Anatomy of a Scandal (2022–…): Season 1, Episode 3 - Episode #1.3 - full transcript

"The dog wants to run."

"The boy closs-es..."

"Closs-es the gat."

"The boy closes, E, the gate."

So the dog will stay in the garden?

I suppose so, yes.

Hello.

Hi, Daddy.

- Hi.
- Hey.

Finn's just doing his reading.
We've got one more sentence.

Well, let's hear it.



"The dog barks at the boy."

- Best one yet.
- Well done.

- Are you all done with homework then?
- Yes.

Okay. I need to have
a quick chat with Mummy.

- I'm hungry.
- Ugh.

Here.

I don't know why she said that.
I don't even know if it's true.

She said it was true.
She said she was in love with you.

Well, the feeling isn't mutual.

Wasn't and isn't.

I want you to know that,

for whatever it's worth.

Really?

Yes.



It's worth a lot.

I know that sounds silly.

Well, I'm sorry
you had to sit through that.

I'm sorry I left.

Won't happen again.

Tomorrow will probably be worse.

Excellent.

Does she always stay this late
on a weekday?

She doesn't distinguish between days.

- Do you think I can't hear you?
- Also, her ears are bionic.

Would you like tea?

- She hates tea.
- No. I hate tea.

You should both go home.

- So I was googling him.
- Who, Brian?

Well, that would make the opposite
of a juicy read.

- Isn't that right, Brian?
- Quite right, miss.

No. James Whitehouse.

Has everyone seen those Libertine pics
of him with the PM?

Yes. That all got featured
when Tom Southern was made party leader.

What a bunch of pretentious arseholes.

Now they're all
running the country, God help us.

Do you think there's anything there?

Where?

I've heard those posh uni parties
went to extremes back in the day.

Nothing that wouldn't qualify
as "boys will be boys."

That's how it was when they were at uni.

This case is about the here and now.

I'm quite serious. Go and have a life.

Both of you.

Don't follow my example.

Well, she's been convincing
so far, Olivia.

Yes. The truth is always convincing.

I've got a cab outside.

Which way are you going?

Don't worry, I'll take the tube.

May I remind you that you are still
under oath, Miss Lytton.

Miss Woodcroft, you can continue.

Thank you, My Lord.

- Miss Lytton.
- Yes.

Can I take you back
to the 12th of October?

The day in question?

You were attending the Home Affairs
Select Committee together,

is that correct?

Yes.

Did Mr Whitehouse
have any particular role in that meeting?

James was due to give evidence
on the new immigration targets.

A typical sort of day?

Except he was upset.

Why?

There'd been an unfavourable
comment piece in The Times

by a journalist he knew and rated,
a contemporary from Oxford.

James thought it was deeply unfair.

Poisonous.

He was upset about the article.
How could you tell?

When he saw the committee members

in the Lloyd George Room,
no doubt having read the article, he said...

I can't deal with this shit.

Uh, can I say that?

Oh, that's fine, Miss Lytton,
just tell us the words he used.

So he said, "I can't deal with this shit."

And charged off in the other direction.

What'd you do
when he charged off like this?

- I followed him.
- Why?

I was doing my job.

Did he acknowledge you?

James.

James.

- What the fuck do they want with me?
- Wait. Wait. Please, I can't hear you.

Where were you at this point?

Next to the lift
where the assault occurred.

Did he respond when you asked him to wait?

He was short with me,

but also somehow seeking reassurance.

He... he seemed vulnerable for once.

In what way?

- Do you think I'm arrogant?
- I...

Do you?

Do you?

I wouldn't use the word "arrogant."

The article accused me
of being breathtakingly so.

What do you think?

I said, "I think you're ruthless
when you need to be."

"Cruel sometimes, even."

- And what did he say to that?
- He didn't like it.

How could you tell?

He repeated the word.

Cruel?

Yes, cruel.

Then, after a moment, he said...

I'm sorry.

What did you think he was apologising for?

The affair. The way he ended it.

Did you respond?

I s-said that some-

Could you...

I said that sometimes arrogance
can be terribly attractive.

What did you mean by that?

And of course, we...
we know what the words mean, obviously,

but what was your purpose in saying them?

It was a test, I think.

A test of what?

