Thursday, March 27, 2014

Law & Order UK “I Predict A Riot” Recap & Review



I don’t think there are enough superlatives to describe Law & Order UK “I Predict A Riot.” This was an expertly written story that delivered the drama,  both on the investigative side and the legal side.  The episode was based on the original Law & Order episode “Ramparts” (season 9 episode 11) and I think it was a big improvement on the original. The case begins with Ronnie and Joe working on a stakeout to catch a drug dealer, and in working that case, a car is found in the river with a body in the boot. Not only did they dredge up a car with a dead body, they also dredged up a decades old cover-up by some in law enforcement. A long time friend of Ronnie’s is in the mix, and CPS Director Henry Sharpe’s trust in Jake Thorne is hanging by a thread. Jake takes a big gamble with some creative legal maneuvering and, had it not been for Ronnie’s help, Jake would have lost big. At least Jake was willing to take the big risk in order to expose any corruption.

Not only was the story about the possibility of police corruption, it also addressed the racism that occurred in the 1980s, both inside and outside the police force. Joe gets a taste of present day racism while questioning Darren Grady when Grady mentions, staring right at Joe, that it was too dark to see the victim, who was also black. Grady also seems to have a similar problem with Wes.   Wes has difficulty impressing with Henry Sharpe the need to stay with the case, with Henry thinking this is just a crusade of Wes’. Henry was right to be cautious at first.  Winning the case OR losing it would likely mean trouble for the police or for the CPS. But Henry was also likely hiding these fears by claiming Wes had his own motives to pursue the case.

This episode included some great locations, staging of scenes, use of color and lighting, plus some fantastic camera work. I was amazed at the long scene in the courthouse where Jake, Kate, and Phillip walked quickly through the halls and up stairwells while the camera preceded their every step. It made me feel like I was right there. Visually, this episode was a pleasure to watch.

It was also nice to see Jessica Gunning, as the hard working Angela, return for this episode, even though it was only for a brief moment.

The episode was dedicated to the memory of Roger Lloyd Pack, an accomplished actor who portrayed Alex Greene, and who passed away shortly after this episode was filmed.



Here is the recap:

Cast:
Bradley Walsh - DS Ronnie Brooks
Ben Bailey Smith – DS Joe Hawkins
Paterson Joseph - DI Wes Leyton
Dominic Rowan - Jacob Thorne
Georgia Taylor - Kate Barker
Peter Davison - Henry Sharpe

Guest cast:
Roger Lloyd Pack - Alex Greene
Ralph Brown - DS Darren Grady
Craige Els – Dave Simmons
Lace Akpojaro – Frank
Pasha Bocarie – River Police Officer
Annabel Mullion – Eleanor
Ellen Thomas – Rebecca Houghton
Jenny Jules - Nikki Carroll
Antony Byrne - DS Pete Langham
Michael Cronin – Maurice Bennett
Graham Cole – Terry Wilson
Pip Torrens - Philip Nevins
Paul Darrow – Justice Prentice
Jessica Gunning – Angela
Don Warrington – Eamonn Callaghan
Chereen Buckley – Journalist


At Brentford Park on Tuesday, 18th March, DS Ronnie Brooks and DS Joe Hawkins are on a stake out at the park. They see their target and as they watch and hear a drug deal going down,  it appears their target has a gun. Joe radios that information to the others in the team as the other man gives the target the money. When the other guy moves to pick up the rucksack with the product, the target kicks him, grabs his rucksack back and runs. Joe radios to the others what is happening and Joe gets out of the car and chases the target. Joe and the others chase the target under a bridge and to the river, and the target – Dave Simmons – throws the rucksack in and Joe catches up to him and arrests him and reads him his rights. As others take Simmons off,  an officer asks Joe if Simmons had the heroin, and Joe explains if it was in the rucksack it’s in the river now and to call the divers to hopefully find it.

Later, with more officers and equipment on the scene, they are pulling out a car from the river. Ronnie complains to one of the officers he is supposed to be looking for a rucksack. They open the boot of the car and find a body inside.

