( crying quietly ) ( phone ringing ) What?

1Ian.

Three victims in five weeks spread across London.

But vics two and three have been picked up on camera, heading home alone after nights out.

We don’t know about Monica yet.

JUSTIN: First victim died a month ago.

The second came two weeks later, the third, a week after that, and now Monica five days later.

JOHN: Oh, he’s escalating fast.

This ain’t just a serial.

This man’s on a murder spree.

ROSE: Three previous victims were found in Isleworth, Whitton, West Drayfield.

All of them were walking home alone.

IAN: And the dump sites are far apart but broadly similar, near trading estates.

So the Met think our man may have been a delivery driver of some sort.

Hence "White Van Man."

ROSE: The Met passed on data taken from two thousand hours of CCTV footage, Tracked down and eliminated all vans and other commercial vehicles within a two-kilometer bulls-eye zone.

Those who couldn’t be eliminated were added to the suspect pool.

Tactical Unit 1, under my command, will focus on last night’s murder of Monica Poole.

Tactical Unit 2 will be based here under the command of DCI Luther.

You’ll review all existing case evidence pertaining to the previous victims, focus on the suspect pool, eliminate those unidentified vehicles.

Our man is locked into a pattern of rapid escalation.

He’s going to kill again, very soon.

Except we are going to catch him before he gets the chance.

You all right in here?

History of a case like this says he’s in our database somewhere.

We just have to prise him out.

( monitor beeping ) I’m sorry to bother you, Ma’am.

I thought it best.

Is he fit enough to be questioned?

Officially, it’s too early to say.

Unofficially?

He’s looking very good.

Police arrested two kids yesterday.

One was drinking battery acid, the other was eating fireworks.

They charged one and let the other one off.

Hmm.

Tommy Cooper.

Boom, boom!

It was Basil Brush that said, "Boom, boom."

Oops.

Henry Madsen woke up.

Are you in trouble?

Possibly.

Might be.

Might be in trouble.

I do know that I will be put under surveillance.

My movements, my phone calls, everything.

Why?

I think they’re worried that I might sneak in and finish the job.

Oh...well, you might be mad, but you’re not stupid.

Yeah.

I can’t see you anymore.

I can’t talk to you.

Sorry.

You know?

I really am.

But I can’t do this anymore, not while this thing is hanging over my head.

It’s over.

No.

Yes, Alice, it’s over.

ALICE: No.

I’ve got to go.

Got work to do.

No!

Yes.

No!!!

Oh!

( door opens ) Morning, love!

GRAHAM: Morning.

Hello.

Not yet.

Dirty hands.

Oh?

Grease.

You all right?

Yeah, yeah, just washing me hands.

Textbook.

After the first kill he goes into the depressive phase, can’t believe what he’s done.

Until the urge builds again, becomes uncontrollable.

The cooling off periods get shorter and shorter, but not this quickly, so what’s driving the escalation?

JOHN: Do you have any sexual fantasies?

What?

Yeah, not that I’m going to tell you about.

Does the reality ever live up to the fantasy?

Well, I, um--- Well...no.

No, not really.

It can’t, can it?

That doesn’t account for the pace of escalation.

No, no it doesn’t.

But I mean, we’re not looking at a release here, we’re looking at an explosion.

What makes a man just let go?

The trigger event is usually some kind of perceived humiliation.

You know, loss of a job, loss of a spouse.

( phone rings ) I’ve got to take this.

Zo?

I just called t-- You okay?

I’m great.

Well, I’ve never had an affair before, so I don’t know what to do.

Is it still called an affair if I’m sleeping with my wife behind her lover’s back?

( footsteps approach ) I’ve got to go.

Hello there.

Coffee’s on.

MARK: You’re up early.

Yeah, I couldn’t sleep.

TV:...about the government economic recovery program... Gray?

You home, love?

GRAHAM: Yeah.

In here!

Happy Birthday.

( chuckling ) Oh, Gray.

I thought you’d forgotten.

Of course, I haven’t, no.

No, no, never.

Come on, sit, sit down, relax.

Open your present.

Oh, gosh.

Oh, goodness gracious.

That’s-- it’s really lovely.

Put it on.

Can you help me with this?

There you go.

There you go.

