Episode 3

ALAN CUMMING: This is "Masterpiece Mystery."

SEAN: That's a hole, isn't it?

Like something's been driven through it.

CUMMING: Previously, on "Unforgotten": Yes, it's me.

LIZZIE: If you think I killed this boy, Ray, just say it.

KAREN: Slater was arrested following a fight outside a pub in Kentish Town.

(dishes clattering) LES: Dad!

This case is like trying to grab hold of fog.

KAREN: He rang her from the call box, JoJo.

It was one mistake.

He had his accident, so he wouldn't have been able to hurt anyone anymore anyway.

Looks like we've got another victim.

CUMMING: "Unforgotten," tonight, on "Mast (thunder claps) (whimpers) (click) ♪ ♪ ♪ All we do is hide away ♪ ♪ All we do is, all we do is ♪ ♪ Hide away ♪ ♪ All we do is lie in wait ♪ ♪ All we do is, all we do is lie in wait ♪ ♪ I've been upside down ♪ ♪ I don't wanna be the right way round ♪ ♪ Can't find paradise on the ground ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ You okay?

Fine.

Scared.

♪ ♪ (indistinct, excited chatter) (ABBA's "Dancing Queen" playing in the background) ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ (knock at door) (pounding on door) ♪ ♪ (knock at door) (pounding on door) ♪ ♪ Your taxi.

I'm so sorry, Sheila.

Thank you.

CURTIS: I know you're in there!

Ray!

Ray!

Sir Phillip-- Asil.

Your son sent me.

♪ ♪ Mr. Slater.

No, no, no, no, no-- you, you, you said you were coming tomorrow.

We need to do it now, I'm afraid.

What?

Well, it's their anniversary.

We were having...

Sorry.

♪ Friday night and the lights are low ♪ (laughter, excited chatter) ♪ Looking out for the place to go ♪ (shouting over music): Everyone, listen up, please!

Could you listen to me, please?

Can someone turn the music off, please?

(music stops) What on Earth is going on?

We'll speak to you in one second, Mr. Slater.

CASSIE: Okay, we have a warrant to search this property alongside the gardens and the out buildings.

So I'm afraid the party is over.

And with the exception of the immediate Slater family, we would like you to leave as quickly and as quietly as possible, please.

(moaning) (moaning continues) LIZZIE (on speakerphone): Hi, this is Lizzie.

Please leave a message.

(voicemail beeps) Hello, love.

It's me-- again.

Please call.

Even if it's just to say that you're safe.

I love you, babe.

Very much.

Okay, Mr. Slater.

So, earlier tonight... Am I under arrest?

No, you're not under arrest.

And you're free to leave any time you choose.

But we hope you'll want to help us with our investigation and... give us your side of things.

My, my side of what things?

I'm going to caution you, though, and tell you that you do not have to say anything, but it may harm your defense if you do not mention when questioned anything you later rely on in court.

Anything you do say may be given in evidence.

My side of what things?

As I was saying, earlier tonight... ...your son rang our station following a conversation he had this evening.

What?

He rang you from our party?

He did.

And I spoke to both him and your wife, and she confirmed what she had told your son, which is that she believes you buried a body in Woodland at the bottom of your garden some time in the late part of 1978.

(stuttering) That's just not true.

I, I mean, you must know she, she has no idea what she's saying.

You know, it's, it's not true.

(voice breaking): You must know that.

(sobbing) It's just not true.

LES: Yes, I pressed her-- of course I... Did repeatedly for specific detail.

She actually said... She actually said she saw him digging a hole in the copse in the middle of the night, and then he got something, stuck it down there.

"Something"?

It was probably a carpet, Matt.

'Cause that's what a sane man does in the middle of the night, isn't it?

You think she's sane?

LES: Well, according to you, mate, she's fine.

A little forgetful, but other than that, fine.

She actually said that she thought it was a body?

Yes, yes, she did.

MATT: And she waits 40 years to tell anyone?

Which is why when she did, I just thought I...

I had to call the police.

But I swear this-- I never meant...

I never meant for this on their anniversary.

They said they're taking them both to Ely.

I think one of us should go there, be there for them.

Fine, you go-- I'll, I'll wait here.

Matt, all I want is for me to be as wrong as I've ever been about anything.

I don't care if Mom and Dad never spoke to me ever again.

(voice shaking): I just want to be wrong.

(car doors shutting, engines starting) (people talking indistinctly) ♪ ♪ (camera clicking) (people talking indistinctly) (camera clicks) (lights buzzing) (radios squawking) ♪ ♪ (engine revving) (laughing): How many friends you have, man?

(laughing) Where is she?!

Ray.

Where have you taken her?

Where have I... My wife.

What have you done to her?

(groans) I don't know where your hating wife is, Ray.

Now piss off!

Before I bust you up proper.

(siren blaring in distance) ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ (birds chirping) (man shouting) Come on, hup, hup.

(radios squawking) (people talking, dog barking) Dog's been through the whole house three times.

There's nothing there.

(birds chirping) (tapping at door) (tapping continues) Coming.

(tapping continues) Hello?

SHEILA (through door): Oh, it's Sheila from the community center.

