Smother (2021) s03e04 Episode Script

And if I see
A sign in the sky tonight ♪
No one's gonna tell me
It's a trick of the light ♪
May never come
But I'm willing to wait ♪
What can I say?
I'm a man of the faith ♪
And there's an ocean in my body ♪
And there's a river in my soul ♪
And I'm crying ♪
- (waves crashing)
- (seagulls cawing)
(Jenny) I just don't get it.
Joe has had all year to tell us
he was in touch with Grace.
He knew how hard it was for us
that she cut all contact.
I mean, why hide that?
Well, there's one way to find out.
I I think it's better
coming from me.
Why?
Mam's wedding, we were pissed,
like, completely wasted,
and well, we
Joe You slept with Joe?
Well, you can talk to him then.
Seeing as you two are so close.
I've got enough shit
going on here as it is.
Call me as soon
as you've spoken to him.
Of course.
(Paul) Hello?
- Hey.
- Hey. Ooh!
Champagne, for Mairead's birthday,
I assume?
Not exactly,
but we are celebrating.
Well, don't keep me in suspense.
We've just been
to the solicitor's
(laughs)
Not divorce already, I hope!
to start the process
converting this place
into a counselling centre.
A place for people suffering
from trauma.
Come again?
We're gonna call it
the Grace Ahern Centre.
Oh.
(mobile phone buzzing)
(sighs)
O'Connor, what's going on?
No, I I took them with me.
All right, yeah, I'm on the way in.
A clear-out
and a refurbishment, hmm?
Yeah, pass us over
that bag there, Mam, will you?
- This one?
- Yeah.
Thanks.
Can't have him living
out of boxes forever.
Val, you could lose your house
if this centre thing doesn't work.
- A house is just a house, Mam.
- Until it isn't.
Yeah, well, Paul will make it work.
What class of people
will be pitching up here?
People dealing with trauma
and grief, Mam.
People who can't cope any longer,
maybe we could
catch them
(sighs)
- help keep them going.
- Hmm.
Val, your daughter loved you.
She would have said goodbye
or have left a note,
I know it in my calcified bones.
(sighs)
(Paul) Oof, you've been busy!
Yeah, I'm I'm just gonna
drop them to the charity shop
in Ennis this afternoon.
Well, they'll be delighted
to see you coming.
So, you still going with that?
Yeah. Yeah.
Now that I've started again.
You seem like you're lighter
in yourself.
Well, I've just been chatting
to Mam about Grace
and sometimes, I mean, not often,
but sometimes that woman
knows exactly
the right thing to say.
Really? Good to know.
It was so simple, she said Grace
would have left a note,
and you know what,
I believe her and it just
just put my mind at ease.
(Paul) Right, right.
Well, whatever works for you.
(gate closing)
(sighs)
You have no idea what it means
to me that you're here right now.
I'm so, so sorry you had
to see me like that.
(sighs)
I thought you were gonna die.
I know there's a quota
on second chances,
and I know I'm pretty close
to it by now,
but I promise you,
I will never put you through
anything like that ever again.
No more hiding things
from each other.
Ah, sorry. Ah.
- (Jacob) Are you okay?
- (Elaine) Yeah. I just
(sighs)
I probably pushed it too far by
walking all the way to the meeting.
It's okay, I just need
to sit down for a bit.
Okay.
(delivery man) Hey, flower delivery
for Mairead Noonan.
- That's me.
- (delivery man) Perfect.
Thank you.
- (delivery man) Have a nice day.
- Yeah, you too.
- Bye.
- (delivery man) Bye.
(Caro) Hey.
(Paul) Hi.
I was just wondering,
where do I fit in
with all the strays
who'll be staying here, hmm?
Sorry, I don't
I don't follow you.
Um, I thought you'd be back
in Spain.
Oh
(chuckles)
Well, here's the thing.
I gave 15 years of my life
to Liverpool John,
even wiped his ass in the end.
He swore to me that the villa
would be mine in his will.
