The Dutiful Child

FEMALE SINGER: ♪ I DON'T CARE IF YOU WANT TO BE MEAN ♪ [MUSIC CONTINUES] [MUTTERING] BIOTECH... THEIR SUCCESSION OF POST-INITIATIVES...

THEY'RE DESIGNED TO BUILD CLOSER LINKS BETWEEN EDUCATION AND... ...JUST PROMOTE BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH.

[ENGINE STARTING] WOMAN: THEY'RE READY FOR YOU, SIR.

GREAT.

SHALL WE?

[MOTORCYCLE APPROACHES] [ELEVATOR BELL DINGS] [CHEERING AND APPLAUSE] LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, NICE TO SEE YOU ALL, FOLKS.

YOU GUYS ALWAYS SEEM TO COME OUT WHEN THERE'S FREE CHAMPAGNE.

[LAUGHTER] ALL RIGHT.

SO, THIS SPEECH WILL BE VERY... [TIRES SQUEAL] [GUNSHOT] [PEOPLE SCREAM] [MOTORCYCLE RACES OFF] - ARE YOU OK?

- YEAH.

[THEME MUSIC PLAYING] [CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKS] [INDISTINCT CHATTERING] LISA: PAUL!

WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?

I THOUGHT YOU WEREN'T DUE BACK TILL TOMORROW?

NO TIME LIKE THE PRESENT.

I PICKED IT UP ON THE SCANNER.

A SHOOTING AT THE CAMBRIDGE SCIENCE PARK.

NOT EXACTLY THE BRONX, IS IT?

SO WHAT HAVE WE GOT?

DRIVE-BY.

SINGLE SHOT, SINGLE SHOOTER.

AND DO WE KNOW THE TARGET?

THIS IS JAMES SAMPSON'S COMPANY.

- HAVE I HEARD OF HIM?

- IF NOT, YOU SOON WILL HAVE.

YOU LOOK, UH...

BETTER.

I FEEL IT, ALTHOUGH I DON'T WANT TO GET AHEAD OF MYSELF.

[ELEVATOR BELL DINGS] ONE DAY AT A TIME.

SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

WHERE'S WINTERS?

RUNNING LATE?

BY THE WAY, SHE'S HIS WIFE, NOT HIS DAUGHTER.

- THANKS FOR THE HEADS-UP.

- YOU'RE WELCOME.

MRS. SAMPSON.

MRS. SAMPSON, THIS IS DETECTIVE INSPECTOR RABBIT.

HA!

ARE WE INTERRUPTING YOUR DAY OFF, DETECTIVE INSPECTOR RABBIT?

NOT EXACTLY.

LOOK, I DON'T MEAN TO BE RUDE, BUT IS THIS GONNA TAKE LONG?

I HAVE A PRESS CONFERENCE ON HOLD.

JAMES, YOU'RE NOT SERIOUS?

PAUL: RESPECTFULLY, SIR, I THINK YOU MAY NEED TO RECONSIDER YOUR PRIORITIES.

WE'LL SEE.

IN THE MEANTIME, PERHAPS I CAN EXPEDITE YOUR INQUIRIES.

AND HOW WOULD YOU DO THAT?

WELL, I CAN SAY WITH CERTAINTY, NO, I HAVE NO IDEA WHO DID IT, AND I CAN ALSO SAY THAT WHOEVER IT IS THAT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR IS AN ABSOLUTELY TERRIBLE SHOT!

MY HUSBAND'S JOKING, BUT IT'S NOT FUNNY.

THIS WHOLE FARRAGO HAS ACTUALLY GIVEN MY WIFE A BIT OF A FRIGHT.

LISA: THAT MAY WELL HAVE BEEN THE PERPETRATOR'S INTENTION.

- HOW DO YOU MEAN?

- WHOEVER DID THIS MAY BE MORE INTENT ON SCARING THAN HARMING YOU.

PAUL: DO YOU THINK IT MIGHT HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH YOUR ANNOUNCEMENT?

BECAUSE IT WOULD SEEM A FUNNY WAY TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR LARGESSE.

WE ARE PIONEERS IN EMBRYONIC STEM CELL RESEARCH.

THERE'S NO END OF WACK JOBS OUT THERE THAT JUST THINK I'M THE SPAWN OF THE DEVIL.

[KNOCK ON DOOR] MAN: I'M GOING.

JAMES: AH, WE ARE JUST FINISHING UP HERE.

RESCHEDULE FOR 12:00.

YOU'RE UNBELIEVABLE.

THE PRESS CONFERENCE HAS BEEN CANCELLED.

EVERYONE'S GOING HOME.

[DOOR OPENS] NO!

BUGGER IT!

[DOOR CLOSES] FREDDIE: MY GOD, ARE YOU OK?

JAMES: THIS IS MY YOUNGER BOY, FREDDIE, AND THE CHARMER OVER THERE IN THE DOORWAY IS HENRY, MY OLDER SON.

FREDDIE: I TOLD YOU THE INTERVIEW WAS A BAD IDEA, DAD.

- YEAH, WE ALL DID.

- LISA: WHAT INTERVIEW IS THAT?

"WEEKEND BUSINESS MAGAZINE."

IF YOUR BUDGET WON'T STRETCH TO A COPY, I'LL HAVE MY OFFICE, YOU KNOW, PING ONE OVER.

THAT WON'T BE NECESSARY.

I THINK YOU'LL FIND IT RAISES LOADS MORE QUESTIONS.

BUT IN THE MEANTIME, UNLESS THERE'S ANYTHING ELSE... [DISTANT SIRENS] THANK YOU, MR. SAMPSON, MRS. SAMPSON.

