Playing Gracie Darling (2025) s01e02 Episode Script

1
- [eerie ambient music plays]
- [birdcalls]
[distorted soundscape]
[distorted] Hey!
Wait!
Hey!
Hey! [echoing]
[distorted soundscape continues]
[music swells]
[soundscape fades out]
[unsettling music plays]
[music fades out]
[soft tinkling music playing]
Oh.
[alarm music playing]
- [alarm stops]
- [Joni sighs]
[knock at door]
[door opens]
Joni. It's Jay.
He's come to pick you up, love.
Thanks, Dad.
[door closes]
You sure you're up to this?
[Joni] I just want to
retrace my steps.
Are they sure yet that's it?
It's Gracie.
Do they know how she died?
Come on, Joni.
You know I can't--
I've been thinking
about this for 27 years, Jay.
There's a hairline fracture
in her skull.
Could be blunt force trauma.
She could have
got lost that night
fell and hit her head and
Hm.
You saw her.
Someone
someone burned her body.
How the hell
did you find her, Joni?
I mean, what are the odds?
- Had you been there before?
- No.
- [Jay] Maybe with Gracie?
- Is this an interrogation?
No. I just want to know
what led you to her.
[sombre ambient music plays]
[sombre music swells,
then fades]
[soft mysterious music plays]
- [birdcalls]
- [insects chirping]
[cockatoo screeches]
[gasps]
[screeching continues
in distance]
[birdcalls and chirping
continue]
[woman wailing in distance]
[wailing continues]
[Joni]
God, is that Peter Darling?
Yeah. He's helping
coordinate the search.
[Moira sobs]
[indistinct chatter]
[Jay] We should go.
[Ruth talking indistinctly
in distance]
[handbrake cranks,
engine stops]
Okay, well, let me know
if you hear anything else.
[Jay] Joni, Joni. Um
Forensics, they
they found this at the site.
That's
- That's me and Gracie's--
- Yeah.
Out there yesterday
I thought I saw Gracie.
I did, I thought I saw her.
I ran after her.
That's when I fell
down the gully.
When I looked up,
the bones were right there.
It's like she led me
straight to them.
- [Jay chuckles lightly]
- [Joni] Maybe I'm going mad.
- [chuckling] Okay.
- What is that?
No, well
what would you say to yourself
if you were one of
your patients?
[smacks lips]
Well, I would say that
I think this is a manifestation
of your subconscious grief
and guilt.
"I think you should sit down
"with the person
you're feeling guilty toward
"and express how you feel."
Maybe that's what
you need to do, then.
Do what--? How do I apologise
to a dead person?
[unsettling music plays]
- [Gracie] Come on, Joni.
- [Young Joni] No, you do it.
[Gracie] Oh, my God,
you're pathetic!
[laughing]
All right, watch this.
Hey, Billy!
- [Young Joni pleading] Gracie!
- [Gracie] Hey, Billy. Wait up.
I was just wondering
if maybe you, uh
you wanted to
buy us some drinks?
[Billy] Okay.
Um what what do you want?
Something cheap,
like a goonbag or something.
Okay. Done.
- Thanks, Billy.
- Yeah, you're right.
What did you say to him?
Uh, I told him you're gonna give
him a special thanking later.
You give him a special thanking!
[sighing] Yeah, maybe I will.
Oh! Ew, no. Please don't.
[Gracie] Thanks, Billy.
You're such a sweetheart.
- We owe you!
- [Joni] You owe him.
[both giggling]
[unsettling music plays]
- [gulls squawking]
- [dog barking in distance]
[metal creaking and groaning]
Hello?
[motor idling]
[Joni] Billy?
Hello?
[birds screeching, squawking]
[squawks]
Billy?
I've already answered
your questions.
- [Joni exhales nervously]
- I know my rights.
No, no, no, Billy, it's me.
It's Joni. It's Joni. Grey.
- Joni?
- Yeah. Yeah.
- You're all grown up.
- Yeah. So are you.
[birds scratching, squawking]
- This is amazing.
- They're just injured.
Predators. Turbines.
Well, you must
really care for them.
Sometimes they have to die.
You know Frankie?
Yeah. She helps me
with the babies.
Right.
- You have to go now.
- No, no, no, Billy, Billy.
I I wanted to ask you
When we were kids, you used to
hang out at the old shack.
You remember that?
You ever see anything strange
up there?
Like ghosts?
I don't
- Leave now, please.
- I just--
- Go now.
- Okay. Okay.
Sorry.
