White Lies (2024) s01e03 Episode Script

1
We have one man dead,
one woman in a coma.
No footage.
No one sees the killer come or go.
No witnesses.
What did you see?
White boy.
But we had the maid and the
boyfriend who ran across the border.
We don't need another
du Toit situation here.
Do you know about the du Toit case?
Do you know what your boss here did?
Did she ruin your life?
You know she did.
I know she wrote about it.
[whispers:] Dude,
I told you, I can't talk.
My card, okay?
Who was that?
Arrest this woman for theft,
obstructing of justice and
potential conspiracy to murder.
- [screaming]
- [phone rings]
Jaime?
[sobbing:] He's gone.
Daniel's gone.
[car engine running]
[dramatic music fades]
Jealousy is one of the primal drives.
It's the only one of
the seven deadly sins
that brings the sinner no pleasure.
Not even briefly.
It brings only pain.
Only destruction.
[rousing music playing]
Um- Sorry. Can I-
Can I go to the bathroom?
Sure, but first
tell me what do you think?
Is Othello jealous by nature?
Um, Iago makes him jealous.
Hmm.
Is that the nature-nurture debate?
Sir, I'm sorry.
Just a moment, Robert.
We're nearly finished.
[ominous music playing]
Oh, Robert.
Sorry, I just had to
I know you've been very
upset about the Mackenzie's.
I've organised a group encounter session
where we can all come together and
share our feelings in a
mutually sympathetic circle.
Okay.
It takes a village to
grieve a loss, Robert.
We can hold space for each other.
[door creeks]
[Robert screaming]
[gasps]
[sighs]
Yeah, so when can
Can I finish my sentence?
When can I expect it?
This is ridiculous.
How can we do our work?
[sighs] Those assholes
can't even spell D-L-A.
Breathe.
Okay, so what do you think?
Where's your money? Who did it?
You want my opinion?
Okay.
It's Pearl.
Pearl and her boyfriend did it.
They stole the money.
And he's on the run.
Maybe.
It's logical.
Maybe.
But can't you smell it?
When those kids are in the room,
you can smell it on their skin.
There's something rotting.
Behind the doors and the walls,
there is something rotten.
Under the roses and the perfume,
you can smell it.
Okay, we need to find him
before Forty Bell finds out.
Daniel wouldn't like this.
He's very private.
Yeah?
See how he enjoys
his privacy in jail.
Can you get into his email?
[phone vibrates]
Not now.
Hey, I need a response
for tomorrow's piece.
Um, do you think you can get
it from him or must I call?
Did you come to their house today?
Yeah.
Um, I also called, the hospital.
There's no change in the mother.
You need to stay away.
They don't trust you. They'll talk to me.
If he thinks I'm getting the story,
he won't come snooping around.
I said that to protect you.
What's that?
A poem.
"Had I the heavens embroidered cloths,
"I would spread the cloths under your feet.
"But I, being poor, have only my dreams.
"I have spread my dreams under your feet,
tread softly because
you tread on my dreams."
That's Yeats.
Is that Daniel's handwriting?
No.
Is he seeing someone?
No.
Then your brother
has a secret admirer.
Uh-huh.
Evening.
I'm really sorry to interrupt.
Is Is Daniel here?
Robert?
Miss Hansen here is
looking for your friend.
Have you seen Daniel?
Is he Is he missing?
I mean, we're just
looking for him. But
Can you tell me,
does he have a girlfriend?
- Uh
- A boyfriend?
I wou I wouldn't know.
What about this?
Recognise his handwriting?
- It's no one at school?
- I don't know.
Please. Do you have any idea
where he could be right now?
We don't really hang out
that much anymore, you know.
Maybe, maybe he's at a party.
What party?
Daniel goes to all the parties.
Well, what does that mean?
I, I don't know. I just
[scoffs] I don't have,
I don't know anything. I'm just
It's just he's popular.
You know, that's all.
It's, I, I don't know where he is.
Okay, I I'm sorry to interrupt.
Listen, if you have any
idea where he might be,
can you just text Jaime, please?
Okay, thank you.
I, I hope you find him.
