The Burning Girls (2023) s01e03 Episode Script
Episode 3
1
WOMAN: I understand
that Reverend Fletcher
was interested in the Chapel's history.
- [GIRLS SCREAMING]
- REVEREND: The Chapel Croft,
kindred to a martyr,
still counts for something.
The Harpers are very well respected.
You're not in Nottingham now
where you know families
originally slaughtered kids.
MAN: Well, was it an exorcism?
REVEREND: Don't let
the past suck you in.
- JOY: You really are evil.
- Fuck you, Joy!
ROSIE: You need friends 'round here.
I'm Rosie Harper. And
that's Tom, my cousin.
- Give me your camera.
- No.
[GUNSHOT]
[BIRDS CHIRPING]
[COWS MOOING]
[SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC]
[SLOW ENGINE REVVING]
[INDISTINCT BACKGROUND CONVERSATIONS]
[BIRD SQUAWKING]
[BIRD SQUAWKING, COWS MOOING]
[HINGES SQUEAKING]
[BIRDS CHIRPING, SHEEP BLEATING]
[SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC]
[SHEEP BLEATING AND BIRDS SQUAWKING]
[SIGHS] Oh.
♪♪
[SHEEP BLEATING, BIRDS CHIRPING]
- Morning, Jack.
- Clara!
You're up early.
I could say the same.
Brian thinks I'm mad, but
I enjoy the peace at dawn.
Do you run?
Not even for a bus.
Ha, so, what are you
doing here this early?
Well, I came to have
a chat with the boss,
and I did a bit of cleaning up.
CLARA: There's a pub quiz this
evening, you should come along.
It'll be an opportunity
to get to know us all.
There's me, Brian, and a
chap called Mike Sudduth,
he's a journalist, works
for the local paper.
Yeah, I met him.
You know, maybe he
could do a piece on you.
No. No, no, no, no.
No, like, he said the same, but this
You know, there's really
not much to write about.
I'm sure that's not true.
I bet you've got some stories to tell.
Hmm.
Anyway
If you change your
mind, Mike's very nice.
Although he's had a tough few years.
You know about his daughter?
CLARA: It was an accident.
She was playing in a friend's garden.
They had a rope swing.
Somehow,
Izzy had managed to get the rope
twisted around her neck.
I had her in my class.
She was such a
kind and intelligent little girl.
It drove the families apart.
The mothers were close,
but Fiona never spoke to Emma again.
Emma as in Emma Harper?
[SIGHS]
It happened at the farm.
[GIRLS LAUGHING]
Devastated all of them.
[GIRLS LAUGHING]
Poppy didn't utter a
word for over a year.
She still barely talks.
[SWING SQUEAKING, GIRLS LAUGHING]
I can't imagine.
And, of course, Fiona blamed Emma.
I mean, that's understandable.
I mean, at that age, you know,
you don't watch your
children every minute, do you?
Emma wasn't there.
Popped out to the shops,
only down the road, but
- She left them on their own?
- No.
She left Rosie in charge.
She was the one watching them when
Izzie died.
[GIRL LAUGHING]
Look.
Peppa Pig is back.
[LAUGHING]
[CAMERA CLICKS]
"Some villagers begged for forgiveness,
confessing their sins
and kneeling for the men,
they were branded with
hot irons but released."
"Branded then released."
"The protestants were
James Oswald Harper,
Andrew John Harper, Lucinda Harper,
who, along with two young girls,
Abigail and Maddie Carfer,
were burned at the stake "
" in Chapel Croft in 1556
on the order of the Bishop of London."
"Abigail and Maggie betrayed?"
"Betrayed by whom?"
[GIRLS SCREAMING]
[LONG SCREAM FADES]
BOY: Why do you call
Mum, Judith and not Mum?
GIRL: 'Cause she's not a mum to me.
A mum should protect
you, take care of you,
love you.
I love you.
And I'll protect you.
Will you protect me?
Of course I will.
Promise?
Promise.
[BOTH CHUCKLE]
So, why are you running
away with Joy, then?
We're not going anywhere.
We're not friends anymore.
MAN: It isn't just the lens.
The camera body's also damaged.
I'd say it'd come to around 200 pounds.
Probably cheaper to buy a new one.
Yeah, it's not an option.
I removed the film, it
doesn't seem to be damaged.
Yeah, thanks.
You don't see many
cameras like this nowadays.
No.
No, it was my dad's.
Thanks.
Uh, wait.
Leave it with me.
- I'll see what I can do.
- Really?
Oh, thank you!
Bye.
Thanks.
Wrigley?
[BELLS TOLLING]
Wrigley!
Wrigley?
