Mermaid Beach (2026) Movie Script
1
(whimsical tone)
(gentle music)
(waves crashing)
(humming)
- [Fisherman] All right Ms Blue,
what have you got for us today?
Cool, I have some thing.
Oh, that's a monster fish.
(waves crash)
(suspenseful music)
Come on, you beast. (groans)
(suspenseful music intensifies)
(splash)
(enthusiastic music)
(alarm rings)
(gentle music)
(door knock)
- Lily, come on.
It must be the fifth time
your alarm's gone off.
- Someone can't
count, it was four.
- Can we lose the
attitude today, please?
Come on, get up.
- Told you so.
- Get out!
(gentle music)
- Morning.
- Morning.
I thought you said
you were gonna try
and take things a bit easier.
- This is me taking it easy.
How long's your shift today?
- 12 hours.
- Ouch.
- But the overtime is
certainly gonna come in handy.
Oh, and what about
this little one, hey?
Is she gonna have
some breakfast too?
- Yes, she is.
- Yeah? (chuckles)
- Do you think the baby
will want to play with her?
- She might do.
- The baby will have
their own toys as well.
- I don't mind sharing.
(Lily yawns loudly)
- Oh, it's alive.
- Barely.
- Lily, do you have to do the
teenage years quite so hard?
- It's a pleasure.
- Hmm, and I think that's
my cue to hit the road.
I will see you tonight.
- See you later.
- Bye, have a nice day.
- Bye honey.
- Oh.
Hey.
- Packed lunch?
- I don't think our bank account
can quite handle your
purchases at the burger van.
Busted!
What would I do
without you, hey?
I'll see you later.
- Have a good day.
- You should be nicer to Jason.
- What, me?
I am nice.
- You don't smile.
- What are you on about?
- Smile?
See, one of these.
- I know what a smile is, Soph.
- [Sophie] You don't do
it as much as you used to.
- Yeah I do.
(gentle music)
- Do you wanna watch, "The
Little Mermaid" with me tonight?
- Didn't you watch it
like two night ago?
- She'd love to.
- All righty, okay.
- You ready, poppet?
- I am.
- I'm dropping Sophie
off at Jasmine's today
and I'll be back
around five-ish.
So if you could tidy up around
the place, that'd be great.
- You got it.
- Oh, and Jason's
doing overtime,
so you'll have to
pick up Sophie.
- Mm-hm.
- Oh, and I'm gonna be
cutting your allowance.
- Okay.
Wait, what?
- You've always got your
face buried in your phone.
- What, like you didn't.
- Look, can't you see what
you're missing out there?
- Please, can I just
talk to my friends?
- Your friends in London?
But we are here now.
Isn't it time to make
new, local friends
who you can actually
hang out with in person?
Sophie has.
- You had to say
that, didn't you?
- Makes sense.
- Right, can you not?
I am so sorry, mum,
that I can't just pretend
like you can, okay?
I'm really, really sorry as well
that I can't just act
like this has been our
life forever, okay?
I'm sorry, I can't do that.
- We'll talk about
this later, okay?
(door bangs)
(gentle music)
(waves crashing)
- Cat got your tongue?
- What?
- It's an expression.
- [Shane] Yeah.
- Right.
- Sorry, it's just,
normally people
don't tend to start
conversations with me.
- Really?
Can't know why?
Sorry, my mum sent me down
here to try and make friends.
Kind of regretting that now.
- You're with that family
that moved up there, right?
- Okay, it's really
nice meeting you.
- No, no, I just mean that...
Well, not many new
people come to this town
and gossip gets around
fast, and my, my dad says...
- Yeah, mate, I was just
trying to make a joke.
- Oh yeah, good one.
- God, please tell me
not everyone in this
town is like you.
Forget I asked.
(waves crashing)
- I, I'm Shane.
- Okay.
- What's your name?
- I'm Lily.
- Lily, that's a nice name.
- So do you talk to
many people or...
- Every day.
- [Lily] Really?
- Yeah.
My mum, my dad, my sisters.
- Right.
So what were you
doing over there?
- Taking photographs.
- Of what?
- The sea.
- It's blue and it's wet.
It's not really got much
else going for it, so...
- No, I'm doing work experience
for a local news website.
Taken me on as photographer
- [Lily] Oh, okay.
- Yeah, you know, it's a
slice of life type stuff,
that kind of thing.
- Yeah, but I'm pretty sure
not much really
goes on around here.
- Oh, I think you'd be
pretty surprised, actually.
It can get pretty
crazy in these parts.
I'm kidding, it's
actually really quiet.
- So what, this
newspaper took you on
to take photos of the sea?
- No, not exactly.
Yesterday, a local fisherman
got pulled into the sea
by a really large fish.
- Right.
Okay, this might comes
a shock to you, yeah?
But fish kind of tend to
live in the sea, so...
- Yeah, but not like
this apparently.
That's why I'm out here anyway,
I'm trying to get
a sighting of it.
- Cool, okay, so what
did it look like?
- Yeah, he can't quite
remember, actually.
So you're going to go swimming?
- Mm-hm.
You know of any quiet places?
- Oh, you want to be alone?
- You got it.
- Well, there's a place
I like just over there.
Not many people ever go there.
- Thanks, err...
- Shane.
- Shane, good luck
with your news thingy.
- Just be careful, not
many people go up that way.
(waves crashing)
(gentle music)
(motors roaring)
(door knock)
- Yes?
Ah, Claire, smashing.
Is that the latest
environmental reports?
- Yes, sir.
- Have you read them?
- Oh, no, I haven't had
the chance yet, sir.
- Oh, lovely.
Well, can you drop them on
the desk for me there, please?
You know, I have to say,
Claire, in the, what is it?
Eight weeks since you
started working with us,
you've become absolutely
indispensable.
- Oh, thank you, sir.
- I could see you with an
office like this one day.
- I don't think I could
handle the stress.
- Come on, you've got kids.
Running a town is not
too dissimilar at all.
- I suppose it isn't.
Mr. Knapp is waiting
for you, sir.
- Oh, really?
Wonderful.
- [Clair] Is
everything all right?
- Yeah, everything's fine.
It's, it's just, just
show him in, would you?
(door knock)
- Mr. Knapp for you, mayor.
- Martin.
- George.
Shall we?
- Let's go.
(waves crashing)
What kind of beach is this, uh?
- What are you?
(ethereal music)
No, no, no, no, no, no.
Stop.
No.
Get off of me!
(suspenseful music intensifies)
What's happening?
It's fine, it's fine, it's
a dream, it's a dream.
It's not happening, it's not
happening, it's not happening.
(chuckles)
(ethereal music)
(gentle music)
I'm a mermaid!
This is amazing!
It's magic!
(waves crashing)
Okay, that was fun.
All right, can I
turn back, please?
That was really great
and fun but yeah...
I'd like to turn back now.
(waves crashing)
(gentle music)
Err, yeah, that's natural.
(alarm rings)
(gentle music)
- I thought you'd
forgotten about me.
- As if that could happen.
How was Jasmine's?
- Good?
- Yeah?
Come on then,
let's get you home.
Come on, let's go.
- Mummy said I'd
be allowed to go
on the beach clean-up
with Jasmine.
- Oh, yeah?
- Yeah.
She said she would go,
but with the baby coming,
she doesn't want to spend
too long on her feet.
Are you excited
for a baby sister?
- What?
- You really don't
listen do you?
When I'm a teenager,
I will always listen.
- Soph, look, I've got a...
- Did you hear what I asked you?
- Yeah, of course I did.
- Well, are you excited?
- I've seen Mum pregnant before.
With you, silly.
- Oh! Were you excited for me?
- Yeah.
- You know, mum said that I
have too many cuddly toys,
do you think she's right?
- No, maybe, yes, I
don't know, come on.
- All 57 of them.
- You've actually counted
how many you have?
- And their names.
If, if I had too many,
I would forget all their
names, but I haven't.
