Playing Gracie Darling (2025) s01e04 Episode Script

1
[rain pattering]
[thunder rumbling]
[eerie ambient music plays]
[panting]
[yelps, groans]
[bangs glass,
yells indistinctly]
Hello?
Ow shit!
Sorry.
What about, like,
a shot for the pain?
[Zac chuckles] How about,
like, a shot of water?
Do you want to tell me what
happened this time, Frankie?
Mum was so wasted.
She never remembers the horrible
things she says to me.
[pats leg]
How'd you hurt your knee?
Jay says I was causing
a public nuisance.
And were you?
I jumped out at the lights
and ran away.
So what do you want
from me, Frankie?
Do you believe in spirits?
Yes. I do.
Do you know Mum's sister,
Gracie Darling,
the one that disappeared?
Yeah, I heard of the stories.
Everyone says
I look just like her.
Hm. How does that make you feel?
Something really bad
happened back then.
Something really evil.
What if it happens again?
What if it, like,
comes for me too?
[uneasy music plays]
I'm so scared.
[uneasy music rises]
[insects chirping]
[truck engine rumbling]
[melancholy music plays]
[machinery cranking, hissing]
[uneasy music builds]
[music fades out]
Uh, what's your usual means
of contraception?
[whispering] Condoms.
[pharmacist] Okay. And, uh, you
didn't use a condom this time?
- Clearly not.
- [pharmacist] All right.
How many hours is it
since you had unprotected sex?
Um six? Seven? Seven
Uh, can I just have
the medication, please?
Sure.
[sighs]
- Anita. Hi.
- Hi, Joni.
How was the rest of your night?
Oh, fine. Thanks.
Jay never tells me
anything anymore,
but I just bumped into the
young constable on the way in
and apparently
they found something
at the tip this morning.
Really? What?
Frankie Darling's backpack.
Oh, my God.
[teenagers chattering
and laughing]
[line rings]
[phone vibrates]
Hey. I just bumped into Anita.
She said that they found
Frankie's backpack.
For God's sake.
- So it's true?
- Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Sadly, it doesn't look good.
Do you think that has
anything to do with
Peter Darling getting arrested?
Is there anything that doesn't
get around this fucking town?
He hasn't been arrested. They
brought him in for questioning.
Oh, yeah? About what?
Someone saw him
arguing with Frankie
the night she disappeared
out on the old forest road.
Do they think that
he did something?
Well, it's usually
the man in the family, isn't it?
Yeah.
Well well, 'cause when
I saw him last night,
- I mean, he didn't seem--
- Last night?
Um, last night I I ended up
dropping Ruth home
and Peter and I had a drink.
Right. Okay.
Um
Right.
Well, you'll be happy to hear
he's getting released
this morning.
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
You really should be careful
around him, Joni.
Yeah.
- I've gotta go.
- Jay--
[line clicks, dial tone beeps]
[scoffs and mutters]
[uneasy music plays]
[keys rattling]
[starts engine]
[uneasy music continues]
Hey.
- Joni.
- What did the police want?
They just had more questions.
About what?
Frankie.
Did you hurt her?
'Cause I'd really like
to know who I just--
Come on. You've known me
since we were kids.
I know that you had
an argument with Frankie
the night she disappeared.
I shouldn't have got involved.
- What was it about?
- She was just bringing up stuff.
[Joni] What stuff?
- About the past.
- About the past? What? Gracie?
Oh, come on, Peter!
The more secrets that you have,
the guiltier you look.
After Gracie
me and Ruth were
the only ones that got it, okay?
Yeah, I understand that.
I was left behind too.
We were always
closer than cousins.
Maybe it wasn't healthy.
What do you mean?
Spending so much time together.
Well, it's normal that you'd
want to support each other.
We tried to stop. Okay?
You're Frankie's father?
[vehicle approaching]
[horn toots]
[engine idling]
Did you tell the police?
- [Peter] No.
- Well, you should.
There's no point having secrets
when you're trying to find
your daughter.
- [sighs]
- [car door closes]
- That's just one.
- [Mina] Mmm.
For instance, where Pa and I
come from in England,
there are the Druids.
See, every culture
has different rituals.
Like what else?
Well, you've seen
smoking ceremonies
at school, haven't you?
It's just a way to--
[sheepishly] Morning.
Well, look what
the cat dragged in.
Where have you been all night?
Or shouldn't I ask?
I'm so sorry.
I got I got caught up.
This is known as
the 'walk of shame', Mina.
- [Joni] Mum!
- You have a good date, then?
