#sandra pullman

Sandra nodded once, pulled back her teeth in a mockery of a smile as she said good-bye and hung the phone up like she drank her dry white, forcefully and with not inconsiderable haste. Gerry leaned back for the inevitable explosion. It was not long in coming. “DAC Strickland is concerned,” Sandra mimicked Strickland’s accent with the fluency of much practice, “about our lack of progress on this case.”

Gerry snorted.

“Concerned about the lack of press coverage of our progress, you mean.”

“Such cynicism doesn’t become you, Gerry.”

Brian: Not anymore. I don't actually have a kitchen at this point in time. I'm not even sure I've got a marital home.

Sandra: Jack, go and get those tested. You two are confined to barracks until further notice. DON'T MOVE UNTIL I GET BACK!

Gerry: Why? Where are you going?

Sandra Pullman:” With all due respect, Sir, that’s like criticizing someone for not being a very good arsehole. “

Talking to the Dead (2004)

“Everyone is aware of the distinctive and enviable career path you’ve carved out for yourself. But you screwed up.“ - DAC Don Bevan We first meet Det Sup Pullman screwing up.

She shoots the dog, which kicks off her punishment by being sent to the basement with UCOS by DAC Bevan. Before that, she’s had a meteoric rise. Sussex University, then accelerated entry into the police in 1987. She goes to the Police Staff College at Bramshill in 1992. From 1992 to 1995 she’s a Detective Inspector in the Murder Squad, which is when Jack Halford is her governor.  From 1995 to 1998, she’s a Detective Chief Inspector in Armed Robbery. Presumably (although we are not told this), she was promoted to Superintendent and put in charge of the Anti-Kidnap Unit, hence her position at the beginning of the show. Which means that she’s only actually been a police officer for 16 years.

The second time we see Sandra, being called in by Bevan to be told that she’s going to be in charge of UCOS. Her hair will never reach this level of complexity again, (or that level of hairspray), and I envy her suit. (Pinstripes!). We learn that Sandra does have something of a sense of humor, although it’s mostly buried.

However much she looks tight-laced and fabulous though, it’s completely unsuited to being a police officer. Her stilettos are tall enough and thin enough that she has trouble walking in Jack’s back garden. And, when we see her sitting on the coach, she isn’t actually wearing shoes. How is she going to chase a suspect in those? And, over the course of the pilot, we will see Sandra go from incredibly done up to being more practical. We have our hiring scene, which is so hilarious it deserves it’s own post. But it’s important to note that, like Gerry later, Sandra takes Brian and Gerry on Jack’s recommendation. Sandra says, “Brian Lane? I know what happened to him.” Jack: “No, you don’t. You only think you know.”

We also learn that Sandra has abominable taste in men, and not much home life, aside from drinking dry white wine. Her paramour is a married man, and not much interested in having an affair now that Sandra is in the police version of the doghouse. She’s no longer ‘discreet,’ he sneers, because she’s an embarrassment. She tells him to get lost. Well, she has some standards.

Sandra presents the case using far too much technical language and CopSpeak for her newly acquired retirees squad. They’ve seen this all before a thousand times. In any case, her makeup is still perfect, her hair is fancy and her pencil skirt looks fabulous. Good to look good, but not very practical for police work. And, she’s worried this is all just a ‘waste of time,’ making sure that the conviction is secure and murderer is caught, because it happened so long ago. Sandra’s doubt about the importance of UCOS will be a reoccuring theme. In part because she thinks she’s better than this.

Day Three on the job, and we get this fabulous red suit, which we will never see again. Also, that hair is still pretty fancy.

In any case, at this point, Sandra is still willing to bow to dignity of rank and make allowances for senior officers (even former ones.) Fortunately, Jack tells her to get her head on straight. Let’s be fair though. She also tells Gerry off for taping suspects because the tapes are inadmissible in court (true.) She has an immediate hatred for Gerry: “Jack said I should take you on trust. The trouble is, I don’t trust you and I don’t like you.”

Sandra, at home. This casual half-up will be her go-to hair for the rest of the show. Also, dry-white wine. And lonely house after hours.

And what should happen? The telephone rings. “Jack, I do have a life outside the office.” “No, you don’t.” And Jack is right, of course.

Sandra’s standard face when dealing with Brian’s eccentricities. Otherwise known as: tell me you did not just say what I thought you said. In this conversation, Sandra is willing to be persuaded that they need to be honest and thorough as detectives, and she sticks by those guns.

Sandra still has terrible taste in men. At least she doesn’t take him back. (This will be a recurring theme in every season.) In many ways, Sandra’s terrible taste and bad luck with men mirror Gerry’s flings with women. Also, the lads cheer this decision.

Day Four: and we get relaxed hair and a much more sensible suit. We also get another joke by Sandra: “Is that like a full house beats a flush?” Well, no, it isn’t. But hey! that sense of humor is cracking out again.

Almost an hour into the pilot, Sandra makes her first feat of detective brilliance. Part of Sandra’s appeal as a character is that, even though she is in charge--she’s by no means the best detective on the UCOS squad. She’s good, of course, but she’s not as good as Jack or Brian. She’s a good interrogator, but all three of the lads are better than her some of the time, and Jack most of the time.

Day Five: Sandra is now unimpressed by Lovett’s bullshit. And she’s now starting to take the case seriously.

Part of Sandra’s other appeal as a character and a leader is that she is willing to take advice, and she is willing to back down. And, in this case, she’s willing to be summoned late at night to hear a brilliant piece of deduction on the case. Also, scotch.

Day Six: a much more relaxed hair-do, more casual suit, and also much lighter makeup. The Det Sup Pullman that we know and love in the UCOS basement has arrived.

Det Sup Pullman’s arresting people face.

She throws a mean punch. Which the lads appreciate. “I don’t know about you, but she’s making me very excited.” -Gerry