(Crowd cheers)
(Firework whistles and bangs)
- Eh, we showed them, eh, Petra? - Didn't we just?
People that live round here are just as good as anyone else.
- They're better. - Anyone asks me where I'm from,
I shan't just say Dewsbury, I shall say Moorside Estate, Dewsbury.
- Come here, Kinchie. Let's have a picture. - Oh, aye.
JULIE: You all right? Gotta go.
Cheers.
So where did they find her, Kinchie?
- I can't discuss operational matters. - Operational, my arse!
- There's rumours flying around. - I don't doubt it.
Like she were at Craig's uncle's.
- No comment. - So it's true.
Julie!
We're all gonna know soon enough anyway, Kinchie. Who is he, this uncle?
- Mick Donovan, they call him. - What's the story?
- How come she were with him? - Homicide Team are still trying to ascertain that.
They've just been made aware of his existence.
They discovered he's not been in touch with any of Shannon's family since she disappeared.
That's a bit bloody weird.
Hm.
- Here we go, then. Pop. Pop. - Thanks, Mum.
- (Children chatter) - Have you just made that one up?
- Here you are, love. Right. Come on. - All right?
- All right. - (Child squeals)
- Are you not coming down? - No, I'm not. I'm looking after this lot.
Bring 'em down. Everyone else has took their kids. There's a massive party.
Yay!
Yeah, well, I'm not sure there should be a party.
What do you mean?
- Come in here. - Elephant!
- No! - Elephants aren't black and white.
I mean, till we find out what's gone on.
- All this stuff about Shannon at her uncle's. - What's it matter? She's safe.
We deserve this.
And what about Karen's reaction when they told her they'd found her?
Did you see her face? There were hardly any emotion.
She was shocked. How's she supposed to react?
- I'd have screamed at 'em to let me see her. - Karen's different.
- I just think it's a bit premature to be partying. - Yeah, well, bollocks to you, then!
(Door slams)
You haven't asked how Shannon is.
- How is she? - We don't really know.
We're still trying to coax out her account of what happened.
You haven't asked where we found her.
Where did you find her?
She was being hidden under a divan bed in the bedroom of a flat in Batley Carr.
- There was a man hiding with her. - Was there?
By the name of Michael Donovan.
Do you know him?
Nope. Never even heard of him.
(Reporters clamour)
(Applause)
(Clamouring)
(Crowd cheer and whistle)
- Karen. - Hey, Julie.
- Didn't I say we'd get her back? - Yeah, you did.
You all right?
Let me through. Karen?
Natalie.
We're going in. Hate this lot gawping at us.
- So, how is Shannon? - Yeah, she's fine.
- When's she home? We're dying to see her. - Police haven't said.
- You must be desperate to have her back. - Yeah, desperate.
- We both are. - What's this about her being with your uncle?
- I don't know owt about it. - Me neither.
- Hasn't Shannon said? - Dunno. Still not letting me talk to her.
- Someone said he were called Mick Donovan. - Dunno.
Summat about he had his kids took off him. Was accused of abducting 'em.
Bollocks. He didn't abduct 'em. He just took 'em to Blackpool.
- Do you know him, Karen? - No, I never met him.
You have. You were at my dad's funeral and so were he.
- I don't remember. - That's funny. At t'piss-up afterwards,
- you were sat on his knee. - You what?
- I never were. - I saw you and I weren't t'only one.
- I don't remember sitting on no one's knee. - How can you not remember that?
- I just don't. - Come on, Karen.
- Can we just drop all this? It's doing my head in. - Karen, come on. Don't upset yourself.
We're missing the point, aren't we? The point is we found Shannon.
- She's safe and she'll be back home soon. - We should do summat to celebrate.
- Bring it on. - I've got it. A tree for Shannon.
- Bloody mint idea, Julie. - Thanks, Julie. I love you.
(VCR whirs)
DETECTIVE: Right, Michael. Can we go through this again, please?
What exactly did Karen ask you to do?
She said I were to look after Shannon and then she'd report her missing.
She actually said that to you, that she'd report her missing?
- Even though she knew she was with you? - Yeah.
- Well, what did you say to that? - I said I weren't happy about it.
And what did she say when you told her that?
She said that if I didn't do it, she'd get three lads on to me.
- Three lads? - And she said there'd be money in it for me.
