Happy Valley Page #2

Season #1 Episode #1

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We see the NGA logo, and in case we’re in any doubt, we also

see what it stands for: NEVISON GALLAGHER ASSOCIATES:

INDUSTRIAL REFRIGERATION. 42-year-old KEVIN WEATHERILL’s

sitting waiting to see his boss. KEVIN’s the firm accountant.

He’s nervous.

JUSTINE:

Nevison’ll see you now, Kevin.

KEVIN:

Oh, terrific. Thank you.

KEVIN goes into NEVISON’s office.

CUT TO:

HAPPY VALLEY. EPISODE ONE. BY SALLY WAINWRIGHT 7.

4 INT. NGA, NEVISON’S OFFICE. CONTINUOUS. DAY 1. 11.31 4

NEVISON’s busy at his desk as KEVIN appears.

NEVISON:

Kevin.

KEVIN:

Nevison.

NEVISON:

What’s up?

NEVISON’s in his late sixties, but he has the energy and aura

of a man half his age. Beneath the bluff exterior you never

doubt there lurks a shrewd businessman.

KEVIN:

Oh nothing. Nothing’s up. As such.

I - can I...?

(”close the door?” he

indicates. NEV doesn’t

respond one way or the

other. KEVIN ventures to

close the door)

Can I...?

(”Sit down?” he indicates.

Unsmiling NEVISON

indicates “Go ahead”)

The thing is. Okay. Melissa.

NEVISON:

Melissa.

KEVIN:

My eldest.

NEVISON:

I know who Melissa is, Kevin.

KEVIN:

She’s very bright, she’s very

clever. We tried to get her in at

Salter Hebble High, but it’s

outside the catchment area. The

thing is. We - Jenny - it was

Jenny’s idea. She - Melissa - sat

the entrance exam for

St.Bartholomew’s.

(NEVISON’s impressed)

They’ve offered her a place. But

not a scholarship. There’s a lot of

competition. We’d like to be able

to send her there. But the thing

is. I’d need a pay rise.

(NEVISON doesn’t respond)

If we can’t send her there she’ll

have to go to Wellesley Hill.

(MORE)

HAPPY VALLEY. EPISODE ONE. BY SALLY WAINWRIGHT 8.

KEVIN (CONT'D)

Which - you know - it’s - it does

its best, but. This is a great

opportunity. For her. At

St.Bartholomew’s.

NEVISON weighs things up.

NEVISON:

I don’t pay you peanuts, Kevin.

KEVIN:

No, Nevison, I know that.

NEVISON:

How much is it?

KEVIN:

Ten thousand pounds a year.

NEVISON:

Ten thousand. And what about

Catriona?

KEVIN:

Catriona’s eight.

NEVISON:

Yes but she’s not daft, is she? You

can’t send one and not the other.

KEVIN:

We’ll cross that bridge when we get

there.

NEVISON:

Twenty grand a year for... five

years, most likely seven. That’s

just shy of one hundred and fifty

thousand.

KEVIN:

One forty, yes.

NEVISON:

Wellesley Hill’s not a bad school,

Kevin.

KEVIN:

Yes, no, I’m not saying it is

NEVISON:

A clever kid’ll do well wherever

they go. Look at me!

KEVIN:

That’s - yes - you’re a great

example to everyone. Of course,

Nevison. That’s

HAPPY VALLEY. EPISODE ONE. BY SALLY WAINWRIGHT 9.

NEVISON:

The thing is. I’ve got a hundred

and fifteen permanent staff working

here Kevin.

KEVIN:

I know how many people work here,

Nevison. I do their wages.

NEVISON:

If they all asked for a rise so

they could send their kids to

St.Bartholomew’s I’d struggle to

make a profit. Wouldn’t I?

KEVIN:

I didn’t necessarily mean the whole

amount

NEVISON:

I’ll tell you what I’m going to do.

Kevin.

(he smiles)

I’m going to think about it.

There’s something unsettling about NEVISON even when he

smiles. KEVIN doesn’t feel optimistic. He’s seen NEVISON

neatly sidestep things this way before.

