"Dear Sir, with regard
"to the upcoming gross indecency court case of Mr Finch.
"What a nonsense to pursue a man for his private life!
"Not to mention, a waste of taxpayers' money."
Things I've read in the newspaper, disgusting.
Morning!
"Let he who is without sin cast the first stone.
"Isn't that what the Bible says?"
"Shame on the church.
"Shame on our justice system. Shame on us all.
"Yours in anger,
"Mrs Catherine Keating, shop steward and housewife."
- Do you find this amusing? - Far from it, Bishop.
Discreetly,
was how the Archdeacon asked for this to be handled.
With delicacy. And yet here we are, you and I.
And a housewife quoting scripture at us in the paper.
He's my friend.
This isn't about him any more. It's about the church.
The church I know doesn't turn its back on those in need.
You don't go to court today.
You don't speak for Mr Finch.
You don't pull us into the mire any more than you already have.
I hope that's understood.
Come in.
Might we have a moment?
No.
Anything you have to say, Will can hear.
We've come to the end of the road, I'm afraid.
Whatever the outcome of your court case
we will be terminating your position with immediate effect.
Will I have the opportunity to move to another parish?
We're withdrawing your licence.
I can no longer serve as curate?
- How is this fair? - Will.
No, how is any of this fair?
Thank you for taking the time to tell me in person.
I really do appreciate that.
You would've made a wonderful parish priest.
I have no doubt about that, Mr Finch.
This is their shame. Not yours.
I've asked Jack to be my character witness.
You've dragged Jack into this?
- No. I want to do it. - I know you do.
I don't give a damn what they think.
I won't have you losing your job, too. Please.
For once, let me look after you.
I wish we'd never found out.
I wish it'd stayed a bloody secret.
There's not much to be glad of, but I'm glad you found out.
If you hadn't, then you wouldn't know me at all.
Saint Anthony. Patron saint of missing things.
If you're lost, he'll find you, at least that's what they say.
The rest of it may be tosh, but... I always rather liked that.
I want it all to be over.
It will be soon.
It's not just his job he's losing. It's his home. His calling.
You know his life's over, and the church doesn't give a damn!
Slow down, my legs are shorter than yours.
Why aren't you angry?
He's got a solid barrister, Will.
And the judge, he's a bit of a pompous arse,
but he's fair.
Last indecency case, he gave a fine
and a lecture on the moral turpitude of young men today.
Just let justice take its course.
That's all you can do.
- I just... I feel... - Like you wanna punch someone?
Powerless, I was gonna say, but punching someone would do.
- Hurry up! - Ah, the very man.
Bank robbery in progress.
'Help! Get me out of here!
'Someone, help! Help!'
It's all right. It's all right.
Bloody hell.
- Call an ambulance. - Yes, Sir.
Suspect's car's heading west down Pembroke Street.
- It's a grey Standard Eight. - Stay with him.
What are you playing at? Get over!
You coming or not? Let's go!
Right, stop the car! Stop the car!
Suspect has crashed. I repeat, suspect has crashed.
Right, suspect on foot. Approach with caution.
He might be armed, Will!
Will! Will!
'Help her, please.'
You all right?
Don't let her die.
Oi!
I didn't... I didn't... I didn't do nothing!
OK? I didn't do nothing!
Never spent a night apart in 30 years.
Would you like to pray, Mr Connor?
I'm not the praying kind, I'm afraid.
Might I sit with her for a bit?
Take all the time you need.
Bastard... who did this...
..you make sure he gets what's coming to him.
Came out of nowhere, hit me, tied me up.
Bank train you for it.
They tell you if anyone comes for the money
then fight tooth and nail.
Look where that got me.
Three quid a week and no pension. Nah, ain't worth it.
How much'd he take?
A thousand pounds in five pound notes.
We're ready, boss.
No.
He's not here. I'm sorry.
There must be something here that pins Malcy to the robbery.
Ah! It's certainly bread, all right.
What's that?
"Mr Finch is, to my mind,
"the most decent man
"you're ever likely to encounter.
Hard-working. Honest. Humble..."
Do you think "humble" or "meek" sounds more like Leonard?
I don't want you to do it, Jack.
I don't want you to speak for Leonard.
He asked me to.
And I'm asking you not to.
I know these are trying times, but I really...
Don't get up in front of all those people.
What will they think of us?
