(UPBEAT CHRISTMAS MUSIC) - Thank you. - # The snow is falling down. - Thank you. - Thank you. - # By the candlelight, # I see your eyes are talking # to me. # And you'll be my Christmas Valentine. # My Christmas box is wrapped # in red and white with a bow. - Thank you. - You're welcome. - # I hear laughter, and the fire begins to glow. # Silver bells will ring when I kiss you # under the mistletoe, # and you'll always be my Christmas Valentine. # Though the years go by, # and, yes, we're gettin' older... - Hello! Sorry I'm late. My sour cream cut-outs took a little longer than usual. Hello? (OMINOUS MUSIC) Hello? Hello? - Hey, man, we're not open. Hello? Come on, man. - # But I know where I'm gonna be # this Christmas. # I'll be right here with my Christmas Valentine. (DISTURBING, SHRIEKING LAUGHTER) - Whoo! (LAUGHTER CONTINUES) - # I know where I'm gonna be # this Christmas. # I'll be right here # with my Christmas # Valentine. - (LAUGHS) - # My Christmas Valentine. # - Oh my... Oh my God. Oh my God. Oh my God. (DRAMATIC MUSIC) Oh my God. - (CHEERS) www.able.co.nz Copyright Able 2021 - ROSS: What're you`? It's clean. - No, just... - Don't touch it. - Can you not see the mustard there? - You're gonna make it dirty. - You see this? This goes over here. - (LAUGHS) - Just like that. - What're you`? Excuse me. - Just put the cutlery in here. - We do not put cutlery in... - Oh, nice one. - OK, it's, it's done. - All right. Why are we settin' up so early? - I want to be stress free. I wanna be eating cake and food and turkey, not setting the table. - Your mother hasn't even gone to work yet. - That's fine. She can go. - JENNY: There it is. - OK, OK, sorry. - I wanna eat. Then I can start drinking. - All right. - Are you OK with sitting there? - (CLEARS THROAT) Wow, some little Christmas elves come and set up while I was getting ready for work? - Yeah, that's what happened. - (LAUGHS) - Matteo's coming? - No. Um, I thought I'd invite Liam. - Oh. - Just cos you guys have been talking, and you seem like you're happy. - No, totally. I just, um... I don't know if we're quite there yet, But thank you. OK, I gotta get to work. I love you guys. Hey. I love you guys. I'll see you tonight. K? - Love you too. All right, then. Who's that for? - Oh, um... I don't know. I just... It's Christmas. - You made one for my Peggy? - I didn't wanna ambush Mom, but... I feel like we should be together. And you wanna see her. Right? - No, you know, we should just keep it us three this year. I think that's better. I mean, for your mom's sake. Yeah. Let's just do it that way. You're a good kid, Ross. (SOFT MUSIC) - WOMAN: Um... every year, John and Ginny would host Christmas Eve brunch. It was, uh... It was our tradition. - Are you part of the family, Flora? - I've lived next-door my entire life. They're like my surrogate parents. - Did you see anyone come or go this morning? Any cars in the driveway? - I was inside baking all morning. - Did you hear any noises, any shouting? - I had... Mariah Carey blaring on a loop. - I feel that. - Did the Brownings ever mention to you anyone they had any conflict with? - No. SOBS: 'No. They were... 'wonderful, 'wonderful people. 'I can't believe this happened at Christmas. 'They... 'They really loved Christmas. 'I'm sorry.' (SOBS) (INTRIGUING MUSIC) - JENNY: We've got ligature marks straight across the neck, under the Adam's apple. Petechiae on her face and eyes. Scratching and bruising on her neck and jawline. All things are consistent with ligature strangulation. - So, it is what it looks like. - What exactly do you think this looks like? (WHISPERS INDISTINCTLY) Multiple stab wounds to the torso. Judging by the blood volume loss and the stab wound next to the heart, I would say exsanguination. The entry wounds are... are covered in glitter. - Oh. - Hm. Neighbour said they were a perfect family. - Yeah, well, we both know