Original subtitles

[MUSIC PLAYING]

FATHER (VOICEOVER): Dear Ryan, You always made me proud

and you always will.

Never was I so exited as when I picked up an article of yours

to read.

This pride is something I'm eternally grateful for.

30-odd years ago, you came into my life.

And I'm thankful for every second of those years.

There is nothing more to tell.

You are still with me.

I want you to be certain of that.

But just remember that there isn't one life, but two.

Boys turn into men.

And men have to fight--

--seeing that they will become all they want to be-- happy.

To be truly happy is all there is.

And all you have to do is find what will create that.

-No, I understand.

Uh, it, it said three days ago, so I

have dispatched what you sent.

But-- wait a minute, yeah.

[GASPING]

[SIGHS]

[GASPING]

-I'm so sorry.

Sorry.

FATHER (VOICEOVER): --past tense.

It's not something I want to cling to.

Save your thoughts of me somewhere warm in your heart

because that's where my thoughts have

always and will always be of you.

Love, your proud father.

[EMOTIONAL MUSIC PLAYING]

-Excuse me, are--

-No.

Sit down.

You ever say that name, I get up, I walk away,

you never see me again ever.

Understand?

-OK.

-So what now?

Hm?

Come on, you're the reporter.

-All right.

Um, I know who you were.

-Really?

I doubt it.

-OK.

And I know what you did.

-Everybody knows that.

-What do you want out of this?

-What do I want out of this?

RYAN: Yeah.

-You shouldn't care.

You should be telling me what you want, right?

-Maybe.

I don't know.

-Maybe?

Let me spell this out for you.

And I really hope things don't continue like this, right?

The way I see it is that you can help me do what I want to do.

And in turn, I can help you do what you want to do.

-So what is it that you want to do?

-I want to die.

[SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYING]

-So what do I get?

-You get what you want to do.

-And what's that?

-What's that?

Don't you even know?

You get to stop messing about and actually do

something with your useless life.

RYAN: I'm not messing about.

MAN: No?

You're 33 and a reporter.

Career progression is all about getting out of little towns

like this, going to the big cities, going national.

You've been a reporter for 13 years.

You're not exactly the new kid on the block.

So as far as your career is concerned,

it's not really been a successful one, has it?

-I've got a family. I've got kids.

They take time.

-So?

-I work hard.

-Oh yeah.

You're a lazy boy.

I know it.

And deep down, you know it.

-I am not lazy.

-No?

OK.

You've got this dream, this stupid little dream.

Tell me about it.

-What's that got to do with this?

-It's got everything to do with this.

-Why?

-Cause it tells me who you are.

Why do you think I chose you, a useless nobody,

out of 20,000 reporters in the country, hm?

-How did you know about it?

-Cause you wrote about it, remember?

-It was a year ago.

-Yeah, well, unlike you, Ryan, I'm not lazy.

I do my homework.

So come on.

Tell me about it.

-I'm writing some more.

-Yeah, this week.

Yeah, I know.

Yeah.

I'm going to buy "The Courier" just to read it.

Probably double the circulation, me and your mother.

-[SIGHS]

Oh that's right.

You don't have a mother, do you?

Never have had.

She didn't hang around for long enough

to see you flush your life down the toilet.

And now you haven't got a father, either.

Like I said, Ryan, I do my homework.

I know about you.

I know who you are.

-What do you want?

-Finally!

A decent question.

Your wife works for a pharmaceutical company,

developing new drugs.

One of them in particular has been

designed to help people out of kindness.

If you believe the reports, it's like a connecting jump

that leads to the brain.

-I don't know about it.

-Well, I do know.

They appear just like paracetamol in the bloodstream.

You can take a few.

It looks like you just downed a few hundred painkillers.

But the effects aren't quite so tedious.

They don't rot you from the inside out and slowly kill you.

Bang, it just happens.

I want five of those pills.

-What?

I can't get you that.

-Yes, you can.

If you want this story, you will.

If you can't, well, then you need to grow a pair,

cause if you don't, you will stuck

in the same place when you're 60.

-It's not me.

It's Karen.

-It is you!

It is you.

Don't use other people as an excuse for your weakness.

This is how it's going to work.

You have five meetings with me.

Each meeting will cost you one pill.

Don't waste them, because after that,

you won't be able to ask me any more questions.

No one will.

-I can't get them.

I can't.

-Then you don't get me.

No me means no story.

I'll be in touch.

-[SIGHS]

[DOOR OPENS]

-(WHISPERING) Where have you been?

-I had to work late.

I'm sorry.

-You could've told me.

-It was a last minute thing.

-I suppose you're finally getting paid overtime for this.

-(WHISPERING) Karen, don't.

How are you doing, buddy?

Kiss.

Karen--

KAREN: I can't do all of this on my own.

I've got a job too, you know.

-I know.

I just had to meet this source, OK?

KAREN: You just have to get home on time.

-This was important.

-I--

CHILD: No!

KAREN: It, it's important.

It's work, so it's important.

-This is a really good story.

A really good story.

KAREN: A story you're not even getting paid for.

-I promise you this is worth it.

KAREN: And what about this?

You were meant to make a payment on this last month.

-What's that?

-Visa.

-Which one?

-The one with 3,700 pounds still on it.

-Yeah, but we couldn't make a payment.

