Line of Duty Page #7

Rogerson grins wrily, warming to him.

Steve studies the interior. His gaze falls onto the floor.

STEVE:

By the looks, it’s not been touched

since it they moved out.

ROGERSON:

Apparently.

STEVE:

You checked CCTV from the hospital

car park?

ROGERSON:

Maybe.

STEVE:

Any chance of AC-12 getting a peek?

Rogerson thinks about it, sizes him up.

CUT TO:

232 INT. AC-12. OPEN-PLAN OFFICE. LATER THAT DAY.

Displayed prominently in a number of places around the office

are the e-fit of “Joe” -- with tag-lines like “Have you seen

this man?” -- next to photos of Georgia tag-lined with

“R.I.P.” and “Murdered/Killed in the line of duty.”

Steve and Hastings watch CCTV of the hospital car park. A

classy saloon idles in an aisle, appearing to wait for a

space.

STEVE:

Joe’s car. Waiting.

Claire gets in her car and backs out of the space.

STEVE:

Makes his move.

As she does so, Joe’s car proceeds down the aisle and shunts

her rear bumper, not very hard. Both drivers get out

immediately.

(CONTINUED)

Line of Duty #2.2 02/06/2013 CHERRY revisions 39.

232 CONTINUED:

STEVE:

No accident.

The CCTV continues, showing Joe make contrite gestures and

then offer to lead the way (to the garage).

STEVE:

He never once turns round so the

camera can see him.

HASTINGS:

He knows it’s there, that’s why.

Then Claire’s car follows Joe’s out of the car park.

HASTINGS:

Trace on the car?

STEVE:

Same story as the ambush vehicle.

Stolen vehicle, cloned plates.

Hastings rewinds the CCTV back to Joe talking to Claire.

HASTINGS:

He’s the go-between. Get him and

we’ve got the killers and the

police officer they’re working

with.

(Beats.)

Sure you don’t remember a face?

STEVE:

I never saw his face. Only Georgia

did.

Awkward beats.

Steve moves to Georgia’s white board. He picks up the sponge

wiper and goes to wipe it but then he sees one of the posted

images of Georgia and can’t bring himself to. Strange beat.

Instead he finds a space and draws a connection between an

ORGANISED GANG, “JOE”, Denton and WITNESS. Then he adds the

big unknown, in a circle with a question mark: WITNESS

PROTECTION. Ideally there are photos to represent Joe and

Denton.

Hastings and Steve both study the diagram thoughtfully.

CUT TO:

Line of Duty #2.2 02/06/2013 CHERRY revisions 40.

233 INT. POLICE HQ. OUTSIDE DRYDEN’S OFFICE. LATER THAT DAY.

Hastings waits pensively and impatiently in the anteroom.

Dryden’s PA glances at him then back at her computer. She

types something and sends it with a ping.

Enter Jo, grim-faced.

Dryden’s office door opens. Hastings comes to his feet

expectantly. Jo goes straight in without a word and Hastings

is forced, embarrassed, to sit back down.

CUT TO:

234 INT. POLICE HQ. DRYDEN’S OFFICE. CONTINUOUS.

From their demeanour, it’s clear Dryden knows that Jo is

bringing bad news.

DRYDEN:

What do they know, or think they

know?

JO:

They’ve got a source claiming a

vehicle registered to your wife was

captured by a safety camera at

around 10 p.m. on August 16th. A

fixed 3-point penalty notice was

sent to your wife and it’s alleged

she claimed, falsely, that you were

the driver.

DRYDEN:

How the hell did they get that?

JO:

I told you. They’ve got a source.

DRYDEN:

Some bobby with an axe to grind,

fancies stabbing me in the back for

a few quid. Don’t these idiots

realise I’m trying to improve their

lot?

JO:

But is it true?

DRYDEN:

Helen was home. I was driving.

JO:

I’ll throw your denial straight

back at them.

(CONTINUED)

Line of Duty #2.2 02/06/2013 CHERRY revisions 41.

