Sam Tyler is Wet, Cold, and Really Confused

[disammytyler]

[Here's a Sam Tyler, just as confused as he was in 1973; he's dripping wet and he probably smells like he took a long dip in the Manchester canal.

He steps inside Luigi's and looks around, with a confused and possibly lost look on his face.]

Hello?

Comments

[havinhoops]

[Gene has roughly the same reaction as Chris, which is to look like he's just seen a ghost. Which he then chases away with a healthy dose of scotch. ...And then he gets another.]

Tyler. [his voice is a little rough, but that could be from the scotch] Quit drippin' on th' floor. If someone comes in an' breaks their neck, I'll 'ave t' find somewhere else t' drink, an' this is th' closest boozer t' th' station.

[disammytyler]

[Sam is surprised and relieved to see Gene here. Notices that the guv hasn't changed much. Smiles.]

Guv? Guv, is that you? What happened? My car went into the river and then I was here...

[havinhoops]

Aye. [he nods at Luigi to bring over a drink for Sam, too] Three years ago, in Manchester. 'ave any sudden cravin' for brains?

[disammytyler]

[Sam takes the drink gratefully and downs it in one gulp. Looks a bit bemused at the comment. Imagines himself as a zombie and sighs.]

Even if I did have a craving for brains, guv, I wouldn't want to eat yours.

[pauses]

So I've been gone for three years...

[Looks down at his shoes. It's not his fault he's been gone for three years in the guv's eyes but he feels like he let Gene and the team down.]

[havinhoops]

[Gene actually cracks a smile at that] 'Least I've got 'em. If y' 'ad t' rely on Chris 'n Ray, well, you'd starve, that goes without sayin'.

[his expression grows serious again] Sam, y' been dead for three years.

[disammytyler]

[Looks up and chuckles, then expression grows serious]

I can't be dead, guv. I told ya, I was in the car, I drove into the bloody river and ended up appearing here, cold, wet, and thoroughly confused.

[havinhoops]

[He closes his eyes for a moment, looking old and tired] I was at your funeral, yeah? 'ad t' put up with th' inquiry into th' accident. Me 'n Ray 'n Chris transferred down t' London a few months after.

[disammytyler]

[Sam can only nod at that, still trying to wrap his mind around it all. But he wonders about someone else...]

Annie...what happened to Annie?

[havinhoops]

All well as can be expected. Still workin' at CID back 'ome - I asked if she wanted t' come with us, but she said she'd rather stay.

[disammytyler]

[Mental chuckle - Annie does like the word "stay" doesn't she - but sighs and smiles]

I'll have to phone her, won't I?

[Looks down at his wet clothes]

After I get changed, that is.

[havinhoops]

[dryly] An' d'you think she'll believe you?

[disammytyler]

...
[Realizes that the guv is right, again, facepalms]