The Gulf (2019) s01e03 Episode Script
Episode 3
1 You've only just remembered.
Yeah, I've had some memory loss since the accident.
(CRASH!) Now seems as good a time as any to offer my condolences for Alex's death.
I want Harding on this.
He needs experience.
He's an arsehole.
He reminds me of me back in the day.
You're gonna have to hold Bennington at arms length.
You know that, don't you? I'm really sorry that I couldn't be at the funeral.
I didn't go.
I'm not gonna pretend I liked him just because he's dead.
(GASPS) - Charge her.
- It It was five years ago.
Yeah, I don't think you should be heading this case.
- How's the pain level? - Morphine blunts everything.
Come on.
I just want answers, that's all.
(WATER LAPS SOFTLY) (ATMOSPHERIC MUSIC) (FERRY ENGINE WHIRRS SOFTLY) (WATER LAPS) (WATER BURBLES, FERRY THUDS) (ATMOSPHERIC MUSIC CONTINUES) (PANTS) (FERRY ENGINE WHIRRS IN DISTANCE) (SIGHS SOFTLY) (KEYS JANGLE) (DESOLATE MUSIC) (CAR ENGINE STARTS) (CAR ENGINE STARTS) (LOW, TENSE MUSIC) (TENSE MUSIC CONTINUES) (TENSE MUSIC BUILDS) (WATER RUSHES) (WATER RUSHES) (CAR ENGINE REVS) (WATER PATTERS) (CAR ENGINE REVS) (BRAKES SCREECH) (GLASS TINKLES) (SCREAMS IN SLOW MOTION) (TYRES SCREECH, HORN BLARES) (ENGINE REVS IN DISTANCE) (GASPS, PANTS) (HANDBRAKE CRANKS) (BREATHES DEEPLY) (WIND WHISTLES, WAVES LAP) Between you and me is a body of water.
Captions by Annie Curtis Edited by Julie Taylor.
Captions were made with the support of NZ On Air.
Copyright Able 2019 (INSECTS CHIRP, WAVES LAP) (CAR ENGINE APPROACHES) (CAR ENGINE STOPS, KEYS JANGLE) (CAR DOOR OPENS) (LOW, DARK MUSIC) (DOOR SLAMS, KEYS JANGLE) (SIGHS) You OK? - And you are? - Max Lee.
(KEYS CLATTER) - I need you to find my daughter.
- This is my house, that's my child, and you have no right talking your way in here.
Ah, look, I know, but this is important.
I need your help.
Her name's, uh, Chelsea.
She's 18, and she's been missing three weeks.
Cops here are useless.
I've done my research, and you're the best.
I want you to take over the case.
Yeah, police station opens at 6am, Mr Lee.
- I've come all the way from Perth.
- There's the door.
(SIGHS) Can I get a promise from ya? I'm sorry.
I don't make that call, Mr Lee.
(DOOR SQUEAKS) - Ruby? - Mm? What were you thinking? He could have been anyone.
(PAPER RUSTLES) He paid you to let him in? Oh my God.
You're so easy.
(LAUGHS SOFTLY) (SIGHS) (LOW, BROODING MUSIC) (FOREBODING MUSIC) (RAIN PATTERS) (RAINDROPS THUD) (GLASS SHATTERS) (AIR WHOOSHES, CAR CRASHES) (CHAIN TINKLES) (DISTANT THUD) Did it help you any? Uh (CLEARS THROAT) Yeah, actually, I've got a few questions.
Fire away.
(SIGHS) There's no mention of you, um, checking the brake fluid in here.
(SIGHS DEEPLY) Here, page four plenty of brake fluid.
I bled half a litre.
Well, did you send it to the lab for testing? Yeah, we tested for foreign bodies and water.
Maybe it got switched out for transmission fluid or something.
I know the difference between transmission and brake fluid, OK? I've been working on cars for over 30 years.
(SIGHS) Listen, I know you're just looking for answers, but you're not gonna find any in there.
- Why not? - Cos the car was sound.
There wasn't any evidence of tampering at all.
OK? Maybe we were being chased.
The tyre marks showed no evidence of high speed.
(METAL CLANKS) Hey, look it's understandable you wanna blame somebody for this accident.
I'm sorry, what do you what do you mean? Oh, so do you think that Alex deliberately drove us off that cliff? Is that what you're thinking, Jules? Is that your expert opinion, Jules? (SIGHS) I like you, Jess always have.
But you're a senior officer, and if you wanna come back here and question me, I'd rather have my rep around.
(LIFT WHIRRS) (CELL PHONE RINGS) (LIFT DOORS OPEN) (SIGHS) You've gotta be kidding.
It's not a CIB job though, is it? Well, can't you just get Denise to do it? Yeah, yeah.
I know.
He showed up at my house last night, demanding that I, uh Yeah, no, demanding that I take the case.
Well, who is he the new police commissioner? Yep, no, the issue is I-I've got a pile of paperwork on my desk and two court appearances next week, so when am I supposed to? Wait, who was complaining about me? This could have waited if I'd known you were in the building.
So what's wrong with my attitude? What, apart from arguing with everyone? Snapping with your colleagues? Challenging your superiors? Apart from that.
All right.
Do you wanna tell me about this shit-stirrer complainer? He's got connections, Jess, and he's using them to put heat on us.
But he has a point.
The girl's been gone for three weeks, and, you know, it looks like we've done nothing more than make a few phone calls.
I need some legwork done on this, Jess.
Yes, sir.
- Go and get bloody Harding.
He needs a run-out.
- Yes, sir.
Are you? Are you still hassling Jules about that accident report? Yes, sir.
- Could you stop? - (DRUMS TABLE) Please.
(EXHALES) - Whoa! - Sorry about that.
Come.
- Yours, sir.
- Thank you.
Black, two sugars, yeah? - Yes.
- OK, good.
