Line of Duty Page #11

HASTINGS:

You expect us to believe that?

LINDSAY:

If I’d conspired in the murder -

ROYAL:

Which you didn’t.

LINDSAY:

-- why on earth would I make a call

at that exact time? It would only

incriminate me.

KATE:

It does. Funny that.

They look to have Lindsay on the ropes.

Kate shows Lindsay the E-fit of Joe.

KATE:

I’m sure you’ve already seen this E-

fit. Who is this man?

LINDSAY:

I’ve never seen him before in my

life.

KATE:

He was in the hospital, about to

kill the witness and DC Trotman, at

exactly the time you made your

phone call.

Trembling slightly, Lindsay takes a sip of water, and then

regathers her composure.

LINDSAY:

DS Arnott, what’s your theory on

why I’d make that call?

STEVE:

(Beat.)

It was a signal. Or you got cold

feet and tried to call off the

murder.

Steve doesn’t sound very convinced or convincing. It makes

him pause.

(CONTINUED)

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LINDSAY:

I’m as aware as you all are that it

isn’t possible to trace a call

within an internal telephone

network. All you can do is identify

a number dialled from the call box

as being the number of the hospital

switchboard -- and I admit to that

part. After that, you only have the

vague evidence from someone who

can’t be sure who called, what they

said or why. I deny it was me who

asked to speak to the nurse.

HASTINGS:

If that’s your final answer ...

(Tuts or shows similar

disdain for Lindsay’s

argument.)

DC Fleming?

KATE:

DI Denton text-messaged me to

attend a meeting at the Canalside

Industrial Estate, purporting to be

in connection with a breakthrough

in a missing persons enquiry. The

specific location given by DI

Denton was a unit formerly

belonging to A&B Carriage Repairs.

STEVE:

This disused unit was a front for

individuals connected with the 5th

of September ambush.

HASTINGS:

What’s your connection, DI Denton?

LINDSAY:

There’s no connection to me. I went

there following a lead on my

investigation into the

disappearance of a 15-year-old

girl. The fact it’d gone out of

business and was connected to an

ongoing investigation -- these

facts only added to my suspicions.

HASTINGS:

Instead of pursuing your

suspicions, you assaulted DC

Fleming.

LINDSAY:

I was emotional.

(CONTINUED)

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HASTINGS:

Why?

LINDSAY:

I imagined what it must’ve been

like for that girl if she’d been

abducted to that place.

(Beat.)

I was frustrated with the case, and

angry with DC Fleming’s lies.

HASTINGS:

You don’t like being lied to, DI

Denton? Thing is, neither do we.

DI Denton, I’m arresting you for

conspiracy to murder a protected

witness. You do not have to say -

LINDSAY:

On what grounds -- ?

HASTINGS:

You do not have to say anything -

LINDSAY:

State the grounds! Under Code G of

the Police and Criminal Evidence

Act, why are you arresting me?

HASTINGS:

(Beat.)

As the arresting officer, I submit

1. you were the sole survivor of an

ambush you had means to set up and

2. you made a call and admit making

a call to the hospital following

which two people were murdered. In

regard to the Police and Criminal

Evidence Act, I note Subsection 5

(c)(i), (c)(ii), (e) and (f). I’m

sure you’re familiar with those

terms.

Lindsay shuts up. Hastings has the floor and continues.

HASTINGS:

Lindsay Denton, you do not have to

say anything but it may harm your

defence if you fail to mention when

questioned something you later rely

on in court. Anything you do say

may be used in evidence.

Big tense moment. Lindsay handles it but Royal looks like

he’d rather be somewhere else.

(CONTINUED)

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LINDSAY:

I would like to say something. Keep

the tape running.

Lindsay reaches into her bag and fishes out documents. Steve,

Kate and Hastings look puzzled. They glance at Royal. Royal

signals he doesn’t know what’s happening either.

LINDSAY:

Superintendent Hastings, I have in

my possession certain financial

records pertaining to you.

HASTINGS:

Now hold on. Where did you -- ?

(Reaching for tape

recorder.)

LINDSAY:

The document requests were signed

off by an officer of Chief

Superintendent rank. Anything I say

may be used in evidence --that

works both ways.

Lindsay slides copies of the documents to Hastings. Hastings

still has his hand on the tape recorder.

ROYAL:

Sir, DI Denton has asked for the

tape to be kept running. She’s got

a right to be heard.

Hastings lifts his hand away from the tape recorder.

LINDSAY:

Without going into details, these

records show that Superintendent

Hastings is in considerable

financial difficulties.

HASTINGS:

This is of no relevance to the case

against you, DI Denton.

LINDSAY:

(Refers to document.)

I’m reading from a transcript of

our first interview.

“Superintendent Hastings: ‘Our

strongest supposition is that

criminal interests assassinated the

witness to prevent him testifying.

Those interests would pay a pretty

penny for an inside man, or woman.

(MORE)

(CONTINUED)

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LINDSAY (CONT'D)

Any officer in the kind of

financial mess you’re in, DI

Denton, is honour bound to declare

it, on account of vulnerability to

bribery.’”

Have you declared your situation,

sir?

(Off Hastings’ silence.)

Sir?

HASTINGS:

(Beats.)

No.

LINDSAY:

“No.”

Hastings glowers -- absolutely furious and embarrassed at the

invasion of his personal life into a professional setting.

LINDSAY:

DS Arnott, I’d like you to view

these photographs.

Lindsay shoves a folder across the table. Apprehensively,

Steve opens it, revealing the first image -- him on the

doorstep of Claire Tindall’s house.

LINDSAY:

Do you recognise the location?

STEVE:

Yes.

LINDSAY:

This is the home, under protective

custody, of Staff Nurse Claire

Tindall. You interviewed her in

connection with the events at the

hospital. There are more photos.

Steve looks at the next few -- him returning at night, then

him in an upstairs bedroom window with Claire, Claire drawing

the curtains.

STEVE:

How d’you get these?

LINDSAY:

For the tape, the images show DS

Arnott returning to Staff Nurse

Tindall’s home. Later that evening

you’re seen in an upstairs bedroom

with her.

Steve looks aghast.

(CONTINUED)

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LINDSAY:

What was the purpose of your return

visit?

STEVE:

I ...

LINDSAY:

I’m sure you took notes of the

conversation. May we hear them?

Steve glares back at her, furious but outfoxed.

LINDSAY:

No notes, then? I’m sure you’re

aware -- or perhaps you’re not but

I hope Superintendent Hastings is --

that inappropriate relations with a

witness is a breach of the England

& Wales Police Conduct Regulations

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