Oh, come on, it's time, Esteban. Ah, that's good. That's my boy. Esteban! # When the moonlight shines down on the sea # And you think that you got a shot at me # Better set me free # You gotta set me free # I'll surrender # Surrender. # I know what going to say, Ines, but I'm going to ask anyway. A Mallorcan cyclist has disappeared off Puig Major, and I would like to take the case with Max. Ines. AS INES: Detective Blake! Oh, look at you! Finally starting to dress as a Mallorcan. It's more comfortable, no? Where is she? Gone. To Madrid for a week. Corruption case. Really? Bery important. Bery, bery, bery high level. Don't do that. Yeah. She left us instructions. "Dear Max and Miranda, don't touch what isn't yours." That's a threat, Max. I know. Who's the cyclist? Esteban Domenech. You're kidding. Rings a bell? Esteban Domenech, Miranda, is a cycling superstar ` and a total hero to this island. OK, let's go to Puig Major. Us? A Spanish case, Max. Finally! But Ines will cut off our arms ` and everything else. She won't if we find him. "Two years ago, Esteban Domenech was just another domestique." What's that? Oh, domestiques are very interesting. They are cyclists who sacrifice themselves completely to help the lead rider win. So, servants? Well, sort of, yeah. Why would you put up with that? Um... "Then Esteban's parents and brother died in a fireball "when their car slipped off the side of a mountain in the Andes." Can you imagine? "That would've crushed most people, but it drove Esteban to become a champion." And a big favourite to win this year's Tour de France. Such a fairy tale. Let's hope it's not just had a tragic ending. Are you OK? Yeah. All right, then. Doesn't everyone in cycling cheat? Esteban's been dope tested more than any other cyclist in history. He's for real. What are you two doing? Our job. Do you even know who Esteban Domenech is? Winner of last year's Giro d'Italia and Challenge Mallorca for the past three years. Favourite for the Tour de France and local hero. I love it when you do that. How far behind were his team-mates? According to his coach's data, 36 seconds. They left in a hurry. Mm. Based on the track width and wheelbase, it's a van. I should be able to identify the make and confirm that blood is Esteban's. So, that van was waiting here, and it drove into the front of Esteban's bike as it rode out the tunnel. Bam! Crashing his wheel, throwing him on to the tarmac. Then Esteban was lifted into the vehicle. Which sped off out of sight. All in under 36 seconds. This was planned. Meticulously. Challenge Mallorca. One of the most prestigious cycle races in the world ` and one of the toughest, up the tallest mountains on the island. All the big teams are here, but Esteban's team, Galatzo, are the stars of the show. One moment he is the streak on the screen, making a fool of the mountain. The next, he just vanishes. The most talented and hard working boy I have trained for 25 years. Senor Martinez, can you think of anyone who has a grudge against Esteban? Everyone you beat becomes an enemy. But enough to want to harm him physically? To stop him racing, perhaps? Him. Terry Davies. Mm-hm. Shocking news, Franco. Still, every cloud, eh? They can't prove Domenech is a drugs cheat if he's not here for the bloody tests. Sadist! Esteban used to ride for Davies. Then he exposed him as a bully. Esteban spoke the truth, because he's an artist. That's why cycling needs him. Why the world needs him. Are they testing for drugs? Hah! They want to find weeds in my bed of orchids. They always go home disappointed. HE COUGHS Franco Martinez. So old school. Hm, yeah. A real breath of fresh air. HE CHUCKLES Oh! Philippe Tromeur. Esteban took his place as leader rider. So now he's Esteban's domestique. Other people race with their bodies. I race with my mind. Is that right? We only use 10% of the brain. That's a fact. Actually, that's a myth. Who says? A number of studies. They mostly use functional magnetic resonance imaging. I can get you the references. Sure. Yeah. Anyway... You want to know if I'm happy about Esteban disappearing? Are you? Finding his bicycle on the road, seeing all that blood? It is the worst moment in my life. Hm. Did you see or hear anything? The silence. How is your relationship with Esteban? Excellent. Because two years ago he was helping you win the big races. Now you're his domestique. You carry his water bottle. When he has a puncture, you have to give him your front wheel. The purpose of life is not to be happy. It is to be