Virdee (2025) s01e02 Episode Script

1
.
Tell me where the boy is
or you die here! Help me!
DCI Virdee. Yeah. I'm Khalil Amin.
Your new DS, sir.
There's two major drug
gangs in this city -
Vasil Shala's crew
and Bradford West,
whose leader remains unknown.
There'll always be
a boss in this city.
Might as well be one
you can work with.
No, no. You're my brother-in-law.
I don't work for you.
You look beautiful. I know.
What did you do that for?
This is a happy event.
Papa. Let's keep it that way.
Priti. What you doing?
Switch sides. Come work with me.
I heard that Ateeq tried switching.
People who do that get taken.
Don't worry about me.
You can't do this.
This is England!
This is Bradford.
WhereisAteeq?
Uncle Harry! Happy Diwali, Mum.
HE GASPS, YELLS
Nazir?
Why aren't these
bloody lights working?
God.
Hello?
Is there anyone here?
Hello?
Hello?
SHE SCREAMS
Priti!
Markings on the feet.
Eyes sewn shut.
Did she just
HE MOANS
Ranjit Virdee, 62,
was found collapsed at home.
Right. Adrenaline. Let's shock him.
That's enough.
No! Again. Stand clear!
Shocking.
STEADY BEEPING
OK. He's stable.
Get him to the ICU.
It was Priti's job to close up.
The manager said
she insisted on doing it alone.
Checking the handbag for a mobile.
Last night, local printers
had a dinner here.
She was the hostess.
This room weren't used though.
She was here.
Cushions.
Dessert cartons.
She were with someone.
The killer?
No, this were date night.
So, where the hell's the boyfriend?
Unless he's the one who did this.
Scuff marks.
He's been drugged. Come on, lad.
Do you know what's going on? Sorry.
Right. Family liaison. Who's on it?
I've got DC Summerhayes.
For God's sake! Get an Asian down
there. Nobody's talking to a gora.
Well, we need them talking.
I want a complete
profile of Priti Parmar -
friends, family, relationships.
Social media, employment,
bloody council records.
Was she known?
I want a 3D profile of Parmar
as soon as possible.
Mortuary. 30 minutes.
See? This is my uncle.
You all right?
Tara, what you doing here?
I'm justchecking
if you're OK, actually.
Why wouldn't I be?
Well, last night were
..tough with Grandad.
Shit happens.
So what's going on in there, then?
Look, I've told you before.
Stop trading on my name for access.
It's a restricted area.
I'm an investigative reporter.
I've got a right to ask questions
about what's going on in there.
Girl behind me, if she messes about,
nick her. All right, guv.
You need to get back.
The doctor told me
you saved his life.
I don't know how to thank you.
I just did my job.
Can he hear anything?
He's heavily sedated.
He doesn't know who you are.
We never spoke of you.
Please,
don't tell Hardeep about his papaji.
The doctor said
his heart is very weak.
We don't lie to each other.
Ever.
Sorry, guv, but
..uniform said you told them
to nick her if she kicked off.
Sit down.
You don't ever stop, do you?
Take a beat?
Think on what you're doing?
Maybe I should
rub me nose on the floor.
That work for you?
Sorry.
That were a shitty thing to say.
Look, Uncle Harry, people talk to me
who won't talk with you.
I'm an asset.
Hmm. Don't you see that?
You got local connections, have you?
Yeah, I have.
A young woman were found
murdered this morning
and you honestly think
you can do more than us?
Yeah.
Just trust me. Tara.
Enough. Listen to me.
Leave this alone or
you and I are going to fall out.
Think on that.
I've got a murder to solve.
Uncle Harry! Not now, Tara!
Uncle Harry.
Oh, fuck's sake!
Novak Rexa, brought in yesterday.
Did we establish cause of death?
Massive drug overdose.
Tox screen came back with enough
heroin to put down a horse.
Can you give me some light, Harry?
Two sets of marks round her neck.
She was probably strangled first,
then hung, using this -
a Carpathian coil.
Originated in the Carpathian
Mountains Carpathian Mountains.
Eastern Europe.
You know your geography.
I saw her eyes move
at the crime scene.
There!
There's something in there.
Well, that was unexpected.
Nicely done.
Right.
Well, I guess we know
what's behind the other eye.
