- [first lines]
- Brian Lane: [staring at a glass of beer] When you look into the abyss, the abyss also looks into you.
- Esther Lane: What do you need? To make things right? Tell me.
- Brian Lane: It's just me mind's always on, Esther. Always churning, always going. I can't shut it up. I need to have a case or it hurts, it bloody hurts!
- Esther Lane: What happens if they chuck you out in three days time and there aren't any more cases?
- Brian Lane: Well, I can't do ordinary life; it's not enough.
- Detective Superintendent Sandra Pullman: Don't be stupid, Brian.
- Brian Lane: Stupid? Yeah, that's exactly what I am. He's got the platinum pension, the kids who love him, a-and a reputation that's so shiny you can see your face in it. What have I got? Arthritis. A son who wishes I didn't exist. And a name that'll never be clear.
- Detective Superintendent Sandra Pullman: You've got UCOS; you've got Esther. And you've got us, and not one of those things has ever let you down.
- Detective Superintendent Sandra Pullman: The son of a highly decorated Second World War veteran, Sir Charles Highsmith.
- Steve McAndrew: Looks like the apple fell far from the tree, eh.
- Gerry Standing: Then it rolled down the hill, stopping off at all the bars, brothels and casinos.