Original subtitles

COLBY: You mustn't let these doubts creep in.

BETH: I've been staring at that scar on his cheek for decades,

and I vividly remember him telling me

that it was a tree-lopping accident.

My duty is to present all the evidence,

no matter what it is or where it's from.

If you do have something that will help this case,

then you should tell me, Louella.

XAVIER: Dad, you know I'm not here just for a holiday, eh?

I'm here so we can get to know each other.

Take a deep breath in. And out.

BASSAM: Yeah, while you were cancelling Principal Thorne,

you forgot you were cancelling me too.

Leave me alone!

I'm ashamed of you!

(DOOR CLOSES)

I feel like I can't find you!

But I am, I'm here!

But you're actually not.

I love you.

I'm meant to be having dinner with her tonight.

-(PHONE RINGS) -I'm gonna cancel it.

Hey!

GRETEL: Jaz, this kind of thing is gonna keep happening.

-Do you not realise that? -JAZMYN: You love the drama!

If you weren't there that night, something could've happened!

We helped you and now you want to get the club shut down?

(TENSE MUSIC)

(CAMERA CLICKS)

(DARK MUSIC)

Mr Dallimore, uh, this is Brett Colby, SC.

I am in the thick of a murder trial,

and it is imperative that I speak with you,

as I believe that you have critical information

to this case.

Now, as we are not able to meet,

could you please contact my associate, Nina Distazio,

to set up an urgent video call?

-With my thanks. -(HORN TOOTS)

(UNSETTLING MUSIC)

(DOOR SQUEAKS OPEN)

MAN: Taxi for Mr Dallimore, Heathrow.

(DOOR SQUEAKS SHUT)

(DOOR LOCK CLICKS SHUT)

(INTENSE MUSIC)

(MELANIE DE BIASIO SINGS) ♪ I feel you

(DARKLY SULTRY MUSIC)

♪ A deep echo in me... ♪

Nina!

Hey. Just wondering,

uh, have you found out who John is?

I can't discuss that.

Look, I'm the one that gave you the photo. Please.

We found him, yes, but it's not promising.

That's all I can say.

♪ 'Cause I feel you

♪ I won't say why we met... ♪

GRETEL: Hey.

♪ It sounds too loud... ♪

-(BOTH LAUGH) -♪ I know you... ♪

SHARON: Gretel? Gretel.

Court starts in 15 minutes, so chop-chop.

Oh, hey, um, I was thinking of maybe,

um, switching things up a bit and... and switching seats.

Uh, well, you can't, because the seats were allocated.

Oh, I know, I was just thinking

that maybe we could reallocate them.

This is the Supreme Court, it's not high school.

Cool.

-♪ A deep echo in me... ♪ -Thanks.

♪ A strong appeal for that mystery

♪ I know you know. ♪

(NICHOLLS CLEARS THROAT)

(FRAGILE MUSIC)

-I need to swap seats with you. -Why?

Um, 'cause I'm on my period and...

-Oh. -And I-I need the air.

Right, yeah, well, look, I don't think we're supposed to...

Come on, please. It's really bad.

Oh... (STAMMERS)

Just, OK, just don't tell me any details, OK?

Whew!

(UNSETTLING MUSIC)

JAZMYN: Um, hello?

BLAKE: What?

COLBY: Mr Lee, when did you first meet Amanda Taylor?

LEE: I met Amanda when she sent me a video pitch

and a manuscript submission in 2020.

What was the manuscript about?

It was about her father being the Cape Rock killer.

When my mother died, I found these newspaper clippings

Among her things.

Of the unsolved Cape Rock murders

of Judith Donnelly and Susan Mead.

I believe that she thinks

that my father murdered these girls too.

My book, 'My Father Is the Cape Rock Killer',

will expose the truth.

COLBY: Were you interested in publishing it?

LEE: No.

Oh, well, why was that?

It was all supposition,

using what was already on the public record,

except for a few interviews with her family.

I told her to come back

when she had definitive proof

that her father was the killer.

She would have to solve the crime, basically,

otherwise it had no value.

COLBY: Mm.

Did you believe that Ms Taylor

had given up on her book?

LEE: I had no belief either way.

I didn't expect to hear from her again

after the rejection.

COLBY: What do you do with books that are rejected?

Do you... Do you delete them?

LEE: Not immediately.

They stay on file for 12 months.

I see.

Uh, Your Honour, it's been brought to my attention

that juror 183 and 105

are not sitting in their allocated place.

JUDGE WEST: 183 and 105,

kindly move back to your assigned seats.

It's essential that all jurors

remain in your allocated seats at all times.

