The Sister (2020) s01e02 Episode Script

1
If somebody knows
what happened to Elise,
if anyone has any idea
where Elise might be,
we beg you to please get in contact.
There must be somebody who can help.
'Three years ago,
I lost my little sister, Elise.
'She went out one night to a party,
and she never came home.'
They're digging up the woods.
So, who was that?
Er, Bob.
'You might remember Bob
as the expert
'on all things that go
bump in the night.'
'Call me back
when you've given it a listen.'
ELISE ON RADIO: 'I'm not dead!'
Is she breathing?
Stand back! Stand over there.
What did you do?!
We have to move it.
I can't
And what about Holly?
Oh, you stay away from Holly.
If you're here, do something.
You sure you don't mind?
Why would I mind?
I dunno Some people might.
You should talk about her.
I talk about her all the time.
You think about her all the time.
Oh
I dunno.
It's not a words thing.
I'm not good with words.
I just
I just like feeling
like she's around.
Does that make sense?
Yeah.
I talk to her sometimes.
Yeah?
Quite a lot, actually.
When mum's getting on my nerves.
Problems at work. You.
She was the first to know about you.
Ah!
Seriously. I told her,
"I met this bloke today.
"He was like an abandoned puppy
that needed rescuing."
Wow You were probably right.
Yeah, I know.
So do you feel rescued?
I do. I feel rescued.
Good.
PHONE DIAL TONE
ANSWER PHONE:
'Hi, you've reached Holly.
'I'm sorry I can't take your call
right now,
'but if you leave a message,
'I'll get back to you
as soon as possible. Bye.'
BEEP
Babe, it's me.
Er
I don't want to seem an old woman,
but it's ten past nine,
and you said
Listen, I hope you're OK.
Just give me a call
to let me know you're OK.
DOOR BANGS
I'm so sorry!
Jesus Christ. Where have you been?
With Dave Sarkissian.
He swears he's about to make an
offer on those bloody retail units.
You said seven o'clock!
I know. I know, I'm sorry.
I've been texting.
I bet you have!
It's not funny.
Too bloody right, it's not.
I lost my phone, by the way.
Lost it where?
If I knew that, it wouldn't be lost,
would it?
Honestly, what a night.
Dave Sarkissian's late,
then he goes on for hours and hours
and hours.
By the time I get away and
Are you OK?
I'm good. I was just a bit worried.
And I knew you
wanted to have this talk, so
Yeah.
So
..are you still OK to do that?
We can wait.
No, it's fine. Now's good.
So, yeah I got my period.
I had a good feeling.
I thought, this time, it would take.
"Take". Jesus. What a word.
And there's the money.
Oh, the money doesn't matter.
We'll get the money. We can
I I dunno. We can keep trying.
Honestly?
I'm not sure I can.
Oh, OK.
I mean, every time, it feels like
I don't know. Bereavement's
probably too strong a word.
I know it's stupid.
Because they were never real.
They were never really there.
But you were hoping so much.
It was like you could feel them.
It's like you've lost something.
Does that make sense?
It does, yeah. It makes sense.
And I just I can't keep
putting us both through it!
Just hoping so much,
then losing them.
I just can't do it.
SHE SOBS
If you want to stop, we can stop.
But if you just wanna, like,
just take a breath,
we can do that, too.
We can go on holiday. Go to Greece.
Bit of sun. Drink Retsina.
Throw up in a bidet.
We can do whatever you like.
All I care about is you.
I just want you to be happy.
It's the only thing I care about.
MUSIC: 'Ooh La La'
by Goldfrapp
Hello, gin and tonic. Please?
Well, thank you!
Mate! How are you?
I didn't know you were coming.
Oh, I know. Neither did I, really.
What made you come along?
Erm, well, I was meant to go to
this other thing I was invited to,
but my ex-girlfriend was going
with her fiance, and yeah.
So, here I am. Billy No Mates.
Right. Ouch.