[unsettling music builds]
[handbrake cranks]
[engine stops]
[people chattering]
[surprised] Hello!
- Oh!
- Mummy!
My beautiful. Mwah! Hey, Mum.
We got in the car first thing.
I packed for you too.
Oh, you shouldn't have
done that, Mum.
Oh, yes, I should have.
A girl needs her mother.
Wow. Yeah. Thank you.
Sushi Train?
I understand that
you're disappointed--
Don't try to validate me.
I'm not disappointed.
Good for you, Lu.
[Bob cheerily] Hey!
Look who's here.
- Mina!
- Hi, Pa.
There! [chuckles warmly]
Pattie. It's been a moment.
Don't worry, I haven't come
to cramp your style.
- I'll get a motel.
- Motel my arse.
You'll take my bed.
[sarcastic] What a gentleman.
[Joni scolding] Mum.
Have they found Frankie?
No. Not yet.
Well, the first 48 hours
are critical.
[scoffs] How do you know that?
She's probably just run away.
The bones they found are Gracie
Darling's, right? Raffy said.
- What bones?
- No bones.
Nothing scary, just a bit sad.
- Can you grab your bag?
- Mm, that's mine.
[Joni] Okay. I'll get that, Mum.
- Do you want--
- [Bob] It's okay, I've got it.
- I'll take Mmm.
- [Pattie huffs]
He was just helping.
[indistinct chatter]
["No Surprises"
by Radiohead plays]
[Bob and Pattie shouting
and arguing indistinctly]
[Pattie] I want you to wake up
and take some responsibility.
[Bob yelling indistinctly]
[Bob] This is your child!
[Pattie] You want me to leave,
I'm leaving!
[door slams shut]
A heart that's ♪
- Full up like a landfill ♪
- [sobs]
A job that slowly kills you ♪
- Bruises that won't heal ♪
- [door opens]
[coughs]
Fuck!
Jesus, I thought you were Mum.
- I hate my parents.
- [song continues on Walkman]
[Gracie] What happened
this time? Same as always?
Pattie's threatening
to leave Bob again.
Oh, Joni, you know
she doesn't mean it.
[Joni sighs]
Mum says that she's
just attention-seeking.
[song continues
through Walkman headphones]
Only two more years
and you're out of here.
One second.
Okay.
[song stops]
So, Joni Grey.
What do you want to be
when you grow up?
Is that my mixtape?
I'll tell you.
You're going to get into
some hot-shot uni
and then you're gonna piss off
and leave me in this dump.
You can come too.
I'm not brainy like you.
Besides, my mum
would never let me.
- What are you gonna do, then?
- Who cares?
I'm cursed anyways.
This whole family is cursed.
[scoffing chuckle]
[Joni] Oh, my God, what is--
What happened?
Just things got a little
hot and heavy last night.
[Joni] How?
[singsongy] With my boyfriend.
[gasps] Who?!
Not Billy?
It's a secret.
I thought
we told each other everything.
I know,
you just wouldn't understand.
Well, if anybody ever hurts you,
I'm gonna fucking kill them.
Ditto.
Okay.
[drawing]
[Gracie] What are you doing?
What's that?
It's our secret symbol.
Our names mixed together -
Joni Grey and Grace Darling.
'Grey Starling'.
It's a murmuration.
See?
- [Gracie] It's a murmuration.
- A murmuration. [chuckles]
[unsettling ambient music plays]
[Joni] Okay, come on, darl.
All right.
We're just gonna pop by
for a bit
and then we'll head home, okay?
[Joni and Lulu
talking indistinctly]
[Joni] Okay.
- [Joni] Hi.
- Hi, Joni.
[Moira]
Thank you for coming, Joni.
Of course.
Uh, Lulu wanted to come too.
I hope I hope that's okay.
Oh, of course.
Lulu, this is Moira.
Can you say hello?
Oh God bless you, Lulu.
All I want to do
is hold my Gracie.
Yeah, of course.
Of course you do.
No, I understand.
[whispering] Hey, why don't you
go sit down over there?
Look at those flowers.
It's all right.
- They won't release her to me.
- I know. I understand.
You want closure.
All that time,
lying in the forest.
I mean,
what was she doing there?
Why won't they let me
give her a proper burial?
We've been over this, Mum.
But Joni found her.
You can tell me something,
can't you, love?
Oh, Moira, you just--
[stammering] It didn't, um--
I haven't got anything more
to tell you.
- Moira, I'm sorry.
- [Ruth] She's right.
She's right. It's not her.
It's not even a body.
