The Drowning (2021) s01e02 Episode Script

- I've just seen him, our son.
- He died, Jodie.
It's Tom.
They dredged the lake.
He wasn't there.
He wasn't found?
He has a scar.
He still has it to this day.
You'll need an up-to-date
DBS certificate.
Would that be an issue?
Your work papers - just need
to know where you got them.
Mark Tanner.
Daniel's father.
I thought we'd met, made me
curious to see you for myself.
All right, all right.
Just let Mummy put some on.
OK, that will protect you.
All right? OK, you go and play.
Ben!
Where is he?
Tom!
Tom!
Shouldn't that be a major seventh?
Um
Um, there's some wine open,
if you'd like, or a beer? Or
I'd love a tea.
No sugar.
OK.
There are no
pictures of you as a baby.
Oh.
- Where was this taken?
- Er, don't know.
We've moved all over, so
Why?
Dad's work.
Um, I'm afraid we're out of milk,
so
I suppose I can pop
to the petrol station.
- Will you be all right, Daniel?
- Yeah.
Back in a minute.
Is your bathroom down the hallway?
Uh, yeah, yeah.
Don't stop.
Are you looking for something?
I was looking for the bathroom.
I saw the model and got distracted.
Thank you. You've been great.
How much do I owe you?
Oh, no, it hasn't been an hour yet.
He has homework for tomorrow.
OK, well for next week,
I think you should
He doesn't need lessons.
I really think it could help.
Well, he's been doing pretty
well without you so far,
so shall we call it 30?
Say goodbye to Miss Walsh.
Daniel!
Say good
Where did you get that?
It's mine.
It has an app on it that
helps him with his practice.
Give it back.
It's fine.
It's fine, I don't need it.
Now!
Thanks.
I'm sorry things didn't work out.
Yeah, DS Harvey, please.
It's Jodie Walsh.
Well, can you get him to call me,
please? It's urgent.
Wow!
- What?
- Just every time my back's turned,
I expect you to have
vanished into the mist.
I hope you never need
time off for anything.
Time off? Doesn't ring a bell.
So, why were you
summoned to the house?
- Well, she loves what we're doing.
- OK.
But she wants to hold off
phase two till the autumn.
Shit! You're kidding?
And we have to get this
lot done by Friday.
- How?
- Yeah.
Apart from that, it's all good.
Hey, which of you upset Ade?
He's a nightmare this morning.
Your department.
Ade, wait a minute!
I'm busy.
Ade, just wait!
Ade, I thought you'd be happy
about Yazza going to keep you on.
You know we're taking a risk.
YOU are taking a risk?
What's happened?
Not your problem.
Ade!
The people who got me my papers
and yours - they want more money.
But we agreed on a price
and we paid it.
Yes.
Well, it's gone up now.
Well, they're trying it on.
We're not going to give them any more.
Then they called the Home Office,
or do something worse.
How much do they want?
500
today.
Jodie, is this a joke?
I'll be back as soon as I can.
But where are you going?
- It's just a health thing.
- What?
- My doctor's had a cancellation.
- What is it?
Probably nothing -
I'm just going to make sure.
We used to talk, Jodie!
Remember them days?
I'll tell you when I can.
Yeah, yeah.
I need to transfer it
from the business account
to the personal account.
500, yeah.
Thanks.
Hello?
Hello?
- Jodie!
- Oh!
Fuck's sake, Jason!
I'm sorry. I'm sorry.
You used to find it hilarious
when I used to sneak up on you.
Yeah, when you were eight
and, no, I didn't.
What the hell are you
doing here, anyway?
- I'm picking you up.
- Huh?
It's the family meal.
Got Tom's birthday coming up.
It's in the diary.
Yeah. No, I can't make it.
Jodie, I'm supposed to be in court.
I just sent in a colleague,
so I'm sure you can get
out of pulling up a few weeds.
Oh, come on!
It'll do you good, all of us.
I'm driving.
Where is it?
- It's at Ben's.
- Oh, fuck.
Yeah, Mum and Kate -
they've been cooking all morning.
You're really not selling it.
Hiya! Look who I've got!
- Hi.
- Hey.
