"HOT FUZZ" (2007)

STATS148pages149scenes25,069words48%dialogue103characters

Words

  • dialogue12,13448%
  • action11,18645%
  • other1,7497.0%

Scenes

location
  • INT 82
  • EXT 53
  • INT/EXT 13
  • UNKNOWN 1
time
  • DAY 49
  • NIGHT 37
  • DUSK 6
  • CONT 4
  • UNKNOWN 53
1

OPEN

by Simon Pegg and Edgar Wright

2

INT. MTROPOLITAN POLICE STATION. FRONT DESK M DAY

POLICE CONSTABLE NICHOLAS ANGEL bursts through the entrance of a eity police station and [U+FB02]asheshis warrant card.

MALE VOICE (V.0.}
Police Constable Nicholas Angel.
3

INT. METROPOLITAN POLICE STATION - DAY

ANGEL strides down a corridor. His collar number reads 777.

MALE VOICE (V.O.)
Born and schooled in London. Graduated from Canterbury University in 1993 with a double [U+FB02]rstin politics and sociology.

INSERT: ANGEL at training college standing amongst dopey looking trainees. They wear navy tee shirts and shorts.

MALE VOICE (V.0.}
Attended police training college, displaying an impressive aptitude in both field training and theoretical studies.

INSERT: ANGEL running in riot gear down an alley, dodging petrol bombs, storming a fake hostage situation, finishing an exam and holding the paper aloft.

MALE VOICE (V.0.} (cont’d)
Excelled way beyond peers, passed into the Metropolitan Police Service-

INSERT: ANGEL surrounded by the same dopey faces as before, this time in full uniform, at a graduation parade.

MALE VOICE (V.O.)
-and soon proved worth as an officer. Establishing both a popularity and an effectiveness in the community-

INSERT: ANGEL talking with elderly people, a Chinese family in their native tongue, young offenders in a hall.

MALE VOICE (V.0.}
-Furthering his skills with elective training courses in advanced driving-

INSERT: ANGEL doing an elaborate skid in a police car.

MALE VOICE (V.O.)
-as well as pioneering the use of the mountain bicycle-

INSERT: ANGEL doing an elaborate skid on a police bike.

MALE VOICE (V.O.) (cont’d)
-and raising of[U+FB02]oemorale with an inventive use of desktop publishing-

INSERT: ANGEL pinning up various notices in bright colours; they read ’BIKE SHED’, ’CANTEEN’, ’HATE CRIMES’.

MALE VOICE (V.O.) (cont’d)
-Also became heavily involved in many extra curricular activities and to this day holds the Met record for the 100 metre dash.

INSERT: ANGEL fencing, doing judo, playing chess, bursts through a finishing tape at speed.

MALE VOICE (V.0.}
-In 2001 began operations in a North London armed response unit, Whiskey, Bravo 7-

INSERT: ANGEL bursts into a stairwell of an apartment block as part of a heavily armed response team.

MALE VOICE (V.O.)
-and received a bravery award for efforts in the resolution of Operation Crackdcwn-

INSERT: ANGEL storms a room where a wild eyed CRACKHEAD holds a family hostage with a KALISHNIKOV. ANGEL responds fast, firing a short burst. His expression is one of shock.

MALE VOICE (V.O.) (cont’d)
In the last twelve months alone, has received nine special commendations, achieved the highest arrest record for any officer in the borough and sustained three injuries in the line of duty, most recently in December when wounded by a man dressed as Eather Christmas.

INSERT: We see [U+FB02]ashesof framed commendations, multiple cuffing and a violent altercation with a wild eyed St. Nick.

4

INT. MTROPOLITAN POLICE STATION. FRONT DESK M DAY

POLICE CONSTABLE NICHOLAS ANGEL bursts through the entrance of a city police station and [U+FB02]asheshis warrant card.

MALE VOICE (V.0.}
Police Constable Nicholas Angel.
5

INT. SERGEANT’S GEEICE - DAY

ANGEL sits opposite a jovial SERGEANT of the same age.

SERGEANT
Hello Nicholas. How’s the hand?
ANGEL
Still a bit stiff.
SEEGEANT
Hardly fitting for such a good boy.
ANGEL
I’m sorry Sergeant?
SERGEANT
Getting stabbed by Santa.
ANGEL
Right.
SERGEANT
It can get awfully hairy out there. I’m surprised you hadn’t been snapped up into a nice desk job before. That’s what I did.
ANGEL
I know sergeant. I prefer to think my office is out on the street.
SERGEANT
Indeed you do. Your arrest record is 460% higher than any other officer. And your paperwork is really quite exemplary. You do like to cross the ’I’s and dot the ’T’s.
ANGEL
Dot the ’I’s and cross the ’T’s.
SERGEANT
Exactly. And that’s why it’s high time such skills were put to better use. We’re making you Sergeant.
ANGEL
I see.
SERGEANT
(mumbles)
In Sandford, Gloucestershire.
ANGEL
In where sorry?
SERGEANT
In Sandford, Gloucestershire.
ANGEL
That’s in the country.
SERGEANT
Yes, lovely.
ANGEL
That’s miles away.
SERGEANT
Lovely.
ANGEL
Is there not a Sergeant’s position in London?
SERGEANT
No.
ANGEL
Well, can I just stay here as a P.C.?
SERGEANT
Nooo.
ANGEL
Do I have any choice in this?
SERGEANT
Noooo.
ANGEL
But, I like it here.
SERGEANT
You always said you wanted to transfer to the country.
ANGEL
In twenty years time maybe.
SERGEANT
Well done you.
ANGEL
Hang on - I don’t actually remember telling you that.
SERGEANT
Yes you did, you said"
(slyly looks at notes)
"I’d love to settle down in the country sometime Janine".
ANGEL
I’d like to talk to the Inspector.
SERGEANT
Hey, fine. You can talk to the Inspector, but I promise he’ll say the same thing as me.
6

INT. SERGEANT’S OFFICE - DAY

An equally jovial INSPECTOR sits alongside the SERGEANT.

INSPECTOR
Hello Nicholas. How’s the hand?
ANGEL
Still a bit stiff.
INSPECTOR
How are things at home?
ANGEL
I’m sorry sir?
INSPECTOR
How’s Janine?
ANGEL
We’re no longer together sir-
INSEECTQR
So where are you living now?
SERGEANT
He’s in the Section House sir.
INSPECTOR
With all the recruits?
ANGEL
Temporarily yes, but-
INSPECTOR
Well, we must get you out of there.
SERGEANT
Yes, he’s living out of cardboard boxes.
INSPECTOR
Well, then you’re already packed. Nicholas, we’re offering you a smashing position and a delightful cottage in a lovely little place that’s been voted ’Village of the Year’ I don’t know how many times. It’ll be good for you.
SERGEANT
We’re only asking you to go for nine months.
ANGEL
Nine months!?
INSPECTOR
A year.
SERGEANT
Two years tops.
ANGEL
I really don’t know what to say-
INSPECTOR
Just say yes.
SERGEANT
Just say yes, thank you.
ANGEL
No, I’m sorry sir, I want to-
INSPECTOR
-take this higher?
ANGEL
Yes. Yes I do.
INSPECTOR
You want me to bother the Chief Inspector with this?
ANGEL
Yes I do.
INSPECTOR
You want me to get the Chief Inspector to come all the way down here?
ANGEL
Yes.
INSPECTOR
Okay. Kenneth?

The jovial CHIEF INSPECTOR (50’s) enters. ANGEL stands.

CHIEF INSPECTOR
Hello Nicholas. How’s the hand?

INSPECTOR & SERGEANT Still a bit stiff.

ANGEL
Chief Inspector-
CEIEF INSPECTOR
Keep your seat. Now, I know what you’re going to say, but the fact is, you’re making us all look bad.
ANGEL
I’m sorry sir?
CHIEF INSPECTOR
Of course we all appreciate your efforts, but you’re rather letting the side down.
ANGEL
But, my record is 406% higher than everyone else.
CHIEF INSPECTOR
Exactly...
ANGEL
I’m not sure I-
CHIEF INSPECTOR
Sometimes you’ve just got to sail the middle path.
INSPECTOR
It’s all about being a team player, Nicholas.
SERGEANT
You can’t be the Sheriff of London.
CHIEF INSPECTOR
If we let you carry on running around town, you’ll just continue to be exceptional and we can’t have that. You’ll put us all out of a job.
ANGEL
With the greatest respect, sir. You can’t just make people disappear.
CHIEF INSPECTOR
Yes I can. I’m the Chief Inspector.
INSPECTOR
No one’s disappearing, Sergeant.
ANGEL
However you spin this, there’s one thing you haven’t counted on. And that’s what the ’team’ are going to make of this.

ANGEL exits the office and is greeted by every officer in the force, clasping plastic glasses. A makeshift sign made from colour photocopied sheets reads ’GOOD LUCK NICHOLAS’.

7

INT. GROUNE FLOOR ESTATE FLAT - DAY

A group of Crime Scene Investigators dressed in white protective suits, face masks and goggles, work in a blood spattered room. A mobile rings. One of the CSI’s picks up.

JANINE
Hello.
ANGEL (O.S.}
Janine. It’s me.
JANINE
I know. I’m at work.
ANGEL (O.S.)
I know. I’m outside.

JANINE turns to see ANGEL outside the window on his mobile.

ANGEL (CONT’C}
What’s the situation?
JANINE
You know the situation. We’ve been over this.
ANGEL
I meant here.
JANINE
Two people involved, distinct signs of a struggle. A complete mess.
ANGEL
You are talking about here?
JANINE
Nicholas, what do you want?
ANGEL
I need to tell you something and I didn’t want to do it over the phone.

ANGEL disappears. Beat. He re-enters moments later and approaches the hallway door. He sees JANINE.

ANGEL (CONT’D)
Janine, I’m being transferred. I’m going away for a while-
MALE CSI
I’m not Janine.

A cough. ANGEL turns to find JANINE standing to his right.

ANGEL
Janine, I’m being transferred. I’m going away for a while.
JANINE
I know. Bob told me.

Another CSI walks past and waves to ANGEL.

BOB
Alright?
ANGEL
I just wanted to tell you in person. There’s no reason why we can’t be civil with each other. It’s not so long ago that we were talking about getting married.
JANINE
Yes but you were already married to the force weren’t you?
ANGEL
We’re actually supposed to refer to it as ’the service’ now. Of[U+FB02]oial’vocab guidelines state that ’force’ sounds too aggressive.
JANINE
See that’s it. It’s only ever about the job. It’s all you care about.
ANGEL
That’s not true.
JANINE
No, you’re right, you do have that rubber plant.
ANGEL
It’s actually a Peace Lily.
JANINE
You just can’t switch off Nicholas.

JANINE whips off her goggles for emphasis. We are still no wiser as to what she looks like.

JANINE (cont’d)
And until you find a person you care about more than your job, you never will. Besides you were the one who suggested we take a break.
ANGEL
Yeah well, guilty people usually make the first move.
JANINE
Actually there’s something I need to tell you too.
ANGEL
You’re seeing somebody.
JANINE
Yes. How did you-?
ANGEL
Is it Bob?

We see BOB dusting for prints.

JANINE
No. Does Bob look like the kind of person I’d go out with?...It’s Dave.

She gestures to an identical CSI. He waves to ANGEL.

DAVE
Alright?

ANGEL looks down and stares at the [U+FB02]oor.JANINE softens.

JANINE
Oh, Nicholas-
ANGEL
You do know that window’s been broken from the inside?

The CSIs look to the broken window. JANINE hangs her head.

8

INT. SECTION HOUSE CORRIDOR/BEDROOM - DAY

We prowl down the corridor of a dormitory to a tiny bedroom. ANGEL packs a large red suitcase and takes down photos from the wall; a blonde child in a toy police car, an article reading ’HERO GUN COP SAVES FAMILY’. Three FRESH FACED RECRUITS appear at the door.

RECRUIT
Is it true you’re leaving sir?
ANGEL
Yes it is true.
RECRUIT
Is it okay if we have your milk?
9

INT/EXT. TITLES/TRAVEL NONTAGE - DAY - DUSK

ANGEL leaves the section house, striking a lonely figure on the pavement with his suitcase and pot plant under his arm...

...ANGEL cradles his POT PLANT on a crowded TUBE TRAIN...

...ANGEL reads The Guardian on an INTER-CITY TRAIN and eats tofu from a lunch box. Urban landscapes whisr by...

...ANGEL and his POT PLANT at a deserted train station...

...ANGEL sits on a connecting shuttle train. The reception bars on his mobile deplete. Street lights whizz by...

...ANGEL sits in a minicab in semi darkness. Out of the window a sign looms: ’WELCOME TO SANDEORD’, ’THE COMMUNITY THAT CARES’. It features a picture of castle ruins.

...Signs whizz by; one pointing to the ’MODEL VILLAGE’, a large [U+FB02]oraldisplay reading ’SANDFOED, VILLAGE OF THE YEAR’, a NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH sign. We see a local church surrounded in scaffolding. Rain spots the cab window.

10

EXT. SANDEORD VILLAGE SQUARE - EVENING

The minicab pulls away, leaving ANGEL, a lonely figure on the pavement, the pot plant under his arm.

11

INT. SWAN HOTEL RECEPTION - NIGHT

ANGEL comes in to the reception of an up-market guest house, with twee living room furnishings in the foyer. A VERY OLD MAN snores in an armchair.

We see a poster for a production of ROMEO AND JULIET. An ornamental sword is mounted above a front desk where a MIDDLE-AGED WOMAN presides. She doesn’t look up.

WOMAN
It would appear the heavens have opened.
ANGEL
I was hoping I could check in.
WOMAN
Check in? But you’ve always been here.
ANGEL
Excuse me?
WOMAN
(peering through specs)
I’m sorry, I thought you were my husband. You must be Sgt. Angel.
ANGEL
Um, yes I am.
JOYCE COOPER
I’m Joyce Cooper. I trust you had a pleasant trip. Fascist.
ANGEL
I beg your pardon?
JOYCE COOPER
System of Government characterised by extreme dictatorship. Seven across.

MRS. COOPER motions to the crossword she’s been doing.

ANGEL
Ah. I believe that’s ’fascism’.
JOYCE COOPER
Fascism? Wonderful. We’ve put you in the ’Castle Suite’. It’s on the second [U+FB02]oor.Bernard will escort you up.

She motions to the OLD MAN in the foyer. For a moment he looks dead but a prodigious snore proves otherwise.

ANGEL
It’s okay. I’m sure I can make my own way up. Hag.
JOYCE COOPER
I beg your pardon?
ANGEL
Evil old woman considered ugly or frightful. 12 down.
JOYCE COOPER
Bless you.
12

INT. SWAN HOTEL CORRIDOR/ROOM - DAY

ANGEL approaches a door marked CASTLE SUITE. He unlocks it and enters. The room is quaint but identical in dimension to his previous accomodation. ANGEL takes off his jacket and places his POT PLANT on the windowsill. It’s deathly quiet. ANGEL grabs his jacket again.

13

EXT. SANDFORD SQUARE - NIGHT

The rain now stopped, ANGEL walks the empty streets. He hears signs of life from the pub. He heads towards it, passing the village fountain, where a group of young children gather. Chatting, leaning on skateboards, they all wear hooded tops.

ANGEL frowns and glances at his watch. As he passes, the HOODIES all stare after him.

14

INT. THE CROWN - NIGHT

ANGEL cautiously enters a lively pub, complete with rustic farming equipment and a cheery landlord and landlady.

ROTUND DRINKER
Pint of lager, please Mary.
MARY PORTER
Right you are my love.
ROY PORTER
Yes sir, what can I get you?
ANGEL
Could I have a glass of the... cranberry juice please?
ROY PORTER
Certainly. Now, you wouldn’t, by any chance, be the new policeman?
ANGEL
Police officer, yes. My name is Nicholas Angel.
ROY PORTER
Thought so. I’m Roy Porter and this is my wife Mary.
MARY PORTER
Welcome to Sandford. If there’s anything you need, let us know.
ANGEL
Thanks. Could I borrow your paper?

ANGEL points to a ’SANDFORD CITIZEN’ on the bar.

MARY PORTER
It’s not ours love.
ROY PORTER
Not big fans of the local fishwrapper, are we Mare? They listed her age as 55"
MARY PORTER
-when I’m actually 53.
ROTUND DRINKER
Pint of lager, please Mary.
MARY PORTER
Right you are my love.
15

INT. THE CROWN - NIGHT

ANGEL sits on a stool at the bar reading the paper - (Headlines read ’MYSTERY SURROUNDS PROPOSED EIPASS’)

A suspiciously young laugh draws ANGEL’s attention. Some drinkers at the bar look very fresh faced. Others drink beer through straws. Another drinker guffaws, his BRACES glint.

ANGEL is dazzled. He looks to a sign reading ’IT IS ILLEGAL TO SELL ALCOHOL TO ANYONE UNDER THE AGE OF 18’.

16

INT. THE CROWN - CONTINUOUS

ANGEL strides over to the table of straw drinkers.

ANGEL
Excuse me. When’s your birthday?
YOUNGSTE
22nd of February.
ANGEL
What year?
YOUNGSTER
Every year.
ANGEL
Okay. Get out.

JUMPCUT. ANGEL talks to the YOUNGSTER with terrible acne.

YOUNGSTE 2
Eighth of May, 1968.
ANGEL
You’re 37?
YOUNGSTER 2
...Yeah.
ANGEL
Get out.

JUMPCUT. A high voiced YOUNGSTER with braces.

YOUNGSTER 3
Ummm...
ANGEL
Out.
ROY PORTER
Is there a problem officer?
ANGEL
Yes there is. An awful lot of your patrons appear to be underage Mr. Porter.
ROY PORTER
Well, a few of them may be a month or two south of proper. But if they’re in here, it stops them getting into trouble out there-
MARY PORTER
-doing their business in the street, having fisticuffs, nicking traf[U+FB02]c cones-
ROY PORTER
The way we see it, it’s all about the greater good.
MARY PORTER
...the greater good.
ANGEL
That may be, but the law’s the law. They’ll all have to go.

MARY PORTER/ROY PORTER Oh.

17

EXT. THE CROWN - NIGHT

A grumbling group of teens stomp out of the pub.

18

INT. THE CROWN - NIGHT

ANGEL is sat back at the bar. The pub is now almost empty. The PORTERS are not so cheery now.

ROY PORTER
Another cranberry juice?
ANGEL
I’m fine thank you.
19

EXT. THE CROWN - NIGHT

ANGEL strolls out of the pub and walks past the fountain. He tosses a coin in and takes time to observe the plague; ’This fountain was generously’restored with funds raised by Mr F. Butterman, Mrs J. Cooper, Mr R. Hatcher, Miss A. Paver...’

A metallic scratching distracts ANGEL. He sees the ROTUND DRINKER trying to put his key in the lock of an ASTRA.

ANGEL
I hope you’re not thinking of driving that.
ROTUND DRINKER
Nope.

The ROTUND ERINKER stumbles away from the car. ANGEL turns back and notices that the plague has been vandalised with a marker pen graffiti tag which appears to be a ’G’.

An engine revs behind ANGEL. He jumps back as the ASTRA reverses into the fountain with a resounding crash. He storms over to the driver’s door and hauls the ROTUNO DRINKER out, who immediately and loudly throws up.

ANGEL
I’m taking you down the station... Where is it?

ANGEL escorts the ROTUND DRINKER by the collar. Up ahead, the underage drinkers pisses in the street. ANGEL coughs.

UNDERAGE DRINKER
What?
20

INT. SANDFOED STATION/FRONT OFFICE - NIGHT

ANGEL strides in with the ROTUND DRINKER and the UNDERAGE DRINKER. He has also picked up three other underage drinkers, two scuffed from brawling and one with a traffic cone on his head. He [U+FB02]asheshis card to a cheery DESK SERGEANT.

DESK SERGEANT
Sergeant Nicholas Angel? When did you start?
ANGEL
Tomorrow.
DESK SERGEANT
I see you’ve already arrested the whole village.
ANGEL
Not exactly.

The DESK SERGEANT looks to the ROTUND DRINKER and laughs. The ROTUNE DRINKER stumbles over to a connecting door.

DESK SERGEANT
You in for the night? Four’s free.
ANGEL
I need to talk to him.
DESK SERGEANT
He’ll be no use til the morning. Do you really want to process this lot? My pen’s running out.
ANGEL
Not a problem.

ANGEL retrieves two pens from his pocket. Cue ELASHCUTS of detainees being processed, fingerprints taken, heights measured; (the TRAFFIC CONE kid, unable to remove his headgear is recorded as 8’ 2").

21

INT. SWAN HOTEL ROOM - NIGHT

ANGEL lies on his bed, staring at the ceiling.