She actually said you'd get some money?
She said I had to do what she said and if I told anyone I'd be dead.
So now you're saying she threatened you'd be killed?
By these same three lads?
Karen Matthews making death threats. Does that ring true to you?
What did she actually tell you to do with Shannon?
- I'm cold. - You've said that, Michael.
That's why we've given you a blanket.
Donovan's neighbours had heard kiddies' footsteps in the flat when he was out.
So the coppers knock. No answer.
They break in. It's all dead quiet.
They're beginning to think they've drawn a blank.
Next thing, one of 'em hears Shannon's voice.
"You're frightening me now."
They go in the bedroom. No sign of anyone.
They start poking around and there she is -
hidden in the base of a divan bed.
- And Donovan's hiding with her. - Is she all right?
The neighbour said she saw a copper carrying her out a couple of minutes later
cradled in his arms.
Said she looked scared for her life. That's all I know.
How about that?
- Oh, that's pathetic. - It'll grow. Trees grow.
This is a massive event. We want to make a massive gesture.
I'll get a massive bollocking if I try and put that through on expenses.
Magnolia Stellata. Ideal for the smaller garden. There you are.
Here, grab it.
- Bloody hell, Julie. - Size ain't important.
- I've never heard you say that before! - Me neither, Julie.
- So when's the ceremony? - Tonight. It's gonna be mega.
They're taking us to t'police station.
- What? To see Shannon? - Yeah. Probably.
How long will you be? We've got the tree for Shannon tonight.
- Sorry, I can't say. - OK. Well, we'll postpone if we have to.
- Who's got the kids? - Craig's mum.
- Give Shannon our love. - Yeah, we'll give her your love.
- They're taking Karen to see Shannon. - Hm.
If I were t'police, I'd want to ask 'em some questions too.
Why?
I dunno, Julie. But summat's not right here.
- If owt's wrong, police'll get to t'bottom of it. - You reckon?
They're not letting me see her. Don't even know why you brought us here.
Cos it's like a bloody circus at your house. We can't talk to you properly.
- What's there to talk about? - Michael Donovan for one.
I've told you. I've never even met him.
Even though a number of witnesses claim they saw you sitting on his knee
- at Craig's dad's funeral? - I'd remember, if I'd sat on his knee.
- You'd think so. - I wouldn't sit on someone's knee
when I'm wi' Craig, especially a bloke like Mick Donovan.
So you do know him?
You must have been surprised when you heard where Shannon had been found.
Yeah, I were, dead surprised.
Did you ever think to yourself that your Uncle Mick might have her?
No, I didn't.
You didn't wonder why he'd not been in touch to ask after Shannon?
- I had other things to think about. - Hm. Yeah, of course.
Has he been in touch with any other members of the family over the last three weeks?
No.
- Has he been in touch with Karen? - Karen says she doesn't know him.
Is that true?
I dunno.
Did you have any idea that Donovan intended to take Shannon?
- No, I didn't. - Did Karen?
How could she if she doesn't know him?
How do you get on with Shannon and Karen's other children?
- You've asked me that before. - Well, I'm asking you again.
I get on great.
I'm a top stepdad.
We've charged Mick Donovan with Shannon's abduction.
- Well, that's it, then. - But he's telling us you were in on it with him.
- How? - He's saying the two of you planned it.
That you agreed he'd pick up Shannon from school,
keep her at his flat and split the reward money.
Well, he's lying then, in't he?
I weren't even in on it. Didn't even know where he lived nor nowt.
But earlier, you said you didn't even know Donovan. Now you've admitted you do.
- Had you a thing going with Mick Donovan? - No.
Come on, Karen. Have you shagged him?
No, I bloody haven't!
JOURNALIST: Karen, love, any chance of a quick picture?
What about a few minutes, then?
FEMALE JOURNALIST: Can I get a quick picture on the steps?
- You all right, Natalie? - Yeah.
Just helping out with Karen's kids.
How come they've not brought Shannon back?
Sorry, I can't talk about that.
I don't get it.
Well, to be honest, there's a lot we don't get too.
Look, I know you're Karen's mate but if there's ever anything you think we should know...
Yeah, well, like you say, she's my mate.
And you're loyal to your mates, I'm sure.
But I'm sure you want the truth as much as we do.
Yeah, right.
- Are they back? - Yeah.
