Crookhaven (2026) s01e07 Episode Script
The Trials
Your parents were killed, love.
Get Chameleon into Crookhaven,
and she'll get you out.
You want to speak to Ishaan?
Night-night!
Help!
The Nameless.
Gabriel, get out! Now!
Your mother would have
done the same.
And if I write her a letter?
I'll see she gets this.
Why did they come for me?
You're unfinished business.
PUMMELLING
Your mother replied.
I only wrote to her yesterday.
How'd this get here so fast?
You know I can't reveal my channels.
Are you ready for today?
I've been training for the Trials
since I was a zygote.
Of course I'm ready.
You're going to win.
I have no doubt. Nor should you.
THUMPING
BREATHES HEAVILY
ENGINE HUMS
We know what you've endured
in your young life.
But here, you can put
all that behind you.
Here, you can be safe.
A crook never forgets
their first trial.
I only wish I was there
to share it with you.
But I can't wait to see your name on
the Dishonours Board when I'm back.
I won't let you down, Mum.
Guess what I found in my pocket?
Mm.
Funny. Look what I found in mine.
It's a Crookhaven tradition.
If you want to ask someone
to the Masquerade tonight,
you slip one of your shillings
into their pocket.
How exciting!
Oh, except I can't think of anyone
who'd want to ask me.
Count yourself lucky.
Hey.
Seriously? You didn't shut up
about her all Crooxeat.
It was genuinely less
fun than being kidnapped.
Problem is, Ede,
he has the soul of a poet,
but he gets tongue tied
around his bae.
She's not my, um
Can we just not call her my
So, to help him ask Nicki
to the dance,
we came up with a genius plan.
This, Jeezer,
is our grandfather's hearing aid,
ingeniously repurposed
into a hidden earpiece.
I have a matching one,
so I can feed lines
to my bro in real time.
Only slight complication.
Well, it keeps picking up
random radio signals.
How can this possibly fail?
Hey, where's Amira?
Haven't seen her since Crooxeat.
I should probably go check
she's still alive.
Dorian, what are you doing?
Before you say no, Edgar,
she's a Merit and everything,
but I want to take Jia to
the Masquerade.
Have you lost your mind? Utterly!
She's bewitched me!
So just let me have this one thing.
So, anyway, no.
I'm not buying into some pointless
heteronormative ritual.
Ade, you're my not date.
Deal? Deal.
Correct decision.
Don't even think about it.
Let's not play games.
We both know it's a done deal.
We're the top Legacies.
It just makes sense.
Not to me, it doesn't.
I don't want to go with anyone.
PA ANNOUNCEMENT: Reminder!
The Trials will push you
to your physical limits.
So carve it up, Crooks.
I know there is a lot
on your mind, Ami,
but you have to block it out.
Your biggest threat
isn't Edgar or Penelope.
It's you.
What's that supposed to mean?
Your first break-in,
you threw it away for Amira.
Full Disclosure. Shilling Test.
Every time you let emotion in
and then you choke.
Well, not today. Look,
now I know it's not just Grandma
I'm fighting for.
Now I know that coming here,
winning the Crooked Cup
..it's my destiny.
Wise man.
PA ANNOUNCEMENT: Registration
for the Trials is now closed.
Good luck to all competing.
You'll need it.
Want to talk about it?
Oh, the Trials?
I mean, apologies in advance
for kicking your
I don't mean the trials.
So, what's to talk about?
Maybe that I saved you
from being kidnapped.
Of course you're going to make it
all about yourself!
My father told me
what happened to your parents.
Well, I don't know
what happened to them.
All I know is that they
were killed by the Nameless.
And that's weird. I mean,
my whole life, I've had this
..I don't know, ability,
gift, curse.
I mean, I remember everything.
But I've got no memory of them.
Tell anyone and I'll end you.
But
..sometimes I
..imagine I'm talking to my mum.
I can hear her voice so clearly.
It's like
It's like she's right there.
If you close your eyes,
maybe there's some part of you
that can hear your mum too.
Just try it.
Nothing.
Just thisabsence.
Anyway, um, thanks for the, uh
There it is!
Took you long enough!
So are youare you competing
as a Legacy or a Merit today?
Because if I were you Merit.
And it's my grandma who raised me.
I mean, she's the one
who still adopted me as a
What is it?
Every year, me and my grandma,
we celebrate the day we met.
But do you know what that means?
It means it's also
the day they died.
15th of May 2011.
Intercepted bank raid.
It was a small crew.
Three of them.
Sent to foil a bank robbery.
They were compromised.
One of them sold the others out.
And they fell to the Nameless.
He betrayed them.
Who did? Who was the third person?
Diego Velasquez.
There you are. I've been
looking all over for you.
Yeah, not now, Jia.
Dude, this can't wait.
Come on. Uh, not you, Princess.
ADE: Remember, bro. I'm the driver.
You're just the car.
So relax. Just got to remember
your first line.
Hey, Nicki.
I hope I'm not interrupting.
ADE: That's it, bro. You got this.
STATIC BUZZING
Ade? Ade, I'm losing you. Ade?
VILLETTE: Affirmative, Leopard.
Everything's set for the Chameleon.
I was starting to think
this day would never come.
I'm so sick of sweet,
useless little Nicki.
Can't wait to be myself again.
I'll report when I've contacted
the Chameleon.
STATIC BUZZING
ADE: Are you still there?
What's happening? Do you copy?
On second thoughts,
this was woefully misguided.
I've had enough of this double life.
Of hiding among you pious
hypocrites.
I have nothing but contempt
for Crookhaven
and everything it stands for.
So, I'm escaping.
I'm going back to join my brother,
where I belong.
