Episode 2 Strike - The Cuckoo's Calling

My name is Cormoran Strike, private investigator.

I'm Robin, Robin Ellacott. I'm the new temp.

How can I help you, John? It's about my sister, Lula Landry...

I think she was murdered.

A chap they picked up on CCTV. They never traced him.

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

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.

This is the family -

Lady Yvette Bristow with her brother Tony Landry.

Family is a complex thing -

you of all people are surely aware of that.

This is Guy Some, the designer,

with Lula Lula's best mate, Ciara Porter,

Evan Duffield, her boyfriend,

and this is the film producer.

I'm guessing that's his wife.

That's Tansy, the neighbour who changed her statement.

Stay away from the Bestiguis.

Did Lula ever mention Rochelle Onifade?

Oh, my little Roch...

Is that Rochelle?

Rochelle...

Leave me alone!

Who were you talking to?

This programme contains some strong language

Come on, Rochelle. Rochelle!

# You and me

# Me and you

# Somehow we made it through

# I may be gone

# I may be far away

# But I'll walk beside you

# Every step of the way

# When you're used

# Bruised

# Black and blued

# Don't think about it

# Never doubt it

# I'll walk beside you. #

SIREN WAILS

It's Cormoran Strike. Have you got a cause of death yet?

Well, pick a card, any card. Drugs, drowning...

Look, when I dragged her out of that bath,

it was running hot.

The water tank hadn't emptied.

That gives you a clear timeframe for how long she was in there.

I'll send a uniform to take a statement from you in due course.

And check her phone records, cos she called to warn somebody

when I tried to talk to her.

A drug-dealer maybe? On a rented number?

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

DOOR OPENS

Morning.

Morning.

DOOR CLOSES

How are the hands?

Still a bit sore.

Are you OK?

It's not my first dead body.

I just mean...it's far worse the first time.

So was it a coincidence, do you think,

Rochelle dying so close to Lula?

Well, she had quite a fragile existence,

but she had money for new designer gear and lots of drugs.

Where from?

Lula?

Lula's been dead for three months. She didn't leave a will.

Plus, why was Rochelle panicked to see me?

And who was she calling?

She was hiding something...

Surely the police will investigate.

Maybe.

Time to see how Lula's gang react to the news.

Good morning, I'm Mike Dundee from the Health and Safety Executive.

I'm here to carry out a Section 20 interview

under the statutory provisions accorded to me

by the 1974 Health And Safety At Work Act.

CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKS A few more.

Other side...

Come on, concentration!

Lights! BELL RINGS

Ciara! Late night, was it, darling?

MAN SPEAKS GERMAN

Guy Some?

Who are you?

My name is Cormoran Strike. I'm a private investigator.

I'm busy right now. Make an appointment with Tricia.

Rochelle Onifade is dead.

Oh, my God... How?

A lot of drugs and a hot bath. Beginner's error.

Exactly. She wasn't a beginner, was she?

Wait. Cormoran Strike. That's an unusual name.

Nobody's ever mentioned it before.

You're not Al Rokeby's brother? Half-brother.

He talked about a war-hero brother called Cormoran.

I met your dad a few times too.

Lucky you(!)

And why is Jonny Rokeby's son working as a private detective?

Because that's his job.

I'd like to ask you a few questions if that's OK.

MAN SPEAKS GERMAN

I'm Ciara.

I know.

Oh, I see. And when is Mr Bestigui back from...?

OK, right, well, I'll call then. Thank you very much. Thanks.

Hello?

Uh... Excuse me!

Excuse me, can I help you?

Where is he? Who?

My brother.

So what's my brother investigating now?

Well, erm...

It's someone who killed herself,

only, erm, one of her relatives thinks that she didn't.

What does Cormoran think?

I think he's keeping an open mind. Mm-hmm.

Did he tell you who our mother was?

No.

Do you know?

Yes.

The verdict was suicide,

but Cormoran always thought her death was suspicious. Oh.

He took her death very badly - left Oxford and joined the army.

He went to Oxford?

I know!

Some clever admissions tutor saw through the grumpy philistine act.

