Wild Swimmers (2025) Movie Script
All right, so. Another
semester bites the dust.
Congratulations.
And it wouldn't be the end of
term without a summer assignment,
now would it?
So, news hounds.
As we discussed,
narratives are the key factor in
sustaining a long term news cycle. Yeah?
Stories that unfold over
the weeks and months
create a sense that
we live in shared times.
Everyone's watching the same story.
Everyone's talking about the same story.
That's how you define the times.
So what I want you to do is, over the break
I want you to go out there
and find me your own story.
I don't care if it's a nature reserve
that's about to be smashed up and turned
into a supermarket or an asteroid that's
about to hit us all on Valentine's Day.
But where I'm going is:
Make sure the story has drama
and make sure the story has legs.
Okay.
Off you go!
[laughs]
[students talking]
[music from headphones]
Have you had your second date yet?
Yes I have.
He has passed a psychopath test
for now.
Okay, well, mine
failed his psychopath test.
As you know.
You will be okay too.
I think you will need to ask her yourself.
I think she would really like to see you.
I think I would too Deji.
You can see me on Zoom.
Zoom?
Okay. I...
I want to see the both of you too,
it's just I can't risk being
arrested at the airport.
I'm a journalist now, remember?
You used to tell me:
Get in the game.
You can't beat the game if you're outside.
That's all I'm doing.
It doesn't mean I won't come back.
It doesn't mean I don't care about you.
We care about you too Deji, but.
Care is something you do.
Not just something you feel.
You have to show it.
How are your grades?
Well, I'm doing okay.
I could be better, though.
We can all be doing better.
At least you're in the game.
You have to win it for
the both of us though,
because my career isn't going anywhere
when mommy's like this.
Oh! My back.
My back is still hurting. [Laughs]
I'm only 30 and I'm decomposing.
You're not decomposing.
You're very beautiful.
Oh, sorry.
I have to take this.
Hi Mark. Hi.
Are you alright?
I'm good.
I'm just watering my houseplants,
which always seem to die on me.
But I think I got some fake
ones by accident. [Laughs]
How are you?
I'm good.
Sorry. Where are you? I'm at home.
See? The plants?
They're beautiful.
I'm so glad you've got
time to dedicate to them.
My place isn't very plant
friendly but personally, I blame
my housemates for that.
I think someone needs to
terraform this place or something.
Listen,
I know we're still new to this, and
I hope it doesn't seem too forward,
but I really missed you today.
Where have you been?
Just at the lecture theater.
I got my end of term assignment.
Oh we got ours too.
What's your assignment?
Our lecturer called it 'news with legs'
That just means, like a story
that keeps rolling for weeks
and keeps changing and evolving.
Amazing. News with legs.
[Laughs] Well, I've got two.
You're welcome to write
about those any time you like.
Have you got any ideas?
There's a retired police officer
I'm meeting tomorrow who says
that she has a suggestion for me.
What kind of suggestion?
She thinks that there's something
in the river that killed somebody.
[From far away] Hello?
Are you Deshie?
Or is it Deji I'm sorry, I...
It's been a few years since I've
even had to think about this story.
But you know already
we had a girl drown here in 2017.
I was the investigating
officer taking interviews
and trying to get a sense of what happened.
I don't mean to talk this down,
but people have drowned here before
and since then, because
it's a student town?
Students drink.
There have been other
cases, but this was the only one
I was leading.
What was your sense of what happened?
Just a couple of kids wild swimming.
Something in the way she died.
Kim Jeffries,
her name was.
Her boyfriend witnessed it.
He said it was as if
she was being held underwater.
I remember his conviction.
So what would you put on record?
Bite marks.
The lab said they were consistent with.
Cottonmouth snake bites.
But they didn't put that
down as the cause of death.
Just the reason she lost control.
They didn't want lurid headlines
so all that side of things
was kept off the record.
I don't know if I trust my own memories.
I was a bit of a mess.
I'm glad you're here doing this.
If you talk to all the people
who live along the river,
they'll tell you all their stories.
Mad stories.
You'll get what you're after.
Maybe I will too.
The river runs right
through Mapledown Forest
and right into town.
And then it cuts through the main canal.
It's quite rare that the
river and the canal intersect.
You have barges, you have
sailboats they all talk to each other.
We got all kinds of pond life here.
I remember the police getting involved.
I remember they wanted to talk to everyone.
