Century Falls Episode One

Night time in the village of Century Falls. Elisabeth Hunter discovers Tess, her teenage daughter, snacking in the kitchen. She reproves Tess gently, but reflects that it is the first night in a new home for both of them.

Across the village, at the Naismith manor house, twins Ben and Carey Naismith sneak off into the night. Their father, Francis, calls out after them but they take no notice. Ben is excited - it's their first night in Century Falls - but Carey is more cautious. 'You hold me back' he tells her, and sets off without her.

As Tess looks out across the village from her bedroom window, someone photographs her. Meanwhile, Francis talks to Richard Naismith - the twin's uncle and owner of the manor house. They discuss Ben's wayward behaviour, and Francis asserts angrily that it was what drove Ben's mother away.

Ben reaches a waterfall and stares at the water. A glow is seen, and fire begins to dance on the surface of the water…

The next day, Francis confronts Ben. Ben however insists that 'no one tells me what to do'. His father commands him to stop, but Ben is able - through some sort of mental power - to compel his father to say 'please'. Carey eventually convinces Ben to desist.

Richard Naismith goes to collect a package from the village shop and post office. The sisters who run the shop, Esme and May Harknesss, disapprove of Richard's decision to let the Hunters come to the village. Leaving the shop, Richard crosses the road to speak to the Hunters, who are in the process of unpacking. Tess notes that they are being stared at by the Harknesses, and Richard explains that Tess is a 'rare sight' in the village. Naismith tells them that the Harkness sisters live with their mother, Alice, who is the oldest woman in Century Falls, 'not that she knows it' - Alice lost her mind forty years ago, on 17 July 1953.
'All Century Falls remembers that date, and celebrated it once' he comments.

Mrs Hunter and Tess go to meet the sisters. Elisabeth takes tea with May, but has to leave when she notices the delivery van arriving with her storage heaters. She needs help to unload the heaters 'in her condition'. May looks shocked.

Tess, meanwhile, goes exploring and meets the Naismith twins. Ben comments cruelly on Tess's weight, and insists Tess will have to get used to them as there are no other children in the village. Tess tells them the situation won't last for long as her mother is pregnant.

At the manor house, Ashe, Richard Naismith's butler, informs Richard that Francis Naismith has left. They examine the photographs Ashe took of Tess last night. Opening the package he collected, Richard reveals an ultrasound scan of Elisabeth Hunter's unborn child. Ashe leaves to tend to 'feeding time'.

Tess, Ben and Carey reach the burnt out remains of a building - the village temple that was destroyed on 17 July 1953. Taking Tess and Carey's hands, Ben is able to show them the past: an intense fire in which many people died. A pretty young woman in a floral print dress runs towards them from the fire, saying 'it's our fault, it's all our fault'. Carey drops Ben's hand and the vision fades. Ben seems grudgingly impressed that Tess is willing to believe in his power, and so he decides to take her to 'the real Century Falls' - the waterfall.

May tells Esme that Mrs Hunter is pregnant, and Esme decides she must confront Mrs Hunter.

At the waterfall, Ben tells Tess that the 'entire village stems from here'. Tess notices a little girl on the far side of the falls and tries to call out to her. Tess falls into the water - across town, Alice Harkness screams. The little girl fades from sight.