CAST LIST

SYNOPSIS

A Eurostar arrives carrying Anna Fabrizi and Alberto Corelli to a conference on Open Government. The joint leaders of the Liberty Party have a radical vision to clean-up Italian politics. Commander Wence, the head of SSD and the man in charge of protecting the pair during their stay, meets them at the station. The press representatives that meet them seem less interested in politics and more concerned with when the political partners will become married partners. The protection however is warranted: as they leave a figure observes them and radios Starkey, a hired assassin. He is waiting at Fabrizi’s hotel room where he plants a bomb, shooting 2 of Wence’s men in the process…

The team is discussing security with William Swift, a designer who uses lasers to create stunning 3-dimensional logos: amongst his portfolio is the logo for the Liberty party. He suspects industrial espionage and that his premises are being bugged: Beckett suggests that any espionage would far more likely involve computer fraud, but Swift is adamant, arousing the team’s suspicions. As Ros checks for bugs, Ed spots a suspicious looking van outside William’s office. Going to investigate, Beckett is able to plant a bug under the van before the driver makes a hasty exit. He pursues the van to an anonymous looking building. Swift is happy his theory has been confirmed, but both Ros and Ed are now all the more convinced that Swift is not telling them the whole truth.

Beckett breaks into the building using Ros’ gadgets, and is met by the barrels of a multitude of handguns…he has stumbled into the headquarters of SSD (Special Services Department), an organisation so secret nobody is supposed to know it exists. Wence has the ability to make Beckett "disappear" but instead lets him go with a warning: to avoid William Swift.

Both Ros and Ed have bugged Swift’s office in an attempt to ascertain the truth behind Swift’s claims of espionage. They overhear a telephone conversation between Swift and Anna, who are quite obviously lovers. Anna believes the "watcher" at Swift’s workshop is one of Wence’s men…and tells Swift she will find a way to lose her protective escort and meet him at the place where he proposed to her, Royal College Green. The conversation is also heard by Starkey, who phones his employer McKenzie (the man at the station) using a small tape recorder to play an identifying message to him. Starkey tells McKenzie to have his money ready…Anna persuades Alberto to cover for her, allowing her to leave the hotel. She is distressed that she is forced to maintain a charade with Alberto as her "lover"…as the Liberty party is basing their election campaign on the truth it is a double standard she is desperate to renounce. Alberto tells her that once the election is over the relationship they have created to win votes will be no more: as he distracts her bodyguard, allowing her to leave, he makes a ‘phone call…

Ed and Ros arrive at College Green and both quickly agree that the open space and many-windowed buildings make for a prime assassination spot. Looking for a killer as William and Anna arrive and embrace, Ed spots Starkey on a rooftop. Swift and Anna sit and talk on a park bench, under which Starkey has planted a bomb. With only seconds to spare Ros warns the couple and gets them safely away. Ed grapples with Starkey but cannot prevent him from detonating the bomb. Back at Swift’s office Beckett forces the truth from the courting couple, and hopes that now they have saved their lives they will be more forthcoming with the truth. He is also dismissive of Wence’s ability to adequately protect them. Beckett suggests a set-up, using the Arena that William’s workshop is based in as the location: he is keen to handle what Ed refers to as the "Rambo" elements of the assignment: pursuit of the assassin and the use of weapons and surveillance. Ed however is determined to have a go at Beckett’s job himself, not seeing why he couldn’t do it as well, and suggests Beckett act as chauffeur to Anna. Reluctantly Beckett agrees. Ros meanwhile has been fiddling with William’s laser generation program, and to Swift’s considerable surprise manages to create a lifelike 3-dimensional image…using Ed the Teddy Bear as a guinea pig.. He is more sceptical however that the team can fool Starkey into striking again: Ros however knows Starkey intercepted Anna’s mobile phone signal to follow the pair previously…Beckett gets Anna to "stage" the setup at the Arena that night with a conversation on her mobile. As hoped Starkey intercepts the message, phoning Mckenzie again to ask for a fast car to the airport after his work is done. McKenzie is not alone when Starkey makes the call…Alberto Corelli is with him. He is hoping to use Anna’s "death" to sweep to power on a wave of sympathy, and has friends who’s last thought is to clean up Italian politics…and has no intention of allowing Starkey to collect his payment when the job is done.