- Date?
- It wasn't a date.
- With who?
- It wasn't a date!
Where's Lulu?
[Pattie]
She had another nightmare.
She woke up
in the middle of the night
screaming the house down.
Lu, your mummy's home!
Hey, baby.
We missed her in the middle
of the night, didn't we, Lu?
Okay. I can handle it from here.
But these nightmares,
the bed-wetting
Can we just talk about it later?
I'm just saying,
I don't think being here
is good for you or the kids.
I just need to tie up
a few things, okay?
That's what I need to do,
then we're going.
No need to bite my head off.
- Hello.
- It's pretty. Can I have it?
Yeah, of course.
Oh, look, this is a mood ring
and it's, um
It changes colour
with your body temperature.
Supposed to tell you
how you're feeling.
Have you been feeling
a bit anxious, have you?
Hmm? Oh, honey. [kisses]
Nan told me that you had
another nightmare.
You want to talk about it?
Maybe, how about
can you draw it for me?
Ta-da!
Okay.
Yeah? Okay.
Yep.
Lots of branches.
Ahh. Is it a tree?
[disquieting music builds]
- That's good.
- [continues drawing]
Ah, it's a forest?
Okay
There's a girl?
Gracie.
Well
why was the dream scary?
[music intensifies]
[music fades out]
"..and otter lived
by the streams.
"Foxes had dens in the hills
"and deer roamed everywhere."
[insects chirping, buzzing]
[distorted music plays]
[Lulu] Mummy?
Mummy, can I?
[distorted music intensifies]
[menacing music]
[Joni, distorted] Oh
No
No! No--
[music stops abruptly]
[gasping]
- [Mina] Oh, I broke it.
- [Joni sighs]
[mobile phone rings]
[Mina and Lulu chatter quietly]
- [Lulu] Can I try?
- [Mina] Yeah.
We need another flower, though.
Sorry.
[mobile phone continues ringing]
Jay?
- [doorbell chimes]
- [dogs yapping]
[Samantha] Hey, hey!
Back, back, back!
- [dogs yapping]
- Back, back. Back, back, back!
- Get back, back, back.
- [Joni] Oh. Hi, Samantha.
- What are you doing here?
- Uh, Jay sent me.
Caity wants Zac.
Well, Zac's not answering.
She says
she'll only talk to Zac.
Okay.
Well, I hope he picks up.
[dogs continue yapping]
[Samantha] Joni, wait.
She couldn't get out of bed
this morning.
[Joni mutters]
- [door opens]
- [gasps] Who's there?
Hey. Hey, Caitlyn.
It's me. It's Joni.
Where's Zac?
Well, Zac's not picking up,
so I can talk to you
about what's going on?
[panicked gasping]
He's here.
[Caitlyn gasping]
Who's here?
He won't leave me alone.
Caitlyn, what are you seeing?
Caitlyn,
what are you seeing?
[anguished] No!
- [Zac] Hello?
- [sobs uncontrollably]
Hey.
What's going on?
[sobbing] Oh, Zac.
- [gasps, moans]
- [Samantha screams]
Oh, my God!
Caity! [shrieks]
- [Joni] Hold her!
- [moaning]
[Samantha sobs] Caity!
[melancholy music plays]
[scanner beeping]
[chilling music plays]
[retches]
[chilling music intensifies]
[music fades out]
[indistinct chattering,
whispering]
Hi, everybody. Hi. Um
- [Joni] Look, we hear that--
- Let me--
- I'm so sorry. You go, you go.
- No Okay.
Um [smacks lips]
Look, I understand
how worried you all are.
I can offer my perspective
from my work with the kids.
But I think we're really lucky
to have Joni's expertise
as a child psychologist.
Thank you.
Uh, so I hope that I can
reassure you a bit.
Um I think
what's going on here
is a really
normal response to trauma.
The trauma of a friend
going missing
and the trauma of another
girl's body being found.
- It's big stuff.
- [hushed murmurings]
Um but this is not
unprecedented.
There have been cases like this
all around the world.
It's sometimes called
collective psychosis.
For the kids, it's not
they're not making this up.
It feels very real to them.
Uh, even though there isn't
any yeah, physical illness.
There's n They're not sick.
What we have found to work
is you keep the kids
We're gonna
we have to keep the kids apart.
- [agitated murmurings]
- So that's no phones.
And I know I know that
sounds harsh, but truly--
Look, I I agree with Joni.
You know, this is a really
troubling situation
for our kids.
Um but we can help them.
Yeah?
And let me just say this
to further reassure you.
