Smother (2021) s01e03 Episode Script

And if I see a sign
in the sky tonight
No one's gonna tell me
it's a trick of the light
May never come but
I'm willing to wait
What can I say?
I'm a man of the faith
And there's
an ocean in my body
And there's a river
in my soul
And I'm crying
[birds twittering]
[birds twittering]
[radio chatter]
[dog barking]
[Val] Hi.
Mrs. Ahern.
Val, my name is Val.
Sorry, Val, hello.
I mean how many times?
-I was running so
-I can see you're
quite the athlete.
I'm in horrible shape.
[Denis] Stupid dog.
The whole bloody beach and he
has to crap on a crisp pocket.
[Val] Denis,
this is Carl Jensen,
do you remember
he's the new science teacher
from Copenhagen.
Ah, bonjour.
Don't mind him,
he's just acting the eejit.
It's fine,
I wipe with the left.
[Denis] You fuckin' gobshite.
Do you think you can just
waltz away with my wife?
You know she's gonna
come running back to me
when she finds out
the truth about you.
It's all coming your way.
[door opens]
Why am I here?
[scoffs] I was wondering
that myself.
Not exactly an Irish accent
you have there, is it?
I've been living in this
country for almost ten years.
I just recently moved
to the West Coast.
I'm-I'm teaching science at
St. Bridget's secondary school.
Do you live alone, Carl?
With my daughter, Ingrid.
That's a lovely name.
How old is she?
Sixteen.
Would you mind telling me
why I'm here? [stammers]
What is it you think I've done?
What do you think yourself?
Hmm?
Any idea at all?
Well, if you are
accusing me of something,
I have the right to a lawyer.
Well, it's not us that's
accusing you.
Not yet anyway.
Who sent this?
Do you know,
they didn't sign it.
Well--
Ah, there must be something you
can do, some way to find out.
Well, if it's any
interest to you,
the same person sent us this.
You don't want to see
what it says?
I know what it says.
It's just all the computer
stuff they're taking?
Yeah.
Looking for something
he might have downloaded?
Don't even go there.
I know Carl.
That's not him.
-Has she said anything?
-Not a word.
Excuse me, Mrs. Ahern.
Claire Riordan.
You're a social worker?
-Can we talk for a moment?
-What about?
Ingrid?
What, you're taking Ingrid?
But why? I'm not a child.
I'm not--
-No, I'm not going anywhere.
-Look, this has gone too far.
Hold on, if you can tell me
she's got somewhere to stay
with a suitable guardian,
someone vetted.
No, I'm supposed
to be working today.
-I literally was
just about to leave.
-She can stay with me.
I'm working at
the cafe today too.
You're Cissy Riordan's
daughter, aren't you?
-That's right.
-Ah, your mam knows me well.
I'm vetted. And I don't doubt
Cissy will vouch for me,
why don't you give her a call?
Tell her Mairead Noonan
says hello.
[Denis]
I thought it was just a fling.
[Val] It's no fling.
Not anymore.
Mm.
I didn't think
you were his type.
His type?
You're not nearly young enough.
[phone buzzes]
[phone beeps]
Hi, where are you?
How are you feeling?
[Grace]
Not feeling much to be honest.
Everything sort of dulled,
but at the same time simpler.
I remember most
of what happened
that night, I think
the night Dad died.
Yeah, what do you remember?
I was looking for him.
I was mad with anger,
but I never found him.
I never saw him at all
after the party.
So what we told Manning,
that was pretty much
what happened.
-It was an accident.
-It wasn't an accident.
-Someone killed him, Mam.
-Grace
It's the only explanation that
makes sense and you know that.
This is the pills talking,
you're not thinking properly.
I am thinking properly.
For the first time in ages.
I had reasons to kill Dad.
You had reasons, we can't
have been the only ones.
What reasons?
We were his family.
Families always fight,
it's never easy,
but it doesn't mean
I never -- I never
hated your father.
-Well someone did.
-Well, not in his family!
I will not have you
thinking that, Grace.
He slipped and fell,
that's what happened.
That's all.
I miss him.
I just want him back.
I just want my dad back.
I know he loved you
so much, Grace.
He loved you too.
[seagulls squawking]
Hello there.