I wasn't sure, to be honest. I...

But I... I did want to know
what he wanted, and if he missed me.

If he missed us.

So you're next to the lift, talking.

Then what happened?

I asked him...

Where are you going?

And what did he say?

He didn't answer.

So you got into the lift
not knowing where you were going?

Well, he made it clear
he wanted me to go with him.

- How?
- With his body language.

And what did you do?

He was my boss, and we were at work.
I followed his lead.

So you get into the lift,
then what happened?

James.

We sort of collided and then we kissed.

Collided?

Or... or moved together.

An attraction...

Were you still attracted to him?

We'd been involved for five months.

You don't just switch off your feelings.
At least, I don't.

Can you describe the kiss?

Was it a peck?

No.

What was it?

Passionate.

What was going through your head
when you were kissing?

- I was happy at first, honestly.
- Why?

Because it meant things might resume.

And just to be clear,
what did you think might resume?

The relationship.

Okay.

Can you describe what happened next?

He...

Go on.

He started wrenching
at the top buttons of my shirt

to get into my bra to my breasts.

Okay. Can we take this in stages?

So you've already told us
he was touching your breasts and bottom

and wrenching your shirt
to get into your bra.

Did he succeed?

Yes, he...

He grabbed one of my...

My left breast.

Pulled it out of my bra and began
to kiss and bite it quite savagely.

- Did it leave a mark?
- Yes.

It left a bruise above my left nipple. I...

I took a photo of it.

That's Photograph A in your bundle.

Miss Lytton,
could you point out the bruise?

There, above the nipple.

And what is that to the left of it?

Teeth marks.

Can I make it clear at this stage

that the defence do not accept
that these are teeth marks?

Are these teeth marks, Miss Lytton?

Yes. He bit me.

Now,
can you describe the lift itself?

It's a tiny wooden lift.

It says it can hold six people,
but it can't possibly.

My back was against the wall,
a-and he was in front of me,

so I was... I was pushed...

Pushed?

Well, trapped against it.
I... I... I couldn't move.

I think I yelped in shock,
uh, a-and I tried to push him away.

Did you say anything?

"Not here."

And again, we know
what the words mean in literal terms,

but what did you mean
when you said "not here"?

A kiss in the lift was one thing,
exciting, a bit dangerous,

but... but then things changed
when he got forceful.

How quickly did things change,
Miss Lytton?

Seconds. When he started doing things
he'd never done before.

Pulling my clothes off, biting me, and...

What did you think was happening?

I don't know, but I was scared.

All right.

Tell us, where does the lift go?

Several places. It's a...

it's a shortcut
to the committee room corridor.

Is it a popular route?

Anyone could have called the lift
and found us there.

- And were you worried about that?
- Yes.

What time did you have
to be back for the meeting?

In minutes. I...
I didn't want him to be late, but he...

- But what, Miss Lytton?
- He wasn't listening.

It was like he was possessed.

So, what were you feeling
at this point?

Terrified.

It was like I was no longer there.

It's not just the physical aspect
of the assault, it's...

It's what it does to you mentally.

So in this state of terror,
after you'd said "not here"

and tried to push him away,

what did he do?

He...

He tugged at my skirt, so it rode
over my bottom and up round my waist.

And then?

He...

He just...

I didn't know what was happening,
but I... I... It was like I left my own body.

I hesitate to interrupt you, Miss Lytton,
but could you look at Photograph B?

Can you tell us
what's in the picture?

My underwear.

Is that how they looked
when you put them on that day?

No. He ripped them.

How long
had you been in the lift by this point?

A couple of minutes, if that.

So when you were kissing,
were you consenting?

Were you saying yes, essentially?

Yes, but not at this point.
At this point, I was saying no.

So he rips
your tights and underwear.

And then what happened?

Then he...

...put his fingers...

two of his fingers, his middle and index,
I think, inside me.

And then what happened?

Then he sort of...

...lifted me up against the wall...

...and, uh...

shoved it inside me.

He just shoved it inside me,
even though I didn't want it.

Were you clear that you didn't want it?

Yes. I was...

...trying to push him away.

Did he say anything?

He said...

He whispered...

..."Don't be such a prick tease."

"Don't be such a prick tease"?

Did he wait for a response?

No.

No. He just kept going.

