Playing Nice (2025) s01e03 Episode Script

1
Who knows? Maybe in time,
they'll be like brothers.
I was an only child. I
always wanted a sibling.
Theo, shit! Theo, no!
Someone had a little accident.
Did you have too many sweeties?
I can't get you these any more,
not after what happened with Theo.
Maddie just doesn't
want them in the house.
Pete takes drugs.
What?! Madelyn is a
borderline alcoholic.
They both have trouble
controlling their tempers.
MADDIE: I want to
fight for both boys.
We'll have to sue the hospital
or we won't have enough
money for both cases.
You don't remember not
seeing a tag, do you?
Did you see Stella
put the ID tag on?
Yeah. I saw her put
the tag on the baby.
Peter Riley? We're investigating
the alleged abduction
of Theo Lambert from St
Alexander's Hospital.
If you refuse to come
with us voluntarily,
you are liable for arrest.
Why is my client here?
The hospital dispute team
asked us to investigate
the possibility the babies
were swapped deliberately.
And we need to be able
to properly document it.
RECORDER BEEPS
The recording of interviews is
reserved for criminal suspects.
Is my client a suspect?
Based on the information we've
recently received, yes, he is.
OK. Listen, my client
is willing to cooperate,
but if this starts to feel
like you're looking for a neck
to fit a readymade
noose, then we're gone.
You told the dispute team that
you remember seeing a tag on Theo
shortly after he'd been
admitted to the NICU.
The doctor who assessed him
shortly after his admission said
he didn't have a tag,
and he had to prompt
Nurse Stella Collingwood
to put one on.
I'd just watched them
resuscitate my newborn son.
Tags weren't just
weren't on my mind.
You were the first of the
four parents in the NICU.
Witnesses say you
positioned yourself
beside an incubator you
claimed contained your baby,
when in fact it didn't.
"Parent stands next
to wrong incubator."
Is that what passes for
a lead these days? Ha!
You told them that you thought
your baby was brain-damaged.
Yeah.
Sorry, what are you saying?
Well, maybe you thought
you stood to gain
by swapping him out for
another healthier baby.
Oh, my God!
That's it. We're gone.
This is crazy! How could
you even suggest that?!
We've spoken to several
people about you.
Allegations have been
made No, no, no.
You've spoken to Miles
and Lucy Lambert. Pete! Go.
I would have loved that
child no matter what.
How could I have swapped him?!
The fact that you're suing
the hospital has prompted them
to fight back, and now they're
under pressure to find answers.
Vouching for Stella Collingwood
when you can't actually
remember certainly doesn't help.
Is there anything
I need to know?
What?! Come on! No, Anika.
OK.
Are we, uh, too late to pull
out of the negligence claim?
Well, I wouldn't recommend that,
because then it WILL look like
you've got something to hide.
Look, you could lose it all.
You have to keep
your noses clean
between now and the
custody hearing, OK?
Yeah.
Did you do it?
Of course not.
How can you even ask that?
Well, someone's to blame,
because the babies were swapped.
Yeah, and it was an accident.
Then why did you lie for Stella?
HE SIGHS DEEPLY Uh
..because she came to see
me and asked for my help.
I-I felt awful, Mads.
She was getting suspended because
we were suing the hospital.
And you didn't think how lying
during an investigation might look?
I I thought we were
suing an institution.
I didn't think it was going
to come down on an individual.
I felt guilty. I didn't think
she deserved to be punished.
And what about us, Pete?! Do you
think we deserve to be punished?!
I'm sorry, Mads. I just
I thought I was doing
the right thing.
Of course you did.
CAR DOOR OPENS
CAR APPROACHES
See you later. Yep.
Peter Riley? Kiera
Keenan from The Mail.
We spoke the other day.
I've got nothing to say.
Did you steal a baby from
St Alexander's Hospital?
Excuse me. Hey!
CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKS Excuse me!
Did you swap the babies and then
sue the hospital for a big pay-out?
Did you hear that
from Miles Lambert?!
Was it all about the money?
Did you get that?
PHOTOGRAPHER: Yeah. Got it all.
HE SIGHS
THEO: Chica-chica,
choo-choo ♪
Oh, Jesus Christ!
Chica-chica, choo-choo
Chica-chica ♪
Look, Daddy! PHONE BUZZES
Chica-chica, choo-choo
Chica-chica, choo-choo ♪
Hello?
ANIKA OVER PHONE: 'Pete, when
the hell did this happen?'
Uh, Saturday.
BANGING 'For God's sakes!'