there's no such thing. - (CHUCKLES) Hey. (CELL PHONE RINGS) Oh, it's the station. I gotta take this. - OK. - Hello? - What is this? - MAN: What is going on here? - Hi there, sir. Why don't we just step aside` - No, no, no. This is my parents' house, OK? - I understand that, sir, but` - No, no. We're supposed to be having brunch right now. I don't know why there's a lot of` - Sir, please just calm down. - I'm not excited. I just need to... - Hi. Sorry. Hey. Hey. - (INDISTINCT ARGUING) It's OK. Hi. I've got this. I've got it. I've got it. Thank you. Hey. What's your name? - Aaron Browning. - Browning. You're John and Ginny Browning's son? - Yes. - OK. I'm, uh... I'm sorry to tell you this, but the police found your parents dead inside of the house this morning. - (GASPS) (STAMMERS) What? - I'm really sorry for your loss, but we can't let you inside right now. - (GASPS, STAMMERS) What about Caleb? Is he OK? - I'm sorry, who's Caleb? - WHISPERS: Christmas tree. - OFFICER: He's MHA. No wallet, no ID. - DONOVAN: It's all right. I think I know who he is. Any weapons? - No. But I did find this in his pocket. - Is that a Christmas ornament? - Mm-hm. (CURIOUS MUSIC) - Hi there. I'm Detective McAvoy. Is your name Caleb Browning? - SINGS: 'Oh, Christmas tree. 'Oh, Christmas tree. 'your branches bring...' - Caleb. Caleb! (SNAPS FINGERS) - Huh? - Do you know where you are? - Um... What? - Do you remember your name? - Caleb. Um, Caleb... Caleb... Browning. - Do you remember what day it is? - (GRUNTS) (GRUNTS) Christmas Eve. It's Christmas Eve. - Do you remember what happened to your parents this morning? - Uh... Did I miss brunch? - # It's Christmas, baby. # Time for window shopping. # I could use a lovely string of pearls. # - ROSS: Hello? - PEGGY: Oh, for crying out loud! - Hello? Grandma? - JENNY: And he's your only suspect? - DONOVAN: He's staying at the house. There's no sign of forced entry. His parents' blood's on his clothes. - Have you asked for his medical records, see if he has a history of memory loss? Or trauma, psych issues. - It's in process, but it wouldn't be the first time that a suspect has faked memory loss. (SOFT MUSIC) - I mean, there's a possibility he's not faking it. - And there's a possibility that the hole in my spine will heal itself before surgery next week. - I mean, I have a history with memory loss after trauma. When my sister died, my brain wiped the memory of it. I mean, I got it back, but... - I'm so sorry, Jenny. - No, I'm just saying that, you know, I think we should keep an open mind. I mean, maybe he's telling the truth, at least about the memory loss part. I wanna get him assessed. But first, let me talk to him ` somewhere nice. - (SIGHS) Sure, let's get him a massage while we're at it. (DOOR OPENS, CLOSES) - So, I, uh, know it's weird to talk about death and food so close together, but, um... I'm a really great cook, and Christmas is tomorrow, so... Dennis, would you like to`? - Yes, yes. (CHUCKLES) Yes. - OK. Great. - I'll make sure we get off work early tomorrow. Just the perks of dating the boss. What? - (CHUCKLES SOFTLY) It's the first time I've heard it out loud. - What, that I'm your boss? - Please stop saying it. - Well, I didn't know it was a problem for you. - Neither did I. Anyway, we should get to work. - River, hey... (DOOR OPENS) (SCOFFS) (INDISTINCT CHATTER) - DONOVAN: Hey. - Thanks. (KNOCK AT DOOR) Hi, Caleb. My name is Jenny Cooper. I'm the coroner that's investigating your parents' deaths. I thought this room might be a little nicer. - (SNIFFLES, EXHALES HEAVILY) SOBS: 'I can't remember it. 