The Coroner Page #4

JESS:

They were close. Tight. He and Lori had been running it for years.

DAVEY:

Did they all get on?

[JESS LOOKS AT HIM, HESITANT]

JESS:

I guess. I don’t really know them. (FROWNS) You think it was one of

them?

DAVEY:

Possibly. Exploring all avenues. How come you weren’t friendly with

them? Thought they were like one big family?

JESS:

(SMILES SADLY) Yeah. Rafe’s not mine. I tried to get to know them.

Did everything I could but… (BEAT) They’re not keen on outsiders.

[JANE ENTERS WITH A TRAY OF TEA THINGS]

DAVEY:

Who’s “they”?

[BEAT]

JESS:

(RELUCTANT) Lori. She was his first girlfriend. Can’t have been easy

when he turned up with me.

JANE:

(PUTS DOWN TRAY) They were still together?

JESS:

No, split up years ago. But women always have a thing for their first love.

JANE:

Not strictly true. (EYES DAVEY) Not all women.

[TAKES TABLETS OUT OF HER POCKET]

JANE:

Jess, when I was making tea, I found these. Folic acid.

[THE UNSAID QUESTION HANGS IN THE AIR]

JESS:

I’m not pregnant. (BEAT) I’d love to be. It’s all I ever wanted. Kids.

Never found the right man til Rafe.

[SHE TAKES THE FOLIC ACID FROM JANE]

JESS:

I’d try anything if I thought it would work. These. Yams. Standing on my

head. Drank grapefruit juice by the gallon cos someone swore it worked.

Even saw a fertility astrologist.

[DAVEY GIVES HER SMALL SMILE]

JESS:

I had been pregnant. Found out on my thirty ninth birthday. Lost it. Same

day.

[JESS TRIES HER HARDEST NOT TO CRY]

JESS:

And then... No matter what I did, what we tried. (WRY) And believe me,

I’ve tried everything. I… I couldn’t get pregnant again.

[DAVEY GIVES HER A SYMPATHETIC LOOK. FEELS

FOR HER]

JESS:

We were trying I.V.F. Fourth round next week. Was our last chance.

[THIS TIME SHE CAN’T STOP THE TEARS. JANE

GOES TO COMFORT HER BUT DAVEY’S THERE

FIRST. HE HANDS JESS A TISSUE, LETS HER CRY.

EYES JANE – HE’S GOT THIS. SHE NODS, SLIPS OUT]

CUT TO:

EP10/SC21. INT. JUDITH’S. DAY 1. 18.37

JANE, BETH, JUDITH, MICK

[JANE ENTERS. BETH COOKS]

BETH:

(SMILES) Good day? I’m making dinner for us all.

[JANE EYES HER SUSPICIOUSLY]

JANE:

Why’re you so happy?

BETH:

I’m not allowed to be happy now, either?

JANE:

No, just…

BETH:

(IN) It was a headache. It was fine once I chilled out.

[JUDITH AND MICK ENTER, BOTH WITH FACE

PACKS ON. MICK GRABS A BEER FROM THE

FRIDGE]

JUDITH:

So? What’s the news?

[JANE STARES AT THEM BOTH]

MICK:

(EXPLAINS) We’re having a “spa” night. Your mum’s idea. Well?

JUDITH:

(NOSY) Did he do it? Eddie?

JANE:

(THROWN) Davey’s interviewing him tomorrow. You know I couldn’t tell

you even if he did.

MICK:

I’ll ask Davey tomorrow. Offer him a free pint and he sings like a canary.

JANE:

No, he doesn’t!

JUDITH:

She’s right. (TO MICK) Better throw a pasty in an’ all.

[JANE ROLLS HER EYES, HELPS HERSELF TO A

LARGE GLASS OF WINE]

MICK:

Judith, this face mask thingy… Is it good if it feels kinda warm?

JUDITH:

(SUSPICIOUS) How warm?

MICK:

Like… Like someone’s napalmed your face?

JUDITH:

Oh bugger… Upstairs now.

[SHE CHIVVIES HIM OUT]

MICK (O.O.V.):

I thought all the burning was good for me. Getting rid of the dead cells.

JUDITH:

Let’s hope it hasn’t got rid of your face.

[THEY EXIT. JANE SMILES. EYES BETH COOKING.

HUGS HER]

BETH:

What’s this for?

JANE:

Just thinking how lucky I am to have you.

