"I now pronounce you spouses for life." "I meant what I said about helping out, financially." "~ I've got a half brother." "~ I've got a son." "I am sorry." "Perhaps it's time I met him." "~ Celia, tell me about your family." "~ Do you really want to marry me?" "I've wanted to marry you since I was 16." "~ Are you sure about this?" "~ Course!" "You can get on with your work." "I'll only be half an hour, 40 minutes." "~ What's happened?" "~ Kate's been hit by a car." "Do you want to come through here and we'll have a chat." "Flora." "~ Really?" "~ Don't you like it?" "It's..." "It's up to you." "~ Isn't it up to both of us?" "~ Yes." "Of course." "But you're..." "You know, you've got more say in the matter." "You've got to like it." "I don't dislike it." "~ Flora Grace." "~ OK." "You don't sound thrilled." "No, I am." "Well, what would you call her?" "I like that name." "Sweet." "Good." "So you don't like it." "No, I do, like I say." "It's growing on me." "It suits her." "Well, it suits her now, but will it suit her when she's 14 and got opinions." "~ I really like it." "~ Well, then, that's all that matters." "~ You're just saying that." "~ I wouldn't do that." "If I thought it was really abhorrent, I'd say so." "~ As opposed to mildly abhorrent?" "~ Kate." "We're calling her Flora." "Flora." "Flora Grace." "There is some margarine called Flora, of course." "You've put me off it now." "No, I haven't." "Don't talk to me like that." "That's how men talk." "~ So you do like Grace?" "~ I like Flora." "You really don't." "It's obvious." "She's your baby." "She's our baby." "Mum?" "The hearse has arrived." "It's outside." "Right." "Do you want me to take the baby?" "No, I'll..." "Thanks." "To everything there is a season and a time to every purpose on earth." "A time to be born and a time to die." "Here in this last act, in sorrow but without fear, in love and appreciation, we commit Katherine Abike McKenzie-Dawson to a natural end." "Little girl." "Little sweetheart." "You are going to have to decide on a name for this baby." "Flora." "I decided just before we set off." "It's Flora Grace." "That's beautiful, Caroline." "Thank you." "Ginika, do you want to..." "That's the father." "Don't look." "Which one?" "Pudgy, pale, face hair, 12 o'clock." "Keeps looking this way." "Used to be called Greg." "Probably still is." "He's an idiot." "They often are." "And here's another one." "John." "Have you met Ginika, Kate's mother?" "She's a professor of economics." "~ Ah!" "~ At Columbia." "Gosh, how do you do?" "Terrible, tragic, awful situation." "I lecture in English at the University of York." "Not to be confused with York University, which is in Canada, apparently." "~ So you've flown in?" "~ No, she got on a steam packet." "You're Caroline's ex?" "You must be devastated, heart-broken." "I'm so sorry." "You write novels?" "Well, yes." "I've published one or two." "Jack Protheroe, private detective, lost soul." "Yes!" "You've..." "Have you read..." "Oh, a long time ago." "My favourite is The Haunted Man." "It's entertaining, it's interesting, it's insightful." "You're very clever." "~ Gosh, well, that's..." "~ Dad?" "Dad!" "You need to move your car." "You've blocked someone in." "She's left her handbag at the crematorium." "~ Would you excuse me?" "~ Sure." "That'll have made his day." "You don't like him." "I didn't like Kate's husband, Richard." "My mother didn't like my first husband," "Douglas, the one with Alzheimer's." "Maybe it's normal." "Maybe it's a thing." "Did your mother like your first husband?" "Kenneth?" "She thought the world of him, but she wouldn't have done if she had known the things I knew about him." "I like Caroline." "I was very fond of Kate." "She'd come round and play Scrabble with me sometimes in the evening, when I was on my own." "I found it difficult at first, and I wasn't always as kind as I might have been, but... ~ It was a surprise." "~ Well, not entirely, if I'm being honest." "Kate was very happy with Caroline." "~ Most of the time." "~ I know." "So, Flora Grace." "Well, I know for a fact Kate would've liked that." "Hello." "Sorry." "I know we didn't hit it off, but I couldn't not come." "We were college buddies, apart from anything else, so..." "How's..." "I know I'm not supposed to ask... ~ .. but how's the baby?" "~ She's fine." "She's fine." "~ A girl?" "~ Yes." "I couldn't have a look at her, could I?" "~ That wasn't the plan, was it?" "~ No." "~ What's going to happen to her?" "~ She's going to be fine." "~ Are you..." "~ I'm looking after her." "~ Is that..." "~ Official?" "Yes." "I'm on the birth certificate as her parent." "No, I was going to say, is that