Line of Duty Page #10

DEFENCE COUNSEL:

How did you react?

LINDSAY:

Astonished. Devastated. Confused.

DEFENCE COUNSEL:

And how did Detective Sergeant

Arnott react?

LINDSAY:

He didn’t bat an eye.

DEFENCE COUNSEL:

He didn’t seem surprised or curious

or triumphant?

LINDSAY:

No.

Lindsay lets that sit with the jury for a beat

or two.

Hastings reacts with extreme unease, gradually

turning to anger.

DEFENCE COUNSEL:

How would you describe your

relationship with Detective

Sergeant Arnott up until that

point?

LINDSAY:

I thought we’d become friends.

DEFENCE COUNSEL:

You became close?

LINDSAY:

Yes.

DEFENCE COUNSEL:

An undercover officer is forbidden

from sexual relations with a person

that they are investigating -

PROSECUTOR:

My Lady, the investigating

officer’s relationship with the

Defendant has no bearing on the

abundant and powerful evidence

against her.

DEFENCE COUNSEL:

My Lady, an undercover officer must

abide by a code of conduct. Failure

to follow that code of conduct

implies that there are other rules

he might be prepared to break.

JUDGE:

I’ll allow the question.

Hastings and Gill look gutted.

DEFENCE COUNSEL:

While undercover and investigating

you, did Steve Arnott engage in

sexual relations with you?

LINDSAY:

Yes.

DEFENCE COUNSEL:

On how many occasions?

LINDSAY:

Once. I was very vulnerable

following my mum’s death. He seemed

like the only person in the world

who understood what I was going

through.

Lindsay wipes away tears again.

LINDSAY (CONT’D)

Sorry.

DEFENCE COUNSEL:

And as a police officer, what

conclusion did you draw from that,

regarding Steve Arnott’s

relationship with you?

LINDSAY:

That as sexual relations are

forbidden, that he couldn’t be

undercover or investigating me any

more.

DEFENCE COUNSEL:

How many times was Steve Arnott in

your house?

LINDSAY:

I’d say a dozen.

DEFENCE COUNSEL:

But you were always there at the

same time, weren’t you?

LINDSAY:

I wasn’t sleeping very well at

night. Sometimes I’d doze off on

the sofa and wake up and a couple

of hours would have gone by.

DEFENCE COUNSEL:

And he’d been there the whole time?

LINDSAY:

Yes.

DEFENCE COUNSEL:

But you had no idea where in the

house he’d been or what he’d been

doing?

LINDSAY:

No.

DEFENCE COUNSEL:

With access to your late mother’s

belongings?

LINDSAY:

Yes.

DEFENCE COUNSEL (O.S)

Thank you, Ms Denton.

The Defence Counsel sits. Lindsay looks

pleadingly towards the jury. The Jury look

convinced by Lindsay. Hastings and Gill look

ashen.

Tired and drawn, Lindsay sips some water, her

hand trembling. The Defence Counsel appeals to

the Judge.

Music

10:
47:23

DUR:
1’19”.

Specially

composed by

Carly

Paradis.

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10:
48:27

10:
48:41

10:
48:48

DEFENCE COUNSEL (CONT’D)

My Lady...

JUDGE:

Yes, let’s leave it there for

today.

USHER (O.S)

All rise.

Everyone stands. Exit Judge.

At once, the public gallery starts to clear and

the legal teams gather their things. Lindsay

watches people in the public gallery leave like

they’re just leaving the theatre.

Lindsay is led out by a security guard. She

looks very glum.

CUT TO:

INT. PRISON CELL. DAY

Lindsay Denton enters the small cell. She takes

a deep breath.

CUT TO:

INT. AC-12. OPEN PLAN CONTINUOUS.

As Hastings passes through the open plan area.

HASTINGS:

DS Arnott.

Steve makes his way to Hastings office.

CUT TO:

INT. AC-12. HASTINGS’S OFFICE. CONTINUOUS.

Hastings enters his office and throws off his

coat as Steve enters.

HASTINGS:

Shut the door.

Instantly tense, Steve complies.

HASTINGS (CONT’D)

Remain standing.

(beat)

Did you have sexual relations with

a suspect you were investigating

whilst undercover?

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X:

Music Ends

10:
48:42

STEVE:

Lindsay Denton’s gonna say anything

to con the jury.

HASTINGS:

Did you or didn’t you?

STEVE:

No, sir, I did not.

HASTINGS:

If that’s your answer.

STEVE:

It is my answer, sir.

Hastings and the audience are still left with a

nagging doubt Steve isn’t telling the truth.

HASTINGS:

She claims that when the money was

found, you didn’t bat an eye. Is

that correct?

STEVE:

(Beat. Tense.)

Yes.

HASTINGS:

Why would that be now?

STEVE:

The search team had established the

find prior to Denton entering the

premises. I ordered them to

simulate making the find in front

of her. To see her reaction.

HASTINGS:

You make the find, you show her,

that’s her reaction there! You were

show-boating!

STEVE:

(Beat.)

Yes, sir.

HASTINGS:

I’ll give you “yes, sir.” The

Defence are using this to discredit

your work and the work of this

department! Your team was bossing

the game. You went and gave away a

penalty!

10:
49:54

10:
50:02

10:
50:05

STEVE:

(Ashamed, contrite.)

Sir.

HASTINGS:

Get the hell out of here!

Exit Steve, very contrite. Hastings looks

furious.

CUT TO:

INT. AC-12. OPEN PLAN OFFICE. CONTINUOUS.

The long walk back to his desk. PHONE RINGS.

CUT TO:

INT. AC-12. HASTINGS’S OFFICE. CONTINUOUS.

Hastings picks up the receiver.

HASTINGS:

Superintendent Hastings.

CUT TO:

EXT. INDUSTRIAL ESTATE. NEXT DAY.

An unmarked car pulls up short of a police

forensic outer cordon. Dot gets out the driver’s

side, Hastings out of the passenger’s side.

Hastings puts his hat on and they approach the

cordon grimly, receiving “sirs” and nods of

deference from the attending officers.

Hastings and Dot step up to the cordon, and look

up. Hanging by the neck from the jutting

overhead support is Rod’s body.

HASTINGS:

Mother of God.

Dot looks up at the body inscrutably.

Hastings exits.

HASTINGS (O.S) (CONT’D)

Who's in charge here? I want a

preview of the forensics.

And we exit on Dot.

CUT TO:

Music

10:
50:20

DUR:
1’16”.

Specially

composed by

Carly

Paradis.

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10:
50:46

10:
51:17

INT. SOUTH FERRY POLICE STATION. BRIEFING ROOM.

LATER THAT DAY.

Reynolds breaks the news to a gathering of all

the AFOs --Kate, McAndrew, Jackie, Hari and the

others.

REYNOLDS:

It is with deep regret that I

inform you all... of the death of

PC Rod Kennedy.

Solemn, shocked reactions. Jackie and Hari can’t

quite take it in at first. Heads turn towards

Kate, Hari and Jackie.

REYNOLDS (CONT’D)

Rod’s body was found hanged at an

industrial unit. Early indications

are that he took his own life.

Hari is struggling to contain his emotions.

REYNOLDS (CONT’D)

There’ll be a book of condolence in

the squad room, and we’ll send out

the necessary information for those

of you who want to send flowers and

cards...

It’s too much for Jackie --she rushes out.

CUT TO:

EXT. SOUTH FERRY POLICE STATION. GARAGE. MOMENTS

LATER.

Jackie weeps, lights herself a cigarette, hands

trembling. Kate joins her and acts with

sensitivity.

KATE:

Is there anything I can do?

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