Original subtitles

Having never pitched his own idea for a book before,

Leonard was unsure how Mark Baxter would react.

Ancient Rome from the point of view

of a Roman child - Patraeus?

That's the idea.

Instead of your usual list of facts and figures,

you'd follow a character's story

and find out what their life was really like.

A storytelling approach.

Mmm.

It's fresh,

it's innovative,

but most importantly, it's disruptive.

How soon can you get me a proof?

Uh, next week?

With my guidance, this book could send some serious shock waves to

the Children's Encyclopaedic community.

Thank you, Len.

Thank you, Len.

The positive reaction to his book was both unexpected and uplifting.

His decision to expand his universe was taking Leonard in new directions

and with a spring in his step.

What's happened to your walk?

What's wrong with my walk?

I don't know, it just looks kind of weirder than usual.

Greg!

- There's nothing wrong with your walk. - Thanks.

So how has your day been going?

Uh, pretty great, really.

Just had a pitch meeting with Mark Baxter.

My God, you finished your book?

No, but getting there.

Good for you.

Feeling unusually confident in the wake of his meeting,

Leonard decided to seize the moment.

I was thinking maybe we could do something later if it suited.

Yeah, it does.

What did you have in mind?

There's the Darwin exhibition.

Yeah, I'm in.

The Darwin exhibition?

Player move, Leonard.

What are you talking about?

I'm talking about subliminal messaging.

Darwin. Evolution.

You'll be sending out major top-of-the-food-chain vibes.

And, presumably, the place will be full of chimps and skeletons.

In that visual context, your level of attractiveness could be boosted

as high as a 6.5.

- Thanks, Greg. - You're welcome.

- I'll see you later. - Great.

I'll be the one with the opposable thumbs.

So what's your book about?

Uh, it's an encyclopaedia about ancient Rome,

but from a different perspective.

Ah, it doesn't matter. They'll never go for it. Market's saturated.

Do you never say anything positive?

I have perfect pitch.

You have a perfect pitch?

No, I HAVE perfect pitch.

Musically speaking, it's a gift.

That's positive, right?

You really want to hear me sing right now, don't you?

I've got to get back to work.

Your loss.

Lenny's loss.

- DRAMATICALLY: - # It's his lo-o-o-oss! #

Yeah!

- SING-SONG: - Lenny!

So I've been thinking about our book

and I've got some ideas that I know you're going to love.

I'm not really looking for...

Cats were held in very high esteem in ancient Rome.

Some even considered them sacred.

- OK. - So I'm thinking,

rather than telling the story from a Roman boy's viewpoint,

how about we tell it from a Roman cat's?

The cat's view of ancient Rome?

Exactly.

Yeah, but that's not all.

You see, in ancient Rome, they used to clean their clothes in urine.

Now, what's that got to do with cats, I hear you say?

Well, here's my angle.

- Hey. - Hey.

Oh.

Sorry, I'm really late.

Mark Baxter had these ideas that he wanted to talk about for the book.

Oh, dear.

Got any of them you'll use?

Oh, God, I hope not!

Still, though, he seems really excited about the book.

Yeah, I think it was Patraeus who really sold it.

Who's Patraeus?

Patraeus is the Roman boy in the book.

I named him after Patrick.

It really helps to have someone to write for,

someone to pitch little moments of humour or excitement to.

It really helps to, you know, bring the character alive.

Hope that's OK.

Um...

Did I do something wrong?

I mean, you don't even know him.

No.

I-I'd like to.

It's not really about you.

Look, Patrick is my world,

and raising him is my entire life

and I can't just mess him around.

Of course, I understand.

Shelley was sending a distress signal to Leonard

that was bouncing back to her unread.

Look, I-I-I don't think you do understand.

I can't introduce Patrick to just any man

that I've gone on a few dates with, you know?

And if I introduce you to him,

then I have to explain who you are, you know?

Not just your name or the fact that you write his favourite books,

but...

..who you are to me and then what that makes you to him.

And what if it doesn't work out?

He'll feel abandoned. He'll feel rejected.

And I have to be sure,

as sure as I possibly can be,

that that won't happen.

Leonard felt like he was being tested

but didn't understand the question.

