Whitstable Pearl

- It's a wonder The spell I'm under Because of the chill in the air Snow is falling And folks are calling To bring in some Christmas cheer -Arthur?

- What a feeling, the yuletide season -Arthur?

It's dinnertime.

- Nothing else can compare When together we'll be around the Christmas tree What a wonderful time of the year - There once was a place with my little lovely - Whey, hey, ho - And I'll seek and I'll search And I know that I'll find it - Whey, hey, ho - I know the wind, she blows I know the tides are low But you'll find me at the Whitepost You'll find me at the Whitepost [ Somber music playing ] -Hi, Mike.

It's me.

Just wanted to hear how you're holding up.

And because I needed someone to talk to, I guess.

I went to her grave today and put up some lilies.

I know it's just a date, but somehow it hit me full-force today like she's a phone call away and I just can just pick up and talk to her.

Strange, isn't it?

One second and everything changes.

Anyway, call me if you want to talk.

- Deck the halls with boughs of holly -Come on, Ruby.

Find that angel for the top.

- 'Tis the season to be jolly -Do you think it's a bit too much?

-It's Christmas, darling.

It can never be too much.

I once saw Arnold Schwarzenegger on top of a plastic sledge being pulled by six elves wearing bikinis.

Even that filled me with the holiday spirit.

More is more.

-Uh, Mum, do you still want beef and oyster pie on the menu?

-Oh, can we skip it this year?

I hate making it.

Have we ordered enough champagne?

-I ordered, Pearl, and I can assure you there's enough.

Champagne and decorations -- that's all the holiday spirit needs.

-Hmm, absolutely.

That's why Jesus died for mankind.

-So no pie then.

-Not unless you wanna make it?

-Hmm.

-I could make it.

-Yeah, okay.

I'll help.

-Oh, God.

-That's what love looks like, dear.

You should try it sometime.

-Do you remember that?

Dad got it.

He said I could choose any one I want, and I chose that.

[ Cellphone rings ] Right, you two are in charge of pies, then.

Hi.

Pearl Nolan.

Okay.

Right.

A note?

[ Mid-tempo music plays ] -No, it is -- it is small, but you can't beat the view.

These flats are selling like hot cakes.

You're lucky to have snapped it up just in time to make it your own little nest before Christmas.

Mr. McGuire?

You okay?

-Yeah, absolutely.

Just admiring the great sea view the brochure promised.

-Yeah, okay.

Uh, I'm just gonna leave the keys here and, uh, leave you to it.

Hope you like the flowers.

Merry Christmas.

[ Vehicle engine rumbling ] [ Knock on door ] [ Somber music playing ] -Pearl.

Please have a seat.

-Oh.

So your husband disappeared, yeah, seven years ago?

-His car was found abandoned by a slipway in Oare.

I was three months pregnant.

-And the police?

-Police were there.

By the car.

Nothing.

No body.

And then they found a suicide note.

So they, um... stopped looking.

-What do you think happened?

-He's alive.

-And he's out there somewhere and he needs me.

-What did the suicide note say?

-I never saw it.

They never showed it to me.

And how would you like me to help?

-I don't need to see a note to know that my husband didn't kill himself.

[ Melancholy music plays ] No one believes me.

And then this came through my door.

It was just posted through the letterbox.

-Told the police?

-They'll say it's just someone being cruel.

They won't...

They say it's not enough to reopen the investigation.

They think I'm mad, you see, because I believe that he might come back.

The rest of them think he's dead.

-Them?

Who -- Who are them?

-The people who were in our lives.

They've abandoned us now.

They told me to let him go.

[ Tearfully ] But how could I do that, huh?

Tell me how?

How can I let my son believe that his daddy didn't want to meet him?

That he wasn't enough to stay alive for?

No.

This -- This is the truth.

I know it in my bones.

They're Robert's.

He painted them.

They help me keep him alive.

[ Vehicle engine rumbling, stops ] -Have you ever lost a child?

