01x01 - Episode 1

[bunniefuu]

MUFFLED VOICES

SHE GASPS

SHE EXHALES

I don't know why you've decided
that needs doing right now.

It's done. Only took a minute.

SHE SCOFFS

Right, are you all done?
Cos we should get going.

There's still half
a bowlful there.

You'll be hungry before
mid-morning, won't you, darling?

You need a full stomach
for your first day.

What we both need
is to not be late.

One or two more mouthfuls
won't take a minute.

Oh, I'll tell the school that
when I'm signing the late slip.

Right. Let's get going.

I'll clean up all this when
I get back. Say hi to Liz.

Let's go.

All right.

Get in.

Are we ready? Yeah.

How are we feeling?
Excited for your first day?

Even just a little bit?

OK. That's fine.

That's fine. You don't
have to be excited.

Hey! Ooh!

GASPS Oh, sh*t.

GASPS sh*t. Sorry.

Oh, sh*t.

I'm so sorry. I'm so
sorry. I didn't see you.

Why don't we make a deal?

We've each gotta talk
to two new people today.

We just walk right up to
them, big smile, say hello.

Easy-peasy. You wanna practise?

Well, I do.

You know, I forget my
name when I'm nervous.

Wait, what is it? Joanna.

Oh, that's it.

Right, new school, new job.
We're gonna have a good day.

INDISTINCT CHATTER, BELL RINGS

OK. Are you sure you don't want
me to walk you to your classroom?

OK. Right.

In you go, and I'll
see you after school.

Nearly forgot. I know.

Right, give that to your
teacher. It's very important, OK?

Love you. Bye-bye. Keep
it safe. Have a good day.

Excuse me. What are the forms
all the kids are carrying?

School photo day. Today?

Yeah. Mm-hm.

Oh, I didn't know.

It was on the school
email in the group chat.

I'm not in... How
do I get in that?

Sorry. Who are you?

Oh, sorry. Erm, I-I'm Joanna.

I've just moved here from
London. Alfie's in Year 1.

Oh, same year as our lot. It's
a really great bunch of kids.

Oh, that's good to hear.
Yeah, he can be a bit shy.

Actually, I'd love
to organise...

Do you know, if you hurry, if
you just pop yourself in there,

into the office, they'll give
you the correct forms. Ah.

Thank you. OK.

INDISTINCT CHATTER

Alfie's going to be fine. Day
one is always the hardest.

Yeah. Thanks. He just had a bit of
trouble at his last school, so...

I have a note on his
reading and writing.

He's a little bit behind
where he should be, but...

Yeah. No, it's not that.
I mean, it sort of is.

It's just, he's
really quite bright.

He just gets nervous when it comes
to talking in front of the class.

He was picked on, well, bullied,
actually, at his last school.

I'll keep an eye out.

A fresh start can work
wonders sometimes.

Yeah. Thank you. That's
what we're hoping.

Gonna need the late form again.

You new? Yeah. Just moved here.

Ah. First day jitters, eh?

I honestly think I'm more
nervous than my son is.

He'll be fine. Thanks.

So will you.

OK. I'll go get change.

PHONES RINGING, LOW CHATTER

New girl. You settling in OK?

Yeah, just getting familiar
with the local homeowners.

Mm. That cesspool of complaints.

Who's Sally McGowan? Hm?

No idea.

Mind if I throw you in
the deep end this morning?

Yeah.

Owner wants this put
on the market, ASAP.

She'll meet you there
in half-an-hour.

Absolutely.

Hang on. Sally McGowan.

Not the one who butchered
that little boy?

So, Liam would like
everybody in fancy dress

for his Halloween party.

Party of the year coming
up. SERVER: One mocha.

Well, I'll be there in devil
horns, obviously. Naturally.

You'd be amazed the amount of likes
I get for the Halloween party pics.

Hello again. Oh.

It's Joanna from
the school gate.

Oh, yes. Hello.

