The Fortune (2026) s01e04 Episode Script
Episode 4
1
AMANDA: They shot him.
What do you mean? The Boots guy?
Yeah.
This is completely out of control.
He was here.
FIONA: 'This photo was
in Martin's belongings.
'The man's clearly dead.'
You don't think that I had
something to do with this, do you?
I hear you're looking for Boots.
Your father couldn't have children.
That's how I was so sure
Amanda wasn't his.
Well, I had to take Luke
to my mam's.
I know what you're gonna say, but
I didn't know when you'd be back.
This really is a lovely treat.
Isn't it, Jimmy?
You know I can't pay for this,
don't you?
Don't worry.
Not everything's about money.
AMANDA: I'm sure Jimmy's fine.
It's It's probably nothing, OK?
He probably just got
delayed at work.
I mean,
you know what your son's like.
Look, is is Luke OK?
OK. Good, good. Erm
Yeah, I mean, everything's just
They're looking for Mum.
Erm, look, can you just?
Can you give Luke a big kiss
for me, OK?
I'm gonna go, all right?
Yeah. Erm, yeah. Bye.
DIAL TONE
JIMMY OVER VOICEMAIL: 'Hey,
this is Jimmy. Leave a message.'
Jimmy, where the hell are you?
Look, I've just been
at the police station. My
My mum's disappeared.
I think she's been taken
from the care home.
I just Look, I don't
I don't know what you know,
but I need to talk to you,
so, please, will you just call me?
These are the best eggs in town.
Selected from the happiest chickens
in the North.
So, any other questions?
I have a few.
I'll give you a few minutes
to think about it, yeah?
Is everything OK?
That's what I'm here to find out.
I-I'm sorry, I don't understand.
I'm confused.
Me too.
About what?
Well, a few things, but mainly why
you've been messaging my husband,
why you met him last night
and why he didn't come home?
Shall we do this somewhere else?
Have you got something to hide?
We can't do this here.
OK.
I wanted to tell you.
Tell me what? You're having
an affair with my husband?
No. Of course not.
Well, OK, so,
you plan to meet in secret,
and he sends you messages like,
"I need to see you."
"Of course not"?
None of this is what you think.
Well, what is it, then?
He wanted to talk to me
about something.
He was asking me for days.
Look, I This is hard. I don't
What? What? It's obviously something
that you can't talk about here,
so you have to sneak around.
It was about you.
Me?
He was desperate.
He wanted to make sure
that you didn't give up on the will.
He said
that he was thinking about Luke,
and he saw
that you were pulling away,
and he just wanted me to
to put a bit of pressure on you
to make sure you kept going.
This is why you came with me
to Boots' cottage.
Amanda please.
He just said he needed my advice.
About what?
I don't know. He didn't show,
as I'm sure you know.
SANDY SIGHS
Listen
Amanda, you know I'd never do
anything to hurt you, right?
He said he spoke to someone -
someone that you know.
Who?
I don't know.
That's why we were meeting,
because he was gonna tell me
everything.
SANDY SIGHS
He wanted my opinion.
He He said
that he couldn't talk to you.
He couldn't talk to anybody.
Apart from you.
That's all I know.
I promise I'm telling you the truth.
You need to talk to him.
That's what I was gonna tell him.
PHONE CHIMES
I would, but he's vanished,
and no-one knows where he is.
I don't understand.
Imagine how I feel.
PHONE CHIMES
What is it?
Amanda?
I have to go and get Luke.
PHONE RINGS
Grandma and Grandpa were gonna
take me to the water park.
I know, I know. I'm sorry.
I just
Where's Dad?
Look, why don't you go
and watch some TV?
DIAL TONE
JIMMY OVER VOICEMAIL: 'Hey,
this is Jimmy. Leave a message.'
SHE SIGHS
Mummy!
Just a minute.
Hurry!
REPORTER:
'75-year-old Linda Blakefield'
Look. They said she's missing.
'..Whinwood Lodge care home.'
What do they mean, "missing"?
Is she gonna be OK?
Of course she is.
She's gonna be fine.
Everything's gonna be fine, OK?
PHONE RINGS.
Why don't you just change
the channel, OK?
PHONE BUZZES
Hello?
Who is this?
FIONA: 'Amanda, it's Fiona.'
I just heard about your mother.
Must be awful for you.
Where is she?
What?
Look, if you
or your stupid son have hurt her,
then I swear I'm gonna
Amanda, I genuinely have nothing
to do with this.
I've got plenty of reasons
to hate your mother,
but I'm not a kidnapper.
So then why are you calling,
to just express your sympathy?
Cos forgive me
if I don't give a shit.
OK, I've got a proposal.
This whole thing
is destroying both of us,
and a court case isn't going
to make it any easier.
So, what are you suggesting?
I'm suggesting that you and I agree
to split everything 50-50.
Amanda?
And what about your son?
Don't worry about him.
Just think about it.
'And again,
I hope your mother turns up soon.'
I know what it's like
to lose someone you love.
The offer is genuine.
DINOSAUR ROARS ON TV
Did you find Nana?
Not yet, baby.
What about Dad?
When you do see him,
tell him I'm on level four,
final boss.
DIAL TONE
JIMMY OVER VOICEMAIL: 'Hey,
this is Jimmy. Leave a message.'
Where the hell are you?
Look, you can't just disappear
like this.
Your son needs you. I
I need you. Jimmy
SHE SIGHS
LAPTOP CHIMES
SHE SIGHS
2481. Can I have some juice?
LAPTOP CHIMES
Anything you want, baby.
PHONE RINGS
Hello?
