The Replacement
Ellen gets unexpectedly pregnant just after landing a big contract for her architects' practice. She hopes to be away for the shortest time and hires someone to cover the gap. Paula is the same age as Ellen but already has a ten-year-old daughter. She made the opposite life choice, took a big chunk of her career out to dedicate herself full time to her child. As Paula shadows Ellen for the last months of her pregnancy, she seems the perfect hire - enthusiastic, personable, super-competent. But Ellen begins to worry Paula has another agenda. Paula refuses to believe Ellen when she says she plans to return in a couple of months. She's confident Ellen will change her mind when she falls in love with her baby. Ellen thinks that maybe Paula doesn't want her back. Ever. Ellen becomes increasingly disturbed by Paula's subtle manipulations at the office. She sees Paula ingratiate herself with bosses, client, even friends. Ellen begins to see her less as a support and more of a rival. But no one else sees the Paula Ellen sees. They see a bright decent woman doing her best to cover for Ellen. They all think Ellen is being paranoid, even her own husband doubts her state of mind. She is, after all, pregnant. Only Ellen can see that Paula seems more obsessed about the pregnancy than she is. And the more she voices her fears, the more she alienates everyone around her. When a terrible accident strikes the firm, Ellen cannot accept the police verdict and pursues the person she believes responsible. This psychological thriller set in Glasgow follows the paranoia of a woman who sees her identity being dismantled and can't work out whether the cause is another woman or her own baby.
- 2017-2017
- 1 season
- Suspense, Drama
Ellen gets unexpectedly pregnant just after landing a big contract for her architects' practice. She hopes to be away for the shortest time and hires someone to cover the gap. Paula is the same age as Ellen but already has a ten-year-old daughter. She made the opposite life choice, took a big chunk of her career out to dedicate herself full time to her child. As Paula shadows Ellen for the last months of her pregnancy, she seems the perfect hire - enthusiastic, personable, super-competent. But Ellen begins to worry Paula has another agenda. Paula refuses to believe Ellen when she says she plans to return in a couple of months. She's confident Ellen will change her mind when she falls in love with her baby. Ellen thinks that maybe Paula doesn't want her back. Ever. Ellen becomes increasingly disturbed by Paula's subtle manipulations at the office. She sees Paula ingratiate herself with bosses, client, even friends. Ellen begins to see her less as a support and more of a rival. But no one else sees the Paula Ellen sees. They see a bright decent woman doing her best to cover for Ellen. They all think Ellen is being paranoid, even her own husband doubts her state of mind. She is, after all, pregnant. Only Ellen can see that Paula seems more obsessed about the pregnancy than she is. And the more she voices her fears, the more she alienates everyone around her. When a terrible accident strikes the firm, Ellen cannot accept the police verdict and pursues the person she believes responsible. This psychological thriller set in Glasgow follows the paranoia of a woman who sees her identity being dismantled and can't work out whether the cause is another woman or her own baby.
Season 1 Episode Guide
3 Episodes 2017
Episode 1
Episode #1.1
56 mins
Ellen gets pregnant after landing a big contract for her firm of architects. She hires Paula as cover but soon fears she's made a terrible mistake. Ellen wants to get back to work quickly but Paula thinks Ellen should be putting her baby at the centre of her life. She wastes no time in moving in on Ellen's bosses, clients and friends and Ellen fears she's being forced out. Everyone thinks Paula is great and Ellen is being paranoid until a site accident puts Ellen's suspicions into overdrive.
Episode 2
Episode #1.2
57 mins
Ellen tries to juggle her new baby with her return to work and her investigation into Paula. She finds evidence that her boss was having an affair but her only lead is Paula's ten-year-old child and a former colleague of Paula's, neither of whom want to speak to her. Paula discovers Ellen's investigation and engineers a humiliation from the client and a warning visit from social services. Ellen eventually confronts Paula and forces her to confess what she's been hiding.
Episode 3
Episode #1.3
58 mins
After Paula confesses her secret, Ellen thinks she has proof that Paula is disturbed but no one else sees it her way. The office turns against Ellen and she is forced to leave for good. She tries to put Paula behind her but Paula isn't willing to let go. When Ellen encounters Paula's mysterious ex-colleague at an interview, Paula retaliates by driving a wedge between Ellen and her husband. After a catastrophic celebration at Ellen's finished building, her family as well as her career face ruin.