What Remains

A body is found in the attic of a Coulthard Street tenement, identified as Melissa Young who has been dead for about two years. The discovery shocks the residents and prompts an official investigation. Detective Len Harper begins to probe the case despite it being closed as a suicide.

Disturbed by the lack of closure, Len keeps digging into Melissa's death even after retirement. He uses archery as a coping mechanism while continuing to chase leads. The investigation spills beyond the formal boundaries of his former role.

Michael and Vidya move into Melissa's top flat, while Elaine and Peggy settle in another unit. Kieron Moss and Patricia Keenan discuss commitment, and Joe Sellers lives with Liz Fletcher in a different flat. The building is a hive of surface happiness masking hidden tensions.

Len searches Melissa's flat and is attacked by Liz, who escapes before her face is fully seen. The confrontation confirms Liz as a dangerous presence in the building. Len's investigation becomes more personal and perilous.

Elaine and Peggy used Melissa in an underwear catalogue shoot, and Melissa tried to back out with legal help. Elaine threatened her to keep Melissa quiet. These coercive actions reveal a network of manipulation in the building.

Vidya creates a social profile for Melissa and tracks down a friend who recallsMelissa's circle. The friend paints Melissa in a different light and mentions that she had a boyfriend. These new details complicate the networks around Melissa's life.

Kieron, unable to control his drinking, attempts sex with Patricia without consent after reliving past insecurities. Patricia fights him off and moves out, choosing safety and autonomy over an unhealthy relationship. The incident strains many relationships in the building.

Peggy tries to slash her wrist but is derided by Elaine, who then confines Peggy by tying her to a bed. Peggy's containment signals how entangled and oppressive relationships have become inside the tenement. The act foreshadows the toxic atmosphere surrounding Melissa's death.

Michael begins an affair with Liz, triggering tensions. When Joe discovers the betrayal, he behaves recklessly, and during an arrest, he confesses to Melissa's murder as a false alibi to deflect blame. Joe's backstory with Melissa's ill mother deepens the tragedy around the case.

The police lean toward Joe as the killer, but the confession is revealed as a feint to protect Liz. Flashbacks and testimonies reveal that Liz, with a history of violence, is the true culprit, while Peggy's past actions are central to Melissa's death. The truth reframes the investigation's focus.

Len grows suspicious of Liz and partners with Alice Yapp to question her. They deduce that Liz may be the actual killer and decide to confront her at Vidya's house. The lead tightens as the clock ticks toward a resolution.

Liz confronts Vidya in the attic and attacks her. Len and Alice arrive to arrest Liz, preventing further harm to Vidya and her unborn child. The immediate threat from Liz is stopped, but new tensions loom as the truth about the past remains unresolved.

Flashbacks reveal that Peggy killed Melissa after Melissa told Elaine she planned to move out, and Elaine exploited Peggy's guilt to keep her from leaving. The attic's grim history is laid bare, reframing the earlier investigations. The murder's motive centers on control and dependence within the group.

Elaine hides Peggy's body in the bath; Len locates Peggy's death and pursues Elaine through the attic. Vidya pushes Elaine through the trapdoor; Len shoots Elaine with his bow, leaving him badly injured. Police arrive as Vidya, distraught, sits with her newborn baby, while Len asks not to be left alone in his final moment.