So he whispered,

"Don't be such a prick tease,"

and he just kept going?

Perhaps this might be a good time
to adjourn for the day.

Be upstanding in court.

Depressing to drink alone.

- I prefer it.
- I fear it.

G&T, please, Sam.

You did well.

- Tomorrow's another day.
- Indeed.

You may not be open
to sharing a drink with me tomorrow.

I'm not open to it now.

This case
should never have been brought.

It's as thin as a fucking wafer.

Said the accused's barrister.

And you usually shy away
from the high-profile ones.

What, rapists?

Cases.

I don't care how high-profile he is.

Another woman's been raped,
another woman deserves her day in court.

Hmm. Sounding a little less
than impartial there, lovely.

We're in a bar, not Court 2.

Of course,
I'll leave that determination to the jury.

Seriously, doesn't it ever wear you down?

Well, I don't know how you can ask me that
when it's obvious I'm ageing backwards.

Like Benjamin Button.

Well, soon I'll look just like Brad Pitt.

Then we'll fall in love.

Cheers.

Cheers.

Is Angela ready?

Chomping at the bit.

- It's champing.
- What?

She's champing at the bit, not chomping.

There are rumblings
this morning in Parliament...

Would you turn that up, please?

...members of Prime Minister
Tom Southern's own party

have been privately discussing
pursuing a vote of no confidence

against his leadership.

It's still unclear
how close the rebels are

to reaching the tipping point,

but one leading backbencher tells me
they're nearly there.

Is this because of you?

No. No. That's not possible.

Rumours
are swirling in Westminster

regarding Prime Minister
Tom Southern's future.

- Fuck it.
- Momentum appears to be building...

- Is it Frisk?
- Why do you suspect Frisk?

- He's unctuous and talks too much.
- He doesn't have the balls.

I'm guessing we should focus
on the usual suspects.

I don't want your guesses.
Why didn't you see this coming?

I'm your comms director, not your Whip.

I control your message,
not your fucking party.

No senior member of government took a shit
this morning without your knowledge.

Form and content.

You should publicly
distance yourself from Whitehouse.

Why?

Because the behaviour of entitled toffs

is something the public
no longer finds cute.

Our members are hearing from constituents,
not to mention fucking Labour.

The last thing you need now
is a posh sex offender for a best friend.

Chris, perhaps this is confusing for you,

as someone who finds
the notion of friendship foreign,

but I was raised
to stand by a mate when he's down.

But if it comes to it, rest assured,
I will do what needs to be done.

- Good morning, gentlemen. Ladies.
- Good morning, Prime Minister.

Miss Lytton,
I'll try not to keep you long,

but there are some points
we need to check.

Is that okay?

Of course.

You were in a sexual relationship
with Mr Whitehouse?

Yes.

And I think you told us

that when you "collided" with him
in the lift, you still loved him.

Yes.

But on the date in question,
you had split up, hadn't you?

- Yes.
- And how did the split make you feel?

Uh...

Distressed.

Were you still distressed a week later?

Yes, but I was determined
to be professional.

I made sure it didn't affect my work

and that my colleagues,
especially James, weren't aware.

More than distressed.
You were angry, weren't you?

- No.
- If you say so.

- My Lord.
- Miss Regan.

You said that in the committee corridor,

Mr Whitehouse was preoccupied
about a comment piece in The Times

that accused him of being arrogant.

- Yes.
- And you told him, here it is,

that "arrogance
can be terribly attractive."

- What did you mean by that?
- I already explained.

I wanted to know
if he still had feelings for me.

Despite the fact
that things had ended?

Yes.

And then the lift arrived,

and he held the door open with his hand
and waited for you to enter?

- I think so.
- You think so?

It was your evidence only yesterday

that when the lift door opened,

he held it
and waited for you to go inside.

Then yes. Yes, I was following his lead.

I'd like to go over this again.

After you told him
you found him terribly attractive...

I said that about arrogance.

Sorry. After you said
you found arrogance terribly attractive,

you led the way into the lift?

No. I didn't lead the way.
He was holding the lift open

and he ushered me inside.

- But you went willingly?
- Yes.

Even though the meeting
was starting in just a few minutes?

Yes.

What did you think
he was doing, calling the lift?

