Taggart quotes

Strangulation, sir. Jogger found her earlier this morning, five minutes past seven.

Bit cold for that.

Aye, but we've had three people past here since then. Down here, sir. [He points to the body down the riverbank. Taggart follows. Already there is a young plain clothed detective.]

Morning, sir.

Who are you?

I'm Detective Sergeant Livingstone. I just got here myself.

[To Sgt. Blackman] All right. Thanks. [Blackman heads off. Taggart and Livingstone glance down at the body.]

Strangulation, with a ligature.

We don't have ligatures in Maryhill! [He bends down to take a closer look. He pulls out a dictaphone and starts recording.] Young woman aged about twenty, strangled, lying face upwards in obstetric position, no immediate evidence of sexual assault, hands crossed on body. Possible weapon... uh... stocking. No marks of knots. Abrasions on left cheek, large clump of hair cut from right side of head exposing scalp... loose hairs near head. [He stops recording.]

Time of death 12:25, sir. Her watch broke in the struggle. I made a few notes of my own before you got here. [He hands his notebook to Taggart.]

[Reading from the notebook] "In situ"?

A reference to her undergarments.

Aren't knickers good enough for you? [Chucks the notebook back at Livingstone.]

[Observing] Must have flung it.

Obviously.

Ach, be careful!

[Noticing Livingstone's scarf] What fitba' team's that?

Edinburgh University. Sentimental value.

A bit old for it, aren't you?

Keeps my next warm.

Shite! That's vital evidence!

It's empty, sir. Sorry about the accident.

Put it away. [Blackman heads off. To the officer, zipping up his coat] Hey! Not near the locus!

Sorry, sir. [He heads off.]

I took a brief statement from the jogger. You'll probably want to talk to him yourself. Mr. Martin Inglis, he's a lecturer in languages of the African Horn.

A bit cold for swimming, isn't it?

[Introducing himself] Detective Sergeant Livingstone.

Andrews.

This way, sir. She's been dead a good six hours. Her watch stopped, luckily. [He returns down the riverbank.]

[Cheerily] Good morning, Jim.

[Turns to Andrews, dourly] ...Going to be(!)

Mr, uh, English?

Inglis, with an I.

Come this way regularly?

Look, I've already given details to the young constable.

Ah, well, you know these young ones, sir.

[Nods] Every morning.

About the same time?

Give or take half an hour.

Ever find a deid body before?

[Turns to Taggart, chuckles nervously] What sort of question's that? No.

Must've come as quite a shock.

I suppose you're used to it. The police don't see life or death, only offences.

Aye, well that's a popular belief.

Look, I'm very cold, I've not eaten any breakfast...

You're at Glasgow University?

I lecture in languages on the African Horn.

My wife took an MA in Sociology there. Gives the odd lecture.

And what's her name?

Taggart, Jean.

In a wheelchair?

[Looks offended. Inglis sheepishly turns away] Do you enjoy jogging?

Aye, like to keep fit.

I believe we're born with so many heartbeats to use up. Why waste them?

Do you know who she is?

Not yet.

Seen a strangulation before?

Yes.

It always surprises me how serene they look. Almost buddha-like.

Why do you think she was laid out like that?

It's not for me to look into the minds of killers. I'd say between twelve and one. Bears out the time on the watch. Lucky stroke, that.

That's allowing for the rise in temperature, due to asphyxia?

That's allowing.

[Bends down to get closer to the body] What do you think was used?

Stocking. Certainly not a hard cloth.

And scissors?

Scalping like that is unusual.

[Covering the deceased's face] Red Indian.

Not many of them in Glasgow.

Where are you from?

Penal division, just promoted.

Originally?

Edinburgh.

University?

Yes.

You're working with Jim Taggart? Good luck to you!

I don't like educated people that find deid bodies at seven in the morning.

Or just educated people, sir?

You being cheeky?

No, sir.

So you're a flyer.

I did my course in Lothian and Borders.

And flew off course(!) Glasgow's a hard city.

I'm aware of that.

What public school did that accent come out of?

Matthew Kerr's Academy for Boys.

You wait here. [He gets in his car, leaving Livingstone at the crime scene.]

Murray

[Leaving his office followed by Taggart, referring to Taggart's previous "neighbour"] Mackie was a good man, the best. You were a good team. But he's gone now. There's a new breed of men, Jim, you know that.

