*** CORRIDOR OUTSIDE INTERVIEW ROOM - 8:48 PM ***

Viv is leaning again a wall, slowly sipping her tea. Frank comes out of the room and goes up to her.

DI Burnside:

You all right?

Viv shakes her head miserably.

WDC Martella:

I just can't believe it, Frank.

Frank puts an arm around her shoulders.

DI Burnside:

I thought we'd agreed to keep all that outside working hours, Martella?

Viv looks him up and down slowly.

WDC Martella:

Guv.

DI Burnside:

Hey, don't worry. It didn't actually happen. All this stuff with a baton is just in the sick minds of a couple of crims.

WDC Martella:

That supposed to make me feel any better, is it? No wonder Polly couldn't remember anything. I know I wouldn't want to.

DI Burnside:

Well, I'm not a woman, so I probably can't appreciate what it'd be like. But they didn't go through with it, did they? Stamp got there in the nick of time.

WDC Martella:

Fortunately.

*** CANTEEN - SUN HILL POLICE STATION - 9:05 PM ***

Cathy, June, and Tony are silently sitting around a table, nibbling on snacks. Tony is stony-faced. June lowers her voice, and speaks compassionately.

WPC Ackland:

How's it going, Tone?

Tony replies glumly:

PC Stamp:

Wonderful, just wonderful.

WPC Ackland:

Tone, you've probably heard this a hundred times today, but everything'll sort itself out. You don't have to take it on board.

PC Stamp:

Yeah, I guess. Can we talk about something else?

WPC Ackland:

Sure.

June looks across at Cathy helplessly.

WPC Marshall:

Oh, June, they found that little kid that'd gone missing last week. Turned out he'd been staying at a friend�s place.

WPC Ackland:

Glad to hear it. The parents were so worked up.

June trails off, as Reg enters the canteen, coming over to them.

PC Hollis:

Ladies and gentlemen, your attention please!

June sighs and looks up at him.

WPC Marshall:

What's this about, Reg?

PC Hollis:

Just listen and you'll find out!

Reg clears his throat.

PC Hollis:

As you are all no doubt aware, one of our colleagues, Polly Page, was brutally assaulted a few days ago. As I have been one of her closest friends, nay mentors, during her short time here, I have decided to take up a collection for her.

Reg rattles the tin. Tony glares at Reg. Cathy sighs and throws a tenner into the tin.

WPC Ackland:

Good idea, Reg.

June mumbles under her breath and follows Cathy.

PC Hollis:

Thank you, girls! Tony?

Tony intensifies the glare.

PC Stamp:

You've got a nerve, Reg.

WPC Ackland:

Tony?

PC Stamp:

Look at him! One minute he doesn't give a damn for anything but cheap gossip, the next he's acting like he actually cares about Poll.

Reg rattles the tin.

PC Hollis:

Are you going to contribute, Tony?

PC Stamp:

No, I'm not. I'll buy Polly a present of my own, I don't need to pass my money through your filthy hands first.

Reg is taken aback. Cathy scowls over at Tony, rather shocked.

WPC Marshall:

Tony?

PC Stamp:

What?

Cathy nudges him.

WPC Marshall:

What you playing at?

PC Stamp:

Why should I hand my money over to this two-faced excuse for a copper?

WPC Ackland:

Tony, calm down, will ya!

PC Stamp:

I'm calm. But I'm not about to subsidise this oily git's ego trip.

WPC Marshall:

Tone, I think you're overreacting here.

PC Stamp:

Yeah? Why is that? Give me one good reason why I should hand over my hard-earned!

June whispers under her breath.

WPC Ackland:

Tony, forget it then.

Tony looks at the tin.

PC Stamp:

This is for Polly, not for you.

Tony puts in a fifty pound note. Reg looks seriously confused.

PC Hollis:

Thank you, Tony! Now, Michelle...

Reg walks off.

WPC Ackland:

I'd better get back out there too.

