The Clearing (2023) s01e07 Episode Script

(DOOR CLOSES)
(FREYA PANTS)
(BABY GRUNTS)
(BABY CRIES)
(FREYA BREATHES HEAVILY)
(KNOCKING)
Amy?
They're waiting.
Amy?
(BREATHES RAPIDLY)
I'll be right there.
(EXHALES DEEPLY)
- (FREYA PANTS)
- (TOILET FLUSHES)
(BREATHES DEEPLY)
CHRISTINE: She was 13 when
she was fostered out to me.
Nobody had ever mothered those children
so how was she supposed
to know what to do?
All she knew was cruelty and abuse.
She was never held, or loved.
I tried to but, you know,
these things are buried so far
down from when she was little.
WAYNE: I grabbed the wheel brace
from the ute to smash the window.
Opened the car door.
Max wasn't
Max wasn't moving and
her eyes were closed.
And I reached in to pick her
up as the ambulance arrived.
LISA: And where was the
baby's mother during all this?
WAYNE: I saw her across the road.
LISA: And what was she doing?
(LIGHT MUSIC PLAYING)
WAYNE: She was, ah
She was just standing there.
Do you believe that
baby Maxine can be safe
in the sole care of her mother?
CHRISTINE: In my experience
as a social worker,
our aim is to keep as many
families together as possible
LISA: Please, answer the question.
At at this point,
I don't believe that would
be in the best interests
of the child's welfare.
LISA: You must have known
that leaving a baby in a car
with the windows closed
on a hot summer's day
was potentially fatal?
(ECHOING BABY'S CRY)
Miss Beaufort, can you
answer the question?
JUDGE DEMPSEY: I have
determined that custody rights
be granted solely to the father,
Wayne Dhurrkay.
Supervised visitation rights
are granted to the mother
each week for two hours,
at a time and place to be determined
with a review in 12 months,
pending counseling and
psychiatric assessment.
(LIGHT MUSIC PLAYING)
(THEME MUSIC PLAYING)
(INDISTINCT PA ANNOUNCEMENT)
WAYNE: Got your ticket?
Yeah.
Let me know as soon as you arrive, okay?
- And don't forget what we talked about.
- Yeah, I know. School on Monday.
I've just got to sort a few
things out here with your brother.
Come here.
This stuff is hard, Max.
I don't always know what I'm doing.
BILLY: Bye, Max!
MAX: What's she doing here?
WAYNE: Be nice.
FREYA: We just want to say goodbye.
I'll see you real soon, little bro.
See you.
Have a safe trip.
(SOFT MUSIC PLAYING)
BILLY: Bye, Max!
Bye-bye, Max!
Did you tell her?
I didn't think that would be right.
I never blamed you, Freya.
What happened was because of Blackmarsh.
What Adrienne did to you there.
To all of you.
Mom?
Where's Mom?
Bath.
One of her little accidents.
- Oh, is Mo here?
- Hm.
Question is, why are you always here?
You can talk. What's with the suit?
It's pretty smart, right?
- (CHUCKLES)
- What's it for?
The wedding, of course.
Are you getting married?
Me? No. Abigail's wedding.
You're seriously going to that?
Why wouldn't I? I'm Mommy's plus one.
You can't take her to Abby's wedding!
Why not?
Because they hate her.
She is their mother!
Mom?
Oh, good.
You can help me look for my slippers.
He hides them from me, I'm sure of it.
I saw you at The Lodge last night.
Oh, where's he put them?
I kept your secret because I had to.
But if you're restarting The
Kindred, I won't stay silent.
And you know what will
happen if you don't, Amy.
(DISEMBODIED LAUGHTER)
(DISEMBODIED VOICES)
Amy, you have a visitor.
It's your mother.
Christine is not my mother.
Hello, angel.
How are you, Amy?
Good.
I don't think you are.
Which is why I have a surprise for you.
You're leaving here. Today.
I know an important doctor
who can overturn your
involuntary admission order.
But there's nothing out there for me.
I lost my child.
