Ashes to Ashes, series one, episode eight.
Writer: Ashley Pharoah
Director: Jonny Campbell

xxxx

A dark and stormy night. No really! ALEX is tossing and turning on the couch.

CAROLINE echoing:
Come on, get back in the car!

ALEX is apparently dreaming a car ad; the CLOWN is getting very excited over a blue Ford Escort with a price of '£1981'.

VOICEOVER echoing:
What's a fun family car doing in a place like this?

CLOWN:
Yes.

VOICEOVER:
Well, everyone wants a piece of this little beauty.

CLOWN:
Yes.

VOICEOVER:
And she's called Escort.

FLASHBACK to CAROLINE and TIM loading a suitcase into a car.

VOICEOVER:
Introducing the perfect hatchback for you and all your family's luggage. You know two door but we bring you four door. Two door. Four door. Complete with stereo cassette player, she's yours at an explosive price. Families just can't get into this car quick enough.

ALEX wakes up with a gasp.

VOICEOVER echoing:
You try and stop them.



ALEX is standing on the rising ground overlooking her school.

ALEX voiceover:
On the 10th October 1981, my parents were killed by a car bomb, in front of my eyes. At 10 o'clock tomorrow morning, this is the place that it'll happen. I'm here again for a reason. This time, I've got to stop it.

MEMORY
Microfiche effect rapidly downwards.
CAROLINE and TIM walking LITTLE ALEX out of school. LITTLE ALEX is holding a red balloon.
Microfiche effect rapidly downwards.

CAROLINE:
I'm quite happy to get a taxi.

TIM:
And I'm quite capable of driving my wife and child to the station.

ALEX voiceover:
Think, Alex, think! It's time to remember.

MEMORY
Microfiche effect rapidly sideways.
CAROLINE closing the car boot.
Getting into the back seat.

CAROLINE:
Come on, Alex, get in!

ALEX voiceover:
I remember a red balloon.

MEMORY
Red balloon soaring into the sky.

CAROLINE echoing:
Leave it! We've got a train to catch.

MEMORY
LITTLE ALEX looking out of the back window at an indistinct figure passing by.

ALEX voiceover:
I remember a billboard.

MEMORY
Microfiche effect.
Advertisment for Gently soap seen through the car windscreen; TIM looking anxiously in the rearview mirror.

ALEX:
Uh, what else?

MEMORY
LITTLE ALEX looking out of the rear windwow of the car, seeing the balloon as they pass by.

TIM:
Some music, Alex?

ALEX voiceover:
This is my day of judgment. I have 24 hours to save my parents, and go home.

ALEX:
That is what will happen.



ALEX enters a prison, escorted by a prison officer.

ALEX voiceover:
The man who started this nightmare, Arther Layton, the one person here who knows something about their deaths. But does he know it yet?



ALEX is seated in an interview room, a glass or plastic panel between her and LAYTON, who enters from the other side and sits down.

LAYTON:
Alex Drake. There's a pleasant surprise.

ALEX:
You are my destiny, do you know that? Some people get angels, and I get you.

LAYTON:
I never knew you cared.

ALEX:
What do you know about Tim and Caroline Price?

LAYTON:
Oh, um, everything. Nothing.

ALEX:
I think you're bluffing. I think anything you know you find out years from now.

LAYTON:
A gambler. I like that. Yeah, I like that a lot. But I'm a very dangerous man to gamble with.

ALEX:
No, you're not. You're a petty, vicious little man and you are locked up tight in a very safe prison. I'll see you in 2008. Loser!



Opening credits:

ALEX voiceover:
My name is Alex Drake. I've just been shot and that bullet has taken me back to 1981. I may be one second away from life, or one second away from death. All I know is that I have to keep fighting. Fight to live, fight to see my daughter. Fight to get home.



ALEX enters a virtually comatose CID and surreptitiously goes to a phone and dials her own number. The phone on her desk rings; she answers it and conducts a fictional conversation.

ALEX into the phone:
Hello? Yes, this is Inspector Drake. Who is this, please? You're absolutely sure about that? A car bomb will go off tomorrow morning?

There is no reaction from the dozing members of CID. ALEX throws a pencil at RAY and raises her voice.

ALEX:
A car bomb will go off tomorrow morning!

ALEX indicates RAY should get CHRIS' attention as well.

ALEX:
OK.

CHRIS:
What?

ALEX:
And with this information we could stop a murder.

CHRIS:
Who's getting murdered?

The phone she dialed from starts to wail and POIROT comes across to check it, causing ALEX to hurriedly finish and hang up.

ALEX:
OK. Take care. Goodbye.

POIROT into the telephone:
Hello. Hello?

ALEX:
That was a call from a very reliable informant.

RAY:
Who?

ALEX:
My own private informant.

CHRIS:
Guv says we should share informants at all times, otherwise they might try and blackmail us.

ALEX:
OK, shut up, Chris, because this is very important. Now, this is what we know. The car bomb will be attempted tomorrow at 10.00am.

RAY:
Where?

ALEX:
Ash Street.

CHRIS:
Near that posh girls' school?

ALEX:
Yes. The target vehicle will be a blue, W reg Ford Escort.

CHRIS:
Belonging to?

ALEX:
We don't know that yet, er, we'll have to trace it.

RAY:
Are you sure your informant isn't tugging on your tits?

ALEX:
The car has something to do with Tim and Caroline Price. Although they don't own a car so they must have borrowed it.

RAY:
Oh, it's about the Prices. Now I'd pay good money to see them go up in pieces.

CHRIS:
Shall we call Special Branch in? Could be IRA this.

ALEX:
No! No. This is my mission. Ah, we know that the explosion will happen somewhere near a billboard for an advert for a soap. Gently Does It.

CHRIS:
Oh, my mum uses that. I think it smells of pilchards.

ALEX:
OK. Get on to the council and the advertisers.

CHRIS:
Can they stop it smelling of pilchards?

ALEX:
No, but they can tell us where they're putting up the poster.

RAY:
You're joking!

CHRIS:
Right, yeah.

ALEX:
OK, now, er... I want you to get a list of every case the Prices are working on at the moment and any threats that they may have received.

ALEX moves the whiteboard to start writing up what information they have; in his ofice, GENE starts to notice the activity.

RAY:
Is that all you've got to go on?

ALEX:
No. The bomb will be connected to the cassette player in the car. (to herself) And that is all I can remember.

RAY:
Remember?

ALEX:
All my informant could remember.

GENE comes out of his office.

GENE:
What's all this then, Bolls?

ALEX:
Just working on some information received.

VIV comes into CID.

VIV:
You're going to love this, Guv.

GENE:
Which means I won't. What is it?

