Unseen (2023) s01e01 Episode Script

1
[ominous music playing]
[door buzzes, opens]
[door closes]
[door closes in distance]
[man over intercom] Number one,
step forward and face the mirror.
Number two.
Number three.
Four.
[ominous music intensifies]
Have another look at this one, ma'am
if you get my meaning.
We're talking about violent killings.
Murder, ma'am.
Is this not the woman you saw?
[door closes in distance]
[man] Zenzile Mwale.
Zenzi. Do you
Do you mind if I call you Zenzi?
You've had quite a week, huh?
A trail of bodies all over the damn city.
Dead criminals falling from the sky.
Right. Start talking.
Why did you murder these men?
Eyewitnesses, CCTV cameras,
they put you on the scene.
You're caught red-handed.
What the hell are you mixed up in?
Who are you?
[dramatic music swells]
I am just a cleaner.
[dramatic music playing]
[gentle music playing]
[romantic song playing on radio]
[song continues]
Hey, you.
[chuckles]
So, how's the little guy doing?
- [Zenzi] Who said it was a guy?
- I can feel it. I'm sure it's a guy.
[man chuckling]
[echoing gunshots]
[sighs softly]
Damn it.
[man] Ah. Morning, Zenzi.
Running late, hmm?
Morning, Mr. Booysen.
What have I told you? Call me Enrico.
I'm your landlord, but I'm also a friend.
Yes.
Thank you, Mr. Booysen.
Zenzi!
You're three weeks late again.
Enough is enough.
[Zenzi] I'm sorry, Mr. Booysen.
I've taken on extra shifts.
I'll make up the rent. Please.
I just need more time.
Hey.
You know I'm here to help, na?
If we need to put our heads together
and, uh, make a plan.
I just don't want to see you
out on the street.
Not after
You know?
And without a man to protect you.
Well
today's the day.
- Today?
- [Zenzi] Hmm.
Max is coming home.
- Good. Maybe now I'll see my money.
- [door opens]
[woman in Afrikaans]
Enrico! Where are you?
Your breakfast.
[gentle music playing]
[Zenzi sighs]
[gentle music continues]
[sirens wailing in distance]
[woman in English] Summer! Mummy's home.
Hi, Zenzi.
Ma'am, did you remember that today
You didn't forget to collect Summer,
did you, Zenzi?
Summer? [chuckles] No.
I've never even met her.
Missed me!
[gasps] My sneaky little girl.
Oh! I did. I did. I did. Oh.
[boy] Mama?
[Zenzi] Mm-hmm?
[boy in Tswana] It's for Papa
when you take me to visit him.
You promised.
[Zenzi] I know, baby. I know.
[sentimental music playing]
[in English] Uh, ma'am.
[woman] Mm-hmm?
I need to leave a bit early today.
[inhales]
It's today?
That he gets out?
[sighs]
H-how long has it been?
Two years now.
Are you sure about this?
Come on, he put you through so much.
He's changed, ma'am.
Toxic men never change.
Sometimes it's best
to leave our past behind us.
Okay?
[uplifting music playing]
[siren sounding]
[uplifting music continues]
Hello, sir. I'm here to fetch
my husband, Maxwell Mwale.
Uh, wait over there.
[Zenzi] Oh, okay.
Hello.
[people reply indistinctly]
[woman] I missed you.
- [pounding on door]
- [Zenzi] Okay, okay, I'm coming.
Max Mwale, you're under arrest
for the murder of Yazid Noordien.
[Zenzi] What?
- [in Tswana] What's going on?
- [in English] I love you.
[in Tswana] No, wait.
- [in English] Move it!
- This is a mistake. Wait.
- Max, what is this?
- [siren blaring]
[siren echoing]
Who are you waiting for, sister?
Um, my husband, Maxwell Mwale.
He was supposed to be released today
at 5:00.
I got here just after 5:00.
It says here he was released this morning.
He's gone, sister.
He's gone?
[scoffs] No.
[guard] I don't know what to tell you.
Your husband's a free man.
Congratulations.
But he's not here.
[dramatic music playing]
[Zenzi sighs]
Max?
Max?
[knocking on door]
[knocking continues]
[whispering] Zenzi,
do you know what time it is?
Alice, have you seen Max?
- Is this a joke?
- No. No. He got out today.
But he's not home.
