01x04 - Mother Love

[bunniefuu]

Catching up on the news?

Someone left it lying on my desk.

Students.

- I've opened your mail.

- Anything of interest?

I don't read the contents.

Although I couldn't help noticing

an invitation to your mother's

upcoming exhibition.

If she drops by, please inform her

I am indisposed.

But what if she insists?

Give her your signature look.

What signature look?

MUSIC: 'Come Te Non C'e Nessuno'

by Rita Pavone

MUSIC VOLUME SWELLS

A word with you please, Jasper.

Your absence from the faculty

meeting was widely commented on.

Your colleagues are beginning to

grumble, and this hobby of yours

- I do not have hobbies.

- Playing detective!

- Nor do I play.

- It's distracting you.

Your students have begun

to complain, and your substitute.

It was an exercise in observation.

You asked them to stare at a fish,

Jasper, for 45 minutes.

QUIET BUBBLING

KNOCK AT DOOR

The detectives are here, Professor.

So you're discouraging me

from advising the police?

Oh, huh! Well, not at all, no.

We must all do what we can

to maintain the rule of law.

Oh, and will I see you later?

As you've made abundantly clear,

I should focus on my work.

Well, that's all sorted, then.

This is Charlie Turner, six years

old, missing since last night.

Charlie was apparently home alone

with her father, Max.

KNOCKING He's shy.

Right.

Charlie's mother was out at yoga.

There was an also an au pair,

Sally Bains, lives with the family

but had been given the evening off.

The front door was open

when she got home.

Sally finds the father unconscious,

badly beaten up.

Mr Turner?

And Lucy, the mother, arrives home

at exactly that moment.

- What happened?

- I don't know.

Max? Where's Charlie?

Charlie?!

Call the police!

All Max claims to remember

is the security light

going on in the garden.

He opens the door to investigate

and is jumped by a masked assailant.

The next thing, he's waking up

on the floor with his wife shrieking

- the house down.

- We're treating it as a kidnap.

And yet there's been no contact

from whoever took Charlie.

No note, no call, nothing.

Detective Chief Inspector Brand

has asked you to run the rule

over the family and their story,

see if they're telling the truth.

You've proved you're expert

at dealing with kidnappers.

You're here during the day,

even when Charlie's at school?

I don't have anywhere else to be.

Did you notice anything out of the

ordinary prior to the kidnapping?

DOOR CLOSES

- Morning.

- Morning.

This is Professor Tempest,

he's a consultant criminologist.

- You've still had no contact?

- No.

That's not necessarily

a bad thing though, right?

In a classic kidnapping

with extortion,

one would expect contact

within the first 24 hours.

So it is a bad sign?

It's much too early to say.

Parents are obsessed

with stranger danger,

and there are a few such cases

where a child is trafficked,

but most kidnappings of minors

involve a close family member.

- What are you implying?

- Absolutely nothing at all.

The logical explanation, of course,

is that your daughter witnessed

the as*ault and they've taken her

to ensure her silence.

SHE SOBS

WHISPERING: Come with me.

You're not supposed to be

winding them up. Just evaluate them.

No further evaluation is necessary,

for Mrs Turner at least.

- Just like that, no more questions?

- Indeed.

- And him?

- His injuries are genuine.

So we should believe him?

Not necessarily,

but if his story's true, we need

to adjust to a new hypothesis.

OK, what's that?

The fact he was badly hurt

suggests his assailants

were settling a score, not just

intending to neutralise him.

So if Charlie has been kidnapped,

that means they know who did it.

You know who the kidnappers are.

What?!

If we did, why would we keep it

from you?

Our daughter is missing.

Rest assured, Mrs Turner.

We'll be on it day and night, OK?

We'll do everything in our power

to find Charlie.

CHILD: Can you push me?

- Where's my mummy?

- She'll be here soon.

I want Mummy!

Oh, shut up

or I'll fetch the bogeyman,

who eats cry-babies

with ketchup for breakfast.

I need to ask you something.

Promise you won't get angry?

Yeah, I promise.

Is Kevin involved in this?

- Kevin? What you saying?

- Just tell me, is he involved?

Oh, come on! He couldn't.

There is no way. No way.

I'm sorry. I don't know what to do.

It's OK.

Let's not bring Kevin into this.