22

INT. SWAN HOTEL ROOM - MORNING

JUMP CUT to the next morning. The bed is empty.

23

EXT. HIGH STREET - MORNING

ANGEL in sweats, jogs out of the hotel. In the daylight, Sandford looks beautiful and idyllic.

JOYCE COOPER is up a ladder, watering her hanging baskets. She greets ANGEL cheerily. He passes other early birds who do the same; a FEMALE NEWSAGENT setting out her paper stand, a EOOKISH WOMAN on a bicycle, a cheery VICAR, a dishy DOCTOR.

ANGEL sees the crashed ASTRA being towed away by a removal vehicle operated by two GRUFF LOOKING MEN. They nod to him.

MAN (O.S.)
Lock me up?

Another jogger stops by ANGEL. He has a ready smirk and a confident air. He wears a ’SANDFORD FUN RUNNERS’ t-shirt.

ANGEL
Sorry?
MAN
I’m a slasher and I must be stopped.
ANGEL
You’re a what?
MAN
A slasher...of prices. I’m joking of course. I’m Simon Skinner, I run the local Super Marche.

SIMON SKINNER nods to a supermarket named SUMMRAISLES.

Pop in some time, my discounts are criminal. Catch me later.

SKINNER accelerates into a sprint, leaving a bemused ANGEL at the door of his hotel. ANGEL strides inside.

24

INT. SANDFORD FRONT OFFICE - MORNING

ANGEL strides into the station, now in full uniform. The same DESK SERGEANT is there as before. Although he is now sour faced and has curly hair. ANGEL is a tad confused.

ANGEL
Morning Sergeant. Have you done something with your hair?
DESK SERGEANT
No.
ANGEL
Well, could you tell Inspector Butterman that I’ve arrived?
DESK SERGEANT
No.
ANGEL
Why?
DESK SERGEANT
He’s not in yet.
ANGEL
I see. How’s our guest?
DESK SERGEANT
Guest?
ANGEL
The inebriate in cell four.
DESK SERGEANT
I dunno. Nobody tells me nothing.

ANGEL walks over to Cell Four and looks through the observation hatch. Panic spreads across his face.

ANGEL
Can I get cell four open?
DESK SERGEANT (O.S.)
Danny, can you open four?
ANGEL
Quickly please?
DESK SERGEANT (O.S.)
Quickly...please!

An OFFICER opens the cell. ANGEL walks in to find it empty.

ANGEL
He’s gone.
OFFICER
Oh my god? Who’s gone?

We see that the OFFICER is the ROTUND DRINKER.

ANGEL
Why are you dressed as a police officer?
OFFICER
Because I am one?

A jovial man enters the cell in senior officer’s garb.

FRANK
Sergeant Angel, at last. I see you’ve already met my boy.
25

INT. FRANK’S OFFICE - DAY

FRANK’s office is adorned with CERTIFICATES, including ’VILLAGE OF THE YEAR’ plagues, along with a POLICE a glass case and two mounted ANTIQUE PISTOLS.

We also see a photo of a younger FRANK and DANNY dressed as cowboys and a middle aged woman dressed as a sguaw.

FRANK
Do forgive me. I’m something of a wild west nut. Speaking of which, that was a fair few outlaws you rounded up last night.
ANGEL
Thank you sir.
FRANK
I admire your enthusiasm Nicholas and far be it from me to sti[U+FB02]e your[U+FB02]air,but this isn’t London.
ANGEL
With respect sir, geographical location shouldn’t factor in the application of the law.
FRANK
But coming in all guns blaring can sometimes exacerbate matters, you know make things worse?
ANGEL
I’m aware of the meaning of exacerbate, sir.
FRANK
Of course you are. Statistically, Sandford is the safest village in the country but that doesn’t mean it reguires anything less than a careful and considered approach. There’s a reason we accommodate a few of the younglings at the pub.
ANGEL
The greater good?
FRANK
The greater good. Precisely! Your predecessor assumed rural policing was easy. Ended up having a nervous breakdown. And Sgt. Popwell was an exceptional officer, truly exceptional. And he had one thing you haven’t got.
ANGEL
What’s that sir?
FRANK
A great big bushy beard! Come on. Let’s have a mosey around.
26

INT. STATION - DAY

FRANK shows ANGEL the locker room. DANNY lags behind.

FRANK
Locker room.

FRANK opens a door on a musty collection of riot gear.

FRANK (CONT’D)
Riot room.

A HEDGEHOG is startled by the rare intrusion. FRANK approaches another door with a security keypad.

FRANK (CONT’D) (cont’d)
And this here’s the evidence room. What’s the code again?
DANNY
999, Dad.
FRANK
You’d think I’d remember that.

FRANK opens the evidence locker. It’s surprisingly empty.

FRANK (CONT’ D}
Now, how about a trip to the Andes?

FRANK leads them to a door marked ’C.I.D’. Inside are two thirty something plain clothes officers with cropped hair, and tashes. On their small desk are two plates of cake.

FRANK
Detective Sergeant Wainwright and Detective Constable Cartwright.

CARTWRIGHT and WAINWRIGHT stare back at ANGEL with disdain.

FRANK (CONT’D)
Don’t get up.

They leave and continue down the corridor.

FRANK
I suspect you’re wondering why we call them the Andes.
ANGEL
Because they’re both called Andrew?
FRANK
They said you were good.
DANNY
It’s also because talking te them is a uphill struggle, innit Dad?

A wastepaper basket sails out of the Andes office and hits Eanny on the head.

DANNY (cont’d)
Oh fuck eff?
FRANK
Thank you Danny.

A battered tin reads ’SWEARBOX’. DANNY dreps a quid in.

FRANK (O.S.)
The swearbox. All proceeds to the restoration of the church roof.

FRANK shows ANGEL into the operations room, where uniformed officers bunch together at oramped desks.

FRANK
And this is where it all happens-

We hear a solitary Apple start-up chime.

FRANK (cont’d)
That’s Sergeant Tony Fisher, that’s PC Bob Walker and that is Saxon.
FISHER (40’s) reedy, fixed grin. WALKER (50’s) bald,
grizzled with a large Alsatian. All three are eating cake.
WALKER
Pleshnrertoaveyeenbordsarg.
FRANK
And this is one Doris Thatcher.
DANNY
She’s our only police woman.
ANGEL
She’s not a police woman.
DANNY
She is. I’ve seen her bra.
ANGEL
She’s a police officer, being a woman has nothing to do with it.
DORIS TRATCHER
Oh, I don’t knew. It comes in handy every so often.

The rosy faced officer winks lewdly at a blushing ANGEL.

DORIS TRATCHER (cont’d)
I ceuld’ve given you the tour. I’ve been round the station a few times.

The office erupts into bawdy cheers. ANGEL is keen to move on. He points to a door marked ’N.W.A’.

ANGEL
What’s upstairs?

A little besuited man opens the door. On the table of his tiny, folder crammed office is a plate of chocolate cake.

WEAVER
Well, well, well, I see we have Visitors.
FRANK
Nicholas, this is Tom Weaver"
WEAVER
Civilian liaison for the Neighbourhood Watch at your service.
ANGEL
Good to meet you.
WEAVER
You’ll find we run a tight ship here. Got everyone linked up with a walkie so we can keep eaoh other abreast of any misadventure. And from here

WEAVER opens a connecting door to a room full of monitors.

WEAVER (cont’d)
I can see what the whole village is up to. I must say I was rather admiring your handiwork last night.

Chuckling WEAVER cues up CCTV footage of ANGEL’s run-ins. We also see footage of HOODIES huddled around the fountain.

WEAVER (cont’d)
Shame you couldn’t have done the same with those bloody hoodies. Hanging around. Loitering. Sitting.
ANGEL
I did notice some minor graffiti on the fountain.
WEAVER
Graffiti? I knew they were up to something! They need to be dealt with Frank?
FRANK
They’re nippers Tom. They’ll come round.
ANGEL
Yes, this kind of transgression usually stems from boredom. Ever thought about building them a skate park? Or providing a designated wall for a graf[U+FB02]timural?

WEAVER looks at ANGEL and lets out a huge guffaw.

WEAVER
Ha? That’s all we need on the team, another bloody joker. Which reminds me, our friend the living statue’s back. He was there Saturday.

WEAVER [U+FB02]icksthrough CCTV printouts of a street performer dressed as a STATUE. They are all identical.

WEAVER (cont’d)
Look 11am, 12pm, lunchtime, 2pm. If we don’t come down hard on these clowns, we’ll be up to our balls in jugglers.
FRANK
Perish the thought.
WEAVER
I tried to move him on myself but it cost me twenty quid in fifty pees and took four hours.
FRANK
We’ll get right onto it, Tom.

They leave. FRANK scrunches up the printouts into a hall, and throws it to DANNY, who heads it into the bin.

FRANK (cont’d)
We like to let them think they run the place. Now, confession to make, bit of a problem with your office.
ANGEL
Well sir, I like to think my office is out on the street-
FRANK
Oh, you heard about that?

He nods to office furniture sat out front of the station.

FRANK (cont’d)
Had a bit of a leak last week.

FRANK opens a door to reveal a damp, bare tiny office.

FRANK (cont’d)
I know it’s not a great start on the welcome front. They brought the ’Village Of The Year’ forward for some reason and everyone’s gone a bit mad getting ready for it. We’ll get you behind your desk as soon as the [U+FB02]oor’sdry.

FRANK shuts the door. They move back to the main of[U+FB02]oe.

FRANK (cont’d)
And that’s that. Unless there’s anything you’re unclear about?
ANGEL
There is sir. Why is everyone eating chocolate cake?
FRANK
The Black Forest Gateaux is on Danny. As punishment for his little indiscretion.
ANGEL
I Wouldn’t call driving under the influence a ’little indiscretion’,
(MORE)
ANGEL (cont’d)
sir. Besides, where’s the disciplinary value if Constable Butterman gets to partake of the Gateaux as well? He’s having his cake and eating it. Literally.
FRANK
(chuckles)
The gateau is for misplaoing his helmet the other week. Last night’s incident will require something much more serious.
ANGEL
Good.
FRANK
Do you like ice cream?
ANGEL
I’m sorry, I don’t follow sir.
FRANK
Let’s just say we won’t be short of Chunky Monkey for the next month.

The officers cheer. ANGEL visibly sags.

FRANK (cont’d)
Well, since it’s your hrst day and it’s half past eleven, I’d say that’s lunch.

Another cheer from the assembled officers.

27

INT. THE CROWN - DAY

ANGEL is sat at a pub table with the other offieers (only he wears a stab vest). DANNY brings pints to everyone but ANGEL, who has a cranberry juice. SAXON laps at a bowl of lager

FISHER
Sooooo, what made you choose Sandford Sergeant Angel?
ANGEL
It wasn’t actually my choice.
FISHER
Wasn’t your choice to come down here and show me how to do my job. Our jobs.
WALKER
Yooceetyboisefinkdeynobettarrr.

There’s a murmur of agreement. ANGEL is a little oonfused.

ANGEL
I can assure you it wasn’t my intention to upset the apple cart.
CARTWRIGHT
Yeah, cos we all sell apples down here, don’t we?
DANNY
Your Dad sells apples Andy.
CARTWRIGHT
And raspberries.
WAINWRIGHT
I bet you can’t wait to jump into Sergeant Fopwell’s grave.

WAINWRIGHT swigs Guinness, the head collects on his lip.

ANGEL
I’m not jumping in anyone’s grave. You have a moustache.
WAINWRIGHT
I know.
CARTWRIGHT
Why’ve you got your stab vest on?
ANGEL
It’s a requirement.
FISHER
In the city maybe. No-one’s going to stab you in here sergeant, not a member of the public anyhow.
ANGEL
Have you ever been stabbed Sergeant Fisher?
FISHER
No.
ANGEL
I have. And I can assure you it’s not the slightest bit amusing.

DANNY’s ears prick up, he looks to ANGEL with awe.

DANNY
Have you seen a lot of action Sergeant Angel?
ANGEL
I’ve experienced my fair share, yes.
WAINWRIGHT
Little bird tells me you were part of an armed response unit.
ANGEL
What little bird would that be?
CARTWRIGHT
Andy googled you.
DORIS THATCHER
I wish someone would google me.
DANNY
Were you part of an armed response unit?
ANGEL
Yes, for two years. grave.
DANNY
Did you cook any fools?
ANGEL
Excuse me?
DANNY
Did you shoot anybody?
CARTWRIGHT
Shot someone? He killed someone.
DANNY
No way, that’s amazing.
ANGEL
It was not amazing, it was extremely regrettable, but the situation left me with no choice.
DANNY
Who did you shoot?
WAINWRIGHT
He shot a crack-head with a Kalashnikov.
DANNY
Wow. Where d’you get that? .
ANGEL
The offender had the Kalashnikov.
DANNY
Wow. Where’d he get that?
WAINWRIGHT
You do know there are more guns in the country than in the city?
CARTWRIGHT
Everyone and their mum’s packing round here.
ANGEL
Really, like who?

CARTNRIGHT nods to a tall, ruddy, farmer at the bar.

CARTWRIGHT
Farmers.
ANGEL
Anyone else?
CARTWRIGHT
Farmer’s mums.

DANNY pulls his chair closer to the bemused ANGEL.

DANNY
What’s it like being stabbed?
ANGEL
It was the single most painful experience of my life.
DANNY
Wow. What’s the second most painful?
28

INT. ANGEL’S OFFICE - DAY

A glum ANGEL sits at his desk. Two men manoeuvre a filing cabinet into the office. A man appears from under his desk, placing a phone in front of him. It rings. ANGEL answers.

FRANK (O.S.)
Everything alright?
ANGEL
Actually sir-
29

INT. FRANK’S OFFICE - SECONDS LATER

ANGEL
-there is something I want to talk to you about.
FRANK
Oh yes?
ANGEL
I’m a little concerned that my appointment here may be causing resentment within the division.
FRANK
Oh really? So what do you suggest?
30

INT. STATION " SOME MORE SECONDS LATER.

ANGEL steps out of Frank’s office. He gets the attention of the assembled officers. They stop eating their cake.

ANGEL
Excuse me everyone. If you could put your gateau down for a sec. In order to maximise my integration here at Sandford, I’ve asked the Inspector to permit me a more grass roots introduction.
DORIS THATCHER
Root. Ha ha.
ANGEL
I’m hoping that getting out on the beat and familiarising myself with the area in this way, might dispel any concerns about my suitabilty. Thank you.

There’s a vague affirmative murmur from the other officers.

ANGEL
Basically, I’d just like to be treated like any other officer at this station.

ANGEL turns his back. A WASTE PAPER BASKET hits him hard on the head. The officers snigger.

ANGEL
That could have actually really hurt someone. But... thank you.

ANGEL re-enters FRANK’s office. FRANK looks concerned.

FRANK
You sure about this?
ANGEL
Yes sir.
FRANK
Well, I suppose, we should get you out there with someone who really knows what’s what. And I think I have just the man...DANNY!
31

EXT. HIGN STREET - DAY

A glum cap wearing ANGEL and chirpy helmet wearing DANNY, walk the streets. Village folk greet them with ’Afternoon’.

DANNY
Have you ever fired two guns whilst jumping through the air?
ANGEL
Afternoon. No.
DANNY
Have you ever fired one gun whilst jumping through the air?
ANGEL
Afternoon. No.
DANNY
Have you ever been in a high speed pursuit?
ANGEL
Afternoon. Yes.
DANNY
Have you ever fired a gun whilst in a high speed pursuit?
ANGEL
Afternoon. No.
32

INT. NEWSAGENT - DAY

A sign reads ’ONLY ONE SCHOOL CHILD AT ANY TIME’. ANGEL waits as DANNY buys a pasty from a FEMALE NEWSAGENT. A walkie talkie crackles to life on the counter.

RADIO VOICE
Annette, that new policeman is coming into your shop.

EXT/INT. SQUAD CAR - DAY

ANGEL and DANNY sit in the parked squad car; ANGEL is on the radio, watching with disdain as DANNY retrieves ketchup sachets from his top pocket and squirts them onto a pasty.

ANGEL
Oscar four zero, over.
RADIO VOICE
Oscar four zero go ahead, over.
ANGEL
Just checking...
33

EXT. HIGH STREET - EVENING

ANGEL and DANNY walk the quiet streets again.

DANNY
What about Dirty Harry?
ANGEL
Evening. No.
DANNY
Lethal Weapon.
ANGEL
Evening. No.
DANNY
You’ve seen Die Hard though?
ANGEL
Evening. No.
DANNY
Bad Boys 2?
ANGEL
Evening. No.
DANNY
You haven’t seen Bad Boys 2??
34

INT. LOCKER ROOM - EVENING

ANGEL and a pumped DANNY change out of their uniforms.

DANNY
Woof? Hell of a day.
ANGEL
Yep.
DANNY
Same again tomorrow?
ANGEL
Yep.

ANGEL opens his locker. Hundreds of apples tumble out. Inside a note reads ’WELCOME SERGEANT’.

DANNY
That weren’t me.

The other officers appear, sniggering; the ANDES, FISHER and THATCHER, who is in her bra. We hear a round of applause.

35

INT. SWAN HOTEL FUNCTION ROOM - EVENING

The applause continues over a sign reading ’N.W.A - 7pm’. TOM WEAVER introduces ANGEL to a large group of Village folk, including JOYCE COOPER and the PORTERS. FRANK is also present, as is a snoring BERNARD. WEAVER introduces the BOOKISH CYCLIST glimpsed that morning.

WEAVER
This is Amanda Paver, headmistress of Sandford Primary. And Simon Skinner I believe you’ve met.
SIMON SKINNER
Oh we’re already firm friends.

SIMON SKINNER beams at ANGEL, who is a little unnerved. A middle aged woman fusses over a [U+FB02]oraldisplay reading ’WELCOME SERGEANT’.

WEAVER
And this is Leslie Tiller, our local [U+FB02]oralwiz. Her horticultural contributions have helped put Sandford on the map. She prepared this especially for you.
JOYCE COOPER
She’s ever so good.
WEAVER
James Reaper, who owns Brannigan Farm.

WEAVER introduces the tall, ruddy, farmer from the bar.

REAPER
I hear you’re quite the marksman. Perhaps you might like to join us for a shoot one day.
ANGEL
I haven’t held a firearm for over two years Mr. Reaper and I’m more than happy to keep it that way.
REAPER
You will be popular with the local birds.

A ripple of polite laughter as the group gather round and sit at a large circular table. SKINNER stares at ANGEL, grinning.

REV. SHOOTER
Hello Nicholas. Reverend Shooter. May I say how pleased we are to have an Angel at our table.
(more laughter)
Actually I was hoping you might read a homily at Sunday Service.
ANGEL
To be honest Reverend, that might be a little hypocritical of me.
REV. SHOOTER
Oh, are we an atheist?
ANGEL
No, I’m open to the concept of religion, I’m just not entirely convinced.
REV. SHOOTER
You’re agnostic?
DR. HATCHER
I think I have a cream for that.

More laughter. WEAVER nods to a tweedy, bearded doctor.

WEAVER
And this is Robin Hatcher our resident sawbones.
DR. HATCHER
Hopefully we won’t see too much of each other over the coming months.

DR. HATCHER smiles at ANGEL. More laughter.

WEAVER
All that remains to say is, welcome to the weekly meeting of the Neighbourhood Watch Alliance.
READER
We’re basically a group of volunteers who strive to keep the village just so.
SHOOTER
We’re the community that cares.
ANGEL
Well, it’s good to know we have the support of the community.
HATCHER
Well, not the whole community.
SKINNER
We don’t let any old riff raff in.

A huge laugh. JOYCE COOPER brings the meeting to order.

JOYCE COOPER
Now, quick announcement before we begin. Janet Barker has just given birth to twins. Congratulations to her, we’ll be keeping a keen eye on them as they grow up. Tom?
WEAVER
Thanks Joyce. To business then.

WEAVER affects a deadly earnest tone of voice.

WEAVER (cont’d)
I’m sure many of you will have noticed the return of a blight on our streets, one which is all the more disturbing as the ’Village Of The Year’ contest looms. I speak of course of the extremely irritating Living Statue.

An image of the LIVING STATUE on an overhead projector. There are mumbles of "irritating". ANGEL stifles a yawn. FRANK smiles and pats him on the back.

36

INT. SWAN HOTEL ROOM - EVENING - MONTAGE

ANGEL listens to the radio and waters his POT PLANT.

RADIO 4 ANNOUNCER (O.S.)
Newly released Home Office statistics show crime in the capital soaring...

Later: A dejected ANGEL is on the phone. We hear the recorded voice of the MET SERGEANT, from the first scene.

SERGEANT (V.O.)
I’m out of the office at present. If it’s an emergency, call 9-9-9...

Later: ANGEL lies awake on his bed. His [U+FB02]oraltribute appears almost funereal against the wall.