OK, show me what you got.
(LOW, SOFT MUSIC) (LAUGHS) Ask any of them when they last contacted their parents.
There's a reason why they're a million miles away from home.
You do an OE? No, you? I didn't really suffer from overprotective parents.
(CELL PHONE RINGS) Jess, it's Shivani Patel here.
I was expecting you 15 minutes ago.
Yeah, um Sorry, I, er I got called away on an urgent case.
Do you think that maybe you could send my prescription through to my pharmacy? Just this time, OK? And I need to see you for a check-up.
Yeah, all right, OK.
I'll come in and pick it up this afternoon.
(BROODING MUSIC) You told me you deleted that app.
- Morena.
- Detective Max Lee, DSS Savage.
Yeah, we've met.
- Uh, this is DS Harding.
- Morning.
- Morning.
So, do you wanna bring us up to speed? I've been trying to tell your colleagues that Chelsea phoned or texted her mother every day for the whole four months she was away, and then suddenly nothing.
Uh, Senior Constable Phillips did the initial inquiry.
Um, (CLEARS THROAT) yeah, we contacted Internal Affairs, and there's been no passport activity, - so she's still in the country.
- Mm-hm.
The credit card statement the last transaction was 24th of October when she booked out of backpackers.
- The 24th is the wrong date.
- I don't I don't believe it is.
- (SIGHS) - MUTTERS: Fuck's sake.
- The The backpackers' records and the credit card statement both say the 24th of October was when she booked out.
But her contact with us ended on the 20th Saturday of Labour Weekend, and so did her social media, her text to her friends, phone calls.
The backpackers had her credit card number.
They could still be charging her today.
Chelsea has been missing since Saturday the 20th of October that night, to be exact.
(FOREBODING MUSIC) (BIRDS CHIRP OUTSIDE) - Uh, so you're taking over.
- Yeah, Pete asked me to.
Well, you might as well investigate these while you're at it.
Knock yourself out.
- (SIGHS) - Hey.
Do you think Pup's done a thorough job? Uh, no, Pup never does a thorough job on anything, but the buck stops here you're taking over from me, not him.
(SIGHS) Come on, Jess.
You know how this goes.
Chelsea will be out in a yacht somewhere in the gulf, out of cell phone range, or shacked up in some secluded bay with a new boyfriend.
(GRUNTS) All right.
Let's hope so.
Um, yeah.
You can share my office.
Thank you.
Harding can set up out there, though.
I'll see if I can get him booked into a motel.
Oh, um, unless, of course, you'd like him as a boarder (?) I'm good.
(CICADAS HUM) (RADIO BEEPS) RADIO: Waiheke to RHK.
Are you at Island Backpackers yet? Over.
RHK to Waiheke.
Just arriving now.
Over.
There's a 15-80 outside the front office.
Over.
- We're right.
- Out.
- Oh, shit.
(CAMPERS YELL) - Jesus, classy.
Fucking hell.
- Police! (YELLS, GRUNTS) - Hey! - Get him off me! Hey! - I'll wreck your fucking teeth.
- Hey! (SCREAMS) - I'll fucking wreck Get off me! - Oh, ya cocksucker! Jesus Christ! - Get off! Get off! - (YELLS) - Hey.
- Fuck your shit.
- Why don't you piss off?! - Sit down.
- Get in.
- Fucking big man! - Shut up! - What did I do wrong?! (CICADAS BUZZ, DOG BARKS) So, you have some new information about Chelsea Lee that you didn't tell Constable Phillips, yeah? - Is that right? - Yeah, that's right.
I, er, guess it could have been a few days before we realised she was gone.
You know, she hadn't checked out properly, so we just We had to guess.
Uh-huh.
So when exactly was the last time that you saw Chelsea Lee? You mean, like, in person? It was probably the Saturday.
Yeah, the 20th.
You think, probably.
Uh, yeah.
Yeah, it was a Saturday, um Yeah, the afternoon, you know.
You know, she was here, - then she was gone.
- Did she stay that night in her bunk? (CHUCKLES HOARSELY) Man, it was Labour Weekend.
You know? This place it was swarming.
Sunday night? Oh, you know what, look I don't know, because these girls they come in here, you know, they go off, they shack up with a guy.
You know? Sometimes they don't even come back, but they expect for their bunks to be kept for them.
So, yeah, it was a couple days before I-I closed off the booking.
Hmm.
So you didn't see Chelsea after the 20th.
- Nah.
- And what about her gear? (LOW, EERIE MUSIC) Nah.
Nothing.
I dunno.
They they all leave stuff behind.
Backpack? Sleeping bag? Nada.
OK.
Thank you.
Pleasure.
(RADIO CRACKLES) RHK to Waiheke.
We're bringing in Max Lee on a 15-80.
Over.
(SCOFFS) Oh, come on.
That's not really necessary, is it? RADIO: Waiheke, here.
Is that a K4 or a K9? It's a K4.
Over.
(CLEARS THROAT) (SIGHS) I know you can't do those sort of things, right? But, I mean, if it helps get the truth, then I've got no regrets.
I would do anything Mr Lee, anything that we discovered from that interview I just conducted is completely compromised by your actions.
None of it is admissible in court.
OK? So if you wanna pat yourself on the back for fucking up our operation, then you can do so from a jail cell.
(SIGHS) Mint? Fuck! (BREATHES HEAVILY) (SIGHS) Jeez, Patel.
Where are we going? There was a big party on Palm Beach on the night of the 20th.
Rory thought there was a chance that Chelsea was there, so We're gonna talk to Simone Fletcher who organised it.
Told him you wanted to check it our yourself.
(CAR ENGINE STARTS) Yeah.
(SIGHS) Don't turn that on.
(PENSIVE MUSIC) Baby, baby, don't worry.
(RADIO CRACKLES) RADIO: Could you tell me how far away you are, please? RHK to Waiheke.
