Second Best (1994) Movie Script
1
DAD!
[SOBBING]
SHH!
[THUNDER]
[WHISTLES]
YOU'RE NO GETTING MANY, HUH?
[WHISTLES]
FIVE SECONDS.
COLD?
HUNGRY.
I KNOW.
I KNOW.
I'LL TAKE YOU BACK.
WHO DO YOU
LOVE THE MOST IN
ALL THE WORLD, JIMMY?
YOU, DAD.
ALWAYS, JIMMY,
PROMISE? ALWAYS.
I PROMISE.
[JIMMY]
SO WE WENT BACK.
HE TOLD THE POLICE
WHERE TO FIND US.
HE SAID HE WANTED US TO
SPEND SOME TIME TOGETHER,
TO BE TOGETHER.
THEY PUT ME IN
ANOTHER CHILDREN'S HOME
AND SENT DAD
BACK TO PRISON.
WE COULD HAVE STAYED THERE
MORE THAN THOSE EIGHT DAYS.
I COULDN' BELIEVE MY EYES.
I WROTE DOWN A SON, WHICH
MAY SEEM FLIPPANT TO YOU,
BUT IT REALLY
WAS IMPORTANT TO ME.
WALKING BY, I NOTICED--
HOW DOES YOUR WIFE
FEEL ABOUT THIS?
MY WIFE?
NO, I'M NOT MARRIED.
OH, I SEE.
DO YOU HAVE TO
BE MARRIED TO ADOPT?
NO, BUT IT'S USUAL.
IT'S USUAL,
BUT IT'S NOT, UH...
IT'S NOT OBLIGATORY.
OH, WELL...
YES, RIGHT, YES.
TAKE SOME
OF THESE LEAFLETS.
THEY COULD BE
OF HELP TO YOU.
[JACKHAMMER HAMMERING]
DO YOUR NEIGHBORS
KNOW ABOUT THIS
AMBITION OF YOURS?
WELL, I THOUGHT I'D WAI UNTIL I'VE
REACHED THE STAGE OF
BEING TAKEN SERIOUSLY.
DOES IT MATTER TO YOU
WHAT THEY MIGHT THINK?
WELL, THEY'LL
HAVE TO KNOW.
IF I'M SUCCESSFUL,
THEY'LL BE THE BOY'S
NEIGHBORS, TOO.
ON A SCALE
OF 1 TO 10,
WHAT WOULD YOU
ESTIMATE IS YOUR
DEGREE OF SECURITY
WITH YOUR
MASCULINE ROLE?
SORRY?
ARE YOU A "CUDDLER"
OR A "TOUCH-ME-NOT"?
YOU DO REALIZE
THAT AS A SINGLE MAN
YOU'LL ONLY BE
OFFERED THE OLDER,
MOST DIFFICULT TO PLACE,
EMOTIONALLY DISTURBED BOY?
VERY WELL.
THE DEPARTMENT WILL ALLO SOMEONE TO ASSESS YOU
IN YOUR OWN HOME.
SOMEONE?
ME, PROBABLY.
WE'RE A BI SHORT-STAFFED
AT THE MOMENT.
MY NAME IS
GRAHAM JOHN HOLT.
I AM A SINGLE MAN,
AGED 42,
ATTEMPTING TO ADOP A 10-YEAR-OLD BOY.
AND TO THIS END,
I'VE BEEN ASKED
TO WRITE ABOUT MYSELF
AS HONESTLY AS POSSIBLE.
SINCE MY MOTHER'S DEATH
18 MONTHS AGO,
I HAVE BEEN POSTMASTER
AT THIS VILLAGE
SUBPOST OFFICE,
WHERE I HAVE LIVED
ALL MY LIFE.
THE STROKE
MY FATHER SUFFERED
HAS BEEN MADE
MORE COMPLICATED
BY DEPRESSION
FOLLOWING MOTHER'S DEATH.
SHE WAS A LOCAL GIRL.
DAD CAME
FROM THE NORTH.
THEY WERE
A DEVOTED COUPLE,
WHO HAD HARDLY SPEN A NIGHT AWAY FROM EACH OTHER.
7:45, I TAKE DAD'S
BREAKFAST TO HIM.
I USUALLY TRY HIM
WITH A LITTLE CONVERSATION.
THEY SAID
AT THE HOSPITAL
I SHOULD KEEP DOING THA AND NOT GIVE UP.
IF THERE'S SOMEONE IN
THE PHONE BOX ACROSS THE ROAD,
I WILL NAME THE PERSON
AND SPECULATE ON WHOM
THE CALL MIGHT BE TO.
HE NEVER REPLIES.
CORNFLAKES.
8:59 ON THE DOT,
I TAKE UP POSITION
BEHIND THE REINFORCED
COUNTER SCREEN.
NO ONE HAS HELD ME
AT GUNPOINT AS YET.
GOOD MORNING.
LYNN,
MY PART-TIME HELPER,
LIVES IN A CARAVAN
WITH HER FOUR CHILDREN.
IS THA A HOT-WATER BOTTLE
YOU'VE GOT UNDER
YOUR COAT, ELSIE NEEDHAM,
OR HAS THAT EXCUSE
OF A HUSBAND OF YOURS
STILL NOT PERFECTED
THE ART OF SAFE SEX?
MARRIED BLISS.
DOESN'T IT MAKE YOU
WANT TO THROW UP?
