HEATHER Heather. Heather Ross.
REBUS Not Towler?
HEATHER I got Gran’s name. What’s yours?
REBUS John Rebus. So what about your Dad?
HEATHER I don’t know. Gran said she didny know either but that was lies. She didny want me thinking about him. ‘Your mother thought she could take on the world. Then she met a man she couldny handle.’
REBUS Every Granny’s warning.
HEATHER Can you do me a favour John?
REBUS I try to avoid them. Go on, what?
HEATHER You’ve still got all my Mum’s stuff. The police have, I mean. Her clothes, the jewellery she was wearing...
REBUS It’s evidence.
HEATHER How can it be evidence when she’s been dead seventeen years?
REBUS It’s an unsolved murder. So we... (corrects himself)... they, try and keep the evidence. Forensics get better all the time. DNA testing gets better all the time. One day we might be able to nail the bastard.
HEATHER You’re still trying to catch him?
REBUS Never close an unsolved killing.
HEATHER What if he’s dead? The guy that did it to her?
REBUS Then he got away with murder.
HEATHER That’d shred me. I’d rather never know than that...
REBUS Where do you need to get back to Heather?
HEATHER What?
REBUS Where do you live?
HEATHER Och around and about.
REBUS Where does Gran live?
HEATHER You ask a lot of questions eh?
REBUS Canny seem to break the habit.
HEATHER My Gran’s dead. Home was Newhaven, the scuzzy bit that’s still scuzzy.
REBUS The Jackdaw pub.
HEATHER Aye, that’s still there. It’s a club now. Techno grunge every Friday. They get artists in from all over. Have you been?
REBUS What do you think?
HEATHER You canny dance to it?
REBUS Canny dance to anything. Wouldn’t try.
HEATHER I love dancing. You think that’s creepy? That I go the pub she did? The pub where she had her last drink.
REBUS No. No I can understand why you might do that.
HEATHER Don’t always think about her. She went out drinking and took the short cut home through the building site. Sometimes I get really mad at her for being that stupid. I knew better before I was ten. So you’ll help me?
REBUS What?
HEATHER You’ll see if they’re still trying to catch the guy that killed her? Chase up your pals in the police?
REBUS I haven’t got many pals in the police. Never did.
HEATHER But you could phone somebody.
REBUS No. Look, I know it’s hard but you’d best forget it. Live your life. You don’t always get an answer.
HEATHER I bet you could always get an answer.
REBUS If I could, I’d sleep better.
HEATHER Do you have nightmares then?
REBUS Only since I stopped drinking.
HEATHER Christ that’ll dae it.
A young man ANDY is coming up the stairs. He stops dead when he sees HEATHER and REBUS.
HEATHER You’re late. I nearly called the polis on you.
ANDY (wary) You been talking to him?
REBUS Any reason she shouldn’t?
HEATHER (on the move) Come on then... What’s your name again?
ANDY says nothing.
REBUS A. Lamont. That’s what it says on the bit of cardboard. Don’t know what the A stands for. Archibald?
ANDY Andy.
REBUS Just being neighbourly Andy. (to Heather) You should maybe ask him how he’s supplementing his income. Doesny look like an impoverished student to me.
HEATHER No?
REBUS His post says he’s a student. Mature student is it Andy? Second degree? Don’t get your fees paid for that do you? How do you manage? Are you doing a wee sideline in pharmaceuticals? If I’ve noticed... (let’s that one hang)
ANDY Fuck off.
HEATHER You’ve noticed him dealing?
REBUS Are you surprised? Isn’t that why you’re here?
HEATHER No. No it’s not.
REBUS Glad to hear it.
ANDY is still warily watching REBUS as HEATHER makes her way back upstairs.
HEATHER I’m just visiting. I’m going to ask you again John. I think you’re the man that can help me.
REBUS I don’t change my mind.
HEATHER No? Don’t say things like that. I love a challenge. See you John.
She’s gone. REBUS is still watching ANDY.
ANDY What do you think you’re looking at?
REBUS I’ll let you know.
REBUS waits until ANDY goes upstairs. REBUS tries to get in, doesn’t have key. He searches all his pockets. It’s not there. Swears. Takes one from top of door jamb. Goes into his own flat—
Rebus’s Arden Street flat/dream
He’s walked into darkness. A young woman, MAGGIE, stands on her own, the only thing lit in darkness. She’s played by the same actress who plays HEATHER but MAGGIE is dressed differently, a coat from 2001 fashion, a scarf round her neck. She’s dancing to the same song, half singing along. We can’t see her face clearly.