Professor T (2021) s01e04 Episode Script

1
Catching up on the news?
Someone left it lying on my desk.
Students.
- I've opened your mail.
- Anything of interest?
I don't read the contents.
Although I couldn't help noticing
an invitation to your mother's
upcoming exhibition.
If she drops by, please inform her
I am indisposed.
But what if she insists?
Give her your signature look.
What signature look?
MUSIC: 'Come Te Non C'e Nessuno'
by Rita Pavone
MUSIC VOLUME SWELLS
A word with you please, Jasper.
Your absence from the faculty
meeting was widely commented on.
Your colleagues are beginning to
grumble, and this hobby of yours
- I do not have hobbies.
- Playing detective!
- Nor do I play.
- It's distracting you.
Your students have begun
to complain, and your substitute.
It was an exercise in observation.
You asked them to stare at a fish,
Jasper, for 45 minutes.
QUIET BUBBLING
KNOCK AT DOOR
The detectives are here, Professor.
So you're discouraging me
from advising the police?
Oh, huh! Well, not at all, no.
We must all do what we can
to maintain the rule of law.
Oh, and will I see you later?
As you've made abundantly clear,
I should focus on my work.
Well, that's all sorted, then.
This is Charlie Turner, six years
old, missing since last night.
Charlie was apparently home alone
with her father, Max.
KNOCKING He's shy.
Right.
Charlie's mother was out at yoga.
There was an also an au pair,
Sally Bains, lives with the family
but had been given the evening off.
The front door was open
when she got home.
Sally finds the father unconscious,
badly beaten up.
Mr Turner?
And Lucy, the mother, arrives home
at exactly that moment.
- What happened?
- I don't know.
Max? Where's Charlie?
Charlie?!
Call the police!
All Max claims to remember
is the security light
going on in the garden.
He opens the door to investigate
and is jumped by a masked assailant.
The next thing, he's waking up
on the floor with his wife shrieking
- the house down.
- We're treating it as a kidnap.
And yet there's been no contact
from whoever took Charlie.
No note, no call, nothing.
Detective Chief Inspector Brand
has asked you to run the rule
over the family and their story,
see if they're telling the truth.
You've proved you're expert
at dealing with kidnappers.
You're here during the day,
even when Charlie's at school?
I don't have anywhere else to be.
Did you notice anything out of the
ordinary prior to the kidnapping?
DOOR CLOSES
- Morning.
- Morning.
This is Professor Tempest,
he's a consultant criminologist.
- You've still had no contact?
- No.
That's not necessarily
a bad thing though, right?
In a classic kidnapping
with extortion,
one would expect contact
within the first 24 hours.
So it is a bad sign?
It's much too early to say.
Parents are obsessed
with stranger danger,
and there are a few such cases
where a child is trafficked,
but most kidnappings of minors
involve a close family member.
- What are you implying?
- Absolutely nothing at all.
The logical explanation, of course,
is that your daughter witnessed
the assault and they've taken her
to ensure her silence.
SHE SOBS
WHISPERING: Come with me.
You're not supposed to be
winding them up. Just evaluate them.
No further evaluation is necessary,
for Mrs Turner at least.
- Just like that, no more questions?
- Indeed.
- And him?
- His injuries are genuine.
So we should believe him?
Not necessarily,
but if his story's true, we need
to adjust to a new hypothesis.
OK, what's that?
The fact he was badly hurt
suggests his assailants
were settling a score, not just
intending to neutralise him.
So if Charlie has been kidnapped,
that means they know who did it.
You know who the kidnappers are.
What?!
If we did, why would we keep it
from you?
Our daughter is missing.
Rest assured, Mrs Turner.
We'll be on it day and night, OK?
We'll do everything in our power
to find Charlie.
CHILD: Can you push me?
- Where's my mummy?
- She'll be here soon.
I want Mummy!
Oh, shut up
or I'll fetch the bogeyman,
who eats cry-babies
with ketchup for breakfast.
I need to ask you something.
Promise you won't get angry?
Yeah, I promise.
Is Kevin involved in this?
- Kevin? What you saying?
- Just tell me, is he involved?
Oh, come on! He couldn't.
There is no way. No way.
I'm sorry. I don't know what to do.
It's OK.
Let's not bring Kevin into this.