HELLO, EDWARD.
HOW ARE
YOU TODAY?
IS THERE ANYTHING
WE CAN DO TO MAKE
YOU MORE COMFORTABLE?
DOES HE KNOW
WHERE HE IS?
I HAVE NO IDEA.
WOULD I BE
RIGHT IN THINKING
THAT THERE'S A FAIR
AMOUNT OF BITTERNESS
BETWEEN YOU TWO?
DEPENDS ON WHA YOU THINK CONSTITUTES
A FAIR AMOUNT.
I DON'T CONSIDER MYSELF
CRIPPLED BY IT.
JUST A LITTLE TOUCHY
ON THE SUBJECT.
I HOPE THE HOUSE ISN' ALWAYS AS TIDY AS THIS.
CAN I SEE I LOOKING MORE LIVED IN
NEXT TIME?
I'M NOT FROM THE HEALTH
AND SAFETY INSPECTORATE,
YOU KNOW.
AND IT IS
A 10-YEAR-OLD BOY
YOU'RE HOPING TO
HAVE LIVING HERE.
I'M NOT AS YOUNG AS
YOU THINK, BY THE WAY.
NOBODY'S ALLOWED TO
DO THIS JOB UNTIL THEIR
BALLS HAVE DROPPED.
WHICH REMINDS ME, YOU
NEED A SUPPORT SYSTEM.
SORRY?
ONE WHICH
THE ADOPTION PANEL
WILL CONSIDER VIABLE.
SUPPORT MEANS FRIENDS.
IF YOU HAVEN'T GOT ANY,
GET SOME FAST.
AND KIDS, YOU NEED
EXPERIENCE WITH KIDS.
BABYSITTING,
YOUTH CLUBS,
BOY SCOUTS,
DIB, DIB, DIB.
AHA.
WHAT HAVE WE HERE?
IT WAS MY MOTHER'S,
FOR HAIR CLIPS.
HAVE YOU EVER
HAD A GIRLFRIEND?
ELSIE BARTLETT.
AND WHAT HAPPENED?
WE NEVER SEEMED
TO FIND ANYTHING
TO SAY TO EACH OTHER.
SHE MARRIED
CHAMPION THE WONDER HORSE.
MMM, LUCKY GIRL.
NO, THAT--THA WAS HIS NICKNAME
WHEN WE WERE AT SCHOOL.
I NEED TO
KNOW WHAT HAPPENED
TO SEND YOU SCUTTLING
INSIDE YOUR SHELL.
I MEAN, FOR GOD'S SAKE,
WHAT HAVE YOU BEEN
DOING WITH YOURSELF
SEXUALLY
SINCE YOU WERE 15?
NO MORE THAN
WHAT'S USUAL
FOR A PERSON OF MY AGE
AND BACKGROUND.
D.I.Y?
IF THAT'S WHA YOU WANT TO CALL IT.
WHY DON'T YOU PU YOURSELF ABOUT A BIT?
MASTURBATION'S
SO UNFRIENDLY, GRAY.
EVEN IN
MY BUSY SCHEDULE,
I'VE MANAGED TO FIT IN
ONE GOOD SCREW
A FORTNIGHT.
I DO HAVE
A SMALL BIT OF NEWS,
IF YOU'RE INTERESTED.
SO, SHALL WE OPEN
YOUR LIFE STORY BOOK
AT THE
"MY THIRD YEAR" PAGE?
HMM?
TELL ME THE NEWS FIRST.
THEN WILL YOU TALK
ABOUT WHAT'S ON THAT PAGE?
I THOUGHT YOU DIDN' APPROVE OF BRIBERY?
OPEN THE BOOK, PLEASE,
AND LOOK AT THE PAGE.
I'M LOOKING.
WELL, WE THINK
WE MIGHT'VE FOUND OU THE NAME OF YOUR
MATERNAL GRANDPARENTS.
THAT'S YOUR
MOTHER'S PARENTS.
I KNOW WHA MATERNAL MEANS,
STRANGE AS IT MAY SEEM.
CAN I CLOSE THE BOOK?
NO. YOU HAVEN'T SAID
ANYTHING ABOUT THAT PAGE.
WHAT'S TO SAY?
YOU WANT ME TO
WRITE THEIR NAME--
READ WHAT'S
WRITTEN ON THE PAGE.
YOU'RE JOKING!
YOU DON'T WAN TO FACE THE PAST.
THAT WOULD
MEAN ADMITTING
WHAT HAPPENED.
YOU'RE NOWHERE NEAR
BEING READY TO STAR A NEW LIFE
WITH A NEW FAMILY,
ARE YOU?
WHO'S GOING
TO STOP ME?
YOU ARE.
DO YOU KNOW WHAT I SEE
WHEN I LOOK AT YOU?
I DON'T SEE
A 10-YEAR-OLD.
I SEE A 6-YEAR-OLD
WHO PISSED HIS PANTS
AND IS ABOUT TO
BURST INTO TEARS
SO THAT EVERYONE AROUND
WILL SAY, "OH, SHAME,
POOR LITTLE JAMIE."
YOU SAID THIS NEWS
CAME DIRECTLY FROM
THE HORSE'S MOUTH.
FROM A NEW SOCIAL WORKER
AT THE PRISON.
