The Coroner Page #2

MAY:

(SCREAMS) My boy. Oh my god…

[SHE STARTS TO HEAD OVER. JANE EYES CLINT]

CLINT:

(SHOOTS OVER) Mrs. Kernan…

[HE GENTLY STOPS HER. MAY KEEPS HER EYES ON

STEVE’S BODY THE WHOLE TIME]

MAY:

I’m sorry, Steve. I’m so sorry.

CLINT:

Please, come with me. (LEADS HER AWAY) We’ll let you see him soon

as you can. Yeah?

DAVEY:

May Kernan, his mum. The dog walker called her. They work together.

[JANE LOOKS OVER. FEELS FOR HER – EVERY

PARENT’S WORST NIGHTMARE. SHUDDERS]

DAVEY:

You don’t have to be here…

JANE:

(IN) I want to be. See it first hand. Do we know what happened?

[DAVEY HEADS TO THE LOOKOUT ENTRANCE]

DAVEY:

Looks like he killed himself. Texted his mum last night at eight. “Sorry,

can’t take it anymore. Goodbye.” Jumped at two minutes past four.

JANE:

Bit specific.

DAVEY:

His watch broke when he landed.

[HE HEADS INTO THE LOOKOUT]

JANE:

(NERVOUS) Where’re you going?

DAVEY:

The top. Thought you wanted to see it all first hand?

[HE TWINKLES, HEADS IN. JANE EYES THE TOP OF

THE LOOKOUT TOWER. RELUCTANTLY FOLLOWS]

CUT TO:

EP. 1/SC.9 INT./EXT. GORA POINT LOOKOUT. DAY 2. 08.29

JANE, DAVEY

CSI OFFICERS:

[JANE CLIMBS THE LADDER TO THE TOWER.

LOOKS UP. TERRIFIED. SHE GRIPS THE LADDER.

KEEPS CLIMBING.

DAVEY CONSIDERS THE VIEW AS CSI EXAMINE THE

PLATFORM]

DAVEY:

You took your time. It’s beautiful! Look at that view.

[JANE CLINGS THE WALL]

JANE:

Mm, yes. Gorgeous.

[HE GETS CLOSE TO THE EDGE. JANE INCHES

ALONG. FORCES HERSELF TO LOOK, THE VIEW’S

PANORAMIC. NOT THAT SHE APPRECIATES IT]

DAVEY:

Funny thing is we didn’t find his mobile on him.

[HE LEANS OVER THE STONE LEDGE. JANE TAKES

A SMALL LOOK. THE GROUND SEEMS MILES

AWAY. HER LEGS BUCKLE. DAVEY CATCHES HER]

CUT TO:

EP. 1/SC. 10 INT.SOPHIE’S HOUSE. KITCHEN. DAY 2. 10.35

SOPHIE, PHILLIP

[A WORSE FOR WEAR PHILLIP READS THE

LIGHTHAVEN STAR ON A TABLET: STEVE’S PHOTO

AND THE HEADLINE “TEEN DEATH AT LOOKOUT”.

A GRAZE ON HIS RIGHT HAND.

SOPHIE ENTERS, HE SWIPES THE REPORT AWAY –

NOT QUICKLY ENOUGH]

SOPHIE:

What was that?

[SHE SNATCHES IT, SWIPES IT BACK. READS.

STUNNED]

CUT TO:

EP. 1/SC.11 INT. CORONER’S OFFICE. DAY 2. 11.30

JANE, CLINT, SOPHIE, BETH

[JANE GETS HERSELF READY FOR COURT. FIXES

HER COLLAR ON. CLINT ENTERS]

CLINT:

You’ve got a visitor.

JANE:

I’ve got court.

[AN UPSET SOPHIE ENTERS, HANGS BACK]

CLINT:

(LOW) Wouldn’t give her name.

JANE:

(CHECKS HER WATCH) I’ve got five minutes. You put the kettle on.

[CLINT NODS BUT DOESN’T MOVE. NOSY. JANE

SMILES AT SOPHIE, STEERS HER TOWARDS A SEAT]

JANE:

Please, take a seat. Jane Kennedy, how can I help?

SOPHIE:

(STARTS TO CRY) I don’t know who to talk to, I…

[JANE HANDS HER A TISSUE, SITS TOO, SMILES]

JANE:

Take your time.

SOPHIE:

The boy. Last night… The boy who…

JANE:

Steven Kernan?

SOPHIE:

(NODS) The paper said he. He killed himself.

[JANE EYES CLINT. HE MOUTHS “WASN’T ME”.