How'd you get on with
the school photos?

Oh, yeah. All sorted.
Thanks for that.

Alfie'd have been a mess
if he'd been left out.

Can be a bit sensitive. Fatima
says you're from London.

Yeah, obviously not originally,

but my mum's been in
Flinstead for years.

Mm. We looked at
schools in London.

You know, it's either pay a
fortune or... knife crime.

Is that why you left?

The crime?

Er, no.

Anyway, Flinstead's
not that safe either.

What do you mean?

I heard something about
Sally McGowan living here.

Who? I know that name.

Of course you do - probably
one of your million followers.

Isn't she one of the
mums in the other class?

Sally McGowan.

Oh, my God.

"Evil - born or bred?"

Sally McGowan was
only ten years old

when she lured five-year-old
Robbie Harris away from his friends

and stabbed him three
times in the stomach.

Wasn't that in the '70s?

Oh, yeah. We even heard
the news back home.

She's gotta be
pretty old by now.

Probably harmless at this point.

Sorry. Who told you she
was living in Flinstead?

Oh, it's not certain...

There's no-one called
Sally McGowan living here.

No, of course not.
That's what they do.

When the really bad
ones are released,

they give them this
whole new identity,

put them up in some small town
with the neighbours none the wiser.

You should ask Mark.

Local police would
be the last to know.

That's the whole point.
No-one knows. Mm.

I'm Fatima, by the way.

Ketifa's mum. Ah!

Oh, Debbie. My Liam's
in Year 1 as well.

I'm Anita. Hi.

Oh, it's so nice
to meet you all.

We can't just have a child k*ller
running around on the loose.

Somebody has to do something.
Wasn't there a documentary about it?

Do you know, I think we
need to post about it,

really make sure
everyone's on the lookout.

I-I'm not even sure that it's...
Sit. Have a coffee with us.

Oh, erm...

Ah, bugger, I'm running late.

Next time. Yeah, course.

OK. Bye. Sounds good.

INDISTINCT CHATTER

Hello.

RECORDED SPEECH PLAYS
FROM ANOTHER ROOM

Hello. It's Joanna
from Pegton's.

Hello.

'Robbie had been
at school until 3pm

'before heading out
to play with friends

'down at the scruffy playground
less than 100 yards from his home.

'Kids of all ages would
regularly hang out there,

'which is why none of the children
the police spoke to thought anything

'of seeing ten-year-old
Sally McGowan whispering

'in little Robbie's ear.

'The words she used to lure
him away will never be known.

'But CCTV footage records
the route she took him on,

'leading him by the
hand along Cobden Road

'and down Duckworth Street.

'The footage grimly
capturing the final moments

'of five-year-old Robbie
Harris's young life.'

'Less than 40 minutes after
this footage of Sally...'

Excuse me?

What are you doing in my house?

Oh, sorry. The door
was open. I'm Joanna.

I met you at the school.

I've just started
working at Pegton's.

Stephen said you
were looking to sell.

It's a beautiful house.
Are you downsizing?

Helping my daughter with
her house down payment.

Oh, so, was that your
granddaughter this morning, then?

No, no, they live miles away.
New Zealand, of all places.

No, that's Hayley - I look after
her when her mum's working.

That wasn't you, was it?

Posting about Sally McGowan
on the homeowners' forum.

I saw the film on
your computer. What?

Don't know what
you're talking about.

That was just something
Debbie posted.

Right, I'd better
show you around.

VOICES ECHO: 'Not the one who
butchered that little boy?'

DEBBIE: "Evil - born or bred?"

'Who told you she was
living in Flinstead?

'Sally McGowan was
just ten years old...

'She's going to be
middle-aged by now.

'Stabbed him three times...

'When the really bad
ones are released,

'they give them a
whole new identity...'

How'd it go with Mrs Anderson?
Yeah, all good. Thanks.

It should be an easy
sell in this market,

so full steam ahead.

