Deceit (2021) s01e01 Episode Script

1
This programme contains
strong language,
scenes of a sexual nature
and drug-taking,
and disturbing references to
violence, including sexual violence,
that some viewers
may find distressing
MUSIC MUTED
ELECTRONIC DANCE MUSIC PLAYS
Can I get five beers?
DIALOGUE MUTED
ELECTRONIC DANCE MUSIC PLAYS
MUSIC FADES
Oh, my gosh, I'm so sorry.
Actually, maybe I'm not sorry.
SHE LAUGHS
Where you from?
Blackrock. Dublin.
I'm at N17 south, now.
Mm
You're going to be
lucky for me tonight, Irish?
I don't know. Maybe.
Who you here with?
Your best tell your lickle
boyfriend he's a bit too far east.
He's not my boyfriend.
What's he here for, then?
You can tell me.
Looking to expand business.
What business?
He's got customers -
Tottenham, Wood Green, Manor House.
Even looking at moving into Enfield.
It's just,
he needs a bigger supplier.
Now, how am I going to sleep tonight
if I don't know your name?
Kash.
Lisa.
So if I do business with them
..do you come as part of the deal?
MOTORBIKE ROARS PAS
Hey!
WATER TRICKLES
SHE GASPS
REGGAE MUSIC PLAYS
DOOR SHUTS
What the fuck you looking at?
SHOUTING AND BANGING
Armed police!
Shit!
Fuck! Fuck them!
Baz!
Baz, let me in!
SHOUTING CONTINUES DOWNSTAIRS
SHE SHOUTS
Get your fuckin' hands off me!
Ah!
Fuckin' pig!
SHE BREATHES SLOWLY
SHE EXHALES SLOWLY
Hey, Irish?
I thought you were
going to be lucky for me.
CAR DOOR OPENS
HE CHUCKLES
SHE SIGHS
You took your time.
HE CHUCKLES
SHOWER RUNS
You've all worked
your arses off on this one.
Don't think that's gone unnoticed.
This team's been trying
to infiltrate
the TMC for a while now.
I know there's been pressure
on all of us, from all sides.
For 18 months,
we've been trying to get
inside those fortified doors.
So what we achieved last night
is off the scale, the equivalent
of busting through a New York
latch single-handed.
Inside that room,
were enough AK-47s and ammunition
to take out half of Tottenham.
-We seized over 20
-K worth of crack.
We have Mark Bailey, AKA Kash
and Adio Campbell, AKA Toxic,
with their fingerprints on the gear,
which is a bloody first.
LAUGHTER
They've both been charged
and are tucked up safely in Brixton
waiting a court date.
And all this thanks to one fearless
officer, someone who always goes
over and above to get the job done.
Da Costa, on your feet, please.
A round pf applause for the man.
No need.
Honestly, guv.
I just did what any one of you'd do.
All right. All right.
Very good.
Da Costa
..borough commander wants to see you
tomorrow morning, 10:00 am.
Well done, sunshine.
CROWD: Ooh!
APPLAUSE AND LAUGHTER
Hi.
Go on, then, can I have
a little cuddle?
Ah, whoosh!
So how bad was it?
17 hours of bed.
Thought I'd never walk again.
Oi, Ellie don't be giving them lot
baby fever, yeah?
Otherwise there'll be no-one
left in the office to make my tea.
And there'll be no-one to spit in
it either, isn't that right?
THEY GIGGLE
As much as I'd love to cuddle
you all day, sweetheart,
auntie Sadie's got a shit ton of
paperwork to get done.
Oi, one of them Wombles called
when you were out here bitching.
They want to see you about that
Rachel Nickell murder.
TV: On Wimbledon Common in
south-west London, a young mother,
Rachel Nickell,
was repeatedly stabbed.
It appears to be a random killing,
which, of course, makes it
extremely
..in a ferocious attack
she was sexually assaulted
and stabbed.
Her two-year-old son was found
clinging to her body.
The murder has sent shock waves
through the country.
An unsuspecting young woman murdered
in a busy, open space
in broad daylight.
TV: Police officers described the
murder as one of the most horrific
they'd ever had to deal with.
