Episode 1

♪ ♪ You keep using that word "lie."

So you're saying you're clean.

Squeaky.

PETER: A daughter that I don't know about.

Only the one, is it, Dad?

CHARMIAN: I'm going to nail Peter Laurence once and for all.

LAPIDUS: Just because he's right-wing doesn't mean he's a criminal.

You're up to your neck in it.

(glass shatters) Every politician expects to be prime minister.

Without exception.

You can get away with anything if you just brazen it out.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ (footsteps) (reporters clamoring, cameras clicking) Serving ministers are advised never to bring lawsuits.

If you're in office, you're supposed to put up with anything, that's the deal.

But I knew very well that lies were being told about me not because of anything I'd done, but because of who I am.

I'm proud to be one of the few politicians who actually comes from the same background as the majority of the people I represent.

And I never forget that.

So I fought.

And I won.

To quote the national poet: "Thrice is he armed that hath his quarrel just."

Thank you.

REPORTER: One of the country's most popular politicians brought off the gamble of his life this afternoon when a jury found for the transport minister, Peter Laurence, against a newspaper which claimed he had exploited his position in government for financial gain.

Laurence had been accused of selling the expertise he had gained while working as a junior minister at Health.

The allegations date back to 2015, shortly after the MP for Hastings had left a post in the Department of Health.

But the case fell apart when key witness for the defense journalist Charmian Pepper surprised the jury by failing to substantiate her claim that Laurence was in Washington, DC, in January 2015.

Thank you!

All right, you're welcome.

Say thank you to your counsel.

I never doubted it for a moment.

Well, I'm glad you're happy.

It was open and shut, but thanks all the same.

LUKE: Well, that's one way to thank you.

What's he saying?

"Any fool could have got me off"?

I don't care they are always the best cases The ones you win?

ROCHELLE: No, the ones you win when you suspect your client is guilty as hell.

(car door closes) Still a bloody taxi.

We're going to the ministry, for God's sake.

Maybe, but you're not on government business.

Not formally.

Yeah, so typical of her.

You know the prime minister.

Yeah, I do-- petty.

REPORTER: Charmian!

REPORTER: Charmian, why did you change your story?

(reporters clamoring) REPORTER: Any comments, Charmian?

Anything I say will only get me in worse trouble.

I'm saying nothing-- thank you very much.

Sorry.

Oh, sorry, my fault.

Sorry.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ DAWN: Everyone knows these have not been easy years.

My three years in office have coincided with a period of extreme turbulence in Western economies.

But what's pleased me is, since we inaugurated this access scheme at Number 10, how British business and finance has really stepped up to help the Conservative cause.

And we're very grateful.

We are always here to listen to your legitimate concerns and to help enterprise to thrive.

That's our job.

Thank you.

(applause) You're on good form, Dawn.

Mind you, we need you on good form every day.

I don't remember begging being part of my job description.

What about me?

I'm chair of the party, I ought to be swaying continents.

All I ever do is ask for money.

Ah, you and me both.

(all speaking softly) Prime Minister.

Julia.

(sighs) How much?

This afternoon, 200,000.

Well, I endured 200,000 pounds worth of boredom, so that's a fair exchange.

Depends if you want to win the next election.

The briefing you asked for on Peter Laurence.

MI5 put it together.

Ah, in an hour?

It was quick because it already existed.

What, they had their eye on him?

They'd be derelict if they didn't.

Ah, yes, of course-- Croydon.

You can't take it away from him.

All that stuff about the tough background is true.

He's authentic.

Retail, retail, selling furniture, property... Oh, then politics.

And with all those think tanks in between.

British-American Development Forum-- is that a charity?

It was meant to be, but the charity commissioners didn't agree.

And its purpose?

Aside from dodging tax?

Transatlantic understanding.

Well, if that isn't fishy... What do you want me to do?

Oh, it's a simple test, I've done it before.

What you do is, you open a copy of "Who's Who," you look up Peter's official entry, then you compare it to this.

Whatever he's left out, that's what we're looking for.

He'll have left it out for a reason?

Oh, certainly-- whatever it is, he'll want it to be forgotten.

MICK (voiceover): And I'm happy to say Peter Laurence is with us after 15 rounds in the High Court, back in his weekly spot, telling the truth and taking your calls.

Thank you very much, Mick, good to be here.

No, I'm a member of a government and this is government policy.