(GRETEL CLEARS THROAT)

COLBY: Mr Lee, is Gia Pandit one of your authors?

LEE: Yes.

She's my top-selling true crime writer.

Three books, over two million copies sold.

COLBY: That's very impressive.

I imagine that the income stream from that

would be absolutely critical to keep things afloat

at a publishing house like your own.

Now, what was she writing about in 2023?

She was writing her own version

Of the 1968 Cape Rock murders.

The same crime as Ms Taylor?

Yes.

So, were you aware of Ms Taylor's suspicion

that you had passed on her manuscript to Gia Pandit?

-GIA: Guilty. -(LAUGHTER)

MAN: It must make it very competitive

to find new material for your books.

Yes, new crimes definitely.

But there are plenty of old crimes

that haven't been mined yet.

I'm currently writing a book about an unsolved double murder.

-That sounds very interesting. -Mm.

MAN: Can you tell us more?

GIA: Yeah, it's about the 1968 Cape Rock murders.

MAN: Oh, wow.

GIA: I've got some new sources,

including the families of the suspects

who have never been willing to talk, until now.

MAN: You've worked your magic on them.

(GIA LAUGHS) Made some inroads, yes.

And what they have to say is very interesting.

Who did you speak to?

GIA: Uh, am I piquing interest already? (CHUCKLES UNEASILY)

AMANDA: I-I just want to know

how you made those inroads, exactly.

GIA: No spoilers for my story.

MAN: We'll take questions at the end, thank you.

Yeah, but it's not your story, is it?

MAN: Security!

AMANDA: No, just be honest and tell them

how you made inroads with my family.

She stole my manuscript.

(CHUCKLES)

Yeah, that's... that's what she 'mined'.

LEE: Get her out of here, please.

Mm. That's fine, I'm leaving.

Gia Pandit, everyone!

Gia fucking Pandit.

She accused Gia of stealing her manuscript.

It happens all the time with new writers.

They think they're the only ones

that can come up with their idea.

COLBY: So, you have Amanda Taylor's manuscript on file,

and one of your writers, perhaps your most lucrative,

begins a book on the same murders,

using Amanda Taylor's family as a source.

Is that a coincidence, Mr Lee?

LEE: Gia is a prize-winning, bestselling journalist.

She had no need to steal anything.

Amanda's accusations of plagiarism

Are completely unfounded.

COLBY: Did these accusations,

as you call them, cause you any trouble?

GIA: Oh, she might as well have screamed 'plagiarist'

and rung a fucking cowbell!

No-one will listen to her. Just ignore it.

How do you ignore being defamed in front of an audience, Phill?

Don't waste that brilliant brain of yours

worrying about this.

Just leave it with me and I will shut her up.

Good. Will you just do it?!

I simply had my legal team

issue Ms Taylor with a concerns notice.

COLBY: After you sent Ms Taylor the concerns notice,

did she stop?

(GLASS THUDS)

LEE: No.

(HUBBUB)

COLBY: So did you commence legal action...

(HEAVY BREATHING)

-JAZMYN: I can create drama! -Jaz!

(DISTURBING SOUNDSCAPE)

COLBY: Or was it simply that your accusations

were actually true?

No.

JUDGE WEST: Juror 183,

please stay in your seat.

(SCATTERED WHISPERS)

Um, I'm...

I'm sor... I'm sorry, I can't... (STAMMERS)

(DOOR OPENS)

JUDGE WEST: It seems one of our jurors is indisposed.

(DOOR CLOSES)

We'll adjourn

while the jury officer establishes what's ailing her.

(GRETEL CRIES)

(DOOR OPENS)

(SOBBING BREATHS)

(DOOR CLOSES)

JAZMYN: Hey.

Hey, babe, can I get you anything?

GRETEL: I'm fine, go away.

JAZMYN: I'm here if you need to talk, OK?

GRETEL: What are you doing? What the... What is this?

I'm just... just trying to help you. You're OK.

No. No, you're not, you're not...

...trying to help. You... You keep ignoring me.

Hey, whoa, baby...

GRETEL: You're nice to me the next day, but...

Just because I make another friend,

it doesn't mean I'm ignoring you.

You've been icing me out all week!

You just sat a seat away from me!

And then you wrote fucking 'liar' on my note...

...on my notebook.

JAZMYN: That was about the witness.

Enough with the gaslighting, Jazmyn. I can't fuck...

-I can't fucking do this! -SHARON: Whoa, whoa!

(STALL LOCKS)

(GRETEL SOBS)

JAZMYN: I'm so sorry, I was just trying to help.

I-I can handle it. Go back to the jury room.

Gretel.

