Scrublands (2023) s01e02 Episode Script

1
Seriously, Max,
the story is a dud.
Mate, it's just
a puff piece
about an outback town.
What do you want?
Just visiting town.
Sightseeing dead people?
You're writing
about Byron Swift?
- Did you know Father Swift?
- You couldn't miss him.
The Father Swift thing.
If only there was
a proper journo in town.
Leaving already?
Sadly, I've exhausted
the pleasures of Riversend.
Oh, shit!
Allen? Jamie?
I'm still at Riversend.
I want to kick the tires,
see if there’s
a bigger story here.
What bigger story?
I don't know yet.
- Faster!
- I'm going, I'm going!
- Babe
- Oh, I'm going as fast as I can.
- Go!
- Okay, okay!
Jesus, Damo, go!
- Go!
- I’m trying! I’m fucking trying!
Come on!
Jill, don’t!
Fuck!
Okay. Please Please!
Thought you’d be
halfway to Sydney.
Well, I need a coffee
and directions
to Harley Reagan’s place.
So, you're gonna finish
the story, yeah?
I wanted to talk
to a few more people.
I told you there was more to it.
But I'm not sure
Harley Reagan will
be of much help.
Okay.
Head north over the railway
- Mm-hmm.
- to the scrublands.
Dirt road from here,
it's a bit of a labyrinth.
- Okay, that's Springfields.
- Uh-huh.
And don't go there,
there's a fork there.
Springfields is signposted
after the big cattle grid.
All right. Thanks.
Cheers.
Oh, wait up.
Huh.
Thought it wasn’t for sale?
Oasis Cafe and Bookshop.
Fran.
How's Jamie?
Hey there.
Hi, I'm--
The journo who saved
Jamie Landers’ life, yeah?
I was with my sister
at the Club.
Oh, right. Yeah.
So, I’m looking
for Harley Reagan’s place.
Okay. You wanna go back up
the way you came a couple ks.
First right, second left.
Go over a couple cattle grids,
then at the second one,
Reagan’s place is signposted.
I thought this was
all Harley's land?
That what you thought, is it?
Yeah, we rent from him.
Right. Okay, so
First right, second left?
All right, thanks.
Um, I'm Martin, by the way.
- Everyone calls me Shaz.
- Cheers, Shaz.
Morning.
Good day.
Got time for a bit of a chat?
Come through.
Ah, you renovating?
Actually, honouring
the ancestors.
Great-great-grandfather here,
he built Springfields
in the 1850s.
The old bastard would climb out
of his grave and haunt me
if I let the place go.
Why is the homestead
all the way out here?
The spring. Permanent water.
You want some?
Ah, yeah. Cheers.
And the town’s where it is
'cause of the, uh, railway
- Hmm.
- which hasn’t run for a decade.
- There you go.
- Ah
So, finished your puff piece?
It's turning into more
of a mystery, actually.
Here. Can I
Can I show you something?
So, story is that the priest
shot at random, right?
Well. Okay.
So, here is the church,
the morning of the massacre.
People everywhere.
Now, Alf Newkirk,
he was shot in his car,
here beside his son,
who wasn’t hit.
Tom Newkirk's around here.
Gerry Torlini here.
Hugh Grosvenor, he's about here.
And now Craig Landers,
he's over
a hundred metres away
running.
And Swift
shoot him in the head.
That's five shots, five kills.
No misses, no women, no kids.
Does that sound random to you?
Who knows what that
mad priest was thinking.
I was thinking you might.
Apparently, he named you
as he was dying.
Oh, yeah
Bellington policewoman
told me about that.
What do you make of it?
Ah, beats me.
I was no friend of the priest.
Or the church for that matter.
But a murderer
and alleged paedophile
uses his last breath
to name you.
It's a bit unsettling.
So you’re here to do
what, exactly?
Point fingers at people?
Come up with a fresh angle?
You want to pick over our scabs?
- I'm just trying--
- Trying
to rescue your flagging career
by raking over
our small town tragedy, eh?
Yeah, I’ve read up about you.
