Meadowlands (2007): Season 1, Episode 6 - Episode #1.6 - full transcript

You fucking bastard!
You fucking...

Where is it now?

That's not what I put in there, dad!
That's not what I put in there!

Jack Donnelly was
strangled to death.

Someone's trying to make it
look like a revenge killing.

You hear that Wintersgill arrested
someone for Donnelly's murder?

- Who?
- Ormond.

I'm your guardian angel, Eddie.

Protecting them, like
I've always done.

I had a stupid fling. It
didn't mean anything.

I had no idea Danny
wasn't the father.



With the right mix of
charm and persuasion

and appropriate encouragement...

Trust me. It's what I do best.

What's the truth about you?

Who are you really?

I mean, what exactly is
it that you do, Samantha?

What's Meadowlands for?

Ask that bitch about Cape Wrath.

Hello, mate.

We're here to see Samantha.

Yeah. She's, uh...

We're in the same situation
as you, vis-à-vis Samantha.

So where is she?

Away.



Something wrong, mate?

Cape Wrath.

Sorry, mate, you got me there.

Fuck.

Consider this analogy.

Mind is to brain, as
walking is to legs.

Thus, if I embark on
an intense program

of running and weight training,

if I alter the muscular
construction of my legs,

it will certainly
change the way I walk.

And so, our understanding of
neurological function will,

and I'm certain of this,

allow us to similarly intervene

in brain function.

Now, can this...

will this... alter our minds?

Alter our sense of being?

Tune in next week
for the answer.

Dad.

Evelyn, hi.

How are you today?

Yeah, I'm good, thanks.

Good. Good, good, good.

This arrived yesterday. You
can borrow if you'd like.

It's... absolutely amazing.

Sinatra, Live at
the Sands, 1966.

His 50th birthday.

I just thought it
might cheer you up.

Cheer me up?

Yes, well, I... I know
you've probably had

a bit of a sleepless
night, and, uh...

Well, I... I just
wanted to reassure you.

Our secret is absolutely
and unconditionally safe.

Thank you, David.

- I think I'd better get on.
- Of course.

- Oh, er, Evelyn?
- Yeah?

Oh, I've seen it.
Thanks, though.

I wanted to to
discover the soul.

You know, consciousness,
our sense of self,

the strange deep
thoughts we have.

What is it in here?

In amongst all the
neurons and synapses

and biochemical events that
produces something like...

John Coltrane's Love Supreme,

Guernica, Buster Keaton...

Dad,

I've come a long way.

Excuse me.

How? How does he know?

Hang on. We need
to fully assess.

Ok. Set it in motion.
I'm on my way back.

We're on.

Tumor.

The size of an orange.

I'm going to die, Samantha.

How did you get in?

Picked the lock, mate.

I'm kind of, er, fly that way.

You know, wide, sharp, street...

fly.

Is that right, Fred?

- I'd prefer you not to call me that.
- Sorry, Freddie.

- You don't like me, do you?
- I don't know you.

Maybe you should loosen
up and get to know me.

I'd love that, yeah. Get
to know all about you.

What's to know?

I'm an open book.

I'm not the fly-by-night
guy you take me for.

Do you want to stop doing that?

Sorry.

I didn't know you
feared intimacy.

When's Samantha back?

I don't know.

You know, you'll find that
door unlocks from the inside.

In every way...

Dan.

Look, I have contacts
through my work.

I can get access to specialists.
This isn't a death sentence.

Samantha, aside
from a miracle...

There are only two options.

As in having my ass wiped several
times a day by strangers

due to clinical incontinence,
I'll be in pain,

the kind of relentless
24-hour pain

that will suck the
will to live from me.

It will sap the life out of you

as you watch me die.

It will.

And this is why
brought you here.

To say good-bye.

Far as this goes,

I'm going to jump...

before I'm pushed.

Spikes only on the
practice green, please.

Golf, not life, eh?

What happened, Tom?

Well, I 3-putted

- on 7 greens this morning.
- No, no. I mean yesterday.

Was it Freddie? Did he
do something to you?

The past...

is not another country.

It's another planet.

Morning.

- What?
- You have something I want.

Youth? Intelligence? Breasts?

The files.

I binned them.

Well, unbin them and
get them back to me

by the end of play
today, please.

