Black Snow (2023) s01e03 Episode Script
Ezekiel
That's a serious allegation.
Yeah, okay, yep. We'll
look into it. Thank you.
Owner of the newsagent.
Thinks Joe Baker is the killer.
Didn't actually live in Ashford in 1994,
but her hairdresser saw
Joe yelling at Isabel
at a hockey game once.
Right. Case closed then.
That's the 10th call
like that this week.
- What's that?
- It is Isabel's movements the night of
Isabel and Chloe were
walking home from the formal,
and they parted ways at the
T intersection at 12.30am.
That was the last
known sighting of Izzy.
Now, the distance between
intersection and the Baker house
is two k's.
Well the boss thinks
the guy in the blue car
must have picked her
up in those two k's.
Yeah! But why dump the body all
the way the other side of town?
Here!
There's all this bushland along here
where he could have dumped the body.
But yet, he drove five k's away
and dumped her body at the cemetery.
In plain sight, I might add.
Does that make sense to you?
No, sir.
It doesn't make sense.
Her drawings are beautiful.
Thank you, Mrs. Baker.
I'll make sure these
are returned to you.
Thanks.
So uh, how does this help?
It's important I get to know Isabel.
You know, a lot of time has passed,
people's memories,
they can be deceptive.
They fade, some people lie.
But this, Isabel, she won't lie.
You've felt pain like ours.
I can see it in your eyes.
Um, did Isabel say anything
about a formal after-party,
or did she mention at all
that she was going to
meet someone that night?
No, she was coming straight home.
And you were at work that night, right?
The night shift? And
your husband was at home?
- That's correct?
- Yeah, that's all on their original statements.
Yeah, I know. That's where I'm
getting the information from.
Just making sure it's accurate.
Well, I really appreciate this
and I think it's, um,
it's really going to help.
Thank you.
This is Senior Sergeant Angela Zhang.
Please leave a message.
Hey, boss lady.
Just seeing how you went chasing
down the owner of that blue car.
Give me a call back.
Dear 2019, my name is Hector Ford.
In 1994, my life is just beginning
because I'm about to leave Ashford
and everyone in it behind me.
The cool kids will die in
this shithole, but I'll escape.
We can talk inside if you prefer.
Here's fine.
Babe, this is Detective Cormack.
Hey, hey.
Mind if I keep going?
No, please.
Shit, sorry.
Thank you.
What was Izzy like?
She was beautiful, smart, funny.
I'm sure everyone's told you that.
Even those that were shit to her
suddenly loved her when she was gone.
Anyone in particular?
I didn't mean it like that.
It was high school.
Everyone was two-faced.
Sounds like you had a
tough time in high school.
Small town, small minds.
Mm.
It's been suggested
that you had some unusual
interests at school;
that you might have been
fascinated by the occult.
I went through a Goth phase
after I watched "The Crow."
I wasn't Marilyn Manson; I was lonely.
You found a friend in Isabel, huh?
We moved in different orbits,
but we did the time capsule.
We just clicked.
What do you think happened to her?
I dunno.
I spent the last 25 years
trying not to think about it
so I could remember her as she was.
Now unfortunately,
the police back in '94
didn't interview you.
So there's no record of where you were
the night of the formal.
At the formal.
After that.
I went home.
Yeah, can anybody confirm that?
No.
My parents were away.
They travel a lot.
Why?
You left town two days
after Isabel was killed.
Why'd you do that?
Moved to Sydney for uni.
But uni doesn't start until February.
You didn't want to stick
around for her funeral?
People grieve differently.
I don't want to be rude, but got
a lot of work to get through here.
Okay, I'll let you get back to it.
- Thanks.
- Thanks for your time, mate.
Yeah.
This town is toxic.
- What happened?
- I heard some woman at the shops.
She said Pop killed Aunty Izzy.
Oh, bub.
Come here.
What's wrong with people?
Let's get out of the
house for a bit, eh?
Feel the water on our feet.
Sarge, physical evidence
arrived from the EMF in Brisbane.
Try to focus on the girl
who was wearing the dress,
on who she was when she was alive.
Doesn't that just make it harder?
No.
What is it?
I don't remember any red soil like this
at any of the known
locations from that night.
Looks like she was crawling in it.
Trying to get away?
Maybe.
Where's her necklace?
She wore a bird necklace
at the formal that night.
See, it's in all the photos.
Maybe it came loose during the struggle
when she was killed.
That's a possibility.
Or the other one is
that the killer took it
just like he took her hair.
That is lush.
I don't know, it kind of
clashes with my necklace.
So what? Just don't wear the necklace.
Are you even still going with Anton?
- Yeah, we just had a fight.
- Uh-uh.
Oh, I love your necklace.
Even if you break up with him
you should still wear it to
the formal just to rub it in.
Hey, I got us a present.
Check this out.
Tada!
- That's pretty cool.
- They're our road trip uniforms.
But shouldn't we be saving our money
for more essential things like food?
Don't worry, you don't
have to pay me back.
My dad bought them.
Mum's home.
- Thanks.
- You want some Yum Yum tart?
Is that even a question?
Hey, Iz, I need to show you this video.
- I don't get it.
- Hang on, it's coming.
Sorry.
Hector!
- Is that it?
- That is so sus.
He runs the place.
There's heaps of reasons why
he could be talking to her.
I don't think he was there to talk.
Seriously?
It's Chloe's dad.
- I've known him forever.
- I reckon he's sus.
Shit, I've got to go to work.
Do you want some company?
"Priscilla," that looks so gay.
I think it's great.
The dresses in it are really cool.
Is that Mr. Ludlow from woodwork?
- Yep.
- What did he rent?
