Fatal Consequences (The Bill)

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"Fatal Consequences"
The Bill episode
Episode no.Series 19
Episode 87
Directed bySylvie Boden
Written byTom Needham
Original air date30 October 2003 (2003-10-30)
Episode chronology
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The Bill (series 19)
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"Fatal Consequences" is an episode of the long-running ITV police-procedural drama series, The Bill. The episode is significant in the show's history as it is the first of two episodes broadcast live. Fatal Consequences was broadcast live on 30 October 2003 at 8:00pm, to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the show's pilot episode, "Woodentop". The episode was written by Tom Needham, directed by Sylvie Boden and produced by Susan Mather and Donna Wiffen. The episode was watched by over 10 million viewers [1]

Prelude Storylines[]

  • The Abduction of Alan Best - The major events in the two episodes prior to the live episode was the abduction of Alan Best (Ian Puleston-Davies), the father of PC Gary Best. Alan had domestically abused Gary's mother throughout his childhood, causing Gary to inform the police of events, which led to his arrest. In Episode 147: Truth, it was revealed Alan had been released from jail, showing up at Gary's 21st birthday to apologise. Soon after, Alan gave information on his boss for running a cut and shut operation, illegally reconstructing wrecked vehicles to sell for profit. Alan's info shut the garage down, so he went to work at another, this one run by a drugs runner. Alan contacted Gary's Inspector, Gina Gold, and became a full-time informant in an attempt to get his son back on side. When Gary discovered this, he inflicted a savage beating and warned him to stay away. As Gary lamented on his actions, he went to apologise, unaware that DS Debbie McAllister and DC Ken Drummond were mounting an observation to catch drug runner Jules Ellis (Anthony Hunt) retrieving a van with cocaine fitted into the door panels. Gary blocked Ellis and his van in, and when he noticed a gun in his belt, Ellis turned it on Alan and Gary. Alan stopped Ellis shooting his son, locking him in the garage's office before driving off with Ellis. Ken rescued Gary and went to pursue the van, but it was already out of their sight. A manhunt was launched and Ellis was tracked down to a warehouse, leading SO19 to swarm in and attempt an arrest. Sergeant Dale Smith had to volunteer as a hostage to let two nearby residents leave the area, but he was able to overpower Ellis and secure an arrest. As his van was found covered in blood, Gary became concerned he would not be able to make amends with his father.
  • Polly's Trial - Another major plot in the buildup was the trial of PC Polly Page, who assisted the suicide of a close friend, Dr. Owen Preston. However, Polly's gain of £150,000 in Preston's will and her fingerprints being found on the syringe Preston used to administer a fatal overdose led to her being charged with murder. Her trial began to unravel when it was revealed that PC Cathy Bradford had become engaged to Polly's ex-boyfriend Max Wyatt, who both betrayed Polly on the stand. The revelation led to Polly deciding to admit that Cathy showed up to her house when Owen died, a fact Polly omitted from her original statement. Polly gave a passionate speech on the stand in an attempt to clear her name once and for all, but Cathy's "performance" in response led to Polly being discredited further. Following the closure of the trial for the day, Cathy went on patrol with DC Juliet Becker, arresting a drunk for smashing up a phone box. As Cathy continued to ramble on about her performance in court, causing Juliet to get distracted trying to conduct the search, resulting in the drunk man pulling a knife on her.
  • Area Car Crash and Explosion - Several episodes before the episode, PC Des Taviner was investigated by ex-DI Sally Johnson for the arson attack on the police station in April 2002, as part of an appeal by the man convicted of the fire; Jeff Simpson (Mark Frost). As his pregnant girlfriend, Sergeant Sheelagh Murphy, became suspicious, Des admitted he indeed started the fire that killed six of his colleagues. Sheelagh told him he needed to confess, but he refused, stating their life together would be ruined. His best friend, PC Reg Hollis, tried to talk her round, and she decided to tell her husband Patrick (Kieran Creggan) that she had been having an affair. However, Inspector Gina Gold had asked Sheelagh to take Superintendent Adam Okaro to New Scotland Yard, only for Sheelagh to ask PC Gary Best to find someone else to attend. As Des decided to lay it all on the line with Sheelagh, he met Inspector Gold and asked where Sheelagh was, who falsely claimed she was at the yard with Supt. Okaro. Unaware she was actually with Patrick at the time, Des angrily headed back on patrol to join the pursuit of a suspect. Back at the station, Inspector Gold asked Sergeant June Ackland to contact Des, saying the Superintendent wanted to debrief him on giving CPR to a victim of crime who later died. When Des heard the radio call saying the Superintendent wanted to talk to him, he assumed his crime had been exposed. When the suspect vehicle found Des and the Area Car blocking his path, Des aggressively pursued the car to a chemical warehouse, causing the vehicles to crash into chemical barrels and start a fire. As the building exploded, Sergeant Dale Smith conducted a daring rescue, pulling Reg from the car. However, as he went back for Des, an overhead balcony exploded and crushed the two cars, causing a second blast. As the fire was extinguished and the dust settled, Des was nowhere to be seen. In Episode 161: Better Late Than Never, Superintendent Okaro revealed to Sheelagh that Des might not be found due to the severity of the fire.

