Stonemouth

Funny, when I was a kid, I couldn't wait to grow up.

Life was gonna be so good. So exciting.

Now I'm not so sure,.

Not since I heard my best mate drove out to the Stoun Bridge last week

and threw himself off,.

Still, I'm getting ahead of myself.

Best to start in the midst of things.

Two years ago, to be precise. The night I screwed everything up.

This doesn't need to happen. - Yes it does, Stewart.

It doesn't need to happen, Ellie.

CAR HORN BEEPS

Oh Jesus, it's your brothers. - Get down!

Shit.

You alright, sis? ls he in there? - No, I don't know where he is.

Just open the door and let us check the oar.

He's not in here!

If he's in there, I'm gonna kick his head in. Now open the door!

I've told you he's not in here. Please just go home.

Are you in there, Gilmour? I know you're in there.

It was light by the time we got to the freight yard.

Ripped By mstoll

Not exactly how I imagined leaving home.

I ended up in London, got a job, started overt.

I hadn't been home since.

Hadn't planned on taking the risk. To be honest,

Not after what I 'd done.

But after Cal did what he did...

I had no choice,.

'House of Liars' by Cam Penner

Callum messaged me the day before he died.

I didn't get back to him.

CALLUM, MESSAGE: Stewart. How are you mate? It's been a while.

I should have called and stuff. But... I need a bed for a few weeks. Any chance?

Got myself into a spot of bother. Big George-type bother.

Only this time I'm not so sure I'm gonna get out of it?

And if I don't, remember I love you, alright?

"Before all else, be armed."

Be armed? Typical of Cal.

Leaving me with this humongous level of guilt and self-loathing.

But before I could cross that bridge into Stonemouth

I needed permission

and there was only one person who could tell me for sure if I had it...

Powell Imrie.

Alright, Stu?

You know, they say the fall doesn't kill you.

Just smashes your bones to a pulp.

In actual fact, you drown.

You well? - Fine. You? - Yeah, yeah, not too shabby.

So what d'you want?

Am I OK to come back?

Safe to land, Stewie boy. No harm scheduled to befall you.

Saying that, best you're gone by Thursday.

Yeah? Once you've paid your respects.

He sent me a message, Pow. Before he died.

I never got back to him. I meant to.

But I was just busy and stuff, you know.

Yeah, well, what are friends for - eh?

Said he'd got himself into some trouble?

Did he say what kind of trouble?

Nah.

Well, you know Callum, could have been anything.

A probably.

One last thing - as you're not exactly on Don's Christmas list?

Or his boys' for that matter, a visit would be advisable.

The Murstons?

Soon as.

The Murston residence...

Quite something. Built with one hundred percent drug money.

Allegedly.

Alright?

It was through Cal that I got to know the rest of the family.

Mr M himself and Mrs M.

His two ever so slightly psychotic brothers Fraser and Norrie.

His kid sister Grier and, of course, Ellie...

DOORBELL RINGS

the love of my life.

Mr Murston will be with you shortly.

"A spot of bother... Big George-type bother. "

Cal was talking about the day we went paint-balling.

The day I almost died.

There was me, Ferg, and Wee Malky.

We'd been up at the golf course looking for lost balls to sell.

It was also the first time I saw Ellie.

She was so beautiful, graceful...

I never forgot her.

I'd heard about the Murston sisters

but like mythical creatures, we weren't sure ll' they actually existed.

They went to the Stonemouth Academy

while Cal had to rough it with his brothers in the local comp with the rest of us.

He was effortlessly cool. Everybody wanted to be his friend.

Even Hugo Ancraime, the closest thing Stonemouth had to aristocracy.

It was Hugo who had all the paintballing gear -

but with Hugo came Big George, his older brother...

Not Mongo! - Hey!

Who had the mental age of five.

Those were the best times. Out in the woods together.

Big George, who wasn't allowed a gun, never wanted to be left out

and who could blame him,.

THE BOYS LAUGH

Quick, Malky! Malky! Come on, get up the slope!