HE'S MANAGED TO
CONVINCE YOUR FATHER
THAT IF HE'S WILLING
TO GIVE HIS BLESSING
TO YOU BEING ADOPTED,
HE CAN'T REASONABLY
OBJECT ANY LONGER
TO YOU KNOWING
YOUR MOTHER'S NAME...
WHICH WAS CONNOLLY.
MARY CONNOLLY.
MAIDEN NAME.
LOOK, WOULD I BE POSSIBLE
FOR YOU TO BRING
THOSE EXPRESSIVE EYES
'ROUND THIS WAY
SO I GET THE PLEASURE
OF THEM FOR A MINUTE?
WOULD YOU LIKE TO
WRITE HER NAME
IN YOUR LIFE STORY BOOK?
COME ON.
"THIS...IS A..."
"DRAWING..."
"I DID..."
"FROM MEMORY
"OF THE HOUSE WHERE
MY PARENTS LIVED
"WHEN...
"I...
"WAS BORN.
IT HAS..."
"FIVE WINDOWS
AT THE FRONT."
CATCH THE CUSHION.
THE CUSHION
IS CONCENTRATION.
MARGERY!
YES?
THE CUSHION
IS ATTENTION,
WILL TO SUCCEED.
NOW, SHOUT OU YOUR NAME
AND THROW THE CUSHION
TO SOMEONE ELSE.
TINA.
GRAHAM!
MARGERY!
I HATE THIS
KIND OF THING.
CAN'T HEAR YOU,
JANET.
SHE'LL BE WEARING
PINK PAJAMAS WHEN SHE COMES
SHE'LL BE WEARING
PINK PAJAMAS WHEN SHE COMES
SHE'LL BE
WEARING PINK PAJAMAS
WEARING PINK PAJAMAS
WEARING PINK PAJAMAS
WHEN SHE COMES
[PANTING]
ANY CHILDREN
WHO MIGHT,
I SAY, MIGH COME YOUR WAY,
WILL ALMOST CERTAINLY
HAVE BEEN PICKED ON.
AND BEFORE THESE
SESSIONS ARE THROUGH,
EVERY ONE OF YOU WILL HAVE
BEEN GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY
TO KNOW JUS WHAT THAT FEELS LIKE.
NOW, SOMETIMES, YOU
HAVE A CHILD OF 9 OR 10
WHO'S STUCK
EMOTIONALLY AT 2 OR 3
BECAUSE HE MAY HAVE BEEN
CAUGHT UP IN SOCIAL
SERVICES' FAVORITE GAME--
PASS THE PARCEL.
ALL RIGHT, SO YOU
CAN ACCEPT THE IDEA
OF A CHILD BEING EMOTIONALLY
STUCK AS AN IDEA...
BUT CAN YOU COPE
WITH A HEALTHY-LOOKING
10-YEAR-OLD
WHO'S WETTING, SOILING,
CRYING, BITING ONE MINUTE
AND GIGGLING
MANIACALLY THE NEXT?
EMPATHIZE.
FEEL AS THE CHILD FEELS.
REMEMBER,
THE IDEA OF PERMANENCE
IS TOO FRIGHTENING
FOR SOME CHILDREN,
LIKE STEPPING
INTO THE UNKNOWN.
THEY'VE NEVER, EVER
EXPERIENCED IT.
ALWAYS LOSE ONE.
IN FACT,
WE'VE LOST FOUR.
BUT NOT YOU?
NO SECOND THOUGHTS?
YOU STILL LIKE
CHILDREN, HMM?
VERY MUCH.
THOUGH I'M NOT SURE
I COULD EAT A WHOLE ONE.
I'VE SENT SOMEONE
TO FIND HIM.
DON'T EXPEC TOO MUCH, WILL YOU?
IF YOU AGREE...
I'D LIKE TO GIVE YOU
A PROPER HOME,
AND, UM,
LOOK AFTER YOU.
I THINK IT'S TIME YOUR
LIFE WAS A BIT EASIER...
AND A BIT HAPPIER.
DO YOU UNDERSTAND?
WE COULD, UH,
WE COULD THINK OF I AS A KIND
OF PARTNERSHIP.
I...I WANT A SON,
AND...YOU NEED A...
WHAT I MEAN IS,
YOU--YOU NEED SOMEBODY,
SOME ONE PERSON
TO CARE ABOUT YOU.
A PARTNERSHIP
WOULD ONLY WORK IF
IT'S WHAT YOU WANT, JAMES.
EXCUSE ME.
[WHISTLES]
WHO DO YOU LOVE MOS IN THE WORLD, JIMMY?
YOU, DAD.
ALWAYS, JIMMY,
PROMISE? ALWAYS.
NEVER BREAK IT.
PAIN OF DEATH.
I PROMISE.
I WAS BEGINNING
TO THINK YOU'D, UM,
WHAT IS IT THEY SAY?
DONE A RUNNER.
BUT YOU HADN'T,
HAD YOU?
WELL, UM,
I DIDN'T THINK YOU
WANTED MORE FOOD, SO I...
YOU DIDN'T EAT MUCH.
IS THAT BECAUSE
YOU'RE AS...
NERVOUS AS I AM?
I SEE.
I SUPPOSE THAT'S IT,
REALLY, ISN'T IT?
I'VE CHOSEN YOU,
BUT IN ORDER FOR IT TO
BE AN EQUAL PARTNERSHIP,
I'D HAVE TO BE THE PERSON
YOU WOULD CHOOSE.