Keep them coming.
Hi, Jodie.
Kate.
Glad to have you with us, love.
We all are.
- Hi, Lola.
- Hi. Is that your new doll?
Yeah.
Yeah? What's her name?
- Annabelle.
- Oh!
That was lovely, Lynn, thank you.
We mustn't forget Kate now.
No. To the chefs.
Your father would have loved this,
all of us here together.
Only if we were talking about him.
He'd have adored his funeral.
Been the last to leave.
How can you say that?
Come on now, Mum.
I've only just lost him.
And already she starts.
Right, I think
Lola and I will leave you to it.
Leave us to what?
Come on, sweetheart.
You do know that you're all being
a little bit weird?
Well, weirder.
If there's any good to have
come from your father's passing
- Quite a bit.
- ..It's that, hopefully, in the future,
we can all start seeing a bit
more of each other.
Oh, that is a truly terrible idea!
Why are you like this?
I don't even know where to start!
These family get-togethers
are to help you.
Right. Right.
An annual lunch to celebrate
the disappearance of my four-year-old son.
His birthday.
At the house of my ex-husband
and the woman who stole him
from me
with my scarily successful brother
and a mother who can barely
disguise her disappointment in me.
Some celebration I could do without,
to be honest.
Jason?
OK.
OK.
Here it is.
What's that?
It would have been
Tom's 14th birthday this week
and we haven't
come to this lightly.
But we think it's time.
Jason, what are you talking about?
Tom's been gone ten years now.
Oh, really, Ben?
Because I hadn't noticed!
It's a legal document, Jodie.
This is a declaration
of presumed death.
Now, if a person is
missing for seven years or more,
it can help with closure.
Look, if you and Ben sign this,
we can turn over the next page.
It might even bring us closer.
Yeah, yeah. If we all just agree
to forget about him.
No! Jodie, you know that's not it.
If we just accept the fact
that he's not coming back.
And remember him for the
wonderful little boy he was.
Right.
So, you've all been talking
about my son
behind my back
without involving me!
It's not only you going
through this, you know.
We all lost him.
It's just some of us
chose to suffer in silence.
Did you know?
They've been planning it
for a while.
Right.
What would you do?
I can't begin to imagine.
Do you ever wonder, if we hadn't
lost Tom, if Ben would have left me?
Ben and I were sleeping
together before Tom disappeared.
Course you were.
Christ!
You do realise, don't you,
when all's said and done,
you've traded your closest
friend for a complete wanker?
Jodie I'm sorry.
The day Tom disappeared,
the couple who never came forward -
you saw them, didn't you?
Ah, from a distance.
- We all did.
- Could this be the man?
I don't know. It was so long ago.
Just think, please, think.
I honestly don't know.
Ben said he thought you'd seen Tom.
All this today - I know you don't
think so, but it was to try
and help you to move on.
Don't mind me.
Ben, I'll sign it.
The document.
Whatever it is, I'll do it.
But you have to do something
for me first.
Yaz?
No, no, I'm in the doctor's
waiting room right now.
Yeah, yeah. It's pretty packed.
Yeah, I'm sure it's nothing.
I'll be back as soon as I can.
OK, bye.
Mr McKenzie, quick question for you.
Yes?
Anyone report a phone missing?
Almost every day, why?
I just saw Miss Walsh put
this one into a locker.
Who'd like to record a song
in a proper,
professional recording studio?
- For real?
- Yeah, absolutely for real!
Yeah!
- Yes?
- Yeah!
The paper feels different.
Doesn't make it fake.
Makes it worth calling to find out
if they've heard of her.
Right. I'll send an email.
Mr McKenzie!
I'm busy.
So, what do you think?
It's all right.
You don't seem all that keen.
Dad wouldn't let me do it anyway.
What makes you say that?
He kind of told me to
keep away from you.
Why would he say that?
The phone thing? I don't know.
Yeah, why doesn't
he let you have a phone?
He will - I just have to pay for it
myself, and he gives me
a fiver a week,
so in about 12 years?
I'd better go.
Um, yeah, he's
taking me out of school for a bit.
We're going away for his work.
Tomorrow.