'Why can't`?' (SNIFFLES) I mean, do I look like I... I'm the type of person who's... who's just... capable of killing somebody with (STAMMERS) my bare hands? Do I look like I can kill my mom and my dad with my hands? - I don't know what you're capable of, Caleb. But I am interested in your memory loss. - Yeah, because you think that I'm lying. - Because I had a family member who died, and when it happened, my brain erased the memory. This has happened to me. - So I'm not... going crazy? - Look, if what you're saying is true, then I'd like you to talk to the doctor that helped me. Would you consider it? Caleb. Would you try? - Yeah. - Yeah? OK. (DOOR OPENS) - Hello, Caleb. I'm Dr Sharma. I'd just like to have a conversation, OK? Caleb is exhibiting all of the symptoms of dissociative amnesia, a condition linked to severe stress ` traumatic events like war, abuse, or violence. - Brutally murdering both your parents would be quite traumatic. - Or his amnesia was caused by witnessing the violence. - If Caleb's the killer, I need to know he's faking it. If he's a witness, I need him to snap out of it and tell me what he saw. - There are tests we can do, neurological and psychological, to help distinguish between malingered and real memory impairments, but I'll need him to be transferred to a medical facility. - (SIGHS) fine. Do what you gotta do. I wanna solve this before I have to take my leave of absence. (DOOR OPENS, CLOSES) - So, what do you think? Do you think Caleb's lying? - I try not to make assumptions. - But what is your gut telling you? - What does yours say? - I don't know. I mean... I don't think Caleb's lying. I believe him when he says he doesn't remember what happened. I can obviously relate. - But? - But I didn't hurt Katie on purpose. - Caleb may not have either. - Yeah. (SIGHS) - Jenny, I'm here to help, not pile on. So call me, don't call me. It's up to you. - Thank you, Neil. - But you should probably call me. - (CHUCKLES) - Find anything? - Nah. Brownings are squeaky clean. No 911 calls. No contact with the police. Dad owned a bunch of businesses, sold 'em and retired early with a fat bank account. Mom was his bookkeeper. I mean, as far as I can tell, Mac, they are a pretty boring family. - What's this about? - Oh, someone's been tagging 'justice for Dean Breyer' on the front of the station. I know you've seen it. I haven't figured out who Dean Breyer is yet, but... (TAPS KEY) check it out. He's always covered up, and he always comes at shift change. I haven't figured it out yet, but just you wait. - Well, we have a double homicide to solve, so I want you to focus on that, all right? - Gotcha. (INDISTINCT CHATTER) - DENNIS: Six millimetres. You know, even under a mask, I can tell you're frowning. (RIVER SIGHS) - RIVER: I love my job. If anything were to happen... Most times it's the person with the least power, the one who's not the doctor, who gets shown the door when HR comes knocking. So I think it would be best if we just... - JENNY: OK, how's it going in here? - Just getting started, Dr Cooper. - All right. Now, what is going on with the ear? - Would you like to do the honours? - Yeah. OK. - What is that? - I don't know. - There was no bleeding or bruising in the ear canal, which means that whatever this is... was inserted in John Browning's ear after he died. - After you called me, I went and got this out of evidence. Caleb had it on him when we picked him up. - Angel with a broken wing. - Caleb killed his parents then shoved that ornament in his dad's ear. (LIGHT, CURIOUS MUSIC) - Hey. Detective Abed, 5832. I'm gonna do another sweep before we clear the crime scene. Ugh. Jeez. Huh. Hey, Desouza, you ever see a kitchen drawer with a lock on it? - Yeah. I have a 2-year-old at home. - Hm. Well, I got a lock-pick kit in my trunk. Can you grab it for me, please? - Sir, yes, sir. - 'Sir.' (CHUCKLES) (DOOR OPENS, CLOSES) (SIGHS) (SOFT MUSIC) - It isn't... possible. My brother would never. And you're saying he can't remember any of it? - That's what he's claiming, yes. - He's at St Vic's. He's under medical supervision. He's gonna have neurological and psychological tests. - Can I talk to him? - Only the police