Just arriving now.
Over.
(SQUAWKS) (LOW, BROODING MUSIC) - Please sit down.
- Thank you.
So, Simone, your parents they knew about the party? Well, yeah, it was my 21st, so of course.
Uh, they weren't here, though, were they? No, they have an apartment in town.
Look, I don't know what the big deal is.
Just Nothing happened.
Got a bit bigger than I planned, and someone made a noise complaint.
What time did the party wrap up? - Uh, 3? 3.
30? - Yeah, something like that.
- Matcha? - Oh, I'm fine, thank you.
Sure.
Did either of you see this girl at the party? Why? Do you wanna look at it before you answer? Well, she's not one of our friends, but heaps of the people staying for Labour Weekend just kind of joined the party.
You know? Mm-hm.
- She might have been here.
- Yeah.
Craig, did you see this girl? They're all the same to me.
(SNIGGERS) I'd remember this girl if I saw her.
Are you sure? Simone was the only girl I saw that night.
Ah.
Either of you have any photos from the night? Uh, heaps.
I can add you to the photo page if you want.
Yeah, yeah, that'd be great.
Um People are still uploading photos.
OK.
I'll give you this.
It's my card.
Justin Harding.
Yeah, these are good.
- Send you these? - Yeah.
OK.
- Cool.
- Cool.
Great.
You have fun back there? Ah, just doing my job, boss.
Just doing my job.
(PENSIVE MUSIC) (WAVES CRASH) Her last post was at the Island Backpackers on the Saturday afternoon.
- After that, there's nothing.
- Any leads on the party? Um, there's been 150 photos put up to the photo page.
94 different people.
We've been able to identify 78 of them.
Uh, that's Ken Knight's grandson Aaron, isn't it? Right, Aaron Knight.
That's 79 identified.
Still no sign of Chelsea, though, but there's still more coming through, so What about Internal Affairs? Uh, yeah, I sent them the new 'last seen on' date, and they just got back saying that she definitely didn't leave the country on those extra four days.
Seriously, why does everything on this island take twice as long? I had to wait an hour for these.
Yo.
This might be her.
That's Chelsea all right.
So she was there.
- Who took this? - Mitchell Mason.
It's, um, printing.
Get a hold of him.
I want every photo that he took at the party.
(PRINTER WHIRRS, BEEPS) And blow this one up.
All right? We need to identify everybody who's in this picture.
OK, let's jump to it, people.
Phillips, drop the chip.
(LOW, DARK MUSIC) When was this taken? The party on the island on the night of the 20th.
We know that Chelsea was one of the many who joined.
We don't know if she came alone or with someone else.
Anybody see her leave? No, but we still have a lot of people to interview yet.
(SIGHS) I made my money in, uh (SNIFFLES) mining.
Did you know that? No.
(SIGHS) She called me a rapist once.
'You're raping the earth, ' she said.
When was that? (WATER GLUGS) Before she came to New Zealand? She was always arguing with me.
(SIGHS) She thought I was a monster because of my work.
(SIGHS) I'm not the monster.
(LOW MUSIC CONTINUES) - Do you think she's still alive? - I don't know.
Your, um Your husband died recently.
I'm sorry.
(CLEARS THROAT) Where was the party? I just wanna know.
Mr Lee.
Max.
(SIGHS) Come on, now.
You fought for me to be on this case.
You pulled the strings.
Just let me do my job.
So, what makes you such a good cop? I think you trust your gut, just like I do.
- I think you're gonna find Chelsea.
- Goodnight.
(SLIDING DOOR RATTLES, CLOSES) (SOBS SOFTLY) (LOW, DARK MUSIC CONTINUES) (DOOR OPENS, CLOSES) (SLOW, SOMBRE PIANO MUSIC) (SIGHS) (SIGHS) (LOW, DARK MUSIC CONTINUES) (DISTANT SCREAMS ECHO) - Mitchell.
- Yeah.
Your Ruby's mum, eh? Detective Savage.
- How's it going? - That's Detective Harding.
- Sup, man.
- You get all my photos? Thank you.
We're, um, looking for information on this girl.
- Her name's Chelsea Lee.
- OK.
(SEAGULLS CRY) - Do you remember her? - Hmm.
To be honest, I was pretty trashed.
Oh, she might have been Oh, there was a bit of a scuffle at one point.
And the And the girl involved was actually wearing a white dress.
It's all I remember.
I'm not really sure if it was her or not.
- I was in the dug out.
- The dug out? Yeah, we dug this big hole in the sand over there, and a bunch of us just hung out there and uh, well, you know.
Gotcha.
Who was in the fight? - Uh, Craig.
- Simone's boyfriend that Craig? Yeah, yeah, he's a big of a dick when he gets a few beers in him.
Then that guy Ronan sorted him out, I think.
- Yeah, he's a good guy.
- Sorry, Ronan? Ronan Croft.
You know, the Crofts from Blue Ridge? Do you recognise anyone else in that photo, bud? Can't say I do.
Craig might, though.
(PANTS) (UNEASY MUSIC) (PANTS) What do you think you're doing? Can I have a glass of water? - No.
- (PANTS) (SIGHS) You have a (CLEARS THROAT) pretty good spot.
Good view of the bay from up here, Miss Bridges.
Do you use that much? - Oh, mostly for the stars.
- (GULPS) - This is Detective Harding.
- Hi.
So, what is it you want? (SIGHS) There was a party down on the beach, got a bit out of hand, Saturday of Labour Weekend wondering if you remember it.
Lots of parties all the time here.
Mm.
We got told that there was a pretty big one on a public holiday, long weekend.
- I don't know.
I go to bed early.
- Or watch the stars.
(SIGHS) Hey, do you mind if I, um, use your bathroom? First door on the right.
(DOOR CLOSES) (PANTS) (BIRDS SING) (FOOTSTEPS APPROACH) It's a good spot.