Where I can be my true self,
with the Nameless.
No way Amira wrote this.
She also swore Ishaan was innocent,
and he tried to kidnap me!
She's being set up.
She even told me!
Yeah, and I wanted to believe her.
I did.
But this is what happens
when you're too trusting.
Your so-called friends betray you.
All this time, she was one of them.
Looks like you really are a Legacy.
DOOR SLAMS
We need a full debrief.
They came for Gabriel.
If Whisper and I had been
even a minute later
We will debrief
when the time is right.
For now, I need to focus
on our guests,
on today.
The most important day of the year.
I'm honoured to ferry
such a fine bunch of crooks
on this illustrious occasion.
Of course, most of you probably
need no introduction to Crookhaven.
You probably came here yourselves.
Or your parents.
Maybe even both.
You always told me never to trust
Amira.
Turns out you were right.
When will you learn, Avery?
I'm always right.
Still, one less person
for me to beat.
I did think there was
something unsettling about her.
Now I know why.
It's not right, bro.
Legacies get to see their parents,
show off their Crooked skills.
All us Merits get is a fake report
from "St Jude's Academy."
I bet I don't even get a decent
fake grade in fake geography.
Huh?
What's up with you, bro?
I still don't get what happened
with Nicki. We practised.
You was in the zone!
I told you. Earphones glitched.
I can't believe Samson Sorenson's
the Guest Judge!
Dad says he's massively overrated.
What?
No. No, no. Samson Sorenson,
he's a legend.
Dad says the only thing he's
good at is burnishing his own myth.
He's like one of the top five crooks
of the past 30 years.
He's worth 103 points
on Deception Deck.
Look! Mm.
Do you think he'll sign it for me?
If you want it to lose all value!
Take a hint, Edgar.
If a virus wiped out humanity
and we were the last
two people left on Earth,
it would still be a hard pass.
Nicki, will you go to
the Masquerade with me?
You're one of the few people here
I genuinely like.
So, yes or no?
I'd love to.
Thank you, Penelope. There.
Now I'm taken.
Find another victim.
Prrrr.
Too bad, bro. Missed your shot.
Mr Sisman
You should probably see this.
It was in Amira's room.
I knew it.
I knew she would cave in in the end.
They all do.
But a signed confession?
This is more than
I ever dared dream of.
A fake confession!
She's been set up!
How can you not see that?
Sh, sh. Spare me the conspiracy
theories, Jia.
Get yourself ready for the Trials.
I'll take this from here.
Dad!
Oh, God.
You're at Crookhaven, my boy.
We shake hands.
Of course.
No Mum? She wanted to,
but she sends her love.
So, you better win this thing, huh?
Yeah.
Didn't come all this way
to see you come second.
No.
Two things I love the most.
Wild Astrantias,
and being proved right.
It's not conclusive.
It's a signed confession, Whisper.
What a family!
Where's our Headmaster?
Shouldn't he be here
to greet our guests?
PA ANNOUNCEMENT: This year's
Crooked Trials will commence
in T minus 30 minutes.
Come on, give us a hug
Sisman brushed me off!
And Gabriel won't listen either.
To be fair,
if I found out my friend
was in a gang
that killed my parents
She's not
I have something to tell you both.
And this doesn't necessarily
implicate her.
And I don't want to jump
to any conclusions.
Um
But
..Nicki's a spy.
Amira's vanished.
She left a confession
and a burnt coin.
You know who did this?
The plan was to turn Nicki,
to use her as an asset,
not to turn a blind eye
over and over again!
This time I won't stand by
Our guests are waiting.
Can't make a spectacle
in front of them.
As soon as the Trials are over
I'm not waiting.
If anything happens to Amira,
then it's on your head!
Oh, Headmaster coming through.
Ah, Samson. Welcome!
So honoured you could join us.
The honour's mine, Caspian.
I've long been an admirer
of your work here,
and, uh, I'm always on the lookout
for fresh talent.
Samson, how the devil are you?
Hector Delacombe.
Uh, Paris, 2008?
Well, if you say so, Horace.
Early noughties
are a bit of a blur, to be honest.
No, it's Hector.
Samson Sorenson. Who might you be?
Miss Friedrich.
I teach Crimnastics.
I bet you do.
Let me know
if your skills need sharpening.
I find older crooks
can get sorusty.
And I am Benito Palombo,
Master of Forgery.
Good for you.
Samson
Meet some of my star pupils.
Bloody show off!
Sisman.
You need to find Amira.
Search the island.
Too late, mate, she's long gone.
Headmaster's orders.
Why do you keep looking around?
My mother's supposed to be here.
Did you check on the guest list?
I can check with my father.
Oh, that's all right.
Maybe she got held up.
I get it. I'd do anything
to have my mum here today.
Just remember what I taught you,
right?
Ruthless Nicki. Not sweet Nicki.
Crooklings! A word.
You may have noticed
Amira's absence.
Bye, Amira. You won't be missed.
If any of you have any idea
where she might be,
now is the time to speak up.
I hope nothing's happened to her.
Wilkommen to all you crooks
joining us
from secure locations round
the world.
We will be coming
to you live across the day for this,
the ultimate test
for our young crooks.
But first, let us hear
from our guiding light,
Mr Caspian Lockett!
APPLAUSE
For one day of the year,
we open our gates to you,
a hand-picked selection
of the world's finest crooks.
So together we can identify
the Crooked stars of the future.
This year's challenge
is a simple one.
On the roof of Maravel's Tower
is £10,000 of stolen money
in a locked box.
Your task is to be first
to liberate the cash,
and raise the flag.
To get to the Tower,
you will have to pass five Trials
that will test your Crooked skills
and give you a chance to impress our
esteemed guest, Samson Sorenson.
