The Rumour (2025) s01e03 Episode Script

1
Alfie's the only kid with a dagger
through his chest.
But first the graffiti and now this?
I'm not imagining it.
I'm here now, OK?
We'll figure this out.
We've all got problems.
Doesn't mean we go around
killing people.
She must have changed a lot since.
Are you willing to put your
children's lives on that, are you?
You're the monsters, the lot of you.
You have no idea what you've done.
Now, remember, you only go into the
houses with the pumpkins outside.
Hello?
Sonia?
Sonia?
FOOTSTEPS APPROACHING
Hello?
JO BREATHES HEAVILY
SIRENS WAIL
All right. We're gonna get you home
as soon as your mum comes out.
Good boy. Good boy.
Hey. You OK?
Yeah.
Is Sonia really dead?
It's all right, darling.
Mummy's here.
How could you let them
go in the house on their own?
I didn't let them.
The kids just ran off.
To be fair, we had no idea.
Liam says he saw pills.
They weren't in there long.
How do you know
they didn't take them
thinking they were sweets
or something?
Darling, look at me. Did you eat
anything while you were in there?
Nothing. No sweets?
No. Nothing.
There's nothing else we can do.
Let's go.
Darling? Darling, listen.
Was it Alfie leading you
into that house?
It's not Alfie's fault, Debbie.
Well, it's gotta be someone's fault!
Debbie.
All right,
let's all just take a breath, yeah?
The kids are safe. Everything's OK.
I don't know how you can be so sure
of that.
I've called an ambulance anyway.
Joanne, what do you think happened?
I think she did it to herself.
SIRENS WAIL
What took so long?
I've been beside myself with worry.
Shh. Police had us
answering questions,
and Debbie rang the paramedics
to check on the kids.
Everyone's all right.
I can't believe it.
And Alfie found her?
Shh, Mum.
Get him to bed before he wakes up.
SOFTLY: Yeah.
Poor, poor Sonia.
She wrote that she was sorry
on the coffee table.
Sorry? Sorry for what?
For what she did, I suppose.
For killing Robbie Harris.
Get some sleep now, darling.
I want you to stay. Please.
SOFTLY: OK.
I'm not going anywhere, mate,
all right?
You get some sleep.
I'll see you tomorrow. Good boy.
TEARFULLY: They hounded her.
Gossips and bullies,
the lot of them.
If only I could have
SHE SOBS
Liz? Are you OK?
There's nothing we could do now.
TEARFULLY:
I have to get back to work.
Liz and Sonia were friends.
Oh I didn't know.
This is a nightmare.
That Sonia would be driven
to something so
You know she'd been drinking,
don't you?
There were bottles
outside her back door.
So?
Well, she had a problem
with alcohol.
She lived in a halfway house.
I saw her file at Pegton's.
Joanna
No. I mean,
maybe she didn't mean to do it.
Perhaps she just got drunk
and took too many pills.
What do they call it?
Death by misadventure.
I told you.
I told you to leave it alone,
and you didn't listen.
And now look what's happened.
You can't blame me, Mum.
That's not fair.
Fair?
All of you targeted that poor woman.
You publicly humiliated her.
Now she's dead.
OK.
OK. I think it's time that me
and Alfie moved back to ours.
You don't have to leave.
No, it's fine, Mum. It's fine.
Paramedics said routine's important.
So that's own house, own bed.
I'll take some time off work
tomorrow and do it then.
SHE SIGHS
BELL RINGS
INDISTINC
CONVERSATION
Morning.
Morning.
Ketifa had nightmares all night.
She didn't even see
..it.
How's Alfie?
Yeah. He's tossed and turned.
Didn't say much this morning.
Look, I, erm
I was so worried last night,
and I think I may have gone
a little overboard.
I know the feeling.
Well
at least we don't have to wonder
who Sally McGowan is any more. Mm?
Well, that's why she did it, surely?
Because we were right about her.
The guilt she must have lived with
all this time.
Awful.
Well, maybe it wasn't guilt.
Maybe it was
just because she was found out.
And if you hadn't have told us
Sally McGowan was living here,
we wouldn't know a thing.