what you want?" "Yes." "Of course it is." "It must be tough." "I mean, it's not what you thought you were buying into, is it?" "You didn't want her to have a baby and now you're the one left with it." "Well, I didn't not want her to have a baby." "Sorry, I must've misunderstood." "I wanted what she wanted." "She said you weren't as keen as she was." "I wasn't, but I wouldn't have stopped her." "I'm sorry." "I'd better go." "I've got to get the train back to Manchester." "I just..." "I wanted just to say," "I can see you've got a lot of help and support, but, if you just wanted someone to look after her for a bit or..." "And, as I say, under any other circumstances" "I wouldn't be offering." "I'd have backed off." "I wouldn't even be here." "That was the deal and I'm aware of that, but, if ever there was anything," "I'm flexible, I'm self-employed, I can work anywhere, so I wouldn't want you to feel like you couldn't ask or that it'd be inconvenient, because chances are it wouldn't be." "~ That's all." "~ OK." "Well, thank you." "Have you..." "Have you got my number?" "It..." "It'll be on Kate's phone." "Well..." "She's in the kitchen with my mum or Kate's mum if you want to have a look at her." "I shouldn't have asked." "It's up to you." "OK." "Thing is, she's with Kate's mother and Kate's mother thinks I'm an idiot." "A teaspoonful of baking powder, a splash of milk, a drop of vanilla essence and bob's your uncle." "Mum." "Ginika." "~ This is Greg." "~ Hi." "Greg's the..." "Flora's biological..." "Hi, Mrs McKenzie." "I haven't been Mrs McKenzie in 20 years, Greg." "Of course." "Divorced." "Gosh." "Greg wanted to..." "~ Support her head." "~ Yeah." "Yeah." "OK." "Have you seen Alan?" "Alan?" "He went into the garden to have a cigarette with my Head of Maths." "Alan doesn't smoke." "~ No." "I didn't know Chris did either." "~ And you just let him?" "He has a heart condition." "Wow." "Course they've built the M6 toll road since then, so I've no idea if that's any more efficient." "Oh, shit!" "~ Are you smoking?" "~ No." "~ You were smoking." "~ I weren't." "Why else would you be standing out here in the drizzle?" "I just..." "Did you know he has a heart condition?" "~ This is Chris." "~ Hi." "You'd think a mathematician would know better." "I could have you sacked." "Giving cigarettes to a man with a heart condition." "Yes, I'm Caroline's mother." "It were only the one." "~ I didn't know you smoked." "~ I don't." "I used to." "I just like the very occasional one now." "Every..." "Look, last one I had were millennium." "Now, when were that?" "~ I thought I knew you." "~ You do." "Women, cigarettes... ~ How would you like it if I started smoking?" "~ I wouldn't." "Oh, then I think I might." "~ Can I have a cigarette, Chris?" "~ Sure." "See how you like it." "You don't have to smoke a cigarette to prove a point." "And at a funeral, as well." "Are you going to let this drop?" "There you go." "I think I might go back inside." "Don't let me stop you." "I don't want your cigarettes." "Right, well, I'll..." "~ 'Ere, showing me up!" "~ You want showing up!" "It's only because I care about you." "It were only an excuse to get a bit of fresh air." "Seriously, do you smoke?" "No!" "No." "Do you fancy a sherbet?" "You all right?" "I don't know who half these people are." "They weren't at the wedding." "~ Mind you, we didn't invite very many people to the wedding." "~ No." "Well, we did, unofficially, but most of them couldn't come." "No, well, I'm sorry." "We were busy." "No matter." "It was all a bit last minute." "We only did it for her, really." "He's the father." "The biological father." "And Ginika's the grandmother." "The biological..." "Kate's mum." "And I'm not actually anything." "~ She's got colic." "~ Jesus, you don't need that." "She seems OK at the minute." "You wait till six o' clock." "It's like flicking a switch and then it can go on till about three o'clock in the morning." "It's terrible." "It's like..." "It's like she's crying for her mother, and I know it's colic, but that's what it feels like." "Shush-shush-shush." "All it does is cry." "It goes on till three or four o'clock in the morning, and you can't do anything else." "You can't concentrate on anything else and it's ridiculous." "~ Yeah, no, it's..." "It must be." "~ Yeah, well, it's worse for Mum." "No, it isn't." "She wanted it." "I don't even know what it's for." "What does it do?" "It just cries and shits." "~ Oi!" "Oi!" "~ That'll do." "It's not even ours, and you're not even here, so shut up." "Yeah, and you're old enough to start trying to help her and support her, instead of behaving like a self-centred little dick" "~ all the time." "~ Piss off." "~ Oh, you piss off." "Stop it!" "Mum's got enough on her plate without you..." "I thought you were having a lie down." "~ Yeah, but I couldn't sleep, so..." "~ She's fine!" "She's fine!" "I'm just going to take her out for a bit of fresh air." "~ No, you don't have to." "~ I want to!" "We're in love." "We've bonded." "Hands off." "Driving." "That's meant to be good for colicky babies." "Has she got something I can wrap her up in?" "Yes, she's got a lovely little pink velour coat and a matching hat that Alan and me bought her." "It's the vibration and the sound." "It's like being in the womb." "Obviously, it's all very DH Lawrence." "The pushchair's in the hall, love, and there's a blanket." "I'll be an hour or so." "~ You get some rest." "~ Thanks." "I'm going to have to sit down." "I've done what I can." "Oh, Alan, you go in there." "I'll bring you some tea." "Are you all right, love?" "Yeah." "Yeah." "Where's Kate's mum?" "~ She's having a lie down, as well, I think." "~ Is she all right?" "No, of course she's not." "It's not meant to happen, is it?" "One of your children going before you." "He can't stand it, the crying." "I can't either." "Do we know any more about what's happened to the idiots that knocked her down?" "Oh, did I not tell you?" "Well, you said there were charges of car theft, reckless driving and manslaughter." "They were released on bail," "~ day before yesterday." "~ No!" "And you laugh at me when I say we should bring back hanging." "I'll go and see if Lawrence is all right." "You go and sit down in there with Alan." "~ I'll bring you both some tea." "~ You sure?" "Yeah, go on." "Off you pop." "See you in a bit." "There's a tea towel there." "Yeah." "Actually, I might pop out and get a bit of fresh air, as well." "You're transparent." "You do know that, don't you?" "Mum's making the tea." "She caught me smoking." "Ah, that was my fault." "So I'm in bother again." "I'm glad you got over that... .. other thing." "I'm not entirely sure we have." "I think it's been put on hold." "And there are no other skeletons, are there, in the cupboard?" "I know it's none of my business, but she's my mum." "No." "No more skeletons." "I weren't like your dad." "Well, except," "~ I wonder if I were." "~ What do you mean?" "Not..." "Not different women, just..." "I did love Eileen... .. but, then, a slow, dawning realisation that you've settled for summat that you knew all along weren't really what you wanted." "When she became pregnant with Gillian," "I thought it were what I wanted, but, actually, it frightened me." "Delighted me, but frightened me, like, "Is this it?"" "I'm sorry." "I'm sounding like I'm making excuses, but, no, it never happened again, so..." "Sorry." "Sorry." "I shouldn't have started talking about that." "Not now." "He wasn't all bad, my dad." "No." "No." "Right, who wants to be mother?" "You do." "I caught him smoking." "Did I tell you?" "Yes, it was me that..." "I'm sorry." "What're you apologising to him for?" "He's 76!" "If he can't have one single tiny cigarette without being made to feel like a six-year-old." "We'll find out he's been spying for the Russians next." "Well, we've all got our shortcomings, haven't we?" "He smokes, you read the Daily Mail." "I don't smoke!" "Only for the telly page." "~ Of course, you're perfect, aren't you." "~ Ish." "There you go, love." "John's gone after Gillian." "I told him, I said, "You're transparent."" "Sorry." "Hi." "Yeah, I know." "Predictable, boring, transparent." "~ How're things?" "~ Fine." "Good." "Good." "I wanted to..." "Look, I know this is difficult, it's awkward, but, you know, we're adults." "~ We can..." "~ Me and Robbie's getting married." "I told you he'd asked me, and now I've said yes." "I said yes two weeks ago, only we've not told anyone yet." "We were just waiting until after the funeral to announce it properly." "So you're the first to know." "OK." "Well, that's good." "That's..." "The thing..." "The thing I wanted to say was that, given what's happened with Kate," "I think she needs me here." "Caroline." "I think she needs me here for Lawrence, probably, so I..." "Obviously..." "Me offering you financial help with the farm, as I did," "~ might be something that I can't..." "~ That's fine." "~ Can't do any more." "~ That's fine." "~ Still, if you're marrying Robbie..." "~ Yes, it's fine." "~ Are you sure he's..." "~ Yes." "~ .. really what you want?" "~ Yes, I am." "Good." "~ I didn't take it very seriously anyway." "~ No?" "No." "Good." "~ Well, that's all I wanted to say." "Thank you for..." "~ Sure." "~ .. being so understanding." "~ It's no problem." "I do