- How's Shannon? - They haven't got her.
You what?
I don't get it. Why won't they let her back?
- They wouldn't tell us. - Well, that's fucking ridiculous!
- Unless police aren't happy wi' something. - What you talking about?
- How were Shannon, anyway? - We didn't see her.
- Jesus, why not? - They said it were procedure.
- Procedure? - She's your child. You can insist.
I daren't, Julie.
So what you been doing all this time if you haven't seen her?
- They've been mithering us wi' questions. - What questions?
- About Mick Donovan. - I thought you said you didn't know him.
I must have met him at t'funeral but I didn't know his name.
- You sat on his knee. - Will you stop going on?
- What were you doing it for? - Get off!
- Well, you embarrassed him. - I dunno. I were probably pissed.
It's always the same. It's always me people take it out on.
I get bullied and pushed around and I'm sick of it.
Move. Move!
But you've told t'truth, haven't you?
- You wouldn't lie to t'police? - No.
- Or to us? - Of course not, Julie.
I'd never lie to you. You're my best friend.
Then it'll all be all right.
We'll have Shannon home, back before you know it.
In t'meantime, we've got the tree for Shannon to look forward to.
Thanks, Julie. I don't know what I'd do wi' out you.
(Sniffs)
OK, everyone.
We're gathered here for a very special occasion.
It's an event that is many things.
It's a celebration that Shannon's been found.
Of the magnificent way this community has come together
to love and support Karen and her family through their terrible ordeal.
We're now gonna plant this tree as an act of thanksgiving
and a symbol of what's happened here for years to come.
Julie.
Here you are, Karen.
(Cheering)
♪ Kumbayah, my Lord, kumbayah
- ♪ Kumbayah, my Lord - That's Julie's trademark - balloons.
♪ Kumbayah, my Lord, kumbayah
♪ Oh, Lord, kumbayah
- How come the police don't let Shannon home? - I don't know.
They can't still be talking to her about what happened.
- Yeah, there must be summat else. - Like what?
Why assume it's some sinister reason?
We're only asking what a lot of people are asking.
- Well, they can ask all they bloody like! - No need to get narky.
- I'm not. - You are, Mum.
It's us that's backed you up right through all this.
Even though you've hardly done owt for us ever since it all kicked off.
- You what? That's bloody cobblers. - It's true.
It's been Shannon, Shannon, Shannon ever since it all kicked off.
- We've hardly seen you. - You're seeing me now.
But why are you still so obsessed with her?
You'll understand when you have kiddies.
Oh, now what's gone off? Here. Hold them.
Bloody hell! That's what I mean.
Sod off!
(Gasps for breath)
- Craig's been arrested. - What for?
Porn.
- What do you mean, porn? - They've found porn on his computer.
What kind of porn?
- Karen? - I don't know. They've not told me owt.
I'm afraid I can't talk about the reasons for his arrest
but the thing is, Karen's due to have her first proper contact with Shannon today.
Oh. I didn't know.
They told me not to tell anyone.
Obviously, it's difficult timing but we don't want to let Shannon down.
We need someone to look after her other kids.
- Well, I can do that. - And I'll help out an' all.
Karen.
Thanks, Julie. You're always there for me.
It's all right, love. Don't worry. The kids'll be fine wi' us.
Thanks a lot, yeah.
People don't get arrested for porn.
- They do if it's kiddy porn. - Do you think that's what it is?
It's got to be.
Do you really think he's a paedo?
If he's even looking at kiddy porn, he's a paedo in my book.
You can't tell, can you?
Can't tell what?
If someone's a paedo just by looking at 'em.
Yeah, well, you can't tell who their victims are either.
No, but... Well, sometimes you look at someone and...
...you wonder.
Yeah, maybe.
Maybe so.
Who were it?
Baby-sitter... when I were six.
What happened?
Sexually assaulted me.
Just remember my brother and sister battering on t'door, wondering what were going on.
Jesus, Natalie. I'm sorry.
It was a long time ago. You try and move on.
Yeah, you do, don't you?
What, you too?
My dad. All through my childhood.
For better or worse, I said nowt.
And years later he remarried, a lass wi' kids.
I looked at those kids at the wedding reception and I thought...
"You can't risk them going through what you did." So I went to t'police.
- Bloody hell. - He got eight years.
Brave or what?