ANGEL (V.O.)
Police work is as much about preventing crime as it is about fighting crime. Most importantly it is about procedural correctness...
ANGEL
-in the execution of unquestionable moral authority. Any questions?

We see ANGEL is talking to a group of young school kids. DANNY sits cross legged with them. He puts his hand up.

DANNY
Is it true if you shot a man in a particular spot on the head, you can make it blow up?

Later: ANGEL and DANNY talk to headmistress AMANDA PAVER. A wiry young reporter approaches with a camera.

TIM MESSENGER
Hi, Tim Messenger. Quick snap for the Sandford Citizen?

Later: ANGEL poses awkwardly with the schoolkids.

TIM MESSENGER (cont’d)
How about if you put the teacher in handcuffs?
ANGEL
I’m not sure that gives off the right signals.
TIM MESSENGER
Give the little blond kid your hat?

ANGEL looks at a sweet BLOND HAIRED BOY next to him.

ANGEL
I’d rather not.
TIM MESSENGER
Wave your hitting stick about?
ANGEL
No.
37

INT. SWAN HOTEL DINING ROOM - MORNING

FLASH. We see the newspaper article; ’SHORT ARM OE THE LAW: TOP COP ANGLE TELLS IT TO THE KIDS’. ANGEL circles the typo as he sits in a vast dining room. JOYCE approaches with tea.

JOYCE COOPER
Oh, can I have your autograph please?

ANGEL laughs it off bashfully.

JOYCE COOPER (CONT’D)
I do need your signature for breakfast.
38

INT. LOCKER ROOM - MORNING

ANGEL opens his locker. It is plastered with photocopies of the article. The ’ANGLE’ typo is underlined in red.

39

INT. STATION - MORNING

ANGEL makes his way to his office. Sniggering officers greet him with ’Sergeant Angle’, including the now straight haired DESK SERGEANT.

DESK SERGEANT
Morning Angle.
FISHER
Morning Angle.
DORIS THATCHER
Morning Angle.

WAINWRIGHT CARTWRIGHT

Morning Angle. Morning Angle.

WALKER
Murrrnangul.
ANGEL
I presume you just called me Angle.
WALKER
Arrr.

ANGEL feigns good humour but looks irritated. His phone rings. He picks up.

ANGEL
Sergeant Angel?... The swan has escaped?...And where exactly has the swan escaped from? And who might you be? Mr. Staker. Mr. P. I. Staker? Piss taker?

ANGEL looks around at his fellow officers to see who is on the other end of the phone. He realises that no-one is.

40

EXT. CHURCH - DAY

ANGEL and DANNY talk to an OLD MAN IN A CAR by a moat.

ANGEL
Yes Mr. Staker, we’ll do everything we can to get her back. Can you describe her?
MR. STAKER
Two foot tall. Long slender neck.
ANGEL
Go on.
MR. STAKER
Orange and black bill.
ANGEL
Anything else?
MR. STAKER
She’s a swan.
41

EXT. PARK - DUSK

DANNY and ANGEL close in on a swan which waddles through a park. However it evades them every time they draw near.

42

INT. NEWSAGENT - DAY

DANNY buys a Cornetto from a smirking ANNETTE ROPER. ANGEL stands nearby, whilst looking elsewhere.

ANNETTE ROPER
No luck catching them swans then?
DANNY
It’s just the one swan actually.
43

EXT. SQUAD CAR/SANDFORD SQUARE - DAY

ANGEL and DANNY sit in their usual parking space. Sandford life drifts by. The LIVING STATUE is also present.

DANNY
You want anything from the shop?
ANGEL
You’ve just been to the shop.
DANNY
I was thinking of a different shop.
ANGEL
Constable Butterman, this is not the time for personal errands.
DANNY
Well, there’s nothing going on.
ANGEL
There’s always something going on. Look around you, what do you see?
DANNY
People...cars...that gold bloke... the swan.
ANGEL
Where?
DANNY
Ha ha?
ANGEL
I’m serious. You have to look closer. What about him in the big coat?

ANGEL nods to an ANCIENT MAN in a heavy winter overcoat.

DANNY
Mr. Treacher?
ANGEL
Well why is Mr. Treacher wearing that big coat? He can’t be cold. Why the extra layer? He might be hiding something...
DANNY
But that’s Mr. Treacher.
ANGEL
Okay, what about him?

ANGEL nods over to a man in a PURPLE SHELL SUIT with his cap pulled down low over his face.

ANGEL (cont’d)
Ask yourself why he has his hat pulled down like that.
DANNY
He’s fuck ugly?
ANGEL
Or he doesn’t want you to see his face.
DANNY
Because he’s fuck ugly.

Changing tack, ANGEL nods to a HULKING MAN, clad in denim.

ANGEL
Alright. Well, what’s his story?
DANNY
That’s Lurch.
ANGEL
Go on.
DANNY
He’s the trolley boy at the supermarket.
ANGEL
Good.
DANNY
Real name, Michael Armstrong.
ANGEL
Okay.
DANNY
Dad says he’s got a child’s mind.
ANGEL
Uh huh.
DANNY
Lives up Summer Street with his mum and his sister.
ANGEL
Are they as big as him?
DANNY
Who?
ANGEL
The mum and the sister.
DANNY
Same person.
ANGEL
Which shop were you thinking of?
44

INT. SUMMERAISLES - DAY

As DANNY delves in a video bargain bin full of action films, ANGEL loiters in organic produce. He spots two GRUFF LOOKING BUTCHERS behind a meat counter. They nod ’hello’.

FEMALE VOICE (TANNOY)
Sergeant Angel to the manager’s ofifice. Managers ofifice. Sergeant Angel.
45

INT. MANAGERS OFFICE - DAY

ANGEL strides into an office where SIMON SKINNER reads the ’Top Cop’ story in the SANDFORD CITIZEN. A slutty CHECKOUT GIRL lounges beside him. One wall is lined with sketches of a drive thru supermarket, the other with security monitors. A ’fun running’ trophy sits conspicuously on the shelf.

SKINNER
Ah, Sergeant Angel. Or is it Angle?
CHECKOUT GIRL
Mr. Skinner, a baby’s sicked up in aisle six.
SKINNER
Please excuse me. Michael?

The now uniformed LURCH lumbers past the doorway.

LURCH
Yarp.
SKINNER
Child vomit. Aisle six. Mop it up.
LURCH
Yarp.
ANGEL
Is there a problem, Mr Skinner?
SKINNER
No, I just wanted to say how lovely it is to see you supporting your local store.
ANGEL
That’s quite alright.
SKINNER
All too many have defected to the big Safeway in Buford Abbey and may their heads be struck from their shoulders for such disloyalty.
ANGEL
Yes, well if you’d excuse me, Mr. Skinner I am on duty.
SKINNER
Of course, I simply spied you loitering in organic produce and assumed you had time on your hands.
ANGEL
Well maybe there’s someone else you should be keeping an eye on.

SKINNER turns to leak at the CCTV. On one screen we see a small, well dressed man climbing out of a Range Rover.

SKINNER
That’s the Fridge Magnate.
ANGEL
The Fridge Magnet?
SKINNER
Name’s George Merchant. Made a fortune in kitchen goods. Built that monstrosity on Norris Avenue. He’ll validate his parking with a
(MORE)
SKINNER (cont’d)
paltry Snickers and scurry off to his solicitor’s office all afternoon. I swear I’ll have the boys tow him away.
ANGEL
Actually I wasn’t talking about him.
SKINNER
Oh?
ANGEL
I was talking about him.

ANGEL paints to a different screen. We see a SHOPPER rather obviously stuffing biscuits into his trousers.

SKINNER
Ah.
ANGEL
Excuse me.
46

INT. SUMMERAISLES - DAY

ANGEL strides straight up to the shopper. It is THE MAN IN THE PURPLE SHELL SUIT from the square.

ANGEL
Excuse me.

The SHOPLIFTER freezes for a moment. Then scarpers.

DANNY reads the cover of Jackie Chan’s SUPERCOP when ANGEL explodes into life, chasing the SHOPLIFTER down the aisle. He throws the video back in the bin and fellows suit.

47

EXT. SUPERMARKET/HIGH STREET - DAY

The SHOPLIFTER bursts onto the street with ANGEL in hot pursuit. The usual friendly greetings from folk are bestowed on ANGEL as he sprints by. It sounds surreal.

They race past shopkeepers, who report into their radios. They also pass the LIVING STATUE. He doesn’t budge.

The SHOPLIFTER avoids being hit by REAPER’s 4x4. ANGEL vaults ever the bonnet. The shoplifter runs into an alley. ANGEL fellows, but comes to a stop at the alley entrance.

ANGEL
Oh, you mothers.

Several YOUNG MOTHERS with push chairs clog up the alley. DANNY catches up with ANGEL. He’s very out of breath.

ANGEL (cont’d)
Let’s cut through here.
DANNY
Through the gardens?
ANGEL
What’s the matter? You never taken a short cut before?

ANGEL leaps over a garden fence, then the next one, then the next. It’s an amazing acrobatic feat. DANNY gasps and follows ANGEL, but trips and crashes through the fence.

ANGEL lands back in the alley, when suddenly he spots-

The SWAN. Waddling past the mouth of the alley. ANGEL is torn for a split second, then resumes the SHOPLIFTER chase.

ANGEL runs into the HOODIES, spraying a graffiti tag reading ’G’ on a wall. Upon seeing ANGEL, the HOODIES immediately scatter like roaches, dropping their spray cans on the [U+FB02]oor.

ANGEL scoops up the spray can and hurls it through the air. It hits the SHOPLIFTER on the head. He crashes to the [U+FB02]oorhard. ANGEL picks the SHOPLIFTER up. DANNY approaches.

ANGEL (cont’d)
You do not have to say anything, but it may harm your defence if you do not mention when questioned something which you later rely on in court. Anything you do say may be given in evidence.
SHOPLIFTER
Alright Danny.
DANNY
Alright Pete.
ANGEL
Do you know this man?
DANNY
Yeah, he’s Auntie Jackie’s sister’s brother’s boy.
ANGEL
And it didn’t occur to you to mention this before?
DANNY
I couldn’t see his face could I? I’m not made of eyes!
48

INT. CUSTODY SUITE - DAY

We see FLASHCUTS of PETER COCKER being processed; mugshot, prints. ANGEL fills out arrest paperwork. FISHER ambles over.

SGT. FISHER
Impressive collar. Shame Mr Skinner doesn’t want to press charges.
ANGEL
What do you mean he doesn’t want to press charges??
SIMON SKINNER (O.S.)
I’m simply suggesting Peter be given a second chance-

ANGEL turns to see SKINNER distributing the stolen biscuits to officers, including a curly-haired DESK SERGEANT.

SKINNER
-before he becomes just another crime statistic. I’m sure he’s learnt a valuable lesson.
FISHER
Stealing biscuits is...wrong?
SKINNER
(offers Fisher a biscuit)
Correct.
FISHER
Ooh thanks.
ANGEL
And yet we respond by not taking a single punitive measure?
SKINNER
That’s the way the cookie crumbles.
FISHER
Heh heh. Like biscuits innit?
ANGEL
Mr. Skinner-
FRANK (O.S.}
Everything alright?

ANGEL turns to see FRANK at the doorway, eating ice cream.

ANGEL
Mr. Skinner feels it would be best if we didn’t prosecute an individual who has blatantly committed an offence.
FRANK
Leave this with me boys. I’ll make sure everyone gets their just desserts.
49

INT/EXT. SQUAD CAR IN LAYBY - DAY

ANGEL sits with a speed gun recording passing cars, DANNY has his feet up and is eating some of the stolen biscuits. Behind is a sign reading ’YOU ARE NOW LEAVING SANDFORD’.

ANGEL
27. Why are we on traffic?
DANNY
Dad’s probably giving us a rest after all that jumping over fences.
ANGEL
I don’t need a rest.
DANNY
There’s an amazing bit in ’Point Break’ where they jump over fences.
ANGEL
Is there now? 28.
DANNY
Yeah, Patrick Swayze’s robbed this bank and Keanu Reeves chases him through people’s gardens and then
(MORE)
DANNY (cont’d)
Keanu lands really badly and breaks his leg off and he’s like ’aaaargh’-

ANGEL

DANNY
"and then he goes to shoot Swayze, but he can’t cause he loves him so much and he fires up in the air and he’s going ’aaaargh’-.

ANGEL

DANNY
Have you ever fired your gun up in the air and gone ’aaaarh’.
ANGEL
No, Constable I have never fired my gun up in the air and gone ’aaaargh’. 30.
DANNY
Sorry, I just feel... I just feel like I’m missing out sometimes. I want to do what you do.
ANGEL
You do, do what I do. What on Earth do you think you’re missing out on?
DANNY
I don’t know. Gun fights. Car chases. Proper action and shit .
ANGEL
Proper policing isn’t about action... or shit.
DANNY
Yeah but you got to fire a gun. How come we don’t all have guns?
ANGEL
Arming the entire British Police Service would not necessarily lower the rate of crime. Guns aren’t toys Constable. Opening fire on another human being is a difficult and
(MORE)
ANGEL (cont’d)
dizzying experience. 29. If you’d paid attention to me in school, you’d know it’s not all about guns fights and car chases.

A MEGANE speeds past them. DANNY and ANGEL exchange a look.

ANGEL (CONT’D}
Fire up the roof.
DANNY
Yeah?...Where is it?

ANGEL [U+FB02]icksthe siren on. They peel out at speed. The MEGANE pulls over, ending the chase before it begins.

DANNY (cont’d)
That was brilliant.

They walk over to the MEGANE. The smartly dressed DRIVER winds down his window. ANGEL can see a NERVOUS YOUNG WOMAN in the passenger seat. The DRIVER hands over his license.

BLOWER
Was I going a tad fast, officer?
ANGEL
Yes, you were Mr. Blower.

ANGEL starts speedily scribbling in his notebook.

BLOWER
We’re staging a homage to Baz Luhrmann’s, William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet tonight and I’m a little late for the dress rehearsal. I’m playing the eponymous hero you see. Romeo not Juliet.
(nervous chuckle)
What are you writing?
ANGEL
Everything you say so I can refer to it later.
BLOWER
Now officer, I am a respected solicitor, there’s no need to-

ANGEL continues to write. DANNY watches this with interest.

BLOWER (CONT’D}
Stop writing. I was merely trying to explain why I might have exceeded the speed limit-
ANGEL
You’re playing the male lead in a production of Bar Luhrmann’s, William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet and you’re late for the dress rehearsal. You think this is sufficient reason to travel at 48 in a 30 zone?
BLOWER
Well, I-
ANGEL
To [U+FB02]outlaws put in place to save lives.
BLOWER
This is preposterous.
ANGEL
...pre-post-er-ous.
BLOWER
I’ve never been...stop writing?
ANGEL
...St-op wri-ting.
BLOWER
Look...you’re right, I apologise.

ANGEL hands him a ticket.

ANGEL
Payable in fourteen days.

ANGEL and DANNY get back into their CAR.

ANGEL (cont’d)
You see what I did there?
DANNY
You hypnotised him.

ANGEL waves his pocket book in DANNY’s face.

ANGEL
I used this? The most important piece of police hardware. This has saved my skin on many occasions. Think about using yours more often.
DANNY
I do use mine.

DANNY produces his pocketbook. ANGEL [U+FB02]ipsthrough the pages. We see a [U+FB02]ick-illustrationof cops shooting someone dead with red ink for blood. ANGEL shakes his head.

ANGEL
This is just extraordinary.
DANNY
Wait til you see the one on the other side.
50

INT. LOCKER ROOM/FRONT DESK - EVENING

ANGEL and DANNY stride out of the station in their civvies.

DANNY
What are you up to tonight?
ANGEL
I have to water my peace lily.
DANNY
Oh okay.
ANGEL
Why?
DANNY
I just thought you might want to do something.
ANGEL
What exactly were you thinking?
DANNY
Pub?
ANGEL
I don’t think that’s a good idea, do you?

ANGEL glares at DANNY. The now straight haired DESK SERGEANT calls after him.

DESK SERGEANT
Oi, you two. A Mr. Blower left you tickets for Romeo and Juliet tonight. Said it was by way of an apology.
DANNY
Yeah?
ANGEL
Well, we can’t accept gifts from someone we’ve of[U+FB02]cially rebuked.
DANNY
Yeah.

ANGEL calmly rips up both tickets in front of a deflated DANNY. ANGEL makes to leave again, just as FRANK enters.

FRANK
Ah Nicholas. Glad I caught you. Wondered if you wouldn’t mind representing us at the am dram tonight. I’m otherwise engaged and it’d be good to have a show of faith from the constabulary.
ANGEL
Of course, sir.
FRANK
And there’s a spare for Danny too.
DANNY
Yeah?
51

INT. AUDITORIUM - LATER

ANGEL’s expression is one of abject horror, Danny is asleep.

On stage, BLOWER in cod Bar Luhrmann, Romeo gear, complete with suit of armour, [U+FB02]oppyfringe and revolver, leans over EVE DRAPERS’s Juliet, who lies in state on a prop alter. He uncaps a large bottle of poison, marked with a skull and cross bones and holds it aloft.

BLOWER (ROMEO)
A dateless bargain to engrossing death. Here’s to my love.

He drinks the poison, just as JULIET awakes with an exaggerated yawn. ROMEO and JULIET look at each other in horror.

EVE DRAPER (JULIET)
Poison? Drunk all and not one drop to help me after? I’ll kiss thy lips. Happly some poison doth yet hang on them.

They kiss. With tongues. It goes on far too long. ROMEO goes limp. JULIET picks up his gun and shoots herself with a click. The stage goes to black.

The lights come up again to reveal the whole cast performing a ’Knees Up Mother Brown’ version of The Cardigan’s ’Love Fool’.

The audience applaud. A relieved ANGEL joins in, DANNY wakes up. On stage the cast take their bows. LESLIE TILLER walks on stage with a bouquet of [U+FB02]owers.

JOYCE COOPER
(from behind Angel)
She’s ever so good.
52

INT. THEATRE BAR - LATER

In the packed bar, DANNY downs a pint and ANGEL downs a cranberry juice. A beaming TIM MESSENGER sidles over.

MESSENGER
Sergeant Angel, quick word for the Sandford Citizen?
ANGEL
It was very...enjoyable.
MESSENGER
"Cop Enjoys Watching Young Lovers?"
ANGEL
I don’t think so.
MESSENGER
"Local Bobby Gives Thumbs Up To Teen Suicide?"
ANGEL
That’s grossly inappropriate.
SKINNER
You will spell his name correctly this time, won’t you Timothy?

SKINNER swoops in and leads ANGEL away from MESSENGER.

SKINNER (cont’d)
Absolute tosh wasn’t it? Annoyingly, the understudies are actually professional actors. Greg was an extra in Straw Dogs and Sheree portrayed a cadaver in Prime Suspect-

SKINNER nods to an OLDER COURLE who wave back at him. A still made up MARTIN BLOWER and his FEMALE LEAD rush over.

BLOWER
Sergeant Angel, you came? I am so thrilled you accepted my invitation.
ANGEL
Our Inspector requested we attend.
DANNY
Yes, we can’t accept gifts from someone we’ve officially rebuked so...
(blows raspberry)
...jog on.
ANGEL
Well, congratulations anyway to you and Mrs. Blower.
BLOWER
Oh, this isn’t my wife.
SKINNER
Yes, where is Edna, Martin?
BLOWER
She’s at home with the dogs. This is Miss Draper, my leading lady.
SKINNER
Isn’t she just? Eve works for the council, Sergeant. Quite the lady in the know.

EVE DRAPER snorts an alarmingly high pitched laugh.

EVE
Oh I am not.
SKINNER
Nonsense. I’m sure if we bashed your head in, all sorts of secrets would come tumbling out.

EVE lets out another snort. GEORGE MERCHANT approaches.

MERCHANT
Romeo, Romeo, a pint of bitter for Romeo?
BLOWER
Yes please George and thank you for coming!
MERCHANT
A pleasure my liege.

ANGEL spots the BLONDE SCHOOLKID from his school talk, in the other room, sipping Coke and staring at him.

DANNY
Eve’s nice ain’t she?
ANGEL
She has a... distinctive laugh.
DANNY
She was in my year at school. Always had a thing for her.
ANGEL
Well, she obviously has a thing for older men.
DANNY
What with Blower?! No way!
ANGEL
We just sat through three hours of so-called acting tonight Constable, their kiss was the only convincing moment in it.
DANNY
Now you mention it, I too have reason to believe she favours the older gent.
ANGEL
Really? How so?
DANNY
Marcus Carter’s big brother said he fingered her up the duck pond.

ANGEL spits out his cranberry juice.

53

EXT. SANDFORD PLAYHOUSE - NIGHT

Theatregoers spill out onto the street as BLOWER closes up.