- Right.
- I love my cuddlies.
- I know.
Soph, wait!
- Why are you doing that?
- Doing what?
- Looking at Maisy the
Mermaid like she's evil.
- I'm not looking at Maisy
the Mermaid like she's evil.
- Mummy!
- Fancy seeing you here.
- What are you doing home?
- Hey honey.
- [Sophie] Mummy!
- Oh, hey Sweetheart.
- You two are back early.
- Yeah, the Mayor gave
us the afternoon off.
- Yeah, Mr. Knapp gave
us the afternoon off too.
- Oh really?
- They had a meeting
earlier today.
The Mayor came out smiling,
said we could finish early.
- Same with Mr. Knapp.
- It must be the factory.
He must have got the
go ahead to expand.
- I guess so.
Says he wants to have a
word with me tomorrow.
- You don't think he wants
you to run it, do you?
- Maybe.
- Darling, that's brilliant.
- Can we get a takeaway
tonight to celebrate?
- Ah, I don't see
why not. (chuckles)
(whimsical music)
- The unicorn, it's here!
- Everything all right?
- Yeah, I'm just going
to go FaceTime Shane.
- You made a friend.
- Mum!
- Just saying.
- Well, don't.
- Yeah, well, mummy said you
should make more friends.
- Did she now?
- Yeah, also, said...
- Sophie.
Well, who is he?
- He's, um, local.
- Is he good looking?
- Sophie?
(door bangs)
(thud)
(gentle music)
- Okay.
Okay.
Images.
What?
The mermaid scale.
Activate with salt water.
Hmm, salt water.
Right, salt water it is.
- He's real and he's mine.
- How can it be real?
- Magic.
(TV mumbles)
- Lily?
- Mum, it's the best bit.
- I was just getting
a glass of water.
(suspenseful music)
- Okay, okay, okay, okay, okay.
(comical music)
Any moment now would be great.
No.
I must be going out of my mind.
(ethereal music)
Whoa!
(bang)
(TV mumbles)
(suspenseful music)
- Lily?
Lily, what on earth
are you doing?
- Mum, I'm having
a bath, get out!
- Sorry, I just came to
check if you're okay.
- I'm fine.
- Well, don't be
too long in here.
- Yes, okay.
- You're missing family night.
- Go!
- Sorry.
- I'm a mermaid!
(door knock)
- Lily!
(gentle music)
(waves crashing)
(camera clicks)
- Wow! Grandad.
- So hopefully after
I've seen Mr. Knapp,
I'll have some good news later.
- Fingers crossed.
- Fingers crossed.
- Morning.
- Morning.
Sorry, I just saw... Morning!
- Okay.
- See you later.
- Love you.
- Mummy!
Mommy!
- Hey Sophie, can you run
down to the beach quickly
and see if Lily's down there?
I need to get to work.
(ominous music)
(muffled scream)
(waves crashing)
- [Sophie] Did you see
it, did you see it, Lily?
- Hey you, see what?
- Lily, did you see it?
- See what?
- The mermaid.
- The what?
- Tell me you saw it.
- I didn't see anything.
I didn't see
anything, all right?
Look, I'm going to
get my stuff together
and then we're
going to go, okay?
- You didn't see it.
Maybe it wanted to be hidden.
- Sophie, there is nothing
in that sea, all right?
Apart from fish, nothing.
What are you doing here anyway?
- Mummy sent me down
here to get you.
She has to go to work.
- Right.
- We should stay down
here today, just in case.
- Sophie, we're not
staying here, okay?
We're going.
- We can camp out, some
mermaids come out at night.
- Sophie, there is no mermaid.
- There was!
- Sophie, there is no mermaid!
- How do you know that?
- Because mermaids
don't exist, okay?
They're stories,
just kids' stories.
You need to grow up.
- Sophie, I'm sorry, okay?
Sophie!
- Sophie, did you find her?
- Yeah.
- Sophie.
What have you said to her?
- Nothing.
- Okay, well why
is she upset then?
Do you know what frustrates me
the most about you sometimes?
- What?
- The fact is, you're a good,
decent kid with a kind heart.
So it's even more sad
when you're being hurtful.
- Come on, that's not fair.
- Lily, I...
- No, I thought you
liked living in London,
so I really don't get
why we had to come here.
- We talked about why
we were moving here.
- Yeah, Jason.
- That's not fair.
- How?
We've literally just
had to accept him,
so you are telling
me that that's fair?
- He's a good man, Lily.
- What about my dad?
- Your dad was a good man.
- Was.
- It's been five years,
and I never thought...
Jason loves us and he's
trying really hard with you.
Your dad would've wanted
you to give him that chance.
- I'm going inside.
- Sophie, you in there, poppet?
Soph?
I'm making some food,
do you want any?
- [Sophie] No.
- It's pancakes, your favorite.
No? You sure?
- [Sophie] Go away!
(gentle music)
- Sophie, I'm
sorry, really sorry.
What was that?
- Maisy the Mermaid says
that Lily's really sorry
and that you should forgive her.
(Sophie grunts)
(waves crash)
(seagulls caw)
- Grandad!
Grandad!
Grandad!
- All right then, what's
got you so excited
and spoiling me tea?
I've seen one, they're real.
- Come in lad, come aboard.
(gentle music)
(Lily sobs)
- That's weird.
Stacey?
- Yeah?
- I'm trying to find
that environmental report
that Martin had me run for him.
- Yeah, that's weird.
May I just...
- Hmm, go ahead.
- You did put it on
the central system?
- Yeah, that's where
I pulled it from
after the environmental
team uploaded it.
- Yeah, it's odd.
- What's the Mayor doing today?
- Oh, he's got appointments
all afternoon in town.
- Okay.
Can you try to find
the contact details
for the team who carried
out the inspection?
- Yeah.
- Thanks.
- But she couldn't
find anything else
from the environmental team,
not even their contact details.
It's so bizarre.
- You know what else is strange?
- [Claire] Mm?
- Mr. Knapp came to
the factory today
and gave us all a 5% pay rise.
- What?
- Yeah, I mean,
that's good, right?
- That's brilliant.
- Yeah.
Said it's all down
to our hard work.
That it's finally paying off.
- It just doesn't add up.
- Okay.
- Well, I mean, you work
for a small textile factory.
There can't be that much
industry in this town.
- And seaside towns
are always seasonal
and heavily reliant on
tourism and fishing.
This town seems to do
well all year round.
- Exactly.
- I'll be honest, it's, well,
it all seems a little fishy.
What do you ladies think?
- Hmm?
- What's that?
- All right, what's happened?
- Nothing.
- [Jason] Come on,
you can tell us.
- Doesn't matter.
- Sophie, don't
even think about it.
- I thought I saw a mermaid
and Lily says I was
just being stupid.
- Lily.
- I didn't say, stupid.
I didn't.
- Sweetie, I'm sure
what Lily meant was...
- Well, what time
of the day was it?
- It was the morning.
- Okay, well,
I'm not sure if it
was a mermaid, but...
It seems like you
weren't the only one.
- That was it.
- What?
- What?!
- [Jason] Pretty neat, huh?
- Pretty neat.
(waves crashing)
(door knock)
- Hello there.
- Mr. Mayor?
- Yes, that's me.
- I'm Lily, I'm a
friend of Shane's.
- Okay, hi Lily.
- Hi, I was wondering
if he was in, actually,
I just wanted to talk
to him about something.
- I'm sorry, he's
actually popped out.
I, I'm not entirely
sure of his movements,
but I can ask him to call
you when he gets back.
- Oh, no, it's fine.
It was actually sort of an
in person kind of thing.
- Yeah, I'm sorry Lily,
I wish there was
something more I could do.
Is there something
I can do to help?
- Yeah, actually, do you mind
if I come in and ask you,
ask you something quickly?
- Err, yes, that's
absolutely fine, actually.
