01x02 - Episode 2

[bunniefuu]

The Chief needed someone
for babysitting duty,

and I thought of you.

You're catching tonight's
red eye to Beijing.

The detainee is Dr Matthew Nolan.

HANA: Why is he being set to China?

Vehicular manslaughter.
He just left her?

I am a British citizen
being held against my will

on British soil.

You're not on British soil.

You have to help me. I'm innocent.

Don't make this harder
than it has to be.

I'm sure you're aware
of Dr Matthew Nolan.

DELANEY: I've been briefed.

I believe he's responsible for
the death of a woman in Beijing.

I am being extradited to China
for a crime that I did not commit!

Show him you can write
something undeniable.

Exclusives don't exactly
fall from the sky.

No frickin' way.

Can you stay over tonight?

I've got a work thing
that might go late.

MAN: Each of you are requested
by the Chinese government

to return to Beijing
to give testimony.

NOLAN: I'm being framed.
You left a girl to die.

Are you ready to go?
Yeah.

I guess he was unlucky.
I hope so. For my sake.

He ate your meal.

MIKE, SOFTLY: How's your stress now?

It's better.

Hey, have you been following
the Nolan incident?

Of course we have.

And I'm here to tell you that
sending him back is a bad idea.

Hey, I'm not sending him anywhere.
I advised against it.

So why do you think Beijing
wants this Nolan guy so badly?

I mean, I get she was a daughter
of a party member but...

I don't think they do.

I think it's a test
to see if we'll play ball.

That could be the start
of a very slippery slope.

Mm. Tell me about it.

PHONE VIBRATES

Uh, it's my husband's nurse.
Can you...?

Yeah. I was gonna shower anyway.

SOFTLY: After that
let's order room service.

I'm starving.
PHONE VIBRATES

Or if you're feeling bold,
we could go downstairs

for an early dinner.

Delaney.
'Ma'am, it's Ruth.'

Sorry to disturb you at home.

There's been a death
on flight 357.

What did he say?

We're going to Beijing.

Did you tell him about the food?

I told him your concerns, yes.

Wait, Nolan, what are y...
Captain Chen?

Captain?

Please, let me speak.
Sorry, captain.

You need to divert the plane so that
we can analyse his blood profile.

I'm not interrupting this fight

for what you yourself deemed
a heart att*ck, Dr Nolan.

No, no, no. I only said
it looked like a heart att*ck.

I gave him that GTN spray
in plenty of time.

Well, obviously not.

I am good at my job, Captain.

And the last time I checked,

I was the only licenced medical
practitioner on board.

True.

But I do wonder if your reason
to land is entirely medical.

You think I'm lying?

I think you'd say anything
not to go to Beijing

and face charges.

Detective Li, please escort
your prisoner back to his seat.

Yes, Captain.

Come on, Nolan.

Let me do you a favour.
I am not lying.

But you are being paranoid.
Wait, what are you doing?

You just rushed
the captain of the plane.

That can't happen again.

Paranoid?

I've been accused of manslaughter,
denied my legal rights,

rubber-gloved and renditioned -
that's not paranoia.

All of that has happened.

So, excuse me for being concerned

when a man dies after eating
a meal that was meant for me.

Give me one good reason

why you think someone on this flight
wants to k*ll you.

It's the same reason
that they're trying to frame me.

Which is?

Just because I don't have an answer,
doesn't mean that it isn't true.

Have another drink.

You're stressing everybody out.

HE SIGHS

MANDARIN:

DOG WHINES

DIAL TONE

'London Echo, Damien Hill.'
Mr Hill, hi.

It's Jess Li, I'm not
sure if you remember me.

'How could I forget?

'The intern who tried to sell us
an unsubstantiated story.

And I'm sorry about that.

But for what it's worth,
that story was legit.

'Yeah, what do you want?'

Did you see the video
of the doctor at Heathrow

claiming he was being renditioned?

'Extradited, but yes.'

I want to write a piece
on him for you.

'Uh-huh. Do you now?

