Original subtitles

Thank you.

As if I had not known all along.

Oh, now you'll see.

They know about dreams.

They're like old friends.

They're flat on the ground.

There's no further down.

There's no place to be there.

Take your name, leave them outside the door.

Tear up the paper, tear up the carpet, cut the

floor.

Now I know you're there, and I can't be

there with you.

Happy New Year.

Was this agreed?

No.

Come.

Coffee.

As a rule, they put the kitchens downstairs, but here it's upstairs.

It's not actually terribly convenient. I've spilled no end of stuff, but the

upstairs is never home, so I just spill things and there's no one to see.

So you really live here?

You've asked me that last time.

I'll sort it out when I've got some cash.

Those CDs in the box are down there.

I'll show you.

Oh.

This is here.

He'll be helping you tonight.

He worked for a while at the Atlantic. Come on. What day are we today?

Wednesday. I'll see you later.

Oi, do me a favour.

Put my coffee in the fridge, will you?

I'm going to sit later.

See, we're at Saturday night in closing time. You'd already gone.

This French bloke dropped off his CV at Port Madagascar yesterday.

We rang him up.

Seems okay. Yeah, okay, okay. They all seem okay. Maybe we should hire someone

who wants to do this job.

I'm surrounded by assholes who are doing this job only while they're waiting for

something else to turn up.

Scratch the surface of any one of the fuckers they turn up to be.

Actors or dancers or some fancy other fucking thing. I'm not kidding. I've had

it up to here with these assholes.

Missed no opportunity to tell the punters who they really are, what

really into.

Oh, where do you do your classes?

Isn't it difficult keeping up one's career?

That's made up, isn't it? Made up or not, it pisses me off. Right.

The bar is not a restaurant. The bar is not a restaurant. The bar is not a

restaurant. Come the evening, you get a completely different customer in here.

Now, I'm the head barman, which means that I get to do whatever I like to do,

and you get to do whatever I tell you to do.

So you can forget what the people told you upstairs.

You haven't got a week to get used to it. Either you quit right away or not at

all. Where's your vodka?

In the afternoon, anyone can serve them a beer. It's not quite so simple in the

evening. And there's always someone out for your blood, too. My blood?

You arsehole.

Isn't that big guy over there in the suit?

He's been drinking since four o 'clock this afternoon. Come closing time,

got to chuck a knife.

See this woman coming along here now? She's a tech. Well, always, always the

same thing, but she still needs you to ask her each time what she wants.

I've been doing evenings now for three months here. She hasn't changed the

record once.

You know what, there, sweetheart?

Why are you looking cheerful today?

Do I have to dance on the table to get some attention?

OK, so what does she have?

Oh, she'll tell you. It doesn't include a tip.

Dad,

I love everyone.

Who is Alex?

Alex is a prick.

Are you cold?

A little bit?

Are you sore?

Now I'm going to get you some tea.

Children are looking beautiful at the moment.

Yes, they're looking very well.

Do you love them, don't you?

Thank you.

hmm uh huh

uh uh

next Wednesday.

Is there a Wednesday too?

Right. Well, is he what we need?

Oh, he'll do.

Customers like him.

Right.

Two vodkas on me.

The barman will do, but it's just a drink.

You know that woman was always in here.

The one you were chatting up the other day.

Today, she said to me, you're Joel's brother, aren't you? She said what?

You're Joel's brother. I didn't give her a yes or a no, but she took that as a

yes. That's cool.

I quite like the name Joel.

Because when I was little, I used to listen to lots of Billy Joel.

Billy Joel?

Oh, spare me.

How old are you exactly?

Look, it was my sister who was nuts about him, first of all. She had

of his. And I used to listen to just that.

But then in here... Jesus Christ, come on, spare me.

How long have you been working here, then?

Since my eldest son was born, six years ago.

Before that, I was a musician, like Billy.

Sort of. I never guessed you'd kid.

One day, a year ago, I just walked out.

Went to stay with a friend.

Things can happen like that in life, very simple things.

The night arrives, which is the last you spend at home, in a house with a wife

and family.

Next morning you just open the door and close it again.

And if the house is already empty, well, that helped.

It all left already, so that was a help.

You mean you didn't say anything, you just blitzed?

Say what?

Very tall.

Fucking hell.

Did you say you were looking for somewhere to crash?

It's a fucking nightmare when you get nothing left and you have to start

all over again.

I didn't want people to give me their gear.

Other people's gear makes me a beauty.

You want to dress me up good and proper, just drag me down the local office bar.

This is all you.

Clean, unblemished. No facts.

Hey, let's have a drink.

No,

let's have a little tour first.

Yeah, we'll have a little tour.

Why are we in there?

No great interest.

Nothing to see.

Change a lot of things. Victor, was that there before? Won't you? That's been

there for ages.

Your room.

My room.

OK? Good.

You like that? Yeah. What's wrong? OK. That's OK.

Good.

Hey, is there one room at Jay's, please?

Come on, Victor, please.

Jay lives in a house now. I told you, it's a room on the ground floor. It's

nothing like this place.

Anyway, I don't need extra rent.