Yeah.
I’ve got nothing on
my conscience, mate.
Nothing.
Can you say the same?
Yeah.
Let yourself out.
Thanks for coming.
The police
were here last night,
but he was so doped up,
they left.
And I should tell him but
It's okay.
Okay. Okay.
Hey, sweetie.
Hey, Mum.
Fingers crossed, you can come
home soon, okay?
Yeah.
Hey.
Where's Allen?
Gotta compare scars.
Did they send him
to Melbourne or something?
Ah
Jamie, Allen's dead.
He died in the accident.
I'm really sorry.
Get out!
- It’s
- Get out! Get out!
Come on.
Ah, shit!
Ah, fuck!
Shit!
Ah, come one, come on.
Come on.
You got lost?
Yeah, as I said.
And walked up here
Looking for signal.
And happened upon this,
then two bodies.
Yeah. Yeah, 'cause of the smell.
What is that thing anyway?
Oh, farmers use them
for dead animals.
I'm gonna need a statement
back at the station.
You must be looking
at the priest for this?
Right, Sergeant?
Scarsden, what were
you really doing
out bush this morning?
I told you.
I was interviewing Harley Reagan
for my article
about the church massacre.
And who else have you spoken to?
Lots of people.
Ah Mandy Bond.
Fran Landers, her son, Jamie.
Errol at the club,
the motel owner.
Constable Haus-Jones here.
And has the fact
there were two bodies
in the scrublands ever come up?
If it had, I would have
mentioned it to the police.
Could it be them?
Oh Unlikely.
Their last known location
was the Murray Valley Highway.
Couple of hundred ks away.
Yeah. But last seen
New Year’s Eve.
Well, that's just a few weeks
before the church massacre.
So, either Swift
was involved somehow,
or last summer you had
multiple murderers
running around the place.
And then, there's the fact that
Byron’s last words named Harley
and the bodies were found
on Harley’s land.
Well, that’s unlikely to be
a coincidence either.
Scarsden, you’ve already been
involved in one death,
and now you’ve uncovered
two more.
That’s an unlikely coincidence.
You know the drill,
stick around.
I’ve interviewed despots
warmer than your boss.
Ah, look, she’s okay
She's just under a lot of--
- Doing her job, I know.
- Yeah, yeah.
Well, thank Christ
for you, mate.
You’re the only person
who is talking to me straight
about this whole
Byron Swift thing.
But speaking of coincidences
You know that
323 cartridge I found?
Was Byron’s weapon
a similar calibre?
Identical.
Huh.
Thanks, Robbie. I'll
I'll see you around.
Only a journalist
would be smiling
after finding two bodies.
Small town.
Is any other media here yet?
No, still all yours, Martin.
You look like you could
use a drink though.
Half the town’s at the club.
Really? Why?
First Allen, now this.
Well, I still got to file,
but I'll see you there.
Okay.
Ooh, Jesus.
So our massacre priest
is a serial killer, too?
Maybe.
Maybe. Maybe.
And then, you go like this
This is
really good. Um
What did the police say?
Other than
trying to implicate me
in the murders somehow,
not much.
Marty,
can you handle this?
I mean, do you want me to get
some backup
from the crime desk.
Max, this is my yarn
and I could do it in my sleep.
Well, do try
to stay awake.
I'm getting good at it
- Mandy, one for you.
- Thank you.
Here you go.
- Ah hey.
- Hey.
- Thanks, Errol.
- Four bucks eighty.
Sure.
Some people here are starting
to think you are bad luck.
Oh, I won’t be here
much longer, mate.
- Hello.
- Hello.
You’ll be delighted to know
I’ve signed you up for bingo.
Oh, no.
Think I’m gonna
need another drink.
All right. All right.
It's been a shit of a week.
That's not just ‘cos
there’s another journo in town.
Yeah. No, no.
Just kidding, darl.
We're happy for your business.
But, um, I think you all agree,
we need a bit of a laugh.
- Yeah.
- Eh? So, enough said.
Let's play.
All right.
Oh 69!
Dinner for two. Eh?
