Episode 1 Requiem

This programme contains scenes which some viewers may find upsetting from the start.

BOLT UNLOCKS

SCRAPING

Hello?

Who's here?

CLANG

HUMMING AND ECHOING

FAINT WHOOSH

HE GASPS

UNEARTHLY SOUNDS

STATIC

CRACKING, WHOOSH

Mr Dean!

FAINT UNEARTHLY NOISE

Ewan! What are you doing?

EERIE DISEMBODIED SOUNDS

Mr Dean?

No!

No, no, no, no!

MOBILE VIBRATES

SHE SIGHS

Mum. Hi.

You all right? I thought it was just going to go on voice mail.

Yeah.

Sorry. I, erm...

I had a late rehearsal.

Well, I'm here now, so...

I thought we were meeting at nine.

I'm so sorry.

TAPPING

Tilly.

Be there... I'll be over in ten.

-OK?

-All right, I'll put the order in.

Morning. How do you like your eggs?

You look tired, Tilly.

Well, it's been a big week.

Mm, I heard you on the radio.

Oh, first class, you were.

Mind you, that interviewer, calling your playing faddish, I...

Mum, a bit of controversy is good.

Gets me noticed.

You know what I'm like before your shows.

Well, you'd think it was me that had to perform.

It's fine.

We can be nervous together.

MOBILE RINGS I've got to go, that's my car,

they need me early for the sound check with the recording thing...

You're so tall.

I think I've been this height for about eight years.

MUM LAUGHS Maybe you're getting shorter.

Do you remember when you first started with Mrs Girard

and we used to go to that curry place

after you'd finished your lessons?

Oh, Empress of India. You'd always get me a mango lassi.

I was walking past the other day, they're still open...

..so I...I went in and I booked us a table for lunch tomorrow.

Tomorrow?

-Oh, you're busy?

-Oh. No, erm...

No, no, no, I can shift some stuff.

-Are you sure?

-Yeah, of course.

Wouldn't want to miss out on a mango lassi.

I've got to go, the car's waiting.

Oh!

INHALES

Tilly.

Have you started smoking again?

No.

So he made you breakfast?

Many would consider that positive.

He went through my fridge and used all my kitchen stuff.

That's so intimate.

And shagging him wasn't?

You sort of expect them just to slink away in the morning.

Not hang around to make hollandaise sauce.

What a sordid life you lead.

I had to chase him out in the end.

I made up this excuse about a doctor's appointment.

You know we can hear every word you're saying.

Well...I'm glad that you've got your one thrill for the week, Dave.

And as much as I need those thrills, can I just have some music instead?

PIANIST CLEARS THROAT

SHE PLAYS CELLO

CD PLAYER PLAYS CELLO MUSIC

CD SKIPS

EERIE GUTTURAL NOISE, STATIC

SILENCE

CLICK, MUSIC RESTARTS

RAPID WHISPERING

CRACKING

RUSTLING

BUZZING

HARSH UNEARTHLY SHRIEK

CELLO CONTINUES

So...

your mum.

You tell her about New York?

I will tonight. Yeah, after the show.

She should be glad for you.

She will be.

It's an incredible opportunity, Mum.

And, er...

And it's only for a year.

So I'll be back before you know it.

Even if you could afford to relocate,

this is something that I want to do on my own.

It's a big crowd.

Ready?

No.

I'm not.

RUSTLING

STATIC HUM

Matilda?

Mum! You gave me a scare.

What on earth are you doing here?

I'm so sorry.

Mum.

What's wrong?

Why...?

Mum, for God's sake, I'm on stage soon.

I have...

Mum?

Mum, what are you...?

GHOSTLY BREATHING

What are you doing?

Mum.

Mum.

Mama?

Are you drunk?

FLUTTERING

BUZZING

GUTTURAL, UNEARTHLY NOISES

Mum. Jesus.

No, Mum, Mum! MUM!

MUM!

Mum!

It's all right. It's all right.

