Kidnapper quotes from Taggart

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.]