The Sounds (2020) s01e04 Episode Script

Playing the Odds

Previously
on "The Sounds"
It appears there is a problem
with the fishery.
The deal's signed,
so what went wrong?
Yes, the deal's signed.
But without the report,
there is no deal.
Tom bribed this guy?
Then Skelton tripled his fee.
Just get it.
Take care of it, Esther.
Kath found something
at Matai Bay.
Aroha Kelliher,
Ru's daughter.
Oh, they caught the murderer --
Ryan Kottle.
Mitch is gonna find you,
you know that right?
Mum, aunty Zoe's
done a runner again.
Any idea
where I would find her?
If she knows you're looking
for her, you won't find her.
Bugger the lot of them.
You all good there, bro?
Yeah.
Yeah, no, I'm fine.
- Just taking five.
- You don't look fine.
Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa.
Easy.
Take it easy, friend.
I got a hut that's not
that far away.
Or do you want me
to walk on by?
Well, that's not my way.
You coming?
It makes no sense for him
to lose interest.
Not when he thinks he's this
close to another payoff.
What does it matter?
I don't have the money.
You don't have the money.
- It's over.
- Don't do this to me, Stuart.
To you?
I'm about to lose everything.
- The house, the car, the --
- Okay, I lost Tom!
Do you think that I'm also
going to let everything
that he was working for
slip away from me?
You're right, I'm sorry.
I apologize.
We just need to get our hands
on the report, that's all.
Yeah, sure, simple as that.
The fishery is Tom's legacy.
I'm going to fight for it
as hard as I can.
Those farms, the factory.
That's everything that
we've been working for.
Annette.
I'm sorry.
It's alright, sweetheart.
It's okay.
It's alright.
I'm sorry.
Come on.
Stuart, would you like me
to call a doctor?
No.
Are you sure?
It's fine.
I'll take care of her.
Okay?
They found another body
that's not his?
What's the matter
with this place?
Good question.
So that's it?
It's all over?
We could maintain
a private search,
but the locals say
it would be a waste of money.
Why?
There's not going to be
anything left to recover.
We can expect a coroner's
report in a few weeks' time
but other than that
Okay, so what, I guess, what?
We plan a memorial service?
I don't want a damn
memorial service.
Esther, where is,
where's Maggie in all this?
She seems to be having trouble
accepting the situation.
It's her fault he was there
in the first place!
Tom didn't give two hoots
about the environment till
- she got her hooks him.
- Dad, Dad, come on.
What's happening
with the fishery?
Mission accomplished.
You're sure?
In every which way.
Skelton took the bait.
Well, then,
I guess you're coming home.
I know you're upset but --
Upset is for children.
I'm angry.
Thank you.
Is she okay?
She's, um
she's had troubles.
Since Aroha died.
She was there.
Dane told me.
Must have been awful.
Tom used to drink.
So I actually know
what you're going through.
Yeah.
All the more reason not to
give up on the business.
Anything else that you can
tell me about this Skelton guy?
Tom dealt with him.
As far as I know,
he is a bona fide
environmental specialist.
But he calls me on a cellphone
with no caller ID so
Anything else at all?
Tom said he was greedy.
But yesterday,
he didn't seem greedy,
he seemed desperate,
you know?
Frightened.
Hi, um, Jeremy Skelton's
office please.
Right.
You wouldn't happen to have, um,
forwarding contact info
for his new office?
- Who owns this place?
- I dunno.
I never even noticed it
till yesterday.
It's probably not permitted,
like the rest of them.
Looks like a landslide
made a mess of that.
Forensics have their work
cut out down the hill.
Find the owner of this
and see if it was here
15 years ago.
Got that?
Yeah.
"Not too far away?"
Famous Kiwi understatement, eh?
You're not a Kiwi.
No.
American.
Brad.
"Ngaherehere."
Means man of the bush.
You take a bullet?
No!
Rusty nails.
Is that what you're hunting?
Nails?
Pigs, deer.
Same as you.
Shall we?
Got a heck of a fever there,
bro.
