*** CORRIDOR LEADING TO CANTEEN - 3:20 PM ***

Roz is heading towards the canteen for refs, when she is joined by a concerned Vicky Hagen. Vicky takes Roz to one side.

PC Hagen:

Roz, I meant to talk with you before. How are you today?

Roz sighs, as the pair stop just outside the canteen doors.

PC Clarke:

Not terrific. Pretty lousy actually.

PC Hagen:

I'm surprised that you came in at all. Don't you think you should have a few days off? Just to recover from the shock of it all?

PC Clarke:

Maybe but I think I'd go mad stuck at home.

Vicky sighs.

PC Hagen:

I wouldn't go in there if I were you. Polly's sitting at one of the tables with a face as long as a Labrador.

Roz peers through the canteen door, her face dropping.

PC Clarke:

I was kinda hoping I could avoid her for a few days or so. I mean it was all my fault, what happened.

PC Hagen:

Don't blame yourself, Roz. That sort of attitude achieves nothing.

PC Clarke:

But it's true. I shouldn't have let us get separated. I shouldn't have let this happen.

Vicky shakes her hair back.

PC Hagen:

If you keep on telling people that then eventually they'll believe you. Now, did you do anything wrong last night?

Roz looks hesitant.

PC Clarke:

Well I shouldn't have let us get separated. That was stupid.

PC Hagen:

Is there anything you could have done to prevent it?

PC Clarke:

Well, I shouldn't have let the guy go. I shouldn't have let him. I dunno. It just shouldn't have been able to happen.

Vicky looks down tolerantly at Roz.

PC Hagen:

I think you're just blaming yourself for something that's out of your control. That's stupid.

PC Clarke:

No it's not. Who else is there to blame. We were paired together and I let her down. No-one'll ever wanna be paired with me again. They'll think they're not safe with me!

Vicky sighs.

PC Hagen:

Just get over it. Have you heard the latest about the rapist?

PC Clarke:

No, what?

Vicky takes a deep breath and looks at Polly through the glass windows.

PC Hagen:

Apparently it was a kid. fifteen years old if some of the stories I've heard are true.

Roz's mouth drops open in pure shock.

PC Clarke:

What? Fifteen?

PC Hagen:

Yeah. He looks about twenty but he's just a kid.

Vicky stares at Polly again.

PC Clarke:

He sure didn't act much like one. Must be a right screwed up teenager then. Pretty strong too, for his age.

PC Hagen:

I reckon she should have been able to fight him off. I mean, Polly's no midget, she can usually handle herself. She must have just lain there and taken it, letting people walk all over her again.

Roz frowns over at the fellow officer.

PC Clarke:

You can't just assume that. I'm telling ya, he was in a right state. I could barely fight him off. It was only pure chance that I was able to get my CS back and spray him.

PC Hagen:

Well why couldn't Polly have done that? She had a baton and CS Spray. She's far too soft if you ask me. We need people in the job who aren't afraid to stand up for themselves. Polly just likes playing the victim.

Roz rolls her eyes.

PC Clarke:

Oh just shut up Vicky, yeah? For a change! You don't know what you're talking about. It was just bad luck. It could have just as easily been me. So just keep that big fat mouth of yours permanently closed for awhile.

Vicky is about to reply when Liz appears nearby.

DS Rawton:

What's the matter ladies? If you two don't stop yelling I'll arrest you both for causing a public disturbance!

Liz slides past Vicky and Roz and into the empty canteen. She spots Polly and walks over to her.

DS Rawton:

Polly. I really don't know what to say.

Liz sits down next to Polly, who looks up as Liz takes a seat, her chin cupped in her right hand.

PC Page:

It's probably better if you don't say anything. Be a nice change from most of 'em round here.

Liz smiles briefly.

DS Rawton:

I couldn't believe it when they told me. I've just been interviewing the guy that did this to you.

PC Page:

And?

Liz takes a deep breath.

DS Rawton:

Are you sure you want to talk about it? I mean, it must still be pretty traumatic for you.

