People Who Knew Me - 7. Daddy

Episode Date: June 20, 2023

New episodes released on Tuesday and Thursday. If you’re in the UK, listen first on BBC Sounds. Connie continues retelling her story to Paul, reliving the trauma of September 11th, and the events that lead up to her faking her own death. Hidden away in Gabe's apartment, watching the events of 9/11 unfold on TV, she turns off her phone and never looks back. Paul thinks she is brave enough to tell Claire the truth. Credits Connie / Emily - ROSAMUND PIKE Drew - KYLE SOLLER Claire - ISABELLA SERMON Gabe - ALFRED ENOCH Jade - JESSICA DARROW Marni/Jenny - DANIELLA ISAACS Dr Richter / Reporter - CHARLES HAGERTY and HUGH LAURIE as PAUL Additional voices: PIPPA WINSLOW, NANCY CRANE, JOEY AKUBEZE, BARNEY WHITE, JILL WINTERNITZ Written and Directed by Daniella Isaacs Adapted from the original novel and Consulting Produced by Kim Hooper Produced by Joshua Buckingham Executive Produced by Faye Dorn, Clelia Mountford, Sharon Horgan, Kira Carstensen, Seicha Turnbull and Brenna Rae Eckerson Executive Producer for eOne Jacqueline Sacerio Co-Executive Produced by Carey Burch Nelson Executive Producer for BBC Dylan Haskins Assistant Commissioner for the BBC Lorraine Okuefuna Additional Commissioning support for the BBC Natasha Johansson and Harry Robinson Production Executive Gareth Coulam Evans Production Manager Sarah Lawson Casting Director Lauren Evans Audio Production & Post-Production by SoundNode Supervising Dialogue Recordist & Editor Daniel Jaramillo Supervising Sound Editor, Sound Design & Mix: Martin Schulz Music composed by Max Perryment Additional Dialogue Recording: David Crane, Martin Jilek Assistant Dialogue Recordists: Jack Cook, Giancarlo Granata Additional Dialogue Editing: Marco Toca Head of Production Rebecca Kerley Production Accountant Lianna Meering Finance Director Jackie Sidey Legal and Business Affairs Mark Rogers at Media Wizards Dialect Coach for Rosamund Pike - Carla Meyer Read in Hannah Moorish Artwork: Mirjami Qin Artwork Photographer by Sibel Ameti Additional thanks to: Emily Peska, Caitlin Stegemoller, Sam Woolf, Charly Clive, Ellie White, Ellen Robertson, Kate Phillips, Ed Davis, Ciaràn Owens, Jonathan Schey, Daniel Raggett and Charlotte Ritchie.

On Valentine's Day 2004, one of Italy's greatest cyclists was found dead in mysterious circumstances. There's growing mystery about the death of one of the country's sporting heroes Marco Pantani. In November 2021, new evidence had come to light, alleging that the Italian Mafia were involved in Marco Pantani's death. The Mafia coast were money years. It's a very dark story, the pantani story. Sports Strangest Crime, Smokopantani, Death of a Pirate. Listen, wherever you get your podcasts. The message said, something happened to Keith.

They can't find him. I'm Rachel Monroe, and lost at sea. I've been investigating what happened to Keith Davis. We couldn't believe it that he would just fall overboard. In August 2015, Keith arrived in Panama and boarded a tuna vessel. When the ship returned to port, Keith was missing. I'm convinced he saw something that people didn't want him to see.

When someone goes missing on the high seas, hundreds of miles from shore, who's even accountable? These captains, they came. BbC sounds, music, radio, podcasts. This episode contains themes and strong language, which some listeners may find upsetting. All events are dramatized. The story is about a man who is a man who is a man who is a man who is a man who is a man who is a man who is a man who is a man who is a man who is a man who is a man who is a man who is a man who is a man who is a man who is a man who is a man who is a man who is a man who is a man who is a man who is a man who is a man who is a man who is a man who is a man who is a man who is a man who is a man who is a man who is a man who is a man who is a man who is a man who is a man who is a man who is a man who is a man who is a man who is a man who is a man who is a man who is a man who is a man who is a man who is a man who is a man who is a man who is a man who is a man who is a man who is a man who is a man who is a man who is a man who is a man who is a man who is a man who is a man who is a man who is a man who is a man who is a man who is a man who is a man who is a man who is a man who is a man who is a man who is a man who is a man who is a man who is a man who is a man who is a man who is a man who is a man who is a man who is a man who is a man who is a man who is a man who is a man who is a man who is a man who is a man who is a man who is a man who is a man who is a man who is a man who is a man who is a man who is a man who is a man who is a man who is a man who is a man who is a man who is a man Music, radio, podcasts. This episode contains themes and strong language, which some listeners may find upsetting. All events are dramatized. Paul, I would have stood up in court and sworn Gabe was Claire's dad. I slept with Drew twice maybe in three or four months. Did you think about getting an abortion?