What are you doing?
We need to boil
some water.
Look at that arm.
No, no, I'm fine.
You wouldn't have anything to do
with why these hills are
crawling with cops, would you?
No!
Honestly, they're not after me.
They found some bones.
Human?
Yeah, I think so.
Where?
Matai Bay.
It's got nothing to do with me,
I swear.
But I don't exactly want
to advertise my whereabouts.
I get it.
No cops.
And I'm guessing no doctor.
Hi.
Maggie Cabbott.
I called about a replacement
credit card.
Where are you from
in America, Brad?
Colorado.
Nice.
Where abouts in Colorado?
Denver.
You've been there?
Red Rocks, heaps of times.
You been to the Red Rocks?
I'm not sure, man.
I'll take it from here.
Guess you're not
much of a music fan.
Hey, I'm grateful for your help,
but this
whole life story thing
I get it.
We've all got reasons
to keep it to ourselves.
I should go.
No one's
going to find you here.
You should get
some shut-eye, eh.
I promise I won't attack you
in your sleep.
I will start
with a thousand, please.
House wins.
Bad luck.
Mr. Skelton, isn't it?
What are you doing here?
Playing the odds.
You had a deal with my husband.
Which he couldn't keep.
And yet, you seem to be
in the money all the same.
Must be a good businessman.
I know my worth.
The best men do.
Can you leave?
I can tell you're going to
bring me bad luck.
Or I'm bringing you
more of what you're after.
How's that?
You're a man who likes
to double dip,
isn't that right?
Maybe even,
given the opportunity,
go for a triple?
Do you mean
what I think you mean?
I mean there's a serious
arrangement to be worked out.
House pays 20.
There are better places for luck
than a casino, Mr. Skelton.
Stuart, it's Maggie.
Um, this may seem a little bit
out of left field,
but I need you to call me
in 10 minutes
with a weather update.
A weather update?
10 minutes.
Can you do that?
- Sure, why?
- On the dot.
It's important.
So
about this agreement?
I think it's only fair
that first you tell me
about any other agreement.
Eh?
There must be a reason
why you'd fly off the radar
so close to your prize.
I just assumed someone else
had intervened.
Do you want to tell me
about Esther Ishikawa?
I don't know what
you're talking about.
Please, just drop it,
Mr. Skelton.
It's not how I play.
She turned up out of the blue.
Just like you.
You'll pay me to not
give him the report?
Deal of the century, right?
Deal of the century.
My deal is better
because I very much want
the salmon farms to go ahead.
So you'll pay me more --
again --
to give you the report?
What did you think
I was doing here?
Just for my own peace of mind,
though,
I would like to know
if the salmon farms
are truly ecologically sound.
Of course they are.
Would a less "flexible"
environmentalist agree?
Look, your husband is --
sorry --
was really on to something.
The world needs
sustainable farming,
and this is as good as it gets,
which is exactly what I spell
out in very compelling form.
Hence my fee.
Which suddenly tripled,
putting our entire business
in jeopardy.
Can we just do this?
Do what?
You give me the money,
I give you the completed report,
and we shuffle back
to our corners.
Sorry.
Hello?
So, yeah, 20 degrees,
and it's raining off and on.
Not much more to say, really.
Thank you.
I'll send the file right now.
Yeah.
Maggie, are you okay?
Yeah, no, I'm just tying up
that last loose end.
What the hell?
Uh, okay.
So, about the money.
You're not going to see
another cent.
That little conversation
that we just had
where you so kindly
laid out your demand?
I've just emailed a recording
of that to my lawyer.
So here's what happens next.
You're going to furnish me with
a hard copy of the full report,
and then you're going to email
a soft copy
to the District Council.
Right now.
Are you insane?
Why would I?
Because if my lawyer
doesn't hear from me
in the next five minutes,
he will be contacting
the police.
Clock's ticking, Mr. Skelton.
The phone call last night --
the weather.
What was that all about?
Yeah, sorry about that.
As it turns out
the forecast is extremely
promising.
You paid him off?