It's all right.

Help!

SHE SOBS

Thank you.

You ever know of your mum to have mood swings?

-No.

-Get depressed?

No.

She could be nervy, but no.

So, yesterday morning, when you had breakfast with her...?

She was fine. She was...

excited about my concert.

Were you aware that she was taking antidepressants?

We contacted her doctor.

He prescribed them for acute anxiety.

It's not uncommon for people to hide

this sort of thing from their family.

MATILDA SIGHS

So that's what did it?

The pills?

She took too many or she mixed them with wine or...?

Toxicology said no.

No drugs or alcohol in her system aside from the standard dose of that

-medication.

-Then what was it?

Like I said, she was being treated for persistent anxiety and...

She cut her throat right in front of me.

You're telling me that it was because she was anxious?

Have you ever seen anyone do anything like that ever?

-Tilly, she's just telling...

-No, we're talking about my mum

and I want her to answer me.

People do cut themselves, obviously.

But, no, I haven't seen anything exactly like what your mother did

and I'm so sorry that you had to see it.

I should leave, give you some privacy.

If anything more comes to light, I will contact you immediately.

And again - I'm sorry for your loss.

How did my mum know that I was going to be there?

At the stage door.

-She couldn't have.

-Then why did she wait for me?

It's just coincidence.

-What else could it be?

-There must be a reason.

WHOOSHING

BUZZING

EERIE, DISTORTED VOICE

SHE GASPS

SWIRLING, SHRIEKING SOUNDS

BUZZING, INDISTINCT VOICES

-SHE GASPS

-Bad dream, love?

-You need to go.

-Sorry?

Please just go.

BUZZING THEN CELLO MUSIC PLAYS

-TV:

-On the 24th of March, 1994,

four-year-old Carys Howell

disappeared from the children's park in sleepy

Penllynith, Wales.

Despite an extensive hunt and a police investigation,

which often focused on her parents, Rose and Sean Howell,

no clue to Carys' whereabouts was ever found.

Five years on, Carys' disappearance continues to raise profound...

When you called, you mentioned the Carys Howell case.

I pulled the file.

I don't think anyone's touched it in 20 years.

So they never found her, then?

No.

There was a number for the missing girl's parents.

I tried it. Disconnected.

The chief investigating officer retired.

You could track them down, though, right?

If you wanted to.

Matilda, can I ask -

why did you ask me about this?

Because I thought photos of the missing girl's mother,

they could be evidence.

Of what?

I just...

I can't understand why my mum would've...

..collected all of these.

People see cases like this on the news,

particularly involving young children,

and they get emotionally involved.

But she...she wasn't just watching on TV.

She was there in that town, taking photos.

We don't know that she took them herself.

Where did she get them, then?

She worked at a bloody Tesco.

Maybe she had a connection to this town.

She was from Manchester.

She never mentioned anything about Wales.

Still, she could have had family there. Or friends.

I don't know.

Her parents died before I was born, and if she had any other family,

she wasn't in touch with them.

So growing up, it was just you two.

And now it's just you.

-SHE SIGHS

-I'm sorry, Matilda.

I do appreciate you coming in today, but

I just don't think this is a police matter.

OK.

BANGING

Honestly?

I'm not even sure it is Rose Howell in these photographs.

I knew you wouldn't take this seriously.

No, I am taking it seriously.

No, you're not. You think I'm hysterical.

No, I think you've been through one of the most awful things I can

imagine and you're trying to make sense of it.

I spoke to Renata. She says you aren't returning her calls.

I don't feel like talking to my bloody agent.

No, she knows you need space. She just wants to talk things

through, make plans.

And, er...

I know this sounds mercenary,

but some of the venues that booked us have started cancelling

and Renata's worried it might start impacting on our New York dates.

Yeah, you're right, it sounds mercenary.

I just can't get this stuff out of my head.

I look at...

I look at it and I feel like I don't even know my own mum.

She was around for 22 years before you were even born.