No.

It's God's way of testing us, isn't it?

He takes away what we love the most to teach us not to be selfish.

And it's His way of reminding me every day that what He gives can be taken away just like that.

Like my son.

Minister Cameron says they never really leave us.

They're just watching us, and we're spinning so fast we don't see 'em.

But... if we slow down, we can catch glimpses of 'em.

Hmm.

They're all watching us until we slow down enough to join 'em.

-Christina said that there's -- -[ Scoffs ] -Christina doesn't live in the real world.

Um, I'm just trying to help.

Christina turned away from us.

And from the light.

She won't let us take Arthur to church, won't let him be baptized even.

She can live her life how she wants, but to do that to her son, the selfishness.

-Look, I know this is hard.

But I'm just trying to find out more about Robert.

What was his life like?

-No, I don't wanna talk about Robert.

Robert betrayed us.

He betrayed God's gift.

I lost two children that day.

I lost the light of my life.

No, I don't want to talk about Robert.

Sorry, I...

I'm just trying to help Christina to understand what happened.

-Oh.

-She'd got this note.

-And she's been -- -Yeah.

[ Paper rustling ] She sent us that, didn't she?

She probably wrote 'em both to persuade the police that... [ Somber music playing ] My son is dead.

They both are.

Christina is sick.

And cruel.

The only one who can help her now is Minister Cameron.

You tell her that.

You tell her.

-Sorry.

Sorry, I didn't... -I... [ Somber music continues ] -I am sorry.

-My, uh... My wife, s-she, uh -- Evie has never fully recovered after the accident.

-What accident?

-Robert had a twin brother, Mark.

He died.

Uh, they went swimming out at Oare.

Red flags were up, but, uh, he was only 12.

They swam out.

Mark got caught in the undercurrent.

He never should've been out that far.

Robert was the better swimmer.

And he screamed for help, but there was no one there.

[ Sobering music playing ] Just Robert and somewhere underneath him, his brother.

-I'm sorry.

-It wasn't Robert's fault, but he blamed himself.

[ Tearfully ] They were our world.

-[ Sighs ] -[ Sniffles ] And, um... and Evie, uh, couldn't believe God could do that to her, so she needed someone to blame.

And then when Robert ended his life, uh... and left us with nothing, she knew she could've saved him if she'd just... -Christina doesn't think that Robert's dead.

-Look we all believe in -- in -- in whatever helps us from going insane.

My wife believes in the minister and God.

Christina has -- has her own reality.

Our sons are dead.

Robert is dead.

Please just stop this madness now.

-So you didn't put a 30-pound frozen turkey in your pram?

Well, how could I?

My baby was in the pram.

-I hate to tell you, but... your kid's never gonna play piano.

And its head is missing.

Probably feels a bit cold too when you're breastfeeding.

-I want a lawyer.

-Oh, bloody hell.

Just -- Just stop!

Find out if there's actually a baby somewhere that we need to worry about.

Maybe she stuffed the turkey with it.

[ Mid-tempo music playing ] [ Door opens ] -Guv, I have something for you.

I know you just bought an apartment, and I know you would never get round to buying a tree, so just, you know, pimp her up a bit.

You're a glitter and sparkles kind of guy.

[ Cellphone chimes ] [ Keyboard clacking ] [ Knock on door ] -Oh, come in.

It's open.

Alright?

-You've been busy.

-Yeah, it's a cold case.

Woman's husband went missing nearly seven years ago.

Car found by the River Oare.

Suicide note but no body.

-So you're chasing a ghost.

-Well, I'm helping a woman who needs help.

But I need to see the suicide note, and it's in police files.

-Is this why you wanted to meet?

Pearl, we've been through this.

It's a police file.

I can't give it to you.

Well, you don't have to give it to me.

But you could -- Like, you could describe it to me or you could, like, take a picture of it or you could draw it or do charades.

I-I just need to know what it says.

You hungry?

-Uh... -Get your blood sugar levels up.

