Episode 2 Paula

This programme contains some violent scenes, strong language

and some scenes which some viewers may find upsetting

RATS SQUEAK, CLANG!

I'm having a problem with vermin in my basement. Will there be more?

I put some poison down in a couple of saucers, so just be careful.

Yeah, who were those girls helping you put flyers in the doors earlier?

-They're my cousins, yeah, yeah...

-Look, I've never done this before.

I have never, ever slept with a man I've just met. This is madness.

KNOCKING FROM BEHIND

What would they say if they knew you were living in a garage?

It's all I can afford.

You're pathetic!

Stop it! Stop mauling me, will you?

-A teacher? What does he teach?

-PE.

Strong, good-looking fella.

Who is this?

-JAMES:

-'Just a friend.

'Let me protect you.'

Just give it to me!

Oh, my God!

Oh, my God...!

Any sign of a note?

Not so far.

And did he seem in any kind of trouble to you?

-You'll have to talk to his wife.

-We are,

-but we're talking to you, too, so...

-I just wish I'd answered the phone!

SHE SIGHS

ROPE CREAKS SOFTLY

FAINT BREATHING

ROPE CREAKS

(Paula.)

Paula?

-LITTLE GIRL'S VOICE:

-They found my leg bent backwards.

BELL RINGS, ROPE CREAKS

SHE GASPS

Uh...

SOMBRE ORGAN MUSIC PLAYS

RAT SCURRIES

SKITTERING

DOORBELL RINGS

Who is it?

Do you want a cup of tea?

Just say it, Diane. Just say it.

I'm not like you, Paula.

-No-one meant to hurt anyone.

-Yeah?

For some reason, I can't help thinking

you opened up a door into his life

and let all the bad things in.

I'm sorry, all right?

I'm sorry.

PAULA GRUNTS

CROCKERY SMASHES

CLATTERING AND CRASHING

BOTH PANT HEAVILY

SHE SCREAMS

DRILLING AND HAMMERING

-What's going on here?

-Promotion list's out.

-Fucking McGlynn?!

-You need to open your post from time to time, Mac.

-He's your new boss.

-Jesus Christ!

Right, "Injury consistent with a fall." No note?

No. There was a phone message.

There you go. To the wife?

No, his... The one at work.

Paula Denny.

Service provider puts her phone at home all night.

His phone never went near her house.

Your call, Inspector. Want us to keep digging?

Nah, looks like a jumper to me, Mac.

DOG BARKS IN DISTANCE

I need to get a message to James Morecroft, please.

I'd like him to price a job for me.

The address is quite tricky.

I'd need to meet him somewhere. Do you know De Burca Square?

Outside the pub on the corner, at five?

QUIET CONVERSATION

You all right? You waiting here long?

Only just told me you'd arrived.

Well, um...

-There's no-one in here, we can...

-HAMMERING AND DRILLING

Thanks.

So, your message said you wanted to talk to me.

Look, I know this is maybe kind of...

DRILLING AND BANGING

I think there may a be few things missing...to do with Philip.

-Missing from your house?

-Yes.

-What kind of things?

To do with me and Philip. Personal stuff. Cards, notes.

Could Philip have taken them? Taken them back?

I don't think he would have. He's not...

MOBILE RINGS He wasn't like that.

Excuse me.

I have to...

Hello, Laurence.

DRILLING CONTINUES

Do you want to get a cup of coffee?

-Get out of here?

-Yeah.

Come on.

Thank you.

Skinny latte, cappuccino.

Thanks.

So,

this guy said he'd fix up the basement -

-get rid of the rats.

-Yeah.

-What was his name?

Oh, um...

Here. James Morecroft - that's his address.

Any money missing? Any jewellery?

No, not that I'm...

OK, but he might have been looking through your...personal...

I slept with him, OK?

-Philip?

-No. I mean, yeah, but...

-The...builder?

-Yeah.

-As well?

-Yeah.

-I know it was a stupid thing to do, I'm not...

-No, I, um...

-When he came back, I think he wanted to... He thought we were...

-Right.

-Jesus, will you stop fucking writing this all down?

-Sorry, I...

Actually, I wasn't. I don't know what I'm writing.

Was he ever alone in the house?

