June 1941

Hastings. Evening

Corporal Jack Archer is sitting at the bar in the King's Head pub with Derek Woodgate, a civilian. He offers to get in another round of drinks, but his friend thinks it a bad idea. Archer says it's only nine-thirty, but Woodgate reminds him that he has to be up at six next morning. Archer sneers that in the shipyard Woodgate has only to sit around all day, so he has nothing to worry about. He signals to the bartender to refill the glasses, but the bartender also thinks it's a bad idea and tells him that it's time he was going.

Woodgate puts his hand on Archer's arm to draw him away from the bar, but Archer shrugs him off and says he's not like a girl who needs walking home. Woodgate takes his arm more firmly. The soldier stands and roughly pushes him away, asking loudly if the other man thinks he's scared of the dark. The bartender intervenes and warns that if he doesn't leave quietly, the police will be called. Archer shouts that he's not scared of them or of anything. Woodgate makes another attempt to usher him from the bar, but Archer suddenly pulls a Luger pistol and points it directly at his friend's head. "You know what it's like to be scared, Derek? You got a nice cushy number - shop steward. Suppose someone put a bullet right between your eyes?"

The bartender whispers to his barmaid to fetch a policeman. Startled, Woodgate asks Archer where he got the gun from and tries to persuade him to put it down. Archer lowers it, but still aims at his friend and tells him that he'll now know what it feels like to be scared. He begins to count down from ten.

Samantha Stewart has been watching the altercation from where she has been sitting with friends and now steps in. She explains that she is with the police, adding, when the bartender queries it, "Well, sort of." She tells Archer that she thinks he should put down the weapon, but he turns the gun towards her and challenges her to make him. She says nervously that he's not going to shoot anybody as they are all on the same side, so why not put down the gun and talk it through over another beer. She ignores an interruption from the bartender, who protests the idea of giving Archer any more to drink, and continues to persuade. Archer falters, saying that he just wanted to make a point. He allows Sam to take the pistol from his hand just as a police sergeant arrives. Sam's bravery is commented upon by the bartender as Archer is arrested and led away. She shrugs it off, saying that she thinks the soldier was just showing off and adds that the Luger probably isn't loaded anyway. She pulls the trigger and immediately blasts both her theory and a nearby wall light to smithereens.

***

Next morning

Assistant Commissioner Rose calls at the Hastings police station and says he is there to see Detective Chief Superintendent Foyle. Sergeant Rivers asks if he is expected and Rose replies that whether or not he is expected is irrelevant, he is to be shown to the DCS' office.

Rivers leads the way. He knocks on Foyle's door and Rose walks straight in before he can be announced, taking the DCS by surprise. Rose opens by saying that he hopes he is not interrupting and Foyle suggests that his boss could have chosen a better moment. Rose enquires if Foyle is busy and when Foyle indicates that he is, asks with what. Foyle explains that there is a group operating along the coast that is involved with stealing anything from tyres to steel and timber, and selling it on to private contractors. Rose considers it unimportant, commenting that the war effort won't be harmed by the loss of a few tyres, and he chuckles at the thought. Foyle politely disagrees, pointing out that Atlantic convoys suffered when shipyards couldn't patch up vessels when welding plates went missing and troop and supply trains couldn't run when there were no materials for basic repairs. He says that it might be petty crime, but it has a very significant effect of the war effort.

The AC shrugs off the reply by asking what Foyle is going to do about it. Foyle tells him that they have set up a company of builders' merchants operated by the department. "It's taken three months to do it…"

Rose cuts him short, saying that he can delegate as there is something else that has come up that he wants him to take charge of personally. He sits in front of Foyle's desk, takes a folder from his briefcase and puts it on the desk, asking if the DCS has heard of the People's Convention. Foyle sits in his chair and without picking up the folder, begins to say that he understands them to be left-wing intellectuals based in London, but Rose interrupts, saying they are just a group of communist agitators stirring up trouble by talking about people's government, people's peace and such like. "Dangerous fifth-column nonsense!"

Foyle comments that their activities are not illegal. Rose ignores him and instructs him to keep an eye on Raymond Carter, one of the leaders, who has booked into the Regency Hotel in Hastings with his fiancée. Foyle begins to explain that he does not have the time, but Rose again cuts him short and, with a smile, says, "I'm the one who decides what you do with your time. Carter's talking to trade-unionists, local counsellors… He's a bolshie firebrand. He could do untold damage, disrupting day-to-day work with his ideas."

When Foyle points out that he can't stop the man holding meetings, Rose looks impatient and tells him that he can arrest him on sedition if the need arises. Foyle replies, "I remember the need arising to arrest me on sedition not so very long ago."

Rose chuckles, saying that was a misunderstanding. Foyle is not amused and asks, "Isn't this?"

"That's what I want you to look into. Keep an eye on him, see who he meets - that sort of thing. Then you can report back."

"And, er, what do you suggest that I do with everything else?"

"This comes first."

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