Deceit (2021) s01e02 Episode Script

1
It's a long time since
I felt like I'm on the brink
of something as
wonderful as this.
This is the
most valuable thing I own.
Not in terms of price,
but memories and dreams.
I've owned it
since I was a young girl.
It was given to me
by special people.
This is the key that unlocks me.
I think you've
experienced the same things as me.
I want you to know what I've done.
PHONE RINGS
Colin?
I'm so glad you rang.
MUSIC: Let Your Love Flow
by The Bellamy Brothers
There's a reason for the warm
sweet nights
And there's a reason for the
candlelights
Must be the season
When those love rights
shine all around us
So let that wonder ♪
ON TV: First, a notorious crime
that two months ago made headlines
all over Britain.
On Wimbledon Common in south-west
London a young mother,
Rachel Nickell, was waylaid
and repeatedly stabbed.
Her scratched and bruised
two-year-old son was found
clinging to her body.
A consultant clinical psychologist
has been handed evidence
of Rachel's murder
and he is drawing up a likely
profile of the killer.
The killer is under the age of 30.
He lives locally.
He's a low achiever,
so he has never done well at exams.
He has few friends
and has solitary hobbies.
He likes pornography,
including some of the violent sort.
He doesn't have a steady girlfriend.
If he's had previous girlfriends,
they'll have found him
unsatisfying, sexually inexperienced
and wanting to act
out domineering gameplay.
He's has pestered woman before.
Indeed, he may have been
caught for minor sex offences.
Above all, he could cause a tragedy
and suffering like this again.
Most of the calls are coming in on
the Rachel Nickell murder.
We've got a large number of names
that have been put forward.
One in particular is causing
considerable interest to the team.
We've also, I've just got one here,
a woman who
was on the common at the time,
maybe a possible useful witness.
So 90 calls here to the studio
the last time I spoke to the team.
Ten of them, Superintendent Bassett
says, are very interesting.
One man has gone straight
to the top of their priority list.
Sit.
Good lad.
Good boy. Good boy.
Keith?
Follow me.
SIREN WAILS
MUFFLED SHOUTING
CAR HORN BEEPS
CAMERAS CLICK
MACHINE BEEPS
This interview is being
tape-recorded.
I'm Detective Inspector Keith Pedder
attached to the Incident Room
at Wimbledon Police Station.
The other officer present is
Detective Constable
Martin Long.
What's your full name, please?
Colin Francis Stagg.
Also present is..
Mr Wood, duty solicitor.
The date is September 18th, 1992.
The time now 3:21pm
and we're in the interview room
at Wimbledon Police Station.
Now, you've been arrested
on suspicion of the murder
of Rachel Nickell,
which occurred July 15th, 1992.
That's two months ago.
Do you remember that day?
Yeah.
Can you tell me why you remember it?
Well
..because of what happened,
obviously.
And thethe way I felt that day.
ON VIDEOTAPE: Splitting headache.
I hadn't had a
headache since I was a teenager.
After I did my normal
things during the morning
and I had my breakfast,
did some shopping,
I took Brandy, my dog,
straight over the common.
But when I got
to the second underpass
I was stopped by the police.
I asked what had
happened and they told me
there had been
an incident on the common.
I thought it was flashers
or perverts or something.
They told me
that a girl had been murdered
and that they're clearing
the common.
What were you wearing
when you went to
the common that day?
It had brightened up.
I put on my shorts - cutdown jeans -
black T-shirt,
boots I was wearing that morning
and a pair of sunglasses.
The shoes that you were
wearing that day,
you still got 'em?
No.
I threw them away two days ago.
Where did you throw 'em?
In the rubbish.
Why did you throw them away?
The heel came off.
Studies show from birth to seven
the most important person
in a child's life is their mother.
The vast majority of serial killers
either have abusive mothers
or the maternal bond was severed
abruptly at a young age.
Interventional work with
abused children has the potential
to predict which
children are likely to be
become serial killers.
ON VIDEOTAPE: How long have
you lived at your current address?
Since 1968 or '69.
I was living with the family,
you know?
Which consisted of?
Me mum and dad,
me brothers and a sister.
They got divorced,
but my mum remarried
and my dad died in 1986,
so I took over the tenancy.