BREATHING OVER PHONE.
Who is this?
Look, do you have my mum?
Do you have?
MAN: 'Linda is safe. Jimmy is safe.
'Take the money and all this stops.'
Who are you?
SHE EXHALES,
PHONE BEEPS
SHE SIGHS
You look like you've seen a ghost.
There was a man here, staring.
I thought it was Boots at first,
but
Amanda's mother's gone missing.
Aw, what a shame (!)
Do you know anything about it?
Did you speak to Amanda?
Does it matter?
Yeah, it matters.
Yes.
How was she?
Any Any sign of movement
on the will?
Not yet. Did you remind her how much
a court case will cost?
She knows.
You know
I feel for her, actually.
Suddenly,
she and I have a lot in common.
Abandoned by our fathers.
Maybe me and her should have a chat
as well.
You think
you can make her change her mind?
I don't think so.
The truth is, I think I'd rather
she have the money than you.
SHE SIGHS
Look, I'm sorry about everything.
I always thought of you as my son.
You are my son. You know that.
Bless you (!)
Martin wanted us to have that money.
Now, something happened,
something that spooked him.
And if you still care about me
at all
HE SCOFFS
I need you
to tell me what that was,
because I think you know.
Well, perhaps
he just woke up one day
and realised
what a terrible human he'd been.
He wasn't.
I'm afraid he was.
Why would you say that?
He wanted you to know
about Boots being
It was me who said no.
Anthony
Who is this man?
I need you to stay here
with Auntie Sandy.
But why?
Just sit here and wait.
I saw that stuff on the TV
about your mum.
I was gonna call you, but
I need you to look after Luke.
Are you out of your mind?
Possibly, but will you?
Look, Amanda, I don't know
if you've forgotten where you work,
or used to,
but this is a bloody cafe.
And you might have forgotten
that you owe me.
Have you still not seen Jimmy?
No. Have you?
What about his parents?
Why can't he stay with them again?
I think someone might be
watching their house.
Watching their house? Who might be?
I don't know.
I think I know, but
What about if they're watching here?
Can you help me or not?
This morning, you were accusing me
of having an affair
with your husband, and
You're the only person
that I trust with my son.
SANDY SIGHS
Yeah.
Thank you.
Look, I
I need to borrow your car.
Thank you.
Be good.
DOOR OPENS
I hear you spoke to Fiona.
That's the artist formerly known
as Mother.
The thing is, and this gives me
no pleasure at all to say,
but she cannot be trusted.
What did she offer?
Amanda?
I haven't got time for this.
Oh, well, that makes two of us.
Do you want me to call the police?
HE SIGHS
Would that be such a smart idea?
I know you know where my mother is.
HE SCOFFS.
You really give me
far too much credit.
Actually, I come in peace.
You see,
certain events have conspired
to bring us closer together.
You and me.
What events?
All that matters is that I'm feeling
more sympathetic to your cause.
That's interesting.
That's almost what your mother said.
Ah, what did she offer you?
I'm assuming if you don't know,
there's a reason
she hasn't told you.
Ooh, you are good.
I don't care
what's going on with you or her.
All I know is I want my mother back.
Hmm. Hear, hear to that.
What?
How about I give you 25%?
Your mother already offered me 50.
And there we go.
That wasn't so hard, was it?
HE LAUGHS And what did you say?
Nothing.
Nothing?
Look, there are things that I know.
Things about your past,
about what you've done.
A, er friendly soul
sent me some photos of you
leaving Boots' cottage
the other night.
The same night he was last seen.
I have friends everywhere
in the village.
Shall I show you,
or have you seen them already?
You were furious
that he visited your mother
and then threatened you.
And apart from the photos,
several people tell me
you were asking for him that night.
So, I do hope, for your sake,
he turns up soon.
Unless, of course, it's just a body.
Give up the will, Amanda.
It's time we made all this go away,
don't you agree?
You have until tonight.
You know where to find me.
ENGINE STARTS
I was checking
if you had any laundry.
How maternal (!)
Since when do you do my laundry?
What did you do, Anthony?
I'll see if I can find anything else
for you.
PHONE RINGS
Sandy?
SANDY: 'Hello?'
Is he OK?
Can you hear me?
BREATHING OVER PHONE.
PHONE BEEPS Sandy?
Shit.
Hello?
DOOR CREAKS.
Hello?
Mum
Mum, can you hear me? Mum?
THUD
FOOTSTEPS APPROACH
Amanda?
You?
How do you know my name,
and why do you have my mother?
Who? Who are you?
Please, she's
She's sick. She's dying.
You don't know me?
You really don't know me?
I was worried when I picked you up.
I wasn't sure if you'd know,
if you'd, well, recognise me.
But I had to,
I had to make sure you were OK.
What? What are you?
Hello, darling.
Isn't it lovely to have him back?
Eh?
Well, go on.
Give your father a kiss.
What?
No, he's not. You're
You're not. You can't be. He's
He's dead. My father's dead.
I didn't want you to know.
I I didn't mean
for anything like this to happen.
Oh, my God. Stop. Stop.
Stop talking.
I wanted to see her again.
I needed to to see her again.
Just once. I'm so sorry.
Why? Why would you do this? You
I understand. I do.
But you you died. You
You left us!
I did what I thought was best.
My decision was never
about getting back into your life.
It was about giving you a life!
I didn't mean for this to happen.
I needed you to think I was dead.
I was. I was dead.
I didn't live a life,
not since I left you both.
But they they killed you.
I thought that's what Boots
was trying to tell me
is that they'd murdered you.
I don't understand
I needed you to take the money!
