I, Jack Wright (2025) s01e01 Episode Script

1
(clanging, clattering)
(noisy, distant chatter)
(door clangs loudly)
(footsteps approaching)
(lighter flicks)
Oh, certainly I thought
I knew him.
(blows smoke)
I knew his family.
I mean, I thought I knew myself.
(scoffs)
Obviously I was wrong.
(door creaks)
John: Well, the police reached
their conclusions.
My family reached theirs.
And thenI reached mine.
Graham: Oh, he knew exactly what
he was doing.
'Cause here we all still
banging on about
two years later.
And I don't like to speak ill
of the dead or anything,
butwhat happened to him,
pfft
bastard deserved it all.
Emily: I mean, it's only really
got one job,
your family
to love you.
Can I get you anything else?
No, that's perfect.
Healthily, selflessly
unconditionally.
That's all it needed to do.
(wind howling)
JACK: He's a teenager.
He's genetically programmed
to be lazy.
I wasn't lazy at school.
Well, girls are societally
programmed to please,
which is why they fall behind
when they enter work.
Failure is such a novel concept
when they encounter it
it knocks them sideways.
Sally: And this is why I fell
in love with you.
Your unerring ability
to talk total cock
with absolute conviction.
(chuckles) I think you think
that's an insult.
Women actually fall behind
because they leave
to have children.
Hey, why let the facts
get in the way?
Well, whatever.
The lad needs a kick up
the arse.
Tell him to buck his bloody
ideas up.
He needs his qualifications.
See you in town tomorrow?
Maybe.
Meeting's shifted.
You staying in Paris?
Mmm. I have a four o'clock
in the city.
Okay, I'll call you
in the morning
when I know me day.
(sighs) Cool.
I'm a bit tired now, baby,
so I'm gonna say night-night.
Night-night.
And Sal
I do love you.
Well, I do love you too
very much.
Hopefully see you tomorrow.
(bird twittering)
(fire crackling)
(slurping)
(traffic humming)
(door closes)
(leaves rustling)
(door closes)
(gunshot)
(crows cawing)
(pigeons cooing)
(siren blaring)
(telephone ringing)
(receiver clangs)
SALLY: Allô?
Er, yes, this is she.
What?
(sobs) No, no, no, no, no.
(cries, screams)
It was the cook.
That was quick.
Who found him.
She gets up at five a.m.
to make his breakfast.
He used to start work at six.
Why would you start work at
six a.m. if you owned all this?
Yeah, and was 74?
Did she move him at all?
Attempt any resuscitation?
Oh, no. She says not.
But she's in a bit of a state,
to be honest.
I think they all are.
And did anyone have any clue
this was coming?
No, in fact, the housekeeper
just said
if ever there was a man less
likely to kill himself.
Okay, I want to speak to every
single person
who lives or works here.
(baby screaming, crying)
You know what?
On second thoughts,
I think I would like you to
come in.
I'm suddenly quite nervous.
Not a problem. I shall be
right here by your side.
(mobile rings)
Thanks, Bobby.
(waiting room chatter)
Sally, hello, nice surprise.
How are you?
Oh, no.
- Sally: He's dead.
- Oh, no.
(background chatter)
Rob.
- Sir.
- For Mikey.
Oh, wow. Thank you, Sir.
It's not every day you become
a teenager, is it?
Tell him to spend it unwisely.
Have a good day, Rob.
(mobile rings)
Hello, Mum, how are you today?
(briefcase thumps)
(mobile buzzing)
Alright, Jono?
Long time.
What's up?
You what?
No.
No. No!
Gray?
(mobile buzzes)
KYLE: Em?
Em, your cell, baby.
Dad?
What the fuck?
(crows cawing)
DS WILSON: Forensics?
HECTOR: Yeah, you know,
just to give the scene
a quick once over, you know,
rule out any other
possibilities.
DS WILSON:
What other possibilities?
I don't know, but
shooting yourself in
the chest is not thatcommon.
And I just Googled the guy,
and he's worth north of
a hundred million.
DS WILSON: From what?
HECTOR: Bricks.
DS WILSON: Bricks?
From bricks.
DS WILSON: This is gonna
turn into one of your
'investigations', isn't it?
You can have two guys.
Thank you.
(car door opens)
(police radio chatter)
(car door closes)
Bobby: Rose?
Sorry. Coucould you repeat
the question?
Of course.
I was just asking if you
understood everything,
what the results mean?
That it's now inoperable?
Yes.
I wonder if he had something.
I mean, I can't think of
any other reason
why he'd do something like that.
