Disclaimer (2024) s01e03 Episode Script

1
- [ENGINE REVVING]
- [CRYING] Please, Robert.
[CRIES]
[BREATHING HEAVILY]
[CELL PHONE RINGING]
Fuck off.
Fuck off!
[CHILDREN LAUGHING]
[BLOWS]
We can't miss the Rembrandt
exhibition at the National Gallery
like we missed the
Pollock and the Monet.
Also, the new Almodóvar
film is out next month.
[BRIGSTOCKE] They say that
destiny knocks at the door.
- That is not true.
- [DOORBELL RINGS]
Who can that be on a Sunday?
The neighbors, whinging about the smoke.
[DOORBELL RINGS]
Well Well, are you
gonna answer it or what?
[SIGHS]
Right.
[BRIGSTOCKE] Destiny
doesn't knock on any door.
Destiny doesn't ask permission.
It crashes in without calling
and grabs you mercilessly
by your body and soul.
[INSPECTOR] Mr. Brigstocke?
[BRIGSTOCKE] Yes.
Can we please come in, sir?
[BRIGSTOCKE STAMMERS] Nancy.
Nan Nancy.
Nancy.
[SIGHS]
Stephen?
The police are here,
in the sitting room.
[NANCY] Take this off.
[NANCY] Yes?
Um.
[SIGHS] I'm DCI Duggins.
This is PC Davis, uh,
Metropolitan Police.
What can we do for you?
[DUGGINS] Would you please take a seat?
[TELEVISION PRESENTER
SPEAKS INDISTINCTLY]
[DUGGINS SIGHING]
[TELEVISION MUTED]
Uh, you have a son.
- Jonathan, age 19.
- Yes.
Traveling in Italy?
Yes. Yes, he's in He's in Italy.
We had a postcard from him yesterday.
We're so sorry,
but Jonathan died in in a
in an accident yesterday.
We're very sorry.
What sort of an accident?
[INHALES SHAKILY]
[DUGGINS] He drowned.
Would you like some tea?
Uh, it was, um,
an accident in [SIGHS]
Forte dei Marmi.
An accident?
[DUGGINS] Yeah. The Italian
police are very clear about that.
Now, you'll have to go to
Italy to identify your son.
The closest airport is Pisa.
The Italian authorities, um,
they won't release the body
until there's been a
formal identification.
So it might not be Jonathan?
It could be a mistake? [SNIFFLES]
No, I'm I'm sorry, Mrs. Brigstocke,
but there's no mistake.
The Italian police have been
through your son's belongings,
- and his bag was on the beach.
- Somebody could have stolen it.
Well, they found his passport.
I'm sorry, I'm afraid it's
definitely Jonathan.
The body can't be released until
it's been formally identified.
After that, you can bring him home.
Is there anyone else
who can do that for you?
- No, there's no one else.
- [SNIFFLES]
[DUGGINS] Here's the
number for the consulate.
And I've given you mine too,
in case you have any more questions.
Again, we're very, very
sorry for your loss.
We can find our own way out. [SIGHS]
It's too milky.
Excuse me?
The tea is too too milky.
Right.
I'm sorry.
[DAVIS] Please call if
you have any questions.
[SOBBING]
Jonathan.
[SOBBING]
[WAILING]
[AUTOMATED VOICE] Welcome
to the O2 messaging service.
The person you're calling
is unable to take your call.
Please leave a message after the tone.
- [SIGHS]
- [MESSAGE TONE BEEPS]
Robert. [SIGHS]
I I unders
I understand you're upset.
Would you just please, please call me?
I need to know you're safe.
[BREATHING DEEPLY]
[NARRATOR] You want to make him
understand why you hadn't told him.
It wasn't for you.
It was for them.
For Robert, but mainly for Nicholas.
Your silence had been
to protect your son,
and Jonathan's death had sealed it.
There had been no need
for anyone else to suffer.
[BREATHES DEEPLY]
[INTERCOM DINGS]
[ANNOUNCER, SPEAKING ITALIAN]
[EXCLAIMS] Uh, Mr. and Mrs. Brigstocke?
[SIGHS] Hello, my name
is Richard Perkins.
