The Sister

CHURCH BELLS, APPLAUSE

GLASS CHIMES, APPLAUSE FADES

I just wanted to add one thing.

We all know there's a guest missing today.

Since we were tiny, Elise and I used to talk about our wedding day.

What we'd wear, mostly.

But also who we'd marry.

Actually, she was pretty set on George Michael.

LAUGHTER

I told her it wasn't likely, but she wouldn't be told.

She never would, would she?

A lot of the time, she refused to accept

that she had to marry a boy at all.

All she really wanted was the dress, the shoes and...

And to walk down the aisle with Dad.

But she's here in spirit.

She wouldn't miss my wedding day.

I can tell she approves of the boy I married.

And more importantly, she loves my shoes.

LAUGHTER

But, by now, she'd be wanting to kick off her kitten heels

and start dancing.

So I'd like you please to stand...

..and join me in a toast...

to my beautiful, beautiful sister.

Elise! Elise!

APPLAUSE

SOBS

CREAKING

CREAKING CONTINUES

CREAKING GROWS LOUDER

Where are we? My lock-up.

It's locked. Unlock it.

Now what?

We leave it here till we know what to do with it.

What? No, that's mad.

Fine. What do you suggest?

Burn it. Where? In here?

No, it's too... Then where?

I don't know. Outside somewhere.

And if someone sees us and asks us what we're doing?

NATHAN SIGHS All right, then.

The clothes. Let's just burn the clothes.

We can do that right now, in here.

Come on. Any blood, hair?

I can't believe I'm doing this.

Trace DNA's hardly the point, she's in the back of my car.

Oh!

OK, then...

er, let's dissolve it with hydrochloric acid.

Good idea, have you got any on you?

No.

Do you know where to get it in quantity?

Do you know how to handle it safely? NATHAN SIGHS

Look, Nathan, nobody's looking for her, so nobody's gonna find her.

Let's not do anything careless just because we're worn out and scared.

I can't just leave her in the freezer. Why not?

Cos it's...

it's grotesque. It's horrible.

Is it worse than where she was?

PHONE RINGS

RINGING CONTINUES

Hi, babe, who won? Dad and Jacki.

'Ah, course they did.' You still with Bob?

Still with Bob. What are you doing up?

'Oh, nothing really. I just got a bit freaked out.'

"Freaked out?" How?

I thought there was someone in the house.

What do you mean?

Someone moving around.

Did you call the police?

HOLLY SCOFFS 'And say what?

'There's nothing.' Look, listen, I'll be home soon.

Don't worry too much. I just managed to spook myself.

How was your evening?

Uh...

Well, it's, uh...

It's been... To be honest, it's been a weird night.

'Is everything all right?'

Yeah, yeah, everything's fine. I'll explain when I get home. 'OK.'

Are you sure you're all right? 'Yeah. Home soon, soon as I can.'

Um...

OK, listen, I better be off. Love you.

You too.

'You sure you're OK?' Yeah.

You? Yeah, I'm good.

See you in a bit.

"It was a weird night?"

What was I supposed to say? I dunno.

"Bob and I had a few drinks and fired up the Xbox?"

"Bob and I went to a casino?" Anything.

Yeah, course, but she knew something was off.

So lie to her. I can't.

We trust each other. Right.

No. No, no, no. No, no, no. You and I, we don't discuss this.

No, of course, fine. I get it.

No, you don't. She can never know. Fine.

Oh, Christ. I just... I just want this to end.

I want it to be over, I want my life back.

EXHALES

Elise would say something similar.

I didn't kill her, Bob! I didn't!

I didn't!

CRYING, BANGING

It'll be over soon.

We've come this far, let's not do anything stupid.

Go home and talk to your wife.

And let's think about this.

What are you gonna tell her?

I don't know.

BRAKES SQUEAL

CAR DOOR CLOSES, CAR CHIRPS

DOOR SLAMS

You're still up? Oh, you know how it is.

I freaked myself out and got paranoid.

I thought this might help.

What?

Well, you're lurking there like that bloke from the Addams Family.

Sorry, it's just. Um, I'm just...

..still a bit wound up.

So what happened?

What way?

Your "weird" night.

Oh...

No, it was... It was nothing.

Come on!

So what did he want?

To borrow money. From us? Huh.

What money? That's...

That's what I said. You hardly know him!

I don't think I was the first person he went to.

How much did he want?

10,000. Pounds?! Yeah.

What for?! Payday loan.

No?! Yeah. Well, you know how these things can just...

..just spiral out of control.

You should send him to Citizens' Advice.

Yeah, no, I... No, I-I...

..suggested that, but he didn't really-he didn't really bite.

Is he gonna be a problem? Is he gonna keep coming back? No.

No, tonight is the end of it.

I hope so.

Blimey.

Ten grand! What was he thinking?

To be honest, that's why I stayed so late, because...

..I was a bit worried he might, y'know...

..do-do something. It's that bad?

I don't know. He seemed pretty desperate.

But that's why I couldn't text or whatever.

I-I-I-I was just... I was-I was like...

STUTTERS

So what are you gonna do?

Uh...

Well, right now, I'm off to bed.

OK.

I'll be up in a minute.

'She was seen? I hadn't heard that. By whom?'

REWIND SQUEAKING 'She was seen? I hadn't heard that.'

REWIND AGAIN 'She was seen?'

'She was seen?'

CLOCK TICKING

CREAKING

CREAKING CONTINUES

'Happy new year.'

'Happy new year!' 'Happy new year!'

'Bob, this is Elise. Elise, Bob.'

'Hey, Bob!' 'Hello, Elise, happy new year!'

'How about we stop off on the way for a nice little top-up?'

ELISE GIGGLES

Actually, I might be a while, so, y'know, whatever.

CAR DOOR SHUTS

Is he gone?

Yeah.

SNORTING, SHE EXHALES

Happy new year! Happy new year.

Can you kiss me first?

PANTING

ELISE GIGGLING

PANTING

ELISE COUGHS Oh, God.

All right? Yeah. Are you OK?

ELISE BREATHING HEAVILY Oh, God.

ELISE PANTING All right, OK, all right.

What's the matter? All right, calm-calm down.

All right. What is it? What are you doing?

What are you doing?

GLASS CRACKS

Hey, hey, hey, what's the matter...

Oh, my God! Oh, my God!

What? No, no, no!

GRUNTS

What did you do? What did you do?!

What did you do?! What did you... Look at her! I didn't.

What did you do?! I didn't.

Is she breathing?

Is she breathing? Is she-Is she- Is she breathing? Is she breathing?

Stand back! Stand over there!

I'm calling for help.

PHONE BEEPS I can't get a signal.

Don't stop! Keep going.