Would you like to come back
another day, Mrs Wright,
to discuss your protocol,
I mean?
No, jujust give Bobby
all the details.
He, he's very good with
stuff like that.
Just give him the details
and that'll be fine.
I need to call
my husband's wife.
ROSE: and I just wanted
to say I'm here for you Sally,
day or night.
"I do love you."
Rose, I mean, what's that about?
"I do love you."
What did that mean?
ROSE: That he did.
Whatever happened last night,
hehe wanted you to know
that he absolutely adored you,
asas he did the kids.
Then how could he do this to us?
(sobbing)
How could he leave me
and his children like this?
It makes no sense.
I know it doesn't.
And I'm so, so sorry.
Have you told them yet,
the children?
SALLY: Erm, I'm travelling back
to the school now.
Rose, I've got a million calls
I have to make.
But listen, I'll probably head
over to Marston, er,
first thing tomorrow,
if you want to come over?
Of course.
Call me when you arrive.
God bless, my lovely.
You, too.
Bye now.
We only spoke yesterday.
I rang him about
the acquisition.
We spoke for 20 minutes
about the future
about where he wanted us to be
in five years.
Well, some practical
considerations.
I've cancelled the rest of
the week's meetings for you,
but I've kept the board meeting
in for tomorrow,
given some important decisions
will need to be made now.
(office chatter, phone ringing)
What would I do without you?
Your father used to say
the same.
And he was left-handed?
Er, yes he was, yeah.
Er, do you recognise the gun?
That is his.
And he was competent
handling it?
Well, he'd been around guns
all his life.
He knew how to handle them.
Listen, I'd be very surprised
if this was accidental.
And can you contact
all my clients ASAP?
Tell them I, erm,
I'm gonna be off grid for
at least a month.
Thank you.
Thanks, Paul.
(children playing in background)
But what I do know,
what I can say,
without a scintilla of doubt,
is that he cared more about you
than anyone else in the world.
Yeah, right.
Joshie.
Your dad adored you.
No one who loves someone
does something like that.
Oh, sweetheart.
I wasn't that keen on him
while he was alive.
I like him even less now
he's dead.
Josh.
(door creaks)
(door slams)
Shh, shh, shh.
And who else has a key to
the gun cabinet?
Just me and Mr Wright
and Mr Coates.
The estate manager.
Er, right.
And you live here?
No, um, no.
I live in the village with
my daughter,
which is where I was from
six last night.
Got it.
Okay, thank you, Mary.
(police radio chatter)
EMMA: All of this,
the business,
even moving here,
was all because of him, so
I know, baby.
Do they know when
the funeral is?
(sighs) It'll be sometime
next week.
So, yeah, you'll have to
do Ipcon.
Of course.
(birds twittering)
Look, all I'll say is that
it's you
who's been prepping this
for two years.
It's you the investors are gonna
wanna speak to.
I have no choice, Kyle.
Then we'll make it work.
Thank you.
(drawer trundles open)
- That were his dad's.
- Oh.
Sorry, er, Mary told me
you were up here.
II can wait downstairs.
No, please stay.
I can't decide
what to dress him in, Rose.
Well, you're on the right lines
with that.
He hated suits, didn't he?
Yeah.
Okay.
How about we try cords
for trousers?
God knows why, but he loved
his bloody cords.
(wardrobe opens)
You know, he never listened to
a single track I made.
Never came to a single gig.
When was the last time
you saw him?
Years ago.
I mean, really
what was the fucking point?
But(claps hands)
now that he's gone, Belle,
it means things are
gonna change.
How do you mean?
How do you think?
I'm his first-born.
He'll still have looked
after me,
which means I can now
look after you,
get you back in that studio,
get some marketing money
behind you this time,
and this
things are gonna change.
(kiss)
(knocking on door)
(door opens)
Er, got Mr Elliot on the phone.
Apparently you're meant to be
meeting with him.
Fuck.
Tell him I'm on me way.
(groans) Oh.
Erm, tell him I've had
a bereavement.
Change of plan, Mum.
Sorry, I think there might be
some kind of
misunderstanding here,
Mrs Wright.
I don't see why.
It's a simple enough question.
How long might probate take?
Yes, obviously I understand
the question.
II'm just not sure why
you're asking me.
Because you're our lawyer.
Er, I'm your lawyer,
but I'm not your late
husband's lawyer.
I'm sorry?
Right. I assumed he would have
told you.
My apologies.
Told me what?
That your husband
dis-instructed us
about three months ago.
The will we drew up for him
is now null and void.
