P.D.J. A Certain Justice. (1998) Part 1 of 2.

deaddogsdam

First broadcast 14th/21st/28th July 1998.  Dalgliesh and his team investigate the murder of a top flight lawyer with an abrasive reputation and turbulent private life.   Philip Stone - Edmund Froggett Nicola Mycroft - Young Venetia Penny Downie - Venetia Aldridge Ricci Harnett - Gary Ashe Roy Marsden - Commander Adam Dalgliesh Trevor Martin - The Judge Britta Smith - Mrs. Carpenter Jasper Jacob - Rufus Matthews Gwenllian Davies - Mrs. Scully Ian McNeice - Desmond Ulrick Oona Kirsch - Valerie Caldwell Richard Huw - Simon Costello Ken Jones - Harry Naughton Zibba Mayes - Mrs. O'Keefe (as Zibba Mays) Frederick Treves - Hubert St. John Langton Matthew Marsh - Drysdale Laud Miles Anderson - Mark Rawlstone Susie Fairfax - Clerk of the Court Jamie Roberts - Foreman of the Jury Clinton Blake - Michael Gates Leila Bertrand - Mrs. Page Flora Montgomery - Octavia Aldridge Janet Dale - Mrs. Buckley Simeon Andrews - Brian Cartwright Nina Marc - Lois Costello Jerome Willis - Kynaston Brian Foley - Young Vandal Sarah Winman - Kate Miskin Harriet Harrison - Lucy Rawlstone Roger Blake - Father Presteign Rebecca Lamb - Mrs. Hart Fiona Cockburn - Soloist Zibba Mayes - Mrs. O'Keefe(as Zibba Mays)

Transcript

00:00:00To be continued...

00:00:30To be continued...

00:01:00She was asking to be murdered, wasn't she?

00:01:04Once Seddon had his hands on all of her cash.

00:01:07She was just a liability.

00:01:10It was a lot of money in 1910.

00:01:12Certainly no lawyer would have revised such a show of trust.

00:01:15You must keep an open mind if you're speaking for the defence.

00:01:21I have to believe he didn't do it.

00:01:23No, no, no, no.

00:01:24What you believe isn't at issue.

00:01:29Your job is to convince the jury

00:01:31that the Crown has failed to make its case against the accused beyond reasonable doubt.

00:01:36The chemist claimed it was Seddon's daughter who bought the arsenic.

00:01:41But she denies it.

00:01:43This evidence wasn't really tested.

00:01:46Do you think you could have saved him from hanging?

00:01:48Could have done better than Edward Marshall Hall.

00:01:51One of the truly great advocates.

00:01:52Well, I might have been a lawyer

00:01:59and had the opportunities.

00:02:04But you will have them, Venetia.

00:02:05You will have them.

00:02:06One day, you're going to be a great advocate too.

00:02:20Murderers do not usually give their victims notice.

00:02:23This is one death which comes mercifully unburdened

00:02:26with the knowledge of the terror to come.

00:02:28When Venetia Aldridge Cossie prepared herself

00:02:31to enter the number one court of the Old Bailey

00:02:34in the case of Regina versus Ash

00:02:37she wasn't to know that she had only ten days

00:02:40four hours

00:02:42and fifty minutes left

00:02:44to live.

00:03:0452.

00:03:0552.

00:03:0753.

00:03:0853.

00:03:0854.

00:03:09hatred folk

00:03:09np.

00:03:10All right.

00:03:40The defendant claims that at the time of his aunt's brutal murder, he was several miles away.

00:03:58But do you have any doubt as to who it was, leaving number 397 Westway at a quarter past 11 on that night?

00:04:06No. I have no doubt at all.

00:04:08Do you see that man in court?

00:04:13Yes.

00:04:15Could you point him out to us, please?

00:04:24Gary Ash, the defendant.

00:04:26Thank you, Mrs. Scully.

00:04:31Miss Aldridge.

00:04:32She has to discredit Mrs. Scully.

00:04:39I'm sorry we have to go through everything again, Mrs. Scully, but your evidence has been so clear, I'm sure it won't take us long.

00:04:48Mrs. O'Keefe hadn't lived in Westway for very long, had she?

00:04:52Two years.

00:04:54A time when the neighbourhood was changing a great deal.

00:04:56Houses being demolished, old friends moving, different kinds of people moving in.

00:05:02It was a decent street once, a decent community.

00:05:06You said that Mrs. O'Keefe had a lot of visitors, there was a lot of noise, a lot of coming and going.

00:05:10She wasn't the sort of neighbour I was used to.

00:05:13Not the sort of person with whom you could form any kind of friendship?

00:05:16No.

00:05:18Or her nephew?

00:05:19No.

00:05:20But that's got nothing to do with seeing him.

00:05:22No, of course not, Mrs. Scully.

00:05:23It just helps us all if we can get a very clear picture of Mrs. O'Keefe.

00:05:28Do you think he killed his aunt?

00:05:30The real question is whether Venetia can create enough doubt to stop the jury convicting.

00:05:36Now, how did you feel about Mrs. O'Keefe's friends?

00:05:41Friends is one word.

00:05:43What word would you use?

00:05:44They were all men.

00:05:49Clients would be nearer the truth.

00:05:52A lot of men came in and out of Mrs. O'Keefe's house, constantly observed by you, both day and night.

00:05:58But on the night in question, you saw no one?

00:06:02You say the only person you saw leaving number 397 was Gary Ash?

00:06:09That's right.

00:06:11And he left by the front door.

00:06:13Now, was that usual?

00:06:14No, the back door was because of his motorbike.

00:06:18The spectacles you're wearing today, Mrs. Scully, are they new?

00:06:44Yes, I got them on my birthday.

00:06:48Which was?

00:06:49November the 23rd.

00:06:51Are you sure about that date?

00:06:53That's five weeks after the death of Mrs. O'Keefe?

00:06:58Yes.

00:06:59Can you tell the court why you changed your glasses?

00:07:04I'd been meaning to for some time.

00:07:06I was having trouble with my old ones.

00:07:09What sort of trouble?

00:07:10It was the television, really.

00:07:13It was getting so that I couldn't see the faces.

00:07:16Your television set is how far away from you when you're sitting in your living room?

00:07:19Eight feet?

00:07:20Ten feet?

00:07:20I don't know.

00:07:22Well, let me see if I can help.

00:07:24My lord, may I approach the witness?

00:07:29About this distance?

00:07:31A bit less.

00:07:32Here.

00:07:38That's about it.

00:07:45Mrs. Scully, you have just told the court that you couldn't comfortably see your television set at ten feet.

00:07:52Yet you have sworn on oath that you recognised my client at twenty feet on a dark night.

00:07:58Now, can you be sure that it wasn't some other young man leaving the house?

00:08:03One of Mrs. O'Keefe's many friends who came and went by the front door, not the back.

00:08:07Someone the same age, the same height.

00:08:09Can you be absolutely sure?

00:08:14I thought it was Gary.

00:08:16Yes?

00:08:16You thought it was Gary because he lived there.

00:08:18You would expect it to be him.

00:08:19Turning point.

00:08:20But could you really see him plainly?

00:08:24Can you be sure, Mrs. Scully?

00:08:26I suppose it could have been someone else.

