01x01 - Episode 1

[bunniefuu]

The following programme
contains scenes

which some viewers
may find distressing.

[SOMBRE MUSIC]

[MUSIC CONTINUES]

[METAL DOOR CLUNKS]
[INDISTINCT SHOUTING]

[METAL DOOR CLUNKS]
[INDISTINCT SHOUTING]

[CHARACTERS CLACKING]

[KEYS JINGLING]

[DOOR UNLOCKS, CLUNKS]

[INDISTINCT RADIO CHATTER]

[KEYS JINGLE, DOOR CLUNKS]

[KEYS JINGLE, DOOR CLUNKS]

[DOOR HINGE SQUEALS]

[DOOR HINGE SQUEALS]

[DOOR CLOSES, ECHOES]

[SOMBRE MUSIC CONTINUES]

[SOMBRE MUSIC CONTINUES]

GUARD: All that
blood on his hands.

How can you, of all people,

How can you, of all people,

bear to be in the
same room as him?

[MUSIC BECOMES TENSE]

[MUSIC BECOMES TENSE]

[DOOR UNLOCKING IN DISTANCE]

[DOOR UNLOCKING IN DISTANCE]

[DOOR CLUNKS]

[MUSIC SWELLS, FADES OUT]

[CHARACTERS CLACKING]

[CHARACTERS CLACKING]

[CHARACTERS CLACKING]
[BANGING ECHOES]

Will, you monster, give it
back! I'm gonna be late.

Will, you monster, give it
back! I'm gonna be late.

What do you look like?

Stop being so annoying.

[CATHY TRILLS LIPS]

[SCOFFS] Haven't even left yet
and you're stealing my clothes!

[SCOFFS] Haven't even left yet
and you're stealing my clothes!

Ah, it's for the
party tonight. Can I?

Please? Fine.

JANE: Right. Washed and
ironed as commanded.

Thank you, thank
you. [CHUCKLES]

Oh, gosh, Flora,
look at this mess.

Imagine ditching your
family at Christmas

for a new boyfriend.
Oh, shut up. [GRUNTS]

It's too full. [ZIP WHIZZES]

It's too full. [ZIP WHIZZES]

It's fine. [GRUNTS]

Ta-da!

[BIRD TWEETING NEARBY]

[BIRD TWEETING NEARBY]

Don't be sad. Oh,
let me be sad.

First Christmas without you.

First Christmas without you.

And I'll deal with
you when I get back.

Remember, a baseball
bat and a Yankees cap!

Remember, a baseball
bat and a Yankees cap!

Please drive carefully, Cathy!
CATHY: Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Go and have the
time of your life.

Love you, Dad. Love you, too.

Love you, Dad. Love you, too.

[ENGINE STARTS]

Bye! Bye, darling.

[CAR DOOR CLOSES]

Bye!

Bye, darling. See ya!

Bye, darling. See ya!

[ENGINE REVS]

[PA SYSTEM CHIMES]
[INDISTINCT CHATTER]

WOMAN: [OVER PA] All passengers
for Pan Am Flight 103 to JFK,

WOMAN: [OVER PA] All passengers
for Pan Am Flight 103 to JFK,

proceed through
passport control...

Have fun tonight!
Yes. [CHUCKLES]

'All passengers for Pan
Am Flight 103 to JFK...'

'All passengers for Pan
Am Flight 103 to JFK...'

[MOUTHING]

[LUGGAGE TRUCK BEEPING]

[LUGGAGE TRUCK BEEPING]

[CLUNKING, WHIRRING]

[OMINOUS MUSIC]

[INDISTINCT CHATTER]

FEMALE PASSENGER: Sorry.

FEMALE PASSENGER: Sorry.

[CLEARS THROAT]

Whew! Just made it. [CHUCKLES]

Had to beg them to
let me on. [CHUCKLES]

He's much, much better.

He's much, much better.

And he's not in any pain,
that's the main thing.

You have my permission to spoil
him. Turkey and all the trimmings.

Ah. Thank you, Dr Swire.
I'll look in after Christmas.

Ah. Thank you, Dr Swire.
I'll look in after Christmas.

But if anything
comes up, call me.

Any time, day or
night. Yes, I will.

[INDISTINCT CHATTER IN c*ck]

CAPTAIN: 'This is Captain
MacQuarrie speaking.

CAPTAIN: 'This is Captain
MacQuarrie speaking.

We are currently cruising at...'

It is a computer science programme
that we are working on together.

Yes, it is very
complicated. [CHUCKLES]

I don't want to bore-bore
you. Um... No, no, no.

I don't want to bore-bore
you. Um... No, no, no.

So what is it that you
do? I'm a PhD student.

Doing research at the
University College, London...

[PASSENGERS SING "RUDOLPH,
THE RED-NOSED REINDEER"]

[PASSENGERS SING "RUDOLPH,
THE RED-NOSED REINDEER"]

♪ Had a very shiny nose...

Come on, they must
have this at home.

Come on. Yes! No, I can't.

♪ You may even say it glows

♪ You may even say it glows

♪ All of the other reindeer ♪

[OMINOUS MUSIC]

[ORIGINAL "RUDOLPH"
SONG PLAYS FAINTLY]

♪ Then one foggy Christmas Eve

♪ Santa came to say...

[INDISTINCT CHATTER]

[INDISTINCT CHATTER]

♪ "Rudolph, with
your nose so bright

♪ Won't you guide
my sleigh tonight?"

♪ Then how the
reindeer loved him...

