[electric dance music playing]
[gasps]
[grunts]
[sighs]
[breathes deeply]
[sighs]
Hi, it's Eliza. I need you to look into someone for me.
She's a past employee.
She just turned up out of the blue. I need to know what she wants.
Tess Caldwell.
Thanks for meeting me.
What are we doing here?
Thought it'd be a good place for us to talk,
more private than a hotel bar.
Okay. Uh, we can't leave at the same time.
So, when I go, wait ten minutes.
We shouldn't be seen together.
[chuckles] Don't worry. No recordings.
[pen clicks]
I have something I was wondering if you could look into.
My mother's death certificate.
Cause of death unclassified.
- What do you think that means? - I've never seen that before.
[Sophie] The signature's unreadable, no way to trace the doctor.
No official cause of death.
What do you remember about your mother's death?
Not much.
I was young when she died. So was she.
I'm sorry.
- Thanks. - So, what happened after that?
Transition facility, group home, it's a long way from the Regency.
I did my homework too.
Where have you been the last ten years?
Does it matter?
Eventually, it will. Yeah.
You wanna tell your story? You're gonna be part of the story too.
Why do you think William Huntley has anything to do with this?
It's all in the press. Multiple missing girls.
Friends turned up dead.
A boy was found drowned after a party William attended.
Yeah. And the girl that went missing after drinks with him in a pub when he was 24.
Yeah, they're unsubstantiated rumors.
- But there's a pattern. - Nothing ever connected him.
Because it didn't exist or because they covered it up?
In my line of work, it doesn't really matter.
No evidence means no story.
Then I'll find more evidence.
How?
Tess, the British aristocracy is incredibly secretive.
The Huntleys more than most.
Then why do you keep pursuing them if they're such a closed book?
'Cause when people are so concerned with privacy,
they usually have something to hide.
What do you think they're hiding?
[sighs] I was working with a source, a friend of Quinn Huntley's.
She backed out... [sighs] ...got scared.
So, you need a new story.
I'll look into this doctor, okay?
See if it's a lead.
If you want to get close to William Huntley,
you've got a better shot at it than I do.
Quinn Huntley's engagement party is this weekend.
The whole family will be there.
Maybe your friend Eliza can get you in.
I'm not on the list.
[door closes]
Any luck?
[sighs] I called 20 times. No answer.
The police won't talk to me, which probably means they have no leads.
I don't mean to spook you, but this much time has gone by,
and she still hasn't poked her head up. Either she doesn't want to be found, or...
- Just keep calling. - Callum,
maybe we should stop in case this doesn't have a happy ending.
A million missed calls from our offices, it starts to look shady.
I'm not really concerned about appearances.
Callum. Late lunch?
How's your new lead?
Yeah, might be something there.
[Julia] Better be.
[sighs]
[string instruments playing]
[music stops]
What are you doing here?
The other night, it really felt like we were in the middle of something.
I meant, why did you come back to London?
It was time to come home.
The life I'd built for myself out there, it all kind of fell apart.
What happened?
A lot of things.
[inhales shakily] My husband did something I couldn't forgive.
Didn't know you were married.
I felt like I was playing a role.
No matter how hard I tried, it just never quite fit.
To be honest,
the last time I remember truly feeling like myself
was with you.
[door opens]
Uh... They'll probably be closing up soon, so...
Oh, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have shown up like this.
What are you doing tomorrow night?
Why?
My family are having a party,
thought you might wanna come along. Liven things up. [chuckles]
Plus, Grace will be there. I know you two get along, so...
Yeah, I'd love that.
[bystanders arguing]
What you talking about? What are you talking about?
- I know my space for the car. - How is it your space?
[bystander 1] Oi, you're blocking me in, mate. Go and move your car.
[arguing continues]
Hey!
St. James's Square, please.
[keys clacking]
[sighs]
[keys clacking]
[sighs]
You lose me money, you start losing fingers.
Uh, Whiskey, please. Neat.
Callum. Christ, they'll let in anyone these days.
I thought your membership had expired.
Ah, you know, wouldn't want to miss the pleasure of running into you.
Ah.
Did you pay someone to follow me?
Guy was pretty obvious. You need better help.
You been drinking already?
What did you think would happen? Scare me off?
Maybe you should find a safer line of work, mate.
Or someone else to write about besides me.
Huntley, who's your friend?
It's Callum Walsh. We go a long way back. Uni days.
Pleasure, Callum.
Of course, Callum was, uh, a little bit older when we attended.
He had to save up, I presume. Or are you still paying it off now?