The worst thing, the thing that plagued my nightmares for years

was watching Wee Malky trying desperately to save himself.

I win!

Nobody said it but we all felt we could have done more to save him.

Run! Hun!

Cal was different, he did do more.

No, George!

GEORGE SCREAMS

He risked his own life...

to save mine.

Mr Murston will see you now.

WORKOUT MUSIC PLAYS

- Alright, Stewart? - Hello, Mr M.

What, you too scared to call me Donald now, are you?

How are you, Donald?

That's a stupid bloody question. My son just killed himself.

I know. It's such a shook. He just wasn't the type.

Who Callum? He was Bipolar. Only, his mother wouldn't accept it.

What did he have to be depressed about, eh?

Jesus, he had the looks.

Made Johnny Depp look like Nigel Farage.

Some people just don't know they're born.

Wouldn't you agree?

Stewart?

Now that you mention it, I suppose he did get down in the dumps quite a bit.

Yeah, if they'd listened to me, we'd have got him some medication.

Stupid little shit.

Still, no point in playing the blame game.

Not now.

So, what do you do these days?

Lighting. Y'know, in buildings and stuff like that.

What... the kind of lilac shit you see in the side of multi storeys. That kind of thing?

Aye, that type of thing. - What? You went to art school for that?

I was... I was head-hunted. - Oh.

Not for the first time, eh?

Listen, let's not pretend everything is hunky dory, eh?

Not after what you did.

If it was up to me, you wouldn't be here.

Mrs M, however, feels otherwise. She put in a good word for you.

For what... for whatever it's worth...

...I really am sorry.

Really sorry? - Aye.

How is Ellie?

How's Ellie?

Erm...

Ellie is none of your fuckin' business.

That's how she is.

Don't let me keep you.

Right.

And listen...

This is just until after the funeral, okay? After that... adiós .

So, Stonemouth.

Not a bad place to grow up

as long as you didn't get on the wrong side of Don Murston, like I did.

Or Mike MacAvett, for that matter.

Between them, they have the place sewn up.

Stewart!

Here he is. - Thank you, darling.

Hello.

- It's good to see you. - And to see you.

Dad. - Hey.

Alright? Good journey? - Aye. Not too bad.

Is that yours? - Aye. - It's nice.

Ah, it's good to see you son. You alright?

I'm fine. I spoke to Don.

He was telling me Cal was depressed. Always had been, apparently.

Well, Don would know. - I never realised.

Why didn't I know that?

- Look, it's a... it's a shook. - It's a truly terrible thing.

And Don was fine was he?

I'm allowed to go to the funeral.

I mentioned to Mike that you'd be back. You should go in and see him.

Hmm.

Look, he's an important person in this town, Stewart.

Important being another word for all-round bad bastard.

Who also happens to be your Godfather.

What your Dad is trying to say is that if you were thinking of moving back

Mike might be able to help sort things out with the Murstons.

Are you thinking about moving back?

Why would I do that? - Ellie, maybe?

Mum. Ellie married Ryan MacAvett in case you'd forgot.

She also got divorced again pretty quick.

I've no intention of seeing Ellie. And I doubt she'd want to see me.

I think that's probably for the best.

You don't know what Ellie thinks - either of you. She might need a friend just now.

I had one mate that might be able to tell me what'd been going on with Callum.

That was Dougie.

He was the last person I ever imagined joining the boys in blue.

Gilmour! You're a sight for sore eyes.

Thanks for coming, Dougie. Fancy a pint?

On duty this afternoon. What can I do for you?

- Bipolar? - Yeah, I just don't get it...

You guys hung out a lot, did you notice anything wrong with him?

You know Cal. Always cruising about in that Chevy trying to pick up ladies...

- he seemed fine. - He wasn't fine.

Come on, Dougie you're a cop.

You know everything that goes on in this place.

I did hear in the first autopsy report no water was found in the lungs

but it was amended.

No water in his lungs?