Adultery (2026) s01e03 Episode Script
Episode 3
1
LAUGHTER
MOANING
'Just When
You're Thinkin' Things Over'
Smile!
Just when you're thinking
Things over
And you need a set of vows
And all your friends
Seem disappointed ♪
I was trying to be nice!
How you doing, bro? All right?
You all right?
What you drinking?
Shots.
Happy birthday. Mwah!
How's it going?
Good.
Is all the sweetness you doubt
I'm coming home
You look good
When your heart is on fire
It's a matter of taste, yeah
You do it right
You don't follow the line
Find of the sun
Ooh-ooh, ooh, ooh ♪
SHE LAUGHS
MOANING
They've agreed
to release you on bail,
but you'll have to go
before the Magistrates' Court again.
I wish you'd asked me
before doing this.
Certainly hasn't helped.
Go, go, go!
Oh!
SHOUTING
All right, all right, all right.
You look good
When your heart is on fire ♪
Hope you're having a good time.
Don't worry about me, though
Yeah
You do it right
You don't follow ♪
MOANING
SHE SIGHS AND LAUGHS
I'm dead worried
about your frozen food. Huh?
It'll be fit for nothing.
THEY LAUGH
HE SIGHS
CHATTER
Hey. Shame you couldn't make
Mariella's party, eh?
Oh.
Best party I've been to in ages.
Well, you know, erm
Ollie looked like he was having
a good time.
PHONE CHIMES,
BUZZES
SHE SCOFFS
What the fuck?
Look at you. You're glowing.
What do you mean?
Your skin and your hair.
Are you making the effort
for that new English teacher?
He's about 19.
What, so? I would.
THEY LAUGH,
KNOCKING ON DOOR
Sorry to bother you,
but little Jonny's forgotten
his book.
What do you want?
We need to talk about Ally's house.
SHE SIGHS
I've said all there is to say.
Au contraire, Elizabeth.
There's a lot more to say.
What's that thing they have
in courtroom dramas?
New evidence has come to light.
What new evidence?
Let's just say
that it's come to my knowledge
that my dead ex-wife's
now deserted house is being used
for illicit sexual trysts.
Love that word - trysts. Don't you?
SHE BREATHES HEAVILY,
DOOR OPENS
DOOR CLOSES
I can meet you
but not till lunchtime. Where?
There's a place near my work -
Stomping Ground.
You're buying.
SHE BREATHES SHAKILY
HE COUGHS
OK, nice to see you.
HE COUGHS
SIGHS
Neil Brookes, room nine.
KNOCKING ON DOOR
Yeah, come in.
Hey.
Hey, come in and have a seat.
NEIL SIGHS
What can I do for you?
Thing is
I don't really come
to the doctor's.
But the few times I've met you,
you've seemed sound, so
I thought
Look, I don't know
if Oliver's told you,
but I've got myself
into a bit of bother
with an assault charge.
And, look,
I wouldn't say that I'm depressed,
cos, well
depression's for the middle classes, innit?
But, erm
Something just
is weighing heavy on me.
It's all right.
Honestly, so many people
get depressed,
especially when
it's circumstance-driven.
I know, but I don't wanna take it
out on the kids, you know, and Beth.
I'm sure you're not.
To be honest with you, mate
SIGHS
I think
she's getting fed up of me.
SHE MOANS SOFTLY
I just need something temporary
just to get through the court case.
And then
OK.
When is that?
A few weeks.
All right.
I can prescribe you diazepam.
It treats insomnia and anxiety.
I'll give you the lowest dose,
two milligrams, twice a day,
but it can be addictive,
so you mustn't drink.
Alcohol can increase its effects,
so does that sound like something
that would suit you?
Well
Yeah. Yeah.
Yeah?
Erm
Who is representing you
in your defence?
Holdon's.
Holdon's.
Right, well
if you want a second opinion,
my brother is in business law.
If you do.
Do you think he'll mind?
No.
He loves the sound of his own voice.
NEIL CHUCKLES SOFTLY
Well, yeah, that
Yeah, that'd be great, yeah.
And can we keep this between us?
Cos I don't want Beth
and the kids knowing Absolutely.
So, come on. Who's your lover?
Are you out of your mind?
Oh, come on!
I'm a man of the world.
See, I saw you, Beth
with my own eyes.
Well, whatever you think you saw,
you're mistaken.
Oh, really?
Yeah, really.
Do you remember when I told you
that I still had all the apps
on my phone
when I used to live at the house?
So, what's this, then? Blackmail?
Blackmail
What a sordid accusation.
It's not what it looks like.
Oh, I think it is.
Isn't it?
See, Ally liked Neil, Beth.
SHE SCOFFS
And I don't think
she left you that house
to conduct your filthy affair in.
So, shall we stop playing around
work out what our solution is?
CHATTER
SHE SIGHS
CHATTER
Oi!
Look, all right, look,
before you go crazy, it's bullshit.
You know, we were all off it.
Someone's stirring the shit.
She's got her hands all over you.
Hardly.
You think I'm gonna get off
with Mariella?
Yes, why not?
Because I'm seeing you.
Yeah, well, I was messaging you
and you weren't replying,
so what was I meant to think?
So, what, you don't trust me?
No, it's not that. It's just
Well, do you?
Course I do.
SHE SIGHS
Come here. God.
BREATHES HEAVILY
Oh, shit. Shit.
BREATHES HEAVILY
Oh, come on.
Oh, fuck.
SIGHS
Precarious.
Precarious.
Why that word?
Because it feels, at any moment,
something precious
can be taken away.
You know, we don't think about it,
but we're all just one moment away
from our lives disintegrating.
