Population: 11 (2024) s01e02 Episode Script

(HORN BLARES)
- (SIREN WAILS)
- (EXHALES)
Mm. Drive safe.
I'm here to do the UFO tour.
Hugo is my dad.
HUGO: I'm pretty sure
I know who's got me.
They are called
the Azyarn species.
(SCREAMS)
Tell me you found him -
more importantly, the money.
Somebody has to know something.
It's a tiny town.
- (SNAKE HISSES)
- Aah!
(TOWNSFOLK LAUGH)
Eat the pie
and I'll tell you where Hugo is.
Wait! Hugo!
Shit!
(TYRES SCREECH)
- (OMINOUS MUSIC)
- (WIND WHISTLES SOFTLY)
(BREATHES SHARPLY)
(CROW CAWS)
- (BIRDS SCREECH)
- (GULPS)
(GROANS)
(SPITS)
(GROANS, INHALES SHARPLY)
(INTRIGUING MUSIC)
SONG: Whoa, whoa,
whoa, whoa, whoa
Every hand that you shake
And all the deals
that you make
Every smile that you fake
And your polite conversation
Every friend that you treated
like a stepping stone ♪
(PHONE RINGS)
(RINGING CONTINUES)
(RINGING STOPS)
Yes, they come
and they go ♪
(ANDY SHOUTS) Hey!
Hi! Hi! Hi! Hi! Hi!
Hey! (COUGHS)
Hey. Hi. Uh, sorry.
Thank you for stopping.
Uh, could could I trouble you
for for some water?
- Just I'm parched.
- Oh, yeah.
Jesus.
Are you OK?
ANDY: Mm!
Uh, yeah. Oh, th Mm.
Somebody, uh, hit me in
the head with a shovel.
Oh, my God, OK.
You need a hospital.
- Oh, no. No hospitals, no.
- You might have a concussion.
No, II'm fine.
Honestly, I'm I'm fine. I am.
I-I-I just need aa a ride
into town, if that's OK,
uh, kind stranger?
- Cassie.
- Cassie! Great to meet you.
Are you gonna tell me your name
or are you some sort
of serial killer?
Uh, no. Sorry. Andy.
Not a serial killer,
even though that's what a serial
killer would would say.
(CHUCKLES) OK, Andy.
(ANDY CHUCKLES)
So, this is nice.
Do you Do you
Do you live in your car?
Hah! I wish.
It'd be much better than
what I'm actually doing,
which is moving home
to live with my mother.
Oh! Fun.
I also sell beauty products.
Quite a catch, aren't I?
(CHUCKLES)
Do you wanna buy some?
Looks like you could use it.
Yeah, you know what?
My skin does feel a little dry.
(CHUCKLES)
Hop in.
Oh, thank you, really.
That's all you needed to know
I'm not a serial killer, huh?
Oh, it's fine.
I wouldn't have let you in
if I didn't think
I could take you.
- It's kind of my policy.
- Ah.
So, what town
are we talking, Andy?
Uh, Bidgeegud.
Bidgee. Not that little shithole
off the highway?
You've you've been there?
It used to be on the highway
until they moved the highway,
and now it's just
a dying little shithole
that no-one ever visits,
except you, apparently.
It's where my father lives.
Oh.
So, what did you do
to get hit with a shovel?
- Is it drugs?
- UFOs.
UFOs. OK. That's different.
No. Up there.
This must be it.
What?
ANDY: Do you mind?
I just want to check it out.
CASSIE: Mm-hm.
(UNSETTLING MUSIC)
I've heard about this place.
Some weirdo brings tourists
up here
and makes up crazy stories
about UFOs.
ANDY: Yeah, that weirdo
would be my father.
Oh. Sorry.
Don't be.
(CURIOUS MUSIC)
This is cool.
(INHALES SHARPLY) Ow! Argh!
- (GRUNTS)
- Yeah, watch out for termites.
How are you
this accident-prone?
How is it that
everything here bites?!
- (CASSIE SIGHS)
- Argh!
(ANDY GRUNTS)
- (HANDBRAKE CLICKS)
- Well, thank you for the ride.
Oh, it's all good.
