Original subtitles

That's a serious allegation.

Yeah, okay, yep. We'll look into it. Thank you.

Owner of the newsagent. Thinks Joe Baker is the killer.

Didn't actually live in Ashford in 1994,

but her hairdresser saw Joe yelling at Isabel

at a hockey game once.

Right. Case closed then.

That's the 10th call like that this week.

What's that?

It is Isabel's movements the night of...

Isabel and Chloe were walking home from the formal,

and they parted ways at the T intersection at 12.30am.

That was the last known sighting of Izzy.

Now, the distance between T intersection and the Baker house

is two k's.

Well the boss thinks the guy in the blue car

must have picked her up in those two k's.

Yeah! But why dump the body all the way the other side of town?

Here!

There's all this bushland along here

where he could have dumped the body.

But yet, he drove five k's away

and dumped her body at the cemetery.

In plain sight, I might add.

Does that make sense to you?

No, sir.

It doesn't make sense.

Her drawings are beautiful.

Thank you, Mrs. Baker.

I'll make sure these are returned to you.

Thanks.

So uh, how does this help?

It's important I get to know Isabel.

You know, a lot of time has passed,

people's memories, they can be deceptive.

They fade, some people lie.

But this, Isabel, she won't lie.

You've felt pain like ours.

I can see it in your eyes.

Um, did Isabel say anything

about a formal after-party, or did she mention at all

that she was going to meet someone that night?

No, she was coming straight home.

And you were at work that night, right?

The night shift?

And your husband was at home?

That's correct?

Yeah, that's all on their original statements.

Yeah, I know.

That's where I'm getting the information from.

Just making sure it's accurate.

Well, I really appreciate this

and I think it's, um, it's really going to help.

Thank you.

This is Senior Sergeant Angela Zhang.

Please leave a message.

Hey, boss lady.

Just seeing how you went

chasing down the owner of that blue car.

Give me a call back.

Dear 2019, my name is Hector Ford.

In 1994, my life is just beginning

because I'm about to leave Ashford

and everyone in it behind me.

The cool kids will die in this shithole, but I'll escape.

We can talk inside if you prefer.

Here's fine.

Babe, this is Detective Cormack.

Hey, hey.

Mind if I keep going?

No, please.

Shit, sorry.

Thank you.

What was Izzy like?

She was beautiful, smart, funny.

I'm sure everyone's told you that.

Even those that were shit to her

suddenly loved her when she was gone.

Anyone in particular?

I didn't mean it like that.

It was high school.

Everyone was two-faced.

Sounds like you had a tough time in high school.

Small town, small minds.

Mm.

It's been suggested

that you had some unusual interests at school;

that you might have been fascinated by the occult.

I went through a Goth phase

after I watched "The Crow."

I wasn't Marilyn Manson; I was lonely.

You found a friend in Isabel, huh?

We moved in different orbits, but we did the time capsule.

We just clicked.

What do you think happened to her?

I dunno.

I spent the last 25 years trying not to think about it

so I could remember her as she was.

Now unfortunately, the police back in '94

didn't interview you.

So there's no record of where you were

the night of the formal.

At the formal.

After that.

I went home.

Yeah, can anybody confirm that?

No.

My parents were away.

They travel a lot.

Why?

You left town two days after Isabel was killed.

Why'd you do that?

Moved to Sydney for uni.

But uni doesn't start until February.

You didn't want to stick around for her funeral?

People grieve differently.

I don't want to be rude,

but got a lot of work to get through here.

Okay, I'll let you get back to it.

Thanks.

Thanks for your time, mate.

Yeah.

This town is toxic.

What happened?

I heard some woman at the shops.

She said Pop killed Aunty Izzy.

Oh, bub.

Come here.

What's wrong with people?

Let's get out of the house for a bit, eh?

Feel the water on our feet.

Sarge, physical evidence arrived from the EMF in Brisbane.

Try to focus on the girl who was wearing the dress,

on who she was when she was alive.

Doesn't that just make it harder?

No.

What is it?

I don't remember any red soil like this

at any of the known locations from that night.

Looks like she was crawling in it.

Trying to get away?

Maybe.

Where's her necklace?

She wore a bird necklace at the formal that night.

See, it's in all the photos.

Maybe it came loose during the struggle

when she was killed.

That's a possibility.

Or the other one is that the killer took it

just like he took her hair.

That is lush.

I don't know, it kind of clashes with my necklace.

So what?

Just don't wear the necklace.