-No, I-I-I've got -- got some stuff to sort out so, uh, maybe another time, yeah.

[ Somber music playing ] -You okay?

-It's not your fault, it's...

It's just a bad day.

-I got something for you.

I got you this for your new flat, make it Christmassy.

Well, that's, uh, nice.

Got any plans for Christmas?

I've, uh -- I-I've gotta go.

I'll give you a-a call later.

[ Chairs scraping ] -Hello.

Can I help you?

-Hi.

I was looking for Minister Cameron.

-He has a baptism ceremony out by the beach and can't be disturbed.

And after that, he works with our outreach programs.

He'll be back for group and therapy meetings in the afternoon.

Come back then.

-What's a Lazarus meeting?

-That's our grief counseling meeting.

It's open to everyone.

Is that what you're looking for?

-Yeah.

-Great.

Well, you're welcome.

Did Robert Scott used to come to these meetings?

[ Suspenseful music playing ] -He used to with his girlfriend.

You mean Christina?

-No.

Alice.

-Alice.

Tsk, that's right, yeah.

Were they together for a while?

The love of his life, and he was hers.

-[ Sighs ] -Now they're both gone.

Gone?

Where -- Where did Alice go?

-You said you were looking for Minister Cameron.

It was just seeing Robert's photograph, it just reminded me of him.

So sad.

Well, thanks for your help.

I'll -- I'll come back.

[ Water bubbling ] [ Man moaning ] [ Dramatic music playing ] -Think not that I came to send peace on earth, I came not to send peace but a sword, for I am come to set a man at variance with his father and the daughter with her mother-in-law and a man's foe shall be those of his own household.

[ Doorbell rings ] [ Dog barking in distance ] [ Suspenseful music plays ] [ Knock on door ] -Hello.

Sorry to disturb.

It's just I have another question.

There's not much more to say.

I know.

I'm sorry I came back.

It's just do -- do you remember an Alice?

She was a friend of Robert's.

-Alice?

-Yeah.

I think maybe she was his girlfriend.

He used to take her to church, so it was before he stopped.

-He used to have a girlfriend before he met Christina.

Maybe Alice was her name.

I-I'm not sure, but she left.

-Left?

What do you mean she left?

-Uh, I-I don't know.

Somebody told me she was the love of his life.

-She was a bit of a lost soul, I think.

Ran away a lot.

-Do you remember her parents?

-No.

-No?

Come on.

It's a small town.

And she was dating your son.

You must have known her parents.

-She, uh, grew up in the children's home, I think.

So like I said, no.

-Near here?

-Guess so.

-Can you remember the name of it?

-Look, you need to stop this.

Robert is dead.

My wife is having a breakdown.

We lost both sons, and now this note.

Have you asked Christina if she wrote it?

-Okay, well, if you do remember her surname or her family, could you let me know?

Thank you.

[ Engine rumbling ] [ Birds calling ] -Ooh.

It's delicious.

-Do you really think so?

-Yeah.

It's better than mine.

-Well, I worked on the recipe you taught me and added a couple of things.

-Wow.

I'm really proud of you, Ruby.

Did Charlie help?

-Uh, yeah.

[ Both laugh ] -You're a horrible liar.

-Ruby, you should take over the kitchen for a couple of evenings a week.

Give Pearl a chance to get laid.

-What?

H-How have you gone from the beef and oyster pie to that?

Come on, I'm not gonna stand here and discuss my sex life with you, least of all in front of my son's girlfriend.

Oh.

Listen.

-What?

-That's the sound of us discussing your sex life.

-I think she means it's non-existent.

-Yeah, I got it, thanks, thank you.

-I think you should take over every now and then.

I think it's a brilliant idea.

I'm going out to the Mather's Church.

-Why?

-A man went missing a few years ago, and his wife's asked me to find him.

-But they're like a cult.

I've read about them.

They're like the Manson family but with a priest.

-No, it isn't.

They call themselves a church.

