Episode 1 Strike

This programme contains some strong language.

CAMERA SHUTTERS CLICK

CAMERA SHUTTERS CLICK

You look lovely, Lula.

CAMERA SHUTTERS CLICK

Lula, over here. Lula, just turn around!

PHONE RINGS

Look, I don't want to see you, OK?

DOORBELL RINGS

PHONE RINGS

SIRENS WAIL

CAMERA SHUTTERS CLICK

SIRENS GROW LOUDER

# You and me

# Me and you

# Somehow, we made it through

# I may be gone, I may be far away

# But I walk beside you every step of the way

# When you're used, bruised, black and blued

# I'll think about it

# Never doubt it

# I'll walk beside you. #

Doors will open on the left-hand side.

Change for the Northern Line.

-SHOUTING FROM UPSTAIRS:

-Why are you doing this?

Because I can't live with you any more!

For a chance of being happy without some psycho making my life a misery.

Oh, a psycho now, as well as a liar.

Yeah, among other things.

And where are you going to sleep next?

I don't know, but anywhere will be better than...

CLUNK Argh! You mad bitch!

You need me, you just watch!

THUDDING

Walk away!

You'll come running back. You always do!

Charlotte!

SHE GASPS

Sit down.

-You OK?

-Yeah, sorry.

Sorry about that.

Oh, it's fine. Um...

Um...

How can I help you?

Oh, um...er...I'm the new temp.

I'm here for the week.

No, I cancelled that.

-Um...

-Definitely.

They're pretty strict on refunds.

OK.

I'll just, er, clear this.

So do you want me to...?

Yeah, just, you know...

I'll be in my office.

OK.

SHE SIGHS

KNOCK AT DOOR

Hello, can I help you?

Oh, hi. Um, my name's John Bristow.

I'd like to speak to Mr Strike, if possible.

Do you have an appointment?

Ah, er, no. Um...

We know each other.

-Well, take a seat, Mr Bristow.

-Thank you.

SHE KNOCKS Yeah?

There's a ...

new client. Mr John Bristow.

Doesn't have an appointment, but he says he knows you.

I don't know a John Bristow.

Right.

Well, he says he does.

Two minutes.

-Could you shut the door, please?

-Mm-hm.

Would you like anything to drink?

Oh, er, yeah. White coffee, no sugar, please.

-WHISPERS:

-OK.

Um...shall we go through?

Agh!

Remember me?

Charlie's brother. Your friend, Charlie Bristow, from...

John. It's been...

Take a seat.

How's your mother? After Charlie's accident, I never really...

Not so good, I'm afraid.

She has stage four cancer, which has spread to the lymph nodes.

I'm sorry to hear that.

She was always very kind to me.

I remembered that when I saw your name.

-There aren't so many Cormoran Strikes around!

-Yeah.

-How can I help you, John?

-It's about my sister.

Oh. Er, of course, you wouldn't have met.

Mum and Dad adopted again about a year after Charlie's death.

My sister used our mother's maiden name for her professional career.

The world knew her as Lula Landry.

Thanks, Sandra.

THE Lula Landry?

I was with her earlier that day to discuss contracts.

She had an upcoming shoot in Morocco, she was excited about it,

she was happy.

Now, the inquest verdict said suicide...

..but I think she was murdered.

DOOR CLOSES PHONE RINGS

Hello, Cormoran Strike's office.

Er, I'm afraid he's with a client at the moment.

Yes, of course. Who shall I say called?

Now, a chap they picked up on CCTV -

they never traced him.

He was outside, watching the flat.

Looks like a black chap.

Not that...you know...just...

We haven't got the actual footage?

No, just those stills.

But it is my priority to find out who he is.

It's all set out in there.

My own analysis, plus a lot of the police evidence

which I obtained during the inquest.

The inquest that returned a verdict of suicide?

Because the coroner couldn't see past a girl

-with a poor history of mental health.

-Mm.

Look...

..review the information in the file. Ask some questions.

Then we can discuss any further involvement.