I don't know.

Well, you had an affair with the man,
told him you found him terr...

Sorry, his affect terribly attractive.

And then he called the lift
and you entered, without question.

You didn't assume
he was taking you somewhere private?

I don't know. Perhaps.

Perhaps?

There was no reason for you
to get into that lift together, was there?

You were hoping
he was taking you somewhere private.

Yes.

So once in the lift, you kiss.

Yes.

- A passionate kiss, you said?
- Yes.

So you were passionately kissing
when he put his hand on your bottom.

Yes.

- And opened your blouse?
- He wrenched it open.

While you were kissing passionately.

- Uh, were there any buttons missing?
- No.

- Was it torn?
- No.

So did he wrench it
or pull it apart?

He wrenched it. It was forceful.

- But the blouse remained unharmed?
- Yes.

I'd love to know the brand.

Forgive me,
it just sounds like it's well made.

So your blouse is open

and he gives you what might be called
a love bite above your left nipple.

I... I told you, he hurt me.

It left a bruise.

We submit
that it is often the nature of such bites,

bites of passion, to bruise.

But, point of clarification,

is it only at this stage,

when he has his mouth on your breast,

that you say "not here"?

- Yes.
- And just...

I'm just checking your statement here,
your words.

You didn't say "stop it."

You didn't say "no."

Even when your shirt is open,
you just say "not here."

I said, "not here,"
meaning "no, not here."

But you didn't actually
say the word "no" did you?

No, but I was trying to push him off.

You said you were worried
someone might see you?

Would've been acutely embarrassing, yes.

So despite the fact
that he'd wrenched open your blouse

and, as you say, bruised your nipple,

your primary concern was about being seen?

Just at that moment.

Hmm.

But this wasn't the first time
you'd had sex with Mr Whitehouse

in the House of Commons, was it?

I don't know why that's relevant.

Oh I think you do.

Yeah... Miss Regan, that is a comment.

Back to the question,

which I take no pleasure in asking.

Let's try it this way.

If I can ask you to cast your mind back
a fortnight before this incident.

You met Mr Whitehouse in his office
at just after 9 p.m.?

Yes.

You were due
to go to a friend's leaving party.

Your colleague, Kitty Ledger,
was waiting for you in the Red Lion.

But you were late for her, weren't you?

A little, yes.

And why was that?

The reason you were late for her

was because you were having sex
with Mr Whitehouse in his office,

weren't you?

Yes.

You performed oral sex on him

and then had full sexual intercourse
on his desk.

Yes.

Anyone could have walked in,
couldn't they?

Yes.

And, two days before that,
in the BBC recording studio,

you met Mr Whitehouse there at 9 p.m.

Did you meet Mr Whitehouse
in the recording studio

and have sex with him?

Miss Lytton,
I'm afraid you must answer the question.

For the sake of the court recording,
Miss Lytton is nodding.

And once again, anyone, press included,

could have walked in?

Yes.

And this is part of a pattern
of reckless sex in the workplace.

No.

Sorry, Miss Lytton?

No, the first two times
were consensual sex.

Sex we both wanted.

We are talking about
something very different here.

But you'd had sex in the workplace

on two occasions
within weeks of this incident in the lift.

Yes or no?

Yes.

Yes. Yes.

Your torn underwear, Miss Lytton,

...it's made of thin material.

It's very easily ripped
in a moment of passion,

wouldn't you agree?

Or was it already torn?

It wasn't. It was brand-new.

Or could you have torn it
while you were ripping it off?

No, I did... I didn't want it,
and I told him I didn't want it.

But you just told this jury
you didn't say "no."

Not the word, perhaps, but I was...

Not...

the word.

I'd like you to look
at your statement, please.

Could you please confirm, Miss Lytton,
that this is the statement that you made

on the 29th of October to the police.

And is that your signature at the bottom?

Yes, it is.

Can you please go to page four,
paragraph two.

Now, this is very important,

so I want you to make absolutely sure.

No one wants to put words in your mouth

or take any away from you.

Do you see the section which reads,

"he shoved himself inside me,

even though I told him 'not here'"?

Yes.

Can you confirm
that is what you said to the police?

Yes.

Do you see the word "no"

in that part of your statement?

Take your time, please.

Anywhere at all?

