Ray Winstone and Amanda Redman star in ITV’s new three-part drama of crime and passion.
Written and created by Alan Whiting (Strike Back, Kingdom), The Trials of Jimmy Rose tells the story of the notorious armed robber, Jimmy Rose (Winstone), who throughout his lifetime has made crime pay. Redman (New Tricks) plays his wife Jackie.
> Buy The Trials of Jimmy Rose on DVD on Amazon.
Career criminal Jimmy Rose has spent the last twelve years in prison for armed robbery. Now aged 61, Jimmy is a free man and wants to be with his family, but his wife Jackie doesn’t know if she loves him anymore. Jimmy has to face up to commitment as a husband, father and grandfather… that means being around for his children, staying out of trouble and out of prison.
However, his son Joe thinks he’s a waste of space and his daughter Julie has troubles of her own. And he’s trying to go straight on a zero hour contract at a DIY store and he can barely afford £3.69 for a coffee these days.
When Jimmy finds out his granddaughter has gone off the rails, he’s determined to bring her home, but he triggers a chain of events that could force him back into crime… Jackie now faces an uncertain future with the man she loves but she’s harbouring a secret. Jimmy Rose lives by Newton’s laws of motion: but with every action there are unforeseen reactions and they may cost Jimmy his marriage, his freedom and even his life.
Episode 1
Sunday 30 August 2015, 9pm
Jimmy Rose emerges from prison after a 12-year stretch for armed robbery. Finally a free man at 61, he can’t wait to get home. But despite his grandson Elliot’s excitement and his Julie’s joy at having her father home after suffering a painful divorce, his homecoming is marred by his wife Jackie’s distance. His granddaughter Ellie and estranged son Joe are notably absent. And sister in law Sue can’t wait to get her husband Roy away from Jimmy. Finally alone, Jackie admits to Jimmy that she doesn’t know if she loves him anymore. Jackie is the love of his life and he is devastated.
Jimmy is on license and is reminded by his probation officer that he needs to stick to his terms and tie down a job, so Jimmy reluctantly accepts a zero hour contract at a DIY store – a mundane world away from anything he’s ever known.
Jimmy shows up uninvited to his granddaughter’s fifth birthday party but his successful son Joe boots him out, bitterly telling him that it’s no surprise that Ellie has wound up like him. Stunned, Jimmy learns from Roy that Ellie ran away to live with her boyfriend six months ago and is now a drug addict. But they only have the name of an estate in Lewisham. Ellie was the apple of his eye, Jimmy tracks her down on the estate and whilst she’s happy to see her granddad again, she’s showing signs of addiction. Her boyfriend, Aaron, slams the door in Jimmy’s face. Big mistake.
Jimmy refuses to give up on Ellie, but the local GP proves ineffectual. With Jackie refusing to talk to him, Jimmy conscripts Roy to help drag Ellie home to get clean. Jimmy chases Aaron down and destroys his heroin stash, but both Aaron and Ellie escape leaving Jimmy with an empty “Pizza This” pizza box, a clue to their drug supply.
Jimmy tells Jackie that he’s found Ellie but has to break the news that she’s become a heroin addict. Bonded by grief, they spend the night together, giving Jimmy hope in their marriage. Jimmy slips out to Pizza This to confront his granddaughter’s suppliers but he asks too many questions and is beaten unconscious. Being 61 and alive in this brave new world is proving not so easy.
Episode 2
Sunday 6 September 2015, 9pm
After being rushed to hospital, Jimmy calls Roy and does a runner. Parked outside ‘Pizza This’ they see the owner, Mehmet Guzman, standing with Tony Chivers. Jimmy is outraged – ‘Ugly’ Tony added four years to Jimmy’s sentence for attacking a security guard on the raid they were sent down for. Roy has to warn Jimmy that he’s no good to his family back in prison, or laid out on a slab.
Jackie and Sue are door-stepped by a DS Steve Macintyre and DC Fraser about Jimmy’s injuries and whereabouts. Jackie covers for Jimmy – again – but is hurt, vulnerable and furious that Jimmy cannot and will not change. Jimmy agrees to give her some space and is confronted by Tony at the DIY store. He warns Jimmy to stay away from Mehmet Guzman.
While Jimmy is keeping vigil outside Ellie’s flat, two men torch Jackie’s car. Police take a statement from Jackie and DS Steve Macintyre turns up. He tells Jackie he’s missed her and she falls into his arms…. Meanwhile, Jimmy learns about the arson attack from his probation officer, who is concerned that he’s up to no good. Jimmy rushes home to find Steve who makes his excuses and leaves. Jimmy tends to Jackie’s injuries while explaining Ugly Tony’s involvement. Jackie confesses she had an affair while he was inside. Jimmy is dumbstruck and walks out on her. Jimmy goes to find out what Roy knows. At Roy and Sue’s, Sue gloats – after all those years on her own, no wonder Jackie found someone else. Jimmy snaps and ploughs into the back of her car before breaking down in tears with clueless Roy.