Uh Uh, the consulate
sent me to be of assistance
during this painful process.
I have a car if you're ready.
Oh, yeah. Yes. Let me help you
with that, Mrs. Brigstocke.
Uh, Mr. Brigstocke?
Okay, if you'll follow me, please.
I'm sorry I was late. Uh, there
was a closure on the autostrada.
The, uh The motorway, that is.
[BRIGSTOCKE] The sun was shining
as if nothing terrible had happened.
The heavier the burden,
the more real things become.
A marble statue becomes nothing
more than a piece of stone.
[SIGHS]
[MUMBLES]
[SIGHS]
[GROANS]
[SIGHS]
[GROANS] Fuck off.
[NARRATOR] Robert recognizes
that he can't drive to work.
He daren't risk it.
Surely he's still over the limit.
He could call for a cab but
decides that he'll take the bus.
- [NURSE SPEAKING ITALIAN]
- [DOCTOR SPEAKING ITALIAN]
[NANCY SNIFFS]
[GASPING]
[SIGHS]
Italian law requires that
the body be embalmed
before transporting abroad.
Do you understand what that means?
Mrs. Brigstocke?
His face isn't swollen.
[RICHARD] Excuse me?
You You You
You said he drowned,
but his face is not swollen.
[DOCTOR] There's no
reason for inflammation.
The body didn't spend too
much time under the water.
[BRIGSTOCKE] What's that on his arm?
[DOCTOR] That is, uh, probably an injury
he sustained during the accident.
[NANCY INHALES DEEPLY]
- Mrs. Brigstocke?
- [CRYING, BREATHING HEAVILY]
M-Mr. Brigstocke, we can go now.
[MUTTERING]
- I can't thank you enough.
- [JONATHAN CHUCKLES]
It's the least I could do after
you treated me to a pizza.
Oh, during which you entertained my son
so that he would eat his supper.
[JONATHAN] It was fun.
[CHUCKLES] I like kids.
Good luck in Rome.
[JONATHAN] Thank you.
[CATHERINE] Enjoy the rest of your trip.
[JONATHAN CHUCKLES] I'll try.
[CATHERINE] Okay.
[JONATHAN] Okay. Come on, Nicholas. Ooh.
Sorry.
- [SIGHS]
- [INHALES DEEPLY]
Okay. Thank you.
Thank you.
- Bye, Jonathan.
- [CHUCKLES]
Goodbye.
Jonathan?
[JONATHAN] Yeah?
Would you mind waiting a second
while I just take him up to bed?
I think I think you deserve
a proper thank-you drink.
Uh, yeah. [STAMMERS] Yeah.
I can I I can I can wait.
Okay. Great.
Actually, I wouldn't mind some
adult company for a change.
[CHUCKLES]
Why don't you just wait in the
bar, and I'll take him upstairs.
- Uh, yeah. Yeah.
- Okay. Great.
I won't be long.
[JONATHAN] All right.
- [CATHERINE] Buonasera.
- [PORTER SPEAKS ITALIAN]
[NARRATOR] It's been years since
Robert's taken public transport.
He looks at the people that he doesn't
normally travel to work with.
He thinks that the woman
probably works shifts
to support herself and her family.
A good woman.
A woman without vanity
who has no time for affairs and deceit.
He can smell the lunch
coming from the rucksack
of the man sitting two seats away.
He guesses the man is a builder,
probably working in some
privileged Londoner's home,
a home like his,
where this man will be
begrudged cups of coffee
and the use of the toilet.
[SNORING]
He wonders whether his thoughts
are racist or patronizing,
or both,
and decides they probably are.
- This presumption of simplicity.
- [BUS ANNOUNCER SPEAKS INDISTINCTLY]
His imposition of worthiness
to their existence.
"Sanctimonious twit" is
his judgment of himself.
[BUS RUMBLES]
You're uncertain of what
Stephen Brigstocke wants.
An apology?
An admission of guilt?
You know that you have to reach out
to him before things go too far.
Before Nicholas is touched by
Stephen Brigstocke's anger.
[EXCLAIMS]
[CLASSICAL MUSIC PLAYING]
[BRIGSTOCKE] I still had
some preserves in the larder
that Nancy had made.