At the Gizmos office Ros is rather badly sewing a super-miniaturised tracker and transmitter on Ed’s jacket for a field test. She hopes both Beckett and Ed know what they are doing with the set-up of Anna’s assassin, for she is not as confident. However, the plan is underway: Anna sends her security away from her hotel room for the night and is "collected" by Beckett using a window-cleaner’s cradle. Unbeknown to them both Wence’s men see them leave and follow. Ed sees the pair arrive outside the Arena but fails to spot Starkey’s entrance: Ros spots the assassin inside the Arena and warns Ed. Beckett meanwhile activates the enhanced laser programme Ros has created, which creates a "duplicate" of Anna by the window of the Workshop. The plan is successful and Starkey shoots the laser "double": seconds later Ed intercepts him but after a fight he manages to escape. Wence makes a grand entrance whilst outside his men corner the terrified Starkey and shoot him. Ed watches in amazement, and then decides to go back and check on a vehicle that he had seen acting suspiciously earlier. Inside Wence blames Beckett for the attempt on Anna’s life and threatens to shut them down if the team interfere again…whilst outside Ed finds the car is waiting for Starkey’s arrival. Deciding to assume Starkey’s identity, he is bundled into the car and driven away.

The next morning, despite the bad luck it may bring, Anna and William have breakfast together…as they are scheduled to be married later that day. Swift is still worried about their safety and Wence’s possible intervention, but Anna is tired of waiting to be married…and has yet to inform Corelli of her intentions. Starkey is with Corelli and when he learns of the impending nuptials he is incensed that Starkey has failed, and demands to see him. Ed is dragged in and only a lucky use of one of McKenzie’s favourite phrases convinces McKenzie that he is "Starkey" after all…but this does not stop Corelli wanting to kill him where he stands. Ed saves himself by offering to kill Anna at her wedding, and Corelli gives him a final chance. Anna meanwhile is fobbing off Wence’s people by not attending the Open Government conference but going for a swim instead. Ed uses a trip to the Men’s Room to use the transmitter button as a way of trying to inform Ros and Beckett of his predicament: the two however are busy arguing. Beckett blames himself for Ed’s predicament, Ros is more concerned in trying to get a precise fix on the tracker. Ed manages to inform his colleagues the assassination will happen at Anna’s wedding before McKenzie interrupts him…

Anna is indeed having a swim…her Security Guard watches her enter the Ladies Changing Room, but doesn’t follow, allowing her to escape to the underground car park where a limousine is waiting with Anna’s secretary inside (who is acting as her witness). Ros and Beckett arrive at Anna’s hotel and realise Anna’s plan…as Anna is well on her way, getting changed in the back of her limo. The badly sewn button tracker is coming lose from Ed’s jacket, but is still transmitting. Ed tries to find out the wedding’s location, as Ros and Beckett are in pursuit and try desperately to track him. Corelli has a foolproof way to ensure "Starkey" finally fulfils his agreement to kill Anna. They fit Ed with a waistcoat packed with plastic explosive: trying to remove it will cause it to explode. McKenzie will watch his "progress" from a video camera on the gun he is to be given, and as an added incentive a timer is fitted to his wrist. Ed has 15 minutes to complete his job or the waistcoat will explode anyway. An increasingly worried Beckett and Ros can hear all of this as it happens…

Arriving at not a church but a Register Office is Swift, Corelli and McKenzie are not far behind. Ed is sent on his way with a "present" (a gun in a box) and loses the tracker button on the way. McKenzie sends him to a balcony overlooking the floor of the Register Office here he is instructed to get in position. Taking the gun from the box he tries to aim the weapon…but is becoming increasingly desperate. Ros and Beckett arrive, looking for a Church when Ros finds the tracker button. Realising this is where Ed has come, they enter as Anna arrives now dressed for a Wedding. Corelli starts up a conversation with William as Ros and Beckett spots Ed from an opposite balcony: they arrive to help him and Ros immediately tries to find a way to disable the timer. McKenzie sees Ed’s gun moving erratically and suspects that he has company, going to check he is intercepted by Beckett and grapples with him, as the Ceremony gets underway in the office below. Ros gets the timer open but doesn’t know what to remove to disable it…as Beckett tips McKenzie over the parapet of the balcony. In the panic that ensues Beckett shouts to Anna that is Corelli that has been trying to kill her: Corelli seizes the opportunity and grabs Anna as a hostage with a gun to her throat. Time is running out for Ed but he is still desperate to get a clear shot: not at Anna but Corelli…which he manages, just as Ros removes the vital component of the timer. Anna and William are declared married, as Ros admits she had no idea whether the part she removed would disable the timer…

At Gizmos Ed is making a far better job of sewing than Ros could ever do. Beckett returns Ed the Ted to Ros, suggesting that if ever they lose Ed again the Teddy bear could take his place. Ed suggests that Ros employ them both: after all, two Eds are better than one…