Reunion (2025) s01e03 Episode Script
Episode 3
1
- You're ex-police, aren't you?
- Who'd you say you were?
You need to get Daniel
Brennan back in prison.
Brennan's missing.
I will start the
recall paperwork today.
GLASS SMASHES
Tried to get rid of me.
Leaving me on my own.
Again!
SHE SCREAMS, TYRES SQUEAL
Hello? I'm calling about a taxi.
Hawthorne Park.
Hey, do you need
a lift anywhere?
I ain't got any idea where
he's gone. My phone's flat!
SIZZLING
INDISTINCT CHATTER
RUMBLING
FLAMES WHOOSH
Ten years in here
No-one near
No-one to sign my name
No-one to sign my name
Nowhere to hide my shame. ♪
Right, that's you done.
Same time next week.
Got my number, if
there's any issues, yeah?
Yeah. What happened
to Anna? I liked her.
Yeah?
Yeah, she were fit.
You've got me now.
So, what I was meaning to ask you,
though, do you know Daniel Brennan?
Came out t'same time as you.
Yeah, what about him?
What can you tell me about
him? What was he like?
Can't have been easy for him, being
in prison, being deaf and all.
I mean, he didn't exactly talk.
So, we'd write
notes to each other,
mostly so he could practise.
Practise what?
Well, he could barely read and
write. Wanted to put that right.
So, what kind of things
did you write about?
Just the usual shit.
"What team do you support?
"What you in for?"
That sort of thing.
He were angry sometimes,
it got him in trouble.
I've got a scar to show for it.
But I liked him, you know.
Can't say that about many
people I were in with.
Told me it didn't matter what
he did, he HAD to go to prison.
Usually have to go to prison
for murder, though, yeah?
Can I go now?
Yeah, fine. Cheers.
LEAVES RUSTLE IN THE WIND
DOOR CLOSES
THUD, CHAIR CLATTERS
Mum, what's wrong with him?
BOTTLE SMASHES
What's he talking about?
LOCK CLICKS
SHE SHOUTS:
Stop!
SHE SCREAMS
Anything back from your dad yet?
No.
What about your mum?
Would she know where
your dad might be?
She's not around any more.
Look, you've got to
help me out here.
I already told you I wasn't
going to be able to help you.
CENTRAL LOCKING CLICKS
Fucking let me go, now!
The sooner we track him down,
the sooner I'll let you go.
OK?
How come you haven't
called the police?
You told Miri you were
going to call the police.
You don't really want to get
the police involved, do you?
The Brennan recall paperwork's
gone through now, yeah?
Yep.
I put him down as high-risk.
Not sure he is, but
No, he is. Done your job.
One thing I noticed, though
..Daniel Brennan signed his
own interview statement.
See? Right here.
"This statement is true, to the
best of my knowledge and belief."
- Right?
- Right.
These are his basic English
learning certificates -
from prison.
Why would someone sign
their own confession
if they couldn't
properly read it?
Oh, um, maybe someone
signed it to him?
No legal counsel present either.
CAR APPROACHES
Is this where you're setting
the world to rights now?
Now?! Been a few years.
How's that going for you?
Same shit, different job title.
Oh, mate! Owe you one.
So, who is this
guy to you, anyway?
You've never asked for a
favour like this before.
No. It's complicated.
Try me.
Someone's a bit too keen
to see him back in prison.
You know, leaving messages,
coming by the office.
Right.
I don't know.
Just want to set
my mind at rest.
Still a detective,
through and through, eh?
Look, some time's passed
now, you know, I could
I could speak to some people, if
you want to come back to the police.
I'm sure they'd welcome you.
Right, I'll see myself out.
Nice one.
- ON VIDEO: - Right
..let's get this done, shall we?
Good to go?
Look, my dad, it's got
nothing to do with me.
Please, just let me out.
- I can't do that.
- Why not?!
Is there anywhere else where
your dad might have gone?
Like where?
Like a safehouse?
A meeting place?
A safehouse? What, you think he's
some sort of mobster or something?
Well, he's a murderer,
I know that much.
My dad's not like that. He
wouldn't hurt Christine.
- You don't know that!
- Well, I don't know YOU!
I only met you half-an-hour ago,
and now you've locked me in your
car, and you're threatening me.