I hadn't touched them since she died.
I was keeping them
for special occasions.
And today was a special occasion.
The plan was flowing seamlessly.
Executing every part of it
- made me feel closer to her.
- [TELEPHONE RINGING]
[NANCY, ON ANSWERING MACHINE]
You have reached 020 7946 0534.
Neither Stephen nor Nancy
are here to respond to this call,
but if you would please leave
a message with the date, time
and your telephone number,
we'll try to get back to you.
Have a nice day.
[ANSWERING MACHINE BEEPS]
[CATHERINE] Yes. Hello.
Thi This is a message for,
uh, Stephen Brigstocke.
Uh, my name is Catherine Ravenscroft.
I've read The Perfect
Stranger and it, uh
it was written with an intense,
uh, emotional commitment.
And there is a a pain at the
at the heart of this book
which is is just undeniable.
So it's impossible not
to feel moved, uh,
by the heart that penned these words.
And, uh, it's rare, actually,
for a a work of fiction
to produce such, uh, powerful
feelings in in its reader.
Yes, it's a [SIGHS]
an exquisite work of fiction
and I wish you well.
[BREATHING DEEPLY]
[NARRATOR] You feel
you did the right thing.
That what Stephen Brigstocke
needed was your acknowledgment.
And it helped you as well.
Writing those words and saying them
has forced you to think about his pain.
Perhaps some balance was
restored between the two of you.
[BRIGSTOCKE] The devil
had knocked at my door.
[CLASSICAL MUSIC CONTINUES]
She'd figured out who I was.
I was expecting it to happen.
But hearing her voice startled me.
The book was not an
"exquisite piece of fiction"
as she called it.
And she knew that
better than anyone else.
Such a deceiver.
She was so careful not to apologize,
not to accept responsibility.
I was not interested in her
acknowledgment of my pain.
It was too late for that.
She needed to feel it.
She needed to suffer as I had.
And Nancy's long, white hair was a sign.
Her seal of approval.
It made me think about what
else I might do to please her.
"Be bold," I thought.
[TRADITIONAL ITALIAN MUSIC PLAYING]
[MUSIC CONTINUES]
For saving me from murdering my son.
[CHUCKLING]
You wouldn't. You love him.
[CATHERINE] Well, he's really sweet.
He's just such a bundle of energy.
- "Mummy. Mummy, can you look at this?
- [CHUCKLES]
Mummy, look at me. Look at me."
And you love it.
- I do love it.
- [CHUCKLES]
- Every single second of it. [CHUCKLING]
- [CHUCKLES]
But honestly, though. I see
you, and I get a bit jealous.
J-Jealous of of me?
[CATHERINE] Yeah. But in
a lighthearted kind of way.
Just jealous of your freedom.
M-My freedom?
You know, to explore the world.
To To travel.
To make decisions as you go.
To meet new people.
To To have wild, passionate
romances in every place you go.
[CHUCKLES] I don't know about that.
Are you saying you're not having
wild, passionate romances?
[STAMMERS] Well,
[CHUCKLES] n-n-not really.
[CATHERINE] Why is that?
Uh, I
I was traveling with my girlfriend.
You have a girlfriend?
[JONATHAN] Yeah.
Where is she?
Your girlfriend?
She, um She had to go back to London.
[CATHERINE] I see.
How long have you been together,
you and your girlfriend?
Oh. [CHUCKLING]
Uh, I don't know.
[STAMMERS] A year or so?
And before that?
- [JONATHAN] What?
- Did you have many girlfriends before?
N-Not really.
- S-Sasha is my first proper girlfriend.
- [CATHERINE] Aw.
- Sasha.
- [CHUCKLES] Yeah.
[HOTEL GUESTS CLAPPING]
Have you always been
faithful with Sasha?
- Yeah.
- [CATHERINE] Always?
- [STAMMERS] Uh, yeah.
- Come on. You've never fantasized
about being with some
other girl at school
or some sexy mademoiselle that you saw
when you were queuing up at the Louvre?
- [JONATHAN] N-Not really.
- Kate Moss?
[CHUCKLES]
[CATHERINE] Mmm, Salma Hayek?