-Just for a few minutes because... because Philip arrived.

-Right.

-I went out to Philip's car, you know, breaking up with him.

-Right.

Jesus, I can't believe I'm fucking saying all this.

-If you prefer, you can speak with a female colleague.

-No, it's fine.

Can I keep hold of this?

I'm just writing his name down, that's all.

Where'd you go?

Couldn't hear a bleeding thing.

So, where'd you go?

MaGee's.

What?! For lunch?

No, just a coffee. You can't fucking work in here.

-Did you caution her?

-Caution her? She was making a complaint.

I couldn't hear anything.

Anyway, she's fucking mad.

YOU'RE fucking mad!

Did you get a written statement?

Here.

What's this?

Builder was working in her house.

-What, you want ME to check him out?

-Only if you have time.

CAR APPROACHES

Excuse me, you've dropped your boot.

Oh! Thank you.

Should I put it on for you? You've got your hands full. Hello!

CONVERSATION INAUDIBLE

-No?

-No.

-No?

-Do you want some... Have a bit of toast?

-No, no.

Oh, come on. No?

How'd you get on?

Yeah, fine.

Anyone in the park?

No, it was quiet.

Yeah?

Yeah, there was no-one around.

Yeah?

THUD!

DISTORTED VOICES ECHO

-Mo?

-This is all on yourself.

-Yeah, all right, Jesus.

-WAILING

-Morgan?

-Stop the kids crying, will you?

-I said, "In a minute"!

-Who spoke to you today at the park?

-MUFFLED CRIES

Will you take the thing off her fucking mouth?

Who was that you were talking to today? And don't tell me no-one.

Don't lie to me again, OK. You'll just make it worse for yourself.

WAILING Will someone go to Shauna?

"Go to Shauna"? Will you answer the fucking question?!

-Give her a chance!

-I knew you were going to be like this.

-Oh, yeah?!

Morgan....

Who were you talking to in the park today?

There was a woman talking to you.

She was asking me about burglaries.

What about burglaries?

She said there was burglaries in the area

-and she was asking people about it.

-Who was she?

-She was a garda!

-I told you!

She just asked me if we'd seen anything or heard anything.

-Who's "we"?

-What?

-You said she asked if we'd seen anything.

Was she talking about you or was she talking about us?

No, like, just if we'd...

-But you said "we".

-No... Just...

-Was she asking about us?

-No!

-No? Well, that's not what you said.

-WAILING CONTINUES

-OK. All right. What did you tell her?

-She asked me where I lived.

And I was scared cos she was looking at my earrings.

-Don't mind your fucking earrings!

-Will you go to Shauna?

-Did she say something, you know, about the earrings?

-No!

-So, what did you tell her?

-Just that we lived on this street.

Who's "we", though? You keep saying "we"!

-Me and Shauna!

-Did she ask about me?

-No!

-No?

She was talking to her for fucking ages.

She was asking me about Shauna.

-She was just being nice.

-See, this is what we have to deal with!

-Yeah, all right.

-So, what are you going to do about it?

-All right!

-Nothing?

-I said all right!

-It's all right, Shauna! Mammy's coming!

-Well, I'll tell you,

there's no way that's all they were talking about.

-James, are you listening to me?

-What? What?

They were talking for fucking ages!

-Will you both just fucking leave me alone?

-What did I do?

Drive me round the fucking twist!

Yeah, just walk away! What the fuck am I supposed to do with her?!

RADIO: Careless Whisper by George Michael

MOBILE RINGS

Jesus!

Hello?

What are you doing?

Where...?

Well, how the fuck did you get all the way out there?

ALARM CHIRPS

Oh, for fuck's sake!

Callum.

-Callum!

-What...?

-What happened? HE GROANS

Come on, get up.

Come on. HE MOANS

Everything all right?

Yeah, it's my brother. I'm just getting him home.

-Where's home?

-Clontarf?

-I don't want to go to Mum and Dad!

-I want to go to my place!

-It's a garage, Callum!

-Bring me home!

-I'm just getting him home.

-Well, straight home now.

Yeah, I am! CALLUM MUTTERS

I do not need this fucking shit, Callum!

I don't fucking need it either!

Well, what the fuck am I dealing with it for, then?