Why did they want to talk to everyone?
You tell me.
She drowned.
It didn't have anything
to do with the rest of us.
Do you get wild swimmers here a lot?
Every summer.
Do you swim?
I already told the police
I don't swim.
Why is that?
Is it because people
keep dying in the river?
You should ask my mother about that.
She's been saying there's
something in this river since the '50s.
Kim. It's been hard to get hold of you.
I hope everything's okay.
Listen, there's no easy way to say this.
I've been talking with the Dean
about your work, and we both agree
there's no need for you
to finish the final semester.
I appreciate this may
come as a shock, but the fact
is, there are only so many times
we can try and advise you
before we have to take action.
We'd hoped that as a mature
student, you would apply
a more urgent, flexible and
serious approach to your studies.
I'm sorry it hasn't worked out that way.
My recommendation is
that you don't return to...
[She cancels the message]
Here's to you, Doctor Floyd.
Do you have a boat?
Yes, I have.
Right goes left.
If you twist this this way,
you'll speed up. Back to slow down
and if you push the other
way, you go into reverse.
What kind of speed can it do?
Low speeds. Although,
if you want to break my boat,
there's a switch down
here that will give you
ten mile an hour for 10 seconds.
Then the batteries blow up.
Well, that sounds fun.
Don't kill my boat.
Now. Reeds.
If you run into any
you lift this here
to see what you got.
They only get heavy about a mile down.
Most people turn back before then.
Unless they're feeling brave.
Are you feeling brave?
No, but I can swim.
Does that count?
[Phone voice] Your call has been forwarded
to an automatic voice
message system. [Beeps]
Hey Deji.
I'm here and you're not.
Are you okay?
Give me a call.
I told you,
I haven't seen her since she left.
There's the path.
Why don't you go and find her yourself?
I just don't understand what
you're doing out here on your own.
I mean, you said yourself some
dangerous is happening out here,
and I don't know what you are, then...
Mark, I'm safe.
I think I'm more than safe.
I think I'm in love with this place.
The river is like this pathway
that no one knows about.
You could drift for hours without
seeing a single other person.
What's wrong with other people?
It's like
a road without anyone.
No cameras, no screens.
It's like this secret place
you can come and go with nobody watching.
Why would a snake
care if anyone's watching?
[Laughs]
It's not a snake?
Okay.
I know that's a bad example, but like
come on, there are so many
better things to do on the weekend.
Well,
it'll be worth it when
we're there, I promise you.
You'd better be right.
I'm holding you to that.
Hold me to it then! [Laughs]
It is beautiful.
Stop it! Stop rocking the boat.
It's not funny. Sit down.
Oh, you're so boring.
All our shit's in here.
What the fuck is that?
I don't know go around it?
Go around it.
There's the beach.
Jesus, at last!
What's wrong?
I'm just thinking about that thing.
Whatever
whatever it was.
Yeah.
No, that kind of spooked me out too.
I haven't been this far out before.
I guess that's some
pretty weird stuff going on.
Wild swimmers see some wild shit.
[Laughter]
This is fucking freezing.
I know! [Laughs]
You're going to think I'm crazy.
You go ahead, my strap's getting tangled.
Okay.
Dan?
Dan?
[Screaming]
Can I get you a drink?
I actually wanted to ask you something.
This might sound strange, but
you really had me
scared for a moment there.
I thought something
terrible had happened to you.
Even the harbour guy didn't know
where you were, or where you stopped.
And this isn't the first time I've
wondered where you are, Deji.
I guess I must really care
about you or something.
Come here.
I just wanted to show you this app.
It's simple really,
it's a 'find my phone' sort of thing.
So you download this app, it
pairs with your phone to this disc,
and if you're late, I'll be
able to see where you are.
Or if you're in trouble,
I'll be able to help you.
It uses GPS navigation to then try and...
Is this a tracking app?
For following people?
Well,
it's a safety app.
Lots of couples are using them to...
Look,
I don't want you to think that I'm
infringing on your personal space...
Mark?
I have some interviews to write up.
I think it's time to stop today.
It's wild swimming
season out there, you know.
Perhaps I'll catch you on the water.
Need a hand?
I'm a photographer.
I think I'm okay.
I must look like I don't
know what I'm doing, huh?
Well, as a photographer I am
professionally trained to shame amateurs.
What are you trying to do?
