Playing Gracie Darling (2025) s01e01 Episode Script

1
[eerie ambient music plays]
- [birds twittering]
- [insects chirping]
[birds twittering, flapping]
[eerie music builds]
[leaves rustle]
[Gracie] Can you feel it?
Our connection
to the spirit world tonight
is deep and powerful.
A realm of mystery and darkness
just beyond our own.
We open ourselves
to the spirit world
and command evil
to stay outside the circle.
If the good spirit of Levi
is near,
then please enter the glass.
Open your eyes.
Put your fingers on.
Are you there, Levi?
[exhales]
How have you been, Levi?
What have you been doing
since we last spoke?
Watch
Watching?
[stifles chuckle]
Ask him if he's been
watching us in the shower.
[all chuckle]
Oh, you are kidding.
[chuckling]
Okay you know everything
about us, right?
Like do you know
all our secrets?
You said you were
stuck in limbo, right?
Like you can't move on?
What happened to you, Levi?
Did you have a tragic death?
Gracie!
Can we just concentrate
and not push the glass?
[soft rattling]
What was that?
[insects chirping]
[glass sliding]
[Joni] Let
- me
- What the f?
out.
"Let me out"?
Huh?
- [Anita] "Let me out"?
- [Joni] "Let me out".
Let me
What the fuck?
[Joni] ..out.
- [Anita] Guys?
- [Jay] What the fuck?
- Holy shit.
- [glass sliding]
What's happening?
It's an evil spirit.
We have to end it.
- [Jay] What?
- [Gracie] End it.
- We have to end it.
- End it!
Shit. Oh! Fuck this!
Levi, go to goodbye!
- Levi, go to goodbye! Joni!
- [screams]
Oh, shit! Fuck!
Joni!
[glass sliding]
[menacing music builds]
[gasps]
[glass sliding]
[whispering] Let me out.
- Gracie!
- Don't fuck with us, Gracie!
[gasps]
[guttural] Let me out.
[splutters]
Gracie!
[Anita screams]
Fuck this!
[screaming]
Move to goodbye, Levi!
Move to goodbye!
- [screams]
- [glass clatters]
[grunting]
- [spluttering]
- [menacing music builds]
- [girl screaming]
- [Joni pants rapidly]
- [pants, whimpers]
- [screaming continues]
- [woman screaming]
- I thought she was out.
- [colleague] Parole breach.
- Shit.
[colleague] Back in
on Wednesday.
- [alarm blaring]
- It's Friday. What's happened?
Bloody art program.
Supposed to be therapeutic.
- Drama?
- Painting.
Managed to sharpen a brush.
Joni's here to see you, Ivy.
Ivy, I thought I'd seen
the last of you in here.
- Fuck off!
- All right, all right. Come on.
Did you miss me so much
you had to come back?
- I'll do it. I'll really do it.
- Okay.
Hey, hey, hey.
What has happened?
Last time I saw you,
you were doing so good.
[Ivy] They won't shut up!
Yeah? What are they saying?
- Just talking about me.
- Yeah?
"Bitch!"
And I need to be punished.
So remember what we said?
You can choose not to listen.
They're not gonna stop
until I do it.
Ivy, I want you to look at me,
I want you to listen
to my voice.
- [spits]
- Oh! Jesus fucking Christ.
Okay.
Listen, I'm not going to let you
hurt yourself. Okay?
- It's all my fault.
- It's not your fault, darling.
It's not your fault, okay?
It's not your fault.
We're just gonna talk.
We're just gonna talk.
She's all right.
Can you put the brush
in my hand?
[people shouting]
[teenager] Fucking do it!
That's it.
- [teenager] Do it!
- [loud banging]
Good girl. It's all good.
- [teenager] Do it!
- [banging intensifies]
[screams]
- [shouting and commotion]
- [Joni] There's been a stabbing.
