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DARK MONEY - BBC 1 mon 9pm

61 replies

Blondeshavemorefun · 08/07/2019 19:54

A family accept a pay off to keep silent about the abuse their son suffered by a film producer

They will be rich beyond their dreams

But at what cost

Money can’t buy happiness

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thenightsky · 08/07/2019 21:18

Just started watching.

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DrinkReprehensibly · 08/07/2019 21:58

Well episode one didn't really expand upon the trailer! Bit disappointing.

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Redshoeblueshoe · 08/07/2019 22:02

I won't be watching the next episode. Very badly done.
Bloody ironic considering they did fuck all when people they employed did it, and they did nothing

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MrsSiba · 08/07/2019 22:09

Watching this now. Are the parents crazy going in for a meeting with no legal representation and showing the evidence as soon as it's asked for?!?

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Blondeshavemorefun · 08/07/2019 22:16

Forgot I was working so will see tomorrow

Seems No one enjoying it

As much as can enjoy a story about abuse iyswim

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thenightsky · 08/07/2019 22:21

It was disturbing. Even more so when you think about the BBC/Saville.

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Davros · 08/07/2019 23:10

I thought it was good although I have to admit to a bit of light MNing when it was on Blush

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The80sweregreat · 09/07/2019 06:41

I suppose we're meant to think they couldn't afford a lawyer to take to the film's offices and they also thought that the evidence they had would be enough to him convicted? They were very naive and the first lawyer they consulted also put them off by saying how much it would cost financially and emotionally ( and how different American courts are compared to U.K. ones) so they were already on the back foot. It would be dragged up about his older son and his mum and they would be made out to be bad parents I suppose. ( back story there I think)
Going to the police might have been a better option? The video on the phone they had didn't show faces, so may not have helped as much as you might think.
Either way , its a classic ' catch 22' situation really. They obviously did take the money.

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salsmum · 09/07/2019 11:29

I think it's going to come out with the press being rung initially and the reporter keen to get his teeth into the story. But I think this storyline will get better as the drama unfolds. I was wondering how they'll explain their sudden wealth to their son ( lottery win??). I also had a moment where I thought how many times has this happened in RL?? Of course it will come out that the producer has a history for abusing kids. I think the general consensus was that after seeing the first lawyer that it'd cost them a lot of money to Pursue a case in America and they were very naive as to what to do.

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The80sweregreat · 09/07/2019 12:47

It has so many stories intertwined of many things we've heard about in the past : Savill, the recent Michael Jackson documentaries on channel four the Harvey Weinstein allegations and probably many more that were ( maybe) covered up.

They know this family are not very rich ; they know how they would be pulled to pieces in court and how the lawyers would make it look like it was his fault / lying etc. Even with some evidence (they now don't have.)
Paying them off is damage limitation.
Very clever really but still heartbreaking for the victims.

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The80sweregreat · 09/07/2019 15:24

I suppose that the ideal thing to do would to take your phone off them and check the footage was still there : not take the money and keep them guessing as to your next move. It's all horrible whichever way you look at it esp if the U.K. police can't help much either.
Not sure how they will play this drama out. They have taken the hush money. That makes them complicit now.

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stumbledin · 09/07/2019 19:05

Apparently it was written over 2 years ago before Weinstein.

But seriously, is it realistic that the first think parents of an abused child do is think about money and publicity?

Given the Saville scandal and support for survivors of child abuse they dont even think about counselling, phoning a support line.

Are we all supposed to think that parents just see their children as a source of income, whether sending them off alone to Hollywood or phoning the media / solicitor when they come back and it becomes clear they didn't protect their child to begin with??!!

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Thefemalekeithrichards · 09/07/2019 19:09

@Redshoeblueshoe

Indeed - well said

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The80sweregreat · 09/07/2019 19:32

I think they just went into panic mode. Was warned off twice and wasn't sure what to do. The chaperone should have been more help. Unless she has been paid off to be quiet as well? Is maybe aware that this producer is very dodgy?