Were you very close to your dad?
That's why the common
is so dear to me, you know?
Since I was a little kid.
That's why I go there with the dog,
because every part of the common
reminds me of my dad.
Are you close to your mum?
ECHOING VOICES: What are you doing?
You can't just break in here.
Why are you trying to
run away from me? I'm not running.
I'm not doing anything.
Come home with me.
Please, don't touch me.
SMASHING GLASS AND BANGING
MUFFLED SPEECH
You're going to wake the kids up.
Yeah, and they'll find out
what a dirty little slut you are.
No, I'm not.
Where is he?
There's no-one here.
Come on. No, let's just
ON VIDEOTAPE:
I always felt sorry for my dad
more than anything, you know?
ECHOING VOICES: Where is he?
There's no-one here but me
and the kids.
Please just calm down. Please.
Don't you tell me to calm down.
It's all in your head.
All in my head?
All in my fucking head?!
Sorry, sorry.
Sorry? Argh!
She was always
out with other blokes.
She actually brought in
the bloke she's married to now
when she was
still married to my dad.
Right, it fits your profile.
Lives alone or with the parent in
close proximity to the crime scene.
Considered odd
by those who know him.
All Stagg's neighbours think that
he's odd, right?
And this
"An inappropriate
interest in the crime."
That fits Stagg.
He went around talking about it,
telling people
a girl had been killed.
So if that's what Stagg is,
a disorganised killer
Except, he's not.
Rachel was acquired and controlled.
He killed her
quickly and effectively
and then vanished,
leaving almost no evidence.
Those are not the classic signs
of a disorganised homicide.
Do you think he's killed before?
No.
Repeat killers get more
experience as they go on.
They refine their
technique and behaviour
and leave a
..an ever clearer signature.
So you think he planned it?
He rehearsed it in
his masturbatory fantasies,
right down to the finest detail.
All except one.
He couldn't know
who the victim would be.
So she could have been anyone?
Anyone
..with lovely long blonde hair.
TEASPOON CLINKS
To get this right,
you need to
understand what he's capable of.
And you needn't
concern yourself with his past.
It's his future you
should be worried about.
It's inevitable he will kill
another young woman at some point.
How long?
I mean,
how much time do we have?
Oh, I'm afraid I can't say, Sadie.
But I can tell you that killers
like this don't do it just once
and then live
off the memory forever.
It fades, like
like all memories.
It lessons in intensity.
And it needs to be felt again.
INSPECTOR:
You've had two girlfriends?
What kind of relationship did you
have with Wendy?
COLIN: Well, I would say proper.
It wasn't full sexual intercourse,
but
..we did things together, you know?
Can you tell me what that was?
She'd come round to my place
some evenings
..and take a few clothes off
and that and
..just generally play
with each other.
Any problems in that way at all?
No.
I was round her place one evening
..we was just snogging on the couch,
andshe closed the door
..took her top off
..and it just went on from there,
you know?
HE CHUCKLES
And what was it that you found
..most attractiveabout Wendy?
Hard to believe it,
but her hair.
I told her a lot of times.
When I used to sit with her
..her head dipped.
The smell of her hair
just REALLY made me feel relaxed
and turned on, you know?
PHONE RINGS
..the natural smell of her hair
PHONE CONTINUES TO RING
SHE EXHALES DEEPLY
Hello.
COLIN: All right?
You sound a bit flat, Colin.
Yeah.
Yeah, I'm OK.
DISTANT VOICES AND FOOTSTEPS
Just people around here, spreading
rumours about me and that.
Why?
Well, it's mainly cos of something
that happened last year.
You know, people just can't keep
themselves to themselves.
It's even worse where I'm from.
People just love to gossip.
Well, this is more than gossip.
Oh, God, can't you move?
No, I've been living here
since 1968.
I've got all my memories here,
I've got a nice home -
I'm not giving that up for anybody.
You know what? You're dead right.
You shouldn't just uproot yourself
just because people are being mean.
HE SIGHS
Yeah.
Look, it's just that something
terrible happened around here.
You probably read about it,
in the news.
No, I
..I don't pay much attention
to the newspapers and
..don't really have a television.