REPORTER (ON TV): [INAUDIBLE] Chinese counterpart

[INAUDIBLE].

Napolitano said the economic and social progress taking place

in China brought fresh demands in terms of human rights.

-Can we do without that?

REPORTER (ON TV): Unrest swept through Uruqmi,

the capital of the [INAUDIBLE] yesterday.

Hundreds of people were arrested.

Demonstrators said police cracked down violently

on a protest by members of the Uyghur--

-Now I'm sorry.

Now I'm sorry.

-I'm sorry.

OK?

Sorry for being here.

-It's OK.

-It's just working.

-Whatever.

-I need to do some research.

I'm going to go up into Soph's room, OK?

-No.

No way.

-Why not?

-Soph's asleep.

-So?

-So don't be so selfish.

-I'm always quiet.

-I don't care, Ryan.

You should have brought your laptop home.

-You were the one who wanted to put

a computer in the kids' room.

-Not the point.

Ryan, you were at work all day.

Is that not enough?

-This is my story, you know.

It's really important.

-I don't care, Ryan.

I just don't care.

You're not going into Sophie's room and that is the end of it.

[DOOR SLAMS]

-What do you think you're doing?

-Walking.

-Don't you dare.

RYAN: I can't do what I want to do while I'm here.

-You selfish--

-Selfish?

How am I selfish?

This is my life, too, you know.

I live in this house and I can't do anything I want to do.

No one else I know has to ask to do what they want to do.

-Other people do not have children.

-Yes, they do.

Of course they do.

I had a dad, too, remember?

Until a couple of months ago.

I never stopped you from doing anything.

I mean, is that it?

You have kids and your life is over.

Fuck me.

What was the hell in the point of having them?

What was the fucking point?

[BABY CRYING]

-Ryan, I can't believe--

-I'm sorry.

I didn't-- I didn't mean it.

-I can't believe-- -I'm sorry.

I didn't mean it, OK?

Look, I'll go.

-You stay away from him.

-Karen, I'm sorry.

I'm sorry.

-Well, when people are found hanging

there is obviously massive trauma

to the neck and this region around here,

as a sense of supporting the full weight of the body.

-Well, that's very, very interesting.

In closely studying suicides by hanging,

what else have you discovered?

-Something myself and other medical professionals

have noticed is that almost all coroner reports include

the fact that there are always small cuts on the fronts

and the sides of the neck.

An examination of the deceased's hands

will reveal matching skin under their fingernails.

-And what is it that you can now conclude from this evidence?

-Well, I conclude that regardless of the fact that it

was a calculated decision, obviously suicide has to be,

and that struggling just delays death.

Therefore, increasing the suffering.

Regardless of that, there seems there is time for the hands

to begin to fight the action.

KAREN: [SIGHS]

-I'm not [INAUDIBLE].

-You want me to risk my job as well?

-No, I definitely don't want that.

-Yes, you do.

-No, I don't.

It's just you've said to me before, hey, you can't believe

how slack they are, how some people sign for stuff

and they don't always know what it is and it gets mislaid.

-It's those people, not me.

-But you, you could do this.

If there's no chance of getting caught, then

what's the problem?

-No.

Look, ask Malcolm.

He's, he's your editor.

He's supposed to take the risk on stuff like this.

-He doesn't know about this. OK.

He doesn't know anything about it.

I can't get a huge story like this and take it to him.

OK.

This is a national story, Karen, please.

I'm not going to get another chance like this.

-You could.

-No.

I won't.

Not like this.

-Why not?

-Because.

-No.

Because you won't get the career.

Are you really going to be working there your whole life?

-No, of course I'm not.

But this is the kind of story that could get me noticed.

-Right.

Get you noticed.

-I have to take this chance.

-Oh, Ryan.

What you have to do-- get off your ass

and get a job at a real newspaper.

-It's not that easy, you know.

And besides, I'm going to be news editor soon.

I know. It's just a matter of time.

-You're going to be the news editor of the Courier.

You going to be happy with that?

News editor of the Courier.

-It's just the next step.

-All right.

So you get to be deputy editor by the time you're 70.

-No.

-Sorry.

This just isn't how I saw our lives going when we met.

-I know.

-I was 18 when we decided to keep Sophie.

I gave up so much because I wanted to stay with you,

because I believed in you.

-I know.

I know.

OK?

This is so much of an opportunity.

We have to take this chance.

-No, what If I lose my job?

We live on your wage?

I don't think so.

Just, just forget it.

I don't want to talk about it anymore.

Just, just leave me alone.

-All right.

Well, as usual, you're the one making

all the decisions around here.

-Hey.

-Hey.

You look like you could do with a cup of tea.

-Uh, yeah.

Cheers.

Uh, Car?

-Yeah?

-Could you do me some photocopying?

-Yes, Ryan.

-20 copies.

-Yeah, OK.

-Thank you.

Hey.

I'm, how'd you fancy helping me out with something?

-Eye witness reports of people who jump from buildings

to their death talk of seeing the jumper

flapping their arms on the journey.

-So, so, so flapping their arms as if trying to fly.

-Yes, that's exactly right.

As if trying to fly.

However, a study on jumpers who were saved prior to taking

that fateful step over the edge indicates

that they had no intention of trying

to slow their fall at all.

Quite the contrary is true.

They wanted to increase speed beyond that of terminal

velocity in the belief that death

would be all the more instantaneous.