It's lovely to
meet the neighbors,
especially if they're
friends of Shane's.
Please.
- Thank you.
- So then Lily, what
can I do for you?
- I was wondering what
you thought about this.
- Ah, let me have a look.
Ah, you've read one of
mine and Shane's articles.
- Sorry, you said
yours and Shane's?
- Yes, absolutely, we
collaborate every so often.
- I thought that you
were just the Mayor.
I mean, no disrespect
or anything.
- Oh, absolutely non taken.
I mean, I am the Mayor,
but I'm not just the Mayor.
I mean, this is a bit
of a sideline, really.
Something of a
hobby, if you will.
And it brings me
and Shane together.
Have you heard of cryptozoology?
- Crypto Zoo?
- Cryptozoology.
- No, no, no, I haven't, what?
- So it's the study
of mythical animals.
It's legends, folklore, things
like mermaids, you know?
Loch Ness Monster, the
Yeti, that sort of thing.
- You believe that
that's all true?
- Absolutely, it's
definitely a thing.
What's the problem, Lily?
Well, usually people
just laugh at me
when I tell then all about this.
Brush me off as some
kind of old lunatic.
You look genuinely disturbed.
- Me?
- Yes.
- No, no, no, no, not me.
My sister, you see, she,
my little sister, she,
she thought she saw something.
- Oh, really, your
sister saw something?
- No, I know she
didn't say anything.
She was very much,
very much mistaken.
- How could you be so sure?
- Because I was there.
- [Martin] You were there?
- Yes, I, we, actually, what
we saw, it was just a whale.
- A whale?
- [Lily] Yes, it
was just a whale.
- I very much doubt it.
- Well, doubt away because
that's, that's what we saw.
So what you and Shane need
to do is tell your newspaper-
- So the website?
- The website, exactly, yes.
That you actually got it wrong.
So you need to reprint a...
- You wish us to
issue a correction?
- Yeah.
- [Martin] An erratum?
- Yeah, that, that's
it, yeah, please.
- I could do, of course.
I don't know if this brings
you any solace though, Lily.
I mean, Shane and I
have the princely sum
of eight followers online.
One of those is my father,
and I'm fairly sure
he's going blind.
It really doesn't matter, Lily.
- Sorry, did you say eight?
- Yes, unfortunately so.
- It's just my stepfather
said that he saw the article.
- Oh, he did?
- Yeah.
- How splendid.
Perhaps our readership
is growing after all.
- So if you don't
mind me asking,
what was it that
actually sparked her
interest in all this?
- It was my father,
Shane's grandfather.
- What about him?
- He, he saw one.
- Saw one?
- Yeah, a mermaid.
In fact, just give me a second.
Where is it?
Aha, that's the one,
it's somewhere in here.
That's the problem with
getting old, you see Lily.
Aha, there it is.
Take a look.
They all called him crazy
at first, of course.
I mean, it almost
ruined his reputation.
I thought about
changing my surname.
You know, put some distance
between him and me.
But the whole thing
was rather a pity.
And I'm thoroughly ashamed
of myself now, so...
- Sorry, am I keeping you?
- Absolutely not, I, if
there's anything else
you need to ask,
please, go ahead.
- No, honestly, it's all good.
Yeah.
- You've seen something.
- Seen something?
- Hmm, you've got the look.
- The look?
- That look right there.
It's kind of halfway between
excitement and terror.
Exactly the same look
my father used to have.
- Well, I would absolutely
love to stay in chat to you
about this, Mr. Mayor.
But I really, actually,
I should be going.
- I completely understand, Lily.
- Thanks again.
- No problem at all,
have a lovely evening.
- Thank you, you too.
(Sophie stomps her feet)
- Sophie, it's early!
- There's people at the beach.
- Yeah, it's a beach.
- They're here to
see the mermaid.
- What?
What's everyone doing here?
- Looking for Shane's
mystical mermaid.
- Hey.
- Shane?
- Quite a turnout, right?
Although I'm pretty sure most
are here to make fun of me.
- What have you done?
- Shared it to the
main news website.
- You are not
allowed to do that.
How can you do that?
- I'm Sophie.
- I'm Shane.
- How have you done this, okay?
What if people...
- What?
What have I got to lose?
- Oh, I'm gonna regret this.
Shane, I need you
to watch Sophie.
- What?
Okay, Sophie, look at me, yeah?
I'm going to be back
in five minutes, okay?
Both of you, five
minutes, stay there, okay?
I'm going to be back.
Stay there.
(gentle music)
(waves crashing)
- Looks like another
fake story, Shane.
(suspenseful music)
- Wait, what is that?
- What?
(gentle music)
(muffled scream)
- [Lily] Help!
(suspenseful music)
(Lily coughs)
- You're the mermaid!
- Surprise.
- You can't be, you lied!
- Hey, I'm sorry, sorry, sorry.
Sophie, I'm sorry.
- You said I was being silly.
- Sophie.
Sophie!
Sophie, I'm sorry.
- There's a pipe, mum.
- [Claire] What?
- A pipe, mum, I saw it.
Leading from?
- The factory, I'm guessing.
- A pipe?
I'm not sure how that
would be possible.
- [Claire] What is it?
- There's a delivery
every couple of weeks,
goods, supplies,
but it always goes to a
restricted area in the factory.
- And you've never
seen what it is?
- A few of us have
questioned it,
and that's when they
offered the pay rise.
- Do you think it's got
something to do with this pipe?
Where did you see this?
- Underwater.
- You were swimming?
- Yeah.
- Lily, did you see the mermaid?
- Jason?
- Honey, I'm just asking.
Well?
- What?
Oh, no.
- Sophie, did you see it?
- Nothing.
- [Claire] Sophie?
(door bangs)
- Don't look at me.
I didn't have anything
to do with that.
- We need to find a
way to bring this up.
- You believe me?
- Of course I do,
sweetheart, why wouldn't I?
- There are records.
- Where?
- I got a pass key to
the manager's office.
There's a whole section,
delivery notes, records.
- I'll come with you.
- Honey, come on, I'm not
sure that's a good idea
in your current position.
- Jason, I'm pregnant,
I'm not that fragile.
- Okay, point taken.
- I've got this meeting tonight
with Knapp and the Mayor.
I should be there to keep
tabs on what's going on.
- Good, then it's settled,
I'll get the records.
- [Claire] Be careful.
- Wait, I can help.
- No, you stay here and
look after your sister.
- Mum...
- It's not a request, Lily.
- I know, but I want to help.
- Lily, come on,
your mum's right.
- Fine.
- There is one thing though,
assuming there is evidence,
how are we going to get
the information out there?
- I think I have an idea.
Shane.
- Shane.
- Soph, are you in there?
I'm going to go down to the
beach if you want to join me.
Got something to show you.
(waves crashing)
(gentle music)
- Sophie, I'm sorry.
Hey, look at me.
I never meant to break our
special bond, you know that.
You saved me, all
right, out there.
When I was trapped
in that net, yeah?
You really are the bravest
most special little girl ever.
- Really?
- Really.
- With out you,
I don't think I would've
understood what was happening.
I didn't mean what I said, okay?
About you having to grow up.
I love you so much, so much.
And I'd do anything for you.
- Then make me a mermaid too.
- No.
- Like what happened
to you, we're sisters,
surely I can be one too.
- Sophie, look, it... it's
not that simple, yeah?
It might be a curse.
I mean, your life could
be changed forever.
It will be changed forever.
- But we'd be together,
sisters against the world.
- It's not that simple, okay?
The ocean is a really
dangerous place.
- I'm brave enough.
- The things I've seen.
Not just the pollution,
the shady business men,
there's so much damage.
I got trapped in that net.
- And I saved you.
- I know you did.
- But I have to warn people
that what they're
doing is wrong, yeah?
I can't risk you
being in danger.
- I'll help you save the ocean.
You can't do it alone,
we can do this together.