I mean, of course you don't know everything about her.

She left this out on her bed,

like she wanted me to find it.

Why would she do that?

It's like she was stalking these people.

It's got to be connected.

Doesn't it?

Fine, let's go up there, then.

Let's..look.

So, London to Penllynith, four hours and 15 minutes without traffic.

If we set off early, we could be there by midday.

Are you serious?

Look, I don't think these photos mean anything,

but if it helps give you peace of mind, I say we go, sniff around,

see what we can see.

And if nothing comes of it,

well, at least we got out of bloody London for a few days.

-Good plan.

-Yeah.

Good.

Pen...

Penynith.

-Plllth. Plynith.

-SHE LAUGHS

CAR HORN TOOTS

RUMBLING

I was hoping you'd sleep through this.

-Where are we?

-Penllynith,

former slate capital of Wales, and it's nearly three in the afternoon.

Google bloody Maps.

SHE SIGHS

-Are you OK?

-Mm.

-Coffee?

-Your wish is my command.

We're full.

-Cos of the funeral.

-Ah.

Popular fellow, was he, the deceased?

Well, he was richer than Midas, does tend to bring them out.

Yeah.

We were wondering if there was anywhere else to stay in Penllynith.

A hotel or something?

Er, tourist information at the post office, you can ask there.

Except it's Wednesday, so it'll be closed.

We're actually looking for a Sean and Rose Howell.

Do you by any chance know them?

There is no Rose Howell.

She's Rose Morgan now.

She remarried?

-Does she still live here?

-Sorry, what's Rose to you?

-W...

She and my mum knew each other years ago and...

..my mum passed away recently

and so I'm looking up some of her old friends.

Your mum from round here, was she?

No, she moved around a lot

when she was young.

Well, there's no point going to Rose's house, she won't be there.

Can you tell us where she'd be?

Mum always talked about Rose.

And it would mean a lot to me if I could track her down.

It's like going for a country drive

with a character from a James Ellroy novel.

SHE CHUCKLES

Well, I had to say something or she wouldn't have told us.

Hey, no, I'm impressed.

I never imagined you had this talent for barefaced lying.

There.

Where then do I go from your spirit or where can I flee from your

presence? If I climb up into heaven, you are there.

If I make the grave my bed, you are there also.

If I take...

Tilly, Tilly. Are you sure this is a good idea?

Yeah, yeah, yeah. I just want to see that she's real.

Look.

Yeah.

Might be.

OK, bye.

Tilly, she's coming over.

Let us pray.

Do I know you?

You're Rose. Rose Morgan.

What do you want?

My name is Matilda Gray.

I want to talk to you. Maybe after the service we can sit down.

Or we can talk right now.

My mum.

Her name was Janice Gray.

You're going to ask me about my daughter.

-How did you know that?

-You're not wanted here.

-Go away.

-Please, please...

-Tilly, we should go.

-..if you knew

-my mum, you have to tell me w...

-What's all this?

My mum killed herself and I think that it had something to do with

-your daughter, Carys.

-What the bloody hell?

Please, if you...

-If you knew...

-23 years gone and you lot are still at it.

Hounding my wife.

-Hounding my family.

-No...

-Hey, hey, hey, steady on.

-Back off, mate!

-Oi!

What is this? My uncle's dead.

How about a bit of respect?

I didn't start this.

Sorry. Sorry.

Come on, let's go.

I haven't been knocked on my arse like that since I was at school.

Turns out it's like riding a bike.

You never forget how.

You heard what she said when I mentioned Mum's name.

She knew I was going to ask about Carys.

-No, maybe.

-Why did she tell us to go away?

There's still the father.

-If we can track him down...

-If he doesn't tell us to piss off.

Then we shall consider pissing off.

But actually, right now, what we need is a place to stay.

So I say we head to the next town, find a hotel, get some food...

-A drink.

-The finest wine that Wales has to offer.

And then plan our move in the morning with clear heads.

