16x05 - Memoirs Of A Fighting Man

[bunniefuu]

♪ Heartbeat

♪ Why do you miss when my baby kisses me?

♪ Heartbeat

♪ Why does a love kiss stay in my memory? ♪

DRILL SERGEANT: Left, right. Left, right.

Left, right.

Left, right, left, right, left, right, halt!

Right turn.

Stand at ease!

MUSIC: 'Soldier Boy' by Free

BOYS LAUGHING

w*r veteran!

Chin up, lad, take pride.

♪ I am a soldier boy

♪ Standing on a b*ttlefield...

You're a smart unit.

A credit to the village, and a credit to the Cadets.

- Well done, lads. - BOY: Well done, lads(!)

Order. Arms.

Stand at ease!

Stand easy.

As you know, we're all very grateful to Major Littlewood

for sparing the time to come and inspect the rehearsal

for the VE Day parade.

You are a very lucky bunch

to have a real w*r hero take such an interest.

Three cheers for the Major!

- Hip-hip... - CADETS: Hooray!

- Hip-hip... - Hooray!

- Hip-hip... - Hooray.

SNIGGERING

♪ Down on the b*ttlefield ♪

GLASS SHATTERS

DOG BARKS

SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC

GLASS CRUNCHES

SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC CONTINUES

CLATTERING

Shh!

CLATTERING

Hey! Look at this.

p*stol COCKING

MAJOR LITTLEWOOD: I've got a g*n!

RAPID FOOTSTEPS

I'll use it if I have to.

No, he won't! He's a screw loose.

MAJOR LITTLEWOOD: Leave now, and there'll be no trouble.

Ooh, I'm scared(!)

FOREBODING MUSIC

TWO g*nshots

DOG BARKING

KNOCKING AT DOOR

LIGHT SWITCH CLICKS

CLOCK TICKING

LIGHT SWITCH CLICKS

I apologise for the hour.

- Ohh! - Oh. It's not loaded, man!

ROB SIGHS

ROB: Where are the other two?

MAJOR LITTLEWOOD: It was self-defence.

I mean, an Englishman's home is still his castle,

unless I'm completely out of date.

Is this yours, Mr Littlewood?

It was in there under lock and key.

CAMERA CLICKS Sarge...

A single sh*t to the heart.

Army training.

Oh, he's quite the w*r hero, is our Mr Littlewood.

There doesn't look to have been a struggle.

He's Billy Travis, a local lad, lived on the estate.

- Doctor on his way? - Yeah.

Joseph Littlewood, I must ask you to accompany me to the station

for further enquiries. SCOFFS

BOLT CLICKS

A chap can't defend his own property now?!

I think you'll find that's why we fought the ruddy Germans, Constable!

You could be facing a charge of m*rder, Mr Littlewood.

MUSIC: 'Needle In A Haystack' by Velvelettes

What are you doing? You don't do that!

PEGGY: What's mine is mine so take your hands off, David!

There's a good lad.

DAVID: Please, will you just let go?

I have paid for £ of petrol

and half of it is still in this tube!

Oh, don't be daft!

Well, what's that, then, Scotch mist?

That's what I call petroleum spirit!

Very entertaining, well done.

Forgive me. Harry S Taylor, friends.

Passionate about petrol.

Do you want it filling?

No, I don't buy petrol, sir. I sell it.

Am I addressing the owner?

LAUGHS

- No! - Fine.

Actually, I nearly give my petrol away.

Now, I can see your instinct for business,

but do you have the heart for an adventure?

Huh! What sort?

I have a dream. Sorry, I didn't get your name.

Peggy Armstrong.

I have a dream, Peggy.

In it every man, woman and child in this great nation of ours

will have the opportunity to buy the finest fuel products

in surroundings which are worthy of the age of jet travel.

I see you might need a little bit of convincing.

Here we are.

Bournemouth, Brighton, Bristol...

Are you getting the idea? I call them Rocket Stations.