CHUCKLES SOFTLY
You know, it's just cos I'm not
married.
I don't have kids or a car or a job.
They think there's something
weird about that, there's
HE SIGHS
It's just playing on my mind.
You know?
Yeah, people are awful.
If you don't fit into
what their idea is,
that's their problem.
Yeah.
If you wanted to spend
the summer with me
..it's very nice around here.
It's very green, there's nice
parklands and that, you know?
Yeah?
Yeah.
Yeah, we could enjoy ourselves,
you know?
I'll think about it.
We just have to get a few hurdles
out of the way first.
But I'll definitely consider it.
Don't worry, I won't prejudge you
if you don't prejudge me.
It's just nothing like this has ever
really happened to me before.
You know?
No-one's ever really shown interest,
so
SHE CHUCKLES SOFTLY
..I'm not going to give that
up for anything.
You might not even like me
when you meet me.
Oh
You know, you get so used to, uh
..not trusting someone
..and then, uh
..you build up a wall to
protect yourself.
And then, suddenly
..you meet want someone you want
to trust and
..it's difficult to let
that barrier slip.
I know, yeah.
But I'm getting there.
Lizzie
What?
I love you.
HE HANGS UP
COLIN, ON RECORDING: I'm not going
to give that up for anything.
SADIE, ON RECORDING: You might not
even like me when you meet me. Oh
You know, you get so used to, uh
It's difficult to let that
barrier slip.
But I'm getting there.
Lizzie. What?
I love you.
MUSIC PLAYS, CHATTER
It's pretty good, right?
So, Colin Stagg's in love with you?
It worked. I won his trust.
If he's in love with you, he'll be
thinking about you all the time,
obsessing about you.
Good! The more he wants me,
the more likely
he is to tell me what he's done.
Let's not forget about what
he did to Rachel.
How's your family?
What?
Well, you checked in with them
recently?
You checked in with your wife
recently?
I'm doing what I need to do, Baz.
You of all people should
understand that.
Yeah, I do understand that.
I've got a real chance here.
To do something none of the men
could ever do.
They wouldn't have the balls for it,
even if they could.
Yeah, I get that.
But we need to think about where
it's heading, Sadie.
To a confession.
To material evidence.
To no more women being killed.
Listen, Pedder and Wickerson
are getting squeezed by the Yard
and they're going to keep
pushing you.
So we need to be honest
with each other, Sadie.
I need to know you're really OK with
what they're asking you to do
and you need to think seriously
about how far you're prepared to go.
All the fucking way.
Slainte.
The room was filled with
candlelight and smoke,
and everyone was chanting.
It was electric.
And she was laid out on this
..this kind of altar.
And I was looking at her,
and she was looking at me,
and then he handed me the knife.
And I did what he asked me to do.
There was a look on her face
when I did it.
I know it's such an awful
thing to say, but
..it really was the greatest moment
in my entire life.
And what does it sound like?
When a knife cuts human flesh.
It's more like how it feels.
It's like this power coursing
through your veins,
like you're in total control.
Tell me again what you did.
So, I took the knife in my hand,
and she was just laying there naked.
You're not eating.
Oh, what the fuck
I can't.
It needs to be as normal for you
as it is for him.
SHE EXHALES DEEPLY
And so I took the knife,
and she was smiling at me.
She was willing me to do it
Start again. I don't believe you.
CUTLERY CLATTERS
If he wants to be in control
so much, why wouldn't I be
more submissive?
He wants someone he can trust
with his secret.
This whole Satanic cult thing,
it's
Is designed to specifically appeal
to the killer of Rachel Nickell.
To humanise his fantasies.
To win his confidence.
VIDEO: Don't touch her.
Everything she does now must be
of her own free will.
You understand, Catherine,
what your future is to be?
Yes. And I am content.
Yes. And I am content.
And I am content.
Yes.
And I am content.
VIDEO: If my master pleased
with his virgin sacrifice?
You have no idea what these
people are capable of.
They deal directly with the devil.
He told me he had to kill her.
They made a bargain.
He had this sort of cellar
in his basement,
with candles and an altar,
and what you'd call
some sort of chalice?