No, never. Not for a second. I did the pregnancy test in a stall at work. I left straight after. Pretended I had the flu. I spent that first week alone watching CSI on repeat. I just needed to think. I thought about Drew.

If I should go back to him, tell him the truth. Maybe it'd make him realize that he might lose me. He'd get a job, he'd get help for Janet, he'd run me a bus. Surely it was better to end an affair than a marriage. I went back to work on September 10th. Hey. Gave a text, I had convinced myself he was gonna break up with me. Told me to go straight to his office.

He closed the door with me. Told me to go straight to his office. He closed the door behind me. He didn't say a word. He just lifted me up on the desk. He pulled up my skirt. I haven't thought thinking about this. Me neither. I couldn't just pause and say, I am with child and carries. And so I ripped open the shirt and all the buttons fell off.

And I thought I was in some workplace porn film instead. Oh, my gosh. Oh, my gosh, I'm so cold. Thank you for the update, Emily. He emailed me moments later. Sly problem. I have no buttons on my shirt. I'll go get you one.

No, I'm planning an escape in my gym kit. Escape? We've got a meeting at the Bethesda fountain in Central Park in Newton. I'll leave now and meet you there. PS. I'd like you to know my entire life. I've never been this romantic. He was perfect.

I'd leave Drew. I'd tell Gabe I was pregnant at the park. He stood by the statue holding a wicker picnic basket. You own an actual wicker picnic basket? Maybe you don't know me as well as you think you do. I just bought it. He took my hand, we walked through the park, passed a little kid in a tantrum.

I zoomed into Gabe's face. Does he want to be a parent? Doesn't he want to be a parent? He got out a red picnic blanket. A red picnic blanket? I told you. You don't know me. Okay.

Okay, how much of you do you think I actually know? 72%. 72%? Yeah. What about me? 100%. So you lied? No.

Well, I think I really felt that he did really know me. It felt so separate. But he didn't know any of the facts. So he didn't know any of the facts, so he didn't know you hadn't separated from Drew. Or the Drew has been talking about moving back in that she spoke on the phone every day, or you didn't know you were pregnant. Did you know that Central Park is bigger than the whole of Monaco?

And I did not know that, no. There you go. And I know that you say facts when you're nervous. Am you 72 percent? What's up? I know exactly what was up. I hate getting like this. Like what?

Just... In my head. You know, like... Like all our good bits, you're just... Just not as good. Because I'm thinking about him all the time. Why are you thinking about him? Him. He couldn't say Drew's name.

I'm not thinking about him. Well, good for you. We separated. Yeah, sure. But he doesn't know about me. But I find that all out. I just don't see why he needs to know. Because it makes me... God, I hate being like this, but it... It makes me feel needy.

I haven't wanted to hurt him. I... I don't like hurting people. Well, you're hurting me. I don't want to hurt you. I'm sorry. I should have said it then. I put my hand on my stomach. I'll make it permanent. The separation. Tomorrow, I'm sorry. I'm sorry, I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry.

I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry.

I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry.

I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm're gonna have to go, I'm afraid. And sometimes I bite my cuticles and then I leave bits of it on the sofa. What? No, no, I guess worse. Sometimes I consume the entire contents of the fridge. And I don't like anyone to disturb me in those moments. I should have said. Sometimes I lie instead of telling the truth, and in those moments I don't even feel like I'm lying. It's just easier.

But sometimes actually a lot, I rewear my socks. And once a year, I convince myself I have breast cancer and I have to call the doctor a handful of times within one day. I love you, I know. And you don't think you'll hate me when this isn't an affair anymore? This isn't an affair anymore.

But you might suddenly notice that my boobs are actually very different in size. I mean, stop. And if it helps my stomach stomach and do you want kids? That's my last bit. I'm, I want kids. Me too. I want you.

I want you too. Done. It wasn't working between me and Drew. It wasn't working before Jen, it got sick, and it definitely wasn't working now. Tomorrow, I'd ring Drew, I and end it. I tell Gabe and tomorrow I woke up just after eight Gabe had left me sleeping He'd made his side of the bed

Drew would never do that. I texted Gabe well done on your mattress and your sheets and your pillows. I love your bed Good luck this morning. I Couldn't stop smiling in the shower. I Sat make it on Gabe's bed and watch the TV Sorry Tinter us we're being told we're being told a plane has just a plane is it? It's just crashed into the world trade center Just a minute ago what we're getting very little information We're just there's the tape you see the plane flying in it's on the east side of the building and it goes into the building with the

Smoke and the flames and swelling pouring out the other side the other side of the tower We we have Joe on the phone here. Hello. Joe. Joe We have Joe on the phone here. Hello? Joe, Joe. My name is Ersi. I'm looking for a good son. If it's my daughter, it's the more daughter. Gabe was in the North Tower. My daughter, this kid's my daughter. Joe, I had asked you how you've seen anyone injured or you've seen ambulance.