- Mr Scripps isn't gonna like that. - Mr Scripps?

Bernie Scripps.

He's an, erm, an elderly relative.

He er, he thinks he's in charge.

Bless him, well, it's worth remembering

my finance package has turned round many a failing garage.

What's wrong with this one?

The peeling paintwork, the elderly equipment.

Believe me, I know the signs.

You can't say that! Peggy, tell him.

Well, actually, I was on my way to Whitby.

Maybe this is more of a Whitby kind of an idea.

No, no, no, wait. No, don't rush to judgement.

OK, then, maybe I can stay here for a while in er...

-Aidensfield. - Aidensfield, with an A!

That puts you on page one.

- Let's change it Wednesday, Vera. - Thank you.

Try and keep it dry, OK?

GRAVEL CRUNCHING UNDERFOOT

BIRDS TWITTERING

SHEEP BLEATING

Can I help you?

MUSIC: 'Nutrocker' By B. Bumble and the Stingers

You look like you lost a quid and found a tanner.

That man says it looks like the garage is in trouble!

What man?

The one in the suit.

Well, what kind of trouble?

David? David!

AIR HISSING

How late is this friend, then, Vicky?

Late.

It's not me. I'm not up the duff.

Has she got a steady boyfriend?

They're engaged and everything. They love each other.

It wasn't just... She's not like that.

She just wants to know what to do next.

Vicky, I'm afraid you've got to

persuade your friend to come and see me herself.

Looking for something, Rosemary?

A customer account.

Just checking when we did the last service.

Bernie.

Why didn't you tell me we were in a mess?

What mess would that be, pray?

There's hundreds of pounds' worth of fuel bills, not paid!

Going back months. Bills coming in, nothing paid out.

-Well, it's all under control. - You must have forgotten.

There's nowt to worry your pretty little head about.

This can't go on like this. You'll be bankrupt!

No more, there's an end to it. I won't discuss it any further.

DOOR OPENS

DOOR SLAMS

Vicky!

TURNS FAUCET OFF

Vicky!

DOOR HANDLE RATTLING

KNOCKING LOUDLY

Vicky! Open the door.

I need to get changed.

I'm not talking to you through a door!

EXHALES AND INHALES LOUDLY

Look... I'm not getting angry with you.

I'm just worried about you, that's all.

I'm all right!

You're locked in your room all day.

You don't eat enough to keep a sparrow alive.

You're out of the house all hours, heaven knows where.

You used to be so happy.

I'm not a kid any more!

There's a lad in t'picture, I suppose, eh?

I know we've never found it easy to talk about...

I never guessed your mum wouldn't be here, I suppose.

Oh, Dad, don't!

EXHALES SHARPLY

Go on, I'll meet him.

You can bring him home. How about that, eh?

Why ever not? You've got a lovely home.

Give up, Dad!

I've tried to meet you halfway!

You'll not leave the house till I get some sense from you. Clear?

- OK! - I mean it, Vicky, I'm serious!

Fine!

DOOR SLAMS

If what Littlewood says is true,

he could be facing a charge of manslaughter.

But in the meantime,

we'll look at this as a m*rder enquiry.

Are you with us, Walker?

Yes, sarge.

- Whatever it is won't run away. - Sorry, sarge.

CID are leaving us to put statements together

and get a file for the DPP.

If we can't verify Littlewood's story,

he's looking at a very lengthy spell in prison.

I can't see that happening, though, sarge.

Respected figure of the community faced with an armed intruder?

sh**t in self-defence.

He'll have it reduced to manslaughter, won't he?

- Sounds straightforward enough. - Let's hope so, for his sake.

Now, you might think it wrong for a w*r hero to be prosecuted

merely for defending himself and his property, but it's the law.

You two get back to the station.

- Yes, sarge. - Yes, sarge.

SGT MILLER: Right now, what is it?

Look, sarge... Two people arrive.

And then one leaves.

Not quite so straightforward as we first thought, eh?