useful. Ralph Emerson. You're basically his slave. I'm not his slave. With Esteban missing, I guess you'll be a lead rider for Challenge Mallorca on Sunday. Maybe even for the Tour de France. Honestly, I haven't thought about it. Was there anything else? Because... I'm in a lot of shock at the moment. Oh. I used to look like that. And I believe every word he said! He's humiliated. Off the narcissist scale, and French. He's got to be in the frame. Well, he'd have needed some help. I used to cycle. I still do. Spinning classes. That's not real cycling. Get me up a hill a lot quicker than you. Ha! No way. OK, first one up, Sa Calobra, next Sunday ` and loser buys an ice cream. Sure. Just a little bit of fun, though, OK? Yeah. Of course. * Esteban was brought up in Argentina. Born in Palma, though. The Mallorcans definitely see him as one of their own. They do now he's good. Clara Cicada! Mallorcan top model. They're the perfect couple. Her eyes aren't smiling. She's having a tough time handling all the fame and the money. How do you know? Hola magazine. KNOCK AT DOOR Max. Rubia. OK. So, the blood on the road matches Esteban's doping samples. The van was a Mercedes Benz Sprinter ` and check this out. I've got a spare ticket for the Fuel Fandango concert tonight. Emmy's blown you out, has she? Let's speak to Clara Cicada. Right. I don't understand it. She really loves Spanish indie music. CAMERAS CLICK, PAPARAZZI CLAMOUR Vultures. It makes no sense. Esteban is such a hero to this island. Everyone loves him. Some people value gold more than love, Clara. It is their curse. Then there's the green-eyed monster. The perfect life can upset some people. PHONE RINGS Unknown caller. Take it. Hello? DISTORTED VOICE: 100,000 euros cash and we let him go. Call you in two days with instructions. HANGS UP Could be a prank. I'll get the money ready. PHONE VIBRATES Clara. Generally in these situations, we advise you to... Can you promise me you'll bring him back safe if I don't pay? Found the van. Team Fresh. It's Terry Davies. Come on, Jason! Move it! Go, go! That's it! Lean into it, Jason, come on! Move your legs, man. This is a shambles! IT BEEPS Jesus Christ. What the bloody hell do you want? Palma police. I know who you are. I saw you with Franco Martinez, for God's sakes. We found a Team Fresh van burned out in the mountains. I didn't even know one was missing. Who has keys to the vans? We keep a set above the driver's door. What the hell is wrong with him? Do you have CCTV in the paddock? CCTV? No. Look, I don't care about the bloody van, OK? Jason! Not being funny, but are you having a stroke? That van was used in the kidnap of Esteban Domenech. Esteban's cycle helmet was found inside. IT BEEPS Mr Davies. Wait! Esteban exposed your training methods, he destroyed your reputation. You lost sponsors, riders... Prove to me that today hasn't been a complete and utter waste of time! ..and now Esteban's a superstar. He's a bloody cheat, is what he is. Maybe he just got better when he left you. That boy is bang average. Same as Speedy Gonzalez here. They just haven't caught him yet. Useless. For the record, where were you yesterday morning at 9:30am? Running in woods near my house. Anyone see you? No. Are we done? Charmer. That man's sporting poison. And Franco's right ` he'd absolutely love Esteban off the scene. DAVIES SHOUTS IN NEXT ROOM Let's get a tail on him. Oh, and would you mind if we have a little pit stop on the way back? Yeah? BELLS TOLL HORNS TOOT I dusted the old bike off last night, went for a ride. Oh, yeah? Yeah. It was actually quite good. Averaged 30. 30 what? 30km an hour. I know it doesn't sound much, but it was mostly uphill. Oh... How do I look? Huh? It feels so liberating. Yeah. I'm not sure I'm the right person to be asking about that, Max. Is that a testosterone booster? Yeah. I don't need that to beat you. Thanks, though. WOLF WHISTLE Mi amor! Wow. Hi, Miranda. Hello. Maxi told you I was dropping by? Yeah, course. Ahem. Oh, your dad came, too! Yeah. Great. Senor. Is he dead? Maxi, say. Is Esteban Domenech dead? Oh, we don't know, Senor. Two years ago I put money on that boy to win the Tour de France this summer. Oh! You must have got really good odds. How much did you put on? A lot. I see. Papa wants to use part of the winnings to pay for our wedding. Right! Who's in charge of finding him? You're looking at them. You? Holy Mother of God. Bring him back. * Gracias. Cafe con leche. Mm! Thanks. Any update? So. How's the training going? Who says I'm training? You