Yeah, well. Er, cheers.
To be honest,
I'm not even sure I like parties.
I don't think anyone does.
Not really.
Do you know what helps with that?
Not liking parties?
No. What?
Drugs.
Yeah?
All right.
So you do believe it all?
You really believe in ghosts?
Like, actually believe.
It depends what you mean
by "believe".
About 80% of the recently bereaved
experience what's called
a "post-bereavement
hallucinatory experience".
Eight out of ten people
will see the ghost
of a person they lost.
Their mother, their father,
their wife, their child.
Now, they could be experiencing
an objective phenomenon.
Or it could be purely psychological.
Or it could be something in-between,
who knows?
Either way, the question
is not whether ghosts exist -
of course they exist.
They're part of our experience.
We see them, we hear them.
We sense them.
The only question is
..what are they?
We ask only to be reassured,
about the noises in the cellar
and the window
that should not have been open.
So, where does all this come from?
How did you get into it?
Ah, the most predictable way
possible, I suppose.
Yeah, what's that?
When I saw one.
One what?
One what do you think?
HE EXHALES DEEPLY
What? Actually?
Actually.
Shall we head back then?
Back to the party, show our faces?
MUSIC: 'Over And Over'
by Hot Chip
MAN: 'Seriously?'
BOB: He's a professor at Copenhagen.
Basically,
reproduces poltergeist phenomena,
right there in his lab.
Things levitate,
fly across the room.
It's like
It's like he's built a room
inside a kind of
electro-magnetic chamber.
MAN: 'Here we go, ladies and
gentlemen, is everybody ready?
CHEERING
CROWD: 'Five four three
two one'
CHEERING
Happy New Year!
Hello.
Hello.
Erm, boss, before we step inside
Is everything OK?
I, er
I actually know
the missing woman's family.
OK.
Well, the sister, really.
She and I were
in the same year at school.
Is it gonna be a problem?
Absolutely not. No, not for me.
Then I think we're probably good,
don't you?
OK Cheers, boss.
So, Mr Redman,
I expect you'll have gathered
why we're all here?
We're investigating
the disappearance of Elise Fox.
So, if you wouldn't mind
taking us through
exactly what happened that night?
Absolutely, please. Of course.
So, what took you to the party?
Ah, the host. My boss.
It's sort of an annual fixture.
He invites all the other DJs
and their staff
and basically
everyone in his village.
It's sort of a thing.
Annual thing.
Since the '80s, I think.
And while you were there,
did you see or speak to Elise Fox?
Not that I know of.
That you "know of"?
Well, there's there's, like,
a million people there,
so, all night, you're like,
"Hello this, excuse me that,"
so, you know
I could've, you know, whatever,
said hello or something.
But if I did, I don't
I don't know.
So, how come you're, er
Leaving?
Yeah.
Oh, it's, er it's my ex, Richard.
Your ex.
Yeah. Although
he's not actually
getting that message.
He thinks we're more like
Ross and Rachel.
Oh, right.
Yeah.
But we're not,
we're more like Rachel and Gunther.
OK.
Let's go over there.
Happy New Year.
Happy New Year.
Er, Bob, this is Elise. Elise, Bob.
Hello, Elise. Happy New Year.
Happy New Year.
So, where are you two thrill kids
headed?
Just y'know home, really.
Home? Oh, come on.
The night's young, surely?
There must be somewhere local
we can grab a drink?
I mean, The Wheatsheaf's
got a late licence.
We could go in there
and see if we could get something,
if you fancy it?
The Wheatsheaf.
Excellent idea.
So, who's up for The Wheatsheaf?
Come on, it's a bit embarrassing,
going home this early
on New Year's Eve.
Now, that's two for The Wheatsheaf.
Nathan?
Yeah, all right, sod it.
Three for The Wheatsheaf.
OWL HOOTS
THEY LAUGH
So, you can't get taxi,
you're walking to the train station.
This bloke, Bob, comes driving past.
