Chemistry of Death (2023–…): Season 1, Episode 4 - Episode #1.4 - full transcript

You got me back into this.

You need to get me another job.

Okay, a favour for a friend
of mine

is all I've got to offer you.

Body found on the island
of Runa a couple of days ago.

They need someone asap.

Andrew Brody.

You found the body

- and contacted DCI Wallace?
- Aye.

You two thinking
of walking there?

Best not keep
Sergeant Fraser waiting.



Have you ever seen
anything like this?

No. It's a highly unusual burn.

Who lives there?

The Strachans.

Came to Runa
from God-knows-where.

- Four?
- Six.

That's not what we agreed.

So, say no.

You inviting us in
to keep us quiet?

Aye.

I can feel a depression.

What is it?

Caused by an impact
to the skull.

So, unlawful killing.



In all likelihood, yes.

Ah!

Morning. How are you feeling?

Yeah.

Rested, thank you.

How's your shoulder?

I can take a look if you like.
I'm a trained nurse.

It's just slight bruising,
I think.

Oh, you shouldn't have gone
to all this trouble.

Oh, it's nothing.

It's nice to have a guest.

Please, sit down.

Do you take sugar?

No, thank you.

Wow.

You know, I really could

have gone back to the hotel
last night.

You're alright.
Stopping here saved me a trip.

Hi.

You weren't making much sense
when I found you.

Yeah, no, I think the crash
jolted me more than I thought.

That's my favourite spot,
up there.

It's easy to get lost.

These mountains
can be unforgiving.

Yeah.

No, I'll, erm... I'll stick
to the road next time.

I phoned the hotel to let them
know you were here,

so Sergeant Fraser's on her way.

Right.

You'll be on your way
later today, okay?

Not long now.

Afraid of my light now

Got no time for the dark in me

Now I breathe

Now I breathe

I'm calm but I talk
like a waterfall

Taking more and more
until I burst

And then I can't live
with the aftermath

I'm cursed

And then I can't live
with the aftermath

I'm cursed

Most schools across
Western Scotland

will remain closed today,

due to the high winds
and extreme rain

caused by Storm Marley.

Trains across the region
are running a limited service

due to high winds and debris
being blown onto tracks.

Multiple alerts and warnings
for flooding

are also in place
across the region,

and thousands of households...

What are you fucking playing at?

I found the car.
I put your stuff in the boot.

Thank you.

You're welcome.

What happened up there?

I came off the road and...

I climbed up,
trying to find my bearings.

Clearly, you didn't find them.

When you do, DCI Wallace
is expecting your call.

Well, there is evidence
of blunt force trauma

at the base of the skull.

And that's what caused
her death, not the fire?

It's hard to be 100%,
but highly likely.

Sir?

Stay there. I'll pull the team
off the crash.

They'll be with you
tomorrow morning.

Have you got enough evidence
to make an ID?

Doubtful.

Heat will have destroyed
the DNA.

Until we get her to a lab, until
we get the support teams...

What you doing there?

Huh?

What you doing?

Work.

Mm-hmm.

Work's what you do with these?

Right.

You ever get your hands dirty?

Sometimes, yeah.

Yeah, bullshit.

These hands never worked a day.

Soft like bankers' hands.

Was it you?

What?

Who stole my boat.

Right, you big lump.
Had enough to drink yet?

Never.

Oh, excuse me.

He's always like that
after a couple of drinks.

Bank repossessed his boat
a couple of years back

and he's never really
got over it.

They're a law unto themselves,
that lot.

I know.
You ready for yours, Andrew?

No, I'm fine, thank you, Ellen.
I'll give it a bye tonight.

As you wish.

Here.

Read this.

At least they spelt
our names right.

Aren't you concerned?

This article is likely
to alert the killer.

I'm just here
to examine the body.

Sorry for butting in
on your crime scene.

Maggie Cassidy, Lewis Gazette.

Oh, right.

Only doing my job.

Come on, I could've made it
a lot worse.

I heard you were
at the Strachans' last night.

Friends of yours?

No.

What can you tell me about them?

I've got work. Goodnight.

He doesn't have a past.

Michael.

Not in any company records.

Maybe he changed his name.

Is that what respectable
businessmen do?

There's no record
of his marriage either.

Why are you telling me?

There's more.

Might have something
to do with your case.

I'm not police.
It's not my case.

Exactly.

In case you wanna talk.

Goodnight.

I really love you.

Stop.