I'D EXPECT YOU
TO LOOK AFTER ME
WHEN I'M
OLD AND DECREPIT.
YOU REALIZE THAT'S
THE ONLY REASON
I'M DOING THIS?
WHAT KEPT YOU
SO LONG IN THE TOILET?
CAN'T YOU GUESS?
THANK YOU.
COURTING?
ARE WE?
JUST A FRIEND,
MRS. HAWKINS.
YOU DON'T THINK
STANDING THERE
IN THAT CLEAN WHITE SHIR FOOLS ANYBODY?
YOU OUGHT TO BE
OUT WITH COMPANY
AND ENJOYING YOURSELF.
IT'S ONLY NATURAL.
SEE YOU TOMORROW,
MRS. HAWKINS.
YES, I HOPE SO.
WATCH YOUR STEP.
OH, I'M VERY CAREFUL
WITH STEPS, YOU KNOW.
IT'S A FUNNY THING.
I FELL DOWN SOMEWHERES.
YOU HAVEN' TOLD THEM YET.
WELL, IF YOU
LIVE IN A VILLAGE,
YOU DON'T TELL PEOPLE
THINGS TOO EARLY.
CAUTIOUS BUGGER.
I HAVE TO KNOW, UH...
BE SURE IT'LL HAPPEN.
NOTHING'S FOR SURE
IN THIS LIFE, GRAY.
RIGHT NOW, YOU'RE
NOT EVEN A CANDIDATE
TO ADOP MY STICK INSECT.
I WANT TO KNOW
ABOUT YOUR CHILDHOOD.
WELL...
I, UH, HAVE
THE RECKONING UP TO DO.
IT'S FIDDLY WORK.
I HAVE TO CONCENTRATE.
I'LL WAIT.
YOU'LL HAVE
TO BEAR WITH ME.
UM...
WELL, YOU--
THERE'S NO MUCH TO TELL.
I HAD A SPOTLESSLY
SANITIZED CHILDHOOD,
WITH A CHANGE OF
AIRTEX SUPPORT SYSTEMS
EVERY OTHER DAY.
LEAVE THE LIGHT RELIEF
TO ME, GRAY.
JUST THE FACTS.
YOUR MUM AND DAD,
FROM THE POINT OF VIEW
OF THEIR ONLY CHILD.
THEY WERE ALWAYS
TOUCHING EACH OTHER.
I CAN'T REMEMBER WHEN
I FIRST BEGAN TO NOTICE
THE LOOKS THEY EXCHANGED,
FULL OF A PRIVATE MEANING.
OR THE CONSTANT TOUCHING.
NOT THAT I--I LACKED...
I MEAN, THEY TOUCHED ME.
THEY TOUCHED ME, TOO.
I DON'T THINK I
LACKED PHYSICAL CONTACT.
WHEN?
WHAT?
WHEN DID
THEY TOUCH YOU?
WHENEVER
IT WAS NECESSARY.
WHENEVER...
THEY FELT LIKE IT.
NOT OFTEN, THEN?
AND AS A TEENAGER?
NOT AT ALL
WOULD BE MY GUESS.
I WAS RATHER
A DISAPPOINTMENT TO THEM.
MMM.
EVEN WHEN I
WENT DISCO DANCING
ON SATURDAY NIGHTS.
HE'S POLISHING HIS
BROTHEL CREEPERS.
THEY'RE JUS SHOES, DAD.
AH, HE'S A ONE,
OUR GRAHAM.
ISN'T HE
A ONE, DEAR?
HE'S ALWAYS
BEEN A ONE.
LET'S HAVE A LOOK
AT YOU, THEN.
HE'LL BREAK
A FEW HEARTS TONIGHT.
I WENT.
I DIDN'T DANCE.
MY PARENTS NEVER UNDERSTOOD
THAT ON SATURDAY NIGHTS
ONE HAD TO BE
PART OF A GROUP,
EITHER A COUPLE
OF OPPOSITE SEXES
OR A SMALL GROUP OF THE--
THE SAME SEX.
AFTER A WHILE, I STOPPED
GOING INSIDE THE DISCO.
I DID CROSSWORDS
IN THE CAR,
THEN ENDURED
A CROSS-EXAMINATION
WHEN I GOT HOME.
HI, MUM, DAD.
[ENID]
DID YOU SPEAK
TO ANYONE?
[EDWARD]
ANY NICE GIRL--
YOU COULD BRING
HOME TO MEET US?
DID YOU ENJOY YOURSELF?
YOU'RE ONLY
YOUNG ONCE.
WHEN I WAS IN MY 30s,
MY PARENTS DECIDED
THAT I'D MISSED MY MOMENT,
SO I WAS ALLOWED
TO STOP GOING...
TO TOWN ON
SATURDAY NIGHTS.
AND THEN SHE DIED.
YOU MAKE IT SOUND SUDDEN.
IT TOOK FIVE YEARS.
I SUPPOSE I GREW UP
DURING THAT TIME.
RATHER A DELAYED
GROWING UP.
I ARRANGED THE FUNERAL.
DAD...WASN' MAKING MUCH SENSE.
HIS HANDS WERE
LIKE INJURED BIRDS
LOOKING FOR
A SAFE PLACE TO ROOST.
SO, UM,
I TOOK HER PLACE...
IN THE KITCHEN,
BEHIND THE COUNTER.
MUM AND DAD HAD NEVER SEEMED
SEPARATED FROM EACH OTHER,
BUT HE AND I
WERE SEPARATED.
