He told my mother he was going to phone her today. Good luck with that. Can we just stop with the sly digs? We all said things yesterday we regret.
We need to focus on Will. If we had before, this would never have happened. Sorry? You were so focused on this place, you took your eye off the ball.
That’s not fair, Nan. We’re entitled to our private feelings, but can we put on a united front for Will? What we need is action. We should call around his friends and see if they know anything.
Let’s leave police work to the professionals. I agree. Will has to be the priority. Getting him back to the boy he was.
Too right. We used to have a laugh. This last year, it’s like we’ve been walking on eggshells with him. He’s a different kid.
Don’t let me stop you from talking about me. You won’t need any of that today. School agreed you should stay home, son. I don’t agree.
If I stayed home, it makes me look like a bad egg. But I didn’t do anything. The police think you should stay home too. We have to go to the station later.
They want to talk to you. It’s nothing to worry about. You’re the victim. I couldn’t find any mention of it anywhere.
She was definitely arrested, Ms. Walsh. She’s down at the station. There’s nothing to worry about, son.
She won’t be allowed anywhere near you. See, I told you. You did the right thing coming forward, mate. Can’t have been easy with Ms.
Walsh being a teacher at your school. I just want it to be over. Well, it will be, as soon as she’s locked up for keeps. So all I need to know is what happened, mate.
Did you have any suspicions about Ms. Walsh? Any interactions with her? It’s okay, Sam.
Sam? Thanks for seeing me. I’m hoping I can spare you a lot of unnecessary upset. I think that ship has sailed.
I know you must have heard many different things over the last twenty-four hours. Let me tell you what I know to be the truth, okay? Megan didn’t groom your son. Is that what she told you?
A few years ago, I was accused of something very similar. A pupil developed a crush. It got out of control. But I had done absolutely nothing wrong, and neither has Megan.
I’m sorry that happened to you, but it’s completely irrelevant. I disagree. I was a dedicated mentor to that girl. I went the extra mile, just like Megan’s done for Will.
She’s done that, all right. But it’s Will who has unreciprocated feelings for Megan. He has for a while. I know because she’s talked to me about it.
That’s why he attacked me. Don’t you start all that again, son. I know it was Will who did it because of his feelings for Megan. I think you should leave.
Whatever Will is going to say to the police, or whatever he already has said, tell him to think long and hard about the consequences, if he ever cared about Megan. I asked you to leave nicely. You really need to open your eyes to what’s going on here. I need to open my eyes?
Yes. You’re heading for a hard fall, mate. I pity you. I really do.
All right, so if we can go back to the camera you installed in Miss Walsh’s flat. My flat? She was just a lodger. We’re aware of that.
Why did you put it there, Sam? I wasn’t trying to see her undressed or anything like she said. I’m not like that. I know.
She was just trying to frighten me. Like she always did. Let’s go back to the camera. What were you hoping to achieve?
I wanted concrete evidence. So it wasn’t just my word against hers. Did you get it? No.
She must have realized, so she staged this thing with Will. Saying it was all one-sided. We’re going to need that footage, if that’s okay, Sam. But what it shows isn’t true.
She’s manipulated everything. She’s always one step ahead. It’s okay, Sam. It’s not, though.
Nothing I’ve said is actual proof. I haven’t got any hard evidence. Uncovering evidence is our job. If it’s there, we’ll find it.
But what if you don’t? You have to trust them. People get away with things all the time. And she’ll get away with this because she’s clever.
And when she does, she’ll come after me. I know she will. So we’re here, and I’m already belching and dabbing the corners of your mouth before I’ve even started. Yeah, I can’t face it.
I gave you a free pass for a bacon barm, and you can’t face it. If you must know, I bumped into Ben earlier and he gave me the cold shoulder. I think it’s because I’ve fallen out with Steve over Amy and Ollie. Sam, you don’t even like Ben.
He’s all right. I just don’t like the fact he nicked my best mate. That’s well and truly gone south now. I wouldn’t be so sure.
