(WIND WHISTLES)
(BROODING ATMOSPHERIC MUSIC)
WOMAN SHOUTS: Diana!
MAN SHOUTS: Diana!
Diana!
(BIRD SCREECHES)
Sinead?
- Sinead! - Sinead?
(EERIE ATMOSPHERIC THEME MUSIC)
Captions by James Brown.
Captions were made with the support of NZ On Air.
www.able.co.nz Copyright Able 2023
(NATIVE BIRDS CALL)
(MOTOR WHIRRS HARSHLY)
(PENSIVE MUSIC)
- That reporter's reckless. - Did you talk to Aileen Ryan?
- Did you? - No, of course he didn't, Joe.
If the Fallons didn't know we were here before, they do now.
I have news.
Derry Fallon.
He's here.
We haven't got a location on him yet.
When did he arrive?
A few weeks after the kids.
- What about the blood results? - We're still waiting on the lab.
There's more.
We found steroids in Ronan's locker at the hostel.
He wouldn't do steroids.
Have you guys made any large cash withdrawals from your joint credit card account recently?
No.
- How much? - 20 grand.
A couple of days before they disappeared. What can you tell me?
We added a card to our account for Sinead in case of emergencies.
But she's rarely used it, and never without telling us.
- And Ronan? - Not that we know of.
We'll get your copies of all of the statements.
OK. Er, this is hard, but I have to ask ―
is there any chance Roland could have been violent?
God, no.
Absolutely not, no.
Yeah, caring, bubbly.
We were part of the same management team, so we used to laugh a lot.
Yeah, I can't really say a bad thing about Sinead.
She was just such a nice girl.
We do social night Fridays.
We do clay pigeon shooting down at the gun club, you know.
Always happy to greet you. Always smiling.
She... She was really nice.
Aside from nice, can you tell us anything else about her?
Uh, Sinead and I are in different departments, and there's not really much overlap.
I-I'm sorry. I have a Zoom meeting with some very spooked board members in 30 minutes.
(ALARM BLARES)
OK, everybody, listen up!
Just make your way out of the building calmly.
We've had to send all the staff home.
You know, our investors, they're getting cold feet.
We've got protests, and now a bomb threat.
Probably a hoax, but better safe than sorry, right?
Since we've got you, we're trying to fill in our picture of Sinead.
What else can you tell us about her? What was she like the last few weeks?
Like I said, there was nothing unusual.
I never really got to know her personally.
OK, look, I'd like to help you guys, but I've got a land deal to salvage.
You thinking what I'm thinking?
No one here really knew Sinead at all.
Can you tell me which branch the money was withdrawn from?
Thank you.
A bank in Collinson, the nearest city.
So what would she need it for?
She wouldn't take that kind of money ― not without checking with us.
She doesn't tell us everything, Joe.
Ronan.
In the video, that short fuse. And he's on steroids.
Which means he's prone to outbursts, possibly even violence.
Everyone says she's lovely, but she gives nothing personal away, keeps everything at arm'slength.
OK, let's play what if.
Ronan's homesick, a bit lost.
His girlfriend has nailed a great job.
Derry Fallon was watching them.
He's taking 'roids while selling the clean living thing online.
He gets robbed and beaten.
He's feeling like the walls are closing in.
It all gets too much. He lashes out at Sinead.
He scrubs the deck, gets rid of the evidence and takes off with Sinead's body in the Houkuracar
- and dumps her at the maunga, because... - (CELL PHONE RINGS)
I dunno, cos he's a theatrical little shit.
- Let's keep sending out alerts for sightings of Ronan. - Sergeant Bruce Harris.
He's not used his driver's licence or his passport, not accessed his bank account.
If he's on the run, he is doing a damn good job of it.
That's a definite?
Yeah. You're the scientists.
ESR in Collinson.
They have a confirmed DNA match on the blood found in the car boot and under the deck.
Sinead?
Ronan.
(BROODING MUSIC)
I was a couple of years on the job.
We were chasing heroin we'd missed at the port.
An informant gave us an address that the gang were using as this kind of halfway house.
