DOORBELL RINGS
Conor!
DOORBELL RINGS
Can you get the door, Conor?
DOORBELL CONTINUES TO RING
What is it?
Hello?
Hello. It's Dr Haskey from the Mill Health Centre.
We have an appointment today.
Hello?
Um, Kirsty, came to see you the other day. Do you remember that?
You made an appointment.
There were some concerns so I'm just here to do a follow-up.
I thought we'd start with a basic health check
and then look at what medication you're...
Jo, what medication are you taking?
Something's not right.
He should be back by now.
What do you mean?
I mean...
And the bread. The bread's gone.
OK. Jo, shall we sit down?
And Freddie's water bottle.
What's that doing here?
MOBILE RINGS
Er...
It's his school.
OK. Go for it.
Um...
Poorly?
No. He never said anything.
He missed registration?
And he's not at school?
If he's not at school, then where is he?
Where's Conor?
Um...
Oh!
BANGING ON DOOR
Conor! Wake up!
Wake up, will you?
All right, all right! Stop shouting!
What happened this morning? What do you mean?
With Freddie.
My alarm. I must have slept in. I'm sorry.
Yeah, well, where is he? Where's your little brother?
What? Is he not here? No.
And he's not at school, either.
What?
He's only seven!
What are you playing at?
No. No, we don't know the time he first went missing.
I only just got here.
But, yeah, it's at St Kevin's primary school, that's right.
OK, thanks very much.
Right. The police are sending some people over,
they're treating this as high priority. OK?
Well, where is he?
Where's my little Freddie?
He's so young. He can't take care of himself.
Is there someone that I can call for you? Your husband, maybe?
No, I can't.
Why not?
Sean doesn't like me, um, disturbing him at...at work.
Well, he needs to know what's happening.
Conor!
Conor?
I need Conor.
All right, I'll go and get him.
Call Sean.
Conor, I hope you're decent, I'm coming in, mate.
Conor!
Wakey-wakey.
Conor. Who are you?
Morning. Sorry to disturb.
I am Dr Haskey.
Doctor? Yeah, I came to see your mum.
Mum? Yes. She's been asking for you.
You need to come downstairs, mate.
Right.
She's really upset about what's happened.
Do you have any idea where Freddie could be?
No.
DR HASKEY SIGHS
Conor, this is really important, mate.
I know that!
I don't get it.
Why didn't he wake us?
Well, maybe he tried.
You what? Have a bit of a heavy night, eh?
No.
DR HASKEY SIGHS
JO BREATHES HEAVILY
JO GASPS IN PANIC
Aghhh!
Why can't I do that?
Why?
It's OK, Mum.
I should be out there looking for him!
Can't even get out the door.
Just useless!
Now, don't say that.
JO REGULATES HER BREATHING
Mum, sit down.
I'll make you a cuppa.
Well, how can I sit around while he's still out there?
The police will be here any minute. Right?
Yes, they'll want to talk to you.
Tell me what happened just now, at the door.
How do you mean? What physical symptoms were you experiencing?
I...I felt dizzy.
Sick.
A feeling of fear, of panic.
Do you think that you have agoraphobia?
Yeah. Maybe.
When was the last time you left the house?
I can't... Can't really remember.
Well, are we talking days, weeks, months? It's fine. We can handle it.
DOOR BANGS
This is important, yeah.
Hi, I'm Dr Haskey. You must be Sean?
This better not be some stupid mix-up.
It's serious, Sean.
The boss wasn't happy about me leaving. Had a right go at me.
I'm sorry!
So, where is he, then?
Well, we don't know.
How do you not know? What the hell were you doing?
Is this one all right? It's the most recent.
It's fine. I'll get this circulated?
What's going on? Why have you got people searching the house?
Mucking about in the garden?
It's normal procedure in a case like this.
Our son is out there - God knows where - and you're wasting time.
I know it's very difficult but try and bear with us.
So, I need you to talk me through Freddie's walk to school.
No point asking her.
She never takes him.
Can't manage it.
Why'd you have to say that?
