REBUS No pressure then.
SIOBHAN Something I’ve always wanted to ask you: why does Cafferty call you ‘Strawman’?
REBUS I was giving evidence against him in a case in Glasgow, the lawyer got me mixed up with another witness called ‘Stroman’. Cafferty loves that.
SIOBHAN He thinks you’re a man of straw.
REBUS He wishes I was.
SIOBHAN And you think you’re a lone wolf. The last gunslinger in High Noon, taking down the bad guys as he goes.
REBUS What do you think I am?
SIOBHAN Retired. And good police work is team work John.
REBUS You think? I think a result’s a result.
SIOBHAN John...
REBUS (cutting in) I hear you Siobhan. I do.
SIOBHAN I see her you know. In my head.
REBUS Who?
SIOBHAN Angela. Just watching me. Never had that before on a murder, not even my first. I see her. Staring at me. Asking if I’m going to get her the only thing worth anything to her now. A bit of justice, for that little life snapped short...
MAGGIE and ANGELA are on.
REBUS I know. I see her too. I remember watching Sam going out for a night with her pals at that age.
SIOBHAN How is she?
REBUS Good, pestering me to come and see the granddaughter before she’s taller than Sam is.
SIOBHAN Well you’ve the time now.
REBUS That’s what she says. In a few years that toddler will be a teenager. Then Sam will understand what it was like, looking at her, so fresh and full of life, beautiful... and fragile as a moth. She didn’t understand why I shouted at her for pulling her top down and making up her face like she was something glossy and available. She didn’t see what I saw... what the predatory monsters out there would see. Christ. The way young lassies dress themselves up Shiv...
SIOBHAN A young woman’s got every right...
REBUS (cutting her off) Aye I know I know.
SIOBHAN Attacks like the one on Angela, on Maggie Towler are rare. Still. Women risk more in their own homes. Young women can’t be prisoners of their father’s fears...
REBUS It is just a fact that a strong man can grab a woman and do whatever he likes. It’s just a fact that young women will always need protection, as long as that’s true. And we’re the protection, or we should be. We need to get them locked up.
SIOBHAN Maybe the answer is to keep trying to make a world where no man ever would hurt a young woman.
REBUS is surrendering something, realising he can’t fix this, struggling with that.
REBUS Aye. Alright. Alright.
SIOBHAN What?
REBUS I can’t see a way through...
SIOBHAN What is it?
REBUS Shiv... There’s maybe is something I do need to talk to you about...
She waits. He can’t find a way to go on.
SIOBHAN Well what is it?
REBUS Nothing. No it’s nothing. I’ll fix it myself. Just... Look... I might need your help, tonight...
SIOBHAN (cutting him off) Oh I can’t tonight.
REBUS (thrown) Oh. Right. Sorry.
SIOBHAN No I’m going out. I have to... I mean I want to eh... (she’s floundering) It’s just this thing...
REBUS (cutting in) Hot date?
SIOBHAN Hardly. Important. Important date.
REBUS Anyone I know?
SIOBHAN It’s work. I can’t shift it so...
REBUS No, no, fine. Work on the Mordaunt trial?
She says nothing.
REBUS ’Course it is. And nothing you can tell me...
SIOBHAN Sorry, it’s just...
REBUS I’m no even asking. It’s fine. Really.
SIOBHAN I could come and see you after? How late will you be up? Stupid question...
REBUS (cutting her off) No, I’ll be out. I thought maybe you could come with but...
SIOBHAN How about I buy you breakfast?
REBUS Aye... aye that might work.
SIOBHAN You can tell me all about it then.
REBUS Yeah. Alright. I’ll tell you all about it then.
SIOBHAN It’s a date.
She’s on the move, going back upstairs.
REBUS So you know about the murder on my stair then?
She pauses.
REBUS If you had eyes on me and Cafferty then you’ll have heard about the murder on my stair? (as she doesn’t reply) Why didn’t you say?
SIOBHAN I was waiting to see when you’d tell me. You fancy Cafferty for that?
REBUS Don’t you?
SIOBHAN So why didn’t you tell that very competent police officer who interviewed you?
REBUS I’ll tell you at breakfast.
SIOBHAN You better.
SIOBHAN goes back upstairs. REBUS walks slowly down the stairs. ANGELA and MAGGIE are with him.
MAGGIE You couldn’t tell her.
ANGELA Couldn’t face it.
MAGGIE Well that’s just weak!
REBUS Fucking shut it!
Transition into—
Rebus’s Arden Street flat