Little White Lies (1998) - full transcript

Will you be all right?

Why shouldn't I be?

Drive carefully.

She's been out there
half an hour.

We've got to get back,
but we couldn't
just leave her.

Thanks.

I've got to go to
the hospital to identify him,
but it won't be David.

-But you'll freeze
out here...
-Don't touch me!

-Let's go back to the house.
-I don't want to be touched!

There was a suitcase
in the car and a passport.

Inside the passport was
a ferry ticket to France.



You don't see, do you?

-Beth...
-If someone nicked
David's passport.

Someone stole his passport.
Stole his car.

They wouldn't make a mistake.

He wouldn't go anywhere
without telling me.

They did every possible
check before they...

He wouldn't just go.

Not like that. He wouldn't.

-David isn't like that.
-Beth, wait.

Come on. Out you get.

It's Ossy!

Rosie, put him down.

He loves me.
He only wants to play.

It's not our cat.



It's Beth's.

-Hello?
-Julia.

-Who is this?
-It's Peter.

Peter Pritchard.

It's Beth. Can you come over?

Why? What's happened?

There's been an accident.

-A car accident.
-Is she hurt?

Not Beth. David.

He's dead.

The police have gone.

The doctor came.

He wanted someone
to stay with her for a while.

It's not that I don't want to.

I don't know what to...

She needs a woman with her.
Just until Helen gets here.

I rang the cottage
and the office.

They're trying to contact her.

Yes, all right.

You don't want to believe it.

You just want to find
anything that will help
you shut it out.

It hurts.

It physically hurts.

It's just so...

...sad.

What was he? 35?

That's only half a life.

I've got this urge
to run away.

Just get in the van
and drive away,

go anywhere, nowhere.

That's how I felt,

after Becky.

She was only a baby.

Did you have...

Did you or Oliver have...

-To identify her?
-Yes.

I did. Oliver was distraught.

They look so different.
Hardly human.

She looked like a doll.

-Are you cold?
-No... No.

I just suddenly
feel very tired.

Shock.

It gets you like that.

I slept for a month
after Becky.

Would you come with me?

I said I'd go to iden...

To see if it is David.

Yes, of course.

Thank you.

What's wrong with Rosie?

It's all right, poppet.
It's all right.

It's all right.

That stupid doctor.

I keep telling him
she's not well.

I should know about
my own child.

-We can clean her up
in the house.
-No.

No, I'd better get her
home to bed.

Why does no one listen to me?

Why don't you come
and stay with me
at the cottage for a few days?

Hello, Julia.

-I've got to go.
-Let me know how Rosie is.

I shall miss David.

Come and stay.

Come and stay with me, Beth.

David was under a lot
of pressure at work.

I was too busy to talk,
at least, talk properly.

At breakfast,
we had this row.

Well, not really a row.

You couldn't row with David.
He wasn't that sort.
He hated confrontation.

It was the silences.

He would just sit there,

not saying a word.

What I didn't realise

was that he had his suitcase
in the car.

He was running away from me!

I must've been hateful
for him to do that.

This wouldn't have happened

if he hadn't been trying
to get away from me...

You mustn't think
that way, Beth.

It's ridiculous.

Don't become
a glutton for guilt.

Come to the cottage.

I'll pack a few
things for you.

The best thing for me to do

is to keep working.
I've got so much on.

All my stuff is here.

How was Beth?

She was all right
when I left.

I'll call in on my way home.

I wouldn't.
She'll probably be asleep.
She was exhausted.

I tried to get her to stay
with me for a few days,

but you know
what she's like...

And what she can be like.

Are you all right?

It's dreadful. Just dreadful.

You don't look well.
You should go home.

I've got someone coming in.

Are you sure
you're all right, Oliver?

I could cancel this meeting.

One of the witnesses
to the accident

told the police that they
thought they saw

David driving straight
at the lorry.

What?

It's bound to come out
at the inquest.

Have they told Beth?

I asked them not to,
not yet. Nor must we.

Not a word to anybody.

You understand?

Of course.

She's got enough to
put up with as it is.

It's probably nonsense.

When will the inquest be?

Two weeks, maybe longer.

Bloody nonsense.
I just don't believe it.
Not David.

It's an accident.
An appalling accident.

I can't find David's file.

I've been looking for it.
I knew you'd need it.

Oh, I took it home.

It's at home.

She's asleep.

Are you sure?

I read her a story.
She seems all right now.

A bit pale, but her
temperature's down.

I think we should
change doctors.

-Oliver?
-If that's what you want.

I talked to the police.

Did Beth tell you?
David was going abroad.

Had a ferry ticket to France.
One way.

Did Beth know this?

Did they tell her, the police?

You don't think she knew?

She said nothing to me.

No mention of it.

She told me
David was on his way to work.

You... You don't...

You don't seem surprised.

Surprised?

