(dog howls) (uneasy music) (woman whimpers) (boxer grunting) (punches thudding) (uneasy music) (Gently panting) (punches thud) (he groans) (tense music) (woman whimpering) (she whimpers) (door rattling) (punches thudding) (Gently grunting) (high-pitched ringing) - Whoa... (thud echoes) (Gently groans) - Hey, man, he had his hands up!

Alreet, George?

Can you hear us, George?

Call an ambulance.

(ominous music) (man breathing heavily) (woman screaming) (final scream rings out) (dog barking) (vehicle approaching slowly) - Hello, hello, hello.

HUA222B.

(engine shuts off) - I bet he doesn't.

- Bet he does.

Look at him, man.

He looks shifty.

I've taken his number down.

White Ford Zephyr.

Tasty.

- "Tasty"?

Since when did you become an expert in taste?

Look at your hair.

(makes comical trumpet sound) Eh?

Where'd you get that done, Shields Fish Market?

- Shut up, man.

- Ow.

(mutters) Shh.

- So sorry.

I think he's heard.

(lighter clicks) - Nah.

Look at him, man.

He's just having a tab, isn't he, before he goes home.

He's not a punter.

He's just a secret smoker.

- 10 bob.

- Aye, all right.

(dog barks) There you are.

He's just going home to the wife.

Lives next door.

Ah, no.

No, no, no, no.

You do know what "10 bob" means, don't you, in Cockney Rhyming Slang?

- Yes.

And the women charge 10 bob for one.

- Right.

Well, a bet's a bet, Rachel.

(laughs mischievously) - Have you ever used a brothel?

- Have I ever paid for sex?

You're joking?

No, I haven't.

- No?

- No.

- Just 'cause I read in "Woman's Own" "One in three men has bought sex."

- Right, well, I'm one of the other two.

- And one in four women has done it for money.

- Well, all married women do it for money sooner or later, don't they?

(hum of approaching vehicle) - [Rachel] Here we go.

(engine stops) (dog barks) - Right, come on, then.

Excuse me.

Can I just have a quick word there, please, sir?

Police.

There you are, Rachel.

Are you aware you were about to enter a brothel there, sir?

- Is that illegal in Durham?

- No, it's not illegal.

No, but running one is and we're doing our best to discourage it.

- Prosecuting the girls doesn't work.

So we've decided to publish the name of the customers.

- Very commendable.

- In the paper.

- [Bacchus] Name and address, please, sir?

- Back off, Sergeant.

Now.

- Right.

Come on.

Rachel.

(she scoffs) - Oi!

Where's he from?

- [Rachel] CID.

Across the river.

Get in.

- [Rachel] Well, what's his name?

- Doesn't matter.

Right, shall we go?

(engine starts) - So, what, one rule for policemen and one for everyone else?

- No, no.

It's just, he wasn't breaking the law, Rachel.

So let's just drop it.

- He should go in the paper.

He's a serving police officer- - Rachel... - He shouldn't be using prostitutes.

- Will you shut your face, Rachel, please?

- I'll make my own way home.

(engine revs) (blues guitar music) (vehicle slows) (engine shuts off) (John sighs) (blues guitar music continues) (knocking on door) - John.

Don't take risks, please.

Always ring first, even if I'm expecting you.

- All right.

I promise.

- The kids are at my mam's.

We don't have to be quiet.

And we've got... all night.

- Gemma... - Ssh.

Let's not waste time talking.

- Gemma, listen.

I just met your husband.

- How?

- Ah, it was just a freak thing, you know.

Our paths just crossed at work.

It'll never happen again.

- Make sure it doesn't.

(blues guitar music continues) (brakes squeaking) (door thuds) - Morning.

There was actually a good reason, Rachel.

- Which was?

- I can't tell you.

- Out there, Sarge.

- [Bacchus] What's she selling, lucky heather?

Clothes pegs?

- I don't think that's all she's selling.

She says she's been raped.

- (sighs) You're joking?

Where's Gently?

- I haven't seen him.

- Well, that's a shame.

She could have wasted his time instead of mine.

Right, give me five minutes to get a cup of tea.

- All right.

(pensive music) (nearby ambulance siren blares) (Gently sighs) (pensive music continues) - Excuse me?

Excuse me!

Mr.

Gently, where on earth do you think you're going?

- To work.

(woman exhales shakily) (door bursts open) (Bacchus sighs) (pen scribbling) (tea slurps) - Right, Tina.

I'm all ears.

Who's been raping you, then, pet?

- There were three of them.

- [Bacchus] Where are we?

- In The Dun Cow.

(Rachel sniggers) It's a pub in Peterlee.

- [Rachel] Yeah, sorry.

Yeah, we know.

- Right.

So there's four of you sitting in The Dun Cow.

- Oh, no.

We weren't sitting together, like.

I was on me own.

- [Bacchus] Drinking on your own?

- Not against the law, is it?

- [Bacchus] No, no.

It's not against the law.

So, this was yesterday, was it?

- No, Tuesday afternoon, week before last.

- Week before last?

And you've come in now crying "rape"?

Tina, I'm gonna stop you right there, pet.

'Cause if you are wasting my time, I am gonna be very, very upset with you.

Do you understand?

- Aye.

- [Bacchus] So why's it taken you over a fortnight?

- Well, I wasn't gonna come in at all, and then I was talking with some friends and I just think they shouldn't get away with it.

- Who?

- Men.

- Right, I see, I see.

So, this is some women's lib point about "men" in general, is it?

- No.

Just the three what's raped us.

- So you want to carry on, do you?

(she exhales) - Aye.

'Cause I don't think they should get away with it.

These lads were all young, and they were drunk, and they were violent.

They're gonna go and do it to some other lass.

And they want stopping.

- [Bacchus] Right.

If that's what you want, we'll carry on.

Descriptions?

- Done?

Happy?

- Your friend Tommy who came in with you said you seemed to completely miss the punch and that's not something that happens.

You do remember Tommy, don't you?

- Yes.

- [Doctor] And do you remember the punch?

- Yes.

- So why did it lay you out?

- I didn't see it.

- Did you lose your vision, Mr.

Gently?

- I got some sweat in my eyes.

I was blinking it out and he hit me.

I'll be having words with him, I can tell you.