Can't touch that need a warrant.
(WATER RUNS) (WATER STOPS, TAP SQUEAKS) (SIGHS, PANTS) (BROODING MUSIC) (BREATHES SHAKILY) (GROANS) (DOOR SLAMS) Thank you, Miss Bridges.
(DOOR OPENS) (DOOR CLOSES) - Why are you in such a hurry? - We've gotta go see that guy Ronan.
(BROODING MUSIC CONTINUES) (DOOR OPENS) (HINGE SQUEAKS, LOCK CLANKS) (SEAGULLS CRY) What have we got? The Crofts own Blue Ridge Vineyard, which is one of the oldest on the island.
Uh, his mother is an art dealer.
His father used to be a surgeon.
Right, so big kahuna.
- Yeah.
- And Ronan? Ronan takes tourists out on his yacht.
Mm.
- Hate him already.
- (WOOD CREAKS) Ronan Croft? Oh, it was no big deal, you know just had too much to drink.
What exactly did Craig do? Oh, he was just coming on to the girl and getting a bit handsy; that kind of thing.
Right.
This girl? - Yeah, maybe.
- Maybe? What, she hasn't come to the police, has she? It really wasn't anything.
Can you just run us through exactly what you remember? (WATER DROPS, ECHOES) I saw Craig talking to her and trying it on, you know.
(WOOD CREAKS, SEAGULLS CRY) ECHOES: She clearly wasn't the type.
She pushed him off.
(SEAGULLS CRY) DISTORTED: I think he had a swing towards me, but, you know, he was pretty drunk.
(SPEAKS INDISTINCTLY, ECHOES) (LAUGHS) - (SEAGULLS CRY) So, you were just being an all round great guy? What is the bathroom called on a boat? - The head.
- May I? - Yeah.
- Thank you.
- It's to your left.
(WOOD CREAKS) (WOOD CREAKS) (SPEAKS INDISTINCTLY) (SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC MUFFLES DIALOGUE) (WATER DRIPS, ECHOES) (SNIFFS) ECHOES: Yep.
(WOOD CREAKS) Sorry about that, bro.
(PANTS) (MUSIC BUILDS) Fuck.
(PANTS) (SPEAKS INDISTINCTLY, MUFFLED) (BREATHES SHAKILY) (PANTS) (GRUNTS) (CELL PHONE RINGS) - That's a long way.
- Yep.
- Sorry, mate.
(GRUNTS, PANTS) - Yeah.
- (BOAT CREAKS) - (FOOTSTEPS APPROACH) - Uh Uh, boss? (CABINET THUDS) Yeah Denise.
We're needed.
- Thanks.
- Thank you.
(WATER BURBLES) Ronan.
(PAPER RUSTLES) Max found this hat in Carl Dreaver's car, says it belongs to Chelsea.
Jesus.
So he touched it, uplifted it, brought it here? Yep.
He's He's real helpful (!) (SIGHS) Max.
I'll kill him.
- I'll bloody kill him.
- Max.
Seriously, I will.
I got them to lock me up in here because if I go out there now, I won't be able to stop myself.
- Max.
- (PANTS) He's got her, hasn't he? Why else would he have her hat in his car? Well, we don't know that it's even hers.
(SCOFFS) It's a water polo team from Perth.
Who follows women's water polo here? (SIGHS) Look, you do realise that you've contaminated the evidence, right? (SIGHS SOFTLY) Look out, Jess.
Get that bastard.
(PAPER RUSTLES) (DOOR CREAKS) Rory, can you bring the search warrant? Harding, let's go.
Yeah, yeah.
- Boss.
- Yes, Pup.
This is Ruby's boyfriend, isn't it? Yeah, it's AJ.
Is Ruby in any of these? Hmm.
Should I put it up? Of course.
Don't you ever ask me something like that again.
(LOW, BROODING MUSIC) (SIREN WAILS IN DISTANCE) (LEAVES RUSTLE) (SIREN APPROACHES) Fuck.
(GRAVEL SCRAPES) (CAR DOORS SLAM) Here's your search warrant.
We're gonna search the premises and your car for any items related to Chelsea Lee.
I told you I don't know anything about her.
Recognise this? - It was found in your car.
- It must have been in lost property.
What else of Chelsea Lee's might be in lost property? (DOOR CREAKS) (INDISTINCT RADIO TRANSMISSION) So you sell other people's stuff online? Piece of shit.
- Jess.
- Yeah.
(BROODING MUSIC) (INDISTINCT RADIO TRANSMISSION) (BROODING MUSIC BUILDS) (BROODING MUSIC CONTINUES) Jess.
Jess.
Release Max from the cells.
He shouldn't be any trouble knowing that that guy's replaced him.
I'm gonna call it a day.
Sure.
Um, I'll give you a ride home, eh? Nah, I'll I wanna walk.
(FOOTSTEPS RECEDE) (PANTS) Bugger.
(WINCES) (EXHALES) (SIGHS, BREATHES SHAKILY, SNIFFS) (LOW, BROODING MUSIC) (SIGHS SHAKILY) (PANTS) (MUSIC CONTINUES) (SEAGULLS CRY, ECHO) (PANTS) Oh, fuck.
(WATER LAPS) (LOW, CONTEMPLATIVE MUSIC) (DOOR SLAMS) (CLEARS THROAT) (LIGHT SWITCH CLICKS) Ruby.
(KEYS JANGLE) (KEYS CLINK) (SIGHS) (SIGHS) (CAR ENGINE APPROACHES) (UNEASY MUSIC) (CABINET CLICKS) (WAVES LAP) (UNEASY MUSIC CONTINUES) (CRICKETS CHIRP) (DOG BARKS) (MUSIC DARKENS) Captions by Annie Curtis Edited by Julie Taylor.