Her name's Joan, sarge.

There is no Mr Travis as far as I can gather.

KNOCKING LIGHTLY

Mrs Travis, this is Sergeant Miller.

I'm PC Walker.

I'm Edna from next door. She's nobody else.

You'd best come in.

There's tea made. Boys?

Er, no, thank you.

Mrs Travis, Joan, this is Sergeant Miller.

My deepest sympathies, Mrs Travis.

Is he locked up?

We have a man in custody, yes.

Well, block up the windows and block up the doors.

Let him spend the rest of his life in darkness.

I know this can't be easy,

but we'd like to ask you a few questions.

May we sit down?

Did Billy have any special friends?

There was a g*ng. They used to get him into trouble.

But he wouldn't have owt to do with them any more.

He liked his sport.

It's what he wanted to do.

But you don't get much of a chance around here.

-And the boy with him? - It's Chris, my youngest.

He thought the world of our Billy.

There was only a couple of years between them.

Where was Chris last night between midnight and .am?

He was here.

SGT MILLER: Does he have his own bedroom?

He could've been out, you wouldn't have known.

I'm his mother!

I'm telling you!

Where is he now, Mrs Travis? We'll need to talk to him.

SOBS

I don't know where he is!

MUSIC: 'Mourning Sad Morning' by Free

ROB: He's years of age, but looks younger.

Approximately '" tall, fair hair.

He has a small birthmark above his right eyebrow. Out.

ENGINE REVVING

DOG BARKING

I stopped here when I heard the second noise.

It was something big knocked over.

Where was the g*n?

Carry on.

SIGHS

A boy is dead, Mr Littlewood!

A burglar is dead!

If you wouldn't mind, we need to get this clear.

I switched the light on.

I called out, "I've got a g*n and I'll use it if I have to."

He knew you were armed, then.

I've just said!

SGT MILLER: Carry on.

- I came downstairs. - Show us, please.

SIGHS

The door opened.

He had my Kn*fe. You saw how he forced the cabinet.

How was he holding it?

- Like this? - Mm.

Did he say anything?

I said, "Put the Kn*fe down and leave."

- He was going to jump me. - Going to?

He was crouching. You can tell. Bang!

It was a Kn*fe!

I was trying to make those decisions.

It's second nature.

There were two sh*ts fired.

"Finish with a sh*t to the head".

As I say, training.

Second nature. Bang!

He fell. I missed.

FOREBODING MUSIC

- There you go. - Thank you.

- So, is your room OK for you? - It's fine, actually.

It's very good for what it is, really.

- Holiday, is it? - A bit of business, I think.

- Hello, Harry. - Hello, again.

Not with her, I hope.

PEGGY: Thank you, Gina!

I will have a cup with the gentlemen.

That will be all.

Why Aidensfield?

Well, may I be frank, Mrs Armstrong?

Peggy.

Well, I have a dream to bring my vision

of Rocket Stations' petrol products...

'Arry, never kid a kidder.

This is on a tourist route from Leeds and Bradford to the coast

and there isn't another garage around for miles.

A Rocket Station here would make a blind fortune, believe me.

Oh, I do.

There's an obstacle in your way, though, one Bernie Scripps.

I thought you said that he was insane?

Absolutely.

So, you'd better just leave him to me,

let me deliver him into your sticky mitts.

- You can do that? - Ooh-hoo!

This blind fortune...

You get this Bernie fellow to agree

and then you and I may discuss a finder's fee.

KNOCKING

I'm sorry for barging round like this.

That's OK.

It's my daughter, Vicky. S-she's driving me round t'bend.

I brought her up myself from her being a nipper and...

I'm well used to long faces and temper tantrums, but this...

I-I don't know where to turn.

I thought you might come round and see her.

- What do you think's the matter? -She's making herself ill.

I think there's a lad involved and...

I'm not sure how much she knows about that side of things.

And you don't think you can talk to her?

No, no, it's a woman that she needs.