What's wrong?

Look, it's the guy from the funeral.

-WHISPERS:

-No, don't look, don't...

-WHISPERS: You said look.

Yeah, look, not... Oh, shit.

He... He's coming over.

-Hey.

-Good evening.

Are you both OK?

Yeah. Yeah.

My dignity's a little dented but...

it wasn't in mint condition to begin with,

-so I'm happy to just write it off.

-It's fine. He's fine.

I'm Nick.

Matilda. This is Hal.

-Hey.

-Mm.

I'm really sorry about what happened earlier. We didn't mean...

..to disrespect your uncle.

Ewan was my great uncle

and I'd never met him, so I might be able to forgive you.

Well, erm...at least let us make it up to you.

-We could buy you a drink or something.

-Well, no,

-we have to get moving to a hotel.

-Yeah, we've got time for one drink.

I think I might be OK for a drink.

But I could

really use a ride.

Yeah.

Yep, sure, if it's nearby. Yep.

Well, it's right here.

So your uncle left you the entire estate even though you never met?

Yeah, kind of random, right?

I remember when I was little,

Mum would always send him these Christmas cards and get me to draw

a picture on them. I guess my smiley

-faces left an impression.

-HE LAUGHS

Hey, do you think if your mum had a picture of Ewan's house,

that maybe she knew him?

Erm, my mum's dead.

I'm sorry.

So are you planning on staying here, then,

-in Wales?

-Dunno.

See, I've got a place in Melbourne, a wine bar.

My partner's running it while I'm away but...

-Hey, just left here.

-Oh.

-Here, here, left!

-NICK CHUCKLES

-Stuntman!

I think a bit of notice with the directions might help.

There's no need. We're already here.

My...my very own mansion.

They, er...

They found Ewan...

-..just right here.

-Found as in...?

They reckon he fell off the roof.

What on earth was he doing up there?

Old guy living alone.

I'd guess he'd just had enough.

Mind you, at the funeral they said that he had lunch in town that day

-and was in good spirits, so...

-DOOR OPENS

-..who knows?

-Got a ride, I see?

I was feeling a fool not offering to drive you up here.

Oh, don't worry about it.

Matilda, Hal, this is Lloyd,

he's my uncle's lawyer, and Ed, who looks after the place.

We already met. More or less.

Come in for that drink, eh?

If you've got time.

Well, I've been pinching myself all morning,

but it looks like it's all still here.

You know, if you need a place to stay,

I've got eight bedrooms upstairs

and seven of them are free.

-ED:

-But six have been closed since your uncle's dad died.

So they're a bit mildewy.

Well, the whole country's a bit mildewy,

so don't let that put you off.

Erm, truth be told, I could use the company.

It's kind of creepy staying in a big house like this all on my own.

Yeah, well, I must head off soon,

so perhaps we could progress the formalities.

Ed, hand over the keys.

-ED:

-All right. You've got two sets for the house...

We don't even know this guy.

You're not seriously thinking of staying, are you?

My mum kept a photo of this house.

I want to have a look around.

-NICK:

-How far back does the property go?

50 yards past the tree line.

I can show you tomorrow.

Old Mr Dean, your uncle's dad, he loved those woods.

Some say he's still out there,

walking around.

-What, his ghost?

-It's rubbish, all right?

Whatever's in those woods has been there a lot longer than Mr Dean.

-HAL SIGHS

-Mm-mm-mm!

Spacious.

FOOTSTEPS RECEDE

How does one tell which are the mildewy rooms?

It seems you simply follow your nose.

Locked.

Narrows it down.

-DOOR SLAMS

-No.

You're angry with me.

Angry? Why would I be?

Fine.

-So who gets what?

-Well,

I wouldn't dream of allowing the lady to brave the mildew,

so why don't you take the large room downstairs?

Your bag's already in there.

-HE GUFFAWS

-See you later.

Assuming I'm not struck down with consumption.