Well, listen, you fucking move. What the fuck do I know?

See, there's all manner of reasons why Jay here needs just as much bread as

myself. You know, I mean, you keep shitting about it, but I can imagine.

See, when you leave your family, they clean you out.

House, kids, blood dry. That's what we are.

Are you living with anyone?

No. Are you a queer?

What do you think?

You just struck all over the show. Victor!

Victor, give the guy a fucking break, will you? Jay and me, we were like two

brothers here.

Old twins, that's us.

I mean, one or a lot of us could have been left by the wayside at any time,

no.

Onward is one, and how many people can you say that about in a lifetime?

I mean, Jay and me, we've both done our share of drifting, but at each bend in

the road, we always did what we wanted to do.

And that makes one fuck of a difference.

and throw out our desire.

That's us.

Victor, that impeccable gentleman who rings your doorbell one evening and

suggests cable TV.

Oh, I can get you a very nice price if you find a wee set for your room.

Maybe you don't want to turn out apple. Okay. Okay. What's victim needs money.

He needs a sweet You have to complicate it. No, no, all right then again. No,

then again. No, maybe it's me. Maybe I've got the whole thing wrong King

nothing

against it

Victor provides the room, so stop.

Just put the money on the table, and that's that.

Cash. No cheques.

My son told me he wanted to go to art college.

And when I was 16, I used to paint a bit.

It's funny, eh?

It's not good for you to be on your own. Come on, Victor.

If you're on your own, the moment there's trouble, it'll fucking head your

Jesus, are you just looking for yourself?

All right. I don't need you setting me straight. Thanks for dropping by, all

right? Yeah, yeah, yeah. You tell that crap about twins, too.

What is that shit?

Oh, twins.

Twins in the yard.

You're 200 and I'm 35.

You're the one who's going to try to get on with it.

Thank you.

Thank you.

you

What what

Oh

It's changing things.

Good man.

Your eyes are upside down today.

Why do you say upside down?

Because when I say like this...

See, they look like eyebrows.

Your head works both ways round.

On your mother's side, they've got big bags under their eyes like that. Wait a

minute, I think I can feel them. No, I haven't got them. Maybe you'll have them

one day, though. No, I won't.

What are you doing here? Pissed off?

Sorry, sorry. I know I should have called you.

I don't know where I got this idea that you never have anyone round.

It's just bloody stupid.

Mind you, it's nice to have people round.

I used to like it.

No, no.

Sorry.

Hey, that friend of yours, Ian, he never showed.

Did he say anything?

I don't know.

You haven't got any gear knocking about, have you?

I'm feeling a bit wasted. No.

Have you got everything you need here? Because I can sort you out with cable

whenever you want.

You never told me you were seeing someone.

I'm not seeing anyone you told me. She's my landlady. She was coming to check if

I had everything I needed.

All right, yeah, yeah, I get it.

Personally, I've always thought it's better not to have anything to do with

those people. It gets kind of emotional.

And then you manage not to be able to ask for anything, you know? Like, when

heating fucks up, well, this place is fucking gigantic.

Are you, um, is it just you here?

Uh... So, is there something your, um, landlady does especially well, apart

freaking you out? I mean, have you seen the look on your face?

All right.

Two days.

You can stay two days, but that's all.

People all have their own faces, don't they?

Everyone manages to have a special one.

Great.

If I look at them, I can see they're all different.

But tomorrow, put me in the same carriage with the same people, I won't

recognise a single one of them.

Calls me no end of shit.

Will I see you on Friday?

Why, don't you want me to come? Oh, Betty.

So how was your day, then?

Nothing to write home about.

Bye.

It's over there, downstairs.

It's over there.

Laura is very different from other girls. I think the difference is all to

in fact.

Not quite all.

In the eyes of others, strangers.

She's terribly shy.

Lives in a world of her own.

All those things make her seem peculiar to people outside the house.

Don't be curious. She is.

I don't intend to humor your silliness, Laura. Don't jump. Sit down and compose

yourself till they come.

Time has forgotten its key, so you'll have to let them in when they arrive.

Mother, you answer the door.

I'll be in the kitchen, busy.

Oh, Mother, please. You answer the door. Please, don't make me do it.

That is your brother, Mr.

O 'Connor. Will you open the door? Mother, will you go to the door?

Please. Can you give me one good reason?

Coming. Just one second.

Why you should be afraid to open a door.

You're having failed.

Will you march?

This is Jim.

Jim, this is my sister, Laura.

Didn't know Shakespeare had a sister.

Do you like it?

Oh, I don't know. I'm not into the theatre at all.

They haven't got much space here, have they?

It's not like a company that does different plays. No, they choose each

actors. How long have we got now?

Fifteen minutes. I'll get a drink. No, no, it's all right. I'll have a Coke,

thanks. A Coke? Yeah, just a Coke. I'm working, mate. What would you like?

Can I have a Coke, please?

Just a Coke.

No,

I want two Cokes.

Mum was wicked tonight, wasn't she? Yeah.

What did she say?

I said I thought Mum was wicked tonight.

He loves coming here though. He'd come every night if he could.