No, not brave.
Just wanted to try and protect them kiddies.
(Mobile rings)
Hello?
Speaking.
What, she wants me there?
Yeah. Yeah. I can do that.
But why?
OK. What about this orange one?
You put that on.
I've already given 'em a proper dinner. They don't need crap.
What's all this about?
- We can't say till Karen arrives. - I weren't born yesterday.
- I can see what's coming. - Karen has to be told first.
(Door opens)
- Hey, Julie. - Hey, Karen, love.
- Hiya, darlings. - Hi.
What's happening, then?
Shall we move through here?
What for?
Just do as she asks, Karen, love. Come on.
- What's going on? JULIE: It's all right.
Go in here.
Take a seat.
Come and sit down here, love.
Karen...
we're going to have to ask you to give up your children.
What do you mean, "Give 'em up"?
Craig's been charged with possessing child pornography.
I've already explained that to Karen.
In the light of that, we feel it's in the children's best interests
if we look after them while Craig goes through his court case.
- You're not having my kids. - For their protection.
- But Craig's been arrested, not me. - Hostility towards him on the estate
might easily turn towards you.
- We cannot risk the children being exposed. - No. You're not having 'em.
- Hopefully, this is just a temporary measure. - No, you're not taking 'em!
Love, if you don't give 'em up voluntarily, they'll take 'em anyway.
- I can't give 'em up, Julie! - Listen to me.
If you don't agree, you'll never get 'em back.
Let 'em go and you have a chance.
But they're my babies.
I know, love. I know.
Please.
Can they not at least go and live with you, Julie?
I'd love that but they'd never agree.
If you'd like to go back in and say goodbye to them now.
- Oh, no! - Come on, Karen, love.
- No, I don't want to leave my babies. - They'll be OK.
No, I can't.
- Come on, Karen, love. - No, I don't want to leave my babies!
- Come on, you can do it, love. - I'm not leaving 'em!
- Come on, love. You can do it. - (Karen sobs)
- Come on. Come on. - I don't want to.
Come on, Karen. You can do it, love.
(Crunches)
How were Karen when she saw Shannon?
Sort of...
blank.
She'll have been in shock over what happened to Craig.
- I don't know if that explains it. - She weren't blank when t'social took her kids.
It tore her heart out.
JULIE: Cheers, love. - Thank you.
I'm glad you know when she's acting and when she isn't because sometimes I struggle.
Yeah. Well, Natalie says that and the others.
Bottom line is Karen can be a div but she's told the truth about Shannon.
Are you sure?
I can't find anywhere, Karen.
- You what? - Still trying to find somewhere for you to stay.
- I've tried your parents. - I have told you. They won't have me.
They said I'm dead to 'em since I got wi' Craig.
I've tried other family, women's refuges, hostels. I can't find anyone.
- (Mobile buzzes) - Why can't I just go home or stop at Julie's?
- You can't go back to the estate. - Why can't she?
We can't guarantee her safety.
How do you mean?
Because of Craig being arrested. It'll be all over the estate.
- You think it'll turn into a lynch mob? - No, but we can't risk it.
You're in luck. Your brother's agreed. You can stop with him.
But he hates me an' all.
(Inhales and exhales heavily)
- We're calling him Liam. - Has he had his first shit yet?
'Ey, shut up, you.
Here. Have an hold, Mum.
- I'm not sentimental about babies. - Who are you kidding?
Hold your grandson.
All right. Give him here.
(Chuckles)
What a little cracker.
(Baby grizzles)
- You all right, Natalie? - Yeah.
- I'm just off to ASDA. - I'll give you a lift.
KAREN: Well, it's hard to sleep, really. It's just...
T'house doesn't feel t'same wi'out her not being there, really.
It just... It just feels empty.
Whoever's got Shannon, please let her go.
Her family's missing her. All her friends are missing her at school.
Have you any idea who may have her?
I think that someone out there who knows Shannon...
but probably knows me as well.
What you watching that for, anyway?
KAREN:safe, really. - Belt up and make a brew, will you?
- But Shannon's found. - Brew! Now.
Can you recall the last words you and Shannon exchanged?
"Bye, Mum. Love you."
(Camera shutters click)
(Karen sniffs)
Look, I have told you everything I know and everything I've seen.
And I can tell you're not happy.