Amanda?
AMANDA SIGHS
I saw your father.
No, it's OK.
I-I'm here. I'm still here.
So, all of this is because of you.
You're
You're the reason that
Martin left me the estate. You
I sent the photographs
to the restaurant.
I wanted you to see the past,
to want what you were owed. I
I wanted you to see
we once were happy.
Then why send me
the photos of Martin?
I needed you to ask questions.
You were about to give up
the inheritance.
Oh, God, who says I haven't?
You were supposed
to accept the will.
Get what's yours, that's all,
and then then I was gone.
Oh, my God.
Boots, you
You killed Boots.
What?
You saw him with me that night.
You wanted to stop him
from telling me.
I didn't kill him.
Though, I'd have good reason.
So
So, the photos, the photos of me
the night that Boots died,
you didn't send them?
No, I
I can't do this. I can't
I can't do this.
PHONE BEEPS Laura, it's me.
I need to talk to you.
It's about Anthony.
He knows about his dad,
and I think there's a lot more
he's not telling me.
So, if you've got any information,
please, I need to know it.
Also, there's something else.
I think something's happened
to Boots.
Laura, I'm telling you this
because I'm frightened,
so please call me.
PHONE BEEPS
I'm starting to think
I can't trust you.
Why are you holding that?
It's hunting season.
Dad's favourite.
Did you kill Boots?
Anthony?
Why?
Why did you do that?
I was protecting the man
I thought was my father.
You told me she was in the village
shooting her mouth off.
I found her. I followed her.
And I did what had to be done.
SHE GROANS Anthony, please.
What are you gonna do?
We wait for her reply.
I've told her
we need an answer tonight.
Then we take it from there.
Martin wanted rid of me.
He'd taken my money, ruined me.
He was in love with Linda.
So he got Boots to have me killed.
But I still had friends.
Drinking partners.
Things get said, get heard.
They'd always seen me as stupid,
as too drunk,
too lost to stop them.
But what they didn't know was
I could still listen.
And I still had something to lose.
RADIO PLAYS
Now don't you see
That our love
Will be everlasting? ♪
Boots hired someone to kill me.
GUNSHOT FIRES
You and me ♪
Only, I got wind of it.
All my loving is for you ♪
I wasn't just a drunk any more.
I was a killer.
I-I wanted to tell
your mother everything, but she
she thought I'd left,
been paid off.
I decided you'd both be better off
without me.
The Worralls told her I was dead,
and
in a way, they were right.
I had no fight left in me.
But why all of this?
Why come back now?
Because this time
I really am dying.
LINDA COUGHS,
CHOKES
Shh, come on, come on.
Just have a little drink.
Good girl. That's it. That's it.
She needs a hospital.
She needs me.
No, she needed you,
and now she needs a doctor.
I'm calling an ambulance.
This is madness.
No. Look, you saw her.
She's happy here.
She doesn't wanna die in a hospital.
She needs help.
I said no. Look
Can we not just be together
for a while?
AMANDA SCOFFS
It's a bit late for that.
Do you? Do you not see?
I just wanted you
to get what you were owed.
I wanted it for you.
I wanted it for Luke.
Oh, my God.
It was you, wasn't it?
It was you at the ice-cream truck.
You You said hello to Luke.
What kind of monster?
I wanted to see my grandson.
You had no right!
LINDA WHEEZES Shh, shh!
LINDA SIGHS
When I knew it that I was dying,
I wanted to be with your mother.
And this little place was our
Happy place.
Photos.
Why did you send them
if you didn't want me
to find out about you?
Why? Why drive the taxi?
Why take the risk?
You wanted me to find you.
Yeah, maybe.
When I got my diagnosis,
something
something clicked in me.
I needed to find Martin. I
won't forget the moment he saw me.
We just stared at each other.
Me, at the man
who'd taken everything from me.
He, at the man
who he thought he'd killed.
And I told him, I said,
"Look, I've got photographs
of the dead assassin."
I kept a paper trail of the money
that I'd given him to invest,
and unless he gave you
what you were owed, then
Well, he had no choice.
As long as people thought
I was dead, he could just pretend.
But now that I was alive
I told him, I told him, just,
"Look, just write a cheque,
and I'll be dead to you forever."
But he was terrified.
Maybe Maybe even ashamed.
I suppose he couldn't do it
that way, so he chose another.
And that's when everything changed.
The will made it harder.
And when I found out
he'd killed himself, well, look
I needed you to take the money.
No, I need you to take the money.
And I-I wasn't certain
you'd accept it,
so I had to make sure.
I didn't want you
to find out about me.
I didn't want you to find out
that I'd been alive all this time,
so I
So I got some help.
Some help?
Oh, my God.
Jimmy.
You spoke to Jimmy?
That's what he wanted to tell Sandy.
He said he couldn't keep it
a secret any longer.
He said he was going to tell you.
And I just
I just couldn't let him do that.
What did you do?
HE BREATHES HEAVILY.
What did you do?
Just stay with your mum.
PHONE BUZZES
Who's that?
Laura.
Well, answer it.
She might have some news.
Or should I?
Hi.
Yes. Yes, he is.
OK.
All right. Thanks.
Well?
No news.
Then we wait
Mum.
I might just step outside
and get some air.
I don't think so.
Go on. In you go.
JIMMY SIGHS
SHE SIGHS
I am so sorry
Don't.
SHE SOBS
I wanted to tell you.
I was
I was gonna tell you, but I just
I just thought that
You thought what?
That our marriage would
continue on just fine?
We'd have all that money
and the fucking house,
and all the while,
you're keeping a secret
that my dad isn't really dead.
