Crossing The Line

THE BILL
Crossing The Line: Episode 029
Thursday 18 February 2010, 21.00 to 22.00, ITV1
Repeated on ITV3 on Monday 22 February at 23:00
*Sarah Manners first appearance as new regular, P.C. Kirsty Knight*

Sergeant Stone (Sam Callis) is on his way home from a night out with friends when he witnesses a man and woman, later identified as Clarinda Blake (Caroline O’Neill) and Tim Hardacre (Danny Midwinter), arguing down an alleyway.

When Tim starts to beat Clarinda, Stone rushes to her defence but Tim turns on him and gives him a severe beating while Clarinda flees. P.C.’s Roger Valentine (John Bowler) and Nate Roberts (Ben Richards) are called to the scene and are stunned to see Stone, covered in blood.

Clarinda is eventually traced and questioned by Sergeant Jo Masters (Sally Rogers), but she insists she was the victim of a random mugging and doesn’t want to make a statement, much to Jo’s frustration. After spending the night in hospital, Stone shocks everyone, including new recruit P.C. Kirsty Knight (Sarah Manners), by turning up for his shift, covered in bruises and dry blood.

Inspector Smith (Alex Walkinshaw) agrees to let him stay, on the grounds he stays within the station. Kirsty and Jo head to the pub that Clarinda owns and they meet Tim, who helps to run the bar and both officers notice he fits the description Stone gave of his attacker. The officers soon discover there has recently been a lot of tension between Clarinda and Tim and that petrol was poured through the letterbox the previous week...

Kirsty and P.C. Mel Ryder (Rhea Bailey) are tasked with bringing Tim to the station for questioning but when they arrive at his home, they find Clarinda’s teenage son Andy (Alfie Stewart) throwing a brick through his window.

At the station, Andy finally confesses that he’s been dealing weed for Tim and that it was one of Tim’s disgruntled dealers that put petrol through the door. When Clarinda discovered what was going on, she confronted Tim which resulted in the attack. Tim is later released, following a lack of evidence and Stone discreetly watches him leave the station.

Following him through the dark streets, Stone seizes his moment and savagely beats Tim in an alleyway. Officers are later called to the scene and all have their suspicions about who the attacker is. Jo is determined to do everything by the book and after giving the officers their orders, heads to Stones house to confront him...

THE BILL is a talkbackTHAMES production and a direct commission by ITV. This episode was written by Clive Dawson, directed by Declan O’Dwyer and produced by James Hall.