Full house in the club tonight.
Be a good gig.
You should come down. Have a drink.
Increase the minimum spend to 20.
All right, buddy.
Don't he know you're a Muslim?
THEY LAUGH
Mate, listen,
our friendly PCSO's confirmed
that Priti Parmar was the victim
in the members' club.
She's one of ours.
Looks messy.
Make sure the family's looked after.
Back door. Discreet. No trail.
Priti was getting heat from
Vasil's crew for switching to us.
What do you want to do?
Make preparations for a response.
We look weak if we don't reply.
What about Harry?
His job was to keep the peace.
He failed.
I'll deal with it.
Right.
Hey.
Weren't you meant to be
somewhere today?
Right. Entomology.
Goes to the top of their list.
Listen, update the boss about this,
tell her we need more manpower,
the whole unit.
Full briefing 2pm.
Her eyes were removed.
Clean work.
Medically trained?
Not that clean.
Skilled with a blade though.
Andthe wasps hatched inside her.
Oh, come on, give me a break!
15 years and I've never
seen anything like this.
This guy's a monster.
PHONE RINGS
I was just thinking of you.
Just wanted to hear your voice.
Rough day? Had better ones.
Same.
Anything I can help with?
No.
You haven't forgotten
about tonight, have you?
My mum's anniversary dinner.
No. Course not.
Liar.
It's important. I'll be there.
Look, I've got to go, OK?
Love you. Love you too.
I'll speak to these neighbours.
LOUD SOBBING
It's not true!
WOMAN CONSOLES
SHE SOBS
It's not true. It's not
We will find who did this
to your daughter.
I promise you.
Drug money?
Over ten grand in cash, I'd say so.
Sir?
Alcohol. Wipes away marker.
This guy.
Xavier fucking Stead.
QUIET GROAN
What happened to me?
Where am I?
Bradford City Hospital.
You collapsed at home.
I'm sorry to say you
suffered a heart attack.
My chest hurts.
Can I have something
for the pain, please?
You're not due for another hour.
Please.
I'd be very grateful.
So what's the plan here then, boss?
Follow my lead.
This is what Xavier uses as
a cover for washing drug money -
a shitty car wash.
Keep the change.
Eyes on the man with the money.
I see it. Clever.
Not clever enough.
All right, lads?
Should we go after them?
Nah, let them run to Vasil.
We're not here for them.
WOMAN SQUEALS, LAUGHS
Did you hear that?
Probable cause.
Kick it down.
You what?
Oh, for God's sake. Grab him.
Hiya, Harry. Wipe your nose.
Pull your pants up!
I ain't done nothing!
Where were you last night?
With your mum.
Oh, you think that's funny?
A girl's been murdered
and you want to crack jokes?!
I don't know what you're
talking about! Oh, you knew her?
Priti Parmar ring a bell?
What?
Priti's dead?
EXPLOSION
Cuff him.
CAR ALARM BLARES
My fucking cars!
Someone's going to pay for this!
Fuck's sake, Riaz.
What have you done?
I can see in your face,
it's not good.
You're fine.
Nurse, please,
can you pass me comb
..from my trouser pocket?
Thank you, nurse.
Here. Let me.
You know, I've only ever
let my wife do this.
Tell me, are you married?
I didn't get your name, beti.
Do you know what your name means?
Meditating in the name of God.
Oh, what a wonderful name, eh?
Can I have a word, Mrs Virdee?
Really?
After what he did last night?
I know. What you saw was just bad.
But there's more to my husband
than his hurt and his pride.
How could he do that to his own son?
But I want my son back.
I'm not interested in playing games.
Please. Just don't say anything.
The kitchen staff
left the club at 11.30,
leaving Priti alone
with her boyfriend.
So this footage has just
come in of our suspect,
and it was captured outside
the club at 2am, meaning that
Priti and Nazir were alone with
our killer for several hours.
Right, our victim,
Priti Parmar, 25,
were found this morning
by a cleaner.
Priti has no priors, but we
believe she were a significant
player in the drugs game.
Her ex-boyfriend, Xavier Stead,
is downstairs for questioning.
Crucially, Priti Parmar
had both of her eyes removed
and wasp's eggs
inserted in the sockets.
This has purpose.
And it means
something very specific.