MUSIC: 'Una Lacrima Sul Viso'

by Bobby Solo

YELL ECHOES

KNOCK AT DOOR

Jasper, darling, are you there?

I can hear you hiding.

Jasper.

Dear heart, you haven't

replied to my invitation.

I'm unaware to which invitation

you're referring.

For my exhibition.

Don't tell me you didn't receive it.

Perhaps it got lost in the post.

No matter, always carry a spare.

Répondez vous, s'il vous plait.

How are you?

Busy. Very busy, Mother.

Too busy to attend an exhibition.

Surely not.

It would mean so much to me.

I will ask Miss Snares

to have another look at my schedule,

- but I cannot promise anything.

- Will you, dear?

I need to close the door now,

Mother.

Yes, of course. Very well.

Don't forget to dress up.

Thanks.

You know I love Charlie, don't you?

Of course I do.

You think I'm too hard on her.

- I've got no patience.

- No, I don't.

- CLATTERING

- Sometimes

Is there somewhere you could stay

for a few days?

Er I could ask one of my friends.

Would you mind?

We could do with some space.

You'll still get paid.

Your turn.

I want to watch telly.

I don't have a telly.

Hey!

I'm letting you win,

you little brat. Just roll the dice.

I don't like this game.

- Well, have a bloody nap, then!

- I'm not tired!

Here's some juice. Drink it.

DISTANT SIREN

FOOTSTEPS APPROACH

Morning.

We pulled an all-nighter.

And?

Not much to show for it.

I'm not convinced the professor's

right about this one.

He suggested the Turners

may know who took their daughter.

So he believes the kidnap story?

I think he believes Mrs Turner,

not so sure about Mr.

Max Turner's name popped up

in an investigation into VAT fraud.

And this other guy, Kevin Charters.

There was an accusation

they were importing mobile phones

and dodging the VAT.

- The case was dismissed.

- Seems pretty small-fry.

There might be more to it,

we could take a look.

Go on, then, get on with it.

And don't go accusing anyone

of anything unless we're sure.

Roger that.

Excuse me,

where can I find Kevin Charters?

- Thank you.

- Thank you.

- Kidnapped?

- You hadn't heard?

I had no idea. When did it happen?

How would you describe

your relationship with Max Turner?

- We do business together.

- What sort?

We import. Mobiles, tablets,

consoles, that sort of thing.

Has he had any trouble

with anyone recently?

No idea. We're not that close.

But you were jointly investigated

for VAT fraud.

- That was a misunderstanding.

- A misunderstanding?

Max bought a load of mobiles

- from an intermediary

- PHONE RINGS

Turned out to be

a bit of a dodgy character.

We were completely cleared.

Your case was dismissed, it's not

the same as being exonerated.

We reported ourselves

to the tax office,

that's not something you do

if you're guilty, is it?

Dan.

You're welcome.

- We'll be there as quickly as we can.

- What's the hurry?

Someone's made contact

with the family.

We'll re-mortgage the house.

- It'll take too long.

- Then we'll take out a loan.

Jesus, Max, just tell the truth.

You don't think Charlie's worth it.

I'm sorry.

I'm so sorry.

DOOR BELL RINGS

I'll go.

Listen, it's no good

us blaming each other, OK?

This was in the roadside mailbox.

- That's ballsy.

- Yeah, or stupid.

Either way,

it suggests they're local.

And it also suggests

the Turners are telling the truth.

There was a lock of hair with it,

the mum swears it's Charlie's.

There's only one way to find out.

We need to establish beyond doubt

that this is Charlie's hair.

Mrs Turner, would you provide

a sample for a DNA test?

Well, that's not going to work.

Charlie's adopted.

We can take a sample from something

she's kept in close proximity.

A comfort blanket or a cuddly toy?

I'll get the monkey.

- You need another coffee?

- I need an early night.

- Well, that's not gonna happen.

- Mmm.

You might want to bring

your toothbrush.

EXHALES

You might not want

to stand so close.

It's gone.

I can't find Mops.

Don't worry, Mrs Turner,

a toothbrush will do just as well.

I found myself wondering

whether to encourage my mother

in making an exhibition of herself.

FISH: It might prove you're human.

Being human is overrated.

It is messier than being a fish.

I think my water may need changing.