"Basic Instinct."
Oh gross!
It's the third time he's rented it.
- Seriously?
- This week.
Hey.
What's that?
Just the shit Mrs. Walker
wanted for the time capsule
for the SES.
Why haven't you been at school?
Because Dad's been a bit shorthanded.
I've been helping him
with the harvest and stuff.
So where were you on Sunday?
I must have been
waiting for like an hour.
I'm sorry, I couldn't get away.
Mum needed my help after church.
That's bullshit.
I mean, Tasha was working at the Servo
and she saw you ride past,
so who gave you the
better offer this time?
Was it Mick or Hector,
'cause honestly, Izzy,
I just can't keep track.
You're the one that hangs
out with Tasha all the time.
That's 'cause she wants to hang out.
- Wait, where were you?
- I don't have to tell you everything.
Whatever.
What's up with you?
- Nothing.
- Trouble in paradise?
You don't know the half of it.
Creepy. Sorry.
What is it?
Some kind of pagan grim
reaper, death shepherd.
What are you turning into a Goth now
'cause you're hanging out with Hector?
Very funny.
Uh, Mum's leaving if you want a lift.
Do you have an army
disposal store or something?
- Cool, hey?
- What even is that?
It's a torch
in case we need a piss
in the bush at night.
That does sound handy.
Yeah.
Who's that?
Um, I'm not sure.
Sometimes if the pickers lose work
Dad get them odd jobs here
and there to help them out.
- That's nice of him.
- Mm.
She's pretty.
I guess.
Anyway, what do you reckon?
I think we're pretty much sorted.
Looks like it.
Except for telling your parents.
What happened?
I'm sorry, Iz.
Isabel!
Did you go through my room?
I found your sister reading it.
She shouldn't be in my stuff.
This book is full of sin.
- The enemy led you to it
- You haven't even read it.
You don't know what I'm
thinking. Don't own my mind.
While you're in my
house, you obey my rules!
It's not your fault.
I need to show you something.
When Izzy was murdered,
we were the victims.
Yet somehow we were the
ones under questioning.
Why was Izzy dressed so pretty?
Was she drunk?
Why didn't her parents pick her up?
Do you know what that feels like?
Yeah.
I do.
You know, apart from the swish coffee,
things have barely
changed at this petrol stop
since I was a kid.
Ashford hasn't changed much either.
You know, the gossip around town
is that Izzy didn't get
into the car that night;
she came home and Dad killed her.
Luckily, I don't deal in
gossip, just the truth.
Can I trust you to
do right by my family?
You can trust me to do right by Isabel.
I know Izzy didn't come home that night.
The one thing that has
changed around here:
the phone box is gone.
I was asleep on the couch when she rang.
I got up, turned the TV off,
and went into the kitchen.
Mum was at work and Dad
was asleep, so I picked up.
Izzy asked me to get Dad, but I wouldn't
'cause I wanted to know where she was.
She said that she was out here.
Then I heard a car pull up,
and this song was playing,
and Izzy went quiet.
I asked her if she still needed Dad,
if she still needed a lift, and she,
she didn't answer me, so I
thought that she was drunk.
I thought that she was partying.
I got angry with her and
I told her to walk home.
And then I hung up.
Izzy didn't want a lift that night.
She needed help.
Thank you for telling me that.
I'm going to step outside
for a minute, okay?
'Kay.
Can you remember what time it was?
After midnight.
Around 12:30.
Look, I know I should have
said something a long time ago.
Hey, you were just a kid.
To be honest, before the letter,
I don't think the information
would've made much of
a difference to Turner.
And now?
Well, it changes the timeline.
Knowing where she was, it, uh,
it's a pretty important
piece of the puzzle.
What was she doing out here?
I mean, there's nothing out here.
What's that all about?
That is Isabel's last known location
the night of the murder.
According to who?
A credible witness.
Yeah, I seriously doubt
they're more credible
than Chloe Walcott, who
was walking home with Isabel
at the same time your
'CI' puts her at the servo.
Might be worth asking if your witness
who's just magically
remembered this vital info
has a reason to lie.
Hey, hello, love.
We don't see you in here very often.
Everything okay?
I need to ask you about
the night Izzy died.
You carried this alone all them years.
Why didn't you tell me?
Guilt.
And fear.
About asking where you were that night.
After I hung up, when
I passed your room,
the door was open and it was empty.
Where were you, Dad?
Look, I'm not saying
I just need to know
so I can protect you.
I was here helping a
parishioner in need.
Thank God.
You've got an alibi.
Who were you with?
I can't tell you that.
They came to me to confess a sin.
Dad, this is more important than that.
If Turner finds out that
you don't have an alibi
I don't fear Sergeant Turner's
judgement, or any man's.
Savages.
Is nothing sacred anymore?
What does it even mean?
It's blackbirding.
- Eh?
- 62,000 islanders were brought in
to work on the cane back in the day.
You studying to go on "Millionaire"?
No, I Googled James Ashford
after Kalana tagged
the statue last time.
Never knew we had slavery in Australia.
Yeah, well you can save
your virtue signalling
for your boyfriend from the city.
That's nice.
Yeah, clean that shit up.
Kalana!
Hey, what's up?
That statue was vandalised again.
Great.
I didn't do it.
I'm glad someone did, though.
Go get your things; we're going home.
- I have to train.
- Is everything all right?
Sorry coach, I got to go.
- Coach?
- Yeah, Leo's back's playing up,
so I offered to fill in for a bit.
Hey, um, is there any
way that Kal can stay?
It's just, I'm still getting up to speed
and she's the captain.
She's a natural leader.
I'll drop her home if that helps.
That won't be necessary.
Front gate, 6:01.
