State of Play

Stephen Collins:
[seated on the steps of Cal McCaffrey's house, as Cal is walking away] You're no good to Anne now... Your name will be on the story... You'd know if you had them... Kids... They shoot the messenger... They just do

Cameron Foster:
[speaking to Dan quietly so that no one else can hear] Anything you publish, you publish under your mother's maiden name.

Dan Foster:
Well - okay.

Cameron Foster:
And you never, under any circumstances, on these premises, ever refer to me as "Dad." Understand ?

Dan Foster:
So long as you're paying me what I'm worth these days.

Cameron Foster:
Commensurate to how much you know. And I'm the skeptical one, so don't push it, Tonto.

Cal McCaffrey:
Why is the party pushing for Stephen Collins to do another press conference?

Helen Preger:
This is a good start. I haven't heard about that.

Pete Cheng:
Me neither.

Cal McCaffrey:
Apparently the Mail's got information he was about to leave his wife.

Cameron Foster:
He's only an MP. Why are they throwing a press conference behind that ?

Helen Preger:
He's chairman of the Energy Select. Which is independent of the government but just the fact he got the job means he's one to watch. Everybody I've talked to tips Stephen Collins for the Cabinet within the next few years.

Della Smith:
That must be true because the spin doctors have talked Anne Collins into appearing at the press conference alongside him. She's on the 9:30 train from Manchester. They'll announcement it at twelve. She's due at the podium at 3 to get them time to brief her on what to say when, apparently.

Cameron Foster:
Is this true ? Is he confirming or denying a long-term affair now ?

Cal McCaffrey:
How would you like me to phrase that, exactly ? "Had your girlfriend not gone under a train, would you have left your wife for her?"

Cameron Foster:
It's a fair question, translated into "adult."

Reporter:
What was your reaction to Sonia Baker's death, Mrs. Collins ?

Anne Collins:
Everybody wants everybody in politics to be pristine, but they still expect them to be in touch with real life. This was a bit of real life that just... happened. We grew apart. Our marriage suffered from the strains of work - mine and Stephen's. Mistakes are easy in those circumstances. In this case, there were mistakes on both sides. I'm profoundly sorry that Sonia Baker died and my heart goes out to her parents and to her family. And I'm sure that conversations with her, in time, could have been constructive.

Helen Preger:
Mrs. Collins, what does "errors on both sides" mean ?

Anne Collins:
Errors are what tills make. I said "mistakes."

Helen Preger:
Can you clarify ?

Anne Collins:
Work it out.

Cameron Foster:
[to newsroom] If Della Smith is in the building, could somebody please tell her that her house burnt down or, uh, her Lottery numbers came up ? [waits for a response] No ? [to DCI Bell] I'm not in the habit of lying. She's not here.

DCI William Bell:
She's working on the Kelvin Stagg murder.

Cameron Foster:
Correct.

DCI William Bell:
With your chief reporter, Cal McCaffrey.

Cameron Foster:
Also correct.

DCI William Bell:
Is he here ?

Cameron Foster:
I believe not. Mr. Bell...

DCI William Bell:
It's Detective Chief Inspector Bell.

Cameron Foster:
If you want to talk to busy people, you make a date or risk disappointment.

DCI William Bell:
Can you tell me the extent of their investigations into that murder ?

Cameron Foster:
No.

DCI William Bell:
Well, you're their editor.

Cameron Foster:
They haven't filed a story yet.

DCI William Bell:
But what, so they just, uh, what ? Run around spending your budget without recourse ?

Cameron Foster:
Seniors do. I know. I don't like it. I'd rather be a dictator but no one would work for me.

DCI William Bell:
One of my officers was murdered. Don't piss me about !... Now Della Smith warned Stuart Brown that the patient he was guarding was a potential target for reprisals. Now, where did she get the authority to present that theory ?

Cameron Foster:
I could've - well, my mother could have given you that from the TV reports. A gunman tries to kill a witness but not quite. Stands to reason that the motive for shooting the guy's still valid.

DCI William Bell:
Well, she sought him out at, uh, 11pm to tell him that ?

Cameron Foster:
You've met Della?

DCI William Bell:
Interviewed her.

