Jack and Charlie are called out to a park in the early hours where a teenage girl has been stabbed. The girl managed to exit the park and flag down a cabbie, who took her to hospital when he saw the knife protruding from her stomach. With no ID to go on and the victim too weak to be interviewed, the team pull in cabbie Max Lowell for questioning. Charlie wonders why he did not call 999.
When the girl is identified as Anna Fisher, Jack and Charlie rush round to her address. They find her stepfather, Shaun Jones, out cold on heroin and naked pictures of Anna on a laptop. He claims that the laptop is Anna’s and they had argued about the pictures before she stormed out of the house. The pictures were for her boyfriend, she had said. But why did Anna take a path in the opposite direction to her home to seek help after being stabbed? And what was Shaun doing in the park that night if he didn’t go after Anna?
The hospital reports back on Anna’s condition. She was eight weeks pregnant and shows signs of possible self-harming. It also appears that she has been sexually assaulted, possibly a gang rape, although not that evening.
A text message on Anna’s mobile leads the team to her friend Carrie, who arranged to meet her in the park last night. She says that they often went there to get drunk and meet boys. But there is also another number on Anna’s mobile – belonging to Max, the cab driver. She has rung him four times in the last month, yet he said that he did not know her. And Max’s brother is Carrie’s boyfriend…
Cast
DS Jack Weston - Damien Molony
DC Charlie Steele - Clare-Hope Ashitey
DI Martha Bellamy - Fay Ripley
Max Lowell Chris Levens
Jason Lowell - Gavin Brocker
Anna Fisher - Izzie Tovey
Shaun Jones - Simon Parker
Carrie Evans - Ronke Adekoluejo
Director - Craig Pickles
Executive Producer - Paul Marquess
Series Producer - Kara Manley
Screencaps
SUSPECTS SERIES 1 | EPISODE 5 | SCENE BREAKDOWN
Scene 1 (00.00 -00.48)
Newsreader voiceover:
" Police are appealing for witnesses after a young girl was stabbed last night in St Jonah's Park at around two am. The victim, who was wearing school uniform, remains in a critical condition in hospital."
Jack and Charlie are at the crime scene with uniformed police officers and forensics, who are examining the park.
"I always dread the day I get called out to this shithole."
"What's a schoolgirl doing in one of the fucking roughest places is London? hmm? And why has no-one reported her missing?"
Scene 2 (00.49 - 01.39)
Back at headquarters, Martha calls Jack into her office to tell him they are going to treat the case as attempted murder and that the knife wound victim was also 8 weeks pregnant and had suffered a miscarriage. Charlie comes in with the weapon (a knife), from the hospital, which was still stuck in the victim's stomach. She is not well enough to be interviewed yet.
Scene 3 (01.40 - 02.28)
The team are looking at the suspects board, where photos of the victim's clothes and belongings are pinned. Martha suggests something doesn't feel right about the uniform, Jack questions why there is no mobile phone ("robbery gone wrong?"), Charlie suggests they need to find out if there was any sexual assault as it is a park known for prostitution ("drunk punter, jealous hooker?"). They still need to ID her and find her next of kin.
Scene 4 ( 02.29 - 03.47)
Charlie talks to Max Lowell, the cabbie who took the girl to hospital. He says he does not know her and didn't call 999 as he was going on instinct. before her picked her up he took his brother Jason to work.
Scene 5 (03.48 - 04.39)
Charlie interviews Jason Lowell at work, who says he only saw his brother when he took him to work and was at work 2 - 10am.
Scene 6 (04.40 - 05.00)
At the suspects board, Charlie and Martha discuss their suspicions of Matt. Jack is at his desk and tells them he has made a possible ID on the victim.
Scene 7 (05.01 - 05.23)
Jack pins a photo of the victim on the board. The oyster card found in her purse is registered to 13 year old Anna Fisher, confirmed by her school head teacher.
Charlie: "13 years old, sexually active, pregnant, out in the middle of the night in a park full of hookers and smack heads?"
Anna's mother Isla died 6 months ago of heart disease, she now lives with Step-father Sean Jones.