I've got a match today,
so in case I don't see you before.
Bye.
Yes. I need to speak
to DS Harvey, please.
It's Jodie Walsh.
Yes, but he never bloody does!
- Come on, pass it in!
- Come on, shoot!
Ah!
Save!
Pass it here! Pass it here!
Daniel, I've got to
head to the office.
Yeah.
There's a fiver in your bag
for the bus fare home.
Sure.
Straight back after the game, OK?
Daniel, open! I'm open!
Boys, watch it!
Hit the ball!
Argh!
What? Come on!
Hey, Daniel, are you OK?
Look, if your dad's not here, I
could give you a lift, if you like?
So, where shall we go?
New York? Vegas?
I just want to go home.
There might be some wipes in there.
Jodie Gilmore?
It's my married name.
I keep meaning to change it.
Police, please.
All right, let's have a
look at that face, shall we?
This might sting a little.
Tell me something.
- How did you get that scar?
- Um
I don't really remember.
Dad said something about sword
fighting and bamboo sticks.
Yeah.
That'd do it.
What about your
your earliest memory?
Never really thought about it.
No? Why don't you try now?
Mine, I was, uh
I was about two or three, and my dad
came into the kitchen and he yawned
so loudly, I thought he was a lion.
Memory - first one. Go.
Um, being on one of Dad's
work sites, wearing a hard hat.
Um, it was red.
How old were you then?
Five, or maybe six.
Come on.
You must be able to remember
something earlier than that.
No, nothing.
I bet you're hungry.
I'll make us something.
Put your kit outside the door
and I'll put a wash on.
Is it going to be much longer?
Not too long.
Hey.
Can you stay till my dad gets home?
I'm really tired.
I'm not surprised.
Why don't you go to bed
and I'll wait for him?
Thanks for today.
Don't forget to brush your teeth.
Night.
Night.
What the fuck are you doing here?
It really wasn't his fault.
He was defending himself.
I just didn't want him
to be on his own.
Why were you at the game?
A friend of mine's son was
playing for the other school.
I didn't even realise it was Daniel
until the fight.
I'm sorry I got angry.
It was just unexpected,
finding you here.
He says you're taking him
out of school tomorrow,
something about work?
Yeah, well, you know,
half term's coming up.
We're actually doing something
at school that I think
Daniel might really like -
a session at a recording studio.
I don't want his head being turned
by something that will
probably just end up being a hobby.
To be honest, Daniel is the
only real musician they have,
and I think they'd
struggle without him.
You could come, if you like.
I could show you how it works.
I mean, if you're free.
I'd like that.
Go! Go! Go!
Get the money!
Hey, how are you feeling?
Mm. Well, it could be worse.
- My dad said I could come.
- Hm?
To the recording session.
Daniel!
That's great!
- What changed his mind?
- Who cares?
Miss Walsh?
Mr McKenzie would
like to see you in his office.
Now, if you don't mind.
Someone's in trouble!
A Year 11 reports his phone missing,
and Miss Towne sees you putting
it back into one of the lockers.
Then why didn't you just ask me
about it instead of wasting
everyone's time?
And what would you have said?
That I confiscated it in class
and forgot to give it back.
The boy's locker was open,
so I put it back in there
and, when I saw him, I was
going to tell him where it was.
Right. There's also
the matter of your DBS certificate.
What about it?
Well, we're not entirely
sure that it's genuine.
Sorry?
I'm afraid I'm going to
have to suspend you
until we get to the bottom of this.
Fine.
I'll cancel the recording studio.
- The?
- A friend has an independent label.
I was taking some of the kids to
record a single for the experience.
Right.
Yeah, I thought it might
contribute to the school's
application for the
Certificate of Excellence.
Unless we just go ahead with it
and sort out the DBS thing
after half term?
Hey. This is Mark. Daniel,
the guitarist's father.
Ben owns the studio.
- Hi.
- Hi.
Make yourself at home.
OK, guys, guide track,
when you're ready.
One, two, three, four!
Yes!
That was great, guys,
well done. Hey!
- How was it?
- It was brilliant.
Yeah, it was all right.
If it came on the radio,
I wouldn't turn it off.