You may have lost all sense of compassion,
but I certainly haven't.
Well, as I see it, you're clutching at straws here.
That fella, he didn't recognise me from Adam.
D'you even care about the woman you killed?
Her name was Mary Connor.
She would have been 70 next month.
It was an accident.
We've already got you for manslaughter, son.
It was an accident!
You may as well cough to the lot.
Well, I didn't rob no bloody bank.
What's this?
- Never seen it before. - Could be phone numbers.
Except no such numbers exist. So, what is it?
Ooh, you're the detective, you tell me.
A woman is dead because of you.
Oh, he's lairy for a vicar, isn't he?
Where's the money, Malcy?
Nah...
..I don't think I'm inclined to speak any more.
Not till I got my lawyer present.
Ah. Fancy.
Philippa? Dot?
Dot Scott.
Never you mind, anyway.
First names aren't for the workplace.
Perhaps, I'll ask you out, then.
Stop flirting, Larry. Telephone this lawyer.
Tell him we've got his client in custody.
I was hoping to get to the court, Boss. You know, the pansy.
Schadenfreude isn't attractive, Larry.
It's Marks and Sparks, as it happens.
Er, Miss Scott, the call about the robbery.
The switchboard received it at 10:53am.
Lasted 12 seconds.
The caller didn't leave any details, but it was a woman.
You don't happen to have a transcript...
"There's a van, a bank van, it's being robbed.
- "I was just leaving the library..." - The library.
She's a wonder, isn't she?
Underpaid wonder.
When I was growing up, I had two aunties.
Well, one was my aunty.
The other was her friend.
No-one paid them much mind cos, well,
what does it matter in the end?
Baby's breath would look nice.
You will come to the court, won't you?
I'll hold your hand if it helps.
Oh, what is it, Sylvia?
It's so humiliating.
I've spent my whole life, people looking down on me.
Husband left.
Childless.
I know it's selfish, but I don't want that again.
The way I see it, people are gonna judge you no matter what.
What's it say in the Bible?
"Judge not lest", erm...
"Ye be judged."
I'll be right there, Sylvia. I'll be right by your side.
_
Jack'll do Leonard proud.
And who knows, he might do better than you.
Shh!
Sorry.
- We're looking for a woman... - Sorry, may I?
Detective Inspector. Very impressive.
Thank you.
Er, we're looking for a female patron who was in the library
between the hours of ten and 11 this morning.
No, you're not. You're not looking for a female patron.
You're looking for me.
I was the one who telephoned.
You're here to accompany me to the police station, I imagine.
- If it's not too inconvenient. - I think in this matter,
my inconvenience matters very little, wouldn't you say?
Second time's a charm, eh?
You know, if you keep doing these,
you might get someone to pick me out.
Just be quiet. Hm. Hm.
It was him!
Well, well, well. How about that?
Second time really was the charm.
Yeah, I did it.
You're confessing.
I jumped in the van. I tied him up.
And I beat him.
God help me, I knocked that poor lady down.
So, where's the money?
Chucked it out the car window.
You cooperated in the end, Malcy.
Judge will look fairly on you for that.
Yeah, you have a lot more faith in those bastards than I do.
It doesn't add up.
Wilson said he was beaten and then tied up.
Malcy said the exact opposite.
Yeah, situation like that, memories get confused.
Happens all the time.
Need to get the postmortem done, but the old fella won't shift.
Oh, search Malcy Smith's escape route.
The money's somewhere between the bank and where he crashed.
Come on.
Mr Connor.
Didn't wanna leave her on her own.
We'll look after her.
I promise you.
Miss Scott will show you out.
That poor bastard.
The robbery was all so fast.
Criminals don't tend to hang about.
Look, her call was 12 seconds.
So, the robbery can't have been much longer.
But the way Wilson was tied.
Those knots weren't done in a hurry.
Stand up if you would, Mr Black.
Okey-dokey.
Hands out then.
Go.
- What? - "There's a van, a bank van, it's being robbed.
"I was just leaving the library, a man just got in and...
"Oh, my goodness. He's come out. He has the money!"
And stop.
What does that tell you, then?
That you can't tie a knot for toffee?
You were trussed up like a goose at Christmas.
Would've taken minutes to do that.
The robbery was over in seconds. How'd you explain that?
- Haven't the foggiest. - Maybe, you were tied up already.
And maybe, the whole thing was staged.