SHE SCOFFS
You know,
the police arriving at the door
and telling you there's been
an accident or an illness.
You know, one of you finds a lump.
SHE SIGHS SHAKILY
At its worst,
it was every minute of every day.
The thoughts just taking over.
Like something bad was just
around the corner, and it was
just a matter of time
before it happened.
But by your own admission,
you'd had a charmed life
before all this started.
I had.
So why do you think
your discovery hit you so hard?
Because I didn't have the tools
to deal with it.
I'd been sheltered
by lies.
UPBEAT MUSIC PLAYS
Hey.
Are you OK? Is there a problem?
Neil came to see me at the surgery.
Saying what?
It's not about us, OK, but
God, I'd be struck off
if I told you this.
He wanted pills
for sleeping and anxiety
because of the assault case.
Assault case?
Thanks for telling me about that
Who was it?
Oh, it was a client.
A money dispute.
And I didn't tell you cos it doesn't
reflect well on us, does it?
On Ollie or on me.
Well, if he hits people over money,
what's he gonna do
if he finds out about this?
No, he's not violent.
He's just an idiot.
What is the plan here?
Well, we don't We don't have one.
Isn't that sort of the point?
SHE CHUCKLES SOFTLY
Do you wanna end it?
No.
It's these snatched moments.
I just wanna see you more,
I suppose.
My mum left me and Paul this
old cottage in the Lakes.
Maybe this weekend,
we could just go up there.
What? What will I tell Neil
and the kids?
I can't just say
I'm going to the Lakes.
'Northumberland?'
Why there?
She spent a lot of time there
when she was a kid.
She wants them scattered
on the beach at Craster.
When did she tell you that?
We was just drunk one night,
you know?
Talking about death.
That's just weird.
Adults are weird.
What even are ashes?
Is it the body or the coffin
as well?
I don't know.
That's what she wanted.
I'll google it.
Why don't we all go one weekend?
Can make a trip of it.
I'm not spreading ashes.
I'll go.
Yeah, that's nice, but, erm
I promised Ally's brother
that I would do it soon and
to be honest,
I think it would be good for me
if it were just me and her.
Say goodbye properly.
We can go another time.
Fine, go, then.
Don't worry about me,
looking after two kids
and working my balls off all day.
Neil
DOOR SLAMS
He's just tired.
It's the coffin as well, you know?
Mm-hm.
I won't go.
Sorry for snapping.
Just knackered.
HE SIGHS
Look, I've been thinking.
The booze
I'm gonna knock it on the head
for a few weeks till the trial.
Right, yeah,
I think that's a good idea.
Yeah, and hopefully,
I can get some rest.
Stop being such a
useless husband.
You're not a useless husband.
I bloody love you, you know?
I know I hardly ever say it, but
I do. I
SHE CRIES
God, I'm really sorry.
Whoa. Whoa, whoa.
Hey.
SHE CRIES
HE SIGHS
I didn't mean to make you cry.
Sorry.
I love you, too.
Oi, lovebirds, get a room.
Oh, God.
We're just having a moment. Go in.
Go on your trip,
spread Ally's ashes.
I want you to.
Your mum and dad are outside
being cute.
Why? What they doing?
Kissing, cuddling, you know.
Grim.
I don't know. I think it's lovely.
You know, I wish my mum and dad
were still like that. Mm.
Hey.
What?
In case it's got rats again.
We didn't see any rats.
Well, we found rat poo.
Mm. Rat poo. Yes, there was rat poo.
Wish I was going with you.
Yeah.
Suppose it's a good thing for me
to stay and be with the girls
on my own for a bit.
It's been a while
since I've been able to.
Yeah.
Progress, right?
I'll give the rats your love.
OK.
Drive safely.
Yeah, I will.
Mmm.
Ah
Bye.
HE CLEARS HIS THROA
Bye.
SIGHS
EXHALES DEEPLY
SIGHS
THEY SQUEAL
AND GIGGLE
Making the bed!
Whee! Whee! Making the bed!
Ah!
THEY SQUEAL
SIGHS
CRIES SOFTLY
PHONE BUZZES
SNIFFLES
PHONE BUZZES
Hiya.
What happened?
Tom, I
Where are you?
'I'm just up the road
from where I came in.'
OK, just stay there, OK?
EXHALES DEEPLY
HE SIGHS
I feel exactly the same.
SHE SIGHS
CAR DOOR OPENS
CAR DOOR CLOSES
TOM SIGHS
Here, let me grab that for you.
Don't look now, but there is a woman
peeking at us from behind that wall.
Oh, yeah.
Mrs Bailey. Completely doolally.
"Doolally"?
That's not a phrase
you hear very much any more, Tom.
Not very woke, that.
Batshit crazy?
Mentalist?
And a terrible racist.
Mm.
KEYS RATTLE
Just pop the bag down anywhere.
Oh, boy.
I'll stick the kettle on.
How long did your mum live here?
Er, I think about ten years
in the end.
Not one for home improvements,
my mum.
HE CHUCKLES SOFTLY
She was pretty unhappy
most her life,
but she moved back up here,
and it
it sort of shrank to this, and
she was happier
than she'd ever been,
just her and her dog.
Funny seeing as she was
just up the road from the man
that made her so miserable.
Do you still see your dad?
Not really, no.
Didn't see him much growing up.
He makes absolutely no effort
with the grandkids. His choice.
That must be really sad for you.
Ah, it is what it is.
Do you want tea?
MOANING
THEY CHUCKLE
HE GROANS SOFTLY
Look at that view.
Right, are we doing this?
HE SIGHS
After you.
SHE CHUCKLES
It's colder than you think.
We'll warm up.
Come on, coward!
Mad woman.