Does someone want to go and make sure she's all right?
I'll do it.
So, Conor, usually takes Freddie to school.
But not this morning?
I slept in.
Can you show me your usual route?
What? All of it?
Just point to the streets.
Er...
So, we go here.
Then here.
Then, this one, I think.
Windrupp Street?
Yeah.
Then we go up here
and, then, that's the school.
OK. Thanks, Conor.
And do you always go the same way?
What? Do you ever stop off anywhere?
No.
9107 to Control.
CONTROLLER: 9107, go ahead.
I've got the details about the boy Freddie McLennon.
SHATTERING
Go ahead with the details, 9107. We'll search...
I'll go.
If you can confirm when he was last seen and where.
Careful, that will be sharp.
I was trying to make myself a cup of tea and I can't even do that.
Right. Have you got a dustpan and brush?
I'll do it.
Oh, perfect!
Shame you weren't so helpful this morning.
You had one job to do.
I know, Dad.
Anything could have happened to him.
You hear these horrible stories. Sean, don't!
Why did he take off like that and go on his own?
Freddie loves school.
Better than this one.
Got himself kicked out - not a single qualification.
Well, school's not for everyone.
Says the doctor.
If I'd carried on like him, I'd have been sent packing.
This is Conor's home!
And I'm just saying, if anything's happened to Freddie...
Sean, please!
..this is on him. It's his fault.
It couldn't be yours, could it?
Cos you never do anything for Freddie! You what?
Sometimes I wish he'd never been born!
Take that back!
DOOR SLAMS
What are you doing here? Ah!
I could ask you the same thing.
You wouldn't get it.
Try me.
All right.
Best guess - you're looking for your brother.
This is quite a detour from the school run.
How come you never mentioned this to the police? Shut up!
Shut up, will you?
Look, we need to find Freddie.
Whatever else is going on, does not matter.
We walk here sometimes, after school.
Right. So, Freddie could have passed through here.
Maybe.
What are you doing?
I'm calling the police.
What? Well, they need to include
the canal in their search, don't they?
What? You don't think Freddie could have...?
W-we don't know what's happened.
I never meant it -
what I said before.
Oh, PC Dyson. It's Al Haskey here.
Um, just chatting to Conor.
There's something that we think you need to know.
SIRENS BLARE
Police are going to send a search team
and they'll be looking at lots of other places,
checking out all the local CCTV.
Look!
What?
Oh! Mate, it's just a bit of bread.
Freddie?
If it is Freddie's, it just tells us that we're in the right position?
So, where is he?
This is a lovely spot. Is that why you come here?
It's where we usually see 'em.
Usually see who?
This family of ducks.
The chicks hatched a couple of weeks ago so we like to watch
and keep an eye on them.
Freddie loves it. Yeah?
It's how they all swim in a line.
Oh. Apparently, they do that to conserve energy or something.
I like it.
They seem so...
..together.
Mate, at home, are things a bit difficult?
Conor, you know you can talk to me.
It's Mum.
She's been different since she had Freddie. That's all.
Different how?
Sarge, found a bag.
It's a used rucksack.
OK. Thank you.
Um, they've found Freddie's rucksack.
What about Freddie?
Not yet.
Why did he leave his bag? Why would he do that?
There could be any number of reasons.
Where was it?
The police found it
somewhere along the canal.
What I said before about why we come here.
I lied.
I don't just bring him here to see the ducks.
I meet my dealer.
Right. You come here to buy drugs?
I'm less likely to get stopped or pulled over by police.
If you're with Freddie.
He's got no idea.
He's just happy to see the ducks.
Dad was right -
if something's happened to him, it's my fault.
Um, they've found his rucksack...
..Sean...
..by the canal.
I mean, not my little Freddie!
Not my little boy!
Thanks.
That can't have been easy.
What do you think?
I think that right now Freddie is playing on a swing
in some playground somewhere.
Stop lying to me! I'm not stupid. I know you're not.
But you owe it to your brother not to give up hope.
What world do you live in?
Bad stuff always happens.
