Smother (2021–…): Season 1, Episode 5 - Episode #1.5 - full transcript

I've a brain tumour,
I'm dying Val, I'm dying.

I guess he's scared
but I'm just so angry with him.

Does Cathy know
about what happened, Joe?

No.

I'll not be coming to your dinner.

There's a missing sum
that can't be accounted for.

Is it much?
A hundred grand.

Would the father
not help out at all?

I don't think that's how
sperm donation works, Frank.

You still don't think
this was an accident, do you?

I hope they lock you
up and throw away the key.



TITLE MUSIC

(Radio) IVF is so common that more
than 5 million babies have been born

worldwide through this technology.

IVF works by mimicking the natural
design of human sexual reproduction.

In vitro fertilisation
literally means fertilised in glass.

In IVF eggs are removed...

Mr. and Mrs. Foley?

We're ready for you.
Okay.

This is it.

We don't know if
it'll stick around.

If it's as stubborn as
you, it's not going anywhere.

Are you okay?
Yeah.

Jenny!

Tell me you still have it.



Have what?
Just stop!

We're being
audited for Christ's sake.

What the hell were you thinking.

Look I lent it to my stepfather,
all right, he was desperate.

So?

That doesn't make stealing
100,000 from your partners okay.

He was supposed to give it back
before anyone noticed it was gone.

But then he died.

Jesus Jenny.

This is serious.

It's a crime.

You could lose your
licence and bankrupt the clinic.

Please.

Please, just give me a few days.

I mean...

It's not like I'm
going to do a runner is it?

Look at me, I'm the
size of a small planet.

Please Kev.

Look, you know me, I'm...

I made a mistake,
but I'll make it right.

You're involving me.

That's not fair.

I know.

I'm sorry.

You've got three days to fix it.

After that, you're on your own.

Let me help you.

No.

No.

No don't!

It's fine.

It's not fine.

Fine suggests
everything's going to be okay.

It's not, is it?

Where do we even start?

What are the words to
tell your kids you're dying?

Talk about angels,
clouds and cotton wool.

They're way too smart for that, and
besides they know you're an atheist.

I'm thinking for the post funeral
menu, bruschetta, topped with

avocado, anchovies, scallops.

But your dad hated
all of those, made him wretch.

Exactly.

It's my way of sticking my two
fingers up to him for trying to sell

my cafe from underneath me.

Fine, no scallops, spoilsport.

What are you looking for?

Well there was just this lovely
family photo, taken at Jenny's

wedding, I just
wanted to give you all a copy.

No thanks.

Just because we looked
happy, doesn't mean we were.

Have you seen the boys?

Yeah, Jacob's about,
but I haven't seen Calum yet.

By the way, I have booked The
Humming Bird for your birthday lunch.

All right, listen, about that.

No, no, no, no.

We are doing it, come on, this is my
third attempt at trying to organise a

family meal, and nothing is
going to stop it from going ahead.

Look at this.

Dennis and Frank, summer of '68.

Hm...

DOORBELL

I'll get it.

There's a really cute one of Calum.

Val, sorry to call so early.

No, no, it's fine.

Actually, I was
hoping to run into you.

I owe you an apology.

I was very, very short with
you the last time we spoke.

Not to worry.

I'm well used to being the
last person people want to see.

Speaking of which, do
you have a minute to talk now?

Yeah, yeah, em...

My grandsons are still sleeping,
can we talk around the corner?

I'll just get my coat.

Grand, yeah.

Actually, I'm trying
to arrange a funeral.

I was just wondering did you
know when the body is going to be
released?

We can't release the body until
we've concluded our investigation,

and we're not there yet.

Yeah but you said the
autopsy would make things clearer.

The results were inconclusive.

Inconclusive, how exactly?

Well they don't suggest foul play,
but they don't rule it out either.

So what, that's it then?

Normally when we try to rule out
foul play we'll look for one or two

people who might have disliked
the victim, but in the case of your

husband, I'm
already in double figures.

Well yeah, that was Dennis, you know?

I think he actually
liked getting under people's skin.

Look, someone went behind his back,
told the bank and the investors

about inadequate
fireproofing at the Seaview Estate.

That's why the build was shut down.

