(At a cafe. Robin sits across from Rachel. He watches her. She's on alert monitoring the entrance, the window outside and her mobile, in expectation of Elise. He was still in awe of her after their morning conversation. He was having trouble merging the mental image of a young dark-haired girl holding back tears as she smelt her own flesh burning, with the brilliant, kind, silly, bashful, beautiful, great-in-bed woman that sat before him.
Rachel was feeling sick. She had just had a therapist appointment the other day and wouldn't have another until next week- She was eager to tell her therapist that she thinks she finally understands the butterfly, that she was emotionally truthful with Robin, she had the best birthday she's ever had, her and Robin FINALLY had sex and it was as amazing as she hoped. She also, for the first time since Spencer's attack was able to have heterosexual sex and didn't freak having another person's body weight over her. She didn't feel trapped. Somehow he made her feel safe, protected. Unfortunately, she knew "happiness" to be a fleeting and uncertain thing. All of the happiness turned her stomach. She felt on edge.)
Robin: I know Charlie's vote but I wasn't sure if you wanted me over for dinner. I was getting the feeling you might want the night to yourself.
Rachel: No, you can come by. You're totally welcome. I just wasn't sure if you needed to go to your flat, If you have any plants that need watering or if you want a break from me, or whatever.
Robin: (Reaches across the table and gently rubs his index finger on her forearm.) Just the opposite I feel like I can't get enough of you. (she smiles and her eyes look him over with hunger. He smirks amused, because he shouldn't be surprised that she took the comment sexually.)
Elise: Am I interrupting? (Robin pulls his hand away from Rachel and she stands, hugging Elise.) Looks like I'm a third wheel.
Rachel: (pulls out the chair beside her for Elise to take.) No you're not. This is technically DCI Luth-
Elise: Party planner Robin?
Robin: It's technically my case.
Elise: Alright. I'll help if I can. But l've literally not been in the country for most of the year.
Rachel: Well actually it's an older case. Do you remember, way back, when I came and stayed at your house?
Elise: Which time? After the baby or after Sean?
Rachel: (looks to Robin hating for Sean to be mentioned again.) After the baby.
Elise: Yeah, alright. Mum and Dad were still together then.
Rachel: Yes.
Elise: I remember teasing Tasie that she were a lesbian because she kept wanting to brush and plait your hair. (Rachel laughs remembering) I couldn't have been more wrong.
Rachel: I forgot about that.
Elise: I swear her obsession with you was unhealthy.
Rachel: We did have some fun times together, didn't we?
Elise: Yeah. It was almost like having a big sister.
Rachel: Elise, l'm going to mention a specific date to you, ok? And you tell me if you remember anything from that day.
Elise: That was bloody ages ago.
Robin: Anything you can remember will be helpful.
Elise: I'll try.
Rachel: Alright, are you ready?
Elise: (looks to Rachel and smirks) Yeah.
Rachel: 12th of March 2011. (Elise's face goes blank.)
Elise: No.
Rachel: No? 'No' what Elise?
Elise: No I don't remember anything about that day.
Rachel: You're very quick to respond. Maybe take a few moments to think about it. Think if you can recall anything.
Elise: I can't. I was a kid. That was another lifetime ago.
Robin: (Softly re-emphasizes) Anything you can remember could help.
Rachel: Maybe if I tell you what I remember from that day. Maybe it might help jog your memory.
Elise: What you remember?
Rachel: Yeah. (Elise stares blankly, frightened, intrigued all at once.) OK So. It was my second night staying at yours. We had an absolutely mad day, me and your mum. She had to talk a suicidal woman off a roof. She was desperate, the woman, Sian. She had just murdered someone the night before. Ran him over with a car. He was a rapist. We had evidence but none of the women would come forward and the one that did was an unreliable witness, so the jury let him off.
Elise: So she killed him?
Rachel: Yeah, because when she was a teenager, someone raped her and got away with it. She never reported it. But she couldn't let this guy get off free. Then she regretted it, killing him. And on that roof your mum saved her, talked her out of taking her own life. Do you remember me telling you, your mum saved someone's life?
Elise: She's saved a lot of people.
Rachel: When we got in, I was shattered! I showered and thought I'd get an early night but then you and your mum got in a row. D 'you remember that?
Elise: Sort of.
Rachel: You had locked yourself in the washroom. And your mum couldn't get you to come out.
Elise: So, what? I was a teenager. Teenagers are dramatic.
Rachel: Do you know why I remember that day?
Elise: Why?
Rachel: Because It was 48 hrs after... (she looks to Robin and sighs. He was finding out a lot about her very quickly.) It was 48 hrs after I lost my baby. The first 72 hrs after you experience a traumatic event are crucial to memory formation, healing and avoiding PTSD. So, those memories are very clear. (Elise nods.) I wasn't the only one dealing with trauma, was I?
