*** COURTROOM - 3:10 PM ***

Alison is speaking with Sir Don Matthews.

Alison Ashley:

Mr Matthews, there can be no doubt that your achievements in the world of cricket are legendary. Almost as praiseworthy as your achievements in the world of politics. Thank you for taking the time to come to court today.

Don Matthews:

That is quite all right. I just want this resolved with a minimum of fuss so that our lives may return to normal.

Alison Ashley:

Of course, we all understand that your time is very precious. We will be as quick as we can. Are you the defendant's brother?

Daniel looks sickened by Alison's sycophantic manner.

Don Matthews:

Gregory is my brother. Yes, that is correct.

Alison Ashley:

How long have you known him?

Don Matthews:

Well, Gregory is eight years my junior. So in effect I have known him since the day he was born.

Alison Ashley:

Would you say that you have a good relationship with your brother, Sir Matthews?

Don Matthews:

Yes, we were the only brothers. We were very close as children and continue to be to this day.

Alison Ashley:

So you know your brother well?

Don Matthews:

As well as anyone can know a brother, yes.

Alison Ashley:

Can you tell me a little bit about your brother's character, Sir Matthews?

Don Matthews:

Well, we have always been close. He used to help me out with my campaigning when I was a younger man. He was very supportive. Nothing was too much trouble for him, even though he was at University at the time. He is not only my brother but my best friend too. I know that I can rely on Gregory, no matter what situation we are in and I hope that he feels the same way about me.

Don smiles across at Greg in the witness box. Greg grins back.

Alison Ashley:

Would you say that he is capable of harming a child?

Don Matthews:

That is utterly ridiculous. He would not hurt a fly. He does not have a violent bone in his body.

Alison Ashley:

Has he ever committed any sort of crime before, to the best of your knowledge?

Don Matthews:

No, of course not. Gregory has always been well behaved.

Alison Ashley:

Would you say that he is capable of the offences for which he has been charged?

Don Matthews:

Absolutely not. The idea is laughable.

Alison Ashley:

No further questions, your Honour.

Alison sits down. She grins across triumphantly at Daniel.

*** JUNE AND VIV'S FLAT - 10:20 PM ***

Viv turns off the television as the credits draw to a close and looks across at Jim. He is curled up next to her with his eyes closed.

WPC Martella:

It's over. You can wake up now, sleepy.

Viv prods Jim affectionately. He yawns, stretches his arms and looks up blearily.

PC Carver:

Great. Did she end up marrying him?

WPC Martella:

She did. Not that I would have. I mean, she got stuck with all those children in the end.

Jim sighs nostalgically.

PC Carver:

I've always liked the Captain in that movie. I can really relate to him as a character.

WPC Martella:

Well, given the way you act out on the beat sometimes that doesn't surprise me!

Viv takes a deep breath and drags herself towards the kitchen.

WPC Martella:

Another coffee?

Jim nods.

PC Carver:

White, two sugars as usual please.

Jim yawns and stretches his legs across the couch. Viv quickly fixes the drinks and brings them back into the living room. She sits back down next to Jim and hands him his coffee.

WPC Martella:

Sorry I've not been the best company lately. It's just with the court case and everything; it's bringing it all back again.

Jim shrugs and idly stirs his coffee.

PC Carver:

It's okay. I can understand how much this case must mean to you.

WPC Martella:

I honestly thought all the hard stuff was behind us when we came to trial. But it's not. I mean, you should have seen how rough the defence was on the kids. Polly in particular. I mean, I knew to expect that but it doesn't make it right. The poor girl ended up in hospital, for pity's sake!

PC Carver:

Well it's the risk you take innit? Lawyers seem to take a sort of perverse pleasure in hospitalising their witnesses. It's all a big game to them.

Viv grumbles under her breath.

WPC Martella:

Well this one ought to be locked up. I mean, you should have seen her! She was a downright bitch!

PC Carver:

Most lawyers are bitches, Viv. Even the male ones!

Jim grins across at Viv. She doesn't reply.

PC Carver:

Look, don't you think you're taking all this a bit too seriously?

Viv stares at Jim coldly.

WPC Martella:

Oh don't you start.

PC Carver:

Well I think that you are. I mean, it's just another case Viv. Or at least, that's what it should be. You know as well as I do that you don't get involved with the victims in a case like this. It biases your judgement and quite often it puts the entire case in jeopardy.

WPC Martella:

You can't say that. If I hadn't involved myself none of it would have ever come out in the first place.

