The Light in the Hall (2022) s01e01 Episode Script

1
You've come to say hello too,
have you?
I used to believe that,
as a journalist,
it was inevitable that you'd
end up betraying your subjects.
That your job was to seem
friendly and sympathetic,
even though you never had
the slightest intention
of collaborating with them.
That the real intention
was always to write a story,
regardless of the truth.
That was until I became
part of the story.
Only then did I realise
the power of telling the truth.
I know,
but I didn't wanna cancel.
Yeah, especially
if she's coming.
Yeah, that's why I said
let's do it at mine.
Well, of course.
Yeah, she's
she's in pieces, isn't she?
- Oi!
- Hang on.
We not saying goodbye
nowadays, then?
North Walians
are so bloody rude.
Goodbye, Dai.
Until we meet upon the morrow.
See you tomorrow, then.
Don't forget
my pain au chocolate.
So, in summary,
a pleasant day here in West Wales,
northerly winds
and mild temperatures
of between
eight and twelve degrees.
Bit of news
coming up on the hour,
but before then we've got
some classic
Kylie and Jason for you.
Since August, since July, sorry,
Mr Pritchard has been working
on day release
at, um, Babin House.
- As a gardener.
- Yes.
How have you found
working in the community?
Good. I like working.
I like being busy.
You asked for Mrs
Roberts, the victim's mother,
not to be present.
Have you read
her victim impact statement?
Yes.
Where is she?
Where is she?
Mr Pritchard.
Is there anything you would like
to say to Mrs Roberts?
His record is good,
but the murder
of a 15-year-old girl
is what we need to remember.
And for that
I think he has shown remorse.
But this consistent claim
that he can't remember how she died
or where he disposed of
the body, that still stands?
Yes. He had a referral
for dissociative amnesia back in 2015.
But he has never denied
responsibility for his offence.
So, do we still
consider him to be a risk?
Alan! How's your knee?
No measurable improvement.
Well, thanks for coming
all this way. Sit down.
I'll make you a nice cup of tea.
- Hi, Cer.
- Hiya.
- What's in the box?
- Red velvet fairy cakes.
What do you think this is,
Come Dine With Me?
How's the knee, Alan?
No measurable improvement.
- Shall I?
- No, no, no. I'll go.
- You know he was Ela's cat?
- No.
- Yeah, he's nearly 20.
- Doesn't look it, does he?
- Smells it, though.
- £3,000 on chemo.
- No.
- Everyone, this is Maddie.
Maddie, this is everyone.
Hiya.
So, um
The first thing, obviously,
is to welcome Maddie.
Welcome.
Although I coordinate the group,
I'm not in charge as such.
Everyone here in this room
is the same.
We've all lost someone
to violent crime.
- So we all know what it's like.
- And you don't have to
And just to say, Maddie,
you don't have to share anything
today if you don't want to.
I'll probably just listen.
And then they said
he was evidence,
and they couldn't let me
touch him, or kiss him.
And I didn't get a chance to
Say goodbye?
- I know.
- Didn't you?
No, cariad.
Not yet.
I appreciate the work, but the
things that I'm writing about
I wanna write stories that
matter, stories with substance.
- What's stopping you?
- Apart from money and time?
I'm just looking
for the right thing.
Actually, I've been reading
about this cult in America
You should write
about Joe Pritchard.
- No.
- Why not?
I just don't wanna
go back there.
So if somebody else wrote it,
it wouldn't bother you?
What's this?
- Back in Llanemlyn
- Your home town?
That's right.
Anyway, 18 years ago,
a 15-year-old girl vanished,
and a local kid
Come on. She knew them both.
No. No, I didn't.
I didn't know him, not really.
But I did know her. Ela.
She was one of my best friends.
You never mentioned this before.
It was a long time ago.
So, Joe Pritchard,
18 at the time,
was convicted of Ela's murder.
But it was
a miscarriage of justice?
No, no, he did do it, but
the thing is, such a small town,
and we never, police included,
ever found out why he did it
or what he did with Ela's body.
It's like a black hole in the
collective psyche of the town.
And now he's up for parole.
Yeah, but that doesn't mean
he's gonna get it, does it?
- He didn't last time.
- This sounds interesting.
We've been looking
for a story like this.
Honestly, now,
if it's easier to email
Now, read the bit,
"dealing with media intrusion",
cos if you are not prepared,
they will take advantage.
If you engage, that's it,
there's no stopping them.
Right, folder.
You'll get used to her.
Eventually.
Only joking.
You never get used to her.
Did you see the light switch
in the hall?
The one with the tape over it?
She's kept that light on
since Ela disappeared.
Right, cariad.
- There you are.
- Thanks.
Take care, Alan!
Ta-ra, Bron!
Bye, Maddie. See you next time.
Bye. And thanks.
Buzz you later.
All right?
- No.
- What is it?
Work.
How was the murder wang gang?
Can you stop
calling it that, please?
That's what you do, innit?
Wang on about murder.
