New Tricks (TV Series)

A Death in the Family (2012)

James Bolam: Jack Halford

Quotes 

• [Sandra's team have been ordered by to drop all their active cases and devote their full attention to the case of a woman who was murdered 160 years ago. Stephen Fisher, from the Security Services, refuses to explain why] 

  Jack Halford : Maybe it's an academic exercise - you know, some kind of test.

  Brian Lane : Test in what?

  Jack Halford : I dunno. Our ability to take shit from our superiors?

  Brian Lane : [laconically]  When was *that* ever in doubt?

• [spoiler] 

  Stephen Fisher : I need Renfield's original report, all the documents you've used, every note you've made, the physical samples of Gleick's handwriting...

  Det. Supt. Sandra Pullman : We have evidence here...

  Stephen Fisher : Of a crime that was committed a century and a half ago, and as you've all taken great pains to point out, that's hardly relevant today.

  Brian Lane : Yes it *is* relevant. That information could stop this Ellis-Finch deal with the Chinese.

  D.A.C. Robert Strickland : He doesn't want it stopped. He wants to make sure it *can't* be stopped.

  Brian Lane : And like Jack said, this is a pension fund they're interfering with. It's people's lives.

  Jack Halford : He doesn't care about that, Brian.

  Stephen Fisher : I serve the national interest.

  D.A.C. Robert Strickland : I think it's time you left, Stephen.

  [hsnds him his coat] 

  Stephen Fisher : By all means.

  D.A.C. Robert Strickland : Empty-handed, I'm afraid.

  Stephen Fisher : Ah.

  D.A.C. Robert Strickland : It's one thing to come in here and requisition this team for your own private investigation. It's quite another to make us all complicit in the destruction of evidence in a murder investigation. Especially one which may have implications in the present day on the international stage.

  Stephen Fisher : You've been rehearsing that speech.

  D.A.C. Robert Strickland : The evidence will stay here, pending a conversation I'm going to have with the Commissioner.

  Stephen Fisher : How do you envisage that conversation playing out?

  D.A.C. Robert Strickland : Well, we'll have to see, won't we?

  Stephen Fisher : I can tell you, if you're interested. The conversation ends with you handing over to me everything I've asked for, just prior to writing your letter of resignation.

  D.A.C. Robert Strickland : I won't be threatened by you, Stephen. I know you'd like us all to think that your power extends that far.

  Stephen Fisher : [angrily]  Not *my* power, Robert. The power of the British Government, brandishing the Official Secrets Act - to which you are all subject. and the contravention of which brings with it consequences far graver than you seem to be considering. Those of you who still *have* careers, consider what you will do without them. Those of you who don't, consider how your loved ones will cope while you live out the twilight of your lives at Her Majesty's pleasure. Now, I suggest you put the documents in the bag, and put today's events very firmly out of your minds.

• Stephen Fisher : This is a burn bag. At the conclusion of your investigation, everything you've discovered - any notes you've made, documents you've sourced - together with the original copy of Renfield's report, and the various other items in the case file will be placed in here to be incinerated by me.

  Jack Halford : Shove it. We don't take orders from you.

  D.A.C. Robert Strickland : Jack.

  Jack Halford : And we don't take orders from you, either; Sandra does. We're all retired. So you can shove it.

  D.A.C. Robert Strickland : Jack, if I decide this is a UCOS case...

  D.A.C. Robert Strickland : No, no, Robert. Mr Halford makes a perfectly fair point. Mr Halford, Mr Standing, Mr Lane, you are excused.

  Gerry Standing : Fine by me.

  Stephen Fisher : If you could just leave behind a cheque for seventeen thousand four hundred and thirty-three pounds, Mr Standing, I'll see it gets to the Inland Revenue.

  Gerry Standing : You'll what?

  Stephen Fisher : The tax due on your undeclared earnings over the past thirty years.

  Gerry Standing : Are you threatening me!

  Stephen Fisher : Actually, perhaps it would be best if you all stay after all. We wouldn't want any of our guilty little secrets coming to light, would we? Mr Lane? Mr Halford?

  Jack Halford : Bollocks!

• [last lines] 

  Jack Halford : Will you do something for me, Brian?

  Brian Lane : Yeah, of course I well. Anything.

  Jack Halford : Don't tell anyone. Not until after. And I don't want anyone to try and stop me, or anyone coming after me, or anyone trying to get in touch with me. It's just me and Mary. Understand?

  Brian Lane : [nods]  Yeah.

  Jack Halford : Now, get into that pub, and put on a brave face.

  Brian Lane : I'm so sorry, Jack.

  [slowly heads toward the pub] 

  Jack Halford : Brave face, Brian. Mine's a large scotch.