DAD, PLEASE.
[SOBBING]
PLEASE...
DON'T.
IT'S ALL RIGHT, DAD.
IT'LL BE ALL RIGHT.
DAD!
DAD, I'M HERE.
IT'S A SCRAPBOOK
REALLY, ISN'T IT?
WELL, THAT'S ONE WAY
OF DESCRIBING IT,
BUT FOR OBVIOUS REASONS,
WE DON'T CALL WHAT, UH,
WITH A LITTLE HELP
FROM US,
THE CHILDREN PUT TOGETHER
ABOUT THEMSELVES...
SCRAPBOOKS.
OH, WELL, NO, NO.
MINE'S JUS A PHOTOGRAPH ALBUM.
THAT'S NOT EVEN
A SCRAPBOOK.
WHO TOOK THE PICTURES?
MY DAD HAD A TIMER.
HE'D SET I AND THEN RUN AROUND
AND JOIN US.
THIS ONE'S OVEREXPOSED.
YOU LOOK LIKE
THREE GHOSTS.
WE WERE A VERY
ORDINARY FAMILY.
I THINK
IT PROBABLY TAKES
FLAIR AND INITIATIVE
TO BE A GHOST.
YOU MIGHT HAVE BEEN
ORDINARY ONCE,
BUT YOU'RE NOT NOW.
NOT MANY UNMARRIED MEN
WANT TO ADOPT.
HAVE YOU ALWAYS LIVED
IN THE SAME HOUSE?
AFRAID SO.
AND GONE
TO THE SAME SCHOOL?
TWO SCHOOLS.
UM, PRIMARY
AND COMPREHENSIVE.
I WENT TO SIX SCHOOLS
SO FAR.
I'D HAVE THOUGH YOU WON A SCHOLARSHIP
TO A PRIVATE SCHOOL
OR SOMETHING.
I TOLD YOU NO FLAIR.
WHAT SORT OF THINGS
DID YOU DO
WHEN YOU WERE MY AGE?
I KEPT MY HEAD DOWN,
I SUPPOSE.
NOTHING VERY EXCITING.
IS WHAT'S IN THERE
EXCITING?
IT'S MORE DISTURBING
THAN EXCITING.
THAT'S WHAT THEY SAY I AM--
DISTURBED.
WHAT DO YOU SAY?
I LIKE THIS ONE.
IT'S YOU WHEN
YOU WERE MY AGE.
YOU WERE ON A BEACH.
YOU LOOK LIKE
A RIGHT TEARAWAY.
MAY I SEE IT?
I WAS ON HOLIDAY
ALONG WITH MY FATHER.
IT WAS THE ONLY TIME
HE AND I WERE EVER ALONE
FOR ANY LENGTH OF TIME.
ONLY TIME HE AND I
WERE EVER REALLY CLOSE.
I'M SORRY.
I'D FORGOTTEN
ABOUT THE PICTURE.
I REALLY AM VERY SORRY.
WE LAUGHED A LO THAT WEEK.
I SUPPOSE
IT WAS THE FEELING
WE WERE DOING
SOMETHING SECRE AND SLIGHTLY WICKED.
I FELT IMPORTANT...
ALMOST NEEDED.
LISTEN.
WEST INDIAN SEA.
WE'LL TAKE IT HOME
TO REMIND US
OF THE FUN WE HAD.
IT WAS THE BEST TIME
OF MY LIFE.
IT WAS THE HAPPIES I'VE EVER BEEN.
I CRIED.
SO I HEARD.
ISN'T IT USUAL TO PHONE
BEFORE YOU VISIT?
SOMETIMES I DO.
SOMETIMES I DON'T.
I LIKE TO CATCH
PEOPLE UNAWARES.
ANYWAY, THERE'S
NO POINT NOW.
WHY?
I TOLD YOU.
I CRIED
IN FRONT OF THE CHILD
I WAS HOPING TO ADOP AND HIS, WHAT'S IT CALLED,
HIS KEY WORKER.
BEST THING
YOU COULD HAVE DONE.
NOW THEY'RE BOTH
CRAZY ABOUT YOU,
WHICH THEY CERTAINLY
WEREN'T BEFORE.
BETTER STAR GETTING YOURSELF
PREPARED
FOR A WEEKEND VISIT.
IT'S BEEN SUGGESTED
THAT I PUT YOU
IN A HOME.
THEY SAY
THAT IF I'M RIGH ABOUT WHAT YOU FEEL
FOR ME,
IF YOU CAN STILL
FEEL EMOTIONS--
I DON'T KNOW.
I JUST DON'T KNOW--
BUT IF YOU CAN...
THE SENSE OF BEING
BEHOLDEN TO ME
MUST BE VERY PAINFUL
FOR YOU.
I JUST CAN'T BE SURE
ABOUT ANY OF THIS,
CAN I?
I DEARLY WISH
YOU HAD SOME WAY
OF GIVING ME
YOUR OPINION.
I'LL GET YOUR BREAKFAST.
[GROAN]
[THUMP]
CAN I HAVE A WORD?
HIS FATHER'S
HAD ANOTHER STROKE
AND BEEN TAKEN
INTO HOSPITAL.
YOUR FIRST VISIT'S
GOING TO BE DELAYED
FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS.
[EXHALING]
WAIT! WAIT!
I AM WAITING.
