Original subtitles

oh jesus

You made it.

I was right in the middle of something.

Sunday morning, should I ask?

No.

Still warm. The owner of the place whipped it up for you.

I always imagined this place was a bit flasher somehow.

Ah, nice of you to show up.

Captain Cook called the body in.

That can't be his real name, can it?

Initially, the uniforms thought it was a simple drowning, but the marks on her

neck say otherwise.

Any idea who?

It's Ophelia Marley.

The professional tennis player.

What's she doing here?

It was a hen's dote. A group of them stayed last night.

Gina's on her way.

She was on the international circuit until a couple of months ago, just

inside the top 200.

Her dad died recently.

I read it in the courier.

That's why she was back in town.

Is that Captain Cook?

No, he had to catch the tide.

That's the owner of the Tidal View Lodge.

DSS Mike Sheppard. Marcus Donovan.

They all signed a health and safety waiver. It pointed out all the potential

dangers.

Is that standard breakfast?

Been a while since you stayed in a hotel, has it? Do Fee's friends know

what's happened?

No, they are still sleeping off their big night.

I didn't want to be the bearer of bad news, you know.

Best we put some more coffee on, eh?

Put out some tissues, that sort of thing.

This is very like the play Hamlet, with Ophelia drowning in a stream.

Ah, yes, indeed.

Except in Hamlet, Ophelia wasn't strangled.

Who said this woman was strangled?

What, looks like strangulation?

Detective Sims.

We never know what we know until we know it.

Any thoughts on the cause of that?

Maybe the necklace.

It looks cheap.

Surely it would have snapped with the force.

And these markings don't seem to match.

A rope of some kind.

No sign of fibrous damage to the skin.

A chain?

Or a garrote?

a garage from the medieval period.

Some things are timeless.

Can you hazard a guess as to how long she's been in the water?

Not so long, but at least six hours.

He's out on a Sunday morning.

Nicky?

Got a coffee?

No.

What do we do, officers?

I don't remember breaking the law.

Not good news, I'm afraid.

Not good how?

You might want to sit down, not good.

Shouldn't we wait for fee?

Sadly, this involves the bride-to-be. We had a call this morning reporting

someone deceased.

It was Ophelia.

What?

No way. She's upstairs.

Sleeping off a hangover. I wish that were true.

She was found in the river.

We're so sorry.

Oh my God.

Was that fake?

What the hell happened?

We need to find that out.

This place is in the middle of nowhere.

Mainly farms, lifestyle blocks.

Organise a door-to-door.

See if any neighbours recall any suspicious activity last night. On it.

Well, let's hope that was in working order.

Oh, just so you know, I've got a booking this afternoon.

It's not going to happen, I'm afraid.

I've got everything in. You know, food, staff booked. They reserved the whole

place. Mr Donovan, we're dealing with a suspected homicide.

We'll need to cordon the place off. I'm sorry for any inconvenience.

Could you show me around the lodge?

Yeah, of course, whatever I can do.

Is this the only way in here?

Yeah, yeah, one road in, one road out.

Shantar Rehana.

R-E-I-H-A-N-A.

Fee's best mate.

Thanks.

Anna, do you know how I could get in contact with Fee's next of kin?

I know her father passed away recently. She doesn't have any. Her mum died when

she was really young.

Scotty's the closest thing she has to her family.

And Scotty is?

Scotty Hammond.

Her fiancé.

You'll need to talk to the others.

The others being?

The other hens. They went home last night.

We'll get them to come down too.

Come down where?

To the police station.

We'll need to get a statement from each one of you.

What do we do with our rooms? Should we just check out?

Leave them as is. We'll let you know when you can come and collect your

belongings.

We'll need a ride.

Where are we supposed to catch the boat back?

I'm doing next of kin, so...

Oh, sorry.

Pop those in the back.

Oh, okay.

Are you like a part-time cowboy?

No.

I'm a country music band, though.

Sheriff Mike Shivert.

How did you all know Ophelia?

How we all went through Brokenwood High. It was still tight.

Mostly.

Why was Ophelia wearing her wedding dress?

Are we mad for you to get a wedding gown? We all got bridesmaids dresses.

Yeah, don't you need me secondhand?

Because of something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue.

Nah, because she's rich and we're not.

There was a $10 limit.

The tackier, the better.

Nikki's the op shop queen.

I think I'm going to be sick. Okay, knock on the car, knock on the car.

Oh my god, me too.

No, I'm okay.

Do you reckon we could stop for a pie? I'm kind of hungry.

They arrived about four, met the boat for their cruise, got back about six,

got some food into them, about eight, more drinks, dancing.

Closed the bar at midnight.

Put the other hens in the taxi van.

Puffed the girls to it.

Went to bed.

They were still going when you left?

Ah, yes.

Anyone know where Scotty Hammett might be?

124 Talamore Rise.

That's where he lives, I think.

He's not at home.

Maybe the tennis club. They had a stag party there last night.

Try the tennis club.

Chantelle.

Walk me through what happened yesterday.

We started in town.

mid-afternoon.

At, um, a second time round.

That's the op shop on... The main track.

First up was the cruise.

It was really fun.

We were all getting on.

It was awesome.

Chantal had gone to a lot of effort to make Fee's big day special.

The big day before the big day.

Before she settled down.

Sorry, this is just so freaky. It was freaky to think she was settling down.

Why do you say that?

Well, because if I had the international lifestyle and all that, I wouldn't. I'd

want to keep partying on.

Not that she didn't party to the max. She did.

That's what hen's nights are for, a party.

And she seemed to be having fun.

Yeah, we all did.

What time did you call it quits?

I don't know. I was really wasted.

I guess one-ish, maybe.

Because Faye dared me to eat the worm.

The worm being?

To kill a worm.

Don't be a pussy.

You have to chew.

I don't remember much after that.

It's all a bit hazy.

I'm sorry.

Yeah.