It's just bones.
[sighs]
I'm sorry.
I'm I'm so sorry.
- It's okay. It's okay.
- [stammering] I just
Sit down. It's okay.
[Moira] I should be
thinking of Frankie.
They say it might be days,
or weeks,
while they run their tests.
Have they said anything more
about where she was found?
Like, do kids even go there?
Because maybe Frankie
went there.
The search party
didn't find anything.
Gracie ever go there?
You found her.
Why don't you tell us?
Okay. You okay?
[speaks indistinctly]
- [line ringing]
- [Lulu] Mum!
- [Jay] Hello?
- Jay. It's me.
Hey, Joni.
Hey do you think that Gracie
could've been seeing anyone
that summer?
Someone who was you know
rough with her.
I don't know. Like who?
Uh Oh, I don't know.
- Just something I remembered.
- Mm.
Yeah. No, never mind.
All right. Bye.
[mysterious ambient music plays]
[horn toots]
Stay safe. Love you.
He's treating me
like I'm five again.
- Hey.
- Hey.
You look different.
I got my braces off.
So is this like a charity hang
or?
I'm the one dragged here
for the holidays. No offence.
How long are you here?
Mum's really triggered
by this whole thing.
I mean
sorry about your friend.
Something really fucked up
is happening in this place.
Fucked up how?
We let something out.
Me and Frankie.
Out in the forest.
Something
evil.
What do you mean,
let something out?
[Caitlyn] Who's your new bestie?
Uh
Mina.
Caity.
We're having a gathering tonight
at the Clearing.
Out in the forest.
A vigil, to, like,
properly grieve for Frankie.
She's not dead.
Whatever.
You should come.
Yeah.
Frankie literally hates her.
Maybe we should go.
We might find something out?
- Hey.
- Hey, Billy.
- Uh
- Were you waiting for me?
No, no.
I was just getting a rod.
Have you found anything?
Any leads on Frankie?
Homicide Squad took over
when Gracie was found, so
They came and asked me
about her.
Really? Asking what?
She was my friend too.
Yeah, I I know. Of course.
Hey, Billy. Billy, um
You guys ever, you know,
hook up?
[scoffs] Me and Gracie?
Yeah. I mean,
you wouldn't have minded, right?
I used to buy her stuff.
You know, goon, ciggies.
That's it.
She ever have a boyfriend
that you were aware of?
I thought you said Homicide
were on it.
Yeah. Yeah. Forget it.
Gracie never deserved
what happened to her.
Even if she was mean.
[unsettling music plays]
[Bob and Pattie
chattering nearby]
- Mummy?
- Mmm.
Are they gonna take Mina too?
No. No.
Please don't worry about that.
No one's going anywhere.
Okay?
Go to sleep.
[Pattie faintly]
Even after what happened.
Like their grief owned the town
and everyone in it.
Going down that road again,
are we?
Hey, shush,
just keep it down, please.
She's only just fallen asleep.
How are the Darlings?
Do you really want to know?
Of course I do.
I've just asked you, haven't I?
Do you want to join us?
Yeah.
Where's Mina?
She's spending the night
with Raffy.
She just figured Raffy
could use a friend right now.
What?
Oh, nothing. She
You're her mother.
[scoffs]
What's that supposed
to mean? [snorts]
[Pattie] I don't think
she's very happy
about my dragging her
down here.
Yeah, well, I think
it'll do her some good.
Bit of nature, fresh air.
Fat lot of good it did you,
growing up in nature.
You always had
your head in a book.
Well yeah, kids do
what they need to do to get by.
Survival mechanisms.
Survival?
[snickering] Ohhh, Joni,
you do exaggerate.
I'm gonna go to bed.
[inhales sharply, then sighs]
[chuckling] Survival?
[sarcastic] She had to survive
such a tough life.
[Bob sighing] Oh, come on.
- [Pattie] What?
- [Bob scolding] Pattie.
[Pattie] Don't look at me
like that. What did I say?
[Bob] Leave her alone. She
doesn't need that right now.
- [Pattie] She's always been
- [chatter fades]
[unsettling music plays]
[tape whirring]
[ambient sounds playing
on tape]
[Gracie] All right. Recording.
Let's begin.
[Young Anita] Did you
work it out? How to do this?
[Gracie] Yeah.
So these are the rules.
When we're talking
to the spirit,
you can ask any question
that you like.
- Okay? But when--
- [Young Jay chuckles]
Oi, stop laughing, Jay.
But if an evil spirit comes,
we have to end the seance.
