The Sister (2020) s01e01 Episode Script

1
TV: '..the average 2.2% increase is
the largest in five years.
'With operators arguing
that 97% of its proceeds
'will be invested into the service.
'However, a rally next week
will call for railways
'to be brought back
into public ownership.
'Now for most of us,
News Year's Eve is an occasion
'to wring out the old
and bring in the new,
'for others it is a time
to reflect on heartache.
'January 1st marks three years
since local teenager Elise Fox
'disappeared from a party near
her family home in Sutton Hollow,
'sparking a massive police search.
'To mark the anniversary,
her family, today,
'made an appeal to the public.'
'Three New Years have come and gone
and Elise still hasn't come home.
'We still expect her to
'..every single day.
'We expect the front door
to open
'If
'If somebody out there, anybody
'..knows what happened to Elise,
'if anyone has any idea where Elise
might be, we beg you to,
'please, please, get in contact on
the number provided.
'There must be somebody
who can help.
'There must be somebody.'
HEAVY RAINFALL PATTERS
DOOR BELL BUZZES
BUZZING AGAIN
BUZZING CONTINUES
Hello, mate.
Bob.
What are you? What are you
doing here? You can't come here.
We agreed. We said.
I know.
So what you doing here, then?
They're digging up the woods.
No, they can't.
But they are.
No, no, no, no.
You're not coming in. OK?
I'll meet you somewhere. Tomorrow.
Just give me a call,
phone me at work. All right?
I'll be two minutes.
Bob, this is my house.
My wife will be home soon.
It's a housing development.
Newbeck Green.
They're breaking soil on Monday.
Details are in here.
Rip it up when you're done.
Burn it.
OK, thanks.
Nathan, what have you done?
Shit. Shit.
My wife's home. You have to leave.
Get, get, get up, Bob.
Get up. Get up!
Come on, off.
Off the stairs now.
Bob, get up off the stairs.
Hey. Hi!
Hey, you're early.
Yeah. The, er, rain.
Oh.
Oh, sor Sorry.
Um, Holly, this is Bob.
Bob, Holly.
OK. Hi!
Hello.
He's an old mate.
Right.
Yeah, he just, just popped
round on the off-chance. But, er
You've gotta be off, haven't you?
Well, it's nice to meet you.
And you.
Sorry to intrude.
Oh, no worries.
Girl trouble.
Sorry to hear that.
Well, anyway, I'd better
Yeah. Yeah.
Mate, I'll give you a call.
We should definitely meet up.
So who was that?
Er er, Bob.
And who's Bob?
He's just, just an old mate.
Oh, my God, you're soaking.
You want a cup of tea or some soup?
Soup? Wine!
So, who was the girl?
Girl? What girl?
He said he had girl trouble.
He didn't say, really.
Hm. God knows.
Will you excuse me a minute?
I'm busting.
ATMOSPHERIC DRONING
DRONING INTENSIFIES
RETCHING
COUGHING
CLOCK TICKING
OK, you're burning up.
I think you might be sick.
Shall I pop to the chemist?
No.
Honestly, I'm fine. I think
I think I'm already
over the worst of it.
Oh, take it easy.
Don't push yourself.
I'll be off, then.
Love you.
I love you, too.
HE SIGHS
HE EXHALES
Newbeck.
'Have you looked it up?'
I'm looking at it now.
'We have to move her
'soon.'
I can't.
'We have to.'
Yeah?
I can't. I can't do it.
'This isn't the kind of situation
where either of us has much choice.
'Did it come?'
Did what come?
'You'd know if it had.
'Call me back
when you've given it a listen.'
Bob, what are you talking about?
LINE CUTS
Bob?
HE SIGHS ANGRILY
INTENSE MUSIC
BOB: 'You know who this is.
'Now, at first,
you're gonna hear white noise.
'That's perfectly natural,
you need to listen a few times.
'Play it loud
and listen THROUGH the static.
'It's important to know
'this recording was made
in an empty room.'
WHITE NOISE
INDISTINCT SOUND
REWIND SCRATCHING
WHITE NOISE
INCREASES VOLUME
UNINTELLIGIBLE VOICE
REWIND
INCREASES VOLUME FURTHER
VOICE: 'Nathan!'
'I'm not dead.'
'Charles Collier Estate Age'
HE SIGHS
Bastard.
PHONE RINGING
'Charles Collier Estate Agents.'
Hi. I'd like to speak
to Holly Fox, please.
'Mm-hm, one moment.'
Holly Fox.
'Hi.'
I was looking
for somewhere to live.