If I had known her blood would
end up in there
If I had known he'd make me
drink it
SCREAM FROM TV
No!
BUZZER SOUNDS
VIDEO: You were up that common,
weren't you?
Indecently exposing yourself
to women.
Hello? Ey up, mate. It's me.
Yeah, do you want to come up?
DOOR ENTRY BUZZES
I was sunbathing naked there.
SADIE READS TO HERSELF
She says you smiled at her.
She smiled at me first.
And then you opened your legs.
I went up there to sunbathe.
If you just give me two minutes.
I'll pop the kettle on, then.
I just need to finish
the end of this.
She didn't have to look.
Women have got the right to walk
on that common unmolested,
without fear of seeing naked people,
in particular, naked men.
SADIE MUTTERING: Defining
characteristics
So, have you shacked up with
a student, then, or what?
This stuff is
it's mind-blowing.
Seriously.
Lucy, they should teach us
this shit at Hendon.
So, this is why you haven't been
calling me back, then, is it?
SADIE READS TO HERSELF
Sadie?
Sadie.
When did you last see daylight?
Sade!
Sadehold up, mate!
Hold up Hold up!
Oh!
LUCY PANTS
You all right?
BREATHLESSLY: I'm good!
I can't keep up with you
and your long legs, man.
SADIE CHUCKLES
It's not funny.
What are you doing
with all this research?
We do what we do based on instinct.
This is different.
I have to understand what
makes him the way he is.
Listen to me, Stagg's mum left
when he was a kid, right?
Severed bond.
So you do think that Stagg's
a serial killer, then?
Yeah, I think he will be
if I don't stop him.
What, just you, mate, yeah?
No, it's not just me.
There's Pedder,
there's the professor.
His profile of the killer is spot on
and literally describes Stagg.
But you don't think that these
profiles are a bit vague?
I mean, they all sound
the same to me.
Weirdo, white, in their 20s,
lives alone or with a parent,
who are into martial arts
and hard-core porn.
Come on Morning, ladies!
What, do you want a bit
of this, do you?
Sade.
Well, you can if you want.
Go on, get it out.
In fact, you can have both
of us, if you like.
Ah, is it not big enough?
Sade. Go on, walk off, then. Go on.
Sade.
Come on, mate, let's go home.
I'm knackered.
Come on, man.
Come on.
SADIE GROANS
SHE EXHALES
VIDEO: You're not telling
me the truth.
About the time that
you were on the common.
It wasn't two years ago,
that may seem.
You saw her on July 15
and she recognised you.
I never saw Rachel that day.
You did see Rachel.
I did not see Rachel that day.
Why?
Hm?
Why did you?
PHONE RINGS
Hm?
What was it that made you do it?
PHONE RINGING
RECORDER CLICKS
MUTTERING: Lizzie, Lizzie
Hi, Colin
Hello. Hi, Lizzie.
What are you up to?
Nothing much.
Just, uh, cat sitting for
that lady I told you about.
Yeah. What about you?
I've been in my garden.
I've just been picking fruit.
You know, for my wine.
What sort? Erm, well
Redcurrants and that, you know.
I can't wait to taste it.
Is it strong?
VIDEO PLAYS LOUDLY
What's that?
Sorry, what? What's that
..I just heard there in the back?
Erm
They play the radio next door
really loud.
Can you, erm
Can you give me a call
back later, Colin?
Yeah, that sounded like it was
Yeah? Uh, yeah, yeah.
OK, yeah.
OK.
OK, bye, bye, bye.
You were up on that hill
the day of the murder.
No.
I think I saw her, Rachel, on
on the common.
But I'm not sure.
It was about two years ago.
Did you expose yourself to her? No.
It wasn't a nude sunbathing day? No.
It wasn't two years ago,
that may seem.
It was a lot closer to the murder
that happened, wasn't it? No.
It WAS two years ago.
She was smiling at me.
And I thought
"Nice looking girl." You know?
It wasn't two years ago,
was it, Colin? Yes, it was.
You came up there, didn't you?
You wanted to bump into her again.
Yeah, I was hoping that
I'd see her there, yeah.
You wanted to progress it,
didn't you?
I've got two witnesses who
are certain in their minds
the dates and times
that they saw you.
