Disclaimer (2024) s01e07 Episode Script

[CATHERINE] As soon as
I got back to my room,
the stranger immediately
disappeared from my mind.
I'd had such a special day with my son.
I mean, my husband hadn't been there,
but I hadn't missed him that much.
And that slight dread that I
felt of the long day ahead
and having to keep Nicholas
occupied had just passed so easily,
and I'd slipped into just
just being with him.
And I felt nourished and satisfied
from a day of simple
pleasures with my son.
I was happy.
[SPOON CLINKING]
I do wonder if that was the last
time I've ever been truly happy.
You know, if all the
happiness after that
has just been a pretense. [SIGHS]
[DOG BARKING]
You know, because your wife
wrote very accurately about, uh,
my hotel room and what I was wearing,
but she couldn't fathom
what I was feeling.
I was happy.
- Nancy al
- Shut up, I'm talking.
I've heard enough from you.
Yes, your wife was right
about a lot of things
including how your son died.
[NICHOLAS, DISTORTED]
Mummy. Mummy. Mummy.
[CATHERINE] I didn't
sleep at all that night.
[NICHOLAS] Can we get a dinghy?
[CATHERINE] My whole body was aching.
[NICHOLAS] Dinghy! Dinghy! Dinghy!
[CATHERINE] Nicholas, he was
desperate to go to the beach.
[NICHOLAS] Dinghy! Dinghy! Dinghy!
[CATHERINE] I could barely move
[NICHOLAS] Dinghy! Dinghy! Dinghy!
but we did go, uh, to the beach.
[NICHOLAS] Dinghy!
And on the way, I
[SIGHS] relented,
and I bought him a a dinghy.
It was a
a lifesaver I thought at the time,
you know, keep him occupied on the sand
until I had enough energy to
go into the water with him
because I was exhausted.
The night before had, uh, drained me.
I didn't mean to fall asleep,
but I did.
I shut down.
I just closed my eyes and
I went to sleep. [SIGHS]
I only woke because
the wind had picked up
and the sand was just piercing my skin.
And I immediately knew
that something was wrong.
And the sea was so rough.
And Nicholas was just [SIGHING]
He was smiling. He was just
lost in his own little world.
[DISTORTED] Nicholas?
- And the waves were
- Nicholas!
were getting bigger
and the boat was bouncing.
And he was just being pulled
further and further out.
And when the water reached my
waist, I just I I froze.
You know, and I'd always, uh,
been scared of the sea, but
You know, and I was certain that
if I-I went out swam out to him,
- that that we'd both drown.
- [MEOWS]
[SIGHS] It always seems to be men
who drown rescuing children.
It's not mothers,
it's f it's fathers.
I don't know, there must have been
some women who've done it,
but I I don't, uh,
remember reading about it.
I mean, surely I'm not alone
in lacking the courage
to have gone out after my son.
I keep asking myself, you know,
if it had been a burning building
or if it had been
someone pointing a gun,
I mean, would it have
been any different?
Would I Would I have
found the courage then?
I mean, would I have
have run through fire?
Or Or taken a bullet for Nick?
[SIGHS]
I don't know. All I know is that
the the sea thwarted me.
I didn't risk my life for my child
and that is something
I have to live with.
[SNIFFLES]
And then [SIGHS]
I saw him.
And he was running down
the beach toward me
and as soon as he reached the sea,
he just dove into the waves.
[CATHERINE, DISTORTED]
No, no, no! [SPEAKS INDISTINCTLY]
And the words just
came out of my mouth
- No! No!
- before I could stop them.
- I didn't want it to be him. Not him.
- [SPEAKS INDISTINCTLY]
Anyone but him.
And I just stood there, frozen.
And I just watched him
as he swam one-armed,
pulling the boat through
the waves looking heroic.
[CAT MEOWS]
But the sea was against him.
And, uh, then these, uh, two men,
they rushed into the water,
and they swam out to them.
And then, finally, Nick
was safe on the shore.
[BEACHGOERS CLAMORING]
And everyone was focused
on Nicky and the two men.
No one was looking at your son.
He was a hero. They assumed he was okay.
Yeah, well, your wife was right.
I did see your son
struggling in the waves
and I didn't do anything about it.