I want to get a shot of the water.
But all I see is sunlight.
So you want to get rid
of the reflective surface
and see what's underneath?
Why is that?
I mean, it's none of my business
if you want to see the fish, but
you are going to need more technical
equipment than this.
This is a circular polarizer.
Paparazzi use it to see
behind the glass of limousines.
It's great for spying.
It's the same principle with water.
It just phases out the reflective surface.
I don't know if this is working.
Let me see.
Well, it is reducing the glare, but
what it's not doing is removing
the algae from the river.
It's just too murky down there.
It's not algae.
It's silt. One of my interviewees told me.
This is the most silt heavy
river in the southwest.
Silt.
Well,
either way, you've got to have sunlight
penetrating the surface to be
able to see anything down there.
It's just too foggy.
Too dark.
Why are you interviewing people, anyway?
What's your assignment?
There's something
killing people in the river.
And I'm going to find it.
Oh.
Want a photographer?
Aren't you bored of
photographing the river yet?
[Distant laughter and joking]
Alright slapper?
I don't think I agreed
to have my photo taken.
Can you believe this guy?
Hey, motherfucker, come here and say that.
Wait a minute.
That's my girlfriend.
Hey Deji!
Shit.
She told me she was in the library today.
I can't keep track of this girl.
Oh, shit.
Shit.
Wait there a minute.
Mark, I don't want to talk right now.
Wait there!
Who the hell is this guy?
Are you alright?
[Screaming]
[Camera shutter goes off]
Holy fuck!
The witnesses have gone back home, sir.
They know to expect a request
for an interview later in the week.
Good work.
Oh and this just came in sir,
there's a couple of teenagers
missing since this morning.
Might be connected to the river.
We're not going to get much
sleep tonight, are we Myers?
No, sir.
Why do you have a telescope?
Well
usually I tell people I'm
learning astrophotography.
And I am actually.
But seeing as you've had a tough day...
When I was a kid,
I saw what they call these days a UAP.
I was in Tenerife on
holiday with my parents,
driving through the desert.
It was a nightmare to be honest.
They were shouting at each other and.
I was staring out of the window,
just trying to get some headspace,
you know?
And then I saw it.
This little triangle of blue lights
flying about a mile or so away.
It was like the shouting
just seemed to get
quieter there as I watched it.
It moved so effortlessly.
Probably wanted to jump on board.
So yeah.
That thing's for looking at the stars but
there's always a chance, isn't there?
Might see those blue lights again.
I hope so.
If you want the truth that
badly, you could be a journalist.
Who would be a journalist?
There's AI, deepfakes...
God, it's exhausting trying to
figure out what's real and what's not.
But where you're really in trouble
is that most people don't really care.
As long as it confirms
what they already believe.
That's not my experience.
When you see journalists being arrested,
you start caring very quickly.
Is that what you saw?
Back home
they closed down anyone
that wanted to find out more truth.
And that's not all.
Millions of people went on the street.
Now you can't say anything happened.
Otherwise one day you
might just get taken away.
Now, the real truth
is that only a few thousand
people showed up and
they're all criminals.
Let's get back to these photos.
There it is.
How many shots a second is this?
Eighteen.
Moves fast.
Stays underwater.
Kills quickly.
Shit, sorry.
Are you okay?
What was he like?
Was he a good person?
No.
He wanted to own me.
Right, well we'd better get these
photos off to the police hadn't we.
Not yet.
You want to get arrested
for concealing them?
It's not even worth concealing this.
In this kind of story
the photos are integral
to convincing the public.
And what we have isn't good enough.
Yet.
This is a different kind of story.
And I think together we could own it.
And if we do, if we own the story,
then we might not even have to graduate.
Okay.
What do you mean by okay?
If you want to own it,
we've got to go there tonight.
The police will be all over it tomorrow.
And whatever's in that river,
I've got something
that can help us find it.
Alright, check this out.
Thermal imaging.
[Police radio sounds]
What the hell is that?
Myers?
Let's get over to it.
What is that?
It looks like an oil slick.
It's warm liquid.
Looks like something's
been spilled and dragged.
Or dragged whilst it was being spilled.
Why does it stop there?
I'm not sure.
Let me switch back to normal.
Holy shit.
That's a trail of blood
leading to that boat.
Wait a minute.
Get a photo.
No photo, no story.
The drone pilot's going
to want to keep visibility.