VIV:
Someone wants to make a station visit.

GENE:
It's not that newt-hugging bastard from the GLC again is it?

VIV:
Not Livingstone. Worse.

GENE:
What, worse than Red Ken? Not possible.

VIV:
Lord Scarman.



GENE is addressing CID. Everyone is paying attention except for ALEX, who's scribbling furiously at her desk.

GENE:
I was idly talking out loud earlier, wondering if it wasn't time for me to hang up my hat and badge. Head over to the Last Chance Saloon for a few stiff ones. Sit on the porch, feet up, chew some tobacco.

ALEX:
Ah, not the cowboy metaphors, please. We are very busy.

GENE:
Now Lord Scarman has made my mind up for me.

RAY:
Lord Scarshole!

GENE:
So he wants to come and visit us. He wants to close us down. It's not going to happen. This place will gleam like a virgin's pudendum, is that understood?

CID:
Yes, Guv!

GENE:
We will be polite. We will be tidy. We will be very impressive.

CID:
Yes, Guv!

CHRIS tentatively raises his hand.

GENE:
What's happening on the streets today, Viv?

VIV:
Er, nothing much, Guv. Gay Pride Demo. They're pretty quiet.

GENE:
You pass it down the line. We're going to be as nice as pie to our pillow-biting chums today, got it?

CID:
Yes, Guv!

GENE:
Any questions?

CHRIS raises his hand again.

CHRIS:
Guv, what's a pudendum?

GENE:
You're one, Christopher.

CID laugh.

GENE:
OK, gentlemen. Right, let's do this for Shaz. When she's ready to come back to work, let's make sure there's a station for her to work in. Right, get to it.

CID becomes a hive of industry. ALEX gets up to leave.

GENE:
Where are you off to, Bolly?

ALEX:
Got to go and see my informant. It's matter of life and death. Bye!



FLASHBACK
Microfiche effect.
Gravestone: Here lie Timothy Price (1942-1981) and his wife Caroline (1945-1981) who worked courageously for justice and truth. Loving parents of Alexandra.



TIM PRICE is in court, cross-examining a police officer. ALEX looks on. EVAN is sitting next to TIM, looking uncomfortable.

TIM:
I'd like to talk to you about the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. The truth is not a switch that can be turned on and off. It is absolute. If you deviate from it for one split second, you invalidate it, you shatter it. There can be no compromises with the truth.

TIM irritably clicks his fingers at EVAN to indicate he wants something, but continues talking.

TIM:
Tell the court where you found your notebook.

EVAN looks annoyed as he hands back a notebook to someone behind him, ready to be passed for the forthcoming demonstration.

CONSTABLE:
Stuck, sir, behind my new one.

TIM:
Show the court exactly how the new notebook obscured the old one. You seem to be having trouble, Constable.

CONSTABLE:
I can't get it to work, sir.

ALEX smiles proudly as TIM destroys the police officer's testimony.

TIM:
Perhaps I could continue my cross-examination after lunch?

MEMORY
LITTLE ALEX running around the court room with TIM's wig on, laughing as TIM tries to catch her.

TIM sits alone in the court room; ALEX approaches him nervously.

ALEX:
Hello! I'm, er, I'm DI Alex Drake.

TIM:
How may I help you?

ALEX:
We've had some intelligence that someone is planning to hurt you. To kill you and your wife. Tomorrow morning.

TIM:
Where did you get this information from?

ALEX:
From a source.

TIM:
A source?

ALEX:
I think that you should leave London right away, for your own safety. Evan could take over your caseload. He's very...

TIM:
You know Evan?

ALEX:
I do. I do a little. Yes.

TIM:
A very charming man. Very, er, charming.

ALEX:
All sorts of people must hate you because of what you do, you know that. So please leave London, but don't get in a car. Go by train.

TIM:
If we ran away every time somebody said they wanted to kill us, Alex, we wouldn't get much work done now, would we?

ALEX:
Please believe me. Take a huge leap of faith.

TIM:
Faith.

TIM puts his wig away in its box, revealing a child's drawing fastened in the lid.

TIM:
My daughter did it for me. My daughter's called Alex.

ALEX:
I know.

TIM:
Thank you for the warning. Though I have to say, you are a little eccentric.

ALEX laughs.

ALEX:
Well thank you. You're, erm, you're not going to take any notice of what I said, are you?

TIM:
I shouldn't have thought so, no. I know how to protect my family, Alex. Goodbye.

ALEX:
Bye.

ALEX leaves down a large staircase.

ALEX voiceover:
If you won't save yourself, I'll have to do it for you.



CID is in uproar, tidying up the rubbish and sticking police posters over the pin-ups.

ALEX:
You do know that Lord Scarman's coming to see if you're a racist, corrupt institution, and not to check whether you polish your paper-clips, don't you?

GENE:
He won't find anything to stick in his poxy report in this station!

CHRIS:
Ma'am. List of W reg Ford Escorts you wanted.

ALEX:
Thanks.

GENE:
What Ford Escort?

ALEX:
God, there's so many of them. How am I supposed to...? Here's the one. Angus Ashton.

RAY:
Angus Ashton? I know him. He's a big noise in Gays Rights For Poofs.

ALEX:
Uncle Angus.

RAY:
Uncle Angus? Is that what he's calling himself now? The dirty bastard.

ALEX:
They must have borrowed his car that day.

GENE:
Is it just me or are you talking in another dimension?

ALEX:
This is good! This is very, very good. And there is one other thing.

GENE:
What other thing? There is no other thing. This is our survival we're talking about h- What's meant to be in here?

RAY:
Trophy cabinet, Guv.

GENE:
It's empty.

CHRIS:
We haven't won any trophies.

GENE:
Oi! Poirot!

GENE gets out his wallet and hands a note to POIROT.

GENE:
Get yourself down the pawn shop on Christmas Street and buy some sports trophies. If he haggles about the price, tell him his wife gets the video.

POIROT:
Yes, Guv.

ALEX:
Guv.

GENE:
What?

ALEX:
The other thing.

GENE:
What is it?

ALEX:
I want Ray.

RAY looks surprised, as does GENE.

GENE:
Well I could grow a moustache, but I'd draw the line at a perm.

ALEX:
Just for 24 hours. I can't do this by myself. Look, we are about to prevent a major incident. Think how good that'll make you look.

GENE:
I don't want anything spoiling Scarman's visit, is that understood?

ALEX:
Understood. Raymondo!

ALEX leaves; GENE looks doubtful.



ALEX and RAY get into the Quattro which is parked outside the station.

RAY:
Does he know you're taking the Quattro?

ALEX:
I'm sure I told him, yeah.

RAY:
He won't like it.