[CAT MEOWS]
His screams were lost in the wind,
and I didn't do a single
thing to help him.
- [CAT MEOWS]
- [SNIFFLES]
[BEACHGOERS CLAMORING]
So they got him into the boat and
rowed him back to the shore,
and everyone leaped into action.
And all Nicholas said about the
event was that he was freezing.
He seemed unaware that
he could have drowned.
He never once sai said he was scared.
But I was.
I still am.
He just felt cold, wanted
to go back to the beach,
and a stranger came and rescued him.
Simple as that.
And he never mentioned
the incident again.
You know, the beach,
the dinghy, your son again. Ever.
I don't care if Nicholas felt
cold. My son was dead.
Yes. Yes, he was dead.
He drowned.
You watched him. You did nothing.
- You stood there
- I am not finished!
You sit down!
Now, I want you to understand
what happened the night before.
[BREATHES SHAKILY] Your wife based
this book on a few photographs,
but photographs are not reality.
You said yourself, they are
a fragment of reality.
[BREATHES SHAKILY]
Now, the night before your son died,
I went back to my hotel room,
and I was ready for a shower.
To fall asleep reading my book.
As I said before, I was happy.
No.
I was more than happy.
I was joyous.
I must have left the key in
the door when I opened it,
trying not to spill my wine.
You know, I smelled
him before I saw him.
His His aftershave was, um
[DISTORTED GASP]
- [WHIMPERING]
- Be quiet. Be quiet.
And I could [SIGHS]
taste his sweat.
I can still taste his sweat.
I don't know what it tasted of.
Excitement, probably.
And I was surprised
when I heard him speak
because earlier that day, when, uh
[STAMMERS] I'd been aware
of him looking at me,
you know, when he smiled at me,
I had imagined it differently.
I thought it would be gentle.
But it wasn't gentle.
It was hateful.
- But the photographs
- Yes.
Yes, I am getting to the photographs.
[BREATHES DEEPLY]
Lick it.
[DISTORTED WHIMPERING, GRUNTING]
- [WHIMPERING]
- [GRUNTS]
[GROANS, WHIMPERS]
[CATHERINE] I'd never been
hit before, so I was stunned.
My teeth crunched. My ears were ringing.
- I just [SIGHS]
- [CRIES] Please.
couldn't believe what was happening.
If you do that again or you scream,
- I will fucking cut you and your son.
- [CRYING]
I will mark your fucking faces
for life. Do you understand?
[PANTING]
So are you gonna do as I say?
[SPEAKING INDISTINCTLY]
and take off your fucking dress.
[NICHOLAS] Mummy. Mummy.
Please, please, please.
- Put him back to sleep.
- Please. Don't hurt him.
- Put him back to fucking sleep.
- It's okay. Darling
- Darling, go back to sleep. I'm here.
- [NICHOLAS] But you promised
- to keep the door open, Mummy.
- Please.
Shut him the fuck up.
- [EXHALES HEAVILY]
- [SPEAKS INDISTINCTLY]
- Shut him the fuck up.
- [NICHOLAS SPEAKS INDISTINCTLY]
What's that smell?
[CATHERINE SPEAKING INDISTINCTLY]
[NO AUDIBLE DIALOGUE]
[CATHERINE SPEAKS
INDISTINCTLY, SNIFFLES]
There we go.
[SHUSHES] Go to sleep.
[SPEAKS INDISTINCTLY]
[CATHERINE BREATHING SHAKILY]
If Nick had woken
I don't know what your
son would have done.
So I was relieved when I left the room,
and I could feel him following me.
And then he, uh
he picked up the camera and I thought,
"Oh. Oh, he's trying to blackmail me."
And
so, I thought, you know,
"I'll win him over."
I didn't want him to hurt Nick.
Uh, but I didn't know what to do.
What was I supposed to do? Pose?
And I was appalled because
he chose the underwear
that my husband had given me
for the, uh the holiday.
[DISTORTED] Hurry up.
[CATHERINE BREATHING SHAKILY]
[JONATHAN] Faster.
[BREATHING SHAKILY]
[DISTORTED] Turn around.
[NO AUDIBLE DIALOGUE]
Wipe them off your face and
smile. Do you understand?
Now smile.
- Yeah, much better. Sit down.