Scene 8 (05.24 - 06.31)
Jack and Martha visit Sean Jones at home. When there is no reply when they knock at the door, they spot him through the window on the bed, apparently unconscious. Martha tells Jack to break the door open.
Martha: "Go on butch. Mind your fingernails."
Once inside, Jack puts him in the recovery position and calls an ambulance, while Martha finds photos of the victim on his laptop.
Scene 9 (06.32 - 06.45)
Martha and Jack are at the hospital. The doctors have told Jack Sean Jones is a heroin user.
Martha wants to have a chat with him anyway: "Don't worry, we'll arrest him when he's fit and well but we can have an informal little chat with him, hey?" Jack seems surprised, "really? I like it."
Scene 10 (06.46 - 07.20)
Martha and Jack speak to Sean who is in a hospital bed, Martha asks him to sign a consent form as they need to examine Anna.
Scene 11 (07.21 -07.54)
Back at HQ the team examine cctv footage of the crime scene at the park. Why had Anna run in the opposite direction of home a after the stabbing? Martha has acquired Sean's mobile phone.
Jack: " That's a trick right out of my book, are you looking for a promotion?"
Scene 12 (07.55-09.01)
The team are in Martha's office. Charlie has the FME report on Anna, which shows cuts and bruises on her inner thighs and that she was repeatedly sexually assaulted, possibly not just last night. The team are all visibly effected, but Jack especially, who seems angry and is gunning for Sean Jones.
"Who did it? we've got her step Dad, Sean Jones, with a laptop containing naked images of Anna Fisher, surely he's one of the rapists"
And, walking out of the room, "Come on guys, she's thirteen years old for God's sake!"
Scene 13 ( 09.02-09.19 )
Sean is fit for interview now and Jack asks "can I arrest him, now?"
Martha tells him they don't have much evidence on him so "go slowly". Jack replies "Ok" but his expression says more. Martha signals with her head for Charlie to go with him.
Scene 14 (09.20 - 09.54)
Jack and Charlie are at the hospital, where Jack arrests Sean (quietly) for possessing indecent images of a child. "it is not in the interest of the child to make a fuss".
Scene 15 (09.55 - 09.59)
Dialogue free scene, where Jack brings Sean to the front desk.
Scene 16 (10.00 - 12.28)
Jack interviews Sean, (solicitor present) who says he and Anna had a row last night about the photos, which were on her laptop. Jack is clearly irritated and barely containing it, clicking his fingers in Sean's face when he doesn't respond. Jack tells Sean Anna was sexually assaulted, and suggests Sean forced her into prostitution to fund his heroin habit, now almost shouting.
"No? What about last night? Sean? Let's go"
"DO YOU HAVE A HEROIN PROBLEM? Are you forcing your 13-year-old stepdaughter into prostitution to fund your heroin...."
"Your 13-year-old daughter is in hospital in a critical condition, stabbed last night, raped the night before. Are you gonna try and help her? What do you know?"
Scene 17 (12.29 - 13.23)
Charlie plays Jack and Martha two voicemails from Sean to Anna, recorded last night between 12.45 - 1 am.
First one angry: "Anna get home now, we're not finished talking about this"
Second one pleading: "Anna, sweetheart, please, please come back"
Jack still has Sean is his sights as the main suspect and asks "Ok, what has Sean Jones done that he needs to feel so sorry about?"
There are also texts on Anna's phone from a girl called Carrie.
Scene 18 (13.24 - 14,34)
Martha interviews Sean, who says he has not heard of a girl called Carrie and seems to know very little about her friends, Martha asks for a list. Sean is very antsy and complains about Jack.
Martha: "surely you understand why we're doing what we're doing"
Sean: "Not the way you're doing it, no"
Martha: "What do you mean?"
Sean: "Your colleague, the other guy"
Martha: "He has other charms, let's put it that way."
Sean: " Right..."
Martha: "You're talking to me now, it's ok.."
Scene 19 (14.35 - 15.02 )
Martha gives Jack a telling off in her office.
