Episode 1 Amber

This programme contains some strong language.

(It's any easy kill. Take them out.)

(What are you waiting for?)

You're taking this far too seriously.

HE LAUGHS

(I'll take them out.)

(But I'm going to need you to lay down suppressing fire for me.)

(OK?)

LASER GUN BLASTS

Surprise!

You're dead!

You can go back to your base and get another life.

-If only.

-If only what?

Nothing.

-What?

-I said, "If only," Ben. It was a joke.

-Sarah, we're having... AMBER:

-Just shoot them!

He's going to be so pissed off.

DRILL WHIRRS

LOUD POP MUSIC PLAYS IN NEXT ROOM

You should have asked Dad.

LOUD MUSIC CONTINUES

That's loud, Amber!

I want to paint the walls black.

What?

So, can you get me black paint tomorrow?

I know I said do what you want, but...

Yes. You promised.

MOBILE PHONE RINGS

Promise?

Hey, Jellybean.

Yeah...

We're going back there next week.

Did you see the way he smiled at you?

Future husband!

One sec, Jen.

-Future husband?

-Black paint, Mum.

It will look super cool.

What about blue? Or dark brown?

-Black, black's very depressing...

-Mum, I'm talking to Jenny.

# La la-la-la I really have to go... #

Amber?

Hey, Nana.

Is that...?

I hope it's the right one.

Yes.

Thanks, Nana.

It's the final piece of my grand design.

-Eamon, turn off the lights.

-Turn them off yourself.

-Eamon!

-Just turn them off, numb nuts!

-Amber!

-Do it yourself.

-Wow! Brilliant!

-That is really something!

We're under the sea.

In Narissa's garden.

How did you do that?!

It's actually pretty cool, for a moron.

That's enough, Eamon. So what inspired your design?

Hey, Mum! Get the camera out of my face.

Sarah, would you leave the poor child alone?

Oh!

Sorry. I know I'm late.

Declan and I have had a really rough day with a client.

We're back now, OK?

I'll be home soon.

Hey, big fella!

We having takeaway later?

Yeah. How about, erm... How about an Indian?

That's it.

-JENNY:

-It looks...great.

We're having poppadoms!

OK.

Who said you could come into my room?

-We were meeting a guy about a job in the Sudan.

-Sudan?

Yeah. Don't worry, I don't think we got it.

Declan let it slip that, er, we have no experience in Africa.

You look fantastic.

Who are you heading out with?

Not dating already, are you?

Did you order those mattresses? The kids can't sleep on blow-up beds

every time they stay at yours. This is a permanent arrangement.

Amber! Your father's waiting.

Oh, and Jenny had a sleepover, so can you drop her home? Bye, kids!

-Bye!

-Bye!

-Are you trying to be an emo?

-Oh, go away, Eamon!

THE HOUSE FALLS SILENT

Hi, Daddy!

-Hi!

-Look at you! Beautiful!

I'm so sorry I'm late. Are you OK?

Well...unemployment.

At least I get to spend more time down the gym.

-You go to the gym?

-No! THEY LAUGH

The lawyer advised him to stay in the apartment until we sell it.

Sure we haven't been offered even half the price of the mortgage yet.

In the end Ben realised that being petty

and at each other's throats was getting unbearable for the kids.

Especially Amber.

He saw sense and moved out.

I love that you're single again.

Does that make me a bitch?

Those two are getting the next bottle.

I'm thinking of getting a puppy.

Declan's beagle is having a litter. I said I might take one.

-Molly?

-Yeah.

Got off the lead and disappeared one day.

Disappeared for about four hours.

Must have had a romantic encounter.

Declan doesn't know what kind of a dog the daddy is though.

A beagle crossed with a...

-Wolfhound.

-No way!

I don't know. He doesn't know himself.

Could be a Great Dane, could be a Jack Russell.

We'll just have to find out.

Molly!

That little slut.

-EAMON LAUGHS

-Little what?

Ohh...

Morning.

What happened to those guys?

I think they lost interest when those student nurses arrived.

I have to kick you out.

Oh, the kids will have a conniption

if they find out I've got a social life.

-OK, be good.

-OK.

Hi, love.

What's Amber doing?

-Talking.

-Talking?

Talking with Dad.

Hi.

She's got an upset tummy.

Just came over her now all of a sudden.

-Oh, right.

-She's probably just tired.

-I'm going to bring her home, Trish.

