Population: 11 (2024) s01e12 Episode Script

(DARK MUSIC)
- Nice pearls.
- HUGO: It was his money.
ANDY: They made us move money
offshore for them
via this Australian account
that we set up in Hugo's name.
Is there anyone in this town
who hasn't stolen my identity?
Dom is dead,
which means I'm probably next.
I just wanted to apologise
for all the trouble
I've caused you.
Police officers are standing
round the body. It's Gareth.
I want fuckin'
witness protection.
Somewhere good too.
Gold Coast, please.
- Oh, what the fuck?
- Cassie was here, wasn't she?
So maybe she saw something.
Fuckin' hell.
(FRACTURED MUSIC)
(INDISTINCT WHISPERING)
DANIELS: Sorry. Go on.
GERALDINE: Uh, well, uh,
it it was my intention
to bring Leon in
for questioning.
However, having spoken to him
earlier in the day,
I thought he might be
a flight risk,
hence the hour of my visit.
Yeah, go on.
When I said to Leon
that I had reason to believe
he and Gareth were involved
in a a drug syndicate
and had murdered a truckie,
Leon became hostile,
and when pressed
he admitted to killing Gareth
over drug money.
He then drew his weapon,
which was a crossbow,
whilst taking the woman,
Audrey, hostage.
Tried to de-escalate
the situation,
but when Audrey broke free,
Leon panicked
and killed her.
He then fired at me.
But
(GURNEY RATTLES)
having missed his target
I drew my weapon and fired.
In self-defence.
Fatally wounded him
in the chest.
Then I called it in.
Well, we'll do a formal
recording back at the station.
I don't know what else to say,
Geraldine.
You're a bloody hero.
And you cracked this thing
all by yourself?
Oh, I'm
Sir, I'm just sorry
that it turned out this way.
Yeah, no, no, we'll get you
into counselling,
you know, whatever you need.
It's good work, Sergeant.
That promotion's got your name
all over it.
Were there any witnesses?
Sorry, Sergeant.
Any chance for
a podcast interview?
Oh, no, no, no, you don't.
I'm press.
And this is a crime scene, alright?
You're not allowed
inside the tape.
Get her out of here.
She's not to pester
any of my officers.
If she comes any closer,
you can arrest her on the spot.
- Come on, let's go.
- Yeah, OK, I'm going.
- You OK?
- Yeah.
(DISTURBING MUSIC)
Hey, boss.
Look.
I think it's some kind of
audio recording device.
OK, so I found it inside.
Someone was listening in
on these guys.
I can't wait to hear
what's on it.
Yeah, can't wait too.
Uh, you know what?
I might take this.
Well, I'm supposed to log it
as evidence in the
Yeah. Yeah, we will.
OK.
I just need to show the boss
in case it's part of some
you know
undercover op
that we don't know about.
- Oh.
- (WHISPERS) Yeah.
OK. (WHISPERS) Well, um
(GERALDINE WHISPERS) Yeah.
(TROUBLING MUSIC)
(POLICE RADIO COMMUNICATIONS)
(VEHICLE DOOR OPENS)
(TROUBLING MUSIC INTENSIFIES)
- (BREATHES HEAVILY)
- (TROUBLING MUSIC FADES)
Hm!
(SIGHS)
(DANIELS CALLS OUT) Geraldine?
Yeah.
DANIELS: Sergeant.
(SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC)
(TOWNSFOLK AND POLICE CHATTER)
(DANIELS SPEAKS INAUDIBLY)
(UNSETTLING MUSIC)
(CASSIE RATTLES DOOR HANDLE)
(GASPS)
(SOFTLY) Shit.
I just can't believe it.
Yeah, well,
now you know how it feels,
I guess.
What do you mean?
To be let down by somebody you
thought gave a shit about you.
I was talking about
Leon and Audrey.
Dead.
Just like that.
Right after Gareth.
I don't know what's going on
with this town.
Yeah, well, that is why I
(ZIPS BAG) ..am getting out
of here.
Just gonna take the money
and run, are ya?
What else would I be doing?
Oh, I don't know,
just thought
thought maybe we
Are you
Are you suggesting
that we spend time together?
Jesus, you're not asking
to come with me, are you?