They began an extensive
search of the common to find
a murder weapon.
Public horror was made
TV: Pressure is mounting on police
who have still not made a single
arrest in the hunt for Rachel's
killer.
Local residents fearing
for their safety
are demanding action.
One police officer described
it as the most horrific and frenzied
attack he had ever seen.
CHATTERING
CHATTERING GETS LOUDER
I know we're seven months in, Sir,
but this is going to work.
Absolutely.
Once the Yard sign off on it,
we're good to go.
Just..just give this a chance.
Please.
Guv.
Sadie
Keith Pedder.
This way, please.
You come highly recommended
SO-10.
Have a seat.
Well, you certainly fit the brief.
And you're SIO on Rachel Nickell's
murder?
It's a feeding frenzy.
The tabloids are obsessed
with Rachel.
She was beautiful.
Thanks to the press coverage
it generated 5,000 lines of inquiry,
1,200 witness statements and 4,000
contacts with the public.
We've got an 1,100-acre
crime scene, no forensics
and the only witness was
a two-year-old kid.
We need a break.
So how is a covert officer
going to help?
Have you heard of offender
profiling?
Like the FBI?
Yeah, exactly.
I asked two criminal profilers,
Robert Ressler from the FBI
and English profiler
Professor Paul Britton,
to examine the evidence,
the crime scene.
Both came back with virtually
identical profiles for the killer.
The minute I walked into his flat,
I could see it matched the profile.
Colin Stagg?
He's a near perfect match, but
that's not why we arrested him.
When that went out on Crimewatch
..half the estate rang in
to name him.
I've got two witnesses
that put him five minutes
from the scene when he claims
he was at home with a headache,
watching a quiz show
that wasn't even on.
That's what he did to her.
The killer sexually assaulted
Rachel Nickell.
He stabbed her 49 times.
All in front of her little boy.
Professor Britton's very sure
about one thing
..this isn't over.
He will kill again.
We've got nothing but circumstantial
evidence against Stagg.
That's why we need your help, Sadie.
How?
We asked Professor Britton
if he could design an undercover op
based on his analysis
of the murderous deviant sexuality,
one that would either eliminate
Stagg from the inquiry
or where he may further
implicate himself.
We're calling it Operation Edzell.
The operation gives Stagg the space
to build a relationship
with a covert officer.
If he's guilty
..reveal his involvement.
We want to put you right at the
heart of it.
What would you want me to do?
Become part of Colin Stagg's world.
Gain his trust.
Play to what drives him.
We need you to indulge
his darkest fantasies.
This job requires a very special
officer, Sadie.
I'd like you to go and meet
Professor Britten.
KNOCKING ON DOOR
Come in.
Professor Britton?
I'm DC Sadie Byrne.
I'm from SO-10.
Sit, please.
Can I offer you a cup of tea,
coffee?
Er, tea, please.
Milk and one.
Do you prefer the milk added
first or last?
Last.
Would you like me to stir it
for you?
Or would you prefer
to stir it yourself?
I don't mind.
Interesting.
Mr Pedder said that you would
explain the operation.
Why did you choose undercover?
There are agencies to take
men down for their crimes.
I mean, what woman wouldn't jump
at the chance?
I read your profile.
It suggested that our killer
is a man
with a powerful, deviant
sexual fantasy life.
Two years ago, Colin Stagg sent
an unsolicited sexual fantasy
to a woman called Tracy Hynes
in response to her advertisement
in a lonely hearts column.
"I couldn't help spying on you
..and what I saw you do really
made my day
..to see you wank
yourself like that
..really turned me on
..and I was wondering if you would
do it again right in front of me
so I can see up close.
Smiling, she says to me,
"Undo my skirt,"
which I quickly do,
and we are both naked.
She's getting so hot and excited,
I can't wait any longer.
I grab her and push her face
down into the grass
..forcing myself into her."
It's a common sexual fantasy,
sex outdoors.
Why do you think it interests me?
There's similarities between
the attack on Wimbledon Common.
He uses violence.
He wants to punish and humiliate
her
..just like Rachel Nickell's killer.
This gives us a glimpse
into Stagg's fantasy world.