So how long's he been sleeping in his office?

So what are you actually investigating?

Lula Landry's brother wants me to review the police inquiry

into her death, and make sure they carried it out properly.

The Accountant?

No, he's a lawyer.

We always called John the Accountant.

Why?

It's just a nickname. How about Mommie Dearest?

Have you met her yet?

Not recently.

That's why Guy called her Cuckoo.

Such a fucked-up family...

Lula was in the wrong nest.

Guy didn't seem too upset about Rochelle.

He only cares about one thing when he's working.

Poor Roch...

Can you tell me a bit about her relationship with Lula?

Oh, well she was helping her with her issues -

identity, authenticity, etc.

Lula was obsessed with exploring her real family,

by which she meant black - her dad's side.

Ciara, darling, we need you now.

On the day she died, Lula spent a lot of time with Rochelle.

Yeah, they were always thick as thieves

when Rochelle wasn't having one of her "episodes".

Lula gave her money too.

Well, she would have given money to anyone,

but, yeah, Rochelle did well enough out of her.

Hey, love, Guy's getting fidgety.

I'd quite like to continue this conversation.

I won't be done here until late, and then I'm going to Uzi...

OK, tomorrow... ..but come?

Erm, get the ginger line to Dalston Kingsland

and I'll meet you at the station. 10.30.

And Matt's going all red in the face and blaming me

every time the tent collapses, and then it starts raining...

Of course.

At last.

DOOR SLAMS Robin's told me everything, so get your stuff.

I've got the car in the John Lewis car park

and you're coming to stay with us.

I'm not.

You cannot stay in there on that camp bed.

It's just short-term while I sort something out.

Tell him, Robin.

It's got nothing to do with Robin.

Anyway, I'm not stopping, I'm just picking something up.

Where are you going? Chelsea.

Well, let me give you a lift.

Let me go and get the car, and I'll run you down there.

I'll see you downstairs in ten.

Bye, Robin, really nice to meet you.

Mm-hmm. You too.

DOOR CLOSES

You need to sign this.

HORNS HONK

She's great.

Who?

It's ridiculous a girl with her figure on a diet,

wedding or no wedding.

It's none of my business, really.

I loved this when I was a kid.

So, please, tell me it's final with Charlotte this time.

It's final this time.

I'm sorry it's happened, obviously,

but it's much better for you that she's finally gone.

I left her.

Good.

Well, I'd better dash, cos Jack's got football.

Anywhere along here's fine.

Poor little sausage can't get in the A team.

I said, "You're in my A team, Poppet,"

but I'm not sure that was much help... You're a good mum.

Thanks, Stick.

I want my kids to always...

I know.

HANDBRAKE SQUEAKS

Anything you need, just ask.

ENGINE PURRS

DOOR SLAMS

I'll let Mr Bristow know you're here.

Ah, come through.

Sorry, I was just sorting Mum's, erm...

Ah...

Erm... We mustn't be too long.

The, er, the medicines make her very confused.

Tony?

No, it's not Uncle Tony, Mumsie. It's Mr Strike.

We've met before, a long time ago.

I was a friend of your son Charlie.

Charlie's dead - rode his bicycle into a quarry.

Yes.

Now Lula too.

It's a terrible thing when all your children die.

Of course. But not...

People used to say Lula was so beautiful,

but I never saw her like that.

Charlie was the handsome one.

She was the clever one - always had an answer to everything.

It's such a shame she spent so much time fighting with Tony

over that lovely boy.

Evan Duffield came to visit her, after she died.

He said he wished he had been there to try and stop her.

Huh!

No, I think that too, Johnny.

Lula was up there in her flat that night,

in such a terrible state,

all alone, while we were here watching silly old movies.

Erm... Mum's a big fan of Cary Grant.

We watched Bringing Up Baby the night that Lula died.

Time for your medicine.

Thank you, Marsha.

MACHINE BEEPS

MACHINE HUMS

That's the morphine, so...

She said she was frightened of him...

Who? Frightened of who?

What did she say to you, Mother? Frightened of Evan?

Bring some macaroons the next time you come, Mr Bone.