Tony remains in a moody silence. June stands and makes her way out of the canteen, heading up the corridor towards the yard. Viv spots June heading towards her, as she sips her tea slowly. June nods politely to Viv.

WDC Martella:

June, how's it going with the troops?

WPC Ackland:

They've taken it pretty bad, Viv. Polly might be new, but she's made a lot of friends in a short time.

Viv nods, lowering her head.

WPC Ackland:

How's the interview going?

WDC Martella:

We've got a result here, almost. Just pulling in the second suspect.

WPC Ackland:

Second suspect?

WDC Martella:

Yeah, it's a bit more complicated than we first thought.

Viv motions for June to head into the now empty interview with her. June follows.

WDC Martella:

The guy we just interviewed claims he was put up to it by a mate. We're getting the other bloke in now, apparently he's got previous for sexual assault and rape. Tony got there just in time, June.

WPC Ackland:

Do you need some uniformed help to arrest the other suspect?

WDC Martella:

The DI's clearing it all with Monroe.

Viv sighs, still getting over the interview.

WPC Ackland:

Great. Have you figured out why they did it? Was it just random opportunism?

WDC Martella:

It looks that way. Jackson apparently just wanted to get outta there, his mate, well, was up for a challenge.

WPC Ackland:

A challenge? You mean he saw raping Polly as a game?

WDC Martella:

Well, according to Jackson, Michaels has done others before. He's only ever done one stretch inside though, probably just been lucky.

WPC Ackland:

It's sickening. How can people treat rape like, like a sport?

WDC Martella:

I know what you mean. I still can't get used to it. Actually, I find myself feeling sorry for Jackson in a way though, I mean, none of this woulda happened if Michaels hadn't have showed up.

WPC Ackland:

But nothing did happen, did it? Don't tell me they raped her?

WDC Martella:

No, no, they didn't get the chance. Not that, that it woulda left any evidence, as such.

Viv trails off, glancing towards the closed door.

WPC Ackland:

What do you mean, Viv? Were they prepared?

Viv shrugs June's question off, searching for the right words. June grabs Viv by the shoulders.

WPC Ackland:

What's the matter, Viv?

Viv looks June directly in the eye.

WDC Martella:

Look, I'm only telling ya this, `cause I have to share it with someone, but it can't leave the room.

WPC Ackland:

You can trust me, Viv. What?

Viv cringes, lowering her voice slightly.

WDC Martella:

Her baton, June. They were gonna rape her with her baton.

June is speechless.

WPC Ackland:

Oh, poor Polly. What stopped them?

WDC Martella:

In a word, Tony.

WPC Ackland:

That's wrong...

WDC Martella:

Look, you can't let that get out. The only people who know are the DI and us two. It has to stay that way.

WPC Ackland:

Don't worry, Viv. I'm as anxious as you that this doesn't become canteen gossip.

WDC Martella:

The thing is, Polly doesn't remember anything. I'm thinking that this is why.

WPC Ackland:

Sort of a memory lapse from the shock? That'd be understandable. I tried to see her yesterday, but it was after visiting hours.

WDC Martella:

She'll come through it, sooner or later. I just hope it doesn't end up costing her career. She'd make a good officer.

WPC Ackland:

Polly's strong. She'll pull through. But we need to nail the bastards for her. Are you sure of a result on this one?

WDC Martella:

It's looking hopeful. It was the prints on the baton that got us Jackson, and he was very easy to break down. We'll need a confession out of Michaels at this stage, or a positive identification from Polly.

WPC Ackland:

Any hope of that? Polly ID'ing the suspect?

WDC Martella:

I'm not sure. She gave us a very vague description. We'll need more than that for it to hold up in court. We'll be able to hold them for a day or so, I'm just hoping Polly remembers more by then.

WPC Ackland:

Yeah. I just hope she gets over this.

WDC Martella:

I'm gonna call in first thing tomorrow morning. With any luck, she may be able to tell me more.