-Would you not say that, uh, that action could just

be put down to a natural occurrence?

-Ordinarily, I would say, yes.

But when police video footage is closely examined,

there have been instances where arms have flapped

at more than double the possible rate

for a human being in the normal circumstances.

How this is possible has never been looked in to.

[BIRDS CHIRPING]

-Why here?

-Because I said so.

Ryan, don't start going over details

that are already out there.

I'm sure you've done your homework.

You can find those out for yourself.

Just ask the questions and I'll fill in the blanks.

-OK.

Take me back to the beginning.

-The beginning of what?

-Tell me what happened.

-This story is going to be on the front page

of every newspaper in the country.

And probably for months.

Now get off your ass and stop pissing about.

Stop wasting my fucking time.

I haven't got a lot of it left.

You've four more chances.

Don't fuck them up.

-Maybe I'm being too hard on him.

He has just lost his dad.

-That's gotta be tough.

Gotta be tough.

-Just in the post office.

Um, yeah.

And we're-- I'll-- I'll pursue it further.

I'm going to get some more-- No, I, I know that Malcolm.

But um, you know, I'm getting some,

some other stuff out there with the, with the locals and that.

What were you looking at in the window there, girls?

-What were we looking at?

We're looking for a present for Mommy, aren't we?

-Are you?

-Have a lovely day.

Say bye-bye.

-Bye-bye.

-Bye.

-See you.

Um, and I'll-- I-- I should-- don't worry,

I should make the deadline for 4 o'clock. [INAUDIBLE]

I've never let you down before, right?

So I won't let you down now.

-So what if this is all he'll be-- like,

I'm expecting too much, and this is all he'll be?

And maybe that's not a bad thing.

-No, look.

Maybe--

-I see you.

I see someone like you.

-No.

But you know-- look, now it's different.

-I know.

I just, I feel trapped.

-It's relevant to people in the, in the town now.

Wh-- This is, this has got legs.

This is the point, isn't it?

You know, I mean the people I've spoken to have got some,

you know, some strong opinions on this.

Exactly.

That's what I'm saying to Malcolm,

so it will be a good story and I'm going to pursue it further

and, um-- there's a woman littering and I hate littering,

um--

-Karen, I'm really the last person who should be giving you

any kind of relationship advice.

You know that.

You're intelligent, you're fun, good to be around.

I mean, you're obviously very beautiful.

It just seems a shame that you're getting bogged

down with all these kinds of worries.

Look, that's not to say that Ryan isn't the right guy.

I'm not saying that at all.

It's just you got so much going for you.

I mean, I bet there's a couple of million guys out there who'd

just be dying to, to come home to someone like you

every night.

-Yeah.

I doubt that.

-Oh, OK.

Maybe only a couple.

-Thanks.

-I don't get it.

That's my only [INAUDIBLE].

-It's not about [INAUDIBLE].

-He's my only lead.

-According to the law, he can't be held responsible.

He was 12 years old.

-But he inherited the money.

How can they do that when he's killed his father?

-Yeah.

When he's 21.

-He's 21.

Even those he's in prison for killing his parents.

I'm his brother.

He, he inherits all their money.

-Yeah.

-250,000 pounds?

-About that.

I think so.

That's what the paper said.

But now it's in high-interest account, right?

-A high-interest account?

-Yep. -So it could be--

-Past 20 years.

-So it could be anything, up to a million.

So he's got--

-Yeah.

out of prison with a new identity.

And he asked me to meet him by himself.

Yeah.

REPORTER (ON YOUTUBE): Today the country is shocked by news

that here in Yorkshire, a young boy has

killed his family in cold blood.

REPORTER 1 (ON TV): This is a close neighborhood.

Everyone knew the family and the boys.

REPORTER 2 (ON TV): His parents have been described unanimously

by neighbors as model parents.

Which is why this comes as even more of a shock

to this close community.

It will be a very long time before the people here

recover from this.

If, indeed, they ever can.

REPORTER (ON YOUTUBE): When the police arrived,

he was found dragging his father's limp body

behind the driveway you see behind me.

REPORTER 1 (ON TV): Police say evidence suggests

he put his brother's body over his shoulder

in order to take him to the hiding place.

REPORTER 2 (ON TV): Both chiefs have had no luck

in locating the body of Richard.

REPORTER (ON YOUTUBE): The three-year-old from-- I've just

been handed a report saying that he

is refusing to speak to anyone.

Including his own legal counsel.

FEMALE REPORTER (ON TV): --this may not be voluntary

and may have been brought on by shock.

The story has not left this house

and this mourning community.

And entered the House of Commons where

today the capital punishment debate continued.

The killer kid has raised the question,

are some people inherently evil?

And if so, should they continue to exist in society?

REPORTER 3 (ON TV): And as he stood

to be sentenced with his trademark silence

showing absolutely no remorse, one couldn't help but think

there's a very good chance that he could be out living

under a new identity, perhaps in your neighborhood,

in only 30 years' time.

Take the evil that was present at the age of 12,

add 30 years in maximum security government institutions,

and release him back into society in his early 40s.

What kind of a person will you have then?

One day, unfortunately, someone's going to find out.

-Drink?

-No, thanks.

-Have a drink.

-I'm driving.

-Who's going to catch you?

Have a drink or I'm going.