"I do not want to mop up your unprofessional shit. And I do not want to have to fucking apologise to somebody that we have arrested thank you very much. It's counterproductive Jack, you know that. Stop playing fucking Clint Eastwood, that's why you're on my team because you know about this shit. Go and read your fucking manual."
Scene 20 ( 15.03 - 15.33 )
Charlie goes into Martha's office to tell her there is a Max in Anna's mobile phone contacts matching Max the taxi driver, who she has rung 4 times in the past month.
Scene 21 ( 15.34 - 16.23)
Charlie interviews Max. (at first as just a voiceover, while showing her bringing him to front desk, then cuts to interview room). Max claims he doesn't know Anna, he sometimes gives his number out to customers who want to call him direct for a taxi. He claims he does not remember her calling him.
Scene 22 (16.24 - 17.05)
Charlie and Martha discuss Max in Martha's office, Charlie does not believe he does not remember Anna calling him. Jack comes in to tell Martha he has tracked down Carrie as Caroline Evans 18 years old. It is slightly awkward as Martha tells Charlie to go and talk to her.
Scene 23 (17.06 - 18.46)
Charlie interviews Carrie who says she was meant to meet Anna in the park at 12.30 am but she didn't show up. They regularly meet boys and drink, and Anna "goes off in the bushes" with a boy sometimes. She was surprised to find out it was Anna who was stabbed in the park last night.
Scene 24 (18.47 - 19.35)
In the main office, Jack has info on Sean Jones which he writes on the whiteboard. A neighbour saw Sean leaving the house at 12.30am. The neighbour also saw Anna leave the house at 12.28 am. Sean returns to the house at 2 am. Charlie reports back that forensics on the knife which reveals 2 sets of fingerprints, one belonging to Anna, and one to Sean.
Scene 25 (19.36 - 20.22)
Jack and Charlie interview Sean. Jack goes straight in with "Ok Sean, no more wasting my time, no more 'I don't knows', I want some answers. Why did you stab Anna?"
"I didn't stab Anna"
"It's funny because we found the weapon, still in Anna's belly, ok, your fingerprints are all over it and you left the house at 12.30 last night when you said you stayed at home."
Sean admitted to leaving the house, to go to the park to score drugs, but he saw nothing.
"Ok so you heard nothing, you saw nothing, you know nothing. Fantastic."
Scene 26 (20.23 - 20.49)
Back at the crime board, Jack shows Martha and Charlie on the map that Sean was only 250 yards away from Anna in the park when she was attacked.
"250 yards. 'I heard nothing, I saw nothing, I know nothing'. Come on."
Martha agrees and asks Charlie to look at cctv footage to see what Sean was wearing when he left the house for possible evidence on his clothing and is going to get a search team to the park.
Scene 27 (20.50 - 21.45)
cctv footage shows Sean was wearing a leather jacket when he left the house that night, Jack says he wasn't wearing it when they picked him up and he'd call the search team. Charlie shows Jack and Martha cctv footage of Anna returning from school, wearing trousers. Martha suggests the clothes she wore later on, the short school skirt, were a costume. Jack questions whether she has been forced to wear that and has been prostituted.
Scene 28 (21.46 - 22.24)
Back at the crime board Jack tells Charlie and Martha that Max Lowell made a 6 minute phone call to his brother Jason, while he had Anna in the car taking her to the hospital. Martha questions why would he make that call, Jack suggests they were "sorting out alibis?"
Scene 29 (22.25 - 22.58)
Martha tells Jack and Charlie she wants to focus on Matt and Jason. Charlie says she has asked for cctv footage from around where Jason works and tech are still getting info from the GPS on Max's phone.
Scene 30 (22.59 - 23.10 ) Charlie shows Martha cctv footage of Carrie returning home at 5 am not 1.30am as she had told Charlie.
Scene 31 (23.11 - 24.14)
Charlie and Jack go into Martha's office. Charlie has spoken to Anna's school friends who told her that Carrie had befriended her deliberately, and that she is into drink and drugs and has "got some dodgy older boyfriend." Carrie and Anna also regularly bunk off school and get picked up by some guy, who has same car as Max's cab. Jack has found out Max is living with brother Jason, who has 3 young girls.