No, definitely one.

Ish. Sorry, I've got a few blank spots.

Tequila and bubbly does that to me.

Yeah, no, I reckon one.

So you were the last person to see Ophelia before she went to bed?

Was I?

Did you see anyone after that?

I never saw her again.

No.

I never saw her again.

Our most defts did not see her again.

Howdy, stranger.

This is where you've been hiding.

Yep, been working on my backhand in case we ever get to play that game.

Oh, sorry.

Work's been frantic.

Well, you're here.

I'm here.

The courts are empty.

Except this isn't a social call, is it?

Unfortunately not.

Good night.

To be honest, it was kind of dull.

Scotty was in a low-key mood until around about midnight.

By the looks of Darren, though, they carried on for a bit.

So, what's up?

Scotty.

Is he here?

Yeah, it's in his office, sleeping it off.

Into the hall.

Scotty.

Hmm.

What?

Scotty, I'm... I'm sorry to wake you.

Who?

I'm sorry, but your fiancé, Ophelia Marley, was involved in an incident

last night.

What sort of incident?

She has passed away.

What?

What do you mean? Well, we don't have many details yet, but she was found in

the Broken Wood River.

I'm so sorry.

Christ.

What sort of relationship did Scotty and Ophelia have?

Quick. They've only been together like two months.

But they were getting married.

Guess they were made for each other.

They had total chemistry.

You're going down this time. I'm going down this time. You are.

No, I don't think so.

Just wait.

Okay. They reckon they had the hots for each other as soon as they locked eyes.

Wow.

Two months, that's fast.

I was so into it.

Nothing's ever felt so right.

So you met when she was in town for her father's funeral?

Yeah, she was looking for a hitting partner and then...

Her dad just died.

That's why Fee latched on to Scotty so fast.

Her dad was like her go-to fix-it guy.

She needed a replacement.

Jeez, Nicky. Harsh.

What did he fix?

When she pushed things too far, he would smooth things over.

She could be a bit ruthless.

No, she just didn't want to be alone.

I was into her.

Really into her.

Scotty, do you want to go and talk to the others?

Sure, sorry, I've been finding this hard to brace you.

It's okay, of course.

Sorry, can we go?

Yeah, I really need some sleep.

Apart from Marcus and the other hens, Nicky, you mentioned a stripper, um...

Alex. Alex Fuller. He does a lot of hens, Nick.

Way too many. He's been doing it way too long.

Yeah, it's kind of past its use by date.

He was fun, though.

It was a fun night, you know?

Okay, how?

Get some sleep, eh?

Oh, it's the worst thing right here. We're fine.

It's crazy.

It's so scary. No, no.

Done?

Not done. I was saving them for you.

I'll put some more coffee on.

This is Detective Sims.

It's Faye.

This

morning,

she was found drowned in the river.

Something's happened to Faye?

She was found in the river.

Drowned.

Oh, Jesus.

Um, Scotty, I'm... I'm so sorry again for your loss.

I have to ask, what time did the stag do finish up last night?

Uh, about one.

I was pretty loaded.

I crashed here.

So you stayed here all night?

Yeah.

I mean, once I hit the couch, I didn't leave.

So what happens now?

I'll need you to come down to the station and give us a statement.

Just whenever you feel up to it.

Okay, I can do that.

Right. Once these three went to their rooms, none of them have alibis.

And as far as we know, at this stage, Kimberly Mason is the last person to see

Ophelia before the discovery of her body by the riverboat captain.

James Cook.

I'm not kidding. Jim, to his mates.

Our Captain Cook was in Tohuna Point all night.

He checks out. He had to catch the morning tide, hence the early arrival.

Did Marcus Donovan cheer up?

Selling place.

Yeah, I've done my dash.

You want to buy?

It's a great little business.

Ah, no.

Any chance you can talk to your boss then?

He won't want to buy it either.

No, I mean about keeping my name, the title of your lodge, out of the paper.

No one's going to want to buy an old lodge where Simmons has died.

DSS Shepard has no say over what they put in the papers.

And with forensics around, we're going to need you to stay off-site.

And how did he take that?

Moaned some more. But he let me look around the lodge and gave me the

security footage from the car park.

Victim's room?

Fee's bed had not been slept in.

Do you live on the premises?

In one of the guest rooms, yeah.

So you were here too?

Sure, goes without saying.

Cell phone?

Ah, nothing.

And no handbag as well.

According to one of the hens, she had one.

Ah, river?

Possible.

Start a ground search first.

Get SSG to look for it and anything that might account for the wounds on her

neck. I'll give the dive squad a heads up.

Kristen?

Ah, Scotty.

Hammett, fiancé, spent all night at the tennis club with best man Darren Walker,

who, incidentally, is deaf.

How did the fiancé take the news?

He was upset.

But? But, and maybe it's nothing, but he seemed slightly disconnected.

If you'd like to see Ophelia, that can be arranged too.

Sure.

It's entirely up to you.

No, of course.

I want to do that.

You know, chrysanthemums are the symbol of death.

It is a mortuary.

Red roses would hardly be appropriate.

Whoa, okay.

Check this out.

So, here's the hens leaving at 12.05am.

Now according to everyone's statements, Fee, Marcus, Chantelle, Kimberly and

Nikki were the only ones there during the night.

Turns out... That is not the case.

What? Play it back?

That's Scotty and Darren Walker.

You know sign, right?

Oh, I bet, but it's too dark to make out what they're saying.

I thought you said that they both spent all night at the tennis club.

Their words, not mine.

There was no water in her lungs.

So she was dead before she went in the river.

Toxicology will show if there were any other contributing factors, but we can

say she died from asphyxiation through strangulation.

So I was right then.

Lucky guess.

Time of death?

I have closed the window to between 1 a.m. and 3 a.m.

Any further thoughts on these?

That looks like a chain of some kind, but the force would have broken the

skin. Maybe a garter belt or... The braces of a man's lederhosen.