I'm certainly not about
to shed a tear now she's dead.
STEPHEN: The new team page.
Look at that.
Mm.
It's like a magazine cover shot.
If that doesn't get them clicking,
I don't know what will.
What, you think people
still wanna buy here, then?
No more Sally McGowan,
no more problems.
PHONE RINGS
Ooh, by the way, the, er, brochures
for the Allison house are ready
..if you wanna go pick them up?
Yes. Yeah. Sorry, yeah.
Actually, when I get back,
I was thinking we could talk
about the derelict house.
I think we could find a developer.
I thought I'd pop back there
and take some photos.
That place?
It's up to you, but trust me,
you'd be wasting your time.
DISTANT SINGING
Liz?
Is that you?
# Those two little babies
Got lost on their way
# Pretty babes in the wood
Pretty babes in the wood
# Oh, don't you remember
Those babes in the wood? #
I've got a big bed now.
Big bed? Really?
Mummy got it for me
for moving to Flinstead.
Did she? Wow. I'd love to see it.
Thank you.
Right. You two decide
what you want for dinner.
Preferably something
I don't have to cook.
All right. See if you can
INDISTINC
Thank you.
All right to set up here?
Mark, what's going on?
Just making sure
we haven't missed anything.
Like what?
Have you, er, noticed anyone
hanging around lately?
Anyone you know of making threats?
No.
You still think she killed herself,
right?
There'll be a formal announcement
shortly.
S-She took the pills, we saw them.
That doesn't necessarily mean
that's how she died.
I live next door on my own
with a little boy.
Look, I can't
If there's something
I need to know
Are we in danger?
Mark, please.
Forensics report says she had
sedatives and painkillers
in her system at time of death.
But they didn't kill her.
Are you sure?
It looks like there was foul play.
So it was murder?
The police think
someone murdered her?
Jesus. Do they have any leads?
Well, he didn't say, but it must
be someone in town, right?
What, like a vigilante?
You didn't see the crowds
that were here.
People wanted Sonia gone.
This is serious, Jo.
Yes, I know that.
You and Alfie are living next door
to this.
What if it's my fault she's dead?
Of course it's not your fault.
I was the one that told Debbie
and the others
that Sally McGowan was living here.
And I told them
about Sonia's tattoo.
It just got so out of control.
I obviously didn't anticipate this.
You need to leave this
to the police.
Right now, I wouldn't trust anyone.
I'm staying here with you.
On the couch if I have to.
CREAKING
Hello?
Hello?
SHE GASPS
Oh. Hi, Joanna.
Do you own this place?
Me? God, no.
Just, er
Are you waiting for Mark?
Yeah.
We're not ready for everyone
to know about it yet.
And sneaking around is a bit sexy,
if I'm honest.
Yeah. Sorry to interrupt.
Oh, no, it's no problem. Really.
No big deal.
But I've just seen Mark at Sonia's.
Oh. Yes. Right.
So I take it he's told you?
Told me what?
That Sonia was murdered.
Oh. Oh.
Anyway, I'll leave you to it.
Yeah.
See you later.
Bye.
WOMEN TALKING
DEBBIE: It's disgusting. Disgusting.
Oh, hi, Jo.
Hi.
Adam has just called with the news
about Sonia. Mm.
Are we calling her Sonia or Sally
now?
I can't believe
there's a murderer on the loose.
Well, we'll just have to lock
all our windows and doors
and, you know, make sure the kids
don't go wandering off on their own.
Did Mark say who might have done it?
I don't know.
I mean, presumably somebody who
wanted to get rid of Sally McGowan.
Well, whoever it was,
did us a favour.
Debbie.
What?
I'm sorry,
but I choose my children's safety
over the life of a murderer any day.
And I'm not ashamed.
An eye for an eye.
Anyway, I'd better go.
I'll see you later.
See you.
Liz. You OK?
Liz?
Mm?
Yeah, just
..a few final touches.
Oh.
Yeah, I just saw Mark leaving.
Was he here about Sonia?
Oh, what do you want to know?
I just wanna know the truth.
And why?
I've got Alfie.
Mark seems to think that I was
the last person to see Sonia alive.
And were you?