No, you, you have to forget about Brexit.

It's in the past.

It was a national trauma, as you call it, and... (on speaker): But it's a trauma we came through-- it's over.

I'm not interested in the old arguments.

The world is changing so fast, and the exciting thing is keeping up.

(chuckles): This... No, no, that's a good point.

I am a relaxed Conservative who admires progress.

I admire anybody who finds a cause that they genuinely believe in, and I'm, I'm at peace with all kinds of causes.

Could have been Nelson Mandela or the suffragists, I don't have to agree with every word of it.

I admire anybody who just stands strong and, and free, and doesn't give over their life to apology and guilt.

To me, conservatism, it's about loving the idea of the future.

Well, don't you sound like a lovely man?

(chuckles) Yes-- you pick a system to suit the team.

If I say one more word about Manchester United... (on speaker): Exactly, I rose through the system, and I want everyone else to have that chance, too.

CALLER (over phone): They nearly got you this time, didn't they, Peter?

In court, that newspaper.

Right.

They nearly had you?

Well, all I can say to that, William of Walthamstow, is, in your dreams.

He don't look worried to me, Billy, he looks radiant.

(laughs): Okay.

DUNCAN: You need to listen to this.

On your personal, came through yesterday.

I didn't want to bother you till after we got the verdict.

Who is it?

(quietly): It's somebody that says she's your daughter.

Which one?

The one who doesn't speak to me or the other one?

Neither of them.

Then who?

A new one.

She says.

A third, another daughter.

(car horns) I'll cancel all your appointments.

We'll take my car.

♪ ♪ (keys jingling) (door unlocking) (door shuts) ♪ ♪ (engine stops) ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ (door buzzes) (keys jingling) (door buzzes) (door buzzes) (beeps) ♪ ♪ KEANE: Is that Peter Laurence?

STORM: We were told he's visiting a constituent.

What's wrong with that?

Just that Steff lives in Tower Hamlets.

(door opens) (door shuts) (footsteps) (door opens) (door closes) What makes you think you're my daughter?

I don't claim to be your daughter.

Then what is this?

I was sent by your daughter.

Where is she?

Not ready to meet you yet.

She sent me.

Is she a fellow inmate?

Let's be clear, I've got two daughters, they're both legitimate.

I know for a fact that the younger one is studying at Leeds at the moment.

I expect her to get a first-class degree in mathematics, and I've got a pretty good idea of where the older one is, too.

Yeah, where's that?

It's none of your business.

(distant clamoring, door shutting) My friend reckons you were a bit of a Jack the Lad back in the '90s-- Notting Hill, was it?

Yes, I, I lived in the Ladbroke Grove area.

Which you could've read anywhere.

Do you remember the name of every woman you slept with?

No-- do you?

Do you remember the color of every woman you slept with?

I'm not going to have this conversation.

Least of all with someone I don't even know.

You know that I have something on you, or else why would you even be here?

You're not my daughter.

Did I say that I was, though?

Come on, let's go.

Yeah, not yet.

What do you mean, not yet?

Are you in on this?

I had a preliminary conversation with Steff last night.

Without telling me?

I wasn't gonna let you walk into anything sight unseen.

We saw you, on the news, coming out of the court.

We?

Your daughter and me.

So she is in the prison?

So she is your daughter?

Have you been in a prison before?

A few of my constituents have ended up inside.

Hm.

I bet you're full of stupid ideas.

Am I?

Your party is.

So you're not a Conservative, then?

You think we're all high as balls.

Drugs flown in on drones so we can have cell parties and shoot crack.

The truth is, prison is mostly just boring.

Then it got really interesting 'cause I met your daughter.

Tell me her name.

(door buzzes) (door shuts) PETER: A daughter that I don't know about!

Given that I didn't meet anyone who actually claimed to be my daughter.

No, but we did meet someone who knows an awful lot about you.

Yeah, but she said it herself, prison's boring.

They've got nothing to do except read Wikipedia.

She's obviously been prepped by someone.

I thought you handled it beautifully, Minister.

Sure, but what exactly did I handle?

(whispering): Someone who might bring about a paternity suit.

(door opens) PETER: At some point you're gonna tell me why you think that was a risk worth taking.

DUNCAN: I made a judgment call.

I'm looking at Twitter.

There's a significant minority who think you've already taken a blow.

As you say, a minority.

