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?
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.
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.
Murray
Are we going to charge him?
He had the opportunity, he had the motive.
Murray
You mean thwarted sexual desire?
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.
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?
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?
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.]
Murray
Don't think of a poster campaign as a sign of failure.
Murray
You can't crack every case if forty-eight hours.
Murray
[Getting into his car.] If there's some public response, that'll be a success.
It seemed such a simple one at first.
Murray
[Laughs] Golf's like that! It's often the simpler shots that turn out the most difficult. [He shuts the car door.]
I'll take your word for it.
Murray
[Winds the window down] You should take up golf when this is over. Ease that tension a bit. [Taggart rolls his eyes.] I've always said you needed a hobby. [Murray drives away. Taggart and Livingstone walk towards Taggart's car.]
I have my own car tonight.
You know what haunts me? Knowing it's Billy boy and not being able to prove it.
Why did he cut her hair off at the roots?
He could be telling the truth.
Or he could be clever. [Opens his car door] Six hours' kip, all right?
It'll have to be. See you in the morning.
[Gets into his car] You live alone?
Will you stop calling me that?! I thought you'd be fixed up.
There was someone in Edinburgh.
Young and pretty, was she?
[Chuckles] I nearly married her.
She didn't want to be married to a policeman.
She had brains! [Closes the car door and drives off.]
Christmas comes but once a year(!) [He starts to climb down the ladder]
[Now down the ladder] I can think of another adjective.
I haven't touched anything. The workmen opened this one.
[Glances at the bones] They are human?
I'd have gone if they weren't.
How long d'you think they've been here?
These bones? [Picks one of them up] Eight or ten years. I might be able to be more exact when we open the rest.
[Glances over at the wall, then motions to the photographer] Hey, over here. [They move over to a corner of the wall where Taggart uncovers a handbag covered in cobwebs. He also spots a set of small wooden discs. He carefully picks one up with his handkerchief.]
[Handing the handbag to a sergeant] Now, take care of that. We might get a print from the inside. I don't know what these are yet [He also hands over a couple of the discs which have been bagged up. To Livingstone] We've a dismembered body down here. I suppose you'll want to look at it. [He descends the ladder again, followed by Murray and Livingstone.]
Stunning! A complete pelvic girdle.
Just what you've always wanted(!)
Murray
One body?
What are you, greedy? Yes, I'd say one.
At least it confirms the sex. The pubic arch and inlet look too wide for it to be male.
So you know your anatomy?
[Examining the pelvis] You're right. There should be a groove. Yes, there we are, on the front of the ileum. Uterus has decomposed, often it's the last organ to go.
And why the discolouration?
That would have been big enough, wouldn't you say?
Murray
Yes... one limb at a time.
There must have been a lot of blood. He could've cut her up in a bathroom.
Murray
You realise this property's been subject to a lot of short lets?
Aye, I know. [Starts to walk off.]
Murray
Jim? [Taggart stops.] I hope you're going to work with him [referring to Livingstone].
Haven't I been a good boy so far(?)
Aren't the... what is it... centres of ossification the only way to tell the age?
Sure you wouldn't like my job?
Right now, I'd prefer it.
Provided she's under twenty-five, I can pin it to a year. But I'd sooner do it in my laboratory.
Can you at least have a look just now?
Why are you so impatient?
Well, the sooner we find out who she is, the sooner we find out who murdered her.
And the sooner you stop working with Jim Taggart!
Margaret Balfour, age fourteen. It was the only photo we had to work on. Husband David is serving a life sentence in Barlinnie for her murder. [He brings up the next slide, showing an abandoned car with the driver door open and the bonnet up.] Now, that's the Balfours' car, it was found abandoned on 20th November 1975 in a lay-by between Howwood and Johnstone on the A737. [He beings up the next slide, showing the passenger seat stained with blood] See the blood staining on the seats? Consistent with a stab wound to the left side. [The next slide shows two photos of the sides of the car.] Now, that's the ground around the car. Notice there's no blood?