A big kid in an adult conversation.

The tickets are non-refundable,

so we should probably get in there before something becomes extinct.

CHUCKLES

He could feel the echo of his own ridiculousness all around him.

I'm going to go.

OK.

Bye, Leonard.

And so, Leonard stood dumbstruck

with the significance of it all,

wondering if this was the end of something

that he wasn't quite sure had ever begun.

I highly recommend investing in a gymnasium for cats.

You seem distracted.

Do I?

Mm, you're usually much more financially savvy than this.

First of all, you started as a firefighter.

Life insurance alone will ruin you.

And then you just let me sell you a gym for cats.

Sorry. I had a tough day.

I think I might have lost Shelley.

What happened?

I don't know.

- What do you mean? - I mean, I don't know what happened.

If you don't know what happened, how do you know it happened?

It's about Patrick. She said I didn't understand.

I'm having a little trouble myself now.

Now is she expecting me to call her or send her a message or what?

I wouldn't even know what to say.

I feel like, with every minute that passes,

she's slipping further from my life.

Yeah, I'm afraid this isn't really my area of expertise. Sorry.

I feel like we only talk about me these days.

I am happy to listen, if that helps.

So, what about you? Anything to report?

No, not really.

I do have an interview tomorrow.

For a job?

Yeah. The National Mime Association are looking for a new spokesperson.

They've asked me to try out for it.

I think I might be a good fit.

Spokesperson for mimes?

Mmm.

- Your folks must be impressed, though. - Oh, I haven't told them.

Maybe I won't get the job or...

..maybe I will and I'll turn it down.

You know, whatever happens,

I don't want their expectations playing on my mind.

- It's your go, come on. - Right.

One.

So, what are you going to do?

I have no idea.

I'm starting to feel like

I may have failed in my quest to expand my life.

Well, you can't just give up now.

Look, you took a chance,

and you made some brave choices.

And I can't tell you whether that's going to work out or not.

Only that, you can't really change who you are now.

So, whatever you decide to do,

just do it your way.

And it's time to show the world

exactly what you were thinking, Leonard.

That's right.

You're right.

And, as a firefighter,

you CAN choose one of the yellow card options.

What?

What?

Are you talking about the game?

You know what, it doesn't matter.

Do you mind if I forfeit?

Forfeit?

There's something I have to do.

Go on.

You were doomed from the start anyway.

DOOR SHUTS

Gymnasium for cats - never heard anything like it!

Encouraged by Hungry Paul's wise and coincidentally fitting words,

with renewed purpose, Leonard sent about finishing his book.

# Through the midnight air

# Turn the wheel and feel the world in song

# Life that's always there

# I can see through the sweat and the tears

# Pushing on and on for years and years

# Night words crowing hollow tune

# And bleeding hands they chase the morning soon. #

MUSIC STOPS

HE YAWNS

# Head is high and my heart is full. #

Only this time, no longer writing for Patrick,

but for a boy he'd known his whole life.

# I saw my dream in the morning light

# I saw my dream

# Saw my dream come to life. #

- RADIO: - We're taking your calls all morning on job interviews.

The good, the bad.

Even though he held his morning routine as sacred,

today was different for Hungry Paul.

DISHES CLINK

His first-ever job interview was not a subject he was willing to discuss

with his parents.

- DAD: - Is that you, son?

Yes.

Come and have your breakfast, love.

Er, I'm afraid I can't really this morning.

Why not?

I'm in a bit of a hurry.

Where are you going at this hour?

As Hungry Paul stepped out,

leaving nothing but quiet confusion in his wake...

..Leonard, after a night of intense typing

and long, thoughtful stares at the kettle,

was also taking steps to further his career.

Enter.

- Do you have a minute? - Is that it?

It's a first attempt, but I think it captures what I'm going for.

My God.

There's no Roman cats in here,

but this is fantastic.

What a team.

We've done it again.

- Right. - I'll shoot this over to head office today.

Great.

Leonard...

..I've got a really good feeling about this.

EXHALES

Thanks.

- Greg. - What?

Do you know where Shelley is?

No.

OK, uh, if you see her,

will you tell her I have left her something on her desk?

