The Long Shadow

RADIO TUNING

'Well, The Beatles are getting back together again, then...'

WOMEN CHANTING, RADIO TUNING

'We're just 90 seconds away from our breakfast sequence.

'Radio Leeds AM.'

'The British people, in clear and unmistakeable terms,

'have made their historic decision

'that Britain shall remain a member of the European Community.'

'You see, since 1972, world prices of commodities and raw materials

'have more than doubled.'

'We are suffering as we haven't in 25 years

'from a rise in the cost of living.'

How are you managing for money?

Well, we're desperate now.

We're on... I'm on me last £5 now, and then that's it.

I've spent all our savings now,

so it's these next few weeks that we'll really feel.

Ever since the end of the disastrous seven-week strike here

earlier this year...

Have called for strike action from Monday.

The standard of living of the humblest and the poorest

being attacked and eaten away.

I think this is the closest we've ever been

to a revolution in this country for years.

CHILDREN GIGGLING

Go back to sleep.

Richard.

Richard!

She's not come home.

VEHICLE RUMBLES

There you go.

Thank you, love. Ta, love.

She'll be on the next one. Stop saying that.

Sonia and Richard, yeah?

So, Mummy said she weren't going out,

but you think she might've done?

Had she done that before, love? Left you on your own?

And did Mummy ever say where she were going?

Or who she were seeing?

What about Daddy?

Are Mummy and Daddy still friends?

She'd been slipping out at night, apparently.

But not through front door, through here.

So neighbours wouldn't see her leaving kids.

Who told you that? Neighbours.

Four kids between seven and three.

We're calling the children's home, see if they can't take 'em.

Least till we can work out where the Dad is.

Explain to them what's gone on.

What you thinking?

I'm thinking... them little ones went to bus stop to wait,

they only just missed her.

Cheers, mate.

Sir.

# Only when I fly alone

# Was all I could reply # And all... #

MUSIC FADES, BRAKES SQUEAK

MUFFLED MUSIC CONTINUES

Oh, that reminds me,

we're off out tomorrow night, me and your mam.

You'll need to look after your brother and sister.

No, we're not. Painting town red. Eh?

No, we are not. It's Eric Owen's 40th.

How long has that been on t'cards? 40 years, presumably.

Oh. HE CHUCKLES

SHE INHALES, CLEARS THROAT

I don't do reading.

I know, but you can see what colour it is,

and that's third we've had this week.

You'll have to tell Eric we can't go cos we can't bloody afford it.

He's my oldest mate.

I've said that we're going... and we are.

CAR DOOR SLAMS

At 7:41 this morning,

the body of a 28-year-old woman, Wilma McCann,

was found in the Prince Philip playing fields

behind Scott Hall Avenue in Chapeltown.

Wilma had been stabbed 15 times.

Two further lacerations were found on t'back of her head.

Impact wounds from some kind of tool. Hammer, spanner, maybe.

I'm telling you this not to shock you...

..because I want you all to appreciate

what one person did to another person in our city last night.

And it's our job, it's your job...

to find out who they are and why this happened.

I think cos she was an whore.

Little louder, John, so all t'class can hear.

I said she died, sir, because she was a prostitute.

Vice have never heard of her. Don't mean she wasn't one.

She'd already been done for drunk and disorderly.

She might've been a prostitute...

..she might not. Might've liked a drink, might not.

But nobody, whoever they are,

deserves to die like Wilma died last night.

It starts now. 4pm October 30th,

and it don't end till one of us catches the bastard.

MUTTERING

Right, priorities now...

Get Dugdale from t'post. ..Wilma's movements on the night.

Door-to-door, and a fingertip search of

the home and the surrounding area.

Any questions?

No? Good. On you get.

CHATTER

Problem. Go on.

Perception.

You saw for yourself how it was out there.

PHONE RINGS

Aye. 'I've got Mike Duffield.' Go on.

'Hello, mate.' Mike. 'Yes.'

I might have something for one of your photographers

on this Chapeltown job. Have you got a pen?

Dennis, we're a newspaper, we've got stationary.

Afternoon.

Hello there.

Afternoon.

Oh.

What's that? TOY BELL RINGS

This your favourite?

What about you lot?

What's your favourite toys? Is Mummy coming soon?

Mummy's not coming, love.

Mummy's had an accident. Was she hurt?

She was. That's right. So where is she now?

Well...

She's up in heaven.

She says, "You're not to worry."

She's in heaven... and she's waiting for you.

All right?

Now...

Why don't we take a photograph... of you...

with your absolute number one favourite toys?

How about it?

SHUTTER CLICKS OK, everyone, looking here.

Perfect. OK. And...

SHUTTER CLICKS That's it.

If we're to get any help from the public...

Just a couple more. ..that's the message.

Look here, that's right.

She were a mother of four kids.

Prostitute don't come into it.

Straight at the camera.

SHUTTER CLICKS Thank you.

SHUTTER CLICKS

Right, off you go!

INAUDIBLE

Well? Right.

Last sighting of her... is right the way back down Meanwood Road

just after last orders and then nothing between there and here.

A bloody field next to a car park.

There you go. That's your first clue.

That's why no-one sees her on t'bus or walking all the way up t'hill.

And that's why he brings her here.

Not to some field... next to a car park...

to a car park next to a field. The killer was driving.

He could've been on foot.

He could have followed her home after seeing her in t'club.

Who goes to a club wi' a spanner and knife?

Aye, fair point.

QUIET TALKING

'I Love To Love' by Tina Charles

Here we go.

HE WHISTLES TO SONG

Eh! Hey-hey-hey!

Where's Linda and t'rest of t'wives? Eh?

Am I just your lift home, is that it?

Yeah. Look.

Neil found that. Hm? He said "Give that to Mam.

"Tell her to put a song on t'jukebox. Cheer her sen up."

Right! He-heyy!

Now we begin. Here we go! Fucking hell!

Sold My Rock 'n' Roll

CHATTERING

Excuse me, love.

INDISTINCT

SONG CONTINUES

NEW SONG PLAYS

Hm? I've seen you before.

Hm. All right.

How does it, er, work, then? Er...

You got a place where we can go? How much?

MUSIC AND CHATTERING CONTINUES

The last confirmed sighting of the dead woman, Wilma McCann,

was on the corner of Meanwood Road, at 1am.

What we want now is for anyone who was either in

or driving through the Chapeltown area at that time

to make themselves known to us immediately. Wilma was a mother.

Her kids were waiting for her, but she never made it home.

Please, if you have any information... come forward...

for their sake.

Er, Chief Constable Gregory's here. I can see.

I saw the Mercedes parked up outside.

Here to check up on me? I'm here to do nothing of the kind.

The lovely Jenny has provided a cup of tea,

and I'm... familiarising myself with this map of yours.

This arrow here, I was wondering, represents...

Last known sighting of Wilma McCann.

And this is where she was killed? Sir.

And all you've got to do is figure out what happened in between.

So... you are here to check up on me.