How does it look?

Stand up.

Let me see.

Come on, stand up, stand up.

It looks lovely.

It looks really lovely.

It’s really gorgeous.

No, no, no.

Gray, no, no, no, no, not here.

Graham, not here.

Upstairs, upstairs.

Go on.

( music playing ) Something’s going to happen tonight, obviously.

These are terrible bands!

♪ Mad world ♪ ( indistinct chatter ) Hi.

Hi.

DENNIS: Hey.

Hey, Gray!

How you doing!

Yeah, all right, mate.

Good to see you mate.

Yeah.

Good to see you, mate.

Have a seat, have a seat.

Linda, how are you doing?

Happy birthday!

What you going to have to drink guys?

White wine please, a big one.

Yeah, Coke please, mate.

Same again everyone, yeah?

Right.

All right.

There you go, madam.

Thank you.

Enjoy.

So did you you get anything nice for your b-day?

Um...(stammers)... Yeah, I got this, he got me a necklace.

I thought he’d forgotten.

WOMAN: When did he give it to you?

Just--well just before we come out, which is why I thought he’d forgotten.

’Cause I didn’t get anything this morning.

JUSTIN: What’s all this?

Decoupage, a cut-up technique.

Take a bit of text, cut it up randomize it, make new text.

See new patterns.

Where’d you learn this?

David Bowie.

It’s how he wrote his lyrics.

You a fan?

Don’t I look like a fan?

What, of songs about like aliens and that?

No there’s a bit more to him than aliens.

I’ll make you a tape.

A what, sorry?

IAN: Ah.

You’ve gone all David Bowie on us.

Yeah, cause of death confirmed.

He chokes ’em.

No forensics to speak of, no witnesses.

I’ve just spent the day interviewing the family.

There’s mother, one sister, one boyfriend, long term.

Is he on the list?

No he was pulling a night shift.

I took him through the inventory, the stuff our man left around her.

Anything missing?

Yeah, necklace.

Some of these guys keep news clippings, photographs, whatever.

The fact that it’s jewelry... Suggests that he’s married, in a relationship.

Yeah.

He’d give the necklace to his wife, girlfriend.

Every time he sees it, he’s taken back to the kill.

Yeah.

But the suddenness of it-- what sets him off like that?

She’s about to leave him.

So it just pushes him over the edge.

We don’t need insight into his tortured soul to understand who he is.

We just need to know who the hell he is and where the hell he’s at.

( music playing ) Oh, no, really, really I’m really shocked, So it’s for me?

Absolutely charming.

It’s got your eyes, it’s lovely.

( indistinct chatter ) ( applause ) ( Emcee, indistinct ) Sorry, love.

Listen, I’ve got to go to work.

That’s alright, don’t worry.

Okay.

Happy birthday.

You enjoy yourself.

Look after her for me, mate, won’t ya?

Make sure she has a good time!

Yeah.

Will do mate, yeah.

Sorry we run a bit late tonight, mate, but I had to give her one for her birthday.

You know how she likes it, you know, good, and hard, and long.

Tell you the truth, I’m surprised she can walk.

See you later.

Yeah, see you later.

So why was she walking home by herself?

IAN: She was meeting friends in the pub to talk about the hen night.

She’s happy, she’s engaged, she’s on home turf.

She’s not about to get into a white van with Jack the Lad.

Blitz attack.

He jumps out, clobbers her, drags her into the van.

Yeah, no.

There was no screams, no sign of any altercation.

That’s not it.

She trusted him.

He knows her, maybe?

IAN: He can’t have known all four of them.

No he didn’t.

But they trusted him.

They trusted him.

I think we’re looking for a taxi driver.

( keys jingling ) ( monitor beeping ) Luther.

Luther.

Luther!

( door opens ) What’s wrong?

Henry Madsen is talking.

The doctors won’t let us anywhere near him, not yet.

So right now, anything he might say means nothing.

It’s inadmissible.

Hearsay.

Guv, what’s he saying?

Your name.

Right.

Okay.

Okay.

Ten minutes ago we got this.

This is the south end of Broughton Row.

It’s the closest to our hit.

Is that her?

JOHN: Yeah, we think it’s her.

ROSE: Tell me we got the number plate.