Have some more.

-No, really.

I mean it.

-Have some more.

-I'll be over the limit.

-You're already going to be over the limit

for the next two hours.

If you keep pissing me off, I'm going.

So why don't you make those next two hours worthwhile.

That's better.

What was the question?

-Why'd you do it?

-For fuck's sake.

Hello.

Is that the police?

Yeah, just thought I'd let you know there's

a guy who's been drinking in his car.

Citroen-- silver Citroen Saxo, I think it is.

Yeah, he's partied, so he can't have went far.

Yeah, that's fine.

OK.

No problem.

-What are you doing?

Hey.

Hey.

Hey.

What are you trying to do?

-I said I'd fill in the blanks.

That's been documented.

-No, it hasn't.

-Repressed depression brought on by bullying.

They said it over and over and over again.

-Yeah, they said it.

You never said it.

Throughout the whole trial you never said anything.

It was a year and a half before you said anything to anyone.

Look, you're asking me to do my homework.

I've done it.

-When you take a knife and you plunge it into another person

for the first time, you never know what to expect.

Are they going to wake up?

Is the blood going to go everywhere?

Is the knife going to break inside the rib carriage?

I was actually thinking to myself,

am I actually strong enough to push this knife all the way in?

You think that's sick.

-He was your dad.

-So.

-He took you to football.

He got you a nice house.

He read you bedtime stories and he

wasn't a drug dealer or something.

-You hate the fuck that I'm free, don't you?

Hmm?

-Tell me.

Were you worried about getting the knife

through your brother's ribcage?

Or not so worried, as he was only three?

Huh?

And where'd you hide the body?

I mean, we both know this wasn't some moment

of rage brought on by depression.

This was premeditated murder.

You planned this.

You were 12.

You were 12 and you managed to hide

the body of a three-year-old's murder.

Police, detectives, dogs, forensics, no one

has ever been able to find it.

And that takes planning.

You're a sick man.

You're a sick man.

-And lucky for you that I am.

If you ever, ever speak to me like that again,

I'll cut your fucking throat out.

Do you understand me?

-Yeah, I'm here with the kids, as usual,

and you're out with your drinks.

-It's not my wine.

-Yes, it is.

-No, I told you what it was like.

-Yeah, right.

And look at the state of you, and you're drunk.

What kind of dad does that make you?

-What are you talking about, Karen?

Come on.

-I just don't-- Fuck.

Just leave me here alone again.

-Fine.

I fucking will.

[DOOR SLAMS]

-I'm sorry.

I'm sorry.

I'm sorry.

[MUSIC BUILDING]

[GUNSHOT]

-Thursday the eighth.

Managed to finally catch Smokey and put him out.

Watered the plants.

You had a phone message from your granddaughter.

She and Paul were thinking of coming to visit next weekend.

I guess she doesn't know you are away in Malta with Elizabeth.

[PHONE RINGING]

-Eyes.

Eyes, eyes, eyes.

Old, gray.

No.

[MUTTERING]

[PHONE RINGING]

[PHONE CONTINUES RINGING]

RYAN (ON PHONE): Hi.

This is Ryan.

Can't take your call.

Just leave a message.

KAREN (ON PHONE): What about the kids?

What about them?

It's not just me in this, Ryan.

You're their father, too, in case you've forgotten.

Look, we're out of milk and you've got the c-- Sophie?

Sophie, would you get him down from there?

[SIGHS] What am I supposed to do?

Would you just think about your family for once

and get yourself back here.

Now!

-OK, then, surprise me.

What you got?

-Well, you know what he did while he was in there?

-I don't know.

Gardening? Wash sheets?

Something like that? -Yeah, right.

That was the old days.

-Wait a second.

--Malcolm's looking for you, man.

-Go on.

What did he do while he was in there?

-He got a master's.

-He what?

-In journalism.

-When you leave today, you've got three pills

and I've still got nothing.

Just some scraps from an old story.

Tell me where your brother's body is.

-No way.

Not yet.

-You know as well as I do that without that, I've got nothing.

Just a voice on a tape.

It could be anybody.

I need something concrete.

I need some proof.

Tell me where your brother's body is.

-That'll come last.

-Look.

Give me something.

Anything.

Just a lead.

Something.

-There's a letter.

I hid it.

I hid it in the church.

-A church?

-Yes.

No one knows about it.

-Ryan.

Ryan.

-What are you doing?

-Ryan, you're not leaving me here.

Ryan.

Ryan.

Ryan, get back in.

You're not leaving me.

-This is ridiculous.

-You're not leaving me on my own on a Saturday.

WILLIAM (VOICEOVER): At the back of the church

on the left hand side.

-Ryan, you're not leaving me here on a Saturday.

-There are neighbors watching.

-Get back in the house.

Open the door.

Get back in the house.

You're not leaving me here, Ryan.

-WILLIAM (VOICEOVER): There's only a couple of fallen trees.

The, the one on the left.

-Just stay out.

-I'm not a fucking--

-What are you doing?

Out!

-Sorry.

-WILLIAM (VOICEOVER): There's a, a whole bunch-- Big thick one.

You have to reach in as far as you can.

There's a tea tin.

In the tin, in the back, is the letter.

I've been telling you about the place for ages.

I was always climbing things.

I put it down on the day that it happened, just in case.

I don't know in case of what, but just in case.