Look for the LED screen.
Yeah.
There!
Hold it!
Take that down. Now.
[Police radio sounds]
If you want a lawyer, let me know anytime.
[In distance] All right.
Bring the photographer in.
Tell the other one to wait outside for now.
Just for now.
Good luck.
You okay?
What are we going to find
on these memory cards, Kim?
I don't know what you're dealing with here.
Well then tell me what you do know.
It was in the water
and now it's on the boat.
What is 'it'?
Tell me what it is.
I don't know what it is.
Listen to me.
We've got a boy dead out there,
and you've been on the
scene taking photographs,
taking taking holiday snaps.
Now, I'm not going to stand
here and waste any more time.
Tell me what you know.
All I know is it's on that boat.
Did you let her go?
I thought you let her go.
Oh, shit.
Inspector Chilcott!
Wait there.
Hey...
Hey!
There she is.
I can't breathe.
I can't breathe. You okay?
You okay?
There!
[Vicious snarling]
Hold it!
Take this.
What is it?
A Bluetooth tracker.
Just in case we get split up.
Why would we get split up?
I saw his face.
This is not what you think it is.
What about his face?
What is he?
I don't know about this.
We shouldn't even be interviewing him.
Well what do you want to do?
Let's go for ten minutes, then release him.
You better keep everyone back.
If he's not our man
we'll have to carry
on sealing off the area.
Right.
That's quite a run out there, Mr...
Baker.
Gerald Baker.
Quite a run yourself, Inspector.
I had the excuse, of course, of
being chased by a psychopath.
Always helps to have a
mortal threat behind you.
Well, I'm glad you're still with us.
Why do you think she was chasing after you?
Why was she flying a drone over my boat?
It's the middle of the
night, for God's sake.
They're planning a robbery.
Let me give you some context.
Last summer, we had three boats
burgled on this same stretch of river
and I'm sure I don't
have to tell you, but
no arrests.
It's a vulnerable community
inspector, living in fear.
But this is your chance to show
them that you have got their back.
Bring charges as quickly as possible.
Well, I hope you understand
that's my department, Mr. Baker.
Just... help me build a picture here.
You're saying that before this
evening, the two of you had never met.
But she chased after you anyway.
Why would she do that?
We made eye contact.
Next thing I knew, she was coming at me.
That was the extent of our relationship.
We had a death on the river today.
Sorry to hear that.
It was a young man.
Mother, father devastated.
Can you tell me where you
were at 3.27 this afternoon?
On my boat, which is legally moored here.
Working, busy as usual.
My web activity will prove as much.
Inspector, the truth is,
I love my life here, away from people.
The distance pleases me.
Distance from those who try to fill
up your time with their own agenda.
I must be cursed because
they won't leave me alone.
I just want to water my plants.
Grow my food.
Look as hard as you like, Inspector.
I'm a simpleton really.
An antiquated aristocrat
who just want some peace.
Don't you just want peace, Inspector?
Look. I have to work.
But we can bring this to a conclusion.
Tell me, what was the cause of death?
Inspector?
We have it down as snakebite.
You okay?
We didn't get the photo.
No. At least you're alive.
We should stop.
[Distant screaming]
999 what's your emergency?
I'm on...
I'm on the river.
We need a bit more information than that.
Could you just tell me...
[Smashing sound]
No sunlight passes through the water.
[The monster screeches]
I'm here for Rakenon.
I've come from Wells to help him.
He's not here.
Where's he gone?
What do you mean you can help him?
No one can help him.
It can be done if you tell me where he is.
It's getting dark.
Time is of the essence.
He said he was going to the river to
to do himself in.
Thank you.
Rakenon!
Are you out of your mind?
Stay away from the edge.
Won't you even speak to me?
It's too late for me Father.
Leave now before you get hurt.
And who's going to hurt me you?
I don't believe it.
You can't say that for sure! I can.
I know you're a good man
who serves this Parish well.
Who is loved by his wife
and who's needed by his little girl.
She needs you, Gerald.
If you just step off of the bridge,
you can still be that man.
The night has got me now.
Don't do it!
the big things, but in this situation
I don't want to know.
You took the test.
Why not get the result?
It'll change our lives.
But then at least we could work with it.
As it is, you're just dancing in the dark.
Maybe I like being in the dark.
Why won't you leave me alone?
I don't know what you're talking about.