These evil spirits
that the kids are seeing,
while not to be trifled with
are not to be
feared either, okay?
Jesus Christ not only
unmasked the voices of evil,
but he humiliated them.
Yeah?
Whether you're a believer
or not, the key thing is this -
let's support our kids.
Let's sit with them.
Let's listen to them.
Just support, authority
and faith.
Yeah?
Okay.
Look, please feel free
to stay for the evening service.
Thank you.
Thank you.
[hushed murmurings]
[Zac] Take care.
Thanks, guys. See you later.
Are you aware
of what you're doing?
[scoffs] What am I doing?
Well, you know how powerful
suggestion can be,
especially with kids.
I'm taking it just as seriously,
guided by the Bible.
So you seriously think
that this town
is possessed by evil spirits?
I believe in
a transcendent spirit world,
uncontrollable forces
that we don't fully know--
A kid is missing
and that's what you believe?
What do you believe?
I mean, like, after everything
that has happened,
where do you find
solace and strength?
[scoffs]
Well, I believe in
rational thought.
I believe in things that can be
proven with science and logic.
Not theological speculation.
[chuckles]
[Zac] This must be
very triggering for you.
I'm fine. Thank you
for your concern.
[eerie music plays]
[doorknob rattling]
[door creaking]
[eerie music continues]
[Mina] As I light
these candles
please protect me
from any malevolent spirits
that would wish me harm
and evil forces,
seen or unseen.
[exhales deeply]
Gracie Darling, Gracie Darling,
Gracie Darling
can we play?
[faint rattling]
Gracie, are you there?
Gracie, give me a sign.
[chilling music plays]
- [intense gasp]
- [distorted soundscape]
[chilling music intensifies]
- [screams]
- [music stops]
Mina, what are you doing?!
Are you stupid?
Stop it! Stop! [blowing]
What harm is there
if it's all bullshit?
Mina, get inside.
Are you saying spirits
might be real?
- Mina
- You're such a hypocrite!
Get inside right now!
- What's going on?
- This is your fault.
Look at what you've done.
You've encouraged her
with all your tarot shit.
- Don't blame Nan!
- It's all right, Mina.
- She can blame me if she likes.
- Thank you. Yeah, yeah.
I know you were doing
all this stuff with Gracie.
[scoffs]
It wasn't Nan.
The whole town knows!
Come on. Let's watch another
episode of our show, shall we?
[Mina groans]
[insects chirping]
[footsteps approaching]
- [Jay] Knock, knock.
- [gasps]
Shit, Jay.
Uh you got another one
of those?
Uh, well, you know
where he keeps them.
[fridge door opening,
bottles clinking]
[footsteps approaching]
[opens bottle]
What's your relationship
with Peter Darling?
Fuck off, Jay.
Right.
Can you believe that
he and Ruth were fucking?
Well, I looked it up.
It's not actually illegal.
You serious?
Is this what you came
to talk to me about?
I wanted your opinion.
Okay.
- Can I?
- [Joni] Please.
They found Frankie's phone
in her backpack.
[Joni] Mm-hm.
[Frankie] Okay.
- Good?
- Yep, okay.
I'm the vessel. Remember
what you have to ask?
- Yep.
- Okay.
[Raffy exhales]
Gracie Darling, Gracie Darling,
Gracie Darling, can we play?
Gracie Darling, Gracie Darling,
Gracie Darling, can we play?
- Gracie Darl--
- [gasps]
[exhales heavily]
Are you there, Gracie?
Okay, so
can I ask you some questions?
Is Noah going to ask me
to the deb?
[chuckles softly]
Um
Okay. Frankie wanted me
to ask you something.
Gracie
what happened
the night you died?
[guttural grunt]
[Raffy] What's happening?
[Frankie groans]
[moaning]
[Raffy] Gracie?
Gracie? Who's there?
- [Frankie moans]
- Who's there?
- Frankie?
- Levi!
[Raffy] Levi?
[demonic moaning] Let me out!
[screaming]
[Raffy] Frankie! Frankie!
[Frankie screaming,
moaning uncontrollably]
[Raffy] Frankie!
[screaming continues]
[soundscape stops abruptly]
[sighs]
[dark music builds]
[water gurgling]
[dark music continues]
[cattle lowing]
["Not A Stranger"
by Ela Stiles plays]
Caught with
the feeling of want ♪
Caught with the feeling
of want ♪
Caught with
the feeling of want ♪
Caught with the feeling
of want ♪
[haunting vocalisation]
[Moira] Forgive us the sins
that we remember
and the sins that
we have forgotten.