Stephen, how long's
Kay lived in Flinstead?

Mm... 30 years, give or take.

Never thought she'd wanna
leave, to be honest. Why?

Oh, no reason. It's just
the Sally McGowan thing.

You haven't told anyone
about that, have you?

Er, not really.

I mean, it was online, so I
guess anyone could've seen it.

Who knows if it's even true?

It doesn't have to be.

Something like this spreads,

it could sink house
prices around here.

Oh, hi.

Hi. Can I help you?

Oh, no, just
looking. It's lovely.

I think we're neighbours.

I moved in at the weekend
with Alfie, my six-year-old.

It was me that almost ran
you over this morning.

Sorry. Ah.

I think it's great you bike
everywhere in Flinstead.

I think we should all be biking
everywhere, all the time.

Ban cars, I say.

Do you want that?

Yep. Thanks.

You'll want your
spare keys, I imagine.

The woman who lived there
before you left them with me,

so you should have them.

Is that just for one c...? Yeah.

It's handmade. I made it.

Oh, right. Yeah. It's lovely.

It's brilliant.

Thanks.

DEBBIE: Oh, she's coming
over. Speak of the devil.

Hello. Hiya. Just talking
about your rumour.

My what, sorry?

Sally McGowan -
who she could be.

Oh, it's not really my...

My sister-in-law.
Definitely. THEY LAUGH

She would have to be late
'60s, early '70s by now.

My sister-in-law is still a cow.

So, she'd have to be really old,

not born in Flinstead,
no family here,

doesn't like talking
about her past.

Who fits that bill? Come on,
Mark must know something.

Oh, by the way, he's the
local police sergeant.

He fancies Fatima.
No, he doesn't.

He 100% does.

Honestly, I don't know why you
don't just make a go of it.

I'm sure it's someone
completely off the radar.

There's a dozen
women it could be.

We could make a list of
suspects. That is a great idea.

We can do it tonight
at book club.

You should come.

I'd love to, but I won't
have time to read the book.

Oh, don't worry. It's
mostly drinking and gossip.

And now unmasking a k*ller.

Personally, I wanna
talk about the book.

My place at seven? Mm-hm.

We take it in turns hosting.
I'll put you on the roster.

Oh, right. Great. Yeah. Thanks.

Sonia Martins - that's my bet.

She has that shop. What
is it? Stones and Crones.

Oh, I was just in there.

Oh, do you remember when I
returned the pack of tarot cards?

Oh... THEY LAUGH

Debbie went through this
really brief mystical phase.

Well, you know, I needed something
to get me through the woes of life.

And it turns out that
was wine. Yes. Thanks.

We tried to invite her
to book club, didn't we,

but refused, she didn't
want to come, did she?

Oh, hardly makes
her a child k*ller.

Anyway, she's not the type.

She's not gonna be the type,
is she? That's the point.

We have no idea what
we're looking for.

The initials are the same, though
- Sally McGowan, Sonia Martins.

It's a bit obvious. Mm.

Sonia's my neighbour.

Really? I wouldn't
worry about it.

Better you than me,
that's all I say.

CHILDREN SHOUT AND PLAY

How was your day, munchkin?
Were you in the class photo?

Well, what else
did you do? Stuff.

Oh, yeah, I did stuff when
I was in primary school.

Then we moved onto things.
Things were the best.

Why don't you tell Liz about
your first day at school?

And did you make any friends
today? I met a boy called Liam.

He's having a party.

SHE GASPS A party?

That's exciting.

I'm not invited. Hmm.
b*llet dodged, I'd say.

Well, it's only your first day.

I'm not the artist in the family,
but I think this one's not bad.

Mm. Best effort to date.

k*ll me with faint
praise, why don't you?

Why don't you go and see if
there's anything exciting happening

at the bird feeder?

There's a starling
who likes to visit.

OK.

Small compensation for the
lack of party invitations.

SHE SIGHS

Give it time.
He'll make friends.