(waves crash)
(gentle music)
- What are you doing?
- If I'm right, okay?
And I usually am.
Then I'm not alone.
(ethereal music)
- Wow!
- Sisters?
- Sisters.
(ominous music) (eerie sound)
What?
- Shane and Jason,
they're in trouble.
- How do you know that?
- I just have this feeling
that they need help.
Stay there.
- I'm coming with you.
- Sophie?
- You need my help.
- Come on then.
- I've been watching mermaid
films since I was four
I know what to do.
(waves crashing)
(seagulls cawing)
(suspenseful music)
(ominous music)
(clock ticking)
- What are they all
involved in, George?
- Well, it's all
sorts of factors
that we need to take
into account, obviously.
So I can't give you
an answer right now.
Previous things have gone well,
so there's no other reason to...
- Well, yeah, but things go well
and then, you know, the
next time you try them,
they go terribly
wrong, don't they?
(owl hoots)
(waves crashing)
(suspenseful music)
- Shane keep up.
- You sure you needed
me here for this?
- I need you on lookout.
- Yeah, but...
- Besides, you are
a journalist, right?
You guys love a good news story.
- I mean, I'm on work
experience, there's
a big difference.
- Come on.
Okay, let's start here.
- Then it's settled then.
We'll finish the Mercy
Beach Shopping Center,
and in return...
- I'm sorry.
- Yes?
- It feels like you're acting
more like you are
the Mayor here.
- Really?
What do you say to that, Martin?
- Well, I...
- I want to see those
environmental reports.
- Excuse me?
- Claire?
- I'm serious.
- Under what authorization?
- As a member of the public.
As a matter of record,
those reports should
be made available
to the general public.
- Claire?
- Mr. Knapp may have brought
extra business into this town,
but at what cost?
- I see.
- Now, those reports?
- Martin, I believe
your assistant
is asking too many questions.
- Claire, why don't you take
the rest of the evening off?
Leave this with me.
- You are asking me to leave?
- Please, Claire.
- Then consider
this my resignation.
(suspenseful music)
- [Jason] Hold the torch.
- So you think he's
dumping toxic fuel?
- I dunno what he's doing,
but he's doing something,
that's for sure.
It's gotta be in here somewhere.
Hold on...
I think this is
it, we've got it.
- I'm not gonna lie, I
find this pretty exciting.
- Come on, let's
get out of here.
- Maybe this is
what it's like to...
- Barry!
(suspenseful music)
- [Jason] Guys, come on,
listen, you're
making a big mistake.
- [Guard] Quiet!
This way.
- I'm the mayor's son.
- [Guard] We don't care.
We only take orders
of Mr. Knapp.
- [Shane] Ah, you
are hurting me.
- [Jason] Leave him
alone, he's just a kid.
- [Guard] You ain't
seen nothing yet.
- What are they
going to do with us?
- We're not going
fishing, that's for sure.
- [Guard] Move it!
- This is a very
dangerous place.
The rip tide can
take people way out.
(both chuckle)
- Shane, get behind me.
Come on guys, let him go, he
has nothing to do with this.
(splash)
- Did you just...
- Yeah.
- Shall we...?
- Yeah.
(waves crash)
(seagulls cawing)
- [Community Members angry] Boo!
- You suck!
What's going on here? [booing]
- Go home!
- Now if you can all please
just listen to me for a moment.
- What about the reports of
the guards assaulting your son?
- No, please!
- It's Mr. Knapp!
- [Community Members] Boo!
Go home, get out of here!
- Ladies and gentlemen,
I am so glad you can make
it to this press conference.
- Press conference?
You've broken the law.
- Yeah!
- Broken the law?
How?
Two thieves broke into
my premises illegally.
- And the documents
they produced?
- Forged.
- He's going to
get away with this.
- How though? We've
published everything we got.
- He'll find a way.
- That's not fair though.
- I know sweetie.
- Firstly, let's test this out.
If the water is as toxic as
they say, Ms. Fields here
from the Environmental
Agency will test a sample,
right here, right now.
- They've been planning this.
- What, where you going?
(waves crashing)
Sorry, what are you doing?
- You followed me?
- Yeah, I just wanted to
make sure you're okay.
- Well, try not to freak out.
- Freak out?
(uplifting music)
Wow, wow!
(suspenseful music)
- Here she comes.
- It's going be rigged.
- So Ms. Fields?
- This sample is as
clean as a whistle.
(community members gasp)
(suspenseful music)
- As you can see, this
has just been an attempt
to smear my name.
- [Sophie] Lily, Lily!
- He's been dumping toxic
waste into the ocean.
This piece of metal
is from an outlet
that leads directly
to his factory.
- [Mr. Knapp] Another
character assassination.
- I'm telling you,
if you tested it...
- George!
She's right.
Mr. Knapp here has
been paying the council
to turn a blind eye to
the dumping of chemicals.
- [Community Members] Boo!
Get out of here, go home!
- You disgusting man.
- [Community Members] Boo!
- So?
- I'm a mermaid.
(gentle music)
- [Baby] Mermaid.
- Yeah, do you want
some strawberries?
- [Sophie] They're nice.
- You are looking rather
dashing, Mr. Manager.
- Well, thank you.
Looking so bad
yourself, Mrs. Mayor.
Oh, I'd better be making tracks.
Where's, where's Lily?
- She's out with Shane.
- Bye-bye.
Bye-bye.
Bye-bye.
- [Shane] Hey Granddad,
can we talk to you?
- Oh, young man, what
can I help you with?
Not much older than you
when I saw it, you know?
Out with my dad I was.
He was below deck.
Oh, the sea was rough
that night, real rough.
A huge wave came over the boat
and splash, I was in the sea.
I thought for certain
that was it, I'd be dead.
Until she came swimming out
of the darkness towards me.
Scales and tail shimmering.
She scooped her
arms underneath mine
and helped me to the surface.
Next thing I know,
my dad was helping me
back on board the boat.
My dad, either he didn't see it
or he wished he hadn't seen it,
but I knew what it was.
Everyone just knew
me as the crazy man
that saw a mermaid once.
- You never saw
another one again?
- No, you hear glimpses of
them, stories, stuff like that.
Just like that, you don't
hear from them again.
- Why?
- Well, it's the sea, isn't it?
You think of what we've
been doing to the oceans
for all of these years,
the pollution, plastic waste.
It's getting worse and worse.
- So you think that-
- They've got
nowhere to go, love.
Where can they go if all their
homes are being destroyed?
If it were you and I
and our homes were being
destroyed everywhere,
where could you go?
I might be a simple fisherman,
but I know what I saw
with my own two eyes.
- So you think they're
still out there?
(chuckles)
About two weeks ago, I took
one of my scales from my tail
and I gave it to my mum.
- You did?
- Yeah, I did.
- All right, well,
what happened?
- Nothing.
That was what was really weird,
I was expecting
something to happen
and you know, it just didn't.
- Oh.
- You know that I
had a biological dad,
the one who passed away?
- Yeah.
- So he was originally
from a fishing town,
but he moved to London
to marry my mum.
- Okay.
- Ironically, he hated
the sea and water.
- Wait, are you saying that?
- Well, I think he was from...
- From the sea?
- Yeah.
- I think I'm...
- Half mermaid.
Sophie too.
- Yeah.
When you and Jason
were in danger, I knew
I had to save you.
It's like I got the
feeling you were in trouble
and just knew what to do.
- What, like some sixth sense?
- Yeah.
- Okay, so what are
you planning to do?
- I'm going to go out there.
You know, see how far I can go.
- Out there?
- I have to, you know?
Shane, I have to try and tell
people about the pollution
and the damage to the
ocean. I have to try.
- Okay.
- I'll be back! Yeah?
And who knows, maybe
I'll be back with others.
We've got to try and
put a stop to it.
But I'll be back.
- I will be waiting.