Theo, no! 'You
should have told me.
'Do not talk to any
more reporters, OK?
'This really doesn't
do us any favours
'for the court
hearing on Friday.'
He lied for that nurse,
and now these photos make
him look guilty and crazy.
With Pete behaving like this,
I don't know, I'm just
I'm just worried
that we're causing Theo
more harm than good.
What if we're not
the best place for
for him and David?
Come on.
You're a brilliant mum.
You are.
You're more than enough
for both of those boys,
and if you ever doubt that
..I've got you.
Thank you, Ollie.
You don't have to thank me.
Now, stop messing
around with my sauce
and get back to your station.
Yes, Chef! All right.
SHE EXHALES SHARPLY
You must be under great strain
with all this press attention.
Look, my role as a
family court advisor
is to get to know you all
and advise on what's in Theo
and David's best interests.
Right. OK.
Uh Oh, sorry. One
second. SHE CHUCKLES
Thank you.
Once I've finished
my interviews,
I'll write a report stating
what I think is best.
So, uh, who else
are you talking to?
Well, the Lamberts suggested
I have a word with
Theo's old nursery.
They seemed to think you'd struggled
to set appropriate boundaries.
Uh CHUCKLES
No, we we we
have boundaries.
Theo never misbehaves with us.
All children misbehave
sometimes. Yeah.
I have a suggestion I think the
court will look favourably upon.
Right, name it.
Whatever it takes.
As Theo's main carer,
would you be willing to
take parenting classes?
HE CHUCKLES SOFTLY
THUNDER RUMBLES
FAINT SOUND OF BABY CRYING
CRYING INTENSIFIES
THEO: Daddy! SHE GASPS
Daddy, come!
Oh Oh, not again!
Daddy!
SHE BREATHES SHAKILY
There's a monster in my room.
It's OK, Theo.
There's no monsters
any more. Cuddles.
Cuddles.
PETE WHISPERS INDISTINCTLY
Which one of these
parenting styles
allows you to acknowledge
your child's individual needs
whilst you remain in charge?
Mr Riley, what do you think?
You've been very quiet today.
HE SIGHS
D.
That's my answer.
Great.
D, everybody!
Positive, authorat-atative.
AUTOMATED VOICE OVER PHONE:
'You have one new message.
'First new message.'
JEN OVER PHONE: 'Mate,
how did that shit-rag
'get a hold of your journal?
'What's going on?
Call me back, yeah?'
No. No.
HE SIGHS
Oh, my God.
Mads, hi. Uh, look, there's
another article come out.
Uh, I'm so sorry.
Uh, I'm late for work,
but I'll explain
when I get back, OK?
All right, bye.
Sorry, Benji.
Traffic was terrible.
Actually, mate, I don't think we're
going to need you on this one.
What? Mate, I was
only ten minutes.
I've had journalists sniffing
around all morning asking questions.
Oh, look, it's it's
nothing, honestly.
It'll die down.
We're a small company.
We can't afford
to lose business.
Maybe when this has all blown over,
we can look at getting you back in.
They're just tabloids. Nothing
they ever write is true.
Benji, please, I
really need this job.
I can't, Pete. I'm
I'm sorry, mate.
I I-I just can't.
HE SOBS SOFTLY
DOOR CLOSES
"I feel no connection to David.
"I can't see any of
me or Maddie in him.
"Maddie keeps
referring to our boys,
"but I don't want to think
about having another son.
"If I feel this
lost and confused,
"will the pressure
break Maddie again?
"Will I ever love
our biological child
"as much as Theo?"
I'm so sorry, Mads.
I wanted to write
down some thoughts,
help me process
what was going on.
And then when we were
getting to know each other
..Miles asked me if I could
share some of them with him.
I trusted him, Mads, but he
gave them to the newspapers.
God, Pete!
Fucking hell, how
could you be so stupid?
No-one was ever
meant to read them.
They were never meant
to be published.
That's what you said about
what ended up in your book.
No, come on. It's not the same.
You took my worst moments
..my my struggles
with Theo
..my failures as a mother
and you wrote them in a book
to make YOU feel better.
This is the same thing.
I never meant to
hurt you, Maddie.
Things you wrote about us
..about David, why can't you
just say those things to me?
Maybe I can ask the paper to
remove it from their website?
Oh, Jesus Christ. It's
It's out there now.
Maddie, please. I'm sorry.
I need some space.
SHE SIGHS
I need some time to be by myself
and to just get my head straight.
How much time?