'Putting aside the fact that
you're not a reporter...'

Yet.

'..we didn't even know
if it was real or a stunt.'

It was real.

'And how do you know that?'

Cos the police officer
escorting him is my sister.

And trust me,
she doesn't do stunts.

'Will your sister
talk to you on the record?'

Of course.
'She didn't last time.'

We're cool now. Trust me.

'Last chance, Miss Li.
Don't blow it.'

I won't.

And thank you so much for...
CALL ENDS

Yes.

Detective Li?

Can you connect your phone
to the plane's Wi-Fi, please?

The cockpit was informed
you have a work call

trying to get through.

Yeah, er... Yeah, I...

You can use FaceTime Audio
or Whatsapp.

Thanks.

Hello?
Is this DC Hana Li?

Speaking, who's this?
'Ruth Banks.'

I'm assistant to Director
General Delaney at Thames House.

OK.
'I'm calling about Daniel Lomax.'

If you could, I'd like you
to run me through the events

that led to his death.

Why is MI5 interested
in a passenger's heart failure?

It's protocol
on an international flight.

Well, it's not protocol for me,

and I've been tricked
by the press before.

So, can you prove
you are who you say you are?

'Certainly. Would you like your
national insurance number

'or your current bank balance?'

I want to stretch my legs.

Two long-haul flights in one day
is too much for my back.

Hey.

Steven. Steven.

What's going on?
Why are you and Amber here?

I'm not supposed to talk to you.

Says who?
The government chap at Heathrow.

Why?

Said you might try
to influence our statement.

Statement about what?

Come on, Steve. You know me.

I didn't do anything.
So you didn't crash your car?

No. Well, yeah, I did.

I was alone.

That woman...

Shen Zhao, she was
not in the car with me.

They told us that...
No, I know.

That's what they're telling
everybody, but it simply isn't true.

Bloody hell, mate.

I know.
What are you gonna do?

Have they got you a lawyer?
No, they wouldn't even let me...

Can I borrow your phone?

What?
Please.

No, no, I'm begging you.
Just one call.

One call.

HANA: What's going on?

Nothing, Officer.

Sorry, where was I?

RUTH: 'Nolan had just administered
heart medication.'

Yes, but it was not effective.

'After the heart meds failed,

'were any other methods
used to try and save his life?'

Yes. A defibrillator.

'There were no other
contributing factors?'

Er, sorry.

What do you mean,
contributing factors?

'I mean, in your opinion,
it was a regular heart att*ck.'

Unless you know
something that I don't.

'So your opinion
is natural causes?

'Thank you, DC Li.
I have everything I need.'

BEEPS

PHONE VIBRATES

I thought you'd be well
on your way to China by now.

'I am. I'm calling from the plane.'

You can do that?
Over Wi-Fi. Yes.

Listen, I just got this weird
call from Thames House.

A British passenger on board
d*ed of heart failure.

That's too bad, but why would
MI5 be interested in that?

'Well, that's exactly
what I thought.'

She said it was protocol,
but something feels off.

So if I give you the deceased's
name and details,

can you track down
his medical records?

You do remember that
I'm your boss now, yeah?

And a great one you are, too.

Right. What am I looking for?

I want to know if he had a
pre-existing heart condition or not.

RUTH: Sorry to drag you back in,
ma'am.

Who is he?
Daniel Lomax, 35 years old.

Sports teacher
at North Cambridge Academy,

divorced, no dependents.

He was flying to Beijing
to participate

in the Great Wall Marathon.

He did it before in 2019.

Ran a good time.

Well, he won't this year.

God, I need a coffee.

What did the officer
escorting Nolan say?

That it was a heart att*ck.

Dr Nolan tried to save him.
The detainee?

Apparently, he's the only MD
on board.

There's a transcript on your desk.

Thanks, Ruth.

It's not strictly in our purview,
but let's monitor

this situation in as far
as it impacts the CAE deal.

Yes, ma'am.

Oh, and Tennant from OSET
is number one on your call list.