Straight away,
by moving the glass to goodbye.
Or what?
You've seen The Exorcist,
right?
How will we know
if it's an evil spirit?
Oh, trust me,
you'll you'll know
- [mock chokes]
- [Joni groans theatrically]
Okay, not cool, guys.
- So funny.
- [Gracie and Young Joni laugh]
- [Young Anita] Ha-ha.
- Okay.
[exhales deeply]
Our connection tonight
is deep and powerful.
We open ourselves
to the spirit world
and command evil
to stay outside the circle.
If any good spirits are near,
please enter the glass.
Open your eyes.
Put your fingers on.
Is anyone there?
- [stifles chuckle]
- [Gracie] Stop.
Can you concentrate?
Spirit, are you there?
[Young Anita] Guys?
[glass sliding]
- Holy shit.
- [glass sliding]
[chuckles]
Who's pushing it?
Spirit, uh, who are you?
What's your name?
[Young Joni] L
E
V
I.
Levi. Does anyone know a Levi?
Uh
Levi, do you know who we are?
[glass sliding]
Okay, Levi
if you know us,
who do you like best?
Me, Gracie or Joni?
- Shut up, Anita.
- You shut up, Gracie.
Let's see.
[laughing] G?
R-A
'Gracie'.
Fuck off. You're so pushing it.
I'm not. I swear.
I cross my heart.
- You're so full of shit.
- I'm not pushing it.
- Do you want me to prove it?
- Yeah, go ahead.
Okay. Think of a word
in your head.
- Do you have one?
- [Young Jay] I dunno, um
- [Gracie] Got one?
- Yep, yep Uh, yes.
Okay. Take your finger off.
Levi, what's the word?
J
[glass sliding]
O
N. Whoa.
'Joni'? Seriously?
- 'Joni'? Really?
- Far out.
[loud rattling and rumbling]
[twigs snapping]
What the fuck?
[rattling and rumbling
intensify]
[glass clinks]
- [Young Jay] Fuck this.
- [panicked overlapping chatter]
[tape stops playing]
- [eerie ambient music plays]
- [insects chirping]
This way.
Hang on.
[dance music playing
in distance]
- Got it?
- Thanks.
- [dance music continues]
- [distant chatter and laughter]
[music intensifies]
[dance music blares loudly]
Welcome to the Clearing!
[Mina] Thanks.
Just don't go outside
the fire light on your own,
or, you know.
[dance music continues]
Hmm?
Come on.
I can take it.
- Oh.
- Thank you.
You sure your parents
won't figure it out?
They don't speak to each other
unless they absolutely have to.
[teen boy]
Now this is a fuckin' party!
- [teenagers cheer and whoop]
- Who wants some fuckin' drugs?
[teenagers cheer and laugh]
Okay! He finally showed up.
- Who wants?
- [teen boy] Please. Yes.
[Caitlyn] 'Cause I'm a feminist.
- [teen girl] Thank you.
- [Caitlyn] I don't care!
Do you want? Pingers. 25 bucks.
- [Mina] Okay.
- There you go.
Thank you very much.
Have a nice day.
[teenagers chattering
and laughing]
You do this a lot?
No.
Do you?
No.
But shit can't get
any more messed up.
True.
All right.
["Take It" by Dom Dolla
plays loudly]
Get it right up in my space ♪
So shake it ♪
Just shake it ♪
Dance a little
Move some more ♪
Raffy!
And shake it ♪
Just shake it ♪
Looking deep into my eyes ♪
Bend it back
and do your best ♪
- To break it ♪
- [both chuckling]
- Break it ♪
- [Mina] Oh, man
Girl, you really
look the part ♪
Reach right out
You've got my heart ♪
Now take it ♪
Just take it, take it ♪
[song fades]
Do you think
Frankie's looking at these
same stars right now?
Fuck.
Yeah.
- [dance music pounding]
- [teenagers whooping]
[Caitlyn] Come on! Who's in?
Yeah, come on in, bitches!
Okay, who's in over here?
- [teen boy] Piss off.
- Surely.
Come on.
- You guys coming?
- No way, man.
Fucking pussies, all of you!
Come on!
Bad fucking idea, Caitlyn.
- [Caitlyn] Come on, Lewis.
- [Mina] What are they doing?
- [Caitlyn] Don't be shy.
- [Raffy] Playing Gracie Darling.
- Yeah, come on in.
- I dunno about this, guys.
[Caitlyn laughing] Oh, shut up.
Okay.
[exhales]
[sighs]
You know how to lead?