I lost my children.
The Blue Devils took you away.
But there is always new life, Amy.
You're young. You can start again.
I don't know what to say.
"Thank you, Mommy."
Thank you, Mommy.
You never give up on your children.
COHEN: And Maitreya,
she needs to sign here.
Thank you, Nurse.
One more, my darling.
(DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYING)
I'm never going back.
That's up to you.
- (KNOCKING)
- MO: Mrs. Beaufort?
Ready to finish your jigsaw puzzle?
What's he saying, the man with the hair?
I found them. Look.
The missing pieces.
They were in the pot
plant, of all places.
Well, you should look
there for my slippers.
MO: Freya. Freya.
Freya, can I speak to you?
Yeah, yeah.
I don't understand.
There's a bookmark.
Okay, do
Do you want me to read something?
The page number.
Two-twenty-four.
Yesterday it was 191.
The day before that, 168.
She's reading the book.
That's impossible.
The doctors say she can't
read. She can't comprehend.
- She's just moving the bookmark around.
- Why would she do that?
I don't know.
Why does she soil herself in her chair?
Why does she put the
TV remote in the fridge?
She does strange things.
She needs to be retested.
She's been tested. Thoroughly.
Remind me again, do you
have a medical degree?
I know who she is, Freya.
(PAPER RUSTLES)
It says she should be in jail.
And if she was, you wouldn't
have a job, would you?
You wouldn't be able to send
money back home to your family.
How do you think your
employer would feel,
knowing that you've been accusing
a dementia patient of making it up?
(FOREBODING MUSIC PLAYING)
(KEY CLANKING)
SARA: At home, I have friends.
I go to school.
I get kisses goodnight.
(FOREBODING MUSIC PLAYING)
(SIGHS DEEPLY)
(CAR DOOR CLOSES)
My Mom says it hurts the tree.
AMY: How does she know?
She says you have to
imagine you're the tree.
(OMINOUS MUSIC PLAYING)
(CELL PHONE RINGING)
Hey.
FREYA: I need you to
meet me at The Lodge.
Whoa, what What's going on?
I'm on my way there now.
Freya.
(FOREBODING MUSIC PLAYING)
Bryce's car's gone. We
can get in round the back.
They were gathered in here.
There was at least 20
of them, maybe more.
They were singing the
song that they taught us.
JOE: And she was here too?
They were here.
I saw it, Joe. They were in here.
There were children, some
of them no older than Asha.
Right here.
You imagined it, Freya.
No, you have to believe me.
She's starting it up again.
She's just an old woman,
rattling around in some
mansion with a daily care nurse.
She doesn't have dementia, Joe.
She never did.
I do her shopping.
I cook her meals.
I do her ironing, I clean her house.
You knew she was fit to stand trial.
She said if I didn't keep her
secret, then they would take Billy.
You knew!
- And you kept it from me!
- They can put me back
- in Greenhaven any time they want.
- (BREATHES DEEPLY)
I signed my life away, Joe.
Medical Power of Attorney.
She can leave me in there to rot!
I lost everything,
trying to get her for you!
For the others!
You can still get her, Joe.
Look at me.
I live in a floating coffin.
My wife doesn't wanna know me.
My kids don't talk to me.
Can't you see what you've done?
Yeah.
I could have helped you.
I could have protected you.
No, you couldn't.
No one can.
(DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYING)
WILKES: Saad?
Adrienne Beaufort's been found
medically unfit to stand trial.
But we only just got the new trial date.
A Special Hearing accepted a
diagnosis of cognitive decline.
Three separate specialists.
Early onset dementia.
A non-custodial supervision order.
It's bullshit.
- She's got doctors in her pocket.
- It's done, Joe.
What am I going to tell those kids?
Well, if it's any
comfort, she'll die here.
The surrender of her passport stands.
She can't leave the country.
She'll be monitored and
periodically assessed,
along with daily home
visits by a full-time carer.
It's as good as prison.
(KNOCKING)
Oh, your brother just arrived.
- How's it going, little man?