Back at MIU, Joe, along with DI Wes Leyton, explain that Simmons squealed as soon as they found the rucksack full of heroin and admitted to everything. Ronnie is happy they can say goodbye to the drug squad, saying sitting around in cars all day is a waste of their time. Wes says the body in the boot is there so wrap it up as quick as they can.

At the forensics lab on March 19, they find from Eleanor that the body is a male between his late teens and thirty. Eleanor is not sure of the ethnicity but it is probably not Caucasian. He broke his collarbone at least 10 years before he died. She can’t say if the head wound is the cause of death and thinks the skull fracture happened before he was dumped. When Ronnie asks how long she thinks he’s been down there, she explains that the body has near compete decomposition, anything between 25 and 30 years.

Back at MIU, Ronnie and Joe explain to Wes that the last registered keeper of the car was Rebecca Connor in 1984 and after that there are no more records. They are trying to track her down now and also looking for missing persons around that time and this may take a while. Wes reminds him he told him to make this quick, and  he instructs them to give the grunt work to someone else and instead help him out and clear it off their desks.

At Houghton’s Hairdressers the same day, they speak with Rebecca (now Houghton)  about the car and she said she sold it for cash. She needed the money so she sold it to Nikki Carroll. She said they were in Manchester at the time.

Back at MIU, Joe finds on the computer there were no missing reports during that timeline, and Ronnie reminds him that up to 1988, everything at that time was hard copy or on paper and if you wanted a file, you had to literally get it yourself. As Ronnie holds on the phone to get an address for Nikki Carroll, Joe seems surprised they didn’t upload it into computers. Ronnie explains they started but ran out of money. Ronnie gets the address and says Nikki is in the database but not in Manchester. The known charges are breach of the peace, all outside police stations. Ronnie thinks she was an activist.

On the same day, Ronnie and Joe are at the Redway Community Center where Nikki appears to be holding a group session. She tells them she does not know who they’ve come to see, but nobody talks without a lawyer, she just got those kids to trust her. Ronnie and Joe explain they are there to see her and ask about the car. She asks of they’ve found it, and then looks panicked. She sits down and then comments after all this time, and then asks if they found him. Joe asks who is it she thinks they found, and Nikki, looking more distraught, thinks they found her brother.

Later, she explains her brother broke his collarbone going over the handlebars of his chopper. She lent him the car. His name was Taylor Kane. He came to London for his job, and Ronnie recognizes the name as a police officer, saying she is Nicky Kane’s daughter. Ronnie recalls her mother campaigning to find her brother. She said it was the summer of 1985, they didn’t know exactly when. She explains how they tried to find him and they got people to support them. But the death ate at her mother like cancer and she died . They set up trust and got charitable status but over time, support went away. Everyone gave up on him except her and her mother, Joe says they believe he was murdered and they won’t give up on him.

Back at MIU, Wes recalls the Kane Trust and it started and ended with the mother and daughter, but at its peak they got press coverage and they were lobbying Parliament fighting for the rights of ethnic minorities. They were a force for good but the establishment didn’t think so. This is why the family was angry – the police line was always there was nothing they can do. Joe says Nikki is the last one left, she has no kids or siblings and her mum is dead. Wes recalls meeting Nikki’s mother and says she was a formidable woman but you could see the strain in her eyes. They owe her a conviction. He tells them to go back to the beginning and this time they will do it properly.


At the General Registry Office on the same day, they find Taylor completed his training in 1982 in Manchester and he went to London in 1984. Joe says Taylor had a handler, and thinks he was undercover. Ronnie comments there weren’t many black undercovers in those days, there weren’t even many black officers. Joe thinks this explains why he was out of contact with his family and others. Ronnie says being under the radar is part of the job and maybe that is why Maggie Kane could not get support from the force. Joe finds and end of service form signed and dated in July 1987. Ronnie wonders why they would have done that without a body. Joe says it was signed off by the Chief of London, Alexander Greene, and for the Northwest Police, Maurice Bennett. Ronnie knows them both. Ronnie says Bennett was a great copper and great teacher and his reward was getting Manchester. The handler’s name was Pete Langham.