You're one of Anna Ahearn's,
am I right?
It's Calum, isn't it?
I know it must be tough
for you.
He was a lovely granddad,
I'd say.
It's a dangerous old spot.
No shortage of them
around, mind you.
If it was me now, I'd never
relax with children around.
The fencing only goes
so far with youngsters.
He told us never to
go near the edge.
Well, I wasn't for a second
suggesting that he wasn't
looking out for you.
So he warned you did he?
He said if we can see
the edge we were too close,
the wind could take us over.
Calum? Tell your mother
I'll be up to the house
sometime to have
another talk with you.
You wouldn't happen to have
a passport form, would you?
Not a bother.
Is there something
I should know, Ciaran?
That's my kids' teacher
in there.
They won't tell me anything.
They won't let me speak to him.
His phone's turned off.
They'll have taken it from him,
to see what's on it.
What they think might be on it.
Look you'll get through this,
you're not alone.
Look, I better go help Ingrid.
-How's she doing?
-She hasn't said anything.
Just keeping the head down.
She's a great girl.
Don't take this the wrong way.
You don't think there's
anything in it do you?
Of course not!
I need to see him,
I'm gonna go
No, no, no,
do not go anywhere near that
guarda station, promise me.
This is a small town.
You know what they'll say.
No smoke without fire.
The only way this thing
is going to blow over
is if nobody else finds out.
You're right.
Okay.
Coming.
Jenny, I didn't know
you were coming in?
Just a few things I forgot.
You okay? What is it?
This audit the HSE are doing.
Yeah, I heard about that.
Why, what's wrong?
Missing something that
can't be accounted for.
Is it much?
100 grand!
Right!
That's, that's not nothing.
I've gone over
and over and over it,
looked through every paper
and file and USB stick.
Not that I should have to,
it should be in the books.
-But it's not.
-It's definitely not.
Moe Conlon,
the accountant who used
to be here when we first came.
He filled in for a while
over the summer, didn't he,
to do the wages?
I think you said something
about reorganizing the system.
Sure he died last
month didn't he?
I think so, yeah.
-You're saying he could have
-Oh, no, no, no, God no, but
Maybe he
made a mistake.
Put it somewhere you
can't find just yet.
Like some account.
Sorry. I never deal
with the finances,
like, I wouldn't know.
If it was Moe's doing,
how can I even find out?
What will you do?
Keep looking.
That's all I can do.
But don't worry, I'll get to
the bottom of this money thing.
One way or another.
[Val] When did you get home?
I've been trying to call you.
[Carl] I went for a run.
-Yeah, but you could have
-I needed some space to think.
[Val] You know, the school
board has called a meeting.
What's going on, Carl?
Well there was
an accusation
made against me.
What type of accusation?
Someone says I look
at child pornography.
-Why would they say that?
-Want to hurt me.
-By spreading lies about you?
-Of course, just lies.
So what, some, some people
I don't know, perhaps.
So what happens now?
I'll wait till they're finished
with my computer and my phone.
And then they'll see that
there's nothing there,
so it will be fine.
So I'll be ready
to go in 15 minutes.
Go where?
The school board.
Carl.
Carl, I don't -- I don't think
that's a good idea, Carl.
Mrs. Ahern, I got a merit
in my plastics project.
Ah, good man, Alfie.
-Mr. Jensen.
-[Carl] Oh, hey, Elsa.
Mrs. Ahern.
I got accepted to the
summer course in Copenhagen.
That's wonderful,
congratulations, well done.
You're gonna love it,
I promise.
[woman] Elsa!
I'll see you around, Carl.
[indistinct chatter]
Val, thanks for coming in.
Carl, what are you doing here?
What? I'm not allowed
to be here?
Look, we should talk
in my office.
Whatever you have to say
you can say it in front
of both of us, right?
We have no secrets.
Fine.
Carl, we have no choice
but to suspend you
until further notice.
The board is in full
agreement with this.
Well they are cowards.
The parents have entrusted
their children into
the care of this school.
It's standard procedure,
you tell him.
We have no choice.
It's just until all
of this blows over.
[Carl] Blows over?
Really, you think it's
as simple as that, do you John?
-A straight answer,
do you? Do you?
-Carl, calm down.
If we don't act and
don't act decisively
-You know what?
