The Rotten Apple
- Episode aired Aug 11, 1956
A fresh spate of robberies in the Dock Green area bears all the hallmarks of having been perpetrated by a criminal known as The Captain. When he is then caught red-handed it seems that the p... Read allA fresh spate of robberies in the Dock Green area bears all the hallmarks of having been perpetrated by a criminal known as The Captain. When he is then caught red-handed it seems that the police finally have their man. Or do they?A fresh spate of robberies in the Dock Green area bears all the hallmarks of having been perpetrated by a criminal known as The Captain. When he is then caught red-handed it seems that the police finally have their man. Or do they?
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThe first victim of theft immediately rings 999 asking for the police. It was still uncommon for people to have their own telephones at this time, unless you were moderately wealthy and it was not until the late 50s, early 60s, that 'ordinary' folk began to get a telephone. With a huge distribution of public telephones many didn't feel the need to have their own 'phone' for sometime after this date, especially as they had to pay line rental as well as for calls.
- Quotes
[George is confronting PC Carr over his £180 gambling debt with bookmaker Maurie Weitzman whilst clearly maintaining an affluent lifestyle]
PC Tom Carr: I've been a fool, I know. Maybe I like to show off a bit, but I didn't mean any real harm.
PC George Dixon: Well, how much more can you raise?
PC Tom Carr: Ten or twenty quid.
[Carr crosses to his mantelpiece, then starts laughing]
PC Tom Carr: Oh, I get it! You're in with Maurie, are you? He looks after you?
PC George Dixon: [Incredulous] He what?
PC Tom Carr: [Chuckles] You don't want to worry about me, George! I know what it's like, trying to manage on police pay. If Maurie slips you a couple of quid now and then, who's to know?
PC George Dixon: Why you little rat!
[George grabs Carr and throws him onto his bed]
PC Tom Carr: [Protesting] You can't do that!
PC George Dixon: Can't I? I came here with the intention of helping you. You're young and you're a copper, and I don't like to see coppers in trouble. But you're not worth it, I can see that. You cheated Maurie and you'll cheat other people as well; you're nothing but a dirty, cheap little swindler. Now come on, get up off that bed and we'll go down and talk to the Inspector.
PC Tom Carr: [Scrambling to his feet] You can't make me go to the station. I've committed no crime. You're the criminal, busting in here accusing me of being a crook. I could arrest you.
PC George Dixon: Try it.
PC Tom Carr: I wouldn't soil my hands.
[He returns to the mantelpiece]
PC George Dixon: Now, come on son, let's go down and talk to the Inspector. He'll find out sooner or later and then it'll be curtains. This way, well, he - he might give you another chance if you own up.
PC Tom Carr: That bookie don't deserve his money. You can't claim for gambling debts.
PC George Dixon: Now come on.
[Carr pulls away, and stumbles against a table, knocking over a suitcase full of silverware. George inspects an inscribed cup]
PC George Dixon: "Alderman F. Mayhew - from his many friends on the Dock Green Council." The break-ins. You!
PC Tom Carr: Look, Mr Dixon, I can explain that ...
PC George Dixon: You used your uniform - for this!
PC Tom Carr: I had to have money, see? I did it first time just as a lark. Nobody suspected a copper, see.
PC George Dixon: Shut up! You can talk when you get to the station. There's nothing worse than a rotten copper. Nothing! It's the lowest thing that crawls on God's earth. Take off that uniform - take it off!
[Reluctantly Carr begins to unbutton his jacket]
PC George Dixon: And when you've got it off, put on something different. Then I'll arrest you. I'm taking you in, Carr. But not in that tunic.
This is the first time I have seen the full episode.
Eddington plays PC Tom Carr who is new to the station and area. He is also flash with the cash, taking other coppers on a night out. He seems to get lucky in the horses a lot.
PC George Dixon is under pressure. There has been a burglaries in the area. The latest victim was a council alderman.
The police eventually arrest a known criminal, a gentleman thief called the Captain. He admits the burglary he was caught for. He denies that he committed another burglary on the same night. The police find he has an alibi for some of the other thefts that has previously taken place.
PC Dixon is perturbed when a concerned bookie visits him. A fellow policeman has run up debts.
This is an early story about bent coppers. A sign that Dixon of Dock Green was not always cosy. Although I did groan when the culprit dropped a suitcase full of the stolen loot.
- Prismark10
- Jan 19, 2024
Details
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 1.33 : 1