Suggesting that Margaret Balfour was removed from the car somewhere else, not in the lay-by.
[Brings up the next slide, showing photos of a bloodstained handkerchief and shirt.] Bloodstained handkerchief. Same blood group found in Balfour's possession. His shirtsleeves were also bloodstained. His story was his wife had had a nosebleed. [Brings up the next slide, showing more photos of the ground, as well as one of a knife.] There it is, the murder weapon. Ordinary sized kitchen knife, found in the grass about twelve feet away. No prints. [Brings up the next slide, showing the contents of the car boot.] Heavy soil traces in the car... [Brings up the next slide, showing a shovel and a pair of shoes.] match those found on the shovel in Balfour's flat and on his boots. He said they'd been for a drive down Kilbirnie way the day before and he had to dig the car out of some mud.
Could've been true, after all.
The theory was... [Brings up the next slide, showing a map of the area in which the car was abandoned.] he buried her body in this area, and then abandoned the car here... [points to an "X" on the map] to make it look as if she'd been abducted by a passing motorist. [He turns the lights back on. Livingstone turns the projector off.]
Murray
Your theory, Jim. I wasn't on the crime squad then.
[As he packs away the projector] Then retracted it afterwards. I was in my first year at university. I followed the case. One of the few convictions for murder without a body on record.
But the evidence was circumstantial, but there was a motive: she had a £50,000 insurance policy taken out by her father before he died. It wasn't to mature until she was forty.
Murray
Did Balfour have any connection with 16 Dalmally Road?
DSDC Sinclair
[Interrrupting] I've traced the owner of the flat. It was one of the Peebles' properties. Josephine Peebles owned it.
...five foot six, taking the mean of several estimations. No foetal bones. We've everything here but the skull. Presumably he disposed of that elsewhere to prevent identification.
The neck looks unnaturally bent.
Cause of death or is that too hopeful?
Impossible to say. [He approaches the skeleton and motions to the fractures] Any fracture such as here, and here, would be caused by dismemberment of the body.
Murray
How is she?
She'll be up in a couple of days(!)
Murray
Tests brought up one print. [He hands a foolscap to Taggart, who looks through it] On a metal catch inside the bag. Identified as Margaret Balfour's thumbprint.
That's what I like, a nine-year-old print(!)
Murray
What do we have on O'Donnell?
Housebreakings, cheque fraud. Attempted murder of a waitress - not proven. And one conviction of incest against his daughter.
Murray
Where is she?
Same place as him. She took an overdose nine years ago.
Murray
Deathbed confession, Jim?
Nah. He did us no favours. Fell out of bed drunk, died of hypothermia. He was stiff when the landlady found him.
Murray
Jim, you keep on about it!
Peter feels the same as me, sir.
There's some evidence there was a trunk.
Murray
What do you want me to do about it?
Frogmen. Selected parts of the Clyde where a trunk might be disposed of, starting near Dalmally Road.
Murray
Have you any idea how long an operation like that would take?
We think you should consider it.
Murray
I am not wasting police time searching the Clyde for something that might not exist anywhere. She could have been kept in a knotted sack under the floorboards. That would account for the curvature of the spine. You find some hard evidence there was a trunk, I'll sanction the request. [Murray heads into his office.]
[To Livingstone] Thanks for your enthusiasm(!)
What does he want? A photograph?
80,000 nicker... Works out to be... [DC Sinclair gets out his calculator.]
Works out at nearly £9,500 a year.
SSinclair
[Reading the calculator's display] Er, £9,411.76.
Can't folk work things out in their heads nowadays?
Murray
[Entering, carrying some files] Jim? Have you started on the Highlands Electrical enquiry yet?
[Not lifting his eyes from the paper] Yeah, we've got 230 customers' returns.
Murray
Try and be enthusiastic about it. I'm just off to a conference in London.
Murray
"Policing in the 90s."