[Pushing a button on the hot drinks machine] It's his attitude, sir.

Murray

Oh, come on. You're too good a man yourself to let personality come into it.

[Handing the drink to Murray] I have to work with him.

Murray

He has a good record.

[Pushing the button again] I don't care about his record.

Murray

Is it his background?

There is that.

Murray

You and I came up the same way, Jim. A long, slow climb. [Taggart gets his drink] I know how you feel, I felt that way too. Graduates jumping in where we spent years slogging. That's the new way, live with it. [They go into Taggart's office] Al Mackie won't come back.

I'll never know why he did it. [Left the police to become a Buddhist monk.]

Murray

He was your friend.

Not his confidante, it seems.

Murray

It was a personal decision.

He was a good copper.

Murray

A deeply unhappy one, Jim. At least he's found his purpose.

Livingstone's found his - to annoy me!

Murray

Nobody's asking you to marry him, Jim! Work with him on this one case, what, forty-eight hours?

Come in. [DC Grant does so.]

Excuse me, sir. It's a message from Detective Sergeant Livingstone. They found a purse five hundred yards down the river, and they've identified the body.

I grew up with the notion that Glasgow was a depressed area.

Don't you insult my green city!

I wasn't trying to insult it.

Tenements, alcohol and punch-ups. That's what you grew up with. The image everybody carries. Look around you, d'yer see any bloody noses?

Were you born here?

[Pointing] A mile that way.

I remember you coming and giving a talk at Tulliallan about a detective's hunch, how it was still valid, even today with computers and forensics.

Was that Grawler's course?

Murray

Are we going to charge him?

He had the opportunity, he had the motive.

Murray

You mean thwarted sexual desire?

It does happen.

Murray

Are we going to charge him, then?

[Sighs] It's all circumstantial for the moment.

Murray

Well, we can't keep him here. You'd better find something.

If he telephoned on his way home...

What for? To apologise for killing her?

It would stand in his favour, if the Ballantynes remember the call.

Er... [Rubs his eyes] Take DC Grant with you, see if they do. [Livingstone heads for the door] Hey! Don't jog their memories too much. [Livingstone leaves]

Murray

How are you two getting on?

Me and the RAC Membership Committee(?)

Murray

You may have an opportunity, Jim. You may have a motive. [Points at Taggart] You need that murder weapon.

[At the door] It's DC Grant, we just want to ask you a few more questions. [He, Livingstone, and the Ballantynes enter the living room.]

Have you any news?

Not yet, I'm afraid, no. Is there anything you'd like to add to what you've already told us?

No.

You still think Billy did it!

Last night, do you remember a phone call?

It rang, there was no...

What time?

Quarter to one.

You're sure of that?

I looked at the clock. [Grant looks at the clock on the mantelpiece, then checks his own wristwatch.]

What happened?

I answered, it rang off.

Did Eileen's watch ever run fast or slow?

What's this got to do with anything?

The time's very important in an enquiry.

You're not supposed to be here, Mr. Dalgleish.

[Motions to Mr. Ballantyne] Joe's my partner.

Well, you were warned to stay away.

At a time like this?

It's still subjudice.

What?!

Your presence here can be construed as...

Look, I've been questioned for two hours. Billy's bedroom's been searched and he's never been home, and you've had him there for how long?

You put us in a difficult situation by being here.

What, just because he ran away?

You think Billy did it!

You've got it in for him!

No, we haven't.

Look, my boy couldnae... He couldnae do a thing like that. [He breaks down in tears.]

Eileen's killer's loose, and you're questioning the wrong man.

I came here to help him.

[Noticing the scarf] You're no' even one of us!

My God. Now they're leaving it to kids!

In there?

What, you're afraid of the natives?

Sorry.

Are you the polis?

Yes.

He's inside.

What's happening, sir?

The Mint's having a go.

[Confused] "Mint"?

Superintendent Murray. [Murray Mints.] Personality conflict. He refuses to talk to me.

All the same, is there time for this?

Sherlock Holmes had his violin.

[The pub landlord, passing by] He can play it.

Same again. [Passes Tiny his glass.]

Billy's dad was there.

He shouldn't have been.

Well, he was, and that didn't make it very easy.

Where's your scarf?

[Lying] I lost it.

[Chuckles] You're going to make a murder squad detective(!)

