Mike quotes from Taggart

Call sign 361... [Desperate] Hurry, please!

Hello.

Mike?

Er, hang on, June, I'll get him. [He heads to Mike who is with the customer] Mike? [He motions to the recovery vehicle] For you. [Mike passes his notepad to Dougie to continue taking notes while he goes to the radio.]

Yes, June?

Mike... [Breaking down in tears] Christopher's been kidnapped!

Oh, Mike... [She rushes to Mike, he comforts her.]

Okay... What happened?

I found that in the car. [She shows Mike the ransom note, which reads in newspaper headline print "DO NOT CALL COPS, HAVE £50,000 READY IN £5 NOTES. WAIT FOR INSTRUCTIONS". They head into the living room.] I only left him for a few minutes.

You left him?

In the multistorey. He was crying so much. The lift wasn't working, you cannae take pushchairs into some of the supermarkets!

You left him in the car on his own!?

Well, he was crying so much!

Stupid bloody...! [He strikes June across the face.]

Mike!

Jesus Christ! [Frustratedly sits down.]

Look, I'll phone the police.

No.

Well, you've got to, Mike!

[Shows Dougie the note] Read it, it says "no police"!

Well, what are you gonna do? Pay it?

Fifty-thousand... This is all because of David!

Well, do you know where David is? Has he been in touch with you?

No.

The police'll know!

We can't bring the police into it, Dougie! ...I know who might know... [He heads to the telephone and looks in the newspaper. He starts to dial.]

D'you want me to pick Fiona up from school?

Yeah, thanks. [Dougie heads off.]

Mike... What if David won't help us?

I thought that was for your plants.

Oh... er... Just, er... testing. [Takes another swig. David sits at the kitchen table] You'll be off soon?

I get the impression people are trying to get rid of me.

[Chuckles as he joins David at the table] Made any plans yet? You know what I would do if I had your money? I'd go and live in Monte-Carlo.

Monte-Carlo?

Uh-huh. Always had a great fascination for Monte-Carlo. But I suppose I'll still be here... as long as Jo allows me.

I might go to London.

Aah, there's a city! Oh, I spent a good few years there.

Me and my brother had this... dream once. It was more than that... We were going to go into the car hire business, you know? Go tae London, buy a couple of flash cars... it never come off. Suppose I might go abroad - Spain, Portugal, France... [Alan enters]

Taggart's here to see you.

Tell him I don't want to talk to him.

You tell him.

You here?

I've got nothing to say to you.

You've said it all through the papers. Maybe that's the coward's way.

If I said what I really felt, it'd be libellous.

How long have you been here now? Two weeks? Sit down. [David does so in an armchair opposite Taggart.] You didn't come here just 'cos it was a place to stay... I need your help. [David scoffs.] You find that funny?

No. What I find funny is you coming here to ask me. Why should I help the police do a job they should'ha done nine years ago?

Why did O'Donnell bring her body back twenty miles from the lay-by to Dalmally Road? How could he use Jo Peebles' car without her suspecting anything? Why did she trust him so much? You've got more opportunity to talk to her than I have.

You think she knew?

There were two other people in that house - George Cunningham and Jo Peebles. Cunningham's been in and out of mental hospitals for years. I doubt he'll tell us anything.

Are you saying Jo can?

[Pauses] Well... let's say there's too much that doesn't make sense about what O'Donnell did and why he did it.

There's a lot that didn't make sense about what I was supposed to have done. I didn't hear you asking those questions then.

Why did you confess to me? [The telephone rings in another room.]

You've never been interrogated have you?

Ah, no. No.

I just went along wi' it, to get some sleep.

...Sorry.

Well, you're nine years too late.

[To David] You. Phone. [He leaves.]

Hello?

Hello, David? It's Mike. Look, I need to talk. Somewhere private.

Why here?

Meet the man that killed Margaret. You wanted somewhere private. Where's more private than a cemetery? How'd you find me?

Phoned the Tribune. Spoke to that reporter, Laurie Johnson. Why are you staying there?

Do you expect me to stay with you?

[Sighs] ...I need a favour, a big favour. We've got a son, Christopher. He's ten months old. He's been kidnapped. They're asking a ransom of £50,000. They say they'll kill him if I phone the police. So I'm not gonna... [Sighs] Did you know we had a son?

I heard.

A daughter too, she's six.

Everything gets to you inside.

I've nae right to ask... it's your money they're after.

How'd you know?

All that stuff about you in the papers.

You make me laugh(!)

Davey, I don't know what we're gonnae do!

You left me to rot in there. A year campaigning, and then nothing. Not even a letter. Was it guilt that stopped you visiting us? Or were you just too busy bringing up a family?

Come on, look at what I did do for you!

You know what kept me going? Knowing there'd be compensation when she was found. A lot of it. I wasn't coming out to do a trip down the social. That money is all I've got. I've earned it.

So you'll no' help me?

Why should I?

Get in the car!

What's up now?

I'll explain on the way.

This is Carol's first night home. Is it that urgent?

We've got a kidnapping - a Balfour baby. [He heads to the front passenger seat so Livingston can drive]

Does Murray know?

I've left instructions for him to be told.

Do you really think you ought to be doing this? Just stop and think. After the David Balfour case, do you think his brother's going to welcome you taking charge?

Oh, just get in the car.

You've got a bloody nerve coming here! Who's in charge of you?

Mike, give him a chance.

He's the guy who put David in Barlinnie.

Oh, so what? Christopher's life could be in danger for all your arguing now!

I'd listen to him, If I were you. What's your name, son?

Dougie Turnbull. I'm Mike's assistant.

Why didn't you phone us sooner?