Are you even still going with Anton?

Yeah, we just had a fight.

Uh-uh.

Oh, I love your necklace.

Even if you break up with him

you should still wear it to the formal just to rub it in.

Hey, I got us a present.

Check this out.

Tada!

That's pretty cool.

They're our road trip uniforms.

But shouldn't we be saving our money

for more essential things like food?

Don't worry, you don't have to pay me back.

My Dad bought them.

Mum's home.

Thanks.

You want some Yum Yum tart?

Is that even a question?

Hey, Iz, I need to show you this video.

I don't get it.

Hang on, it's coming.

Sorry.

Hector!

Is that it?

That is so sus.

He runs the place.

There's heaps of reasons why he could be talking to her.

I don't think he was there to talk.

Seriously?

It's Chloe's dad.

I've known him forever.

I reckon he's sus.

Shit, I've got to go to work.

Do you want some company?

"Priscilla," that looks so gay.

I think it's great.

The dresses in it are really cool.

Is that Mr. Ludlow from woodwork?

Yep.

What did he rent?

"Basic Instinct."

Oh gross!

It's the third time he's rented it.

Seriously?

This week.

Hey.

What's that?

Just the shit Mrs. Walker wanted for the time capsule

for the SES.

Why haven't you been at school?

Because Dad's been a bit shorthanded.

I've been helping him with the harvest and stuff.

So where were you on Sunday?

I must have been waiting for like an hour.

I'm sorry, I couldn't get away.

Mum needed my help after church.

That's bullshit.

I mean, Tasha was working at the Servo

and she saw you ride past,

so who gave you the better offer this time?

Was it Mick or Hector, 'cause honestly, Izzy,

I just can't keep track.

You're the one that hangs out with Tasha all the time.

That's 'cause she wants to hang out.

Wait, where were you?

I don't have to tell you everything.

Whatever.

What's up with you?

Nothing.

Trouble in paradise?

You don't know the half of it.

Creepy.

Sorry.

What is it?

Some kind of pagan grim reaper, death shepherd.

What are you turning into a Goth now

'cause you're hanging out with Hector?

Very funny.

Uh, Mum's leaving if you want a lift.

Do you have an army disposal store or something?

Cool, hey?

What even is that?

It's a torch

in case we need a piss in the bush at night.

That does sound handy.

Yeah.

Who's that?

Um, I'm not sure.

Sometimes if the pickers lose work

Dad get them odd jobs here and there to help them out.

That's nice of him.

Mm.

She's pretty

I guess.

Anyway, what do you reckon?

I think we're pretty much sorted.

Looks like it.

Except for telling your parents.

What happened?

I'm sorry, Iz.

Isabel!

Did you go through my room?

I found your sister reading it.

She shouldn't be in my stuff.

This book is full of sin.

The enemy led you to it-

You haven't even read it.

You don't know what I'm thinking.

Don't own my mind.

While you're in my house, you obey my rules!

It's not your fault.

I need to show you something.

When Izzy was murdered, we were the victims.

Yet somehow we were the ones under questioning.

Why was Izzy dressed so pretty?

Was she drunk?

Why didn't her parents pick her up?

Do you know what that feels like?

Yeah.

I do.

You know, apart from the swish coffee,

things have barely changed at this petrol stop

since I was a kid.

Ashford hasn't changed much either.

You know, the gossip around town

is that Izzy didn't get into the car that night;

she came home and Dad killed her.

Luckily, I don't deal in gossip, just the truth.

Can I trust you to do right by my family?

You can trust me to do right by Isabel.

I know Izzy didn't come home that night.

The one thing that has changed around here:

the phone box is gone.

I was asleep on the couch when she rang.

I got up, turned the TV off, and went into the kitchen.

Mum was at work and Dad was asleep, so I picked up.

Izzy asked me to get Dad, but I wouldn't

'cause I wanted to know where she was.

She said that she was out here.

Then I heard a car pull up,

and this song was playing, and Izzy went quiet.

I asked her if she still needed Dad,

if she still needed a lift, and she,

she didn't answer me, so I thought that she was drunk.

I thought that she was partying.

I got angry with her and I told her to walk home.

And then I hung up.

Izzy didn't want a lift that night.

She needed help.

Thank you for telling me that.

I'm going to step outside for a minute, okay?

'Kay.

Can you remember what time it was?

After midnight.

Around 12:30.

Look, I know I should have said something a long time ago.

Hey, you were just a kid.

