Press (2018): Season 1, Episode 1 - Death Knock - full transcript
At the Herald, deputy news editor Holly Evans investigates a hit-and-run accident involving a police car. At the Post, Ed Washburn is sent to talk to the family of a footballer who committed suicide.
My name is Holly Evans.
I'm a journalist.
Now let's take a look at
this morning's headlines.
First up, the education paper.
We'll be discussing the implications
of the Prime Minister's
statement yesterday afternoon,
and growing opposition to government
policy, with many asking what
can be done to ensure that children
in state education don't suffer.
The Minister for School Standards
has been bearing the brunt of
criticism, over the false claims as
to the contents of the paper.
The minister's speaking to us
later in the programme,
and will be addressing those
claims as well as shedding
light on the details of the plan
for the next five years.
We're thinking around half eight,
we'll ask those questions.
After the weather at nine o'clock
we we'll be joined by a scientist
who will be talking to us about
the Bolivian solar eclipse and
what to expect at 9.35 this evening.
The last time we experienced an
eclipse of this kind was in 199...
Ed Washburn.
- First time?
- Er, yes, actually.
Any advice?
Right. OK.
Thanks.
That's useful.
Er, Mr Kingsley?
I'm Ed Washburn from the Post.
I know this must be a terrible time,
but...
I've made it clear!
It would be a tribute.
I think you'd better go.
We want to make sure your
son's story's heard.
Young people look up to him
and they're shocked.
Tell them about him. His... his life.
Just saying! Well, that's, you
would have more customers.
- Morning, Tone.
- Coffee?
Sugar?
Two, just in case.
- Happy birthday, Holly!
- How does he know?
I told him.
Can you keep it to yourself?
I got you something actually.
You know I'm not a fan of birthdays.
Yeah, but I am.
Syria?
- Page four.
- Carla Mason?
Three.
- Ah, we won't touch it.
- Aw, it's a big story.
No, it's not. What are you on?
MI5 whistle-blower. You?
Hit and run. But there's a twist.
Oh, your favourite person's
in this morning.
Well, you're my favourite person.
Wendy Bolt.
What?!
Yeah, Charlotte's trying to get the
rights to serialise her new book,
thought a feature might lure her in.
She's a provocative 21st-century
icon, James.
She's a toxic, right wing troll.
And yet despite that I'm
giving her a tour.
Celebrity culture, very important.
I'm a team player, me, doing my bit.
Holly, you hate her even more than me.
I don't hate you.
No, I mean you hate her
more than I hate her.
You make these mistakes when you
write as well.
Clarity, James.
What time's she getting here?
I don't know.
Holly! This is Wendy.
Holly's our deputy news editor.
Deputy news editor? Sounds important.
See you later.
Something I can print.
Thanks for doing this.
You give the best tours.
- I'm the only one who volunteers.
- Also true.
Right, then, shall we?
Shall I find someone less busy?
You'd struggle.
- Who's this?
- Andrea Reed.
She was walking back to the Tube
after a night out.
She was hit and killed by a car
that didn't stop.
- We think there's a story.
- Why?
It was a police car.
So, the tour.
The Herald started in 1936
as the Yorkshire Herald,
- and it continues a tradition of...
- I've read the Wikipedia page.
I know the Herald,
you think you're a prize-winning,
crusading, liberal lefty paper,
exposing hypocrisy and corruption.
Well, we try to do the right thing,
if that's what you mean.
- I prefer the Post.
- Yeah you would.
The Post is sexist, sensationalist,
and doesn't check its facts.
I know. But it's a lot more fun.
2-1. Clearly a penalty.
Ah, but not awarded. Let that be a
lesson, Clive. Life's not fair.
I could teach you a lesson,
take away that pass.
Oh yeah? I'll kick you in the balls.
I'll call my guys.
You haven't got guys.
I've got seven guys.
Definitely a penalty.
That's right.
How was New York?
Extremely cold.
I like your wife's new hair.
- What?
- It's on Facebook.
What, her hair's on Facebook?
The pictures she put up.
I, I don't know what
you're talking about.
She got it done when you were away.
Duncan, it's a different colour.
Tell me you said something nice?
- Wow.
- Doors closing.
Yeah, no, he absolutely respects
your position in Parliament.
Oh, he's just here.
- Carla Mason.
- Oh, yeah, that's fine.
Carla! Oh, dear.
Mmm, I, I know. I know, I can imagine.
What do you want us to do?
Cos there's no doubt
it's in the public interest.
She's got a speech on feminism
tomorrow to the Oxford Union.
Raz tells me that you've got a
speech on feminism tomorrow.
Are you, er, going ahead with that?
Mm.
Yeah, that does sound important.
Yeah, I know, bad timing, indeed.
Hmm.
What's Raz suggesting?
Well, sounds good.
Come to us.
We've got a new office we like to
show off, and cos our
proprietor's got a thing for design
we've got these incredible seats.
It's like musical chairs here,
everyone's trying to sit down
all the time.
Two hours?
OK, and we'll have a chat. OK, bye.
All right, let's have a look.
Carla, Carla, Carla.
Well, how can we not use this?
It's deliberate sexist,
antifeminist shaming.
It's only surfaced now
for political gain.
We shouldn't go near it.
It's a very human side to the politician.
- It's 30 years old.
- That doesn't matter.
Yeah, it makes it irrelevant, Peter.
Holly feels very strongly about it.
What was the occasion?
A birthday, we think, early '90s.
This was taken on camera with film.
- Remember those?
- Right, what's next?
- Er, solar eclipse in Bolivia.
- Do some pictures. Yep.
Shawn Kingsley.
Still a lot of
questions about what it means.
There's issues we can bring out, but
obviously we've got to be sensitive.
His body was found hanging in a stairwell
by his cleaner in the morning.
Must've been a nasty surprise for her.
There were pills, drink.
On his laptop was homosexual
pornography along with e-mails
threatening to out him.
We've got an interview with his parents.
- Have we?
- Yeah.
Er, er, yeah, but there,
there is a problem.
I promised them it would be a
tribute feature.
- Sorry, who are you?
- Ed Washburn.
I started last week.
Jay's off sick.
First death knock?
- Yeah.
- And you got in.
- Very good.
- Yeah, but...
What's the problem?
- Er, well...
- Can he speak?
I didn't know he was gay.
I don't think they did either.
Didn't you ask them why they
thought he'd done it?
Yeah, they, they, they
just thought he was unhappy.
Go back and tell them, then.
If they don't know, tell them.
Go back?
Yeah, get their response.
Is...
Sorry, is that our job?
To tell them about their son?
Surely the police have got
someone that could...
Our job is to deliver
the news, so yeah, yes,
very much in our remit.
Get that, we're good. Go.
Kingsley could play.
He could.
Why don't they just come out?
Andrea Reed?
Oh, they say it was a tragic
accident, but there were no police
in the area, so the witness
must be wrong.
I'm finding that hard to believe.
Keep digging.
- You mean...
- I mean ask around.
Find something more. We need some proof.
Right, I'll keep...
Keep trying. Exactly.
Have you seen James?
Er, he's meeting someone for a story.
- What story?
- I don't know, why?
I had a nervous call from MI5,
reminding us of the Official Secrets Act.
- Can you check what he's up to?
- Yeah, sure, no problem.
Are you OK?
Yeah, I'm fine. Why?
Nothing.
Tom Pryor?
Where's your car?
I don't have a car.
Then why are we meeting in a car park?
