The Coroner Page #3

JANE:

(IN) She asked me to investigate.

DAVEY:

I am. You don’t need to get involved. I’ll handle it. Going to see his

parents now. (GRINS) Wouldn’t want you fainting again, not like (this

morning).

JANE:

(IN) I didn’t faint. It was low blood sugar.

DAVEY:

(HANDS HER HIS CHIPS) Better have these then. (GRINS) Never did

have a head for heights. Remember Kingsbridge, that big (wheel)?

JANE:

(IN) That was food poisoning.

[DAVEY GRINS, COURSE IT WAS. ANNOYED, JANE

SCOOPS UP A CHIP. A DOLLOP OF SAUCE LANDS ON

HER WHITE SHIRT. DAVEY GRINS]

DAVEY:

(HEADS OFF) See you later, Calamity.

CUT TO:

EP. 1/SC.13 EXT. KERNAN’S COTTAGE. DAY 2. 12.57

DAVEY, JOHN, MAY

[DAVEY STANDS AT THE DOORSTEP. JOHN BARS

HIS WAY TO THE HOUSE. MAY BEHIND HIM. EYES

RED FROM CRYING]

DAVEY:

I just want to talk to you about Steve.

JOHN:

Right. You care now, d’you? You were always accusing him of stuff.

Brought him home in a cop car enough times.

DAVEY:

(TRIES TO BE POLITE) Only when he broke the law.

JOHN:

Not always. You blamed him for everything.

[DAVEY EYES MAY, SHE LOOKS DEVASTATED]

DAVEY:

May, I’m sorry about Steve. Please, let me in. Let me talk to you.

JOHN:

We’ll talk to someone who isn’t prejudiced.

DAVEY:

Like who?

[JOHN SHRUGS, SHUTS THE DOOR. DAVEY

FRUSTRATED. PULLS OUT HIS PHONE]

DAVEY:

Calamity, you know that thing I said about not getting involved…?

JUMP CUT TO:

EP. 1/SC.14 INT. KERNAN’S COTAGE. DAY 2. 13.34

JANE, MAY, JOHN

[JANE SITS IN THE SHABBY KITCHEN WITH A CUP

OF TEA, STILL IN HER STAINED TOP. JOHN HOLDS

TIGHT ONTO MAY’S HAND]

JANE:

Did you think he was depressed?

MAY:

He was never happy. Not here. (BEAT) Too many arguments. (QUIET)

Should’ve been there for him.

JOHN:

Can’t blame yourself, May. All families argue. Steve’d argue with a post

box. Stubborn bugger. Out of control. Tried our best, but… Can’t watch

your kid twenty-four seven.

JANE:

(SMILES TIGHTLY) Did he have a girlfriend?

[MAY SHAKES HER HEAD. JOHN SHRUGS]

JOHN:

Steve always kept himself to himself. Hadn’t seen him in days, had we?

[JANE SEES THE TINIEST OF HESITATIONS FROM

MAY BEFORE SHE SHAKES HER HEAD]

JOHN:

Got in late, left early. Reckon most nights he never even came back.

[MAY’S EYES FILL]

JANE:

(TO MAY) I’ll find out what happened to Steve, I promise. Would you

mind if I go to his room, look through his things?

JOHN:

I’ll take you. Won’t find much. (TO MAY, ALMOST AS AN ASIDE)

Bins want emptying.

[HE HEADS UP WITH JANE. MAY GRABS THE BIN

BAG, IT’S STUCK. SHE TAKES OUT HER

FRUSTRATION ON IT. PULLS IT OUT ROUGHLY. IT

SPLITS. A TOP COVERED IN BLOOD FALLS OUT

AMONG THE POTATO PEELINGS AND RUBBISH.

MAY STARES AT IT. FROZEN. LOOKS IN THE

DIRECTION JOHN AND JANE EXITED. QUICKLY

GRABS IT. HIDES IT]

CUT TO:

EP. 1/SC.15 EXT. THE BLACK DOG. DAY 2. 15.46

BETH, MATT, JANE

[A FILTHY BETH EMPTIES A BUCKET INTO THE

DRAIN OUTSIDE. SEES MATT WALKING TOWARDS

HER, TIDIES HERSELF UP]

BETH:

I’m hanging. Mum went mental. Gran’s put me on bog duty. They’re

disgusting.

[SHE SMILES. HE LOOKS AT HER BLANKLY]

BETH:

Carried on after I left?

[MATT SHAKES HIS HEAD]

BETH:

(WORRIED) What is it?

MATT:

That boy who died… It was my best mate. It was Steve.

[BETH STARES, STUNNED]

MATT:

(NUMB) I don’t know what to do.

