Suspects Series 1 Episode 3

(c) Channel 5

26 February 2014

10pm - 11 pm

46 minutes

Official Synopsis

(spoilers)

The action opens with a news report of a woman who has been attacked by the West Willow canal. There have been two other rapes within a mile and a half radius. As with the previous assaults, the victim was grabbed from behind and strangled before being raped by the masked assailant, who wore gloves and a balaclava.

Serial rapist George Callahan is pulled in for questioning. He has recently been released from prison and is MO is the same; however he claims to have been watching football at home. The CCTV on his house, installed since his release, appears to corroborate his alibi. So does his girlfriend, Annette. The pair leave Jack’s antennae buzzing.

DC Charlie Steele’s revelation that the latest rape victim’s name is Diane Ackerman gives the case another twist. Her husband is the station’s chief superintendent. A routine background check reveals that the police were recently called to the Ackermans’ address over a domestic. Diane also has a bruise on her throat that predates the rape.

Charlie discovers that Diane had been drinking heavily on her own in a bar that night, and that the Ackermans are now living apart. She has also had all the locks in the house changed. When his alibi is blown, suspicion falls on Ackerman himself.

With a high-ranking police superintendent among their suspects, Bellamy, Weston and Steele must tread very carefully indeed.

via Channel 5

Cast

DS Jack Weston - Damien Molony

DC Charlie Steele - Clare-Hope Ashitey

DI Martha Bellamy - Fay Ripley

George Callaghan - Peter McNeil O'Connor

Diane Ackerman - Susan Vidler

Howard Ackerman - Gregor Truter

Andrew Bourne - Mason Phillips

Annette Walker - Annabelle Apsion

Director -  Craig Pickles

Executive Producer -  Paul Marquess

Preview

 Screencaps

SUSPECTS EPISODE 3 SCENE BREAKDOWN

(please note, this is not an official document, just an attempt at a scene breakdown purely for the purposes of information. All scenes in brackets are scenes where Damien does not appear).

Scene 1 (00.00 - 01.13)

Newsreader voiceover:

"Police are now hunting a serial rapist, after a third woman was attacked last night by the West WIllow canal. As with previous assaults, the victim was grabbed from behind by a masked assailant"

Jack and Martha are on the crime scene with a police unit and forensics. Martha makes a statement to the press, Jack points out there is little evidence so far and the area has little or no cctv footage which is why the attacker probably chose the spot. There have been 2 more attacks in the area and assailant also had a certain amount of forensic knowledge as he was wearing a balaclava and gloves each time.

Scene 2 (01.14-01.23)

Jack is in the archives looking for info on George Callaghan, who has been "done for rape"

Scene 3 (01.24-02.15)

Jack pins photos of the younger and present day George C on the crime board, while telling Martha he thinks the attacker could be him, as he has just been released from prison having been convicted for rape and the M.O is the same. Martha is not convinced, saying he has to be given the chance to improve his character. Jack appears visibly irked as he looks direct to camera. however she agrees they can check.

Scene 4 (02.16-03.26)

Jack interviews George in the interview room. He uses the friendly approach, watching for a reaction from George, until "did you do it?" George says he was at home all night watching football, he didn't go out and there is cctv watching the house.

Scene 5 (03.27-04.14)

In the main office. Jack cannot get onto the server and is clicking his keyboard furiously. Charlie has spoken with the latest victim, Diane Ackerman, who agreed to the forensic exam, but doesn't want to take it any further. Martha points out that the Chief Superintendent's wife is also Diane Ackerman

Scene 6 (04.15-05.16) The Chief Super comes to the station with Diane.

Scene 7 (05.15-06.16) Charlie interviews Diane about the attack and questions her about the bar where she had a drink before the attack happened)

Scene 8 (06.17-06.48)

Jack asks Martha if he should do the normal background checks on Diane. She replies, stressily, he should. "Proceed as normal, obviously." Jack asks if she is ok and slams the door behind him.

Scene 9 (06.49-07.35)

Jack reports back to Martha, He has found out that a call was made to Ackerman's address recently over a domestic incident. the CI told them to get lost while Diane apologised profusely. Martha tells him she also has a bruise on her neck that pre-dates the rape.

(Scene 10 (07.36-08.23) Martha joins Charlie in the interview room, where Diane is upset talking about her attacker)

Scene 11 ( 08.23 -09.23 )

Martha Charlie and Jack are discussing the case in the main office. Charlie thinks it's odd she spent 2 hours on her own in a bar, Jack asks how much she had to drink, Charlie replies that she said 2 glasses. cctv footage from outside the pub shows Diane unable to walk straight and walking into a wheelie bin, obviously really drunk. pub receipts show she had a whole extra bottle to herself.