ELLIE: Oh, hi, Sheila.

Hang on.

Hi.

I'm so sorry to disturb you this early, Grace.

It's fine-- are you okay?

Do you want to come in?

Oh, no, no, no.

I'll be very quick.

I just thought you had a right to know.

I had to go down to the police station last night and tell them that it was Robert who stole the money from the community hall safe.

He admitted it to me yesterday.

And also that he'd been stealing from the church for quite some time.

And you.

He told me he'd stolen some of your jewelry.

Wouldn't tell me why.

(crying): Oh, he needs help, Grace.

He really does.

God bless.

(door closes) (train passing overhead) (coughing) ♪ ♪ (birds chirping) ♪ ♪ (door slams) ♪ ♪ (radio squawking) (talking softly) ♪ ♪ (sniffing) What do you got, Lulu?

Show me, then-- good girl.

(Lulu barking) What you got?

Okay, we've got something!

(Lulu barking) ♪ ♪ Steady, steady.

(continues barking) How sure?

If it were me, I'd dig.

(sighs) We need a tent down here, please!

(officers talking softly) Yeah, you need to get up here.

Well, thank you for taking time to speak to me.

GRACE (on phone): I know how... Don't be silly, Grace.

(sighs) I'm just... so sorry.

And I want you to know we're all thinking of you and praying for you.

All of you.

GRACE: Thank you, Geoff-- bye-bye.

Bye-bye, now.

They think he might've been stealing money for years.

Tens of thousands.

Spent on what?

Don't know.

Wasn't on us, though, was it?

(sighs) (clicks tongue) That was my grandmother's ring.

How can you know someone your whole life and then...?

How does this happen?

We found something!

♪ ♪ What is it?

Just there.

♪ ♪ Oh, no.

(birds chirping) (door opens) GEOFF: Robert.

Good morning.

(sighs) Morning, Geoff.

So... Grace rang me.

Sheila went round there this morning after she'd been to the police.

(softly): Okay.

So how should I do this?

You want me to speak to our mob first or... Well, we would, of course, love to know what you've been spending it all on.

But I think you owe it to Grace to tell her first.

I'll drive you around there if you like and then to the police.

(grunts) Well, for what it's worth, none of it was for me.

And I'll walk, thanks.

Robert.

Don't try and stop me, Geoff.

Please.

I may look old and doddery, but I could still snap you in two.

♪ ♪ (car doors opening, closing) ♪ ♪ (people talking indistinctly) That guy there.

I'm sure that's the guy.

♪ ♪ Hiya.

Are you one of the Slaters?

Is that a body, Les?

♪ ♪ (engine starts) Les, don't go away, talk to me.

(calling): Is there a body there, Les?

Are there any more?

♪ ♪ REPORTER (on computer): Police have confirmed that a 76-year-old man is being interviewed in connection with the murder of James Sullivan nearly 40 years ago.

Reports that further remains have been found near the suspect's house have not yet been confirmed.

(phone ringing) Sullivan, who was only 17 when he disappeared in... (phone ringing) Hello.

They've arrested someone, Dad.

BELLA (on phone): For James Sullivan's murder.

It's, it's on the news-- switch it on.

They've found another body in the back of his bloody garden, so Fenwick can send them the photos, but I don't think they're gonna be too interested now.

You're in the clear, Dad.

REPORTER (on TV): ...where his remains were recently found... BELLA: Dad, are you there?

I couldn't have left your mum on her own, Belle.

BELLA: Sorry?

I mean, I couldn't let Fenwick do that to her.

What have they done?

What did you tell the Turks to do?

I only spoke to them late last night.

They haven't done anything yet.

I'll just call them off now.

(phone clicks, dial tone buzzes) ♪ ♪ Ask him what his last hours were, will you?

My boy's.

CASSIE (on phone): If it is him...

I do want you to prepare yourself for the fact that he, he might not want to help us.

It, it sometimes goes like that.

But ask him.

And if he tells you, however bad it is, I want you to promise me you'll tell me what he says.

I will.

I promise.

However bad it is.

Can't be as bad as I've spent a lifetime imagining.

(birds chirping) (people talking indistinctly) RAY: Think, Curtis.

Where would she go?

If you were her, what would you do?

Did she ever talk about, you know, somewhere or someone, she felt safe with or... Ray, I'm not interested.

Okay?

♪ ♪ I'd never abandon you.

I won't abandon her.

And I hope you won't, either.

♪ ♪ (phone ringing in distance) CASSIE: And so, you have absolutely no idea how the body got there?

Well, of course, it's all I've been thinking about.

(scribbling) And?

No.

No idea.

ERIC: All I can think is, I got friendly with a lot of the residents of Arlingham House.

I, I stayed in touch with some of them.

And a few came to visit us over the years.

I took people on face value, DCI Stuart, and maybe, maybe I was naïve.

A lot of these people had very dark pasts.

So are you suggesting that maybe an ex-resident put the body there?

No, I'm, I'm just guessing.

Can you give me names?

Oh, no, I can never remember names.

I mean, maybe it wasn't, but, you know, it's, it's a remote spot.