MUSIC: 'Una Lacrima Sul Viso'
by Bobby Solo
YELL ECHOES
KNOCK AT DOOR
Jasper, darling, are you there?
I can hear you hiding.
Jasper.
Dear heart, you haven't
replied to my invitation.
I'm unaware to which invitation
you're referring.
For my exhibition.
Don't tell me you didn't receive it.
Perhaps it got lost in the post.
No matter, always carry a spare.
Répondez vous, s'il vous plait.
How are you?
Busy. Very busy, Mother.
Too busy to attend an exhibition.
Surely not.
It would mean so much to me.
I will ask Miss Snares
to have another look at my schedule,
- but I cannot promise anything.
- Will you, dear?
I need to close the door now,
Mother.
Yes, of course. Very well.
Don't forget to dress up.
Thanks.
You know I love Charlie, don't you?
Of course I do.
You think I'm too hard on her.
- I've got no patience.
- No, I don't.
- CLATTERING
- Sometimes
Is there somewhere you could stay
for a few days?
Er I could ask one of my friends.
Would you mind?
We could do with some space.
You'll still get paid.
Your turn.
I want to watch telly.
I don't have a telly.
Hey!
I'm letting you win,
you little brat. Just roll the dice.
I don't like this game.
- Well, have a bloody nap, then!
- I'm not tired!
Here's some juice. Drink it.
DISTANT SIREN
FOOTSTEPS APPROACH
Morning.
We pulled an all-nighter.
And?
Not much to show for it.
I'm not convinced the professor's
right about this one.
He suggested the Turners
may know who took their daughter.
So he believes the kidnap story?
I think he believes Mrs Turner,
not so sure about Mr.
Max Turner's name popped up
in an investigation into VAT fraud.
And this other guy, Kevin Charters.
There was an accusation
they were importing mobile phones
and dodging the VAT.
- The case was dismissed.
- Seems pretty small-fry.
There might be more to it,
we could take a look.
Go on, then, get on with it.
And don't go accusing anyone
of anything unless we're sure.
Roger that.
Excuse me,
where can I find Kevin Charters?
- Thank you.
- Thank you.
- Kidnapped?
- You hadn't heard?
I had no idea. When did it happen?
How would you describe
your relationship with Max Turner?
- We do business together.
- What sort?
We import. Mobiles, tablets,
consoles, that sort of thing.
Has he had any trouble
with anyone recently?
No idea. We're not that close.
But you were jointly investigated
for VAT fraud.
- That was a misunderstanding.
- A misunderstanding?
Max bought a load of mobiles
- from an intermediary
- PHONE RINGS
Turned out to be
a bit of a dodgy character.
We were completely cleared.
Your case was dismissed, it's not
the same as being exonerated.
We reported ourselves
to the tax office,
that's not something you do
if you're guilty, is it?
Dan.
You're welcome.
- We'll be there as quickly as we can.
- What's the hurry?
Someone's made contact
with the family.
We'll re-mortgage the house.
- It'll take too long.
- Then we'll take out a loan.
Jesus, Max, just tell the truth.
You don't think Charlie's worth it.
I'm sorry.
I'm so sorry.
DOOR BELL RINGS
I'll go.
Listen, it's no good
us blaming each other, OK?
This was in the roadside mailbox.
- That's ballsy.
- Yeah, or stupid.
Either way,
it suggests they're local.
And it also suggests
the Turners are telling the truth.
There was a lock of hair with it,
the mum swears it's Charlie's.
There's only one way to find out.
We need to establish beyond doubt
that this is Charlie's hair.
Mrs Turner, would you provide
a sample for a DNA test?
Well, that's not going to work.
Charlie's adopted.
We can take a sample from something
she's kept in close proximity.
A comfort blanket or a cuddly toy?
I'll get the monkey.
- You need another coffee?
- I need an early night.
- Well, that's not gonna happen.
- Mmm.
You might want to bring
your toothbrush.
EXHALES
You might not want
to stand so close.
It's gone.
I can't find Mops.
Don't worry, Mrs Turner,
a toothbrush will do just as well.
I found myself wondering
whether to encourage my mother
in making an exhibition of herself.
FISH: It might prove you're human.
Being human is overrated.
It is messier than being a fish.
I think my water may need changing.