WILLIAM (ON TAPE): If you look closely-- and you're a reporter

so that's what you do, all right?

Well, if you look closely that will

take you a step closer to Richard.

Same time Sunday.

RYAN (ON TAPE): I can't.

No, I can't do that.

That means I have to go into mooring Saturday.

What about Karen and the kids?

WILLIAM (ON TAPE): Of course you will.

So stop crying and shut up, Ryan.

RYAN (ON TAPE): She will not let me do it.

-Where are the kids?

-Mom and dad's.

-You didn't want a skinny one, right?

-[CRYING]

REVEREND MENSEES (VOICEOVER): Dear friends,

the challenges of life.

That's where my life is currently at.

Nine years after joining the parish, I have to move on.

Sunday and every day of the week has been special for me here,

thanks to you, my friends.

But it will be strange to stand up and speak

to you for the last time on the 19th.

In all, I couldn't have asked for more

from such a close-knit village.

Green my future pastures may be, but the memories here are old.

But the memories here I would always be with.

And the church will then be in the even more capable

hands of Reverend Michael Yates.

Who I am sure you would also make feel like a brother.

I sign off now.

I just wanted to take this opportunity

to say I have appreciated all that you've done,

and indeed continue to do.

The path will test us all in many ways we cannot imagine.

So live life with purity of heart

and let the instinct do the rest.

Signed, Reverend Samuel Mensees.

[PHONE RINGS]

-Ryan?

Ryan, hey, stop.

Ryan?

[INTERPOSING VOICES]

WILLIAM (VOICEOVER): You're lazy, Ryan.

I know it, and deep down you know it.

-Ryan.

-What?

Well, you've all ready ruined what's left of my marriage.

If I get caught here, I can't explain [INAUDIBLE].

-Huh.

You best not get caught then.

-Best not get caught then.

Well, I don't think we could get more dodgy if we tried.

-Well, then get on with it.

-What's the letter all about?

-What do you make of it?

-Besides the fact that the day you slaughtered your family is

the same day that this guy's reading his final sermon,

or mass, whatever it's called, I don't know.

-I said, look closer.

-No.

You can't leave.

You have to help me.

You have to give me a chance. Just because I can't see the--

-Careful, now.

You don't want to be seen now, do you?

Hmm?

Somebody might call the police.

-I don't even know why I'm here.

You want this?

1:00 tomorrow.

And not in some forest or some car park late at night.

And another thing, mate.

I want everything up until the police came.

Otherwise, no pill.

-Aahh!

Have you sent it to the police?

Well, that would give you Richard's body, wouldn't it?

-Yeah.

-Well, I'm not about to give you that piece of information.

Not yet.

Not until I get what's coming to me.

-OK.

Where's the Dictaphone?

-I'm not sticking around.

Now give me the pill.

-Four of these might kill you.

-Might?

-If they don't and mess you up, you should think about that.

You should think about--

-And you should think about whether you can handle

a story that's going to be on the front page

of every paper for a month.

That tape might do that.

Might.

But of course, it means you've got to get your finger out

and actually do something with it.

You're so-- Laziness is such an ugly quality, Ryan.

Just look at yourself.

Beautiful wife like Karen, stuck with a man like you.

You should be ashamed of yourself.

[SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYING]

[PAGER BEEPING]

-Don't.

When do I get some time?

-It could be important.

Look, you're always going on about how you want more money

and a better life, and then you try

to stop me from doing the things that might help me get ahead?

-Stop blaming me for everything.

-I know guys, if they're in the middle of having sex,

they'd take this text.

They're the ones that get ahead.

-Now you're just being ridiculous.

-No, I'm not.

-Fine.

Do what you want.

-Shit.

It's my source.

I do have to go.

-You are joking.

-This is important.

-You're not even getting paid for this.

-How do you know I'm not getting paid?

This tape is going to put the kids through school

and pay for our mortgage.

-Wh-- the bank one?

-Just--

-You're not going anywhere.

You're not leaving me alone with the kids again.

For once in your life could you just

think of somebody else but yourself?

-I am.

That's why I'm doing this.

-No, you're not.

Everything is all about you.

If you leave now, just, just don't bother coming back.

-You always say that.

-Well, this time I mean it.

You're not going anywhere.

-Karen.

-I am not moving.

-I am leaving.

-No, you're not.

-Please, let me go.

-No.

-Let me go.

-Ryan, stop.

Ow!

-Death by gas or carbon monoxide is widely

thought to be the least painful method of suicide.

The common practice of sitting in your kitchen

and turning on the, the gas on the cooker

raises its own questions.

-And, and what sort of questions are those?

-Most victims will sit close to the cooker in the hope

that the process will happen quickly

and they will feel no more than the sensation

of becoming tired and falling asleep.

However, postmortems routinely showed

constant severe bruising to the head.

This, apparently, because they were

standing when the gas finally took over.

The legs would slowly give way at a point way before this.

-Mm-hmm.

Hmm.

Tell me more.

-There are also commonly unexplained tears

in the quadriceps muscles and the thighs,

as if they had been suddenly used

without sufficient warm up.

-So, what, what exactly does that suggest?

-That from the seated floor position the legs,

when they medically should no longer be able to receive

instructions from the brain, make a quick last ditch

attempt to push the body up.

Presumably to create the opportunity to reach the death

switch on the cooker itself.