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Wingedharpy · 09/07/2019 19:54

I didn't get the impression that the parents thought about money and publicity first.
I felt that what they wanted was to punish the perpetrator of the assault on their son but, from the outset the son (understandably) ,said he didn't want anyone to know so they were trying to respect that.
They were a family who were strapped for cash, hence the scene were the debt collector turned up to collect money from the parking fine(s).
The fact that Dad hadn't paid it off straight away resulted in more money being added to the debt - an individual with cash to spare would pay up to stop this happening.
Lack of money could also go some way to explaining why neither parent had accompanied the son to America.
Presumably, they both work and couldn't get time off work and be sure they would have a job to come back to.....then what?
So do they prevent their son from having this opportunity of a lifetime or do they allow him to go, with an acting agency chaperone?

It seems to be heading down the money is the root of all evil tack.

This pay off will tear them all apart and just add to the burden of guilt the parents already carry.

Dad contacting press, to me, was just symptomatic of his desperation to try and get back at the actor/director concerned by considering generating adverse publicity for him, but he couldn't do that without going against his son's wishes, hence, he couldn't go through with it.

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Soubriquet · 09/07/2019 20:10

I’m watching it now

Though it would make me sick, I think I would accept the pay off...I would hate to put my child on the stand in the US court and then have him accused of lying.

Much worse for them

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stumbledin · 09/07/2019 20:38

The point I am making is even if you want revenge or whatever, if you can google the name of journalists or solicitors you can also google support options for survivors.

The parents haven't done this.

I am not claiming this is how all parents would react, but it creates an impression of what is "normal" via a tv show. This is the problem with someone thinking, oh wouldn't this be a good theme for a play.

It makes the parents look seriously absorbed in their own emotions.

They are failing to respect their son, who says dont tell anyone else, and yet they keep telling other people over and over again.

Both the mother and the father wanted to do what they wanted.

Not sure how it will end and cant even remember the channel offered helpline support numbers at the end.

Sad that some people watching this might think this is all you can expect of parents, putting their needs before their sons.

So even though written pre Wienstein, it was written after Saville and the setting up of a public inquiry into support for victims of child abuse.

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Blondeshavemorefun · 09/07/2019 20:42

Seen it now. Thought was weird their chaperone didn’t attend with them

Not did they seen free 30min legal advice

Nor why one of them didn’t fly out and stay with Isaac. Surely a big film like that would have paid for them to stay there

Agree they thought if told people and went to court that they wouid be dragged through doing it for money as poor

To not be able to afford to pay a parking fine or buy a new fridge is sure :(

So they took the 3 million. Obv brought huge house with pool but at what cost to their sons mental well being

I wasn’t sure if he had sex with ISAAC :( or was a wank

Either just as bad as abuse

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Blondeshavemorefun · 09/07/2019 20:44

I’m hoping that all gets in the open. The producer gets jailed and fined

The clip at end was heartbreaking seeing Isaac with a tear fall off his cheek and saying you said he would pay

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EtonM3ss · 09/07/2019 21:29

Tyrone is the dads son? Jess and Isaac are the couple's children?

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MrsSiba · 09/07/2019 21:56

Did I miss why Jess is no longer living with them?

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theliverpoolone · 09/07/2019 22:10

Jess is now at uni, so living independently. She's older than Tyrone though - did the dad have an affair with Tyrone's mum? They don't seem to have really explained that.

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Judashascomeintosomemoney · 09/07/2019 22:17

Jess called Tyrone ‘your love child’ when talking to the Dad so presumably he did have an affair.

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Judashascomeintosomemoney · 09/07/2019 22:20

Two things I don’t understand, firstly, just because the British police couldn’t do anything surely doesn't explain why they couldn’t have reported it to the US police, the lawyer they saw didn’t even mention that. Secondly, why did they have parking fines and a fridge they couldn’t afford to pay/fix? Surely, Isaac would have earned some money by then, the film was finished.

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MrsSiba · 09/07/2019 22:35

The second episode was better than the first. The way each character is affected has been done well imo. None of them are happy apart from Tyrone.

I think the lack of funds to pay the fines and replace the fridge was just to highlight they were strapped for cash.
I think the next episode will show Sam and Manny's marriage breaking down. He already lied about going to see Sabrina.

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