Fuck, no.
We'd only drive each other nuts.
Yeah.
Exactly.
(TROUBLING MUSIC)
Must be good to have all that
sorted out, though, eh?
(CLEARS THROAT)
(SIGHS)
Feel like I should say something
of lasting significance, like
keep on truckin', Pop.
(TENDER MUSIC)
I wish you could have seen
me UFO tour.
Crikey, it was good.
(DOOR CLOSES)
LEON ON RECORDING: Just listen.
I never said nothing about you,
OK?
And nothing about any of it,
I swear.
GERALDINE ON RECORDING: This
can't come back to me, Leon.
It can't.
(GUNSHOT ON RECORDING)
LEON: Oh. Arggh, fuck!
Oh, this is why
people hate cops.
- (SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC)
- (OFFICERS SPEAK INAUDIBLY)
GERALDINE: Fuckin' hell.
AUDREY: Agh! Agh! No! No!
No, please, no!
(ARROW THWACKS ON RECORDING)
- (EXHALES)
- (DOOR OPENS)
(TOWNSFOLK CHATTER)
(UNSETTLING MUSIC)
(POLICE RADIO COMMUNICATIONS)
- (SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC)
- (DOOR CLOSES)
(SEATBELT BUCKLE CLICKS)
(ENGINE STARTS)
(TOURISTS CHATTER)
WOMAN: Oh, thank you.
(UNSETTLING MUSIC)
NOEL: For a tenner, she's yours.
- Thank you.
- Yeah, thanks.
NOEL: Be able to retire now.
(SIGHS)
Just the gum?
Yes, please.
Actually, you haven't
come across an American
by the name of Andy, have you?
I've got a photo of him here.
This guy.
We're supposed to meet up, but
he seems to have lost his phone.
Seen him around?
(TROUBLING MUSIC)
- (PHONE THUDS)
- (GASPS SOFTLY)
(KEYS JANGLE)
You can come out now.
CASSIE: Oh, damn!
I wanted to surprise you.
I really just want to get
that interview.
You're a hero. Don't you want
to tell us all about it?
Cut the crap. I know you know.
Let me out.
Let me out, you fuckin' psycho!
Oh, there she is. (CHUCKLES)
Hey, it's a police car,
so we have all the doors
child-locked
so the bad guys can't escape.
It's pretty nifty, huh?
(CHUCKLES)
Oh, are you calling the cops?
Hey! Help!
Help!
(CASSIE POUNDS ON DOOR)
Let me out! Help!
Let me out! (SOBS)
Sh-sh-sh-sh-sh.
Don't waste your energy.
So, I'm guessing Andy
knows a bit about this too, huh?
What?
No, he doesn't know anything.
We'll see.
(PHONE RINGS)
I was just about to call you.
Where the hell have you been?
She's with me, sunshine.
But she's dead keen to see you,
though.
And if you want to
see her again,
then maybe you should
come and meet up with us.
ANDY: II don't
What's going on?
(SIGHS)
What's going on
is that I know that
you're into something illegal.
And if you don't do
exactly as I say,
I'll have every cop
in this state on your arse
faster than a fly
on a fresh turd.
Come alone.
Tell no-one and bring nothing.
You understand?
I understand.
He says hi.
- Send.
- (NOTIFICATION SWOOSHES)
Ah.
(TOURISTS CHATTER)
HUGO: Andy.
Uh, I can't I gotta go.
- VAL: Same again?
- TOURIST: Yeah, great.
(UNSETTLING MUSIC)
WOMAN: Last drinks.
Bus is leaving shortly.
(LOCK CLICKS)
(TROUBLING MUSIC)
(TOURISTS CHATTER NEARBY)
(SIGHS)
(VEHICLE DOORS OPEN AND SHUT)
GERALDINE: Come on.
Join the party.
- Cassie, I'm so
- GERALDINE: Phone.
Are you OK?
- Do I look OK?
- OK, sorry, just asking.
She killed Leon and Audrey.
What?!
Now he knows.
God, what a fucking fiasco
this has turned into, hasn't it?
Normally things are pretty quiet
around here,
but ever since you arrived,
life's just gone sideways.
What do you want?