You think I don't have enough crazy shit going on in my life?

We're all crazy! The whole lot of us.

Stop adding to it, then, will ya!?

Get in the car.

Jesus Christ!

Come on.

Jesus!

HE MURMURS

HE SLURPS

What time is it?

Half three.

-In the night?

-Yes.

I'm sorry, Paula.

I don't want to do this any more.

I don't want to have to deal with this.

I don't know what to say any more.

WIND RUSTLES PLASTIC

METALLIC CREAKING

HE EXHALES

CREAKING

SHE GASPS

SHE PANTS

CREAKING CONTINUES

SHE GASPS

DOOR OPENS

KEYS RATTLE

SWITCH CLICKS

What is it?

Bad dreams, Mum.

What?

Just bad dreams.

Can I stay here tonight?

OK.

Don't upset your father.

SHE EXHALES

HAMMERING AND DRILLING

Of course, we can do it over lunch, why wouldn't we?

You see this?

Hang on one minute, Charlie, will ya?

-Philip Byrden withdrew 1,500 quid the night he went missing.

-And?

-There was no money on the body.

-Could he have posted it to his kids?

-What? When?

-Could he have had an envelope

-and some stamps with him?

-I don't know!

Or couldn't he have just stuck it through somebody's letterbox?

Who are we looking for here - Postman Pat?!

Why are we looking for anyone, Mac?

I don't know! Maybe someone was putting the squeeze on him.

Three jumpers at the bottom of that quarry in the last two years.

-Yeah, I know, but you don't think...

-KNOCK ON DOOR

-..that there's something just a little bit...?

-Charlie.

-Mac?

Yeah. No, nothing. It's fine, mate.

In this experiment,

it's advisable to use the minimum amount of solvent possible.

Can anyone tell me why? Daly?

-To maximise the yield?

-Exactly so.

So, the benzoic acid does not remain in solution on cooling.

Now, who's going to tell me,

is benzoic acid an ionic or a covalent compound?

Anyone?

Covalent?

You're having a field day, Daly.

BELL RINGS

I want this experiment written up for next time.

You have no other homework for the weekend.

Make sure you clear everything away, please!

MESSAGE ALERT BEEPS

Boys, boys, boys!

MONITOR BEEPS STEADILY

Thanks.

-MAC:

-What?

Yeah.

And the CCTV?

Let me call you back.

-James Morecroft - did you arrest him? No?

-We didn't, no.

My partner's been looking into him, but...

Yeah, fucking great.

I found that...on my windscreen.

BANGING

BANGING CONTINUES

HE POUNDS ON DOOR

PETROL SPLASHES

Hello.

-Let me give you a hand there.

-CHILD WAILS

-Yeah, all right, thank you.

-No bother.

Is James about?

-No, sorry, I don't know where he is.

-Well, if you had a sec,

-I'd like to ask you a couple of questions.

-I have to feed the kids.

We can do it here, or we can do it at the station.

All right, let's do it here.

When did you last see James?

A few nights ago.

What's "a few"?

Two nights ago.

-Know when he'll be back?

-No.

Sometimes he gets work off down the country.

You don't know where?

He works in different places. I didn't ask him.

Who's number's this on the flyer?

That's mine.

Can I get HIS number off you?

What's he done?

I didn't say he'd done anything.

Well...

You know where he was on the evening of Thursday the 24th of last month?

-Yeah, he was here.

-You know that just off the top of your head?

He's always here if he's not working down the country.

We don't go out.

We're always here in the evenings.

-Who else lives here?

-Just me and him. And the kids.

-These all your kids?

-Yeah.

-These two look very close in age.

-Yeah, they are. 10 months.

-Right.

-Yeah.

James, the father?

Yeah, he's all their fathers.

There isn't anyone else lives here?

-Or stays here?

-No.

-Let me get his number from you before I go.

-Yeah.

CHILD WAILS

Here.

THUDDING

It's the pipes.

THUDDING

It's just an air block.

Shh!

What, are you a plumber, as well?

-THUDDING CONTINUES

-Stay back.

-No. That's private.

-Stay there!

If you open one door in here without a warrant,

-I'll sue you in the High Court!

-What's in here?!

Stay away from there, you hear me?!

Aggh! Jesus Christ!