You know I do everything in here.

KNOCK AT DOOR,

DOOR OPENS

DS Donckers to see you.

And the other one.

A ransom demand,

but no further instructions.

They sent a lock of hair that

matches Charlie's DNA, but get this.

Charlie is adopted.

How did you know?

It is not impossible for parents

with brown eyes to produce

a child with blue,

but it is statistically unlikely.

I therefore surmised that genetics

might be the source of the tension

that so clearly exists

between the Turners.

BRIGHT CLASSICAL MUSIC

So, what now?

We'll come back another time.

CLATTER Ah! Damn it.

Don't worry, I've got it.

- Don't give me that look.

- I'm saying nothing.

A-six-year old child is missing

and we're just flailing about.

Relax.

- It's gonna be all right.

- Stop it!

- Sorry, I just

- Stop being so nice to me, Dan.

All the flipping time.

You're tired,

you need to get some sleep.

WHISPERING: Wait, wait.

I can't do this.

- Not here.

- You want to go back to mine?

Just it doesn't feel right.

Not when that little girl

is missing,

her parents must be worried sick.

I'm sorry, Dan.

Let's call it a rain check.

Yeah, I'm cool with that.

If you need me,

I'll be at my desk

making out with what's left

of this meat feast.

Max.

It was in the mailbox.

Please, Max.

I want our daughter back.

Dan.

- Dan.

- What?

Sally Bains is dead.

- Who?

- Sally Bains, Charlie's au pair.

- Oh, what happened?

- She overdosed.

Two years ago.

The Turners' au pair

is not who she claims to be.

MUSIC: '500 Miles'

by Peter, Paul and Mary

If you missed the train I'm on ♪

You will know that I am gone ♪

You can hear the whistle blow ♪

A hundred miles ♪

A hundred miles, a hundred miles ♪

You can hear the whistle blow ♪

A hundred miles ♪

Lord, I'm one ♪

Lord, I'm two ♪

Lord, I'm three ♪

♪

♪Lord, I'm four ♪

Lord, I'm 500 miles ♪

A hundred miles. ♪

Nikki.

Nikki Trent,

that's your real name.

Come on, Nikki, you haven't

exactly covered your tracks.

You're still friends

with Sally on Facebook.

I'm not hurting anyone.

Identity theft is a crime.

I'm sure you can explain.

Sally was a few years above me

at school.

We used to go drinking together.

She gave me her old driving licence

so I could use it as ID.

Then she let me stay at her place

after my mum kicked me out.

Why did your mum do that?

Teenage sh*t.

Drugs and stuff.

I ended up living rough

and burgled a petrol station.

I was still inside

when Sally overdosed.

That must have been tough.

After I got out,

I was just desperate for a job,

- but no-one would really look at me.

- I'm not surprised.

How on earth did you get employed

as an au pair?

I sent off a replacement

for Sally's old ID.

It was easy enough

to get a DBS check.

Hmm.

Hmmm.

It's a bit too coincidental.

The Turners taking on a new au pair

a matter of weeks

before Charlie is kidnapped.

I hadn't thought of it like that.

An au pair who has the evening off

on the night in question.

Do you know the kidnappers, Nikki?

This is an inside job,

you moved in under a false name

to keep them informed.

That's not true.

Did they promise you a cut?

- A cut of what?

- The ransom, Nikki.

What ransom?

- There isn't a ransom, is there?

- Don't play the innocent.

Do you have something to tell us,

Nikki?

No, it's

none of my business, really.

What isn't?

What isn't your business?

Charlie, she's a

She's a sweetheart,

but she can be a bit demanding.

Demanding?

She cries a lot.

She's She has nightmares,

still wets the bed sometimes.

And Mr Turner,

he can't really deal with that.

Does he lose his temper?

I had a weekend off one time and

when I came back, Max said that

Charlie had fallen down the stairs.

And you didn't believe him?

Nikki Trent served 18 months

for burglary.

She may be involved,

but it can only be indirectly.

She was at the cinema,

we have CCTV of her.

She was spotted at the petrol

just after 9pm,

we responded to Mrs Turner's

call at

9:34pm.

It's not enough time

to kidnap Charlie.

There's no way

she beat up Max Turner.

Her statement checks out.

