Devil's Playground (2014) s01e03 Episode Script

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There's been an incident at St.
Venables.
A pupil's drowned.
It was in my bag when I got back from football.
Someone is saying my son was murdered.
Peter did what? Drowned himself? But someone made him.
Bad as if they'd killed him.
He's bad, you know? That Bishop McNally.
He's a liar.
Fucked me right up.
Eminence, I was just threatened by a street prostitute in the cathedral, but he said he'd made an appointment to see you, John.
I spoke to that boy responsible for writing that note.
Made the whole thing up.
Attention-seeking.
Peter's death was an accident.
He was on the swimming team at school.
It doesn't make any sense.
.
.
.
that will help those who knew and loved Peter cope with this tragedy.
Maybe the soft words of Jesus, "Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not.
" An invitation to let the children come and be comforted by the Lord.
In the midst of In the midst of all our questions, there is some comfort in the knowledge that a child dies in a state of perfect grace and is spared any further earthly sorrows.
Boyhood is a magical state.
So innocent, so trusting.
It's a time in life when you are surrounded by friends all day.
When you can take comfort and joy from being part of a community of equals, the community, which we see here in this church, today.
Body of Christ.
Body of Christ.
Body of Christ.
Body of Christ.
No thank you, sweetie.
Hi, Mary.
Can I watch the video? Mm.
Is it your head or belly? I can see if Alice has some flat lemonade, hey? Hello, Father.
Tom.
You've had your hair cut, Catherine.
Oh, just a trim.
She did it herself.
Does mine and all the kids.
I was studying my apprenticeship when I met Matt.
A woman of many talents.
Yeah.
Say hello to Finton.
Excuse me.
Hey.
Tom, you know Cheryl from next door.
Well, we've never met, but I've seen you coming and going.
Hello.
I'll take these round, then.
Right behind you.
There are seven stages of grieving, you know.
They gave me a pamphlet when my mum died.
You're probably still in the pain stage.
Maybe still in the shock.
It gets worse after that, but then it gets better.
I'm not quite sure, but I think I'm in reconstruction.
Well, if you blur your eyes, you might be able to see Peter.
Like I see my mum.
It's easy.
Like this.
You're not watching the video? I've seen it before, about 100,000 times.
It was Peter's favourite movie.
Do you know about the note? What note? The one that was put in my bag, saying Peter was killed.
It was a joke, they reckon.
You'd have to be fucking sick to make a joke about something like that.
Maybe it wasn't a joke.
This is my favourite bit.
I can stay if you like.
Kids are waiting.
Thank David for his help.
Sure.
See you later.
I'm leaving.
I've decided to go away for a while.
Ian Jackson's got a contract out in WA.
I knocked him back a while ago but now I've decided Now? Now seems like a good time for you to leave? Yeah.
What about Finton? I talked to him.
I told him.
He's just lost his brother.
You think he needs to lose his father too? Believe me, Alice, he's much better off without me right now.
Oh, what is wrong with you? Alice, it's-I just have to leave.
I just can't be in this house anymore.
Fine.
Go.
Alright.
I'm sorry.
I'm sorry.
Mrs.
Doherty said you wanted to see me.
I can come back another time.
I need you to go into archive and get me Bishop McNally's personnel file.
What shall I say is the reason? I'll also need the parish records from Colleton.
Colleton? Keep the door open, please.
Mrs.
Doherty sprayed that floral room freshener in here and I'm trying to get rid of the smell.
If it's just a quick look for research, I won't bother with the paperwork.
I know Father Chiechanowski, the librarian Thank you.
That's very thoughtful.
You wrote it, didn't you? Why would you make that shit up, huh That's fucking sick what you did.
Fucking sick! Allen, grab him! You little shit! Hey, hey, hey! Fight! Fight! Fight! Fight! You're hurting me! Let me go, you pervert! Kelly, Allen, to the office, now! Fight! Fight! Fight! Fight! The rest of you get to class.
Now! Elliot! What sort of doctor are you? I don't keep any pills here, mate.
I just talk to my patients, that's all.
But you write it all down, don't ya? What they say? If I did something really fucked up, you'd tell the cops? Look, mate, if you want to talk about it with me, we could do that, huh? What have you done? Alright? Yeah.