[pensive music playing]
[Jaime]: No one's
having a party tonight.
Who are Daniel's friends at school?
He doesn't really hang out.
But Robert said he was popular.
He's just obsessed
with that scholarship.
It's like all he thinks about.
The Oxford Africa?
Yeah.
Same one Dad did.
[pensive music continues]
I think
I'm Daniel's best friend.
Your dad and I were close once, too.
What was he like when he was young?
He could be kind.
Sometimes.
He protected me from
our parents when
But
He was very driven.
Andrew always wanted more.
He always wanted to live in Bishopscourt,
even from when we were small.
I mean, he was self-controlled,
but he had a temper.
Daniel has, too.
[brakes squeaking]
What does vit seen mean in Afrikaans?
It means white boy, doesn't it?
Vit seen, ja, white boy.
Yeah.
When I spoke to Banjo
about that night, the attack,
he said he saw a white boy.
Who's Banjo?
Is it possible that
Daniel lost his temper
with your parents?
- What?
- I just
I need to ask in case.
Fuck this.
I just, I just need to know.
How could you even think that?
You're supposed to be our aunt.
I'm sorry, but it makes sense if I
You know, maybe if you'd been
here for the last 18 years,
you would know that he could
never do something like that.
- Jaime.
- No, I'm going home.
Jaime, wait.
Please, I just Wait.
It's not safe.
It's safe. It's Bishopscourt.
[ominous music playing]
[plastic rustling]
[shouts] Magiet, no. Stop!
I think he's thirsty.
[gasping]
This will teach you not to take
other people's money.
Fuck's sake.
- Drown the young man.
- [cries out]
- [gasping aloud for air]
- Breathe deep, man.
I think he's still thirty.
Drink some more water.
Hey!
What are you doing here?
[gasping]
- Magiet.
- Shame, man.
Let him breathe.
[Daniel gasping:] Please don't
[ominous music fades]
Forty?
I got something for you.
You and your shit.
The Live Young Crew.
They got a new shipment in
and they mobilised new
soldiers from Primrose.
I'm not in the gang unit
anymore, talk to Jantjies.
But they caught a white boy.
Not my circus, talk to Jantjies.
Come on, Forty, man.
This is good info.
Just give me a buffalo. Huh?
[clicks tongue, sighs in disappointment]
[pensive music playing]
Excuse me, sir.
We'll bring in the boy.
Take him through his story again.
Why?
Because teenagers always
think of better details
to try and make the
story more convincing.
The more they talk,
the more you open them up.
Stick with me, son.
I'll make a Hawk out of you.
Yes, sir.
[phone ringing]
Detective Bell?
Trying to get a hold of your nephew
but he's not answering his phone.
Still have a few more questions for him.
Daniel is having
a hard time right now.
He's not coming out of his room.
Yeah but I need to see him
at his earliest convenience.
I could send a car.
No, no, that won't be necessary.
I'll bring him as soon as he's up.
Thank you.
Forty.
There's a body in St. James.
I'm on a case.
Everyone's busy.
Commander says yours is wrapping up.
Oh, God please.
Please let me know if you
hear from D. Your clumsy aunt.
Miss Hansen, the
Principal is ready for you.
[school bell ringing]
Daniel is having a very
hard time at the moment.
He won't talk.
He hardly comes out of his room.
I'd really like to just talk
to some of his classmates
to get some idea as to
how I can help him.
I understand.
But I can't just let you
talk to the learners,
not without consulting the parents.
I appreciate that.
I'm
God, it's all just so
[sighs]
To be honest with you, I'm
getting a little bit desperate.
I'm really worried
about what he might do.
Look.
Miss Geraghty has
organised what she calls
an encounter session for
Jaime and Daniel's classes.
Perhaps you can sit in.
Please, that would be great.
No talking to the learners.
I promise.
Thank you for your valuable time
and your precious emotional energy.
Let's start with how we
feel about what happened.
What it raises in us.
Who'd like to start?
Hmm
It's difficult to open up, isn't it?
Because what if it all
comes pouring out, right?
But there's no shame.
Our vulnerability is our strength.
Robert, maybe you
want to get the ball rolling.
