The Ridge (2025) s01e01 Episode Script

1
This programme contains some strong language and
some scenes which some viewers may find upsetting
SHE GASPS
Cassy! Let me go!
CAT PURRS
ALARM BEEPS
MUSIC: A Girl Like You
by Edwyn Collins
You give me just a taste
so I want more
Now my hands are bleeding
and my knees are raw
Cos now you got me crawling,
crawling on the floor
And I've never known a girl
like you before ♪
Bye-bye, Iggy.
You made me
acknowledge the devil in me ♪
PHONE BUZZES
And I've never known
a girl like you before ♪
SIREN WAILS
Never, never, never
Never known a girl
like you before ♪
OK. 53-year-old male.
Multiple stab wounds.
-No allergies. When did he last eat?
-No idea.
-Anything else to relay?
-It's his court date next week.
It'd be helpful
if he lived to see it.
Boyd Coulter, 53, male,
prison transfer, clinically obese,
smoker, IVDA.
Separate stab wounds in his leg,
arm, and as we can see, his abdomen.
I think we can all agree that
the knife has missed his liver,
otherwise he'd be dead.
Are you good to go?
Pulse and BP are stable.
Got Duranyl, Propofol
and roc being prepared.
-Yes, on it.
-Can I get an 8.5 too, please?
-Two-minute timer started.
-OK, here we go.
Pass me, pass me the
We need that out of here.
Clear that, we need as much
space as possible.
Clear, on it.
Apply some cricoid pressure.
Just keep it quiet here.
Mia.
Checking.
Yeah, all good.
Right.
First things first.
Stand by with gauze.
How the hell did that happen?
Get him secure.
Let go of her!
PATIENT GASPS
OK, let's all keep calm.
I've got this.
Are you hurt?
No, I'm OK.
Are you sure?
OK, he's definitely asleep now.
Scalpel, please.
HR and BP, return to baseline.
There's no pulse.
He's in cardiac arrest.
Get the defib.
On it.
Stand back! Coming through!
Clear.
We're going to give him
a second shot. Stand clear.
Clear.
SOFT WEEPING
If I go, are you still OK
to look after Iggy?
Mackerel and water.
I love cats.
You don't think
I should stay for the review?
No, it'll be fine.
They don't look very happy.
It's your sister's wedding.
Real life goes on.
He was clinically obese.
That's what causes heart attack.
I know it and you know it.
Yes, Doc.
The multiple stab wounds
didn't help.
True. Go.
She doesn't know I'm coming.
-Your sister? -Mm-hm.
-Why?
I wasn't sure I was going.
Go.
-Thanks.
-Take care.
LOCK BEEPS
Cabin crew,
please prepare for take-off.
PHONE RINGS
Cassy? Cass?
Sorry, ma'am, you'll have to
switch your phone off.
Yeah, sure.
PHONE RINGS
Cass?
-Ma'am.
-Yeah, sure, sure, sure.
Sir, you need to sit down.
We're about to take off.
Ladies and gentlemen,
the seat belt sign is now on.
And you must remain seated at
all times
PHONE ALER
AUTOMATED: You have one new message.
- FAINT:
- H-Help, Mia. H-H-Help, Mia
Good morning,
ladies and gentlemen.
Flight time today will be
approximately 14 hours.
-How can I help, Miss Beaton?
-Do you have Wi-Fi?
-No Wi-Fi, sorry.
-Great.
I I think my sister is
in serious trouble.
Um, I want to check in with her.
OK, where exactly is she?
New Zealand.
I don't know, South Island.
H-Help, Mia. H-H-Help, Mia.
You have an address you're going
to be staying in?
Yeah, I have an Airbnb
and I have her fiance's address.
She sounds hurt, doesn't she?
Please can you help?
I'll talk to the captain.
Can you give me her name
and those addresses?
This is a hospital,
if you hadn't noticed.
People die here every day.
Not people like Boyd Coulter.
We treat humans, not gangsters.
His family see him
as a husband, a dad.
Three separate stab wounds
isn't normal for a dad.
He was attacked in prison.
It wasn't a casual stabbing.
If there's ever such a thing.
-Are you confident in your team?
-Of course.
Mia Beaton?
Well, she's one of the best.
Boyd Coulter's family want answers
and they're used to getting
the answers they want.
It's not going to bring him back.
Riz, my job is to make sure that
you follow procedures correctly.
And we did.
He woke up during surgery.
Jacky, I was pulling a six-inch
blade from his chest at the time.
And he should have been asleep.
We didn't have time to
prepare normally.
It was a highly intense situation.
It was battlefield surgery.
You're paid to cope.
Sure, but an aesthetic drugs
don't distribute in the same way
with someone who's got
a high body fat percentage.
Drug dosages are challenging
at the best of times.
Desaturation, high blood pressure,
all exaggerated factors with
Coulter.