Oh, don't go blue.
One up is
Twenty-seven
straight to heaven.
Thirty-three, all the threes.
- You've got 33.
- Hmm
Shoot.
You're not much good
at fun, are you?
I'm better with a laptop.
Oh Legs, 11.
Ooh, 11!
This town really doesn’t like
the media, does it?
- Seventy-five.
- Would you?
Personally, I’d be more worried
about serial killers
than journalists.
Aren’t you asking
the question?
Ninety-nine
Did Byron kill that couple?
No.
So what did you do
before the bookstore?
- Before Liam?
- Four-fifty
Uh, uni in Melbourne.
Australian Literature.
Not an obvious career path
out of that,
so worked
as a barista, bartender,
retail, book shops, mostly.
And you came back for
For Mum. Yep.
Hmm
Thirteen
You have any?
Ah No.
Life didn't work out that way.
You're not that old.
Are you?
Oh 79.
One more time, 79.
- Oh, what?
- Look at that.
I think this is rigged.
You're not doing too well?
No, I think we should
swap, actually.
He is Centuries ago
Hey. You should run
a story about us.
We're gonna be influencers.
Is that right?
Cool, huh?
- Sure.
- Check this one.
Oh, you suck, Robbie. Go again.
That's our basketball team,
Riversend Rangers.
If we go viral, we reckon we can
get free shit from Adidas.
I'll DM it to you.
Hey, guys.
- Hey, Mandy.
- Hey, Mandy.
- Uh You wanna walk us home?
- Sure.
Whoa!
Go get 'em, tiger.
Lovers.
So cute.
God tied
and very studious.
He's down for now.
That's quite the cabinet.
Mum was very serious
about her wine.
Byron bought that for her
not long before she died.
Said it was an investment
in the future.
Oh, he sounds like a great guy.
- You want a drink or not?
- Yes, I do, please.
Cheers.
Cheers.
Mmm.
It's been a while
for you, hasn't it?
What, between drinks?
Articles.
Last one was months ago
about West Papua.
What happened?
Sabbatical? Holiday?
Just taking a break.
I read that someone got killed.
Jesus
You get right in there.
Don't you?
You should be
the bloody journalist.
He was a
Farmer and activist.
Lukas.
We were working together
for months
on this story
about corruption.
And then, he was murdered
by mercenaries
working for the mining company.
Jesus.
What What happened?
Were they caught?
No.
The company paid off the police,
and the ruling was suicide.
I'm so sorry.
Did he have kids?
He was as committed
to that story as I was.
And it was a big one.
Important.
It’d want to be.
Anyway
As you said, here I am
six months later,
working on
whatever the fuck this is.
Well, I suppose, uh
compared to evil mercenaries,
interviewing my dad
can’t have been that bad.
Harley Reagan’s your father?
But then, you're not close?
- He was a shit to my mum.
- Ah.
Did he and Byron get on?
Harley doesn’t get on
with anyone.
Yeah, my dad died
while I was working in Syria.
I didn’t even get back
for the funeral.
He was a miserable
old bastard, but uh
Now he’s gone, and
Ah, you know
we never said the things
we should have.
We never do.
Nope.
Nope.
Oh.
Sorry.
Ah.
Yep, it's work.
Uh
Uh you know, the bodies
It's It's big news.
Mmm. And you're the man
on the scene.
Well, thank you for the wine.
Um
See you tomorrow?
Never know your luck
in a small town.
No
So I'm here with constable
What about downtime?
Community events, sports?
We used to run
the kids’ basketball
and footy teams together,
Byron and me.
Over here.
Oh, you suck, Robbie. Go again.
- Yes
- Okay, guys.
Come on, let's get those drills
that we practiced yesterday.
- Yeah? Come on.
- Game on.
Go for the gear.
Here, Father Swift.
Yeah, let's go.
Police have
formally identified
two sets of human remains
discovered here yesterday
in these remote scrublands
as Damian Alfarno
and Jill Manderson, both 25,
residents of Mildura.