"I think that would floor even the heartiest Irish drinker."

Scene 12 (09.24-10.43)

Martha and Charlie interview Diane more asking her about her drinking that night. Jack interrupts that the DNA results are in, the 3 detectives talk in the corridor, nothing was found except the marks on her throat were from the man Diane works for, Andrew Borne.

Charlie wonders if the bruise on her face was from the same guy, Jack suggests they "just ask her". Martha replies, "No Jack, you're not just going to ask her, she's a victim, we're going to look after her. This is like day one, you understand that stuff...look the person I need to speak to is this Andrew Bourne guy.."

As soon as Martha leaves, Jack says to Charlie "She's shitting herself because of who she is"

Scene 13 (10.44-13.09)

Jack and Martha interview Andrew Bourne, who says he was working last night and stayed at home after Diane left. Jack points out he made 12 phone calls to Diane after she left. They show him photos of the bruises on Diane's neck and tell him his DNA was found on her neck. Andrew tells then he made a pass at her but would never hurt her and that they should interview Howard (CI) because "he's the one who hits his wife around, not me". Jack points out that he has made a serious allegation, but Andrew reiterates and adds that Howard controls Diane's money.

(Scene 14 (13.10-13.46) Charlie tells Martha the CI's bank statements show Diane changed all the locks to the house a few weeks ago)

(Scene 15 (13.47-15.29) Charlie reinterviews Diana on Martha instruction. Diane confirms Andrew made a pass at her yesterday while at work. Martha asks about her husband's controlling behaviour of her finances. Diane says he tried to control what she wears how she speaks.)

Scene 16 (15.30-16.39)

Jack and Charlie discuss Martha's sensitivity to the case. Martha turns up and tells them they are going to tackle to rape case first before the domestic abuse and that she needs discretion.

Martha: Keep it within us three. To anyone else, talk about what was on telly or something like that. Or who you're fucking, Jack. How about that?

Charlie: No-one. As usual.

Martha: (LAUGHS)

Scene 17 (16.40-17.23)

Jack shows Martha cctv footage from last night of the front of the house where he is living with his girlfriend, Annette walker. Annette leaves the house to see her sick mother at 7.42pm, at 10pm George's bedroom light goes out, no sign at all he left the house.

Scene 18 (17.24-18.39)

Jack interviews Annette Walker, who confirms that she and George were in all night except when she went to see her mother, and says he should be allowed to change and not be judged by his past.

Scene 19 (18.40-19.30)

Jack interviews George again, and asks George what helped his rehabilitation.

"Did you find God?"

"No, I found a great therapist"

Scene 20 (19.31-20.24)

Jack tells Martha George and Annette both corroborate the other's story and the cctv footage

"but just the way the two of them kind of acted in the interview room just kind of freaks me out a little bit, she's too weird he's too kind of smug, it just.."

"I know I know, the problem is I have completely run out of time on Callagham, we've got to let him out"

"Don't do this to me, don't.."

"it's the clock"

Charlie meanwhile has found out the Chief Super was at the conference his wife mentioned but that he had checked out early which gave him time to get back and carry out the attack. Jack says he will back Martha up with whatever she wants to do, she replies she is going to speak to the DCI, but to keep the Chief Super's name off the suspects board.

(Scene 21 (20.25-21.10) Charlie interviews Diane again, who eventually admits the bruise on her face was because her husband hit her)

(Scene 22 (21.11-21.41) Charlie drives Diane home, Diane says she is not going to make a complaint about her husband and doesn't want to pursue it.)

Scene 23 (21.42-22.11)

While Martha talks to the DCI in her office Jack and Charlie discuss the case in the main office. Charlie has discovered both the other rape victims had previously reported domestic abuse to the police, so could they be using the police system to target victims.

"Could our rapist be a copper?" "It's a good question"

(Scene 24 (22.12-22.30) Charlie tells Martha that Diane has admitted the domestic abuse by Howard, but she won't go to court. Martha interviews The Chief Super, who tells her he did leave the conference early and he is staying at a friend's while he and Diane spend some time apart. He cannot corroborate his whereabouts at the time of the rape.)

Scene 25 (22.31-24.17)

Jack shows Martha cctv footage of Diane's boss Andrew near a tube station near her house shortly before the time of the attack. Additionally he is the same height and build as the attacker and goes to the same gym as one of the other victims, he also has a motive, so Martha tells Jack they have enough to bring him in and search his house.

Scene 26 (24.18-25.19)

Jack drives to arrest Andrew Bourne on suspicion of three counts of rape and for driving without a license. he finds a packed bag in the boot of his car and orders a full forensic examination of the car.