Ben’s an international, owns a local pub, good-looking with a mighty crack. I can’t compete with that long-term. Jimmy, you sound like a jilted lover. Ben’s not Steve’s mistress.
He’s allowed more than one friend. Well, Batman didn’t have a team of Robins. There was only ever one Watson, only one Tonto. Hey, people sometimes send iffy messages to people they trust precisely because it’s not meant for public consumption.
Oh, the public are consuming it all right. Have you read the responses? Why would I? I could kick myself.
I knew when I clicked on that dodgy email something wasn’t right, but I was rushed off my feet. Have you heard anything from the hackers? Rich? You mean that?
You really think it was him? Of course it was him. And if he’s downloaded everything, he could be releasing stuff for weeks. Been round your office.
Thought I might find you hiding in here. Listen, Ronnie. No, you’ve said more than enough. Don’t you think things are hard enough for Debbie without you calling her flaky and unreliable in front of the whole world?
I’m sorry, mate. It was just two colleagues exchanging frank opinions on what we thought was a secure communication channel. Frank is one word. Disgusting is another.
We’re genuinely sorry. You will be, if it happens again. If we don’t shut this down quick, this could kill us, Sturgess. I’ve always been more of a football fan, me.
I do remember the 2012 Olympics, though. Oh, the night we won all the golds. I was two, so I don’t really remember. You know how to make a bloke feel old.
Yeah, well, he is only a kid. I’m sixteen. So athletics brought you into contact with Miss Walsh in Hull. Care son?
I know how difficult this can be, but this chat isn’t getting anyone into trouble. I just need you to help me build a picture of the relationship. Why? Because of the allegations that have been made.
Yeah, but people who don’t know anything. Me and Megan haven’t done anything wrong. Just ask her. She’ll say the same thing.
So why am I here? I suppose it all hinges on the word wrong. I need you to be more specific about what you mean by it. What I meant to say was, look, I’m sorry.
I can’t do this. It’s okay, son. We can take as long as you need. I can’t stress enough that you are not to blame whatsoever, right?
You’re a young man. It’s natural to feel flattered by an attractive older woman. But she manipulated you. She didn’t.
Okay. Why don’t you take a sip of water, mate? And we’ve suffered a significant data breach, including communications of an unfortunate nature. Ugh, no.
Not unfortunate. Sounds like we’ve stubbed a toe. Come on. We’ve got to own this.
Hey. Ugh, you look like how I feel. Bad day? Don’t even go there.
You? Ditto. Family trouble. Yeah.
I might have heard something about Will. Really? We’ve been trying to keep that under wraps. Daniel mentioned it to Adam.
He’s worried sick about Megan. You kidding me? Daniel seems to think maybe people have got the wrong end of the stick. She’s a pedophile.
There’s no wrong end to that stick. Daniel thinks she’s innocent. Yeah, well, then Daniel’s a bigger sucker than I thought. And for your information, not only did Megan groom Will, she’s been terrorizing Sam for weeks.
Really? Yeah, really. So, if you’ve got any sense, you and Adam will avoid that woman like the plague she is. So Miss Walsh was your PE teacher who coached athletics on the side.
You already know, so why are you asking? Fair point. Obviously, you’ve been around sensitive environments together, changing rooms, etc. I know how intense a relationship between a coach and an athlete can be at times.
Did she ever do anything beyond normal interaction? You’ve got to be more specific. Okay. Did she do anything physical?
Contact or touching that you might regard as out of the ordinary? Sexual or intimate nature? No. There was nothing like that.
Look, I just want to go home. So tell me if there’s anything you want to tell us about your relationship with Will Driscoll. Um, I haven’t had a relationship with Will Driscoll. Men generally.
Oh, sorry. Yeah. I understand you need to take these allegations seriously. He is a teenage boy who has a crush on me.