JOHN: Number plate.

Driver’s name, home address, phone number.

Just triangulating the mobile phone signal now.

We’ve got him locked on.

Good.

ROSE: So.

Go, go!

Hey, love!

I don’t need a cab, thanks.

I don’t live that far.

Yeah, no listen, it’s not that, love.

Listen, it’s just came over the radio some girl’s been attacked just down the road, just past Holywell Avenue.

Oh, you’re joking.

Yeah.

Apparently he got away before he could do too much, but they’ve warned us to keep an eye out because he’s probably still out there.

I had to stop and tell you, love, they make us do it.

Yeah.

You sure you’ll be all right?

Yeah.

It’s not far.

Where do you live?

Lacey Road?

Just down that way?

That’s past Holywell, ain’t it?

Listen, I’d hate it if my girl had to walk home alone this time of night, with all this going on.

Hop in.

I can’t.

I haven’t got any... Yeah.

Listen, forget about the money.

We’ll just get you home safely, all right?

Come Christmas, give five quid to the dog’s home for me.

Are you sure?

Get in.

Come on.

Got you.

( siren wailing ) JUSTIN: Police!

Step out of the vehicle!

Trevor Rowan, I’m arresting you on suspicion of murder.

You do not have to say anything or to mention when questioned... ROWAN: I haven’t done anything.

IAN: ...something you later rely on in court.

JUSTIN: It’s alright, love.

CLAIRE: Excuse me.

Excuse me, I think you missed a turn back there, that was my street, Lacey Road?

Excuse me?

Excuse me?

What’s wrong?

It’s just that you said he was impotent.

He is.

Well, he was.

I don’t know.

It’s come back.

The last few weeks, it’s come back.

I hate it.

Do we have to talk about this?

When I’m here, can’t I just be here?

He knows, don’t he?

About me and you.

He absolutely knows.

( crying ) Hey, babe, come on.

Please.

JOHN: His alibi sticks.

He was on Eccleston Road, SW1.

He’s not our man.

So there are two taxis with the same number-plate on the same night in London?

Yeah, no, he’s just cloned them.

It’s easy to do, you know.

So what do we have?

Well, we have this.

He attempts to make a turn at the end of Broughton Row, messes up, does a U-turn.

So we checked it out and it turns out that Broughton Row used to be a through-way, but when the hookers moved in, they locked it off and made it a rat-run.

This was when?

March 2002.

ROSE: The implication being?

Well, I don’t think he’s a real taxi driver.

He tried to be one or... ( knocks on door ) ...used to be one but-- Yeah?

Not only is there no law against selling second-hand taxis, it’s easy and cheap.

How many people are running around in these things?

There’s no database, but it runs into the high hundreds, early thousands, easy.

God.

JUSTIN: It’s more than you want to think about, let alone track down.

He could have a different license plate for every night of the month.

He’s completely anonymous.

One taxi and then 20,000 others, trusted by default.

He might as well be invisible.

JOHN: Yeah.

And he’s on a feeding frenzy.

There’ll be another body tomorrow, and another, and another.

ALICE: Excuse me, sorry.

Sorry, excuse me, thank you.

Officer?

Fulford.

We’re having some trouble with a few members of the public on ward 28.

( shouting ) They’re refusing to leave the building.

Response is on its way, but since you’re here... I’m not supposed to... I wouldn’t ask if I didn’t think it was an emergency.

I’ll wait with the patient.

Ward 28?

Next floor down.

( monitor beeping ) Don’t say his name.

Don’t.

JUSTIN: Cabbies who’ve been sacked, invalided off, retired.

Plus a list of drivers who’ve tried and failed the Knowledge over the last 20 years, triangulated, cross-referenced with the suspect pool.

Best?

Left with 23 names.

SCHENK: Sergeant Ripley, would you mind if I borrowed the Detective Chief Inspector for a moment?

Um, no, no at all, sir.

Stressful day?

JOHN: Oh, five victims dead, possibly another in 12 hours.

Henry Madsen passed away.

I’m sorry?

It could be fluke, unconnected with the fire.

But... the fire was arson and these two events, co-occurring.

I could think of a hundred people that would want to see him dead, but I’d start off with the parents of the victims.

Yes, of course.