Come on! Agh!
SHE CHUCKLES
Fucking hell.
Oh, God.
THEY LAUGH
SHE LAUGHS
Oh, thanks.
Here.
Let me.
Really? Oh.
Thank you.
12.40.
CARD MACHINE BEEPS
Thanks.
The kids would love it here.
Yeah. You should have brought them.
Mine do.
They did.
Haven't been here for years.
Do you like being dad
to three girls, man of the house?
Yeah, well teens.
SHE CHUCKLES
Is Neil OK?
Yeah.
Well, I've just been thinking
about
what will happen if he gets time.
Well, we'd be screwed financially,
and the kids would be broken.
And you?
Well, it'd give me
the perfect excuse, wouldn't it?
HE LAUGHS
But you don't want that.
No, cos despite playing the big man,
he's actually just a little boy.
And prison, it would break him.
Let's not spoil this with reality.
Tonight, let's go on a date.
Date? Like a date-date?
Yeah, book a restaurant,
and then we'll leave the house
without seeing each other
and meet there.
When was the last time
you went on a date?
Like, got all dressed up.
I know it's a bit ridiculous, but
No. No, I love the idea.
There's a place
that I've never been to before
because we're always with the kids.
It's called The The Orangery.
The Orangery it is.
See you there at seven.
Yeah, I'm here now.
I'm just near the bar.
Where are you?
Oh, there.
You all right?
Yeah, are you?
Yeah.
Do you want a drink?
Oh, I'm good.
Do you wanna get yourself one?
Ah, I'm trying
to lay off it a bit.
Very wise.
Thanks for seeing me.
Well, you know,
when your brother asks
I thought he might join us,
pay for the beers.
Where is he?
He's in the Lakes.
Mum had a place up there, so
Ah, nice.
No, it's a shithole.
Windermere's all right, but the
but the cottage is like the house
that time forgot.
Oh!
THEY LAUGH
Right, so, shall we get started?
Have you got your case notes?
Yeah, yeah.
HE CLEARS HIS THROA
Yeah, it's just that.
Hm.
Hm.
Oh, do you know what?
I will get a beer, actually.
Better make that two.
Wow. You look gorgeous.
Why, thank you, kind sir.
Not sure why I did that
in a Devon accent.
THEY CHUCKLE
Madam
You look pretty good yourself.
Thank you, my lover.
I took the liberty of ordering
some wine.
Date rules for this evening -
we can talk about anything except
our partners, our children
and the boring realities
of our other lives.
Agreed?
Agreed.
THEY CHUCKLE SOFTLY
He locked you in his shop.
Yeah.
False imprisonment.
You went to apologise,
and he kept you against your will.
Has your lawyer requested
the CCTV footage?
No, not that I know of.
They'll have it.
They always do
for insurance.
And it's win-win,
cos if he produces it,
it backs up your story.
And if he doesn't,
or he claims it's been deleted,
your lawyer says
he's destroyed evidence of a crime.
Yeah, but what if his lawyer says
that I was trying to intimidate him.
Were you?
No. I was fucking begging him.
Well, there you go, then.
You were trying to reason.
Mm.
Express your humanity.
But he falsely imprisoned you
and gave you a panic attack.
They can't see that
on a CCTV, right?
NEIL SCOFFS
Neil
this is your life.
This is your freedom.
In cases like this
you gotta fight fire with fire.
Yeah.
Yeah.
I don't understand. Just ask for it.
Mr Brookes, I don't appreciate you
seeking second counsel
and then thrusting
said counsel down my
I'm not thrusting anything.
But what he said made sense.
'False imprisonment,
that's the first I've heard of it.
'Why?'
Because it won't hold water.
'Why?'
Because I'm telling you it won't.
Why?
Because you were given a restraining
order against Mr Wells
and because you weren't threatened,
and he will claim he was in fear
of further attack.
Right, well, that's bullshit.
Request the CCTV.
Oh, Jesus.
I'm asking you, as my brief,
to request the CCTV.
Look, in my professional opinion,
I
Fuck your professional opinion.
Who's the client?
Do you even care about me?
I do. Of course I do.
But if we are to enter
a courtroom together,
I need you to trust
my professional
'Request the CCTV.'
Request the CCTV.
HE MUMBLES
You aren't gonna do it, are you?
Right, well, do you know what?
I don't trust
your professional opinion.
'Well, I'm afraid,
that being the case,
'I've gone as far as I can go.'
I wish you well for the future.
SIGHS
PHONE BUZZES
The fuck's he want?
Hello?
KNOCKING ON DOOR
Get out.
Thanks.
I'm doing homework.
So, you won't wanna see this,
then, will you?
What's that?
Ollie at a party with another girl.
Who sent you that?
One of my mates.
She was at the party as well,
and it was going round,
so I thought you might wanna see it.
One of your mates
at a Year 11 party?
I don't think so, Daisy.
I'm not a kid any more.
You treat me like I'm a baby.
So, why's he with her?
He's not. It's bullshit.
It doesn't look like bullshit.
Do you know why I treat you
like a baby, Daisy?
Because you are one. Now get out!
Well, at least my boyfriend
isn't cheating on me.
DOOR SLAMS
What were you like as a kid?
I, erm
Well, I don't What's the saying?
What's the saying?
"Show me the boy at seven,
and I'll show you the man."
You were the same at seven
as you are now?
HE CHUCKLES
Pretty much.
I was very, erm rule abiding.
I didn't like lies or deceit,
believe it or not.
My friends used to go
and steal stuff from the local shop,
and I just couldn't do it
cos I was always very worried
about how my parents would feel
when they found out.
You were well brought up.
Yeah.
Weren't you?
I guess.