[BELLS CONTINUE TOLLING]
[BELLS CONTINUE TOLLING]
[CLATTERING]
What are you doing here?
Getting my nails done, mum's paying.
Oh, lucky you.
Stupid cow will pay for anything
if it gets me out of the house.
What do you want?
Actually
- I want to apologize.
- Seriously?
Let me pay to get your camera fixed.
No, I don't want anything from you.
There's no reason we can't be friends.
Oh, there's plenty.
So you prefer to hang out with Wrigley?
Does all that twitching turn you on?
- Just fuck off.
- So you like him, then.
Do you want to see a
picture of his cock?
It sucked him off once, for a bet.
Bullshit.
Quite big, actually.
Fuck off. Please.
I came here to give
you a friendly warning.
Has Wrigley told you
about his last school?
Yeah.
Yeah, he set fire to
it and he had to move.
Well, that's not the whole story.
He locked a girl in a cupboard
before he started the fire.
That's why he was forced to move.
[SCOFFS]
No, you're full of shit.
Look it up.
Ferndown Academy and Tunbridge Wells.
Still don't care.
[SCOFFS]
Your funeral.
[SCOFFS]
[PHONE CLICKING]
[THUMPING DANCE MUSIC PLAYING,
INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS]
- MERRY: There you go.
- MAN: Cheers.
Thanks.
[BREATHING DEEPLY]
[ANXIOUS VOICES OVERLAPPING]
WOMAN: give us our daily bread.
You should leave this girl alone.
MAN: You should change your ways.
[MERRY GASPING, INDISTINCT WHISPERING]
WOMAN: You really are evil.
GIRL: The devil is in me!
The devil is in me!
The devil is in me!
[INDISTINCT VOICES CONTINUE, THEN STOP]
[PANTING]
Get out.
Get out.
Get out!
Before I fucking kill you!
[BIRDS CHIRPING]
WOMAN: So
Merry and Joy.
What would you like to know?
So, you used to write
for the local newspaper.
I did, yes.
I mean
Girls' disappearance, it must've
been a big story at the time.
Oh, not as big as one might think.
No one was surprised, really.
The girls weren't exactly angels.
That was why the church
was asked to step in.
Step in how?
Well, Bible studies,
regular home visits.
Just keeping an eye
on the girls, really.
So 30 years ago, that would've been
Reverend Marsh.
Oh, we had a Curate here back then.
Benjamin Grady.
[MATCH STRIKES]
JOAN: Very young.
Very ambitious.
Handsome man.
Outwardly charming, we all liked him.
[BIRDS CHIRPING]
And many of the village
girls had a crush on him.
JACK: Including Merry and Joy?
JOAN: All of them.
He had quite a fan club.
But there certainly
were rumors about Joy.
[BIRDS CHIRPING]
[DOOR SHUTS]
It's been a long time.
I've missed you.
What is it?
I haven't had my period.
Was Grady ever considered a
suspect in Joy's disappearance?
He had an alibi
for when Joy was last seen by a witness
at the Henfield bus stop.
And this witness couldn't be wrong?
Well, she was, as you
say, an upstanding citizen,
and her description tallied
with what Joy's mother said
she was wearing that day.
And do you know who the witness was?
Clara Rushton.
Reverend Rushton's wife?
Oh, but back then she
was still Clara Wilson.
She grew up in Warbler's Green,
as did Grady.
And I know, from a reliable source
she was infatuated with him.
[SHIVERS] Shall we continue inside?
It's starting to get rather chilly.
I'll take this in. Thank you.
Here's some rom the
time we're talking about.
It's hard to believe that's Clara.
She's changed through
the years. Who hasn't?
That's Grady.
[READING LATIN]: Sancte
Michael Archangele,
defende nos in proelio.
That ring, "Saint Michael
protect us in battle".
It's a prayer of protection,
against the forces of darkness.
[SOBBING SOFTLY]
Said he doesn't want to see me anymore.
And if
What?
If I tell anyone,
he said he's gonna tell my mum
that I've been sleeping around,
and she'll believe him
because he's a man of God.
- Breathe.
- [SHIVERING SOFTLY]
We need to leave this place.
Pack your stuff tonight,
meet me here tomorrow
night at nine and we'll go.
We can't stay here any longer.
How late are you?
I don't know.
Five, six weeks?
Okay, we can get rid of it.
Everything is gonna be fine, Joy.
- Okay.
- We'll fix this together, okay?
- Okay.
- Okay.
[SOBBING SOFTLY]
Okay.
Meet here tomorrow night at nine, okay?
Yeah?
Okay.
[CHOKING TEARS] Thanks.
So what did Merry say
about Joy's disappearance?
The police went over to talk to her,
but her mother said she was ill.