So myself, this fellow called Connolly ― big tall fella ―
got the tip-off, raced over there like our arses were on fire, kicked in the door,
and there it was, stacked wall to wall in the back room of the house.
Street value 1.2 million.
So I grab the guy.
He starts screaming and shouting at this old woman who was there.
'For fuck's sake, Gran, are you serious?
'You better fucking sort this, you stupid fucking bitch.'
And she was... terrified.
So I said, 'It's all right, missus. We're here now.'
Take the guy out of there in handcuffs, bring him back to the station,
the returning heroes, you know?
Boss man comes out and he says to me, 'Who the fuck is that?' pointing at the young fella.
The old woman was the dealer. She was long gone by then.
We don't have to rush in and solve this case in a day.
We just have to solve it.
So that was just a really long-winded way of telling me to be patient?
Bet the blokes you worked with gave you shit.
I answered to the name of Neil Diamond for the next two years.
The old woman's name was Caroline.
Who's Neil Diamond?
Oh my God.
(LAUGHS)
So,...
what now?
Time to go back to the start.
(DOOR CREAKS)
(SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC)
Five days ago, Sinead's holding down a responsible job, doing well.
But for Ronan, not so good.
Gets the shit kicked out of him by person or persons unknown.
And robbed, which he doesn't report.
Sinead's working her arse off at Houkura.
- Ronan's raising capital for his fitness brand, selling steroids. - Indulging himself.
Which leaves the questions ― what was taken, who beat up Ronan, and did they come back to finish the job?
Who keeps a padlock with the spatulas?
Sorry?
Diana.
There.
Bruce, we're at the house.
Get a lumi kit here now, and hazmat gear.
Our insider tells us Derry's in New Zealand.
Cops haven't got a lock on him yet.
The Fallons supply Shamie Walsh's gang.
Perhaps he can give us a lead.
You think Shamie would know where Derry is?
He doesn't have a seat at the top table.
Yeah, not yet, but I still think he's our best bet.
You think you can trust him with something as big as this?
- He's given me good intel before. - (SIGHS)
Be careful on this one, Aileen. Be very careful. He's dangerous.
Yeah.
(BEEP!)
Bruce, can you call the District Water Board?
Check for unusually high water usage in a 50km radius.
On it.
And check in with local hospitals and clinics.
Any uptick in chemical burns or respiratory irritations.
Done.
- Fucking crack. - Cocaine?
P.
You don't have crystal meth in Ireland?
Not our biggest problem.
Ronan was dealing crystal meth.
Or they both were.
We've got a three-block area that's had high water usage over the past few months.
What are we looking for?
Corru fences, security cameras.
(INDICATOR TICKS)
What?
(DOG BARKS IN DISTANCE)
Hello, Princess.
I'm Ava. I'm not a princess.
Well, I'm not a princess either.
- You're pretty. - Well, that makes two of us.
Ouch. That looks sore.
Where do you live, Ava?
Does your mum know that you're out here on your own?
No? Come on. I'll walk you home.
I don't wanna be alone in the house with the sick baby.
There's a sick baby in there alone?
Well, if I'm with you, then you're not alone, right?
- Yeah? Come on. - Everything all right?
Can you tell Bruce to have ESR, crime squad and Oranga Tamariki standing by?
- If that's a lab, you can't― - There is a baby in there alone.
Yeah? OK.
(TENSE MUSIC BUILDS)
OK, Ava.
Is the baby in there?
Yeah? OK, you wait out here for me, OK, love?
Hello? (KNOCKS)
Anyone home?
I don't know. Could be endangerment. We need them here now, Bruce.
Hello?
(SNIFFS)
(PLAINTIVE VOICE WAILS INDISTINCTLY)
I'm sorry.
You... have...
TV: ...given me the best idea!
- Brilliant! It feels weird, eh? - Yeah!
(TENSE MUSIC CONTINUES)
(DOLL CRIES)
- You shouldn't have come here. - (PISTOL CLICKS)
(GRUNTS)
- Ah! - Don't move!
(SOBS)
Copy that. I'm going back to the station. See you there.