The couple, whom devastated
family described as
"care-free and adventurous,"
were reported missing
over a year ago.
Their phones last active
last New Years’ Eve.
According to police,
ballistic injuries and other
circumstantial evidence
has led to the opening
of a double-homicide
investigation.
Meanwhile, police refuse
to speculate
on possible suspects.
These murders did occur
only a few weeks before
notorious pedophile priest,
Byron Swift, massacred
five innocent parishioners
almost exactly a year ago.
- Good day.
- Hi.
Saw you at the club.
Martin Scarsden, SMH.
- Who are you with?
- Oh, I'm not a journo.
Jane Gibson. I’m a researcher
working for the BOM.
Bureau of Meteorology?
Yeah, we were in the area
doing some climate surveys.
Tracking floods and storms,
hoping for patterns.
And media scrums
in your spare time?
It's the only
show in town.
But you’re right,
let's get back to work.
Okay, strugglers.
Nice of you to show up.
And up till then
the homicide cases
Sergeant.
Something you should see.
Oh, you suck, Robbie.
Go again.
This was posted a month
before they disappeared.
Let it go.
The murdered couple.
Okay, guys,
come on, let's get those drills
that we practiced yesterday.
- He knew them.
- Mm-hmm.
- Send this to me, please.
- Sure.
So, the church shooting
What about it?
Well, there were dozens
of people that day.
Byron didn’t shoot any women,
any children.
He targeted those five men.
Deliberately murdered them,
didn’t he?
So why the false narrative
about the random shooting?
Victims’ families deserve
to know the truth.
Come on, Sergeant.
I know you want questions asked.
Okay. This is
off the record, unofficial.
Mmm-hmm.
I think Swift was part
of something bigger.
Friends in high places,
you know?
Maybe some sort
of paedophile ring.
That's a bit Q-Anon, isn’t it?
What's your evidence?
Interference,
bureaucratic obstacles.
The coroner’s inquest
keeps getting pushed back.
Well, a year is not really
that long of a delay.
And plenty of people in town
don’t even think
Swift was a child abuser.
I heard the allegations,
I took the victim’s statement.
- And the witnesses.
- Were they locals?
Okay.
So if there was
a paedophile ring,
could Harley Reagan
have been in on it?
- Byron's last words--
- Were fully investigated.
There was no allegations
of abuse against Reagan,
no complaints, no illegal
material on his devices.
And the worst thing we found
was a lot of debt.
And this young couple, murdered
and dumped on his land?
Reagan wasn’t even in the state
when they were killed.
- Move on.
- Okay.
But look
When it comes to a choice
between a cock-up
and a conspiracy,
it's a cock-up every time.
Okay, so what was
the interference?
I have to get on.
Uh Excuse me! Wait, please.
Sorry, um
The other night at the club,
you said that Byron helped.
What did you mean by that?
Nothing.
Come on. You came up,
you dropped it in my lap.
It's off the record.
Okay, look.
I teach at the school, right?
Uh-huh.
Well, he gave us stuff.
Stuff? So, like a
What, like stationery
and text books?
No, like
Sport equipment, laptops,
air-con, photocopiers.
What Did he ask
for anything in return?
Like, access to the kids
or their personal files?
Nothing like that.
Byron saw a need
and wanted to help.
But where did
he get the money?
Sunday collection plates.
Swan Hill, Bellington, Mildura.
Like all farming communities.
But laptops and AC?
That's a lot of loose change.
Which did a lot of good
for Riversend,
lot more than what Council
or government has ever done.
It was a gift from God.
Yeah, I'm not sure
God buys photocopiers.
If you write something
which takes away
what little we've got,
shame on you.
Martin! Mate.
Doug.
Right time, right place, huh?
Wanna share the inside running?
Yeah, nice try.
A serial killer
with a saviour complex?
Uh-huh.
You got anything on this
dodgy fundraising angle?
I spoke
to the Bellington bishop.
He said Byron
was a very effective fundraiser.
No record or receipts?
All cash which Byron
distributed as he saw fit.
How soon can you file?
Two, three hours, tops.
Sooner, please.