It also gives us the perfect
way in for you.
A way in?
We want you to write to him.
You play the part
of Tracy Hynes' friend.
You saw the letter she found
so offensive, but
..it didn't offend you.
Rather, it aroused you.
Mr Pedder seems pretty certain
that Stagg is your man.
Mr Pedder is a detective.
I'm a psychologist.
But if he's right, then
you are going to be dealing with
an extremely dangerous man.
A predator.
Well, I've handled myself
face-to-face with armed Yardies,
I think I can handle a pen
and paper.
I don't think you've crossed paths
with a man like this before
..the sort of man who can only
become aroused by dominating
a woman
..who derives pleasure from her
..fear.
..from her total compliance
..and utter humiliation
..a man sexually aroused by
the feeling
of a knife in his hand
and the sight, sound and smell
..as that knife slices human flesh.
WHISPERS: You've got beautiful,
blue eyes, Sadie.
Well done.
I think you're up to the task.
What exactly is the task?
To make Stagg fall in love with you.
SIREN WAILS IN DISTANCE
Sade! Sadie!
Be honest.
How old do I look?
20ish.
And from behind?
Younger. Good.
He likes them young -
last one was 16.
I swear to God if he doesn't
pick me tonight
and Keira gets him tomorrow
Oh, so you're off, then, are you?
Your best mate as being seconded
to the Rachel Nickell case.
SHE LAUGHS
You going to wish me luck?
Come here.
Yes!
Oh, you lucky cow!
Enjoy it, mate.
Get to work, you tramp. Go on.
Hey.
What about me?
Don't get raped.
Come on.
Sadie.
HE SIGHS
This is not a trap.
This operation has been designed
to allow Colin Stagg to either
implicate himself
in Rachel Nickell's murder
or eliminate himself
from the inquiry.
If he shares the same
sexual deviancy as the murderer,
he will reveal it.
I've been through every detail with
the Yard and they've agreed to it -
right to the top, lawyers included.
How long do you think
it's going to take?
It should take between two to
six weeks to establish a rapport,
and once the fantasy exchange
has started,
you should have gone the rest of
the way within two months.
What if he hasn't revealed
any details
about the murder by then?
Then he's either got nothing to hide
or he is never going to reveal it.
The important thing is you must
never put words in his mouth
or ideas in his head.
You must only react to his cues.
Stagg must make the first move
at every stage,
and we do not know where
it will end, Sadie.
But it starts with your letter
introducing yourself
as Tracy Hines' friend.
We're hoping that you'll build
a relationship with Stagg
as a pen pal -
we'll write the letters
but the content will be guided
and approved by the professor.
You'll need to memorise your cover
story to the finest detail -
childhood, school, family, friends.
Yep, I'm used to that.
You'll play the part
of a disturbed young woman
with a dark secret in her past
looking for a certain kind of man.
Dark secret?
A history of involvement
in a Satanic cult.
You'll befriend Stagg
and let it be known that you are
..open-minded.
You know you are different
from other women
but you can't explain why,
and you're trying to find out
if he feels the same way.
Critically,
you must not express any interest
in Rachel Nickell's murder.
If Stagg mentions it,
you will show a
..a passing curiosity but no more.
You can only engage him
after he's brought up Rachel
..three times,
and you must never introduce
any violently aggressive
or sadistic fantasies
into the conversation -
these two must come from Stagg.
You did realise this was going to be
more than just writing letters, hm?
Well, I didn't think
you were just after me
for my handwriting skills, did I?
"Dear Colin, I hope you're
not offended by this intrusion,
"as we've never met before,
"but I feel like I have known you
for years.
"You may remember writing
to a woman called Tracy Hines.
"Tracy was an old friend of mine
"and a while ago
when I stayed with her,
"while she was out, I read a letter
that you sent her.
"I hope you remember because
this letter has been on my mind
"and it interests me greatly.
"I find myself thinking of you
a lot.
"I would be very interested
in getting to know you
"and writing to you again."
"PS, my name is Lizzie."
So I haven't washed in a week,
right?
I pissed on some clothes,
put them in some plastic bags,
I mean, they stink.