- You mustn't box again until we get to the root of this problem, Inspector.

- There isn't a problem.

- How many times has this happened before?

- It's been very nice to meet you, Dr.

Benson.

And thank you for your concern, but I'm fine.

- Have you been suffering from sudden bouts of fatigue?

I'm going to arrange for some neurological tests.

(pensive music) - [Bacchus] It was definitely the blond-haired one that grabbed you in the carpark, was it?

- Yes.

- Only, Tina, look, you said 10 minutes ago that you weren't sure because he grabbed you from behind.

- Yeah, that's right.

Ah, I don't know.

It was one of them, wasn't it?

- Do you want a cup of tea, Tina?

- Oh, yes, please.

- Tina, why have you not mentioned that you're on our files?

You're a prostitute.

Have you or have you not literally been asking for it?

(ripple of laughter) - [Officer] Oh, here comes the waterworks.

- Prostitution is not a crime.

- Well, soliciting is.

Three times in five years.

Literally been asking for it.

- And then charging money for it.

- I didn't mention what I do for a living because it wasn't relevant to what happened, was it?

I mean, these three lads, they were not clients.

(he sniggers) - Sarge, there's too many men in this room.

- What is it you want, Rachel?

Shall we get Pan's People in here, huh?

(ripple of laughter) How about that cup of tea?

Go on, I think we'll all have one.

(cage clangs) - Where's my sergeant?

- Number one, sir.

- And you've done it before, haven't you, Tina, pet?

Accused men of rape.

(door opens) You did it two years ago.

- That was a client.

- How can it be rape if you're getting paid for it?

- Guv.

- Sir.

- This is Mrs.

Tina Hall.

She's 45-year-old or so she says.

She lives in Peterlee.

She's a known prostitute, sir.

She's got convictions here for soliciting and disturbing the peace and she's here to make her second accusation of rape in two years.

The last one was withdrawn.

Now, she's saying that, this time, there was three blokes, young lads in a multi-story car park.

She doesn't know any of their names.

One was blond and one had a pair of glasses on.

Ah, withdraw it, Tina.

Come on, withdraw it, right, and I won't charge you with wasting police time.

- Hang on.

Has Mrs.

Hall been given an examination?

- It was three weeks ago, Guv.

- Oh.

Any witnesses, Tina?

- No.

What's the bloody point, eh?

- Youse are all bastards.

- (sniggers) Temper, temper, Tina.

- Oi!

That's enough.

- You know, there's nowt funny about being held down and raped.

(door clicks open) - Get a different job, then, love.

Hey.

What do you say to a woman with two black eyes?

- [Both] "You had your warning!"

(both laugh) - May I?

You didn't like what you saw.

- Sir, I don't know whether she was telling the truth or not, but they wouldn't have believed her anyway.

It's like a club.

- What is?

- Men.

The way they all stick together.

- Come on, Rachel, we're all in favor of equality.

- You're not, though, "all".

"All".

You're not "all" in favor.

I'm not saying that you're not, sir.

- I'll have a word with John if that will help smooth things over?

- Aye.

Ask him about last night while you're on.

- All right, out with it.

That's not a request, by the way.

- We cautioned about a dozen men outside this brothel.

Every one had their name and address taken except one.

A DI from across the river.

- No, Rachel, whatever else John is, he's not corrupt.

In fact, he would take an almost perverse pleasure in nicking a DI.

- Right, okay, well.

My mistake.

I do apologize.

- I'm just saying: There will be a reason.

- Aye, there was!

I'd better get back, sir.

- What was his name?

- Well, Sergeant Bacchus wouldn't say.

But I looked him up through his number plate.

His name's Walter Nunn.

Inspector Walter Nunn.

- [Taylor] Sir.

- Where's my sergeant?

Have you noticed how often I've had to say that recently?

- No, sir.

Do you want us to keep count?

- No, I want you to tell me where he is.

- Sorry, sir.

He went home early.

- Why?

- Didn't say.

- Yeah, all right.

(gentle music) (seagulls crying) (breeze whispering) (tide susurrates softly) - [Bacchus] What are we gonna do, Gem?

- [Gemma] We're gonna be practical, John.

Kids need a mam and a dad.

He loves them.

He loves me in his way.

- You don't love him, though, do you?

He's an arse, Gemma.

- He wouldn't be callous enough to do what I'm doing, I know that.

- You sure about that?

- Positive.

Can we not talk about my husband, John, please?

(gentle music) (soft pensive music) (glass smashes) (ominous music) (melancholic music) (vehicle purrs) (engine shuts off) (suspenseful music) (files rustling) (mysterious pensive music) (pages rustling) (intriguing music) (intriguing music continues) (music softening and slows) (Gently exhales) (Rachel clears her throat) - What are you doing here?

(she chuckles) - Somebody threw a sickie, so... I've got the next two days off, so I don't mind doing a night.

- Nobody waiting at home?

(she chuckles bashfully) You do a lot of things right, Rachel.

- Thank you, Mr.

Gently.

What are you doing here this time of night?

- Couldn't sleep.

There's something you can help me with as a matter of fact.

Put that down.

- Right.

- Sit down.

(she chuckles awkwardly) I'd finish it off myself, but I'm not a hundred at the moment, so... - What's the matter with you?

- No, it's just a bug.

I've been looking at the way this force investigates rape complaints.

- Sir, this force doesn't investigate rape complaints.

It just doesn't.

- I don't want your opinion.

I want you to go through these files systematically and bring me facts.

This many complaints, that many prosecutions, how many were withdrawn and why.

- Sir.

- And bring me the names of the investigating officers.

The name Walter Nunn has cropped up half a dozen times already.

And you bring these facts to me.

Right?

Nobody else, just me.

- Yes, sir.

- Right.

Now I am going home.

(she chuckles) (he sighs wearily) See you Monday.

- Good night.

(phone rings) - Or maybe I'm not going home.

(she chuckles) Gently.

(somber music) (indistinct chattering) - [Officer] Good morning, madam.

- Yeah, absolutely.

Morning, Guv.

- Morning.

- That way.

- Have you had a look?

- Aye.

A quick one.

She's young.

She's been there a while.

She's lying face down.

She's been covered with leaves.

She's got nothing on her to identify her.

- Who found her?

- Mrs.

Relph.

- What was she doing here?