♪ Then how the
reindeer loved him...

CHILD: Hi, Mrs Walker!

Oh, hello. I hope you've
done your homework!

♪ You'll go down in history ♪

[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]

Very good. Very good.

Very good. Very good.

[MAN LAUGHS] Woo!

[BIKE CLACKING]

MAN: [ON TV] We'll go back to
our studio and... [INDISTINCT]

MAN: [ON TV] We'll go back to
our studio and... [INDISTINCT]

[APPLAUSE ON TV]

[TOY RATTLING]

[TOY RATTLING]

Santa, you're early[!]
[MAN CHUCKLES]

Santa, you're early[!]
[MAN CHUCKLES]

Ah. Puncture?

Mr Edwards is gonna
show me how to fix it.

Nice.

Nice.

[OMINOUS MUSIC BUILDS]

PLANE PASSENGERS: ♪ Jingle
bells, jingle all the way

♪ Oh, what fun it is to ride in
a one-horse open sleigh, hey!

♪ Oh, what fun it is to ride in
a one-horse open sleigh, hey!

♪ Jingle bells, jingle bells... ♪
FLORA: Excuse me.

[RUMBLING]
[PASSENGERS SCREAMING]

[RUMBLING]
[PASSENGERS SCREAMING]

[MUSIC ENDS ABRUPTLY]

[ENGINE IDLING]

[DISTANT expl*si*n]

[POLICE RADIO CHATTER]

Got the keys? Yeah.

[expl*si*n RUMBLING IN DISTANCE]

[SPOON CLATTERS]

[RUMBLING] [THUDDING ON CEILING]

[CONFUSED CHATTER]

[CONFUSED CHATTER]

[THUDDING CONTINUES]

[WHOOSHING, HISSING]

[WHOOSHING, HISSING]

[GRUNTING, PANTING]

[WHOOSHING, expl*si*n]

[EXCLAIMING]

[FLAMES CRACKLING]

[WHOOSHING APPROACHING]

[WHOOSHING, CRASHING BEHIND]

[GLASS SHATTERING]

[OBJECTS WHOOSHING, THUDDING]

[OBJECTS WHOOSHING, THUDDING]

[PANTING]

[GROANS]

[GROANS]

[WHOOSHING] [SCREAMS]

[BREATHING HEAVILY]

[BODY THUDS]

[TRILLS LIPS]

[WHOOSHING]

[WHOOSHING]

[expl*si*n]

[expl*si*n]

[PANTING]

[INDISTINCT CHATTER]

[WOMAN MOANING]

[expl*si*n]

[INDISTINCT SHOUTING]

[DEBRIS CLINKING]

[FLAMES RUMBLING]

MRS WALKER: Oh, God.

That's Stephen.

Where's my house gone?

Where's my house gone?

Where's my mum and
dad, Mrs Walker?

Where did they go?

[SIREN WAILING]

["REAL GONE KID" BY DEACON BLUE
PLAYS FAINTLY ON CAR STEREO]

♪ I'll play you old 45s

♪ That now mean nothing to me

♪ That now mean nothing to me

♪ And you're a
real gone kid... ♪

DJ: [ON RADIO] We interrupt
this programme for a newsflash.

There are reports coming
in of an air crash

near the town of Lockerbie
in the Scottish borders...

near the town of Lockerbie
in the Scottish borders...

[TYRES SCREECH]

[TYRES SCREECH]

[ENGINE REVS]

[ENGINE REVS]

[APPLAUSE ON TV]

I bought a calendar this year,

so I'll know how many days
there are to Christmas.

So I'll know how many days
there are to Christmas.

[LAUGHTER ON TV]

[APPLAUSE ON TV]

[FRONT DOOR CLOSES]
[DOOR CLOSES]

[FRONT DOOR CLOSES]
[DOOR CLOSES]

'I am reliably informed
there are four.'

[LAUGHTER ON TV]

Alright, Will?

Alright, Will?

Yeah. 'It's only hours away,

there are silly things going
on up and down the country.'

[CHUCKLES] They
suit you. What do?

[CHUCKLES] They
suit you. What do?

MAN: 'We interrupt this programme
with reports of a plane crash.'

And when are we
expecting Cathy back?

Oh, she shouldn't be much longer.
WILL: Dad, Mum, come here!

Oh, she shouldn't be much longer.
WILL: Dad, Mum, come here!

Why? What is it?

A newsflash, plane's gone down.

NEWSREADER: Just north
of the Scottish border.

The plane disappeared off radar
screens at 19 minutes past 7.

The plane disappeared off radar
screens at 19 minutes past 7.

Pan Am Flight 103 took off...
Was that her flight number?

Jim, was that Flora's
flight number? I don't know.

WOMAN: [ON TV] Pan
Am have released

emergency telephone
numbers. A pen. Quick!

'They are: 2-1-3...'

'They are: 2-1-3...'

It won't be her flight.
It can't be. '..9-8-5-3.

Or 2-1-2...'

[SIREN BLARING]

FIREFIGHTER: I can't get
any water from the hybrids.

FIREFIGHTER 2: You two! Get the
light, hoseable pump off your flies

FIREFIGHTER 2: You two! Get the
light, hoseable pump off your flies

and find... [INDISTINCT]

[SEATBELT HOLDER
CLICKS] [CLEARS THROAT]

PARAMEDIC: Can we get a line in
here? Come on, somebody help me!

PARAMEDIC: Can we get a line in
here? Come on, somebody help me!

