Episode 1.4
Written by Ann McManus, Maureen Chadwick & Liz Lake
Produced by Spencer Campbell
Directed by Ian Barnes
Egged on by Ann Marie, Gil confronts Ellie about her true identity but she throws him off the scent by claiming that she, Hannah, Shoo and Josie met in a hostel for battered women and that they came to Hope Springs to escape their violent pasts. Claiming that her husband would kill her if he ever found her – the only part of her story that is true – Ellie begs Gil to keep her secret. Having promised to do everything he can to protect Ellie and the girls, Gil heads home to spin a line for Ann Marie’s benefit. She’s not convinced by his claims that the girls – especially Ellie – are clean, but Gil believes she’s just jealous. Little does he know that she has entered into an unholy alliance with Euan to rid the village of the newcomers. But Euan soon has more pressing issues on his mind: he is left reeling when Gil reveals that the police lab is now in possession of the SIM card from Billy’s phone.
The news of Nathan’s murder strikes fear into the heart of the girls, especially Shoo whose reaction is decidedly on the dramatic side. As a hyperventilating Shoo is dragged away, Ellie explains to a concerned Dean and an increasingly suspicious Sadie that she suffers from epilepsy. Once in the relative safety of the kitchen, the girls reflect on the fact that the net seems to be tightening in on them. It’s time to pack up and leave Hope Springs for good, but with no money or passports, they must resort to stealing other people’s identities. Unbeknownst to the girls, the net is tightening at a lightning speed… Marius has found the woman whose mobile phone Shoo borrowed and it’s now only a matter of time before he catches up with them.
In search of dead people’s identities, Hannah pays a visit to the local graveyard and comes across a very sombre Ina who is visiting the grave of her twin sister, Alison. It looks as though Hannah may have found her doppelganger and a new passport opportunity. Having learned that today is Ina and Alison’s birthday, Hannah grabs a bottle of fizz from the hotel and pays her unwitting victim a visit. However, Hannah becomes distracted from her task when she notices a bruise on Ina’s face. Concerned and angry, Hannah reveals that she too suffered from domestic abuse, but an anxious Ina denies Euan is guilty. Ina is adamant that Euan is a good husband, but Hannah’s instincts tell her otherwise.
Ellie, Shoo and Josie visit the local cash and carry to put their own passport plans into action. After scouring the aisles in search of look-a-likes, Ellie spots a likely victim and then has to implement an elaborate plan to get her hands on her passport. Shoo and Josie have less luck and eventually decide to ‘borrow’ the identities of two lusty holidaymakers who are staying at the hotel, meaning that Josie will now have to pretend to be a man! As the girls prepare to make their long-awaited getaway, doubts arise. Shoo realises that she’s falling in love with Dean and Ellie shares an unexpected moment of weakness with Gil, but its Hannah who eventually scuppers their escape plans by refusing to leave Ina in her hour of need. The girls know how dangerous and unpredictable she can be and if she’s left alone, Euan might not survive the night!
Hannah is still worried about Ina so Josie and Shoo decide to gain a bit of revenge on her behalf: while Shoo sets off his car alarm, Josie lies in wait with a length of scaffolding to teach him a lesson. Back at the hotel, the girls are cheered when they hear on the news that a local villain has been arrested for Nathan’s murder – they’re in the clear! They crack open a bottle of bubbly to celebrate, blissfully unaware that Marius was responsible for Nathan’s murder and that he’s now heading straight for Hope Springs. However, Marius now seems to be after the money to line his own pockets having lied to Roy about his progress. However, it turns out that Marius’s imminent arrival is the least of their worries: Sadie has just gone to retrieve her money from under her mattress and has made a startling discovery…