Well, that's a tricky question.
Is it money?
God, it's all about business
for you, isn't it?
You do know that bribing
a police officer
is a criminal offence?
- So is murder.
- Not if you don't get caught.
Because you were right.
I came here
for money.
And I found it.
And if you let her go,
it's yours.
- All of it.
- Andy!
If you
if you let her walk away
I will take you right to it.
That's really cute.
You know you had your chance
with me, Andrew.
But we're on
a different path now.
And nothing can change that.
I mean, sure,
I've thought about it.
You and me on a beach,
horseback riding, bareback.
And your horse gets away
and I gallop up to you
and hoist your onto my horse.
Huh. But here we are.
J-just Please.
I've got plans that I have had
in place for a very long time.
You know I graduated
top of my class?
No-one thought I could,
but I did.
- And then
- (GUNSHOT)
(THREE GUNSHOTS)
CASSIE: Shit!
Go on. Go!
- I have the money.
- Don't you fuckin' move.
You got any idea how much
trouble you've caused me?
I thought you just did
their books. I didn't
I didn't realise
that you killed for them too.
Why is that so hard
to understand?
People can be good
at more than one thing, Andy.
- Pigeon-holing, it's not
- You didn't have to kill Dom!
Dom fucked up. So did you.
It wasn't our fault!
We were just trying to fix it.
(LAUGHS) You think you
can steal from these people
and then just fix it, Andy?
I didn't steal anything!
Tell me, where is the money!
(SOMBRE MUSIC)
HUGO: Dear Andy,
You ever hear the one about
the scorpion and the frog?
The frog gives the scorpion
a lift across the river,
but about halfway across,
they sink,
so the scorpion stings him.
(ANDY SIGHS)
HUGO: The frog goes, "Ouch!
What did you do that for?"
And the scorpion says, "Why?"
Oh, no, hang on. No, wait.
No, the frog bites
the scorpion
Uh
Uh, no, actually, I forget.
It's something like that.
Look, the point is
I can't help it.
It's in me nature.
I'm sure you're not surprised.
But it's not all that bad.
Me house, the business,
they're all yours to keep.
Not the fairest swap,
but we've both had to do things
we're not proud of to survive.
(DOOR OPENS AND SHUTS)
Maybe that's in our blood too.
PETEY P: Where is it?
HUGO: Believe it or not,
I always wished you
a happy existence.
So I tell you what,
you don't look for me
and I'll stay out of your life.
I get the feeling you've always
preferred it like that anyway.
ANDY: If you're reading this,
it means you've disappeared.
For good this time.
(SIGHS)
PETEY P:
What are you waiting for?
Hurry the fuck up, Andy.
What the hell is this, hm?
South Sea pearls,
pink diamonds, opals.
You said you had the cash.
I never said cash.
You never said jewels either.
Either way, it's all there.
Sonofabitch. Pack it back up.
Come on.
OK, let's go.
What?
My car. Move!
- But I just gave you
- I said move, Andy.
(KNOCK AT DOOR)
(BOTH GRUNT)
Val's not here.
I saw your car out the front.
- (BOTH GRUNT)
- (GUN FIRES)
Hey, what's going on in there?
(GUN FIRES)
- (GUN FIRES)
- (BOTH GRUNT)
Why would you lock the door?
- It locks automatically now.
- She fixed it, did she?
You picked the wrong town
to fuck with, mate.
Oh, you Fuck!
(BOTH GRUNT)
- Sonofabitch!
- (GUN FIRES)
(GUN CLICKS)
- Fuck.
- (NOEL GRUNTS)
(CHOKES)
(ALL GROAN)
(ANDY AND NOEL GASP)
(HYPERVENTILATES)
(GASPS)
What what do we
do with the body?
(NOEL BREATHES HEAVILY)
I got an idea.
Might be able to kill
two birds with one stone.
(CROCODILE GROWLS)
(WATER SPLASHES)
(PHONE LINE RINGS)
WOMAN ON PHONE: Is it done?
I have your money.
WOMAN: Put Petey on the phone.
Petey's dead.
WOMAN: Then you think
I won't send someone else?
Listen, I never stole
anything from you.
In fact, I almost died,
like, six times
getting you your money.
