The Coroner Page #4

DAVEY:

Still waiting on the tox report. We found Steve’s phone smashed on the

rocks by Gora Point. Must’ve chucked it. Forensics have the sim card, take

a few days.

JANE:

(READS) Fingerprints?

DAVEY:

None. Can’t get prints off stone.

[SHE LOOKS IN HIS LUNCH BOX - NOSY]

JANE:

Salad again? Mick’s heard rumours about his dad, wouldn’t say what.

DAVEY:

(Really?) John’s clean. Not even a parking ticket.

[HE EYES JANE – NOT SURE HOW TO BROACH THE

SUBJECT. JANE DOESN’T NOTICE]

JANE:

It’s sweet Annette makes you lunch.

DAVEY:

Yeah, well she’s looking after me.

JANE:

She sew nametags in your trousers too?

DAVEY:

No but she does iron creases in my boxers. (TENTATIVE) Where’s Beth?

JANE:

Library. I let her off the leash. (PUTS LUNCH BOX AWAY) I hate to

break it to you but Annette thinks you’re fat.

DAVEY:

(LOOKS DOWN) All muscle that. (HESITANT) Listen…

JANE:

Yeah, if muscle hangs over your trousers. (READS REPORT) So he died

on impact. No surprises there.

DAVEY:

Jane…

JANE:

(READS) His GP records say he was on anti-depressants. (PAUSES)

Hold on, you never call me Jane.

[DAVEY TAKES A DEEP BREATH]

DAVEY:

I saw Steve’s best mate, Matt. He hadn’t seen him. Steve had called him

though, upset. Something to do with that girl. (PAUSES) I checked Matt’s

alibi. He said was with his girlfriend only... Thing is. (BEAT) It’s Beth.

[OUT ON JANE – SHOCKED]

CUT TO:

EP. 1/SC.19 EXT. TALBOT’S ICE-CREAM STALL. LIGHTHAVEN

BEACH. DAY 3. 13.45

BETH, MATT

N/S FISHERMAN, N/S TOURISTS

[BETH TAKES AN ICE-CREAM OFF A SILENT MATT

WORKING THE STALL]

BETH:

Thanks. (LICKS THE ICE CREAM) You okay?

MATT:

It’s too quiet. Prefer it when it’s busy. Shift goes quicker.

BETH:

I meant (Steve).

[BEAT]

MATT:

(COVERS HIS EMOTION) Trying not to think about him.

[A FISHERMAN WALKS PAST WITH A FISH. EYES

MATT, SHOUTS “MULLET, SIX POUNDS”]

BETH:

Thought a mullet was a hairstyle.

[MATT GIVES A SMALL SMILE]

MATT:

It’s the grey ghost. Hard fighting, shy to bite. He did well.

BETH:

You’re into fishing? Thought that was only for old men.

MATT:

What? Being out at sea, a few cans, just the odd dolphin for company,

never knowing what you’re going to catch? Can’t beat it.

[BETH’S ICE-CREAM GETS ON HER NOSE]

BETH:

Thought you didn’t like the quiet?

MATT:

When I’m working. Days last forever out at sea. It’s peaceful. Like nothing

can touch you. Away from everything.

BETH:

Sounds nice.

[HE CONSIDERS HER. THE ICE CREAM STILL ON

THE END OF HER NOSE. CAN’T HELP LAUGHING]

BETH:

Are you laughing at me?

[HE SHAKES HIS HEAD. WIPES THE ICE CREAM

GENTLY FROM HER NOSE. A MOMENT AS THEY

STARE INTO EACH OTHER’S EYES. BETH KISSES

HIM. BETH’S ICE-CREAM DROPS TO THE FLOOR AS

HE KISSES HER BACK]

CUT TO:

EP. 1/SC.20 EXT. JUDITH’S. DAY 3. 18.55

JANE, BETH, JUDITH

[JANE SITS OUTSIDE JUDITH’S WITH A MUG OF TEA

AS BETH, EARPHONES IN, APPROACHES. JANE

SMILES. BETH PULLS HER EARPHONES OUT]

JANE:

How was the library?

BETH:

Quiet. Lots of books.

JANE:

(PUTS HER TEA DOWN) You know, our chat yesterday. It meant a lot.

Knowing I can trust you. That you’re straight with me. I’d hate to be one

of those families that hide things from each other.