[ELEVATOR BELL DINGS] [DISTANT SIRENS] SOMEONE'S IN A HURRY.

NOT EXACTLY HAPPY FAMILIES, WAS IT?

LOOK WHO'S BACK.

YOU LOOK...

BETTER.

DID YOU TWO WORK ON THAT TOGETHER?

HERE'S A BULLET CASING.

PAUL: BETTER GET THAT BACK TO THE LAB.

LISA: HEY, I'VE MISSED YOU FIRST THING.

- I OVERSLEPT.

- UNLIKE YOU, DAN.

HOW WAS LAST NIGHT?

NOT NOW, LISA.

IT'S NOT A GOOD IDEA TO MIX WORK WITH PLEASURE.

[LYRICAL MUSIC PLAYING] [MAN SINGING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE] [BLADE SCRAPES AGAINST BEARD] [SCRAPING] [CLINKING GLASS] [BUBBLING] [BUFFING] [MUSIC FADING OUT] [SINISTER BACKGROUND MUSIC] [TOOTS NOISEMAKER] I CANCELED YOUR 9 A.M., PROFESSOR.

AH.

I KNOW YOU DON'T LIKE BIRTHDAY CAKES, SO I BOUGHT YOU A DOUGHNUT INSTEAD.

[POP] WHOO!

HA!

LISA: WE'VE RECOVERED THE MOTORBIKE.

DAN: FALSE PLATES, AND THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER'S BEEN FILED OFF.

NOTHING REPORTED STOLEN IN THE AREA THAT MATCHES ITS MAKE OR MODEL.

ANYBODY SEE OUR SHOOTER DUMP IT?

DAN: IT'S A WASTELAND.

NO CAMERAS OR BUILDINGS OVERLOOKING.

AND NO SIGN OF THE WEAPON.

CHRISTINA: SO WHAT ELSE?

LISA: WELL, WE'RE CONVINCED JAMES SAMPSON WAS THE TARGET.

DAN: BIT OF A BRANSON FIGURE.

ENDURANCE RACING, SKYDIVING-- THAT KIND OF THING.

LISA: WORTH A BILLION QUID, GIVE OR TAKE.

I'LL TAKE, IF HE'S GIVING.

HE'S NO STRANGER TO CONTROVERSY.

CHRISTINA: I CAN SEE THAT.

PAUL: MAYBE IT WAS A PRO-LIFE ACTIVIST FIRING A SHOT ACROSS HIS BOWS.

WHAT DOES THE PROFESSOR THINK?

TEMPEST?

HAVE YOU PUT A WHOLE LOAD MORE ON THE PAYROLL IN MY ABSENCE?

[LAUGHTER] [CLASSICAL BACKGROUND MUSIC] [TOOTS NOISEMAKER] PLEASE.

I'VE GOT SOMETHING FOR YOU.

JAMES SAMPSON?

YES, I THOUGHT YOU MIGHT KNOW HIM.

AS A MATTER OF FACT, I DO.

MY FATHER WAS FRIENDS WITH HIS BUSINESS PARTNER.

OH?

DIDN'T KNOW HE HAD ONE.

AARON BELL.

MORE OF A DRINKING COMPANION, ACTUALLY.

OF JAMES SAMPSON?

OF MY FATHER.

DID THEY HAVE A FALLING OUT, SAMPSON AND THIS BELL CHARACTER?

YOU COULD SAY THAT.

ENOUGH FOR MR. BELL TO WANT TO SHOOT HIM?

I DOUBT IT.

AARON BELL HAS BEEN DEAD FOR MORE THAN A DECADE.

WELL, I DON'T SUPPOSE YOU KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT STEM CELL RESEARCH, DO YOU?

NOT A GREAT DEAL, THOUGH NEITHER DOES JAMES SAMPSON, BY ALL ACCOUNTS.

IT WAS BELL'S BRILLIANCE THAT MADE HIS MILLIONS.

WE'RE TRYING TO WORK OUT WHO WOULD WANT TO SHOOT HIM.

HMM.

JAMES ON RECORDING: THAT'S WHY TODAY, I'M ANNOUNCING THAT I'M SIGNING THE GIVING PLEDGE, WHICH COMMITS ME TO GIVING AWAY THE VAST MAJORITY OF MY FORTUNE TO DESERVING CAUSES BETWEEN NOW AND THE TIME OF MY DEATH.

HOW DO YOU KNOW ABOUT THIS?

JAMES SAMPSON IS SOMETHING OF A BETE NOIRE IN UNIVERSITY CIRCLES.

LISA: WHY IS THAT?

PROFESSOR T.: ACADEMICS IS SOMEWHAT PRONE TO PROFESSIONAL JEALOUSY, IT SEEMS, ESPECIALLY FORMER COLLEAGUES.

LOOKS LIKE THEY'VE GOT PLENTY TO BE JEALOUS ABOUT.

[DISTANT BIRDS CHIRPING] SO GLAD YOU'RE HERE.

MRS. SAMPSON, THIS IS PROFESSOR TEMPEST AND D.S.

WINTERS.

NATASHA: HELLO.

I REALLY NEED YOU TO TALK SOME SENSE INTO JAMES.

HE SEEMS TO BE TREATING THE WHOLE THING - LIKE A BIT OF A JOKE.

- I KNOW.

I BEGGED HIM TO TAKE IT SERIOUSLY, BUT HE JUST WON'T LISTEN.

I EVEN TOLD HIM TO HIRE A BODYGUARD, BUT-- [GUNSHOT ECHOING] [BIRDS SQUAWKING] JAMES: PULL!

LISA: MR. SAMPSON?