In fact, we shredded both copies
of it in this office in
early August.
SALLY: And I've just learnt that
my late husband
instructed you to write a new
will for him.
And I was hoping you could
call me back, please.
A-S-A-P.
Thank you so much.
And we signed two new artists
last month
who we have very high hopes for.
Er, so basically, yeah
very positive news.
Pleased to hear that, Gray.
Thank you.
(background restaurant chatter)
And, erm, my money?
Coming, Eddie, very soon.
Er, Spotify payments are due
end of the month, and
(punch)
Urgh, oh.
God. (groans) Ah.
I think you broke me
fucking nose, Ed.
Oh, my God.
Fifty grandby next Friday.
Sorry for your loss.
(Gray sighs)
Oh, fuck.
(vomiting)
(toilet flushes)
(door unlocks)
(sighs)
(water running)
(spitting)
(sighs deeply)
Help me out here, Dad.
(door rumbles open)
(door rumbles shut)
Morning, everyone.
ALL: Morning, John.
(police siren blares distantly)
(clears throat)
(chair rattles, clanks)
(clears throat nervously)
So
I'd like to start, if I may,
by thanking everyone
for their kind messages.
My father would have been
deeply touched
by the many lovely sentiments
expressed in them.
He really would.
And then he'd have stuck
all the cards in a drawer,
said, "That's all well and good,
but we still have
bricks to bake."
Yeah.
(clears throat)
And so, with that very much
in mind,
I'm going to ask you now to look
at item number one
on the agenda today.
The vote
for myself to take over
as Acting Chief Executive
with immediate effect.
Nothing much to say on this one.
Erm, I believe it's what my
father would have wanted,
and it's certainly what
I believe, as COO,
would be in the company's
best interest right now.
And so
I ask you to cast your votes
now, please.
All those in favour?
Thank you.
Thank you.
And did you know that
he hadn't told me?
- I'd guessed.
- And did he say why
he hadn't told me?
- No.
- But he seemed sane
and rational to you?
- He did.
- Because you know how he died?
I do.
And, er
all I can say is on the several
occasions we met, he
always seemed completely
in charge of his faculties.
Yeah.
But, er, in terms of what
happens now,
and as his executor
I was his executor.
Mr Wright did leave
very specific instructions
as to how he wished things
to proceed.
A number of these letters are
being sent out as we speak,
detailing the date, time,
place for a will reading.
- A reading?
- Yes.
I'm sorry, I thought you would
have brought it here now.
- Brought what?
- The will. The fucking
his new will. I'm so sorry.
Right, uh, no.
I'm his wife, Laura.
We have two children.
I need to see his will.
And those were his instructions,
I'm afraid.
(envelope tears)
And this is
next Friday?
He, er, he wanted it
the day after the funeral,
which I believe is Thursday.
And are you allowed to tell me
who else is invited?
Mm, I'm not, I'm afraid.
He very much wanted it
to be a surprise.
(car rumbling)
Gotta let it go ♪
My man ♪
(knocking on door)
(door opens)
Oh, Nan.
I know my lovey, I know.
Oh. (sighs)
I don't know what they're
feeding you out there.
Whatever it is you need seconds.
- (laughs)
Come on. I've got a hotpot in
the oven.
Try and make up ♪
And he'd had no history
ofdepression, or
any mental health issues
that you knew about?
Nope.
Not that I was aware of.
I mean, I know he'd been
drinking when we spoke,
so maybe he
wanted to clean the gun or
go after some rats, or
I don't know I just, erm
I don't believe he would have
done that deliberately.
So, you think it was an accident
of some sort?
I can't think of any other
explanation right now.
And that last call,
what time was that?
(clears throat) Er, about 9:30.
And you were here?
No, we also have a
a place in Paris.
- I wasI was there for work.
- Right.
Okay, well, I'm sure you have
lots to sort out.
I will get out of your hair.
(sighs) Thank you.
(footsteps receding)
Sorry, just one more thing.
Did you know of anyone who
might have wanted any harm
to come to your husband?
- Harm?
- Yeah.
You think someone could have
done this to him?
I just have to eliminate
all possibilities.
No, no, I'm sorry. I don't.
Okay. Well, thank you very much
for your time, Mrs Wright,
and once again,
I'm so sorry for your loss.
Thank you.
(door opens)
(door bangs shut)
JOHN: I meant to say,
Gray rang earlier,
said he's actually got
a dodgy knee,
so, it'll be one of
the undertakers
beside me now.
And then
Josh and Jack's estate
manager at the back.
Well, I
I think that's good that Gray
isn't doing it.