Fucking let me out, now!
There you go.
- What?
- You're free to go.
BIRDS CAW
CAR DOOR CLOSES
Let's just take a breath.
OK?
I'm not looking for your dad.
I just want to find Christine,
and she's where your dad is.
You take me to
where Christine is,
and then we can part ways,
and that's the end of it.
You promise?
I have no interest in your dad.
OK?
Well, that makes
two of us, then.
That's where he is.
WATER DRIPS
MATCH STRIKES
FLAMES WHOOSH
Hey. Hey.
Stop!
SEAN CRIES
SEAN CRIES
FRONT DOOR CLOSES
ON VIDEO: You had
..a hunting knife.
Were you planning
to kill someone?
If you plan to kill someone
..that is premeditated.
You murdered him.
So, you accept full
responsibility for his death?
- INTERPRETER: -
It's all my fault.
You do that one more time
I'm sorry, it's
Your job is to interpret what is
said between me and the suspect,
nothing more.
Have you got that?
What are they signing
to each other?
You're asking me?
- I don't know.
- Know anyone who does?
HAND BANGS TABLE ON VIDEO
- You do that one more time
- I'm sorry
RAY CHUCKLES
BLADE RASPS, PATRONS GASP
KEYS BEEP, RINGING TONE
PHONE SMASHES
- Thanks for coming by on such short notice.
- No worries.
- Where do you want me?
- There you go.
So the first bit we're interested
in is here, right at the start.
What is it? What are they
saying to each other?
Um, would you mind
playing it again?
- I might need a couple of goes to get it all.
- OK.
- DANNI INTERPRETS: - Are you
sure you don't want a lawyer?
I just want to get
this over with.
So he refuses legal counsel?
Yeah, looks like it.
- DANNI INTERPRETS: - Do you
understand what you're confessing to?
He's dead because
of me - that's it.
But you didn't mean
to kill him, right?
So he DIDN'T know what
he was confessing to?
They sent Brennan down
for premeditated murder.
That's coercion.
You really don't want anything
to do with your dad, then?
No.
Why's that?
Ah, it's all the secrets.
He won't tell me anything.
Wants to shield me
from everything.
I don't even know
who he is any more.
How do you mean?
I still remember what it's
like to have a dad, just about.
Someone who looked out for me,
who walked me to school,
made me feel safe,
taught me how to fix cars.
When he first came out of
prison, I thought, "Maybe
"Maybe I'll get my dad back.
"Maybe he's still
a good person."
Even after everything
that happened.
But now, he's just
some angry deaf man,
going round,
getting into fights.
Have you told him that?
What difference would it make?
Maybe he's trying to change
his ways? I don't know.
No, it's too late for us now.
He doesn't care about me.
Not really.
- You do that one more time
- I'm sorry, it's
Your job is to interpret what is
said between me and the suspect,
nothing more.
Have you got that?
He said, it's about school.
Something happened to him.
Now, you listen to me. I'm not
interested in his life story.
He's murdered someone, and
he's going to sign this,
whether you like it or not.
- Understood?
- Yes, sir.
Just like we talked about.
You sign this, and
that's the end of it
..and we don't have to
bring in your family
..and interview them. We don't
have to ask your friends about you.
You sign here
..and it's all over.
It'll all be over.
They'll go easy on
you in court, too.
That's them, isn't it?
Yeah.
Right, tell Christine I'm here.
What? No, tell her yourself.
I've told ya, I'm
done with all of this.
Look, it's like I said, I've
no interest in going anywhere
near your dad. I don't want to get
involved, I don't want to interfere.
I just want to make
sure she's safe, OK?
- Please?
- Right, fine.
Hey!
Your boyfriend's here.
He wants to make sure
you're all right.
Carly?
Look at you.
Hey, love.
I was in a lot of pain, but
I'm sorry, I should have been
there for you and your mum.
I'm sorry.
Um
..when you see Miri, just tell her
I didn't mean what I said, yeah?
Bye, love.
HE SIGHS
SHE EXHALES DEEPLY
He didn't hurt you?
No.
Did he tell you?
What did he say?
Did you get the answers
that you wanted?
It's complicated.
I just need to sort it
all through in my head.
Oh, I've been so worried about you.
I've been driving around all day.
