The Coroner Page #6

NSE PATRONS:

[A FADED 1970’S GROUP PHOTO - OUTSIDE

GREYVALE, AROUND 12 CHILDREN UNDER 10,

SOME OLDER BOYS - BUT ONLY 3 GIRLS AGED

AROUND 15, 2 OF THEM MATEY, THE 3RD TALLER,

PLAINER AND UNHAPPY, APART FROM THEM,

RUNNING A HAND THROUGH HER HAIR.

JANE SCOFFS CHIPS OVER MULTIPLE OPEN CASE

FILES AS SHE STUDIES THE PHOTO (A COUPLE

MORE UNDERNEATH)]

JANE:

Mum?

[BUT FRAZZLED JUDITH IS BUSILY SERVING

DRINKS (AT THE TAIL END OF THE LUNCH RUSH,

MICK SLUMPED IN A QUIET CORNER)]

MICK:

(PITIFUL) Babe... I really need a chest rub. I got that congestion...

JUDITH:

You’re not the only one.

[COLLECTING GLASSES, BETH CLOCKS THE PHOTO

OVER JANE’S SHOULDER, TICKLED]

BETH:

The state of that gear. What do they look like?!

[STRUCK, JUDITH PEERS AT THE PHOTO AS SHE

POURS]

JUDITH:

Loons.

BETH:

No kidding.

JANE:

Yeah, mum..?

JUDITH:

(TO BETH) The pants, silly! I had a pair in crushed velvet...

[CRINGING, BETH MOVES OFF]

JUDITH:

(WISTFUL) My glory days. Out gallivanting, not a care in the world back

then...

MICK (OOV):

Babe?

[HASSLED, JUDITH IS ABOUT TO DELIVER DRINKS]

JANE:

(TO JUDITH) Mum, you were 15 in 1976, weren't you?

[DAVEY ARRIVES, NICKING A CHIP, PEERING AT

THE PHOTO]

JANE:

D'you know these three girls?

[JANE SHOWS JUDITH THE PHOTO]

DAVEY:

Got your text. This Greyvale?

JANE:

(AFFIRMING) They're the only ones the right age at the right time.

JUDITH:

(INDICATING) Think these two were in my year at school. Karen Shaw.

And Sarah... Millar? Dunno about the other. Lucy? Maybe the year above.

JANE:

D'you remember anything about them?

JUDITH:

Had me own crowd. (MOVING OFF, TINIEST HINT OF RUE) Anyway,

got a bit busy for the next eighteen years didn’t I?

JANE:

Would some of your old crowd know the third girl?

JUDITH:

Ooh, haven't seem ‘em in years.

[SHE DELIVERS PINTS, TAKING MONEY, MORE

CUSTOMERS WAITING]

JUDITH:

Ask the other two. Think they still live local.

MICK (OOV):

Babe, I think I got a temperature!

JUDITH:

(PUT-UPON) Well, you know where to stick the thermometer!

[AMUSED, JANE CLOCKS DAVEY ALREADY

HEADING OFF WITH THE PHOTO]

JANE:

Oi, wait for me!

[JANE GIVES CHASE JUGGLING CASE FILES]

CUT TO:

EP2/SC18. EXT. BEACH. DAY 1. 14.55

JANE, DAVEY, KAREN

NSE FOSTER KIDS, BEACH-GOERS

[SMALL KIDS PLAYING ON THE BEACH. HASSLED,

KAREN STANDS WITH JANE AND DAVEY]

KAREN:

You know a bit of warning would have been nice. (RE KIDS) This is

supposed to be a fun day out, and seeing your foster mum hunted down by

the Old Bill... [isn't fun.]

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