- BILLY: Good.
You gonna be okay for food?
All right, bub, I'll check in
with you a little bit later.
Okay, bye.
Max made it home safely.
Oh, good.
Nan's got something
for you in the kitchen.
Yay!
Okay, bye!
Uh, everything's in here.
Pajamas, toothbrush, Brown Bear.
He's going to say he doesn't
want to sleep with Brown Bear,
but he wants to sleep with Brown Bear.
And bedtime's usually around 8:30,
or whatever, whenever you want.
8:30 is good.
- Okay.
- You look nice.
Thanks.
All right, I better go.
Hey, we should get your name
put on Billy's birth certificate.
(MOUTHS) Yeah.
All right, call me if you need anything.
(UPBEAT MUSIC PLAYING)
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
Hi.
Hi.
Um, I've been doing some cooking
and housekeeping with a regular client.
And, um and I have a
new place to live in, so.
WAYNE: Well, whatever you're
doing, it's working, Ames.
You look good.
No, I mean, you know, healthy.
You look healthy too.
(INDISTINCT CHATTER IN DISTANCE)
You can ask about her if you want.
It's okay.
I just I don't
want to spoil anything.
Yeah, I wasn't sure if I
should bring her up, eh.
Don't want to upset you.
How is she?
She's good. She's great.
Yeah, seven now,
obviously. Good at school.
- Yeah.
- Smart.
Didn't get that from me.
I'm so sorry, Wayne.
I couldn't have ever forgiven
myself if anything happened.
I know.
You probably need to
get back home to her.
She's staying at Mom's tonight.
(FREYA MOANS)
FREYA: I swore I was going
to pass that psych assessment
in 12 months' time.
I don't know, I guess I just
spiraled.
The lawyer told me about Greenhaven.
I never meant for any
of that to happen, Amy.
I think it's just, it
was a long time coming.
Well, look at you now.
Do you think that one day,
we might be able to find a way back?
You and me, Max, as a family?
We could put it all behind us.
We can start slow and I could
come and work in Adelaide.
Get a house to rent nearby, maybe.
I'm her mother.
I don't know, Amy.
Putting Max through all that.
("AVE MARIA" PLAYING)
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
("AVE MARIA" CONTINUES PLAYING)
(INAUDIBLE CHATTER)
(WOMAN LAUGHING)
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
(BRIDAL PROCESSIONAL MUSIC PLAYING)
CELEBRANT: Friends and family,
we are gathered here today
to celebrate the joyous
(KNOCKING)
(CRICKETS CREAKING)
I wanted to visit you.
It was too risky.
I wrote letters, but the lawyers
wouldn't let me send them.
I looked for you at the University.
I retired.
You've been gone a long time, Henrik.
Why did they remove your name from
the Masters Board, if you retired?
Have you somewhere to stay?
Money? Food?
You've been a loyal servant.
- Maitreya will never forget.
- (HENRIK SCOFFS)
Don't tell the court that, eh?
- They might just put her away after all.
- (SCOFFS)
(SIGHS)
If there is ever anything
you need, we are here for you.
I need to get Amy's tape now.
The tapes are long gone, I'm afraid.
If there was anything else.
Excuse me.
Hello, you made it.
- Hi, Doctor.
- You find it all right?
- Yes, we did, thank you.
- Yes, yes.
Come on in.
KIM: Hi.
A speaking engagement
for inquiring minds.
You care to join us?
Fireside chat, really.
MAN: Dr. Latham.
- BRYCE: Come on in.
- WOMAN: Hi, Dr. Latham.
- WOMAN: Good to see you.
- BRYCE: Just round to the left.
- MAN: Thank you so much for having us.
- BRYCE: Lovely to see you. Come on in.
Now, perhaps more than at
any other time in history,
we have the opportunity to look beyond
what is known and rebuild our world.
We have been left holding
the ashes of Capitalism.
BRYCE: Thank you.
KIM: Dr. Latham?
Thank you so much. That
was so incredibly inspiring.
Thank you for coming.