- Calling and texting.
- I'm sorry, love.
Well, thank God you're safe.
Oh, God. Miri! She
must be worried sick.
No, she's at home. I'll
take you there now.
Be good to track Brennan
down, talk to him.
You've changed your
tune. What's going on?
I joined the police because
I wanted to help people.
Do good, change stuff for
the better - the usual.
Then I ended up working
with people like him.
Got sick of people
being pushed coerced.
Deciding who we like
for this and that,
and they're just making the
pieces fit, another case closed.
And any time I tried
to do something,
or say something about it,
there's another secret
black mark against me.
In the end, it all got too much.
Do you think Daniel
Brennan's innocent, then?
I don't think anyone's going
to care about any of that.
He's done his time in prison.
Maybe more than he should have.
I'm sorry.
Cos you were right.
He deserves a chance.
I'm going to keep
trying his phone.
DOOR OPENS
Mum!
DOOR CLOSES
Thank you.
Christine?
Yeah?
I know you've both had
a long day, but, um
What is it, love?
I'm just I'm just
glad you're both safe.
I'll let myself out.
So much for second chances, eh?
I almost believed you.
Well, what the fuck
is this, then?! Eh?!
Do you have any idea, ANY IDEA,
how much I wanted to believe you?
To believe that you and me,
we could start over together?
You were always planning
on going back to
prison, weren't you?
Leaving me on my own? More
lies, more broken promises!
Same old fucking shit!
I hate you.
I fucking hate you!
GUNSHO
Ten years in here
And no-one near
No-one to sign my name
No-one to sign my name
Nowhere to hide my shame
One day soon I'll be forgiven
Even though I don't
know what I've done
Some say there's
no use in trying
To be free under the sun. ♪
- Reunion.
- Reunion.
- Reunion.
- Reunion.
Action.
It just felt
profoundly worthwhile.
It's an ingenious
and unique story.
- INTERPRETER: - Reunion is the
story of a man called Daniel Brennan.
He's just out of prison,
after ten years inside for
committing a terrible crime.
He's lost his family,
he's lost his friends,
he's lost the deaf community.
- INTERPRETER: - When he gets out,
he finds that he's still isolated,
and he's on a journey to try
and reunite various people,
and solve the problems
from his past.
My character, Brennan, is on a
wildly different journey than
that portrayed of
normal deaf lives.
He is reunited
with his daughter,
who I'm playing,
and tries to reform the bond
that was kind of damaged
and lost between them both
when he went to prison.
And it's kind of the reunion
of father and daughter,
as well as the wider
story of the reunion.
What attracted me to
it is the deaf writer.
When I read it, there were so
many moments in it that were
so particularly deaf culture,
that only deaf people get.
So it got me so excited to
see those moments in it,
and I just felt like I
have to be in this project.
- INTERPRETER: - My dad always
believed that every deaf child
had a right to an education.
It had this amazing,
unique perspective
of how it feels
to be a deaf man in prison,
a deaf man sort of re-entering
the world after ten years.
So, on the one hand,
it was like universal.
There were a lot of
universal themes.
But then on the other hand, it was
really specific to deaf culture
and the deaf community.
What I love about
the story is that
everything goes wrong
for all the characters
because people are
not communicating,
and it's about failure
to communicate.
So, I found that fascinating.
And to put in the context
of a deaf character,
who can't hear and
can't communicate,
was a really ingenious way
of exploring that theme.
- INTERPRETER: -
I'm from Sheffield.
So, what I wanted to write is a bit
of a love letter to my hometown.
I want to show those
amazing locations,
those amazing places that I
remember from my childhood.
So, when Warp Films first joined
the production, I was so happy,
because Warp is based
here in Sheffield.
So, it was kind of a
dream collaboration
to be working with them.
I love Sheffield as a town.
There's an incredible
generosity of spirit here.
We've used a lot of deaf people who
live and work here in Sheffield,
as part of Reunion, and that
was really important for me.
From the start, I wrote
Reunion as a bilingual script,
which meant I used
italics and bold
to show the different range
of communication they use
in the script. I had to
think about that carefully.
How am I?
I just paid off the mortgage
and bought a new car.
I'm in line for a
promotion, actually.
Why are you still wearing that?