Lord, forgive us our sins.
Forgive us the sins of our souls
and forgive us the sins
of our bodies.
Forgive us the sins
[praying fades]
Caught with
the feeling of want ♪
[haunting vocalisations]
[hoarsely] Let me out.
[exhales deeply]
[song fades out]
[birds twittering]
[rummaging]
[object clattering in distance]
[uneasy music plays]
Hello?
[metal scraping]
[menacing music builds]
[music escalates]
- [music stops abruptly]
- [lights buzz]
[Joni whispering]
Hey, you awake?
No.
Still mad at me?
Why is it okay for you to have
done all that stuff but I can't?
Wisdom of hindsight, I guess.
I don't know. I'm sorry.
Mina, what were you
trying to do?
I just wanted to find out
if all that stuff's real,
with the game and all that.
By playing Gracie Darling?
Yeah.
Was Caitlyn faking it
out in the bush?
What about the others?
[Lulu murmurs sleepily]
Was Caitlyn the ringleader?
Yeah. She was
selling the drugs too.
Does everyone do what she says?
Yeah.
Everyone's scared of her.
Except for Frankie.
They were enemies.
- [doorbell chimes]
- [dogs yapping]
- [yapping continues]
- Shh! Shh!
Sorry, Samantha.
Did I wake you up?
I'm on nights this week.
Shh, shh, shh.
I just, um I just thought
I'd check in with Caitlyn,
have a bit of a follow-up chat.
Well, she's resting too.
Oh Yeah, it was Zac's idea.
Figured we'd go for
a two-pronged approach.
[huffs]
- Come on.
- Thanks.
[Samantha speaks indistinctly]
[gasps] Oh, my God. Did you
hear about Ruth and Peter?
[door opens]
Mum!
[Joni] Hi, Caitlyn.
[Caitlyn] Oh.
Ooh. Sorry, puppy.
Thanks, Samantha.
We won't be long.
Okay.
I'll see you soon.
[door closes]
Is Zac coming?
Yeah, I just
thought we could have
a little chat while we wait.
Can you tell me again
what's been happening?
I feel really weak.
- My legs ache.
- [Joni] Mm-hm.
I'm freezing, but then I'm hot.
Last night
I woke up
in the middle of the night
and he was in my room.
He came closer and closer,
but I couldn't move.
Have you ever heard
of sleep paralysis?
Uh, sometimes
when the mind is awake,
the body is still asleep--
This wasn't that.
This was Gracie's killer.
He wants to hurt me.
Oh.
I used to have some of these
when I was your age.
Perfect place
for hiding my stash.
Does your mum know
that you deal drugs?
'Cause I've got
a whole bunch of kids telling me
that you were the one
doling out MDMA
right before everyone
got possessed.
And, you know,
they'll test the drugs.
And if they caused
some kind of psychosis
that made
all your friends sick--
Please don't tell Mum.
Did you really see
an evil spirit?
[phone buzzes]
Now, I thought they were
supposed to have
confiscated your phones.
I know where Mum hides it.
Did you see a spirit
in this room, Caitlyn?
[Caitlyn] No.
[huffs]
Okay.
So, tell me what happened
in the forest.
Raffy told us
how Frankie got possessed.
So you were
you were faking it.
I did feel something.
And what about the others?
I don't know
what trip they're on.
Why?
I want Zac to pray over me.
Zac?
Frankie was his favourite.
They always had
private sessions in his office.
Ask Raffy about it.
[Joni] Thanks. I will.
[uneasy music builds]
[engine starts]
[people chattering indistinctly]
- [acoustic guitar strumming]
- [Zac] You don't have to, no.
No, you can pass.
Yeah, that's fine.
Okay. No worries.
Um
Sorry. Hi. Sorry.
- Uh, is Raffy here?
- Hi.
Uh, no, not yet.
Are you a friend?
- Yeah.
- Yeah? I'm Zac.
I'm the group leader.
Mina.
Joni's daughter.
Yeah.
Welcome. Yeah.
It's great to have a new face.
- [teenagers chattering]
- [boy] Incest, the babies--
- Hey, guys.
- [chattering stops]
I hope we're keeping it kind.
So, how are you doing?
It's been tough on you kids.
Yeah, uh, Mum dragged us up here
and she's barely
looked at us since.
I mean, all she cares about
is her dead friend.
Hm.
Well, look, you're welcome
to join us if you like.
- Yeah?
- Yep.
Take a seat.
Everybody, this is Mina.