Well, if I saw him,
I would chase him away
unless he brings the rent.
Anyway, you're better off without him.
Count yourself lucky.
Zenzi
Did Enrico tell you?
We're selling the house.
We don't have a choice anymore.
You're gonna have to find
somewhere else to live for free.
You've got till the end of the month
to pack up your things.
[siren wailing]
[Zenzi] I'd like to report
a missing person, please.
Missing person?
Yes, my husband.
Name?
Zenzile Mwale.
His name.
Oh. Maxwell.
Maxwell Mwale.
[in Afrikaans] Ay.
It's these Zimbabweans again.
The husband is off with his mistress,
and the wife comes to us to find him.
- [in English] Cry me a river.
- [police officers laugh]
I can hear you.
I am not Zimbabwean.
I'm from Bethlehem in the Free State.
And my husband is not with some mistress.
He got out of jail today.
He was supposed to come home,
but he didn't.
So are you going to help me or not?
Look, these men are trouble, sister.
He's probably out drinking with friends,
having a good time.
Maybe you're better off.
[tuts]
[sighs]
[tense music playing]
[line ringing]
Hi, this is Naledi.
Don't leave a voicemail.
Just text me. Thanks, bye.
[line beeps]
[phone beeps]
[tense music continues]
Hi. I'm looking for this guy,
Max.
- Have you seen him?
- Huh-uh.
Hello.
I'm looking for this guy.
Have you seen him? Max.
Huh-uh.
[man] Hey.
I know you.
Max's piece of ass.
Hmm?
Wait. You know Max?
Max is in jail, sister.
- No, no, he got out.
- Well, he's not here.
You need a new man
to warm your bed, eh? [chuckles]
No.
No. Leave me. Leave me.
Fuck off, you drunk shit.
Well, if Max isn't in jail, he's dead.
So fuck him.
And fuck you!
What are you playing, coming here?
I was just trying to find my husband.
He wasn't at the prison,
and he didn't come home.
I don't know where to look anymore.
[sighs] No one will help me.
I will help you.
Thank you, Mr. Booysen.
Enrico.
[sinister music plays]
I I really need to get home.
I will walk you home.
Safe.
[men speaking indistinctly]
[tense music playing]
[chuckles] Fuck.
Okay. Thank you, Mr. Booysen.
Anything you need
I'm here.
[tense music playing]
Okay.
Good night, Mr. Booysen.
I should fix that door for you.
Oh, no, it's okay. I'm already used to it.
[Enrico] And the rent?
Make a plan.
[breathing heavily]
[flips light switch]
[flipping light switch]
[Enrico] Zenzi.
[knocking on door]
- [Enrico] Zenzi, open the door.
- [banging on door]
[Enrico] Bitch.
[thudding]
[glass shattering]
[Enrico] Zenzi,
I'm just trying to help you.
[grunting] Zenzi.
Zenzi. Zenzi.
[banging on door]
[Enrico grunting]
[breathing shakily]
[Alice in Afrikaans] Enrico!
Leave that bloody maid,
before I put you both on the street!
[Enrico in English] Fucking cock teaser.
No wonder he's not coming back.
Anything to get away from you.
[sighs]
[panting]
[judge] How do you plead?
[Max] Guilty.
I killed Yazid Noordien.
You do realize that if you are lying,
not only are you in contempt of court,
but you're leaving
the real criminals on the street?
I do.
I killed him.
[phone ringing]
Max?
[person breathing on phone]
Hello?
[breathing continues]
Who is this?
Max, is that you?
[line disconnects]
[Max] After everything I've done,
why are you still here?
[in Tswana] I am your wife, Max.
[in English] Esulu is your son.
I know who you really are.
[Max sighs heavily]
[in Tswana] Then maybe
this is my chance to change.
[in English] For the better.
Whatever it takes.
[Zenzi in Tswana] Why, Max?
[in English] What is it
you're not telling me?
What are you involved in?
Please, whatever it is
don't do it.
[mournful music playing]
[sobbing]
[music continues]
[intercom beeps]
[gate buzzes, unlocks]
Ah. It's just you.
I thought it was somebody important.
If living in your own filth
is so important,
I can leave.
[groans] Well, you did come all this way.
[Zenzi chuckles softly]
[in Tswana] Is it Tuesday already?
[chuckles]
[intro music playing on TV]
[host in English] Welcome back.
