If you think you can threaten my child,
my family, you're wrong.
One call... [groans]
[thuds]
[sighs]
I didn't kill anyone.
[door bangs shut]
Are you gonna help me?
You get used to it, remember?
[Ford] Of course, I spent more time here than you though.
You think I had it easy?
[Simon] Borstal wasn't fucking summer camp.
[Frank] You got a degree, but you never figured out
why you really got taken away.
[Ford] Ah, don't listen to him, he's talking shit.
Oh, he really did a number on you, mate.
Shut up. Shut the fuck up, Dad!
I've been married to him for 17 years,
and I just feel like,
all of a sudden, he's a complete fucking stranger.
Well, he has always been a dark horse.
So who is he?
I'm not a murderer.
I just wouldn't wanna be
in your shoes. That's all I'm saying.
Well, you seem pretty fucking comfortable in mine,
living in my house with my wife and my daughters.
Karen doesn't want to be your wife.
What the fuck are you doing?
[door slams]
[David] I suggest you take some time to consider
what's really best for everyone here.
The only thing I need to consider
is what's best for my daughter.
Over my dead body will you turn her into an election issue.
[Karen sniffles, sobs]
[siren wailing in distance]
[pants]
[Roza] When I was 19, I had a child.
The decision was made to adopt her out.
It's something I have regretted ever since.
And for years, I have struggled to put it behind me.
As the mothers among you know, the bonds are so strong.
And now, with the support of my husband
and the generosity of her adoptive parents,
my daughter, Elke, and I have been reunited happily.
[David] It's a private matter...
-Everyone knows. -...but due to circumstances...
[TV switches off]
You have absolutely nothing to be embarrassed about.
If anyone tells you differently, you tell me and I'll...
[Ford] And she'll pop a cap in their ass.
[sighs]
What we need is for something else
to break the whole thing open.
Like the murder weapon?
Which we're not going public with, "for now."
However long that is.
Long enough already, if you ask me.
[suspenseful music playing]
[copier beeps, whirs]
[phone rings]
[answerphone] Hi, Elke, Claire, Simon and Karen aren't home
right now, but please leave us a message.
[beeps]
[Simon] Please call me back. I just need to know
you and the girls are okay.
[newsreader] There may have been a significant breakthrough
in the Julia Stevens murder case.
It's been revealed toEight News
by anonymous sources that this knife may be similar
to the murder weapon police believe was used...
-[knife clanks] -[screams]
...in the brutal killing of a 42-year-old Auckland woman
Julia Stevens, who was attacked in her upmarket home
more than two weeks ago.
-[crunches] -[knife clanks]
-[screams]
[newsreader] Police believe that the weapon is most likely
a homemade hunting knife and are appealing
to the members of the public to come forward if they know...
-[phone ringing] -...anyone with such a knife.
Yes?
Did you send your brother to scare me off?
My God, Mereana. Are you okay?
I saw the knife, Simon.
I fought him with it, and he tried to kill me.
Uh...
Did you send him?
No, of course I didn't! I'd never do that.
-[phone handset clicks] -[Simon sighs]
-[dial tone beeps] -[cell phone beeps off]
[theme music playing]
[theme music ends]
Karen?
Ford?
[pants] Karen?
Oh, hey, girls. Hey, is your Uncle Ford here?
-[Claire] No. -Okay. Sorry.
Hey, um, I've got some information
about that knife on TV.
Yeah, I know where it is.
What the hell are you doing here?
Listen to me. I can't explain everything right now,
but you gotta trust me.
-Trust you? Seriously, Simon? -Hey, you are not safe here.
You and the girls, you need to go now.
What? No. You need to leave.
-What's happening? -Nothing, hon.
Claire, are you dressed?
[Simon] It's okay, sweetheart, really. It's okay.
Look, listen to me! You can't stay here.
No. You're right. I can't stay here.
Thanks to the mess you've made, we have to spend the night
with the Hallwrights, so the media can see
what a big, happy family we are. You need to leave us alone.