Lederhosen? There were any Bavarians at the party?

I don't believe so.

Probably not Lederhosen, then.

What a waste.

She had a promising career ahead of her.

You're a tennis fan?

Every little girl in Russia dreams of being a tennis star. We have some of the

greats. Maria Sharapova, Ilana Dementyeva, Svetlana Kuznetsova, Anna

Kurnikova. Although, she was more about the fashion than the game.

Do you play tennis, Mike?

Not anymore.

Thanks for coming in.

We're sorry for your loss, Scotty. Sure.

D.C. Breen will take you through.

Come this way. Hi, D.C.'s Mike Shepard.

Darren, take a seat. We're just waiting on the interpreter to come.

Hi, sorry, Zoe Fuller?

Zoe.

Detective Sims, you can come through.

Hi, I got a call last night. I'm supposed to be helping with an

interrogation? An interview, yeah.

I'm late, aren't I? No, not at all.

Darren!

So, how does this work?

Uh... Well, Darren can lip-read, so we'll ask the questions and we just need

you to relay his responses verbatim.

But you've obviously worked with Darren before?

Just a couple of job interviews, nothing like this.

Great. You told Detective Sims you were at the tennis club all night.

Is that correct?

Couldn't see the point in going back to an empty house.

I bunked down on the couch in my office.

Wouldn't be the first time.

Do you have any idea who these men might be?

Maybe you want to reconsider that?

Did you spend the whole night at the tennis club?

No.

After the party, Scotty and me went to Tidal View Lodge.

So... You can confirm that this is you and Scotty in this footage.

Why did you lie?

I don't know.

I freaked out.

You have to admit it doesn't look good.

I guess I thought if you knew I'd been there then it would look suspicious.

More or less suspicious than lying about your whereabouts.

Why were you going to the lodge?

Scotty wanted to see Fee.

Wait.

Fee.

Ophelia Marley.

She's dead.

We haven't released her name yet, so your discretion would be appreciated.

Um... I know her.

Is that going to be a problem?

Um... Are you friends?

We went to school together.

Maybe I should go. This feels weird.

It's okay.

Excuse me a moment.

There's no one else.

One translator's on maternity leave. The other one is on holiday in Fiji.

That's Brokenwood. 1.5 degrees of separation.

They're not close.

And she's not providing a statement.

Only reporting it.

You were right, by the way.

Ophelia was dead before she entered the water.

And Gina called it a lucky guess.

Yep. Yeah.

Can I have a quick word?

I've ruined things, haven't I? No, not at all.

When was the last time you saw Fee?

Fee at the tennis club.

Zoe. She just hurt her foot.

No, it can't be.

I'm sorry about your dad.

I hardly recognise you. I know, right?

That was the only interaction that we had.

Okay. Oh, do you play dinners?

I do.

There's a problem, isn't it?

No, not at all.

Keep up the good work.

We would have been there for about half an hour.

It's a long way to go for half an hour.

Why did you go?

Because I was drunk and I wanted to see you.

Scotty had it bad.

I've never seen him like that with a woman before.

So he went to get some romance.

Then why were you there?

What do you mean?

Why did you go to the lodge?

Scotty asked me to come. No, but if Scotty wanted some quality alone time

with his fiancée, why bring a friend along?

I thought I was going to a party.

I thought my mate would be there.

Your mate?

Sorry, it's Scotty.

No, Peter.

Peter Toovey.

He works at the lodge, helping the owner.

But he'd gone.

Okay, um, so you visited Ophelia and... Oh, really?

I thought you wanted to meet at the wharf.

What? Oh, no, no, he's good.

It was awkward.

I stayed for a quick drink and then left.

Okay.

Nobody likes being...

Spare brick.

Sorry.

Third wheel.

I texted a taxi.

I waited a long time for it to come.

What time would this have been?

Around two o'clock.

You and Darren Walker visited Fee in her room.

Why was Darren there?

He's my best man.

What did you talk about?

Not much.

Just high and stuff. How was your night?

You went all that way to talk about not much.

Why didn't you stay the night?

That wasn't an option.

She said she was tired.

That it was a girl's night.

Fair enough.

Traditional rules.

What time did you leave?

Maybe around two.

And you went straight back to the club rooms?

Yeah. I had a couple more beers, then had the catch.

Look.

You know I didn't kill my fiancée, right?

Come on.

Thanks for your time, Scotty.

Perhaps your Sunday morning activity was, uh...

Patchwork quilting course.

Brazilian jiu-jitsu.

Regarding more important matters, what's new?

This guy.

Peter Toovey.

He's Darren Walker's friend who works at the lodge as a part-time barman and

cook. Also deaf, like Darren.

So he's waiting and then he gets a lift with

Alex Fuller, the stripper.

You know Fuller's like 50?

Proving that even stripping is an equal opportunities profession.

Apparently his routine is that of a... Cole.

Don't see the appeal, personally.

Well, when you work with two sex gods who are real police already, it's

probably like... Cole's the Newcastle. Um,

sorry. A, still processing that last statement, and B, Cole's going where?

Newcastle.

Doesn't matter.

Guys, take a look at this.

That's the way of the wharf.

Exactly.

Darren intimated that he went and waited around the front, yet here he is coming

from the back at 1.56am.

Fits with time of death.

Could it have got lost in translation?

Maybe, but either way, it raises the question.

Where has he been and what has he been doing?

There's Rosemary, and that's for remembrance.

And there's pansies, that's for thoughts.

Ophelia from Hamlet after she lost the plot.

Ah, I see.

And with our Ophelia going in the river like that, well...

That's certainly life imitating art, isn't it?

Definitely foul play, was it?

It seems so.

I blame the tennis.

The pressure of the game.

A certain game between Marcus Donovan and Scotty Hammett.

There was money riding on it, you know.

Rather a lot.

I've no secret.

But anyone from the club will tell you.