I'm sorry.

Goodnight, Mary, my darling.

Night.

I know you're not
loving it here.

It's alright.

It's shit.

You know, if this case
wraps up in time,

we can still go on holiday.

We can rebook the flights.

How many times have
I heard that one?

You don't know how much
I hate the job.

So, stop.

Don't just moan.

I never thought
I'd be stuck like this.

I'm rubbish with money.

It's... not easy,
being on your own.

You could try drinking less.

In two years I get my pension,

and then we can go
wherever we want.

Just stay here with Ellen
just a wee while longer.

On "Old People's Island".

Aye, well, at least
you're safe here.

And you're away
from that bastard in Stornoway.

We'll talk about it on holiday.

But after that, there's no way
I'm coming back here.

All good?

Me or the cottage?

Yourself.

The old van nearly took off
a few times,

but apart from that, okay.

And the cottage?

Rain's getting in on the right,
but not near the body.

But the window has blown in.

I've done what I can.

Shit, we need to get her
to a lab.

Let's sort this out
before CSI arrive.

- Tarp's in the boot.
- Yep.

You're late.

The storm is getting worse.

The police aren't
interested in us.

Their focus is on that cottage.

For now.

Gunther, go and feed them.

It was my job yesterday.

Exactly. But I had to do it,
so it's your job now.

Yep, yep, yep!

Fold it up.

It won't fold over!

Yes, sir!

Okay, double it over.
Double it over!

The ferries
have stopped running.

There's no support coming today.

What about a helicopter?

He's asking about a helicopter.

- No.
- When are we getting support?

So, when can we expect
a team over?

- That's it.
- Understood, Sir.

Hold it there. That's it.

No. Looks like we're on our own.

Here. Food and water.

You're wet.

Yes.

Here. This cup of tea
will warm you up.

Anna, let Doctor Hunter past.

I was giving him tea.

She's always been
such a curious soul.

That's a good thing.

Thank you.

Hey, you okay?

Sorry, I'm just... feeling
a bit rough is all.

- Is there anything I can do?
- No.

I'm just popping out.

I don't mean to be funny,
but can we do this later?

Sure.

I'm fine.

- You sure?
- Honest.

You know if there's a record

of people arriving and leaving
the island?

What are you doing?

Our woman's 5' 9",
top 97 percentile.

If I can start to narrow down
the missing person's list...

No, what do you think
you're doing?

- I'm trying to ID a body.
- No.

No, your job is to work
with the body.

My job's to keep your safe.

Duncan's job is to do
what I tell him.

All our jobs are to do
what Wallace tells us, okay?

Right now, we have to sit tight

and wait for the CSIs
to turn up.

I've been sick maybe
half a dozen times now.

- Any pain?
- Here.

Cramping.

It's like a sharp pain.

Not all the time, though.

I just thought... I don't know,

maybe appendicitis or...

- Okay if I feel?
- Yeah, of course.

Okay.

I'm just gonna prod gently.

I'm not getting any hardness.
That's good.

Have you had a fever?

I don't think so.

But I felt woozy.

Okay.

Take a breath.
Tongue down for me.

That's fine.

Has the pain moved

from the centre of your abdomen,
down to here, like this?

Not really.
It's always here when it comes.

When was your last period?

I'm not sure.
I'm not that regular.

Are you sexually active?

Now and again.

Aren't we all?

But recently enough
to be pregnant?

Yeah. I think so.

Three fatalities
have already been reported

as a result of Storm Marley.

An eight-year-old boy
and his 42-year-old father

from Stornoway,

and a 62-year-old woman
from Inverness.

Disruption to travel is likely
to continue,

and thousands of households
remain without power.

Adverse weather conditions
have also led

to the cancellation
of all ferry services

for safety reasons,

as gusts of up to
90 miles per hour...

Hi. I think I need to talk
to a detective.

I'm long retired, son.

And Fraser's a better detective
than you think.

Yeah, and Duncan's a lovely lad,

but you were the one
with the rank.

Whoo!
Better have yourself a seat.

Thank you.

So, we know that the killing
was unlawful.

How do you know for sure?

Blunt force trauma
to the base of the skull.

But Wallace has sent over
the missing persons list.

What, from Runa?

No, a hundred-mile radius.

Our body's female,
25 to 30 years old, around 5'9",

so that narrows it down
to nine possibilities.

And we know she died at least
four weeks ago,

so if we take out
anyone reported missing

within the last month...

It leaves us with three.