Do you know him?
Want us to testify you were cooperative?
- What about him? - He's missing ― five days.
We know he dealt P. That's why we came visiting.
A week or so ago he called me, said he couldn't pay me what he owed.
Gave this big song and dance ― someone beat him up, nicked his crack.
And did he mention a name?
Ronan said he was handling things, and a couple days later he turned up with the cash.
How much did he owe you?
- (ENGINE STARTS) - Ava!
Can I just give her a hug?
Sorry.
I was just trying to look after my girl.
Sue, how much did he owe you?
Ronan.
30,000 bucks.
- 30,000 New Zealand. - 20,000 euro.
The same amount that was withdrawn from the Martins' account.
(CELL PHONE VIBRATES)
Shamie.
You've got fucking nerve ― I'll give you that.
Thank you.
Can you help me?
I know where Derry Fallon is.
But it's not for free.
What do you want?
That piece you're working on about us.
What's more important ― another article on drug runners, or finding Derry Fallon?
Maybe even finding the judge's daughter.
Drop it.
I can't, Shamie.
Grand. Fuck you, then. (PHONE CLICKS)
Shamie?
Ah!
Fuck it!
We didn't bump up against him much before.
Derry was the legitimate face of the Fallons.
College boy with a business degree, buys and sells property,
sets up construction companies to launder the money.
You think that's what he's trying to do here?
Fitz, Diana. Diana, Fitz.
Hiya, Diana. Has he made you a coffee yet?
The only man in the station to ever make me a coffee.
Usually it's to make up for being a dick.
Look, we're making life difficult for them here, so they're looking for opportunities abroad.
But why would Derry mess his cover up by going after Sinead and Ronan?
Because his father wants blood. Family always comes first.
It was Derry who greenlit the hit on the judge.
Sharp suits and a college degree doesn't change what he is.
The man's a killer.
Look, if you need any help our end, you know where I am.
Come back to us.
- Just don't wanna make your own coffee. - Something like that.
I'll get Bruce on to looking for large business and property purchases in New Zealand since Derry arrived.
In cash.
Do you believe the Martins? That they didn't notice 20 K missing?
- Why would they lie under these circumstances? - People lie.
I'd put money on the kids withdrawing that cash without telling them.
Could be that the Martins are realising
they don't know their daughter as well as they thought they did.
(CELL PHONE VIBRATES)
Three missed calls from your journo mate. There a reason you don't want to talk to her in front of me?
Your secret hacker friend?
Christ, Richter. Is she gonna pop up everywhere I turn?
She's in the motel, too, isn't she?
- Are you two―? - All right, that's enough.
Yes, she is gonna show up everywhere we go, because that's what she does.
Mind your own fucking business.
- What is it between you two? - Nothing.
(SIGHS)
All right, there was something, but there's nothing now, I swear.
Nothing you see, hear, nothing I say gets to that woman, OK?
I'm on your side, Diana.
Hey.
I think we got off on the wrong foot last night.
I told you to stay out of my face. I'm happy with that arrangement.
They say Kiwis are friendly.
- Yeah, well, they haven't met me yet. - Clearly.
Do you know what's weird? You remind me of my mother.
So she's a fat Maori with diabetes?
Yes. Oh my God, do you know her (?)
What do you think I know?
I suspect that you've had to watch your back your entire life.
So you pay attention, which means that you see more than most people.
- You're not as dumb as you look. - Nah.
You're not as hard as you pretend.
Have you seen any suspicious-looking Irishmen around here recently?
You think an Irish crim took those kids?
Keep an eye out for anyone who looks, uh, out of place.
Sinead?
Ronan?
Sinead?
Hannah.
- The blood is Ronan's. - Oh, thank God! (GASPS)
Oh, I'm so sorry. God forgive me.
It's OK.
It's not enough to suggest that there's no hope of finding him alive, but it's significant.
Where is she, Richter?
This is what we know.
Looks like Ronan was taking steroids and selling methamphetamine.
- Where did he say he got those bruises the other week? - He said he took up boxing.
- The money from the credit card was for the drugs. - Yeah.