Synopsis[]

The episode takes place on the night of Halloween, despite airing the day before; DC Juliet Becker and PC Cathy Bradford are being held hostage by a drunk called Mark Nevett (Charles Dale). Nevett demands Cathy gets in the boot of a car, which she refuses, so he drags Juliet over to a carrier van. Despite Cathy's protestations, Juliet opens the door and Nevett pushes her into the van. In custody, after confronting prisoner Jules Ellis about revealing where the missing father of PC Gary Best is located, Sergeant Dale Smith is approached by PC Tony Stamp, who rants about Cathy betraying PC Polly Page at her murder trial. As they discuss events of the trial, Cathy rushes in and sounds the custody alarm, explaining that Juliet is being held hostage in the carrier van outside. As Inspector Gina Gold talks to Acting DI Samantha Nixon about interviewing Jules Ellis, she receives a call about events in the rear yard. She accompanies Superintendent Adam Okaro to the yard to coordinate a rescue; as Supt. Okaro's efforts to negotiate fail, he orders a team to storm the van. As they do, Juliet is rescued and Nevett is arrested, but they discover Juliet has been stabbed. While first aid efforts take place in the yard, DC Mickey Webb of the Murder Investigation Team arrives to assist Acting DI Nixon and DC Ken Drummond with the interview of Jules Ellis. Things are awkward for Sergeant Smith and PC Stamp over Mickey's recent rape, which led to his departure from Sun Hill, Smithy feeling especially guilty for exposing the rape against Mickey's wishes. Despite this, he tells them flat out that he is over the attack. Mickey then proceeds to interrupt Sam and Ken's interview with Ellis, just as it appears he is about to confess. Sam furiously blasts him, and she is further infuriated when Mickey says there is no chance Alan Best is still alive, just as his son Gary comes into earshot, destroying his last piece of hope. Back in the yard, Sergeant Sheelagh Murphy uses her training as a nurse to try and calm down Juliet, but their hopes of a quick move to hospital are affected by news that an RTC is causing a delay for the ambulance.

At St. Hugh's hospital, Sergeant June Ackland attends to a female victim of domestic assault, trying her utmost to assist a nurse deal with the chaos of Halloween admissions to the hospital. As she exits the waiting room, PC Jim Carver is revealed to be there after hiding behind a newspaper to not be seen by June. The nurse takes him to room and he claims he was putting up a shelf that collapsed onto him. As the nurse leaves him to attend to another issue, June enters his cubicle after hearing him talk to the nurse. She is skeptical about his claim about the shelf, suspecting he is being abused by his wife Marie (Melanie Hill). While he fails to open up about the abuse, they end up reminiscing on their 20 years together at Sun Hill. Back at the station, the ambulance finally arrives for Juliet. Elsewhere at the station, DCs Rob Thatcher and Eva Sharpe interview a boy who was found in possession of Alan Best's phone and wallet. His son Gary continues to spiral as he awaits the news of his father, expecting he won't be found alive. After snapping at PC Honey Harman and Sergeant Dale Smith earlier in the evening, he then demands Rob gives him two minutes with the boy, unaware his horrified mother is standing right next to him. Back at the hospital, June begins getting emotional about why Jim needs to leave Marie for his own sake, the nurse interrupts and reveals that Juliet has been brought in. Finding Inspector Gold and Sergeant Murphy, they watch on in horror as the crash team fail to revive Juliet. As she succumbs to her injuries, June follows a distraught Sheelagh outside and tries to comfort her, however she snaps and runs off. June is later told the victim of domestic assault has left, unaware that she is the wife of the man arrested for Juliet's murder, and she shows up at Sun Hill to discover her husband has committed murder. As Jim comforts June at the hospital, Marie arrives and begins to cause a scene, unaware that they are only emotional because Juliet died. After changing her tone, she goes to leave with Jim, making a point of saying that Jim walked into a cupboard door, confirming June's suspicions that Marie has been abusing him. Back at the station, Sheelagh hears a voice call her name in the yard, but she doesn't see her ex-lover Des Taviner appear from behind a car, revealing to the viewers that he survived the Area Car crash and explosion several episodes earlier. In custody, a team swarm around Juliet's killer Mark Nevett, but while Superintendent Okaro orders them to get off him, PC Gabriel Kent reveals he has swallowed his tongue. As Rob and Eva find Alan Best's body, news reaches Gary at the station, who storms into custody and attacks Ellis as he heads back to his cell under guard. Ellis runs off out of the open door and into the yard, chased onto the roof by Gary and Smithy. Ellis knocks Smithy over on the roof, then proceeds to swing a metal bar at Gary; as he drops his guard, Gary flies at him, causing them both to fall off the roof and land on a passing van. The end credits are preceded by fireworks exploding in the skies above the station.

Aftermath[]

At the beginning of the next episode, 163: What's the Scoop?, PC Polly Page's murder trial draws to a close as she is found guilty. PC Cathy Bradford then goes on a live interview with Lorraine Kelly, much to the dismay of the relief and Superintendent Okaro. In hospital, PC Gary Best recovers after falling off the station roof, but Inspector Gold reveals Jules Ellis died after being crushed by Gary following the fall. Despite throwing him off the roof, Inspector Gold reveals Smithy protected him by saying Gary acted in his best interests, so any thought of charges for causing the death of Ellis are immediately discredited. Gary plans to go back to Manchester to arrange his father's funeral, but PC Honey Harman tells him she will help him deal with any problems that arise while he is on the road to recovery. Back at the station, DC Juliet Becker's colleagues reel after her death the night before, while they are further disappointed that justice wouldn't be delivered after the suspect died in custody. Superintendent Okaro also reveals that forensics confirmed PC Des Taviner did not perish in the Area Car crash and explosion, with viewers seeing him secretly return to Sun Hill the previous night.

Cast[]

References[]

  1. ^ "Live Bill episode nears 10m mark". 31 October 2003.
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