Hurry up.
Thanks for that.
How you doing?
How do you think I'm doing?
Yeah, yeah.
Sorry.
You look like shit.
Yeah.
I better get back to it.
Pair up again.
Dear 2019, my name is Tasha Hopkins.
In 2019 I predict Ashford
will be pretty much the same.
Fuck all ever changes around here.
Were you surprised by
Isabel's letter at all?
No.
She always did like to be
the centre of attention.
Hmm, I heard she was
pretty level-headed.
Yeah, well, she's a
saint now, isn't she?
Saint Fucking Isabel.
You obviously miss her a lot.
Don't get me wrong.
It sucks she died.
But it was a lifetime ago.
You and her had a little friction, huh?
Over Anton?
It's pretty simple, really.
I was in love with him,
he was in love with her.
She broke up with him
the night of the formal.
You know why?
I assumed it was 'cause of
the other guy she was seeing,
the older bloke.
Do you know who this older bloke was?
No.
My brother saw her with him a few times,
but all I know he was
older and he was black.
Why didn't you tell the
police this back in '94?
Didn't ask.
Only asked me if I spent
the night with Anton.
And you did, right?
The whole night?
Yep.
My shift's about to start.
One last thing.
Do you know what Isabel meant
when she said she'd seen The Ankou?
No.
It's probably some
god botherer bullshit.
I really do have to work.
I know.
I was on my morning jog.
Came up through there, through the cane.
She was laying there.
Did you reposition her body at all?
No.
I checked her pulse.
But I knew she was already gone from us.
What about the flowers?
Did you put them on her?
Nah.
He must have done that.
Twisted fuck.
You two dated for a while, huh?
We didn't call it that, but yeah.
Vince said that Isabel
was dating an older fella
at the time of her death.
You two didn't get
back together, did you?
No.
I loved Izzy, but she
was more like a sister.
What about her father?
I heard he's pretty strict.
How you reckon he would've reacted
if he found out she was
going out with an older fella?
You want to know what Joe
thinks about something,
you ask him.
Yeah.
- Hey, boss.
- How's it going up there?
Yeah, making progress.
Bloody hot, though.
That's probably just the menopause.
Hey, your father's been
trying to reach you.
- Called you, did he?
- No.
Someone from homicide
dropped a message off.
Said your dad needs you to
come and see him urgently.
Is everything all right, James?
Yeah, I'm fine.
All good. All right, thanks.
Cheers.
Fuck!
You want to call now, huh?
You want to talk to me?
Need any help with them carrots?
No, you're good with the beans.
- Hey.
- I've got a question.
Go ahead.
Was your sister dating
anyone else other than Anton?
Possibly an older guy?
Possibly from the community.
- Are you serious?
- I was told that she was.
By who?
It doesn't matter who.
I can't believe you.
You're slut-shaming my dead sister.
I'm not judging your sister,
I'm just asking a question.
Yeah well, it's a shit question.
I thought you said you
didn't listen to gossip.
What's got you so filthy?
Bloody cops.
They're all the same.
I thought you were
warming to that new fella.
He just tried telling me that Izzy
was seeing an older fella, one of ours.
I would've known if she
had another boyfriend.
Wouldn't be so sure about that.
Your sister was almost as
good as you at keeping secrets.
So I spoke to the
owner of your blue car,
Pastor Tim Foster.
He was in New Zealand at
the time of the murders,
but he said that he sold the car
to some young guy who
was doing some work
for him around the church.
This young guy got a name?
Ezekiel Iesul.
I-E-S-U-L.
I ran his name and pinged
on the Border Force database.
He entered Australia
from Vanuatu in 1979
when he was just a kid through
his visa, but he never left.
Doesn't show up anywhere else.
No ATO, no social security
or medical records.
Thank you, rookie.
You'll make a mighty
fine detective one day.
Goodbye.
Ezekiel Israel.
I, um, thought you were my food.
Can I come in?
You've come this far.
Thanks.
Neat freak, I see.
Oh, I wasn't, uh, expecting company.
I remember Issy reading this book.
She got in so much
trouble when Dad found out.
- How do you know?
- She had it in parts of the video.
What was Richie's favourite book?
Um, don't remember.
Right.
That older man theory might
have a ring of truth to it.
Aunty Rosa said that there was a guy
working at the mill at the time,
Issy was running around with.
Ezekiel.
- How'd you know?
- He was the owner of the blue station wagon?
Fuck!
Does this mean Turner
was right all along?
I don't know, maybe.
But it does mean that
we have to find Ezekiel,
and that's not going to be easy
because he's been here
illegally for 25 years.
Okay.
I can get word out on
the Murri grapevine.
We can find him that way.
I'll try anything.
And Aunt gave me this.
That's him, huh?
I think so.
Hey.
Um, do you need anything,
gloves or a long sleeve
shirt for the sun?
No, thanks. I'm all good.
- I'm not picking, I'm in the mill.
- Oh, okay.
I heard you sing on Sunday at church.
It was really beautiful.
Thanks. You're Pastor Joe's daughter.
- I'm Ezekiel.
- I'm Isabel. Where do you usually live?
I live in Sydney, but
I move around a lot.
I just follow the work.
How you like Ashford?
Yeah, it's such a lovely community
and the beach is close.
I really need the water.
What beach do you go to?
I think it's called South Beach.
Oh. Oh, yeah, that's nice.
But Shell Bay is a lot better.
I can take you there.
What would Pastor Joe think about that?
He would like that. It's,
you know, good hospitality.
Helping the visitors.
Um, but meet tomorrow
at 7:00 AM at the park.
Yeah.
What? What?
Mama's taking forever. I'm so hungry.