I'm watching that, but often I'm really nervous. I'm thinking, oh my God, she's

going to have to get her lines or she's going to trip over.

Or I'll just keep checking around, making sure people are enjoying it.

But he'll watch the entire play. He's got a real knack for it, doesn't he? You

really love it, don't you? Yeah.

We go again, second half.

Do you like Tennessee Williams, yeah?

Yes.

I'm going to leave someone, and I don't know how.

Fucking hell.

So what's the situation this time?

Look at the girl I'm seeing. She comes around, we fuck, she leaves.

Without me asking her to come back or anything like that.

I mean, all right, well, I asked her around once, but... What would you say?

It's crazy, right?

I mean, you suggest something just to once, they make a fucking habit of it.

Okay, I mean, it's not a hassle to me or anything to be... Actually, it is.

That's exactly what it is. Just that.

I think I find it... Yeah.

A drag.

I mean, but only now, not before. But now, all of a sudden, it's become a real

pain in the ass, really quick.

I mean, now, right, this bloody Wednesday thing, it's like we owe it to

other or something.

It's all wrong.

She'll understand.

People do understand.

What would you do to Emily?

Oh, it's a justice claim. It breaks up by itself.

So can you believe how desperate that woman must be?

Wednesdays, Tuesdays, I don't know, four, wanting that and only that.

Who is more desperate than you?

Why should she be?

You didn't ask her to come back and she didn't ask you if you could.

Even so, you open your door to her and that's how it works.

Where's the desperation in that?

It's not so funny when you come across someone who wants the same thing.

Maybe you get one lot.

You don't even realize it. Wait, how do you know? You don't even know her. But I

can imagine her.

I'm sure you give her a lot.

I don't know. I can hardly believe she wants the same thing I want.

I don't have the impression of being with anyone either.

And what does she say about all this?

I don't know. We don't talk.

Well, your promise is all dried up. You shouldn't even be here to see it.

Fuck it, so why is it always the same? I said two days. I'm leaving tomorrow.

Today is Wednesday. You know you should not be here on a Wednesday afternoon in

any case. Okay, all right, fine. Well, you're dead too.

Okay, come on, get away from me. Get away!

Come on.

If there was a problem, you'd tell me, right?

Are you not down the pub?

Come on, if I go to the pub, I'll only drink.

That's no solution.

Why?

Yeah, that's no solution.

Do you want to catch the show again?

I'm not surprised. I've never told you, Cap. It's such a brilliant evening, and

here you are again, and that proves it.

It's not as if you're a real theatre buff, right?

What, do you work here?

Oh, no, no, no, no.

Looks like it, right, but no.

I've already... I've already forgotten what happened just then.

What?

I went to the theatre.

People don't talk about it after.

They see the show and they bugger off just like that.

Makes her sad.

So I'm here.

I hear what they say on the way out and I'll tell her later.

I know you're not supposed to give a toss and all that. As a rule, my wife

doesn't work.

People really like her.

You know, in principle.

That depends on what part she's playing, of course. My wife's in the show.

Yeah, she's the one playing the girl.

Amanda.

Laura. Laura, is it? Yeah, Laura. I don't know anymore.

Anyway, I'm sure I told you, wasn't I?

Oh, so... You know, personally, I can never really tell whether

someone's good or bad.

You know, when I go to the theatre... You're the punter who's got an opinion

about everything.

It's really interesting.

Because there I am, listening in at the interval, and all of a sudden, bang, I

ask questions.

And I don't feel like a twerp doing it.

Anyone. I won't lose a toss whether I'm there or not.

Sure, but they don't know who you are, do they? No, no, I mean the others in

company. They used to see me around, you see.

I lend a hand from time to time.

You can call me a wanker if you like, but I feel like a pig in shit.

This... This... really true to you here. Yeah, in more ways than one, actually.

Being with her, of course, because this passion of hers, it could cut her off

from us.

Because it's true, isn't it?

If you really, really love something, you often end up ruling out something

else, right?

Yeah. Well, I don't want her to fall victim to that, you know?

Nope. So Claire and I have decided not to rule out anything.

I'm Andy.

Jay.

So she's called Claire.

Who?

Your wife.

Did not tell you?

I told you all sorts of other things and I forgot the most important.

It must be pretty unusual to blow up following it all, though, like you do. I

don't know.

Because I was doing a job like this, I want to get some feedback, you know?

For people to talk to me, but then again, maybe I'm the only one that that

upsets.

Probably come to my job.

I drive a cab. It's a new black cab.

Okay, so I've got a fair in the back. I've got a job to do. But if we don't

talk, I feel like I'm only doing half the job. You know, if we don't talk, if

don't talk to them.

Yeah, right.

If you fancy going, upstairs, downstairs, show wherever you look.

That's what's good about it here.

And you, you married?

You know when you're with someone, there's only a very short time when you

really give each other things for free.

With neither of you having to ask.

Because later on, all you do is make demands of each other.

Perhaps the only difference between her and all the rest is that she's asking

you for nothing.

But what have you learned?

You scare me.

Haven't you learned anything at all from leaving home?