Fee umpired.

She made a few close calls that cost him the game.

And a thousand dollars.

But he didn't have to lose.

But the guy's on the verge of bankruptcy.

He acts like he's loaded.

Do you often play for money?

No. It started out as a hundred bucks.

He just kept upping it.

We got carried away.

That's a lot of money.

Yeah.

Didn't take it well.

Sorry. Back to coach.

Hey. How you doing?

Couple of hours.

I arrived around nine, changed, warmed up, ripped into it.

Girls loved it.

I've been doing it for a while, so I know what they like.

Show went pretty well. Quick shower, couple of beers with Marcus, and I was

out of there.

Eleven, I'd say.

And then you went?

Home.

After I drop Peter off.

He works at the lodge. Deaf guy.

Quiet drive home.

I mean, I know some sign, but not much more than hi, how are you?

Then home, yeah.

Peter lives locally?

Yeah, Slane Road.

You've been doing the stripping thing for a while?

Yeah, hen's parties, birthday parties, the old stag do.

It's just a sideline, it keeps me fit.

I don't mean to be rude, but isn't it kind of a... Younger man's game.

Didn't pick you for an ageist.

I'm not. I'm just curious.

Well, I guess when they stop hiring me, I'll know I've reached my use-by date.

No sign of that yet.

Did you notice anything unusual amongst the hens?

No. They looked at me to be having a great time.

Okay. Thanks.

Hey, how'd Zoe go this morning?

Sorry? Zoe, with the translating. She's my daughter.

Ah. Well, very well.

Great help.

That's good. She was pretty nervous. She gets a bit anxious sometimes.

She was very conscientious.

What did you do to your leg?

I broke it a while back.

How did you know?

Your alignment's all out.

Why don't you jump on the table? I'll sort it out for you. I'm fine for now.

Well, you don't want to let a thing like that compound.

Here.

Pop by.

Anytime.

Thanks.

Why don't you just do that?

Scotty and I have always been rivals.

One and two on the ladder.

Club finals were coming up. Started to make it interesting by putting a grand

on the line.

I'd beaten him the last two games.

Backed myself.

Were Ophelia and Scotty an item then?

Not that I knew of.

Otherwise I wouldn't have asked you to umpire.

You guys painted on?

That was not out.

Did she know about the bet?

Well, everyone did.

Maybe Scotty cut her in to throw the game.

Is losing the bet got anything to do with selling the lodge?

Come on, guys. It's only a grand. It's no big deal.

Did you pay Scotty his winnings?

I will.

When you sell the business?

You seriously think I killed Ophelia Marley over the bet?

We're just trying to get a picture of where everyone was at that night.

You said you shut down the bar just after midnight, saw the hands off in the

taxi, and then went to bed. We spent the rest of the night in your room.

Yeah.

Can anyone corroborate your movements?

No.

Okay. Thanks for your time, Lucas.

Although, you know, I guess Nicky could.

Nicky Stone?

I spent a night with her.

She came to my room somewhere between one and two.

How long did she stay?

Let's just say it was a big night.

She'd have some time around dawn.

When can I be back to my lodge?

We'll let you know.

The thought of Marcus and Nicky Stone is disturbing.

Only if it's true.

Go to the lodge.

Time how long it takes to go from his room to the wharf and back again.

And whether anyone could have seen him.

You're thinking he could have killed Fee after Scotty left, but before Nicky

arrived.

It'd certainly make her the perfect alibi.

Hi.

Are you Peter?

I'm Detective Sins. I have some questions for you both.

Darren, on the night that Fee died, where

did you go after you left her room?

Taxi.

And did you wait for the taxi around the front or the back of the lodge?

Sorry, smoking, it was windy, you lost me.

Yes, please write it down, thank you.

Peter, can I confirm that Alex dropped you home after the hen party?

Ah, excuse me.

Mike?

Going somewhere.

My auntie Renee's been in a car crash.

Is she okay?

No, they had to chop her to a hospital in the city. It's pretty bad.

Sorry to hear that.

Nikki, we've been talking to Marcus Donovan.

Do you know who that is? Yeah, the guy from the lodge.

Well, he claims that you two spent the night together.

What?

No.

No, why would I sleep with that creep?

Did you go to his room?

Hey, look, I have to hit the road.

We still have a few more questions.

I have to go, you can get me on my cell.

Kimberly, where's she off to?

Her auntie's had an accident.

Do you have Nicky's number?

Do you guys know someone?

It's a work in progress.

Thanks.

How would you describe Nicky and Fee's relationship?

Why?

We're just trying to understand the group dynamic.

They're mates.

We're all mates.

But... OK.

They brought out the worst in each other.

If it came to giving someone a hard time, they'd be the ones to get a bit

mean, take it too far.

Me and Chantel were like the peacemakers.

Fee would say Nicky had a...

Bit of an attitude about fee success.

Nicky has said about everyone.

I'm wondering if Nicky really does have an aunt in hospital.

Historically, she has a difficult relationship with the truth.

Oh, I say we call the emergency department.

Hospitals never talk to the police.

Privacy Act.

Hi, this is Kristen.

I'm a broken wood florist. I've just got some flowers for a patient. I want to

make sure they haven't been discharged.

Sure.

My name is Kristen. I do live in Brokenwood, and I've been known to put

some flowers in a vase from time to time.

Boss, the SSG came up negative.

Time to get the dive boys in.

Yeah, go for it.

Oh, by the way, Nicky Stone denies Donovan's claim.

I'm at the toad and lion chasing him up.

He's checked out.

Leave it with me.

Thanks for seeing you here.

My place.

You need to change your clothes.

You know you can't stay, right?

Never got you done?

Not yet.

I'll escort you. I was hoping for another chat.

We know that Ophelia had a reputation for being, quote, ruthless.

Perhaps she pushed someone or something too far and her father was no longer

around to fix it up. I'm looking for a motive here, folks.