I don't believe Billy did it.

I do.

Well, perhaps you want to believe it.

There's a lot of things I want to believe, like respect.

I can't talk to you, sir, while you're playing on this. [Sure enough, Taggart loses his last life, and it's game over. They head to the bar]

What's your drink?

Lager and blackcurrant.

You can buy that yourself!

[To Tiny] Half a pint of lager and blackcurrant, please.

Sickening for something, are ya?

Tiny, Detective Sergeant Livingstone.

Got that strangler yet?

Och, come on. You should know better. [Livingstone pays for the drink and follows Taggart into the lounge. They find a table and sit at it.]

I'd like to work with you, sir, not against you.

Cheers(!) [Sips on his Scotch]

The phone rang at quarter to one.

How do we know what went through his mind? If only the ground hadn't been too hard for footprints.

I still think you're wrong, I'm sorry.

Why?

Because it's so circumstantial.

[Sighs] There was a Detective Chief Inspector Wallace. A bastard man. I worked with him on a dozen enquiries. He used to say that a... a nose for the truth was a talent, you either had it or you hadn't. The bastard never made a wrong jump.

A day gone, sir, nothing to show for it.

Murray

House-to-house?

Nothing. Public don't seem willing to come forward, either.

Murray

All friends and acquaintances checked out?

The ones there were. She seemed a quiet-living girl. Only the coal merchant's daughter, but she died a virgin.

Murray

What about Tommy Dalgleish, the partner, Billy's dad?

Playing cards till two with friends.

Murray

What about the people we know?

In this line?

Sir. [Sees Murray] Sorry, I didn't bring you one.

Murray

That's all right, cocoa affects my ulcer.

Didn't know you had one, sir. [Chuckles]

Murray

Why don't you two go home to your bed? You look like you need it.

There's a few petals on the daisy yet.

Murray

You should relax more, Jim. [To Livingstone] Do you play golf?

Tennis, sir.

Murray

There's some good golf clubs in Glasgow.

Some good tennis clubs as well, sir. [Murray leaves them to it. Livingstone sits down as Taggart sifts through his case files.] Ah-ha! Alec McGowan. [Hands the file over to Livingstone.]

[Opening the door to Taggart and Livingstone] Oh it's you.

Hello, Wilma. [He and Livingstone enter the shop.] This is Detective Sergeant Livingstone.

Aye, I saw him at the Gondola.

I remember.

Is your brother about?

We've been visited.

They were the angels, I'm God.

Wait here. Och, could this not have waited till the morning?

Just get him.

He was here all night! [She heads into the back to get Alec] Alec, Alec?

[Pulling a wrapped sweet out of the box] Whatever happened to the penny dainty?

Costs two now.

I suppose Matthew Keir schoolboys had better things to do with their pocket money.

I saved it.

To pay for the university education? [Picks up a magazine and looks inside] God, would you look at that!? [Shows it to Livingstone] Is that not disgusting?

It depends on your tastes, sir.

It depends on having any. [Passes the magazine to Livingstone. Alec appears from the back of the shop]

Hello, Mr. Taggart.

Ah, Alec. Sorry to get you out of your bed.

I've already been questioned.

Well, you know how these enquiries are. Suspects get interviewed, questionnaires filled out, statements taken. This is Detective Sergeant Livingstone, by the way.

Hello.

Mr. McGowan.

I believe you were in your bed last night?

Most people are, at that time.

[Shakes his head] Not everybody was.

I've gottae watch my blood pressure these days.

High, is it?

I could show you my pills.

I'm surprised you're not angry. I mean, here we are, questioning you about a murder, why should we do that?

I don't know.

I mean you only raped a lassie, that's not half as serious.

Like I said, I've got high blood pressure.

Of course, there's was that attempted murder charge that was dropped.

I held her doon, that's all.

You nearly choked the bloody life out of her!

That was twelve years ago. We moved from Blantyre to get away from people like you, and so far we've kept it quiet here.

Let's hope it stays that way. [Livingstone checks out the rack of stockings behind Alec]

People don't understand. I did my time, all I want to do now is forget it. I havenae touched a woman since, now that's the honest truth.

Do you know there's a pair missing?

Oh, there is?

Can you explain it?

What, should I be able to?

[Entering] I can. [She pulls up her dressing gown to reveal a new pair of stockings underneath. Livingstone looks to Taggart who just grins back.]