[scoffs]
Not really, no.
Actually, it's made
me feel quite unsafe.
Helen.
Well. Tell us more.
Okay. Um
Well, I get these nightmares.
I'm like
I wake up sweating with
rashes on my body everywhere.
And I'm, I'm anxious.
[Edie vomiting]
[toilet flush]
[chuckles]
You okay?
Yeah. Yeah, I'm fine.
Yeah. Um, you were
yakking pretty hard.
Yeah, it must have been something I ate.
Bruh, you're
You're like pregnant.
What? No. [sniffs]
Yeah, I have four little brothers.
My mum chews ice cubes
when she feels sick.
Maybe that'll help?
I'm not
Hey, listen, do you know
Daniel McKenzie?
[scoffs] Well,
I, I'm in his class
but I don't really know him.
What about his girlfriend?
- Didn't know he had one.
- Boyfriend?
Okay, so um
If he were to bunk school,
who might know where he'd be?
No, he wouldn't.
Golden Boy does everything perfect.
In school.
- Anyway.
- In school?
What does he do outside of school?
Yeah, um
I'm not a snitch.
Like some.
And remember, no glove, no love.
[footsteps]
[mysterious music playing]
[dogs barking]
[dogs barking]
Constable. [exhales]
He washed up at high tide.
Witnesses?
We had a report someone was
being drowned in the pool last night.
Sometimes a Young Live Crew comes
here to perform the water method.
This guy didn't drown.
No.
No sign of the drowned guy either.
Do you know how many people
were killed in Cape Town last year?
Four thousand one hundred and seventy.
Do you know how many
of them were shot? Half.
Do you know how many of them we solve?
[mysterious music fades]
One shooting, one person missing.
We presume drowning.
Drowned?
I just heard on the radio
theres a drowning in
the Salt River morgue.
Excuse me, can I just
talk to you about Daniel?
Maybe you're looking
in the wrong place.
And where should I be looking?
Well, maybe Daniel doesn't always
hang around the right people.
How, How is Mrs. Mackenzie?
She's still the same.
Robert, what aren't you
telling me about Daniel?
Well, if he's in trouble, you know,
maybe it's his own fault.
Maybe the Golden Boy
isn't so perfect after all.
What did you mean last night,
he goes to all the parties?
I need to get to class.
I need you to show me his locker.
[locker opening]
Argh
Even his locker's tidy.
Miss Hanson?
- You and I had an agreement.
- [phone ringing]
Edie Hanson.
This is Reza Ahmed from
the Salt River Morgue.
What?
Is it possible for
you to identify a body?
[ominous music playing]
He was uh
He was brought in this morning.
Drowned.
Can I get you a glass of water?
Uh, no, no thank you. Just um
Just show me.
Are you sure?
[vomiting]
I am I'm so sorry.
He has no identification.
We just, um, we just found this.
His name's Banjo.
I thought it was Daniel.
I thought it was Daniel.
You thought it was Daniel?
I thought he's not coming out
of his bedroom so where is he?
[Edie vomiting]
This is too far!
Aiding and abetting a fugitive!
That is conspiring to
defeat the ends of justice!
Forty, don't exaggerate.
The last time I was in a murder case,
you tore it down from the outside.
You chipped and you chipped
and you worked it for me to fall.
Now you're doing it from the inside.
No, no, no, no, Miss Hanson. No.
Forty, I'm sorry.
You will call me Detective Bell!
I understand you're
angry. I would be too.
I don't care what you would be!
From the beginning, you've been
trying to distract this investigation.
I'm worried about Daniel, okay?
- I think he's doing something stupid.
- [phone ringing]
Answer your phone.
- No, listen to me, please.
- [phone ringing]
- I think he's in trouble.
- Yes, he's in trouble, alright.
He's a fugitive from the law.
Now answer your phone!
[phone ringing]
Avi, I can't talk right now. I
What? When?
That's what he said?
Okay, I'll call you straight back.
That was the lawyer.
It was Daniel. He's asking
for money. Fifty thousand rand.
- He's running.
- No, what if he isn't?
What if they're making him call?
Zondo.
Hurry up, man.