APPLAUSE
I'd like to offer this year's
winners two weeks'
Crook experience,
helping me out with a couple
of cheeky little heists.
I've literally had that dream!
Along with Mr Sorenson's
generous prize,
the winner also earns
25 Crooked points,
enough points for any of you
to clinch the Crooked Cup.
And of course,
the winner will also take home
the £10,000.
APPLAUSE
That would change Grandma's life.
It's time for the Crooklings
to take their positions.
Come on!
Eyes on the prize, remember.
Block the rest out.
Hey.
We've got proof Amira's innocent.
Ede heard Nicki on the earpiece.
She's the spy.
She framed Amira. Nicki?
Oh, come on.
She's scared of her own shadow.
You always used to tell me you can't
tell when people are lying.
So let me make it clear for you.
Amira lied to you.
She lied to us all.
Forget Amira.
There are more coming, right?
Wouldn't be standing about here
if there were now, would I?
That'd be a dereliction of duty,
like.
But the other guests?
I counted them all in myself.
That's your lot.
I thought there were others.
MISS FRIEDRICH: The 183rd
Crooked Trials have begun.
MATILDA JERICHO: Your masks will be
removed in order of Most Wanted.
Your task is to escape,
but be warned,
we've reconfigured the Specularium.
Touch the walls, and you are out.
BUZZING
WHOOSHING
Wrong choice, Anders! You are out.
WHOOSHING
WHOOSHING
WHOOSHING
Come on!
Wrong choice, Saoirse!
You are out.
EXHALES SLOWLY
Edgar? Edgar!
WHISPER: For the benefit
of the late comers,
your handcuffs have a unique
four-digit release code
that I've hidden in a data set.
The clock is ticking. Hurry up!
ALERT TONE
Psst!
Jia!
WHISPER: Nicki. No conferring.
First and final warning.
MISS FRIEDRICH: Our first warning
there for young Nicki Harkness.
One wrong move and you're out.
It's sadistic.
I love it!
Whoo-hoo-hoo! Yeah!
PALOMBO: And we have
our first winner.
Ade Okoro has completed the Trial.
Who's this joker?
At the end of the day, I dug deep,
and I think you saw it
in the final result.
Ade, you're losing time.
Get to your next Trial!
You were wrong about Nicki.
Ede wouldn't make that up.
Not now.
Ede. Go, go, go!
Yes!
Oh!
WHISPER: Oh, Dorian.
Wrong code! You're out.
Edgar! Go on without me.
Win it for the both of us, Edgar!
I'm not winning it for you.
I'm winning it for my dad.
Oh, yeah. Totally. Totally.
Yeah, yeah. I'm rooting for you!
BEEPING
Mission compromised.
Chameleon's missing.
Don't know if she's in the boat,
or in danger.
Urgent extraction required.
LEOPARD: There's no signal.
STATIC BUZZING
Get to the highest point you can.
Maravel's Tower.
Nicki! What are you doing?
Next Trial's Deception. This way!
Don't lose your nerve.
Remember what I told you.
Ruthless Nicki.
SHE WHIMPERS
BOAT FRAME SHUDDERS
SPLINTERING
MISS FRIEDRICH: Vigorous work from
Edgar and Penelope there
in the Deception Trial.
And dishonourable mention
to Gabriel,
who is making up for lost time.
She didn't write that letter!
I know what I heard.
"I'm so sick of sweet,
useless little Nicki.
"I can't wait to be myself again."
You were eavesdropping!
I was just giving myself a pep talk.
So who's the Chameleon?
I have no idea.
PALOMBO: Now for the most
important trial of the day.
Forgery.
I'm sure most crooks would agree,
Crimnastics is the supreme skill.
Respectfully,
one takes years to master.
The other is basically
running and jumping.
Respectfully.
Have you found Amira?
Scoured the island.
No sign of her.
On a hiding to nothing, mate.
I've called off the search.
Then I'll have to take things
into my own hands.
PALOMBO: For this Trial,
our students must distinguish
the original
from five of my forgeries.
Forgery! I have to say, for me,
Nicki is the dark horse.
The speed and agility I have
not seen from her before.
MISS FRIEDRICH: Where's that little
crook been hiding?
Last six. Well done.
I guess I take after my parents!
It's a shame they're not here
to cheer me on,
but I'll never get to meet them
because of what you did.
You betrayed them, didn't you? No.
Not here, not now.
One more Trial, amigo!
What have you done with her,
Villette?
My name is Nicki!
PALOMBO: Here they come.
Our final six Crooklings.
MISS FRIEDRICH: All that remains
is to race through the woods
of Maravel's Tower.
PALOMBO: While avoiding some
rather zealous gardeners.
Oh!
Where is she?
SHE YELLS
MISS FRIEDRICH: With Jia out,
the final challenge awaits.
Maravel's Tower.
The ultimate test of Crimnastics.
The purest of the crooked arts.
In your opinion.
PALOMBO: And with the prize
almost in sight,
Gabriella and Penelope
lead the field.
Merit versus Legacy.
Give it up. It's over.
Argh! Argh!
MISS FRIEDRICH: Nicki Harkness
is free climbing the Tower!
What are you doing?
GROANING
Sorry, Penelope.
THEY EXCLAIM
PALOMBO: Brutal from Nicki!
A dark horse indeed.
What a savage discipline
Crimnastics truly is.
Penelope Lockett is out!
Let me go! Or what?
I'm warning you!
They were right. It was you.
Where's Amira?
Last I saw her,
in the middle of a lake.
But she can't swim.
So if you want to see your friend
again, you'd better hurry up.
Or do you want to win your stupid
cup?
Huh?