At the Chiswick Police Station on March 20, they speak with Peter Langham who says he lost touch with Taylor Kane, Taylor was UC and he couldn’t just knock on his door and he explained all this at the time, even to Taylor’s family. He last saw him the night after the Brixton riots kicked off. They met at a copper’s pub in Lamberth, The Singing Sparrow, they didn’t want to meet there were there could be careless talk so they met down the road. Taylor said he was scared, and who could blame him? They thought they had lost control of the street. Joe asks if anyone can corroborate that meeting, and Pete says no, they just have to take his word for it. Ronnie asks who Pete was drinking with and when Pete tells him he does not know, it was long time ago, Ronnie counters that if he went back to the archive and found his little blue diary that may jog his memory. Pete says if it was anyone it would have been Darren Grady, they trained the guy.



Outside, Joe asks Ronnie what was the thing about Langham’s diary, he thought he saw the blood drain from Pete’s face. Ronnie explains it was before Joe’s time; they had to write everything down and if they left a detail out it could ruin them. Just mentioning the diary can put fear in the face of coppers of a certain age.

At the Hackney Police station the same day, Ronnie and Joe speak with DS Darren Grady about the riots and Ronnie explains they are concentrating on Taylor’s disappearance. They show him a photo and Darren does not recognize him. Joe asks that he didn’t see him that night with his mate, Peter Langham, and Darren laughs, saying how would he know, it’s been over 20 years…and it was dark, saying that looking right at Joe. Joe asks if they all look alike in the dark, and Darren says all he remember is he got very drunk and he drove home. Joe comments that he drove drunk, and Darren admits it, saying he was young and stupid. Joe says he remembers the young bit. Ronnie thanks Darren and says they’ve heard enough, and as they move to leave, Darren gives them a “friendly” word of advice, saying that most serving officers from that time are still in the force, some in very powerful positions. Ronnie grins at him and says they don’t care.

At MIU, Wes tells Nikki they are doing everything they can to find her brother’s killer, and she says to forgive her if she doesn’t gush with thanks. Wes understands they haven’t; covered themselves in glory. She informs him she was in touch with some of the old members and they are starting the campaign again, along with people who have relatives lost in the system. Wes cautions that may not be helpful; they need to keep a level profile until they have enough evidence. She thinks he is just covering their embarrassment, but he says he knows how much this means to her. She says he has no idea, and then informs him they will be on Facebook, Twitter, in the papers, anywhere they can find us, they will be hammering at him until they get answers, He insists this is a priority and she thinks it is because she is threatening to go to the press. Wes says no, it’s because it’s the right thing to do. She doesn’t believe him, and she storms out of his office.

Meanwhile, also at MIU, Ronnie and Joe speak with Maurice Bennett who came down from Manchester. He tells Ronnie that Ronnie was one of his best students. They speak with him about Taylor Kane’s disappearance, and Maurice said there was nothing to investigate, there was no body. They felt he had stayed in London and London thought he’d gone native. Different departments hardly spoke to each other in those days. He says his poor mother begged him to go on looking but they did not know where to start. Ronnie mentions that Maurice signed Taylor’s end of service record, and Maurice says they were drowning in paperwork, and it had already been countersigned but the chief of operations in London, Alex Greene. He assumed all the necessary checks had been done. He asks if they have spoke to Alex, and when they say no, Maurice says Alex is a private security consultant now and is doing well.

