscar. - Oh. Right.

Hello, Gina, love. How are you?

I'm fine, thanks. What's the weather been like there?

Oh, just hang on a sec, Phil.

Gina?

Gina...

Come on. What's she doing?

Money'll run out if she's not careful.

Gina, love!

Are you there?

Come on, Gina...

Hey, stop mucking about. I'm on the phone...

Forget the phone, Phil. I've come home.