You went to court to defend your reputation.

There are some people that don't like that.

They think it's un-English.

They think that politicians should suck it up and be good sports.

PETER (shouting): I won!

I won the bloody case!

It was something we had to do, and you know why.

DUNCAN: And now a woman's threatening to remind the electorate that you used to sleep around.

(sighs): "Jack the Lad"?

How many years since you've heard anyone say that?

Worse still, in West London.

Oh, so it's a postcode offense, is it?

I'm a phony because I lived in Notting Hill?

More to the point, you've slept with so many women that you can't even remember.

Can I just say that back then, nobody was counting?

Look, maybe you had a baby, maybe you didn't.

You don't even know what color she is.

How does that look?

Promiscuity's out of fashion.

In your day, sex was liberation.

Nowadays, it's exploitation.

An awful lot of angry women out there, and a hundred years ago, somebody gave them the vote.

Can I tell you something, Duncan?

Please do.

You are hopelessly stuck in the 20th century.

I have always been a rule-breaker.

People like me because I break the rules.

That's my appeal, it's my U.S.P.

I hope you're right, Minister.

Voters think of me as a character.

And they'd much rather be led by characters than by zombies.

Do I really have to go back in this car?

It's filthy.

Peter... (phone chirps) Whoops!

We've been summonsed to Downing Street.

"Summonsed"?

Is that the same as summoned?

Or is it... Is it better or worse?

(car door shuts) (phone ringing, chatter) ROCHELLE: Done.

(speaks softly) Cheers, mate.

Thank you.

LUKE: Ah, you are going to Birmingham.

Traffic offense.

(chewing): Well, can't someone else do it?

No.

Why not?

It's a local councilor, caught drunk and doing 50 in a built-up area.

I suppose he's saying his wife was ill. No, his son.

Compassionate speeding.

Is that my plea?

Uh, don't sit down, you're on the 7:30 from Euston.

Oh, and a woman called, apparently.

A woman!

Does she have a name?

Margaret.

Says she has essential evidence which will affect the Peter Laurence case.

Well, she's a bit late, isn't she?

We settled that case an hour ago.

There's a number, take it.

What so I can appeal against my own victory?

No, so I can say I did my job.

REPORTER (voiceover): Do you feel vindicated, Minister?

REPORTER 2: What does the prime minister have to say about all this?

REPORTER 3: Are you going to sue anyone else, Peter?

(reporters clamoring) Thank you.

Hello there, hello... Peter, congratulations.

We were never really worried.

No, nor was I.

Good going.

The sooner we catch up, the better.

Ah.

PETER: It's a date.

(Dawn speaking softly) Prime Minister.

Ah, Peter.

You're a member of government again?

I wasn't aware that I'd left it.

Oh, you would have done if they found you were lying.

PETER: Julia.

Minister.

Not really a question of lying.

Not you.

DAWN: Well, I can't say I understood every detail of the trial.

Sherlock Holmes says somewhere the mind's an attic.

Its walls are not elastic.

JULIA: Coffee, Minister?

No, thank you.

I have the feeling that you're, you're trying to tell me something, Prime Minister.

Correct.

A newspaper accused you of profiting from your time in government and lying about it.

You've been found innocent.

But my question is, is there anything else?

(chuckles mirthlessly): Is there anything else what?

Well, are there other scandals, potential scandals, we need to know about, Peter?

I, I did SVQ.

Oh, I know, but standard vetting isn't always enough in this age of the internet.

Kick a dog in the street and you can be sure some passerby has got a camera.

I don't kick dogs.

Then, what do they say?

"It's not the lie, it's the cover-up."

You keep using that word "lie."

I am asking you to shake all the skeletons out of your closet right now, and that way I can make an informed decision.

About what?

About your future.

(inhales): Dawn, there are two things I don't like about your question.

Sounds like we're digging in for a long answer.

First, it implies that there was ever anything in the first place.

DAWN: Oh, fair enough.

I do take that point.

And the second is that...

If you're asking me to trawl through my private life, that is something we really should be doing at ministerial level.

Well, victory in court certainly made you very hoity-toity.

What are you trying to say?

You don't want Julia in the room?

No, I'm just pointing out... Julia is my eyes and ears, you know that, Peter.

She has time to sweat about the little stuff-- I don't.

(chuckles): Oh, so I'm the little stuff now, am I?