Oh please, sit down.
Would you mind signing my book?
- Your book.
- Hm.
A pleasure.
KIM: We we are such big fans
and you are truly a pioneer.
Yeah, we would love to know more.
BRYCE: Speaking of the splendor
within, how far along are we?
(KIM CHUCKLES)
ASTRID: About six months.
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
(BACKGROUND LAUGHTER)
ANGELA: Look at me in that one.
Those 80's fashions.
Why would she put these up?
- GAIL: Hello!
- Why would she invite her?
- GAIL: Bride coming through.
- You look like a big fluffy chook.
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
ANGELA: Joe.
- Hi.
- Angela, hi.
ANNABELLE: Hi. (CLEARS THROAT)
ANGELA: You remember Annabelle.
JOE: I, uh Of course.
Good to see you again.
Want a drink?
Water.
ANNABELLE: Anorexia,
bulimia, kidney failure.
You name it, I've had it.
The doctors all trace
it back to Blackmarsh.
Acute malnourishment.
And there were never any damages
to help with the medical bills.
So this is
I just can't stand up for
long periods with the Osteo.
GAIL: Hello! Hi!
Have you two had a
chance to say hello yet?
ADRIENNE: Hello.
Who are you?
Mom, this is Angela, and
this is little Annabelle.
ANGELA: You okay?
(WHIMPERS) Why didn't you
tell me she was coming?
It's my day, Annabelle.
- I can invite who I want.
- I can't stay here with her.
Okay, I'll call you a taxi.
Can't we all just move on? I have.
Bye-bye.
GAIL: Why don't we find
you somewhere to sit down?
I I like to sit in my comfy chair.
Oh, okay. Um
- Well, there There's one in here.
- ANTON: Yeah.
- Mommy, let's go for a walk.
- There's a beautiful one in here.
You said you were hungry,
yeah? It's about dinner time.
- ANTON: This way.
- Yeah.
- Just over here.
- ADRIENNE: You're a menace in that dress.
Hey.
Bit of a shitshow, isn't it?
- Yeah.
- What was she thinking?
Adam.
Joe.
You and Abby still keep in touch, then?
No, no. Do you?
No. (SCOFFS)
I don't see anyone.
Aaron and I were housemates
for a while, after school.
You heard about him, right?
Yeah.
And I was the last one to see him.
I'm sorry. It's
I was looking for
something in the garage
when I saw him standing in the shadows.
I said, "You scared
the shit out of me, Az!"
But he just stared like
like weird, you know?
Then I heard this sound, like
a like a twisting sound.
And that's when I saw the rope.
He was hanging so low from
the rafter that in the dark,
it looked like he was
just standing there.
And I was talking to him, like an idiot.
I think Mommy getting out of
that trial was the last straw.
Yeah.
(OMINOUS MUSIC PLAYING)
(FOREBODING MUSIC PLAYING)
(RATTLES)
(FOREBODING MUSIC CONTINUES PLAYING)
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
- JOE: Garrison!
- (GARRISON LAUGHS)
Join us.
No. We need to talk.
Saad's off the beers these
days, isn't that right, mate?
- Gone all Osama bin Laden on us.
- Now.
Maybe he's got his eye
on those 72 virgins.
He couldn't even handle one missus!
- How about you fuck off?
- Hey.
Let's go.
COLIN: What's this?
Your car was parked
outside The Lodge in '89,
registered in your wife's maiden name.
You're their inside man.
Don't lie to me.
(DOOR OPENS)
(SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYING)
(BREATHES DEEPLY)
I was.
But after the raid,
when Adrienne skipped the
country and Henrik confessed,
I told them I was out.
They didn't need me anymore.
Fuck, why?
She, uh
she saw right through me.
That my marriage was a
sham, that I was stuck
stuck in a secret.
And you replaced it with another one?
This job doesn't like
different, you know that.
She took me in. She
accepted me for what I am.
You told me it gave you nightmares
what she did to those
kids in Blackmarsh.
It did, but they
blackmailed me to shut me up.
