Line of Duty Page #10

The inmates grab it again and go through the same process.

Again they get it into the gap and drop the weights. Again

Lindsay snatches it free.

They do it once more. This time they fix her arm in place.

The weights drop towards her hard and Lindsay yanks her arm

free at the last split second.

The inmates try to get her hand back in the weights machine.

Lindsay struggles and screams but they’re too strong for her.

They lift the weight and get ready to drop it.

Merchant and Leland rush in.

MERCHANT:

Bloody hell! Jen, quick!

LELAND:

(To inmates.)

You two, get away from her!

The inmates back off.

LELAND:

Christ, Al, we need to fix this.

(CONTINUED)

LINE OF DUTY #2.3 04/06/2013 Salmon revisions 56.

347 CONTINUED:
(2)

MERCHANT:

(To Lindsay.)

You need a First Aid assessment.

Answering “Yes” or “No”, are you

able to -

LINDSAY:

Yes!

Merchant and Leland lead Lindsay out quickly.

CUT TO:

348 INT. PRISON. FIRST AID SUITE. CONTINUOUS.

Merchant and Leland lead Lindsay quickly into a little First

Aid room. The first thing Merchant does as they come in is

flick a kettle on.

MERCHANT:

Have a seat.

Lindsay sits. Merchant and Leland look humanly concerned.

MERCHANT:

Look, if anyone finds out, we’re

for the high jump. We’ll sort out

those two back there and we can

keep this between ourselves?

Lindsay is taken aback by their sudden human manner.

LINDSAY:

Uh, sure ...

MERCHANT:

Cheers. You’re a lifesaver. Fancy a

cuppa?

LINDSAY:

Uh ... yeah ... that’d be nice ...

MERCHANT:

Jen, can you do the paperwork while

I do the brew?

LELAND:

No problem, Al.

Leland pulls a form off a shelf. It’s an outline of the hands

with spaces to record injuries.

LELAND:

Lindsay -- is it okay if I call you

Lindsay?

(CONTINUED)

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348 CONTINUED:

LINDSAY:

Of course.

LELAND:

Lindsay, could you pop your hands

on the table next to this diagram

so I can have a look at them?

Lindsay lays her hands flat on the table.

MERCHANT:

Milk, sugar?

LINDSAY:

Milk, no sugar. Thanks.

MERCHANT:

Been trying to give up. Still two

spoons a cup, me.

Leland examines Lindsay’s hands, cross-referring to the

diagram, noting any lesions.

LELAND:

You’ve got a cracked nail.

LINDSAY:

Could’ve been worse.

LELAND:

Thank God it wasn’t!

Leland takes a closer look and makes a mark on the document

where the cracked nail is, and then writes cracked nail.

Suddenly, shockingly, (the kettle action has gone on out of

sight), Merchant pours boiling water over Lindsay’s hands.

Lindsay screams the place down.

MERCHANT:

You’ve been talking to AC-12. From

now on, you keep your gob shut.

CUT TO:

349 INT. DRYDEN’S OFFICE. NEXT DAY.

This is a formal meeting, hence Hastings walks in smartly

with his hat on.

DRYDEN:

Thank you, Ted, but there’s no

need. Hat off, at ease.

(CONTINUED)

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349 CONTINUED:

HASTINGS:

Sir.

Hastings removes his hat and goes to at-ease, though he’s

still a very long way from relaxed.

DRYDEN:

I’ve considered the pros and cons

with no little deliberation. You’re

in a vulnerable position. An

anticorruption officer is more

likely than most to encounter

situations that place him

susceptible to bribery.

HASTINGS:

Sir.

DRYDEN:

However, coming to me as you did,

it’s a measure of your character.

This is possibly the most morally

complex investigation this Force

has ever carried out. I for one

would feel less confident of

success without your guiding hand

on the tiller. I’d like you to

carry on.

HASTINGS:

Thank you, sir. I don’t know what

to say.

DRYDEN:

I haven’t discussed this with

anyone. The fewer know about your

situation, the better.

HASTINGS:

I’m very grateful, sir.

DRYDEN:

Is there anything I can do to help?

HASTINGS:

The wife and I, we’re on the right

track.

DRYDEN:

Good man, glad to hear it.

Hastings attempts to look convincing.

CUT TO:

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349A INT. POLICE HQ. OUTSIDE DRYDEN’S OFFICE. CONTINUOUS.

Hastings comes out. He’s surprised to see Hargreaves waiting.

HARGREAVES:

Charged anyone else while our

backs’ve been turned?

HASTINGS:

Interesting question, sir. Should I

have?

HARGREAVES:

Must be a great up there on that

pedestal, all holier-than-thou. All

the further to fall, mind, when the

truth comes out.

Hargreaves goes into Dryden’s office and the door shuts

behind him. Hastings stares at the closed door, feels

suddenly extremely uneasy.

CUT TO:

349B INT. HASTINGS’ BEDSIT. LATER THAT DAY.

Hastings hangs up his coat in his tiny bedsit. He looks lost

and alone, a long way from the right track.

He selects ROISIN from his phone menu. He puts his finger on

the CALL button, keeps it there for a few beats, then takes

it away sadly.

CUT TO:

350 INT. PUB. THAT NIGHT.

A classic coppers’ boozer. Hastings sits alone at the bar,

looking a bit of a sad case.

Enter Steve. Between Steve and Hastings there’s plenty of

tension.

STEVE:

Alright, boss.

HASTINGS:

Alright.

Tense beats.

STEVE:

What you having?

(CONTINUED)

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350 CONTINUED:

HASTINGS:

My shout.

Hastings beckons the barman.

STEVE:

Pint of -(

Checks pumps.)

-- Kronenbourg.

(To Hastings.)

Ta.

HASTINGS:

I imagine I’m keeping you from your

busy social life.

STEVE:

Could do with a night off.

Steve hopes a joke will lighten the mood but it’s got no

effect on Hastings.

HASTINGS:

You seeing the nurse again?

STEVE:

Sir, you and I see certain things

differently. That doesn’t mean

there isn’t respect.

HASTINGS:

Just not for my personal views.

STEVE:

Some.

HASTINGS:

We were married at eighteen. She

was the only one. And we waited.

That’s what you don’t respect?

Steve sees Hastings’ intensity, sees unknown stresses are

working on him.

Steve’s drink arrives. Hastings pays. It gives Steve time to

frame his response.

STEVE:

I spoke to you, sir, in the wrong

manner. I apologise. I’d be

grateful if you could see your way

to putting it behind us.

Steve lifts his glass but Hastings holds his back.

(CONTINUED)

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350 CONTINUED:
(2)

HASTINGS:

You would, would you? Well, I guess

it’d be rude not to. Mustn’t be

rude.

STEVE:

I disappointed you, sir. Sometimes

I disappoint myself.

HASTINGS:

(Beat. Reflects.)

Join the club.

Now Hastings clinks glasses with Steve.

CUT TO:

351 OMITTED

352 INT. PRISON. VISITATION SUITE. NEXT DAY.

Kate goes through the security check, given by a faceless

security officer who scans her with a metal detector,

followed by a second officer who pats her down.

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