The Bad Seed

Hey, it's all right.

Ah, you bastard! - Winning bastard to you, old fella.

So, how are you feeling?

Oh, two David Hallwrights - all my teenage dreams are finally coming true.

Ew.

- Ah. Mwah! - Dad, you stink.

But it's a winning stink.

How's hockey practice? Paige doing what she's told? - Yeah, right.

Wanker.

Hey, so, chicken's been cooked. You just need to dress the salad.

You look nice. Where are you off to?

Fundraising meeting at Tish's. - Ah.

How much is it costing me this time? - The usual.

Come on, Karen, haven't we done our bit?

David Hallwright's gonna be the next prime minister.

Don't you wanna be a part of that?

Ford, keep the girls here.

Shit.

Tish, are you all right?

Yeah, I am, but Julia...

Yeah, wh-what about her?

The pool man said she's been murdered.

What? What did she say?

Ford, you're supposed to keep them inside. - They got away on me.

Obviously, tonight, the meeting. - Of course, go, go.

Murdered?

You don't have to whisper. People get murdered all the time.

Not around here, they don't.

Julia Stevens - 42, separated, lived here on her own.

Multiple stab wounds, one fatal.

There's signs of a struggle, but so far not of any sexual assault.

Murder weapon? - Forensics are on to it.

Could have been one of her own knives, but they look pretty clean.

Looks like she just got home.

You got a time on that?

Uh, supermarket receipt says 8.30 Sunday.

Looks like she was killed shortly after arriving home, around 9.30,

so dead approximately 20 hours.

Where is she?!

Oh, Christ, no. - Mr Stevens?

Yes! - I'm really sorry, but I'm gonna have to ask you a few questions

about Mrs Stevens. You two are married?

Um, about to be divorced.

And when was the last time you spoke? - We don't.

There hasn't been much speaking.

I had an email from her yesterday.

And if you don't mind me asking, what did she say?

That I was scum. She'd hoped I'd die.

I met somebody else, so...

oh, Julia, she...

She wasn't happy about it.

She wasn't happy about anything.

Thank you.

Police have reported that a woman's body has been found

in the Auckland suburb of Remuera tonight.

While her death is being treated as suspicious,

no further details have been released to the public.

Police are appealing to anyone in the area

to come forward if they have any information...

Ed, are you watching this? - Police under pressure, creeping crime rate.

This we can use. Take the spotlight off Mrs Hallwright for a change.

Future New Zealand Party candidate David Hallwright

launched his prime ministerial campaign today,

but critics say the slick campaign launch...

...was overshadowed by his wife's latest gaffe.

It was an eye roll. I don't need media training.

I just need to stop rolling my eyes.

Look. There, see, I'm trained.

Don't take it personally. It was just the campaign's

You mean it's Ed's thinking.

It's a matter of public perception. We can't ignore it. We need the public.

Yeah, well, my perception is that unless I rise up

out of your first wife's grave reincarnated,

Ed's gonna keep hating me, along with everyone else.

Hey.

Nobody hates you.

You're the most amazing woman I've ever met.

I was hoping all our hard work would've paid off by now.

Oh, hard work, was it?

Yeah, what wonders that would do for those perceptions.

Oh, you smell good.

It's just- It's ridiculous pretending to be someone I'm not.

We're all pretending to be someone we're not.

Did you check the girls' windows? - Yeah, I said that I would.

While in Auckland... ...police have formally released

the identity of the murder victim. Julia Stevens body was... Can't sleep?

Nah, not with a bloody killer on the loose.

...expect the murder occurred on Sunday night.

The former model was found dead at her home,

and police are appealing to anyone in the area

to come forward if they have any information or...

Isn't she the psycho that turned up at the house the other day?

Ready for your first patient? - Absolutely.

Thanks, mate.

The ex's alibi checked out? - Tight as. Wasn't him.

Hello.

DS Da Silva. Detective Bennett.

Sorry to bother you, Mrs Lampton. Yes.