CUT TO:

5 EXT. NORLAND ROAD POLICE STATION. DAY 1. 14.30 5

CATHERINE leaves work for the day, heading towards her

charmless nondescript 10-year-old car. 48-year-old RICHARD

(tie, big North Face jacket) is just heading across the road

towards her.

RICHARD:

Catherine!

CATHERINE turns and sees him but keeps walking; she’s got

somewhere to go.

CATHERINE:

Oh hello.

RICHARD:

I thought I might catch you! D’you

know anything about this man that

set fire to himself this morning?

CATHERINE:

Yes! He didn’t.

HAPPY VALLEY. EPISODE ONE. BY SALLY WAINWRIGHT 10.

RICHARD:

No, I meant - the one that was

threatening to.

CATHERINE:

An incident occurred and it was

dealt with swiftly and efficiently

by community police officers.

RICHARD:

That’s not engaging copy.

CATHERINE:

It really wasn’t that exciting.

RICHARD:

You doing anything this evening?

CATHERINE’s reached her car.

CATHERINE:

Telly.

RICHARD:

D’you d’you - you wouldn’t - like

to go out for something to eat.

(she hesitates, she knows

she should say “No”)

I’m losing my job. We all are. The

Gazette’s closing down.

RICHARD isn’t quite sure why he splurged that, except that

it’s occupying the No.1 slot in his thoughts today.

CATHERINE:

You’re kidding.

RICHARD:

Hundred and twenty-eight years in

print and now it’s - well it’s not

closing down - it’s all going

online.

CATHERINE:

God, Richard. I’m really sorry.

RICHARD:

They’re announcing it officially

tomorrow. I’ve got four weeks left.

She lingers sympathetically for a moment, then

CATHERINE:

Listen, I’ve gotta go, I’ve got to

pick Ryan up.

HAPPY VALLEY. EPISODE ONE. BY SALLY WAINWRIGHT 11.

RICHARD:

You - I assume you know. But. I

just heard this morning, I was

covering something at court and -

Tommy Lee Royce’s been released.

(CATHERINE stares at him)

Did you know?

CATHERINE’s quiet, stunned. She looks like she’s been slapped

across the face.

CATHERINE:

No.

(a moment)

I mean I knew it’d be around now,

but

RICHARD:

Apparently. Yeah. He’s -

(he hesitates, then

mumbles the word: he

knows it’ll decimate her

each time it’s said)

out.

(CATHERINE’s gone all

spaced out. Sunk mentally

into her own private

place)

Are you all right?

(no response)

Did you - want to do anything? This

evening?

CATHERINE:

(miles away, a tiny voice)

Can do.

CUT TO:

6 EXT. SCHOOL, HEBDEN BRIDGE. DAY 1. 15.15 6

CATHERINE’s propped against a wall, waiting outside the

school, amongst the mothers. They’re all younger than her,

several of them with push chairs and toddlers. CATHERINE’s

staring into space. Angry, vulnerable (thinking about Tommy

Lee Royce being released). The class 3 door opens, and the 8year-

olds spill out. 8-year-old RYAN CAWOOD appears in a de-

mob happy huddle with a load of others. RYAN sees CATHERINE

and his face lights up: there’s no-one on the planet he’d

rather see. CATHERINE can’t resist a smile back, however bad

she feels. He lifts her heart. RYAN races over to her like

he’s going to hug her, but then thrusts whatever he’s

carrying (lunch box, school bag, a painting) into her hands

(like it’s a gift, and she’ll be only too pleased) then races

off towards her car.

HAPPY VALLEY. EPISODE ONE. BY SALLY WAINWRIGHT 12.

CATHERINE:

(amused, annoyed)

Oy!

Just then

MRS.MUKHERJEE

Catherine!

(CATHERINE turns and sees

RYAN’s teacher,

MRS.MUKHERJEE)

Hello! Sorry, you haven’t got five

minutes, have you?

CUT TO:

7 INT. SCHOOL, RYAN’S CLASSROOM. DAY 1. 15.20 7

CATHERINE and MRS.MUKHERJEE are sitting on little chairs.

RYAN’s with them. Silence, initially. Then

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