- I'm sorry, Mr...? - Cammish.

Why don't you get her to pop by this afternoon for a chat?

Yeah, yeah! That sounds perfect, yeah.

Kids, eh? Who'd have them? CHUCKLES

BLAKETON: I think you might find that enlightening.

ROBS READS OUT TITLE

Major Joseph Littlewood, DSO.

- Friend of yours, then, is he? - I'd like to think so.

He's certainly a man I know and admire.

I'm on the VE Day committee

and Joseph was supposed to be taking the salute.

But he has k*lled someone.

It's ironic, isn't it?

He nearly dies defending our lives and our liberty,

and now we lock him up for defending his own.

- Come on, Oscar! - Just take a look at this section.

He risks his life

carrying his wounded sergeant miles through enemy lines

and you're telling me this is a man

who doesn't know the value of human life?!

I've er, made an appointment for you with Nurse Cassidy, love.

For this afternoon.

VICKY: I don't need a nurse! I'm not ill.

She's a good listener.

Someone to talk things over with who isn't me, eh?

Yeah, I'm not going!

Well, stay here, then!

I've done what I can!

ROB: It was his sergeant who got injured.

Littlewood carried him back through enemy lines to his unit.

That's why he got the Distinguished Service Order.

For gallantry.

He's more likely to save a life than take one.

Maybe not. Listen to this.

On the way back, they had to pass a farmhouse.

Inside, was a young German soldier

with nothing to fight with but a Kn*fe.

Littlewood sh*t him.

That's different circumstances, Rob.

- You can't compare. - Even so, brutal.

It was a brutal time, Rob.

Post-mortem throw up any surprises?

Er, actually, yes.

This was found in Billy Travis's shirt pocket.

Littlewood told us there was nothing missing.

Panda One to Control. Over.

Go ahead, Phil.

That shoplifting report... It seems it's our boy.

'Chris Travis.'

Er, Sergeant's listening, Phil.

He nicked a tin of sardines and a bottle of dandelion and burdock.

'Over.'

He's been into Aidensfield, then.

Any idea as to his whereabouts? Over.

Ran off. Direction, Moor Road. Over.

ROB: You said nothing was missing from the house, Mr Littlewood.

Do you recognise this?

Take a good look, please.

It was taken from Billy Travis's body during the post-mortem.

- I've never seen it before. - Are you sure?

Perhaps mine wasn't his first break-in that night.

He was obviously a thoroughly bad lot.

He didn't get much of a start, did he?

When I was his age, I was fighting a w*r!

A lot of good men gave their lives

so that boys like Billy Travis could have a decent chance.

MUSIC: 'Mouthful Of Grass' by Free

CAR APPROACHING

CAR DOOR CLOSES

MUSIC CONTINUES

CAR ENGINE TURNS OVER

ENGINE REVVING

MUSIC FADES

I'm talking to you now, Bernard,

as a fellow stalwart of the Aidensfield business community.

Actually, Peggy, I'm a bit pressed for time.

You and me both, so I'll not b*at about the bush.

There's a bloke in town sprouting money.

What's the catch?

He invests in garages, That's his job!

This garage is fine.

But wouldn't it be better with a bit of cash spent on it,

especially somebody else's?

- What's in it for you? - Nothing!

That'll be the day!

We could both be rolling in fivers, Bernie,

but I can't do it without you!

Then you can't do it at all!

I've no need of investment from any money-sprouting bandit.

Or any rolling in fivers with you, thanks all the same.

Earlier, in the pub...

Yeah, what about it?

I got the impression that your mind

wasn't exactly open on the Littlewood case.

That's a fairly serious accusation.

It's not an accusation, Rob.

I just think you should have a more... rounded picture.

I've read his book.

The execution behind the lines...

He was also awarded a DSO for bravery

when he rescued the sergeant, do you remember?

Well, I know where he is, the sergeant.

It's not material, Oscar. He wasn't at the scene.

He didn't see what happened.

This case is all about character.