Crazy kid was about to win.
Why has he got the yips
all of a sudden?
He's bottled it. Typical Merit.
PALOMBO: The prize was within
his grasp.
MISS FRIEDRICH: What's this?
Get out of the way!
A late reappearance
of Edgar Delacombe.
Now's your moment, Edgar.
Cometh the hour
..cometh the Delacombe.
You always were a quitter!
Hello? Leopard?
Chameleon's missing in action,
and my cover's blown.
Answer me! What's she saying?
Why is there no sound?
MISS FRIEDRICH:
What is Nicki Harkness doing?
She needs to raise that flag!
Me and you.
Who saw that coming?
So what now?
Fight?
Go ahead.
Yes! Whoooo!
Yes! That's my boy!
That's my Edgar!
Beauty!
PALOMBO: Edgar Delacombe
takes the prize!
MISS FRIEDRICH: What a comeback for
Legacy Crookling, Edgar Delacombe.
But the question remains,
why Nicki Harkness
and Gabriel Avery
Something's unravelling here.
I've been around real fear
enough times
to recognise it in a fellow crook.
Perceptive. But I don't do fear.
Hmm.
What just happened, Whisper?
Something stinks here
and it sure as heck ain't me.
VILLETTE: I know you'll never
hear this.
But I want you to know
that I fought with everything I had.
Right until the end.
But I failed.
Mickey! Mickey!
I failed the Chameleon.
And for that,
I'll never forgive myself.
LEOPARD: You haven't failed,
Villette.
Hold your nerve.
We have others in place.
You're not alone.
You never were.
GABRIEL: Over there!
Sorry, young'uns.
What does this mean?
That Nicki's been lying?
Or someone else got here first.
I never should have doubted you.
I never should have doubted Amira.
I was always sceptical,
whether you could be turned.
I'm sorry you feel that way.
But I've always been grateful
for this opportunity.
For the fresh start.
I know who you are.
I'm the one who plucked you
off the streets.
They've poisoned your mind.
There's not an antidote
strong enough to
Yes?
I see. Thank you.
They found the boat. It's empty.
Of course it is.
That's just a lie I made up
to get Gabriel off my case.
I don't know where Amira is.
So if you don't have any more
evidence, sir, please may I go?
I'd hate to miss prizegiving.
I came second today,
and I'm third in the Crooked Cup.
I'm quite proud of myself.
Bravo, my boy!
I thought we shook hands now?
Extenuating circumstances.
Come here!
A blooming relief.
Let me have a look.
No, not with that.
Your pal reminds me of someone.
What's his name?
Edgar. Edgar what?
Erm, Delacombe. And I'm McArthur.
Delacombe
Ah!
Where's Amira?
You didn't think I was serious?
It was just a ruse, to stop you
from trying to sabotage me.
You didn't even try to win.
I have my reasons.
She's lying through her teeth.
Duh!
I was just doing
what you've always taught me.
You should be proud of me, in a way.
Proud of you?
You cost me the Trials!
You cost me the Cup!
And after all that, you didn't
even have the decency to win!
I couldn't.
I tried to be Ruthless Nicki,
but I couldn't bring myself to do
it.
I couldn't steal the prize from
the one best friend I've ever had.
You're not my friend.
You never were.
I just felt sorry for you.
So, are you going to tell me
the whole truth about Nicki?
Or are you going to carry on
acting like you don't know?
Which one?
CARMEN LOCKETT:
You did your best, baby.
I failed.
All I ever wanted
was to live up to you.
What is it?
You spelt Dishonours with a U.
The English spelling.
You'd never write that.
You didn't write this.
Smart girl.
He did.
He's still lying.
You've taken this far enough.
Where is Amira?
I wish I could help you, sir,
but I have no idea.
Here's what you need to know.
I have eyes on every inch
of the school,
so you have no hope of escape.
And the sooner you give her up,
the better this ends for you.
One bad turn deserves another.
So you go first.
Where's the Chameleon?
I wish I could help you,
but I have no idea.
Lockett knows.
He's in on it.
MATILDA JERICHO:
And now we come to this year's
Crookling Crooked Cup winners.
In third place
..Nicki Harkness!
In second place
..Penelope Lockett!
But this year's winner is
..Edgar Delacombe! Bravo!
Whoa!
Well done, Edgar.
Look, I know you won by default,
but, uh, all's fair in love and war,
as your mother well knows.
You know my mother?
Oh, knew.
Dynamite crook. Hmm?
I'll tell you all about it
when you come for work experience.
CHEERING AND APPLAUSE
Lockett told me
he'd reprogramme her,
but I don't think
that was ever the plan.
Mm. And what about Gabriel?
What if Lockett and Nicki
are working together?
What does that mean?
It means he helped frame Amira.
It means he's with the Nameless.
It means he knows where she is.
Then maybe it's not too late
to save her.
How long are you going to keep me
here? I'll keep you here until
I get what I require.
You know what that is.
You're a monster! Now!
CONVERSATION CONTINUES INDISTINCTLY
DOOR SLAMS
CASPIAN LOCKETT: We know what you've
endured in your young life.
But here, you can put all that
behind you.
Here, you can be safe.
But for your own protection,
no-one must know who you were.
You're no longer Villette.
From this moment on
..you're Nicki Harkness.
A Legacy.
Where's my earpiece? Where is it?
Where is it?!
Lockett!
INDISTINCT CONVERSATION
Let me go!
ADRIA: Who's there?
Stop! Don't come any closer.
There's a camera right above me.
If he sees I'm talking to someone,
then we could both
be in serious danger.
Who are you?
What? It's you. What do you mean?
Gabriel.
I don't know you. No.
No, but I know you.
How?
