The Beast Must Die (2021) s01e02 Episode Script

Wait for me on the steps, OK?
So what do you do, Frances?
I was a teacher, till recently.
Frances gave it up to write a
novel. I'm helping her research it.
How can you afford it?
You don't look like money.
Joy! Don't be so rude.
I apologise for my sister, Frances.
But seriously, how can you afford it?
I thought you were all having to
sell yourselves on street corners
just to keep the classrooms in chalk.
Actually, I had a bit of a windfall.
Nothing huge, but enough to live on,
if I'm careful.
You should talk to Violet about
writing, she took poetry classes.
I wish I were a tree
Your shelter from the storm
I wish I were a harbour
To keep you safe from harm.
Did you write that, darling?
I think it's rather sweet.
Is it about me?
It's not finished.
The rhymes could certainly
do with some work.
Rhyming's childish.
She was using a half rhyme,
like TS Eliot.
And what is it that you do, George?
Mr Rattery? Someone to see you.
Police.
Police? Phil, you silly bugger,
what have you done now?
- Where's the loo?
- First on the left, down the hall.
I shan't keep you long
Nigel Strangeways, Vectis CID.
I just have a quick question
about Nicky Toland.
Nicky Toland? What about him?
Can you confirm he was working here
the night before last
between the hours of midnight and 4am?
No, of course I fucking can't,
the silly cock.
- George!
- He's a gardener.
What would he be doing here at 4am?
I mean, God above, even by
island standards, he's a dumb fuck.
Is there anyone else, family or
staff, who could verify his alibi?
At 4am? I sincerely bloody hope not.
Thanks very much for your time.
Very young, isn't he?
OK. Well, I agree with you.
No, he never mentioned his name.
Yeah, I would have called you
right away, obviously I would.
This is absolutely unacceptable.
It is completely fucking unacceptable.
Yes.
Can I help you?
Erm I I didn't know
where everyone was.
- Outside.
- Oh.
I do business with the boy's father.
Did business with the boy's father.
That's not what you said yesterday.
I didn't know
his fucking name yesterday.
Stop stuffing your face
and go and put your uniform on.
But I'm suspended!
From school.
Founder's Day is extra-curricular.
Hey, Robbo Move!
Yeah, I'm sorry. Yeah, not you.
Just my teenager being a twat. Yeah.
Ah, Frances. Have a seat.
Thanks.
Were you up late working?
- Sorry?
- Your book.
Oh, no, I just slept in, I'm afraid.
Well, I hope we didn't disturb you.
Boys can be so loud.
- Do you have children?
- No. I, um
- Would you like some breakfast?
- Yes, just some coffee, please.
We have an excursion planned.
- Founder's Day at Philip's school.
- Actually, we already have plans.
Well, they can wait.
Frances will be interested in seeing
how the other half lives,
educationally speaking.
That's so kind,
but it sounds like a family outing.
Nonsense. Never leave a house guest
alone. They might steal the silver.
Yes, you must come.
You must come, both of you.
It'll be so much nicer if you're there.
Of course they're coming.
It'll be fun.
Thanks for taking the time
to come and meet me.
It's fine, it's a short drive from work.
So, I was at the inquest.
I was at the inquiry. I
heard everything everyone had to say.
But the questions they were asking.
They're not the ones
that I need answering.
Niamh, there's nothing I can
tell you, you haven't already heard.
What questions?
What kind of mood was she in?
How many coffees had she had?
What was the last thing
she said to you before you went in?
Could things have been different?
Different how?
- This is the number of a solicitor.
- Oh, you've got to be fucking joking.
Look, she thinks we might have
a case against the police
- as an employer for gross negligence.
- No.
You tried to save her.
You had your hand
over the hole in her neck.
You couldn't help her then,
but you can help her now.
Strangeways.
OK. Send me the details. I've got to go.
I look forward to seeing you.
Right. Excuse me.
We were assessing the cost
of his son's dented ego.
Or rather, I was.
Phil hung that man's son, Reza Javid,
by his waistband
from a hook in the changing room.
It's the reason he's suspended.
- Was it a retaliation?
- I doubt it.
I don't think
there's a hook in the world
- that could hold Phil's weight
- I mean
It's nice seeing you again.
Where's your chaperone?
Frances is parking the car.
I don't mind, you know.
Seems a good influence on you.
At least you're here.
We should make sure we catch up later.
Don't drink too much.
You know how you get.
Phil! Phil!
I've just been chatting
with Reza Javid's dad.
He has an amusing idea how the two
of you can shake hands and make up.
Do take care.
How's your bathroom coming along?
