Line of Duty Page #3

OSBORNE:

Then write the same bloody

statement they did.

"Line of Duty" Episode 1 Shooting Script 18.08.11 13.

ARNOTT:

An innocent man was killed.

OSBORNE:

You passed on the order. Where were

your reservations when they

mattered?

Osborne pushes Arnott away.

OSBORNE:

You’re finished.

Exit Osborne. Arnott glowers with bitter resentment.

CUT TO:

1/33 INT. CORONER’S COURT. COURT ROOM. LATER THAT DAY. DAY 2.1/33

The Coroner addresses a packed court from his bench. Osborne,

Brackley and the squad sit in a row, granite faced. Arnott

sits alone. His troubled gaze moves from Osborne -

CORONER:

This is a complex and emotive case.

Following depositions from legal

representatives, I grant a period

of six weeks to gather all relevant

evidence and statements.

-- to Aaliyah, in mourning.

CORONER:

This inquest is hereby adjourned.

The Coroner gathers his papers.

USHER:

All rise for Her Majesty’s Coroner.

The court rises. Brackley and his squad offer each other

support. But Arnott is alone. Guilt consumes him.

CUT TO:

1/34 INT. LIFT. A FEW WEEKS LATER. DAY 3. 1/34

Changing light/shade of passing floors plays on Arnott's face

as he churns through where his decision has brought him.

CUT TO:

"Line of Duty" Episode 1 Shooting Script 18.08.11 14.

1/35 INT. AC-12. WALKWAY. CONTINUOUS. DAY 3. 1/35

Arnott steps out of the lift onto a high walkway. Glass

fronted offices surround him. Uniformed officers visible in

key positions suggest this is a Headquarters Building.

Coming out of a security door ahead of him is SUPERINTENDANT

TED HASTINGS (early 50s). He puts out his hand in welcome.

HASTINGS:

Is it Steven or Steve?

ARNOTT:

Steve.

They shake hands.

HASTINGS:

I’m glad you accepted my offer.

Hastings uses his key fob to let them back through a security

door signed:

-- AC-12.

HASTINGS:

You’ve shown rare integrity, Steve.

CUT TO:

1/36 INT. AC-12. OPEN-PLAN OFFICE. MOMENTS LATER. DAY 3. 1/36

Hastings uses a fob to lead Arnott through another security

door that opens into a plush open-plan office. Police and

civilians work at desks.

HASTINGS:

Welcome to Anticorruption.

Arnott surveys a number of empty desks.

HASTINGS:

Now, Steve, we’ve got a number of

active investigations at the

present time -

ARNOTT:

Why are there empty desks?

"Line of Duty" Episode 1 Shooting Script 18.08.11 15.

HASTINGS:

Think of this as a promotion. If

you want to get anywhere in the Job

these days, AC’s the big tick on

the old c.v.

ARNOTT:

This is going to be good for me.

HASTINGS:

That’s the ticket.

Arnott tries to look convinced. Not entirely successfully.

HASTINGS:

Your shooting ... d’you know,

Steve, how many people have been

killed as a result of police action

in the last ten years?

ARNOTT:

I don’t.

Hastings doesn’t tell him. He studies him.

HASTINGS:

The bad news, as always with a

firearms incident, is it’s gone to

the IPCC. But Karim Ali, the man

who was accidentally killed, was an

illegal immigrant. As is his widow.

Hastings sees this tug at Arnott's conscience. He softens.

HASTINGS:

You know, it wasn’t your fault,

son. A clean break. Pastures new.

I’ve got a very special case for

you....

CUT TO:

1/37 EXT. KINGSGATE. MOMENTS LATER. DAY 3. 1/37

A high-spec Jag glides through city centre streets.

CUT TO:

1/38 INT. GATES’S CAR. CONTINUOUS. DAY 3. 1/38

TONY Gates speeds past gleaming high-rises, talking via a

Bluetooth headset.

"Line of Duty" Episode 1 Shooting Script 18.08.11 16.

GATES:

(Into phone.)

I’ll be there in five minutes.

He spots a police car ahead. He slows down instantly.

GATES:

(Into phone.)

Plod. Make it ten.

CUT TO:

1/39 INT. KINGSGATE. CAFE. MOMENTS LATER. DAY 3. 1/39

In a classy little cafe, we follow a waitress through people

in suits picking up takeaway coffee and Danish pastry, and

come to an attractive couple who could be a pair of

solicitors or estate agents: JACKIE LAVERTY (roughly Gates’s

age) and Gates. The waitress, NADZIA, places a platter

bearing the bill onto the table and moves on.

JACKIE:

I decided to bring my business trip

forward to today.

GATES:

I’m sorry about tonight.

JACKIE:

No, it’s your night.

(Joking.)

Only the most glamorous night of

the year ...

GATES:

Hardly.

JACKIE:

(Takes his hand, flutters

her eyelashes jokingly.)

What are you going to do to make it

up to me?

GATES:

Bacon bap?

JACKIE:

(Laughs.)

Next you’ll be trying to get me on

the back seat of your old Ford

Capri.

"Line of Duty" Episode 1 Shooting Script 18.08.11 17.

GATES:

Those were the days.

(Beat.)

God, I miss that car.

She laughs and shoves him in mock offence. He laughs.

She reaches into her purse to settle the bill.

JACKIE:

I’ll call you if I get back before

it’s too late ...

He beats her to paying the bill. She reacts subtly -- his

paying is a statement, given their respective wealth.

GATES:

Maybe we should just dash over to

your place before you go ...

From her look we get that they’ve got a pretty hot sex life

at the moment.

Nadzia returns to pick up the payment.

Then out of the window Gates sees a young woman pushing a

toddler in a buggy. A couple of youths leap out at her,

trying to steal her bag. The woman screams.

Gates reacts.

JACKIE:

(Puts arm out.)

Tony, don’t -

He’s already running straight out.

CUT TO:

1/40 EXT. KINGSGATE. CAFE. CONTINUOUS. DAY 3. 1/40

For a “suit”, Gates is very handy. He takes a swing at one

youth, knocking him to the ground. The second youth pulls a

knife.

The woman screams.

Gates advances, grabbing the knife arm and using his free arm

to batter the kid with heavy blows. Meanwhile the first

mugger legs it.

In Gates’s eyes dark aggression flashes.

"Line of Duty" Episode 1 Shooting Script 18.08.11 18.

He pulls the knife free as the kid crumples.

GATES:

(To woman.)

You alright? Your kid alright?

The woman is shocked and tearful but she nods that they’re

both OK.

Nadzia hurries out.

NADZIA:

The police are coming.

Gates responds with a wry smile. He shows his police ID.

GATES:

They’re already here.

NADZIA:

Okay!

She offers him the platter bearing his bill payment.

NADZIA:

On the house.

He milks the adulation.

CHIEF CONSTABLE (V.O.)

Officer of the year -

CUT TO:

1/41 INT. TOWN HALL. THAT NIGHT. NIGHT 3. 1/41

CHIEF CONSTABLE:

-- Detective Chief Inspector

Anthony Gates.

At a formal event, guests rise from their seats in applause

of Gates as he takes to the stage. The Chief Constable puts a

medal round his neck and shakes his hand, whispering

congratulations. Also on stage applauding is the Mayor.

In the audience one man pointedly doesn’t applaud --

Hastings, in uniform. He observes coolly, flanked by Arnott.

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