I just know it wasn't me.

So, like you, I'm, I'm struggling.

SUNNY: Are you sure it was your husband, Claire?

Am I sure who was my husband?

You said you think you saw your husband putting a body into the ground.

Are you sure it was him?

When did I say that?

Why don't you just tell me who it is, Eric?

How can I tell you who it is if I didn't know he was down there?

I didn't say it was a man.

Oh, please.

It's a figure of speech.

I don't know anything about it.

Do you have any idea who the body is, Claire?

Is Carol coming?

No.

Carol's not coming.

Do you know who it is?

SOLICITOR: Do you know what, I think we should leave it there, don't you?

My client... (whimpers) (softly): Sometimes I have these... (crying): These memories are so clear.

Memories of what?

Memories of what, Claire?

(crying): I just want it all to end.

(crying) ♪ ♪ How can he still be out of signal?

I rang you half an hour ago.

Look, I don't care how you do it.

Just do it.

Just get someone to stop him.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ REPORTER (on radio): Police have now confirmed (louder): that a second body was found in the garden of the suspect, who has been identified only as a 73-year-old Cambridgeshire man.

James Sullivan, who went missing in... (seagulls cawing) (coins rattling) ♪ ♪ (doorbell rings) Lizzie?

(softly): Um... (sighs): When she took me to see "Hamlet," there were some people down by the theater who knew her.

People she gave money to.

Like, homeless people and that.

She knew their names, and some of them knew hers.

We'll need a photo.

♪ ♪ Brush.

♪ ♪ (scraping) ♪ ♪ (siren blaring in distance) Bye.

He fell asleep smoking, apparently.

♪ ♪ Bed caught fire.

Whole house went up.

Wouldn't have known a thing.

♪ ♪ KELLY: It's a misconception that plastic doesn't degrade.

It does, but not through bacteria.

Through light.

Luckily for us, there isn't a lot of light six feet under, which is why this little beauty could still probably buy your lunch.

Jeez!

CASSIE (voiceover): So, obviously, we can't confirm anything until we get a DNA match, but we have good reason to believe that the remains are those of Nicholas Howard Whitmore.

Last seen on December the 30th, 1978, at a Clash concert at the Lyceum in the West End.

At the time of his disappearance, he lived in, in Hammersmith and he was training to be a nurse.

Now, he disappeared about two-and-a-half years after Jimmy, but, crucially, at least two years after the Slaters moved into their house.

Can we assume that the body went in the ground close to the time of death?

We'll assume nothing yet.

Any obvious connections to Arlingham House or to Jimmy?

No, not yet.

But we've made preliminary contact with Nick's family, and I'll be able to speak to them properly later today.

Okay, Murray, the original investigation determined that the, the bank card was last used in a pub in Hampstead.

It was called the, the King George.

And that was on the 31st of December 1978, so in an ideal world, we'd need to place Eric Slater in or around that area on that same evening.

It's, it's a tough one, I know.

Got it.

Okay, Jake, where are you with Mackie?

Seeing him at 6:00.

And is there anything else coming through from the house?

No, no-- nothing more.

From the house, the gardens, or the copse.

Okay, that's good.

CASSIE: That's it for now.

Thank you, everyone.

Guv, surely we've got the wife saying she saw him put the body in the ground.

Actually, it's becoming clear that she has no idea what she saw.

And no jury would ever convict him on her testimony alone.

So... we need more.

The woman...

The girl, Joanna, that I had a relationship with.

(sighs) She got pregnant, and she said that it was by me.

So, obviously, I offered to pay for the termination.

And I thought she'd done what, what she wanted.

Two years later, she rang me and told me that actually she hadn't been able to go through with it.

(sighs) And she'd had the baby.

I was shocked.

And scared.

But I said I would support them, the baby.

And I did so until the child, Thea, was 18.

Thea's now 38, and she's made her way in life.

As her father, I've tried to help out as best I could.

Sometimes with emotional support.

Sometimes with money.

Not fortunes.

A hundred...

Occasionally a thousand.

But always with, with money I didn't have.

So I stole it.

I am now and always have been deeply ashamed by this.

I'm going to the police station now.

I'm not running from anything.

I just wanted to give you the facts.

Give you a chance to digest them.

(table bangs) (Caroline crying and yelling) (sobbing) (wailing) You bastard!

(sobbing) (continues sobbing) (continues sobbing) ♪ ♪ (talking indistinctly) (radios squawking) ♪ ♪ (talking indistinctly) ♪ ♪ (talking indistinctly) I took... only three, four... ♪ ♪ (traffic humming) CASSIE: I'd like to start, Eric, if you don't mind, by going back to Jimmy.

Of course.

And seeing if you can help me out with something that's been troubling me.

Well, if I can help, I will.

Okay, so, I, I now think that the assault on Paul West was actually nothing to do with football, but was, as his sister said, a homophobic attack.

I... Well, I must confess, I couldn't see a link between West's attack and Jimmy's murder.

I mean, Jimmy was... clearly in a long-term heterosexual relationship with Joanna Bridges.

Yes, JoJo.

Exactly.

Hm.