(SOBS)

SHARON: Gretel, take a... take a deep breath.

-I can't breathe! -Yep, take a deep breath.

GRETEL: I can't.

Take a deep breath.

(SOBBING BREATHS)

SHARON: Slow breaths.

Slow breaths.

I'm... I'm trying.

SHARON: One, two, three.

(OPPRESSIVE MUSIC)

One, two, three.

COLBY: What was the hold-up?

I just got a call from the UK.

John Dallimore's taken a sudden leave of absence from work.

-Where's he gone? -(NOTIFICATION CHIMES)

I don't know, the PI's searching now.

Oh, shit.

You OK?

Yeah, um...

Yeah, make sure he finds him.

COLBY: Beth, where's Xavier?

P.A.: Dr Chen...

-Beth. -Oh, he... He's OK.

Um, he called me to ask

if I could get a message to you in court,

so I didn't want to interrupt, so I just drove him myself.

No, it's fine.

We adjourned almost before we began, so thank you.

Oh. I mean, is everything alright?

Have I... Have I missed anything?

No, no, no, and it's probably a godsend.

We need a little more time to find this John Dallimore fella.

OK. Uh, do you want me... want me to stay?

No, you-you... You go home to Josie, alright?

OK. Alright, 'bye.

COLBY: Oh, Lord.

I'm fine, just a fucking idiot.

What happened to you?

XAVIER: Recording in the shed and I just tripped over the dog.

Fucking smashed my head open.

(COLBY HALF-LAUGHS)

I hope the dog's OK.

And, um, not too much damage to the shed.

(XAVIER SCOFFS)

Oh, you poor bugger.

-Here, let me give you a hand. -XAVIER: It's fine.

COLBY: No, no, give it to me.

I want to make sure they give you an MRI scan.

XAVIER: Dad, just let...

We're talking about the head here.

Let them do their job. It's fine.

Alright. (CLEARS THROAT)

Thank you for your concern.

You're welcome.

Right, um, date of birth.

Three.

Sixth of nine...

-Whew! -Nine...

-'91? -How old am I?

(STAMMERS) Ninety... Nine...

It's '92, isn't it?

Is it?

I know I'm supposed to know this shit.

There's a dementia ward just across the hall.

Oh, thanks, mate, that's very kind.

(XAVIER SCOFFS)

(VIOLENT RETCHING)

XAVIER: Jesus Christ.

(MUSIC PLAYS SOFTLY)

ROWAN: Mm-hm.

-What time is it? -JAZMYN: Hey.

I've missed these afternoons.

Do you wanna do something?

ROWAN: I have to go to the club.

(KISSES)

Did you speak to what's-her-face?

Yeah.

She's not still mouthing off, is she, about the chat threads?

No, but even if she was, no-one would believe her.

ROWAN: Mm.

SHARON: So this is the only interaction you had?

Yeah.

Jazmyn told me a different story.

What did she say?

She told me that you were rejected

by her and her boyfriend

and that you were accusing his club of a spiking incident

as a kind of revenge.

What?! Sorry, that's-that's bullshit.

I'm not really sure why she would say that.

She also said that you suggested

calling each other Judy and Susie as a way around me.

That was her idea! That was all her...

Sorry, this-this is really stupid.

I-I-I need to go. This is a mistake.

-Gretel, please, sit down. -I can't be here.

Look, she's twisted everything, OK?

That is exactly why

I didn't want to sit next to her this morning.

She's making me look like I'm crazy!

I-I want to hear your side of it.

I just need you to sit down

and tell me everything that's happened.

But you're not gonna believe me, are you,

because she's gotten to you before I have!

Gretel, believe it or not, I've met Jazmyns before.

Now sit down.

Sit.

(KNOCK AT DOOR)

-Hey. -Hi.

I'm sorry I didn't call before coming over.

I just, um...

I bring sustenance.

My housemates, we had a party last night

and there's plenty of leftovers, so...

And Salma mentioned missing her mother's mirisata, so...

Right.

Salma isn't here, actually.

-Oh. Um... -Um...

-But... -Sorry, um...

-BASSAM: No, no. -I don't have to come in.

You can put this in the fridge and I can just go.

No, come in. Uh, please.

Yeah, yeah.

What about Salma? How is she, with her aunty?

I haven't heard from... Do you want some water?

-Yes, please. Thank you. -Tap's good?

-Tap is fine. -Great.

I've called her a few times. She doesn't pick up.

-Oh. -But Alyssa, her aunt, uh...

-(TAP RUNS) -..she keeps me updated.

Sometimes she reminds me, you know, that I'm not her real dad.

But you are her real dad.

Yeah.

HANIFA: Mm.