[SIREN STOPS]
[CROWD CLAMOURING]

MAN: Can we get a paramedic?

MAN 2: Move! [COUGHING]

MAN 2: Move! [COUGHING]

[LINE BEEPING]

Still engaged. Keep trying.

Still engaged. Keep trying.

[DOOR CLOSES]

NEWSREADER: 'Investigators will want
to see if there was any evidence

NEWSREADER: 'Investigators will want
to see if there was any evidence

of a sudden cabin
depressurisation.'

Uh, what's going on?

Cathy, did Flora make her
flight? Yeah, I think so.

Oh!

Oh!

Are you sure?

'This suggests that
whatever disaster

befell the jumbo jet
happened very quickly.'

befell the jumbo jet
happened very quickly.'

What's happened?

'Once the tragic task of dealing
with the dead and injured

has been completed, accident
investigators will search for...'

has been completed, accident
investigators will search for...'

[SIREN BLARING]

DETECTIVE: OK, so listen up.

DETECTIVE: OK, so listen up.

First priority is gonna
be to find survivors.

Sir, I just had a call from
a farmer up in Tundergarth.

Sir, I just had a call from
a farmer up in Tundergarth.

There's bodies on his farm.

That's three miles away.

Who knows Tundergarth Farm?

Uh, I do. It's
Grant Nelson's farm.

Uh, I do. It's
Grant Nelson's farm.

Right, what's
your name? Ellen.

OK, Ellen, take this
group with you now.

Get there now. Hurry!
OK. Come on, this way.

Get there now. Hurry!
OK. Come on, this way.

[FLAMES ROARING]

[SIREN BLARING]
[CLATTERING UNDERFOOT]

[INDISTINCT SHOUTING]

[INDISTINCT SHOUTING]

[PEOPLE COUGHING]

[HELICOPTER WHIRRING OVERHEAD]

[COUGHING]

[HELICOPTER DROWNS
OUT MAN SHOUTING]

MAN: Other way! No pressure!

[PEOPLE CLAMOURING, WAILING]

[expl*si*n] [WOMAN SCREAMS]

[expl*si*n] [WOMAN SCREAMS]

[PEOPLE EXCLAIMING]

[WHIMPERS]

[LINE RINGING]
[GRANDFATHER CLOCK TICKING]

[LINE RINGING]
[GRANDFATHER CLOCK TICKING]

Why is no one answering?

Other people will
be trying to call.

Yes, but I've been
trying for two hours.

Yes, but I've been
trying for two hours.

[LINE RINGING, CALL CONNECTS]

Hello? Hello?

WOMAN: [ON PHONE] Pan
Am desk, JFK Airport.

[PEOPLE CLAMOURING]
MAN: He's my brother.

His name's Tom. Thomas
Joseph Ammerman.

Please. Just a moment, sir.

'I'm calling about my daughter,
Flora Swire. Her plane was-'

'I'm calling about my daughter,
Flora Swire. Her plane was-'

Sir, I'm afraid I have
no news at the moment.

Nothing? So all
your damn computers,

Nothing? So all
your damn computers,

and you can't say whether
my child is on that plane!

'We're doing everything we
can to get more details.

That's all I can tell you
right now. I'm sorry.'

That's all I can tell you
right now. I'm sorry.'

[FLAMES CRACKLING]

GRANT NELSON: Hey! Over here.

GRANT NELSON: Hey! Over here.

[MAN GRUNTS]

Right, watch where
you're treading.

Right, watch where
you're treading.

[OMINOUS MUSIC THUDS]

[OMINOUS MUSIC THUDS]

[OMINOUS MUSIC THUDS]

Over here.

[OMINOUS MUSIC THUDS]

ELLEN: [WHISPERS] Oh, no.

ELLEN: [WHISPERS] Oh, no.

I couldn't leave
him lying there.

God rest his soul.

There's more. All over.

There's more. All over.

I stopped counting after 50.

MAN: [IN DISTANCE] Out
to there. First right!

Who are they?

I don't know.

They said they were crash
investigators or something.

Now they got here
awfully quick. [SCOFFS]

Now they got here
awfully quick. [SCOFFS]

Spread out!

[FLAMES CRACKLING]

[FLAMES CRACKLING]

[GRANDFATHER CLOCK TICKING]

[PHONE RINGING]

Hello? Jim Swire speaking.

WOMAN: [ON PHONE] Good evening,
sir. I'm calling from Pan Am.

WOMAN: [ON PHONE] Good evening,
sir. I'm calling from Pan Am.

Finally. We have
confirmation for you.

The passenger list has
been checked and verified.

The passenger list has
been checked and verified.

[WOMAN SCREAMS] Flora
MacDonald Margaret Swire

was a passenger on
Pan Am Flight 103.

I'm afraid there
are no survivors.

[STAMMERS] Are you sure?

Are you completely sure?

Are you completely sure?

Who gave you this information?

[CATHY SOBBING]

Oh, my God. No.

Oh, my God. No.

Can you recheck,
please? [SOBS]

[WAILS] No!

Yes, I'd like you
to do that now.

Yes, I'd like you
to do that now.

No, no, no.

[ALL SOBBING]

[ALL SOBBING]

[BIRDSONG]

[BREATHING HEAVILY]

[SOMBRE MUSIC]

[MUSIC BECOMES OMINOUS]

[MUSIC BECOMES OMINOUS]

[MUSIC RETURNS TO SOMBRE]

'The small, quiet
town of Lockerbie...

