Smother (2021–…): Season 1, Episode 1 - Episode #1.1 - full transcript

CRASH OF WAVES

CRY OF SEAGULLS

CRASH OF WAVES

I'm sorry.

I apologise, please.

We can still fix this.

SOUNDS OF A STRUGGLE

GRUNTING

SCREAMING

DULL THUD

WIND WHISTLES



WAVES CRASHING

MUSIC

MUSIC, CHATTER AND
LAUGHING IN THE BACKGROUND

Hi, how are you?
Great to see you.

Thank you, so good of you to come.

Hey Grace, where are your sisters?

They're down in the sitting
room, Anna's driving them mad taking
photos.

Come on, let's rescue those boys.

Happy birthday Val.

Alannah thank you so much for coming,
now there's champagne in the living

room and there's whisky for you Ned.

See you in a bit.

Rory!
I'm sorry.

Nice big smiles.



Let's get one with
Aunty Jenny and the bump.

No, I don't think so.

Jenny I would like a photograph
with my three daughters; Grace.

It's rare I get
you all in the one room.

I'd like to mark the occasion.
Val, would you mind?

Come on everybody -- Grace,
please stop doing that pout thing.

Come on proper smiles, everybody.

Now one with us all,
for the night that's in it.

One for Anna to
take back to Singapore.

Frankie, you're up.

Come on uncle Frank.

Come on in mam.

Let's see?

Happy birthday.

Well, it would be perfect
if mam was looking at the camera.

I'll be back
in two minutes, okay?

Dad, I just need five minutes.

Later sweetheart.

I'm tired of being an oven.

The next time we're all
together, it'll be a christening.

Hey Dennis, evening.
Karl.

Oh my God, you look great.

Did you ask him?
Is he coming?

I think so.

Grace, I need to
talk to you about Joe.

Cathy!

Oh Cathy, oh my goodness.

Come on, come on, I
want to show you Anna's boys,

you won't believe the size of them!

So brother, enjoying the party?

You know yourself.

Getting older, makes
you realise certain things.

How so?

Who's got your back.

Who's waiting
to stick a knife in it.

Dennis I...
Will speak, but not now.

Cathy was like, she was like a fourth
daughter, practically lived in the
house.

Except this one took
my stuff home with her.

Just eyeliner.

Go easy, you don't
want to miss the cake.

Come on now love,
remember what the doctor said.

Do we have any fizzy water?

Do we have any fizzy water?

Ah here! Why don't I just open the
fridge for you, you can come and have
a look.

I want that, going
into old age, that thing.

Never being lonely.

Don't you?

Elaine.

Who asked her?

I did; Grace, please
just act casual, relaxed.

I need to keep her sweet.
But the boys are yours now right?

Grace, now's not really
the time for that conversation.

Right.

Casual, got you.

Thank you.
Hey Karl, can I get you something?

He's looking for that
special Pilsner I got in.

There you go.

Thanks.

(Whispers) But you
couldn't find the water.

I'm sorry, what?

I said who's drinking water?

Elaine, she's arrived.

You should come and say hello.

Hey.

Joe, I didn't get a
chance to say anything.

You shouldn't have
to tiptoe around Grace.

Not after all this time.

I know but she's --
she can be delicate.

Yeah well, we can be delicate too!

We are very glad
you could make it, Elaine.

You know, I was --
I was thinking of the boys.

You know?

What would be easier for them?

Like, not make the first
meeting too formal, after so long.

Do you know where they are?

I'll track them down.

Why don't we just jump right in?

Okay, okay.
Okay.

Hi.
Hi.

Put out that cigarette (chuckles).

Finish the beer and no more
drinking or smoking for the rest of

the evening, okay.

Now come on, your mother's arrived.

Do we have to?

You can keep it
as low key as you want.

Hello, how are
you, blah, blah, blah.

Blah, blah, blah.

See, you're a natural.

Come on, get a move on, back inside.

Did it look like
he was standing still?

Sorry, what
did you say to me?

Rory...

They're grand.

Can you get me
more napkins from the van?

Hello.

Joe!

Prawn?

Yeah.
Mind they're hot.

Cathy told me you transferred from
Ennis, so I asked her to ask you,

how's it feel to be back?

You have to come to my cafe, Grace's,
and look at you a detective now.

I think we're
nearly ready for the cake.

Oh, hiya Joe.
Hiya Jenny

All right.