CHAINS RATTLE
Because you are my son.
Get Chameleon into Crookhaven,
and she'll get you out.
You want to speak to Ishaan?
Night-night!
Help!
The Nameless.
Gabriel, get out! Now!
Your mother would have
done the same.
And if I write her a letter?
I'll see she gets this.
Why did they come for me?
You're unfinished business.
PUMMELLING
Your mother replied.
I only wrote to her yesterday.
How'd this get here so fast?
You know I can't reveal my channels.
Are you ready for today?
I've been training for the Trials
since I was a zygote.
Of course I'm ready.
You're going to win.
I have no doubt. Nor should you.
THUMPING
BREATHES HEAVILY
ENGINE HUMS
We know what you've endured
in your young life.
But here, you can put
all that behind you.
Here, you can be safe.
A crook never forgets
their first trial.
I only wish I was there
to share it with you.
But I can't wait to see your name on
the Dishonours Board when I'm back.
I won't let you down, Mum.
Guess what I found in my pocket?
Mm.
Funny. Look what I found in mine.
It's a Crookhaven tradition.
If you want to ask someone
to the Masquerade tonight,
you slip one of your shillings
into their pocket.
How exciting!
Oh, except I can't think of anyone
who'd want to ask me.
Count yourself lucky.
Hey.
Seriously? You didn't shut up
about her all Crooxeat.
It was genuinely less
fun than being kidnapped.
Problem is, Ede,
he has the soul of a poet,
but he gets tongue tied
around his bae.
She's not my, um
Can we just not call her my
So, to help him ask Nicki
to the dance,
we came up with a genius plan.
This, Jeezer,
is our grandfather's hearing aid,
ingeniously repurposed
into a hidden earpiece.
I have a matching one,
so I can feed lines
to my bro in real time.
Only slight complication.
Well, it keeps picking up
random radio signals.
How can this possibly fail?
Hey, where's Amira?
Haven't seen her since Crooxeat.
I should probably go check
she's still alive.
Dorian, what are you doing?
Before you say no, Edgar,
she's a Merit and everything,
but I want to take Jia to
the Masquerade.
Have you lost your mind? Utterly!
She's bewitched me!
So just let me have this one thing.
So, anyway, no.
I'm not buying into some pointless
heteronormative ritual.
Ade, you're my not date.
Deal? Deal.
Correct decision.
Don't even think about it.
Let's not play games.
We both know it's a done deal.
We're the top Legacies.
It just makes sense.
Not to me, it doesn't.
I don't want to go with anyone.
PA ANNOUNCEMENT: Reminder!
The Trials will push you
to your physical limits.
So carve it up, Crooks.
I know there is a lot
on your mind, Ami,
but you have to block it out.
Your biggest threat
isn't Edgar or Penelope.
It's you.
What's that supposed to mean?
Your first break-in,
you threw it away for Amira.
Full Disclosure. Shilling Test.
Every time you let emotion in
and then you choke.
Well, not today. Look,
now I know it's not just Grandma
I'm fighting for.
Now I know that coming here,
winning the Crooked Cup
..it's my destiny.
Wise man.
PA ANNOUNCEMENT: Registration
for the Trials is now closed.
Good luck to all competing.
You'll need it.
Want to talk about it?
Oh, the Trials?
I mean, apologies in advance
for kicking your
I don't mean the trials.
So, what's to talk about?
Maybe that I saved you
from being kidnapped.
Of course you're going to make it
all about yourself!
My father told me
what happened to your parents.
Well, I don't know
what happened to them.
All I know is that they
were killed by the Nameless.
And that's weird. I mean,
my whole life, I've had this
..I don't know, ability,
gift, curse.
I mean, I remember everything.
But I've got no memory of them.
Tell anyone and I'll end you.
But
..sometimes I
..imagine I'm talking to my mum.
I can hear her voice so clearly.
It's like
It's like she's right there.
If you close your eyes,
maybe there's some part of you
that can hear your mum too.
Just try it.
Nothing.
Just thisabsence.
Anyway, um, thanks for the, uh
There it is!
Took you long enough!
So are youare you competing
as a Legacy or a Merit today?
Because if I were you Merit.
And it's my grandma who raised me.
I mean, she's the one
who still adopted me as a
What is it?
Every year, me and my grandma,
we celebrate the day we met.
But do you know what that means?
It means it's also
the day they died.
15th of May 2011.
Intercepted bank raid.
It was a small crew.
Three of them.
Sent to foil a bank robbery.
They were compromised.
One of them sold the others out.
And they fell to the Nameless.
He betrayed them.
Who did? Who was the third person?
Diego Velasquez.
There you are. I've been
looking all over for you.
Yeah, not now, Jia.
Dude, this can't wait.
Come on. Uh, not you, Princess.
ADE: Remember, bro. I'm the driver.
You're just the car.
So relax. Just got to remember
your first line.
Hey, Nicki.
I hope I'm not interrupting.
ADE: That's it, bro. You got this.
STATIC BUZZING
Ade? Ade, I'm losing you. Ade?
VILLETTE: Affirmative, Leopard.
Everything's set for the Chameleon.
I was starting to think
this day would never come.
I'm so sick of sweet,
useless little Nicki.
Can't wait to be myself again.
I'll report when I've contacted
the Chameleon.
STATIC BUZZING
ADE: Are you still there?
What's happening? Do you copy?
On second thoughts,
this was woefully misguided.
I've had enough of this double life.
Of hiding among you pious
hypocrites.
I have nothing but contempt
for Crookhaven
and everything it stands for.
So, I'm escaping.
I'm going back to join my brother,
where I belong.
Where I can be my true self,
with the Nameless.
No way Amira wrote this.