..is waking up this morning to
the sheer unmitigated horror

..is waking up this morning to
the sheer unmitigated horror

of Britain's
worst-ever air crash.'

[INDISTINCT CHATTER]

[INDISTINCT CHATTER]

'259 people were on
board Pan Am Flight 103

when it exploded over
the Scottish town.'

when it exploded over
the Scottish town.'

[KNOCKING AT DOOR]

Hello?

Is anyone home?

Is anyone home?

'The search for survivors has
so far proved unsuccessful.'

[PHONE LINE CRACKLING]

'Though we still do not know

how many people on the
ground have been k*lled...

..the scale of this
disaster is unmatched.'

[SOMBRE MUSIC]

[MUSIC CONTINUES]

[MUSIC CONTINUES]

What is not yet known

is whether this was human
or mechanical error...

..or an act of terrorism.

One thing is for certain.

One thing is for certain.

Life will never
be the same again.

[HELICOPTER WHIRRING]

WOMAN: 'It was like
the world was on fire.

WOMAN: 'It was like
the world was on fire.

Uh, thick smoke...'

MAN: 'I saw the expl*si*n
of flames rise up.'

'The sound of screaming.'

'The sound of screaming.'

WOMAN 2: 'There were
bodies everywhere.'

'[OVERLAPPING REPORTERS
SPEAKING DIFFERENT LANGUAGES]'

REPORTER: 'In a
matter of seconds,

REPORTER: 'In a
matter of seconds,

the community was ripped
by explosions and fire.

An earthquake, some
residents thought.'

'As the news reached
John F Kennedy airport,

'As the news reached
John F Kennedy airport,

so did the stream of relatives

discovering the full
horror that awaited them.'

Among the passengers
were 38 students

from Syracuse
University in New York.

From Syracuse
University in New York.

Christmas is a special
time for the young,

for those who carry the twin
promises of hopes and dreams...

Again, it is beyond anything
in one's experience.

Again, it is beyond anything
in one's experience.

'The giant aircraft with
its holiday travellers

apparently crashed directly
into a gas station.'

'Fireball rose hundreds
of feet into the air...'

'Four days after the disaster, the area
search has been extended yet again.'

'Four days after the disaster, the area
search has been extended yet again.'

No indication that
there were any problems.

There was no contact
from the captain.

They'll be looking
at two theories: one,

that the crash was caused
by a structural fault.

That the crash was caused
by a structural fault.

The other, that a t*rror1st
b*mb had been planted on board.

Intelligence sources believe it to
have been a revenge attack by Iran

for the American downing of
an Iranian Airbus in July,

for the American downing of
an Iranian Airbus in July,

in which 290 people
lost their lives.

The Prime Minister,
Margaret Thatcher,

will today attend a memorial
service in Lockerbie,

will today attend a memorial
service in Lockerbie,

where she will later
meet the families

of the victims of Flight 103.

[CHARACTERS CLACKING]

[CHARACTERS CLACKING]

[INDISTINCT CHATTER]

AMERICAN WOMAN: I um...

AMERICAN WOMAN: I um...

lost my dear husband.

Peter.

I'm so sorry.

I'm so sorry.

MAN: Ladies and gentlemen,

the Prime Minister,
Mrs Margaret Thatcher.

The Transport Secretary,
Mr Paul Channon.

The Transport Secretary,
Mr Paul Channon.

[PEOPLE MURMURING]

CHANNON: Paul Channon, Transport
Secretary. I'm so sorry.

We have. Hello.

Paul Channon,
Transport Secretary.

Dr Jim Swire. This
is my wife, Jane.

[CLEARS THROAT] Mrs Swire.

[CLEARS THROAT] Mrs Swire.

Do I know you? I was in
the year below you at Eton.

Oh, yes, of course. Yes.

Oh, yes, of course. Yes.

Swire, yes.

Who was it you lost?

Uh, our daughter, Flora.

Uh, our daughter, Flora.

My sincere condolences
to you both.

And let me assure you, we
are working around the clock

to bring the perpetrators of
this heinous act to justice.

To bring the perpetrators of
this heinous act to justice.

They say in the press
it may have been Iran.

Is that true? Revenge attack?

I'm afraid I can't
comment on that.

Though uh... knowing
their track record...

Minister? [SIGHS]

Our daughter's body is
still here in Lockerbie.

Our daughter's body is
still here in Lockerbie.

We were informed by letter a week ago
that we weren't allowed to see her,

but we don't know why.

Well, I'm sorry, I can't
do anything about that.

Well, I'm sorry, I can't
do anything about that.

It is the decision of the
Lord Advocate of Scotland.

Though if there's anything I
can do further down the line,

Though if there's anything I
can do further down the line,

don't hesitate to get
in touch with my office.

[INDISTINCT CHATTER]

[INDISTINCT CHATTER]

[TAKES DEEP BREATH]

Murray Guthrie. Jim Swire.

Uh, full disclosure,
I'm a journalist.

But don't worry, I'm not here
to intrude on your grief.

But don't worry, I'm not here
to intrude on your grief.

Course you are, if you're any
journalist worth his salt.

[CHUCKLES SOFTLY]

My daughter's body is lying in
this town's ice rink right now.

Town this size, where else
could they put the bodies?

They bring us here to sing
hymns and listen to sermons,

They bring us here to sing
hymns and listen to sermons,

and we're expected to leave
without even saying goodbye?

It's inhumane.

It's inhumane.