Perhaps I should only go out with people who are fit and well.

Yeah.

That's it.

Only a man would want all this. Baring your wounds and all that shit?

Not for me. It's just not my style.

You should think someone else, too.

And aren't you? Me? No, not at all. This woman, she's all I've got.

Where are you going?

A handsome guy just went by.

I'm asking if you don't mind. I'm doing it.

Joan!

Hi. Hi. Joan, this is Claire. Hi.

So, did the tour go well?

I suppose so.

Like any other tour. Bye.

Bye.

The tour would suit me down to the ground.

It's just what I need to get my blood tingling. All that moving around.

I don't look like a tart, do I?

A tart?

No, you don't look like that.

I was at another casting session this morning and I realised it was pretty

at my place.

There, Nicole.

There,

you give classes.

I'm a tooth.

You could come one day if you wanted.

Sometimes something happens. Okay, when are they?

Tuesdays and Fridays, but Fridays at 3 o 'clock. Oh, okay, Friday. I'll come on

Friday.

You know what? The first time we met, I found you a bit stepped up.

Like you were sitting on us or something, but that's not right, is it?

the way you look.

No, then again, you know, some days, this fucking knife will lead.

Well, take my wife. I mean, it's all very well, the theatre and all.

But I mean, I know full well she does too much.

There you go.

Yeah.

I was thinking, I was saying to myself the other day...

People who are really fond of each other. I mean, really fond of each

What could possibly come between them and fuck everything up at some point or

another? What would you think?

What, people who are in love or just mates?

Oh, no, I think in love. Oh, no, why not? Maybe they're even lovers.

You, for instance. Andy, what could possibly fuck up your marriage once and

all?

You take a look at me. I've been working in this bar, waiting for something else

to turn up.

For, I don't know, six, seven years now.

I mean, at first it was just for a while, see, but now I'm stuck in a rut

fucking arsehole.

Yeah, if I'm honest with myself, the only time I can really say Jay said he'd

it and he did it was when I left home.

Ah, so you are married.

Yeah, yeah.

I probably haven't done it yet.

Except when you have an idea like that, you tend to keep it to yourself, don't

you? When everything's going down the drain and all you can think of is

out, you keep that to yourself. How many did you tell you were going to leave? A

couple of mates. One mate.

Well, that's when it gets ugly, isn't it? When you do that, you know, you hurt

people when you do that. I mean, yeah, shit, yeah, yeah, fuck, no, that's an

example. That would really get to me, that. Except when you're caught in the

middle of it, Andy, you can't see anything.

It was really only when I was out on the pavement again that I could see.

How unhappy it was.

How low I'd sunk.

Pretty low impact.

Because after all, Andy, it's so very easy to stay, isn't it?

Don't you find that's how it usually goes with people?

What about you? How did it all start between the two of you?

What are you?

What, me and my wife?

What's going on here? Hang on a minute.

That's private business.

I've got a big job, right? Not even he knows about that. Fuck off.

My boy, go and get yourself a drink.

Don't go outside.

Put it on the tab.

You all right, Luke?

Yeah, thanks. Yeah? Yeah. Good, good man.

What would you think of a mother who has it off on the sly regularly and then

goes back home in the evening as if nothing happened, goes back to her

And all of that with a wicked gift for pretense.

Because, I mean, how can you? How can you, after being fucked all day by some

guy, go home in the evening to your husband, to me, I mean, to Jay, her

her family, as if nothing happened?

Well, you want to know my opinion?

Yeah. Really?

Yeah, yeah, I'd like that.

Well, I think... What do I think?

I think there's a lot of blokes around, like you, Joe, but it's not up to you,

is it?

Because she's got to go back, hasn't she?

In the evening, kiss the kids, give them a hug, pour herself a drink, pour a

drink for the fuckwit sitting opposite her at the table.

Maybe she's even got to talk about her day.

A slightly tiring day, dear.

Of course.

But a really lovely day.

After being shagged all day by some fucker. On top of that, he doesn't even

a word to her. Amy, play, for fuck's sake. Else Jay here can take over and I

find me a game somewhere else.

You know what, Nick?

That was the moment that she looked at me with the most attention.

Susan, my wife.

She'd come home every evening and she'd just eat me up with her eyes.

Give yourself a break. Because she's bound to compare, isn't she? When she

comes home in the evening and the fact is she's there at your side and she's

happier than she's ever been before. Are you listening to me?

What do you think, though?

I say that as long as she comes home every evening, it's... It's fine.

It's fine. It's fine.

Yeah? Yeah?

Well, I'm not surprised you say that.

And I don't even hold that against you, no.

I think until you've lived through something like this, yeah, you probably

feel really sheltered, don't you?

Yeah, right.

And then when it actually happens, you're not even surprised, are you?

Right. Right?

So you're saying if we stay, it's because we can't face it, right?

Oh, fine. I've got to get out of this. I'm going to fucking bed. Cheers.

Has your wife seen a total cunt or what?

You said that you never said a word.

Hearing you talk about it, you're so worked up, it sounds more like you're

one that got dumped, right?

Yeah?