The leopard never changes his spots.

I want to know what Tansy Bestigui was lying about that night.

And the chap on the CCTV?

That's going to take a bit of time.

That's where the answer lies, I'm sure of it.

How much do you know much about your uncle's movements on that day?

Er, he was in the office all day, and then he went to

Oxford for a conference, er, popped in here on the way out to see Mum...

Why?

I just need to be absolutely sure we know exactly who Lula

saw on the day she died.

Tony didn't see her.

He didn't visit Kentigern Gardens that day, I am sure of that.

OK.

What...?

Oh, no, wait. Hold the camera, hold the camera, hold the camera...

Oh, no! Hold the pet there.

Oh, oh... I've got her, I've got her...

Oh...

Oh, no. Oh, no, I've got something on my lips!

Oh, my little Roch.

Mwah! This is my little Roch.

My little Roch knows more about me than you lot ever will.

Mmm! Mmm!

Oh, wow! Like... Like, like... LAUGHTER

HE STOPS THE VIDEO

TRAIN RUMBLES

If you see anything suspicious...

CAMERA SHUTTERS CLICK

Over here, now! Over here, darling!

Over here!

God, did you hear about poor Rochelle?

Course I did.

Every time somebody dies, the cops are on my case.

Who are you? Evan, this is Cormoran Strike.

He's Jonny Rokeby's son.

I know your old man a bit, as it goes.

Still got it, hasn't he?

Yeah, full of it. I don't think he'll ever lose it.

Oi, not there. Out!

So, Cormoran is a private investigator...

I thought you said he was Rokeby's son.

The two aren't incompatible.

What are you investigating?

I've been hired by Lula Landry's family to review

the circumstances of her death.

Being a size zero, it was easy enough for me to

get her out the window. Oh, stop it, Evan.

Honestly, I don't like it when...

It's what they say on the internet, isn't it?

"Must have been Evan."

This is breaking my buzz completely.

I don't want to break your buzz, Evan.

But you are, though -

ambushing me, asking me questions about Lula...

I haven't asked you anything.

He didn't even know you were going to be here.

Get him away from me. Get the fuck away from me!

Listen, I want him out! Get him out.

He's harassing me!

CAMERA SHUTTERS CLICK

MATCH SCRAPES

Ciara called me. She's coming out in a sec.

CAMERA SHUTTERS CLICK Ciara! Hey, Ciara, over here now!

Ciara, who's the new fella?!

Over here, darling, please! To me, please!

I'm so sorry about that.

CAR DOOR CLOSES Evan always gets a bit fretty when he's off the gear.

Where do you want to go now?

Do you mind terribly if we have a nightcap at mine?

I have an early start tomorrow.

MUSIC: God Knows by Dornik

# God knows that I love you

# Too bad you don't have to

# No, no

# You're the girl that I... #

GLASSES CLINK

CIARA LAUGHS

You've actually read Proust?

In French, too.

He's often quite funny.

I have a deferred place at Cambridge to read modern languages,

I'll have you know.

Your mum's in there,

wearing the most fabulous Ossie Clark buttermilk dress.

This is more the sort of place I imagined a supermodel would live...

than Kentigern Gardens.

Yeah, it was a bit of a luxury prison.

Sientete.

But Lula could really hide herself away from everybody there.

Sometimes she'd open the window,

and she'd call me... HE EXHALES

..and we'd pretend to bark across the city to each other

like in 101 Dalmatians.

It was funny at the time.

Evan came here the night she died.

The tabloids obviously tried to make out he came here for a revenge shag.

Did he? We listened to some demos for his album,

smoked some weed and went to sleep.

Lula was my friend.

Yeah... Sorry.

Guy's marvellous detachable linings -

very handy for models in clubs.

No, thanks.

SHE COUGHS GENTLY

Besides, Evan's not really my type.

No? Mm-mm.

I don't usually go for pretty boys.

That's a shame - I thought I might be in with a chance.

SHE LAUGHS

The other leg's the one with nerve endings, by the way.

I know about your leg.

I'm quite amputee-curious, actually.

