Dead Still (2020–…): Season 1, Episode 2 - Development - full transcript

- You look beautiful Mary.

- Mr. Blennerhasset, what a
wonderful job you've done.

- Brock Blennerhasset, the
memorial photographer himself.

Detective Frederick Regan.

There's been a couple of deaths.

Suicide, it appears but
the bodies were posed

in the exact same position.

Has much changed?

- No Miss Vickers, been
smoking a lot more.

- Uncle, I want
to be an actress.

- Oh.



- The all mock me for it at
home, just like they mocked you.

Have you brought the photograph?

- That was nearly an
early grave for you sir.

I was wondering
Mr. Blennerhasset

if you're in need of assistance?

Photography is an area I would
love to gain experience in.

- You've beautiful
handwriting Ma'am.

- It seems I'll have
an assistant again.

Change might do me good.

Bring a bit of
life to the place.

- You shouldn't be here.

- Mama, make it stop.

- Ivor, Ivor.

He's escaped.



Ivor.

- Mama, make it stop.

Mama.

- Ivor, where are you?

- Mama.

- Ivor.

- You're overdoing it.

You'll be visiting the homes
of the recently bereaved.

Don't put on a show, just do
the job quietly and promptly,

that's all we ask.

- And you're sure
of this because?

- I used to assist my uncle
for a time when I was younger.

- Jeez, I can't imagine
allowing a young one to do this.

- In his own,
well-orchestrated way,

having a child there helped,

created a softer
impression of him.

And I was terribly cute.

- So why'd you stop assisting?

- Well, he didn't need
me any more he said.

Shut himself of for years, from
the world, from his family.

Anyway, an injury seems to
have softened him somewhat.

So, we should probably
get to know each other,

now that we're working together.

What do you do for fun Malloy?

- I love to sketch and read.

Good walk along the canal
gets me blood pumping.

- Spare me.

All right, let's see if
your boring reliability

leads to some good advice.

I've been invited
to a party later.

- Congratulations.

- Thank you, I haven't been
to any parties in town,

so I'm very excited to
be around lots of people

all at the same time.

Socially it'll be
quite the change.

- Well I hope it'll
be good craic.

- Yes, craic, but do
you think it's safe

traveling out especially
with a storm due?

- What storm?

- That storm.

I don't envy you two trying to
get out to Kingstown in that.

- The fuck,

don't sneak up on
me like that Robert.

- See, it's not nice is it?

- Your old lady isn't nice.

What are you doing tonight?

- Agh, bushed, read the
paper, go to bed I'd say.

- Do you remember the
man I had you tailing?

Cannon, the widower,

with them scandalous
pamphlets he were circulating.

- Oh yeah, haven't seen that
many nipples before in my life.

- I bet you haven't.

Anyway, he's throwing
a party tonight

that I wanna keep an eye on.

If this communist is making
a nuisance of himself

around the town the
last few days Czemy,

and he's been
funding his travels

by seeling these photographs,

things the good people of
Ireland wouldn't like seeing.

- Can't see how
a few photographs

would warrant keeping Jamie
and I out in that storm.

- Ah, forget the storm,

I've an appointment
with Blennerhasset.

- Well, what do
you want with him?

- If anything big happens,

I want the photographer on
the scene straight away.

I don't wanna be looking
at your shite drawings.

- Hurry now Malloy,

that dead child will
not photograph himself.

- Have I packed all right sir?

- Now you seem to be learning
Malloy, how very reassuring.

- Thank you sir.

- I did make an appointment
like you said Miss Vickers.

- Yes, but we're in a hurry
to get to Kingstown Detective.

So I won't be making tea.

- I'm grand for tea,
won't take long.

Fuck.

- I have a business
proposition sir.

Maybe there's a crime and I
call you and you come down

straight away and you
photograph the scene.

- Oh, so you want to
hire me, is that it?

- Well, with the promise
of paid work at the brass.

- I don't work for nothing.

- I could use your expertise.

You have commissioned
to all over Ireland

for the past 20 years.

Not so much now but.

- Business is going
well, thank you.

- You are a pioneer in your
particular field of photography.

- I like to think so, yes.

- And when it comes to
crime scene photography,

I'd like to see some
pioneering done.

No one photographs the dead
better than you, no one.

And in my line of work
the dead are plenty full.

- Crime scene photographer.