- [SHUTTER CLICKS]
- [SNIFFLING]
- Stop, stop, stop, stop, stop.
Come on. Come on.
[SPEAKS INDISTINCTLY]
bra. Hurry up. Take it off.
I closed my eyes.
I just felt like a dirty,
shriveled thing.
And I could hear the click of the
camera and the whine of the zoom
as he came closer and closer.
[INHALES SHAKILY]
And
I did exactly as he asked.
You know, I bit my top lip.
I groaned. I moaned. I gasped.
You know, hoping that he'd
be satisfied and he'd leave.
[DISTORTED PANTING,
SPEAKING INDISTINCTLY]
[CATHERINE] And then I
heard him sigh and groan
- [SPEAKS INDISTINCTLY]
- and I waited. I was afraid to move.
[MOANING]
[CATHERINE] And I thought
that's all he wanted.
- So I said, "Please go now."
- Please go now.
But I'd I'd made a mistake.
Shouldn't have said that.
Should have pretended it
was what I wanted too.
No! No, don't!
And I knew then that it wasn't over
[SPEAKING INDISTINCTLY]
and I was terrified.
- He had a knife.
- You better fucking smile.
[CATHERINE] And through
it all, I just kept thinking
how do I get him out?
- How do I get him away from Nick?
- [SHUTTER CLICKING]
And I just thought I hoped
somewhere he'd feel pity for us.
[CATHERINE SPEAKS INDISTINCTLY]
[SOBBING]
[GROANING, GRUNTING]
And then I heard this sound.
Sounded like a an injured animal.
And I realized
it was me.
And my whole body was
just in pain. Everywhere.
And then he turned me over and he
he, uh, kissed me and I
I could taste his teeth and his-his spit
and his aftershave was just
It was just revolting.
I could
It made me feel sick.
It was the same aftershave I smelt
on you at the at the hospital.
And then he
[CLICKS TONGUE]
pressed his knee,
and he [SNIFFLES]
he shoved it really
hard into my thigh,
and he pushed himself
into me again. [SNIFFLES]
And I
He collapsed on top of me, and I just
He just stayed there and I was trapped.
I couldn't move. [SNIFFLES]
And I thought, "Please, God,
let this be over." [SNIFFLES]
But he started in again.
Yeah.
Did I fight?
No.
Did I scream? No, I-I couldn't.
But all you need to know is that
[SNIFFLES]
your son raped me
again and then again,
for three and a half hours.
Your son brutalized me
for three and a half hours.
And then, uh, he stopped.
He'd had enough.
[PANTING, DISTORTED]
Turn over.
Smile.
[SHUTTER CLICKS]
[CATHERINE] And then he said to me,
- "Thank you. That was nice."
- Thank you. That was nice.
[GROANS]
And when he said that,
I wanted him to die. [SNIFFLES]
Yeah, that evening,
I would have given anything
to watch him die.
So, when he drowned
I walked away.
That's the truth.
And I-I can't pretend
to be sorry for that.
- I don't believe you. You're lying.
- [INHALES DEEPLY]
So what is it you don't believe?
Any of it. You You [STAMMERS]
You would have told
Nancy when you met her
if it was if it were true.
- What? I would have told your dying wife
- [SIGHING]
that I had been raped
by the son she'd lost?
[STAMMERS] What would
have been the point?
The only reason I am telling you
is because I want you to stop.
I want you to leave me and my son alone.
You have no proof!
What? [STAMMERS] I can give
you the forensic evidence.
Is that what you want?
Is that what you need?
All right. Well, after he left,
I emptied out a pot of, um, face cream
and I pressed it against myself
and I pushed his disgusting
glob out of my body,
and I screwed on the lid,
and then I took photographs
of, uh, my injuries,
you know, my [STAMMERS]
the bruises on my thighs
and the bites on my neck,
in case I needed them for
evidence later because
I didn't know what I wanted to do yet.
I didn't have the strength
to go to the police,
and I did I didn't want
to put Nicky through that.
So, I thought, you know,
I'll pull myself together,
and I'll do it later, you know?
Tomorrow. The next day.
But then he died.
Do you understand? He died.
[INHALES SHAKILY]
And I thought
"Thank God he's dead."