Captions were made with the support of NZ On Air.
Copyright Able 2019
Yeah, I've had some memory loss since the accident.
(CRASH!) Now seems as good a time as any to offer my condolences for Alex's death.
I want Harding on this.
He needs experience.
He's an arsehole.
He reminds me of me back in the day.
You're gonna have to hold Bennington at arms length.
You know that, don't you? I'm really sorry that I couldn't be at the funeral.
I didn't go.
I'm not gonna pretend I liked him just because he's dead.
(GASPS) - Charge her.
- It It was five years ago.
Yeah, I don't think you should be heading this case.
- How's the pain level? - Morphine blunts everything.
Come on.
I just want answers, that's all.
(WATER LAPS SOFTLY) (ATMOSPHERIC MUSIC) (FERRY ENGINE WHIRRS SOFTLY) (WATER LAPS) (WATER BURBLES, FERRY THUDS) (ATMOSPHERIC MUSIC CONTINUES) (PANTS) (FERRY ENGINE WHIRRS IN DISTANCE) (SIGHS SOFTLY) (KEYS JANGLE) (DESOLATE MUSIC) (CAR ENGINE STARTS) (CAR ENGINE STARTS) (LOW, TENSE MUSIC) (TENSE MUSIC CONTINUES) (TENSE MUSIC BUILDS) (WATER RUSHES) (WATER RUSHES) (CAR ENGINE REVS) (WATER PATTERS) (CAR ENGINE REVS) (BRAKES SCREECH) (GLASS TINKLES) (SCREAMS IN SLOW MOTION) (TYRES SCREECH, HORN BLARES) (ENGINE REVS IN DISTANCE) (GASPS, PANTS) (HANDBRAKE CRANKS) (BREATHES DEEPLY) (WIND WHISTLES, WAVES LAP) Between you and me is a body of water.
Captions by Annie Curtis Edited by Julie Taylor.
Captions were made with the support of NZ On Air.
Copyright Able 2019 (INSECTS CHIRP, WAVES LAP) (CAR ENGINE APPROACHES) (CAR ENGINE STOPS, KEYS JANGLE) (CAR DOOR OPENS) (LOW, DARK MUSIC) (DOOR SLAMS, KEYS JANGLE) (SIGHS) You OK? - And you are? - Max Lee.
(KEYS CLATTER) - I need you to find my daughter.
- This is my house, that's my child, and you have no right talking your way in here.
Ah, look, I know, but this is important.
I need your help.
Her name's, uh, Chelsea.
She's 18, and she's been missing three weeks.
Cops here are useless.
I've done my research, and you're the best.
I want you to take over the case.
Yeah, police station opens at 6am, Mr Lee.
- I've come all the way from Perth.
- There's the door.
(SIGHS) Can I get a promise from ya? I'm sorry.
I don't make that call, Mr Lee.
(DOOR SQUEAKS) - Ruby? - Mm? What were you thinking? He could have been anyone.
(PAPER RUSTLES) He paid you to let him in? Oh my God.
You're so easy.
(LAUGHS SOFTLY) (SIGHS) (LOW, BROODING MUSIC) (FOREBODING MUSIC) (RAIN PATTERS) (RAINDROPS THUD) (GLASS SHATTERS) (AIR WHOOSHES, CAR CRASHES) (CHAIN TINKLES) (DISTANT THUD) Did it help you any? Uh (CLEARS THROAT) Yeah, actually, I've got a few questions.
Fire away.
(SIGHS) There's no mention of you, um, checking the brake fluid in here.
(SIGHS DEEPLY) Here, page four plenty of brake fluid.
I bled half a litre.
Well, did you send it to the lab for testing? Yeah, we tested for foreign bodies and water.
Maybe it got switched out for transmission fluid or something.
I know the difference between transmission and brake fluid, OK? I've been working on cars for over 30 years.
(SIGHS) Listen, I know you're just looking for answers, but you're not gonna find any in there.
- Why not? - Cos the car was sound.
There wasn't any evidence of tampering at all.
OK? Maybe we were being chased.
The tyre marks showed no evidence of high speed.
(METAL CLANKS) Hey, look it's understandable you wanna blame somebody for this accident.
I'm sorry, what do you what do you mean? Oh, so do you think that Alex deliberately drove us off that cliff? Is that what you're thinking, Jules? Is that your expert opinion, Jules? (SIGHS) I like you, Jess always have.
But you're a senior officer, and if you wanna come back here and question me, I'd rather have my rep around.
(LIFT WHIRRS) (CELL PHONE RINGS) (LIFT DOORS OPEN) (SIGHS) You've gotta be kidding.
It's not a CIB job though, is it? Well, can't you just get Denise to do it? Yeah, yeah.
I know.
He showed up at my house last night, demanding that I, uh Yeah, no, demanding that I take the case.
Well, who is he the new police commissioner? Yep, no, the issue is I-I've got a pile of paperwork on my desk and two court appearances next week, so when am I supposed to? Wait, who was complaining about me? This could have waited if I'd known you were in the building.
So what's wrong with my attitude? What, apart from arguing with everyone? Snapping with your colleagues? Challenging your superiors? Apart from that.
All right.
Do you wanna tell me about this shit-stirrer complainer? He's got connections, Jess, and he's using them to put heat on us.
But he has a point.
The girl's been gone for three weeks, and, you know, it looks like we've done nothing more than make a few phone calls.
I need some legwork done on this, Jess.
Yes, sir.
- Go and get bloody Harding.
He needs a run-out.
- Yes, sir.
Are you? Are you still hassling Jules about that accident report? Yes, sir.
- Could you stop? - (DRUMS TABLE) Please.
(EXHALES) - Whoa! - Sorry about that.
Come.
- Yours, sir.
- Thank you.
Black, two sugars, yeah? - Yes.
- OK, good.
OK, show me what you got.