-Oh, right.

-OK?

-Right, see you later, then.

Go on in, Eamon.

ENGINE STARTS

Which is Jenny's house?

That one there.

OK. Go straight in. No dilly-dallying.

OK.

Bye, honey.

See ya.

When did you drop her off at Jenny's?

She promised she'd be back by six.

She said Jenny's folks would drop her home.

It's six now, she's hardly late yet, is she?

-I need to know these things, Ben.

-OK, calm down.

I can't remember the name of Jenny's mum.

Cherry.

Isn't it?

Funny how you always remember the names of the yummy mummies.

Ask you to remember the names of your children's teachers...

Hi, Cherry, it's Sarah.

Yeah. Just checking, what time are you dropping Amber back?

Or if you prefer, myself or Ben can pick her up?

What do you mean?

Today?

Well, Ben said he dropped her off at yours?

Is Jenny there? Yeah, if you could stick her on.

Hi, Jenny, love, have you been speaking to Amber today?

She hasn't.

Does Amber have any other friends in this estate

that she might have visited instead?

-Well, Sinead lives just down there.

-Sinead.

PHONE RINGS Sorry.

-Hiya.

-'Any word from Jenny?'

No, they haven't seen her.

Stop panicking, I'll find her.

Can you text any of Amber's friends, or parents?

-I have a list inside.

-Just ask them if they've seen her.

-Can you show me where Sinead lives?

-Yeah. Of course.

'Hey, this is Amber. Tell me something new.'

Hey, it's me. I'm calling the police.

-'Calm down.'

-Stop telling me to calm down, Ben, I'm calling them.

You want me to forward this to everyone?

Everyone, and ask them to forward it on to their friends, OK?

This is going to be so embarrassing for Amber.

We're nearly at Sinead's.

DOORBELL

Think, Ben! Did she say anything about going anywhere else?

I said no, Sarah!

Listen, I've a photo in my wallet we can use.

No, that's no good. They said bring a recent one.

'# La la-la-la I really have to go... #'

'Amber?'

'Hey, Nana.'

That one. Yeah.

That one?

Perfect. Print.

Here are the statements taken from Dundrum a few hours ago.

14-year-old girl hasn't come home.

Missing eight hours or so, give or take.

Mother's name is Sarah, father Ben Bailey.

Runs a security firm. Separated.

The other one, a friend of the mother's,

Maeve Flynn something or other.

-Maeve Flynn-Dunne, journalist.

-You know her?

She used to write a gossip column.

Well, get her and the young lad out.

I'll be assigning you as liaison officer here.

Ready?

The missing girl, what's her name?

Amber.

MEN TALK IN HUSHED VOICES

Is this Amber's laptop?

We're going to have to take it, OK?

Yeah?

OK.

Finished looking under beds, are we?

Mr Bailey, we are taking this very seriously.

Sometimes we need to start off the search

in the most obvious places, you know.

You'd be surprised how many kids turn up in their own homes.

Either that or out at some all-night party somewhere.

I'd be surprised, would I?

PHONE RINGS

Superintendent?

We're just leaving the father's home.

He was the last one to see her.

Yeah. High risk.

OK, everyone, if we can break into groups of three, and who has a car?

I have a car.

Hi, Jim, thanks for coming.

She's probably just off having some kind of mad teenage adventure.

-TEARFULLY:

-Sure, we all know what they're like.

-Are you OK?

-I can't handle this right now.

Did you put your call through to your press contacts?

Don't you worry, it'll be in all the papers.

A few other places we think we can look.

We've highlighted in yellow and blue

the places we're sending the volunteers. Here, in the suburbs.

Em, the areas is in orange we already searched this morning.

Sorry, you are?

This is Declan McCarthy, my business partner.

MUFFLED VOICES FROM NEXT ROOM

If Amber's lying in a ditch the choppers

-would pick up her heat signature.

-Where, Ben? Where would they look?

Areas with heavy foliage for a start.

What about the helicopters?

I'll make a call.

Please, don't feel you're doing that just to make me feel better!

Just let them do their job, please, Ben.

Excuse me.

Hiya. Actually, you know, the more involved you can get the better.

OK.

Just... Just get them everywhere.

Excuse me? My daughter's missing. Amber Bailey, here's a photo of her.

Have you seen her anywhere?

She was wearing a grey cardigan and black jeans.

No, I'm sorry.

Guys. Have you seen this girl?