There's £1,000, just to do that.

Look, even if it's just to put our minds at rest

while Mum's still alive,

and stop this horrible anxiety that justice has not been done.

Charlie never wanted to let me play football with you guys.

Do you remember?

And you always said, "Oh, let him tag along, he can be ball boy."

As a friend of our family...

..you're exactly the right person.

Please don't say no.

I can only promise to review the file at this stage.

Of course.

We'll, er, speak later, then.

See you, John.

DOOR CLOSES

Thanks for sorting the coffee, Sandra.

That's all right. A Mr Gillespie called. He said it was important.

Why do you keep calling me Sandra?

-That isn't your name.

-No.

-The last girl was called Sandra.

-Ah.

I accept that isn't a brilliant reason for me

calling you by her name.

I'm Robin. Robin Ellacott.

Cormoran.

Just popping out.

Where shall I say you are if anyone important calls?

Down the boozer.

Don't worry, they won't.

So is there anything in particular you'd like me to do

while you're gone?

Er, could you look up Landry, May and Patterson?

They're a law firm. Print out their partner biogs.

And, er, anything you can get on Lula Landry's family background.

Mm-hm.

Er, computer password's Hatherill123. Two Ls.

Sorry about nearly killing you earlier.

It's OK.

Hiya, Corm.

Is that a new girl in your office?

She came down to borrow some coffee stuff.

Roger was all over her like a cheap suit.

Tell Roger she has a massive engagement ring.

-Yeah, like that'll stop him from trying.

-Ha!

What happened to your...?

Got smacked with an ashtray.

-Ouch!

-Yeah.

Pint.

Yeah, the Lula Landry case.

Who was the investigating officer?

Can I help you?

You the concierge?

What do you want?

My name is Cormoran Strike.

Wondered if we could have a quick chat.

Even when she's dead, you lot don't give up.

I'm not a journalist.

Yeah? So what are you, then? You're not a cop.

I was. Royal Military Police. Now a private investigator.

Right! Hacking phones for a living?

Dishonourable discharge, was it?

Medical. My leg.

Want to see it?

No.

Lula's family have hired me

to investigate the efficiency of the police investigation.

Were you working the night she died?

First to the body.

What happened?

Mrs Bestigui - she's on the first floor - she runs down screaming.

Somebody had just fallen past their window. I run out, and...

-Horrible.

-You called the police?

-I went straight up to Lula's flat.

-Why did you do that?

Cos of what Mrs Bestigui was saying.

She thought there was somebody there, so....

You'd know if anybody had gone up, presumably?

Yeah.

Ah. Excuse me.

Ah, Dennis, I need to show you that lift door, come in.

-WHISPERS:

-Derrick.

Derrick, sorry.

Certainly, Mr Bestigui.

Actually, you should talk to Nico. He was Lula's favourite driver.

PHONE BUZZES

I got a pick up in Greek Street.

Well, I'm going that way.

Half a fare?

Yeah, OK. Hop in.

Delivery from Charlotte Campbell.

Oh! Careful!

I'm on a double yellow, love.

DOOR SLAMS

It's sad.

Lula, she was all right, you know? She had a big heart.

She lived in a world that's really fucking hard.

-We had a lot in common.

-Such as?

Both mixed race, for one thing.

My dad's a Cypriot from Swansea, and my mum's a West Indian Scouser.

Must have been a nice, quiet wedding.

NICO CHUCKLES

-HORN BEEPS

-Whoa, whoa.

You've still got to follow the rules of the road,

even if you are on a bike, love.

Where did you take her that day?

Er, OK. So first off, we went to Vashti.

-It's a clothes shop on Conduit Street.

-Vashti?

They was in there for a little bit, and then I took them back to Lula's.

-They?

-Yeah, she met a mate in there. Rochelle.

-Another model?

-Rochelle Onifade?

Lula met her in a nuthouse.

I used to pick her up from her hostel on, er, Hallum Street,

and bring her out to play.

