The Missing

1 EXT. GRAND PLACE - DUSK 1 1

The central square in the small French town of Chalons Du

Bois. It’s late November, and it’s already getting dark.

Torrential rain beats down on the empty streets and

mismatched buildings. The whole place has the air of a ghost

town.

2 INT. LE CENTRAL - DUSK 1 2

A brasserie right on the Grand Place that was probably quite

smart when it was refurbished in the 80’s - but it’s changed

little since then. A fire blazes in one corner, and a few of

the of the booths and tables are occupied by people taking

shelter from the deafening rain.

At one table, we pick out a tired, dishevelled looking man

with a thick beard. In his late forties, dressed in grubby

trousers and an un-ironed grey shirt, he has an intense look

about him. He is quietly drinking coffee and reading from an

English newspaper. This is TONY HUGHES.

At a nearby table, just by the large window facing onto the

Grand Place, a MUM and DAD sit with their two kids - a GIRL

(6) and a BOY (13). The girl is revving up for a bout of

screaming, the parents desperately trying to appease her in

hushed tones. An uneaten ice cream sits on the table.

GIRL:

I wanted chocolate. You said...

MUM:

Sweetie you asked for strawberry,

you’ve only had one spoonful.

GIRL:

But... you said...

The girl stutters then starts to cry. The parents put their

arms around her, desperate to pacify her. Tony looks over at

the family and notices their little boy sat patiently beside

them, reading. While the parents are busy consoling their

girl, Tony smiles and leans over to him.

TONY:

(quietly)

What are you reading?

The boy doesn’t answer, just holds up the cover of the book.

‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ by Harper Lee.

TONY (CONT’D)

That’s some heavy reading.

(beat)

How old are you?

(CONTINUED)

EDEN Episode One. GREEN Amendments. 10th June 2014 2.

2 CONTINUED:
2

BOY:

Thirteen.

The mum notices him talking to her boy, staring intensely at

him. Suddenly protective, she puts her arm around the boy

and flashes a polite but fixed smile at Tony. A why-the-hellare-

you-talking-to-my-thirteen-year-old-boy smile.

TONY:

Sorry. I... I have a son his age.

MUM:

No, no. It’s fine.

The woman looks out the window. Between the crying kid and

the creepy guy in the corner she’s had enough.

MUM (CONT’D)

Well look at that. The rain seems

to be easing off. Come on Jim.

We’re going to have to brave it at

some point...

A cursory smile at Tony, and she gets their things and

bundles them out of the brasserie, with their girl still

wailing her head off. As they go, the boy turns and waves at

Tony, who waves back. The mum shoots him a look but it

doesn’t seem to bother Tony at all. He doesn’t even notice

her. His eyes remain fixed on the boy.

3 EXT. LIQUOR STORE - DUSK 1 3

TONY walks down the street. The rain has eased off but it’s

still drizzling. He wraps his coat tighter. He stops outside

a liquor store - ‘La Prairie’ - but it’s shut. Looking

through the window he bangs on it hard. No reply. He checks

his watch, looks annoyed, then moves on down the road. As

Tony goes, an old man leans out of the window above La

Prairie, woken by the knocking, and sees Tony walking off.

He shakes his head grumpily and goes back inside.

3A EXT. GRAND PLACE- DUSK 1 3A

TONY walks through the Grand Place in the rain.

3B EXT. CHALONS DU BOIS OLD BRIDGE- DUSK 1 3B

TONY wanders over the bridge in the rain

4 EXT. HOTEL L’EDEN - DUSK 1 4

TONY approaches a hotel. A neon sign spells out the words

‘Hotel L’Eden’. A stock picture of a palm tree on a beach

sits beside it. Tony goes in.

EDEN Episode One. GREEN Amendments. 10th June 2014 3.

5 INT. HOTEL L’EDEN. RECEPTION - DUSK 1 5

A standard hotel reception, nothing impressive or

particularly unimpressive, just average. And very quiet.

Behind the desk, an old plump French woman with white hair

and glasses doing a crossword. She smiles at Tony who

manages a thin smile back. In a thick French accent

SYLVIE:

Is it still raining?

TONY:

Less.

As Tony heads towards the stairs

SYLVIE:

How did you go today? Any luck?

Tony shakes his head.

SYLVIE (CONT’D)

Happy Birthday Tony.

TONY:

Merci Sylvie.

He disappears upstairs. Sylvie goes back to her crossword.

5A INT. HOTEL L’EDEN. CORRIDOR- DUSK 1 5A

TONY walks to his room.

6 INT. HOTEL L’EDEN. ROOM 7 - NIGHT 1 6

TONY takes off his jacket and sits on the end of his bed. He

pulls out his phone. A deep breath, and he pushes a number.

EMILY (V.O.)

Hi. I can’t come to the phone but

leave a message after the...

We hear the voicemail beep. After a beat

TONY:

It’s me. I hope you’re... well I

heard the news, so... I suppose you

are.

(beat)

I, uh, I came back Emily. Same room

and everything. TV still doesn’t

work.

He attempts a laugh, looking at the unplugged television in

the corner. It’s unconvincing.

(CONTINUED)

EDEN Episode One. GREEN Amendments. 10th June 2014 4.

6 CONTINUED:
6

TONY (CONT’D)

Anyway. I’m here. I thought you

should know why - I’ve found

something.

Tony hangs up and turns out the light.

CUT TO BLACK:

TITLE CARD:

EPISODE CARD:
“EDEN”

FADE IN:

6A EXT. PARIS BOULEVARD - DAY A-1 6A

A typical, broad Haussmann-designed boulevard in Paris. The

streets are lined with brasseries and bars, the tables

packed close together. French flags are everywhere - hanging

from buildings, bumper-stickers on cars, hats and T-shirts

being hawked at stands on street-corners...

7 EXT. RESTAURANT. TERRACE. PARIS - DAY A-1 7

CAPTION:
PARIS - JULY 2006

The terrace of a smart Parisian brasserie. 15 or so people

sit round a long table having lunch. It’s a party atmosphere

with a lot of wine and general merriment. At the head sits a

man in his early 50’s - JULIEN. Next to him, his attractive

wife of the same age, an English woman - CELIA. Among the

guests we pick out fellow detectives FRANCOIS and LANEAU.

LANEU LANEU:

(French)Il ne voulait pas prendre sa

He didn’t want to retire, he retraitre, ne voulait pas de

didn’t want the lunch... repas... C’est pas .vident de

Julien is a hard man to faire plaisir . Julien.

please.

FRANCOIS FRANCOIS

(French)Celia, en tout cas sait

Celia must know how to please comment lui faire plaisir. A

him though. How do you think ton avis, comment elle a fait

she finally persuaded him to pour le persuader de prendre

retire? sa retraite ?

Jeers from the assembled group. Celia shakes her head at the

childish behaviour.

(CONTINUED)

EDEN Episode One. GREEN Amendments. 10th June 2014 5.

7 CONTINUED:
7

CELIA CELIA:

(French)Tu sais bien que je parle

You do know I speak French, fran.ais.

right?

(English; to Julien)

I did marry a Frenchman after

all. I think you put it in

the pre-nup didn’t you?

The chatter around the table continues as Julien turns to

Celia and smiles.

JULIEN:

It wasn’t you who persuaded me to

retire, mon amour. I just couldn’t

think of any other way to avoid

Francois’ singing every morning...

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