I mean, we've both seen things that have made us suspicious.
We both think she knows more than she's saying.
But you're the copper. It's your job to find out what it is.
I've tried, Natalie. I've asked her questions till I'm blue in the face.
The whole force is under a lot of pressure.
This has been our biggest enquiry since The Ripper.
We've spent millions and we've still not really got any answers.
- Yeah, but what can I do? - Try and get through to her.
Tell her she owes you the truth as a mate.
How? She's not picking up my calls. She won't answer my texts.
I don't even think we are mates any more. It's cos I keep asking her awkward questions.
Well, none of us are gonna be happy till we do have the truth.
(Sighs)
I feel like bloody thumping her, to be honest.
Thanks for t'lift.
Aw. Aw, you shouldn't have.
Well, I wanted to. It's not every day my best mate becomes a grandma.
We are best mates, aren't we?
- Well, Natalie's your best mate. - No. You are now.
- Can't be easy for you, though. - What?
Well, me prattling on about my new grandson and you wi' out your kids.
- You must be missing 'em like mad. - Yeah, I'm missing 'em like mad.
- Do you mean that, Karen? - Of course.
I'm missing 'em like mad.
Yeah, you're right. It's me.
- Karen, what are you doing? - What do you mean?
Drawing attention to yourself.
What? I were only waving.
- They must have recognised me from t'telly. - Well, all that's over now.
Shannon's been found. You don't need any publicity any more.
I like it when people recognise me.
Karen, pack it in!
Concentrate on getting your life back on track, not farting around like some daft celebrity!
- Don't get mad with me, Julie, please. - You need to act like a grown-up.
Or you'll never get Shannon back or your kids.
I know.
- That is what you want, innit? - Of course it is.
- Are you sure? - Honest.
Why would I lie to you, Julie? I'd never lie to you.
- About anything? - No. Never.
- And you've never lied to me about Shannon? - No, of course not.
Will you stop being mad with me now, please?
Hey, that's lovely.
Yeah, look... I know I'm a right tight-arse but here.
- Julie, you can't give me that. - Go on. Put it on.
Aww.
It's fab. (Sniffs)
Aw, thanks so much.
We're mates forever, eh?
Fancy an all-day breakfast?
Yeah. Yeah. Go on.
(Text alert)
- We both know she's been lying to us. - Lying about what, though?
- I don't know. - If t'police haven't got her to admit doing owt,
- maybe there's nowt to admit to. - You don't really believe that.
Or you wouldn't have come round here.
I think it's eating away at you just as much as it is me.
All right. Fair enough.
Yeah.
- But what do we do? - We have it out with her.
- You and me. Once and for all. - How?
She's not allowed on the estate. Even if she were, she wouldn't speak to me.
She knows I think there's something she's hiding. She's shit scared of me.
There's got to be a way, Natalie. I can't stand this any more.
- She should be here by now. - Calm down, Julie.
Well, Christine said it were her day off.
- If she said she'll do it, she will. - But suppose Karen refused.
She hasn't. Look.
(Sighs)
Natalie's not gonna batter me, is she?
Of course not. They just want a chat.
(Breathes heavily)
- All right, Karen? - Yeah, I'm all right, Julie.
You're my friend, aren't you, Karen? And you're Natalie's friend.
Yeah.
And you said friends don't lie to each other, didn't you?
- Did I? - Yeah, you did.
And... er... the thing about friends is you can tell them absolutely anything.
I suppose. Still don't know why we're doing this.
- Cos we've got some questions. - Like what?
Did you know where Shannon was all that time she were with Mick Donovan?
- No, I keep telling everyone. - I know you do.
But if the truth's something different, we want to know.
- There's rumours going round you did know. - They're not true.
There's rumours going round t'estate you and Donovan planned it to get t'reward money.
That's lies. I'd never have done that to Shannon for money.
- Is there some other reason why? - What other reason could there be?
- I dunno. - That's why she's asking.
- Is it owt to do wi' Craig? - I don't want to talk about Craig.
- I fucking hate him! - Why? Cos of t'kiddy porn?
I hated him before that! I've hated him for ages!
- He's ruined my whole fucking life! - Why?
Weren't you happy about how he were wi' your kids?
I don't want to talk about it. I wish I'd never fucking met him!
Because when you came to stay at my house, I didn't think the kids liked being round him.
