Original subtitles

I'm gonna be sweating like an old donkey.

You know how cold you get in London.

Come over to this side.

Thank you very much.

Which

one

is it?

That one I think.

invited us.

It's us.

Oh, hi.

Sorry.

Hello. When are we here? It's gone too early.

Not too early, I hope. No, no, come in, come in.

It's great to see you at last. I've always been so looking forward to it.

Oi!

Oi!

Oi, shush!

I'm breathing dust in. Everybody hold their breath for ten minutes.

It's like Buckingham Palace.

Oh, thank you. Hello, hello, hello, little ones.

Have they got any presents?

Who are they?

For God's sake, Rosie.

It's a lovely house.

It's your granny and granddad.

Hello, sweetheart.

Harry. Goodness, you've grown.

I wouldn't have recognized you.

You like jigsaws?

Yeah.

What are you listening to?

What are you listening to?

You have a broken face.

That's not very nice. How long you stay? We don't know yet, dear. We haven't

decided.

That's a concept in Wales.

Stop it

It's

not over doing it we're all doing that I've just opened the shop

Selling what cashmere anything you can get made out of gorgeous cashmere

Absolutely gorgeous.

It's very soft.

Well,

you pop here, OK? You're

nice and early.

Listen,

I've just popped back, really, just to say hello.

Aren't you spending the day?

I'd love to, if only, but I've got water, blood and meetings all day.

Everybody wants them. Yeah, that's it. I know it's going well, then, eh? Yeah.

Business is good.

Well, business is busy. It's really busy.

Yeah, me too.

Well, I'll see you tonight, all right? We're going to Paula's. She's cooking,

so watch out.

All right, well, I'll see you at the setting. Look, make a sense at home. If

there's anything you want to listen, buzz it as I show you in the fridge.

Come on, get the lift.

As long as you don't talk to me.

I really must have told you to criticize me for not talking to you. It's because

you only talk to me when I'm trying to do something else.

All right, mate.

All right, bye, darling. Bye.

Yes, I know.

Stop it.

As slow enough as it is, Michelangelo took less time at the bloody Sistine

Chapel. Yes, but this will last longer.

That's a risotto.

What the hell is that?

Hello. Hello.

Pleased to meet you, sir.

I'm Darren.

Toots. Toots.

That's me, Toots.

You like this work?

Well, I try to.

Yeah.

Some of this is very careful work.

Built it to last.

Why would they be sitting here in their old age?

Oh, they won't enjoy it. They won't know what to do with themselves.

This is Bobby's mum.

And Paula's. We have a daughter.

I'm probably one of Bobby's oldest pals. We're, well, in London.

We're college together.

Except, er... ..I left in the second week.

Do you like cricket?

Yes, I do.

Playing or watching?

I used to play a bit. Did you? Yeah.

Were you a batter or a bowler?

A bit of bowling. Oh, well, I was a left-handed bat. Really? Yeah.

Whereabouts? Oh, all over. Till my knee went.

Oh, yeah? Yeah. What did you do?

Pulling, you know.

Over to your pad, you see, because you're going to get both of them.

Yeah, no. Right? Yeah, yeah. So try it at one spot. Yeah. Right.

Better.

That's amusement.

It's slot machines, things like that. You have to put money in.

That's it.

That's it.

R.

Yeah. E.

Yeah. E.

Bobby. Bobby.

Bobby. What? Not so fast. Come on, Dad.

Well, it's not that far.

Just a minute. Come in. You all right?

Yes.

We should have taken the bus.

I said we should have taken the bus. Daddy, are you sure you're all right?

Yes. I just want to see Paula. Come on.

He's all right.

I don't want to carry you now.

You all right?

Yes, I'm all right.

Oh, hi, Dad.

Oh. Still not married. Oh, stop it. Leave him alone. Once was enough.

Hello, darling. Hello. Hi, Jackie. But we made this walk.

He said it was 10 minutes. 10 minutes? 10 minutes.

The boy needs a man like me around the place, eh?

Well, Bobby's going to introduce me to some of his rich friends, won't you,

Bobby?

Darren's rather adept with his hands and things, isn't he?

Handy man, handy chef.

OK, anyone want to drink? Hello, mate. You should look after your sister.

About time she looked after herself there. Oh, don't start. I'm going

straight away. Bobby, I've got something to show you. Come with me.

Come with me. Let me show you this.

Look. You just left it like this. Who has? Darren.

Well, tell him off. That's a rotten thing to do. Yeah, well, Bobby's got him

working all hours. Excuse me. I am paying him, you know. Jesus, I've got

more than Darren to think about.

Oh, sorry. Oh, God.

Right, can I get you a drink? Oh, yes, that would be lovely.

I'll have a glass of wine.

Right.

Careful, everyone.