[NEITHER DOES BETH. SHE GOES TOWARD HIM

AWKWARDLY. HE BACKS AWAY. BETH HELPLESS –

NOT SURE WHAT TO SAY. MATT WALKS OFF.

BETH SEES JANE HEAD ROUND THE CORNER,

HARDENS]

BETH:

Checking up on me?

JANE:

No need. Mum’s been texting me. Just hope you’ve learned from this.

[SHE HEADS IN. BETH SCOWLS]

CUT TO:

EP. 1/SC.16 INT. THE BLACK DOG. DAY 2. 15.47

JANE, JUDITH, MICK

BAR MAID, NS CUSTOMERS

[JANE, WITH JUDITH, HOLDS A PASSPORT STYLE

PHOTO OF STEVE AND SOPHIE, CHEEKS PRESSED

TOGETHER. MATCHING SMILES]

JANE:

Was under Steve’s mattress. His parents don’t know her, neither do the

police.

JUDITH:

Never seen her. (SEES MICK ENTER) Mick might though.

MICK:

(WAVES NOTES) Arson Fire came in first. The little beauty.

[HE SMACKS JUDITH’S BUM. JANE IGNORES IT,

SHOWS HIM THE PHOTO]

JANE:

Mick, do you recognise her? (FLATTERS) I know you know everyone.

MICK:

Nice try. Don’t see it saying charity shop anywhere.

JUDITH:

Jane’s family. You can tell her.

MICK:

She’s not mine. I’ve got a business to run. No favours. Not for no-one.

[JANE TAKES IN TWO OLD MEN SUPPING NEARBY]

JANE:

A shandy. And whatever they want. (TAKES OUT A TWENTY) Keep

the change.

[MICK TAKES THE MONEY, BECKONS FOR THE

PHOTO. JANE HANDS IT OVER]

MICK:

Yep. Came in with Steve couple of months back. Posh girl. Too posh for

him. Never got her name. (HANDS IT BACK, EYES JUDITH) Not

surprised he topped himself, dad like that.

JANE:

Dad like what?

[MICK LOOKS SHIFTY, SHOULDN’T HAVE SAID

THAT. JANE HANDS OUT MORE MONEY BUT HE

WAVES IT AWAY]

MICK:

Put it away. Rumours. Can’t hang a man on rumours.

JANE:

If it could help…

MICK:

A publican’s like a priest. What’s said in the pub, stays in the pub.

[JANE EYES HER MUM – WHO SHRUGS – NO IDEA.

BETH ENTERS THE PUB WITH HER BUCKET]

BETH:

Mum, can I have a word? (CONTRITE) I was stupid and irresponsible.

[JANE EYES HER SUSPICIOUS]

BETH:

I’ve been thinking about it and… (AUTHENTIC) It was out of order. I’m

sorry. I won’t do it again.

JANE:

(SMILES) Thank you. I appreciate that.

[BETH NODS. HEADS INTO THE BACK. GRINS.

TOTALLY PLAYED HER MUM!]

CUT TO:

EP. 1/SC.17 EXT. LIGHTHAVEN BEACH. DAY 3. 10.12

DAVEY, MATT

[MATT SITS. HE’S BEEN CRYING. DAVEY

APPROACHES HIM]

DAVEY:

Been looking for you. (SITS NEXT TO HIM) Sorry about Steve. (BEAT)

Trying to piece together what happened. Night he died, did you see him?

MATT:

Was meant to. He never showed. Hadn’t seen him for a week or so.

DAVEY:

(GENTLE) D’you think he could have… Could’ve killed himself?

[MATT LOOKS AT HIM. LOOKS AWAY. SHRUGS]

MATT:

Possibly. He… He called that night, upset about his girlfriend. Dunno

why. I was worried. You know Steve, always a bit mad.

DAVEY:

(PULLS OUT THE PHOTO) Was this her?

[MATT LOOKS AT THE PHOTO – SHRUGS]

MATT:

Never met her. Don’t even know her name. She’s pretty.

DAVEY:

Had he been to Gora Point before?

[MATT STARES AT THE PHOTO, SHAKES HIS HEAD]

DAVEY:

Where were you at 4am?

MATT:

(SURPRISED) Four? (HANDS PHOTO BACK) With my girlfriend.

She’s just moved down from London. I took her to a party on the beach.

DAVEY:

(SUSPICIOUS) What’s her name?

CUT TO:

EP. 1/SC.18 EXT CORONER’S OFFICE. DAY 3. 12.15

DAVEY, JANE

[JANE WITH DAVEY. SHE READS THE FULL POST

MORTEM REPORT. HE LOOKS AT HER NERVOUSLY]

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