AH!

OUR FRIENDS FROM THE POLICE.

YOU ARRESTED ANYONE YET?

WE'RE WORKING ON IT.

WELL, I SHOULD BLOODY WELL HOPE SO.

LISA: D.S.

WINTERS AND PROFESSOR TEMPEST.

HE WORKS WITH US IN AN ADVISORY CAPACITY.

THIS IS MY SON FREDDIE.

ADOPTED SON.

NO NEED FOR A QUALIFIER.

WELL, YOUR RECENT PROFILE WAS VERY SPECIFIC ABOUT IT.

"SON" WILL SUFFICE.

FREDDIE'S A BIT OF A WHIZ WITH THE NUMBERS.

HE'S MY RIGHT-HAND MAN, IN FACT.

PROFESSOR T.: IRONIC THEN, THAT HIS RIGHT HAND CAN NO LONGER BE TESTED FOR GUNPOWDER RESIDUE.

WHAT?

I'M GUESSING THIS SHOOTING PARTY WAS HIS IDEA.

IT'S OK, DAD.

OH, HELP YOURSELVES TO REFRESHMENTS.

YOU WEREN'T ON SITE AT THE SHOOTING YESTERDAY, WERE YOU, MR. SAMPSON?

NO.

I WAS DRIVING IN FROM A BREAKFAST MEETING.

IS THAT BUSINESS OR PLEASURE?

PLEASURE, ACTUALLY.

SOMEONE WHO CAN VOUCH FOR YOU?

UNFORTUNATELY NOT.

I WAS STOOD UP.

I KNOW HOW YOU FEEL, MATE.

FREDDIE: IT WAS JUST SOMEONE I MET ON A DATING APP.

THE PLAN WAS TO TAKE HER TO THE PRESS CONFERENCE IF SHE WAS UP FOR IT.

THOUGHT IT MIGHT IMPRESS HER TO HEAR THE OLD MAN GIVE AWAY 50 MILLION QUID, BUT SHE DIDN'T TURN UP.

AND WHERE WAS THIS BREAKFAST MEETING SUPPOSED TO TAKE PLACE?

THE BIRD IN HAND, JUST IN THE CENTER OF TOWN.

THEY DO A MEAN FRY-UP ON THE WEEKDAYS.

OH, BUGGER IT.

LISA: OH, WE'LL LOOK INTO IT.

REALLY?

IS THAT NECESSARY?

OBVIOUSLY YOU DON'T SEEM TO THINK SO.

OH, I THINK YOU ARE WASTING OUR TIME - WITH IMPERTINENT QUESTIONS.

- I'M SORRY YOU THINK THAT, SIR.

THERE'S CLEARLY SOME RIGHT-WING CRACKPOT YOU SHOULD BE FOCUSED ON, NOT MY SON.

DAN: AND WHY WOULD YOU ADVISE THAT, SIR?

BECAUSE CLEARLY, SOMEBODY IS OUT TO TRY AND SCARE ME, AND THEY'RE WASTING THEIR TIME.

I DON'T SCARE EASILY.

FREDDIE?

I'M SORRY.

JAMES: PULL!

[GUNSHOT ECHOING] NATASHA: DETECTIVE.

UM... MY HUSBAND-- HE'S NOT TELLING YOU EVERYTHING.

LISA: REALLY?

WHAT DO YOU MEAN?

WELL, HE RECEIVED AN ENVELOPE WITH A BULLET IN IT.

LISA: WHEN WAS THIS?

NATASHA: JUST A COUPLE OF DAYS BEFORE THE SHOOTING.

DO YOU STILL HAVE IT?

NO.

I TOLD HIM TO GO TO THE POLICE, BUT HE-- HE THREW IT AWAY.

[GUNSHOT ECHOING] THANKS FOR YOUR CANDOR, MRS. SAMPSON.

IT'S VERY HELPFUL.

VERY HELPFUL, INDEED.

[OMINOUS BACKGROUND MUSIC] NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT.

[DISTANT SIRENS] LISA: WE'RE GETTING NOWHERE WITH THIS PRO-LIFE LINE OF INQUIRY.

DAN: THERE'S JUST NO HISTORY OF THAT KIND OF ACTIVISM HERE.

- MAYBE WE COULD-- - START WITH THE FAMILY.

THE PROFESSOR THINKS THIS MAY SUGGEST A MOTIVE.

JAMES ON RECORDING: THAT'S WHY TODAY, I'M ANNOUNCING THAT I'M SIGNING THE GIVING PLEDGE, WHICH COMMITS ME TO GIVING AWAY THE VAST MAJORITY OF MY FORTUNE TO DESERVING CAUSES BETWEEN NOW AND THE TIME OF MY DEATH.

PAUL: ARE HIS WIFE AND SON SUPPORTIVE?

LISA: WE'LL SOON FIND OUT.

HIS WIFE IS GENUINELY WORRIED.

LISA: UNLIKE HER HUSBAND.

HE'S COMPLETELY BLASÉ.

PROFESSOR T.: PERHAPS HE DOESN'T BELIEVE HIS LIFE IS REALLY AT RISK.

CHRISTINA: LET'S FOCUS ON THE SONS FOR NOW.

I'LL CHECK OUT FREDDIE'S ALIBI.

YOU TWO SHOULD SPEAK TO THE ELDEST SON.

THAT RELATIONSHIP SEEMS STRAINED.

CHRISTINA: JASPER... ARE YOU ALL RIGHT?

I BELIEVE SO.

IT'S JUST, UH...

IT'S YOUR BIRTHDAY.

IT'S A DIFFICULT DAY FOR YOU.