PC Carver:

Would that really have been the end of the world Viv? I mean, does the little girl really have to be put through all this? Wouldn't it have been better for everyone to have left it alone after you rescued Polly? I mean, once Greg Matthews was out of the picture those kids could have had a normal life. Instead, they're facing this horrible ordeal in the courts.

Viv is momentarily stunned by Jim's words.

WPC Martella:

Just what are you implying? That we let him get away with destroying a young girl's childhood and scarring her for life?

PC Carver:

No, but you shouldn't let things affect you in this way. You get far too involved sometimes. You need to take a step back and look at the case objectively; otherwise you're just setting yourself up for a fall.

Viv shakes her head. She is getting annoyed.

WPC Martella:

Just leave it, Jim. It's too complicated and the way I'm feeling right now, I'm not exactly welcoming criticism.

PC Carver:

Exactly. You're far too close to all this. Just forget about Polly for once and be yourself for a change.

Jim puts his arm around Viv's shoulders and begins to massage them sensuously. Viv brushes him off with a frown.

WPC Martella:

What's any of this got to do with you, anyway? I'm sick of you telling me to forget about her all the time. Maybe I don't want to.

Jim looks hurt. He slumps back into the couch.

PC Carver:

Oh leave it out Viv. You're always so grumpy nowadays. You're obsessing over this case and that's not healthy. You're neglecting the other parts of your life you realise?

Viv looks slyly across at him.

WPC Martella:

You mean I'm neglecting you. Is that all you care about? Cuddling up in front of a movie? Snogging in interview rooms? There's more to a relationship than sex, you know. Although at your age, you probably don't.

Jim is taken aback by the vehemence in Viv's words.

PC Carver:

I didn't mean... I just meant that you never have any time for me nowadays. You never talk about anything but the case. Even at work all you do is count the hours before you can leave the station to see how the trial is progressing. It's silly!

Viv gets angrily to her feet. She heads towards the kitchen.

WPC Martella:

That's not true and you know it!

PC Carver:

It's perfectly true. You're obsessed with this case!

Viv pours her coffee angrily down the sink. She turns around and confronts Jim.

WPC Martella:

I can't believe you're being that insensitive! Not that I'd expect to you understand what she's going through. You're only a man, after all.

PC Carver:

Oh here we go. I'm not a woman therefore I can't possibly imagine what it's like to be walking in her shoes? I sometimes wonder if you like men at all, Viv, the way you carry on!

Viv slides her hands over her face, trying to control her temper. She folds her arms and gives Jim a look of pure exasperation.

WPC Martella:

Just shut up, Jim. You're starting to show your immaturity.

Jim looks mortified.

PC Carver:

Immature? That's rich coming from someone who spends all her time obsessing over a twelve-year-old girl. I'm trying to help you here and you just turn around and spit in my face.

Jim is getting angry.

WPC Martella:

All right, I'll be the first to admit that I let this case affect me. But don't you see? I wanted it to. I didn't want to just push it under the carpet once the paper work was done like we do with burglaries and traffic offences. And now with the court case� I guess I've realised how much I mean to Polly and I'm happy about that. So, the least you can do is accept it and not moan at me twenty-four hours a day because you feel like sex!

PC Carver:

I can accept it Viv but I'm not happy about it. I don't like the fact that you seem to care more about this little girl than you do about me!

Viv turns away from him. She is speechless for a moment.

WPC Martella:

Don't be pathetic.

Jim gets to his feet and walks over to Viv's side. He looks into her eyes.

PC Carver:

Well do you? What do you care about more, Viv?

WPC Martella:

If you have to ask me that question then I don't know why we're trying to have a relationship here.

Jim puts his hand on Viv's shoulder and strokes it lightly.

PC Carver:

Oh come on, you don't mean that. You love me really.

Jim grins weakly. Viv shakes her head.

WPC Martella:

Sometimes I'm not too sure. Well, we haven't exactly been getting along great for the last few months, have we?

PC Carver:

Well you've been so obsessed with this bloody case. I've been very patient so far but I can only take so much crying on my shoulder about how tragic life is for poor little Polly Page.

WPC Martella:

I do not cry on your shoulder! I don't need you for that. I don't need anyone for that. And if you're going to keep saying I'm obsessed over this case then I don't need you at all, James Michael Carver!

PC Carver:

Well fine then. I'm beginning to wonder what I ever saw in you, Viv. You're too clingy and you just don't know when to give up.

An awkward silence fills the room.

WPC Martella:

Well then there's nothing left to say, is there?

PC Carver:

I guess not. I'll show myself out.

Jim walks out of the room angrily. He leaves the house and drives away into the night. Viv sighs sadly and brushes the tears from her eyes. She quietly makes her way up to bed.