I don't know. Like,
a few days, maybe.
What? And And Theo?
This is as much for
him as it is for me.
He's having so many nightmares.
Mads, please don't do this.
Please, don't push me
away. I'm on your side, OK?
Please, this is exactly
what Miles wants.
Don't Don't just
buy into his bullshit.
This is not his bullshit.
It's the words that YOU wrote!
Maddie, please.
SHE SIGHS DEEPLY
We're seeing David on Thursday.
I'll meet you there.
OK.
OK.
DOOR OPENS AND CLOSES
BIRDSONG
HE SIGHS
WATER RUNS
Miles! You're going
to get me! Whoa!
He's got me! He's got me!
THEO GIGGLES Right,
good. Punch my hands!
Punch, punch! What do
real boys do? Punch!
Pow! Oh! Oh-ho-ho!
Oh, I'm going to get you!
I'm going to get you!
I'm going to get you! Um, so,
Pete is going to be
flat out with work.
I'll be doing pick-ups and
drop-offs for the foreseeable.
OK. OK. Well, I mean, if it's
ever a struggle to get here,
we're more than happy
to have Theo longer.
Aren't we? It's always such a
pleasure having you. Yes, it is!
It is. And I know he doesn't
sleep very well at yours. Do you?
No, I know. Plus, it's, you know,
it's good practice, isn't it,
for when you move in here
permanently to the big house!
THEO GIGGLES To the big house!
Theo? Darling, come here. Oh!
Come and give Mummy
a kiss goodbye.
CHUCKLES I fighted Moles!
Remember, what did we learn?
I don't remember anything.
Kind hands. Yeah?
All right, Theo, why don't you go
and find David in the playroom?
Give us five.
IMITATES EXPLOSION
Hello! Do you want to play?
I was hoping that Pete and I
could take David to
the beach on Thursday,
with Jill, obviously.
I think we should stick to
supervised visits in the house.
SHE SIGHS
Why?
Given everything that's going
on with Pete in the press,
we don't feel comfortable with
you taking him out in public.
I am sorry, Maddie.
I know it must have
been so tough on you,
especially after he hurt
you so much with the book.
You know, you don't need
to worry about me, Miles.
I know, but I do, given all
your past struggles and
I'll be seeing you, Maddie.
You know, you might rule
your house with fear,
but it's not going
to work with me.
HE CHUCKLES SOFTLY
Tell me you didn't bring me here
to show off your front crawl.
It was here or my
dad's. Need I say more?
You and Maddie will work it out.
Will we? Course.
You've been an idiot before
and you'll be an idiot again,
but she always
seems to love you.
I don't suppose I could crash
at yours for a few days,
just while we figure this
out? I don't know, mate.
It's It's bad timing.
Alexa's got a mate over
and it's, you know
Maybe tomorrow?
Well, if it was just up to me,
then of course, but it's tricky.
Wait, what?
Jen, you've known me
since we were six!
I don't think you
did it. I'm just
Of course I didn't! What, then?
SIGHS Maya doesn't
want you to stay.
She doesn't understand
what you're doing,
why you're suing St Alexander's.
I tried to protect a nurse
who doesn't deserve to
be nailed to a cross,
and now I'm trying to pay for
a lawsuit to win back my son!
What doesn't she understand?!
Do you know what?
Actually, fuck this!
There is a man who is literally
tearing my life apart -
my home, my relationship, my
job! So, why are you letting him?
You're going to have to
think outside the box.
He must have secrets.
Find the dirt, dig
it up, and use it.
Otherwise, you're going
to lose both boys.
Come on, Pete.
And is there anyone
in the office
who worked with Miles
on that project?
Right. OK.
No, that's fine.
Thank you. Bye. Bye.
LINE RINGING
WOMAN OVER PHONE: 'Hello.
Moor End Tea Room.'
Hi. Um, I-I might have
got the wrong number here.
Um, is there an
Edith Lambert there?
'Yes, this is Edith
Lambert speaking.'
OK. Um Uh, well,
my name's Pete Riley.
Are Are you related
to Miles Lambert?
LINE GOES DEAD
LINE RINGING
'Don't call here again,
please.' LINE GOES DEAD
All right, mate? Hello, mate.
Where you going?
Newquay Airport, please.
INDISTINCT CHATTER ON TV
INAUDIBLE SPEECH
There's two! What do you see?
There's one
Look, there's one there!
That one down there.
There's some down there.
There's no sharks in there.
I can't see There's
no sharks in there.