They didn't contact her again.
And a few days later,
Merry disappeared as well.
Joy had left a note which read,
"I am sorry.
We had to get away."
And the word "we" convinced everybody
that they'd run away together,
but at different times.
But perhaps she ran
away with Benjamin Grady
because she was underage.
It would've been scandalous here!
But elsewhere, they
could've started afresh.
Reverend Marsh said
Grady had left the village
because of a family matter.
But there's no record of him
ever working as a priest again.
No trace of him at all, actually.
Then a year after the girls ran away,
Merry's mother and
brother, Jacob, disappeared.
So five people
vanish from the same
village, in the same year,
and nobody thought that was suspicious?
The investigation left
much to be desired.
Joan, you're tired, I should go.
I'm 85, I'm always tired. [CHUCKLES]
Yeah. I should go anyway.
[CLOCK CHIMING SOFTLY]
God bless you, Joan.
[COWS MOOING]
Right, you ready?
You look amazing.
I'm not sure I want to go.
Why not?
Poppy's had a difficult week.
Well, Rosie can look after her.
She was supposed to look after her
when she ended up in the slaughterhouse.
You're not blaming
her for that, are you?
No, but
Poppy can be difficult, you know that.
So maybe we shouldn't
leave them on their own.
You can go and I'll stay here.
SIMON: No.
We're both going,
and we're both going to enjoy it.
Aren't we?
Yes?
[SOFTLY] Hey.
[KISS]
Good.
You do look amazing.
[EERIE MUSIC]
[GULLS CAWING]
[TRUCKS AND CARS PASSING]
[CROWS CAWING]
You sure you don't want to come tonight?
- To a pub quiz?
- No, thanks.
You gonna be all right here on your own?
Hmm, I'll be fine.
Look, I'll work out a way to
get your camera fixed, okay?
It's not about the camera.
- Well, what is it, then?
- Nothing, okay?
I'm just gonna go upstairs.
- Well, what about your dinner?
- I'll just make something later.
- Flo
- Mum, will you just leave it?
If you really want to know what's wrong,
just take a look around.
[DOOR SHUTS, JACK SIGHS]
[INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS IN PUB]
[SOFT MUSIC AND CONVERSATIONS]
All right?
Oh, I'm so glad you could make it.
[CHUCKLING]
Uh, I believe you've met Mike before,
so no need for introductions.
No.
- Hi.
- Hi, again.
What can I get you?
Oh, a pinot noir or Malbec, please.
BRIAN: Coming up.
So, how's your day been?
Fine. Um, interesting.
[BACKGROUND CONVERSATIONS]
So glad you decided to come
she doesn't like quizzes.
Oh, she's not a fan
of journalists, either,
but here she is, quizzing with a hack.
BRIAN: Malbec.
Thanks.
So, what's your specialist subject?
Um, first impressions, obviously.
Obviously.
Um, followed by making
new friends a close second.
MIKE: Those are good things to know
when you're new on a quiz team.
- Cheers.
- Cheers.
[GLASSES CLINK]
MAN [OVER SPEAKERS]: Good
evening, Chapel Croft,
and welcome to quiz
night at the Barley Mow.
[CRICKETS CHIRPING, DOGS BARKING]
[WATER RUNNING]
[INDISTINCT VOICE CONTINUES
OVER SPEAKERS IN PUB]
[CHEERING AND CLAPPING IN PUB]
- Hello.
- Hi.
Didn't expect to see
you at our pub quiz.
Oh, Clara invited me.
Did you enjoy it?
Oh, I did, yeah, I mean, I
don't usually go to quizzes.
Something of a village tradition.
Simon's big into tradition.
They all are around here.
Are you not from around here originally?
No, I met someone when
I was at uni in Brighton.
We lived there for a while,
moved here when his father
wanted him to take over the farm.
- Nice!
- Maybe.
I didn't have much choice.
I was pregnant with Rosie and
what Simon wants, Simon gets.
Do you smoke?
I do.
[FLAME IGNITES, TOBACCO CRACKLES]
EMMA: You seem to be
getting on well with Mike.
JACK: Yeah, nice guy.
I suppose you've heard
about what happened,
with his daughter.
Yeah, I'm sorry.
Tragedy for everyone involved.
I wasn't even supposed to be
watching Izzy that afternoon.
I was doing Mike a favor.
He called and begged me
to pick her up from school.
Begged?
Because he was drunk
too drunk to drive, and
not for the first time.
He was an alcoholic.
Fiona gave him one last chance.
If he blew it, she'd be gone.
[TEARFULLY] I was just trying to help.
I knew I shouldn't have
left the girls with Rosie,
but she was 13 and it was
only for a few minutes.