and Caleb's doctors are permitted to talk to him. - Well, does he have a lawyer? - He didn't want one. - Idiot. - Aaron, does this have any significance? Your brother had that on him when he was arrested, and Dr Cooper removed the broken wing from your father's ear. (TENSE MUSIC) - Uh, take your time. OK? - I invited Caleb home for the holidays. It was my idea. I thought that it was gonna be OK. It's usually OK until, uh... until there's an incident. - What kind of incident? - Something small. They judge him, pick at him. Then he snaps. If me or Flora are there, sometimes we can calm him down. - At the house, there were four place settings on the table. But if you and Flora were both coming, then that would make five guests. - They must have disinvited him, taken his spot away. - You think that's what made him snap? - Yeah. Yeah. (SIGHS) I shouldn't have stopped for flowers. (TENSE MUSIC) (MALIK CHUCKLES) - MALIK: Oh! Whew! Someone is gettin' paid! A lot of people, apparently. OK. Hold on to that. Thank you. Huh. Bingo. - FLORA: Can I just have a glass of water? My mouth's really dry. - MAN: I can do that. - Flora, I'm Jenny Cooper. I'm the coroner that's investigating the Brownings' deaths. Um, I have a few questions that I'm hoping you can help me with. - The detectives already confirmed my alibi. - It's not about that. - They're just my prescription. - Yup. Uh, I know things are stressful. - You do? Do you? Is Aaron here? He has a very distinct scent. His cologne, I mean. - Impressive. Aaron is in the boardroom with Detective McAvoy. - What is he saying? - Flora, I understand that you have a relationship with the Brownings` - You don't understand anything. - Flora, I` - AARON: Flora. I thought that was you. Hey. (SIGHS) - Have you seen him? - No. Have you? - No. - OK, enough's enough. We wanna see Caleb. - And I wanna know why you two are trying to protect someone who just committed a brutal double homicide? I mean, I get family loyalty, but doesn't that extend to your parents, Aaron? And to people who were like second parents to you, Flora? - We knew this day was coming. - Can I please`! Can I please have just a minute with Aaron? Please? (CELL PHONE RINGS) - Uh, you can go in the boardroom. I'll grab some coffees. I'll keep an eye on them. - Yeah, Malik? (TENSE MUSIC) - You know, last year, Mom was so busy with work that our centrepiece was a sad dollar-store elf. - Oh. - (CHUCKLES) You know that she's a coroner, right? Did I tell you that? - I know. - Yeah, well, she helps people. People who've lost somebody get closure. - Yeah, I suppose it makes sense, given what she's been through. - You talkin' about Katie? - You know, when Katie died, uh, we all dealt with it in our own way. I'm glad to see that hers was healthier than mine. - Why didn't you...? Why didn't you ever reach out? - I tried on her 16th birthday, but Jenny made it very clear that she didn't want anything to do with me. I know that I left it too late, but... (CLEARS THROAT) The healing takes as long as it takes. And when I was ready, well, she wasn't. - But what about Grandpa? I mean, didn't you miss him? Didn't you want to talk to him? - They were always a fine pair, those two, you know. And Gord has raised her well. She got straight As. She went to med school. She got married. She had you. They're thriving without me, Ross. (RELAXING MUSIC PLAYS) - She has anxiety and panic attacks. He has dementia. He's even started hallucinating. You're what he sees. Look, (SIGHS) I know that it's complicated, and I know that there's feelings everywhere, but... (EXHALES SHARPLY) What if you just came to Christmas dinner? - Oh, Ross. - I've set you a place card. We have tonnes of food. We have lots of space. - It's too late. I'm sorry, but that's the truth. - Yeah, well... I'm sorry too. - Ross, I` (TENSE MUSIC) (FOOTSTEPS APPROACH) - That was Malik. John Browning's been