Well, unless she thinks her desk has laid an egg, it's pretty obvious

you've left something, so, no, no, I won't tell her.

Fine.

Forget it.

Hello, Tech Support.

Ignoring his usual instinct to recoil from new opportunities,

Hungry Paul found himself meandering into unknown territory.

Unbidden and unexplained,

he felt a gentle pull of interest to the Mime Association

and their shared appreciation of silence.

While waiting patiently had become a challenge for most people,

this was not the case with Hungry Paul.

Having never owned a mobile phone,

he wasn't tempted to scroll through texts or fiddle with his settings.

His freedom from restlessness

left him untroubled by the passage of time.

Can you believe this guy?

Are you seeing this?

Seeing what?

Nothing.

Absolutely nothing.

So, my darling daughter, how are all the wedding arrangements going?

I think I'm on top of it,

but I wanted to talk to you about my brother.

I thought we were here to discuss my wedding speech, not your brother.

Mm, fine. Tell me about the speech.

- I don't want to discuss it. - OK.

Full disclosure -

I haven't written anything down yet.

I just need to find the right words so that I don't get...

..lumpy.

Oh, why would you get upset?

I've been living with Andrew for years.

Nothing's changing. It's just a ritual.

Well, you say that, but everything's changing.

Your favourite brother, who you think is so hopeless,

he set me straight about the whole thing.

- Oh, did he now? - Mmm.

Well, I was talking to your mother about how we were losing you

and how I should have worked less

and stayed home more when you were kids,

and he just pipes up with -

"Too late, it's all gone."

He just dropped that while he was looking for a yoghurt in the fridge.

And you're sure he wasn't talking about the yoghurt?

No, he was saying I need to let go.

Well, I'm sure it's nice having a live-in sage,

but even sages need to fend for themselves eventually.

But it's true, though, Grace.

Everything I've been holding on to is already in the past.

It's already gone.

Just the thought of it makes me feel...

..lumpy.

Not everything is in the past.

Tell our resident guru that I'm not finished with you lot yet.

"Too late. It's all gone!"

I don't think I've ever seen such profound inactivity.

It's like he's not even here.

Oh, I'm hungry. Are you hungry?

How long, Miss Davenport?

- My God. - How long?

27 minutes.

That's incredible!

APPLAUSE

Woohoo!

Oh!

Well played, sir.

You remember Wendy Davenport, Chamber President?

Madam President.

Congratulations.

Congratulations?

Yes.

The job is yours for the taking.

I didn't want to say it in front of Arno,

but miming in this country has gone to hell.

- Do you know this theatre hasn't put on a show in a year? - No.

Your job will be to motivate and inspire enthusiasm nationally

for mime and the silent arts.

Oh, excluding living statues, of course.

You mean those silver guys who stand like statues in the street?

Charlatans!

We want you to give the National Mime Association

the shot in the arm it needs

to once again capture the public's imagination.

So now you know what we want from you,

what is it you ask of us?

Your demands, as it were.

Uh, due to my obligations at the Postal Service,

I would have to keep Mondays free.

Well, the budget only covers a three-day week, so done.

I would also ask that I not be required to carry a mobile phone.

Also not covered in the budget. Also done.

Welcome aboard.

We'll be in touch during the week to iron out the details.

Leonard didn't understand what had happened with Shelley,

only that he missed her.

The places they once shared pulled him back into her orbit.

Though now they felt empty without her.

Free from the pull of a relationship and without his mother,

Leonard could no longer ignore his grief.

With the weight of effort it took to be happy

now lifted from his bones,

the time had come to let go.

It was a profound acceptance of things as they were.

DISTANT BIRDSONG

As Leonard sat there, an idea quietly found him.

Elsewhere, whilst reflecting on

the corporate complications of his new job,

Hungry Paul drifted towards an idea of his own.

Pondering over how to heal the divided mime community

in the calm of Mrs Hawthorn's silence...

..the solution became clear.

Strange though it seemed...

..the answer was to do nothing.

After weeks of hiding from his grief,

Leonard had finally found his mother a new home.

There she would remain watching over him.

Occupying a small space

in the vastness of his ever-expanding universe.

Repair and Synchronization by Easy Subtitles Synchronizer 1.0.0.0