-Sorry.

-No?

-No, sorry.

-No? Have a look at it.

-No, sorry.

OK.

Jesus Christ...

-I can't do this.

-You should do most of this.

You're her mother, people will relate to you more.

You're better at this than I am.

There, sweetheart. I've prepared this for you.

I've never spoken in public before.

All right, I'll do it with you. OK?

14 years old, Amber Bailey was last seen

by her father, Ben Bailey, in the Sandyford area,

at approximately 3:30 on Wednesday afternoon.

She's 160cm tall, medium build.

She was wearing a grey cardigan, black jeans,

pink top, and distinctive black boots with a tartan print.

If there is anyone out there who thinks they know

or remembers anything, please do not remain silent.

No matter how small a thing you might remember,

please get in touch.

Amber, if you are watching...

..please come home.

You're not in trouble. We love you.

We just want you to come home.

Once again, did she have her phone with her when she left you?

Yes, I remember it clearly.

Her clothing?

Yes. Still pink top, black jeans,

big black-and-tartan boots.

How is going over this again and again achieving anything?

Do you remember if she had anything else with her?

-No.

-Think, Ben.

If they want to go over it again, then go over it again.

They're trying to pick holes in my story.

You think I did something to my own daughter?

Don't make this about you.

Taking the lazy way out already.

Apart from me, have you any other suspects?

Mr Bailey, nobody is accusing anybody of anything.

It's just that we found something.

At 15:50, Amber takes the Luas to St Stephen's Green.

Now here, an hour later at 16:50, getting back on to the Luas,

heading back in the direction of home.

But she gets off at Laughanstown.

Any idea why she might have gone into town?

Or why she might have gotten off at that particular stop?

-QUIETLY:

-Why did she go past her normal stop?

There. Look.

See? She's carrying something.

Any idea what it is?

She doesn't have it with her when she's going into town.

Play it again.

Sure.

Please, Jenny.

Think.

Well, she must have said something to you.

I swear, nothing.

Me and Amber snuck into town a few times.

But just to look around the shops, nothing else.

You and Amber went into town? When?

A few times.

Where?

Just shops and stuff.

Well, who was with you when you were hanging out?

Girls from school.

Sometimes a few friends of friends.

We need names, Jenny.

Well, it was mostly me...

Amber...

Sinead and Dee Dee.

Sometimes a few friends of Dee Dee's.

I can't remember their names, though.

Jenny, come on.

Amber's missing three days now. Would you fucking think?!

Now, take it easy, Ben.

I know how you both must feel.

You know we must feel?

Jenny, I need you to give me

the names of the places that you used to hang out with Amber.

'Next stop, Carrickmines.'

'An chead stad eile, Carrig Mhaighin.'

I want to paint the walls black.

What?

So, can you get me black paint tomorrow?

I know I said you can do what you want, but...

Yes.

You promised.

SARAH WAILS

SHE SCREAMS

You all right there?

Milk and one sugar. Just how you like it.

Aw, thanks, love.

Are you feeling better now?

Yeah.

Just a little tired, that's all.

Thanks for the tea.

That's the best cup ever.

Sorry, Sarah, it's the police for you.

Hello.

'Hi, it's Sergeant Karen Mulcahy here.

'I need you to come and meet us.'

DISTANT SIRENS WAIL

TRAM TRUNDLES OVERHEAD

We found the bag Amber was carrying in the CCTV footage.

It's nearly a month since teenager Amber Bailey went missing

from a housing estate not far from this location,

where a personal belonging of hers was recently found by a passer-by.

After a thorough search of the area,

nothing further has been found and Garda divers

have been stood down.

-WOMAN:

-'So, you've set up a confidential phone number?

BEN: 'Yes. You can phone, you can e-mail,

'visit the website, write a letter.

'If people want to remain anonymous, they can stay anonymous.

'We'll be giving out those details in just a few moments.

'We have another caller on the line now.

'Deirdre Costello.

'You might remember the case of her 20-year-old daughter

'who went missing two years ago.

'Yes, of course. I've spoken with Deirdre before.'

It's been two years now since your daughter Natalie went missing.

'That's right, two years.'

And you're still searching?

'I believe in my heart and soul that she is alive.

'Just like Amber.'

'Look at Jaycee Lee Dugard.

'She was kidnapped when she was 11 years old.

'She had been missing for over 18 years

'when she was eventually found.

'That has to give you some hope, Sarah.'