- That's it, exactly.

It's there for the taking.

And after discovering this
underground photo trade,

photography's getting
more and more popular

and people are interested in
seeing the most queer things

and there's plenty
of people in Dublin,

wouldn't be long
making money out of it.

So, your photography can
be a tool for the criminal,

I'd love to see us make
it a tool for the law.

- Well, Detective I appreciate
your forward thinking

and your evident enthusiasm,

but it the law wants
to use my expertise,

I'm afraid the laws going
to have to pay for it.

So, good day to you sir.

- You can't tell
me I'm overdoing it

and then have me do
everything all at once.

- I'm opening this door
one time and one time only,

I'm not getting
rain on this dress.

- Let me know if you
change your mind.

- I will come running.

- Thank you Nancy.

- Get home safe Uncle.

Are we here sir?

Go on now, go on.

- We should bloody well hope so,

this is miles
outside of Kingstown.

- Lucinda Breslin, this
is my husband August.

Thank you for traveling
to us Mr. Blennerhasset,

especially with this
weather approaching.

- Such efforts are necessary
in troubling times, no.

I'm so sorry for your loss,

such a horrible way
to lose a child.

- There's worse ways
Mr. Blennerhasset.

Much, much worse.

- Well, yes, I
suppose there are.

Well, I'll be done in no time.

Is there somewhere for
my coachmen to wait?

- He can't wait here.

- Stables perhaps?

- We don't have any.

No horses, not anymore.

I'm afraid he will have
to wait in the town

until he's needed.

It's not safe here
with the storm coming.

- Right, well,

Carruthers return
within the hour.

I'm sure you could
find something

to distract yourself
with in the town.

- Yes sir, I will drink.

- Good man Carruthers.

Malloy, hurry up please.

He holds his toy bear
tight for comfort.

- Indeed, he only just got him.

- Oh, to hell with it.

- Mr. Blennerhasset, there's
no sign of Carruthers sir.

- Strange, he's
usually punctual,

especially when
he's been drinking.

Maybe it's the storm.

- Your assistant may need
to walk into Kingstown

to summon him.

Our coachman recently
lost his horse.

- Lost as in?

- The horse was
struck by lightning.

- Please hurry Malloy.

- Yes Mr. Blennerhasset.

- More tea Mr. Blennerhasset?

- Not for the minute thank you.

Quite the weather we're having.

Lucinda come quickly.

- Please excuse me.

- Come in.

- You were blown
into two ditches?

- No, I was blown into
the same ditch twice.

It's lethal out there.

- Well, no carriage, no
means to call for a carriage,

it looks like you gentlemen
may need to spend the night.

- Yes, I suppose.

- Please excuse us
if we have not been

the most convivial hosts.

- Of course, you're in mourning.

- Yes, funeral preparations
will need to be delayed,

we will endeavor to
make you as comfortable

as you possibly can be.

- Mr. Molloy, you can
take off your wet clothes

in your quarters.

- Quarters, all to meself?

- Yes, August, he
can have a spare pair

of your night clothes.

- Yes.

- The blue ones, give
him the blue ones.

Vicenta, Vicenta escort
Mr. Malloy to his room.

- Yes Madame, come
with me please.

- Only that which is locked
down will be safe tonight.

- Oh, Hannah, it's
so bloody wet.

This house is nice.

- Louis Cannon, French money,
runs a small print press.

Recently widowed, a
mess to be honest.

Anyway, I'm so glad
that you're here.

They're insufferable,
all of them.

If it wasn't for that storm

I'd be at home with
mother and my book.

- What are you reading?

- Little men.

- Do I look presentable?

- Nancy, you're a vision.

But really don't worry about it,

you might think you're missing
out on a fabulous social life

in town but obviously it's
the same bloody charade

all the time.

Just get abouts everywhere.

- What kind of get abouts?

- Well, your brother and
everyone he palls around with.

- Of course he'd be here.

- Does mother know you're out?

- I invited her
Henry, she's my guest.

- No Hannah, you're my guest,
the guest doesn't get a guest.

Is this the first party
you've ever been to?

It is isn't it?

- Stop being mean
to your sister.

It is though isn't it?

- Haven't had a chance,

I've been minding grandmother
since she had her stroke.

- That's your excuse
for everything.

Well, bagsy not
carrying you out of here

when you're buckled arse ways.