No, but if you want to make an enemy of Julia... No-- oh, no, I absolutely don't.

I like Julia.

But as I say, there is a big difference between you and me, and Julia.

And what's that?

We're elected-- she's not.

The weird thing is, you paint me as this populist.

I have a lot more respect for the procedures than you do.

Ministers have the right to speak together without the presence of third parties.

I've got the code in the car, if you want to have a look.

I take it with me everywhere.

Julia's my gatekeeper.

I know that.

Nothing gets past Julia.

I know that, too.

Peter, your decision to sue for libel was risky-- worse than risky, it was foolhardy.

And I am not willing to have my government put in the dock again.

Me, neither.

So you're saying you're clean?

Squeaky.

And you'll never again resort to the law?

Never.

Good.

(lowers voice): Because I'm planning a reshuffle.

Oh, I didn't know.

Nobody does-- keep it that way.

When?

DAWN: As soon as we can.

And it suits my purpose to promote you.

To promote me?

Yes.

Oh, good, because...

I was, I was half-thinking that you might... Sack you?

What on Earth made you think that?

I've got you penciled in for a great office of state.

Well, I am, of course, delighted.

You can't say which?

Use your imagination.

You know as well as I do who's failing.

Let's just say not everyone's as versatile as you are, Peter.

(chuckles) That's it.

I've got the Chinese coming for dinner.

Well, thank you, Prime Minister.

(door opens) Oh, I know the way.

(door opens) ♪ ♪ Thank you very much!

DUNCAN: Thank you.

(reporters clamoring) Yes, I've got my car back.

And more important, I've got Sydney back.

Sir.

All's well with the world.

(car door shuts) ♪ ♪ (phones ringing, indistinct chatter) Come in.

Thank you.

You've met our proprietor?

(door shuts) Never.

Lady Roche is down from Scotland for the day.

So you're Charmian Pepper.

LAPIDUS: We're just congratulating you on a journalistic first.

We break records on this paper, and this is a record broken; surely the most disastrous lawsuit in our history.

Joe's been wonderful.

He couldn't have been more loyal.

He really stood by his writer.

At some cost.

I know it's bad.

Reputationally... Is that a word?

But it's not gonna mean hard cash, is it?

(sighs): Alisha?

Insurance companies are the same as everyone else.

They don't like paying.

CHARMIAN: But they have to pay, don't they?

I mean, insurance companies are in the business of risk.

Well, this lawsuit was always a risk.

LAPIDUS: How naive are you, Charmian?

I mean, did you just come up the Thames on a banana boat?

What is this, the 1950s?

Do you think my word is my bond?

I don't think I'm naive.

I can't believe you worked as a financial journalist.

Worked?

Charmian, you changed your story!

I know.

In court, under oath-- you changed your story!

I had no choice.

You claimed Peter Laurence was in Washington, DC, in January 2015, collecting fees he didn't report.

I know.

But he wasn't, was he?

Not according to his diary.

The diary had been altered.

Altered?

It'd been tampered with.

Well, then why didn't you say that in court?

Why didn't you say that?

Because I knew...

Knew what?

Because I knew it would sound feeble.

So it does.

And impossible to prove, given there was no sign of the alteration on the computer.

Yeah, bit of a can of worms, that, wasn't it?

I'd seen the physical diary.

So you keep saying.

I saw it!

I saw it myself with my own eyes!

I know he was there!

But you can't say when you saw the diary and you can't say where.

No, I can't.

No.

Come on, Joe, it would breach confidentiality.

Unfortunate, that, isn't it?

I didn't think yielding on that point would turn out to be crucial.

Yeah, well, it was.

"Reputationally," as you would say.

With respect, Joe, there's no point in going over this.

Our insurance was on the basis of what the defendant was going to say.

CHARMIAN: Sorry?

Is there a problem?

Are you saying that the insurance was conditional?

All insurance is conditional.

As soon as you altered your story, a new clause kicked in.

Are you saying because I changed my story, the paper's no longer indemnified?

LAPIDUS: When you arrived, I thought you were a shrewd appointment, Charmian.

I really did-- you were getting access.

Short skirts were a help, and like how every banker wanted to take you home.

Well, okay, maybe not home, but at least to a hotel.

Well that's another blow to the patriarchy, I guess.

I was wrong.

You just cost your employer one and a half million pounds.

And that, Charmian, is why we're letting you go.

In the circumstances.