Sometimes, and it's a rarity,
money is not the answer.
Can this come back on you?
No, I didn't do
anything illegal.
I told you.
I'm going to fight
for my husband's business.
Whether it's against his family
or some crooked
little opportunist.
His family?
Esther is a problem, Stuart.
We need to keep an eye on her
and I think
we should work together.
So you're not going to go home?
It might sound strange,
but I actually feel closer
to Tom here.
Of course.
Anything you need.
We're in business.
- Thanks, Don.
- Okay.
Come on, Charlene.
Just help me out.
That's not even enough
to pay what you owe.
Well, I'll just give you
the rest next time, okay?
No, not okay.
Come on, Charlene.
I need to get out of town.
You running away
from that Canadian lady?
No, why?
She was asking
about you.
- Was anyone else?
- No.
Can you just please give me
a bus ticket to anywhere?
Motueka.
Leaves in 40 minutes.
And don't talk about me
to anyone.
E mihi ana ki a koe e Tane.
Tane Whakapiripiri Tane
Te Waiora
Tane pataka kai.
Tena koe tena koe.
Bit too early for that, eh?
Who were you talking to?
Put the gun down, bro.
Who were you talking to?
"Tane, God of the forest,
source of life,
provider of food,
I greet you."
It's a prayer.
Oh.
Sorry.
Apology accepted.
That smells good.
Just caught it,
50 meters off the point.
You've got a boat?
How's the fever?
Good, good.
Yeah, much better.
Hey, any chance
you could run me over
to the other side
of the Sound?
Let's have breakfast first, eh?
You're gonna need something
a lot more gruntier than that.
I need to get across the Sound.
You know how
septicemia works, eh?
Starts off in your arm,
then it goes to your liver.
And then into your kidneys.
And then into your heart.
And then
I'll be fine, just --
can you take me or not?
Yeah.
No worries.
Where are you going?
It's okay, bro.
I told you, you're safe here.
Hey! Hey!
Hey!
Looks like you missed the bus.
A cup of your finest coffee,
please.
You're chirpy this morning.
I'm leaving.
Oh, so soon?
What a shame.
You must've heard our good news.
Good news?
as much overtime
as they like.
Whatever you do, don't say
anything to this woman.
- What are you doing here?
- I live here.
No, what are you doing here?
Lady, I've got a boss.
And you ain't it.
This is Brendan.
Ah, Ms. Ishikawa.
Look, I don't know what you did,
but the report arrived
on all the right desks
first thing this morning.
The loan has been drawn down,
and it's full steam ahead.
Tell the Cabbott's
congratulations.
You have reached a number
that has been disconnected.
You should have seen her face
when I told her
that the factory was back on.
It was priceless.
I've been a bit distracted,
and I'm so sorry.
I -- I thought I was done for.
No. It's okay.
I understand more
than you think.
Things have been
so shitty for so long, you know?
Mum died and Zoe went nuts,
and, man, I married two complete
and utter boneheads.
And Dad -- I mean, how do you be
a workaholic in Pelorus?
Still no sign of Zoe?
No, she is gone-burger.
Eh, bubba?
It's a misunderstanding,
that's all.
Seriously, I didn't
do anything wrong.
Save it for the boss.
Hey, Maggie.
You holding up okay?
Yeah, helps to have
this gorgeous girl
to look after,
that's for sure.
Hello, Bella.
How's Ru?
He'll get there.
His whanau's taking over.
His family.
15 years is a long time
to wait for closure.
I don't even know
if I believe in closure.
Yeah, me neither.
Listen, I'm just about
to head out onto the Sound,
but I'll catch you
at the pub later?
Yeah, that would be great.
- You go.
- Thank you.
Oi.
Can I help you
with something?
How could you
let this happen?
I paid the guy
to not release the report.
With my money!
Yes, we had a deal,
and he bailed on it.
But the trust account is frozen,
I'm watching
the business partner's books,
- and nothing has moved.
- It's Maggie, I know it.
The question is why?
Well, it is her company,
or it will be.
You were right
about the life insurance.