To be honest, before the letter,

I don't think the information

would've made much of a difference to Turner.

And now?

Well, it changes the timeline.

Knowing where she was, it, uh,

it's a pretty important piece of the puzzle.

What was she doing out here?

I mean, there's nothing out here.

What's that all about?

That is Isabel's last known location

the night of the murder.

According to who?

A credible witness.

Yeah, I seriously doubt they're more credible

than Chloe Walcott, who was walking home with Isabel

at the same time your 'CI' puts her at the servo.

Might be worth asking if your witness

who's just magically remembered this vital info

has a reason to lie.

Hey, hello, love.

We don't see you in here very often.

Everything okay?

I need to ask you about the night Izzy died.

You carried this alone all them years.

Why didn't you tell me?

Guilt.

And fear.

About asking where you were that night.

After I hung up, when I passed your room,

the door was open and it was empty.

Where were you, Dad?

Look, I'm not saying...

I just need to know so I can protect you.

I was here helping a parishioner in need.

Thank God.

You've got an alibi.

Who were you with?

I can't tell you that.

They came to me to confess a sin.

Dad, this is more important than that.

If Turner finds out that you don't have an alibi...

I don't fear Sergeant Turner's judgement, or any man's.

Savages.

Is nothing sacred anymore?

What does it even mean?

It's blackbirding.

Eh?

62,000 islanders were brought in

to work on the cane back in the day.

You studying to go on "Millionaire"?

No, I Googled James Ashford

after Kalana tagged the statue last time.

Never knew we had slavery in Australia.

Yeah, well you can save your virtue signalling

for your boyfriend from the city.

That's nice.

Yeah, clean that shit up.

Kalana!

Hey, what's up?

That statue was vandalised again.

Great.

I didn't do it.

I'm glad someone did, though.

Go get your things; we're going home.

I have to train.

Is everything all right?

Sorry coach, I got to go.

Coach?

Yeah, Leo's back's playing up,

so I offered to fill in for a bit.

Hey, um, is there any way that Kal can stay?

It's just, I'm still getting up to speed

and she's the captain.

She's a natural leader.

I'll drop her home if that helps.

That won't be necessary.

Front gate, 6:01.

Hurry up.

Thanks for that.

How you doing?

How do you think I'm doing?

Yeah, yeah.

Sorry.

You look like shit.

Yeah.

I better get back to it.

Pair up again.

Dear 2019, my name is Tasha Hopkins.

In 2019 I predict Ashford will be pretty much the same.

Fuck all ever changes around here.

Were you surprised by Isabel's letter at all?

No.

She always did like to be the centre of attention.

Hmm, I heard she was pretty level-headed.

Yeah, well, she's a saint now, isn't she?

Saint Fucking Isabel.

You obviously miss her a lot.

Don't get me wrong.

It sucks she died.

But it was a lifetime ago.

You and her had a little friction, huh?

Over Anton?

It's pretty simple, really.

I was in love with him, he was in love with her.

She broke up with him the night of the formal.

You know why?

I assumed it was 'cause of the other guy she was seeing,

the older bloke.

Do you know who this older bloke was?

No.

My brother saw her with him a few times,

but all I know he was older and he was black.

Why didn't you tell the police this back in '94?

Didn't ask.

Only asked me if I spent the night with Anton.

And you did, right?

The whole night?

Yep.

My shift's about to start.

One last thing.

Do you know what Isabel meant

when she said she'd seen The Ankou?

No.

It's probably some god botherer bullshit.

I really do have to work.

I know.

I was on my morning jog.

Came up through there, through the cane.

She was laying there.

Did you reposition her body at all?

No.

I checked her pulse.

But I knew she was already gone from us.

What about the flowers?

Did you put them on her?

Nah.

He must have done that.

Twisted fuck.

You two dated for a while, huh?

We didn't call it that, but yeah.

Vince said that Isabel was dating an older fella

at the time of her death.

You two didn't get back together, did you?

No.

I loved Izzy, but she was more like a sister.

What about her father?

I heard he's pretty strict.

How you reckon he would've reacted

if he found out she was going out with an older fella?

You want to know what Joe thinks about something,

you ask him.

Yeah.

Hey, boss.

How's it going up there?

Yeah, making progress.

Bloody hot, though.

That's probably just the menopause.

Hey, your father's been trying to reach you.

Called you, did he?

No.

Someone from homicide dropped a message off.

Said your dad needs you to come and see him urgently.