BLOWER
Officers, again let me extend my sincere apologies for earlier.
ANGEL
Good night Mr. Blower. Drive safe.

ANGEL and DANNY turn away and walk home. DANNY chuckles.

DANNY
"Drive safe". You got him then.
(pause)
You know that’s the bloke we done for speeding earlier.
ANGEL
I know and hopefully that’s the last we’ll see of him.

ANGEL smiles. Be and DANNY walk off, revealing-

A FIGURE swathed in a BLACK CLOAK. We cannot see its face. It darts into the alley behind the Playhouse building!

In FLASHCUTS we see an axe blade glint...a door pane smash...a gloved hand finds the door handle...

54

INT. DRESSING ROOM - CONTINUOUS

MARTIN BLOWER rips the foil from a bottle of champagne. There’s a knock at the door. BLOWER coos back.

BLOWER
Who is it?

The door opens...It’s EVE DRAPER...BLOWER grins...

BLOWER (cont’d)
We haven’t got long.

EVE grins...A champagne cork pops...Bubbly foams...

EVE
To us?

There’s another knock at the door. BLOWER shouts, worried.

BLOWER
Who is it?

BLOWER INCHES THE DOOR 0PEN...AN AXE SMASHES DOWN INTO BLOWER’S NECK...THE CHAMPAGNE DROPS...EVE SCREAMS...

55

INT. SWAN HOTEL BEDROOM - EARLY MORNING

A call button [U+FB02]ashesred in the darkness...ANGEL picks up.

ANGEL
Decaffeinated?
56

EXT. LAYBY - MORNING

TWO DECAPITATED HEADS lie surrounded by pieces of metal.

FISHER
Little Brian Libby found them, out on his paper round. He’ll be having nightmares for a while.

FISHER addresses ANGEL, DANNY, THATCHER and WALKER. Behind is a blood splattered ’YOU ARE NOW LEAVING SANDFORD’ sign.

FISHER (cont’d)
Must have hit the sign at some speed. Took the whole top off.
DORIS THATCHER
I’ve had my top off in this layby.

FISHER points to where BLOWER’s MEGANE has come to a violent stop. The top half of the car has been shaved off.

FISHER
Most likely lost control, left the road here and ended up there... Soooo, what do you think we should do? Sergeant Angel?
ANGEL
We should cordon off the area, screen the remains from public view and close off the road until the ambulance arrives, whereupon we should open a single lane of traffic to ease congestion.
FISHER
Very good. What he said.

FLASHCUTS; a cordon unfurled, tents erected, cones set out.

ANGEL and DANNY wave on the morning traffic past the crash site. JAMES REAPER leans out of his 4X4.

REAPER
What’s happened Danny?
DANNY
Car accident.
REAPER
Nasty way to go.
ANGEL WAINWRIGHT
Constable, official Vocab states such incidents are now referred to as ’collisions’, not ’car accidents’ -

A RED MG slows to a stop. SKINNER leans out of the window.

SKINNER
For never was there a story of more woe. Than this of Juliet and her Romeo.
ANGEL
I’m sorry?
SKINNER
Martin and Eve. Such a tragedy.

SKINNER goes to pull off. ANGEL stands in front of his ear.

ANGEL
Mr Skinner, could you tell me how you knew the identity of the persons involved?
SKINNER
Of course. When I didn’t get my Citizen delivered this morning, I rang Annette Roper to enquire after young Brian. You know how it is, news travels fast.

SKINNER pulls away fast. ANGEL watches his MG go and makes a note of the personalised numberplate ’SS1’. Behind AMANDA PAVER pulls up on her bicycle and talks to DANNY.

AMANDA PAVER
What’s happened, Danny?
DANNY
A traffic collision...Why can’t we say ’accident’ again?
ANGEL
Because ’accident’ implies there’s no one to blame.
57

INT. STATION/C.I.D. OFFICE - DAY

WAINWRIGHT
What about him? Oh, put a sock in it town mouse!
CARTWRIGHT
Yeah, you want to be a big cop in a small town, bugger off up the model village.

The ANDES sit in their office eating ice-cream. DANNY enters with another bowl, which ANGEL declines.

ANGEL
I’m just saying, things aren’t always simple as they look.
WAINWRIGHT
But most times they are. Let’s wait until Er. Hatchet comes back with something, before you go jumping the Kalashnikov.
ANGEL
Well, in the meantime, why not start by checking out some of Martin Blower’s clients?
WAINWRIGHT
Martin Blower represents damn near most of the village. You want us to go through the whole phone book?
CARTWRIGHT
Yeah, we’ll put a call into Aaron A. Aarronson shall we?
ANGEL
Please don’t be childish. At least think about interviewing the widow? Mr Blower was clearly having an affair with Eve Draper.
WAINWRIGHT
And how did you establish that?

DANNY slams his [U+FB02]ston the table. ANGEL jumps.

DANNY
We sat through three hours of so-called acting last night. The kiss was the only convincing moment in it.

DANNY [U+FB02]ashesa grin at a bemused ANGEL.

WAINWRIGHT
Alright, pipe down.
CARTWRIGHT
Yeah, what else you got, Tango and Hutch?
ANGEL
Simon Skinner.
WAINWRIGHT
What about him?
ANGEL
He was acting suspiciously at the collision scene.
CARTWRIGHT
He runs the local supermarket.
WAINWRIGHT
Anything else?
ANGEL
Skid marks.
WAINWRIGHT
Now who’s being childish?
ANGEL
There were no skid marks at the scene. Don’t you think it’s a little strange that Mr. Blower would lose control of the car and not think to apply his brakes?

For the [U+FB02]rsttime, the ANDES do not have an answer.

ANGEL (cont’d)
If there are no skid marks it follows that for three hundred yards the driver and the passenger made no attempt to prevent their fate. You don’t have to be a detective to work that out.
DANNY
Yeah!

FRANK pops into the office. He’s also eating ice cream.

FRANK
You causing trouble?
ANGEL
I was talking to the ’detectives’ about the ’accident’.
DANNY
’Yeah’.
FRANK
Dreadful business. You free?

WAINWRIGHT & CARTWRIGHT Yes they are.

FRANK
Good. Got a spot of bother up at Ellroy Farm. Old Arthur Webley’s been clipping hedgerows that don’t belong to him.
ANGEL
Yes sir?
FRANK
That’s it.
ANGEL
Yes sir.
WAINWRIGHT
You wanted grass roots.
58

INT. SQUAD CAR - DAY

DANNY drives a pissed off ANGEL up a dirt road. P.C. BOB WALKER is in the back. SAXON drools on ANGELS shoulder.

ANGEL
Why do We used the dog?
DANNY
It’s not the dog we need.
59

EXT. FARMHQUSE - DAY

A White haired Did farmer, ARTHUR WEBLEY stands at his door with a shotgun broken over his arm.

WEBLEY
Hedgizuhedgeinnit. loonlychopped etdowwnoozicoutn’tseethe View nomore. Wasshemoaninabout?
ANGEL
Right.
(to Danny and Walker)
What did he say?
PC WALKER
Eessad. A hedgeisahedge innit. Nee onlychoppedet dowwn cozee cun’t see t’voo nomore. Whas he moanin’ about?
ANGEL
Right.
(to Danny)
What did he say?
DANNY
He said a hedge is a hedge. He only chopped it down because it spoilt his view. What’s Reaper moaning about?
ANGEL
Right. That’s not the point Mr. Webley.
WEBLEY
Whystoyalwaspiokinawnmeanywaiz. Iznotthewanrunninabowtallhowersofthenight. Themhloodyoods.
PC WALKER
Eesad. Why you pickin onhem. Ees nart the wan runnnin abowt all hours like them bloody hoods.
ANGEL
Them bloody who?
DANNY
Hoods.
ANGEL
What does he mean by that?
DANNY
Probably them kids.
ANGEL
Mr. Webley, I appreciate your position but you can’t go around cutting down other people’s hedges without permission.
WEBLEY
Yarghspose.
PC WALKER
’Yargh he suppose’.
DANNY
’Yeah I suppose’.
ANGEL
Thank you .

DANNY/WALKER/WEBLEY S’alroight.

ANGEL
(points at shotgun)
Oh and Mr. Webley, I trust you have a license for that?
WEBLEY
Oharrghldozfortheesun.
PC WALKER
’Idoes for theesun’.
DANNY
He does for this one.
ANGEL
What do you mean by ’this one’?

ANGEL and DANNY peer in as WEBLEY opens the door to a huge outbuilding. The daylight illuminates...an enormous arsenal of antique firearms; RIFLES, SHOTGUNS, PISTOLS, BLUNDERBUSSES. It’s a museum of firepower.

DANNY
By the power of Grey Skull!
ANGEL
Where on Earth did you get these?

WEBLEY DANNY

Foundum. Found ’em.

ANGEL (cont’d)
And what is that?

ANGEL points to an enormous spiky sphere in the corner.

DANNY WEBLEY

Sea mine. Seemoine.

ANGEL (cont’d)
Well Mr. Webley, this is an extremely dangerous collection. It’s a wonder nobody’s been hurt before.
WEBLEY
Naaarrrgh. Iss jussaloodajunk.

WEBLEY strikes the SEA MINE with his walking stick. ANGEL and DANNY’s faces go white. There is a resounding clang...

60

EXT. FARM - DAY

ANGEL, DANNY and WEELEY come bursting out of the shed. They run in heroic slow motion towards a nearby hedge. All three dive over the hedge and land with an enormous crunch.

Seconds pass...Nothing...ANGEL and DANNY stand. They peer over the hedge. More seconds pass... Nothing.

61

INT/EXT. SQUAD CAR/FARM - DAY

ANGEL is sat in the squad car on the radio. Behind, WEBLEY and DANNY stand with the sea mine.

ANGEL
Apparently it’s deactivated.
WEBLEY
(hits the seamine)
Thassroit. Deeaaktiyaded.
ANGEL
Yes, it’s not live.
DANNY
(kicks seamine)
Looks live.
62

INT. STATION - DAY

FLASHCUTS; ANGEL and DANNY march in with armfuls of guns, the curly haired DESK SERGEANT tags them, the evidence room is filled (with the SEA MINE is stored on a high shelf}.

ANGEL
That was a quite an impressive haul today, Constable Butterman.
DANNY
Maybe we should do something to celebrate...unless you have to water your Peace Lily.
ANGEL
What are you thinking exactly?
63

INT. THE CROWN " NIGHT

The pub is heaving with a huge cross section of people; Neighbourhood Watch, off duty police, even FRANK.

MARY PORTER
Right you are my love.
ROY PORTER
Yes sir, what can I get you?
DANNY
Pint of lager, please Roy. And what can I get you that isn’t a cranberry juice?
ANGEL
I don’t really want to get drunk.
DANNY
You can get a little drunk.
ANGEL
Okay I’ll have one.
DANNY
That’s what I’m talking about!
ANGEL
What’s your wine selection?
RUY PORTER
Oh, we’ve got red...or white.
ANGEL
Pint of lager, please Roy.
DANNY
Yeaaaah Roy.

ANGEL spies the ANDES at the bar and wanders over.

ANGEL
Any developments from this morning?
WAINWRIGHT
Yeah, CSI found nothing, Dr. Hatcher reported no misadventure, Mrs. Blower has four alibis.
ANGEL
And Skinner?
CARTWRIGHT
He runs the local supermarket.
FISHER
Come on Sergeant, it’s not your job to investigate this incident is it? Is it?
WAINWRIGHT AND CARTWRIGET
No it isn’t.

ANGEL and DANNY sit down. ANGEL scribbles in his notebook.

DANNY
You don’t switch off do you?
ANGEL
You sound like my ex.
DANNY
Why, did she have a deep voice?
ANGEL
No, she always used to accuse me of not being able to switch off.
DANNY
Well you are always thinking away.
ANGEL
It’s what I do.
DANNY
No, no I think it’s amazing. I mean what made you want to he a policeman-
ANGEL
Officer-
DANNY
What made you want to be a policeman-officer?
ANGEL
I can’t remember a time when I didn’t want to he a police officer, apart from the summer of 1979 when I wanted to be Kermit The Frog. It all started with my Uncle Derek. He was a Sergeant in the Net. Gave me a police pedal car when I was five. I rode it around every moment I was
(MORE)
ANGEL (cont’d)
awake, arresting kids twice my size for littering and spitting. I got beaten up a lot but it didn’t stop me. I wanted to be like Uncle Derek.
DANNY
Sounds like a good bloke.
ANGEL
Actually, he was jailed for selling drugs to students.
DANNY
What a cunt.
ANGEL
He most likely bought the pedal car with the proceeds. Needless to say I never went near it again. I let it rust. But I never forgot that clear sense of right and wrong I felt at the wheel of that pedal car and I refused to accept that corruption was the inevitable consequence of authority. I had to prove to myself that the law could be proper and righteous and for the good of humankind. I knew then, I was destined to be a police officer.
DANNY
Shame.
ANGEL
How so?
DANNY
I think you would’ve made a great muppet.

ANGEL laughs. It’s the first time we have seen him do this.

ANGEL
So, what made you want to be a police officer?
DANNY
Dad does it...I think after Mum died, it’s what he wanted. Keep me close by.
ANGEL
Do you mind if I ask how she died?
DANNY
Traffic collision.
ANGEL
I’m sorry.
DANNY
Aw, don’t worry...watch this.

DANNY sticks a fork in his eye, scarlet squirts everywhere.

ANGEL
Jesus Christ?
DANNY
Ta-daaaa!

DANNY reveals a TOMATO KETCHUP sachet. ANGEL laughs.

DANNY (cont’d)
Get ’em in silly bollocks...

FLASH CUTS. The night wears on. The glasses on the table multiply. DANNY and ANGEL are both tipsy and enjoy each other’s company. DANNY beats ANGEL at bar skittles.

LATER. ANGEL finds his way to the bar. He sees a beaming SIMON SKINNER sitting at the bar with another gentleman.

SKINNER
Ah, 777. Do join us. You’ve met George Merchant haven’t you?

GEORGE MERCHANT is drunk and morose. ANGEL sits at the bar.

MRCHANT
Good evening offisher...
SKINNER
We were just talking about the accident. Dreadful business.
MRCHANT
I’d come to know Martin and Eve very well of late. Such a losssh.
SKINNER
What say we drink to their demise?
ANGEL
Isn’t it drink to their memory?
SKINNER
Of course. Cheers.
GEORGE MERCHANT
I mussh go to the little boyssh room.

MERCHANT gets off his stool. He is remarkably short.

SKINNER
Little being the operative word. He’ll be in bits tomerrow.

SKINNER moves off. ANGEL watches him go, swivelling on his stool. It’s a cool mement. Until ANGEL slips off his seat.

FRANK
Think somebedy needs to go home.
ANGEL
I’m not that drunk sir.
FRANK
Net yen. Him.

FRANK points to GEORGE MERCHANT who stands in the corner, with his nob out, pissing into the coin tray of a fruit machine.

64

EXT. STREET - NIGHT

ANGEL and DANNY carry GEORGE MERCHANT along the street. He is unconscious, his feet not touching the ground.

DANNY
Hey, we did get a little drunk. Geddit? It’s funny ’cos he’s little.

ANGEL spies the HOODIES huddled round a village map. He gestures for DANNY te be quiet and sneaks ever.

ANGEL
Evening all.

The HOODIES spin around and freeze. A freshly sprayed grefitti tag is en the village map. ANGEL holds out his hand.

ANGEL (cont’d)
Give it here.

A SPRAY CAN sails past ANGEL’s head and hits GEORGE MERCHANT full in the face. He and DANNY fell to the [U+FB02]eor.

The HOODIES scatter. ANGEL steams over, grabbing HOODIE 1 and pulling him back into a neerby bin. ANGEL grabs HOODIE 2 and spins him round, pulling the hood off his face.

ANGEL finds himself face to face with the BLONDE SCHOOLKID. HOODIE 1 meanwhile, clambers out of the bin and runs off.

A thrown ANGEL looks on, as the BLONDE SCHOOLKID [U+FB02]ips his hood back up and runs off.

DANNY
Let em go. They’ll come round again.

ANGEL and DANNY pick MERCHANT up and carry him eff.

ANGEL
We know where his house is right?
DANNY
Oh yes.
65

EXT. STREET - NIGHT

DANNY stops, looking up at the monstreus piece ef architecture.

ANGEL
Gcod grief.
DANNY
Six mohths ago, that was a pear orcherd.
ANGEL
I want to threw up, but I fear it may add value.

MERCHANT is suddenly awake. His eyes glazed.

MERCHANT
Jussst here. How much do I owe youss?
DANNY
Twenty quid.

MERCHANT gives DANNY £20 guid. ANGEL gives it back.

ANGEL
Thank you and here’s your change.
MERCHANT
Buh-bye.

MERCHANT disappears inside. ANGEL and DANNY walk away.

ANGEL
I wouldn’t want to be him in the morning.

They walk out of shot, revealing...A CLOAKED FIGURE!

66

EXT. GEORGE NERCHANT’S HOUSE - NIGHT

A light [U+FB02]ickson. We see GEORGE MERCHANT stumbling around his hall. We also the CLOAKED FIGURE watching, waiting...

67

EXT. DANNY’S HOUSE - NIGHT

DANNY and ANGEL arrive at DANNY’s front door.

DANNY
Well, this is me.
ANGEL
I shall see you in the morning.
DANNY
Unless you wanna come in for a coffee?
ANGEL
I don’t drink coffee.
DANNY
Tea?
ANGEL
No, no caffeine after midday.
DANNY
How about another beer?
68

INT. KITCHEN - NIGHT

A fridge opens...We see a number of bottled beers...

GEORGE MERCHANT grabs a beer and swigs it as he staggers to the toilet. Outside the CLOAKED FIGURE watches.

MERCHANT put his beer on the cistern and has a piss...He [U+FB02]ushes,zips up and retrieves his beer from the cistern. As he stands back up, behind him we see...

The CLOAKED EIGUEE. Who strikes him with a cudgel. Bang!

69

INT. DANNY’S HOUSE - NIGHT

ANGEL drops down onto DANNY’s sofa and surveys the untidy room. DANNY appears to be living out of cardboard boxes.

ANGEL
When did you move in?

DANNY enters from the kitchen with two cans of beer.

DANNY
About five years ago.
ANGEL
You should get some pot plants.
DANNY
Oh yeah?
ANGEL
Yes, I’ve been tending my Peace Lily for three years now. NASA rates it as one of top ten air cleaning plants. It oxygenates the room, it helps me think, it relieves stress. Its needs are simple. Janine said I loved my Lily more than her.
DANNY
Is that why you split up?
ANGEL
What?
DANNY
Cos’ you dunnit with a plant.
ANGEL
No, it was more about being obsessed with the job.
DANNY
But, that’s good though innit?
ANGEL
I don’t know, I did miss a few dinners, parties, a birthday or two-
DANNY
Well I mean-
ANGEL
-her dad’s funeral. I just want to be good at what I do.
DANNY
You are good at what you do. You’ve just got to learn to switch off that big melon.
ANGEL
You know Danny, I don’t know how.
DANNY
I’ll show you how.

DANNY opens a cupboard that is stacked full of alphabetized VHS tapes. It’s the most ordered area of the entire [U+FB02]at.

ANGEL
By the power of Greyskull.

DANNY carefully selects two tapes.

DANNY
Point Break or Bad Boys 2?
ANGEL
Which one do you think I’ll prefer?
DANNY
No, I mean which one do you wanna watch first?
ANGEL
You are pulling my leg?
70

INT. GEDRGE MERCHANT’S KITCHEN - NIGHT

MERCHANT is dragged by his feet and dumped into a kitchen chair...GLOVED HANDS empty beans into a pan... Bacon is fried...Gas taps are turned on full...Gas hisses...

71

INT. DANNY’S HGUSE - NIGHT

Static hisses as the video [U+FB02]ickersto life.

DANNY
This film is A-MAZING!
ANGEL
So, what’s it actually about?
DANNY
An FBI agent who goes under cover to infiltrate a gang of wild wave riding, sky diving, bank robbers but falls in love with the surfing lifestyle and the leader’s girlfriend and ends up having to make some very tough choices.
ANGEL
So it’s based on a true story?
DANNY
Now that I don’t know.
ANGEL
No I just mean, it sounds a little far fetched.
DANNY
Well, it’s a film innit?
72

INT. GEORGE MERCHANT’S HOUSE - NIGHT

Hiss...GLOVED HANDS light a candle in the living room. Hiss...MEECHANT lies motionless in the chair....Hiss...

73

INT. DANNY’S HOUSE - NIGHT

DANNY and ANGEL are on the sofa. ’Point Break’ ends.