And And there was
sharks in the aquarium,
on the beach, in the
sea SHE EXHALES
That is a big wave, isn't it?
Finished? I have.
Thank you for the
recommendation.
That was the best Dundee
cake I've ever had.
Oh, glad you liked it.
Are you visiting? Yeah.
Yeah, I just came up
from Cornwall last night.
Oh, that's a journey.
I'm actually the person
you spoke to on the phone
yesterday about Miles.
I thought I made it clear
I didn't want to talk.
I know. Look, I just
I just need to know
the truth about him.
Why? What's he done?
He's trying to take
my son away from me.
Your son?
Yeah.
He's He's called Theo.
DOOR OPENS
Give me a minute.
No Pete today?
He's working.
That's funny.
I heard he'd got fired.
So, where is he?
You don't know
where is he, do you?
I met Miles because our
sons were swapped at birth.
No-one knows how it happened.
When we found out,
which was recently,
we agreed that we
would keep the child
that we had loved and raised,
but now Miles wants
custody of both of them.
Oh, God.
He's already laid claim to Theo.
It's clear that he'll do
anything to make that permanent -
destroy my life,
destroy my partner's
To be honest, I'm
I'm really scared.
I'm sorry.
You know, he said
that you were dead.
I'm not sure I can help
you with any of this.
Edith, please, wait.
This is Theo.
He looks just like him!
Who, Miles? No, no, no. No.
David.
Wait.
Your son who died in the
fire, he was called David?
SHE BREATHES SHAKILY
I should have protected him.
Please. Please, you have
to tell me what happened.
If you think Miles did
something back then, please,
you've got to tell me.
I-It could be
useful. "Useful"?!
Yes, useful. We're about
to start our custody case.
Miles will lie and cheat his way
through it unless someone stops him.
I can't help you! Please!
This is the child
that Miles raised.
He named him David.
There are two little boys
in the middle of all this,
two children who will end up
with Miles as their father.
I think you know
what that means.
Please, please help us stop him.
You need to leave.
OK. Well, then
..in case you change your mind.
Thank you, Edith.
DOOR OPENS AND CLOSES
God. How many teddy
bears is there?
KNOCKING AT DOOR
It's late, Pete. OK?
Theo is sleeping.
I know, but we've got to talk.
Please, Mads. Just
Just five minutes.
I need to tell you about
today. It's important.
Where were you? You missed
the session with David.
I know.
I know, but, look,
Mads, I, uh
So, I went to Scotland.
What the fuck? You
went to Scotland? Why?
Because Miles lied.
His mother's still alive.
There was no idyllic upbringing.
His family house burnt down and
his brother died in that fire.
His brother was
called David, Maddie.
OK, so, what, we're
we're supposed to feel sorry
for him because he named his son
after his dead brother?
No. I think Miles had something
to do with his brother's death.
Otherwise, why is he lying?
He always fucking lies.
It doesn't mean anything.
Pete, we're fighting
a custody case,
and you take off on some
sort of wild goose chase.
If we're going to have any
chance in winning this,
we need to do
everything by the book,
and that means not
missing scheduled meetings
to see David, our son.
Yeah, I'm sorry. I
I should have been there.
Do you have any idea
just how humiliating it is to
make an excuse for you to Miles?
Why couldn't you just tell
me where you were going?
When I said I needed
space to breathe,
I didn't expect you to
fly 500 fucking miles away
and come back with nothing
but some crazy hunch!
SHE SIGHS
Fascinating. He didn't
tell me that before.
Yeah, well, he wouldn't.
What's going on? Look,
I just came round
to see if we can sort this
custody stuff out man to man.
John has been
keeping me company.
Oh, has he?
Get out of my house.
Well, it's my house.
But clearly, you two have
some differences to settle,
so, uh, I'll leave you to it.
Thanks, John.
He's a good man.
How are you coping, matey?
I hear you've been ringing my
old colleagues and clients.
I wouldn't do that
if I were you.
I know what you're doing, Miles.
Oh, aye? CHUCKLES
What's that?
Telling us to sue the hospital,
then getting me hauled into
the police for questioning,
leaking it to the press,
along with my writing that
I gave you in confidence.
Ah, OK. CLEARS THROA
Well, I had nothing to do with
the police questioning you,
and you made the decision
to sue the hospital.
I don't remember telling
you to do anything.
Course you're lying about
that. You lie about everything.
Well, here's something
you can trust.
I had a very fruitful
visit here this evening.
I just got back from Braemyre.
Don't try and be the alpha
here, Pete. It's embarrassing.
