Black Snow (2023) s01e05 Episode Script

Sugar Sugar

1
You know it'd save time if you
sent the body straight to Brisbane?
Yeah, well, nearest hospital's Mackay.
Yeah, but you can skip the
formalities if you suspect foul play.
Yeah, well, it's not my decision.
It's theirs.
You know, this could be
connected to Isabel's murder?
This is Jim Cormack.
He's a cold case boffin from Brisvegas.
He's found love in our fair town,
beguiled by its exotic beauty.
Have you got someone
that could stay with you?
Billy was my someone.
Uh, sugar?
That's evil shit.
It wrecked Billy's teeth, you know?
Mmm. Got his teeth fixed in prison.
So "No reason to go back inside,
now I got my teeth fixed."
That's what he said.
What the fuck ?
Ugh
Do you know what Billy
wanted to talk to me about?
What was it about Hector's camera?
Mmm.
Yeah, he nicked it, with Steve Walcott.
After the formal.
Is it here?
Do you know what was on the tape?
I don't know, but
it had something to do with Steve.
Billy said he was set
for a big payday and
I tried to warn him.
But, you know, he always trusted Steve.
Have you taken something?
Was just a kid who
wanted a dad, you know?
- Come on, show me.
- No.
Uh-uh, show me.
- Hey.
- Hey
- I'll top you up later.
- No.
I promise, OK?
Tasha
You know, I'm not going to kill myself.
And Billy didn't kill himself either.
No matter what anyone tells you.
Detective. What are you doing here?
You know what happened, right?
Yeah.
It's awful.
Just getting Billy's stuff for Tasha.
Can't imagine what she's going through.
Billy knew that he had
to move. He was squatting.
You know, Billy called me last night.
Yeah.
Hazel's lovely.
- Yes, she is lovely.
- Hmm.
Oh! Get out of here.
Quinn got the wrong
idea. Nothing's happening.
No, I don't know Quinn.
Mum got it from someone
in her book club,
who got it from the motel owner.
Of course she did.
Can I have a little sneaky peek.
Knock yourself out.
Billy had a a bit of a
crush on me, back in the day.
Hooked up a couple of times,
but I didn't tell Izzy because
well, she hated him.
Why'd she hate him?
Because he's an asshole.
Was.
Has Billy done any work for
your dad since he'd been out?
Not that I know of.
You know, they had an
altercation at the pub, right?
- I'll ask Dad about it.
- Yeah.
He's not really involved
in the business anymore.
He's a bit more of a figurehead, so
Why are you treating us like criminals?
We were kids when Izzy died.
Fucking hate that time capsule!
What happened? People are
saying that he killed himself.
Is it true?
Well he is dead.
That much is true.
You think it's connected?
I reckon so, but, um
the Mackay detectives are in charge now,
so they'll, uh, decide how deep to dig.
Hey, I thought you might want to
go see Mary and give her a heads-up.
I'm sending an officer to
collect a sample of Ezekiel's DNA.
- What for?
- To see if it might be a match
to the blood that was
found on Isabel's hand.
- Cormack, he was with Dad.
- We have no proof of that.
OK?
I've got Turner gunning for Ezekiel,
and I can't even prove that his
cousins were even in Ashford,
let alone missing.
So, that's where we're at.
Yeah, all right.
I think the hotel owner
thought that we were
making sweet, sweet love.
You wish.
I'm going to Brisbane tomorrow.
Gonna talk to the old man.
- Hmm?
- Bad idea?
Maybe.
Maybe not.
What kind of advice is that?
You good?
You don't look good.
Gotta go.
Did Billy threaten you?
Not really, but it was pretty creepy.
He was wearing an Ankou t-shirt.
I reckon it was him on the trail bike.
I need to talk to Pastor Joe.
You can't tell him about
Dalkeith. I've lied to him.
I won't mention you.
We could talk to Chloe's
dad. She's my best friend.
The Walcotts are like my second family.
Trust me, Steve will help us.
Um, OK, we're nearly done.
Just a couple more things.
Thank you SO much,
Chloe. About bloody time.
Hey, Iz, smile for me.
Izzy. Come on, now!
You know, um, Dad's
almost finished harvesting,
so, could, uh,
go back to the love
shack whenever we want.
Ugh!
Chloe's just jealous.
Go on. Meet me after class.
Mmm! This is a good one.
"Anton's make-out trax."
- Yeah.
- Is that from Tasha?
What is it? You all right?
Nah. Where are you off to?
I need you guys to
stay away from the shed.
