Crookhaven (2026) s01e08 Episode Script

CASPIAN: Get Chameleon into
Crookhaven.
Chameleon's missing in action
and my cover's blown.
Hold your nerve.
We have others in place.
I need to know why you sent Mum
on that mission.
To capture the Leopard.
GABRIEL: Where's Amira?
Last I saw her,
in the middle of a lake.
MAN: Look at Nice.
He's in on it.
Who are you?
You are my son.
But you're lying.
I mean, my mum's dead.
They both are.
So, I don't know who you are,
how you think you know me.
I know you because I have watched
over you, Gabriel.
All these years. Every birthday.
I don't even know
when my birthday is.
September 12th.
I keep my distance.
A different disguise each time.
Sometimes I swear
I catch you looking at me.
I've never seen you before
in my life.
That playground, by the lake.
The monkey bars.
You were so proud when you grew tall
enough to reach them.
And the school trip
to the history museum.
I saw you steal that pencil.
And that day on the beach,
you ate so much candyfloss,
you made yourself sick.
I always felt, however impossible,
that you knew.
Maybe that was wishful thinking.
The fish and chip shop.
They were all
..you.
Don't come any closer.
He could be watching now.
We always agreed
that I would go back to work.
That was the deal. Not this mission.
High-risk deception
is my speciality.
You don't get to decide
what I get to go back and work on.
Actually, I do!
I ordered this raid, Carmen,
I decide who goes
I am the best person for the job!
I used to be somebody,
I was a damn good Crook
I'm not letting you go.
I am not asking your permission!
I can't take another day
in this gilded cage -
I'm suffocating.
So either you let me go, or
..or I let you go.
RADIO CRACKLES
MAN: Who is this?
I have your wife.
You know what I need in return.
You have until midnight.
ADRIA: Your father and I grew
disillusioned with Lockett.
His twisted ideology,
his mind control.
No-one's allowed to leave
the Crooked Complex.
So, when our best friend
betrayed us Velasquez.
..they tried to silence us, forever.
We escaped by the skin of our teeth.
We went into hiding. You gave me up.
We never gave you up.
For your own protection,
we placed you with someone
we knew would take care of you.
Grandma.
I disguised myself
as a police officer
and entrusted you into her care.
The police officer was you? We had
always planned to come and get you
once you had turned 18 -
but Lockett forced our hand.
When I learned he had you,
I started planning your rescue.
But he was lying in wait.
Just this way.
Last thing I remember was him
leading me to a private entrance.
Argh!
He knew I would do anything
to save you from his clutches.
This was all a trap.
And you were the bait.
And that's why he brought me here.
You have to go, Gabriel.
If he catches you
Yeah,
like I'm going to leave you here!
I can't let you risk it.
You don't know what he's capable of.
Yeah, I'm getting a pretty
good idea.
We have to get you out of here.
You're so like your father.
The same astonishing memory.
Same stubborn bravery.
Look, my friends, Ade and Ede,
they'll take care of the CCTV.
Jia won't even sweat the lock.
Gabriel, I'm sorry,
but you can't trust anyone in here.
If we're going to escape,
it has to be the two of us.
You can't tell anyone else.
Swear to me.
I swear.
Tonight's the Masquerade -
everyone will be distracted.
But you have to understand,
if we succeed, if we escape,
it means turning your back
on Crookhaven
and everyone in it forever.
Why would I want to stay at a place
that never even wanted me?
On this hallowed night
of the Masquerade,
choosing your mask
is a Crookhaven tradition.
Your choice can be
really rather revealing.
Edgar, please.
The Raven.
Same mask my dad wore
the night he and mum got together.
Weird flex.
The Badger
..for Mr McArthur!
The Lamb for Nicki Harkness.
Literally a wolf
in sheep's clothing.
Amira's still missing.
We've got to do something!
What, though?
They're all in on it.
Can't trust anyone here.
The Rabbit
..for Penelope Lockett.
I hope there are no hard feelings,
Penelope
The Bear ..after the trials.
..for Ade Okoro.
I understand if you want
to take back your invitation
to arrive at the Masquerade
together.
The Bunny for Ede.
The thing is, Nicki,
it doesn't matter.
None of it matters.
Go on, Gabriel.
You've picked the Leopard, Gabriel.
Interesting choice.
Might I ask why you need two masks?
Er, one for Amira.