[Sound of children laughing]
semester bites the dust.
Congratulations.
And it wouldn't be the end of
term without a summer assignment,
now would it?
So, news hounds.
As we discussed,
narratives are the key factor in
sustaining a long term news cycle. Yeah?
Stories that unfold over
the weeks and months
create a sense that
we live in shared times.
Everyone's watching the same story.
Everyone's talking about the same story.
That's how you define the times.
So what I want you to do is, over the break
I want you to go out there
and find me your own story.
I don't care if it's a nature reserve
that's about to be smashed up and turned
into a supermarket or an asteroid that's
about to hit us all on Valentine's Day.
But where I'm going is:
Make sure the story has drama
and make sure the story has legs.
Okay.
Off you go!
[laughs]
[students talking]
[music from headphones]
Have you had your second date yet?
Yes I have.
He has passed a psychopath test
for now.
Okay, well, mine
failed his psychopath test.
As you know.
You will be okay too.
I think you will need to ask her yourself.
I think she would really like to see you.
I think I would too Deji.
You can see me on Zoom.
Zoom?
Okay. I...
I want to see the both of you too,
it's just I can't risk being
arrested at the airport.
I'm a journalist now, remember?
You used to tell me:
Get in the game.
You can't beat the game if you're outside.
That's all I'm doing.
It doesn't mean I won't come back.
It doesn't mean I don't care about you.
We care about you too Deji, but.
Care is something you do.
Not just something you feel.
You have to show it.
How are your grades?
Well, I'm doing okay.
I could be better, though.
We can all be doing better.
At least you're in the game.
You have to win it for
the both of us though,
because my career isn't going anywhere
when mommy's like this.
Oh! My back.
My back is still hurting. [Laughs]
I'm only 30 and I'm decomposing.
You're not decomposing.
You're very beautiful.
Oh, sorry.
I have to take this.
Hi Mark. Hi.
Are you alright?
I'm good.
I'm just watering my houseplants,
which always seem to die on me.
But I think I got some fake
ones by accident. [Laughs]
How are you?
I'm good.
Sorry. Where are you? I'm at home.
See? The plants?
They're beautiful.
I'm so glad you've got
time to dedicate to them.
My place isn't very plant
friendly but personally, I blame
my housemates for that.
I think someone needs to
terraform this place or something.
Listen,
I know we're still new to this, and
I hope it doesn't seem too forward,
but I really missed you today.
Where have you been?
Just at the lecture theater.
I got my end of term assignment.
Oh we got ours too.
What's your assignment?
Our lecturer called it 'news with legs'
That just means, like a story
that keeps rolling for weeks
and keeps changing and evolving.
Amazing. News with legs.
[Laughs] Well, I've got two.
You're welcome to write
about those any time you like.
Have you got any ideas?
There's a retired police officer
I'm meeting tomorrow who says
that she has a suggestion for me.
What kind of suggestion?
She thinks that there's something
in the river that killed somebody.
[From far away] Hello?
Are you Deshie?
Or is it Deji I'm sorry, I...
It's been a few years since I've
even had to think about this story.
But you know already
we had a girl drown here in 2017.
I was the investigating
officer taking interviews
and trying to get a sense of what happened.
I don't mean to talk this down,
but people have drowned here before
and since then, because
it's a student town?
Students drink.
There have been other
cases, but this was the only one
I was leading.
What was your sense of what happened?
Just a couple of kids wild swimming.
Something in the way she died.
Kim Jeffries,
her name was.
Her boyfriend witnessed it.
He said it was as if
she was being held underwater.
I remember his conviction.
So what would you put on record?
Bite marks.
The lab said they were consistent with.
Cottonmouth snake bites.
But they didn't put that
down as the cause of death.
Just the reason she lost control.
They didn't want lurid headlines
so all that side of things
was kept off the record.
I don't know if I trust my own memories.
I was a bit of a mess.
I'm glad you're here doing this.
If you talk to all the people
who live along the river,
they'll tell you all their stories.
Mad stories.
You'll get what you're after.
Maybe I will too.
The river runs right
through Mapledown Forest
and right into town.
And then it cuts through the main canal.
It's quite rare that the
river and the canal intersect.
You have barges, you have
sailboats they all talk to each other.
We got all kinds of pond life here.
I remember the police getting involved.
I remember they wanted to talk to everyone.