(LOW, SOFT MUSIC) (LAUGHS) Ask any of them when they last contacted their parents.
There's a reason why they're a million miles away from home.
You do an OE? No, you? I didn't really suffer from overprotective parents.
(CELL PHONE RINGS) Jess, it's Shivani Patel here.
I was expecting you 15 minutes ago.
Yeah, um Sorry, I, er I got called away on an urgent case.
Do you think that maybe you could send my prescription through to my pharmacy? Just this time, OK? And I need to see you for a check-up.
Yeah, all right, OK.
I'll come in and pick it up this afternoon.
(BROODING MUSIC) You told me you deleted that app.
- Morena.
- Detective Max Lee, DSS Savage.
Yeah, we've met.
- Uh, this is DS Harding.
- Morning.
- Morning.
So, do you wanna bring us up to speed? I've been trying to tell your colleagues that Chelsea phoned or texted her mother every day for the whole four months she was away, and then suddenly nothing.
Uh, Senior Constable Phillips did the initial inquiry.
Um, (CLEARS THROAT) yeah, we contacted Internal Affairs, and there's been no passport activity, - so she's still in the country.
- Mm-hm.
The credit card statement the last transaction was 24th of October when she booked out of backpackers.
- The 24th is the wrong date.
- I don't I don't believe it is.
- (SIGHS) - MUTTERS: Fuck's sake.
- The The backpackers' records and the credit card statement both say the 24th of October was when she booked out.
But her contact with us ended on the 20th Saturday of Labour Weekend, and so did her social media, her text to her friends, phone calls.
The backpackers had her credit card number.
They could still be charging her today.
Chelsea has been missing since Saturday the 20th of October that night, to be exact.
(FOREBODING MUSIC) (BIRDS CHIRP OUTSIDE) - Uh, so you're taking over.
- Yeah, Pete asked me to.
Well, you might as well investigate these while you're at it.
Knock yourself out.
- (SIGHS) - Hey.
Do you think Pup's done a thorough job? Uh, no, Pup never does a thorough job on anything, but the buck stops here you're taking over from me, not him.
(SIGHS) Come on, Jess.
You know how this goes.
Chelsea will be out in a yacht somewhere in the gulf, out of cell phone range, or shacked up in some secluded bay with a new boyfriend.
(GRUNTS) All right.
Let's hope so.
Um, yeah.
You can share my office.
Thank you.
Harding can set up out there, though.
I'll see if I can get him booked into a motel.
Oh, um, unless, of course, you'd like him as a boarder (?) I'm good.
(CICADAS HUM) (RADIO BEEPS) RADIO: Waiheke to RHK.
Are you at Island Backpackers yet? Over.
RHK to Waiheke.
Just arriving now.
Over.
There's a 15-80 outside the front office.
Over.
- We're right.
- Out.
- Oh, shit.
(CAMPERS YELL) - Jesus, classy.
Fucking hell.
- Police! (YELLS, GRUNTS) - Hey! - Get him off me! Hey! - I'll wreck your fucking teeth.
- Hey! (SCREAMS) - I'll fucking wreck Get off me! - Oh, ya cocksucker! Jesus Christ! - Get off! Get off! - (YELLS) - Hey.
- Fuck your shit.
- Why don't you piss off?! - Sit down.
- Get in.
- Fucking big man! - Shut up! - What did I do wrong?! (CICADAS BUZZ, DOG BARKS) So, you have some new information about Chelsea Lee that you didn't tell Constable Phillips, yeah? - Is that right? - Yeah, that's right.
I, er, guess it could have been a few days before we realised she was gone.
You know, she hadn't checked out properly, so we just We had to guess.
Uh-huh.
So when exactly was the last time that you saw Chelsea Lee? You mean, like, in person? It was probably the Saturday.
Yeah, the 20th.
You think, probably.
Uh, yeah.
Yeah, it was a Saturday, um Yeah, the afternoon, you know.
You know, she was here, - then she was gone.
- Did she stay that night in her bunk? (CHUCKLES HOARSELY) Man, it was Labour Weekend.
You know? This place it was swarming.
Sunday night? Oh, you know what, look I don't know, because these girls they come in here, you know, they go off, they shack up with a guy.
You know? Sometimes they don't even come back, but they expect for their bunks to be kept for them.
So, yeah, it was a couple days before I-I closed off the booking.
Hmm.
So you didn't see Chelsea after the 20th.
- Nah.
- And what about her gear? (LOW, EERIE MUSIC) Nah.
Nothing.
I dunno.
They they all leave stuff behind.
Backpack? Sleeping bag? Nada.
OK.
Thank you.
Pleasure.
(RADIO CRACKLES) RHK to Waiheke.
We're bringing in Max Lee on a 15-80.
Over.
(SCOFFS) Oh, come on.
That's not really necessary, is it? RADIO: Waiheke, here.
Is that a K4 or a K9? It's a K4.
Over.
(CLEARS THROAT) (SIGHS) I know you can't do those sort of things, right? But, I mean, if it helps get the truth, then I've got no regrets.
I would do anything Mr Lee, anything that we discovered from that interview I just conducted is completely compromised by your actions.
None of it is admissible in court.
OK? So if you wanna pat yourself on the back for fucking up our operation, then you can do so from a jail cell.
(SIGHS) Mint? Fuck! (BREATHES HEAVILY) (SIGHS) Jeez, Patel.
Where are we going? There was a big party on Palm Beach on the night of the 20th.
Rory thought there was a chance that Chelsea was there, so We're gonna talk to Simone Fletcher who organised it.
Told him you wanted to check it our yourself.
(CAR ENGINE STARTS) Yeah.
(SIGHS) Don't turn that on.
(PENSIVE MUSIC) Baby, baby, don't worry.
(RADIO CRACKLES) RADIO: Could you tell me how far away you are, please? RHK to Waiheke.
Just arriving now.