I was?
My lawyers tell me that my late
wife took out a policy on Tom
many years ago
without my knowledge.
Maggie now stands to benefit.
This isn't my area.
Something stinks, Esther.
You need to flush out
what it is.
She does seem close
with the local cop.
What, the one who says
there's no foul play?
Exactly.
Take it up the chain, Esther.
I meant to come yesterday.
I got side-tracked.
All good.
I just got here myself.
Just the usual stuff, brother.
What's keeping you so busy?
Canadian bloke drowned kayaking.
You haven't seen anything,
have ya?
Nah, think I'd notice
a floating Canadian.
Yeah, well.
Caucasian.
Early 40s.
Dark hair.
Is that what that action
was down at Matai Bay?
How do you know about that?
Word travels, even in the bush.
Bones, I heard.
Was it Aroha's.
I'm sorry, Ryan.
Matai Bay, eh?
I did pretty well to get there
and back by 3:00 a.m.
Detective Pilau's back.
Blunt force trauma to the head,
consistent with the bloodied
rock found at the scene.
Even if he was
fully intoxicated.
If there was a boat anywhere
between there and there
and we both know that
that's more than likely,
he could've got to Matai Bay,
buried her in a shallow grave,
and made it back to camp
by the time Dane said he was.
Just.
Just is all I need.
No one wants to reopen
this case.
Well, there goes my pardon.
Won't make a difference anyway.
Can't get those 12 years back.
Hey, I bet Mum's
kicking up a stink.
I keep an eye on her.
She'd love that.
If you see anything
Floating Canadians?
Let me know.
Hey, do you still keep that
flash medical kit in your boat?
You all right?
Can you spare it?
You know, just to be prepared.
In case things don't go my way.
It's happened before.
Yeah.
Thanks.
- Yeah.
- Just a sec.
Yeah.
Hi, Esther,
can I get you a drink?
Celebrating?
No.
No, I'm not celebrating.
It's a bar.
It's a mistake to make an enemy
of the Cabbotts.
And how exactly
have I done that?
don't know. Yet.
But I'll find out.
Here we go.
Here's to Pelorus, eh.
- To Pelorus!
- On ya. Cheers.
You know, I just think
it's really nice to see
these people smiling again,
okay?
I suppose grief affects
everyone differently.
Yeah, Esther,
that's really insightful.
I'm surprised.
And I agree.
So if Frank Cabbott wants
to turn his pain
into a personal vendetta,
then I guess I can't stop him.
And if you want to turn
your pain into
whatever he is.
Excuse me?
Not such a fan
of my insight now?
Are you alright, Maggie?
Hey?
Yeah, I should go.
Okay, give me a minute, eh.
I didn't do anything wrong.
It wasn't my fault.
If you didn't do anything wrong,
what's not your fault?
I don't know, I --
They kidnapped me
from the bus stop!
Waiting for a bus, heading in
the opposite direction
to the woman that you owe
half a kilo of product to?
That's what wasn't my fault!
You bought the bus ticket.
No, the gear.
I know how it looks,
and I shouldn't
have shot through but
I did most of the deliveries,
no problem.
Like usual.
And then what, hon?
I haven't got all day.
My dipshit boyfriend
pulled a knife on me.
Now that's toxic masculinity.
Yeah, he's threatened me,
and then he did a runner
with the gear and left me
just like
in the middle of nowhere.
He ripped me off.
Ripped us both off.
Sounds like you've been
really unlucky.
Unfortunately for you,
I don't believe in luck.
But I'm telling the truth!
We'll see about that.
Can you go and get that thing
from the shed?
Oh, this little runt is letting
the whole team down.
Oh, easy Lucas.
You don't have to be so rough.
Please, Mitch, don't hurt me.
Hurt you?
Young Hayden here did this
to himself, trying to run away.
Go on.
Tell her.
It's true.
Turn's out Hayden's
quite good at telling the truth.
He says there was no knife,
just a party with the wrong guy,
and the next morning,
a silly little girl
with a very sore head.
They must've been in on it
together.