-That he was going.
-To France?

No. Going.

I think he was leaving her.

Why do you say that?

They weren't getting on.

How do you know?

I thought it was obvious.
You only had to watch
them together.

You didn't know
about this trip?

How could I?

Nothing at all?

No.

David.

David?

David!

David!

David!

David!

David!

David!

He was identified by
his own GP at the
scene of the accident.

So we've put him in the chapel
rather than the room we use
for identification.

We thought you might
prefer that.

Are you all right?

Yes.

It shouldn't take long.

I'd like to come in.

May I? Is it possible?

-It's not usual...
-I'd like her to.

Very well.

Where are his glasses?
His glasses, his clothes...

Where are his clothes?

-I expect they...
-David was smart.

He was very smart.
He liked to look nice.

He wouldn't like to be dressed
in that thing he had on.

He would like to have
his own clothes.

The undertaker will
see to that, I'm sure.

Who's dealing with it?

It?

It?

Who's dealing with it?

I'm sorry.
I meant the funeral.

What were you crying for?
It should be me crying.

Maybe you should.
It's quite normal.

It might help.

I'm sorry.

That wasn't necessary.

Nor that, poor man.

I thought you were wonderful.

Did you see his face?

He looked as though
he'd swallowed a fly.

He is dead, isn't he?

He is dead, Julia.

That was David in there.
He is dead. I know that now.

What have the people's
politics achieved?

Tests were carried out,

cars are still being exported,

and there will be
more Brent Spars,

but, at the very least,
the world took note.

In September,
nature reminded us
of her fury again.

A spectacular volcanic
eruption in New Zealand.

The weather went crazy
this year from Florida
to the Philippines...

There.

Can I have a kitten?

We'll see.

A white one, like Ossy.

It's very, very late.

Go to sleep.

-She's asleep.
-Are you sure?

You ask me that every time.
Yes, Julia, I'm sure.

-I'd better go and check.
-Leave her alone.

You never leave her alone.

-She's my daughter, too.
-You hardly ever see her.

She's never allowed to see me.

What's that supposed to mean?

She's always in bed
by the time I get home.

She's six years old.
What do you expect?

Even when I try to
come home early.

Don't start drinking.

I suppose you'll be sleeping
in the chair in her
room again tonight?

She's not well.
Rosie's not well.

She's been in bed
for two days.
No wonder she can't sleep.

All kids are sick
now and then.

Now and then?

It's part of growing up.

You know the pregnancy
was full of problems.

When she was born
she had respiratory problems.

She's never been well.

You never allow her
to be well!

You're always on at her
about how she feels!

Is she hot? Is she cold?
Is she tired? Is she...

Has she got a sore throat?
Is she...

Feeling faint? Is she...
Is she feeling sick?

You're watching her
all the time.

You won't let her play
with the other children.

You won't let her play
with a cat.

She's ill.

Rosie is ill.

Why can't you
understand that?

How much more of that stuff do
you have to pour down you

before you forget
our other daughter?

That was an accident, Julia.

Now I suppose you're going
to say that accidents happen
"now and then"!

Where are you going?

You'll never understand
how I feel about it.

Becky's death was my fault.

Part of me died with Becky.

Julia...

Julia!

Rosie?

Rosie?

You're worried
about Beth, aren't you?

Yeah.

I don't think she knows
how to deal with it.

She's behaving very oddly.

I don't quite
know what to do.

Just stay close to her.

Be there when she needs you.

It's all you can do.

I'm here if you need me.

You haven't seemed to, lately.

I know this is an
appalling time for you.

I just thought you
ought to be aware

of your position
as far as...

My position?

Regarding the house and so on.

Oh, yes, yes.

As you know,
the equity on
the house is low,

based on
the last valuation.

However, with
the further charges

-and the surrender
of the fund...
-I'm sorry?

The small share fund
left to David by, um...

Yes, yes.

David realised the fund
three weeks ago.

He... No.

He said he needed
the money.

I could find out
how much was raised.

I knew nothing about this.

Further charge,
what was it you...

The form you signed.

What form?

Last month.
The second mortgage.

I've never
seen this before.
I didn't sign this.

Um...

Perhaps we should
discuss this later.

When you're
feeling a bit more...

I did not
sign this, Oliver.

It looks like
my signature,

but I've never
seen this piece
of paper before.

The charge raised
another £35,000
on the house.

35?

For an extension.

Exten... Extension?
What do you mean,
extension?

Conservatory.

A workshop for you.

David had to present
a builder's estimate
to the mortgage company.

Peter Pritchard?

You didn't know?

This £35,000.

David got a cheque?

Over a month ago.

We had a bank
statement last week.

It's a joint account.

There was nothing
like that amount
deposited.

Where did David
put that money?

Beth...

Beth.

I'll look into the
whole matter for you...

David must've got
at least £20,000
on the shares.