This is hot.

Yay!

Oh,

you burned yourself. Right.

Yay!

Let's eat.

Okay, you want some wine? You didn't even bring any wine.

Thank you, Dad. Dad.

Here comes Dad.

I'm so happy.

Happy to see everyone together.

Like the old days.

Remember when we all drove up to Scotland?

Oh, yes.

You were young.

And we felt young.

Oh, we were sick out of the car window. You were sick out of the car window.

Always sick.

It was horrible.

Mother wore summer dresses.

And went pink in the face like a summer. Really?

I went bright red.

And it was raining.

Sheets and buckets.

Oh, God, Adam.

Table tennis. Do you remember table tennis?

Oh, and you read to us. And then when I wanted to make up my own stories, Bobby

hit me.

No, I didn't. Well, you were always hitting me.

No, I didn't. You did. No, I didn't. I wouldn't do it. I wouldn't do it. Don't

believe her. I wouldn't do it. He was always hitting me.

Well, yes, he was.

You're the thing I'm most proud of.

My family.

Hey, to us all. Yeah.

Long lives. Yes, long lives.

Cheers, Dad.

Cheers. Cheers.

Cheers, everybody.

How much of this can you eat, Jack?

OK. OK.

Just a little bit.

Paula's food always makes me feel ill.

You should have told her what I like.

What shall we do tomorrow?

Can't we go home?

What's the matter?

I've got to go again.

Then you'll have to go yourself. That's one thing I can't do for you.

I've got pains.

What now?

What are you doing now, Dad?

OK.

Shh, okay.

What is it in your chest?

In your arms? Where does it go?

Me?

All right, okay.

It's okay.

It's okay.

It's okay. Mother!

Oh, okay. Helen.

Helen. Helen, I need you to wake up. Helen.

Mum. Mum.

I can't just leave him on his own.

obviously

Look. Look, they're waiting for him.

Where do you want his things?

Just put them back.

Back where?

Just put them anywhere.

Mum, I must... The thing is, I'm really going to have to...

Look at these.

Sorry.

Hi, Jeff.

Sorry to just interrupt you there. Listen, I'm not in town right now.

I'm going to be back first thing tomorrow morning.

I really, really want to meet with you on this.

But I just can't talk right at this moment. Is that OK?

I appreciate it.

All right, see you tomorrow. Take care. Bye.

Come, why don't you sit down?

I'll put the TV on. I know, I'll make you a cup of tea.

If I sit down, I'll never get up again.

I'll be like all the other old girls around here.

And then I'll go into a home.

Well, you know, I'm sure that's a common reaction.

I'd rather kill myself.

Mum, you can't just... You can't just wander about.

Come on, sit down.

Such a comfy-looking chair.

Well, you sit in it, then. I'm not staying here.

Please.

Don't be difficult, Mother.

Why not?

Sorry? Why shouldn't I be difficult?

What? Why shouldn't I be difficult?

No, it's just that I can't... Well, no, we'll just tell them they've got to do

it.

Yeah.

We'll just say that's the... I mean, that's what I said when I actually

interviewed them anyway, that they were going to have to do that extra hour, so

that's... Yeah.

Yeah, no, no, no, totally.

Yeah, or I can... I mean, I can come and... I can...

I... Sorry, I can... Yes, I'll come in and speak to myself.

Well, you know where everything is.

Is there anything else you need?

If you need somewhere quiet to sit, use my study across the hall.

I never had a chance to go in there.

Mum. I've got to go to a meeting.

Right.

What the fuck are you playing at?

My father has just died, okay? Yeah? My business is coming down. You're never

here. No, I am here. I'm not fucking here.

People will kill each other. You can't stand up. Please, keep your voice down.

Come on, let's just hold this together, yeah?

I think I'll go out for a walk.

Cheer myself up.

It won't be like that one day.

No one wanting us.

No one wants you anyway.

Well, that's not entirely true.

It's not as cold as it was the other day.

Excuse me. I'm sorry to bother you. You don't happen to know where Benbow Road

is, do you? I don't know. I'm not living here.

I'm from the... Thank you.

Excuse me. You don't happen to know where Benbow Road is?

Benbow Road?

Do you know where it's near?

No, I mean, I've just got lost.

We're in the pub.

We're in the pub.

Completely lost.

I'm not from London, I don't know. I don't know where

she was going.

Brilliant, Bobby.

I'll call you back later.

Where have you been?

I've no idea.

I completely lost my sense of direction.

I don't know where I was going.

We're here now. We're safe now.

Actually, I think I liked it.

You know, just walking.

What are we going to do with you?

I don't know, dear.

You could look after Jack sometimes.

In fact, I wanted to go out tonight.

Oh, you're not staying in?

Well, not if I can help it.