The two Mr.
Allens.
Come here.
Finally finished the roll.
Do you remember how many times Harrison went in the drink? I swear the boy had gills by the end of it.
So, I spoke to Brother Cosgrove about your note.
He agrees it's a very serious matter.
There's no death more tragic than suicide.
The idea that Peter was driven to this does no good to anyone, especially not his family, who are trying to heal.
Grief makes us do crazy things, but this won't be tolerated.
I went into bat for you, though.
Told Brother Cosgrove what a good boy you are, normally.
So don't worry.
You won't be in trouble.
As long as you don't tell anyone else.
Best we try to put all this behind us, yeah? Yes, Brother.
Good boy.
I don't know who you bloody are anymore.
What would your mother think? Beating up a first-former, for God's sake.
Jesus! You should be ashamed of yourself.
Were you ashamed of what you did behind Mum's back? Hey.
Hey.
Oi! This is all my fault.
You shouldn't have gone back so soon I wanted to go back.
At home it's just so quiet.
Feels like it's just me and his empty fucking room.
Family sized Hawaiian with banana and barbecue? Was this really his favourite? It was Elliot Darcy that wrote that note.
What? About Peter.
Why would he do that? Dunno.
I mean, weren't they best friends? I know they didn't hang out as much It's not even on the menu.
Why would he even think to put these things together? Brother Warner.
He invented it.
Oh, this is disgusting.
Totally disgusting.
Wanna go for a smoke? That's Colleton.
Hm.
The Bishop of, uh, Warrambi sent them up.
I wasn't too sure how many you wanted so I asked for the last five years.
Mm-hm.
Thank you, Father.
.
.
Do you know where Peter keeps the sugar these days? It's one of the great mysteries of the universe.
I had to filch this from Vincent's office.
He hides it.
Presumably what he considers to be a sin.
I'd watch him if I were you.
The sugar's not the only thing I found.
Come on! I'm not gonna bite.
You ever done a blowback? It's where you suck the smoke in and blow it into another person's mouth.
It's intense.
Gets you high real quick.
Wanna try? Sure.
Not many tonight.
Wednesday night mass on the chopping block now, I take it.
What do you think of the new wing of the Sacred Heart hospice in St.
Vincent's? I didn't know there was one.
Margaret Wallace mobilised the funding.
They want someone from the church to come down.
I was scheduled for a walk-through tomorrow, but I've been called away to a confirmation at Gosford.
I suppose I could do it.
Wonderful.
I'll let them know.
It's an AIDS ward.
And there'll be reporters there tomorrow, so, some notes on our official position.
Really appreciate it, Vince, especially with all the extra work you've taken on for the Nuncio.
Less flame, more disciple, maybe? I thought of a new name for my confirmation.
Yeah? Marie.
After St.
Marie de Saint Just.
What's her story? Well, she got really homesick after becoming a nun.
And then she was beheaded by Chinese people.
Mm-hm.
Rhiannon reckons it would have taken them a while to cut right through, so there would have been blood everywhere.
Bits of bone from her neck.
Night.
Oi! Where have you been? Will you be my confirmation sponsor? Sure.
Yes! 'In response, the Catholic Church has established this dedicated AIDS patient care service, situated here in St.
Vincent's Hospital, Sydney, and run by the Sisters of Charity.
We say to our brothers suffering from AIDS, we welcome you, without judgement or fear.
The Diocese of Sydney would especially like to thank Mrs.
Margaret Wallace, MP, without whose tireless support, this service would not' Bishop Quaid.
I'm Sister Pauline.
Sister.
This is Dr Gavascar.
Doctor.
Margaret Wallace sends her apologies.
She's running late.
She shouldn't be too long, but can we wait for her? I'm afraid I can't.
Shall we get started? OK, this way.
Thank you.
May Almighty God bless you.
A couple in here.
May Almighty God bless you.
May Almighty God bless you.
I think that's enough, Sister.
Thank you, Bishop.
Thank you.
Please wait, My Lord.
Could I get a photo, please? Maybe with you two? But if I could I just get you to take that out of your pocket there? Thank you.
Thank you, My Lord.