You own the
house outright.

The endowment policy

will pay the
outstanding sum...

That's over £50,000.

...and the money
will be somewhere.

He wasn't coming back,
he was leaving me,
going to live in France.

That's what he
wanted the money for.

Sitting there, doing
those crosswords,

quietly working all
the details out

in that precise
way of his,

secretly laughing at me.

He must've really hated me.

Beth...

You knew about this,
didn't you?

-No.
-You knew about
the shares,

you knew about
the other money.
You knew exactly

what he wanted it for.

I knew nothing
whatsoever about it,

David never mentioned
any of this to me.

If he had, I would've, er...

Did he have
another woman?

What?

Simple question.
Was David having an affair?

Was he leaving
with anyone?

I really couldn't say.

Oh!

Oh, hey, Beth.
Watch the feet.

Why didn't you tell me?

-What?
-About the estimate.

For the conservatory.

Oh...

David wanted it
to be a surprise.

Surprise? Surprise?

£35,000 for something
I didn't want.

Wouldn't use. Surprise?

Look...

I'm sorry, Beth,

-but David asked me not to...
-What happened to the money?

How much have
you had of it? I thought
we were friends.

I don't know what
you're talking about. Look...

-I'm told by my solicitor...
-I know this is
a bad time for you.

...who I also thought
was a friend,

that my dead husband
forged my signature to get...

-Forged your signature?
-...£35,000...

-David forged your signature?
-...to employ another friend

to build an extension
on a house that
I've never liked,

never wanted to own
in the first place!

Of course, none of my friends
or my dear dead husband

thought of asking me
if I wanted the damn thing

and of course,
no one knows
where the money is

at this precise moment!

I haven't had a penny!

David told me
he was organising
the money.

What did Oliver say?

David got a cheque
from the building society...

I wouldn't trust that
scheming shite,
whatever he said.

I hate lies and liars.

David did nothing but
lie to me for months.

So you think
I'm lying to you?

You think I've hid
some of this missing money.

I don't know what
to think any more.

Do you want to see
my bank statements?

All I know

is that I'm left to pay off
an extra £35,000.

I think you'd better go...

I simply want someone
to tell me the truth.

...before I say something
I'm gonna regret later.

Run and catch the dicky-bird

Fly and catch
the dicky-bird

Go on, then. See if
you can catch it.

You can't get it,
can you?

You can't get it.

Rosie-posie, pudding and pie.

There you are.
Daddy will chase you.
Off you go.

That's it. But I'm not
gonna chase you,

I'm just going to catch you!

Why are you doing
this to me, Oliver?

Sorry, Beth,
I didn't know you were...

Come in.

No, no. No, I can
come back when...

No, please.
I'm glad you've come.

-Look, I'm sorry about...
-I was going to ring...

I'd just been
to see Oliver
and I was furious.

Yeah. Helen told me
you threw a glass
of brandy over him.

I trusted him completely.

I know nothing about
that money, Beth.

I know.

I'm sorry.

So, I suppose
the funeral's
the next thing.

-I'm sorry, I shouldn't...
-It's not you.

It's me.

You know, I tend to say
what comes into my head.
I'm...

I'm sorry.

David was the opposite.

You could see him
working out what to say

minutes before he said it.

I'll shall be burying a man
I never really knew.

Since his death,
David has become
a total stranger.

You don't know
there was another woman.

You're all confused.

Guilt mixed with anger,

anxiety over the money.

Buddhists have a saying.

"The two things
to avoid at all costs

"are hope and fear."

If there was another woman,
he was a bloody fool.

First, you sack Oliver

and get another solicitor.

I can't prove anything.

It's my word against his.

It's a lot of money, Beth.

It's got to be somewhere.

Let's go through this
step by step.

You say your husband

negotiated a second charge
without your knowledge

and forged your
signature on it.

My solicitor showed me
a copy of the form.

That was the first time
I'd seen it.

It wasn't my signature.

It was very like it, but...

He's meant to have
both parties in front of him

when they sign.

He should have made sure

the signature was
genuinely yours.

It's a legal requirement.

It was a home
improvement loan.

For a conservatory
he never intended
should be built.

Where's the money now?

I don't know.

I do know that it didn't go
into our joint bank account.

Is the will in probate?

Mr Woods is the executor.

I see.

At the risk of sounding
like your solicitor,

may I look
into this for you?

Who?

Who?

He who would valiant be

'Gainst all disaster

Let him in constancy

Follow the master

There's no discouragement

Shall make him once relent

I was too busy to talk,
at least, talk properly.

At breakfast...

We had this row.

Who so beset him round

It shouldn't take long.

I'd like to come in.

May I?
Is that possible?

What were you crying for?

It should be me crying.

No foes shall stay his might

Though he with giants fight

What was he? 35?

That's only half a life.

We waited ages and ages,

then we just came back again.