At Private Members Club on March 21st, Ronnie and Joe speak with Alex who said they desperately needed young black officers as there were places most of their usual fellows could not – or would not – go. They didn’t have too many candidates to chose from in those days. Joe gets a call and excuses himself and Alex explains Taylor was attempting to infiltrate a Jamaican network in Brixton and they were terrified of more civil unrest at the time. They wanted to find the ringleaders. He doesn’t recall who decided to declare him dead, thinking it was some committee. They are still paying pension contributions at full salary but they can’t do that indefinitely. Ronnie asks if the Kane family received a death in service payout, and Alex explains they have no proof Taylor died in service. Ronnie comments if it is any winder that they hated the police then. Alex asks if isn’t it late for all this, he’s glad he’s been found but is it really helping anybody? Ronnie says he thinks his sister deserves some answers. Joe returns and said the call was Eleanor from the lab, and Ronnie thanks Alex for the tea and they exit.

At the forensics lab, Eleanor explains that someone in the lab found a tiny sliver of wood buried in the bone of the head wound which was protected from the water damage. It’s teak, and it was likely from a truncheon – a police baton.


Back at MIU, Ronnie tells Wes it could not have been Taylor’s own truncheon as he would not have been armed and he would not have mixed with other officers if he was undercover. Wes says they know the elephant in the room, Taylor was in Brixton in the 80s and there were enough white coppers on the street that would have hit hard with a stick first and ask questions later. Wes is reluctant to get Internal Affairs involved, he wants to make sure they have all the facts before they go any further so for now it is just them.

At the Queens Pub the same day, Ronnie declines an offer of a drink from the bartender Terry Wilson, saying he is on duty. But he ours him one anyway, and Joe also declines. Terry says he got chucked out of the Sparrow a long time ago and found this place. Joe shows him the photos of Peter Langham and Darren Grady and he recalls them. He says the night of the riots there was a bog fight and Grady was in the thick of it. He had the cops get his car keys. Ronnie asks if he got the keys back, and Terry says the following day. He doesn’t know whose car he used to get home. He saw him as he went flying past him, saying the car was brown. Ronnie asks if it was a Dolomite, and Terry says yeah, how did he know that?

Back at MIU in interrogations, Ronnie and Joe tell Darren Grady they found he put in a requisition for lost or damaged equipment in 1985 for a truncheon a day after drinking at the Sparrow. Darren said a lot of people had lost or damaged equipment that night. Ronnie admits that is a fair point, and Darren asks if he can go. Ronnie goes on to say that Darren’s report stated that he drove home from the pub that night so whose car was he driving? Darren explains it was his mate’s and Ronnie questions that he just gave him the keys just like that? Darren comments that Wes Leyton is Ronnie and Joe’s DI, and he laughs, saying that explains why they are getting their kickers in a twist about some dead black kid from the 80s. Wes is looking on from the video observation room and when he gets more annoyed with Darren, Wes leaps from the room and enters the interrogation room. Ronnie mentions for the recording that Wes has entered the room. Darren says Wes is about to issue a groveling apology to DS Grady. Wes smiles and says no, he is about to arrest him for murder of Taylor Kane, and Wes tells Joe to read Darren his rights. Joe begins to read Darren his rights as Darren stands up and glares at Wes. Wes stares right back, looking very satisfied.

At CPS, Ronnie, there with Wes, explains to CPS Director Henry Sharpe, Jake Thorne, and Kate Barker that the evidence they have is circumstantial and they have nothing to pout the weapon in Grady’s hand. Henry says that was a stretch to make the charge, asking if they have anything else. Ronnie says on-going lines on inquiry, but Wes interrupts and says Henry should look at the human interest side of the case; a young black police officer who was killed and goes missing for 20 years and the investigation into his death goes nowhere. Kate comments that they can’t favor a case because it involves a police officer and Wes agrees, but counters it was a high profile case at the time which makes it even more shocking that nothing was done. Henry asserts that he can’t authorize proceedings because Wes feels aggrieved, and when Wes begins to object, Henry interrupts that the Commission has already asked him to keep an eye on this and it has the potential to be very embarrassing for a lot of people and this is not the case to launch a crusade. Wes reminds him this is one of their own. Ronnie says they may find they are too late, Nikki Carroll is already in that bandwagon, she’s decided to restart her mother’s campaign via social media and registered the Taylor Kane Trust as an ongoing concern. Wes explains to Henry Nikki feels they let her down last time and he thinks she should know she can trust them,. Henry is annoyed at the comment that “we let her down”, saying Wes should be more impartial. Jake speaks up and tells them to leave it with them while they carry on with their inquiries. Henry asks what are those exactly, and Ronnie explains on the paperwork one line is highlighted which say WS which stands for witness statement in the ongoing investigation of a missing police officer and there is a missing witness statement. Henry hangs his head down as Ronnie says that needs to be looked into. Henry agrees, but tells Ronnie to call him if there is any progress, asking if they are clear. Ronnie nods.