(waves crashing)
(triumphant music)
(gentle music)
(upbeat music)
(triumphant music)
(whimsical tone)
(gentle music)
(waves crashing)
(humming)
- [Fisherman] All right Ms Blue,
what have you got for us today?
Cool, I have some thing.
Oh, that's a monster fish.
(waves crash)
(suspenseful music)
Come on, you beast. (groans)
(suspenseful music intensifies)
(splash)
(enthusiastic music)
(alarm rings)
(gentle music)
(door knock)
- Lily, come on.
It must be the fifth time
your alarm's gone off.
- Someone can't
count, it was four.
- Can we lose the
attitude today, please?
Come on, get up.
- Told you so.
- Get out!
(gentle music)
- Morning.
- Morning.
I thought you said
you were gonna try
and take things a bit easier.
- This is me taking it easy.
How long's your shift today?
- 12 hours.
- Ouch.
- But the overtime is
certainly gonna come in handy.
Oh, and what about
this little one, hey?
Is she gonna have
some breakfast too?
- Yes, she is.
- Yeah? (chuckles)
- Do you think the baby
will want to play with her?
- She might do.
- The baby will have
their own toys as well.
- I don't mind sharing.
(Lily yawns loudly)
- Oh, it's alive.
- Barely.
- Lily, do you have to do the
teenage years quite so hard?
- It's a pleasure.
- Hmm, and I think that's
my cue to hit the road.
I will see you tonight.
- See you later.
- Bye, have a nice day.
- Bye honey.
- Oh.
Hey.
- Packed lunch?
- I don't think our bank account
can quite handle your
purchases at the burger van.
Busted!
What would I do
without you, hey?
I'll see you later.
- Have a good day.
- You should be nicer to Jason.
- What, me?
I am nice.
- You don't smile.
- What are you on about?
- Smile?
See, one of these.
- I know what a smile is, Soph.
- [Sophie] You don't do
it as much as you used to.
- Yeah I do.
(gentle music)
- Do you wanna watch, "The
Little Mermaid" with me tonight?
- Didn't you watch it
like two night ago?
- She'd love to.
- All righty, okay.
- You ready, poppet?
- I am.
- I'm dropping Sophie
off at Jasmine's today
and I'll be back
around five-ish.
So if you could tidy up around
the place, that'd be great.
- You got it.
- Oh, and Jason's
doing overtime,
so you'll have to
pick up Sophie.
- Mm-hm.
- Oh, and I'm gonna be
cutting your allowance.
- Okay.
Wait, what?
- You've always got your
face buried in your phone.
- What, like you didn't.
- Look, can't you see what
you're missing out there?
- Please, can I just
talk to my friends?
- Your friends in London?
But we are here now.
Isn't it time to make
new, local friends
who you can actually
hang out with in person?
Sophie has.
- You had to say
that, didn't you?
- Makes sense.
- Right, can you not?
I am so sorry, mum,
that I can't just pretend
like you can, okay?
I'm really, really sorry as well
that I can't just act
like this has been our
life forever, okay?
I'm sorry, I can't do that.
- We'll talk about
this later, okay?
(door bangs)
(gentle music)
(waves crashing)
- Cat got your tongue?
- What?
- It's an expression.
- [Shane] Yeah.
- Right.
- Sorry, it's just,
normally people
don't tend to start
conversations with me.
- Really?
Can't know why?
Sorry, my mum sent me down
here to try and make friends.
Kind of regretting that now.
- You're with that family
that moved up there, right?
- Okay, it's really
nice meeting you.
- No, no, I just mean that...
Well, not many new
people come to this town
and gossip gets around
fast, and my, my dad says...
- Yeah, mate, I was just
trying to make a joke.
- Oh yeah, good one.
- God, please tell me
not everyone in this
town is like you.
Forget I asked.
(waves crashing)
- I, I'm Shane.
- Okay.
- What's your name?
- I'm Lily.
- Lily, that's a nice name.
- So do you talk to
many people or...
- Every day.
- [Lily] Really?
- Yeah.
My mum, my dad, my sisters.
- Right.
So what were you
doing over there?
- Taking photographs.
- Of what?
- The sea.
- It's blue and it's wet.
It's not really got much
else going for it, so...
- No, I'm doing work experience
for a local news website.
Taken me on as photographer
- [Lily] Oh, okay.
- Yeah, you know, it's a
slice of life type stuff,
that kind of thing.
- Yeah, but I'm pretty sure
not much really
goes on around here.
- Oh, I think you'd be
pretty surprised, actually.
It can get pretty
crazy in these parts.
I'm kidding, it's
actually really quiet.
- So what, this
newspaper took you on
to take photos of the sea?
- No, not exactly.
Yesterday, a local fisherman
got pulled into the sea
by a really large fish.
- Right.
Okay, this might comes
a shock to you, yeah?
But fish kind of tend to
live in the sea, so...
- Yeah, but not like
this apparently.
That's why I'm out here anyway,
I'm trying to get
a sighting of it.
- Cool, okay, so what
did it look like?
- Yeah, he can't quite
remember, actually.
So you're going to go swimming?
- Mm-hm.
You know of any quiet places?
- Oh, you want to be alone?
- You got it.
- Well, there's a place
I like just over there.
Not many people ever go there.
- Thanks, err...
- Shane.
- Shane, good luck
with your news thingy.
- Just be careful, not
many people go up that way.
(waves crashing)
(gentle music)
(motors roaring)
(door knock)
- Yes?
Ah, Claire, smashing.
Is that the latest
environmental reports?
- Yes, sir.
- Have you read them?
- Oh, no, I haven't had
the chance yet, sir.
- Oh, lovely.
Well, can you drop them on
the desk for me there, please?
You know, I have to say,
Claire, in the, what is it?
Eight weeks since you
started working with us,
you've become absolutely
indispensable.
- Oh, thank you, sir.
- I could see you with an
office like this one day.
- I don't think I could
handle the stress.
- Come on, you've got kids.
Running a town is not
too dissimilar at all.
- I suppose it isn't.
Mr. Knapp is waiting
for you, sir.
- Oh, really?
Wonderful.
- [Clair] Is
everything all right?
- Yeah, everything's fine.
It's, it's just, just
show him in, would you?
(door knock)
- Mr. Knapp for you, mayor.
- Martin.
- George.
Shall we?
- Let's go.
(waves crashing)
What kind of beach is this, uh?
- What are you?
(ethereal music)
No, no, no, no, no, no.
Stop.
No.
Get off of me!
(suspenseful music intensifies)
What's happening?
It's fine, it's fine, it's
a dream, it's a dream.
It's not happening, it's not
happening, it's not happening.
(chuckles)
(ethereal music)
(gentle music)
I'm a mermaid!
This is amazing!
It's magic!
(waves crashing)
Okay, that was fun.
All right, can I
turn back, please?
That was really great
and fun but yeah...
I'd like to turn back now.
(waves crashing)
(gentle music)
Err, yeah, that's natural.
(alarm rings)
(gentle music)
- I thought you'd
forgotten about me.
- As if that could happen.
How was Jasmine's?
- Good?
- Yeah?
Come on then,
let's get you home.
Come on, let's go.
- Mummy said I'd
be allowed to go
on the beach clean-up
with Jasmine.
- Oh, yeah?
- Yeah.
She said she would go,
but with the baby coming,
she doesn't want to spend
too long on her feet.
Are you excited
for a baby sister?
- What?
- You really don't
listen do you?
When I'm a teenager,
I will always listen.
- Soph, look, I've got a...
- Did you hear what I asked you?
- Yeah, of course I did.
- Well, are you excited?
- I've seen Mum pregnant before.
With you, silly.
- Oh! Were you excited for me?
- Yeah.
- You know, mum said that I
have too many cuddly toys,
do you think she's right?
- No, maybe, yes, I
don't know, come on.
- All 57 of them.
- You've actually counted
how many you have?
- And their names.
If, if I had too many,
I would forget all their
names, but I haven't.