Most parents would've done the same.
[SIGHS]
Do you believe in evil, Reverend?
I believe in evil acts.
You don't believe that
someone can be born evil?
I believe that we all have
the capacity for good and evil,
but in some, it's more
prevalent than others.
Emma
if you ever need anyone to talk to
you can always come and
visit me at the chapel.
SIMON: Emma!
Emma?
Thanks for the chat, Reverend.
SIMON: Emma, where the fuck are you?
We really must get the
girls together sometime.
[LIVELY FIDDLE MUSIC PLAYING IN PUB]
BRIAN: Ah
- There you are.
- I was worried you'd run away.
Are you leaving?
I'm afraid so.
I'm so happy you came, Jack.
Fresh blood.
- Well, we'll see you soon.
- Yeah.
- Bye-bye.
- Bye.
Bye.
- Night night.
- Good night.
Good night. Good night.
- There you go.
- Thank you.
Would you like another drink?
Uh, yeah, I'll have a
lemonade, please.
Coming right up.
[BACKGROUND CONVERSATIONS AND LAUGHTER]
[BACKGROUND CONVERSATIONS]
Hello, can I help you?
- Who are you?
- I'm Reverend Bradley,
and I'm happy to welcome
you to our church.
[MUMBLING] No, its
Where's the other vicar?
The other vicar?
The woman that used to be here.
Do you mean Reverend
Brooks? I'm afraid she left.
- Yeah, but where is she?
- I don't know.
You're lying to me, aren't you?
You just don't want to tell me.
[THUNDER RUMBLING AND RAIN FALLING]
[KNOCKING ON DOOR]
[DOOR SHUTS]
[WHISPERING] Go to bed!
[HINGES SQUEAKING]
What are you doing here?
Your mum is very worried about you.
I had a bad trip, so what?
[HINGES SQUEAK]
Well, let's see what God can do.
[THUNDER RUMBLING]
Look, I have to tell you something.
That sounds ominous.
I found this stuffed through
my letterbox this morning.
"Whoever conceals his
transgressions will not prosper.
But he who confesses and forsakes them
will attain mercy."
Proverbs 28 to 13.
Something terrible
happened in my old church.
Saint Anne's in Nottingham.
A little girl was murdered.
- Should we go to the police?
- No, no, no, no.
I don't want it all dragged up again.
[BACKGROUND CONVERSATIONS]
Listen, can we just go
somewhere more private?
Yeah. Yeah, of course.
[DOOR SHUTS]
[WINGS FLUTTER]
Hello?
[SIGHS] It's you.
A Reverend Brooks, Jack?
I need to know where she went.
As I said inside, I can't help you.
You can.
You just don't want to.
[BLOW LANDS]
[GRUNTING]
[BACKGROUND CONVERSATIONS]
There you go.
Thanks.
So Ruby's mother died
of a drug overdose,
and she was fostered by her
aunt and her aunt's partner.
They didn't treat her
well, they were abusive.
- In what way?
- Oh, well,
Ruby would show up at
church with cuts and bruises
and scrapes, and then
one day, a broken arm.
That sounds like something
for social services.
Yeah, of course.
I contacted them, but they always had
a plausible explanation, you know,
Ruby had fallen off a swing
or she fell off her bike.
Every time she came into church,
I noticed that she was
quieter, she was thinner.
So I confronted her guardians.
And they were furious with me.
They accused me of being
a religious homophobe.
[SCOFFS] You know.
The church and
homosexuality, all of that,
it's very, very complicated.
So even though I knew they were wrong,
I knew they were wrong,
I didn't want them to go
public with their accusations.
So I took a step back.
And then one day I came into church
and they'd murdered her on my altar.
They thought she was possessed.
Jack, it wasn't your fault.
It wasn't.
I should've pushed the
authorities further.
I should've done that.
Which is why when the local community
blamed me, and the
local press blamed me
I believed them.
[MUSIC PLAYING THROUGH HEADPHONES]
[DOG BARKING]
[METAL GATE SQUEAKING]
[MUSIC CONTINUES THROUGH HEADPHONES]
[LIGHT SWITCH CLICKS]
[GIRL CHUCKLES]
[GASPS]
[NIGHTBIRD CAWING]
[SQUEAKING]
[NIGHTBIRD CAWING]
[BREATHING HEAVILY]
[DOOR SLAMS SHUT]
Poppy?
Poppy, are you all right? What ?
Are you okay?
[FLAMES CRACKLING]
[FLO GASPING]
Oh, shit.
Okay.
[GASPS AND SHOUTS]
[SHOUTING] Ow! Oh!
[CRYING] No, no!
Mum!