To be a pilgrim

Did he have
another woman?

What?

Simple question.

Was David having an affair?

I really
couldn't say.

I shall miss David.

I'll still follow you.

Mrs March?

It was you.

It was you.

Mrs March!

That's Mrs March,
isn't it?

Beth?

Beth?

Beth.

Beth.

-Get out!
-No!

-Get out!
-Beth, please!

Get out!

Beth, I want to talk to you.

I must talk to you.

Just get out!

You must let me explain.

Explain? Explain?
What is there to explain?

It just happened.
It wasn't planned.

Nothing David ever did
just happened,

he planned everything.

It wasn't anything
either of us enjoyed.

At least that's original!

I mean, we didn't
enjoy deceiving you.

You didn't seem to
enjoy very much about it
at all, did you?

What was the sex like?

I hope he was better
than with me.

Where did you do it?

Here? In my bed?

No.

Not your place.

Stains on the sheets.

That wouldn't do.
Oliver might see them.

Back of the car?

Not David's style.

He was hardly a man
for base urges.

He always insisted
on having a shower first.

Very clean man, David.

Beth, please...

"Beth, please,
Beth, please."

You really are pathetic.

David always
cared about you.

He cared about me, did he?

He cared about my feelings?

I can just imagine
the two of you

discussing how
poor old Beth

would feel if she found out

her husband was screwing
his solicitor's wife!

It wasn't like that.

What was it like,
then, Julia?

You say you've
come here to explain.

So explain.

I went to David
for help about money,

to advise me how to
get hold of some money...

...to leave Oliver.

You were leaving Oliver?

I was trying
to think of a way.

I was trying
to work out a way.

I needed someone to talk to.

I didn't mean it to happen,
neither of us did.

You were going
to join him in France.

He was going to find
somewhere to live

and we were going
to join him later.

I took Rosie
down that morning...

To see him off at the ferry.

He took the money for you.

He stole money
from me for you.

Stole?

Thousands.

I don't know what
you're talking about.

Who suggested it? You?

Suggested what?

Forging my signature
on that application.

I haven't the faintest idea
what you're talking about.

Where is the money?

What did David
do with the money?
It's my money.

Look, all I know
about money

is that David lost a lot.

That thing with Oliver,
the investment fund.

What investment fund?

Oliver's deal.

What deal?

I don't understand
these things.

All I know is that David
hardly had any money.

A few hundred.

I was going to sell
my jewellery.

Did Oliver know
about you and David?

I think he suspected
something, yes.

I think he might've
got that money from David

by threatening him.

I think that could've been
the hold he had over him.

Telling you about us.

Blackmail?

Oliver's capable of anything.

He's obsessed with money.

Money, money, money!

It's people that matter.

I loved David.

I loved him.

Me. Me, not you.

You didn't love him.

And he loved me.

You couldn't even cry
when he was killed.

Not one tear.

You didn't love him.

You didn't even care
very much about him.

You're just like Oliver.

All you care about
is the money.

The bloody money.

When did you last
sleep with David?

You can't remember,
it's so long ago.

David told me.

Over a year.

That's not a marriage.

That's why it happened.

If anyone's to blame, Beth,

it's you.

Oh,

I slept with him
on Sunday,

the day before he died.

Ossy?

Ossy?

If you're on that
bed again...

Ossy?

Os-cat?

Os, are you hiding from me?

What...

Oh.

Yuck!

Yuck.

What's that?

Oh, no.

Oh!

Rosie...

Rosie!

I came to play with Ossy.

Does your mummy
know you're here?

I want to see Ossy.

-Where's your mummy?
-Where is he?

I haven't seen him. Is he...

Rosie, where's Julia?

I dressed myself.

-Is she all right?
-I got my own breakfast.

Your mummy, is she all right?

Where is he?

Ossy! Ossy!

It's cold out here.

Has he...

Been ill?

No, he's not about just now.

I've been ill.

Have you?

Yes.

I'm always ill.

There's something
wrong with me.

Rosie, does your mother
know you're here?

David's dead, isn't he?

Yes.

David died.

It was very sad.

Are you going to die?

Not for a long while.

Would you like
a drink of orange?

Am I going to die?

I'd better ring Julia.

Is Ossy dead?

Your mummy'll be worried.

She was sick.

She's lying down.

I don't like orange juice.

Could I have coffee?

Is she here?

She's always here
with that bloody cat.

I was just calling you.

Do you know how long
I have been looking for you?

She can stay here
if you like.

I want to stay!
I want to stay!

- She can help me
in the garden.
- She's mine.

She's my child.
You get one of your own.

Oh, I forgot, you can't.
You can't have children.

David told me.

What's happened?

Ossy's dead.

Someone killed my cat.

I left the back door unlocked.

Anyone could have got in.

Was anything stolen?

Nothing was taken.
There was no damage.

Nothing was disturbed.