I don't have to prove myself
innocent to anyone.
I don't have to talk about
it if I don't want to.
I don't have to relive
it if I don't want to.
I don't have to stand up in
court and be called a liar.
You know, to say that
I'd, uh [SNIFFLES]
enticed a man to my room.
You know, that I'd known him, and
he bought me a-a drink in the bar
and I'd flirted with him as your
disgusting book suggests.
[SNIFFLES] So I, uh, threw away the pot.
And when I developed my
photographs of my holiday,
I erased all of the [SNIFFLES]
evidence of my injuries,
and I just kept the happy
snaps of, uh [SNIFFLES]
Nicholas, and Robert
and me. [SNIFFLES]
And then, if you must know
[SNIFFLES]
when I got back
to London, I disco
[BREATHES DEEPLY]
I realized I was pregnant.
Now, it-it could have
been Robert's, and, uh
[SNIFFLES] we'd wanted
another child so badly
but not knowing [SNIFFLES]
if its father was the
man who raped me,
I terminated. [SNIFFLES]
[BREATHING HEAVILY]
What did you put in my tea?
[BREATHING HEAVILY]
What did you put in my
tea, you crazy fuck?
[MOANING, GROANING]
[SHUSHES]
Don't fight it.
You're going to fall asleep,
but you'll be fine.
I'm going back to the hospital now.
[CATHERINE] No.
I'm going to put an end to all this.
[GROANING, PANTING]
Hello. Yes. Could you
send a taxi, please?
- To 87 Harrington Road.
- [GROANS]
[GROANING]
[GROANING, GAGGING]
Oh, fuck.
[PANTING, RETCHES]
Nicholas. Hi, I'm Dr. Keith. Can you
open your eyes for me, please?
[RHYTHMIC BEEPING]
Well done, Nicholas. Can you
squeeze my hand, please?
Can you squeeze, squeeze,
squeeze? Well done.
Nicholas, you have a tube in your mouth.
We're going to try and move
that, okay? Is that okay?
Let me see. Give me a
thumbs-up. Thank you.
Nurse. Can we please extubate?
I've turned off the ventilator.
Nicholas, I'm going to
count from one to three
and then I want you to cough, okay?
- One, two, three. Cough for me. Cough.
- [COUGHING]
Well done, Nicholas. Well done.
- Breathe for me, Nicholas. Breathe.
- Just relax.
- [DR. KEITH] You're doing very well.
- [BREATHING DEEPLY]
[NURSE] I'm gonna give you
some oxygen through your nose.
[DR. KEITH] Are you okay, Nicholas?
[GROANS]
Where am I?
What happened to me?
- Nicholas, you're in hospital.
- [BREATHING DEEPLY]
You're in safe hands.
We will explain to you what
happened later, okay?
Well. Good morning, handsome.
[GROANING, PANTING]
[GULPING]
[SPEAKING MAURITIAN CREOLE]
[TIRES SCREECHING]
[EXCLAIMS, YELLING IN MAURITIAN CREOLE]
You see that? He cut into
me as if I don't exist.
People don't know how to drive.
[PHONE CHIMES]
[GROANS]
[GROANS]
[DRIVER SPEAKING MAURITIAN CREOLE]
[DR. KEITH] Hello, sir.
Can you come with me, please? Thank you.
Emma, can you get me
Dr. Junta's cardiology notes,
please? Thank you.
- Okay.
- Is he okay?
He woke up. He's relatively aware.
So that's good news.
Is he, um is he talking?
Yes. He's a bit sedated.
However, we are still treating
him for endocarditis,
which can recur if he
continues to inject drugs.
I understand. I understand, but c
could he make a full recovery?
- Want a coffee, Doctor?
- He's awake and he's aware
Thank you very much, Emma.
which is positive news.
Tomorrow, we'll do some
new bloods on him,
but he needs to rest for the moment.
- Can I Can I talk to him, please?
- [BEEPER RINGS]
You may see him, but please
do not make him tired.
- [BEEPER RINGS]
- I must go now. My beeper's going.
- I understand. Thank you, Doctor.
- You're welcome. Thank you.
Mmm. Thank you, Emma.
Can you let cardiology know
that I'm on my way, please? Thank you.