-Yeah, they all say that, dear.

Do you know I have always wanted to visit a cult.

Feels kind of secret.

[ Somber music plays ] [ Sobbing quietly ] [ Cellphone ringing ] [ Breathing shakily ] -Hi.

It's me.

Um, listen sorry about asking for the note.

I-I won't ask any more favors.

And you didn't answer when I asked if you had plans for Christmas.

Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.

[ Tense music plays ] But for everything there is a season and a time for every matter under heaven.

A time to be born and a time to die.

A time to plant and a time to pluck up what is planted.

A time to kill... and a time to heal.

[ Tense music continues ] Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.

Can you feel the comfort, my friends?

Can you feel God within you?

-[ Congregants whispering ] Yes.

-Ah, ah, do not whisper to God.

Let him hear your voice.

Can you feel God?

-[ Congregates loudly ] Yes.

-My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

And now my friends, what would you like to share with us this week?

Ah.

I felt Jason very close this week.

Like we spoke about, it didn't hurt as much.

I felt more comforted.

Well, we cannot rush healing.

-But healing... -Cult.

-...comes to us all.

And you?

Yes, you.

You're welcome to Mather's Church.

What about your loss would you like to share?

Well... hello.

Um...my husband died 30 years ago.

Pff, I mean so long ago now that I... compared to most of you, I should barely think of him anymore.

It's just that I'm reminded of it every day.

I lost my husband.

I can cope with that.

But what I felt most... was the loss for my daughter.

She was only 8 at the time.

And I wanted so much for it not to hurt her.

But I think some things... get stored in our subconscious, don't they?

I watch her now... ...and she's scared to love.

She's scared of being hurt.

And I know it's not my right, but sometimes I-I just wanna scream at her.

But to be scared to love... ...because you're scared of being hurt... ...well, that's sacrilegious, isn't it?

[ Somber music playing ] -Thank you.

Now, that was wonderful.

-Oh.

-Wonderful.

-Alright, see you.

-Go well.

See you next week.

-God be with you.

-Thank you.

God be with you.

-Thanks.

-Thank you.

Thank you for sharing.

God go with you.

God go with you.

Lovely to see you.

Thank you.

Thank you for coming.

-May God bless you.

-Minister Cameron.

-Hmm?

Ah, I wondered if I could ask you a couple of questions about Robert Scott?

Why?

Well, he used to come here with his girlfriend, Alice.

-And?

-And, well, she disappeared, and then a few years later, he allegedly committed suicide.

Don't you think that's strange?

-Do you believe in God, Miss Nolan?

Well, it's a simple question.

Do you come here to mock Him in His own house?

-I came here to ask some questions about Robert and try and understand his life.

Christina received a note.

-It's ridiculous.

-Why?

-It's a wound she doesn't want to heal.

She's constructed her life around it.

Two of your f-flock, is that what you call them, went missing, so how would you explain that?

[ Dramatic music playing ] -I failed.

There is a world out there that I try to protect them from but, uh... [ Scoffs ] -I don't believe you.

I don't believe that you don't know anything about Robert or Alice.

Really don't care what you believe.

There is only one who can judge us, and it's not you, Miss Nolan.

Robert made a choice to turn his back on us a long time ago.

Our church does a lot of good work.

I've dedicated my life to that.

We all have.

Christina wrote that message herself.

She needs help.

You're only encouraging her fantasy world, so please leave.

-That went well.

-I don't get it.

That's not a normal response to suicide.

-They're Christians, dear.

They have a 2,000-year-old tradition of not having a normal response to anything.

-Did you miss him?

-Who?

-Dad.

-Doesn't really help to miss someone, does it?

Doesn't bring them back.

-But that doesn't answer my question.

Is there something you're not telling me?

-Like what?

-About you and dad.

Something I don't know.

[ Down-tempo music plays ] Did you love him?

-What kind of question is that?

You're not a child anymore, Pearl.

Life isn't black and white.