[SHE CROSSES HER ARMS, EYES BETH WHO SIGHS]

BETH:

Alright, okay, I was with a boy. Matt. My… boyfriend. But I didn’t do

anything. We didn’t… How did you know?

JANE:

Davey interviewed him about his friend, Steve. He said he was with you.

[BETH FROWNS – WHAT? HE NEVER SAID]

JANE:

You’re only fifteen. Last thing you need’s a big relationship.

BETH:

You were fifteen when you started going out with Davey.

JANE:

Exactly. Took me til I was eighteen to come to my senses.

BETH:

Gran said you used to sneak out of the house all the time to see him.

JANE:

Right, okay, well things were different then.

BETH:

Like how?

JANE:

More… innocent.

BETH:

Mum, it was the nineteen nineties, not the eighteen nineties! I know what

you got up to. And Gran was pregnant with you at fifteen! I’m like a nun

compared to you two. Matt’s… (SHRUGS) Nice. He’s really nice.

JANE:

I don’t want you to get hurt.

BETH:

The only person who’s hurt right now is Matt. He’s just lost his best mate.

Don’t make him lose me too.

[JUDITH EXITS THE HOUSE. DOLLED UP TO THE

NINES IN A SHORT, CLEAVAGE SHOWING DRESS]

JUDITH:

What d’you reckon? Mick’s taking me out with his winnings.

[JANE AND BETH BOTH SPEECHLESS]

JANE:

Eye-catching. Very… bold.

JUDITH:

Isn’t it?

[SHE CATCHES HERSELF IN A WINDOW, ADJUSTS

HER SKIRT. WIGGLES. CHUFFED]

JUDITH:

Still got it. (TO JANE) Don’t wait up. Apologies in advance if we make

any noise. Mick’s a bit of a screamer.

BETH:
JANE:

Gran! Mum!

[JUDITH SASHAYS OFF TO HER CAR. BETH SMILES]

BETH:

Sometimes I reckon it would be good if we did hide things as a family.

JANE:

I think you might be right.

[BEAT]

BETH:

Let me see him. Please, mum.

CUT TO:

EP. 1/SC.21 INT. KERNAN’S COTTAGE. DAY 4. 07.47

MAY, JOHN

[JOHN EATS BREAKFAST. MAY ENTERS, AVOIDS

HIM. THE SOUND OF BINS BEING COLLECTED

OUTSIDE, BIN MEN SHOUTING]

JOHN:

I took the bin out this morning.

MAY:

(BARBED) Thought that was my job.

JOHN:

Didn’t want you to forget. Again.

[MAY CONSIDERS HIM. MOUTH SET. SHE GETS THE

BLOODIED SHIRT, THROWS ONTO THE TABLE]

MAY:

What have you done, John?

JOHN:

Put it away.

MAY:

(SCREAMS) What’ve you done?!

[JOHN STANDS. HIS CHAIR FALLS TO THE FLOOR.

MAY SHRINKS. HE GRABS HER BY THE HAIR,

PUSHES HER HEAD DOWN ON THE TABLE, NEXT TO

THE BLOODIED SHIRT]

JOHN:

Useless. Can’t even take the rubbish out.

[HE GIVES HER HEAD ONE LAST SHOVE. GRABS

THE SHIRT. MAY WATCHES SILENTLY, AS HE

SHOVES IT INSIDE A BLACK KITCHEN BIN BAG.

EXITS WITH IT]

JOHN (OOV):

One more bag, lads!

[MAY STANDS, SLOWLY, PAINFULLY. STARTS TO

GATHER UP THE BREAKFAST DISHES]

CUT TO:

EP. 1/SC.22 INT. CORONER’S OFFICE. DAY 4. 10.56

JANE, CLINT, DAVEY

[DAVEY WITH JANE. CLINT LISTENS IN, NOSY]

JANE:

I said she could see him. What else could I do? You know what happens if

you keep people apart.

CLINT:

Yeah, I had this girlfriend once (and…)

DAVEY:

(IN) If I had a daughter, I’d lock her up ‘til she was thirty. I wouldn’t let

her near a teenage boy!

CLINT:

They’re not that bad. I mainly surfed. (GRINS) What d’you get up to?

[DAVEY AND JANE EXCHANGE GLANCES]

DAVEY:

Enough. Let’s just leave it at that.

CLINT:

Go on. We won’t say.

JANE:

(IN) If I split them up it’ll only make them closer.

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