Can you remember what they were talking about?

-Like what?

-Like anything.

Er, was looking at something for a bit. Some piece of paper.

You don't remember what it was?

All I remember is Lula laughing,

and saying it was going to piss people off big time.

Anstis?

Any luck with DI Wardle, mate?

Yeah, if you could.

Yeah, that would be great.

Yeah, sure. Yeah, bye.

BLUESY GUITAR MUSIC

People have been coming all day to pay tribute to Lula Landry...

DOOR OPENS

..who fell to her death from one of the flats behind...

ROBIN STOPS VIDEO

-How'd it go today, then?

-Well, when I got there,

the boss had obviously been in a massive fight with some woman.

The office is all smashed up.

And he doesn't want me there at all,

and then he buggers off to the pub, leaves me on my own all afternoon,

with this really rude guy calling every half hour, demanding money.

-So it's just him, then?

-Yeah, he's a private detective.

HE SCOFFS

Private detective. That's a bit Roger Rabbit.

It not, actually. He's, um...

His dad's Jonny Rokeby.

-What?

-Mm.

-Then how come he owes money?

-I don't know.

From what I read online, they don't have much of a relationship.

Isn't that the model who jumped out of a window?

Gosh.

She was so young and beautiful.

Girls always get other girls wrong.

You are miles fitter.

She's way too skinny.

FOOTBALL COMMENTARY ON TV

That'll be an Arsenal throw, down this left-hand side.

Night.

-Matt!

-They...

destroy communication...

..and intimacy.

ROBIN LAUGHS

PHONE RINGS

CONSTRUCTION NOISE IN STREET

Yeah?

It's DI Wardle here. I've just come off my shift.

You can have half an hour, if you get your skates on.

Great.

So you think Lula Landry was murdered,

-and we messed up the investigation?

-Not at all.

I just want to have a better picture of Lula's last hours.

Well, we know she was in a state,

because of the latest bust-up with her boyfriend.

Evan Duffield - he was seen outside the bar where...

He was seen all over the place, with that stupid wolf head.

But he has a cast-iron alibi for time of death.

Let's make this nice and clear -

Lula enters the lobby alone, says goodnight to the concierge,

and heads upstairs.

-Nobody followed her, and there's no other way up to her flat.

-Mm.

Underneath Lula's, there's flat two, a rental property, empty.

Deeby Macc was meant to arrive that night,

but diverted to Claridge's from the airport.

Who is Deeby Macc?

-WARDLE CHUCKLES

-He's a pretty famous rapper.

And believe me, his entourage and credit card limit

are big enough to make tracking him fairly easy.

On the first floor, flat one, the Bestiguis', Freddie and Tansy.

He's in a conference call,

and there's six witnesses to that effect.

She's in a nightie, and sees a body fall past the window,

and raises the alarm.

With the concierge. He told me Tansy said she heard an argument upstairs.

That's why he ran up to check it out.

By the time it came to her official statement,

Tansy Bestigui had reverted to the facts.

She was coked up. Might have altered her perceptions a bit.

You think I wouldn't have liked

to head up the Lula Landry murder investigation?

Well, sometimes the truth is boring -

a girl with mental health issues, a pressure job,

and boyfriend trouble topped herself.

My advice would be, take whatever that arse head brother's

already given you, and get back to sniffing sheets.

DOOR OPENS

Morning.

Morning.

I need you to prepare some terms and conditions for John Bristow,

and create a client account, please.

-You're taking the case, then?

-Yeah.

The woman who raised the alarm said she heard a fight upstairs,

and then she changed her statement.

Hmm. Why would she do that?

Well, that's a good question,

and one DI Wardle was all too happy to dismiss.

I suspect he suffers from acute confirmation bias, which means...

Preferring evidence that supports a pre-existing theory,

and ignoring that which doesn't.

I did it at uni.

-You've got a degree?

-No. Dropped out.

Me too.

What's all this?

So, the last photos of Lula.

These are all picture taken at the funeral. This is the family.

