One Day A Lemming Will Fly

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One Day A Lemming Will Fly (Series 1)

Written by: Jimmy McGovern

Produced by: Gub Neal

Directed by: Simon Cellan Jones

Originally Screened: 01/11/93 (Part 1), 08/11/93 (Part 2)

Tim, a 14 year old boy, is found hanging from a tree in the woods but the police pathologist concludes that he was murdered first and then hung. The boy's English teacher, Nigel Cassidy, then attempts suicide by threatening to jump off the roof of a building but is eventually persuaded by Fitz not to. Because of this, Cassidy immediately becomes the prime suspect in the case, and everyone including Fitz is convinced he is the killer. Fitz is also convinced that Cassidy is gay, and uses this to try and give motive to Cassidy's guilt. Bilborough is anxiously awaiting the birth of his first child and becomes increasingly stressed as the case progresses. Fitz's problems also still continue - he is still unable to forgive Judith for sleeping with Graham, despite her return to the family home and he still remains attracted to Penhaligon. Cassidy is eventually released pending further investigations, news that doesn't go down well with Tim's father who proceeds to ram a JCB through the window of Cassidy's flat, forcing Bilborough to put Cassidy in a hotel overnight with Fitz and Beck. Penhaligon tells Fitz she is planning to go on a two week holiday and asks him to go with her, to which he agrees.

During the night in the hotel Fitz, despite some bickering with Beck, manages to gain what he thinks is a confession from Cassidy. Bilborough's wife also finally gives birth to a baby boy. It appears the case is solved. Just as the police and Fitz are celebrating their result, Fitz enters into one last meeting with Cassidy. Cassidy drops a bombshell, announcing that he didn't actually kill Tim - but he refuses to withdraw his statement, claiming he as good as killed Tim as he was the last person to see him alive and he drove him away the night he died. Unable to live with himself should an innocent man go to prison, Fitz desperately tries to persuade Bilborough not to go ahead with the press conference announcing they have charged Cassidy. Bilborough refuses, claiming he is unable to go back and tell Tim's family and his bosses that he was wrong. Fitz then tells Bilborough that if he goes ahead and charges Cassidy then "they are finished". Bilborough charges Cassidy anyway. As Bilborough goes ahead with the press conference it is clear he is now having doubts too but it doesn't stop him. Fitz then returns home and proceeds to back out of his planned holiday with Penhaligon.