I love that Reunion's an inclusive
production, and I think it's
one of the things that's most
important to me, personally.
I feel like not only are we
telling a story, you know,
with a deaf protagonist
and deaf cast members,
but we've also managed
to get, you know,
some amazing deaf
crew members as well,
a lot of whom have been, like,
invaluable to us making this.
And it's really lovely
to see the connection
between the hearing
crew and the deaf crew,
and to see those
relationships being formed,
but also us all pushing together
towards the sort of common goal
of making the show.
We have a Deaf Access Team, who
are kind of central to everything,
just making sure that we have all
the interpreters we need every day.
We also have a whisper track, which
is having one of the interpreters
just reading out everything
that gets signed on set, so
that everything hopefully works
as a sort of fully
bilingual set.
We took a lot of advice over
through the whole production period,
because there are a lot of things
to take into consideration.
We consulted with TripleC, who very
early on set up a deaf round table
which was a meeting with
deaf creatives as well,
just to talk about good
and bad experiences
they've had on set previously.
- MARK HERBERT: - It's amazing to see.
I remember that pre-shoot that we did,
just seeing it work.
Luke, the director, is now
pretty much fluent in BSL.
And Lara is just incredible.
They're just having
conversations outside,
so it's just really great to
see that the team's embraced it.
INTERPRETER: There are two actors
I'm really proud of - Lara Peake
and Anne-Marie Duff.
Both had to learn sign
language for this series,
and they've learnt
in a matter of weeks.
I think enough time has passed,
that your dad would
want me to move on.
To try.
I've really loved it. And it's very
interesting, translating and saying,
"OK, if I were to act
this vocally in this way,
"how would I physicalise that, then,
in scenes where I don't vocalise?"
And so it was exactly the same.
I'd be just as awkward physically
as I would with my voice,
you know, and things like that.
So it's been rather
beautiful, actually.
I was an absolute beginner
when it came to signing.
In a way, sometimes that can
be the best place to start,
because you don't bring anything
with you. You're just wide open
and ready to learn, and I've had
the most incredible teacher, Duffy.
Duffy, he's like a complete
legend teacher that has taught me
pretty much every day, I
think, for about three weeks.
And as time's gone on, we've kind
of been out in social settings.
And then I think, when you can
apply what you've learnt in a more
formal setting to
then going to the pub,
there's all different
signs for different accents
and different regions.
And you pick up so
much more as well,
outside of the formal
learning environment.
We've had a really good
giggle along the way.
And even just having a
cup of tea with everybody,
I'm having to sign all the time.
So it's immersion, you know?
It's like visiting
this beautiful country,
where I've had to learn
the language, and
Yeah, I've loved it.
It's been brilliant.
For the chemistry audition with
Matty, I was asked to learn
the scene in BSL.
And I got sent a
video of the sign,
and then I had to I
kind of, at that stage,
just had to copy
it and memorise it,
and then put the emotion
and the acting on top of it
after I'd kind of
cemented the movement.
But then actually learning BSL for
the show, I've not been copying.
I've been properly learning
the meaning of the words.
I've always been quite
fascinated by it as a language,
and, like, the visuals
and everything,
but I didn't know any of it.
So it's just been really amazing
to learn it and soak it all up.
I just find the whole process
amazing, and I feel really grateful.
Tried to get rid of me!
The environment on set around
signing is so alive, you know,
because it's not just
the actors who are deaf.
There's also crew members.
Everyone's having to
communicate with each other,
and it's been a really
good example of how we can
and how easy it is,
actually, if we try.
The deaf culture and the deaf
community is quite underserved,
you know, on TV. I think
there's still a long way to go,
in terms of real inclusivity
and giving deaf cast and crew
members, like, real opportunities,
but I'm really happy and glad that
we were able to do that on this.
It feels really
important to this show.
INTERPRETER: It's
a unique story.
It's completely different
from other deaf films.
It showcases pure BSL.
It's different from hearing
actors. We are much more visual
storytellers. This
is not about sound,
it's not about relying on sound.
It's about using your eyes
and seeing what is
going on in the story.
And I love the fact that this
felt - not only was it a really
important story about the deaf
community in a perspective
I'd never read before,
but it was really
entertaining and thrilling.
The story is an absolute
roller-coaster, and I think that
coupled with the perspective,
that's the sweet spot for us.