The character you have in your head is of a cold-hearted k*ller.

What I'm telling you, is there's more to Joseph Littlewood than that!

With all due respect, that's for the jury to decide.

A good man is facing years in prison.

Surely you want to make certain that justice is done?

Justice? What about Billy Travis?

Justice for all.

That's what your job's all about. Isn't it?

Geoff, a brew!

- That was quick. - It's this, sarge.

Look, the ball's on his left hand.

The Scenes Of Crimes report says

that the prints on the Kn*fe were from the right hand.

Bellamy!

Drop this back to Mrs Travis. Find out if Billy was left-handed.

Right, sarge.

Good work.

I want this traced.

Start with stolen property lists over the last couple of years.

Yes, Sergeant.

Start with that brew first, eh?

Yes, Sergeant.

We'd been on the move for three months... since D-Day.

Then it all ground to a halt.

Radios weren't working. We had hardly any a*mo left.

You were, er, in Major Littlewood's company.

Aye, what was left of it.

We were an advance party, miles from the main column.

And the retreat was every man for himself.

It had to be. We had nothing left to fight with.

- But you were injured. - Aye.

Badly.

And we were miles from our lines.

That's a long way.

And Littlewood carried me every step.

But there's an incident he describes in his book,

the farmhouse, could you tell us more about that?

He left me outside.

SIGHS I heard a sh*t.

Littlewood performed an execution in cold blood.

LAUGHS

What do you know, lad?

He had no choice, Rob.

A German soldier on the loose would be a thr*at to any one of our lads.

If he'd escaped and got word back to the enemy,

the whole company would've been in danger!

If he'd let him go, it would've been a dereliction of duty.

What he did took good judgement and a lot of guts.

Weren't we supposed to take prisoners?

How, huh?!

He was carrying me.

I was stone in those days.

How many men would do that? Would you?

What about the other men?

None of them made it back.

Littlewood and I were the lucky ones.

What are you doing with that?

I've been reading it. Seeing if it cast some light.

And... did it?

On you, plenty. No mention of your men, though.

The who didn't make it back to HQ,

in spite of your heroic execution of that German soldier.

It was every man for himself! Just what are you implying?

I'm just wondering what else you haven't told us.

If that's all...

FOOTSTEPS APPROACHING

You've got a visitor, Littlewood.

Thanks.

- Oscar. - Major.

ROB CLEARS THROAT

I've, er... DOOR CLOSES

just come from a meeting of the VE Day committee.

And they don't want me to take the salute after all.

No. I did what I could, I'm sorry.

Well, I hope I have a worthy successor.

Well, it's me, I'm afraid. I can only apologise.

Well, it's not about us.

It's about those that weren't so lucky.

Poor lads. They won't be forgotten.

No.

Neither will you.

It was a w*r, Oscar. A man did what he had to do.

And that's what I did, what I had to do.

And there's an end to it.

Right, I'm off early, Rosemary, and I shan't be in tomorrow.

I've got to go to York.

York? Tomorrow?

Yes. Just make sure I've got a garage to come back to.

MUSIC PLAYING ON RADIO

CHURCH BELL RINGING

Billy Travis bought it from Frost's Jewellers

in the market square about three weeks ago.

The woman in there recognised him from the photo in the newspaper.

He paid cash for it.

Sounds like he was serious about someone, then.

Why take an engagement ring with him on a burglary?

Er, Billy Travis was left-handed, sarge.

So, he wasn't armed at all. Littlewood's been lying all along.

Bang goes his self-defence plea.

ROB: He must've planted the Kn*fe after the event.

His entire account could be false for all we know.

Damn it!

I want Billy Travis's brother. He's our only other witness.

I want him here and I want him now!

MAN: Hey, who's in there?

MUSIC: 'Soldier Boy' by Free

So that's all they do, then?

Well, the Official Receiver receives money owing to a bankrupt person

and shares it between the people he or she owes money to.