Over.
(SQUAWKS) (LOW, BROODING MUSIC) - Please sit down.
- Thank you.
So, Simone, your parents they knew about the party? Well, yeah, it was my 21st, so of course.
Uh, they weren't here, though, were they? No, they have an apartment in town.
Look, I don't know what the big deal is.
Just Nothing happened.
Got a bit bigger than I planned, and someone made a noise complaint.
What time did the party wrap up? - Uh, 3? 3.
30? - Yeah, something like that.
- Matcha? - Oh, I'm fine, thank you.
Sure.
Did either of you see this girl at the party? Why? Do you wanna look at it before you answer? Well, she's not one of our friends, but heaps of the people staying for Labour Weekend just kind of joined the party.
You know? Mm-hm.
- She might have been here.
- Yeah.
Craig, did you see this girl? They're all the same to me.
(SNIGGERS) I'd remember this girl if I saw her.
Are you sure? Simone was the only girl I saw that night.
Ah.
Either of you have any photos from the night? Uh, heaps.
I can add you to the photo page if you want.
Yeah, yeah, that'd be great.
Um People are still uploading photos.
OK.
I'll give you this.
It's my card.
Justin Harding.
Yeah, these are good.
- Send you these? - Yeah.
OK.
- Cool.
- Cool.
Great.
You have fun back there? Ah, just doing my job, boss.
Just doing my job.
(PENSIVE MUSIC) (WAVES CRASH) Her last post was at the Island Backpackers on the Saturday afternoon.
- After that, there's nothing.
- Any leads on the party? Um, there's been 150 photos put up to the photo page.
94 different people.
We've been able to identify 78 of them.
Uh, that's Ken Knight's grandson Aaron, isn't it? Right, Aaron Knight.
That's 79 identified.
Still no sign of Chelsea, though, but there's still more coming through, so What about Internal Affairs? Uh, yeah, I sent them the new 'last seen on' date, and they just got back saying that she definitely didn't leave the country on those extra four days.
Seriously, why does everything on this island take twice as long? I had to wait an hour for these.
Yo.
This might be her.
That's Chelsea all right.
So she was there.
- Who took this? - Mitchell Mason.
It's, um, printing.
Get a hold of him.
I want every photo that he took at the party.
(PRINTER WHIRRS, BEEPS) And blow this one up.
All right? We need to identify everybody who's in this picture.
OK, let's jump to it, people.
Phillips, drop the chip.
(LOW, DARK MUSIC) When was this taken? The party on the island on the night of the 20th.
We know that Chelsea was one of the many who joined.
We don't know if she came alone or with someone else.
Anybody see her leave? No, but we still have a lot of people to interview yet.
(SIGHS) I made my money in, uh (SNIFFLES) mining.
Did you know that? No.
(SIGHS) She called me a rapist once.
'You're raping the earth, ' she said.
When was that? (WATER GLUGS) Before she came to New Zealand? She was always arguing with me.
(SIGHS) She thought I was a monster because of my work.
(SIGHS) I'm not the monster.
(LOW MUSIC CONTINUES) - Do you think she's still alive? - I don't know.
Your, um Your husband died recently.
I'm sorry.
(CLEARS THROAT) Where was the party? I just wanna know.
Mr Lee.
Max.
(SIGHS) Come on, now.
You fought for me to be on this case.
You pulled the strings.
Just let me do my job.
So, what makes you such a good cop? I think you trust your gut, just like I do.
- I think you're gonna find Chelsea.
- Goodnight.
(SLIDING DOOR RATTLES, CLOSES) (SOBS SOFTLY) (LOW, DARK MUSIC CONTINUES) (DOOR OPENS, CLOSES) (SLOW, SOMBRE PIANO MUSIC) (SIGHS) (SIGHS) (LOW, DARK MUSIC CONTINUES) (DISTANT SCREAMS ECHO) - Mitchell.
- Yeah.
Your Ruby's mum, eh? Detective Savage.
- How's it going? - That's Detective Harding.
- Sup, man.
- You get all my photos? Thank you.
We're, um, looking for information on this girl.
- Her name's Chelsea Lee.
- OK.
(SEAGULLS CRY) - Do you remember her? - Hmm.
To be honest, I was pretty trashed.
Oh, she might have been Oh, there was a bit of a scuffle at one point.
And the And the girl involved was actually wearing a white dress.
It's all I remember.
I'm not really sure if it was her or not.
- I was in the dug out.
- The dug out? Yeah, we dug this big hole in the sand over there, and a bunch of us just hung out there and uh, well, you know.
Gotcha.
Who was in the fight? - Uh, Craig.
- Simone's boyfriend that Craig? Yeah, yeah, he's a big of a dick when he gets a few beers in him.
Then that guy Ronan sorted him out, I think.
- Yeah, he's a good guy.
- Sorry, Ronan? Ronan Croft.
You know, the Crofts from Blue Ridge? Do you recognise anyone else in that photo, bud? Can't say I do.
Craig might, though.
(PANTS) (UNEASY MUSIC) (PANTS) What do you think you're doing? Can I have a glass of water? - No.
- (PANTS) (SIGHS) You have a (CLEARS THROAT) pretty good spot.
Good view of the bay from up here, Miss Bridges.
Do you use that much? - Oh, mostly for the stars.
- (GULPS) - This is Detective Harding.
- Hi.
So, what is it you want? (SIGHS) There was a party down on the beach, got a bit out of hand, Saturday of Labour Weekend wondering if you remember it.
Lots of parties all the time here.
Mm.
We got told that there was a pretty big one on a public holiday, long weekend.
- I don't know.
I go to bed early.
- Or watch the stars.
(SIGHS) Hey, do you mind if I, um, use your bathroom? First door on the right.
(DOOR CLOSES) (PANTS) (BIRDS SING) (FOOTSTEPS APPROACH) It's a good spot.
