Dear Sylvie.
By the time you read this,
I'll be dead.
...be gone.
I know.
You said we shouldn't talk for a while, but...
I didn't want you to think my death had anything to do with you or us.
The truth is, the planet is dying, democracy is dead,
and the human race is next.
But not before we inflict as much damage on the planet,
and on each other, as we possibly can.
Hiya!
You're not at the office.
Neither are you.
Yeah, well, I'm playing truant today. Amelia's helping me.
- But if you're working, Sexton, we can go. - No. Or... you on your way out?
To work in that café where you sometimes work? Hmm?
Yes. Yes, I was on my way out.
Uh... just one last email to send.
Ooh, I read your piece in The Guardian.
The one about the climate crisis?
- They're all about the climate crisis. - I found it very hopeful.
- You did? - You did?
Well, um... we'll leave you to work,
but you're coming out with us tonight, yeah?
- Actually-- - Is that tonight?
- You promised. - Don't you want a night in?
That's all we have. Do you not like my friends?
Not as much as I like you.
Oh my God. I already told Jackie that we're coming.
- You, me, and Sexton. - Jackie will understand.
I'm not gonna cancel on her.
- Can you blame me? - You're obsessed, man.
Yeah, whose fault is that?
It can't just be the two of us all the time.
It's not just the two of us...
Hi, Sylvie.
Hiya, Sylvie.
Hi, Sylvie.
It's me. Um...
I know that you said that we shouldn't talk for a while.
But, uh, I needed you to know that what I'm about to do...
has got nothing to do with you.
Oh wow.
Now, who would throw you away?
Fuck.
Hello?
Is someone there?
Yeah?
Hello?
- Are you all right? - Yeah.
I just can't seem to move.
Oh, yeah, I see the problem.
Do you think you could maybe...
Oh, I don't know.
I've never moved a refrigerator before.
Maybe.
Just give it a good...
Right.
Ooh, look at that.
Didn't expect to be doing that today.
Here.
- Thanks. - Oh, no!
Sorry. Sorry, I forgot it's my day off.
There you go.
Ooh.
You good?
Wow. What were you doing down there?
Nothing. Uh, I fell.
- Oh. - Uh...
- Oh. Looking for these? - Oh, yeah. They're...
- Uh, they're... for my allergies. - Oh.
Oh. You're bleeding.
- Oh. - Oh, no. You better come back to my place.
What?
I'm only a few minutes away.
I've got plasters for that arm. And I might even fix your jacket for you.
But after that, you're on your own.
Come on.
Ah! I can't get over this beautiful day.
Listen. Do you hear that?
I hear...
- Traffic? - Yes, that's what it is.
You enjoy the sound of traffic?
Well, isn't that why people live in London?
- Was that your rubbish back there? - What?
- Were you fly-tipping? - No. What?
That's illegal. I would never do that.
Then what were you doing?
If you don't mind my asking.
Thinking, I suppose.
What about?
About how we've taken a perfectly good planet
and turned it into a place to put all of our rubbish.
I don't know. I quite like it.
This is me.
Come on, we'll get you sorted.
This is very nice of you.
Well, it's no harder to be nice to people than it is to be awful.
And it's much more fun.
Wow. Thank you.
That looks much better.
Have you met the goldfish?
Oh.
The big orange one, that's Slim,
and the little yellow one, he's called Wandsworth.
I would introduce you, but you haven't told me who you are yet.
Sorry. Sexton Furnival.
I blame my parents.
I like it.
Sexton Furnival.
And you are?
I am...
very good at sewing.
- There you go. - Yeah, you are.
Thank you. Hm.
Is that what you do? Are you in the fashion industry?
No.
Then what do you do?
I...
rescue journalists from illegal fly tips.
Three sugars?
Yeah. How... How did you know I'm a journalist?
How many Sexton Furnivals do you think there are in the world?
You read my column?
When I have time off.
Time off from what?
Look, I'd tell you, but you won't believe me.
Why not?
Because...
I'm Death.
You're Death.
Yeah.
Okay.
But you have nothing to worry about because... today's my day off.
Oh.
Death has a day off?
Just one. Every hundred years.
Just to see what it's like to be human.
