The Game

Guv? I've, er, got you a present.

Frank?

I did what you asked

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

Let me show you something. Is that a ballerina?

Declan gave it to me. Do you remember?

Everyone thought he was the stalker.

You can't come in. Are you serious?

She screams are you ok?

Honestly, I don't know.

You let me stand in front of him.

I was trying to end all this.

She screams it's you.

Yes, it's me.

Gasps, breathes heavily.

Inhales sharply groans.

Floorboards creak.

Huw?

Huw, are you awake?

Ooh.

How are we feeling?

A bit rough?

Coffee?

How do you like it?

What did you put in my drink?

I think you'll find that was your own doing.

I heard what you said.

What, you think I didn't hear you?

Patrick sighs I'm sorry. What?

I knew it was you.

I always knew.

Huw, you were off your face last night.

I don't know what you think you heard.

"Think"?

All I know is you came in,

you were staggering around, saying very weird stuff about...

Death, guilt, er, Ruth.

No. And then you passed out.

Now, let me make you some breakfast.

Toast.

You coppers and your booze.

I bet you've ended up here a few times?

I heard frank liked a tipple. Don't.

You mention... my friend.

It's terrible that he's gone. I know you killed him.

And I know... I know what you are.

And now I know.

I'm coming for you.

I'm gonna put you away.

Whatever you say, huw.

I think you're still drunk.

Sighs, inhales deeply clears throat

no, you're not coming in. Margot.

No. And mum says so too.

Where is she? She's at work.

Love, come on. How's Ruth?

Was it just like the old days?

And the daughter you never had?

"The daughter"... Is that what you think?

Sweets, she was never that. She's just a troubled young woman.

Who needs you more than I do?

Don't worry, dad, my skin's pretty thick these days.

Look, you just don't understand what is going on. Yes, I do.

Mum told me.

You think Patrick's the stalker. Well, he is, isn't he?

She scoffs the guy that moved in opposite?

You're sick!

Margot, I just...

You're sick, and you won't get better.

He groans

sighs.

Doorbell rings.

Ringing tone

'sorry, can't get to the phone right now. Leave a message.'

voicemail beeps hi. Hi, er, Jenny.

Listen, er... I, er... I need to talk to you cos...

Could you just ring me urgently, please? Er

I need you to look into the pm report

for my neighbour frank.

He's... There's something wrong with...

There's something... yeah. Ok.

Yeah. Just call me.

Engine starts engine splutters

engine revs.

Hey, Patrick.

You're back. Was it somewhere nice?

Yeah. Grotty hotel, in a conference room.

Didn't see the sky for three days.

How's Liz?

She's a bit out of sorts. You heard about this?

About what?

She said someone was in our house.

She's seen someone? No, but.

She's a bit freaked out.

Feels like someone's casing the joint, you know?

What?

Nothing. No, nothing.

Well, it's just this... This thing happened last night.

What?

Huw turned up in the middle of the night.

As in, there he is walking into my house.

Seriously? Yeah, he was drunk.

He was off his tits.

Yeah, he ended up passing out on my sofa.

What was he doing in your house?

I have no idea.

You know, when he was doing that big case, the one he flunked,

he had some sort of breakdown.

He had a breakdown?

God.

So...?

So he's got form for odd behaviour.

And you think it could have been huw in your house?

No, come on, Steve. He's a cop.

He was a cop.

Just keep an eye out, yeah?

Hello, Declan.

No!

I know that I'm the last person you want to see, but

I am not the stalker. Stop harassing me!

I know, I know.

I... I'm sorry.

You've ruined my life!

You left me to rot. I did.

I did.

But something's happened.

I don't care.

Declan, I need your help. God, no!

No. No!

No! Declan.

No!

Sighs

doorbell rings

you said he's been calling you?

He's a twat.

Asking for favours. He's supposed to be retired.

Yeah, well, I'm not answering. All right?

Doorbell rings repeatedly.

Ruth's expecting us, yeah? Yeah.

Yeah, she said she'd be in all morning.

Curtains are still shut.

Lights are still on.

Glass shatters

Ruth?

Hi, it's Jenny.

Footsteps approach.

Ma-Martin?

Man.

I'll call it in.

You ok?

I've seen this before.

All right, huw?

Sighs

hello, rip ton county police.

'Hi, it's Ruth. Leave a message.'

yeah. Hi, Ruth. Listen, er...

Chuckles nervously I'm just so, so sorry.

What I've done to you, I... I...

Sometimes, I just can't stop, I... 'And, you know.

'Somehow, I've always found a way to hurt you,

'and... and now, well...

'Now... now what I've done is even worse, and.

'I'm just so sorry, Ruth.

'I know it... Well, it's way too late. I...

'God.' voicemail beeps

indistinct conversation

- it was quite funny. - It sounds quite funny.

Yeah. Yeah, he was a bit... But embarrassing.

Sometimes, he gets a bit...

Hi. Hi, mum.

Patrick. Hello. Alice

I need to ask you something. Go on.

Huw ended up on my sofa last night.

That's where he went. Yeah.

Was a little worse for wear.

I'm not judging, but... He inhales

yeah, he seemed a bit...

What was the word?

Yeah, "ragged".

Is he ok?

Yeah, yeah, of course he's ok.

He thinks you're trouble, though.

Getting him smashed like that.

He's blaming me?

Well, I'm guessing he wasn't the one pouring the trebles.

Well. My bad. She chuckles great.

I'll stop worrying.

It's just some of the stuff he was saying.

W-What stuff?

You know what your dad's like.

Give me a hand with the shopping, please.

Thanks.

There's not much.

I'll leave you to it. Ok.

I hope I didn't say anything wrong. No, not at all.

It's just I sometimes wonder how you cope with huw.

I sometimes wonder how you're single.

A handsome, charming man like you. Alice.

Behave.

But Margot's too young for you.