Elise: (teary) What do you know? (voice cracks) How? I never told anyone.
Rachel: DCI Luther's team found evidence. (She can't speak about Frank before Elise does. Otherwise she would be leading her.)
Elise: (wipes tears) Does my mum know?
Rachel: No. (Rubs Elise's back roughly)
Robin: No and she doesn't have to. Anything you disclose to us we can keep strictly confidential.
Elise: I've never talked about it to anyone. I don't know if I can.
Rachel: Sometimes all we need is a statement from a survivor like you to make sure justice is done.
Elise: I can't. (she stands in tears.)
Rachel: Elise?
Elise: At least I bloody well can't talk about it here. In the middle of a fucking cafe! (looks at the surprised mum sitting nearby with her child.) Sorry. (To Rachel and Robin) Sorry but I can't. Not here. Not like this. Not like it's just something to talk about over a sodding cheese danish!
Rachel: Alright. I understand. It's big. It's a huge very personal thing.
Elise: It bloody is! (wipes tears)
Rachel: But you're strong Elise. You survived it and you dealt with it. On your own, for all these years. You're absolutely strong enough to talk about it. Not here maybe. but somewhere else. Somewhere of your choosing. (Elise sits again)
Elise: I don't. I don't know that I want to.
Rachel: I never believed it before I was forced to see a therapist but sometimes, somehow, saying what happened out loud. (Shrugs) It sort of helps.
Elise: I'm afraid. (wipes tears.)
Rachel: Of what?
Elise: I'm afraid once I say it out loud, that'll, it will make it real.
Rachel: (sympathetic eyes) Elise, love, it is real. (Elise bursts into sobs and Rachel hugs her.) It's real but you're not alone, yeah? (Elise continues to cry and Rachel pets her head. She shushes her.. After becoming a mum Rachel's tolerance for superfluous tears increased. She looks to Robin who watches Rachel's display of kindness. Why wasn't she a druggie? Or a serial killer?) Would you feel more comfortable doing this at mine or my office? (Elise sucks in her tears and uses a serviette from the table. Elise nods.)
(Later that evening, Rachel although in her office, can hear the normal level of office chatter go completely hush. She looks up from her work and sees Gill walking in. Half of Rachel's team only knew Gill by reputation, her legacy and stories but even still when she entered her tiny presence commanded respect. Even more respect than her team generally showed Rachel. She taps her pen a little annoyed and jealous by this. Gill knocks.)
Gill: Hiya.
Rachel: What're you doing here?
Gill: I'm well. How are you? (Gill sits in the chair across from Rachel.)
Rachel: Sorry.
Gill: Charlotte and I will teach you manners, yet. (Rachel smirks) She's already rubbing off on you.
Rachel: Would you fancy a cuppa?
Gill: Sammy's making me one.
Rachel: I bet he shat himself seeing you here.
Gill: I've gotta keep the boy on his toes.
Rachel: So what's up?
Gill: Just turning in some case files and picking up a new batch.
Rachel: You solved it? The case you were working on?
Gill: Yeah.
Rachel: (smiles brightly) Brilliant! Well done Murray.
Gill: Chief Comm was pleased in all.
Rachel: How long was it cold for?
Gill: Twelve years.
Rachel: And how long did you have it?
Gill: Two weeks.
Rachel: (laughs) If he could clone you and have every syndicate run by Gill Murray, I betcha he would. Mustard!
Gill: He's trying to get me back full-time.
Rachel: Would ya?
Gill: I enjoy solving crimes in my robe watching telly. l don't reckon they'd approve that dress code for me here.
Rachel: You've got a nice pair of legs. I doubt too many people would complain.
Gill: Anyway, I wanted to tell you.
Rachel: Yes?
Gill: It was the brother.
Rachel: Alright.
Gill: Just like Charlotte said. (Rachel laughs loudly and Gill joins her. Sammy enters, head bowed, with his mother's tea.)
Sammy: What're you laughing at just then?
Gill: You. (Rachel smirks and squints her eyes remembering Gill using that line on her. Power move?) Cheers Sammy.
Sammy: (shifts looking between them) I feel like I'm back in the headmaster's office with Dad.
Gill: When were you in the head master's office?
Sammy: I think my desk phone is ringing. (quickly exits.)
Gill: His Dad let him get away with bloody murder.
Rachel: Not literally.
Gill: I'm just finding out all sorts now. (Rachel sits back in her chair and swivels side to side.) It's like I went to work and they turned into different people completely. I thought I was part of one family but really I WAS only getting half the story. (sips her tea and watches Rachel for a few moments.) What's on your mind Sherlock? (Rachel twists her lips unsure whether to say it aloud or not.) I'm going to start calling Charlotte, Watson. Solved her first crime at age 4.