It's a nightmare getting the babysitter, and then when you get one, they want to

be paid the earth.

You could sleep in my room, and I'll jump in with Jack later. Can I?

Yeah.

Well, it is what I came for.

I just hadn't expected to do it without your father.

Oh, Mum.

Won't you be cold without tights, hmm?

Oh, Mum, I'm not a child.

Who's the fancy man?

How do you know it's a man?

Well, I'm assuming it's a man.

Do you like him? Will I meet him? What does he do?

Shush, mother!

Thank you so much.

Go on, enjoy yourself.

See you later.

Bye, Jack!

Bye!

Stay. Arnold, please.

Look, she's pulling this fucking number at the moment. She's going to kill

herself. Oh, well, good.

Good. Good.

You don't even sleep with her anymore, do you? Do you?

Of course I don't. Then you've got to go home and fuck out, now, you. No, I

don't. Darren, my father died.

I can't believe it. My father died.

I know.

I know. I know. I know. I know. I know.

I know.

You still care for me.

Just say it then. Say it, say it.

Tell me that you love me.

You can't say it, can you?

Yes, I'm here.

Yeah, give me that.

Darling, I'm picking you up today.

Is that all right?

Yeah, it's OK.

You look tired. Have you had a busy day?

Yeah. Have you? It was tiring.

Shall I put them in? Yes. That's a good boy. Then you can cut that one.

Will you tell me a story?

Darren tells me stories.

Does he?

Do you like him?

Yeah.

He told me this one once about a, like, monster with big...

his nose and he had carrots and onions and toast and he used to go to starving

people and dangle his face down there.

That's dreadful. Wow. It looks amazing in here.

She's been to a therapist.

Is that how you say it?

Yeah. Come on, chop that up.

Therapist.

Yeah.

Can't you talk to your hairdresser like everyone else?

Is there something wrong with you?

Yes, there is.

You know, I've got nothing...

Look,

I've been wanting

to say this to you for a long time.

But it's not going to be easy.

You know, because I like things sort of free now and open and honest, so...

What?

You hardly touched me.

When? You know, you never...

praised or encouraged me.

I don't believe you ever thought I could achieve anything.

I never felt valued, Mum.

That is why I'm doing it with a married man on the fucking floor.

What are you saying?

It's not true.

If I'd had the advantages that you'd had...

God, I'm going to be in this mess now.

Advantages? What advantages did I have? Me?

Right. You had a really nice house, a very good husband,

a nice little job, lots of free time, you know, kids at school. If I'd had

that, if I had that free time, what did you do?

You just sat on your arse all day watching the fucking telly.

I was unhappy.

All my life.

I've never been strong.

And it was all too much for me.

Look, let's forget about you for a second.

What? What about me and what I'm left with?

Oh, darling, you're healthy.

You're intelligent.

I want him to be with me. Who?

That man, the builder?

Darling, he's rough with no qualifications or money. Look, that's

what I want. That is what I want.

You can do better than him.

I love him.

Him?

Oh, darling, you don't.

Why?

He doesn't really live with his wife.

He doesn't really have a relationship with her.

He lives outside in a van.

And he can't leave because he's got a son.

He's got this autistic son that he absolutely adores. He'd do anything for

him.

You know, Darren is a gorgeous man. He's a lovely man.

He's just going through a lot at the moment, a lot of turmoil.

He's just in a mess, you know.

Look.

Perhaps you could sort of get talking to him, you know, and find out how he's

feeling about me.

Please.

What? No, not yet.

Here. Chocolate.

Thanks. I did not give you that, right?

Hello.

Hello. I've seen you about, but we haven't met properly.

I'm Darren.

I spoke to your husband just for a minute.

I'm sorry. I'm very sorry.

Yes, thank you.

I've got to go and pick up my boy.

My wife's with her sister, so... You're married?

For longer than I can remember.

Not that I can remember anything.

Who am I?

What are you doing with Paula?

How can you ask that?

Do you want some tea?

Yes, please.

Do you ever work for anyone else?

Not if I can help it.

I worked in shops for years.

Shoe shops.

Really?

Well, everybody needs shoes.

A few pairs, at least. Not an awful lot of people not wearing shoes.

What else do people have to have, apart from shoes?

I suppose if you could work that out, you could make an awful lot of money.

What do you think?

I don't know.

Love.

That's why I'm not rich.

I'd like to show you these.

Is that toots?

That's insane.

That's... That's very funny.

Very funny.

Oh, sweetheart.

I found something the other day. One of my father's old jackets.

It was just a shopping list my mother had written for him in her own... You

know, it was just an errand, had to write to him.

I don't know, but at the time, it just... It just became...

The most valuable thing I'd ever touch you know I Think about it all the time

now, and I wish I didn't But what remains oh my god

I Can't go home

I Don't know what I'm doing

I'm frightened are you?