At the Conference Centre on March 24, Alex Greene is concluding a speech to much applause. Ronnie, Joe, and Jake are there to meet him as he walks to the door. Jake introduces himself and brings up the original case of Taylor’s disappearance. Ronnie asks if the paperwork is complete, and when Alex seems to not understand, Joe adds if they were to go back through the original files, could they follow the paper trail? Alex says he has no reason to think anything went astray. But Ronnie counters that there is a missing statement and mentions the documentation of it was old-fashioned police procedures but it worked. Jake adds it put the victim at a certain place at a certain time and a missing witness statement may be just what they need.. Alex counters “or not” explaining that it might show Taylor wasn’t there at all which would destroy their theory. Alex says there were hundreds of papers and it could have meant anything. He walks away from them. Joe turns to Ronnie and Jake and asks if anyone thinks their private consultants have developed a selective memory. Jake asks Ronnie how sure they are about this and Ronnie is 100% sure, the references is on the general registry docket in the summary at the front but it is not in the file, someone has removed it. Jake instructs them to charge Darren Grady with the murder of Taylor Kane and see who looks scared.

At the CPS on the same day, Henry storms in, irate, asking Jake and Kate if they heard what he said about not making this a crusade. Jake says it was loud and clear, and when Henry says not calling him before he did anything, and Jake cuts him off and says they have enough. Henry asks if it is enough to charge a police officer with murder. Kate replies they have forensic evidence and a witness and Henry counters that witness thinks he saw something 25 years ago. Jake states that when Ronnie provides them with the smoking truncheon they will have everything to bring them home. Henry asks if Jake is sure that will happen, and Jake replies 100%. Henry looks around and then says his trust in Jake hangs on a very fine thread, this case is already gathering up a public profile. Henry storms out of Jake’s office and slams the door, ,leaving Jake and Kate staring at each other.

Later, Philip Nevins tells Justice Prentice and Kate that says they want to make an application to dismiss as the CPS has no case and the basic premise is a joke. Prentice asks for skeleton arguments to him by next week and respond 7 days thereafter. Kate says of course.

Sometime later at the courthouse, Jake asks Wes if they are ready, and Wes replies as much as they can be. As they walk further into the courthouse main hall, Nikki Carroll stops Jake and introduces herself. He tells her there is nothing to see today, just a lot of huffing and puffing form both sides and the defense has an opportunity to agree they don’t have enough evidence. Nikki tells him not to try to fob her off, and Jake stops dead in his tracks. Nikki states she knows a bit about the legal process and asks if they have enough evidence. Jake says they will by the time they go to trial. Nikki is shocked they don’t have it yet, and Wes explains that Jake is the very best and he promises her…she cuts him off and points her finger at him, telling him not to dare give her a promise. Her mother died because she believed this day would never come. Now you offer the possibility…Jake cuts her off and says she has to trust them. Nikki asks how can she, they have no idea what it was like 20 years ago. Wes tells her to let them fight her case for hew now, they have every hope they can put Grady away for the death of her brother. She tersely tells him not to offer her hope if they can’t see this through. As she storms off, Wes tells Jake and Kate they can’t let he down, and Jake stresses they need that missing witness statement.

