Taggart, Series 1

Taggart:
Kidnapping for ransom is one of the rarest crimes in this country, fortunately. So far, we've kept it from the press, and that's the way it's going to be kept. The call was traced here... [With a ruler, he points to point on a map of Glasgow] ...to a box in West Nile Street, too late to apprehend. The drop is to be made here... [Points to another location on the map] ...at Prince's Dock. The fact he got directly in touch by telephone suggests he's fairly confident we're not involved. Now, the nature of the drop... a case of money is to be suspended from a bollard, which suggests the pickup is by boat, which for a... compromised figure of 20,000 quid is a lot of trouble for nothing, and it probably means he's desperate to get a crying baby off his hands.

Livingstone:
Can I make a suggestion?

Taggart:
Yes, Peter.

Livingstone:
Suppose he swims for it?

Taggart:
Oh, come on. Be serious.

Livingstone:
I am. It's not so ridiculous. If he waits till nightfall then who can follow him? A good swimmer could come up anywhere. [Points to parts of the map] Stobcross Quay opposite, Yorkhill Quay. Once on the north bank, he can be straight on the expressway.

Sinclair:
A swimmer? With an attaché case full of money?

Livingstone:
Why not? With a handle attached to his belt or something.

Taggart:
What's he doing? Delivering milk chocolates(?) [The other officers chuckle. Livingstone doesn't.]

Murray:
[Walking in with a face full of thunder] Jim, my office! [Taggart follows Murray into his office. Murray takes his coat off] When I heard, I couldn't believe it! What did you think you were doing?

Taggart:
I was giving a briefing, sir.

Murray:
Was taking this case your idea of a joke? [Heads for his desk.]

Taggart:
I'm sorry you feel about it that way.

Murray:
What do you think the newspapers will say about this?

Taggart:
The papers don't know.

Murray:
They will.

Taggart:
By which time we'll have the child back and we'll have caught the kidnapper with the ransom money.

Murray:
Is this to salve your conscience, Jim, because of what happened to David Balfour?

Taggart:
It's a case like any other, sir.

Murray:
It is not a case like any other! This'll be headline news, just like David Balfour! People asking why the same officer took charge!

Taggart:
I take it you have no confidence in me?

Murray:
It's not a question of confidence! [Sits at his desk] Look, Jim, I have been offered the help of a team of experts from Scotland Yard. It's ours for the asking.

Taggart:
For Christ's sake...!

Murray:
Jim, there is not one officer in this division, including me and you, who has any experience in a crime of this sort.

Taggart:
The drop is at six o'clock! By the time your experts get up here and take their lunch...