Polly scoffs lightly.

PC Page:

Liz.

DS Rawton:

Well this will come as a bit of a shock but there's no easy way of putting it. He's fifteen years old, Polly.

Polly lets out a soft sigh, feeling even more humiliated.

PC Page:

You have any idea of how deplorable that makes me feel?

Liz reaches out and takes Polly's hand.

DS Rawton:

Don't feel that way. He was built like a brick wall.

PC Page:

Who are you trying to kid, Liz. Bad choice of words under the circumstances. As soon as anyone hears his age, I'll be the laughing stock of the Met!

DS Rawton:

Stuff what other people say, Poll. What he did to you in inexcusable and your friends will see that. There will always be gossip but people who do talk about you behind your back really aren't worth bothering about.

PC Page:

It's not that easy though, is it. People talk and other people get the wrong end of the stick. This isn't just about me anymore. It's about my friends, family, Sun Hill. The Met in general.

Polly pauses, taking a breath.

PC Page:

What did he have to say for himself?

DS Rawton:

He started out acting tough but underneath it all he was pretty pathetic. He is a rent boy.

Polly looks back at the table, the blood quickly draining from her face.

PC Page:

He was working the streets? What and we just got in the way or something?

DS Rawton:

It looks like it. He was a pretty interesting character, actually. I think he did it more out of frustration than anything else.

PC Page:

How do you mean?

DS Rawton:

He seemed really worked up for some reason. I guess he just hated being a rent boy. You can listen to the interview tape if you like. I mean, I know it's not strictly according to procedure but in this case I think we can make an exception.

Polly shrugs.

PC Page:

I'd rather just leave it. I mean, it's no excuse, is it.

DS Rawton:

He's a really screwed up kid. I guess the streets have turned him that way.

PC Page:

Kid being the operative word by the sound of it.

Polly looks awkwardly back at the Detective Sergeant.

PC Page:

I dunno if I can go through with this, Liz.

DS Rawton:

What's the matter Polly? Don't tell me you're thinking about letting him get away with it?

Polly drops her voice to a childish quality.

PC Page:

Well, what else am I meant to do? If it's gets out, I can just imagine the headlines! And that's not fair on anybody. Besides, it wasn't a big deal as such, I'm not hurt and it sounds as if he's got enough problems without banging him up on a rape charge as well.

DS Rawton:

You can't let every scumbag and piece of filth out there think that they can get away with raping a police officer, Polly. And surely you must want to see him pay for what he did to you?

PC Page:

Not enough to take this to court. Not enough to risk getting kicked out of the force. Not enough to alienate my friends and family. Not all because of him.

Liz is shocked by Polly's resolve.

DS Rawton:

Polly, I really think you should talk to someone about this.

PC Page:

Why, Liz? So they can change my mind. Forget it, I'm not gonna do it.

DS Rawton:

You can't let a rapist get away with it, Polly. Think what the canteen cowboys will be saying if you do drop it. They'll say that you were probably asking for it! It's hard enough making them take rape seriously at the best of times without you treating it like some joke that you can just brush off!

PC Page:

Don't lecture me, Liz. I know exactly what you're trying to do. Trust me, I've used all the same arguments you're trying now. But I don't care. The people who count will understand why I did it. Anyway, it doesn't matter. It's up to me.

DS Rawton:

I know that Poll but please don't do anything rash. Sleep on it, yeah?

PC Page:

My mind's made up Liz.

Liz sighs.

DS Rawton:

Well I just hope you know what you're doing. Inspector Monroe won't be pleased.

PC Page:

I can imagine.

Polly pushes her chair back and stands, turning to Liz.

PC Page:

Is that all?

DS Rawton:

If you're not pressing charges then it is. But please reconsider, Polly.

PC Page:

I doubt it, Liz but I'll let you know.

Polly heads towards the doorway, quickly pushing open the door, giving the eavesdropping Vicky a very dirty look as she passes her. Liz remains seated at the table slowly shaking her head from side to side.

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