Well it's good to see you.

Yeah.

It's good to see you.

Cheers.

MUSIC

Never leave like that.

Grace.

Are you okay?

We're on.

CLINKING OF GLASS

Do we have to do this?

Yes you have to do this.

Well, well, I want to say, well,
this is the best birthday that I

could ever wish for, you know.

No, no, no, everyone, all of
you here for the first Easter in...

Well, thank you.

APPLAUSE

Suppose I better...
CLINKING OF GLASS

You just couldn't resist dad!

Well as you've cued me up, well now.

Here we all are.

We've been the best
of friends for 25 years.

I mean, yeah, okay, the odd
bare knuckle fight along the way.

(Laughter)

Somehow, we managed
to blend it all together.

My Anna, your Jenny.

No one gave us a choice.

And then our own Grace
came along to seal the deal.

We made it work Val.

And we are going
to go on making it work.

We are going to go on
being the best of friends.

Why wouldn't we celebrate
that with our nearest and dearest.

We're both still young enough to
grab what life has in store for us

and old enough and mature enough
to make that decision together.

What's he saying?
(Whispers) No, no, no, no.

(Whispers) We are going to be
telling them tomorrow anyway.

(Whispers) Do not do
this now Dennis, please, Jesus.

So what better than a joyous
party to celebrate the end of our

journey as man and wife and the
beginning of our new journey as best
friends.

My birthday gift to you Val.

And I give it
with love and respect.

Your freedom.

Happy birthday.

To Val!

This isn't funny.
Dad, what possessed you?

Why are you doing this?
Look, there are no victims here.

We are both good with this.

We've been living
separate lives for a long time.

The plan is that I'm going to stay
here in the house and your mother

is going to move
in with her friend Karl.

Dennis!
Karl?

Get out!
Grace.

Everyone got the hell out?

Get out!!

SMASHING SOUND

Get out!

CRASHING SOUND

This shit show is over, get out!

I'm so sorry everyone.

Grace, come on, deep breaths.

It's going to be okay.

Dennis!

Why are you doing this?

Dennis!

Grace, stop!

Grace, let me explain.

Grace!

Please wait Elaine.

Are you happy with the
boys seeing that madness?

No, no, I'm not.

I knew I should
never have come here.

Please.

Can we just talk
things through tomorrow?

Please?

Yeah.

Yeah, okay.

Do you want me to stay
or do you want to wait for you?

No, no, I'm coming with
you, I just need five minutes.

Sure.

Val, I'm sorry.
Don't!

Can everyone please just keep
their phones on tonight in case Grace
calls?

Are you really going mam?

Yeah, I'm really going because I just
can't bear to be around your father
right now.

We'll talk about
this tomorrow, okay?

I don't know what I was thinking.

I don't know what
you were thinking either.

Val will be along in a second.

I didn't know I was going to be
brought into any birthday speech.

Yeah.

I'm sorry about that.

Just kind of slipped out.

I don't know, I thought maybe
I could ease the girls into it.

I really wish you hadn't.

Not like that.
Believe me, I wish I hadn't either.

You fucking gobshite!

You think you can just
waltz away with my wife?

You know she's gonna come running
back to me when she learns the truth
about you.

It's all coming your way.

Just you wait.

Would you like
me to call you a taxi?

No, they're on the way.

It's like the hangover, you know,
when you try to think about the worst

thing that could've happened
and then you remember, it did.

(Laughter)

It'll blow over.

Oh my God, I'm really sorry
you got dragged into all of that.

Really I am.

You'd think wouldn't you, after all
this time, my heart felt he was never

going to let us get out my way.

KNOCK ON DOOR

Hello.

It's Anna isn't it?

I wonder if I could
have a word with Val please?

Why do you want her?

I need to speak with your mother.

She's not here.

Do you know where she is?

Let me get dressed
and I'll take you to her.

Do you think it's all over?

I mean, Jesus come on, that you know,
the party, the last family hurrah,

it was all his idea.

What does he get out of it?

Hard done-by magnanimous dad.

I mean think about it, all the years
he played around and I never said a

word to the girls.

Did he say anything to you?

Just said he regretted
the way it all went down.

And you?
Any regrets?

Yeah.

I should have left him years ago.

KNOCK ON DOOR

Hello.

Is Mrs. Ahern here?

Yeah, come in.