Mm. Death lives in Shoreditch?
No. No, this place is just the universe's way of making me feel comfortable.
Technically, right now I'm only a few hours old.
Of course.
I should probably...
go.
Thank you for the jacket and the tea.
And everything.
Of course.
Well, I'll see you again.
You will?
Sooner or later, I see everyone.
Right. Okay, bye.
Okay. Bye.
Hello, me bonny boy.
You were with her, weren't you? I can smell it on you.
- Upsy-daisy. - I think there's been a misunderstanding.
In my experience, broken bottles are sharp enough
to make your face a lot less bonny, bonny boy.
All right, look, if... if it's money you need--
Button your lip and shut your face.
You're going back inside, you're gonna knock on her door,
you're going to tell her it's you.
Aren't you?
Hello? It's... It's Sexton. Furnival?
Sexton!
You're back.
I didn't expect to see you so soon.
Oh, it's you.
That's right. It's me.
Get in, bonny boy.
- Leave Sexton out of this, Mad Hettie. - I'm not leaving him out of this.
He's me bargaining thing, isn't he? And I've got a job for you.
Fine. What's the job?
Take a seat, bonny boy.
I want you to find me soul for me.
Your soul?
Any idea where you lost it?
I didn't lose it.
I put the little bugger somewhere safe as houses, I did.
Somewhere no one would find it.
Especially not you.
If you hide your soul from Death, you never die.
Well, she can't take it if she can't find it, can she?
Let me get this straight.
You've hidden your soul from me, and now you want me to go and find it for you?
Will you?
I've tried ever so hard.
I can't do it on me own.
Do you have any idea where you've hidden it?
Hmm.
Mayhap I placed it in a duck egg, inside a duck,
inside a well,
in a castle on an island, surrounded by a lake of fire,
guarded by a hundred dragons,
each larger and more ferocious than the last.
And maybe you didn't.
It's been a long time, love.
And, um... sometimes me mind goes a bit doolally.
Fine.
I'll keep an eye out for you.
Help yourself to whatever's in the fridge. There's tea and biscuits in the cupboard.
Thanks, love.
- Aren't you gonna call the police? - Why?
Because there's a homicidal madwoman in your flat.
You'd be mad too if you'd lost your soul.
Ah, do you want anything? I've been so busy today, I forgot to eat.
- Yum. Um... - No, thank you.
Hello. Uh, one, please.
- Uh, chicken, lamb, or veg? - Veg.
And what would you like on it?
Uh, whatever you've got. The chef's choice.
All right. One veggie flatbread with the works.
There was this Zen monk, right?
And he orders one of these. Do you know what he says?
- "Make me one with everything"? - You've heard that one, eh?
Oh, I hadn't.
Oh, that looks delicious. What do I owe you?
Uh, nothing. Keep your money.
What? No.
A beautiful woman with a healthy appetite.
You make me feel glad to be alive. You enjoy that.
This might be the best thing I've ever tasted.
- Sexton, you've gotta try it. - No, thank you.
Hey, try it. Mm!
I think enough time has passed now that I'm allowed to go home.
What do you mean?
My flatmate and her girlfriend asked me to leave so they could...
Have sex?
Aw, that's sweet of you.
Though I've no idea how long that's gonna take.
- How long have they been together? - Three weeks-ish.
Oh, you might be out a while.
- Oh! Taxi! - What are you doing?
I have an entire list of things I want to get done while I'm here.
- Like what? - Mm.
Like go to the opera or BFI.
Oh, I want to get a chai in the queue at Dishoom.
And then a party. Then maybe an after-party.
Ooh! And then I want to get a full English at the Regency Café.
Oh, and I promised Mad Hettie I'd find her soul.
How's that sound?
Like too much for one week, let alone one night.
Challenge accepted!
Let's go!
No!
- Why not? - Because... I don't know you.
And if you don't get in this cab, you never will.
Where to, love?
Sexton, where would you like to go?
Home.
And where's home?
He can't go home. His roommates are having sex there.
- Nice. - Yeah.
Well, anywhere else you want to go?
I've... no idea.
That's the human condition, isn't it?
- Where would you like to take us? - Me?
Yeah. First place that pops into your mind.