Is everything all right, James?

Yeah, I'm fine.

All good.

All right, thanks.

Cheers.

Fuck!

You want to call now, huh?

You want to talk to me?

Need any help with them carrots?

No, you're good with the beans.

Hey.

I've got a question.

Go ahead.

Was your sister dating anyone else other than Anton?

Possibly an older guy?

Possibly from the community.

Are you serious?

I was told that she was.

By who?

It doesn't matter who.

I can't believe you.

You're slut-shaming my dead sister.

I'm not judging your sister,

I'm just asking a question.

Yeah well, it's a shit question.

I thought you said you didn't listen to gossip.

What's got you so filthy?

Bloody cops.

They're all the same.

I thought you were warming to that new fella.

He just tried telling me

that Izzy was seeing an older fella, one of ours.

I would've known if she had another boyfriend.

Wouldn't be so sure about that.

Your sister was almost as good as you at keeping secrets.

So I spoke to the owner of your blue car,

Pastor Tim Foster.

He was in New Zealand at the time of the murders,

but he said that he sold the car

to some young guy who was doing some work

for him around the church.

This young guy got a name?

Ezekiel Iesul.

I-E-S-U-L.

I ran his name and pinged on the Border Force database.

He entered Australia from Vanuatu in 1979

when he was just a kid through his visa, but he never left.

Doesn't show up anywhere else.

No ATO, no social security or medical records.

Thank you, rookie.

You'll make a mighty fine detective one day.

Goodbye.

Ezekiel Israel.

I, um, thought you were my food.

Can I come in?

You've come this far.

Thanks.

Neat freak, I see.

Oh, I wasn't, uh, expecting company.

I remember Issy reading this book.

She got in so much trouble when Dad found out.

How do you know?

She had it in parts of the video.

What was Richie's favourite book?

Um, don't remember.

Right.

That older man theory might have a ring of truth to it.

Aunty Rosa said that there was a guy

working at the mill at the time,

Issy was running around with.

Ezekiel.

How'd you know?

He was the owner of the blue station wagon?

Fuck!

Does this mean Turner was right all along?

I don't know, maybe.

But it does mean that we have to find Ezekiel,

and that's not going to be easy

because he's been here illegally for 25 years.

Okay.

I can get word out on the Murri grapevine.

We can find him that way.

I'll try anything.

And Aunt gave me this.

That's him, huh?

I think so.

Hey.

Um, do you need anything,

gloves or a long sleeve shirt for the sun?

No, thanks. I'm all good.

I'm not picking, I'm in the mill.

Oh, okay.

I heard you sing on Sunday at church.

It was really beautiful.

Thanks. You're Pastor Joe's daughter.

I'm Ezekiel.

I'm Isabel. Where do you usually live?

I live in Sydney, but I move around a lot.

I just follow the work.

How you like Ashford?

Yeah, it's such a lovely community

and the beach is close.

I really need the water.

What beach do you go to?

I think it's called South Beach.

Oh. Oh, yeah, that's nice.

But Shell Bay is a lot better.

I can take you there.

What would Pastor Joe think about that?

He would like that. It's, you know, good hospitality.

Helping the visitors.

Um, but meet tomorrow at 7:00 AM at the park.

Yeah.

What? What?

Mama's taking forever. I'm so hungry.

Yeah, she's having a yarn.

Aye, come on. You're not on your own time now.

Hurry the fuck up!

Billy Hopkins is such a creep.

You're so lucky to grow up here.

Yeah, I guess. But I can't wait to see Sydney.

Sydney never really felt that home to me.

I was born on Tana,

and I moved away when I was really young,

but it's home.

It's in my blood.

I miss it.

I feel it in here.

Have you been back?

I want to, but

ever since my father died

I've had more responsibilities.

I have to provide for my family, back on the island.

What about you?

Your family are from Tana.

Have you ever been home?

No, not yet.

But maybe we could go there together one day.

Maybe.

Time to swim, aye?

Wait, that tattoo. I've seen one the same.

What does it mean?

Where did you see it?

On a boy out at Dalkeith.

When was this?

On Sunday.

Did you talk to the boy?

No, he was running, someone was chasing him.

That boy's my cousin.

Who was chasing him?

I don't know. It was a man on a trailer bike.

I need you to show me right now.

I can't. I have to go to school.

Aw!

Tell me what you saw.

He came from there.

He fell over and dropped his boots.

And a trail bike came from over there.