Pleasure's all mine.
You know what the joke is, don't you?
It was useless for both of us, uni.
I mean, you... you didn't get your job 'cause of your education.
And I thought I needed it to prove I'm one of you,
but I'm not.
No, no, don't worry. It's on me, old boy.
Yeah, it is.
Did you pay that girl off?
Write her a big check, send her to the beach?
I think it's time that you packed up your rucksack
and fucked off, mate.
Getting rid of her doesn't change anything
because I still know what she told me.
I'll just find another way to prove it.
[ringing]
- About bloody time. - [Richard] What's going on?
Callum Walsh stormed into the club tonight
- threatening me. - With what?
You're supposed to have sorted this out, Richard.
- What does he know? - Enough.
All right, from here on out, I want you to keep tabs on his every move.
And the money that was sent to that girl, everything is completely scrubbed.
It was your personal account.
There's no way anyone could gain access to...
My fiancé has access to my personal accounts.
Is that what this is all about?
Grace?
Good night, Richard.
[sighs]
[line ringing]
Hi, it's Phoebe. I can't come to the phone right now,
- so please... - [coworker sighs]
Find anything on that cold case?
Let's go to your office.
I basically found nothing. [sighs]
There are exactly three records for an Emma Antoine-Day.
A student visa... [sighs]
...a degree from Oxford and a death certificate.
That's it? Nothing else anywhere?
Yeah. [sighs] Dead end?
No. No. It's... It's...
It's not what's in the documents, It's the fact there's nothing else.
- Like everything else has been scrubbed. - Well, it could've been a fluke, right?
I mean, these records are all from the '90s.
- Not everything was digitized back then. - It's too clean. Someone paid for this.
Do you think this Tess is telling you the whole truth?
I don't think she's fucking lying. They're different things.
Are they?
Are you okay?
I'm fine. Yeah. [sighs]
Look... [sighs] ...one more day, right?
If it doesn't pan out, we drop it.
- Okay? - Okay.
- [sighs] - [door opens]
[door closes]
Wow.
[chuckles] Really?
- [sighs] I don't know. - [chuckles]
Are you kidding? You look incredible.
You were out late last night.
Mmm. Ran into an old friend, yeah.
Thought I heard voices in the study.
Oh, we had an issue with a deal. Sorry, I didn't mean to wake you.
Hmm.
Everything else okay?
I don't know. I mean, the white dress, the whole thing...
Uh, okay.
This party. There's guest lists, security checks.
I-It all feels like a spectacle.
You know, not exactly what I'd envisioned.
And what had you envisioned?
Karaoke.
[both chuckling]
Right. Well, you know,
we don't really have to go. Could just blow the whole thing off.
I mean, it's not even for us, it's for my parents. Optics.
Who cares?
You would do that?
For you?
Yeah. [chuckles]
We're not gonna be like them. That's the deal. Right?
Mm-hmm. That's the deal.
Oh,
I thought you might like to wear these tonight.
- [Grace] Wow. - They're my mother's.
She wore them on her wedding day. She wanted you to have them.
[Quinn] Mmm.
There we go.
[door opens, closes]
[phone buzzes]
[keypad beeping]
Can I help you?
I'm here for the party.
ID, please.
- May I have your phone, please? - My phone? Why do you need that?
Privacy protocol, miss.
- Is there a problem? I'm... - This way, Ms. Caldwell.
Can you tell me what's happening? Where is this going?
I'm supposed to be going inside the hotel.
- This will take you to your destination. - Excuse me, sir.
Sir, can you please tell me where we're going?
[engine revs]
[tires squeal]
[tires screech]
[breathes shakily]
Party's in the penthouse, madam. The hotel was a decoy.
Extra security precaution. That lift will take you up.
Quite a production.
[line ringing]
- Callum Walsh. [sighs] - [coroner] Hi.
Yeah, I'm calling from the office of the chief coroner.
- You left me a message. - Yeah, uh, thank you for calling back.
Um, I emailed over a death certificate earlier.
Yeah, I'm looking at it right now.
Yeah, I'm wondering if you could help me understand something.
Under cause of death, it says "unclassified."
It means there's no official cause of death.
And was there an autopsy?
No.
Why not?
The doctor didn't request one.
I wonder if you could help me find this doctor.
I... I can't read the signature.
Looks to me to be Matthew Lewis.
I'd love to speak with him. What's the best way to get in touch?
He passed away two years ago.
- Sorry we couldn't be of more help. - Not at all. Cheers.
We got a lead.