It was a psychiatrist's
recommendation.

He advised the Lord Advocate against
letting any of you see the bodies.

He thought it'd
be too traumatic.

He thought it'd
be too traumatic.

It should be our choice.

You're a doctor, Jim Swire.

I've seen doctors going in and
out of the ice rink constantly.

If you wanna see your
daughter, I know what I'd do.

If you wanna see your
daughter, I know what I'd do.

How do you think I got in here?

I'm so sorry to hear that.

I'm going to see Flora.

But they said we couldn't.
I know. I don't care.

I can get us in. If you want to.

No. No, um, I can't.

Please, Jim. Don't
go. Stay with us.

[CURIOUS MUSIC]

[MUSIC BUILDS]

[MUSIC CONTINUES]

[DOOR HINGE SQUEAKS]

[DOOR HINGE SQUEAKS]

[MUSIC ENDS]

[SHOES SQUEAKING SOFTLY]

[SHOES SQUEAKING SOFTLY]

[SILENCE]

What are you doing?

This building's closed
to the general public.

I'm Jim Swire. I'm a GP.

I'm Jim Swire. I'm a GP.

My family and I have
driven up from Bromsgrove.

It took six hours.
I-I'm sorry.

I'm under strict orders
not to let anyone in.

I'm under strict orders
not to let anyone in.

I want to see my daughter.

I want to see my daughter.

[SIGHS]

[TAKES DEEP BREATH, EXHALES]

[TAKES DEEP BREATH, EXHALES]

Prepare yourself.

[GROANS]

[SOMBRE MUSIC FADES IN]

[SOMBRE MUSIC FADES IN]

Dr Swire, as you're here now,

can you confirm for me
that this is your daughter?

Can you confirm for me
that this is your daughter?

Did Flora have any
identifying marks?

[MUSIC CONTINUES]

[SNIFFLES]

It's her. It's Flora.

[MUSIC CONTINUES]

[MUSIC CONTINUES]

Thank you for your kindness.

Thank you for your kindness.

[MUSIC ENDS]

[ENGINE ROARS]

[KNOCKING ON METALLIC DOOR]

I was hoping to see you at
the town hall, Mr Nelson.

Not my thing. I
was at the service.

Not my thing. I
was at the service.

What is it you're wanting?

Just to know about the men who came
to your farm the night of the crash.

There's a few folk I've been
talking to said they saw 'em.

They told me...

..they were crash investigators.

You don't think they
were? I don't know.

Searching through
people's luggage...

[SCOFFS] You're joking?

..cutting people's
suitcases open,

pulling stuff out
people's belongings.

Pulling stuff out
people's belongings.

Some people are saying...

they saw FBI caps.

Others were convinced
they were CIA.

But I don't know. There was
a lot going on that night.

But I don't know. There was
a lot going on that night.

All I do know is...

..they were here
before anyone else.

..they were here
before anyone else.

In and out by first light.

[CHARACTERS CLACKING]

[BIRDSONG]

[JANE BREATHING HEAVILY]

[SOMBRE MUSIC]

[SOMBRE MUSIC]

[MUSIC CONTINUES]

[BREATHING QUICKENS]
[WIND HOWLING]

[RUMBLING]

[SIGHS]

[INDISTINCT CHATTER
IN RECEPTION]

RECEPTIONIST: Right, I see.
We'll see you at 10:30 tomorrow.

[CHATTER STOPS]

[PHONE RINGING]

If you're here for an interview,
I'm afraid I'm gonna have to...

get moving on. Don't worry.

The reason I'm here is
uh... I've been looking into

The reason I'm here is
uh... I've been looking into

some of the things that
happened the night of the crash.

I read your articles in
the Dumfries Courier.

I read your articles in
the Dumfries Courier.

Ah, well, at least
somebody does. [CHUCKLES]

So, um, this uh...

..anonymous phone call made
to the US Embassy in Helsinki,

..anonymous phone call made
to the US Embassy in Helsinki,


Yes, I-I-I know about that.

I saw the report
on Newsnight, yeah.

Embassy dismissed it as a hoax.

Embassy dismissed it as a hoax.

That doesn't strike you as odd?

I didn't dwell on it
too much, to be honest.

Well, the caller stated that
a Pan Am flight from Frankfurt

Well, the caller stated that
a Pan Am flight from Frankfurt

would be blown up over
Christmas by someone associated

with a Syrian-backed
terror group.

I... I'm sorry, I don't see...

Dumfries and Galloway police are
currently working on the theory

Dumfries and Galloway police are
currently working on the theory

that the b*mb
originated in Frankfurt.

Frankfurt? Aye.

So we've got Pan Am,
Christmas and Frankfurt,

all mentioned in this
supposed hoax call.

All mentioned in this
supposed hoax call.

Yet a memo pinned
up in the US Embassy

advised all staff not...

..to fly Pan Am over Christmas.

..to fly Pan Am over Christmas.

The public never
got that warning.

Flora's flight to New York was
four days before Christmas.

Flora's flight to New York was
four days before Christmas.

One of Pan Am's busiest
times of the year.

One of their busiest routes. 259
people died on board that night.

One of their busiest routes. 259
people died on board that night.

Sixteen of them were crew. There
was 243 passengers on board.

So if my math is correct,

So if my math is correct,

when Flight 103 left Heathrow,

there was 165 seats...

..empty.

I remember.

She was surprised how easy
it was to buy a ticket.