- Walking her dog.

- Where is it?

- Ran away.

(melancholic music) (leaves, undergrowth rustling) (search dogs yapping) Look at this.

(grim music) Look at this.

You see that?

- Yeah.

Oh, yeah.

Blood vessels in her eyes have burst.

She's been strangled.

- Yeah.

- Ah... What's your name?

- WPC Turner, sir.

- First name?

- Constance.

- Have you seen a murder victim before?

- Never seen a dead body, sir.

- You're doing extremely well, Constance.

(soft music) - There's a road that runs down to the river, right?

Now the weather was dry, so there's no tire marks anywhere.

So I want 10 doing fingertip searches looking for clothing, jewelry, that kind of thing.

Residential streets here, here, and here.

Three teams of three, on the knockers, please.

Rigor mortis has been and gone, so we're probably looking to ask for the night before last.

All right?

Now we currently have no missing persons that remotely fit the bill.

We have no idea who this young woman is.

And we won't know how she met her end till they finish with her downstairs.

Assume nothing.

Right, on you go.

(officers murmuring) Why's she working in here?

- She's working for me.

- Working what?

- Who's Walter Nunn?

- He's an Inspector at Tynemouth nick.

- With a free pass to visit brothels.

- You don't need a pass, do you, Guv?

It's not illegal.

- Oh, really?

So why are we bearing down so hard on the customers, then?

Unless, of course, you've a warrant card in your pocket.

- Maybe he was on official business, sir.

- Was he or wasn't he?

- I didn't ask.

- They're ready for you, sir.

- Thank you.

- Thanks, Rachel.

What is this work he's getting you to do?

- Haven't got all day, John.

- You were right.

Strangulation.

Sometime late, the night before last.

I'd say between 10:00pm and 2:00am.

I'm pretty sure she was strangled from behind, from the marks on her throat.

And that fit with the sexual activity.

- You're calling it "sexual activity", not "rape"?

- All depends on the level of force used and I haven't had time to assess that yet.

Sometimes there's no real sign of it.

I mean, if I were being raped, personally, I'd let him get on with it rather than fight back and risk being hurt badly.

- That wouldn't be rape, then, would it?

Legally?

What?

No, I'm just... I'm saying "What's the definition"?

- When a woman says "No" but it happens anyway... - Well, yeah, sometimes they change their minds, though, don't they?

- Then they're not saying "No", are they?

- How old is she?

- I know she looks young, but I'd put her mid-20s.

- Any distinguishing marks, anything anywhere?

- She had her appendix out about 10 years ago.

- Oh, right, well, that narrows it down to about five million.

- How long are dental records taking these days?

- Oh, needle in a haystack.

Weeks, months.

- [Gently] Thank you.

(pensive music) - So I've gone back nearly five years, looking right across the constabulary.

It's patchy from division to division.

But the overall figures are... 102 complaints of rape, resulting in 27 charges being made.

17 of those were dropped before they even got to court, usually 'cause the victim decided not to go through with giving evidence.

So 10 went to court, resulting in eight convictions.

And two of those convictions ended in non-custodial sentences.

- Are you telling me that in five years, only six men went to prison for rape?

- Mm-hm.

They got between nine months and 14 years.

- Out of 102 complaints.

How did I not know about this?

- Do you want me to answer that, sir?

Because you never asked.

- And Walter Nunn?

- Um, 21 investigations made.

No charge brought.

Ever.

Every woman that ever talks to Walter Nunn eventually signs a statement withdrawing her allegation.

- Do you think Tina Hall was telling the truth, Rachel?

- I do now, yeah.

I think a lot of these women were telling the truth actually.

I mean, why would you bother?

It's a pretty horrible thing to come and talk about.

- What do we know about Walter Nunn?

Is he married, is he a single man?

- [Rachel] I can find out for you, sir.

- Right.

Don't ask questions in this building or in any other nick for that matter.

He'd be onto us in 10 minutes.

- Yes, sir.

- I think my guvnor's onto us, you know.

Not us.

Me.

He doesn't know who it is, but he knows it's someone.

- He's your boss, not your dad, John.

You'd never tell him, would you?

I don't want anybody knowing.

- No, of course I wouldn't.

- I'll have to buy some mints on the way home.

Walter would kill me if he finds out I started smoking again.

- What would he do if he found out about this?

- Kill us both probably.

- Why do you say that?

- 'Cause he's said so many's a time.

Me and the man first.

Then the kids.

Then himself.

- Why did you marry this bloke?

- 'Cause he made us laugh.

(she laughs) (smooching tenderly) - Do you still have sex with him?

- Yes.

Just not very often.

And when we do, I close my eyes and pretend it's you.

(sentimental music) - I love you, Gemma.

It's never happened to me before.

(engine idling) (engine revs) - Was there a particular reason you've invited me here, John?

- Young girl, mid-20s, goes missing, about a week ago, nobody reports it.

What does that tell you?

- What does that tell me?

- What does that tell you?

- No friends, no family.

- Possibly.

No job, possibly.

Or?

- Or the dead girl wasn't from round here.

- Right.

- Is that it?

- Well, if she wasn't from round here, Guv, therefore she must be...?

- Visiting?

- Visiting.

But nobody's reported her not arriving either.

- Passing through, then?

- Right.

The train station is three miles that way, right?

The coach station, on the other hand, is just over there: t'other side of this bridge.

- So?

- So why does she get off the coach?

- Why are you assuming coach instead of train, just because it's closer?

- Right.

Why did she get off either?

- I don't know, John.

This is your theory, not mine.

- What do trains have that coaches don't?

- This had better be good.

- Netties, Guv!

- What?

- Netties, the toilets.

If you're passing through on a train, you don't need to get off for a wee, do you?

If you're passing through on a coach, however, you've got no choice in the matter, you have to get off.

In the clothes you're standing up in.

Right?

And if you don't make it back for whatever reason, then it leaves without you, taking all of your belongings with it.

- Yeah, well.

It's worth asking the question, isn't it?

- Yeah.

- Yeah.

Well done, John.

- Thanks.

(soft dramatic music) - [Gently] Are you gonna tell me or not?

- What?

- Why you leave work early, or why you're so shifty, why you're yawning halfway through the morning.

- Why am I yawning?

Why are you always yawning?

