Responsible Child

How old are you, Rafael?

I'm 12.

Do you understand WHY you've been arrested? Yeah. I do. Right.

An incident occurred on early Wednesday morning in which

one person was murdered.

Four persons were known to be at the scene at the time,

one of which has been named as the detained person.

Therefore, the detained person has arrived at this police station

this night and has been arrested on suspicion of murder.

Do you understand that?

Yes.

So, based on that information,

I'm going to authorise your detention here

to secure and preserve evidence by means of questioning.

An appropriate adult is en route to custody now to support you. OK?

Yes.

DOOR BUZZES

DOOR BANGS SHUT

Yeah, but over nine frigging hours in an adult cell?

It's unlawful. Where else would we put him?

Did anyone try and liaise with the local authority at all?

They came in at night-time. How inconvenient for the nine-to-fives.

The law then stipulates each station have a child-friendly cell.

He's been detained for murder, not truancy.

He's still a child, but!

It's a Victorian building, Pete.

Yeah, Victorian's fucking right.

What kept you so long, anyway?

Some brainiac upstairs put both brothers in with the same firm.

DOOR BANGS SHUT

Well, now.

I'm Pete.

Your solicitor.

Which means I'm going to guide you through this.

Now, I know I'm a bit dodgy-looking, like, but, erm, may I?

I bet you prefer being called Ray.

Huh?

I'll let you in on a little something.

My full name?

Petrotheus.

On my life.

Literally.

You eaten?

Ah! Well, let's see what we can...

Ta-da!

It's not quite a rabbit, I know.

But, erm...

Go on. There's one for you, too.

DOOR OPENS

I'm in private consultation with my client.

Yeah, OK.

I'll, er... I'll see you shortly, Rafael.

Yep.

Appropriate adult.

Can't trust him. Bound by law.

So, like, something you said, that he heard,

could be used against you in court.

Say nothing.

Except to me.

OK?

Now...

..we're going to need to prepare a statement.

So that, in an interview, all you need to say to their questions is,

"No comment."

OK?

Grand.

PHONE RINGS

I'm not interested.

Good afternoon yourself.

Now, Kerry, I have something that I think you'll...

Look, I still haven't been paid for that last fucking legal aid fiasco.

Murder.

Yeah, it might well come to it, Pete.

A child.

Murdered?

No.

Murderer.

Needs a barrister.

Ah, I've got you, haven't I?

Go on.

Well, you'd think the boy had fallen off a cloud, while the murder

itself is as brutal, Kerry, seriously, as I've ever seen.

Look, I have to go back in now, but I'll call you later, OK?

OK.

All right.

Your statement says you found your dad's drinking and temper

impossible to live with any more, so on 15th June last year,

you packed some bags after school and left

to go and stay with your mum and older brother, is that right?

LAUGHTER AND CHATTER

Hi. Hey... Hey.

Hey, what's...?

I can't stay with Dad any more.

Who's that at this time?

Don't worry about him.

OK?

Hello, Ray.

Hey, Mum.

Bit late for a visit, Ray.

Yeah.

Erm... Yeah, he was, erm, going to stay.

If that's OK, Scott?

Well, for tonight? Yeah. The sofa OK?

No, for, erm...

..for a bit longer, maybe.

We ain't got the room, Ray. Sorry, mate.

Look, stay tonight.

But then back to your dad's tomorrow, yeah?

He can't go back there.

Mum?

Oh, whoa, whoa, whoa.

What are you calling her for?

It's her...

It's her house.

"It's her house".

It's the freaking council's.

In my name.

Yeah.

Mine on all the bills.

Can barely afford to feed our own already, let alone that

waste of fucking space. Don't call my brother that.

Look, it's our mum's house, yeah? And Ray's got nowhere else. So...

Piss off back to your dad's with him!

I'm not leaving you here alone with Mum.

What did you say?

Nathan didn't say anything.

In my own home.

After a day's graft, struggling to keep a roof over my family,

and he's fucking telling me this and that?!

It's OK. Hold on.

I'll sort it.

OK?

Don't you ever speak to me like that again!

Look, I'm just trying to help my brother,

cos he's got nowhere else to live.

Well, why won't you leave me alone with your mum?

You know why I'm not going to leave you alone with her.

Why? Why? Cos I've seen exactly what you're like.

I'll fucking... I'm going to fucking kill you!

Oh! What you...?

If you'd just care to sign it for me?

Thank you. We'll be in touch.

Cheers.

Please. That's my family home.

That's my home.

I was glad to see your name down.

Right back at you, darling.

You been all right?

Oh, keeping on, you know?

Now, I'm going to briefly introduce you to Miss Stephens,

who's going to be your defence barrister,

along with the rest of your team, all right?

Now, today is not really about your case, as such, it's just about...

Well, now.

Kerry. How are you?

Hello, Pete.

This is Ray.

Hello, Ray.

I'm Kerry.

I will be your defence throughout.

If you don't like me, don't trust me,

Pete will find you someone else.

Good.

Now...

..this is Gary from the Youth Offending Team.

All right, mate?

He is responsible for overseeing your case up until sentence.

And this... Grace.

From Children's Services.

Right, guys. Let's crack on.

Ray?

She's a wee bit full-on,

but she'll fight to her shadow for you.

Now, we need to prepare for your preliminary hearing.

The police are looking to up Scott's charges,

so he could be in custody for a while.

It's just you with the kids for the time being.

We know you've had some bonding issues there in the past.

Please don't take another baby.

Now, Veronica, that was a long time ago

and you've been doing really well with things since. All right?

We just want to make sure you're coping

now that Scott isn't here to help with looking after the little ones.

That is all the assessment is about.

Thought you were at work?

Oh, I'm going in later.

He's not getting bail, you know.

Yeah, I know.

I know.

Do you want to play some Days Of Battle?

"Be brave as the shadows close upon you

"for we shall endure until light returns once more!"

In a bit, Ray.

OK?

Affirmative.

What a good boy.

Be brave as the shadows close upon you,

for we shall endure until the light returns once more.

KNOCK ON DOOR

Stealth, my son.