I look horrendous,
like proper crackhead vibes,
but I'm in there with them,
I have them
right where I want them
and he's about to sell me the gear.
Then he just stops and stares at me.
Cos I've thought of everything,
right,
my shoes, my clothes, my legends,
everything,
and I think it's perfect,
but he has noticed one little thing.
Nice teeth.
HE CHUCKLES
No crackhead has teeth that clean.
And just like that,
the whole lot was fucked.
So I'm checking everything,
every little detail,
but I'll be fucked if I make
another mistake like that again.
So you ready? Go.
How old are you? 28.
What's your star sign? Scorpio.
Good. Where do you go out?
Dublin. Who'd you live with?
I live alone. I like my own company.
Do you work?
No. I'm cat sitting.
Do you like animals?
I love animals,
especially cute little fluffy ones.
Favourite song?
Real Wild Child, Iggy Pop.
Biggest fear? Spiders.
What do you look for in a man?
Snap.
You've got to go deeper.
And maybe it's a bit "dumb blonde"
with the fluffy animals
and arachnophobia.
I mean, Rachel Nickell was
proper smart.
She went to grammar school.
Yeah, but he didn't know that,
did he?
He didn't look at her and see like,
"Oh, I'm into her brains," did he?
No. But if he watches the news,
he knows now.
I'd work a legend that feels
a bit closer to Rachel.
Play her a bit smarter.
They're right about this man -
he's going to kill again.
I mean, this isn't dealers
or nonces, is it?
You're bait
for Rachel Nickell's killer.
I know what I've signed up for.
Do you? Yeah.
Do you?
Cos it's a different world, Sadie.
Neither of us have done a job
like this before.
Everyone and his dog's got his eyes
on this one.
All I care about is
keeping you safe.
Then we'd better go again -
shall we?
"Dear Lizzie, thank you
so much for your letter,
"which I read with great interest.
"I think we have a lot in common.
"I live a quiet life
with my dog, Brandy.
"We like walking
over the local park.
"I'm five foot seven with dark hair.
"I do a bit of weight training.
"I don't like being told
how to live my life.
"We must each find our own paths
to travel along.
"I do not like people
who are close-minded,
"small minds,
small intelligence."
"I can, if you want, enclose
personal letter with this one
"about a fantasy I've had
since you wrote to me.
"Love, Colin."
He enclosed a fantasy -
so he gives Lizzie the option
and then he takes it away.
He's already trying to control her.
Which may or may not be significant.
It rather depends on the content
of the fantasy.
"We're in my garden
on a hot summer's night.
"Luckily, all the neighbours
are in bed so no-one can see us,
"but the thought that someone might
excites us both.
"You lay on the warm, damp grass
holding my hand.
"I sit astride you
"..slowly masturbating myself
as I stroke your hair.
"You're laying there smiling.
"I would very much like it if I
could send you letters like this one
"about my fantasies,
about us being together.
"Love, Colin."
Sex outdoors, being watched.
It's an unexceptional fantasy,
nothing more than you'd find
in a gentlemen's magazine.
There's nothing in it to suggest
he's our killer.
But he's taken the bait, hasn't he?
He's writing fantasies to her
from the off.
Let's write back. It's too soon.
We'll wait a week.
What about his request
about a photograph of Lizzie?
Well, he might get suspicious
if we don't send it.
I think maybe it's time we show him
who Lizzie James really is.
MUSIC: Connected
by Stereo MCs
If you make sure you're connected
The writing's on the wall
But if your mind's neglected ♪
Right, I'll put this colour on
for you. Let's have a look.
Nice.
Got a special occasion coming up?
Promotion.
Hey, congratulations!
They won't recognise you.
Big change.
That's exactly what I want.
Lizzie James, Lizzie James.
Ten, nine, eight, seven, six,
five, four, three, two.
"Dear Colin, your letter was
certainly enlightening
"and I enjoyed reading your story.
"If I close my eyes,
"I can almost feel you
sat astride me
"and feel your weight pressing me
into the grass.
"You really write well,
"and I bet this is just the tip
of the iceberg
"when it comes to your thoughts.
"There's a lot more to you
than meets the eye, Colin.