Are you fucking high?
I did it for Luke.
I mean, I just couldn't believe
that you were turning this down,
and when your dad got in touch,
I I just thought about Luke.
SHE SIGHS
That's all.
Jimmy's here.
SHE SIGHS
Mum, come on.
Let's get you out of here.
No, no, what you doing?
I'm putting an end to this.
No.
I want
I want to be here with your father.
No, no, Mum, come on.
This is This is over. Come on.
Don't send me away.
I need to be here.
SHE SIGHS
You and me.
CRYING: Please.
I don't want to die in hospital.
CRYING: Please. Please.
SHE SOBS
It's what she wants.
SHE SIGHS.
Amanda! Where are you going?
To sort this out.
What do you mean?
Maybe you're right.
Maybe I deserve this money.
Maybe they deserve to pay
for what they've done to my family.
They're expecting an answer.
So I'm gonna go and give them one.
Well, let me come with you.
I think you've helped me enough.
DOOR OPENS,
FOOTSTEPS APPROACH
She's right.
I never should have agreed to this.
You made your choices.
What was I thinking?
It's her money.
It always was.
Maybe.
But it was a father
that she needed, Barry.
I can't let her do this.
No, wait.
PHONE RINGS
Hello?
LAURA: 'Amanda.'
What do you want?
Have you had time
to consider Fiona's offer?
'Oh, I've considered it.'
And?
Well, it seems
your clients aren't in sync.
Anthony visited me,
and he threatened me.
With what?
Look, I don't know what you know
but I know what I know.
And in a few minutes,
so will your clients.
Anthony isn't Martin's son.
'Boots was his father.'
Why are you telling me this now?
'I shouldn't.
There are other things too.'
About Martin,
things that I don't know.
'But I think Anthony's dangerous,
'and I can't watch
all of this happen, not any more.'
I suggest you reject Fiona's offer.
I suggest you leave them alone.
It's a bit late for that.
'Amanda'
Amanda!
PHONE BEEPS.
HE BREATHES HEAVILY
DOORBELL RINGS
I've made my decision.
To your right.
Amanda has a decision for us,
Mother.
Well, come on.
The tension's unbearable.
It's a beautiful house.
Thank you.
Yeah, we worked very hard for it.
With my dad's money.
What do you mean?
You know.
I don't.
Sorry, do you have a decision
for us?
What do you mean, Amanda?
The truth is
that Martin stole my dad's money
and then tried to have him killed.
What?
Which comic book
did you get that from?
That can't be true.
It is true.
All these years, you've been
living off my dad's money.
Anthony?
It's a lie. This is all lies.
It's not.
You can't prove any of this.
That's where you're wrong.
You seeing ghosts now as well,
are you?
Yeah, actually.
HE CHUCKLES.
You're insane.
A while ago,
I would have agreed with you,
but I'm not.
I know that you killed Boots.
You killed him because he was
the only one who knew what you knew.
To protect your father.
The man that you thought
to be your father.
Oh, the note.
Martin said there was something
he couldn't protect me from.
It was this, wasn't it? You knew.
You and Boots.
There's no body, no evidence
that any of this happened
apart from in your imagination.
Well, there is some.
Barry?
You knew everything. Martin told me.
He begged me
to keep you out of this.
The photograph of the dead man.
Who was he?
The man your husband hired
to kill me.
But I got there first.
Martin needed to know
I had all the proof.
I just want what he took.
What you What you all took.
He killed himself
because you blackmailed him. No.
I got him to put things right,
that's all.
Everything they're saying is true,
isn't it?
True? What do you know about true?
You've lied to me my whole life.
I've got nothing because of you,
because of him.
I should kill you right now!
I should kill the lot of you!
Please, please!
Please just put the gun down.
Don't do this.
Please, please.
Anthony, I
I spoke to Laura.
She told me everything.
Everything?
Go on, then.
Do your worst, kid.
Dad!
Oh, that's nice to hear.
"Dad."
You shoot me now,
and I'll die a happy man.
Dad
Dad Dad
No, don't, please.
HE BREATHES SHAKILY,
HE GROANS
SHE SCREAMS,
GUNSHOT FIRES
Huh? Barry?
No, it's me.
SHE GROANS.
I know he'll be back.
You just need to relax, Linda.
SHALLOW BREATHING
He loved me, you know?
SHALLOW BREATHING
And he loved Amanda.
SHE GROANS
Linda?
Mum?
No.
No, don't go.
Not now, please.
HE SOBS
SOBBING
If you'd like to come this way.
Table for four.
DOOR OPENS
I'll be along with your menus
in a moment.
Hi.
Hi.
Sorry Sorry about your mum.
Look, thank you for the other night,
for looking after Luke.
Oh, he was amazing.
Erm, I was thinking
of employing him,
although, now that
you're a country squire
Well, actually, I was wondering
Please, please, just buy the place.
And for the love of God,
make me redundant.
I was wondering
if you still needed someone.
Who were you thinking of?
Just someone I know who needs a job.
Seriously?
Please tell me this is a joke.
Please tell me that you've got
a massive mansion in Northumberland
and that Luke's going
to boarding school
and that your dad is in
a nice retirement home in Antigua.
I let Fiona keep the house.
You did what?
She has suffered more than me.
But don't worry, I've
I've kept enough money
to secure Luke's future, but
come on, what do I need
with mansions and all that stuff?
This is my happy place.
Well, there's a bunch of arseholes
at table seven,
and they're all yours.
THEY LAUGH
You freak!
THEY LAUGH.
And just so you know,
he told me nothing.
