The Poison Tree

Hello?

Hello?

Armed robber. Post-office job.

He shot the man behind the counter. She's got a new bloke now,

but she still visits hubby every month,

and tries to find out where the cash is,

so she can leg it to Spain with the boyfriend! (CHUCKLES)

Right. Lady with the white fur coat.

Car thief.

Does posh cars to order, and she has begged him to stop.

But he's addicted.

Daddy!

Hey.

Come on. The car's over here.

Lead the way.

Basically, I had three,

and when I put them in, I got yellow spots on my tongue,

and one of the spots started bleeding.

You know, at school, Violet was boasting to Lara about her report, and Lara told her to shut up -

Alice, Alice. That's enough now.

You've not stopped for 15 minutes.

Are you all right?

Mmm.

Can we stop for a minute?

Rex, no.

I want to see the house.

I need to. Please.

Why are we getting out here? Oh, I'm going on those swings!

Alice, don't go too far. We're coming back to the car in five minutes.

Rex! Best big brother in the whole world.

This is Karen. She's a linguistic genius.

Hello. Hi.

The gift of tongues. Isn't that what they call it?

Stay with me tonight.

Move in with us.

It's a constant party...

We're soul sisters.

Come on, Karen. Run!

This is home.

It's nice.

That's the living room and Alice's room.

This here is the kitchen.

A bit small. No, it's not that.

It's not Queenswood Lane, but it's home.

I just need to get some air.

No. Just...just give him a minute.

'Il vaut mieux hasarder de sauver un coupable que de condamner un innocent.'

What does it mean?

That it's better to spare a guilty person than to condemn an innocent one.

It's Voltaire.

He was protesting on a street corner by the Musee d'Orsay.

Looking so angry.

What was he protesting about?

I don't know. I always bunked French.

The teacher didn't really get me.

You speak it beautifully, though.

French, Spanish, Italian, German.

I'm doing a language BA.

Fine art. Photography major.

I'm Biba Capel.

I'm Karen Clarke.

You know, it's fate, meeting you. I have a letter needs translating.

From Sebastien Rouenne.

He runs a gallery in Paris.

He's considering exhibiting some of my work.

I'll give you the letter tomorrow at my party.

Eight o'clock. Don't be late.

It's my 21st.

Wear something fabulous.

What did they do to you in there?

It was an accident.

Hot fat in the kitchen.

I thought you worked in the gardens.

I wasn't a very good cook.

No-one'll ever hurt you again.

I promise.

Dad, do you want to meet Lara?

She's my best friend. Yes, that would be lovely. Hello?

Hello?

Mum... Mmm?

Can Lara come round? She wants to meet Daddy.

Why? What have you told her? That he's a serial killer!

Chill, Mum. I told her what you said. Why can't we tell the truth?

Dad wasn't the one in the wrong.

That accountant should have gone to jail, instead.

Look, Alice, I know lying is a terrible thing.

But we're doing it for the right reason.

If people knew that Daddy had gone to jail, they wouldn't give him a chance.

He deserves a chance, doesn't he?

Yeah.

We're gonna plant roses here. Shame about the view.

Alice, what are they doing over there?

Oh, they're building a wall thingy, to keep tourists off the mudflats.

Can we start planting tomorrow?

If you like. Mum has to work.

She's translating a Spanish novel about a killer who chops his victims' hands off.

I thought Lara came round so you could do homework together.

OK. Was it English or physics we had to revise for?

Will it be strange for her, having a man in the house?

Strange for me too. I'm not picking your boxers off the bathroom floor.

I've been wearing prison issue.

I don't actually own any.

Three, two, one.

No way! That so got further!

I think we should tell her.

No. No way.

She's old enough to know the truth.

I don't think she'll ever be old enough to understand.

I'm not sure I do, even now. Don't say that.

Otherwise, what have the last 12 years been about?

How will she feel when she finds out we lied to her?

She won't ever find out.

I mean it, Rex. You cross me on this, and you'll lose the both of us.

Alice never finds out what we did.

I've been waiting for you.

Come on. Excuse me. Excuse me!

They're beautiful.

They were my mother's.

You'd look gorgeous in that one, darling.

What does he say? Does he like them?

He says he thinks you have an amazing eye.

He loves the way you capture your subjects' emotions.

He'd like to see more.

Will you help me write a reply? Now?

No, not now, silly. Now I'm going to make you look fabulous.

Oh, I can't wear a dress like that.

You can do anything you want, Karen Clarke.

Be anything you want.

We only have one shot at this.

Don't waste your life on limitations.

Open your mouth.

The finishing touch.

Come! (LAUGHS)

This is amazing. Rex and I inherited it.

We're orphans, darling.

Welcome to the Velvet Room.

Rex! Best big brother in the whole world.

This is Karen. She's a linguistic genius.

The gift of tongues. Isn't that what they call it?

B, how many have you had?

Only a half, darling. Please don't fuss over me tonight.

Can you feel it, Karen?

Can you feel it? (LAUGHS)

Stay with me tonight.

But Mum, it's only 300 quid.

And then there's the iPad you want. You can't have both, sweetheart.

But the whole class is going. I'll be the only one left behind.

Well, maybe if I find some work soon, we can afford the trip.

Hello?

Can we apply for my passport tomorrow, then? Otherwise, there won't be time.

Hello?

'You were called today. The caller withheld their number.'

Who was it? Wrong number.

Again? Call centre. We get them all the time. Are you done, love?

Mm-hm. Me and Dad can go to the post office tomorrow.

Sorry, Alice. The answer's no.

I'm gonna look like a complete fail, sat in the library on my own.

Don't worry, sweetie. We'll find a way.

Rex, we can't afford it.

You're not going on the French trip.

Now, get your pyjamas on. Bed in 20 minutes.

Night-night.

Don't give me that look!

Do tell me again, Karen, about your fascinating flatmate!

Well, Biba and Rex...

Let me introduce you to...

Charlotte! Hiya!

My idea of a late night is ten o'clock!

And my name is Rachel,

and I'm teetotal.

Except at Christmas, of course. Of course. Of course. Naturally. No.

I don't want to go home.

Well, move in with us.

It's a constant party at number six.

Are you serious? You're here all the time, anyway, looking after us.

We love having you here.

We should be together for ever. We're soul sisters.

You don't mind, do you, darling?

The more the merrier.

Jesus!

Shit.

Rex? We should just tell her, before she catches us.

No.

Rex, I can't keep lying to her. She's my best friend.

We just need to find the right time.

What are you so scared of?

You don't know Biba like I do.

B! Hello.

Oh, god! Bloody hell.

I'm sorry. What's going on?

I just couldn't sleep.