And the boy,

he got up and kept running,

and the bike went after him.

And then they were gone.

Someone was trying to hurt him.

Who?

I don't know.

Why didn't you help him?

I was scared.

You was scared.

Sorry about the decor, mate.

Not much privacy around here.

So, what's going on.

Steve Walcott.

All right, what about him?

Issy had a fight with him when we were at Chloe's

getting ready for the formal.

I can't remember exactly what she said,

but I know for certain she called him a predator.

Like in her letter.

What do you reckon she meant by that?

I dunno.

He was a bit of an old perv.

Anyone else see this fight?

Look, I've got some of it on tape

but I lost my camera at the formal.

You lost your camera, okay.

And you just remembering this now, huh?

It was a long time ago.

Anything else?

No.

Just thought that might help.

Come on. Let's go.

You're not going to tell Steve this came from me, are you?

No.

But why do you care?

He's just not someone

you want to get on the wrong side of.

In 2019, I predict that Ashford will be

still full of predators disguised as friends.

I've seen The Ankou here.

Sharpening its scythe,

waiting to reap our souls.

There are people here I trusted...

but now I know they feed on suffering.

One day, when I'm safe from their clutches,

I will expose them

and their cruelty.

That's if they don't kill me first.

Welcome back, Billy. Welcome.

My little sister,

beer fairy since age 13.

That's your only freebie big bro.

So, when did you get back?

Yesterday.

Where are you staying?

No room here.

I'm squatting out at the old place. It's empty.

Why the hell did you come back home

if you're going to be staying in that crack den?

I'm glad you're back.

- Are ya? - I am.

But, you know, I thought

your parole officer set you up with that job on the trawlers.

Yeah well, I get sea sick don't I.

Then I got wind that they were reopening the case,

so I thought, you know?

Oh, Jesus.

Billy, what are you cooking up?

They give us these decks, on the inside, you know,

hoping people with snitch,

get a reduction in their sentence, you know.

I spent a lot of time with Isabel in my cell.

See, that story that Turner spun back then,

about the monster in the night, see, that was bullshit.

- What do you know? - Enough.

I've been sitting on a lot of secrets.

It's time to see how much they're worth.

Hey.

I got word from a cousin up north.

Apparently Ezekiel's in Townsville.

That didn't take long.

Um, thanks.

Send me the address.

I'll head up there first thing in the morning.

Yeah, we should leave early.

Pick me up at 6:00 AM?

Hang on, you're not invited.

Uh, I'm the one that sent word out to community

to find him.

There's going to be blowback on me

if a bully man rocks up to their doorstep.

Besides, no one's going to talk to your albino ass

if I'm not there.

Okay, fine. Pick you up at 6:00.

Oh.

Hello. Hi, Mary?

Can I help you?

I'm Hazel and this is Detective James Cormack.

- Hello. - Hey.

Uh, we're looking for Ezekiel Iesul.

Uh, what is this about?

Uh, he's not in any trouble.

Uh, we've just got a few questions for him

and we think he might be able to help us.

I doubt that. Zeke died last year.

Zeke was sick, but we didn't have Medicare.

Eventually, we went to the hospital,

but by the time we got there it was too late.

I'm so sorry, Mary.

But why are you looking for my husband?

Well, I'm investigating an old case

down in Ashford.

The same time that Ezekiel

was working down there in '94.

Is this about the lost boys?

Um, what lost boys are you talking about?

Ezekiel, he had two cousins from Vanuatu.

They went missing in Ashford 25 years ago.

What happened?

Zeke was supposed to protect them.

His two cousins, they were sons of a chief.

And when he didn't protect them,

he brought shame to this family.

But it wasn't his fault.

They just disappeared.

Was this ever reported?

Well, no. See, Zeke was here illegally.

And you think the police are going to care

about a couple of kids from Vanuatu?

Zeke, he wanted to go back and he wanted to keep looking,

but he was scared.

He was frightened of Ashford.

Frightened of what?

He said there was darkness in Ashford.

The enemy lived there.

And then when he couldn't find them two boys,

he got angry and he hurt someone.

Mary, I want you to be truthful with me.

Who did he hurt?

I don't know.

Mary.

I don't know who he hurt. He didn't tell me.

But my Zeke,

my Zeke, he was a gentle and kind man.

But he said the enemy got inside him that night

and he just lost control.

Mary?

Yes.

How did you get this?

That's a friend of Zeke's.

He sends a card every Christmas.

Do you know him?