At the Crown v Grady Plea and Case Management Hearing on April 14, Justice Prentice asks if there is enough evidence for the jury to properly convict? Jakes submits a statement from Ronnie about an eyewitness account from the pub landlord of the Singing Sparrow at the time of the murder. Phillip counters it is an alleged murder, and it is an eyewitness account from nearly 30 years ago, saying this is a desperate argument. Darren smiles smugly from the dock. As Nikki enters the courtroom, Jake goes on to add they have reason to believe that the original investigation into Taylor’s disappearance is not entirely complete. He states that the current police investigation shows there is a witness statement from the original file that is missing. The justice asks if Jake is suggesting police involvement in this missing document, and Jake says possibly; he suggests they do not dismiss this case until they’ve had a chance to reveal the full and true picture. Philip asks what this has to do with his client, and the justice believes there is enough evidence for examination by a jury. With a positive identification of Darren driving Taylor’s car and the replacement baton. This will go to trial.

Afterwards, Philip congratulates Jake, saying it was one of the most outrageous displace of manipulative argument he’s ever seen. As they race through the courthouse halls, Jake counters that police corruptions from years ago is a hot topic, and Philip says it is completely unrelated to the defense of his client and he will be making that clear in his opening. Jake states that the justice thinks otherwise. Philip believes it was because Jake played him. Jake tells Philip to serve him a Section 8, and both Philip and Kate ask “What?” Jake suggests that once they are through the defense argument to serve him with a Section 8 immediately, demanding the missing witness statement. Kate asks why, and Philip explains Jake wants him to demand a document they both know they don’t have. Kate says she knows what a Section 8 is, she just wants to know what Jake is playing at. Philip adds that is a good question. Jake explains that to find it, he needs search warrants, lots of them, signed by a judge. He can’t do that without momentum and a demand from the defense counsel insisting on it would give him that. Philip asks why he should do that for Jake, Jake explains that if it leads to nothing the prosecution falls apart and his client walks. Philip counters it could put his client at the scene of the crime and he will be shooting himself in the foot. Philip comments he does not need this to win but Jake does so he asks again. Jake questions Philip that isn’t he just a little bit curious? Philip asks if that is supposed to be a winning argument? Jake states it is, this could reveal a police cover-up or an almighty cock-up. He knows how Philip works and asks if Philip is not the least bit interested in finding out what that might be and who is responsible? Philip thinks Jake is trying to play him like he played Justice Prentice, and he is not that easy. Jake suggests they play nice for once. Jake explains he needs this. Philip states he will issue the Section 8 demanding he hand over the witness statements and then they will go to trial and he will wipe the floor with him because he will still have enough to destroy his case. As Philip walks off, Kate asks Jake what is the view like, from that tightrope he is walking?

At MIU, Angela knocks on Wes’s door and says Commissioner Callaghan is there for him. Wes puts on his jacket as the Commission enters and Wes comments it is a little late for a house call. Callaghan asks if the search for the missing witness statement has got them anything, and Wes explains they are still looking. Callaghan comments he spoke to Henry Sharpe and they worry the evidence will not be enough for conviction. Wes says with all due respect, he’d like to get this finished. Callaghan said they worked a long time, officers like them especially, to remove the stain of institutional racism and this could take them back 10 years. Wes counters they can’t brush this aside this time, adding that the Kane Trust was fighting for the same things they were. Callaghan knows about the trust and reminds them they were contributors. He thinks Wes has chose a side here where he needs to be careful and Wes could come out badly. If they win, their PR teams will bury this, it’s a misdemeanor from the past they’d rather forget, different times and changing attitudes. If he loses, it will bring disrepute on them all and someone will be held responsible for that. Wes calmly states he is willing to take that risk. Callaghan tells Wes it is Wes’ call.