ALEX:
Listen, Ray, this could possibly be the most important day of my life. OK? I need a decent set of wheels.

RAY:
Right. Where to?

ALEX:
We're off to a rally.



CID and token uniformed officers are drawn up in two lines in CID; GENE is reviewing his troops.

GENE:
Do your tie up. I've seen latrines that are cleaner than this place. Still, I suppose it'll have to do.

POIROT enters CID, burdened with a box of assorted trophies, shields and cups.

GENE;
Viv, who's in the cells?

VIV:
A pick-pocket, a drunk and a guy who thinks he's Sheena Easton. Same old, same old.

GENE:
Oh, well let them go.

VIV:
Sir?

CHRIS:
You what, Guv?

GENE:
I don't want our cells cluttered up with scumbags while Scarman's here.

CHRIS:
I don't think Lord Scarman's going to be fooled by some empty cells. Heh.

GENE spins round and advances on CHRIS, looming over him menacingly.

CHRIS:
But I might... I could be wrong.

GENE:
You always did have a guilty face, Christopher.

CHRIS:
Sir?

GENE:
Viv, lock him up.

CHRIS:
Me?

VIV:
What charge, sir?

GENE:
Exposing himself on a bus.

CHRIS:
I did not!

GENE:
You just tell Lord Scarman what a marvellous nick this is. You'll be out in a jiffy.

VIV hauls CHRIS away.

CHRIS:
I want my phone call!

GENE goes back up the line of officers and stops at POIROT, holding out his hand.

GENE:
Change.

POIROT reluctantly hauls out the change from GENE's earlier banknote.



ALEX and RAY are sitting in the Quattro, observing the Gay Pride Rally through binoculars. A pink tank rumbles by emblazoned with Gay Pride slogans.

ALEX:
Uncle Angus. Where's the car? Oh, there you are.

RAY:
Give us a shifty.

ALEX hands over the binoculars to RAY.

RAY:
Oh, no.

ALEX:
What?

RAY:
Bloody Tom Robinson.

ALEX:
Who?

RAY:
Tom Robinson. You know (singing) # 2, 4, 6, 8, never too late, me and my radio truckin' on... #

ALEX:
Mmmm, I remember that.

RAY:
(singing) # 3, 5, 7, 9 on a double white line. Motorway sun coming up with the morning light. #

ALEX:
Yeah, all right, Ray. All right, I get the picture.

RAY:
I went out and bought that record. I'd no idea a poof had made it. I mean it's a man's record about driving. If you want to make poof music, you should dress up as a red Indian or a builder. I mean people get that. But to sing about motorways and be a-

ALEX:
Ray! Please. Shut up. (to herself) We could impound the car. That would stop you borrowing it. But it's a bit imprecise, isn't it?

MUSIC: '2-4-6-8 Motorway' by The Tom Robinson Band

ALEX has a brainwave.

ALEX:
I am so sorry, Uncle.

RAY:
Hey, where are you going?



RAY watches in horror as ALEX goes by in the turret of the pink tank, which runs over the Ford Escort, crushing it.

# 2, 4, 6, 8, never too late
# Me and my radio running on through the night
# 3, 5, 7, 9, little white line
# Motorway sun coming up with the morning light #

ANGUS ASHTON:
It's my car!

UNIFORMED CONSTABLE 1:
Isn't that DI Drake?

UNIFORMED CONSTABLE 2:
Yeah, I think it is.

TOM ROBINSON:
Fuzz, it's the fuzz!

DEMONSTRATOR commenting on the state of the Escort:
Well she may be able to fix it.

ALEX arrives back at the Quattro in something of a hurry; RAY is appalled.

RAY:
What have you done?

ALEX:
Put your seat belt on.

RAY:
No way. I'm a real man.

ALEX:
Put it on!

RAY:
No.

ALEX:
Suit yourself.

# ...little white line
# Motorway sun coming up with the morning light
#2, 4, 6, 8 never too late
# Me and my radio trucking on through the night
# 3, 5, 7, 9 little white line... #

The Quattro drives away as irate demonstrators arrive from all directions. A workman on the road ahead abruptly changes the sign he's holding from 'Go' to 'Stop' and ALEX brakes sharply. RAY is catapulted forward against the dashboard.

RAY:
What the bloody hell are you doing? Look at me nose!

ALEX:
I told you.

ALEX reverses back at speed, past ANGUS ASHTON who's looking at the wreckage of his vehicle.

ANGUS ASHTON:
My car!



CHRIS is incarcerated in a cell, with VIV peering through the door, enjoying himself far too much.

VIV:
Anything I can get you, Sir? Soft toilet paper, magazines, cup of tea? Hand-job?

CHRIS:
Heh, yeah. Very funny. Piss off!

VIV:
Oh, cheer up, sir. The Governor wants Scarman to think it's like Butlins in here.

CHRIS:
I want to go and see how Shaz is, Viv.

VIV:
The hospital will phone if there's any news.

CHRIS:
Viv. I need to go to the toilet.

VIV looks pointedly at the facilities provided in the cell.

CHRIS:
I just can't go. Not out in the open like this.

VIV:
You should have thought about that before you committed a criminal offence.



GENE comes out of his office to check up on his remaining personnel.

GENE:
The one time I ask you to look presentable you look like a baboon's arse with a moustache stuck on it.

CID laugh.

RAY:
It's not my fault.

GENE turns to ALEX.

GENE:
Top button.

ALEX:
What?

GENE:
Undo your top button.

ALEX:
I will not.

GENE:
You look like a librarian. Give the old man something to look at.

ALEX sighs and complies.

ALEX:
For God's sake! I'm so glad this is nearly over.

GENE:
Unless he's a poof. Anybody know? Lord Scarman, does he take it up the old...?

Behind GENE, VIV ushers in Lord SCARMAN. CID shuffle to their feet.

VIV:
DCI Gene Hunt, Lord Scarman.

GENE:
Lord Scarman, welcome to our little world. Detective Inspector Drake.

ALEX:
It's an unexpected pleasure, sir.

SCARMAN:
Thank you. I'd like to say at once, DCI Hunt, that I want you all to behave exactly as if I weren't here.

GENE:
Well to be honest, Sir, we've been so busy I've barely had time to give your visit a thought.

SCARMAN looks round CID and notices the well-stocked trophy cabinet.

SCARMAN:
Impressive!

GENE:
Yes. We like our sport and we like to win, eh?

SCARMAN looks a little closer and reads out one of the plaques.

SCARMAN:
Esher 1923, girls under-14 netball.

GENE:
Yeah, we pulled that one around in the last minute.

GENE looks daggers at the unfortunate POIROT. SCARMAN moves on to look at ALEX's whiteboard with details of the bomb.