Just in case.
Amira's still missing.
Give me one good reason
that Nicki's not in the
interrogation tank right now.
You don't use a sledgehammer
to crack a nut.
I have her right where I need her -
and, trust me,
this whole nightmare's almost over.
Ah, look at you all.
And before we begin, I would like
to take this moment
to thank you all
for a magnificent year.
JIA: Yeah, apart from when you
and your flying monkey
abducted our friend.
You should all be very proud
of yourselves.
You truly embody our Crooked values
of decency and integrity.
And so, without further ado,
let the Masquerade begin!
CHEERING AND APPLAUSE
ANNOUNCEMENT: Please make your way
to the Masquerade tent.
Trying to escape?
Masquerade's barely started
and you're sprinting for an exit.
Maybe I just hate dancing.
Or maybe I can't bear
to hear your old man
bang on about the Crooked values
when he is a massive A hypocrite.
A liar.
You have no idea
how dangerous he really is.
If I was you,
I'd get as far away from
How am I supposed to do that?
I'm trapped here. But you
Don't worry.
I'm out of here.
For good.
And you were right,
I don't belong here.
I never did.
Hurry up, you two.
Finally, he admits it.
Wait, what do you mean
I have no idea?
Everyone in, no stragglers.
OK, my furry friends,
we're going to break you in
nice and easy with the Stomp.
Legacies, you know the steps.
Merits, you'll pick 'em up -
and if you don't have a partner,
you better grab one now.
One dance. No. Look, I'm sorry
I beat you to the Crooked Cup.
It's not the cup, Edgar.
It's you.
Why don't you like me?
We have everything in common,
we're both focused
and ambitious Legacies, but
you've never even given me a chance.
What do I have to do?
Who do I have to be?
An entirely different person.
Women, eh?
Why do you keep looking around,
amigo?
I need to get out of here, Leon.
And not just this party.
Crookhaven.
There's teachers, and gardeners,
and cameras everywhere.
I don't know what's happening,
and I'm not going to ask,
but if you really need to get out,
there's a way.
During the dance,
I'll give you a signal.
Then you're going to have to follow
this route exactly.
We didn't say dancing was optional.
You're young and pretty,
so dance while you can!
Mes petits naifs!
You heard Miss J!
Now, I don't want any wallflowers
on my watch,
so hit that dance floor
and let's rock the kasbah!
One, two, three, four!
ROCK BAND PLAYS
MUSIC ECHOES
THEY STAMP TWICE
ONE STAMP
What do you mean,
I have no idea how dangerous he is?
Nicki's the Nameless Spy.
Your father's in on it.
They framed Amira.
I'm sorry.
Do you think anything happens here
without my knowledge?
Clearly.
Or you wouldn't be asking
about Amira.
I have been on to you
from the beginning, Villette.
The power surge, the little
transmissions, all of it -
but you have served your purpose
and now that I have what I need,
you are entirely dispensable.
What you need?
SHE GASPS
The Chameleon!
You played me.
Where is she?
Somewhere safe.
WhereisAmira?
Idon'tknow.
SONG ENDS
APPLAUSE
We'll give you a moment to catch
your breath,
before the next dance.
Find Amira. Whatever it takes.
Why? Where are YOU going?
I just
I just need to have a word
with Leon.
Here. Let me fix this cape.
Avery!
Tell me this,
what's your secret, huh?
What secret?
I'm a seventh generation Legacy,
I won the Crooked Cup,
and you're a nobody.
A Merit pickpocket.
But, for some reason,
Penelope Lockett tolerates you.
Sometimes I even think
she likes you.
If it's any consolation,
she doesn't like me.
I don't think she cares
if she never sees me again.
Actually, that IS some consolation.
You have to go.
Remember the route.
Left, left, right, left, through the
Specularium, basement, back gate.
Give me your mask.
Good luck.
You've no idea
what you've done for me.
I owe you.
Both of you.
MUSIC PLAYS
Yo, Gabester!
Get involved, man!
This is a waste of time.
I say we just torture Nicki
for answers.
I know you're the spy.
I know you set up Amira,
and I know my dad's in on it.
I'll tell you everything.
But not here.
Never seen him look this nervous
before.
I have.
Just before the trials.
I need to show you something.
Come with me.
Don't do anything.
Don't react.
It's me.
So, Nicki told me
I could speak to Ishaan.