You suggested it.
Yeah, so we could stay in our cars
and we wouldn't be seen!
Get in.
Did you bring your phone?
- You said not to.
- Good.
That's good.
So, you work for MI5?
Yep.
As what?
I can't tell you.
OK.
Well...
Well, I've signed the
Official secrets Act, OK,
but I also have a conscience.
But I don't want to go to prison
or leave the country.
Well, what can you tell me?
Resonance.
Resonance?
- That's the name of the project.
- OK.
What does it do?
I can't tell you.
Right, Tom, look...
The name's enough, all right?
You just, you just follow that up.
That's hard if it's literally
just a code name.
I mean, I don't even know if you
really work for MI5.
- I don't know anything.
- I've told you everything that I can.
What?
Look, I am one of only three
investigative reporters
left at my paper.
I'm under huge pressure to write
stories that have substance
and evidence.
I don't know who you are.
I don't know what you do.
All you're giving me is a name,
and a suggestion of a programme.
I thought you were into all this.
I looked you up.
I thought this was your thing, you know.
Take a hint and run with it.
Not these days.
Need more than a hint.
Look, get me some proof
and we can talk again.
I can't.
Right...
I'm just supposed to sit here?
Mrs Mason, sorry I'm late.
How do you do?
Now, this picture, I don't know why
you're ashamed of it, it's...
I'm the most prominent
woman in the Cabinet
and it doesn't fit with my message.
That little girls shouldn't
want to be models,
they should want to be engineers?
Duncan, this government is trying to
do things,
achieve things that you approve of,
under political circumstances that
make it very difficult,
and all I'm asking...
The National Gallery has images of
woman with their clothes off.
No-one seems to be bothered about that.
That's completely different.
How? They're pictures,
people look at them.
It's the way they look at them.
Oh, but you can't legislate for
what goes on in my head.
If I go to a gallery and I get a
semi staring at a picture there...
Not an image I wanted.
Or if I'm looking at one of the
photos on our centre pages...
If I'm looking at Abi, off of
Love Island relaxing on a beach,
and instead of getting a hard-on I
find myself contemplating abstractly
the aesthetics of the female form,
there's nothing you can do.
- Objectification and exploitation...
- We can't ignore this, Carla.
I know.
But you don't want the story
on the front page.
Ideally not.
Shawn Kingsley's been found dead.
It turns out he was gay.
We might go with that.
That's your decision.
But if we splashed on you,
we'd sell more papers.
An interview as we agreed,
and it stays off the front.
Deal.
- Kelly!
- Yep?
Kelly is our deputy news editor.
- She'll be looking after you.
- Mrs Mason, pleased to meet you.
Pleasure to meet you.
We're going to need you to explain
the context of the photo,
and the effect that it's had on your
family.
- I want this to be really personal.
- Sure.
Er, and... Oh, we need a photo.
So if you follow me.
Excuse me, hello. Abi.
Abi, you all right?
- Hey.
- Hi.
This is Carla Mason. Long service as
an MP, married, very principled.
She's Secretary of State
for Work and Pensions,
and since this government sneaked
into office she's also become
their de facto spokesperson on women.
Duncan...
So we just thought that, since you
were a party girl as a student,
that you might pose with Abi.
- Do you recognise her?
- I'm afraid I don't.
Really? You were on what? Erm...
One series of Love Island and...
- ..Big Brother.
- Celebrity Big Brother.
Celebrity Big Brother!
And, before that, she was at
Warwick. Right? Same as you.
English and Philosophy.
Carla disapproves of your body.
I'm not doing this.
Oh, come on. This is just about
encouraging young people to
have fun, but at the same time take
care of themselves.
You know, safe sex, health checks,
breast exams.
It's a good cause.
Check me out.
Yeah, right. Check me out.
It's having a big impact on campus,
and we just want you to
endorse the campaign.
- You don't have to wear the T-shirt.
- I wasn't intending to.
You could just hold one up instead.
I can't walk out in front of the
Oxford Union, to speak about
women's rights, about rape culture
on campuses, having just
posed next to a young lady wearing a
T-shirt saying "check me out".
Hmm. Well, the Oxford Union should
be a bit more open-minded.
Come on, what do you think?
I mean... splish splash.
Right, Abi, don't go home yet.
- No problem.
- All right, thanks.
How'd it go?
Not great.
Apparently MI5 called the paper
first thing this morning,
to remind us of our national
security commitments.
But best not get your hopes up.
Just find something...
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Something you can print.
Oh, did you like your present?
- I've not opened it yet.
- You should.
Let's go where it happened.
You mean the...
I mean Andrea Reed. Let's
see what we can find.
- The accident.
- But aren't you needed where?
Yeah, you can get stuck behind a desk.
I've got 40 minutes for lunch so
book a taxi about one o'clock, OK?
No problem!
I had reporters on my doorstep for
five days after she died.
I don't mean in the street.
I'm talking on the balcony that
leads up to my door.
I called the papers, and they said
they would put me up in a hotel,
protect me, but only IF I told my story.
My daughter had been killed.
That was hell.
But the newspapers were the ones
making the flames hot.
That was 20 years ago.
It's no different now.
It's time to make sure that no-one
else has to go through what I did.
It's time for statutory regulation.
Thank you, Mrs Ashton.
- Who would like to start?
- Duncan Allen, Editor of the Post.
Yeah, I know.
Mrs Ashton, you are a remarkably
able speaker.
Been campaigning for a while now.
Of course, yeah, I didn't mean that
to be patronising.
Then you should be more careful.
Do you not feel that there was some
public interest
in your daughter's death?
In the way it happened.
- We're talking hours after it happened.
- Hours after it happened
is why it's news.
Didn't you want to see outrage at
your daughter's murder?
I would've rather had justice.
And do you feel that
you've been denied that?
Cos I wrote a lot about your case
back then, and I agree you
Were let down, Mrs Ashton, but not by us.
By the police. Your community.
By the friends of your daughter
who were with her that night
that didn't come forward.
Just because there were
failings elsewhere...
Go back over those stories.
Duncan, you're not supposed
to be cross-examining...
I'm not. Read the stories.
There were common sentiments...
- You've made your point.
- Compassion.
Outrage. A desire to know what happened.
Right? Things the police were sorely
lacking in.
Someone went through her locker.
A reporter from the Post broke into
Letty's school at night,
found her locker before anyone else
had thought of it,
before the police, and went through it.
That's the only way they could've
known about her friends,
her boyfriend, her drawing.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Do you want the truth?
Full transparency, until it's about you.
That's right.
It's a contradiction.
Why give her such a hard time?
Look, we've all heard that speech
before. She's been in front of
committees and press conferences for
years now, she's used to it.
Can you imagine if something like that
- happened to Fred?
- I know.
That's why she's got my respect.
In spite of all that she's been
through, she's somehow stayed good.
She still believes in righteousness.
Justice.
And she basically told me to
fuck off, which is good.
- I like women who tell me to do that.
- I've met your wife.
Yeah, well...
Actually, these days she doesn't.
I forgot to tell her that I wasn't
coming home,
and she just kind of...
...took it.
- It's not a good sign.
- Hm.
Were you on her balcony? One of
those reporters she talked about?
Actually, no. No, I had standards.
Standards? Strange to think you were
once a journalist.
I'm still a journalist!
Really?
I hadn't noticed.
Holly!
- Holly, er...
- This is where the car hit her?
Oh, I think so. This is where they
found her.
But I spoke with the woman in the
shop, and...