- You're ex-police, aren't you?
- Who'd you say you were?
You need to get Daniel
Brennan back in prison.
Brennan's missing.
I will start the
recall paperwork today.
GLASS SMASHES
Tried to get rid of me.
Leaving me on my own.
Again!
SHE SCREAMS, TYRES SQUEAL
Hello? I'm calling about a taxi.
Hawthorne Park.
Hey, do you need
a lift anywhere?
I ain't got any idea where
he's gone. My phone's flat!
SIZZLING
INDISTINCT CHATTER
RUMBLING
FLAMES WHOOSH
Ten years in here
No-one near
No-one to sign my name
No-one to sign my name
Nowhere to hide my shame. ♪
Right, that's you done.
Same time next week.
Got my number, if
there's any issues, yeah?
Yeah. What happened
to Anna? I liked her.
Yeah?
Yeah, she were fit.
You've got me now.
So, what I was meaning to ask you,
though, do you know Daniel Brennan?
Came out t'same time as you.
Yeah, what about him?
What can you tell me about
him? What was he like?
Can't have been easy for him, being
in prison, being deaf and all.
I mean, he didn't exactly talk.
So, we'd write
notes to each other,
mostly so he could practise.
Practise what?
Well, he could barely read and
write. Wanted to put that right.
So, what kind of things
did you write about?
Just the usual shit.
"What team do you support?
"What you in for?"
That sort of thing.
He were angry sometimes,
it got him in trouble.
I've got a scar to show for it.
But I liked him, you know.
Can't say that about many
people I were in with.
Told me it didn't matter what
he did, he HAD to go to prison.
Usually have to go to prison
for murder, though, yeah?
Can I go now?
Yeah, fine. Cheers.
LEAVES RUSTLE IN THE WIND
DOOR CLOSES
THUD, CHAIR CLATTERS
Mum, what's wrong with him?
BOTTLE SMASHES
What's he talking about?
LOCK CLICKS
SHE SHOUTS:
Stop!
SHE SCREAMS
Anything back from your dad yet?
No.
What about your mum?
Would she know where
your dad might be?
She's not around any more.
Look, you've got to
help me out here.
I already told you I wasn't
going to be able to help you.
CENTRAL LOCKING CLICKS
Fucking let me go, now!
The sooner we track him down,
the sooner I'll let you go.
OK?
How come you haven't
called the police?
You told Miri you were
going to call the police.
You don't really want to get
the police involved, do you?
The Brennan recall paperwork's
gone through now, yeah?
Yep.
I put him down as high-risk.
Not sure he is, but
No, he is. Done your job.
One thing I noticed, though
..Daniel Brennan signed his
own interview statement.
See? Right here.
"This statement is true, to the
best of my knowledge and belief."
- Right?
- Right.
These are his basic English
learning certificates -
from prison.
Why would someone sign
their own confession
if they couldn't
properly read it?
Oh, um, maybe someone
signed it to him?
No legal counsel present either.
CAR APPROACHES
Is this where you're setting
the world to rights now?
Now?! Been a few years.
How's that going for you?
Same shit, different job title.
Oh, mate! Owe you one.
So, who is this
guy to you, anyway?
You've never asked for a
favour like this before.
No. It's complicated.
Try me.
Someone's a bit too keen
to see him back in prison.
You know, leaving messages,
coming by the office.
Right.
I don't know.
Just want to set
my mind at rest.
Still a detective,
through and through, eh?
Look, some time's passed
now, you know, I could
I could speak to some people, if
you want to come back to the police.
I'm sure they'd welcome you.
Right, I'll see myself out.
Nice one.
- ON VIDEO: - Right
..let's get this done, shall we?
Good to go?
Look, my dad, it's got
nothing to do with me.
Please, just let me out.
- I can't do that.
- Why not?!
Is there anywhere else where
your dad might have gone?
Like where?
Like a safehouse?
A meeting place?
A safehouse? What, you think he's
some sort of mobster or something?
Well, he's a murderer,
I know that much.
My dad's not like that. He
wouldn't hurt Christine.
- You don't know that!
- Well, I don't know YOU!
I only met you half-an-hour ago,
and now you've locked me in your
car, and you're threatening me.
Fucking let me out, now!