You need to help me more.
I checked it through with Mia.
She administered the correct
and standard dosages at the correct
and standard time.
Someone who's clinically obese,
their bodies react
in idiosyncratic ways.
So you want me
to tell his family that he died
because of an idiosyncrasy?
Lifestyle choices.
I'm sorry?
Three stab wounds
and he ate too many pies.
Right.
Look, we tried to save him.
We did our best.
And it didn't work.
We're expecting
some turbulence ahead
so we're switching on
the seat belt sign.
Please return to your seats
and ensure your seat belt is
securely fastened.
Dr Beaton? I'll need to pop you
into your seat now.
Yeah, yeah, just one second.
SCREAMS: Cassy!
BABY CRIES
Can I get you a drink?
No, I don't.
Ma'am?
Uh, yeah, you don't mind?
No.
Double brandy on the rocks, please.
Thank you.
It's your sister's wedding?
You mentioned fiance.
Oh
-right.
-Can I see her?
Sure. That's her.
Uh, that's him.
I haven't actually met him.
She looks as
though she can handle herself.
I'm sure she'll be OK.
Welcome to New Zealand.
If you're coming home, welcome back.
Just confirming, the police
are waiting for you in arrivals.
I hope everything works out.
Did they say anything
other than she's missing?
That's all. Sorry.
WHISPERS: OK.
-Dr Mia Beaton?
-Yeah, have you found her?
Uh, not exactly.
She's missing in the mountains.
OK.
SIREN WAILS
Anything?
No, nothing.
It's Cassy, leave a voice message,
then use your voice to save
the planet.
Cass, I'm in New Zealand.
I'm coming towards you.
Drop me a text, yeah?
3-5 to base.
We've got a tractor on fire,
location's about halfway down
Ruthies Road.
Copy, 3-5. We'll get a car
there as soon as one's available
A suspect spotted
running from the scene.
Advise Fire Services, over.
Roger. Fire Services on the way.
SHE EXHALES
DOORS BANG
I've got the sister in the car.
-Thanks, mate.
-Yeah, how you doing?
POLICE CHATTER
-Have you found her?
-We will.
She's experienced.
She knows the ridge.
Hey, we find most people
within 48 hours.
-OK, got it.
-Look, she's in good hands, OK? - Cassy!
-Cassy!
-There's lots of people up there already looking. - Cassy!
She's called you too.
That's a good sign.
Oh What? It's this way?
-Oi! Oi! -Uh, this way?
-Hold your horses.
BIRDS CRY
Cassy!
Cassy!
Cassy! Oh!
-Hey, hey! I've got you, I've got you.
-What the - Come on.
fuck? Get off me! Get off me!
Get off me!
-Hey, hey, it's Ewan. It's Ewan.
-Cassy?
Have you found her?
No, but we will, OK? I promise.
Hey, uh, Ewan to Harry.
I've got Mia.
Bottom of, uh, Follets Gully, over.
Travelling.
We didn't think you were coming.
Surprise!
Yeah, not exactly the way I'd
imagined I'd meet my sister-in-law.
-I just want to find her.
-Yeah, hey, hey, hey.
No disrespect,
but you being up here right now
is not exactly going to help
the search party.
OK, no disrespect,
but I'm going to find her.
Yeah, hey.
Honestly, she won't be far,
all right?
She's been up here
100 times before.
-Hey.
-Hey.
Here he is. This is Harry.
He's going to walk you back to
the car park, all right?
Here you go.
Right.
Grab some sleep, yeah?
As soon as we find her,
I'll come get you.
By the way, I'm, uh
kind of your sister-in-law,
or will be.
I don't understand.
I'm Ewan's half-sister.
We share the same
dearly departed old man.
Right.
Yep.
H-Help, Mia.
H-H-Help, Mia.
SHE SIGHS
Let's call it $200 a week cash.
You OK?
Yeah, just hot.
The whole town's up in arms.
You should be catching the mongrel
who's torching our bloody tractors.
Not out here searching for
some shit-stirring tourist.
Locals come first.
This is her sister.
Ignore her.
Just what we need, two of them.
Anything?
No, but my team's all over it.
You're bloody useless, Libby.
-Where's Ewan?
-Up on the ridge, still searching.
Ground team three to ground leader.
Go ahead, Harry.
What is it? Where is she?
Watch it, watch it.
Look, over there.
That's hers.
Hey, give it here. I'm
-I'm going down.
-You don't want to go down there.
-It's not your call to make.
-Get me a harness!
Whoa, whoa, whoa. You got
experience? You've done it before?
I'm a fucking doctor.
Get me down there.
We're coming, Cassy!
Mia! Mia, slow down!
Cassy!
Help me turn her over.
Cassy? It's Mia. Watch her neck.
-She needs an ambulance. Now!