Imagine people Getting less frightened as they get older.

Think they'll be able to deal with things better.

No.

Well, perhaps.

Yes, they do.

Something to look forward to.

And the slide.

Oh,

Minzy, where the borough groves and the mumbraths outgrabe.

Beware the jabberwock, my son, the jaws that bite, the claws that catch.

Beware the job-job bird and shun the frumious bandersnatch.

Bandersnatch! Bandersnatch!

Hello, you. Hello.

What a happy family.

Doesn't he declaim beautifully?

Very nice talking to you. See you.

How's he been? Been OK?

Been a very good boy. Good? You've not been bored, have you? Not at all.

I'm sorry I'm a bit late, but I had to stay behind because we've got a naughty

boy at school and I had to talk to his mum.

No, it's not going to be.

You know, other people do this kind of thing. You know, it's possible.

Look, I'll bring you something.

I'm getting so impatient, I could kill you.

Why is he so marvelous, this man?

Oh, you are such a snob. No, I'm not. Yes, you are. You're snobbery. Stops you

seeing anything good about anybody. No, just because he's doing a bit of

building work.

He's a very clever, talented person. You know, he's artistic and gentle.

He's a very, very sweet man.

And he's just, you know, very, very weak as well.

If I leave this tonight, I can't concentrate on him.

You know, in two or three years, I hope I'm going to be able to support us

properly. And then I'm going to have a child with him before it's too late.

Does he want that?

Yeah, he will.

I wanted to say, if you haven't... got anywhere, you know,

with your writing yet. Here we go.

Why can't you believe in me for once? Just once believe.

Just say something positive.

Just, you know, make me feel better for once in your life.

You're so harsh with me. I am harsh. I feel harsh.

I think you're right.

You think I'm right?

That's why I'm so upset.

Listen, just forget what I said.

I'm going to finish with that bastard and get liberated.

Well, you will have to rid yourself of false self in the end. Actually, I've

been thinking of finishing with him from the moment I met him.

I'll do it tomorrow.

Yeah, why shouldn't I do it?

I'll... I'll suffer, yes, probably.

And then I'll just be free of the whole fucking nightmare.

I'll be free.

Yes.

Right.

You finished?

Yes, thank you.

Actually, I'll take a croissant for a friend, I think. OK, sure.

I was just coming to listen to some music.

Great, why not?

Sit with me. We've hardly had a chance to talk. You haven't stopped, darling.

Enjoy. See you later.

Darren? Darren?

I brought you this.

Is my daughter talented, do you think?

I really love her voice when she reads to me.

Do you believe in her, then?

Good luck to her in whatever she wants to do.

But it's not necessarily how she should spend her life.

I don't know.

Who knows the answer to how anybody should spend their life?

I thought yesterday.

Now all I want to do are interesting things.

Things I love.

Thank you for that.

I'd better get back.

Helen will think I'm slacky.

Yeah, she's very, um... Oh, yes, yes.

Very, very.

She's jealous of you, that's all.

Me? Yeah.

She's jealous of everybody.

How do you deal with her?

Jealousy looks like Jean Shrimpton.

Every day?

Yeah. It's a calming effect on most women, I find.

Yeah, I suppose it would.

Sorry?

I said, dear God, let us be alive before we die.

Hey, we'll have lunch, shall we?

Shall we?

Yeah.

Is it beautiful?

I never think of London like this.

Come on,

drink up.

Give us a chance. I've got something to show you.

You'll like this.

That's a double.

It was at least a double and it was a treble.

It'll go to my knees. Come on.

Let's go. Chop, chop.

You see, I don't believe you really want to be with my daughter.

And you're making her frantic, not being honest.

If you want to be with her, tell me and I can reassure her.

But I am with her.

Here we are.

Oh, look, I'm sorry. I forgot.

No, I'm fine with you.

You're stupid at me.

I'm fine. Are you sure?

Yes.

Oh, what a lovely place.

Togarth.

His house is just around the corner.

Good heavens.

Shouldn't think you didn't, though.

Why don't you read the... the poem, yeah?

Farewell, great painter of mankind, who

reached the noblest form of art.

whose pictured morals charmed the mind, and through the eye correct the

heart.

If genius... Fire thee. Fire thee, reader stay.

If nature touch thee, drop a tear.

If neither move thee, turn away, for Hogarth's honoured dust

lies here.

Gosh.

I never knew that was here.

I must come and draw it sometime.

Here.

What? Draw it now.

Don't be silly.

Draw it now.

I've got shopping to do.

Well, just forget the shopping.

I like being with you so much. Good.

Oh! You're right. I've got you, I've got you.

Sorry, I'm not used to drinking at lunchtime.

Oh, God, I'm sorry.