-Incredible.

-Oh, indeed.

[PHONE RINGING]

-Hello?

Ryan, where are you?

-I'm with my source.

-Where?

-In town.

-You're such a liar.

You're seeing somebody, aren't you?

I can't believe it.

-Karen, please, look.

I'm not seeing anybody.

Look.

I need to ask you about the pills.

OK?

The pills.

-I knew it.

That's why you've been acting so weird lately.

-I have not been acting weird.

Look, nothing is going on.

OK?

Just focus.

I need to ask you about the pills.

Were they, you know, were they-- Karen?

Karen, are you there?

-Yep.

-The pills, were they--

-No.

-No.

What do you mean, no?

-I mean, no.

They're placebos.

-Placebos.

-Yes.

Ryan?

Ry, you there?

-Yeah, uh, sorry.

Uh, I just banged my knee against this dumb table.

-Are you all right, now?

Do I need to get you an ambulance?

-No, no.

Oh, no.

I'm fine.

I'm fine.

So, Karen, why not the real pills?

-Because.

-OK.

OK.

Can you still get them?

-I've all ready got them.

-You do?

-Yes, think about it.

I couldn't take one or the other.

I had to get both or somebody would've noticed [INAUDIBLE].

I'm not an idiot.

I didn't take them from my own shift.

-Oh, that is great.

That is really great.

-No, it's not great.

This is my job we're talking about.

Half our income.

More, probably.

-I wasn't saying anything.

OK?

-Are you even listening to me?

-Yes.

Believe me.

Yes.

Karen?

Please.

I need them.

-You really are with your source, aren't you?

-Yeah.

Fuck.

I'm really, really sorry.

-Ryan?

Ryan?

Ryan.

Ry, Ryan?

-The most common way of suicide by firearm

is to place the barrel in the mouth,

like so, and then pull the trigger.

Strangely enough, though, there is quite a fear

that the bullet will not penetrate the brain

and, therefore, serious injury, as opposed to death,

would occur.

In order to avoid this, great care

is usually taken in positioning the gun in the center

of the mouth, usually by biting down on the barrel.

-So, what secrets has your extensive research

uncovered so far?

-Well, usually, the side of the head incurs 90% of the damage.

This is not due to the kick back of the gun

as there isn't usually enough room

in your oral cavity for this to be a factor.

-Why exactly does this happen?

-Well, it would seem that the body involuntarily repositions

the gun in the milliseconds that it takes for the trigger

to engage the firing mechanism.

-I'll kill him.

-I bet you would, too.

It's OK.

I think I can handle it.

It's too important.

-Nothing's this important.

You're a dad.

What would your dad have said?

I'm sorry.

He'd be proud of you, for what you're doing now.

-He used to say that in his letters.

How proud of me he was.

Ironically, it's probably why I never got anywhere.

-No.

-Those letters are what made me want to write.

He used to say, if you can write words well then they'll last.

People will remember.

If you just say [INAUDIBLE].

It's one of the first memories I have

of wanting to be a reporter.

-Yeah.

[INTERPOSING VOICES]

-OK.

[INAUDIBLE]?

-I guess it's time I say so, OK?

-OK, boss.

-Just answer the question, please.

-He's everywhere.

-What?

-He's everywhere, man.

-Unless you chopped him up.

-No,

-What do you mean he's everywhere then?

-Read the letter.

-I have read it a thousand times.

-(ANGRILY) Well read it again.

-Dear friends, meet the challenge.

That's where my life is currently at.

Nine years after joining the parish-- you know what?

I don't need this.

-Hey.

Don't walk away from me.

Hey.

You can't do this.

-Do what?

-You need me.

-Oh, I need you?

-I'm gonna make you.

-You?

Don't bother.

-Stop.

You lazy piece of shit.

This isn't just about you, you know.

-No?

Well, what makes you think you're

going to be on the front cover of every newspaper

in this country, eh?

You believe that people would read about some sick kid who

killed his three-year-old brother.

How's that gonna make you feel?

Is it going to make you feel better?

Why would people want to read about that shit?

-Because that's news.

That's what people want to read about.

Not some fucking bloke picking up dog shit in the park.

-I tell stories that are relevant,

relevant to their lives.

-Relevant?

Relevant for who?

For what?

Fucking relevant.

Get out of your fucking dream world, Ryan.

-You know nothing.

-Huh?

I know more about journalism than you'll ever know.

-Really?

-Yeah, really.

I may have been banged up for most of my life

and I may have grown up in there, but I studied.

I've got a fucking degree.

I wasn't the one pissing their life away.

-Well, you know what?

You could've fooled me.

-Yeah?

-Yeah.

-Yeah?

-Yeah.

-Three reasons people go to the news.

-Go on and what are they?

-Three reasons only.

First reason, is my world safe?

Second, is my community safe?

Third, what's new?

Three things in that fucking order.

If anybody tells you any different, they're lying.

And fuck your editor who tells you to attach stories of stolen

or lost keys or the right energy.

It's bullshit.

He's lying to ya.

He's stringing you along so you stay with his dead end shit

newspaper for the rest of your fucking life.

-You don't know what the fuck you are talking about.

-No?

-No.

are just some washed up piece of shit

who pissed his life away in a cell.

Because you lost the plot when you were 12.

And so what?

Who gives a fucking shit? 'Cause I don't.