SCARMAN:
This looks interesting.

GENE:
Yes. It's, um... (to ALEX) What is it?

ALEX:
We are investigating a murder, sir, a double murder. Car bomb.

SCARMAN:
Really? I don't recall. When was this?

ALEX:
It hasn't happened yet.

GENE is not pleased.

SCARMAN:
You're investigating a murder that hasn't happened yet?

ALEX:
Mmm. Crime Prevention.

GENE:
Yeah, er, Viv, would you like to show Lord Scarman around? I'll join you later.

SCARMAN:
Right.

VIV:
Would you like to come this way, Lord Scarman?

GENE:
DI Drake, my office!



GENE watches from his office as VIV leads SCARMAN away, then turns to address ALEX.

GENE:
I told you people are trying to close this place down and you're running around town trying to find a murderer for a crime that hasn't even happened.

ALEX:
It has actually. I was there.

GENE:
Listen, whatever crackpot game you're playing, you drop it.

ALEX:
No! I won't!

GENE:
What?

ALEX:
My need is greater than yours.

GENE:
One more word out of you, Mrs Fruitcake, and I'm going to hang you out of the window by your knicker elastic! This is the real deal. Now that man could close my kingdom down with one flourish of his poncey pen! I need everybody on-side here, is that understood?

ALEX:
Whatever.

GENE:
Whatever what?!

ALEX:
Yes. It's understood.

GENE:
Good!



VIV's tour has taken SCARMAN and GENE to the cells.

SCARMAN:
How many detainees can you take at any one time?

GENE:
Er, 's a good question. Sergeant?

VIV:
Eight, sir, with single occupancy.

They reach CHRIS' cell and go in.

GENE:
On your feet.

SCARMAN:
Good day to you. What are you in here for?

CHRIS:
I... I'd rather not say.

GENE:
He felt the need to wave his penis around on the upper deck of the 159, sir.

SCARMAN:
You should be ashamed of yourself. You're an outrage to public decency.

CHRIS:
Yes, sir.

SCARMAN:
An obscene menace to be defeated. What do you say to that, young man?

CHRIS:
I shouldn't have done it.

SCARMAN:
How has your treatment been since you've been in custody?

CHRIS:
Oh, brilliant. Everybody's been very kind and understanding.

GENE:
Food?

CHRIS:
It's delicious.

SCARMAN:
Good. Well I hope you learn to control your impulses. There are people out there who can help, you know.



ALEX reviews her progress with the aid of the white board.

Alex:
(to herself) The car's out of commission, that's a biggie. Still don't know who's going to do this or why. Maybe I just have to stop you picking me up from school? (to RAY) I'm sorry about your nose, Ray. Clunk, click every trip.

RAY:
You asked for a list of the Prices' current court cases. All the usual suspects. There was one little surprise though - an old friend of yours. Arthur Layton.

ALEX:
Layton!

RAY:
Yeah. And he's got form for using explosives.

CLOWN laughter.

FLASHBACK
Slow motion close up of the flat tip of a spinning bullet approaching, the CLOWN's face visible.

CLOWN:
Alex!

ALEX goes to GENE's office.

ALEX:
Are you busy?

GENE:
Lord Scarman is trying to unravel my empire. Of course I'm busy.

ALEX:
I'm going to Wormwood Scrubs to see Layton. And I thought you might like an outing.

GENE:
What is it with you and this scumbag Layton?

ALEX:
He knows something about my murder.

GENE:
Oh, this is the murder that hasn't happened yet?

ALEX:
Yeah. Yeah, that's the one. It's important to me.

GENE:
Are you actually asking for my help, Bolly?

ALEX:
Yeah, I might be.

GENE:
What, and you want a hunk of the Gene Genie in the room with you in case the nasty man scares you?

ALEX:
For goodness sake! At least let me borrow your car.

ALEX makes a grab for the car keys on the desk, but GENE beats her to it.

GENE:
Hang on, Bols.



The Quattro speds through a tunnel and the bullet recedes in the flashback.



LAYTON is again facing ALEX in the prison interview room, GENE leaning agains the wall behind her.

LAYTON:
What do you want, Alex?

ALEX:
Has anybody asked you about making a bomb? That's going to go off tomorrow morning. But it isn't because I'm going to stop it.

LAYTON:
You talking about a car bomb? Hmm? A car bomb on a timer that would blow that car to kingdom come after the cassette player's turned on? I can't recall. No.

ALEX:
Please.

GENE:
Please? You don't say please to scumbags like him. Do you want me to get in there and knock him about a bit?

ALEX:
No. No, no.

LAYTON:
Seems to me I've got something you need, Alex. Thing is, do you have anything that I need? When I get out of here, maybe me and you could get together. Maybe get married, have a kid.

GENE:
He's winding you up like a top. Don't think you're safe from me inside here, Layton. One word from me, you'll never be picking the soap up in the shower again. Right, I'm going back to my station before Lord Scarman closes it. If that's all right with you?

ALEX:
Yeah, I'll just be a minute.

GENE leaves.

LAYTON:
(singing) I'm happy, hope you're happy too.

ALEX:
You know something, Layton? You think that this is a low point in your life, but, er, it isn't. I've seen your future, and it is desperate.

LAYTON:
Well if you can see in the future, don't need any answers from me, do you?

ALEX:
Do you know the truth about why my parents die?

LAYTON
Here.

LAYTON beckons ALEX closer to the glass partition. She leans in close, ear to the glass.

LAYTON:
BOO!

ALEX jumps in surprise.

ALEX:
Tell me!

LAYTON:
No! I don't think I will.



GENE waits outside the prison and sees EVAN WHITE go in. ALEX appears from another exit.

GENE:
You happy now?

ALEX:
Not really, but that bastard can't stop me leaving.

GENE:
Are you going somewhere?

ALEX gives him a considering look.

ALEX:
You still owe me dinner.

GENE:
What?

ALEX:
Tonight's my last night. So, that's it then. It's a date. Our last supper.

GENE:
Can I be Jesus?



In the cells, VIV has some understandably upset Gay Pride demonstrators on his hands.

CHRIS:
Viv?

VIV:
Shush!

VIV opens up the door and pushes a bald man in a sequined frock into the cell.

CHRIS:
Thought you said I'd have a cell to myself.

VIV:
Yeah, well. It's getting a bit busy, mate. Gay Pride March kicked off. Some nutter went berserk with a pink tank.

The QUEEN sits next to CHRIS on the bunk.

QUEEN:
All right?

CHRIS:
Yes, thank you.

QUEEN:
What you in for?

CHRIS farts nervously.



GENE and ALEX arrive back in CID.