Right, lads, what can I get you?
AMANDA: They shot him.
What do you mean? The Boots guy?
Yeah.
This is completely out of control.
He was here.
FIONA: 'This photo was
in Martin's belongings.
'The man's clearly dead.'
You don't think that I had
something to do with this, do you?
I hear you're looking for Boots.
Your father couldn't have children.
That's how I was so sure
Amanda wasn't his.
Well, I had to take Luke
to my mam's.
I know what you're gonna say, but
I didn't know when you'd be back.
This really is a lovely treat.
Isn't it, Jimmy?
You know I can't pay for this,
don't you?
Don't worry.
Not everything's about money.
AMANDA: I'm sure Jimmy's fine.
It's It's probably nothing, OK?
He probably just got
delayed at work.
I mean,
you know what your son's like.
Look, is is Luke OK?
OK. Good, good. Erm
Yeah, I mean, everything's just
They're looking for Mum.
Erm, look, can you just?
Can you give Luke a big kiss
for me, OK?
I'm gonna go, all right?
Yeah. Erm, yeah. Bye.
DIAL TONE
JIMMY OVER VOICEMAIL: 'Hey,
this is Jimmy. Leave a message.'
Jimmy, where the hell are you?
Look, I've just been
at the police station. My
My mum's disappeared.
I think she's been taken
from the care home.
I just Look, I don't
I don't know what you know,
but I need to talk to you,
so, please, will you just call me?
These are the best eggs in town.
Selected from the happiest chickens
in the North.
So, any other questions?
I have a few.
I'll give you a few minutes
to think about it, yeah?
Is everything OK?
That's what I'm here to find out.
I-I'm sorry, I don't understand.
I'm confused.
Me too.
About what?
Well, a few things, but mainly why
you've been messaging my husband,
why you met him last night
and why he didn't come home?
Shall we do this somewhere else?
Have you got something to hide?
We can't do this here.
OK.
I wanted to tell you.
Tell me what? You're having
an affair with my husband?
No. Of course not.
Well, OK, so,
you plan to meet in secret,
and he sends you messages like,
"I need to see you."
"Of course not"?
None of this is what you think.
Well, what is it, then?
He wanted to talk to me
about something.
He was asking me for days.
Look, I This is hard. I don't
What? What? It's obviously something
that you can't talk about here,
so you have to sneak around.
It was about you.
Me?
He was desperate.
He wanted to make sure
that you didn't give up on the will.
He said
that he was thinking about Luke,
and he saw
that you were pulling away,
and he just wanted me to
to put a bit of pressure on you
to make sure you kept going.
This is why you came with me
to Boots' cottage.
Amanda please.
He just said he needed my advice.
About what?
I don't know. He didn't show,
as I'm sure you know.
SANDY SIGHS
Listen
Amanda, you know I'd never do
anything to hurt you, right?
He said he spoke to someone -
someone that you know.
Who?
I don't know.
That's why we were meeting,
because he was gonna tell me
everything.
SANDY SIGHS
He wanted my opinion.
He He said
that he couldn't talk to you.
He couldn't talk to anybody.
Apart from you.
That's all I know.
I promise I'm telling you the truth.
You need to talk to him.
That's what I was gonna tell him.
PHONE CHIMES
I would, but he's vanished,
and no-one knows where he is.
I don't understand.
Imagine how I feel.
PHONE CHIMES
What is it?
Amanda?
I have to go and get Luke.
PHONE RINGS
Grandma and Grandpa were gonna
take me to the water park.
I know, I know. I'm sorry.
I just
Where's Dad?
Look, why don't you go
and watch some TV?
DIAL TONE
JIMMY OVER VOICEMAIL: 'Hey,
this is Jimmy. Leave a message.'
SHE SIGHS
Mummy!
Just a minute.
Hurry!
REPORTER:
'75-year-old Linda Blakefield'
Look. They said she's missing.
'..Whinwood Lodge care home.'
What do they mean, "missing"?
Is she gonna be OK?
Of course she is.
She's gonna be fine.
Everything's gonna be fine, OK?
PHONE RINGS.
Why don't you just change
the channel, OK?
PHONE BUZZES
Hello?
Who is this?
FIONA: 'Amanda, it's Fiona.'
I just heard about your mother.
Must be awful for you.
Where is she?
What?
Look, if you
or your stupid son have hurt her,
then I swear I'm gonna
Amanda, I genuinely have nothing
to do with this.
I've got plenty of reasons
to hate your mother,
but I'm not a kidnapper.
So then why are you calling,
to just express your sympathy?
Cos forgive me
if I don't give a shit.
OK, I've got a proposal.
This whole thing
is destroying both of us,
and a court case isn't going
to make it any easier.
So, what are you suggesting?
I'm suggesting that you and I agree
to split everything 50-50.
Amanda?
And what about your son?
Don't worry about him.
Just think about it.
'And again,
I hope your mother turns up soon.'
I know what it's like
to lose someone you love.
The offer is genuine.
DINOSAUR ROARS ON TV
Did you find Nana?
Not yet, baby.
What about Dad?
When you do see him,
tell him I'm on level four,
final boss.
DIAL TONE
JIMMY OVER VOICEMAIL: 'Hey,
this is Jimmy. Leave a message.'
Where the hell are you?
Look, you can't just disappear
like this.
Your son needs you. I
I need you. Jimmy
SHE SIGHS
LAPTOP CHIMES
SHE SIGHS
2481. Can I have some juice?
LAPTOP CHIMES
Anything you want, baby.
PHONE RINGS
Hello?
BREATHING OVER PHONE.