Well?

Ah. Congratulations.

Okay, let's get you
an appointment with the GP

when he next visits.

Actually, if you don't mind,

I'd like to see my own,
in Stornoway.

Oh. Yeah, sure.

That's fine,
if that's what you want.

But we're here
if you need anything.

I hope that was good news.

There's a good chance
she came over on the ferry.

Aye, fair assumption.

And I imagine not much
gets past you, living here.

Old habits are hard to shake.

I don't think I'm in a position
to help you,

because I don't recognise
any of them.

You'd be better off
talking to Kinross,

the ferry captain...
amongst other things.

Nothing happens between
Runa and Stornoway

without him knowing.

The trouble will be
to get him talking.

You're not police,
and I'm an old man with a dog.

- We've no power.
- No.

Or mainland support. I just
wanna try and do something.

Folk round here, David,

don't take kindly to strangers
asking questions.

If I were you,
I'd lay low until CSI appear.

Yeah. That's what Fraser said.

Well, she's right.

- Duncan?
- Listen, the tarpaulin's gone.

- And some of the roof.
- Shit.

I've done what I can,
I'm trying to fix it, but...

Okay, keep doing that.

If you guys could get here...

- Yep.
- Alright.

Do what you can.
I'll be there soon.

- Yeah. I'll see you in a bit.
- Okay. Bye.

Thanks for that.

Mind how you go.

Duncan called.
Rain's getting in.

Ah, shit.

- You alright to drive?
- Yeah, of course I bloody am.

Fuck!

Sorry!

- Don't worry!
- There was nothing I could do!

Don't worry!
It's not your fault!

You didn't cause the storm!

I have to save her!

Where the fuck's he going?
David! David!

Stop!

- David!
- Stop!

Get out of there! Get out!

Shit! Get the fuck out of here,
it's coming down!

We need the evidence!

That's an order!

David, it's not safe!

For Christ's sake,
just leave it!

It's coming down! Get out!
That's an order!

David, please!

Fuck! Come on, get up!

No, no, no, no!

This is Captain Kinross
from the Runa-Stornoway ferry.

Nothing.

No signal.

That'll be the mast down
on Lewis.

So, no forecast then.

What are we doing
with our guests?

They were already unhappy
this morning.

God's sake, we're not running
a bloody hotel.

Aye, but with
the temperature dropping,

you cannot just leave them
in there, Ian.

Why don't we set them free?

We'll round them up
when the storm is over.

With the island crawling
with police?

There's no saying how long
this'll be on us.

I know.

The rain keeps up,
they'll be getting hypothermia.

I know!

Anyone here?

Hello?

Hi.

Oh, hi.

Listen, we've lost
our crime scene,

and we really need to store some
forensic evidence somewhere,

if you can help us?

The storm's screwed us.

Sure, yeah.

I just need to move a few things
from the fridge.

That's great, thank you.

Okay. Come with me.

Yeah.

Thank you.

Sergeant Fraser for DCI Wallace.
Come in. Over.

Sergeant Fraser for DCI Wallace.
Come in. Over.

Sergeant Fraser for DCI Wallace.
Come in. Over.

Listen, if it's a bad time,
Mrs Strachan, I can come back.

Oh, I really only see patients
at the clinic.

Well, actually I'm not here
because I'm ill.

You know I'm with
the Lewis Herald, right?

Well, I was hoping I might
do a piece about the clinic.

You've done so much for my gran
and the community.

It'd be part of a series about
how much outsiders contribute

to these small
island communities.

In the early history of man,

there was widespread
ritual belief

that eating the brains
of the dead

allowed their wisdom to pass on.

Even now, with the brain gone,

entering the intimate space
of a skull

remains an almost sacred journey.

It can't be very precise if
you're measuring from a photo.

No.

So why do it?

Relative ratio.

Can be surprisingly accurate.

For example, if you measure
the distance between the eyes,

set against the length
of the nose.

And you're comparing that
to the skull?

Exactly.

Which indicates...

that's likely our victim.

She has a prominent glabella,

and a wider, U-shaped
maxillary arcade.

Hello, Kelly-Anne.

I think I've seen
that girl before.

Hm?

Her?

Where?

I don't know,
but she's familiar.

Maybe from when I was younger, or...

Kelly-Anne.
Kelly-Anne Donaldson.

No. No, that wasn't her name,
I don't think.

You sure it's her?

Yeah. Yeah... It might be.

So, what's her name?