Yeah, she's having a yarn.
Aye, come on. You're
not on your own time now.
Hurry the fuck up!
Billy Hopkins is such a creep.
You're so lucky to grow up here.
Yeah, I guess. But I
can't wait to see Sydney.
Sydney never really
felt that home to me.
I was born on Tana,
and I moved away when
I was really young,
but it's home.
It's in my blood.
I miss it.
I feel it in here.
Have you been back?
I want to, but
ever since my father died
I've had more responsibilities.
I have to provide for my
family, back on the island.
What about you?
Your family are from Tana.
Have you ever been home?
No, not yet.
But maybe we could go
there together one day.
Maybe.
Time to swim, aye?
Wait, that tattoo.
I've seen one the same.
What does it mean?
Where did you see it?
On a boy out at Dalkeith.
When was this?
- On Sunday.
- Did you talk to the boy?
No, he was running,
someone was chasing him.
That boy's my cousin.
Who was chasing him?
I don't know. It was a
man on a trailer bike.
I need you to show me right now.
I can't. I have to go to school.
Aw!
Tell me what you saw.
He came from there.
He fell over and dropped his boots.
And a trail bike came from over there.
And the boy,
he got up and kept running,
and the bike went after him.
And then they were gone.
Someone was trying to hurt him.
Who?
- I don't know.
- Why didn't you help him?
- I was scared.
- You was scared.
Sorry about the decor, mate.
Not much privacy around here.
So, what's going on.
Steve Walcott.
All right, what about him?
Issy had a fight with him
when we were at Chloe's
getting ready for the formal.
I can't remember exactly what she said,
but I know for certain
she called him a predator.
Like in her letter.
What do you reckon she meant by that?
I dunno.
He was a bit of an old perv.
Anyone else see this fight?
Look, I've got some of it on tape
but I lost my camera at the formal.
You lost your camera, okay.
And you just remembering this now, huh?
It was a long time ago.
Anything else?
No.
Just thought that might help.
Come on. Let's go.
You're not going to tell Steve
this came from me, are you?
No.
But why do you care?
He's just not someone you want
to get on the wrong side of.
In 2019, I predict that Ashford will be
still full of predators
disguised as friends.
I've seen The Ankou here.
Sharpening its scythe,
waiting to reap our souls.
There are people here I trusted
but now I know
they feed on suffering.
One day, when I'm safe
from their clutches,
I will expose them
and their cruelty.
That's if they don't kill me first.
Welcome back, Billy. Welcome.
My little sister,
beer fairy since age 13.
That's your only freebie big bro.
So, when did you get back?
Yesterday.
Where are you staying?
No room here.
I'm squatting out at the
old place. It's empty.
Why the hell did you come back home
if you're going to be
staying in that crack den?
I'm glad you're back.
- Are ya?
- I am. But, you know, I thought
your parole officer set you up
with that job on the trawlers.
Yeah well, I get sea sick don't I.
Then I got wind that they
were reopening the case,
so I thought, you know?
Oh, Jesus.
Billy, what are you cooking up?
They give us these decks,
on the inside, you know,
hoping people with snitch,
get a reduction in
their sentence, you know.
I spent a lot of time
with Isabel in my cell.
See, that story that
Turner spun back then,
about the monster in the
night, see, that was bullshit.
- What do you know?
- Enough.
I've been sitting on a lot of secrets.
It's time to see how much they're worth.
- Hey.
- I got word from a cousin up north.
Apparently Ezekiel's in Townsville.
That didn't take long.
Um, thanks. Send me the address.
I'll head up there first
thing in the morning.
Yeah, we should leave early.
Pick me up at 6:00 AM?
Hang on, you're not invited.
Uh, I'm the one that
sent word out to community
to find him.
There's going to be blowback on me
if a bully man rocks
up to their doorstep.
Besides, no one's going
to talk to your albino ass
if I'm not there.
Okay, fine. Pick you up at 6:00.
- Oh. Hello.
- Hi, Mary?
Can I help you?
I'm Hazel and this is
Detective James Cormack.
- Hello.
- Hey.
Uh, we're looking for Ezekiel Iesul.
Uh, what is this about?
Uh, he's not in any trouble.
Uh, we've just got a
few questions for him
and we think he might
be able to help us.
I doubt that. Zeke died last year.
Zeke was sick, but we
didn't have Medicare.
Eventually, we went to the hospital,
but by the time we got
there it was too late.
I'm so sorry, Mary.
But why are you looking for my husband?
Well, I'm investigating an old case
down in Ashford.
The same time that Ezekiel
was working down there in '94.
Is this about the lost boys?
Um, what lost boys
are you talking about?
Ezekiel, he had two
cousins from Vanuatu.
They went missing in
Ashford 25 years ago.
- What happened?
- Zeke was supposed to protect them.
His two cousins, they
were sons of a chief.
And when he didn't protect them,
he brought shame to this family.
But it wasn't his fault.
They just disappeared.
Was this ever reported?
Well, no. See, Zeke was here illegally.
And you think the
police are going to care
about a couple of kids from Vanuatu?
Zeke, he wanted to go back
and he wanted to keep looking,
but he was scared. He
was frightened of Ashford.
Frightened of what?
He said there was darkness in Ashford.
The enemy lived there.
And then when he couldn't
find them two boys,
he got angry and he hurt someone.
Mary, I want you to be truthful with me.
Who did he hurt?
I don't know.
- Mary.
- I don't know who he hurt. He didn't tell me.
But my Zeke,
my Zeke, he was a gentle and kind man.
But he said the enemy
got inside him that night
and he just lost control.
Mary?
Yes.
How did you get this?
That's a friend of Zeke's.