This woman is under
arrest for obstructing justice.
You're joking.
- Take her in, process her.
- Yes, sir.
Forty!
If he's in danger and
you're ignoring this,
then you're finished. I'll have your job.
[shouts] You're finished!
What now?
I'm sorry, we must go to the station.
You want to take my car? I'll drive.
No, no, I can't let the suspect drive.
Did someone steal your car? [giggling]
When they were stealing your car,
where was your firearm? Hey?
You should have shot them, policeman.
Pow! Pow! Pow! Pow!
[giggling]
[pensive music playing]
[background pop music]
Where's Daniel?
Tell me about that
white boy that was taken.
Yes, she's
I mean, no.
She's here.
And she's not happy.
And he's not going to be happy
when I'm finished with him.
I'm going to go check something out.
It might just be a coincidence.
But a source just told me
that the Young Live Crew
are holding a white boy.
Do you want backup?
What? No, no, no, no.
I don't want to call
someone out on a hunch
and look like a fool.
Copy that, sir.
Okay.
Where's he at? The casino?
He doesn't gamble.
You know, you should pick
your heroes more carefully.
Just wait till the
pressure starts on him.
Forty Bell under pressure is like
a sandcastle when
the tide's coming in.
And I'm the tide.
Actually
Right now he's investigating a white boy
held by the Live Young Crew.
[pensive music playing]
[clears throat]
Okay.
[pensive music continues]
[pill bottle rattling]
- Hello, my love.
- Hey, old man.
You left your lunch at home.
Oh, I forgot.
How's work?
Oh, boring old day. Nothing special.
I'll bring your lunch
to the station, hey?
No, no, no. It's fine. I'll
I'll get a pie from the
garage or something.
Hey. You know what the doctor said, hey?
No, it's fine.
I'll get a mushroom pie. [chuckles]
It's got vegetables.
Okay, listen, um I've got to go, okay?
Okay. Bye.
Well, the water is not so cold,
but
And now?
Denzel, you're still on the gang beat?
Yeah. Where's the Live Young
Crew HQ in Athlone these days?
Yeah?
- [car door shuts]
- Great. Can you text it to me?
- [car door shuts]
- [phone vibrating]
[dog barking]
[doorbell rings]
Sorry, Aunty.
Can I have some water?
It's hot today.
Wait here.
I get you some.
Sorry, Aunty. I don't want water.
Am looking for a shortcut.
Hey!
[suspenseful music playing]
[gasps]
[inhales] Fuck.
Hello. Hi. I brought Forty his lunch.
He can't eat garage pies.
It gives him heartburn and
he's already not sleeping.
Where is he?
I will give it to him.
Oh.
No, no, wait.
Let me say hello to my husband, man.
Call him for me.
[house alarm activating]
[paper crunching]
[pensive music playing]
[whispering] Daniel.
[whispering] Daniel. Hey, wake up.
[whispering] Wake up.
[whispering] Hey, hey, hey.
Hey! Wake up.
[Daniel mumbling]
Shh.
- Shh.
- [Daniel groaning]
Who are you?
My brother,
I am not looking for trouble.
I am just here for the boy.
What's going on here
isn't my business.
Trust me brother, you don't want drama.
Shooting a cop is asking for trouble.
On your knees.
Brother, listen to me.
On your knees, pig.
It's my lucky day.
I've been wanting to
kill a pig for a long time.
Constable!
I have been waiting
out there for 15 minutes.
Oh, I'm so sorry.
He's out on a case.
Who's his partner?
I am.
I'm his partner.
Are you telling me that he is
out there on a job without backup?
Thanks.
[pensive music playing]
Hello, sweetheart.
Who are you looking for?
Brother listen here, I have a wife.
Shame.
You're going to miss her.
I have two small girls.
Please, brother.
Don't worry.
I'll be their daddy.
Brother, listen.
I'll be your friend in the department.
I swear I can help you.
What?
One of you pigs killed my brother.
Now you want to be my brother?
[breathing heavily]
Say goodbye to your wife and kids.
[gasping]
[laughs]
[laughing:] You dirty pig!
You are a dirty pig.
So this is your hero?