I'd like to speak to my lawyer.
Ah, Mr J Richards again.
What are the chances.
All right!
- They're in on it together. - They're in on it together.
You know how much London legal fees are?
- Way out of range for a guard. - Way out of range for most people.
Someone's behind this. Someone bigger than them.
- Time for court, Inspector. - Thank you.
Come on then.
- Boss! - I'm not here.
- I tracked down the London lawyer. - I'll speak to him later.
- He's already here. - We have to go, Geordie.
The one time you do your job properly.
Mr Richards.
- Geordie? - Johnny?
Courage in numbers, eh, Leonard?
You've got your posies and everything?
Oh, here he is!
Ignore that lot out there. Load of busybodies.
The Echo's been, it's got quotes from all of us, hasn't it, girls?
Well, you've become quite the rabble-rouser, Cathy.
They'll have a job editing out the blue language, mind.
Once I got going, I couldn't hold back.
Sylvia? Posy for you.
No. No, I don't think so.
Oh, but...
Well, er, I've represented Malcolm Smith and Wilson Black,
on and off, for years.
A lawyer. Who'd have thought?
And you, a copper!
- You haven't changed a bit. - Oh, I wish I could say the same.
- That's what four kids does to ya'. - Ooh, four?!
Oh! Poor sod.
And still in the same suit you were de-mobbed in.
Why waste a good suit?
You were, er, in the same regiment?
No, we...
Royal Engineers.
Northumberland Fusiliers.
There's a song goes, "Wherever you're gan,
"you're sure to find a Geordie".
Is it possible someone else is paying on their behalf?
I don't normally do this, but...
This is all the correspondence I have from them.
Invoices, payments.
Any idea what this is?
- Telephone number, perhaps? - We tried that.
Well, I'll ask my client,
but I don't think he'll be very forthcoming.
Geordie.
All rise.
Leonard Earnest Finch,
you're charged that on 29th of August, 1958,
at Merries Holiday Camp, in the County of Essex,
you did commit an act of gross indecency with another man.
This is contrary to Section 13 of the Sexual Offences Act, 1956.
How do you wish to plead?
Guilty. I'm guilty.
Let the prosecution present their arguments for sentencing.
You are a curate, are you not?
I am, yes. At least...
I was.
You love what you do. Loved, past tense.
It meant everything to me.
Do you approve of homosexuality, Mr Finch?
- I, er... - Your lifestyle would suggest you do.
Approve, is not the word.
If a member of your congregation came to you and told you that
they'd engaged in obscene acts
with another man, what would you do?
I would listen.
Would you approve?
I would show them compassion.
Would you tell them God approves?
God loves us all.
Does he love you, Mr Finch?
- I hope so. - You hope so?
You're an intelligent man.
You must know he can't possibly love you.
God couldn't love a man who sought out a stranger
to fulfil his sordid desires!
You must know that, Mr Finch?
Look at me!
How could God ever love you?
A hypocrite! A sodomite!
A sinner!
How could he possibly love you?
Answer me, Mr Finch!
- I doubt that he could. - Speak up!
I've always doubted that he could love me.
- Will. Will! - What the hell was that?
- Inspector. - Hey, Jeremy.
Who is your angry young friend?
- That wasn't justice. That was an ambush. - Sorry.
No-no-no. Don't apologise for me.
You've just ruined a man's life in there.
- Do you care at all? - Mr Finch pleaded guilty.
His life was ruined whatever I say.
Prosecution have to put on a good show.
Most of them don't believe what they say half the time.
Just calm down and let this play out.
- Where's Jack? - Will.
Where is he?
You do this, and it's not just Leonard's future
you have to worry about.
If I could ask Mr Finch's character witness to step forward.
I'm sorry, Your Honour,
but, er, Mr Chapman's feeling a little under the weather.
Mr Davenport has kindly agreed to take my place.
Step forward, Mr Davenport, if you would.
I wasn't always a religious man.
Far from it.
But what drew me to the church was love.
God's love.
God loves everyone.
And to doubt his love, is to doubt God.
If you're lucky enough to know Mr Finch...
..you'll know that he truly, truly embodies his purpose.
He's sat at the side of the dying.
He's comforted those in despair.
He has never been anything but good and kind.
You think what he's done is... immoral.
But I say to punish him is far worse.
It wouldn't be justice.
