Chemistry of Death (2023) s01e04 Episode Script

You got me back into this.
You need to get me another job.
Okay, a favour for a friend of mine
is all I've got to offer you.
Body found on the island of
Runa a couple of days ago.
They need someone asap.
Andrew Brody.
You found the body
- and contacted DCI Wallace?
- Aye.
You two thinking of walking there?
Best not keep Sergeant Fraser waiting.
Have you ever seen anything like this?
No. It's a highly unusual burn.
Who lives there?
The Strachans.
Came to Runa from
God-knows-where.
- Four?
- Six.
That's not what we agreed.
So, say no.
You inviting us in to keep us quiet?
- Aye.
- I can feel a depression.
What is it?
Caused by an impact to the skull.
So, unlawful killing.
In all likelihood, yes.
Ah!
Morning. How are you feeling?
Yeah.
Rested, thank you.
How's your shoulder?
I can take a look if you
like. I'm a trained nurse.
It's just slight bruising, I think.
Oh, you shouldn't have
gone to all this trouble.
Oh, it's nothing.
It's nice to have a guest.
Please, sit down.
Do you take sugar?
No, thank you.
Wow.
You know, I really could
have gone back to the hotel last night.
You're all right. Stopping
here saved me a trip.
Hi.
You weren't making much
sense when I found you.
Yeah, no, I think the crash
jolted me more than I thought.
That's my favourite spot, up there.
It's easy to get lost.
These mountains can be unforgiving.
Yeah.
No, I'll, erm I'll
stick to the road next time.
I phoned the hotel to let
them know you were here,
so Sergeant Fraser's on her way.
Right.
You'll be on your way later today, okay?
Not long now.
Most schools across Western Scotland
will remain closed today,
due to the high winds and extreme rain
caused by Storm Marley.
Trains across the region
are running a limited service
due to high winds and debris
being blown onto tracks.
Multiple alerts and
warnings for flooding
are also in place across the region,
and thousands of households
What are you fucking playing at?
I found the car. I put
your stuff in the boot.
- Thank you.
- You're welcome.
What happened up there?
I came off the road and
I climbed up, trying
to find my bearings.
Clearly, you didn't find them.
When you do, DCI Wallace
is expecting your call.
Well, there is evidence
of blunt force trauma
at the base of the skull.
And that's what caused
her death, not the fire?
It's hard to be 100%, but highly likely.
Sir?
Stay there. I'll pull
the team off the crash.
They'll be with you tomorrow morning.
Have you got enough
evidence to make an ID?
Doubtful.
Heat will have destroyed the DNA.
Until we get her to a lab,
until we get the support teams
What you doing there?
Huh?
What you doing?
Work.
Mm-hmm.
Work's what you do with these?
Right.
You ever get your hands dirty?
Sometimes, yeah.
Yeah, bullshit.
These hands never worked a day.
Soft like bankers' hands.
Was it you?
What?
Who stole my boat.
Right, you big lump.
Had enough to drink yet?
Never.
Oh, excuse me.
He's always like that
after a couple of drinks.
Bank repossessed his boat
a couple of years back
and he's never really got over it.
They're a law unto themselves, that lot.
I know. You ready for yours, Andrew?
No, I'm fine, thank you, Ellen.
I'll give it a bye tonight.
As you wish.
Here.
Read this.
At least they spelt our names right.
Aren't you concerned?
This article is likely
to alert the killer.
I'm just here to examine the body.
Sorry for butting in
on your crime scene.
Maggie Cassidy, Lewis Gazette.
Oh, right.
Only doing my job.
Come on, I could've made it a lot worse.
I heard you were at the
Strachans' last night.
Friends of yours?
No.
What can you tell me about them?
I've got work. Goodnight.
He doesn't have a past.
Michael.
Not in any company records.
Maybe he changed his name.
Is that what respectable businessmen do?
There's no record of
his marriage either.
Why are you telling me?
There's more.
Might have something
to do with your case.
I'm not police. It's not my case.
Exactly.
In case you wanna talk.
Goodnight.
I really love you.
Stop.
I'm sorry.
Goodnight, Mary, my darling.
Night.
I know you're not loving it here.
It's all right.
It's shit.
You know, if this case wraps up in time,
we can still go on holiday.
We can rebook the flights.