She led me down to the lake,
and then Dude, come on.
Trap much? Yeah, I know. All right?
I was floating for hours.
At some point,
I realised no-one was coming,
and I knew I had to do something,
else I'd be done for.
But we did come for you.
Gabriel threw in his chance to win
to try and find you.
I mean, eventually.
I thought you guys had given up
on me.
I made it back,
but I knew I needed evidence,
so, I set about getting it.
Had a little fun while I was at it.
And then I hid.
Where's my earpiece?
Where is it?!
Something you should know -
Lockett's in on it.
He's not the only one.
That's why Nicki got away with it.
Which one is she? The lamb.
The lost lamb?
She's gone.
So's Penelope.
Velasquez snatched me
off the street.
Brought me here to your dad
and his saviour complex.
He made all this noise about
how he'd reprogramme me, save me.
All I had to do was hide
behind sweet, sickly Nicki.
I missed his true motive.
That's on me.
He knew I couldn't be turned.
He knew I'd report back
to the Nameless.
That was his plan all along.
He was using me.
For what?
To capture the Chameleon.
The Chameleon's here?!
Ah, it is such a relief
to take that mask off!
Ha!
Oh, no.
Maybe I shouldn't have told you
everything.
Can hardly trust you
to keep your mouth shut, can I?
Cute panic room!
DOOR OPENS
Caspian suddenly just appeared,
out of breath,
like he'd been
in some kind of struggle.
Here.
OK, well
DOOR CREAKS OPEN
Well, I'M not going in there first.
Someone's been studying hard.
Look at you, my beautiful boy.
I thought you were dead.
No, my darling, I'm very much alive.
And I've come to take you home.
Here.
What has he done?
Right!
Right!
Left!
Go.
Leaving so soon?
You must've realised
this was futile,
that you'd never be able to escape.
I've had eyes on both of you
all along.
You let me think
that she'd been killed!
She let your grandmother think
she was killed.
For their protection,
so they wouldn't try and find us.
Don't believe a word she says.
She's a very dangerous woman.
You're the danger!
You're the liar!
I thought I was here
because I was good.
But you used me as bait,
to kidnap her.
I did what I had to do.
You've been so distracted
by Gabriel Avery.
He's irrelevant.
You never suspected little old me.
Anyway, the point is, right now,
your father has captured my mother.
Well, she's basically my mother.
And now I have the perfect
bargaining chip.
I've got Penelope.
Really?!
Isabella! You've got to help me!
Sorry, Penelope.
Can't do that. What?
You're one of us.
Don't try anything clever.
What's going to happen now
is you and Gabriel
will replace your masks
and return with me to the cell.
At midnight, if your husband
has a shred of sense left,
I will have my wife back
and I will consider letting you go.
You seem to think
you hold all the cards, Caspian.
But what's actually going
to happen is
..you're going to come with us.
Why on earth would I do that?
Because your daughter is waiting.
What, you don't believe me?
Ask her yourself.
RADIO CRACKLES
What's she saying, bro?
Lockett's taken Gabriel
and some woman prisoner.
But this woman
and Nicki have Penelope
and they're threatening her.
So where are they?
The Specularium.
Gabriel!
Must've missed him.
Missed who?
Gabriel?
Leon! We badly need your help, man.
It's Gabriel,
he's in serious trouble.
Lockett's taken him prisoner,
Nicki's got Penelope,
they're all in danger.
I know where they'll be.
Come on.
What did you mean,
Penelope's waiting?
Why don't we just go?
Couple of things
I need to take care of first.
Wait.
The cooler?
Why would they be in there?
Cos it's hidden,
and silent,
and no-one will find them in there.
Gabester?
No-one's in here, it's empty.
Sorry, amigos.
Leon! Leon
Leon! Leon! Leon!
What are you doing?! Let us out!
You did this.
You brought them in to the school,
you put us all in danger.
Nice work, ladies.
I did everything you asked.
Hope I made you proud.
Let's restrain Mr Lockett too,
just to be on the safe side.
If you wouldn't mind, Caspian.
Course I mind.
Cuff him to the desk, as well.
Thank you, Headmaster.
If you harm one hair on her head
No-one needs to get hurt.
It's for our protection,
to ensure a clean getaway.
Gabriel?
But I don't understand.
How do you know Nicki and Isabella?
VILLETTE: I don't understand either.
What's Gabriel doing here?