-This will spread to us all.
You know what?
Thanks a lot, thanks a lot.
We heard his piece,
let's go, come on.
Come on, Val.
Jesus!
Come on, let's just go.
[boy] Paedo!
-Hey.
-How are you?
-Not bad, how are
you getting on?
-Yeah, it's busy
If you want to just take
a seat there, I'll see
to you in a minute.
That what your dad
says is it? [laughter]
What was that?
Calum, stop, it's fine.
I heard Mr. Jensen's home.
-Anna, Carl didn't do anything.
-You don't know that.
How can you trust him?
Your Mam trusts him.
And I trust your Mam.
I'm sorry, I'm just
It's all right,
it's not an easy time
for anyone, I understand.
Mairead, do you mind serving
that table for me please?
-Sure.
-Thanks.
Okay.
Hi!
Elaine.
Hi, Calum.
What are you up to?
Having a picnic.
Another one?
Well, you know how I
It's not a picnic.
We're just eating sandwiches
outside, that's all.
And then Rory's doing
something with them.
-Doing what?
-I don't know.
He said he wanted to
spend time with you.
Men stuff.
Well, Rory would
be good at that.
Okay then, enjoy your day.
-Sounds full.
-Yeah, it is, bye now.
Oh, actually,
I almost forgot,
would you and Jacob
be interested in
learning how to surf
while you're down here?
Someone told me about
this great coach,
really good with beginners.
-I don't think that's the
best--
-Sure, I think it'd be cool.
Well, great.
We'll talk again then.
We will.
[boy] Big smelly paedo.
[laughter]
Ingrid, did those lads
say something to you?
Whoa, whoa, whoa, what is it?
It's happening again.
[Grace] Didn't we used
to do that with Dad?
What did we call dino?
Guess we remember
different things.
Looks fun though.
-Dizzy dinos.
-Dizzy dinos.
Oh I'm starving!
Gluten free bread?!
It's a thing.
It is hardly ever
a thing, trust me.
I'm a doctor.
Hey, Calum, give us a hand
with this mad man will you?
Cheeky little
Rory, it's just his age.
It's cold,
is my hat there in my jacket?
Here.
It's not my jacket.
That's not my hat!
-You're it!
-Come here you!
-You okay?
-Yeah.
Are they Dad's gloves?
Yeah. Rory must have lifted
them by accident.
[laughter]
[phone buzzes]
[groan]
[inhales sharply]
[phone continues buzzing]
How are you doing, Rory?
Hey, Barney.
You up for this
session tonight?
Why don't you call
around here and I'll drive
us all into town, okay?
Okay, see you later.
See ya.
Like they'll be giving
a license
to hate me now, right.
Fucking xenophobia.
It's always been there but now
they feel that they're allowed
to give a voice to it.
Carl, you were welcomed here
from the moment you arrived.
What's happening is nothing
to do with where you're from.
How can you say that, how?
You're the one who told me
that when you first came
here to be with Denis,
you were considered
some kind of blow in.
Even now, even now people
don't consider you to be part
of it, part of them.
-No, what you're
saying is different.
-Yeah, it's worse!
[objects slamming]
I'm not used to seeing
you like this, so angry.
[sighs]
I'm sorry Val.
Okay, sorry.
I know it's been a long
day for you too on top
of everything else.
I'm sorry.
Let's drink some wine and
I'm gonna go home.
You're gonna go home, what do
you mean, you're going to go?
-I'm going to
go to the house.
-Why?
Because people are still paying
their respects to Denis
and I should be there.
It's not fair on Anna.
It's not fair on Anna?
This has nothing to do with
Anna, this is about you.
This is about you keeping
your distance for the sake
of your fucking job.
For the sake of both our jobs.
Can you see how
dangerous this could be?
I mean, this has to
be about more than some,
some lunatic pupils.
This is not about
some fucking pupil!
Open your fucking eyes!
On the night of the party,
Denis, he confronted me
and said that it was
all coming my way.
What does that mean?
It means it had to be Denis who
sent the letter to the police.
He wanted to destroy me, Val.
He wanted to destroy us.
[whistling]
[growling noises]
Look who it is, look who it is.
Hey, hey, Calum.
Calum!
I will deal with
you later, okay.