Rumour has it some of those
empty seats had been booked

Rumour has it some of those
empty seats had been booked

by embassy staff to fly
home for the holidays.

Did they change their flights when
they heard about that phone call?

Did they change their flights when
they heard about that phone call?

But they can't have done.

It was a hoax call.

It doesn't end there.
[CLEARS THROAT]

It doesn't end there.
[CLEARS THROAT]

October last year.

German police conducted a raid,

codenamed "Autumn Leaves",

codenamed "Autumn Leaves",

on a Palestinian terror
group, the PFLP-GC.

Autumn Leaves, PFLP-GC.
What does that stand for?

Autumn Leaves, PFLP-GC.
What does that stand for?

Yeah, I know. It's
a bit of a mouthful.

Popular Front for the Liberation
of Palestine, General Command.

Popular Front for the Liberation
of Palestine, General Command.

Now during the raid,

police found expl*sive devices

built into Toshiba
radio-cassette recorders,

which the PFLP-GC were planning
to put on commercial airliners.

Which the PFLP-GC were planning
to put on commercial airliners.

The German police arrested 17
members of the organisation,

and then contacted the
Department of Transport,

and then contacted the
Department of Transport,

who issued that alert
to all UK airports

in November last year.

In November last year.

It mentions expl*sive devices.

It does.

Now, brace yourself, Jim.

I've got a source in the
Lockerbie investigation

who says that his
forensic people

have found several blast-damaged
pieces of a radio cassette-recorder

have found several blast-damaged
pieces of a radio cassette-recorder

and part of an
instruction manual.

Let me guess. Toshiba?

You guess right.

[BREATHING SOFTLY]

[SOMBRE MUSIC]

[MUSIC CONTINUES]

[CASE RATTLES]

[CASE RATTLES]

[MUSIC BECOMES HOPEFUL]

[MUSIC CONTINUES]

[BUS ENGINE ROARING]

[DOOR OPENS]

[DOOR OPENS]

CHANNON: So if you can, put
him in at half past four

and delay the other one
until sometime next week.

Jim, how are you? Sorry
you've been kept waiting.

Jim, how are you? Sorry
you've been kept waiting.

Minister, I just wanted to ask you
about what your department knew

about the phone call warning to
the American Embassy in Helsinki.

About the phone call warning to
the American Embassy in Helsinki.

Yes, I was briefed on
that some weeks after.

But it was a hoax, though, wasn't
it? Well, that's what they claimed,

but some things have come to
light since it was reported.

But some things have come to
light since it was reported.

Forgive me, Jim, but this
is a US Embassy matter,

not one for the
Department of Transport.

Now, I'm afraid I've been
called to a cabinet meeting.

I'm very sorry.
What about this?

I'm very sorry.
What about this?

Well, this is restricted.
Where did you get it?

It's a telex sent to all UK airports'
heads of security by Mr James Jack,

It's a telex sent to all UK airports'
heads of security by Mr James Jack,

your department's aviation
security advisor, warning...

Yes, it was a general warning.

Yes, it was a general warning.

So it was not deemed
serious enough...

..to let the general public
know about the possible dangers?

Let them decide
whether to fly or not?

Listen... [SIGHS]

Listen... [SIGHS]

The decisions we make are
made on the best advice.

If we made public every
warning we received,

If we made public every
warning we received,

we would have to shut
the airports down,

and ground hundreds
of flights daily.

There would be uproar.

Our country and the US receive
these threats on a weekly basis

because of who we are
and what we stand for.

I just want answers, Minister.

I just want answers, Minister.

Yes, I do understand.

This is an incredibly
difficult time.

This is an incredibly
difficult time.

Let me look into it. See
what I can find for you.

NEWSREADER: 'Paul Channon,
the Transport Secretary,

NEWSREADER: 'Paul Channon,
the Transport Secretary,

has today been sacked
by the Prime Minister

as part of her
cabinet reshuffle.

In off-the-record
comments to journalists,

In off-the-record
comments to journalists,

Channon let slip that investigators
were days away from an arrest.

[OVERLAPPING] 'The Daily
Mirror minced no words

about Channon being
the unnamed source.'

'Authorities say they have

'Authorities say they have

insufficient evidence
to charge a suspect.'

THATCHER: The most important thing
is to track these people down,

so that they are
brought to justice.

And punish those who did this
- if you can ever find them.

And punish those who did this
- if you can ever find them.

'There is an intelligence
community consensus,

the destruction of Pan Am 103 was
carried out by the Popular Front

for the Liberation of
Palestine General Command.'

for the Liberation of
Palestine General Command.'

'Pointing the finger of blame
may prove difficult, however.

The group's leader,
Ahmed Jibril,

acted on orders from
Iran, with acquiescence.'

acted on orders from
Iran, with acquiescence.'

'President Hafez Assad of Syria

is believed by US Intelligence to
control the two Palestinian groups

which have planted bombs
on airliners in the past.'

NEWS HOST: Until the United
States firmly establishes

NEWS HOST: Until the United
States firmly establishes

the responsibility for the bombing,
the administration is able to avoid

making the very difficult
choice of what to do about it.

Making the very difficult
choice of what to do about it.

[TAXI BRAKES SQUEAL]

[CHARACTERS CLACKING]

[INDISTINCT CHATTER]

[INDISTINCT CHATTER]

[DOOR CLOSES]

You made it. Wonderful.

Bit of a rush, but yes.

Um... Jim and Jane
Swire, everyone.

Hello.

Welcome to UK
Families Flight 103.

