
Episode 1
Season 1 Episode 1 | 47m 34sVideo has Audio Description, Closed Captions
DI Hannah Laing launches an manhunt for Sean Hardacre.
When her married lover and fellow police officer Sean Hardacre goes missing under mysterious circumstances, Detective Inspector Hannah Laing persuades her colleagues to launch an urgent manhunt. She manages to contact one of Sean's confidential sources, but can "Issy" help her discover Sean's whereabouts before it's too late?
See all videos with Audio DescriptionADFunding for Before We Die is provided by Viking.

Episode 1
Season 1 Episode 1 | 47m 34sVideo has Audio Description, Closed Captions
When her married lover and fellow police officer Sean Hardacre goes missing under mysterious circumstances, Detective Inspector Hannah Laing persuades her colleagues to launch an urgent manhunt. She manages to contact one of Sean's confidential sources, but can "Issy" help her discover Sean's whereabouts before it's too late?
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Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorship[party music playing] All set?
Are you going to the afterparty?
Maybe.
Well, maybe I'll see you there.
Hey!
What's your name?
Issy.
[woman] Do you see him?
-Light gray jacket by the plant?
-Yeah?
Come on.
-[horn blowing] -[crowd cheering] What are you doing?
Huh?
What are you doing?
[man groans] -Wait, wait.
-Sir, what's that?
That's not mine.
You had no right to do that.
Mom.
What have you done?
I warned you, Christian.
What have you done?
[dramatic music playing] [sinister music playing] What are you thinking about?
Stuff.
It might never happen, you know.
Promise?
Yeah.
I promise.
-Oi.
That's for Nick's birthday.
-Huh?
I wondered what we were celebrating.
Celebrating?
More like drowning my sorrows.
-Oh, Christ.
Is that today?
-Hmm.
You sure this is what you want to talk about?
She's barely spoken to me for months and now, suddenly, she wants to have a catch-up.
Well.
Maybe it's for the best.
I don't want a bloody transfer.
Why can't they just give me a decent case and leave me alone?
-I meant for us.
-Hmm.
[phone vibrates] "Issy" with and s. -It's a work thing.
-The other other woman.
She's a contact.
Sean, I'm teasing.
It's better that I don't know.
You don't need to tell me anything.
Maybe I do, actually.
-What do you mean?
-Not now.
We're late as it is.
-Aren't you coming in with me?
-No, I need to pop home.
Oh, is Helen coming back today?
Yeah.
I should at least try and make it look like I've been living there.
[soft music playing] Idiot.
[Sean on phone] Yeah.
I've unmade the bed.
Dirtied some dishes.
-Are you heading in?
-No, I'm meeting someone in Clifton.
Listen.
I meant what I said.
What?
About your contact?
About me wanting to talk to you about the transfer.
It really might be for the best.
-How come?
-Well, maybe it's a sign you should be thinking of early retirement.
And I should too.
What?
Are you thinking about leaving the Force?
Yeah.
And my wife as well.
Are you sure?
I wanna be free, Hannah.
Free to be with you.
Take care of you.
Buy you things.
Like expensive bottles of Scotch.
[Sean] And beautiful black dresses.
[laughs] Have-- have you been at that bottle?
[Sean laughs] Hey, it would-- [scratchy sounds on phone] [sinister music playing] Sean?
Sean, are you there?
Hi, this is Sean.
I can't take your call.
Please leave a message.
[woman] You've got an exemplary record, Hannah.
You've got nothing left to prove.
Hannah.
Y-Yes.
Are you even listening to me?
Um, yeah, yeah, of course.
Uh, you said that it wasn't personal.
Well, it's not.
I know it probably sounds like another desk job.
But at this stage of your career, perhaps that isn't such a bad thing.
Hannah?
Sorry, um, I was just wondering, have you heard from Sean at all this morning?
No.
Why do you ask?
It's just that I thought he'd be back by now.
Back from where?
He said that he was meeting a contact.
He told you that?
Uh, yeah.
Yeah, this morning.
He doesn't need a babysitter, Hannah.
No.
No, no.
Of course not.
Let's focus on the matter in hand.
[contemplative music playing] Hi, this is Sean.
I can't take your call.
Please leave a message.
Hello.
Have you seen him at all?
Okay.
Okay.
Thank you.
That's okay.
Thank you very much for your time.
No?
Okay.
Thanks for your time.
Bye-bye.
Hi, this is Sean.
I can't take your call.
Please leave a message.
Sean, um, it's me.
Look, I'm worried now.
Will you call me back?
Bye.
[car horn blares] [Sean] Beautiful black dresses.
[Sean laughs] Hi.
Good morning.
Sorry to bother you.
Um, I was just wondering, did you happen to see a blue Volvo parked outside the shop this morning?
-Shortly after nine?