Jimmy returns to Ellie’s flat and is surprised when she comes running to him for help. They’ve had a visit from Tony and two heavies wanting payment for the heroin Jimmy threw away. Jimmy doesn’t have £20K to bail them out but if Aaron’s disappeared Ellie’s not safe to go back to the flat.
Jimmy takes Ellie to Joe’s house who refuses to let a drug addict near his young family, but he’s overruled by wife, Maria. Jackie turns up in support of Jimmy but he ignores her heartfelt thanks. Jimmy follows Tony into a carpark lift. Warning him to stay away from his family Jimmy lobs a lit Molotov cocktail, which terrifies Tony before realising it is only water. Jimmy’s overstepped the mark.
Jimmy shows up and stays at Julie’s house. She is pleased to have her dad back. Meanwhile Joe takes his frustrations out on Jackie, guessing that Steve is her lover. Maria enters and exclaims that Ellie has gone. Jimmy leaves work to look for Ellie. He and Jackie find her holed up in the flat, with a heavily beaten up Aaron. It’s Tony’s payback for the lift incident. Jimmy accepts responsibility for Aaron too when Ellie insists they come as a pair. This debt isn’t going to go away easily.
Jimmy and Roy try old firm contacts to get the money for Ellie’s debt but to no avail. Jimmy has no choice but to fall on the mercy of his son. He sees Joe and Mehmet chatting at the gates of Joe’s daughter’s school, clearly friends. Jimmy follows Mehmet and tells him to call off Tony. Mehmet plays dumb.
Jimmy tries to warn Joe about Mehmet, but he won’t listen – Mehmet is a school governor and an upstanding businessmen. He sticks it to Jimmy – presumably mum told him about the policeman?
Steve goes to see Jackie. They find Jimmy in the kitchen. Devastated Jimmy tells Jackie to start divorce proceedings and leaves. Steve reassures Jackie that they’re free to be together, but she’s not convinced. Jimmy meets Tony and tells him he will take on Aaron and Ellie’s £20K debt. Tony wants to know if he’s got the money? No says Jimmy; he’s done with being a good boy. He’ll pay it off by working for Tony.
Episode 3
Sunday 13 September 2015, 9pm
Despairing, Jimmy admits to Roy that he’s no choice now he’s lost Jackie but to work for Tony. At least he can rescue Ellie.
Getting his orders from Tony, Jimmy refuses to handle drugs or use a gun. He walks out, knowing Tony’s got him cornered. Jimmy drowns his sorrows with Roy and a drunken row leads to Roy’s collapse. In hospital, Roy’s survived a heart attack. Jackie and an upset Sue arrive. Jackie agrees to meet Jimmy for lunch to talk properly about where they stand, but there’s not much hope of reconciliation.
Tony offers Jimmy a single job that will clear the debt: Tony wants to steal drugs from a rival gang’s pick up that night. Jimmy will risk his life to protect Ellie and his family. He is handed a grand in cash to bind the deal and with it buys Jackie a lavish birthday present. Jimmy returns to Julie’s and tells Ellie that she and Aaron are in the clear.
Jimmy gives Jackie a locket as they talk over lunch. He admits he got the money by taking on the debt. Jackie angrily begs him not to but he won’t listen. She tells Steve about Jimmy’s plans in the hope that Jimmy can be protected if he turns informant. Steve wants to help Jackie if it aids their relationship. But Jimmy as a grass? Not likely.
Jimmy denies everything and refuses a deal with Steve. At Joe’s house, the family has a birthday meal for Jackie. Jimmy appears to confront Jackie – how could she betray him? He’ll get himself killed, Jackie tells him to do the right thing for once and stand as a witness instead of in the dock.
Back at Julie’s, she is admitting to Jimmy that she’s struggled with depression and needs her dad around more when Aaron and Ellie cause a commotion. Unable to handle withdrawal Aaron is leaving and Julie holds Ellie back as she tries to follow.
Jimmy agrees to work with Steve. Worried he won’t get out alive, Jimmy signs the divorce papers releasing Jackie to a better future. Steve is on standby, with a riot team, tracking Jimmy via the GPS signal on his phone. Jackie is torn, afraid for his life and they passionately kiss – maybe for the last time.
> Buy The Trials of Jimmy Rose on DVD on Amazon.
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