WE'VE STOPPED.
WE'RE HERE.
STAGE FRIGHT?
IF YOU LIKE.
I'VE BEEN HERE BEFORE.
I KNOW.
BUT THIS IS IMPORTANT,
JIMBO,
AND I THINK
IT'S WHAT YOU WANT.
LOOK, HE'S THERE
WAITING FOR YOU.
GET OUT OF THE CAR.
I'LL BE BACK
TO COLLECT YOU
AFTER TEA.
HELLO.
HELLO.
UM, FIRST OFF,
I THOUGHT WE'D, UM,
LOOK AROUND,
GET USED
TO THE GEOGRAPHY.
IN THERE
IS MY HOUSE,
BUT, UM...
ON THIS SIDE
IS THE POST OFFICE.
ALL RIGHT.
O.K., BYE.
HELLO, MRS. GEORGE.
HELLO.
THANK YOU.
UM, THIS IS LYNN...
MY HELPER.
LYNN, JAMES.
HELLO.
WE'LL GO
INTO THE HOUSE NOW.
IT'S NOT VERY BIG.
LIVING ROOM.
I THOUGHT WE'D HAVE TEA
IN HERE TODAY,
THOUGH THE KITCHEN'S
MORE USUAL.
LIVING ROOM.
SAID THAT.
AND, UH, KITCHEN.
YOU'LL BE SEEING
QUITE A LOT OF THAT.
WE CAN GO UPSTAIRS.
THERE MIGHT BE
SOMETHING UPSTAIRS
THAT WOULD INTEREST YOU.
WATCH YOUR STEP.
IT'S YOUR ROOM.
[BEDSPRINGS SQUEAK]
WHERE'S YOUR FATHER?
HE GOT SICKER
AND NEEDED TO BE SOMEWHERE
WHERE THEY COULD GIVE HIM
PROPER MEDICAL CARE.
IN A HOSPITAL?
WELL, YES, HOSPITAL, YES.
WAS HE SENT THERE
BECAUSE OF ME?
WOULD THEY HAVE
LET ME COME HERE
IF HE HADN'T BEEN
PUT AWAY?
POSSIBLY NOT...
ALTHOUGH THE NUMBER
OF SINGLE MEN
WHO APPLY TO ADOP CAN BE COUNTED
ON THE FINGERS OF ONE FOOT.
YOU ONLY HAVE TO LOOK
ACROSS THIS TABLE
TO SEE THEY MUST BE SCRAPING
THE BOTTOM OF THE BARREL.
OVERDONE IT, HAVEN'T I?
THEY CALL THIS
THE HONEYMOON PERIOD.
PAPER HATS?
NO.
PERHAPS NOT.
HAVE YOU THOUGHT YE WHAT YOU'D LIKE
TO CALL ME?
I THOUGHT GRAHAM
WOULD BE BES IF YOU FEEL
YOU CAN MANAGE THAT.
THERE IS A CHANCE.
YEAH, BUT, LOOK,
DON'T RAISE YOUR HOPES.
'ROUND AND 'ROUND
THE GARDEN
LIKE A TEDDY BEAR
'ROUND AND 'ROUND
THE GARDEN
LIKE A TEDDY BEAR
ONE STEP
TWO STEP
TICKLE YOU UNDER THERE
IT'S NOT MY FAULT.
WHEN DO YOU SPEND
ANY TIME AT ALL
WITH HIM?
I SEE HIM AS OFTEN
AS I CAN.
[RINGS DOORBELL]
MAUREEN, I'M, UH,
GRAHAM HOLT.
UM, WELL, JAMES
HAS DECIDED--ELECTED--
TO REMAIN IN THE CAR.
WE'VE HAD A BI OF A ROW, YOU SEE.
HE DOESN'T WANT ME
POKING AROUND
IN HIS PAS EVEN UNDER
HIS SUPERVISION.
SUPERVISION
HE'S NOW WITHHOLDING
BY SULKING IN THE CAR.
IT'S DIFFICULT TO KNOW
WHAT TO DO FOR THE BEST.
YOU WERE HIS KEY WORKER.
HIS HOUSEMOTHER.
EVER MENTION
HIS REAL MOTHER?
NO. AND I'VE BEEN WARNED
NOT TO ASK ABOUT HER YET.
OR EVER
WOULD BE MY ADVICE.
TOLD YOU ABOUT THE DAY
I HAD HIM PINNED
TO THE FLOOR
SCREAMING HIS HEAD OFF.
HE SPAT, HE BIT.
IF I'D BEEN
WEARING MAKEUP,
HE PROBABLY WOULD HAVE
DONE HIMSELF IN.
BEEN TOLD ABOU HIS CONSTAN RUNNING AWAY?
ALWAYS HIDING
IN DARK HOLES.
HE'S ATTEMPTED SUICIDE
TWICE.
YES. I'VE BEEN GIVEN
ALL THE DETAILS.
OVER HERE!
CHRIST, LOOK A THE STATE OF HIM.
TELL HIM I'M DEEPLY HUR HE WOULDN' GET OUT OF THE CAR
AFTER ALL
WE WENT THROUGH.
IF HE'S ALLOWING YOU
TO STAND IN
FOR HIS REAL DAD,
YOU MUST BE SPECIAL.
STILL IN PRISON,
I SUPPOSE.
YES. BEFORE
EVERYTHING'S FINAL...
