'House of Liars' by Cam Penner
Ripped By mstoll
Go to Callum's funeral. Pay your respects. Then get the hell out of Stonemouth.
And stay away from our sister.
That'd been an eventful couple of days to say the least.
Come home for a funeral
suspect best mate was murdered, get hung from a bridge by my ankles
The thing is, I can't leave, not yet. Not until I know what happened to Cal.
'Amazing Grace'
ORGAN MUSIC?
Thanks for coming.
They say there's, eh, no right words in an event like this.
But words are all we have. So here goes.
Callum was in his prime when he was taken from us suddenly.
Taken by the most horrific, brutal and criminal act.
The act of self-murder.
Now, I loved my son
I loved him more than life itself.
But there is no getting round it.
He broke our hearts
when he chose to end his suffering -
a suffering we knew nothing about.
So I want to say to the parents today
talk to your kids
find out what they think, how they feel
and if you don't like what you hear, do something about it.
Anyway, enough of that. We're here today...
to celebrate Callum's life, short as it was
and remember the good times.
Play the music...
'New York City Girl'
I heard you went bungee jumping last night.
Nothing to do with me, by the way.
Word of friendly advice. Stay away from Ellie and Grier today, yeah?
Don't make a bad situation worse -
not if you want to leave with all your body parts still intact.
Do you know anything about this autopsy that said Cal didn't have any water in his lungs?
Who told you that? - I just heard something.
You heard something? Don believes Callum killed himself.
Best it stays that way.
And if he didn't? - What if he didn't?
Do you know what your problem is, eh? You lack empathy...
And you think you're the only person suffering here. You're not.
Don took me in when I had nothing.
He was the father I never had, okay? It kills me to see him grieving like this
and I don't want him any more upset because somebody what... 'heard something'.
What if it isn't just talk though, Powell?
My job is to protect Don. And that's what I'm doing, do you understand?
You need to keep your mouth shut, OK? - OK. OK.
Look, to be honest, I don't know what the truth is.
I do know that it won't be pretty though.
So how's it feel being back at the scene of the crime?
I'm just glad I could pay my respects.
Makes you think, doesn't it? Death.
You realise your mortal coil is just gettin' that bit shorter.
And yours, at this point in time, is about the size of an atom.
That is short.
I want you gone by tomorrow. Do not disappoint me.
You two OK? - Yeah, yeah.
Stewart was just telling me he's off tomorrow.
Yeah, that's right.
I told you to leave him alone. He's apologized.
Doesn't make everything OK though, does it?
No, not by itself but it's a start.
Sure, honey. Whatever you say.
You've got half an hour. Then you're out of here.
Thanks for saving me.
It's nothing personal. I just don't like the way he thinks he can bully everyone.
Ellie listen, Ellie...
Can I get you a drink son? - Not now, Mike.
Now, about last night. - I didn't see anything.
No, you did. But I don't want you to get the wrong idea.
About Connie and me. We're old friends.
She's grieving. We hook up now and then
just for a bit of tea and sympathy. - It really isn't any of my business, Mike.
Good stuff.
- You be careful. - I've got to go.
Are we supposed to be communicating telepathically?
I was just wondering if you ever told Don what you threatened to tell him.
You know, about you and Cal? - What about me and Cal?
All that 'stuff'.
What are you talking about?
Ellie told me what you were going to do.
Well did she?
Well, it's none of your business. - You did, didn't you? Why?
Why did you do it, Grier?
Y'know, Cal got everything he ever wanted. No questions asked.
Same with Ellie. She was always the clever one?
The one everyone listened to, the one who was going to do so well.
Fraser and Norrie?
Blessed with the confidence only truly stupid people have.
Even Powell was further up the food chain than me.
I was the one who had to fight tooth and nail
for every scrap of love and affection I could get.
I was sick of being ignored. - Yeah, that's no excuse, Grier!
Easy for you to say. You're an only child.
How did he react? - Don? He went mental.
Smashed his fist through a wall.
Threatened to kill Cal. Threatened to kill me too.
Who else knew, Grier? Who else did you tell?
What did I tell you? What did I say?
Piss off.
Hey, Ferg. Haven't seen you in a while. - Hey, Grier.
I'm really sorry about Callum. - Oh don't.
We all know you didn't like him much. Always jealous of him and Stewart.
Get you, Mrs Perceptive.
I always thought you were dead shallow. - I am.
I'm at my own brother's funeral and all I can think about is sex.
It's natural. Sex and death. It's all related. They did a study.
Did you know that risk of early death is 50% lower in men
with a high frequency of orgasm than in men with low frequency of orgasm.
It's the same for women.
It's a Pity you're gay. My car's just over there.
We could add a few years to our lives. - I'm pansexual.
To be precise.
Ellie.
Sorry.
I didn't mean to interrupt.