Who is this?
Look, do you have my mum?
Do you have?
MAN: 'Linda is safe. Jimmy is safe.
'Take the money and all this stops.'
Who are you?
SHE EXHALES,
PHONE BEEPS
SHE SIGHS
You look like you've seen a ghost.
There was a man here, staring.
I thought it was Boots at first,
but
Amanda's mother's gone missing.
Aw, what a shame (!)
Do you know anything about it?
Did you speak to Amanda?
Does it matter?
Yeah, it matters.
Yes.
How was she?
Any Any sign of movement
on the will?
Not yet. Did you remind her how much
a court case will cost?
She knows.
You know
I feel for her, actually.
Suddenly,
she and I have a lot in common.
Abandoned by our fathers.
Maybe me and her should have a chat
as well.
You think
you can make her change her mind?
I don't think so.
The truth is, I think I'd rather
she have the money than you.
SHE SIGHS
Look, I'm sorry about everything.
I always thought of you as my son.
You are my son. You know that.
Bless you (!)
Martin wanted us to have that money.
Now, something happened,
something that spooked him.
And if you still care about me
at all
HE SCOFFS
I need you
to tell me what that was,
because I think you know.
Well, perhaps
he just woke up one day
and realised
what a terrible human he'd been.
He wasn't.
I'm afraid he was.
Why would you say that?
He wanted you to know
about Boots being
It was me who said no.
Anthony
Who is this man?
I need you to stay here
with Auntie Sandy.
But why?
Just sit here and wait.
I saw that stuff on the TV
about your mum.
I was gonna call you, but
I need you to look after Luke.
Are you out of your mind?
Possibly, but will you?
Look, Amanda, I don't know
if you've forgotten where you work,
or used to,
but this is a bloody cafe.
And you might have forgotten
that you owe me.
Have you still not seen Jimmy?
No. Have you?
What about his parents?
Why can't he stay with them again?
I think someone might be
watching their house.
Watching their house? Who might be?
I don't know.
I think I know, but
What about if they're watching here?
Can you help me or not?
This morning, you were accusing me
of having an affair
with your husband, and
You're the only person
that I trust with my son.
SANDY SIGHS
Yeah.
Thank you.
Look, I
I need to borrow your car.
Thank you.
Be good.
DOOR OPENS
I hear you spoke to Fiona.
That's the artist formerly known
as Mother.
The thing is, and this gives me
no pleasure at all to say,
but she cannot be trusted.
What did she offer?
Amanda?
I haven't got time for this.
Oh, well, that makes two of us.
Do you want me to call the police?
HE SIGHS
Would that be such a smart idea?
I know you know where my mother is.
HE SCOFFS.
You really give me
far too much credit.
Actually, I come in peace.
You see,
certain events have conspired
to bring us closer together.
You and me.
What events?
All that matters is that I'm feeling
more sympathetic to your cause.
That's interesting.
That's almost what your mother said.
Ah, what did she offer you?
I'm assuming if you don't know,
there's a reason
she hasn't told you.
Ooh, you are good.
I don't care
what's going on with you or her.
All I know is I want my mother back.
Hmm. Hear, hear to that.
What?
How about I give you 25%?
Your mother already offered me 50.
And there we go.
That wasn't so hard, was it?
HE LAUGHS And what did you say?
Nothing.
Nothing?
Look, there are things that I know.
Things about your past,
about what you've done.
A, er friendly soul
sent me some photos of you
leaving Boots' cottage
the other night.
The same night he was last seen.
I have friends everywhere
in the village.
Shall I show you,
or have you seen them already?
You were furious
that he visited your mother
and then threatened you.
And apart from the photos,
several people tell me
you were asking for him that night.
So, I do hope, for your sake,
he turns up soon.
Unless, of course, it's just a body.
Give up the will, Amanda.
It's time we made all this go away,
don't you agree?
You have until tonight.
You know where to find me.
ENGINE STARTS
I was checking
if you had any laundry.
How maternal (!)
Since when do you do my laundry?
What did you do, Anthony?
I'll see if I can find anything else
for you.
PHONE RINGS
Sandy?
SANDY: 'Hello?'
Is he OK?
Can you hear me?
BREATHING OVER PHONE.
PHONE BEEPS Sandy?
Shit.
Hello?
DOOR CREAKS.
Hello?
Mum
Mum, can you hear me? Mum?
THUD
FOOTSTEPS APPROACH
Amanda?
You?
How do you know my name,
and why do you have my mother?
Who? Who are you?
Please, she's
She's sick. She's dying.
You don't know me?
You really don't know me?
I was worried when I picked you up.
I wasn't sure if you'd know,
if you'd, well, recognise me.
But I had to,
I had to make sure you were OK.
What? What are you?
Hello, darling.
Isn't it lovely to have him back?
Eh?
Well, go on.
Give your father a kiss.
What?
No, he's not. You're
You're not. You can't be. He's
He's dead. My father's dead.
I didn't want you to know.
I I didn't mean
for anything like this to happen.
Oh, my God. Stop. Stop.
Stop talking.
I wanted to see her again.
I needed to to see her again.
Just once. I'm so sorry.
Why? Why would you do this? You
I understand. I do.
But you you died. You
You left us!
I did what I thought was best.
My decision was never
about getting back into your life.
It was about giving you a life!
I didn't mean for this to happen.
I needed you to think I was dead.
I was. I was dead.
I didn't live a life,
not since I left you both.
But they they killed you.
I thought that's what Boots
was trying to tell me
is that they'd murdered you.
I don't understand
I needed you to take the money!
Amanda?