I should have checked but
(chuckling)
I was too busy
minding the fecker.
Then he croaked
and the two sons moved in
and sold it right over my head.
(chuckles)
It can be a very cruel world
out there, Paul.
Indeed it can.
Val needs me.
And it's a good thing that you
and I get on so well, hmm?
(chuckles)
- Listen, Caro
- Mm-hmm?
I'm really sorry, but you staying
on here isn't going to work for us.
Why not? I'm no bother.
And we've really enjoyed
having you, you know, um,
but I need to prioritise Val now.
I know you'll understand that.
So, I'll drop you over to Mairead's
as soon as you've packed your bags.
Hey!
- Hi.
- (Frank) Hey.
I, uh, come bearing bills.
In your own time.
Sure. I'll settle up this week.
Come on, Val.
Take a walk with me,
some fresh air.
Show no hard feelings.
(Frank) So, Mair filled me in.
- Is that why you're here?
- (chuckles)
Did they send you
to check up on me?
No, I sent me to check up on you.
Are you okay?
(Val) I think so.
It's just one day at a time.
Mair said you had a falling out.
I'm not gonna get into that, Frank.
You will break her heart
if you don't show up to her lunch.
I'll think about it.
I'm not going to promise anything.
I'll be two secs.
I called by
because you weren't at work.
(Elaine) Yeah, Anna gave me
some time off so I could go
to my meetings like you suggested.
And I I was going to sign in
at the station later.
Okay.
That's a nasty dent you've got
there in the front bumper.
You'd want to get
onto your insurance company.
What dent?
Mum?
It's okay, Jacob,
you can go back inside.
Honestly, I have no idea.
There was a hit-and-run
on the main Ennis road last night.
I haven't driven this car in days.
Just waiting on CCTV
footage from Madden's quarry
which is on that stretch
of the road.
Pretty confident we'll get
a good visual off it.
I'm telling you,
this car has not left this driveway
since like last Tuesday.
Hmm.
Well, hold tight
on getting it repaired.
I'll be coming back to you on this.
Joe?
(knocking on door)
(sighs)
(sighs)
What have you been up to?
- I just went for a walk with Frank.
- (Paul) Huh.
I would have joined you,
if you'd bothered to ask.
(Anna) Joe?
(inhales)
Jesus Christ!
Grace.
(Grace on audio message)
Don't come back to Donegal, Joe.
I've asked you
to give me some time.
I really mean it, Joe.
I've told reception
not to let you in.
So, just please respect
what I'm saying.
(tyres approaching)
Anna?
Hey, Joe.
What's going on?
What are you doing here?
I wanted to talk
to you about Elaine.
Something she said about Grace.
Yeah?
Yeah, but, um,
Jacob's left a call and he's
after forgetting his keys again,
so I'll come around later.
Hang on, just tell me now,
what did she say?
No, I'll come around later.
I need to go to Jacob, now.
Okay.
(car door closes)
- (engine revs)
- (tyres squeal)
Anna! Anna!
(sighs)
Is everything okay?
Well, you tell me.
About what?
Jacob, my whole body is aching,
and my head is spinning,
and I'm not able
for lies right now.
Do you know what happened
to my car?
Just a straight answer, please.
I I don't know.
Look at me.
Look at me, please.
I am out on probation
with a caution for drink driving.
There is a dent on my car
that I can't explain,
and a woman in hospital
in critical condition,
do you see
where I'm going with this?
(sobbing) I can't help you
if you won't tell me.
It was me.
I I took the car last night.
Sweet Jesus, you hit her.
No, no, I I wasn't driving.
Patrick Kennedy said
that he had a full licence,
and I know I shouldn't have said
that we could take the car,
but I I wanted him to like me.
Is she dead?
No. No, she's not dead,
but it's not looking good, Jacob.
(both sobbing)
You weren't driving,
I mean, that's
that's something at least,
you know?
Were you drinking?
(sobbing)
Oh, Christ!