I’ve asked someone
from the crime desk
to help with legwork
at this end.
They’ll co-write the lead
which will free you up
to write your analysis piece.
I’ve asked Beth Ramachandran.
Beth? I don’t need
a fucking babysitter.
And I'm not gonna be one either.
Martin,
you're on speaker.
Hi, Beth.
Hi.
So, I’ve worked up a package,
an explainer
on the church shooting,
plus some short bios
on the original victims.
And a wrap on what
we know about Swift.
Okay. Um
Could you get me some details
on the missing persons
investigation too?
Sure. What do you need?
Everything.
All right, buddy.
Let's Let's just go
through this again.
So, it was your idea
to play chicken
with Martin Scarsden?
Hmm.
And the arrangement you
and Allen had was that
whoever drove the bike
would wear the helmet?
Is that right? Okay.
So, am I gonna go to jail?
No. Of course not.
Don’t you worry
about that for now.
You just concentrate
on getting well,
being there for your Mum,
all right?
So, you’re gonna need
to take him into the station
to sign his statement.
But there's no rush.
I mean, there's all
sorts of crazy there
- with media at the moment.
- How come?
Oh those bodies that were found
in the scrublands.
What bodies?
Young couple,
been missing a year or more.
I mean, the timing
couldn’t be worse,
given we’re so close
to the anniversary.
Are you right, my love?
Well then, I've gotta go.
Take care, Jamie.
All right, mate.
- You okay?
- Yeah.
- I I could get a nurse
- I said
I'm all right.
Craig, what are we doing?
I need to get back to the shop.
Wait.
Oh, there's
Hi.
Get back in the fucking car.
Get in the fucking car.
I didn’t know you were meeting
Father Swift.
Are you deaf or something?
I told you to fucking wait!
Hey, Fran. Everything okay?
Craig's just been, uh
helping out with some
church stuff.
It's good of him.
- Isn't it, mate?
- Yeah.
All right. Well, you two
have a lovely day, yeah.
You know
the massacre came after
a witness went to the police
about the priest’s paedophilia.
And what effect
did this have on Riversend?
I just come in and out
for the climate studies.
If I'm honest, that priest
destroyed this town.
- Cute.
- Huh?
- Cute place.
- Oh, thanks.
So, uh, what do you do here?
Coffees. You want one?
Flat white.
Well, business has picked up.
Should be careful
what I wish for.
Oh, hey, fella
I could take him for a bit,
if you want.
Don’t you have a story to write?
Just filed, so I'm all yours.
Honestly, an hour
would be amazing.
But phone away, full focus.
Sure thing.
Hello, Liam. Yeah.
Ah Yeah.
- Hey
- It's quick work, Martin.
Piss off, Doug.
Ah Yeah.
Oh, yeah? Did you see
the silly man?
Should we help out?
No, no. Just watch.
It's all right.
Work is her department.
Here is the Sun Sheep.
And here is the Rain Sheep.
You're a natural.
It's easy with a baby so well
versed in Australian literature.
He's very clever.
Yeah, must take after his mum.
How much longer are you in town?
Um, not sure yet.
Getting closer to the truth?
I'm glad you stuck around.
Yeah, me too.
I
better feed this guy
and get him down.
Oh. Yeah, of course.
See you, buddy.
- Martin.
- Yeah?
Um maybe we could drink
some more of Mum’s wine later.
Sure.
Oh
Serial killer?
What the fuck?
- Beth Ramachandran.
- Beth
reckon you weren't hard enough
on the serial killer headline?
We don’t actually know yet
I just thought it was
a stronger angle than your,
"Despite two new bodies,
most of people say
mass-murdering priest
was a really decent guy!"
And what's this about
the Bellington police
screwing up the investigation?
Oh, so you've thrown
a little gratuitous
hatchet job against
the local cops?
If you’ll recall,
you asked me to chase details
on the Missing Persons investigation.
That’s what Police Media
came back with.
Well, you could have
given me a heads up.
I just got
the local Sergeant on side.
I called. Repeatedly.
You do need a babysitter.