Well
not the "last" last.
I didn't realise you two were close.
Hm.
She was a very private person.
Something that doesn't fit in
around here.
I promised her
I'd never tell anybody, but
SHE SIGHS
..I don't suppose it matters now.
She'd been to prison
for drink driving.
Are you sure that's what it was for?
She killed a man
..and his daughter.
She didn't want anyone to know.
That's why she never had children.
Something we had in common.
Sorry.
I feel terrible.
Really?
Of course.
I never meant for any of the
You've no idea
the damage you've done.
And all because
of a stupid bloody rumour.
It's very popular
with young families,
basically commuting distance,
and it offers a great return
on your investment.
Excellent rental yields, too.
Is there much crime in the area,
would you say?
People around here still leave
their doors unlocked.
Really? What, you mean these days?
Mm.
He's not here to buy a house,
Stephen.
Joanna.
Hello.
He's a reporter.
He's here to dig up dirt on Sonia.
That's right, you're her neighbour.
I don't suppose you're the one
who found her, are you?
All right, I think you'd better go.
I've got nothing to say to you.
I'm gonna go to that viewing
at Kay's.
Hey, wait. You must be relieved
Sally McGowan's gone.
Flinstead's safe once more.
Well, safe-ish.
What I wanna know is
what if it wasn't a suicide?
I never said
that Sonia was Sally McGowan.
And if she wasn't, then who is?
I don't know. I should go.
Do you know if Sonia Martins
had any children?
What's that got to do with anything?
Well, it turns out
Sally McGowan had a baby.
How can you possibly know that?
Well, it's an open secret
in the right circles.
I can't print it, of course,
cos that'd be contempt of court.
You got a name, or?
No. I don't have a gender either.
Or a date.
There was a maternity nurse
on her ward,
tried to sell the story about
a year after Sally was released.
The Old Timer say
the lawyers squashed it
before the details could get out.
But I reckon
that relationship is the key.
ENGINE STARTS
So, this is it.
It's a lovely family home.
It's south facing,
so it gets lots of natural light.
Come in.
WOMAN: Can we keep these on?
Yeah, you can keep your shoes on.
MAN: Thanks.
So, this is obviously the kitchen
going through to the living room.
Feel free to make yourselves
at home. Have a look around.
If you've got any questions,
just let me know.
Yeah. The light
in the master bedroom is beautiful.
And then I'll give you this.
It's got the floor plan on.
Brilliant. Thank you.
There's loads of space.
Mm-hm.
Shall we go through?
Oh, leave it. It's OK.
Oh, cheers. Thanks.
Oh, wow.
KAY: 'My daughter, Zoe,
lives in Australia.'
'Oh, I thought you said
New Zealand.'
'Did I?'
SIREN BLARES
HUBBUB
CAMERA BEEPS AND CLICKS
INDISTINC
OK, let's settle down, please.
Thank you, everyone,
for coming at such short notice.
We'll try not to take up
any more of your time
than is absolutely necessary.
DI Saunders is here from Homicide
to take over the investigation
into Sonia's death.
WOMAN: Her murder, you mean!
If you could please
let DI Saunders speak.
Look, I know you're all concerned
about recent events.
I'll have some questions for those
of you who knew Miss Martins.
We need answers,
not more bloody questions.
And what about protection for us?
For our kids?
Yeah. Who even let Sally McGowan
live here in the first place?
Before the rumours
get out of control,
I wanna make one thing clear -
we've spoken with
the National Crime Agency,
and it's been absolutely confirmed
that Sonia Martins
was not Sally McGowan.
SHOCKED CHATTER
Well, thanks. I'll be in touch.
MAN: Thank you.
Miss Critchall, can I have a word?
Yeah, sure.
Grab a seat.
So, did you recognise
the handwriting,
the word "sorry"
on the coffee table?
No. No idea.
And the last time
you saw Miss Martins was?
Er, it was that day.
We spoke over the fence.
Mm-hm. What did you speak about?
There was a newspaper article
that
made it sound like I said
she was Sally McGowan.
Well, she must have been angry
about that.
Well, obviously, I explained that
that's not really what I said, so
WOMAN: It's always Joanna.
