*OK, this one may infuriate some readers because I am actually presuming to know what our beloved characters are thinking… but this is what I saw the last time I wafted through Episode One in dream-time. I had to watch it over and over just to make sure. Hah, pure torture. Not. If you don't agree, please feel free to write your own version. I'm sure we'll all enjoy reading it (just try us) for every story is another brick in the wall that guards Richard Poole and ensures the happiness of everyone both fictional and non.*

**If you've memorized Episode One like I have then these scenes need no introduction. If you're a bit hazy about the sequence of events, maybe watch it with story in hand so you can match up my impressions with what's on the screen. I follow each character from beginning to end of the episode then start over with the next character. Hey, it made sense to me when I started this opus… and now it's finished. But… is it ever? Really?**

First Impressions (S1 E1)

Part 1 of 15 - Fidel

Prelude

Why am I the goat boy? Why do I always get stuck with the scut work? When do I get to be a real cop for a change, ride the bike, and look cool? Rest in Peace, DI Hulme, you weren't a bad boss but you weren't the boss I needed. I hope the new guy turns this station around and takes me seriously. I'm so nervous! Juliet says I shouldn't be but I am. This new guy will be good, won't he? He'll see my potential? They won't send just any old hack… not from THE MET!

Please, send someone who can help me!

Station introductions

What's with the suit? Is that real wool? HERE?! He looks half-dead and it's only gone noon! Where's the First Aid Kit? And the CPR manual? I hope he doesn't die on us! Look at Lily's face! She hates him already. Look at HIS face! He doesn't want to be here. This is a bad idea. He isn't the mentor I need. Oh, and now Dwayne is grumbling. Should I snitch on Dwayne? Better not, this guy isn't staying and I'll always have Dwayne. This DI will be on the next plane out of here and I'll be left behind. Again.

Station, Dwayne ends call to Darlene

They threw a party AFTER he left? Well, that was mean. But, oh golly, what if he's so awful that no one else wants him and now we're stuck with him?. He won't be any help to me. He's not going to notice me and I'll never get my chance to advance. I'll never amount to anything here!

Canvassing Honoré with the mystery photo

Yeah! This feels like real policing, tracking down a loose end so we can eliminate it from our inquiries just like they say in the Police Manual. It's great to be out in public, showing off my uniform, meeting people, keeping the peace. This is what policing's all about. Maybe this new guy isn't so bad after all.

Dwayne can laugh but we really should have reorganized the filing system like Charlie wanted. That's standard operating procedure, isn't it? Charlie DID try… but somehow he lost his edge. I don't think this new guy will lose his edge. He's ALL edge!

What's that? Bring back the evidence? We must have overlooked something and the new guy caught it! Oh boy, now I'm going to start learning the real stuff. I can't wait to find out what our next step will be! I'd better start taking notes. I need a little black book and a pen and a…

Outside La Kaz

Gosh, Dwayne is pissed! This new guy has already gotten under his skin. I've never heard him speak so dismissively of a boss before. What's wrong with calling the new guy 'Chief'? It's just a word.

Station, unpacking the evidence

Um, OK, here it all is… but what are we supposed to do with it? What's the Chief thinking? Something about the vase… the vase… what ABOUT the vase? Arrrgh… why can't I see what HE sees? I'm going to make a note. At least Dwayne is excited about something finally… but why do we need a .22 gun with blanks? I need to make another note…

Poolside, Salcombe estate

Well, that was strange. I've never heard Dwayne speak so sharply to one of his drinking buddies before. Why is he suddenly so proud of the uniform? It's never meant much to him in the past. Could it be…? No, I'm sure I'm mistaken. Dwayne's made his opinion of the new guy perfectly clear… he doesn't like him and he certainly can't be trying to shape up for him. Can he? I'd best note that down.

We didn't hear gunshots. What does that mean? Let's see… loud party… everyone hears a gunshot… but we heard nothing in the quiet of the day… so… that means… HEY! I think I got it! Oh, I am SO making a note of that! It makes perfect sense NOW… but how does it tie into the case? Whatever, now I get to explain it to Dwayne and that is going to feel SO GOOD! Teach HIM to keep me off the bike!

Station parking lot

Well, little old ladies still need help crossing the street and I don't really mind this part of the job. I see Dwayne is flirting as usual. What a Casanova. I tell him about the key the Chief found but he's not interested. Come on, Dwayne! It's a clue! If the Chief thinks it's important then it's important!

Station, receiving bundles of new evidence

I was right! The key WAS important! Look at all this money and fake ID! Oh, I'm finally learning something at last. I'm going to fingerprint the tar out of this evidence so the Chief can advance this case! Uh oh, Dwayne is taking the Chief in the bike. I hope he doesn't pull any of his driving tricks like splashing through puddles or cornering with the sidecar up in the air.

Station, a suspect is brought in

Holy cow! He's caught someone already! Who is she? Why does she seem familiar? Oh, the Chief says she's the mystery woman in the photo. Wow! Listen to them fighting in the cell room! She's got some nerve stonewalling the Chief like that! And now she wants her one phone call. OK, I can do that! Whatever the Chief asks me to do, I'll do. You bet!

And now he's after Lord Salcombe! Boy, he's hot on the scent. I wish I could go with them.

What's the Commissioner doing here? Why is he talking to the mystery woman? Why is he ordering me to let her out of the cell? The Chief is going to kill me but what can I do? The Commissioner outranks the Chief. Oh, I just know this case suddenly got a lot more complicated! Where's my notebook?

And here comes the Chief! What do I say? What do I do? I think I'll keep my head down and my ears open, that's what I'll do.

Well, that was an eye-opener! Charlie, a henchman? Lord Salcombe, dead? Our suspect, a cop? What the heck is going on?! My little notebook is filling up but nothing makes any sense! How are we supposed to untangle this mare's nest of clues? My head hurts… aannnnddd… we're back off to the estate! I'm going to wear out my boot leather with all this running around. Charlie never ran around!

The laser tape measure

What? The Chief wants ME to help him and not Lily? Oh, boy! Here's my chance! I have to make him see me! I have to prove to him that I'm a real cop!

Oh, wow! I know he says I don't ever want to know but I DO want to know! How long did it take him to piece this vase back together?! And he's right! This vase was broken by a gunshot! And he's talking to me… really talking to me… letting me in on his thinking. I'm going to have to memorize all this. I don't want him to see me scribbling it all down in my little booklet like a rookie.

Of course! Line up the bullet-holes. Find the bullet. What a neat trick with the laser. He's brilliant! And he let ME aim the beam. That means he trusts me. Oh, I just know he's the one. He's GOT to be!

End – Part 1