-Sorry.

-'I've never given up hope

'that some day I'll be reunited with my daughter.

'And that's what I say to Ben and Sarah there.

'You just take each day at a time, don't you?'

Yes, of course. You can...

You...have to take it one day at a time.

'You're a liability.'

-You're useless!

-I can't think of our daughter

in the same category as that girl in America. I just can't.

-Then what? She's dead? So we're looking for a body?

-She's not dead!

Then what's worse, Sarah? Some sick bastard has her?

-Stop it, will you?!

-Sarah, you have to get it into your head

that she's not having tea with the sugar plum fairy!

Take it easy, Ben, all right.

I've never understood you.

Sarah, you've never understood the world! The real world?

It's filled with horrible people who do terrible things to each other,

unless we find them and we stop them!

OK, Ben, finished thumping your chest?

PHONE RINGS

Er, we need headlines. Remember them?

You used to write them when you had a job. Maybe instead of doing nothing

you could start rumours to keep Amber in the papers.

That's how it works, isn't it?

-Sorry, Detective Inspector Dunlop on the line.

-Put him through.

To my office!

Let me in.

Open the door, Ben!

Open the fucking door!

That's it.

He's on his own.

From now on, I'm going to find Amber on my own.

I'll tell her. I don't want to...

I want to be careful not to get her hopes up

before knowing if this is going to lead somewhere.

Ou puis-je envoyer la package?

Quelle est votre address?

Of the supermarket, I mean.

Merci.

Merci, monsieur.

Here, why don't you help me put these in some envelopes?

PHONE RINGS

Hello?

'Hi, Sarah, it's Sergeant Mulcahy.

'I'm afraid I have to inform you that the team

'on Amber's case is being reduced.

'This is standard procedure for a missing persons case.

'No new leads after two months,

'then manpower has to be reassigned elsewhere.'

I see.

Look, I know this is a huge blow to you, but you must know

that myself and DI Dunlop are still pursuing the case.

Is there someone else I can talk to?

'No. It's a question of manpower and budgets

'and I've already fought your case.'

Thank you.

Eamon.

KNOCK AT DOOR

I'm going to run away too.

Eamon, can I come in?

Which one do you want?

-That one.

-Excuse me, can I get that chicken near the front?

Certainly can, love. That one there?

-At the front there. Yeah.

-Beautiful, beautiful.

Thanks.

-There you are, love.

-Thank you.

OK, you have to have one vegetable.

OK, cabbage, but can we at least cook it in salt?

OK, now you're the leader of the dinosaurs.

I'm the leader of the robots.

The robots are way stronger than the dinosaurs.

Not to mention they're extinct.

Mum, they're not.

This is a battle set in the future.

-Pay attention!

-OK!

PHONE RINGS

Hello?

'Hi, Sarah, it's Karen Mulcahy here.

'We're going to need you to come down to the station.'

It's been ages. When are they going to let me talk to him?

As I said, Mr Wang is being questioned now.

Please take a seat.

Hi, Sarah, do you want to come with me?

DI Dunlop was on duty when he was picked up.

This is Eamon. I bet you'd love a hot chocolate, wouldn't you?

Will you bring him down for me? Thanks.

Who was it?

A Chinese national.

He's been living and working here illegally so he won't press charges.

'Has he ever attacked anyone before?'

He trained with the Army, so yeah.

In real life, though, never.

Well, the Superintendent has agreed to release him

as long as you take him home with you.

DOOR CLOSES

SARAH WHISPERS

So, are you going to talk to me?

Come on, Ben.

Who's this Chinese guy?

Ah, just...been a lot of weirdos coming out of the woodwork lately.

Cranks and people with false leads.

Is that why you beat him up?

This woman rang me last week and said she'd

seen Amber's face in the foil wrapper of a chocolate bar.

She said it was a sign from God.

SHE LAUGHS

I can smell her, Sarah.

I can smell her smell and you know what she smells like?

She smells like us.

Us.

Stay?

Ben, I need you to transfer funds

from the campaign account into mine.

I'm going to run things my way now.

I need money.

OK.

And Eamon needs his father back.

You haven't seen him in over a month. He'll stay here tonight

and you can have him for the rest of the weekend.

Oh, no. I'm not fit for it, Sarah.

You let her out of your sight for a few minutes.

It's not completely your fault.

That's gorgeous.

Who bought you that?

Well, for a change, it's not what you think.