Bump him.

What's that?

I got my boss to pull up Lomax's
medical records to shut you up.

His heart was fine, wasn't it?

He was poisoned to look
like a heart att*ck.

WOMAN: Ning Hua.

CRYING: Ning Hua.

WOMAN SOBS

Ning Hua. Ning Hua.

Ning Hua.

THEY SPEAK MANDARIN

WOMAN: Ning Hua, Ning Hua...

WOMAN CRIES

WOMAN SPEAKS MANDARIN

MAN: Fasheng le shenme?
FLIGHT ATTENDANT: Shi ta de gou.

Ning Hua! Madam, did your dog
eat any of that man's food?

Can you ask if her dog
ate any of the food?

It did.

When I collected his tray.

TEARFULLY: Ning Hua. Ning Hua!

Ning Hua! Ning Hua!

I need to speak
to the captain again.

WOMAN CRIES,
SPEAKS MANDARIN

ALARM BEEPING

MANDARIN:

Ladies and gentlemen,

the captain has turned on
the fasten seat belts sign.

'Please return to your seats.'

FLIGHT ATTENDANT
SPEAKS MANDARIN

You too. Please.

Please sit down.

Please fasten your seat belt.

Have you seen Steven?

Haven't, no.

Jess.
Hey.

It's been a minute. Thank you.

How have you been?
Good.

I, er, I got an assignment
from the London Echo today.

Congratulations.
You too.

Is it weird being Hana's boss now?

It is a bit, yeah.

If it's Hana you're looking for,
she's not here.

I know. She's renditioning
a man to China.

So this is not a social call.

No. Sorry. My assignment
is to get the inside scoop

on Hana's prisoner.
Well, good luck with that.

She's still pissed off at you

for the last time you used her
for a story.

That was different.
Was it?

This isn't about her.
It's about him.

And that's why I thought
before I call her,

why didn't I swing by,
talk to you?

Get a bit of background
on the situation.

I can't talk to press, Jess.

Well, then, talk to me. You best
mate's baby sister.

Off the record.
I just need the basic W's...

Who, why, when.

Better not read my name anywhere.

You won't.

RUMBLING

BEEPING

Override failed.

You need to go down below
and check the circuits.

Ladies and gentlemen,
I apologise for the turbulence.

'I have turned on
the fasten seat belts sign...'

SHOUTING

WOMAN GRUNTS

ALARM BEEPING

ENGINE SETTLES

HE EXHALES DEEPLY

MUTTERING IN MANDARIN

There's been an accident.

AMBER: Is it Steven?

What's happened?
AMBER: No! Steven!

Somebody help him!

Steven.

I'm just gonna check him, OK?

Was it a circuit?

No.

Aileron control
did not short out, sir.

It was switched off.

Why would someone purposefully
destabilise the plane?

PHONE RINGING

MANDARIN:

Captain, there's been an accident.

One of the passengers fell down
the stairs in the turbulence.

I think he's... dead.

All right, keep everyone
in their seats. I'll be right there.

You have control.
I have control.

Captain, what's happened?
Who's had an accident?

SHE CRIES

I'm sorry.

What happened?

YUNXI: Captain, he must have
fallen in the turbulence.

Yeah, turbulence.

What is it?

Did anyone see or hear him fall?

No, Captain. The seat belt
light had just come on.

Passengers were busy
taking their seats.

Please help Dr Hurst
back to her seat.

No. I want to stay here.

Please, Dr Hurst.

Let us take care
of his body for you.

Let's move his body into
the flight attendants' quarters.

Whoa, no, you cannot
move his body.

I'm certainly not leaving
him here, Detective Li.

With all due respect, Captain...
- Stop!

...what about the evidence?
Yunxi, help me.

HANA SIGHS

Amber, what's happened?

Where's Steven?

Amber, talk to me.

You.

It's your fault.
What's my fault?

He was only on this f*cking
plane because of you.

HE GRUNTS

Can't assume it was
an accident, Captain.

Somebody could have used
the turbulence as cover.