think it's a mistake." "Robbie." "~ I don't care what you think." "~ He's so..." "No." "No, I don't suppose you do." "We haven't told anyone, yet, about us getting married." "What with Kate." "So don't go repeating it." "She's asleep, believe it or not." "I don't know how long for." "I've left her in her pram." "Thanks." "She's a sweet baby." "I mean, when she's not screaming blue mur..." "Screaming her head off." "Do you not think?" "I think I prefer them when they get to be about 15." "Has everyone gone?" "Mum and Alan are next door." "They'll be asleep in front of the telly and Kate's mum's in bed." "Poor woman." "Mm." "Poor you." "~ I'd better be making tracks myself." "~ Sure." "Listen, I wanted to talk to you about something." "Now might not be the time, but I don't want you to hear it from my dad or your mum" "~ and get the wrong end of the stick." "~ OK." "I've started..." "I've been seeing Robbie again, and I know." "I know you think that's bad, given what..." "The thing I told you, but he's good for me, he's right for me, he stops me being a pillock, and now he's asked me to marry him and I've said yes." "Caroline." "Caroline." "Caroline." "~ I can't think about that now." "~ No, I know." "I just..." "Like I said, I didn't want you hearing it from anyone else." "What's going through your head?" "Anything?" "I don't know." "I guess if you can live with it that's your business." "Can you?" "Can I what?" "Do that?" "Live with someone, sleep with someone, knowing you murdered his brother?" "I don't think I could." "I think it's just something I'd avoid." "I had a lot to put up with with Eddie." "I did exp..." "I did tell you that." "Yes, I know." "I like Robbie." "I've always liked Robbie." "He likes me." "He loves me." "It's him I should've married, all those years ago, and none of this would ever've..." "I'm sorry, I can't think about it now." "No." "Sure." "You know, you were the one, that night, saying that's why it could never be a good idea, you and Robbie." "What I said the next day, I was just agreeing with you." "I have no memory of that." "Well, no, but you did." "Yeah, well, he's asked me and I've said yes." "I can't..." "I can't let him down again." "I thought we said we were going to pretend you never told me about Eddie." "Yeah." "Yeah, we did." "All right, then." "~ Right." "~ So..." "You do what you like." "You do what you feel comfortable with." "Like I need your permission." "Morning." "Hiya." "How was it?" "How was Caroline?" "Quiet." "Tired." "I don't know why you wouldn't let me come with you." "Sweet little baby." "So sad, so heartbreaking." "Was that feckless streak of oily shite there?" "Oh, John." "Yeah, yeah, yeah." "So, probably good job you weren't there." "Did you talk to him?" "No." "No longer than necessary." "Can you imagine going to your ex-wife's girlfriend..." "Partner's funeral?" "He's just..." "He's got no..." "I don't know." "Decorum." "Yeah." "Well, you know what middle-class people are like." "They fall out and get divorced, then they're still speaking to each other just to show how grown-up they all are." "Knob." "Yup." "But she were all right?" "Caroline?" "She's got colic." "The baby." "Flora." "So, on top of everything else, she's just exhausted." "Was everything all right here, yesterday?" "Yeah, I didn't see much of 'em, to be honest." "Raff were over at Gary's place all day again and Ellie took Calamity to her mother's." "I've no idea how that went." "I saw to t'sheep, then I got called in for some of overtime," "I had to cover a three-ten, so..." "Are we going to tell 'em?" "About us?" "You said after t'funeral." "Yep." "So, today?" "Today." "Then we need to start thinking about what sort of do we're having." "And where." "And who we're inviting." "What sort of budget d'you think we're looking at?" "Cos you know I've got... very little." "I mean, me dad might stick his hand in his pocket, but... ~ And your Gary." "~ I'm not asking Gary, for anything." "I've only known him five minutes!" "I'm joking!" "How did Raff get on with him yesterday?" "Great time, sun shines out of his trousers." "Gary is God." "It's official." "Erm..." "Registry Office, not church." "Then we can have, like, an hog roast up at t'Sportsman's." "Like, a barbecue and a buffet." "We could get a marquee." "Steady on." "~ And a band." "~ What sort of band?" "Well, a DJ, anyway." "~ We'll think about it." "~ And a honeymoon!" "We're definitely going on honeymoon." "And for two weeks." "Two whole weeks." "Longer." "Why don't we go for four?" "Four weeks." "Somewhere really exciting, like..." "Australia." "You could go and meet all your cousins!" "~ Yeah." "~ He can look