Well, you'd better hurry(!)
Murray
Is David Balfour still in your conscience?
[Holding up the paper] He'll be all right for the rest of his life.
£80,000 doesn't carry you far these days.
Murray
Is he still at Jo Peebles'?
Murray
Forget about him, Jim. He's been compensated. You can't give him back eight and a half years of his life! [He hands the files to Taggart and heads for his office]
[Calling after Murray] I can found out the truth about Margaret Balfour's murder! [He starts going through the files...]
You really think Jo Peebles knows more?
Yes, I do. Why did O'Donnell try to conceal Margaret Balfour's identity?
Well, maybe he panicked after David Balfour was arrested.
[Briefly shakes his head] He'd a dismembered body under the floorboards, what difference did it make? Anyway, he'd left before the arrest.
Murderers don't always behave logically.
You wade through that lot. [Hands Livingstone a large pile of files and papers] I'm going out.
Murray
No joy?
No, none. Peter's gone to the bank to with the Balfours.
Murray
Are we taking any extra precautions?
The instructions have come through a box at Royal Terrace. We're gonna give Mike Balfour a two-way radio so he can communicate with us, dust the money down with UV powder. I believe they both want to go together this time.
Murray
I just hope Mike Balfour agrees to co-operate with you. [He sits at his desk] I spoke to the Press Association, gave them the story.
Murray
You know what it's like, Jim... one paper gets wind of it, there could be others. I'm not having a secret blown just because we were too slow in asking the press not to publish.
Well, how long will they maintain secrecy?
Murray
As long as the baby's life is in danger. It's a precaution, Jim. We need them on our side. [Taggart turns towards the door and starts to head out] There is one problem... [Taggart stops.] There was some speculation, not to say amazement, at you being in charge.
[Shrugs] An overreaction, sir.
Murray
Yeah, well, when this story does break, they'll make a big thing of it. If we fail...
Murray
There's been no message?
None. Not even a note with the baby's clothes.
Murray
It could be just a way of scaring them.
My God, if they're heartless enough to try that...
Murray
We'll keep it out of the media another twenty-four hours, just in case.
Murray
We don't know for certain the kidnapper witnessed that fiasco in the park. He could still be unaware that we're involved.
I say let them publish now.
Murray
[As they head into his office] No, not while there's a slim chance the baby's still alive. Let's keep the kidnapper's confidence up. He might try and extract some more money.
[With his head in one of his hands] Well, in the meantime, sir... you don't mind if I hand in my papers?
Murray
[Shocked] What?!
You heard. [He slumps in one of the chairs in the office.] It's my responsibility. You're right, I shouldn't have taken this case. I took it for all the wrong reasons - personal reasons.
Murray
Jim, I know how you feel...
Do you, sir? It was me that put David Balfour in prison. Without that, there wouldn't have been any compensation money! No kidnapping! And now... I'm probably responsible for that kid's death.
Murray
We don't know the child's dead.
See, tomorrow, the press'll crucify me. I might as well go out and buy the nails and the wood and do it myself!
Murray
Do you still believe there's a trunk in the Clyde with the rest of Margaret Balfour's remains in it?
Murray
Go and look for it. Take a team of frogmen.
[Gets up] In other words, you want me out of the way?
Murray
Yes! If there's any way I can downplay your involvement in this, I will, but you know how difficult that can be...
Don't worry, sir, I'll get right out of your way(!) [Opens the door and storms out of Murray's office]
Murray
[Calling out through the doorway] Well, it won't be roses they shower me with either!
We've four places - here, here, here and here. [Pointing to the map as he references each.] They're the nearest to Dalmally Road with this kind of access.
Assuming he used Jo Peebles' car?
He used it once. Why wouldn't he use it again?
What more do you think it'll prove?
Who the trunk belonged to.
I hope you're right about there being a trunk.
Murray
Jim, we're going to need the frogmen team tomorrow morning first light at Hogganfield Loch.