234 CONTINUED:

DRYDEN:

Thank you.

JO:

But if they’re confident of their

source, they’ll run it anyway.

DRYDEN:

Why are they doing this to me?

JO:

You have to ask? Seriously?

DRYDEN:

(Beats.)

What can you do to limit the

damage?

JO:

Me? You. The ambush is still the

bigger story. Crack the case and

the speed camera won’t even make

page eight.

Jo lets Dryden reflect deeply on that.

CUT TO:

235 INT. POLICE HQ. OUTSIDE DRYDEN’S OFFICE. MOMENTS LATER.

Jo slips out and exits as discreetly as possible.

Dryden watches her go with a dark expression.

Dryden stands in his doorway, putting on a composed face.

DRYDEN:

Ted. Very sorry.

Hastings takes his cue.

CUT TO:

236 INT. POLICE HQ. DRYDEN’S OFFICE. CONTINUOUS.

Dryden shows Hastings in.

DRYDEN:

Have you been offered tea, coffee?

HASTINGS:

Plenty, thank you, sir.

Dryden shuts the door.

(CONTINUED)

Line of Duty #2.2 02/06/2013 CHERRY revisions 42.

236 CONTINUED:

HASTINGS:

I’ve seen you’re busy so I’ll come

straight to the point, if I may,

sir.

DRYDEN:

I’d be grateful.

HASTINGS:

AC-12 needs access to all areas

relevant to the 5th September

ambush.

DRYDEN:

Those areas being?

HASTINGS:

Witness Protection.

DRYDEN:

Ted -

HASTINGS:

With no reciprocity.

DRYDEN:

You know the sensitivity of W.P.

It’s prudent to compartmentalise

the investigation.

HASTINGS:

And how’s that going, sir?

Dryden’s face drops. Hastings has played on his worries.

DRYDEN:

I’m only interested in the best way

to get results.

HASTINGS:

We’ve identified a prime suspect, a

police officer possibly involved in

setting up the ambush, and a go-

between linked to the criminal

parties who carried it out. The

missing link lies in Witness

Protection, I’m certain of it, sir.

DRYDEN:

Who are these individuals?

HASTINGS:

I’d rather not say at this time,

sir.

DRYDEN:

“Rather not.”

(CONTINUED)

Line of Duty #2.2 02/06/2013 CHERRY revisions 43.

236 CONTINUED:
(2)

HASTINGS:

With respect, sir, that’s what no

reciprocity means. It’s the

appropriate way to investigate blueon-

blue crime and keep a lid on

internal leaks.

DRYDEN:

(Beat.)

Of course.

HASTINGS:

We’re the best in the business,

sir.

(Off Dryden’s hesitation.)

We can get to the bottom of this.

Quickly.

DRYDEN:

(Beats.)

I’ll open up Witness Protection to

your team.

HASTINGS:

Thank you, sir.

DRYDEN:

There’s a DI in AC-9 -- he’s your

man. You’ll second him.

HASTINGS:

As you wish, sir.

DRYDEN:

Whatever it takes to nail those

bastards, right, Ted?

Dryden looks like he means it. Hastings looks re-energized.

Dryden throws open the door for Hastings to exit.

HASTINGS:

Uh, yes, sir, thank you, sir.

Then he exits.

CUT TO:

237 INT. 4TH ST STATION. SQUAD ROOM/LINDSAY’S OFFICE. NEXT DAY.

Kate crosses the squad room to Lindsay’s office.

KATE:

Boss, we got a call from Carly’s

mate, Michelle. She’s remembered

something about the boyfriend.

(MORE)

(CONTINUED)

Line of Duty #2.2 02/06/2013 CHERRY revisions 44.

237 CONTINUED:

KATE (CONT'D)

He was into cars, might’ve been a

mechanic.

Lindsay’s about to answer when she sees Bob and Tessa,

Carly’s foster parents, dressed in their smartest clothes,

being shown in by a PC.

LINDSAY:

Give us a minute.

Rate this script:5.0 / 1 vote