That's Lady Yvette Bristow with her brother, Tony Landry.

John and Lula's uncle.

Who is also a partner at the law firm,

so I've printed off his biog for you as well.

These are industry people and friends.

This is Guy Some, the designer, with Lula's best mate, Ciara Porter,

-Evan Duffield...

-Rock star boyfriend.

..and this is the big film producer, Freddie Bestigui,

who lives on the first floor of Lula's building.

I'm guessing that's his wife.

That's Tansy. The neighbour who changed her statement.

I'm heading to Lula's now. Do you want to look around with me?

Sure.

Have you ever heard of Deeby Macc?

-Yeah.

-Well, I hadn't.

Actually, he had a big thing for Lula Landry.

Wrote a couple of tracks about how he was going to

take her off Evan Duffield.

Did she get any say in this?

No. Obviously, it was a matter to be sorted out between the boys.

Why?

He was going to rent the flat underneath Lula's for his UK tour.

DOOR BUZZES

Did John Bristow call you about the key?

-So this is where you were the night of Lula's death?

-Yeah.

-Nobody comes or goes without you seeing them, right?

-Yeah.

I mean, they'd have to report to you?

Yeah, I tell them what flat to go up to.

Unless Lula's told me not to let them up.

She do that often?

Well, a couple of times.

Who?

Evan Duffield mostly.

And her uncle, Tony Landry, IF they'd had one of their rows.

LIFT BELL PINGS OK.

So tell me about the building's layout.

Well, the Bestiguis are on the first floor

and the second floor is currently vacant.

The penthouse was Lula's.

And this is the only entrance?

Only one way in and out.

-Why do you think she got changed when she got home?

-Comfort?

CAMERA CLICKS

Funny thing to do when you're about to kill yourself.

In the Army, I knew this lieutenant.

Life and soul of his own birthday party,

shot himself two hours later. CAMERA CLICKS

DISTANT SIREN WAILS

Locks as soon as it's shut.

INAUDIBLE

HE TAPS

Don't think he can hear me.

INAUDIBLE

You can't hear a single thing from these flats with the door shut.

They could have a Trenchtown sound system playing downstairs...

-and you'd never know.

-What's Tansy Bestigui like?

-Better than her husband.

-You believed her when she said

she thought there was somebody up here with Lula?

She was scared.

OK.

What about Rochelle Onifade?

Nico said he dropped them both back here during the day.

-I told Lula about that girl.

-What did you tell her?

She was trash. Only after her money.

What did Lula say?

Just laughed, told me not to be horrible,

she didn't care about money.

Only people who with a lot of it ever say that.

Do you mind showing me the rest of the building?

Oh, there's only the swimming pool, really, so...

I don't know why you'd want to...

Mrs Bestigui?

My name is Cormoran Strike.

I'm an investigator.

-A what?

-A private investigator.

Sorry to bother you,

but I've been hired to look into the death of Lula Landry.

I just need to ask you a few questions

about the night of Lula's death.

Yes?

-How did you know Lula fell?

-I saw her.

-You saw her?

-That's what I said.

So you were close to the window.

I'm sorry, this really isn't a great time for this kind of conversation.

Please, er...

..call my office and fix a meeting.

I just want to ensure we've got all the facts.

Who's paying you?

John Bristow, Lula's brother.

OK.

I'll call you.

-She's lying.

-Why?

-When you start an investigation, Robin,

it's like looking into an aquarium for the first time.

Walk around, check how many fish there are,

see what happens when you tap the glass.

And, right now, Tansy's the most interesting fish?

And Rochelle Onifade.

# If you keep dancin' on me

# Girl, I'll be tempted to touch

# Tempted to touch Tempted to touch

-ON CLIP:

-# Feel like I can't get enough, can't get enough

# If you keep dancin' on me Girl, I'll be tempted to touch... #

So this is Deeby Macc.

# Tempted to touch Tempted to touch

# If you keep hitting on me... #

Right.

And I also found out that Ciara Porter has a web channel

of video clips she made with Lula and her mates.