-Girls! -[Simon] Karen.
Do not be here when I get back.
[breathes deeply]
[siren wailing]
Fuck!
[phone keys tapping]
[phone ringing]
What do you want?
The police are at the house again. They've found a knife.
-I don't know what to do. -Yeah, I'll be right over.
[phone beeps]
[suspenseful music playing]
Simon. This way, guys.
[indistinct chatter]
-Ow. -Oh, sorry, sweetie.
Here she is.
The reason we're going to stay in opposition.
-[Roza] Oh. -[Elke] Hi.
You look lovely.
Thanks, Karen. We can get a driver to bring her home.
Oh, not for a 13-year-old on her own.
Come, I've got something special to show you.
I'm sure we'll be fine, if you wanna...
-I'll be right here, okay. -[Elke] Okay.
-[girl] Would you like a flag? -No, I don't want a flag.
[indistinct chatter]
-[Bennett] Ford Lampton. -What's going on?
[indistinct chatter]
[Simon] Can't you see how it all fits together?
What I can see is that you've changed your story
yet again, Simon.
And the other Mr. Lampton.
We've just been hearing about you.
[Simon] Why, Ford?
Why would you do this to me?
-What are you on about? -Mereana's alive.
She called me. She recognized the knife on the TV.
Jesus Christ, you killed Julia!
[sighs] Mate.
I understand that you've been under a lot of pressure,
but I think that you're spinning--
Stop the fucking lies!
Okay.
Yeah, okay. It's probably time I did tell the truth.
That night that, uh, Julia was killed, though...
I'm sorry, I did lie.
I was just trying to protect him.
I wasn't with him.
-I don't know where he was. -You. [grunts]
[Bennett] Hey! Hey!
Come on, bro.
You're just making this worse for yourself.
Hidden up the tree, just like we were told.
You phoned it in! He planted it there.
I've never seen that in my life.
He's a fucking arborist! Come on.
Look, I need you both to come down and make
a formal statement. Now!
He knew Julia was out to wreck my career.
He knew I cared about Mereana. He hurt them to get at me.
[sighs]
[Bennett] And you're realizing this now?
After we find the murder weapon on your property?
He needed me to cover for him and I did. I always have.
[Da Silva] Then why stop?
Well, you saw him. He's lost it.
I mean, that poor journo...
[Simon] I never touched Arty Cole.
Yes, I was there. I called the ambulance,
but it was an accident.
So, what happened to his phone and computer?
He begged me to get rid of them.
He took them.
How do you think they ended up with you?
You guys need to stop him before he hurts anyone else.
If you let him out, he could go home to my family.
Please, you have to believe me!
Brother against brother. [sighs]
Something's not right.
I think Ford knew that knife was up the tree.
Simon's alibi goes down the shitter,
and he admits to being there the night Cole died
and suddenly you doubt him?
There's still no evidence.
Come on, we could nail this guy.
Unfortunately, she's right.
Pathology says that Cole's injuries
are consistent with an accidental fall.
[Da Silva] I wouldn't be doing my job if I ignored--
Don't you dare say hunches.
The look on Ford's face when he saw the tree--
Okay, okay. Let's just hope that the knife comes back
with one clear set of prints.
Until then, keep at them.
[TV presenter] Just coming back to you, Aroha.
Things not quite going David Hallwright's way.
[Aroha] Well, he did choose to throw himself on the mercy
of the New Zealand public over his private life.
A risk he may well be regretting now.
[TV presenter] Quite possibly, and we are seeing that
in the numbers somewhat, do you think?
[Aroha] We are indeed. I mean, I can't predict this.
Stay here.
-Excuse me. -Mrs. Lampton.
-Don't worry, he's going to win. -I didn't fucking vote for him.
[TV presenter] With 91% of the votes in,
this election could still go either way.
David Hallwright needs at least one more seat,
either for his party or--
No need to worry yet. You know we were expecting this.