I'm sorry I have to ask, but is there any way Sinead could have known or could have been involved?
- We'll get there. - Thank you.
Could she have known?
I just think ― two young tourists go missing?
I know where you're going, Rose, but these kids have been living and working here for over six months.
It feels like it's all happening again.
If the mountain murderer is back, then where the hell has he been all this time?
Mark my words. The bodies will start popping up out of the river any moment.
I don't know about the law where you're from,
here, recording a conversation without consent is illegal.
Well, assuming you give your consent, thanks very much.
- What's your theory? - About the Irish? - Mm-hm.
(CLEARS THROAT)
For fuck's sake, Buster.
Pouakai.
Great eagle.
Used to live up there on the maunga.
His wings were six arm spans wide.
The sound of his wings was like thunder rolling over the maunga.
- Maybe pouakai took those kids. - (SCOFFS)
Maybe.
You should take that gun show on the road.
(CHUCKLES)
Seriously, though, what do you really think?
Wiki's not the only local that's gonna have a problem with an outsider poking her nosein,
making assumptions, prying.
(PHONE BEEPS)
Talktous, not about us.
That's what I'm trying to do.
- What happened earlier... - Yeah.
Thank you. You saved my life.
You could have died today.
Keep acting before thinking, and one day you will.
I thought a kid's life was at risk.
- I'd do the same again. - You could have waited. Outcome would have been the same.
That's all I'm saying.
This your mum's house?
Bruce was saying.
There was this eel, lived in a creek over there.
Big old thing.
When I was a kid.
If I was upset or I couldn't get to sleep,
we'd go down to the creek
and we'd sing to her.
The eel would come and eat bread right out of my hand.
Richter. (CLEARS THROAT)
It's a weird name for an Irish.
My father was German.
Came to Ireland for work, met my mother.
When I was about 5, he...
well, he left, never came back.
Sorry.
I used to think life would be so much better if he stayed.
But now I know more.
(MOURNFUL IRISH MUSIC)
- Richter? - Yeah.
If... you heard about my mum, then you heard what happened to her.
Yeah.
I'm so sorry, Diana.
They found her handbag and her wallet up on the maunga.
A note they say she left for me.
They say she jumped.
And that her body was taken by the river.
They're wrong.
She didn't do it.
Write some stupid note. 'Mo taku he ― I'm sorry.'
She was a poet, an artist, even in her dar―
It wasn't her.
Then what did happen?
I don't know.
That woman who brought you to sing to that big old eel.
No one can take her away from you.
(SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC)
Police!
(DOOR CLOSES)
(GATE CREAKS)
(MOTORBIKE ENGINE ROARS)
What?
(KNOCK AT DOOR)
What the fuck?
How are you?
I need your advice.
Uh...
I might have an easy way of getting information, but it means giving up something important.
What's your question?
What's with the attitude?
We used to work together. Do you remember?
- We used to do a lot of things together. - All right, time to go, Aileen.
I'm not looking for the ride, Richter.
All right.
Theo...
I don't know...
what I did wrong.
OK.
H?
I was looking at that mountain the whole way here.
I read that Maori think of the mountain as a living thing.
Is that right?
Like... an ancestor?
- - Notanancestor. - Theancestor.
When Maori meet, we tell one another our lines of descent.
The first name is always the maunga where we hail from.
I hail from a two-bed over a chipper in Dublin.
- Keeping out of trouble, mischief? - Just riding around.
You and your wife are either the most fertile people in New Zealand,
or all these kids aren't yours.
Nga Pitau.
That's the word for a young fern.
Me and Wiki made this place to give young lost souls a second chance to put down roots.
Wiki and I never got around to having babies of our own.
That thing you fella do with a stick of ash in leather ball?
You know about hurling?
A man can read.
- Hell of a game, by the sounds. - 3000 years old.
Still as wild now as it was back then.
There's a stadium down the road from that two-bed ― Croke Park.
Pretty sure all the peak moments of my life happened in there.
Croke Park, eh? Sounds like that's your maunga.
But I'm guessing that you didn't come over just to chat about mountains.