It shows our killer
is patient and calculating.
He left the boyfriend,
Nazir Saed, alive.
Priti was strung up
using a Carpathian coil,
which is an old Eastern European
form of punishment,
which points us towards
Novak Rexa found hanging yesterday
feels like a connection
to this case.
So
..here's your Scarborough warning.
If details of the wasp are leaked,
I swear to God,
I'll write your P45s myself.
ALL: Yes, ma'am.
Dismissed.
ACC wants two detectives to liaise
with the central
honour killings unit.
It's not an honour killing, boss.
We both know that happens in-house.
Look how specific this is.
ACC needs to put everyone on this.
We could have a serial killer
on the streets of Bradford.
You were captured on CCTV.
Taken outside
the Bradford Club last night.
Just after Priti
arrived for her shift.
What were you doing there?
Taking a piss.
Public disorder act?
Also a violation of your probation.
Yeah, you see, I reckon
you knew Priti was in the club,
with her new fella, Nazir, doing
all the kinds of things that
you and her used to do in there.
Drove you mad, didn't it?
Knowing she was in there with him?
Off the record?
I aren't going back inside.
So you make sure that I leave here
with my probation intact
..and I'll tell you what I know.
Go on.
Right, come on, Harry.
I didn't kill Priti.
You know me. I aren't
I'm a lot of things,
but I aren't that.
Priti switched sides,
Shala Crew to Bradford West,
which pissed 'em right off
cos she was shit-hot
at recruiting other lasses.
What the fuck did she expect
were going to happen?
I tried to get her to stop
but, erm
..it were too late.
She tried to negotiate a payoff
but he wouldn't agree.
Who didn't agree?
Who do you think?
Vasil Shala.
I need to search you.
It's not happening.
Not today. Get off me.
I'm nicking you for assault!
Get your hands off me!
I want to speak to Vasil.
GUNSHO
Enough.
Enough!
Sit.
Your partner -
he can handle himself.
I like that. I like him.
Maybe, sometime soon,
you and Vasil will go for a coffee.
I don't drink coffee.
Why you come here, Harry?
I need something from you.
Priti Parmar were found
murdered last night.
I heard she used to work for you.
Whoever killed her wanted us
to think it were you.
You need to convince me otherwise.
Vasil doesn't do things like this.
It's messy. Bad for business.
Let's make a deal.
You tell me who killed Novak,
you give him to me,
and I'll find out
some things about Priti.
You know I won't do that.
But
..when I arrest who did it,
I'll make sure they
go to Armley prison.
Your crew inside
can sort it from there.
I like this deal, Harry.
You know Priti, when she er
..was working for us,
she stole from Vasil.
Maybe she's stealing
from her new employer.
Maybe they punish her.
Maybe you should speak
to Bradford West.
Leave now.
But just remember, Harry
..it is the people we love
who suffer
when we don't do what we promise.
You just made friends
with Vasil Shala.
You knew that would happen.
He could have killed us.
Nah, Vasil might be a lot of things
but he's not a cop killer.
Most people don't interlock their
elbows when choking someone out.
Yeah, most people don't
grow up the way I did.
Look at me for God's sake -
I don't look English,
but I sound it, I feel it,
and growing up, when some
white lad would call me a P-word,
I'd smack him.
Some Asian would call me a mongrel
or a coconut, I'd smack him too.
You get good with your hands
when everyone's the enemy.
I had you down as
a graduate bookworm. Oh, I am.
Got two books on chokeholds.
Can I ask you a question?
Go on.
Why Harry? Why not your full name?
They used to call me
"Kal" in the academy, not Khalil.
I put that shit to bed
straight away.
Why Harry?
Another time.
If Vasil didn't kill Priti,
then who did?
Priti's boyfriend's awake at the
hospital, ready for questioning.
Great, I'll check in
with the missus too.
I can't hold him
in A&E indefinitely.
Find me a bloody bed.
I'll try.
What are you doing here?
Nice to see you too.
Sorry.
Just interviewing a witness.
You OK? You seem off.
Shit day.
Do you know what I think?
We should run away together.
OK. I'm in.
What about Aaron, though?
Oh, he's got his iPad,
he knows where the fridge is,
he'll be all right.
Come on, then, we're leaving now.