Who the hell would break
into a house to kill a cat?

I know. It doesn't make sense.

But they did come in
to do exactly that.

They drowned him
in the old lavatory.

Beth, look. You've got
to go to the police.

To report what?

That my cat drowned?

The cat didn't just drown.

Some sick sod killed it.

Come here.

I need a bath.

David didn't sweat.

I don't think I ever
saw him sweat.

The smell...

...is real.

It's honest.

I read once that
if you're inside,

looking out a window,
it means hope.

What if you're outside
looking in?

You're looking out, Beth.

This must never happen again.

-Beth...
-Never, ever again.

I'm not married to Helen.

We don't even
see each other that often.

Lying beside David in bed,
I used to think about this.

Making love to you.

I even used to think
what would happen
if I were free.

Now I am, but
everything has changed.

You have to
give it time, Beth.

I've changed.

David's death has changed me,
you have to understand that.

Do you have any idea
how I feel about you?

How I've felt about you
ever since we met?

The first moment we met?

It ends here.

It has to end here now.

Why?

It should never
have come to this.

Why?

We're not doing
anything wrong.

Aren't we?

I'm thinking of moving.

Selling the house
and going away...

As far away as I can.

What about your business?

I'll start another one,

with the money
from the house.

Where will you live?

I'll rent somewhere.

You're under a lot of stress
at the moment, Beth.

Ever since David's death,
I've been feeling detached.

I thought I could cope.

Start again, same place,
same people.

Then I realised that

this house, this place...

Was somehow his, not mine.

All the familiar things
seem unfamiliar.

I don't belong here any more.

Perhaps I never did.

There's nothing
to hold me here now.

That bitch
at the building society
reported me.

The law society
are real trouble.

If Beth does that,
it'll ruin me.

I don't think she has yet
otherwise I'd have
heard from her.

She's threatened to.

What did
you say to her?

- You can't just...
- What did you tell her?

- I went to see her...
- A pack of bloody lies!

You'd say anything,
won't you?

Don't talk
to me about lies!
Anything!

You despicable bastard!

Will you keep
your voice down!

Did you mean
what you said last night?

About moving away?

I can't explain. It's all
got very complicated.

With Oliver?

He's part of it.
I thought he was a friend,

all he's done is lie to me.

I don't know what's
been going on,

but I've never
seen him so nervous.

He's drinking too much, and...

Julia was in this morning

and they were screaming
and shouting at each other.

I bet he's a bastard
to live with.

Don't get caught in
this thing between them, Beth.

It's a poisonous marriage.

I feel sorry for Rosie.

Poor little scrap!

Leave them to it.
Let them get on with it.

You've got David's
death to deal with.

Financial problems.

You didn't come
to talk about them, did you?

You love him, don't you?

Peter.

Does he love you?

A little bit.

Just a little bit, I think.

Have you slept with him?

Have you?

Once.

A long time ago,
before Peter met you.

You're not going away
because of him?

No!

It's got nothing
to do with Peter.

It's time to move on...

I'd better be getting back.

Yes. Hello?

Hello? Hello?

Hello? Hello?

- Hello?
- Beth...

I just want to say...

I didn't mean...

I mean, David and me,
we didn't mean to hurt you.

You...
You've got to understand...

It... It just happened.

We didn't know it was
going to happen. It just...

Look, Julia, why don't...

I just want to say,

how sorry I am...

...and how I... I...
I can't go on like this.

I...

I can't...

I...

I can't...

Everything's so bloody awful
for Rosie and I!

Julia.

Rosie?

Rosie!

Rosie?

How is she?

Still unconscious.

I never meant this to happen.

Why did you do it?

How could you do it?

You don't know.

You don't know.

He threatened
to take her away.

Oliver?

To take her away.

-Take her? Take her where?
-Take her away from me.

He was going to
have me committed.

He was going to have me
locked away
and then take her away.

I couldn't let him do that.

You believe me, don't you?

Rosie's all I've got left.

You understand, don't you?

I could understand
you in that car,

but not Rosie.

Not Rosie.

I don't know
what to do.

You see, nobody believes me.

"Oh, it's not Oliver Woods,"
they all say.

"It's not him.
It can't be him.

"It's her. It's the wife.

"She's unstable."

That's what he tells them.

That's what he says about me.

He... He lies about me,
when all the time it's him.

He's the one who's unstable.

He's the sick one.

He's the sick one.

What?

Beth.

I didn't know you were...

Beth.

Beth, you can't...

You lying bastard.

What are you talking about?

You just sit there
and answer my questions.

You told me you and
David weren't involved in
any sort of deal.

Beth, Beth, look...

This is from the bank.

I asked to see
David's private accounts.

They wouldn't allow it.

Oh, yes, they would, and did.

I am his next of kin.

You promised you would look
into David's finances for me,
didn't you?