** DECEMBER 14TH **

*** OUTSIDE THE COURT - 9:45 AM ***

Don pulls up outside the court and steps out of a plush BMW. He approaches Laura, who is standing nearby chewing a wad of gum. Laura looks around cautiously before nodding in Don's direction.

Don Matthews:

Hello, little girl. Do you remember the deal?

Laura rolls her eyes.

Laura Jacobs:

Yes. I'm not that thick, ya know.

Don Matthews:

I will be in there watching you so I will know should you stray from the path that we have agreed upon. Do you understand me?

Laura Jacobs:

Yes, you've told me a million times. I'll stick to the plan, boss.

Don Matthews:

Excellent. Repeat what it I told you to say one last time. Just to set my mind at ease.

Laura sighs as she bites down on the gum.

Laura Jacobs:

Her and Eddie were getting it off at the sleepover and the baby's down to him. Happy?

Don Matthews:

Excellent. Now, get going. I do not wish to be seen talking in public talking to someone like you.

Laura Jacobs:

Oh, cheers. I love you too!

Don walks back to his car and drives off as Laura heads into the courtroom. She has a disgusted look on her face.

*** COURTROOM - 11:15 AM ***

The court is hearing Laura's testimony.

Alison Ashley:

So Polly was staying over at your house for the night. Was anyone else there with you?

Laura Jacobs:

Yeah, quite a few people.

Alison Ashley:

How many?

Laura thinks, counting up on her fingers.

Laura Jacobs:

About ten of us all up. Six girls and four guys. Just people from school and some mates of mine.

Alison Ashley:

And Polly Page. Was a boy called Eddie Santini present at the sleepover?

Laura Jacobs:

Yeah, as well as a bunch of other people.

Alison Ashley:

Did anything sexual happen between Eddie Santini and Polly Page on that night?

Laura Jacobs:

Well, yeah. Going by what I saw.

Alison Ashley:

Exactly what did you see?

Laura Jacobs:

Poll had to kiss Eddie coz she span the bottle and someone dared her to but it didn't just stop there! Later on I caught them in my bedroom.

Alison Ashley:

What were they doing?

Laura Jacobs:

Well, I ducked into my bedroom to turn grab some fags and he was all over her.

Alison Ashley:

You were pretty detailed in your statement the other day. Can you tell us exactly what you saw?

Laura Jacobs:

Well, to be honest, I was pretty surprised. I mean, Eddie's always been pretty keen but I didn't think Poll would've gone for him. I didn't think he was her type. Anyway, he was kissing her and I saw he had his hand up her skirt so I got outta there pretty quick. Later on I went back in, thinking they'd be long gone. But they weren't.

Alison Ashley:

What were they doing?

Laura Jacobs:

Well, there wasn't a lot of space between 'em, that's all I can say. She was giving him one hell of a good job from what I heard!

Alison Ashley:

A good job? Can you tell the court exactly what you mean by that?

Laura rolls her eyes. She is bored with all this.

Alison Ashley:

In terms that we all would understand, just so there are no misunderstandings.

Laura Jacobs:

Oh, for pity's sake. Are you guys really that out of touch? Oral.

Alison Ashley:

What happened next?

Laura Jacobs:

Well I didn't exactly stay around to find out, did I? I could hear him finishing in her mouth when I went back outside. But I spoke to Eddie later on.

Alison Ashley:

And what did he say?

Laura Jacobs:

Well, he said that he wasn't expecting it� But that she'd gone all the way with him. I mean, she was what? Eleven? He was pretty impressed with her.

Alison Ashley:

She seemed experienced at that sort of thing?

Laura Jacobs:

Yeah, I guess. I didn't really think about it.

Alison Ashley:

Did he say anything else about that night?

Laura Jacobs:

No, but he left at about ten so I only got to speak with him for a minute.

Alison Ashley:

Did he use protection?

Laura chuckles.

Laura Jacobs:

How the hell do you expect me to know that? I'm hardly about to ask him a question like that, am I? But knowing Eddie, probably not.

Alison Ashley:

So Eddie had unprotected sex with Polly nineteen weeks ago?

Laura Jacobs:

I haven't exactly done the math. It's not my baby. But yeah, round about then.

Alison Ashley:

For the benefit of the jury, Polly is currently nineteen weeks pregnant. No further questions, your Honour.

Alison sits down. Daniel stands up and prepares to cross-examine Laura.

Daniel Harker:

Do you like boys, Laura?

Laura is startled by this opening question.

Laura Jacobs:

Yeah!

