The Coroner Page #6

BETH, MATT

[BETH, IN FULL MAKE-UP AND HER BEST CLOTHES,

EYES MATT, STOOD NEXT TO A SMALL BOAT IN

THE SHALLOWS]

BETH:

When you said something special. I thought you meant the cinema…

[MATT GIVES A SMALL SMILE]

JUMP CUT TO:

EP. 1/SC.28 EXT. SEA. DAY 5. 11.53

MATT, BETH

[BETH AND MATT OUT AT SEA. BOTH HOLD

FISHING RODS. BETH HOLDS HER LIMPLY]

BETH:

So what do we do, now?

MATT:

Wait until they bite. Enjoy the sunshine. The peace. It’s romantic.

[BETH RAISES AN EYEBROW, SQUEEZES WATER

FROM HER SKIRT – NOT HER IDEA OF ROMANTIC.

FOR THE FIRST TIME, MATT SEEMS RELAXED]

MATT:

Used to go fishing with Steve. Crabbing at Gora Bay. That was… our

place. Y’know, get away from everyone. Sort our heads out.

BETH:

(GENTLE) You must miss him.

MATT:

Knew each other since we were three. Nursery school. My mum hated

him. He was always getting me into trouble. Always up to something.

(BEAT) I just feel so… (CHANGES THE CONVERSATION) Did I put

my foot in it with your mum and Davey last night?

BETH:

(GRINS) Totally. That was hilarious.

MATT:

I just thought they were together.

BETH:

Used to be. They went out together when they were our age.

MATT:

What happened?

BETH:

Mum caught him snogging someone else.

[MATT WINCES]

BETH:

She’s a kind of “one strike and out” person. She dumped him, went to uni

early. Gran said she was devastated. She didn’t come back here for years.

MATT:

Shame.

[BETH SHRUGS, SEES IT FROM A TYPICAL

TEENAGER SELF-OBSESSED WAY]

BETH:

Not really. If they’d stayed together she wouldn’t have met my dad.

(GRINS) Wouldn’t have had me. (HER LINE BOBS) Ooh, I’ve got

something! (AS THE LINE DIPS) It’s heavy. I can’t hold it!

[MATT SHOOTS OVER, SITS BEHIND HER. HIS ARMS

ROUND HER’S. CLOSE]

MATT:

Reel it in. Nice and steady.

BETH:

(PULLS UP A LARGE SEA BASS) I did it. I did it!

[BETH GRINS AS MATT UNHOOKS HER FISH. MATT

SMILES – DELIGHTED]

CUT TO:

EP. 1/SC.29 EXT. SMALL HALL, LIGHTHAVEN. DAY 5. 12.12

JANE, CLINT

[JANE ASLEEP IN THE CAR. CLINT KNOCKS ON THE

WINDOW. JANE JUMPS. RUBS HER EYES AS HE

CLIMBS IN. JANE LOOKS AT HIM EXPECTANTLY]

CLINT:

Steve was the main topic of conversation. Couldn’t shut ‘em up. They’re

all cut up about him. (BEAT) And surprised his girlfriend didn’t show

today.

[OFF JANE’S FROWN]

CLINT:

This is where they met. Group counselling. (GRINS) I got her name.

JUMP CUT TO:

EP. 1/SC.30 EXT. SOPHIE’S HOUSE. DAY 5. 12.52

JANE, SOPHIE, DAVEY (O.O.V.)

[JANE, ON THE PHONE, WAITING AT THE FRONT

DOOR. TAKES IN THE MODERN MANSION]

JANE:

Mick was right. She is posh.

DAVEY (O.O.V.):

Wait for me, Ill be ten minutes.

JANE:

And scare her off? I’m here now. Call you later.

[NOBODY ANSWERS THE DOOR. JANE WALKS

ALONG THE FRONT OF THE HOUSE REVEALING

SOPHIE IN THE KITCHEN. SHE COMES TO THE

DOOR, LOOKS TERRIFIED TO SEE JANE]

JANE:

We need to talk. Now.

[SHE PUSHES INSIDE]

JUMP CUT TO:

EP. 1/SC.31 INT. SOPHIE’S HOUSE. KITCHEN. DAY 5. 13.15

SOPHIE, JANE

[JANE WITH A NERVOUS SOPHIE]

SOPHIE:

I know Steve had a wild side. Reckless, bit dangerous. But he was the

sweetest boy I’ve ever met. Gentle, thoughtful.

[JANE FROWNS. NOT WHAT SHE’D HEARD]

SOPHIE:

He had a hard time at home. His dad… Beat him up. Hit his mum too.