Because the note says no police or they'll kill him, and I want my son back alive. So if you don't mind, just go. [Points to the door.]

[Picking up the ransom note] I'm afraid it's too late for that now. [He hands it to Livingstone.]

Have the kidnappers been in contact since?

No.

Your brother... Have you spoken to him?

He won't help me.

We're gonna have to talk to your wife, find out exactly what happened.

She's in no state to talk to anybody.

[Entering] I'm alright, Mike.

If it's, erm... If it's any consolation to you both, a baby can't inform on his kidnappers. It's... it's not in their interests to harm him.

What happens if they cannae pay the ransom?

Well, we hope the kidnapper accepts less.

[To Dougie] Who do you live with, son?

Just my mum.

Well, don't say anything to her. Don't say anything to anyone.

I won't.

Secrecy is crucial, okay?

Okay. I'm like an uncle to these kids, you know?

There. That's all working okay. [Grabs his coat.]

Okay. You'd better stay here tonight.

What?

Well, somebody's got to remain on duty! I'm sorry if it interferes with your domestic arrangements. You'll be relieved in the morning. [Taggart leaves. Livingstone frustratedly throws his coat onto the sofa.]

Lie down. Try and rest.

I can't!

...Had to be Taggart, eh?

Can you not try and have someone else put in charge?

Yeah, I'll try my best.

[Looking out of the window] Where is he, Mike? Where is he?

Mr. Balfour, phone!

Hello?

Do the police know?

Er... no.

Have you the money?

My brother won't give us it. We can pay you £20,000. [Silence] Say something!

[Snatching the receiver] Please, would you just tell us he's alright? Please! [The line goes dead. She hands the receiver to Livingstone.] ...They hung up. [Livingstone replaces the receiver. June breaks into tears] Ring. Please ring!

Hello?

Okay, here are your instructions...

What went wrong?

We don't know. His plans, probably.

Of course, it wouldn't be yours, would it? [Sighs] I've asked for Taggart to be taken off.

Why?

Isn't it obvious?

[to June] Did you ever know your sister-in-law?

No, I met Mike after she was... [She falls silent and focuses back on Fiona and the jigsaw.]

Mr. Balfour. Sorry to bother you, I was in the neighbourhood, thought I'd stop by and see if you got in touch with your brother okay.

Aye, I did.

That's good. We like to be of help at the Tribune.

You have. Thanks. [He tries to shut the front door, but Johnson catches it and forces it open again.]

[Observing Livingstone's unmarked car] That's a police car, isn't it?

No.

I've been a reporter long enough to recognise the trappings, Mr. Balfour. Nothing wrong, is there?

No. [He finally slams the door shut in Johnson's face.]

[As Dougie gets out of the truck] Hi. I've just been talking to Mr. Balfour. Bad business, eh?

You're from the Tribune, aren't you?

[Nods] Yeah.

I thought they weren't gonnae talk to the press.

Nah, they changed their mind.

You're not gonnae print the story, are you?

No, of course not.

Has the kidnapper been in touch yet?

[Knowing this is the first he's heard of it] I... er... I couldn't tell you.

I thought you weren't going to talk to the reporter about it.

We didn't.

Well, I just met him outside and he said you changed your minds.

What did you tell him?

...Well, I just said that I hoped they wouldn't print it.

[Putting his head in his hands, as does Livingstone] Oh, Dougie!

They wouldn't print without confirming with us. Can I use the phone?

Hello?

20,000 isn't enough. We want 50. Have it this afternoon at four. The phone box in Royal Terrace. Wait for instructions. Ring the police and your baby'll be killed. [The line goes dead. Mike replaces the handset.]

They want 50.

Mike, let me go and talk to David.

No.

He might listen to me.

We get the money ourselves.

How will you do it?

Get a loan, from the bank. It means if we don't get the money back, we have to sell the house.

I don't care about the house! All I want is my baby back!

Mike? The money's not important. We can always start again somewhere.

[Grips June's shoulder] I'll be all right.

[Looking into the cup] What are they?

Croutons.

Give me a Valium sandwich. I've never been so nervous in my life, Peter.

Hello?

Look under your own name.

It's working!

Well, why the hell doesn't he communicate?

HEY! [The boys run off as Mike gives chase.] COME HERE! [A police officer sees the boys as they run to the Stewart Memorial Fountain.] Give me that back! [Three of the boys climb the fountain while the others run around with the briefcase, with Mike chasing them] Give me that case! [They pass the briefcase up to the boy at the top. He starts to open the case.] NO, DON'T...!

Hey, you boys! [The boys run off, leaving Mike in despair.]

[Entering with a cup] Coffee?

[Stirring] ...Oh, thanks. What time is it?

Quarter to nine. [Livingstone checks his watch.]

[Handing the parcel to Livingstone] Look at the printing. [Mike snatches the parcel and opens it.]

Oh, be careful!

[Takes out the letter and a cassette tape. He reads the letter] "Sorry, unable to collect..." This means he wasn't even there!

Oh, God! [Collapses in tears into Mike's arms]

For God's sake, stop it going out on the news!

Christopher! [Grabbing him and clutching him tight in relief. Meanwhile, Mike cannot help but look daggers at David.]

[to Fiona] You stay here, darling.

Okay.

[Shouting] YOU BASTARD!!

Mike! No, please!

Do you know what you've put us through? Have you got any idea?

[Desperately] I was gonna bring him back to you. I didnae want the police, I didnae know they knew. I didn't want any of us caught!

I'm gonnae kill you, ya bastard!

Oi! [Mike stops a nanosecond before he can deliver the fatal blow. Both he and David turn their heads towards Taggart.] Don't do it, he's not worth it. [Having been caught, Mike throws the plank away.]