Like a bloody zombie half the time.

- Tell me you're in love, John.

Go on, tell me you're in love.

I'll be happy for you.

Tell me she's tiring you out.

And that's why you're yawning.

I'll believe that.

Tell me she can only meet in the afternoons and that's why you're never at work.

But please, please don't tell me that you can only meet her in the afternoons because she's a married woman!

I knew it.

- Guv, where is all this rubbish coming from?

- How many times do you think I've watched this happen?

Eh?

In 30 years in the force, how many young men do you think I've watched having affairs?

Eh?

Go on, have a guess!

- 148.

- Scores of them, John.

Detectives.

Couldn't keep their zips up.

- You're completely wrong about this, Guv.

- Yeah?

Oh, well.

That's fine, then.

(tense music) (typewriter clacking) (phone ringing) - Right, Rachel.

Got a nice little job for you.

Want you to go to the coach station... - Rachel's working for me, John.

(phone dial whirring) Taylor, I need the number for the coach station, please.

- Did you find out anything?

- No, I'm not going on my sodding holidays!

Just get me the number, will you?

- Walter Nunn: Married, wife's name's Gemma.

Two kids.

- Why are we still talking about him?

- Instead of phoning the coach station, why don't you go down there and ask if a young girl got off the bus last Thursday night and didn't get back on it again?

- All right, I'll go and ask.

- John and Walter Nunn: Could they be mates?

- Definitely not.

He didn't know him from Adam.

It was only when he saw his warrant card that his attitude to him changed.

- When he saw his warrant card or the name on it?

- Sir?

- (groans) Married with two kids, you said?

- Yeah.

Four and three.

(Gently sighs) Do you want us to find out more about Walter Nunn, like who his friends are or?

- No.

Find Tina Hall for me.

Ask her if she'd very kindly come back and talk to me again.

And in case she's worried, tell her she's not in any trouble.

And nobody will be laughing this time.

Leave Walter Nunn to me.

Write down his home address, will you?

(weighty music) (he sighs) - [Conductor] The Durham bus is leaving now, ladies and gents, it's leaving now.

(bell dings) Hurry along there.

(intriguing music) (buses rumbling) (fingers drumming) (hinge squeaks) - Oi.

Other side, please.

- Sorry, I just need to have a quick... - This is my side, that's your side.

- I just want to check the timetable, pal.

All right?

- Use the one in the waiting room.

This one's mine.

- Ah.

No, you don't touch.

This one's mine.

All right?

Good.

Is this office manned at nights?

- Till 11 o'clock.

- By who?

- Me usually.

- Thursday nights?

- Every night.

Except Sundays.

- [Bacchus] Why not Sundays?

- 'Cause there's no buses... - On Sunday.

Right, yes.

Last Thursday, were you here?

- I just told you.

- Right, so there's three buses get in between 10:00 and half past two, right?

The Edinburgh-London.

The London-Edinburgh.

Edinburgh-Manchester.

- Hey, good reader.

- Is this appropriate, this here?

Is it?

Hm?

- If you like pictures of nude women.

- Ah, but the public, though.

Coming in here, seeing them.

A young lass, maybe.

- Why would she come in here when there's a waiting room?

- Who?

- This "young lass".

- [Bacchus] Well, to use your toilet, maybes?

- There's one out there.

- Out of order.

So will your face be in a minute, pal.

So help me.

So, did you see a young lass last Thursday night get off one of your late buses?

Curly mousey hair?

Knocked on your door perhaps, asked to use the toilet?

(suspenseful music) (gulls crying) - Come here.

(pensive music) (high-pitched ringing) (heart beating rapidly) (pensive music) (knocking on door) - I'm DCI Gently.

- Does he know you're here?

- No, and there's no reason why he ever should.

Are we talking about your husband or your boyfriend, Mrs.

Nunn?

- There's no need to make me feel guilty, Mr.

Gently.

I manage that myself.

- Have they ever met?

- John said their paths crossed about a week ago.

- Did he say how?

- Hardly matters, does it?

- No.

What does matter to me at least, Mrs.

Nunn, is my sergeant's career.

Now, John could go a long way in the police service.

But every now and again he makes a serious error of judgment.

And you are the latest.

Look, an officer gets caught with his trousers down, that happens.

He can get away with that.

An officer gets caught with his trousers down with another officer's wife, maybe break up a family... Is your marriage so unhappy?

- I don't think that's your business.

I wasn't looking for this.

I've never done it before.

I'll certainly never do it again.

Love is where it falls, Mr.

Gently.

Yeah, you can stand there and disapprove.

But what am I supposed to do?

What on earth do I do with this riot in my heart?

- You silence it, Gemma.

That's what you do.

And if you don't put a stop to this, I will.

Understood?

(melancholic music) (seagulls squawking) (melancholic music continues) - Ah.

Where have you been?

- Who's he?

- Name's Stuart MacMillan.

He's a boring little fart, a look-at-my-uniform jobsworth nobody tosspot from the bus station.

- Friend of yours, is he?

- He saw her get off the bus, Guv.

The Edinburgh-Manchester at 10 o'clock.

Now, she can only have got on at Berwick or Edinburgh.

We're checking with the local nicks now for missing persons.

He says that he saw her get off the bus, he let her use the toilet, and then he never saw her again.

He's a pervert.

You can smell it on him.

- [Gently] What is he doing?

- I don't know, he ordered the fruit for some rare glucose deficiency thing.

I don't know.

Looks like a clown to me.

(Bacchus chuckles) - Has he confessed?

- No, not yet.

Hey.

Was I right or was I right?

- Sarge.

Edinburgh has a Janice Ballard, aged 30.

She left home to go back to work in Manchester.

She usually gets the coach.

They're gonna stick a photo in the post.

We should get it tomorrow.

- Right.

- Here's your clerk, sir.

It's his first day.

(cage clangs shut) (stinging slap) - Behave yourself.

- Sorry, sir.

- Did you see that?

- No, sir.

- [Bacchus] Good lad.

(tense music) - Well, she seemed like a nice lass at first.

Just comes in, you know, and asks us if she can use the toilet.

'Cause the one next to the waiting room's out of order.

Then she says, "Can I have a cup of tea?"

So I says, "Yeah, I'll make you a cup of tea."

So we have a cup of tea.

Then she starts.

