*** FEMALE TOILETS - 3:45 PM ***

Viv and June enter the bathroom. June is practically in tears. Viv tries her best to comfort her colleague.

WPC Martella:

Why are you getting so worked up about this case, June?

WPC Ackland:

Oh, it's nothing. I mean, we've got all the evidence we need so he's got nowhere to hide but he still has the nerve to deny it. I think it's just that I've seen too many cases like this, that's all. Never this severe, mind you, but in my experience these controlling bastards are all the same!

Viv gently rests her hand on June's shoulder.

WPC Martella:

Yeah. But he's cracking, slowly but surely. You shouldn't let yourself get so worked up about it. That's what he wants.

WPC Ackland:

I know. You're right. I'm just not good with these cases. I always get too involved with the victims. You just see one after another� And for every one you see there are ten more that no-one ever finds out about. It really starts to get you down after a while.

WPC Martella:

How many cases like this have you dealt with before, June?

WPC Ackland:

You lose count over the years. I think I've been involved with about twenty or thirty child abuse cases before and I've heard some pretty disgusting stories in that time. Back in the days when I was practically the only WPC in the nick I was always being asked to hold the victim's hand while CID went off to chase suspects.

WPC Martella:

Are they all this tough to cope with? I mean, I've never felt this drained before in my entire life. I hardly even spoke during that last interview but I'm still recovering from the shock of it.

WPC Ackland:

That's the awful part of it, Viv. After a while they become almost routine. I admit that this is the worse instance of abuse I've ever known but we have to treat them all the same. If we let them affect us then the emotional drain is impossible to deal with. Officers have been known to have nervous breakdowns after cases like this. Even hard, tough officers like Tommy Burnside.

Viv begins to cry softly.

WPC Martella:

I don't think� I don't think I could take many more cases like this.

June places a comforting arm around Viv's shoulders.

WPC Ackland:

Yeah, the first few are always the toughest. You were pretty unlucky stumbling across this one as your first. You were thrown straight into the deep end without your water wings. But somehow you just have to keep telling yourself it's a good thing that the victims have come this far. That we know what they've been through and hopefully we can stop it ever happening to them again.

WPC Martella:

But can we make a difference? I mean, look at this case. Not even Polly's best friend believed her when she told her about the abuse. People just ignore this problem and pretend that it doesn't happen. How can we make the slightest bit of difference when attitudes like that prevail? All we can do is pick up the pieces when it's all over.

Viv despairs and drops her head into her hands.

WPC Ackland:

Look, you can think about it that way or you can look at it my way. We know about the abuse now and we've managed to stop it. What more could we have done to help her? We didn't even know about the abuse until this morning.

June's voice is calm and reasonable. Viv looks across at her friend tearfully.

WPC Martella:

Yeah, but most people think that sexual crime is just a bad joke. I've heard the jokes in the canteen about rape victims� People just can't comprehend that sexual crime isn't about sex, it's about control. No one was there to help Polly when she most needed it! Until attitudes change, we're stuck here trying to repair the damage after it's too late to help.

WPC Ackland:

I know what you mean. The majority of people just can't or won't accept that events like this occur. Families sometimes go on for years refusing to listen to their suspicions. And while it's devastating to be dealing with cases like this we at least have the satisfaction of knowing that we're doing something positive to help all the abused children out there. That we've stopped at least one cycle of abuse.

WPC Martella:

Families go on for years, refusing to face their suspicions� How true.

Viv sobs quietly as she mutters under her breath.

WPC Ackland:

Society will change, Viv. Eventually. Twenty years ago, child abuse was an invisible crime. Particularly cases of sexual abuse, families just wouldn't admit that it occurred. But in twenty years time more and more victims will start coming forward. Cases like this will probably be as common then as muggings are today.

WPC Martella:

I hope not. This sort of think is just wrong. I mean, I should know�

June raises an eyebrow questioningly as Viv leaves her statement unfinished.

WPC Ackland:

You almost sound as if you're talking from experience.

WPC Martella:

Yeah, well I guess I am. Something along these lines happened to my little sister Sally when we were both kids� She told me what he had done to her but I didn't believe her at first. I told her to shut up because Uncle Chris was the nice man who always bought us presents at Christmas.

Viv's face has become unusually pale. June struggles to find something to fill the silence.

WPC Ackland:

Viv, I'm sorry. I had no idea that this case was so close to home.

WPC Martella:

I didn't believe her, June. My own sister! I thought she was making it all up and I called her a dirty liar but then one night I caught him. He was on top of her and he was groping at her legs with his filthy hands. I couldn't help it, June� I hit him with the first thing that came to hand. I think it was a vase. It broke on his head and he lay still. I thought I had killed him but his fingers kept on groping at the air� I think he still thought he was on top of Sally.

June is stunned. She gently engulfs Viv in a sisterly hug and lets the younger officer cry into her shoulder for a while. After a while, June whispers into her friend's ear.

WPC Ackland:

Oh, Viv� You never said anything.

WPC Martella:

Can you blame me? I didn't want anyone to know about the dirty little skeleton hiding in my family's closet. But this case has brought it all back to me� I can still remember the look on my sister's face after I floored that bastard.

June nods slowly as Viv dries her eyes and steps back unsteadily.

WPC Ackland:

Look, if this is all too much for you then you don't have to see it through. I can find someone else to do the interview with the stepfather. No one would blame you for taking a step back. Quite the reverse in fact.

Viv shakes her head firmly.

WPC Martella:

No. I want to nail Matthews to the wall for what he did. For Polly� And for Sally. Are you okay with me taking the lead from now on?

WPC Ackland:

Are you sure you feel up to it? He's a tough customer and it's not going to get any easier when we go back in there.