Is there anything else I can do?
No, no, no. You've done plenty.
I appreciate it.
Oh, uh, actually,
could could could
you maybe not mention to anybody
that you saw me?
Why not?
I'm just a private person.
Good luck with,
uh uh, this situation.
(CURIOUS MUSIC)
WOMAN OVER PHONE:
Honey, I called three times.
Why didn't you pick up?
Is everything OK?
I thought something
had happened.
- Mum, I was driving. I'm fine.
- OK.
- Yeah, something's come up.
- What's come up?
- I'll be home in a day or so.
- Why? What's going on?
- Just work stuff.
- With the beauty range?
Nah, not that. Something else.
(MUM SIGHS) Are you in trouble
again? Because remember last
Mum, remember what we talked
about? Boundaries. Yeah.
Yes, I remember that, but,
Cassie, I've got boundaries too.
- Mum, look, I've gotta go.
- Call me back.
Yeah, I'll call you later.
(PUFFS AIR)
(FLYER RUSTLES)
Morning!
(SIGHS SOFTLY)
Uh, morning.
Sorry, are are you filming me?
No.
Sudoku.
Uh-huh.
Jeez, you're pale, aren't ya?
(LIGHT ORCHESTRAL MUSIC PLAYS)
(WHISPERS) Shit.
Not again.
I could take all day to decide.
Ah, shit. (GIGGLES)
(SIGHS)
Uh (CHUCKLES)
If you were me,
what would you get?
I don't know. Roo?
Yeah.
Yeah. OK, uh,
which one's the, uh, plain?
There.
Yeah, OK,
I'll grab one of those, yeah.
So, same as always, then?
(LAUGHS) Yeah.
There you go.
Audrey, do you, um,
like, fuckin'
Would you ever wanna, if I
You know, if I just
hit you up, wanna
'Cause, you know, obviously
we've been fuckin'
hanging around with mates
- I've got a customer waiting.
- Yeah, see you later.
Sorry about that.
What can I get ya?
Uh, I was just wondering,
actually,
if you can still buy fuel
around here or
Oh, yeah, nobody's sold fuel
here for years.
Nearest servo
is back at Coolawah
about 100 kays away.
OK, no worries. Thanks.
How about a pie?
Oh. Is this a bakery
or a Chinese restaurant?
It's both, yeah. Fusion.
Yeah, so,
if you're feeling adventurous,
I've got a Mongolian roo,
beef and black bean,
sweet-and-sour camel,
all homemade.
Oh, I'm vegetarian.
Yeah, no problem. Got
a chicken and Chinese broccoli.
Perfect. (CLEARS THROAT)
- How much is that?
- Six bucks.
(CASSIE MUTTERS) Six bucks. OK.
- Too easy.
- Yes.
(CURIOUS MUSIC)
(AUDREY CLEARS THROAT)
Everything alright?
Oh, yeah, just in
a bit of a daze today.
Thought you might want
some sauce.
Thank you.
(UNSETTLING SYNTH MUSIC)
(CROW CAWS)
ANDY: I don't know whose
severed foot it was, Dom.
DOM OVER PHONE: I don't mean
to be insensitive,
but if your dad's dead,
we need to know.
I'm really exposed here.
What if a placement
comes through?
You're not around.
That's not gonna happen!
The next placement isn't due
for at least a week.
Or maybe we could
just tell the client?
What?! No, we're not
telling the client.
Look, it could buy us some time.
(ANDY SIGHS) Dom
(KNOCK AT DOOR)
Shit. Hold on a second.
- Uh, who is it?
- CASSIE: It's me, Cassie.
- DOM: Who's Cassie?
- Nobody.
Why didn't you tell me
your dad was missing?
- Dom, I'm gonna call you back.
- No! No, no! Don't g
(LINE BEEPS)
You'll never guess what I found.
What are you still doing here?
Well, I was at the Chinese
restaurant fusion pie place
Run by a white lady.
Yeah, it feels problematic.
She sells me a pie,
I go to my car
and there it is in her ute.
- What?
- A shovel.
A shovel?
The shovel. Probably.
Right? I mean, maybe.
The one that hit you
in the face!