think you can just turn up and beat me? Well, I don't want to worry you, but I bought a new bike last night. And... I shaved my legs. PHONE CHIMES Oh... Oh, they've tailed Davies to a finca outside Petra. OK, let's go. Esteban's in that finca. I know it. PHONE RINGS Oh, shit. Don't answer! Hi, Ines! What the hell is going on? This is a high-level Spanish case! Si. So why are two forasteros in charge? Foresters? Outsiders. Did that just happen?! You have to stand up to her. Why? Because we're not her bloody domestiques. PHONE RINGS Don't you dare answer. RINGING CONTINUES Police, freeze! What the...? Hands in the air. Jesus, this had better be good. Where is he? Who? Roger Rabbit. Esteban! In the loo. TOILET FLUSHES Oh... Oh, mon dieu! Your face! You honestly thought he was here? Aren't you two on different sides? We have a common enemy. Esteban Domenech. The authorities can't nail the cheating scum ` so we're taking the job on ourselves. Terry and I are hiring a private detective to expose whatever method Esteban is using. Surveillance, phone bugging. It's not cheap. But worth every euro ` because if we don't get rid of diseases like Esteban, our sport will die. It's better to fail with honour than to cheat. Sophocles. So, bully boy Davies is actually out to clean up cycling, and we've lost our only lead. Great! I don't believe them. No, you don't want to believe them. Ines is going to kill us. Oh, will you just shut up about Ines?! Wow. PHONE CHIMES He's back. RADIO: Esteban Domenech has been found alive. His kidnapping ended this morning... They were moving me again. It was dark in the back of the van, then we stopped. One of them open the door a little to see out. The guy next to me had his gun to my ribs ` but I knew I wouldn't get a better chance, so I just threw myself at the door, pulled it open, jumped out and ran for my life. Wow. You were brave. I was stupid...but lucky. Did you see their faces. Only the main guy. The other two wore balaclavas the whole time. I can give you a description. Great. What language did they speak? I don't know. It sounded like Eastern European. Hi, baby. I've missed you so much! Are you OK? Yeah. Again, I think that's a question for the police. They're the ones conducting the investigation. All I can say is that I'm lucky to be here and very happy to be back in the competition. CLAMOUR OF VOICES One more question. One. Yeah. Abby. Any message to your fans, Esteban? That we can all start dreaming again. That's it. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Still doubting the perfect couple? Let's see what they find in his blood. He's not as handsome as you. But it's uncomfortably close. Carmen. Gracias, Papa. Max. Gracias. To Esteban, for his bravery, and to God for his compassion. I would like to think the police were involved, too. Were they? No. Hi! We need to run the Photofit past Esteban. Hi. All right. Sorry, mi amor. See you later. Our kidnapper. What came first for this guy? Face or career choice? Esteban's blood test results. He's clean. I told you ` the man's for real. GLASS SMASHES Why couldn't you just keep your grubby hands to yourself?! He doesn't even want her. You selfish idiot! Don't call me a selfish idiot again. You're pathetic! Whoa, whoa, whoa! Hey, hey! Esteban Domenech, I'm arresting you for assault. No ` no charges. I'm still dealing with everything that happened this week. Franco was just in the wrong place at the wrong time. He was telling you to keep your hands off a girl. It's this fan of mine ` she's obsessed... ..and beautiful. Sometimes it's very hard for me to say no. You say this van you escaped from was held up in traffic. Mm-hm. No-one seems to have seen you jumping out. I'm really not surprised, it all happened so fast. Franco says that some prostitute was causing problems. Esteban told me it was a fan. Max, this guy, he... Ines! Good trip? Why are you harassing Esteban Domenech? Who says we are? Esteban Domenech. He called me 20 minutes ago. So, why are you here? Following up a lead. Yes. Any closer to his kidnappers? You've got one more day to find them or I'm putting you on currency touts for a month. Oh, man, she didn't kill us. I thought we were toast, there. Ugh! You know, Miranda, your aggression levels have been really high this last... No, they haven't! HE SHUDDERS Whoo! So we are halfway point of the Challenge Mallorca. It's a decent pace, especially on such a baking hot day. All the steepest climbs are still to come, though. No big moves yet from any of the