Oh, I thought you'd done with it by now.
Some clown who spent the
night there last night,
as a thank you, he's tipped
over a drum of the pesticide.
Whole place is toxic.
I've padlocked it
until we get it cleaned.
But, you know, it shits me.
I remember time where you didn't
even need to lock your front door.
You should rinse your eyes.
I'll go and, uh, jump into
the water hole over at Pioneer.
That's where I used to take
your mum, back in the day.
Right. Thanks for that, Dad.
Yeah. You know, we never
actually wore togs, back then.
- No need to. No-one around
- Right. Well
I can't actually hear him.
- Can you hear him right now?
- No.
I can't hear him, whatever he's saying.
I'm just suggesting you guys
go and enjoy the waterhole,
but, uh, stay safe, yeah?
Safe?
He knows, doesn't he?
If my dad finds out, I'm dead.
Come on, he won't tell
anyone. He couldn't care less.
Izzy, come here.
Have you been sleeping with Tash?
Izzy, come on!
You know I love you.
I should go home.
It's still early!
Get a different
make-out track next time.
Come on, it's just a stupid tape!
Nightclubs, surfing at Bondi,
hot Spanish backpackers.
Uh, what now?
Dad! Stalker, much. What do you want?
Your mum and I just went and
picked up your formal shoes in town.
But I guess you don't want them.
No, I do.
How much? How much do you want them?
- Ah, Dad!
- Oh, my God.
Thank you. You're the best.
I actually have Wait, let me see.
I picked up a pair from
the catalogue for you,
because you can't find
anything good in Ashford.
What?
- Oh, thank you so much.
- OK.
What do I owe you?
Uh, just call it a graduation gift.
Hey, I chased up the workers you
were asking about the other day.
Whole mob of them went west,
fence building. Hard yakka.
Some of them couldn't hack it.
Said they were they
were hitching to Brissie.
Then going home.
Now, your mum and I, we don't
want you driving at night.
- So we're going to pay for motels.
- We're sleeping in Millie.
Wh No way. Too many
weirdoes out there.
I mean, I'll probably
have Millie to myself
because Izzy hasn't even
told her parents yet.
She's scared of Pastor Joe, Dad.
Well, I could talk to him if you like?
No, please don't.
No, no. I can reassure
them. We're all over this.
Lynn and I have already worked out
what to do when the van breaks down.
Millie will last longer than you, Dad.
Yeah? We'll argue about it later.
I'm paying for roadside assist.
Hey, have you cancelled your
holiday shifts at the video store?
If you're piking, just tell me and
I'll find someone else to go with.
I mean, I'd be really cut,
but probably not as cut as you'll
be when you end up stuck here.
My parents are nothing like yours.
I don't want to disappoint them.
Izzy, you have to live your own life.
They're not going to be
upset when they understand
it's what you ACTUALLY want to do.
Some of them went to Brisbane.
Some of them went back home.
They wouldn't go home
without telling me.
They said that they
didn't like the work.
They couldn't leave
even if they wanted to.
The mill keeps our pay -
deducts food, rent, boots, everything.
They don't have enough
money for a plane ticket.
They don't even have their passports.
The boss keeps them at his house.
Give me one more chance to fix this.
Isabel.
Steve
Chloe's not here.
Yeah, I know.
I just came
to grab my formal shoes.
- Oh.
- I forgot them.
Thanks again. They're really pretty.
That's all right. You're welcome.
Well, I better get home.
It's getting dark.
Ride safe.
I've seen the Ankou here,
sharpening its scythe,
waiting to reap our souls.
There are people here I trusted.
But now I know they feed on suffering.
I didn't think you'd come.
I didn't want you to show up
on my doorstep when you got out.
You got a missus?
I've got grandkids?
You can tell almost
anything about most people
from the Internet.
I'm a cat lover.
I'm a Hufflepuff.
I bleach my arse.
But not you.
The only thing I know about you is
you're a cop.
What do you want to tell me, Dad?
I thought you'd want to know.
A few months ago
Ritchie come to see me.
Bullshit.
OK. What did he look like, then?
Bit like you.
But Less fucking miserable.
Where's he been all this time, hmm?
Don't know. We didn't talk about that.
What did you talk about, then?
He's in trouble.
He needs help.
What kind of trouble?
Time.
Hey.
Hey. How'd it go with your dad?
- As expected.
- Oh, that good.
You want to talk about it?
No.
No, he's full of shit.
He's just trying to wind me up.
When you coming back, then?
Tonight.