Marriage, Jay.

It's a wonderful thing.

It's a war, it's a battle, it's a terrible journey, but it's a reason for

living.

I thought you were saying you couldn't play very well. Ah.

Don't listen to him. It's not true.

Dave's not a bad player.

You'll bounce back, I'm sure of that. I'll bounce back a bit. I've got no

on that. I'll bounce back, Andy. That's what I told you about this woman I'm

seeing once a week on Wednesday when we fuck.

I suppose it's better than nothing.

She loves it, though. She's a really good fuck, too.

You're probably the sort that doesn't bother with that side of things, but for

me, it really counts.

Oh, yeah.

What day did you say you saw her?

Wednesday.

Wednesday.

That's a really good day for me, Wednesdays. Yeah.

Yeah, I do really good business Wednesdays.

Yeah, but then again, on a Saturday, of course.

Fuck, I can't find myself.

What makes you think I'm not interested in a good fuck?

Because I don't mention it.

She's got a husband to say.

I didn't say.

I don't know, actually.

That's a good question.

Can't you have a game?

There's no performance tonight.

It's just the two of us.

There's no performance?

No, actually, I was just crossing through.

You know, is your wife in anything else on here?

Oh, no, come off it.

No, no, no.

No, tonight she's out giving her fucking poxy fucking drama lessons and her

fucking sticks.

Victor, didn't you say you wanted me to help you with something today?

What?

Oh, yeah, yeah.

I was wondering if you'd come to my insurance company with me.

But, you know, we can just stay here.

Where are you going? I've got to go. I've got things to do, you know.

But it's only two o 'clock. Yeah, I'm not going to sit around all day like a

pillock.

It's not two.

It's ten -two.

And if you stay and the bell goes, you don't answer it.

Oh, it won't go, but... You don't answer it anyway.

But this thing of yours, I mean, we could both do it.

Okay?

You didn't drop by last Wednesday.

I wasn't there. Well, good.

I couldn't.

Hadn't green, have we?

Yeah. No, no, I know. Yeah.

Let's go.

Shall we go?

What?

Not like this.

That's not touching.

She won't let me touch her, but I'm not supposed to. That's not touching. It's

fumbling. Carry on, carry on. How can I tell anybody loves me if she don't want

no loving? You couldn't get here any earlier. They were delivering our sofa

Oh, and you've been trying it out, have you? You arse. Just concentrate on the

scene. Carry on.

Hello, everyone.

Hello. Oh, Gideon, hello. How are you? Are you cold? You all right, love?

You mustn't go.

Can I kiss you?

Yes.

My little Betty.

Why do you call me little and I'm not Betty? Oh, my little Betty.

Look into my eyes.

I can see little gold spots in your eyes.

Kiss me. Give me a kiss.

You give me a kiss.

I don't know why I bother.

I've no idea.

Here we've got Betty as stiff as a board.

She's never touched anyone in her life, and Dave is arrogant as ever.

You're ridiculous.

I didn't believe a word of it.

That's not a love scene.

Okay, that'll do. They've known each other for ages, see?

I'd imagine they'd already been in contact, you know what I mean?

No, no, no. This is the first time he's touched her. He's all fingers and

thumbs. He's bound to be. Picked a bad day.

It's okay.

They're great.

Maybe I don't know how to do this right, but I am so into this that I get the

feeling I'm all on my tod.

Sometimes when you're so caught up in what you're going through, you don't

clock the other person there.

Maybe. Do you understand me?

Carry on.

Carry on.

I speak to you, Betty.

Not here alone. Not here.

You come with me?

I want to speak to you, too.

I want to kiss you.

Such long kisses.

Such tender kisses.

Where?

Your lips.

Your body.

I mean, where do you want me to be?

To my home.

Come to my home.

When?

Okay.

Stop it there.

Call it a day. It's not working, it's not working. Next couple.

But last week, when we did it in improvisation, well, you said that it

I was all ready to fuck her just then.

Right then, I loved her. No, you know nothing. You know nothing. The thing I

know is that what you're supposed to be doing is to...

Make Betty gather up all her things, find an excuse to go out and cross the

whole of London to come and see you. And wasn't I doing that?

Who said it was so far away? No one did!

But it is!

It has to be!

I'm so glad.

I really am. You know, I was thinking of giving up. I really was. I was really

down on acting and, you know, you're not going to make any money and all that.

But seeing that, two ordinary people. I mean, they were just... Brilliant,

weren't they? It was fantastic. It's really, really nice. I've forgotten

something. I have to go back. You go on.

I'm all right.

It's just a... It's just a... Why did you block them?

What?

Was it sudden?

Yes.

My little finger bends to one side, both of them.

It's like each hand has a mind of its own, by the look of it.

But you know, after all, if you'd asked me, I would have said you were a real

shit to Dave and me just now.

But don't be sorry.

If someone torments me like that, it's the final straw.

But what? You know, Claire.

The thing I admire about you is that in no time at all you can get on the wrong

side of the whole group.

I'm proud of you when you do that.

It's not easy to be horrid.

Talk to me, Betty.

No one understands a thing when you talk.