Oh, let me tell you,
it's just fantastic
Come on, this is going to be fun
Reza's gonna smash Rattery Come on!
Come on, Phil!
Change ends. My serve.
Come on, Phil.
Keep your head up. Head up. Head up.
Get a life, Phil!
Don't listen to them, Phil.
Eye on the ball now, Phil. Come on.
One point.
That was out.
Keep your eye on the ball, Phil.
You can do this. Come on, head up.
Head up.
Don't drop your head.
And stop feeling sorry for yourself.
Come on, Phil,
Joy could have got that one.
Phil, you have it.
Jesus Christ, Ben.
Is that really necessary?
I think he's made his point.
Well done, son!
I'll speak to you Monday.
Fucking prick.
Remember this feeling.
It's what you do after that counts.
Phil, do you want a lift home?
I'm gonna get some air.
Phil
And, um, in case it drips.
- What are you looking at?
- The yachts.
I've spent a lot of time on boats.
We've got a yacht.
Have you? What sort?
No-one can sail it,
Dad just wanted one.
Huh.
So what was all that about?
Er
It was, er, 'cos I got in trouble.
For bullying.
Dad thought we should sort it out.
And were you?
- It was just banter.
- People thought it would be funny.
'Cos he's little and I'm big.
Ah.
Well, we should probably
be getting back.
Don't want your mum to worry.
Plus, I can't drive like your dad.
Although after yesterday,
that's maybe not such a bad thing.
Does he always drive that fast?
It's not his fault that I got car sick.
I'm just not used to the new car.
New?
Pretty new. He got it after Easter.
What happened to the old car?
Dumped for being too slow?
Er, broke or something. Maybe Dad's
planning on mending it one day,
'cos he knows loads about cars.
But this one's much better.
0-60 in less than four seconds.
Wow.
Your car's good too, though.
I mean, I wasn't
- Thank you.
- OK.
And thank you. For stopping.
I'm really glad we did.
Yeah. Me too.
I think it's amazing
you're writing a book.
I read a lot, and I mean a lot,
especially crime.
And, I mean, I've only read
Sherlock Holmes,
but I am definitely going to read more.
A Study In Scarlet's my favourite,
it's all, like,
London and Baker Street,
someone has been poisoned,
which is kind of what you'd expect,
but then suddenly, you're jumping
back in time to, like, Utah with
a whole load of Mormons, it's mad.
- Are they?
- I used to like The Hardy Boys too,
- but they're a bit childish for me now.
- Me too.
Yeah, I prefer adult books these days
Sir. From the lab.
The glass in Nicky Toland's shoes
is a match for the pub window.
- Sir, about his alibi
- Yeah, it didn't check out.
I could have covered it,
I was gonna do it.
- Well, now you don't have to.
- Sir, I'm not afraid of Nicky Toland.
- No-one's saying you are.
- But? There's a but.
- Christ
- What is it?
Look, I understand there's perhaps
a culture of mutuality here
that I'm not used to.
But we can't just be about
preserving relationships
and building networks.
Evidence.
We got it because we went after it.
Christ knows it's not like
we had to look very hard.
You want us to start chasing evidence?
No, I'm not talking about
fitting people up.
I'm talking about
being on the front foot.
If all you do is sit back and
tick boxes then all you get is
A load of ticked boxes?
Lazy, complacent, parochial policing
which isn't fit for purpose.
Maybe you should
do something about that, then. Sir.
Oh, fucking hell.
You've confirmed a match
of some glass particles
recovered from the soles
of some footwear.
Yeah, I need you to check
the tops of the shoes.
We need to put our man at the scene
when the window actually broke.
Great. Thanks.
Call-backs not followed up.
Footage from speed cameras missing.
Exhibits sitting in the store for days,
and fucking everything getting done
the day after tomorrow.
I'm not even halfway
through the file yet.
So, you had a panic attack,
a difficult encounter
with your dead colleague's sister.
And in response,
you came back to this case.
Again. Martie Cairnes.
I just told you I looked everywhere,
it definitely isn't here.
Right, so what you're telling me
is you don't have the original
footage from the speed cam
and the only copy was signed out.
How is that possible?
OK, so who was it signed out to?
Maybe detailing your
predecessor's failings feels safer
than confronting the fallout
of an event over which you had,
and still feel you have, no control.
Impotence isn't easy to live with.
Or maybe my predecessor
was a shiftless arse
who should never
have made it off the beat.
Well. Perhaps both things are true.
The day after Martie Cairnes was killed,
you signed out some
speed cam footage. Where is it?
- Probably in the file.