He sends a card every Christmas.
Do you know him?
Yeah, okay, yep. We'll
look into it. Thank you.
Owner of the newsagent.
Thinks Joe Baker is the killer.
Didn't actually live in Ashford in 1994,
but her hairdresser saw
Joe yelling at Isabel
at a hockey game once.
Right. Case closed then.
That's the 10th call
like that this week.
- What's that?
- It is Isabel's movements the night of
Isabel and Chloe were
walking home from the formal,
and they parted ways at the
T intersection at 12.30am.
That was the last
known sighting of Izzy.
Now, the distance between
intersection and the Baker house
is two k's.
Well the boss thinks
the guy in the blue car
must have picked her
up in those two k's.
Yeah! But why dump the body all
the way the other side of town?
Here!
There's all this bushland along here
where he could have dumped the body.
But yet, he drove five k's away
and dumped her body at the cemetery.
In plain sight, I might add.
Does that make sense to you?
No, sir.
It doesn't make sense.
Her drawings are beautiful.
Thank you, Mrs. Baker.
I'll make sure these
are returned to you.
Thanks.
So uh, how does this help?
It's important I get to know Isabel.
You know, a lot of time has passed,
people's memories,
they can be deceptive.
They fade, some people lie.
But this, Isabel, she won't lie.
You've felt pain like ours.
I can see it in your eyes.
Um, did Isabel say anything
about a formal after-party,
or did she mention at all
that she was going to
meet someone that night?
No, she was coming straight home.
And you were at work that night, right?
The night shift? And
your husband was at home?
- That's correct?
- Yeah, that's all on their original statements.
Yeah, I know. That's where I'm
getting the information from.
Just making sure it's accurate.
Well, I really appreciate this
and I think it's, um,
it's really going to help.
Thank you.
This is Senior Sergeant Angela Zhang.
Please leave a message.
Hey, boss lady.
Just seeing how you went chasing
down the owner of that blue car.
Give me a call back.
Dear 2019, my name is Hector Ford.
In 1994, my life is just beginning
because I'm about to leave Ashford
and everyone in it behind me.
The cool kids will die in
this shithole, but I'll escape.
We can talk inside if you prefer.
Here's fine.
Babe, this is Detective Cormack.
Hey, hey.
Mind if I keep going?
No, please.
Shit, sorry.
Thank you.
What was Izzy like?
She was beautiful, smart, funny.
I'm sure everyone's told you that.
Even those that were shit to her
suddenly loved her when she was gone.
Anyone in particular?
I didn't mean it like that.
It was high school.
Everyone was two-faced.
Sounds like you had a
tough time in high school.
Small town, small minds.
Mm.
It's been suggested
that you had some unusual
interests at school;
that you might have been
fascinated by the occult.
I went through a Goth phase
after I watched "The Crow."
I wasn't Marilyn Manson; I was lonely.
You found a friend in Isabel, huh?
We moved in different orbits,
but we did the time capsule.
We just clicked.
What do you think happened to her?
I dunno.
I spent the last 25 years
trying not to think about it
so I could remember her as she was.
Now unfortunately,
the police back in '94
didn't interview you.
So there's no record of where you were
the night of the formal.
At the formal.
After that.
I went home.
Yeah, can anybody confirm that?
No.
My parents were away.
They travel a lot.
Why?
You left town two days
after Isabel was killed.
Why'd you do that?
Moved to Sydney for uni.
But uni doesn't start until February.
You didn't want to stick
around for her funeral?
People grieve differently.
I don't want to be rude, but got
a lot of work to get through here.
Okay, I'll let you get back to it.
- Thanks.
- Thanks for your time, mate.
Yeah.
This town is toxic.
- What happened?
- I heard some woman at the shops.
She said Pop killed Aunty Izzy.
Oh, bub.
Come here.
What's wrong with people?
Let's get out of the
house for a bit, eh?
Feel the water on our feet.
Sarge, physical evidence
arrived from the EMF in Brisbane.
Try to focus on the girl
who was wearing the dress,
on who she was when she was alive.
Doesn't that just make it harder?
No.
What is it?
I don't remember any red soil like this
at any of the known
locations from that night.
Looks like she was crawling in it.
Trying to get away?
Maybe.
Where's her necklace?
She wore a bird necklace
at the formal that night.
See, it's in all the photos.
Maybe it came loose during the struggle
when she was killed.
That's a possibility.
Or the other one is
that the killer took it
just like he took her hair.
That is lush.
I don't know, it kind of
clashes with my necklace.
So what? Just don't wear the necklace.
Are you even still going with Anton?
- Yeah, we just had a fight.
- Uh-uh.
Oh, I love your necklace.
Even if you break up with him
you should still wear it to
the formal just to rub it in.
Hey, I got us a present.
Check this out.
Tada!
- That's pretty cool.
- They're our road trip uniforms.
But shouldn't we be saving our money
for more essential things like food?
Don't worry, you don't
have to pay me back.
My dad bought them.
Mum's home.
- Thanks.
- You want some Yum Yum tart?
Is that even a question?
Hey, Iz, I need to show you this video.
- I don't get it.
- Hang on, it's coming.
Sorry.
Hector!
- Is that it?
- That is so sus.
He runs the place.
There's heaps of reasons why
he could be talking to her.
I don't think he was there to talk.
Seriously?
It's Chloe's dad.
- I've known him forever.
- I reckon he's sus.
Shit, I've got to go to work.
Do you want some company?
"Priscilla," that looks so gay.
I think it's great.
The dresses in it are really cool.
Is that Mr. Ludlow from woodwork?
- Yep.
- What did he rent?
"Basic Instinct."
Oh gross!