You realise you could die right now?
- Sorry?
- Any moment, one of these drivers.
Their hand could slip.
They could come off the road and
suddenly you're dead.
Or you could trip and fall the wrong way.
Um right, um... Holly, the shop has
a camera, you can see the street.
But they don't have the footage any more.
Apparently a reporter from the Post
came in over the weekend and er,
they took the CCTV footage away
from outside the shop.
They took it away? Then we need to
get it.
The footage.
They're not going to give it away.
How am I supposed to...?
The Post won't help us!
Maybe I can try the flats next?
Or, erm, put a request out on social
media.
There's a few local groups
which might be...
I'd gone for a lie down,
and I woke up...
There he was.
Do you know what he told me?
You mean...?
It was a dream.
"It's for the best."
I said, "How can it be?"
And he said,
"Have faith.
"Wait and see."
He believed in God.
Right.
Do you?
What did you want to tell us?
Did the police talk to you about
what they found?
Shawn took his own life, and I just
wanted to make sure you were
aware of what they believe
to be the reason.
He'd always suffered with
depression, since he was a teenager.
The police said an ex had pictures
of him.
- She was going to put them out there.
- Did they...
Did they say it was a girl? The ex?
Is that what they said?
I think there's been some
miscommunication, because...
...it wasn't... a girl...
...who was blackmailing him.
Shawn was gay.
That's what's going to emerge
over the next few hours,
and the fact that was hidden
suggests it may have been a
contributing factor to him
taking his own life. But...
I was concerned you weren't aware
of that during our interview.
- Gay?
- This is going to be all over the news
very soon,
and I wanted to make sure you knew.
We...
We think we'd rather not do
the interview, actually.
- You...
- Cancel the whole thing.
It's going to be a shock for his
fans as well.
There may be young men out there who
are in Shawn's position,
and they would benefit from hearing
from you.
Like you said, why didn't he come to
you and talk about it?
It's bullshit.
You just want your story.
The thing is...
I'm sorry, but we have actually
already done the interview.
If you don't do another I'll have to
write up the story as about
how his parents didn't have a clue
who he was.
We didn't know our own son?
It's up to you.
If you want to have another go,
and talk some more.
Get out.
Get out!
She returns! I'm told you went on a
mission.
How did it go?
Clearly not well.
How was your interview?
They wanted to know about my curtains.
My hairstyle.
Nothing on politics, society,
our obsession with celebrity,
welfare, the NHS.
From what I understand, it's not
that sort of article.
You don't actually write the
stories, do you?
I used to, but I'm a news editor
now, so...
So you don't normally go out in person.
- No.
- And yet, you're also not
fully in charge.
You're in a kind of hinterland
between where the work happens
and management. You're exactly where
one finds the dead wood!
Well, that's strange, cos I'm busy
from the moment I wake up.
Yet the paper's still riddled
with mistakes.
Is this really what you wanted to do?
- What?
- An office job, essentially.
Admin.
Wendy, I hope you won't be offended
if I completely ignore you.
You know, you're very clever, but
you don't really look people
in the eye all that much.
Do you have a thriving personal life
outside all of this?
- I'm busy, so...
- Busy with work, but not much else.
You get 100 e-mails a day, but none
of them inviting you out
for a drink. I've met women like you,
using work to cover a sort of
dissatisfaction with their lives.
Fail to find a man,
fail to have children,
fail to even have a
close group of friends.
Work's your one and only thing,
and even at that you're failing,
though you probably
haven't realised yet...
Well...
I'd call that a confirmation.
Wendy, would you like to come with me?
Sure.
Mrs Mason! If you'd just wait here!
I can find Amina for you!
She's not in her office, Mrs Mason!
Carla.
- The photo's on your website.
- No, it's not.
The first paragraph of the article,
you link right to it.
A link, precisely.
Same difference.
Amina, I've just been at the Post
basically begging Duncan Allen
not to put it on the front page.
Did he offer you a deal?
- I'm not taking it.
- Good.
But whatever he does is irrelevant
when you've got it front
and centre yourself.
So hypocritical.
I'm trying to make a difference
and I can't help it if there are
pictures from decades ago.
It's being widely discussed.
"It's already on the internet,"
is no defence.
So are beheadings, hard-core pornography.
You're supposed to be better
than the internet,
that's the point of you.
Carla, we have known
each other a long time,
and you have a tendency
to over-react, OK?
So take a seat, and some water,
do some breathing exercises.
Yes, the link is currently
prominent on our website,
but in an hour it won't be.
And I'm sorry for your ego
but it won't be prominent
in the paper tomorrow.
We are going to cover it as a
feature about misogyny on page four
and that's your lot.
I've got a speech tomorrow.
To the Oxford Union.
On modern feminism and rape culture.
Well, now you're uniquely placed.
Duncan wants me to endorse his
campaign, "check me out", all that.
Eugh, I'm not sure that will help.
Maybe it's safer to keep him happy.
Don't.
Then he'll put it on the front page.
So style it out.
He's influential.
He's a bully.
Stand up to him. He likes that.
Duncan Allen!
Excuse me.
Duncan Allen.
- Hello.
- I'm Holly Evans from the Herald.
- Holly Evans, right.
- Yeah, I know Tony at the coffee stand,
he said you normally get coffee
around mid-afternoon
so I got him to text me when you did.
I'll never trust Tony again!
I'm trying to find out about the
death of someone called Andrea Reed.
She was hit by a police car on
Friday night
and the car didn't stop.
Apparently you've got a copy of the CCTV.
I'd like to see it, but when
I called the Post you refused
so I thought I might
be able to persuade you.
What's the story?
A witness says she was
hit by a police car.
Was it an accident?
Well, that's what they're saying,
but I don't know, that's why...
We would've put a lot of resources,
I'm sure, into getting that footage
and if there's a story, we're not
going to want to give it to you.
There might not be.
Well, if there's not a story,
why would you want it?
This isn't usual journalistic practice,
door-stepping the editor
of another paper.
You seem very passionate about it.
Yeah, yeah, I am.
Actually, that's what I've heard.
You've... what?
Holly Evans.
I don't forget a name.
I know who you are.
I read a couple of your articles
from a few years ago.
Well, one in particular.
Can you guess which one?
Well, I'm sorry if...
"A misogynist, overbearing
well-oiled bully.
"An offence to journalism."
You wrote that when, two years ago?
About me.
- Well, I'm...
- Well-oiled, what does that mean?
Drunk, or something about my hair?
- You can quote it.
- It hurt my feelings.
Well, I'm really sorry
if you felt it was unfair,
- but I really want to...
- Do you really want to see this footage?
Yeah.
Nah.
Sorry.
Five minutes.
Did you find out about the MI5 call?
Yeah, yeah, they'd had a cyber attack.
They weren't sure if anything leaked
so they called all the news outlets
in a panic. False alarm.
Right.
- So not about your man, sorry.
- No, OK.
All right, thanks.
Chris?
James.
You speak to people at MI5.
You've got contacts.
A few.
Have you ever heard of a
programme called Resonance?
No.
Ah.
Do you think you could
maybe discreetly ask around?
See if it exists.
I'll mention it.
Thank you, thanks.
I've sent Abi home cos we won't
be asking you to endorse
the campaign any more,
but thanks for coming back.
Do you want to sit down? You should.
Mostly our purpose here
is quite a clear one,
to entertain.
So when we dig around,
that's what we're after.
You know, life's hard and
our readers want a giggle,
it's as simple as that.
