North Shore (2023) s01e01 Episode Script

1
Hey, mate! Over there!
No formal identification
has yet been made.
The body is believed to be
that of Sophie Chalcott
the 19-year-old daughter
of the British Trade
and Industry Minister
Abigail Crawford.
- You wanted to see me, sir?
- You seen this?
Sydney on her gap year.
Her mother apparently
heard of the tragedy
during a House of Commons
select committee hearing.
The press in Australia is reporting
We've been invited to
send someone to Sydney
to observe the investigation.
by a rock fisherman, not far
- Why?
- High-profile case.
Hands across the ocean
and all that crap.
how the body came
to be in the water.
The Sydney metropolitan
police are expected to make
- Any evidence of foul play?
- a formal statement later today.
Not yet, but the Chief Constable
has asked me to volunteer someone.
- of Abigail Crawford and her husband
- Congratulations.
- Simon Chalcott.
- No, sir, I've
I've got Michael Mason's
committal hearing in the morning.
DS Metcalfe will handle that.
Abigail Crawford is considered to be
a close ally of the Prime Minister.
Today?!
I won't go if you don't want me to.
- Well, why wouldn't I want you to?
- I don't know how long I'll be gone.
I suppose if it IS ruled a murder,
it could be a couple
of months, maybe more.
Well
you'd better take the big suitcase.
- Welcome on board.
- Thank you.
Uh, 48E.
Thank you, Mr Drummond.
- Oh. Thank you.
- You're down there to your left.
Great. Thank you.
Welcome aboard.
Greetings, everyone.
This is your captain speaking.
Our flight time to
Singapore this evening
is 13 hours and five minutes.
So do settle in and make
yourselves comfortable.
And we hope you have a
pleasant and relaxing journey.
That's clean, Sarge.
What, nothing?
You want to tell us
where you stashed it?
Do you want to suck my dick?
Come off it.
- It was taped to the inside of your toilet system.
- Bullshit.
Michael Mason, I'm arresting you
for the possession of
a controlled drug
- This is a stitch-up.
- with intent to supply.
You don't have to say anything,
but it may harm your defence
You're accusing a colleague
of planting evidence?
No. I'm saying it wasn't
there when I looked.
Maybe you missed it.
We all want Mason for murder.
This is a step in the right direction.
I won't lie under oath.
Are you all right?
I mean, oh
What's the name of the
detective London's sending out?
Max Drummond.
Detective sergeant.
He's on this flight.
He's in economy.
Detective Sergeant?
The Secretary of State suggested
I might want to swap seats with you.
I can't believe you do.
Secretary of State.
Detective Sergeant.
Please.
Oh. Thank you.
Sorry.
I'm extremely sorry for your loss.
Thank you.
Please
call me Abigail.
I'm Max.
I've seen your CV.
Impressive.
You went to university.
Well.
A lot of people do.
Not many who join the police.
What happened?
Your first choice of
career didn't work out?
Uh
well, let's just say that, uh, uh,
being a policeman was a childhood dream
that I've still not quite grown out of.
Well, it's good you've
got to live your dream.
What can you tell me
about Sophie's death?
No more than I'm sure you know already.
Was she murdered?
I don't know.
Might have just been a tragic accident.
So you could be making a wasted trip.
I hope so.
If Sophie wasn't murdered,
then it's not our case.
Our boss wants to know
what we're dealing with,
so what do I tell him?
Patience is a virtue?
You haven't met my boss, have you?
Oh.
You know, I always thought
that if I was to murder someone
and make it look like an accident -
I mean, let's be honest,
who hasn't thought of it?
Um, I'd dump the body in the harbour.
What, so you're saying
she WAS murdered or
No. No.
You're saying she wasn't?
No, I'm saying it's just
very difficult to tell,
yeah, 'cause in the
harbour, there are, um
there are rocks and there
are sharks and there are
uh, uh, uh, boats
churning up and down.
I mean, that can hide
a multitude of sins.
But, um, I'll I'll surely
know more after the autopsy.
Hmm. Then we won't keep you any longer.
Well well, no. Um um no.
I can't do it yet.
No, I've got three
in line before Sophie.