You'll be disappointed.

There's literally nothing to see.

SHE LAUGHS

You know you said you know my dad and my brother...

I haven't.

DISTANT SIREN WAILS

DRILL SCREECHES

Morning!

DOOR SLAMS

Hmm...

CORMORAN GROANS

What?

HE EXHALES

I went and sat at William Blake's grave last night.

OK. Any particular reason?

I like to check in on him from time to time.

You see, Blake was into free love -

don't restrict your desires.

Was he?

Has anybody told you, you are absolutely gorgeous?

Here he is.

Enjoy yourself with Ciara, did you?

The girl's pure filth.

Come on through to my office.

Does the family think it was me? No, I don't think so.

Do you?

Well, you've got a nasty temper, but your alibi's strong.

Yeah, well, I was lucky someone saw me

without the wolf-head on because...

the Old Bill would love to get me sent down.

You're probably right about that.

I miss Lules, you know.

We had some fights, but we also had a laugh together.

You came here to tell me more than that.

Freddie Bestigui... What about him?

He was always pestering Lula to be in his films.

Could she act?

Let's just say talent isn't a number-one requirement,

but Lula, she's box office.

She turned him down?

Well, she hated him.

Then he wanted to do a biopic with me in it,

but, I mean, it never came to nothing

cos the Bristow family went full cease and desist.

We had lunch and I got friendly with one of his assistants...

I'm guessing that's a girl.

See, this Georgia, she tells me he's, like, a massive control freak,

obsessed with his wife's coke habit,

like it's personal.

In restaurants, if Tansy doesn't order three courses plus cheese,

he takes her pulse to check she ain't using.

Anyway, this one time, Georgia says, the worm's turned.

Even Tansy's had enough, and she goes to him,

"Stop it, Freddie.

"Let go of my wrist, unless you want me to tell the police

"where I really was the night Lula died."

Bye, Robin. Sorry I gave you a fright.

That's all right. I'm doing a secret gig next month.

You're on the guest list with a minus-one.

Well, thank you very much.

Are those Guy Some gloves?

God, yeah. I must have picked them up somewhere.

DOOR OPENS

Could you look up the train times to Iver Heath please?

Mm-hmm. Are you planning on going to Freddie's office at Pinewood?

Yeah, I'm just going to try and blag my way in somehow.

Well, there's not much point.

I finally got hold of his PA.

He left for the Miami Film Festival this morning,

and from there he's going to LA for a few days.

I'm still going out.

I'm hoping to catch Tansy Bestigui,

so I'll be gone the rest of the day.

Well, I won't be around early afternoon anyway.

Why not?

Job interview.

I did write it in the diary.

Fine.

DRAWER OPENS

SHE EXHALES

Oh, yes, I'm definitely a people person.

Oh, that was amazing. Yeah, finally.

ENGINE PURRS

I've been talking about it for God knows how long...

That's it. That's it, and so, erm...

Thank you so much for that. That was fantastic.

We'll do it again. Have a good one.

CAR DOOR SLAMS

CAMERA BEEPS

CAMERA BEEPS

So you didn't finish your university degree...

No.

And you were studying psychology?

That's right.

Why did you leave?

Sorry?

Why did you leave university before your final exams?

I had... It was a personal reason.

Oh, that's fine. That's fine. You don't have to...

It wasn't academic, though?

No, not academic. No.

No, I loved my course. I was hoping for a first.

Well, psychology plays a big part in human resources.

So, Robin, just to kick us off,

could you tell us three people you consider inspirational?

SHE EXHALES

INAUDIBLE

I can't believe you're even thinking about not taking it.

It...it was just so bland and corporate.

Like where I work, you mean?

No, I didn't mean that.

You love your job.

When I was a kid, I wanted to be an astronaut,

but, you know, Robin...

Obviously, I can't make you take a job you don't want.

Well, that's good to know.

I'm not eating courgetti, by the way.

Fine, you can have pasta.

Fine.

CAR HORN HONKS Well, yes, thank you.

That's very kind of you to say so.

Yes, I will certainly do that.

Thank you, bye.