-Uh, yeah.
That sounds about right.
I don't know if it was a Volvo, but it was definitely blue.
And what made you notice it?
I didn't, at first.
It was the driver who caught my attention.
Oh.
What was the reason for that?
He was stood outside the window for ages staring at that dress.
Okay.
Is that him?
I'd have bet anything he was going to come in and buy it.
You can usually tell the type.
-So, what stopped him?
-I don't know.
Next time I looked he was standing by his car.
That's when I noticed it was blue.
And then he just drove off?
Couldn't tell you.
This gray van stopped and blocked my view.
And by the time it moved, the car was gone.
Okay.
Thank you.
[assistant] Have you made up your mind on the dress?
[contemplative music continues] [Tina] There are cameras all over that part of town.
Can someone check through the footage?
-I'll do it.
-Thanks, Rachel.
Marcus, Fran, Darius, will you go door-to-door?
-Sure.
-Yeah.
Should we get uniform to help?
Let's keep this to ourselves.
Could be a wild goose chase.
Anything you'd like to add?
Billy, have you got a moment?
[Billy] Well done.
For what?
For finding that witness.
Bit of a needle in a haystack.
-[Hannah] Not really.
-[Billy] Oh, come on, Hannah.
You just happened to make a bee-line to the one person in Clifton who noticed Sean this morning?
There's clearly something you're not telling me.
Leave it, Billy.
It's not material.
So.
Why am I here?
Sean told Hannah about a contact.
You've been working with him recently.
I thought it might help if she talked you through what he told her.
His contact is called Issy.
Hang on.
He told you her name?
Uh, not exactly.
It was an accident.
-What else did he tell you?
-Almost nothing, but I'm pretty sure he was on his way to meet her.
But you're not certain?
Well, he mentioned her this morning-- [Billy] Yeah, but why were you with Sean this morning?
Billy.
And then, when I spoke to him again, later on, he said that he was meeting someone in Clifton and then our call got cut off, just like that.
-And that's it?
-Yeah.
Just take a look through his current investigations.
See if anything stands out.
Okay.
[sighs] And work with Hannah on it.
[tense music playing] [door slams] You fucking cowards.
Show yourselves.
You fucking cowards.
Come on.
[police officers talking softly] -I'll go there.
-Yeah, you can do that one.
I'll meet you there.
I was just wondering if you've seen a blue Volvo -or anyone around here?
-No, I ain't seen anything.
-I'm from the police.
-I'm sorry.
Okay.
[tense music continues] Okay, Issy.
[tense music ends] [knock on door] [Hannah] Hi.
Any luck?
Look, I, um, I haven't been completely straight with you.
I found this in the street where Sean went missing.
What makes you think it's his?
There's a text message from Issy.
Why did you not tell Tina?
Well, it's hardly regulation, is it?
Um, a second mobile phone.
She's not a complete jobsworth, you know?
You don't get as far as she has by doing everything by the book.
So, um, what do I do with it?
What do you want to do?
Well, I don't know.
Text her?
See if I can found out anything that might help us -track down Sean.
-You can't go-- You can't go blundering blindly into someone else's investigation, Hannah.
-Who says I'm blundering?
-We don't know for certain if Sean is missing.
He won't thank us for scaring off a contact if he walks through that door tomorrow morning.
For God's sake, Billy.
Issy clearly doesn't know that Sean is missing.
I can just pretend to be him, you never know, she might give us something to go on.
This conversation never happened.
[tense music playing] It's your funeral.
[tense music continues] -Hannah.
-Hello, Samantha.
[hesitates] Hi.
Hi.
I-- I haven't got the wrong day?
No, no, it's today.
Come in.
-How are you?
-Very well, nice to see you.
-Nice to see you too.
-You look very well.
Thank you.
Happy birthday, Nick.
Hannah!
I didn't know you were invited.
Well, I think it was one of those invitations where you're not expected to show up.
Nonsense.
How are you?
Ancient.
Knackered.
The twins make me feel my age.
Oh, the girls full of beans.
-Full of beans.
-Hmm.
This might take the edge off.
Hey!
-You shouldn't have.
-I'm not sure that Samantha will approve.
And that is why I love it.
Have you-- have you heard from him?
-Christian?
-Hmm.
He's in the kitchen.
Christian's here, tonight?
He is my son, Hannah.
Well, of course I know that.
-It's just-- -Go on, you should speak to him.
I will.
It's the least you can do.
But go easy on him?
Nick, that's the problem.
We always did.
Hi.
How are you?
Got any fags?
No.
Your dad used to hide some in your Coco Pops.
You'll only find muesli in there.
[tins rattling] Bingo.
[cheering in background] Are you working?
What's it to you?
In a restaurant.
Oh, that's great.
I used to love waiting on tables -when I was a student.
-I'm a dishwasher.
