01x01 - The Cuckoo's Calling: Part 1

[bunniefuu]

You look lovely, Lula.

Lula, over here. Lula, just turn around!

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

Doors will open on the lefthand side.

Change for the Northern Line.

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.

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...

Argh! You mad bitch!

You need me, you just watch!

Walk away!

You'll come running back. You always do!

Charlotte!

Sit down.

- You OK?
- Yeah, sorry.

Sorry about that.

It's fine. Um...

Um...

How can I help you?

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.

Hello, can I help you?

Hi. Um, my name's John Bristow.

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

Do you have an appointment?

Er, no. Um...

We know each other.

- Well, take a seat, Mr Bristow.
- Thank you.

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?

Would you like anything to drink?

Er, yeah. White
coffee, no sugar, please.

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.

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 sh**t in
Morocco, she was excited about it,

she was happy.

Now, the inquest verdict said su1c1de...

but I think she was m*rder*d.

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 su1c1de?

Because the coroner
couldn't see past a girl

with a poor history of mental health.

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, "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.

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.

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.

Er, computer password's Hatherill123.
Two Ls.

Sorry about nearly k*lling 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 m*llitary 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 d*ed?

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.

Excuse me.

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

Derrick.

Derrick, sorry.

Certainly, Mr Bestigui.

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

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.

Careful!

I'm on a double yellow, love.

It's sad.

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

She lived in a world that's
really f*cking 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.

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.

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

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

- 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.

Private detective. That's
a bit Roger Rabbit.

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

His dad's Jonny Rokeby.

What?

- 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.

That'll be an Arsenal throw,
down this lefthand side.

Night.

- Matt!
- They...

destroy communication...

and intimacy.

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 m*rder*d,

- 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
bustup 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 castiron
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.

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?

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
m*rder 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.

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.

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 preexisting 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.

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.

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?

Funny thing to do when you're
about to k*ll yourself.

In the Army, I knew this lieutenant.

Life and soul of his own birthday party,

sh*t himself two hours later.

Locks as soon as it's shut.

Don't think he can hear me.

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?

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.

So this is Deeby Macc.

Right.

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

of video clips she made
with Lula and her mates.

We should call her Beulah!

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

- Ciara's just got a new dog.
- Look...

With stupid ears.

Expensive ears.

Rochelle!

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

Pause it there.

My Little Rock!

Where are those funeral
photos you showed me?

Um...

Is that Rochelle?

Yeah.

Think that could be Rochelle?

It's hard to say.

Could be.

Cormoran Strike's office?

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

Tansy Bestigui wants
to meet you tonight.

I'll go and iron a shirt.

Here's my Little Rock.

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

- 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.

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.

How is everything?

Delicious, thank you.

I would like a bottle
of PulignyMontrachet

- 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 overchilled burgundy.

Got it?

Enjoy the rest of your dinner.

You've reached the
offices of Cormoran Strike.

Please leave a message.

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

I can't cope.

I need you, Bluey.

Please.

Bollocks.

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

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...

- 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.

Why?

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

How do you get on with him?

Tony's a little, er...

Yeah...

Lula?

They sometimes clashed.

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

Yeah, II 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.

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.
- 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.

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.

You want something to eat?

Yeah, get me a burger and chips.

Burger and chips.

You want...?

Bastard, bastard leg.

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...

Leave me alone!

- Who were you talking to?
- This guy is bothering me. Please!

Hey, leave her alone!

- How'd it go?
- Er...

Badly.

How do you feel about identity theft?

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

It is...

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

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.
- 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.

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.

The lift is broken again.

Rochelle?

Rochelle!

Rochelle?

Come on, Rochelle...

Come on, Rochelle.

Rochelle!

You got a cause of death yet?

A drugdealer 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?

Get the f*ck 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.