[alarm blares]
- [shouting, commotion continue]
- [alarm continues]
[soundscape ceases]
- [dog barking in distance]
- [door closes]
Oh, this is good, darling.
This is a lovely card.
- This is all about success and--
- [Joni] Hi.
- [footsteps approaching]
- Hiya.
[kisses] Hey, what's for dinner?
- [Lulu] Fish and chips.
- [Mina] We left you some.
Didn't we have fish and chips
on Tuesday?
If you want to cook something,
be my guest.
Keep going, Nan.
[Pattie] Right, so Oh, now
this balances everything.
Because, you see, you had
the nine of swords here,
and that can show up
when you're feeling
anxious or fearful.
Who's feeling anxious
or fearful?
Nan's doing a spread for me.
But the Queen of Cups,
she's a beautiful card.
She's emotional.
And this card,
this one grounds you.
This is all about trusting
yourself and your intuition.
What's going on?
It's just a friend thing,
don't worry.
You know, your mother's the
real expert in all this stuff.
She was exactly the same
at your age -
always worrying about what
people were thinking of her.
- Was I?
- Yes. Don't you remember?
You used to come home
every day crying
because someone or other
didn't like you.
- [Mina] When was this?
- I wouldn't say every day.
Same age as you now,
more or less.
Terrible anxiety.
Considering the circumstances
[inhales]
Anyway, who didn't like me?
[Pattie] Plenty of people
did like you,
so what does it matter--
Yeah, but when you said that,
who did you mean?
Jeez, get over it, Mum.
[phone vibrates]
Jay.
- Who's Jay?
- [Joni] Oh.
Hi! Jay, this is--
- [Jay] Unexpected, I know.
- [Joni] Yeah, it's been ages.
Yeah, all right.
How are you? You all good?
[Jay] Actually, no. I wanted
to make sure you'd heard.
Heard what?
I don't know how to say this,
but, um
another Darling girl's
gone missing.
Just like Gracie.
Oh, my God.
I know. And Raffy was
the last to see her.
Your Raffy?
Yeah.
It's like it's happening again.
They were even at the old
shack.
All she'll say is, um
they were
"Playing Gracie Darling".
[unsettling music plays]
[Joni] Okay
Are you in a comfy spot?
[Joni makes playful noises]
- Ow.
- Sorry. Sorry, sorry.
Lights out.
Can we leave the light on?
All right. Close your eyes.
Shh, shh, shh.
Shh, shh. It's okay.
[TV playing faintly]
- You right, Bear?
- [Mina] Mm-hm.
I'm on leave now, so
we can have some fun
this holidays,
we can go to the movies,
Sushi Train
If Sushi Train's
your idea of fun,
you need to take
a good hard look at your life.
Give me a break,
you used to love Sushi Train.
Yeah, 'used to'
being the operative words.
[TV continues playing]
I'm going to bed.
'Night, Mum.
Okay. 'Night.
[unsettling music plays]
["Every Time the Sun Comes Up"
by Sharon Van Etten plays]
[woman talking indistinctly
on radio]
Pace man for you ♪
Hold my horses ♪
Patient ♪
Hey, man ♪
Tricks can wait ♪
To heal my emotions ♪
Every time the sun comes up ♪
I'm in trouble ♪
Every time the sun comes up ♪
- I'm in trouble ♪
- [scanner beeps]
Yep. Thanks.
Every time the sun comes up ♪
I'm in trouble ♪
Imagine when ♪
Every time the sun comes up ♪
I see double. ♪
[song ends]
[sighs]
[Jay] I know, I know, I know
Yep.
I swear I'm doing
everything I can, Ruth.
Yes. Yes.
Promise. And I will call you
the minute I have something.
All right?
Yep. Bye. Bye.
Ruth Darling.
She thinks I'm not doing enough.
- Are you?
- [Jay clears throat]
They'd had a fight.
But then Raffy told us
about the game.
There's no trace of her.