Charlie was taken to A&E

ten days ago,

significant bruising

to her arms and lower back,

referred to social services,

but no follow-up as yet.

So our original thoughts

could still be right.

- Max was home alone with Charlie.

- He lost control.

He could have written

the ransom note himself.

Let's question him again.

You're very quiet there, Jasper.

Uncharacteristically so.

I have a theory.

Anything you care to share with us?

No.

Not until I have a further

piece of evidence to corroborate it.

Fair enough.

Hours.

- I know.

- We've done everything they asked.

Maybe we should have told the police

that we were planning to pay.

Mr Turner.

We have a few more questions.

- Has something happened to Charlie?

- It's not about the kidnap.

It's OK.

I'll be right back.

Can you explain this?

I'm not having this.

Charlie fell down the stairs, she

was in her socks and she slipped,

- you know how kids are.

- She doesn't, actually.

- Neither of us do.

- Why don't you enlighten us?

I would never hurt my daughter.

Then you should really think about

telling us everything you know.

Kevin sent the guy who beat me up.

Why would he do that?

He gave me 400 grand to buy laptops

and stuff in Newcastle.

I was exhausted

so I checked into a hotel.

Someone broke into the van

and took the lot.

- And Kevin believes you staged it.

- What would you think?

So he kidnapped Charlie to try

and pressure you to pay him back?

But I paid it.

You what?

I paid.

100,000, cash, as instructed.

Charlie still hasn't been returned.

VIOLIN CONCERTO PLAYS

VOLUME FADES

Sir, your meter's still running.

Would you restore the volume,

please.

VOLUME SWELLS

If Kevin thinks Max stole 400 grand

off him, why only demand 100?

- Maybe it's the down-payment.

- It just doesn't add up.

He's clearly not telling us

everything to knows.

Pay him another visit

and search his warehouse.

What do you think?

Kevin Charters is clearly not

involved in the kidnapping.

Does anyone care what I think?

I think we owe Max Turner

an apology.

An apology? What for?

Implying he abused his daughter.

He must be going through hell.

Oh, come on. Don't let your emotions

colour your judgement.

- That's enough.

- Lisa, stop.

What? It's true. We can't keep

tiptoeing on eggshells

- just because

- Lisa, stop it.

That's enough!

I'm not gonna take lectures

on professionalism from you.

- Not when the two of you

- DS Donckers is right.

Detective Inspector Rabbit

is traumatised.

Alcohol is the anaesthesia by which

we endure the operation of life.

He's drinking excessively

and it's affecting his judgement.

She is the only one brave enough

to acknowledge it

because you are too loyal,

and you are too kind.

Hey, hey, hey, hey!

- CONCERTO ENDS

- Thank you so much. Keep the change.

In Auschwitz, some mothers

threw themselves under the trains

when their child

was taken from them.

I've tried everything,

it just won't come out.

I understand Charlie isn't

the only one who's gone missing.

Mops.

That's what she calls her monkey.

Detective, I've found something.

- We found this in your warehouse.

- "Hey, Mister,

"what was I doing between

your phones and your tablets?"

I swear to God, this is the

first time I've laid eyes on that.

Do you believe that?

I've got nothing to do

with the kidnapping, all right?

You will not get away with this,

Kevin.

Look.

I sent my guy around, OK?

But I didn't kidnap his little girl.

Did you ask for money?

What are you doing here?

No. Did you ask them for money, Mum?

- Well, answer me.

- Of course I did.

- Mum, this wasn't about bloody money.

- We'll need it to start over, babe.

Where is she?

Hey, Charlie?

Charlie?

Hey.

What is wrong with her?

Have you drugged her?

- No.

- What have you given her?

Are you mad?

Yeah, well, you of all people

should know I'm not good with kids.

I'm just here to help you out.

You called me, remember.

I didn't ask to get involved.

Oh, come on, love. Mr Turner sent

a text, the money's all there,

it's just waiting for us

to pick it up.

Professor?

- Where are you?

- 'On the roof.'

- Oh, yeah, your special place.

- 'It helps me think.'

Keeps me calm.

'Could probably do with spending

some time up there myself.'

You're most welcome to, and

Detective Inspector Rabbit as well,

in my absence, of course.

'He may have some thinking time

on his hands.'

DCI Brown placed him on sick leave,

told him to sort himself out.