Although looking back, I think
my parents didn't show each other
much respect, you know?
Yeah.
They'd bicker and snipe.
I've no doubt
that they loved each other,
and after a few drinks,
they'd have a cuddle,
you know, but
I don't think I ever learnt
what real
connection looked like, you know?
A couple that was really a couple.
My parents always pretended to be
the perfect suburban couple
until they couldn't pretend
any more.
So I don't think I knew
what proper connection was, really.
Shall we?
Shall we get another bottle of wine?
I think I've had
my daily limit, doctor.
Do remember,
they are just guidelines.
SHE CHUCKLES
SHE SIGHS
DIALLING TONE
PHONE BUZZES
Hiya.
'I'm gonna say this once,
'and then
I'm never gonna say it again.'
I won't be cheated on, Ollie.
And if I ever find out
that you have, then we're done.
Jess, I didn't cheat on you at al
'No.'
Cheat, and we're done.
Remember that.
You know, it's the worst thing
you could do to someone.
It's unforgivable.
Weird face, weird hair,
ten years older than you said,
orange face, loose teeth,
no hair at all
But you would do it, though,
if you were single.
It's like buying trainers.
SHE LAUGHS
My friend at work does it.
She's with a different bloke
every week.
We never had that.
No.
How many women have you slept with?
Well, don't be shy, Beth.
Just come out and ask me
Well, it's not many, right? Like me.
I got married too young.
And before that, I was only
with people I were in a thing with.
I never had any fun.
So, come on, how many?
Well, not that many.
Well, that's not a number.
You didn't give me a number.
Seven.
OK, well, it's more than that
Number?
What difference does it make?
I was at medical school.
HE CHUCKLES
Oh, right,
so you were a stud, then?
No, I mean, look,
let's just say, beforehand,
you know, I had a good run.
Don't even wanna know.
There were nurses and doctors and
What else you gonna do?
It's night shift.
What?
Nothing. I mean, I
I had the special key
Disabled toilet.
It was the venue of choice.
Oh, right, classy man
Well, if that's what you're into
classy man
SHE CHUCKLES
What?
SHE EXHALES
PHONE CHIMES
Oh Fu
PHONE BUZZES
Hello, Elizabeth.
'You can't tell Neil.'
Is that a fact?
You've got no proof of anything.
KNOCK ON DOOR
Oh, just a minute!
You with him now, then?
Your fancy man?
No, I'm not.
I'm doing exactly what I told Neil.
I'm spreading Ally's ashes.
Lies, Beth.
Do you think I'm stupid?
And deleting the footage
does not change anything
cos I've taken a photo of it.
'You got to get up pretty early
in the morning
'to pull the wool
over my eyes, Beth.'
Just a sec.
SHE BREATHES HEAVILY
Shit!
All right. All right, Dave.
The house The house is yours.
But you have to give me something
for it, cash-wise.
'Or what will I tell Neil?'
No deal.
'Please, Dave, just be reasonable.'
There's all sorts of tax shit.
There's paperwork.
OK, all right, I understand.
I'll just go back inside
and tell your husband
that you're banging another man
whilst using
your dead friend's ashes as cover.
No! No, Dave, I am begging you.
I'll sort the house.
Just please, please don't tell him.
All right, fine.
I'll see what I can afford,
but if you go back on this
I won't. I won't, I swear.
You shouldn't do this to him, Beth.
Neil's a good bloke,
and I know for a fact
this isn't the first time.
It's actually pretty disgusting
in there.
Everything OK?
Yeah, fine.
Actually, I just had a better idea.
I found these gummies
in Ollie's room.
All right.
HE GROANS,
SHE SCREAMS
Wait, I can't even walk.
SHE LAUGHS
Come on!
Ah!
What? Are you scared, are you?
Come on.
SHE LAUGHS
Come on, no. I'm not a little boy.
No, not the seesaw.
THEY LAUGH
No, come on.
Oh, no, I'm gonna be sick.
THEY LAUGH
You've got the most beautiful eyes.
Thanks, but you're really drunk
and high.
HE LAUGHS
I'm already moody.
You're already
You're already moody.
THEY LAUGH
I'm moodier than you.
No. I am.
I Shall we?
Shall we have one more,
or shall we go back to the palace?
SHE SIGHS
Mm
All right.
THEY LAUGH
Right, erm
HE MUMBLES
Oh, grab that one, quick.
Oh, right, yeah.
I'll get it.
Do you want a white wine?
Yeah.
Mm-hm.
Hello. Hey.
Can I get a large white wine?
And I'll have a pint of lager, please.
CHATTER
CHATTER
HE SIGHS
Tom, are you all right?
Is it the gummies?
No
Are you all right? Are you OK?
I can't do this.
What?
This us, I can't do it.
I'm gonna destroy everything.
SIGHS
I can't do it to them.
They're gonna be so heartbroken.
They're never gonna forgive me.
Whoa, whoa, whoa, just calm down.
Calm down.
I'm not this man.
Well, you were earlier.
We're gonna destroy everything.
We're gonna cause
so much damage, Beth.
Well, we might not.
We might not,
and we might end up happier
Tom
It's not real! It's not real!
We have lives with other people.
Right.
Oh, so,
you've had your fling with me.
You fucked me every which way
No, no, no.
Beth, Beth, Beth, listen,
in there
I'm sorry, I just saw my dad
with some woman in there.
And I was transported back to being
the ten-year-old little boy,
with my mum balling her eyes out
and us going,
"Mummy, where's Daddy?"
HE PANTS
And not knowing
what we'd done wrong.
I can't I can't
I can't do that to them.
Do you understand?
I can't be that man.
I'm not gonna be THAT man.