How did you meet Salma's mum?

I was teaching English in Malaysia.

-HANIFA: Oh. -And we met there.

She was a widow.

And Salma was nine when we came to Australia.

(BASSAM HALF-LAUGHS)

You're right. I am her dad.

Yes, you are her dad.

(NOTIFICATION CHIMES)

I think that's my phone.

Maybe it's Salma. Her ears were burning.

You know, I can... I'll just...

-I can go. -No, no, no. No, please.

Just be a minute.

HANIFA: Hm.

Hm.

-Not Salma? -No.

No, it's the principal

for the new public school in Chifton.

HANIFA: Yes?

I think they want to meet me.

-Really? -I think I'm being headhunted.

-Oh! -No, look...

-That is just amazing. -Early days.

That is a...

-Sorry. -No, no, no.

(BASSAM SIGHS)

I think I'm going to go, OK?

(GENTLE MUSIC)

Um, I'll see you tomorrow.

-HANIFA: Yes. -Yeah.

-Bassam, congratulations. -Thank you.

-I'm really happy for you. -Thanks for the...

-HANIFA: Anytime. (CHUCKLES) -Yeah.

'Bye.

Hello?

-Hello. -Oh, hey!

-How are you doing? -Good. How are you?

I'm good. How was your night?

-TEGAN: Oh, so good! -You look amazing.

-I went dancing. -Oh, yeah?

-Dancing with who? -With Mel.

-With Mel, huh? -Yeah.

-Mm-hm. -Do you want to dance with me?

-Come on. -What's that?

Dance with me.

-Now? -Yes.

Oh, baby, I mean, there's no...

Yes, yes, yes.

I mean, there's no... There's no music.

Oh, can you sing me a song?

-Sing you a song? -Yeah.

-(SINGS) ♪ Turbo Hardware... ♪ -(TEGAN LAUGHS)

Can you sing me a different song?

That's the only song I know right now.

That's the only one you know, yeah.

-Hey. -Yes?

I've had a really big day.

I don't feel like dancing, is that OK?

Oh. Fine.

-(TEGAN SIGHS) -OK.

ANDREW: Is that...

-OK, I'm sorry. We're just... -No, it's OK.

I don't know. We're just in different places right now.

-It's OK. -Yep.

You OK?

Yep.

ANDREW: OK.

I'm... Uh...

-(LAUGHS) -ANDREW: What?

I'm pregnant.

(TEGAN LAUGHS)

(LAUGHS)

-You're pregnant? -Yep.

Are you serious?

TEGAN: Yeah. Yeah.

(LAUGHS)

I know that you're not really ready...

No, no, no, that... that's amazing.

-You're pregnant? -Yes.

That's amazing!

That's a lot of amazing. Are you happy?

ANDREW: Yeah, yeah.

(LAUGHING) Oh, my God, that's-that's incredible.

(CONTINUES LAUGHING)

Are you OK, Drew?

(LAUGHS)

Yep. No.

(ANDREW LAUGHS)

Whew.

(SIGHS)

That's...

That's actually amazing news.

(ANDREW SIGHS)

There's...

There's something that I need to tell you.

(TENSE MUSIC)

It's about Leah.

(DOG BARKS)

XAVIER: Yo. What you doing?

Oh, just a bit of a walk and a think

before I go to work, with Huey.

-Huey! Come on. -(DOG BARKS)

Good boy. There's a good boy.

You should take it easy today, you know?

Yeah, well, I've just got a sound check later on, but...

-Do you mind if I come along? -To the sound check?

Yeah, seeing as I can't see the real thing.

Sure. Yeah, that'd be great.

Alright, I'll pick you up after work, how's that?

Yeah, cool.

(TRUMPET PLAYED TENTATIVELY)

(SCALES ON TRUMPET)

(BUM NOTE)

(STARTS AGAIN)

(NOTIFICATION CHIMES)

Fuck.

NICHOLLS: You know what this is about?

COLBY: I think the bolt from yesterday.

Oh, newsflash. "Gen Z panic attack scuttles trial."

(CHUCKLES) Gen Z?

-Oh, I'll tell you later. -OK.

JUDGE WEST: Can you explain this image to me?

Juror 183 approached Mr Frazer

only to avoid compromising the trial,

which she's now realised was not the best approach.

Juror 131 was with 183 that night and took this photo.

She brought it to me after they'd had a small... clash.

Is this clash resolved

or can I expect more disruptions?

I believe it's under control.

Juror 183 has assured me there'll be no more incidents.

JUDGE WEST: Be that as it may,

the jury should not be socialising together.

I'll have the jury officer make that clear to them.