Just one second.

Dad!
Yeah.

He's looking for mam.

Val!

Yeah, yeah, I'm here.

Hi.

Hi.

What's the matter Anna, is it Grace?

Morning Mrs. Ahern.

A body was found this morning.

And we have reason to believe that
it's your husband, Dennis Ahern.

You'll need to come with me to the
hospital morgue for the purpose of
identification.

I'm very sorry.

CRASH OF WAVES

Think of the girls, think of Grace.

Don't you dare tell
me to think of Grace.

Did you think of your daughter's
feelings when you were shagging

Alannah, my best friend?

What is wrong with you?

A mistake, it's over!

For you maybe, I have to
pass her on the street every day.

I know that that's rough.
Rough?!

It's obscene!

You say all the sorrys, like you're
at the mercy of some uncontrollable
ego.

You make decisions, Dennis,
the same as the rest of us.

I admit I've made some bad ones.

You hurt me.

Can't you see that?

Of course I can see that.

And I'm sorry.

Truly, genuinely.

Stay with me.

Stay with the girls.

We've been through a lot.

All of us.

It suits us to be together.

It suits me Dennis.

Until it doesn't.

Eat up there Callum.

Is there any news from Frank?

He's waiting on Grace waking up.

Why did she end
up at uncle Frank's anyway?

Who knows with Grace?

She was here.

Aunty Grace.

What do you mean she was here?

Last night.

Everyone was asleep and
I heard her looking for Grandad.

Why didn't you tell us, Jacob?

Because I thought
maybe I was dreaming.

Jacob, did she find Dennis?

I don't know.

She was crying.

Like, really hard.

Did you hear anything Callum?

Not a thing.

Grace.

Why is everyone here?

Remember I explained to you Grace.

Do you remember, about your dad?

The accident.
Where's dad?

What's wrong with her mum?

Gracey, look at me.

Do you remember what
uncle Frank said, dad fell.

Where's dad?
She's not been taking her meds.

Come and sit down, good girl.

Where is he?

Gracie...

Dad's dead, Grace.

Sweetheart, it's all right.

Open the fucking door!

KNOCK ON DOOR

Hi.
Val, I'm so sorry.

Come on in, come on in.

It's so good to see you.
Good to see.

We're all in here.

You're very good to have come.
No, not at all.

Can I offer you a drink?

No, I won't stay.

What happens now Joe?

Well I'm only here as a friend of
the family, not official capacity
you understand.

I understand that, but is
there anything you can tell us?

Well, there'll be a formal
inquest, blood tests, toxicology,

that sort of thing.

They'll retrace his
every step to the cliffs.

I'm so sorry for you all.

Sorry.

So how long could this take Joe?

It could be two weeks before
the autopsy results come back.

I didn't like to say it in
there, but they'll have to check for

evidence of foul play.

Foul play?

Standard procedure.

All unusual deaths
have to be investigated.

Sergeant Manning will be
talking to everyone at the party.

(Arguing in the background)

How's Grace doing?

You can imagine
we're beside ourselves.

You'll keep an eye on her?

Yeah.

I'll let you go.

So sorry.

Thanks for coming.

Take care.

Just calm down.

We're trying to get her to take a
sedative till we can get a hold of
her doctor.

Don't talk about
me as if I'm not here.

Grace...
I know.

I know the truth now.

Dad is dead.

He's dead.

He's dead because of you.
Ah Grace!

That's the truth isn't it?
Take a couple of steps down Grace.

You didn't even like him!

Of course I liked him, I loved him.

He was my father.
No, he wasn't.

Not really.

Am I the only one with the guts?

Grace.

Our father is dead, Anna.

My father is dead because
she drove him to suicide.

There, I've said it.

I can't believe you
would even think that Grace.

It's what everyone thinks.

Ask them, everyone in this room
thinks it, it's what everyone in

town will think.

You broke his heart.

You might as well have put
a knife in it while you're at it.

No, I am not responsible
for your father's death.

Just take what I said mam.

I will not, that man was not
capable of committing suicide,

he was not that kind of man, Grace.
He just fell Grace.

I don't believe that for one second
and I don't think you do either.

You know what I think?

I think we're all in shock,
we all just need to come together.

We need to calm down...
I think you should leave.

No, I think we should be together.

I don't think that you live
here anymore, so you should leave!

Grace!
Piss off!