Viv sighs.

WDC Martella:

Anyway, I just thought, well, you'd treat this delicately, and if I had to put up with one more cheap comment from Burnside I was gonna scream!

June puts her arm around Viv's shoulders.

WPC Ackland:

Yeah, it must be tough on you. He's not the most understanding of guv'nors, is he?

WDC Martella:

He gets the job done. It's just that he could do with a bit more tact.

WPC Ackland:

He's probably the most insensitive copper in London.

Viv heads across to the door.

WDC Martella:

Yeah, but he was able to get more of Jackson than I woulda been able to.

WPC Ackland:

But there's ways and means, Viv. Burnside tends to take things to extremes.

WDC Martella:

I guess. Thanks for lending me an ear on that though, June.

WPC Ackland:

Hey, thanks for telling me. No-one else will know, I promise you.

Viv nods slowly, as she opens the door and slips back out into the corridor.

*** RESIDENCE OF ADAM MICHAELS - 10:15 PM ***

Frank and Viv leap out of a car and go up to the front door. Frank gestures angrily to the Uniform backup to get round the back. He knocks on the door.

DI Burnside:

Open up!

Adam Michaels:

Who is it?

DI Burnside:

Jehovah's Witnesses. We're 'ere to convert you!

Frank kicks the door down.

DI Burnside:

Viv! You take the upstairs.

Viv heads upstairs.

WDC Martella:

It's the police!

Michaels sees Viv and runs into a bedroom, locking the door.

WDC Martella:

Oi! Get back here!

Viv makes for the locked door, soon joined by Burnside.

DI Burnside:

Where's the rat hiding?

WDC Martella:

In there, sir. Door's locked.

DI Burnside:

So what are you waiting for? Afraid you might damage your toenails?

Viv steps backwards and gives the door a direct kick. It opens, the pair rushing into the room. Michaels leaps from the window to the ground.

DI Burnside:

The slaaaag!

Frank leans out over the windowsill.

DI Burnside:

Oi! You two! Get after him!

Viv heads back down the stairs and around the back of the building. Frank does likewise. Viv spots the IC1 running across a road, and down a side street. Michaels is laughing, as he dashes down an alley. Viv is ahead of Burnside, and reaches Michaels at the end of the alley. Michaels bumps into her.

WDC Martella:

Oi!

Viv is thrown backwards into the wet mud of the alley. Michaels switches direction. Viv quickly pulls herself to her feet, and follows after Michaels. He runs to the end of the alley, coming face to face with Frank.

DI Burnside:

'ello Michaels. Not so tough now, are you?

Frank pushes his face in the mud. Viv makes her way over, trying to brush off the mud covering her from head to toe.

WDC Martella:

Sir!

Frank looks up.

DI Burnside:

What?

WDC Martella:

He's not worth it!

DI Burnside:

Worth what? I didn't see anything. Did you?

Frank pushes his face even further in the mud. Viv sighs and makes her way out of the alley, leaving Frank to finish with Michaels.

*** INTERVIEW ROOM TWO - SUN HILL POLICE STATION - 11:45 PM ***

Frank is putting in the tape.

Adam Michaels:

I wanna make a complaint here! You were pushing me face in the mud, while that bitch was kicking me! And once you got me into the van, all those uniformed ones were laying into me with their batons!

DI Burnside:

Save it for the tape, Michaels.

Adam Michaels:

Yeah, that'd be right! Shut me up, then forget about it!

DI Burnside:

Any injuries that you sustained were from your flying leap out the window. Or from resisting arrest.

Frank snaps the tape deck up.

DI Burnside:

Right. Will you do the honours, Martella?

Viv takes a deep breath.

WDC Martella:

Interview commencing at eleven forty-five PM, Friday January tweltth 1993 at Sun Hill Police Station. Officers present are WDC Martella.

DI Burnside:

DI Burnside. Say your name, Michaels.

Adam Michaels:

Adam Michaels.