How many times have I heard that one?
You don't know how much I hate the job.
So, stop.
Don't just moan.
I never thought I'd be stuck like this.
I'm rubbish with money.
It's not easy, being on your own.
You could try drinking less.
In two years I get my pension,
and then we can go wherever we want.
Just stay here with Ellen
just a wee while longer.
On "Old People's Island".
Aye, well, at least you're safe here.
And you're away from
that bastard in Stornoway.
We'll talk about it on holiday.
But after that, there's no
way I'm coming back here.
All good?
Me or the cottage?
Yourself.
The old van nearly took off a few times,
but apart from that, okay.
And the cottage?
Rain's getting in on the
right, but not near the body.
But the window has blown in.
I've done what I can.
Shit, we need to get her to a lab.
Let's sort this out before CSI arrive.
- Tarp's in the boot.
- Yep.
You're late.
The storm is getting worse.
The police aren't interested in us.
Their focus is on that cottage.
For now.
Gunther, go and feed them.
It was my job yesterday.
Exactly. But I had to do
it, so it's your job now.
Yep, yep, yep!
Fold it up.
It won't fold over!
Yes, sir!
Okay, double it over. Double it over!
The ferries have stopped running.
There's no support coming today.
What about a helicopter?
He's asking about a helicopter.
- No.
- When are we getting support?
So, when can we expect a team over?
- That's it.
- Understood, Sir.
Hold it there. That's it.
No. Looks like we're on our own.
Here. Food and water.
You're wet.
Yes.
Here. This cup of tea will warm you up.
Anna, let Doctor Hunter past.
I was giving him tea.
She's always been such a curious soul.
That's a good thing.
Thank you.
Hey, you okay?
Sorry, I'm just
feeling a bit rough is all.
- Is there anything I can do?
- No.
I'm just popping out.
I don't mean to be funny,
but can we do this later?
Sure.
I'm fine.
- You sure?
- Honest.
You know if there's a record
of people arriving
and leaving the island?
What are you doing?
Our woman's 5' 9", top 97 percentile.
If I can start to narrow down
the missing person's list
No, what do you think you're doing?
- I'm trying to ID a body.
- No.
No, your job is to work with the body.
My job's to keep your safe.
Duncan's job is to do what I tell him.
All our jobs are to do
what Wallace tells us, okay?
Right now, we have to sit tight
and wait for the CSIs to turn up.
I've been sick maybe
half a dozen times now.
- Any pain?
- Here.
Cramping.
It's like a sharp pain.
Not all the time, though.
I just thought I don't know,
maybe appendicitis or
- Okay if I feel?
- Yeah, of course.
Okay.
I'm just gonna prod gently.
I'm not getting any
hardness. That's good.
Have you had a fever?
I don't think so.
But I felt woozy.
Okay.
Take a breath. Tongue down for me.
That's fine.
Has the pain moved
from the centre of your
abdomen, down to here, like this?
Not really. It's always
here when it comes.
When was your last period?
I'm not sure. I'm not that regular.
Are you sexually active?
Now and again.
Aren't we all?
But recently enough to be pregnant?
Yeah. I think so.
Three fatalities have
already been reported
as a result of Storm Marley.
An eight-year-old boy
and his 42-year-old father
from Stornoway,
and a 62-year-old woman from Inverness.
Disruption to travel
is likely to continue,
and thousands of households
remain without power.
Adverse weather conditions have also led
to the cancellation
of all ferry services
for safety reasons,
as gusts of up to 90 miles per hour
Hi. I think I need to
talk to a detective.
I'm long retired, son.
And Fraser's a better
detective than you think.
Yeah, and Duncan's a lovely lad,
but you were the one with the rank.
Whoo! Better have yourself a seat.
Thank you.
So, we know that the
killing was unlawful.
How do you know for sure?
Blunt force trauma to
the base of the skull.
But Wallace has sent over
the missing persons list.
What, from Runa?
No, a hundred-mile radius.
Our body's female, 25 to
30 years old, around 5'9",
so that narrows it down
to nine possibilities.
And we know she died
at least four weeks ago,
so if we take out
anyone reported missing
within the last month
It leaves us with three.
Well?
Ah. Congratulations.
Okay, let's get you an appointment
with the GP when he next visits.
Actually, if you don't mind,
I'd like to see my own, in Stornoway.