Martha "so, a potential paedophile is living in a house with three young girls".
Scene 32 (24.15 - 25.21 )
Martha interviews Jason, telling him his brother is in custody because they are looking into the possibility of him (Max) prostituting young girls. Jason said Max did ring him last night as he was taking Anna to the hospital because he was panicked about her. He is adamant Max would not "do anything like that."
Scene 33 (25.22 - 25.38 )
Back in the main office, Jack tells Martha and Charlie that according to his financial records, Jason deposited £2,000 into Max's bank account yesterday. Martha asks Charlie to speak to Jason's wife and kids while the family house is searched.
Scene 34 (25.39 - 25.55) Charlie goes to the Lowell's house to talk to Jason's wife and kids while the house is searched. They find Jason's laptop.
Scene 35 (25.56 - 26.28) Charlie reports back to Martha that the children know nothing about Carrie, but Jason gave Max the money so he could resume his travels to Thailand, and Jason's wife is not a fan of Max.
Scene 36 (25.29 -27. 30) Charlie interviews Jason again, suggesting he gave Max the money to get him out of the country, Jason denies it and becomes irate, saying if she is not going to "nick" him he is going to leave.
Martha "let me tell you that you are free to go as you have been from the moment you came in here to talk to us. However, if you provide me a false alibi, I will 'nick' you."
Scene 37 (27.31- 27.47)
Jack reports that Anna is awake and the results of her physical examination are back, 4 different DNA samples were found, 3 as yet unidentified, the last belonging to Nathan Cole, registered sex offender living in Birmingham who has a string of convictions for making and distributing child pornography.
Scene 38 (27.48 - 28.45)
Martha speaks to Anna at the hospital, who denies sheraped, becomes upset and says she doesn't want to talk to Martha anymore and tells her to go away.
Scene 39 (28.46 - 29.12)
Back at HQ Jack cannot understand why Anna wouldn't tell them the names. Charlie reports that tech found loads of nude photos of Anna that had been used for advertising. Martha says it is looking more and more like an organised group possibly trafficking and grooming girls. She tells Charlie and Jack she wants them to find a connection between Max, Jason and Nathan Cole.
Scene 40 (29.13 - 29.31)
Martha and Jack interview Max (solicitor present) Jack asks him about Thailand, the £2,000 from Jason and "are you a paedophile?" but Max responds only with "no comment."
Scene 41 (29.32 - 29.44)
Jack shows Martha footage of forensics finding Anna's phone (GPS tracked) and a pair of blood-stained blue woollen gloves in a bin in the park.
Scene 42 (29.45- 30.11)
Jack pins a photo of Carrie and Anna. taken from Anna's phone, on the crime board, It shows Carrie wearing the blue woollen gloves. forensics show the blood matches Anna's making Carrie a suspect in Anna's stabbing.
Scene 43 (30.12 - 30.38 )
Charlie tells Jack and Martha that Birmingham police had recovered a message on Nathan Cole's laptop that he tried to delete that has nude photos of Anna and Carrie and also found mention of a meeting that night, although there was no address. The message was sent from Matt Lowell's laptop. Anna is safe for the night in hospital, but Martha says they need to get hold of Carrie because she is in danger.
Scene 44 (30.39 - 30.56 )
Jack and Charlie come to Martha's office to say they cannot find Carrie, her mobile is off and her foster parents have not seen her since 4pm. Jack asks should they go and talk to Max, Martha replies "let's put the screws on him."
Scene 45 (30.57 -31.48)
Martha and Jack interview Max. jack tells him they know about the email from his computer, the group he is involved in and the meeting that night. Max is still only responding with "no comment". Both Jack and Martha become heated.
Jack "Stop wasting my time Max, where's the meeting?"
Martha "And where is Carrie? what is going to happen tonight?"
Scene 46 (31.49 - 34.38)
Martha interviews Max.