Not much of a compliment,
seeing as you're tone deaf.
Hey, come on, let's go.
Oh. Hold on a sec.
Listen, thanks for setting this up.
It's great to see
him enjoying himself.
- Well done, man.
- Thanks.
Ben, this is Daniel.
I will be asking you back to play
sessions when you're older.
- Yeah, sure.
- Come on, let's go.
Well?
That's my part of the bargain.
Will you sign now?
What did you think of Daniel?
Oh, my God, that's the boy that
you saw on the bus, isn't it?
It's Tom.
So let me get this right.
You followed that kid to his school,
insinuated your way in there, and
now what, you're trying to get close
to him by sleeping with his father?
That is not what I'm doing.
I'm trying to prove
what I already know.
It's so obvious, Ben!
Why can't you see
that he's your son?
I know he's not my son!
Because my son died in a lake
when he was four
because you and me and
all the rest of his loving family
were too wrapped up in ourselves,
too distracted to even
think about where he was
or what he was doing,
so we lost him!
And a part of me
thinks we never deserved him.
And no amount of guilt,
no amount of bloody fantasy
is going to bring him back.
Ever!
So sign the fucking document,
or stay away from us
and stop putting us through this.
I beg you.
Mark?
Um, I hope this isn't out of line.
Daniel and I were wondering
if you wanted to do
something over half term.
An outing or something.
Just the three of us.
I know it's short notice.
No, I'd like that, thank you.
Yeah.
Right, well, I'll think of
something, then I can
I'll come and pick you up.
Just tell me where you live.
Text me.
Dad?
Listen, I've got to get this
finished.
Will you, um, jump into bed?
Remember to brush your teeth,
will you?
Can we at least think about me
getting a new guitar?
Yeah, just as soon as you get a job
and earn your own money.
Can I ask you a question?
About Mum?
Did she like music?
Did she play anything?
Go to bed.
Can't we talk about her?
Just for a minute.
- Not now, Daniel.
- So, when?
When can I ask you a simple question
about my mother and you answer it?
Trust me, there was
nothing simple about your mother.
Now go to bed.
I don't even know
anything about her.
If she loved me.
If she loved you.
Just do as you're told,
I'm warning you.
Did she read me stories?
Did she tie my shoelaces
sitting on her knee?
- Go to bed.
- Just tell me something about her.
Anything, or just make something up,
like you usually do.
Jesus Christ, will you do
as you're told?
Go to bed! Get out!
Hi, I've run away.
There you go.
- Did he hurt you?
- No.
Did he ever hurt your mum?
Is that why she left?
My mum died.
Sorry.
When?
Um, I was four.
My Dad thinks that's why I can't
remember anything from before.
Do you mind me asking you
how she died?
He said cancer.
But he finds it really hard
to talk about it,
so I don't really ask him any more.
Is it OK if I stay here?
Yeah.
Yeah, um
Should I, should I call him
and let him know that you're safe?
He won't even notice I'm gone,
till the morning.
Just, just, um, stay out of sight.
OK.
Bad time?
Sorry it's late.
I've been snowed under.
Can I get you anything?
Any more caffeine
and I'm likely to explode.
You've been trying to get
hold of me?
I was looking for an update.
What's this?
Got curious about my ancestry.
Sometimes my mum says Irish,
sometimes Scandinavian.
So thought I'd find out for myself.
I'm assuming a development,
otherwise you wouldn't be here.
Yeah, usually we'd send a letter,
but I'm a parent myself
and I know I'd like to hear it
first-hand.
We're dropping the investigation.
They'll keep it open,
but not actually pursue it.
To be honest,
there's just no evidence.
Well, thanks for letting me know.
I appreciate you coming by.
Right, OK, well, you've got my
number if anything comes up.
I'll be sure to call you.
- Night, Miss Walsh.
- Night.
I'm Tom, aren't I?
You're my mum.
Wherever we go, you know he'll
come after us.
You don't have to worry about him
any more.
You've got some papers for me.
I need something else.
What charges could she face?
I think she's capable of anything.
You have to trust me.
We need to go now.
Your boy's gone, Jodie.
There's no fucking way
I'm letting you have mine.