We do the news but we cheer people up.
Duncan, I don't have time...
This is the most important
meeting you'll have today.
Maybe this year.
So just bear with me, OK?
I got my people to find out where
that photograph came from
cos I thought that there might
be some more amusing shots.
They're very talented.
They, er, tracked down this old
friend of yours,
who now hates you...
...and he had these.
Here.
I mean, this one in particular.
See, I don't do drugs.
I mean, people find that hard to believe.
It's not morality, I just, I just...
I've tried them, I just don't like them.
But you're an elected minister
who's made many statements
about drug policy,
who's advocated zero tolerance...
...and who's been...
...hiding this the whole time.
You must've known it would come out.
I didn't think there was a photograph.
Glass house.
What now?
Barring an international atrocity,
this is on our front page tomorrow.
So I suggest that we wrap it up
into a full confession.
The party, the drugs,
what you were like as a student.
You admit it all.
Resign, probably.
But if you come clean now, to us...
...I don't see any reason
why you couldn't
return to front-line politics
at some point.
I'd be sad if this was
the end of your career.
- Really?
- Yes.
I think you're really good
at what you do.
But maybe...
...you'll be a little bit
less judgmental...
...when you return.
It's lucky I looked.
What kind of journalist
would I be otherwise?
Well, I suppose like
your friends at the Herald.
No instinct for news.
All principle, no trousers.
Whenever you're ready,
Raz will take you through it and...
...we'll make a start.
How did it go?
Really very well indeed.
Perfect. Let's go.
Yeah, we're off stone.
I'm grateful for the strong support
that I have received from
my friends, family, the Chancellor
and the Prime Minister.
I've decided that it is right to
tender my resignation as minister.
I do not see how I can carry on my
crucial work while I have to deal
with the private and public
implications of recent revelations.
I hardly need to say how much I regret
having to leave such vital work,
which I feel all my life has
prepared me for.
The last 24 hours have been very
difficult and distressing for me.
I have been thinking carefully
about what action I should take
in the interest of the government,
my constituents
and most important of all,
those whom I love.
You at home tonight?
- Why?
- Your wife's asking.
- No.
- OK.
It's good.
It's not good enough. Sales are down.
If we carry on like this,
we won't survive.
It's fine but we need to take some risks.
See you tomorrow.
Bye.
There's a risk right there.
- What do you mean?
- There's something up with her today.
Well, I'm going on a date.
You? Who with?
No idea. It's some internet thing.
I don't want to go but it's what
you're supposed to do, isn't it?
- After your marriage has ended.
- No, you'll have fun.
You don't want a drink instead?
No, sorry. I, erm,
I'm supposed to go home.
Suzie's cooking a special risotto.
What's so special about it?
It's a special sort of mushroom.
- Wow.
- Yeah, she can really cook.
- Sounds it, you should go.
- Yeah.
- Text me how it is.
- What's that?
The risotto.
No problem.
- You have a good night.
- Bye.
The picture on page 37 in the sports
section has the wrong caption.
- Excellent. Last one?
- No idea.
It says the French President
recognises the historic
and ongoing relationship
between our two countries.
What's wrong with that?
Well, I saw the statement live on TV
and the President actually said
that he recognised the historic
and current relationship
between our two countries.
- Current, not ongoing.
- Wow.
Important distinction.
- Your French is that good?
- I should've picked it up.
You're a geek. Open your present.
Oh! Everyone's wearing these.
Yep, so now you're fashionable.
Oh... A new experience for you.
And also it's very soft.
- Thanks.
- And, finally, to prove my point,
- I'm going to take you for a drink.
- And what's your point?
Birthdays are good.
- So, what happened with your story?
- Dead end.
Yeah, tell me about it.
Well, this isn't bad.
- Glad you approve.
- That's NOT what I said.
I have very deep pockets.
Which is lucky, as on its own,
the Post loses money.
- You know that.
- I do.
Then I need it to be the best.
The best layouts, images,
the best online.
These pictures are 30 years old
and you've driven out a rather
competent minister, who I liked.
And then, inside, a gossip story
about the death of a gay footballer.
A picture of a treehouse.
Biggest treehouse ever made.
It's not news.
Entertainment. Without it,
we won't sell papers.
You don't need to tell me
how to sell papers.
I don't make money from the Post,
I lose money,
and in return I want journalism.
You understand?
You want money to get the best,
you've got it.
Steal someone from another paper,
favours, more resources.
- Whatever it takes.
- Sure.
- No problem.
- Good.
Now, if you'll excuse me,
I have a concert to go to.
- Something nice?
- No.
My grandson's learnt the violin.
It's excruciating.
But every time he plays, it makes me cry.
How's your boy?
You going home tonight?
- Mm. You want another one?
- Yeah.
- Same again?
- Yeah.
All right.
Hi.
You're Holly Evans.
Ed Washburn.
I wrote to you for a job at the Herald.
OK.
Didn't even give me an interview.
Top up?
Yeah, why not?
I'm at the Post now.
- Great.
- Mm.
I did my first death knock today.
Slammed the door in your face?
No, worse.
They let me in.
I just got myself a story.
Should be writing it.
So why aren't you?
Cos it's my birthday today.
Haven't told anyone.
Why haven't you told anyone?
Cos I'm getting old.
- Cheers, anyway.
- Cheers.
Oh. Oh!
Mm! I have an array of drinks
in the kitchen.
We can do cocktails!
I've got this bottle of grappa
so if you want a challenge,
that's the thing to go for.
Thought you said you had a flatmate?
Yeah, Dee. Her room's over there.
All right. Shall we be quiet?
Nah. What do you want?
- What?
- To drink.
Grappa, grappa, grappa!
- Gin and tonic.
- Boring!
Is she asleep, then?
The flatmate.
No, no, she's not asleep.
She made a birthday card for me.
I found it in her room,
the day after it happened.
Read it this morning, ripped it up.
Her name's Andrea Reed,
but I call her Dee.
Three days ago, she was walking
home after a night out,
got hit by a police car and died.
And now we know for sure that
the police car didn't even stop.
I should write a story but...
...I didn't tell anyone cos I don't
want them feeling sorry for me.
But, you know, it's sad.
Were you close?
Friends since uni, so...
I've spent the weekend wondering
if she was in pain.
It was a while before the ambulance
turned up, apparently.
If the car had stopped, not driven off,
maybe he could've done something
and she'd still be here.
Oh, well.
Death knock.
Clink. Well done.
- You haven't spoken to anyone?
- No-one to speak to.
Well, maybe we should leave it.
Just because I'm in a state of
mourning doesn't mean we can't fuck.
You don't seem OK.
- I'm not sure you're...
- Fine.
Leave.
And you should feel bad
about what you did today.
It means you're still human.
Only get worried when you see
stuff like that
and you feel nothing at all.
Write the story.
Bye.
- Hi.
- Hey.
♪ Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh ♪
♪ Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh ♪
♪ Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh ♪
♪ Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh ♪
♪ When you flew out of the nest ♪
♪ You made a mistake ♪
♪ Flew all the way back ♪
♪ When you got back to your den ♪
♪ One minute too late was already wrecked ♪
♪ I, I... ♪
- What's your name?
- E-Ed.
You're un-fired.
Dress as a polar bear
and go to this party with Angie.
Times are tough, could be us next.
A year ago, I think you were braver.
I want to save this marriage.
Are you the organ grinder or the monkey?
I'm a reporter.
I'm the monkey.