AMANDA SIGHS
I saw your father.
No, it's OK.
I-I'm here. I'm still here.
So, all of this is because of you.
You're
You're the reason that
Martin left me the estate. You
I sent the photographs
to the restaurant.
I wanted you to see the past,
to want what you were owed. I
I wanted you to see
we once were happy.
Then why send me
the photos of Martin?
I needed you to ask questions.
You were about to give up
the inheritance.
Oh, God, who says I haven't?
You were supposed
to accept the will.
Get what's yours, that's all,
and then then I was gone.
Oh, my God.
Boots, you
You killed Boots.
What?
You saw him with me that night.
You wanted to stop him
from telling me.
I didn't kill him.
Though, I'd have good reason.
So
So, the photos, the photos of me
the night that Boots died,
you didn't send them?
No, I
I can't do this. I can't
I can't do this.
PHONE BEEPS Laura, it's me.
I need to talk to you.
It's about Anthony.
He knows about his dad,
and I think there's a lot more
he's not telling me.
So, if you've got any information,
please, I need to know it.
Also, there's something else.
I think something's happened
to Boots.
Laura, I'm telling you this
because I'm frightened,
so please call me.
PHONE BEEPS
I'm starting to think
I can't trust you.
Why are you holding that?
It's hunting season.
Dad's favourite.
Did you kill Boots?
Anthony?
Why?
Why did you do that?
I was protecting the man
I thought was my father.
You told me she was in the village
shooting her mouth off.
I found her. I followed her.
And I did what had to be done.
SHE GROANS Anthony, please.
What are you gonna do?
We wait for her reply.
I've told her
we need an answer tonight.
Then we take it from there.
Martin wanted rid of me.
He'd taken my money, ruined me.
He was in love with Linda.
So he got Boots to have me killed.
But I still had friends.
Drinking partners.
Things get said, get heard.
They'd always seen me as stupid,
as too drunk,
too lost to stop them.
But what they didn't know was
I could still listen.
And I still had something to lose.
RADIO PLAYS
Now don't you see
That our love
Will be everlasting? ♪
Boots hired someone to kill me.
GUNSHOT FIRES
You and me ♪
Only, I got wind of it.
All my loving is for you ♪
I wasn't just a drunk any more.
I was a killer.
I-I wanted to tell
your mother everything, but she
she thought I'd left,
been paid off.
I decided you'd both be better off
without me.
The Worralls told her I was dead,
and
in a way, they were right.
I had no fight left in me.
But why all of this?
Why come back now?
Because this time
I really am dying.
LINDA COUGHS,
CHOKES
Shh, come on, come on.
Just have a little drink.
Good girl. That's it. That's it.
She needs a hospital.
She needs me.
No, she needed you,
and now she needs a doctor.
I'm calling an ambulance.
This is madness.
No. Look, you saw her.
She's happy here.
She doesn't wanna die in a hospital.
She needs help.
I said no. Look
Can we not just be together
for a while?
AMANDA SCOFFS
It's a bit late for that.
Do you? Do you not see?
I just wanted you
to get what you were owed.
I wanted it for you.
I wanted it for Luke.
Oh, my God.
It was you, wasn't it?
It was you at the ice-cream truck.
You You said hello to Luke.
What kind of monster?
I wanted to see my grandson.
You had no right!
LINDA WHEEZES Shh, shh!
LINDA SIGHS
When I knew it that I was dying,
I wanted to be with your mother.
And this little place was our
Happy place.
Photos.
Why did you send them
if you didn't want me
to find out about you?
Why? Why drive the taxi?
Why take the risk?
You wanted me to find you.
Yeah, maybe.
When I got my diagnosis,
something
something clicked in me.
I needed to find Martin. I
won't forget the moment he saw me.
We just stared at each other.
Me, at the man
who'd taken everything from me.
He, at the man
who he thought he'd killed.
And I told him, I said,
"Look, I've got photographs
of the dead assassin."
I kept a paper trail of the money
that I'd given him to invest,
and unless he gave you
what you were owed, then
Well, he had no choice.
As long as people thought
I was dead, he could just pretend.
But now that I was alive
I told him, I told him, just,
"Look, just write a cheque,
and I'll be dead to you forever."
But he was terrified.
Maybe Maybe even ashamed.
I suppose he couldn't do it
that way, so he chose another.
And that's when everything changed.
The will made it harder.
And when I found out
he'd killed himself, well, look
I needed you to take the money.
No, I need you to take the money.
And I-I wasn't certain
you'd accept it,
so I had to make sure.
I didn't want you
to find out about me.
I didn't want you to find out
that I'd been alive all this time,
so I
So I got some help.
Some help?
Oh, my God.
Jimmy.
You spoke to Jimmy?
That's what he wanted to tell Sandy.
He said he couldn't keep it
a secret any longer.
He said he was going to tell you.
And I just
I just couldn't let him do that.
What did you do?
HE BREATHES HEAVILY.
What did you do?
Just stay with your mum.
PHONE BUZZES
Who's that?
Laura.
Well, answer it.
She might have some news.
Or should I?
Hi.
Yes. Yes, he is.
OK.
All right. Thanks.
Well?
No news.
Then we wait
Mum.
I might just step outside
and get some air.
I don't think so.
Go on. In you go.
JIMMY SIGHS
SHE SIGHS
I am so sorry
Don't.
SHE SOBS
I wanted to tell you.
I was
I was gonna tell you, but I just
I just thought that
You thought what?
That our marriage would
continue on just fine?
We'd have all that money
and the fucking house,
and all the while,
you're keeping a secret
that my dad isn't really dead.