There's still some big numbers to come in.
Why do you think Ford is framing you?
He's trying to take it all away from me.
What's he trying to take away from you, Simon?
Everything I have.
In fact, he already has.
[ominous music playing]
[door opens]
So... any idea why Simon would accuse you of murder?
No. Hell no. I mean, we've been close as since...
since forever.
Even when he went to Borstal for hurting that girl.
And you visited him while he was there?
Yeah. All the time. He's my kid brother.
[Da Silva] He never visited his brother in Borstal,
the guy's a liar!
That's what you said about Simon!
Yeah, and I was right about Simon, okay.
He was lying about his alibi
but because of the affair, not the murder.
Sorry, guys, that was forensics. Nothing on the knife.
Okay. That just leaves Mereana.
[chuckles] And you believe that? That she called him?
She might be the only evidence we've got.
And she may yet be another wild goose chase.
Charge Simon with what we've got.
-[Da Silva] Gregan-- -Charge him.
And let the other brother go.
Just don't leave town.
We might need to talk to you again soon.
Yeah, yeah, of course, anything you want.
Hey, you take care of him, okay?
-[door lock beeps] -[door clicks open]
[door closes]
Simon Lampton, I am charging you with theft in relation
to the personal effects of Arty Cole
and making a false statement.
You're not listening to me!
These are holding charges.
We'll continue our inquiries unless you wish
to change your mind regarding your statement
about Mereana Kostas.
I told you she is alive!
She's alive.
Where?
I don't know... [breathes shakily]
...but you can trace the call, right?
She will tell you where I was that night
and what Ford did to her.
Are you offering me your phone as evidence?
Knowing that anything we find on that
we could use against you?
-Whatever it takes. -[phone thuds]
Just as long as I can get home before you let my brother go.
You are still holding him, right?
And we are calling it.
With his coalition partners Aotearoa and the Justice Party,
we are looking at a Future NZ David Hallwright-led government
for the next three years!
[crowd cheering, applauding]
["Slice of Heaven" by Dave Dobbyn playing]
[cheering continues]
[whistling, cheering]
Mom! Hey, Mom. What are you doing?
I'm not going down without a fight.
[cheering continues]
-[Da Silva] Jane. -Oh, hey, miss.
Um, sorry, I'm... I'm not sticking around...
[Da Silva] Seriously?
What is going on here? All of a sudden,
David Hallwright's your best mate.
[Da Silva] I don't get it.
David Hallwright is going to ensure my promotion.
To headquarters.
You could be looking at the first woman commissioner.
Congratulations.
Have I ever given you a reason not to trust me?
No.
[Jane] Do you remember why we even joined the police force?
-To catch crooks! -Exactly.
And because I trust you,
I'm going to tell you now that David Hallwright is
the biggest crook of them all.
And when he promotes me, I am going after him,
and the Securities Commission and the SFO are coming with me.
-The long game. -[Jane] The long game.
-[sighs] -What?
I have to catch a crook of my own.
I need your help.
[Da Silva] I think I've been looking at the wrong brother.
-Hey, can we go home? -Yeah.
[indistinct chatter]
-[Karen] Hi, you okay? -Yeah.
Congratulations, but it's time I got Elke home.
Oh, no! We have a private celebration planned.
I think she's had enough celebration.
No, Mom. Do I have to?
[Roza] Karen, it's such a big night for us.
She just wants to be part of it.
[Roza] You could stay the night?
Mom, can I?
No, I'm afraid not. Okay?
You've got ballet in the morning,
and we have a school project that needs finishing, so...
Please...
I'll make pancakes.
[Elke] No. I want to stay with Izzy.
[photographer] Photo of the girls?
Come on, Karen, let's not make a scene.
Would your adoring public still love you
if they knew about the drugs?
Will Simon send Elke postcards from prison?
-[Elke] So, can I stay? -[breathes deeply]
I just want to spend time with her.
[Elke] Please.
Okay, but I will pick you up first thing in the morning
and you can text me anytime.