-I just... [ Sighs ] -Still here?

-No.

-There was no baby.

The woman who stole the turkey.

No baby.

There was a dog, though.

-Yeah?

Maybe they share like Lady and the Tramp.

Tell you what, why don't you call her lawyer, tell him there's no baby and have him explain what his client was doing in the store with a pram full of meat.

[ Machine whirring ] -Shouldn't you be at home in your new flat settling in for Christmas?

-I got your tree.

All I need now is a plum pudding, liter of vodka, and a Santa hat.

And I'll be all set.

-Sounds like fun.

[ Door closes ] Humbug.

[ Mid-tempo music playing ] -What do you think?

-It's like one of the quotes that have been ripped off his sketches.

He put quotes on everything.

Look, you've got a young man, right, disappeared, what, almost seven years ago.

I read the case file, a lot points to suicide.

You've got a car abandoned by water.

Right, he's shy, no friends.

Got a history of tragic loss, depression.

-Yeah, but his life was looking up and he had a decent relationship with his wife even though she had problems.

And he was about to become a father.

-Uh, maybe the responsibility was too much.

And maybe he was more depressed than people noticed and didn't talk to anyone.

It's t-typical male behavior.

Not me, of course.

I'm the male equivalent of Oprah.

-I dunno, maybe you're right.

I've spoken to all the people that his wife said he was close to or that he had regular contact with, and that's a grand total of four, including her.

And there's this one I can't find.

She grew up at the kid's home.

-Shut down.

Sorry, I wasn't eavesdropping.

I'm the reason it shut down.

How's the fish?

-Yeah, yeah, great, yeah.

Suspect it hasn't seen water in a while, but the oil makes up for that perfectly.

[ Snickers ] -Really, you shut it down?

-Well, the girls weren't properly cared for.

-In what way?

-Well, when I first started here as a waitress, they used to all come over and spend time here.

The bloke that run it used to dish out free tattoos to the girls right there in that corner.

12-, 13-year-olds.

So I called the home to report it.

Nothing was done, so I called the council.

They investigated, and they found a bit more than just tattoos.

-Did you know a girl called Alice Lowry?

-I remember Alice.

Troubled.

Scottish, big hair, makeup out here.

I always thought underneath all the guck, she'd look just like a little girl.

First tattoo she ever had was right by her suicide scar she had on her wrist.

Tattooed the word "failure" right next to it.

And after that, she got her whole chest covered in butterflies.

Was this the girl that disappeared?

Hmm.

-Must've run off with her boyfriend.

She used to boast about how she'd found someone, how he was gonna take care of her.

She was pregnant last time I saw her.

-What?

-Yeah.

Did the test here.

I spent an hour holding her while she sobbed in the loo.

That's the last time I ever saw her.

-Who was the boyfriend?

-Who knows?

Glad I reported it, though.

[ Door opens ] Ooh, excuse me.

[ Cellphone rings ] [ Indistinct chatter ] [ Cellphone clatters ] -You only use that thing as a pager, don't you?

Oh, it's, um... [ Melancholy music plays ] -When I came to see you yesterday...

It's just been a rough couple of days.

I'm sorry about that.

-I'm gonna have a party at the restaurant for Christmas.

If you haven't made any other plans.

Look, I know you don't like meeting new people, but you could -- you could just talk to me.

Stand in the corner and have your back on all the other guests.

I gotta get back to work, um... Give me a call if you find anything, alright?

And, uh, don't go speaking to people alone.

Just call me.

I'll see you later.

[ Suspenseful music playing ] [ Door creaks, thuds ] -[ Gasps ] [ Dramatic music playing ] [ Ink pen scratching ] Mike, it's me.

Um, I've done something really stupid.

I went to the children's home.

I know I said I'd tell you but, well, I'm telling you now.

Look, I-I think Robert is alive.

I think I just saw him.

He attacked me or I-I scared him.

But either way, I lost him.

Can you, um -- Can you call me?