There you go.
- What?
- You're free to go.
BIRDS CAW
CAR DOOR CLOSES
Let's just take a breath.
OK?
I'm not looking for your dad.
I just want to find Christine,
and she's where your dad is.
You take me to
where Christine is,
and then we can part ways,
and that's the end of it.
You promise?
I have no interest in your dad.
OK?
Well, that makes
two of us, then.
That's where he is.
WATER DRIPS
MATCH STRIKES
FLAMES WHOOSH
Hey. Hey.
Stop!
SEAN CRIES
SEAN CRIES
FRONT DOOR CLOSES
ON VIDEO: You had
..a hunting knife.
Were you planning
to kill someone?
If you plan to kill someone
..that is premeditated.
You murdered him.
So, you accept full
responsibility for his death?
- INTERPRETER: -
It's all my fault.
You do that one more time
I'm sorry, it's
Your job is to interpret what is
said between me and the suspect,
nothing more.
Have you got that?
What are they signing
to each other?
You're asking me?
- I don't know.
- Know anyone who does?
HAND BANGS TABLE ON VIDEO
- You do that one more time
- I'm sorry
RAY CHUCKLES
BLADE RASPS, PATRONS GASP
KEYS BEEP, RINGING TONE
PHONE SMASHES
- Thanks for coming by on such short notice.
- No worries.
- Where do you want me?
- There you go.
So the first bit we're interested
in is here, right at the start.
What is it? What are they
saying to each other?
Um, would you mind
playing it again?
- I might need a couple of goes to get it all.
- OK.
- DANNI INTERPRETS: - Are you
sure you don't want a lawyer?
I just want to get
this over with.
So he refuses legal counsel?
Yeah, looks like it.
- DANNI INTERPRETS: - Do you
understand what you're confessing to?
He's dead because
of me - that's it.
But you didn't mean
to kill him, right?
So he DIDN'T know what
he was confessing to?
They sent Brennan down
for premeditated murder.
That's coercion.
You really don't want anything
to do with your dad, then?
No.
Why's that?
Ah, it's all the secrets.
He won't tell me anything.
Wants to shield me
from everything.
I don't even know
who he is any more.
How do you mean?
I still remember what it's
like to have a dad, just about.
Someone who looked out for me,
who walked me to school,
made me feel safe,
taught me how to fix cars.
When he first came out of
prison, I thought, "Maybe
"Maybe I'll get my dad back.
"Maybe he's still
a good person."
Even after everything
that happened.
But now, he's just
some angry deaf man,
going round,
getting into fights.
Have you told him that?
What difference would it make?
Maybe he's trying to change
his ways? I don't know.
No, it's too late for us now.
He doesn't care about me.
Not really.
- You do that one more time
- I'm sorry, it's
Your job is to interpret what is
said between me and the suspect,
nothing more.
Have you got that?
He said, it's about school.
Something happened to him.
Now, you listen to me. I'm not
interested in his life story.
He's murdered someone, and
he's going to sign this,
whether you like it or not.
- Understood?
- Yes, sir.
Just like we talked about.
You sign this, and
that's the end of it
..and we don't have to
bring in your family
..and interview them. We don't
have to ask your friends about you.
You sign here
..and it's all over.
It'll all be over.
They'll go easy on
you in court, too.
That's them, isn't it?
Yeah.
Right, tell Christine I'm here.
What? No, tell her yourself.
I've told ya, I'm
done with all of this.
Look, it's like I said, I've
no interest in going anywhere
near your dad. I don't want to get
involved, I don't want to interfere.
I just want to make
sure she's safe, OK?
- Please?
- Right, fine.
Hey!
Your boyfriend's here.
He wants to make sure
you're all right.
Carly?
Look at you.
Hey, love.
I was in a lot of pain, but
I'm sorry, I should have been
there for you and your mum.
I'm sorry.
Um
..when you see Miri, just tell her
I didn't mean what I said, yeah?
Bye, love.
HE SIGHS
SHE EXHALES DEEPLY
He didn't hurt you?
No.
Did he tell you?
What did he say?
Did you get the answers
that you wanted?
It's complicated.
I just need to sort it
all through in my head.
Oh, I've been so worried about you.
I've been driving around all day.
- Calling and texting.
- I'm sorry, love.