[GIRLS SCREAMING]
♪♪
WOMAN: I understand
that Reverend Fletcher
was interested in the Chapel's history.
- [GIRLS SCREAMING]
- REVEREND: The Chapel Croft,
kindred to a martyr,
still counts for something.
The Harpers are very well respected.
You're not in Nottingham now
where you know families
originally slaughtered kids.
MAN: Well, was it an exorcism?
REVEREND: Don't let
the past suck you in.
- JOY: You really are evil.
- Fuck you, Joy!
ROSIE: You need friends 'round here.
I'm Rosie Harper. And
that's Tom, my cousin.
- Give me your camera.
- No.
[GUNSHOT]
[BIRDS CHIRPING]
[COWS MOOING]
[SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC]
[SLOW ENGINE REVVING]
[INDISTINCT BACKGROUND CONVERSATIONS]
[BIRD SQUAWKING]
[BIRD SQUAWKING, COWS MOOING]
[HINGES SQUEAKING]
[BIRDS CHIRPING, SHEEP BLEATING]
[SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC]
[SHEEP BLEATING AND BIRDS SQUAWKING]
[SIGHS] Oh.
♪♪
[SHEEP BLEATING, BIRDS CHIRPING]
- Morning, Jack.
- Clara!
You're up early.
I could say the same.
Brian thinks I'm mad, but
I enjoy the peace at dawn.
Do you run?
Not even for a bus.
Ha, so, what are you
doing here this early?
Well, I came to have
a chat with the boss,
and I did a bit of cleaning up.
CLARA: There's a pub quiz this
evening, you should come along.
It'll be an opportunity
to get to know us all.
There's me, Brian, and a
chap called Mike Sudduth,
he's a journalist, works
for the local paper.
Yeah, I met him.
You know, maybe he
could do a piece on you.
No. No, no, no, no.
No, like, he said the same, but this
You know, there's really
not much to write about.
I'm sure that's not true.
I bet you've got some stories to tell.
Hmm.
Anyway
If you change your
mind, Mike's very nice.
Although he's had a tough few years.
You know about his daughter?
CLARA: It was an accident.
She was playing in a friend's garden.
They had a rope swing.
Somehow,
Izzy had managed to get the rope
twisted around her neck.
I had her in my class.
She was such a
kind and intelligent little girl.
It drove the families apart.
The mothers were close,
but Fiona never spoke to Emma again.
Emma as in Emma Harper?
[SIGHS]
It happened at the farm.
[GIRLS LAUGHING]
Devastated all of them.
[GIRLS LAUGHING]
Poppy didn't utter a
word for over a year.
She still barely talks.
[SWING SQUEAKING, GIRLS LAUGHING]
I can't imagine.
And, of course, Fiona blamed Emma.
I mean, that's understandable.
I mean, at that age, you know,
you don't watch your
children every minute, do you?
Emma wasn't there.
Popped out to the shops,
only down the road, but
- She left them on their own?
- No.
She left Rosie in charge.
She was the one watching them when
Izzie died.
[GIRL LAUGHING]
Look.
Peppa Pig is back.
[LAUGHING]
[CAMERA CLICKS]
"Some villagers begged for forgiveness,
confessing their sins
and kneeling for the men,
they were branded with
hot irons but released."
"Branded then released."
"The protestants were
James Oswald Harper,
Andrew John Harper, Lucinda Harper,
who, along with two young girls,
Abigail and Maddie Carfer,
were burned at the stake "
" in Chapel Croft in 1556
on the order of the Bishop of London."
"Abigail and Maggie betrayed?"
"Betrayed by whom?"
[GIRLS SCREAMING]
[LONG SCREAM FADES]
BOY: Why do you call
Mum, Judith and not Mum?
GIRL: 'Cause she's not a mum to me.
A mum should protect
you, take care of you,
love you.
I love you.
And I'll protect you.
Will you protect me?
Of course I will.
Promise?
Promise.
[BOTH CHUCKLE]
So, why are you running
away with Joy, then?
We're not going anywhere.
We're not friends anymore.
MAN: It isn't just the lens.
The camera body's also damaged.
I'd say it'd come to around 200 pounds.
Probably cheaper to buy a new one.
Yeah, it's not an option.
I removed the film, it
doesn't seem to be damaged.
Yeah, thanks.
You don't see many
cameras like this nowadays.
No.
No, it was my dad's.
Thanks.
Uh, wait.
Leave it with me.
- I'll see what I can do.
- Really?
Oh, thank you!
Bye.
Thanks.
Wrigley?
[BELLS TOLLING]
Wrigley!
Wrigley?
[BELLS CONTINUE TOLLING]
[BELLS CONTINUE TOLLING]
[CLATTERING]
What are you doing here?