- I don't wanna hold your hand.
- Give me your hand, bitch.
[teenagers chuckle]
- [Caitlyn] Remember what to ask?
- [Sienna] Yeah.
Gracie Darling
[teenagers] ..Gracie Darling,
Gracie Darling, can we play?
Gracie Darling, Gracie Darling,
Gracie Darling, can we play?
Gracie Darling, Gracie Darling,
Gracie Darling, can we play?
- [gasps, bones crack]
- Gracie Darling, Gracie--
[teenagers snicker and chuckle]
[teen boy] Shh.
Is that you, Gracie?
- Oh, bullshit.
- As if.
[teen girl] Not fucking funny,
Caitlyn.
Can we ask you a question?
Is Caity screwing
Slater's cousin?
[teenagers laugh]
Hey, Lewis?
Shut the fuck up for once.
Okay? This is serious.
Is Frankie Darling dead?
- [teen girl chuckling] Fuck off.
- [teen boy] Yeah, right.
[Caitlyn moans softly]
- What the fuck?
- Caitlyn, that's not funny.
Something's going wrong.
- [teen] Stop fucking around.
- Stop!
- [Caitlyn gasping]
- [teen] What the fuck?
[gasps sharply]
[hyperventilates]
[groans]
[Sienna] We need to end
the game now! Go!
[all] Gracie Darling,
Gracie Darling,
Gracie Darling, can we stop?
Gracie Darling, Gracie Darling,
Gracie Darling, can we stop?
- Gracie Darling
- [teenagers screaming]
- [Caitlyn grunts]
- [intense music escalates]
[teenagers shouting]
[teen boy] Who is this?!
[screaming continues]
[grunts]
[teen girl] What the fuck?!
[teenagers groaning]
[intense music swells]
[music and soundscape subside]
[people chattering]
[Jay] I mean, how bloody stupid
could you be,
after everything
that's happened?
[Joni] Hey.
Hey.
What happened? You were
supposed to be at Anita's.
- Some fucking party in the bush.
- [Joni sighs]
What have you taken?
- MDMA.
- Oh, Jesus Christ.
All right.
You want to tell me
what happened?
I told them playing
was a bad idea.
You know, ambo said
that when they arrived
there were seven or eight kids
having seizures in the dirt.
God.
Mina called Triple 0.
Sue. Uh, what are you thinking?
[puffs]
None of them have
a history of epilepsy.
First seizures, for all of them
together like that?
It's very unlikely.
I mean, there's some electrolyte
imbalance, but not globally.
Do you think
it could be some sort of
collective drug psychosis?
Only some of the swabs
came back positive.
Uh, what I mean is,
only some of the kids
that seized out there
were on drugs,
but not all of them.
So, what are you thinking?
[Sue] They're stable.
There's no indicators
of any underlying conditions.
So we've decided
to discharge them.
- Okay.
- Thank you.
[engine stops]
[birds warbling]
[Mina] I need to
tell you something.
[Joni sternly] Not now, Mina.
I saw something out there,
Mum. Out in the forest.
Maybe the same thing
that got Frankie.
- You're high on drugs.
- No, but I saw it--
Just get inside. I don't trust
myself to be kind right now.
[whispering] Go get into bed.
Don't wake up your sister.
- Mum--
- I'll make you a cup of tea.
Then you gotta try
and get some sleep.
- But, Mum--
- Go to bed.
Can you please
just listen to me?
Mum, the game is real.
Something got into them.
[sharply] Mina.
[tap running]
[shushing]
[sighs wearily]
[mysterious music plays]
[typing]
[unsettling music builds]
[starlings flapping]
[music fades]
[Young Joni] Oh, my God.
What the fuck, Billy?
Hey, Gracie.
Sorry.
I didn't mean to scare you.
Were you perving on us?
[chuckles]
[scoffs] No.
Um
Thought you might need
something to drink.
- [bottles clinking]
- [Gracie] Aw.
Thanks.
[Gracie coughs]
[chuckles]
[opens bottle]
What are you doing?
- Oh.
- I said that I wanted a drink.
Not that I wanted
a drink with you.
[Billy]
Uh, but-but the other day--
[Gracie] But what?
Come on, think about it, Billy.
What could I possibly want
with a fucking freak like you?
[unsettling music plays]
[Gracie chuckles]
[plastic bag rustling,
bottles clinking]
Push through the pain.
Just do it fast.
One, two
[groans] Shit!
[exhales]
- [gasps]
- [unsettling music builds]
[eerie ambient music plays]