Yes, sir.

Where?

- When?
- I don't know.

When the pain becomes
too much to bear.

Counseling.

Maybe you should talk to
someone, a professional.

For god sakes, Samantha.

I've spent the last 30 years

proving beyond doubt,

I'd say, that
psychology is bollocks.

Anyway, I have you to talk to.

But I'm not...

I'm not equipped.

I'm no good at emotional things.

Problems at work?

Can't talk about that.
It's classified.

So...

I formulate a theory and
you and your crony...

Cape Wrath is not a weapon.

So why did I get cut out? Just
because I happen to think...

Dad, we have other issues here!

My death is not the issue.

It's my life that's the issue,

- and my life's wo...
- And your life's work.

Is that why you brought me here?

To insure the safety
of your legacy?

No.

I mean...

I'm in the waiting room here.

Classified is not applicable.

So, come on,

talk to me about it.

Please.

That was...

sextastic.

Sextastic. You are sextastic.

Socks. Socks.

Do you mind?

Sorry, babes.

"Babes"?

God, I've created a monster.

Kids, eh?

What do you do?

I mean, it's like he's
grown up overnight.

The gloves are gone.

It's amazing.

He just needs to get rid
of that stupid haircut

and we're on Family Fortunes.

What does he want to spend so much
time at Jezebel's for, anyway?

Wouldn't you if you were him?

She is the most beautiful
creature in Meadowlands.

Oh, yeah, I forgot.

Hello?

Who is it?

Frank Sinatra.

Live at the sands.

Nothing.

I've got to go.

You know Dr. York prescribed

three shags a day after meals?

Better complete the
course, hadn't we?

There's a fly in here.

- We got any fly spray?
- No, I'll pick some up.

I'll see you later. Yeah?

Fuck.

What the hell do you
think you're playing at?

- Excuse me?
- That phone call to my house.

Frank sinatra.

Look, David, I know that
you did me a favor,

and I really appreciate it,
but that doesn't give you

the right to start
interfering in my marriage.

Yeah, I see what's
happening here.

What do you mean?

- You're trying to demonize me.
- What?

Displace your own past
mistakes onto me.

I did not call you at home.

Alright? I happen to like your husband.
He seems like a decent man.

And you know what? I respect
the sanctity of your marriage,

and I could never violate that.

- Well, who was it then?
- Hello.

Hi.

Er... It's Abigail.

Do you mind? We'd
like some privacy.

Sorry.

Hi. Uh, nothing.

Okay. Bye.

We've called the
community Meadowlands.

After the old holiday home.

Well, how do you keep the...

I almost said subjects,
the residents...

How do keep the
residents in situ?

Ditches?

Electrified fences?
Armed guards?

Fear.

Every resident is on a
witness relocation program.

Good. Very good. Very good.

But difficult to prosecute
your theories of mind

with one hand tied
behind my back.

Una.

Never off duty, eh?

We can't talk about Cape Wrath
without talking about Una.

She's the experimental proof
your theories of mind work.

If you hadn't found
Una, assigned her...

I know what I did.

Well, if you hadn't
been successful

in what you did, Cape
Wrath couldn't exist.

Where are you going
with this, Samantha?

It's taking longer than I thought.
The whole process.

If Cape Wrath is going to
work, I need more on Una.

Files,

data, medical records, your
diaries of the process.

It's not relevant.

Why do you always
shut me out of this?

Because this Meadowlands
place is not

like Una.

You're dealing with
fully mature adults.

With lives, with file upon
file of episodic memories.

Una was four years old.

Her parents were
psychologically deranged.

The child was kept in a box
in total darkness from birth.

When they brought her to me,

she was without sentience.

No concept of her self,
no concept of time.

No feelings. No empathy.

Nothing.

She had a brain but no mind.

- And you created a mind.
- Samantha, I have to protect Una.

From what?

From me.

What I did with her...

did to her...

I'm not sure it was ethical.

Fuck!

Fly me to the moon,

Let me fly...

Freddie.

Nice ones, huh?

These'll put 10 yards
on your drive.

Zoe...

I need you to help me with her
personal development program.

Ding-dong. Who's that?

I know him from somewhere.

No one. It's nothing.

What are you up to, Zoe Brogan?

You're just one big walking
question Mark, aren't you?