It's a beautiful night, Buster.
Ae. Beautiful.
(WIND WHISTLES)
(ALARM WHINES)
(KEYPAD BEEPS, ALARM STOPS)
Bruce.
He still hasn't found any connection between Derry Fallon and New Zealand properties.
It's going too slow. I need to take over the legwork.
Who was putting the hard word on me about, what was it, having patience?
Just so you know, someone broke into my house last night,
left threatening graffiti on my mother's walls.
- What? - 'Watch your back, bitch.'
I interrupted the guy, and he took off.
- Could be relevant to the case. - It was just a kid.
Rode away on his motorbike. Didn't get the rego.
- What kind of bike was it? - A white trail bike.
Moving on, it looks like turning the heat up on Mervin at the backpackers worked.
He's putting together a list of everyone who was around when Ronan was assaulted.
- I was at your uncle's house last night. - Sorry?
There was a white motorbike there.
What do you want to do?
- Just one thing at a time. - (PHONE RINGS)
Bruce.
I found a property transaction in Auckland three months ago ― a flash apartment in Herne Bay.
Paid for in cash.
The sale was red-flagged, review pending.
Details of the buyer?
It was a company ― Sweet Maisy Holdings.
- Guess what Derry's mother's name was. - Maisy.
Listen, we can't just go storming in there. Derry's too dangerous.
OK. Thank you, Bruce.
(DIALS PHONE) We'll do this right.
Hey, boss, I've got a request. It's a big one.
Bruce?
I need to ask you about a bomb threat made against Houkura.
Oh, you're kidding me, right?
(SIGHS) I want a lawyer present, for my safety and well-being.
- Safety and well-being? - Yeah, yeah.
Police brutality against Maori prisoners.
If you're gonna beat a confession out of me with a phone book, then I want witnesses,
Damn it, Wiki. Houkura was evacuated earlier because of a bloody bomb threat.
And You wrote threatening letters to Tamati Davidson.
OK, I admit it.
I made the threat.
And...
I've been building pipe bombs. You'll find them in the bike shed behind the school (!)
- Ah, for Christ's sake. - You know the bike shed, eh, Bruce?
You'll find my DNA there. Might even find a few spots of your own.
- Wiki, I'm an officer of the law. - You know, from 40 years ago, when you got your freakon.
Enough. Stop it, now.
(SIGHS) Listen, I'm taking the guy to court.
What sort of a dickhead would I be if I was bombing the guy that I'm suing?
- OK, of course I don't think it was you. - Thank you.
All right, I've got shit to do. I've Gotta go. I'll see you later.
- I know you're looking at my arse. - Yeah, well, if you'd just stop talking out of it.
(COMPUTER BEEPS)
When they get Derry, he doesn't sound like the chatty type to me.
I don't need him to talk. I just need to look him in the eyes.
Entering the ground floor.
(SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC)
Standing by to enter the apartment.
- Clear to enter. - Go.
Clear so far.
Looks like they were just here.
(TENSE MUSIC)
- Clear. - Clear.
Go back to the computer. What's on it?
Not one word.
(RIGING TONE)
- Shamie. - You gonna bin that article?
Shamie, I've made promises.
Do you think Derry has that fucking judge's daughter or not?
- Cos if he does... - Yeah, OK, fine. Fine.
I'll text you the address.
- Yeah. - Yeah. - (PHONE CLICKS)
(PHONE CHIMES)
Where are you off to? Auckland? Herne Bay address?
- Ah, fuck. - Because of your little article, they're gone.
Do you have any idea what you've done?
No, you don't. You don't even give a shit.
Fuck.
No, Derry's gone.
Yeah. We're pulling apart the apartment in Auckland as we speak.
I don't know.
Yeah. I have to go.
OK. Thanks.
There you go, officers.
Four names?
There were at least 20 people staying here the night Ronan was attacked.
Yeah, but most of them were on a bus tour that day.
They weren't back till well after Ronan got a kicking behind the Beak.
So, um... yeah, these four here would be your, um... potential witnesses.
The attack happened behind the Beak?
Yeah. The details are all there.