-It was my mother's.

-PHONE RINGS

Someone passed it down to her before that.

It's Victorian or something.

No-one important?

It's probably junk.

Not worth anything.

Well, it's your mother's.

So it's precious.

I know I've been a crappy friend.

I haven't been around to see you much this week at all.

You've got your own life.

Maybe if you give me a spare key to your apartment

I could be like your...elf.

And sneak in every now and then and do the dishes and washing.

It's OK.

You've done so much for me this last while.

Above and beyond the call of duty.

But we'll get a key cut.

OK?

Can I have some money?

Thanks.

-So I'll take him again next weekend.

-Great.

I'll pick him up Friday evening?

Take him somewhere nice.

A movie or something.

There's that new robot movie thing. Is that OK?

Whatever you want, Ben.

Maybe something else. You can't talk at the movies.

Here.

Maybe I could write a personal piece on you,

see if any of the tabloids will take it up.

Raise the profile.

Raise a bit of cash in the process.

What kind of thing were you thinking?

Amber's birthday is coming up soon, right?

Maybe something on how you're coping.

I don't know, Maeve.

Let me think about it.

QUIET CONVERSATION

She's nearly the same height as me.

It's time to do the cake.

Thanks, everyone, for coming.

I know it's a little odd to have a gathering like this,

but, erm, it's really good to see so many of Amber's friends here today.

Amber's been gone for a while now.

But she's 15 today and wherever she is,

she is sure to be imagining a day like this.

It's a good idea, Sarah.

Yeah.

Let's have some cake.

Who's going to blow the candle out?

It's not that kind of candle, love.

It's a candle of hope.

So we're always going to keep one burning.

QUIET CONVERSATION AND LAUGHTER

Sarah?

It's Ben, he wants to talk to you.

-Hi, you're late.

-Yeah. Have you seen this?

Bitch.

Read it.

I told you about her.

INTERCOM RINGS

Hi, Sarah, come on up.

Ah!

"Eamon has not only lost his big sister,

"but a mother and a father who have thrown themselves

"into their own individual searches for their daughter,

"which may yet prove to be fruitless."

That's quite an angle, Maeve.

How could you write such a thing?

Sarah, I am so sorry.

I had no say in the headline.

You're trying to blame someone else now?

It's your name right there!

I tried to be honest.

Honest?

My search will not be fruitless.

I will not stop until I find my daughter.

Sarah, I am not trying to stop...

Well, O'Donoghue. What's happening?

I don't know, Larry, you tell me.

Six months after Amber disappeared, it can't be getting any easier?

No, it doesn't get any easier,

but it just becomes part of normal life, I suppose.

I look back at the last few months

and I see the different stages I went through, you know.

Shock, denial, depression.

But you just have to pull yourself out of it.

And your husband, Ben. He's not with you today.

How's he coping?

There has been a lot written about how Amber's father

has pulled out of the search.

'And it's just not accurate.

'He was arrested for assault a few weeks back, isn't that so?

'Yes. Yes, he was.

'Certain members of the press think that's a story.

'It's not.'

It's real life. My daughter Amber is missing.

And myself and Ben are doing everything we can to find her.

-I'm sorry, I...

-We can't live off charity for ever.

So Ben's gone back to work for the both of us.

That's why I'm here.

PRINTER WHIRRS

Where is this one going?

Milan.

Do you know where that is?

Switzerland?

Italy. Close, though.

Inspector Dunlop, please.

(Come on, come on, come on.)

There, Milan.

How could she have gotten to Milan?

Madrid.

There.

DOORBELL RINGS

Vienna.

It's Amber!

I need you to come with me. I'll explain on the way.

Ben was right.

I know you hated the piece, but it worked.

You keep the story alive, you never know who'll come forward.

OK.

Be good.

OK, I'll pick you up in a couple of hours.

I hate Nana's cooking.

She makes everything taste like parsnips.

Even her cakes taste like parsnips.

Eamon doesn't seem to mind it.

That's because he puts ketchup on everything.

Oh, go on, love.

Could you just drop me up to Jenny's?

I can eat there.

They're having tacos.

What am I going to tell your grandmother?

I'm sure you'll think of something.

Parsnips.

Please.

LAUGHING: OK, not the face! Don't make the face!

Which one is Jenny's house?

That one there.

OK. Go straight in. No dilly-dallying.

OK.

Bye, honey.

See ya.