00:08:30Someone like him.

00:08:32But I thought at the time it was Gary Ash.

00:08:36You thought at the time it was Gary Ash.

00:08:39But it could have been someone like him.

00:08:43Precisely.

00:08:45It was a natural mistake, Mrs. Scully.

00:08:46But I suggest to you that it was a mistake.

00:08:51Oh, God.

00:08:52Shut up.

00:08:53Jesus.

00:08:54MUSIC PLAYS

00:09:24Morning, Valerie. Morning, Mr Ulrich.

00:09:32Thank you. Simon. Morning.

00:09:35Are you one of the thieves who has been polluting my mineral water?

00:09:40No. On oath, Desmond.

00:09:43Valerie, if anyone so much as touches that water,

00:09:46please point out that it is not the property of Chambers,

00:09:48but only of the member who has purchased it.

00:09:51Yes, Mr Ulrich. Thank you.

00:09:53Nothing safe in a den of barristers, Desmond.

00:09:57Absolutely.

00:09:58The Pendle brief is in your office, Mr Ulrich.

00:10:01They would like an answer by this afternoon, if possible.

00:10:03The fear's right, Harry. All things are possible.

00:10:12Yuck!

00:10:13You know what he's put in here, Mr Norton?

00:10:16Blood.

00:10:16What?

00:10:20It's all right, Miss Caldwell.

00:10:23It is home.

00:10:25Mr Ash,

00:10:27is it true that on the night of her death,

00:10:29you argued with your aunt in the Duke of Clarence?

00:10:33Yes.

00:10:33Can you tell us what the argument was about?

00:10:41She wanted me to take photographs of her with men, having sex.

00:10:48I'd done it before.

00:10:53But I hated it.

00:10:56I said I weren't going to do it again.

00:11:00She was very drunk.

00:11:02And I walked out.

00:11:03I needed time to think about what I was going to do.

00:11:11I knew I had to move on.

00:11:16You wanted to leave your aunt?

00:11:20Well, part of me wanted that.

00:11:22Part of me wanted to stay.

00:11:24I've been in and out of homes all my life.

00:11:29Local authority care,

00:11:30a dozen foster parents.

00:11:35I didn't want to do the things my aunt made me do.

00:11:40I didn't want her to live the way that she did.

00:11:44But I think she needed me.

00:11:48And it was home.

00:11:51And that's not an easy thing to give up.

00:11:54After you left the Duke of Clarence,

00:12:09you only returned home several hours later.

00:12:13And no one saw you during that time.

00:12:16Well, I was just walking.

00:12:18Shepard's Bush, South Ken.

00:12:21I mean, there's people everywhere,

00:12:22but they don't see you.

00:12:24What happened after you arrived home?

00:12:33I could see.

00:12:37I could see straight away that she was dead.

00:12:39And what did you do?

00:12:45I called the police.

00:12:48And waited for them to come.

00:12:52Gary.

00:12:54Did you love your aunt?

00:12:55I was very fond of her.

00:13:00I was very fond of her.

00:13:03I was sorry for her.

00:13:09I don't know if I know what people mean by love.

00:13:11Ladies and gentlemen,

00:13:25Ladies and gentlemen,

00:13:26remembering those obscene photographs,

00:13:28you may wonder why Gary Ash didn't leave his aunt before.

00:13:32He has told you why.

00:13:33Mrs. O'Keefe was his only living relation.

00:13:38The home she provided was the only home he had ever known.

00:13:42I don't think we can underestimate what that means.

00:13:48On the night of the murder,

00:13:50he walked the streets,

00:13:53unseeing and unseen.

00:13:55He returned home to the horror of that blood-splattered sitting room.

00:14:02No forensic evidence links him with the crime.

00:14:05No blood on his clothes.

00:14:06No blood on his person.

00:14:08No fingerprints on the knife.

00:14:10No one saw him enter or leave Mrs. O'Keefe's house at the time of her death.

00:14:14Now,

00:14:15Mrs. Scully thought she saw someone like Gary

00:14:17at a time when she couldn't see the faces on her television screen.

00:14:21One of Mrs. O'Keefe's many clients could have called that night,

00:14:27and one did,

00:14:28a man who brutally murdered her.

00:14:32That was her tragedy.

00:14:35It is also the tragedy of the young man sitting in this court today.

00:14:42If you believe,

00:14:45beyond reasonable doubt,

00:14:46that my client murdered his aunt,

00:14:49then you must return a verdict of guilty.

00:14:52But if,

00:14:54after considering all the evidence,

00:14:56you have a reasonable doubt,

00:14:59then it is your duty

00:15:00to return a verdict of not guilty.

00:15:06Thank you, ladies and gentlemen.

00:15:10That's what I shall miss most,

00:15:12the lighting of the lamps.

00:15:14I used to like watching for the lamplighter.

00:15:17And then when it ended,

00:15:20it seemed as if a whole era had gone forever.

00:15:24Well,

00:15:24this place is going to miss you.

00:15:28I'm sure that Chambers

00:15:29takes it for granted

00:15:31that I'll succeed you.

00:15:32Venetia is interested.

00:15:38Venetia.

00:15:42First I've heard of it.

00:15:45She's never shown their slightest desire

00:15:47to become head of Chambers.

00:15:49And when you were ill,

00:15:51all she had to say was

00:15:52she'd rather leave the tedious chores

00:15:55to other people, me.

00:15:56I think she has ambitions

00:15:57to become a judge.

00:15:58Succeeding me would be important.

00:15:59Well,

00:15:59Venetia is not a conciliator.

00:16:03Her only contribution

00:16:04to Chambers' meetings

00:16:05is to disagree with everyone else.

00:16:07As a conciliator,

00:16:08what we need.

00:16:10She is probably

00:16:11our most distinguished lawyer.

00:16:12Well,

00:16:12I think that's arguable,

00:16:14Hubert,

00:16:14but she won't make

00:16:15a good head of Chambers.

00:16:17Anyway,

00:16:17do we really want

00:16:18a criminal lawyer?

00:16:20It's a very snobbish view.

00:16:22Justice,

00:16:23rights,

00:16:23liberty,

00:16:23all things we are

00:16:25having to think

00:16:26a lot harder about.

00:16:27It's the heart

00:16:28of what Venetia does.

00:16:30I thought winning

00:16:31at any price was...

00:16:32This can wait

00:16:33till the meeting.

00:16:35Well,

00:16:35I take it that I am still

00:16:36your choice

00:16:37to succeed?

00:16:40If it's the will of Chambers,

00:16:41yes,

00:16:42of course.

00:16:43But if Venetia wants it,

00:16:45I don't see how

00:16:45she can reasonably

00:16:47be rejected.

00:16:49It goes by seniority.

00:16:51Venetia is a senior.

00:16:54That is not good enough,

00:16:56Hubert.

00:16:56By God,

00:16:57that is not good enough.

00:16:58You have always led me

00:17:00to believe

00:17:00that I had your support

00:17:01and I have covered up

00:17:03enough of your recent

00:17:04stakes to earn it.

00:17:07If Venetia

00:17:08is serious about this,

00:17:10then I suggest

00:17:11that you do something

00:17:12to change her mind.