Okay, but you're in the right job.

And I know.

Because I've taken other acting classes.

And this one... Look, the two of us can't be here like this with me and...

a word you're saying. Do you understand?

Okay.

Excuse me.

I'm bothering you.

You're not learning anything, Betty.

Still, neither am I.

We're not the sort to give up easily, right?

Look, I can be a real shit, but you come back, I'm useless,

but I keep meeting people who...

Think I'd be perfect for the part of you who say no.

But you're not gifted, you see. That's all you've got.

You keep at it.

You don't let anyone down.

You do your Tuesdays, your Wednesdays. You just dabble with this and that.

Dabble with us?

No, only with myself.

Come on, Vic.

What the fuck are you doing here?

Where'd you spring from?

So you're getting bored of that? Oh, I didn't come to find you. We only came

the atmosphere.

Jesus, you make me a shame. You sounded so great on the phone when they rang.

Oh, I've got to hand it to you, Victor. You're choosing better places to die in

every day. It's three o 'clock in the bloody morning. I'm doing my own thing,

fuck you, Jay.

Get him out the fuck's sake.

You're trying to pick me up. Come on.

Death of cold.

Me? No.

Why do I get sick?

Even beer doesn't get me drunk these days.

Just go home. That wanker said to me, we're expecting you. What have I done to

him?

He wanted to talk to me.

Can't you see they're all taking a piss?

With your stagging trousers and your ass hanging out.

Why don't you take a bloody look at yourself?

When Jay's given up on you, he doesn't even tell you.

He just carries on smiling with his mind on something else as he walks away.

He was a real phony, this old Jay. You can exploit people, you can be

ungrateful, and at least you can live with it, you know? You can... Look, I

can't figure out... What do you know about life? Have you ever lived with

anyone? My life is to die! Shut up!

Merde!

Shirt.

Merder.

Jay. Jay keeps shitting about everything.

He doesn't even say who he's fucking.

You're always complaining, yeah?

But Jay's worse off than you.

Because you, in fact, you do all kinds of things.

And you get it out of your system.

Jay makes himself ill.

Perhaps he doesn't know how to love.

Maybe it never got to him. It doesn't to everyone.

Why do you say that?

Little cunt!

Fetch the bottle!

I think I've got Alzheimer's.

I'm not kidding.

I think I've got... Feel this. Feel this right there.

What is that?

Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, look, look, on the left.

Giving you the eye.

I mean, that's got to be better than fucking your landlady.

I

knew

the singer in college. We were friends.

He was a really nice guy, you know, really clever.

I think his band was really good, too. They were never going to go... Very far,

but I think that there was definitely something there, you know, a basis.

But it doesn't get rid of that stupid guitarist. He was so mouthy, you know.

He's always just like... And such a massive ego.

But they kicked him out, and after that he became a drummer.

Sorry that you should know them.

So this is your place, then? Yeah.

We used to live three streets from here with a friend, but we fell out.

Had it real hard, you know, because at the same time we were absolute best

friends.

Pasha, you saw her earlier. I like her, but it's not the same.

Don't you think it takes time to get to know people? I mean, really know them.

Perhaps you and I would be really good friends. I don't know.

And you see, I really like it here. This is my place. I decorated, you know. I

put it together myself.

And once people see it, they know something about me.

They see the walls, they see what I have here, they see my things, and they see

a bit of me, you know.

What? Come here. Stay with me and then... Go on.

No,

no, no.

I'm sorry.

I'm so sorry.

Excuse me.

It's lost.

You really are an old fart.

What's inside the chicken, boys?

You like this, Kendall?

You sure you don't want anything?

No.

Yes, it's a welcome to see new boys, right?

Yep.

Fine.

Um, I've brought these back for you. Give me five, man.

Give me five.

I mean, it's Wednesday, right?

Is she pretty?

Hmm?

Who is she?

It's always a girl.

So what are you going to do?

Look after myself. That's what I'm going to do.

See you.

Everything okay?

See you?

Yes, sir.

Oh, you're all right there, Jake.

I'll give you a game back, would you like?

Yeah, yeah.

Enjoy the second half.

I hope you enjoyed it. It's quite funny in the first half, actually.

Yeah, yeah. It's a bit shorter as well, so you've got more time to have a drink

after.

Hello, Jake.

Nice to see you. You're becoming a bit of a regular, aren't you? Yeah.

Enjoy the second half. It's good.

I should finish this bag.

Oh, all right. Excuse me.

You just can't take that second half, can you?

Enjoy it.

Take it. I'll just have to scratch down now.

Balls! I can't, Dad.

That ain't period or any stuff. I'll step on you. Hold up your arms a little.

Like this? Leave it to me. There you go.

Let yourself go now, Lord. Let yourself go. Come on.

Hey, that's much better. Much better.

Oh, my goodness.

What do we get?

Table. Should something fall off? I think. Yeah.

I hope there wasn't a little glass morning with a horn.

Yeah.

Come on.

Two hands are better than one.

Besides, I want you to meet my wife. Come on.

Come on, come on.

This is Claire, my wife.

Hello, Jay.