Doctor Matthew Lewis. Died 2022.
I'm on it.
Tess, you made it. [chuckles]
- [sighs] - You okay?
Wasn't exactly expecting a chauffeured tour of the city.
Oh, it's just a precaution.
Look, you're here now. Just have a drink. Enjoy yourself.
If you'll excuse me just for a moment. I'm just... Thanks.
[breathes deeply]
Can I get a vodka martini, please? With a twist.
[bartender] Of course.
- Who's your friend? - Do you not remember her?
She worked at the stables in the country house
when I was in secondary school.
- Mmm. - We were friends.
What kind of friends?
I'm surprised you remember anything from back then.
Is she the girl from the auction the other night?
So, you do remember.
Vaguely, perhaps.
Certainly very popular.
- Says all the right things. - Hmm.
Why'd you bring her?
So I could see what she'd do.
Ah.
Hmm.
Oh, Christ. Of course, he's gonna make this about him.
Prepare for a toast.
He's happy for you.
Mm-hmm.
Thank you.
Thank you all for coming
to celebrate my son and his beautiful fiancé.
Maybe it took longer than we would've liked,
but, um... [chuckles] ...we are so pleased
that he has finally decided to settle down
with such a wonderful partner as Grace.
Um, and all kidding aside,
it takes a lot of courage to follow your heart.
To commit to a path. To a... To a life.
Not everyone is... is able to make that leap of faith.
But we're lucky, aren't we, to be here tonight?
The whole family.
With one notable exception, the legendary William Huntley,
but my father sends his regards.
And I know that he is so proud of you, son.
To Quinn and Grace.
- [guests] To Quinn and Grace. - Grace.
[phone buzzing]
- [announcer speaks indistinctly] - Hey, I'm on the tube, make it quick.
What'd you get?
Matthew Lewis had a family practice out in the country
for 30 years until he died two years ago.
[announcer continues]
So, he didn't work in London?
He was William Huntley's doctor.
[sighs]
Hang on.
Guess she's telling the truth about something.
[sighs] Yeah, looks that way.
- I'll call you later. - Yeah.
[breathing heavily]
- You looking for me? - Huh?
Who sent you?
Don't know what you're talking about, mate.
- I'm not your mate. - I think you got the wrong guy.
- I saw you in the train. - Fuck off.
I said, fuck off.
- [bystanders gasp, clamoring] - [passenger groans]
- Who fucking sent you? - [groans]
[Callum] Who sent you?
- The fuck? [spits] - [whistle blows]
[officer] Stay where you are.
- [door opens] - Ah, I've been looking for you.
Just touching up.
- Yes. - [door closes]
How are you feeling?
It's... It's a lot out there. [chuckles]
I get it. [sighs]
Ah, I was you.
I mean... [stammers] ...it was a long time ago,
but I still remember what it was like to walk into all of this.
Do you know when he proposed there was an announcement in the Times?
- Oh, my... - [chuckling]
[sighs] It was a photo of me they'd found from some university formal.
- God, I hated that photo. - [chuckles]
[parent sighs]
There is a certain level of public scrutiny
that comes with loving these men.
You know, people are curious to...
[inhales sharply] ...know who we are. [chuckles]
I guess I'm... I'm not used to that.
Oh. Well, for what it's worth,
you are handling it beautifully.
- [chuckles] Thank you. - [chuckling]
- [sighs] - Oh, look at you.
And those earrings look fabulous on you, by the way.
Right, I'll see you in the fray.
[door opens]
[door closes]
[sighs]
- [Sophie] Congratulations. - [chuckles] Tess...
- [laughs] - ...it's so nice to see you again.
Eliza invited me.
Yes. She said.
[chuckles]
So, where's the wedding? Do you have plans?
Mm-hmm. Um, there's a church out in the country.
Quinn's grandparents and his parents had their wedding there.
I think if I tried to suggest somewhere else, I'd be excommunicated.
[chuckles] I'm sure it's lovely.
It is.
Um, Eliza said you were married before?
Feels like a lifetime ago now. [chuckles]
Another one, please.
[server] Yes, madam.
Oh, Richard, you do bring me to the nicest of places, don't you?
[mumbles]
You want some?
Mmm.
Never mind.
I heard from a friend of mine that your school buddy, Callum Walsh,
was arrested tonight for battery.
You're kidding.
I thought you'd want to know.
- What happened? - Punched some random guy in the tube.
Thought he was being followed.
- Was it us? - No, sir.
Ah.
[chuckles] Well, sounds like his paranoia's getting the best of him.