You know I do everything in here.
KNOCK AT DOOR,
DOOR OPENS
DS Donckers to see you.
And the other one.
A ransom demand,
but no further instructions.
They sent a lock of hair that
matches Charlie's DNA, but get this.
Charlie is adopted.
How did you know?
It is not impossible for parents
with brown eyes to produce
a child with blue,
but it is statistically unlikely.
I therefore surmised that genetics
might be the source of the tension
that so clearly exists
between the Turners.
BRIGHT CLASSICAL MUSIC
So, what now?
We'll come back another time.
CLATTER Ah! Damn it.
Don't worry, I've got it.
- Don't give me that look.
- I'm saying nothing.
A-six-year old child is missing
and we're just flailing about.
Relax.
- It's gonna be all right.
- Stop it!
- Sorry, I just
- Stop being so nice to me, Dan.
All the flipping time.
You're tired,
you need to get some sleep.
WHISPERING: Wait, wait.
I can't do this.
- Not here.
- You want to go back to mine?
Just it doesn't feel right.
Not when that little girl
is missing,
her parents must be worried sick.
I'm sorry, Dan.
Let's call it a rain check.
Yeah, I'm cool with that.
If you need me,
I'll be at my desk
making out with what's left
of this meat feast.
Max.
It was in the mailbox.
Please, Max.
I want our daughter back.
Dan.
- Dan.
- What?
Sally Bains is dead.
- Who?
- Sally Bains, Charlie's au pair.
- Oh, what happened?
- She overdosed.
Two years ago.
The Turners' au pair
is not who she claims to be.
MUSIC: '500 Miles'
by Peter, Paul and Mary
If you missed the train I'm on ♪
You will know that I am gone ♪
You can hear the whistle blow ♪
A hundred miles ♪
A hundred miles, a hundred miles ♪
You can hear the whistle blow ♪
A hundred miles ♪
Lord, I'm one ♪
Lord, I'm two ♪
Lord, I'm three ♪
♪
♪Lord, I'm four ♪
Lord, I'm 500 miles ♪
A hundred miles. ♪
Nikki.
Nikki Trent,
that's your real name.
Come on, Nikki, you haven't
exactly covered your tracks.
You're still friends
with Sally on Facebook.
I'm not hurting anyone.
Identity theft is a crime.
I'm sure you can explain.
Sally was a few years above me
at school.
We used to go drinking together.
She gave me her old driving licence
so I could use it as ID.
Then she let me stay at her place
after my mum kicked me out.
Why did your mum do that?
Teenage shit.
Drugs and stuff.
I ended up living rough
and burgled a petrol station.
I was still inside
when Sally overdosed.
That must have been tough.
After I got out,
I was just desperate for a job,
- but no-one would really look at me.
- I'm not surprised.
How on earth did you get employed
as an au pair?
I sent off a replacement
for Sally's old ID.
It was easy enough
to get a DBS check.
Hmm.
Hmmm.
It's a bit too coincidental.
The Turners taking on a new au pair
a matter of weeks
before Charlie is kidnapped.
I hadn't thought of it like that.
An au pair who has the evening off
on the night in question.
Do you know the kidnappers, Nikki?
This is an inside job,
you moved in under a false name
to keep them informed.
That's not true.
Did they promise you a cut?
- A cut of what?
- The ransom, Nikki.
What ransom?
- There isn't a ransom, is there?
- Don't play the innocent.
Do you have something to tell us,
Nikki?
No, it's
none of my business, really.
What isn't?
What isn't your business?
Charlie, she's a
She's a sweetheart,
but she can be a bit demanding.
Demanding?
She cries a lot.
She's She has nightmares,
still wets the bed sometimes.
And Mr Turner,
he can't really deal with that.
Does he lose his temper?
I had a weekend off one time and
when I came back, Max said that
Charlie had fallen down the stairs.
And you didn't believe him?
Nikki Trent served 18 months
for burglary.
She may be involved,
but it can only be indirectly.
She was at the cinema,
we have CCTV of her.
She was spotted at the petrol
just after 9pm,
we responded to Mrs Turner's
call at
9:34pm.
It's not enough time
to kidnap Charlie.
There's no way
she beat up Max Turner.
Her statement checks out.