IF YOU WANT TO TALK, YOU... YOU KNOW WHERE I AM.

[BIRDS CHIRPING] [HORSES NICKERING] LISA: MR. SAMPSON.

D.S.

DONCKERS.

I KNOW WHO YOU ARE.

- ANY PROGRESS?

- NOT EXACTLY.

WE'D LIKE TO ESTABLISH WHERE YOU WERE PRIOR TO THE SHOOTING.

I WAS HERE FROM 6:00 IN THE MORNING, LEFT AT 9:20 TO GO TO THE PRESS CONFERENCE.

[HORSE NICKERS LOUDLY] SAM WAS WITH ME UNTIL I LEFT.

AND WHEN THE SHOOTING OCCURRED?

I WAS ALREADY INSIDE THE BUILDING.

THERE ARE PLENTY OF MY FATHER'S LACKEYS WHO CAN VOUCH FOR ME.

LISA: WHAT WERE YOU DOING THERE?

I WAS A THREE-LINE WHIP.

PROFESSOR T.: BUT YOU'RE NOT EMPLOYED BY YOUR FATHER.

YOU HAVE YOUR OWN BUSINESS.

HE WANTS TO PLAY "HAPPY FAMILIES."

AND YOU'RE NOT INCLINED TO?

HE SPENT YEARS IGNORING HIS FIRST FAMILY IN FAVOR OF WORK.

NOW, HE'S GOT A NEW WIFE AND SON, AND SUDDENLY HE WANTS US ALL TO HANG OUT.

LISA: YOU MEAN YOUR MOTHER AND YOU?

JUST ME.

MY MOTHER PASSED A FEW YEARS BACK.

PROFESSOR T.: THAT MUST HAVE BEEN PAINFUL FOR YOU, TO SEE YOUR FATHER MARRY AGAIN.

[SCOFFS] - I HAD A LUCKY ESCAPE.

- WHAT DO YOU MEAN?

YOU WON'T READ THIS IN A MAGAZINE, BUT IT'S NO SECRET.

SHE WAS MY GIRLFRIEND WHEN THEY MET.

NATASHA?

SHE REALIZED HE WAS A BIGGER PRIZE, AND HE GOT PLAYED.

PROFESSOR T.: SHE SEEMS TO GENUINELY LOVE HIM.

YEAH, RIGHT.

HER SOULMATE JUST HAPPENS TO BE A BILLIONAIRE OLD ENOUGH TO BE HER FATHER.

SO WHAT DO YOU THINK SHE FEELS ABOUT HIS PLAN TO GIVE IT ALL AWAY?

- I CAN ONLY IMAGINE.

- WHAT ABOUT YOU?

I COULD CARE LESS WHAT MY FATHER DOES WITH HIS MONEY.

SOME PEOPLE MIGHT FIND THAT HARD TO BELIEVE.

HENRY: I'M NOT THE GOLDDIGGER IN THIS FAMILY.

IT'S MY STEPMOTHER YOU SHOULD BE TALKING TO.

OR ALFRED BELL.

YOUR BROTHER?

HE'S NO BROTHER OF MINE.

[HORSE NICKERS] DAN?

DAN, ON PHONE: FREDDIE SAMPSON PAID FOR BREAKFAST WITH HIS CREDIT CARD AT 9:50, BUT IT'S NO DISTANCE TO THE SCIENCE PARK.

DOESN'T RULE HIM OUT.

WE'RE HEADING BACK.

WHERE ARE YOU?

GRABBING LUNCH AT A PUB... WITH A FRIEND.

WHO'S THE FRIEND?

[PHONE BEEPING] HE HUNG UP.

[SCOFFS] WOULD YOU MIND DROPPING ME OFF?

I, TOO, HAVE A LUNCH DATE.

PROFESSOR.

DARK HORSE.

IT'S WITH MY MOTHER.

LISA: SAMPSON DOESN'T ACT LIKE A MAN WITH A DEATH THREAT HANGING OVER HIM.

WHICH IS WHAT THE PROFESSOR'S BEEN SUGGESTING ALL ALONG.

YOU SHOULD TAKE A BREAK MORE OFTEN.

MAYBE IT'S AN INSURANCE SCAM.

NAH, HE DOESN'T NEED THE MONEY.

WHAT ABOUT THE YOUNGER ONE, FREDDIE?

HAVE YOU SPOKEN TO HIM YET?

DAN CHECKED OUT HIS ALIBI, SAID IT DOESN'T RULE HIM OUT.

WELL, YOU BETTER BRING HIM IN, THEN, CHOP CHOP.

THERE YOU GO.

[MUSIC PLAYING SOFTLY] I'M JOINING ADELAIDE TEMPEST.

YOU'RE LATE.

I WAS UNAVOIDABLY DETAINED.

KAFKA IS MOST DISCOMBOBULATED.

WHAT KEPT YOU?

MY POLICE WORK.

HOW IS IT?

SUITABLY DIVERTING.

AND CHRISTINA?

SUITABLY DIVERTING.

THANK YOU.

WELL, HAVE YOU LEARNED YOUR LESSON THERE, JASPER?

[KAFKA WHIMPERING] [MAN SINGING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE] MAN: AFTERNOON.

[MUSIC STOPS ABRUPTLY] I'LL HAVE THE USUAL, PLEASE, GUSTAVE.

AND FOR MONSIEUR?

HE'LL HAVE THE HALIBUT, LIGHTLY GRILLED, WITH A SMALL GREEN SALAD.

OH, AND A BOTTLE OF YOUR LOVELY CRU CHAMPAGNE.

THE 2003, PLEASE.

AND TWO GLASSES.