No.

You never said "no,"

because you did not want him
to stop, did you?

It wasn't like that.

But you've just told us it was exactly
like that between the two of you.

Dangerous.

Exciting.

- You told us. Isn't that right?
- That was before.

The truth is, Miss Lytton,

there was no journey
from "yes" to "no" in that lift,

because you only ever said "yes"
to Mr Whitehouse.

The journey was stationary.

From "yes"

to "yes."

Boom.

No. That's cheating!

- Daddy!
- Cheater!

How dare you.

It's not cheating. I've got
a "Get out of jail free" card right here.

- 'Cause you keep extras.
- In your wallet.

How dare you.

The only thing I keep in my wallet
is a picture of you, and you, and Mummy.

Look, the prince, the princess,
and the queen.

What's that?

"Advance to Mayfair"?

Well, that could come in handy.

"Advance to Go."

Lovely.

And "A bank error in your favour,
collect £200." Excellent.

- Cheater!
- Daddy!

That card doesn't even exist.

What's this?

Oh!

"Get out of jail free."

You've got one too. Never have enough.

- Daddy.
- Oh!

Whoa! Elder abuse.

- Daddy, you were cheating.
- Naughty Daddy.

- You cheated.
- Cheater.

- Cheater.
- Help!

- Daddy, you cheated.
- Cheater.

Naughty Daddy.

Daddy.

I've never been
so exhausted from sitting.

Feels endless.

I know. Time's gone blurry, hasn't it?

Isn't tonight usually your PTA meeting?

I haven't gone in months.
Haven't you noticed?

But you were so enthusiastic
about the auction.

Why did you quit?

I didn't quit.

I didn't quit.

- Who the fuck's that?
- Press?

Chris Clarke?

Don't answer the door if it's a reporter.

Or God forbid, Clarke.

- Chris.
- Ugh.

Shall we have a key made?

- You said you told me everything.
- I did.

- What's this about?
- You might not want to hear this, Sophie.

- Don't go anywhere. I've nothing to hide.
- Suit yourself.

- There's another one.
- Another what?

Accusation.

What on earth are you talking about?

An administrator from Oxford
went to the police and claimed

that when you were at university,
a girl said you'd assaulted her.

Well, that's absurd.

Well, the girl chose not to pursue it,
and the administrator couldn't force her,

but hearing about the trial,

she came forward
thinking it might be relevant.

- Who came forward?
- The administrator.

You're just lucky I have police contacts

in every fucking county
willing to give me a heads-up.

Willing to pass along lies.
This is nonsense.

Well, unless it's utterly verifiable.

Where's the girl?

They haven't located her yet.
She moved abroad apparently.

So let me get this straight.

You come here, at this hour, to my house,

in order to tell me
about a hearsay assault from decades ago

on a girl I don't know
and who you haven't even spoken to.

Do I have that right?

They haven't been able to locate her
because there's no such person.

Holly Berry.

That's
the Oxford girl's name apparently.

- What kind of name is that?
- Holly?

- Did you know her?
- She was my first-year tutorial partner.

She went to Oxford?

Don't you remember her?

Holly Berry.

No.

Brilliant, that's all I needed.

- Thank you.
- Where are you going?

To tell the PM to do what he should've
done long ago, as far as you're concerned.

Publicly cut ties.

It's over, mate.

James.

One moment, honey.

Let me help you.

How about giving your employer
some privacy for once?

That would be extremely fucking helpful.

How are you holding up?

I was about to ask the same of you.

We had a good day, actually.

My counsel is effective.

Good. Good.

I just had a visit from Chris.

He told me he was gonna speak with you.

What a bizarre thing.

Bizarre because
it never happened, Tom. It's fiction.

But it seems
we are both dealing with nonsense.

The no-confidence motion,
is it Frisk that's poisoning the well?

Oh it's much bigger than Frisk.

Is it the budget impasse?

It's you, actually.

You're the problem.

They're out for blood.

Who, our guys?

Chris says they're demanding

I make a statement
expressing deep concern,

and that I remove the Whip
from an accused rapist.

- You can't.
- Well, I'd rather not, obviously.

You can't.

I mean it.

Is that a threat?

Of course it's not a threat.

It's a statement, a fact.

I didn't do anything wrong.