SHE YELLS

HE SCREAMS

Ah, fuck you!

Fucking bitch!

Stay still!

-Stop it!

-THUDDING CONTINUES

Stay there!

Don't go in there!

No, fuck!

Don't go in there! No!

-Fuck!

-SHE WAILS

You're all right, you're all right.

You're all right. Come on, come on.

MUFFLED SCREAMS

All right, all right.

Stay calm, stay calm.

Look, just stay still!

SHE SOBS

You're all right. All right.

You're all right.

OK.

You're OK. You're OK. You're all right now.

-SHE WAILS

-Sh-sh-sh.

POLICE RADIO CHATTER

-Who's taking the kids?

-Social services.

-Anything?

-Building supplies receipts, invoices.

This is recent. An estimate for a job he did out in Howth.

Good, bring all that. I'll go out there in the morning.

Maybe he's still turning up for work.

Maybe I'll go and talk to the mother,

see if she can tell us anything useful.

Let's get out of here. Fucking place gives me the creeps.

Thanks.

(Hi.)

(Do you want a coffee?)

Paula says yous have an idea who did this to Callum?

We're looking for someone.

Might know more tomorrow.

Boss I had in work said to me one time...

.."Don't worry about your kids getting older.

"You won't lose them.

"They actually grow towards you."

That's not my experience.

What's the word...from the doctor?

Touch and go.

Sure, what can you expect?

Living in a garage down an alleyway?

Sure...

..you've already thrown your life half away, haven't you?

I don't know.

People start again, you know?

Hmm.

Few and far between, I'd say.

I haven't had me daughter fall asleep on me for a very long time.

You can't tell anyone this, OK?

I was in James Morecroft's flat today.

He's been living with two women.

-His cousins.

-What?

He tells everyone they're his cousins.

-Well, they both have kids for him.

-SHE SCOFFS

Yeah.

-One of them had the other one locked in a cupboard.

-What?!

You can't tell anyone this, OK?

-In a cupboard where?!

-Where they live.

Fucking hell! I mean... You're going to catch him, right?

Tell me you're going to catch him?

If it was just down to me, there'd be no doubt in my mind.

But right now, it's only me and Laurence on this

-because our boss, he... His priorities...

-Unbelievable!

I could kill him.

If they told me it was all legal -

I could have an hour in a room with this guy,

and I wouldn't want him chained up, either.

Want to fight him.

Fucking kill him.

I know.

I can understand that.

Or keep him in a box...

..and feed him.

That's a natural emotion.

You wouldn't be normal if you didn't want to.

SHE YELLS

SHE SIGHS

You know, last night I woke up,

-and I'd actually left my front door wide open.

-What?

At least I hope I did.

Well, I hope you didn't!

I dreamt he'd come in.

He was standing right there, watching me.

Do you want to me to come in?

I need to get something to eat.

LIQUID TRICKLES

Are you listening to me pee?

No.

I just...

This is nuts and you're right to be angry.

I should be,

but I'm not.

TOILET FLUSHES I don't know what I am.

I know I should have listened to you, and I know I didn't.

And I was wrong.

And I'm sorry.

It's OK.

It's not your fault.

I should just go.

Yeah.

Morning, Miss Denny?

Yes. Hi, hello.

It's just the door underneath the stairs there?

-Mr Hogan?

-Yes.

-Detective Sergeant McArthur.

Mrs Morecroft?

MONITOR BEEPS STEADILY

-Did you get my message?

-Yeah, what was it?

-Forensics on the fire in Callum Denny's garage.

-Yeah?

"Impossible, at this point, to determine

"the exact point of ignition

"due to the widespread presence of serious accelerants,

"intoxication of the injured person, who is a smoker,

"allied to the extensive damage to the..." Blah, blah, blah...

He did it to himself?

They do stress it's not conclusive.

Brilliant(!)

Any sign of James Morecroft?

I saw his mother today, she's gaga.

No idea what we were talking about.

You heading down to the party?

The Christmas party, in the club?

Oh.

No, probably not.

I was just going to order some noodles if you want some.

Nah, I'd better...

Where you going to be at Christmas anyway?

Marianne's got the girls so...

home, probably.

-In your flat?

-Yeah.