But what I didn't know, until earlier today, when a colleague of mine spoke to an old friend of Jimmy's from the hostel, was that when Jimmy first came to London, he was homeless and broke with no obvious way of making money.

That he did what a lot of young runaways did back then, which was to work as a male prostitute.

Now, in the months before he was killed, we know that Jimmy borrowed 50 pounds from a gang to pay for an abortion for JoJo, and that that money was then stolen.

So he, he desperately needed money.

Another 50 for the abortion and the original 50 to pay back to the gang.

Mm.

Now, he, he tried to sell a car, but like you said, everybody knew it was stolen.

Mm.

So, in his desperation to find the money, we think he went back to selling sex.

How awful.

And you found out about that.

No.

And because I think you had a violent hatred of homosexuals, at some point in July 1976, you murdered him and buried his body in the cellar of Arlingham House.

Absolutely not.

I had absolutely no idea about any of what you've just told me.

Well, that's interesting.

Because Jimmy's friend says not only did you pretty much know everything the residents were up to, but that you told him you'd seen Jimmy servicing a male client down an alley behind a Hampstead queer pub.

What friend?

A resident of Arlingham House called Alan Mackay.

Known as Mackie.

Oh.

(clearing throat): Never, never heard of him.

And listen, half that lot were drug addicts.

The, the rest were alcoholics.

Do you really trust what any of them have to say?

Well, these are the same people you say you invited to your house, Eric.

I don't think I've ever even been to Hampstead.

I had no idea Jimmy was doing what you were saying.

And what the hell this has to do with this other lad... Well, let me tell you.

Because today I've been talking with Nick Whitmore's sister and father.

And that was his name, by the way.

Here's the thing, Eric.

It turns out that Nick was gay.

That Nick often frequented gay bars and pubs and, in particular, a pub called the King George.

In Hampstead.

Like I just said, don't think I've ever been there.

Do you know when the cash dispenser was invented?

No.

1967.

First one ever used in the whole world was in Enfield, by Reg Varney.

Do you remember him-- "On the Buses"?

Vaguely.

So, by 1978, there were hundreds, all around the country.

And there was one at 364 Haverstock Hill, Hampstead.

About 20 yards from the King George.

You're one for keeping records, aren't you, Eric?

(papers rustling) Must be the... the bookkeeper in you, I suppose.

This is a copy of a document.

We found this in your, in your house earlier.

Can you tell me the date of this statement?

December 1978.

CASSIE: And, and look at the entry dated the 31st of December.

What does it detail?

ERIC: A cashpoint withdrawal.

Ten pounds.

And that number by the entry corresponds to a specific machine.

Do you know which one it is?

Well, we rang the bank and we asked them.

It's for a cashpoint on Haverstock Hill.

Number 364.

Right next to the pub.

So we can now place you within 20 yards of the last known whereabouts of Nicholas Whitmore.

So we now have a connection between his murder and Jimmy's.

On top of the numerous connections to you and Jimmy.

And of course, Nicholas's body was found in your garden.

The CPS are going to charge you, Eric, with both their murders.

Which means that now is the opportunity for you to think about the victims' families and tell us the truth about what actually happened.

♪ ♪ But I didn't do it.

♪ ♪ Eric Michael Slater, you are charged that on a date between the first of June 1976... (voiceover): and the first of January 1977 that you did unlawfully murder James Niall Sullivan contrary to common law.

You are also charged on the 31st of December 1978 that you did unlawfully murder Nicholas Howard Whitmore, contrary to common law.

(keys jingling) (cell door buzzing) Do you have anything to say?

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ JOSH: I just thought he was going to use them to scare Fenwick.

Josh... We'll be okay.

It's going to be okay.

He's paid for a man to be murdered, Bella.

Our father.

It's not ever gonna be okay.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ (speaks indistinctly) ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ (inhales) ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ (beeping) (buzzes, beeping stops) What is it?

DCI Stuart.

I need to tell her I didn't kill them.

But I know who did.

(traffic humming) Ah, Mrs. Slater.

If you'd like to follow me.

(radio squawking) (door opening) Mr. Slater?

Yeah.

Both of us.

We're her sons.

So I just wanted to tell you what's happening.

Your mother's being released now and has been bailed to return here in a month.

LES: Okay.

And so, has she been charged with anything or...?

No, not yet.

Right, I see.

And, my father, is, is he... What's happening there?

Your father went before a magistrate's court a couple of hours ago and was then transferred to Eastbridge Prison-- he's being held in remand after being charged with two murders.

No.

Has he confessed?

All I can tell you, I'm afraid.

(stammering): He... ...killed two people?

Like I said, that's all I know at the moment.

So I think what would be best is if you just took your mum home.

All right, Mrs. Slater?

Oh, Matthew, I've been so scared.

It's Les, Mum.

The car's outside.

KAREN: Mr. Slater?

In cases like this, it might be worth trying to find somewhere quiet for a few days to take everyone.

Till the papers and TV settle down a bit.

It's not... gonna be easy for you.

♪ ♪ ASIL (on phone): A witness saw our man's car leaving at 4:00 in the morning.

He drove there in his own car?