Just like you wang on
about your wedding.
Which is, I believe,
what they call normal.
Talking about death is normal.
It's real. It happens.
OK, I'm sorry.
And people should be allowed
to talk about it
without being
bereavement shamed.
God, all right!
Sorry. Had a shit day.
Better?
OK.
These days, true crime
can be whatever it wants to be.
However you style it,
it's still picking over
the bones of the dead.
And not just the dead.
The tragic dead.
It's not really about
the tragic dead, is it?
It's about us,
what we bring to the story,
and what we take from it.
What do we take from it?
Resolution.
The story, the crime,
gets some sense of closure.
Yeah, I guess.
So what's the latest
with your wife?
I think she's moving in
with that arsehole.
- Shit. Sorry.
- No. It's old news now.
Right.
I think Mags is right.
You need to write the story
about your friend.
I know it's the obvious thing
to do, but
I don't know
if I wanna go there.
You're always saying you wanna
get your own voice heard.
You know the family,
the community.
Isn't it your story to tell?
What are you looking for?
A screw.
- What kind of screw?
- Forget about it.
Dai. Just tell me
what kind of screw you're after.
Well, that's a bit
inappropriate, innit, Sharon?
I might have to call you out
on the internet about that.
Don't try and be modern, Dai.
It makes me feel sick.
What do you mean, try?
I am modern.
I was just thinking of having
some of that new sushi
from the Co-op for my lunch.
Sushi isn't new, Dai.
Well, if it ain't a steak bake,
it's new to me, babe.
Hello.
Did he say anything?
What about the panel?
OK.
Bye. Thanks.
Right, come on.
I'm taking you to lunch.
- What about the screws?
- Screw the screws.
Why didn't you tell me
that he was up for parole?
I thought you were tired
of hearing about it.
Everyone else is.
Well, everyone else isn't me.
Do you know what?
I'm genuinely surprised
I haven't got cancer
from hating him so much.
Well, if you check, you might
find that you have got cancer.
Bet you I have that dream again.
Which one?
It's the one
where he's just about
to tell me where she is,
and I wake up.
I've got a feeling that
if I could get him on his own,
I could make him talk.
Is that nuts?
Yeah.
Mind you, I'd be the same.
The second they let him out,
I'd be all over him.
They don't tell you
where they send them, you know.
So? I'd find out, easy.
If he gets out, then
that's it.
I'm never gonna get her back.
He's not getting out.
No.
Listen to me.
Whatever obstacle
is in your mind,
can't you try to go round it,
pretend it's not there?
Whatever you have to do.
You need to tell them
where her body is.
I can't help 'em.
Take it.
This is Greta.
You know what to do.
Where are you? We need to talk
about this bloody outfit.
This is Greta.
You know what to do.
Where are you?
Why aren't you picking up?
Phone me straight back.
Sharon? It's the police.
Can you open up?
Thank God.
Mam, what's the matter?
What's going on?
Sharon, it's important.
- Look, I'll call you back.
- Mam.
Sorry. I didn't mean
to alarm you.
I've got some news.
Joe Pritchard.
What about him?
The parole board
have decided to release him.
I know it's not
what we hoped for.
- Where will he be?
- I can't tell you.
He'll be on licence,
so he can't contact you or come
within five miles of here.
Graham, hi. How you doing?
Yeah.
Right, OK. Well, thank you
for letting me know.
Um, Graham,
is there a way of finding out
where he's gonna be placed?
Great. I'll speak to you later,
then. Bye.
Shit. He's getting out.
That's a good thing, isn't it?
I don't know.
Cat, write the bloody story.
I'm going out!
All right.
- Don't be late.
- I won't.
- Love you!
- Love you too!
What's going on?
Nothing.
I left work early.
- I thought something was wrong.
- Will you get into trouble?
Can you get your head
out the cupboard?
What's going on?
Is this about the costume?
Yes.
No, something's happened,
hasn't it?
It's him, isn't it?
He's getting out.
- When?
- On the 12th.
Of this month?
- It's not fair.
- I know.
I know.
At least it won't be
hanging over us any more.
The best thing we can do now
is just get on with our lives
and not let him
ruin anything else.
Not let him ruin the wedding.
We're not gonna let him
ruin the wedding, are we?
Of course we're not.
So when we go out tomorrow,
we're just gonna have a drink
and a laugh
and a good time, right?
Right.
She is really going for it.
Yeah!
Come on, then,
hens, let's give it up
for the fantastic Sali!
I really enjoyed that.
Made me feel so powerful.
Your stepmum's hilarious.
Do you think she sings like that
for your dad?
Come on.
I need a wee.
- All right?
- You called, madame?
Yeah, thanks for coming over
so quickly. Come in.
So what's up?
I've decided to do it.
The story.
I'm going back to Llanemlyn.
Now for some vintage cheese,
especially for you.
Jason and Kylie
couldn't make it,
so we have to make do
with Rhydian and Sharon!
No. No.
- Come on, babes.