00:17:17It's nearly a month

00:17:18since I last saw you.

00:17:19So,

00:17:21you're going to win

00:17:23this one?

00:17:24Oh,

00:17:24I don't know.

00:17:25But we've got

00:17:26a good chance,

00:17:26which is a very long way

00:17:27from where we were

00:17:28when the trial started.

00:17:31Oh,

00:17:31Mark,

00:17:32I've missed you.

00:17:34God,

00:17:34I've been so tied up

00:17:35at the Commons.

00:17:37And now I've got

00:17:37this new appointment.

00:17:38Yes,

00:17:38yes,

00:17:39you told me,

00:17:39remember?

00:17:41Oh,

00:17:41yes.

00:17:43Well,

00:17:44I'm going to have

00:17:44to give all this up.

00:17:45So you should have

00:17:46some free time?

00:17:47What?

00:17:49Yes,

00:17:49the jury's coming back.

00:17:52Well,

00:17:53good luck,

00:17:54Venetia.

00:17:58Thank you, sir.

00:18:05Ladies and gentlemen

00:18:06of the jury,

00:18:06please answer the

00:18:07following question,

00:18:08yes or no.

00:18:09Have you reached

00:18:09a verdict on which

00:18:10you are all agreed?

00:18:11Yes.

00:18:12And how do you find

00:18:13the defendant,

00:18:13guilty or not guilty?

00:18:15Not guilty.

00:18:16Well done,

00:18:22Martin.

00:18:28There you are.

00:18:30You know your way out,

00:18:31Mr. Ash.

00:18:33Made quite a team.

00:18:34I know where to come

00:18:35and get in trouble again.

00:18:36I'm sure there'll be

00:18:37no reason for our paths

00:18:38to cross.

00:18:38Good afternoon.

00:18:39Good afternoon.

00:18:46Well done.

00:18:46Good afternoon.

00:18:52I'm sure you have to go.

00:18:53See,

00:18:53you had to put Ash

00:18:54in the witness box.

00:18:55He was a risk,

00:18:56but he performed well.

00:18:59Yes.

00:19:00The prosecution

00:19:01really should have asked

00:19:02Ash

00:19:02how he knew

00:19:03about those glasses.

00:19:06Yes.

00:19:09A usual spot

00:19:10for a cup of tea?

00:19:10I can't tonight there's something I must do

00:19:40all right sis you know I belong you see the paper no he's been acquitted

00:19:50they said he had a clever lawyer I knew Gary Ash wasn't a killer no matter what else he'd done

00:19:58you still want to believe in him after everything he did to you I think he killed that poor woman

00:20:02and so do you no the jury believed him you know him better than any jury

00:20:08you

00:20:38Let's go.

00:21:08Octavia!

00:21:26Couldn't you have asked the driver to help you with that?

00:21:29I'm capable of doing it myself.

00:21:30Just lift it up.

00:21:33You really could have given me more than 24 hours' notice.

00:21:36I'm 18.

00:21:38I told you I wasn't staying at school any longer than I had to.

00:21:40It's not my fault you don't listen.

00:21:44Mrs Buckley knew she'd have to move upstairs after you came home,

00:21:46but she wasn't amused when I told you she had to do it last night.

00:21:50That's what you pay her for, isn't it, Mummy?

00:21:52To do what you tell her.

00:21:53Don't.

00:21:56I think that's everything, Miss Aldridge.

00:22:14I do appreciate this, Mrs Buckley.

00:22:16Look, if there's anything you need in the attic flat...

00:22:18Oh, no, it's very comfortable.

00:22:24You see?

00:22:26The only person who's in a state about your daughter coming home is you.

00:22:30You will treat Mrs Buckley with courtesy, Octavia.

00:22:35I've accepted your decision to leave the convent,

00:22:37but I do not expect my house to be disrupted.

00:22:39All right?

00:22:43All right?

00:22:43All right, let's go.

00:23:13All right, let's go.

00:23:43Excuse me.

00:24:02Look, I'm sorry, love, right?

00:24:03But I've just come off my bike.

00:24:04I've got my arms in bits.

00:24:06I don't suppose I could run it under attack, could I?

00:24:08See, I'm not being funny, but if I leave it out here,

00:24:17it's going to end up being thrown in the back of a dust cart,

00:24:18do you know what I mean?

00:24:20I'll tell you what I'll do.

00:24:21I'll see you later when I come pick you up, yeah?

00:24:24What, tonight?

00:24:25Yeah.

00:24:26Hey, everyone.

00:24:27Look, I was just thinking,

00:24:28there must be something I can do to say thank you.

00:24:31Oh, no, don't be silly.

00:24:32Well, I mean, why didn't you let me buy a drink?

00:24:34You know?

00:24:36Good Samaritan.

00:24:37I don't even know your name.

00:24:44Gary.

00:24:46I'm Octavia.

00:24:46You were lucky, Mr Cartwright.

00:25:00A different day, a different judge.

00:25:02We might not have had the same decision.

00:25:04Oh, we make our own luck.

00:25:05You made mine today

00:25:06and showed yourself a champion of liberty.

00:25:09Very good for the image.

00:25:10Yes, well, I was right about a point of law.

00:25:13Sometimes the principle is more important

00:25:15than the individual concerned.

00:25:17Well, I owe you more than money.

00:25:20There's still the matter of...

00:25:22The last time you were in court,

00:25:26defended by Simon Costello.

00:25:27Now, from what you've already said...

00:25:29You know my acquittal had nothing to do with his efforts.

00:25:32Exactly.

00:25:33Humor has it that several jurors were suborned.

00:25:36No-one can prove they were bought off.

00:25:38And I'm not about to admit it.

00:25:40I'm not interested in what you did or didn't do, Mr Cartwright.

00:25:43I'm only interested in how much Mr Costello knew.

00:25:46Well, I'm not saying anything happened.

00:25:53And I'm sure Costello won't either,

00:25:55because he was paid a very hefty bonus to keep his mouth shut.

00:26:00He knew during the trial.

00:26:01Oh, he knew.

00:26:04But I've never had this conversation, Miss Aldridge.

00:26:07Of course not.

00:26:09Good afternoon, Mr Cartwright.

00:26:10Good afternoon, Miss Aldridge.

00:26:29I went there.

00:26:30Congratulations.

00:26:30I should have thought you'd had enough of the old Bailey to last a lifetime.

00:26:50I take it you to know each other.

00:26:51Yes?

00:26:53We're in love.

00:26:57Well, congratulations hardly seem in order, Octavia, given your choice of lover.

00:27:01I've always assumed that if intelligence wasn't your strong point,

00:27:04you at least had a sense of self-preservation.

00:27:06Oh, I think Octavia's old enough to make her own decisions, didn't you?

00:27:12Obviously, we need to talk.

00:27:14You'd better come with me.

00:27:15Come on.

00:27:15We'll see you tonight.

00:27:21Just come home.

00:27:23Yes.

00:27:24Come as soon as you can.

00:27:25I'll cook some supper.

00:27:37Presumably, you weren't introduced to him as a convent disco.

00:27:41No.

00:27:43He crashed his bike at the end of the road.

00:27:44I helped him, that's all.

00:27:46When was this?

00:27:48A week ago.

00:27:49You can't seriously believe this man loves you.