I'll also reiterate that to them, Your Honour.

JUDGE WEST: Thank you, Madam Foreperson.

We'll let the jury know when I've made my decision.

You're free to go.

Thank you, Your Honour. Thank you.

(NICHOLLS CLEARS THROAT)

JUDGE WEST: She seems sensible and thorough.

I'm happy with her account.

Any concerns, counsel?

Uh, none.

(CLEARS THROAT) None for me.

Very well.

Ms Nicholls, verify that there's been no other contact

with your witness.

He'll need to corroborate before we proceed.

Of course, Your Honour.

If you can tear him away from his latest press conference.

Your Honour, I do believe that Mr Frazer is in the building.

-He comes to court every day. -JUDGE WEST: Good. Call him in.

Does anybody think Amanda might have been neurodivergent?

-Oh, for fuck's sake. -BLAKE: No, I've been...

...I've been doing a bit of reading

and she shows all the signs.

CAMILLA: It's really not appropriate to be diagnosing

people we don't know with a disability.

ANDREW: Is it a disability, though?

-Really? -Yeah, it is. What?

No, just like, you know,

a... a mild social problem doesn't really...

CAMILLA: Mild?

A social problem doesn't really rate on the same level

as dealing with physical challenges.

Yeah, so some prefer 'differ ability'.

REG: Well, ableism.

DAVID: If I had a dollar for every child

whose parents told me

that they were on the spectrum,

I'd be a rich man.

-(LAUGHS) -REG: Richer man.

-(SOMEONE LAUGHS) -It's a plague.

The vaccines are sending

all the kids bonkers.

REG: Yeah, it's not vaccines.

CAMILLA: 'Bonkers', is that problematic?

DAVID: Nobody ever heard of panic attacks

until this generation. DENISE: Polio and rubella shots

were all we had when I was a kid.

OK, OK, sorry.

I... I can't partake in this anti-vax rhetoric,

so for my mental health, I'll be...

...I'll be outside.

DAVID: Blake, you...

-(DOOR OPENS) -..you started this.

-I didn't start anything. -(DOOR CLOSES)

DAVID: No, no, I'm asking you genuinely,

please explain, Blake,

What makes you think Amanda Taylor was neurodivergent?

BLAKE: Well, her own boyfriend said she was odd,

and the way she... she rubbed people up the wrong way.

Right, so it was the victim's fault

for getting herself murdered?

DAVID: That's not what he was saying.

REG: No, it wasn't what he was saying.

Even if she was a little socially awkward,

at least she wasn't a fucking narcissist.

Now, those people, they're really fucking awful.

BLAKE: Oh, shit! (LAUGHS)

DENISE: Since when are we talking about narcissists?

DAVID: I blame social media.

How come anyone can't express their opinion anymore

without getting their head bitten off?

Because no-one asked for your opinion, Blake,

so just shut up.

BLAKE: How do you know I'm not neurodivergent myself?

Is it out there?

-What? -Your sanity.

(INDISTINCT ARGUING FROM ROOM)

They're nuts.

(LAUGHS) I know.

(ARGUING CONTINUES INDISTINCTLY)

You, uh, you OK?

-HANIFA: Yeah. -About last night?

-Yeah. -Yeah? Good.

-You? -Oh, yeah, yeah.

Fantastic.

Maybe we can, uh, you know,

think about it again.

Maybe.

DAVID: You're making it all about yourself!

I'll take it.

BLAKE: Oh, she's not. She's crying over what I said?

No, that's not why she's crying.

You guys are all so fucked up!

Being on this jury is so toxic. You're all a bunch of losers.

-What does that mean? -Bitch, chill the fuck down.

-Hey, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa! -(ALL YELL AT ONCE)

Shawn, take it easy, man, you can't call people that.

(ARGUING CONTINUES INDISTINCTLY)

What's going on?

-I don't... -I don't know.

ANDREW: OK, calm it down.

DAVID: Neurodivergency was made up by Gen Y.

-(ARGUING CONTINUES) -(DOOR OPENS)

(ARGUING CONTINUES INDISTINCTLY)

-Nobody thinks it. -Oh, wow.

CAMILLA: No, don't... don't patronise me.

-(ALL TALK AT ONCE) -ANDREW: It's OK, calm down.

-Calm down. -(ARGUING CONTINUES)

(ARGUING CONTINUES INDISTINCTLY)

ANDREW: OK, guys, guys, shut up!

-Shh, shh, shh. -Are you aware that you can't...

-(ALL TALK AT ONCE) -JAZMYN: Guys, guys, guys.

-(SOMEONE CLEARS THEIR THROAT) -Guys.

