Dead Still

You look beautiful Mary.

- Mr. Blennerhasset, what a wonderful job you've done.

- Brock Blennerhasset, the memorial photographer himself.

Detective Frederick Regan.

There's been a couple of deaths.

Suicide, it appears but the bodies were posed

in the exact same position.

Has much changed?

- No Miss Vickers, been smoking a lot more.

- Uncle, I want to be an actress.

Oh.

- The all mock me for it at home, just like they mocked you.

- Have you brought the photograph?

- That was nearly an early grave for you sir.

I was wondering Mr. Blennerhasset

if you're in need of assistance?

Photography is an area I would love to gain experience in.

- You've beautiful handwriting Ma'am.

- It seems I'll have an assistant again.

Change might do me good.

Bring a bit of life to the place.

You shouldn't be here.

Mama, make it stop.

Ivor, Ivor.

He's escaped.

Ivor.

Mama, make it stop.

Mama.

Ivor, where are you?

Mama.

Ivor.

You're overdoing it.

You'll be visiting the homes of the recently bereaved.

Don't put on a show, just do the job quietly and promptly,

that's all we ask.

- And you're sure of this because?

- I used to assist my uncle for a time when I was younger.

- Jeez, I can't imagine allowing a young one to do this.

- In his own, well-orchestrated way,

having a child there helped,

created a softer impression of him.

And I was terribly cute.

So why'd you stop assisting?

- Well, he didn't need me any more he said.

Shut himself of for years, from the world, from his family.

Anyway, an injury seems to have softened him somewhat.

So, we should probably get to know each other,

now that we're working together.

What do you do for fun Malloy?

I love to sketch and read.

Good walk along the canal gets me blood pumping.

Spare me.

All right, let's see if your boring reliability

leads to some good advice.

I've been invited to a party later.

Congratulations.

- Thank you, I haven't been to any parties in town,

so I'm very excited to be around lots of people

all at the same time.

Socially it'll be quite the change.

- Well I hope it'll be good craic.

- Yes, craic, but do you think it's safe

traveling out especially with a storm due?

What storm?

That storm.

I don't envy you two trying to get out to Kingstown in that.

The fuck,

don't sneak up on me like that Robert.

See, it's not nice is it?

Your old lady isn't nice.

What are you doing tonight?

- Agh, bushed, read the paper, go to bed I'd say.

- Do you remember the man I had you tailing?

Cannon, the widower,

with them scandalous pamphlets he were circulating.

- Oh yeah, haven't seen that many nipples before in my life.

I bet you haven't.

Anyway, he's throwing a party tonight

that I wanna keep an eye on.

If this communist is making a nuisance of himself

around the town the last few days Czemy,

and he's been funding his travels

by seeling these photographs,

things the good people of Ireland wouldn't like seeing.

- Can't see how a few photographs

would warrant keeping Jamie and I out in that storm.

Ah, forget the storm,

I've an appointment with Blennerhasset.

- Well, what do you want with him?

If anything big happens,

I want the photographer on the scene straight away.

I don't wanna be looking at your shite drawings.

Hurry now Malloy,

that dead child will not photograph himself.

Have I packed all right sir?

- Now you seem to be learning Malloy, how very reassuring.

Thank you sir.

- I did make an appointment like you said Miss Vickers.

- Yes, but we're in a hurry to get to Kingstown Detective.

So I won't be making tea.

- I'm grand for tea, won't take long.

Fuck.

- I have a business proposition sir.

Maybe there's a crime and I call you and you come down

straight away and you photograph the scene.

- Oh, so you want to hire me, is that it?

- Well, with the promise of paid work at the brass.

I don't work for nothing.

I could use your expertise.

You have commissioned to all over Ireland

for the past 20 years.

Not so much now but.

- Business is going well, thank you.

- You are a pioneer in your particular field of photography.

I like to think so, yes.

- And when it comes to crime scene photography,

I'd like to see some pioneering done.

No one photographs the dead better than you, no one.

And in my line of work the dead are plenty full.

Crime scene photographer.

That's it, exactly.

It's there for the taking.

And after discovering this underground photo trade,

photography's getting more and more popular

and people are interested in seeing the most queer things

and there's plenty of people in Dublin,

wouldn't be long making money out of it.

So, your photography can be a tool for the criminal,

I'd love to see us make it a tool for the law.

- Well, Detective I appreciate your forward thinking

and your evident enthusiasm,

but it the law wants to use my expertise,

I'm afraid the laws going to have to pay for it.

So, good day to you sir.

- You can't tell me I'm overdoing it

and then have me do everything all at once.

- I'm opening this door one time and one time only,

I'm not getting rain on this dress.

- Let me know if you change your mind.

I will come running.

Thank you Nancy.

Get home safe Uncle.

Are we here sir?

Go on now, go on.

We should bloody well hope so,

this is miles outside of Kingstown.

- Lucinda Breslin, this is my husband August.

Thank you for traveling to us Mr. Blennerhasset,

especially with this weather approaching.

- Such efforts are necessary in troubling times, no.

I'm so sorry for your loss,

such a horrible way to lose a child.

- There's worse ways Mr. Blennerhasset.

Much, much worse.

- Well, yes, I suppose there are.

Well, I'll be done in no time.

Is there somewhere for my coachmen to wait?

He can't wait here.

Stables perhaps?

We don't have any.

No horses, not anymore.

I'm afraid he will have to wait in the town

until he's needed.

It's not safe here with the storm coming.

Right, well,

Carruthers return within the hour.

I'm sure you could find something

to distract yourself with in the town.

Yes sir, I will drink.

Good man Carruthers.

Malloy, hurry up please.

He holds his toy bear tight for comfort.

Indeed, he only just got him.

Oh, to hell with it.

- Mr. Blennerhasset, there's no sign of Carruthers sir.

- Strange, he's usually punctual,

especially when he's been drinking.

Maybe it's the storm.

- Your assistant may need to walk into Kingstown

to summon him.

Our coachman recently lost his horse.

Lost as in?

- The horse was struck by lightning.

Please hurry Malloy.

Yes Mr. Blennerhasset.

More tea Mr. Blennerhasset?

Not for the minute thank you.

Quite the weather we're having.

Lucinda come quickly.