Well, I always like a bit of greenery. Do you fancy a drive through the park?
That sounds perfect.
Hop in.
But what about the opera? And Dishoom?
We'll get there.
As my older brother would say, certain destinations are inevitable.
After you.
Right when I laid eyes on you
I thought to myself
Oh, could it be
Someone that's made just for me...
Can I ask you a question?
Is it personal?
Very.
Good. Yeah, go on. Ask.
What is it you think makes life worth living?
Well...
My sister, Maggie, she thinks it's men.
For me,
it's at the end of my night shift, when the sun's just coming up,
and I've got London all to myself.
And just for a moment, everything, everything feels possible.
Yeah.
- I love that. - Hmm.
What about you, Sexton?
What makes life worth living?
That moment when your flatmate stops having sex and you get to go home.
- I asked you a serious question. - I gave you a serious answer.
You two deserve a night out.
Oh, now, that sounds like wisdom to me.
What did you have in mind?
Mm, the Undercut Club's just down the road.
The Undercut Club. Have you been?
No, never had the pleasure.
You're better off, believe me.
Have you been?
My ex used to drag me there for '80s Nights.
And Noughties Nights.
But never '90s Nights? Hmm.
Is it fun?
- If you like that sort of thing. - What, if you like fun?
If you like crowds and overpriced drinks and drugged-up wannabe cyberpunks
who look like they've escaped from a bad movie.
Okay. You're actually making me want to go now.
You sold it to me. I'd go.
Would you like to?
I'd love to, but I'm on the clock.
So, I'd better drop you two there, yeah?
Yes, please.
What do I owe you?
Nothing. It's a gift.
Really?
Thank you.
- Say thank you, Sexton. - Yeah.
Erm, thank you, but...
Is there a problem?
Well, London taxi drivers don't generally give people free rides
through the park at rush hour.
Yeah, I know.
But there's something about her. I like her.
But if you're so bothered, that'll be 60 quid.
- Well... - Thanks, luv.
You have a knack for never having to pay for anything.
What's it like to live for free?
Nobody lives free, Sexton.
Especially not me.
Now, I have 20 pounds and, ooh, two pence. Think that's enough to get us in the club?
It'll get you in. I'm not going.
Why not? You scared you're gonna see Sylvie?
- Sylvie? - Your ex.
How did you know she's called Sylvie?
Because I know everyone.
That's my job, remember?
What I don't know is why you won't come in with me.
'Cause this is not my idea of fun.
- These are not my people. - Sexton!
What are you doing here?
I thought you were having privacy with Amelia.
Oh, we had a row instead. I messaged you.
- My phone died. - What was the row about?
Sorry, are you with Sexton?
- Yeah. - No.
- I'm, um... - Didi.
Billie, this is Didi. Didi, this is, uh, my flatmate, Billie.
Pleasure. So, how did you two meet?
Stop smiling. It's not like that.
- I found him on a fly-tip. - That does sound more like him.
What was the row about with Amelia?
Ugh, sex. My girlfriend basically accused me of being a sex addict.
- Are you? - What?
She says I just want to spend all my time alone with her,
and I don't want to hang out with her friends.
They're all inside waiting for me.
She'll be so happy you're here.
- She might even forgive me. - I'm not staying.
He's scared he's gonna see Sylvie.
He's dying to see Sylvie.
No, I'm not!
Is she here?
Only one way to find out. Ah!
And Amelia knows the guy on the door, so we can get in free.
Oh. For free? You hear that?
Come on, Sexton. It's my lucky day.
And yours.
Hey. I'm here.
And look who I brought.
- Sexton, you came! - Hey.
Hey.
See? Isn't this nice?
Us on a night out together.
Oh. This is Sexton's friend Didi.
This is Amelia. And that's Jackie.
Wow. You both look stunning.
Wow. Those gloves are amazing.
Thank you. They're vintage.
Ah. Sexton, you collect vintage stuff, don't you?
Oh, really? What do you collect?
Oh, paperbacks. Typewriters.
- Toys. - Toys?
Rocket ships. Race cars.
The toy collection is a modest one.
That's a shame.
Right, we need drinks.
Uh, first round's on me.
- I'll come with you. - No, you stay. I'll go.