Ah, well, you know.
Who?
Who do you fancy?
[JONATHAN CHUCKLES]
Uh. [CHUCKLES]
Kylie?
Kylie Minogue?
Kylie.
Yeah, she's she's sexy.
[JONATHAN] I don't know.
She's got a beautiful mouth.
What do you like about Kylie?
[STAMMERS] I don't know.
Sh-Sh-She's She's fit. [CHUCKLES]
[CATHERINE] Yeah, I
I guess she's she's fit. Yeah.
But in your fantasy,
what would you do to Kylie?
You You know.
[CATHERINE] I don't know.
[STAMMERS]
Things.
What things would you do to Kylie?
I
k-kiss her.
[CATHERINE] On the cheek?
Y-Yeah.
Uh, I a-also kiss her on the mouth.
That must be nice.
What else do you do?
Um Uh
Um. [CHUCKLES]
[SIGHS]
I I I touch her. [CHUCKLES]
[CATHERINE] Where do you touch her?
[BREATHING HEAVILY]
Um, her her skin?
Is it soft?
Is Kylie's skin soft?
Yeah.
Where else do you touch her?
[STAMMERS]
[SIGHS] Uh. [CHUCKLES]
[BREATHES DEEPLY]
Her face.
[CATHERINE] Only her face?
Uh.
Her Her breasts.
You touch Kylie's boobs?
How do you touch them?
I, um S-S-S-Softly?
[STAMMERS]
Hmm.
Does she like it?
[BREATHES DEEPLY]
I I think so.
Mmm. I'm sure she likes it very much.
And
do you touch Kylie's
nipple?
[JONATHAN BREATHING HEAVILY]
- Y-Yeah. [BREATHES HEAVILY]
- Mmm.
- Do you press it between your fingers?
- [JONATHAN] Mmm.
[JONATHAN BREATHING HEAVILY]
Yeah.
[BREATHES HEAVILY]
Is it hard?
[BREATHING HEAVILY]
Uh-huh.
Mmm.
And you?
Do you get hard touching Kylie's nipple?
[MOANING]
[STAMMERS] Yeah.
Can she feel it?
Can she feel how hard you are?
[MOANS] Y-Yeah.
Oh, how lucky she is
Kylie
feeling you so hard.
Mmm.
Hmm.
[SIGHS]
It's getting late, so I think
I'm gonna go back to my room.
But I would love to hear
what else you would do
to Kylie.
So I'm gonna go to reception because
I think I left my key in my room.
Why don't you wait here, and
then go to the bathroom?
On your way, you'll find the lifts.
How's that for a plan?
[STAMMERS, BREATHES SHAKILY]
Okay.
W-W-What about Nicholas?
[CATHERINE] Don't worry about
Nicholas, he sleeps like a log.
Room 207.
Scusi. Can you, um Can you
just put that on my room, please?
- Certo.
- Thank you.
[HOTEL GUESTS CLAPPING]
[IN ITALIAN] I'm Claudio Bramanti,
from the judicial office
of Forte dei Marmi.
We're here to collect Jonathan
Brigstocke's belongings.
Second floor.
[IN ITALIAN] This is the room.
[FLIES BUZZING]
Yes, Mrs. Brigstocke.
[BRIGSTOCKE SIGHS]
It was a birthday present.
Thirteen.
[NANCY] Fourteen.
You said he was too young
to be trusted with it.
[BRIGSTOCKE] Nancy was against
me giving the knife to Jonathan,
but I wanted to gain his affection.
I was never as close to him as she was.
When did he start smoking?
Probably that girl, Sasha,
turned him on to it.
[BRIGSTOCKE] Nancy
never approved of Sasha.
I wouldn't have wanted Jonathan
to end up with her myself.
I never saw his camera.
A Nikon, top of the line, our
gift to him on his 18th birthday.
I always assumed that it had been
stolen by someone at the hotel.
Nancy must have found it,
and I wonder when it was that she
decided to have the film developed.
Do we pack all of this?
Yes. Don't worry about that, Stephen.
I'll take care of everything.
[STAMMERS] Can you please slow down?
We're nearly there.
You've been saying that
for the last 20 minutes.