SHE CHUCKLES
What time will you be at my dad's?
I'm staying over tonight.
I remember. Er, around dessert.
Asian timing. Hmm.
It's important to me.
Please don't take the piss, Harry.
I'm not taking the piss.
Hmm. See you later?
Did you see his face?
He were wearing a mask.
I can't remember much.
It's all a blur.
You were given heroin
laced with fentanyl,
and we believe Priti was dealing -
is that true?
Yeah, she got mixed up with a gang
but she never took anything.
This was last night.
She was so happy.
Wait. Go back.
No henna.
So this is not the Eastern
Europeans' work, the Shala Crew?
Unlikely.
Henna's a South Asian art form.
Historically, it symbolised good
health and wellbeing in a marriage.
The darker the stain,
the deeper the love.
Yeah, this is not someone
proclaiming their love for her.
Do these symbols mean something?
He did spend at least two hours
on this at the crime scene.
Certainly suggests purpose.
Brides sometimes hide
their husband's name in the henna.
In lighter ink.
It's supposed to be an ice-breaker.
Wendy, have you got a UV light?
Well, look at that.
B-E-I-Z-Z-A-T.
Beizzat. Means dishonoured.
Photograph this.
Get it to Conway now.
VIDEO CLIP: Hi, I'm Tara Virdee.
I'm outside The Bradford Club,
where, moments ago,
a body was removed
from inside the building.
There's a large police presence.
No details as of yet of the victim
but I will report more
information as soon as I have it.
Hey.
You all right?
Do you want to get a coffee?
Go on, then.
Thanks. Thanks, love.
Thought we had a good time
last week.
We did.
Did you lose my number?
I got caught up in work.
You know how it is.
Hmm.
Maybe you're just tapping me
for info about
this world for your story.
I was.
Doesn't mean I can't mix
work with pleasure.
So, Priti Parmar,
that girl that were murdered
What do you know about her?
She was running gear.
Recruited a few girls
we know into the game.
Including you?
Cops be all over
the county lines boys these days.
But brown girls?
Cops ain't stopping and
searching us in this city.
It's too political.
Were Priti in trouble with anyone?
You've always got to
watch your back.
If you want to know more
about all this, I can show you.
Club night tonight.
Blue Murmur.
Sex, drugs.
You game?
A friendly face
..after such bad news.
The doctor told me
I have to have major surgery.
It's not bad news.
The surgery will help.
As soon as a bed becomes available,
you'll be moved
somewhere more comfortable.
At my age, surgery's simply
prolonging what Waheguru
has planned for me.
I think your family would like to
be able to spend more time with you.
Have you got children?
A daughter.
Mandeep.
Only one daughter?
Sorry.
I didn't mean to pry.
I'll just document your obs
and leave you in peace.
Do you see a lot of people
die in here?
What do they say to you
when they know their time is short?
They often talk about regrets.
Situations they could have
made better.
Mostly about family.
What do you say to them?
I offer them a phone.
Regrets only exist
when a situation is unresolved.
People make mistakes,
but they can always pick up a phone.
Do they?
Usually.
I'll leave you to it.
Do you have a phone or would
you like me to bring you one?
No, you're fine.
Intrepid Autos were hit today.
Somebody torched
half a dozen of Vasil's motors.
Know anything about that?
Let's just keep the peace, yeah.
The only guarantee with peace
is it never lasts.
Priti Parmar?
Don't know her.
She were running your product.
Switched from the Shala Crew
a few months back.
They were pissed.
Half this city runs my product.
I don't engage in street level shit.
You want details, you ask Enzo.
Made a deal with Vasil -
intel on Priti for who killed Novak.
Unless you can help with that?
Sorry, brother. Got nothing.
Look, I know Priti weren't you,
and I don't think it were
the Shala Crew either,
so there must be
a new player in town.
You really believe that?
Yeah. Whoever it is, they're
more violent that either of you.
Vasil plays you, man.
Hard to tell who's
playing who these days.
And what's that supposed to mean?
If you've got something to say,
say it to me, then.
Think I've already said it, an't I?
Maybe.
But you owe me.
I know.
It's the only reason
you're not in prison.
This is the last time
I'll let you play that card.
You're the boss.
Remember when your mum
used to bring us here to play?
Course I do.