You didn't say it was behind the pub the last time we spoke.
I, uh...
'He turned up for work covered in bruises, split lip, had the shit kicked out of him.
'He didn't say more. I didn't ask. I swear, that's all I know.'
We don't have to talk to anyone on this list, do we, Mervin?
I didn't see it.
I only got there in time to see him on the ground, bleeding.
That's all I know.
Who was it?
I told you, I didn't see the fight.
And Ronan wouldn't say what it was about.
- OK, I'm arresting you for providing false information. - The fuck!
(SCOFFS)
He's a good guy.
Give me a name.
Your uncle. Buster Huia.
- Is everything OK with the food? - It's lovely, thank you.
Look, we're all feeling for you.
Thank you.
(SIGHS)
Judge Martin.
Mr Martin.
I'm sorry about Sinead and Ronan. I really hope they're found safe and well.
Listen, I know about the money missing from your credit card,
and it's only a matter of time before I find out what it was used for.
I know you're in a terrible position ― I can't even imagine. But, um...
if you ever feel the need to tell your side of the story...
Why don't you fuck off?
(BROODING PIANO MUSIC)
Thank you.
We have reason to believe crimes have been committed at Nga Pitau.
What crimes?
One of your vehicles was involved in a break-in last night. The rider vandalised my house.
Oh, yeah? So, you got a licence plate?
And we have information that you have been involved
in the distribution and sale of methamphetamine,
and that you assaulted one of the missing Irish.
- The ones that love you? - Wiki, Wiki― - Nah, fuck her!
What were you doing the night Sinead Martin and Ronan Garvey went missing?
He was with me.
You hate us that much, eh?
You think your uncle killed those Irish people?
Buster Huia, I am asking you to accompany us to the station.
Will you agree to come voluntarily?
- He ain't fucking going anywhere, Diana. - Whoa, whoa.
Let's de-escalate the situation, do this by the book.
Listen to your mate.
Diana.
Listen to me.
Breathe. Start the engine.
(SIGHS)
(PAINED MOANING)
(WOOD CREAKS)
Wiki. Ginge.
(TENSE MUSIC)
Hello?
Hey, hey, hey!
Oh, you fucking arsehole!
Back! Back! Get back!
- Come on. Do it! - Cover your head!
(AXE THUDS)
Ronan? Ronan Garvey?
It's not him.
There you go.
This will ease the pain, help you relax.
Little sting.
Why is he being arrested?
We have witness testimony that he assaulted Ronan Garvey.
And that young man there, he was illegally detained against his will.
Diana.
How'd it come to this?
(ENGINE STARTS)
- What's going on? - They're saying Papa H took the Irish.
Buster?
He's a little dehydrated, sleep deprived, so I'm keeping him sedated.
You're gonna have to wait, Diana.
How long has it been?
- Five years. - (CHUCKLES)
At your age, it's a lifetime. At mine, it feels like yesterday.
And you're just like your mum.
(SIGHS)
She was...
She was one of my favourite people.
And she loved you.
You know that?
Yeah, you never got tired of telling me.
And whatever's going on...
Buster and Wiki,
they love you too.
(SIGHS)
You know, I did everything I could for your mum.
Yeah, I know.
I'm here whenever you need me.
Is my uncle making a fuss?
No.
But he wants to see you.
He can wait.
We didn't have a warrant.
There was due cause.
We had reason to believe someone was in danger.
He assaulted Ronan.
The white trail bike at my house came from Nga Pitau.
If DNA shows that Ronan or Sinead were kept at Nga Pitau, like this guy...
I hope it doesn't.
You barely know these people.
If they find a link, then you'll have to stand down.
(DOG BARKS)
(TENSE MUSIC)
(KNOCK AT DOOR)
(GRUNTS)
(SCREAMS)
All right, Derry?
Killing people's easy.
Burying them? Harder. Do you understand?
Yeah.
Aileen?
Where is she?!
- Fucking control yourself! - Control? I have no fucking control! None!
You know what? No one ever listened to me.
I will never know what happened to my mum.
Di, it's happening again.
What's happening again?
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