[BETH HUGS HER BACK, SEES THE PAN START TO

SMOKE]

BETH:

Oh no!!!

CUT TO:

EP10/SC.22 INT./EXT. RAFE AND JESS’ HOUSE. DAY 1. 19.25

JESS, LORI

[A LOUD KNOCKING, JESS OPENS THE DOOR TO

LORI. JESS UNREADABLE]

LORI:

I’m sorry. I should’ve checked his parachute.

[BEAT]

LORI:

Rafe wouldn’t want you to be alone. Can I… Can I come in?

[JESS CONSIDERS HER A MOMENT. SHUTS THE

DOOR IN HER FACE. SHE LEANS AGAINST IT.

BURIES HER HEAD IN HER ARMS.

ON THE OTHER SIDE, LORI BREAKS DOWN.

BOTH DEVASTATED. BOTH GUILTY.

LORI FOR NOT CHECKING HIS PARACHUTE, JESS

FOR NOT STOPPING HIM GOING]

CUT TO:

EP10/SC23. INT. CORONER’S COURT. CORRIDOR. DAY 2. 10.06

JANE, CLINT

PASSERSBYS:

[JANE HURRIES OUT OF COURT, CORONER COLLAR,

JOINS CLINT WHO HOLDS A FILE]

CLINT:

Photocopies of the Pathologist’s report and a letter from Mrs. Robbins’

doctor. Does her son want anything else?

JANE:

His mother back?

CLINT:

How’s Mrs. Robbins’ inquest going?

JANE:

Slowly. Her son’s challenging everything. (SHRUGS) Think he feels

guilty he didn’t see her more. Thanks, Clint.

CLINT:

Oh! We got Rafe Phelps’ PM back. He died on impact.

JANE:

I could’ve told you that.

CLINT:

His medical records are in too. Only been to his docs once in the last three

years and that was two months ago. Complained of a tightness in his arm

and shoulder. Was advised to rest it. Apart from that he was fine.

JANE:

So nothing unusual?

CLINT:

Nope.

JANE:

Okay, thanks. (ABOUT TO GO BACK IN, SHE STOPS) Any news from

Davey about Eddie?

CUT TO:

EP10/SC24. INT. POLICE STATION. DAVEY’S OFFICE. DAY 2.

10.12

DAVEY, EDDIE

[DAVEY INTERVIEWS A HUNGOVER EDDIE]

EDDIE:

I didn’t touch Rafe’s rig. I wouldn’t.

DAVEY:

You told half the Black Dog it was your fault.

EDDIE:

Because I hadn’t checked it. My job’s to check equipment. If I had, I’d

have seen something was wrong.

DAVEY:

So why didn’t you check it?

EDDIE:

(AWKWARD) I wanted to…

DAVEY:

But?

[BEAT]

EDDIE:

He wouldn’t let me.

DAVEY:

Because?

EDDIE:

I’ve had some… issues.

[DAVEY WAITS]

EDDIE:

My wife left. I started drinking. Didn’t stop. Made a mistake packing a

chute. Rafe laid down the law. Said I was off the team til I got sober.

DAVEY:

Sounds fair enough.

EDDIE:

Rafe annoyed the Hell out of me. He was patronising, bossy... But he was

like a brother. I loved him. I’d never hurt him. None of us would. We’re…

[EDDIE BREAKS OFF AS A MEMORY RETURNS]

DAVEY:

What?

EDDIE:

No, nothing.

DAVEY:

(WARNING) Eddie…

[EDDIE HEDGES, FEELS HUGELY DISLOYAL]

EDDIE:

He had an argument yesterday. With Stix. Didn’t hear what about…

DAVEY:

Stix?

CUT TO:

EP10/SC25. EXT. SURFER’S SHACK. BEACH. DAY 2. 11.47

DAVEY, STIX

[STIX, COOKS HIS BREAKFAST ON A BARBECUE

OUTSIDE A SHACK, NESTLED IN SOME DUNES. A

SURF BOARD PROPPED AGAINST THE SIDE, A QUAD

BIKE NEARBY. HIS FACE FALLS TO SEE DAVEY. HE

COVERS, FORCES A SMILE]

STIX:

After some breakfast?

[DAVEY EYES HIM – STONY FACED]

DAVEY:

Eddie said you argued with Rafe yesterday.

STIX:

What? Can’t trust Eddie, reckon he’d had a couple.

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