Getting my nails done, mum's paying.
Oh, lucky you.
Stupid cow will pay for anything
if it gets me out of the house.
What do you want?
Actually
- I want to apologize.
- Seriously?
Let me pay to get your camera fixed.
No, I don't want anything from you.
There's no reason we can't be friends.
Oh, there's plenty.
So you prefer to hang out with Wrigley?
Does all that twitching turn you on?
- Just fuck off.
- So you like him, then.
Do you want to see a
picture of his cock?
It sucked him off once, for a bet.
Bullshit.
Quite big, actually.
Fuck off. Please.
I came here to give
you a friendly warning.
Has Wrigley told you
about his last school?
Yeah.
Yeah, he set fire to
it and he had to move.
Well, that's not the whole story.
He locked a girl in a cupboard
before he started the fire.
That's why he was forced to move.
[SCOFFS]
No, you're full of shit.
Look it up.
Ferndown Academy and Tunbridge Wells.
Still don't care.
[SCOFFS]
Your funeral.
[SCOFFS]
[PHONE CLICKING]
[THUMPING DANCE MUSIC PLAYING,
INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS]
- MERRY: There you go.
- MAN: Cheers.
Thanks.
[BREATHING DEEPLY]
[ANXIOUS VOICES OVERLAPPING]
WOMAN: give us our daily bread.
You should leave this girl alone.
MAN: You should change your ways.
[MERRY GASPING, INDISTINCT WHISPERING]
WOMAN: You really are evil.
GIRL: The devil is in me!
The devil is in me!
The devil is in me!
[INDISTINCT VOICES CONTINUE, THEN STOP]
[PANTING]
Get out.
Get out.
Get out!
Before I fucking kill you!
[BIRDS CHIRPING]
WOMAN: So
Merry and Joy.
What would you like to know?
So, you used to write
for the local newspaper.
I did, yes.
I mean
Girls' disappearance, it must've
been a big story at the time.
Oh, not as big as one might think.
No one was surprised, really.
The girls weren't exactly angels.
That was why the church
was asked to step in.
Step in how?
Well, Bible studies,
regular home visits.
Just keeping an eye
on the girls, really.
So 30 years ago, that would've been
Reverend Marsh.
Oh, we had a Curate here back then.
Benjamin Grady.
[MATCH STRIKES]
JOAN: Very young.
Very ambitious.
Handsome man.
Outwardly charming, we all liked him.
[BIRDS CHIRPING]
And many of the village
girls had a crush on him.
JACK: Including Merry and Joy?
JOAN: All of them.
He had quite a fan club.
But there certainly
were rumors about Joy.
[BIRDS CHIRPING]
[DOOR SHUTS]
It's been a long time.
I've missed you.
What is it?
I haven't had my period.
Was Grady ever considered a
suspect in Joy's disappearance?
He had an alibi
for when Joy was last seen by a witness
at the Henfield bus stop.
And this witness couldn't be wrong?
Well, she was, as you
say, an upstanding citizen,
and her description tallied
with what Joy's mother said
she was wearing that day.
And do you know who the witness was?
Clara Rushton.
Reverend Rushton's wife?
Oh, but back then she
was still Clara Wilson.
She grew up in Warbler's Green,
as did Grady.
And I know, from a reliable source
she was infatuated with him.
[SHIVERS] Shall we continue inside?
It's starting to get rather chilly.
I'll take this in. Thank you.
Here's some rom the
time we're talking about.
It's hard to believe that's Clara.
She's changed through
the years. Who hasn't?
That's Grady.
[READING LATIN]: Sancte
Michael Archangele,
defende nos in proelio.
That ring, "Saint Michael
protect us in battle".
It's a prayer of protection,
against the forces of darkness.
[SOBBING SOFTLY]
Said he doesn't want to see me anymore.
And if
What?
If I tell anyone,
he said he's gonna tell my mum
that I've been sleeping around,
and she'll believe him
because he's a man of God.
- Breathe.
- [SHIVERING SOFTLY]
We need to leave this place.
Pack your stuff tonight,
meet me here tomorrow
night at nine and we'll go.
We can't stay here any longer.
How late are you?
I don't know.
Five, six weeks?
Okay, we can get rid of it.
Everything is gonna be fine, Joy.
- Okay.
- We'll fix this together, okay?
- Okay.
- Okay.
[SOBBING SOFTLY]
Okay.
Meet here tomorrow night at nine, okay?
Yeah?
Okay.
[CHOKING TEARS] Thanks.
So what did Merry say
about Joy's disappearance?
The police went over to talk to her,
but her mother said she was ill.
They didn't contact her again.