- Staring men are
the worst kind.

- And the old Czemy,
another friend of Cannons.

Communist, trades in
dirty photographs,

or so Henry told me.

I don't think
there's a connection,

the communism and
the dirty pictures

but anyway he's a creep.

- All right,

let's have a few drinks
and cause some ructions.

- Louis Cannon, I am so pleased.

You are Henry's lady friend?

- I am Hannah and Henry
is my man friend, yes.

- And you are?

- I am Nancy, Henry's sister.

Thank you for hosting
us Mr. Cannon.

- Henry's sister but you look
so much like my dead wife.

- Only when she was dead?

- Louis, Louis
you ghastly devil,

you pay no attention
to these two

they'll tell you the most
horrid stories about me,

let me tell you them myself.

- I really don't know how
you put up with my brother.

- He's a lot of fun Nancy.

- No one in my family is
fun Hannah, believe you me.

- Except for you of course?

- Of course.

- The Spanish maids a nervous
creature isn't she Malloy?

- Yeah, do you think they
were giving her a lashing.

- Why, they're the lashing type.

- I knew a Spanish fella,
worked down the docks,

he was the clumsiest
bastard I've ever met.

- Get a good nights rest Malloy,

I want us out of here

as soon as this infernal
storm has subsided.

- Yes sir, duly noted.

- Your quarters.

Lock your doors please.

- Did he stir?

- No, thank God.

- Jesus, that's an unmerciful
whore of a night out there.

- Want to chance it though.

- Not a hope boy, there's no
way you're going out in that.

- It's a juicy gathering Betty.

Couple of trouble makers
I wanna keep my eye on.

- And is it worth getting
blown into the canal for?

- There's something
in it, that's all.

- I know you're thirsting
for a big case Fred,

but be smart about it.

You're looking for
murders and suicides.

Looking at harmless foreign
creatures as subversives.

There was that poor lamp lighter

you thought was poisoning Porter

and you beat him on
up and down the coon.

- Yeah well he was a lippy fuck.

- What I'm saying is,

sometimes you just have to work

with what's in
front of your eyes.

- What if I'm right?

- Then you take
the bastards down.

- Any stirring?

- Oh bollocks.

- Hell isn't it?

Party chit chat I
mean, small talk.

- Really need to get
some dancing going.

- Wouldn't mind spinning a
toe if the opportunity arises.

What's your name?

- Why do you want
to know my name?

- So I can match it
to that pretty face.

- What's your name, pretty face.

Honestly, spare me.

Liven this party up and
we'll start talking.

- Nancy, I see that
you've met Percy.

- Nancy, lovely name.

- Percy's a forward lad is he?

- So Percy can't take your
hand and kiss it then?

- No, please don't
kiss my hand Percy.

- Percy won't do that then.

- Percy's a sculptor.

- Are you Percy?

Percy, are you?

- Sorry I got distracted
by a man who owes me money.

Larry Kervan, I know the
bastards good for it,

what were you saying?

- And what is it you sculpt?

- I'd sculpt you if you want.

- Well good for you, but I'm
terrible at sitting still.

- Bye now Percy.

- What in the Jesus.

- Do not tell me you're scared.

- Mr. Blennerhasset
I am so scared.

- What did I just say?

- I saw an apparition.

- We were told to
stay in our rooms.

- Listen, the corridors haunted.

- Yes, it's haunted by you.

- There was someone at my door.

- Yeah, I know the feeling.

- They declined to
leave a chamber pot,
I have to go do me...

- I don't need to know that.

- I saw the boy.

- Which boy?

- The dead boy, young Ivor.

- Go back to your room at once.

- You saw him too.

- No Malloy,

I screamed and dragged you into
my room for no good reason.

- But he's dead.

- Well if he isn't, he's
certainly courteous.

Mr. Blennerhasset.

- Why are you both in there?

- I needed to go to the...

- Malloy got frightened
and called upon me.

- You don't have to tell us,

his screaming awoke us.

- I didn't mean to scream,

that only happens if I'm
frightened and I just...

- Now Malloy, stop talking.

- Malloy suffers from
the night terrors

and it's very sad, poor lad.

- The last few days have
been difficult for us

with the death of our son
and that whole tragic affair.

We appreciate the roaring storm
doesn't allow you much peace

but if you can refrain
from screaming in our house

we would be truly grateful.