GENE:
Raymondo. All sorted?

RAY:
Where've you been? Scarman's been looking everywhere for you, Guv.

GENE:
(to ALEX) You're eating cheese for this.

ALEX:
What?

GENE:
I'm not having dinner with a bird who says she's full after half a pickled egg. Starter, mains, pudding, cheese.

GENE disappears into his office. ALEX has a plan.

ALEX:
Are you feeling valiant, Raymond?

RAY:
Valiant?

ALEX:
Mmm. Courageous. Gallant. Brave.

RAY:
I know what it means.

ALEX indicates he should follow her.

ALEX:
Just need some cocaine.



ALEX and RAY approach the PRICES' house.

RAY:
Look at these houses. Bloody champagne socialists.

ALEX:
Listen, don't take any nonsense from them, all right? Just cuff them and get them straight into the car.

RAY:
Hey, I know how to arrest people.

ALEX goes to retrieve the door key from under the tortoise in the front garden while RAY charges up the steps to the front door.

ALEX:
What you doing now?

RAY:
Gonna kick the door in.

ALEX:
Oh, that's a good idea. Why not just use the key?

ALEX opens the door and she and RAY enter.



CAROLINE and TIM are having an earnest discussion in the basement as ALEX and RAY creep down the stairs, unobserved.

CAROLINE:
Tim, all I'm saying is, sometimes people have to move on. That's all.

TIM:
When you walked into the common room that first morning, I felt we would be together forever.

CAROLINE:
I was eighteen.

TIM:
Eighteen or eighty, it makes no difference.

CAROLINE:
We're not undergraduates any more, Tim. We change or we die.

TIM:
Forever and ever.

ALEX and RAY make their presence known.

RAY:
Bloody hell, I've heard better dialogue on Dynasty.

TIM:
What the hell do you think you're doing? Get out of my house!

CAROLINE:
Alex.

ALEX:
I'm sorry. Er, you're under arrest.

CAROLINE:
What?!

RAY:
She said you're under arrest.

TIM:
What on earth for?

ALEX:
Trust me, it's for your own good.

ALEX goes to a bookshelf and opens a jewellry box.

CAROLINE:
This is an outrage.

RAY:
Just get your coat, love.

TIM:
I believe to arrest somebody, you do have to have due cause.

ALEX holds up a small bag of a white powder, ostensibly from the box.

CAROLINE:
Wha-

TIM:
What?

CAROLINE:
You are insane!

ALEX:
Timothy and Caroline Price, I'm arresting you on suspicion of the, er... Sod it, you're nicked. Come on!



GENE is showing SCARMAN out of the police station.

SCARMAN:
I think I've seen enough, DCI Hunt. You seem to run a tight enough ship.

GENE:
I uphold the law, Lord Scarman.

ALEX, RAY, CAROLINE and TIM arrive.

CAROLINE:
I'm going to sue you for every wretched penny you've got.

RAY:
Oh shut it, you uptight bitch.

SCARMAN:
Tim, Caroline.

TIM:
Hello, Leslie.

SCARMAN:
What on earth's going on?

GENE:
I was about to ask the same question.

ALEX:
They are under arrest for possession of narcotics.

SCARMAN:
What?

CAROLINE:
She crashed into our house and planted drugs.

SCARMAN:
Do you have any idea who these people are?

GENE:
Unfortunately, yes. But I'm sure there's been some sort of a mistake.

ALEX:
No, no mistake. I'm taking them down to the cells.

CAROLINE:
This is preposterous.

ALEX:
I can explain. Sort of. It's all part of my crime prevention programme.

ALEX, RAY, CAROLINE and TIM depart to the cells.

GENE:
Ah, sorry about this, Lord Scarman. If you're just on your way, I'll, er, I'll have this sort-

SCARMAN:
No, I think I'll stay on, DCI Hunt. The night just got interesting.

GENE:
Mmm.



The corridor outside the cells is packed with demonstrators from the Gay Pride March as ALEX and RAY struggle in with CAROLINE and TIM.

TOM ROBINSON:
(singing) The British police are the best in the world! I don't believe one of these stories I've heard, 'bout them raiding our pubs...

RAY:
Shurrup, nancy boy! Hey, and don't sing about motorways, neither. It's misleading, all right?

TOM ROBINSON:
(singing) Sing if you're glad to be gay...

VIV:
Will you shut up, sir?!

TOM ROBINSON:
Fascists!

ALEX:
I know you. I know you. You end up on Radio 6. You fall in love with a woman and you have two kids.

RAY:
Don't worry, mate. She says stuff like that all the time.

VIV escorts TIM into CHRIS' cell, along with ANGUS ASHTON and TOM ROBINSON.

VIV:
(to TIM) You're in here, sir. It's a bit busy so we have to double up a bit.

TOM ROBINSON:
(singing) Sing if you're happy that way, hey. Sing if you're...

ALEX:
(to CAROLINE) Trust me, it'sjust until ten o'clock tomorrow morning. You'll be safe after that.

CHRIS:
(to VIV) Has he gone? Can I come out now?

TOM ROBINSON:
Come out, brother! Join us!



GENE storms into his office, trailed by ALEX.

GENE:
I had him in the palm of my hand. He was about to leave and write lovely things about me.

ALEX:
I'm sorry, OK, I...

GENE:
And you go and arrest the two most famous lefty bastard lawyers in the land!

ALEX:
Everything is fine. Everything is exactly as I want it to be.

GENE:
Everything is NOT fine!

ALEX:
I know that this is very difficult for you to understand but my whole reason for being here, my raison d'etre, my... This is the denoument of my entire...

GENE:
Speak English!

ALEX:
Just trust me!

GENE:
No!

VIV enters.

GENE:
Where's his Twatship?

VIV:
He asked to be put in a cell, Guv.

GENE:
What?!

VIV:
Said he wanted to know what it felt like to be in a cell.

GENE:
Oh, God help us! Right, listen, you'd better get on to Luigi's. Get him some decent grub.

GENE gets a note out of his wallet and hands it to VIV.

GENE:
Want some change from that.

VIV:
Oh, and there's quite a crowd of gay rights protestors outside, Guv. Want us to 'let their people go'.

GENE:
Oh, bloody joy.

VIV:
(to ALEX) Caroline Price would very much like a word, ma'am.

VIV leaves.

GENE:
If this station goes belly up, Bolly, it'll be down to you, not me.



ALEX and CAROLINE are seated in the interview room, facing each other across the table.

CAROLINE:
I should thank you. I needed some time on my own.

ALEX:
I hope it's not too uncomfortable for you.

CAROLINE:
Actually, it was very interesting. I met two delightful lesbians from Barking.