So when you said it was a trust,

I thought you meant it was a tax thing.

Well, people do establish trusts for reasons of tax minimisation.

But not Ewan. For him, it was all about keeping the estate intact.

Hence him appointing his sister as trustee.

And that's Meredith, the wheelchair lady?

Yes, she lives up at the old hunting lodge, on your property.

So if Ewan wanted her running the place,

why didn't he just leave it all to her?

Well, you are the next in the direct male line

and Ewan could be a bit of a stickler when it came to that sort

of thing. Now, look, it's getting late and the road's a bit tricky

-in the dark, so...

-OK. Er, one more thing.

It was kind of expensive getting out here,

so I was hoping to access some cash.

Well, you are the sole beneficiary of the trust, so in a sense,

it's all yours. Only catch is, as trustee,

your great-aunt Meredith must sign off on any expenditure,

so I expect you want to talk to her.

Are you planning on staying in Penllynith?

Can't hurt.

Get to know the territory.

WHISPERING AND FLUTTERING

I'm supposed to protect you from that sort of rubbish.

It's not your fault.

It's my job.

I will do better.

If you ever see or hear from those people, just come straight to me.

You understand?

Rosie?

Hm.

Well, I'll make some dinner.

And I'll telephone her, Rosie, to apologise.

Ewan Dean always did right by us.

Why did you go over to her?

At the funeral.

She was staring.

I wanted to know why.

SHE SOBS

Jesus. No wonder she freaked out.

I just wanted to talk.

I didn't mean to upset her.

No, no, of course, I just meant...

The whole thing sounds pretty bizarre, right?

We're still hoping to talk to Rose's ex, Cerys' father.

If we can find him.

So your mum...

-..when did she...?

-It happened on Tuesday night.

Ewan was Monday night.

And they were both fine in the morning.

Weird.

What's weird about it exactly?

I mean, even if Uncle Ewan did commit suicide,

and you don't know that he did, it's just coincidence, right?

When I was little, I used to have this dream.

A nightmare, really.

And I could never remember it, not the details.

But, um, now, the last week or two, I've been having it again.

Well, given what you've been through...

It started before Mum died.

What's the dream?

Um...

..I'm in this narrow passage...

..like a cellar or...

Er...yeah, it's dark, and...

And I've...I...

I have a child there.

I open a door, a trap door, there she is.

Like she's a prisoner.

Do you guys...

Do you believe the dead can communicate with us?

-HE GUFFAWS

-Of course not.

I do. I think I do.

Well, what if the dream's a message?

What if Carys was murdered and now she's...

Is trying to tell you something.

Come on, it's just a dream.

BUZZING

SCREAMING

SLAMMING

Er, what's going on?

What you doing up here?

Tilly.

SLAMMING NOISE CONTINUES

What's that noise?

NOISE GETS LOUDER

Might be worth closing the door before bed.

Also, a lock's not a bad idea either.

I've been here before.

Matilda.

M... W-Wait.

What are you doing?

Are you all right?

-Bloody hell.

-How did you know that was there?

Did Ed mention anything about this when he gave you the house tour?

I think I'd remember.

I wonder how long this place has been closed up.

These tapes are dated.

This last one's March 1994.

That's the month that Carys disappeared.

CLICK, WHIRRING

What the hell was that?

BUZZING

SHE GASPS

What is it?

It's me.

I'm the girl.

I'm Carys.

RATTLING

It's a funny place, Penllynith, a powerful place, but odd.

I can't remember a single thing from before I was five,

except this house.

-How can that be?

-We'll find out.

Someone's watching me.

Hey. They have been ever since we got here.

Who's there?

-Am I going crazy?

-Of course not.

-Would you tell me if I was?

-You don't believe her, do you?

I felt it.

-The minute I saw her.

-Get away from this house.

You're not listening. I am telling you there's something here.

-OK.

-Hey!

Tilly, wait!

CRACK

I don't understand what's happening to me.

Subtitles by Red Bee Media