Daniel Harker:

Do you like Eddie Santini? Do you fancy him at all?

Laura shrugs.

Laura Jacobs:

He's pretty good looking. You'd have to be blind not to notice him. Why he'd go for some little cheap blonde thing like that, I've no idea!

Daniel Harker:

So you were a bit jealous when Polly spun the bottle and had to kiss him?

Laura Jacobs:

Well I'd already kissed him before, so that wasn't any big deal.

Daniel Harker:

But you were jealous? I mean, you wondered why he would go for 'some little cheap blonde thing like that' didn't you?

Laura Jacobs:

Maybe a bit, but he turned out to be a real piece of scum anyway. I'm glad I never wasted me time with him!

Daniel Harker:

Do you like Polly, Laura?

Laura Jacobs:

Well, she was okay at first. But then she became all clingy. And she was such a baby. She never wanted to smoke or drink or nothing. I'm surprised she let any guy even touch her! Let alone have sex with her.

Daniel Harker:

In fact, you dislike her so much that when she turned to you for help that night you turned her away, didn't you?

Laura Jacobs:

Well, she was getting all weird. I didn't wanna get dragged into it.

Daniel Harker:

You're not her friend, are you Laura? A friend wouldn't have turned her away like that.

Laura Jacobs:

That ain't fair� I mean, she was all right at first but then after the party she changed. She was always running off crying all the time. No fun to be with at all.

Daniel Harker:

So when you saw this wet blanket of a girl snogging Eddie Santini, how did that make you feel?

Laura adjusts her low-necked blouse.

Laura Jacobs:

Well he didn't know what he was missing out on, did he?

Daniel is briefly taken aback.

Daniel Harker:

You're very experienced when it comes to men, aren't you Laura?

Laura Jacobs:

I'm� Well educated.

Daniel Harker:

So you must have been really pissed off when Eddie turned you down then went off to pash Polly? That must have wound you up.

Laura Jacobs:

Well, I had been hinting at him for a few weeks and the pathetic bastard never even looked at me. Next thing I know, he's screwing the first girl who sticks her tongue down his throat!

Daniel Harker:

In fact, I bet you were so angry with him that you wanted to get him back! Get him into some real trouble.

Laura Jacobs:

I wouldn't have minded either way.

Daniel Harker:

But if you knew a way to get him into trouble, you would have gone along with it? Just to get him back?

Laura Jacobs:

Why would I bother? He's only a guy.

Daniel Harker:

You said earlier that you 'ducked into your bedroom to get some fags' and you saw Polly and Eddie making out. Is this true?

Laura Jacobs:

Yeah.

Daniel Harker:

Remind the court of what you saw.

Laura Jacobs:

How many times do I have to go through this? I told you they were snogging real bad. Then I ran back out to where the others were so they could have some privacy. I'm no peeping tom.

Daniel Harker:

They were snogging? So you didn't see anything else?

Laura Jacobs:

Nope.

Daniel Harker:

Did you see them again that evening?

Laura Jacobs:

Not 'til later when Cath told me that my room was vacant again!

Daniel Harker:

You're lying through your back teeth, aren't you Miss Jacobs?

Laura Jacobs:

Don't be ridiculous, why the hell would I waste me time doing that?

Daniel Harker:

Miss Jacobs, in your original statement to the defence you said that you went into the room twice and that you caught them kissing on the first occasion and engaging in oral sex on the second occasion. Is that correct?

Laura hesitates momentarily.

Laura Jacobs:

Yeah. So?

Daniel Harker:

Well how can you reconcile this with what you said in your statement to the defence, that you only went into the room once? And more to the point, how can you reconcile it with what you have said in this courtroom earlier today to my learned colleague?

Daniel points in the general direction of Alison.

Daniel Harker:

Before you said that they were touching each other in a sexual way, now you claim that they were only snogging. You're telling the court two completely different stories, Laura.

Laura's jaw drops open. She is confused.

Laura Jacobs:

I� I must've got it wrong just now. Or before.

Daniel Harker:

You're a liar. You came in here today and lied non-stop about that night just to get a bit of petty revenge on Eddie Santini for preferring blondes! Hoping to get him into trouble for having sex with an underage girl were you?

Laura looks guiltily down at the floor in front of her.

Laura Jacobs:

That selfish bastard would've used anything that came in a skirt, but did he even so much as look twice at me? No.

Daniel Harker:

So what? You decided to set him up and get Polly into a lot of trouble at the same time?

Laura sighs mournfully.

Laura Jacobs:

I didn't do it to get Poll into trouble.

Daniel Harker:

Why did you do it then? Why did you come here today and perjure yourself in front of this court?