Him and the other guy.
They could've -
Oh, don't be stupid, Zoe.
You owe me my missing product
or $330,000.
- That much?
- That's wholesale.
I'd have every right
to charge you retail.
I tried --
I tried to get it.
- I thought --
- What?
That your father
would give it to you.
But he said cops
don't make that much?
Do you know how hard
it's been for me
to set up this business
with all the competition
I've got out there?
I've been trying
to do it nicely,
but I can't afford
to not deliver.
So, if you can't reimburse me,
you're gonna have to be
paying off your debt
in that back shed
with your boyfriend here
for years and years and years.
Oh, go on, get rid of them.
Wait!
I can pay you back.
I really can.
Tomorrow. I promise.
I know who to get it from.
I'll make it all good.
I swear.
Can I have a word?
Who are you?
Someone who wants to report
a crime.
Unless it's a murder,
it can wait till the morning.
Well, it might be a murder.
That is the most ridiculous
thing I ever heard.
That a wife killed her husband
for financial advantage?
It seems like an obvious
line of inquiry.
No, that Maggie did it!
Maggie was seen
on her yacht at 8:00 a.m.
the day he disappeared.
Tom Cabbott was seen
going hell for leather
up past Kowhai Inlet
around the same time.
His dry bag was in the Strait.
It was a line of inquiry
but Maggie did not
kill her husband.
Yeah, so Ms. Ishikawa
thinks that you may have more
than a passing interest
in the grieving Mrs. Cabbott.
I know you don't like me,
and I frankly,
I don't give a shit.
But if you've learned so much
in the last 15 years,
why not try and show it?
I'm your superior officer,
Senior Constable McGregor,
so I'll thank you
to address me appropriately.
Maggie's not some drugged-up
teenager
who's going to drop a cooked-up
confession on your lap,
Detective Senior Sergeant Pilau.
We'll see about that.
You look cold.
You look serious.
We've got a problem.
Frank hates me.
You know he hates me
because I dare to challenge him.
And Esther's just
doing his bidding.
They don't care about Tom.
They just care about the money.
That's all it is
with these people.
It's about the money.
Okay.
Look, this detective
from Wellington
Alright, she's sniffing around.
It doesn't look good, Maggie.
So I need to know.
Did you know about
the insurance money?
No, I didn't.
And can you prove that?
You can't prove non-existence!
Do you think
I killed my husband?
No.
I don't.
Thank you.
But this Detective Pilau,
she's a rottweiler, Maggie.
And she's not gonna go away.
I'm sick of rottweilers.
Mrs. Cabbott, DSS Pilau.
Thanks for coming.
First of all,
you don't need to be here.
Ah, actually, she can stay.
No, not because I'm about
to confess to a murder,
although there are some members
of Tom's family
who certainly at times
are asking for it.
Some will continue to do so.
Okay.
I was raised by a single mom
who worked three jobs
to support us.
I was happy.
I didn't care about Tom's money
when we got married.
I don't care about it now.
So let's do this shall we?
Witnessed by --
Jack, do you mind?
"I, Maggie Cabbott,
declare any proceeds
of the life insurance policy
held in the name
of Thomas Cabbott,
be paid to his father,
Frank Cabbott,
furthermore"
She's disclaiming any interest
in the family money.
Now and forever.
The Cabbotts can keep
their toxic millions.
I really just never want to see
or hear from them again.
The yacht is ours,
and we built
the fishery together
as husband and wife,
so stay away from it.
There goes your motivation.
Good morning, sunshine.
There's nothing good about it.
The fishery just saved our town.
Isn't that worth
smiling about?
A buyer?
"Nobody needs a fish factory
at the bottom of the world."
Maggie, have you seen Dad?
Just now
at the police station.
He's not answering his phone
and everything's
fallen apart at work.
And I just,
I don't know what I --
Here, it's no trouble.
It's my pleasure.
Go to work, we're gonna be fine.
Say bye, Aunty Hannah.
You're a saint.
Hey.
Yeah.
I've been looking for you.
And now you've found me.
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