From Darkness Page #3

We see the tiniest look from CLAIRE to NORRIE (firstly they

are causing bother to her. Secondly, it’s Norrie’s birthday -

not that we’d know it, he doesn’t like to make a fuss of

these things).

NORRIE:

It’s either that or swim. There’s

no ferry till the morning. [BEAT]

Megan.

He calls MEGAN to heel who is now also staring on. She

heads out with her DAD.

BEAT. CLAIRE looks at JOHN - it’s almost the first proper

look she’s given him - now NORRIE’s out of the room and

it’s full of shock and confrontation. JOHN meanwhile has

barely taken his eyes off CLAIRE since she walked in.

There’s confrontation in his eyes too but it’s playful

bravado, a game, and there’s tenderness too that is not

being returned by CLAIRE.

JOHN:

You sure you don’t want to dry

off? You seem a bit cold.

She looks at him... He smiles. Then cuts the bravado for a

minute and speaking more quietly.

JOHN (CONT’D)

(quieter/honest/vulnerable

/intimate)

Seriously, it’s good to see

[you]...

CLAIRE:

(CUTTING IN)

Just sit.

She glances towards the direction NORRIE’s gone then looks

back at JOHN who settles down on the sofa. CLAIRE heads

upstairs. JOHN watches her go then turns back to BOYCE.

JOHN:

Told you they’d make us feel

welcome.

But BOYCE is looking mighty uncomfortable as the OLD SHEEP

DOG has settled right by him wagging his tail amicably.

BOYCE:

I hate dogs.

JOHN looks at him. He whistles to the dog as it waddles

over. He pats it.

FROM DARKNESS EPISODE ONE

JOHN:

You didn’t think about that

before joining the police.

JOHN looks at the photos on the bookshelves of CLAIRE &

NORRIE... CLAIRE, MEGAN & NORRIE.

17 SCENE CUT. 17

18 INT. COTTAGE, BATHROOM. WESTERN ISLES - DAY 2 (18:04) 18

CLAIRE walks into the bathroom, shuts the door tight and

locks it. She turns on the shower, letting it run so no one

can hear her, then stands by the door for a moment, nervously

listening. Is she safe here? Can she think...? As she hovers

there, she catches sight of herself in the over sink mirror

and for a second runs a hand through her hair, letting a hand

trail over her cheek and touch her lip. It’s been so long

since she saw JOHN. How did she look for him? It’s the

tiniest moment of weakness and vanity that is almost

instantly overwhelmed by feelings of self disgust and hatred.

She pulls open the medicine cabinet and rummages to find a

small hidden toilet bag from the back. She pulls out a packet

of pills and mechanically pops one. We see her in the vanity

mirror as she does, only now the image is much more diffuse,

getting steadily blurrier as the steam from the shower

builds. She reaches for the cord on her wet-suit and unzips.

19 INT. LOCAL BAR. WESTERN ISLES - NIGHT 2 (19:52) 19

A noisy ISLAND BAR: tonight is band night. As the band set up

in the corner of the room, locals, all ages, crowd around the

bar chatting and ordering drinks. In another corner the

island’s tiny population of teenagers (IE.MEGAN and BEN

MADDOCK), glower, slap each other. In their midst, BOYCE,

struggles to get served.

BOYCE:

Hello? Actually, I think... it was

[me next]... Sorry.

No, it’s not happening for a while. A little further down the

bar, CLAIRE and NORRIE chat with friends GORDON and ROB. (Out

socially like this, CLAIRE and NORRIE seem to have an

effortless closeness, completely aware of each other in other

people’s company; although there’s just a touch more

protectiveness than normal tonight from Norrie - thanks to

John’s presence). GORDON nods over to BOYCE and JOHN who’s

sat alone at a plastic topped table in the distance behind

him.

GORDON:

Who are they?

NORRIE:

Ask Claire. VIPs.

FROM DARKNESS EPISODE ONE

CLAIRE:

Life Insurance Salesmen. Didn’t you

know, I’m only in this for the

money.

As she speaks she slips her arm round NORRIE’s waist and

gives him a squeeze then as etiquette requires, picks up her

Diet Coke and goes and join JOHN. His presence definitely

feeling like an intrusion for CLAIRE, changing how she can

relax and behave for the entire evening.

NB:
CLAIRE does not drink any alcohol in this scene.

CLAIRE puts her drink down on JOHN’s table and sits. Over at

the bar, NORRIE and his friends are still chatting and

laughing.

JOHN:

“Norrie”.

He rolls the strange name around his mouth. CLAIRE just

stares at him.

JOHN:

Seems like a nice enough boy...

sorry.

CLAIRE:

He is.

CLAIRE eyes JOHN then glances over at Norrie, smiling,

enjoying him having a laugh with his mates.

JOHN:

Funny, this... it’s just not what

I imagined... not that I spend a

lot of time... imagining...

BEAT.

JOHN (CONT’D)

The crime rate can’t be up to

much for one? What are we talking

-5 miles long, one across. 50,

60 residents max.

CLAIRE:

43.

JOHN:

Oh yeah. They keep leaving.

[BEAT] Didn’t I read somewhere

that a policeman visits from the

mainland just twice a year? Not

that it amounts to much: the odd

bar brawl, the mysterious case of

the missing sheep...

FROM DARKNESS EPISODE ONE

CLAIRE:

Hilarious. I’d forgotten you were

such a comedian. [BEAT] It suits

me here. I’m happy.

BEAT. He looks at her.

CLAIRE (CONT’D)

Very.

BEAT.

CLAIRE (CONT’D)

We’ve got the cottage, the small

holding. [BEAT] We’ve just

started a new business... Small

Island Biscuits. There’s interest

from the supermarkets.

JOHN:

Biscuits?

She stares at him defiantly, fully aware of the kind of

response this is likely to illicit.

JOHN (CONT’D)

Explains all that training.

He smiles. She looks away frustrated, incredulous that he

can try and crack jokes.

JOHN (CONT’D)

Oh, come on... Seriously..?

BEAT.

JOHN (CONT’D)

Claire...? What the f*** are you

doing in a place like this?

CLAIRE:

What the f*** are you?!...

Seriously?

CLAIRE stares at him, shocked by his gall and her sudden

anger and engagement. She tries to disengage again, looking

away, trying to calm herself. She does not want to be drawn

back into this.

JOHN:

So, that’s allowed then, is it...

swearing... small island

community.

He smiles at her. There’s a playful intimacy coming off

him, he searches her glances trying to get it reciprocated

but she’s doing everything to avoid giving into him.

FROM DARKNESS EPISODE ONE

So, as in the back ground the band start properly playing,

he settles down to business instead.

JOHN (CONT’D)

I’m on a case. You’ll have heard

about it on TV.

CLAIRE:

No TV.

JOHN:

No phone either? I left you

messages.

She glances at him. She obviously heard those messages but

deleted them. It’s our first glimpse of CLAIRE lying,

hiding. He leans in.

JOHN (CONT’D)

Two bodies... girls... women...

Found in what was the red-light

district.

CLAIRE:

Why are you telling me this?

JOHN:

Because I want you to come back

and work with me.

Her eyes flick up to his astonished.

CLAIRE:

(overlapping/cutting in)

Are you mad? You must be... Cos

that’s... ridiculous. It’s

sixteen years since I left the

police!

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