[CELL PHONE RINGING]
[AUTOMATED VOICE] Please
leave your message after the tone.
To rerecord your message,
key hash at any time.
[LINE BEEPS]
Robert. This is serious.
Stephen Brigstocke is on
the way to the hospital.
Now you cannot let him near Nicholas.
Okay? At any time. Please, Robert.
This is very important.
He's dangerous.
- [CAR HORNS HONKING]
- [JACKHAMMER DRILLING]
[DRIVER SPEAKING MAURITIAN CREOLE]
What?
[STAMMERS]
[DRIVER SPEAKING MAURITIAN CREOLE]
[ROBERT] I was so, so scared, Nick.
I can't tell you how happy
I am that you're back.
We're gonna get through this.
Okay?
Okay?
That's fine, Nick.
In your own time.
You should get some rest.
- I'm fine here.
- He needs rest.
He's gonna be okay.
Go get some air.
I'll be back in a bit, mate.
All right, mate.
- [DRIVER SPEAKING MAURITIAN CREOLE]
- [JACKHAMMER DRILLING]
[DRIVER CHUCKLES]
- [SPEAKS MAURITIAN CREOLE]
- [CAR HORNS HONKING]
[SIGHS]
[SIGHS]
- I'll be outside if you need me.
- [NURSE 2] Okay.
[MESSAGE TONE DINGS]
I'm sorry, can't you go any faster?
[DRIVER 2] There are cameras everywhere.
Yes. It's a hospital emergency.
Sorry, I can't get any more
points on my license.
I've got a family to feed.
Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes.
[ELECTRONIC VOICE] Doors closing.
[SIGHS]
[CAR HORNS HONKING]
- How long's this gonna take?
- You're almost there.
- [SIGHS]
- [JACKHAMMER DRILLING]
[DRIVER 2] Hey! Where are
you going? Shut the door.
[CAR HORNS HONKING]
- [ELEVATOR DINGS]
- [ELECTRONIC VOICE] Doors opening.
And you're back.
Is Mr. Ravenscroft still here?
[NURSE 2] He just stepped out, actually.
Ah, thank you.
[NURSE 2 STAMMERS]
Sorry. Visiting is 8:00 to 8:00.
Uh, Robert asked me to
sit with Nicholas for a bit.
Only-Only for a minute.
All right, just one minute.
But please check with the
ICU nurses first, okay?
Yes. Of course. Thank you.
[PANTING]
[NURSE 1] You shouldn't be here.
You should be resting, my dear.
[STAMMERS] I-I couldn't sleep.
I-I was too worried about Nicholas.
[STAMMERS] I don't think
I could bear it if-if
Nicholas has woken up.
That's very good news.
It is.
Stay only for a moment, okay?
He needs to rest.
Of course.
Yes. Thank you.
You are a good woman.
[PANTING]
Mum?
[BREATHING SHAKILY]
Mum.
I wanna go.
Mum. Please.
[BREATHES HEAVILY]
I wanna go.
[BREATHING SHAKILY]
[BREATHING SHAKILY]
[INHALES SHAKILY] I wanna go, please.
[BREATHES SHAKILY]
[BREATHES SHAKILY]
[BRIGSTOCKE SOBBING]
[SIGHS]
[BREATHING HEAVILY]
[NURSE 3] Uh, sir, are you okay?
I'll take him.
Mr. Brigstocke, are you okay?
[SIGHS]
- It's Robert.
- [STAMMERS] I'm sorry.
- [STAMMERS] I'm so sorry.
- So S
Sorry about what?
[SIGHS] I was wrong.
- Wrong in what way?
- I was wrong about everything.
[PANTING]
[GRUNTS, PANTING]
[PANTING]
[PANTING]
[NURSE 2] Excuse me,
you can't run in here.
[CATHERINE] No.
[PANTS]
What did you do to my son?
I'm sorry.
[WHIMPERS, WAILS]
Cath! Cath!
Cath, I'm so sorry. Cath, I'm so sorry.
- Oh, my son! My son!
- I'm so sorry. Cath, look at me.
- My beautiful son.
- I should have listened to you, Cath.
I'm so sorry.
- Nicky! Nicky! Nicky!
- This is my fault.
No, no. Nicky's fine.
- [SOBBING] Nicky!