I also found some articles you
wrote when you were a reporter.
Proper journalism.
Long way from what you do now.
Maybe you should take
a closer look at what we do.
I'm a journalist.
Now let's take a look at
this morning's headlines.
First up, the education paper.
We'll be discussing the implications
of the Prime Minister's
statement yesterday afternoon,
and growing opposition to government
policy, with many asking what
can be done to ensure that children
in state education don't suffer.
The Minister for School Standards
has been bearing the brunt of
criticism, over the false claims as
to the contents of the paper.
The minister's speaking to us
later in the programme,
and will be addressing those
claims as well as shedding
light on the details of the plan
for the next five years.
We're thinking around half eight,
we'll ask those questions.
After the weather at nine o'clock
we we'll be joined by a scientist
who will be talking to us about
the Bolivian solar eclipse and
what to expect at 9.35 this evening.
The last time we experienced an
eclipse of this kind was in 199...
Ed Washburn.
- First time?
- Er, yes, actually.
Any advice?
Right. OK.
Thanks.
That's useful.
Er, Mr Kingsley?
I'm Ed Washburn from the Post.
I know this must be a terrible time,
but...
I've made it clear!
It would be a tribute.
I think you'd better go.
We want to make sure your
son's story's heard.
Young people look up to him
and they're shocked.
Tell them about him. His... his life.
Just saying! Well, that's, you
would have more customers.
- Morning, Tone.
- Coffee?
Sugar?
Two, just in case.
- Happy birthday, Holly!
- How does he know?
I told him.
Can you keep it to yourself?
I got you something actually.
You know I'm not a fan of birthdays.
Yeah, but I am.
Syria?
- Page four.
- Carla Mason?
Three.
- Ah, we won't touch it.
- Aw, it's a big story.
No, it's not. What are you on?
MI5 whistle-blower. You?
Hit and run. But there's a twist.
Oh, your favourite person's
in this morning.
Well, you're my favourite person.
Wendy Bolt.
What?!
Yeah, Charlotte's trying to get the
rights to serialise her new book,
thought a feature might lure her in.
She's a provocative 21st-century
icon, James.
She's a toxic, right wing troll.
And yet despite that I'm
giving her a tour.
Celebrity culture, very important.
I'm a team player, me, doing my bit.
Holly, you hate her even more than me.
I don't hate you.
No, I mean you hate her
more than I hate her.
You make these mistakes when you
write as well.
Clarity, James.
What time's she getting here?
I don't know.
Holly! This is Wendy.
Holly's our deputy news editor.
Deputy news editor? Sounds important.
See you later.
Something I can print.
Thanks for doing this.
You give the best tours.
- I'm the only one who volunteers.
- Also true.
Right, then, shall we?
Shall I find someone less busy?
You'd struggle.
- Who's this?
- Andrea Reed.
She was walking back to the Tube
after a night out.
She was hit and killed by a car
that didn't stop.
- We think there's a story.
- Why?
It was a police car.
So, the tour.
The Herald started in 1936
as the Yorkshire Herald,
- and it continues a tradition of...
- I've read the Wikipedia page.
I know the Herald,
you think you're a prize-winning,
crusading, liberal lefty paper,
exposing hypocrisy and corruption.
Well, we try to do the right thing,
if that's what you mean.
- I prefer the Post.
- Yeah you would.
The Post is sexist, sensationalist,
and doesn't check its facts.
I know. But it's a lot more fun.
2-1. Clearly a penalty.
Ah, but not awarded. Let that be a
lesson, Clive. Life's not fair.
I could teach you a lesson,
take away that pass.
Oh yeah? I'll kick you in the balls.
I'll call my guys.
You haven't got guys.
I've got seven guys.
Definitely a penalty.
That's right.
How was New York?
Extremely cold.
I like your wife's new hair.
- What?
- It's on Facebook.
What, her hair's on Facebook?
The pictures she put up.
I, I don't know what
you're talking about.
She got it done when you were away.
Duncan, it's a different colour.
Tell me you said something nice?
- Wow.
- Doors closing.
Yeah, no, he absolutely respects
your position in Parliament.
Oh, he's just here.
- Carla Mason.
- Oh, yeah, that's fine.
Carla! Oh, dear.
Mmm, I, I know. I know, I can imagine.
What do you want us to do?
Cos there's no doubt
it's in the public interest.
She's got a speech on feminism
tomorrow to the Oxford Union.
Raz tells me that you've got a
speech on feminism tomorrow.
Are you, er, going ahead with that?
Mm.
Yeah, that does sound important.
Yeah, I know, bad timing, indeed.
Hmm.
What's Raz suggesting?
Well, sounds good.
Come to us.
We've got a new office we like to
show off, and cos our
proprietor's got a thing for design
we've got these incredible seats.
It's like musical chairs here,
everyone's trying to sit down
all the time.
Two hours?
OK, and we'll have a chat. OK, bye.
All right, let's have a look.
Carla, Carla, Carla.
Well, how can we not use this?
It's deliberate sexist,
antifeminist shaming.
It's only surfaced now
for political gain.
We shouldn't go near it.
It's a very human side to the politician.
- It's 30 years old.
- That doesn't matter.
Yeah, it makes it irrelevant, Peter.
Holly feels very strongly about it.
What was the occasion?
A birthday, we think, early '90s.
This was taken on camera with film.
- Remember those?
- Right, what's next?
- Er, solar eclipse in Bolivia.
- Do some pictures. Yep.
Shawn Kingsley.
Still a lot of
questions about what it means.
There's issues we can bring out, but
obviously we've got to be sensitive.
His body was found hanging in a stairwell
by his cleaner in the morning.
Must've been a nasty surprise for her.
There were pills, drink.
On his laptop was homosexual
pornography along with e-mails
threatening to out him.
We've got an interview with his parents.
- Have we?
- Yeah.
Er, er, yeah, but there,
there is a problem.
I promised them it would be a
tribute feature.
- Sorry, who are you?
- Ed Washburn.
I started last week.
Jay's off sick.
First death knock?
- Yeah.
- And you got in.
- Very good.
- Yeah, but...
What's the problem?
- Er, well...
- Can he speak?
I didn't know he was gay.
I don't think they did either.
Didn't you ask them why they
thought he'd done it?
Yeah, they, they, they
just thought he was unhappy.
Go back and tell them, then.
If they don't know, tell them.
Go back?
Yeah, get their response.
Is...
Sorry, is that our job?
To tell them about their son?
Surely the police have got
someone that could...
Our job is to deliver
the news, so yeah, yes,
very much in our remit.
Get that, we're good. Go.
Kingsley could play.
He could.
Why don't they just come out?
Andrea Reed?
Oh, they say it was a tragic
accident, but there were no police
in the area, so the witness
must be wrong.
I'm finding that hard to believe.
Keep digging.
- You mean...
- I mean ask around.
Find something more. We need some proof.
Right, I'll keep...
Keep trying. Exactly.
Have you seen James?
Er, he's meeting someone for a story.
- What story?
- I don't know, why?
I had a nervous call from MI5,
reminding us of the Official Secrets Act.
- Can you check what he's up to?
- Yeah, sure, no problem.
Are you OK?
Yeah, I'm fine. Why?
Nothing.
Tom Pryor?
Where's your car?
I don't have a car.
Then why are we meeting in a car park?
You suggested it.
Yeah, so we could stay in our cars
and we wouldn't be seen!
Get in.
Did you bring your phone?
- You said not to.