Sexton looks miserable.
Sexton is miserable.
And I can't even say it's Sylvie's fault.
Sexton has a rather dark view of the world at the moment.
Which is not entirely unjustified, given the world at the moment.
And which a lot of people share.
But you don't.
Oh, I did.
But then I met Amelia.
I'm not saying she's the answer or anything.
She's just a person.
But...
sometimes a person is all it takes
to make you feel better about it all, you know?
I think people are wonderful.
There's nothing like them.
- Are you looking for someone? - Oh, is Sylvie here?
Where?
- No, I... I was just asking. Sorry. - Oh.
Who's Sylvie?
- Sexton's ex. - A friend.
Well, if you've managed to stay friends with your ex,
that says a lot about both of you.
I'm not sure she'd consider me a friend.
Oh, why? Did you break up with her?
No.
Oh, uh... I'm sorry.
- Erm, I'm gonna go help with the drinks. - Mm.
We'll... meet you there.
Well, I'm glad you came.
And sorry about earlier. Billie had no right to ask you to leave.
She had every right. She wanted to be alone with you.
Yeah. All she wants to do is shag, man.
Amelia, I've known Billie since uni.
She's never been interested in sex ever until she met you.
- Did she tell you to say that? - She'd kill me for saying that.
You cannot tell her.
Oh, I got you a gin and tonic. I hope that's okay.
- I thought we were fighting. - Mm-mm. Sexton sorted me out, innit?
- Uh-huh? - Mm-hmm.
- How much do I owe you for drinks? - Drinks are on the house.
Ah.
That's very kind of you.
Any friend of Sexton's.
Hello, Theo.
Sexton.
- And you are? - This is my friend... Didi.
Theo is the... manager here?
House DJ, club promoter, and your host for the evening.
Theo is friends with Sylvie.
Got it. Thank you, Theo.
Yeah, thanks, Theo.
Thanks.
Sexton,
your friend Didi, how long have you known her?
I just met her a few hours ago.
You brought a girl to a club that you met just a few hours ago?
That doesn't sound like you, Sexton.
You don't know me, Theo.
Ah. Just what Sylvie told me.
Nothing bad, don't worry. Just, you know, she likes to have fun and you don't.
Not your kind of fun, no.
I don't do any of that shit.
Really?
So you just make money encouraging other people to do it.
Well, Sylvie will be very happy to hear that you've met someone.
Uh, no. No... no, Didi and I are not together--
Well, in that case...
What about your girlfriend?
What about Natalie?
- You two still-- - Yeah. But Natalie does her thing.
I do mine.
Maybe that's why we're still together.
I love this place. Well done.
You all right?
Sorry, I, um...
I was just admiring your ankh.
Egyptian, right?
Symbol of death.
The opposite, actually.
- Immortality. - Right.
'Cause the pharaohs all wanted to live forever, didn't they?
Some of them did. Some of them knew better.
Immortality's not all it's cracked up to be.
I don't know about that.
If you knew you were gonna live forever, you could do whatever you want.
You wouldn't have to be afraid of anything.
Anyone.
You don't need immortality for that, though, do you?
Did Sexton tell you this used to be a department store?
- The club? - Yeah.
Bed linens. Garden furniture. Kids' toys.
All still upstairs.
We use it for private parties.
I could give you a tour, if you like.
Yeah. Maybe later, sure.
Do you want to dance?
I'd love to, but... I came with Sexton, so...
Oh, Sexton doesn't dance.
At least, not according to Sylvie.
Shall we?
Mm.
Let's go!
What is wrong with you?
She likes you.
She likes everyone.
I can't work out whether she's being serious or not,
but she told me...
She thinks she's Death.
What?
She thinks she's the living incarnation of Death.
She told you that?
Oh, she'll tell you, if you ask her. She's not shy about it.
Maybe I will.
Someone needs to save her from Theo.
- Come dance with us. - No.
According to Sylvie, I don't dance.
So prove her wrong.
Hey!
This is happiness happening
Everything will be perfect
Tonight and forever
Are you not a joiner, then?
No, I've never been very good at that.
Takes practice.
I think I must be doing it wrong.
Everyone here seems to not notice or care
that the world is ending.