-Yes, but...
-And have you?

I wonder why?

Because you didn't need to,
did you?

Why bother to find out
what you already know.

Let me see it.

Surely you didn't think
I'd never find out, did you?

You can't be that stupid.

Or did you think I was stupid?

You're hysterical,
and I've got an appointment
in about five minutes.

Cancel it, or I go straight
to the law society.

I've done nothing
unprofessional, Beth.

You lied to me.

There was a reason for that.

You're still lying.

Will you listen to me?

Not to more lies.

You can't lie about this,
can you?

David had a private account.

He received £22,233
from the sale of his shares
that his father left him.

This was a month ago.

The day that he wrote
the letter instructing you
to remove

the shares from his will,
on the same day,

he signed a cheque
that paid £22,223
into an account held by you.

David owed me the money.

And this...

This is the mortgage advance,

the money that
you forged my signature
to get.

I didn't forge anything.
David, uh...

It's here in black and white.

Look...

About the £22,000.

All right,
I haven't been honest
with you.

Honest?

You only use words
to tell lies.

David gave me
the money freely.

He thought he could double it.
So did I.

We, um, had
an investment plan. It failed.

I lost almost everything.

But as for the other thing,
the second mortgage,
I know nothing about that.

David brought me
the application form,
countersigned by you,

but he didn't tell me
what it was really for.

The money was paid
into an offshore account.
Just a number, no name.

That proves it.

It proves nothing
except that you've got some
bloody offshore account.

I don't...

Nothing like that.

I have no idea
where the money went.

I'm getting tired
of telling you.

I've had enough
of this bloody nonsense!

My daughter nearly died!
That sick bitch...

...tried to kill my daughter.

It's very informal.

No wigs or gowns.

It's a district judge,
so be careful about
what you say.

More important,
the way you say it.

It's a woman.
That's our advantage.

She'll probably ask
for another
psychiatric assessment.

What, another one?

Why?

Everyone gets depressed.

You're very fortunate
you're not in a secure unit.

You could still face
an attempted murder charge.

We wish
an interim residence
in respect to the child

and ask the court to order
that Mrs Woods should have
no contact

and that she should leave
the marital home.

She should leave
the marital home.

She should leave
the marital home.

After consulting with
medical staff,

and the mother and father
in this case...

...should have
no contact.

...cast doubt on
the mother's ability to care
for the child at this stage,

bearing in mind the mother's
state of mental health...

Following an agreement
being reached,

we would apply
for the child to be placed

under an emergency
protection order.

You have to
agree not to see Rosie
for seven days,

and not go to the house
while they make their report.

I take it that
you can make a full report
within seven days

and return
for a further hearing.

By then we should have
the psychiatric assessment.

Protect?

What do you mean "protect"?

There's no need
to protect her.

There's no need
to protect my child.

No, there's no need for this!

I'm a good mother. I...

Mrs Woods, sit down.

I don't want her
in care.

You haven't the right.

- She's only little.
- She's not well.

Only I know
how to look after her.

She... She can't manage
without her mother.

She can't manage without me.

Isn't anyone...

Sit down, Mrs Woods.

Now either you agree
to a review of the case
in seven days' time

or I shall approve
the protection order.

No!

No!

No! No! No!

Here we are, sweetheart.

In you go. That's it.

Now, lean back.

That's it.

I'll soon have you
away from here.

That's it.

Snowflake's all right? Good.

Has Helen said
anything to you?

No, not a word.

I didn't even know
she'd been here.

I lied to her about
the other day in the barn.

I hated myself for it.
I still do.

I don't ever want to lie
to anyone again.

Let it ring.

They'll ring back.

Let go.

Hello?

He's taken Rosie.

Julia.

I'm at the hospital.
I came to see her.

He's probably taken her home.
Have you rung there?

There's no answer.

I'm not allowed
near the house.

Will you go and see?

Will you go and see if
they're there, at the house?

I don't think that
I should...

This is something
you and Oliver have to...

I don't particularly want to
see Oliver. Not after...

I'll never ask
anything of you again,
I swear it. I swear.

Please.
Please, this one time, please.

All right. All right, I'll go,

I'll call you back.
Where are you?

- It's a payphone.
- 2-0-4-2-3-0.

Ten minutes. Wait there.

Go where?

Oliver's taken Rosie
from the hospital.

Julia wants me to see
if they're at the house.

And why can't she see her?

Sounds like she's been barred
from the house by the court.

Why are you letting this woman
use you like this,
manipulate you?

You don't even like her.

Look, Beth,

you've got to stop it.

How? Just walk away?

-Yes.
-I can't.

David's death dragged me
into this. I'm part of it.

I can't just walk away,
pretend it's not happening.

Oliver and Julia
are dragging you...

I don't give a damn
about Oliver and Julia!

All I know is that
I'm sick with worry
about Rosie.