I just wanted to say goodbye.
Goodbye.
This isn't the right time, you know...
Today's not about me and you, but this might be the only chance I get, so...
Look, I really am sorry for humiliating you.
You don't do that to people you care about. I was a prick.
Yeah, you were.
- The wee prick's still here. - I'm gonna kick his head in.
What are you doing? - Shhh.
Just need to make a quick call. Two seconds.
PHONE RINGS
Stewart, mate. Hey, listen, it's me.
The Chuckle Brothers are on their way, man. They don't look happy.
Shit. Fraser and Norrie are after me... - Go.
Where is he?
There he is!
Open the door! Open it, Gilmour. That's the last time!
Get back here, Gilmour!
- How was the funeral? - It was pretty grim.
It's not much fun burying someone you went to school with, is it?
Is this where you were the night he died?
Any chance I can see the CCTV from that night? - I told you, the cameras were down.
Come on, Ezzie. At least let me see what happened before they cut out.
Why? - I need closure.
You see, the money you lost last night. You can have it back.
All of it. Just let me see the CCTV. No one will ever know.
How much did I lose, again?
That's Callum 's chevy.
There he is walking to the bridge.
See, look, he's waiting to meet someone. - Or... contemplating suicide.
Who's that there? Who's that guy? Get that one up.
Right, go back, go back. Rewind.
That's it, that's it. Play it from here.
That's it, that's it. Stop
I know him. That's D-Cup.
Yeah, he came up to give me a bit of weed.
Let's see that one again.
What happened?
That's when the camera went down.
Hi, Ellie, it's me, don't hang up.
Stewart, are you OK? What's wrong?
I need to speak to you. I've seen some CCTV from the night Callum died.
OK. Meet me at my flat.
Stewart, how are you mate? It's been a while.
I should have called and stuff but...
anyway, 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?
Speak soon. Remember what Machiavelli said, "Before all else, be armed."
Why didn't you get back to him?
I was up to my eyes in it at work.
Has it occurred to you he might still be alive if you had?
Has it occurred to me? I've thought about nothing else.
Now I know what this is about.
You're racked with guilt and you think...
that you can make it all better by finding somebody else to blame.
Cos that's what you do, isn't it, Stewart? What if there isn't anyone to blame?
What if it is your fault?
Listen to me, Ellie. Ellie, listen to me.
Someone tampered with the CCTV.
Maybe your Dad, I dunno. But I saw the footage before it out out.
There was a guy named D-Cup up on the bridge that night -
we need to talk to him. And Grier did tell your Dad about her and Cal.
I don't know what happened...
but I don't think we can pretend Cal committed suicide any longer.
KNOCKS ON DOOR
What the fuck do you want? - Can we buy some weed?
Thanks for sorting us out. It's been a horrible day
What with my brother's funeral and all that. - Aye, nae bother.
- These yours? - Aye. I collect them.
- Bone china. Vintage. - They're beautiful.
Circus animals mostly. Wee dugs. Monkeys. That sort of thing.
But this, this is rare.
Blanc De Chine porcelain. You canne get these for love nor money.
I love the Chinese. See apart from us, they invented all the best stuff.
Mean a lot to you, then? - Aye, they do.
But that - that's my pride and joy.
You want to tell me what you were doing on the bridge the night my brother died?
What? - I saw the CCTV.
I was just dropping off gear for Ezzie.
So you didn't meet Callum or anything like that?
No, no, gimme it. - Tell me the truth.
Nothing you can say about my family will shock me.
That is the truth.
You said I'd end up like Callum. What did you mean?
I was just saying what everybody else was thinking.
That Callum Murston going off that bridge wasn't his own idea.
Look, I had nothing to do with your brother's death. And that's the truth.
I mean, why would I mess with Don Murston?
Oh shit! Run!
Stop!
Gilmour!
Gotcha.
CAR HORN BEEPS - Get in. Move! Now!
Gilmour!
Bastard!
I know your Dad talked to you, Stewart, but I need to explain a few things.
About how you got him involved in drug smuggling?
Smuggling... sounds a bit Daphne Du Maurier.
We're importers of miscellaneous goods. Your Dad's not involved.
He's merely implicated.
Oh, that's OK then. As long as he's merely implicated.
Was Callum involved in this? - I barely knew the boy.
So it's a coincidence that you both like quoting Machiavelli all of a sudden?
Don't make me do this, Mike.
Do what? - Talk about last night. Tea and sympathy.
Right, OK. Mike here has been seeing... - OK, OK.
This goes no further, you understand?
Callum came to me.
He said he'd fallen out with his dad and he was going to use his own contacts
to bring in some drugs.
He wanted me to shift the stuff down South.
I agreed to front the money so that he could buy a boat for the purpose.
Your dad looked the other way and we had ourselves a good business going.