And he wouldn't be the only one who suffers.
His-his friends...
..his family...
..his congregation, we would... we would all be the less for it.
Today, Leonard wasn't worried for himself,
he was worried for me.
That's the man he is.
A man I consider my brother.
So, please...
..please, I-I beg you...
..he deserves so much more than this.
To consider what I've heard from Mr Davenport,
we'll adjourn till tomorrow morning.
Mr Finch's bail will be renewed until then.
That was sensational!
That prosecution fella's face!
- Like a slapped behind. - Jack!
I had to sit on my hands to stop myself from clapping.
Almost made me wanna sit through one of your sermons.
I might take you up on that.
I said "almost".
- So, I have a brother. - Of course. Always.
Well, that went well.
Are you keeping your head above water, Leonard?
It's odd but... I feel relieved.
To say the words. To say I'm guilty.
No more lying. No more ambiguity. Just...
..the truth. Plain and simple.
This is who I am.
D'you really think it went well?
Why did Malcy change his mind so quickly?
He went from denying being involved
to admitting his guilt like that.
Yeah, I did it.
Only time I've seen a man turn on a sixpence like that...
..was when a woman was involved.
This is all rather thrilling, isn't it?
Like the Count Of Monte Cristo.
Visitor for you.
You recognise this man?
Yes, of course.
From the robbery.
- But beyond that? - Beyond the robbery?
You don't have to answer that.
I don't know him.
I'm sorry.
If you could escort Miss Bradley to my office.
While we talk to Mr Black and his solicitor.
I have to protect my client.
Not at the expense of the truth, Johnny.
Um, I'd like to talk now.
I'd like to tell you what happened.
I'll be off then.
Night.
I used to pray no-one would find out.
There were moments...
I'd rather die than be discovered.
But then I came here...
..and you were so fearless, so...
unburdened by what anyone thought.
It made me fearless, too.
What nonsense.
I'm always afraid.
Of what people think.
Mostly, I'm afraid for you.
It'll be a hard life.
I so want you to be happy.
I am.
I've never been happier than I have here with you.
Even when I've been dreadful?
Even when you've been cross and surly
and you shouted at me for not cleaning up after myself.
"What the Dickens?"
Mr Black admits that he conspired with Malcolm Smith
to steal a thousand pounds.
He asks forgiveness from Mrs Connor's family,
may she rest in peace, and from the Lord God Almighty.
You don't know your arse from your elbow, Wilson.
Who's running the show?
Someone else is in charge, aren't they?
We know your legal fees were paid by someone.
- We didn't... - My client has nothing further to add.
Lily enters the room
and they confess quicker than a politician breaks his promise.
How did she get them to change their mind?
Not one word passed between them.
What if it wasn't words that changed their mind?
What if it was a signal?
Er, one last thing, Miss Bradley.
Goodness, you are persistent.
Was this the van you saw being robbed?
Yes. That's the one.
Now, if there's nothing else.
Don't you need your spectacles...
to see the photograph?
Or d'you only put them on when you're signalling to your minions
to fall on their swords?
It's a police station, love.
You're not gonna get far.
Geordie thinks the judge will give you a fine. I'd like to pay it.
I already owe you £50.
Well, strictly speaking, you owe my stepfather.
Thank you.
For everything.
Where will you stay?
In Cambridge for a while.
Then Daniel and I are thinking of moving.
Somewhere no-one knows us.
- Is this from the library? - There's a fine on that, too,
if you're looking to annoy your stepfather any further.
Clear lenses. It's just a prop.
Malcy and Wilson knew the code.
When you put them on... it's game over.
Time to confess.
Goodness, what an extraordinary imagination.
This "butter wouldn't melt" thing it's all an act, isn't it?
Why is it that men need to put women in a box?
We're either sweet and innocent, or...
..outright whores.
And which one would you be?
I came here to do my civic duty.
This is how I'm repaid.
You make the call to the police,
drew us to a violent robbery that never happened.
It happened.
I saw it.
Where's the money, Lily?
You mean to say you haven't found it?
What on earth have you been doing?
Did she say where the money was?
Course she didn't.
If it's a woman running the show, it's bound to be somewhere clever.
D'you still have that scrap of paper?
Two, two, three.
- Two, two, three. - The Dewey Decimal System.
Who would have thought it had its uses?
Religious section.
- Mm, you're right, God really does have all the answers. - Shh!