He's the reason I came.
You came here for me.
To bring me home.
You've been a useful little spy,
but Gabriel
..he's our precious son.
He's your son?
That's why you brought Gabriel here.
To lure the Chameleon.
GABRIEL: Well, you still haven't
answered my question.
How do you know Nicki and Isabella?
You have to remember that Lockett
brought this all on himself.
If he had just left you
where he found
Tell him the truth.
It wasn't enough for him
that he brought you here.
He had to let me know he had you.
So he recruited one of my proteges,
knowing she would report back.
What do you mean, proteges?
Tell him who you really are,
or I will.
I suspected this was a trap -
but nothing would stop me
coming for my son.
If only your hubris hadn't blinded
you to the fact
that I had three assets
on the inside,
ready to help me escape.
Three?
Well, who else, besides?
DOOR OPENS
Oh, Leon.
Not you.
You're too good, amigo.
I was supposed to lead you to your
mama, but you found her yourself.
All I had to do
was give you an escape route.
Mind you, could've saved us
a lot of effort
if you had just stayed home when
we came to get you over Crooxeat.
And if you didn't put up
such a fight
when we tracked you
to the Mercier office
They said you'd fallen
to the Nameless.
I mean, I thought that meant
..they'd killed you.
No, my darling.
We are the Nameless.
Wasn't meant to be like this.
Supposed to end the year in triumph.
Crooked Cup winner.
I was meant to be dancing
with Penelope
while everyone cheered us on.
Not standing in a half-empty room
with you.
I understand your disappointment.
Where is everyone?
I'll bet they've got
a secret after-party.
Whatever propaganda you've been fed,
we stand for freedom.
A Crook's right
to use their talents without limits.
You have no claim on Gabriel,
you abandoned him.
We were forced to give him up
to save him from you.
Who are you going to trust, Gabriel?
Your parents,
who made the ultimate sacrifice
and gave you up to save your life,
or the man who used you
as collateral?
Why don't you tell him about
all the people that you've harmed?
Why don't you tell him
about the woman
that you kidnapped six months ago?
What, you mean Carmen? Your wife?
The woman you sent to capture
my husband, dead or alive?
Well, here's the funny thing,
Caspian.
We don't have her.
We never did.
She disappeared
the night of your raid,
so all of this has been for nothing.
Well, not nothing.
It gave me back my son.
Your husband
That means my father's
Luciano Lopes.
Also known as the Leopard.
Whatever lies you've heard about
your father, he is a great man.
And he is desperate to meet you.
Don't go with them.
Please, Gabriel.
This place would feel wrong
without you.
You don't belong with them.
You belong here.
You're one of us.
I was only ever here as bait.
My parents want me.
I belong with them.
Go with Leon.
I have to have a word with Caspian.
If only you'd left us in peace.
You threatened my husband,
the man I love.
I can't just let that go.
Seeing as you've been
a good little spy, Villette,
I'm going to let YOU do the honours.
It'll trigger the security system.
Clever girl.
I believe it only takes two minutes
to suck all the oxygen out.
So it'll all be over very quickly.
Please, Nicki, Villette
Don't.
Ruthless Villette.
SHE SNIFFLES
Shame.
You let them get to you.
What a waste.
Get her out of my sight.
Please, Chameleon!
Come on, Villette,
let's take a walk to the cooler.
Take me with you!
SOBS: Take me with you!
WHOOSHING
AUTOMATION: Fire detected.
Activating maximum security
protocol.
You and Luciano were two of the best
students I ever had.
I know that, deep down,
the old Adria remains.
You know nothing.
You're a dinosaur.
The world you want to believe in
has gone.
You couldn't be more wrong!
You're the dinosaur -
and my generation of Crooks, we're
a great big unstoppable asteroid.
Doesn't look that way, does it?
No way Gabriel went willingly!
I was there.
He was happy to.
She's his mother.
No way, man! She She must've
played some kind of mind trick.
We need a rescue mission.
You've got no hope.
They're headed
for the old boathouse
..and we're stuck in a cooler!
You know, after everything,
I actually feel sorry for you.
Everything you did for them,
and they don't want you.
I don't need your pity.
No, I know that, Nicki, but, now,
everyone knows who you are.
And trust me,
it's hard to make friends
when they think
you're with the Nameless.
DOOR UNBOLTS
Got you! I knew it!