making cash payments to a dozen people monthly, going back decades. - Payments to who? - Don't know. The ledger only had first names and dollar amounts, but there's one name that Malik recognised. - Flora? - $1000 a month starting in June 1999. - What happened in June of 1999? - I think it's time we take 'em down to the station, get them talking on the record. - I think it's time we take 'em down to the station, get them talking on the record. (INDISTINCT CHATTER) - DENNIS: Whatcha working on over there? - RIVER: The cysts you found on Mr Browning's liver. I'm sending a sample to the lab for a biopsy. I know you like being thorough. - River... Look, if it's a choice between this job or being with you, I choose you. Wait, let me finish. Cos technically we started dating before I became your quasi-boss, so it might not even be a thing. So I guess what I'm saying is... River Baitz, will you talk to HR with me? - Yes. Yes, I will. (CHUCKLES) - Whew! Yes. - DR SHARMA: Very good, Caleb. Got one more test to assess your working memory. - Um... No, uh... Can you take your mask off? I'm kind of just, like, freaking out, and the mask's not helping. - OK. Have you had anything to eat or drink today, Caleb? - I don't think so. - Would you like a sandwich if I can track one down? OK, sounds good. I'll be right back. Just gonna go get some food for him. (SOFT MUSIC) - DONOVAN: So, who wants to go first? - AARON: Um... (CLEARS THROAT) Our family is very concerned with appearances. My father had this idea of how boys should be. Uh, but Caleb was sensitive and sweet. He was weak. (CLEARS THROAT) So my dad took him hunting for deer and feral pigs. He taught him how to field dress them, thought it would toughen him up. But then Caleb started to, uh... to change. He started to... to have these, like... - Fits. - What kind of fits? - Oh, flashes of rage he couldn't control. He'd have an explosion. And then your dad would take him out hunting. And then he'd come back, and we'd cook up whatever they'd killed. - When did the violence start? - When Caleb was 7. - No, he was a bit older than that. - Hm. - In June of '99? (OMINOUS MUSIC) - How do you know about that? - What happened in June of '99, Flora? - Well, you have to understand that Caleb loves Flora. He would never hurt her... - It's OK. - ...on purpose. - It's OK. - It was my birthday. And, um... - I gave him a red bike. - Which was Caleb's favourite colour. - I should've known that. - What did he do? - He pushed me down a flight of stairs. - It was horrible. And he felt so bad. - Yeah, my parents thought it would be best if we didn't involve the police, and, well, John and Ginny, they felt the same, so. - Is that when Mr Browning started paying you? - 'Paying you'? - I... I thought this was to pay for my physio, but then the money just never stopped coming. - Dad paid you? That's why you stayed in our lives? - No, I love you. That is why I stayed. - Mr Browning was paying a lot of people. - Well, his son hurt a lot of people. Kids in the neighbourhood. - Mm. - Classmates. - Well, not just them. - No, you don't` Aaron, you don't have to do that. - We lived every day in fear with this bomb next to us... that we loved so much. It was gonna... go off and destroy everything. I guess it finally happened. (DISTORTED, UNSETTLING MUSIC) - Are you OK? - Hm? What? - You OK? - Yeah. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah. - Can you please remove Caleb's cuffs so he can eat? It's all right. (SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC) - OFFICER: Don't do anything dumb. - Here's some water, Caleb. Have a sandwich. - Um... Hm? No, no. I think, um... It's just, uh... (TAPS TABLE) The thing is the tests aren't working for me. They're not` (STAMMERS) I'm not computing. - They will. We just need to take it slow. - No, I can't it slow. I can't take it. I'm, uh... I just need to know right now if I did what everybody says that I did? - Forcing it before you're ready could re-traumatise you. - I don't care. - OK, just have` - I don't care! - Hey, hey! What did I say?! - (GRUNTS) - (ALARM WAILS) - Whoa, whoa! Wait, wait, wait! I'm not gonna hurt anybody. I'm just gonna` I need space! I need space! - Put the pen down! - I just need space. I have to go. - Then put the pen down! - He's in mental distress. Back off! (GRUNTS) - Caleb, I'm not gonna tell you again! - Just focus here, OK? Don't look at her. Just try to breathe, OK? - I can't. I can't breathe. - Listen. Just breathe. (INHALES DEEPLY) That's it. There you go. There you go. That's it. Breathe. - (BREATHES SHAKILY) OK, OK. Um... - That's it. - I need to speak to the coroner. I need to speak to the coroner right now, OK? - OK. Sure, we can do that. - Yeah. - Call her. - Call the coroner. (ALARM CONTINUES WAILING) - It doesn't matter what the psych eval says. Crown's gonna have a field day with Caleb. - Yeah. I know. (INTRIGUING MUSIC) (DOOR OPENS) - It's just` - Caleb is taking Dr Sharma hostage. - What? - Any demands? - He wants to speak to Jenny. There's a unit ready to escort you now. - Is Neil OK? Is he all right? - Yes, he's fine. He's OK. There's an armed officer on the scene with them. - All right. Let them know what's happening. - Yup. - OK, we gotta go. (DRAMATIC MUSIC) We're not gonna let anything happen to Neil, and we're not gonna let anything happen to you. (ENGINE STARTS, SIREN WAILS) (MUSIC CONTINUES) - DONOVAN: All right. Don't lie to him. Remember, we both want the same outcome here. - JENNY: Yeah, OK. - All right. (BREATHES DEEPLY) Hey. - Dr Cooper. - Caleb, I'm here, so, uh... so you can let Neil go. - I can't. - Sorry, can you...? - Lower your weapon. - Thanks. Look, I understand how frustrating it is not being able to remember. I get that, OK? And I will stay here with you, and we can just... we can talk it out, no matter how long it takes, But I need you to let Neil go. - SHAKILY: No. I need to... I need to know what happened now. Right now. - OK. Can you let Neil go? Please? - You examined my... (STAMMERS) my parents, right? - Mm-hm. - So what's the truth? Just the truth. Am I the one who murdered them? (TENSE MUSIC) - It looks that way. Yes. - (GRUNTS, BREATHES SHAKILY) Oh. - All right, get on the ground. Get on the ground now! Put your hands on top of your head. - He didn't hurt me. - It's OK. - Get up. - Oh, I should go with him. - No. Hey. Stay. Stay. I need to check you out. - OK. - OK? - Yeah. (EXHALES HEAVILY) - OK. Just breathe, OK? - Is your job always like this? - You know, just on the good days. - (CHUCKLES NERVOUSLY) (BREATHES STEADILY) - (EXHALES HEAVILY) (SOFT MUSIC) (EXHALES HEAVILY) Hey, Clark. This is Jenny. I, uh... I'm... I'm sorry I haven't really been around. I, uh... I... Look, I think we should talk. If you could call me. Thanks. (UPBEAT CHRISTMAS MUSIC) - (YAWNS) - Good morning. - It's a little bit early for this. - Mm-hm. - No? - Well, I had a pretty rough day yesterday, and I went to bed feeling pretty crappy, but when I woke up, I couldn't stop thinking about how lucky I was to have you and Grandpa. And, uh, you know, as long as I have the two of you, I don't need anything else. - OK, well, then I can swing it ` for you. - GORDON: Ho! Ho! Ho! - Hey, Dad. - Merry Christmas! - (LAUGHS) Merry Christmas. - How you doin'? - Who wants their present? - I do! - No, hey, hey, no. Let me get breakfast on the table first. Then presents. - Well, he can have... - Presents first, breakfast later. - No, hey, hey. Dad, give me them. - OK. - I will get you one that you can open. - OK. - But not these. - Is the big one mine? (MUSIC CONTINUES) (MUSIC FADES) (SOFT, TENSE MUSIC) - All right, Ross, you can open this... (MUSIC CONTINUES) - Merry Christmas. (HARD SLAP) Captions by Able. Captions were made with support from NZ On Air.