after t'sheep." "~ Who can?" "~ You can." "~ When?" "When me and your mum go off on us honeymoon." "Robbie's asked me to marry him and..." "I've said yes." "~ Really?" "~ Yeah." "~ No, really?" "~ Yeah." "No, seriously?" "Yes!" "~ Good luck, buddy." "~ Shut up!" "No, nice one." "You probably need your head examined but... ~ Will you...?" "~ I'm joking!" "Well, I'm not." "Congratulations!" "When?" "~ Soon as." "~ Are you inviting people from work?" "Like, erm..." "Well, everybody except Cheryl, yeah." "We don't mention that name in this house, thank you." "Aww!" "You're mad, both of you." "But... .. I'm very happy for you." "Oh, Gary says why haven't you rang him?" "~ Rung him." "~ That's what I said." "He thinks you've fell out with him." "Fallen out with him." "Why?" "~ Yeah, you and me ~ Grandad." "Why?" "~ I don't know." "~ Why's he think that?" "I'm just passing a message." "I'll pop round in a few minutes and see how she's getting on." "Mm." "Ooh, that's me." ""Hi, Grandad." "Guess what." ""Mum and Uncle Robbie are getting married." ""Did you know?" No, I damn well didn't!" ""She must have told that John tosser to eff off."" ""I hope Caroline is OK." "Gary says why haven't you rang him." ""Love Raff"." "~ Married." "~ Well, well!" "I will do everything I can for you." "OK?" "But it would really help if you could stop doing all this crying at night." "I know you can't help it, and I know you haven't a clue what I'm talking about." "Your mum would've been so thrilled with you." "With every tiny, tiny little bit of you." "Right, well,... .. we've got options." "Just interrupt me if I say anything you like the sound of." "One, and this is a big one,... .. is that I take early retirement." "I'd have to sell this place, probably, but, on the plus side, I've got a not insubstantial pension going on." "I am nothing if not a smart cookie." "You'll soon get used to that." "The flaw in that plan is that I am still... not without ambition..." ".. in the old career department... .. which brings me onto option number two." "We ask other people to get involved and help out." "My mother." "My mother." "Have you met my mother?" "Oh, and then there's John." "The ex." "You have met John." "Several times." "He's the one who was going on about Rudyard Kipling the other day when I was trying to have a nervous breakdown." "He's an idiot." "Well, he's not an idiot, he's just someone who never got the hang of being one of the grown-ups, which you could say is part of his charm, or not." "But, he was very good with my other two when they were little." "Well, he was and he wasn't." "And, then, of course, there's always the nanny option." "But I know what your mum'd think about that." "That's not happening." "Yeah, she'd hate it." "She'd say, "That was never part of the plan."" "~ Well, it wasn't." "~ No, I know." "But you not being here wasn't part of the plan either, was it?" "~ She's talking to herself." "~ She's talking to the baby, you knob." "Is that the sort of language they teach you at Oxford?" "~ Well, he is a knob." "~ You're a knob." "~ Knob." "~ Is Kate's mum up?" "~ Knob." "~ Not seen her." "It cried again, till like 20 to three this morning." "Have you tried using earplugs?" "~ You can still hear it!" "~ Her!" "~ It's not even ours." "~ He's got to stop saying that, Gran, he's going to upset Mum." "~ Well, she's no-one else's, love." "~ Who's its father?" "It was that, erm..." "He was here yesterday." "~ Which one?" "~ Tall." "Pasty-faced." "Ginger-ish." "Got a, like a bit of a beard thing going on." "Gavin." "~ Gareth." "Gilbert." "~ Gandalf?" "Greg!" "It's Greg." "You'd never think he'd be Kate's sort." "Still." "Yeah, well, why can't HE take it?" "God, you really know how to make yourself popular, don't you?" "Has anybody taken your mother a cup of tea?" "Can I come in?" "Hello." "It won't last forever,... .. feeling like this." "I know it's hard for you to imagine that just now." "When did you ever feel like this?" "~ Not when my dad died." "~ No, no." "It was when MY dad died." "I cried for an entire week, solid." "I worshipped the ground he walked on." "59 years old." "He's been dead... 47, 48 years now." "1966, the year you were born." "I thought I would never smile again." "And then... you came along." "And you looked just like him." "Do you think it's weird, being dead?" "Well, we all get to find out eventually, don't we?" "I doubt it." "I reckon once you're gone, you're gone." "~ I think it's more weird for the people left behind." "~ Mm." "Do you think some people linger longer... than others?" "I suppose it can feel like that sometimes." "I think it's more in your imagination, isn't