DANNY
Whaddya think?
ANGEL
Well, I won’t argue that it’s a no holds barred, adrenaline fuelled thrill ride but there’s no way you could perpetrate that amount of carnage and mayhem without incurring a considerable amount of paperwork.
DANNY
That’s nothing man. This is about to go off!
74

EXT. GEDRGE MERCHANT’S HOUSE - NIGHT

KA-BOOOOOOM. MERGHANT’s [U+FB02]amingbody [U+FB02]iesthrough the air.

75

INT. DANNY’S HOUSE - EARLY MORNING

DANNY’s head rests on ANGEL as they sleep on the sofa. Daylight fills the room as ’Bad Boys 2’ blares from the TV.

MARTIN LAWRENCE
This shit just got real!

The phone rings. They open their eyes at the same time.

76

EXT. GEDRGE MERCHANT’S HOUSE - MORNING

DR. HATCHER
Nasty way to go.

The Sandford Police survey the smoking black husk of Merchant’s house. His twisted and burnt cadaver is covered up by DR. HATCHER. Paramedics carry him off on a gurney.

DR. HATCHER (CONT’D)
Seems Mr. Merchant tried to have a little fry up and left the gas on. They say you shouldn’t eat late at night.
DORIS THATCHER
I dunno. I like a little midnight gobble.

THATCHER and WALKER laugh at this. WALKER mumbles ’Cocks’.

FISHER
So what do we reckon? Angel?

FISHER looks to a spectacularly groggy ANGEL and DANNY.

ANGEL
Yes?
FISHER
Help me.
ANGEL
We should set up a proper cordon, keep people back, let the fire crew finish and get the forensics to do a thorough sweep.
FISHER
Right. What he said.

ANGEL spots a crew of workmen on the periphery, waiting to clear the scene. TIM MESSENGER appears, notebook in hand.

MESSENGER
Sergeant, a guick word?
ANGEL
Mr. Messenger, please. A statement will be issued shortly.
MSSENGER
Actually I just wanted to find out, ’What’s your perfect Sunday’?
FISHER
I’ll deal with the press Sergeant. Now, my perfect Sunday would begin -

FISHER leads MESSENGER away. ANGEL sees SIMON SKINNER amongst a crowd of onlookers. SKINNER waves ’hello’.

WAINWEIGHT
What you thinking? Foul play?
ANGEL
Maybe.
WAINWRIGHT
We’re just waiting to speak to the last people to see Mr Merchant alive, namely Sergeant Knickerless Asswipe and Constable Fanny Butterdog.
DANNY
That’s us.

The ANDES collapse with into sniggers.

ANGEL
Why is this such a big joke to you? Three people have died in less than a week.
WAINWRIGHT
Oh come on Dr. Sherlock, they were accidents.
CARTWRIGHT
People have accidents everyday.
WAINWRIGHT
Ron Spencer got his cravat caught in the mulcher the other week.
ANGEL
But the victims knew each other.
CARTWRIGHT
Everyone knows everyone round ’ere.
WAINWEIGHT
Yeah. If you didn’t see anything suspicious, then who did?
77

INT. STATIQN/CCTV OFFICE - DAY

TOM WEAVER spools through footage on his CCTV monitors. ANGEL, DANNY, FRANK and the ANDES look on.

WEAVER
Bit of a blind spot I’m afraid. We’re not that well covered around George Merchant’s. We only get the very edge of the explosion.
FRANK
Nasty way to go.
WEAVER
One thing that did catch my eye.
ANGEL
What’s that?
WEAVER
You sticking it to these herberts!

WEAVER shows a replay of the drunken HOODIE fight and whoops with delight. The ANDES snigger. ANGEL fumes.

ANGEL
This is irrelevant.
WEAVER
I beg to differ. It’s the closest we’ve come to nabbing the bastards.
ANGEL
Mr. Weaver, let’s concentrate-

WEAVER pauses the tape on a blurred shot of the BLONDE KID.

WEAVER
Did you get a good look at this little mischief? What did he-
ANGEL
Forget that, just keep looking for anything out of the ordinary in the immediate area of Mr Merchant’s residence. Make a note of any car registrations spotted in the vicinity. In partieular, look out for a Red MG, license ’SS1’.
FRANK
Nicholas.
ANGEL
Yes sir?
FRANK
Can I have a mo?
78

INT. CORRIDOR - DAY

FRANK
You’ve got to ease off on these Skinner allegations. He’s the manager of the local supermarket.
ANGEL
With respect sir-
FRANK
Listen, you are an exceptional officer, truly exceptional, but you do have to let the Andes do their job. If there’s anything amiss, we’ll hear soon enough. Until then we have to regard these incidents as accidents.
ANGEL
Yes sir.
FRANK
Good boy.

FRANK leaves. ANGEL looks up to the photo on the wall. It is of an officer with a big bushy beard; ’Sgt, Popwell’.

WEAVER (O.S.)
Sergeant Angel, I think I’ve found what you’re looking for.

ANGEL runs excitedly over to WEAVER’s office. The ANDES follow suit, as do DANNY and FRANK. They see CCTV footage of the SWAN waddling past Merchant’s house.

WAINWRIGHT
Ah, there you go. It was the Swan all along.
ANGEL
This is not funny Detective!
CARTWRIGHT
Oh give over Miss Marples.
WAINWRIGHT
Let us do our job and you do yours.
CARTWRIGHT
Yeah, haven’t you got a church fete to look after?
ANGEL
No, I have not!
FRANK
Actually.
79

EXT. CHURCH FETE - DAY

MALE VOICE (O.S.)
Lovely day for it Sergeant?

A bored ANGEL patrols at a bustling fete. We see impressive [U+FB02]oraldisplays and banners reading ’SAVE THE CHURCH RGQE’ and promoting Sandford for ’VILLAGE OF THE YEAR’. REV. SHOQTER sidles up to ANGEL with a tray of drinks.

REV. SHOOTER
Sergeant Angel, would your theological reservations preclude you from assisting me with the raf[U+FB02]e this afternoon? There’s a glass of Joyce Cooper’s lemonade in it for you.

ANGEL takes a glass and downs it, to SHOOTER’S delight.

REV. SHOOTER (CONT’D)
Marvellous.

ANGEL slumps into a nearby chair and surveys the fete. He sees a child messily eating a ice lolly. He looks up to see the father, SGT. FISHER doing the same.

He sees DORIS THATCHER standing with two burly men, giggling at a pig being spit roasted. He sees WALKER feed candy [U+FB02]ossto SAXON.

BONG. A bell rings as LURCH plays a ’TEST YOUR STRENGTH’ game. SKINNER lurks nearby, manning a ’BASH THE RAT’ stall and staring into the distance. Thunder rumbles.

ANGEL follows his gaze over to TIM MESSENGER having an animated discussion with LESLIE TILLER, the [U+FB02]orist...

CARTWRIGHT (O.S.)
Shark?

ANGEL jumps. The ANDES appear, clutching cans of Cider.

WAINWRIGHT
Seen any murderings Nicholarse?

FRANK and DANNY approach dressed in wild west gear.

FRANK
Come on now boys. Leave Sergeant Angel alone, he’s working.
WAINWRIGHT
Sorry Chief, won’t waste anymore police time.

The ANDES slope off, swigging their cider.

FRANK
Actually Nicholas. You may as well have a break.
DANNY
Great. I’ve got something to show you.

ANGEL follows DANNY through the crowd until they come to a stop at an AIR RIFLE RANGE, run by a smiling DR. HATCHER.

ANGEL
This is a ri[U+FB02]e range.
DANNY
You’ll be really good at it.
HATCHER
Three cans wins you a squeaky bunny, five gets you a [U+FB02]oppy lion. Take out all the little people, you get to waltz off with the cuddly monkey.
ANGEL
I thought I made it clear to you how I felt about guns.
DANNY
It’s only an air ri[U+FB02]e.
ANGEL
No Danny.
DANNY
It is for a cuddly monkey.

ANGEL grudgingly takes an air rifle. DANNY smiles expectantly. ANGEL fires, hitting every can dead centre with amazing speed. He lowers the rifle, feeling excited and unclean at once. The ANDES watch, swigging their cider.

DR. HATCHER
Good lord.

ANGEL hands the ri[U+FB02]e to an awedDANNY, who inspects it.

DANNY
Fuck me...that was-

DANNY accidentally pulls the trigger. We hear an agonized yelp. DR. HATCHER drops on the [U+FB02]oorclutching his leg.

80

EXT. FETE - DAY

ANGEL and DANNY walk away from the stall: ANGEL clutching the CUDDLY MONKEY, DANNY in shock. Behind a Saint John’s Ambulance team attend to DR. HATCHER, who’s in some pain.

DANNY
I can’t believe I shot someone.
ANGEL
He’s a doctor, he can deal with it.
DANNY
But I’ve never shot anyone before.
ANGEL
Believe me Constable. It’s not something you ever get used to.
DANNY
Yeah. Maybe we should go on the bouncy castle. Take our minds off it.

ANGEL spies SKINNER talking heatedly with TIM MSSENGER.

DANNY (cont’d)
What is it?

Thunder rumbles. Before ANGEL can answer, a YOUNG BOY runs right into him. We see that it is the BLONDE SCHOOL KID. He and ANGEL lock eyes. The boy looks terrified.

WEAVER
Watch where you’re going.

ANGEL turns to see the grandfather.

WEAVER (cont’d)
I do apologise for my grandson. Stand up straight Gabriel, this is Sergeant Angel.
ANGEL
I’ve met Gabriel before actually.
WEAVER
Oh, have you?

GABRIEL looks extremely anxious. His eyes go wide.

ANGEL
Yes. I gave a talk at the school, didn’t I Gabriel?
GABRIEL
Yeah.
ANGEL
Maybe we’ll get a chance to have another little chat sometime.
WEAVER
I’m sure Gabriel would love that.
ANGEL
You have a good afternoon.

WEAVER and GABRIEL walk off. GABRIEL looks back at ANGEL, his expression of confusion and relief.

DANNY
What was that about?

Before ANGEL can answer...a breathless TIM MESSENGER appears, slamming into ANGEL.

TIM MESSENGER
Sergeant Angel, I need to talk to you about George Merchant. Alone. It might be less conspicuous if you don’t bring the monkey.
ANGEL
This man is a police officer, I’d thank you to treat him with more respect.
TIM MSSENGER
I was talking about that.

MESSENGER nods to ANGEL’s giant CUDDLY MONKEY.

ANGEL
Oh.
TIM MESSENGER
The churchyard. Ten minutes.

ANGEL watches MESSENGER scurry off, passing SIMON SKINNER.

SKINNER
Bash the rat?
REV. SHOOTER (TANNOY)
Could we have Sergeant Angel to the stage please?

ANGEL gives the CUDDLY MONKEY to DANNY and walks off.

81

EXT. FETE - DAY

A distracted ANGEL takes to a makeshift stage where the REV. SHOOTER stands with a tombola and a microphone.

REV. SHOOTER
Here to announce the winners is the newest addition to the Sandford Police Force-
ANGEL
(under breath} Police service.
REV. SHOOTER
-Sergeant Nicholas Angel.
ANGEL
Hello.

A buzz of feedback from the mic. ANGEL eyes the clock. It’s 3pm. The tombola spins...

...MESSENGER waits in the churchyard, looks at his watch. ...ANGEL picks a name from the tombola.

ANGEL (cont’d)
The [U+FB02]rstname is Simon Skinner.
ANNETTE ROPER
He’s in the loo!
REV. SHOOTER
Too much of Joyce’s lemonade perhaps.

Laughter from the crowd. Thunder rumbles...

...We see a BLACK GLGVED HAND on a church door handle...

...The tombola spins. ANGEL looks at the clock...

...We see BLACK EOOTS race up belfry steps...

...MESSENGER still waits. Sweat forms on his brow...

...ANGEL picks another name.

ANGEL
Tim Messenger.
REV. SHOOTER
Tim, your number’s up.

There’s much hub-bub. Thunder rumbles. Closer this time. ANGEL looks in the crowd frantically...

...Unseen a CLOAKED EIGURE steps onto the church roof...

...ANGEL jumps down off the makeshift stage.

...ELACK GLOVED HANDS push on a loose turret stone.

...TIM MESSENGER stands directly below...

...ANGEL strides through the crowd...

...The gloved hand presses on the turret. The stone cracks...

...ANGEL breaks into a run. He reaches the churchyard...

...The stone breaks away from the roof and falls down.

...ANGEL runs in the churchyard, sees TIM MSSENGER-

SPLAT. The tip of the stone CRUSHES MESSENGER’S head!

ANGEL jerks back in horror. TIM MESSENGER now looks utterly surreal, with an upside down cone where his head should be.

The off duty police arrive on the scene, along with many of the NWA. SIMON SKINNER runs over from a chemical toilet.

FRANK
Keep back. There’s been a terrible accident!

There’s much hub-bub and murmurs of the word ’accident’ from the crowd. FISHER steps in, not having seen the body.

FISHER
What accident?
(he sees it)
Oh right.

ANGEL grimaces, looks to the church roof and races off.

82

EXT. CHURCH STEPS/ROOF - CONTINUOUS

ANGEL runs up the church steps to the roof. He [U+FB02]ings the door open and peers out. There’s no-one there.

He comes back down to find all the off duty police waiting at the door, along with a troubled REV. SHOOTER.

FRANK
Nicholas, what is it?
ANGEL
Sir, I think all these deaths are linked. Tim Messenger was murdered.
REV. SHOOTER
Who could do something like this?
WAINNRIGHT
Maybe it was the swan.
CARTWRIGHT
Apparently they can break a man’s arm.
WAINWRIGHT
Or blow up a man’s house.
ANGEL
Look-
FRANK
Whoa there Nicholas. Let me get this straight. Are you saying this is a crime scene?
ANGEL
Yes sir, I am.
FRANK
Very well. Detectives, start interviewing everyone who was at the fete. Sgt Fisher, secure the area, PC Thatcher, get the CSI down here. PC Walker patrol the churchyard with Saxon. Nicholas, Danny...you know what to do.
83

EXT. CHURCHYARD - NIGRT

ANGEL and DANNY sit in the rain at the crime scene. DANNY still wears his cowboy outfit and clutches the MONKEY.

DANNY
Do you really think this is murder?
ANGEL
I just don’t think we should rule it out.
DANNY
Yeah. I think you’re right.

PC WALKER passes with SAXON.

WALKER
Ifinkyertarkinaloodashitt.
DANNY
He thinks you’re talking a load of shit. Swings and roundabouts innit?

The ANDES wander past. ANGEL and DANNY get up and approach.

ANGEL
Did you find anything?
WAINWRIGHT
Yes I was extremely shocked when I looked at my watch and discovered the pubs were shut.
ANGEL
What about his house? Have you checked his office? Read his articles?
CARTWRIGHT
If you want to wade through every copy of the Sandford bloody Citizen, be our guest.
ANGEL
It’s your job isn’t it? Detect!
WAINWRIGHT
This isn’t the city, Mister Angel. Not everyone’s a murdering psychopath. High time you realised that. You and your monkey.

The ANDES walk off into the night. DANNY holds up the CUDDLY MONKEY.

DANNY
Did he mean me or that?

A furious ANGEL puts his head in his hands.

DANNY (cont’d)
Maybe we should go home.
ANGEL
What do you mean?
DANNY
Well, there’s nothing going on is there?
ANGEL
Have you listened to anything I’ve said Constable?
DANNY
What do you mean?
ANGEL
Has anything I’ve told you in the last few weeks got through that thick skull of yours?
DANNY
Yeah...
ANGEL
Oh really?
DANNY
You said I could be an amazing policeman officer.
ANGEL
There’s always something going on Danny and you’ll never be an amazing police officer until you understand that.
DANNY
I remembered something else you said.
ANGEL
And what was that?
DANNY
You don’t know how to switch off.

ANGEL stalks back to his stool and again guards the cordon. He sits alone in the rain, soaking to the skin.

84

INT. SWAN HOTEL CORRIDOR/BEDROOM - NIGHT

ANGEL approaches his door. He unlocks it and enters. On the bed is the sodden CUDDLY MONKEY and a card reading -

’This was left for you at reception. Regards Joyce’

ANGEL slumps into a chair, picks up the phone and dials-

INSPECTOR (V.O.)
I’m out of the office at present...

ANGEL spies the Sandford Citizen featuring him on the cover. He sees the byline ’Words and Pictures by Tim Messenger’.

ANGEL hangs up and [U+FB02]icksthrough the paper, past mundane stories; ’Bypass Still Unannounced’, ’Sandford Family Trees’.

He stops at a feature entitled ’Sandford People’ with an accompanying photo of George Merchant. A quote reads "This is just the beginning; I have big plans for Sandford". ANGEL looks inspired. He grabs his pen and notebook.

EXT/INT. LIERARY - MORNING

ANGEL sits at a table surrounded by archived volumes of the Sandford Citizen. He [U+FB02]ipsthrough the pages at speed.

We see FLASHCUTS of ANGEL scouring articles, photocopying relevant pages, highlighting crucial sentences and even correcting the odd typo. It’s a blizzard of information.

We see ANGEL highlight a sentence reading ’Mr. G. Merchant has applied for planning permission...’ We see another headline, ’George Of The Jungle: Merchant Buys Scrubland’.

We see a photo of MARTIN BLOWER outside the Sandford Playhouse. The headline reads ’From Bar to Verse: Solicitor Finances Drama Sociecy’.

The pages [U+FB02]ipfaster, the words start to blur. There has never been a more exciting scene in film history.

85

INT. STATION - MORNING

A glum DANNY sits at a desk. ANGEL enters. DANNY doesn’t look up. ANGEL struggles with a guilty greeting.

ANGEL
Morning Constable.
DANNY
Alright?
ANGEL
Thanks for the monkey.
DANNY
It’s yours.
ANGEL
Yeah but I won it for you.
(smiles apologetically)
Danny, I think I’m on to something.
DANNY
Are you?
ANGEL
I think with a little bit of deliberation we can figure out what links these deaths.

ANGEL slaps a thick bundle of photocopies on the table.

DANNY
We?
ANGEL
I can’t do this by myself Danny.

DANNY looks touched. The ANDES breeze past their desk.

WAINWRIGHT
Morning benders.
CARTWRIGHT
What you up to?
DANNY
Nothing.

The ANDES leave. ANGEL smiles at DANNY.

ANGEL
Come on partner, lets go to work.

FISHER pokes his head out of his office, a note in hand.

FISHER
Sergeant Angel. Someone from London rang for you.
ANGEL
Tell them I’ll ring ’em back.
86

EXT. HIGH STREET - DAY

DANNY and ANGEL walk their beat, striding in perfect time.

ANGEL
Tim Messenger.
DANNY
Go.
ANGEL
Editor and journalist for The Sandford Citizen.
DANNY
Uh-huh.
ANGEL
Fondness for puns.
DANNY
Go on.
ANGEL
Terrible speller.
DANNY
Oh yeah?
ANGEL
Rut nevertheless had uncovered important information about...
87

INT/EXT. SQUAD CAR - DAY

ANGEL and DANNY neglect their speed gun duty.

DANNY
George Merchant.
ANGEL
Self made millionaire.
DANNY
Ch-ching.
ANGEL
Fancied himself as a property developer.
DANNY
Uh-huh.
ANGEL
Had big plans for Sandford.
DANNY
Pissed on the [U+FB02]oorin the Crown.
ANGEL
But more importantly, was a good friend and client of...
88

INT/EXT. STREET - DAY

ANGEL and DANNY walk the beat again.

ANGEL
Martin Blower.
DANNY
Affirmatron.
ANGEL
Respected solicitor and leading light of the local drama society.
DANNY
Bad actor.
ANGEL
Undoubtedly.
DANNY
Bad driver.
ANGEL
Not necessarily.
DANNY
Cheated on his missus.
ANGEL
Most certainly and we both know who with?
89

EXT. SQUAD CAR - DAY

ANGEL and DANNY drive back to the sation.

DANNY
Eve Draper.
ANGEL
Blower’s leading lady.
DANNY
(Whistles)
ANGEL
Distinctive laugh.
DANNY
Oh yes.
ANGEL
Liked older men.
DANNY
Fingered.
ANGEL
But crucially, where did she work?
DANNY
Council.
ANGEL
Specifically?
DANNY
The department of planning and development.
ANGEL
Where George Merchant had secured permission to build his dubious mansion on Norris Avenue.
DANNY
So...
90

INT. STATION - EVENING

Back in the office, the energy [U+FB02]ags.DANNY has his head on ANGEL the table, ANGEL [U+FB02]icksendlessly through his notes.

DANNY
Tim Messenger was onto something about George Merchant who was into something with Martin Blower who was up to something with Eve Draper.
ANGEL
And Simon Skinner has something to do with it all.
DANNY
But he runs the local supermarket.
ANGEL
So?
DANNY
I don’t know, I mean, maybe it was all accidents. People have accidents everyday. Gary Butcher drowned in his own septic tank the other week.

