Page 216 of Murder in the Family

BILL SERAFINI

(holding up his hands)

OK, OK, let’s take a time-out here, shall we?

Mitch – I think you really need to level with us. For Maura’s sake, if no one else’s.

MITCHELL CLARKE

(taking a deep breath)

OK, OK.

Yes.

ALAN CANNING

Yes, as in youwereseeing her?

MITCHELL CLARKE

(swallows, then nods)

Yes. I was seeing her.

The camera is still on wide angle. Guy stares at him then drops his head and turns away. Mitch looks round at the rest of the team.

Look, I’m not proud of it, but you have to remember I was barely 21 myself back then. And she was a lot more sophisticated than I was—

(seeing their faces)

I didn’t mean by that – shit, this is coming out all wrong – I’m not blaming her, seriously – it’s all on me, Iknowthat. I just meant she came from a completely different background –Iwas the kid by the side of her.

But yes, I did know she was underage and I’m not trying to excuse that, but as forrape—

(turning to Hugo)

—that’snotwhat happened. I loved her. I’d never have forced her to do anything she didn’t want to do. If anything, she was the one that pushed that side of it.

Hugo doesn’t look convinced; the others clearly don’t know what to believe. Guy goes over to the window, one hand on the glass, his back to the rest of the room.

LAILA FURNESS

(gently)

Did she love you?

MITCHELL CLARKE

(shrugs)

I thought so.

HUGO FRASER

Just used you to get back at her mother, more like.

MITCHELL CLARKE

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