Couldn't you trust him with 'em, Karen? I wouldn't stay with a fella I didn't trust wi' my kids.
I didn't want to do it.
I didn't know how else to get out of it.
Get out of what? Being with Craig?
Karen, answer.
That were the day I were thinking of doing it.
What? You mean the day Shannon disappeared?
I had my bags packed and everything but it all went wrong.
- How? - Cos of Craig!
- How do you mean? - I were gonna leave while he were at work.
But he never went in that day.
I couldn't leave wi' out kids and Shannon were already at Mick's.
- Yeah, but why Mick's? - I were just desperate to get away from Craig.
I couldn't go to my mum's. I hardly even knew Mick Donovan.
But he said me and t'kids could stop wi' him for a few days.
I didn't know what else to do.
So that was the plan?
Mick'd pick Shannon up from school and then you'd leave home later wi' the kids
- and join him but you couldn't. - Craig was still in the house. I were trapped.
I didn't know what to do.
After she didn't come home from school, it got worse.
People saying, "Where is she? Do this. Do that.
Ring here. Ring there."
Then someone said, "You'd best ring 999." So I did and...
And what, Karen?
NATALIE: It all got out of hand.
One thing led to another. You couldn't stop it.
You couldn't bring yourself to say you'd told a big, fat lie.
Karen, answer.
(Sobs)
Yes!
It's true.
I knew where she were all along and I should have said. I know I should.
But I didn't know how.
I kept thinking Mick'd just hand her in and it'd all be over.
Everyone's gonna hate me now.
Oh. I feel sick.
(Car door slams)
I've done the right thing, haven't I, Julie, telling you?
Are you...
Are you still my friend?
(Sobs) Julie.
Julie.
(Sobs uncontrollably)
Karen Matthews, you are charged firstly
that between 18th February and 15th March, 2008,
having responsibility for a child, namely Shannon Matthews,
you wilfully neglected or abandoned the said child
in a manner likely to cause unnecessary suffering or injury to her health.
Secondly, that between 18th February and 15th March, 2008, at Dewsbury,
contrary to common law, you did pervert the course of public justice
by repeatedly concealing information as to the whereabouts of Shannon Matthews.
(Crowd jeers)
- Cow! - (Screams invectives)
(Crowd jeer and yell abuse)
To think I had her staying in my house with that pervert Craig near my kids.
We were supposed to be her friend. I feel used, don't you?
She took t'piss out of all of us. And you helped her!
- Go shit out your mouth, you! - Yeah, well, he's right there, Julie.
You carried on helping her when it was as plain as t'nose on your face that she were involved.
Why?
- Cos I thought it were t'right thing to do. - What? For her or for you?
- What do you mean? - Well, you liked being t'centre of attention.
- The Queen Bee. You didn't want to let it go. - We trusted you, Julie.
- Fuck off, Natalie! - Fuck off, all of you!
Fuck you, too!
- (Crowd shouts abuse) JULIE: Fuck off!
(Camera shutter clicks)
Shitty enough for you, is it? Or do you want me to spray some more on?
That's right, go on, get me an' all.
I've got a pair of minging tracky bottoms wi' the arse hanging out. Want me to put them on?
- Right, come on. - Go on. Go down that way.
I'm sure you'll find an old three-piece suite in someone's garden.
That'll give you a front page, that.
- Fucking idiots. - Shit off!
You've not changed nothing, you know, Julie.
They still think we're all council house scum like Karen Matthews.
Fucking sling it, Cecil!
(Sighs) I've just been to Shannon's school to see t'headmaster.
Why?
Cos all her classmates and them other kids...
they're expecting Shannon back.
It's not gonna happen now, is it?
I mean, she's one of them. They care about her.
- I think they should have counselling. - And what did the head say?
He wouldn't do it. They don't have the resources.
So there's only one other thing I could do.
What's that?
Ask t'police to put Shannon in a car and drive her through t'estate.
You know, so they can see her.
That way, even though she's not coming back, they'll kno...
They'll know she's alive.
I've let 'em down, Kathy.
Julie, you did everything you could.
We all did.
Sorry.
- (Clears her throat) - It's all right.
I wish I had faith like you.
I used to. It were easier then.
But it got smashed to pieces.
How?
I... er... I lost a little lad.
Andrew.
Cot death.