Well, can she jump the queue?
She is kind of important.
Well, they're all important
to their loved ones.
Hm.
Uh, but, yes, I'll, um
I'll see what I can do.
Um oh, just one one thing.
Um, this swelling.
I mean, that can only
occur before death.
This bruise here on the on the cheek,
that's a little suspicious, yeah.
Do you have children, Max?
Uh, no.
But you're married?
Yeah.
Seven years.
We've tried for a baby.
IVF even, but
I think we may
have decided to give up.
You think you may have?
I used to think there
could be nothing worse
than not having children.
Well, you're being
admirably composed.
It's not all my own doing.
Yes, the two Vs.
Valium and vodka.
Oh, blimey.
That's a powerful combination.
Especially at 35,000 feet.
Thank you.
You'll keep me company?
Yeah. Go on, then.
Erm bourbon and Coke, please.
Don't worry.
I'm quite in control of myself.
That's something Sophie
used to complain about.
My composure.
"Why can't you just be
yourself?" she'd say.
But this is me.
You must have been very young
when you had Sophie.
We were only just married.
What would you be willing
to tell me about her?
I'd just
like to know who she was.
She was, uh
infuriating.
In a good way.
Wilful.
Even as a child.
Used to drive me mad.
But I came to see it as one
of her greatest attributes.
It's hard to believe that
that's where the photos will end.
If someone was
responsible for her death,
you'll do everything you
can to bring them to justice?
It's not MY investigation.
I'm just an observer.
You promise me, Max.
For fuck's sake!
What'll I tell the press?
That pending further investigation
we're not sure.
Oh. Brilliant.
Headline writes itself:
"Police clueless."
Literally correct.
We should let the locals handle it.
What about the bruise on her cheek?
Could be anything.
Rough sex. I don't know.
Interesting, that's your first thought.
All right. Well, keep it
for now, pending the autopsy.
I'm giving the case to Rob.
- What?
- You don't have the experience.
No, you can't.
You assigned ME.
Paea, would you give
us a moment, please?
Yes, sir.
Meg.
I'm doing you a favour.
If this gets ruled a homicide,
the scrutiny you'd be under.
Fine.
They talk about headlines
writing themselves.
How about "Male boss thinks
job beyond female cop,
replaces her with bloke"?
Well, it's a bit long for a headline.
Fuck.
All right.
Well, let's just hope she got
pissed and fell off a boat.
- Is that all, boss?
- Yes.
No. Uh your liaison.
My what?
Some cop from London. He's
coming with the girl's mother.
What? Why? WE don't even
know what we're dealing with.
Well, you'll be dealing with him.
Keeping him abreast of any developments.
Which shouldn't take long.
And organise a car to pick him up.
Chief, I don't have
time to babysit some Pom
who thinks he's Sherlock Holmes.
Well, I doubt he's all that.
They wouldn't spare a good man.
Even better. Some deadwood
telling me how to do my job.
Would you rather I
took you off the case?
I wouldn't worry. He's
not gonna get in your way.
He doesn't have the jurisdiction.
Does HE know that?
I'm sure you'll make him aware.
How was your flight?
Abigail.
Hey.
I am so sorry.
- Thank you.
- I mean, words can't even
Thank you for coming.
Who's that?
Greg Hardy.
Leader of the Labor Party.
The Prime Minister?
You don't follow
Australian politics, do you?
He hopes to be. There's an election on.
How's Simon?
Beside himself.
As you can imagine. I'm sure.
- Isn't her husband meeting her here?
- He's at the hotel.
He flew in last night.
Greg, I'd like you to meet Detective
Sergeant Max Drummond from London.
He was a great comfort
to me on the flight.
Greg Hardy. Old friend of the family.
Oh, please. I know who YOU are, sir.
Leader of the opposition.
Oh, you're up in your Australian
politics. I'm impressed.
Uh, just to warn you, there are
cameras outside the terminal.
Of course there are.
Did YOU tip them off?
It's fine.
You need the airtime.
I see you've slipped in the polls.
Something about a health scare.
Oh, it's a beat-up.
It's the government flinging
mud. Shows they're desperate.