I'm so sorry. I don't... I don't know what happened to me.

I think you just fell.

I must go.

Bye.

Hello?

Very 60s.

I was washing nappies at the time.

By hand.

I'm taking you out on the town tonight.

Oh, good.

It's my writer's night.

Remember?

Unless you're going out with a man.

That would be my lucky day.

Actually, I've been thinking. I've got someone in mind for you.

At my writer's group.

Oh, no.

No. Oh, wait and see.

I think you'd find the group interesting anyway.

I just saw Darren.

Oh, yes?

Did you tell him?

Tell him what?

Well, that you're leaving him.

No.

I kept thinking he had someone else on his mind.

Bastard likes girls too much.

I wake up early.

I love the early morning, and while my coffee brews, there's a garden at the

back of the flat where the birds come to feed, and in my slippers, I check each

flower.

When my coffee's made, I read some poetry.

I do this now every day and try to learn it.

By now, I'm ready to write, and I sit down using Paula's method of free

writing. I have her in mind.

As a teacher, you see.

And I get it all down and they come back to me. Mother,

father, brother, my cousins.

And I think this has been a life and I can give it value, find new pleasures

in it by making it into literature.

So then I read back what I've written and maybe change it. Bruce, thanks very

much. That was great. I think everyone would agree that was... Thank you.

So why don't we take something from that about the family and try and sort of

do a sort of sketch of early childhood, maybe.

Sort of really tap into your sense memory from childhood. Make it a very

accurately drawn, very precise picture.

So, as usual, we've got pens and papers for you to use everywhere.

So, go and find a quiet corner and have a think about it, and I'll come round

and chat to you whilst you're doing it. OK?

You don't have to... I will, now I'm here.

OK.

Well, we'll produce that stuff later.

Just see what occurs to you.

Yeah, yeah.

Oh, this is great.

A memory from 30 years ago.

A catastrophe, eh? Wow.

You should read that out later. No.

Go on.

No. You should.

Really? Yeah.

I'd put the children to bed at last.

It was such a struggle.

I'd hate them by the end of the day and thought I was the only parent who

felt that way.

They'd be screaming upstairs, throwing things out of their cots.

I'd put on my coat and shut the front door behind me.

And I'd go out and walk across the fields for miles, as I do now.

Or I'd go to a pub where no one knew me.

I made sure I'd be back before my husband, but they'd be asleep at last.

I wanted to kill myself out of guilt.

I still haven't recovered from those cries.

What is it about those cries?

Was that the first thing you've ever read? Yeah.

Very talented.

Thank you.

Ben. I'm Bruce, by the way.

Hello.

Would you like to come out with some of us tonight?

Max and Hilary? I really like what you did. It was, um... It was, um...

It was gutsy.

Thank you. It's a bit late for me. I get a bit tired. Right, right.

I enjoyed that. It was good.

Bye, Paula.

Bye.

Well, why don't you go out with Bruce?

Yes, I will. Not tonight. There's another night. But I enjoyed it. Yeah,

well, I'd like that very much.

Hello.

I spent the morning chopping and I hope you don't mind.

How kind you are.

I like it.

Beautiful.

I feel so... What?

What do you feel?

Filled up by it.

And ignorant.

Ignore that I don't know anything.

But that you want to know.

Keep still.

I haven't got time to keep still.

But it's years since I did this.

I love it.

I love it.

I'm no good at it, but I don't care.

If you asked me to describe my life and what I've done, as you did yesterday,

I'd have to say nothing much. I just wasn't there.

I was always too...

Worried about everything.

To live in it properly.

I was a terrible housewife.

That's what all the women did then.

We weren't like Helen and Paula.

I just went along with it.

Until...

Until a few minutes ago, actually.

Like we've got a rebel on our hands.

A few years ago, an intelligent man who lived nearby was an

antique dealer.

And he started to like me.

Twice.

He took me into his bed.

Did you like it?

Oh, yes.

And I planned to go away with him.

I was going to go to my husband and explain.

But I never saw him again.

I couldn't upset anyone.

Oh, Darren.

The cigarettes made my chest all congested.

Oh, I can't breathe.

What would happen if you did breathe?

Um, I'd say... Would you... Would

it be too much trouble?

Would you mind the... spare rooms?

Would you come to the spare room with me?

Would you?

What do you see?

A shapeless old lump.

Oh, God, can I... Can I do something to

you? I... Oh,

I feel so... Oh, I'm sorry. I should have been doing this before.

You can touch me.

Will you touch me?

If you'll let me.

I thought nobody would ever touch me

again.

Apart from the Undertaker.

Hello.

Hi.

Just getting things shipshape.

I'm glad you perked up. I thought I might take the blinds down. Is that

alright? If you feel like it, yeah.

Song to there, Bobby's.