DI Burnside:

Right, let's get down to business then.

Frank leans back.

Adam Michaels:

Yeah, I wanna make a complaint! You lot beat me half to death back there! And that cow was kicking me!

Frank feigns surprise.

DI Burnside:

WDC Martella?

Adam Michaels:

Yeah, her!

DI Burnside:

Well, I find that a bit hard to believe since our FME has given you a clean bill of health. No bruises means no kicking. Sorry to disappoint you.

Michaels curses under his breath.

Adam Michaels:

Yeah, well, pathetic woman didn't hurt me that bad, did she!

DI Burnside:

You have a thing about women, don't you, Michaels?

Michaels draws a breath, calming down.

Adam Michaels:

No, I don't as it happens.

DI Burnside:

In the last three minutes you've called WDC Martella a bitch, a cow and a pathetic woman. You don't like policewomen, do you?

Adam Michaels:

I never said that! You're twisting it! Like you lot always do!

DI Burnside:

All I'm doing is asking a simple straight-forward question. What are you getting wound up about?

Adam Michaels:

I'm not.

DI Burnside:

You sound pretty wound up to me. Almost like you've got something to hide.

Michaels ignores the statement.

DI Burnside:

Where were you in the early hours of this morning?

Adam Michaels:

Here and there.

DI Burnside:

Where?

Michaels looks smugly at the officers.

Adam Michaels:

You tell me.

DI Burnside:

Okay. You were busy breaking into a house near Canley Common.

Michaels raises an eyebrow.

Adam Michaels:

Was I?

Frank ignores him.

DI Burnside:

Then you were interrupted by two police officers.

Michaels scoffs.

DI Burnside:

You and your mate Jackson split up and so did PC Stamp and WPC Page. You gave PC Stamp the slip, then you met up with WPC Page.

Adam Michaels:

I dunno what you're on about.

DI Burnside:

WPC Page! The policewoman you beat up. And that's not all you were planning to do, if your friend's telling the truth.

Adam Michaels:

Now you've totally lost me.

DI Burnside:

What do you know about batons, Adam?

Adam Michaels:

Can't say I know much at all, really. Except that I was clobbered with them in back in the van.

DI Burnside:

Okay, I'll leave that question for now. Have you ever had any dealings with the police before?

Adam Michaels:

No.

Frank looks him straight in the eye.

DI Burnside:

Is that the truth, Adam?

Adam Michaels:

Yes.

DI Burnside:

I am showing the suspect a police print-out listing the previous convictions for Richard Tyler.

Frank points to a photo.

DI Burnside:

Is that you, Adam?

Michaels looks at the photograph.

Adam Michaels:

Might be.

DI Burnside:

This person has multiple convictions for rape, sexual assault and indecent exposure in locations all around England. It's you, isn't it?

Michaels looks away.

DI Burnside:

I'll take that as a yes. You might have changed your name, but we can still check up on you, y'know.

Adam Michaels:

So what?

DI Burnside:

Well, a person fitting your description did some rather nasty things to one of our WPCs a few days ago. And you've got form for sexual assault. Kind of makes you wonder.

Michaels shrugs and sits back in his chair.

DI Burnside:

Where were you at two-thirty AM this morning?

Adam Michaels:

Is it just me, or are we going around in circles here?

Frank leans back in disgust and gives the changeover signal to Viv. Michaels sighs.

WDC Martella:

Are you married, Mr Michaels?

Adam Michaels:

I was.

WDC Martella:

Any children?

Adam Michaels:

Yeah. She got custody.

WDC Martella:

Usually works that way, I'm afraid. Do you get to visit with them?

Adam Michaels:

No. The court listened to her lies.

WDC Martella:

That must be really tough. Are the kids young?

Adam Michaels:

Suzi's eight and Victoria's six. What's this got to do with anything?

WDC Martella:

Kinda sweet at that age, aren't they?

Adam Michaels:

Not really. Their mother has turned them against me.