HEADS OUT. JANE TURNS TO SOPHIE]

SOPHIE:

Steve, he… He wouldn’t have. I know him. He couldn’t. (EYES FILL)

Please. Find out what happened. Who. (DEEP BREATH) Who…

[SHE TRAILS OFF, UPSET]

JANE:

Who what? (CONCERNED) Have you talked to the police?

SOPHIE:

No! No, I can’t. I. I want to talk to you. (PLEADS) You’re the Coroner.

He didn’t kill himself. You. You’ve got to help him.

[SMILES, KINDLY]

JANE:

Of course I will. Just tell me what’s worrying you and we’ll start from

there… (ABOUT TO SAME HER NAME WHEN SHE REALISES) I’m

sorry, I didn’t ask your name.

[SOPHIE FREEZES. GETTING COLD FEET]

JANE:

(GENTLE) First name’s fine.

BETH (O.O.V.):

Get off! You’ve don’t have to drag me here.

JANE:

(WINCES) Sorry. (GENTLE) Hold on a minute. I’ll be right back.

SOPHIE:

(STANDS) I can’t do this. I’m sorry. I…

JANE:

Don’t go. Please…

SOPHIE:

(HEADS OUT, UPSET) I’m sorry. I can’t…

JUDITH (O.O.V.):

Lucky I didn’t put a lead on you!

[SOPHIE EXITS, JANE GOES TO FOLLOW WHEN

JUDITH ENTERS, HOLDS TIGHT TO BETH]

JUDITH:

Look at the state of her.

CLINT:

(APPEARS WITH TWO TEAS) Two more teas?

JUDITH:

She’s had enough to drink.

[BETH SWAYS, DRUNK. JANE STOPS IN HER

TRACKS, TURNS TO FACE BETH]

BETH:

(TRIES TO SOUND SOBER) Haven’t touched a drop.

JANE:

Well, I’ll get a breathalyser off Davey and you can prove it. (SNIFFS,

RECOILS) No need, I can smell the cider from here.

BETH:

What’s the big deal?

JANE:

(LOSES IT) You’re fifteen. You sneaked out all night. You lied about it.

It’s eleven thirty in the morning and you’re drunk!

BETH:

You said you wanted me to make more friends. I was with Stace. It was

just a beach party. I couldn’t let her go on her own.

[JANE EYES HER. SMILES. BETH SMILES TOO.

THINKS SHE’S GOT AWAY WITH IT…]

JANE:

You’re grounded.

BETH:

What? I said where I was. I didn’t do anything.

JANE:

(NOT IMPRESSED) What, apart from the drinking and lying? Good for

you. You’re going into work with your Gran.

JUDITH:

I’ve got twenty barrels arriving, Mick’s at the dog’s. (SMILES) You’re on

toilets.

[OUT ON BETH – GREAT…]

JUMP CUT TO:

EP. 1/SC.12 EXT. HARBOURSIDE/CORONER’S OFFICE. DAY 2.

12.45

JANE, DAVEY

[JANE SITS ON THE WALL WITH DAVEY, STILL IN

HER COURT GEAR. TOYS WITH A TUPPERWARE

CONTAINER FULL OF SALAD AS HE EATS CHIPS

WITH TOMATO SAUCE]

JANE:

She’s a baby. Two years ago she wouldn’t even get on a bus without me.

DAVEY:

(GENTLE) D’you want me to talk to her? Give her a bit of a warning?

JANE:

(QUICK) I think getting the police involved’s a bit heavy (handed).

DAVEY:

(IN) I’m a friend of the family. I care about you. (QUICK) All of you.

[JANE CHANGES THE SUBJECT – EYES THE SALAD]

JANE:

You know you could just tell Annette you don’t like this.

DAVEY:

And her hurt her feelings? No wonder all your relationships ended.

JANE:

(ANNOYED) Thought you wanted to give me the PM results?

DAVEY:

(HANDS FILE OVER) There’s the initial results. Steve’s stomach stank of

booze, none at the scene. Time of death between two and four thirty. Fits

with the watch.

JANE:

(EYES DAVEY’S CHIPS) What do you know about him?

DAVEY:

He was trouble. Picked him up since he was twelve - shoplifting, fighting,

burglary, you name it. Nearly got sent away twice.

JANE:

Do you think it was suicide?

DAVEY:

Well he’s not gonna jump off the tower for fun, is he? You saw the text to

his mum. An’ if he was going to mess about, there’d be booze.

JANE:

(QUICK) That girl didn’t think he killed himself.

[SHE LOOKS AT HIS CHIPS LONGINGLY]

DAVEY:

(IN) That girl didn’t even give you her name.

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