Her phone's off.
She hasn't turned up in any
of the hospitals. Or worse.
I thought you weren't coming.
I changed my mind.
[Jay] Oh.
Well, hi.
- Hi.
- Hi.
[mysterious ambient music plays]
The Darlings have never really
forgiven me for Gracie.
Forgiven you?
- Well, any of us.
- Oh, my
But, you know,
they don't have to look
at you every day, do they?
And now with Anita
and this bloody wind farm,
the whole town's on edge.
You said you'd be over
first thing.
I said I needed
to go into work first.
Well, you could have texted
if you were changing plans.
I would have texted
if I was changing plans.
[Anita] There's no need
for the combative tone.
How are you, Joni?
Good Anita.
It's nice to see you.
- Frankie turned up yet?
- No. No.
- You reckon she ran away?
- [Anita] Probably.
Either that
or karmic retribution.
Oh, jeez, Anita.
How's Raffy going?
See if you can get
any sense out of her.
That's only if, you know,
you feel comfortable with that.
It's the turbines.
It messes with
their flight paths.
The Darlings pushed
the development through.
Anyway, uh, Raffy's in her room.
I lost another two animals
this week.
The Darlings are profiting
off my ruin.
Not now, Anita.
Rich get richer while
everyone else gets screwed over.
Take off your shoes, please.
It's fine.
You can leave them on.
[knock at door]
Hi, Raffy.
It's Joni.
It's been a while.
Uh, your mum and dad wanted
me to have a chat with you.
Is that okay?
[Raffy sniffles]
Your dad said
that you and Frankie
were up at the old shack.
Did he tell you that we
used to hang out up there?
We used to do seances.
Scared the shit
out of ourselves.
- Really?
- [Joni] Yeah.
Well, you know,
I mean, there's
a lot of stuff
that you don't know about him.
Just like how there's stuff
he doesn't know about you.
Raffy,
what's Playing Gracie Darling?
Everyone at youth group plays.
Okay. How do you play?
I just ran away
and left her there.
Is there anything else
that you want to tell me?
Might help us find your friend?
[Joni] Hmm.
I'll just
[tears paper]
That's my number.
If you ever wanted
to call or text me, you can.
Something evil got inside her.
Something called Levi.
[low ominous music plays]
Levi.
Levi. I mean, that was something
we created, right?
Some sort of
collective delusion.
[scoffs] It was so long ago,
Joni, I barely remember.
You and Anita
ever mention it?
You know, the things
that you talk about
when you think the kids
aren't listening.
No. No, we never
talk about that night.
Right. Okay. [clicks seatbelt]
Well, I guess
it's just important that
you don't shut Raffy down,
that she feels listened to,
even if what she's talking
about seems silly or irrational.
Yeah.
Well, it was still good
to see you.
Yeah.
Thanks for coming up, yeah?
I'm I'm sorry
if I wasted your time.
No. Not at all.
- If there's anything else
- Yeah, I'll keep you posted.
- Good luck.
- Yeah, thanks. Okay. Bye.
[knocks]
Hello?
[Moira] Yes. Yes.
My granddaughter, Frankie.
Apricot hoodie, red backpack,
denim shorts.
Yes.
Thank you.
Pray for us.
[phone beeps]
Moira.
Sorry. I knocked. It's Joni.
Oh, Joni!
- Hi.
- How are you, darling heart?
How are your gorgeous girls?
Oh, they're fine. They're fine.
I'm leaving this afternoon,
but I just wanted to see you
before I left.
I can't believe this is
happening to you again.
I'm so sorry.
Oh
Only God knows God's will.
- Let me put the kettle on.
- Oh--
[Moira] Ruth will be pleased
to see you.
[calling out] Ruth!
[quietly] Jay's doing everything
he can, but it's almost--
[Ruth] Have you heard something?
Um
Joni's come
to offer her prayers.
Hi, Ruth.