Can we offer you a lift into
town, Detective Sergeant?
Oh, no, no. Thank you, ma'am. A
a driver will be picking me up.
- Then I'm sure we'll see you soon.
- We should get going.
Look, um, when you're ready.
Do I look all right?
Oh, you
bastards.
No, no.
Just leave that there. Thanks. Yep.
You did tell 'em that I was here?
DS Drummond?
Chief Inspector Andrew Newell. I
wanted to welcome you personally.
How was your flight?
The last seven hours felt longer.
Yeah. Have you been to your hotel?
No. No, no. I came straight here.
Well, I'll get you a car.
You can check in, freshen up.
Uh, I think I'd rather be
just brought up to speed, sir.
Excellent.
Well, uh, let's get
you sorted with a pass.
And 5:23pm, now, Sophie leaves work,
and she walks down to Circular Quay,
where she meets her boyfriend, Tom.
Now, she meets him for a drink,
and they board the party boat
at 6:17pm not long after.
Everyone.
Uh, this is DS Max Drummond
from the murder squad in London.
DS Meg Driscoll. She'll be
leading the investigation.
We won't hold you up any further, Meg.
DS Drummond, if you'd, um
care to sit here.
Thank you.
Yeah, so they're on the harbour
for the best part of four hours,
all faithfully recorded on social media,
before disembarking the
boat just a little after 10.
Now, it is here where
Sophie and Tom split up
and Sophie leaves with her friend Erica
to go to a bar on Loftus Street.
Now, Sophie leaves
here alone at 11:12pm,
goes to the corner of Bridge Street.
And this is the last that's seen of her.
OK, so Erica says that
Sophie told her she wants
to get some fresh air
and that she would
meet her at home, but
she never made it.
The girls are flatmates, right?
Sophie and Erica?
Yes. In Manly.
Have you been offered
coffee, DS Drummond?
Oh, no. Max, please.
And, yeah, that'd be great. Thank you.
Lachie.
Show DS Drummond how to
use the coffee machine.
OK. I'll, uh I'll let them know.
Uh, Sarge?
Sophie's parents are
ready to identify the body.
Another time, Lachie.
This your first time in
Australia, DS Drummond?
Yeah. Yeah.
Well, my wife and I had
planned to come out before
'cause her sister lives out here.
- Oh, yeah?
- A place called Rose Bay.
Nice.
Um
could you not track
Sophie's movement from her phone?
She lost it on the boat, dropped
it overboard, taking a selfie.
So
OK. Um
- Oh!
- Yeah.
- Well, is it a savings account?
- Sorry.
Force of habit. Sorry.
All right.
Oh. No.
All right. Well, let me
know how she goes with it.
Cheers.
500 bucks was taken out
of Sophie's bank account
eight hours AFTER her body was found.
From an ATM?
- Side street near Martin Place.
- Mmm.
Where's Martin Place?
CBD.
Central business district, mate.
Well, they have to have known her PIN.
Mmm. Do we have any CCTV?
Cindy's looking at it.
OK.
Hey.
There must be security
cameras in the vicinity.
That's what he just said.
Was it? Oh, sorry.
I I can't hear too well in the back.
It's only necessary for one of you
to make the identification, if
that's what you prefer.
No, we both will.
Excuse me a moment.
Mmm.
Depending on the state of the body,
could be quite distressing.
We both want to see her.
They're ready for us.
That won't change our final conclusion.
- Oh!
- Jesus.
This is Sophie, yes. Yes.
Meg.
- It's definitive.
- You have more information.
You tell me!
The autopsy revealed that there
wasn't any water in her lungs.
What does that mean?
That she didn't drown.
It looks like she died before
her body entered the water.
The autopsy confirmed that
the bruising on her cheek
was sustained before death,
and a tiny fragment of
stone was found in a wound
on the back of her head.
It's not any rock type
found in the harbour.
I am very sorry, but
we are now treating
this as a murder case.
If it's all right,
I'll leave you with
DS Drummond.
We have to get back
to the station, but
perhaps he can
escort you to your hotel.
Meg. Meg.
I thought we could catch up later.
Why?
Well, in in case of
any further developments.