Laura turns to face Greg.

Laura Jacobs:

It ain't right what that creep did to her. It ain't!

Laura sighs.

Laura Jacobs:

Polly told me all about it at the party. She told me about the beatings and she even showed me the bruises.

Daniel Harker:

What exactly did she tell you?

Laura Jacobs:

She told me that her stepdad hit her.

Daniel Harker:

Did you believe her?

Laura Jacobs:

I didn't at first. I mean, I thought she was just doing it for attention. So that I would notice her.

Daniel Harker:

What made you change your mind?

Laura Jacobs:

When I heard about this investigation, I pieced it all together. It doesn't take a genius, you know.

Daniel Harker:

So why did you come in here today and lie to the court? It's a criminal offence to lie under oath.

Laura raises her hand and points a finger towards the public gallery at a man wearing a fancy navy blue suit with little gold buttons. Sir Don Matthews stares at the young girl in horror.

Laura Jacobs:

Because of him!

Daniel is shocked.

Daniel Harker:

Because of Sir Matthews? What do you mean?

Laura Jacobs:

That pathetic bastard. Thinks he's so high and mighty. He paid me. He paid me to get up here and lie.

Daniel Harker:

Sir Matthews paid you to commit perjury?

Laura Jacobs:

Yes. He gave me two hundred pounds. And he promised me another thousand once his brother was let off.

Don Matthews stands up and storms out of the courtroom without uttering a word. Daniel manages to conceal his shock at these new revelations.

Daniel Harker:

What exactly did he tell you to say?

Laura Jacobs:

He told me to make Poll out as some sort of tart. Say that stuff about Eddie and it would explain the medical evidence and the baby.

Daniel Harker:

Why do you think he paid you to say that?

Laura Jacobs:

He said he had to protect his public image. That he couldn't have his brother going down for this 'cause he'd be voted out of his cushy job at the next election.

Daniel Harker:

So Sir Matthews paid you to commit perjury today just so he could keep his reputation intact?

Laura nods firmly.

Laura Jacobs:

Yes.

Daniel Harker:

Did you know that perjury is an offence?

Laura shakes her head miserably.

Laura Jacobs:

No, but I don't care. That pig doesn't deserve freedom, not after what he did to Poll. I've seen some pretty horrible things but I dunno how any man could do that to his own stepdaughter.

Daniel Harker:

Can you tell the court exactly what you saw? In detail, please. And can you remember what Polly told you at the time?

Laura Jacobs:

Well, on the night of the sleepover, all that I saw, all that she showed me was the bruising on her stomach. It wasn't 'til I heard about the allegations that I remembered the other stuff.

Daniel Harker:

Other stuff? Please explain.

Laura Jacobs:

Well, I didn't think nothing of it at first but she was always coming to school looking miserable. A couple of times she had some bruises on her arm and then a gash on her forehead. Once I noticed that she had a split lip and she told me that she'd got it playing hockey. But I asked Cath about it later on and she said that Poll was fine after training.

Daniel Harker:

So you thought that Polly might be having some problems at home?

Alison leaps to her feet.

Alison Ashley:

Objection! That's a leading question.

Judge Richards:

Sustained.

Daniel glares at Alison and rephrases his question.

Daniel Harker:

What did you conclude from all this, Laura?

Laura Jacobs:

I didn't really think that much at the time. I mean, I dunno� I just thought she was getting into scrapes with some of the other girls and she didn't want to talk about it.

Daniel Harker:

Fighting? Were the other girls bullying her?

Laura Jacobs:

At school?

Daniel nods.

Laura Jacobs:

Yeah, a bit. There was this girl called Jenny who was always giving her a hard time. I told Poll to forget about it or punch the little bitch in the gob but she never did. It was only little stuff though. Poll never got hurt at school. Not seriously, anyway.

Daniel Harker:

Did you ever ask her again about her split lip? Or any of her other injuries?

Laura Jacobs:

No, I didn't wanna get involved.

Daniel Harker:

That seems to be the major problem with this case, no one wanted to get involved. Why are you coming forward now, even though you know you've committed perjury and lost your thousand pounds?

Laura Jacobs:

Well, I� I didn't really think. I didn't know it was this bad. Not until I'd already agreed to the deal. That's when he told me about the baby. That's when I first had doubts.

Daniel Harker:

And he encouraged you to go to the Defence and give them a fraudulent statement?

Laura Jacobs:

Yes.

Daniel Harker:

No further questions, your Honour.

Daniel sits down. Viv has to stop herself from applauding up in the pubic gallery.

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