This is who came to save you!
Look here.
I found another one.
Please.
I'm the boy's mother.
Listen, brother. Let these
two go, you've got me.
They haven't done anything to you.
Mother to mother, just let him go.
We haven't done anything to you.
Magiet. Please.
She's a good mother. Just leave her.
Alright, I'll make it right.
I'll make it right. Please.
- [cries in pain]
- I still have business with you.
But first, I'll deal with this one.
[gun clicks]
[banging on the door]
[banging on the door]
- Move. And shut up.
- [Edie exhales]
- [banging on the door]
- Police!
Fuck Magiet, it's the police.
- [banging on the door]
- Police!
Argh!
[groaning]
[Edie gasps]
What are you trying?
[Forty grunts]
- [slap]
- [Edie gasps]
[Marga grunts]
[Daniel moaning]
Mmm! Mmm!
Please. These are our sons.
We have to keep them alive.
Put the gun down.
Put the gun down.
[gunshot fired]
[cries out:] Magiet!
Magiet!
[Marga sobbing]
You assholes!
[sobbing:] Mommy is here.
- Hey, hey, hey. It's okay. It's okay.
- [Bernice sniffling]
So you're a cowboy now,
huh? [clicks tongue]
A vigilante.
No, it's there's no trouble.
- [Bernice sighs]
- Was routine, it's
I just forgot my phone
in the car, that's all.
I'm just waiting to hear
how the boy's doing.
And you are?
Oh, um
Hi, I'm Edie Hansen.
Oh, it's about time.
I've only been hearing
all the stories about you.
They're probably true.
You know what you're doing tonight?
You're coming to dinner.
- No.
- No.
Yes.
I want to see the woman up close
who gives my husband nightmares.
I've got to write a story
for tomorrow. I
Seven o'clock.
Hey? Forty, does she have our address?
He'll text it to you.
This is good.
Okay. We'll eat, we'll bread bread.
We'll get to the bottom
of what happened today.
We need to take you
back there tomorrow.
First thing. They're going to
have some questions for you.
Thank you for coming for me.
So do you think we're ready
for some conversation yet?
Your father always wanted
to do everything himself.
And he did.
And he put up walls so
people couldn't see he wasn't alright.
So fine, people can't see in.
What's inside is still there.
Please?
[whispers:]
I don't say please very often.
I owed them money.
Coke?
How long have you been using?
A year.
Maybe two.
Okay.
[exhales]
Okay
I'll help you if you let me.
[car door opens]
[pensive music playing]
Oh my god, Daniel.
[whispers:] It's okay.
[whispers:] I knew you'd
be here when I woke up.
[background chatter]
You need to talk to someone.
I'm writing my report.
A therapist.
Someone like that.
Look, there's no shame, okay?
We have someone here.
I'm okay.
You're a good man.
Good men don't shoot people
and then they're just okay.
Look, I've been a police
officer for almost 20 years
and I've never shot anyone.
Half the time I don't even carry a gun.
Because when you carry a gun,
that's when shooting happens.
I promised my wife I'd
stay away from danger.
You are allowed to feel bad.
But he was going to kill me.
He was.
So thank you.
My wife and kids thank you.
[background chatter]
His story is that the gang
saw him on the news.
Saw the house.
Rich boy. Snatched him for the ransom.
Nothing to do with the murder.
And what do you think?
I think that story came
out of a male cow.
Magiet said the kid owed him money.
And Magiet is dead.
I think the boy hired
the gang to kill his parents
and then he just simply
refused to pay up.
Why didn't you just tell me?
Since when do we keep
secrets from each other?
It's just better you didn't know James.
It's never better.
- She was looking through your room.
- What?
And she found a poem.
You got a girlfriend?
No. What do you mean she was looking
Tell me Daniel, you got a girlfriend?
- I don't.
- Tell the truth.
- I don't. I don't.
- You've got a girlfriend.
- Tell me.
- Chill out. Ow!
- Tell the truth, Daniel.
- Relax. Okay. Okay. Ah!
[Jaime chuckles]
- Tell me.
- I don't. [snickers]
I found the poem in the garden.
I think Mom dropped it.
