Line of Duty Page #2

But it’s too late for Brackley -- he’s already pulled the

trigger. Karim drops, blood spatters against the back window

and the glass shatters. Karim’s wife screams and she appears

from out of view -- AALIYAH, Asian, 20s -- but the police

start to cable-tie her hands behind her back.

The squad are stunned, paralyzed. Aaliyah is screaming. The

baby -- unhurt but splattered with its father’s blood -- is

crying. And Karim is dead, blood leaking from what’s left of

his head all over the cheap carpet. There are shouts from

outside -- alarmed residents panicking.

Brackley shakes, hyperventilating while other members of the

squad release the baby from the sling. They pat down Karim.

FIREARMS OFFICER

There’s no bomb, Col! There’s no

bloody bomb!

"Line of Duty" Episode 1 Shooting Script 18.08.11 8.

Brackley stumbles back, aghast.

CUT TO:

1/24 EXT. TOWER BLOCK. ROOF TOP. CONTINUOUS. DAY 1. 1/24

Seen through a telescopic sight, Brackley freezes in the

doorway, the squad still toting guns as Aaliyah is torn

between comforting her baby and comforting her husband.

CUT TO:

1/25 EXT. TOWER BLOCK. LOCK-UP GARAGES. CONTINUOUS. DAY 1. 1/25

All hell breaks loose as Arnott runs into the building.

ARNOTT:

(Into mike.)

All units, shots fired, shots

fired.

Police vehicles move in with sirens blaring.

Ambulances the same.

The roar of a police helicopter (not seen).

VARIOUS OFFICERS

(Into radios.)

Shots fired! Shots fired!

CUT TO:

CLOSE-UP ARNOTT:

-- running hard into the building, his face wearing the worry

of having passed on the kill order.

CUT TO:

1/26 EXT./INT. TOWER BLOCK. FLAT 56. MOMENTS LATER. DAY 1. 1/26

The sirens wail, the helicopter (unseen) grows nearer.

Arnott reaches the door of the flat - it’s hanging off its

hinges. Something about the number doesn’t look right to him,

which deflects him momentarily, before he plunges into the

flat. Through the unit of paramedics fighting vainly to save

Karim’s life, Arnott sees Karim’s widow and the baby.

"Line of Duty" Episode 1 Shooting Script 18.08.11 9.

ARNOTT:

Oh, my God.

Brackley just shakes his head numbly.

Arnott moves to the door and reaches for the 6 of the 56.

Close-up we can see the faint mark of slightly different

weathering above the 6 and a tiny screw hole.

Arnott rotates the number upright. It sits next to the 5 ---

59.

This is Flat 59.

ON ARNOTT:

Arnott shakes. He looks like he’ll puke. In b/g the

helicopters approach fast (VFX).

Brackley sees what Arnott has done. He turns pale like he’ll

faint. Both men are speechless with horror as the young widow

cries, cradling her crying baby next to her husband as

paramedics declare him dead.

PARAMEDIC:

We’re pissing in the wind here.

Arnott turns and runs.

CUT TO:

1/27 EXT. TOWER BLOCK. WALKWAY. CONTINUOUS. DAY 1. 1/27

Arnott sprints to the real Flat 56. By now there are loads of

cops on the scene, telling panicked residents to stay in

their homes.

Arnott doesn’t wait. He kicks open the door. The flat is

empty, stripped of furniture, just a few packing boxes left

behind.

On a wall is daubed Arabic Jihadist script.

Arnott looks like he doesn’t know whether to scream or to

cry.

CUT TO:

"Line of Duty" Episode 1 Shooting Script 18.08.11 10.

1/28 EXT. TOWER BLOCK. LATER THAT DAY. DAY 1. 1/28

With a face like thunder, CHIEF INSPECTOR OSBORNE marches

through the aftermath:

-- residents and press being held back by a police cordon

-- Forensics heading up to the flats

-- a body bag being taken to an ambulance

-- Aaliyah, clutching her baby, being led to a police car by

two WPCs

-- Brackley and his squad clambering numbly into the back of

a police van

Osborne catches the van doors as they’re closing, and jumps

in.

CUT TO:

1/29 INT. POLICE VAN. CONTINUOUS. DAY 1. 1/29

The van speeds out of the estate. Brackley and his squad sit

in mortified silence. Osborne doesn’t skip a beat.

OSBORNE:

You got to the flat. You shouted,

“Armed police.” You heard something

going on inside, a struggle or a

fight or something. Southern 257

gave you the order to go in. The

suspect’s there, he’s acting

aggressive. You shout, “Surrender,

armed police.” The suspect fails to

comply. He comes for you. You’ve

got no choice.

BRACKLEY:

I’ve got kids of my own, sir. If

there was anything I could do

different --

OSBORNE:

I want those statements copper-

plated by noon.

Eyes down, the squad nod to a man. Brackley hesitates under

Osborne’s glare, then does the same.

CUT TO:

"Line of Duty" Episode 1 Shooting Script 18.08.11 11.

1/30 EXT. BACKSTREET. SOME DAYS LATER. DAY 2. 1/30

An identical van is let through a police cordon and speeds to

a halt outside the rear entrance of a large building.

The van doors fly open. Brackley and his squad leap out.

But they’re wearing smart suits, clean shaven, hair combed.

They straighten their ties and are guided quickly and

unobtrusively into the rear entrance of:

SOUTHERN DISTRICT CORONER’S COURT

CUT TO:

1/31 EXT. CORONER’S COURT. CONTINUOUS. DAY 2. 1/31

The building’s imposing public facade. Photographers snap

pictures openly. Osborne gives a short statement to the

Press.

OSBORNE:

I take pride in the courage and

professionalism of my

counterterrorism officers. To say

any more risks prejudicing the

inquest.

Officials, solicitors and witnesses make their way into the

building. Police officers, some in suits, some in uniform,

march up the steps in groups.

Alone, hanging back, Arnott doesn’t march to the same tune.

He sees a sorrowful, bent figure, protected by family

friends:

-- Aaliyah.

Her SOLICITOR speaks to the press on her behalf.

AALIYAH’S SOLICITOR

When Karim Ali came to this

country, he told his wife that here

it’s different. The police don’t

break into your house and hurt

innocent people. He told her the

police in England are good men.

"Line of Duty" Episode 1 Shooting Script 18.08.11 12.

Arnott moves on quickly, riven by guilt.

CUT TO:

1/32 INT. CORONER’S COURT. HALL. MOMENTS LATER. DAY 2. 1/32

Arnott trudges inside. Osborne hooks his arm and pulls him

into an alcove. He waves a statement in his face.

OSBORNE:

What the bloody hell’s this?

ARNOTT:

They misread the number on the

door. They mistook a baby sling for

a bomb harness.

OSBORNE:

I ordered a statement corroborating

that the firearms squad observed

threatening behaviour --

ARNOTT:

Surveillance watched the flat for

two weeks and then we got scrambled

with an hour’s notice --

OSBORNE:

The op was well planned and ex-

ARNOTT:

It was a runaway train. Admit our

mistake, apologize, and get on with

the job of finding the actual

terrorists -

OSBORNE:

(Gets in Arnott's face.)

You’re pointing the finger at your

own.

ARNOTT:

It took guts for our blokes to go

in thinking there was a suicide

bomber ready to blow the lot of

them to kingdom come.

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