He says he parked half a mile away, but... Where is he now?

ASIL: He just rang me.

From the police station.

But it's fine.

If they do link the fire to him, he's not going to name anyone.

As long as we can look after his family.

He has a wife, two kids.

How much?

Two million.

And how much of that are you getting?

Or he just gives them your name and gets a reduced sentence.

I know people, Asil.

Only reason I didn't go to them to deal with Fenwick is because I thought the police was watching me.

But they're not watching me now.

♪ ♪ You knew what I was when you married me.

♪ ♪ In fact, you liked it.

(birds chirping) THEA: You should have called, Dad.

I would've come and picked you up.

No, it's all right.

Bus came almost immediately.

What did the police say?

Oh, they were very nice.

They said that if I offered to pay it all back, then I might escape a custodial sentence.

I might need a day or two.

Sort things out with Grace.

And the girls.

And the church.

Lots to sort out.

♪ ♪ CURTIS: Excuse me.

Sorry, have you seen this woman on the paper?

RAY: There's a number there, as well, mate.

If you see her, ring me, please.

Thanks very much... You're welcome.

Come on, mate.

We're both exhausted.

Let's go home and get some rest.

No, you can stop if you want to-- I'm staying.

Excuse me.

Sorry, have you seen this woman?

♪ ♪ CASSIE (voiceover): You still say you didn't kill them, but you know who did.

Yes.

And are you gonna tell us?

Yes.

I, I want to be moved to a prison near my boy, Leslie.

And I want a doctor.

I, I don't feel...

I don't feel well.

CASSIE: We can certainly look into all that, Eric.

But first we need a name.

What?

I'm sure you understand this.

It might look like you're just, you're just making things up, just... toying with us.

You, you get me what I've asked for and then I'll tell you.

(door opens inside) (people talking in background, cell doors buzzing in distance) (door closes) What do you think?

I think I was struggling very hard not to punch him in the face.

Except whatever name he gives us...

Which he won't.

Yeah, but it would be easy enough to discount very quickly so what's the point?

You said it.

He's yanking our chain.

Having a bit of fun.

He's had all this, this power for the last 40 years, this secret that only he's known.

And now, now it's all gone.

Now all he's got to look forward to is dying in some pissy prison cell... with East End Arthur to hold his hand.

I just... Last night, after we charged him, I sat in my office and I... Oh, I don't know.

It just felt wrong.

Of course it did.

We wanted him to admit it.

We wanted him to look us in the eye and tell us that our work had made it impossible for him to lie.

So we could go to Maureen Sullivan and tell her that he'd confessed.

Unfortunately, people like Eric Slater, they don't give a toss about stuff like that.

Yeah, I think you're right.

But let's just call his bluff anyway.

And then see what he says.

What do you think?

I reckon you're gonna do whatever you want to do.

(chuckles) We need to see the governor, please.

Thank you.

REPORTER (on TV): Police investigating the James Sullivan murder case have arrested and charged a man with two counts of murder.

The arrests took place... MATT: It's one of our rentals but it's vacant at the moment and it's in the middle of nowhere.

I'll text you the address.

Bring Mum, obviously.

(reporters shouting indistinctly outside) (banging on door) (reporters shouting) (birds squawking and chirping) (sniffing) (cries out) Oh, no.

♪ ♪ (people talking in background) She's in theater.

They're doing an emergency caesarean.

(breathless): Oh-- what is it?

What, what caused it?

Is it connected in any way to stress or perhaps...

They said not.

(breathing heavily) All right.

Can I wait with you?

If Mum comes out, I think you ought to wait in the café.

Of course.

(baby crying in distance) ♪ ♪ Excuse me-- a missing person.

If you see her, can you give us a call?

Yeah, yeah-- sure.

Hey.

Saw her yesterday.

Where?

Here.

Well... What, was she okay?

Was she?

I'm really sorry, mate.

Just tell me.

She jumped.

♪ ♪ What is it?

(exhales) RAY (murmurs): No.

(yelling): No!

(wind whipping) ♪ ♪ (people talking softly) Does she know about us?

Yes.

(baby crying in distance) And, you know, she's always wanted me to tell you about her.

And... How involved in, in her life were you?

How often did you... Do you see her?

Once a week.

Sometimes twice.

For nearly four decades you've seen this woman twice a week?

My daughter, yes.

That's more than you saw us.

Yes.

I wasn't as present for you as I should have been.

I completely accept that.

At some level...

I was also scared.

That if I got too close, you'd see me.

The real me.

And I was wrong.

And I'll regret the choices I made for the rest of my life.

(doors open) Baby's fine.

Oh, Mum!

(Grace chuckling) (laughing): Four pounds, one ounce.

Ah, Caroline's in recovery.

The baby's in the special care unit.

She'd like to see you.

Okay.

(chuckling) (baby crying in distance) We should be so happy, Robert.

Our first grandchild.

♪ ♪ (door closes inside) (Cassie clears throat) Ah, so... We can get you into a prison which is half an hour from your son's home.

It has a good psychiatric department where we can get you properly assessed, make sure you're getting the right help.

If you cooperate with us now.