ANGEL puts his head on the table too. FRANK swings by.

FRANK
What are you two up to?
ANGEL
Nothing.
FRANK
Well, look sharp. There’s been reports of a fire in the station.
ANGEL
What?!

DORIS produces a cake with a single candle stuck in it. The other officers gather round, singing ’Happy Birthday’. ANGEL then notices cards and banners that have clearly been there the whole day. All reading ’Happy Birthday Danny’.

ANGEL (cont’d)
You should have said something.
DANNY
We were working weren’t we?

ANGEL is ashamed of himself. He slinks away to the door.

DANNY (cont’d)
Where you going?
ANGEL
Personal errand.
91

EXT. STATION - EVENING

The squad car races along a street, lights [U+FB02]ashing.

92

EXT. FLORISTS/NURSERY - EVENING

ANGEL pulls up outside ’mourns as LESLIE’ and puts his notebook emphatically on the dashboard.

ANGEL arrives at the door as LESLIE TILLER is shutting up.

ANGEL
Oh Miss Tiller, I was wondering, have you got any Peace Lilies?
LESLIE TILLER
Of course. I was just about to pop off actually.
93

INT. FLORIST/NURSERY - EVENING

LESLIE TILLER cuts wrapping paper with large garden shears.

LESLIE TILLER
I can never find my scissors. Is this for someone special?
ANGEL
Yes. Yes it is.

ANGEL spies packing crates and boxes on the [U+FB02]oor.

ANGEL (cont’d)
Are you going somewhere Miss Tiller?
LESLIE TILLER
No. Well, yes. I’m moving away. It’s all a bit out of the blue. I was planning to disappear quietly actually. I do so hate goodbyes.
ANGEL
And why the move, if you don’t mind me asking?
LESLIE TILLER
Well, just between you and I...

LESLIE TILLER seems a little edgy. ANGEL is intrigued.

ANGEL
Yes?
LESLIE TILLER
You know that fella who blew up?
ANGEL
George Merchant.
LESLIE TILLER
That’s him, well George Merchant - god rest him - he wanted to buy this land, so he sends round his legal fella Martin Blower - god rest him - I thought I might take them up on it, because I’ve been thinking about moving for some time, I haven’t really got that much family round here, save for Cousin Sissy. And while the ’Village Of The Year’ stuff is great and everything, I don’t really see anything from it, so I thought I might take them up on the offer and move to Buford Abbey. Would you like a card with this?
ANGEL
No, it’s okay. You were saying about the offer?
LESLIE TILLER
Well, it turns out that Martin Blower - god rest him - knew where the new bypass road is going because he was knocking off Eve Draper from the council - god rest her - then that reporter - god rest
(MORE)
LESLIE TILLER (cont’d)
him - finds out about the route and tells me the land’s very valuable, ten times what George Merchant and Martin Blower - god rest them - offered me. So with them having passed on and me still owning the land, I decided to sell it on myself to some folks from the city that Martin, George and Eve - god rest the lot of them - had been talking to, apparently they want to build a big shopping centre or something, of course Cousin Sissy won’t be too happy about that, but as far as I’m concerned -

ANGEL pats his pockets for his note book.

ANGEL
Would you excuse me for one second?
LESLIE TILLEE
Of course.
94

EXT. FLORIST/NURSERY - NIGHT

ANGEL leaves the [U+FB02]orist.He runs back to the car to get his pocketbook. In the background we can see LESLIE TILLER wrapping the [U+FB02]owers- but we can also see -

The CLOAKED FIGURE slips in from the back room of the shop, grabs the shears and plunges them into LESLIE TILLER’s throat. Blood spurts all over the counter and front window.

ANGEL turns back to see...TILLER dead. Shears in her neck. The blood. A SHADOW disappearing into the stock room...

ANGEL
Stop. In the name of the law!

ANGEL runs towards the [U+FB02]orist,throwing his trunoheon at the window. It shatters a second before he jumps through.

95

INT/EXT. FLORIST/NURSERY - NIGHT

ANGEL runs into the stock room, to see the CLOAKED FIGURE running through the aisles of the stock room. He gives chase.

SMASH. The CLOAKED FIGURE jumps through a greenhouse window, catching their leg on the frame.

ANGEL is almost on top of him and jumps through the newly smashed window. Landing, he looks up to see the FIGURE now a good 50 metres ahead, running towards a greenhouse and knocking garden furniture in its wake.

ANGEL sprints off again, bursting into the greenhouse and gaining on the CLOAKED EIGUEE. Both knock plants asunder.

The CLOAKED EIGURE slices through a mesh door with a knife and disappears over a hedge at the nursery perimeter.

ANGEL reaches the final hedge to find the CLOAKED FIGURE, now 100 metres away, sprinting across a cricket pitch.

A breathless ANGEL stands at the hedge, confused and amazed.

96

EXT. FLORISTS/NURSERY - NIGHT

Back at the [U+FB02]orist.ANGEL and FISHER stare at LESLIE TILLER who lies dead, shears protruding from her neck.

FISHER
Hang about, hang about. You’re saying this wasn’t an accident?
97

INT. STATION - NIGHT

ANGEL
LESLIE TILLER WAS MURDERED!

The assembled officers look at ANGEL as if he is insane.

CARTWRIGHT
What just like Tim Messenger?
ANGEL
Yes!
WAINWRIGHT
And George Merchant?
ANGEL
Yes!
CARTWRIGHT
And Eve Draper?

ANGEL scrawls on a piece of paper the word ’YES’.

ANGEL
Yes!
WAINWRIGHT
And Martin Blower?
ANGEL
No, actually.
WAINWRIGHT
Really?
CARTWRIGHT
Really?
ANGEL
COURSE HE FUCKING WAS!

DANNY pops a coin in the swearbox.

ANGEL (cont’d)
Thank you Danny.
WAINWRIGHT
Oh Murder. Murder. Murder. Change the fucking record.

CARTWRIGHT pops a coin in the swearbox for WAINWRIGHT.

WAINWRIGHT (cont’d)
Thank you Andy.
FISHER
Yes come on Sergeant, you’ve got to accept that it was another terrible accident.
ANGEL
Are you suggesting Leslie Tiller somehow tripped and fell on her own shears?
FISHER
Ben Fletcher fell on his pitchfork the other week.
DORIS THATCHER
People have accidents everyday. What makes you think it was murder?
ANGEL
Because I was there.
CARTWRIGHT
Yeah, that’s a point. Why were you there?
ANGEL
I was buying a Japanese Peace Lily for Constable Butterman’s birthday.
WAINWRIGHT
What absolute horseshit.
ANGEL
Look, I chased a suspect from the scene. Innocent people don’t run.
FISHER
It might have been our old friend the cactus thief again.
DORIS THATCHER
Yeah, he was a prickly customer.

Everyone laughs. ANGEL crumples against the nonsense.

ANGEL
Am I going completely mad?
WAINWRIGHT
Maybe you are?
CAEIWRIGHT
Ieah, maybe you killed her, seeing as you’re such a big fan of murder.
ANGEL
What!?
FRANK (O.S.)
Sergeant Angel?
ANGEL
YES....sir?

FRANK ushers ANGEL into his office and shuts the blinds.

FRANK
Nicholas, Nicholas, Nicholas, what am I going to do with you?
ANGEL
Chief, you’ve got to understand-
FRANK
No, you have to understand, the boys here aren’t used to the concepts you’re bandying about.
(off Angel’s look)
The ’M’ word, Nicholas. There hasn’t been a recorded murder in Sandford for 20 years.
ANGEL
But I’m sure sir. And what’s more, I know who did it.
FRANK
I hope you’re not going to say who I think you’re going say.
98

INT. SKINNER’S OFFICE - NIGHT

ANGEL
Could I see the manager please?

ANGEL and co. burst into SKINNER’s office to find the CHECKOUT GIRL chewing gum. She intones into the tannoy.

CHECKOUT GIRL
Mr. Skinner to the manager’s office please. Managers office. Mr. Skinner.
99

INT. SKINNER’S GEFICE - NIGHT

The cops are all crammed into the office. ANGEL stands purposefully. Various employees look through the office window.

SKINNER
Sergeant Angel. Officers. To what do I owe this pleasure?
ANGEL
I’m arresting you on suspicion of the murder of Leslie Tiller.
SKINNER
Leslie Tiller is dead? How?
FISHER
She tripped and fell on her own shears.

ANGEL throws a pen at FISHER’s head. He yelps.

ANGEL
I’m also arresting you on suspicion of the murders of Tim Messenger on May 1st, George Merchant on April 29th and Eve Draper and Martin Blower on April 28th.
SKINNER
Why on earth would I want to do that Sergeant?
ANGEL
I’m glad you asked.

The following is illustrated with oodles of FLASHCUTS. It looks pretty damn cool, for a British film.

ANGEL (cont’d)
My suspicions were [U+FB02]rst aroused when you appeared at the scene of the Blower/Draper deaths, on the outskirts of Sandford, despite living and working in the centre of the village. I couldn’t help recall your comments at the theatre the previous evening, when you not only indicated your awareness of the couple’s affair but also inferred that Ms. Draper’s connections at the council might make her privy to important information. You yourself spoke of "bashing her head in". Perhaps hoping you might discover the route for the proposed Sandford Bypass. You were already suspicious that Blower’s client George Merchant was buying up an area of land on the edge of the village, after a story Tim Messenger ran in the Citizen. You put two and two together after noting Merchant’s use of your car park to visit Blower who you knew all too well had an inside connection at the council. The land Merchant was buying up had no particular value as it was but if it were to be made accessible by a new road, it would become an ideal location for perhaps, a retail park. Consumed with concern for your business and potential disloyalty from fickle customers
(MORE)
ANGEL (cont’d)
whom you yourself stated the desire to behead, you killed the potential competition in cold blood, staging the murders as accidents. You used a vehicle removal truck to stage the Blower/Draper crash and incinerated an old man in his house, covering your tracks with the judicial application of bacon and beans. However, there was a loose end. Tim Messenger foolishly confronted you at the village fete, after his own investigations lead him to the same conclusions. So you silenced him, before he could voice his concerns to me but not before he had told Leslie Tiller about the true value of her land. Upon discovering that she was about to sell up to the developers, you brutally murdered her with her own shears and made your escape utilising your impressive prize winning skills as a fun runner.

ANGEL finishes his summation, by resting his hand on a ’fun run’ trophy. The room is astonished. SKINNER claps slowly.

SKINNER
Very entertaining, Sergeant Angel. But I rather think you’ve been watching too many films.
DANNY
He hasn’t.
SKINNER
Why would I kill Leslie? You clearly aren’t aware we’re related.
ANGEL
Oh but I am, ’Cousin Sissy’.

ANGEL slaps down a photocopied sheet of a family tree article from the ’Sandford Citizen’. Highlighted are Skinner and Tiller’s connected names. SKINNER scoffs.

SKINNER
I’m afraid my nickname of Sissy is only a revelation to yourself. My teenage years studying ballet are well known.
WAINWRIGHT
Yeah Sissy Skinner.
CARTWEIGHT
What a gaylord!
SKINNER
Thank you Andrews. Despite my comment about beheading customers, what we here on Planet Sandford like to refer to as ’a joke’ I would personally relish the competition of another store. Anything to energise my workforce.

SKINNEE gesticulates to his gormless minions outside.

ANGEL
You would relish the competition. Especially if it was yourself. As Miss Tiller’s only cousin, you’re set to inherit her land, on which you plan to build a Summeraisles Express. The perfect one stop shop for bypass traffic.

ANGEL points to the sketch of a new store on the wall.

SEINNER
These sketches are just pipe dreams. Anyway, what makes you think I could dislodge part of the church roof? Or for that matter stage a car crash?
ANGEL
It’s a well known fact that the church roof is severely in need of repair. As for the car, isn’t it true that two of your employees also operate the council’s vehicle removal truck?

ANGEL points to the GRUFF LOOKING BUTCHERS. They are the same GRUFF LOOKING MEN from the removal vehicle earlier.

SKINNER
Sergeant, this is the 21st Century, I’ll think you find that many people hold down several jobs, I myself host a life drawing class at the Village Hall.
(nods to Checkout Girl)
(MORE)
SKINNER (cont’d)
Tina here is a table dancer at Flappers.
ANGEL
The thing is Mr. Skinner, you could quite easily have obtained access to the removal vehicle and used it for your own ends.
SKINNER
These accusations are meaningless Sergeant, unless you can back them up with hard evidence.
ANGEL
Well you’ve certainly got me there. We’d need something conclusive. Like perhaps a wound you sustained on a shard of broken glass this very evening.

ANGEL awkwardly pulls back SKINNER’s trouser legs. Nothing.

SKINNER
Oh Sergeant, this is getting to be embarrassing. Apart from anything else, how can I be in several places at once? I’m sure the store’s security footage can absolve me. Do feel free to spool through.
100

INT. SKINNER’S OFFICE - NIGHT

A frustrated ANGEL spools a huge pile of VHS tapes. We see CCTV images of SKINNER stagily strolling the shop [U+FB02]oor.The other officers drift out of the office, grumbling.

Soon only DANNY and FRANK remain. FRANK slaps a hand on ANGEL’s shoulder and leaves. DANNY picks up another tape.

ANGEL
I can handle this Danny You enjoy the rest of your birthday.
DANNY
Did you really get me that plant?
ANGEL
Yes, but it’s been impounded as evidence.
DANNY
Maybe I can still water it.

DANNY leaves as SKINNER apprcaches with LURCH.

SKINNER
Sergeant, I wanted you to know that if I do indeed now own the land belonging to Leslie, I intend to turn it into a memorial garden, in her honour.
ANGEL
(blows raspberry)
Jog on.
SKINNER
Michael, will you escort the Sergeant off the premises when he’s quite finished?
LURCH
Yarp.
101

INT. SWAN HOTEL DINING - NIGHT

ANGEL eats alone, a broken man. JOYCE serves him wine.

JOYCE CQOPER
I can’t believe Leslie’s dead. How did it happen again?
ANGEL
She tripped and fell on her own shears.
102

INT. STATION LOCKER ROOM - DAY

ANGEL and DANNY are getting into uniform. Retrieving his cap, ANGEL sees the word ’TWAT’ written on the inside.

DANNY
That wasn’t me.
103

INT/EXT. SQUAD CAR - DAY

DANNY and ANGEL sit in their usual spot, as the high street is being decorated with bunting. DANNY leeks at ANGEL, whe stares off intc space.

DANNY
Look Nicholas. Mr. Treacher’s got his big coat on again...Want anything from the shop?
ANGEL
Cornetto.
104

INT. NEWSAGENT - DAY

DANNY buys two ice-creams from a smirking ANNETTE ROPER. ANGEL watches on morosely.

ANNETTE RUPER
No luck catching them killers then?
DANNY
It’s just the one killer actually.
105

EXT. SQUARE - DAY

DANNY throws some change into the fountain. They get into the squad car, licking their ice creams. ANNETTE’s words echo in ANGEL’s head; ’No luck catching them killers then?’

Licking his ice cream; ANGEL ponders DANNY’s response; ’It’s just the one killer actually’. The words resonate.

ANGEL stops eating his ice cream, his eyes go wide.

DANNY
What’s the matter? You got brainfreeze?
ANGEL
No I got brainwave. Get us back to the station. Now!

NANNY starts the car, whilst trying to finish as much of his ice cream as he can. He clutches his head in pain.

DANNY
Arrrgh!
106

EXT. STATION - DAY

The squad car screeches to a halt in the car park.

ANGEL
It’s more than one person.
FRANK
Come again?
ANGEL
More than one killer.
FRANK
It was Skinner a minute ago.
ANGEL
Maybe it still is. Maybe he’s not alone. Maybe there are others.
FRANK
Who exactly?
ANGEL
I don’t know but we were buying Cornettos and it suddenly hit me-
FRANK
You’re an exceptional officer, Nicholas. Truly exceptional. But I’ve seen this before.
ANGEL
Sir?
FRANK
Sergeant Popwell. It was exactly the same thing. You’ve come from a city where there’s danger round every corner and it’s driven you round the bend.

ANGEL visibly sags. He becomes listless and compliant.

ANGEL
Yes sir.
FRANK
Listen, I’m due at a function in about half an hour. So do yourself a favour. Sleep on it. If you feel the same way in the morning, I give you my word, we’ll get right on it.
ANGEL
Thank you sir.
107

EXT. STATION - DAY

ANGEL leaves the station. DANNY follows, confused.

DANNY
What happened? What’s going on?
ANGEL
Nothing. I was just- I’m gonna go back and crash for a bit.
DANNY
Oh okay. Need a lift?
ANGEL
No, I could do with the walk.

ANGEL walks off, feeling guilty. DANNY looks forlorn.

108

EXT. SANDFORD HIGH STREET - DUSK

ANGEL trudges home, the street is festooned with bunting.

109

INT. SWAN HOTEL RECEFTION - DUSK

ANGEL slopes through the hotel reception. It is empty. A new ROMEO AND JULIET poster shows understudies, Greg and Sherry, smiling as the male and female lead.

110

INT. SWAN HOTEL CORRIDOR - DUSK

ANGEL takes out his key. He notices his door is ajar.

The door [U+FB02]iesopen...A huge CLOAKED FIGURE lifts ANGEL off the ground, throws him inside and slams the door behind.

111

INT. SWAN HOTEL BEDROOM - DUSK

ANGEL hits the wall with a thud. He gets up and throws several punches at his attacker, but stops, clutching his injured hand. The FIGURE picks ANGEL up in a bear hug. ANGEL struggles, pulling the assailant’s hood off to reveal-

LURCH. They look at each other for a second. ANGEL brings his [U+FB02]stsdown on either side of LURCH’s head. LURCH drops ANGEL, holding his ears. ANGEL kicks LURCH in the balls. He barely winces before hurling ANGEL across the room into a painting of the castle. His notebook drops to the [U+FB02]oor.

LUNCH lumbers towards him. ANGEL grabs the CUDDLY MONKEY and looks throws it in LURCH’s direction. LUNCH catches it and is momentarily charmed, hypnotised by the monkey’s cute eyes.

A whistle from offscreen. LURCH turns to see ANGEL upright, brandishing his beloved POT PLANT.

ANGEL
Playtime’s over.

SMASH. ANGEL hits LURCH across the head, destroying his Peace Lily in the process. LURCH drops. His walkie-talkie clatters to the [U+FB02]oor,crackling to life.

SKINNER (O.S.)
Michael? Michael? Are you there? Michael? Is everything okay?

ANGEL speaks into the Walkie-talkie in a thick brogue.

ANGEL
Yarp.
SKINNER (O.S.)
Sergeant Angel has been taken care of?
ANGEL
Yarp.
SKINNER (O.S.)
He’s not going to get back up again?
ANGEL
...Narp?
SKINNER (O.S.}
Good. Proceed to the castle.

ANGEL looks to a castle painting on the wall. He pulls out his phone and dials.

FRANK (0.S.)
You’ve reached Frank Butterman. Please leave a message after the beep-
ANGEL
Frank. This shit just got real. Skinner just tried to kill me. He’s going somewhere. The castle I think. I’m going there now. I don’t know who to trust. It’s Nicholas by the way.

ANGEL turns to see DANNY at the door and jumps a mile. DANNY looks at LURCH sprawled among the pot plant debris.

DANNY
Oh my god. What happened to your Peace Lily?
ANGEL
Danny. Stay here. Watch him. Call your Dad. Tell him I was right.
DANNY
What are you going to do?
ANGEL
I’m going to bust this thing wide open.
DANNY
Nicholas?

Danny picks up ANGEL’s notebook and puts it in his pocket.

ANGEL
Thanks partner.
112

EXT. HIGH STREET - NIGHT

ANGEL runs down the high street past a National Trust sign pointing toward ’SANDFORD CASTLE’.

EXT/INT. CASTLE RUINS - NIGHT

ANGEL approaches Sandford Castle ruins, a dilapidated l2th Century Castle. It looks spooky in the dark. ANGEL hears voices coming from inside. We hear chanting-

MASSED VOICES (O.S.}
...bonum commune communitatis...

ANGEL peers into the main hall. He sees several BLACK CLOAKED FIGURES standing around a large circular stone tablet. They hold torches under their faces.

ANGEL makes out familiar faces under the hoods. We see TOM WEAVER, whose words echo in ANGEL’s head; "I can see what the entire village is up to..."

ANGEL looks to see 12 walkie talkies on the stone tablet - "Got everyone linked up with a walkie so we can keep each other abreast of any misadventure."

ANGEL sees SKINNER under one of the hoods. Words echo; "How can I be in several places at once?"...