Welcome to UK
Families Flight 103.

We should, first
of all, thank Jim

for his initiative in approaching
Channon for a meeting.

For his initiative in approaching
Channon for a meeting.

It wasn't me who got him sacked,
I promise you. [ALL CHUCKLE]

Either way, a question
I'd like to start with

Either way, a question
I'd like to start with

is if Channon knows,

if the detectives on
the investigation know,

why don't they make
the names public?

Why don't they make
the names public?

MAN: Well, my guess is they're
still gathering evidence,

and Channon spoke out of turn.

Could be he was grand-standing
to those journalists.

Could be he was grand-standing
to those journalists.

But why all so secretive?

Probably because it involves Iran
and Syria, Palestinian t*rrorists,

they need to tread
carefully, build their case.

Seven months since the crash,

and we're still all in
the dark about why or how.

And these warnings you've
told us about, Jim, I mean...

And these warnings you've
told us about, Jim, I mean...

why has no one explained them?

I've written several times to the new
Transport Secretary, Cecil Parkinson,

I've written several times to the new
Transport Secretary, Cecil Parkinson,

but so far, I've
had nothing back.

Except, "We will
reply in due course."

Maybe he's trying to keep
his job. [ALL CHUCKLE]

I have had one idea. Um...

[CASE POPS OPEN]

Uh, please forgive the quality.

Uh, please forgive the quality.

I'm not the most adept
with a photocopier.

[MUTTERS OF THANKS]

And this is another plane crash?

Yeah. In June 1972...

..BEA Flight 548 came
down near Staines.

One hundred and
eighteen people died.

One day after it happened,

One day after it happened,

the conservative
government ordered

an independent inquiry
into the crash.

To find out how it happened,

To find out how it happened,

and to make sure it
never happened again.

So.

So.

The criminal investigation
will seek to find out...

..who planted that b*mb.

But what we should be
asking is how it happened.

But what we should be
asking is how it happened.

How did a b*mb get through airport
security and onto Flight 103?

Were mistakes made? Were
threat warnings ignored?

Were mistakes made? Were
threat warnings ignored?

Why is there so much
secrecy around this?

We have a right to know.

We have a right to know.

And if the Staines crash merited
an inquiry, then so does Lockerbie.

Thank you, Jim. I-I think
we're all agreed on that.

Now, next on the agenda,

Now, next on the agenda,

we were going to appoint a
spokesperson for the group.

Does anyone have
any suggestions?

[COLLECTIVE CHUCKLE]

[COLLECTIVE CHUCKLE]

[BIRDSONG OUTSIDE]

[CHUCKLES]

What?

What?

I have to look smart.

[CHUCKLES] You're going
on the radio, Jim.

RADIO DJ: With me I
have Dr Jim Swire,

RADIO DJ: With me I
have Dr Jim Swire,

spokesman for the UK
Families, Flight 103.

Now, you're currently
lobbying for an inquiry.

Is that right? That
is correct, Jonathan.

Is that right? That
is correct, Jonathan.

We're calling for an across
the board, independent inquiry,

to look into the response of
the Department of Transport

and the British
government to the warning

and the British
government to the warning

they received from
the German police.

We want to know why
it wasn't acted upon.

Who knew what and when.

NEWSREADER: 'Many questions
are still being asked

NEWSREADER: 'Many questions
are still being asked

about the bombing of
Pan Am Flight 103.

Was the official
investigation obstructed?

Has there been a cover-up?'
'Transport Department

Has there been a cover-up?'
'Transport Department

says it can't confirm a
news report quoting it,

that baggage on Pan
Am 103 from Frankfurt

was not screened
again at London.'

Whoever was behind this surely
cannot believe their luck

Whoever was behind this surely
cannot believe their luck

at how easy it
was for their b*mb

to be loaded onto a commercial
flight and blow it up,

causing hundreds of deaths.

That is why we're
pushing for this inquiry.

MP: They were pushing very
hard for a public inquiry.

I said to them that we
didn't rule that out,

but our main concern was the
criminal investigation...

but our main concern was the
criminal investigation...

WOMAN: Mr Swire,
I'm sorry to say

that Mr Parkinson is sitting
late in Parliament tonight.

PARKINSON: The inquiry
that Dr Swire is asking for

PARKINSON: The inquiry
that Dr Swire is asking for

will be counterproductive to
Britain's international standing

in its fight against terrorism.

[DOOR CLOSES] [BRIEFCASE THUDS]

I am exhausted.

Sick of the sound
of my own voice.

Sick of the sound
of my own voice.

What's that?

I only just found it.

"Dear Miss Swire...

"Dear Miss Swire...

..I'm pleased to inform you
that you have been accept...

accepted to study
postgraduate medicine."

accepted to study
postgraduate medicine."

Did you know she'd applied?

No, I didn't.

No, I didn't.

We must celebrate.

We must celebrate.

[CORK POPS]

[DRINK POURS]

She used to love coming here
as a child to feed the ducks.

She used to love coming here
as a child to feed the ducks.

Congratulations, Flora.

Well done, darling.

She was following
in your footsteps.

She was following
in your footsteps.

No, no. She'd have eclipsed me.

She'd have done
something incredible.

[BIRDSONG]

[DOOR CLOSES] Take a seat.

Some good news. Parkinson's
finally agreed to a meeting.

Well, Jim Swire constantly snapping
at his heels finally worked.

[GRUNTS] A gift.

[GRUNTS] A gift.

I'm too good to you.