"Let me tell you something, Anna was eight weeks pregnant, when she was stabbed. She has suffered a miscarriage, she is underage. She was also gang raped by four different men, when of which is a convicted paedophile. And there are other girls that our out there, right now, tonight, Max, tonight, that are about to go through this. Now listen to me, this is in your hands, you have already FUCKED UP."
Max begins talking, telling Martha he never took Jason to work, that he told him to go and pick Anna up from the park and take her to A&E and he had no idea what Jason was doing, he just picked the girls up and dropped them off. Martha does not believe he didn't know what was happening. He said he thought his brother was having an affair and they were all of age. Martha asks why he didn't tackle his brother when he found out Anna's age. He said he dropped them off different places each time , Jason has a deal with a management company, and doesn't know where they will be tonight.
Cuts to earlier clip of Jason at work and Jason in interview room, smiling.
Scene 47 (34.39 - 35.03 )
Martha brings a lists of possible venues Jason and the gang use into the main office telling Charlie and Jack they are definitely dealing with a grooming gang. Charlie says she'll get the nearest car to Jason's house to see if he already left and Jack will contact the management company to see if there are any empty offices available.
Scene 48 ( 35.04 - 35.59 )
Martha speaks to Anna in hospital, Sean is also there. Martha tells her she knows about Jason. Anna keeps repeating that it is her (own) fault. She tells Martha they were always taken to different empty offices every time and she doesn't know where they will be that night.
Scene 49 (36.00 - 36.06)
Jack tells Martha and Charlie he has checked with Jason's management company, there is only one empty office block available that night.
Scene 50 (36.07 - 37.17)
Jack, Martha, Charlie and uniformed officers jump into cars, put on the blue lights and speed off to the suspected venue. There they find and arrest the grooming ring, as well as Carrie and other young girls.
Scene 51 (37.18-37.38)
They return to HQ, Jack brings Jason to the front desk, in a dialogue free scene.
Scene 52 (37.39 - 39.46)
Charlie speaks to Carrie, who says Jason has been her boyfriend for 4 years, since she was 12 when she went into care, and that he is the best thing that ever happened to her. Charlie asked if she had stabbed Anna to protect Jason, as he was the father of the baby lost by Anna. Carrie responds that stabbing Anna was an accident and that Jason cannot be the father of Anna's baby and is devastated when Charlie confirms he is.
Scene 53 (39.45 - 40.49)
Charlie speaks to Anna who says Carrie stabbed her by accident when they had a fight because she was scared of what Jason would say / do when he found our Anna was pregnant.
Scene 54 (40.50 - 42.17)
Martha and Jack interview Jason who said the girls had told him they were 18. Jack told him in no uncertain terms what he was truly guilty of.
Scene 55 (42.18-end)
Jack joins Martha on the roof and apologises for what happened earlier on with Sean.
"Listen, I'm really sorry about what happened earlier on with Sean. He just gave me nothing. I thought it was a way of breaking him. I know now it was wrong and you were right. And I'm just sorry I put you in that position."
"I just think our cells are packed full of people who haven't had a second chance, that's all. Sometimes people deserve another look, do you know what I'm saying?"
"Yeah. I do now, I just..."
"You're a bloody good detective, Jack. You know it. And one day you'll be doing my job. It's just your emotions get in the way sometimes that's all. I gotta shout at someone. I don't know. Stop being so premenstrual or something. Whatever it is, do you know what I mean? Is it a full moon? I don't know what it is, you guys...."
"You're the second person that's described me like that today. You coming down?"
"I'll be down in a minute. Won't be long"
"You sure? kettle on? "
"See you later. I thought you were coming for a hug."
I'm enjoying suspects more than i ever thought I would and am feeling quite pissed off that there's so long to wait before the rest of the series airs....I guess it's something to look forward to.
Another excellent episode- the subject matter was particularly harrowing but as always excellent performances by all involved. For all that Jack was hauled over the coals by Martha earlier in the episode, I really did expect more of a flash of temper at the end. And I have to admit the solicitors in this show are very quiet!