If there are, I'll let you
know. We have your phone number.
Yeah, but I thought we could try
to get to know each other a bit,
to avoid any misunderstandings,
now we're gonna be working together.
We're not. You're
observing our investigation.
There you are, you see,
look. First misunderstanding.
I'll come to your hotel.
Meet you at the bar. Eight o'clock.
All right. It's a date.
I mean, not like a not like a date.
Apologise. I'll shut up.
Eight o'clock.
I, uh
I want to go and see Tom.
Sophie's boyfriend?
I want to look him in the eye
and know that he had
nothing to do with this.
You'll come with us, Max.
This is Lloyd's house.
Looks like the Guggenheim.
It IS the north shore.
Which is like the Chelsea of Sydney.
You're Australian, Mr Chalcott.
Born in Perth.
Then I did the usual Australian thing
and got out as soon as I could,
joined the other expats in Earl's Court
and lived in London ever since.
- And you're friends with Tom's father?
- Lloyd?
Um, I do some work for him.
Simon's an accountant.
Well I'm a little bit more than that.
Tax management, estate
planning, that sort of thing.
I was on Lloyd's sheep
station when I got the news.
It's about a quarter of a
million hectares in Queensland.
Is that big?
About the size of Luxembourg.
Oh.
And sorry, so
it it it's through your
connection that Sophie met Tom?
He spent his gap year in London,
lived with us for a while.
Long enough for them to fall in love.
You didn't approve?
Abigail feared we would lose
our only child to Australia.
I wish he'd never come.
Abigail. Simon.
I am so sorry.
Simon.
This is my friend Oscar.
- He came to offer his condolences.
- Uh-huh.
These are Sophie's parents.
Oh, God. I'm I'm I'm so sorry.
Sophie was my girlfriend's flatmate.
Erica Payton.
Detective Sergeant Drummond from the UK.
Right. They said on the news
that they were sending someone.
I have to get to my next job, but
I'm I'm so sorry to meet
you under these circumstances.
- Stay strong, bro.
- Thanks.
All right.
Please, guys, come in.
Do the police know what's happened?
They say
that Sophie was murdered.
What?
Um that's not
- Jesus.
- common knowledge yet.
- How? What happened?
- I'm sorry, we
we can't go into details.
You've no idea what might
have happened to her?
No. I I don't know where she went.
I didn't see her after
we got off the boat.
Why did you split up?
What?
I'm sorry, I mean, why
did she go with Erica?
Oh.
Erica was pissed off with
Oscar about something,
they'd had a row, and
she'd had a bit to drink.
Sophie?
Erica.
Sophie too.
Not too much, though.
I wouldn't have let her go if
I didn't think she was safe.
Simon.
Abigail. I am so sorry for your loss.
She was a wonderful girl.
Thank you.
She was murdered, Dad.
- Murdered?
- Yes.
- The autopsy showed that sh
- We we can't talk about that.
Hello.
Uh, DS Max Drummond, from
the murder squad in London.
You're investigating?
Observing, as a courtesy.
This is devastating.
If I can be of any help, of
course, you're welcome to stay here.
Thank you, but the hotel is fine.
I don't know how long I'll be staying.
Sophie worked as an
intern at Lloyd's company.
Thank you for giving
her that opportunity.
How did that come about?
She needed a job and she
asked if Dad could help.
It's all perfectly legitimate.
Oh, yeah. No, no. I have no doubt.
I'm just interested
in how these things work.
She was an incredible worker,
a credit to you both.
We're trying to get a sense of
what her life out here was like.
Sorry.
I'm sure Tom will tell
you everything he can.
She, um
I loved her.
I really loved her, Dad.
And she loved you.
Shh. Shh, shh, shh, shh, shh.
- Sorry. I'd better get this.
- OK. It's OK.
Well, thank you, Mark.
I appreciate that.
And please don't hesitate
to call me at any time.
Bye.
The Prime Minister
sends his condolences.
Uncharacteristically empathetic.
He told me to take as long as I need.
Said that Don is ready to take
the lead on the trade agreement.
I told him that won't be necessary,
that while I'm here, I'll see
what I can do to push it along.