Jacob.
What are you gonna do?
Hi, Anna.
Hi.
(breathing heavily)
(line ringing)
(Jenny) Finn!
- (Finn) What's up? You all right?
- He was here.
He was here. Leon was in the house.
(sobbing)
He was in the house, Finn.
What the hell,
what kind of a person
- would do something like that?
- (Finn) I'll sort it. Let me
I'll sort it, all right?
(Jenny) What are you doing?
You and Nell can't stay here.
Oh, right, yeah, but it's fine
for you to stay here
with that psychopath on the loose!
As long as you and Nell
are safe, I'll be fine.
- I'll drive you over to Frank's.
- (Jenny) Yeah.
Uh, Michael's supposed
to pick up Nell from nursery.
I'll get him to to take
her home for a few days.
Yeah, that's good.
Are you sure you're happy
staying at Mairead's?
I mean, you're more than welcome
to stay here, you know.
- Am I now?
- Of course you are.
I expect to see you
at Mairead's lunch.
(chuckles) Not that I've got
the money to pay for it.
I'm afraid
we have plans today, Caro.
But Mairead's a big girl,
I'm sure you'll have
a lovely lunch together.
Val, family is family.
I'll see you there at 2:00.
(Elaine) What's his address?
Who?
This driver, Patrick Kennedy,
where does he live?
Why?
Because
we are gonna go over to his house
and speak to his parents,
that's why and then we're gonna go
to the Garda station
- and make your statement.
- No. M Mum, please.
Look, Jacob,
what do you expect me to do?
This woman could die,
it was my car that hit her.
Come on, let's go.
No, you you don't know
what his dad's like.
- What do you mean?
- He's mean.
Like proper psycho mean.
If we go over there,
he'll hurt him, Mum.
Let me talk to Pat.
Give me one day.
And I'll I'll ask him
to hand himself in,
or at least get away from his dad.
One day, that's it,
that's all he gets.
(sighs)
- Hey.
- Hey.
Do you hear that?
That is the sound of silence.
(both laugh)
- It's nice, isn't it?
- Hmm.
- Was Mam all right?
- Hmm?
I said was Mam all right?
Yeah, of course.
Val, this isn't gonna work
if you keep checking on
Don't say that,
don't say about us not working.
No, no, I I mean the situation.
Right. (chuckles)
Sorry, it's just
(clicks tongue)
Look, we're just married.
- Mm-hmm?
- And, um,
this is probably the first time
we've ever been alone
in the house together
- Yeah.
- and, um
I'm just I'm just used
to being surrounded.
Yeah, they're still out there,
stuck in their endless dramas.
(Val chuckles)
It's you and me now, Val,
just remember that.
(sighs)
(door slams)
(Joe) Where is it?
Give me the fucking phone, Anna!
I heard her messages, Joe.
It sounds like
you were stalking her.
You don't know
what you're talking about.
You just couldn't
take no for an answer.
I want her phone.
- No.
- (thuds)
You don't get to just
Joe, you need to go.
- Don't push me, Anna.
- (knocking on door, door opening)
Sorry, Anna.
The couple who are getting married
on Saturday, they're here.
Sorry, I can ask them to come back.
No, that's fine, Maria.
Joe, you need to leave.
Now.
If I could go back
and change things, I would.
In a heartbeat.
(Maria) Is everything okay?
Yeah, it's fine, Maria.
Um, please just give me a minute.
Yeah.
Welcome to the rejects club.
(chuckles)
Story of my life.
(sighs) Jacob said Paul wants Val
all to himself.
Oh, she's met her match there.
Yeah.
Looks to me like she might have
had more than her match this time.
- (Caro) Hmm.
- (sighs)
(Frank) So sorry, guys,
I'm gonna have to leave.
So, Jen, just get yourself set up
upstairs in the spare room.
It's better
that you're here for now.
I'll get back to the house.
I'm not gonna let
it sit empty, not now.
Yeah, well,
I can drop you, it's on my way.