I've been thinking about
that time capsule video,
and
I'd like to watch it.
Yes, of course. Um
Come around any time tomorrow.
Yeah, cool. I'll see you then.
What's this?
Uh, it came from the lab this morning.
It's the photos from
the disposable camera
Anton Bianchi put in the time capsule.
Hey
OK, I need you to get the visitor logs
of prisoner number 1527 at Wacol.
OK?
And I need the security footage
of any visitor he's had
in the last three months.
Hey, um, sure, but
wouldn't it be quicker and easier
to just go through the cold case unit?
It's between you and I, OK?
It's a personal matter, so
OK.
Hey.
- Where are the detectives?
- Back in Mackay.
They think it was an accident.
Ugh
Come on! Really?
Billy claimed that he had
information about Isabel's murder.
Billy is a loose unit.
Quite frankly, I'm surprised
that he survived this long
If somebody else was involved,
it could have been the same
person that killed Isabel.
- Yeah, we all know who killed the Baker girl.
- Do you not understand Who?
25 years ago, I solved that case.
You put the cherry on top
- well done, you.
So now you can pack your
bags and fuck off home.
I cannot decide if you're corrupt
or you're just bloody useless.
- And let me go think.
- Fuck ff home.
OK. Maybe it's both.
Big tick in both columns.
Yes!
Oh, fucking hell.
I'll take care of the funeral.
Oh, really?
How exciting.
You going to pick up the bar
tab at the wake as well? Huh?
Billy has a lot of friends.
'Course. Anything.
Why are you helping us now?
Billy is part of the mill family.
Come on
I told him that I couldn't stay
in the house on Harper's Road.
Yeah, he said.
Well, I feel shit about it.
I di I didn't think he would
He would ?
He would what?
He didn't kill himself.
Billy had a video camera. It's not here.
Sorry. That's, um
That's all that was out there.
Yeah, right. Right.
Thanks for stopping by.
Um
If If you need
anything, just call, OK?
Yep.
I mean it, Tasha. All right. Oh
All right.
Fucking stupid
What do you want this time?
Thought you might want a copy of these.
You should check in on Tasha.
She could really use a friend right now.
Yeah. No, I should. Should.
Just got a bit going on at the moment.
What's all this about?
Where'd you get that?
It was just lying on
Billy's sleeping bag.
You didn't have to do anything to him.
I didn't.
You're resigning from the board,
and you're selling
me 15% of your shares.
I'm not giving you control.
Sign them over to your grandkids, then.
Or what?
What happened to those boys?
I told you, I have no idea.
Doesn't matter.
I'll use this predator footage.
The board will vote you off.
- You'll be a dirty old man, at best.
- Don't
Don't be ridiculous.
Your old mates might stick by
you, but not the rest of the world.
I've never had to do what
Isabell accused me of doing.
That's what they all say,
until the women tell their side.
Oh, save me the
self-righteous bullshit.
I know how you run the
place. You scam the workers.
- You scam the government.
- I've learnt from the best.
There's absolutely nothing different
to anything that you've done.
Don't worry. I won't
kill the golden goose.
Chloe, look
It's me.
Dad.
And I love you.
So retire.
Sail off with a crew of bimbos
and be grateful that
you got away with it all.
This is my family's mill,
the heart of Ashford.
We drive the economy
of this great region.
The mill has given countless
jobs to people far and wide,
and our sugar is exported
all over the world.
Basically, we put Ashford on the map,
which is why it should really
be called Walcottsville.
Anyway. That's enough from me.
I'm Chloe Walcott, the
daughter in Walcott & Sons.
Huh. Walcottsville?
None of you would be here
if it wasn't for the mill.
Hector, you can edit this out, right?
Chloe, please!
Hector Ford's a stalker.
I don't know how to play hockey.
Hey, Izzy!
Rarr!
This is my sister, Hazel.
Um, she's a deadly little hockey player.
But you probably already know
that by the time you watch this,
because she'll be in the
Olympics, doing her thang
Doing it good!
Is this for the time capsule?
- Oh, yeah.
- Very proud of you. Come here.
Give us a kissy. Come on.
Thank you for watching our
time capsule documentary.
- See you in 25!
- 25 years!
This is the first time I've
seen my sister since we lost her.
I forgot how funny she was.
Don't do that.
Nearly gave me a heart attack.
I haven't seen this.
What is this place?
This is Satan's memorial
to Ashford's dark past,
to bad business.
But it's not just history.
It's still happening now.
I saw it.
Right there.
Put on the full armour of God
so that you can take a stab
against the devil's schemes.