- He's fine. I'm so sorry, Catherine.
No, no. Nick Cath, listen.
Nick's fine. He woke up.
He's safe. He's safe.
He's safe, don't worry.
What? He's He's awake?
[SOBS]
He's awake.
[GROANS]
- Nicky.
- [NURSE 1] Excuse me.
- [SOBBING]
- [NURSE 1 SPEAKS INDISTINCTLY]
Oh, my God. I'm so sorry.
It's okay. Please, it's okay.
Wait, why didn't you tell me before?
Why didn't you say anything
anything before?
I had never met your wife before.
I didn't know the truth until today.
But surely you knew what your son was.
No one wants to believe their son
is capable of doing such a thing.
But you sent that book to my family.
You gave me those photographs,
and I felt sorry for you.
- I felt grateful to your fucking son.
- [ELECTRONIC VOICE] Doors opening.
How could you not know?
Why didn't you question it?
No, Mr. Ravenscroft, why didn't you?
- [BEEPS]
- [ELECTRONIC VOICE] Doors closing.
[NARRATOR] You always knew
that Nancy dressed Jonathan up
into someone he was not,
and you colluded with her,
ignoring all the clues that should
have made you uneasy about him.
You have been as guilty
of delusion as she was.
Your only defense is that
you did it out of love,
but that is not much of a defense.
You were weak.
You have left nothing but
a trail of pain behind you.
You know you'll never find forgiveness.
Nothing can atone for a wasted life.
Nothing can purify you.
Nothing can absolve you.
Ahead of you, there's nothing.
Only the void awaits.
I'm so sorry.
I can't even begin to imagine
the horror that you went
through back then.
And now.
I was so s so stupid.
I'll never I'll never
forgive myself, Cath.
I didn't know.
Mmm.
Why didn't
Why did you never tell me?
[STAMMERS] I
I suppose
I didn't want it to enter our lives.
No, I wanted to protect you and Nick
[CHUCKLES]
from it, you know.
And from how angry,
you know, I-I-I felt and I
[INHALES SHARPLY]
I suppose I
I didn't want you to see me
differently, you know?
I didn't want you to have to
think about it, you know,
every time that you looked at me.
'Cause I didn't just I didn't want
to look at myself, you know?
I was just so
[INHALES SHARPLY, GROANS]
just so humiliated.
When When the book, um
Mmm?
and those photographs
came into our life,
why didn't you Why wouldn't
you just tell me then, Cath?
I did try, Robert.
You know? But I
I suppose that when you
you've never spoken about
something like that, well, I
[GROANS] I didn't know where to start.
I needed help to, you know,
to pick the pieces apart.
[STAMMERS, SIGHS] Make sense
of it. I couldn't do it on my own.
And you were just just
so angry and betrayed
and, you know, disgusted.
You know, all those things
I feared you would be, and
You didn't hear me out. You
You know, I couldn't think.
I just
Talking to you just made me
feel guilty all over again.
So
- I'm so sorry.
- Yeah.
Please understand that I was
I was deceived, Cath.
No, I-I do understand that.
I understand that the photos
were were confusing.
[SOFTLY] Please.
Cath, please forgive me.
I know I should forgive you.
But the truth is I can't.
'Cause you You're managing the idea
of me having been violated by
someone far more easily than
than the idea of that someone
bringing me pleasure.
You know, it's almost like you
you're relieved that I was raped.
[SIGHS]
And I just Sorry, I
I don't know how to forgive that.
[SIGHS]
[NARRATOR] Catherine and
Robert finalized the agreement
of their divorce.
Catherine knows that
her future is uncertain,
but she doesn't mind it.
She's not in a hurry to
decide anything now.
It's Nicholas and the present
she wants to concentrate on.
[CATHERINE SPEAKING INDISTINCTLY]
Catherine is overcome with gratitude
for the chance her son is giving her
to fully embrace his love.
I don't remember.
I know.
I'm so sorry, Nick.
- I don't remember anything.
- [SIGHS] I'm so sorry.
- [CLICKS TONGUE]
- [SNIFFLES]
I'm sorry.
Oh, no.
I'm sorry.
[SIGHS]
- [SNIFFLES]
- I love you.
Yep.
I know. I love you too.
[BREATHING DEEPLY]