it, that sort of thing?" "I can't help... worrying..." ".. imagining what she did and didn't know when she got hit... .. what she went through, what she was thinking, however quick it was." "How frightened she must've been, wondering what the hell was happening to her." "She was such a peaceful person, she was so calm, she was so kind, and then..." ".. to die like that so violently..." "It's just so..." "Not in a million years is that what should've happened to her." "It's very unfair." "But I'm afraid, love, life can be very unfair." "You..." "It'll be tough for a while." "But you'll come out the other side." "You will." "Eventually." "You know you will." "Cos you're..." "You're resilient." "You're clever." "Oh, sweetheart." "Did you take Ginika some tea?" "~ Yes, I did." "~ Is she all right?" "I think so." "I've been thinking about options." "I really don't want to give up my job, I'd resent it, and that wouldn't be good for either of us." "~ Any of us." "Would it?" "~ No." "~ Would it?" "~ No." "And I can't go part-time as a head teacher, it's just... ~ Not even for a few months?" "~ It's not fair on the school." "Well, what was Kate going to do?" "Well, she was going to take a year off and then she was going to come back part-time." "It's easier... for teachers, it's completely different." "And the thing is... .. she'd hate it if I employed a nanny" "~ whilst Flora's so tiny." "~ Mm." "So, the thing is..." "I'll do what I can, love, for you, but, you know, with the best will in the world, I'm 76." "I know." "I wasn't..." "I'm sorry." "I wasn't going to ask you to do anything full-time but if I could balance a few options, could you, you and Alan, could you..." "I don't know, do the odd... .. shift?" "Yes." "Yes, of course we could." "Gillian and Robbie are getting married." "We've just had a text." "Yes, I know, she told me last night." "I think he could be a very good thing for her." "She was married to his brother." "Yeah, well, it's not unheard of." "~ No." "~ Is it?" "What's up?" "~ You don't fancy her, do you?" "~ Do you MIND?" "!" "~ Well, I just..." "~ We're friends!" "~ I know." "Right." "~ Ish." "When she's not behaving like a twit." "People do have nannies from being this tiny." "Yeah, I know." "It'd just be a matter of finding the right person." "~ Gosh." "~ Just say no... ~ No." "~ .. if it's a stupid idea." "~ No, it's..." "~ I know you've got no reason to want to help me." "No, it's... ~ intriguing." "~ It just occurred to me because you seemed to want to be involved after you lost..." "Yeah." "~ Judith's, and..." "~ Yeah." "Yeah." "Yeah." "No, you're right, it's a stupid idea." "I don't know why I thought of it." "Forget it." "I could... try and help you out maybe." "One afternoon a week." "For an hour." "Or so." "And then if Celia did a couple of days a week." "Or more." "~ She's 76." "~ Sure." "Sure." "It's not..." "It's not really what Kate would've wanted." "Me." "Is it?" "I mean, obviously, I'd be happy to do the occasional, odd... but..." "Realistically, on a regular basis, I don't think..." "You're still intending to buy a flat or something close by, aren't you?" "So you can spend more time with Lawrence?" "~ Sure." "Sure." "~ Have you actually started looking?" "Erm... no." "But I will and I will help you, Caroline." "I will, I'll do what I can, I'll help you out as often as I can." "But I think..." "You've got to be realistic." "You've been dealt a terrible blow, it's awful, it's..." "But the point is, you have to see that this is life-changing and you can't pretend it isn't." "You've either going to have to employ a full-time... proper person who knows how to look after people this tiny or give up your job, at least temporarily." "I can't do that." "I can't give up my job, I'd go mad." "~ Are you going to drive me to the station?" "~ Sure." "~ I can..." "~ I'll do it." "Ring me, text me, and let me know you've got back safely." "You look after yourself." "Bye-bye, baby." "She's your sister, you know that, don't you?" "You will think of her as your sister." "Course I do." "Course I will." "~ See you." "~ Bye-bye, love." "~ Now what?" "~ God knows." "~ You're doing really well, you know." "~ No, I'm not." "~ I think you are." "~ I'm talking to myself!" "That's usually a sign of madness." "You could always ring Greg." "~ I'm not ringing Greg." "~ He did offer." "I'm not ringing Greg." "Maybe he isn't as big a twerp as you think he is." "No, I think as twerps go - in the twerp department " "Greg goes off the deep end." "~ You just don't like him." "~ No shit, Sherlock." "~ Don't swear in front of Flora." "~ Sorry." "~ You over-use that phrase anyway." "You know