For our struggle
is not against flesh and blood
but against the powers
of this dark place
and the spiritual forces of evil
in the heavenly realm.
We ask you all of this
in the name of Jesus.
Amen.
Steve.
Hey. Pastor Joe, girls.
How are you?
Oh, you know, under the pump
with the crush, as per usual.
Never bloody stops.
No rest for the wicked, eh?
How about you? How you getting on?
I'm a little bit troubled, actually.
A couple of my boys from Tanna
have just dropped off the map,
and we think that Billy Hopkins
might have driven them somewhere.
Now, they're just 17. We're
just a little bit worried.
Could you could you ask him?
Niman and Kalip's their names.
Yeah, yeah, I'll ask. But
you know how vague Billy gets.
Forget his own head if
it wasn't screwed on, eh?
Maybe we should report
them missing to the police.
Yeah, yeah, well, we
could do that, Izzy,
but then the police might
find some undocumented workers.
And, you know, your dad and I have
to bend the rules a little bit
just to make sure that, um
everyone gets enough work.
If we get the cops involved, we, um
might have to cut a few loose, you know?
Joe, you're in charge
of human resources.
What do you reckon?
Human resources. Shouldn't
you be paying him, then?
Let's just leave the cops
out of this, all right?
I'll talk to Billy.
- God be with you, Steve.
- Yeah, and you too, mate.
Don't you ever speak to
your elders like that again.
It's true.
You spend more time helping
his workers than he does.
I work for my congregation
where I'm needed, OK?
Not for the mill.
- What are you doing?
- Nothing.
Stop. Stop!
Sorry.
Max?
Max Phelps. Is he your boyfriend?
No.
He's really cute.
He's not my boyfriend.
Kylie said that Adam
said that Max likes me.
He wrote my name on the
outside of his shoes.
I just didn't want Mum and Dad to see.
I can do yours.
Izzy loves Anton.
- No.
- Why? Isn't he your boyfriend?
I have an idea.
OK.
Well, isn't that cute?
15 I'm sure that's the lucky one.
Lovely to see you again.
My best to your brother.
Ladies! Tickets?
Hello, Victor.
From our congregation.
Just like, say thank you for
all the work that your mob does
for the community.
Oh!
Well, I don't know how many
tickets this buys you, it's
No tickets required. It's a donation.
That's very generous,
but at least take a cake.
- Yeah.
- No need to ask me twice.
Oh, Izzy, you look beautiful.
- Are you excited about the formal?
- Yeah. Really excited.
Yeah. Anton says your dress is blue.
'Cause I've made your
corsage out of silk flowers.
Something you can keep,
you know, as a keepsake.
But there's hundreds of shades of blue.
Victor suggested white 'cause
it goes with everything.
Apparently not, though.
I like to say for white
for those bigger occasions.
Like your, uh, wedding dress.
Well, you've got to
get through uni first.
I mean, I'll be amazed if
Anton lasts a year in the city.
And what use is an agriculture degree?
I mean, it's the son of a farmer.
But, that's what they
want to do nowadays.
- Anything to put off starting work.
- Mm-hm.
Of course, Izzy's
scholarship's different.
You must be so proud of her.
We are. Very proud.
So proud. Yeah.
So I've gone with lilac.
Lilac!
So thoughtful of you, Katherine.
Thank you so much.
We'll take the chocolate
mud cake, thanks.
Izzy.
Go for it.
What are you going to do?
I don't know.
You can't tell the truth.
Just say Anton and Chloe
are having sex, not you.
You're grounded.
You will not attend the dance
with that Bianchi boy, or anyone.
You go to your room.
- Why?
- Now is not the time, Izzy.
Izzy. Sit up, please.
You know you've been given
so many opportunities, eh?
I know.
You're the future of this family.
You represent this family.
But I'm never allowed
to forget the past.
I represent this family,
but I'm not a boy -
I just have to do whatever I'm told.
I'm equal, but I can't
have a white boyfriend.
I have to be black and white.
And a leader and a girl.
And the future and the past.
Anything else?
Plenty.
Get over yourself.
Respect your elders,
and respect yourself.
And feel some shame for lying to us.
I do. Well, feel more.
You're wasting your promise
on that Bianchi fella.
And chasing after Zeke.
I'm not chasing after him. I'm
helping him, like Dad taught us.
You been safe with that Bianchi fella?
His name's Anton.
You break my heart.
When you start living your truth
you don't need to lie.
You mean when I live Dad's truth?
No, that's not what I mean.