'An act of kindness, I believe.'

Mm.

'We're about to charge

Kevin Charters.'

I told you, Kevin Charters is not

involved in Charlie's kidnap.

'But we found Charlie's toy

in his warehouse.'

And the ransom money?

It was still there,

we returned it to the Turners.

'Well, you need to put it back.'

- Why on earth would we do that?

- 'DS Donckers'

are you familiar with the theory

of broken windows?

Broken windows.

In 1969, Philip Zimbardo

conducted an experiment.

He parked two cars without

licence plates and observed them.

One in The Bronx, New York,

the other in Palo Alto, California.

The car in The Bronx

was demolished within ten minutes.

The one in California

remained untouched,

until Zimbardo broke a window.

Thereafter, it, too,

was robbed and vandalised.

I am expecting one of you

to venture an explanation.

The broken window incited

more violence and vandalism.

Correct, but incomplete.

Suppose an au pair is hired by

a family with an adopted daughter.

Sweet child, but with

her own specific emotional needs.

The adoptive father is not patient

with cry-babies and bed-wetters,

he shouts at the girl,

possibly even hits her.

At least,

that's what the au pair thinks.

Then one night, she comes back to

find the father has been attacked,

beaten unconscious.

Mr Turner?

She wants to help, of course.

Mr Turner?

At least, at first.

But then an idea occurs to her.

This This is her broken window.

A crime has been committed

and it incites a second one.

After all, everyone will think

that whoever beat up the father

also took the daughter.

- What happened?

- I don't know.

Max. Where's Charlie? Charlie?!

- One crime gives cover to another.

- Police, please.

But a broken window always

lets the light in, in the end.

It's going to be OK, yeah?

It'll be fine.

- Nikki, don't panic.

- SIREN

- Nikki, run!

- OK, don't do anything stupid.

- Don't do anything stupid.

- Tell them to back off,

- tell them to back off.

- No-one's armed, OK? Calm down.

- I will hurt her, I will hurt her.

- You're not gonna hurt her,

- it's not worth it.

- I will hurt her, back off!

Just calm down,

we just want Charlie, that's it.

- Mum, let her go!

- We need you to let go of Charlie,

- OK? That's all.

- Tell them all to back off.

- We're not gonna hurt you.

- I need to go.

You're not going anywhere.

Put the knife down.

You're not going anywhere.

Don't do anything stupid.

We need you to let go of Charlie,

OK?

Mum, let her go.

Let go of Charlie.

That's it. Put the knife down.

Don't be stupid. OK?

It's not worth it. It's over.

Come on. That's it, drop the knife.

That's it.

Well done. Well done.

SNIFFLING

That night when I saw Mr Turner,

things just got out of hand.

Mrs Turner got back much earlier

than I was expecting.

I didn't know what to do.

I called my mum.

That was her idea, I swear.

And to plant Mops at the warehouse,

I didn't know anything about it.

Excuse me?

Where can I find Kevin Charters?

Why didn't she just go

to the police?

If she thought

the child was being abused.

Because she's something more

than just an innocent au pair.

She's also the biological mother.

I never saw her as a baby.

I never should have given her away.

I didn't I didn't plan any of it.

I just

I really just wanted to be near her.

Look, I know you would

never hurt Charlie.

I don't know what possessed me,

I'm so sorry.

Come on.

Come back now, baby.

It's OK.

BUSY CHATTER

Five Piccadilly. Four Piccadilly.

Three Piccadilly. Two Piccadilly.

And off he goes.

So, Miss Snares,

what's the final tally?

An artist cannot live

on praise and paint fumes alone.

Canine in Retrospect

It looked simply splendid

in my office.

Shall I continue?

Are there many more?

- Six.

- Really?

Do shut up.

Sketch of Despair Number 1,

white yellow.

Poetry of Childhood Transformed.

Manifesto of Birth. Adolescence

It's a triumph, Adelaide.

What a pity Jasper wasn't here.

He was here in spirit.

Honour thy mother

for all her hands have done,

and may her works

bring her great praise.

Ching?

ECHOING BARKS

HE JOINS IN BARKING

FADING GROWL

ECHOING WHIMPERS

MUSIC: 'Una Lacrima Sul Viso'

by Bobby Solo