I'm not that fucking man.
HE CRIES
LAUGHTER
MOANING
'Just When
You're Thinkin' Things Over'
Smile!
Just when you're thinking
Things over
And you need a set of vows
And all your friends
Seem disappointed ♪
I was trying to be nice!
How you doing, bro? All right?
You all right?
What you drinking?
Shots.
Happy birthday. Mwah!
How's it going?
Good.
Is all the sweetness you doubt
I'm coming home
You look good
When your heart is on fire
It's a matter of taste, yeah
You do it right
You don't follow the line
Find of the sun
Ooh-ooh, ooh, ooh ♪
SHE LAUGHS
MOANING
They've agreed
to release you on bail,
but you'll have to go
before the Magistrates' Court again.
I wish you'd asked me
before doing this.
Certainly hasn't helped.
Go, go, go!
Oh!
SHOUTING
All right, all right, all right.
You look good
When your heart is on fire ♪
Hope you're having a good time.
Don't worry about me, though
Yeah
You do it right
You don't follow ♪
MOANING
SHE SIGHS AND LAUGHS
I'm dead worried
about your frozen food. Huh?
It'll be fit for nothing.
THEY LAUGH
HE SIGHS
CHATTER
Hey. Shame you couldn't make
Mariella's party, eh?
Oh.
Best party I've been to in ages.
Well, you know, erm
Ollie looked like he was having
a good time.
PHONE CHIMES,
BUZZES
SHE SCOFFS
What the fuck?
Look at you. You're glowing.
What do you mean?
Your skin and your hair.
Are you making the effort
for that new English teacher?
He's about 19.
What, so? I would.
THEY LAUGH,
KNOCKING ON DOOR
Sorry to bother you,
but little Jonny's forgotten
his book.
What do you want?
We need to talk about Ally's house.
SHE SIGHS
I've said all there is to say.
Au contraire, Elizabeth.
There's a lot more to say.
What's that thing they have
in courtroom dramas?
New evidence has come to light.
What new evidence?
Let's just say
that it's come to my knowledge
that my dead ex-wife's
now deserted house is being used
for illicit sexual trysts.
Love that word - trysts. Don't you?
SHE BREATHES HEAVILY,
DOOR OPENS
DOOR CLOSES
I can meet you
but not till lunchtime. Where?
There's a place near my work -
Stomping Ground.
You're buying.
SHE BREATHES SHAKILY
HE COUGHS
OK, nice to see you.
HE COUGHS
SIGHS
Neil Brookes, room nine.
KNOCKING ON DOOR
Yeah, come in.
Hey.
Hey, come in and have a seat.
NEIL SIGHS
What can I do for you?
Thing is
I don't really come
to the doctor's.
But the few times I've met you,
you've seemed sound, so
I thought
Look, I don't know
if Oliver's told you,
but I've got myself
into a bit of bother
with an assault charge.
And, look,
I wouldn't say that I'm depressed,
cos, well
depression's for the middle classes, innit?
But, erm
Something just
is weighing heavy on me.
It's all right.
Honestly, so many people
get depressed,
especially when
it's circumstance-driven.
I know, but I don't wanna take it
out on the kids, you know, and Beth.
I'm sure you're not.
To be honest with you, mate
SIGHS
I think
she's getting fed up of me.
SHE MOANS SOFTLY
I just need something temporary
just to get through the court case.
And then
OK.
When is that?
A few weeks.
All right.
I can prescribe you diazepam.
It treats insomnia and anxiety.
I'll give you the lowest dose,
two milligrams, twice a day,
but it can be addictive,
so you mustn't drink.
Alcohol can increase its effects,
so does that sound like something
that would suit you?
Well
Yeah. Yeah.
Yeah?
Erm
Who is representing you
in your defence?
Holdon's.
Holdon's.
Right, well
if you want a second opinion,
my brother is in business law.
If you do.
Do you think he'll mind?
No.
He loves the sound of his own voice.
NEIL CHUCKLES SOFTLY
Well, yeah, that
Yeah, that'd be great, yeah.
And can we keep this between us?
Cos I don't want Beth
and the kids knowing Absolutely.
So, come on. Who's your lover?
Are you out of your mind?
Oh, come on!
I'm a man of the world.
See, I saw you, Beth
with my own eyes.
Well, whatever you think you saw,
you're mistaken.
Oh, really?
Yeah, really.
Do you remember when I told you
that I still had all the apps
on my phone
when I used to live at the house?
So, what's this, then? Blackmail?
Blackmail
What a sordid accusation.
It's not what it looks like.
Oh, I think it is.
Isn't it?
See, Ally liked Neil, Beth.
SHE SCOFFS
And I don't think
she left you that house
to conduct your filthy affair in.
So, shall we stop playing around
work out what our solution is?
CHATTER
SHE SIGHS
CHATTER
Oi!
Look, all right, look,
before you go crazy, it's bullshit.
You know, we were all off it.
Someone's stirring the shit.
She's got her hands all over you.
Hardly.
You think I'm gonna get off
with Mariella?
Yes, why not?
Because I'm seeing you.
Yeah, well, I was messaging you
and you weren't replying,
so what was I meant to think?
So, what, you don't trust me?
No, it's not that. It's just
Well, do you?
Course I do.
SHE SIGHS
Come here. God.
BREATHES HEAVILY
Oh, shit. Shit.
BREATHES HEAVILY
Oh, come on.
Oh, fuck.
SIGHS
Precarious.
Precarious.
Why that word?
Because it feels, at any moment,
something precious
can be taken away.
You know, we don't think about it,
but we're all just one moment away
from our lives disintegrating.
SHE SCOFFS
You know,
the police arriving at the door
and telling you there's been
an accident or an illness.