I'm a son of a son of a son. I could hit it. I texted Gabe. I was first. My phone was ringing. Ringing and ringing. My mom drew my cousin drew my hairdresser. Marny, my mom drew, drew, drew.

Marny, mom, numbered recognize, drew. I didn't pick up. 903. I know that just hit a plane. I tried Gabe again. 915. What are the odds of two separate planes hitting both towers on the same day? It's one of the most shocking things I have ever seen.

They're getting used in that it's been described as a well coordinated terrorist attack. 917. The human toll is likely to be very, very, very high. 920. Still naked. And nuances are being sent to every house but over our specific, it's calling it a joke there. Just waiting. Waiting.

Waiting. 1017. It's just like a harm. 1028. Now they know it's 1028. And then, without even thinking, I just, just as Drew was trying again, I just, without, I just, I just switched it off. I switched off myself. I have no idea who called. I have no

idea what they said. But I imagine it. I imagine my mom, true, morning, their messages. Sometimes I hear Gabe. If he left a message, wonder what he said. I imagine it all the time. They're goodbyes. Everyone who knew you, thought I was dead. Don't, don't. I can't remember any of that week. I just remember...

September 19, 2001. I went to LA. Changed my name. I went to Italy. Change my name. And nine months later, June 2, 2002, my water broke just as I was serving six unglet stakes to a table of men at a bachelor's party. Oh, shit!

One of the servers drove me to the hospital. No time for an epidural. The pain was my punishment. The midwife smiled at me. Beautiful, her eyes. Drew. Drew had blue eyes. Pale skin. Drew. Pale skin. Who's here? Drew is hurtin' I thought about going back in Claire's first week. There was a shooting in her block.

I... I called Drew. I called it Drew. And I couldn't speak. I just... I could hear him in the grocery store of pacing the aisles. And I just listened to him. He'd been grieving for nine months. He'd been moving on, writing shopping lists. And I...

And I couldn't do it. I was too much of a coward. I was just fucking... I was a coward. I was just too much of a fucking coward. I'm so sorry for being so fucking awful. I just, just breathe, breathe, God. I just stopped being so nice to me.

Okay, it's okay, it's okay, just. God, listen, you think you would have told Drew the next day, if Gabe hadn't died. That's the worst, but sometimes I wonder if it happened so that I'd have a reason to run, to despair. So you would, so you made it happen. Yeah, see that, that, yeah, now you do sound crazy. That's like, you sound like a total psycho. Absolute nutback. Oh god, now I really actually do have to go. Come. Emily didn't go through Kima. She didn't lose her hair.

She didn't get her breasts. She didn't get her. Her breasts cut off. You don't. You're braver than she was. I think you're braving up to tell Claire. Where are we going? I pick up Claire from Talia. Zuma Beach for Susie's gelato. Paul says I'm braver than you.

That means something's up. I'm braver than you, That means something, sir. I'm braver than you, Emily. Yeah. Something's up. People who knew me, starring Rosamond Pike, Kyle Sawler, Isabella Sermon, Alfred Enoch, Jessica Darrow, Charles Hackerdy, Daniela Isaacs, and Hugh Laurie. Other voices, Gippa Winslow, Nancy Crain, Josephckabase, Barney White, Jill Winternitz, written and directed by Daniela Isaacs, adapted from the original novel by Kim Hooper.

Producer Joshua Bucknell, executive producers, Faye Dorne, Cleelya Mountford, and Sharon Horgan, executive producer for the BBC, Dylan Haskins, production manager Sarah Lawson, casting director Lauren Evans, supervising dialogue record as an editor, Daniel Haramizha, supervising sound editor, sound design and mix, Martin Schultz, sound design and recording by sound node, music composed by Max Perrymont. If you've been affected by anything you've heard in this episode, details of help and support in the UK are available at bbc.co.uk

for its last action line. People who knew me, listen first on BBC Sounds. Can you remember the worst day of your life? How would you feel if someone told you that day never happened? That you were being paid to make it up? For people who've lived through terrible disasters, this is a shockingly common experience. I'm Marianna Spring, the BBC's disinformation

and social media correspondent. In the BBC Radio for Podcast Disaster Trolls, I investigate how people caught up in the Manchester Arena bombing and other UK terror attacks are being targeted with extreme conspiracy theories and abuse. Join me as I uncover evidence of the trolls blighting the lives of people right here in the UK, who now want answers and abuse. Join me as I uncover evidence of the trolls blighting the lives of people right here in the UK, who now want answers and justice.

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