Hi, girls.

What have you been
up to, Markie?

You're never in the
house anymore.

Got a girlfriend or something?

- A girlfriend?
- No.

You have, haven't you?

I haven't.

- I've got a class.
- Zoe.

You have something of mine.

Yeah, I do.

I've got it here.

The past is not another planet.

It's a file.

Memories. the real you.

The man I kissed.

I know what you
think you are, Zoe.

You think you're
cool and gorgeous

and funny and caring and strong,

but what you are is tormented.

Meadowlands is the kind of place

that can make that torment stop.

Now, I just came to tell you

that you should return that to Mr.
Wintersgill.

If it's David you're after,
he's gone for a coffee.

Alone.

Do you think David's
a homosexual?

I mean, I don't know.

Oh, look, Abigail.

No, I know you don't want to get
involved in someone else's marriage.

But you are involved.

Aren't you?

You know about me
and Jack Donnelly.

Yeah. Jack Donnelly was
an aberration and...

What am I supposed
to do, Evelyn?

David finds me repellent.

God, Abigail, look, will it...
Would it help if we went...

Went shopping together?

That would be lovely, Evelyn.

- Stay away from Freddie.
- What's this, Bernard?

You're supposed to do law
and order around here

and not spend your time
protecting the likes of Freddie.

It's not Freddie I'm
trying to protect.

Open the door!

What's up Danny? I'm busy. Nimble,
quick and over the candlestick?

Twice today, some joker
has phoned me up

and played Frank Sinatra down the phone.
It was you, wasn't it?

This irrational obsession with
me you seem to have developed,

it's a symptom of
some deeper malaise.

Now, come on.

What exactly is your problem?

Cape Wrath.

That.

Well, to be Frank,

it's bothering all of
us that Jack's dead.

What are you talking about, eh?

Who said anything about
Jack being dead?

You. I just asked you
what was bothering you,

and you said, "Jack's dead".

I said Cape Wrath
was bothering me.

Danny, Danny. Look, mate,

we're all upset
that Jack's dead.

But we've got to put it
behind us as a community.

I mean, I know I'm good,

but I can't coax the
deceased back to life.

Tell me, Fred,

why are you such a sniveling,
little pain in the ass, eh?

Never off-duty, are you?

Or out with your mates.

What are you lacking?

Eh, Fred?

Hands.

So...

Let's get inside your head.

Delete a few files.

Let jack out of the box.

Thank you very much.

So...

You think that will
float Danny's boat?

Well, how could it not?

That'll look gorgeous on you.

You're really good
at this, aren't you?

Clothes and shopping.

Used to run a part-time
business, me and a mate.

Restylists, we called ourselves.

All these rich women
with no taste.

"What not to wear? You know
what to fleece, more like."

Sorry. The past.

Well, here and now.

If you want to reinvent yourself,
Meadowlands is the place.

This is lovely, isn't it?

I think David might
actually notice me in this.

Didn't I buy that?

Sorry.

You keep it.

I'll get another one.

We'll sort it out.

You sure?

It'll look lovely on you.

Thank you, Evelyn.

You know, I don't
care what people say.

You are a nice person.

Excuse me. Waiter?

- Another bottle of wine, please.
- Not for me, dad.

Oh, relax, Samantha.

It's not every day I get
drunk with my daughter.

Do you have someone?

A boyfriend? A lover?

Not really.

I'm...

Do you know what I've
missed about you?

The school walks.

You were always there to
walk me to and from school.

No one else's dad did that.

When you were small...
it was so funny.

Venetian blinds.

You used to call them
"vanishing blinds".

Can I tell you something?

Even when I learned
the right word,

I used to use the wrong one
just to make you laugh.

I've never seen you
smile like that.

It's like you really feel it.

In here.

Daddy.

Excuse me.

You ok, Danny?

Yeah, I'm fine.

Listen, Brenda.

You ever heard of a something
called Jack Wrath?

Jack what?

Don't worry. What's going on in
this place, Brenda? Come on.

You've been here a while,
you must have some idea.

Look, Danny, Meadowlands
is a brilliant place.

I'm happy here. Jezebel
is happy here.

I know. You're happy. You
know how I know you're happy?

'Cause you keep telling
me you're happy.

Is that what's going on with Mark?
Why he's always in your house?