(GASPS) Oh, right!
Yes, of course.
I mean, how many people
own shovels?
You know, the chances that you
stumbled across the exact one
that hit me in the face
must be, what, uh
This one had blood on it.
What?!
Why didn't you lead with that?
"I found a shovel
with blood on it,"
is a lot more specific than
(AUSTRALIAN ACCENT)
"I found a shovel."
I was excited
and I wanted to tell you
that I found a clue.
Sorry for missing out
a minor detail.
A huge detail!
The most important detail.
- What is your problem?
- Me?
You're the one busting into
my room with crazy theories
when I told you
I'm a private person.
Crazy? I'm doing you a favour.
How do you even know
there was blood on the shovel?
- Did you get a good look at it?
- Sorta.
But it's worth looking into,
isn't it?
Yeah, yeah, thank you so much.
I appreciate it and I will
be sure to check it out.
You know what?
You don't deserve help.
Or this pie that I got ya.
Who puts meat in pies?!
They're for dessert.
(INTRIGUING MUSIC)
(ENGINE STARTS)
(PANS CLATTER)
(EQUIPMENT CLATTERS LOUDLY)
(EXHALES SHARPLY)
(UNSETTLING MUSIC)
(LIGHT ORCHESTRAL MUSIC PLAYS)
- (CLATTERING IN DISTANCE)
- (GASPS)
(CLATTERING CONTINUES)
(GRUNTS)
- CASSIE: Oh!
- ANDY: Oh!
CASSIE: Fuck!
- Cassie?
- What'd you do that for?!
Sorry. I-I thought you were
Are you, uh
Let me
Let me get you some ice.
- There's a freezer in here.
- It's fine. I don't need ice.
Oh, good.
You didn't hit me
that hard, actually.
Well, I pulled back
when I saw Doesn't matter.
- What are you doing here?
- Same thing as you, I guess.
- Looking for the shovel.
- Well, I haven't found a shovel.
Yeah, well,
she's obviously hidden it.
But I think that's my dad's hat.
- Crazy theories, huh?
- (VEHICLE APPROACHES)
(VEHICLE DOOR OPENS AND CLOSES)
(METAL UTENSILS CLATTER)
(KEYS JANGLE)
(DOOR OPENS)
(SCREEN DOOR SLAMS)
(FLUORESCENT LIGHTS BUZZ)
(AUDREY EXHALES HEAVILY)
(TAP RUNS)
(GAS HOB IGNITER CLICKS)
(CASSIE WHISPERS) Oh, my God.
Do you think her hitting you
with a shovel
and your dad's disappearance
are related?
ANDY: Shh, quiet.
(DOOR OPENS)
- (HEAVY OBJECT SLIDES)
- (AUDREY GROANS)
(GRUNTS)
(OMINOUS MUSIC)
(CHUCKLES)
(TUNES RADIO)
('HAVE YOU EVER BEEN IN LOVE'
BY LEO SAYER PLAYS)
AUDREY: Oh, yep.
Have you ever felt ♪
- (AUDREY GRUNTS)
- How far a heart can fall?
Have you ever
stayed up waiting ♪
(CASSIE WHISPERS) Oh, my God.
She's gonna get rid of the body
by baking him into her pies.
It's so evil, yet genius.
Like that woman,
Katherine Knight.
She chopped up her husband
and fed him to her kids.
Sorry.
Sorry, I know that's your dad.
- It's just
- Please stop talking.
OK.
Times to laugh
(AUDREY SINGS ALONG) And times
you really wanna cry
Finding reasons to believe her
'Cause you'd die a little
if she lied
And when in times of doubt
Have you ever tried
to work it out?
Leaves you wondering
What it's all about
And when she's far away ♪
AUDREY: Alright.
What do we do?
We can't get to the door
without her seeing us, so
Maybe we could hit her in the
face with a pan or something?
I could do it.
I wasn't hitting you
with my full
(PAN CLATTERS)
(AUDREY HUMS)
Have you ever been in love? ♪
(OMINOUS MUSIC)
Times to laugh
And times
you really want to cry
Finding reasons to believe her
'Cause you'd die a little ♪
Great.