She also swore Ishaan was innocent,
and he tried to kidnap me!
She's being set up.
She even told me!
Yeah, and I wanted to believe her.
I did.
But this is what happens
when you're too trusting.
Your so-called friends betray you.
All this time, she was one of them.
Looks like you really are a Legacy.
DOOR SLAMS
We need a full debrief.
They came for Gabriel.
If Whisper and I had been
even a minute later
We will debrief
when the time is right.
For now, I need to focus
on our guests,
on today.
The most important day of the year.
I'm honoured to ferry
such a fine bunch of crooks
on this illustrious occasion.
Of course, most of you probably
need no introduction to Crookhaven.
You probably came here yourselves.
Or your parents.
Maybe even both.
You always told me never to trust
Amira.
Turns out you were right.
When will you learn, Avery?
I'm always right.
Still, one less person
for me to beat.
I did think there was
something unsettling about her.
Now I know why.
It's not right, bro.
Legacies get to see their parents,
show off their Crooked skills.
All us Merits get is a fake report
from "St Jude's Academy."
I bet I don't even get a decent
fake grade in fake geography.
Huh?
What's up with you, bro?
I still don't get what happened
with Nicki. We practised.
You was in the zone!
I told you. Earphones glitched.
I can't believe Samson Sorenson's
the Guest Judge!
Dad says he's massively overrated.
What?
No. No, no. Samson Sorenson,
he's a legend.
Dad says the only thing he's
good at is burnishing his own myth.
He's like one of the top five crooks
of the past 30 years.
He's worth 103 points
on Deception Deck.
Look! Mm.
Do you think he'll sign it for me?
If you want it to lose all value!
Take a hint, Edgar.
If a virus wiped out humanity
and we were the last
two people left on Earth,
it would still be a hard pass.
Nicki, will you go to
the Masquerade with me?
You're one of the few people here
I genuinely like.
So, yes or no?
I'd love to.
Thank you, Penelope. There.
Now I'm taken.
Find another victim.
Prrrr.
Too bad, bro. Missed your shot.
Mr Sisman
You should probably see this.
It was in Amira's room.
I knew it.
I knew she would cave in in the end.
They all do.
But a signed confession?
This is more than
I ever dared dream of.
A fake confession!
She's been set up!
How can you not see that?
Sh, sh. Spare me the conspiracy
theories, Jia.
Get yourself ready for the Trials.
I'll take this from here.
Dad!
Oh, God.
You're at Crookhaven, my boy.
We shake hands.
Of course.
No Mum? She wanted to,
but she sends her love.
So, you better win this thing, huh?
Yeah.
Didn't come all this way
to see you come second.
No.
Two things I love the most.
Wild Astrantias,
and being proved right.
It's not conclusive.
It's a signed confession, Whisper.
What a family!
Where's our Headmaster?
Shouldn't he be here
to greet our guests?
PA ANNOUNCEMENT: This year's
Crooked Trials will commence
in T minus 30 minutes.
Come on, give us a hug
Sisman brushed me off!
And Gabriel won't listen either.
To be fair,
if I found out my friend
was in a gang
that killed my parents
She's not
I have something to tell you both.
And this doesn't necessarily
implicate her.
And I don't want to jump
to any conclusions.
Um
But
..Nicki's a spy.
Amira's vanished.
She left a confession
and a burnt coin.
You know who did this?
The plan was to turn Nicki,
to use her as an asset,
not to turn a blind eye
over and over again!
This time I won't stand by
Our guests are waiting.
Can't make a spectacle
in front of them.
As soon as the Trials are over
I'm not waiting.
If anything happens to Amira,
then it's on your head!
Oh, Headmaster coming through.
Ah, Samson. Welcome!
So honoured you could join us.
The honour's mine, Caspian.
I've long been an admirer
of your work here,
and, uh, I'm always on the lookout
for fresh talent.
Samson, how the devil are you?
Hector Delacombe.
Uh, Paris, 2008?
Well, if you say so, Horace.
Early noughties
are a bit of a blur, to be honest.
No, it's Hector.
Samson Sorenson. Who might you be?
Miss Friedrich.
I teach Crimnastics.
I bet you do.
Let me know
if your skills need sharpening.
I find older crooks
can get sorusty.
And I am Benito Palombo,
Master of Forgery.
Good for you.
Samson
Meet some of my star pupils.
Bloody show off!
Sisman.
You need to find Amira.
Search the island.
Too late, mate, she's long gone.
Headmaster's orders.
Why do you keep looking around?
My mother's supposed to be here.
Did you check on the guest list?
I can check with my father.
Oh, that's all right.
Maybe she got held up.
I get it. I'd do anything
to have my mum here today.
Just remember what I taught you,
right?
Ruthless Nicki. Not sweet Nicki.
Crooklings! A word.
You may have noticed
Amira's absence.
Bye, Amira. You won't be missed.
If any of you have any idea
where she might be,
now is the time to speak up.
I hope nothing's happened to her.
Wilkommen to all you crooks
joining us
from secure locations round
the world.
We will be coming
to you live across the day for this,
the ultimate test
for our young crooks.
But first, let us hear
from our guiding light,
Mr Caspian Lockett!
APPLAUSE
For one day of the year,
we open our gates to you,
a hand-picked selection
of the world's finest crooks.
So together we can identify
the Crooked stars of the future.
This year's challenge
is a simple one.
On the roof of Maravel's Tower
is £10,000 of stolen money
in a locked box.
Your task is to be first
to liberate the cash,
and raise the flag.
To get to the Tower,
you will have to pass five Trials
that will test your Crooked skills
and give you a chance to impress our
esteemed guest, Samson Sorenson.
