Text Me When You're Home Safe - Radio Drama

Radio Drama: ‘Text Me When You’re Home Safe’

Screenplay written by Delphie Levy Jones 

in accordance with the University of Liverpool: a module focusing on social issues and the voice.

Seven actors should be cast. 

Character List : (by order of appearance)

Narrator

999 Call Operator

Lena Hinch

Constable Wickes 

Rona the Call Handler

Elisabeth Hinch

Sam Turner

Notes: The narrator reads all the court transcriber notes, including file information and automated messages. Phonelines disconnecting are indicated by a beep. Inaudible sounds can range from mumbling to a rummaging background noise. Curse words can be bleeped. Actors may choose whether to follow the directed pauses and suggested timings.

The narrator will introduce the programme by reading: 

The following is a true story. Some names, dates and details have been changed to protect the innocent. There are some parts of this programme you might find upsetting. 

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COURT TRANSCRIBER NOTES:

DIGITAL RECORDS FOR THE PURPOSE OF PROSECUTION, TO BE USED AS EVIDENCE IN COURT: 11/01/23

THE EVIDENCE IS COMPRISED OF TRANSCRIPTS OF:

FOUR AUDIO FILES OF OUTGOING CALLS FROM VICTIM’S MOBILE TO EMERGENCY SERVICES AND HOTLINES 

ONE AUDIOFILE FROM VICTIM’S MOBILE OF RECORDING OF SUSPECT

TWO RECORDED INTERVIEWEE STATEMENTS: ONE OF THE VICTIM AND ONE OF THE VICTIM’S MOTHER

FILE NUMBER:

1

THURSDAY 05/08/22 01:02am  OUTGOING to 999 00:03:26

OPERATOR: Police. What’s your emergency? LENA: I’m just um, on my walk back from work. I think I might be being followed. OPERATOR: Okay, what makes you think you’re being followed? LENA: Well, he’s been behind me for about [PAUSE] ten minutes, I’ve stopped to pretend to tie my lace and stuff and he stopped, and I’ve just turned left and he’s come left. OPERATOR: Okay, and it’s a man behind you? LENA: Um, yeh, he’s got his hood up though. [INAUDIBLE]. Can’t really see. OPERATOR: And there’s enough distance between you for him not to hear this call? LENA: Yeh, at the moment. I’m going quick. OPERATOR: And how far are you from home? LENA: Only a minute, maybe two. OPERATOR: We’ll stay with you until then. Keep a quick pace and stay alert. How old are you? LENA: I’m nineteen. OPERATOR: Okay stay on the line with me, do you usually finish work around this time? LENA: Yeh. Nightclub. I’m a bartender. [PAUSE]. I’m shaking, sorry, I’m scared. [PAUSE]. He’s got quicker. OPERATOR: Okay stay calm, we’ve got tracks on your location. Are you nearly home? LENA: Should I go home? Won’t he see where I live? OPERATOR: We want you to get to somewhere safe, yes. [PAUSE]. Is that you unlocking your door? LENA: [INAUDIBLE]. Yes. I’m home. Locked it. OPERATOR: Okay good. Can you see any signs of the man? LENA: Um, I’m looking. It’s dark. [PAUSE]. I don’t think I can see him. OPERATOR: What’s your first name please? LENA: Lena. OPERATOR: Okay Lena, we’re glad you’re safe. Call back if you see someone you suspect near your home or if you feel unsafe, okay? LENA: Okay. Yes.  LINE DISCONNECTS

FILE NUMBER:

2

FRIDAY 13/08/22  16:36pm  OUTGOING to 999 00:01:46

AUTOMATED: We are currently receiving a high volume of calls. Your call will be answered as soon as possible. Hold the line please.  AUTOMATED: We are currently receiving a high volume of calls. Your call will be answered as soon as possible. Hold the line please.  OPERATOR: You’re through to Merseyside Police, what’s your emergency? LENA: Hi there. I called last week saying I thought I was being followed home and now I’m at home but there’s been a man walking around outside since about, um, well for like three hours I think [PAUSE]. Yeh. I first saw him around half one. OPERATOR: Okay. Do you have a cause to believe these incidents are related? LENA: I don’t know. This man has his hood up too, similar height I think, but I was told to just call back if I feel unsafe. OPERATOR: Okay, we’ll send an officer out to you to have a look around, okay? LENA: Okay, thank you.  LINE DISCONNECTS