SHE EXHALES

So, how did the job interview go?

Well, that was them just calling to say I got the job.

That was quick. You must have really impressed them.

Mm-hmm. I said I was passionate about people.

HE CHUCKLES

Yeah, well, we all need to jump through the hoops from time to time.

They'll be lucky to have you.

I don't gossip.

When your sister came in to the office,

she said that I told her everything...

Half-sister. Don't worry, I know what Lucy can be like.

I understand about confidentiality, especially in this job.

I told Matt a tiny bit about Lula Landry, but...

Robin, don't worry about it. You're discreet, I can see that.

SHE BREATHES DEEPLY

When do you start?

Next week.

Do you want to see something interesting?

Mm-hmm.

CAMERA BEEPS

Bloody hell. Is that...?

John Bristow's uncle, with his hand on Tansy Bestigui's arse.

I hate it when men do that in public.

So, what does this mean for...?

I don't fully know yet.

What are you going to do with it?

Use it for a bit of shock and awe.

HE KNOCKS ON DOOR

Go away or I'll call...

Tony Landry again? Get him to meet me in a restaurant?

I've got nothing to say to you.

HIS FOOT STOPS THE DOOR Or perhaps a hotel?

Move your foot.

DOOR CLOSES

I can tell you straight away that my husband will both see

and query any money I give you, so...

I don't want money. Information.

And unless you get it...

No, only paying clients get to see evidence of their cheating partners.

How very moral of you...

Well, not everybody in my profession would be so scrupulous, Tansy,

especially seeing as you are perverting the course of justice.

You have no idea...

About what?

Anything.

Where were you on the night Lula died?

I was here. I was here with my husband.

I told the truth.

Well, I believe you were here,

I believe you were with your husband, but I'd like to know

why you were shivering with the cold when you ran into the lobby.

I'd just seen Lula fall.

Derrick came running.

It was shock.

Had Freddie found something in your handbag?

Had he caught you doing a sneaky line in the bathroom?

Or did he check your pulse as you were getting ready for bed?

He locked you out on that balcony in your underwear on a freezing night.

That's where you were when Lula fell. No.

Yes, because you heard something,

and that's the only place you could have heard something.

He likes punishments, doesn't he?

Confining somebody to a small, uncomfortable space -

that's the first weapon in the torturer's handbook.

My husband isn't a torturer.

Do you have children?

No.

Ever wanted any children?

Not really.

I have.

A little, er, girl I could sing to each night,

and brush her hair,

and later, when I got old,

we could have tea together and talk about our lives.

SHE WHIMPERS

SHE CLEARS HER THROAT

He didn't want me to have a job,

he didn't want us to have kids,

so this is what I have.

Tony...

Mm-mm.

SHE SNIFFLES Family image is everything to him.

He'd never leave them.

Just tell me what you heard out there, Tansy.

Tell me because, by protecting a sadist, you might be letting

a murderer go free.

Talk to me, Tansy.

Two voices shouting.

The only thing she remembers hearing clearly is,

"It's too late. I've already done it."

Lula?

Done what?

I don't know yet.

And she didn't recognise the other voice?

No.

Well, it can't have been Freddie.

You wouldn't lock your wife on the balcony and then run upstairs

and push another woman from the one straight overhead.

Agreed.

So Evan was...

Was pointing the finger, for whatever reason.

Hmm...

God, her life sounds awful.

Yeah, she should leave him.

Do you think she will?

No.

PHONE BUZZES

It's me.

Charlotte, what do you want?

Come back now, or you lose me for good.

HE SIGHS

What time is it?

Early.

I've got a man cave, too, you know, but it's attached to a house.

Let's get some breakfast.

Annoyingly, some of your questions about Rochelle Onifade

got stuck in my head.

Well, I thought so.

That point about the size of the water tank - you were right.

That was a good call. That was smart.

The water was still running hot.

No, it doesn't stack up at all with the breakdown of

the drugs in her body.

She was murdered. So...?

Well, that doesn't mean anything to Lula Landry.

HE TAKES A DEEP BREATH

Could be just some dealer Rochelle pissed off.