A great actress, as you know.

Back again, are you, Andy?

Jay's a real theatre buff.

Even though he's hardly seen anything.

What do you mean, hardly seen anything? He always leaves during the interval.

Always.

You don't look like an agent.

So you called in to see if we're all right, is that it?

It's the same. All my best scenes are in the second half. Oh, yeah.

Jay's a big, big Tennessee Williams fan.

Personally, I wouldn't go that far myself.

All the women in there always seem so hysterical, don't they?

Jay's back like I was telling you about.

He left his wife.

He hates her now.

I'm sure I mentioned to you.

He sees this woman.

She's this woman once a week, yeah.

Not only sees her, if I understand right.

Hey.

OK, I'm going up.

All right. Bye, everyone.

Bye, dear.

Good night, love.

Andy. Oh, yeah.

Shoes. Bless you.

All right, I'll see you in a minute.

I'll be back in a sec.

I haven't finished dressing.

Right, straight away. See you later.

Nice meeting you.

Stay for a drink?

Want me to shut this?

I mean, at one point, the fact that you never said anything, I wondered...

A woman who keeps her trap shut so much. Yeah, all those things I was hiding.

Scary, isn't it?

You know what? You know what? It's fucking reassuring. Very reassuring.

Vows, fidelity, support, faithfulness, the whole works. Why should you miss out

on all that?

You'd have been the first woman who ever had.

That's not why I'm here, though.

That's not why I'm here, you know.

At one point, just to make it very clear where I'm coming from.

At one point I thought that if what we did together was all that you wanted, it

was because you knew more than me.

I thought you'd found something.

I thought you were ahead of me.

And that in the end you would tell me what you knew.

That was the really great thing, that at some fucking point in the future you

would tell me what you knew.

And of course you just keep your gob shut.

What the fuck are you doing with him?

He's my husband.

Excuse me, excuse me.

You wanted to talk?

Well then, here we are.

Talking. That's on the house.

So then.

You're an unhappy bloke who's managed to bounce back.

Is that it?

Well, that's good. What can I say?

That's good, actually.

I feel like this one last time.

Otherwise I might have ended up worrying like some stupid cow.

Back there for a minute. You look really sad.

But think of everything that's yours, everything that you're going back to,

family and your kid and your husband that loves you so and the job and the

theatre that you so love. Everybody listens to you, don't they?

Everybody listens to you.

Even me. I don't even know you. You don't even know me and here I am

to you, interested in you.

Some fucking half -assed little theatre that stinks of piss.

Jesus Christ.

It's all your game, isn't it?

You didn't picture me like this.

What a fucking pain you are. That first day, you must have been really

surprised. I paid everything. I should want you there. I didn't seem to make a

big deal out of it. It didn't seem to hurt me that much, you not saying

anything.

I didn't give you not saying anything a second thought. You didn't picture me

like this. You didn't picture me like this. I didn't picture you at all.

Right? It's much simpler for me. And now everything's settled in one go. Well,

that's fine. I like it when things are over and done. No time wasted.

Hi, Jay.

Mum was good tonight, wasn't she?

Yeah.

But she's always good, isn't she?

No. It's Dad.

He says she's uneven.

But he can't talk since he only goes to the first few nights, so he can't really

compare.

I like seeing the play lots of times because I don't always understand

everything the first time.

Do you have a girlfriend?

Like a girl you like a lot at school?

How are things going between the two of you?

Well... Come on, we're off now.

Come on.

Say goodbye.

What about Thursday?

Are you here Thursday?

When you're in mourning, you know...

All the more reason, I think, to carry on as usual.

That's the only way of handling it.

But then again, can't you say to the bloke who runs the evening classes,

someone's died after all?

You know, Betty, actually, no -one has died.

Actually died.

Well, if no -one has died, that must mean it's you.

But if you feel like you're going to die, I'd rather be with you, no

In fact, I'm flattered to be here.

When I died, there was no -one there.

I had to go through the whole thing on my own.

OK, I did it.

But a bit of company won out.

Perhaps I should be getting back.

So...

In principle, if you're serious, you have a program the day you die.

Having a laugh with your kids.

We did that last night.

Don't come trying to tell someone something.

Something you're dead set on, for good or bad.

Something you'd never have said.

Because on the day you die, you have total freedom of speech in principle.

I met a man, not like me. I don't know how to use my energy, but he does. He's

really determined.

And then one day, he found out how to turn it against me, and just like that,

took back everything he'd given me.

That's what he wanted, I think, to screw everything up.

And it worked.

Between the two of us, it worked.

Oh, yeah.

What was it, the day you died?

It's in the past.

It's behind me now.

No more to say about it.

Thank God.

Yes, if you want to give up the acting class I'm all set. She was a bit tired,

that's all.

She gives too much of herself, you see. I'm always telling her.

It's like these classes she gives. They're always out in places where the

takes longer to get to.

The time she spends doing the classes. That's a bit confusing, but you know

I mean.

There you go.

There's nothing you can do about it.

Claire's like that.

It's like when she decided to have a go at acting.

The age she was, you know, spring chicken.