Well, I'm sorry that you think that. Yeah - because it's true.
Sometimes I hate my life.
I guess that's where the drugs come in.
They make you feel better?
They take me away from it all.
So, what are we talking about?
Weed, mostly.
How much are you smoking? Cos this morning you seemed really out of it.
That was stupid.
I knew I had to get up, it's just
sometimes it all gets on top of me.
Have you talked to your parents
about how you're feeling? It might help.
You've seen me and Dad.
What about your mum?
She's got enough on her plate.
What does that mean exactly?
I don't know. She's just... She's got a lot to deal with, that's all.
So, are you the one who looks after Freddie?
Yeah, but I don't mind.
What about spending time for yourself?
I get enough.
Do you get to see your mates?
Not really but...
I mean, they're all still at school.
I got kicked out. Well, maybe there's another school
that will take you. Why did you get kicked out?
I kept getting calls from Mum.
I bunked off so many times, they had enough.
It's funny...
..I was always telling Freddie how important school was.
That's probably why he took himself off there, this morning.
MOBILE RINGS
Al Haskey.
Yeah.
Yeah, I'm with him now. What is it? Is it Freddie?
I will tell him, thank you.
Freddie is safe and well.
For real? Yeah.
Apparently, he's with a really nice older couple on a boat.
It's all right.
Oh, it's a huge relief. Yeah.
So, listen, Kirsty, I've got to hang around a bit longer.
I haven't had time to do the actual assessment yet -
that's the reason I came in the first place, isn't it?
Yes, yes, your instinct was correct. Well done.
All right, I'm going now.
Yeah. Bye.
Don't I get one?
I was thinking about dinner.
I'll see if there's something in the fridge.
Thanks, love.
DOORBELL RINGS
All we've got is a pizza.
Pizza's all right.
Freddie needs proper food.
It might not be top of the menu.
I should go to the shops, get something better.
There's all this stuff needs doing.
Hey, you need to cut yourself some slack.
You've already had a rather difficult day.
I can manage.
Is your mum able to help at all?
Sometimes.
She wasn't always like this.
She was brilliant growing up.
Yeah? We'd cook together, go to the park, see friends.
You must miss that?
It's... It's how it is.
We're home!
DOOR BANGS
Hey, dude! I missed you!
You said that he'd been on a boat?
Freddie's had quite the adventure.
It all got started with him looking for ducks.
There's a family we watch.
He took some bread to feed them.
I have missed that beautiful face!
Did you find them?
Apparently, the ducks weren't there.
Aw! I'm sure they're OK.
That's when Freddie got lost.
He was wandering around for ages before this couple found him.
They called us, then invited him in for a drink and a biscuit.
Bet you liked that?
He's home now and that is all that matters.
Kirsty, you do not need to reschedule.
I know what I'm doing.
I'm going to be back for afternoon surgery.
I'm off.
Can't you stay? Take the day off, for once?
You know I can't.
Look, I've got to go.
Sorry.
Just while I've got you both,
can I get you to sit down, just for a sec, please?
I have to get going. Freddie's safe now.
Just for a sec.
I need you both to understand that it's perfectly fine to admit
that you're struggling, or to ask for help.
But it is really not on to expect your teenage son to do so much,
and then to blame him when things go wrong.
Getting his brother to school isn't difficult.
If you think that that is all that Conor does,
then you really need to open your eyes.
I haven't got time for this. Sean, wait!
Please! Please.
Dr Haskey's right.
Conor's been run ragged.
He's trying hard to protect me -
..hiding the fact that... how bad I am from everyone.
Including you.
This is private.
Not stuff you talk about to strangers. Sean!
Sean!
Hold up a minute, Sean.
Sean, just wait a sec, please.
I know what you think of me.
But I can't just pick and choose when I work -
I mess my boss around, I could lose my job.
Look, I promise you, I'm not here to judge.
I do my best for them.
I need this job for them.
I know.
But sometimes the long hours at work...
..feel like a blessing.
You never saw what she was like before.
She'd go anywhere. Jo was the life and soul.
