Happy Valley Page #6

Season #1 Episode #1

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CATHERINE:

I saw Richard. He asked me out. For

a meal. Tonight. Is that all right?

Can you see to Ryan?

CLARE:

Sure. That’s a bit mad. Isn’t it? A

date with your ex-husband. Won’t

the new younger model have

something to say?

CATHERINE opens her mouth to say something, but realises she

can’t be arsed. She just shrugs. Who cares if the new younger

model has something to say? Instead (reluctantly) she says

CATHERINE:

He’s been in bother again. He

chucked a chair across the

classroom and told Mrs.MUKHERJEE to

eff off.

CLARE groans:
“Not again”. But then she wonders

CLARE:

Do you sometimes think they overreact?

CATHERINE:

Tommy Lee Royce is out of prison.

CLARE hesitates before answering sensitively

CLARE:

Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, I heard.

So that’s a bit of a surprise for CATHERINE.

CATHERINE:

Why didn’t you tell me?

CLARE:

(genuine)

I didn’t want to upset you.

CUT TO:

HAPPY VALLEY. EPISODE ONE. BY SALLY WAINWRIGHT 15.

9 INT. KEVIN WEATHERILL’S HOUSE, DINING ROOM. EVENING 1. 9

17.30

KEVIN’s angry, subdued. He’s sitting at the supper table with

his wife, JENNY (40) who’s in a wheelchair. The meal’s

finished. MELISSA (11) and CATRIONA (8) are watching TV in

the living room. They are laughing, happy. JENNY worries

about KEVIN when he’s in this mood, because she can’t reach

him.

JENNY:

You did your best.

KEVIN:

Well it wasn’t good enough.

JENNY:

It doesn’t matter.

KEVIN:

It matters.

JENNY:

At least he thought about it.

KEVIN:

And then said no.

JENNY:

It was always going to be unlikely.

KEVIN:

I’m not just anyone.

(suddenly)

Jesus Christ!

His temper, when it comes out, is frightening.

Disproportionate to what’s gone before. Shocking.

JENNY:

No. No. He knows that.

KEVIN:

Does he? Does he? How does he know

that? What does he do that shows he

knows that? You tell me one tiny

thing he ever does that shows me he

knows that.

JENNY can’t think of anything specific in the heat of the

moment. She also knows that anything she says right now is

likely to make him cross.

CUT TO:

HAPPY VALLEY. EPISODE ONE. BY SALLY WAINWRIGHT 16.

10 INT. NEVISON GALLAGHER’S HOUSE, DINING ROOM. NIGHT 1. 10

18.20

NEVISON eats supper with his wife HELEN (60) and his daughter

ANN (24). ANN prods her food gingerly. She doesn’t want to be

at this table with these people. She doesn’t really want to

be in this house with these people. (In contrast to KEVIN’s

perfectly nice, three-bed, detached bungalow, NEV’s house is

probably worth just shy of 1.5 million).

HELEN:

It isn’t like Kevin’s just anyone.

Is it.

NEVISON:

Course he isn’t. And I did think

about it. It’s more than I’d have

done for anyone else. Anyone else,

I’d have said on your bike. Fact

I’ve mentioned it to you shows it’s

not a decision I’ve made lightly.

Doesn’t it? Eh?

Rate this script:3.0 / 2 votes