I was hoping you could tell me
who might have had that kind of a

grudge against him.

I just, I wasn't involved with
Dennis's business affairs Paudie,

I wish I could help.

Right.

That's a shame.

I just want to reassure you, that
I'm not going anywhere until I find

out the truth about
what happened to your husband.

Paudie what if it was
just, you know, an accident?

Then I suppose that's
the truth we'll find.

Pat, I'm telling you I paid that
invoice myself, yeah, February.

I have it here in front
of me, it's nearly 22 grand.

Sure what were you
doing talking to Dennis?

I do the ordering, you know that.

How much are we talking?

On credit?

Jesus!

Look, I'm, I'm sorry
Pat, I really, I had no idea.

Yeah look just leave it with me
till the end of the week, will you?

Right, good man, thanks.
Thanks.

KNOCK ON DOOR

Calum!

Come on, it's time to get up, and
don't forget our family meeting.

Mum?

That fight you had with Elaine?

I'm so sorry things got out of hand.

She said that you and dad
were having an affair for years.

I'm not proud of it,
but we were together, yes.

Why didn't he just leave her?

Why did he have to cheat on her?

Well he was thinking of you
and Jacob, what was best for you.

Are you angry with us?

No, it's just funny.

Grown-ups always tell kids never to
cheat and lie, but then they do it

themselves all the time.

Come in when you're ready.

So, the fireproofing still needs to
be properly inserted into the walls,

but like that's a relatively
straightforward procedure.

Now I think that with Ned's
investment, we can probably sell

these on within the year.

Frank, stop.

Of course I would have told him
that myself if he'd only answer his

bloody phone now and again.

He's not interested.

What do you mean?

He said you must be up the creek
without a paddle to go crawling to

him for money, considering
how Dennis felt about him.

Yeah, well Dennis isn't here.

I'm here now.

And we both know that Ned would have
gone under years ago if it hadn't

been for your money.

Why would I want to
save Dennis Ahern's company?

Because I'm asking you.

What about Val?

Yeah, I'm asking for her as well.

Why didn't Ned call me?
Why didn't he tell me himself?

Maybe I just wanted to
see what was on offer for myself.

Are you ready?

Yeah.

Seriously, if anyone
should be sweating, it's Michael.

Everyone knows he's
punching well above his weight.

You don't really think that?

He's a lovely guy.

And lots of women earn more
than their husbands these days,

it's nothing to be ashamed of.

PHONE BUZZES

Two secs, I've got to take this.

Is he ever not working?

Let's have a look at you.

You look beautiful.

Thanks uncle Frank.

Right, let's get you into the car.

(In the background)
I have buyers already.

(In the background) I know that and
I don't care, just get them finished
Tom!

Has Kevin told the
rest of the practice?

No, he won't be able to
keep it to himself for long.

I could be sent to prison for this.

Well I just, I don't understand
why Dennis would put you at risk like
this?

I asked him that, do
you know what he said to me?

Progress always
involves risks, love.

Bastard!

He must have left me
something in his will, right?

I've no idea.

What do you mean?

Well he never
let me near any of that.

What were you, some
kind of 1940s housewife?

No, I was an independent
woman with my own income, Jenny.

Has Megan not
been in touch about it?

She said she would go through
all of that after the funeral.

I can't wait that long.

Jenny?

LOUD THUD

Right.

You know I can't discuss
the will with you Jenny?

I'm the executor Megan, all the
rest can wait, it would just be very

helpful to the
girls to have an idea now.

I'm about to pop, and
I've made some bad investments.

Please?

Okay.

Thank you.

Although there are no liquid assets,
Dennis did make a life assurance

allowance for Anna and Grace,
for the sum of E100,000 each.

Oh thank God.

Wait, what is it, what's the matter?

It's considerably
less in your case Jenny.

A total sum of E10,000.

Of course.

I should have known.

Known what?

He never did love
me as much as them.

Sometimes things just
happen, and you don't know why.

What kind of things?

Just things, all kinds of things.

But it's not, it's not what they are
that matters so much as how you deal
with them.

Em, Calum, could you, could
you put your phone down for a sec?

I'm trying to...

It's like...

I love you both, very much.

I'll always be with
you, even when I'm not here.