Oh. Ah thank you. Um
Mum's got half
the district praying,
but what I really need is people
doing something constructive
to help find my daughter.
[inhales] I'm sorry,
is this a good time for guests?
Why are you
asking people around?
I don't want to hear
how sorry they are. I want--
[Moira] Calm down.
People are only trying to help.
[Ruth] If they want to help,
they can go do something.
[Moira] There is no need
to be rude.
[Ruth] I don't care
if it's rude
[Moira and Ruth
continue arguing]
["Don't It Get You Down"
by Deadstar plays faintly]
- Well, don't it get you down
-[girls chattering faintly]
[girls continue chattering
indistinctly]
[chattering continues]
[Deadstar]
And now you're underground ♪
Wasting away ♪
Watching your back again ♪
All you gotta know ♪
Your mum is so fucking cool.
She actually still wear
this stuff?
[Young Joni] Yeah, I guess.
Did it hurt
when you flipped the bike?
[Gracie] Fuckin' oath.
[chuckles]
You excited for all
the tourists over the summer?
You might have more of a chance
with guys you don't know.
Thanks a lot.
- Shut up. You know what I mean.
- [giggles]
Like guys that aren't
from this town.
Joni, you don't want to be
sweet 16 and never been kissed.
Maybe I want to be
a virgin forever.
Maybe I'll dedicate my life
to Christ.
[Gracie] What about Jay?
[Young Joni] What about Jay?
- [door closes]
- [footsteps thud]
- It's Grandad. Hide it.
- Shit.
- [footsteps approaching]
- [door opens]
What are the two of you
up to, then?
- Project.
- Good for you.
[Mr Darling]
Staying for dinner, Joni?
Thanks, Mr Darling,
but I'd best get home.
Next time, then.
You're always welcome.
Thanks.
[door closes]
[soft clattering]
[grunts in disgust]
[footsteps approaching]
[door opens]
Mr Darling! Sorry, I, um
Mr Darling, it's Joni.
Where's Gracie?
Gracie? Gracie, um
[Moira] Dad?
Oh, there you are!
Joni.
What are you doing in here?
Oh
Well, your your father
and I were just catching up.
Come on, Dad.
We'll show Joni out.
[gasps softly]
[soft pensive music plays]
[calling out] Dad? You home?
[rummaging]
[blows air]
[Bob in distance] You're such
a perfect mother, aren't you?!
[Pattie] At least I'm not
a liar and a hypocrite!
[Bob] Such a great role model
for our daughter!
[Pattie] Don't you dare talk
to me about role models!
[Bob] I'll talk about whatever
I bloody well like!
[Pattie] What about--
[DJ on radio] ..all the tracks
that are racing
up the charts right now.
This is 102FM -
the soundtrack to summer.
Playing all the newest hits
for you.
["Fade Into You"
by Mazzy Star plays]
[Pattie and Bob continue
arguing indistinctly]
I wanna hold the hand
inside you ♪
I wanna take the breath
that's true ♪
- [Gracie] See ya, suckers!
- I look to you ♪
- [Gracie whoops]
- And I see nothing ♪
[Young Jay] Gracie!
I look to you
to see the truth ♪
[Young Joni] Wait up!
Some kind of night
into your darkness ♪
[girl whoops]
Colours your eyes
with what's not there ♪
Fade into you ♪
Strange, you never knew ♪
[song fades out]
- [panting]
- [insects chirping]
[wood crunching]
[uneasy ambient music plays]
[phone clicks]
This place
is definitely haunted.
Really?
Yeah. Bad shit
has happened here, I reckon.
Oh, my God, stop it, Gracie.
You're freaking me out.
Like someone's died.
Or like a murder.
[soft clattering]
- What was that?
- [Gracie] What?
[Jay] What?
Listen.
[creaking]
Who's there?
- [scuttling]
- [screams]
[Anita] Oh, my--!