that, don't you?" "~ Yup." "You do realise, as well, that Greg is the only person on the planet who's likely to feel as protective towards Flora as you and my mum do." "And what use is my mum going to be?" "She's winging it back to the States on Tuesday." "Would you really hate it if I got a nanny?" "A good nanny, a really good, expensive, proper nanny." "~ I wouldn't speak to you, Caroline." "~ Look..." "You've got Mary Poppins in your head." "That nanny doesn't exist." "Let me ring some of those numbers." "We might both be pleasantly surprised." "I promise." "I promise." "I won't do anything you'd hate." "Look!" "I love this kid too!" "Not as much as you would've done, but I do." "I love her and I will do everything I can for her!" "But I've got to deal with it all!" "~ What confuses me though, Mother, if I'm being..." "~ Disingenuous." "Honest." "What does that mean?" "He knows." "Is that less than two weeks ago, John stayed." "~ Yeah, but nothing happened." "~ He slept in your room." "~ That doesn't mean owt." "~ It usually does." "He crashed out." "OK?" "I feel sorry for John." "He's like a lost..." "little..." "He's in his 60s." "No, he isn't!" "Is he?" "What about Cheryl?" "You know about Cheryl!" "She's cleared out and gone." "And Robbie only went with her in the first place because he was reacting against me being a..." "Being a...?" "Twit." "So you and John - that's all over and done with?" "~ I don't even like John any more." "~ Like forever?" "I'm not sure I ever did." "~ Till next time." "~ Well, no, I don't dislike him." "I just think he brings out daft stupid stuff in me and I don't want to be like that any more." "OK?" "And Robbie's asked me and - you know - you like him," "I like him." "It's a no-brainer." "Oh, right up your street, then." "You're so funny!" "You're so witty, you're so sharp." "~ Yup." "~ He's got all cocky since he's started working at Gary's." "God knows why." "It's only a Saturday job." "Cock o' t'midden." "It's so cool having an uncle who's the boss." "People falling all over themselves being nice... to me!" "~ Cock o' the dung-hill." "~ Did you ring him?" "When have I had time?" "He said to ring him." "And I don't want to hear any smart-arse shit-stirring comments about John in front of Robbie." "Right?" "Hiya!" "Supper'll be ready in a quarter of an hour." "Fantastic!" "Perfect!" "Can I do anything?" "Set the table?" "No, you're all right, love." "I've done it." "Are we inviting Gary to t'wedding?" "~ Sure." "~ No." "~ Why not?" "~ Why aren't we?" "~ We might as well." "I think he'd be a bit pissed off if you didn't invite him." "~ Oh, dear." "~ Why aren't we inviting him?" "I was joking." "Course we're inviting him." "She doesn't like him." "She's jealous of him." "Why am I jealous of him?" "Being so successful and nice." "Yeah, whatever." "He knows about t'wedding, anyway. cos I've texted him and told him." "And Grandad." "I think Grandad were a bit bemused about how come you'd not told him yourself." "Don't you like him?" "Gary." "Course I like him!" "Yeah, but what, then?" "There's summat." "I don't know." "I don't know." "I like her." "~ Felicity." "~ She's round the flaming twist." "She's funny." "What, then?" "He's a good man, me dad." "He made a mistake, he did something he shouldn't have, but I can't crucify him." "And Gary's great." "What a lovely man." "How lucky are we?" "But..." "I dunno." "Me dad's so fascinated by him, like he's the successful, suave, wunderkind he should've always had." "Rather than the feckless knob that he ended up with." "~ You dad's not said that." "~ Course he's not said it." "Is that why you didn't text your dad either?" "Well, if it's any consolation." "I think you're perfect." "I'd better ring him." "See what he wants." "~ Late!" "Sorry." "~ That's OK." "How are you?" "Can I have some tea?" "~ Thanks for meeting me." "~ It's nice to see you." "Is it?" "~ Why wouldn't it be?" "~ Well..." "Alan hasn't rung me for two weeks." "~ He's been in Harrogate." "~ Yeah." "It's all been pretty traumatic." "For everyone." "Sure." "But then you didn't ring me either." "Till Sunday." "Well, I've been a bit snowed under meself as well." "Course." "Course." "It's just that I'm paranoid." "~ Are you?" "~ Not normally." "How's Raff doing?" "Really well!" "He loves it." "He's great, he's such a nice lad." "Thank you." "He can be." "When he's not being a..." "cocky little dick." "Me and Felicity haven't been getting on very well lately." "~ Really?" "~ Sorry, that's... ~ No." "~ I mean... it's since all this." "So it's probably all my fault." "Why?" "What do you mean?" "I suddenly..." "I felt very angry." "After we'd been over