I hope so. It's just
uprooting him so suddenly.

I still don't understand why he
couldn't wait until the new term.

I didn't know you and
Michael had split up.

Oh, we haven't...

We just haven't really had
chance to discuss it yet.

He's still away for
another few weeks.

Anyway, you were a
solitary child, as was I.

Runs in the family.
I wasn't solitary.

Anyway, I had Lucy.

Well, that hardly
counts. Who's Lucy?

Lucy Lion, her imaginary friend.

But you grew out of it,
and now look at you.

Hmm. Practically had to sell my
soul to get into the book club, Mum.

Ooh, sounds interesting,
a book club.

What are you reading?
Completely forgot to ask.

That Sally McGowan
thing took over.

What Sally McGowan thing?

She k*lled a little boy
when she was a child.

Now, apparently, she's
living in Flinstead.

"Apparently"? Who says?

Well, everyone's saying it. No-one
knows who she is, obviously.

Sounds like a load
of fuss over nothing.

PHONE VIBRATES

BANGING

SONIA THROUGH WALL:
Agh! INDISTINCT SHOUTING

Hi, Sonia. Is everything OK?

Why wouldn't it be?

Oh, I just heard noises.

I'm rearranging
some furniture. Oh.

Oh, actually, I was
wondering about my keys.

Better come in.

Have you lived here
long... in Flinstead?

It takes 20 years in this town
for them to call you a local.

So, by that measure,
I'm still new.

Wait here.

Oh, thank you. That's great.
Oh, it's an interesting tattoo.

I was young and stupid.
Does it mean anything?

It's a symbol.

Fertility.

Oh. Have you got kids?

Got to get on.

See yourself out.

BUSY CHATTER

Stephen, are you
in the book club?

God, no. Ladies only.

No, I live here.
Debbie's husband. Oh.

Oh, I didn't
realise. Come on in.

Thank you. Yeah.

They're just in the
living room. Wow.

I'm under strict instructions
to entertain the kids

and make myself scarce, so...

Thanks. KIDS SCREAMING

Liam, better be sharing
your toys, mister.

Hi. Oh, hi, Joanna. You made it.

Er, do you know everyone? Erm...

She doesn't know me.

Joanna isn't one of
your inmates, Rach.

You haven't got
to intimidate her.

Rachel is a real-life
prison guard,

and the attitude comes
with the job, apparently.

I can hear you, you know.

We love you just
the way you are.

Grumpy on the outside,
grumpy on the inside.

Anyway, my little one is Hayley,

but Kay takes her
to school most days.

Well, you've got
enough on your plate.

And my grandkids
are in Australia.

Oh, I thought you
said New Zealand.

Did I?

Oh, yeah, well...
They've just moved.

I keep forgetting. THEY LAUGH

That must be hard,
to be so far away.

Well, it is. Yes,
I really miss them.

And I'm just
terrified of flying.

Oh, well, you know Hayley thinks
of you as her second grandma.

Aw!

Oh, hello. Hi. Hi.

Erm, oh. Did Stephen
not take your coat?

Er, no. Oh, would
you hold this for me?

Sorry. Thank you.

Come on, let's pop you in here,
show you where the coats are kept.

Just through here.

There we go. Thanks.

It's like another
massive room. Come here.

Oh, yeah. Thanks.

Lovely. I hear Liam's
having a party soon.

Yeah. Next week.
Oh, you're calm.

I'm always rushed off my
feet a few days before.

Really? Mm.

I quite like having
a big old row

with party planners
and cake decorators.

Come on.

The going theory is, is
that you came to Flinstead

to escape a bad relationship.

Romance gone wrong.

Oh, erm...

Not exactly. No?

If I lived in London, you couldn't
crowbar me out of the place.

So, is Alfie's dad
joining you, then, or...?

Erm, I'm not... I'm not sure.

It's... Single mothers
doing it for themselves.