Grace, Grace, Grace.

Okay.

You broke up this family, this
is your fault, so leave this house.

It is not your house anymore, go!

Have you considered a part of
Dennis' performance a grand final
gesture?

Not him, he'd miss the applause.

Too much to drink, went for a walk?

Karl...

Jacob thinks Grace
went back to the house.

Okay, so what are you saying?
I don't know.

I don't know,
I don't know what I'm saying.

It's just...

I got the feeling, Joe Ryan...
I caught him looking at Grace.

Now they were together for a
couple of years, but this --

this was, this was more.

What if...

Sorry, you think the inspector...

No, just, what if?

What if they found something of
Grace's to show that Grace was there?

Honey, you're fixating on Grace,
anything to avoid dealing with the
real thing.

You're allowed to grieve.

I know you're grieving and I didn't
want to interfere, but you girls

should have spoken up for
your mum last night when Grace...

I know Mairead.

You feel guilty enough.

Once Grace has slept last night off
I'll get her to come with me to see
mam.

Did you both know
they were splitting up?

We knew about Karl,
the split was news to me.

I knew.

Your mother wanted to
tell the three of you together.

She deserves to be happy.

You have no idea what she had to...

Sorry, he was your father.

I'll shut my mouth.

SOUND OF SMASHING GLASS

Jesus!

For God's sakes Jacob.

What the hell are you playing at?
Sorry dad.

I was trying to be careful.

It was me with the ball.
Don't lie to me.

Do not lie to me.

He's already admitted it.

I can't leave you
alone for five minutes.

Leave mum out of it.

It's a mistake okay, we're all
in a heap, it won't happen again.

Damn right it won't.

Because it's banned.
Give me that!

What else are we supposed
to do around this shithole?

Are you giving me lip?

He's not, he's just saying...

Look, let's all go back
inside, I'll make some pancakes.

It's over now, come on.

Asshole.

LOUD SMACK

Rory!

You haven't given us enough
trouble have you, you want more?

You, get inside!

In!

And don't come out
until I say you can.

Callum, don't push
him like that, not for me.

Mam, about yesterday...

You know what, we'll get
through it, is Grace okay?

Yeah, hangover food.

We all sat up most of
the night talking about dad.

We missed you being with us.

Yeah?

Well it was not
exactly my choice either.

She's on the roam.

Is she at the cafe do you think?

Maybe, but...

But what?

Well last night I was putting her
to bed there was a lot of drunken

babbling about Cathy and something
about what happened between them the

night of the party.

And she seemed pissed off with her.

You know, like,
angry, as she can get.

PHONE RINGING

Hi this is Grace, leave a message.

Grace, it's mam,
would you please call me?

I'm just -- we're all
very worried about you hon.

Just want to know you're okay.

Please call me Grace, come on.

KNOCK ON DOOR

I'm so sorry about Dennis.

Come in.

Joe?

I'll put the kettle on.

I was hoping
maybe Grace was here.

She's missing?

No, no, she's probably at
her flat, nothing to worry about.

I think you should be worried.

Why would you say that?

Because of us, Val.

Me and Joe.

I wouldn't hurt Grace for
the world, please believe that.

I should have told her that
we'd started seeing one another.

Why didn't you?

I didn't have the heart.

She went on and on straightaway
they'd get back together.

This time it would work out great.

Look it was years ago,
I didn't think it meant that...

No, no, you were very loyal, Joe.

I mean, come on.

She was a nightmare
to deal with back then.

I wish you'd told me Cathy, you know.

I didn't know how to
tell her we're getting married.

I couldn't help noticing
about the broken window and...

What happened?

Was Grace here?

Was she here the night Dennis died?

We heard a crash downstairs.

Open the fucking door!

Joe ran down to have a look.

BANGING ON DOOR

Grace, Jesus Christ.

Grace?

Grace, stop, you can't come in.

Stop it!

I came down and she went for me.

She was raging.

LOUD SMACK

Joe tried to protect me.

Christ sake she's pregnant!

She's pregnant.

Her face, I'll never forget it.

Joe checked I was all right,
then he went after her, but she had
vanished.

Thank you for telling me.

I am very happy for both of you.

Just going to see her out.

Val?

What is it?

I did catch up with Grace.

She was hysterical.

On about Dennis.

What about him?

Like I said she was
-- she was in a state.

Why are you telling me this?

I still care about her.