( sighs ) But the timing, you see, the timing, it-- it chafes my brain.

Why now?

Why today, the day after he wakes up?

I don’t know, Martin.

We’ll just have to put that down to a big mystery.

Well, I can see you’re busy.

( mobile phone rings ) Hello?

Don’t worry about the call being traced.

This is a disposable phone.

One conversation.

I wipe it and it goes into someone else’s garbage.

Listen to me, I think I told you that I don’t want to speak to you.

Not today, not tomorrow.

Not ever again.

Well, there’s a remarkable absence of gratitude for you.

Do you know what you’ve done?

ALICE: Given you back your wife.

Saved your job.

Saved you from disgrace and imprisonment.

No, you’ve committed murder.

All I did was finish the job you started.

What are you going to do, arrest me?

Yes!

I have to!

Shall I articulate why you won’t?

Stop!

ALICE: You made me do it, you threatened me.

There’s phone traffic between us to prove it including the call I’m making from this phone.

Empty threats.

You implicate me, you implicate yourself and you’re way too in love with your own genius to do that.

Conspiracy to murder will just be the start of it.

I can send you to hell.

You’ll burn for the rest of your life which is why I would appreciate some gratitude!

I did it for you!

Pig!

Filth!

I did it for you!

I want you to stay away!

Do you understand, stay away from me!

Stay away from my wife!

Stay the ... away!

Do you hear me?!

What can I do for you, Martin?

Busy day here.

I’d like John Luther’s phone and email records, please.

Go away.

I can’t.

Whatever it is you’re here to tell me, I don’t want to hear it, all right?

So do us a favor, get yourself an exorcist.

I see.

You already know.

MARK: Know what?

Zoe’s been lying to you.

MARK: No, no, no, no, no, no, no.

I don’t want to hear it.

All right?

I want you out of my way, I want you out of my life.

Ah, yes I’ve been hearing that a lot today.

I wish I could help you, but I can’t.

So I would like you please to stay away.

You are completely... Right.

( knocks on door ) You alright, boss?

It was the wife.

Ex-wife.

Come in.

Erm, those suspects-- Have you eaten?

What are you, my nan?

Best hit, Graham Shand, drinking in the same pub as Victim number one.

Failed the Knowledge three times, the last time in 2002.

Until six weeks ago, he worked nights at a taxi breakdown and recovery garage.

Formerly decent employee.

Seems to have undergone some kind of breakdown-- drinking, sexually inappropriate conduct.

Got one.

Any hard evidence?

No, none.

No record of him, his wife, known friends or family ever buying a second-hand taxi.

But he’s had plenty of opportunity to buy one, under the table, cash in hand, eh?

Form?

None.

I’ll get DCI Reed to the house with a warrant.

What will we do if he’s not there?

Get him in his weak spot.

What’s that?

The wife.

Always the wife.

Check her out.

Bring her in.

Nice work.

( clears throat ) So what’s happening with you and Zoe?

That was her on the phone just now, right?

Yes, it was Zoe.

So are you and she...?

No.

Yes.

Possibly.

I don’t know.

It’s nice to see you’re happy for me.

You want to know the real tragedy about marriage?

No, thanks.

Women always think men will change, but they don’t.

Men think women won’t change, but they do.

JOHN: Where did you get that from?

A fortune cookie?

Hmm.

I need you to stay in this building until you’re cleared to leave.

I’m trying to run an investigation here.

Yeah, and like you say this is the best place to run it from.

So, just do that.

No one.

No one’s home.

Yeah.

Bye.

( vacuum whirring ) All right?

We’re shut.

Linda Shand?

Yeah?

Mrs.

Shand, I’m Detective Sergeant Ripley... Hang on.

Hang on.

Hang on.

Who, sorry?

Detective Sergeant Ripley out of the Serious Crime Unit, Hobb Lane.

I wonder if you wouldn’t mind coming with me, help clear up a few things.

What sort of thing?

Probably it’s nothing, we just need you to answer a few questions.

About what?

Graham, mostly.

Oh, my God.

Has he done-- has he done something?

If you’d like to come with me?

Oh, I feel sick.

Can I just... Yeah, of course.

Linda?

LINDA: What’s going on?

GRAHAM: What do you mean?