I've gotta go to this,
uh, birthday lunch.
It'll be okay.
You'll call me
as soon as you get there?
Yeah.
And you, stay here,
right here, okay?
Yeah, I promise.
(mobile phone beeps)
(chuckles softly)
Well, it's all clear upstairs.
You looking for anything
in particular or
Yeah, I'm sure there was
a spare set of house keys
in here somewhere.
If Leon's taken them, I'm gonna
have to change the locks.
What's this?
River Road Care Home?
(Finn chuckles) "Care,"
that's the first lie right there.
Is that where
you met this fella Leon?
Yeah, everyone thought
we were mates.
But a mate doesn't break your arm
and make you tell staff
you fell over.
Jesus!
A mate doesn't pour a kettle
of scalding hot water on you
and make you say
it was an accident.
And a mate doesn't force you
to tie up an old lady
so you can rob her house
for a measly 50 quid.
Did you ever
tell anyone about this?
When you've been in
the system as long as I have,
you learn to keep your mouth shut.
When you speak out,
things always get worse.
This guy's got to go, Finn.
Yeah.
Right, I'm gonna drop the bags off
in Ennis,
is there anything you need me
to get you?
Um, yeah, maybe pick up
some monkfish.
- I can make my Goan curry thing.
- Sure.
Um, I'll just
I'll just come with you.
- No.
- Hmm?
(Val) No, I'm just going
to get some bits and pieces,
and you'd be bored stiff.
Oh, okay.
Um, hey, hey.
Come back here.
Looks nice.
- Thanks. (chuckles)
- (chuckles)
(mobile phone beeps)
(ominous music)
(all laughing)
I can't imagine.
(indistinct chatter)
- (Mairead chuckles)
- (Caro) Oh.
- You came.
- Of course.
- Happy birthday.
- Thank you.
- (Val) Hey, Mam.
- Val.
Hey, Val.
- (Val chuckles) Hi.
- Hi.
- (Val) Good to see you.
- Good to see you.
(Val) Yeah. Oh, thanks. Thanks.
(sighs)
(Frank) Um, okay, look
before we start,
I have something for you, Mairead.
- Happy birthday.
- Thank you.
Sable brushes, I love them.
- (chuckles)
- (Mairead) Thank you.
You're welcome.
And, um, I have something
for you too, Val.
I found that in the house.
I thought it deserved a frame.
(Val sighs)
Her Communion.
- Ah.
- Ah.
She made a fortune that day.
Gave it all to charity.
That was our Grace.
It was, wasn't it?
The one thing she bought that she
said she could never part with
Those God-awful platform trainers!
(all laughing)
She's part of us all now.
You may think, Val, that Paul
is the only one you need,
but we were the ones
who knew her, who loved her.
Her family, and you need
those people too now.
Thank you, Mam.
Fuck!
(Jenny) What the hell
are you playing at?
Finn has a new life now,
all right, he has a family.
You can't mess
with his head anymore.
You're wasting your time here.
(Leon chuckles)
If you don't fuck off,
I'll call the Guards.
Yeah, and tell them what exactly?
That you're dangerous,
that you broke into our home.
Well, the police station's
up there, I think. Off you go.
I can get you ten grand,
that's all I have.
Nell is safe now, you can't
use her against us anymore.
I really wish people
would check their privacy settings.
Tell Finn, 50 grand
and I'll be out of your hair.
We don't have access
to that kind of cash.
You're a smart girl
with a rich mother.
You're pathetic.
What?
(chokes)
I'm getting really tired,
really tired of listening to you.
(Frank) Thank you.
(mobile phone ringing)
(Val sighs)
Paul's been trying to reach me.
Didn't say I was coming here.
None of his beeswax anyway.
Butt out, Mam.
A wife having to say where
she's going in this day and age?
That's not what I meant,
and you know it.
Uh, Caro's been filling me in
on your plans for the centre.
It's a big venture to undertake.
Fair play to you, Val. I mean it.