That's good too.
As long as they're paying you enough -to live on.
-And keep me out of trouble?
That's not what I meant.
You'll be asking if I pay my taxes next.
Christian.
They're good to me.
I'm pleased for you.
So, what about you?
Are you still chasing petty criminals?
You'll be handing out parking tickets before you know it.
Well, it's a good job you can't afford a car.
[scoffs] [Nick] This is a no-smoking household.
Hand it over.
[glass breaking] I've been told to tell everyone it's time for cake.
We're just coming.
This is a great wine, Christian.
I know.
Can you believe it?
It's Croatian.
From his restaurant.
Hmm.
The owner's Croatian?
[Nick clears his throat] Are these mine?
For God's sake, don't tell Samantha.
[unsettling music playing] I'm glad to know that you're doing okay.
-After what happened.
-You mean-- After what you did.
[music ends] Fuck's sake.
You looking for this?
I thought I'd try and get his password.
I'm way ahead of you.
Hmm.
Is that legit , Billy?
Did you tell Tina?
You're very funny, you know that?
I see you've dressed for the occasion.
[ominous music playing] I think everything we need, we can find on that laptop.
Which file did you go into, Billy?
I apologize in advance, I make terrible coffee.
Thank you.
[ominous music continues] [Hannah sighs] How well do you know Sean?
Not at all, really.
Said he was investigating an Eastern European drug connection.
Asked my advice.
Why's that?
Is that your specialty?
Allegedly.
It's why I was seconded here.
From the National Crime Agency?
Aye.
So where were you before the NCA?
[huffs and sighs] It's probably better you don't ask me that.
Security Services?
[laughs] [in highbrow accent] MI-5.
You can tell me to piss off, if you want.
Yeah, I might do.
How does the son of a police officer end up serving 21 months for possession with intent?
It's an age-old story.
It's a-- painful divorce.
Dad gets a new family.
Mom get a Tinder account.
And, um Christian gradually falls off the rails.
Been there.
Got the t-shirt.
-Tinder account?
-[Billy laughs] No.
[sighs] Painful divorce.
Have you got kids?
Aye.
16-year-old.
-Hates my guts.
-Well.
That was pretty hardcore.
What you did.
Hmm.
Well, I-- I thought he'd get a suspended sentence.
A wake-up call.
That would have been so much worse without Sean.
[contemplative music playing] [Hannah] He's been amazing, he stepped right up.
He visited Christian every couple of weeks.
Every week.
[buzzer rings] Staying out of trouble?
[laughing] Yeah.
You working out?
Relieves the boredom.
You get the money I sent?
-I'll pay you back.
-No need.
I will, though.
For everything.
The way you stood by me.
Spoke up for me in court.
Anyone would have done the same.
Well, they didn't.
Seriously.
You coping all right?
Yeah.
I made a friend.
We're looking out for each other.
[contemplative music continues] [lounge music playing] [Sean] So.
What are you gonna do next?
[laughs] -You were saying?
-Forget it, it can wait.
Oh, no, go on.
I asked what your plan was?
What are you gonna do for money?
Don't worry, I'm all sorted.
I can take care of all of that for you, -you know.
-There's no need.
This guy I told you about, Stefan.
He's got me a job.
The dealer guy you met inside?
It's not what you think.
It's in a restaurant.
Washing dishes.
And you're-- sure it's legit?
I'll soon find out.
-[thuds] -[Sean groans] [ominous music playing] Krajina.
Krajina!
[Billy] Krajina.
That sounds Croatian.
It's Serbo.
Croatian, technically, but-- close enough.
It means "frontier".
I think.
Or something like that.
Oh, for God's sake, Billy.
Don't shoot the messenger.
This stuff is all over Sean's files.
And that word, over and over again.
[Hannah] Krajina.
How come you recognized the lingo?
My ex and his family fled the civil war.
He was always trying to get Christian to speak it.
How about you?
Oh, I spent a wee bit of time in that neck of the woods.
In the '90s?
[ominous music playing] Sorry about the mess.
Here.
Little bit extra.
There's no need.
It's my job.
Keep it up.
[Sean groans] Hey.
Lunch.
Come on.
Wow, you're jumpy.
Sorry.
They won't eat you.
Perhaps you should take off the-- Right.
Hey, man.
Come.
Sit.
Welcome to our table, Christian.
[Davor] Is this your first time?
Shame on you, Mama.
The boy's been working here three months.
I wanted to make sure he was staying first.
He'll eat with us from now on.
[Davor] Stefan.
Hmm?
[woman] Not at the table.
-Please, Davor.
-It's urgent.
-He doesn't speak Croatian.
-[laughing] What kind of Croate are you?
Born and bred in the UK, I'm afraid.
And my mom's English.
[Davor] But your surname's Radic.