Here I am sitting in a tin can.

Far above the world.

Planet Earth is blue.

Are you alright?

No, what did I do? Calm down, Mum.

Is it because you missed Dad?

No, I just...

Like the song.

Funny that. I haven't got you down for a space oddity.

What? It's the name of the song.

We're going to have to lay an extra place for dinner.

Why?

So, what's he been saying?

Who?

You know who.

But you've left him, surely.

Why do you keep saying that?

Repeating yourself like a bloody parrot.

When the time's right, I will.

Well, you know, I didn't really get the chance to go into things.

You had lunch.

Yes, we did.

He took you out.

He told me.

Did he?

Yeah.

And?

Well, I couldn't, you know, I couldn't just sort of plunge in. It'll take time.

It's a long game, let me say that. Mother, my whole bloody life depends on

this. Well, I don't know.

With men, you have to coax, negotiate.

You know, they're like frightened birds. I mean, if you say boo, they'll fly

away. Oh, and you're the expert now, are you?

Well, I do know some things. Oh, well, if you do know some things, then why

can't you just do something?

It's all right.

Don't pull me to pieces.

I mean, you've asked for my advice, and that's what I'm trying to do.

Hi, cowboy.

Hello, cowgirl.

Hello, mate.

Hello.

You hungry?

Oh, no, no. No wine?

No money. That is not an excuse.

You know,

everyone has their story, I guess.

Everyone wants to have their say, has to have their say.

What?

I want.

If you've not got that, you know, you just go bonkers.

It's self-expression and therapy I'm into now.

Yeah, I think if I could combine that with, you know, the kids at school, I

don't know, maybe, I don't know, write some kind of textbook thing, you know,

for teachers, like a guidebook, kids with problems.

And that is something I actually could usefully do.

Everything alright?

Yeah, fine.

It's good.

Is it?

I think it's the best thing I've read that you've written.

Really? Yeah.

You should read it out to the group, I think they'll like it.

Yes!

God, I'm so happy!

Thank you.

Time for bed, Mother, I think, don't you?

What? Oh, yes.

Sorry.

Actually, I think I'll go out.

What, now?

It's all right. I'm not frightened anymore.

Where's she going?

I don't know.

She's starting to get on my nerves, actually.

Right. Can you read my thing again?

Again? Yeah, I just need you to sort of read it a second time.

Hello dear. Hiya.

Let's get me up.

Hey mate.

What are we gonna have for lunch?

I don't want lunch.

I've never done this before.

Is that good?

Yeah.

Up you get.

What?

Up you get.

I'm not doing it again. I don't want the energy to do it again.

What are they?

I've no idea.

Found them in Helen's cupboard.

Would you take anything?

Mm-hm.

Where's that?

Dunno.

You know, my boy Nicky, he is the most beautiful,

sweetest, mad.

And he talked to me about Paula and...

I'm just making

it up as I go along.

I don't know.

What do you want, darling? Tell me.

Well, I don't know.

Six months away.

Six months away to think about everything and repair myself.

Well, why can't you?

Because I don't want any money.

You know, I work all the time and I just don't save anything.

It's ridiculous.

There's pubs I can't even go into because there's big blokes looking for

me.

I'll pay for you.

To travel and live.

Why would you do that?

Well, I want to.

We... We could go together.

No, it isn't.

Oh, don't you feel terrible about all this?

No.

No, I don't give a fuck what people think.

Me, I just always end up in this shit anyway.

I haven't had enough shit in my life.

It's my husband, always liked me being at home, looking after him.

And he hated me having friends, so I didn't have any.

You always do what he said.

Hmm. Huh? It was easier.

We didn't have that feminism then, you know.

I guess some men like their women depressed.

What?

What did you say?

So men, it just suits them to have their woman unhappy. You know, Bobby, Bobby's

like that.

What, they keep them that way? Is that what you're saying?

Lord, I never thought of that.

I spoke to Paula on the phone this morning.

Says you've got an admirer.

Yes, the old girl's suddenly in demand.

Would you mind?

You won't like anybody else more than me.

Why is that?

You know why.

No.

But they'll see, won't we?

You old tart.

I've never been called that before.

Did you mean what you said before?

Yes.

No,

thank you.

We arranged a talk.

About mother.

Mum.

Come on, I want it sorted out today.

All right.

Save some of that for me.

What's he been saying?

I don't know.

At least it's coming on a bit faster now.

I mean about me, not the fucking floor.

How should I know? I'm not the fucking go-between.

I mean, how am I supposed to show the house to buyers with the conservatory

all finished and him with his arse banging out of his trousers?

You're selling already.

Are you? You're mad.

I haven't got any choice.

Why?

Wretched cardigan shops.

Hemorrhaging all my fucking money.

And of course she insisted on opening it.