DOOR OPENS AND CLOSES
What did you tell him? I
didn't tell him anything.
PETE SIGHS
Oh, God. EXHALES
Had a farm ♪
Can we put your socks on,
sweetheart? Come here.
I know I was meant to be
there. I'm aware of that.
Old MacDonald ♪
I know you need a
signature, I get that,
but just please don't drive off.
I'm going to be at the
restaurant in 30 minutes.
OK. I'll see you there.
Ah!
That is not OK. OK?
Oh, sweetie.
Do you miss Daddy?
Yes.
PHONE RINGS
Lucy, hi.
What's wrong?
Do you know what room he's in?
I don't know. I don't know.
Maddie!
It's OK, sweetheart.
Oh, God. What's going on?
Theo? You stay the
hell away from my son.
What's going on? What happened?
Sorry. Sorry. He's, uh,
eaten some cannabis gummies.
Yeah, gummies that he
found in your house
and put in his bag! What?
I-Is he going to be all right?
I don't know. It's too
soon to tell, Pete.
And what about David? Is he OK?
Yeah. He's fine.
Theo, can you hear me?
NURSE: Sorry, can we just
take a step back, please?
Let's just take
this outside, OK?
Thank you. Oh, my God.
Excuse me. Miles,
it's all right.
Theo?
Can we just give him some
space so we can do our jobs?
Theo, baby, OK, we're
just going to be out
I'll keep you updated.
Pete, what the fuck?!
I-I-I removed all the
gummies from the house!
Then how has this
happened? I don't
I don't know.
I don't know!
Theo's doing really well.
Uh, we're ready to take
him up to the ward now.
It's just for observations,
and he should be ready to go
home first thing in the morning.
One parent can stay
with Theo overnight.
I'll stay. No. I will.
Who has parental
responsibility? We do.
OK. Come with me.
See you in court tomorrow.
When you dropped him
off at the Lamberts'
..was Miles there?
Yeah. He's always there.
You packed Theo's bag.
We don't have any
gummies in the house.
I gave the last
of them to my dad.
Miles was at my
dad's last night.
Miles wouldn't do
that, would he?
Jesus Christ!
It's still all my fault,
though, for trusting him.
No, Pete, it isn't.
It's not.
He looked so helpless
..lying there with all
those those wires.
Do you think he
knew we were there?
My clients have explored
every avenue for compromise,
Your Honour.
They have loved and raised
David in their home since birth.
They consider him their son,
and having him removed
from their care
would be a devastating loss.
Theo is their biological child,
and they believe
they can offer better
and more consistent care
than Mr Riley and Ms Wilson.
It is in Theo's best interests
that he live with them.
As I'm sure you are aware,
Theo was recently subject to
a child protection referral,
having overdosed on cannabis
while under the care
of his foster parents.
Yesterday, it happened
again, and my
If I may, Your Honour,
that's simply not true.
The first overdose was
confirmed as an accident.
The child protection
referral was quickly closed
after the initial assessment,
and this recent incident is
still under investigation.
My clients maintain they
had nothing to do with it.
JUDGE: This is clearly an
unusual and difficult case,
and for that reason alone, a
fuller hearing is necessary.
In preparation, I'm going to request
an additional safeguarding report
from Lyn Edwards of Cafcass,
and think it would be helpful
if Theo and David are
assessed by a psychologist
to see what impact changing
families might have.
I note that Theo Lambert
is due to be discharged
from St Alexander's
Hospital today.
Miss Edwards recommends
that on discharge,
Theo should reside with the
Lamberts until the next hearing.
I agree.
Mr Riley and Miss
Wilson will be allowed
supervised access
only to Theo and David
in our child contact centre.
I can see that Miss Edwards
has also recommended that
Mr Riley and Miss Wilson
must undergo drug testing
prior to the next hearing.
Can both of you confirm
that you consent to that?
We will have a final
hearing for Theo and David
during which I
will hear evidence
on where each child
should permanently reside.
But, for now, Theo is to
move into the Lambert's care
with immediate effect.
You're a sick fuck,
poisoning a child just
to get your own way.
Prove it.
SHE GASPS
Now, it's a shame
about the drugs test,
cos if you've
bleached your hair,
they have to take a
sample from down there.
SHE GASPS
Do you wax, Madelyn?
Be a pity if you do,
cos I've always
pictured you with curls.
SHE BREATHES SHAKILY
Shh!
SHE EXHALES SHARPLY
Can we go home?
Yeah.
INAUDIBLE SPEECH
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