Thank you, Frank.
It's nice to hear someone approves.
(sighs)
Did they tell you anything?
Did they let you see her?
Were there Guards there?
There's no change,
she's still critical.
Have you spoken to Patrick yet?
No.
I left him a message to call me.
Okay, tomorrow, Jacob.
This all gets sorted, whether
Patrick hands himself in or not.
Jenny, are you okay? What happened?
Jenny! Jesus Christ.
(Mairead) It's a massive
commitment, Val.
Paul doesn't seem to want family
in and out of the house,
I get that.
No, really, I do.
But total strangers?
People at their lowest ebb?
Yeah, Mair, people like Grace.
She's gone, darling.
And all the good intentions
in the world won't bring her back.
Don't you think I know that?
What we're trying
to say is that, um
(sighs)
every day, you'll be reminded,
surrounding yourself
with people who are struggling.
It's not their fault, of course,
but no more than it was Grace's.
(sighs)
What?
So, uh, deep down,
you all think the same thing?
You think my girl
couldn't go on anymore.
Couldn't live
with the lies I made her tell.
All of the things
her family put her through.
Do you know
that until the day I die
that will be my first thought
every morning
and my last thought every night.
Val, Val, you've got
to stop blaming yourself.
Well, maybe I don't
blame myself enough, Frank.
But when I can carry it,
when I can face it,
I will build a refuge for people
who are at their lowest ebb, Mair,
and I'll put Grace's name on it
and she'll know
she was never alone.
I'm sorry, Mair.
I have to do this my way.
Oh, God.
(Val) Could I have my coat, please?
Thank you.
Val, Val, come on.
Come on.
Don't don't leave like this.
(sighs)
You forgot your photo.
Thank you for this
for everything.
You're a good man, Frank.
I just I just have to try
and find my way through this,
you know?
(sighs)
We have to go to the Guards,
you could have been killed.
No, no, if Finn finds out,
he'll he'll kill him.
You were assaulted
in broad daylight.
For the love of God, Jenny!
Please don't. Not now, okay?
(Anna) You're still shaking.
- Here. Here.
- Oh.
How did things go with Joe earlier?
I tried to call you.
He had photos of Grace all over
the house, and he had her phone.
What, why?
(Anna) There were messages on it,
there were dozens of them.
He wouldn't leave her alone.
He went to Donegal,
and I I don't mean after,
I mean before Grace died.
Jesus, Anna.
He was desperate to get the phone
back, he followed me to the hotel.
Actually, Joe told us her phone
was missing
when he went to Donegal.
Do you think
he might have hurt Grace?
Even if it was unintentional?
Honestly, I don't know anymore.
We need to go to Donegal.
(indistinct chatter)
(Joe) Don't be an eejit about it
and sit there, not a word!
Stay!
Possession with an intent
to supply, Mangan and Whelan.
They're in the system already.
He ran into a wall.
- (Val) Hi.
- Hi.
How was Ennis?
Did you, uh
Did you get the monkfish?
Sorry?
(sighs) Right, no, sorry.
No, I I forgot. I
I I'm just I'm exhausted,
to tell you the truth
Right.
(newspaper slams)
They probably won't just hand over
a visitor's logbook to strangers.
It's the only way of knowing if
Joe was there the day Grace died.
I'll call Finn, let him know
we're gonna have to overnight.
(knocking on door)
Just got word
from the lads in Ennis there.
The CCTV from the quarry's a dud.
Didn't extend
to that stretch of road
where Eileen Doherty
was found, so
There has to be something else.
- Yeah.
- (Sgt O'Rourke) Joe
- Is everything okay?
- Grand.
Look, this job gets
to us all sometimes.
I mean, maybe you should've taken
a longer break.
- And you can still
- I'm fine.
(sighs)
Are we good?
Yeah.
(sighs)
(knocking on door)
Is it true, Paul?
Does everyone think
Grace killed herself?
Am I the only one clinging on here?
I need to get to the truth.