Thank you, Richard.
Enjoy the party.
- Thank you, sir. - Yeah.
[coworker stammers] The check should be there.
I sent it off two days ago.
[sighs] It-It won't be late again, I promise.
Yeah, I understand.
[sighs]
Fucking hell.
[sighs]
[line ringing]
- [recipient speaks French] - Uh, hello. [stammers] P-Phoebe?
- [speaks French] - Hi, it... it's Claire.
- I work with Callum Walsh. - [speaking French]
I'm sorry, I don't understand what you're saying.
Is-Is there anyone there that can translate?
- [speaking French] - O-Okay. Ho-Hold on.
- No, don't-don't hang up. - [speaking French]
[line beeping]
- You're French, right? You speak French? - What?
[sighs] Tell me what she's saying.
[both speaking French]
[recipient speaking French]
- Grace? There you are. - Hi.
[guest] I haven't seen you all night. Come on.
- We need a toast. - Ooh. [chuckles]
Sorry, do I know you?
Tess. Good to see you.
[Grace] She's a friend of Eliza's.
How strange we've never met.
Tell me everything.
Oh, I'm afraid I'm quite boring. [chuckles]
I doubt that. You'd think we'd have crossed paths.
Where did you go to school?
Cheltenham.
I had friends at Cheltenham.
Uh, you know the Burtons? Ivy and her sister...
What was her name?
Ivy. I think I was a few years ahead of her. [chuckles]
- Really? You don't look a day past 30. - Oh. [chuckles]
There you are. Making friends already.
[guest] Tess was just telling me about Cheltenham.
- We have a friend in common. - [Eliza] Really?
What do you know about Cheltenham, Tess?
Would you like to go outside? Get some air?
- Feel like I haven't seen you all night. - I'm fine.
Tell me about your friend from boarding school.
A girl named Ivy.
We didn't cross paths actually.
Really? What a surprise.
Well, if you'll excuse me, I should get back to my husband.
I'll come find you.
You know what? I think I will get some air.
[breathes shakily]
Eliza.
God, you really have some nerve.
You know, I know who you are.
I had security look into you.
Grew up in a group home in South London,
dropped off the radar when you went to the States.
Were you even married or was that a lie too?
Eliza, please.
Our friendship really meant a lot to me when we were young.
It meant a lot to me too.
But this person that you are now,
she doesn't seem anything like the girl I used to know.
It's almost like this whole thing is an act.
You're right. Maybe I am trying to be something I'm not.
What do you want from me? Why are you even here?
Was... Was it just to get into the party?
Was it to meet Grace?
Who are you interested in?
Because it sure doesn't seem like it's me.
The truth is a lot more complicated than that.
My mum's always told me to not let people in so easily.
[breathes deeply]
Maybe now I'll learn my lesson.
Never fucking call me again.
[breathes deeply, sighs]
[parent] Excuse me. Hello, darling.
- Hi. - Oh.
- You okay? - Yeah, fine.
- Mmm. - Please, I don't wanna talk about it.
Darling, is... is this about that girl you brought?
She looks familiar.
Who is she?
No one.
[gate buzzes, opens]
Yeah, I know, I know. I shouldn't have touched the fucker,
- but he was... - [Claire] Callum.
What's wrong?
She's dead.
Fuck.
Fell off a hotel balcony a week ago.
[sighs]
Callum, what is going on?
- [door opens] - [tap running]
Tess? I thought it was you.
Anne. Eliza's aunt.
You worked at the stables that summer, didn't you?
Yes, that's right.
I didn't realize you two were still in touch.
Just ran into each other... [chuckles] ...a few weeks ago after a long time.
- [groans] - I loved that time at the country house.
Do you still go out there?
I live there.
I just came up for the party.
Oh.
I thought the whole family had made their way to the city by now.
My father refuses to leave.
I take care of him.
Sorry he couldn't make it tonight.
How is William these days?
Not well.
Sorry to hear that.
He's always loved it out there.
The quiet of the woods.
Least I can do is let him stay where he's happy.
You should come back to the stable sometime.
I'm all alone out there these days.
If you'll excuse me.
Yes, of course.
[door closes]
[guests chattering]
[James] I can't wait to hear all about it.
She says the hours are brutal.
Uh, my... my wife, she... she came a little ahead of me.
Yeah, I couldn't get away from work.
Uh, venture capital.
- [guest chuckles] - [James] Can't complain.
[guest] What does your wife think?
[James] Oh, my wife? She hates it.
There she is.
Speak of the devil.
Now, where'd you disappear off to?