It's the third time he's rented it.
- Seriously?
- This week.
Hey.
What's that?
Just the shit Mrs. Walker
wanted for the time capsule
for the SES.
Why haven't you been at school?
Because Dad's been a bit shorthanded.
I've been helping him
with the harvest and stuff.
So where were you on Sunday?
I must have been
waiting for like an hour.
I'm sorry, I couldn't get away.
Mum needed my help after church.
That's bullshit.
I mean, Tasha was working at the Servo
and she saw you ride past,
so who gave you the
better offer this time?
Was it Mick or Hector,
'cause honestly, Izzy,
I just can't keep track.
You're the one that hangs
out with Tasha all the time.
That's 'cause she wants to hang out.
- Wait, where were you?
- I don't have to tell you everything.
Whatever.
What's up with you?
- Nothing.
- Trouble in paradise?
You don't know the half of it.
Creepy. Sorry.
What is it?
Some kind of pagan grim
reaper, death shepherd.
What are you turning into a Goth now
'cause you're hanging out with Hector?
Very funny.
Uh, Mum's leaving if you want a lift.
Do you have an army
disposal store or something?
- Cool, hey?
- What even is that?
It's a torch
in case we need a piss
in the bush at night.
That does sound handy.
Yeah.
Who's that?
Um, I'm not sure.
Sometimes if the pickers lose work
Dad get them odd jobs here
and there to help them out.
- That's nice of him.
- Mm.
She's pretty.
I guess.
Anyway, what do you reckon?
I think we're pretty much sorted.
Looks like it.
Except for telling your parents.
What happened?
I'm sorry, Iz.
Isabel!
Did you go through my room?
I found your sister reading it.
She shouldn't be in my stuff.
This book is full of sin.
- The enemy led you to it
- You haven't even read it.
You don't know what I'm
thinking. Don't own my mind.
While you're in my
house, you obey my rules!
It's not your fault.
I need to show you something.
When Izzy was murdered,
we were the victims.
Yet somehow we were the
ones under questioning.
Why was Izzy dressed so pretty?
Was she drunk?
Why didn't her parents pick her up?
Do you know what that feels like?
Yeah.
I do.
You know, apart from the swish coffee,
things have barely
changed at this petrol stop
since I was a kid.
Ashford hasn't changed much either.
You know, the gossip around town
is that Izzy didn't get
into the car that night;
she came home and Dad killed her.
Luckily, I don't deal in
gossip, just the truth.
Can I trust you to
do right by my family?
You can trust me to do right by Isabel.
I know Izzy didn't come home that night.
The one thing that has
changed around here:
the phone box is gone.
I was asleep on the couch when she rang.
I got up, turned the TV off,
and went into the kitchen.
Mum was at work and Dad
was asleep, so I picked up.
Izzy asked me to get Dad, but I wouldn't
'cause I wanted to know where she was.
She said that she was out here.
Then I heard a car pull up,
and this song was playing,
and Izzy went quiet.
I asked her if she still needed Dad,
if she still needed a lift, and she,
she didn't answer me, so I
thought that she was drunk.
I thought that she was partying.
I got angry with her and
I told her to walk home.
And then I hung up.
Izzy didn't want a lift that night.
She needed help.
Thank you for telling me that.
I'm going to step outside
for a minute, okay?
'Kay.
Can you remember what time it was?
After midnight.
Around 12:30.
Look, I know I should have
said something a long time ago.
Hey, you were just a kid.
To be honest, before the letter,
I don't think the information
would've made much of
a difference to Turner.
And now?
Well, it changes the timeline.
Knowing where she was, it, uh,
it's a pretty important
piece of the puzzle.
What was she doing out here?
I mean, there's nothing out here.
What's that all about?
That is Isabel's last known location
the night of the murder.
According to who?
A credible witness.
Yeah, I seriously doubt
they're more credible
than Chloe Walcott, who
was walking home with Isabel
at the same time your
'CI' puts her at the servo.
Might be worth asking if your witness
who's just magically
remembered this vital info
has a reason to lie.
Hey, hello, love.
We don't see you in here very often.
Everything okay?
I need to ask you about
the night Izzy died.
You carried this alone all them years.
Why didn't you tell me?
Guilt.
And fear.
About asking where you were that night.
After I hung up, when
I passed your room,
the door was open and it was empty.
Where were you, Dad?
Look, I'm not saying
I just need to know
so I can protect you.
I was here helping a
parishioner in need.
Thank God.
You've got an alibi.
Who were you with?
I can't tell you that.
They came to me to confess a sin.
Dad, this is more important than that.
If Turner finds out that
you don't have an alibi
I don't fear Sergeant Turner's
judgement, or any man's.
Savages.
Is nothing sacred anymore?
What does it even mean?
It's blackbirding.
- Eh?
- 62,000 islanders were brought in
to work on the cane back in the day.
You studying to go on "Millionaire"?
No, I Googled James Ashford
after Kalana tagged
the statue last time.
Never knew we had slavery in Australia.
Yeah, well you can save
your virtue signalling
for your boyfriend from the city.
That's nice.
Yeah, clean that shit up.
Kalana!
Hey, what's up?
That statue was vandalised again.
Great.
I didn't do it.
I'm glad someone did, though.
Go get your things; we're going home.
- I have to train.
- Is everything all right?
Sorry coach, I got to go.
- Coach?
- Yeah, Leo's back's playing up,
so I offered to fill in for a bit.
Hey, um, is there any
way that Kal can stay?
It's just, I'm still getting up to speed
and she's the captain.
She's a natural leader.
I'll drop her home if that helps.
That won't be necessary.
Front gate, 6:01.
Hurry up.
Thanks for that.