Your trial
will surely confirm as much.

But I have the Commons to answer to.

And then this latest thing, James,
has become a tipping point.

Tom, please don't make me say it.

Well, say what?

You owe me.

So you are threatening me?

I didn't do what I'm accused of.

You did do what you were not accused of.

They're two different things.

I saved you.

- I saved your life, Tom.
- Do not say any more.

- Does that mean...
- I said stop talking.

James.

♪ Farewell and adieu
To you Spanish ladies ♪

♪ Farewell and adieu you ladies of Spain ♪

How are we, chaps?

There he is.

How are you doing?

The man himself.

What have I missed?

Oh there we are. There we go.

Where's Tom?

Where's Tom?

On the roof.

How are we, boys?

Is that what I think it is?

It's smack?

Don't worry, it's good stuff.

For fuck's sake, Tom.

Ease up. One last blowout, old chap.

Tom, time to go.

- Come on.
- What?

I love you.

- Yeah?
- I love you.

Come on then.

- Come on.
- No.

No. No.

I stay here.

I'm not leaving you here.

You are not a fucking junkie.

Okay?

Come on. Come on.

Uh, where are you going?

Away.

You boring bastards.

Fucking hell.

Can you walk?

Is that all of it?

Omertà of the Libertines!

Where are you going?

Tosser probably thinks he can fly.

- You can do it, mate.
- Tom.

- Come on.
- Believe in yourself.

Fuck. Fuck.

Fuck.

Run.

- Tom, run.
- What about...

- What about...
- Fucking run.

We can't leave Alec.

Fucking run, you fucker. Come on.

Come on.

Oh fuck. Alec.

Just keep fucking running.

Here.

Shouldn't we have called an ambulance?

Tom, he's not going to have survived that.

Oh fuck.

Oh fuck.

I gave Alec the drugs. I told him to jump.

We weren't there.

We didn't see it happen. We know nothing.

- Yeah?
- Yeah.

I owe you forever.

Okay?

Forever.

Omertà of the Libertines.

Omertà of the Libertines.

Fuck. Fuck.

James.

James.

What the fuck?

Did you rape Holly?

I don't even know Holly.

Holly Berry.

That sounds like a seasonal
stuffed animal.

James.

Who is Holly? I can't even conjure a face.

This is insane.

And no, for the record,
I raped exactly no-one.

- You heard what Chris Clarke said.
- Chris is a cunt.

Some random woman comes crawling
out of the woodwork accusing me of a crime

for which I'm already on trial,
on behalf of someone else.

This is copycat stuff.

Can you stand here and swear to me

that you never had sex
with my tutorial partner?

For the zillionth time, I can't remember.

Or the zillions of women
you had sex with that year?

That's not fair. We weren't exclusive
till the end of that year.

So you can't rule out the possibility
that you were with her?

I can rule out the possibility
of assaulting her.

How many more are there gonna be?
This is never gonna fucking end, is it?

It will. It has to.

There is no logical reason why this...

Reason? There is no reason.

People are sick in the head, okay?

They're sick in the fucking head.

I don't understand.

For whatever reason, somebody is lying.

Am I looking at him?

Sophie.

♪ Prepare a list of what you need ♪

♪ Before you sign away the deed ♪

♪ 'Cause it's not going to stop ♪

♪ It's not going to stop ♪

♪ Till you wise up ♪

♪ No, it's not going to stop ♪

♪ Till you wise up ♪

♪ No, it's not going to stop ♪

♪ Till you wise up ♪

♪ It's not ♪

♪ What you thought ♪

♪ When you first began it ♪

♪ You got ♪

♪ What you want ♪

♪ Now you can hardly stand it though ♪

♪ By now you know ♪

♪ It's not going to stop ♪

♪ Till you wise up ♪

♪ You're sure ♪

♪ There's a cure ♪

♪ And you have finally found it ♪

♪ You think ♪

♪ One drink ♪

♪ Will shrink you
Till you're underground ♪

♪ And living down ♪

♪ But it's not going to stop ♪

♪ It's not going to stop ♪

♪ Till you wise up ♪

♪ No, it's not going to stop ♪

♪ Till you wise up ♪

♪ No, it's not going to stop ♪

♪ Till you wise up ♪