for lunch the other Sunday." "Why?" "How's Caroline?" "She's coping." "Why did you feel angry?" "I don't know why." "~ It's not..." "~ Angry with...?" "Everything." "With..." "Why my parents never told me." "You know, that's a conversation that I can never have with them now." "Yeah, I know." "I understand." "I do understand." "Because I feel the same about..." "And I'm remembering things." "Things that happened in the past." "And I'm wondering whether they did think more about our Adam - my brother - than they did about me." "~ He's younger than erm...?" "~ Yeah!" "Yeah, and my dad was his dad, his proper dad." "And I've never, NEVER thought like this before." "I've never felt angry or jealous before." "Well, not like this." "I know." "It changes the past." "Almost." "Even though it doesn't." "But it - yeah." "It colours the past." "And yeah, that's difficult." "~ But..." "~ Then no-one... nobody rings me up." "After that Sunday, so I've got all this shit in my head about my real parents, and I'm thinking, "Oh, and now he doesn't really want to get to know me"." "~ No, that's..." "~ But I am the one who always has to do the ringing up." "No." "Gary." "Honestly." "You're reading too much into it." "It's been an odd few weeks." "You're getting married!" "Yeah!" "You are invited!" "Really?" "Just ring me dad up if you're worried you've not heard from him!" "~ Yeah, but I..." "~ What?" "~ I daren't." "Daren't?" "You're Gary Jackson!" "That doesn't mean anything!" "I don't want to end up feeling like I'm being a nuisance all the time!" "My dad would never think like that." "Your dad?" "Yeah." "My dad, your dad." "Whatever." "He is interested in me, isn't he?" "Yes!" "Absolutely!" "He thinks you're fantastic!" "And Celia liked me." "~ She loved you." "~ Sorry." "~ Don't..." "~ I'm not like this." "This - it's just... it's just been such a shock, Gillian." "And..." "It's like... it's only just sunk in." "Properly." "All the... ~ I know." "~ Implications." "~ I know." "I do know." "Sorry." "I get - sorry" " I get obsessed." "And a little bit weird about stuff." "That's just me!" "~ Is she even bringing me some tea?" "~ Calm down." "~ Yeah." "Yeah." "Yeah." "Yeah." "~ Calm down." "I'm going to e-mail you the second I'm home." "Yes." "Please do." "~ And I'm going to be back for the summer." "~ Good." "For two whole weeks!" "And I'm going to bring you so much stuff!" "And then you and Mom - this Mom - are going to visit me." "~ We are." "~ That's right." "Celia." "You have a safe journey." "Alan." "You've both been so kind." "You keep in touch." "With us two, as well as these two." "I will, of course I will." "~ Y'all right, love?" "~ Yup." "Dr Elliot?" "Holly?" "Is this...?" "This is 46 Conway Drive." "I'm looking for a Dr McKenzie-Dawson." "~ Oh." "Yes." "That's me." "~ Is it?" "Yes..." "I" " I got married." "Gosh." "Well." "The agency sent me." "~ And I'm ten minutes early, but I can go away and come back if you like." "~ No, no, don't do that." "~ But... you went off to Sussex to read sociology." "~ I dropped out!" "The surname - when the agency rang..." "That wasn't... ~ I didn't..." "~ I dropped out and I got married too!" "And now I'm a nanny." "I never wanted to go to Sussex." "It was my parents." "Bless them." "And you!" "So ambitious for us all!" "But all I ever really wanted to do was this." "And now that's what I am doing!" "And I couldn't be happier, honestly." "Holly." "This is my mother." "And this is my stepfather." "~ How do you do?" "~ Celia." "Alan." "Hello." "And this is Flora." "Hello, Flora!" "My goodness me, aren't you pretty?" "What beautiful skin." "I'm not her biological mother." "Did, erm... did the agency explain my situation to you?" "No." "Not - not entirely." "Would you like some tea?" "I'd love some tea." "~ Do you want to come inside?" "~ Thank you." "What a gorgeous house!" "Gosh, look at those irises." "That's my absolute number one favourite colour." "Wow." "Is that your car?" "No, it's..." "Really?" "Good for you!" "If I could choose a car, I think I'd choose that one." "Seriously." "Except I'd be scared to drive it." "I think I'd just rather look at it." "Gosh, it's a nice hallway..." "Today we might take a picnic to Knaresborough." "We've just had a phone call from the police in Bradford." "~ They've got Flora." "~ The police've got Flora?" "I told you I didn't want a baby." "I said I didn't want a baby." "I'm lying." "Saying I never told anyone." "~ Lawrence, this is Greg." "~ Hi." "Bye." "It's less than six weeks since Kate died." "~ Well." "~ Are you seriously asking me that question?" "Then the other thing..." "Oh, you're going to take this the wrong way."