We christened him at four months and he were dead at six.
I'm so sorry.
(Clears her throat)
Thank you.
You may have lost your faith in God...
...but you haven't lost your faith in people...
have you?
I'm not so sure about that.
Not now.
(Geese squawking)
Not much use for this lot now, eh?
- You must be feeling a bit shit. - Yeah, you could say.
"Broken Britain", we are, apparently.
And this that you lot have put out.
Vigilante action? Against who? Karen's gone. It's ridiculous.
Most of us are more depressed than angry.
(Sighs)
Anyway, you did us a big favour, you and Natalie.
Proper Cagney and Lacey.
- You got to the truth. - Did I?
What? All of it?
Look...
I honestly think that what she said in the car was true.
She were desperate to leave Craig.
She had no money, no friends or family she could turn to.
Donovan offered her to let her stay with him.
Probably thought he could use her like other fellas have. Get a few shags.
But then what?
After that first night Shannon went missing, what happened then?
Karen's now denying she knew anything about any of it.
She won't even admit to what she said in the car.
She's pointed the finger at all kinds of people.
Everybody apart from herself.
She just keeps digging herself in deeper and deeper.
But her and Donovan, they're too thick to have come up with this by themselves, aren't they?
I'd have to agree.
Well, then, so who else were in on it?
- Craig? - No. I honestly don't think so.
Well, who then?
- Not people from t'estate. - I'm not going to speculate.
We have our suspicions and we've investigated various individuals but found no evidence.
If Karen had stopped telling story after story,
maybe we could get to t'bottom of it but she won't.
I'm afraid she's made her own bed now and she's gonna have to lie in it.
I can't just pretend everything's still t'same.
But you've come.
You're my only friend now. Just...
Just tell me it's all right.
How can I tell you it's all right, after everything you've done to Shannon?
I'm sorry.
Say you'll forgive me.
It's Shannon's forgiveness you should be asking.
What you did to her was much worse than what you did to me.
- I can't even think about that. - Well, you should.
You've got the rest of your life to at least try and earn that forgiveness.
I don't know how.
Good place to start is wi' t'truth.
- I have told t'truth. - And you're still telling it now in here?
I can't remember what I've said.
It's not a matter of remembering what you said, it's saying what happened.
It weren't my fault.
It were all down to Mick Donovan. I've done nowt wrong.
- None of it were my fault. - Look, Karen, I know you're frightened.
But you're not doing yourself any favours.
I know I'm bad... weak.
But I know that somewhere inside me there's someone who could be strong.
Who knows right from wrong. I just can't seem to be that person.
- Well, bloody well try harder, Karen. - I'm not like you, Julie. I wish I were but I'm not.
(Sniffs) Well, just say you'll forgive me.
(Sniffs) Look...
What?
It's that one what you give me.
Mates forever, eh?
What?
It's not even t'same one.
Didn't think you'd notice.
You can't even tell t'truth about a thing like that, can you?
But you... you still love me?
(Sniffs) Will you still forgive me?
Rather than tell this court the truth, Miss Matthews,
- you have simply come up with more lies. - No, I haven't.
You have in fact changed your story several times.
- You're twisting it all round. - How am I doing that?
You're pushing me round like everyone does.
If you were telling the truth, there'd be only one account, would there not?
(Sniffs)
I put it to you that you and Donovan hatched the plan to abduct Shannon together.
And when the reward money reached a certain figure,
you and Michael Donovan agreed you would take Shannon to Dewsbury Police Station,
claiming he had found her on the market.
It's not true.
Instead of admitting it, you've tried to implicate everyone except yourself.
(Sniffs)
(Sobs)
Why are you crying, Miss Matthews?
(Sniffs)
I put it to you that those are not tears of genuine remorse but of self-pity.
- Am I not right? - No.
I felt I just...
I wanna ask her why.
Just remember, it were me that stuck my neck out and said what I thought.
You, Julie and t'rest said nowt.
Just thought I was being a nasty, hard-faced cow.
Natalie Brown.
So Karen told us someone said she should ring 999 and report Shannon as missing.
Then I asked her if one thing led to another after that.
And she just couldn't bring herself to admit it were all a massive lie.
Julie and me were sat there in t'back of t'car, willing her to admit t'truth.
And then she takes this massive intake of breath. I've never heard owt like it.
And then suddenly, it just comes out.