Er, yeah. He was just on his way
home, and he stopped to pick me up.
And you were alone at his point?
Absolutely, yes. Just
Just me and Bob.
SHE LAUGHS
I'll drink to that.
Does The Wheatsheaf
have any drug-taking facilities?
Erm, not as such, no.
But they'll do you
a Cumberland sausage.
Then how about we stop off en route
for a nice little top-up?
Yeah, just to backtrack a bit
you're absolutely sure you
didn't see Elise Fox at this time?
Yeah, well, like I said,
I don't know if I saw her or not.
I-I-I don't know.
It was really busy,
and there were so many people there.
And how do we know this place?
Locals call it "The Hollow".
It's like lovers' lane or something.
In the summer, anyways.
Yeah, why? Why only in summer?
Cos it's haunted.
Haunted? By whom?
A grey lady.
Like a witch or something.
Yeah?
Mm-hm.
She's got this awful expression
on her face, like she's terrified.
You ever seen her?
Yeah, right!
SHE LAUGHS
I bet there's a river nearby,
though.
How'd you know that?
There's usually running water
near haunted lanes.
Oh, and he's off!
Wait, what? Shh.
Why is that? The water?
Who knows?
Maybe electrical currents
interfering with brain activity,
especially the temporal lobe.
Could be infrasound.
Mm-hm.
Yeah. How come?
It's pretty cool.
Exposure to low-frequency sound.
I'm talking around
18 cycles a second.
That's roughly the frequency
of a tiger's growl.
It causes a sort of
prey response in us.
Gives rise to a lot of unpleasant
physiological effects -
shivering, anxiety, breathlessness.
A sense of unseen danger,
of being watched.
Like we're being hunted.
All you need to create the effect
is to make
the right kind of standing wave.
Like when you do this.
LOW-PITCHED HUMMING
HE SNORTS,
THEY GIGGLE
It's a bad joke.
No, I don't mind.
A little reckless?
Yeah.
Yeah?
Mm-hm.
My bladder's gonna explode.
I'm going for a slash.
Grey Lady.
Yeah, yeah, all right.
WHISPERS: Witch.
Leave some for me. Back in a tick.
Actually, I might be a while,
so y'know, whatever.
Is he gone?
Yeah.
THEY GIGGLE
SHE SNIFFS
SHE SNIFFS AND EXHALES
Happy New Year.
Her ex told us
she may have taken drugs,
so is there any possibility,
during the course of the evening,
that you sold illegal drugs,
or gave illegal drugs
to a woman
who might have been Elise Fox?
Absolutely not.
No, why, why would you even
Why would you even think that?
Do I need to call someone?
Do I need a lawyer or something?
You're absolutely free
to call counsel, of course.
But you're not really
in trouble here.
We traced your movements.
You what? I'm sorry?
This is you and Mr Morrow,
on your way home at 4:12am.
OK.
Elise Fox was last reported alive
around 4:30am.
That's 18 minutes later
and 30 miles away.
I'm sorry?
Elise Fox was heard banging on
her ex-boyfriend's bedroom window.
Crying, demanding to be let inside.
Apparently, very distressed
and confused.
Sorry, I don't understand.
W-What do you mean?
What are you saying?
That she was alive, Nathan.
Long after you got home,
she was alive.
So you're not a suspect
in her disappearance.
HOLLY, IN HIS HEAD:
'I'm really sorry.'
'I don't know what to say.'
'Don't worry, no one ever does.
Thanks for the drink.'
I'll give you a call.
Look, erm, best not.
Mr Fox?
Yes?
Er, hi, I'm Nathan.
I'm a friend of Holly's.
Oh, ah
..I'm afraid she's not at home.
Oh, OK. OK, right.
Come a long way?
Ah, no, not really. Not too far.
Just Just from town, so
Well, she she shouldn't be long.
She's just running an errand.
Why don't you come inside and wait?
Well, are you sure?
I don't want to impose.