Jezebel's trying to
convince him to be happy?

I'm going to have a word
with him about that.

Erm, no, listen, I'll
talk to Jezebel.

I'll put a stop to it, ok?

Danny, leave it with me.

At least let me open the bar before
you start spending the profits.

Sorry, darling. Got
a bit carried away.

- You know how I am.
- Yeah. I do.

What's that supposed to mean?

Every time I've gotten in front,
got some money in the bank,

you're always upping the lifestyle.
Aren't you?

Off with the credit card
and your secret spending.

Oh, piss off! I thought
we got past all of this.

Anyway, it's not as if you
don't keep secrets from me.

What, and you tell
me everything?

Christ, I am allowed a
little bit of space in here

that's my own, you know?

I walk about out
there, it's like...

You're cornered?

I'm sorry. It's just this place.

These people, they are
climbing about inside my head.

I'm out of here.

Every life is a tale.

A necessary fiction,

with a beginning, a
middle, and an end.

And my story ended
with that diagnosis.

But it doesn't matter, Samantha.

Steady, professor.

Ah, you're drunk.

Really drunk.

Don't move.

Excuse me...

No way. No way.

Come on!

Underneath the moonlight.

You know what this is?

This is the closest
thing to my last wish.

Your last wish being?

To dance with you
at your wedding.

What are you doing... to me?

What is all this about?

I don't know what you mean.

Trying to get inside my head.

Like you're trying
to convert me.

I thought you cared about me.

I did.

I do.

But only on my terms.

You mean on Meadowlands' terms?

Thank you.

Dad, you ok?

- I'm fine.
- Er, where are your painkillers?

Jacket pocket.

- I'm fine.
- It's all right. I've got them.

Dad?

- No.
- I did it in the restaurant.

- No.
- We should get a taxi.

I needan ambulance. Now!

Yeah, I'm on the... Dad!

This is what I want.

- I've made my decision.
- You've made your decision? What?

You're just gonna go like that?
Just now,

- without even...
- It is the right time.

Why? Why is it the right time?

Because your legacy is safe?
Is that it?

Because Cape Wrath is
up and running, what?

- It is my child.
- No, Dad! I'm your child.

Oh, Christ.

- What?
- Look...

It's the right time

because when you smiled
in the restaurant,

you felt it.

Didn't you?

- Didn't you?
- It's the right time.

I feel something

like other people do

and you say now is the right...

time to...

Because it's done.

It's over with. Ok?

Come. Give me your hand.
You'll be ok now.

Could you all move back, please?
There is nothing to see here.

- Don't worry, you'll be ok.
- Come on. Move away, please.

My work is done.

You don't need to be protected.
You're a complete human being.

Abigail?

Leave it.

It's a... fire hazard.

I'm the fire hazard.

So... either call the
emergency services

or dowse me yourself.

Abigail. What... What are you...

I really don't have
time for this and I...

Call me Evelyn.

I'm Evelyn.

Don't be scared, David.

No, no, I told you. Get back!

I just need to see her face....

You're going to be safe with us.

We're going to look after you.

I'm not your child.

I wanted to tell you.

I'm Una.

I'm your experiment.

All these years...

I wanted to tell you.

Oh, god, I'm disgusting.

Abigail, I'm sorry.

She said it would
make you happy.

Who?

Who?

Evelyn.

Every life's a story, eh?

Especially mine.

A rigorously executed fiction

authored by you.

Your face is my first memory.

I've got nothing before that.

Well, I get a little uncomfortable
in lifts, that's it.

All that time together.

Or were you just
reconfiguring me?

Then what did you have planned?

Scoop out my brain,
slice it into sections,

and see if there was
anything of una in there?

Or see if I was totally and
utterly your creation?

The fucking bride
of Frankenstein.

Did you ever love me?

- Yes?
- I believe he's ready.

Shall I proceed?

What do you think, professor?

Episodic memory deletion?

Proceed?

Or abort?

- Proceed.
- You got it.

Good-bye...

Dad.

Freddie?!

You know what, Fred?

I should kill you.

Didn't you try that already?

You're not here!

No way!

- You're...
- I'm dead, obviously.

Fuck! I fucking...

No, you didn't kill me.
I'm not dead.

- I exist!
- I'm fucking...