Or maybe that's why they're here.
It just makes me want to give up.
You don't mean that.
Yeah, you're probably right.
May I offer another perspective?
Are you gonna try and cheer me up?
I would never. The exact opposite.
Then by all means.
So, I had this friend
who was abused
by her father and a few of her father's friends.
- Jesus. - Yeah.
Their family fiction was that she loved hunting and fishing,
which is why he would take her away
on these weekend trips with all his friends.
He was a posh barrister,
and one of the other men was a police inspector.
There was no one she could tell.
So one day she got one of her father's hunting knives,
locked herself in the toilet,
and started to cut.
I know. I'm sorry.
I'm only telling you this because... when she woke up in the hospital,
even with bandages all the way down her arms,
and her father just sitting there, terrified she would talk,
she was still glad to be alive.
So, according to Theo, this place used to be a department store.
He's invited us on a tour.
He's invited us... or you?
Me. But I'm inviting you.
He's got a girlfriend, you know? She's called Natalie.
You two go. I've got dancing to do.
Come on, Theo's waiting.
Theo is not a good guy.
Oh, Sexton, do you really believe that there are good people
and not good people in this world?
I'm a reporter. I know for a fact that there are.
- And I've heard things about Theo. - Really? Such as?
Ready for the tour?
Yeah. You don't mind if Sexton comes too, do you?
Not at all.
This way.
Well, this looks like a storeroom.
Uh, so this is where you host private parties?
Well, we're having one right now.
- Ow! - Theo! Give it back!
Get back.
It's not a weapon. It's a symbol.
It's a sigil. Your sigil.
From now on, I decide who lives and dies.
It doesn't work like that, Theo.
You better hope it does.
Theo! Hey! Hey! Theo!
Theo, let us out of here! Theo!
- Somebody help! - They can't hear you, Sexton.
Did you tell him you're Death?
I didn't have to.
He summoned me here.
Has the whole world gone mad?
I'm so sorry, Sexton.
It's not your fault.
It is.
You warned me, but... I got cocky.
I just thought it doesn't matter if something happens to me.
That's what today's for.
I didn't think I'd be hurting other people too.
You haven't hurt anyone.
What about Mad Hettie? At this point, we'll never find her soul.
But I thought you were just humouring her.
No, of course not.
She's counting on me.
And I only have a few hours left.
Until what?
Until my one day every 100 years is over.
Ah, here we go.
It won't get the door open, but it'll open Theo's skull.
Sexton, put that down.
You could hurt him.
You sure you're Death?
It doesn't mean I go around killing people.
Doesn't it?
No.
There is such a thing as free will.
People make choices.
People don't choose to die.
Normally.
There's war. There's... famine.
Disease.
I'm not saying it's not painful to be alive.
But...
it's not always painful.
Is it?
No.
In fact, sometimes it's so nice that you forget
that there's suffering everywhere.
All the time.
People with nothing, struggling to survive,
to keep their families alive.
It never stops.
No matter what I say or do or write.
No matter how hard I try to make a difference, I don't. I can't.
Which leads me to "why bother?"
Which... leads me to "what's the point?"
I keep having to remember that you've only ever been human.
So you don't know what it's like
not to be able to feel these things.
What it's like not to have free will.
You don't have free will?
My siblings and I have our duties.
And we perform them.
Except... for one day
every 100 years.
When Death takes a holiday?
And spends it locked in a storeroom.
Well... that's my fault for making plans in the first place.
For having these expectations.
Which makes it impossible
to just enjoy what the day actually turns out to be.
You'd think I would've learnt my lesson by now.
What?
Marbles.
When Theo comes back, he'll slip on these,
he'll fall, non-fatally, and we'll get away.
Are you trying to save your life with those? Or mine?
Ideally... both.
What a difference a day makes.
What do you mean?
The sleeping pills.
In your pocket.
I'm not judging you.
There is such thing as free will.
And... today you want to live?
What the fuck are you doing?
Were those meant for me?
Where's my ankh?
At the bottom of the Thames. It doesn't fucking work.
Not the way you wanted it to.
Well, doesn't matter.
'Cause I've got you.
- And you're coming with me. - Theo, she's not Death.
I've told him. He doesn't believe me.