WDC Martella:

Must make you pretty angry.

Adam Michaels:

Sometimes. All women are bitches. Including you!

Viv leans forward in her chair.

WDC Martella:

I kinda figured that from the way you pushed me backwards into the mud.

Adam Michaels:

Yeah, well, you didn't lift a finger to help me when your boss was laying into me before. Women are poisonous sluts and you're one of the worst, WDC Martella.

WDC Martella:

Have you got a girlfriend, Mr Michaels?

Adam Michaels:

Nah. I've had enough of women.

WDC Martella:

Yeah, I can appreciate that. Must make it hard to trust them again.

Adam Michaels:

I've gone off women altogether. I wouldn't trust a woman to tell me the time of day.

WDC Martella:

Wouldn't like them arresting you then, would you?

Adam Michaels:

Nah. You even managed to stuff that up today. Typical woman.

WDC Martella:

Yeah, and to think I even managed to catch up to you.

Adam Michaels:

Covered from head to toe in mud! You're a sad excuse for a police officer and I'm not talking to you any more. I'm sick of your whining, whinging female voice.

Michaels sits back. Viv glances back over at Frank. Frank smiles and returns to battle.

DI Burnside:

Adam, I've got to tell you the truth here. We've had your mate Jackson locked up in the cells for hours and he's grassed you up good and proper.

Michaels is rather jumpy.

Adam Michaels:

Jackson? This meant to mean something to me?

DI Burnside:

Josh David Jackson. Name ring a bell, does it? He certainly knows you.

Adam Michaels:

Fine, Josh's a mate from years back. What's this got to do with anything?

DI Burnside:

When was the last time that you saw your old buddy Josh?

Adam Michaels:

Couldn't tell ya.

DI Burnside:

Why not?

Adam Michaels:

Well, I see him all the time, don't I? 'Bout the only one who stood by me after the split.

DI Burnside:

So you're good mates then? You do everything together?

Michaels is lulled into a false sense of security.

Adam Michaels:

Yeah, suppose so.

DI Burnside:

Including burgling houses? I mean, you'd want to take someone that you can trust.

Adam Michaels:

Look, that's all behind me now, yeah? I don't do that kinda stuff anymore. I mean, what chance do I have of getting me kids back if I'm banged up in here?

DI Burnside:

What chance do you have of getting your kids back anyway? You've got nothing to lose, so why not?

Adam Michaels:

I've been going straight these past years, not getting into that stuff. Stupid cow can't keep 'em from me forever.

DI Burnside:

So how do you survive? You don't have a job, do you?

Adam Michaels:

Not at the moment, no.

DI Burnside:

So how do you make a living?

Adam Michaels:

I'm between jobs. Does this really matter?

DI Burnside:

Yes, it does. Show me your watch.

Frank nods towards Adam's wrist.

Adam Michaels:

My watch?

Michaels leans forward, extending his hand.

DI Burnside:

Yes, the ticking thing on the end of your hand. It's a very nice watch, isn't it?

Frank reads off the watch.

DI Burnside:

Rolex. It's a bit of a luxury for an unemployed man such as yourself.

Adam Michaels:

It's pretty old. Had it since before I was married.

DI Burnside:

Take it off.

Michaels looks puzzled, but complies with the request.

DI Burnside:

Now, there's something engraved on the back. "To Ronald, love from Jacqui"

DI Burnside:

Was your wife called Jacqui, Adam?

Michaels hesitates.

Adam Michaels:

Yeah, that's right.

DI Burnside:

I should let you know that we have your wife's name on the files. I'll get really annoyed if I have to go and dig it out, so why don't you just tell me, eh?

Michaels pauses.

Adam Michaels:

Okay, so I nicked it a few years ago, so what?

DI Burnside:

I thought you'd given up your old habits. And now this turns up.

Adam Michaels:

I'm telling you, I have given that up.

DI Burnside:

So why are you wearing a stolen watch?