Steve didn’t know what to do. How to stop it. Felt helpless. Angry.

JANE:

So how can you be sure he didn’t commit suicide?

SOPHIE:

Because he wasn’t depressed – he was happy. (BEAT) I’m pregnant.

[SHE GRABS HER PHONE, CLICKS ON A VIDEO]

SOPHIE:

I filmed this two days before he died.

[JANE WATCHES A VIDEO OF SOPHIE FILMING

STEVE, HE STROKES HER TUMMY]

STEVE (ON SCREEN):

I’m your daddy, d’you know that? Can you hear me?

SOPHIE (ON SCREEN):

She’s ten weeks old.

STEVE (ON SCREEN):

Yeah and she’s three centimetres long. With fingernails. D’you know that?

Fingernails and soft fuzzy hair… (EYES WIDEN) I can feel her move!

SOPHIE (ON SCREEN):

You can’t feel anything, you idiot, she’s too tiny.

STEVE (ON SCREEN):

(GRINS) Who you calling an idiot? (SERIOUS) I love you.

[THE VIDEO ENDS. SOPHIE BITES BACK TEARS]

SOPHIE:

That wasn’t someone who’s suicidal. Night he died we were planning to

leave.

JANE:

When did you last see him?

SOPHIE:

Quarter to nine that evening. My dad caught us. Went mad. Locked me in

my room, attacked Steve. Steve ran off. Next thing… he was dead.

[BEAT]

JANE:

Sophie, do you think your dad could have done anything to Steve?

SOPHIE:

(FIRM) My dad is capable of anything.

[OUT ON JANE – HER FACE HARDENS]

CUT TO:

EP. 1/SC.32 INT. POLICE STATION. DAVEY’S OFFICE. DAY 5.

13.43

JANE, DAVEY

POLICE OFFICERS:

[JANE AND DAVEY HAVE A HUSHED ARGUMENT.

CLEARLY BEEN GOING ON SOME TIME]

DAVEY:

Calamity…

JANE:

(IN) You’ve got to investigate. This is a murder case.

DAVEY:

You don’t know that.

JANE:

Well it wasn’t suicide! His text to his mum was about running away, not

killing himself. (FIRM) As the Coroner I’m asking you to investigate. I’ll

go back and talk to Steve’s mum. You interview Sophie’s dad.

DAVEY:

Isn’t it my job to say what happens? Always did like bossing me around.

JANE:

You used to like it. Never had any complaints then.

[THEY SHARE A LOOK, LOOK AWAY QUICKLY]

DAVEY:

You do know who her dad is, right? A magistrate. I can’t just pull him in -

JANE:

(IN) Thought you weren’t bothered about status?

DAVEY:

I’m not. Couldn’t care less. But the boss is! I’ve got to clear it with him.

If we get this wrong, might never get a search warrant again.

JANE:

(FRUSTRATED) So in other words, he’s above investigation?

DAVEY:

(FIRM) Course not. Just trust me.

[JANE PAUSES. NODS. HEADS OFF]

DAVEY:

And Calamity… (AS SHE TURNS) Matt. For what it’s worth. I like him.

[JANE GIVES A SMALL SMILE – SHE DOES TOO]

CUT TO:

EP. 1/SC.33 EXT. KERNAN’S COTTAGE. DAY 5. 14.12

JANE, JOHN, MAY

[JANE SITS IN HER CAR, DUCKS DOWN AS JOHN

PULLS UP IN HIS CAR. THEY HAVE WORDS. MAY

GETS OUT (DRESSED ALL IN BLACK). JOHN DRIVES

OFF. JANE WATCHES HIM GO. HEADS OVER]

JANE:

May? Can I have a word?

MAY:

(UPSET) Now? I’ve just buried my boy.

JANE:

I know. I’m sorry... I just need to ask. Is there anything you’re not telling

me? Anything? I can’t find out what happened if you don’t talk to me.

[A TEAR FALLS DOWN MAY’S CHEEK]

MAY:

You think I don’t want to?

JANE:

Then talk to me. Please, May.

[MAY PULLS OUT A CIGARETTE. LIGHTS IT WITH

TREMBLING FINGERS]

JANE:

I just want to help, I… I’ve got a daughter, year younger than Steve. Beth.

She’s fifteen. And the thought of. The thought of anything happening to

her. It… (SHE CAN’T STOP HER EYES FROM FILLING UP). What

you’re going through, May. No mother should ever have to go through this.

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