Probably not the first, probably not the last. So this has happened before. My client never said that. Believe me, I haven’t done anything wrong.
This is every teacher’s worst nightmare. Complete shock, to be honest. So Will’s family. Maybe I overstepped by getting too close to him.
But that doesn’t mean I’m grooming their son. I became a teacher to give something back, not to, God, I can’t even say it. It makes me feel sick. But the Driscolls think otherwise.
On the basis of what, exactly? What actual evidence do they have? I’ll ask the questions. My client’s from Hull.
She knows a fishing expedition when she sees one. You might as well be wearing oilskins. Glad to see you find the funny side of child abuse. I don’t think it’s funny that vague innuendo is being used to destroy the reputation of a hard-working, dedicated teacher.
You ask whether my client knows where the appropriate boundaries are without providing a shred of evidence to suggest she’s crossed them. Well, we have some interesting footage of Will and you in your flat. I was the victim there. But I kept quiet for Sam’s sake.
Sam’s sake? Yes. There is nothing incriminating in that footage whatsoever. I saw you alone in a room with a minor who made a pass.
Something must have encouraged him to do so. It’s not looking good, is it, Megan? I think the CPS will agree. The food’s amazing on the cruises.
It’s a constant battle to stay in me trousers, in more ways than one, showbiz being what it is. So have you known Glenda long? Long. I swear the Mary Rose was the first ship we sailed together.
We’ve circumnavigated the globe, me and her. I cried for a week when she packed it in. Right. We’ve had some memories, mind.
I bet you have. One night we had Wham! playing in the main theater, but fake Andrew Ridgeley chucked up in a hot tub, so Glenda stood in. Faith George Michael was not happy.
She sang him off the stage. I felt for the other guy, though. Trying to make a career out of being Andrew Ridgeley. Hard enough for the real thing.
I suppose. I think it’s like the equivalent of getting me and me together. Thought I’d drop your card off. Well, listen, you’re only forty, weren’t you?
Well, I don’t know about that. It’s her third time around this year. Careful, you’ll be wearing this. Yeah, he’s wearing what?
Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday, dear Gary. Happy birthday to you. Mate, grab a beer.
Oh, no, listen, I don’t want to intrude. Listen, it’s my birthday, so what I say goes. Now sit down. Well, I’ll leave you short guys.
How are you, young man? Good to see you. I can’t believe they’ve let her out. Kid reckons they didn’t have enough to keep her in custody.
What? I don’t understand. Sam said she did it. Yeah, but it’s his word against hers.
Kid’s going to follow up with that kid in Hull, the one Sam mentioned, but unless he comes up trumps, she’s going to get away with this. Over my dead body. Or preferably hers. I’ve just got off the phone to Chloe, the girl that Will was seeing in Hull.
So you completely ignored me again. Thankfully. According to her, they broke up before we moved over here. No, that’s not true.
She was with her in the hotel in his breath. If it wasn’t Chloe hiding in the bathroom, it was Megan. The day he turned sixteen, she couldn’t wait to. It’s sickening.
It is, but most hotels have CCTV, so if it’s proof the police need, then. What are you doing here? Come on. What do you want?
Chloe. Take yourself away. I’m not in the mood. Don’t alienate me, Elara.
Your one-horse outfit’s just gone lame. We’ll survive. And when we prove it was you behind the hack. Oh, quite a conspiracy theory.
But if you really believe it, you shouldn’t provoke me. There’s a lot more unfortunate correspondence to come out, I’d imagine. We took one client who would have left you anyway. This could destroy us.
It’s totally out of proportion. Well, you made your bed. Grown-up legal firms aren’t loose-lipped about clients, even internally. Get out.
I haven’t ordered my takeaway yet. Everything all right out here? Yeah. The gentleman was just leaving.
Okay. Oh, one last piece of advice. If I were Adam, I’d steer clear of defending that pitiful teacher. Your reputation’s bad enough as it is.