We love you too dad.

Dad is sick.

How sick?

I have cancer.

Can they make you better?

How long?

Two, maybe three months.

Why didn't you have any treatment?

There wasn't any point.

You could have still tried.

Yeah.

Yeah, but I...

I wanted to spend time with you
all here and not in a hospital,

you know, hooked up to machines.

I have to go.
Okay.

It's written
there in black and white.

He loved them literally
ten times more than me.

That's not true.

Do you really think he
would have done this to them?

Let them risk everything?

Look, I think I can
scrape together about 30k I think.

It's not enough.

No, I know, I know.

I'll talk to Frank.

There's nothing in the business
accounts, he told me already.

Did Dennis say what had
gone wrong with the estate?

No.

Just that someone
had landed him in the shit.

Did he say who?

No.

Whoever it was
landed me in there with him.

Two coffees, one tea.

Iris still staring?

Mm-hmm.

In fairness, the Ahern family
misfortunes are the gossip gift that

just keeps giving.

Oh, heads up!

Grace, I was just checking that
you're still coming this evening?

Oh my God I...

Completely forgot.

I've a lot of work on here actually,
so it might be a bit tricky.

Please come.

This place is too small for
us to avoid each other, please.

Fine.

Sorry.

I'll see you this evening.

Oh to be a fly on that wall.

I'll behave myself.

Yep.

Jenny?

Hey, I wasn't sure
if it was you or not.

Michael?

What are you doing here?

I saw the obituary in the paper,
so, I thought I'd come to pay my
respects.

You're pregnant!

Just a bit.

Congratulations.
Oh!

Thanks.

So how have you been?
Have you been sick or?

No, it's good.

Blood pressure a bit high,
but, you know, when wasn't it?

And the father, do I know him or...

No, it's not --
emm, we're not together.

Sorry.

No, no, I wanted to do it that way.

Do it on my own.

Not -- obviously --
it would -- if it was us...

It's fine.

So, how about you,
how's the music venue?

Good, well great actually.

We're hoping to open up
a new one in Cork in the summer.

That's brilliant.

Happy days.
Yeah, I'm so happy for you.

Well look, I'd like to get you
something, for the baby, is there

anything you need?

Em actually, I
am in a bit of trouble.

What kind of trouble?

Do you really think that I would let
him put Jenny in jeopardy like that?

She's like a daughter
to me, you know that.

I know that but you didn't
try to stop her from investing.

That's when I thought everything
was all right with the place.

And then he asked her for more?

Knowing that the ship was sinking?
Knowing what she was risking?

What a prick!

What was going on up there?

The usual Dennis malarkey.

Cutting corners,
trying to save money.

Anyone lit a match anywhere near
those houses, and they would have

gone up like a fireball.

I tried to tell him, but
you know what he was like.

Do you know who shopped him in?

He'd enemies up and down the coast.

Could have been anyone.

Hmm...

Listen, I know you had your
differences, but I thought you might

like to have this.

I cannot believe
he'd do this to you.

Knowing you've got a
baby on the way like it's just...

It was my choice.

Oh I'm sure he was being
his usual manipulative self.

You were never his biggest fan.

Yeah, our disregard
was mutual I suppose.

Okay, do you know that when I told
him I was going to propose to you,

he tried to
convince me to walk away?

He called me a glorified
busker, he even offered me money.

What?

He tried to pay you to leave me?

Yeah, I suppose he thought he knew
what was best for you obviously.

I mean I knew he didn't
approve, but I didn't care.

We were really good
together, that's all that mattered.

Do you think if we didn't try so
hard for so long, to have a baby,

that I don't know,
we'd still be together?

It's what we wanted.

You were what I wanted.

Anyway...

That's water under the bridge.

Yeah.

Look, to be honest, I have invested
every cent I have into this venue,

I just, I don't
have that kind of cash.

It's fine.

Is there anything else I can do?

No, I, I'll sort it.

My family's mess is
not yours to clean up anymore.

Look I'm really happy for you.

Thanks.

It's been eight
weeks, that's good right?

That's a good sign?

Just let her do her job.

I better go.
Yeah.

I am so sorry.

It's a missed miscarriage, where the
foetus has stopped growing but the

body hasn't realised it yet.