GRETEL: Oh.

I'd like to clear the air about recent events,

because I know that you're all curious and concerned.

But Judge West has made a decision

that we are going forward

and the details are not up for discussion.

BLAKE: Ha! She knows and we don't.

I'm sorry, Blake, is there something you want to share?

No, no, no, no, no, no.

You're the one holding back, Sharon.

Blake. Blake. Sharon is doing a good job.

You know the role of foreperson isn't a real job.

The only difference between you and us

is you deliver the verdict.

I don't want to be in this position!

If anyone else in this room would like to put up their hand

and take over, be my guest.

Anyone?

We were this close to a mistrial.

Going forward, I am proposing a total ban

on jury interaction outside of court.

Do we agree?

OTHERS: Yes. Yes, Sharon.

Good.

Thank you.

-(DOOR SLAMS) -Oh, right. Shit.

(CLEARS THROAT) Sorry.

Sorry, excuse me.

I need a coffee. Do you want one?

-(DOOR OPENS AND CLOSES) -What is with those two?

I was the one that told Sharon everything

and now they're acting all buddy-buddy.

I don't know, it's weird.

I've given up smoking.

Same.

Thank you, by the way.

There's nothing to thank me for.

Someone has to be the bad guy.

(GENTLE MUSIC)

You saw nothing.

COLBY: You're right, Alan.

(DOOR CLOSES)

They're fucking morons.

What do you think the judge will say?

Well, fortunately, in this instance,

Vincent Frazer confirmed the girl's story,

But Judge West could swing either way, I have no idea.

Jesus!

If they've buggered it,

it means I'll spend two years in lock-up

waiting for another trial.

-(DOOR BUZZES) -We're back on.

ALAN: What?

We recommence in 15.

Well, there's good news.

JUDGE WEST: We appreciate the sacrifice

each of you have made to be here.

The court knows this task

places a burden on your personal lives,

which is why so many make outlandish excuses to avoid it.

You're here because you have accepted the call

to do your civic duty.

It should be approached with diligence and dedication.

Your voice determines the future of the defendant.

The evidence and arguments presented in this court

should remain your only focus,

no matter how distracting interpersonal dynamics may be.

What you see and hear matters.

Your presence in this court matters.

Is that understood?

JURORS: Yes, Your Honour.

JUDGE WEST: Thank you.

Shall we proceed?

COLBY: Ms Pandit,

when did you first meet Amanda Taylor?

In January 2023, uh, during a writers' convention.

And what was the nature of your contact on that occasion?

My dear, you should really sign some more books before we leave.

I can't stay any longer, I don't feel safe.

WOMAN: Oh, Gia, can you please sign this?

GIA: Thanks for your support.

WOMAN: Thank you so much.

AMANDA: You should know that I have spoken to a lawyer.

LEE: I think you've got your wires crossed.

AMANDA: No, I have grounds to sue for copyright infringement,

idea theft. GIA: Idea theft?

The Cape Rock case is on public record.

It's my angle.

He gave you my manuscript.

GIA: Oh, I have nothing more to say to you.

-(SIGHS ANGRILY) -GIA: Hi.

AMANDA: Answer me this, then.

How did you know who to speak to in my family?

They're not on public record, as you put it.

You wouldn't even know who they are!

Thief!

-MAN: Hey, smile! -Gah!

Amanda confronted me about her rejected manuscript.

She was very inappropriate and aggressive.

Aggrieved too, I would imagine.

Are you aware of the 'Mystery Nexus' interview

with Amanda Taylor in early 2023?

I am.

AMANDA: I'm-I'm currently pursuing a legal suit

against the-the writer, Gia Pandit.

I'm not gonna sit back and let... let her take credit

for... for my hard work.

She is a liar and a thief.

(SLAMS LAPTOP LID)

Did Amanda Taylor's accusations

have an effect, do you think, on your reputation?

Uh, she isn't someone people would take seriously.

So, no.

Not taken seriously, but nevertheless brutally murdered.

Were those allegations substantive enough

to make you angry?

(UNSETTLING MUSIC)

GIA: No.

I wasn't angry. It was water off a duck's back to me.

(UNSETTLING MUSIC)

(BOOK THWACKS)

COLBY: In March 2023,

were you interviewed on 'Cold Cases Unpacked'?

Yes.

COLBY: Play exhibit 41, please.

WOMAN ON RECORDING: So, moving on from your previous work...

-GIA: Mm-hm. -..earlier this year,

you announced the title of your new book,

'Cape Rock Killings'.

Oh, I'd-I'd rather talk about something else,

if that's alright.

WOMAN: It must be tricky, right?