Who are you?
Hey, missy?
When you stop lying
who is Isabel Baker?
It's not that bad.
Hazel doesn't even know what sex is.
- Do so.
- She got confused.
Izzy's worked too hard this year.
She has.
The formal is her reward for
all that hard work she's done.
Mmm.
I won't stop her from going.
But I won't celebrate.
The white men came from far away ♪
They changed my way of life ♪
They took with them
some peculiar way ♪
Which affected my all of life ♪
The white men came
and they be wild at me ♪
And they took away my people too ♪
They took them to
places I know not where ♪
And worked them until they died. ♪
She's beautiful.
You're a lot like her.
Everyone says that.
- Kal There's, uh
- Hey, bub.
I was in town. I thought
I'd give you a lift.
Oh.
Look. Coach says I can keep it.
Come on. Nan's going to be rapt.
Speaking of We should go.
- See you, Coach.
- Yeah, see you!
You can have that.
See you, Hazel!
- You want tape?
- Yes, please.
- Hey.
- So, Ezekiel's DNA test came back.
It's not a direct match for
the blood on Isabel's hand,
but it is a familial match.
It must have been one of the cousins.
Which means Izzy must've
known where they were.
Yeah, well, why didn't she tell Dad?
Did you tell him everything
when you were her age?
Hey. So
What are we looking for?
This is Satan's memorial
to Ashford's its dark past
to bad business.
Are we looking for anything specific?
I mean, this happened
a really long time ago.
The blood on Isabel's hands
belongs to one of the
boys missing from Vanuatu.
Which means
They saw each other that night.
Isabel is on camera, here,
talking about Satan's memorial.
So this place is connected to her death.
Chloe!
I totally forgot to give this to you,
but someone from the
wrecker's dropped it off.
Oh, thanks.
Up in the sun. Nice and warm.
Has Dad gone to men's group?
Yeah, bub, he's gone.
There's something I need to tell you.
I should have told you a long time ago.
I thought I had good
reasons not to tell anyone.
I was just ashamed.
Hey
Is it about Izzy?
No.
It's about Kalana's dad.
Sarge
Sarge.
When you and Dad drove
out to Yarabah to help out,
I came home.
And Anton showed up here.
What for?
Just to talk about Izzy.
He took me out to see
a painting she did.
At a shed in the cane.
He was camping out there.
He was in a bad way, Mum.
But after that
he came over every day.
just to talk about Izzy.
We got close.
I don't know, but it felt
It felt like we couldn't
stop what happened
between us.
Yeah
After I went back to
uni, I was horrified.
And it wasn't just because
he was her boyfriend.
He was getting married.
The next time I came home, you
couldn't pay me to be near him.
Like, there was no
attraction whatsoever.
I don't know. I can't explain it.
I can.
Kalana.
It was her time.
Doesn't matter how she
came into this world.
She was meant to be.
Yes, yes.
Hi, it's Hazel. Leave a message.
Hi.
I, uh, I've got something
important to tell you.
Can you meet me at the
station later tonight?
Turner's at the business
awards, so the coast is clear.
Yeah.
I'm sorry, I lied.
Anton's marriage would have got ruined
if I had to come up and told the truth.
And you went to never lie, so
I couldn't tell you guys either.
You were protecting us.
And Anton?
No.
Speak the truth.
I just knew I'd done something
horrible and I couldn't face myself.
I'm sorry.
It's all right.
We're going to be OK.
Everything's going to be all right.
Come on.
It's all good.
Why would she come
here after her formal?
Maybe the boys were hiding here.
Which would mean this
is where it happened.
It feels that way.
Except there's no red dirt, and
her dress was covered in red dirt.
What's wrong? You OK?
Mmm
This is the song.
What song?
That was playing when
Izzy called at the servo.
Iz? Are you still there?
I can't
Can't listen to it without
hearing that glitch.
Huh? What glitch?
That glitch.
OK.
So
This was the tape that was
playing at the servo that night.
No, this is a tape that
Tasha put in the time capsule.
But it must be a copy of
the one she made for Anton.
No
Anton loved my sister.
She dumped him.
He was drunk and he was emotional
His alibi's pretty weak.
I mean, the only person that
can vouch for him is Tasha.
And she's as reliable as
a bloody weather reporter.
The white men came from far away ♪
They changed my way of life ♪
They took with him some peculiar way ♪
Which affected my all of life ♪
The white men came
and they be wild at me ♪
And they took away my people too ♪
They took them to
places I know not where ♪
And worked them until they died. ♪
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