What?
All of it, minus £50.
Did you spend it?
This has nothing to do with me.
Oh, and out come the waterworks.
I'd like to get home to my mother.
And out comes the sob story.
'Malcy ties up Wilson.
'Then gives you the money. Notes only, so it's easier to hide.'
Make it look convincing.
Then you make the call.
Only you didn't bank on Malcy killing someone.
The library's a public building.
Anyone could've put the money there.
Seems rather a coincidence that you work there.
Strikes me that's all you have against me... coincidences.
Which is why we're having the book checked for prints.
50 quid says your mitts are all over it.
- You're cutting it fine. - Yeah.
Just doing my bit for law and order.
Will solved it, didn't he?
All rise.
Mr Finch. There's no doubt in my mind that you are a man
who has done much for your parish.
A man who, before today, was held in high regard.
Mr Davenport says under the eyes of God, you have done no wrong.
That may be so, but here, we do not answer to God.
We answer to the law.
And these laws are not open to interpretation.
I was mindful to give you a non-custodial sentence.
However...
..you are a member of the clergy.
Others trust you, they look to you to set a good example.
So, I am left with no other option
but to impose a custodial sentence.
You will go to prison for six months.
Take him down.
Chin up, lovely!
You'll be home before you know it.
Have you heard?
You're pleased, I imagine.
Is that really what you think of me?
Well, this is the best outcome for the church.
Your shame neatly tucked away.
Just move on. Forget about it.
But we can't forget, can we?
Not when you get up and speak so brazen.
If I hadn't said anything,
what kind of man would that have made me?
Did you ever once think that I was trying to protect you?
Mr Finch's fate was out of my hands. But yours...
I've defended you. Made excuses.
I won't defend you any more.
Leonard won't survive in that place.
I'll pray for him.
I'll pray for you both.
Evening, boss.
We got the prints from the library book.
- Lily Bradley? - Malcolm Smith.
- What, just his? - Only his.
What about the payments to the lawyer?
Can we link them to Miss Bradley?
All of them were made in cash.
So we can't link 'em to anyone.
And we're sure she's got no previous convictions?
She's as clean as a whistle.
What do you want me to do, boss?
Let her go.
How much did you pay Malcy and Wilson, Lily?
Couple of hundred to do the time? Stay quiet?
You really do have me pegged as a master criminal.
You took that 50, didn't you?
Everyone else, they can take the fall, but you...
you still get your cut.
- You're exhausting, Inspector. - A woman died!
A woman died.
Do you have no conscience at all?
I don't know what you're talking about.
I'm just a librarian.
Inspector?
I hear you got the bastards.
Yeah, we got them, Mr Connor.
Thank you.
Thank you, from the bottom of my heart.
They said you'd be drowning your sorrows.
Lily's in on it.
I'm right, aren't I?
Come on. You know I can't answer that.
D'you know I rarely question the goodness of what I do.
- Lucky you. - Yeah, but there's days like this...
..good man goes to jail...
..while a woman is killed and a criminal walks.
Law and justice aren't always the same though, are they?
Wilson Black, Malcy Smith, they'll get lesser sentences.
Well, I guess they've got money behind them.
They've got you behind them. And I'll do my best to defend them.
But they killed a woman, Johnny.
How can you live with that?
Why a copper?
Well, it wasn't for the money that's for sure.
You align yourself with Queen and Country
after everything they put us through.
It's not about Queen and Country. It's about doing what's right.
You still believe that fairy tale?
- Should be getting home. - To the four kids?
To the four kids. Exactly.
Well, if ever you want to catch up, you know where I am.
Buy yourself a new suit.
The missing 50 quid.
Hm.
"Will, I know I have a tendency to be pessimistic,
"but I suspect I won't be with you all
"when you come home this evening.
"Please keep this safe.
"And if you would do me the honour of reading this on Sunday.
"Your brother, Leonard."
"God sent his son to give light to those who stand in darkness.
"That light he gave us in many forms.
"He gave us good friends.
"He gave us family.
"He gave us people to love and who love us in return.
"And it was in that love, we found a way
"to move out of the darkness..."
"..however terrifying that was.
"We found a way to embrace the light.
"Even to find joy.
"A joy we had never known before."
"I was lost and now I am found.
"And once we are found,
"however troubling life gets...
"..we can never truly be lost again."
*CREDITS*