WE'LL BE GOING TO MEET HIM.
AND WHOSE IDEA WAS THAT?
WELL, JAMES'.
THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE.
BUT THE SOCIAL WORKER?
HOW OLD'S SHE, 14?
YOU'RE BEING USED...
BY A MANIPULATIVE
LITTLE BOY
WHO WANTS TO GE ANOTHER GLIMPSE
OF HIS DAD.
YOU'LL NEVER GE TO ADOPT HIM,
AND BELIEVE ME,
YOU'RE WELL
OUT OF IT.
THE MOMENT THOSE TWO
MEET AGAIN,
YOU'LL BE OU ON YOUR EAR.
[SOPRANO SINGING ON RADIO]
HOW COME YOU LIKED HER
WHEN WOMEN TEND NO TO BE YOUR CUP OF TEA?
PERHAPS SHE'S A BI OF A LEZ.
SORRY?
LESBIAN, BUTCH.
WASN'T SHE WEARING
LEATHER AND STUDS
AND LOOKING LIKE
SHE HADN'T SLEP FOR A WEEK?
NO. SHE WAS A BIT UNTIDY,
I SUPPOSE, BUT--
THERE YOU ARE, THEN,
AREN'T YOU?
NOT A PROPER WOMAN,
THAT'S WHY.
WHAT CONSTITUTES
A PROPER WOMAN, THEN?
LET ME OUT!
TITS AND SILK
AND FRILLS,
MAKEUP THAT STINKS,
AND LEGS
THAT SHOOT APAR THE MINUTE YOU TOUCH THEM
WITH YOUR LITTLE FINGER.
GET OFF!
[MUSIC STOPS]
YOU COULD HAVE TURNED
THE RADIO OFF
IF IT WAS BOTHERING YOU.
NOTHING BOTHERS ME.
IT'S YOUR RADIO.
[DOOR SLAMS]
SLOW DOWN.
DIDN'T THEY WARN YOU
WHAT BEING
A SUBSTITUTE PAREN WAS LIKE?
I SUPPOSE I NEED HELP.
WHO DOESN'T?
HONEYMOON'S OVER!
REALLY IS
VERY GOOD OF YOU.
I WAS GOING
TO DO IT MYSELF.
CENTER OF ATTRACTION
AT HARVEST FESTIVAL.
GERANIUMS,
CHRYSANTHEMUMS,
MICHAELMAS DAISIES.
LOOK. IT LOOKS BETTER.
I'VE BEEN GIVEN
THREE OPINIONS SO FAR
OF WHAT SHOULD BE DONE
WITH THAT YOUNG MAN.
WHAT WERE THEY?
NONE INCLUDED FOSTERING
WITH A VIEW TO ADOPTION.
WHERE IS HE NOW?
HE'S IN HIS ROOM.
HMM.
[EXHALING]
YOU SAID YOU HAD
HIS GRANDPARENTS'
ADDRESS.
THEY DON'T WAN TO BE KNOWN.
YOU SAID I HAD
TO SEE THE PEOPLE
IN HIS LIFE-STORY BOOK.
AS MANY AS WILL LET YOU
SEE THEM.
HE'LL NEED TO KNOW.
WHEN THAT TIME COMES,
I'LL NEED TO BE ABLE
TO TELL HIM.
GROWING UP, AREN'T YOU?
REMEMBER, HE'S YOUR
GREAT-GRANDFATHER.
HE DOESN'T KNOW
WE'RE COMING.
THAT'LL BE HIM.
I BETTER
TALK TO HIM FIRS AND THEN CALL YOU.
SHE CAME HERE TO STAY,
YOU KNOW, VERY OFTEN
WHEN SHE WAS
A LITTLE GIRL.
I NEVER SAW YOUR DAD,
JUST YOU, JUST THE ONCE.
YOU LOOK JUST LIKE HER.
SHE USED TO WRITE REGULAR.
NEVER MISSED.
I WROTE BACK...
UNTIL...
SUDDENLY SHE WASN'T KNOWN
AT THAT ADDRESS.
OH, WE WERE VERY CLOSE.
ALWAYS VERY CLOSE.
THAT TIME WHEN
SHE STOPPED WRITING,
I NEEDED SOMEONE TO--
I BLAMED HER.
I THOUGHT SHE DIDN' WANT TO BE BOTHERED.
UH, THINGS OF HERS, UM...
PHOTOS AND SUCH...
IN A BOX IN THAT BUREAU.
YOU CAN LOOK IF YOU LIKE.
[CRYING]
GO AND SEE
IF HE'S ALL RIGHT.
NEVER BREAK IT.
PAIN OF DEATH.
WANT THE RADIO?
O.K.
CAN WE SEE YOUR FATHER
NEXT WEEKEND?
IF YOU LIKE.
HE COULD HAVE
ANOTHER STROKE
ANY TIME.
IT'S MOST UNLIKELY
HE'LL EVER BE
ALLOWED HOME.
OH. WELL,
I AM SORRY.
THAT IS BAD NEWS.
AND HE DOESN'T SEEM
TOO UNHAPPY HERE
WITH US.
NO. HE SEEMS
AS HAPPY HERE
AS HE EVER WAS
AT HOME.
[CRYING]
I MISS YOU SO MUCH.
WE NEED A TENT,
A DOUBLE AND SINGLE
SLEEPING BAG,
AND COOKERY PANS.