♪ ♪ (door shuts) (applause) There they all are!

Gathered to strew rose petals in my path.

Thank you so much.

(all greeting) Thank you, thanks, Nick, thank you.

Wonderful news, Minister.

Congratulations-- everyone's delighted.

Thank you, Joy.

We didn't know if you'd be back tonight.

No, I think I'm going to go out and celebrate my victory, if that's all right.

Well, in that case...

In that case, this case.

Slight pile-up, I'm afraid.

It's all right, that's fine-- thanks, everyone.

You're, um, Peter Laurence, aren't you?

PETER: Uh, yes, I am.

WOMAN: Fantastic.

Congratulations.

Well, that's very kind, thank you.

MAN: Any chance of a selfie?

Yeah, sure.

Here, let me.

Uh, where do you want to do this?

Do it against, yeah... (chatter) PETER: Okay, all right.

You took it to the bastards, well done-- fake news!

Oh, I don't think they'll be trying that again.

(chuckles) (camera clicks) MAN: Ah, thank you.

PETER: All right?

Fantastic.

Yes, nice to meet you, take care.

All right, then, bye-bye.

He's wonderful, isn't he?

He is indeed.

(siren wailing in distance) So, Sydney, are we going through the usual rigmarole again?

I'm afraid so, sir.

Are you going to be doing any work?

Probably not.

In that case...

I know.

He'll take a taxi.

Thank you, sir.

All right.

Sir?

Can you advise?

In the morning, where do I pick you up?

(siren wailing) I'll call you.

(samba tune playing) PETER: Thanks very much.

(driver responds) Good night.

Thank you.

(song continues) (door opens) Hah, been a few years.

(kisses audibly) I've been waiting for you.

I saw the result on television.

(drops keys) Well, I've always said it, there are no victories in politics.

You just avoid setbacks.

And losing that case would have been worse than a setback; it would have been a rout.

I was nervous.

You were?

For me, really?

Just a little.

Yeah, so was I. I'd have been roadkill.

She'd have had me for dinner with red currant jelly.

Still, you saw off your enemies, you blew them against the wall.

There was some sort of technicality, have I got that right?

Uh, no, it wasn't a technicality: their case just fell apart.

It was actually sort of embarrassing.

The journalist changed her story.

Why was that?

Do you really want to go into this?

It's in the past.

They claimed you were on the way to privatizing the NHS.

Let's not say privatizing, let's say preserving.

Let's say giving it the future it deserves.

And she said there was a trail of shell companies and offshore funds.

I'm not sure any layman could possibly follow.

Oh, so now I'm a layman, am I?

Let's go to bed.

(sirens, traffic) CHARMIAN (voiceover): Hi, my name is Charmian, I'm an alcoholic.

OTHERS: Hi, Charmian.

Um... Today I was sacked from my job.

I always knew journalists were bastards, but... Not a single colleague stepped forward to say, "Sorry."

And I knew if I didn't make it to this evening's meeting, I was going to lose it.

I'd have had a bottle of white wine by now without even noticing.

I'd just have a nice buzz on, and be starting my second.

(inhales) The problem with getting sober for me is that I...

I only managed it a few months ago.

Well, 94 days.

(applause) And I've been expecting, like, a reward.

And I know it's bad luck, but at the same time, I happened to get into a lot of trouble with a very powerful man.

And he has been pursuing me with absolute determination.

To destroy me, to destroy my reputation, to destroy my livelihood, um... (inhales shallowly) (voice trembles): Sorry, um...

I'm not going to say any more.

I'm sorry, I didn't mean to upset you.

Forget about it.

We were both in the same courtroom this week.

On different sides.

I go to the meeting every night.

And everything that's said is completely confidential.

I know that.

If it wasn't a safe space, it would have no value at all.

It's not my usual meeting.

I wondered...

If you're just going home to an empty flat-- and it's none of my business if you are... None.

I wondered if you'd like to have a coffee with me.

For what it's worth, I...

I didn't think what happened today was fair.

You were working for Peter Laurence, so that's it.

I was on his team, yeah.

So, there's nothing more to say.

There's a lot more to say.

It's a bit late for coffee.

♪ ♪ (door shuts) I'm not going to turn on the lights.

It would suggest a level of confidence I don't have.

No, nor me.

♪ ♪ (door opens) I want to give you my news.

What news?

I told you I was up for a job in Austin.