Oh. Yeah, sure.
That's fine, if that's what you want.
But we're here if you need anything.
I hope that was good news.
There's a good chance she
came over on the ferry.
Aye, fair assumption.
And I imagine not much
gets past you, living here.
Old habits are hard to shake.
I don't think I'm in
a position to help you,
because I don't recognise any of them.
You'd be better off talking to Kinross,
the ferry captain
amongst other things.
Nothing happens between
Runa and Stornoway
without him knowing.
The trouble will be to get him talking.
You're not police, and
I'm an old man with a dog.
- We've no power.
- No.
Or mainland support. I just
wanna try and do something.
Folk round here, David,
don't take kindly to
strangers asking questions.
If I were you, I'd lay
low until CSI appear.
Yeah. That's what Fraser said.
Well, she's right.
- Duncan?
- Listen, the tarpaulin's gone.
- And some of the roof.
- Shit.
I've done what I can, I'm
trying to fix it, but
Okay, keep doing that.
If you guys could get here
- Yep.
- All right.
Do what you can. I'll be there soon.
- Yeah. I'll see you in a bit.
- Okay. Bye.
Thanks for that.
Mind how you go.
Duncan called. Rain's getting in.
Ah, shit.
- You all right to drive?
- Yeah, of course I bloody am.
Fuck!
Sorry!
- Don't worry!
- There was nothing I could do!
Don't worry! It's not your fault!
You didn't cause the storm!
I have to save her!
- Where the fuck's he going? David! David!
- Stop!
- David!
- Stop!
Get out of there! Get out!
Shit! Get the fuck out
of here, it's coming down!
We need the evidence!
That's an order!
David, it's not safe!
For Christ's sake, just leave it!
It's coming down! Get
out! That's an order!
David, please!
Fuck! Come on, get up!
No, no, no, no!
This is Captain Kinross from
the Runa-Stornoway ferry.
Nothing.
No signal.
That'll be the mast down on Lewis.
So, no forecast then.
What are we doing with our guests?
They were already unhappy this morning.
God's sake, we're not
running a bloody hotel.
Aye, but with the temperature dropping,
you cannot just leave
them in there, Ian.
Why don't we set them free?
We'll round them up
when the storm is over.
With the island crawling with police?
There's no saying how
long this'll be on us.
I know.
The rain keeps up, they'll
be getting hypothermia.
I know!
Anyone here?
Hello?
Hi.
Oh, hi.
Listen, we've lost our crime scene,
and we really need to store
some forensic evidence somewhere,
if you can help us?
The storm's screwed us.
Sure, yeah.
I just need to move a few
things from the fridge.
That's great, thank you.
Okay. Come with me.
Yeah.
Thank you.
Sergeant Fraser for DCI
Wallace. Come in. Over.
Sergeant Fraser for DCI
Wallace. Come in. Over.
Sergeant Fraser for DCI
Wallace. Come in. Over.
Listen, if it's a bad time,
Mrs Strachan, I can come back.
Oh, I really only see
patients at the clinic.
Well, actually I'm not
here because I'm ill.
You know I'm with the
Lewis Herald, right?
Well, I was hoping I might
do a piece about the clinic.
You've done so much for
my gran and the community.
It'd be part of a series about
how much outsiders contribute
to these small island communities.
In the early history of man,
there was widespread ritual belief
that eating the brains of the dead
allowed their wisdom to pass on.
Even now, with the brain gone,
entering the intimate space of a skull
remains an almost sacred journey.
It can't be very precise if
you're measuring from a photo.
No.
So why do it?
Relative ratio.
Can be surprisingly accurate.
For example, if you measure
the distance between the eyes,
set against the length of the nose.
And you're comparing that to the skull?
Exactly.
Which indicates
that's likely our victim.
She has a prominent glabella,
and a wider, U-shaped maxillary arcade.
Hello, Kelly-Anne.
I think I've seen that girl before.
Hm?
Her?
Where?
I don't know, but she's familiar.
Maybe from when I was younger, or
Kelly-Anne. Kelly-Anne Donaldson.
No. No, that wasn't
her name, I don't think.
You sure it's her?
Yeah. Yeah It might be.
So, what's her name?
I can't remember.
- Come on, Duncan.
- I'm sorry.