Set up a meeting with my Australian
counterpart, will you, Ben?
Oh, and get me five
minutes with Greg Hardy.
Is that wise?
Well, as a minister
of the British Crown,
you shouldn't be seen to be taking
sides in the Australian election.
He's an old family friend
who there's a fair chance will be
the next Australian prime minister.
No point passing up an opportunity.
Thank you, Ben.
I'll see you in the morning.
Goodnight, Simon.
You're going to discuss trade now?
Well, I can't let Don do it.
- Our daughter is dead.
- Don't you think I know that?
You're acting as though you don't.
I don't know what else to do!
I have to carry on. WE have to carry on.
I can't! Our daughter is dead!
We have to be strong.
Or this'll destroy us.
I'm going to get ready for bed.
Have you spoken to Tori?
I haven't had a chance.
Barely had time to sit down.
Or pee.
That is two different things, right?
Oh, I miss you.
- You've only been gone a day.
- Yeah, and already I miss you.
- What does that tell you?
- That you have separation issues.
I told Tori that you're coming.
Yeah, all right. I'll call her.
Miss?
- Martha won't play with me.
- Well, then, play with someone else.
One of the other Marthas.
What are you doing tonight?
Having a drink with my opposite number.
- And what's he like?
- She.
About my age. Quite attractive.
- Not very friendly.
- Maybe she feels threatened by you.
Maybe she just doesn't like me.
Wouldn't be the only one.
I didn't say I don't like you.
Look, let's
let's not do this now.
No, no. No.
Sorry.
Not at my best.
- Jet lag.
- Anna?
I have to go.
Uh, call me tomorrow?
Love you.
Love you too.
Oh, my God.
I mean, like it's so scary to think
that could have been me.
OK. Well thanks for coming in, eh?
Can I, like, take a selfie in here?
Uh, no.
- Pretty please?
- No.
Bugger this.
Hey, thanks for coming in,
Erica. How are you holding up?
Uh, I don't think it's
really sunk in yet.
Yeah. It can take a while.
Look, uh, we'll be wanting to
take a look at Sophie's room.
Did you bring in a
spare set of keys for us?
Oh.
How long had you and
Sophie been flatmates?
Oh, um, about a year.
Meg, I'm so sorry.
I didn't mean to stand you up.
Really?
Wasn't payback 'cause I
didn't send a car for you?
No. God, no.
I fell asleep.
Hang on.
You didn't send a car for me?
Anyway, forget about it.
We're quits.
Except I really did fall asleep.
Anyway.
Erica had a row with her boyfriend.
That's why she and Sophie
left the boat together.
I know. How do you?
Uh, Tom told me.
- You've met Tom?
- Yeah.
Oscar too. At Lloyd's place.
You're not part of this investigation.
Sophie's parents asked
me to go with them.
Oh, and I noticed that Oscar
had scratches on his hand
and grazed knuckles.
But you weren't investigating?
Meg!
Listen.
All I'm saying is, it might
be worth asking him about.
Look, I know you're
more experienced than me,
and obviously you've been told
that this is my first case.
Only now, by you.
It's a big case. Must
have a lot of faith in you.
Is there anything I can do to help?
Yeah.
Do nothing.
OK, so, we don't have
anything from the ATM itself
and only grainy images from
a CCTV camera at the bank,
but if we take the image
of the person withdrawing
cash from Sophie's account
and marry it with footage
from a hotel in Martin Place
Sophie's flatmate, Erica.
Have we checked whether Sophie's
bank account has been used again?
Uh, no.
- Shit.
- Sorry, boss. That's my fault.
No, I should have told you to.
- Uh, Lachie, talk to her bank.
- Yeah.
Have you watched the witness interviews?
I'm about halfway through.
And what have you learnt so far?
Australians pronounce 'party' 'pardy'.
It's really annoying.
The rest should take you an hour or so.
Yeah.
- Abigail.
- Greg.
I am about to leave for Melbourne.
This won't take long. Is there
somewhere quiet we can go?
Sure.
Oh, uh, just the two of us.
Shouldn't you tell the
Pom that we're heading out?
I'll tell him when we get back.
All right.
He'd only want to come with us.