ALEX:
I thought you'd be furious.

CAROLINE:
That would be wrong. If you were physically sick, I'd send you to a doctor.

ALEX:
You think I'm mad.

CAROLINE:
Not mad, just... confused. Obsessed, even. I think you need help, Alex.

ALEX:
I'm trying to help myself. I have to get back to my daughter.

CAROLINE:
What's your daughter's name?

ALEX:
Molly.

CAROLINE:
That's a pretty name. My grandmother was called Molly. She was a suffragette. We're all very proud of her.

ALEX:
Yes.

CAROLINE:
Go to your little girl, Alex.

ALEX:
She needs me.

CAROLINE:
You need her. D'you remember you once told me I should spend more time with my daughter and less time winding up police officers? You were right.

ALEX:
Was I?

CAROLINE:
I've talked to my husband about it, and I'm going to take a sabbatical from work. Two years, which I'm going to spend with our lovely daughter, doing all the silly little things I should have done with her years ago. Not because women can't work and be great mothers...

ALEX:
No, no, of course not.

CAROLINE:
But because... I love her and... I'm not absolutely sure she knows that. As soon as I get out of here...

ALEX:
It won't be long, I promise.

CAROLINE:
I'm going to take her out of London for a trip and tell her the news then.

ALEX:
I would love to see that but, er, I think I'll be gone by then.

CAROLINE:
There. That's my secret. My confidence to you.

ALEX:
Thank you. That means more than you will ever know.

CAROLINE:
I'd better get back. Don't want the Barking girls thinking I'm getting preferential treatment.

ALEX:
No. Well... goodbye.

CAROLINE:
Goodbye.

They embrace.

ALEX:
Mummy...

CAROLINE:
It'll be all right, I promise.

ALEX:
Yes. Yes, it will be all right. I promise.

GENE enters.

GENE:
What the hell's going on in here? I've got enough beaver munchers downstairs without you two starting.



TOM ROBINSON, ANGUS ASHTON, the QUEEN and other DEMONSTRATORS are singing in the cell; CHRIS and SCARMAN are sitting next to each other, looking very uncomfortable.

# YMCA
# It's fun to stay at the YMCA
# They have everything for you men to enjoy
# You can hang out with all the boys
# It's fun to stay at the YMCA... #



ALEX is visiting SHAZ in hospital, the latter unconscious.

ALEX:
Layton's banged up in one of the most secure prisons in the world. I've crushed the Ford Escort into oblivion and, my coup de grace, I've got my parents arrested for possession of narcotics. And I really, REALLY like my mum, Shaz. How about that? And she loves me. She loves me more than I ever knew. I, er, I hope you wake up before I go. I probably shouldn't say this, but you were my favourite construct. So bright and... so alive.

ALEX pulls herself together.

ALEX:
I have to go, Shaz. I'm, er, I'm having dinner with DCI Hunt!

ALEX laughs.

ALEX:
Imagine that. I wonder if this world will continue after I've gone. I... I hope so. But whatever happens... I'll miss you.



Luigi's; ALEX and GENE are on their date. Candlelight, the works. ALEX has dressed up; GENE hasn't.

GENE:
Well that was one hell of a day, Bolly, no thanks to you.

ALEX:
It was a great day. Mission accomplished.

LUIGI shimmers up, beaming.

LUIGI:
Everything all right? Signorina Drake, you look beautiful tonight.

ALEX:
Thank you.

LUIGI:
Bellissima!

GENE:
All right, Luigi, no need to dribble into your Barolo.

ALEX:
I'd would just like to say to you that your sea scallops with pineapple rings are a memory I will take to my grave.

LUIGI:
Grazie mille, Signorina. Er, you're going somewhere?

ALEX:
I'm afraid so.

LUIGI darts GENE a look of concern and leaves.

ALEX:
When I first came here, the idea of spending time with you filled me with horror. You're insensitive, you're boorish, you're terrified of women.

GENE:
Bollocks. Completely baffled, maybe, but not terrified.

ALEX:
And even after 40 years of feminism, there is still a sizeable rump of intelligent women...

GENE:
'Rump'. Rump. Mmm. S'good word.

ALEX:
...intelligent women who would give their eye teeth to be sitting here with you.

GENE:
So what about you, Bolly? Does it make your rump quiver?

ALEX:
No!

GENE:
Good, 'cos I've seen your rump, and I've seen more padding strapped to Ian Botham's legs.

ALEX laughs.

ALEX:
Er, it's been hell, Mr Hunt. But I think, on the cusp of my leaving, I can honestly say...

GENE:
What?

ALEX:
...I'm going to rather miss you.

GENE:
Yeah. Yeah, and, er, you, Bolly...

ALEX:
'Yeah, and you, Bolls' what?

GENE:
Well you're not bad for a posh bird. You know, um, we could, er, pop upstairs to your place. There's a VHS of They Died With Their Boots On propping up the coffee table.

ALEX:
It's a big day tomorrow. The biggest day.



ALEX is sleeping, confused memories running through her dreams.

ALEX echoing:
I'll get back to you, Molly.

MEMORY
Microfiche effect.
Image of MOLLY jumping to catch her blown kiss, blurred and reversed.

MEMORY
ALEX and MOLLY the morning ALEX was shot.

ALEX in memory:
What did Evan get you for your birthday, Molls?

MOLLY in memory:
A Blackberry.

ALEX in memory:
Oh, yeah? I'll get you some more while you're at school and you can make a birthday crumble.

MOLLY in memory:
Evan!

MEMORY
Microfiche effect.
EVAN and MOLLY walking away across the Millennium Bridge.

EVAN echoing:
Have we met before, Alex?

Microfiche effect.

ALEX echoing:
I was scared and I was so alone, and you took my hand.

FLASHBACK
Microfiche effect
Red balloon
LITTLE ALEX looking out of the rear window of a car.

ALEX echoing:
What would you do if your goddaughter found out?

EVAN echoing:
She won't. Why would she? It'd break her heart.

TIM echoing:
You know Evan? A very charming man.

Microfiche effect
The photographs of CAROLINE and EVAN together
EVAN in court looking resentful as TIM clicks at him
TIM looking strained, alone in the court room

CAROLINE:
This could have torn my family apart.

ALEX echoing:
I don't think there's any need for Tim to find out.

Confusion of images of the photographs and the CLOWN in the Escort 'ad'

CLOWN:
Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes, yes, yes, yes!

FLASHBACK
Microfiche effect
EVAN standing in an office looking on while someone unseen unwinds a cassette

EVAN echoing:
I'm on your side.

Image of EVAN standing apparently near a fire of some sort.

ALEX wakes to the noise of a pneumatic drill, still in 1981.