The thing is, she ran off again.

Heading home, to confront Dennis.

That's a nice one.

Maybe that one.

For the coffin.

We'll get through this.

What do you think happened to dad?

I think that night was a disaster.

Dad hated that, you
know, things out of his hands.

He went for a walk, clear his head.

He forgot how dangerous it is.

He slipped and fell.

That's what I told the boys.

KNOCK ON DOOR

Grace!

Grace!

DOORBELL RINGS

Hi.

I heard at the
guesthouse, I'm so, so sorry.

Thanks Elaine.

That's very kind of you.

The kettle's on all day
if you'd like to come in.

Oh, I'd love a coffee, yeah,
if it's not too much trouble.

Summer Camp.

Some of us -- some of the
mothers go along as supervisors.

Not the dads?
Rarely the dads, you know it is.

PHONE BUZZES

You've a million things to do.

It's just I've
missed out in so much.

It's my own fault, of course.

Well you're sober now.

That's the main thing.

I never did you down to the boys.

I promise you that.

Look, Anna I know from your letters,
how much this custody stuff means to
you.

It's just I'd like a
little time with them first.

I don't understand.

I thought you being here was about
dotting the I's crossing the T's.

No, it is and I will,
just how would it look?

A mother is signing off on her
children the day after they've lost

their grandfather.

How are they taking it?
Are they alright?

I don't know if it's a good thing or
a bad thing that they really didn't

know him all that well.
Listen...

Elaine, what do you want?

She bought flowers.

I also wanted to check on the boys.

I want to spend time with
them Rory, I think it's important.

Oh yeah, for them or for you?

For all of us.

Any objections?

I guess not, as
long as you're not pissed.

Hey.
Hello.

Callum, I barely get
a chance to talk with you.

What happened your cheek?

Ball hit me in the face.

We'll catch up.

What, you sticking around are you?

Yeah I've holidays due.

Thanks for the coffee, Anna.

Dennis kept a key for Grace's
cafe in his office, didn't he?

Yeah, I'll see...

No, no, no, I'll look, you're grand.

You knew about this?

Dennis was selling
the cafe over Grace's head?

How could he do that to her?

I don't know.

But that's just a drop in the ocean.

This house is for sale
on the foreign markets as well.

What?

But I own half this house.
What is going on Frank?!

It's the Seaview Estate.

Yeah, yeah, sales were
great, what's the problem?

He had to return all the deposits.

You know, Dennis, he
was always cutting corners.

He didn't get
the fire stuff into code.

Investors found out, they pulled
out their money and they closed him
down.

So we were scrambling around
looking for money from whoever he

could, wherever he could.

I signed a lot of documents
for you Frank, I trusted you.

But now that Dennis has gone,
well you're no longer liable.

It's the creditors
who'll bear the brunt.

Oh God, you weak bastard.

I'm really sorry, Val.

You know how
persuasive Dennis could be.

Could Grace have seen these?

Yeah, yeah, I think she could.

The night of the party she came to
my house and she was rambling and

ranting about how could he do this
to me and and then she collapsed on

the sofa, and when she woke up she
didn't even remember getting there.

I mean, she couldn't even register
the fact that Dennis was dead when I
told her.

Jesus, she walked to your house in
the middle of the night, three miles
away.

Walked, crawled, I think
she came through the fields.

Well he was selling her life.

And you let him.

So what so she comes back here, yeah?

Wants to confront him about
something, something she told Joe,

she looks for him.

She finds her life on sale.

Maybe she found him.

You say nothing about this
to the Guards, do you hear me?

But...

No buts, I mean, the house
will be legally mine now, yeah.

Yeah, we cancel the sale of the cafe.

Grace came to you that
night looking for comfort, Frank.

She didn't know
the cafe was for sale.

But eventually
Grace is gonna remember.

Grace will remember what
I tell her to remember, Frank.

The Guards sure
to find accidental death.

People in town are going to gossip
about suicide, let them, I don't care

if everyone thinks I'm to blame.

But sure that isn't fair on you...
Life isn't always fair.

Is it though Frank?

Just do what I say, okay.

Don't let me down on this.

Grace's car is outside.
Where is she?

I've searched the
house, she's not here.

Grace.

Grace.

Grace.

Mam, mam!

Grace!

Grace!

Grace.

Grace!

No!

Grace, Grace!

Grace, stop!