Mom?
I think somebody wrote it to her.
Jaime, I think
Mom was having an affair.
[sombre music playing]
[Edie:] You know what Edgar?
I can't really talk right now.
Okay?
There's an alert on the boy.
The cops are looking for him.
Well, that's news to me.
I'll check with the kids.
Maybe I should speak to them.
No, look, you've done enough, alright?
Look, if there's anything,
- I'll let you know, okay?
- Will you?
You have to learn to trust your partner.
Bye.
[exhales]
Now isn't this nice? [snickers]
That was so good.
I haven't had home cooking in so long.
And
We're all sitting around the same
table
and no one's killed anyone yet.
It's not nice to kill, Mummy.
No, it's not.
And if you do, your father
will catch you.
Oh, he'll probably let
you get away with it.
Be, Because he loves you, not because
Do you know why he's called Forty?
Bernice.
Well, I assumed it was because
he was born 40 years old.
It's hard to imagine someone
like him ever being young.
[chuckles] It's short for
No!
Fortune.
[giggling]
Fortune Bell.
Okay, young ladies, it's time for bed.
Go brush your teeth.
You help your sister.
[chair scrapes on floor]
[Bernice snickers]
I wanted Forty to leave
the police years ago.
My brother has a job for him.
But we compromised.
He promised me he'd never put
himself in a dangerous situation.
Do you know he's never
even fired his gun?
Well, here's to never putting
yourself in a dangerous situation.
Dad, we're done.
Okay, jump in the bed. I'm on my way.
Ladies, excuse me.
You know I respect Edie, right?
I think she's
She's great.
I only look up to her.
Of course.
But she's cutting me out, right?
And she's protecting those kids. It's-
She's the best reporter we've ever had.
Yeah?
Yeah, she was a star, for sure. [scoffs]
She was.
But that was the past.
Papers are different now.
Readers are different.
The world is different and she's
An old white woman from England.
She's not that old.
If you want the paper to grow again,
she can't be the star anymore.
You need a new star.
Hmm. [snickers]
You know, he hasn't
had a drink in two years.
But sometimes Mama
needs a little medicine, huh?
[Edie scoffs]
[chuckling]
It was hard after the Du Toit case.
I watched my husband, this
big, strong man fall apart.
I was just doing my job.
Forty is a good man.
And the drinking didn't
bother me so much.
But after he got fired from the Hawks,
I would wake up and he'd be gone.
To the casino.
And just gambling the whole night.
He lost everything.
God, he was so ashamed.
But my family helped us and
He pulled himself together.
That takes strength.
I'm glad.
I won't let that happen
to my family again.
Do you have a family?
- Not yet or?
- I don't want one.
I mean, some women are
supposed to be mothers
and not all of us.
What do you think a mother is?
Someone who loves.
Someone who knows how to love.
I don't think I'm capable
of a love like that.
- Why?
- I'm too selfish. [chuckles]
I mean, okay, maybe I was born
like that or maybe I learned it.
[snickers]
And that makes you so different.
We're all selfish.
But everyone can love.
Everyone can be loved.
[scoffs] Sometimes that's harder.
You're right.
Not everyone needs to have children.
But everyone needs a family.
[Bernice sighs]
[Forty]: "And the fish said,
'Because you let me go,
I will grant you anything you desire.'
"'Anything?', said the poor fisherman.
"'Anything at all.', said the fish.
"And with that,
"they put it back into the clear water.
"And the flounder
disappeared to the bottom.
"And then the fisherman got up
and went home to his wife"
[phone ringing]
[car door shuts]
[Edie sobbing]
[sniffling]
[sombre music playing]
[sniffling]
[exhales]
[sombre music continues]
[sighs]
[rustling]
[car engine starts]
[suspenseful music playing]
[background party music]
Hey, how are you?
I, uh
No, don't worry. The party's inside.
You don't want to hide
in the shadows. Come.
Just in here.
[DJ party music]
Do you want a drink?
- Yeah.
- Cool, I'll get them.
[DJ party music continues]
[laughter]
[brooding music playing]
[music ends; dogs barking]
[music resume, muffled;
barking continues]
♪