The police are here.

What do they want?

I don’t know.

Well, did they mention me?

LINDA: What did you do?

What did they say?

Have you been stealing again?

No, of course, I haven’t!

No.

Then what have you done, Graham?

Well, what did they say?

They must have said something!

What did they say?

Give me the phone.

Give me the phone.

( shouting indistinctly ) Not yet, no.

Not yet, not yet.

( sirens wailing ) Here you go.

So how are things with you and your husband?

Fine.

Why?

Do you know where he was Friday night?

Yeah, at the pub with me and some friends.

It was my birthday.

Was he with you all night?

Not all night, no, because he went to work.

Work where?

He works at an all-night recovery garage.

The thing is, Linda, Graham hasn’t worked there for two months now.

You didn’t know?

( knock on door ) Boss, I’m sorry to interrupt, it’s a bit urgent.

Right now?

I’m afraid it can’t wait sir, sorry.

JOHN: Linda, you’ll have to excuse me.

I’ve got to dash.

I’ll come back and we’ll finish talking, all right?

Sorry, talk about what?

I... Soon as I get back, we’ll talk, all right.

Sorry.

I timed it all right?

Perfect.

How is she?

Well, she knows something’s not right.

No.

ROSE: You don’t think this approach is a bit merciless?

No.

Graham knows we’re on to him.

All right?

And he’ll try and kill as many as he can before we catch him.

And if I have to terrify his wife to stop that happening, I can live with that.

Thus spoke John Luther, gentleman of the parish.

She knows what her husband is.

ROSE: Yeah, but maybe not what he’s done.

There is a difference.

Those--those-- Oh, no.

( crying ) No.

No.

No!

( moaning ) ( Linda sobbing loudly ) No, no, what is this?

What, what is that?

What is that?

What?

What... JOHN: Linda?

No, get it off me.

What is that, what is that?

Oh, my God, oh, my God, no, no, no, no, no.

Okay.

LINDA: Oh, my God, no, no.

It’s alright, come on... Oh, no, oh, my God, oh, my God.

Oh, my God.

Oh, my God.

What did he do?

What did he do?

Oh, God.

It’s all right, it’s all right... it’s all right.

( door shuts ) Is there a glass for me?

Of course.

Okay.

I have something I need-- I need to say, to, um... to tell you.

You already know.

Yeah, pretty much.

How?

Well, it hardly takes an intuitive genius, does it?

I’m so sorry.

He’s not what I want.

He’s just not.

Well, what do you want?

This.

Here.

Right now.

With you.

All right.

I can’t.

I know, I know.

I know.

It’s alright, okay.

What’s he done?

Hey, Linda, do you mind if we keep talking?

Yeah?

Linda, how long have you been married?

Uh... Twenty years.

He said if I ever left him, he’d kill himself.

And...I tried, once.

I packed my bags and bought a ticket to Cardiff.

And he slashed his wrists in the bath and he called me before he called the ambulance.

He didn’t even do it properly, he just sliced at his wrists.

There was lots of blood, lots of drama, but no real risk to Graham.

Which is... the story of his life.

I’m gonna ask you some really difficult and personal questions.

My intention is not to embarrass you, okay?

Is it about the handbags?

Yes.

Yeah, why don’t you tell me about the handbags?

Early on, you know, we must have been married, what a year, 18 months.

He used to nick them.

And I--and I confronted him and he... he cried and... he made up some story.

You reported him?

No.

JOHN: Why?

Because he’s my husband.

What did you think he was doing with the handbags?

He used to... sniff them and... touch himself.

I was embarrassed.

And a bit of me thought it was-- a bit of me was scared it was me, that I was doing something wrong and that somehow, you know, people would find out and-- and they’d laugh.

JOHN: Look, Linda, I have to tell you Graham is involved in a very serious crime.

And these urges, these urges, that he’s had, he’s controlled them for a while until suddenly... this.

He’s been murdering young women.

It’s not my fault.

What, what’s not your fault?

What do you mean by that?

Linda?

Hey, hey look at me.

What’s not your fault?

I forgot to erase a text message.

He checks my phone, when I’m in the shower.

He goes down my handbag.

He checks your phone and... found out you were sleeping with someone?