Bishop Quaid, any comment on the views of your colleagues in the US who believe AIDS is a curse from God on homosexuals? On this matter, the Church has no comment.
Bishop Quaid was being very generous with his time today.
If you'd like to But is it your personal opinion AIDS is God's work? It's my opinion, good sir, that the hand of God is present everywhere, and no-one can deny that.
Not government, not man, no-one.
Good day.
Bishop Quaid? What's going on? Didn't you get my message? Yes, yes, I believe I did.
Well, why are you leaving? Because my time is valuable to me, Mrs.
Wallace.
It may not be to you or to your good friend, soon to be Archbishop.
But if I'm going to be forced into the service of your joint agendas, I will do it in my own time, on my own terms.
And if it was publicity you were after for that, uh, establishment, you can rest assured I got you front page tomorrow.
Do you know why I was running late? My youngest shoved a piece of Lego up his nose.
Until now, I thought that was the stupidest thing I'd have to deal with today.
He's three.
That's his excuse.
What's yours? I thought you could use this.
Oh, John, talk about a gift from God.
Thank you.
So, this is where it all takes place? Yes.
Uh, I'm afraid the atmosphere is usually a little more welcoming.
But the police certainly haven't made things any better with their fingerprinting.
Police need to see any of your files? No, no, there was no need, because looks like it was just a street kid looking for drugs.
That's not why you've come down here, is it? No.
But my motives are not entirely pure.
You see, I'm in hiding.
I'm meant to be in Gosford.
It's a long story.
But if there were any matter, which you might consider showing files to the police, and they concerned somebody that I knew, I hope you'd discuss it with me first.
Ah, that's not the way it works, I'm afraid, John.
No.
I respect your profession and its ethics.
I suppose it's just that I find it hard to relinquish responsibility.
What we do is so similar.
You with your clients, me with my congregation.
They need us.
Well, sometimes I feel like I need my clients more than they need me.
I was so lonely at one point.
I started to despair.
But then I met someone.
She was smart, spirited, beautiful.
Then we fell in love.
All very chaste, of course.
Walks, dinners, official functions.
But don't be fooled into thinking than I'm a better man that I am.
Believe me, I really wanted that love expressed in a physical way.
I wanted to have sex with her.
And she wanted it, too, I know that.
But I did nothing.
And it wasn't my vow of chastity that held me back.
What was it? I didn't know how to kiss a woman.
Touch her body.
I mean, we start our training when we're 12.
We're just boys.
And we stay that way.
Because of that, I broke a good woman's heart.
Today's her birthday.
Why'd you tell me this, John? I didn't.
I'm not here.
I'm in Gosford.
Thanks for this, Catherine.
Ow! Girls, go play in your room, please.
Now! Matthew.
Will you stop? Mum! Hello, Elliot.
I just want to know why you wrote that note.
I didn't.
Elliot, the truth, please.
If you know something, you have to tell me.
I'm his mother.
I need to know.
I didn't write any note.
The police say it was an accident.
But he couldn't have drowned, could he? I mean, he was always in our pool, even in the winter.
I remember you two practising safety swims there, remember? Dressed in Dressed in three jumpers, diving down to pick up that brick from the bottom.
It was Mrs Archer's garden gnome.
You came to my house, remember? But it wasn't to drop off Peter's homework, was it? Elliot, please, talk to me.
I don't understand why you would write that he was killed Hey, he said he didn't write it.
Cathy will show you out.
Want a sip? Hey, hey, hey.
It's OK, we We believe you, mate.
What's this? Nothing.
Someone giving you trouble at school? I'm alright.
If anyone ever touches you, I'll kill 'em.
Let's go back to yours.
Hello? Hi.
Hi.
Look, I'm calling just to see how things are going.
You know, after Cosgrove yesterday.
Good.
Good? Um, Finton and I spent the afternoon together.
We had a really good talk.
Shh.
Shh.
And that's how he's dealing with it.
He seems OK.
God, how you do it? I mean, I-I just don't know what to do with David anymore.
Everything I say is wrong, and I try to stop myself from saying anything, and I don't know, I just can't Where's the toilet? Uh, second on the left.
I feel like I'm losing him.
Oh, shit, shit.
I'm so sorry.
It's alright.
That was a really stupid thing It's fine.