Why did they want to talk to everyone?
You tell me.
She drowned.
It didn't have anything
to do with the rest of us.
Do you get wild swimmers here a lot?
Every summer.
Do you swim?
I already told the police
I don't swim.
Why is that?
Is it because people
keep dying in the river?
You should ask my mother about that.
She's been saying there's
something in this river since the '50s.
Kim. It's been hard to get hold of you.
I hope everything's okay.
Listen, there's no easy way to say this.
I've been talking with the Dean
about your work, and we both agree
there's no need for you
to finish the final semester.
I appreciate this may
come as a shock, but the fact
is, there are only so many times
we can try and advise you
before we have to take action.
We'd hoped that as a mature
student, you would apply
a more urgent, flexible and
serious approach to your studies.
I'm sorry it hasn't worked out that way.
My recommendation is
that you don't return to...
[She cancels the message]
Here's to you, Doctor Floyd.
Do you have a boat?
Yes, I have.
Right goes left.
If you twist this this way,
you'll speed up. Back to slow down
and if you push the other
way, you go into reverse.
What kind of speed can it do?
Low speeds. Although,
if you want to break my boat,
there's a switch down
here that will give you
ten mile an hour for 10 seconds.
Then the batteries blow up.
Well, that sounds fun.
Don't kill my boat.
Now. Reeds.
If you run into any
you lift this here
to see what you got.
They only get heavy about a mile down.
Most people turn back before then.
Unless they're feeling brave.
Are you feeling brave?
No, but I can swim.
Does that count?
[Phone voice] Your call has been forwarded
to an automatic voice
message system. [Beeps]
Hey Deji.
I'm here and you're not.
Are you okay?
Give me a call.
I told you,
I haven't seen her since she left.
There's the path.
Why don't you go and find her yourself?
I just don't understand what
you're doing out here on your own.
I mean, you said yourself some
dangerous is happening out here,
and I don't know what you are, then...
Mark, I'm safe.
I think I'm more than safe.
I think I'm in love with this place.
The river is like this pathway
that no one knows about.
You could drift for hours without
seeing a single other person.
What's wrong with other people?
It's like
a road without anyone.
No cameras, no screens.
It's like this secret place
you can come and go with nobody watching.
Why would a snake
care if anyone's watching?
[Laughs]
It's not a snake?
Okay.
I know that's a bad example, but like
come on, there are so many
better things to do on the weekend.
Well,
it'll be worth it when
we're there, I promise you.
You'd better be right.
I'm holding you to that.
Hold me to it then! [Laughs]
It is beautiful.
Stop it! Stop rocking the boat.
It's not funny. Sit down.
Oh, you're so boring.
All our shit's in here.
What the fuck is that?
I don't know go around it?
Go around it.
There's the beach.
Jesus, at last!
What's wrong?
I'm just thinking about that thing.
Whatever
whatever it was.
Yeah.
No, that kind of spooked me out too.
I haven't been this far out before.
I guess that's some
pretty weird stuff going on.
Wild swimmers see some wild shit.
[Laughter]
This is fucking freezing.
I know! [Laughs]
You're going to think I'm crazy.
You go ahead, my strap's getting tangled.
Okay.
Dan?
Dan?
[Screaming]
Can I get you a drink?
I actually wanted to ask you something.
This might sound strange, but
you really had me
scared for a moment there.
I thought something
terrible had happened to you.
Even the harbour guy didn't know
where you were, or where you stopped.
And this isn't the first time I've
wondered where you are, Deji.
I guess I must really care
about you or something.
Come here.
I just wanted to show you this app.
It's simple really,
it's a 'find my phone' sort of thing.
So you download this app, it
pairs with your phone to this disc,
and if you're late, I'll be
able to see where you are.
Or if you're in trouble,
I'll be able to help you.
It uses GPS navigation to then try and...
Is this a tracking app?
For following people?
Well,
it's a safety app.
Lots of couples are using them to...
Look,
I don't want you to think that I'm
infringing on your personal space...
Mark?
I have some interviews to write up.
I think it's time to stop today.
It's wild swimming
season out there, you know.
Perhaps I'll catch you on the water.
Need a hand?
I'm a photographer.
I think I'm okay.
I must look like I don't
know what I'm doing, huh?
Well, as a photographer I am
professionally trained to shame amateurs.
What are you trying to do?
I want to get a shot of the water.