-ON CLIP:

-Oh, we should call her Beulah!

Oh, my God, it's a she and I am not...

-Ciara's just got a new dog.

-Oh, look...

With stupid ears.

Expensive ears.

Rochelle!

They shouldn't breed them flat faced like that, poor things.

Pause it there.

Oh, my Little Rock!

Where are those funeral photos you showed me?

Um...

Is that Rochelle?

Yeah.

Think that could be Rochelle?

PHONE RINGS

Oh, it's hard to say.

Could be.

Cormoran Strike's office?

Yes, of course. I'll pass that on immediately.

SHE HANGS UP

Tansy Bestigui wants to meet you tonight.

Hm!

I'll go and iron a shirt.

Here's my Little Rock.

My Little Rock knows more about me than you lot ever will.

THEY CHUCKLE

CAR HORN HONKS

-Good evening.

-I'm meeting Tansy Bestigui?

Sure. May we take your coat, sir?

This isn't...

My name is Tony Landry.

I'm Lula and John's uncle.

Please sit down.

Coincidentally, our law firm also represents Mr and Mrs Bestigui.

So now...I've been looking you up. All very interesting.

Afghanistan.

-Jonny Rokeby.

-HE CHUCKLES

And your mother.

Leda Strike, wasn't it?

They don't make them like her any more, unfortunately.

And now my delusional nephew has hired you

to cause more pain to the family.

My aim is to lessen his pain by providing him with the truth.

I can't interfere with my nephew's madness.

-Or his love for his sister.

-Very true.

Family is a complex thing.

You, of all people, are surely aware of that.

Lula's death was tragic,

but I must advise you to stay away from the Bestiguis.

-WAITER:

-How is everything?

Delicious, thank you.

I would like a bottle of Puligny-Montrachet

-and, PLEASE, not too cold.

-Of course, sir.

The thing is, Tony, I take my instructions from your nephew so...

They say that we are all just two mistakes from being homeless

and I know that currently my nephew's money

is all that is keeping you from displaying that stump

for loose change on Waterloo Bridge.

Put John's mind at rest,

ease his pain if you like,

take your money and we'll all be happy.

Don't be greedy, though, and take advantage of his grief

by prolonging this tragedy or I will tie you in so many legal knots

you won't be able to get out of bed in the morning.

Definitely give that some thought.

Let me give you a little bit of advice.

You can insult my financial status,

my disability, anything you like.

Mention my mother again,

I'll introduce you to an experience

far worse than an over-chilled burgundy.

Got it?

Enjoy the rest of your dinner.

MATCH FLARES

PHONE RINGS

ANSWERPHONE: You've reached the offices of Cormoran Strike.

Please leave a message.

MACHINE BEEPS

-CHARLOTTE:

-I know you're there. Just pick up the phone.

I can't cope.

I need you, Bluey.

Please.

MACHINE BEEPS

Bollocks.

Why do I always take you off before I remember to have a piss?

TRICKLING

HE GRUNTS

MOBILE RINGS

HE SIGHS

KNOCK ON DOOR Yeah.

The, um, the stuff for John Bristow you asked for.

Would you like me to get rid of that cup?

NO!

No. You're not a cleaner.

OK...

DOOR CLOSES

LIQUID POURS

-Tashakor.

-Nooshe jan.

Sorry I'm a bit late,

couldn't find anywhere to park,

had to use the, er, Chinatown car park.

Look, um, I am so relieved you've agreed to take this on.

Here are my terms of business.

Daily rate includes money for informants and incidentals, and...

..here's some issues and questions.

Yeah. Lula did have a computer but we wiped it

and gave it to charity once the police had returned it.

Was there anything else taken from her flat?

Er, Tony took Mum round there -

just to pick up a few personal things...

Tony Landry, your uncle?

-Yeah.

-Hm.

Why?

I bumped into him. Or rather he bumped into me.

BRISTOW LAUGHS NERVOUSLY

How do you get on with him?