Can't touch that need a warrant.
(WATER RUNS) (WATER STOPS, TAP SQUEAKS) (SIGHS, PANTS) (BROODING MUSIC) (BREATHES SHAKILY) (GROANS) (DOOR SLAMS) Thank you, Miss Bridges.
(DOOR OPENS) (DOOR CLOSES) - Why are you in such a hurry? - We've gotta go see that guy Ronan.
(BROODING MUSIC CONTINUES) (DOOR OPENS) (HINGE SQUEAKS, LOCK CLANKS) (SEAGULLS CRY) What have we got? The Crofts own Blue Ridge Vineyard, which is one of the oldest on the island.
Uh, his mother is an art dealer.
His father used to be a surgeon.
Right, so big kahuna.
- Yeah.
- And Ronan? Ronan takes tourists out on his yacht.
Mm.
- Hate him already.
- (WOOD CREAKS) Ronan Croft? Oh, it was no big deal, you know just had too much to drink.
What exactly did Craig do? Oh, he was just coming on to the girl and getting a bit handsy; that kind of thing.
Right.
This girl? - Yeah, maybe.
- Maybe? What, she hasn't come to the police, has she? It really wasn't anything.
Can you just run us through exactly what you remember? (WATER DROPS, ECHOES) I saw Craig talking to her and trying it on, you know.
(WOOD CREAKS, SEAGULLS CRY) ECHOES: She clearly wasn't the type.
She pushed him off.
(SEAGULLS CRY) DISTORTED: I think he had a swing towards me, but, you know, he was pretty drunk.
(SPEAKS INDISTINCTLY, ECHOES) (LAUGHS) - (SEAGULLS CRY) So, you were just being an all round great guy? What is the bathroom called on a boat? - The head.
- May I? - Yeah.
- Thank you.
- It's to your left.
(WOOD CREAKS) (WOOD CREAKS) (SPEAKS INDISTINCTLY) (SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC MUFFLES DIALOGUE) (WATER DRIPS, ECHOES) (SNIFFS) ECHOES: Yep.
(WOOD CREAKS) Sorry about that, bro.
(PANTS) (MUSIC BUILDS) Fuck.
(PANTS) (SPEAKS INDISTINCTLY, MUFFLED) (BREATHES SHAKILY) (PANTS) (GRUNTS) (CELL PHONE RINGS) - That's a long way.
- Yep.
- Sorry, mate.
(GRUNTS, PANTS) - Yeah.
- (BOAT CREAKS) - (FOOTSTEPS APPROACH) - Uh Uh, boss? (CABINET THUDS) Yeah Denise.
We're needed.
- Thanks.
- Thank you.
(WATER BURBLES) Ronan.
(PAPER RUSTLES) Max found this hat in Carl Dreaver's car, says it belongs to Chelsea.
Jesus.
So he touched it, uplifted it, brought it here? Yep.
He's He's real helpful (!) (SIGHS) Max.
I'll kill him.
- I'll bloody kill him.
- Max.
Seriously, I will.
I got them to lock me up in here because if I go out there now, I won't be able to stop myself.
- Max.
- (PANTS) He's got her, hasn't he? Why else would he have her hat in his car? Well, we don't know that it's even hers.
(SCOFFS) It's a water polo team from Perth.
Who follows women's water polo here? (SIGHS) Look, you do realise that you've contaminated the evidence, right? (SIGHS SOFTLY) Look out, Jess.
Get that bastard.
(PAPER RUSTLES) (DOOR CREAKS) Rory, can you bring the search warrant? Harding, let's go.
Yeah, yeah.
- Boss.
- Yes, Pup.
This is Ruby's boyfriend, isn't it? Yeah, it's AJ.
Is Ruby in any of these? Hmm.
Should I put it up? Of course.
Don't you ever ask me something like that again.
(LOW, BROODING MUSIC) (SIREN WAILS IN DISTANCE) (LEAVES RUSTLE) (SIREN APPROACHES) Fuck.
(GRAVEL SCRAPES) (CAR DOORS SLAM) Here's your search warrant.
We're gonna search the premises and your car for any items related to Chelsea Lee.
I told you I don't know anything about her.
Recognise this? - It was found in your car.
- It must have been in lost property.
What else of Chelsea Lee's might be in lost property? (DOOR CREAKS) (INDISTINCT RADIO TRANSMISSION) So you sell other people's stuff online? Piece of shit.
- Jess.
- Yeah.
(BROODING MUSIC) (INDISTINCT RADIO TRANSMISSION) (BROODING MUSIC BUILDS) (BROODING MUSIC CONTINUES) Jess.
Jess.
Release Max from the cells.
He shouldn't be any trouble knowing that that guy's replaced him.
I'm gonna call it a day.
Sure.
Um, I'll give you a ride home, eh? Nah, I'll I wanna walk.
(FOOTSTEPS RECEDE) (PANTS) Bugger.
(WINCES) (EXHALES) (SIGHS, BREATHES SHAKILY, SNIFFS) (LOW, BROODING MUSIC) (SIGHS SHAKILY) (PANTS) (MUSIC CONTINUES) (SEAGULLS CRY, ECHO) (PANTS) Oh, fuck.
(WATER LAPS) (LOW, CONTEMPLATIVE MUSIC) (DOOR SLAMS) (CLEARS THROAT) (LIGHT SWITCH CLICKS) Ruby.
(KEYS JANGLE) (KEYS CLINK) (SIGHS) (SIGHS) (CAR ENGINE APPROACHES) (UNEASY MUSIC) (CABINET CLICKS) (WAVES LAP) (UNEASY MUSIC CONTINUES) (CRICKETS CHIRP) (DOG BARKS) (MUSIC DARKENS) Captions by Annie Curtis Edited by Julie Taylor.
Captions were made with the support of NZ On Air.
Copyright Able 2019