[teenagers] Hey, Mina.
[Mina] Hey.
[Zac] Excuse me.
Hey, did you talk to her?
No, no. She didn't reply
and they're not home.
You know, I don't know
if this is cool.
Jay, we're talking about
a potential sexual predator.
Right. What am I looking for?
Um teenage girls,
they write about this stuff.
Okay, trust me.
Does she have
a diary, a journal?
Uh, what, a real one?
I don't fucking know. Um
- Laptop.
- Yeah. Yeah. Yes.
Well, do you know her password?
'Internet creeps'.
Don't tell her I know.
- Yep.
- All right. Do a search for Zac.
Nothing.
Uh, look in downloads.
Mina and her friends,
they use AirDrop.
- Did you find something?
- Maybe.
- What is it?
- Photos, photos.
Photos with notes on them.
From Frankie?
Yeah. Yeah, I think so.
[clicking]
What do they say?
[Frankie] Z was there for me.
He wiped the tears
from my cheeks.
I kissed him, he kissed me back.
Thunder and lightning.
Jesus gazed down
as Z laid me down
and fucked me on the desk.
[Zac] Oh, Mina!
Got a sec?
Yeah.
So, I hope you found it helpful
being in a supportive space.
It was nice, thanks.
Yeah. Good.
Look, I just want you to know
that your concerns are valid.
Actually, I do have
a few questions
if you've got time.
- Yeah. Of course.
- Yeah?
Why don't you come downstairs?
I'll put the kettle on.
- Okay.
- [Zac] Yeah.
After you.
[Mina] Thanks.
[unsettling music builds]
- [door closes]
- [music fades]
I'm gonna go down
and talk to him.
Uh no, no.
No, Joni, you [stammering]
This isn't actually evidence.
You can't just, um
Why can't I? Why can't I?
I'm not the police.
It's a friendly visit.
You tip him off, you obstruct
the course of justice--
Oh, come on. Justice?
You said yourself
they're not even looking at him.
- There's pro--
- [dial tone beeps]
Fuck!
- What are you doing here?
- Dad?
[phone vibrates]
[Zac] You're not gonna get that?
[sighs] You know, nothing
would piss my mum off more
than me turning religious.
[Zac] I mean,
not the most auspicious way
to start a relationship
with God.
Uh
black, green or chai?
Chai.
Why are you the only adult
that believes us?
What do you mean exactly?
There's something bad here.
It got Frankie and the others.
But no-one believes us.
[crockery clinks]
You know, if there's
anything that I've learnt,
it's don't jump
to conclusions too quickly.
You know, when I was younger,
I was a a lot more reckless.
But now
I let the scriptures guide me.
[water pouring]
So
how were you reckless
when you were young?
[chuckles]
[unsettling music plays]
[voicemail] Hi, it's Mina,
can't pick up right now,
so leave me a message
or text me.
- [tone beeps]
- Hey, it's me again.
Just want to make sure that
you're okay. Call me, please.
[unsettling music continues]
[sighs]
[unsettling music intensifies]
Mina.
Joni.
[Mina] Hey, Mum.
What are you doing here?
Getting close to Jesus.
- [Joni] Go wait upstairs.
- Mum, chill.
[sternly] You heard me, Mina!
Go wait upstairs.
Okay. She didn't tell you she--
What in the fuck
do you think you're doing?
Okay. Mina came to me
for guidance.
Do you make a habit
of being alone with young girls?
[scoffs]
Okay, I'm available to anyone
who seeks my counsel.
'Cause I just had
a good, long chat with Caitlyn
and she admitted
she's been faking it all.
You know, the reason
that she gave me
was to get your attention.
She's jealous of your
relationship with Frankie
and she implied
that you and Frankie
have been sexually intimate.
What? No, that
You honestly think
that I've slept--
We found notes
written by Frankie.
Suggestive notes, detailed.
Look, I'm a protector, Joni.
Okay? I'm a servant of God.
- Great defence.
- I've never encouraged any--
Why'd you have to leave
your home town?
[clicks tongue]
Sex with a minor.
Yeah. I was a minor too.
It wasn't illegal.
We were both under age.
Her parents didn't like me,
so a few days after I turned 18,
they called the cops.
[sighs]
You know,
I thought you of all people
would know
how dangerous gossip can be.
You okay?
Have you totally lost it?
- We were just talking.
- I'm sorry--
No! Zac was actually
there for me.
[clears throat]
[Mina] Mum?
[soft tense music plays]
[music swells]
[music crescendos]
[tense music continues]
[music fades out]