You thought, "I'll try my luck."
She smiled at me.
What was it about Rachel that day?
I never saw Rachel that day.
You did see Rachel.
I did not. You did.
I did not see Rachel that day.
I never saw Rachel that day.
You did see Rachel that day!
SADIE GASPS
DOOR SHUTS
But I never did it.
I'm not a killer.
I can never do anything like that.
Like what?
Murder. A raping, a murder.
I couldn't do that!
TAPE REWINDS
But I never did it.
I'm not a killer.
I can never do anything like that.
Like what?
Murder. A raping, a murder.
I couldn't do that!
SADIE GASPS
SHE BREATHES SHAKILY
There are things that happened
to me a long time ago.
Bad things.
And I've only ever told one man.
And when I did, it all went to shit.
I really want to tell you
what happened to me, Colin.
But I can't go through
that again!
I can't!
SHE EXHALES
The Commissioner
wants results yesterday.
And does he think that I don't?!
He's not the arsehole that has
to call Rachel's family every week.
KNOCK ON DOOR
What?
Keith. Mate.
Hear you've got a covert op
running. You care to comment?
Yeah, sure.
You want to come up to my office?
Your source is unreliable.
You deny it, then?
Let me offer you some advice.
Any irresponsible reporting will be
viewed with a very jaundiced eye.
So you can fuck off.
And tell your source when I find out
who he is, he'll need a wheelchair.
Can I quote you on that?
It wouldn't be in the public
interest for me
to just walk away from a story
like this.
Well, if you don't
..you won't be walking anywhere.
Mate.
Sadie.
You've got to be kidding!
So the press know about me?
How did that happen?
Look, I've held him off for now.
All right? But if this goes to
print, the op's fucked.
We need to move things on a bit
faster than I would have liked.
Move them on how?
It's been approved already, Sadie.
The Yard signed off on it
this morning. Did they?
What did they sign off on?
HE BREATHES UNSTEADILY
We need you to go and
..to go and meet Stagg.
Good.
Why am I always the last to know?
AS LIZZIE: Colin, my darling,
you are driving me mad.
And I love your special letters.
Tell me something that will
really send me crazy.
I can't help thinking you are
showing great restraint.
You are showing control
when I feel like you're bursting.
I want you to burst.
I want you to feel all-powerful
and overwhelming
so that I'm
completely in your power.
SHE GASPS
Stop!
SHE SCREAMS
BUZZER SOUNDS
BUZZER SOUNDS
Fucking hell.
Shit. Shit!
Sadie!
Sadie!
Can you give me like ten minutes?
Fuck sake, you twat.
SHE BREATHES RAGGEDLY
What's she playing at?
She's coming. There's reputation's
on the line here, Keith.
Not least yours and mine.
It's lovely here in the summertime.
It's lovely here. You can sit on
the deckchairs and feed the ducks.
It's lovely here in the summertime.
You can sit on the deckchairs
and feed the ducks.
AS LIZZIE: There's secrets about me
I long to share with someone.
This is the most valuable thing
I own, not in terms of price,
but memories and dreams.
I've owned it
since I was a young girl.
It was given to me
by special people.
This is the key that unlocks me.
I think you've experienced
the same things as me.
I think we're the same.
I want you to know about the things
I've done.
I've been waiting to meet you.
It's fate all coming together
for us, Colin.
We've only got to overcome
one last hurdle.
I can hardly wait.
See you later, boy.
DOG WHINES
SHE INTONES UNDER BREATH
CONTINUES INTONING
SHE EXHALES
Fuck.
SHE INTONES UNDER BREATH
All right, ladies and gents,
let's move out
if everyone knows
what they're doing.
Take a piss before you go. See you
at location one.
Be hypervigilant, please. Thank you.
INTONING
You know the signal?
Sorry, what? The signal?
If you're in trouble?
Got it.
Are you OK?
Of course.
Update on India 1, please?.
James, still blindside of RV.
Received.
Hold off, we've got Stagg, though.
For the benefit of all units,
India 2 is approaching
RV from the green aspect.
SHE BREATHES SHAKILY
All units, India 2 approaching.
All eyes on India 2 and India 1.
You must be Colin.
You must be Lizzie.