- Good.
That's good.
So, you work for MI5?
Yep.
As what?
I can't tell you.
OK.
Well...
Well, I've signed the
Official secrets Act, OK,
but I also have a conscience.
But I don't want to go to prison
or leave the country.
Well, what can you tell me?
Resonance.
Resonance?
- That's the name of the project.
- OK.
What does it do?
I can't tell you.
Right, Tom, look...
The name's enough, all right?
You just, you just follow that up.
That's hard if it's literally
just a code name.
I mean, I don't even know if you
really work for MI5.
- I don't know anything.
- I've told you everything that I can.
What?
Look, I am one of only three
investigative reporters
left at my paper.
I'm under huge pressure to write
stories that have substance
and evidence.
I don't know who you are.
I don't know what you do.
All you're giving me is a name,
and a suggestion of a programme.
I thought you were into all this.
I looked you up.
I thought this was your thing, you know.
Take a hint and run with it.
Not these days.
Need more than a hint.
Look, get me some proof
and we can talk again.
I can't.
Right...
I'm just supposed to sit here?
Mrs Mason, sorry I'm late.
How do you do?
Now, this picture, I don't know why
you're ashamed of it, it's...
I'm the most prominent
woman in the Cabinet
and it doesn't fit with my message.
That little girls shouldn't
want to be models,
they should want to be engineers?
Duncan, this government is trying to
do things,
achieve things that you approve of,
under political circumstances that
make it very difficult,
and all I'm asking...
The National Gallery has images of
woman with their clothes off.
No-one seems to be bothered about that.
That's completely different.
How? They're pictures,
people look at them.
It's the way they look at them.
Oh, but you can't legislate for
what goes on in my head.
If I go to a gallery and I get a
semi staring at a picture there...
Not an image I wanted.
Or if I'm looking at one of the
photos on our centre pages...
If I'm looking at Abi, off of
Love Island relaxing on a beach,
and instead of getting a hard-on I
find myself contemplating abstractly
the aesthetics of the female form,
there's nothing you can do.
- Objectification and exploitation...
- We can't ignore this, Carla.
I know.
But you don't want the story
on the front page.
Ideally not.
Shawn Kingsley's been found dead.
It turns out he was gay.
We might go with that.
That's your decision.
But if we splashed on you,
we'd sell more papers.
An interview as we agreed,
and it stays off the front.
Deal.
- Kelly!
- Yep?
Kelly is our deputy news editor.
- She'll be looking after you.
- Mrs Mason, pleased to meet you.
Pleasure to meet you.
We're going to need you to explain
the context of the photo,
and the effect that it's had on your
family.
- I want this to be really personal.
- Sure.
Er, and... Oh, we need a photo.
So if you follow me.
Excuse me, hello. Abi.
Abi, you all right?
- Hey.
- Hi.
This is Carla Mason. Long service as
an MP, married, very principled.
She's Secretary of State
for Work and Pensions,
and since this government sneaked
into office she's also become
their de facto spokesperson on women.
Duncan...
So we just thought that, since you
were a party girl as a student,
that you might pose with Abi.
- Do you recognise her?
- I'm afraid I don't.
Really? You were on what? Erm...
One series of Love Island and...
- ..Big Brother.
- Celebrity Big Brother.
Celebrity Big Brother!
And, before that, she was at
Warwick. Right? Same as you.
English and Philosophy.
Carla disapproves of your body.
I'm not doing this.
Oh, come on. This is just about
encouraging young people to
have fun, but at the same time take
care of themselves.
You know, safe sex, health checks,
breast exams.
It's a good cause.
Check me out.
Yeah, right. Check me out.
It's having a big impact on campus,
and we just want you to
endorse the campaign.
- You don't have to wear the T-shirt.
- I wasn't intending to.
You could just hold one up instead.
I can't walk out in front of the
Oxford Union, to speak about
women's rights, about rape culture
on campuses, having just
posed next to a young lady wearing a
T-shirt saying "check me out".
Hmm. Well, the Oxford Union should
be a bit more open-minded.
Come on, what do you think?
I mean... splish splash.
Right, Abi, don't go home yet.
- No problem.
- All right, thanks.
How'd it go?
Not great.
Apparently MI5 called the paper
first thing this morning,
to remind us of our national
security commitments.
But best not get your hopes up.
Just find something...
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Something you can print.
Oh, did you like your present?
- I've not opened it yet.
- You should.
Let's go where it happened.
You mean the...
I mean Andrea Reed. Let's
see what we can find.
- The accident.
- But aren't you needed where?
Yeah, you can get stuck behind a desk.
I've got 40 minutes for lunch so
book a taxi about one o'clock, OK?
No problem!
I had reporters on my doorstep for
five days after she died.
I don't mean in the street.
I'm talking on the balcony that
leads up to my door.
I called the papers, and they said
they would put me up in a hotel,
protect me, but only IF I told my story.
My daughter had been killed.
That was hell.
But the newspapers were the ones
making the flames hot.
That was 20 years ago.
It's no different now.
It's time to make sure that no-one
else has to go through what I did.
It's time for statutory regulation.
Thank you, Mrs Ashton.
- Who would like to start?
- Duncan Allen, Editor of the Post.
Yeah, I know.
Mrs Ashton, you are a remarkably
able speaker.
Been campaigning for a while now.
Of course, yeah, I didn't mean that
to be patronising.
Then you should be more careful.
Do you not feel that there was some
public interest
in your daughter's death?
In the way it happened.
- We're talking hours after it happened.
- Hours after it happened
is why it's news.
Didn't you want to see outrage at
your daughter's murder?
I would've rather had justice.
And do you feel that
you've been denied that?
Cos I wrote a lot about your case
back then, and I agree you
Were let down, Mrs Ashton, but not by us.
By the police. Your community.
By the friends of your daughter
who were with her that night
that didn't come forward.
Just because there were
failings elsewhere...
Go back over those stories.
Duncan, you're not supposed
to be cross-examining...
I'm not. Read the stories.
There were common sentiments...
- You've made your point.
- Compassion.
Outrage. A desire to know what happened.
Right? Things the police were sorely
lacking in.
Someone went through her locker.
A reporter from the Post broke into
Letty's school at night,
found her locker before anyone else
had thought of it,
before the police, and went through it.
That's the only way they could've
known about her friends,
her boyfriend, her drawing.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Do you want the truth?
Full transparency, until it's about you.
That's right.
It's a contradiction.
Why give her such a hard time?
Look, we've all heard that speech
before. She's been in front of
committees and press conferences for
years now, she's used to it.
Can you imagine if something like that
- happened to Fred?
- I know.
That's why she's got my respect.
In spite of all that she's been
through, she's somehow stayed good.
She still believes in righteousness.
Justice.
And she basically told me to
fuck off, which is good.
- I like women who tell me to do that.
- I've met your wife.
Yeah, well...
Actually, these days she doesn't.
I forgot to tell her that I wasn't
coming home,
and she just kind of...
...took it.
- It's not a good sign.
- Hm.
Were you on her balcony? One of
those reporters she talked about?
Actually, no. No, I had standards.
Standards? Strange to think you were
once a journalist.
I'm still a journalist!
Really?
I hadn't noticed.
Holly!
- Holly, er...
- This is where the car hit her?
Oh, I think so. This is where they
found her.
But I spoke with the woman in the
shop, and...
You realise you could die right now?
- Sorry?
- Any moment, one of these drivers.
Their hand could slip.