- Right.
- I love my cuddlies.
- I know.
Soph, wait!
- Why are you doing that?
- Doing what?
- Looking at Maisy the
Mermaid like she's evil.
- I'm not looking at Maisy
the Mermaid like she's evil.
- Mummy!
- Fancy seeing you here.
- What are you doing home?
- Hey honey.
- [Sophie] Mummy!
- Oh, hey Sweetheart.
- You two are back early.
- Yeah, the Mayor gave
us the afternoon off.
- Yeah, Mr. Knapp gave
us the afternoon off too.
- Oh really?
- They had a meeting
earlier today.
The Mayor came out smiling,
said we could finish early.
- Same with Mr. Knapp.
- It must be the factory.
He must have got the
go ahead to expand.
- I guess so.
Says he wants to have a
word with me tomorrow.
- You don't think he wants
you to run it, do you?
- Maybe.
- Darling, that's brilliant.
- Can we get a takeaway
tonight to celebrate?
- Ah, I don't see
why not. (chuckles)
(whimsical music)
- The unicorn, it's here!
- Everything all right?
- Yeah, I'm just going
to go FaceTime Shane.
- You made a friend.
- Mum!
- Just saying.
- Well, don't.
- Yeah, well, mummy said you
should make more friends.
- Did she now?
- Yeah, also, said...
- Sophie.
Well, who is he?
- He's, um, local.
- Is he good looking?
- Sophie?
(door bangs)
(thud)
(gentle music)
- Okay.
Okay.
Images.
What?
The mermaid scale.
Activate with salt water.
Hmm, salt water.
Right, salt water it is.
- He's real and he's mine.
- How can it be real?
- Magic.
(TV mumbles)
- Lily?
- Mum, it's the best bit.
- I was just getting
a glass of water.
(suspenseful music)
- Okay, okay, okay, okay, okay.
(comical music)
Any moment now would be great.
No.
I must be going out of my mind.
(ethereal music)
Whoa!
(bang)
(TV mumbles)
(suspenseful music)
- Lily?
Lily, what on earth
are you doing?
- Mum, I'm having
a bath, get out!
- Sorry, I just came to
check if you're okay.
- I'm fine.
- Well, don't be
too long in here.
- Yes, okay.
- You're missing family night.
- Go!
- Sorry.
- I'm a mermaid!
(door knock)
- Lily!
(gentle music)
(waves crashing)
(camera clicks)
- Wow! Grandad.
- So hopefully after
I've seen Mr. Knapp,
I'll have some good news later.
- Fingers crossed.
- Fingers crossed.
- Morning.
- Morning.
Sorry, I just saw... Morning!
- Okay.
- See you later.
- Love you.
- Mummy!
Mommy!
- Hey Sophie, can you run
down to the beach quickly
and see if Lily's down there?
I need to get to work.
(ominous music)
(muffled scream)
(waves crashing)
- [Sophie] Did you see
it, did you see it, Lily?
- Hey you, see what?
- Lily, did you see it?
- See what?
- The mermaid.
- The what?
- Tell me you saw it.
- I didn't see anything.
I didn't see
anything, all right?
Look, I'm going to
get my stuff together
and then we're
going to go, okay?
- You didn't see it.
Maybe it wanted to be hidden.
- Sophie, there is nothing
in that sea, all right?
Apart from fish, nothing.
What are you doing here anyway?
- Mummy sent me down
here to get you.
She has to go to work.
- Right.
- We should stay down
here today, just in case.
- Sophie, we're not
staying here, okay?
We're going.
- We can camp out, some
mermaids come out at night.
- Sophie, there is no mermaid.
- There was!
- Sophie, there is no mermaid!
- How do you know that?
- Because mermaids
don't exist, okay?
They're stories,
just kids' stories.
You need to grow up.
- Sophie, I'm sorry, okay?
Sophie!
- Sophie, did you find her?
- Yeah.
- Sophie.
What have you said to her?
- Nothing.
- Okay, well why
is she upset then?
Do you know what frustrates me
the most about you sometimes?
- What?
- The fact is, you're a good,
decent kid with a kind heart.
So it's even more sad
when you're being hurtful.
- Come on, that's not fair.
- Lily, I...
- No, I thought you
liked living in London,
so I really don't get
why we had to come here.
- We talked about why
we were moving here.
- Yeah, Jason.
- That's not fair.
- How?
We've literally just
had to accept him,
so you are telling
me that that's fair?
- He's a good man, Lily.
- What about my dad?
- Your dad was a good man.
- Was.
- It's been five years,
and I never thought...
Jason loves us and he's
trying really hard with you.
Your dad would've wanted
you to give him that chance.
- I'm going inside.
- Sophie, you in there, poppet?
Soph?
I'm making some food,
do you want any?
- [Sophie] No.
- It's pancakes, your favorite.
No? You sure?
- [Sophie] Go away!
(gentle music)
- Sophie, I'm
sorry, really sorry.
What was that?
- Maisy the Mermaid says
that Lily's really sorry
and that you should forgive her.
(Sophie grunts)
(waves crash)
(seagulls caw)
- Grandad!
Grandad!
Grandad!
- All right then, what's
got you so excited
and spoiling me tea?
I've seen one, they're real.
- Come in lad, come aboard.
(gentle music)
(Lily sobs)
- That's weird.
Stacey?
- Yeah?
- I'm trying to find
that environmental report
that Martin had me run for him.
- Yeah, that's weird.
May I just...
- Hmm, go ahead.
- You did put it on
the central system?
- Yeah, that's where
I pulled it from
after the environmental
team uploaded it.
- Yeah, it's odd.
- What's the Mayor doing today?
- Oh, he's got appointments
all afternoon in town.
- Okay.
Can you try to find
the contact details
for the team who carried
out the inspection?
- Yeah.
- Thanks.
- But she couldn't
find anything else
from the environmental team,
not even their contact details.
It's so bizarre.
- You know what else is strange?
- [Claire] Mm?
- Mr. Knapp came to
the factory today
and gave us all a 5% pay rise.
- What?
- Yeah, I mean,
that's good, right?
- That's brilliant.
- Yeah.
Said it's all down
to our hard work.
That it's finally paying off.
- It just doesn't add up.
- Okay.
- Well, I mean, you work
for a small textile factory.
There can't be that much
industry in this town.
- And seaside towns
are always seasonal
and heavily reliant on
tourism and fishing.
This town seems to do
well all year round.
- Exactly.
- I'll be honest, it's, well,
it all seems a little fishy.
What do you ladies think?
- Hmm?
- What's that?
- All right, what's happened?
- Nothing.
- [Jason] Come on,
you can tell us.
- Doesn't matter.
- Sophie, don't
even think about it.
- I thought I saw a mermaid
and Lily says I was
just being stupid.
- Lily.
- I didn't say, stupid.
I didn't.
- Sweetie, I'm sure
what Lily meant was...
- Well, what time
of the day was it?
- It was the morning.
- Okay, well,
I'm not sure if it
was a mermaid, but...
It seems like you
weren't the only one.
- That was it.
- What?
- What?!
- [Jason] Pretty neat, huh?
- Pretty neat.
(waves crashing)
(door knock)
- Hello there.
- Mr. Mayor?
- Yes, that's me.
- I'm Lily, I'm a
friend of Shane's.
- Okay, hi Lily.
- Hi, I was wondering
if he was in, actually,
I just wanted to talk
to him about something.
- I'm sorry, he's
actually popped out.
I, I'm not entirely
sure of his movements,
but I can ask him to call
you when he gets back.
- Oh, no, it's fine.
It was actually sort of an
in person kind of thing.
- Yeah, I'm sorry Lily,
I wish there was
something more I could do.
Is there something
I can do to help?
- Yeah, actually, do you mind
if I come in and ask you,
ask you something quickly?
- Err, yes, that's
absolutely fine, actually.
It's lovely to
meet the neighbors,
especially if they're
friends of Shane's.