Someone's got to keep an eye
on those two

before they completely
disfigure her life.

Look...

If the court has stopped
Julia from going to her house,

then there must be
a good reason.

They must think the kid
is safer with her father.

This is none of your business.

The hospital, the police,
the court,

they can't all be wrong!

Get out of my way!

We went there
for our honeymoon.

He's been back there
several times.

I can't stand the place.

That's where he's taken her.

I'm sure that's where
he's taken her.

That's where they are.

-He wouldn't have put her
in a hotel, would he?
-Why not?

How would he leave her there
on her own?

He must have hired someone.
A nurse, a nanny.

It's a private hotel,
like a country house.

Secluded.

It's perfect.

Oh, my God.

Oliver's always had a taste
for the grotesque.

Wait till you see inside.

Can I help you?

Yes. We're here
to see Mr Woods.

- Mr...
- Oliver Woods.

We don't have
a Mr Woods registered.

Yes, you do.

I'm sorry. You're mistaken.

A tall man with a little girl.
Fair hair.

We don't take children here.

Drive round the back.

Julia, they're not here!

-This way.
-You heard what he said.

They're here.
I know they're here.

You don't.
You don't know anything
of the sort.

Beth, please.
I don't believe him.

Drive! Come on!

I thought so. Rosie.
Rosie, darling...

-She doesn't want to see you.
Haven't you hurt her enough?
-Darling...

-Now get out of here.
-Bastard.

What have you said to her?
What have you told her?
Why is she...

Rosie?

What about showing me
around the garden

so that Mummy and Daddy
can talk?

-Rosie, come here.
-I thought...

-Come here, Rosie.
-There are peacocks.
Three peacocks.

I'm not gonna run away
with her.

We thought they'd gone.

-I'm so sorry, Mr Woods.
-Oh. Oh, you see...
You see, Beth?

You see how he infects them
with his lies.

Now you go with Mrs Spencer,
Rosie.

-I don't want to.
-Come on, lovely.

I want to show Beth
the peacocks.

Do as you're told, now!

Get your hands off her.
Let go of her, you cow!

Julia, don't.
It'll only make things worse.

Rosie! Rosie!

I saw the lab report
from the hospital.

They found
a strong tranquilliser
in Rosie's blood.

A tranquilliser?

He's lying again.

Julia was prescribed it
after Becky's death.

He'll say anything
to get his way.

They couldn't bring her
round at the hospital.

They did a blood test
and found it.

You drugged her
to keep her quiet in the car.

He's lying, Beth.

Can't you see? He's lying.

I've been wondering
for some time
why Rosie was so...

...tired, so lethargic.

She's ill.

I keep telling you.

I keep telling everyone,
she's ill.

Why is she ill, Julia?

Why is she ill so often?

There must be a reason.

You're the reason.

You won't listen to me.

All you want to do
is send me to a psychiatrist.

You need help, Julia.

You... You know you do.

You're not well.

It's Rosie who's not well.

Why can't you get that
through that

imbecilic brain of yours?

I want to help you, Julia.
We... We all want to.

You've got to let us.

You just want to
take Rosie from me.

All these...
These dreadful lies

are just to get Rosie away
from me.

You want to steal my child.

She's all I've got left.

She's all that keeps me sane.

You know...

If you'd see a psychiatrist...

I've seen a psychiatrist.

He says I'm depressed.

Who wouldn't be depressed,
living with a bastard
like you?

Mr Woods.

Uh, it's all right.

You want me
to call the police?

- No, it's all right.
- She's a little upset.

I'm all right.

Uh... Uh...

I'm so sorry for
causing the disturbance.

Beth. I must talk to you.

I'm sorry, Mr Woods.

-It's just that the other
guests have returned for tea.
-Ah.

We'll go outside. Oh.

Oh, and I've sent you a tape.

-It was amongst
Julia's things.
-A tape?

Yes, it was on
our answering machine.

There's a message
from David on it.

I went to see a specialist.

We went right through
for six years,
since Rosie was born.

He thinks it might be more
than depression.

He thinks it's possible,
just possible that

Julia's suffering
from a mental disorder

called Munchausen's By Proxy.

The person draws attention to
themselves by a series of...

...induced or
imagined illnesses.

But Julia never
complains of being ill.

No. It's by proxy.

Julia doesn't
make herself ill.

Julia makes Rosie ill.

He thinks Julia may have been
giving Rosie her medication
for some time.

Surely your GP
would have known.

Munchausen's sufferers
are very clever, very devious.

Very convincing.

It's only when
a series of things
come together that...

Julia loves Rosie.

She's only behaving like this
because she's scared
she might lose her.

Why does Rosie keep hiding
from her?

Why is she so frightened
of her?

People with this illness
often go undetected

because they make such a show
of loving their child.

A child that they're slowly
and systematically destroying.

Liar! Liar! Liar!

