TEAM SPIRIT : Part 1

Rosie's trying to get some sleep but keeps having nightmares about Eddie's harassment. She keeps tossing and turning and eventually wakes up with a start.

The relief are discussing Rosie yet again. Ed pretends to be sympathetic towards her after yesterday's hostage situation.
"She was scared and needed she just needed someone to blame it on."
Vicky, ever willing to give Rosie the benefit of the doubt, disagrees. "Don't count on it."
"It still hasn't sunk in it, has it Ed," sighs Polly. "You know she's been talking to the female Fed Rep, Timpson."
"She's a troublemaker," mutters George. "She's been looking to stitch you up."
"Listen to him, Ed," Tony advises.
"She's probably had her own screwed-up agenda from day one."
"Look, if things had been different that would have been fine with me. She's got problems. I feel sorry for her," says Eddie.
"I can't believe how long everyone's gone round thinking blokes are the tough, rational ones!" Vicky says.
Sgt. Boyden comes to tell them to get a move on and out on patrol. June comes up behind him for a word. "I've just had Rosie on the phone. She's coming in, but she's asked for some time to sort out an important issue."
"Makes a change," says Matt sarcastically.
"Anyway you're going to have to do without her for the rest of the shift. I imagine we might have to talk to Eddie aswell."
"Anyone else involved? Or can I risk it and get some people out on the street?"
"No, that's all for now."

Liz has gone round to Rosie's house. "Rosie, you alright?"
"Yeah."
"I just found out about Sowerby." Rosie gives an exhausted sigh. "Can I come in?"
"Yeah sure."
They go into the hallway. "The lads were saying…"
"…That I lost my bottle and took it out on Eddie," Rosie finishes for her. "It was his fault Liz. He walked away when he knew it wasn't safe!"
"Okay, he made a mistake," says Liz calmly.
"A mistake? I nearly got my head stoved in!" They're interrupted by a knock at the door: Anne Timpson. The three of them go into the living room. Rosie introduces them. "This is Liz Rawton, my only remaining friend at Sunhill these days."
"I'm glad to know that Rosie's got a mate. She's likely to need one."
"I've asked Anne over to give me a hand," explains Rosie. "I've decided to press charges against Eddie for sexual assault."
"You serious?" Liz is clearly shocked by this.
"I should have done right from the start, Liz."
"Lots of women in this situation are too scared of a fallout to stand up for themselves at the time. It can damage careers." Something about the way Anne says this suggests to me that she's reciting it from a textbook or lecture from a course she went on.
"If you're trying to avoid damage, do you think this is the right way of going about it?"
"Just look what happened with Sowerby!" argues Rosie. "Ed's on my team, Liz. I can't avoid working with him. If I can't trust him to watch my back when I'm in a dangerous situation…
"It was one incident."'
"No, Liz, it was lots of incidents. Little things everytime he gets the chance, winding me up, twisting everything that happens, exploiting what everyone think! I'm going to end up certifiable, which is just what he wants!"
"But why criminal charges? Why not initiate a grievance procedure or talk to Equal Ops?"
"The officer assaulted her," argues Anne. "He committed a criminal act. Rosie's entitled to some justice."
Liz doesn't seem to rate Timpson highly, (and neither do I)! "You know what I'm talking about! I deal…We all deal with sexual assault everyday. Establishing a case when it's one person's word against another is very difficult."
"Rosie is a very plausible officer with a good record. She wouldn't be being fair to herself if she gave up because she thought she wasn't going to be believed."
"It's not a question of whether she's going to be believed or not, Anne! It's the whole environment. The job hasn't got itself sorted on how to deal with these things: there's still a lot of prejudice and uncertainty."
"I've got to stop him, Liz! I've got to protect myself!" Rosie's beginning to sound unsure.
Liz gives up. "It's your decision in the end." She decides to leave and let them get on with it.
Rosie follows her out. "It's not just Eddie you know Liz! He's convinced most of the team that I'm some kind of she-devil!"