I see you have been writing.
[sighs] Columns. For my sins.
It's juice. I know what's good for me.
After a week-long search
led by local police,
Garth's body was ultimately recovered
near a stream in Philippi.
With me today are his daughter, Melanie,
and wife, Karen,
who are recounting their harrowing journey
in their hopes of finding justice
Very intellectual.
[in Tswana] It's no Felicia,
but it hits the spot.
[in English] 1996 called.
[chuckles]
[host on TV] And when did you know
he wasn't coming home? That he was dead?
[Melanie on TV] He hadn't called.
He always called.
I just looked at my mom, and I knew.
If you want to study humanity,
you should watch daytime TV talk shows.
[host] You suspect
there might be more to it.
[Melanie] There has to be more to it.
He had enemies. We knew this.
The daughter did it.
- [Melanie] Our house is very secure.
- What?
- Please. Look at her.
- It has to have been someone he knew.
It was her, the daughter.
Well, I see.
Well, when you have multiple awards
for your investigative journalism,
and a Sunday Times bestseller,
you can be the judge of character
around here.
No offense.
Well, Mr. Ngesi,
if I did not clean up after you,
I would think you were an arrogant ass.
Oh! [laughs]
[Zenzi chuckles]
[in Tswana]
There's no underestimating you, Zenzi.
[in English] Indeed.
Hello.
[woman] Zenzi?
- It's not your day today.
- I know.
But I can't come in later this week.
A-and I really need to speak
to Mr. Hendricks.
Please, Nancy.
I need the work.
Okay.
Thank you.
[Hendricks]
I pay you to solve my problems.
I don't pay you
so I can solve my own problems.
So fucking solve it.
Whoa, whoa, whoa, Zenzi, what the fuck
are you doing here? What day is it?
Sorry, Mr. Hendricks.
Nancy said I can work today.
[Hendricks] Nancy said.
Okay, but you're not supposed
to see this shit.
You can keep your mouth shut, right?
I know what you do here, sir.
I've worked here for a while now.
Yeah, I know. I know. Just [grumbles]
mind your own business
and clean something.
"Keep it away from Zenzi.
Just let her clean."
That's all Max asked for.
What the fuck am I supposed to do?
You're happy working here, right?
Yes. Yes. Of course, sir.
You've been good to us, sir.
Don't you forget that.
[keypad beeping]
[safe chimes]
Um, I've been meaning to ask, sir
I can't give you another advance, Zenzi.
I wish this was my money, but it's not.
I'm not looking for money.
I'm looking for Max.
- Max is in jail.
- No, he got out.
Yesterday.
What are you telling me?
Nobody told me.
Nobody fucking told me.
Somebody's getting cut up for this.
Fuck.
You know Max is welcome here, right?
So where the fuck is he?
That's what I'm asking you, sir.
I went to fetch him yesterday, but
he wasn't there. I I I can't find him.
Okay, listen
you and me, we need to find Max.
There's a lot of shit happening out there,
okay? A lot of unfinished business.
And would, uh, would Jackson know?
Jackson Thom, your partner.
Jackson Thom is no partner of mine, okay?
He's a fucking sociopath.
I'm warning you, Zenzi.
Stay away from him. He's dangerous.
And Max owes him money.
And if Jackson knows Max is out,
that is a bad move for Max.
Fuck.
[inhales deeply]
You and me, we're gonna stay
far away from Jackson. You hear me?
- Okay.
- [Hendricks] What the fuck?
[man] Fuck, Raymond.
Those fuckers moved on us. Jackson's guys.
- We took some hits.
- [Hendricks] Those motherfuckers!
You You get out of here, okay?
Leave it with me. I'll find Max.
Move him to the back.
Those motherfuckers. Put him down.
Just put him down.
[injured man grunting]
[tense music playing]
[suspenseful music plays]
[injured man whimpering]
[Nancy] See you next week.
- [Hendricks] Where the fuck is Joseph?
- [man] We don't know. He wasn't there.
[injured man grunting]
[Zenzi] Nancy.
Do you know where I can find Jackson Thom?
It's important.
- [injured man grunting]
- [Hendricks] Bite on this. Bite! Fuck.
Nancy, please.
[Hendricks] This is a fucking mess.
Do you remember that night
when I told Bevan that you were with me?
When you were
Ruthless, Zenzi. Ruthless.