Even if she was, you don't need her. You've got the power to kill.
- It's in your hands. - I don't want her to kill anyone.
I want her to bring someone back.
Natalie.
Will you bring her back for me?
- I can't. - She was...
It was my fault she died.
No... it wasn't.
Natalie overindulged one night.
Theo, you did everything you could to try to save her.
Including summoning me.
No one's going to believe that, though, are they?
They're gonna think I killed her, and why wouldn't they?
I'm gonna spend the rest of my life in prison.
- Unless... - Theo.
- Will you take me like you took her? - No, Theo, listen...
Theo, put the gun down.
Shut the fuck up. You think I killed her too.
No. I don't, I swear. Theo, put the gun down--
Sexton, just stay back!
Theo.
He's hit his head.
Get help.
Call an ambulance.
Please bring her back to me.
Once they're gone, it's too late.
Are you taking me now?
Not today.
Today's my day off.
Okay, thank you. Thanks.
They said he's gonna be okay,
but he might have a concussion, so they'll keep him overnight.
I thought maybe we could go and see him tomorrow.
I won't be here.
Right.
Death only gets one day off.
Well, it wasn't the day I wanted, but...
it's probably the day I needed.
And there's the proof.
- You like it? - It's perfect.
How much is it?
For you?
Ah, just give it to her. We all know you're going to.
For you?
Thirty quid?
Thirty quid.
Is it real silver?
For 30 quid, love, you're lucky it's real metal.
Well, how much for that?
How much you got?
Twenty pounds and... two pence.
I'll take the pounds. You keep the pence.
Thank you.
I had a really good time today.
You enjoyed being held captive at gunpoint?
No.
But it was part of the whole thing...
and I wanted the whole thing.
Speaking of which...
For you.
It's all I've got left.
You never know when they'll come in handy.
Mm.
Oh. And, uh...
this is for Mad Hettie.
Thank you.
Mm.
I've had a lovely day.
It just goes so fast.
You want to hang on to every second.
And you'd give anything for just one more.
Please.
Didi!
She's dead, love. She's gone.
You can't bring her back now.
Did she give you the tuppence?
Give 'em here.
That's the cost of life.
Poor love.
She only gets a day every hundred years.
Doesn't ever get any easier.
Did she give you anything else before she died?
Uh...
There you are.
Oh.
I knew she'd find her.
Me soul.
This was Cordelia.
Me baby.
I wasn't Mad Hettie back then, of course.
They called me Henrietta.
And I lived in a fine house.
Long time ago now.
All gone.
I suppose I'd better hide you again.
If she'd stuck around,
I could have asked her where to put it where no one would think of looking.
But give her time, bonny boy.
Another 100 years, and she'll be back.
A few minutes later, the paramedics came and... took her away.
They thought it might have been a heart attack, but, uh...
What if she really was Death?
Wouldn't that be nice if Death was someone,
and not just pain and emptiness?
Someone friendly,
genuinely likes people, and is...
kind and... funny.
No idea.
Hi.
We were out, and we thought we'd stop by.
- Is Sexton all right? - See for yourself.
Um, we were worried,
and Billie said you didn't make it home last night.
I just wanted to make sure you were okay after our chat.
Yeah. I'm sorry we didn't get a chance to...
Oh, no, no, no. It's fine.
Uh, there were so many people.
Uh, well, I'm sure you're working.
No, I...
Do you want a cup of tea?
Yeah. Yeah, if you have time.
Milk and sugar?
Three sugars.
So that was it?
Yeah.
How was it?
It was wonderful.
It was filled with people.
I got to breathe and eat and dance.
I only wish it didn't have to end like that.
It always ends.
That's what gives it value.
When you get to be alive even for a day...
Well, there's really only one way to stop living.
I suppose so.
Was it worth it?
I wish it could have gone on forever.
Take my hand.
Right when I laid eyes on you
I thought to myself
Oh, could it be
Someone that's made just for me?
Oh, I can't make this up
What if I fuck it up?
Well, then I'm wrong
You're not the perfect someone Made for me
Right when I laid eyes on you
I thought to myself
Oh, could it be
Someone that's made just for me?
Oh, I can't make this up
What if I fuck it up?