Please.
- Thank you.
- So then Lily, what
can I do for you?
- I was wondering what
you thought about this.
- Ah, let me have a look.
Ah, you've read one of
mine and Shane's articles.
- Sorry, you said
yours and Shane's?
- Yes, absolutely, we
collaborate every so often.
- I thought that you
were just the Mayor.
I mean, no disrespect
or anything.
- Oh, absolutely non taken.
I mean, I am the Mayor,
but I'm not just the Mayor.
I mean, this is a bit
of a sideline, really.
Something of a
hobby, if you will.
And it brings me
and Shane together.
Have you heard of cryptozoology?
- Crypto Zoo?
- Cryptozoology.
- No, no, no, I haven't, what?
- So it's the study
of mythical animals.
It's legends, folklore, things
like mermaids, you know?
Loch Ness Monster, the
Yeti, that sort of thing.
- You believe that
that's all true?
- Absolutely, it's
definitely a thing.
What's the problem, Lily?
Well, usually people
just laugh at me
when I tell then all about this.
Brush me off as some
kind of old lunatic.
You look genuinely disturbed.
- Me?
- Yes.
- No, no, no, no, not me.
My sister, you see, she,
my little sister, she,
she thought she saw something.
- Oh, really, your
sister saw something?
- No, I know she
didn't say anything.
She was very much,
very much mistaken.
- How could you be so sure?
- Because I was there.
- [Martin] You were there?
- Yes, I, we, actually, what
we saw, it was just a whale.
- A whale?
- [Lily] Yes, it
was just a whale.
- I very much doubt it.
- Well, doubt away because
that's, that's what we saw.
So what you and Shane need
to do is tell your newspaper-
- So the website?
- The website, exactly, yes.
That you actually got it wrong.
So you need to reprint a...
- You wish us to
issue a correction?
- Yeah.
- [Martin] An erratum?
- Yeah, that, that's
it, yeah, please.
- I could do, of course.
I don't know if this brings
you any solace though, Lily.
I mean, Shane and I
have the princely sum
of eight followers online.
One of those is my father,
and I'm fairly sure
he's going blind.
It really doesn't matter, Lily.
- Sorry, did you say eight?
- Yes, unfortunately so.
- It's just my stepfather
said that he saw the article.
- Oh, he did?
- Yeah.
- How splendid.
Perhaps our readership
is growing after all.
- So if you don't
mind me asking,
what was it that
actually sparked her
interest in all this?
- It was my father,
Shane's grandfather.
- What about him?
- He, he saw one.
- Saw one?
- Yeah, a mermaid.
In fact, just give me a second.
Where is it?
Aha, that's the one,
it's somewhere in here.
That's the problem with
getting old, you see Lily.
Aha, there it is.
Take a look.
They all called him crazy
at first, of course.
I mean, it almost
ruined his reputation.
I thought about
changing my surname.
You know, put some distance
between him and me.
But the whole thing
was rather a pity.
And I'm thoroughly ashamed
of myself now, so...
- Sorry, am I keeping you?
- Absolutely not, I, if
there's anything else
you need to ask,
please, go ahead.
- No, honestly, it's all good.
Yeah.
- You've seen something.
- Seen something?
- Hmm, you've got the look.
- The look?
- That look right there.
It's kind of halfway between
excitement and terror.
Exactly the same look
my father used to have.
- Well, I would absolutely
love to stay in chat to you
about this, Mr. Mayor.
But I really, actually,
I should be going.
- I completely understand, Lily.
- Thanks again.
- No problem at all,
have a lovely evening.
- Thank you, you too.
(Sophie stomps her feet)
- Sophie, it's early!
- There's people at the beach.
- Yeah, it's a beach.
- They're here to
see the mermaid.
- What?
What's everyone doing here?
- Looking for Shane's
mystical mermaid.
- Hey.
- Shane?
- Quite a turnout, right?
Although I'm pretty sure most
are here to make fun of me.
- What have you done?
- Shared it to the
main news website.
- You are not
allowed to do that.
How can you do that?
- I'm Sophie.
- I'm Shane.
- How have you done this, okay?
What if people...
- What?
What have I got to lose?
- Oh, I'm gonna regret this.
Shane, I need you
to watch Sophie.
- What?
Okay, Sophie, look at me, yeah?
I'm going to be back
in five minutes, okay?
Both of you, five
minutes, stay there, okay?
I'm going to be back.
Stay there.
(gentle music)
(waves crashing)
- Looks like another
fake story, Shane.
(suspenseful music)
- Wait, what is that?
- What?
(gentle music)
(muffled scream)
- [Lily] Help!
(suspenseful music)
(Lily coughs)
- You're the mermaid!
- Surprise.
- You can't be, you lied!
- Hey, I'm sorry, sorry, sorry.
Sophie, I'm sorry.
- You said I was being silly.
- Sophie.
Sophie!
Sophie, I'm sorry.
- There's a pipe, mum.
- [Claire] What?
- A pipe, mum, I saw it.
Leading from?
- The factory, I'm guessing.
- A pipe?
I'm not sure how that
would be possible.
- [Claire] What is it?
- There's a delivery
every couple of weeks,
goods, supplies,
but it always goes to a
restricted area in the factory.
- And you've never
seen what it is?
- A few of us have
questioned it,
and that's when they
offered the pay rise.
- Do you think it's got
something to do with this pipe?
Where did you see this?
- Underwater.
- You were swimming?
- Yeah.
- Lily, did you see the mermaid?
- Jason?
- Honey, I'm just asking.
Well?
- What?
Oh, no.
- Sophie, did you see it?
- Nothing.
- [Claire] Sophie?
(door bangs)
- Don't look at me.
I didn't have anything
to do with that.
- We need to find a
way to bring this up.
- You believe me?
- Of course I do,
sweetheart, why wouldn't I?
- There are records.
- Where?
- I got a pass key to
the manager's office.
There's a whole section,
delivery notes, records.
- I'll come with you.
- Honey, come on, I'm not
sure that's a good idea
in your current position.
- Jason, I'm pregnant,
I'm not that fragile.
- Okay, point taken.
- I've got this meeting tonight
with Knapp and the Mayor.
I should be there to keep
tabs on what's going on.
- Good, then it's settled,
I'll get the records.
- [Claire] Be careful.
- Wait, I can help.
- No, you stay here and
look after your sister.
- Mum...
- It's not a request, Lily.
- I know, but I want to help.
- Lily, come on,
your mum's right.
- Fine.
- There is one thing though,
assuming there is evidence,
how are we going to get
the information out there?
- I think I have an idea.
Shane.
- Shane.
- Soph, are you in there?
I'm going to go down to the
beach if you want to join me.
Got something to show you.
(waves crashing)
(gentle music)
- Sophie, I'm sorry.
Hey, look at me.
I never meant to break our
special bond, you know that.
You saved me, all
right, out there.
When I was trapped
in that net, yeah?
You really are the bravest
most special little girl ever.
- Really?
- Really.
- With out you,
I don't think I would've
understood what was happening.
I didn't mean what I said, okay?
About you having to grow up.
I love you so much, so much.
And I'd do anything for you.
- Then make me a mermaid too.
- No.
- Like what happened
to you, we're sisters,
surely I can be one too.
- Sophie, look, it... it's
not that simple, yeah?
It might be a curse.
I mean, your life could
be changed forever.
It will be changed forever.
- But we'd be together,
sisters against the world.
- It's not that simple, okay?
The ocean is a really
dangerous place.
- I'm brave enough.
- The things I've seen.
Not just the pollution,
the shady business men,
there's so much damage.
I got trapped in that net.
- And I saved you.
- I know you did.
- But I have to warn people
that what they're
doing is wrong, yeah?
I can't risk you
being in danger.
- I'll help you save the ocean.
You can't do it alone,
we can do this together.
(waves crash)
(gentle music)
- What are you doing?