How many more of your fucking
sentences do I have to finish?

Hey, get with it, Danny.
This is Meadowlands,

where your dreams come true
and nightmares go away.

Shut up! you're not here!

And what you think
happened did not happen.

Fuck it! There is no Cape Wrath!

Let it go. Bury it, Danny.

Hey, get in here!

Danny! Hey, Danny! Calm down!

So who are you shagging, then?

No one.

Yeah, whatever.

You've changed.

Everybody changes.

No, you're different.

Why do you want to know?

Why do you question everything?

Question things? You do,
you question everything.

Meadowlands is...

a nice, warm pool.

You should jump in.

- Morning.
- Hey.

- Nice buggy.
- Carts, not cars.

Very you.

Thank you.

Hello.

- It's over, you and me. We're done.
- What do you mean? Why?

- What have I done wrong? Why?
- Listen somebody might find out, Mark.

- Who cares if somebody finds out?
- I care! Ok.

- It makes me look pathetic.
- You're not pathetic.

I did not come to Meadowlands...

And I did not go through
what I have gone through

to look pathetic...

again.

I'm sorry.

I am what I am, Mark.

I'm my own special creation.

I'm my own special
creation, too.

I am.

This really is the best way
to see Meadowlands, isn't it?

The reassuring whir of
the electric engine.

Why are you doing this to me?

The old me is gone. Ok?

Yeah, I know.

Which is why I'm taking it back to Mr.
Wintersgill.

Good.

Right. Well, I'll see you.

Drive slow, homey.

Yours, I believe.

Thanks.

Straight and true.

Thought you had more
fight in you than that.

Disappointed you've
returned those.

Don't be, Bernard.

You broke into my office.

There will be a price
to pay for that.

No choice. It went wrong.
We had to abort.

Ok. My call. My problem.

I'll clean up.
Business as usual.

Jack's dead...

Because you killed him.

Freddie?

He works for me.

His remit is to help
residents settle.

Freddie...

misused his skills.

- What did he do to me?
- An auto-suggestion technique.

Associate something that you know
to be true... Jack's dead...

with something he
wanted you to forget.

Cape Wrath.

I went along with
everything you told me.

I trusted you and
you lied to me.

And I want to know why the hell

I have brought my family too.
You owe me that.

Excuse me.

How stupid do you think I am?

I'm sorry?

Accusing me of interfering
in your marriage

when you have the arrogance
to interfere in my marriage?

- Influencing abigail into some...
- What are you talking about?

Insidious, twisted...
I'm talking about you,

Who do you think you are? Trying
to manipulate people like this?

David, look, I don't understand.

No, no, you don't, do you?

You don't understand
that here in Meadowlands

we try to protect one another.

Like, I tried to protect you

and your marriage by
compromising everything

I believed in and lying for you.

David, listen to me.

If I have caused you and Abigail
any offense, then I apologize.

- I really do...
- You fucking bitch.

Meadowlands is
part of a program.

The code name is Cape Wrath.

Nature verses nurture.

We're trying to
assess the benefits

of a benign environment
upon the human behavior.

Rehabilitation for criminals.

Think of it like this, Danny.
Witness protection...

with aftercare.

What, and you covered up something like
Jack's death to protect your program?

Yes.

That's it.

That's the truth
behind Meadowlands.

- I don't believe it.
- I don't care.

You know too much.

I'm going to have to remove
you from the program.

You and Evelyn and the kids.

- Unless...
- I go back there and forget

everything you've told me?
Stop digging.

Stop asking questions.

Yes.

You see, Danny,

out there...

people betray you.

You have a family here.

People who love you.

And you haven't brought them to hell,
you've brought them to heaven.

Accept it.

Your accelerated process seemed
to be an unequivocal failure,

which raises the question...

Is Cape Wrath, a white elephant?

Do your father's theories
work in practice?

Yes.

His theories work.

Believe me. They work.

All of our clients get itchy
feet after a couple of weeks.

Has anyone ever
failed to settle in?

- What is it that you want?
- I want what I deserve.

Found what you were looking for?

Yes, I have.

It's not like you're
going anywhere, is it?

He's trying to throw
us off the scent.

- He's pretty determined.
- Makes two of us.

Have sex with me, Evelyn,

or I tell Danny the truth.