This about Julia Stevens? It's horrendous. Come in.

Come on through.

Did you know Julia, Mrs Lampton?

Oh, to look at. We met at a David Hallwright fundraising thing once,

but that was about it.

But I was at the house, right next door, the night she was killed.

That's why we're here. The book club meeting, is that right? - Yes, yeah.

We were all there. Just... I didn't see a thing.

I mean, not that I was looking, but you know.

Well, no one can quite believe it.

Sorry, can I get you tea, coffee?

I'm fine.

Just water will be great.

There's been a spate of burglaries in the area recently.

Did you know that? Probably connected.

Oh, we're looking at all the possibilities. So, who else lives here?

My two teenage girls, Elke and Claire;

Simon, my husband; and, for my sins, his brother, Ford.

The brother a problem for you, Mrs Lampton? - No. Oh, God, no.

No, he's just between girlfriends, houses, you know.

Seems to quite like it here.

Do you know where Simon and Ford were on Sunday night?

Yes, they were here, both of them.

Can you be sure if you were out? - Absolutely.

They let the girls watch The Shining. I was furious.

I'll get some uniforms to work on some regos.

Yeah, and there could be something in those burglaries.

Oh.

I've just got the cakes and the decorations for Robin's going-away.

Can I just leave them here?

Gonna have to park miles away.

Got what you wanted.

Oh.

Girls, dinner.

I can't believe there's a murderer out there.

Oh, look, I know you're worried, but lightning doesn't strike twice.

Actually, you know, from a tree surgeon's perspective,

that's not entirely true.

Can we not liken Julia Stevens to a tree.

Hmm, here's the birthday girl.

My baby... 13!

You're getting all grown-up on me.

She doesn't even wear a bra yet.

Shut up. Claire, it's her birthday.

Can we just be nice?

You gonna check that?

Hmm, leave a message if it's urgent.

Oh.

Look at that, birthday magic.

Hey, so your golden girl got a pasting in the media today.

- Who? - Roza Hallwright.

Dick move parking in a disabled space. - Claire!

I dunno why everyone doesn't leave her alone. I like her.

Anyway, he's the one we'll be voting for.

Our old man would have a fit if he saw you chucking money at that lot.

You should be giving it to the Greens.

Did you know there's an island of plastic

as big as Mexico in the Pacific Ocean?

Just check it, will you? It might be urgent. - I told you...

Is it a baby?

Breach.

I organised cover. I dunno why they're hassling me.

Because you're the best, that's why.

Yeah, you should go, Dad, cos what the planet needs is a lot more population

No, 13, cake.

I'll save you some.

I dare you to eat it all yourself.

Love you all.

Even you, you old leftie. - See you later.

478? 478? 478?

I was with my family.

Now you're with me.

Sorry I'm late.

What's going on?

You'll never guess who's in your office. - My first appointment?

Mrs Hallwright?

Roza, please.

Sorry for barging in on you like this, but it couldn't wait.

If you're after treatment, I do need referral from your doctor.

No, no, no, it's not about that.

I'm sorry, then how can I help?

Uh, well, it's personal, I suppose.

God, sorry, I am making this sound very cloak and dagger, aren't I?

Urn, no, it's just you've been so generous with your donations

and your wife with her campaign work,

and it hasn't gone unnoticed. - Well, thank you.

We think David... um, you and David are doing a great job.

Well, you can tell him in person. We're having drinks at home on Friday night,

and we'd love for you to come.

I don't know what to say.

Say you'll be there.

You have two girls, right?

Yeah, bring them.

She just turned up out of the blue at his clinic? - I know.

Did he fall on her helpless swoon like most of the men she seems to captivate?

I don't know.

Simon, Roza turn you weak at the knees?

I was to surprised to notice, to be honest.

Well, you really are the perfect husband.

Hey, I'm Ford -

his brother, tree guy, overstayer in general. - Tish.

Karen, you never told rne there was a second charming prince in the family.