'OK. Would you be looking
for a flat or a house?'
A house, I think.
A small house. A little house.
Bedrooms?
'Yes.'
I mean, how many? Roughly?
Er
Three? Three bedrooms?
The best thing would be if
I'm sorry, I didn't get your name.
Nathan.
'Hi, Nathan. The best thing
would be if you came in for a chat.
'I could talk you through
current listings.
'See what we can find
that fits your budget.'
Absolutely.
'When's good for you?'
Tomorrow?
'I could do'
..9:30, if that suits?
OK. Great. 9:30.
Out of interest,
how did you get my name?
I'm sorry?
'You asked for me by name.
'Have we met?'
No, I don't think so.
'OK.'
Er, you were recommended.
By a friend. A client
'I suppose.'
He said you were
'..honest.'
For an estate agent?
CHUCKLES AWKWARDLY
Yes.
Well, that's always nice to know.
'Well, I'll pop by'
around 9:30.
See you then. Bye.
Boo!
Jesus!
LAUGHING: Sorry.
Oh, sorry. Oh, your face!
Sorry.
I was
Your face!
Oh, Jesus.
Aww. Mwah.
How're you feeling?
Yeah
A lot better. Jesus, my heart.
Look at you!
How was work?
Oh, the usual.
Contractors on Jubilee Road
seem to be on a go-slow.
Had to give them the evil eye.
Give the boss a gentle kick.
Bill Todd?
Yeah.
He's a lazy sod.
I'm not sure why you hired him.
He's slow, but he's good.
But he's slow.
Yeah.
I'm not sure I'll go there again.
We'll see.
TV IN BACKGROUND
You're too soft.
Hm! Tell that to Bill Todd.
So, do you know anything about
this new estate they're building
out near your mum's place?
Newbeck Green? Yeah, course.
Why are you interested?
I dunno.
Saw it on the internet today.
Just Just seems a bit
They're digging up the woods
to do it. It's a disgrace, really.
Cowboys.
Hmm?
Did you hear back from Bob?
Hm? Uh, Yeah. Yeah, I did, yeah.
Gonna, erm
pop out tonight, actually,
for a bit. Tonight?
You're sick.
Er, yeah, well, it's, it's only
..for a quick half,
I'll be back by eleven.
Sure you don't mind?
No.
I've got contracts to review.
I should call Mum, really.
Give her my love.
I will do.
Say hi to Bob.
Yeah.
DOOR OPENS AND CLOSES
So what did you think?
Er
..yeah, I like it.
So, we're on the right track?
In the ballpark?
Yeah, I mean it needs a bit of
Life?
Yeah.
Are you OK?
Yeah.
Oh, no, thanks. I gave up.
But, honestly, you go ahead.
I gave up once.
Two years.
Two years?
Mm-hm.
What made you start again?
Y'know
Stress.
Yeah. Tell me about it.
So is it, is it stressful, then,
being an estate agent?
I'm not really an estate agent.
I mean,
it's not a vocation or whatever.
How did you get into it, then?
It's just one of those things.
Life just
SHE HUFFS
And how long have you been a, erm
A greetings card salesman.
Really?
Yeah.
SHE GIGGLES
HE LAUGHS
Well, it's not, it's not
like it's a vocation or anything.
SHE CHUCKLES
HE LAUGHS
I'd better go.
Hey.
You don't have to feel guilty
for laughing.
Bye.
HAUNTING MUSIC
DOOR BELL RINGS
You can't come here, we agreed.
Only joking, come in.
Thanks for coming back.
It was great last time,
we had a lot of feed back.
That's nice to hear.
Yeah. I think it was the most
popular guest slot, since, um
Uh..
Since I don't know, actually.
Maybe the
maybe the Princess Diana bloke.
But he was a bit mental, so
Can I get you a glass of water,
anything? Cup of tea?
Yeah a glass of water
would be great. Water, yep, fine.
Now, one of the most popular guests
we've had on the show
over the last few months
has been Professor Bob Morrow.
Now, you might remember Bob
as the expert on all things
that go bump in the night.
Well, tonight, Bob's back
to discuss more of your,
spine-tingling true stories.
It's lovely to have you
with us again, Bob.
It's nice to be back, Brian.
Thanks for having me.
THROUGH HEADSET: 'OK.
We have got a Simon on line two.'
So we are going to go straight
to Simon on line two.
Evening, Simon.
'Hello.'
Hello, Simon.
'So, um,
I'm sitting there on the bed
'and I see something
in the wardrobe mirror.
'I think my wife
must have come home,
'cos she'd forgotten
her phone or something
'But it's not my wife.