Did you say you were friendly
with Miss Martins?
Well, no. But
No.
But you did believe
she was Sally McGowan.
It really seemed like she was.
Well, thank you, Miss Critchall.
If I have anything else,
I'll be in touch.
Great. Thanks.
Poor Sonia. I feel terrible.
Well, she did have the chance to be
honest with us from the beginning.
You said she was leaving town.
Yeah, that's what she told me.
Obviously, somebody got to her
before she could.
I certainly didn't want her dead.
None of us did.
I did say it was a long time ago.
Someone completely different by now.
Yeah, but you still signed
the petition.
Oh, we all did.
I didn't.
It was your idea.
I didn't even know about Sally
McGowan until Joanna showed up.
All I said was that I'd heard
that Sally McGowan
was living around here.
Where did you hear this?
It was on, like,
a homeowners' forum.
I was at work. Hang on.
Homeowners' forum. What?
I can't find it now.
Give it here. I'll have a look.
I can't see it.
There is nothing that mentions
Sally McGowan here at all.
Yeah, well, maybe whoever posted it
went back in and took it down.
Why would anyone do that?
Or maybe it was never there
in the first place.
Oh, come in, come in. It's open.
Just push.
Hiya.
Oh, this is a nice surprise.
I'm so sorry
to just turn up like this.
I think I just needed
a friendly face.
You look like
you need a glass of wine.
Oh, that'd be lovely.
Is that all right?
Of course it is. There's a bottle
in the fridge. Get you a glass.
Nice to have company.
Just me and Hayley tonight.
And Mum, of course.
Oh, you were wise
to leave that meeting early.
Well, I don't feel like I did.
Debbie has not stopped posting.
I think she's on the hunt for
someone to take the fall, so beware.
Oh, don't I know it
PHONE BUZZES
Mm. Mum's meds.
Won't be a minute.
Just gotta do your evening meds,
Mum.
Here we are. There we go.
Just those.
Give you a bit more.
Yeah. We have always been
pretty close.
She's not had an easy life,
bless her.
But, then, you didn't come here
to listen to my tales of woe.
This might sound a bit strange,
but what do you know
about Kay's daughter? Zoe?
Just that she lives overseas.
New Zealand, I think.
Australia? Oh, well, that's why
Kay doesn't see much of her,
cos she can't manage
the long-haul flights.
She actually lives in Denmark.
What?
You sure?
Mm.
Why would she lie
about something like that?
What's all this?
If Sonia isn't Sally McGowan,
then maybe it was Sally McGowan
that killed her.
Wait, I thought it was vigilantes.
Yeah, but vigilantes
wouldn't bother
making it look like a suicide,
would they?
I reckon Sally knew
that we all thought Sonia was her,
so she murdered her,
made it look like she killed herself
so she'd be in the clear.
Jo, the police are handling this.
Everyone blames me for the rumour.
If I can find out who Sally is,
then You have a job.
Sally McGowan had a baby.
Kay has a daughter
who doesn't answer her letters,
and she lies about where she lives.
Where'd you get that?
That's not the point.
Tell me you didn't steal that
from her house.
Look, it could
You're not opening it.
This isn't a game, Jo!
Your house has been graffitied.
Your neighbour has been murdered.
The killer's
still running around out there!
And now you're telling me
Kay's Sally McGowan!
This isn't good for you, Jo.
It's madness!
You have to let this go now.
Promise me
you won't open that letter.
Promise me!
I promise.
OK.
SOFTLY: Come on, now, darling,
get some sleep.
That's it.
I love you lots and lots
and lots and lots.
Oh, thank you.
Erm
Listen, I've been meaning
to tell you
..I gave notice
on the flat in London.
Did you?
Yeah.
Where will you go?
Not sure.
Just thinking I'll
look for something around here.
Close.
Well, I can help you look,
if you like.
I'm a professional, after all.
True.
Yeah, that
that would be great if you
..could help me out.
There's plenty of options
if you're not too fussy.
Me?
Well, you know me.
Famously low standards.
Do I take that as an insult?
I don't want Alfie
to get the wrong idea.
What idea would that be?
That everything's fixed between us.