You're beginning to sound
like your prisoner.

The second death in as many hours.

So I say it's time for you
to turn this plane around

or land at the nearest airport
so it can be investigated.

I'll radio Beijing
and take it under advisement.

This plane is a potential
crime scene, Captain,

and every hour we are in the air

degrades what little evidence
there is,

let alone jeopardizes
the life of my detainee

and every passenger on board.

Hysterics may work in London,
detective, but in China,

we have an order to things.

Now, we'll keep
these quarters locked...

BEEPING

To preserve your "evidence".

Passengers are going
to sleep soon.

I think we have
this under control.

Let's make sure we get
Dr Hurst anything she needs.

SHE EXHALES

That's all I can tell you.

Oh, please, just
a couple more questions.

PHONE VIBRATES

Is that from Hana?
Jess, you need to leave.

What is it? You'll have
to get the rest from Hana

or from the Foreign Office.

KNOCK ON DOOR

Problem with an intake, sir.

She'll only talk
to a ranking officer.

Great. Jess, see yourself out.

Yeah, of course. Go.

Oh, sh*t.

Nolan and Hurst.
They know each other.

MANDARIN:

That's correct.

But, Captain,
there was no turbulence.

Stop talking. The starboard Aileron
control was switched off.

MANDARIN:

You listen to me, Wu.

You report anything mechanical
as his cause of death,

the airline will see to it that
you're not even licenced

to drive the school buses
in Mongolia.

MANDARIN:

Ma'am, there's been
a second death on board 357.

Who?

Stephen Hurst. He's on the list.

How do you know?

DC Li's on the phone
and she's demanding to talk to you.

Is she?

Send me her police file
and put her through and, erm...

DC Li?
'Yes.'

I'm Director General
Madeline Delaney.

What the hell's
going on up there?

Why don't you tell me?
I beg your pardon?

What am I in the middle of?

This is meant to be
a simple passenger transfer.

Can you confirm there's been
a second death on board?

Yes. And can I speak frankly?

You weren't before?

Even if you forget the odds,

I don't think
they were accidental.

Explain why you think that.

The first death
wasn't a heart att*ck.

'Lomax unfortunately
got Nolan's vegan meal,

'and it was poisoned.'
Poisoned? How did you test for that?

The woman's dog in
the next seat did it for me.

And you think Nolan
was the intended target.

'It was his meal.'
And Hurst?

Made to look like he broke his
neck falling down the stairs.

But you don't believe that?

To know more,
I'd need Nolan to examine him.

So what's stopping you?

According to the captain,
I have no authority up here.

DC Li, I've got your vetting
file open in front of me,

and you don't strike me
as the kind of woman

who asks permission.

You need to get
Nolan off this plane.

Can you force
the captain's hand to land?

I'm K Branch, I deal
in domestic threats.

Why am I wasting
my time talking to you?

Because it doesn't mean with
the right political pressure

brought to bear
that it can't be done.

But one step at a time, Hana.
Can I call you Hana?

Sure.

Before you turn this
into a political hand grenade,

you need to be ironclad
on the facts.

I can't go into details.

Just know that Nolan's
extradition, whilst unconventional,

is important to some corners
of our government.

Who's doing this?

We don't know what this is yet,
Hana.

Look, I'm sending you
my direct number.

Trust me, and I will help you.

TEXT TONE

Why would you help me if
it's not your department?

Just keep me posted.

BEEPS

Dr Hurst? I'm DC Hana Li.

We haven't officially
been introduced.

Do you mind if I sit
for a moment?

Ask you some questions.

I'm so sorry for your loss.

Dr Nolan tells me
you were just in Beijing.

Can I ask why you and your
husband are on this flight?

Oh, we were asked to return.

And what were you expected
to do in China?

To give testimony.

You couldn't have
done that from London?

Yes, but it didn't
seem to be an option.

We were persuaded to help.

Anglo-Chinese relations
and cooperate.

It all happened so fast,

we didn't even take our bags
off the plane.