How you doing?
How do you think I'm doing?
Yeah, yeah.
Sorry.
You look like shit.
Yeah.
I better get back to it.
Pair up again.
Dear 2019, my name is Tasha Hopkins.
In 2019 I predict Ashford
will be pretty much the same.
Fuck all ever changes around here.
Were you surprised by
Isabel's letter at all?
No.
She always did like to be
the centre of attention.
Hmm, I heard she was
pretty level-headed.
Yeah, well, she's a
saint now, isn't she?
Saint Fucking Isabel.
You obviously miss her a lot.
Don't get me wrong.
It sucks she died.
But it was a lifetime ago.
You and her had a little friction, huh?
Over Anton?
It's pretty simple, really.
I was in love with him,
he was in love with her.
She broke up with him
the night of the formal.
You know why?
I assumed it was 'cause of
the other guy she was seeing,
the older bloke.
Do you know who this older bloke was?
No.
My brother saw her with him a few times,
but all I know he was
older and he was black.
Why didn't you tell the
police this back in '94?
Didn't ask.
Only asked me if I spent
the night with Anton.
And you did, right?
The whole night?
Yep.
My shift's about to start.
One last thing.
Do you know what Isabel meant
when she said she'd seen The Ankou?
No.
It's probably some
god botherer bullshit.
I really do have to work.
I know.
I was on my morning jog.
Came up through there, through the cane.
She was laying there.
Did you reposition her body at all?
No.
I checked her pulse.
But I knew she was already gone from us.
What about the flowers?
Did you put them on her?
Nah.
He must have done that.
Twisted fuck.
You two dated for a while, huh?
We didn't call it that, but yeah.
Vince said that Isabel
was dating an older fella
at the time of her death.
You two didn't get
back together, did you?
No.
I loved Izzy, but she
was more like a sister.
What about her father?
I heard he's pretty strict.
How you reckon he would've reacted
if he found out she was
going out with an older fella?
You want to know what Joe
thinks about something,
you ask him.
Yeah.
- Hey, boss.
- How's it going up there?
Yeah, making progress.
Bloody hot, though.
That's probably just the menopause.
Hey, your father's been
trying to reach you.
- Called you, did he?
- No.
Someone from homicide
dropped a message off.
Said your dad needs you to
come and see him urgently.
Is everything all right, James?
Yeah, I'm fine.
All good. All right, thanks.
Cheers.
Fuck!
You want to call now, huh?
You want to talk to me?
Need any help with them carrots?
No, you're good with the beans.
- Hey.
- I've got a question.
Go ahead.
Was your sister dating
anyone else other than Anton?
Possibly an older guy?
Possibly from the community.
- Are you serious?
- I was told that she was.
By who?
It doesn't matter who.
I can't believe you.
You're slut-shaming my dead sister.
I'm not judging your sister,
I'm just asking a question.
Yeah well, it's a shit question.
I thought you said you
didn't listen to gossip.
What's got you so filthy?
Bloody cops.
They're all the same.
I thought you were
warming to that new fella.
He just tried telling me that Izzy
was seeing an older fella, one of ours.
I would've known if she
had another boyfriend.
Wouldn't be so sure about that.
Your sister was almost as
good as you at keeping secrets.
So I spoke to the
owner of your blue car,
Pastor Tim Foster.
He was in New Zealand at
the time of the murders,
but he said that he sold the car
to some young guy who
was doing some work
for him around the church.
This young guy got a name?
Ezekiel Iesul.
I-E-S-U-L.
I ran his name and pinged
on the Border Force database.
He entered Australia
from Vanuatu in 1979
when he was just a kid through
his visa, but he never left.
Doesn't show up anywhere else.
No ATO, no social security
or medical records.
Thank you, rookie.
You'll make a mighty
fine detective one day.
Goodbye.
Ezekiel Israel.
I, um, thought you were my food.
Can I come in?
You've come this far.
Thanks.
Neat freak, I see.
Oh, I wasn't, uh, expecting company.
I remember Issy reading this book.
She got in so much
trouble when Dad found out.
- How do you know?
- She had it in parts of the video.
What was Richie's favourite book?
Um, don't remember.
Right.
That older man theory might
have a ring of truth to it.
Aunty Rosa said that there was a guy
working at the mill at the time,
Issy was running around with.
Ezekiel.
- How'd you know?
- He was the owner of the blue station wagon?
Fuck!
Does this mean Turner
was right all along?
I don't know, maybe.
But it does mean that
we have to find Ezekiel,
and that's not going to be easy
because he's been here
illegally for 25 years.
Okay.
I can get word out on
the Murri grapevine.
We can find him that way.
I'll try anything.
And Aunt gave me this.
That's him, huh?
I think so.
Hey.
Um, do you need anything,
gloves or a long sleeve
shirt for the sun?
No, thanks. I'm all good.
- I'm not picking, I'm in the mill.
- Oh, okay.
I heard you sing on Sunday at church.
It was really beautiful.
Thanks. You're Pastor Joe's daughter.
- I'm Ezekiel.
- I'm Isabel. Where do you usually live?
I live in Sydney, but
I move around a lot.
I just follow the work.
How you like Ashford?
Yeah, it's such a lovely community
and the beach is close.
I really need the water.
What beach do you go to?
I think it's called South Beach.
Oh. Oh, yeah, that's nice.
But Shell Bay is a lot better.
I can take you there.
What would Pastor Joe think about that?
He would like that. It's,
you know, good hospitality.
Helping the visitors.
Um, but meet tomorrow
at 7:00 AM at the park.
Yeah.
What? What?
Mama's taking forever. I'm so hungry.
Yeah, she's having a yarn.