(ominous music) - Starts what?

- Batting her eyelids at us, and making suggestions.

She was asking for it.

- [Gently] Where are you at this point?

- I'm still in the office.

I've locked the door, like.

- The coach has already left, has it?

- No, it stops for half an hour, so's the driver can get his dinner.

- And where does that happen?

- He sits on the bus.

He's got a flask and some cheese and pickle sandwiches.

No... It's ham and cheese and pickle... sandwiches.

- Right.

What happened next?

- She comes over and sits on my lap and starts sort of... squirming, you know, like a stripper.

Yeah, like a dirty bloody stripper.

Gyrating in my face.

- Did you lose control?

- (sobs) I lost control.

- And then did you find- - Tell us in your own words, Stuart.

What happened next exactly?

- I cannot exactly remember.

I pushed her on the floor and had my way with her.

And then I killed her.

I killed her.

- How?

How did you kill her, Stuart?

- With my bare hands.

- What did you do with the body?

- I cannot remember.

- Where did you put her, Stuart?

- I put her in the river.

(unsettling music) - [Gently] In the river?

- No, er... beside it.

- What did you do with the clothes?

- I set fire to them.

(sobs) God forgive us.

God forgive us what I've done.

My picture will be in the paper!

And my mum will be ashamed of us!

(sobbing) - I don't think he's the full shilling, John.

We'd better get him fitted by the police surgeon.

To be safe.

- Ah, no, we're gonna be here till Christmas, man.

Right, yes, he's a clown, but he's not crackers.

- You led him too much.

- What?

Me?

- Yes.

- No, no, no, no.

I never mentioned rape, I never mentioned the river.

- But you asked him what he'd done with her clothes, which meant she was naked.

- After he said that he'd raped her.

Look, right, if we give him to the surgeon and he says that he's mental... - Yeah, okay, let's wait for the photo till you charge him, all right?

- Fine.

- Okay.

(pensive music) (rain pounding) - [Doctor] Has anybody warned you about this, Mr.

Gently?

A lumbar puncture is a very painful procedure.

- So I understand.

- Look, I wouldn't subject you to it if there was any other way to test my diagnosis.

Have you had any more loss of vision?

- No.

- Any clumsiness, dropping cutlery?

- No.

- You'll need tomorrow off work.

Nasty weather, isn't it?

(melancholic music) (rain pelting) (engine revs) (phone ringing) - Hello?

Gemma, it's me.

What's going on?

- I can't see you any more, John.

Don't call me again.

I'm sorry.

I'll write to you.

I'm sorry.

(line buzzing) (rain pattering) (child crying) (keys jingling) - You messing around with my life, Bacchus?

- With your wife?

- Life!

My life.

- What do you mean?

Why have you got that bint constable sniffing round?

Who am I married to?

How many kids have I got?

- I didn't, I didn't.

I promise.

- I'm warning you, Bacchus.

One word gets out to anybody about where I was that night and I'll rip your ugly head off and shove it up your arse!

- All right.

- Clear?

- Yeah.

Clear.

- You want to get a dead lock put on this door.

- The needle leaves a small hole in the spine.

Until that heals, fluid will leak internally.

This can take a week.

You'll get severe headaches.

That's normal.

The results should be back quite quickly.

Perhaps they'll prove me wrong.

- Thank you.

Good night.

(somber music) (rain pelting) (somber music) (keys clinking) Good morning, John.

- Not for me, it's not.

Walter Nunn paid me a visit last night.

- Oh.

Did he?

Why was that, do you think?

- I think you know why.

- Do I?

- He thinks it's me that's been doing background checks on him.

Thanks.

He threatened to rip my head off.

- Background checks, eh?

- Photo from Edinburgh came.

- Oh.

- Janice Ballard.

You convinced now?

- Eh... - What more do you want, Guv?

- We don't throw murder charges around like confetti, not as long as I'm in charge.

I want to talk to him again.

- Yeah, well, you're in charge.

Question: Why are you and Rachel investigating Walter Nunn and why was I kept out of it?

- Because I thought you might be compromised.

- How?

- You can't think of any reason?

- Like what?

- Well, I thought you might have let him off the hook the other night because you were mates.

But obviously you're not mates, are you?

- No, we're not mates.

Well, you still haven't said why you're after him.

- He was the investigating officer in 21 complaints of rape in the last five years and he never brought one charge to court.

Not one.

- That bothers you, does it?

- Doesn't it bother you, John?

- Yeah.

- I want to have a look at the way we investigate rape complaints in this force.

And I'll be asking permission to question Walter Nunn.

Just so you know.

(pills rattle) - I'll bring MacMillan up.

(poignant music) (door clinks open) - Good morning, Stuart.

I'm gonna ask you a simple question.

And if you mess me about in the slightest way, I'm gonna knock your block off.

You understand?

Good.

Now, we are investigating a second murder.

Another young woman.

- No, no, no... I know you people and your tricks.

Youse get somebody for one thing, and then youse put the blame on them for other things.

It makes youse look good.

- What, you think... You think the police tell lies, Stuart?

- I know youse do.

But I'm not falling for it.

And I'm gonna tell the judge about your police brutality.

- Well, I can see I've met my match in you, Stuart.

So, no more funny business, I promise.

If you wouldn't mind just taking a look at this photograph... and tell me if you've ever seen her before?

If the answer's "No"... (whistles) that's the end of it.

- I've never seen her before in my life.

- Never?

- Never.

- This is the young woman that you told us yesterday that you'd raped and murdered.

You made that up, didn't you?

Tidy this mess up, will you... Sergeant?

(door clinks open) (door clatters closed) (tap water running) - You... You made me look like a right monkey back there!

- You made yourself look like a right monkey.

You've compromised- Stay out of here!

You compromised yourself with this woman, and you're not thinking straight.

- What are you talking about?

What woman?

- Oh, for God's sake, John, really.

- You know?

- [Gently] Well, yes, of course I know.

- [Bacchus] Of course, how do you know?

- Because I make it my business to know.

- You've been to see her, haven't you?

Haven't you?

You've been to see her.

- Stay away from her, John.

Whichever way you look at this, she's poison.

You try and see her again and I'll have you suspended.

- Don't you dare, sir!

Don't!

Don't you dare ruin this for me!

Guv, please.