(cries)
It's okay.

Do you think there's anything after?

Well I hope so.

I reckon it's just like being asleep.

Well that's not so bad.

I know it's a lot to take in, but
I'll be there, and Calum, and we can

all face it together, okay?

And Elaine?

Will she be there too?

If you want her to be.

Do you want her to be?

I don't know.

Will it make you sad if I say yes?

No my love.

Nothing you could
ever say could make me sad.

You made it, hey, thanks for coming.

Happy birthday.
Thank you.

After you.

So this is Lily,
this is Max, this is Grace.

I'm really glad you made it.

Oh, congratulations.

Thank you.

Great, let's sit, let's sit.
Let's eat.

What are we thinking?

Some wine?
Oh yeah please.

So do you feel different?

Bit nauseous.

But you know you have another person
inside of you, another heart beating.

It's just amazing.

Isn't it amazing?

Mm-hmm.

You have to see the scan.

Oh really.
Can he see it?

Do you mind if I?
Sure.

It's very cute.

See?

Oh look.

Oh look, it looks
very like Joe doesn't it.

(laughs)
Yeah, he does all right.

Oh, emm...

So when's your next scan?

Another eight weeks.

It's a funny thing really.

How do you mean?

I was once having
a baby with Joe too.

Grace don't.

The baby would be seven now.

Joe?

Cathy.

Cathy!

What the fuck are you looking at?

Thanks for this.

Not at all, thank you.

I'll only be a few hours.

Well, it's no problem.

Hey happy birthday by the way.

Jacob told me.

Thank you.

You know, I was married to
Rory, I can tell when he's not well.

He has cancer.

Is it treatable?

Oh God Anna, I'm so sorry.

Do the boys know?

We only told them this morning,
so they're still processing.

Jacob is very upset.

And Calum?

You know, hard to tell,
it's all teenage macho man.

It's usually the ones who
bottle it up that I worry about.

You don't need to worry
at all, I'll make sure he's okay.

All set?

Can you do me a favour?
Sure.

Just don't make any promises
you can't keep, for his sake.

She should have
just told Dennis where to go.

Easier said than done.

He could be very persuasive
when he wanted something.

Jesus though, to allow her to
risk everything like that, and she

expecting a child on her own.

PHONE BUZZES

Honestly, trying to keep
this family afloat is impossible.

Everywhere I turn there's
just more water needs to be bailed.

Maybe you should
take a step back then.

You know what they say about there
are no living martyrs, so if this is

too much for you then...

I didn't say it was too much.

No, but it is affecting your life,
it is affecting your relationships.

Everything.
So when is it going to be enough?

I can't just turn my back, can I?

Especially on Jenny, not now.

Do you really want me to be
visiting my grandchild behind bars?

Maybe I can help.

Not unless you have 70k to spare.

What if I do?

Why would you do that?

Em... not everyone has an ulterior
motive Val, you know, sometimes an

act of kindness is just that.

So there was something
you wanted to talk to me about?

Science camp, the board have
decided the numbers aren't enough.

The numbers are
exactly the same as last year.

No, it's done.

No point fighting.

What is, what is worth
fighting for around here Val?

Do you even know?

You're angry with him.

He just lies, cheats all
the time, covering his tracks.

Do you think not telling somebody
something is the same as lying to
them?

Yeah, I do.

Because it changes how you see them.

What if when he's dead, all I
can remember are the bad things?

I was wondering when
you were going to apologise.

I'm here for Grace actually.

Look can we just
get past this, please?

I mean right now I have the world on
my back and I don't need you in the
saddle too.

Apology accepted.

SOUND OF BREAKING PLATES

We're not having the best of days.

Was the dinner that bad?

Worse.

I made a complete eejit of myself.

I want to be happy for them,
like I really do, but I just can't.

Did you take your meds?

Yes mam!

Jesus, it's not
all about taking the meds.

Isn't it normal to be a bit upset
when your ex-boyfriend has a baby

with your best friend?

Yes of course it is,
it is completely normal.

Off you go, or you'll be late.

Do I have to?
Yes, you do.

She is your sister.

Right.

(Laughter)

So you really can't swim at all?

No, I can't.