Tell me about Marcus.

We've spoken to Nikki Stone.

She denies spending the night with you.

Of course she does.

You don't seem surprised.

We came to an arrangement.

That being?

Nikki gained me with a proposition.

Said she was broke.

Didn't have the money to pay for her share of the hen's night.

She traded sex for bed and breakfast.

Well, you can see why she might lie.

It's not a great look.

Really, Robert?

Okay. Nicky Stone?

Sounds like there was some definite resentment there.

Oh, and by the way, confirming that her Auntie Renee is in Central Hospital.

Although it's worth noting that Nicky is now not answering her phone, so I'll

keep trying.

Kimberly.

Well, Kimberly is just Kimberly.

Kimberly said goodnight to Fee in her room sometime around 1am.

At 1.25, Scotty and Darren turn up.

The last person to see Ophelia in her room was Scotty.

Sometime before 1.56, when he and Darren

caught a taxi home.

And Darren was having a cigarette around the back of the lodge just prior to

that. Which means he would have seen Fee.

or anyone heading towards the river, which suggests that Ophelia and or her

attacker went to the river sometime after 1.56 a.m. It only takes four and a

half minutes to get from the lodge to the wharf and back. If Marcus left the

lodge at 1.56 a.m. with Ophelia, he could have been back in time to meet

Nikki.

Okay, whose idea was it to have the party at the lodge?

Um, according to Kimberly, it was Chantelle, the chief bridesmaid's idea.

It was Marcus's idea.

To have the hen's party at the lodge?

Yeah, he was quite pushy.

We were going to go to paintball, then the frog and cheetah, but he made us an

offer we couldn't refuse.

What sort of offer?

Like a super cheap deal. I don't know, I guess he needed the cash.

Did you know about the bet between Scotty and Marcus?

Please, the whole club knew.

I've got ten on Scotty, that's where the smart money is.

Ten grand?

Just ten dollars, but I'm quietly confident.

Do you think it's possible that Scotty and Ophelia rigged the game?

Scotty? No way.

So, Marcus lost fair and square?

No, Marcus lost because he's a loser.

Are you sure you should be working?

Don't underestimate the shock of what's happening to you.

Yeah, this whole thing, you know, it's...

Are we okay here?

Um, absolutely.

Thank you.

You should really get that scene too.

Yeah, all in good time.

Shooting planes, right?

Yeah. Well, you should stop wearing high heels.

I don't wear high heels.

I've seen those cowboy boots.

Taking away her father's life.

This is what it all comes down to.

Yep. All ends up in boxes.

Both cardboard and wooden.

She was quite the star.

Mainly documents pertaining to her father's estate.

Shopping lists, bank statements.

Yeah, look at this.

One way to the States.

And only a couple of days after the wedding.

Scotty too?

Not unless he booked his own.

Are you getting much exercise?

Work keeps me on the move.

And I've just signed up for a weekly class.

Okay, there you go.

Here, do these exercises. A couple more sessions, you'll be a new man.

You were Ophelia Marley's physio?

Yeah, briefly.

Briefly because?

She injured herself here, so Scotty called on me.

If you change your mind, let me know.

Whatever.

Zoe? No, it can't be.

What did you change your mind about?

Surgery. I thought she was making a mistake.

You recommended surgery?

No, I recommended time, which is not what she wanted to hear.

She called me a provincial hack.

She was impatient?

Driven. That's why she was a winner, I guess.

Scotty.

Detective.

Tell me, did you and Ophelia have any travel plans for after the wedding? A

honeymoon, perhaps?

No.

When we searched her home, we found a one-way plane ticket for two days after

the wedding. Well, yeah, she was going back to the States.

Early days for newlyweds to be apart.

She was a pro player.

Goes with the territory.

And you're OK with that?

I understand the game, the business. I know how it works.

If I didn't, I wouldn't have wanted to marry her.

OK.

Thanks, Scotty.

I'm just getting a copy, so I'll meet you at the station. Do you want

anything? Yeah, why not?

Done.

Um, can I have a flat white and a long black, please?

Coming up.

Frodo.

New business?

Yeah.

Oh, she's holding a fort for Rodriguez.

She's got some family drama.

Ah, right, yeah.

Got time to have your coffee here?

Oh, I'm actually pretty slammed and you've got a friend in need, so... She's

okay.

You know we're just friends, right? And Chantel doubles partners here in a few

years. It's none of my business.

She's been going through a tough time lately.

Well, she just lost her best friend.

She's also dealing with a breakup.

Sorry to hear it.

Well, I'm just the shoulder to cry on.

Okay?

I probably shouldn't be telling you this.

Chantelle and Scotty were friends with benefits.

They were supposed to be on the down low, but she fell for him.

So everything that's been going on is just extra crazy.

Chantelle and Scotty?

When was this?

I don't know, for years.

He saw other people, but he always came back to Chantelle.

So he left her for Fee?

About six weeks ago, she thought he couldn't bounce him back.

He's changed his ways.

She keeps it quiet.

She had it bad.

She's totally burnt.

Your best friend running away with your boyfriend.

That's gotta hurt.

Okay, he wasn't my boyfriend.

It was just a casual thing, you know?

We both knew the score.

Are you okay?

Yeah, I'll be fine.

It wasn't a casual thing though, was it?

You had feelings for him.

Who's got a big mouth?

Being in love with Scotty is nothing to be ashamed of. Who said I'm ashamed?

So you are in love with him?

More for me.

Turns out...

He left Chantel six weeks ago to be with Fee.

Which makes Chantel the jilted lover.

But if that were the case, why did Ophelia ask Chantel to be her

bridesmaid? And why did Chantel agree?

Maybe Fee didn't know that Scotty and Chantel were together.

So Chantel chooses to play nice and not show how hurt she is.

Weddings do weird things to women.

And that's been your experience precisely?

How many times?

It's just what I've heard.

Strangled by your own handbag.