This is my one chance of being happy.

I'm asking you as a friend, don't.

(door bangs) - You know, I wanted to be a policewoman when I was a little lass.

Anything in uniform, actually.

That's bloody ironic considering how many times I've been asked to dress up as a nurse.

Men, they're really weird, you know.

They're like bairns that grow older but they never grow up.

- How often are they violent?

- Not that often.

Just, you know, sometimes you've got to let them do a bit.

You know, hold your throat, pull your hair, slap you a bit, call you names.

Seems to keep most of them happy enough.

Some of them don't want anything, you know.

They don't even want sex.

They just want to talk or be near a woman.

Like, the loneliness of men... They reek of it.

- Ah, you got your killer, I hear?

- Nope.

Wrong man.

Not right in the head.

Apparently he's confessed to murder before.

Four times, in fact.

- Well, you asked me to be definitive.

I now can be.

It was rape, all right.

Whoever did this used a lot of force.

She was quite badly hurt inside.

I think we can assume she said "No."

- Right.

Thanks you, Mrs.

Dixon.

- Ms.

- Sorry?

- Ms.

M-S.

A lot of people prefer it to Miss or Mrs.

now.

- What people?

- People like me, Sergeant.

- Right.

Thank you, Ms.

Dixon.

Um, sorry, before we start... I was out of order last time and I'd like to apologize.

- What do youse want, anyway?

- We'd like to take a further statement from you concerning what those three men did.

Rachel will take the statement.

No male officers will be present.

But before that, I'd like to ask you about the previous time when you made a similar allegation but you withdrew it.

Now, why was that?

Did you feel under pressure to drop charges?

- Well, yeah, you know, when you come in to complain about getting raped by a client and you find yourself talking to one of your regulars... - Are we talking about Inspector Nunn, Tina?

- (sighs) All right.

- That's a... serious allegation, that.

- Huh?

You said I wasn't in trouble.

- No... - No, no.

No, no.

I'm guaranteeing that.

So, was Inspector Nunn one of your regular clients?

- Still is.

- What was his attitude to your complaint?

- "You were asking for it."

- Because of what you do for a living?

- No, 'cause I'm a woman.

(Gently sighs) - This client who raped you... Could he have been known to Walter Nunn?

- He didn't talk as if he knew him.

He didn't seem that interested in him, actually.

- Well, as I recall from your statement, that rape was pretty violent.

And even that didn't make Walter Nunn take you seriously?

- Well, neither did he the second time.

- No.

I didn't believe you.

I should of.

I'm sorry.

- And it was the same with Walter Nunn, was it?

He just didn't believe you about the violence?

Is Walter Nunn himself violent, Tina?

- Yeah.

- Tina, did Walter Nunn ever put his hands round your throat?

- Always.

How'd you like that to be part of your job?

- Can I just ask?

Tina, when he was doing this, putting his hands around your throat, were you face up or face down?

- Face down.

(ominous music) - Look at the facts.

We saw Nunn here around the time as Janice Ballard was murdered.

I mean, it's no distance and apparently, he likes to choke women from behind.

- Rachel, do you hear what you're saying?

We've a serving police officer who's a rapist and murderer?

- I'm not saying anything, actually.

I'm just following the evidence, like we're supposed to do.

- He did come into your home and threaten you, John.

- He did what?

- He didn't want his name dragged through the mud for visiting a brothel.

- But did he not know you were trying to protect him?

- Rachel, enough, will you?

Why?

What is the big deal about this bloke?

- Enough, both of you.

Now, I'm going to request permission to question Walter Nunn under caution.

And the first thing he's going to want to ask is, did we question everybody that you spoke to on that night or are we victimizing him?

Now, Rachel, you've got all the names and addresses, off you go.

Ask them all for alibis.

(Rachel sighs) Mm.

Let's go and get some fresh air.

When I ask Walter Nunn, "Do you have an alibi for that Thursday night?"

Is he gonna say, "Ask my wife, 'cause I was with her"?

'Cause if he does, John, I'm gonna have to question her and she's gonna have to know why.

- Well, if he does, Guv, he's lying.

- Now, how do you know that?

Because she was with you.

Where exactly?

- Her place.

- In his bed?

Where did she think he was?

- "Working".

- So she trusts him?

- Mm-hm.

- And he trusts her, presumably.

- Yep.

- I thought you were better than this, John.

- Well, I'm not.

So what do you want me to do now, then, Guv?

- Go and help Rachel.

- Right.

(Gently groans) (soft melancholic music) - Are you gonna tell me what's wrong with you, Guv?

- I'm going home.

I'll see you tomorrow.

(melancholic music) - I've checked this one's alibi.

It sounds pretty solid.

- Right.

Well, that's all of them.

All pretty credible.

- Good.

- I'm off.

- [Rachel] Well, there is this bloke... - Huh?

- Shall we check him out?

We know where he lives.

The secret smoker bloke.

White Ford Zephyr?

- Oh, the one that nearly cost you 10 bob.

We saw him go into his house, didn't we, so he's not a punter.

We're doing punters, Rachel, just punters, or are you saying that "All men are rapists" as well?

- As well as who?

- Do you mind if I don't waste any more of my time today, please?

- I don't mind what you do, Sergeant.

- Good.

- But I think I'll just stay here, find out this bloke's name and check his alibi like Mr.

Gently asked wor to do.

- You really don't have a home to go to, do you, Rachel?

- Actually, I do.

And I'm gonna go there just as soon as I've finished my work.

- Very good.

I'm going to mine.

- Right, fine.

Night-night.

Sir.

(pen clatters) (she sighs) (dial clunks and whirs) Hello.

Oh, thank God you're a woman, pet!

Don't get us started.

Can you just check a vehicle for us, please?

Yeah, just the owner's name.

White Ford Zephyr, Bravo 222- Hotel, Uniform, Alpha.

Yeah.

Can you give us the address as well?

I know the street, I just don't know what number it is.

(suspenseful music) Can you give us that again?

(suspenseful music continues) (suspenseful music continues) (knocking on door) Well, hello, there.

- Oh, lovely, now the street will think I'm running a knocking shop!

- I'll be quick.

Do you have a Mr.

Alan Salt living here or staying here?

He owns a white Ford Zephyr.

- Try next door, love.