Leaves you at the front
on your own,
which is exactly where
you should be.
You're head of the family now,
John.
Not her
or her boy.
Not your brother.
You.
- (chuckles)
And we want everyone
to see that.
Because, by God,
have you served your time.
We both have.
(pats gently)
(lipstick pops open)
That businesswith our
solicitors, George.
Stop.
That is something only
you and I know about
and need never be
mentioned again, okay?
Not to family, not to work,
not to anyone.
Okay?
I'll wait downstairs.
(footsteps receding down stairs)
He would've been very
proud of you both.
How strong you're being.
Please don't.
He would also have said there's
nowt like a good blub.
(stifled sob)
So, if you feel like crying,
you go right ahead.
That's fine, too.
For you too, Mum.
(exhales) Absolutely.
(door opens)
(door closes)
I meant to say about your dad,
I know he's genuinely
looking forward to seeing you.
So, if you could be civil
to him.
Just for todayand for me.
I'd really appreciate it.
Yeah, of course.
(church bell tolls)
(choral singing)
In the name of the Father,
the Son,
and the Holy Spirit, amen.
Please, do sit.
Well, welcome everyone to this,
our chance today
to say a very fond farewell
to Jack Kenton Wright.
A much-loved dad,
granddad, husband, and friend.
So, our chance to say goodbye,
but also our chance
to celebrate
what was a remarkable life.
Jack was born the last of
eight children in 1950
in Mary Street, Swinton,
at that time a rundown suburb
of Manchester,
to John and Elsie Wright.
His father a labourer,
his mother a washerwoman
who had themselves met in
a Salford workhouse.
(snorting loudly)
(claps)
(crows cawing)
(people chattering)
EMILY: It's a new kind of
social media company.
And, what's your role
within the company, Emily?
Uh, it's mine. I own it.
I'm Chief Exec.
Hm-mm. (chuckles)
No, he nabbed me
straight out of uni.
Don't think I stood a chance.
So yeah, 25 years now,
man and boy.
And what was he like to
work for?
Oh, tough.
You know, no favouritism.
Had me in the post room
for the first year.
But fair.
Firm but fair.
And he still rang her,
you know, every day.
To ask her advice on things,
oror just to natter.
So, you and me mum,
you're not shagging her
or 'owt, are ya?
- No, what?
- Or planning on getting hitched
or anything like that?
Wewe're companions, Graham
Because Iyou know,
I can't help but notice
that you are a bit of a toy-boy,
- Bobby, mate.
- A what?
And a confirmed bachelor
she said,
before you met her.
So, uh, it all just feels
a bit
As Ias I just said,
er, Graham,
we're companions and, and,
and that's all there is to it.
Alright, alright, alright.
Keep your hair on, big man.
BELLA: and although they
hadn't actually seen each other
in the last few years,
he felt they were still
very close, spiritually.
In fact, Gray always said
he felt him and his dad
were cut very much from
the same cloth.
- Did he?
- He thinks that's why
they never got on. Too similar.
Both very creative and also
quite self-destructive.
Right, right, er, ssorry,
excuse me.
And you didn't think to send me
your new address?
Dad, you once moved house
without telling me
whilst I was still living there.
I absolutely did not.
You did. I came back from
a weekend with Mum,
to another family
answering the door.
I was 12.
Err, that's enough, matey.
I'm fine, Mum.
I'm big and brave and strong,
remember?
You okay?
- Hey, handsome.
- Hey, Em.
Oh, look at you all tall
and hairy.
Last time I saw you,
you were showing me
how many frozen peas
you could shove
under your foreskin.
(laughter)
Ow.
And he's up there on every wall,
looking down on you,
and, oh, boy, you'd best be
on your toes
because if you mess up,
well, I wouldn't put it past
the old bastard
to make a comeback.
Time to go now, John.
Big day tomorrow.
Go get some sleep.
(bottles, glasses clinking)
- Night, Sal.
- Night, darling.
- Night.
- Goodnight.
(birds twittering)
HECTOR: Ah-ah-ah-ah.
- Apples, carrots, chicken.
- No, my chicken, you haven't
- Pepper?
- EEllie, I'll tell you what,
why don't we getlook, okay.
Here, Mama, look, Mama.
Please eat me.
(mobile buzzes)
One for you, that's for you.
That is for me.
Er
Morgan.
Hector.
It's Andy Dawson,
I've just done the post-mortem
on Jack Wright.
Do you have five minutes
to pop over?
Erm
Er, yeah, no, sure I'll be
I'll be right there.
Alright, let's go.
