GRACEPOINT: EPISODE ONE {SERIES PREMIERE} (TV)
Summary
The first in this dramatic mystery miniseries about the investigation into the murder of a young boy in a small town, inspired by the British series "Broadchurch." In this episode, late at night, the town of Gracepoint sleeps as a 12-year-old boy, Danny Solano, stands alone on a cliff edge. In the morning, the Solano family prepares for their day, observing that Danny has already left. The father, Mark, heads out to a plumbing job and chats with several townspeople along the way, including young reporter Owen, police detective Ellie Miller, and Reverend Paul Coates. Miller returns to work after a vacation and is angered to learn that a detective from another town, Emmett Carver, has received the promotion that she had hoped to earn. Elsewhere, the humorless Carver is summoned to a crime scene at the beach below the cliffs. Danny's mother Beth attends his school's field day and begins to worry when she learns that Danny never arrived, and then learns that a body has been found. Carver arrives at the scene and is joined by Miller, who is distraught to realize that her own son's best friend is dead and takes offense when Carver orders her to "shut it down."
Beth arrives in a panic and collapses with grief upon glimpsing the body. Forensic analyst Hugo Garcia tells Miller and Carver that the boy did not fall or jump from the cliff, though the scene was staged to make it appear so. Owen, Miller's nephew, hears the story and hurries to the scene, though the detectives refuse to give him any information. Carver and a badly shaken Miller head to the Solanos' home, and the family is devastated to learn that the body is in fact Danny's. Beth explains that they did not see him that morning, presuming that he left early for his wildlife group, and Mark requests to see the body. Carver carefully searches Danny's room for clues as Miller takes Mark to the morgue, and he tearfully apologizes to his son for not protecting him. Back at the precinct, Carver reviews the facts of the case and sternly warns the cops against "gossip," and Chief Morgan notes that the case will draw attention, as it is a very unusual event for their quiet town. He suggests turning the case over to Miller, as Carver's past with "Rosemont" may hurt him, but Carver refuses and states that he is the right person for the job. He and Miller interview Jack Reinhold, who runs the kids' wildlife program, and the medical examiner explains that Danny was killed by a single blow to the head from an attacker facing him. The detectives tell the family that the case is now officially a homicide, and Miller wonders if the town's other kids are in danger.
Danny's older sister Chloe visits the beach with her boyfriend and leaves a toy of her brother's at the spot of his death, and Owen, spotting this, guesses the boy's identity and quickly calls Miller, though she refuses to confirm. Owen tweets the information anyway, however, and a reporter at the San Francisco Globe, Renee, spots the story. The cops confiscate Danny's computer, and Carver flies into a rage upon learning that the boy's name has been leaked. Miller admits that her nephew is to blame, and Carver makes a short statement to the press. Renee's boss tells her not to bother following the story, but she heads for Gracepoint anyway as Carver returns to his hotel, where he speaks with the proprietress, Gemma. Owen arrives and apologizes to Carver, who is unmoved, and Miller returns home, where her husband Joe comforts her over the day's events. The Solanos begin to turn on one another in their grief, with Beth asking where Mark was late the previous night, and Miller gently breaks the news to her son Tom. Once alone, Tom immediately deletes a number of computer files and text messages from Danny. Miller and Beth visit the beach again, and Miller promises her friend that she will find the killer. Renee calls Owen and informs him that she is in Gracepoint, then taking the stuffed animal left by Chloe. Miller then finds security camera footage of Danny alone late at night, indicating that he was not abducted, and observes that his skateboard and cell phone are both missing. Carver speaks to the press again, requesting that the townsfolk offer any information they may have and declaring that justice will be served. Commercials deleted.
Details
- NETWORK: FOX
- DATE: November 30, 1999 9:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 0:44:41
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: 116195
- GENRE: Drama, police/detective
- SUBJECT HEADING: Drama, police/detective; Drama, mystery/suspense; Miniseries
- SERIES RUN: FOX - TV series, 2014
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- James Strong … Executive Producer
- John Goldwyn … Executive Producer
- Jane Featherstone … Executive Producer
- Carolyn G. Bernstein … Executive Producer
- Anya Epstein … Executive Producer
- Dan Futterman … Executive Producer
- Chris Chibnall … Executive Producer, Created by, Writer
- Irene Burns … Producer
- Arvi Liimatainen … Producer
- Dan Miller … Music Co-Producer
- James Strong … Director
- Marty Beller … Music by
- David Tennant … Cast, Detective Emmett Carver
- Anna Gunn … Cast, Detective Ellie Miller
- Virginia Kull … Cast, Beth Solano
- Kevin Rankin … Cast, Rev. Paul Coates
- Josh Hamilton … Cast, Joe Miller
- Kevin Zegers … Cast, Owen
- Jessica Lucas … Cast, Renee
- Madalyn Horcher … Cast, Chloe Solano
- Stephen Louis Grush … Cast
- Kendrick Sampson … Cast, Dean Iverson
- Sarah-Jane Potts … Cast, Gemma Fisher
- Jack Irvine … Cast, Tom Miller
- Nick Nolte … Cast, Jack Reinhold
- Michael Peña … Cast, Mark Solano
- Jacki Weaver … Cast, Susan Wright
- Alisen Down … Cast, Kathy Eaton
- Adam Greydon Reid … Cast, Raymond Connelly
- Tom Butler … Cast, Chief Morgan
- Darcy Laurie … Cast, Hugo Garcia
- Linda Darlow … Cast, Mary Parnell
- Nikolas Filipovic … Cast, Danny Solano
- Karyn Mott … Cast, Angela
- William "Big Sleeps" Stewart … Cast, Frank
- Chad Krowchuk … Cast, Luis
- Shaker Paleja … Cast, Officer Yeaton
- Julian D. Christopher … Cast, James Malone
- Lissa Neptuno … Cast, Woman Driver
- Giancomo Baessato … Cast, Officer Kearn
- Peter Bryant … Cast, Len Danvers
- Tim Carlson … Cast, Angel
- Kristine Cofsky … Cast, Lana
- David Longworth … Cast, Jim
- Robert Turner … Cast, Officer Nick