[KAFKA GROWLS] WHY, IT'S THE LEAST THEY CAN DO, DEAR HEART.

I SPEND AN ABSOLUTE FORTUNE IN HERE.

PAUL: SO SAMPSON BELL GROWTH TECH STARTED LIFE AS BELL SAMPSON ASSOCIATES, SET UP BY YOUR ADOPTIVE FATHER, JAMES SAMPSON.

PAUL, OVER INTERCOM: AND YOUR BIOLOGICAL FATHER, AARON BELL?

FREDDIE, OVER INTERCOM: THAT'S RIGHT.

LISA, OVER INTERCOM: I THOUGHT AARON WAS THE SCIENTIFIC BRAINS BEHIND IT ALL.

FREDDIE, OVER INTERCOM: MAYBE.

PAUL, OVER INTERCOM: BUT HE SOLD OUT TO JAMES.

YES, IN 2003.

LISA: FOR £8 MILLION.

THAT'S A LOT OF MONEY AT THE TIME.

IT WAS.

NOT WHEN YOU CONSIDER IT WAS SOLD FOR 1.1 BILLION JUST OVER A DECADE LATER.

YOUR BIOLOGICAL FATHER COMMITTED SUICIDE NOT LONG AFTER THAT DEAL WAS COMPLETED.

PAUL: WHY WOULD YOU GO WORK FOR SOMEONE WHO MIGHT BE RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR FATHER KILLING HIMSELF?

DAD WASN'T TO BLAME FOR AARON'S DEATH.

LISA: YOU DON'T THINK THE FINANCIAL BETRAYAL DESTROYED HIM?

ALCOHOL DESTROYED MY BIOLOGICAL FATHER.

DAD TOLERATED IT AS LONG AS HE COULD.

AND WHEN HE COULDN'T TOLERATE IT ANY LONGER, HE PAID WAY OVER THE ODDS FOR AARON'S SHARE OF THE BUSINESS, FOR WHAT IT WAS WORTH AT THE TIME.

A TOAST TO US.

OH, DARLING.

I KNOW WE NEVER MENTION THE "B" WORD OR CELEBRATE, GOD FORBID.

BUT CAN'T WE JUST RAISE A GLASS TO US... FOR ONCE?

IT'S A DIFFICULT DAY FOR ME, TOO.

[FATHER TEMPEST SHOUTING INDISTINCTLY] [SINISTER BACKGROUND MUSIC] [THUD] FREDDIE: MY BIOLOGICAL FATHER WAS VIOLENT WHEN HE'D HAD A DRINK.

DAD PROTECTED ME FROM HIM.

HE MAY HAVE HUNG HIMSELF TECHNICALLY, BUT THE TRUTH IS, HE DRANK HIMSELF TO DEATH.

AND JAMES TOOK YOU UNDER HIS WING.

FREDDIE: HE DID.

I OWE HIM EVERYTHING.

LISA: YOU EVEN LET HIM ADOPT YOU.

HE WAS MORE OF A FATHER TO ME THAN AARON BELL EVER WAS.

I WANTED TO ACKNOWLEDGE MY DEBT TO HIM.

PAUL: AND BECOME HEIR TO HIS FORTUNE.

I DIDN'T ASK FOR THAT.

LISA: SO HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT HIM GIVING IT ALL AWAY?

IT'S HIS MONEY.

HE'S ALREADY GIVEN ME MORE THAN I CAN EVER REPAY.

AND HOW DOES HENRY FEEL ABOUT IT?

AND ABOUT GETTING A BROTHER?

STEPMOTHER, TOO.

YOU'LL HAVE TO ASK HIM ABOUT THAT.

LISA: WE ALREADY HAVE.

[SUSPENSEFUL BACKGROUND MUSIC] [VEHICLE APPROACHES] [VEHICLE DOOR CLOSES] [FOOTSTEPS APPROACHING] [DOOR OPENS] YOU'RE LATE.

I MIGHT HAVE TO START GOING ON A FEW MORE BLIND DATES IF THEY ALL TURN OUT LIKE THIS.

HEY.

[PHONE BUZZING] [WHISPERING] SORRY.

IGNORE IT.

[PHONE CONTINUES BUZZING] LISA?

SAY AGAIN?

OK. YEAH.

ON MY WAY.

[OMINOUS BACKGROUND MUSIC] HENRY: THIS IS ALL YOUR FAULT.

MR. SAMPSON, I UNDERSTAND-- YOU UNDERSTAND NOTHING!

- I'M LODGING A COMPLAINT.

- OH, HENRY, PLEASE!

OH, SPARE US THE FAKE HYSTERICS.

[POIGNANT BACKGROUND MUSIC] [CAMERA'S SHUTTER CLICKING] YOU LOOK LIKE YOU'VE WON THE LOTTERY.

AND YOU LOOK POST-COITAL.

MRS. SAMPSON HAD A NIGHT CLASS.

WHEN SHE GOT BACK, SHE FOUND THIS.

DAN: WHAT ABOUT MR. SAMPSON?

NO SIGN.

MAN: PENNY TO THE POUND, HE'S DEAD MEAT.

OR WELL ON THE WAY.

[CLICKING CONTINUES] DAN: HAVE YOU INFORMED FREDDIE?

I TRIED CALLING HIM, BUT HE'S NOT PICKING UP.

MAYBE HE SAW SOMETHING.

SAW SOMETHING?

YEAH, HE ARRIVED AS I WAS LEAVING.

WELL, WHY DIDN'T YOU SAY SO?

I DON'T KNOW.

HE COMES AROUND MOST EVENINGS.