Murray
We found a body of a child believed drowned. It'll be dark in twenty minutes, too late to go there now. [Turns and heads back to his car.]
[Turns towards the river, pulling his buddha out of his coat pocket] Well, thank you(!) [He throws the buddha into the river in frustration, close to the frogmen's boat.]
What the hell did you do that for?
FFrogman Captain
Sir, there's a trunk down here!
Well, get it up here! [Murray hears this and returns to riverside] And while you're about it, there's a green ornamental buddha about that size! [References the size with his hand]
Murray
Congratulations!
You were lucky! [They open the trunk and look inside.]
Murray
As you expected?
Murray
[Sitting on the edge of the desk] You don't have to be at the press conference.
[Sighs] Who has a motive for wanting to cause Mike Balfour distress, the money apart?
Murray
Yes... who?
And why return the clothes at all, and in that way?
Murray
[Nodding at the tape player] Are you suggesting that's David Balfour's voice?
It's well disguised if it is.
Murray
If you're accusing David Balfour of kidnapping and murdering his brother's child, be careful.
Murray
Get a comparison voiceprint first, that's an order.
You forget, sir, I'm off this case! [The phone rings. Taggart answers it.] Taggart.
[At the other end] Jim, we received a tape of the baby crying. The letter, it suggests the kidnapper didn't see what happened in the park.
[Puts the phone down] The kidnapper's been in contact again.
Murray
[Gets up from the desk and picks up the phone handset] They'll have telexed that by now. [He dials a number] ...Get me the Press Association in London. [Checks his watch, then turns to Taggart and shakes his head] We're not going to make it.
NNorman
It was a place to go, that's all. Rosie's married, so we couldn't go to her place. Except one night we managed when her husband was away. You won't tell my wife, will you? I'd sooner go back inside.
[Getting up from his chair] I think we owe you an apology, Norman. [Motions for Livingstone to open the door.]
[As Norman is about to leave the room] How well did you know David Balfour in prison?
NNorman
Why? Who was it that shopped me? It was Balfour, wasn't it?
NNorman
Just because I had a go at him the day he got out.
[Taking Norman back into the interview room] What kind of a go? [Livingstone closes the door again.]
NNorman
I reminded him that there's some people come out to nothing. Do I look like the sort of man who would kill a child? Kidnap anyone? Where would I put a baby? In my bike box? Him working out his compensation money before she was even found. [Taggart's eyes light up] If you ask me, he was lucky. I wish it was mine that'd been found dismembered beneath the floorboards
NNorman
I said I wish it was mine that...
No, no, no. About the compensation money.
NNorman
He used to work out how much he'd be entitled to when she was found.
[Turns to Livingstone, who glances back at Taggart, then turns back to Norman] That confident, was he?
NNorman
That's why I said he was lucky. It happened one day, like he said it would.
Murray
Ah, Jim.
I'm just going to get a fingerprint set from June Balfour's car in the multistorey.
Murray
But there weren't any.
Yes, there were. [He starts going through a filing cabinet]
Murray
Jim, what's going on?
Peter, get me the report on the handbag that was found near the body.
Murray
Is it Burt?
Nah. Burt was a last-minute decoy.
Murray
By whom?
By a desperate man. [He finds what he's looking for and puts the report on a desk.]
Murray
Jim, what are we looking for?
The reason the dog did nothing in the night-time, sir.
Murray
[Confused] Dog?!
There's one thing David Balfour should have done that he hasn't.
Especially as he's going abroad.
He's never asked about the burial of his wife's remains.
The head wasn't cut off to disguise the fact that it was Margaret Balfour, it was cut off to disguise the fact it wasn't.
Murray
Jim, we found Margaret Balfour's thumbprint on the bag and the wedding ring.
Yes, and there it is there, and there, and there, and there! [Pointing to the fingerprints] O'Donnell didn't murder Margaret Balfour. Whoever that body is, Margaret Balfour was in on the killing.
Taggart · 53 quotes