Inspector George Gently

Excuse me. Yes.

I want you off this beach now, please.

Have a bit of respect, all right?

It's not a sight for children is it?

Some people!

Bob, Bob, I want these people off that pier, all right?

I want the whole pier cleared.

Can you move off the pier, please?

Quickly now! Sorry, we're moving. We're moving on. Thank you.

Hello there. Hiya.

Is she on her own? Yeah.

My name's John. Are you all right?

Where's your mummy and daddy?

They're asleep. Asleep?

So did you bring out the dog for a walk on your own?

Do you know what, if you were my little lass,

I wouldn't let you out of my sight.

ICE-CREAM VAN JINGLE PLAYS

I'd also buy you a big fat massive ice cream...

I think it might be a little bit too early. What do you think?

No, it's not! No, not too early?

Come on then, let's go and get one.

There we go.

Morning, Sir.

Nice day for it.

About 16 to 17 by the looks of it.

She's no ID, but there's a massive blow to the side of the head.

Think she was dead before she hit the water.

She's wearing a Bluebird Holiday Camp uniform.

Can't have been in the water very long.

Time of death is... Oh, I dunno, some time today, early hours

of the morning, something like that. What do you think?

You all right? Get her in.

Right, I'll get the lads.

All right, let's get her in.

Any witnesses?

Not yet, no.

Old fella said he saw a young couple down here last night.

Could've been her...

With a bloke - things get out of hand, you know.

Description fit? Not really, no.

Was dark though.

Is that all you've got?

Give us a chance, sir, will you?

You searched the pier?

What?

The pier. Have you searched the pier? No, not yet.

Something tells me that the beach is the priority, Guv.

And something tells me you've not heard of longshore drift.

That body travelled inland.

You'd dump her at the furthest point, of course,

closest to the open sea -

gives her a better chance of drifting away.

But you'd be very wrong cos the current would just take her

straight round, right where she was found.

A pier at night can house all sorts.

Meaning? It's more private than the beach.

Perfect for an illicit night-time stroll, over the waves.

Very romantic.

Sounds like you've been there and done that.

I might have known a late-night stroll along the pier in my time, John.

Really?

I don't have you down as a man who likes it al fresco.

Now, there's a line.

And I just crossed it. You've just... Yeah, absolutely. Sorry.

I want every inch of this pier searched. All right. Sorry.

Bluebird's eh?

Yeah. Bluebird's three or four miles that way.

We went there, you know, me and Lisa. Did you?

Mmm, a few years back. It was good.

Just after Leigh-Anne was born.

We went to a holiday camp right after the war.

Never seen so many families in one place, you know,

enjoying themselves for the first time.

A whole new world.

BACCHUS SIGHS

Are you missing Leigh-Anne?

Yeah.

I've not seen her for three week. Can you believe that?

That's not enough, is it? No, it's not enough.

I'm fine when I'm not thinking about her.

You know, I'm fine then.

But you think about her all the time.

Yeah.

Isabel!

Sorry.

Welcome to Bluebird! Can I help you, gentlemen?

Wives powdering their noses in the car,

and children causing mischief after a long drive, I'll bet?

Let me get someone to help you with your bags.

No, thank you. I'm DCI Gently.

Could we speak to the manager, please?

Of course.

Well, would you like a lift?

No, thank you. We'll walk.

I'll show you the way.

Go!

One, two, three,

four, five, six...

FAIRGROUND ORGAN PLAYS

Sorry to disturb, Miss Stretch,

these gentlemen wish to see Mr Stretch. They're policeman.

Thank you, Justine. Detective Chief Inspector Gently.

Cherry. This is Detective Sergeant Bacchus.

My brother Todd shouldn't be long.

It's all a bit manic here today.

The body of a young woman was found this morning.

We believe that she worked here.

Obviously we're very anxious to identify her.

Anyone missing?

I'm...I'm sorry?

Body was found on the beach near the pier.

Why do you think she worked here?

She wore a Bluebird uniform.

Right.

Anyone missing, to your knowledge?

Well...I don't know.

Staff rotas aren't really my thing.

Might need to try harder than that.

All my workers live on site.

There's a late-comers board.

If someone hasn't clocked in, then their name get's chalked up.

Good. Shall we?

Hello, Mr Stretch. Sophie. Sally.

Do you live on site, Mr Stretch?

No. I live at home with my wife and two daughters.

I'm very lucky.

Business good? Chin up, Lottie.

Oh, yes. We are a powerhouse, gentlemen - built from dust.

But a few loans started my father off,

and he opened the doors in '36.

No-one had ever seen anything quite like it.

Family holidays for the masses.

We've been full to bursting ever since.

You know there is a great pleasure in

having to turn punters away.

Here we are.

Ah, Megan.

Blue for Bluebird? Yes.

Does she live with anybody, share a room?

Justine Leyland, I believe. Senior Bluebird.

We've met her already.

Ah, yes. She's been scooping up the new arrivals,

and hurling them into a dance competition to whet their appetite.

I think the Bluebirds will be arriving in the dance hall now.

Thank you.

Inspector? Yes.

Now, we can keep all this a little...low, can't we?

I'm sorry? People are on their holidays.

Yes?

Well, this is a camp of smiles.

It's a holiday from their grey little lives.

We don't want a gloomy little storm cloud gathering.

Are you asking us to protect your business, Mr Stretch?

Simply asking for a little discretion.

I don't think you've quite got it yet, have you?

A member of your staff has been found dead.

We need staff rotas, the names of everybody who was working last night.

Oh, and the guests. Of course.

We need the names of all the guests.

Dance hall, you said?

"Helpless" by Kim Weston

I'm happy to be the girl if you fancy a dance.

No, you're all right, thank you very much.

Lisa and I won this, you know.

Did you? Won the cup in this very room.

She's a good mover is Lisa.

Really cracking little dancer.

I mean, she wouldn't have won the cup without me.

Is that right? Yeah.

Fred Astaire of the North-East, me.

Look at the moves.

Quality.

Well, much as I'd like to stand here and admire your...fluidity.

Well done, campers!

Wow, are you all trained or something?

They said that when we were here.

So, the dance competition is now closed,

so now we have the Bluebird Boppers while our judges make their decision

and it won't be long till this little cup get's given to one lucky family.

Could we have a word, please? Inspector?

Somewhere quieter.

So, ladies and gentlemen, a big hand for the Bluebird Boppers!

CHEERING

So, your cabin mate Megan Webb...

What about her?

She didn't come to work this morning.

Yeah, well, she's always late.

She'll stroll in any minute looking immaculate.

Do you share a cabin?

There's three of us. Who's the third?

Gail. Little kitchen maid.

Buried in chip fat, as we speak, lucky old thing.

When's the last time that you saw Megan?

Be last night, on stage.

She'd finished after the first show.

Did she come back here at all last night?

No. Was she meeting anybody?

Well, she didn't say she was.

What's going on? We're just making some enquiries.