Brutal. Gina!

Mike, I have toxicology results.

Anything of interest?

Blood alcohol ratio was high. Well, it was a hen's night, so no surprises

there. It wouldn't have taken long to kill her.

Nor would she have been able to put up much of a fight.

So, I'm done with the body.

Thanks. I'll let the coroner know.

This belong to the victim?

Strap fits the markings on her neck.

Not unusual, but surprising.

In what way?

The victim was a Kiwi woman.

Usually it's Russian men who die this way.

Okay.

What have we got?

Strapping tape, lipstick, breath mints.

Fine.

This is sign language for detective, just by the way.

No way.

Meet me at the wharf

at 2am.

Who writes notes anymore?

I mean, everyone just texts or messages.

Not if they don't want to leave a digital footprint.

Or they're old.

She receives a note.

Folds it neatly.

What does this tell us?

It's of some value.

Someone who matters.

A friend.

So we collect handwriting samples from all of our suspects.

Why don't they just change their styles?

Not if we don't tell them what we're doing.

This would be the florist of Brokenwood speaking.

But even if they do change it, the handwriting forensics team could still

make a match.

Actually, we've got some samples already.

Darren's note and Kimberly wrote down Nikki's number for us.

Yeah, there are some similarities.

But these two are very different.

And there's another thing. The contents of Faye's bag.

There was no wallet.

Maybe it's still in the river.

Let's check with the bank first.

See when Fee last used her card.

Um, it wasn't local.

It's... an American bank.

Give the international team something to do. I'll give Hughes a call.

Now we're getting somewhere, people.

A custard square to take away, thanks.

Sure.

And can I trouble you for a sample of your handwriting?

Because?

It's a line of inquiry.

You don't have to, but it would be helpful.

What do you want me to write?

Just the quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog.

Capital letters.

Do you remember a fee used to a bank card that night?

Uh, she definitely had it at the second-hand store.

I'm not sure after that we put everything on a tab at the lodge, so.

Appreciate it.

And I'll get you that custard square.

Chantelle's A's and M's look similar.

So does the E.

The bank card is still in use. Hughes has a team tracking it. But if she lost

it at the op shop, anyone could have picked it up.

Either way, someone is using it who isn't supposed to.

Update on Fi's cell phone. It was trashed, obviously, but her phone

records came through.

No activity from 8pm until 12.59 when she gets a text from a number matching

Scotty's. You still up?

Check out her reply.

Iaf or Roger?

Who's Roger?

She's drunk, right?

It was a predictive text fail. She was trying to say wharf or room.

What? Okay.

You tried to get him to leave, but he won't. He won't.

He's crazy.

In what way?

What's five grand to a man like you?

Look, it's just cool, bro. I'm not interested in a rematch. Yeah, because

you know you can't win without your girlfriend throwing the game.

I'm good here, Daz.

Not going to happen, Donovan.

Cheater and a pussy. You don't have the money. You couldn't pay it on your last

bet. You don't have the balls.

Hey, Marcus, that's enough, mate. Just piss off, Donovan.

I know you've got the money.

Your girlfriend was loaded, right? And it's all yours now.

You find

Scotty.

Um,

where's Scotty now?

Let's get you cleaned up.

Do you want to lay charges?

No.

Good. Because off the record, I'd say you asked for that.

Drunk in the middle of the day. Normal?

You guys may be staying at pub.

I need you to do something for me.

I need a hand-written example.

Do I have to?

No, but it would be helpful if you did.

What do you want me to write?

The quick brown fox and capital letters.

You want me to drive him home?

I'm fine to drive.

No, you're not.

Good news is you can go back to the lodge. We're done there.

Oh, bloody time.

Well, the good news is Marcus Donovan will not be pressing charges.

He'd have a nerve if he did. Do you know what he said to Scotty? I was told, yes.

He's a complete loser.

Even so, going around hitting people is not a great solution.

Felt pretty good at the time.

Scotty, Ophelia's phone records show that you text her at 12.59am the

message, are you still up?

Yeah, because I was going around there.

And she responded with, room or wharf?

Why do you think she mentioned the wharf?

Don't know.

She's a bit drunk.

Did you send her any kind of message earlier that day?

No.

Okay.

Can I trouble you for a handwriting sample?

What for?

We need it to help eliminate you from the investigation.

I'm still part of the investigation.

They asked me for the same. We just need one sentence.

Maybe some other time.

Right.

Well, the only other news is Ophelia's body has been released, so you can go

ahead with the funeral.

Damn it, sorry.

Okay, is she... Yeah.

Ten weeks.

Yeah.

Why didn't you tell us about the pregnancy?

You had plenty of opportunities to disclose.

It's private.

In secret?

How is this relevant?

You haven't been clear with us.

In your witness statement given to me in that room next door, you said, and I

quote, it's all a bit hazy, sorry.

The implication being that you were drunk and couldn't remember what had

been going on.

Had you been drinking?

No.

But I had to look like I was.

It was all a bit hazy.

I was spinning out. I'd only just found out that morning.

Okay.

Let's go back in there and start again, shall we?

When did she tell you?

As soon as she knew.

The morning my stead did.

And how did you take the news?

I was shocked, obviously.

Are you joking me?

I'm so sorry, hon.

I'm sorry.

The timing was unbelievable, you know.

The wedding was in a week. The hen and stag parties that night. I thought we

were being careful.

Not careful enough.

I'm going to be a dad.

Did you want to be a father?

I hadn't really thought about it.

But in that moment, it kind of made sense.

He was never going to give him kids.

Not in a million years.

And then what did you do?

We talked it through, decided to keep it to ourselves.

I wanted to tell Fi.

I hadn't done anything wrong.

Okay, Chantal thought we should tell Fi, but how that was ever going to be a good

idea, I don't know.

She's a part of the equation, Scotty.

I'm going to keep the baby, and this is a small town.

She deserves to know.