Cheers. THEY CHUCKLE

Speaking of which,

I was doing a deep dive earlier
online on Sally McGowan.

It can't be Sonia Martins.

She hasn't got that
birthmark on her face.

Oh, no, the first thing
they'd do is laser that off

so people wouldn't
recognise her.

You shouldn't believe
what people post online.

She could be anywhere.
That's the whole point.

We've got a right to
know IF she's still here.

Have you spoken to Sonia
today? Only briefly.

And did you ask her? What,
if she's Sally McGowan?

THEY LAUGH

No, I didn't. We need
more information.

Something that, you know,
actually proves that it's her.

Something that we can
identify her with.

She's got a tattoo...
on her hand, like there.

It's, erm...

It's like five dots, like...

She said it was for
fertility. Like that.

Sonia hasn't got kids.

Oh, no, that... that
is a prison tattoo.

Inmates get them. It
symbolises being inside.

You've got, like, the
four dots for the walls,

and the one in the
middle's for the prisoner.

What, so she's really dangerous,
then, we need to warn people.

Debbie, it was years ago.

She obviously hasn't
broken the law since.

That we know of. One m*rder's
bad enough, isn't it?

I'm not taking that risk.

This is our kids
we're talking about.

INDISTINCT MUTTERS AND WHISPERS

Anyway, refill, then we'll
get started on the book.

Yeah.

Ooh, I know which one
we should do next.

The Girl Who k*lled: The
Real Story Of Sally McGowan.

Don't think I could bare it.

You don't have to do
that. Oh, it's no bother.

Good night?

Yeah, my first ever book
club. I think I did all right.

As long as you're not too
hungover at work tomorrow.

Me? Never.

A woman that can handle
her drink. Love that.

Er, Stephen, about
Liam's party...

Oh, it's Debbie's domain.
I'm strictly support staff.

It's just that my little boy,
Alfie, he's had such a rough time,

and I know he'd really love...
Well, I'm here if you need anything.

Thank you. Yeah,
I appreciate that.

You're really special, Joanna.

Hope you know that.

Hiya. Hi.

Oh. Oh, did Liz not stay?

Mm-mm. She had to
get back to work.

Her exhibition's not far off,

and besides, she loathes
reality television,

and I'm addicted.

I'm surprised you two have
lasted as long as you have.

And why is that?

You're so different, that's
all. Do you not approve?

I'm joking. Course.
I'm happy for you.

I am sorry about
you and Michael.

I thought you'd be
throwing me a parade.

I just wish you'd tell
me what was going on.

Mm...

I know Alfie's been
bullied, but...

are you sure there
was nothing else?

Oh, is that not enough?

But it was so sudden.

I mean, I'm happy you're here.

Well, let's just leave
it at that, then.

SHE SIGHS

What are you looking at?

People think it could be
Sonia. What could be Sonia?

That she could be Sally McGowan.

Oh!

For goodness' sake.

You and your imagination.

I told you not to get
involved with those women.

Putting silly
ideas in your head.

Sonia's harmless.

Could you just stop all
this nonsense, please?

All right, all right.

And stirring up trouble's hardly
gonna help Alfie fit in, now, is it?

Thank you for tonight, Mum.
I'm gonna go and check on him.

VOICES ECHO: 'It can't
be Sonia Martins.

'She hasn't got that
birthmark on her face.'

'You shouldn't believe
what people post online.

'She could be anywhere.'

'That's the whole point.

'We've got a right to
know IF she's still here.'

CLATTERING, DOG BARKING

CLATTERING

TWIG SNAPS

BANGING, SCREAMS

SHE BREATHES SHAKILY

SHE SIGHS

What the f*ck, Michael?

You can't just turn up. You
scared me half to death.

I thought you were...

Don't you DARE come at me.

You take off and just disappear?

I told you what would happen.

He's my son, too.
I'm doing it for him.

No, you're using him to punish me.
Keep your voice down. He's asleep.