No. No, no, no, it's no trouble.
Be glad of the company.
Darling?
Darling, this is Nathan.
Nathan, this is Holly's mum, June.
Oh. Aren't those lovely?
Shall I put them in water?
Please, thank you.
She shouldn't be long. She's, um,
just getting Hetty seen to.
Hetty?
Our daughter's cat.
Oh Right.
Oh, er
Sit, please.
So how do you and Holly
know one another?
Nathan was looking to buy a house,
darling. They met that way.
Oh, I see.
We actually we went for a drink
a few weeks back.
Well sort of.
It didn't didn't go too well,
if I'm honest.
I'm sorry. The thing is, she's
been having a difficult time
of it lately.
Well, I-I know some of it.
It's just that she
DOOR OPENS
She told me, she mentioned it.
HOLLY: Who's car is that
in the drive?
Tea, darling?
Gasping.
Oh
Go on.
Darling, why don't you
show Nathan the garden?
What did you think you were doing?
What could I do? They asked me in.
But why are you even here?
Look, I'm really sorry. It's
It's just,
you wouldn't take my calls.
So you come to my house?!
Not with any expectations.
And that's OK, is it?
I didn't mean to upset you.
Look you can see, right?
Why it might be upsetting for me,
to have someone do what you did?
We're not a normal family.
Things aren't normal for us.
Yeah, I'm really sorry.
It was stupid.
Yeah, it really was.
I'm sorry I didn't take your calls.
Doesn't matter.
Of course it matters.
Oh, my God.
What?
If I don't ask you to Sunday lunch,
they'll never forgive me.
Oh, here he is, then. The groom!
ALL: Hey!
Hello, hi.
Er, these are for Jacki.
He hasn't met Jacki yet.
She's not here yet.
She's always late.
She'll be late for the wedding.
It's all right.
Sit down. I'll take these.
Come, sit.
Oh, hey.
Hey, how are you doing?
We work together.
Hey, nice to meet you.
Hi, nice to meet you, too.
Oh, at last!
The maid of honour
makes an entrance!
CHEERING
Sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry.
Nathan?
Jacki?
GLASS CLINKING
So, I'm smoking. Is anyone smoking?
Nathan? Are you are you smoking?
Er, actually, I'm all right.
It's cold out.
OK. Er, let me say it another way.
Erm please join me outside
for the bit where the Best Woman
delivers a warning speech
ALL: Ooh!
..to the groom.
ALL: Ooh!
You're in trouble, mate!
She doesn't know.
No.
You have to tell her.
Tell her what?
Oh, ah that you were there.
That night.
Well, yeah, me and about
300 other people.
Yeah, that.
And what's it gonna achieve?
It's not about achieving anything,
it's about her knowing the truth.
But why?
Because you're lying to her.
Look, when I met her,
she didn't talk about it.
Obviously,
I knew she had this thing,
that something had happened,
but I didn't know what it was,
cos she didn't talk about it.
And by the time she did,
it was too late.
I didn't want to ruin it.
Me and her.
I wasn't trying to deceive her,
for Christ's sake.
I just I didn't wanna hurt her.
Look, all I want to do
is to make her happy.
Literally, honestly,
that is all I want in the world.
And she is! She's happy.
You saw her in there.
She's happy.
I won't let you hurt her.
I won't. And I couldn't.
Cos if you do I'll bury you.
PHONE VIBRATES
Hello?
Nathan?
NATHAN:
'How did you get that phone?'
Chicken balance box
and the double espresso?
Magic.
Bob, I swear to God. I swear
I told you, it can't wait any more.
It has to be tomorrow.
'We have to move her, Nathan.
We have to.'
CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKS
CAR REVS
Who is that?
REVS
Here's Graham.
Bob. Please don't.
Who is it? Can you see?
No.
Call the police.
I'll go and have a word.
Darling, you should call the police.
And say what?
Be careful.
I think Graham's on his way down
to have a word with me.