Cameron Foster:
Beautiful woman. Recently dumped by a long-term boyfriend. It's a lonely job. Maybe she took a shine to your Stuart Brown. I really can't speculate. Well, I can, obviously. I just have. But it's not helpful, is it ?

Della Smith:
[Della and Cal are trying to convince their editor to hire someone] He's done good investigative work with the "Indie" and the "Mail."

Cal McCaffrey:
And if we're talking working ethic, the guy never sleeps.

Della Smith:
We think he's got information worth having. And we know for a fact that he's not signed a contract with the "Mail."

Cameron Foster:
He's a pisshead. The reason he never sleeps is because he can't turn his back on a drink. He's too young mentally. Loudmouthed bloody typist - that's all you get with him.

Cal McCaffrey:
And he's dedicated freelance. So you only have to pay for what you get... Cameron, he knows something... Honestly, he's useful.

Cameron Foster:
Do we know what he's earning?

Cal McCaffrey:
He hasn't even mentioned money, so he wants this.

Cameron Foster:
Don't give him any cash advance expenses. He'll only blow it on the strung out freak he married when he was about twelve. Have you met her ? Lunatic ! Wedding was a total farce. Gareth Gates meets "Betty Blue." [to Dan] Oi !

Cameron Foster:
[speaking about his son] Always gilding the lily. He thinks stuff like that's witty.

Della Smith:
Not a recessive gene, then ?

Dominic Foy:
Well, what kind of money are we talking?

Cameron Foster:
Nobody's talking money.

Cal McCaffrey:
Unless you've got something we couldn't get anywhere else.

Dominic Foy:
Make me an offer.

Anne Collins:
Stephen was all over the place. I got your message first - arrested; then his - summoned for questioning. I've got journalists hammering on my bloody door and the kids wanted to know what the hell's going on. Why WERE you arrested ?

Cal McCaffrey:
Tactical.

Anne Collins:
Andrew Wilson's saying everything's going to blow over but it's all going in the wrong direction. I just don't know what I'm going to do... If Stephen was seriously involved in something, you'd tell me, wouldn't you ? [Notices Cal is getting undressed] What are you doing ?

Cal McCaffrey:
I could have emailed you answers to all that. Now, we can talk about Stephen or we can do what we came for, but I can't do both, Anne.

Cal McCaffrey:
Hi, thanks for coming [to visit him in prison] .

Cameron Foster:
Well, it's a first, so it's a pleasure... Don't eat the food. And Adam swears to me that he can get you bail, so don't take anal sex for granted. And I'll see you back in the office, uh... before you're 40.

Dan Foster:
What's Sonia Baker's date of birth ?

Helen Preger:
25th March, '75.

Dan Foster:
When was the exact date she started working for Stephen Collins ?

Helen Preger:
30th April.

Dan Foster:
EXACT date ?

Helen Preger:
30th April... I'm sad. I remember dates.

DCI William Bell:
Who gave you the briefcase, Mr. McCaffrey ?

Cal McCaffrey:
For the tape, this is the second time I've asked for a phone call.

DCI William Bell:
What part of a professional journalist pretended evidence like this should be kept from the police ?

Cal McCaffrey:
Phone call.

DCI William Bell:
The greedy part ?

Cal McCaffrey:
Phone call.

DCI William Bell:
Or the part protecting his mate, Stephen Collins ?

Cal McCaffrey:
Look, I worked for him... once... about nine years ago. He didn't do it... Phone call.

DCI William Bell:
When he sheltered from the press, he came to your house.

Cal McCaffrey:
So ?

DCI William Bell:
Well, he denied anything to do with her death.

Cal McCaffrey:
Well, he didn't deny it, no, because he was never asked.

DCI William Bell:
Never remotely crossed your mind ?

Cal McCaffrey:
Look, he was on a train; she went under another.

DCI William Bell:
Somebody paid for a professional hit man.

Cal McCaffrey:
The briefcase implies that, yeah.

DCI William Bell:
But you're excluding the VERY public figure who'd have everything to gain by getting rid of her. How come ?

Cal McCaffrey:
If the reason you're keeping me here is to stop me doing a better job than you can, then I would be seriously embarrassed about that. You know ? I'd want to lead, not follow.

