The Coroner Page #3

JANE:

(QUICKLY) I don’t think that’s a very good idea.

BETH:

It was a joke. Although actually... I reckon it’s the best idea I’ve had all day.

[SHE GRINS, HEADS OFF. OUT ON JANE - WORRIED]

CUT TO:

EP10/SC16. INT. THE DROP ZONE HANGAR. DAY 1. 13.38

LORI, DAVEY

NS POLICE, CSI

[NS POLICE AND CSI IN THE BACKGROUND AS LORI

EYES DAVEY, FROWNS]

LORI:

Eddie didn’t go anywhere near Rafe’s rig. Rafe brought it in from home.

DAVEY:

Anyone double check his parachute?

LORI:

(SHAKES HEAD) Rafe said he’d done it.

DAVEY:

Did he leave it unattended?

LORI:

Only for a few minutes.

DAVEY:

So who else had access to it?

LORI:

Me, Stix. (BEAT) And, Eddie.

DAVEY:

So Eddie could have done it?

LORI:

I don’t think so. We’re like a family. (FEELS HERSELF FILL UP, BITES

IT BACK) Rafe and I started this place together. Nearly sixteen years. He

was one of my oldest friends. Known him since our first day at comp.

[DAVEY TAKES IN THE PHOTO OF RAFE, LORI AND

EDDIE WE SAW EARLIER]

DAVEY:

Well families fall out. My dad hasn’t talked to his brother in years. Why

wasn’t Eddie skydiving?

[HE EYEBALLS LORI. SHE’S HESITANT – FEELS

DISLOYAL. TELLS A HALF TRUTH]

LORI:

He packed a chute wrong. Rafe took him off the team.

DAVEY;

Eddie happy about that?

LORI:

No, but… He wouldn’t have killed him.

[SHE FEELS HER EYES FILL AGAIN AS SHE TAKES IN

THE PHOTO, LOOKS AWAY]

DAVEY:

What d’you know about Jess?

LORI:

Not much. Doesn’t jump. Hates watching Rafe jump. Never comes here.

(FURIOUS WITH HERSELF) Why didn’t I double check his rig?

CUT TO:

EP10/SC17. INT. CORONER’S OFFICE. DAY 1. 13.43

JANE, CLINT, BETH

[BETH BORED, SHARES CHIPS WITH CLINT. JANE

TRIES TO CONCENTRATE ON PAPERWORK]

BETH:

(TO CLINT) Apparently, it’s too dangerous.

JANE:

It is too dangerous!!

BETH:

Hello, I’m from London.

JANE:

Exactly, you don’t know all the risks down here.

BETH:

What? Like being hit by a beachball? (GRINS) Maybe I could do

skydiving?

[JANE EYEBALLS HER HARD]

CLINT:

Nah, I used to do it. Way too expensive. (TAKES A CHIP) When I wanted

to be on my own I used to go to Roamer’s Bay. No one ever goes there.

BETH:

(INTRIGUED) Why not?

JANE:

It’s got quicksand.

CLINT:

That’s an old wives tale. (TO BETH, KNOWINGLY) It’s a private beach.

Owner wants to keep people away.

JANE:

Because it’s got quicksand!!

BETH:

Where is it?

[THE PHONE RINGS. CLINT ANSWERS]

CLINT (INTO PHONE):

Coroner’s office.

JANE:

(TO BETH) You’re not going to Roamer’s Bay!

BETH:

Is there actually anything you will let me do?

JANE:

Tidy your bedroom? Put your clothes away?

[BETH ROLLS HER EYES]

CLINT:

If you could just… Hold on. (COVERS MOUTHPIECE) Jess Phelps. She

can’t reach Davey, wants an update.

[FEELING GUILTY, JANE TAKES THE PHONE]

JANE:

Mrs. Phelps? (LISTENS) Jess… Keep calm…

BETH:

(TO CLINT) So where is it?

CLINT:

(EYES JANE) I better not.

JANE (INTO PHONE):

I’ll come over. (HANGS UP, EYES CLINT) Can you let Davey know?

CLINT:

Yep, I’ll call him.

JANE:

Could be tricky. (AWKWARD) There’s a slight problem with his phone.

CLINT:

(SUSPICIOUS) What kind of problem?

CUT TO:

EP10/SC18. INT. RAFE AND JESS’ HOUSE. KITCHEN/HALL.

DAY 1. 14.14

JANE, DAVEY, JESS

[JESS, AGITATED. JANE AWKWARD – DOESN’T

WANT TO GIVE ANYTHING AWAY]

JESS:

I don’t understand how it happened. Isn’t there anything you can tell me?