I mean, she deserved to know, but... We're going

overseas, so... Because there was no crossover.

We didn't do anything wrong.

Did you tell her?

Chickened out.

So she never found out about the baby.

I guess that's something.

Is that why you went to the lodge?

to see if Chantelle had told Fi.

I figured I might need to do some major damage control.

Why did you take Darren?

Moral support.

I just wanted to reassure her that it could all work out.

It'll be okay.

It wasn't supposed to be this way.

It could have worked out.

Excuse us.

He had an option.

Scotty had another option.

When he went to see Fee on the night of her death.

He was going to call off the wedding.

If fatherhood was more important than marriage, they would have argued, could

have got out of hand.

Fee ends up dead in the river.

A very messy situation.

The night Fee died, did you go to the lodge to call off the wedding?

Yes.

Postpone the wedding or...

Call it off.

In the end, it was the same thing.

What exactly did you say?

So that's why you were coming here.

What?

Yeah, I needed to tell you.

God, no. I can't get my head around this.

I know.

Chantal.

My best friend is having your baby.

Yeah.

It's crazy.

And you tell me now.

I only just found out today.

Really? There was no overlap, I swear. It wasn't like that.

God!

Scotty, do you know how messed up this is? I know.

So I think we should just take a pause. A pause.

Or are you ending this?

No, I just...

It's a lot to take in.

What do you want, Scotty?

Me or a baby?

That's the thing.

Both, babe.

I think I want both.

Because you're shit out of luck!

Sophie, just...

stormed off to the wharf i don't know did you follow her

no i took a few minutes to pull myself together in fee's room

and then i went and jumped in the cab with darren it was over there

was nothing to hang around for i'm telling you how it was

Did you know that Scotty was going to the lodge to call off the wedding?

Not at the time.

Scotty told me in the taxi on the way back from the tennis club.

Two people.

Ready now.

I assumed they'd been fighting again.

Scotty wanted to make up.

Now I know why we were going there.

Did they fight a lot?

There was a lot of tension around...

Fi getting back into international tennis.

And how their marriage would work.

You arrived at the lodge at 1.25.

You then went to Fi's room?

I left them to it.

I went outside.

I texted the taxi.

Waited. I had a cigarette.

I saw Fi leave the building.

Wait, stop. You saw Fi?

But you didn't mention this before that you saw Fi.

I saw Fi leave the lodge.

Then the taxi texted me. I walked around the front, met Scotty, and we went back

to the tennis club. Stayed the night.

The next day, V was dead.

Darren, you did not mention this in your earlier statement.

I should have.

I'm sorry.

Why didn't you tell us?

I was tired and hungover.

I only remembered later.

Did you know that Chantal was pregnant with Scotty's baby?

He told me when we were on the way back to the tennis club.

I felt for him.

Scotty was a mess.

Bathroom. Sure.

On the end.

Can I go as well?

Uh, okay.

Scotty could have gone out the back door and followed Fee.

And four minutes later doubled back.

Well, that doesn't explain the note.

Are you lying?

I know enough to understand what you just said.

Did you see someone else?

Did you see someone else?

Darren, we need a straight answer.

Okay, yes.

I did see someone.

Apart from Ophelia Marley?

A few minutes later.

Just a figure, dark.

I didn't get a good look, so I didn't think it was helpful.

It's all helpful. Were they short, tall?

Their build.

Gender, what?

You must have been able to see whether they were male or female, at least.

I wasn't paying attention.

I didn't know what was going to happen.

Could it have been Scotty?

I doubt it. We left five minutes later.

It's a four-minute round trip from the lodge to the wharf. Did the figure you

see fit Scotty's description?

I didn't see.

You're Scotty's best friend.

Was it him or not?

Excuse me.

Zoe?

I'll call an ambulance. No.

Zoe, is this an asthma attack?

Call my dad.

I need my medication.

Keep those breaths long and slow.

Darren, you should go.

We can pick this up tomorrow.

Alex, come through.

You going to be okay for a bit?

Okay.

Hughes, the money card's active again.

It's her.

Oh, Ophelia's funeral is tomorrow.

Sorry. I thought she'd beaten it.

How long has she suffered this?

Since school.

It started when her mother left.

She's had a lot of issues.

Anxiety, bulimia, depression.

She's been in and out of treatment.

Do you know what triggered it?

Sometimes it's stress.

I know she's been very uptight about working for you guys.

She wants to do the right thing.

Puts a lot of pressure on herself.

If it's any help, we won't need to call on her again.

In the short term, at least. Okay.

Thanks.

I'll show you out if you like.

The Elkshop Queen.

Simon. Mike.

Try the HDU at Central Hospital.

The person using the card is a...

Nikki Stone.

Scotty tried to break off the wedding.

Faye refused.

He followed her to the wharf.

Where he kills her so he can be a dad.

It counts as motive.

Plus, we think that Darren saw Scotty follow her to the wharf. Did he actually

say it was Scotty? Why else would Darren cover it up?

Still doesn't explain the note.

Why would Ophelia agree to meet anyone other than Scotty at the wharf?

Having just seen him, he might go to the wharf at all.

Kai time.

Thanks, Nigel. Ah, yum.

Kai, again.

I'll leave you to it.

Night.

Sunday morning.

Your, uh, mystery activity.

Could it have been a cooking class?

Let it go.

I will find out.

I'm a detective.

Zoe.

Hi.

I'm sorry about yesterday.

As long as you're okay.

Yeah, but back to therapy.

Sorry if we pushed you.

No, it's just all that talk of Ophelia.

Must have been hard, losing a school friend.

I hated her.

She was a bitch at school.

And seeing her again.

Zoe!

No, it can't be.

I'm so sorry about your dad.

I hardly recognize you. I know.

Little Zoe

Fuller. So full of fat.

It's like nothing had changed.

Well, off to get my head shrunk.

Bye, Detective.

Bye.