We see ELASHCUTS of the [U+FB02]oristchase, now with angles that we didn’t see previously; a second CLOAKED FIGURE outside the greenhouse, a third CLOAKED EIGUEE behind the hedge.

ANGEL spies some of the other faces - JOYCE COOPER, ANNETTE ROPER, JAMES READER, REV. SHOOTER, DR. HATCHER, AMANDA PAVER - "We’re basically a group of volunteers who strive to keep the village just so..."

ANGEL’s thoughts [U+FB02]ashback to the fountain. We see DANNY throw some change in. The penny drops. We see the plaque; ’This fountain was generously restored with funds raised by F. Butterman, J. Cooper, R. Hatcher, A. Paver...’ As the CLOAKED FIGURES stop chanting and sit at the tablet, ANGEL is even more horrified by what he hears next...

JOYCE COOPER
Quick announcement before we begin. Janet Barker has decided to call her boys Roger and Martin which is lovely. The christening will be Saturday week and all are welcome. Tom?

The CLOAKED FIGURES all swing their torches to WEAVER.

WEAVER
Thanks Joyce. Now you’ll be pleased to know that the tenacious Sergeant Angel has now been taken care of. Thanks must go to Simon Skinner for his efforts in this. Our very own Joyce Cooper will discover the officer tomorrow morning, slumped
(MORE)
WEAVER (cont’d)
on the wet [U+FB02]oorof his ensuite bathroom, having slipped in the shower and tragically broken his neck. Dr. Hatcher will take it from there.
DR. HATCHER
Indeed and may I say very well executed Simon. I will of course pronounce the death as accidental. That is after all what I’m here for.

All torches to DR. HATCHER. There are mild chuckles.

WEAVER
With Sergeant Angel dispatched, we can concentrate our efforts on eradicating our hoodie infestation, after which nothing will stand in our way.
ANGEL (O.S.)
Oh I beg to differ, Mister Weaver.

All the torches spin to the direction of the voice.

WEAVER
Well, well, well, I see we have visitors.

ANGEL walks into the torch beams, warrant card aloft.

ANGEL
Sergeant Nicholas Angel. Sandford Police Service.
SNINNER
My, he is tenacious isn’t he?
ANGEL
I’m placing you all under arrest on suspicion of conspiracy to commit murder.
WEAVER
Oh come, come Sergeant Angel.
ANGEL
You should be ashamed of yourselves. This is supposed to be the community that cares!
REV. SHOOTER
Oh, but we do care Nicholas.
JOYCE COOPER
It’s all about the greater good.
ALL
The greater good.
ANGEL
What do you mean the greater good?
ALL
The greater good.
SKINNER
Sandford, Nicholas. The village.
DR. HATCHER
A happy village is a healthy village.
REAPER
Perfection breeds contentment and contentment is paramount.
SKINNER
You see, as much as I enjoyed your wild theories Sergeant, the truth is far less complex. Blower’s fate was simply the result of his being an appalling actor.

There’s a murmur of "appalling".

ANGEL
You murdered him for that?
SKINNER
He murdered Bill Shakespeare.
ANGEL
What!? Oh I see.

We see FLASHEACKS of MARTIN ELOWER’s dressing room murder.

Now, we see new angles with MULTIPLE CLOAKED FIGURES.

REAPER
The Sandford Players is an important feather in our cap.
DR. HATCEER
We couldn’t let Blower jeopardize that. Not when we had two semimprofessionals waiting in the wings.

SKINNER points to an OLDER COUPLE in cloaks who wave back.

SKINNER
Let us not forget Greg was an extra in Straw Dogs -
ANGEL
Yes, I know!
JOYCE COQPER
Martin was less concerned with the reputation of the village than his sordid affair with Eve Draper.

We see FLASHBACKS of EVE’s murder by MULTIPLE KILLERS.

ANGEL
And so Eve deserved to die too?
DR. HATCHER
She did have an annoying laugh.

There’s a murmur of ’annoying’.

ANGEL
And George Merchant?
SKINNER
He had an awful house.

There’s a murmur of "awful".

We see FLASHBACKS of MERCHANT’S ’accidental’ explosion. Now, with MULTIPLE CLOAKED FIGURES engineering it.

JOYCE COOPER
We begged him in vain to make his residence more in keeping with the village’s rustic aesthetic.
ANGEL
What was Messenger’s crime?
SNINNER
Tim Messenger’s tenure as editor of the Sandford Citizen has been unbearable.
REAPER
Our once great paper had become riddled with tabloid journalism and dreadful punnery. Not to mention persistent errors.
ROY PORTER
He listed her age as 55.
MARY PORTER
When I’m actually 53.
REV SHOOTER
The church roof was in need of repair and the insurers wouldn’t pay unless it was certified hazardous. Let’s just say we killed two birds with one stone.

FLASHBACK of MULTIPLE CLOAKED FIGURES pushing the turret.

ANGEL
What about Leslie Tillar? One of your own? Her her horticultural expertise helped put Sandford on the map.
JOYCE COOPER
She was ever so good.
SKINNER
Cousin Leslie was a terrible shame. But it seems she was set on moving away.
WEAVER
We had to stop her before she shared her green fingers with anyone else.
JOYCE COOPER
Not least the heathens at Euford Abbey.

The NWA simultaneously spit on the ground.

DR. HATCHER
If we can’t have her no-one can.
ANGEL
How can this be for the greater good?!
ALL
The greater good.
ANGEL
Shut it. These people died for no reason, no reason whatsoever?

VOICE (O.S.) Oh I wouldn’t say that.

All torches move to the voice. To ANGEL’s horror, it is FRANK. He wears the era FASHIONED POLICE CAPE.

FRANK
I was like you once Nicholas. I believed in the immutable word of the law. That is until the night Mrs. Butterman was taken from me. You see, no-one loved Sandford more than her. She was head of the Women’s Institute, chair of the ’[U+FB02]oral committee’,even ran the Neighbourhood Watch before Tom. When they started the ’Village of the Year’ contest, she worked round the clock, it became her life. I’ve never seen such dedication. On the eve of the adjudicator’s arrival, some travellers moved into Callahan Park. Before could say gypsy scum, We were knee deep in dog muck, thieving kids and crusty jugglers. We lost the title and Irene lost her mind. She drove her Datsun Cherry into Sandford Gorge. The inquiry said it was an accident but I knew better. From that moment on I swore that I’d do her proud. And whatever the cost, we’d make Sandford great again.
ANGEL
Sir, this doesn’t make sense.
WEAVER
It makes perfect sense, Sergeant. Frank gathered together a group of the most faithful Sandfordians and showed us how we might rid our streets of the paedophiles and perverts-

REV. SHOOTER REAPER

-the shoplifters- -the shirtlifters-

WEAVER AMANDA PAVER

-the punks, the drunks- -the thugs, the mugs-

SKINNER REV. SHOOTER

-the hams, the shams- -the drifters, the

grifters-

DR. HATCHER JOYCE COOPER

-the dodgers, the bodgers- -the hawkers, the stalkers-

ROY PORTER MARY PORTER

-the gypsies, the tramps- -and thieves-

ANNETTE ROPER
-the paedophiles, the perverts-
ANGEL
Yeah, you’ve had them.
FRANK
The adjudicators arrive tomorrow Nicholas. They were supposed to arrive in a couple of months but they brought it forward for some reason. We had to make sure everything was ready.
ANGEL
Are you saying this was all about winning the ’Best Village Award’?
FRANK
This is the best village Nicholas. You’ve seen the people. They’re happy, contented. Most of them don’t even know about our work. They have very normal lives.

There’s a murmur of "very normal".

ANGEL
They’re living in a dream world.
HATCHER
Precisely. No crime. No tension.
WEAVER
Sheer bliss.

There’s a murmur of "bliss".

FRANK
We have created the society you dream about. Isn’t that worth preserving?
ANGEL
Not with murder.
FRANK
Sgt. Popwell thought much the same as you. I’m disappointed you can’t see the big picture.
ANGEL
Well, I’m happy to disappoint sir. And I’m afraid you’re going to have to come with me. You’re all going to have to come with me.
FRANK
No Nicholas, I’m afraid it’s you who has to some with us...

The NWA reveal an array of weapons from under their cloaks; axes, scythes, pitchforks, knives etc.

Out of the shadows, a bruised and angry LURCH slaps a hand on ANGEL’s shoulder. ANGEL is shocked. Another hand lands on his other shoulder. he turns to see-

ANGEL
Danny? No! NO!

DANNY is silent. He and LURCH wield knives and torches. With lightning speed ANGEL ducks out of their grip, grabs LURCH’s blade, spins behind DANNY and holds it to his throat. He takes DANNY’s torch and shines it at the NWA.

ANGEL (cont’d)
Now back off or you’ll be explaining to everyone how Danny accidentally tripped and cut his own head off.

The NWA continue to close in. FRANK laughs.

FRANK
Oh come on Nicholas. You haven’t got it in you.
ANGEL
I MEAN IT.

They close in further.

Shit.

ANGEL throws DANNY to the ground and runs into the woods. The NWA give chase. A hoard of cloaked figures run through the trees. ANGEL sprints into the darkhess-

Suddenly ANGEL trips and falls through a hole in the path.

113

INT. BLACKNESS - NIGHT

ANGEL crashes to a dusty [U+FB02]oor,winded. He picks up his torch and shines it around. He seems to be inside an old GYPSY CARAVAN buried in the ground. His torch picks out a SKELETON IN GYPSY CLOTHING.

ANGEL backs up frantically, colliding with an ENTIRE FAMILY OF GYPSY SKELETONS, complete with children and dog.

ANGEL staggers to the door which bursts open into a cave. His torch picks out many more bodies. The most recent addition, in a PURPLE SHELL SUIT is a dead PETER COCKER.

ANGEL jumps back and finds himself staring at a skeleton in a police sergeant’s uniform. It has a BIG BUSHY BEARD.

ANGEL [U+FB02]eesthe cave and sees one other corpse; that of the LIVING STATUE, now frozen in a final expression of terror.

114

EXT. WOODS - NIGHT

ANGEL slams straight into DANNY at the cave mouth.

The other NWA members gather behind, an ominous mass of shadow. DANNY produces his blade.

ANGEL
Danny! No!

DANNY plunges the knife into ANGEL’s chest. We see ANGEL stagger back. His torch drops and smashes.

115

INT/EXT. DANNY’S CAR - NIGHT

A sign looms in the night - ’YOU ARE NOW LEAVING SANDFORD’.

A grim DANNY pulls into a dark layby in his Astra. The brake lights illuminate the sign with a hellish glow.

116

INT/EXT DANNY’S CAR - NIGHT

A car boot opens. DANNY stands over a bloodied ANGEL, the knife protruding from his chest.

ANGEL slowly opens his eyes and looks at DANNY with confusion. DANNY slowly opens his hand to reveal a number of empty ketchup sachets.

DANNY
(weakly)
Ta-daaaa.

DANNY yanks the knife out of ANGEL’s chest. ANGEL produces the notebook from his breast pocket.

ANGEL
What are you doing?
DANNY
They told me I had to put you in the front seat and push you in the gorge.

DANNY hauls ANGEL out of the car boot.

ANGEL
Danny, it’s murder.
DANNY
It’s not, it’s ketchup.
ANGEL
I’m not talking about me Danny, I’m talking about all the others the NWA have murdered.
DANNY
That’s not true. Dad just said it’s his special club. I thought it was just about rapping knuckles and sending them on their way.
ANGEL
There are skeletons back there Danny.
DANNY
I don’t know nuffin about the skelingtons!
ANGEL
But what about Draper, Blower, Merchant, Messenger and Tiller? What do you think was happening?
DANNY
I don’t know.
ANGEL
It was Frank, Danny. He’s appointed himself judge, jury and executioner.
DANNY
He’s not Judge Judy!
ANGEL
He is Danny! And you have to help me take him down.
DANNY
I can’t Nicholas. I’m involved now. I have to do what Dad says. I can’t get out. But you can. Take the car, go back to London. There’s nothing you can do.
ANGEL
I can come back. And I can bring the blue fury of the Metropolitan Police Service with me.
DANNY
They’ll make it all disappear. They hid it from everyone else. Who are they gonna believe? Dad, or the loony London copper?
ANGEL
But you’ll be here won’t you Danny? We can do this together. You and me. Partners.
DANNY
Forget it Nicholas. It’s Sandford.

A tearful DANNY pulls out his car keys. ANGEL takes them, limps to the car and drives off. In his rear view, ANGEL can just make out the figure of DANNY standing in the road.

117

INT. DANNY’S CAR - NIGHT

ANGEL drives down the M4. Rain lashes his windscreen. His fuel light blinks low. He reaches ’HESTON SERVICES’.

118

INT. HESTON SERVICES - NIGHT

A CLERK eyes ANGEL, who is covered in grime and ketchup.

CLERK
Is that everything Sir?

ANGEL’s gaze has been drawn to a bargain bin full of DVDs. He scans the titles - ’OUT FOR JUSTICE’,’THE ENFDRCER’, ’LETHAL WEAPON’, ’WALKING TALL’, ’HARD T0 KILL’.

CLERK (cont’d)
Sir? Sir? Is there anything we can do for you?
ANGEL
No. This is something I have to do myself.

ANGEL grabs a pair of shades, a [U+FB02]stfulof car spray paints and some bubble gum. He slams down some crumpled money.

119

EXT. BRANNIGAN’S FARM - MORNING

We see the ’WELCOME TO SANDFORD’ sign.

It’s morning outside JAMES REAPER’s farm. His GREEN 4X4 pulls over to the roadside. He gets out and walks to some horses at a gate. They snort, restless. REAPER looks behind him. The ASTRA is sitting right in the middle of the road.

REAPER
Danny?

REAPER squints. It’s not DANNY. Sitting behind the wheel, wearing shades and revving the engine, is ANGEL.

Reaper runs to his 4X4...ANGEL screams towards him...Reaper grabs his car radio..

SMASH. ANGEL crashes his car directly into the 4X4...REAPER is left clutching the radio and snapped cable...ANGEL springs from the ASTRA and charges towards REAPER.

REAPER (cont’d)
Mum!!!

ANGEL punches REAPER out cold. BANG...Buckshot rips into the 4X4 next to ANGEL’s head...

REAPER’S MUM brandishes a shotgun from the other side of the gate. She breaks the shotgun and goes to reload.

ANGEL runs towards the gate, jumps into the air and launches into a [U+FB02]yingkick. REAPER’S MUM snaps the shotgun shut, ANGEL lands on her, with maximum force.

120

EXT. BRANNIGAN’S FARM - MORNING

JAMES REAFER and his MUM are tied to the fence.

REAPER
What are you going to do? Just walk in and arrest the whole village?
ANGEL
Not exactly.
121

INT. SANDFORD STATION - MORNING

ANGEL glides through the quiet front office, past the straight haired DESK SERGEANT who barely looks up.

122

INT. LOCKER ROOM - MORNING

ANGEL glides through the locker room. No-one spots him. He opens his locker, and retrieves a uniform and a stab vest.

123

INT/EXT. EVIDENCE ROOM - MORNING

’999’ is punched into the keypad. The door opens on the arsenal of weaponry. ANGEL grabs all he can carry. RIFLES and SHOTGUNS round his shoulders, PISTOLS in his belt.

The room is now completely empty, save for the sea mine.

124

INT. FRANK’S OFFICE - MORNING

FRANK looks at paperwork and eats ice cream. In the outer office ANGEL stands looking in. FRANK becomes aware of someone watching. He looks up but ANGEL has gone.

125

INT. STATION - MORNING

ANGEL glides past the DESK SERGEANT, who finally pipes up.

DESK SERGEANT
Oh Sergeant Angel? Someone from London called for you.

ANGEL scowls back at him, chewing gum, armed to the teeth.

DESK SERGEANT (cont’d)
I’ll tell them you’ll ring ’em back.

ANGEL nods and walks out. The DESK SERGEANT watches him go.

DESK SERGEANT (cont’d)
That’s funny.

VOICE (O.S.} What’s that?

DESK SERGEANT
I didn’t know we had a mounted division.

The voice’s owner joins DESK SERGEANT in peering after ANGEL.

It’s his curly haired twin brother.

THE OTHER DESK SERGEANT
Nobody tells me nothing.
126

EXT. STREET - MORNING

An armed ANGEL trots down the street on a FUCKING HORSE. He rides past a bus shelter where GABRIEL WEAVER and the HOODIES sit in their usual formation, albeit in school uniform. They stare at ANGEL, their young mouths agape.

ANGEL
Wanna do something useful?

ANGEL throws a holdall to GABRIEL. It’s full of spray cans.

127

INT. STATION/CCTV OFFICE - MORNING

WEAVER reads the paper and daintily eats ice cream. He does not see the CCTV screens slowly turn black behind him.

128

EXT. HIGH STREET - MORNING

Sandford. As it was that first morning. Idyllic, bustling, happy. Among the morning folk we see smiling NWA members going about their business as if nothing has happened.

We see WORKMEN putting up a banner across the middle of the street reading ’GOOD LUCK SANDFORD: VILLAGE OE THE YEAR’.

ANNETTE ROPER is putting out a display in front of her shop. Her walkie-talkie crackles to life.

RADIO VOICE
Annette, that new policeman’s back.
129

INT. CCTV ROOM - MORNING

WEAVER hears this RADIO message and finally realises that all his precious CCTV cameras have been sprayed black.

130

INT. SURGERY - MORNING

DR. HATCHER peers through his surgery window, his eyes wide. ANGEL is re[U+FB02]ected passingon horse back.

131

EXT. STREET - MORNING

JOYCE COOPER waters the hanging baskets outside the hotel, she spots ANGEL riding up the middle of the high street.

The PORTERS peer out of the Crown, mouths agape.

REV. SHOOTER is talking to the understudies GREG and SHEREE. All three stop and stare. AMANDA PAVER skids to a stop on her bicycle and gawps. MR. TREACHER in his heavy coat looks on in terror.

SKINNER and his staff stare from the window of SUMMERAISLES.

DANNY is sat in the squad car in the usual parking spot. He sees ANGEL and is terrified, not knowing what to do.

132

INT. STATION - MORNING

WEAVER bursts into FRANK’s office, panic stricken. FRANK looks up. His cheery expression dissipates immediately.

FRANK
Angel.
133

EXT. SQUARE - MORNING

The village has come to a stop. The NWA watch as ANGEL dismounts. Beads of sweat glisten. Eyes [U+FB02]ickthis way and that. The ordinary folk are unnerved by the hush.

ANGEL
Morning.

MR. TREACHER [U+FB02]ingsopen his winter coat revealing a shot gun. ANGEL dives behind the fountain just as he fires.

The village erupts into chaos. The innocent run for cover.

The NWA mobilise. The PORTERS scurry inside. DR. HATCHER emerges from his surgery with a number of guns.

ANNETTE ROPER runs into her shop. Moments later an upper window smashes and the barrel of a gun protrudes.

DANNY sits in the car, his face a mixture of awe and panic.

ANGEL takes a look at MR. TREACHER’s position. He is standing next to a truck loaded with BEER BARRELS. ANGEL jumps up and fires blasting the catch holding the BEER BARRELS in place. They tumble off the back of the truck, knocking TREACHER off his feet.

ANGEL is pinned down by fire from ANNETTE ROPER. He looks up to see ROPER’S gun poking out of her shop.

ANGEL sees the HOODIES hiding behind a car. He motions to the newsagent. The HOODIES stampede into the shop. The door slams. We see the notice; "ONLY ONE CHILD AT ANY TIME".

In the window, ROPER’S gun is suddenly yanked backwards. We hear muffied screams and blows.

Shots ring out, a hail of bullets narrowly missing ANGEL. Pedalling towards him on her cycle, firing a ri[U+FB02]e is AMANDA PAVER. ANGEL dives out of the line of fire.

DANNY sees AMANDA PAVER in his wing mirror. His face hardens. He [U+FB02]ingsthe door wide open and sends AMANDA PAVER [U+FB02]yingthrough the air into a crumpled heap.

DANNY runs over to join ANGEL. ANGEL throws him a shotgun. DANNY catches it in mid air.

ANGEL (cont’d)
That’s what I’m talking about.

Shots ricochet off the fountain. GREG and SHEREE reign fire on the two officers. ANGEL and DANNY, without a moments pause, return fire, shooting GREG in his gun hand and SHERRE in the shoulder. Both fall dramatically.

JOYCE COOPER
Fascist!

JOYCE COOPER opens fire with an antique Winchester. DANNY dives for cover. ANGEL rolls across the [U+FB02]oor,pulling two pistols from his belt, still rolling he fires at JOYCE. One of JOYCE’s hanging baskets drops directly on her head.

ANGEL
Hag!