PAUL: YOU BETTER GO SEE IF YOU CAN FIND HIM.

[OMINOUS BACKGROUND MUSIC] [RINGS DOORBELL] [KNOCKING] SORRY TO DISTURB YOU EARLIER.

NO WORRIES.

DID I WAKE YOU?

NO.

I WAS JUST CHILLING.

ON YOUR OWN?

MAN: JUST A MINUTE!

[WHISPERING] A GENTLEMAN NEVER TELLS.

SINCE WHEN HAVE YOU BEEN A GENTLEMAN?

I STILL HAVEN'T FORGIVEN YOU, BUT IF IT CARRIES ON LIKE THIS, [WHISPERING] I MIGHT JUST HAVE TO.

[DOOR OPENS] HEY.

IS EVERYTHING OK?

FREDDIE: I WAS IN AND OUT IN HALF AN HOUR.

WHAT TIME WAS THAT?

HALF-PAST 9:00.

HE WAS FINE WHEN I LEFT.

UNFORTUNATELY, MR. SAMPSON, WE ONLY HAVE YOUR WORD FOR THAT.

BUT I HAVE A TEXT MESSAGE FROM HIM.

- AFTER YOU LEFT?

- ABSOLUTELY.

I'D FORGOTTEN A BOOK I'D ASKED TO BORROW.

HE SAID HE'D BRING IT TO ME IN THE MORNING.

I'LL SHOW YOU.

[PHONE HITS FLOOR] BUGGER IT.

THAT'S THE THIRD ONE THIS MONTH.

HERE.

YOU CAN STILL SEE THE MESSAGE.

DO YOU THINK HE'S DEAD?

WE DON'T KNOW THAT AT THIS STAGE.

LOOK, IS THERE ANYONE WE CAN CALL TO COME AND BE WITH YOU?

LISA: THERE ARE SECURITY CAMERAS AT THE HOUSE.

THEY SHOW FREDDIE SAMPSON LEAVING AT 9:38 P.M. JAMES SENT HIM A TEXT AT 9:42 P.M. PINGED OFF A TOWER CLOSE TO THE HOUSE.

DAN: WE'VE DONE PRELIMINARY FORENSICS ON FREDDIE'S CAR.

NO TRACES OF BLOOD.

- WHAT ABOUT HENRY?

- WORKED LATE.

A COLLEAGUE WAS WITH HIM THE WHOLE TIME TILL THE CALL CAME THROUGH FROM NATASHA.

WHAT ABOUT HER?

SHE HAS A WHOLE CLASSROOM FULL OF BELLY DANCERS WHO WILL VOUCH FOR HER.

MAYBE IT'S TIME WE REVISITED OUR THEORY ABOUT THE ACTIVISTS.

LET'S SEE WHAT PROFESSOR TEMPEST HAS TO SAY FIRST, HMM?

[OMINOUS BACKGROUND MUSIC] [WOMAN SINGING OPERA] [OPERA MUSIC CONTINUES] I NEED TO SEE THE BLOOD TESTS.

- YOU'VE ALREADY CHECKED THEM.

- IT'S DEFINITELY HIS BLOOD.

I NEED TO CHECK FOR SEDIMENTATION.

OK. DAN?

I'LL CHASE THEM UP.

WE NEED TO QUESTION HIS WIFE ABOUT THE GIVING PLEDGE.

YOU DON'T BELIEVE IN TRUE LOVE?

SURE, I DO.

AND I STILL PUT OUT A STOCKING FOR SANTA.

NATASHA: I DON'T KNOW WHAT MORE TO TELL YOU.

[SNIFFS] LISA: DID YOUR HUSBAND DISCUSS HIS PLEDGE WITH YOU BEFORE HE ANNOUNCED HE WOULD BE GIVING AWAY HIS FORTUNE?

YEAH, OF COURSE, HE DID.

AND YOU WERE OK WITH IT?

WHY WOULDN'T I BE?

WELL, I IMAGINE YOU STOOD TO BE SUBSTANTIALLY DISINHERITED.

SO YOU THINK I MARRIED HIM FOR HIS MONEY?

YOU KNOW, JAMES CHANGED HIS WILL WHEN WE GOT MARRIED BECAUSE I ASKED HIM TO.

I INSISTED ON A PRE-NUPTIAL AGREEMENT THAT WOULD LEAVE ME NOTHING, SO THAT HE'D KNOW THAT I LOVE HIM, NOT ALL THIS.

SO WHO WILL IT ALL GO TO?

I DON'T KNOW.

IT WAS ALWAYS HIS PLAN TO... [SNIFFS] LEAVE THE BUSINESS TO THE BOYS, BUT... HENRY'S STUBBORN, AND HE'S SO ANGRY.

[SNIFFS] [POIGNANT BACKGROUND MUSIC] [FOOTSTEPS APPROACHING] CHRISTINA: SERGEANT DONCKERS BOUGHT IT FOR YOU YESTERDAY.

I TOLD HER YOU WEREN'T REALLY INTO CELEBRATING BIRTHDAYS.

ARE YOU OK?

YEAH.

FINE.

I NEVER DID STOP BELIEVING IN SANTA, YOU KNOW.

I JUST DID NOT WANT TO RUIN YOUR LIFE.

YOU DESERVED SOMEONE NORMAL, SOMEONE WHO WOULD MAKE YOU HAPPY.

I KNOW.

I KNOW YOU BETTER THAN YOU KNOW YOURSELF.

I'M AFRAID I DON'T KNOW VERY MUCH.

I ALWAYS UNDERSTOOD, YOU KNOW.

AND I HAVE FORGIVEN YOU.