[laughing] Anita, your face!
Shut up, Gracie.
[Gracie chuckles]
[floorboards creaking]
[screams]
[Gracie] Oh, my fucking God!
Jesus Christ, Billy!
- Give us a heart attack!
- [Joni] What are you doing?
Mind your own fuckin' business.
[object drops on floor]
[Anita] Dickhead.
- [gasps]
- Classy.
- Hoo-hoo!
- Hmm.
[Jay] Oh, that's disgusting.
Billy!
Here you go, Jay go wild.
Ooh!
You know what we should do here?
A seance.
[sighs]
[ominous sting plays]
[uneasy music rises]
[starlings flapping, twittering]
[breathes heavily]
[starlings flapping]
[cheerful chatter
and laughter in distance]
[teenager 1] How was work?
[teenager 2] It was fine.
[chatter continues]
Exactly.
And it's gonna be like--
[Joni] Hey, guys. Sorry.
- [chatter stops]
- Um is Raffy in tonight?
Who's asking?
Oh, I'm a friend. A friend of
A friend of her dad's.
- Are you his new girlfriend?
- [Joni] No, no.
- Not that kind of friend.
- [teenagers giggle]
Gosh, you guys must be
really worried about Frankie.
She's probably just run off.
I heard that they were
"Playing Gracie Darling".
They were playing?
Do you know about that game?
Gracie Darling?
As in that girl that disappeared
back in the '90s?
Yeah.
[uneasy music builds]
They let out something evil
back then.
You should never go into
the forest at night
or Gracie's killer--
- Rah!
- [gasps]
[teenagers laugh]
- Oh, yeah?
- [Joni] Okay.
So the rest of you lot
joining us or?
- [teenager] Yeah.
- Yeah? Okay, come on, then.
- Sorry, hi. You are?
- Sorry.
Hi, I'm Joni Grey.
I'm a psychologist.
I've been working with
Sergeant Rajeswaran.
Yeah, if this is
an official visit,
uh, I wasn't informed.
So anyone who is
dealing with the kids
needs official clearance.
Totally understand.
Sorry about that.
- Okay, let's go.
- [teenagers laughing]
Hey Does the name Levi
mean anything to you?
Goodbye.
- Hi!
- Mummy!
[Joni] Hi, Lulu.
[Mina] What's happened
to Grandpa?
Nothing. Pa's fine. See?
Hard living finally caught up
with you, Bob?
Ha! You should be so lucky.
[Mina] What are you doing
up there?
I'm sorry. There was
a bit of an emergency.
What emergency?
In the middle of the night?
Terrible thing,
this girl missing.
- What? Who's missing?
- [Bob] Young Frankie Darling.
I was going to tell you
about it when I got home.
[uneasy music plays]
[uneasy music swells,
then fades]
- [woman screams]
- [indistinct shouting]
[woman] Someone help!
Somebody!
[indistinct panicked shouting]
[woman shrieks] No!
[ominous music builds]
[man] Put it out, put it out!
[woman shouts]
[Jay] Get back!
[Jay grunts]
[ominous music rises]
Are you all right?
Are you burnt?
No. No, no, I'm fine.
[Joni] What the hell is that?
[Jay] Somebody's sending
a message.
[Joni] To who?
I've got a pretty fucking
good idea.
Oh, Jesus!
Joni, what were you doing at
the youth group this afternoon?
I wanted to help, I just
I thought--
I asked you to talk to Raffy,
not to start your own
unauthorised investigation.
I'm sorry.
All right, clear off.
[embers smouldering, crackling]
[dissonant uneasy music plays]
[scoffs lightly]
[sighs]
[uneasy music builds]
[wind turbines pulsating]
[pulsating continues]
[fridge door opening]
[sniffs]
[scanner beeps]
[Caitlyn laughing] ..she doesn't
usually stay up very late.