Could be, although it's a lot of trouble to go to

when a knife would have done the job.

Yeah.

WAITER SPEAKS OWN LANGUAGE, CORMORAN REPLIES

Anstis said you were a good cop.

Yeah? He told me you saved his life and support the Arsenal -

I'm not sure which is the bigger error of judgment.

He exaggerates about the former.

HE EXHALES

I don't want to make anybody look, you know,

but you made a mistake with Tansy Bestigui...

WARDLE SCOFFS ..cos she was on the balcony

and she did hear somebody else upstairs.

Now, I'd like to see the full CCTV from around Kentigern Gardens.

Would you, now? Well, what do I get?

Credit. Shared information. I can do stuff you can't.

It's not too late to be on the right side of this one.

HE CHUCKLES

# If you keep dancin' on me, girl

# I'll be tempted to touch Tempted to touch

# Tempted to touch Tempted to touch

# It's like we alone in this club Alone in this club

# If you keep dancin' on me, girl

# I'll be tempted to touch... #

HE SLAMS LAPTOP SHUT

Morning.

I'm going to Kentigern Gardens now.

OK.

And tomorrow we're going to Vashti, Lula's favourite clothes shop.

You'll be trying on some frocks.

I'll be your brother, trying to find a suitable gift

for my wedding anniversary.

How come?

Somebody in there's talking to the press about Lula.

I want to find out who it is, what they know and how they know it.

PHONE RINGS

SHE CLEARS HER THROAT

Cormoran Strike's office...

IN SCOUSE ACCENT: No, sorry, she's not here any more.

No, I don't, sorry.

My name? I'm Ashlee Jones, his new assistant,

and that's L-double-E, not I-G-H.

You're very welcome.

Temporary Solutions are on my case.

I'm not sure they quite believed me.

I suppose it doesn't matter if they blacklist you

now you've got a permanent job.

I'm going to pick up some lunch on the way back. Do you want anything?

Miso soup day.

Bad luck.

DOOR SLAMS

DOORBELL RINGS

DOOR BUZZES

DOOR CLOSES

Do you want me to let you up into Lula's flat?

I'd like to see the pool again.

That night, you gave Tansy a towel because she was cold.

It's handy, the way there was one just lying about at your desk.

I travel in every day from East Croydon.

Sometimes I can't sleep because of the hours

and all the stuff in my head, and...

But swimming really helps, you know?

Of course.

You left your desk, didn't you?

Look, I can't afford to lose this job.

I owe money on my credit cards, and my kids have lots

and lots of birthdays.

HE SIGHS Look, how long were you in here?

20 minutes? Half an hour?

About that. 50 laps.

I'm not going to tell anyone, I promise.

Thanks.

Is anybody in the Deeby Macc flat right now?

HE SIGHS Come on, then.

PHONE RINGS

Cormoran Strike's office...

Erm, I'm sorry, he's not in at the moment. Can I take a message?

Yeah. You may say that Charlotte Campbell called...

I will pass that on.

Please make sure you do. It's very important.

And this flat's been empty for three months?

These luxury rentals often sit empty.

I think some couple from Singapore are about to take the lease.

Ah...

Any deliveries here that day?

Yeah, erm, Freddie Bestigui sent Deeby some flowers.

Did Lula get any flowers as well?

Not that I know of.

Definitely didn't deliver roses up to her flat that day?

No.

CAMERA BEEPS

Were there any other deliveries here?

Yeah, all sorts - champagne, a hoodie,

leather gloves, some fashion designer...

Which one?

I don't know.

Actually, yeah, I do, cos I called him Guy Some,

and they all laughed and said it wasn't pronounced that way.

PRONOUNCING IT THE FRENCH WAY: Guy Some.

Yeah. OK.

Oh, er, somebody else, erm...

The Nighthawk Security came in to fix the alarm pad,

and Lechsinka, the cleaner, she was in for a bit.

Quite a bit of coming and going, then.

Yeah, up until the early evening, and then it all just died off.

Good. Well, that's all for now.

No offence, but I hope "now" means "ever".