They record everything.
They keep tapes, confessions,
everything you never want
to see the light of day.
If Elena and the kids saw them,
Joe, I
Don't tell Wilkes. I'll lose my job.
Your job? You'll go to jail!
You played me the whole fucken way!
Hey.
How do you think you made
that arrest in France?
You think about it.
If they still had their claws in,
wouldn't I have tipped them off?
(EXHALES DEEPLY)
You owe me more than that.
COLIN: You sure about this?
You don't have a warrant.
JOE: I'll get one. Just hand it over.
On the ledge above the door.
JOE: I'll see you back there.
(INHALES DEEPLY)
JOE: Inspector, can I just
say, in my defense, I
Saad.
If you speak, I will throw
this stapler at your head.
Do you know how much your
failed task force investigation
into these Ferny Creek fuck
knuckles has cost my department?
And these questions will all
be rhetorical, by the way.
Then there was the
Interpol arrest in France
for which I didn't even get
a case of fucking Merlot.
The extradition.
Two business class return airfares
for Federal Police escorts,
plus a one-way for wig lady.
A County Court mistrial after six years
and seven figures of taxpayer
money to achieve sweet fuck all.
Followed by legal and diplomatic
limbo, trying to set a new trial date
which took so long the old witch
went off her fucking rocker!
And after all that,
in a world where planes
are flying into buildings
and people are looking
sideways at people like you,
you decide it's a good
idea to misuse police power
and go off the books,
off reservation, off fucking
tap after these crackpots,
who have direct access to
extremely expensive silk lawyers
who send shit-your-pants-level
threatening letters
- to the Chief Commissioner!
- But sir, they have an inside man
(CLANKS)
I missed you on purpose.
Because I can't even afford
a Band-Aid for you, Saad.
This thing has bled my department dry.
I know I messed up.
But they've been white-anting
this investigation from the start.
We're done here, Saad.
I need your gun and badge.
(DOOR OPENS)
(DOOR CLOSES)
(WATER SLOSHING)
(GRUNTS, BREATHES DEEPLY)
(SNIFFS)
(DOOR OPENS)
(DOOR CLOSES)
Ooh.
Little party starter?
No.
You had to bring her, didn't you?
Come on, she was invited.
Besides, the question is
why did Abby invite
the fucking Blue Devil?
ADAM: Yeah. Joe's full of shit.
All his big talk about
justice and compensation.
ANTON: Let's face it,
his whole case was a mess.
Mommy was too smart for him.
(DOOR OPENS)
(DOOR CLOSES)
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
(INDISTINCT MUTTER)
- MAN: It's okay, I got him!
- ANGELA: Sorry, runaway child!
Amy.
- How's it going, Angela?
- Um
Yeah, this one and the
twins keep me on my toes.
What about you? You a Mom?
Yeah.
You'd be a great Mom.
You really looked out
for us younger ones.
Especially Asha.
What were you and Adrienne
just talking about?
Why do you wanna know?
- (CLANKS)
- ANTON: Hey!
- ADAM: It's me. Remember me?
- ANTON: Hey!
- ADAM: Do you remember me?
- ANTON: Hey! Take it easy!
- Aaron sends his apologies.
- Aaron?
Who Do I know Aaron?
Yeah, he couldn't be here tonight
because you fucking killed him.
All right, you need to calm
down, okay? You're scaring her!
- GAIL: Adam, please don't make a scene.
- ADAM: I saw you hugging her.
What's wrong with you?
When did she ever hug us?
Answer me, Mom. When
did you ever hug us?
ANTON: Okay, okay, you
need to get out of here.
- ADAM: Get the fuck off!
- ANTON: All right. Get away from her!
Go!
GAIL: It's fine, everyone, um
Yeah, just grab another drink and
we we're gonna cut the cake soon.
Did you tell him?
Go home to your family, Garrison.
(RATTLES)
(OMINOUS MUSIC PLAYING)
(IN ARABIC) "And on you is this
curse, until the day of recompense."