And a few days later,
Merry disappeared as well.
Joy had left a note which read,
"I am sorry.
We had to get away."
And the word "we" convinced everybody
that they'd run away together,
but at different times.
But perhaps she ran
away with Benjamin Grady
because she was underage.
It would've been scandalous here!
But elsewhere, they
could've started afresh.
Reverend Marsh said
Grady had left the village
because of a family matter.
But there's no record of him
ever working as a priest again.
No trace of him at all, actually.
Then a year after the girls ran away,
Merry's mother and
brother, Jacob, disappeared.
So five people
vanish from the same
village, in the same year,
and nobody thought that was suspicious?
The investigation left
much to be desired.
Joan, you're tired, I should go.
I'm 85, I'm always tired. [CHUCKLES]
Yeah. I should go anyway.
[CLOCK CHIMING SOFTLY]
God bless you, Joan.
[COWS MOOING]
Right, you ready?
You look amazing.
I'm not sure I want to go.
Why not?
Poppy's had a difficult week.
Well, Rosie can look after her.
She was supposed to look after her
when she ended up in the slaughterhouse.
You're not blaming
her for that, are you?
No, but
Poppy can be difficult, you know that.
So maybe we shouldn't
leave them on their own.
You can go and I'll stay here.
SIMON: No.
We're both going,
and we're both going to enjoy it.
Aren't we?
Yes?
[SOFTLY] Hey.
[KISS]
Good.
You do look amazing.
[EERIE MUSIC]
[GULLS CAWING]
[TRUCKS AND CARS PASSING]
[CROWS CAWING]
You sure you don't want to come tonight?
- To a pub quiz?
- No, thanks.
You gonna be all right here on your own?
Hmm, I'll be fine.
Look, I'll work out a way to
get your camera fixed, okay?
It's not about the camera.
- Well, what is it, then?
- Nothing, okay?
I'm just gonna go upstairs.
- Well, what about your dinner?
- I'll just make something later.
- Flo
- Mum, will you just leave it?
If you really want to know what's wrong,
just take a look around.
[DOOR SHUTS, JACK SIGHS]
[INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS IN PUB]
[SOFT MUSIC AND CONVERSATIONS]
All right?
Oh, I'm so glad you could make it.
[CHUCKLING]
Uh, I believe you've met Mike before,
so no need for introductions.
No.
- Hi.
- Hi, again.
What can I get you?
Oh, a pinot noir or Malbec, please.
BRIAN: Coming up.
So, how's your day been?
Fine. Um, interesting.
[BACKGROUND CONVERSATIONS]
So glad you decided to come
she doesn't like quizzes.
Oh, she's not a fan
of journalists, either,
but here she is, quizzing with a hack.
BRIAN: Malbec.
Thanks.
So, what's your specialist subject?
Um, first impressions, obviously.
Obviously.
Um, followed by making
new friends a close second.
MIKE: Those are good things to know
when you're new on a quiz team.
- Cheers.
- Cheers.
[GLASSES CLINK]
MAN [OVER SPEAKERS]: Good
evening, Chapel Croft,
and welcome to quiz
night at the Barley Mow.
[CRICKETS CHIRPING, DOGS BARKING]
[WATER RUNNING]
[INDISTINCT VOICE CONTINUES
OVER SPEAKERS IN PUB]
[CHEERING AND CLAPPING IN PUB]
- Hello.
- Hi.
Didn't expect to see
you at our pub quiz.
Oh, Clara invited me.
Did you enjoy it?
Oh, I did, yeah, I mean, I
don't usually go to quizzes.
Something of a village tradition.
Simon's big into tradition.
They all are around here.
Are you not from around here originally?
No, I met someone when
I was at uni in Brighton.
We lived there for a while,
moved here when his father
wanted him to take over the farm.
- Nice!
- Maybe.
I didn't have much choice.
I was pregnant with Rosie and
what Simon wants, Simon gets.
Do you smoke?
I do.
[FLAME IGNITES, TOBACCO CRACKLES]
EMMA: You seem to be
getting on well with Mike.
JACK: Yeah, nice guy.
I suppose you've heard
about what happened,
with his daughter.
Yeah, I'm sorry.
Tragedy for everyone involved.
I wasn't even supposed to be
watching Izzy that afternoon.
I was doing Mike a favor.
He called and begged me
to pick her up from school.
Begged?
Because he was drunk
too drunk to drive, and
not for the first time.
He was an alcoholic.
Fiona gave him one last chance.
If he blew it, she'd be gone.
[TEARFULLY] I was just trying to help.
I knew I shouldn't have
left the girls with Rosie,
but she was 13 and it was
only for a few minutes.