She says, "Yeah.
It's true."
I was speechless.
I was so disgusted by her, I couldn't find any words.
Please stick to the facts, Mrs Brown. Your feelings are not relevant.
I can't help it. I just thought...
"You liar.
How could you have done that to your own child?
How could you have told such a pack of lies to people you call friends?"
(Spectators murmur in agreement)
WOMAN: Disgusting!
(Spectators yell)
JUDGE: Quiet, please!
- (Court room door opens) - Julie Bushby.
Mrs Bushby, you are about to give evidence as a witness but prior to that,
you've been asked to make a brief assessment about the character of Miss Matthews.
Understood.
The reason for this is, whereas we have a number of professional assessments,
of her co-defendant's character, which may assist the jury,
we have none for Miss Matthews, so, in your own words,
tell the court what sort of person you believe her to be.
(Sighs)
Karen Matthews is weak...
cowardly and a liar.
She put her child through a horrible experience.
She let down her community and people she said were her friends.
And even when she eventually told t'truth, she went back to lying to save her own skin.
That's what you all want me to say, innit?
And it is the truth.
But it's a long way from t'whole truth.
If you want to know the whole truth, you need to understand that Karen is damaged.
She's been used and abused since childhood.
Don't ask me by who but I'm sure the list of people's a long one.
Most of them are men who used her for sex.
Karen let 'em get away with it because she doesn't understand
that sex isn't the same thing as love or affection which is what she really wanted.
And she knew she were being taken advantage of,
that she were being weak to let 'em get away wi' it.
She's been weak about a lot of things.
She's told lies. She's let people down.
But I will not join in with the lynch mob.
Other people may want to use her as a human punch bag,
cos it makes them feel better about their own lies and shit they get up to.
But I'll not do it.
I've stood by her before...
...and I'm standing by her now.
She's still my friend.
- Has the jury reached a verdict? - Yes, my Lord.
On the charge of kidnap and false imprisonment do you find the defendant,
- Karen Matthews, guilty or not guilty? - Guilty.
On the charge of perverting the course of justice, do you find the defendant,
Karen Matthews, guilty or not guilty?
- Guilty. - (Cheering and applause)
(Cheering fades)
Karen Matthews is pure evil.
She started deceiving those closest to her from the moment Shannon was kidnapped.
Friends, neighbours and her family were under the clear impression
that Shannon was genuinely missing.
(Ice cream van music tinkles)
I've finished in t'kitchen.
We've got about four boxes left and we're gone.
- That's all. - All right.
Natalie.
All right?
I'm... er... moving off t'estate.
Me and Pete split up.
Shit. I'm sorry.
It's probably been coming anyway.
And I had to get away.
Can't face walking past that every day of my life.
Still, you have to make t'best of things, don't you?
You all right?
Er... no, not really.
I just find it hard, you know, to think that all that...
good will and decency just evaporated.
That it were all for nowt.
It weren't for nowt, Julie.
You've stuck up for this place.
You made people think again about what we're really like.
Folk admired you for it.
Yeah, well, I stood up for Karen too, though, didn't I? They didn't admire me for that.
I did.
- But you hate her. - No.
I don't hate her.
I'm angry with her. And...
I could never forgive like you have.
But I'll not call you for finding it in you to do it.
Or for standing up for her in court when t'rest of world wanted to hang her.
That took real guts.
Thanks.
I'm only being honest, Julie.
Yeah, well...
there'd never have been owt to forgive if you'd not forced Karen to tell t'truth.
- We both did that. - But you were the one who pushed it.
If you hadn't, we'd all still be living with Karen's lies.
Well... er... good luck, then.
You too, Julie.
If you don't teach it to fly, foxes get 'em.
Right, then. Well, let's see.
Get more under it, Peter. You're lifting it in t'air not aiming at a coconut shy.
- Needs a bit more practice by t'looks of it. - Come on, you. Best get off to school.
- Oh, is he back in school? - Yeah. And behaving.
- Good lad. - So far.
- See ya, then. - See ya.
Oi. Pull your tie up.
(Chuckles)
Ta.
So, what's next for you then, Julie?
A ciggy, brew, bacon butty...
and we'll see.
Ripped & Corrected By mstoll February 2017
Ripped & Corrected By mstoll March 2017 - Released on www.Addic7ed.com