The next day, Henry is walking outside with Wes and Jake and tells them he shouldn’t get worried calls from Commissioner Callaghan; he has his own boss to contend with. Wes says there is no news yet so that is what is worrying him. Henry states the whole case depends on new evidence being found and they are running out of time. Jake explains that the Section 8 application will allow him to press Prentice for all the search warrants they need. Henry moans as they see that Nikki is talking to a swarm of press, saying that she has been waiting a long time for justice but the police are ignoring her calls and who knows, maybe they will again. As she wraps it up and walks away from the cameras, Jake begs Nikki not to do this, and if anything is published it could bias the jury and the judge will dismiss the case, asking if that is what she wants. Nikki states not to let their deaths mean nothing. Jake says he won’t. Meanwhile, Wes tells the press they will be making a statement shortly, and one reporter asks if Nikki’s mother was right and did the police bury this case in the 80s? Wes replies if there was any police conspiracy from that time, rest assured they will get to the bottom of it. The reporter asks who said anything about a conspiracy? Wes walks off as the reporters continue to bark out questions and take photos. Henry asks Wes what the hell was that, and when Wes explains he was trying to calm them down, Henry snaps that it didn’t work. Wes explains that it was nothing they didn’t already suspect, but Henry counters that you don’t want them to assume. Wes stops and asks Henry what exactly is he accusing him of? Henry tells Wes he is not one of the Kane trustees, he is an officer of the law and to get some distance on this before Wes brings them all down. Henry marches off.

In court, Prentice issues the warrants to search the homes of Maurice Bennett, Darren Grady, Alexander Greene, and Peter Langham. Maurice leaves the courtroom.

Outside, Ronnie catches up with Maurice and asks if he can give him a lift anywhere. Maurice say no, a taxi will take him. Ronnie explains they will have to search his place. Maurice says everything was fine, everything. He asks the taxi to take him to St, Thomas’ Place.

At the home of Alex Greene on April 16, the police are executing the warrant and removing items from Alex’s home. He walks out of the house to Ronnie and calls them bastards, saying he is one of them. Ronnie says, “Not anymore.”

At the CPS on April 21, Ronnie tells Jake and Kate that they have checked domestic addresses and business addresses, club lockers, hotels; every stone has been turned over.. He says they “forensicated” everything and they still can’t find the missing statement. Henry walks in Jake’s office. Kate comments maybe it will not be as easy as finding it in someone’s knicker drawer but they know it exists,. Wes sheepishly says it used to. Joe adds that someone worked the case back then who worked with Grady must know. Kate asks what if it was a copper, adding all they would have to do is fix their story. Henry comments they’ve had plenty of time to rehearse. Joe comments they’ve had plenty of time to feel guilty. Ronnie says 25 years is long time to keep a secret that size and something that big will eat away at someone. Henry asks who is the weak link, and Ronnie has his suspicions. Jake sarcastically asks if Ronnie cares to share them before they start the trial. Ronnie replies he needs to make a phone call and pull in a favor. Jake stresses to Ronnie not to let him go there tomorrow with nothing, Ronnie states he has to do this is own way, there is a lot of respected men that have put in years of service that he knows. Some of these people are friends and they will be destroyed if they are right. Jake comments “IF? A few days ago it was 100%.” Ronnie claims it still is, but they know there is a difference between knowing at and proving it.

At Crown v Grady, trial day on April 22, Jake and Kate arrive and they see the Commission is also there, along with Henry, Wes, Ronnie, and Joe. Kate asks Jake if it a royal visit from the Commissioner? Jake comments that’s great, as if he wasn’t already feeling enough pressure.

Later, Terry Wilson is in the witness box as Philip questions him about being dismissed from the Sparrow for being intoxicated behind the bar. He says the regulars were generous. When he is asked if the regulars were generous in the night in question, Terry says he does not remember. Philip asks if that is because he was inebriated, and Terry looks over to Darren who is smiling. When Terry does not answer, Philip says he will take that as a don’t know. He has no further questions.