But all I see is sunlight.
So you want to get rid
of the reflective surface
and see what's underneath?
Why is that?
I mean, it's none of my business
if you want to see the fish, but
you are going to need more technical
equipment than this.
This is a circular polarizer.
Paparazzi use it to see
behind the glass of limousines.
It's great for spying.
It's the same principle with water.
It just phases out the reflective surface.
I don't know if this is working.
Let me see.
Well, it is reducing the glare, but
what it's not doing is removing
the algae from the river.
It's just too murky down there.
It's not algae.
It's silt. One of my interviewees told me.
This is the most silt heavy
river in the southwest.
Silt.
Well,
either way, you've got to have sunlight
penetrating the surface to be
able to see anything down there.
It's just too foggy.
Too dark.
Why are you interviewing people, anyway?
What's your assignment?
There's something
killing people in the river.
And I'm going to find it.
Oh.
Want a photographer?
Aren't you bored of
photographing the river yet?
[Distant laughter and joking]
Alright slapper?
I don't think I agreed
to have my photo taken.
Can you believe this guy?
Hey, motherfucker, come here and say that.
Wait a minute.
That's my girlfriend.
Hey Deji!
Shit.
She told me she was in the library today.
I can't keep track of this girl.
Oh, shit.
Shit.
Wait there a minute.
Mark, I don't want to talk right now.
Wait there!
Who the hell is this guy?
Are you alright?
[Screaming]
[Camera shutter goes off]
Holy fuck!
The witnesses have gone back home, sir.
They know to expect a request
for an interview later in the week.
Good work.
Oh and this just came in sir,
there's a couple of teenagers
missing since this morning.
Might be connected to the river.
We're not going to get much
sleep tonight, are we Myers?
No, sir.
Why do you have a telescope?
Well
usually I tell people I'm
learning astrophotography.
And I am actually.
But seeing as you've had a tough day...
When I was a kid,
I saw what they call these days a UAP.
I was in Tenerife on
holiday with my parents,
driving through the desert.
It was a nightmare to be honest.
They were shouting at each other and.
I was staring out of the window,
just trying to get some headspace,
you know?
And then I saw it.
This little triangle of blue lights
flying about a mile or so away.
It was like the shouting
just seemed to get
quieter there as I watched it.
It moved so effortlessly.
Probably wanted to jump on board.
So yeah.
That thing's for looking at the stars but
there's always a chance, isn't there?
Might see those blue lights again.
I hope so.
If you want the truth that
badly, you could be a journalist.
Who would be a journalist?
There's AI, deepfakes...
God, it's exhausting trying to
figure out what's real and what's not.
But where you're really in trouble
is that most people don't really care.
As long as it confirms
what they already believe.
That's not my experience.
When you see journalists being arrested,
you start caring very quickly.
Is that what you saw?
Back home
they closed down anyone
that wanted to find out more truth.
And that's not all.
Millions of people went on the street.
Now you can't say anything happened.
Otherwise one day you
might just get taken away.
Now, the real truth
is that only a few thousand
people showed up and
they're all criminals.
Let's get back to these photos.
There it is.
How many shots a second is this?
Eighteen.
Moves fast.
Stays underwater.
Kills quickly.
Shit, sorry.
Are you okay?
What was he like?
Was he a good person?
No.
He wanted to own me.
Right, well we'd better get these
photos off to the police hadn't we.
Not yet.
You want to get arrested
for concealing them?
It's not even worth concealing this.
In this kind of story
the photos are integral
to convincing the public.
And what we have isn't good enough.
Yet.
This is a different kind of story.
And I think together we could own it.
And if we do, if we own the story,
then we might not even have to graduate.
Okay.
What do you mean by okay?
If you want to own it,
we've got to go there tonight.
The police will be all over it tomorrow.
And whatever's in that river,
I've got something
that can help us find it.
Alright, check this out.
Thermal imaging.
[Police radio sounds]
What the hell is that?
Myers?
Let's get over to it.
What is that?
It looks like an oil slick.
It's warm liquid.
Looks like something's
been spilled and dragged.
Or dragged whilst it was being spilled.
Why does it stop there?
I'm not sure.
Let me switch back to normal.
Holy shit.
That's a trail of blood
leading to that boat.
Wait a minute.
Get a photo.
No photo, no story.
The drone pilot's going
to want to keep visibility.
Look for the LED screen.