Mm-hmm.

I got it.

In Texas?

Mm-hmm.

You gonna take it?

It's one of the greatest libraries in the world.

Tell me what you're thinking.

What am I thinking?

I'm thinking, "Wow."

"Wow" good or "wow" bad?

Both.

Just taking it in.

On one level, I am very happy for you.

And on another level?

It's not about me, is it?

We've always been free, both of us.

Congratulations.

And I went by Downing Street this afternoon.

Did you?

Why?

Same as you; new job.

What sort of job?

Well, Stinking Bishop has been making an absolute pig's ear out of being foreign secretary.

Well, that's wonderful.

Did Dawn say Foreign Office?

Not in so many words, but it was pretty obvious.

There's only four great offices of state: there's prime minister, chancellor, home secretary, foreign secretary.

And as Bishop's the only one making enemies and being generally incompetent, it's pretty clear where I'm headed.

I thought Dawn hated you.

No, she doesn't hate me.

She fears me, which is different.

Did you tell your wife?

No.

Your daughter?

(loud punk rock music playing) (indistinct chatter, music continues in background) (snorting) (inaudible) (camera clicking) (snorting) Lily, I think you should slow down.

I think I should speed up.

Morning.

Morning.

Morning, Peter.

Minister.

Joy.

You've obviously heard.

(Joy chuckles) How do you know everything before I do?

"A great office of state"-- Whitehall telegraph.

I will obviously be taking you with me.

I would love that, sir.

Duncan.

Minister.

Minister-- the diary.

What is it, sir?

You've got a, um...

I don't know what that is...

It doesn't matter.

I always keep another, a spare.

I'll change.

It's fine.

I know how much you... (sighs) Three young children, you know.

I remember.

She's getting worse.

Tell me about it.

You can't get rid of her.

Under any circumstances-- Joy knows everything.

You don't have to remind me.

She knows what you did.

What we did.

♪ ♪ (toilet flushes) Problem?

(exhales) (water running) You don't like working for him, don't you?

Why wouldn't I?

I don't know, he seems... picky.

He has standards.

Once you get to know him, Peter's the best.

Minister.

Yes.

Briefing for the electrification meeting, deficit funding paper.

Thank you.

Cycle paths, Network Rail recommendations, Gatwick Airport expansion...

Hold on, hold on, why, why am I doing this?

Road haulage meeting-- it's Cabinet today.

It's Thursday.

There is no Cabinet meeting.

Why not?

My information is it's been canceled.

Why?

Because as of this moment, there is no Cabinet.

So why hasn't she called me in?

There's a delay.

What sort of delay?

I think you'll find the prime minister is having a degree of difficulty imposing her will.

What the hell is this?

Just tell me.

Certain people who were meant to quit... aren't quitting.

Apparently, she's having a particular problem with Bishop.

Bishop!

But he's the one that everyone wants to get rid of.

He is the fatberg in the drain of government.

Why won't he go?

Bishop and Dawn had a meeting at breakfast.

He's pushing back.

Pushing back?

Yeah.

She told me I was going to be promoted.

Peter... You are going to be foreign secretary.

You know as well as anyone, it's like any reshuffle.

Pushback's always a part of it.

Pushing back with what?

What leverage does Bishop have, do we know?

It's something to do with a holiday.

Oh, no, not that!

A holiday Bishop took with Dawn.

Everybody knows about Mallorca!

That's been going round for years.

In Westminster, yes.

Well, some chatty waiters and dirty bedsheets, it's a lot of allegations and no proof.

We don't know.

That is ridiculous.

Keep out of it, Minister.

Play the long game.

(approaching footsteps) (door opens) His daughter's on drugs and she's not even trying to hide it.

And... She had sex with a couple of boys on the way out.

It's Lily Laurence-- you see right up her skirt.

I'm not sure.

(phones ringing) Hold on a minute.

That's Charmian.

Yeah, she's been in.

Well, I don't understand, I, I thought I let her go.

ALISHA: She's been seeing human resources.

Gender bias.

What the hell is that supposed to mean?

When you fired her, you said you'd employed her because you admired her short skirts.

That's not what I said.

You said something like it.

She's saying her dismissal is therefore inoperative.

She wants damages.

She wants a tribunal.

She was offended, Joe, and she had every right to be!

Rubbish, I know what I said.

Alisha, Charmian lost us 1.5 million through inaccurate reporting!

