The Outrun

In Orkney, it's said that people who have drowned

turn into seals.

We call them selkies.

At the highest tides,

they slip off their seal skins for the night

and they come to the shore as beautiful people.

And they dance together.

Naked in the moonlight.

The selkies return to the sea at dawn.

Unless they're seen by a person.

And then they're trapped in their human body

and cannot return.

And they'll always remain discontent on land

because they belong to the sea.

Oh, everyone's gone?

- Yeah, everyone's gone. - More for me.

Rona? What are you doing?

Please, please, please, come on.

Come on, I gotta get you out.

- Time to go home. - Why?

I remember...

That everyone is really long gone.

No, there was, erm...

- The lights are on. - The lights.

That really means the night is truly...

Ow...

Come on, what are you doing, Rona?

We gotta get you out now, come on.

- Come on. Come on, Rona. - Let's dance.

Fine, I'll dance with you instead.

- Mm... - Dave?

Ah-ha!

- Come on. - Dave.

- Give me a twirl. - She's long gone.

Come on, love. The door's there and you're going out of it.

Under the table. Out you come.

Come on. Out you come.

- You're leaving now. - You can't see me.

- Right, right, right, Dave. - Come on. Up you go.

Stand up. Stand up.

To the door.

You're nearly there. Come on.

You've had a bit too much.

Dave, please just get her out.

- God, I'm strong. - Come on.

- Come on. - Dave, what are you gonna do?

You gonna make me leave?

- I'm gonna take you outside. - Rona!

You're gonna

- fucking make me leave? - Enough!

Fucking arsehole! Ahh!

- Time to go. - Get off of me!

Ow!

- Make him stop! - Time to go.

Arsehole!

Hey, you need a ride?

I can give you a lift, if you like.

Rona.

Um, is it okay if I get some details from you?

- Mm-hmm. - Yeah?

Just check your age.

Twenty-nine.

And...

What's your occupation?

Er, I'm unemployed right now.

But I got a masters in biology.

Just get a few more details.

So, are there any illnesses that run in the family?

Anything, like any heart attacks or strokes?

No.

Any diabetes?

No.

Anyone in the family have any kind of mental illness?

Come on.

- I'll just leave it here. - Thanks.

How's Dad?

He's fine.

I heard he's been putting his rants on Facebook again?

He's not.

Have you decided what color

you're gonna paint the walls yet?

What do you think?

I found...

There's a sort of a... duck egg?

- Not sure. - That's nice.

Yeah.

That'd be nice in the living room, I think.

Matches your trousers.

Oh.

Look what I found.

The RSPB is hiring.

For summer jobs. They're looking for...

I have a life that I have to get back to.

I know, of course. And I'll pray for you.

Mum. Don't do that.

Of course I do.

Rona, do you want some tea?

I'll be down in a bit.

Okay.

I'm really bored.

Are you bored too?

I see what you're trying to do, you know.

Come on, this is almost done.

Trust me, if you can't handle your book on mushrooms

or whatever that is...

Was it mushrooms?

Fungi.

No, I hate the way you barely need to read a book.

And all the facts still somehow get into your head.

That's 'cause you've been staring at it for hours.

Yeah, I've been literally staring at this page...

I know, just leave it and let's go to the pub!

What was it like growing up here?

- Growing up in London? - Yeah.

Growing up in London is just...

there is always low key something.

I didn't actually really clock it

until the first time I went to the countryside.

And everything there was, like, so quiet.

I'm just going to get another one,

- is that all right? - No problem.

- Er, excuse me. - Yeah, sorry?

You don't have a lighter, do you?

I don't. Sorry. I'm not a smoker myself.

Right. That's very sensible.

I like your hat you've got on, by the way.

- Well, thank you. - Very interesting.

Do I recognize you?

- Possibly, are you from here? - Yeah, yeah.

Oh, I was thinking from your accent

you must be from somewhere else.

No, er, my mum and dad are English.

- So I got a weird accent. - That'll be it, that'll be it.

Yeah, I've actually... I've been away

- for about ten years now. So... - My God, long time.

Yeah, I don't really come back that often.

So what are you doing now, then?

I'm just going off to meet a couple of friends.

Ah, friends.

Yeah.

Yeah, I don't really know anyone here anymore, so...

I was a bit desperate to...

see if there's anyone younger hanging around.

Oh, yes.

Do you wanna have a cup of tea before you go, maybe?

No, I really can't. I've got to catch up.

- Another time, maybe. - Right.

Yeah. I'm staying with my mum at the minute.

But I usually live down in London.

I just came to help my dad with the lambing, so...

But I'm going back down there soon, so...

Mm. Er, could you just give me your hand,

so I can try this again?

- Oh, yeah, no problem. - All right, thanks.

- The wind. - Yeah, it's not easy.

- Got it! - Yeah, all right.

Okay, I gotta go on. See you later.

All right.

Sometimes you can feel a vibration in Orkney.

A low rumble.

A tremor.

It takes over the whole island and every part of your body.

But, of course...

it could all just be in your head.

Some people say it's the sound

of underwater military experiments.

Others say it's the waves

caught in caves deep below the land.

But the one that brought me nightmares when I was little

is the oldest theory.

A ginormous monster

called the Mester Muckle Stoorworm,

who was so big

his tail would wrap around the whole world.

And he was defeated

by a young lad called Assipattle.

He killed the Stoorworm with a burning peat.

Fire burned inside its body.

And it was in such pain

that its neck reached nine times to the moon and back.

And then its teeth fell out

and formed the Orkney islands.

The liver is still burning today.

And we feel that as the tremors.

Oh, that was just lovely.

Absolutely gorgeous.

More mince, if anyone wants another.

- Couldn't have any more. - No, thanks.

Rona, I notice you haven't eaten much.

- You all right? - Yeah, yeah.

I'm just not hungry, but it was lovely. Yeah.

- Excuse me. - Bless you.

I'd just like to say thank you.

Thank you, Father, for this delicious food

and for this wonderful company at my table today.

Of course we thank you, Lord, for the food on our table,

for the sun in the sky...

So are you up for long?

No, I'm going back down to London next week.

Just because, um, there's a service for healing