Given that this new up-and-coming writer,

Amanda Taylor, has accused you of copyright theft,

of plagiarism, and made legal threats against you.

GIA: Look, I've responded to those claims

in the appropriate forum.

This... this woman

wants to spread lies about me, it's her funeral.

COLBY: Would you say you were angry in that interview?

No, I was annoyed with a lazy interviewer

regurgitating irrelevant questions

and not respecting my requests.

Not because the allegations were correct.

Now let me...

You say - I want to get this right -

"It's her funeral."

Is that a threat, by the way?

(GIA LAUGHS)

It was a figure of speech.

Meaning if she continued

spreading malicious lies about me,

she would suffer the legal consequences.

My publisher took action.

COLBY: That is incorrect. Your publisher took no action.

Did that make you angry?

No.

Amanda Taylor was a nobody in the publishing world.

Her opinions were immaterial.

Nobody, and yet brutally murdered.

Do you consider yourself ambitious, Ms Pandit?

In a healthy way, yes.

You were described in a crime fiction interview

by a fellow author, James Morrow,

as "a viciously ambitious sociopath".

Do you know why Mr Morrow claims

that you are viciously sociopathic?

Morrow's bitter.

He's had it in for me ever since I won the Ned Kelly

for Best True Crime and... he didn't.

COLBY: As an ambitious writer, would you stop at nothing

to ensure that your reputation remained unblemished?

Anything I would do would be through legal means only.

So, finally, on her death, Ms Taylor is silent.

When you heard about her death, how did you feel?

GIA: I felt terrible.

No-one should have to die that way.

Are you writing a book about this case?

(CAMERA CLICKS)

(SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC)

(CAMERA CLICKS)

GIA: No.

Why not?

I'm a witness in the trial.

Uh, her public hatred of me. Many reasons.

It would be tasteless to capitalise on her story.

Tasteless, I agree.

Uh, exhibit 42, please.

Now, this was captured on CCTV during this very trial,

outside this very courthouse.

What were you doing out there?

Observing. Writing. I do it a lot.

Writing, yes, in a notebook.

If the court subpoenaed that notebook,

would we find references in there

to anything pertaining to Ms Taylor,

or indeed to this case?

Yes, in case there's more to it in the future,

but that doesn't mean I'll write a book about it.

Right, so you can't rule out the possibility

that you might capitalise in the future

on Ms Taylor's death.

What I said is true. In case there's more to it...

COLBY: Yes or no, Ms Pandit -

can you rule out writing a book about Ms Taylor?

No.

Now, would it be even more helpful

for a crime writer to experience a murder at first hand?

Oh, objection, Your Honour.

My... my learned colleague

is pushing his case theory beyond the bounds.

JUDGE WEST: I agree, Ms Nicholls. Upheld.

My apologies, Your Honour.

Um, exhibit 43, please.

COLBY: Ms Pandit, would you be good enough

to read the highlighted section for the court, please?

(PAPER FLICKS)

"We know batterers

"suffocate their victims in order to silence them."

"They may cover the victim's mouth or nose with their hands,"

"a pillow or a plastic bag."

(PAPER SLIDES)

COLBY: Where did this extract come from?

From a published article online which I quoted in my book.

COLBY: And you used this quote

to explain the psychology of suffocation, yes?

Yes.

COLBY: Killers suffocate their victims

in order to silence them.

Did you use a plastic bag

to suffocate Ms Taylor in order to silence her?

-No! I did nothing of the kind. -Your Honour!

Mr Colby.

No more questions, Your Honour.

(SCATTERED WHISPERS)

JUDGE WEST: Your witness, Ms Nicholls.

NICHOLLS: Ms Pandit,

in 2014, you were involved in a legal dispute

with, uh, Jane York over your book 'Death of a Rose'.

-Is that correct? -Yes.

She claimed I stole material from her.

She was very vocal about it on her podcast.

Did she make similar

public accusations as Amanda Taylor?

She was more creative about it, but yes.

NICHOLLS: I'll read.

"Gia Pandit is a thief and a fraud"

"who has a pathological aversion to the truth."

Ms Pandit, is that what Ms York said

about you in her podcast?

GIA: That and a whole lot more.

I see. And... and how... how was this case resolved?

I sued for defamation and we settled out of court.

And in light of that,

what is your relationship with Ms York like now?

Objection, Your Honour, I fail to see the relevance

of my learned colleague's line of questioning.

Ms Nicholls?

NICHOLLS: Your Honour, Mr Colby

appears to be putting the witness on trial.

If Ms Pandit has experienced similar altercations

as she did with Ms Taylor in the past,

then it provides context and perspective.