APPLAUSE
I'd like to offer this year's
winners two weeks'
Crook experience,
helping me out with a couple
of cheeky little heists.
I've literally had that dream!
Along with Mr Sorenson's
generous prize,
the winner also earns
25 Crooked points,
enough points for any of you
to clinch the Crooked Cup.
And of course,
the winner will also take home
the £10,000.
APPLAUSE
That would change Grandma's life.
It's time for the Crooklings
to take their positions.
Come on!
Eyes on the prize, remember.
Block the rest out.
Hey.
We've got proof Amira's innocent.
Ede heard Nicki on the earpiece.
She's the spy.
She framed Amira. Nicki?
Oh, come on.
She's scared of her own shadow.
You always used to tell me you can't
tell when people are lying.
So let me make it clear for you.
Amira lied to you.
She lied to us all.
Forget Amira.
There are more coming, right?
Wouldn't be standing about here
if there were now, would I?
That'd be a dereliction of duty,
like.
But the other guests?
I counted them all in myself.
That's your lot.
I thought there were others.
MISS FRIEDRICH: The 183rd
Crooked Trials have begun.
MATILDA JERICHO: Your masks will be
removed in order of Most Wanted.
Your task is to escape,
but be warned,
we've reconfigured the Specularium.
Touch the walls, and you are out.
BUZZING
WHOOSHING
Wrong choice, Anders! You are out.
WHOOSHING
WHOOSHING
WHOOSHING
Come on!
Wrong choice, Saoirse!
You are out.
EXHALES SLOWLY
Edgar? Edgar!
WHISPER: For the benefit
of the late comers,
your handcuffs have a unique
four-digit release code
that I've hidden in a data set.
The clock is ticking. Hurry up!
ALERT TONE
Psst!
Jia!
WHISPER: Nicki. No conferring.
First and final warning.
MISS FRIEDRICH: Our first warning
there for young Nicki Harkness.
One wrong move and you're out.
It's sadistic.
I love it!
Whoo-hoo-hoo! Yeah!
PALOMBO: And we have
our first winner.
Ade Okoro has completed the Trial.
Who's this joker?
At the end of the day, I dug deep,
and I think you saw it
in the final result.
Ade, you're losing time.
Get to your next Trial!
You were wrong about Nicki.
Ede wouldn't make that up.
Not now.
Ede. Go, go, go!
Yes!
Oh!
WHISPER: Oh, Dorian.
Wrong code! You're out.
Edgar! Go on without me.
Win it for the both of us, Edgar!
I'm not winning it for you.
I'm winning it for my dad.
Oh, yeah. Totally. Totally.
Yeah, yeah. I'm rooting for you!
BEEPING
Mission compromised.
Chameleon's missing.
Don't know if she's in the boat,
or in danger.
Urgent extraction required.
LEOPARD: There's no signal.
STATIC BUZZING
Get to the highest point you can.
Maravel's Tower.
Nicki! What are you doing?
Next Trial's Deception. This way!
Don't lose your nerve.
Remember what I told you.
Ruthless Nicki.
SHE WHIMPERS
BOAT FRAME SHUDDERS
SPLINTERING
MISS FRIEDRICH: Vigorous work from
Edgar and Penelope there
in the Deception Trial.
And dishonourable mention
to Gabriel,
who is making up for lost time.
She didn't write that letter!
I know what I heard.
"I'm so sick of sweet,
useless little Nicki.
"I can't wait to be myself again."
You were eavesdropping!
I was just giving myself a pep talk.
So who's the Chameleon?
I have no idea.
PALOMBO: Now for the most
important trial of the day.
Forgery.
I'm sure most crooks would agree,
Crimnastics is the supreme skill.
Respectfully,
one takes years to master.
The other is basically
running and jumping.
Respectfully.
Have you found Amira?
Scoured the island.
No sign of her.
On a hiding to nothing, mate.
I've called off the search.
Then I'll have to take things
into my own hands.
PALOMBO: For this Trial,
our students must distinguish
the original
from five of my forgeries.
Forgery! I have to say, for me,
Nicki is the dark horse.
The speed and agility I have
not seen from her before.
MISS FRIEDRICH: Where's that little
crook been hiding?
Last six. Well done.
I guess I take after my parents!
It's a shame they're not here
to cheer me on,
but I'll never get to meet them
because of what you did.
You betrayed them, didn't you? No.
Not here, not now.
One more Trial, amigo!
What have you done with her,
Villette?
My name is Nicki!
PALOMBO: Here they come.
Our final six Crooklings.
MISS FRIEDRICH: All that remains
is to race through the woods
of Maravel's Tower.
PALOMBO: While avoiding some
rather zealous gardeners.
Oh!
Where is she?
SHE YELLS
MISS FRIEDRICH: With Jia out,
the final challenge awaits.
Maravel's Tower.
The ultimate test of Crimnastics.
The purest of the crooked arts.
In your opinion.
PALOMBO: And with the prize
almost in sight,
Gabriella and Penelope
lead the field.
Merit versus Legacy.
Give it up. It's over.
Argh! Argh!
MISS FRIEDRICH: Nicki Harkness
is free climbing the Tower!
What are you doing?
GROANING
Sorry, Penelope.
THEY EXCLAIM
PALOMBO: Brutal from Nicki!
A dark horse indeed.
What a savage discipline
Crimnastics truly is.
Penelope Lockett is out!
Let me go! Or what?
I'm warning you!
They were right. It was you.
Where's Amira?
Last I saw her,
in the middle of a lake.
But she can't swim.
So if you want to see your friend
again, you'd better hurry up.
Or do you want to win your stupid
cup?
Huh?
Crazy kid was about to win.