Well, thank God you're safe.
Oh, God. Miri! She
must be worried sick.
No, she's at home. I'll
take you there now.
Be good to track Brennan
down, talk to him.
You've changed your
tune. What's going on?
I joined the police because
I wanted to help people.
Do good, change stuff for
the better - the usual.
Then I ended up working
with people like him.
Got sick of people
being pushed coerced.
Deciding who we like
for this and that,
and they're just making the
pieces fit, another case closed.
And any time I tried
to do something,
or say something about it,
there's another secret
black mark against me.
In the end, it all got too much.
Do you think Daniel
Brennan's innocent, then?
I don't think anyone's going
to care about any of that.
He's done his time in prison.
Maybe more than he should have.
I'm sorry.
Cos you were right.
He deserves a chance.
I'm going to keep
trying his phone.
DOOR OPENS
Mum!
DOOR CLOSES
Thank you.
Christine?
Yeah?
I know you've both had
a long day, but, um
What is it, love?
I'm just I'm just
glad you're both safe.
I'll let myself out.
So much for second chances, eh?
I almost believed you.
Well, what the fuck
is this, then?! Eh?!
Do you have any idea, ANY IDEA,
how much I wanted to believe you?
To believe that you and me,
we could start over together?
You were always planning
on going back to
prison, weren't you?
Leaving me on my own? More
lies, more broken promises!
Same old fucking shit!
I hate you.
I fucking hate you!
GUNSHO
Ten years in here
And no-one near
No-one to sign my name
No-one to sign my name
Nowhere to hide my shame
One day soon I'll be forgiven
Even though I don't
know what I've done
Some say there's
no use in trying
To be free under the sun. ♪
- Reunion.
- Reunion.
- Reunion.
- Reunion.
Action.
It just felt
profoundly worthwhile.
It's an ingenious
and unique story.
- INTERPRETER: - Reunion is the
story of a man called Daniel Brennan.
He's just out of prison,
after ten years inside for
committing a terrible crime.
He's lost his family,
he's lost his friends,
he's lost the deaf community.
- INTERPRETER: - When he gets out,
he finds that he's still isolated,
and he's on a journey to try
and reunite various people,
and solve the problems
from his past.
My character, Brennan, is on a
wildly different journey than
that portrayed of
normal deaf lives.
He is reunited
with his daughter,
who I'm playing,
and tries to reform the bond
that was kind of damaged
and lost between them both
when he went to prison.
And it's kind of the reunion
of father and daughter,
as well as the wider
story of the reunion.
What attracted me to
it is the deaf writer.
When I read it, there were so
many moments in it that were
so particularly deaf culture,
that only deaf people get.
So it got me so excited to
see those moments in it,
and I just felt like I
have to be in this project.
- INTERPRETER: - My dad always
believed that every deaf child
had a right to an education.
It had this amazing,
unique perspective
of how it feels
to be a deaf man in prison,
a deaf man sort of re-entering
the world after ten years.
So, on the one hand,
it was like universal.
There were a lot of
universal themes.
But then on the other hand, it was
really specific to deaf culture
and the deaf community.
What I love about
the story is that
everything goes wrong
for all the characters
because people are
not communicating,
and it's about failure
to communicate.
So, I found that fascinating.
And to put in the context
of a deaf character,
who can't hear and
can't communicate,
was a really ingenious way
of exploring that theme.
- INTERPRETER: -
I'm from Sheffield.
So, what I wanted to write is a bit
of a love letter to my hometown.
I want to show those
amazing locations,
those amazing places that I
remember from my childhood.
So, when Warp Films first joined
the production, I was so happy,
because Warp is based
here in Sheffield.
So, it was kind of a
dream collaboration
to be working with them.
I love Sheffield as a town.
There's an incredible
generosity of spirit here.
We've used a lot of deaf people who
live and work here in Sheffield,
as part of Reunion, and that
was really important for me.
From the start, I wrote
Reunion as a bilingual script,
which meant I used
italics and bold
to show the different range
of communication they use
in the script. I had to
think about that carefully.
How am I?
I just paid off the mortgage
and bought a new car.
I'm in line for a
promotion, actually.
Why are you still wearing that?
I love that Reunion's an inclusive
production, and I think it's
one of the things that's most
important to me, personally.