- What did you want with it?
DI Geraghty
wanted to review the footage.
Did you get a signature
from him to say he'd received it?
- No.
- No.
No, why would I? It was the boss.
Sometimes Christ Almighty!
Not often, but sometimes,
we stop the bad thing from happening.
But mostly what we're there for is
to give people the answers they need
in order to be able to live with it.
Who, when, how, why,
will they pay for it?
That's the job,
and my predecessor
didn't even do half of it.
Frances Cairnes has lost her son
and he gave her nothing.
Are you scared
I might fail you in the same way?
Helping you find
a way to live with what happened,
isn't that what you want from me?
What Shannon's family
are looking for from you?
How to keep putting one foot
in front of the other.
Show me how you kill a dragon.
I could wait for the monster
and when the monster comes, I could
Frances is telling it from
the point of view of the murderer.
Oh, how very modern.
And is the murderer also female?
Oh, dear, I think you've lost a reader.
In real life, people die of cancer.
And traffic accidents.
- That's lovely fabric.
- So how far have you got?
Is it ready to read?
Oh, I haven't started writing yet.
Still working things out.
I suppose the police
are all foreign, or northern.
It's virtually a crime
to be English these days,
or speak properly.
- That's hideous.
- You know what I'd like?
I'd like it if Lena stayed.
Not just for my birthday on Monday.
A proper stay.
A week.
Maybe a month.
Yes. I think we'd all like that.
Wouldn't we?
Hey.
No, I haven't opened it yet.
No, he hasn't called me back.
I'm sorry about Joy.
She's certainly a piece of work.
She bullies Vi.
She bullies everyone, really.
You know, if you wanted to stay
a bit longer,
- it'd be fine by me.
- I don't.
I'm just saying.
I can write anywhere.
And my murderer's getting
more and more like you by the day.
- Really?
- Yeah.
You've got depths, Lena.
Layers.
Plus, I'm rubbish at describing
people when I write.
And there you are,
beautiful,
interesting.
So I'm just gonna describe you.
I'm done in, I'm heading to bed.
- Night.
- Night.
Shh.
Three months, Lena.
I didn't know what you were doing.
I didn't know what you were thinking
How can you ?
By thinking about your sister.
Guilt isn't atonement -
it's self-indulgence.
You and me, Lena.
We made a big, grown-up mess
and you
left me to manage it all on my own.
Shame on you.
What are you doing here?
Sorry?
Oh.
Oh, my God, this isn't yours, is it?
Shit! I'm so sorry. I
- Fuck. I'll pay for the window.
- Whose did you think it was?
- Oh, shit.
- Whose did you think it was?
I-I-I-I don't know!
Someone, someone else's. A neighbour.
I just I was walking for ages
and, I mean, this is
This can't all be
I mean, it's massive.
This can't all belong to you. Can it?
What are you playing at?
I
If anyone asked, I was gonna say
I was doing research.
But
honestly? I
I just like taking risks.
How big?
Of course, if you really liked
taking risks,
I'd close my eyes.
If you really liked taking risks,
you'd let me drive.
All right.
Why do you keep that old car anyway?
Belonged to my father.
Retirement project.
Retirement? From what?
Property.
Lucrative. What have you got
your wife for her birthday?
Why are we talking about my wife?
Ignore it. Take the next one.
Speed cameras that way.
OK.
So what do you think
I should give my wife?
I don't know either of you
well enough to answer that question.
You watch us though.
I find you very intriguing.
Besides, I think both of you
Both of you ?
Are you sure this is the right way?
It seems very narrow.
You'll be fine.
Wouldn't you bloody know it.
Where does this idiot think he's going?
Just tuck into the left
and we'll be all right.
Go left, you fucking clown.
Your left, pull over to your left!
What's wrong with you?
- Hey!
- What's your problem?
- Are you all right?
- Oh, my God. Oh, my God.
How much is that car worth?
I'm not even insured.
You did fine. You did fine.
You kept your nerve
and that's all that matters.
You did fine.
Yeah.
Hey, come on, I'll drive.
I do understand why you're doing this.
Thanks.
If it were my sister,
I'd be doing the same.
But I don't think it's gonna
give you what you're looking for.
There was no-one who fucked up here,
nothing that could have been
done differently.
And a solicitor's going to tell you
they can try this or try that,
and why not? It's not their money.
But at the end of it, I think
the answer is gonna be the same.
It's the job.
You walk through a door
and you never know what's gonna be
on the other side of it.
Shannon understood that.
We all do.
That's what
you've got to try and live with.
I thought you'd changed your mind.