"I'm sure your fantasies hold
no bounds
"and you are as broad-minded
and uninhibited as me.
"Write soon, Colin.
"I can't wait to get your letters
in my little hands.
"Love, Lizzie."
TV: Colin Stagg
was a self-styled pagan.
He'd been on the common that morning
and resembled an early Photofit.
When they went around to speak
to him, they found an altar
A man arrested in connection
with the murder of Rachel Nickell
on Wimbledon Common
has been released
after being questioned for two days.
29-year-old Colin Stagg appeared
at Wimbledon Magistrates' Court
today and received
TV AUDIO STOPS
TAPE PLAYER WHIRS AND SQUEAKS
TV: The brutal murder
of Rachel Nickell
in front of her two-year-old son
in July shocked the nation.
The 23-year-old former model
was walking her dog with Alex
on Wimbledon Common in broad
daylight when the killer struck.
Police describe the murder as one
of the most horrific they've ever
TV AUDIO STOPS
DOOR OPENS AND CLOSES
It's good to see you again.
Are you keeping well?
Yeah, I'm fine, thank you.
We received
..another letter this morning.
SHE SNIFFS
He enclosed another fantasy.
Sadie.
"I will grab you by your hair
"and drag you screaming
into my bedroom.
"I will rip your clothes off.
"I ask you
"I'll make you pay for being a dirty
slut as I force you to your"
Can you just read that?
"..to your knees.
"I place a stool in front of you
and force you over it,
"I take a leather belt
from my drawer.
"I place it over your mouth and hold
each end, pulling your head upward."
This goes way beyond
control and humiliation.
He wants to hurt Lizzie.
It's a clear escalation.
The violence here is more extreme
than that carried out by individuals
who derive pleasure
from symbolic enactments
of deviant and submissive
sexual roles
..yes. He ends it,
"I hope this is what you wanted."
What woman would want that?
It is a clear indication
of the deviant sexuality
predicted of Rachel's killer,
I grant you.
But it isn't of the specific nature
of the violence
exhibited in the murder itself.
There's no mention of a knife.
Exactly.
Dear Lizzie.
I'd love to know more about
what happened in your past.
You've got me wondering
about your secret now.
I want to dominate you,
take your body as my plaything.
I want to and will give you
a fucking good sorting out.
You need a damn good fucking
by a real man.
And I'm the one to do it.
By the time I'm finished with you,
you're going to be so sore.
I'm going to make you
work hard for me.
You'll be my sex slave.
I want every fantasy of yours
in my mind.
Every kinky detail,
every randy thought.
Anything you want, you'll get.
By God, you will get it.
I'm going to make sure you're
screaming in agony when I abuse you.
I am going to destroy
your self-esteem.
Ah, good evening. Thank you
for coming this late notice,
I know you're all incredibly busy.
It's, erit's good to see you.
OK. Now we want to move
this forward.
The letters are working
and Stagg is, um
Oh, lights, please.
Stagg is starting to reveal
his true self through his fantasies.
But we think the chance
of a confession
is unlikely to come in writing.
And that's why,
with your permission,
we want to move Operation Edzell
to the next stage.
LINE CRACKLES
DIAL TONE
All right, love?
SHE SIGHS
PHONE RINGS
RECORDER BUTTONS CLUNK
Hello?
Is that Lizzie?
Hello?
Hello?
Hello, how are you?
Is that Colin?
I'm so glad you called.
I was really nervous.
I feel like a 16-year-old
school kid.
STAGG CHUCKLES
Are you nervous?
Yeah.
I'm out of breath, sorry.
I had to run to get the phone.
Oh.
Well, I'm glad we broke the ice
andand got that out the way.
Yeah.
I'm so glad you called.
There's so much
that I want to talk to you about.
Yeah, you keep saying
in your letters.
I'm-I'm sorry. I'm
I'm so sorry if you think
I'm dragging you up the garden path.
It's just
..it will be so much more easier to
talk than write it down, you know?
I understand, yeah.
So this secret in your past
you keep going on about
..what is it?
I really want to know what it is,
Lizzie.
RAIN PATTERS
SHE PUFFS
DOOR SLAMS