COURT TRANSCRIBER NOTES: 

Witness Constable Wickes is called to the stand. He confirms his arrival on the scene was at 17:03pm 13/08/22, 25 minutes after the emergency line with victim’s mobile was disconnected. 

Witness states a full perimeter search was conducted by himself and partner. The premises was declared unsuspicious. The witness proceeded to interview victim for statement. The recording is played: 

‘LENA: I just have this gut feeling it could be my ex.

WICKES: Have you ever felt otherwise threatened by your ex? Any signs of abusive, violent or obsessive tendency? 

LENA: Whilst we were together? 

WICKES: Yes, or after. 

LENA: Um. Well, he didn’t like it that I left him. He said I ruined his life. He said he was going to hurt himself. Because of me. I don’t know if that’s what you mean?

WICKES: Okay, and had he made you feel unsafe prior to these suspected incidents?

LENA: When we broke up, he came banging on my door. Shouting and crying, threatening to get a knife from his mum’s. I just thought he was losing his mind about the breakup though. I’d never seen him that angry before so I filmed him, well, I voice-noted it to my mum. She just told me to ignore him. I did and he went away.’ 

WICKES: Do you have the voice-note saved?

LENA: No, god. I couldn’t bear to listen. [PAUSE]. Actually, my mum might? Yeh she does I think. Saved on her phone. 

WICKES: And how long ago did this happen?

LENA: Two months? Let me check. [PAUSE]. Yeah, two months ago.’

Witness Constable Wickes states at Admiral Street Police Station at 08:20am 14/08/22, the victim’s mother presented the voice-note of suspect. 

The formal procedure was conducted to open an investigation. 

Witness leaves the stand. 

FILE NUMBER:

3

MONDAY 16/08/22  12:15pm  OUTGOING to 999 00:06:50

LENA: Hello? OPERATOR: You’re through to Merseyside Police. LENA: Hi, I called recently about a man I thought might have been following me who I had a feeling was my ex. You sent police to my house last week and they said they didn’t think anything was suspicious [PAUSE]. But today I received a parcel and I think I’m being stalked. I’m definitely being stalked. I think it’s definitely my ex.  OPERATOR: Okay, what’s made you think that about the parcel? LENA: It’s um. [PAUSE]. Sorry, um. It’s photographs. There’s some of us together, me and him, from like, probably six months ago. And then, god, yeh there’s some of me. From the streets around mine at night, and town. Of me walking.  OPERATOR: Printed photographs?  LENA: Yes. OPERATOR: And these pictures have been taken without your consent? LENA: Uh-huh. [INAUDIBLE]. Yes.  OPERATOR: Okay, one moment. [LONG PAUSE]. I’ve just confirmed your previous call history with us, I’m speaking to Lina, correct?  LENA: Lena, yes. OPERATOR: Yes, Lena, apologies. Okay, if you could place the photographs in a sealed plastic wallet, we’ll need you to come into the station with these them, okay?  LENA: Alright, today? OPERATOR: When you can, Lena.  LENA: Oh okay [PAUSE]. Well, I’ll try and come today. Thank you. Oh, and can you access the CCTV from my apartment building, to check how and when he got in with the parcel?  OPERATOR: You’d have to contact your landlord, Lena. At least until charges are pressed. LENA: Oh, right. Okay.  LINE DISCONNECTS

COURT TRANSCRIBER NOTES: 

On Thursday 12/09/22, three outgoing calls from Lena were made to her mother. Call history marks 01:31am, 01:32am and 01:36am. 

