TEAM SPIRIT - Part 3

Brownlow's impatiently waiting for Inspector Monroe to arrive and update him on the Eddie/Rosie situation. Andrew and Derek arrive and they all go into his office. "Well?" asks Brownlow.
"I'm due for the first session with her this evening. She seems determined to proceed with the grievance despite the DCI's reaction to the criminal allegation."
"I've just had Tarrant's editor on the phone," the Superintendent tells them. "Apparently this isn't the first time this silly girl's accused a fellow officer of harassment."
"Sgt. Boyden told me earlier, Sir," says Andrew.
"Do you think it's malicious?"
"I really couldn't make a judgement."
"I really resent the way this whole thing is being exploited by people with their own agendas, often to the detriment of everybody else."
"We don't know if she's exploiting anything, Sir," Derek reminds him. "Plods and plonks get themselves into all scrapes. It's part of the job."
"That may be," Brownlow prepares to leave: he's got a meeting to go to. "Andrew, do you think you could have a word with her, try and dissuade her from taking it any further."

George catches up with Dave in the corridor. "Where've you been? We were due out fifteen minutes ago."
"Well I'm here now."
"Listen, there's a rumour going round that Rosie's had a knock to her campaign," George quietly tells him.
"What do you mean, knock?"
"I don't know, but Rod Skase overheard her talking to Liz Rawton just now."
Vicky, Eddie and Jamilla join them. "Have you heard the latest rumour?" calls out to them.
"Yeah," George answers.
"She know we know about that other complaint she made at Hendon, maybe that's why she's having second thoughts now," suggests Jamilla.
"If she's got any sense she'll drop it all, apply for a transfer."
"Maybe I'll suggest it to her," says Ed. "She needs all the advice she can get or they'll be carting her off to a padded cell any day now."
Vicky hurries him along so they can get back out on patrol. George is ready to go to. "Give us a couple of minutes," Dave tells him and goes after Eddie.
"What's up?" Ed asks.
"Well, I don't know. I'm a bit confused myself. I want you to tell me."
"What is that a riddle?"
"No, it's a straight-forward question."
"Sorry, Dave, about what exactly?"
"Jan Lockett for one."
"Who's she?"
"What you don't remember her? I'm sure she remembers you. What is your problem with women, Eddie? They too tough for you? Too in control?"
"I don't need this." Ed begins to walk away, but Dave stops him.
"I want to know what happened on that roof with Sowerby."
"You were there."
"That's right, I was there. That's how I know you weren't with Rosie. I saw you running back from the staircase just like she said."
"So how come you didn't say anything at the time?"
"I was giving you the benefit of the doubt, like everybody else does around here."
"What does that mean?"
"It means I believed you. I trusted you! Now I'm wondering if that was such a good idea."
"Alright, hands up, I told a white lie." Ed says flippantly. "I was a few yards away, no more than twenty, and I wasn't abandoning her. I was searching. I went back, I sorted it out, she wasn't hurt."
"Then you lied to cover your back."
"Oh, come one Dave."
"Just like I reckon you lied about the night after the op, or maybe about Jason Jefferies and all that crap at the paint-ball!
"I didn't lie."
"Prove it!"
"Come on, Dave. You know I can't do that."
"Eddie, you've been playing your own tacky little game, haven't you? Not a lot of team spirit there, is there?"
"Rosie's after my skin, Dave! It's different with mates."
"Is it? This isn't about mates though in the end though, Eddie! It's about the team. It's about knowing that someone's going to mind your back whatever they think of you personally! And I'm beginning to get the distinct impression that the team isn't as high on your list of priorities as you'd like to make out!"
"I've got to go!" Dave shoves him against the wall.
"No, not till I'm done! Now, I've got a proposition: a way of doing the honourable thing by Rosie and without you losing your job in the bargain."
"What, is that a threat? Or are you just gagging to play the hero around PC Fox?"
"I didn't want to get involved in any of this, Eddie. It's mucky! It stinks! But I'm not going to lie for you. Now, you're going to do as I say. And the way I see it, you haven't got much choice, have you?"

Rosie and Liz are waiting in the DI's office. Rosie's seriously having second thoughts. "We're due downstairs to see Mr Monroe in ten minutes," Liz tells her.
"Lamb to the slaughter! They're not going to listen, are they Liz?"
"We could lean harder on Jan Lockett."
"We can't involve her against her will and she's not going to change her mind."
"But if Eddie's done this before, maybe we owe it to…"
"Owe it to who? Jan Lockett was right: the really bitter thing about this is that in the end, I'm on my own. The majority of people either can't or won't believe what I say, so maybe I can't stop Eddie. Maybe he's just got too much weighing in on his side., but I'm telling you, I can't stand the freeze out here for much longer!" Dave knocks at the door and comes in. Rosie immediately puts up a brave and confident front. "Dave, what do you want?"
"I want to know if you're planning to carry on with this grievance thing."
"Course I'm planning to carry on. I'm not going to be intimidated by Eddie or anyone else."
"Where do you think it's going to get you?"
"Did Eddie send you in here?" Liz asks suspiciously.
"No. Solo initiative!"
"Well, you've got your answer, you can do what you want with it," Rosie tells him.
"I really don't think you've got any chance going through the official channels, Rosie."
"It's not your problem, Dave."
"We all know that's not true. Look, I've got an idea for a different kind of solution to this thing, if you'll listen to me a minute."
"What idea?"
"Why are you bothered, Dave?" Liz asks.
"I want to help. Call it an exercise in team-building."
"And you representing the team here?" Liz queries.
"No, like I said, I'm on my own. Look, Rosie, I really don't know what's going on between you and Eddie, and to be honest, I'm not really interested in the details. But I've found out a few things that have changed my perspective, and I believe that Eddie can be encouraged to change his ways."
Rosie's interested, but Liz is cynical. "I doubt that."
"If you're prepared to be flexible."

Eddie's in the rec. room playing snooker. He turns when Dave comes in. "well is she coming or what? I'm supposed to be earning a living."
"She's on her way."
"I still want to know what's in it for you doing this. What are you getting Dave? I wouldn't risk going all the way with Rosebud, if that's what you had in mind!"
"Shut up, Eddie! Not everyone's motivated by the same sad things as you!"
"Here she is." Rosie walks in.
"You've got five minutes!" Ed looks at his watch and starts playing with a snooker ball.
"Right, " Dave begins. "This is the deal: Rosie drops the grievance and all any similar complaints against you right now. In return, you," he turns to Eddie, "agree to back off. "If I hear from Rosie of any further occurrences of intimidation or harassment, I go straight to Mr Monroe with what I know."
"That's rubbish!" protests Ed. "She could come crying to you any time she wants."
"It's non-negotiable, Eddie. Either you accept the conditions I set or I do what I just said." He looks at Rosie to see if she agrees with the deal. "Rosie?"
"It would have to include specifics."
"Such as?"
"He promises never to come near my house again or call me on the phone!"
Dave agrees. "Fine, no problem. Plus there's another condition. At the end of the shift tonight, we all go down to the pub as usual. You buy Rosie a drink, and make it clear to the troops that the squabbles are forgotten."
"Sure, yeah!" Eddie says sarcastically. "Anything else? I'll propose to her if you like!" Dave reminds him that he's getting off lightly.
"I reckon that if Rosie and I were to grub around in your murky little past you'd be buried so deep you'd be digging out for years." Liz comes in to check that Rosie's okay. Mr Monroe and Sgt. Ackland are ready to speak to her. Rosie nods at Dave to confirm that they have a deal.