[Nancy writing]
[electric saw cutting]
Hi.
Um
I'm looking for a job.
Yeah, the boss is over there.
[machinery whirring loudly]
[Zenzi shouts] Excuse me!
Hello.
I'm looking for the boss.
Well, the boss isn't here.
I can take a message.
Are you Jackson?
Am I supposed to know you? Who sent you?
I'm looking for my husband.
I know you.
You work for Raymond.
What do you do? Clean his toilets?
You're Max's little wife.
You don't need to answer. I know that.
It's my business to know things.
Honestly
he was better off inside.
'Cause outside, they can't protect him.
Max, he owes me
a lot.
I've been sitting here,
waiting for him to knock on my door.
Wondering that
if he doesn't show
am I going to need collateral?
Now I'm wondering
if collateral didn't just
walk into my workshop.
- It has nothing to do with me.
- Oh, that's where you're wrong.
It's got everything to do with you.
Until Max pays me,
whatever's Max's is mine.
And I might as well enjoy it.
[exclaims] No! No!
[grunts, pants]
[knife being drawn]
[Jackson] You should put that away.
You might hurt yourself.
[Zenzi] Don't come closer.
I'll I'll just leave.
[gun fires]
[gasps]
[Jackson grunting]
[coughing] Fucking bitch.
Fuck! [coughs, grunts]
What the fuck?
[wheezing]
Help.
Help. Help.
[Jackson wheezes, coughs]
[Zenzi] Hey. Hey.
No, no, no, no, no, no. No.
[shakily] No, no.
[crying] Wait.
Jackson, please, no.
Jackson! Jackson!
Jackson.
[quietly] No.
[sinister music plays]
[breathing shakily]
[mournful music playing]
[gagging]
[vomits]
[breathing heavily]
[gasps]
[mournful music continues]
[phone ringing]
- Hello?
- [Mr. Ngesi] It was the daughter.
You were right.
The daughter killed her father.
I don't know how you knew it,
but you hit the nail right on the head.
Hello?
Are you there?
Yes, sir. I'm here.
Well, actually, I wanted to speak to you
about a new idea for a book.
[sighs] Maybe better when you get here.
I think
you're actually gonna like this one.
Hello?
Zenzile, is everything okay?
I'm fine.
[inhales sharply]
I'll call you later, okay?
Just drop by when you get the
[somber music playing]
[Mr. Ngesi] What do we really know
about the invisible women in our lives?
They wash our clothes,
sweep our floors,
know us better than we know ourselves,
sometimes more than we'd like to admit.
How often do we reach out into their lives
the way they seamlessly
move in and out of ours?
Do we dare to look
outside of our self-involved lives?
But one momentary interaction
can remind even an aging narcissist
that there's life outside of our own.
A rich tapestry of stories,
tragedy, resilience.
[sighs deeply]
I want to write a new story.
The story of a woman,
softly-spoken, unremarkable
but with a dignity of strength
I haven't often seen,
who's taken knock after knock
but finds the strength to get back up,
a woman I'd like to call a friend.
To a younger man, maybe even more.
Who's seen the worst of heartbreak,
but who has resolved to live,
to live with the best of hearts
and make the right decisions, always.
[somber music continues]
[Mr. Ngesi] What will happen to this woman
when the world around her is in chaos
[Hendricks] Quick!
Get those boxes out of here.
[Mr. Ngesi] when her limits are tested,
her principles,
when her back is against the wall?
- Then we'll see who she really is.
- [Hendricks] You, hurry up!
Zenzi, this is not a good time.
Nancy, move it. This is the first place
they're gonna come to.
They're coming right fucking now.
Twenty minutes max. Wipe the drives.
Joseph, you take the car
and get out of here.
If they're gonna search this place,
the only thing they're gonna find
is the finest cuts of tomahawk steaks,
you get me?
[vehicles departing rapidly]
You.
You shouldn't be here right now.
Okay, motherfuckers, move it!
It's day zero!
[dramatic music playing]
Okay.
[keypad beeping]
[keypad beeping]
[safe chimes, unlocks]
Holy mother of fuck.
[sirens approaching]
Jackson Thom is dead.
The guy you came to ask about
just a few hours ago, he's dead.
But somehow I get the feeling
you already know that, don't you?
The whole fucking city's gonna think
that I did it and with my own gun.