[lips smacking]
See you.
[camera shutter clicks]
Well, can you at least send a patrol car to the house?
-He hasn't done anything. -Yet.
[sighs] Please just find Mereana.
-[phone ringing] -What now?
[phone beeps]
[sighs]
-Is Dad on drugs? -What? No, hon.
What's he got against Uncle Ford all of a sudden?
[unscrews bottle]
I don't know.
So... Simon walks again,
thanks to your friend in high places.
Did you leak the knife?
What's that have to do with anything?
Ford Lampton never visited Simon in Borstal
and he knew where the murder weapon was.
So my plan is to find more evidence to prove
that Ford is guilty and Simon is innocent.
If you can prove the opposite, then go for it.
Look, I know you don't agree
with the way I'm going about this,
but right now I need you on board.
We need to be in this together.
That call you asked me to trace from Simon's phone?
It came from a superette in Port Waikato.
Mereana?
And when I say together, I mean in different places.
Where do you want me?
[suspenseful music playing]
[clattering]
-[knocks] -[Nelf] No. Uh, not youse!
It's all right, Nelf. It's about Mereana.
-No, no, no, tried that. -We think she's okay, we just...
just need to see if you recognize
any of these men.
-[airplane engine revving] -[Nelf grunts]
HA9732. HA9732.
[grunts]
[car door opens]
-These are flight numbers? -No shit.
[chuckles]
-[knocking on door] -[Simon] Karen! Let me in!
[knocking on door]
[Karen] What the hell is wrong with you?
-Is Ford here? -No.
You have got to stop doing this! Claire thinks you're on drugs.
-Where are the girls? -Get your hands off me.
No, please. Please just tell me where they are.
Claire is upstairs
and Elke wanted to stay at the Hallwrights.
-Okay. -Simon, what is going on?
[Simon sighs]
You're not going to believe this.
Well, what the hell is it now, Simon?
[suspenseful music playing]
[Simon] I've just come from the police station.
With Ford...
Ford killed Julia.
[exhales] What? No, he didn't.
I'm telling you the truth.
-He's been setting me up... -[breathes heavily]
...and the police have let him go.
[Karen breathes heavily]
He could come here and hurt us.
You are not safe here. He's a killer.
[whimpers]
[door clicks shut]
[Singh] We're going by Nelf's flight numbers.
Paula can verify that Simon was delivering a baby
at the time we think Mereana was being attacked,
and Arty Cole's laptop has been most revealing.
Did you hear the one about the dead man
who sent an e-mail?
Why would Simon send his own dirty laundry
to a blogger?
No. The question is, how?
We were with him at the time,
and the computer was already gone.
Fuck. Da Silva was right.
Turn up the heat on Ford Lampton.
Get everything you can. His recent movements,
his vehicle, CCTV on pay phones, everything.
Do you really think he could hurt us?
[Simon] The lies he told Da Silva.
Until today, she really thought I was a killer.
You're a lot of things, Simon, but you're not that.
[phone ringing]
[phone beeps]
Simon Lampton. Detective Bennett.
[Simon] No, he's not. What's happened?
Go and check on Claire.
Yeah, we're just doing that now.
[ominous music playing]
Claire?
Claire!
-She's fine. -[Simon] No, we're okay.
Okay. Thanks, Detective.
[sighs] They've got their evidence.
They're out there looking for him.
Should we call the Hallwrights?
Tonight of all nights, Elke couldn't be safer.
[Simon] The less we tell them, the better.
[knocks on door]
-Uncle Ford! -[Ford] Hey.
Good idea, wearing those.
They are going for it downstairs.
Don't even know what Dad's doing here.
Having a breakdown, by the sounds of it.
For real?
He seemed batshit crazy earlier.
It's really not ideal for you to be here.
Your mom wants me to get you out of the house for a bit.
Now?
I think she's scared
that your Dad's going to go off the deep end again.
Okay.