There’s a piercing yell. ANGEL turns to see BERNARD baring down fast with the ORNAMENTAL SWORD. ANGEL barely manages to draw his baton to block the attack. BERNARD swipes, slicing the baton in half. ANGEL takes out BERNARD’s legs with a foot sweep. BERNARD crashes down.

Then from behind ANGEL.

REV. SHOOTER
STOP! STOP THIS! Please. Let us put down our guns. Nicholas, my son, you may not be a man of god but surely you’re a man of peace.
ANGEL
Reverend I may not be convinced about the existence of God but I know good and evil and I have the grace to know which is which.
REV. SHOOTER
Oh fuck off Grasshopper!

REV. SHOOTER pulls a pistol from his cassock and fires. The bullet takes ANGEL by surprise, grazing his shoulder.

DANNY
Nooooooooo!

DANNY returns fire at SHOOTER hitting him in the shoulder.

REV. SHOOTER
Jesus Christ!!!

DANNY runs over to ANGEL who is lying winded in the road.

ANGEL
Still feel like you’re missing out?

CLICK. They turn to see DR. HATCHER pointing a shotgun.

DR. HATCHER
Drop your weapons.
DANNY
Dr. Hatcher wait.
DR. HATCHER
Shut up Danny. I brought you into this world, it’s rather fitting I should be the one to take you out of it. You and your interfering little friend. Now drop them!

DANNY does so. His shotgun hits the [U+FB02]oor.BLAM! It fires into HATCHER’s leg. His knee explodes in a shower of blood.

DR. HATCHER clutches his knee, wailing in pain.

ANGEL
You’re a doctor, deal with it...motherfucker. Danny, let’s go.
DANNY
What are you thinking exactly?

A shot blasts from the windows of THE CROWN.

ANGEL
Pub?

ANGEL eyes the board outside the pub; reading ’COME ON IN!’

134

INT/EXT. THE CROWN - MORNING

SMASH. The pub board comes smashing through the window.

The PORTERS fire wildly from behind the bar, before a sign reading ’TWO SHOOTERS FOR THE PRICE OF ONE’. They stop.

Then - the pub doors [U+FB02]yopen. DANNY and ANGEL burst in, jumping through the air whilst both firing two guns.

They land and roll, grabbing tables to form a barricade. The PORTERS open fire again. Tables and chairs splinter.

ANGEL pops up and fires at a bear trap on the wall. It falls and clamps its jaws around ROY PORTER’s head.

MARY PORTER
Roy! Somebody call the police!
FRANK (O.S.}
Reach!

The entire Sandford police burst in, wearing RIOT GEAR and clutching batons. WALKER holds a growling SAXON on a leash. FRANK leads them, aiming his ANTIQUE PISTOLS at ANGEL.

FRANK (CONT’D}
Officers, arrest that man. Danny, step away from the Sergeant.
DANNY
No Dad.
FRANK
Danny, you’ll do as you’re told.
DANNY
No, I’m not taking orders from you any more.
FRANK
Officers, arrest these men!
ANGEL
You can arrest us if you want. You can throw us in prison and go back to being blind, submissive slaves.
CARTWRIGHT
What the fuck is he on about?
WAINWRIGHT
What the fuck are you on about?
ANGEL
Have you ever wondered why the crime rate in Sandford is so low and the accident rate so high?
FISHER
No. Yes. What?
ANGEL
You’ve been brain washed Sergeant into naivety by an old man with a murderous obsession and it’s time you opened your eyes to the truth.
FRANK
This is ridiculous.
DANNY
No, it’s not Dad. It’s very unridiculous. And it’s only now that I’m starting to realise how unridiculous it all is.
FRANK
Silence Danny! Think of your mother.
DANNY
Mum’s dead and for the first time in my life, I’m glad. Because even though she loved this village more than anything if she could see what you’ve become, she’d kill herself all over again.
DORIS THATCHER
Sorry, I’m completely lost.
ANGEL
Sandford is a lie Doris. For the last twenty years the village has been controlled by Frank and the NWA. They’ve lulled you into thinking this is a perfect village by killing anyone who threatened to change that.

SAXON stops growling. BOB WALKER pipes up.

WALKER
Recconneeegottsumadere.
DANNY
He says he ’reckons you got something there’.
ANGEL
I know. Thanks.

WALKER/DANNY S’alroight.

FRANK rounds on the officers, raising his pistols at them.

FRANK
You’re not seriously going to believe this man are you? Are you?! He’s not even from round here.

The officers look on in confused disbelief at the manic FRANK, who realises he is brandishing his weapons.

WAINWRIGHT
Maybe it’s time to give it up sir.
FRANK
You ignorant flatfoots!

FRANK snaps, shooting his pistols up in the air. He hits a rustic light fitting, which crashes to the ground.

ANGEL and the other officers dive out of the way, as glass explodes across the main bar. Everyone scatters.

In the confusion, FRANK makes a bid for freedom through the back of the pub. ANGEL jumps up. The other officers stare after FRANK, then look to ANGEL, their new leader.

ANGEL
Let’s go.
DANNY
Aren’t we gonna go after dad?
ANGEL
He’ll come round again.
DANNY
Well, who else is there?
ANGEL
Want anything from the shop?

FLASHCUTS; the police tool up, cuff people. PC WALKER and SAXON guard the already incapacitated NWA members. ROY PORTER still has the bear trap on his head.

135

EXT. SUMMERAISLES - MORNING

ANGEL leads his new recruits as they approach the car park. They take cover behind recycling bins, armed and ready.

DANNY
What you thinking?

Before Angel can answer-

FISHR
We should strike now while we have the element of surprise, the longer we wait the more time they have to mobilise. I say we go in through the front entrance and take the place aisle by aisle. They won’t be expecting that.
ANGEL
Very good. What he said.
136

INT. SUMMERAILES - MORNING

A grim SKINNER and his gormless minions watch the CCTV.

SKINNER
My, my. Here come the fuzz.
137

EXT. SUMMERAISLES - MORNING

The Sandford police gather near the entrance.

WAINWRIGHT
Maybe they’re not in.
ANGEL
Wait here.

ANGEL goes into SUMMERAISLES through the automatic door.

DORIS THATCHER
We can’t let him go in on his own.
DANNY
He knows what he’s doing.

KRAAASSSHHHH! ANGEL comes [U+FB02]yingthrough the front window of the shop and lands in a heap on the ground. He gets up.

ANGEL
They’re in. You take the shop. I’ll deal with the trolley boy.

WAINWRIGHT CARTWRIGHT

Eh? Eh?

LURCH strides out of the shop.

WAINWRIGHT CARTWRIGHT

Oh. Oh.

DANNY leads the officers in, as ANGEL faces up to LURCH.

ANGEL (cont’d)
We don’t have to do this Michael. Is this what you really want?
LURCH
Yarp.
ANGEL
Suit yourself.

ANGEL runs at LUNCH and headbutts him in the face.

138

INT. SUMMRAISLES - MORNING

The OFFICERS make their way through the supermarket aisles. WAINWRIGHT peers round a corner. One of the GRUFF BUTCHERS throws a large meat cleaver. It shatters a tomato sauce jar next to his head. CARTWRIGHT shrieks, assuming it’s blood.

CARTWRIGHT
Andy!

Meanwhile ANGEL is being swung around by LURCH, his arms clamped tightly around LURCH’s neck. ANGEL [U+FB02]ailing legs knock produce off shelves as he clings on tight. LURCH begins to lose consciousness. He staggers past a ’WET FLOOR’ sign, slips and both fall hard into a chest freezer.

ANGEL scrambles out covered in frost. LURCH is out cold.

ANGEL joins the other officers, who crouch behind shelves as they shoot at the two GRUEE EUTCHERS.

DANNY
Where’s Lurch?
ANGEL
He’s unconscious in the freezer.
DANNY
Did you say ’cool off’?
ANGEL
No I didn’t say anything.
DANNY
Oh shame.
ANGEL
But you missed a bit earlier when I distracted him with the monkey, said ’Playtime’s over’ and hit him with the Peace Lily.
DANNY
You’re off the fucking chain!

Another cleaver whizzes by, smashing more sauce bottles.

ANGEL
What’s the situation?
WAINWRIGHT
Two blokes and a lot of cutlery. What do you reckon?

The two GRUFF BUTCHERS wait, knives drawn, ready to throw. Suddenly a terrific clattering rumble fills the store. A battering ram comprised of several trollies handcuffed together bursts into view, hurtling toward the GRUFF BUTCHERS. The ANDES ride the front of the trolley-ram, yelling like Vikings.

The trollies crash into the meat counter, knocking the GRUFF BUTCHERS to the [U+FB02]oor.The ANDES leap off the makeshift battering ram and deck the [U+FB02]ooredbad guys.

A PIERCING SCREAM. The officers turn to see the sluttish CHECKOUT GIRL running towards them.

DORIS THATCHER grabs the ’WET FLOOR’ sign and slams it into the CHECKOUT GIRL’s face. She slides across the [U+FB02]oor.

WAINWRIGHT (cont’d)
Nice one Doris.
DORIS THATCHER
Nothing like a bit of girl on girl.

SPLAT! The officers duck for cover. Gangly SHELF STACKERS appear, throwing a volley of melons and pineapples.

ANGEL
Can you handle this sergeant? We’re going after the big boss.
FISHER
We’re on it, Sergeant.
ANGEL
Danny, let’s roll.
WAINWEIGHT
Angel! Don’t go being a twat now.
ANGEL
I wouldn’t give you the satisfaction.

ANGEL and DANNY burst in. The office is deserted, the window open. They see SKINNER in the car park climbing into a SQUAD CAR, driven by FRANK.

ANGEL (cont’d)
Let’s get down there.
DANNY
How?
ANGEL
Skip.

ANGEL and DANNY jump through the open window and land in a skip full of cardboard boxes, as FRANK’s car peels off.

ANGEL (cont’d)
Head ’em off?
DANNY
Fuck yeah.

ANGEL and DANNY sprint down an alley, burst back into the square and race towards DANNY’s SQUAD CAR.

DANNY (cont’d)
I’ll drive.

ANGEL slides over the bonnet to the passenger side. FRANK’s car screams past. DANNY gets in and [U+FB02]ickson the siren.

ANGEL
Punch that shit!

They screech off. Behind them we see the once picturesque square bullet riddled and blood splattered. The banner reading ’Village of the Year’ [U+FB02]uttersto the ground.

Three official looking types holding clipboards stand gobsmacked amid the debris.

139

EXT. SANDFOED STREETS - DAY

FRANK’s car races past a ’KILL YOUR SPEED’ sign.

Behind, ANGEL and DANNY gain on them. They take turns shooting at FRANK’s car as they go. It’s COP ON COP.

FRANK’s car hits the brow of a hill at 100mph and gets air. As it hits the road again, SKINNNR spots something.

SKINNER
Swan!

FRANK panics. Swerves. Big mistake. The car careers off the road and smashes right into a sign for the ’MODEL VILLAGE’.

140

EXT. MODEL VILLAGE - DAY

A beautiful blue sky. The sun beams down on a perfect vista of Sandford. The idyllic shot is quickly ruined however as-

A GIGANTIC SQUAD CAR [U+FB02]iesover what we reveal to be a miniature version of Sandford. A small GINGER HAIRED KID stares in awe as the SQUAD CAR brie[U+FB02]yblocks out the sun.

141

EXT. ROAD - DAY

ANGEL and DANNY’s SQUAD CAR reaches the brow of the hill.

ANGEL
Swan.

DANNY brakes with expert timing. They screech to a stop by the waddling SWAN. ANGEL opens the door and grabs the SWAN.

142

EXT. MODEL VILLAGE - DAY

The SWAN now sat in the back seat, DANNY takes the SQUAD CAR into the Model Village. Ahead is a scene of devastation.

FRANK’s SQUAD CAR lies upturned in a water feature, a damaged sprinkler rains water down onto the model village. FRANK is motionless at the wheel.

SKINNER limps away from the crash. ANGEL jumps from the car and runs toward him. DANNY runs over to his injured father. SKINNER swipes up the GINGER HAIRED KID and holds a pistol to his head. ANGEL freezes, stopping dead in his tracks.

SKTNNER
Stay back or the ginger nut gets it!

The KID thinks fast, sinking his teeth into SKINNER’s hand.

SKINNER
Ow you little fucker!

SKINNER drops the kid. Before he has a chance to recover, ANGEL pounces and they both crash down into the tiny village. SKINNER’s pistol skitters down a miniature street.

ANGEL and SKINNER spring back up. The sprinkler rains down as they trade blows. The low angle in the model village makes them look like GODZILLA and KING KONG.

ANGEL hits SKINNER twice hard in the face. Reaching out SKINNER grabs ANGELS’s hand. ANGEL winces in pain. SKINNER sees he has discovered a weakness and exploits it. He twists ANGEL’s hand whilst raining blows down on his face.

SKINNER (cont’d)
GET GUT GE MY VILLAGE!

ANGEL straightens himself like T2 and shakes his head.

ANGEL
It’s not your village any more.

WHAM. ANGEL [U+FB02]attensSKINNER with one punch. SKINNER sprawls across a mini village sguare. ANGEL looks over to the GINGER KID, who is agog at the coolness of events.

ANGEL (cont’d)
Well done son. What’s your name?
GINGER HAIRED KID
Aaron A. Aaronson.
ANGEL
I’m sorry?

The KID’s eyes go wide. ANGEL spins around. Behind is a maniacal SKINNER, holding a box cutter knife and running full pelt at ANGEL through the tiny streets.

SKINNER
Annnnnnnnnnnnnngelllllllll!

SKINNER trips on a model Someraisles truck. His legs slip from under him, sending him [U+FB02]ying.He spins in the air.

SPLAT. SKINNER falls hard onto the miniature church roof. A model turret has embedded itself beneath SKINNER’s chin and protrudes through his mouth.

ANGEL looks to DANNY who pulls FRANK from the SQUAD CAR.

ANGEL
Danny. It’s over.
SKINNER (0.S.}
Ooowwww.

SKINNER is not actually dead. He speaks, even though his neck and tongue are now pierced by the turret.

SKINNER
Goooow, thith weally hurth. I can’t feel my thongue. I’m going to need thome ice cream.
ANGEL
There’s plenty of ice cream back at the station. Isn’t there-

ANGEL turns to see FRANK holding a gun to DANNY’s head.

ANGEL (cont’d)
Oh pack it in Frank, you silly bastard!
FRANK
Now, now Sergeant. We don’t want any more bloodshed.
DANNY
Dad, don’t do this!
ANGEL
Frank, this whole thing started because you lost someone you loved. Don’t expect me to believe you’d let it end the same way.
FRANK
I’ll tell you how this is going to end!

He points his gun at ANGEL. DANNY leaps on FRANK wrestling the gun from him. FRANK sprints off towards ANGEL’s car.

DANNY aims the gun at him and is about to pull the trigger. He can’t. Instead he points the gun in the air and fires.

DANNY
Aaaaargh!

FRANK jumps in the car and peels off, wheels screeching.

143

INT. CAR - CONTINUOUS

FRANK looks in his rear view. No one pursues him.

However he is not alone in the car. Behind, the long slender neck of THE SWAN rears up. FRANK turns. It pounces.

144

EXT. ROAD - MORNING

ANGEL and DANNY watch as the CAR veers wildly and crashes into a tree. We hear the sound of distant swan battle.

ANGEL
I feel like I should say something smart.
DANNY
You don’t have to say anything at all.

Rehind them cars screech up and the rest of the Sandford police run over. The two officers look up to see a METROPOLITAN POLICE HELICOPTER coming to land in a field.

145

EXT. ROAD - LATER

FRANK sits handcuffed in the back of an ambulance, wearing a neckbrace.

SKINNER is carried through shot on a stretcher, the model church spire still sticking through his face. The HOODIES record this sight on their mobiles.

SKINNER
Ow ow ow ow ow ow ow.

We see the Swan cuffed to a car door by the neck. The OLD MAN IN A CAP approaches to retrieve him.

ANGEL and DANNY sit with blankets around them. They are addressed by the three ofificers from the start of the film.

CHIEF INSPECTOR
What do you say Nicholas?
INSPECTOR
We’ve been trying to reach you for days.
ANGEL
Well I’ve been kind of busy.
SERGEANT
We need you back. The figures have gone a little squiffy in your absence it has to be said.
CHIEF INSPECTOR
Come back to London. Sandford’s hardly fitting for such an exceptional officer.

ANGEL looks to DANNY, then back at the model Sandford.

ANGEL
Yes, but the thing is sir. I like it here. Now, if you’ll excuse me, we have to do a considerable amount of paperwork.
146

INT/EXT. STATION - DAY

FASTCUTS of forms being filled, various NWA members processed; prints, mug shots etc. ROY PORTER still has the bear trap on his head. He is measured as 7 feet 5 inches.

147

INT. STATION - DUSK

The entire Sandford force, including both DESK SERGEANTS sit guietly scribbling away. DANNY is particularly hard at work, the Peace Lily now has pride of place on his desk.

WATNWRIGHT
Fucking hell Nick, this is going to take ages.
CARTWRIGHT
Yeah, we’re gonna be here all night.
FISHER
Good job we’ve got the manpower isn’t it Andy?
DANNY
Actually, official vocab guidelines state that we say ’staf[U+FB02]ng’, not ’manpower’. ’Manpower’s sexist.
ANGEL
You don’t mind a bit of manpower do you Doris?
DORIS THATCHER
Dirty bastard!

Everyone laughs. Whoops and catcalls fill the office. ANGEL is for once the office joker.

A WASTEPAPER BASKET hits him hard on the head.

ANGEL
Hey you cheeky fucker!

Another huge laugh. ANGEL grins at DANNY, who appears suddenly grave. He follows DANNY’s gaze to see TOM WEAVER. Aiming a BLUNDERBUSS at ANGEL, his face full of hate.

WEAVER
You know what you are? A bloody busy-body!

WEAVER fires. DANNY lunges at ANGEL, pushing him off his chair and taking full force of WEAVER’s blast in the chest.

With lightning speed ANGEL slips his feet into a wastepaper basket and kicks it at WEAVER’s face.

WEAVER staggers back into the evidence ream. He hits the back shelf. The sea mine teeters, rolls forward and drops between WEAVER’s legs, narrowly missing his crotch.

WEAVER (cont’d)
Oh thank god.

KA-BOOM. The sea mine gees off. The evidence room door blasts outwards. ANGEL [U+FB02]iesbackwards thrcugh the air.

SANDFORD POLICE STATION EXPLODES.

In the clearing smoke, paperwork [U+FB02]uttersto the fioor. From under the rubble, we see movement. A hedgehog crawls out, blinking in the light.

Then the Sandford Police Service, blackened but intact, miraoulcusly get to their feet. A frantic ANGEL hurries over to find DANNY who lies among the debris, barely alive.

ANGEL
Hold an Danny. Everything’s alright.

The offieers gather round ANGEL cradling DANNY in his arms.

ANGEL (cont’d)
Everything’s gonna be just fine.
148

EXT. SANDFORD/VARIOUS - DAY

CAPTION - ’One Year Later’. We see ANGEL leaving a cottage and walk by a garden yath.

We see ANGEL, now an Inspector, suiting up at the station. His uniform is different however. It’s more modern. Cooler. He is else armed with an automatic revolver.

ANGEL strolls down a station corridor. Familiar looking brightly coloured notices are pinned all around the walls.

ANGEL walks out of the newly built station, and gets into his new SQUAD CAR. It’s mere modern. Cooler.

ANGEL drives along, his passenger seat conspicuously empty. He passes a skate yark where GABRIEL WEAVER and friends congregate, their heeds down. His mobile rings. He answers.

ANGEL
Okay. Give me a minute.

ANGEL comes out of the florists, now called LESLIE’S GARDEN, with a bouquet of [U+FB02]owersand gets into his car.

He walks through the graveyard to a single headstone. We see that it reads BUTTERMAN.

ANGEL (CONT’D)
Are these okay?

VOICE (O.S.) Yeah they’re lovely.

DANNY is revealed, standing next to ANGEL. He kneels down and places the [U+FB02]owerson a grave. ANGEL steps back, revealing the full headstone. It reads, ’IRENE BUTTERMAN’.

149

INT/EXT. SQUAD CAR - DAY

DANNY and ANGEL are in their car. The radic crackles.

DORIS THATCHER (0.S.)
Any officers near the church?
ANGEL
Go ahead Doris.
DORIS TRATCHER (0.S.)
Chief, we’ve had a report of some hippy types messin’ with the recycle bins at the supermarket.
ANGEL
Leave it with us. Sergeant Butterman. Little hand says it’s time to rock and roll.
DANNY
Bring the noise.

We cut to the exterior of the SQUAD CAR. ANGEL pulls a spectacular handbrake turn, spinning the car 180 degrees. Accelerating with a roar, the car hurtles towards us, filling the frame.

CRASH TO BLACK