'It's my mum, two years to the day
after she died.'
Well, Simon.
It sounds like you've experienced,
what we call
a mental imprint manifestation.
ON HEADSET: 'These are ghosts
'which seem to repeat the same
action over and over again.
'Walking across a particular room,
opening a particular door.
'They also seem to'
Oh.
"Oh," what?
You were supposed to destroy it.
Destroy it?
Those were the instructions.
Bob
What is it?
Have you given it a listen?
Yeah.
It's blank. There's nothing on it.
You need to listen a few times.
Listen THROUGH the noise.
Oh.
You did hear it.
I heard static.
I heard like a TV in another room,
like a radio or something.
I've been making these recordings
for 15 years, I know what I'm doing.
It's called EVP.
You set a tape in an empty room.
You make sure it's isolated
from stray radio broadcasts.
You ask it a question, you walk
away, you come back, you get voices.
Whose voices?
Who else? The dead.
The dead?
Jesus Christ, this isn't
Usually, you get three
or four voices. Sometimes a dozen.
Usually, what they say is banal.
They sound confused, disconnected.
Like someone half asleep.
But the recording I sent you
For the first time, there was
only one voice on it. Just one.
And for the first time,
I recognised it.
So did you.
I didn't hear anything.
Listen properly this time.
If you play that thing again,
I'll break your fucking arm,
I swear to God.
So you heard her.
Yeah, I heard a voice.
But not HER voice. Not HER voice.
Because she hasn't got a voice,
her voice is gone.
You know, I was thinking
about it all, your wife.
I couldn't sleep.
Do you know what it's like lying
awake, worrying about something?
I've got a pretty good idea, yeah.
So what is it, like, a sex thing?
Cos that would actually
be pretty sick.
Why would you marry her, Nathan?
Why would you do that?
Don't mention my wife again.
Fine.
No, I mean it, Bob.
Not ever. Ever.
We have to move it.
Before they dig her up.
I can't believe this is happening.
HEAVY BREATH
It won't be difficult.
I mean, it won't be heavy.
Not by now, it won't weigh much.
We can't be sure they'd find it.
How much of a risk are you happy
to take? Yeah, but what if?
You know, by now, just..
Naturally decomposed?
They only need a fragment of DNA.
If there's anything left, anything.
Anything, they will find it.
I can't do it, Bob.
I just can't.
And what about Holly?
I just told you
Just saying, it would be
a terrible thing to do to her.
To let this happen.
For her sister to be discovered.
CAR LOCK BEEPS
TV PLAYS IN BACKGROUND
How was Bob?
Shh.
Go back to sleep.
Mm.
Love you.
You too.
SOFT MUSIC
Hey. Am I late?
No! No, sorry. Erm
I'm early. I get it from my dad.
He's early for everything.
He thinks
being on time and being late
are the same thing.
SHE LAUGHS
OK? Do you want another drink?
Oh, no. Er
I'm good, thanks.
This isn't actually my first.
OK. So, definitely not doing
Dry January, then.
SHE LAUGHS
Very much not.
Er, can I, erm
start a tab,
and can I get a margarita, please?
SERVER: Coming up.
Everything OK?
Look, erm
I think you're really nice.
That's because
you don't really know me yet.
It's just
It's difficult at the moment.
Great. You're married.
SHE LAUGHS
It would be excellent
if all I was was married.
I-I don't actually know
how to say this. Er
It's a bit weird.
Everyone already knows.
So I've never
actually had
to tell anyone about it.
Three years ago
..I lost my little sister.
Elise.
Oh, Jesus.
She went out one night.
To a party. And she just
..never came home.
THUMPING MUSIC
HOLLY: 'It was New Year's Eve.
'I was there with Mum and Dad.
'We wanted to leave early,
'but Elise wanted to stay.'
Happy New Year, darling.
I love you.
'So we left her there.'
'I rang her all night.
'But she never answered.'
That's
I don't know what to say.
The police searched for her.
They even thought they knew
who did it. But
But there wasn't enough evidence.
And they never found her.
There was no
..body
or anything. So
So really, we still don't know.
HE INHALES SHAKILY
I'm sorry to lay all this on you.
No.
Don't worry.
I don't mind. It's
I honestly don't mind.
This is really the first time
I've done anything since.
Gone Gone out with someone?
SHE LAUGHS
No, erm
Gone out, period.
Right.
So, er, anyway
I told my mum about it.
I mean, I-I had to.
This is a new dress.
You look lovely. It's It's nice.
Thank you.
Um Anyway, er
I had to tell my mum
I was going out.