-You know what? [INAUDIBLE] You know what?

In fact, fuck you.

Go and get them.

You do it.

Do us all a favor, you selfish piece of shit.

Uhh.

Fuck.

-Do not call me selfish.

I'm going to make you.

Do you understand that?

You are going to be you because of me.

Not because of something you did with your life,

but because of me.

Don't you ever call me selfish, you fucking sack of shit.

-You killed your brother.

-I saved my little brother.

I saved him from what was going to happen to him.

I saved [INAUDIBLE].

-What the fuck are you talking about?

-Ryan, you'll never understand.

You had the perfect dad.

Your dad didn't touch you, did he?

Sit down and watch porn with you?

Didn't teach you how to do a good blow job.

Did he?

Did he?

You think that's sick, don't you, huh?

Imagine how I felt.

I was seven.

Seven years old.

I didn't know if it was normal or not.

For all I knew all of my friends went

home and had sex with their dads.

This is not something you talk about, is it?

Is it?

-What?

No one knew?

Not even your mom?

-My fucking pure as a driven snow mother.

My fucking wonderful protector.

She knew.

She did fuck, though.

She did nothing.

Not a damn thing.

Every single day I could see him.

See it in his fucking eyes.

He was looking at Richard the same way

as he used to look at me.

I could see it.

-Why didn't you tell anybody, man?

-What are you?

A fucking TV commercial?

It's bullshit.

Kids don't talk to adults.

95% of this shit never gets reported when it's happening.

Some people, it's when they reach 20,

and they don't know whether they're gay or not.

They don't know.

Only some things we know naturally.

It hurts.

But I can talk about it.

Not when you're, not when you're seven.

When you're eight, when you're nine,

when you're ten, eleven and twelve.

You can't talk about it.

[SOBBING] I lived in this little neighborhood.

Everyone would have known.

They would have known.

They would have looked at me every day.

There's somebody goes.

There goes the kid with a piece of shit dad.

[INAUDIBLE] He's a boy.

He's only joking.

That's a time I went through when I was on my own.

I didn't want a piece of shit dad.

I just wished him gone.

No!

Stop it!

Go away!

-Yeah.

Can I have a taxi please, straightaway?

Going from [INAUDIBLE].

It's just a [INAUDIBLE], if that makes sense.

One other person knew.

-What?

-Someone else knew.

-Who?

-First and last word of every sentence.

It's not exactly the Enigma code, is it?

He was the only one I could trust.

He was always writing through parish letters to me.

-Meet at 9:00 on Sunday, 19th, in Village

Green with your brother.

I'll do the rest.

If he knew about it, why didn't he do something?

He was a Reverend.

He could have asked the police or something.

-And then what?

Hmm?

Then what happens to Richard?

He's bounced around at every foster home in the county.

Visited every five minutes by social workers

and shrinks reminding him every five minutes

of the piece of shit family that he had.

Promised him nothing would happen to him.

Promised him that.

He's better off not knowing that he

had a shitty family like he had.

That way he could, could go, get away from this life

and, and be free.

-You didn't kill him, did you?

He's still alive, huh?

What about the DNA on the hands?

You had his blood on your fingernails.

Reverend Mensees helped you with all of this?

-He didn't know.

We were, we were gonna leave in the night

when mom and dad were asleep.

We took the reverend and just disappeared.

Go to the continent.

Go anywhere.

Just get away.

We were past the bedroom.

I could see him asleep.

I thought, fuck you.

Went back to the kitchen.

I got a knife.

And then I was back in the bedroom

and, when we didn't show up, Reverend Mensees

came looking for us.

[INAUDIBLE]

He was calm.

But he said that he could only take Richard with him now,

and that we'd have to cut him and put the blood on me.

And he said to me, don't talk to anyone.

Don't talk to anyone but God.

And that's what I did.

But he said that, one day, everything will be all right.

-How could you not say anything to anybody?

Through the entire trial, the investigation, everything?

-It was just a decision.

That's all.

Nothing I could say was going to make the situation any better.

So I did what Father Mensees said.

I said nothing.

Not to the, to the police, not to the social workers,

the lawyers, nobody.

It was better that way.

-Wait.

Wait.

What are you doing?

No.

There's so many questions.

I mean, what about, what about Richard and Reverend,

Reverend Mensees?

-He's dead.

-Who?

Richard?

-Father Mensees.

If he was alive, I would never have gone through with this.

-What about Richard?

Then you don't have to die.

OK?

You don't have to die.

They are keeping your identity out of this.

We can talk to Richard.

-[INAUDIBLE].

-Look.

Don't do this.

-I'm never going to escape this.

-Don't do this.

Don't do this.

All right.

You'll be a hero then.

The public will love you.

We'll make sure of that.

-Take care, Ryan.

-William, don't do this.

William.

William.

-William.

-I know who you were.

-Really?

I doubt it.

Bothersome dream.

Stupid little dream.

Tell me about it.

-What's that got to do with this?

-What's that got to do with this?

It's got everything to do with this.

-Why?

-Because it tells you who you are.

Why do you think I chose you?

I know about-- I know who you are.

-You're sick, man.

-Lucky for you that I am.

I'm going to make you.

Do you understand that?

You are going to be you because of me.

-Excuse me.

Have you seen a set of car keys?

Anyone?

Car keys?