- No, I can't. No, please.
- You be Jason, I'll be Kylie!
- I don't want to.
- This is Ela's song.
- Go on.
Sharon! Sharon! Sharon!
- You'll be fine.
- Sharon! Sharon!
- Come on.
- I don't want to.
Shit. He's bleeding.
I'm sorry.
I'm sorry.
Why'd you do that?
Sorry. It was an accident.
- Is everyone OK?
- How was that an accident?
- It was an accident.
- Sorry. Do you mind?
I'm trying to speak
to my mother.
I told him I didn't want to.
I told him it was Ela's song,
but he wouldn't listen.
- But it wasn't Ela's song.
- It was.
No, it wasn't.
She didn't even like that song.
She always told you
to stop playing it.
I knew something like this
was gonna happen.
I knew it.
Can we not do this?
Because I can't have anything,
can I?
I can't have anything ever.
I can't even have my own hen do
because everything always,
always has to be about Ela.
- No. Gret
- Don't Gret me. Just
Just go home.
So, Joe Pritchard, is it that
he can't disclose her
whereabouts or that he won't?
Is that his way of maintaining
control over the family?
Although that would make him
a sadistic psychopath.
Well, I don't think he's that,
but, honestly, I don't know.
There were plenty of rumours
about him.
Yeah? Like what?
All the usual stuff for somebody
that's a bit of an outsider.
I mean, he lived in a caravan
in the woods.
What more d'you want?
Hey, is is this her?
Yeah. Yeah, that's Ela.
That's me. And that's Caryl.
We used to do everything
together.
I haven't seen Caryl in years.
And what about Ela's family?
I wrote to her mum,
Sharon, once,
but I didn't get anything back.
I thought you said
you guys were close friends.
Yeah, we were.
I just don't know what kind
of reaction I'm gonna get
after all this time.
Well, I think you're making
the right decision, Cat.
Almost sounds like you're
gonna commission my story.
Well, I mean, seeing as
you're gonna do it anyway
Hang on. So you are?
Of course I am.
All right,
what's the first move?
Well, I've managed to track down
the address
for Joe's probation hostel.
- Straight in there, then.
- Yeah, naturally.
Look, just be careful.
I don't want you putting
yourself in any danger.
I won't.
- Hey, pass me the hairdryer.
- Yeah.
Look, I don't want you to
I don't want you to think
that I'm
I'm only commissioning you
because we
Sorry.
Shit.
Careful, Shelley.
- Don't move.
- I'm not.
Shelley!
Shelley, come here!
Do you think
they'll recognise you?
Your family?
I don't know.
I made you a cup of tea.
I'm sorry for being horrible.
Well if you were,
I deserved it.
Sorry.
I wanna be here for you
from now on, OK?
It's not that I want it
to be about me all the time.
I know.
I think about her too.
What do you think about?
If things had gone differently.
If she'd have stayed home
that day.
If she hadn't
gone near that freak.
Do you sense that she is dead?
Because sometimes
I feel like she isn't.
She is.
She's just not home yet.
The train
is now approaching Newport.
Tickets, please.
Thank you. Thank you.
It's a travel warrant.
It's the same as a ticket.
It's from the prison.
I just got out of prison.
Shelley, wait!
The next station is Carmarthen.
The train will terminate here.
Right.
So your next appointment
will be at the probation office.
OK?
I've already told you,
I haven't fucking seen her!
All the details you need
are in here.
It's really important
that you attend. OK?
Good luck.
Sylvester!
No.
Sylvester.
Hello, Mum.
I'll bring better ones
next time.
Your hair looks nice.
Someone comes in.
Shelley was the only one
who did it the way I liked.
It's your fault she's gone.
- No.
- Where is she?
Where's your sister?
Where is Shelley?
- Where is she?
- Fuck
Where's Shelley?
Mum!
Eilis?
- Are you OK?
- Shelley
What happened?
Shelley
I'll see you again, Mum.
I'll see you soon.
All right, mate? Ian.
Joe.
I was in this room before.
I left a photo, I did.
D'you mind?
Just got out, have you?
Aye. It's what they said.
Seen my girl?
She's 20 now.
Bit of a prick as it goes.
Only joking.
How long was you in for, then?
Not to be busy, like,
but, well, you know,
you like to know
who your neighbours are, right?
Anyway
Need any razors?
I got a load of swivel heads,
special edition.
No.
Sunglasses? Chocolates?
- No.
- Right.
See you around, then.
He was
He was
I know, girl.
Just
tell me how I can help you.
Joe?
My name's Cat Donato.
I'm from Llanemlyn too.
I'm a writer now.
- I'm writing an article
- I'm not interested.
OK, fair enough.
You wouldn't
have to say anything,
but maybe we could
just grab a drink
and I could tell you
why I'm wri
OK.
Um, look, if you change
your mind about talking,
then here's my number.
Call me, or text me, any time.
What, is he famous or something?
Bitch.
Where is she?
Where is she?