You always said
you'd own it one day.
It's beautiful here.
Peaceful.
Gives me balance.
You going to the anniversary dinner?
You need to. We both do.
You don't really want to go.
I'm in the game, Harry.
Keep my distance
from Saima and the family,
keeps everyone safe.
You know today's important.
I know.
What's happened?
Summat has.
Can see it in your face.
I'm going to your dad's.
Don't let him down, yeah?
Your mother's favourite rosebush
isn't growing.
What will I say
when I visit her grave?
That I couldn't look after
her most precious plant?
I know I put the best fertiliser
in the soil.
I water it a lot. I even
I even talk to it every day.
SHE CHUCKLES
Well, if it's anything like my mum,
you want to ignore it.
Pay more attention to the other
plants, it'll soon perk up.
Are you still worried
about lying to Harry?
You should have just let
the old man pop his clogs
then you wouldn't have to lie.
Astaghfirullah.
Beti
You know what you must do.
Tell Harry the truth.
No good can come of lies.
No matter what
your mother-in-law says.
My child, Allah gives you strength.
Tell the truth.
Your father-in-law has now
seen who you really are.
Warm, compassionate.
Hey?
It may change how he thinks.
At least I'd do it right!
Is he not coming in?
I don't know. Let me go get him.
Harry? Harry!
Hey. Hey, hey, hey.
Come here, come here.
What's going on?
Nothing. Just
got an urgent call from work.
Why are you lying to me?
Ijust, I can't
..can't do this after last night.
Can't sit there messing up
an important day for you
and your family because I'm
I'm just a mess, Saima.
Come here.
I've got you.
I'm sorry.
I can't do this.
I'll see you back at the house.
Fuck! Fuck! Fuck you!
Fuck! FUCK!
If she could see you gardening
Yeah, she'd love that.
Premium fertiliser.
Only the best for Mum.
There's tea inside.
Whose, yours or Nadsy's?
Nadsy's.
She any better at it?
No.
Where's Harry?
Don't want to talk about it.
OK. Understood.
Did you go to the grave, an' all?
Yeah.
But it's here in this garden
I can still feel her.
Obsessing over these damn plants.
Always getting me and you
to cut the grass.
But never Nadsy, though.
No, no. Lazy cow.
THEY LAUGH
Come inside. Dad misses you.
You think you hurt her more than me?
Just leave me be, Sai.
This family stuff isn't for me.
What happened to us, Riaz?
ON RADIO: Hey, guys,
big shout out to club Blue Murmur
and the monthly Beizzat
event tonight.
Admission is £10 and you get
one free drink and, as ever,
what happens at Beizzat
stays at Beizzat.
Beizzat.
DISTORTED:
The wasps hatched inside her.
MUSIC: Papi
by Eden Shalev
Where the fuck are you?
What are you doing here?!
Leave! It's not safe!
I can't hear you. Leave.
I've got to dance.
He's been drugged.
Did you see his face?
He were wearing a mask.
CHEERING AND LAUGHTER
Move!
SHE SCREAMS
CHEERING AND LAUGHTER
MUSIC: Papi
by Eden Shalev
MUSIC DISTORTS
HE BREATHES HEAVILY
SCREAMING
COUGHING AND SPLUTTERING
DISTORTED: Everyone, out - now!
Move! Out! Now!
COUGHING AND SPLUTTERING
If you saw anything suspicious,
no matter how small, DM me.
We're all a community, Bradford.
We got to look out for each other.
Someone forced their way in.
Sir, come take a look at this.
This must be our man.
MUFFLED: Please, let me go.
Whoever is holding my little boy,
the control here is all yours here.
You have absolute power to do good.
I got skills and I need to earn.
Yeah.
I can tell you how to
take down Vasil's crew.
Maybe this is the opportunity we've
been waiting for to take Vasil out.
Let's do it.
The insect is a Tarantula Hawk.
It will sting a tarantula,
then lay a single egg inside it,
using the spider as a living host
to incubate the larva.
THEY LAUGH
You stood there, telling me
I have to "share my shit"
and the whole time you're keeping
something like this from me?!
There's a killer targeting us.
You shouldn't go on your own.
It's dangerous out there.
TYRES SCREECH
GUNSHOTS
Harry Virdee.
Now the game begins.