These calls were not answered.

An Interview will be conducted 20/09/22, 10:30am with victim’s mother: Elisabeth Hinch.

FILE NUMBER:

4

THURSDAY 12/09/22  01:45am OUTGOING to HOMESAFEHOTLINE 00:12:02

HANDLER: Hi there, you’re through to Rona at Home Safe Hotline, how can I help? LENA: Hello. I’m walking home from work, and I don’t feel too safe. Do you mind if you stay on the phone until I get home? HANDLER: Of course, that’s what we’re here for. What’s your name? LENA: Lena.  HANDLER: And how old are you, Lena? LENA: I’m nineteen.  HANDLER: Is this a regular walk home that you take, Lena? LENA: [QUICKLY] I just work Thursdays and Fridays so I just walk it then. I’d grab an uber but there never are any and they cost all my wages. Black cabs only take cash. Who carries cash these days? HANDLER: Oh, I understand the struggle, but don’t worry, you don’t have to explain yourself to me, Lena. Is it common that you feel unsafe on your walks home?  LENA: No, not always. I live close to town so it’s not even that far, just when I think someone’s following me. HANDLER: [PAUSE]. Is someone following you now, Lena? LENA: I might be being paranoid. There’s this guy, that’s why I rang, but he’s quite far behind now and I’ve crossed the street and he didn’t, so I think I’m just being paranoid.  HANDLER: Okay. Has he been behind you a while, Lena? LENA: Um, I guess, yeah. Well since I left around Concert Square.  HANDLER: Okay, Lena, we’ll just go through the regular safety procedures so don’t panic. Okay, I’m going to ask you to increase your pace slightly and let me know if you notice him walking any faster, alright?  LENA: Um, yeh, sure. [PAUSE]. Do you think I should be worried?  HANDLER: It’s always better to be safe than sorry. I’m here with you, don’t be worried. Are you walking quicker? LENA: Fuck. Yes. [PAUSE]. Fuck.  HANDLER: Lena? LENA: So is he.  HANDLER: Okay Lena, I’m currently sending your location to the police. They’ll send out a vehicle to you. LENA: [QUICKLY] They dismissed my case last month, said there was no cause for concern- HANDLER: You had a case with the police, Lena?  [LONG PAUSE].  HANDLER: Lena? [PAUSE]. Lena? Are you there? AUDIO ON PHONELINE BECOMES MUFFLED BEFORE DISCONNECTING

COURT TRANSCRIBER NOTES: 

In Interview dated 20/09/22, 10:30am, Elisabeth Hinch’s statement is recorded. 

On 11/01/23 in court, Elisabeth Hinch’s statement is played:

‘I was asleep when she called me, three times, and the shitting phone didn’t wake me up. Normally I wake up around six in the morning in a mad panic when I know she’s been out at work, just to check she’s gotten home safe. We have a deal, that she texts me a love-heart whenever she gets home, and whether she’s had an alright shift or not. That way, even though I don’t see it till the morning, it’s a relief still. [PAUSE]. I woke up at three that night. I was sweating, it was like my gut was nagging at me. I’m her mum, I just knew something wasn’t right. She normally gets in around two, and I hadn’t had my heart text yet, so that’s when I rung her back. [PAUSE]. She didn’t answer, but I was there, telling myself, she’s probably just got in and crashed. She does that sometimes, and I’ll send her a sad face in the morning and she’ll say, sorry mum, my head hit the pillow and I was out. [PAUSE]. We live in different cities for God’s sake, it’s not like I can pop round, so I just told myself to wait it out. When she’s done a night shift, she doesn’t wake up till around midday, so I knew I’d be waiting a god awful while. [INAUDIBLE: INTERVIEWEE APPEARS TO CURSE HERSELF] I think sometime, in the midst of waiting, I’d fallen into a restless sleep and then it was around eight in the morning when… [LONG PAUSE: INTERVIEWEE TAKES A DEEP BREATH] when an unknown number rang me. It was this lady. Rona, I think she was called. That’s… [LONG PAUSE]’

Interviewee is offered a tissue and asked whether she would prefer to pause the interview. Interviewee declines and says she is fit to continue. 