I'd come home with this new dress
and these new shoes. And
And
I don't know. I was excited.
And so was Mum. She had this
look in her eyes.
She asked me who you were
and how we'd met.
And so I told her.
And then she asked me
where we were going
Where I'd bought the dress
and how much I'd paid for it.
And then we both cried.
So you see, I'm sorry.
TEARFULLY: But I can't.
I don't know what to say.
Don't worry.
No-one ever does. I mean
What is there to say?
I'm so sorry.
Thanks for the drink.
I'll give you a call.
Best not.
THUMPING MUSIC
Gin and tonic, please.
Mate, how are you?
PHONE BUZZES
You OK?
Absolutely. Why?
Nothing. You just seem a bit
Yeah.
Sorry. I
I just, er, was wondering if
we could sit down tonight?
Have a chat about something?
Course. Yeah.
What?
It can wait till this evening.
Have I done something?
I just
I got my period.
HE SIGHS
Don't. It's OK.
Honestly, I'm I'm OK.
Can we just talk about it tonight?
I should be back seven,
at the latest.
We could get a curry.
Curry sounds good.
OK.
Back by seven.
PHONE BUZZES
BUZZING CONTINUES
..definitely thinks the terms
negotiation can be rolled back.
Sorry to interrupt.
There's someone in Reception here
to see you.
He says it's urgent.
Hm.
Mm.
Why won't you take any of my calls?
Bob.
Did you think
I was just gonna go away?
That this situation would go away?
No, of course not. It's just
Cos it won't!
WHISPERS: Keep it down,
for God's sake. I'm at work!
Oh, right, well
I'll just sit here and wait.
Till you're ready to see me.
If you can't do it today,
I'll come back tomorrow.
And the day after that,
and the day after that.
Unless you wanna call the police,
have me thrown out.
Just five minutes.
Listen
We've been through a lot of stress.
And I mean a lot of stress.
And stress can make you
do funny things. So
what you need is, you need
to get away for a few days.
I don't understand
how you can do it.
HE SIGHS
Do what?
Just refuse to acknowledge
the evidence.
Evidence?
What, a voice you think you can
A voice you think you can hear,
on a blank recording. Jesus Christ.
Bob
Do you even know
how mad that sounds, really?
We've got to move her.
No, we don't. What we've got to do
is leave her be.
Leave her where she is.
We can't. Why not?
Look, even if they did find her,
and it's a big if,
it's been so long.
It's been years
She's haunting me, Nathan.
I woke up two days ago,
and she was standing there,
at the foot of my bed.
Her mouth was moving.
Oh.
Oh, God, why didn't you tell me?
Tell you what?
That you've seen her, too.
Because I haven't.
I haven't seen her,
because there's nothing to see.
She's gone, Bob. She doesn't exist!
PIGEON FLAPS
Look.
I understand. I really do.
It's difficult to face. It's easier
to just pretend it's not happening.
But it's happening!
And she won't go away.
She won't leave us alone.
Not until we put it right.
She's not there.
You know that's not true!
You put it right. YOU do it!
I can't. Why not?
Why do you think?
I don't know! Why?!
Because I'm scared!
Listen, I'm sorry.
I can see you've been trying
to make amends for it. Oh, shut up!
I suppose I have been, too, in a
different way. But it hasn't worked.
It's not going to work.
And I can't stand it, Nathan.
I can't bear it, I'll go mad.
So you need to help me do this now,
today, or I've got no choice.
What?
To talk to Holly.
Oh, you stay away from Holly.
You stay away from my family.
And you don't say a word.
Not a word.
It would kill 'em if they knew, Bob.
It would kill 'em.
Then help me.
And Holly doesn't have to know.
No-one has to know,
except you and me.
And her.
No.
I'm sorry?
Fuck you, Bob.
Take your threats
and go fuck yourself.
You leave me alone,
you leave my family alone,
and you go and get psychiatric help.
You need it.
Hello! Sorry I'm late.
Are you home?
PHONE RINGS OU
BEEP
Babe, it's me. I'm home.
Er, are you there?
You said seven, at the latest.
CREAKING
OK, it's nearly 25 past. Just
CREAKING CONTINUES
..give me a call when you get this.
FAINT THUD
FAINT THUDDING
HE EXHALES
FAINT SOUNDS CONTINUE
Are you here?
If you're here, do something.
THUD
HE BREATHES UNSTEADILY
Oh, Jesus.
Is she breathing? IS SHE BREATHING?
Stand back! Stand over there!
What did you do?
What did you do?!
What did you do?!