Charlie was taken to A&E
ten days ago,
significant bruising
to her arms and lower back,
referred to social services,
but no follow-up as yet.
So our original thoughts
could still be right.
- Max was home alone with Charlie.
- He lost control.
He could have written
the ransom note himself.
Let's question him again.
You're very quiet there, Jasper.
Uncharacteristically so.
I have a theory.
Anything you care to share with us?
No.
Not until I have a further
piece of evidence to corroborate it.
Fair enough.
Hours.
- I know.
- We've done everything they asked.
Maybe we should have told the police
that we were planning to pay.
Mr Turner.
We have a few more questions.
- Has something happened to Charlie?
- It's not about the kidnap.
It's OK.
I'll be right back.
Can you explain this?
I'm not having this.
Charlie fell down the stairs, she
was in her socks and she slipped,
- you know how kids are.
- She doesn't, actually.
- Neither of us do.
- Why don't you enlighten us?
I would never hurt my daughter.
Then you should really think about
telling us everything you know.
Kevin sent the guy who beat me up.
Why would he do that?
He gave me 400 grand to buy laptops
and stuff in Newcastle.
I was exhausted
so I checked into a hotel.
Someone broke into the van
and took the lot.
- And Kevin believes you staged it.
- What would you think?
So he kidnapped Charlie to try
and pressure you to pay him back?
But I paid it.
You what?
I paid.
100,000, cash, as instructed.
Charlie still hasn't been returned.
VIOLIN CONCERTO PLAYS
VOLUME FADES
Sir, your meter's still running.
Would you restore the volume,
please.
VOLUME SWELLS
If Kevin thinks Max stole 400 grand
off him, why only demand 100?
- Maybe it's the down-payment.
- It just doesn't add up.
He's clearly not telling us
everything to knows.
Pay him another visit
and search his warehouse.
What do you think?
Kevin Charters is clearly not
involved in the kidnapping.
Does anyone care what I think?
I think we owe Max Turner
an apology.
An apology? What for?
Implying he abused his daughter.
He must be going through hell.
Oh, come on. Don't let your emotions
colour your judgement.
- That's enough.
- Lisa, stop.
What? It's true. We can't keep
tiptoeing on eggshells
- just because
- Lisa, stop it.
That's enough!
I'm not gonna take lectures
on professionalism from you.
- Not when the two of you
- DS Donckers is right.
Detective Inspector Rabbit
is traumatised.
Alcohol is the anaesthesia by which
we endure the operation of life.
He's drinking excessively
and it's affecting his judgement.
She is the only one brave enough
to acknowledge it
because you are too loyal,
and you are too kind.
Hey, hey, hey, hey!
- CONCERTO ENDS
- Thank you so much. Keep the change.
In Auschwitz, some mothers
threw themselves under the trains
when their child
was taken from them.
I've tried everything,
it just won't come out.
I understand Charlie isn't
the only one who's gone missing.
Mops.
That's what she calls her monkey.
Detective, I've found something.
- We found this in your warehouse.
- "Hey, Mister,
"what was I doing between
your phones and your tablets?"
I swear to God, this is the
first time I've laid eyes on that.
Do you believe that?
I've got nothing to do
with the kidnapping, all right?
You will not get away with this,
Kevin.
Look.
I sent my guy around, OK?
But I didn't kidnap his little girl.
Did you ask for money?
What are you doing here?
No. Did you ask them for money, Mum?
- Well, answer me.
- Of course I did.
- Mum, this wasn't about bloody money.
- We'll need it to start over, babe.
Where is she?
Hey, Charlie?
Charlie?
Hey.
What is wrong with her?
Have you drugged her?
- No.
- What have you given her?
Are you mad?
Yeah, well, you of all people
should know I'm not good with kids.
I'm just here to help you out.
You called me, remember.
I didn't ask to get involved.
Oh, come on, love. Mr Turner sent
a text, the money's all there,
it's just waiting for us
to pick it up.
Professor?
- Where are you?
- 'On the roof.'
- Oh, yeah, your special place.
- 'It helps me think.'
Keeps me calm.
'Could probably do with spending
some time up there myself.'
You're most welcome to, and
Detective Inspector Rabbit as well,
in my absence, of course.
'He may have some thinking time
on his hands.'
DCI Brown placed him on sick leave,
told him to sort himself out.