Why has he got the yips
all of a sudden?
He's bottled it. Typical Merit.
PALOMBO: The prize was within
his grasp.
MISS FRIEDRICH: What's this?
Get out of the way!
A late reappearance
of Edgar Delacombe.
Now's your moment, Edgar.
Cometh the hour
..cometh the Delacombe.
You always were a quitter!
Hello? Leopard?
Chameleon's missing in action,
and my cover's blown.
Answer me! What's she saying?
Why is there no sound?
MISS FRIEDRICH:
What is Nicki Harkness doing?
She needs to raise that flag!
Me and you.
Who saw that coming?
So what now?
Fight?
Go ahead.
Yes! Whoooo!
Yes! That's my boy!
That's my Edgar!
Beauty!
PALOMBO: Edgar Delacombe
takes the prize!
MISS FRIEDRICH: What a comeback for
Legacy Crookling, Edgar Delacombe.
But the question remains,
why Nicki Harkness
and Gabriel Avery
Something's unravelling here.
I've been around real fear
enough times
to recognise it in a fellow crook.
Perceptive. But I don't do fear.
Hmm.
What just happened, Whisper?
Something stinks here
and it sure as heck ain't me.
VILLETTE: I know you'll never
hear this.
But I want you to know
that I fought with everything I had.
Right until the end.
But I failed.
Mickey! Mickey!
I failed the Chameleon.
And for that,
I'll never forgive myself.
LEOPARD: You haven't failed,
Villette.
Hold your nerve.
We have others in place.
You're not alone.
You never were.
GABRIEL: Over there!
Sorry, young'uns.
What does this mean?
That Nicki's been lying?
Or someone else got here first.
I never should have doubted you.
I never should have doubted Amira.
I was always sceptical,
whether you could be turned.
I'm sorry you feel that way.
But I've always been grateful
for this opportunity.
For the fresh start.
I know who you are.
I'm the one who plucked you
off the streets.
They've poisoned your mind.
There's not an antidote
strong enough to
Yes?
I see. Thank you.
They found the boat. It's empty.
Of course it is.
That's just a lie I made up
to get Gabriel off my case.
I don't know where Amira is.
So if you don't have any more
evidence, sir, please may I go?
I'd hate to miss prizegiving.
I came second today,
and I'm third in the Crooked Cup.
I'm quite proud of myself.
Bravo, my boy!
I thought we shook hands now?
Extenuating circumstances.
Come here!
A blooming relief.
Let me have a look.
No, not with that.
Your pal reminds me of someone.
What's his name?
Edgar. Edgar what?
Erm, Delacombe. And I'm McArthur.
Delacombe
Ah!
Where's Amira?
You didn't think I was serious?
It was just a ruse, to stop you
from trying to sabotage me.
You didn't even try to win.
I have my reasons.
She's lying through her teeth.
Duh!
I was just doing
what you've always taught me.
You should be proud of me, in a way.
Proud of you?
You cost me the Trials!
You cost me the Cup!
And after all that, you didn't
even have the decency to win!
I couldn't.
I tried to be Ruthless Nicki,
but I couldn't bring myself to do
it.
I couldn't steal the prize from
the one best friend I've ever had.
You're not my friend.
You never were.
I just felt sorry for you.
So, are you going to tell me
the whole truth about Nicki?
Or are you going to carry on
acting like you don't know?
Which one?
CARMEN LOCKETT:
You did your best, baby.
I failed.
All I ever wanted
was to live up to you.
What is it?
You spelt Dishonours with a U.
The English spelling.
You'd never write that.
You didn't write this.
Smart girl.
He did.
He's still lying.
You've taken this far enough.
Where is Amira?
I wish I could help you, sir,
but I have no idea.
Here's what you need to know.
I have eyes on every inch
of the school,
so you have no hope of escape.
And the sooner you give her up,
the better this ends for you.
One bad turn deserves another.
So you go first.
Where's the Chameleon?
I wish I could help you,
but I have no idea.
Lockett knows.
He's in on it.
MATILDA JERICHO:
And now we come to this year's
Crookling Crooked Cup winners.
In third place
..Nicki Harkness!
In second place
..Penelope Lockett!
But this year's winner is
..Edgar Delacombe! Bravo!
Whoa!
Well done, Edgar.
Look, I know you won by default,
but, uh, all's fair in love and war,
as your mother well knows.
You know my mother?
Oh, knew.
Dynamite crook. Hmm?
I'll tell you all about it
when you come for work experience.
CHEERING AND APPLAUSE
Lockett told me
he'd reprogramme her,
but I don't think
that was ever the plan.
Mm. And what about Gabriel?
What if Lockett and Nicki
are working together?
What does that mean?
It means he helped frame Amira.
It means he's with the Nameless.
It means he knows where she is.
Then maybe it's not too late
to save her.
How long are you going to keep me
here? I'll keep you here until
I get what I require.
You know what that is.
You're a monster! Now!
CONVERSATION CONTINUES INDISTINCTLY
DOOR SLAMS
CASPIAN LOCKETT: We know what you've
endured in your young life.
But here, you can put all that
behind you.
Here, you can be safe.
But for your own protection,
no-one must know who you were.
You're no longer Villette.
From this moment on
..you're Nicki Harkness.
A Legacy.
Where's my earpiece? Where is it?
Where is it?!
Lockett!
INDISTINCT CONVERSATION
Let me go!
ADRIA: Who's there?
Stop! Don't come any closer.
There's a camera right above me.
If he sees I'm talking to someone,
then we could both
be in serious danger.
Who are you?
What? It's you. What do you mean?
Gabriel.
I don't know you. No.
No, but I know you.
How?
CHAINS RATTLE
Because you are my son.