You know, she'd never really done it before, but... There you go.

Straight for it, didn't you, mate?

Yeah, so when we met... Well, I was... No, thanks. I was just getting over a

relationship that had been pretty, well, painful, actually.

I was in no rush to go into, you know, another one straight away. Well, I

planned to, but... She saw me.

You chose me.

Bang. You made a beeline straight for old Andy. Didn't you?

Very strong people can do totally incomprehensible things.

Right? Oh, yeah.

We're going to shake a leg.

I'm glad you came.

I'll be off then.

I'll get you off.

This is it. Okay.

Betty's nice, isn't she?

Yeah.

I'm very fond of her now.

I'm not going to leave her anything.

There.

Claire's telling Andy she's going to stay with him.

I wasn't worried.

So did you find Jay or did he come looking for you? I don't give a shit

all that!

Do you know what the saddest thing is?

Do you know what hurts the most? Do you know what it is?

You'll never be an actress.

Never.

And it isn't easy for me to say that.

It isn't fun.

But there it is. It's the truth and you've got to fucking face it.

I really wonder what good you do your students. I wonder what it's like to

you all the time. You know what I mean?

That's something I don't want to be anything better.

I've got to share my part of what's been in this, haven't I? I mean, because I

never really believed in it from the fucking start. Not one minute!

No, but I jumped in both feet first like a fucking idiot.

Keeping up your fantasies. The little girl who doesn't know what she'll do and

ends up doing just about anything like a stupid brat driving a cab around day

in, day out.

What's with that fucking moron?

You know, he thinks he's so smart.

One of these days... It's fair for you, though.

You know what?

I'm not even surprised.

If you remember that look on your face when we first met, I could see that same

torment on your face now. It suits you, right?

You are the least alive person I know.

Opportunity for you, right? A pathetic little piece of adultery. Of course you

have to be against something like that. Who wouldn't be?

Oh, it's okay.

Andy's a just little sod -hole, but he knows London like the back of his hand.

You don't even know who I am.

You don't even know how to hurt me.

If you knew me a little, you'd know that what you call my lack of talent, sure,

it makes me suffer, but it won't kill me.

You don't usually look this messed up, do you?

Joel!

Joel!

I'm trying again for you.

If you were doing your job properly, you wouldn't have blinded me all the time.

I

will.

Great race. Great race.

Give me a beer.

Actually, it's like seeing a whore, right? I was seeing this woman one day a

week.

I'm not speaking.

Except she found a way of telling you she was married, didn't she? She was

careful like that. Just so you didn't get carried away.

I bet she's done it before, though.

No way you're the first.

Let's stop.

I don't see her anymore.

I was about to suggest we share her.

It sounds like there's nothing left to share, right?

One day I wouldn't... I wouldn't fuck up my marriage.

I'm kidding.

I'm just kidding.

I'm just kidding you.

I love her more and more.

Time passes.

I just wanted you to know all that.

Ian, have you got any blackbirds? Yeah, I bring them down.

That's me. I'm going to head off now, okay?

Oh, oh, uh... Okay, cheers. Cheers, Victor.

Okay, I'm going now.

I just get my jacket from downstairs.

I thought that perhaps you'd said something at one point that I didn't

that's what you're holding against me. Listen, I don't understand the first

thing about you. How can I hold anything against you? Did I miss something?

What did I miss?

Well, then ask me something.

Anything you like. Go on. All right, I'll ask you something. Why didn't you

Andy? It wasn't all that important anyway.

It wasn't worth it, was it?

Well, it fussed for nothing.

Still, I don't know. Maybe that's how it works between you two.

You tell him each time, and then that's it.

I mean, for Christ's... You know, you weren't like someone who you asked to

by who comes by and fucks and goes just for the thrill of it.

What was I meant to feel?

What was I supposed to be like?

Who should I have been to keep everyone satisfied, just to come and see a man

and bury myself in his arms? Because I wanted to.

It had been a long time since I wanted someone.

And it was with you I wanted to start again.

You're not supposed to say that, usually, are you?

I... I know you've given me something that I never asked

for, and that no one does that ever, and that I should be grateful, and yet

somehow all I seem to do is to hold it against you.

And I know...

That you should be so close to someone tears me apart.

Your being close tears me apart.

So, I'm a divorced man. I have two children who are getting used to me not

being around. I'm friends with a certain number of people. I suppose I'm their

best friend.

That's something.

And also I'm this Wednesday man to a woman

that I've never asked anything of.

And she's happy with that. That's no problem to her.

But it really fucks me up.

Everything.

I don't know what I'm doing here.

Sorry.

You missed nothing, Claire.

You missed nothing.

Because I said nothing.

I didn't know it would be like this.

I didn't know that I would become so closely tied to you.

I thought it would just blow over.

Stay with me.

If you've come back, stay.

Come back.

Stay.

Now.

Stay now.

Have you left him?

No.

Sorry, but I have to be off now.

Are you dumping this?

Sorry, I'll come back and finish off later.

and the safety zone

to behold you

that day when

people

There is no hell like an old hell.

There is no hell.

And it's like a toy.

and we light up the light