The wisest thing is to talk to her.

(exhales sharply) (phones ringing, indistinct chatter) (whispering) Here he is, coming.

Thanks.

Before you say anything... Oh, I've got a lot to say.

I'm sure.

Can I just say first that, contrary to everything you've been told, Peter Laurence was in Washington, DC, on the 13th of January 2015.

I can't believe this.

He was at a dodgy think tank called British-American, selling off the NHS.

According to you.

In spite of the fact that his wife is claiming that he was in New York with her, shopping.

And can I say something in return?

Go ahead.

Peter Laurence is a passionate fan of the free market.

You don't like him, Charmian.

I don't dislike him.

A man whose expertise is in, uh, retail, in property, isn't your type, I can understand that-- he wouldn't be a popular guest at a Hampstead dinner party.

I don't live in Hampstead.

But if you want to be a journalist, sorry, you've got to put personal prejudice aside.

Now, just because he's right-wing doesn't mean he's a criminal.

Joe, I'm going to need to be rehired.

Not forever.

Just for a few weeks.

I've taken legal advice.

I really want you to send me to Washington.

What, you're asking us to pay... Or would you prefer if I pursued compensation?

You wouldn't.

Are you sure, Joe?

You really think I wouldn't do it?

You mentioned weeks.

How many weeks?

Four.

Two.

I need to do more digging.

I believe I can access new sources, with a bit of luck.

I'll give you three-- bucket class?

Of course.

One way?

No, Joe, sorry, unfortunately not.

I took the liberty of buying myself a ticket.

I'm going to nail Peter Laurence once and for all.

You might even get your one-and-a-half back.

(phones ringing) KEANE: Remember, it's Parallax Policy.

Any drugs at all, and privileges will be revoked.

STORM: Right, everyone, out of your cells!

BRYONY: Drug search.

Everyone, out of your cells!

Off to the canteen!

Off to the canteen, ladies, thank you.

♪ ♪ (indistinct chatter) ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ Ma'am.

Bryony, pick it up, please!

♪ ♪ (door locking) (loud chatter) Where's the ice cream?

COOK: They've stopped all privileges.

Look don't mug me off, can you just get me some ice cream?

I said we ain't got none.

PRISONER: Look, that's all I'm eating, yeah?

Could you just please get me some ice cream?

I want some ice cream, okay?!

Why are you looking at me like that?!

(yelling): I want some ice cream!

(inmates whooping and laughing) ♪ ♪ Jamie, come on.

(loudly): All right!

That's enough!

Keep it down, please!

Orange soup?

It's a clam rissole.

Arugula wrap?

Seaweed with truffle shave?

♪ ♪ (kitchen din) All right?

(cell phone ringing) Margaret-- it is Margaret, isn't it?

Can we meet?

I'm in Birmingham.

I told you I had some important evidence, but if you're in Birmingham, forget it.

I was Peter Laurence's lawyer.

Why on Earth do you think I'd now want to convict him?

MARGARET (on phone): I did a gut check.

You looked much the most intelligent person in the court.

Does that mean that you were in court?

Did I see you?

Who are you, and what's your connection to this?

Peter Laurence likes to pretend he's unencumbered.

The bright fresh future, and nothing holding him back.

But he's got a past just like everyone else.

And his past is a bloody sight more sinister than yours or mine.

Look into it.

♪ ♪ (alarm blaring) (automatic announcement playing over speaker) All right, everyone, finish up!

We haven't had a half-hour.

Bang up!

Prison policy, Andrea-- we find drugs, we lock down.

You're moving back to your cell.

(drops fork loudly) (slams tray) Come on.

(slams tray) Andrea.

No, Andrea... (trays slamming faster) (trays slamming faster) (prisoners yelling) We need help, get to the... WOMAN (over radio): Alpha one to S.P., backup needed in the canteen.

(yelling, rioting) ♪ ♪ This looks bad.

(radios squawking) Steff, be careful, you got a short sentence and they'll make it longer.

And that should bother me why?

(rioting, alarm blaring) ♪ ♪ (sirens in distance, radios squawking) Okay, all good.

♪ ♪ (reporters clamoring, cameras clicking) REPORTER: Good luck, Peter!

(knock at door) Come.

Look, here it is.

Stanfield Titles.

He was managing director.

Oh, what's Stanfield Titles?

From his property days?