At least Dave's not in that group. Eddie catches up with him outside. "Alright mate?"
"Yeah," Dave answers, rather distractedly though.
"What happened to you after the shift. We were one short for the darts."
"I had something to do."
"Quite a scene with Rosebud! I'm still not sure what to make of it."
"No. Nor me." Something in Dave's tone tells me that he didn't mean it in the same way as Eddie.Dave's partnered with George for the shift and Eddie's with Vicky.
"I asked Sgt. Boyden, she's definitely coming in," she tells Ed as he gets into the car.
"Don't bother me. I'm keeping right out of her way from now in."
"If she'll let you." Vicky begins to drive out of the yard.
"She's sad, Vicks. She's one of those people with a self-destruct button."
Just then Rosie comes round the corner on her bike, and nearly gets run over by the Area Car. Vicky slams on the brakes. "And a death wish," she adds.

June in charge of CAD today. Rosie comes in and asks for a private chat. "Sure, go and wait in my office. I'll be about five minutes."

"I think she could be the other way, you know," George says to Dave. "With a bit of an axe to grind." (Well you can't blame Ed for that rumour!)
"You reckon?" Dave asks rather thoughtfully.
"Yeah, same as Anne Time Timpson."
"Do you know her?"
"It's obvious isn't it. Otherwise Rosie would have spoken to me, her own Federation Rep. Odds are that they're cooking up something together."
"Like what?"
"Wish I knew." They pull just behind Eddie and Vicky. Ed flicks-up a ball, and he and Vicky begin messing around. "Eddie should do something, you know. He's far too laid-back. He's given her the benefit of the doubt for too long already."
"Maybe."
"No, no, definitely! I bet you they're setting him up. I mean, ever since she covered herself after losing that witness by accusing him…"
Dave stops him. "George, we weren't there."
"No, but you were, yesterday. You saw what happened."

Rosie's waiting in the Sergeants' Office when Sgt. Boyden comes in. "You looking for someone?"
"I'm waiting for Sgt. Ackland, Sarge."
"What for?"
"It's personal."
"Something to do with Eddie?"
"That's my business actually."
"Ever since you got here you've been causing trouble."
"Is that you or Eddie talking?"
"Eddie is a decent copper. He's got a lot of friends at this nick."
"Yeah, and you're one of them, aren't you Sarge."
"Meaning?"
"You don't like me, I'm perfectly aware of that."
"What I don't like is you trying to shaft a member of your own team!"
"Oh back off, Sarge. What's your problem with me?"
"Careful, Rosie."
"I want to know, Sarge. Is it because I'm too clever for my own good? I've had that one before, or is it because I turned you down when I first got here?" She stops when she spots Sgt. Ackland watching from the doorway.
"I think you better calm down, Rosie," he says quietly, before walking out.
"Right Rosie." June closes the door behind her and goes to sit at her desk. "I assume you're here to talk about what happened last night, not to have a rout at Sgt. Boyden."
"Actually, I want to make a statement."
"What about?"
"I'm pressing charges against Eddie Santini for sexual assault."
June is gobsmacked. "What?"
"The incident occurred three weeks ago," Rosie continues. "I know it's hard to believe straight out of the blue like this…"
"Yeah, given the public image you two have been putting out round here!"
"…but with respect Sarge, I don't have to justify my actions to you. I've taken advice, I've thought it through and I want to go ahead with the charge straight away."

Don Beech and Liz are working in the CID office. Rod wanders in and goes across to Don's desk. "Heard about Rosebud?"
"What, losing it with Eddie?"
"Yeah, I've just had word from the lads: she's a complete nutcase."
"Shame."
"Yeah it is a shame. Especially when her packaging was such good quality!"
Liz's heard enough. "Oh shut up, Rod!" DCI Meadows comes in and asks Liz for a word in his office.