YOU JUST NEED TO FORGIVE YOURSELF.

[DOOR OPENS AND CLOSES] DAN: THE RESULTS YOU ASKED FOR, PROFESSOR.

HMM.

HMM.

HMM.

WHAT?

THE WHOLE THING WAS STAGED.

IT WAS TOO OPERATIC, LIKE A GOTHIC HORROR.

REALITY IS SO MUCH MORE BANAL.

IT LOOKED PRETTY REAL TO ME.

AND HIS WANTON DISREGARD FOR DEATH THREATS.

NO ONE'S THAT BLASÉ.

I DON'T SCARE EASILY.

DAN: HE STAGED HIS OWN DEATH.

- OR HIS DISAPPEARANCE.

- PRECISELY SO.

HOW'D YOU WORK THAT ONE OUT?

THE BLOOD TRACES SHOW THAT HE STUMBLED AS HE LEFT THE ROOM, PUT OUT A HAND TO STEADY HIMSELF.

[CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKS] BUT IT'S CLEARLY A RIGHT HAND.

JAMES SAMPSON WAS LEFT-HANDED.

JAMES: PULL!

AND THE WALL WOULD HAVE BEEN ON HIS LEFT SO HE WOULD AUTOMATICALLY HAVE USED HIS LEFT HAND - TO SUPPORT HIMSELF.

- WOW.

THE HANDPRINT IS MERELY A FLASHING RED LIGHT.

- YOU'RE A GENIUS.

- PROOF IS THE SEDIMENTATION.

WHEN BLOOD LEAVES THE BODY, PLATELETS START TO SETTLE.

BLOOD FOUND AT THE SCENE BELONGS TO JAMES SAMPSON, BUT IT WAS COLLECTED SOME TIME BEFORE THE INCIDENT.

- THAT'S AN AWFUL LOT OF BLOOD.

- NO DOUBT COLLECTED IN STAGES, THE LAST OF IT, SOME TIME AGO, JUDGING BY THESE RESULTS.

JAMES SAMPSON IS PLAYING DEAD.

PAUL: IT'S AN OSCAR-WINNING PERFORMANCE, THEN.

WE'VE JUST FOUND HIS BODY.

[FAINT POLICE RADIO] [OMINOUS BACKGROUND MUSIC] [CELL PHONE RINGING] SORRY.

ALL RIGHT, THEN.

MAN, ON PHONE: WE JUST FOUND HIS BODY.

ARE YOU SURE IT'S HIM?

MAN, ON PHONE: AS SURE AS I CAN BE.

HE'S NOT EXACTLY LOOKING HIS BEST.

[WHISPERING] OH, MY GOD.

[SINISTER BACKGROUND MUSIC] DAN: HE WAS SHOT WITH A 9MM FIRED FROM CLOSE RANGE.

LISA: SAME CALIBER AS THE BULLET FIRED FROM THE MOTORBIKE.

AND THERE ARE EXTENSIVE BURNS.

WE'RE WAITING ON A POST-MORTEM TO ESTABLISH CAUSE OF DEATH.

GOD, WHAT A MESS.

DAN: SEEMS LIKE OVERKILL.

OPERATIC, EVEN.

SO WHERE DOES THIS LEAVE US?

LISA: NATASHA HAS AN ALIBI AND NO OBVIOUS MOTIVE, SEEING AS SHE STANDS TO INHERIT NOTHING.

CHRISTINA: WHAT ABOUT THE SONS?

FREDDIE WAS THE LAST TO SEE HIM.

JAMES WAS ALIVE WHEN HE LEFT.

I DON'T BELIEVE THAT EITHER OF THEM ARE HAPPY WITH THIS GIVING PLEDGE.

MAYBE THEY COOKED IT UP TOGETHER.

[CELL PHONE RINGING] MARTIN.

ARE YOU JOKING?

OK, YEAH.

I'M GONNA HAVE TO CALL YOU BACK.

HE DIED OF A HEART ATTACK.

HE WAS ALREADY DEAD WHEN HE WAS SHOT AND BURNED.

CHRISTINA: ARE THEY SURE?

BIOMARKERS WERE SKY HIGH.

MARTIN SAYS HE WAS A CARDIAC ARREST WAITING TO HAPPEN.

DRAINING HIMSELF OF BLOOD CAN'T HAVE HELPED HIS UNDERLYING CONDITION.

SEEMS LIKE IT WAS STAGED AFTER ALL.

CHRISTINA: BRING BOTH THE SONS IN.

TEMPEST, CAN YOU SIT IN?

[SUSPENSEFUL BACKGROUND MUSIC] PROFESSOR T., ON INTERCOM: WHICH OF HIS SONS DID YOUR FATHER LOVE THE MOST?

[HENRY CHUCKLES] I ASK MYSELF THE SAME THING.

FREDDIE: HE LOVED US BOTH EQUALLY.

HENRY MAY PRETEND OTHERWISE, BUT DEEP DOWN, HE KNOWS IT'S TRUE.

AND WHICH OF YOU LOVED HIM MORE?

FREDDIE: IT'S NOT A COMPETITION.

PAUL: THIS AIN'T FOR YOU, MAYBE.

HENRY CLEARLY THINKS YOU'D WIN ON BOTH COUNTS.

HENRY: MY FATHER AND I HAD OUR ISSUES.

INCLUDING YOUR STEPMOTHER, NATASHA.

I'VE MADE NO SECRET OF IT.

PAUL: WERE YOU AWARE SHE INSISTED ON A PRENUPTIAL AGREEMENT?

IN THE EVENT OF YOUR FATHER'S DEATH OR THEIR DIVORCE, SHE RECEIVES NOTHING.