You know, one of you finds a lump.
SHE SIGHS SHAKILY
At its worst,
it was every minute of every day.
The thoughts just taking over.
Like something bad was just
around the corner, and it was
just a matter of time
before it happened.
But by your own admission,
you'd had a charmed life
before all this started.
I had.
So why do you think
your discovery hit you so hard?
Because I didn't have the tools
to deal with it.
I'd been sheltered
by lies.
UPBEAT MUSIC PLAYS
Hey.
Are you OK? Is there a problem?
Neil came to see me at the surgery.
Saying what?
It's not about us, OK, but
God, I'd be struck off
if I told you this.
He wanted pills
for sleeping and anxiety
because of the assault case.
Assault case?
Thanks for telling me about that
Who was it?
Oh, it was a client.
A money dispute.
And I didn't tell you cos it doesn't
reflect well on us, does it?
On Ollie or on me.
Well, if he hits people over money,
what's he gonna do
if he finds out about this?
No, he's not violent.
He's just an idiot.
What is the plan here?
Well, we don't We don't have one.
Isn't that sort of the point?
SHE CHUCKLES SOFTLY
Do you wanna end it?
No.
It's these snatched moments.
I just wanna see you more,
I suppose.
My mum left me and Paul this
old cottage in the Lakes.
Maybe this weekend,
we could just go up there.
What? What will I tell Neil
and the kids?
I can't just say
I'm going to the Lakes.
'Northumberland?'
Why there?
She spent a lot of time there
when she was a kid.
She wants them scattered
on the beach at Craster.
When did she tell you that?
We was just drunk one night,
you know?
Talking about death.
That's just weird.
Adults are weird.
What even are ashes?
Is it the body or the coffin
as well?
I don't know.
That's what she wanted.
I'll google it.
Why don't we all go one weekend?
Can make a trip of it.
I'm not spreading ashes.
I'll go.
Yeah, that's nice, but, erm
I promised Ally's brother
that I would do it soon and
to be honest,
I think it would be good for me
if it were just me and her.
Say goodbye properly.
We can go another time.
Fine, go, then.
Don't worry about me,
looking after two kids
and working my balls off all day.
Neil
DOOR SLAMS
He's just tired.
It's the coffin as well, you know?
Mm-hm.
I won't go.
Sorry for snapping.
Just knackered.
HE SIGHS
Look, I've been thinking.
The booze
I'm gonna knock it on the head
for a few weeks till the trial.
Right, yeah,
I think that's a good idea.
Yeah, and hopefully,
I can get some rest.
Stop being such a
useless husband.
You're not a useless husband.
I bloody love you, you know?
I know I hardly ever say it, but
I do. I
SHE CRIES
God, I'm really sorry.
Whoa. Whoa, whoa.
Hey.
SHE CRIES
HE SIGHS
I didn't mean to make you cry.
Sorry.
I love you, too.
Oi, lovebirds, get a room.
Oh, God.
We're just having a moment. Go in.
Go on your trip,
spread Ally's ashes.
I want you to.
Your mum and dad are outside
being cute.
Why? What they doing?
Kissing, cuddling, you know.
Grim.
I don't know. I think it's lovely.
You know, I wish my mum and dad
were still like that. Mm.
Hey.
What?
In case it's got rats again.
We didn't see any rats.
Well, we found rat poo.
Mm. Rat poo. Yes, there was rat poo.
Wish I was going with you.
Yeah.
Suppose it's a good thing for me
to stay and be with the girls
on my own for a bit.
It's been a while
since I've been able to.
Yeah.
Progress, right?
I'll give the rats your love.
OK.
Drive safely.
Yeah, I will.
Mmm.
Ah
Bye.
HE CLEARS HIS THROA
Bye.
SIGHS
EXHALES DEEPLY
SIGHS
THEY SQUEAL
AND GIGGLE
Making the bed!
Whee! Whee! Making the bed!
Ah!
THEY SQUEAL
SIGHS
CRIES SOFTLY
PHONE BUZZES
SNIFFLES
PHONE BUZZES
Hiya.
What happened?
Tom, I
Where are you?
'I'm just up the road
from where I came in.'
OK, just stay there, OK?
EXHALES DEEPLY
HE SIGHS
I feel exactly the same.
SHE SIGHS
CAR DOOR OPENS
CAR DOOR CLOSES
TOM SIGHS
Here, let me grab that for you.
Don't look now, but there is a woman
peeking at us from behind that wall.
Oh, yeah.
Mrs Bailey. Completely doolally.
"Doolally"?
That's not a phrase
you hear very much any more, Tom.
Not very woke, that.
Batshit crazy?
Mentalist?
And a terrible racist.
Mm.
KEYS RATTLE
Just pop the bag down anywhere.
Oh, boy.
I'll stick the kettle on.
How long did your mum live here?
Er, I think about ten years
in the end.
Not one for home improvements,
my mum.
HE CHUCKLES SOFTLY
She was pretty unhappy
most her life,
but she moved back up here,
and it
it sort of shrank to this, and
she was happier
than she'd ever been,
just her and her dog.
Funny seeing as she was
just up the road from the man
that made her so miserable.
Do you still see your dad?
Not really, no.
Didn't see him much growing up.
He makes absolutely no effort
with the grandkids. His choice.
That must be really sad for you.
Ah, it is what it is.
Do you want tea?
MOANING
THEY CHUCKLE
HE GROANS SOFTLY
Look at that view.
Right, are we doing this?
HE SIGHS
After you.
SHE CHUCKLES
It's colder than you think.
We'll warm up.
Come on, coward!
Mad woman.
Come on! Agh!