[scanner beeps]
[scanner beeps]
[indistinct chatter]
[Caitlyn chuckles]
Yeah, a little bit, not too bad.
[Zac] Yeah.
[Caitlyn] My mum and I were
watching a show last night.
She speaks over the contestants,
just guessing the answers.
She's asking questions
that I obviously
don't know the answer to 'cause
we're watching the same show.
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
- [uneasy music plays]
- [insects chirping]
[dog sniffing]
[dog yaps]
[dog barks]
What the hell
were you playing at?
Look, I know it was you,
or one of your stupid mates.
Do you know how dangerous--?
Not to mention
totally insensitive
with Frankie missing--
Anita?
[under his breath] Fuck.
[uneasy music swells]
[music fades]
[insects chirping]
- [insects chirping]
- [indistinct radio chatter]
- Hey.
- [Jay] Hey.
I'm keen to help find Frankie.
Should I report to you or?
No. No, uh Detective's
come up from the city.
Um, I'm too close apparently.
Oh.
[indistinct chatter]
[woman] Frankie!
[man] Frankie!
Frankie!
[woman] Frankie!
[man] Frankie!
[woman] Frankie!
[Joni] Frankie!
[pants]
Frankie?
Gracie.
[sighs]
Frankie!
Hey!
Hey, hey, hey!
[uneasy music builds]
Frankie!
Hey!
[uneasy music swells]
[panting heavily] Frankie! Hey!
Hey, hey, wait!
[continues panting]
[gasps]
[groans]
[pants, winces]
[breathing heavily]
[crunching]
Oh
[gasps]
Hey!
Hey, I found something!
Somebody please help me!
Someone?!
[screaming] Help!
[uneasy music rises]
[music subsides]
Yeah, Frankie's body.
[Pattie]
So, just charred remains?
[Joni] Mmm.
Um, I'm gonna I'm gonna
get in the car now.
So I'll see you in a few hours.
Oh, take your time.
I'll hold the fort here.
Thanks, Mum. Yeah.
I've been worried
about you, darling.
I did a spread and the cards--
Oh, for fuck's sake, Mum
I don't want to say
"I told you so",
but it was quite worrying,
really it was.
Okay. Thank you.
[mysterious ambient music plays]
[wind turbines pulsating]
[knocks]
Hello?
[man and woman] In my distress
I called upon the Lord,
and cried unto my God.
He heard my voice
out of his temple
and my cry came before him,
even into his ears.
I will love thee, O Lord,
my strength.
For the Lord is my rock,
- my fortress
- [Joni] Hello?
my deliverer, my refuge--
[Joni] Oh.
I'm so sorry to interrupt.
Oh, Joni.
[Joni] I just thought I'd
drop by on my way out of town.
Zac.
This is our pastor,
Zac Teporoa.
Zac, this is Joni Grey,
a dear friend of the family.
Yeah.
Pleased to meet you officially.
- Likewise.
- Um Ruth is in bed.
Um, the shock,
she needed a liedown--
I'm not in bed.
I'm so, so sorry, Ruth.
I gotta I'm gonna head.
And if there's anything
that you need
Thank you.
[knock at door]
[Jay] Hi.
- Mrs Darling.
- Uh, Moira, please.
[Jay] Moira. Ruth.
I'm not really meant
to do this, but, um
I just wanted to give you
a heads-up.
The full forensics
haven't come back yet,
but what we do know for sure
is that the body
It's a teenage girl.
[Ruth sobs]
The girl has
an identifying feature.
A broken arm, fully healed
at the time of death.
A double fracture
of the left forearm.
Gracie.
[Moira and Ruth gasp]
Oh, God, oh, God
- Mum
- You right?
- Mum!
- Okay, hold her head.
Hold her head. Good.
That's all right.
- [ominous music builds]
- [Joni] It's okay. It's okay.
[voices fade out]
[ominous music swells,
then fades]
[mysterious ambient music plays]