What kind of messed-up after-party
is this?
Hell must've frozen over!
I'm actually glad to see you.
Right, let's get out of here.
Nope.
THEY GASP FOR BREATH
You're my finest achievement.
I don't tell you enough.
You don't tell me at all.
I don't expect forgiveness,
but just know that everything
I've ever done,
however wrong,
was to bring her home
..make us a family again.
Save your breath.
We've only got 24 seconds
of it left.
I was going to say
..21.
Dad?
Dad!
Have I taught you nothing? Mum?!
It's bolted to the floor.
Think harder. Think faster.
Need to break the vacuum.
That's it. Let oxygen in.
That's it, good girl, keep going.
But how? I'm cuffed to the desk.
Don't focus on him, focus on me.
On your 14th birthday,
what did I give you?
A Crook always has to have
two things about her.
Her wits
..and a sharp object.
LOCK CLICKS
Sorry, Grandpa!
SHE LAUGHS
Dad
Thank you.
MUSIC PLAYS
Hey! Listen up, losers,
we need your help!
Crooklings assemble.
I have a genius plan.
ENGINE STARTS
There he is!
Oh, we'll never catch them up.
Quitter.
Look what the dawn has brought.
Hand him over, Adria.
A child needs their parents, Diego.
You gave him up once,
do the right thing again.
I've made my choice.
Now, get out of our way.
This isn't who you are, Gabriel.
Amira.
We came looking for you, Gabester.
Judas here locked us in the cooler.
Why'd you lock up my friends?
Why don't you ask your mother
what she did to Penelope?
Gabriel.
Gabriel?
Well, where is she?
Where's Penelope?
Where's Penelope?!
She left her in the library,
with her father,
after she triggered the alarm.
They brought it on themselves.
You said no-one would get hurt.
It was just about making
a clean getaway.
It is.
This way, they can't come after us.
Not today, not ever.
We'll be safe, my love.
You don't belong with them.
You're one of us.
Don't go with them.
I'm not your love.
I mean, you don't even know me.
What was I thinking?
I don't belong with you.
I belong here.
With my real friends.
It's a shame.
He's brainwashed you too.
I'd hoped you'd come willingly.
JIA: Let him go!
Hell, no.
GUN FIRES
FLARES EXPLODE
HE HOWLS
ALL HOWL
Let's go.
Do it, now!
SHOUTING AND HOWLING
Gabriel!
Ishaan.
HOWLING
No!
Argh!
CLAPPING AND CHEERING
MAN: Velasquez, answer your radio.
We found the headmaster,
and Penelope.
She made a right mess
of the library.
Your mom seems nice.
It's not my mum.
You called us your friends.
Thought you, erm, didn't come here
to make friends, Gabester.
Must've happened
when I wasn't looking.
I'm no hero,
but when faced with evil,
my Legacy instincts,
they just kicked in.
Fate calls the brave.
Er, butbut when they
..but they grabbed you -
and you looked pretty petrified
when the mask came off.
Thank you, Dorian.
It was adrenaline, not fear.
Avery!
Not now. So, you're their son.
Only by birth.
So, that same darkness is in you.
Waah!
You don't belong at Crookhaven!
You're a liability!
But doesn't that make him
..a Legacy?
I failed.
I had to leave my son behind.
CLANG
He's here.
You know why we're here, Headmaster.
I'll go first.
PENELOPE: "Dear Dad,
I've gone to find Mum.
"Don't try and follow me."
Wait!
What, are you out your mind?
You can't just take off.
I mean, what's the plan?
I mean, where are you even
going to look for her?
Crooked Complex. Ask around.
These are dangerous people.
I'm well aware.
Seeing how your mum just tried
to kill me and my dad
Yeah, she's not my mum.
I know that now.
Grandma's all the family I have.
All the family I need.
Well, right now,
my family's a dad who betrayed me.
He put the whole school in danger,
and
..and my mum's missing.
And I've got an idea.
Take me with you.
Why would I do that?
Cos I could help.
I don't need a wingman Yeah
..let alone
How long?
As long as it takes.
But you'll be here?
Depends.
Another friend of mine said lately
this is, erm
..where I belong so, erm
She didn't mean it.
That was just
a heat of the moment thing.
What if you disappear?
Like your mum?
Then, come find me.
Did you just nick my lucky coin?
Do better, Avery.
MOTOR STARTS