leading riders, who are all bunched up there at the front. Team Fresh well represented, as are Team Galatzo, including Esteban Domenech. We all wondered how he would cope after his horrific ordeal. Well, so far, he's looking surprisingly strong. We're coming for you, Domenech! Good luck with that. Esteban and his team-mates still tight in the peloton. He reminds me of the cream of French cycling from the '50s ` the way he tackles those climbs is great preparation for the Tour de France. There is a move. It's come from Domenech. He says, "Thanks, but no thanks," to his team-mates and gone out alone. This really is quite remarkable. I'd rather be at the finish line than looking through Photofits. Yeah, I bet you would. I'd rather be here. Even if it is a token needle in the haystack job. It's suspicious as hell. They tested him yesterday, Miranda. Maybe he's just cleverer than his testers. Now you're sounding like Terry Davies. Max, the guy beats up his own coach, then he rides like this the day after he's supposedly been imprisoned by this psycho. Something isn't right here. Supposedly imprisoned? I want to search his trailer for drugs. We don't have a warrant. You coming or not? Um... No. Fine. * Move. Agh! CLATTERING Agh! Hey. Hey, guys. How did you do it, Esteban? You know, I guess I just felt the love of the island... Davide is gone. I'm just happy, man. Happy. Happy to win one more time ` and I want to thank my beautiful wife, Clara... I love you. ..and our baby boy, Bruno. Yeah. All right, guys. Thank you. Thank you for your support. Miranda, that blow to the head... It was him. So, there are two Esteban Domenechs. Yes. That's complete science fiction. No, it's not! There's a perfectly logical explanation. Get every port covered. We can't let the Esteban I've just seen in here off the island. Well? Birth certificate for Esteban Domenech. Esteban Carlos Domenech, born Palma, 1st of June 1990, 10:05am. And one for his younger brother who died in a fireball with his parents. Davide Ricardo Domenech, born Palma, 1st of June 1990, 10:20am. Twins! Davide, clearly very much alive, stays clean for the dope testing while his brother pumps himself full of probably more drugs than any cyclist in history. Can't believe Esteban's done this. I can't believe Davide agreed to it! Spending your whole time hiding in a trailer? They do random drug tests at cyclists' homes, too. Then Davide must've been camped out at Esteban's villa, as well. Which means Clara is in on the scam. So, at the press conference, she was kissing the wrong twin. GLASS SMASHES Why couldn't you just keep your grubby hands to yourself?! He doesn't even want her. Davide and Clara are in love. Wow. That's complicated. The news that Esteban Domenech failed a drugs test after today's Challenge Mallorca victory has shocked the sporting world. Officials claim the levels of EPO found in his system are unprecedented. Please, just one question. Just one question. Thank you, guys. Thank you. Please, enough. Look, I have a simple message for my fans. I'm clean. The retest will prove it. So, don't lose hope. Thank you. CLAMOUR OF VOICES I need a drink. Hey, bro. Where've you been? What's going on? I'll look after them both. I promise. Police! Police! Open up! Police! Hey. Sorry. I was fixing Bruno. What's up? Where's Davide? Who? Your brother. The reason you suddenly got good. Hey. What's going on here? I have no idea, baby. I was just asking your husband about your boyfriend, Davide. It's really not a good time right now. How did that feel? Discovering she was in love with your brother? Look, I really don't know what you're talking about. OK, this is Davide. OK, OK, OK! Ngh... Please stay. Please. BRUNO CRIES Where is he? Where's Esteban? HE WHEEZES Well, you clearly didn't die in the fireball. No. I was thrown out of the car, halfway down the mountainside. I'd been drinking, but I told my parents I was fine to drive them home. I killed them. When I called Esteban with the news, he told me to lie low, said he had a plan that would change my life. Why did you agree to it? To hide from what I'd done. I had nothing in my life but my guilt. Esteban knew that, and he used it. You weren't a prisoner. You could have walked away. I couldn't, because there was Clara. She made me smile again. You know? She was the one. Clara, me and Bruno. We would have been happy together. So happy. * Two years ago, that's when I suddenly realised I would never be a lead rider. I would stay a domestique my whole career. I remember the moment ` my body started shaking, felt like I wasted my whole life. So that's why you cheated, to give your life meaning. You were a hero to so many people. And why, hm? Cos I was Mr Nice Guy? No, because I started winning races. People don't dream of being slaves. They dream of coming first, of winning the Tour de France, and I was so close to it. When Davide gets out... ..I will kill him. When Esteban first told me his plan, I wasn't happy at all. But then he mentioned what it would do for the size of your villa and your modelling career... So why risk it all for Davide? The drugs. They had changed Esteban into a different person, became aggressive, abusive. A baby? Forget it. All he cared about was winning. So Davide reminded you of how Esteban used to be? CLEARS THROAT So, when did Esteban realise what was going on? A week ago. He caught us in Davide's room, said he would kill him if he came near me again. So Davide called his bluff, went off to the mountains and hid. Giving Esteban a choice ` be exposed as a drugs cheat or disappear. Esteban remembered Terry Davies kept keys above the door, so stealing the van was easy, but the rest of it had to be timed perfectly. Easy, easy! You used Davide's stored blood to add credibility. Let's go. To the world, you played the terrified wife, while the whole time Esteban was lying low at home. What else could I do? If Esteban was exposed, it was the end for Davide and me. But then Davide came back. I told Esteban I was in love with his brother and that the two of us would help him win the Tour de France. But only if he would agree to give you up, which he did. Like I say... ..different person. When Davide played Esteban's role at the hospital and you felt what that was like to be in public with him... ..is that when you had the idea of killing Esteban? We just wanted to find a way. That's what you do, don't you, when you truly love someone? You were right about the marriage problems. Turns out you're a real love guru. Or I just know a lot of women in unhappy relationships. If Davide had taken over Esteban's life... He'd have quit cycling, blaming kidnap stress and quite possibly lived comfortably ever after with Clara and Bruno. So, you got there in the end. You should go away more often. Never, ever take a Spanish case behind my back again. Sure thing, Ines. Hm... You've got one more arrest to make. So, Franco's going down for supplying drugs, Davide and Clara for attempted murder. Meanwhile, Esteban will get a couple of months for staging a fake kidnap. Plus, a huge advance for the inevitable book. Franco was right about Esteban being an artist. He just left off the "con". The great artists have to take drugs. Who said that? You. Did I? Well, when it comes to sport, I prefer bullies to cheats. Bastardo! I share his pain. You better get saving. So... ..going to do this race, then? Can't believe you bought a new bike. It's 800 grams lighter than my old one. Ahhh... Ahh... OK, ready? Yep. Let's go. Ugh... Might want to take it easy on the steep bits... Don't say I didn't warn you. HE PANTS FROM EXHAUSTION What happened to you? For the queen of the mountains... Thanks. There was a runner's-up prize. So... ..congratulations. Ten minutes ahead of me and no training. I know your secret, Miranda, and frankly, I'm disappointed. I couldn't handle the idea you were going to beat me. When you were looking at them in the sport shop I thought they were for me. Looking at what? The steroids. And then came the anger, the aggression... I'm not on steroids, Max! Of course you are! How else could you have beaten me by ten minutes? Because thanks to my superior aerobic capacity, body mass index, flexibility and lifestyle, I'm a hell of a lot fitter than you. But the nonstop bad mood... I've been training flat out for the past week! First thing and last thing every day, it's nearly killed me! And I've barely slept. So, yes, it's affected my mood. You're just like my dad. Not that there's anything wrong with being ultra-super-competitive. Yes, there is. People don't like you very much. I like you. Well, I don't mind you. Thanks... Why were you so scared I was going to beat you? Your speed for that first training session, 30 kilometres per hour... Oh, that... I lied. I've done no training whatsoever. You wouldn't know it, would you? What... Did you just unicorn me? # We've got time on our side # It's never too late # If you want me now # It's gonna have to wait... # Captions were made with the support of NZ On Air. www.able.co.nz Able 2020