Why are you asking me?
You don't give a shit
about my opinion.
What do you mean?
I know you went to Mairead's lunch.
And that you lied about it.
(sighs)
It was a last-minute thing.
I wasn't going to go
- Val. Val. Val
- I wasn't going and then
I can accept that my patients
lie to themselves all the time,
but what I cannot accept
is when they lie to me.
Yeah, but I'm I'm not a patient.
I I'm your wife
who needs your help.
Paul?
We know what we're saying so?
Now we'll see
if the doctor title holds any sway.
What if this is just
a wild goose chase?
(clicks tongue)
Only one way to find out.
Hello.
Hi, how can I help you?
Yes, uh, my name
is Dr Jennifer Ahern,
and, um, I wonder
if there's a manager
who we could speak with?
Oh, not at this hour, I'm afraid,
just the night supervisor.
Have you a guest staying with us?
Not exactly.
Um, our sister was here last year.
We were wondering if we could look
at the visitor logs
for when she was here?
Sorry, but why isn't your sister
here in person requesting this?
She passed away.
Oh, I'm so sorry.
- What's her name?
- Grace Ahern.
She was here July last year.
(receptionist)
Oh, I wasn't here then.
Let me have a quick look.
Listen, I want to be there for you.
I do.
But you go and see
your family against my advice.
And now you're shattered.
How can that be good?
It wasn't. It wasn't good.
They're they're not sure
about our plans for here.
Go on.
They think it'll keep me
tormenting myself about Grace,
- her state of mind.
- Hmm.
And what did you say?
Well, I said if I can face it
if I can really face it
I can make a refuge here for
For other people.
I thought we decided this.
Yes, but how can I ever move on
if I don't know?
Look, you will never know for sure
what happened on that beach.
All you can do is work through
your worst fears by facing them.
Now, are you ready to do that?
Yeah.
Yeah, I am.
Come on.
Let's do this together.
(exhales)
I'm sorry, Dr Ahern,
it says here that any requests
for personal details
linked to this file
are to be made formally in writing.
Oh, no, no, we're just wanting
to look at the visitor logs
for while she was here,
it's nothing personal.
I suggest you come back
in the morning
and speak with the manager
about it.
I understand perfectly fine.
Thanks anyway.
Just one last thing, when we were
driving in, I saw a couple of kids
hanging around the entrance
and I thought I saw one of them
checking on the doors.
- Really?
- Yeah, it's the side door.
- I'll show you.
- Yeah.
(Paul) Now, listen,
Grace is out there.
Okay? Talk to her.
Grace, I'm so sorry,
you needed me and I
I let you down, I
(grunts)
(Paul) Come on, say the words.
I carried you for nine months,
for most of your life, and then
I abandoned you, and I
I get it. Okay, I get it,
I've faced it, I get it.
(Paul) What? What did you face?
(door opening)
(Anna) They must have done a runner
when they saw us driving in.
Been asking for CCTV for ages.
Well, looks like this
is a wild goose chase after all.
It's late,
let's go back to the B&B.
We can get the lay of the land
in the morning.
Just gonna use the bathroom.
Um, excuse me,
could I use your toilets, please?
Sure, just down the corridor,
third door on the left.
Thank you.
Talk to her! Come on,
tell her, she's out there.
That it was all my fault!
It was my fault!
(pants)
Anna!
- Come on, again!
- You committed suicide.
Get it out, Val!
But I killed you!
Oh, God. And for that,
I'm truly sorry, Grace.
What's wrong?
(Paul) Say it again.
- I'm so sorry!
- Come on, get it out!
I'm so sorry.
- Come on, again! Keep going.
- Grace!
And if I see a sign
In the sky tonight ♪
No one's gonna tell me
It's a trick of the light ♪
May never come
But I'm willing to wait ♪
What can I say
I'm a man of the faith ♪
And there's an ocean in my body ♪
And there's a river in my soul ♪
And I'm crying ♪
And we carry the sun ♪