At precisely the worst possible moment for me.

I thought you were loaded.

Yeah, so did I.

So did I.

Well, no one seems to want what I've got to offer at the moment.

Poor little brother.

Aren't you pleased?

Oh, you've always been envious of me. I have not. You have.

That's rubbish.

It's not rubbish. It's true. Oh, for God's sake. That is utter crap. It's

not. You know it.

Oh, you actually looked at these?

Mum.

She's having him.

Who?

Mum. Mother.

May. You're talking there, don't you? No, no, look.

Look at these.

Look.

Oh, my God.

Jesus Christ.

I feel as if I just had a very hot curry.

Hell, y'all suck.

It's disgusting.

No, I'm telling you, this is fantasy. She wouldn't do this. She wouldn't do

this.

Would she?

Jordan, if this is true, your boyfriend's even more of a fuck-up than

I thought.

Listen. OK, listen, listen, listen. Listen to me. Listen to me. If she's

been stupid... Mm?

..alright, just don't...don't hurt her, OK?

I'm off, then.

Right.

Everything all right?

Yeah.

What? Nothing.

I'm gonna go to the pub. You, er... No, I'm a bit busy.

I'll see you then.

Mother, I... Yes?

What?

Nothing.

You'd be a fool to spend your life beating your head against a brick wall.

Open your eyes.

See what else is out there.

Why don't we all go out together sometime?

Who?

You, me, Bruce and Darren.

Oh, no. No, I don't think so.

What are you doing tomorrow?

She's lovely.

Yes, it is, isn't it? It is, yes.

Eat something, Darren.

I'm hungry.

I think you should eat something, Mother.

It's a big lad.

So, when are you going to finish my study?

Well, when I've finished the conservatory, yeah.

I wouldn't worry about that. They're selling up.

What?

Yeah, selling up. Didn't you know?

No, he wouldn't do that without telling me.

Oh, there's a lot of things people would do without telling each other.

Darren and I are moving further out this year, getting a place.

Oh, lovely.

What's wrong there?

Why would he do that?

Why would he fucking do that?

Is he all right?

Yeah, he's fine.

Why don't you come and see my collection of first editions?

Oh, that sounds like a good idea, Mum. Why don't you do that?

And we'll see you later.

Well, why don't we go somewhere else? Let's go to another pub.

Well, you'd like a drink.

Well, I've got the car.

Come on, everyone.

I park by the church.

I know what you're trying to do.

It's not far.

Come on, Mother, let's have some fun.

I do like you.

Oh, my God, Darren, Darren, look at this.

Mum's at it.

Let's get a fucking drink, come on.

Come on! When I lost my wife, I started collecting all the penguins. I moved

into older books then.

I've got some from the 17th century.

I also collect China.

Mostly Clarice Cliff.

You've heard of Clarice, haven't you?

Yes, yes, I've heard of her. You do? Well, that's wonderful.

You know, it's those 20s, 30s designs, very geometric.

Actually, I don't like the geometric ones quite so much.

And some of them are sort of rolling countryside films, a bit sort of

childlike, like Rupert Mayer annuals. I'm so sorry.

I'm sorry, would you take that?

Excuse me, please.

Could you excuse me, please?

It's all right.

Where's Paula?

They don't want us oldies around.

It's odd.

I can feel the world streaming past me.

Incomprehensibly.

As it seems to us in our age.

I feel left out.

I feel stupid.

Thank you.

But she reads all my work.

Every single word of it.

It's given me something meaningful to do.

She's an inspiring teacher.

You must be very proud of it.

Yes.

Yes.

Are you... tired?

So much has happened.

There's so much to worry about.

But I can't go home.

I'm not ready for old age.

I don't know what I want to do.

Oh, no, not in there, please. Please, no.

Please. Just keep still.

Oh.

Oh.

Oh, it's good. Oh, it's good. Oh. Oh.

Paula.

Paula.

Paula, let me in.

Open the door.

I thought you weren't coming back.

Where would I be?

I thought you might fancy a bit of Bruce.

Oh, daughter, don't talk to me like this. Are you trying to tell me you

didn't do it with him? Look, just... Well, I know you did.

Please let me in.

Please.

Please. Mother, I've taken your advice.

I've given Darren a deadline.

I've asked him to leave his wife and come and live here with me.

See?

He agreed.

He agreed?

Yeah, he agreed.

He says he will come.

He's going to go and tell her.

Because he's shit scared that I'll go and tell her myself.

Tomorrow when he comes with his things in pathetic plastic bags, you will have

to go.

We're going to be staying in a lot, you know.

Staying in a lot.

I'm going to clear this place out.

Mother! What?

Do you love me?

Of course I love you.

You're my daughter.

Well, you must be so pleased about Darren and me then.

What's this?

My work.