- Yeah, of course.

My apologies.

- I hope the rest of your
sleep will be a peaceful one,

I really do.

- Thank you, goodnight.

- We should take a
photograph of him.

- I have already taken
a photograph of him.

- But not of the boys
ghost you haven't.

- Ghost?

Listen to yourself,

lightening causes our
sight to become impaired.

We see things we
wouldn't normally see,

colors, shapes, visions.

- Ghosts, ghosts
in a photograph.

Just think of that would
do for your reputation.

- I will tell you what
will do my reputation

a world of good, not
believing in ghosts.

Go back to bed.

Goodnight Malloy.

- Master.

- Did you see something Vicenta?

I heard something.

- Open you stupid box and case.

- What is the meaning of this.

- Somethings not
right, it's not right.

The boys dead but it's
also like he's not dead,

all at once I'm also sure of.

- This is very upsetting.

- You see, you're
upsetting my wife.

- I don't mean to upset anyone,

I'm just trying
to take a picture

of the apparent apparition.

- Of our deceased son?

- Yeah, of your deceased son.

- We want you to leave.

- My apologize sir, I've
been very insensitive.

I'll just return to me room.

- I want you to leave our house.

- In that storm?

- He actually did it, he did it.

Why did I think
he wouldn't do it?

- I wasn't this man out.

- You can't throw me
out now, it's not fair.

- Now Mr. Breslin,

I really would not be
the kind of photographer

to complete a commission
for someone who's going

to put my assistant out into
the middle of a dangerous storm

with little consideration.

It is not good business.

- He's upsetting my
wife, he's upsetting me.

We are upset.

- Why must you make
our bereavement

into some sort of
macabre ghost story?

We're doing our best
to be good hosts

in what is a very
difficult time.

- I will take full
responsibility for my assistants

silly behavior and
wish to assure you

that it will not happen again.

- Very well, Vicenta.

Accompany these men
to their quarters.

Miss Vickers.

- You are quite the vision.

- Can this vision get
by you immediately?

- Not unless you give me a kiss.

- Do I have to give
you a kiss too?

- Czemy.

You have something belonging
to me you thieving devil.

- What are you talking about?

- You took a photograph
from that album

out a little private showing.

- Private showing, of what,
fake photographs you stole

from a party you
were not invited to.

- I was a guest of a
guest I'll have you know.

You know where there's
money to be made

and you saw your chance.

There are photographs
ripped out of it.

- You're calling me a thief?

- I'm calling you more than
a thief you thieving coeur.

- Gentlemen, let us
resolve this matter

in the study with some drinks.

Maybe a naughty little
dahs of opium, huh?

- Very well.

- Sounds good to me.

- This is probably a
good time to mention

that I really don't think
this is the sort of fella

I want to be trapped in a
house with during a storm

as he attempted to
forcefully kiss me.

- That's my sister you bastard.

Open the door, I'll throw him.

- You can't throw him
out in a storm Henry.

- Well, I won't throw him if
he gives back what he's stolen.

- What I stole you stole it.

- You are a bloody
trouble maker, get out.

- I think that's
quite enough Henry.

- Well, that was quite rousing.

- Yes it was.

- No, no, no, no, no,
no, not for little girls.

- It must be so nice for
you to be out of that cage.

Henry doesn't know himself
since he's been away.

- Honestly Hannah, I feel like
I'm alive for the first time.

- La-di-da Come here to
me little wench-ship.

- Bad dancer, your friend,
atrocious footwork.

Give us a whirl.

- Give yourself a whirl.

No damn it, that was my first
kiss and I wasn't even ready.

- I'm sorry I was a bit quick
on the dive in there wasn't I.

- Well look you've don't it now,

so might as well
make the best of it.

- Mr. Blennerhasser,
you all right?

- Yes, that ghost's

due for a photograph.

- You stop.

- Could you see him too?

- Who?

- The boy Ivor.

- This is not Ivor,
this is Samuel.

- Samuel.

- Wait, can you all
see the boy, yeah?

- Yes.

- Yes.

- He's a twin.

- He has been wild in the
brain since he's been born,

more animal than boy.

- He's been getting out of the
nursery a lot more recently.

I knew my locks couldn't
have been the problem.

Now I know what you did Vicenta.