Police siren wails and the strains of the DEMONSTRATORS singing can be heard.

# In the navy
# You can sail the seven seas
# In the navy... #

CHRIS is still in the cells.

CHRIS:
Let me out! I'm a police officer!



CHRIS returns to CID.

RAY:
Long night was it, last night?

CHRIS:
Uh, it was horrible. All those men in a confined space. Hey. But you know what?

RAY:
Don't say it.

CHRIS:
No, it has to be said.

RAY:
Don't say it, Chris.

CHRIS:
A lot of them looked like you.

ALEX comes in.

RAY:
I phoned around. The advertising company have got no intention of putting up that poster in Ash Street.

ALEX:
Are you sure?

RAY:
Yeah. They say there isn't even a hoarding.

ALEX:
Excellent. All right. Well I, er, I think I might just pop over to Ash Street and sit it out anyway, just to be on the safe side.

RAY:
By the girls' school? Can I come?

ALEX:
No.

VIV enters, escorting SCARMAN. GENE materialises from his office.

GENE:
So, Lord Scarman, seen enough?

SCARMAN:
The man who exposed himself on the bus.

GENE:
Yeah?

SCARMAN:
He's over there, typing.

CHRIS:
Hello, sir.

ALEX:
We call that Care in the Community, sir.

SCARMAN:
I've seen plenty, thank you. I've spent the night with a mentally ill man who thinks he's a police officer. Who you now seem to be entrusting with actually doing police work. I've seen two of our most brilliant barristers treated with appalling disdain.

GENE:
I'm sure we can arrange a car to take Lord Scarman home.

SCARMAN:
I've talked to several young homosexual men and heard their despair, their dreadful tales of police harassment.

GENE:
Put it all in your report, Your Lordship, yeah?

SCARMAN:
The police harassment of sexual and racial minorities is an endemic, ineradicable disease threatening the very survival of our society.

GENE:
Catchy title. Bestseller written all over it! Now, if you'll excuse me...

GENE starts to return to his office.

SCARMAN:
I'll be keeping a beady eye on you, DCI Hunt.

GENE stops and turns back.

GENE:
Is that right? Well, you can take this home in your Harrods pipe and smoke it. In 20 years time, when the streets are awash with filth and you're too frightened to leave your big, posh Belsize Park house after dark, don't come running to me, mate. Because I'll be in Alicante, oiled up, skin sizzling in the midday sun like a burnt sausage!

SCARMAN:
If you're quite finished.

GENE:
No, not quite. You can despise us, you can disown us, you even can try and close us down, but you will NEVER break us, because we are police officers. We are brothers. We are un-bloody-breakable!

CID erupts with cheering and applause. SCARMAN leaves as it dies down.

GENE:
Nice man. Viv?

VIV:
All done, sir.

GENE:
How were they?

VIV:
I've seen happier people.

ALEX:
Who? Who are you talking about?

GENE:
Mr and Mrs Price, lawyers to the weak and infirm. I had to let them go.

ALEX:
You released them?

GENE:
Halfway to the High Court as we speak.

ALEX:
You stupid, stupid man!

RAY answers the telephone.

RAY:
Hello, CID.

ALEX:
Have you got any idea what you've just done?

RAY:
Hang on. DI Drake, it's for you.

ALEX:
Not now!

RAY:
He says it's important.

GENE:
Well I think you'd better take that call.

ALEX:
Who is it?

RAY:
It's your informant.

ALEX takes the telephone receiver cautiously.

ALEX:
Hello?

LAYTON on 'phone:
(singing) I'm happy, hope you're happy too...

There's the sound of the pips from the call box.

ALEX:
Layton... Layton?

The phone goes dead.

ALEX:
Layton!



The Quattro is rushing through the streets once more.

RAY over the radio:
Guv, that's confirmed. Layton was bailed this morning by the Prices' legal team.



GENE and ALEX enter the court building, only to meet EVAN on his way down the staircase.

ALEX:
Where are they?

EVAN:
Who?

ALEX:
Tim and Caroline Price. Where are they?

EVAN:
Nothing to do with me any more. I've resigned. But if you must know, Tim's driving Caroline to the station. Caroline's taking Alex away for a few days.

ALEX:
But in whose car? I mean Angus's car was trashed. It was...

EVAN:
Angus Ashton?

ALEX:
Yes! Yes, his blue Escort. It was totally trashed.

EVAN:
But it wasn't his car they borrowed.

ALEX:
Wha-?

EVAN:
It's mine.

MEMORY
Microfiche effect
EVAN walking away with MOLLY.
Microfiche effect

ALEX:
No. No! No! I've got to stop them, now!



CAROLINE, TIM and LITTLE ALEX are leaving the gates of LITTLE ALEX's school. It's ALEX's flashback, played out in full.

CAROLINE:
I'm quite happy to get a taxi.

TIM:
And I'm quite capable of driving my wife and child to the station.

CAROLINE:
Come on, Alex, get in.

LITTLE ALEX goes to get in but the red balloon slips her grasp and floats away.

CAROLINE:
Leave it. We've got a train to catch.

LITTLE ALEX looks out of the rear window and sees the balloon floating away. TIM starts the car.

TIM:
Some music, Alex?

TIM inserts a cassette into the car stereo and the music starts. The car moves off slowly.

MUSIC: 'Ashes to Ashes' by David Bowie

# Do you remember a guy that's been
# In such an early song? #

LITTLE ALEX sees LAYTON walking along as they pass.

# I've heard a rumour from Ground Control #
# Oh, no, don't say it's true
# They got a message for the action men #

TIM looks reassuringly into the rearview mirror.

# I'm happy, hope you're happy too.
# I've loved all I... #

GENE and ALEX are driving towards the school from the opposite direction.

ALEX:
It's just round this corner.

A large lorry in front of them stops and starts to try and turn round.

GENE:
What the bloody hell...?

GENE beeps the Quattro's horn but is forced to back up.

On the other side of the lorry, TIM is also forced to stop.

# ...and I ain't got no money #

The lorry continues to manoeuvre until its side is clearly visible - showing the advert for Gently soap.

ALEX:
Oh, my God. It wasn't the billboard. It's happening. It's happening now!

ALEX gets out of the Quattro; LITTLE ALEX gets out of the Escort to retrieve her balloon.

# ...its glowing #

GENE:
Alex!

CAROLINE:
Alex!

ALEX runs to get past the lorry, but it keeps blocking her path.

GENE:
Get in the bloody car!

ALEX:
(to the lorry) Stop!

# ...know Major Tom's a junkie #

CAROLINE:
Alex!

ALEX:
(to the lorry) Oi!