Place is full of men and whores an' all.

Not one pair of knickers between them.

- His car's actually registered in Leeds but I saw it pulling up here a few... - This isn't Leeds, though, is it?

- Er, if you could bear with us, 'cause this is quite important.

- Not to me, pet.

- Excuse me!

Do you mind answering my question or do you want us to take you in?

- What was the question?

- I'm trying to find a Mr.

Alan Salt who I saw walking down this path two Thursday nights ago.

- I live alone with my invalid mother who I've left in the bath.

There's no man called Salt or anything else in this house.

Maybe somebody's leading you up the garden path, dear.

(downbeat music) (knock at door) - Who is it?

- It's me, let me in.

- You all right?

- Walter's says he's gonna be questioned about a murder.

He says it's trumped up against him.

- Er... - Why, John?

- Gem, I... - What, I dump you, so you frame Walter?

- No.

No, no, no.

No.

- I thought you were better than that.

- It wasn't me, Gem.

It wasn't.

- Oh, God.

Will you stop hiding behind your boss?

You're just a sniveling little coward!

You're not half the man Walter is!

- Gemma, please.

- Never come anywhere near me ever again in your pathetic little life!

(footsteps stomping away) (melancholic music) (keys clinking) (light switch clicks) (melancholic music continues) (classical music plays on radio) (high-pitched tone) (melancholic music) (Gently sighs) (cutlery clanks on plate) (melancholic acoustic music) (phone rings) - So this bloke you think is called Alan Salt saw you, you think, stopped walking towards the brothel, smoked a cigarette and then pretended to walk into the house next to the knocking shop?

You think.

How come he saw you?

- That was my fault, sir.

I made a sudden movement.

- [Gently] What sort of sudden movement?

- Well, I... I punched Sergeant Bacchus.

Playfully.

- Brilliant work there, Rachel.

So you haven't tracked down a bloke who didn't visit a brothel.

- CID could use men like you.

- I have an Alan Salt already on file.

Six years ago we did him for assaulting a police officer.

He lived in Gateshead in those days.

- So, are you saying there's two blokes called- - Will you listen to us?

The policeman had stopped him to ask about a serious assault on a prostitute that night in Durham.

- Ah.

Right.

Time to pay a visit to the ladies of the night.

Well done again, Rachel.

- Thank you.

- What are you gonna do after you've nicked my job, then, Rachel, hm?

Are you gonna surgically remove my balls, are you?

- No, you can keep those for decorative purposes.

You might run out of fluffy dice for your car window.

- Well, I don't have any fluffy dice, so... - You don't have any balls either!

- Am I doing this on my own?

- No, sir.

- No, not you, love.

You've got Tina Hall coming in, remember?

And don't let her go till I come back.

- Never mind, perhaps you can get together and talk about "men".

"Ooh, bloody men!"

Cuppa tea.

Get your knitting patterns out.

- John!

- "Men..." - Behave yourself with these women.

- Oh, I will.

I will.

No, I feel quite sorry for them, actually.

I mean, they don't do it 'cause they want to, do they?

Sad cases, really.

(doorbell rings) - "Alan Salt"?

We know him as Mr.

Smith.

Comes here every other Thursday.

Travels up from Yorkshire to visit his mother in an old people's home.

Usually rings ahead and books.

Not always, mind.

Always asks for the same companion.

Monica.

- Is Monica here now?

She's not in any trouble.

I just want to talk to her about this man.

- Is this something to do with the girl that was found?

Because your officers have already knocked on my door.

- Well, they knocked on every door, Susan.

- Well, Mr.

Smith's not your man.

- Why not?

- Because he's a sweetheart.

- He loves his mam.

- So did Hitler.

- Oi.

- Do all your customers wear johnnies, by the way?

- Yes.

Of course they do.

Why do you ask?

- Just wondering.

- So, can we assume that Mr.

Smith is booked in tonight?

- Um, not with me.

But he sometimes makes the arrangement, you know, direct with Monica.

- Where can we find Monica?

- She'll still be at work.

- Doing what?

- She's a primary school teacher.

- You what?

- [Gently] So best visit her at home, then?

- No.

No, uh... Husband's always there.

He's unemployed.

So best he never knows.

- Is that why she has to do it?

- Gets her out of the house.

That what Monica says.

- Right.

- What kind of sex does Monica offer a man like Mr.

Smith?

- Kinky.

- Violent?

- More "playful", I would say.

- Ah, you've got a dungeon here?

- In the basement.

Would you like to inspect it, Inspector?

I'd be more than happy to show you the ropes.

(chuckles) - Not today, thanks.

(Bacchus chuckles) Thank you.

- Yeah, well, do come again, Sergeant.

Next time you're off duty.

It needn't cost you a penny.

- No, thanks.

I don't pay for sex.

- Well, you wouldn't be, that's what I'm saying.

- Well, that's a very kind offer, but no thank you.

Oh, Susan, does Walter use your dungeon?

- Walter?

- Walter Nunn.

- I don't get to meet many Nunns in my line, Inspector.

(Gently laughs) - [Bacchus] I'll get somebody on the street tonight, Guv.

If Mr.

Smith turns up, we'll grab him.

She knew we were coming.

You know that, don't you?

- Oh, yeah.

- Walter Nunn warned her.

Told her to deny any knowledge that he's a customer.

You do know that, don't you?

- [Gently] Okay, go on.

- Well, to hide the filthy sex that he's been having in there.

- Well, unless there's more to it and he's our murderer... - Guv.

- Yes, I know.

You don't want to believe that the woman you love could have married a rapist murderer?

Susan's gonna be on the phone to him right now.

We've given him a perfect cover story for visiting a brothel.

- I visited the brothel as part of my inquiries into a man called Alan Salt.

- (scoffs) Well, snap.

Great minds.

What's your interest in this man?

- What's yours, sir?

- He's a name in the investigation of the rape and murder of a young woman called Janice Ballard.

But that murder wasn't known about when you were at the brothel.

So?

- Fact is, there have been slipshod errors in the investigation of rapes in this force.

Right?

I blame myself, in part.

So I decided to do something about it.

A trawl through the files threw up Alan Salt, a man regularly visiting the area, known to frequent prostitutes.

A man with cautions for curb-crawling and a conviction for assault.

- That is a pack of lies, Inspector.