I take it Don doesn't know about this? - Oh, I sincerely hope not.
You think someone found out about your little business venture and killed my brother?
It's possible, Ellie.
Got myself into a spot of bother. Big George-type bother.
Only this time I'm not... I'm not so sure I'm gonna get out of it.
And if I don't, remember I love you. Alright?
Speak soon. Remember what Machiavelli said, "Before all else, be armed."
He sent you this?
He sent you this and you did what?
Nothing?
Did you have anything to do with Cal's death?
Say that again?
Or did you order someone else to do your dirty work for you?
You seriously think I would do that to my own son?
If you had a good reason. If he betrayed you, maybe.
Betrayed me?
What kind of shit have you been putting into my daughter's head?
Don be careful, it's not worth it.
I thought it had something to do with what Grier told you
but you knew about the deal he made with Mike
and decided he had to be taught a lesson, didn't you? Didn't you?
What deal? What are you talking about? What deal? What's he talking about?
Don Murston! Put that gun down right now! Do you hear me? Right now.
By the way, I know. - Know what?
I wasn't talking to you.
Go.
Dad. - Hello son.
When's the next batch coming in? - What batch? What are you talking about?
- Just tell us when it's coming in. - How would I know?
Because you're the harbour master. And they'll need to know when it's safe, right?
You can't turn a blind eye anymore. Callum died because of this.
Tell me! - Alright.
I just got a message from Mike.
There is a shipment coming in. - When?
Tomorrow morning, about seven o'clock.
What are you going to do? Stewart?
CLOCK STRIKES SEVEN
It's got to be the boat, right? - Yeah.
Stay exactly where you are. Nobody moves. Down on your knees.
Get on your knees!
That's your brothers.
Hi Mike. We're taking the coke. Thanks.
It belongs to me.
It belongs to Callum Murston but he's not here, is he?
You! Keep loading the van. My brother here will be driving it away.
Move!
Norrie, Fraser come with me. I wanna to have a wee chat.
Now!
Da, we're hi-jacking this coke.
He's been bringing this stuff in for months behind your back.
Yeah, let me ask you a question. How did you know about this?
D-Cup heard word it was coming in today. - Nothing to do with your brother?
How d'you mean?
Why you didn't know about this shipment before you threw him off the bridge?
We were nowhere near the bridge. - He was gonna betray you, Dad.
Sell out the whole family. - Shut up, Norrie.
We didn't know what he was up to until after he died.
Do not lie to me. Just tell me.
You hung him over the bridge to give him a scare, and he slipped.
Don't try and blame us.
He was depressed because you hadn't spoken to him for months.
I'm trying to give you the chance to set things right, eh?
Just tell me he slipped, you tell me it was an accident.
And I can accept it.
And I'll accept it because the alternative is too horrible to contemplate.
Whatever you say, Da. Whatever you say happened - happened.
Alright film, Ha slipped.
I've made my mind up. I'm done.
Ellie!
No more. I'm handing the business over to Ellie.
Everything. The snooker hall, the pubs, security firms, the property, the lot.
Are you serious?
Don, that's not a good idea... She'll sell everything. She'll go legit.
My boy is dead!
And if anything happens to Ellie, if a hair on her head is damaged
then I will come out of retirement and kill every fuckin' one.
It's Ellie! Don't shoot!
We're going after her. - Stay where you are.
What now?
What are you doing?
Take off your sock. - What?
Take off your sock.
Which one? - Either one! Just do it!
Ellie, listen.
So long, Stewart.
I need to talk to you about Fraser and Norrie.
What have they done now?
Are you going somewhere?
You're living Dad, aren't you? - People drift apart, Ellie.
I'm sorry but I need to do this. - You need to do it new?
This family is falling apart and you're walking away?
Do you have any idea what it's like being married to Don?
Try being his daughter.
Do you even want to know about Fraser and Norrie?
What about them?
They had something to do with Cal's death.
That is nonsense.
Whatever happened, your brothers didn't have anything to do with it.
Now, Cal is gone
and my heart is broken
but life is for the living, Ellie.
You need someone you can talk to. Someone who really knows you.
And there aren't many... - You're talking about Mike, aren't you?
I read once, years ago, a story about the oldest man on the planet.
A wee Japanese fella. 108, I think.
They asked him what the secret of a long life was. Do you know what he said?
Forgiveness.
Forget the past.
You have a chance at real happiness, El.
Take it.
That's all I'm doing.
You need to talk to my old man! Explain we never touched Cal!
Hey, it's not me or Don you should be angry with
it's Gilmour.
If he hadn't come back, asking questions, none of this would have happened.
He'll be gone soon enough. - Don't think so.
He's got your sister wrapped round his little finger.
I mean they're getting back together
and goin' to take everything that is rightfully yours.
Aye, he knows exactly what he's doing
turning everybody against each other, one by one
getting rid of anybody who's a threat.