If you start asking for other stuff, this dialogue ends, the process continues to trial, and... Trust me.

On the evidence we have, you will be convicted.

(papers rustling) So it is time to talk.

Do you wanna...?

(beeps) CASSIE: Resuming interview with Eric Slater.

Present: DCI Stuart, D.I.

Khan, Duty Solicitor Elise Hughes.

Time is... it's 10:17.

(pen clicks) (softly): It was Claire.

I'm sorry, can you say that again?

Because I didn't hear you.

I said it was Claire, my wife.

It was Claire.

ERIC: I met Claire at Hunter and Regis in, in 1969.

They, they made air conditioning units.

I worked in accounts and she was, she was in the typing pool.

I, I've never been very good with the ladies.

But I always felt very relaxed around her.

We found the same things funny.

Always had plenty to talk about, and one day, she just asked me out.

A bit unconventional, but I didn't mind.

Our first date was at the Locarno in Queen's Park.

We kissed outside and I bought us saveloy and chips from a takeaway in Townmead Road.

Yeah, we courted for a year or so and then got married before we moved to Dollis Hill, where I got the job at Arlingham House, which was-- which was round the corner.

1971, that was.

Yes, she, she wanted... kids, immediately.

Because, you know, we were neither of us spring chickens.

Which, I did, too, very much.

But there was a problem.

Which I think she always knew about in her heart and... hoped would change.

And I wanted it to change.

I wanted it to change, but it wouldn't.

I couldn't.

What problem?

I liked men.

I didn't want to.

I absolutely didn't want to.

Just how I was.

You liked men and women, or just...?

I loved my wife.

I mean, I still do.

Very much.

And obviously, I was able to... you know, we had two boys.

But right from when I was a kid, I just had this thing inside of me that made me... Want to be with men.

Men like Paul West?

I never wanted to hurt West.

He asked me to... rough him up a bit.

Some men seem to like that.

CASSIE: And Jimmy?

And Nicholas?

Well, Jimmy, he just wanted money.

Nicholas, I, I met in the pub.

And how did they die?

I, I would never have hurt Jimmy.

I loved him.

I'd never have hurt him.

(crying): I'm sorry.

I'm so sorry.

(sobbing) ELISE: I think we... might need five minutes.

Five minutes-- no more, please.

We're taking a short break in the interview.

Time is-- it's 10:41.

Would you...?

(clicks) (cell door buzzing) You gotta hand it to the man.

He is smart.

And if you're gonna blame somebody else, then choose a woman whose memory is completely shot and can't even deny it.

His face, though.

What?

It was the same as in his house when we asked him about Paul West.

And last night at the station when we said they were gonna charge him.

When he said it wasn't him.

And now I know why I felt so bad afterwards.

Why?

Because I believed him.

You call the station.

We need to re-arrest Claire Slater.

♪ ♪ KAREN (voiceover): Yeah, but, I, I thought the CPS said that we could...

SUNNY (on phone): Yeah, yeah, DFI.

Which one of the sons took her?

Um...

Uh, I'm not sure.

I'll, I'll call their homes.

Okay.

(hangs up phone) (quietly): Bollocks.

OFFICER: Mr. Wilton?

Yes.

Your wife was pulled out of the river.

A passerby jumped in.

She was unconscious when she came out and was taken immediately to St. Thomas's.

I'm afraid that's all I know.

(softly): Murray?

Have we got mobile numbers for the sons?

Don't know, maybe.

Why, are neither of them at the house?

No.

I'm not sure they will be for a few days.

I thought we were done with her, and I, I kind of told them they might want to lie low for a week or so.

(phones ringing) (clicks, beeps) ERIC: I, I'd stayed late to, to see him-- Jimmy.

Again.

And she must've just guessed.

I think she always knew when I was... Well, this, this one time, she, she came to find me.

And what you need to know is that she wasn't well mentally.

We'd just had Leslie, and ever since she'd been... Oh, well...

Very... very sick.

And, of course, in those days, the doctors, they, they just told you to pull yourself together.

You know, so, she never, never got any... any help.

And I never...

I never saw her coming down.

It was dark.

Well, she, she saw us.

She, she hit him with... with a hammer she'd found on a workbench.

Just once.

But I, I knew from the sound it made that... Ooh, and then she was screaming at me, calling me all the names under the sun.

I was trying to get my hand over her mouth to keep her quiet and by the time I'd sorted her out, Jimmy, well...

I, I think he was dead before he hit the floor.

So...

I locked the cellar, took Claire home, came back later.

Of course, I, I couldn't risk carrying him outside, so...

I buried him there later that night.

Will you tell his mother, please, that I said prayers... (sobbing) I said prayers for him.

I, I looked after him.

And of course, I, I assumed that, you know, we'd be caught.

He'd be found.

But he never was.

And, oh, that night.

I vowed to stop all of that for good.

And we moved up to Ely.

Yeah, to get away from London.

It worked.

Yes, it worked.

Yeah, two, two years later, we had little Matty, and it was all... You know, but it was the '70s.

There was no work, and...

I ended up having to get a job back in London, two days a week in Camden.

And I started to... stay out late again.