You released him, didn't you
and he pursued his own brother.

- I only let him out
to play with Ivor.

- You're upsetting
me now Vicenta.

- If you treat a
child like an animal

then he will act like an animal.

Just because he's different,
he's still a child.

- Wild in the brain
is what he is,

a cruel shame on his family.

Come on now Samuel,

you'll be safer in the nursery
away from this cruel world.

- That poor child is
nit the cruel one here.

- Do not let him escape.

- Don't startle him Malloy.

Hello Samuel, I've
not come to hurt you.

You want to see your
brother, isn't that right.

We can do that Samuel.

But we must be quiet,

Ivor's in a very deep sleep,
you understand, be quiet.

Shh.

- Shh.

- That's it shh.

- No, I forbid this.

- Have you got
something to calm him.

- His teddy bear Bindi,

they took it from him when
he didn't eat his gruel.

They gave it to Ivor.

- Oh, you are dismissed Vicenta.

- Out into the
storm on would you.

- Will you ever
relax and stop trying

to throw people
out into the storm.

- Malloy.

There you go Samuel,
there's your Bindi.

Would you like to
see your brother?

- We kept him from
a cruel world,

he would not even be
alive if it wasn't for us.

- If it wasn't for you
that poor young fellow

wouldn't be in such a state.

I'll be fetching the police at
first light, make no mistake.

- No, no police.

- We'll gladly pay you
three times the agreed fee

and we'll leave it at that.

- It is cruel and
heartless to lock up

a poor damaged boy like that.

- No, we'll pay three
times the agreed sum

if your discretion is assured.

- What I would like to be
assured of is that you will pay

for the future
care of this child.

- Future care?

- When I deliver your portrait

I expect to see proof
of this child's care,

any deviation from it

and I will be in contact
with the authorities.

So, Vicenta, do you
happen to have the keys

to Mr. Breslin's nursery?

- I'm sorry, why
do you say nursery?

- You're disappearing?

- Well, you disappeared.

- I'm sorry, I
found Larry Kervan

and I got the money off
the bastard any while.

Why don't you just stay
with me for one more drink?

- I really can't show
up in a poor state,

especially when I'm looking
at pictures of corpses.

- Well, at least let
me walk you into town,

you don't know what
kind of dangers

can be lurking out there.

- It's perfectly fine Percy.

I'm well able to enjoy
a party responsibly

while staving off the
perils of opium addiction

and being molested
by a communist.

- I don't doubt it.

I might see you soon though?

- You might.

Do you have to be so
bloody dramatic detective?

- At times, yes.

- Don't mind me, I'm
just creeping around,

nothing to see here.

- Jesus Christ, you're
shit faced girl.

- I only had six
drinks, thank you.

- Seemed like an
interesting little gathering

you were at there
now Miss Vickers.

The widower Cannon
isn't long celebrating

after his wife took
a head first dive

down the stairs last month.

- Honestly, it wasn't
even as exciting as that.

- You hardly saw any
foreign nuisances

passing obscene materials
around, did you?

- Foreign nuisances, like the
British that you work for?

- No, not like the
British that I work for,

the other foreigners.

- Ah yes, the ones
with the funny accents.

All right, I think I'm fine
on my own from here detective.

- There you are now,
Miss Nancy Vickers,

from your affluent background,

consorting with the low
sorts off the likes of that.

Not sure your uncle would
like to hear about it.

- I don't think my uncle
would mind detective,

after all he consorts with
the lower sorts of all.

- And where in the
hell where you?

- Wouldn't not be returning
and quite rightly so,

it's much to treacherous.

No way I said, Anne
takes fright very easily.

- Anne, Anne the horse?

- Yeah, and I wasn't
letting her go out in that.

- Well I doubt it
was as treacherous

as where we were Carruthers.

Be grateful
you miserable bastard.

- Thanks for helping
me there Carruthers,

least it was something, just
a little glimmer of hope.

- Here's the key to the nursery,

you can let them out once
they promise to behave.

- Shh.

- It was a crime
Mr. Blennerhasset,

you should have reported it.

- They did get
locked up in a way.

- I suppose poetic justice
is better than no justice.

- Remember we used to
say that our photographs

were the real ghosts.

Scene observable, the sole
of a person captured forever.

Beyond the corporeal, after
all the mourning has gone

when all the graves
go unattended.