She loves me!

Rosie loves me!

She's mine!

You're not gonna get her
with your lies!

I think he's dead.

We better hide him.

No one will find him in here.

Not in here.

Help me.

You're in this, too.

Bloody well help me!

Whee!

Come on, Beth.

Come on.

Beth?

Are you listening?

Come on!

Peacocks! Look!

Not now.

Mummy...

Hey! Stop!

Where do you think
you're going?

Get in.

You were going without us.

We've gotta go to the police.

Oh, don't be ridiculous.

Oliver's...

-You must.
-Shut up.

Get us out of here. Come on.

You've all turned against me.

Him and Oliver...

Now you.

Him? You mean David?

-Love her...
-You never had an affair,
did you?

-Love her, love her...
-With David.
Oliver said maybe once.

-Maybe you slept
with David once.
-Love her too much.

-Just once?
-Love her too much.

You can't do that to a person
and then just let it drop.

Screw them, then ignore them.

I told him I'd follow him.

He wasn't leaving me at all.

Oh-ho, he was leaving,
all right, both of us.

I'd have stopped him,
but then he went
and killed himself first.

-Killed himself?
-Weak.

Weak. Like all bloody men.

It was an accident.

Oh! Oliver didn't tell you?

David drove the car
straight at the lorry.

The witnesses told the police

and the police told Oliver.

Oliver.

Oliver! Olly-ver.

Olly-veugh!

Oh, Christ! I hate that name!

Julia.

Julia! Julia! Julia!

Julia.

Julia.

Julia.

I told David
Julia would follow him.

You can't use me
and then just forget me.

You can't neglect me...

...after that.

You can't ignore me.

He shut me out.

No one listens.

They all try and ignore me.

Stop!

Stop! Stop the van!

Get out.

It's all right.
It's all right, poppet.

Everything's all right.

Get out!

No, Beth!

Beth, no!

Beth!

-Are you all right?
-Yes.

-Have you been to the police?
-No.

Why not?

Well, you've got to let them
deal with it, Beth.

Right, we're going
to the police.

No.

If she sees the police,
she might hurt Rosie.

We're going to see the birds.

I'm going to show you
the birds.

I used to show Becky
the birds.

Don't you want to see
the birds?

No, no! I want Beth!

Beth's cat killed birds.

Always killing birds.

I want Beth!
Where's Beth?

I'm going to show you
the birds,

and then we'll go away,
on holiday.

You'd like to go on holiday,
wouldn't you?

Where's Daddy? Where is he?

Daddy's gone on holiday.

We're going to meet him.

- Beth.
- We're going to
meet him there.

When I've shown you the birds,
we're going to see Daddy.

That was the window
Becky fell from.

Okay. Try to keep her talking.

Mmm.

Beth, what are you doing here?

I came to see you, Julia.

I thought we could talk about
your garden.

I'm showing Rosie the birds.

You asked me to help you
with your garden,
don't you remember?

We talked about plants
and trees.

You wanted me
to give you some advice.

How's David?

Still at work.

He works too hard.

Yes, yes, you're right.
He does.

Like Oliver.

We're going on holiday.

Aren't we, poppet? Hmm?

To see Daddy.

I'm just showing her
the birds,

and then we're going
on holiday.

I'll show Rosie
the birds, if you like.

Then you can get ready.

Ready?

To go on a holiday.

Most of the birds
are gone now, Julia.

All the swallows, swifts,
flying in the garden.

Hold on to Mummy's arm, Rosie.

All the birds were flying
close to the house.

And I told Becky if...

If she reaches out,
she could touch them.

It was my fault.

It was my fault.

Of course it wasn't
your fault, Julia.

It was a terrible accident.

We were only
trying to touch the birds.

Oh!

No! No, you're not going to
take her!

No! No!

She's mine!

She's mine!

Don't worry.
I've got you.
You're okay now, don't worry.

Don't worry, sweetheart.
You're all right.

Julia.

Julia?

Julia!

Julia.

Julia.

Julia.

Julia.

Julia.

Are you watching?

Are you watching Julia?

Julia, this is David.

The money's been transferred
to the numbered account.

You have instant access to it.

Now I've done what you wanted,
you must leave me alone.

You must, Julia.

You've got to stop
hounding me.

There's enough money
for you to leave Oliver.

That's what you wanted.

That's what you said
you wanted.

I don't love you.

I couldn't ever love you.

It's all in your mind.

I love Beth.

I love her too much.
She's my wife.

I'm thinking of going away
for a while
to get away from you.

Somewhere you can't reach me,

to try and sort things out
in my mind.

For God's sake,
wipe this message,
in case Oliver...

I'm sending this
back to you, David.

Don't think you can
get away from me.

I'll find you

wherever you go.

Wherever you hide...

I'll find you.

Rosie?

Rosie?

Tea time!

I'm coming, Grandma!