- Why are you asking? - Bernie's had a letter.

We're all gonna lose our jobs.

The garage is in that much money trouble?

- Are you sure? - I'm good as certain.

Have you tried talking to Bernie?

Quicker to get blood out of a stone!

Oh, don't tell me, you're gonna solve all our problems.

Look, love, I know we've had our differences in the past,

but if Bernie's lost his paddle, we're all up the creek.

So, I suggest you at least hear me out.

MUSIC: 'Mouthful of Grass' by Free

Vicky!

Vicky, get... Get back here!

Vicky, come here, now!

You're entitled to a solicitor, Mr Littlewood.

If you haven't got one

I can arrange for the duty solicitor to attend.

I've told you everything I know.

Oh, you've done more than that.

You've shown us how Billy was preparing to att*ck you

with a Kn*fe he stole, remember?

We don't think so. We think you sh*t Billy Travis.

Then forced open your own cabinet and took the Kn*fe.

His fingerprints are on it. You said yourself.

You wrapped the dead boy's hand around the hilt.

- That's nonsense! - His right hand, as it happens.

But you guessed wrong. He was left-handed.

How about that solicitor, eh?

MUSIC: 'Soldier Boy' by Free

"Can I check your oil and water?"

And when you say it, mean it.

"Have a nice day."

Give it some showbiz.

"Have a nice day"?

David. David!

- What? - Come here, come here.

Hey, slip into this, lovey.

You'll look a treat. Hmm.

MUSIC: 'Soldier Boy' by Free

♪ I...I...I... ♪

I don't know what to do.

What about the father? From what you said, he seem...

He's gone... to join the army. He's not coming back.

Oh, I'm sorry, love.

Vicky... it would be tough to have this baby on your own.

But you're not on your own. You've got your dad.

Your dad loves you!

He knows something's wrong and he desperately wants to help.

You need to tell him.

I can't!

The baby's father's not around, your dad's all you've got.

But...

Isn't there some other way?

A termination?

Ohh.

That's... a very big decision, Vicky.

And I'm not sure it's one you should be making on your own.

SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC

ROB: 'Delta Alpha - to Control, over.'

Go ahead, Rob. Over.

It's Chris Travis, Alf.

It looks like he's got the makings of a... of a firebomb.

I guess he's heading to Littlewood's place. Over.

Are you on your way? Over.

If he's across the moor he'll b*at me to it.

Get the Fire Brigade there, and back-up. Out.

SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC CONTINUES

She came to see you!

Hello, Mr Cammish. Have you been waiting out here?

Did you get anywhere?

I can't tell you what we talked about.

- You'll have to ask her yourself. - I'm beyond niceties, love.

You've talked to her. Now, what's she told you?

If Vicky has something to say, I'm sure she will.

- It's really not my place. - Something to say, eh?

Mr Cammish, I... - That's it in't it?

Here's me saying "Bring the lad home, I'll meet him".

He's gone and got her into trouble, hasn't he?

I should have known it! Stupid, stupid girl!

MUSIC: 'Strange Brew' by Cream

FIRE BELL RINGS

GLASS SHATTERS

FIRE BELL RINGING

expl*si*n

ENGINE REVVING

♪ She's a witch of trouble in electric blue

♪ In her own mad mind she's in love with you

♪ With you

♪ Now, what you gonna do?

- Come here! - Get off me!

Come here.

ROB GRUNTING

- Get off! - All right, that's it.

HANDCUFFS CLINKING

Back-up and fire tender

to Westfield House on Scarborough Road. Over.

ALF: 'What's going on, Rob? Over.'

Chris Travis's in custody.

But he's set fire to the wrong house. Out.

PANTING

My little girl's in there!

Wait there.

♪ Strange brew k*ll what's inside of you

FLAMES WHOOSHING

MR CAMMISH: Vicky!

They're coming to get you. Don't worry, love.

Vicky!

Vicky!