HER LOVE FOR YOUR FATHER IS ENTIRELY GENUINE.

I...

I HAD ABSOLUTELY NO IDEA.

LISA: NATASHA TOLD US YOUR FATHER WAS DESPERATE TO BRING YOU INTO THE BUSINESS, BUT YOU PERSISTED IN REJECTING HIM.

OUR RELATIONSHIP WAS COMPLICATED.

WORKING WITH HIM OR FREDDIE WOULDN'T HAVE IMPROVED MATTERS.

PROFESSOR T.: YOU DID NOT CONSIDER IT YOUR FILIAL DUTY?

IT'S A BIT OF A QUAINT NOTION.

PERHAPS.

BUT I'VE BEEN THINKING ABOUT IT A LOT LATELY.

WHAT IS A SON'S DUTY TO HIS FATHER?

TO RESPECT HIM...

EVEN IF HE DOESN'T DESERVE OUR RESPECT?

PAUL: TESTS SHOW THE BLOOD FOUND IN YOUR FATHER'S STUDY HAD BEEN COLLECTED OVER A NUMBER OF WEEKS.

THE EVIDENCE INDICATES HE STAGED THE SCENE TO MAKE IT APPEAR AS IF HE'D BEEN ATTACKED.

WE KNOW HE MUST HAVE HAD HELP.

PROFESSOR T.: ONE OF YOU WAS A DUTIFUL SON WHO HONORED HIS WISHES.

WHICH OF YOU LOVED HIM ENOUGH TO DO THAT?

[SUSPENSE BACKGROUND MUSIC] I TRIED-- I TRIED TO STOP HIM.

HE'D BEEN DRAWING BLOOD FOR WEEKS.

IT WASN'T DIFFICULT FOR SOMEONE WITH HIS BACKGROUND.

I CAN IMAGINE.

I TOLD HIM IT WAS A TERRIBLE IDEA.

PAUL: SO WHY WAS HE SO HELL-BENT ON IT?

HE WAS CONVINCED IT WOULD BRING HENRY BACK INTO THE FOLD.

YOU KNOW HOW IT IS.

WE TAKE LOVE FOR GRANTED UNTIL SOMETHING TERRIBLE HAPPENS.

DIFFICULT CIRCUMSTANCES BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER.

THE PLAN WAS HE'D GO INTO HIDING.

FREDDIE, OVER INTERCOM: AND PROBABLY, FOR NO MORE THAN A WEEK.

THEN HE'D COME BACK, PRETEND HE'D ESCAPED HIS ABDUCTORS.

EVERYONE WOULD BE SO RELIEVED.

YOU'D ALL LIVE HAPPILY EVER AFTER.

PAUL: WHAT HAPPENED?

WE SMUGGLED HIM OUT IN THE BOOT OF MY CAR.

I HAD TO STOP AT THE GATE.

WE ARRANGED THAT HE WOULD TEXT ME ONCE HE FELT THE CAR SPEEDING UP AGAIN.

PAUL, OVER INTERCOM: SO HOW DID HE END UP DEAD, FREDDIE?

FREDDIE, OVER INTERCOM: I MESSED UP.

I MESSED IT ALL UP.

[CAR ENGINE CHUGGING] FREDDIE: WE AGREED I'D PULL OVER AND GET HIM OUT ONCE I WAS IN THE WOODS.

[TRUNK OPENS] [OMINOUS BACKGROUND MUSIC] DAD?

[CRYING] I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO.

PANICKED.

[SINISTER BACKGROUND MUSIC] SORRY, DAD.

I COULDN'T GO TO THE POLICE, YOU SEE.

I MEAN, WHO'D BELIEVE ME?

DEAD MAN COULDN'T VOUCH FOR ME.

[GRUNTING] AGH!

I SORT OF JUST ACTED OUT WHAT I THOUGHT MIGHT HAVE HAPPENED IF DAD REALLY HAD BEEN ABDUCTED.

[LEAVES RUSTLING] [GUN COCKS] SORRY, DAD.

[GUNSHOT] FREDDIE, OVER INTERCOM: I TRIED TO MAKE IT LOOK AS IF THEY'D KILLED HIM, BUT HIS HEART HAD ALREADY STOPPED.

THERE WASN'T MUCH BLOOD.

I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE PRETTY OBVIOUS TO FORENSICS, SO I TRIED TO GET RID OF THE EVIDENCE... [RUSTLING] [FLICKS LIGHTER] BUT IT WAS TOO WET.

I COULDN'T KEEP THE FIRE GOING.

[OMINOUS BACKGROUND MUSIC] SO I JUST LEFT HIM THERE.

I MESSED UP.

I MESSED HIM UP SO BADLY.

[CRYING] LISA: SO THE DRIVE-BY SHOOTING, THAT WAS THE FATHER'S IDEA AS WELL?

SOUNDS LIKE IT.

THE GUN WAS HIS.

DAN: BUT THE BIKE WAS FREDDIE'S.

IT'S BEEN SITTING IN HIS GARAGE SINCE HE WAS 16.

PAID FOR IT IN CASH.

PROBABLY STOLEN IN THE FIRST PLACE.

POOR BASTARD.

LISA: IMAGINE DOING THAT TO YOUR OWN DAD.

ARE YOU OK?

I HAVE TO GO HOME.

[POIGNANT BACKGROUND MUSIC] [DOOR OPENS] [FATHER TEMPEST SHOUTING INDISTINCTLY] [THUD] [SINISTER BACKGROUND MUSIC] PULL THE TRIGGER!

[THEME MUSIC PLAYING] [THEME MUSIC CONCLUDES]