Episode 5 - The Soft Spot


‘Manners. I don’t care what you do with your life as long as you’ve got good manners.’

When Dunbar smartens up for a favourite client, Sarah accuses him of actually caring. Gulliver, however, is getting tougher, and fears he’s turning into his boss.

Dunbar doesn’t like many of his clients, but when prostitute Maggie Lancaster is brought in for assault and possession of an offensive weapon, he makes a special effort. The offensive weapon in question is a string of love beads that she slipped up a client’s bum as a treat, without realising he had severe haemorrhoids.

Maggie is keen to plead guilty and accept a fine, but Dunbar doesn’t think she should ‘fess up to a crime that, strictly speaking she didn’t really commit. Perhaps Dunbar isn’t quite as cynical as everyone supposes.

The long hours and middle of the night call-outs are starting to get to Gulliver, he’s desperate for some time off. To make matters worse, his client, 74 year old Tom Passmore, doesn’t seem able to tell Gulliver why he’s been brought in.

CS Ross offers some clarity: Tom called the police and told them that a black male broke into his flat and stole his mobile phone. However, after monitoring the CCTV cameras outside Tom’s flat, the police have seen no such activity. So, they are charging Tom with perverting the course of justice. Something which Tom can’t quite get his head around.

Gulliver’s patience is wearing thin and results in him losing his rag at Tom. Gulliver wonders whether he’s turning into Dunbar.