My article about this

should hopefully be in the
Glasgow Tribune next week.

Should hopefully be in the
Glasgow Tribune next week.

I wanted to give
you a sneak preview.

I know.

[OMINOUS MUSIC]

[DOOR CLOSES]

Good afternoon. Welcome.

Um, have you been
offered tea or coffee?

Um, have you been
offered tea or coffee?

No, thank you.

Straight down to business, then.

Straight down to business, then.

[GRUNTS]

Helsinki warning,

not acted upon.

German police warning
following the...

German police warning
following the...

..discovery of Toshiba devices

in the Autumn Leaves
raid, not acted upon.

In the Autumn Leaves
raid, not acted upon.

And now, this...

letter your department sent
to Heathrow Management,

seemingly dated December 19th,

two days before
Flight 103 came down.

This time, it included
a German police photo

of the radio-cassette recorder

in which they had found
expl*sive devices.

In which they had found
expl*sive devices.

Your department's
advice to security staff

is that if they're suspicious
about anything contained

is that if they're suspicious
about anything contained

within a piece of luggage, they
should place it in the hold.

Which is exactly where the
b*mb on Flight 103 went off.

Dr Swire, if I-

So that even if they think
something is potentially dangerous,

So that even if they think
something is potentially dangerous,

they're still to allow
it onto the plane.

Beggars belief.

This advice was
given on the basis

This advice was
given on the basis

that most terror attacks
on commercial airliners

are hijackings.

Are hijackings.

Our reasoning for advising

that luggage containing anything
suspicious was put in the hold

was to separate a potential
hijacker from his weapon,

was to separate a potential
hijacker from his weapon,

and thus alleviate their
ability to hijack a plane.

I'm sorry, but that-that
is not good enough.

I'm sorry, but that-that
is not good enough.

This proves you had
legitimate concerns.

Why else include a picture of
the radio-cassette recorder?

Well, as I've just outlined-
That's not even the worst of it.

I have it on good authority

I have it on good authority

that although this was dated
December 19th, it was received late.

It only reached Heathrow
after the plane came down.

It only reached Heathrow
after the plane came down.

Because your department couldn't
get photocopies made in time.

So it wasn't just ignored,
like the Helsinki warning.

So it wasn't just ignored,
like the Helsinki warning.

It was practically withheld.

You failed to alert your airports
to three legitimate threats.

You-You failed to keep
your passengers safe.

You-You failed to keep
your passengers safe.

You failed in your duty.

We have to weigh up...

No, no. You withheld
information, Minister.

No, no. You withheld
information, Minister.

Your government knew.

Your department knew.

Heathrow management,
the State Department,

Heathrow management,
the State Department,

American Embassy
staff, they all knew.

The only people who didn't know?
The passengers on Flight 103.

With respect-

No, you talk about respect,
but you're showing us none.

No, you talk about respect,
but you're showing us none.

Your government is not
taking responsibility.

You are denying, you
are evading the truth.

You are denying, you
are evading the truth.

And I find it
despicable. Jim, please.

[BREATHING HEAVILY]

[SMACKS LIPS] Perhaps
some tea after all.

[SMACKS LIPS] Perhaps
some tea after all.

We'd rather have an inquiry.

I have nightmares.

I have nightmares.

Almost every night.

Was our daughter conscious
as she fell through the sky?

Was our daughter conscious
as she fell through the sky?

I've read about it. I...

I shouldn't have,
really, but I had to.

I shouldn't have,
really, but I had to.

The lack of oxygen
at 33,000 feet

would have meant Flora lost
consciousness immediately.

Would have meant Flora lost
consciousness immediately.

But as she fell and the oxygen
in the atmosphere increased,

she would have come round.

She would have come round.

An expert I talked to told me

that Flora might
have been conscious

for as much as fifteen seconds.

For as much as fifteen seconds.

Fifteen seconds knowing she
was falling to certain death.

One...

..two...

..two...

three...

..four...

..five...

..six...

..seven...

..seven...

..eight...

..nine...

..ten...

..eleven...

..twelve...

..twelve...

..thirteen...

..fourteen...

..fifteen.

Of course.

I will take your request to
the Prime Minister tomorrow.

[ENGINE IDLING, SHUTTING OFF]

[GRAVEL CRUNCHING UNDERFOOT]

[GRAVEL CRUNCHING UNDERFOOT]

[KEYS JINGLING]

NEWSREADER: After
months of deliberation,

the Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher
has announced categorically today

that there will be no
independent inquiry

that there will be no
independent inquiry

into the bombing of
Pan Am Flight 103,

which came down over Lockerbie
in December last year,

k*lling all 259 passengers
and 11 people on the...'

k*lling all 259 passengers
and 11 people on the...'

[TV TURNS OFF]

Are we ever going to know
what really happened?

We will, I promise you.

How it happened,
why it happened.

How it happened,
why it happened.

Who did it.

I will never stop.

Not until we know the
answer to everything.

[GRANDFATHER CLOCK TICKING]

[KEYS JANGLING]

[KEYS JANGLING]

[DOOR CLUNKING]

[TENSE MUSIC]

[DOOR CLOSES]

[DOOR CLOSES]

[HANDCUFFS UNLOCKING]
[DOOR CLUNKS OPEN]

[KEYS JANGLING] [DOOR LOCKING]

[KEYS JANGLING] [DOOR LOCKING]

Did you k*ll my daughter?

[TENSE MUSIC SWELLS]

[MUSIC ENDS]