I thought that's, er
I thought that's why you were here.
No.
But they knew he'd bought a firearm,
and there was intelligence
to suggest that he was
Which was lodged
as soon as the officer who heard it
came in for duty.
By which time we'd
Do you fancy a proper drink?
Yeah.
So you've got a sister?
Yeah. Kate.
And are you close?
Not physically.
I mean, she lives in Australia.
Oh, yeah, quite far.
But we have our parents
in common though. Obviously.
Yeah. He's a career criminal,
she's a religious nut.
Jesus. A psychologist
would have a field day with you.
Yeah, no, you're right.
I, um, I'm a therapist's retirement
plan just waiting to happen.
Come on, Martie, go. Kick. Kick.
Keep your head up! Kick, kick, kick!
You're doing it. You're nearly
here. You're nearly here.
You're nearly here. Ready
What do you think about
when you're swimming?
Nothing.
I thought you might be
thinking about your story.
About what happens next.
I don't know what happens next.
I've run out of ideas.
Well, what do you want to happen?
Someone needs to find proof
of what they think someone else did.
But I'm not sure they can.
You know, you should ask Phil
to help you if you're stuck.
He used to make up
the most wonderful stories
when he was little.
It's going to be a lovely
birthday having him home - and Lena.
Of course! I'm sorry. Happy birthday.
Thank you.
I know I shouldn't be happy
about Phil being suspended, but
I didn't get to see him much
last school holiday.
I was in hospital. Stress.
That must have been very hard
for all of you.
George was working the whole time
and Marta was in Poland,
so Phil had to stay in school.
I don't think he minded much.
But, well, I minded.
So George and Joy were home alone?
It's a big house for two people.
I don't think Joy was here much.
She has procedures.
We don't talk about Shloop!
You do. You do get used to things.
Forget how lucky you are.
You can get used to being unlucky too.
We hardly even use the pool.
I keep saying it would be
good for George's shoulder.
- Why, what's wrong with it?
- I don't know. He fell or something.
He won't admit it's damaged,
just keeps taking painkillers.
You know how men are.
Yeah.
Hurrah! Hurrah!
Our mother was Norwegian.
You'd wake up on your birthday and
you'd hear her coming up the stairs,
singing, always with a cake.
- Gonna blow it out?
- Er, yeah.
Please. Please have some.
It fell out of your towel.
Sorry, bit tricky to knock on cloth.
Where'd you go with him?
You and George. Yesterday.
He, er He took me for a drive
in his very fast car.
Don't worry, I'm too old for him.
He just wanted a new audience.
Don't laugh at him.
He likes winning.
Didn't know you were Norwegian.
That'll be useful for the book.
Vi and her bloody birthday songs.
I never did know the words.
By the time it was just me and mum,
she'd stopped singing.
And the flat we lived in
had no stairs for her
to come up carrying a cake, so
Those are Vi's memories, not mine.
- It's a weever fish!
- Darling, what's happened?
What's happened?
- It's a weever fish!
- You all right? Show me.
Darling, that looks so sore.
That's not a weever fish,
that's a jelly fish.
No. No. Weever fish
have anaphylactic shock
'cos their poison is really
dangerous. You need to get it out.
Phil, it'll stop soon.
It's a sting, not a stab wound.
- No. No. No, you look into
- I'll tell you what.
I'll tell you what gets rid of it,
pee on it.
You pee on jelly fish stings.
I'll do it for you if you want.
I hate you.
You're a
If you don't want me to do it,
ask one of the girls.
- You might enjoy it.
- Stop it, George. Stop it.
Phil?
A crab. It was dead already.
They're about to open the Champagne.
I think your mum would like you there.
I'm not apologising to him.
And I meant to say, Phil,
that day at school,
the tennis match,
you were really brave.
Most people would have run away.
There wasn't anywhere to go.
It's your mum's birthday, Phil.
Be the bigger man.
- This is absurd.
- Just get the glasses.
Island weather. We're having
tea back at the house. Now, then
Dad.
I'm sorry. About before.
I didn't mean it. It just hurt.
You've got a secret.
You scared the life out of me.
I wish I knew what it was.
What are you talking about?
Phil.
I can't seem to do
a thing right with him, but you
I'm a teacher.
It's just experience, I guess.
So, in your professional experience,
what do you suggest?
You think I don't care
what happens to him?
He's still my son.
He's got no friends,
no academic ability,
and as far as I can see,
no sporting or creative talent
to make up for it.
And he's Well, he's chubby, isn't he?
Oh, come on.
He could wear his mother's bras.
Probably does when we're away.