(INDISTINCT CHATTER IN DISTANCE)
(GRUNTING)
Is this yours?
It's a pretty color, isn't
it? Hm? Just like your hair.
Pretty.
Hey, sweetheart, your
Mommy's looking for you.
Come on. Come on, guys,
let's go find Mommy.
(INDISTINCT SHOUTING)
You're not wanted here.
Can't you see that?
Angela's face lit up when she saw me.
She said I looked beautiful.
And Adam? Annabelle? They had to leave.
Annabelle was always the weak one.
She was the littlest,
and you didn't feed her.
You couldn't even look after Asha.
(LAUGHING, INDISTINC
CHATTER IN DISTANCE)
Yeah, I'd like to say
a few words if I may.
I've known Abigail
since she was this high.
Ah, well, marriage.
Well, what can I say? Ah,
it doesn't always work out.
- Guilty.
- (GUESTS LAUGHING)
But in the end, it's
about love, isn't it?
It's about love, and
children, and family.
Real family.
And it's about truth.
I'm sorry, but what's happening
here tonight is not real.
Adam tried to call it out.
MAN: Why don't you
piss off with him, mate?
Because that woman over
there, Adrienne Beaufort,
doesn't know a thing about
love or family, or truth.
Sorry, Freya, but it ends here.
All the bald-faced lies, the bullshit.
The faking dementia
to avoid facing justice
for what she did.
The crimes she committed!
WOMAN: Oh, my God!
(CLAMORING)
Someone stop him!
(BOTH GRUNT)
- JOE: Get off me!
- ADAM: Fuck you! Fuck!
- MAN: Settle down!
- ANTON: You're a loser!
- MAN: Settle down.
- ANTON: I hate you!
Settle down, mate.
JOE: Get off me!
Get off me!
- I'm fine!
- MAN: Come on.
(FOREBODING MUSIC PLAYING)
(KEY CLANKING)
EBONIE: You're Amy, aren't you?
Anton told me all about you. I'm Ebonie.
You've already met Tyler.
Guess we're all family now.
- Yeah.
- We are the initiates.
(OMINOUS MUSIC PLAYING)
What'd you say?
Ebonie!
- Mommy wants to go home now.
- Okay.
Now. Come on
You need to drive, okay?
(LIGHT MUSIC PLAYING)
(CAR APPROACHING)
(FOREBODING MUSIC PLAYING)
FREYA: Hey, Leo.
(DOOR CLOSES)
(LOCK CLANKING)
(KEY RATTLES)
(OMINOUS MUSIC PLAYING)
(CAR DOOR OPENS)
- (SIGHS)
- (DOOR CLOSES)
(KNOCKING)
(BIRDS CHIRPING IN DISTANCE)
WAYNE: All right, got your stuff?
- BILLY: Mom!
- Hey, hey, hey!
How'd you go?
I had the best time!
Bye, Dad!
See you, champion!
Thank you.
Anytime.
Hey, wait up!
BILLY: But do you know the megalodon?
FREYA: No.
The megalodon has bigger
teeth than the great white.
- Really?
- Yeah.
- But no longer around, are they?
- Yeah
They lived with the dinosaurs.
Out of them, which ones would you pick?
Oh, I would pick the plesiosaurus
- Uh-huh? Leo!
- against pterosaurs.
FREYA: Ah-ha. Interesting.
- Leo, come on. Come on!
- (BILLY MUTTERS)
(BUBBLING)
BILLY: Mississippi
two, three, four, five,
six, seven, eight, nine, ten
11, 12, 13, 14,
- 15, 16, 17, 18
- (LEO BARKS)
(BIRDS CAWING)
(BUBBLING)
(INHALES DEEPLY, GRUNTS)
Did I break the record?
(BREATHES DEEPLY)
FREYA: Billy?
Billy!
(DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYING)
Billy!
Billy!
Billy!
(FREYA GRUNTS)
(DRAMATIC MUSIC CONTINUES PLAYING)
Billy!
(CLOSING THEME MUSIC PLAYING)