So one night, she left the kids with a friend, came down to London, followed me... (clears throat) From work up to Hampstead and found me with Nicholas in my car.

Of course, she went for him.

Pulled him out, punching...

Kicking and then he was on the ground...

Blood everywhere.

She, she always said that it was him who'd drawn it.

The, the knife.

But she was... Ill.

Very ill again after, after Matty.

So, I...

I pulled him back, back into the car.

(sighs) I, I want you to know that I stood outside police stations dozens of times.

Dozens of times after Jimmy.

And... What did she feel?

Well, when she got better, of course, she was devastated by what she'd done.

But, you know, we had a little boy.

I mean, if we'd both gone to prison... And after Nicholas Whitmore?

I, I drove my car into a tree two weeks after Nicholas.

I wanted to die.

But actually, in the end, I think...

This, this... was a fairer punishment.

I'm sure Jimmy and Nicholas's families... wouldn't agree.

♪ ♪ (door opens) ♪ ♪ I've already made calls, Joshie.

The police are coming in to arrest you in five minutes.

They've already pulled up down the road.

What do you mean coming in to... Why are police coming to arrest me?

(quietly): Because I told them about Fenwick.

'Cause I think you've lost your way, Dad.

I think we all have.

(voice shaking): And because I love you.

♪ ♪ Goodnight, Mum.

♪ ♪ (car approaching) ♪ ♪ (engine revs) ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ (weeping): I'm so sorry I ran off.

Don't you say another word.

Not one word.

It's me who should be apologizing.

(crying): It's me.

(sobbing) ♪ ♪ (buzzing, door opens inside) SUNNY (voiceover): Uh-huh.

What?

Oh...

Okay, cheers.

Thanks.

Nobody has any idea where Claire or her sons are.

They've disappeared.

♪ ♪ (birds squawking) (crying) ELLIE: Oh, Caz...

He's gorgeous.

You can't call him Noah.

(phone ringing) Sorry.

(phone ringing) Hello, Ellie speaking.

Hello?

THEA (on phone): Hi, Ellie, you don't know me.

My name's Thea.

I'm your half-sister.

(traffic humming) ELISE (voiceover): And how bad is it?

I spoke to her GP earlier.

I mean, obviously we'd have to get our own assessment done, but, yeah it's, it's fairly advanced.

She first presented four years ago, but the decline in the last few months has been particularly rapid, apparently.

ELISE: Right.

Well, you know what I'm going to say.

Could she properly remember what she's been accused of?

Could she tell her solicitor her side of things?

Could she challenge what witnesses say in court?

And, if she can't do any of those things, she's unfit to plead.

Okay, so... Well, there are a number of questions here.

I mean, if he's worked all this out, why would he not say it was her?

Assisting an offender carries a maximum sentence of ten years.

Now, given his age he might get, I don't know, eight, out in four.

For double murder, he's gonna die in prison.

Yeah.

What's your gut feeling?

That all of it is true.

To admit what he did, my feeling is that, that was actually harder for him than saying he killed them.

Which might sound unbelievable, until you think that for the first 30 years of his life, what he was, what he did was illegal, and utterly disgusting to 99% of the population.

I think that shame absolutely remains.

Then why did he admit it, then?

Because in the end, he knew that his boys were gonna lose their, their mother pretty soon, anyway.

I mean, already had to a degree.

So telling us what he did, I think his reasoning was that that meant at least they didn't lose both.

And is there any evidence to corroborate his version?

I think we'll find evidence that he had multiple homosexual relationships.

We might find medical records confirming she had some form of post-partum psychosis.

Maybe even we'll be able to place her at the hostel on the, on the night Jimmy died.

And then if we do, then his narrative is better than ours.

(knock at door, door opens) We've got a mobile number for Matthew Slater's work.

No answer from him yet, but his work have told us where he is.

Local police are on their way.

CASSIE: Okay, thank you.

♪ ♪ You really are evil, aren't you?

Matthew.

How could you have watched your husband put a body in the ground and not said anything?

What body?

What are you talking about?

How could that ever have seemed an acceptable thing to do?

Matthew, you're scaring me.

Good!

I wonder if you feel as scared as your grandson was yesterday.

Or as I did when I watched the news and realized that this is who we are now!

(whimpers) (sirens blaring in distance) (sirens blaring) (keys clatter on table) (music playing in next room) Ooh!

Sorry.

Ooh, sorry.

No, no, I'll, I'll... (music continues playing) (music playing on headphones) Hey.

I just walked in on your granddad.

Oh, right, with Annie.

(mumbling): But... a little old lady.

(softly): Yeah, she works at the Feathers.

(door closes) Sorry about that.

No, no, no-- it's fine, you know.

I shouldn't have barged in.

No, no, it's your house.

No, but you know, I should've knocked or...

Anyway, I'm bushed, so... Sure, no problem.

I'm gonna turn in.

Yeah.

'Night.

'Night, then.

(whispering): That went well.

Class.

(sighs) You have absolutely no proof my client was connected to these events in any way.

And if either of you have kids, I don't need to tell you just how many reasons there could be for Josh saying what he did without any connection to the truth whatsoever.