Your investigation wasn't "slipshod".

You turned a blind eye to 21 potential rape cases because deep down, you think all women are asking for it, don't you?

I'm gonna bring forward evidence of that and have you charged.

- Well, good luck, sir.

Can I go now?

- No.

Janice Ballard's murder took place less than a mile from the brothel where you were.

So, how long did your... "inquiries" at the brothel take, Inspector?

- Half an hour?

Yeah, I left at about 11:30.

- To go?

- Home.

- And before you visited the brothel, where were you then?

- Putting the kids to bed.

- Was your wife there?

- Yes.

Of course.

Before and after.

- And she will corroborate this?

- Yes.

- You know, I don't think I'd believe her.

- (snorts) Are you saying my wife would tell lies?

You don't know my wife, Inspector.

- Hm.

(suspenseful music) Bring her in, would you?

- What?

- Now, before she comes in, why don't we just clear this up and you admit that, for years, you've used prostitutes to satisfy your violent sexual needs and that that is where you were between the hours of 10:00pm and 2:00am on the night that Janice was murdered?

- Gently, Gently.

Why are you doing this?

It's my career.

My marriage.

- If you don't provide me with a convincing alibi for those hours, I will arrest you on suspicion of the murder of Janice Ballard.

- My wife is my alibi.

Bring her in.

She'll tell you.

I was with Gemma all night.

- You seem very confident of her.

- We love one another.

And neither of us tells lies.

(door creaks open) (suspenseful music) - Tina, did Inspector Nunn persuade you to drop a rape complaint that you made two years ago?

- Aye.

He didn't give us much choice.

- Rubbish.

There was no evidence against the man.

- But... this wasn't the first time that you've met Inspector Nunn... Isn't it?

- Lies.

- No.

He was a regular customer of mine.

In fact, he had been since he was a single man.

- Thank you, Tina.

- You're gonna take the word of a poxy tart?

- Guv, Guv.

Hey, hey, hey.

Stop it.

Guv.

Stop it.

(Nunn choking) - Did you see that, Constable?

- No, sir.

- Am I gonna bring your wife in, or what?

(tense hollow music) - I spent all night at the brothel.

- Any witnesses?

- Three of them.

- Busy boy.

Names?

- They're made up.

- What did you call them?

- I called one Iris.

One Colleen.

And there's one who calls herself Monica.

- Go home, Inspector.

You will be hearing from me again.

- So, wasn't him that's done in that little Scots lass, then?

- He's a toe-rag but he's not a murderer.

I just needed to be sure of that before I do what I do next.

Sit down.

Tina, when you were raped two years ago, it was a Thursday night, wasn't it?

- Aye.

- Was this the man who raped you that night?

(ominous music) (chilling music) - "Call me Mr.

Smith," he said.

- Yeah.

We've let you down.

I'm sorry.

And a few other women too, I'm afraid.

I have reason to believe that he raped and murdered a young woman two weeks ago.

And on top of that, I believe that he's going back again tonight.

Now I know that you have absolutely no reason to help the police but we really need to catch this man.

(lighter clicking) (quiet suspenseful music) (dog barking) You okay, Tina?

- Normal night for me.

Except for youse lot scaring off the trade.

- Thank you.

- Always happy to help a policeman.

Right, back to work, Tina.

(footsteps tapping) (brooding suspenseful music) (engine revs) (ominous music) (vehicle brakes softly) (tense music) (engine revs) (Bacchus sighs) - Eerie.

Déjà vu.

- What's the French for "a complete waste of bloody time"?

He's not gonna do the same again, is he?

- No.

If Tina's right, he's already done the same again.

- Nah, the bloke's not the killer.

She'd be dead, wouldn't she?

Loads of blokes call themselves "Mr.

Smith".

(tense music) (music intensifies) (ominous music) (vehicle purrs slowly) (ominous music) (vehicle slows) (urine trickling) (engine revs) (concerning music) (vehicle brakes) (dog barking) - Where's Tina?

(Gently sighs) (dramatic music) (radio crackles) This is Gently.

We've lost Tina.

Look out for a white Zephyr.

- [Radio] Roger that, sir.

(bangs on car) (dog barks) - Oh, God, what have I done?

(engine revving) (Tina groans) - You know, there was no need to hit us, man.

I was only making conversation with you.

- [Alan] You're wasting my time.

Think I'm interested in what comes out of your mouth?

- Where are we going?

- Somewhere quiet.

Have I had you before?

- No.

What's your name?

- You can call me Mr.

Smith.

(eerie music) (siren ringing) - Come in... - Rachel Coles, Go ahead.

- Suspect seen turning right.

- Roger that.

- It wasn't your fault, Guv.

- He's been seen heading towards the riverside.

(officer shouting) - Right.

Rachel, you go with him.

(dramatic music) - [Gently] All units hold back.

(engine revs) (dramatic music) (engine stops) (dramatic music continues) (engine revs) (suspenseful music) - [Rachel] Sir... (suspenseful music) - We've found the car.

It's empty.

(tense music) (Tina screams) (quiet uneasy music) (Alan snarling) - Police!

Put the knife down, Alan.

Alan, put the knife down!

Tina.

Tina, you stay still.

Alan, listen to me.

Put the knife down.

(Alan panting) That's it, just give me the knife.

(Alan growls) Hey, hey, hey, hey.

(Bacchus groans) Tina?

Are you all right?

- Just don't leave us here in the dark.

- No, I won't.

I won't, it's all right.

(tense music) (Alan grunts) (Rachel gasps) (intense music) (Alan panting) - Oi.

(punch smacks) (Alan groans) (radio crackles) - Sir, are you there?

I've got Tina.

(Rachel panting) Sir, are you there?

- Yes, John.

I can hear you.

We've got him.

How's Tina?

- [Tina] Hello, Mr.

Gently.

I'm fine.

I'll live.

How about you?

- It's good to hear your voice, Tina.

Yeah, I'll live.

(somber music) (bird cooing) (gentle music) (envelope rustling) (somber music) (somber music continues) (he sighs softly) (keys jingling) (melancholic guitar music) (melancholic music) (door creaks then clunks shut) (somber music) (somber music intensifies) (melancholic dramatic music) (melancholic dramatic music continues) (music fades) (energy pulsing softly) (no audio)