-Hey, Rory.
-Carl, how's it going?
Nah, he's just being
a little prick.
[door opens]
[breathing furiously]
(Laughter and chatter)
It's your round by the way.
Give us a smoke there will ya?
Here you go.
[indistinct chatter]
Denis sent that letter to the
guards about Carl, didn't he?
Yeah, he could well have done.
I can imagine now that Denis
wasn't Carl's greatest fan.
Especially when he found out
how serious the two of you were.
Come on, Frank,
I know how this works.
Denis told you to do some
digging for him, didn't he?
You've lost me now, Val.
What are you talking about?
Do you have any idea what
this is doing to Carl?
-Why would
-Why?
Because he hated the man that
took you away from him.
Took me!
Do I look like one of his
fucking medals, Frank?
Do you have any idea how
often that man cheated on me?
That's not what I'm saying.
He hated Carl because
you loved him.
And Denis loved you.
Yeah, well, none of
that would have ever
brought me back to him.
All it did was make
Carl hate him too,
if he didn't already.
You still don't think this
was an accident, do you?
You think Carl
[scoffs]
I never heard you get
up that night.
After we got back
from the party.
I got up for a run.
A run takes the edge off.
Hey.
It's your dad's stuff
from the night.
Guards dropped it over.
I guess this is yours.
Ted sent it to us.
Calum's doing a project
on family achievements.
[Val] Oh.
His rugby medal,
his finest hour.
I didn't know you even had it.
You look tired, love.
Still a bit jet lagged.
Doesn't affect
the boys of course.
Is Rory having a nap?
He's gone to Keogh's
with Barney.
-[car pulls up]
-Oh.
This might be him now.
-Hi.
-Hey.
Hey. Is Calum here?
He's gone for a cycle,
something
about watching the surfing.
Why don't you borrow
one of the bikes?
Catch up on him?
Yeah, okay.
Thanks.
This is my old one.
Sure, why don't you
just have it?
-Really?
-Yeah, of course.
No, you might need it though.
Ah no, I think my
cycling days are over.
Think your dad has the right
idea with the running.
Listen, I think there's
a pump and a light in there.
Yeah.
You know,
I've never asked where he goes.
I mean, I know he hits
the beach at some point.
Does he pass by here, does he?
Um, I'm not exactly
sure where he goes.
I can show you though.
-Really?
-Yeah.
He has this smartwatch
that like sends
all the data to this app.
He deleted his logs.
So, what, you can't
tell where he's been?
Nope, sorry.
That's fine.
Hey, Pascal, how are you? Um
And the Copenhagen
Gazette please.
It's gone.
What do you mean, I ordered it.
Somebody else must
have bought it, sorry.
Somebody else bought
a socially liberal Danish
newspaper from you?
Never know who's around, do you.
I see.
Keep it.
I don't want your money.
Hey! Hey!
Ah. Thank you.
It's good they get on.
I'm sure Ingrid's
had a hard time.
Is she staying with
you again tonight?
She told me something.
Something about her dad.
[Rory] I'll tell ya,
that was a good laugh.
Good luck, safe home.
Be a good boy.
Talk to you later.
Anna, do you remember
Blaise Harrison?
-Yes, we went
to school together.
-That's the one.
Anyway he's completely
bald now, put on
a fair bit of weight too.
And he's on his third marriage.
Can you believe that?
Anyway, completely wiped
out in the last settlement,
and Barney says
to me, he says
Do you want more?
[laughter]
Barney says, he says
Calum, Jacob, go watch TV.
Take your cake inside.
Anna, don't interrupt
me when I'm talking to you.
You're talking nonsense.
You've had too much to drink.
-You're
-I'm what?
-Don't you dare!
-Calum, go on in.
Now you listen to me!
I'm just about done with
your bullshit attitude.
-Rory, leave it.
-If you think that
you're gonna walk
Rory!
I was just on my
way over to yours.
Get in the car, come on.
I thought there were
no secrets between us.
-There are no secrets
-Maria?
Well, Maria, she was
a pupil of mine
in Copenhagen, she was 15.
And unfortunately,
she had feelings for me.
And I was trying to
be nice about that.
Definitely too nice
because she ended up
showing up in my house
and I had to be firm.