Which is all well and good, Mr. Archer, but doesn't really answer my question.

Did you pay to have Gordon Fenwick murdered, Sir Phillip?

MARCUS: If you have no further questions, I think we'll be on our way.

They got nothing to hold you here, Sir Phillip.

Let's go.

(hoarsely): Yes.

I'm, I'm sorry?

Sir Philip.

Yes.

I paid for Gordon Fenwick to be killed.

♪ ♪ (birds chirping) ♪ ♪ Early?

Listen, um... Last night...

Please, there's no need.

No, I just wanted to say that...

I'm trying to look forward, Cass.

I'm just... Life goes on, doesn't it?

And just live your life for you, Dad.

Just, just do what makes you happy.

Please.

Please, please.

♪ ♪ (people talking in background) (sighs) Hey there, miss.

Hello, sweetheart.

How lovely to see you again.

(sighs) ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ELISE (voiceover): Well, if you could conclusively prove she did it, then a judge and a jury could hear the prosecution evidence despite her being unfit to plead.

Except they can't convict her.

ELISE: No.

But the court is at least acknowledging the facts, which might be better for Jimmy and Nicholas's family.

And what happens to her?

Well, she'd just get a supervision order.

Which is what she'd get if it didn't go to court.

Right, so she causes the death of two people, all the pain those two families have been through, and then sees out her days in a care home.

CASSIE: Do you recognize him, Claire?

No, I don't think so.

Sorry.

(breathing heavily) You don't remember hurting him?

No, I don't-- I'm trying.

It was in the cellar of Arlingham House.

July 1976.

You went to find your husband.

What?

(voice breaking): I don't know.

CASSIE: You remembered something?

(voice shaking): Maybe I remember this boy.

Maybe...

I don't know.

(sighs) Do you remember... being unwell after your children were born, Claire?

Maybe, I don't know.

Do you remember that your husband liked men?

(whimpers) Was it to do with that?

You know what, I'm really not happy with this.

We need to stop.

CLAIRE (weeping): I'm so sorry if I hurt anyone.

(sniffles) If I could remember, I'd tell you.

But I can't, I'm sorry.

(weeping) ♪ ♪ (people talking in background) ♪ ♪ (door closes) How is it I feel sorry for her?

♪ ♪ (birds chirping) (tapping) ♪ ♪ Hi, Maureen.

Can I come in?

♪ ♪ (birds chirping) (trunk opening) LES: Hi.

(trunk closes) ♪ ♪ (traffic humming) ♪ ♪ (seagulls squawking) So what I wanted to tell you, Grace, was... Actually, Dad... Robert.

He very much wanted to tell you about me.

In fact, from the moment he found out, when I was about 18 months old.

He desperately wanted to admit his mistake to you.

But my mother, she... Well, she was scared she would lose me somehow.

So she told him that if he ever did tell you, he would never see me again.

So he chose to live this terrible lie so he could be there for you and for me.

And be the best father he could to all of us.

But him not telling you... Well, that came from a place of love and decency.

And I just hope that some day you'll be able to forgive him for it.

PHILLIP: Every time I turn a corner, I meet someone from the old days.

Like a school reunion.

BELLA: And next week?

How are you feeling about the trial?

Next week's just a bit of theater, isn't it?

It's the last two months that have really mattered.

Thinking time.

All I ever wanted... was for my children to be better than me.

The start I had, the things I was taught, things I did... ...back then.

Everything I've ever achieved since, beneath the ambition, the money, and the vanity, it was all really to buy you your escape.

From me.

What I was.

I'm so proud of you.

Both of you.

Of what you did for me and what you are.

♪ ♪ All your visits, Mr. Slater.

Your mother's a very lucky woman.

No, no, I'm the lucky one.

(door opens) ♪ ♪ Me again.

ERIC: Does she ever mention me?

She can hardly speak now, Dad.

She... she doesn't-- she doesn't know me.

LES: Or Matt.

Matt sees her, does he?

♪ ♪ ERIC (voiceover): I mean, I know he already knows, but I'd always love to see him.

Tell him again.

I'm so sorry.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ (players chatting, laughing) (chatting stops) How comes you always walk in when Baz has got his shorts off, miss?

Timing, Curtis.

Good timing.

(laughing) Move, please.

(applause) ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ (bell tolling) ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ (whistle blowing) ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ (door opens) (car doors close) ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ (click) ALAN CUMMING: On "Masterpiece Mystery!"

CASSIE: David Walker was last seen May 1990.

His remains were found in a river.

ANDREWS: Multiple suspects.

Possible multiple assaults on children.

Well, I know you'll be aware of how carefully we need to tread here.

Surely it's time to tell the truth.

PAUL: You are beginning to scare me.

Zoe?

CASSIE: If I'm right, there are going to be more bodies.

CUMMING: "Unforgotten" on "Masterpiece Mystery!"

Next time.

♪ ♪ CUMMING: Go to the "Masterpiece" website, listen to our podcast, watch video, and more.

To order this program on Blu-ray or DVD, visit shopPBS.org or call us at 1-800-PLAY-PBS.