♪ On a boat in the middle of a raging sea

♪ She would make a scene for it all to be

♪ Ignored ♪

CLATTERING

expl*si*n

They're paid to be the heroes, not you.

It was well alight and I sent the heroes to the wrong house.

You should be dead like our Billy!

What the hell?

We were all right till you came along.

He'd never have done it if it wasn't for you.

It's your fault he's dead!

It isn't my fault. It's not!

You weren't there!

I tried to explain, but you wouldn't listen.

You came to my house to tell me my own brother's dead...

with his blood still on you!

What did you expect me to think?!

All right, that's enough!

Bellamy, take him to the station and then go and pick up Mrs Travis.

I'm sure she'll be delighted to know that we've found her son,

and that we're about to charge him with arson.

You were there the night Billy d*ed?

VICKY: We were just messing about.

We weren't even gonna take anything!

Then that army man sh*t him.

I watched him!

I saw him sh**t Billy through the heart!

HARRY: Well?

MUSIC: 'Back in the USA' by Chuck Berry

ROSEMARY: It's a bit... gaudy.

You can't let the grass grow under your feet, Rosemary.

Mr Scripps is gonna hate this.

OK. First point is, Peggy is correct.

This is not gaudy. This is arresting.

And you need that if you're gonna stay in business.

Second, we're not doing this for Bernie.

We're not doing this for ourselves.

We're not even doing it for Avensworth.

- Aidensfield. - Yeah.

We're doing this for people, for petrol, for fuel...

For the future!

Probably finish him off.

Rob. It's Oscar.

It's just struck me what's been nagging me about Spence's story.

Oh, yeah?

"I heard the sh*t".

That's what he said, right?

Right.

No one's ever carried out an operation like that

and only fired one sh*t.

Well, maybe one was enough.

'He wouldn't know.'

You always make sure.

I mean, two, three sh*ts maybe, but... never one.

He said it himself.

Always finish off with one to the head.

ROB: You described hearing a single sh*t, Mr Spence.

- Did that strike you as odd? - Why should it?

Littlewood said himself

that you were trained to fire a second sh*t at least.

I don't know what you're suggesting.

What we're suggesting is Major Littlewood

didn't k*ll that German soldier at all.

You see, in wartime a single sh*t is usually fired as a warning.

He let that soldier go free, then stuck to this execution story

when he heard what happened to his men,

in case he got blamed for revealing their position.

- Isn't that what really happened? - He was my commanding officer!

He saved my life.

Is this how you think I'd repay him?

By calling him a coward?

So what you're saying is,

Major Littlewood is a liar.

VICKY:I was here. This is where I saw it.

How was he holding the g*n, can you remember?

Like this, straight out in front of him.

He just walked downstairs

and he was as close as you are to me now,

and he sh*t Billy through the heart.

You can't see the living room door from here, sarge.

We found Billy's body in the living room, Vicky.

I saw it! I knew he was sh*t in the heart, didn't I?

I think I know how.

We've been puzzling over why

Billy would take an engagement ring with him on a burglary.

But he didn't, did he?

You went back and left it,

because you were in love with him, and you were engaged.

MR CAMMISH: Vicky?

It's his baby.

Hey...

So, you didn't actually witness the sh**ting of Billy Travis.

No.

I hid over there.

That man sh*t him though, I know he did!

Just because I didn't see it...

If that's all, Sergeant, Vicky and I, we...

We've some sorting out to do, yeah?

Come on.

- Well, that settles that. - No witnesses.

One. Littlewood.

Who is now a proven liar.

I believe Vicky about one thing,

she saw Littlewood coming down the stairs with the g*n.

She described exactly how he was holding it.

But through that window, she could only see as far as here.

But Littlewood said he fired the first sh*t from there.

Yeah, and if he had, Vicky would have seen him.

So, he's lying again.

Has he told us the truth about anything?

Well, he definitely fired a sh*t from here.

- But you couldn't miss from there. - You could if you wanted to. Bang!

It was a warning sh*t.

How could you know?