DOOR OPENS

DOOR SLAMS Oh, this came for you.

HE CHUCKLES

I think Lula Landry was murdered, Robin.

There, white roses just like the ones Freddie sent to

Deeby Macc that day,

but this photo was taken in Lula's flat.

Now, how did they get there?

My guess is the killer took them from the flat downstairs.

How did they get in there?

I don't know, but they could've easily snuck in that day

amid all the hustle and bustle -

deliveries, cleaners...

The one big mistake they made was to leave the flowers in Lula's flat

when they fled in such a hurry.

Then they got lucky.

Derrick wasn't on his desk for the reasons I thought...

Swimming. Yup, so the killer scarpers.

Freddie lets Tansy back in to stop her screaming.

The killer gets out just before Tansy hits the lobby

and Derrick arrives back from the pool.

So, who do you think it is?

That's still a work in progress,

but it's the same person who killed Rochelle -

I just need to find out why.

Crispy duck with extra pancakes day for me. Are you quite sure?

What's up?

Charlotte Campbell rang.

What did she say?

She just said, "Tell him Charlotte Campbell called.

"Soon to be Mrs Jago Ross."

OK, thanks.

I probably won't be back until the end of the day.

REVERSING TRUCK BEEPS

Hi.

SLURRING: Ah, Robin. It's late. What are you doing here?

I was looking for you.

You are a very nice person.

Don't go anywhere. I'll just get myself a drink.

I won't go anywhere, cross my heart.

Actually, Robin, I'm a wee bit pissed.

I'll have a white wine, please.

Small or large?

Extra large!

Small, please.

Lightweight.

Put it on the super tab.

Thanks.

Do you know what I like about you, Robin?

You're a very decent person, and you have good skills -

a skill set.

Thanks.

I think...

you've got to know when to ask a question

and when to not ask a question.

Give people time.

Yeah.

Have you eaten anything?

No, I'm not hungry.

Oh, come on, it can't be that bad.

HE SNORTS SOFTLY

Have you got a light?

You can't smoke in here.

Oh... They're ruined, pubs.

Pubs used to be bloody brilliant.

I remember when this were all pubs.

Nothing but pubs.

Even the buses, Robin, they were mobile pubs.

Happy days.

They were happy, and you know what's ruined everything?

SLURRING: It's digitalisation.

Letters - gone. What happened to love letters?

Ah, digitalisation...

That's what I said. You're not going to write a love-mail, are you?

Well, I... No, you can't. Exactly.

Internet groceries...

What? What's so hard about going to the supermarket, you lazy fuckers?

And now you can't even have a fag in a pub,

and there aren't any council houses

or love letters any more. MAN LAUGHS

What are you laughing at?

You think it's funny that people can't afford to live

near their place of work any more, Beardy? Cormoran, let's go.

Sorry.

Are you all right? Let's go.

SLURRING: I'm a bit sad, Robin.

I know.

LIGHT SWITCH CLICKS

KEYS JINGLE

RATTLING

I don't need those.

Well, just in case.

KEYS CLATTER

Are you going to be OK for Vashti in the morning?

Course I am.

I'm a very lucky person, Robin.

First, I have the kind of metabolism where I can eat what I want

and stay pencil-thin...

and second, I don't...

I don't really get hangovers.

Well, that is lucky.

HE GROANS

Bastard leg's bloody killing me.

Cruelty or mercy?

Hmm?

Kid with a gun.

He could have shot me after the explosion,

but he looked at my leg...

and just winked.

Maybe a bit of both.

Maybe so.

You go home!

I'm all right now. Right.

I'm switching the light out.

Yeah.

LIGHT SWITCH CLICKS

DOOR CLOSES

MUFFLED MUSIC PLAYS FROM OUTSIDE

HE EXHALES

CORMORAN BREATHES HEAVILY

Fuck.

Fucking hell.

WHISPERING: Fuck.

It was you.

You killed Lula.

Lula Landry came in here a lot, didn't she?

The day she died - this changing room.

You're not the first young lady who's come asking about him.

What's this really about?

I think it was very sudden and brutal.

Tony didn't want us to have her.