Tony's a little, er...

-HE SIGHS

-Yeah...

Lula?

They sometimes clashed.

The doorman told me she asked him not to let Tony up.

Yeah, I-I can believe that.

Did Lula ever mention Rochelle Onifade?

-Er...is she a model?

-No.

So, I'm afraid, er...

No, I'm sorry, I can't put a face to her.

Fiver for a hand job.

Rochelle's not here any more. She was asked to leave, actually.

-Any idea where she's gone?

-No, sorry.

You don't have any contact details?

Yeah, but I can't just give them out to strangers, obviously.

PHONE RINGS

Hallum Street Hostel.

Yep.

No, we haven't got any places.

You have to be resident in the borough for B&B.

-Yes, it is a disgrace.

-SARCASTICALLY:

-Welcome to London!

OK, thanks. Sorry to bother you.

Could you do me a big favour?

No.

Could you do me a big favour for 50 quid?

Thought you wouldn't be able to resist. You got a car?

It's not that kind of a favour.

WOMAN SCREAMS

CAMERA CLICKS

INDISTINCT RAISED VOICES NEARBY

Might not be a big deal to you, but I'm proper phobic!

It was an enormous big, hairy monster... Nearly as bad as him.

-Everything OK?

-It was a bloody spider in her room.

I need you to call Rochelle, tell her a friend of Lula's needs to meet

to give her an important message.

You ain't going to hurt her, are you?

No.

Why can't you call?

It'll come better from you.

Tell her Lula said I needed to speak to "Little Rock".

"Little Rock".

Rochelle?

-You ain't no friend of Lula.

-Sit down.

-What do want with me, man?

I just want to ask you a few questions. I'm not police. OK?

Really not the police.

SHE SIGHS

You want something to eat?

Yeah, get me a burger and chips.

Burger and chips.

You want...?

Bastard, bastard leg.

-ROCHELLE:

-I don't know. He said he was a mate.

Yeah, well, Lula never had any mates who looked like him, so I bounced.

Course not!

But you need to sort me out again.

Rochelle...

-SHOUTING:

-Leave me alone!

-Who were you talking to?

-This guy is bothering me. Please!

-Hey, leave her alone!

-CROWD MURMURS

-How'd it go?

-Er...

Badly.

How do you feel about identity theft?

SHE CLEARS HER THROAT

Yeah, it's Rochelle Onifade, I've lost my appointment card.

It is...

It's, er, 13th of November, 1994.

-SARCASTICALLY:

-Do you want to know the time as well?

What address you got for me there?

Cos I've been movin' about a bit since I last saw ya.

Yeah.

Just tell me what address you got for me there!

Thank you.

-How was that?

-Not bad.

-I'll head down there.

-Oh, can you fill in my time sheet,

-in case I'm not here when you get back?

-I'll do it tomorrow.

Today's my last day.

Oh!

Good luck with the job hunting.

Thanks.

Er...

I could come back next week and we could cut the agency out.

Yeah!

If...?

That could work.

Great.

DOOR CLOSES

The lift is broken again.

HE GRUNTS AND PANTS

HE GROANS

HE PANTS

DOG BARKS NEARBY

HE KNOCKS

HE KNOCKS AGAIN

WATER TRICKLES

Rochelle?

Rochelle!

HE KNOCKS

LOCK CLUNKS

Rochelle?

THUDDING, HE GROANS

WATER GUSHES

HE WINCES

HE GROANS

Come on, Rochelle...

Come on, Rochelle.

Rochelle!

You got a cause of death yet?

A drug-dealer maybe on a rented number?

Listen, I'm quite busy with real cases so...

You have no idea.

About what?

She was frightened of him...

Who?

REPORTERS CLAMOUR

Get the fuck away from me!

He's harassing me!

-Some fashion designer.

-Which one?

-They call him Guy Some.

-"Gee Sommay".

Lights!

I'm Ciara.

I know.

-I won't be around early afternoon anyway!

-Why not?

Job interview.