It breaks my heart.
And when did that change?
It's been so long, I can hardly remember.
Was it around the time that Freddie was born?
I couldn't handle how she was. But Conor -
the lad was only ten, but he knew what to do.
He is a bright boy.
Not like me.
I don't even know what to say half the time.
Sometimes just being there is enough.
Have you spoken to Jo about how you're feeling?
Admit that I'm a failure as a husband?
That my son is more of a man than I'll ever be?
Look, you can't change what happened.
No-one can change the past.
What you do now is the important thing.
I need to make a quick call.
I need to speak to Jo -
alone, if that's all right.
Obviously, today you have been under unimaginable amounts of pressure.
But I don't think that this is about today.
Observing you, I think you're really stressed.
Would it be accurate to say you're depressed?
Yeah.
Then there's the agoraphobia.
Tell me why you stopped taking your antidepressants?
My prescription ran out.
And they said I was due some kind of review. All right.
Why was that a problem for you?
I was just so embarrassed.
Just the thought of having to explain it all over again.
I felt like a failure.
A failure?
Mm.
I should be getting better -
felt like I was going backwards.
And up to that point had the medication been helping?
Yeah, they were.
I still had my bad days.
Messed up, haven't I?
Well, you know, stopping the medication like that
hasn't exactly helped.
But I was reading your notes, and I've developed somewhat of a theory.
Now, in your notes it says that you were diagnosed
with postpartum depression after you had Freddie?
Yeah.
What was that birth like?
A nightmare!
Freddie's head got stuck...
..too big, the doctors said.
And the pain, it was so bad I was begging for an epidural
and then I went all numb, nothing's happening.
And the baby's heart rate started dropping
so I get rushed in for a Caesarean.
That's traumatic, right.
And I just thought, at least it's going to be over soon.
But then, when Freddie comes out, I start haemorrhaging
and it just went crazy!
They was pumping all this blood into me and...!
That must have been incredibly frightening.
It was horrible. I felt like I wasn't in control of my own body.
And those feelings have lingered with you to this day, haven't they?
Yeah, I'm scared. I'm anxious all the time.
And not just about leaving the house - it's even like the little stuff.
Feels like this great, big mountain that I have to climb.
Ah.
It's not postnatal depression.
And what makes you say that, Doctor?
Cos it's been seven years. Nobody has it for seven years!
Well, it would be unusual but it's not impossible.
I just want to be a good mum!
I know you do.
I hate what I've done to Conor.
Relying on him so much.
I've really let him down.
No.
I just want you to get better.
And you are going to.
Um, we're going to get you back on your medication.
We're going to set up some therapy.
And the combination of the two will help you
to start to get through this.
You hear that?
Now, it's going to take time -
as with all things, there's a bit of a waiting list with therapy.
But she will get it?
I can't promise anything, but I am going to promise
that I'm going to try my absolute hardest. Yeah?
What? I thought you'd gone.
I told my boss I'm needed here.
Was he all right about that?
Sean?
He can lump it for one day.
You can't lose your job.
Yeah, well, sometimes you have to put family first.
First smile I've seen in a while.
Must have done something right.
Well, I'd better...
Um, do you want to see me out, Conor?
Yeah. Take care.
I didn't want to talk about this in front of your parents.
Talk about what?
The drugs. Yeah.
Come and see me at The Mill next week.
We'll have a proper chat, yeah?
I suppose.
HE SIGHS
Conor, you are so capable.
You've got a lot going for you.
Do not throw it all away.
And do what?
I don't know.
That's what you've got to work out.
And Mum?
Just hang on a little bit longer.
Your life's not all bad stuff.
Conor, want to play football?
All right. Come on, then.
He just passed out in the back of my car
and I've just been doing this for ten minutes.
If you could carry on, please. You're doing a great job.
Before you start lambasting my honourable profession,
please get your facts straight.
I have. Or haven't you been paying attention?
All it needs is a flash of inspiration -
a brilliant, attention-grabbing idea that'll win over the general public.
Oh! Is that all we need?!