00:27:52Yes, he does love me.

00:27:56But just because you don't doesn't mean no one else ever will.

00:28:01You do know who he is.

00:28:04Yes.

00:28:05Who's told me?

00:28:08I know his mother checked him out when he was only seven.

00:28:10And that was only the beginning of a...

00:28:11I am familiar with his life.

00:28:12His mother told the local authority she was frightened of him.

00:28:15A seven-year-old boy.

00:28:17That's why he was in care.

00:28:19Every adult he ever met let him down.

00:28:21And I bet they all came up with excuses for it.

00:28:25I've seen enough of that to know what it means.

00:28:27Oh, so that's what we've got in common.

00:28:29You're another abandoned trial.

00:28:31Is that because your father left us, or because of the extremely privileged upbringing that I forced upon you?

00:28:37Now I see why we've got so few family photos.

00:28:39You should have framed some of your bank statements, Mum.

00:28:46I think Gary Ash's immediate past should concern you more than his childhood.

00:28:51A week ago, he was in court accused of murdering his aunt.

00:28:54But he didn't do it.

00:28:55Oh, look, she was a horrible woman who was always having men back to her house.

00:28:59It was one of them that killed her.

00:29:01Gary wasn't even near the place at the time.

00:29:03I am familiar with the defence, Octavia.

00:29:05Look, he didn't do it.

00:29:06You know he's innocent.

00:29:07You told the court he was innocent.

00:29:09My job is to test the prosecution case.

00:29:11I have explained all this to you before.

00:29:13There was reasonable doubt about Gary Ash, and he was acquitted.

00:29:16No, he was acquitted because he didn't do it.

00:29:19He can put all of that behind him now.

00:29:22Is there any reason why he shouldn't?

00:29:23Oh.

00:29:26Gary Ash's relationship with his aunt wasn't a normal one.

00:29:30He was almost certainly one of her lovers.

00:29:33No, that's not true.

00:29:35Are you having sex?

00:29:37What?

00:29:38I don't think that's any of your business, actually.

00:29:41No.

00:29:43No, we're not.

00:29:43Not yet.

00:29:45Gary thinks we ought to wait.

00:29:46It's been so quick since everything's done.

00:29:47Oh, that's very clever.

00:29:48Oh, God, he can't wait, can he?

00:29:51It's wrong if we are making love, and it's wrong if we're not.

00:29:53Do you think it was a coincidence that he crashed his bicycle in Pelham Place a few days after the trial?

00:29:57He didn't know who I was, Mum.

00:29:59Octavia, can you be so stupid?

00:30:03When Ash was 15, he was at a special school outside Norwich.

00:30:07There was a social worker, Michael Gates.

00:30:10He really cared for Ash, believed he could help him, perhaps loved him.

00:30:14Ash tried to blackmail him with an accusation of sexual assault.

00:30:17I don't believe any of this.

00:30:23It's not, perhaps, the worst thing he has ever done, but it explains why I think of him as evil.

00:30:29If he's so evil, why the hell did you defend him?

00:30:32Oh, well done, Miss Aldridge.

00:30:49I want to talk to you.

00:30:50Right, I'll drop in later.

00:30:52Brian Cartwright?

00:30:54Just been in court with him.

00:30:55Oh, I gather he was acquitted.

00:30:58Yes, as he was when you defended him.

00:31:00Do I need to say more here?

00:31:11Come along, Valerie.

00:31:12I want those letters out today.

00:31:16Well, Cartwright's lying.

00:31:18Why should he?

00:31:21Probably to impress you with how clever he is.

00:31:24Look, he didn't tell me about suborning jurors.

00:31:29No, if he had, I would have done something about it.

00:31:32With a bonus he was offering you?

00:31:34I don't have to listen to this.

00:31:36I don't know how much of what Cartwright told me is the truth, but enough.

00:31:40He won't admit it publicly, so I can't have you thrown out of the profession.

00:31:43However, when I become head of chambers, you will be looking for new accommodation,

00:31:48and I will make sure you never take silk.

00:31:51Simon, you won't become a QC as long as I live.

00:32:05Hello.

00:32:06Mark, I need to talk.

00:32:08Can you come over to Pelham Place for half an hour?

00:32:11If it could, I shouldn't have rung.

00:32:16Oh, please.

00:32:18It doesn't matter what she says.

00:32:19She can't do anything.

00:32:22You did say she always gets her own way.

00:32:25Not with me.

00:32:27Not anymore.

00:32:28Not now.

00:32:28I've got you.

00:32:30Well, I've only just found you.

00:32:32And I don't want to lose you.

00:32:34What?

00:32:34You're not going to lose me.

00:32:37You heard this?

00:32:50This is wicked, Madam Chairman.

00:32:53Blimey.

00:32:57Oh, this must be doing it.

00:32:58Clearly she's doing it to annoy me.

00:33:05She looked almost triumphant when I saw them.

00:33:08Well, I'm sure that once she's made her point, she'd get bored with him.

00:33:12But what's he up to?

00:33:14Oh, I don't know.

00:33:16It has to have something to do with money, hasn't it?

00:33:19Well, it's easy if it has.

00:33:21Pay him off.

00:33:22Oh, darling, it's not the sort of thing I do every day.

00:33:25No, I have to think about it.

00:33:27I mean, the man is no fool.

00:33:30I don't know how to handle it.

00:33:32So far, I've handled it very, very badly.

00:33:34Look, Venetia, I've got to get back to the commons.

00:33:40I'm sure you can handle your daughter's boyfriend problem without my help.

00:33:43Thank you, ma'am.

00:33:45Thank you very much.

00:33:46The real reason I came...

00:33:48Well, we did have to talk.

00:33:51I'm sure you've been thinking along the same lines.

00:33:54What lines?

00:33:55I don't think we should see each other again.

00:33:59It's too difficult.

00:34:01For both of us.

00:34:03Too dangerous, perhaps?

00:34:06Well, it's not as though we've seen a great deal of each other in recent weeks, anyway.

00:34:11Oh, that's very neat, Mark.

00:34:13You were happy enough to deceive your wife before,

00:34:15but a ministerial position clearly concentrates the mind.

00:34:18So I'm the price for a dutiful and, more to the point, silent wife?

00:34:23Neither of us made any promises.

00:34:25It was never about that.

00:34:28Anyway, Lucy doesn't know about our affair.

00:34:30Of course she knows.

00:34:32She knows you better than you know yourself.

00:34:34If she's kept quiet until now,

00:34:35it was because it was in her interest to do so,

00:34:37until she had the right lever.

00:34:38Well, don't be ridiculous.

00:34:40It profits a man nothing to give his soul for the whole world,

00:34:43but for number two to the minister of sport.

00:34:46Oh, my, really?

00:34:49Oh, God.

00:34:51Well, Lucy's pregnant, Venetia.

00:34:52What a charming lever.

00:35:03I didn't think she could have children.

00:35:07Well, it just happened, after eight years.

00:35:11All done by prayer and lighting candles,

00:35:13or was it the immaculate conception?

00:35:18Does she know I aborted your child 12 months ago?

00:35:21Of course not.

00:35:24I saw her on the news a couple of weeks ago,

00:35:26on some pro-life vigil.