So you didn't even
get to leave the airport?

No.

Well, one of us did
but the rest of us wanted

to do the right thing.

There must have been quite a few
doctors at your gathering.

Erm, 30 maybe.

I'm just curious why only four
of you were asked to return.

Erm, I think we were the only
ones she talked to.

You mean Shen Zhao?

Yes, um, nervous thing.

She didn't stay long.

I think she was gonna
have dinner with Chris,

but she changed her mind.

Because she left with Nolan?

No.

Now you say it, that's...
that's odd.

He left alone.

OK, everyone.

We now have confirmation
of two deaths on board flight 357.

So where are we?

There's no connection in real
world or social media

between the two victims.

Their lives only intersect once
on this flight.

That's because Lomax
wasn't the intended target.

Matthew Nolan was.

So with that information
in play, what does that give us?

We know that both of these men
were asked to return to Beijing

over the death of this woman:
Shen Zhao... but why

if they're only going
to be k*lled in flight?

Which frankly is a bad plan
because if it is m*rder,

there's no escape.

So the k*ller is still on board.

Now, I want background
checks on everyone on that plane,

passengers and crew.

The police officer on board,
DC Hana Li,

is investigating these deaths
as a crime.

We, however, will continue
to look at every option.

No possibility is off the table.

Thanks.

I need your door code.

Where are we going?
I want you to examine his body.

Steven's? I'm not a pathologist.

Help me.
Oh, so now you want my help?

You want off this plane?
You know I do.

It's unlocked.
What's wrong?

Hey!

What are you doing?

Hands! Now!

Easy, Detective Li.

Who are you?
Officer Zhang.

I'm the Air Marshal.

Prove it. Slowly!

You all right there, Nolan?

Fine, who do I sue?
Him or the airline?

Why didn't you reveal
yourself sooner?

You and the crew seemed
to have it under control,

even this accident.

Can I put my hands down now?

What are you doing down here?

The flight attendant
saw Dr Hurst arguing

with a female colleague
just before his accident.

Arguing about what?

It seemed like a breakup.

His eyes are bloodshot.

He took a hard blow
to the back of the skull.

From the fall.

Yeah, vertebrae 3C
is badly out of alignment.

It's obviously the cause of death,
but...

But what?

When you found him at the foot
of the stairs, how was he lying?

On his back with his left leg
on the first step.

Why?

There's spinal fluid
in the ear canal.

Is that not also explained
by the fall?

No, it takes a pretty violent
twist to release spinal fluid.

Keep going.

Check his other wrist.

ZHANG: What is it?

Ligature marks.

Like his wrists were bound.

Let's not jump
to any conclusions.

We don't want to cause panic.

Those marks could have been
caused by any number of things.

I'm so sorry.

SHE LAUGHS

Are you sorry that he's dead
or that you were screwing him?

I...
That's right.

You didn't think I knew.

CLAMOURING
Ow!

PHONE RINGS

MANDARIN:

Dr Hurst and Dr Ward are fighting.

Keep an eye on him.

Where am I gonna go?

THEY SHOUT

Hey! Hey! Stop! Stop! Stop!

OK, take her back to her seat.
Sit down.

What is going on? That bitch
has been screwing my husband.

That's what's been going on.

OK.

Please see if you
can take care of her. Of course.

Please, Dr Hurst.

I just want to be with Steven.

Dr Ward, can I have a word?

SHE PANTS

Thank you.
What happened?

I tried to apologise.
I meant with Steven.

Right now, Dr Ward, you are
the last person to see him alive,

and you were witnessed
having an argument.

Yeah, but he...

Sorry, wait, erm...
What are you asking me?

You left together
and you returned alone,

so I'm asking what happened.

Well, he said it was over.

I didn't want that, but...
he was adamant.

That can't have been easy.

Well, we're not children,
Officer Li.

Then what happened?

Well, he thought it would
be suspicious,

us both returning at the same time.

So I left first.

Ask the flight attendant.
ZHANG: Songyun?