You said he'd have left something out of "Who's Who."

Oh, good, can you find out some more?

I'm on it-- ready for this?

Oh, locked and cocked.

Minister.

PETER: Julia.

Prime Minister.

Ah, good, Peter, excellent, thanks for coming in so quickly.

Happy to be here.

Well, I've had a complicated day, but at the end of it all, I've got good news, as promised.

I am delighted.

I'd like you to take over at the Ministry of Justice.

Justice?

Certainly.

I'm sick and tired of all that chopping and changing.

Do you know there's been six ministers in that department over the last four years?

Is that right?

Justice badly needs someone steady, someone competent, someone intellectually first-rate.

Well, that's very kind of you to put me in that category, Prime Minister.

Coming from you, that is high praise.

Well, thank you.

But surely you already have someone capable in that position, don't you?

Well, we did until a few hours ago.

Things have been moving at the speed of light.

You'll do it better.

The prime minister has great confidence in you.

Can I ask a question?

Oh, ask anything you like.

Does this mean that the foreign secretary's not moving?

No, unfortunately the foreign secretary is leaving government.

It's a shame to lose Bishop, but, uh, there we are.

If you remember, when we met-- we met yesterday... Oh, yes, Julia was with us.

You indicated that my move would be to a great office of state.

Well, there it is: Justice.

After all, you seem to enjoy the inside of a courtroom.

Now you have the chance to see many.

The great offices of state are normally defined as four.

Justice is not one of them.

Well, if it isn't, it ought to be.

Now, privatization is one of our flagship policies.

But in the case of prisons, it isn't working.

We need an exceptional minister to sort it out.

Yes, that's right.

Dawn, you know very well that I have just successfully cleared my reputation.

I had expected you to reward me.

I am rewarding you.

You've heard about the riots at Shephill?

Shephill, no.

We need someone to act decisively, we need someone to act fast, and that's why we've turned to you.

Oh, unless, of course, there's a reason why you shouldn't take on Justice... No reason.

No personal reason?

No, why do you ask?

Well, you're not pushing back, are you, Peter?

Would you prefer a time outside government?

They say, don't they, it gives one a greater freedom to speak one's mind.

No, I feel as if I have plenty of freedom inside government.

Good.

Then we have a deal.

Thank you, Prime Minister.

Not at all.

♪ ♪ Thank you.

Okay.

(reporters clamoring, cameras clicking) REPORTER 1: Are you going to be foreign secretary, Peter?

REPORTER 2: Any good news, Mr. Laurence?

♪ ♪ That was good fun.

(chuckles) Did you see his face when I said Justice?

(laughs) I don't know who your informant was and I don't want to know.

All I can say is, you made a prime minister very happy.

Good night.

Prime Minister.

♪ ♪ (buzzes apartment) (door buzzing) (breathing heavily) (shoes dropping) ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ (rioting, yelling, alarm blaring) (hits floor heavily) ♪ ♪ (phone vibrating) Charmian?

I'm back on, I'm going to Washington.

Thank you, Luke, thank you so much.

I'm happy.

And I know exactly how I'm gonna do it.

I'm going to get the bastard.

We need to get a move on.

If anyone finds out we've got these, we're gonna be injuncted.

The proprietor won't like it.

I'll take that risk.

Lady Roche doesn't like unpleasantness.

Then she shouldn't own a newspaper, should she?

Print.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ MICK (voiceover): You're not going to give us a scoop, then, Peter.

You're not going to tell us where you're going to be next.

I am not, Mick.

I'm going to leave that to the prime minister.

MICK: This is AllTalk Radio.

You've been listening to Peter Laurence and me, Mick "the Mouth" Murray.

Until tomorrow.

(theme music ends) Not happy?

Off the record...

I am angrier than I have ever been in my bloody life.

♪ ♪ DAWN: I know you, Peter-- you think you're too popular to be sacked.

I shall be happy to prove you wrong.

ROCHELLE: Whatever that is, I don't want it.

WOMAN: Do you know that Dad has a girlfriend, or do you simply not ask?

DUNCAN (on phone): Bad news-- you need to look at your phone.

I thought it was a battle; now it's a war.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ANNOUNCER: Go to our website, listen to our podcast, watch video, and more.

To order this program, visit ShopPBS.

"Masterpiece" is available on PBS Passport and on Amazon Prime Video.

♪ ♪