-We need an ambulance!
NEARBY CHATTER
Huh
Oh. Your phone. Yes.
LAUGHTER AND CHATTER
What have you come as?
Funny.
You're the sister, right?
I liked her.
So did I.
Hey.
Are you all right?
That's Cassy's fleece, isn't it?
What's all this?
Oh, it's just, um, volunteers.
You want to come say hi?
Some sort of local custom?
Sorry?
Someone dies and you have a party?
Oh, no.
It's just a few drinks
for the search party.
Say thanks.
It was a tough day for them
too, yeah?
I still feel like I'm sleepwalking.
Yeah, me too.
Do you want a wine or a beer or
No.
Water's fine.
PIANO BEGINS
Uh shit, sorry, my mum. I
I'll be back.
So, you did show up, then.
Mum. Mum.
-Sorry?
-Cassy was stressing about it.
So was he.
Not like they didn't have enough
stress already with the wedding.
-I work with them with the planting.
-Yeah. I I
Ewan will show you the nursery.
We've got rimu, totara, miro,
kahikatea, puriri.
You should definitely check
it out sometime.
Native trees.
To be honest, right now,
I don't really give
a shit about native trees.
They were the
the centre of your sister's world.
Not the time, eh, Nats?
She's all right.
She shouldn't really drink.
And who are you?
Um, one of the good guys, I hope.
Uh, Teddy. I
I was up on the mountain with you.
Oh, yeah.
I've seen you in some of her
pictures.
Forgive me,
I wasn't feeling very sociable.
I found her.
Oh, you're the one that saw her
water bottle?
You have good eyes.
She was a good climber.
One of the most natural
I've ever seen.
We're up there 100 times and
she knew it really well.
Hey, um,
do you mind saying a few words?
Oh, uh, no, I won't. It's
No, no, it's fine, it's fine.
I mean, it'll be OK.
They all loved her too, you know.
Come on, I'll help. Come on.
Uh, sorry to interrupt.
I just want to say a few words.
Oh, not another speech, love.
Thanks, Mum.
Well, this is so
so awfully surreal, eh?
I, uh, you know, everybody just
gave their absolute everything
out there today and I'm
I'm
so, so bloody humbled by it.
Uh, Mia
we welcome you today.
Um
as a friend
and as a sister
and we want you to know that
we share in your pain.
I'm Mia
uh
Cassy's sister.
Um
I actually had something prepared to
say at the wedding.
Today.
But it doesn't feel right
now.
Um I'm just
I'm really grateful
grateful.
Oh, well said, Cassy, love!
Awkward.
Excuse me.
So where is she?
She'll be at the funeral
home in town.
-Where was she living?
-Here.
Not in your room.
Her clothes weren't there.
Yes, she got a bit
funny before the wedding.
Wanted to go traditional, so
she moved into one of my eco-pods.
Was everything all
right between the two of you?
Yeah, apart from that,
we were inseparable.
Hey. Yeah, thanks, Natalie.
-See you soon, eh.
-Yeah.
I mean, you left her up a mountain.
It was a crazy day.
Yeah, I had the wedding
planners here.
They were finishing up.
I had to see to my mum.
Cassy had been up and down that
hill, by herself, 100 times.
-She was a good climber.
-I know.
Cassy!
PHONE CHIMES
Your birthday?
My birthday?
No wonder Dad left you.
What did you say?
Not mum's birthday, surely?
Cassy, be careful!
CHUCKLES
LAUGHTER
Cassy!
Cassy? It's just me.
Cassy? Cassy? Cassy, my darling,
where have you been?
I've missed you so much.
They wouldn't tell me
where you were.
I can't wait for your wedding day.
Everyone will be so happy,
especially Ewan.
But do you know how happy
you've made him?
How happy?
You should reach out to
What's her name, your sister,
for the wedding?
Mia?
Yes, Mia.
You said how important
she was to you.
Was?
In your childhood.
-What did I say?
-Well, that
that you thought you would be dead
without her.
But then she lost her way.
I tried to convince her to get help.
She's addicted.
What? The drugs aren't the problem.
The drugs are the solution.
The drugs dull the memory of
of the pain.
Whatever happened to your sister,
the drugs are her solution
to her pain.
But what do you want, Cassy?
Peace.
And you think Mia wants war?
No.
Well, then invite her to
the wedding.
I could ask her to be my maid of
honour make a speech.
That's the way. Hera just made
a lovely speech at the house.
You know, these days I
I see a lot of people that
I thought I used to know,
and some of them
turn out to be the sons
and the daughters of the people
that I thought they were,
and the people I thought
they were are long since dead.
Does that mean I'm seeing ghosts?
-Brought your hired car. Thought it might be helpful.
-Thanks.
Didn't think you'd want it
left behind.
-It's OK, Mum.
-Cassy's stuff, for the next of kin.