I, er
I never took to him.
That's probably part of the problem,
isn't it?
He was gated last term
for copying another student's exam.
I told him, next time don't get caught.
- A little too unprincipled for you?
- Maybe a bit.
Well, you're a teacher.
You have to pretend to believe in
fair play, don't you?
In the real world, if you're smart
enough to get away with something,
well
you probably deserve to.
What is he doing now?
I'd better get back.
What would my wife say?
Frances, I have your bag.
Thanks.
That was awful.
I can't wait to get home.
Yeah, I agree. Joy and George.
They're a pair of monsters.
Your poor sister.
I've never seen a woman
so in need of a friend.
I mean, obviously,
I'd stay if I could. But
- that house I
- Yeah, I know. I can see that.
But, Lena
What if we could get a place together?
Just you and me for the summer?
I mean, I've got no ties - I just
need to be near you for the book.
We could get a place that is
close enough to the house
that you could see your sister
whenever you want,
and yet far enough away for
well, for safety.
I can write, I can still take you
onto the mainland for your jobs.
And it might be fun.
That's the most wonderful news,
thank you! Thank you.
Thank you!
Fun game. Can we all play?
George,
Lena and Frances are going to spend
the whole summer on the island.
Marvellous. Where did this spring from?
Everything suddenly fell into place
for my story today.
And, um, I just thought, you know,
this is such a beautiful place,
why not rent somewhere and, um,
spend the summer writing it here?
Why can that woman not clean without
knocking everything out of kilter?
What?
Frances and Lena are gonna rent
a flat here for the summer.
Really? Can you afford it?
She's got a point.
Summer rents are bloody scandalous.
- I should know, I set most of them.
- It's a waste of money.
- Stay in your old room here.
- You're forgetting Frances.
She can't be expected to write
her great work in the spare bedroom.
She could have the summerhouse.
Now, that is an idea.
No, I'm sorry. I can't I couldn't
be indebted to you.
Nonsense You can earn your keep
knocking Phil into shape.
We'll call you his summer tutor.
It's perfect all round!
Unless there's a particular reason
you don't want to move back in here?
You'll love the summer house.
Perfect place to write a book.
Peace, seclusion
and, well, proximity.
Lena. Here for the whole summer.
- Is that wise?
- You're the one who suggested it.
And Frances? We don't know
the first thing about her.
- We know she's a teacher.
- We know she says she's a teacher.
For God's sake, what is it
you think, that she's really
gonna run off with the silver?
What educated woman
would choose to spend time
with a vacuous sex toy like Lena?
Educated. So now she is a teacher?
But not a lesbian.
- And no children?
- Pity.
I'd like to know
what she did with them
because she's certainly had
a caesarean, I saw the scar.
- As for this book she's writing
- Where's this going?
She's been here for two minutes
and you're asking her to move in!
To my house.
Look, Vi's happy about it.
I'm happy about it.
Phil is happy about it.
Well, of course he is,
he's as cunt-struck as you are.
Wow. The things
that come out of your mouth.
If you don't like it, take a holiday.
Treat yourself to another procedure.
I'll pay for it.
Ms Cairnes.
How are you?
You, er You staying on the island?
Yeah, I'm staying with, erm,
with a friend, she's visiting family.
I'm just collecting some things
from the mainland.
They're new friends, new people.
They don't know
about Martie. It's easier.
Have you got children?
Oh, no. It's, er, my niece's birthday.
She's turning five.
I wasn't sure what five-year-olds
play with these days.
- May I see?
- Yeah. Sure.
She's in Australia,
so it can't weigh much.
I did think about asking my sister
to get me something,
but I thought it was a bit shabby.
I want to talk about Martie sometimes.
But I can't, 'cos no-one knows.
That's my choice, but, um
It's all right to talk like this.
It's nice.
What's your niece's favourite joke?
- I have no idea.
- Oh, you have to ask her.
Five, loves jokes.
Especially ones about the toilet.
Yeah
Oh!
Aren't you off today, sir?
Bunch of admin I need to sort out.
Actually, Asha. Are you busy?
No.
Frances Cairnes had some questions
that I wasn't able to answer.
I've been through the file,
but what I really need
are the records of all
the enquiries made at the time.
Thing is, I don't want anyone here
thinking I'm doubting
Geraghty's investigation.
No, no. I don't believe you.
You're lying.
All three of you?! Fucking outrageous.
She didn't mind at all?
How the hell did you get away with it?
Well, I've seen you naked,
that can't be it.
Oh, my God. You're my hero,
you really are.
I hate you, I hate you,
but you are my hero