You don't honestly
think I hurt him?

You struck his wife.
She struck me.

Yeah, OK, Dr Ward.
Go back to your seat.

Check her story out with Songyun.

I need to get back to Nolan.
Come on.

Thanks for nothing, Wing Yee.
CREAKING

FOOTSTEPS

Did you find something?
No.

What's happening upstairs?

Seems like Dr Ward and your friend
here we're having an affair.

You guys sure
we're busy in Beijing.

Yeah, I know, but seriously,
that's not what this...

Who are you sending
these pictures to?

Doesn't matter.

So you trust me enough to have
me help you,

but not enough to tell me
what the hell is going on?

Something like that.

You still don't think
that I'm innocent, do you?

Oh, look, Nolan,
whatever is happening

is clearly bigger than you,
OK?

So just... sit tight
and let me do my job.

PHONE VIBRATES

Ma'am.
Hana, what am I looking at?

Ligature marks
on Stephen Hurst's wrists

would indicate
that he was restrained

before his neck was broken.

Oh, Christ,
that changes everything.

MANDARIN:

I'm gonna go back downstairs.
No, Doctor Hurst...

No, no, I want
to see my husband.

I'm just gonna do it.
I just want to see my husband.

What are you people
keeping him from me?

I'm fine. Just try to calm down.
I don't want to calm down.

I want to see him.

Let her see him.
It's the kind thing to do.

OK. Come through.

Please.

You OK?
Yeah, I'm fine.

It's sad. It's OK to be sad.

What?

That's just something
my dad would never have said.

China's changed.

PHONE VIBRATES

Hello?
'Sis, it's me.'

Jess?
'Don't hang up.'

What's wrong? Is it dad?
No, he's fine.

Then what do you want? I'm busy.

I know, my editor saw the video
of your prisoner in Heathrow

and I've been assigned to the story.

Assigned? What did you promise him?

Just that you'd answer
some questions.

I already spoke to Simon
and got the basics.

You spoke to Simon.
It's a big break for me.

Two deaths on a flight
and my sister at the centre of it.

I don't know how you'd know that.
No comment, Jess.

You owe me.
I don't know you anything.

You tried to kick-start your career
by throwing mine under the bus.

So? You denied the story
and threw mine under it instead.

I can't go over this again.
I'm working.

Hana. Hana. I'm sor...
BEEPS

Argh!

Tennant's here, ma'am.

Where?
Walked in five minutes ago.

He's setting up
in one of the offices.

What do you mean setting up?

'And now a recap
of today's top stories.

'Energy secretary John Pattinson
will sit down next week

'with a Chinese delegation

'to begin ironing out
a landmark deal

'that will allow China to build
nuclear power plants in the UK.

'It's a prospect
that many governments

'and opposition MPs will raise...'

John.

'..as serious national
security issues.'

Madeline, there you are.

I hope you don't mind me
taking over an office.

What are you doing here?

Well... what are you doing?
That's more the question.

Is it?

You're colouring way outside
your lines on this one, Madeline.

DC Li shouldn't even know you exist,

let alone have your direct line.

She's scared and needs
someone to trust.

If she chooses me to be
that person, then so be it.

Relax. Nobody's pissing
in your pool.

The PM just wants
some oversight on this

due to its delicate
political implications.

She does, or you do?

And having already
done your job...

You did it for five minutes, John,

whilst I took a leave of absence
to tend to my sick husband.


qualified to oversee

my running of operations.

And yet the home office
promoted me to do exactly that.

I've obviously retained
my full strap clearance.

I expect to be included
in all meetings

and copied on all documents.

Is that clear?

Of course.

SHE EXHALES

CLATTERING

HANA: Let's do that.
ZHANG: Yeah.

We've been talking.
Yeah, I noticed.

Whatever's going on
started before this flight

when you were in Beijing.

I'm not convinced, but Hana...
Hana? Hm.

I thought your name was DC.

Somehow, it all relates
to this woman, Shen Zhao.

So we need you to tell us everything
you remember about that night.