He's got a history, sarge. He can't k*ll in cold blood.

So he fired the second sh*t which k*lled Billy,

according to the pathologist, from the staircase.

Yes, so he fired a warning sh*t from the doorway,

then backed up the stairs to make the k*ll from further away?

That doesn't add up.

Let me have another go at Littlewood, sarge.

There's something else going on here.

MUSIC: 'Back In The USA' by Chuck Berry

BERNIE LAUGHS

Have you any idea what you look like?

Now, now, now, don't be hasty, Bernie.

Just listen to what Harry here can do for you.

I don't need Harry to do anything for me.

I don't know why on earth you thought I did!

We were only trying to help.

Look, I know where you've been, and I know why.

I've been owed this for years.

God bless the Official Receiver.

So, Bernie, are you ready to pick up the banner and march with me

into a golden future of petrol retailing?

And turn my garage into the Magic Roundabout?

No, I don't think so.

Now take all this down and clear up before you go!

EXHALES HEAVILY

If you stick to your version of events

you could spend a long time in prison.

- I'm prepared for that. - You'll even lie for it?

I've told you what happened.

Just like you lied about that so-called execution during the w*r.

That is ridiculous!

You knew you were putting those men in danger, men, your men,

but still you couldn't k*ll that soldier in cold blood.

- So you lied about it. - That's nonsense.

You couldn't k*ll Billy Travis, so you lied about that, too.

Just what do you take me for?

I don't think you're a w*r hero.

But I don't think you're a m*rder*r, either.

SIGHS

I...

SIGHS

tried to scare him off by f*ring over his head.

Then I tripped on the stairs as I backed away

and the g*n went off.

And that was the sh*t that k*lled Billy.

An accident.

The w*r hero you wrote about in your book was just fiction.

All those soldiers.

The lie took root, and in the end, I almost believed it myself.

You're a very good policeman, I'm sorry to say.

You'll have to give me a fresh statement.

The truth about what happened to Billy Travis.

Poor lad.

I can't tell you how sorry I feel.

- But you didn't mean to k*ll him. - I didn't.

But I can't admit it. I can't admit to being a coward.

And you'll never prove it.

So you'd go to prison for a m*rder you didn't commit?

I k*lled Billy Travis. That's the truth.

That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

So you'd go to prison for... for pride?

It's all I have.

If ever this came out in court, it would destroy me.

What about truth, justice? You fought a w*r for it.

We can clear your name, if you'll let us.

A long time ago I failed in my duty,

and men d*ed because of it.

Justice has been a long time coming.

It was wartime.

Those deaths may have had nothing to do with you.

No more lies, eh? You and I know the truth.

DRAMATIC MUSIC

I want you to let me serve my sentence

so that I can hold my head up again.

Let me take my punishment like a soldier.

Allow me that. Please.

I should like to pay my respects, if that's at all possible.

MUSIC: 'Colonel Bogey March'

MUSIC CONTINUES

BANDMASTER: Eyes, right!

Eyes, front!

- BANDMASTER: Hip-hip... - CADETS: Hooray!

- Hip-hip... - Hooray!

- Hip-hip... - Hooray.

KNOCKING

DOG BARKING IN DISTANCE

Mrs Travis.

You er, you don't know me, but er,

I'm very, very sorry about that's happened.

Thank you.

I er, I didn't know Billy, but,

he was very friendly with my daughter.

This is Vicky.

There are some things that, well...

Vicky would like to tell you about. Can we come in?

MUSIC: 'I've Gotta Get a Message to You' by The Bee Gees

What's this?

Well, it probably needed a lick of paint.

And you promise to pay those petrol bills now?

They've already been paid.

- Not according to the... - In advance.

I bought in bulk. They said it was the modern way.

They take the amount they deliver off what you've already paid for.

- How much did you buy? - Half of Texas.

I bet you've done all right. When did the price ever go down?

Can't last. It'll never get above five bob a gallon.

I'll get a brush.