00:35:30Pity if she found out.

00:35:32You wouldn't do that to her.

00:35:33No, no, no, no, no, not to her.

00:35:36Maybe to you.

00:35:37Oh, come on.

00:35:39You were horrified when you found out you were pregnant.

00:35:41You never wanted another child.

00:35:43You didn't care very much for the one you've got.

00:35:45Did you get the Stratford papers from a solicitor?

00:36:08Well, they should be over here by ten o'clock.

00:36:10I said I wanted them on my desk when I got in this morning.

00:36:16Yes, well, um, I'll give them a ring, try and speed things up.

00:36:19The concept of speed in these chambers hasn't changed since the 19th century.

00:36:22You really are an anachronism, Harry.

00:36:24She'll listen to you.

00:36:34I see no earthly reason why she should.

00:36:36Venetia does not listen to anybody.

00:36:39I haven't told Lois yet.

00:36:40Much as I love my niece, I can't fight all your battles for you.

00:36:43Venetia means what she says.

00:36:45You are a competent Royer, not a clever one.

00:36:48Now, my advice to you is don't get out of your depth again.

00:36:53Oh.

00:36:55Oh, and Simon, start looking for new chambers.

00:36:59Venetia always means what she says.

00:37:06It's Cartwright's word against Jaws.

00:37:08The man's a show-off, that's all.

00:37:10He may sound off to Venetia,

00:37:12but he won't stand up and say he was involved in bribing jurors.

00:37:15Oh, stuff Cartwright.

00:37:19It's what Venetia Aldridge can do that matters.

00:37:22Can she really stop you becoming QC?

00:37:25Yep.

00:37:26We need the money that's going to bring in.

00:37:29We've been living off the promise of it for years.

00:37:32Then you'd better get your uncle, bloody Desmond,

00:37:36off his high horse and on to our side.

00:37:41Oh, God.

00:37:42His best advice was to look for new chambers.

00:37:47I'll talk to him.

00:37:49But it's really down to you, Simon.

00:37:51You have to stop Venetia Aldridge, and quickly.

00:37:54I'm going to offer Ash several thousand pounds.

00:38:14Well, I'm prepared to go to ten if necessary.

00:38:18Well, that's a lot of money, and if that's what he's after,

00:38:20he'll be back for more.

00:38:21If he takes the money and goes, Octavia will know why he's dumped her,

00:38:27even she isn't stupid enough to forget that.

00:38:30That's why I need a witness.

00:38:32I approach Ash, offer him the money,

00:38:34then arrange to give it to him in the presence of someone else,

00:38:38someone who could tell Octavia what he says.

00:38:41Well, she won't believe me.

00:38:46Are you asking me?

00:38:51Well, is that so unreasonable?

00:38:54Surely there's someone in the family, or an old friend.

00:38:59I tried an old friend last night.

00:39:03Are you telling me you won't help me, Drysdale?

00:39:07We are both lawyers, Venetia.

00:39:09These are very murky waters.

00:39:16Don't imagine you're going to become the next head of chambers

00:39:18if that's why you think your reputation needs protecting.

00:39:21That is a matter for the whole chambers.

00:39:23And the whole chambers knows you

00:39:25for the weak and indecisive man you are.

00:39:32Yes!

00:39:32I'm sorry, Miss Aldridge,

00:39:34but I can't cope with Octavia turning my kitchen upside down.

00:39:38She's got her own flat.

00:39:40I'm not turning anything upside down.

00:39:42Shut up!

00:39:42Mrs Buckley!

00:39:44I will sort this out in the morning.

00:39:46I am working,

00:39:46and I cannot be interrupted by a domestic argument.

00:39:48This place has stagnated for long enough.

00:39:57Under you, it would simply rot away.

00:40:00However much you covet the position,

00:40:02there is nothing you can do

00:40:03to stop me from becoming head of chambers.

00:40:08I can do a great deal more than you think, Venetia.

00:40:13And I shall.

00:40:14I shall.

00:40:18Miss Aldridge!

00:40:33George?

00:41:03What's the matter, Mr. Norton?

00:41:22Mr. Langton may still be at home. Would you see if you can get him?

00:41:30Morning, Mr. Langton. Yes.

00:41:33I've got Mr. Norton for you.

00:41:39I'm glad I caught you, sir.

00:41:41Something's happened.

00:41:44Something terrible.

00:41:49Yes, Harry, I'm still here.

00:41:52Do nothing. Let no one in the room.

00:41:56I'll call the police myself.

00:41:57I wish to speak with Commander Adam Dalgleish.

00:42:17This is Hubert St. John Langton.

00:42:24Yes, I'm afraid it's much more than urgent.

00:42:26It's Ud.

00:42:36Yeah.

00:42:37Yeah.

00:42:38Yeah.

00:42:41Yeah.

00:42:45Yeah.

00:43:17Who could believe?

00:43:36She was a woman of great dignity.

00:43:38She wouldn't want...

00:43:40What I mean is the press, Chambers, and all else...

00:43:43Yes, I know.

00:43:44I'm aware of the attention the press gave her in life,

00:43:46and I'm sure it won't be any different in death.

00:43:48What the hell's going on, Hubert? Is this all true?

00:43:57This is Commander Dalgleish, Desmond Ulrich.

00:44:01Oh, I was going to make a bad joke about my blood.

00:44:04I'm glad I didn't.

00:44:07Your blood?

00:44:08Yes, yes, it's for a minor operation.

00:44:11I always like using my own blood.

00:44:12It was kept in the refrigerator.

00:44:14Somebody took it.

00:44:15I was going to suggest that if you needed something to investigate.

00:44:20Who else knew the blood was there?

00:44:22A number of people.

00:44:25Mr Norton, our chief clerk.

00:44:28Valerie, the secretary.

00:44:30Mrs Carpenter.

00:44:33She's one of the cleaners.

00:44:34I didn't like the refrigerator cleaned while the blood was there.

00:44:40I take it that you are going to treat this as a suspicious death.

00:44:44Mr Ulrich, I should be treating this as murder.

00:44:46Well, the blood certainly isn't hers.

00:44:58Either it was poured over the wig within the last three hours,

00:45:01or it contains an anticoagulant.

00:45:02Yes, well, we can be fairly sure where it comes from.

00:45:05Indeed?

00:45:07You have the better of me there, Commander.

00:45:09It'll need matching, of course.

00:45:12Ah.

00:45:12Er, Riegel, well-developed.

00:45:18Probably died about eight o'clock last night.

00:45:22No obvious wound to the head, but, er...

00:45:26I imagine you've already spotted theirs.

00:45:30And the whip?

00:45:31Long, thin, rabia-like.

00:45:33Both sides sharp.

00:45:36At least four inches long.

00:45:37He was either very lucky or very skilled.

00:45:39A thrust straight to the heart.

00:45:42Er, I'll confirm it on the table, but, er...

00:45:45Death must have been instantaneous.

00:45:47Closed?

00:46:12Closed?

00:46:12Now, me and Aunty did it.

00:46:27I mean, I worked out the pattern, but it was like, oh, I did.

00:46:35It's crazy.

00:46:42But it's wonderful.

00:46:45It goes all about the landing as well.

