From Darkness Page #5

He looks into her eyes, smiling, searching.

CLAIRE:

There’s no point really. I’m sorry

you wasted your time coming here.

She turns and heads towards the cottage.

JOHN:

This is your case.

CLAIRE:

You don’t know that.

JOHN:

The one you were working on when

you left the police. The

disappearance of prostitutes. At

the time, no one took you

seriously. Now we’re all ears.

Still she heads off.

JOHN (CONT’D)

You are the only one who talked

to these girls, the only one who

knew what was going on, on the

ground at the time these crimes

were committed. We need you...

For God’s sake... Claire. Stop

walking away from me.

He touches/grabs her shoulder as he speaks. The physical

contact and what he just said are like electric shocks to

CLAIRE.

CLAIRE:

How could you even contemplate,

coming here, doing this...

JOHN:

You know we make a bloody good

team.

CLAIRE looks at him. Has he has no shame? It’s enough for

CLAIRE to draw a line under everything. She heads inside.

JOHN calling after her.

FROM DARKNESS EPISODE ONE

JOHN (CONT’D)

You’re hiding! It’s obvious. You

don’t belong somewhere like this...

Look at you.

CLAIRE:

Look at you! Fat, embittered, heavy

drinking, middle aged, male,

detective. Do you know how much of

a clich. that is?

BEAT. ON JOHN he says nothing for a second - which really

makes CLAIRE even in the height of her temper feel a bit

sh*t.

JOHN:

(Gently)

So save me.

But as he does his gentle earnest thing again it’s enough to

make CLAIRE tear back towards the cottage, passing NORRIE,

who’s just headed out their way.

NORRIE:

Morning.

CLAIRE marches on. She turns.

NORRIE (CONT’D)

Everything okay?

CLAIRE:

Our guests are just leaving.

NORRIE:

(But quite pleased)

So soon?

JOHN:

Unfortunately, and I’m afraid she’s

coming.

CLAIRE just stands and looks at him. What the hell is he

talking about? JOHN looks at her.

JOHN (CONT’D)

You’re under arrest.

NORRIE:

What? What for?

CLAIRE:

Just ignore him.

JOHN:

Brake lights.

FROM DARKNESS EPISODE ONE

CLAIRE:

I just told you I never drive the

bloody thing.

JOHN:

Parked on a public highway.

CLAIRE:

It’s private actually.

And with that she goes to walk away. JOHN glances at NORRIE

who’s still stood there staring at him untrusting, JOHN

glances around him - looking for any possible grounds for

arrest.

JOHN:

Operating on livestock whilst

intoxicated. Placing the Queen’s

head upside down on an envelope...

That’s high treason.

CLAIRE stops turns and stares at him - ‘for f***’s sake’.

NORRIE:

Is he being funny?

CLAIRE:

(To NORRIE)

He thinks he is.

JOHN:

Fine, have it your way.

And with that JOHN marches forward, grabs CLAIRE’s arm.

CLAIRE:

What the... get off me.

NORRIE:

Let go of her.

CLAIRE:

Norrie. Really. Just... Don’t even

bother engaging. He’s being an

[idiot]... Oww!

But NORRIE is engaging and JOHN can see it and intends to

use it. He starts to drag CLAIRE off towards his car...

tightening his grip on her and eyeing NORRIE.

NORRIE:

Stop it. You’re hurting her.

CLAIRE can see what’s coming.

FROM DARKNESS EPISODE ONE

CLAIRE:

Norrie.

JOHN (CONT’D)

Not the type to listen to your

elders?

And with that NORRIE grabs JOHN making him let go of CLAIRE,

and pushes him back up against the car.

CLAIRE (OVERLAPPING)

Oh God... no Norrie. For God’s

sake! Don’t hit... him!

But it’s too late. NORRIE lands a punch on John’s face

before she’s even finished speaking. Too late, CLAIRE

pushes him off throwing herself between them. JOHN reels

momentarily, then looks up at her, holding his face but

delighted that his plan has worked perfectly...

JOHN:

ABH, GBH - attempted murder

maybe, assaulting an officer of

the law - definitely. [BEAT.

EARNEST] We should have listened

to you. You know you owe it to

them.

She stares at him for a moment then

CLAIRE:

(TO JOHN)

Okay... You win.

NORRIE looks at CLAIRE incredulous.

NORRIE:

(to CLAIRE)

Seriously?!

NORRIE slams off into the house feeling confused and

betrayed.

CLAIRE:

Norrie... please.

CLAIRE turns to JOHN who smiles at her while nursing his

cheek.

CLAIRE (CONT'D)

(to JOHN/VENOMOUS)

Prick!

As she speaks they’re joined by BOYCE. Just woken up, white

as a sheet and hung over, he picks his way through the mud

and muck around the cottage, whilst trying to fend off the

attentions of the dog.

FROM DARKNESS EPISODE ONE

BOYCE:

Morning.

BEAT.

BOYCE (CONT’D)

You wouldn’t happen to have any

Aspirin?

CLAIRE looks at him.

24 I./E. FERRY (TRAVELLING), WEST COAST - DAY 3 (07:53) 24

We see the magnificent scenery of the Western Isles from

the water.

We pull back and see that we are sharing CLAIRE’s POV as

she stands on the ferry looking back towards THE ISLAND

which is disappearing behind them.

JOHN (O.S)

It’s beautiful. I’ll give you

that.

She turns to see JOHN stood in the doorway, watching her as

he smokes.

JOHN (CONT’D)

Try to see only what’s good and

the world becomes a very small

place indeed.

CLAIRE looks at him then walks inside to sit alone. JOHN

watches her go then looks across to BOYCE who’s leaning

over the adjacent rail about to be sick, then chucks his

fag in the water.

25 I./E. JOHN’S CAR (TRAVELLING), MOTORWAY - DAY 3 (12:31) 25

Splosh. JOHN’s car tyre goes through a filthy puddle as

they approach the city. From the quietude and magnificence

of the Western Isles to the roar of the approaching city

and squalid industrial sprawl as they near Manchester. On

CLAIRE staring out of the window.

26 SCENE CUT. 26

27 EXT. STATION, COURTYARD - DAY 3 (12:39) 27

CLAIRE gets out of the car and walk towards the police

station. We share her POV as she takes in the place... Her

worst memories and fears crowding back in. The place may as

well be a prison. As she looks up we:

FLASHBACK TO:

FROM DARKNESS EPISODE ONE

28 EXT. STATION, COURTYARD - DAY (FLASHBACK) 28

CLAIRE walking into the police station sixteen years ago. We

still share her POV but now we are wearing a uniform.

JOHN (O.S.)

Okay?

29 EXT. STATION, COURTYARD - DAY 3 (T/C) 29

CLAIRE turns to look at JOHN. He walks past her towards the

door and holds it open.

30 I./E. STATION, LOLA’S OFFICE - DAY 3 (T/C) 30

We see CLAIRE and JOHN headed into the POLICE STATION. JOHN

glances up as he enters, catching the eye of LOLA who is

looking down from her office window. It’s obvious, that she

expects him to come and see her.

31 INT. STATION, LOLA’S OFFICE - DAY 3 (12:44) 31

LOLA goes to sit at her desk, JOHN half hovers by the door.

LOLA:

We are in the midst of a major

murder investigation. You’ve been

out of the office for two days.

JOHN:

It might seem improbable now but

you’re going to thank me.

LOLA:

Your focus should be on gathering

evidence, establishing victims’

IDs.

JOHN:

I left that in the hands of my very

capable team.

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