Rachel: Hopefully last. We had a talk about what she's going to be when she grows up.
Gill: She'll want to be 101 things between now and then and even still, she might surprise you. (Looks out the window at Sammy who she never wanted to be a detective.)
Rachel: When they're out of your sight you can't, there's nothing you can do to keep 'em safe.
Gill: Well, I mean hopefully you've done what you could to equip them to make wise choices and keep themselves from danger.
Rachel: But there's no guarantee is there?
Gill: No. Being a mum is terrifying.
Rachel: Spencer's sister came round my flat saying Charlie ought to know her and her Nan, his mum.
Gill: Oh.
Rachel: I've just been going back and forth about it in my head. I don't want to be the person who cuts her off from people who love her, or want to. But they're under the impression that I lied. They reckon I'm some bitch who fitted him up and he's golden. I can't have her with people who hate me. They'll put ideas in her head. Turn her against me. And if they do that I don't know what I'll do but it won't be good.
Gill: Slow down. It might never happen.
Rachel: It won't. I won't let it happen and she doesn't need their bloody money either!
Gill: Do you think, if you can get them to acknowledge what happened with you and Spencer, that maybe you'd consider allowing-
Rachel: Maybe. But I don't like the idea of her being with them. They won't look after her like I do. They can't protect her like I can.
Gill: Well, you let her stay with me. I look after her and protect her, but not like you. Your sister, even Tasie, everyone has different ways of going about it. But everyone has Charlotte's well being at heart. (Rachel twirls in her seat listening.) You don't know that this Auntie and Nana don't also. She's their family too.
Rachel: (pouts) I dunno.
Gill: What's this about money?
Rachel: His dad, Charlie's Grandad, died. He left an inheritance for his grandkids. He didn't even know her.
Gill: Could help with University.
Rachel: It's a bribe. If I take it, they're going to demand access to her and they don't deserve her.
Gill: Have you met his mum?
Rachel: Well, no, but-
Gill: Then you can't fairly say that about her.
Rachel: She raised a rapist.
Gill: You know that's not fair.
Rachel: Fine!
Gill: You said yourself that you don't want to be the one getting in the way of Charlotte and someone who might love her. So if there's a way to salvage that relationship. If you don't think she'd be in danger, then you owe it to her, to grow up, and be an adult about this. Drop the strop.
Rachel: (sighs) I hate when you're right.
Gill: So you hate every moment you spend with me?
Rachel: I know she's safe with you. With Allison. Even with Tasie. But how can you know when-? (shrugs) There's just so many predators out there.
Gill: Well-
Rachel: And if something did happen to her, it'd kill me. But I'd want to know. If something happened to Sammy, when he were little, you'd want to know. Wouldn't ya?
Gill: I don't think Dave would hide something like that from me.
Rachel: (gets up and closes her office door. Gill actually holds her breath afraid of whatever truth Rachel is about to share. Rachel returns to her seat and leans forward, speaking softly but avoiding eye contact.) I found out one of Janet's daughters was a victim of a serial child pornographer.
Gill: What?!
Rachel: It was years ago when she was a teenager. He never touched her. But he took photos, of her, instructed her to do things to herself. It's horrible. It makes me sick, thinking about it. She just came forward as a witness today. Told me and Robin everything, but she doesn't want her mum to know.
Gill: Well, you can't say anything. It's an ongoing investigation, victims rights.
Rachel: Yes but-
Gill: No BUTs. The job comes first. Sorry.
Rachel: And then, I just keep thinking. They were caring parents, Ade and Janet. They did everything they could for those girls. And this still happened. Charlotte, she, she's just got me. How-
Gill: You're getting ahead of yourself again. What happened to their daughter has nothing to do with her parents or how much they loved or cared for her. This person was a predator, serial predator, which means they must've been good at what they did. Psychopaths can be very convincing when they want to be.
Rachel: (covers her face) I know. You're right. It's all just. (sits back in her seat) It's all been a bit much.
Gill: You can't tell Janet.
Rachel: I won't.
Gill: You shouldn't have told me about Elise.
Rachel: Did I say it was Elise? (Gill looks down at her manicured nails and then sips her tea. Rachel realizes it was a 50-50 guess and Gill for the millionth time has outwitted her.)
Gill: I'd better get going. We can talk more about Charlotte and the Truemans if you like. There could be a way to make things work for the both of you.
Rachel: Where would I be without you?
Gill: Realistically? In an urn, dead from alcohol poison.
Rachel: What did you say about leaving?
Gill: (points motherly) Cheek. (Smiles as she leaves.)
-Events of S01E03 referenced by Rachel and Elise.-