Who would?
- Jesus!
- Don't you ever lock your car?
Not in the police car. Fuck, no.
You want to be in London.
Yeah, I wish you were.
Where do we expect to find Erica?
At home.
At the unit she shared with Sophie.
Sophie was your daughter.
She was your child, not Simon's.
Does he know?
No.
How long have YOU known?
To be honest, I had
always had my suspicions.
She looked like you.
A little of me.
Nothing of Simon.
Did you never think she might be?
When I heard,
I suppose I did the maths.
But I figured you would
have said something.
You were back in Sydney with your
wife. I couldn't see the point.
And Simon was so happy to have a child.
He never knew about us.
But you're not sure, though?
Whether she was mine.
No, I am.
Last month, I was at a
ministerial meeting in Singapore.
Sophie flew up to see me.
I went to a doctor.
She ran lots of tests. It turns
out I have something called HCM.
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.
And what's that?
It's when your heart
muscles are abnormally thick,
meaning the heart has
to work a lot harder
to push the same amount
of blood around the body.
Is it serious?
Can be.
Might be nothing.
So you don't have it?
Does Dad?
No.
Because it's a genetic condition.
If I have it, one of my parents must.
Dad isn't my dad, is he?
Darling, there
there must be some mistake.
That's what I thought too.
And then
I saw this.
You'd mentioned he was an
old friend of the family.
I googled him.
Nine months before I was born,
Greg Hardy was an employment lawyer
seconded to the TUC in London.
Just as a young married researcher
was beginning her career at Westminster.
He's my father, isn't he?
Sweetheart.
No.
So I am Sophie's father?
No. Simon is, and always will be.
Then why are you telling me?
I thought you had a right to know.
And I thought
that I should warn you.
In case she told anyone else.
Erica?
Erica, are you there? It's the police.
Erica?
She's not picking up.
Where's the Pom gone?
Remember, I'm here.
Oh, thank you so much, Dima.
You've been very helpful.
Bye-bye, now.
Bye-bye. Bye-bye.
What were you doing?
I was just having a chat
with Sophie's neighbour.
Lovely woman. Fled Poland in the '60s.
Still has a heavy accent.
And that's of interest why?
Well, she was saying - you know, at
least, I I think she was saying -
that the girls had a
break-in, about a week ago.
You can't question people. You
don't have any jurisdiction.
I was just making conversation.
Interesting, though, isn't it?
It may have nothing to
do with Sophie's murder.
No.
But we should check it out.
See if they filed a report.
What's her name, again?
Erm
Dima Moiseenko.
Erica?
Police entering!
Are you home?
What did SHE want?
To tell me Sophie was my daughter.
Did you mention that
Sophie had already told you?
I thought it best she
remain ignorant of that fact.
I told you this could become a problem.
- I said I'd fix it.
- And I said, "Don't tell me how."
Oh, Christ. Don't tell me how.
It's fine.
It's finished with.
She's gone home to Tasmania
for a couple of days.
Left a note for the cleaner.
They've got a cleaner?
That's gen Z for you.
Well, we told her we'd
need to talk to her again.
Go ahead, Lachie.
Yeah, so I've got Sophie's
statements up here.
And, yeah, that ¤500 withdrawal
WAS the last activity
out of her cash account.
And savings?
Savings
Give me a sec.
Holy shit.
Yesterday, there was a transfer
out of her account for ¤20,000
to E.G. Payton.
Erica.
Has she taken her passport?
You don't need it to go interstate.
So it should be here, shouldn't it?
Lachie.
Ring border security
and check whether Erica
Payton's left the country.
Also the airlines, flights to Tasmania.
It's a good thing you didn't
have her accounts frozen.
Now we have a person
of interest, don't we?
Anna told me about the separation.
- Uh, I wouldn't call it that.
- Oh. She did.
Please get in touch.
Were you watching it?
I need you at home tonight with Oscar.
I understand this is your first
investigation, Detective Sergeant.
Sideline me so that YOU'RE
her only point of contact?
No, stop.
The PM is keeping you
off the front page.
There are calls for his resignation.
If the PM does go,
I may be one of the
contenders to replace him.