Seriously, shoes.
Leave that, go.
Let's off, ba-ba-ba-ba.
Come on, come on, come on.
And I don't know why I ever
expected my dad to change,
but, hey, it's all good.
Just missing you.
KYLE: Well, I'm missing you too.
(phone vibrates)
Although I've been prepping
for Ipcon,
so, I've not really had too
much time
But listen, they're calling us
into the reading,
so better run. I'll ring you
from Heathrow this afternoon.
KYLE: Yeah. Cool.
Okay. Love you. Speak later.
KYLE: Love
(beep)
Hey
(crow caws)
everything okay?
REUBEN: Everything's fine.
I just wanted to say good luck.
And let's hope
he kept his word.
I'll call you as soon
as it's done.
(crow caws)
(sighs)
What I am about to read
is not the will itself.
That's a long and detailed
legal document,
which is available to be read
by everyone invited here today,
er, as soon as this first
document is read.
This document is, er,
a letter of wishes
written in conjunction
with the will, by Jack.
Both documents were validly
signed and witnessed
in my presence just a
a month or so ago.
(seal snaps)
(paper rustles)
"To my family, my friends,
and my work colleagues.
Thank you for coming
this morning.
I'm only sorry I couldn't be
with you all."
(scoffs)
"I'm going to be brief as I know
you all have busy lives,
and I suspect there'll be lots
to discuss
after hearing my last wishes.
In which regard,
please believe me
when I say that no decision
was taken lightly,
but after long and careful
consideration,
of what I believed
to be right and fair.
After all bequests
have been effected,
the residue of my estate shall
be left to the three charities
stipulated in my full last will
and testament."
"The bequests."
"To my estate manager
and friend, Derek Coates,
I bequeath the sum of
one million pounds.
To my work colleague
and friend, Annie Rouse,
I bequeath the sum of
one million pounds."
(scoffs)
"To my first wife, Rose Wright,
I bequeath the sum of
five hundred thousand pounds.
To my eldest daughter,
Asha Bell,
I bequeath the sum of
two million pounds."
Er, II should say that we are
still trying to track Asha down.
"To my granddaughter,
Emily Wright,
I bequeath the sum of
fifteen million pounds,
my company shareholding,
and my wish she be appointed
Chief Executive
of JK Wright Limited.
To my daughter, Daisy,
I bequeath the sum of
ten million pounds
to be held in a trust until
she is thirty.
To each of my sons,
John and Graham,
I bequeath the sum of ten
thousand pounds."
"And to my wife, Sally,
I leave the rent-free tenancy
of my London house,
my Parisian apartment,
and Marston Manor
for five years,
when they will then all be sold
and the proceeds
given to charity."
And that's it.
(exhales)
(chair scrapes loudly)
GRAHAM: I mean,
I was his first born.
So, no matter what had
gone on between us,
how could he do that to me?
How could he have been so cruel?
No way is that his real will.
No fucking way.
And if you think
I'm just gonna sit here
and accept that bullshit,
you are fucking tripping.
(chair scrapes)
GEORGIA: 25 years of loyalty.
25 years of doing
his bidding
and being his pathetic
little lap dog.
And this was how he repaid us.
Not a chance, missy.
Those shares are ours.
So, not a bloody chance
you're getting your fucking
hands on them.
EMILY: Yeah, it was grim.
Not just her, but later
my own father
shouting at me as if it were
somehow all my fault.
And do you know what?
For years, for way too long,
I thought it probably was.
Now, not so much.
John, I promise, I had no idea
this was his intention,
and I am as shocked and upset
as everyone else,
so please
- Stop!
I have to say in that
moment, in that precise instant,
it all seemed very clear
that his death wasn't
an accident.
He wasn't the victim of some
awful crime.
In that moment, having heard
what I just had,
I fully believed he must have
lost his mind.
Or else how could he leave more
to hisestate manager
than to one of our children?
That's what I thought then.
(hands bang on desk)
By my count, my son
and I are short forty million.
So, don't go spending it
just yet, will you?
'Cause we'll be wanting it back.
Every singlepenny.
(door opens)
(door slams thunderously)
The results of the gunshot
residue swab.
It's negative.
Exactly.
What did you swab?
His hands, arms, torso, head.
And?
And there's nothing.
No residue on Jack Wright
anywhere.
Which means?
Which means
(door opens)
I just can't see how he could
have fired this gun himself.
And I know what you're thinking.
She's the one in prison.
(cigarette sizzles)
Except it's not as simple
as that
is it?
"Baby Did a Bad Bad Thing"
by Chris Isaak