No, that was a really stupid thing to say.
I shouldn't be dumping this on you.
It's fine.
I guess I-I just miss You miss Therese.
It's only been a year.
Of course you do.
But Tom, I'm sorry, I can't.
I've got to go.
Bye.
Ten minutes, OK, Bridie? Were you looking for something in my briefcase? Morning, Dad.
Good God.
What the hell are you doing here? Come on, get your fucking clothes on now.
Get them on.
Go on, get out! Stop, Dad! Clothes on, please.
Go on! Dad, don't! Don't think we won't talk about this display of yours later, David.
Dad! Please! Later, David! Who's he? Get out! Get out! Brendan.
See ya later.
Get inside.
How do you know him? Where did you meet him? Why? That little bastard broke into my office and went through all my files.
Now he's gone through my briefcase! Um, we've run out of Rice Bubbles Bridie, go to your room, OK? Why? Just get dressed.
Now.
He's a crim, he's a drug user.
He's obviously using you to get at me.
Why? Well I don't bloody know, but you ever see him again, ever, you tell me, OK? He's bloody dangerous.
Yes? You know Mrs.
Doherty will do that for you? A man who doesn't clean his own shoes, Father, is as dirty as they are.
I'm not familiar with that phrase.
My father used to say that.
Did you want something? Yes, I've been talking with Father Chiechanowski about your work, for the Nuncio.
There was an additional file he thought you might find useful.
That's very kind.
You can leave it on the table.
She was a lawyer.
Bishop McNally met her at a conference.
They were both on the Board of Catholics for Social Justice.
She resigned from the Board and requested a transfer with her firm.
This is not what I'm looking for, Father.
It's embarrassing, Bishop You embarrass yourself.
Take it away.
What are you fuckin' lookin' at? Does anyone know a Brendan? Nuh.
I need to find him.
He's not in here.
I know where that kid is if you wanna find him.
Yes.
Yes, I do.
Where is he? You don't need Brendan.
I'll suck you off if you want.
But I'm gonna need another 20 dollars.
Get Brendan for me.
Tell him Bishop Quaid wants to help him.
No, they go like You are so noisy! Yeah! Can me and Darcy play? What's down there? Love, you need to get changed right now if we're going to get you to footy practice on time.
Come on, we'll be late.
Girls, can you put your shoes on? We've got to take your brother to training.
There you go, Father.
All done.
Oh, thanks, Catherine.
Hurry, mister! Girls, shoes on, please.
I can take him if you like.
Oh, Father, are you sure? Yeah.
Oh, you're wonderful.
There you go, bubs.
Thanks again.
See you.
You ready, mister? Where is it? I looked in here.
I looked in your briefcase.
What are you talking about? I just need to know what he said.
You said you write it all down.
What they tell you.
I told you, what my patients tell me is private.
I fucked your son.
I fucked him up the arse.
I fucked him, and I fucked him.
You stay away from my son! He wanted me to stop.
Begged me.
But I didn't stop.
He just kept fucking me till I bled.
He just kept fucking me till I bled.
I wanted to scream, but I couldn't.
I couldn't.
Who? Who did this to you? You know who.
I don't know.
Didn't he talk about me? Brendan? Mate, I don't know who you mean.
# According to my heart, you're the one for me Ba-bum.
# The wonder of my life is here when you're with me Come on, sing.
# If someone stole your love # my heart would make you more Ba-bum, ba-bum.
# You're the one my heart is always longing for Ba-bum, ba-bum.
We miss him, don't we? Hmm? Peter was such a special boy.
Hmm? I never forgot about you, though.
Want to shoot the gun? Come on, then.
# According to my heart # You're the one for me Ba-bum, ba-bum.
Is that a good spot? How's that? Not yet.
Pew-pew.
Come on, I'll take it.
You load it up.
Here.
Now, remember what I showed you.
Quite heavy.
Hold it up to your shoulder.
That's the boy.
Now aim it up between me and that little leaf at the end.
Head down.
Close your left eye, aim at the can.
And when you're ready, hold it steady, gently squeeze the trigger.
Yes! Ha ha! All righty, give it to me.
Grab it, grab it, grab it.
That's for you.
What do you think of that, eh? Good?