"Let's hurry on this one"

Scene 27 (25.20-25.44)

Jack heads back to the office, where Charlie tells him Diane insists it was not Andrew. Jack points out it was dark she didn't see the attacker and had been drinking

(Scene 28 (25.45-26.29) Martha interviews Andrew, who says he wasn't doing runner he was going to visit his Mother. When Martha mentions he was seen on cctv near Diane's house at near the time of the attack he asks to speak to a solicitor.)

Scene 29 (26.30-26.44)

Jack is with the forensic team examining Andrew's car, Charlie comes out and Jack shows her the gloves they have found. "I reckon this could be our guy."

Scene 30 (26.45- 27.52)

Charlie, Jack and Martha in the main office. Charlie informs Martha that the Chief Super has corroborated alibis for the 2 other rapes

.

(Scene 31 (26.53-28.59) Martha interviews Andrew with solicitor present. Ha makes a statement that he did go to Diane's house to apologise for making a ass at her but she wasn't there. Martha asks him about the gloves in his car.)

(Scene 32 (29.00-29.21) Charlie has looked at Andrew Bourne's laptop, where she has found lots of emails between Diane and Howard Ackerman, The emails from him become increasingly nasty/)

(Scene 33 (29.22-31.53) Charlie and Martha interview the Chief Superintendent. He becomes quite angry and nasty when Charlie questions him about his wife's emails and the bruise on his wife's face and her finances. Martha arrests him for ABH.)

(Scene 34 (31.54-32.04) dialogue free scene where the chief superintendent, under arrest, removes his jacket at the desk)

Scene 35 (32.05-32.24)

Jack and Charlie briefly discuss the Chief Superintendent in the stairwell

(Scene 36 (32.25-33.04) Charlie interviews Diane at home and asks her about a Beverly she knows online. Diane tells her she met her in an online forum for domestic abuse.)

(Scene 37 (33.05-33.35) Charlie tells Martha that Diane had arranged to meet Beverly on the night o the attack)

Scene 38 (33.36-34.11)

Charlie tells Jack and Martha that "Beverly" made a phone call on the pay as you go phone registered to Annette Walker. "So George Callaghan's the rapist"

Scene 39 (34.12-23.46)

The team look at cctv of Annette and George's house again. Jack points out that George's bedroom light could have been on a timer, explaining how it went out at 10pm, if he was not actually here. Charlie has found out that the other 2 victims were also chatting to Beverly on the online domestic abuse forum.

Scene 40 (23.47-35.44)

Jack and Charlie have a search warrant and take a team to George's house, noone answers the door so they storm the house. they find the timer in George's bedroom and a doorway knocked through from the kitchen to the garage, so George has been able to get into the boot of the car unseen. Martha calls to tell them that Beverly has arranged to meet someone else from the domestic abuse forum tonight.

Scene 41 (35.34-37.04)

Jack, Charlie and the police team rush to the scene, to find Annette waiting in her car. Jack demands to know where George is, says she doesn't know, but beeps the car horn to warn him as the team try to find him. George is found, in a balaclava, attacking a woman in an alleyway. As Jack arrests him, George laughs.

Scene 42 (37.05-37.11)

dialogue free scene as Jack and 2 police officers bring George into the station

Scene 43 (37.12-37.30)

Martha Jack and Charlie talk in the corridor outside the interview rooms. Martha tells them that they are going to treat Annette as victim for now and she will interview her, while Jack interviews George. Andrew Bourne needs to be released.

(Scene 44 (37.31-38.30) Martha interviews Annette, who says George forced her to be complicit or he would kill her in his sleep.)

Scene 45 (38.31-39.00)

Jack interviews George, who is smiling and tells Jack that Annette is innocent and "fucking weak", just doing what he told her to do. Jack tells him that is bullshit.

(Scene 46 (39.01-40.10) Back with Martha interviewing Annette, who at first claimed George made her contact the women on the domestic abuse forum. She tries to leave claiming she needs to go and look after her mother, but Martha tells her to stay and that they will go to her mother's house for her.)

Scene 47 (40.11-40.32)

Jack and Martha talk in the corridor about their respective interviews.

Jack: "He's smug, proud, but he's giving me nothing. He's to blame, she's weak, he forced her to do his bidding."

Martha: "Mine's very odd, frankly, she doesn't want us to go near her Mum that's for sure, so first thing we do?"

Jack: "Search team?"

Scene 48 (40.33-40.50)

Jack tells Charlie the search team discovered Annette's Mum had been neglected for four days and was found in an appalling condition

(Scene 49 (40.51-43.46) Martha interviews Annette confronting her about her Mum. It transpires Annette was cherry picking women on the domestic abuse site that reminded her of her Mum, who abandoned her as a child. When Martha arrests her she starts to behave strangely chanting "I can't hear you".)