Viv laughs throatily.

WPC Martella:

Good. I like 'em tough. Gives me something to chew on.

June lets out a relieved chuckle.

WPC Ackland:

Right, the sooner we get this over with the sooner we gets those kids away from Hollis! He's probably corrupted them beyond any hope of salvation by now.

Viv looks sad yet determined.

WPC Martella:

Reg is the least of our worries. Come on, June. We need to finish this once and for all.

June and Viv leave the bathroom. They collect Greg from the custody area and make their way back into the interview room.

*** INTERVIEW ROOM TWO - 4:02 PM ***

Viv, June, Jessica and Greg are seated in the room as they were during the previous interview except that June is now sitting by the tape recorder and Viv is taking the lead.

WPC Ackland:

Interview resumed. People as before.

WPC Martella:

Right. Have you decided to co-operate with us, Mr Matthews?

Greg speaks softly yet firmly.

Greg Matthews:

My solicitor has advised me that due to the evidence against me it is in my best interests to help facilitate your enquiries.

WPC Martella:

Excellent. I hope you're that eloquent in court. Do you love your wife?

Greg scoffs, surprised by the question.

Greg Matthews:

What kind of question is that? Of course I do. I married her didn't I?

WPC Martella:

So why do you regularly beat up her daughter?

Greg hesitates.

WPC Martella:

Come on, Mr Matthews. It's a simple enough question.

Greg Matthews:

I don't beat Polly up! Not like you mean, anyway. I just need to show her who's the boss every now and then. There ain't nothing wrong with a bit of good old-fashioned discipline. Children need discipline.

WPC Martella:

You're right, children do need discipline. But what sort of man punches his stepdaughter in the face then stubs cigarettes out on her arm to make a point?

Greg shrugs. His face doesn't indicate the faintest flicker of remorse.

Greg Matthews:

It worked didn't it?

WPC Martella:

Sure it worked. It worked a bit too well, Mr Matthews. Didn't you care about the suffering that Polly endured because of you? She was in agony and you made it worse!

Greg Matthews:

How is that different from a good hiding?

WPC Martella:

It's different because the Criminal Code describes that sort of thing as needless cruelty and torture. Torture, Mr Matthews. I thought that went out of fashion in the Middle Ages. What's it like knowing that you're so inadequate that you have to take out your frustrations on a twelve year old?

Greg looks down, unwilling to meet Viv's eyes. Viv smiles coldly.

WPC Martella:

Greg Matthews, the big man with so little self-control that he beats his stepdaughter to a pulp every night. What an impressive guy he is. Greg Matthews, the most pitifully insecure pervert in Sun Hill. He's so pathetic and desperate that he gets his kicks raping his stepdaughter and beating her up whenever she tries to resist. Just take a look at what you've done to her, Mr Matthews.

Viv produces the photos taken by Hilary earlier that day. Greg gazes at them blankly.

WPC Martella:

For the benefit of the tape I am showing the suspect exhibits VM One to VM Ten. Photos of Polly Page taken by a Forensic Medical Examiner. Do you see what you've done to that poor girl, Mr Matthews? Do you see how much you've damaged her? Look at the scars that she'll carry for the rest of her life because of you! Does it make you proud, seeing your handiwork laid out before you like this?

Greg whispers under his breath. He is obviously very shaken.

Greg Matthews:

She deserved it.

WPC Martella:

Did she? Can you honestly say that, Mr Matthews? How can anyone deserve this?

Greg Matthews:

She lied to me. She didn't do as she was told. She was a bad girl and I had to punish her.

WPC Martella:

So what did you do? You beat her up and raped her just because she had the guts to stand up to you? Is that what you did? Is it?

Viv's voice reaches a crescendo. Greg breaks down and starts to sob.

Greg Matthews:

You don't know what it was like. It was impossible living like that. I just couldn't take it any more!

WPC Martella:

So tell us what it was like. What could possibly make you do this to an innocent little girl?

Greg takes a deep breath.

Greg Matthews:

Anne was never home. Well, hardly ever. One, maybe two nights a week at the most. In a way, it was worse when she was home than it was when she was away. All she'd want to do was talk or spend time with the kids. She was never there for me. I never intended it to go this far, but� Well� One thing led to another.

Greg trails off. Viv looks at him with undisguised disgust.

WPC Martella:

Anne wasn't having sex with you so you decided to start on Polly instead? As a substitute for her mother?

Greg Matthews:

It wasn't like that� It just happened! I'm not proud of what I did but I couldn't help it.

WPC Martella:

Don't give me that crap. She's twelve years old, Mr Matthews. She was extremely naive, she didn't have any idea about sex and you took advantage of that. Maybe that was the turn-on? You raped her.

Greg Matthews:

I never meant to hurt her.

WPC Martella:

The damage is done, physically and psychologically. She'll have emotional problems for the rest of her life! She'll never be able to enter into a proper, loving relationship with another person thanks to you. For all we know you might have got her pregnant. How the hell do you think she's going to cope with that? At her age?

Greg Matthews:

But� She can't have! I mean, Anne would have mentioned it if�

Greg trails off, his voice full of despair.

WPC Martella:

If what? If she had started her periods? If that's what you're thinking then I've got some news for you, sunshine. She's been having periods for almost six months now. That was your second big mistake, Mr Matthews. You didn't take precautions.

Both June and Greg are stunned by these latest revelations. Even so, Viv doesn't give up.

WPC Martella:

Don't you feel even the slightest bit of remorse for what you've done?

Greg Matthews:

It's what happens. It's what happened to me.

An overwhelming silence falls over the interview room. After a few empty moments, Viv manages to find her voice.

WPC Martella:

That's not a reason. That's an excuse.

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