Asshole.
Oh, shit.
Yeah?
Sergeant? I guess
you saw the article?
Look, it wasn't my headline
- and I had no idea
- Your phone.
Your story--
Wait, wait.
What are you doing?
Was it from Police Media?
Wait, you think someone
is actually listening in?
You wanted evidence
of a conspiracy.
Okay. So, you're suggesting
the same people
who shut down the church
massacre investigation
are now trying to discredit you
through Police Media?
Quacks enough
like a duck for me.
All right.
The morning of the massacre,
there were two phone calls
on the St. James landline.
Okay? Swift got a call,
made a call.
Then went out and shot everyone.
- Yeah.
- Kind of important
to find out the call details,
you’d think?
Sure.
My request for the data
came back redacted.
Carrier referred me
to a federal law
that protected certain matters
from unauthorised disclosure.
Even to police officers.
Five-years jail
if you breach it.
I went to my boss.
The message, loud and clear,
was that it was above
my pay grade.
I should leave it alone.
Swift was a creep,
went out in flames.
Don’t waste your limited
time or resources.
Case closed.
So why are you telling me now?
Because now I know
They’re trying to hang me out to
dry whether I help you or not.
And because it stinks.
And it’s time someone
found out the truth.
Okay, let's talk.
Hi there, Mandy.
It's dad.
Have you seen what
your new friend's done now?
Hello!
I didn’t want to come
empty-handed,
and Errol assured me this is--
So now he is a serial killer?
Mandy, I'm a journalist.
We report the facts.
You can’t even manage that.
I told you he didn’t
kill that couple.
There’s evidence
that he knew them.
Right, I've got the footage.
And it's all over
bloody social media.
They went missing just weeks
before his shooting spree.
I'm telling the same story that
everyone else is gonna tell.
I know he didn't kill them.
I'm sorry.
But your opinion of him is--
It's not my opinion.
I know he didn’t kill them
because I was with him.
Wait, what?
I was with Byron in Melbourne
last New Years,
right across the time
that couple went missing.
You were with him?
He's a priest!
Yeah, it’s been known
to happen, Martin.
F
You should have told me.
That I was having an affair
with the mass-murdering priest?
Yeah. Sorry, I didn’t
want to lead with that.
Liam.
One day,
he’ll have to know
who his dad is.
I want him to know
the Byron I knew,
not this monster
they’ve created.
Mandy
We were in love.
We were gonna run away.
Hello?
Mandy, it's me.
Hey.
I am leaving Riversend,
you'll come with me?
What?
But now, okay?
We have to go right now.
I love you, Mandalay.
You know what? Forget it.
No, but Byron
Forget it.
There's no time.
What's the hurry?
I have to go.
Goodbye.
Wait, wait, wait, um
Okay, yes.
Yes?
Yes. I'll I'll
I'll come get you.
No!
No.
You stay at your place,
you pack your things
and I'll come to you.
Okay.
Next thing I know
five men are dead and
so is he.
So, that was the call
he made that morning.
Someone phoned him
just before he rang you.
Do you know who?
No, I don't. I
I've got to go.
- Where?
- The police.
To tell them I was with
Byron was New Years.
Hey, hang on. Are you sure
you wanna do this?
Mandy? Mandy?
Are you really gonna do this?
Why are you asking?
Are you asking for me?
Yes!
If you go to the cops
and you alibi Byron,
it's a story.
It will be out there,
and I'm going to
have to publish it.
Do you have to publish my name?
Yes! You're the alibi.
I thought I could just
What? Go to the cops
and that will be it?
Oh, come on, Mandy.
And what about Liam?
What about him?
Liam's dad's my ex
from Melbourne, end of story.
H Hang on!
Why didn't Byron
want you to pick him up?
Why did he insist
on coming here?
I don't fucking know!
God! Let yourself out.
Fuck!
I know, buddy.
Oh, fuck!
I got you. I got you.
Huh.
Now, that's an investment
in the future.
He was British.
Jesus, Damo. Go, go!
I'm trying
to fucking drive!
Please