[ Sighs ] [ Line rings ] -Hi.

-I got your message.

Are you alright?

-Sorry.

-For what?

-Well, you warned me.

-Listen, Pearl, this is a small town.

What do you mean by that?

-What if he knows who you are?

Or where you live?

Or where you work?

-Well, I think I just scared him.

He's living there or he's sleeping there.

-And what if he killed Alice?

-Where are you?

[ Somber music playing ] At home.

Listen, uh, why don't you get some sleep and, um... tomorrow, bring me everything you've got, and I'll go through it, okay?

-Okay.

Thank you.

-Alright, good night.

-Night.

[ Line beeps ] [ Birds calling ] [ Door opens ] Sorry, we're shut.

The kitchen isn't ready yet.

-Do you think I could just have a cup of coffee?

I can sit on the balcony.

Sure.

-Just plain black.

I could use one myself.

Do you mind if I join you?

[ Tense music plays ] Why are you looking for Robert?

Because Christina hired me to find him.

Is he with you, Alice?

I saw him last night.

No, you saw me.

What do you want?

-I wanna help.

-Robert's dead.

-How do you know?

Why have you come back?

I'm here to meet the father of my child.

And who's that?

He's the one that killed Robert.

[ Suspenseful music plays ] [ Bar thuds ] I've imagined this moment so many times in my head.

What I would say... what you would do.

What you'd look like when you're scared.

I was 14.

14.

I was a child.

And I trusted you.

When I told you that I was pregnant I thought that you would take care of me.

But you made me do things that no child should do.

Took pictures.

Threatened to take my baby away if I didn't disappear.

-You had to involve my son, didn't you?

Couldn't stay away from him.

-Robert tried to save me from you.

He gave me money so that I could run from you.

-Why did you come back?

-I had to tell him.

When I first left, I lied.

I said I didn't know who the father was.

And it hurt him.

But it was better than the truth, wasn't it?

I came back and told him about you.

The night that you beat him to death.

I saw you leave the car at Oare.

-Do you -- Do you think I mean to hurt him?

He was my son.

Try to imagine that.

I loved you.

Uh, I tried to explain, but -- but he -- he just wouldn't stop shouting.

So you hit him until he stopped.

Don't you dare judge me!

Every single night... when I close my eyes, [ Sobs ] I see his f... [Crying ] ...face.

No sin is forgiven as long as the conscience knows.

Try killing your own son.

Try losing two sons.

You killed Robert by spreading your legs for anyone who'd give you a minute's attention, you little whore!

Why did you send those notes?

Why?!

Now you know how it feels... to be scared.

They're looking for him, and they will find you.

There is nowhere that you can run.

-Blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted.

Matthew chapter 5, verse 4.

[ Blade clicks ] It's a lie, though.

It's a lie, Alice.

I want this to end.

I want this to be over.

[ Doors rattling ] I want this to be over.

[ Mrs. Scott screams ] [ Mr. Scott thuds ] [ Exhales heavily ] [ Somber music plays ] Whoever strikes a man so that he dies shall be put to death.

You shall take him from my altar so he may die.

Now everyone will know who you really are.

He will never hurt me or anybody else again.

-Mike, it's me.

You're not gonna like this.

[ Christmas song playing over radio ] [ Indistinct conversations ] [ Indistinct chatter ] [ Music continues over radio ] [ Indistinct conversations ] -You came.

-Yeah.

Oh, thanks.

[ Clears throat ] The corner.

-What?

-You said there was a corner where I could stand.

-[ Chuckles ] Well, I've got a balcony if the corners are too crowded.

-Are there Christmas songs playing out there?

-No.

Balcony sounds like a good idea.

[ Melancholy music plays ] - La, la, la, la, la La, la, la, la, la, la, la, la La, la, la, la, la - La, la, la, la, la - La, la, la, la, la, la, la, la - Ooh - La, la, la, la, la, la, la Ooh La, la, la, la, la, la, la, la