‘Sorry. Yes, Rona. This lady Rona rang me. From a hotline Lena had rung when she wasn’t able to get through to her own mother. [PAUSE]. A mother’s instincts are always a warning. Rona confirmed it then. The words that no parent could ever live with hearing. [PAUSE: INTERVIEWEE USES TISSUE AUDIBLY]. I’ll take it to the grave that I didn’t pick up when she called.’

Interviewee is questioned on suspect Sam Turner’s character. 

Interviewee states that Lena never reported that suspect was physically violent, but ‘irrational’, ‘often lost in his own head’ and ‘unstable’.

COURT TRANSCRIBER NOTES: 

The voice-note sent from the victim to Elisabeth Hinch’s mobile on 10/06/22 is played: 

‘[BANGING AND CRYING]. Lena. Come on, Lena. Don’t be silly now. Lena. Lena. Let me in. Come on. Why? Why you being like this for? Fucking [INAUDIBLE], fucking, fuck. Lena. [LONG PAUSE]. You’ll regret this, Lena. We were good. You know we were good. This is too much. This is going to be too much for me. We spoke about this. We said we’d never do this. [INAUDIBLE, CRYING, LONG PAUSE, BANGING]. No, I can’t. I can’t do this. 

• [VICTIM SPEAKS] You’re scaring me Sam. Go home. 

Lena. You’re there, I knew you were there. This is so fucking stupid, Lena. Open the door. Open the fucking door. Lena, you fucking bitch, open the fucking door, you’re so dumb, why the fuck would I even want you? You’re worthless. Nasty, nasty fucking girl. [BANGING, LONG PAUSE, CRYING]. Please, I’m sorry, I’m so sorry. I’ll be better, I’ll do better, we can forget all this, start again. I didn’t mean all that shit, I’m just angry, I’m just so upset. We can be properly together this time, like how it used to be. I don’t deserve you, I know I don’t, you’re too good. You’re too good for me. I don’t deserve anything, I think, I think you’re right. You’re better off without me. The whole fucking planet is. [PAUSE]. My family is. Mum hates me. She only likes you. She said it herself, she’s glad you broke up with me. She said you deserve better, you do. [INAUDIBLE]. I should just fucking do it. kill myself. She doesn’t believe I’ll do it, but I will. I’ll do it in her own fucking kitchen. Or bathroom. She’ll find me there, lying in the bath with my wrists slit and you know I’ve always wanted to and you won’t stop me this time. You don’t care anymore. So you won’t stop me, will you Lena? Not when I get the knife and-

• [VICTIM SPEAKS, VOICE RAISED] Sam. Go home. Go the fuck home. [INAUDIBLE, SHUFFLING NOISES]. Are you hearing this mum? What the fuck do I do?’ 

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COURT TRANSCRIBER NOTES:

Medical Investigation of Suspected Homicide Report is read. The forensic post-mortem obtained photographic evidence displaying external injury including bruises and abrasions to the neck and collarbone, suggesting cause of death was strangulation. An invasive examination of victim suggests internal injury. 

Suspect is brought to stand to announce plea. 

The verdict is read aloud.

Case is closed 11^th January 2023.

VICTIM:	LENA HINCH
SUSPECT:	SAM TURNER
(If Applicable) SUSPECT RELATION TO VICTIM:	EX-BOYFRIEND
CHARGE(S) and OFFENSE(S) ACT(S):	STALKING (Domestic and Personal Violence Act 2007), RAPE (The Sexual Offences Act 2003),  MURDER IN THE FIRST DEGREE
PLEAD:	GUILTY
VERDICT:	GUILTY

The narrator will close the programme by reading:

‘Text Me When You’re Home Safe’ is written in support of every woman, girl and child who has had to send a ‘home safe’ text, and to those who never received one.