It's kind of funny being here
as well not being able to swim.

Yeah, hilarious actually.

So if I just like, I mean I'm not
like forcing you to or anything,

but if I were to just
push you into the water.

No actually I don't think so,
I think we should go back so.

Are you sure, I think we should
go directly into the water, no...

(Laughter)

PHONE RINGS

I don't want to lie to you.

Okay.

Those guys I beat up at the
beach, that wasn't the first time.

What do you mean?

Back in my old school, there were
these two guys that would beat up me

and this other boy,
just day in day out, for months.

And one day I just snapped
and they ended up in hospital.

My dad got the parents to drop the
charges on the condition that I left
the school.

Will we head back?

Yeah.

I don't know, it's just weird, I've
never seen Frank like that before.

Like what?

Angry, I didn't
know he had it in him.

Well maybe it's guilt, there was
definitely something going on with

them at the party.

Himself and dad were really going
at each other, about the business I
think.

Maybe he said some
things he regrets now.

I don't know.

Listen, I'm so sorry, I have
completely forgot, I've got to be

somewhere, I'll
swing back for you, okay?

Mam?

So Megan were there any
recent changes to Dennis' will?

Yeah Dennis asked me last month to
amend his will, he didn't want Frank

receiving anything.

Do you have any idea why?

I learned a long time ago to just
do as I was told where Dennis was
concerned.

You know that.

Thanks Megan, I owe you one.

DOORBELL RINGS

Val.
What did you do?

What do you mean?

Dennis didn't always
treat you well, I know that.

So whatever went down between you
this time must have been pretty bad.

You shopped him in, didn't you?

Yeah.

There were families about to move
into those houses, okay, people with

kids depending on them.

They would have lost everything
if I hadn't pulled the plug.

No, no Frank, it was more than that.

Yeah, yeah, of course it was.

I wanted Dennis to realise that he
couldn't keep messing people around.

Okay I thought he'd take a financial
hit, God knows he deserved it.

You didn't give a shit about
those families and their new homes.

He cut you out of the
loop and it hurt your pride.

You're unbelievable.

Oh and for what it's worth.

I wiped all his hard drives, I
burned any paper trail I could find,

anything that
would incriminate Dennis.

So what, you want me
to thank you now, do you?

Yes I do actually.

Just once.

A thank you would be nice for
everything I've done for this
family.

Just once.

Oh, yes!

Here.

Are you okay?

Dad's going to die.

Yeah, I know.

I'll have two mums I guess?

That's true.

That is, if you
still want to be our mum?

Of course I do.

Why wouldn't I?

Hey, you can say it,
whatever it is, it's okay.

It's just, you didn't want us
before, and I was wondering why you
want us now?

I never not wanted
you, not for one second.

That's not what mum said.

What did she say?

That you weren't ready for it.

I heard her tell Dennis that
we were better off without you.

Sorry.

You have nothing to be
sorry about, do you hear me?

Don't you worry about anything now,
I'm going to be around for as long as

you want me to be, okay?

Yeah?

Do you think I could have a hug?

You haven't said
anything in a while.

I've just been thinking.

That was really brave.

Yeah?

Yeah.

We've all done things
that we're not proud of.

You, me, your dad...

It's what you do next
that counts though Calum.

You should try make some good
memories while you still can.

I've got to go to work.

Yeah.

Bye.

DOOR SLAMS

Why the hell would you give him
more money without checking with me
first?

Hello to you too.

No I mean it Jen,
what were you thinking?

You should have asked me first.

He told me not to.

He said it would be back in my
account before anyone would need to
know.

Yeah because he knew
I wouldn't let it happen.

Just stop, will you?

It's bad enough
without you having a go at me.

Do you know the saddest thing?

I actually felt, flattered.

Like that out of all
of us he came to me for help.

God how could I be so stupid?

Come here.

We'll find a way out, I promise.

I'm sorry.
No, no, no.

Don't be sorry.

He just used you.

Same way he used all of us.

Dad?

Dad?

Dad?

Dad!

Dad!

Dad?

Wake up, wake up dad!

Look at me.

I'm stuck in the bath like a tool
just waiting for someone to help me
get out.

Here.

I'm sorry.

Me too.

I'm so sorry.