- If I'm right, okay?
And I usually am.
Then I'm not alone.
(ethereal music)
- Wow!
- Sisters?
- Sisters.
(ominous music) (eerie sound)
What?
- Shane and Jason,
they're in trouble.
- How do you know that?
- I just have this feeling
that they need help.
Stay there.
- I'm coming with you.
- Sophie?
- You need my help.
- Come on then.
- I've been watching mermaid
films since I was four
I know what to do.
(waves crashing)
(seagulls cawing)
(suspenseful music)
(ominous music)
(clock ticking)
- What are they all
involved in, George?
- Well, it's all
sorts of factors
that we need to take
into account, obviously.
So I can't give you
an answer right now.
Previous things have gone well,
so there's no other reason to...
- Well, yeah, but things go well
and then, you know, the
next time you try them,
they go terribly
wrong, don't they?
(owl hoots)
(waves crashing)
(suspenseful music)
- Shane keep up.
- You sure you needed
me here for this?
- I need you on lookout.
- Yeah, but...
- Besides, you are
a journalist, right?
You guys love a good news story.
- I mean, I'm on work
experience, there's
a big difference.
- Come on.
Okay, let's start here.
- Then it's settled then.
We'll finish the Mercy
Beach Shopping Center,
and in return...
- I'm sorry.
- Yes?
- It feels like you're acting
more like you are
the Mayor here.
- Really?
What do you say to that, Martin?
- Well, I...
- I want to see those
environmental reports.
- Excuse me?
- Claire?
- I'm serious.
- Under what authorization?
- As a member of the public.
As a matter of record,
those reports should
be made available
to the general public.
- Claire?
- Mr. Knapp may have brought
extra business into this town,
but at what cost?
- I see.
- Now, those reports?
- Martin, I believe
your assistant
is asking too many questions.
- Claire, why don't you take
the rest of the evening off?
Leave this with me.
- You are asking me to leave?
- Please, Claire.
- Then consider
this my resignation.
(suspenseful music)
- [Jason] Hold the torch.
- So you think he's
dumping toxic fuel?
- I dunno what he's doing,
but he's doing something,
that's for sure.
It's gotta be in here somewhere.
Hold on...
I think this is
it, we've got it.
- I'm not gonna lie, I
find this pretty exciting.
- Come on, let's
get out of here.
- Maybe this is
what it's like to...
- Barry!
(suspenseful music)
- [Jason] Guys, come on,
listen, you're
making a big mistake.
- [Guard] Quiet!
This way.
- I'm the mayor's son.
- [Guard] We don't care.
We only take orders
of Mr. Knapp.
- [Shane] Ah, you
are hurting me.
- [Jason] Leave him
alone, he's just a kid.
- [Guard] You ain't
seen nothing yet.
- What are they
going to do with us?
- We're not going
fishing, that's for sure.
- [Guard] Move it!
- This is a very
dangerous place.
The rip tide can
take people way out.
(both chuckle)
- Shane, get behind me.
Come on guys, let him go, he
has nothing to do with this.
(splash)
- Did you just...
- Yeah.
- Shall we...?
- Yeah.
(waves crash)
(seagulls cawing)
- [Community Members angry] Boo!
- You suck!
What's going on here? [booing]
- Go home!
- Now if you can all please
just listen to me for a moment.
- What about the reports of
the guards assaulting your son?
- No, please!
- It's Mr. Knapp!
- [Community Members] Boo!
Go home, get out of here!
- Ladies and gentlemen,
I am so glad you can make
it to this press conference.
- Press conference?
You've broken the law.
- Yeah!
- Broken the law?
How?
Two thieves broke into
my premises illegally.
- And the documents
they produced?
- Forged.
- He's going to
get away with this.
- How though? We've
published everything we got.
- He'll find a way.
- That's not fair though.
- I know sweetie.
- Firstly, let's test this out.
If the water is as toxic as
they say, Ms. Fields here
from the Environmental
Agency will test a sample,
right here, right now.
- They've been planning this.
- What, where you going?
(waves crashing)
Sorry, what are you doing?
- You followed me?
- Yeah, I just wanted to
make sure you're okay.
- Well, try not to freak out.
- Freak out?
(uplifting music)
Wow, wow!
(suspenseful music)
- Here she comes.
- It's going be rigged.
- So Ms. Fields?
- This sample is as
clean as a whistle.
(community members gasp)
(suspenseful music)
- As you can see, this
has just been an attempt
to smear my name.
- [Sophie] Lily, Lily!
- He's been dumping toxic
waste into the ocean.
This piece of metal
is from an outlet
that leads directly
to his factory.
- [Mr. Knapp] Another
character assassination.
- I'm telling you,
if you tested it...
- George!
She's right.
Mr. Knapp here has
been paying the council
to turn a blind eye to
the dumping of chemicals.
- [Community Members] Boo!
Get out of here, go home!
- You disgusting man.
- [Community Members] Boo!
- So?
- I'm a mermaid.
(gentle music)
- [Baby] Mermaid.
- Yeah, do you want
some strawberries?
- [Sophie] They're nice.
- You are looking rather
dashing, Mr. Manager.
- Well, thank you.
Looking so bad
yourself, Mrs. Mayor.
Oh, I'd better be making tracks.
Where's, where's Lily?
- She's out with Shane.
- Bye-bye.
Bye-bye.
Bye-bye.
- [Shane] Hey Granddad,
can we talk to you?
- Oh, young man, what
can I help you with?
Not much older than you
when I saw it, you know?
Out with my dad I was.
He was below deck.
Oh, the sea was rough
that night, real rough.
A huge wave came over the boat
and splash, I was in the sea.
I thought for certain
that was it, I'd be dead.
Until she came swimming out
of the darkness towards me.
Scales and tail shimmering.
She scooped her
arms underneath mine
and helped me to the surface.
Next thing I know,
my dad was helping me
back on board the boat.
My dad, either he didn't see it
or he wished he hadn't seen it,
but I knew what it was.
Everyone just knew
me as the crazy man
that saw a mermaid once.
- You never saw
another one again?
- No, you hear glimpses of
them, stories, stuff like that.
Just like that, you don't
hear from them again.
- Why?
- Well, it's the sea, isn't it?
You think of what we've
been doing to the oceans
for all of these years,
the pollution, plastic waste.
It's getting worse and worse.
- So you think that-
- They've got
nowhere to go, love.
Where can they go if all their
homes are being destroyed?
If it were you and I
and our homes were being
destroyed everywhere,
where could you go?
I might be a simple fisherman,
but I know what I saw
with my own two eyes.
- So you think they're
still out there?
(chuckles)
About two weeks ago, I took
one of my scales from my tail
and I gave it to my mum.
- You did?
- Yeah, I did.
- All right, well,
what happened?
- Nothing.
That was what was really weird,
I was expecting
something to happen
and you know, it just didn't.
- Oh.
- You know that I
had a biological dad,
the one who passed away?
- Yeah.
- So he was originally
from a fishing town,
but he moved to London
to marry my mum.
- Okay.
- Ironically, he hated
the sea and water.
- Wait, are you saying that?
- Well, I think he was from...
- From the sea?
- Yeah.
- I think I'm...
- Half mermaid.
Sophie too.
- Yeah.
When you and Jason
were in danger, I knew
I had to save you.
It's like I got the
feeling you were in trouble
and just knew what to do.
- What, like some sixth sense?
- Yeah.
- Okay, so what are
you planning to do?
- I'm going to go out there.
You know, see how far I can go.
- Out there?
- I have to, you know?
Shane, I have to try and tell
people about the pollution
and the damage to the
ocean. I have to try.
- Okay.
- I'll be back! Yeah?
And who knows, maybe
I'll be back with others.
We've got to try and
put a stop to it.
But I'll be back.
- I will be waiting.
(waves crashing)
(triumphant music)
(gentle music)
(upbeat music)
(triumphant music)