00:46:48I mean, look, I was going through the ceiling, but I don't know, I just never got around to it, you know what I mean?

00:46:52I don't know.

00:47:12That was her place.

00:47:21Everything going down there.

00:47:25And you had to photograph it?

00:47:27Yeah.

00:47:33Is that why she was murdered?

00:47:34Come on.

00:47:43There's something else I want to show you.

00:47:54You took it?

00:47:56Yeah, before the police came.

00:47:57I always took photos of her on Aunty Van.

00:48:01She knew what a good photographer I was.

00:48:04That's why she would have wanted.

00:48:26If you or your mates get over that fence again, the next time I'll cut.

00:48:30Do you understand?

00:48:31It's all right, mate.

00:48:34Kids, what are they like, eh?

00:48:42I mean, they're just all barbarians today, ain't they?

00:48:50God, you look terrified.

00:48:53Are you okay?

00:48:54Who did you think it was?

00:49:05The police.

00:49:10I tore up the picture.

00:49:13I flushed it down the loo.

00:49:16I was afraid they'd find it.

00:49:17I'm sorry.

00:49:17You don't need to test me.

00:49:31Look, if people are going to let you down, it's just nice to know.

00:49:39I'm not going to let you down.

00:49:41I'm going to let you down.

00:50:05It's just fine.

00:50:06I'm afraid of me.

00:50:07now we can go back

00:50:12well now

00:50:22it was obviously someone in chambers

00:50:26who else knew where the full bottom wig was

00:50:29let alone my blood

00:50:31I don't believe anyone here could commit

00:50:33no one in this building could have done such a thing

00:50:35your remarks are tasteless

00:50:38and unhelpful

00:50:39the police wouldn't find them unhelpful

00:50:41and unless the commander is

00:50:43dimmer than his reputation suggests

00:50:46he'll come to the same conclusion

00:50:48good morning gentlemen

00:50:54I'm sorry about the disruption

00:50:57my officers will be taking statements

00:50:59from all of you in due course

00:51:01wouldn't you be better looking

00:51:03outside rather than inside

00:51:05it's clear that someone broke in

00:51:07the trouble with the murder investigation

00:51:09mr. Lord is that you have to begin at the end

00:51:11the end is here

00:51:12I'd like to base myself at Paula Court

00:51:15and set up an incident room here if I may

00:51:17is that really necessary

00:51:19who tries to hold you shut up

00:51:21you're not head of chambers yet

00:51:22the commander can pretty much do as he likes

00:51:24in the circumstances

00:51:25Norton I'm sure we can sort something out

00:51:28we can arrange for the commander and his team

00:51:30for a room

00:51:31that won't be a problem sir

00:51:32miss Aldridge's death is going to attract a great deal of media attention

00:51:35it certainly isn't going to attract a great deal of new custom

00:51:39it's not funny Desmond

00:51:41Venetia's body is still upstairs

00:51:44oh I am so sorry Simon

00:51:47I was forgetting how close you and she were

00:51:49yeah Mr. Norton

00:51:50sir

00:51:51the wig that Miss Aldridge was wearing

00:51:55where did it come from

00:51:57oh that's normally kept in the other room sir through there

00:51:59would you show Inspector Miskie

00:52:02yeah certainly

00:52:02well it's usually kept in there

00:52:09right well

00:52:11I need to have a look up there

00:52:12oh

00:52:13allow me

00:52:15who is the next of kin

00:52:18there's a daughter Octavia

00:52:20but I'm afraid with the shock

00:52:22we hadn't thought about her

00:52:23what about the husband

00:52:25Venetia was divorced

00:52:28over 15 years ago

00:52:29he was some sort of artist

00:52:32there's been no contact since

00:52:33do you know where the daughter lives

00:52:35she's just moved into the basement flat

00:52:37at her mother's place

00:52:39perhaps one of you would prefer to break the news to her

00:52:44yeah

00:52:45perhaps we should

00:52:46well none of us knows the girl

00:52:49I think it might be better

00:52:51if one of your people told her

00:52:53yes

00:52:53there's something I should mention

00:52:56Octavia has taken up with a young man

00:52:59Gary Ash

00:53:00Venetia recently defended him

00:53:02you may remember he was tried for the murder of his aunt

00:53:06yes yes I do

00:53:07Venetia was sure he was after money

00:53:10she was talking about trying to

00:53:11buy him off

00:53:12I think

00:53:13she believed man was dangerous

00:53:16oh well done

00:53:17Drysdale

00:53:18a convenient suspect

00:53:20and on a plate

00:53:21but I still don't see how either he

00:53:23or Octavia could have known about the blood

00:53:25in the refrigerator

00:53:27or the old wig

00:53:29Gary Ash was accused of murder

00:53:31this is murder

00:53:32I'm sorry Drysdale

00:53:34wasn't Mr. Ash found not guilty

00:53:37right

00:53:47well I need to get some prints taken of course

00:53:50but it's always been here

00:53:53oh yes yes

00:53:54the wig has always been kept up there

00:53:56as long as I've been here

00:53:57it belonged to Mr. Lagton's grandfather

00:54:00the last time it was used

00:54:02about two years ago

00:54:03that would be when Mr. Montague took silk

00:54:06Mr. Costello had it down on Wednesday didn't he

00:54:10he was trying it on

00:54:11oh

00:54:12why was that

00:54:13well Mr. Costello will be the next member of Chambers to take silk

00:54:18we were talking about it

00:54:19he asked me if it was still there

00:54:20I took it down

00:54:21he tried it on

00:54:23it was intended as a humorous gesture

00:54:25thank you sir

00:54:28did you like Miss Aldridge?

00:54:36well she was a very fine lawyer

00:54:37and a respected member of Chambers

00:54:38I know of no one who wished her ill

00:54:43sir

00:54:47venetia aldridge

00:55:03did she

00:55:05did she suffer

00:55:08no I'm sure she didn't

00:55:12are you alright?

00:55:18are you alright?

00:55:22are you alright?

00:55:26look

00:55:26don't worry

00:55:27alright?

00:55:29I'm in now

00:55:30you're gonna be fine

00:55:30do you hear me?

00:55:32yeah?

00:55:36okay

00:55:36the only reason you're here is to see if I've got an alibi in it

00:55:42I haven't said so Mr. Ash

00:55:45oh

00:55:46you can't pin anything on Gary

00:55:48not like last time

00:55:49we were here all night

00:55:51Mrs. Buckley saw us

00:55:53I see

00:55:55why don't you ask our lover Mark Ralston MP

00:55:58ask him what they were arguing about the other night

00:56:01we should be talking to everyone who had contact with her

00:56:05but at this moment I'm more concerned with how you are

00:56:08but you don't even know me

00:56:14oh leave me alone

00:56:18there's more confusion in the stock exchange today

00:56:23with the FTSE index down 64 points of the close of trading

00:56:26in London

00:56:28the death of the prominent QC

00:56:29Venetia Aldridge

00:56:30Mrs. Carpenter

00:56:44yes

00:56:46I'm Detective Inspector Miski

00:56:47I understand you're a cleaner at Mr. St. John Langton's chambers

00:56:51so how was your alibi Simon?

00:56:55do they really think we're the sort of people who go out murdering our colleagues

00:56:59and pouring blood over there?