Most parents would've done the same.
[SIGHS]
Do you believe in evil, Reverend?
I believe in evil acts.
You don't believe that
someone can be born evil?
I believe that we all have
the capacity for good and evil,
but in some, it's more
prevalent than others.
Emma
if you ever need anyone to talk to
you can always come and
visit me at the chapel.
SIMON: Emma!
Emma?
Thanks for the chat, Reverend.
SIMON: Emma, where the fuck are you?
We really must get the
girls together sometime.
[LIVELY FIDDLE MUSIC PLAYING IN PUB]
BRIAN: Ah
- There you are.
- I was worried you'd run away.
Are you leaving?
I'm afraid so.
I'm so happy you came, Jack.
Fresh blood.
- Well, we'll see you soon.
- Yeah.
- Bye-bye.
- Bye.
Bye.
- Night night.
- Good night.
Good night. Good night.
- There you go.
- Thank you.
Would you like another drink?
Uh, yeah, I'll have a
lemonade, please.
Coming right up.
[BACKGROUND CONVERSATIONS AND LAUGHTER]
[BACKGROUND CONVERSATIONS]
Hello, can I help you?
- Who are you?
- I'm Reverend Bradley,
and I'm happy to welcome
you to our church.
[MUMBLING] No, its
Where's the other vicar?
The other vicar?
The woman that used to be here.
Do you mean Reverend
Brooks? I'm afraid she left.
- Yeah, but where is she?
- I don't know.
You're lying to me, aren't you?
You just don't want to tell me.
[THUNDER RUMBLING AND RAIN FALLING]
[KNOCKING ON DOOR]
[DOOR SHUTS]
[WHISPERING] Go to bed!
[HINGES SQUEAKING]
What are you doing here?
Your mum is very worried about you.
I had a bad trip, so what?
[HINGES SQUEAK]
Well, let's see what God can do.
[THUNDER RUMBLING]
Look, I have to tell you something.
That sounds ominous.
I found this stuffed through
my letterbox this morning.
"Whoever conceals his
transgressions will not prosper.
But he who confesses and forsakes them
will attain mercy."
Proverbs 28 to 13.
Something terrible
happened in my old church.
Saint Anne's in Nottingham.
A little girl was murdered.
- Should we go to the police?
- No, no, no, no.
I don't want it all dragged up again.
[BACKGROUND CONVERSATIONS]
Listen, can we just go
somewhere more private?
Yeah. Yeah, of course.
[DOOR SHUTS]
[WINGS FLUTTER]
Hello?
[SIGHS] It's you.
A Reverend Brooks, Jack?
I need to know where she went.
As I said inside, I can't help you.
You can.
You just don't want to.
[BLOW LANDS]
[GRUNTING]
[BACKGROUND CONVERSATIONS]
There you go.
Thanks.
So Ruby's mother died
of a drug overdose,
and she was fostered by her
aunt and her aunt's partner.
They didn't treat her
well, they were abusive.
- In what way?
- Oh, well,
Ruby would show up at
church with cuts and bruises
and scrapes, and then
one day, a broken arm.
That sounds like something
for social services.
Yeah, of course.
I contacted them, but they always had
a plausible explanation, you know,
Ruby had fallen off a swing
or she fell off her bike.
Every time she came into church,
I noticed that she was
quieter, she was thinner.
So I confronted her guardians.
And they were furious with me.
They accused me of being
a religious homophobe.
[SCOFFS] You know.
The church and
homosexuality, all of that,
it's very, very complicated.
So even though I knew they were wrong,
I knew they were wrong,
I didn't want them to go
public with their accusations.
So I took a step back.
And then one day I came into church
and they'd murdered her on my altar.
They thought she was possessed.
Jack, it wasn't your fault.
It wasn't.
I should've pushed the
authorities further.
I should've done that.
Which is why when the local community
blamed me, and the
local press blamed me
I believed them.
[MUSIC PLAYING THROUGH HEADPHONES]
[DOG BARKING]
[METAL GATE SQUEAKING]
[MUSIC CONTINUES THROUGH HEADPHONES]
[LIGHT SWITCH CLICKS]
[GIRL CHUCKLES]
[GASPS]
[NIGHTBIRD CAWING]
[SQUEAKING]
[NIGHTBIRD CAWING]
[BREATHING HEAVILY]
[DOOR SLAMS SHUT]
Poppy?
Poppy, are you all right? What ?
Are you okay?
[FLAMES CRACKLING]
[FLO GASPING]
Oh, shit.
Okay.
[GASPS AND SHOUTS]
[SHOUTING] Ow! Oh!
[CRYING] No, no!
Mum!
[GIRLS SCREAMING]
♪♪