I can't remember.

- Come on, Duncan.
- I'm sorry.

Was it someone
you went on holiday with?

A family friend?
Was it someone you knew at...

I'm sorry. Sorry.

- It's okay.
- Sorry, David.

Sorry.

I didn't realise
you were a designer too.

I'm not. But you're great
with the flattery.

Seriously, though,
this place is amazing.

I just like nesting, I suppose.

I wish I could get to nest.

I'm so sick of renting.

One reason why I'm always
at Gran's.

And she is getting on a bit.

She is healthy for her age.

I've only seen her twice,
I think.

Aye, but it's so important
for the older folk to know

there's proper care
on the island.

You're saving lives
just by being here.

Yeah, I wish
more of them agreed.

Don't they?

That's mad.

Well, maybe this article
can help.

Hello?

Hello, Duncan?

Hello?

Is someone there?

Hello?

But I think at the end
of the day,

a community only works
when everyone contributes.

That was great. Thanks so much.

Do you mind if I took
a couple of pictures?

I could do with the loo first,
though, if that's okay?

Oh, of course. There's one
just by the front door.

Thanks.

Oh, sorry. I just wanted to
make sure you hadn't got lost.

House is a bit of a maze.

No, I just didn't feel
so brilliant.

- I'm fine now.
- Do you need something?

No, I'm good, thanks.

You still wanna take
some photographs?

Yeah, please.

Someone was clearly curious
about what you were up to.

They were watching you
for a while.

Did you not think to close
the hatches?

No.

Look, it's now a forensic lab.

We need to secure
the building properly.

Okay. Okay,
I'll swing by the boatyard.

They'll have a padlock.

- Did you speak to Duncan?
- Oh, yeah.

Yeah, he told us
he recognised her.

So, maybe she changed her name.

Maybe.

Brodie reckons maybe Duncan's
a bit keen to please.

Yeah.

I'll be right back.

Maggie Cassidy was here.

Okay.

Yeah, she wanted to do
an interview for the paper,

about the clinic.

And did you?

She really seemed to understand
what we're trying to do.

Well, it's her job
to understand.

She's a journalist.

I know, but I almost felt
hopeful by the end.

Either way,

I'd rather she wasn't
nosing around in our business.

She promised to let us see
a transcript

before it goes in the paper.

Okay.

How was the clinic today?
Anyone pop in?

Just the one, Ellen.

She's pregnant.

Hey, come here.

Have I told you how much
I love you recently?

I know.

Hey, darling.

Hi. But do you think
he'll be okay after that?

He'll be fine.

Well, I mean, let's see
how he is in the morning.

He's tougher than he looks.

- Keep an eye on the radio.
- Yeah.

It's your round, by the way.

You said that padlock
was for the crime scene

at the old cottage,
not for the community hall.

What are you not telling me?

- What's it got to do with you?
- I don't like being lied to.

Well, none of us do.

What's going on up there?

Look, as I said, it's none
of your business, okay?

Islanders don't take kindly to
outsiders telling us how it is.

Oh, I do hope
that wasn't a threat.

You're a long way
from Stornoway here.

Look, storm blew down
the cottage.

We had to evacuate.

There was evidence
that Dr Hunter had gathered

that needed somewhere
to be stored.

Is that right?

Yeah. Yeah.

Why didn't you say that?

Because it's a police matter.

From what I hear,
you're barely police anymore.

Oh. From what I hear,
you're not just the ferryman.

Oh, come on.
Why the sudden need for secrecy?

Cos it's a murder inquiry.

Right, what are we having, boys?

Same as usual.

- Hey.
- Hey.

I've got something to tell you.

I know.

Grace told you.

Christ, this just isn't simple,
is it?

Look, whatever you decide,
I'll support you.

I'm having it.

Okay.

I'm glad.

Do you wanna leave the island?

What, because I'd be
an embarrassment to you?

No. God no.

I love Runa, and I love you.

But would it work?

I like Grace. That's been
hard enough as it is.

Let's go away, then.

Me and you.

- Really?
- Yeah.

Like, away altogether?

After everything
you've built here?

Yeah.

Well, what about Grace?

It's not about her.
It's about me and you.

And Anna?

Oh, she'll be alright.
Just leave her here.

Come on, you know I love Anna.

Oh, come here...

Come here.

It'll be alright.

I have to get back to work.

Hello!

Anybody there?

David.

David.

David.

Fuck.

Help! Help!

Help! Help!