'What should I say to him
when he gets here?
'What should I tell him?'
Bob, stop.
'Do you want me to tell them,
Nathan?
'Do you want me to tell them
what you did?
'That you buried Elise?
'That you put her in the ground?'
Bob, please!
You've got about five seconds.
GRAHAM: 'Can I help you?'
HE SIGHS
Bob, come on!
Hello?
Four seconds.
Just, Bob, stop! Just
Just leave it alone!
Two
'This is my property.'
One
Argh! All right!
All right! All right!
Tomorrow night?
Yeah Yeah, tomorrow night.
Tomorrow night.
Now, just leave him alone!
Excuse me, can I help?
So, where did you tell her you'd be?
Let's get this straight.
If you threaten my family again,
I'll kill you.
I'll wipe you from the face
of the fucking earth.
They'll never find you.
All right?
It'll be over soon.
Is she breathing? Is she breathing?!
Stand back! Stand over there.
What did you do?
What did you do? What did you do?!
BOB: 'Look at her!
What did you do?!'
I used to come here sometimes.
Why?
You never did?
No, Bob. I never did.
Why would anyone?
I don't know.
To make it real?
That's the thing
I don't want it to be real.
So, when's Nathan joining us?
Oh, he's not tonight.
He's dealing with
a bit of a situation.
Oh, really? What situation?
He's had this old mate turn up
out of the blue.
Work friend?
No, someone from the old days,
I think. Nathan hardly knows him.
But this bloke's
in pretty dire straits.
Mentally sort of thing.
Oh, poor old Nathan.
Well, that's all well and good,
but we're in schtuck
without a fourth.
Oh, didn't I say?
Jacki's stepping in.
Oh, lovely! How's she keeping?
She's good. Much the same.
Still no boyfriend in the picture?
Honestly, Mum, I really don't think
that's gonna happen, do you?
Well, you never know.
But as long as she's happy.
Hi. So sorry I'm late.
Lovely to see you.
So, who's my partner in crime
for the evening?
It hurts you even have to ask.
Oh, come here! Good to see you.
Where shall I sit?
I'd sit
OK. Wine?
Was it true?
Did you see her? Elise?
Standing at the end of your bed?
Come on. Give me a hand.
Thank you.
Are you OK?
Course. Why?
You've been checking your texts
every five seconds.
SHE CHUCKLES
Bloody hell, Inspector Morse.
It's just Nathan,
hasn't been himself.
He's on edge.
Actually, his nightmares are back,
and that's always a sign.
Nightmares about what?
It's just a thing with him.
It happens when he's stressed out.
He talks in his sleep.
Sometimes, he cries.
Sometimes, he, like
sits bolt upright,
and I'm like, "Whoa!"
And he'll look at you
..but nobody's home.
He never remembers it
in the morning.
Well, has he seen a doctor?
Yeah, about a million times.
He's got sleeping pills,
but he doesn't like to take them.
Why not?
In case there's a fire
and I'm unconscious,
and he has to rescue me.
No.
SHE SNIGGERS
Yeah.
He might seem pretty sane
on the outside.
Underneath, he's basically mental.
And there's also this bloke.
What bloke?
Nathan's mate. Bob.
And who's Bob?
Some bloke from years ago,
apparently.
He basically
turns up at the door one night.
And since then
He's got a few issues mentally,
or whatever,
so it's sad, really.
But he's really getting to Nathan.
What is it?
NATHAN'S VOICE: 'Yeah,
he was just on his way home,
'and he stopped and picked me up.
'Well, like I said,
I don't know if I saw her or not.
'I-I don't know,
it was really busy'
JACKI: 'And this bloke Bob
comes driving past?
'Yeah, he was just
on his way home,
'and he just stopped to pick me up.'
'And you were alone at that point?'
'Absolutely, yeah.
'It was just me and Bob.
'Just me and Bob.'
VIDEO REWINDING
'Just me and Bob.'