00:57:00yes it was extraordinarily insensitive

00:57:02it was not particularly pleasant having one's blood taken

00:57:05I very much dislike the needle

00:57:06I shall have to cancel my operation

00:57:08I'll start all over again

00:57:10for God's sake Desmond

00:57:11what does your pint of blood matter?

00:57:13we've got a murder in chambers

00:57:15I know Drysdale

00:57:16it would have been more convenient if she'd been murdered somewhere else

00:57:19we're taking her away

00:57:22thank you

00:57:31thank you

00:57:35thank you

00:57:41thank you

00:57:45thank you

00:57:49Yes, sir?

00:58:04Mrs Carpenter.

00:58:08Tell me what happened when you got here last night.

00:58:13Well, there were no lads showing in any of the rooms, only in the hall.

00:58:17And the front door was locked.

00:58:20What time was that?

00:58:21Eight o'clock.

00:58:22Did you see Miss Aldrich?

00:58:24I didn't think anyone was in chambers.

00:58:28What about our room?

00:58:30Oh, the door was locked.

00:58:32And no light was visible?

00:58:33No.

00:58:35Did you know that Mr Ulrich had a bag of his own blood in the refrigerator?

00:58:39Yes.

00:58:41Well, was it there last night?

00:58:43I don't know.

00:58:44Oh, he made such a fuss about the blood.

00:58:49I decided not to clean out the fridge till it was gone.

00:58:54Has Mr Ulrich's blood got something to do with Miss Aldrich?

00:58:59Mrs Carpenter, I'd like you to think carefully.

00:59:02While you're cleaning here, could anyone leave the building without you noticing?

00:59:05Well, I suppose someone who was in the basement when I was upstairs could have left.

00:59:12I drew the basement last.

00:59:16Oh.

00:59:19Someone had been in the ladies not long before I went down.

00:59:23Really?

00:59:26How do you know?

00:59:27The sink takes a long time to drain away.

00:59:29I have spoken to Mr Norton about it, but nothing's been done.

00:59:35There was still some water.

00:59:38I thought it was probably Miss Aldrich before she left.

00:59:46Miss Aldrich didn't leave, did she?

00:59:49No, the murderer made very sure of that.

00:59:55Murderer?

00:59:55Well, I'm sorry, Mrs Carpenter, didn't you know?

00:59:59Miss Aldrich has been murdered.

01:00:06So, who could have been in chambers last night?

01:00:10The secretary of Valerie Corbel?

01:00:12No, she was out at a club with friends.

01:00:15What about the chief clerk?

01:00:17What's his name?

01:00:18Oh, Harry Norton.

01:00:19Harry Norton.

01:00:19Yeah, the first of many to tell us what a fine lawyer Vanessa Aldrich was.

01:00:22It seems everyone's shorthand for not liking it very much.

01:00:26She wouldn't have kept him on after retirement age if she'd become head of Chambers.

01:00:30True.

01:00:31But he was back home by 7.40.

01:00:35Simon Costello.

01:00:37He left early.

01:00:39His wife got in just after six.

01:00:42They had a meal and watched television.

01:00:44Mrs Costello confirms that.

01:00:45But my friend Valerie says that Costello had a row with Venetia that afternoon.

01:00:50Costello didn't remember the argument until I reminded him.

01:00:52He said he slipped his mind.

01:00:54He claimed Venetia Aldrich wanted his support, but he was more inclined to give it to Lord.

01:00:59It was the other way around, I think.

01:01:01Lord wanted to stop her taking the job.

01:01:03That's why he was with her later.

01:01:05Discussion about the future, he called it.

01:01:07I'd say another row.

01:01:09Opinion seems to be that Lord wanted head of Chambers very badly.

01:01:13Badly enough to kill?

01:01:15Well, he expected to get it until she threw her hat in the ring.

01:01:19What about Lord's Alibi?

01:01:21Does it stand up?

01:01:22He said he was at the theatre.

01:01:24Mm, the Savoy.

01:01:25Alone.

01:01:26It's not a long walk from Chambers.

01:01:31Ulrich also spent the evening alone.

01:01:33He left Chambers at 7.15 and went home to drop off his briefcase and then went to a restaurant

01:01:39to rules in Maiden Lane for dinner.

01:01:41It was his birthday and apparently that's what he always does.

01:01:45And Langton was home in Kensington by 7.

01:01:47That too is confirmed by his wife.

01:01:50So the only person we know for certain was in the building at the time of death was the

01:01:54cleaner Mrs Carpenter.

01:01:55So did anyone else come into Chambers?

01:01:58Someone we don't know.

01:01:59The killer knew the place, knew about Ulrich's blood, knew where the wig was.

01:02:05She was stabbed with her own paper knife and died instantly.

01:02:08The killer was either lucky or just knew what he was doing.

01:02:11The head was then decorated with the wig and the blood from the refrigerator.

01:02:15There's something about what was done to the body.

01:02:18Hmm?

01:02:19I find it more shocking than the murder itself.

01:02:24Do you know, there's a question we haven't asked.

01:02:27Is there necessarily a connection between the wig and the blood and the murder?

01:02:33Go on.

01:02:34Well, it speaks of a depth of hatred that's frightening.

01:02:41I mean, so far we've been looking at professional jealousies, rivalries.

01:02:46But the desecration of a body goes deeper than that.

01:02:48I think the truth's hidden.

01:02:53Hidden in a dark corner of someone's life.

01:03:18Look for something, sir.

01:03:25Watch them out, Valerie.

01:03:27Remember that the police want information, not gossip.

01:03:31I don't know what you mean, Mr Norton.

01:03:33I mean that the business of these Chambers is not their business.

01:03:36So just you be careful.

01:03:37Oh.

01:03:48Yes, can I help you?

01:03:54Um, Mr Norton wasn't here this morning when you got him, was he?

01:03:57Went for a walk, apparently.

01:03:59Sulking's closer to it.

01:04:01Huh?

01:04:02Why's that?

01:04:03Miss Aldridge gave him a ticking off yesterday.

01:04:06Called him an anachronism.

01:04:10Well, that's how she was.

01:04:12You know what she said to him once?

01:04:14What?

01:04:16Charles Dickens was a client here.

01:04:18Going back a bit.

01:04:20Right.

01:04:21Miss Aldridge reckoned if Charles Dickens came back from the grave,

01:04:24they'd think Mr Norton was the same chief clerk as last time he was here.

01:04:28So you liked her then?

01:04:31I don't know about like her.

01:04:33I like the way she got all the men here running around.

01:04:36She frightened the living daylights out of them.

01:04:40A night, Mr Langton.

01:04:48Ah, what is so...

01:04:49Let's go.

01:05:05There's not many of you that walk into a newsagent

01:05:35and ask for 50 quid's worth of magazines, no matter what they are.

01:05:38As long as they've got pictures.

01:05:41You should go real crazy.

01:05:43Yeah, well, I don't care what people think anymore.

01:05:46You see, we can do whatever we want now.

01:05:50It's all right, mate.

01:05:53Hold on.

01:05:55Here, chuck them on here.

01:06:02Here, give us a kiss.

01:06:03Oh, yeah.

01:06:06Oh, come on.

01:06:07Oh, come on.