Who is he, Linda?

It’s not my fault.

You need to tell me his name.

( upbeat music playing ) ( dog barking in distance ) Alright, here it is, Dennis Keaton, 23 Black Swan Way.

Call him and tell him to keep himself safe.

Graham is punishing her for being unfaithful.

He’s working his way towards killing her.

He can’t do it now, because we’ve got her.

So he’s going to go for the next best thing.

( knocks on door ) Gray?

( Dennis gasps ) Straight to answer phone.

JOHN: Guv?

( line out ringing ) Uh... what was the last number called from his house?

The last number from a Dennis Keaton is...City Chic Escorts.

JOHN: Oh, no, no, has he done it before?

JUSTIN: No.

Dennis Keaton is dead.

Get me the number of the hooker that’s going there, put them on speaker for me.

( mobile phone ringing ) JUSTIN: Oh, hang on a sec.

JOHN: What?

JUSTIN: Text message from a "Layla", safe arrival, 23 Black Swan Way.

Oh, no.

Let me see if I can get Reed on the speaker.

Come on, Layla, pick up the phone.

( line out ringing ) I’m almost there.

Two, three minutes max.

She’s already there.

She’s an escort, her name is Layla.

Can’t kick the door down.

He’ll kill her.

IAN: What do you suggest?

I got to be there, boss.

No.

Come on I’ve got to go!

No.

How quickly can you get there?

Just tell me what to do and it’s done.

Ian, I’m gonna send Ripley.

Take Linda.

We’ll go for that weak spot.

( knocks on door ) Dennis, is it?

Absolutely.

Lovely to meet you, Dennis.

I’m Layla.

May I?

Yeah.

Well?

Yeah, yeah.

So, do we, uh-- Absolutely.

You’re the boss.

But first... Oh, right, yeah, two twenty-five.

You’re very kind.

So, would you like to show me where you want me?

Yeah.

Upstairs, if that’s okay?

That’s absolutely fine.

( mobile phone ringing ) Dennis, it’s my girlfriend.

She likes to check up on me during dates to make sure I arrive safely.

Do you mind?

No, of course not.

Go ahead.

Hello, darling.

Hey, Layla, this is Chief Inspector John Luther.

I need you to listen to me very carefully.

Keep smiling and act like this is the agency calling you.

Yeah.

Yeah, yeah.

I got here quite safely.

Right, excellent.

Okay, can you get out of the house safely?

LAYLA: Not really, not right now, love.

Listen to me.

I need you to get to a safe place and just wait for us, we’re on our way.

I will.

Stop worrying, silly.

Honestly.

Anyway.

Second door on the right.

( grunts ) ( breathing erratically ) Can I take your bag?

Of course.

( Graham breathing heavily ) Oh... Can I... What?

The bathroom.

I’d rather you didn’t.

( laughs ) GRAHAM: Let me in.

Come on.

Listen.

Let me in.

Let me in!

Come on!

Come on!

Here we go.

( Graham laughs ) Let me in!

Let me in!

Let me in!

Aaaah!

( laughing ) No!!!

LAYLA: Help me.

I can’t keep him out, you’ve got to help me.

Listen, we’re close.

Hold on.

LAYLA: He’s gonna kill me.

Please!

Please come now.

I need you, please!

Layla, Layla... Justin, where are you?

( footsteps ascending staircase ) Aaah!

LAYLA: No!

Help me!

Ha ha ha ha!

GRAHAM: I just wanna kiss you!

I just wanna kiss you!

( Layla sobbing, screaming ) Do you know what I’m going to do to you?

LINDA: Gray?

Gray?

Are you here?

Graham, are you here?

See?

LINDA: Look at you.

You sad little prick.

Put the hammer down, Graham.

You’re all done.

Now, just put it down, all right?

I’m tired, I want to go home.

( laughing ) ( sobbing ) ( drops hammer ) ( Graham grunts ) JUSTIN: Graham Shand, I am arresting you on suspicion of murder.

You do not have to say anything... ( Layla sobs ) Sorry.

Excuse me.

( keys clatter ) ( phone vibrates ) Zo?

Um... Look, I know it’s late.

I--I’ve just called you a hundred times.

I know it’s difficult.

Just want to hear your voice.