'An act of kindness, I believe.'
Mm.
'We're about to charge
Kevin Charters.'
I told you, Kevin Charters is not
involved in Charlie's kidnap.
'But we found Charlie's toy
in his warehouse.'
And the ransom money?
It was still there,
we returned it to the Turners.
'Well, you need to put it back.'
- Why on earth would we do that?
- 'DS Donckers'
are you familiar with the theory
of broken windows?
Broken windows.
In 1969, Philip Zimbardo
conducted an experiment.
He parked two cars without
licence plates and observed them.
One in The Bronx, New York,
the other in Palo Alto, California.
The car in The Bronx
was demolished within ten minutes.
The one in California
remained untouched,
until Zimbardo broke a window.
Thereafter, it, too,
was robbed and vandalised.
I am expecting one of you
to venture an explanation.
The broken window incited
more violence and vandalism.
Correct, but incomplete.
Suppose an au pair is hired by
a family with an adopted daughter.
Sweet child, but with
her own specific emotional needs.
The adoptive father is not patient
with cry-babies and bed-wetters,
he shouts at the girl,
possibly even hits her.
At least,
that's what the au pair thinks.
Then one night, she comes back to
find the father has been attacked,
beaten unconscious.
Mr Turner?
She wants to help, of course.
Mr Turner?
At least, at first.
But then an idea occurs to her.
This This is her broken window.
A crime has been committed
and it incites a second one.
After all, everyone will think
that whoever beat up the father
also took the daughter.
- What happened?
- I don't know.
Max. Where's Charlie? Charlie?!
- One crime gives cover to another.
- Police, please.
But a broken window always
lets the light in, in the end.
It's going to be OK, yeah?
It'll be fine.
- Nikki, don't panic.
- SIREN
- Nikki, run!
- OK, don't do anything stupid.
- Don't do anything stupid.
- Tell them to back off,
- tell them to back off.
- No-one's armed, OK? Calm down.
- I will hurt her, I will hurt her.
- You're not gonna hurt her,
- it's not worth it.
- I will hurt her, back off!
Just calm down,
we just want Charlie, that's it.
- Mum, let her go!
- We need you to let go of Charlie,
- OK? That's all.
- Tell them all to back off.
- We're not gonna hurt you.
- I need to go.
You're not going anywhere.
Put the knife down.
You're not going anywhere.
Don't do anything stupid.
We need you to let go of Charlie,
OK?
Mum, let her go.
Let go of Charlie.
That's it. Put the knife down.
Don't be stupid. OK?
It's not worth it. It's over.
Come on. That's it, drop the knife.
That's it.
Well done. Well done.
SNIFFLING
That night when I saw Mr Turner,
things just got out of hand.
Mrs Turner got back much earlier
than I was expecting.
I didn't know what to do.
I called my mum.
That was her idea, I swear.
And to plant Mops at the warehouse,
I didn't know anything about it.
Excuse me?
Where can I find Kevin Charters?
Why didn't she just go
to the police?
If she thought
the child was being abused.
Because she's something more
than just an innocent au pair.
She's also the biological mother.
I never saw her as a baby.
I never should have given her away.
I didn't I didn't plan any of it.
I just
I really just wanted to be near her.
Look, I know you would
never hurt Charlie.
I don't know what possessed me,
I'm so sorry.
Come on.
Come back now, baby.
It's OK.
BUSY CHATTER
Five Piccadilly. Four Piccadilly.
Three Piccadilly. Two Piccadilly.
And off he goes.
So, Miss Snares,
what's the final tally?
An artist cannot live
on praise and paint fumes alone.
Canine in Retrospect
It looked simply splendid
in my office.
Shall I continue?
Are there many more?
- Six.
- Really?
Do shut up.
Sketch of Despair Number 1,
white yellow.
Poetry of Childhood Transformed.
Manifesto of Birth. Adolescence
It's a triumph, Adelaide.
What a pity Jasper wasn't here.
He was here in spirit.
Honour thy mother
for all her hands have done,
and may her works
bring her great praise.
Ching?
ECHOING BARKS
HE JOINS IN BARKING
FADING GROWL
ECHOING WHIMPERS
MUSIC: 'Una Lacrima Sul Viso'
by Bobby Solo