They could come off the road and
suddenly you're dead.
Or you could trip and fall the wrong way.
Um right, um... Holly, the shop has
a camera, you can see the street.
But they don't have the footage any more.
Apparently a reporter from the Post
came in over the weekend and er,
they took the CCTV footage away
from outside the shop.
They took it away? Then we need to
get it.
The footage.
They're not going to give it away.
How am I supposed to...?
The Post won't help us!
Maybe I can try the flats next?
Or, erm, put a request out on social
media.
There's a few local groups
which might be...
I'd gone for a lie down,
and I woke up...
There he was.
Do you know what he told me?
You mean...?
It was a dream.
"It's for the best."
I said, "How can it be?"
And he said,
"Have faith.
"Wait and see."
He believed in God.
Right.
Do you?
What did you want to tell us?
Did the police talk to you about
what they found?
Shawn took his own life, and I just
wanted to make sure you were
aware of what they believe
to be the reason.
He'd always suffered with
depression, since he was a teenager.
The police said an ex had pictures
of him.
- She was going to put them out there.
- Did they...
Did they say it was a girl? The ex?
Is that what they said?
I think there's been some
miscommunication, because...
...it wasn't... a girl...
...who was blackmailing him.
Shawn was gay.
That's what's going to emerge
over the next few hours,
and the fact that was hidden
suggests it may have been a
contributing factor to him
taking his own life. But...
I was concerned you weren't aware
of that during our interview.
- Gay?
- This is going to be all over the news
very soon,
and I wanted to make sure you knew.
We...
We think we'd rather not do
the interview, actually.
- You...
- Cancel the whole thing.
It's going to be a shock for his
fans as well.
There may be young men out there who
are in Shawn's position,
and they would benefit from hearing
from you.
Like you said, why didn't he come to
you and talk about it?
It's bullshit.
You just want your story.
The thing is...
I'm sorry, but we have actually
already done the interview.
If you don't do another I'll have to
write up the story as about
how his parents didn't have a clue
who he was.
We didn't know our own son?
It's up to you.
If you want to have another go,
and talk some more.
Get out.
Get out!
She returns! I'm told you went on a
mission.
How did it go?
Clearly not well.
How was your interview?
They wanted to know about my curtains.
My hairstyle.
Nothing on politics, society,
our obsession with celebrity,
welfare, the NHS.
From what I understand, it's not
that sort of article.
You don't actually write the
stories, do you?
I used to, but I'm a news editor
now, so...
So you don't normally go out in person.
- No.
- And yet, you're also not
fully in charge.
You're in a kind of hinterland
between where the work happens
and management. You're exactly where
one finds the dead wood!
Well, that's strange, cos I'm busy
from the moment I wake up.
Yet the paper's still riddled
with mistakes.
Is this really what you wanted to do?
- What?
- An office job, essentially.
Admin.
Wendy, I hope you won't be offended
if I completely ignore you.
You know, you're very clever, but
you don't really look people
in the eye all that much.
Do you have a thriving personal life
outside all of this?
- I'm busy, so...
- Busy with work, but not much else.
You get 100 e-mails a day, but none
of them inviting you out
for a drink. I've met women like you,
using work to cover a sort of
dissatisfaction with their lives.
Fail to find a man,
fail to have children,
fail to even have a
close group of friends.
Work's your one and only thing,
and even at that you're failing,
though you probably
haven't realised yet...
Well...
I'd call that a confirmation.
Wendy, would you like to come with me?
Sure.
Mrs Mason! If you'd just wait here!
I can find Amina for you!
She's not in her office, Mrs Mason!
Carla.
- The photo's on your website.
- No, it's not.
The first paragraph of the article,
you link right to it.
A link, precisely.
Same difference.
Amina, I've just been at the Post
basically begging Duncan Allen
not to put it on the front page.
Did he offer you a deal?
- I'm not taking it.
- Good.
But whatever he does is irrelevant
when you've got it front
and centre yourself.
So hypocritical.
I'm trying to make a difference
and I can't help it if there are
pictures from decades ago.
It's being widely discussed.
"It's already on the internet,"
is no defence.
So are beheadings, hard-core pornography.
You're supposed to be better
than the internet,
that's the point of you.
Carla, we have known
each other a long time,
and you have a tendency
to over-react, OK?
So take a seat, and some water,
do some breathing exercises.
Yes, the link is currently
prominent on our website,
but in an hour it won't be.
And I'm sorry for your ego
but it won't be prominent
in the paper tomorrow.
We are going to cover it as a
feature about misogyny on page four
and that's your lot.
I've got a speech tomorrow.
To the Oxford Union.
On modern feminism and rape culture.
Well, now you're uniquely placed.
Duncan wants me to endorse his
campaign, "check me out", all that.
Eugh, I'm not sure that will help.
Maybe it's safer to keep him happy.
Don't.
Then he'll put it on the front page.
So style it out.
He's influential.
He's a bully.
Stand up to him. He likes that.
Duncan Allen!
Excuse me.
Duncan Allen.
- Hello.
- I'm Holly Evans from the Herald.
- Holly Evans, right.
- Yeah, I know Tony at the coffee stand,
he said you normally get coffee
around mid-afternoon
so I got him to text me when you did.
I'll never trust Tony again!
I'm trying to find out about the
death of someone called Andrea Reed.
She was hit by a police car on
Friday night
and the car didn't stop.
Apparently you've got a copy of the CCTV.
I'd like to see it, but when
I called the Post you refused
so I thought I might
be able to persuade you.
What's the story?
A witness says she was
hit by a police car.
Was it an accident?
Well, that's what they're saying,
but I don't know, that's why...
We would've put a lot of resources,
I'm sure, into getting that footage
and if there's a story, we're not
going to want to give it to you.
There might not be.
Well, if there's not a story,
why would you want it?
This isn't usual journalistic practice,
door-stepping the editor
of another paper.
You seem very passionate about it.
Yeah, yeah, I am.
Actually, that's what I've heard.
You've... what?
Holly Evans.
I don't forget a name.
I know who you are.
I read a couple of your articles
from a few years ago.
Well, one in particular.
Can you guess which one?
Well, I'm sorry if...
"A misogynist, overbearing
well-oiled bully.
"An offence to journalism."
You wrote that when, two years ago?
About me.
- Well, I'm...
- Well-oiled, what does that mean?
Drunk, or something about my hair?
- You can quote it.
- It hurt my feelings.
Well, I'm really sorry
if you felt it was unfair,
- but I really want to...
- Do you really want to see this footage?
Yeah.
Nah.
Sorry.
Five minutes.
Did you find out about the MI5 call?
Yeah, yeah, they'd had a cyber attack.
They weren't sure if anything leaked
so they called all the news outlets
in a panic. False alarm.
Right.
- So not about your man, sorry.
- No, OK.
All right, thanks.
Chris?
James.
You speak to people at MI5.
You've got contacts.
A few.
Have you ever heard of a
programme called Resonance?
No.
Ah.
Do you think you could
maybe discreetly ask around?
See if it exists.
I'll mention it.
Thank you, thanks.
I've sent Abi home cos we won't
be asking you to endorse
the campaign any more,
but thanks for coming back.
Do you want to sit down? You should.
Mostly our purpose here
is quite a clear one,
to entertain.
So when we dig around,
that's what we're after.
You know, life's hard and
our readers want a giggle,
it's as simple as that.
We do the news but we cheer people up.
Duncan, I don't have time...
This is the most important
meeting you'll have today.
