The Game

I'm sorry you're leaving with unfinished business.

It's just a bit harder than I expected.

Do you think there is a single person

that lives their lives without regret?

Grunting catch you later, detective. Frank?

It's nothing. It's an od. An overdose?

That was not a suicide.

Hey, new neighbour. Patrick.

Steve's lost all interest.

Catch you later.

Patrick is the rip ton stalker.

You're just chasing shadows.

Hums, whistles.

Wha...?

'There are multiple cuts and abrasions

'across the body.

'Severe bruising around the spine.

'It looks like the victim was beaten repeatedly.

'We also have ligature wounds around the neck, wrists and ankles.

'These are not fresh wounds.

'I'd suggest the victim had been tied up for several days.

'The killer knows his anatomy.

'None of these wounds would risk a critical loss of blood.

'More likely, they were performed as an act of torture.'

beep.

And then Steve announces that he's going on yet another work trip.

To quote Liz - she lost her shit. Yeah. Man.

She's just convinced that he's having an affair with his pa.

Well, you know, he's not.

Well, if he was, I don't think he'd be telling you.

He's just knackered, that's all.

The only thing he's gonna be doing at night

is just stuffing his face with room service.

Why wouldn't he tell me? You know, we're mates.

For the same reason that he hides his stash of mushrooms

every time he sees you.

Once a cop...

Just tell Liz that he's not having an affair.

Talking of dirty little secrets, I was on the computer last night.

Anything you wanna tell me?

Er... Internet history.

Stop googling 9-iron golf clubs.

It's not very sexy.

Well, there's no harm in looking, is there?

Well, you should be searching for luxury spa breaks

or a once-in-a-lifetime holiday.

So, the next time I see Steve,

I'm just gonna take out this big bag of gear,

I'm gonna roll a massive spliff she laughs

you wouldn't know how to roll a spliff.

I would! I'm gonna... I'm gonna go rogue!

Stop it! Are we good?

Yeah. Yeah, never better. Yeah? Ok.

Ok. Don't go rogue. He snorts.

Phone rings

hi, Tina.

My effing g.

Huw, you are an angel sent from heaven.

So, they're asleep. I have literally just put them down.

And nap time is normally an hour, but we can let it run to 90 minutes.

Well, I don't mind getting them up.

So, I'm only five minutes up the road.

Olga does the best mani-pedi in rip ton, and I just need a moment.

I just need a few blessed moments to myself, you know?

Y-Yeah, of course. And if they wake up...?

You just ignore them.

Well, I don't mind getting them up. They can come down here and play.

God bless.

Bet back in the day,

you were reciting the Greek alphabet, weren't you?

"Back in the day"? Yeah, but you don't get it.

They gang up on you.

They can't speak, but I swear they communicate with their eyes.

So as long as there's no visible scars, I don't care.

He chuckles softly

babies cry on monitor.

Toy squeaks you having fun with that? Huw gasps

er, I... how did you get in?

Tina gave me a key.

They've got a leaking tap, and I said,

you know, running a repair shop, I'd have a look.

Not seen you in a while. Yeah. No.

Yeah, not since the party. You all right?

Sorry that I left early.

My stomach was churning and... I'm all right now.

I didn't poison you by accident, did I?

No. You're entirely innocent.

So, what's this?

Er, baby-sitting.

Chuckles you're baby-sitting?

Well, that's nice.

Seriously, where have you been? I thought we were friends.

You sound like you missed me.

You're my favourite neighbour. Of course I've missed you.

And I'm hoping you feel the same.

You make me blush.

Well, if you're baby-sitting,

I can't go banging around with the plumbing, can I?

Well.

Engine starts.

They chatter.

Hi.

Twice in one day.

People are gonna talk.

Yeah, yeah, I was looking for a dry-cleaner's, and I, er

I happened to see the sign. Yeah.

Interesting place. Thanks.

There aren't any dry-cleaner's around here.

So I've learned. Chuckles softly

so, this all needs fixing, does it?

Well, everything needs fixing here.

Let me show you something.

Are you coming or what? Yeah.

Over here.

Now, this has taken me months.

It was just wasting away in an attic for years.

Yeah, there was rain damage, mould.

There was mice. You name it.

But the owner is very sentimental, so...

Well, that's amazing.

Yeah.

Really pleased with how it's turned out.

Is that a ballerina? Well spotted, huw.

Can I take a photograph?

I don't think the owner would approve.

Well, I won't tell him if you don't. I said no.

Come and look at this.

It's a cuckoo clock.

But instead of a bird, a bloody great llama pops out.

Footsteps approach, Alice sighs

Liz is in a right state.

We're gonna have to grab a bottle from the fridge and talk her down.

Chuckles what's this? Nothing.

Well... well, it looks like someone's got a speeding ticket.

After all the lectures you've given me...?

Are you gonna go on a speed awareness course?

Well, I may have got away with it, so...

This is the best day of my life. They laugh.

Doorbell rings.

Hi, Ruth, sorry, I've not been in...

Well, I'm just amazed they haven't sacked me already.

Sometimes, a student might ask me to find an obscure manuscript,

but basically, I'm just filing stuff on my own, so, yeah.

You look well.

I'm retired. What?

God, you must be dying. I know you.

Chuckles softly

so, you've got a job at the uni library.

T-That feels like progress.

Yeah. Yeah, it's... It's good for me.

Well, that's what my therapist says.

I'm sorry, Ruth. Don't. Don't, don't.

I'm doing better.

And you're here, and that's so nice.

But I should have come sooner, shouldn't I?

And... I should have caught him.

I'd be dead if it wasn't for you.

You stopped him.

He was in the house, hiding in my wardrobe,

and you chased him.

I let him get away. That's not fair.

He attacked you.

Do you still have that statue of a ballerina?

It's an odd thing to ask. No, it's just the

I remember you said you trained as a dancer

and you had a little ballerina statuette, that's all.

I got rid of it.

Er, Declan gave it to me. Do you remember?

And then when he got arrested

and everyone thought he was the stalker,

I just chucked it.

It felt, er.

Disgusting.

Then it turns out he didn't do it, so, er...

But, hey, I'm doing so much better these days.

I shouldn't have come. No, no, you should have.

No, I should go. I'm sorry.

Will you come and visit me again? Yes, of course. Of course I will.

Yeah. I promise.

Doorbell rings

right, don't ask me why, but I did what you asked

and I had a look at that pm report for your neighbour.

Right. Look, there were some concerns.

I mean, for one thing, there's nothing in the report

about syringes or any other form of self-administration.

S-So no syringes, no empty pill bottles.

So that means that someone must have... must have removed them.

Just slow down, all right? I talked to the paramedics.

They can't remember if they saw anything.

Sorry, they can't remember? Look, it was a crazy day, all right?

They were busy. Mistakes were made.

If your neighbour didn't wanna kill himself,

why are there no signs of a struggle?

There's no bruising.

There's no marks of any kind on the body.

Are you telling me he just let a stranger walk in and inject him

without putting up a fight? No. Right.

Here's the report.

See for yourself, look.

They've asked for further investigation. I've done so.