Jack or Knave

[Gene Hunt]

Series 4 Episode 14 - Jack or Knave.

[Batgirl]

This episode was transmitted to air on 28/12/1978.
Written by Ted Childs
Directed by Tom Clegg

The murder of a payroll security guard is investigated by the flying squad when the local police force have no luck in arresting the killer. Chief Superintendent Canning clashes with Regan who manages to successfully wrap up the case. They had worked together back in the 1960s and are far from friends.
Jack Regan is forced to face serious corruption charges from nine years earlier when he worked with Canning.

This is an extremely watchable episode due to the strength of John Thaw's performance and the feeling that the fate of Jack Regan with the Flying Squad is uncertain. The final speech by Regan to Haskins and a listening Carter is gold. I think it shows the real skill of John Thaw as an actor expressing disgust, controlled rage, sadness etc. in one very long monologue.  

I would think that people reading this thread would have watched this episode, but SPOILER ALERT now as I transcribe the dialogue from the final powerful scene. 


Haskins: "Congratulations Jack."

Carter: "Yeah, well done."

Regan: "George I owe you, you know that."

Haskins: "Can't wait to have you back on the firm Jack."

Regan: "You're going to have to wait a long time Frank after this little lot."

Haskins: "Come on Jack, there's no need to be like that."

Regan: "I want to be like that Frank, do you know why?
Because I am utterly and abjectly p***ed off with this little lot. I've given the best years of my life to the job.
I've got 18 bloody commendations if you include the one I didn't get yesterday! And how does this wonderful police force show its gratitude for all my years of unstinting effort ?

It bangs me up in a grubby little cell like some cheap little villain, all because of a toerag called Hutchinsons got a few bottles twitching on the 5th floor. Now because that poor little bastard had the guts to get off his arse I'm going to have to be reinstated and what do you bunch of bleeding double dyed hypocrites want now?
You want me to crawl back to work and be terribly grateful that I didn't get nicked for something I didn't do. Well you can stuff it!"


He goes out to hail a taxi.

Carter: "Guv'nor, Jack, Oi !"

Regan: "Sorry George but I've had it. I've had it up to here."

Carter: "But..."

Regan: "You're a prince mate, you know that don't you."

Carter: "Ah shut up. Look lets go and have a drink before they open eh? Come on."

Regan: "No, no I've got to get away mate. Just have a think, it's all too...well you know. See ya mate."

Haskins walks out as Regan leaves in the taxi. George looks troubled.

Haskins: "He'll be back. He needs the job like an alcoholic needs booze."

Carter: "Yeah?"

[The Saint]

Powerful dialogue, thanks for posting Batgirl

The Saint

[Superclassic]

Probably up there as one of the best bits of Sweeney dialogue over any of the 4 series.Watched closely,I'm sure there is a definite edit,right after the bit where Jack says "...find me not guilty of something I didn't do".At this point John Thaw is close to tears as Jack Regan,as Batgirl has said,it's a very powerful bit of TV,this.Regan's voice is wavering with emotion;John's acting here is second to none,such skill.Then when he delivers the line "well,you can stuff it" his mood is different,the eyes are steely again.....it's a different take,that bit.I'm convinced.

He is very ably supported in this scene by Haskins and Carter-even by saying virtually nothing,they are incredibly believable.It's a very serious situation,and as it brings the Sweeney to an end,it's fitting that the 3 main characters are present.As an episode on the whole it's not really one of my favourites,but there is no denying the end scenes,absolutely brilliant.

[Vienna]

The last episode to be transmitted on TV, but Hearts and Minds was the last episode to be filmed in April/May 1978

[Arthur Pringle]

The Sweeney goes out with a whimper sandwiched between Ken Dodd & Laurence Olivier

This listing is from an 'Emergency Edition'- during periods of industrial action some editions of the TV Times were printed in black & white and in edited form for some regions.

[Cartman]

For some reason I missed this one out on my series 4 rewatch earlier in the year, so I caught up with it on ITV 4 today and it is excellent. As Batgirl said, the final scene is tremendous and brilliantly acted, right up there in a list of the best episodes list overall.

Assume filmed in 77 as the mark 1 Granada, RHJ 997R was in it. It was a great way to end a superb series and we can only speculate what would have become of Jack. 

[Three Litre]

Yes Cartman, what would have become of him?

He'd have been back, he loved the job and who he worked with IMO.

In a parallel universe there's a series 5 that got back to best of the all the previous series!

[Theleachio]

Mar 3, 2019 20:56:27 GMT Three Litre said:

Yes Cartman, what would have become of him?

He'd have been back, he loved the job and who he worked with IMO.

In a parallel universe there's a series 5 that got back to best of the all the previous series!

Is it called Life on Mars Cartman? 😄

[Deleted]

Just watched Jack or Knave! Seemed strange watching it because guess I was quite unfamiliar with the episode compared to other ones! not seen it for absolutely ages probably due to the fact it’s a quite sad episode and quite poignant at the end! But over all what a great episode and plot! Jacks speech at the end is unbelievable quality and great acting by John Thaw! and is a classic example that reflects and sums up the style of Jacks personality throughout the entire series,  which I can think is only appreciated if one has watched the entire previous episodes! The Sweeney makes ya realise just how good tv was back then and especially Cop shows! 
These days if ya include free view over all, then 6 to 7 out 10 of all tv programs are probably made up of reality Tv! Absolute shite!