I feel like not only are we
telling a story, you know,
with a deaf protagonist
and deaf cast members,
but we've also managed
to get, you know,
some amazing deaf
crew members as well,
a lot of whom have been, like,
invaluable to us making this.
And it's really lovely
to see the connection
between the hearing
crew and the deaf crew,
and to see those
relationships being formed,
but also us all pushing together
towards the sort of common goal
of making the show.
We have a Deaf Access Team, who
are kind of central to everything,
just making sure that we have all
the interpreters we need every day.
We also have a whisper track, which
is having one of the interpreters
just reading out everything
that gets signed on set, so
that everything hopefully works
as a sort of fully
bilingual set.
We took a lot of advice over
through the whole production period,
because there are a lot of things
to take into consideration.
We consulted with TripleC, who very
early on set up a deaf round table
which was a meeting with
deaf creatives as well,
just to talk about good
and bad experiences
they've had on set previously.
- MARK HERBERT: - It's amazing to see.
I remember that pre-shoot that we did,
just seeing it work.
Luke, the director, is now
pretty much fluent in BSL.
And Lara is just incredible.
They're just having
conversations outside,
so it's just really great to
see that the team's embraced it.
INTERPRETER: There are two actors
I'm really proud of - Lara Peake
and Anne-Marie Duff.
Both had to learn sign
language for this series,
and they've learnt
in a matter of weeks.
I think enough time has passed,
that your dad would
want me to move on.
To try.
I've really loved it. And it's very
interesting, translating and saying,
"OK, if I were to act
this vocally in this way,
"how would I physicalise that, then,
in scenes where I don't vocalise?"
And so it was exactly the same.
I'd be just as awkward physically
as I would with my voice,
you know, and things like that.
So it's been rather
beautiful, actually.
I was an absolute beginner
when it came to signing.
In a way, sometimes that can
be the best place to start,
because you don't bring anything
with you. You're just wide open
and ready to learn, and I've had
the most incredible teacher, Duffy.
Duffy, he's like a complete
legend teacher that has taught me
pretty much every day, I
think, for about three weeks.
And as time's gone on, we've kind
of been out in social settings.
And then I think, when you can
apply what you've learnt in a more
formal setting to
then going to the pub,
there's all different
signs for different accents
and different regions.
And you pick up so
much more as well,
outside of the formal
learning environment.
We've had a really good
giggle along the way.
And even just having a
cup of tea with everybody,
I'm having to sign all the time.
So it's immersion, you know?
It's like visiting
this beautiful country,
where I've had to learn
the language, and
Yeah, I've loved it.
It's been brilliant.
For the chemistry audition with
Matty, I was asked to learn
the scene in BSL.
And I got sent a
video of the sign,
and then I had to I
kind of, at that stage,
just had to copy
it and memorise it,
and then put the emotion
and the acting on top of it
after I'd kind of
cemented the movement.
But then actually learning BSL for
the show, I've not been copying.
I've been properly learning
the meaning of the words.
I've always been quite
fascinated by it as a language,
and, like, the visuals
and everything,
but I didn't know any of it.
So it's just been really amazing
to learn it and soak it all up.
I just find the whole process
amazing, and I feel really grateful.
Tried to get rid of me!
The environment on set around
signing is so alive, you know,
because it's not just
the actors who are deaf.
There's also crew members.
Everyone's having to
communicate with each other,
and it's been a really
good example of how we can
and how easy it is,
actually, if we try.
The deaf culture and the deaf
community is quite underserved,
you know, on TV. I think
there's still a long way to go,
in terms of real inclusivity
and giving deaf cast and crew
members, like, real opportunities,
but I'm really happy and glad that
we were able to do that on this.
It feels really
important to this show.
INTERPRETER: It's
a unique story.
It's completely different
from other deaf films.
It showcases pure BSL.
It's different from hearing
actors. We are much more visual
storytellers. This
is not about sound,
it's not about relying on sound.
It's about using your eyes
and seeing what is
going on in the story.
And I love the fact that this
felt - not only was it a really
important story about the deaf
community in a perspective
I'd never read before,
but it was really
entertaining and thrilling.
The story is an absolute
roller-coaster, and I think that
coupled with the perspective,
that's the sweet spot for us.