Lantana Page #5

Maybe habits sometimes,|passion, our kids.

Ours was held together|by grief.

There wasn't|much else left.

You didn't love her|anymore?

I'm saying that sometimes,|love isn't enough.

Claudia:
Leon!

Where the hell|have you been?

We got a call from a man,|saying his wife saw a neighbor

throw a shoe into a vacant lot|on the night Valerie disappeared.

She's got the shoe.|Black leather.

Where are we going?

- This could be tricky.|- Why?

I know the woman.

Oh Jesus!

( knocking on door )

- Detective Claudia Weis.|- Leon!

- We had a drink the other night.|- How are you?

Good.

You'd better come in.|My wife's pretty upset.

Pete:
Jane, it's the police.

- This is Leon and--|- Claudia.

- and Claudia. Jane.|- Is that the shoe?

Yeah.

You shouldn't have touched the shoe,

- Mrs...?|- O'May.

It's Jane O'May.

Right, Mrs. O'May,|you shouldn't have touched it.

Well, I did.

Yeah, but you shouldn't have.

Well, I did, didn't I?

It's on the table.

- Could we have some coffee?|- Yeah.

It's out|the back here. Thanks.

I'll give you a hand.

( whispering )|Are you all right?

- Have you got a light?|- Yeah.

How do you want to handle this?

You're a policeman, aren't you?

Why don't you just do your job?

I've never seen you before.

Nik:
|Can I speak to Paula, please?

Nik:
It's urgent.

Can you tell her to|call me as soon as she can?

Yes, as soon as she can, please.

( knocking on door )

Leave it!|Go get your brother.

Nik D'Amato? Detective|Claudia Weis, City Central.

My kids. I need|someone to watch my kids.

Right. I'll give you|a couple of minutes.

Jane:
So I go to the window,

at about 1 1 :
30.

I go to the window,|and he's chucking that.

and he threw it over there,

and he was looking|like he was...

really guilty.

( knocking on door )

Nik.

Nik:
You're back, Pete?

Only sort of.

- How are you?|- Good. And you?

I'm in a bit of trouble.

Can you take the kids?

Just till Paula gets back.

Nik:
I wouldn't ask|unless I really needed help.

We'll take them.

Thanks.

Here you go.

Nik:
Thanks.

There's pajamas, toothbrush...

there's a video and some|other stuff in there as well.

Thanks very much, okay?

It's time to go.

No, Daddy, don't go.|Don't go!

Come on.|I'll be back soon.

- Come on.|- No! No!

How did you get the|scratches on your face?

- I want to see my wife.|- She's on her way.

Can you tell us where|you were Friday night?

I want to see Paula.

You are in deep sh*t, mate.

Your wife can't help you.

- Do I know you?|- I doubt it.

- I've seen you before.|- Shut up! Shut up!

- You were next door at Jane's place.|- I told you to shut up!

Where are my kids?

- Where are my bloody kids?!|- With your neighbor.

- Who are you?|- Calm down.

- I don't want to be calm.|- Can I get you something?

Yes, you can get|me my husband.

- And get me out of here!|- Can you just step in here?

Mrs. D'Amato.

I'm Detective Sergeant Zat.

I believe you met|Detective Constable Weis.

I want to see Nik.

Your husband is helping us|with our inquiries.

Bullshit.

He was seen throwing a shoe|into a vacant lot.

Who saw him?

A search was conducted|in the block opposite your house.

Mmm?

Another one?

My kids play there.|Every kid on the street plays there.

They found the shoe.

It was identified as belonging|to Ms. Valerie Somers.

She's been missing|since last Friday night.

Paula!

- Jane:
Hello?|- Janey, it's Paula.

Hi.

Paula:
Is Andrew awake?

Your kids are fine.

- You know?|- Maybe I could talk to Hannah.

Jane:
No, she's asleep.

- Paula:
The baby?|- You know what? They're all asleep.

Sorry about this, Janey.

Nik's in trouble.

They won't let me see him.|I don't know what to do.

You know what?|It's okay.

Everything's okay.

Jane:
Your kids are really safe.

I'm sorry.

I'll get there as soon as I can.

- Okay.|- Paula:
Thank you.

Bye, Janey.

Does she know|you rang the police?

No.

They say you've...

hurt some woman, Nik.

I didn't, babe.

I didn't touch her.

Don't. Not yet.

- What is it, Hannah?|- The baby's sick.

What is it?

What is it?

He's burning up.

- Get us a flannel. A wet one.|- Panadol.

- What?|- He needs Panadol.

Panadol.

- Poor little thing.|- It's all right for babies?

- I don't know. Only get half.|- Baby Panadol.

- What?|- Baby Panadol.

- You'll have to go to the chemist's.|- There's some at our house.

I'd met some mates for a drink.

We used to work together.|It's something we keep up.

We drank more than we should have,|so I took the backroad.

The police don't patrol it.

It must have been about...

a quarter to 1 2:00...

and I see this woman standing|at the side of the road.

I don't want to stop.

It's late, and I'm thinking|Paula will get worried.

But what do I do?|The woman needs help.

So I pull over.

My car ran off the road.

Get in.

Thanks.

What's your name?

Valerie.

I'm Nik.

Nik:
It turns out she lives|in one of those houses by the Bay.

There's a string|of houses along there.

It's out of my way.|It's in the opposite direction.

She doesn't say much.

I can tell she doesn't want|to talk, so I just...

leave it.

But I know this shortcut

and I just don't--|I just don't think.

And before I can say,|''This is the short way,''

she's gone.

What do you mean,|she's gone?

Hey!

Wait!

Nik:
|I'm not going to hurt you.

Trust me!

( gasp )

You know...

I thought that...

if I'd leave her alone...

she'd stop|being afraid of me.

I just--

I just left her there.

When I got home,|I saw her--

I saw her shoe

on the floor of my car.

And I--

Jesus, I just wanted|to help the woman--

Why didn't you report it, Nik?

Because I thought|she'd be all right.

I thought she'd find|her way out of there.

Then when I--

and when|I saw her on the news...

that she was missing, I--

By then who was going|to believe me?

Thank you...

for letting me know.

Bye.

Paula? Come in.

Hi.

Hey, sweetie.

- Paula:
Daddy will be home soon.|- Maybe they can come back later.

- They've been so good for me.|- No, I don't think so.

Paula.

He didn't do it, Jane.

How do you know?

He told me.

Paula?

Jane:
|What could I do, Paula?

All right.

Go inside and put|your bags in your rooms.

Stupid--

You've got no right, Jane!

You hear me?!

You have no f***ing right!

I don't want to see you|anywhere near my kids again.

I was home, Leon.

I didn't pick up the phone.

Valerie on tape:
|John? There's a man...

Patrick.

He's a client and he's--

he's gay.

I don't understand this.|I don't understand...

us...

anymore.

I don't want this|to be happening to us.

Oh... there are lights.

There's a car coming.|I'll wave it down.

Wait for me.|We'll talk when I get home, okay?

Bye.

I love you.

( machine beeps )

I thought she would come home.

Sonja, on tape:
|It's not that he might have...

slept with another woman.

It's...

that he might not tell me.

That would be the betrayal.

Valerie:
|Do you still love him?

Sonja:
Yeah.

I still love him.

I don't want to lose you.

What?

I don't want to lose you.|I couldn't bear it.

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes