The Long Call (2021–…): Season 1, Episode 4 - Episode #1.4 - full transcript

Simon Walden.
Single stab wound to the chest.

No witnesses, no motive.

I'm pregnant.
Simon's?

Who else would it be?

What do you know about Alfie?
Seems like a lovely guy.

I mean, is Lucy capable
of consenting to a relationship?

Well, I'd say yes.
Did you know about them, Jon?

He came out after me.

Next thing I know,
he's pushing me up against the wall.

I know about Rosa.
What you did was a crime.

Was Simon helping someone else
apart from Rosa?



He said no-one should be
frightened all the time.

Take your coat off
and go back to bed

right... now.

He's a coercive,
bullying narcissist,

and he has used your church
for his own ego.

He stands by us... He treats
his wife like his property!

You don't understand
normal marriage.

Simon Walden came to the Brethren
to help Rosa,

but I think he saw someone else
there who needed his help even more,

that he wanted to help you
escape Dennis.

Help me and I'll help you,
I promise.

'I thought I was feeling better.'

It's like...

my thoughts just...
won't behave themselves.



I thought you might
give me something.

Stronger tablets, maybe?

And... these therapies
you mentioned...

..our church doesn't really go in
for that sort of thing.

And your family?
Are they supportive?

Your husband?

I shouldn't have wasted your time.

We have statements from both
Lucy Craddle and Rosa Shapland,

that on the 15th of March
of this year,

you sexually assaulted Rosa
at the Woodyard day centre.

No comment.
I'm not asking for a comment.

I'm giving you the facts.

What we're interested in
is Simon Walden's murder.

I... I don't know anything about it.

We know Simon Walden was there
the night of the assault.

He saw what happened, didn't he?
You were drunk... upset.

You talked to Walden.

He'd come outside to smoke.

He helped Rosa call her family.

He could see
that I was feeling like shit,

so we just sat and talked.

She hadn't said no.

I know she was drunk, but I hadn't
thought it was that bad.

It was.

You sent private messages
to Walden afterwards,

asking him not to tell anyone.

When did you find out

that he'd recorded
your conversations on his phone?

Is that why you asked Rosa
to show you where the chalet was?

So you could search for the phone?

Because you hadn't found it
that morning,

when you killed him.
No, no, I...

OK... I did go to the chalet.

I knew that Simon and Gaby
went there.

Caz told me
you hadn't found his phone,

and I needed to find it first,
but that's all. I...

I had nothing to do
with Simon's death,

I don't know what happened to him.

You left Rosa
bleeding and unconscious.

That was an accident!
She followed me.

She was freaking out
and she fell and hit her head.

You told DS Rafferty
you left your old job in London

because you wanted
a... new kind of life.

I called your ex-employer.

The accountancy firm.

They told me you were fired
for sexually harassing an intern.

The firm had managed to convince her
not to take it any further,

on the condition
that you left the industry.

You must've been desperate

for Caroline not to find out
what kind of guy you really are.

I asked Simon not to say anything.

But that's it.

I don't know anything
about his death.

We know that Rose and Lucy
came to you with an allegation.

That you did nothing.

I went to see her family.
Dennis Stephenson.

He said there'd been
a misunderstanding.

We didn't see how involving
the police would help anyone.

Did you speak to Ed?
He said he'd made a pass.

Got it wrong.

Well, we've all been there,
in our youth.

Ed's being charged
with attempted rape.

Tell us about the, erm,
nondisclosure agreement

you asked Simon Walden to sign.
Er...

I asked him to sign it,
he refused. That's it.

And that's what
you had the row about?

Have you found his killer yet?

We're getting close.

Matthew?

I'll, er, meet you in the car, boss.

Didn't hear you come home
last night...

or leave this morning.

Did you know about the allegation
that Rosa had made?

What?

You didn't turn a blind eye...

like you did with Lucy
and Alfie, did you?

'I don't know when we will be
able to have a funeral for Simon.'

Or where we'd have it.

The only thing I have is...
your church.

I, erm...

I was wondering if...

..I came to a service,

if you could say some prayers
for him.

You're in a lot of pain,
aren't you, Gaby?

Would you like to talk about it?

You have any family here in Devon?

Just my mum in London.
She's a bit... erratic.

She know about the baby?

Hm...

I've told you
a little about our church.

But one of the main things

is that we leave the outside world
behind at the door.

Anything the world
might judge you for,

anything that you might
feel ashamed of...

..cast it off like old clothes.

Get a brand-new skin,
like a little newborn baby.

Are there things
that you feel ashamed of, Gaby?

World's a brutal place,
tears people to shreds.

Forces them to do things
that they're not proud of.

Everything in my life,
I've screwed up.

These mistakes...

they brought you here... to us.

They have swept away
your transgressions like a cloud,

your sins like the morning mist.

Return to me,
for I have redeemed you.

..need to be called
because I persecuted church...

Grace?

Sorry. Sorry.

Shall I get you some water?
I don't want to make a fuss.

I just need to go home
and rest for a while.

Well, I'll drive you.
No, no, no, no, you're needed here.

I'll be back at lunchtime
to check on you.

'Do you think Ed or Christopher
killed Simon?'

Both of them have motive.

Both of them were desperate to stop
Walden exposing what they'd done.

I dunno.

Is everything OK?

With Jonathan.

Yeah, it's fine.

Hello?

'Grace?'

'Grace, is that you?'

Tell me about Simon Walden.

He was one of those people
who could...

..see things.

Like you.

He saw something in us.
In the church.

The possibility of what it could be.

Without Dennis.

Tell me about
what Dennis does to you.

He never hits me.

I almost used to wish he would.

'The pain would be easier...'
Promise...

..than the fear.

How long has it been happening?

Since the day we met.

I was 19, running away from London.

Came here to... clear my head.

By the sea.

And he was the first person...

..who ever really...

..listened to me.

He was listening, all right.

To find out where the cracks were.

I thought I must've deserved it...

for him to be like that.

And then...

it got so it was just...

..normal.

Did Dennis find out
that Simon wanted to help you?

To get away from him?

Simon was a good man.

What happened to him, Grace?

Was it Dennis?

I think maybe Dennis killed him

and you're too scared
to say anything.

Help me get justice for Simon.

And for you.

What are you doing home?

Didn't you have double maths
this morning?

Well, I know how hard
you've been working recently.

Ella!

You should not be
clearing up after me.

Do you ever regret having kids?

Like, your life would probably be
a lot better if you didn't.

D'you think that's why
I work so much?

Come here.

There are many things I regret
about my relationship with your dad,

but you and Ben are not one of them.
OK?

Come here.

Ugh, sorry!

Boss?

'I need you back at the station,
now.'

Erm...

We're going to need you
to make a statement. A formal one.

We have a warrant
to search Dennis' property.

If we can gather enough evidence
to charge him,

he'll be remanded in custody
and you can go home.

Until then, we'll arrange
somewhere safe for you to stay.

How long will I have to stay?

Well, that depends how quickly
we can get enough evidence.

And if you don't?

Then your statement becomes
even more important.

We need everything you know
about Dennis and Simon Walden.

Anything that might help us prove
that Dennis killed him.

Including his behaviour towards you.

And will that be enough
to charge him?

And... keep him here?

I hope so.

What if it's not?
I know he did it, Grace.

Together, we're going to prove it.

He keeps going... to his shed.

Boss?

Can you tell me how this phone
came into your possession, Dennis?

Oh, yeah, I found it here last week.

It's registered to Simon Walden.

Well, I suppose
he must've left it here.

How did you feel about his interest
in your church?

Well...
I could see that he needed God.

He needed freedom.

I'm sorry, "freedom"?

From all the lies
your world tells, Matthew.

From its false promises,

the infinite choice
that isn't choice at all.

So, you offered him a new life?

We offered him what we offer
everybody - a Bible

and a chance to commit your life
to something bigger than yourself.

I see how lonely people are,
Matthew.

This terrible struggle
to find something,

anything that has meaning.

Must've made you so... angry

that he saw through you.
Through me?

Your life's not about God, Dennis.

It's about your ego.

And Simon Walden saw that.

He saw a chance to redeem himself

by helping the people
who suffered because of you.

Is this because
you're upset about your mother?

It's got nothing to do with me.
It's about Simon... and Rosa.

And Grace?

Is there anyone
who's not a member of this church

who can confirm your alibi for
the morning of Simon Walden's death?

No.

Dennis Stephenson, I'm arresting you

on suspicion of the murder
of Simon Walden.

You do not have to say anything,
but it may harm your defence

'if you do not mention
when questioned

'something you later rely on
in court.'

I want to see my wife.
I know you've got her here.

Why can't I see her?

I need to see my wife!
Are you listening to me?!

I need to see my wife!
Grace?!

..for only you, Lord,
make me dwell in safety.

In peace, I will lie down and sleep,
for only you, Lord, make me...

It was all Dennis.
Mum, coming here...

meeting you.

He convinced her
that he could convert me back.

He wanted me back onside.

Maybe some of it was him.

Not all of it.

I mean, come on,
your mum was trying.

That wasn't fake, like,
she really did try.

She thinks that we're sinners.

That I'm going to hell.

It's-It's not long, you know,
since most people thought that.

But the world has changed.
It's changed fast.

She might never accept us.

I know that you don't think
that I say it.

That little Brethren boy...
with his doubts...

..who's just waiting for it
to all go wrong...

..who can't even
hold my hand in public...

..because he still carries around
the shame

that his mother taught him.

And that's why you needed
to come back here.

Because even after you were
so brave in getting out,

part of you still felt that shame.

And you thought that if she could
just see who you are now...

..if she could just give you
her blessing,

then you mightn't feel that
any more.

And maybe what you really need
is to just let it go.

Can you?

I don't know.

I don't know.

Thank you for agreeing to this.

I really did think
Rosa had got it wrong.

You thought she'd made it up?
I thought she'd misinterpreted.

They were both drunk.
She didn't tell him to stop.

What Ed did was... ungentlemanly.

That doesn't make it a crime.

What makes it a crime
is that she didn't consent to it.

I know.

Could've handled it better.

You did it with Mum
and you're doing it now -

saving your own skin
and fuck the rest of us.

What? We both know Mum would still
be alive if it wasn't for you.

No, Carol...
You drove us drunk, you killed her.

And then you manipulated everything
to save yourself,

just like you always do.
That night, I wasn't drinking.

Your mum was...

seriously ill at the time.

She was very depressed.

Don't make this out to be her fault.

You were asleep in the back.

We were arguing.

She grabbed the steering wheel.

We went into the tree.

That was it.

No... she didn't.

I'm so sorry.

Why didn't you tell me?

Your heart was already broken.

I only ever wanted to protect you.

Jen?
'Sir, the CCTV shows Dennis'

heading to the funeral
before the time of the murder,

coming back 10am, just like he said.

'His solicitor is saying
we have to release him now.'

What about Walden's phone?

No blood traces,
not enough to charge.

Does Grace know he's being released?

'I'm afraid so, sir. She's gone.'

Time to go home, my love.

Come on.

Shit.

Dennis Stephenson had motive.

Simon Walden was helping his wife
report him for domestic abuse.

He had means. We found Walden's
phone hidden in his shed!

Yeah, but no sign
of the murder weapon, though.

Why keep the phone
but not the knife?

OK, is it possible Dennis
was working with someone?

Ed Raveley or Christopher Reasley?

A conspiracy to silence Walden

because he was trying
to expose them.

One of them could have been
at Crow Point

while Dennis was at the funeral
establishing an alibi.

It's possible, yeah.

If it was Dennis,
someone must have helped him.

Where are you going, sir?

To talk to someone who can
lead me to the killer.

I think Dennis killed Simon Walden

and I think YOU can help
me understand how.

Matthew, I've lost everything.
I've lost my husband, my son.

You want to take my church away too?
Dennis isn't your church, Mum.

Well...

It will be a better
place without him and...

And you didn't lose your son.

You didn't want him.

You made me choose...

between you and God.

I told myself it was...
it was some sort of test.

You know, like Abraham and Isaac.
Prepared to...

..sacrifice his only son

because his love for God
was greater than any worldly bond.

I asked myself every day
if I made the right choice.

And I still don't know if I did.

What a cruel bastard your God is.

God is pure love!

And you were raised in it
and you chose to turn away!

No, no, I was raised...
I was raised in fear and shame.

I was raised to despise myself.

I know it's what you believe.

I know that you didn't mean to,
or maybe you didn't see what I was,

or even admit it to yourself,

because I did a very good job
of hiding it.

Mum...

If I could have turned
myself straight,

I would have.

If I could have taken a pill,
or if the praying had worked...

Even after I left, I spent years
just hiding myself, just working,

doing everything I could to be good,
to redeem myself.

And it was sad and it was lonely
and I spent years like that.

And then...

Then I met Jonathan.

And he showed me that I didn't
have to be scared all the time

of people seeing who I really am.

That I can be loved.

No, Mum...
Matthew, please.

..tell me about the morning
of the funeral.

Where's Grace?

I need to see her, Dennis.

She's very fragile, Matthew.

I know what you did, Dennis.

You've been controlling
everyone for years.

Get out of my house.

Get out...

of my house!

I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry.

After everything I've done for you.
I treated you like a son.

I did more for you than
your own father ever did.

Grace!

I found this in your shed.

Before the police could get to it.

You couldn't resist keeping it,
could you?

As a reminder
of your control over me.

Put the knife down, Grace.

You convinced me...

..that I was so... utterly pathetic.

I only ever tried to help you,
Grace.

That's what they all thought!

So loving.

None of them knew the truth.

You controlled my life

for 45 years!

I couldn't leave the house,
couldn't spend any money,

couldn't go anywhere, do anything

without the threats
and the black moods.

I never hit you, Grace.

You didn't have to.

The fear I felt.

All these years, fearing you!

Well, I should have
done this years ago.

Jesus!

Maybe it was worth the wait,

to see the look on your face.

You're scared of me.

YOU'RE scared of ME.

And so you should be.

Grace!

Drop the knife.

Grace Stephenson, I'm arresting you
on the suspicion

of the murder of Simon Walden.

For the tape, the defendant has
refused the duty solicitor.

Tell us what you did, Grace.

I stabbed Simon Walden...

and he died.

It was the morning
of your father's funeral.

I knew I wouldn't be missed
if I slipped away for an hour.

One of the benefits
of being invisible.

Had you arranged to meet him
that morning at Crow Point?

He said he...
he was going to meet Lucy there.

And that they were going
to go to the police.

To report Edward Raveley
for his misconduct at the Woodyard?

Why did you kill him, Grace?

He was trying to help you
escape an abusive marriage.

Did Dennis tell you to kill Simon?

Did he make you do it?

I did this.

I have to own it.

There is a name for what
Dennis does to you.

Coercive control.

He has broken you
down systematically.

If you help us,

we can show Dennis solicited you
to commit Simon's murder.

You don't...
have to protect him any more.

I'm not protecting him.

I won't stand in the dock
next to that man.

I'll face this on my own.

I know that Dennis
manipulated her to kill Simon

and he's gonna get away with it.

The grooming, gaslighting,
whatever you want to call it.

He has... total control over Grace.

But she'll never speak out.

It's what happens with
the Borum Brethren.

What's gonna happen
to the Brethren now, do you think?

Well, they'll, erm...

They'll carry on growing
their vegetables...

..while waiting for God
to swoop them up and...

..watch the rest of us burn.

Yeah.

I kinda see why Simon was into it,
though.

That thing of...
totally belonging somewhere.

I never had that.

Probably never will.

You do.

Oh, I...

I don't know about that.

Here.

I'm gonna tell my dad
to sell this place.

Or find new tenants.

It's not his fault, what Ed did.

He's not a bad man,
your dad, he just...

wants you to love him
and knows you don't.

Not really.

Did you mean what you said,
about helping me?

With the baby?

Cos I'm really,
really gonna need it.

Yeah, you are!

Right, you lot, who's hungry?

Me.
I am making roast chicken.

All the trimmings...
Mum, it's getting a bit late.

Right.

Yeah, maybe lunch tomorrow?
Chinese?

Mm!

Yeah, go on, then.

Case is over, then?
Yeah. Yeah.

Will you...

promise me you'll always...

always, like, tell me stuff?
Yeah. Yeah?

You'll always talk to me.

Yeah?

Want your usual?

Oh, yes, come on.
Crispy chilli beef...

You're too trusting

to see what's really going on.

'You're scared of him,
aren't you, Grace?'

'I'm fragile, Matthew.'

Do you understand what I'm saying?

Go back to bed right...

now.

I couldn't help you then
but I can help you now.

If you talk to me.

Grace, help me and I'll help you,
I promise.

He told me that I was being...
naive.

That Simon was only helping me...

to get Dennis out.

So he can take my place....

In the church.

Do you understand what I'm saying?
We can not let him do that.

I believed him.

I started to think about...

how stupid I'd been.

Daring to hope.

To trust someone.

Dennis said I'd put
the whole church in danger.

And that there was only...
One way...

..to make it right.

To kill Simon.

Dennis had made me hear
what he wanted me to hear.

That's the thing about fear.

It makes you...

..so...

..weak.

I don't blame you for this, Matthew.

Dennis Stephenson,

I'm arresting you on suspicion
of soliciting the murder...

That Alfie?

How is he?

Applying for a new job
at the carwash.

You know...

..if you want to invite him
over sometimes,

or someone else,
that'd be all right.

It's not about that, Dad.

I know.

I know I haven't always
treated you...

as I should have, as a grown woman.

But I...
I made a promise to your mother

that I'd look after you.

Soon enough, I won't be able to.

And that scares me witless.

Who'll look after you then, maid?
Me.

We're here to give thanks for the
life of our brother, Simon Walden.

And I know it's strange
to see me up here.

I don't know whether I should be
speaking like this.

But...

Well, I am.

Now.

I know how easy it is
to say nothing,

to stay quiet.

You know, because you've been
convinced it's for the best.

But perhaps we let ourselves
stay silent for too long.

Letting someone else...
speak for us.

I don't think that's what God wants.

No, I think he wants
to hear our voices.

# Abide with me

# Fast falls the eventide

# The darkness deepens

# Lord, with me abide

# When other helpers

# Faith and comforts flee

# Help of the helpless

# Oh, abide with me. #