STORYBOARDS : Part 1
It's the beginning of a shift. Dave and Tony are walking through the station to the locker room and discussing the new member of the relief.
"So what's this geezer's name?" Dave asks.
"Sardini".
"You sure?"
"Yeah. It's Italian innit."
"So your mate knew him from his new nick."
"Different relief. Knew of him."
"How did he rate him?"
"Well he reckoned himself as a great detective. Got into the Crime Squad as soon as he could. Put in for CID, but they blew him out."
"What for? Wrong aftershave?"
"Well maybe he's not as smart as he thinks he is. Perhaps he's too much of a chancer."
"Too much of a chancer for CID to notice!"
"The word is his own DI put a spoke in. He didn't trust him."
"Makes you think."
"The point is..." Tony sits down on the bench in the locker room, "The man's in uniform because he's got to be. Not because he wants to be."
"Thinks we're plonkers?"
"Not the first geezer you'd want to watch your back is it?"
Just then, the door opens.
"Hi! Eddie Santini!"
Rod Skase's interviewing a suspect, but doesn't seem to be getting anywhere.
"These car stereos were found in your flat, weren't they, Chris?"
"Well yeah."
"Are they yours?"
"Dunno. No, not really." The suspect refuses to say whose they are.
Next Rod tries getting something out of the suspect's brother, Ian.
"You and your brother stole these items, didn't you."
"Prove the radios were stolen," Ian challenges. "Serial numbers have been ground off."
"By you and Chris."
"Prove that as well." Ian then goes on to suggest tat he knows who grassed him up.
Meanwhile, it's parade time. Inspector Monroe takes over to introduce Eddie.
"Eddie's got seven years in, but he's new to Sunhill, so I expect you to give him every assistance in settling down. I'm sure you'll make him very welcome."
"Thank you, sir. Good to be here. Looking very forward to working with you." The others nod.
Sgt. Boyden continues, asking Dave to show Eddie around "without paying undue attention to the canteen."
As he dismisses them Tony Mutters, "Probably more familiar with Italian police cars, one forward gear, three reverse."
"Quick word, Sarge?" asks Ed. "The name is Italian. And if there's any new gags about ice cream or organ grinders or World War II; I'll be very pleased to hear them."
They others snigger as they file out.
Rod Skase is having to let his suspects go. Sgt Cryer's bailing them as Eddie ad Dave walk in, still doing a tour of the station. Dave introduces Eddie to Bob and makes a comment that he should be showing Eddie around.
"Been here since the Great Train Robbery, haven't you, Sarge."
"If you mean by that I've forgotten more about this nick, this ground and this job, than you'll ever know, Dave, you could have a point."
"Busy here, Sarge?" asks Eddie.
"I can't complain. We get all sorts, but the big proportion are like that pair of slags who just walked."
"Who are they then?"
"Chris and Ian Robbins. From the Cockroft. But I'm sure you'll meet them again."
"Well known?"
"Not half!" comments Dave.
"Vehicle crime, theft from vehicles, taking without the owners consent, criminal damage..." explains Bob.
"Ian's got a brain, but he'll rather prat about than use it. And Chris, well, he's as thick as two bricks, but he can get handy."
"But one day we'll have enough on them and'll get them out of our hair for a couple of years"
"That'll be nice while it lasts."
"Course, they'll be back, as dedicated professionals, but by then, hopefully, with any luck, I'm gonna be running a nice country pub on the South dales and it won't be my problem."
Rod Skase is warning his snout abut Chris and Ian's release and trying to persuade him to make a statement and go to court. Not surprisingly, Tony, the snout, isn't willing.
"Alright, they know where I live. They can come and find me. I've got friends you know...noone round here cares if the Robbins family say I grassed on them. But being a witness, swearing to it in court? No, I'd have to move house.
"Alright, just thought I'd \let you know." Rod's not getting anywhere on this case.
Reg and Debbie are out on the beat and passing the time by gossiping about Eddie.
"The story is that he's got complete contempt for uniform policing," say Reg. "Couldn't wait to join the Crime Squad, thought it'd make him a great detective. Applied to CID but got knocked back at the first hurdle."
"Why?"
"Well, my information is that his own DI put the mockers on it."
"Oh."
"Unofficially of course. You know ways and means. Had a word with a mate up at Area.
"So what did the DI have against him?
"Well, why would a governor want to knock his own man back? Got to be a question of trust. And if his own governor can't trust him, why should we?"
"Do you know all this or are you just making it up?" Debbie walks off.
"No, it's gospel...I got it off Tony Stamp," Reg calls after her.
Dave and Eddie are onto the tour of the ground in the Panda car. They drive up to the docks and get out for a walk.
"I wouldn't mind some of this," remarks Dave. "Smart loft conversion. View of the river."
"Yeah, would have a bit of pulling power, wouldn't it."
"Well there is that aspect, I suppose. Still that's all in our dreams while we're in this job...assuming you're honest"
"I'm a police officer, Dave."
"Where do you see yourself in a few years, Eddie? Still in uniform?"
"Oh yeah, definitely."
"You never fancy CID? Bit more control of your time, bit more freedom of action"
"I thought about it, Dave, did a bit of time with the Crime Squad, but it's not for me. I'm happy with the cloth. What you see is what you get." Eddie walks back to the car as Dave just looks at him.
"If you want everything done y the book, no comebacks, everything fireproof, the Bob Cryer's you man, or June Ackland, come to that."
"She's my man as well?"
"Well, you know what I mean." Dave tells Eddie that she's not a soft touch just because she's a woman.
"So it's Cryer or Ackland if I want it done by the book, and on the other hand..."
"Well, if due to exceedances of the service, and if you want something done a bit swift..."
"Just suppose..."
"Then you could try it out on Matt Boyden, but I never said that."
"Fair enough."
A call comes over the radio just then, about two youths breaking windows at Beven House on the Cockroft Estate. Eddie and Dave take the call.
As they arrive, they see the suspects running off. Eddie catches the nearest one and recognises him. It's Chris Robbins.
"You and your brother answer the description given to us of two youths causing criminal damage. What you've got to say about that?" asks Ed. Dave comes back. Ian Robbins obviously got away. "Why don't you show me what you've got in your pockets?" They find nothing.
"Right, are you going to accompany us to the scene of the offence or do we have to nick you?" Dave asks.
"Whatever."
Chris and Dave stay in the car while Eddie goes to see what the damage is.
"Afternoon, this your flat?" The owner, who just happens to be Rod's snout, is clearing up broken glass.
"Yes."
"Yeah, we had a report of two youths breaking windows."
"Not from me you didn't."
"And you are?"
"Tony Vale."
"So you didn't report the youths doing this damage?"
"They weren't any youths. It was an accident."
"How did it happen then?"
"Accidentally."
"How do you explain the fact that we had a report of two youths breaking windows?"
"Ask whoever told you to explain it."
"We've detained a youth who we thought might be involved."
"I told you. No youths. Accident"
"Do you want us take any action about this?"
"No."
"Thanks for your time." Eddie goes back to meet Dave at the car. "Says it was an accident. No further action."
"Load of cobblers. Still, that's what it's like around here."
"Out," orders Eddie.
"Do I get an apology," smirks Chris.
"Yeah, I'm sorry we can't nick you," says Dave. "Now on your bike."
"So that's the Cockroft Estate," says Eddie when Chris is out of earshot.
"Yeah, and you just had the rough ride."
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