01:06:33I don't know.

01:07:03I don't know.

01:07:33I don't know.

01:08:03I don't know.

01:08:04I don't know.

01:08:05I don't know.

01:08:06I don't know.

01:08:07I don't know.

01:08:08I don't know.

01:08:09I don't know.

01:08:10I don't know.

01:08:11I don't know.

01:08:12I don't know.

01:08:13I don't know.

01:08:14I don't know.

01:08:15I don't know.

01:08:16I don't know.

01:08:17I don't know.

01:08:18I don't know.

01:08:19I don't know.

01:08:20I don't know.

01:08:21I don't know.

01:08:22I don't know.

01:08:23I don't know.

01:08:24I don't know.

01:08:25I don't know.

01:08:26I don't know.

01:08:27I don't know.

01:08:28I don't know.

01:08:29I don't know.

01:08:30I don't know.

01:08:31I don't know.

01:08:32I don't know.

01:08:33I don't know.

01:08:34I don't know.

01:08:35I don't know.

01:08:37Look, it's just a place I went to when I was a kid.

01:08:40Well, you know, like, special place.

01:08:46See, one day I'll take you there, if you want.

01:09:02It was the right speech, darling.

01:09:26Absolutely right.

01:09:28So, not a great speech, hmm?

01:09:30A great speech about primary school sports facilities.

01:09:34Save it till the Prime Minister gives you a proper job.

01:09:37Mr Rolston.

01:09:39Commander Dal Gleish and Detective Inspector Miss Skin, Scotland Yard.

01:09:43I spoke to your secretary.

01:09:45I've been too busy to get back to you.

01:09:47I thought perhaps it would be more convenient to come down to the house.

01:09:50I'm sure I can answer your questions, Commander.

01:09:54This is my wife, Lucy.

01:09:56Mrs Rolston.

01:09:57Anything you need to say can be said to both of us.

01:09:59We have no secrets.

01:10:01Well, perhaps we should make a path for the Honourable Members, hmm?

01:10:09I, er...

01:10:10I did see Venetia.

01:10:13But you know that.

01:10:15Well done.

01:10:18The affair ended almost a year ago.

01:10:22It was she who ended it.

01:10:24If she hadn't, I would have taken the initiative.

01:10:29And there was no bitterness?

01:10:31Absolutely none.

01:10:33Did you know her, Mrs Rolston?

01:10:35Not well.

01:10:37We met from time to time, mainly at law functions.

01:10:40She had a beautiful speaking voice.

01:10:43I always wondered if she was a singer.

01:10:45Did she sing, darling?

01:10:47I never heard her.

01:10:55You went to see her at her home the other night.

01:10:57Why was that?

01:10:59She said she had something urgent to discuss.

01:11:01Fine speech, Rolston.

01:11:04Well, it seemed she wanted to talk about trying for the bench and whether or not it would help

01:11:12to take over his head of chambers.

01:11:14I decided that she probably wanted to talk about something else, but either she changed

01:11:20her mind or concluded that I couldn't help.

01:11:22You have no idea what it was?

01:11:24No.

01:11:26I see.

01:11:30Oh, by the way, why did you quarrel?

01:11:35Venetia was cynical about the new government and about me.

01:11:39She said I'd abandoned the socialist principles she herself loathed in pursuit of ambition.

01:11:46I said that was cool, coming from a woman who'd virtually abandoned her own child in pursuit

01:11:51of her career.

01:11:52Yes.

01:11:53It was then that we saw Octavia standing in the dining room.

01:11:59I do feel for the daughter.

01:12:03Where were you between 7.30 and 10 the night before last?

01:12:07I left my own chambers at Lincoln's Inn at about 6.

01:12:11I then met a journalist, Pete McGuire, with whom I had a drink at the Wigan Pen.

01:12:17I then came back to the house, where I met four of my constituents at 8.

01:12:20If you need to check, I shall expect tact.

01:12:25Of course.

01:12:26If your relationship with Miss Aldridge has nothing to do with my investigation, then no one

01:12:31need know.

01:12:31I don't want the malicious attentions of the press directed at my wife or telescopic lenses

01:12:36pointed at our windows.

01:12:42I believe that every single press baron has led a life of impeccable chastity before marriage

01:12:47and fidelity afterwards.

01:12:50Surely there must be a limit to hypocrisy.

01:12:53I haven't found one.

01:12:57Mr. Ralston.

01:13:09Ralston's a liar.

01:13:10Yes, but he's not a murderer.

01:13:13What about Gary Ash?

01:13:15He was at Pelham Place with the daughter Octavia.

01:13:20What do you make of Mrs. Carpenter?

01:13:23She's not the sort of woman you'd expect to work as a cleaner.

01:13:26Did Forensic check the sinker?

01:13:28The one in the ladies' lavatory?

01:13:30Yeah.

01:13:30Yeah, but they found nothing.

01:13:32But Valerie Caldwell told me Mrs. Carpenter sometimes does some cleaning at Pelham Place,

01:13:37helping out Mrs. Buffett.

01:13:38She seems to work very hard at her relationship with me at all.

01:13:44Our pick.

01:13:45Thanks.

01:13:55Talk to Mrs. Buckley about her.

01:13:57If she was so self-assured, why did the idea of murder come as such a surprise?

01:14:01Well, surprise was genuine enough.

01:14:03Surely that puts a low on the list of suspects.

01:14:05She's holding something back.

01:14:07Well, who isn't?

01:14:22So, Mrs. Carpenter has been working at the Inns of Court for over two years now.

01:14:25Yes.

01:14:27Janet started work at another chambers, then moved to Miss Aldridge's a few months later.

01:14:33Do you know anything about her background?

01:14:35Very little.

01:14:37She's a widow from Winchester.

01:14:40She moved to London when her husband died.

01:14:41She's a very private woman.

01:14:45I can't...

01:14:46I can't understand why you want to know all this.

01:14:50It gives me a clearer picture, Mrs. Buckley, that's all.

01:14:54So how did she come to work here?

01:14:57Well, I'm not sure.

01:14:58I wasn't really looking for anyone.

01:15:00Oh, I remember.

01:15:01She asked Miss Aldridge if we ever needed an extra pair of hands.

01:15:06She said if we did, she'd be happy to help out.

01:15:10Oh, so the suggestion was hers?

01:15:11Oh, yes.

01:15:13Oh, wait a minute.

01:15:13I didn't know you, Lucy.

01:15:15I suppose you want to speak to Octavia?

01:15:16No.

01:15:17No, not at the moment.

01:15:18Good.

01:15:19Well, just leave it, eh?

01:15:20Because, I mean, she can't tell you anything, you know, and you're upset.

01:15:22Oh, you ain't got any decent scissors on you, have you?

01:15:24These ones are ready.

01:15:26I'll find some and bring them down.

01:15:28Yeah, well, I don't take all day about it, will you?

01:15:30Well, don't suppose you're afraid of how it is, do you know, have you?

01:15:33We're working on it.

01:15:34Yeah.

01:15:35Means you ain't got no bloody idea, innit?

01:15:39Don't feel comfortable with that man in the house.

01:15:43There's something about him, I...

01:15:45But Octavia won't hear a word against him.

01:15:49She's besotted.

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