Is that not valuable to you?
You are expendable.
Oh, yeah?
What if I told you I have access
to multiple foreign accounts
through which I can move
your money,
ongoing,
in a place no-one
would ever think to look.
No hidden accounts,
no identity fraud,
everything
completely legitimate.
As long as I'm alive.
Right.
I'm supposed to trust you now?
I'm not asking for trust.
I'm asking for a chance
to prove to you
that this will be
an even better operation
than it was before.
All while paying back my debt,
of course.
OK, here's what's gonna happen.
Have the missing money
back in the account
and the details of
all the new accounts
in to me by Friday.
OK.
And I'll give your little
operation one month.
All goes to plan,
we have a deal.
- If not
- Understood.
Yeah.
And you'll be paying off
your friend's debt as well.
Hm!
You realise you can never
come back here.
Yeah.
- I kind of figured that.
- Get it done.
(LINE BEEPS)
CASSIE: Andy!
- What happened?
- He's
He went away.
How'd you get here?
I hitched.
Oh, shit.
- Cassie.
- What?!
Don't you know that's dangerous?
Oh!
(LAUGHS)
(HOPEFUL MUSIC)
CASSIE: Why do people disappear?
When they do, the truth often
disappears with them.
(CRIES) What's going on?
It's supposed to be
one minute's silence
and we're just 10 seconds in,
so if we could just
I'm sorry, Jimmy,
it's just I don't know
what's happened to us,
to our little town.
I do. (CHUCKLES) It's dying.
- Can we just please finish
- ANDY: It doesn't have to die.
But sometimes you get lucky
and the secrets come out.
So the money gets transferred
from the US into your accounts,
it just sits there for a week
and then I transfer it
right back out again.
It's as simple as that.
And for letting you
use our accounts, we get
One percent
of every transaction.
- Ooh!
- For doing absolutely nothing.
It's it's win-win.
(TOWNSFOLK MURMUR)
CASSIE: Like the man who went
missing from a tiny outback town
who turned out to be
not missing at all.
I can confirm that
Sergeant Geraldine Walters
was involved in
the drug-smuggling ring
that she claimed
to have smashed,
and in fact I can now reveal
that I was personally leading
an internal
undercover investigation
into her involvement
in this criminal organisation
before they so brutally
executed her.
CASSIE: A town full of people
who disappeared themselves
long before this
all complicit in keeping
the truth hidden
(DRILL WHIRRS)
as long as it suits them.
Some disappear because
they're trying to outrun pain.
Others just don't want
to be found.
But can you truly disappear
when someone
always holds a flame?
(WISTFUL MUSIC)
(MUSIC FADES)
- (INSECTS CHIRP)
- (DOG BARKS IN DISTANCE)
- So, how's your mom's?
- CASSIE: Fine.
You hate it, don't you?
ANDY: I hate podcasts.
I think the world
has too many of them.
But if I didn't hate podcasts,
probably wouldn't hate this one.
- Really?
- I said 'probably'.
Besides, your uh, your subject
gave you all the great material,
so you kind of owe him, huh?
What? You're not even in it.
It doesn't mention you,
it doesn't mention the money.
Alright, alright, alright.
Calm down.
We'll call it even, OK?
CASSIE: So how long
are you gonna stay there?
- (SIGHS) I don't know.
- (DOG HOWLS)
But I can't go back
to the States.
At least not yet.
You're not worried
they'll come find you again?
Yeah.
But I guess
I just feel safer here.
Never thought I'd say that.
And, well, you're the one
who sounds worried.
(LAUGHS) You wish.
When are you coming to visit?
Bidgeegud, that little shithole?
Hey, that's my adopted home town
you're talking about.
It's not that bad.
You know, we used to have
the number one UFO tour
in, like, two kilometres.
I heard it was crap.
Look at you,
using the metric system.
I turn my back for one second
and you've gone full Aussie.
Can you do the accent?
Hello? Andy?
('THE UNGUARDED MOMENT'
BY THE CHURCH)
So hard finding inspiration
I knew you'd find me crying
Tell those girls
with rifles for minds
That their jokes
Don't make me laugh
They only make me
Feel like dying
In an unguarded moment
So long ♪