SHE CHUCKLES
Fucking hell.
Oh, God.
THEY LAUGH
SHE LAUGHS
Oh, thanks.
Here.
Let me.
Really? Oh.
Thank you.
12.40.
CARD MACHINE BEEPS
Thanks.
The kids would love it here.
Yeah. You should have brought them.
Mine do.
They did.
Haven't been here for years.
Do you like being dad
to three girls, man of the house?
Yeah, well teens.
SHE CHUCKLES
Is Neil OK?
Yeah.
Well, I've just been thinking
about
what will happen if he gets time.
Well, we'd be screwed financially,
and the kids would be broken.
And you?
Well, it'd give me
the perfect excuse, wouldn't it?
HE LAUGHS
But you don't want that.
No, cos despite playing the big man,
he's actually just a little boy.
And prison, it would break him.
Let's not spoil this with reality.
Tonight, let's go on a date.
Date? Like a date-date?
Yeah, book a restaurant,
and then we'll leave the house
without seeing each other
and meet there.
When was the last time
you went on a date?
Like, got all dressed up.
I know it's a bit ridiculous, but
No. No, I love the idea.
There's a place
that I've never been to before
because we're always with the kids.
It's called The The Orangery.
The Orangery it is.
See you there at seven.
Yeah, I'm here now.
I'm just near the bar.
Where are you?
Oh, there.
You all right?
Yeah, are you?
Yeah.
Do you want a drink?
Oh, I'm good.
Do you wanna get yourself one?
Ah, I'm trying
to lay off it a bit.
Very wise.
Thanks for seeing me.
Well, you know,
when your brother asks
I thought he might join us,
pay for the beers.
Where is he?
He's in the Lakes.
Mum had a place up there, so
Ah, nice.
No, it's a shithole.
Windermere's all right, but the
but the cottage is like the house
that time forgot.
Oh!
THEY LAUGH
Right, so, shall we get started?
Have you got your case notes?
Yeah, yeah.
HE CLEARS HIS THROA
Yeah, it's just that.
Hm.
Hm.
Oh, do you know what?
I will get a beer, actually.
Better make that two.
Wow. You look gorgeous.
Why, thank you, kind sir.
Not sure why I did that
in a Devon accent.
THEY CHUCKLE
Madam
You look pretty good yourself.
Thank you, my lover.
I took the liberty of ordering
some wine.
Date rules for this evening -
we can talk about anything except
our partners, our children
and the boring realities
of our other lives.
Agreed?
Agreed.
THEY CHUCKLE SOFTLY
He locked you in his shop.
Yeah.
False imprisonment.
You went to apologise,
and he kept you against your will.
Has your lawyer requested
the CCTV footage?
No, not that I know of.
They'll have it.
They always do
for insurance.
And it's win-win,
cos if he produces it,
it backs up your story.
And if he doesn't,
or he claims it's been deleted,
your lawyer says
he's destroyed evidence of a crime.
Yeah, but what if his lawyer says
that I was trying to intimidate him.
Were you?
No. I was fucking begging him.
Well, there you go, then.
You were trying to reason.
Mm.
Express your humanity.
But he falsely imprisoned you
and gave you a panic attack.
They can't see that
on a CCTV, right?
NEIL SCOFFS
Neil
this is your life.
This is your freedom.
In cases like this
you gotta fight fire with fire.
Yeah.
Yeah.
I don't understand. Just ask for it.
Mr Brookes, I don't appreciate you
seeking second counsel
and then thrusting
said counsel down my
I'm not thrusting anything.
But what he said made sense.
'False imprisonment,
that's the first I've heard of it.
'Why?'
Because it won't hold water.
'Why?'
Because I'm telling you it won't.
Why?
Because you were given a restraining
order against Mr Wells
and because you weren't threatened,
and he will claim he was in fear
of further attack.
Right, well, that's bullshit.
Request the CCTV.
Oh, Jesus.
I'm asking you, as my brief,
to request the CCTV.
Look, in my professional opinion,
I
Fuck your professional opinion.
Who's the client?
Do you even care about me?
I do. Of course I do.
But if we are to enter
a courtroom together,
I need you to trust
my professional
'Request the CCTV.'
Request the CCTV.
HE MUMBLES
You aren't gonna do it, are you?
Right, well, do you know what?
I don't trust
your professional opinion.
'Well, I'm afraid,
that being the case,
'I've gone as far as I can go.'
I wish you well for the future.
SIGHS
PHONE BUZZES
The fuck's he want?
Hello?
KNOCKING ON DOOR
Get out.
Thanks.
I'm doing homework.
So, you won't wanna see this,
then, will you?
What's that?
Ollie at a party with another girl.
Who sent you that?
One of my mates.
She was at the party as well,
and it was going round,
so I thought you might wanna see it.
One of your mates
at a Year 11 party?
I don't think so, Daisy.
I'm not a kid any more.
You treat me like I'm a baby.
So, why's he with her?
He's not. It's bullshit.
It doesn't look like bullshit.
Do you know why I treat you
like a baby, Daisy?
Because you are one. Now get out!
Well, at least my boyfriend
isn't cheating on me.
DOOR SLAMS
What were you like as a kid?
I, erm
Well, I don't What's the saying?
What's the saying?
"Show me the boy at seven,
and I'll show you the man."
You were the same at seven
as you are now?
HE CHUCKLES
Pretty much.
I was very, erm rule abiding.
I didn't like lies or deceit,
believe it or not.
My friends used to go
and steal stuff from the local shop,
and I just couldn't do it
cos I was always very worried
about how my parents would feel
when they found out.
You were well brought up.
Yeah.
Weren't you?
I guess.
Although looking back, I think
my parents didn't show each other
much respect, you know?