I thought you were away on the
rigs for another couple of weeks.

Yeah, well, I came back a bit
early. Well, you shouldn't have.

You can't just make these
decisions without me, Jo.

That's my boy, too.
You're never there.

I'm at work. What do
you expect me to do?

Yes, you're away
for months on end,

and you promised me you'd
stop when he was born.

It's me and Alfie on our
own most of the time.

And this is where
I want us to be.

I wanna see him. He's asleep.

All right, well, then, tomorrow.

He's got school. After school.

I'm here now.

Oh, thanks.

What's happened?

RACHEL: Debbie's got people
pretty riled up, I think.

Is it really her?

Everyone seems to
think so, I guess.

Oh, here we go.

Are you proud of yourselves?

You're busybodies and vultures.

You're the monsters,
the lot of you.

Sonia, what's going on?

It was you, wasn't it?
Spreading stories about me?

No.

Got what you wanted?
Bit of drama?

Something to get excited about?

Sonia, I didn't... You have
no idea what you've done.

Just take it easy,
Sonia. No idea.

Come on, Sonia. I'll
help you clear up.

Well, how was your day?

Everyone's going to
Liam's party except me.

Well, it's Grandparents'
Day next week,

so you can finally take Nana.

And Liz, too. And Liz, too.

Do you wanna go to
the park now? No.

I think you do.

Come on, then.

Ooh. It's cold, innit?

Give me your bag.

Can you see who that is?

Daddy! You turned
up! Yes, I did!

Agh!

Now, either you've
grown or I've shrunk.

I've grown. Are you
sure about that?

I've been feeling a
bit shorter lately.

Fancy a kick about?

Right, I'll be back
in an hour, OK?

Erm, I was thinking to take
him to the cafe for some food.

Yeah, OK.

I'll pick him up from
there, then. All right.

And, erm, tomorrow?

I don't know.

All right, well, we're gonna
have to figure this out, Joanna,

whatever's going on here.

Come on, then. We
need to make a goal.

Yeah. Yeah.

Nice touch. You're
getting slow, Dad.

Oi! And again.

COMPUTER PINGS MAN
OVER COMPUTER: 'Joanna.

'Look at you.' Hi.

'I'm nervous.'

Yeah, I'm not sure
this was a good idea.

'Me either, but, erm, still,
I'm glad you changed your mind.'

MICHAEL: Picture it - I'm out on
the rig in the middle of the night.

The wind was blowing
a gale. HE BLOWS

Rain slicing on the horizontal.

There's no helicopters
getting in or out in that.

And it was up to me and
the engineering team

to keep everyone safe.

Stop the rig from
falling into the sea.

Got pretty hairy
there for a moment.

Come on, then, Alfie,
say good night to Daddy.

Isn't he coming with us?

I've got a hotel in town, buddy.
I'll be seeing you tomorrow.

Thank you.

Glad you're safe. Thanks.

Right, so, who won, then?

I did. Yes.

'So, nothing else?' 'No.'

Nothing else
exciting? Mm... Yeah.

OK, so, apart from
football and snacks,

what else did you do with Daddy?

I got my photo taken
at the post office.

What do you mean?

I wasn't allowed to smile. I had
to stand up tall and straight.

Was it a passport photo?

What's that on our house?

MUFFLED VOICES

Where's Alfie? I
thought you knew.

His father took him.

He took Alfie to get his passport.
God knows what he's planning.

You want a fight, I'll give you
a fight. Can you hear yourself?

You're not taking him from me.

I'm worried about Joanna.

I think you should go now.

Don't tell me you believe the
rumour about Sally McGowan?

There's only one person that
would have reason to do this.

k*ller amongst us. Who
would have thought it?

Do you still think it's Sonia?

Something bad's about to happen.

Joanna Critchley
believes the culprit

must be one of her neighbours.

I never said that. Sally
McGowan k*lled a little boy

with a knife, just like Alfie.

Joanna, you have to stop this.