Aye, come on. You're
not on your own time now.
Hurry the fuck up!
Billy Hopkins is such a creep.
You're so lucky to grow up here.
Yeah, I guess. But I
can't wait to see Sydney.
Sydney never really
felt that home to me.
I was born on Tana,
and I moved away when
I was really young,
but it's home.
It's in my blood.
I miss it.
I feel it in here.
Have you been back?
I want to, but
ever since my father died
I've had more responsibilities.
I have to provide for my
family, back on the island.
What about you?
Your family are from Tana.
Have you ever been home?
No, not yet.
But maybe we could go
there together one day.
Maybe.
Time to swim, aye?
Wait, that tattoo.
I've seen one the same.
What does it mean?
Where did you see it?
On a boy out at Dalkeith.
When was this?
- On Sunday.
- Did you talk to the boy?
No, he was running,
someone was chasing him.
That boy's my cousin.
Who was chasing him?
I don't know. It was a
man on a trailer bike.
I need you to show me right now.
I can't. I have to go to school.
Aw!
Tell me what you saw.
He came from there.
He fell over and dropped his boots.
And a trail bike came from over there.
And the boy,
he got up and kept running,
and the bike went after him.
And then they were gone.
Someone was trying to hurt him.
Who?
- I don't know.
- Why didn't you help him?
- I was scared.
- You was scared.
Sorry about the decor, mate.
Not much privacy around here.
So, what's going on.
Steve Walcott.
All right, what about him?
Issy had a fight with him
when we were at Chloe's
getting ready for the formal.
I can't remember exactly what she said,
but I know for certain
she called him a predator.
Like in her letter.
What do you reckon she meant by that?
I dunno.
He was a bit of an old perv.
Anyone else see this fight?
Look, I've got some of it on tape
but I lost my camera at the formal.
You lost your camera, okay.
And you just remembering this now, huh?
It was a long time ago.
Anything else?
No.
Just thought that might help.
Come on. Let's go.
You're not going to tell Steve
this came from me, are you?
No.
But why do you care?
He's just not someone you want
to get on the wrong side of.
In 2019, I predict that Ashford will be
still full of predators
disguised as friends.
I've seen The Ankou here.
Sharpening its scythe,
waiting to reap our souls.
There are people here I trusted
but now I know
they feed on suffering.
One day, when I'm safe
from their clutches,
I will expose them
and their cruelty.
That's if they don't kill me first.
Welcome back, Billy. Welcome.
My little sister,
beer fairy since age 13.
That's your only freebie big bro.
So, when did you get back?
Yesterday.
Where are you staying?
No room here.
I'm squatting out at the
old place. It's empty.
Why the hell did you come back home
if you're going to be
staying in that crack den?
I'm glad you're back.
- Are ya?
- I am. But, you know, I thought
your parole officer set you up
with that job on the trawlers.
Yeah well, I get sea sick don't I.
Then I got wind that they
were reopening the case,
so I thought, you know?
Oh, Jesus.
Billy, what are you cooking up?
They give us these decks,
on the inside, you know,
hoping people with snitch,
get a reduction in
their sentence, you know.
I spent a lot of time
with Isabel in my cell.
See, that story that
Turner spun back then,
about the monster in the
night, see, that was bullshit.
- What do you know?
- Enough.
I've been sitting on a lot of secrets.
It's time to see how much they're worth.
- Hey.
- I got word from a cousin up north.
Apparently Ezekiel's in Townsville.
That didn't take long.
Um, thanks. Send me the address.
I'll head up there first
thing in the morning.
Yeah, we should leave early.
Pick me up at 6:00 AM?
Hang on, you're not invited.
Uh, I'm the one that
sent word out to community
to find him.
There's going to be blowback on me
if a bully man rocks
up to their doorstep.
Besides, no one's going
to talk to your albino ass
if I'm not there.
Okay, fine. Pick you up at 6:00.
- Oh. Hello.
- Hi, Mary?
Can I help you?
I'm Hazel and this is
Detective James Cormack.
- Hello.
- Hey.
Uh, we're looking for Ezekiel Iesul.
Uh, what is this about?
Uh, he's not in any trouble.
Uh, we've just got a
few questions for him
and we think he might
be able to help us.
I doubt that. Zeke died last year.
Zeke was sick, but we
didn't have Medicare.
Eventually, we went to the hospital,
but by the time we got
there it was too late.
I'm so sorry, Mary.
But why are you looking for my husband?
Well, I'm investigating an old case
down in Ashford.
The same time that Ezekiel
was working down there in '94.
Is this about the lost boys?
Um, what lost boys
are you talking about?
Ezekiel, he had two
cousins from Vanuatu.
They went missing in
Ashford 25 years ago.
- What happened?
- Zeke was supposed to protect them.
His two cousins, they
were sons of a chief.
And when he didn't protect them,
he brought shame to this family.
But it wasn't his fault.
They just disappeared.
Was this ever reported?
Well, no. See, Zeke was here illegally.
And you think the
police are going to care
about a couple of kids from Vanuatu?
Zeke, he wanted to go back
and he wanted to keep looking,
but he was scared. He
was frightened of Ashford.
Frightened of what?
He said there was darkness in Ashford.
The enemy lived there.
And then when he couldn't
find them two boys,
he got angry and he hurt someone.
Mary, I want you to be truthful with me.
Who did he hurt?
I don't know.
- Mary.
- I don't know who he hurt. He didn't tell me.
But my Zeke,
my Zeke, he was a gentle and kind man.
But he said the enemy
got inside him that night
and he just lost control.
Mary?
Yes.
How did you get this?
That's a friend of Zeke's.
He sends a card every Christmas.
Do you know him?