Cameron Foster:
Well, you asked for that... when I said ten minutes ago this was getting repetitive. Were either of you listening ?

Della Smith:
[to policewoman playing her decoy] And you're happy sleeping in [my flat] ?

Della's Cop Double:
"Happy" would be a bit psychotic. "Armed to the teeth," so for God's sake, don't get drunk and go home by accident.

Anne Collins:
[voice on answering machine] Hi, it's Anne Collins. I'm sorry I can't get to the phone but if you leave your name and your number, I'll get back to you.

Cal McCaffrey:
At least I heard a bit of you. I hope this is the first thing you hear when you wake up. How are you ? I've been thinking about you. A bit more than I should. Hah. I've got half a dozen people out here thinking I'm making a phone call to my next of kin. I've been arrested so... I don't know when I'm going to get a chance to speak to you again. I just wanted to say... good morning.

Hotel Receptionist:
He looks high.

Sergeant 'Chewy' Cheweski:
Sorry ?

Hotel Receptionist:
Very high. To have a bodyguard.

Sergeant 'Chewy' Cheweski:
He's average.

DCI William Bell:
Della Smith's on her way back, a bit confused as to why a trusted friend and colleague left her wide open. Do you explain or do I keep on speculating ?

Cal McCaffrey:
An established journalist is arrested for protecting a contact. Now that's going to hit the evening papers in a few hours. Maybe even the telly.

DCI William Bell:
What, you think that scares me ?

Cal McCaffrey:
Look, if I'm in here, refusing to surrender "vital information" because it might jeopardize a contact... and I'm the only person you're holding, then no hit man's going to give two shits about Della Smith, is he?

DCI William Bell:
That's a very dangerous maneuver, Mr. McCaffrey.

Cal McCaffrey:
Well, it's my choice.

DCI William Bell:
[to Sgt. Cheweski] Make it look like we've relaxed supervision on Della Smith. LOOK LIKE. Plain clothes only. And find a decoy for Della. Get a support unit together.

DCI William Bell:
[to Cal] Right, can we talk properly or are you going to be dragging the lawyers in again ?

Cal McCaffrey:
I didn't sponsor a hitman for a headline, Inspector. That happened. I'm here because I want him caught. Like you do. So why don't you get your press people to publicize this arrest and then we can all get on with the story.

DCI William Bell:
It's a case, not a story.

Cameron Foster:
Come in ! [Cal enters Cameron's office] Cal McCaffrey, Yvonne Shaps, legal executive. As from now, Yvonne will be making all my headline decisions for me.

Yvonne Shaps:
Nowhere near true. I'm here to avoid us printing material that invites more writs than readers. I've withdrawn the appeal against the injunction.

Cal McCaffrey:
Oh... great first move.

Yvonne Shaps:
On the grounds that we shouldn't be spending legals defending a story that couldn't defend itself.

Cal McCaffrey:
That story is good. It's better than good.

Yvonne Shaps:
Bits of it are. You can't accuse an international corporation of murder without evidence !

Cal McCaffrey:
Implying responsibility.

Yvonne Shaps:
You paid an anonymous source for a briefcase containing instructions for the assassination of Sonia Baker.

Cal McCaffrey:
Requiring less implication.

Yvonne Shaps:
Anonymous source is nowhere near good enough for something this size! If you can't back it, we can't print it... Oh please don't look at me like that message just came from Mars.

Cal McCaffrey:
Uh, listen Yvonne. I don't know who sent you but, um, well you'd have to be pretty thick...

Cameron Foster:
No, no, no, no, no, no, no. No spitting. No, Yvonne's not saying the big no. Just little noes until we get a version of the story we CAN print.

Cal McCaffrey:
Cameron, Cameron, if we don't go with this and soon, it'll be hijacked by every...

Cal McCaffrey:
I know ! Shut up ! Maybe that's Yvonne's secret plan. We'll find out. Why don't you go and, uh, and type something, uh, lovely and then we'll calm down and regroup when she's had a chance to read it intelligently ?

Cal McCaffrey:
Tell me this, 'cause I don't get it. What did you think you could ever have achieved... however high you went, that was worth demolishing all those families ?