Was too cross with channel five last night to post my thoughts earlier here. Inexplicably annoying decision. Later in the year? Given their track record for resuming series after a break I'm wondering which year they're going to resume the show in. ;)
I think it will be before the DVD release in November so that is a positive. One thing coming from this is that Damien has been noticed again. He has had praise all round from the media and this will help him get more work, I am certain.
Agree with you both Pearl and Lisa, this episode was stunning! a very difficult subject matter, handled brilliantly. All performances were exceptionally strong, but felt this was Fay Ripley's episode, loved her!
The dynamic between Martha and Jack was exciting to watch this week... moments like ..
when they were out on the scene together "go on butch, don't break your fingernails"
where she gave Jack a telling off
At the end of the episode when Jack apologised...and Martha said "I thought you were coming for a hug" and he replied "I like to keep you wanting more".
To save confusion, if we can keep this topic to discussion on the epsiode, the news of Suspects 'taking a break' is already being disussed HERE. Thanks!
I liked this episode and I agree with you, domino, with the dynamic between Martha and Jack, liked those scenes with them together.
I think, it was really good, that Martha wasn't just at the desk but more involved in the interviews and in the field. It was definetely her episode.
I hope it is going on like this (whenever they may continue). I also have the feeling, it is okay, that we don't see the private life of the three characters (just little hints when they are chatting), I think it would be a bit strange with this kind of 'documentary style'.
I've read via the Digital Spy website, that this episode only got 484k viewers and that's including the +1 channel. Given what the first episode pulled (903k), that's not good. Even though the episodes have consistently garnered excellent reviews, if, once the series continues and it has similar ratings, i can't see this being recommissioned. BUT it's made me realise that if Damien were to get a role on a scripted crime drama with all the bells and whistles, he'd be very, very good in such a role (part of me i have to admit while watching, was craving for a little bit of a peek into their personal situations and not just the work ones, i like getting those little insights here and there)
And wasn't i just the cheeriest little buttercup in this post? Apologies.
I have to say that last night's episode left me a little cold to be honest. None of it felt particularly believable and I wasn't hugely impressed with the whole setup of the investigation. I did like the twist with the brothers though...
Have to agree that Fay did a grand job this week! Seems to have taken her a little longer to get to grips with it than Damien and Clare, but I felt that it all fell into place nicely last night, she was so much more confident....
I've been hugely impressed with the acting right across the board - and, except for last weeks, which I somehow didn't engage with - the storylines have all been excellent. I'm not missing the whole soap opera personal life thing either - which does surprise me.....but there are plenty of other series out there which do that and it's so refreshing to see something different.
Must admit that I got so caught up in the drama that I haven't stopped to consider the believablity of it. I have no idea how a police investigation usually unfolds - my only experience has come from other tv dramas....which are hardly likely to be accurate - so I'm quite prepared to accept they way this is presented!
Ep 5 was introduced as the series finale...and I thought it totally lived up to that.
Have to say I'm enjoying the suspects poll banner screencap...... Although I'm a little disappointed that we haven't seen the leather jacket since ep 1!
I enjoyed it but I'm less gripped with each episode. I don't think the format can be sustained. How can it progress? Same old, same old. Hope the rest of the series proves me wrong. The cast are great. Hope to see them sooner rather than later.
__________________
"Nothing sucks more than that moment during an argument when you realise you're wrong."
@fifi ooh yes, you are right, where has the leather jacket gone?
we have seen a yummy selecting of Jack shirts and jumpers though :bigrin:
@Mary, yesterdays news has answered that questions.....2 more series is certainly more!
@UJ this ep was the last in series 1 but the rest of the already filmed episodes plus some new ones will be back in Autumn for series 2 and Suspects has also been recommissioned for series 3 in 2015. More on that news HERE!
my experience is the exact opposite, as the series continued I felt the actors and the format became stronger and stronger, and the immersion in the cases and detectives became deeper and deeper.
I also felt - and was surprised about it - that there was a series arc.. despite the self contained nature of the case er episode format, and character arcs... certainly in terms of their inter dynamic and the intrigue surrounding their approaches and their personalities. I am not only left wanting more but also feel there is an exciting and huge space for potential and development, of all of it!