The thought never crossed my mind.
What do you want me to do?
Arrest her for being Sally McGowan?
Well, you could at least question
her. What if she killed Sonia?
This is Kay we're talking about.
She's lived in Flinstead 20 years.
And Sally McGowan was released
from prison 35 years ago.
With all this going on,
you think the real Sally McGowan
would stick around?
They'd move her,
like they did the last time.
Last time?
Sally McGowan was almost outed once.
They moved her.
Got her a new home in a new town.
Changed her name,
gave her a new identity.
No reason why they wouldn't
do the same now.
Well, Kay's moving.
She put her house on the market
the day the rumour started.
It still fits.
But she's still here, though,
isn't she?
Look, Kay wrote a letter
to her daughter.
I took a picture of it.
Look, I don't wanna know.
Can't have anything to do with it.
No, listen, listen.
I took a picture of it.
"Dear Zoe, I hope you
and the boys are safe and well.
"I miss you, and I love you.
"I don't deserve your forgiveness,
but I do still hope for it."
Forgiveness for what?
No, wait, there's more.
"Anyone who asks, I tell them
you're living in New Zealand now.
"The furthest place
I could think of.
"I'm getting better
at keeping my story straight."
All I ask is you find out
what she's lying about.
Leave it with me.
HUBBUB
Can we talk for a minute?
Oh, news on the sale?
Have we got a buyer?
Why doesn't your daughter
wanna know you?
Excuse me?
You lied about your grandchildren.
I picked this up
from your house by mistake.
You took this from my house?
They don't want anything
to do with you.
You read my letter?
What is wrong with you?
And what about this?
Was this you?
Are you threatening me and my son?
I've no idea
what you're talking about.
"Unforgivable." That's what it says
in that letter.
You did something unforgivable.
Killing Robbie Harris
is unforgivable. Don't you think?
Oh, you've gone too far now.
Who are you?
Just answer the question.
Are you Sally McGowan?
You need to stop this right now
before something happens
that you'll regret.
ALFIE: Mum!
Mummy! Mum!
ALARM BEEPS
Alfie!
SHE COUGHS
Alfie!
SHE COUGHS
ALARM BEEPS
SHE COUGHS
Morning.
We wanted to make you breakfast.
I was in charge of the toast.
SHE COUGHS
The fire's out.
SHE SNORTS
House is fine. No damage.
Yeah, I'm fine too.
Damage, but it's old damage.
PHONE RINGS
Seth again. Persistent guy.
That's not what you think.
The words no innocent person
ever said.
Innocent?
Look, if you're seeing someone else,
just tell me.
It would actually explain a lot.
What would it explain exactly?
You said you dragged Alfie out of
school because he was being bullied.
He was.
That can't be all it was.
Wow. You don't trust me at all,
do you?
How am I supposed to trust you?
You don't tell me the truth
about anything.
All right, you wanna know the truth?
I'll tell you exactly who that is.
Seth is my half-brother.
He's your half-brother?
Mm.
Turns out when my dad left, he moved
to Canada, started a new family.
Which explains why he never bothered
with me and my mum.
He just moved on. Started again.
So sorry, Jo.
Haven't told my mum any of this.
What about him? Your dad?
He died last year. Heart attack
in his sleep, apparently,
which I still need
to tell Mum about.
HE SIGHS
So, there's no-one
to be mad at any more.
His son, Seth, tracked me down
a couple of months ago.
A couple of months ago?
Christ, Jo.
That's when all this started.
No, that's got nothing to do
with me and you.
Oh, come on.
Your dad left when you were little.
You think I'm abandoning you
every time I go to do a job.
I wanted support, Michael.
That's why. That's why what?
That's why I came here,
to be closer to my mum
so I didn't have to rely on you.
I need to sort a couple
of things out in the flat.
I'll take Alfie to your mum's
on the way. OK.
I'll see you later.
Now, give me a kiss.
Have fun in the park with Daddy.
Come on, let's go.
Mum?
Mum?
DISTANT SINGING
REPORTER: 'Well, it turns out
Sally McGowan had a baby.'
Hello?
'I reckon that relationship
is the key.'
Bea?