There’s only one way you could know that. Driving us out of business won’t bring back your clients. Please tell me that didn’t mean what I think it did. Daniel asked Adam.
It was difficult for him to say no. She groomed Will. She terrorized Sam. Does that not mean anything to you?
Daniel thinks she’s innocent. Then Daniel’s a fool. And if your firm represents her, you deserve to go under. Yeah, what we do, keep footage for nine days and then it’s deleted.
What was it you wanted me to. We can’t say, but we wouldn’t be asking if it wasn’t really important. It’s a good thing she’s got a nice face and I haven’t. No, quit while you’re ahead.
So is there a particular time and date you’re after? Yeah, it was around lunchtime. December the nineteenth. Was birthday.
Let’s see. What’s the matter? Would you believe December the nineteenth was ninety days ago? Oh, so just in time, then.
I’m afraid not. It automatically got wiped at one minute past midnight. What are you doing? Putting the rubbish out.
Oh, Leanne, please. I don’t need this after the day I’ve just had. I’ve already been suspended from work. Yeah, well, if it were up to me, I’d suspend you from that lamppost.
I haven’t been charged with anything because I haven’t done anything wrong. Oh, save your command performance for the police. I know what you did. Aw, missed.
It’s all kicking off around here, isn’t it? Hey, is everything all right? No, she’s lost her mind. Yeah, I must have done, to let you over my front doorstep.
What’s going on? What, do you want to fill her in, or do you want to pick up your stuff and then find a stone to crawl under? All right, I’m going, I’m going. Think yourself lucky.
The only reason I’m not screaming the truth through a megaphone is to protect your victims. It’s funny that, Cassie. I mean, I don’t think it is that funny, but I’ll take it. It was.
Tell you what, let’s get some more shots in, eh? I can’t be staggering home half cut, mate. Oh, come on, Maria said you could have a few jars. Let’s make the most of it, Nicky boy.
Let’s have another round of shots, please, sir. Are you sure? Yeah, never been more sure about anything in my life. They were a good tribute act.
Shut your eyes, Drew, and say it could have been the real thing. And as for what went on below decks, so to speak, all I can say is them Native American headdresses don’t half tickle. That’s what he said, didn’t he? At least he found it funny.
Look, do you fancy going on somewhere? Canal Street, maybe? Look, Raymond, you’re very sweet. Sweet?
No, no. Anything but sweet. Nans are sweet. I think what you meant to say was Raymond, you’re so unbelievably hot, I’m worried I’m going to end up getting burned, so let’s call it quits now.
Am I right? Yeah, it’s from. Well, you’re not the first to say it. I’m sorry.
I’m not really in the right headspace. Look, I get it, but well, if laughing boys, who I suspect you might be, then I should get in that headspace soon, for your own sake. Come on. You can walk me to the bus stop.
So it’s another dead end. Not necessarily. If you give the hotel hard drive to the police, they may be able to retrieve the footage. Do you reckon?
I’m no expert, but they are. If there’s a trace of anything left, they’ll find it. It’s worth a shot. I’ll phone Kit first thing tomorrow.
Did you reach Mum? I left her a message to call. Oh, honestly, I’d just let her enjoy the rest of her holiday. Babe, she’s going to find out sooner rather than later.
Did you know they’ve let Megan out? Yeah, old news. Apparently they don’t have enough evidence on her. But we’re working on it.
Yeah, well, you’re not the only one. I was tidying the stuff out of the flat, and I found some pregnancy vitamins. What, you think she’s having a baby? We, um, she had an abortion.
I’m only hearing about this now, eh? Babe, that could have been our grandchild. Yes, I know. That’s why I didn’t say anything.
Look, you’ve had enough bad news recently. Well, whoever’s it was, it’s gone now, so. Or is it? Why would you keep pregnancy vitamins in your bedside table if you’d had an abortion?
So you think she’s lying? Well, it wouldn’t be the first time, would it? Well, if she has lied, then all the evidence we need is growing right there in her belly.