With one of those little meals for one you get in Tesco's?

-What's wrong with that?

-No, sounds good.

-I'm going to...

-Yeah. Have a good one.

Yeah, you too.

(I'm sorry.)

-Hi.

-Hi.

-How's he doing?

-Yeah, he's...

-Where's your folks?

-I sent them home.

-Maybe you should get some sleep, too.

-I'm sleeping here.

-Have you eaten?

-I'll get something.

Do you want to get out of here for an hour? Take a break?

MUSIC: Driving Home For Christmas by Chris Rea

CHEERING

-Oh, I fucking hate Christmas.

-I know.

-I fucking hate it, too.

-And New Year's Eve?

-I mean, what the fuck is all that about?!

-Oh, I know!

I fucking hate New Year's Eve! What is that?!

It's so fucking stupid!

Jesus fucking Christ!

HE SIGHS

SHE CHUCKLES

Thanks.

Anything else?

Just the bill. Thanks.

Listen...

..you do know that after everything you've been through,

it would be recommended

that you really try to see someone like a counsellor.

SHE SCOFFS

Nah.

I'll be all right.

I'll tell you why?

Because I don't have feelings, Mac.

-Not proper ones.

-Right.

I'm serious.

It's like I know the whole world is there,

but I'm not interested in any of it.

-Can you live like that?

-Yeah.

I can.

When I was 12, Callum...

Callum and I...

..camped out one night in the back garden.

I was always a...

My favourite thing was to be a prisoner.

I was always wanting to be locked up

and I didn't care if I was ever rescued or not.

And Callum...

..practised his knots on me.

Anyway, we were camping in the tent and I...

..I got Callum...

..to put the skipping rope around my neck and pull it really tight,

and tighter...

I mean, kids, they do that sort of stuff.

And...I passed out.

I was completely gone,

but it was the strangest thing because...

..I went to some other place,

like some other city in a different, older time,

and I lived with another family.

And they really loved me.

I lived with them for years.

I grew up with them, and...

..it was like this life had all just been...

..a fucking bad dream.

And then I woke up on the kitchen table at home.

My father had revived me, I was back...

five minutes later.

But I had been away for years, Mac,

like, I really had.

OK.

Will I tell you the weird part?

-There's a weird part to this(?)

-THEY LAUGH

When I'm with someone...

physically...

..in some ways, I can see it all again...

..where I was.

Gets me into trouble, Mac.

HE SCOFFS

So, what about your partner? Laurence, is that her name?

-That's her surname.

-You know she's mad about you.

-Don't say that.

-What, you just block it out?

-No, you're...

-You're wrong.

-I'm not wrong.

-You don't even know her.

I don't know you either but I'm not wrong.

What's her first name?

Ruth.

Ruth...

We'd better get you back.

Thanks.

I'll take care of this.

Yeah. I'm just going to...

Yeah.

MUSIC: Last Christmas by Wham!

-Here you go.

-Thanks.

TOILET FLUSHES

SHE SIGHS

MUFFLED SCREAMS

MUFFLED SCREAMS

THEY GRUNT

HE KNOCKS

-Sh-sh-sh...

-MUFFLED GROANS

Paula?

-SHE WHIMPERS

-Paula?

HE ROARS

SHE GRUNTS

SHE GASPS

EMPTY CHAMBER CLICKS

FUCK!

Stop him!

Get him!

Stop him!

Stop! Police!

SPLUTTERING

MAC PANTS

HORN BEEPS

TYRES SCREECH

Ugh!

HE GROANS

-HE GROANS

-Are you OK?

SHE PANTS

HE PANTS

HE MOANS

METAL CLANGS

THUDDING

MAC GRUNTS

MAC YELLS

Well, here we are, eh?!

What are we doing?

Two little boys,

both chasing her around.

Hello! Is there anyone in there?

-Hello!?

-SIRENS WAIL IN DISTANCE

She's done it to you, too, hasn't she?

She's shown you the steps up out of Hell...

MAC WHIMPERS

..and into the light!

MAC SCREAMS

SIRENS WAIL

KNIFE CLATTERS ON GROUND

HE COUGHS

In here!

In here!

HE COUGHS

In here!

Paula!

Paula!

In a minute!

Paula!

Paula?