Are you fucking high?
I did it for Luke.
I mean, I just couldn't believe
that you were turning this down,
and when your dad got in touch,
I I just thought about Luke.
SHE SIGHS
That's all.
Jimmy's here.
SHE SIGHS
Mum, come on.
Let's get you out of here.
No, no, what you doing?
I'm putting an end to this.
No.
I want
I want to be here with your father.
No, no, Mum, come on.
This is This is over. Come on.
Don't send me away.
I need to be here.
SHE SIGHS
You and me.
CRYING: Please.
I don't want to die in hospital.
CRYING: Please. Please.
SHE SOBS
It's what she wants.
SHE SIGHS.
Amanda! Where are you going?
To sort this out.
What do you mean?
Maybe you're right.
Maybe I deserve this money.
Maybe they deserve to pay
for what they've done to my family.
They're expecting an answer.
So I'm gonna go and give them one.
Well, let me come with you.
I think you've helped me enough.
DOOR OPENS,
FOOTSTEPS APPROACH
She's right.
I never should have agreed to this.
You made your choices.
What was I thinking?
It's her money.
It always was.
Maybe.
But it was a father
that she needed, Barry.
I can't let her do this.
No, wait.
PHONE RINGS
Hello?
LAURA: 'Amanda.'
What do you want?
Have you had time
to consider Fiona's offer?
'Oh, I've considered it.'
And?
Well, it seems
your clients aren't in sync.
Anthony visited me,
and he threatened me.
With what?
Look, I don't know what you know
but I know what I know.
And in a few minutes,
so will your clients.
Anthony isn't Martin's son.
'Boots was his father.'
Why are you telling me this now?
'I shouldn't.
There are other things too.'
About Martin,
things that I don't know.
'But I think Anthony's dangerous,
'and I can't watch
all of this happen, not any more.'
I suggest you reject Fiona's offer.
I suggest you leave them alone.
It's a bit late for that.
'Amanda'
Amanda!
PHONE BEEPS.
HE BREATHES HEAVILY
DOORBELL RINGS
I've made my decision.
To your right.
Amanda has a decision for us,
Mother.
Well, come on.
The tension's unbearable.
It's a beautiful house.
Thank you.
Yeah, we worked very hard for it.
With my dad's money.
What do you mean?
You know.
I don't.
Sorry, do you have a decision
for us?
What do you mean, Amanda?
The truth is
that Martin stole my dad's money
and then tried to have him killed.
What?
Which comic book
did you get that from?
That can't be true.
It is true.
All these years, you've been
living off my dad's money.
Anthony?
It's a lie. This is all lies.
It's not.
You can't prove any of this.
That's where you're wrong.
You seeing ghosts now as well,
are you?
Yeah, actually.
HE CHUCKLES.
You're insane.
A while ago,
I would have agreed with you,
but I'm not.
I know that you killed Boots.
You killed him because he was
the only one who knew what you knew.
To protect your father.
The man that you thought
to be your father.
Oh, the note.
Martin said there was something
he couldn't protect me from.
It was this, wasn't it? You knew.
You and Boots.
There's no body, no evidence
that any of this happened
apart from in your imagination.
Well, there is some.
Barry?
You knew everything. Martin told me.
He begged me
to keep you out of this.
The photograph of the dead man.
Who was he?
The man your husband hired
to kill me.
But I got there first.
Martin needed to know
I had all the proof.
I just want what he took.
What you What you all took.
He killed himself
because you blackmailed him. No.
I got him to put things right,
that's all.
Everything they're saying is true,
isn't it?
True? What do you know about true?
You've lied to me my whole life.
I've got nothing because of you,
because of him.
I should kill you right now!
I should kill the lot of you!
Please, please!
Please just put the gun down.
Don't do this.
Please, please.
Anthony, I
I spoke to Laura.
She told me everything.
Everything?
Go on, then.
Do your worst, kid.
Dad!
Oh, that's nice to hear.
"Dad."
You shoot me now,
and I'll die a happy man.
Dad
Dad Dad
No, don't, please.
HE BREATHES SHAKILY,
HE GROANS
SHE SCREAMS,
GUNSHOT FIRES
Huh? Barry?
No, it's me.
SHE GROANS.
I know he'll be back.
You just need to relax, Linda.
SHALLOW BREATHING
He loved me, you know?
SHALLOW BREATHING
And he loved Amanda.
SHE GROANS
Linda?
Mum?
No.
No, don't go.
Not now, please.
HE SOBS
SOBBING
If you'd like to come this way.
Table for four.
DOOR OPENS
I'll be along with your menus
in a moment.
Hi.
Hi.
Sorry Sorry about your mum.
Look, thank you for the other night,
for looking after Luke.
Oh, he was amazing.
Erm, I was thinking
of employing him,
although, now that
you're a country squire
Well, actually, I was wondering
Please, please, just buy the place.
And for the love of God,
make me redundant.
I was wondering
if you still needed someone.
Who were you thinking of?
Just someone I know who needs a job.
Seriously?
Please tell me this is a joke.
Please tell me that you've got
a massive mansion in Northumberland
and that Luke's going
to boarding school
and that your dad is in
a nice retirement home in Antigua.
I let Fiona keep the house.
You did what?
She has suffered more than me.
But don't worry, I've
I've kept enough money
to secure Luke's future, but
come on, what do I need
with mansions and all that stuff?
This is my happy place.
Well, there's a bunch of arseholes
at table seven,
and they're all yours.
THEY LAUGH
You freak!
THEY LAUGH.
And just so you know,
he told me nothing.
Right, lads, what can I get you?