Ray.
- They're here.
- [Raymond] You stay here.
And don't you say a fucking word,
you got me?
And hide that thing.
[panting]
[people shouting in distance]
Uys and Van der Merwe, I want you
in there. Thorough checks, okay?
Twala, Bennett, that side.
Even the freezers.
You, I want you in there.
Check hard drives,
files, boxes, computers
Come on. The rest follow me.
I want you on that side.
Bring me anything significant.
Let's go.
[vehicle turns off]
You sure no one followed you?
[Joseph] Got out just in time, I guess.
Drove around a couple hours.
- What's going on, boss?
- [Hendricks] I wish I fucking knew.
- Somehow Max is right in the middle of it.
- Max?
Max and his bitch wife.
She took my gun and some cash,
and now Jackson is dead.
Everyone is gonna think it was us.
[sighs] And Blessing?
[phone ringing]
[Hendricks sighs]
The devil himself.
Right on cue.
[Blessing on phone]
You've really fucked things up now, huh?
What part of "keep the peace"
don't you motherfuckers understand?
[Hendricks] I'm looking into it.
[Blessing] Yes, you are. Come and see me.
[line disconnects]
[phone beeps]
[Joseph] If you go,
you might not come back.
[Hendricks] I know.
But I'm working on something.
[phone ringing]
Hello?
[person breathing on phone]
Max?
[in Tswana] Is it you?
[breathing continues]
[in English] I really need you.
[line disconnects]
Hello?
Max.
[driver in Afrikaans] Hey! Get in!
Friend
What happened?
[man] There.
Zenzile Mwale?
Let's have a chat.
You were at Raymond Hendricks's business
earlier today.
I
You clean for Raymond Hendricks?
- I do.
- [detective] And?
And I went there today
even though it wasn't my day to work.
I just
I was going
because I was trying to find my husband.
Mr. Hendricks couldn't help me either.
And so
He left it open.
I don't know why I took it.
I wasn't even thinking.
I was just trying to find Max.
[detective] We have reason to believe
Raymond's involved
in organized criminal activity.
Did you see any drugs at the butchery
or weapons?
I'm just a cleaner.
Does the name "Jackson Thom"
mean anything to you?
- [gun fires]
- [Zenzi gasps]
[detective] He was found dead today,
and we think it was a gangland hit.
We think your husband could be involved.
We understand there's history there.
When's the last time you saw him?
A week ago.
[detective] Do you perhaps have
a recent photograph of him?
[Zenzi] Do you know
where I can find Jackson Thom?
It's important.
[detective] That's our guy.
Hold on.
If you hear from your husband,
if you see him,
if you can think of anything,
I want to know.
And woman to woman,
I can help you out of a scene
you don't want to be any part of.
Are you gonna tell me what happened?
Maybe another time.
Tonight
We cannot have that type
of disruption happening here.
If you are involved in something,
we cannot have it.
I know.
I'm sorry, sir. I
And I'm not involved in anything.
It's your first warning.
Asshole.
Friend
you've gotta stand up for yourself.
[thunder rumbles]
[ominous music playing]
[music intensifies]
[Zenzi breathing shakily]
[music crescendoes, fades]
[panting]
[Zenzi] What do you want?
Just to talk.
Then talk.
I have a job offer.
From Raymond.
Another target.
I am not a killer for hire.
[man] So far so good, I say.
Get in, get out unsuspected.
You're invisible.
No.
[gun thuds on ground]
[man] Do it,
and you get paid for your trouble.
But don't [inhales]
and the police might learn
who really pulled the trigger
on Jackson Thom.
They won't believe you.
They will believe it's Max.
My husband is not a murderer.
He should've taken the money
and done the time like he was told.
But Max
Max had to fuck around
with the wrong people.
Who did Max take the fall for?
Why?
[man] All you need to know is
if Max hadn't stepped out of line,
your son would still be alive.
[dramatic music playing]
The boy didn't have to die.
It's all Max's fault.
[train horn sounding]
[announcer over PA system]
The next train does not stop here.
Just a friendly reminder.
What happened to Esulu
could easily happen
Don't you say his name.
[man chuckles]
Max.
Did he even shed a tear when he found out
his soft little son was dead?
[Zenzi] Hey! No! No! [cries]
[man screams]
[gasps]
[dramatic music playing]
[music fades]