JANE:

I’m sure D.S. Higgins will be here soon.

JESS:

So there is news?

JANE:

I… (LIES) Not that I’ve heard.

[JESS TAKES IN A PHOTO OF RAFE, HER EYES FILL]

JESS:

Keep thinking it’s been a mistake. I can’t believe he’s not going to walk

back in.

JANE:

Is there anyone I can call? Family?

JESS:

He was all I had. (BEAT) It hurts. It hurts so much. I just want him back.

[JANE GOES TO COMFORT HER WHEN THE DOOR

BELL RINGS. SHE LEAVES JESS CRYING, OPENS

THE DOOR TO DAVEY]

DAVEY:

Said anything?

[JANE SHAKES HER HEAD]

DAVEY:

How is she?

JANE:

Heartbroken.

[SHE LEADS HIM BACK THROUGH TO JESS. SHE

LOOKS UP, EXPECTANT]

DAVEY:

I’m sorry. (HESITATES, NO EASY WAY TO SAY THIS) It wasn’t an

accident. His parachutes were tampered with.

[BEAT]

JESS:

(STUNNED) It was deliberate?

[DAVEY NODS]

JESS:

Maybe he got his packing wrong? A faulty pin?

DAVEY:

It was both parachutes. The strapping was cut. (BEAT) Is there anyone

who might want to harm your husband?

JESS:

No. Everyone loved him. Everyone…

[SHE TRAILS OFF]

DAVEY:

(TO JANE) Can you put the kettle on? (TO CARLA) Is there somewhere

we can talk?

[JESS NODS, SWAYS. DAVEY GOES TO HELP HER

BUT SHE SHAKES HER HEAD]

JESS:

I’m fine.

[SHE LEADS HIM OUT. JANE WATCHES, FEELS FOR

HER. PUTS THE KETTLE ON. LOOKS FOR TEA

THINGS. THERE’S NOTHING OUT. SHE OPENS A

CUPBOARD, FINDS MUGS, PULLS THREE OUT.

OPENS ANOTHER, LOOKING FOR TEABAGS - IT’S

RIGED WITH VITAMINS, MINERALS, TABLETS.

NOSILY, SHE PICKS UP TABLETS: CLOMIPHENE

CITRATE. JANE RUMMAGES FURTHER. HER FACE

DROPS…]

CUT TO:

EP10/SC19. EXT. ROAMER’S BAY. DAY 1. 14.16

BETH:

[THE TIDE OUT AS BETH WALKS OVER A WOODEN

BRIDGE. SIGNS SAY “PRIVATE – NO TRESPASSING”.

A HOMEMADE ONE SAYS “WARNING QUICK SAND”.

BETH FINDS HERSELF ALONE IN A BEAUTIFUL

SMALL COVE. TOTALLY ISOLATED. SHE BEAMS.

GIVES A DEEP HAPPY SIGH AS SHE WALKS DOWN]

CUT TO:

EP10/SC20. INT. RAFE AND JESS’ HOUSE. RAFE’S DEN. DAY 1.

14.17

JANE, DAVEY, JESS

[JESS AND DAVEY IN RAFE’S DEN, SOFA, A DESK.

FRAMED SKYDIVING MEMENTOS ON THE WALLS:

POSTERS, CERTIFICATES. DAVEY EXAMINES A

CERTIFICATE WHICH HAS A KANGAROO AND

PARACHUTE ON THE FRONT]

JESS:

We met in a bar at Byron Bay. Rafe was competing. We started talking,

never stopped.

[DAVEY TURNS IT OVER. SEES RAFE’S NAME ON

THE BACK WITH A LIST OF JUMPS]

JESS:

We were engaged six days later. Got married after two months just before

he came back here. That was three years ago.

DAVEY:

Love at first sight?

[JESS NODS, GIVES A TINY SMILE]

JESS:

He thought being registered with the Australian Parachute Federation was

the same as a visa. If only it was that easy.

DAVEY:

You’d have preferred to stay in Australia?

JESS:

Rafe would. There’s better jumps over there. I just wanted to be with him.

[DAVEY HANGS THE CERTIFICATE BACK UP]

DAVEY:

So, do you skydive too?

[JESS GIVES A HUGE GRIMACE]

JESS:

I’m terrified of heights. Hated it every time Rafe went up. Drove him nuts.

Didn’t even want him to go this morning.

[SHE LOOKS DEVASTATED AS IT HITS HER AGAIN]

DAVEY:

What can you tell me about his team at the Drop Zone?

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