Look, it's not gonna kill you to move
that big bum of yours, old chum.
It's not my bum I'm worried
about, it's my lungs.
I feel like I'm going to have a stroke.
[SIGHS] Oh, stop whinging.
[PANTING]
Wha Wha What's
What's with the smug smile?
You twit.
- Twat. What Where
- [BANKS GASPS] Hello, Claire.
- [CLAIRE] Hello. How are you?
- [BANKS] How are you?
[CLAIRE KISSES] Good.
- [BANKS] Guess who I've brought.
- [CLAIRE] Oh?
[BANKS] Stephen.
Stephen.
Come and meet Claire.
This is her lovely bookshop
and she's also a publisher.
- Oh. Oh, it's so nice to meet you.
- And you. I loved your book.
- [CHUCKLES]
- Oh, did you?
Very much so.
I've been recommending it to my
customers. We've sold quite a few.
Stephen insisted that his book should
be on display in your bookshop.
Yes. He was very specific about it.
Really? Oh, thank you. [CHUCKLES]
May I ask you why?
Oh, well, I've read so
much about it and, um,
I believe you have a lot of, uh
quite a lot of high-profile
customers who love books.
Well, yes. [STAMMERS] Some people come.
[CHUCKLES] We're very lucky.
Maybe we could, um, organize
a reading of your book here.
- [BRIGSTOCKE] Oh.
- [BANKS] Yes.
Uh Uh, we had, uh,
Adam Thirlwell last week.
Oh [STAMMERS] I would be honored.
- [CHUCKLES]
- Great.
You know, I was not
expecting that ending.
- That took me by surprise. [CHUCKLES]
- Oh.
- Is that a bad thing?
- No.
On the contrary, I was so happy
she got what she deserved.
She's so awful.
- Yes, she is.
- [CLAIRE CHUCKLES]
[PATRONS CHATTERING]
Excuse me. Is it possible
to have a table here?
[SIGHS]
Um, could I have, um, some tomatoes
on toast and a espresso, please?
[NARRATOR] Last night,
Catherine tried to convince Robert
that the book was not how it had been.
As far as he's concerned,
she lost her chance to give
him her version years ago.
He knows that whatever he's
about to read has happened.
[BREATHING SHAKILY]
Come in.
[ROMANTIC MUSIC PLAYING]
Close the door.
I'm glad you came.
I wanna hear more about Kylie.
- Come closer.
- [CHUCKLES]
My body hasn't been the
same since giving birth.
[SIGHS] I'm sure you're used
to much younger bodies.
[JONATHAN BREATHING HEAVILY]
[EXHALES DEEPLY]
[JONATHAN CHUCKLES]
Come closer.
Give me your hand.
How do you touch Kylie's breasts?
Can you show me?
Okay.
[BREATHING HEAVILY]
Is it soft?
Uh-huh.
Do you feel my nipple getting hard?
Oh, yeah.
Can you squeeze it?
Softly.
Hmm.
[JONATHAN PANTING, MOANING]
I can feel you.
Hard.
Come.
Kneel.
- [JONATHAN] Huh?
- Kneel down.
Untie the laces.
Take them off.
Do you know what to do?
[EXHALES DEEPLY] Wait, wait,
wait, wait, wait, wait.
- Softly.
- [GRUNTS]
[BREATHES HEAVILY]
A little bit higher.
Mm-hmm. Yeah. Yeah,
there. Do you feel it?
- Wait. Do you feel it?
- Uh-huh.
Okay. Now wrap it with your lips
and now suck it between your lips.
Yeah, like that. [MOANING]
- And now with with your tongue
- Mm-hmm.
do little circles.
Oh, yeah.
Oh, God. [GASPS]
- Okay. Do you feel how wet it is?
- Uh-huh.
[EXHALES SHARPLY] Yeah.
Okay, now now take your finger,
and bring your finger down.
- [PANTS]
- Here?
Lower.
Lower.
Just put a little bit of pressure.
Don't go in. Just a little bit over it.
- [JONATHAN] Uh-huh.
- [SIGHS] Yeah.
And now keep moving your tongue.
[PANTING, MOANING]
Stop, stop.