[suspenseful music playing]
Good evening. Hey, um,
have you got that CCTV footage that I called you about?
Sure.
[beeps]
Yeah. That's her.
Do you know where she's staying?
Nah.
But you probably do know that you shouldn't be selling
beer at this time of night according to the liquor license
issued to you by--
Yeah, okay. Okay.
[shop owner] Just go back down the road you came from.
It's the first gate on the left.
[car lock deactivates]
Where are we going?
-Family bach up north. -There's a family bach?
[Ford] Yeah. He didn't tell you about it?
It's a beautiful spot. You'll love it.
Dad never talks about that stuff.
Yeah, well, that's part of his problem.
He turned his back on where he came from.
You can't do that.
Whose car is this anyway?
[suspenseful music playing]
[rattling]
[beeps]
[dog barking]
You stay here.
[dog continues barking]
This is private fucking property.
I'm looking for Mereana Kostas. I need her help.
You need to piss off.
Look, if she's in there, please, just tell her--
Do you have a warrant?
Tell her that the man who attacked her,
he'll keep hurting people unless she helps us.
[door closes]
[sighs]
You should probably get some sleep.
[sighs] Yeah.
Claire.
Simon!
Claire! [gasps]
Simon! Oh, God. She's gone!
I need a wee.
-[phone unlocks] -Hey, Claire.
Can I borrow your phone? Mine's run out of juice.
I think mine has too.
Okay, well, I'll check it while you're in the loo.
[car door closes]
[sighs, clears throat]
[phone vibrating]
[dial tone]
[phone beeping]
[phone ringing]
[gasps] Claire, baby, where are you?
[Ford] Karen, I'd love to chat,
but it's Simon I want to talk to.
[gasps] Let me speak to Claire! [hyperventilates]
Tell me she's all right, or I'm calling the police.
You breathe a word to the cops
and it won't be you who suffers, okay?
Please, Ford, don't hurt her. Tell me what you want me to do.
Come and meet me, back where it all began.
-Up home? -[Ford] Where else?
Hey, and you tell Karen that you're coming on your own.
Okay? Or you're going to be very, very fucking sorry.
[phone beeps]
-Simon. -[sighs]
It's your mom.
Come on.
She's saying that your dad's acting
a little crazy, so it's a good thing we got away.
[tires screech]
-[Simon] I'm going. -No. We need to call the police.
No. You heard what he said. We can't take the risk.
-Simon, if he's hurt people-- -He's after me.
-He's using her as bait. -[Karen] I am coming.
[Simon] No, you're not. I'm not putting you in danger.
Simon, don't fuck with me! I said I'm coming.
[engine turns off]
[car door closes]
[Ford] Frank?
[gun cocks]
[seat belt clicks]
This is the bach?
[Ford] A real dream come true, eh?
[Ford sighs]
What's that for?
You know, it's not much to look at...
but your dad and I we had some... pretty great times here.
Come on. I'll show you our favorite place.
-I want to call Mom. -Okay, soon.
Can I have my phone?
Yeah. Let me just show you this.
I want my phone!
[Ford] Well, we don't always get what we want, Claire.
[sighs] Maybe it's time you learned that.
Come on. Come on!
[chuckles]
-There's no signal. -Really?
What the fuck? Get off me, Uncle! Get off!
Get off! Somebody help!
Get off! [screams] Help! [screaming]
You should text Elke.
Tell her she needs to stay at the Hallwrights'.
-Okay. -[phone unlocks, beeps]
[indistinct chatter]
[phone beeps]
-Okay? -Mom texted.
Oh, that's great.
We can spend the day together. It'll be fun.
-[man laughing] -[indistinct chatter]
Written statement from the alive-but-has-been-better
Mereana Kostas.
Simon was with her the night of the murder
and Ford was her attacker.
Ford's ute, parked around the corner from the skip
where Cole's computer was dumped.
[Da Silva] But no one's seen him since he left here?
