Too Close

Hello, love.

'Oh, hi. Just, er, just tried you.'

Did you? My volume was down.

'Are you at home?'

I went to early yoga, just finished.

'Er, are you smoking?'

No.

'Oh. What time do you want to leave this evening?'

Listen, Phil rang. I've got to go in.

They want me to take on the Mortensen case.

'What?! I thought you...

'..we'd agreed.' I've said yes.

'Have you?'

SI SIGHS Let's talk later.

'Bye, love.'

Have you got any comments on the Connie Mortensen case?

Is she faking? Is she still a danger to society?

Can you stop and chat with us for a minute?

Do you reckon it was pre-meditated? Is she faking the amnesia?

You are up for this, aren't you?

Everyone's breathing down my neck for a report.

You got your alarm, yeah?

She took a hefty bite out of security.

Good morning, Constance.

I'm Emma Robertson, I'm your new forensic psychiatrist.

Well, don't you sound pleased with yourself.

Go on...

have a good look.

I would.

“How on earth did her life go so wrong?“

Quite easily, as it happens.

So you better watch out...

with your swishy bag and your sensible shoes...

you could be next.

It's my job to keep you safe...

to treat you.

And the court have asked for my opinion of your mental state

on the night of the offence.

We need to find out why you are unable to recall

the events of that night.

I'm going to be recording our sessions, if that's all right?

Just means I don't need to take too many notes.

You like poetry, do you?

Ah. Yes, I do.

Now, why don't you tell me...

what happened that night?

You're the expert, why don't you tell me?

You drove your car into the river, Constance.

You're lucky to be alive.

There were children in the back.

I'm going to help you remember. How does that sound?

Well, here we are...

in some fancy part of North London, where, rumour has it,

there are more therapists than nut-jobs.

So when you look at it that way...

I think you'll find I'm the one helping you.

Ooh. No phones in here, Doc.

He's gonna be late home, is he?

That old chestnut.

I think betrayal probably just begins with disenchantment.

Is that what happened to you?

I'd like to see Josh and Annie now.

That's not going to be possible. Don't you have kids...

The more you remember about that night, Constance,

the better your chances. ..or have they flown the nest?

You're no spring chicken.

In fact, I haven't even seen your qualifications yet.

The other one showed me hers.

Avoidance tactics won't work with me, Constance.

Connie...

please.

So this is her, is it? The Yummy Mummy Monster.

Tabloids would pay a fortune for this.

How long do you think she's realistically looking at?

She plead not guilty, didn't she?

Mm. Attempted murder, Level 1...

she could be looking at 30 years.

Or a lifetime hospitalised.

Well, that's down to you, my darling.

Temporary insanity,

she could soon be buzzing round a Waitrose near you.

That's her and the poor neighbour, Vanessa Jones.

Mother of the other little girl in the car.

I must say...

I prefer a modicum of sanity in my ladies.

Si, I've got files to read.

Em, is this really such a good idea?

My husband was meant to come, where is he?

And my mum.

When is my mum coming?

Not exactly queueing up, are they, Tuft y?

It's not really vocational for you, is it, the caring profession?

You might be fooling all that lot

with your little lost posh girl thing,

but you ain't fooling me.

You know exactly what you did.

It's just a paracetamol.

Hello, Dr Robertson.

Now, you be a good girl, Constance.

Thank you, Addy. Off you trot, Fatso.

Good morning, Constance. Connie.

I think I'd like one of your cigarettes.

Is it menthol, or did you pop a mint in?

You can't smoke in here.

Oh, I don't smoke.

I always think smoking is a sign of terrible weakness.

Have you remembered anything about the night?

How long have you been keeping little secrets from Si Hubby, then?

Why don't we begin with your relationship with Vanessa Jones?

It's Ness...

not Vanessa. I'm sorry. Ness.

I wish it was before again.

Before what, Connie?

Before I was skinned, boned and filleted.

Oi, they're mine, give them back!

Polly, give them back to the little girl.

I'm not little!

Oh, I am so sorry... Annie!

What's your name. Annie.

Give them back to Annie. Annie, stop shouting!

And don't swear. Jesus Christ!

I'm really sorry. Please, don't worry.

No, here. No, honestly. Polly, she's such a biff er.

Give them back to me. Look, you've got so many.

Annie, be nice.

Didn't I say? Share them with the little girl.

Thank you. Follow me!

Right. And now they're best friends.

It's as simple as that. She's such a flirt.

Can 1? Of course.

Are you local? Yes, are you?

We've just moved to the area. I thought I hadn't seen you before.

Well, welcome. Thank you.

Polly starts at Meadowside next week.

Oh, right. It's a great school. Yeah? Yeah.

You don't know if the first train in the morning is reliable, do you?

I'm not the best person to ask, I am afraid.

I work from home.

Mm! Have one.

They taste better than they look.

Thank you.

What do you do?

Nothing spectacular. I write.

Copy-editing, articles, journo stuff, you know?

You've got some...

No...

Oh, God, you smell fantastic. Oh, thank you.

What is that? It's, erm, Jo Malone.

The pomegranate one. Mmm!

Mmm. It's good, right?

Yeah.

It's my partner that has to be in early.

What does he do?

She, actually.

Sorry.

So, now that the school's got an Outstanding,

all the bankers are moving in.

You'll see their wives at the school gates.

They have flick y hair and little dogs that don't moult or shit.

There's a lot of yoga.

I love your tattoos. Oh, do you?

Mm. I've never dared get one. Oh, thank you.

Hello, Daddy. Hey, darling, how are you?

Good. This is us.

Hi, Con. That's my husband, Karl.

Oh, and that's us. Just here. Wow.

Yeah, you must come meet Leah some time.

Definitely. We're so close. Yeah.

Come on, Polly. Say goodbye.

Bye!

See you, Mum.

'I think my body was trying to tell me something...

'even back then.

'I felt... a little tug, as if from the wings.

'Like a warning... perhaps.'

Did it make you uncomfortable,

the fact that she was attracted to women?

I like cock... Dr Robertson.

I like men.

W hy?

Does it make you uncomfortable?

So...

back to you and Si Hubby.

Professional couple.

Left it a bit late... just the one kid, I presume?

Little Emmalina.

In pony club and extra Mandarin.

Oh, you'll find that everything's locked in here, Doctor.

Windows, doors, cupboards, minds...

Do you know what I think, Connie?

I think that you are seriously underestimating

the gravity of the situation that you're in.

Attempted murder carries a long sentence.

YOU can come across as a little head-mistress y...

you ought to watch that.

I bet Si Hubby's sick to death of it.

“Have you done this, have you done that?“

At some stage...

we all take responsibility for our actions.

And a little smug, if you don't mind me saying.