Maybe this year.
So just bear with me, OK?
I got my people to find out where
that photograph came from
cos I thought that there might
be some more amusing shots.
They're very talented.
They, er, tracked down this old
friend of yours,
who now hates you...
...and he had these.
Here.
I mean, this one in particular.
See, I don't do drugs.
I mean, people find that hard to believe.
It's not morality, I just, I just...
I've tried them, I just don't like them.
But you're an elected minister
who's made many statements
about drug policy,
who's advocated zero tolerance...
...and who's been...
...hiding this the whole time.
You must've known it would come out.
I didn't think there was a photograph.
Glass house.
What now?
Barring an international atrocity,
this is on our front page tomorrow.
So I suggest that we wrap it up
into a full confession.
The party, the drugs,
what you were like as a student.
You admit it all.
Resign, probably.
But if you come clean now, to us...
...I don't see any reason
why you couldn't
return to front-line politics
at some point.
I'd be sad if this was
the end of your career.
- Really?
- Yes.
I think you're really good
at what you do.
But maybe...
...you'll be a little bit
less judgmental...
...when you return.
It's lucky I looked.
What kind of journalist
would I be otherwise?
Well, I suppose like
your friends at the Herald.
No instinct for news.
All principle, no trousers.
Whenever you're ready,
Raz will take you through it and...
...we'll make a start.
How did it go?
Really very well indeed.
Perfect. Let's go.
Yeah, we're off stone.
I'm grateful for the strong support
that I have received from
my friends, family, the Chancellor
and the Prime Minister.
I've decided that it is right to
tender my resignation as minister.
I do not see how I can carry on my
crucial work while I have to deal
with the private and public
implications of recent revelations.
I hardly need to say how much I regret
having to leave such vital work,
which I feel all my life has
prepared me for.
The last 24 hours have been very
difficult and distressing for me.
I have been thinking carefully
about what action I should take
in the interest of the government,
my constituents
and most important of all,
those whom I love.
You at home tonight?
- Why?
- Your wife's asking.
- No.
- OK.
It's good.
It's not good enough. Sales are down.
If we carry on like this,
we won't survive.
It's fine but we need to take some risks.
See you tomorrow.
Bye.
There's a risk right there.
- What do you mean?
- There's something up with her today.
Well, I'm going on a date.
You? Who with?
No idea. It's some internet thing.
I don't want to go but it's what
you're supposed to do, isn't it?
- After your marriage has ended.
- No, you'll have fun.
You don't want a drink instead?
No, sorry. I, erm,
I'm supposed to go home.
Suzie's cooking a special risotto.
What's so special about it?
It's a special sort of mushroom.
- Wow.
- Yeah, she can really cook.
- Sounds it, you should go.
- Yeah.
- Text me how it is.
- What's that?
The risotto.
No problem.
- You have a good night.
- Bye.
The picture on page 37 in the sports
section has the wrong caption.
- Excellent. Last one?
- No idea.
It says the French President
recognises the historic
and ongoing relationship
between our two countries.
What's wrong with that?
Well, I saw the statement live on TV
and the President actually said
that he recognised the historic
and current relationship
between our two countries.
- Current, not ongoing.
- Wow.
Important distinction.
- Your French is that good?
- I should've picked it up.
You're a geek. Open your present.
Oh! Everyone's wearing these.
Yep, so now you're fashionable.
Oh... A new experience for you.
And also it's very soft.
- Thanks.
- And, finally, to prove my point,
- I'm going to take you for a drink.
- And what's your point?
Birthdays are good.
- So, what happened with your story?
- Dead end.
Yeah, tell me about it.
Well, this isn't bad.
- Glad you approve.
- That's NOT what I said.
I have very deep pockets.
Which is lucky, as on its own,
the Post loses money.
- You know that.
- I do.
Then I need it to be the best.
The best layouts, images,
the best online.
These pictures are 30 years old
and you've driven out a rather
competent minister, who I liked.
And then, inside, a gossip story
about the death of a gay footballer.
A picture of a treehouse.
Biggest treehouse ever made.
It's not news.
Entertainment. Without it,
we won't sell papers.
You don't need to tell me
how to sell papers.
I don't make money from the Post,
I lose money,
and in return I want journalism.
You understand?
You want money to get the best,
you've got it.
Steal someone from another paper,
favours, more resources.
- Whatever it takes.
- Sure.
- No problem.
- Good.
Now, if you'll excuse me,
I have a concert to go to.
- Something nice?
- No.
My grandson's learnt the violin.
It's excruciating.
But every time he plays, it makes me cry.
How's your boy?
You going home tonight?
- Mm. You want another one?
- Yeah.
- Same again?
- Yeah.
All right.
Hi.
You're Holly Evans.
Ed Washburn.
I wrote to you for a job at the Herald.
OK.
Didn't even give me an interview.
Top up?
Yeah, why not?
I'm at the Post now.
- Great.
- Mm.
I did my first death knock today.
Slammed the door in your face?
No, worse.
They let me in.
I just got myself a story.
Should be writing it.
So why aren't you?
Cos it's my birthday today.
Haven't told anyone.
Why haven't you told anyone?
Cos I'm getting old.
- Cheers, anyway.
- Cheers.
Oh. Oh!
Mm! I have an array of drinks
in the kitchen.
We can do cocktails!
I've got this bottle of grappa
so if you want a challenge,
that's the thing to go for.
Thought you said you had a flatmate?
Yeah, Dee. Her room's over there.
All right. Shall we be quiet?
Nah. What do you want?
- What?
- To drink.
Grappa, grappa, grappa!
- Gin and tonic.
- Boring!
Is she asleep, then?
The flatmate.
No, no, she's not asleep.
She made a birthday card for me.
I found it in her room,
the day after it happened.
Read it this morning, ripped it up.
Her name's Andrea Reed,
but I call her Dee.
Three days ago, she was walking
home after a night out,
got hit by a police car and died.
And now we know for sure that
the police car didn't even stop.
I should write a story but...
...I didn't tell anyone cos I don't
want them feeling sorry for me.
But, you know, it's sad.
Were you close?
Friends since uni, so...
I've spent the weekend wondering
if she was in pain.
It was a while before the ambulance
turned up, apparently.
If the car had stopped, not driven off,
maybe he could've done something
and she'd still be here.
Oh, well.
Death knock.
Clink. Well done.
- You haven't spoken to anyone?
- No-one to speak to.
Well, maybe we should leave it.
Just because I'm in a state of
mourning doesn't mean we can't fuck.
You don't seem OK.
- I'm not sure you're...
- Fine.
Leave.
And you should feel bad
about what you did today.
It means you're still human.
Only get worried when you see
stuff like that
and you feel nothing at all.
Write the story.
Bye.
- Hi.
- Hey.
♪ Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh ♪
♪ Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh ♪
♪ Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh ♪
♪ Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh ♪
♪ When you flew out of the nest ♪
♪ You made a mistake ♪
♪ Flew all the way back ♪
♪ When you got back to your den ♪
♪ One minute too late was already wrecked ♪
♪ I, I... ♪
- What's your name?
- E-Ed.
You're un-fired.
Dress as a polar bear
and go to this party with Angie.
Times are tough, could be us next.
A year ago, I think you were braver.
I want to save this marriage.
Are you the organ grinder or the monkey?
I'm a reporter.
I'm the monkey.
I also found some articles you
wrote when you were a reporter.
Proper journalism.
Long way from what you do now.
Maybe you should take
a closer look at what we do.