[phone unlocks, keys tapping]
[answerphone] Hi, Elke, Claire,
Simon and Karen aren't home right now,
but please leave us a message.
No one's answering at the Lampton's.
You know you can cry all you want, Claire, but...
[Claire sobbing]
...unless you're Elke, I mean, who really cares?
What's Elke got to do with it?
[Ford] Oh, come on, Claire Bear.
You must have seen it. Elke this, Elke that.
You must get sick of it.
[Claire] But I love Elke!
[chuckles] I mean, they're fighting over her
for fuck's sake. And you, you're just...
-You're just wallpaper. -Shut up! That's not true!
Hey! I'd watch my mouth if I was you.
-Simon's car's gone. -They left without locking up?
-This feels wrong. -[phone ringing]
Singh.
Claire rang Simon's phone from where?
Shit! No message? Thanks.
[phone keys tapping]
[Da Silva] Do we know exactly where up north
the Lamptons grew up?
[birds chirping]
-[Karen] Simon... -Now, you know what to do?
-Where the hell is she? -I'm going to get her, Karen.
You and Claire are going to go to the police.
She's all you need to worry about.
-It's going to be okay. -[Karen breathes shakily]
[Claire sobbing]
[whimpering] Dad! [sobbing]
-Finally. -Please, Ford.
Do whatever you want with me, but let her go.
[sobs]
-[gun cocks] -Dad! Dad!
It's okay, Bear. Everything's gonna be okay.
No. No, it's really not.
[whimpers]
Ford, please!
-[Simon] What are you doing? -[sobs]
Calm down. Okay. Everybody just calm down.
[cutting]
Hey, hey, easy, easy, easy. There you go.
Run!
Claire!
[Claire sobs, gasps]
[Karen] Come here!
-[Claire gasps, sobs] -You okay?
What the fuck are you doing?
[Ford] You must know that I wouldn't hurt Claire.
I mean, you knew that, right?
-[Simon] My fucking daughter! -[Ford groans]
[both grunt, groan]
[Ford groans]
You destroyed my life! [breathes heavily]
[Ford] You were faking it.
That whole bullshit world you built.
-Fuck you! -[Ford] No, fuck you.
-[Simon grunts] -[Ford groans]
[chuckles]
[Ford] It was always...
It was always so easy to take you down.
You know... I smacked that girl.
Yeah. I got used in a way.
You got the free pass, mate.
[pants] You got the good life.
[pants]
[coughs, groans]
[pants, groans]
You killed someone for that? It's a fucking lifetime ago.
-Not for me, mate. -[Simon grunts]
-[groans] -You left me here.
-I went to fucking Borstal. -You left me here!
You left me here!
-[thud] -[Simon grunts]
[Ford groans]
Whoa! Ooh! Yeah, there he is. There he is! Come on!
[breathes heavily]
It feels good, doesn't it? Come on.
-Come on! Come on! -[breathing heavily] No! No!
[thuds]
[whimpers]
[helicopter blades whirring]
[tires screeching]
[door opens]
[footsteps approaching]
[gun cocks]
[gasps]
No! No!
Stay here.
They're in the shed. Ford's got a gun.
-[gunshot] -[Ford groans]
[Claire] Dad! [sobbing]
You all right? Go get in the car!
Give me that!
-You ruined us. -Just do it, Simon.
Drop your weapon!
[Simon sobs softly]
[Da Silva] Drop it, Simon.
[sobs]
[gun thuds]
-[Frank] He did nothing. -[Da Silva] Step aside, sir.
-Stay where you are. -[Simon sobs]
Ford Lampton, you are under arrest
for the suspected murder of Julia Stevens,
the attempted murder of Mereana Kostas.
[chuckles]
[Da Silva] You have the right to remain silent...
Nice to finally meet the family.
This is me.
Can we get Elke?
Yeah. Yeah, that's exactly what we're going to do.
[slow, moody music playing]
[slow, moody music continues]
[Roza] I'll see you soon.
[slow, moody music continues]
[theme music playing]