Simon. Couple of the boys made a special delivery for you.

Good luck.

Piece of work, that one.

Nicky. We've missed you.

So you didn't kill Ophelia, then take her money card?

No.

I mean, yes, about the card, but... No, I didn't kill her.

Honest. What about Marcus Donovan?

Well, I didn't sleep with Marcus. What kind of person did he take me for?

You've been using your dead friend's money card.

He's adamant you went to his room.

Oh, wait.

No, I did go to his room. But just for, like, a minute.

I got the wrong door. I was looking for Kimberley's.

Okay, you're not Kimberly.

No, you're right.

Do you want to come with me then?

Where? Into the bush to see the glowworms tonight. They're my spiritual

brothers and sisters.

Or maybe you should just go to bed.

The tequila worm, it really messes with you.

Oh, I took some photos.

Why didn't you tell us this initially?

Well, because I found Fee's card and then she turned up dead.

I kind of freaked out.

The time and date stamps put Nikki outside the frame for time of death.

I told you.

The power of the worm.

Where's this?

It was down behind the larger track I found. So you said you found her card?

Yeah, I didn't steal it.

Well, can I go now? I really have to go visit my auntie in hospital.

Sure, just after we get a full statement and charge you with credit card fraud.

The figure you saw was six feet tall, medium build,

male.

Thanks Darren.

No, we won't need to use Zoe again

Peter

says

that Darren is in love with Zoe, but it's too shy to ask her out She's a nice

young woman tell him to get brave

Nicky proved Marcus lied about his alibi. Why would he do that if he wasn't

the offender?

It kind of fits the description.

He slips her a note during the night.

Let's check it out.

You think I'm right, don't you? Well, maybe I just fancy a drive.

Why did you lie?

Because I'm not stupid.

Lying to the police is generally pretty stupid.

Hey, it looked bad.

People knew I was supposed to stop with Ophelia.

I needed an alibi.

Nicky's reputation is well known.

Nicky said she found a track.

Well, there's only Portman's Jail.

It doesn't get used. The entrance is round the back by the water tank.

You said there was only one way in.

Well, by car, yeah.

Take another statement, this time with a semblance of truth about it.

I think I'm gonna be sick.

Not going to a family's funeral.

Is that the time?

Well, I might still make it.

How's your leg?

Very much better.

Magic hands.

I was wanting to send Zoe some flowers. Say thanks for all the work.

She did get paid.

Yeah, I know, but with everything else. Thought it'd be a nice touch.

She'd appreciate it, I'm sure.

Can I get you to jot down your address?

I'll get Kristen to organise it. She likes flowers.

Thanks. Can I see a cup of tea?

Sure, why not? I'll put the kettle on.

Down at the station.

I did wonder if the reason that you killed Ophelia was... Hang on.

You think I killed Ophelia?

We do.

This is ridiculous.

Not really.

I thought the reason was to do with your work.

She called you a provincial hack.

But you're good at your job. That wouldn't have bothered you.

No, this investigation was about love.

Not romantic love, rather.

The love a father feels for his daughter.

Protective. primal, powerful stuff.

You wanted revenge for the life she took from Zoe.

Thanks in no small part to Fi's bullying at school, Zoe developed chronic

anxiety. You said so yourself.

She got on top of her anxiety until something changed recently.

I hardly recognize you. I know.

Little Zoe Fuller, so full of fat.

Right about the time Fee returned, all Zoe's feelings of inadequacy came

flooding back.

You wanted to punish a failure.

At first I thought you slipped her the note while doing your strip, but she

would never agree to meet anyone at Wharf at 2am other than... Hey, Scotty

asked me to give you this.

Thanks, Hack.

Meet me at the wharf at 2am.

We found it in her handbag.

With Peter Toovey as an alibi, you headed into town.

But after you dropped him home... You doubled back and waited.

Just before 2am...

You took Portman's trail to the wharf unseen.

Only you were seen.

We thought that Darren was covering for Scotty.

He was on the property at the time. He had motive. He fit the description that

Darren later gave. But then we realised he was covering for you.

The father of the woman that he's in love with.

You see, there it is again. Love.

He didn't want to see Zoe get hurt.

So he lied to protect you.

I didn't ask you to write in capitals.

But you did.

It's unusual.

I didn't mean to kill her.

I just wanted...

To tell her what she did to Zoe was not okay.

That's all.

You must have had a plan.

I swear I didn't.

I wanted to get her alone and tell her that it was wrong.

I was surprised she even showed up.

She only turned up because she'd had an argument with Scotty.

Sad irony being is she probably just wanted some air.

She was drunk.

Why the hell are you here?

You freak.

You said it was from the Scotty.

You old psycho. She went off.

Hey, that's enough.

At me.

At Zoe.

Say what you like about me, but my daughter was off limits.

And that's when I snapped.

Don't you get it?

I'm so angry.

I needed her to understand.

You see what it feels like when you can't breathe?

You see?

This is what it's like when you can't breathe.

Why can't you just leave her alone?

Why can't you just leave her alone?

And the next thing I know, she was dead.

Wake up, sweetheart.

Come on.

I truly never meant to kill it.

You think I could see my daughter?

I need to explain.

Please.

I'm pitching myself.

Is this real?

My desk is clear, my phone is off, and we are doing this thing.

Any intel on the opponents?

Mike and Brain.

Neither, I suspect, have hit a tennis ball in years, so we got this.

Oi, I'm playing, you're playing. Mixed doubles, eh?

Mike?

I have been dreaming of this day since I was a small child.

Thank you.

Now, let's turn them onto pulp.

Shepard and Kandinsky versus Sims and Taylor. Shepard to serve.

Line dancing.

Line dancing?

Yeah, like-minded people, exercise, great music.

I'll give you that for free.

And you, that for free.

I'm fine.

What? All these years you never told me you played tennis.

Yeah, junior and senior boys champ.

Recently out of retirement.

Dean Love?