Later that same day at the Thames Riverside, Ronnie speaks with Maurice about all that it mean to be on the force and how people looked to them for leadership and guidance. Ronnie also mentions how that the people looked to them to make the right choices and that was the greatest lesson he learned, and Maurice was his greatest teacher and hero. Maurice doesn’t feel he is any more. Ronnie explains that the CPS will ask him a question tomorrow and if he doesn’t want to answer it, that is fine by him but he will give him a chance to answer it directly to him first now as a friend. Ronnie asks if anyone paid him to keep quiet about Taylor Kane. Maurice says that is another question. Ronnie continues to press, saying he has to call in a couple favors and one of them works at Admin at St. Thomas’ hospital, in client payments. Maurice says that is confidential. Ronnie says he knows how much he has been paid, for the oncology department at St. Thomas’, asking if it is cancer. Maurice says he does not have cancer, it is for Rose, she has lung cancer, the least he could do was ease her pain. He says that nut bastard knew it, and when Ronnie asks who that is, Maurice says it was Alex Greene. Alex knew he would never compromise himself for personal gain but he would do anything for his wife, including taking his money. Alex told him it would all go away and he believed him. Ronnie asks why he didn’t tell them this before, and Maurice explains he has been trying to all along, he was hopping Ronnie would fill in the gaps. He never wanted to keep this a secret, it was out of his hands. Ronnie, frustrated, tells him not to give him all that, asking why he didn’t tell them at the start, adding Maurice could have told Maggie Kane years ago and saved them all the pain. Maurice says it was easier to take the money and keep quiet. He swears to Ronnie it is all on file , there is a full duplicate of all paperwork. Ronnie comments about the paper files from Manchester, the old fashioned way. Maurice explains that Alex never knew about the paper copy at Manchester – he’d forgotten it himself until all of this - they thought it would be safe hidden there forever, for as long as Taylor Kane stayed buried in that river. Ronnie states he had hoped he was wrong, he really did. He can’t believe in Maurice has a price, saying god help the rest of us. Ronnie walks off.

Back at the courthouse, Jake and Kate show Philip the missing witness statement. Philip asks Jake where he got this, and Jake explains that handwritten files from Manchester. They had files on all officers seconded to other departments and other cities. No one questioned it or asked about it. London didn’t even know it was happening. Jake tells him Peter Langham has agreed to testify against Grady.

At Crown v Grady on April 23, Langham testifies that on September 29, 1985 he briefed Taylor Kane behind the Singing Sparrow. No one could see them.  Taylor had been involved in the riot the night before and to prove his loyalty to the gang he had infiltrated, he threw bricks at the police, at officers he knew. He wanted out and Langham said he would do what he could. Then he went back to the pub. On his way, he passed Darren Grady outside the back door. There had been a fight earlier and he said he was getting some air. About 10 minutes later he went back outside to check up on him but he had moved down the alley and was shouting at someone lying on the floor. He walked towards him and called out. Darren, in the dock, is not smiling now. Langham said when Darren heard him, he lifted the body off the floor and dragged it around the corner. The person on the floor was Taylor Kane.

 As we hear Langham continue  to testify, we also see him leaving the courthouse to many reporters,  where he is arrested. Langham testifies that he spoke with Darren the following day who told him not to mention it. Jake asks if he told him he already made a statement to his Chief of Operations Alex Greene, and Langham says he had and then he got a call from Alex Greene who told him not to mention it again. Alex is also being arrested at the private club as we hear Langham’s testimony continue. Langham also says he did mention it again to the Chief of Operations in Manchester, Maurice Bennett. As Maurice is also being arrested by Ronnie and Joe, Langham says Maurice instructed him to do as he was told and no one would ever find out. As Ronnie watches Joe lead Maurice to the car, we fade to black.





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3 comments:

Chris Zimmer said...

I have a special contact in the UK who gets me the episodes so I can recap them. These episode are not available on any channel or platform in the US at this time. (Not sure about Canada, though.)

DewieTheBear said...

Great episode and excellent write-up. I caught Bradley Walsh hosting a game show on iTV earlier on Wednesday and he looks so much different out of character - ten years younger.

gahks said...

This was a great episode. Thoroughly enjoyed the interplay between all the characters: the cast seems to mesh really well even though Ben Bailey Smith is brand new this season.

Looking forward to the next one!