Was it someone you went on holiday with?
A family friend? Was it
someone you knew at
I'm sorry. Sorry.
- It's okay.
- Sorry, David.
Sorry.
I didn't realise you
were a designer too.
I'm not. But you're
great with the flattery.
Seriously, though,
this place is amazing.
I just like nesting, I suppose.
I wish I could get to nest.
I'm so sick of renting.
One reason why I'm always at Gran's.
And she is getting on a bit.
She is healthy for her age.
I've only seen her twice, I think.
Aye, but it's so important
for the older folk to know
there's proper care on the island.
You're saving lives just by being here.
Yeah, I wish more of them agreed.
Don't they?
That's mad.
Well, maybe this article can help.
Hello?
Hello, Duncan?
Hello?
Is someone there?
Hello?
But I think at the end of the day,
a community only works
when everyone contributes.
That was great. Thanks so much.
Do you mind if I took
a couple of pictures?
I could do with the loo
first, though, if that's okay?
Oh, of course. There's
one just by the front door.
Thanks.
Oh, sorry. I just wanted to
make sure you hadn't got lost.
House is a bit of a maze.
No, I just didn't feel so brilliant.
- I'm fine now.
- Do you need something?
No, I'm good, thanks.
You still wanna take some photographs?
Yeah, please.
Someone was clearly curious
about what you were up to.
They were watching you for a while.
Did you not think to close the hatches?
No.
Look, it's now a forensic lab.
We need to secure the building properly.
Okay. Okay, I'll swing by the boatyard.
They'll have a padlock.
- Did you speak to Duncan?
- Oh, yeah.
Yeah, he told us he recognised her.
So, maybe she changed her name.
Maybe.
Brodie reckons maybe
Duncan's a bit keen to please.
Yeah.
I'll be right back.
Maggie Cassidy was here.
Okay.
Yeah, she wanted to do an
interview for the paper,
about the clinic.
And did you?
She really seemed to understand
what we're trying to do.
Well, it's her job to understand.
She's a journalist.
I know, but I almost
felt hopeful by the end.
Either way,
I'd rather she wasn't nosing
around in our business.
She promised to let us see a transcript
before it goes in the paper.
Okay.
How was the clinic today? Anyone pop in?
Just the one, Ellen.
She's pregnant.
Hey, come here.
Have I told you how
much I love you recently?
I know.
Hey, darling.
Hi. But do you think
he'll be okay after that?
He'll be fine.
Well, I mean, let's see
how he is in the morning.
He's tougher than he looks.
- Keep an eye on the radio.
- Yeah.
It's your round, by the way.
You said that padlock
was for the crime scene
at the old cottage, not
for the community hall.
What are you not telling me?
- What's it got to do with you?
- I don't like being lied to.
Well, none of us do.
What's going on up there?
Look, as I said, it's none
of your business, okay?
Islanders don't take kindly to
outsiders telling us how it is.
Oh, I do hope that wasn't a threat.
You're a long way from Stornoway here.
Look, storm blew down the cottage.
We had to evacuate.
There was evidence that
Dr Hunter had gathered
that needed somewhere to be stored.
Is that right?
Yeah. Yeah.
Why didn't you say that?
Because it's a police matter.
From what I hear, you're
barely police anymore.
Oh. From what I hear,
you're not just the ferryman.
Oh, come on. Why the
sudden need for secrecy?
Cos it's a murder inquiry.
Right, what are we having, boys?
Same as usual.
- Hey.
- Hey.
I've got something to tell you.
I know.
Grace told you.
Christ, this just isn't simple, is it?
Look, whatever you
decide, I'll support you.
I'm having it.
Okay.
I'm glad.
Do you wanna leave the island?
What, because I'd be
an embarrassment to you?
No. God no.
I love Runa, and I love you.
But would it work?
I like Grace. That's
been hard enough as it is.
Let's go away, then.
Me and you.
- Really?
- Yeah.
Like, away altogether?
After everything you've built here?
Yeah.
Well, what about Grace?
It's not about her.
It's about me and you.
And Anna?
Oh, she'll be all right.
Just leave her here.
Come on, you know I love Anna.
Oh, come here
Come here.
It'll be all right.
I have to get back to work.
Hello!
Anybody there?
David.
David.
David.
Fuck.
Help! Help!
Help! Help!