The Game

Footsteps running

pants

where are you? Where the hell is everyone?

Jenny! Anyone? I've got him!

Pants he's here.

Static from radio.

I know you're in here!

It's over. Come on!

Out you come!

Come on!

Coward! It's finished!

Pants

clanging

he pants.

Grunting

he grunts.

Huw.

After all this time?

You were so close.

Catch you later, detective.

Traffic in distance

birdsong, dog barks.

I'm just saying it's probably gonna get a bit messy, that's all.

Huw, you're 55.

Yeah, well, I can still party like a 20-year-old, can't I?

Yeah what?

No, no, no! What was that?

I'm just saying, you know what those guys are like.

It's gonna get a bit wild.

Yeah. How is Toby's angina these days?

Yeah, just cos you're not invited.

I've got a date with a hot bath and a bottle of wine.

So I'm counting on you not coming home too early.

Well, you know, there's gonna be curry and karaoke.

Do not come home early.

Dead man walking.

Stop it, frank.

He's not bursting into tears all the time, is he?

He is being a very brave little soldier. Hello!

I'm standing here. I'm... I'm fine, actually.

He does look a wee bit peaky.

Well, he would do. It's the end of the world for him today, isn't it?

Yeah.

Huw chuckles siren in distance.

Office chatter.

He sighs

hi. I just wanna say a quick goodbye to the guys.

I won't be a minute.

Shit, huw. Is it today? Yeah. Yeah, it is.

Mate. Sorry, I'd completely forgotten.

How's Alice coping with the idea of having you home every day?

Well, she's booked double time at work, so...

Man chuckles yeah, she's very cool, your wife.

Anyway, mate, listen... Good luck, and, er.

I'm sorry you're leaving with unfinished business.

Well... Still, you... Yeah. And, er...

Yeah.

Right, so...

As I was saying...

Er, sorry, listen, everyone, I just

I just wanted to say I've always wanted to be a cop.

Ever since I was a kid.

My dad was one, and he, er, he was a giant to me, so, er...

I-It's been, you know...

He exhales ..My life's dream, so...

Someone clears throat

anyway, just, good luck to all of you,

and just to let you know

that I'll be over the road having a farewell pint,

so if you feel like popping in for a quick one or two

or... or ten... Titters

yeah! Then, er, I'll... I'll be there, yeah.

Ok. Bye, bye...

Siren blares.

Guv!

Guv.

Sorry about them. It's a...

It's a stressful case. It's no worries.

Buy you a drink?

Yeah. Yeah. Right.

I've got you a present. I mean, it's nothing, really, but...

Yeah.

Thank you. All right.

God, they're awful, aren't they?

Yeah. Yeah.

I just... I don't know what old men like.

I just thought, you know, I should Mark the occasion.

I mean, we were quite the team for a bit.

Yeah, yeah. We were.

I mean, thank you, but I don't wear cuff links.

Yeah, well. You're welcome, miserable arse.

She sighs

this isn't... Isn't what?

This isn't one of those,

let's just pretend to ignore him all day,

and then I'm gonna open that door and they're all gonna be there,

and I'm gonna have to do my sort of, "you guys!" Sort of face, is it?

No, guv.

Really?

She clears her throat

let's get the beers in?

Hiya. Hi.

Exhales

he sighs

children shout in distance

dog barks.

Yeah, sorry, it's just that the freezer door doesn't close, does it?

So we're never gonna get anyone in, I thought I'd get on with it.

It's 7am!

Well, it's gotta be done at some time, hasn't it?

Good morning, professor. Morning, captain.

Could you not have brushed your teeth before you broke our freezer?

Well, I told you it'd be a big one last night,

and I am...

Anyway, I'm not breaking it, I'm fixing it.

Day one of retirement going exactly to plan.

Music plays.

Hello!

Chattering all right, mate?

He sighs.

Sighs.

'Hi, guys. Welcome to episode four of my podcast

'listing the top ten greatest cock-ups by the police

'in the last 20 years.

'Today, I'm going to tell you all about the rip ton stalker

'and the man who failed to catch him.'

huw tuts 'take a bow, detective inspector huw Miller.'

exhales

so, you cook a lot, you cycle a lot, you shop a lot.

Not a care in the world. Sounds great.

Yeah, yeah, it is.

How long before you blow your brains out?

I give it about two weeks.

Laughs

frank guffaws yeah. About right.

Boom. Boom. Look at that.

There we go.

Frank chuckles.

Huw.

It's good. I'm just...

It's just a bit harder than I expected, that's all. I

I should never have taken early retirement. I.

I mean, I only did that because my pension had matured. I...

Sighs

I've just got so much more to give.

Yeah, but you... you know, you're free now.

Yeah. Yeah, but...

Do you think there is a single person

that lives their lives without regret?

Well, this is different, though, isn't it?

It's a useless emotion.

And you know it better than anyone.

Why can't I let it go, then?

Because... Sighs ..you care more than most.

Because you're a good man.

And because you know I'm gonna beat you at golf.

And you're coming over all pathetic just to put me off my game.

There's no point in asking you anything, is there, really?

Music plays

he grunts

he groans frank!

Doorbell rings.

Water dripping frank?

Frank!

Frank?

It's huw. I just returned your club.

Frank?

I know you never can tell,

but if you were to ask me which of us would have a heart attack...

He was the fittest man I'd ever met.

With the dirtiest laugh.

Do you know her?

Yeah, yeah. She's an old friend. She doesn't seem very friendly.

Are you going back to school?

Sorry, I have to get to this pta meeting.

This is just terrible, isn't it?

So, Jenny's just turned up. What, for a heart attack?

Yeah, I know. It's a bit weird, isn't it?

Try not to get involved.

Yeah, I know, but if Jenny arrives...

Jenny's not retired, remember?

Ok. See you later, girls.

Bye. See you, Alice.

Police radio chatter

doorbell rings, he sighs.

He sighs

"hi. How are you?" "I'm fine." "That's nice." "Can I come in?"

"Yeah. Of course, Jen. In you go." "Thanks so much."

Exhales

yeah... I thought you might help me

with a thing I just can't get my head round.

What, about frank? What did you find?

No, no, no. Not him.

No. I've got a problem with a load of data

that was downloaded onto a flash drive at the station.

Someone copied all the files on the rip ton stalker case.

You know anything about that?

Well, I'm retired, Jenny. Yeah, I'm glad you worked that out.

Because someone that stole confidential information

from the police could get themselves into a lot of trouble