CAROLINE:
Come on, get back in the car!

LITTLE ALEX continues towards her balloon; LAYTON is standing in the distance, watching. EVAN appears, running fast towards the Escort.

EVAN:
Wait! Tim! Tim!

LITTLE ALEX picks up her balloon. The lorry stalls ands finally ALEX gets round to the other side. She sees LAYTON in the distance nod to TIM.

CAROLINE:
Alex! Come on, get back in the car!

# But the little green wheels are following me #

TIM removes his glasses.

EVAN:
Tim! Just hold it a minute! Just wait! Just wait!

# Oh no, not again #

TIM pinches the bridge of his nose, and as he lowers his hand he transforms into the CLOWN. (Did you see it coming, kids? Did you?)

# I'm stuck with a valuable friend
# I'm happy, hope you're happy too. #

ALEX:
Dad!

# One flash of light #

The CLOWN/TIM winks.

The car explodes, in slow motion and eerily quiet. The sound rushes in and ALEX and EVAN are both knocked to the ground. They both get slowly to their feet; ALEX moves closer, but it's hopeless as another explosion goes off. She sinks to her knees. LAYTON turns and walks away.

LITTLE ALEX looks on from the higher ground, and as ALEX turns to look, a figure runs towards the girl to shield her from the sight and take her hand, just as in ALEX's flashbacks. Except it's not EVAN but GENE.

ALEX:
It was you.

GENE carries LITTLE ALEX away, past EVAN who's standing there in stunned disbelief.

Another explosion tears through the wreckage and ALEX screams.

ALEX:
NO-O-O-O! NO!



ALEX and EVAN are in GENE's office watching a video tape made by TIM PRICE.

TIM:
If all goes to plan, by the time you are watching this I will be dead, along with my wife Caroline and our beloved daughter, Alexandra. Why did I do it? 'The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation and go to the grave with the song still in them'. Well, not me and, er... not Caroline. We sang our song. But a very charming man, a maggot, wriggled into our paradise and it was, er, compromised. The truth was sullied and it could never be unsullied. But shed no tears for me, Caroline or Alex. We are where we want to be, together, forever.

The tape stops and EVAN turns off the television.

EVAN:
God. I knew he was intense, but his own wife and child?! I couldn't understand why he was so keen to get Layton out ofthe Scrubs. He needed him. To plant the bomb.

GENE arrives, carrying LITTLE ALEX just as he carried ALEX into the station on her arrival. He sets her down and she looks around, just as her grown-up self did.

GENE:
OK? You hang on here, sweetheart, and if these two naughty boys start getting out of hand, you let me know. OK?

RAY and CHRIS make an effort to look after LITTLE ALEX while GENE comes into his office.

GENE:
The little girl's asking to go home with Evan. (to ALEX) You OK?

EVAN:
Alexandra's got no uncles or aunts that she knows. I mean, I know that I'm not a blood relative, but I'm all she's got. And I love her. So will you help me to get custody?

GENE considers for a moment and then nods.

GENE:
Mmm.

EVAN:
There's one more thing. I never want her to know what her father did.

ALEX:
Maybe she has a right to know.

EVAN:
When she's older.

ALEX:
You'll never tell her. It's not your fault.

GENE considers the point, then decisively removes the video tape from the machine, pulls out the tape and stamps on the case, shattering it.

EVAN:
Thank you.

EVAN leaves to go to LITTLE ALEX.

ALEX:
You just destroyed evidence.

GENE:
How would you like to grow up knowing your daddy tried to blow you to kingdom come?

ALEX:
I'm the piece of his past. Or I will be. He'll be blackmailed by Layton for not telling the truth.

GENE:
I need a drink.

EVAN:
I'm taking her home. Thanks for all your help. (to LITTLE ALEX) It's just you and me now, Alex. Forever and ever.

MUSIC: 'Take the Long Way Home' by Supertramp

GENE:
Bye, little lady. Any problems, you just call the Gene Genie.

EVAN and LITTLE ALEX leave.

ALEX:
How come you were there, taking the little girl's hand? That couldn't have happened. You weren't there. You're not real.

GENE:
I'm everywhere, Bolly. I was needed and I was there.



ALEX enters Luigi's, but it's deserted.

# So you think you're a Romeo
# Playing a part in a picture show #

ALEX:
Hello?

ALEX takes a seat at the bar.

# Take the long way home.
# Take the long way home
# If you're the joke of the neighbourhood #

ALEX becomes aware of MOLLY sitting in the corner, her birthday cake with all the candles burning in front of her. ALEX doesn't turn to look at her.

# Why should you care if you're feeling good?
# Take the long way home #

ALEX:
I've learnt something here, Molly. Something that I hope you always knew. My mother loved me. And that love will keep me going, it will make me survive. Don't blow those candles out yet, Molls. I'll find my way home. I promise. I love you, and I will never, ever give up.

# Lonely days turn to lonely nights
# You take a trip to the city lights
# And take the long way home

ALEX turns to see MOLLY, but she's disappeared.

# Take the long way home.
# You never see what you wanna see... #

CID chanting:
Shazza! Shazza! Shazza! Shazza!

CID enter, RAY and CHRIS carrying SHAZ. They put her down carefully and LUIGI greats her warmly.

ALEX:
How are you, Shaz?

SHAZ:
I'm good. Thanks to you, my guardian angel.

SHAZ goes to join the others all sitting at tables, leaving ALEX at the bar.

CHRIS:
Hey, Luigi, have you heard about those Italian war rifles for sale?

LUIGI:
No, Chris.

CHRIS:
Never been fired, only dropped once!

CHRIS:
Hey, Luigi, why do Italian men have moustaches?

LUIGI:
I don't know, Chris.

CHRIS:
Cos-a they want-a look-a like their momma!

LUIGI:
Good one. Molto divertente.

CHRIS:
Grassy arse. Grassy arse. Hey, Luigi, how many...

GENE:
Hey! Bolls! Bolls! You look dreadful. Come and join the land of the living.

# ..When you feel that your life's become a catastrophe
# Oh, it has to be... #

GENE:
Oi, Luigi, people are dying of thirst over here.

ALEX leaves the bar and joins the rest of them, sitting opposite GENE.

# ...grow, boy
# When you look through the years
# And see what you could have been
# Oh, what you might have been
# You should have had more time #

GENE:
It's all about timing, this life. Still got things to learn, adventures to have. Unbreakable, Bolly. Unbreakable.

# ...took the long way home
# You took the long way home #

GENE:
Unlike this bloody wine, which is undrinkable! Luigi! Gimme a beer!

# Took the long way home
# Took the long way home #

End credits.

# Long way home
# Long way home
# Long way home... #