Yeah.
There!
Hold it!
Take that down. Now.
[Police radio sounds]
If you want a lawyer, let me know anytime.
[In distance] All right.
Bring the photographer in.
Tell the other one to wait outside for now.
Just for now.
Good luck.
You okay?
What are we going to find
on these memory cards, Kim?
I don't know what you're dealing with here.
Well then tell me what you do know.
It was in the water
and now it's on the boat.
What is 'it'?
Tell me what it is.
I don't know what it is.
Listen to me.
We've got a boy dead out there,
and you've been on the
scene taking photographs,
taking taking holiday snaps.
Now, I'm not going to stand
here and waste any more time.
Tell me what you know.
All I know is it's on that boat.
Did you let her go?
I thought you let her go.
Oh, shit.
Inspector Chilcott!
Wait there.
Hey...
Hey!
There she is.
I can't breathe.
I can't breathe. You okay?
You okay?
There!
[Vicious snarling]
Hold it!
Take this.
What is it?
A Bluetooth tracker.
Just in case we get split up.
Why would we get split up?
I saw his face.
This is not what you think it is.
What about his face?
What is he?
I don't know about this.
We shouldn't even be interviewing him.
Well what do you want to do?
Let's go for ten minutes, then release him.
You better keep everyone back.
If he's not our man
we'll have to carry
on sealing off the area.
Right.
That's quite a run out there, Mr...
Baker.
Gerald Baker.
Quite a run yourself, Inspector.
I had the excuse, of course, of
being chased by a psychopath.
Always helps to have a
mortal threat behind you.
Well, I'm glad you're still with us.
Why do you think she was chasing after you?
Why was she flying a drone over my boat?
It's the middle of the
night, for God's sake.
They're planning a robbery.
Let me give you some context.
Last summer, we had three boats
burgled on this same stretch of river
and I'm sure I don't
have to tell you, but
no arrests.
It's a vulnerable community
inspector, living in fear.
But this is your chance to show
them that you have got their back.
Bring charges as quickly as possible.
Well, I hope you understand
that's my department, Mr. Baker.
Just... help me build a picture here.
You're saying that before this
evening, the two of you had never met.
But she chased after you anyway.
Why would she do that?
We made eye contact.
Next thing I knew, she was coming at me.
That was the extent of our relationship.
We had a death on the river today.
Sorry to hear that.
It was a young man.
Mother, father devastated.
Can you tell me where you
were at 3.27 this afternoon?
On my boat, which is legally moored here.
Working, busy as usual.
My web activity will prove as much.
Inspector, the truth is,
I love my life here, away from people.
The distance pleases me.
Distance from those who try to fill
up your time with their own agenda.
I must be cursed because
they won't leave me alone.
I just want to water my plants.
Grow my food.
Look as hard as you like, Inspector.
I'm a simpleton really.
An antiquated aristocrat
who just want some peace.
Don't you just want peace, Inspector?
Look. I have to work.
But we can bring this to a conclusion.
Tell me, what was the cause of death?
Inspector?
We have it down as snakebite.
You okay?
We didn't get the photo.
No. At least you're alive.
We should stop.
[Distant screaming]
999 what's your emergency?
I'm on...
I'm on the river.
We need a bit more information than that.
Could you just tell me...
[Smashing sound]
No sunlight passes through the water.
[The monster screeches]
I'm here for Rakenon.
I've come from Wells to help him.
He's not here.
Where's he gone?
What do you mean you can help him?
No one can help him.
It can be done if you tell me where he is.
It's getting dark.
Time is of the essence.
He said he was going to the river to
to do himself in.
Thank you.
Rakenon!
Are you out of your mind?
Stay away from the edge.
Won't you even speak to me?
It's too late for me Father.
Leave now before you get hurt.
And who's going to hurt me you?
I don't believe it.
You can't say that for sure! I can.
I know you're a good man
who serves this Parish well.
Who is loved by his wife
and who's needed by his little girl.
She needs you, Gerald.
If you just step off of the bridge,
you can still be that man.
The night has got me now.
Don't do it!
the big things, but in this situation
I don't want to know.
You took the test.
Why not get the result?
It'll change our lives.
But then at least we could work with it.
As it is, you're just dancing in the dark.
Maybe I like being in the dark.
Why won't you leave me alone?
I don't know what you're talking about.
[Sound of children laughing]