I like that answer, Ms Nicholls. State may continue.

NICHOLLS: Thank you, Your Honour.

Ms Pandit, what is your relationship

with Ms York like now?

GIA: We're on good terms.

It was a long time ago, and eventually she realised

several people could be working on the same story.

It happens.

I'm sure Amanda Taylor

would have come to the same conclusion, given time.

NICHOLLS: I'm sure.

Ms Pandit, just to be crystal clear,

after your altercations with Ms York,

you did not murder her, did you?

(MUTED LAUGHTER)

No, I didn't.

NICHOLLS: Thank you for your help, Ms Pandit.

No further questions, Your Honour.

(SOMBRE MUSIC)

COLBY: So where do you think our John's fled to?

Mm, Cayman Islands.

-That's helpful. -(CHUCKLES)

Beth, everything alright?

Yeah, um...

Yeah, but I did think I should mention

that, um, on my call with Alan last night, he, um...

He... he brought up that he's concerned

that we're a bit close since... since he's been in remand.

-For fuck's sake. -Mm.

-Yeah. -(SIGHS)

He's... He's isolated.

-Well, it happens. -Yeah.

It's the trial, he's going out of his mind.

Yeah, well, he's not the only one.

-Still bloody angry. -Hmm.

Oh, God.

ALAN: For fuck's sake,

who's gonna believe the crime writer did it? I mean...

I mean, take a look at her. She doesn't look the type.

What were you thinking?!

COLBY: Actually, there is no type.

You think I'm the best suspect, don't you?

You are the best suspect, Alan,

and that is why you are on trial.

And that is why I broke poor Nina's back

tracking down John Dallimore.

You've just got to work fucking harder!

I am doing everything I can.

And you need to start getting your shit together.

You need to start thinking straight

And you need to start trusting people!

(UNSETTLING MUSIC)

Do you understand me?!

(DARK MUSIC)

(DOOR UNLOCKS)

(OPPRESSIVE MUSIC)

(DOOR SLAMS)

-BASSAM: So this is what I sent. -HANIFA: OK.

BASSAM: "There's no pressure to come home right away."

"When you're ready to talk, I'll be here."

"Love, comma, Dad, full stop."

-Do you reckon it's good? -Mm-hm. Mm-hm.

She'll respond, do you reckon?

Oh, she may not respond right away,

but, um, I'm sure she will eventually.

-Right. -Yeah.

Just let me know if there's anything I can do to help, OK?

You can be my proofreader.

(LAUGHS) Sure.

I'm an expert. I can... I can do that.

-Yeah. -Mm-hm.

Hey, when the trial is over,

I'll proofread anything you want.

(FRAGILE MUSIC)

OK.

You're writing a book on Amanda Taylor.

-I can't wait to read that. -Piss off, Phill.

Touchy!

My next book's about a crime writer

who murdered her fucking publisher.

-Gold. -(REPORTERS FIRE QUESTIONS)

Nina! Hey! Nina! Nina.

Um, when you said it's not promising about John,

uh, what do you mean?

We don't have John. Full stop.

(MOUTHS SILENTLY)

No John. They don't have a witness.

-They're dead in the water. -CHARLIE: Yes!

High five, whatever.

Alright, let's get our closing address singing, Charlie boy.

Can you please stop calling me Charlie boy?

Nup.

(KEYS CLINK)

Teegs?

(SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC)

Teegs!

(ROLLER DOOR OPENS)

(ROLLER DOOR SHUTS)

(BRITTLE MUSIC)

XAVIER: I was expecting your signature

"sorry working late" text.

COLBY: No, not today.

-Is that all you're taking? -XAVIER: Yeah.

-The rest is in here. -(CAR APPROACHES)

(CAR ENGINE STOPS)

(CAR DOOR CLOSES)

-MAN: Brett Colby? -Yes.

I'm John Dallimore.

John Dallimore.

Xavier, why don't you take the car?

I'll... I'll meet you there, alright?

Sure.

JOHN: I hope I haven't come at a bad time.

No, it's, uh...

It's a good time, John.

(UNSETTLING MUSIC)

(BETH MUTTERS)

(DARK MUSIC)

(BETH GASPS)

(DISTURBING SOUNDSCAPE)

BETH: Alan...

(GIRL SCREAMS)

(SCREAMING CONTINUES)

(INTENSE MUSIC)

(GIRL SCREAMS)

Alan, no!

(DISTURBING WHOOSHING)

(UNSETTLING MUSIC)

(DRAMATIC STING)

(DISTURBING MUSIC)

(DRAMATIC STING)

(HAUNTING MUSIC)

(AMBIENT CHORDS)