I wouldn't be surprised if he had something to do with Cal going off that bridge himself.
What, he was Cal's best mate. - Yeah, exactly.
Maybe Stewart was his contact down south. Think about it.
I mean, how else did he know that shipment was gonna arrive?
So you're heading back down South then?
Aye, made such an arse of everything.
That's harsh. But true.
Just like old times, eh? Callum would have loved this.
Yeah. It's far more his style than all that Presbyterian misery.
Is Ellie here?
Yeah, she's still down on the beach somewhere.
Aye, I'll see you in a bit. - Yeah, man, see you later.
I know I've lost you. I accept that.
I just want you to know that I'll always love you.
And I still want to have babies with you.
Why don't we start again, in London?
Pretend like we only just met, forget about everything that's happened?
I don't know if I can do that. It's too soon after Callum.
It's okay.
I have to admit, you two look right together.
Maybe now is a good time for me to say sorry for what happened at the wedding.
You've got nothing to be sorry about, Jel. It was all my fault.
No, it wasn't. I was jealous. Truth is I'd fancied you since we were kids.
I'm not proud of what I did Ellie. I should never have let him talk me into it.
But he just wouldn't leave me alone. - Who?
Powell.
Powell?
He convinced me it was me you really wanted.
I was so out of it, I would have done anything.
He wanted me out of the way from the start.
It's Powell.
Dad, it's all my fault.
I should never have said anything about me and Cal.
He betrayed you because you believed me over him.
Yeah, but I was right to believe you, wasn't I?
PHONE VIBRATES
Hello. - Dad, it's me.
Listen, you need to trust me on this. I think Powell killed Callum.
Powell? Are you sure about this?
- Yes. Please trust me. - Okay, okay, I'll deal with it.
I'll deal with him, okay?
Dad, please be careful and remember I love you.
Yeah, I love you too.
Tell your mother I'll be back later.
Don.
HE CHARGES A GUN
You know I didn't mean for him to die.
I wanted information about the deal. It got out of hand.
Forgive me?
You know I can't do that.
I was as much a son to you as he was. As any of them.
I know.
All they do is slag you off behind your back.
They don't care about you the way that I do.
I know that too. - Yeah, you said it yourself, didn't you?
Didn't you?
If only I were a Murston.
But you're not, are you?
And you never will be.
Forgive me.
Like I said, I can't do that.
And you're gonna tell me where my boys are.
Fraser's gone to the beach - he's gonna take out Gilmour.
Now, you're gonna go away
And don't ever let me find out where you are.
'Cause if I do I'm gonna have to come after you and I'm gonna kill you.
You're all I've ever cared about. - Yeah?
Well, care about something else.
To Callum! - To Callum!
THEY CHEER
Gilmour!
You alright, Fraser?
Keep out of this, Ferg.
Look man, put the gun down, alright, mate? You don't want anybody getting hurt.
Too late for that.
How many times have I told to leave, Gilmour?
Ferg!
Nobody moves!
What? You think I won't? He's not taking what's mine.
He doesn't want anything.
Who put that in your head? Powell?
He set me up and now he's setting you up. - Shut up, you lying bastard!
GUNSHOT
Ferg!
It's OK. Someone call an ambulance. - Look at me, mate. It's OK.
Now!
Ferg, listen, look, look, look, Fergus, look at me.
Ferg, Ferg, look at me. Ferg. Look at me.
No more.
Ferg. Ferg, stay awake. Stay awake. Ferg. Ferg, Look.
It's gonna be OK, mate. Right? It's gonna be OK.
Just think of the good times we'll have
Mam-mm? Shit-hole
I love you.
Don't die. Don't die, you bastard!
Listen, don't die. Ferg, Ferg, Ferg.
Listen to me, listen to me! Ferg, wake up! Wake up! Ferg, listen, listen, wake up!
MEDICAL MACHINES BEEP?
Good book?
How are you feeling?
The doctor said the bullet missed your vital organs.
Are there non-vital organs?
What are you still doing here, anyway?
We wanted to make sure you were OK.
We?
Is that an official we?
I'll let you boys catch up.
What I said on the beach...
Just forget it, will you?
I just wanted to go out with a bang.
I love you too.
So there it is. Ferg recovered.
Grier headed back to her photo shoot.
Don went legit. Connie and Mike decamped to Spain.
And Powell... Powell simply disappeared.
As for me, well...
You'd better go then. - Aye.
We should be together. What d'you think?
I'll think about it.
Might be a bit tricky with you being in London.
Wait.
TRAIN WHISTLE BLOWS
'Curiosity' by Cam Penner
And what was it that Machiavelli said again?
"It cannot be called virtue to kill, to betray friends, be without pity -
by these methods you gain power, but not glory“.
Something like that.
Ripped By mstoll