What are you doing?

What are you doing?

This is it. It's all going.

Makes you feel proud, doesn't it?

Oh, you told me not to waste my time. Oh, I am.

I did.

I didn't say that. You told me I'm not a writer. I can't write. I can't do

anything. No, I didn't. I didn't say to burn your work, darling. You said not to

try, but all these are plays in here. Every single one of those is a play.

Please stop.

Don't do this.

All adults.

You said I should be able to get a better plan of a man if I change things.

I think

you

should go home.

I'm going into town.

No, I don't mean that. I mean, I think you should go back to your house.

To live.

I can arrange for you to have counselling if you want.

Is that what people do?

Instead of taking an interest in their family?

Look, what you do...

Well, you're more than grown up.

That's... It's none of my business, but I just wouldn't mess with Paula's head.

You know, she can be fragile. You know that.

OK, and Darren... Well, he...

He's easily distracted. You know, really, he is kind of strange, Mother.

Really. Does he know you're selling the house?

And the conservatory's just done?

No, I haven't had a chance to discuss it with him yet.

Well, I'd look to yourself, Bobby, to you and Helen.

How did you become so cold?

How did you become so hot?

The fucking guy in the newspaper's done it again. I can't believe it.

I'm fucking standing there. What the fuck are you doing? What the fuck are

you doing? What? What's he doing?

What? If this thing isn't finished by when I said it should be finished, I'm

firing you, OK? I'm going to sack you, all right? What the fuck are you smiling

at? Useless shit!

Get out!

Actually, both of you, just get out. Get the fuck out!

Oh, yeah.

Fuck!

Hey.

How about a bit of rub-a-dubby, Mother?

Please don't call me that. Come on.

There's nobody about.

Let's fucking suck it, though. Come on.

That's it.

That's it.

Here we are.

Be tender with me, please. I'm always tender with you, my lovely. I'm always

tender.

I love it when you're a talker.

You've got such a lovely wet mouth. Why don't you put some lipstick on and let

me shove my cock in it. Go on. Oh, darling, I'll do anything. You know

that. But please talk to me.

Have you really got the money?

Yes, darling.

You know I have.

I'm glad you're in a hurry.

When will you tell your wife? Tonight?

Tell her what?

Where are you going?

What?

Darren?

Darren, what is it? What are you laughing at?

You know, um... The money, I just... How

much have you got?

Eh?

How much have you got? How much have you got? How much have you got shoved in

your knickers?

It'll be a ticket.

A what?

I said I would get you a ticket.

You won't be able to trade it in. You just get on the plane with me.

On the plane with you.

Fucking plane.

I can't get on a fucking plane.

I can't... I can't get on a fucking bus, never mind on a fucking plane.

I mean, what, don't you fucking know that?

How else are we going to get there? A ticket, for fuck's sake!

Jesus Christ!

Why does everybody have fucking money but me? Jesus, fuck! Are you

seriously... Are you seriously going to let me down?

After all, all that you've said, all, are you consciously trying to fucking

hurt me?

Oh, Marcel, what have I done to make you so angry?

Oh, fuck off, Paula.

Paula?

Don't you even know who I am? I don't give a shit who you are, woman.

I'm sick of all you fucking women just pouring and clawing me.

Why doesn't someone do something for me occasionally?

Or a change?

What am I?

Some sort of fucking whore to, you know, to listen to you, to fuck you, to make

you feel all right?

Oh, this fucking thing. Oh, fucking marvellous. Yes, heart and fucking fuck!

You can have him.

I can't say that I like you very much.

It's not as if you've ever done more than the minimum for me anyway.

I feel as if I've lost everything lately.

Oh, I'm sorry.

Father.

Lover. Oh, don't.

Mother.

But I am fucking well alive.

And there are things I want to know.

What am I good at?

Is there anything that I'm good at?

What do I want to do?

What do I like?

Well, I'm gonna find out.

Paula, is there anything I can do?

At last.

God.

Yeah.

I've been thinking about it for a few days, actually.

I think...

I think...

I would like to hit you.

Do you understand that?

Yes.

Now... Stand

up.

Are you ready?

Now this may not look like it, but it's nearly finished.

Yeah, it'll add considerable value.

Well, I should hope so after the disruption.

Hello.

God.

What's happened?

What happened?

It's okay. It's not so bad.

We, uh, had an argument.

And I've got the message.

I'm going home.

Right.

Oh, Mum.

Well, I'll give you a lift to the station. No, thank you.

I'll get the tube.

Gran!

Look! I got a new haircut!

Oh, bye Gran!

Are you going?

Oh, see you another day?

Yeah, bye!

Bye.

Yeah, alright.

I'm coming.

Bye,

Mum.

Come again soon, yeah?

Bye!

Bye!

I'm useless.