[PANTING]
[BRIGSTOCKE] I regret that I
often considered Jonathan spoiled
and misguided.
And it shames me to recognize
I never believed in his courage.
But I can't recall any other time
when Jonathan didn't put
himself first before anyone else.
Not once.
So, why then?
Why did he try to save that child?
Was it just reckless impulsiveness?
[SPEAKING ITALIAN]
Um, it happened over there.
Next to the lifeguard chair.
Where was the lifeguard?
[SPEAKS ITALIAN]
[SPEAKING ITALIAN]
Uh, he was taking care of a-a
child that had, um, cut his foot.
How can you be so sure
it was an accident?
The, um The event was corroborated
by-by many witnesses.
Jonathan was such a good swimmer.
- I'm so sorry, Mrs. Brigstocke.
- Was anybody else involved?
[SPEAKS ITALIAN]
[SPEAKING ITALIAN]
Only the men that pulled him out
and the lifeguard who tried to save him.
[SPEAKING ITALIAN]
And the English lady,
the mother of the child.
What's her name?
[SPEAKS ITALIAN]
Um
Catherine Ra-Ravenscroft.
Catherine Ravenscroft.
I want to talk to her.
[SPEAKING ITALIAN]
[SPEAKING ITALIAN]
Um, I'm sorry but she returned
this morning to London.
[STAMMERS] She declared
never having met Jonathan.
She left?
Just like that?
I want to get in touch with her.
[STAMMERS] Don't you
think it's up to her?
- [STAMMERS]
- I want her contact details.
I'll be sure to get you her contact
details, Mrs. Brigstocke.
[BRIGSTOCKE] Nancy.
Nancy!
[NANCY CRYING]
- [BREATHING HEAVILY]
- [CATHERINE] Can you feel it?
Yeah.
[CATHERINE] Hmm. [CHUCKLES]
You taste like salt water.
[JONATHAN] I-I I bathed in the sea.
- [CATHERINE] Hmm.
- [JONATHAN MOANS]
- [CATHERINE SHUSHES]
- [JONATHAN MOANS]
[CATHERINE] I'm just doing what
you did to me with my finger.
Just here.
[CATHERINE MOANS]
I don't want you to finish yet.
Come.
- Wait, wait, wait, wait.
- [EXCLAIMS] Fuck.
[MOANING]
- Now take my arse.
- Okay.
Do the same thing with your finger.
- [GASPS] Yeah.
- [JONATHAN BREATHES SHAKILY]
- Just a little bit of pressure Don't
- I'm going I'm going.
- No, wait, wait.
- I'm gonna
- Wait, wait, wait. Slow, slow, slow.
- [PANTING]
- Slow down. Slow.
- [MOANS, PANTS]
[MOANING, PANTING]
[JONATHAN] Oh, fuck.
Oh, shit. I'm sorry.
- Don't get out. Don't get out.
- I'm sorry.
I'm sorry. You You're You're wild.
[PANTS]
You're like a sex Yoda.
Nothing further than that.
Seriously, though.
Th-Those things with the
[PANTING]
To tell you the truth, I
You know, those are things
I just wanted to try.
What do you mean?
You know, just things
that I wanted to do
or wanted to have done to me.
Y-You mean you never did?
It's different when you're married.
[CHUCKLES]
[STAMMERS] But before?
Not much.
I mean, just teen sex, you know.
- [CHUCKLING] What?
- [CHUCKLES] Sorry.
I didn't
You're right, though.
This was different.
Yeah, it was.
[BREATHES HEAVILY]
Oh, my God.
So quick.
Uh-huh.
[MOANING]
[NICHOLAS] Mummy!
[SHUSHES]
- Is he aw
- I'm here, angel.
Just go back to sleep.
- Is he
- [SHUSHES]
[NICHOLAS] Okay.
[MOANING]
[BRIGSTOCKE] I remembered
a poem that I used to teach.
A poem that Mark Twain placed
upon his daughter's headstone.
"Warm summer sun, Shine kindly here,
Warm southern wind, Blow softly here.
Green sod above,
Lie light,
- lie light."
- [THUNDER RUMBLING]
"Good night, dear heart,
Good night,
good night."