Thought you had him, eh?

It's rarely that easy.

Where's you're place?

I've rented a flat in Hillhead. Hey, you can drop me off.

[Getting into his car] You want to get to know Glasgow, my green city? Walk. [He drives off.]

I want to see a solicitor.

We're under no obligation to let you do that, Mr. Inglis.

You could apply causing a hindrance to any interview if you wanted.

We don't, though. [Nods at the officer in the interview room with Inglis to leave. He does so, and Taggart closes the door.] You'll only be here a few minutes, Mr. Inglis.

I have a study group in half an hour.

Just tell us why you lied about your movements on Thursday night.

Can't one find a body without becoming a suspect? [Livingstone enters and sits next to Taggart] I'm glad you're here.

Sorry?

Look... I said I was in all night because... [Sighs] Because I didn't think you'd be bothered to check. I went to a club with a friend of mine.

What kind of club?

It's called the Centaur Club. He came home back me afterwards.

Stayed the night?

Till two in the morning. He's one of my students.

Languages of the Horn(!) What's his name?

David Scott. I'd rather you...

Age?

[Pauses] ...Nineteen.

The legal age is twenty-one.

Yes, but...

But what?

It's only two years.

[Again, sternly] The legal age is twenty-one!

Does it matter, sir?

What are you, some kind of champion of the underdog?

No, sir.

A member of your study group, is he?

Yes.

I'd hate him to be anxious(!)

I think you were unfair, sir.

If you and me are going to work together, there are a couple of things we'd better get straight.

Such as?

Number one, you've got five minutes to eat that. [Looking at Livingstone's pie] Number two, rank.

I just think you were unnecessarily bigoted.

A bigot? Me? Listen, I've turned blind eyes, but when somebody wastes my time to protect a wee bit of illicit nookie...

I still think you were unfair.

Aye, you do, do you?

I had gay friends at university.

[Taken aback a little] You're not a Mary Poppins yourself?

[Affirmatively] No.

Oh-ho, now we're touchy, aren't we? What'd you take?

History and Economics.

Pass?

MA. Honours.

Must've pleased Mummy and Daddy.

It did. Joining the force didn't.

Step down, was it?

Sort of.

Come round, have they?

No.

My dad wanted me to be a tram driver.

Why?

[Shrugs] He was one, till his eyesight failed. Used to come in here with my mother. Sat over there. [Points to a table by the door behind them] Two wee people, not a lot to live for.

You were born near here, then?

[Pointing] A mile that way.

Would you like some tea? I made some scones.

Yes, please.

No, thanks. [Liz heads into the kitchen.]

Beaut, come on. Off the man's knee.

I don't mind dogs, honestly.

Sometimes her bum's no' clean. Come on. [Gets Beaut off Livingstone.] There you go.

Do you walk her down there regularly?

Yeah, every night.

He hasnae managed the last two nights, have you, Michael?

No.

Were you doon there the night before last?

What, the night before the murder?

Aye.

Aye, about... half eleven?

Sure it wasn't later?

He was back here by quarter to twelve.

Did you see anyone else hanging around?

No.

Must be dark down there at night.

Yeah, I carry a torch.

He's walked it often enough.

You ever, um... you ever seen anyone suspicious hanging aboot doon there?

Well, I see other people, but never... well, never any looking funny.

How "funny"?

Well, suspicious.

It's mostly other dog walkers.

And joggers.

D'you think it was somebody that lives local?

We don't know.

Look, I wish I could be more helpful.

[Gets a picture of Eileen Ballantyne out of his coat pocket and holds it in front of Michael and Liz] You ever see that girl before?

Is she the one?

No, sorry.

[Putting the picture back in his pocket, as he and Livingstone get up off the sofa] Well, if you happen to remember anything, let us know.

Aye, I will.

Michael, write the man's name down.

Oh, aye, it's Mr. Taggart, in't it? [Looks for a pen.]

Here, take one of these. [Hands Michael a contact card.]

'[Taking the card] Thanks.

We've never had the police here before.

Not that unpleasant an experience. That's an attractive perfume you're wearing.

I treat myself now and again.

Well, we'll no' take up any more of your time.

I'll see you out.

[As he and Taggart leave] Thanks, Michael.

Yeah. Sorry I couldn't be any more helpful.