Oh, um, that's mine, really.
-Sorry.
-Of course, no probs.
I'll leave a word with the coroner.
We don't need to put you
through an autopsy.
OK, yeah, appreciate it, thanks.
It was an accident.
It happens here.
I'd better head off.
Just so you know,
she's my half-sister.
She's cool.
You know, we get on.
Kind of have to, eh?
Small towns.
Yeah.
Uh, who's Hera, by the way?
Hera? She's the girl
we all went to school with.
Mia? Oh, sorry,
I'm Brenda Olsen, the owner.
Uh, I bought you these.
Oh, thanks.
-Relish. Cassy loved them.
-Oh.
If you need anything,
I'm right here.
I'm so sorry about your sister.
The cucumber was her favourite.
OK, thank you.
PHONE ALER
SHE SIGHS
PHONE RINGS
Hey.
Hey.
I've lost track of
when the wedding is.
-Is this OK?
-Yeah.
Sorry to disturb. They've had
a morbidity and mortality meeting.
The risk management team need to
investigate further,
which means they may initiate
a serious adverse event review.
And the patient was a legit badass.
Here, check this link.
His oxygen stats on the, uh,
on the an aesthetic record seemed
a bit inconsistent.
His family's not happy.
Riz, Cassy's dead.
What?
She fell off a cliff.
And she's dead.
I don't know what to do.
I'm on the other
side of the world, and
she was carted off in
a hearse this morning.
Oh, God, Mia.
What do I do?
I don't know if she fell
or if she was pushed.
Pushed? My goodness.
What did the police say?
Oh, they're worse than useless.
They're all bloody related,
and it's just total shit.
Listen, I can't deal with
this hospital crap right now.
Of of course. Uh
Jesus, Mia, this is huge.
Is there someone there to
take care of you?
What can I do?
-How's Iggy?
-Uh
He's not eating much.
Missing you.
Why don't I see if I can
I can fly over?
No.
I need sleep.
Of course.
I'll take care of the work stuff,
OK?
Thanks, Riz.
You're such a pal.
Oh, forget it. Sleep.
I'll check back on you tomorrow, OK?
-Mia, how you doing, mate?
-I want to see my dead sister.
Sure. I I haven't, you know,
started working on her yet, though.
-Might be a bit
-I can handle it.
OK.
This way.
Do you mind if I
have a moment alone with her?
Of course.
I'll be through there if you need.
SHE CLEARS THROA
You silly arse.
I wanted us to die together
somewhere in the Highlands.
On a beach,
as the sun was going down.
Probably with the whisky
that we weren't allowed to drink.
In peace. At last.
There's no chance of that now.
-Hi.
-Hi.
So you're his half-sister?
Mm-hm.
-And you're?
-Libby's husband.
And Little Red Riding Hood
over there?
Our daughter.
So the policewoman's
married to the undertaker?
And the policewoman who doesn't want
a postmortem is the half-sister
to the fiance that was the last
person to see my dead sister alive?
Uh, yeah. That about sums it up.
Hmm.
I have So I have a question.
Are you a pathologist, Ewan?
-No.
-No.
Well, I'm a doctor, which does
give me a little bit of knowledge.
My sister, that I used to call
Spider-Woman because she was
so good at climbing, was found
dead at the bottom of a hill that
she could've climbed in her sleep.
And her head is broken.
So you're questioning
whether she fell?
No, I'm questioning
how and why she fell.
Do you know what happened to
her up there, Ewan?
I don't.
No, then we have to find out.
What if you weren't the last
person to see her alive?
Now, if this turns out to be
an accident, then I will happily
fuck off back to Scotland,
and you never have to see me again.
But until then, who around here
decides if we do a postmortem?
I do, as the senior officer.
Or the coroner,
or the family can request one.
Oh, well, that's me.
Seeing as Cassy
and Ewan never actually got married,
unless the pathologist
is your fucking auntie or uncle.
GIGGLES
-Hey.
-Oh, and by the way,
I WILL be staying here
with my sister for the night.
Uh uh, you can't.
No, I'm sorry.
That's against the rules.
I'm sure we can make an exception.
And we'll, uh, we'll get
that postmortem sorted out, too, eh?
Just pull the front door shut
if you leave.
There's beers in the fridge.
Thanks, I don't drink.
Just, uh, just shout out
and I'll come, OK?
Thanks.
Would it be good to light
a few candles?
It would.
Did you ever drink?
To Olympic levels.
World records were broken.
I'd like to have seen that.
Me getting rid of boyfriends was
something to see.
People came and watched.
Cassy believed in the Grey Man.
The Grey Man?
He lives in the mountain.
Comes down with the mist.
Cassy believed in that stuff.
She said she saw him.
ETHEREAL SCORE
TROLLEY SQUEAKS
THUNDER RUMBLES