Adam Michaels:

I dunno. It's a nice watch.

DI Burnside:

It's also bent. Come on, Adam! Admit it, you're making a living from the proceeds of theft.

Adam Michaels:

I'm not, I'm telling ya! I can't help it if you won't believe me!

DI Burnside:

You were there at that house two days ago! It was you who attacked WPC Page! You were the one planning to rape her with her own baton! You're not fooling anyone, so you might as well tell the truth!

Michaels bursts into a fit of laughter.

DI Burnside:

What's so funny?

Adam Michaels:

Where do you come up with these things? Ya know, I really don't appreciate hearing about what the pair of you get up to in your spare time.

Frank looks taken aback.

DI Burnside:

It was you, Adam. You were there, weren't you? You're the one with the sick ideas about police batons.

Adam Michaels:

You'd think I'd waste my time on some bitch WPC?

DI Burnside:

Yeah, I do. And this "bitch WPC" is going to pick you out of an ID parade tomorrow.

Adam Michaels:

Not a chance! You're just saying that to get a confession outta me. She never saw....

Michaels stops, realising he's just dropped himself in it.

DI Burnside:

Go on, Adam. Go on!

Adam Michaels:

I ain't saying anything more.

Michaels crosses his arms in front of him, defiantly.

DI Burnside:

She never saw what? You attacking her?

Michaels looks down at the table.

DI Burnside:

Come on, Adam. You've said too much already, so why not tell the whole story?

Michaels keeps his expression fixed, glancing between Viv and Burnside. Frank lowers his voice and softens his approach.

DI Burnside:

Look, I can understand that losing your wife and kids must have been tough. I'm divorced myself, y'know.

Michaels unfolds his arms, placing them on the table.

DI Burnside:

The wife left me for some seven-foot-tall bronzed toy-boy. She was a real cow.

Adam Michaels:

Yeah, tell me about it. It don't mean nothing to those bitches!

DI Burnside:

She left me high and dry, so I can understand what you're going through. There was a time just after she left when I wanted to really get even with all those women out there. Hurt them somehow.

Adam Michaels:

They're all the same, those cows! Strut around like they own the place. Tell you what to do all the time!

DI Burnside:

Yeah, exactly! Then they leave you for a newer model when they've drained you dry. It makes me angry just thinking about it!

Michaels raises his voice.

Adam Michaels:

They just latch onto someone else! One bloke's just the same to them!

DI Burnside:

Yeah, they couldn't give a shit about anything but themselves. They're scum. Selfish, filthy scum. I'd kill the lot of 'em, me! Wipe 'em off the face of the earth.

Adam Michaels:

I wouldn't take it that far! Just bring 'em down a peg or two!

DI Burnside:

Yeah. How would you do it, Adam?

Adam Michaels:

Well, Dad always said a woman's place is in the home. And It is! I don't care what anyone says! They can't do what we do!

Michaels turns to Viv.

Adam Michaels:

Just look at you! Couldn't even catch me without getting ya pretty suit all messed up!

DI Burnside:

Forget WDC Martella. How would you get even with a woman who was annoying you?

Adam Michaels:

Depends.

DI Burnside:

Say a woman was chasing you, trying to arrest you for something. What would you do to her?

Michaels puts on an innocent face.

Adam Michaels:

I don't do anything to get arrested for, do I?

DI Burnside:

But you must hate these bitches as much as I do! You'd have to stop her somehow. Get your revenge on her somehow.

Adam Michaels:

Look, I'm not playing your games here! I ain't saying anymore!

DI Burnside:

You've said a bit too much already! Why not get the rest of it off your chest?

Adam Michaels:

`Cause I've nothing to say!

Frank looks exasperated.

DI Burnside:

Fine. I just hope you're this cocky when WPC Page picks you out tomorrow. Interview terminated at twelve twenty-five AM. Take him back, Martella. I'm sick of the sight of him.

Frank turns the tape off and leaves the room. Michaels grins over at Viv.