It's okay.

(Crying)

I'm here, I'm here.

Let's have a birthday lunch
they said, it'll be fun they said,

then they don't turn up.

Happy birthday.
Thanks.

Are you all right,
you look like hell.

Oh gee thanks.

Hey, happy birthday.

Thanks.

Where's Grace?
Oh she's in the ladies.

So what are we drinking?

I'm way ahead of you,
on my second glass of wine.

Yeah actually, can we order, just
I've to be back at the hospital at

3 o'clock for a check-up.

I'm sorry, am I delaying you?

You've been here all of 30 seconds.

What is up with you?

I've other things I could be doing
besides sitting here like a total
inconvenience.

No one thinks that.

Maybe we should just cancel
altogether, it's weird with dad
anyway.

No, no, no, no that's
exactly why we're not cancelling.

Look, with everything that's going
on right now I just wanted us to

have a nice time together.

Says the woman looking
through her rose coloured glasses!

Excuse me?

You do have a habit of only
seeing what you want to see mam.

Happy birthday, what did I miss?

Did you really not know he was
leaving me less than the girls in his
will?

What?

Of course I didn't know.

Well you should have.

You shouldn't have enabled him.

You should have protected us.

Protected you?

Are you kidding me?

You were more than happy to be
involved in his money making schemes

so long as you profited from it.

Mum!
And you?

You, you ran to him every time you
needed something done and didn't

want to get your hands dirty.
Go easy mum.

No, no, he let you use the
cafe for over a year rent free.

You said it yourself, if you didn't
have that place you don't know what

you would have done.

So don't sit there accusing me.

None of you minded his dodgy
dealings so long as you benefited
from them.

Can we just eat?

I'm not really hungry any more.

Jesus just forget it.

I've other things I could be doing.

Lads.

Would you just stop acting
like a child and sit down.

You're acting like everything's
fine when clearly it's anything but.

I think my waters just broke.

What?

Don't just sit there!
Okay.

Come on, come on just breathe.

Is it another one?

How far apart was that?

Would someone bloody time them?

You know what,
you need to calm down.

You know, you know I bet all the
stress about the money has put you

into labour in the first place.

For all the good it did me.

But I think I
might have the solution.

Karl has offered
to lend us the money.

Really?
Yeah really.

Now we have to
pay him back of course.

Oh thank you.
Oh thank him, thank God.

Fucking dad!

I'm bleeding.
Oh Jesus.

No, no, no, no.
No, come on now.

Come on.
Grace, put your foot down.

Come on, we've got this.

Jesus Christ.

Come on, come on.

KNOCK ON DOOR

Rory?

Val isn't here.

She's not here at the moment.

It's actually your
eldest I was looking for.

I need you to come down to the
station Calum, just to answer a

couple of questions.

Okay, I'm coming with you.
No.

It's grand.

You need a rest.

No.
No, it's okay, seriously.

It's fine, yeah.

Yeah, there's
nothing to worry about.

I'll have him back
in time for his tea.

It's fine,
seriously, you rest, yeah?

Calum...

I'll phone your mum and she'll
come down to the station, yeah?

PHONE RINGING

Oh God can you just turn
off your mobile phone please.

It's Rory, I'll call him back.

The blood most likely means that the
placenta is detaching, which means

that the baby
could be deprived of oxygen.

No, no, no you're just going
to breathe, come on now, come on.

I ignored all the signs.

There was the headaches,
there was my blood pressure.

It's not, come on.

None of it matters does it?

If anything happens to this baby...
Just breathe.

If anything, if
anything happens to me.

You have to tell Michael.

Michael?
Why?

He deserves to know.

I used one of our
embryos, Michael had already left.

I felt I had nothing to hold on to.

You stole the embryo?

No I didn't steal it.

Why didn't you
discuss it with anyone?

I did.

Dennis!

I knew, I knew that you would try
to talk me out of it, that embryo was
half mine.

Ahhh...

It's coming, it's
coming, the baby's coming.

Please hurry!

Enjoying the party?

Nah, 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?

Did you really think
it wouldn't get back to me?

Your noble betrayal.

Dennis look...
We'll speak, but not now.

What was it mam used to say?

No good deed goes unpunished.