So I told her to back off
and go home and I ended up
shouting at her.
So the next thing
I knew she'd accused me
of having sex with her.
She had underwear with
my DNA on it, which she
sent to the police.
Well, what happened?
Well I was suspended
and Ingrid and her mother
moved into a hotel,
and by the time CCTV
footage was found showing Maria
going through my trash
finding a condom,
the damage was done.
My marriage, my everything.
So you know the rest.
You should have told
me this before now.
You should also know that
the guarda got through to the
authorities in Denmark.
They know that I was
cleared of all charges.
They're returning my computer.
And Ingrid can come home now.
So it's over?
Yeah.
On the night of the party,
when Denis said he was
going to get you back,
was that the last
time you saw him?
What?
What are you saying?
Ah!
Stop!
I'm gonna call the guards.
No, no, please, no more police.
Tell me you at least
got a good look at him.
Thanks for the lift.
Hey, Jacob.
Did something happen?
Jacob?
Dad fell.
Are you smoking again?
Did Rory have an accident?
Jacob said he fell?
We'll buy you a new vase.
-Jesus I don't care.
-Accidents happen, okay?
Have you been crying?
Yes I've been crying.
Because in case you've
forgotten your husband,
my father, has just died.
It's about time somebody shed
a tear for him around here.
Anna.
Anna?
How was it at Mairead's?
It was okay.
Who did that?
Well you know what, that
was a parent from school.
He is probably terrified,
the guardia are about
to pay him a visit.
But they won't?
Oh what good will it do?
Are you worried?
Worried about what people
in town are saying?
They can say what they want,
I don't care.
You and Val,
are you splitting up?
-You like her, don't you?
-Yeah.
I just think we need a bit
of time, then we'll be okay.
You should go running with her.
With Val? I don't think
running is really her thing.
She seemed interested.
Really!
Interested in what exactly?
Hello? Mrs. Ahern?
-Oh.
-Sandra Dillon, Alfie's mother.
I believe he did
very well at the camp.
He didn't do too badly.
I'm sorry for your loss.
I appreciate this isn't
a great time --
but your grandson Calum
Yeah.
Well he attacked Alfie
and some of his friends
yesterday evening.
Calum! I think you're mistaken.
Sorry, no.
Alfie said it was him.
Four of his friends
backed him up.
They were in a right state.
I wonder if Calum
was drinking
Sorry? Calum attacked
five older boys?
You sure it wasn't Alfie
doing the drinking?
I mean, he done very well at
his science project, maybe
Stop it will ya!
You're all the same,
you Aherns,
lording it over everyone.
Maybe the guards do
need to be informed.
-No, no Sandra look
-Stick it, bloody blow in!
Hey, thought I could
make us some lunch.
I just had the strangest
So the garda geniuses,
right, they deleted all
the data from my watch.
But fortunately, I had backup,
here have a look.
Here are all the routes
of the last week.
And you also see that
I did pass you
and your dear husband's
house on the night
of the party.
But at no point did I stop,
not even to push Denis Ahern
off the edge of a cliff.
Hi, Jacob, give us a hand.
Easy, they're heavy.
-Is your dad up yet?
-Not yet.
That doesn't surprise me.
Calum, give us a hand!
He's not up yet either.
Calum?
[knocking on door]
Calum?
Rory!
Rory!
What have you done?
What's going on?
Where's Calum?
Mam, Calum's missing,
his bed's not slept in.
What!?
Where's my bloody jacket?
Sorry, Val, do you mind?
Frank?
That's Rory's hat, he was
looking for it, where was it?
I must have thought
it was your father's.
Right, let's look for Calum.
I don't think he
wants to be found.
What do you mean?
Him and Rory haven't been
getting on so well lately.
I was talking with Jacob and
apparently Calum pushed him.
Pushed him.
Jacob said that?
Yeah.
He said it's been going
on for some time.
He said sometimes
just the sight
of Rory drives Calum crazy.
-Aunty Grace!
-Coming.
And if I see a sign
in the sky tonight
No one's gonna tell me
it's a trick of the light
May never come but
I'm willing to wait
What can I say?
I'm a man of the faith
And there's an ocean
in my body
And there's a river
in my soul
And I'm crying
And we carry the sun