We are now officially locked in
the psycho pie lady's freezer.
(CASSIE SIGHS)
(ANDY SIGHS)
And when in times
of doubt ♪
(AUDREY CHUCKLES)
Have you ever tried
to work it out?
But still she leaves
you wondering
What it's all about
And when the night comes down
Can you call this house
a home?
Do you dream
you're still together ♪
(GRUNTS)
(TIMER CLICKS)
(TICKS)
(UNSETTLING SYNTH MUSIC)
(DOOR OPENS, CLOSES)
(ENGINE STARTS)
ANDY ON VOICEMAIL:
Hey, this is Andy.
I can't come to the phone
right now,
so leave a message
and have a great day.
Andy, look, you need
to give me a call back, man.
You need to pick up
the phone, alright?
We need to figure out a plan B
or sooner or later,
they're gonna notice.
- (CAT MEOWS)
- Call me back.
Mr Biggles!
(SINGSONGS) Mr Biggles!
(TIMER TICKS)
(ANDY SIGHS) OK.
(CLEARS THROAT) She's gone.
(INHALES)
- (GRUNTS)
- You're gonna hurt yourself.
Doing this is keeping me warm.
If only I could just
- (DOOR BANGS)
- force the latch.
(GRUNTS) Argh.
Fine. You don't wanna listen
to me, don't listen to me.
Listening to you is
what got us trapped in here
in the first place.
- Excuse me?
- Look, I'm not blaming you.
I did the listening, so I guess
that makes me the idiot.
- Yeah, you are.
- I mean, I don't even know you.
You don't know anyone,
but as far as I can tell,
I'm the only one helping you.
Yeah, why is that?
What?
You just pick up stray dogs
for no reason?
Would you prefer it if
I'd left you by the roadside?
No, but now
you're breaking and entering
to help somebody you just met.
It seems calculated.
Is everyone this paranoid
where you come from?
I'm just trying to figure out
what your angle is.
- (SCOFFS) I don't have an angle.
- Oh, yeah?
So, you're just
an amazing person?
I am an amazing person, unlike
everybody else in this town
who are only in it
for the reward.
Ah! So, you do know
about the reward!
Everybody knows about
the reward.
You plastered it all over town,
you boofhead.
Why does everybody take
the whole thing?
You're supposed to pull the
5,000 bucks is a lot of money
to some people.
It's enough for
a few months' rent
so I don't have to move in
with my mum.
I thought if I could help you
find the shovel
that led to finding your dad,
then maybe
So, why didn't you
just say that?
Because without evidence,
it's all talk, right?
Is that in US dollars,
by the way?
OK, first of all,
there seems to be
a major misconception in this
country about how rewards work.
But, seriously,
if I help you find your dad,
you'll pay me the 5,000, right?
Fine.
5,000 dingo dollars
or whatever you people call
your silly play money.
OK, deal.
That's if we even
get out of here.
Oh. I've got that covered, actually.
Our ticket to freedom.
(UNSETTLING MUSIC)
(GROANS) And the noise
she makes when she eats,
it's like dining with a camel.
It's, like (GURGLES)
Oh, my God!
Anyway, um, what about your mum?
She passed away a year ago.
Oh, I'm sorry.
So, how long has it been since
you've seen your dad, then?
I was, uh, nine
when he left home.
Holy shit! Then he went missing
and now this.
That's really sad.
He's been missing my whole life.
The only difference now is
I actually need him for once.
What do you need him for?
- You ask a lot of questions.
- I'm just making conversation.
Come on, come on, come on.
(SIGHS) Freedom.
(ROD CLANGS)
Oh, my God.
- What?
- I'm sorry.
Did you wanna say
a few words about?
What? No, no. I am doing my best
not to think about this.
- Can we please just go?
- Yes.
- Jesus.
- (WHISPERS) Sorry.
(FIREARM CLICKS)
Looks like you uncovered
my little secret.
(TIMER RINGS)
SONG: I've been carried away
Into the breach, into the fire
I've been carried away
Into the breach, into the fire
Into the chrysalis
Into the chrysalis
Into the breach, into the fire
Into the chrysalis ♪