-No, mate.

-No sight here or there?

-No.

-Somebody left those in the back.

-Cheers.

-[INAUDIBLE]?

Fuck.

-The consumption of large quantities

of over-the-counter pills is the most common attempted suicide.

It's also the least successful.

-Really?

Interesting.

It would seem to be the easiest and most accessible.

-Yes, it would.

You're quite right about that.

But there comes a point while ingesting the pills

that the body begins to shut down.

This is not brought on by the drugs entering the bloodstream.

By this time, they haven't had the chance to break down.

But it is brought on by fear.

-Fear?

The, so the brain, as the organ that mentally leads

the human body's decisions, recognizes the danger.

-You would think so, wouldn't you?

But in fact, the brain has made the decision to commit suicide.

Therefore, the recognition of danger comes from the body.

It identifies that the brain is no longer acting in its best

interests and tries to take over.

-Well, that is astonishing.

-Quite.

-Thanks, mate.

Come on.

Come on.

William?

William.

William?

William.

-Undeniably you've done some amazing research

on this subject.

What has it led you to conclude?

-I can conclude that the body works

independently of the brain.

But the brain doesn't work independently of the body.

Why?

Because the brain is a part of the body and not

the other way around.

-That's fascinating.

But so simple when you think about it.

Why you?

The first person to really get to the bottom

of such an important medical issue?

I mean, indeed, an issue that, that challenges the way

mankind thinks about the human body.

-The main problem is that we just never have the opportunity

to witness the body thinking for itself.

Never, that is, except for at the point of regret.

At that moment, when the body shuts down the brain, when

it realizes things are progressing beyond what

is an acceptable level for survival,

that is the point of regret.

The body involuntarily acts on a subconscious level.

And this is, inevitably, that human being's

last action before death.

-And so this is what you'd like to show us today.

-Oh, absolutely.

There is a great deal of evidence

behind the point of regret theory.

And now, hopefully, we can see it happen in person.

I will take the pills and then slide under the water.

The pills will cause my heart to stop

beating in about 30 to 45 seconds.

So they will be the cause of death, and not drowning.

I just wanted to make that clear.

That the body's actions as I hit the point of regret

will not relate to being submerged in water,

but instead to trying to get the pills from out of my body.

REPORTER (ON TV): 30 years ago one story

gripped an entire nation.

It was the shocking story of the killer kid.

A 12-year-old boy from a loving, middle-class family

who lived in this Yorkshire farmhouse you see behind me,

brutally murdered his mother and father

by repeatedly stabbing them with a knife while they slept.

He then turned the knife on his three

year old brother, Richard.

And to add to the mystery, Richard's body

has never been found.

REVEREND MENSEES (VOICEOVER): Dear, Ryan.

You always made me proud and you always will.

Never was I so excited as when I picked up an article of yours

to read.

This pride is something I am eternally grateful for.

REPORTER (ON TV): It was the days before forensics,

but a burning question still remains.

How could a 12 year old boy outwit

police dog teams, the police force,

and indeed, an entire community?

Well, we would never know because in yet

another amazing twist, the killer kid

refused to talk to anyone, anywhere.

Frustrating the media, the prosecutors, social workers,

and even his own defense team.

-I'm sorry to disturb you.

I'm looking for Karen Jackson.

-Who are you?

-Oh, I'm Andy.

I--

-Dad, it's OK.

-You know him?

-Hey.

-How are you doing?

-I'm OK.

REPORTER (ON TV): It would be 18 months

before he uttered a single word and never

would he talk about what happened.

-Everyone's been talking about-- but I tried to phone, but--

-I, uh, I switched my phone off, but--

-Is Ryan here?

-No, uh, he's coming.

-I got you these.

Well, I stole it from a friend from work.

-Thanks.

Um, look, I, I--

-Yeah, yeah.

Sure, sure.

REPORTER (ON TV): He was the boy who

united our nation in hatred and disgust.

His actions that came closer than any other

to bringing back capital punishment.

Not only that, but it was proposed that the death penalty

be brought back for a 12 year old boy.

We, the public.

Today, a new and indisputable evidence has come to light.

The final twist in a case full of twists.

And this will be the toughest one for the public to swallow.

Why?

Because this is actually a story of incredible courage,

unselfishness, and love.

And how we, as an entire nation, got it wrong.

And now we'll have to live with this blood on our hands,

forever.

REVEREND MENSEES (VOICEOVER): Dear, Ryan.

--you never read this.

For 30 years I've wanted to tell you that I have two boys.

Not by blood, but by the stronger bond of love.

Watching you be happy is all that your brother ever wanted.

He is the only one that loved you enough to save you.

Love, dad.

Dear, Ryan.

I am not your real father.

Steven Maynard is not my real name.

It's actually Samuel Mensees.

I will write these letters to tell you

about the first years of your life.

The life that has been hidden from you as you

deserve to know the truth.

For if you are reading this, then God has supported me

in the actions that tested my faith and you have met William.

Love, dad.

Dear, Ryan.

You were born in Yorkshire and no one

was more excited than William by the arrival

of his new little brother.

When he came to me, it was difficult to believe

the horrors he spoke of.

-Ladies and gentlemen, that was Dr. William Reynolds talking

exclusively to us about his groundbreaking new theory,

the point of regret.

Good night.

[MUSIC PLAYING]