Yeah.
They'd bicker and snipe.
I've no doubt
that they loved each other,
and after a few drinks,
they'd have a cuddle,
you know, but
I don't think I ever learnt
what real
connection looked like, you know?
A couple that was really a couple.
My parents always pretended to be
the perfect suburban couple
until they couldn't pretend
any more.
So I don't think I knew
what proper connection was, really.
Shall we?
Shall we get another bottle of wine?
I think I've had
my daily limit, doctor.
Do remember,
they are just guidelines.
SHE CHUCKLES
SHE SIGHS
DIALLING TONE
PHONE BUZZES
Hiya.
'I'm gonna say this once,
'and then
I'm never gonna say it again.'
I won't be cheated on, Ollie.
And if I ever find out
that you have, then we're done.
Jess, I didn't cheat on you at al
'No.'
Cheat, and we're done.
Remember that.
You know, it's the worst thing
you could do to someone.
It's unforgivable.
Weird face, weird hair,
ten years older than you said,
orange face, loose teeth,
no hair at all
But you would do it, though,
if you were single.
It's like buying trainers.
SHE LAUGHS
My friend at work does it.
She's with a different bloke
every week.
We never had that.
No.
How many women have you slept with?
Well, don't be shy, Beth.
Just come out and ask me
Well, it's not many, right? Like me.
I got married too young.
And before that, I was only
with people I were in a thing with.
I never had any fun.
So, come on, how many?
Well, not that many.
Well, that's not a number.
You didn't give me a number.
Seven.
OK, well, it's more than that
Number?
What difference does it make?
I was at medical school.
HE CHUCKLES
Oh, right,
so you were a stud, then?
No, I mean, look,
let's just say, beforehand,
you know, I had a good run.
Don't even wanna know.
There were nurses and doctors and
What else you gonna do?
It's night shift.
What?
Nothing. I mean, I
I had the special key
Disabled toilet.
It was the venue of choice.
Oh, right, classy man
Well, if that's what you're into
classy man
SHE CHUCKLES
What?
SHE EXHALES
PHONE CHIMES
Oh Fu
PHONE BUZZES
Hello, Elizabeth.
'You can't tell Neil.'
Is that a fact?
You've got no proof of anything.
KNOCK ON DOOR
Oh, just a minute!
You with him now, then?
Your fancy man?
No, I'm not.
I'm doing exactly what I told Neil.
I'm spreading Ally's ashes.
Lies, Beth.
Do you think I'm stupid?
And deleting the footage
does not change anything
cos I've taken a photo of it.
'You got to get up pretty early
in the morning
'to pull the wool
over my eyes, Beth.'
Just a sec.
SHE BREATHES HEAVILY
Shit!
All right. All right, Dave.
The house The house is yours.
But you have to give me something
for it, cash-wise.
'Or what will I tell Neil?'
No deal.
'Please, Dave, just be reasonable.'
There's all sorts of tax shit.
There's paperwork.
OK, all right, I understand.
I'll just go back inside
and tell your husband
that you're banging another man
whilst using
your dead friend's ashes as cover.
No! No, Dave, I am begging you.
I'll sort the house.
Just please, please don't tell him.
All right, fine.
I'll see what I can afford,
but if you go back on this
I won't. I won't, I swear.
You shouldn't do this to him, Beth.
Neil's a good bloke,
and I know for a fact
this isn't the first time.
It's actually pretty disgusting
in there.
Everything OK?
Yeah, fine.
Actually, I just had a better idea.
I found these gummies
in Ollie's room.
All right.
HE GROANS,
SHE SCREAMS
Wait, I can't even walk.
SHE LAUGHS
Come on!
Ah!
What? Are you scared, are you?
Come on.
SHE LAUGHS
Come on, no. I'm not a little boy.
No, not the seesaw.
THEY LAUGH
No, come on.
Oh, no, I'm gonna be sick.
THEY LAUGH
You've got the most beautiful eyes.
Thanks, but you're really drunk
and high.
HE LAUGHS
I'm already moody.
You're already
You're already moody.
THEY LAUGH
I'm moodier than you.
No. I am.
I Shall we?
Shall we have one more,
or shall we go back to the palace?
SHE SIGHS
Mm
All right.
THEY LAUGH
Right, erm
HE MUMBLES
Oh, grab that one, quick.
Oh, right, yeah.
I'll get it.
Do you want a white wine?
Yeah.
Mm-hm.
Hello. Hey.
Can I get a large white wine?
And I'll have a pint of lager, please.
CHATTER
CHATTER
HE SIGHS
Tom, are you all right?
Is it the gummies?
No
Are you all right? Are you OK?
I can't do this.
What?
This us, I can't do it.
I'm gonna destroy everything.
SIGHS
I can't do it to them.
They're gonna be so heartbroken.
They're never gonna forgive me.
Whoa, whoa, whoa, just calm down.
Calm down.
I'm not this man.
Well, you were earlier.
We're gonna destroy everything.
We're gonna cause
so much damage, Beth.
Well, we might not.
We might not,
and we might end up happier
Tom
It's not real! It's not real!
We have lives with other people.
Right.
Oh, so,
you've had your fling with me.
You fucked me every which way
No, no, no.
Beth, Beth, Beth, listen,
in there
I'm sorry, I just saw my dad
with some woman in there.
And I was transported back to being
the ten-year-old little boy,
with my mum balling her eyes out
and us going,
"Mummy, where's Daddy?"
HE PANTS
And not knowing
what we'd done wrong.
I can't I can't
I can't do that to them.
Do you understand?
I can't be that man.
I'm not gonna be THAT man.
I'm not that fucking man.
HE CRIES