Yeah, my dad's from Rijeka, I think.
Hmm.
So's my grandmother.
Small world, hey?
I heard you have a Croatian tattoo.
It was Stefan's idea.
It's to show the time we served together.
The roots we share.
You should go.
-Now?
-Yes, now.
-And take Christian.
-Let him finish.
See you later.
Thank you.
[contemplative music playing] Come on!
Go, go, go.
Come on!
What've you got?
What've you got?
[Christian] Oh, you're losing it.
Asshole.
Oh!
You were right, by the way.
About what?
The restaurant.
It's definitely a front for something.
Seriously?
You think it's drugs?
What else would it be?
If a problem is not on our radar, it must be pretty small scale.
Not from what I've seen.
There's cash everywhere.
So?
Get the hell out of there.
No.
I'm staying.
[Sean] Don't be an idiot.
You can't afford to get mixed up with shit again.
I won't.
-I thought maybe-- -Maybe what?
I could feed you information.
What?
About what they're up to.
Help you investigate.
Take them down.
No fucking way.
You're practically family.
It would be totally unethical.
Illegal, even.
Look, they don't know I understand Croatian.
So I can listen in, report back.
They're starting to trust me.
It's a terrible idea.
Why?
It could be dangerous.
Who are you trying to prove?
I'm not trying to prove anything.
-Is it about Hannah?
-No.
-Jelly Tots?
-Yeah.
-What's wrong with Jelly Tots?
-No, it's just-- Oi!
You.
Keep your grubby hands off.
[tense music playing] So what are we doing here?
You're helping me get rid of a car.
What kind of car?
The kind that needs to disappear.
Why?
You ask a lot of questions.
You said you'd show me the ropes.
There's a guy.
He was causing trouble.
[Christian] Which guy?
You drive this one.
Follow me.
[phone vibrates] [tense music continues] [phone vibrates] [Stefan laughing] What's up, man?
-Huh?
-What happened to the guy?
Gone.
The car's gone, he's gone.
It's all gone.
[whooping and laughing] Come on!
Oh, man!
-What's up, man?
-This is mad.
Well, let's go.
Up.
[explosion] Finish it.
[tense music continues] [clanking] [panting] [panting] [phone vibrates] [dogs barking] [knock on door] I need to speak to you.
I'm in touch with Issy, -Sean's contact.
-How on earth-- I found this phone in the street outside the shop.
-Why didn't you tell me before?
-I'm telling you now.
He's been using it to communicate with her.
-And so have you.
-She knows that I'm not Sean.
Issy was all we had to go on.
-[frantic panting] -[dog barking] [man] Hello?
Looks like Sean definitely had this place under surveillance.
[Tina] I've eaten there.
It's in Clifton.
[Hannah] So what are we waiting for?
Hang on.
-[Tina] We don't have a warrant.
-[Billy] Or reasonable grounds.
But you definitely think that Issy works there?
I only know it's on Sean's radar.
Maybe we should take a look.
We just had a call.
There's a badly beaten man that fits Sean's description.
-[Hannah] Where?
-The Mendips.
I want the site locked down, now.
Come on.
[tense music playing] [sirens blaring] [man] Again.
[phone rings] [Sean coughs] -Hello.
-[Hannah] Um, hello.
My name is Hannah.
I'm a colleague of Sean's.
I need to speak to him.
Can I speak to him?
Sean, it's me.
It's Hannah.
- It's Hannah.
-[Sean gasps] [Hannah] Listen, you've got to hold on.
We're minutes away.
Issy?
Yes, it's okay.
It's okay.
I know about Issy.
[phone chimes] You've gotta be strong now, just hang on.
Just hang on.
Sean, please.
Stay with me.
We're nearly there.
[dog barking] I'm sorry.
Sean.
[dog barking] Sean?
Sean!
[gunshot] [gunshot] Police!
Show yourself!
[in background] Clear!
Clear!
[chatter on police radio] Come on.
Come on.
One, two, three, four.
[Hannah sniffles] [unsettling music playing] [crying] [helicopter blades whirring] Copy.
The dogs found Sean's trail.
He came from the west.
And the shooter?
His tracks are all over the place.
Then he suddenly turns and walks straight here.
Maybe he saw something.
Or maybe someone told him where to look.
[somber music playing] [phone vibrates] [phone vibrates] [man] As you know, one of our colleagues has been missing.
And I regret to inform you that today, we lost Sean Hardacre.
This is now a murder investigation.
And we will do everything in our power to bring the killer, or killers, -to justice.
-[Tina] Hannah.
We have to tell you something.
We believe we have a leak.
[somber music continues] [dramatic music playing] [phone keys beeping] [phone vibrates]
Video has Closed Captions
The cast discusses the timeless dynamic of mother and son at the core of "Before We Die." (5m 10s)
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