WHAT DISCOUN DO YOU GIVE
FOR CASH?
MY UNCLE RUBIN USED
TO GO CAMPING A LO UNTIL HIS HERNIA
MADE RUBBING
LITTLE STICKS TOGETHER
TOO PAINFUL.
TIME YOU STARTED BEING
A BIT MORE MASTERFUL.
I'M NOT GOING
TO BE AROUND
TO NURSEMAID YOU
FOREVER, YOU KNOW.
I'D BETTER GO SEE
WHAT HE'S BUYING.
GRAY, IF HE GETS YOU
PRACTICING KNOTS,
JUST REMEMBER,
UNTYING THEM AGAIN
IS THE HARD PART.
IT'S GOOD.
COME IN.
YOU'RE FREEZING.
I'M NOT.
COME ON IN.
I DON'T WANT TO.
I'M COLD RIGHT HERE.
I'M GETTING FROZEN
JUST WATCHING YOU.
I DON'T.
ARE YOU SURE?
YEAH.
I THOUGHT YOU'D
LOSE YOUR TEMPER
WITH ME,
PARTICULARLY
OVER THAT MUDDLE
WITH THE LINING.
I'VE ALWAYS
BEEN CLUMSY.
EVERYONE'S
GOT TO LEARN.
IF YOU DON'T TURN
THAT SAUSAGE OVER,
IT'LL BE RAW
ON ONE SIDE
AND BURN ON THE OTHER.
FUNNY. I'VE
ALWAYS THOUGH OF TENT PEOPLE
AS BEING A BIT ODD,
WEIRD EVEN--
OVERGROWN BOY SCOUTS
OR LEFTOVER HIPPIES.
TENT PEOPLE AREN'T ODD.
YOU OUGH TO LEARN SURVIVAL,
ALL SORTS OF THINGS--
EAT WORMS
IF YOU HAVE TO.
[LAUGHING]
NO. REALLY?
THEN YOU GE YOUR NIGHT VISION
AND YOU CAN
GO ON AHEAD.
YOU KNOW
A LOT ABOUT IT.
I HAD A GOOD TEACHER.
THERE'S A HOLE
IN THE BOTTOM
OF THE SEA
THERE'S A HOLE
IN THE BOTTOM
OF THE SEA
THERE'S A HOLE
THERE'S A HOLE
THERE'S A HOLE
IN THE BOTTOM
OF THE SEA
[OCEAN SURF CRASHING]
IF YOU'D WAITED,
WE COULD ALL
HAVE GONE TOGETHER.
IT WAS HIS
SCHOOL HOLIDAYS.
I HAD TO DO
SOMETHING WITH HIM.
NO FUN FOR ME
HAVING HIM
FOR A FULL WEEK
ON ME OWN--
TERRIBLE ROOM,
HORRIBLE FOOD.
AND YOU KNOW
WHAT'S IT'S LIKE
TRYING TO KEEP HIM
AMUSED?
ARE YOU COLD?
YOU TALKED
IN YOUR SLEEP.
WHAT DID I SAY?
NOTHING SENSIBLE.
JUST WORDS.
[WHISTLING]
WHAT HAVE YOU
DONE TO YOURSELF?
A BRANCH HIT ME.
THAT LOOKS PAINFUL.
JUST MISSED YOUR EYE.
MUST HAVE GIVEN YOU
AN HELL OF A TWANG.
GET THE FIRST-AID KI FROM THE TEN AND PUT SOME
ANTISEPTIC CREAM ON IT.
KISS IT BETTER,
PLEASE.
DO IT PROPERLY.
HOW IS PROPERLY?
LONGER, HARDER.
GOT TO BE A LONG KISS
TO MAKE IT BETTER.
IS THAT BETTER?
DO YOU LOVE ME?
YES, VERY MUCH.
TOO MUCH FOR MY
OWN GOOD, I EXPECT.
WERE YOU TESTING ME?
I DO TEST PEOPLE
SOMETIMES.
OH.
NOW I KNOW WHY
THE SKYLARK SINGS
LIKE SHE DOES.
WHERE'S THE VILLAGE?
VILLAGE?
OVER THAT HILL.
DID YOU KNOW
THAT THE MOON
MOVES FURTHER AWAY
FROM THE EARTH
BY A FOO EVERY 20 YEARS?
IS IT SOMETHING
WE SAID?
HEY!
HA HA HA HA!
WHAT DOES
BIG BROTHER EDDIE SAY
ABOUT YOU INTERESTING
YOURSELF IN LITTLE BOYS?
IT'S NOT A QUESTION
OF LITTLE BOYS,
UNCLE TURPIN.
JAMIE CAME ON THE SCENE
AFTER DAD HAD
HIS FIRST STROKE,
SO DAD COULDN' VOICE AN OPINION.
HA HA HA HA!
WELL, YOU PICKED
A RIGHT SULKER.
A POUND
OF EVERTON MINTS
COULDN'T PUT A SMILE
ON THAT FIZZOG.
JAMIE WANTED TO MEET YOU.
HE'S CATCHING UP
ON MY FAMILY.
IS THAT RIGHT?
I'M SORRY
I DIDN'T GET DOWN TO
YOUR MOTHER'S FUNERAL.
I WAS A BIT INDISPOSED,
MESELF.
YOU WERE NEVER
VERY CLOSE.
COULDN' STAND THE WOMAN.
WHY NOT?
HEY! HA!
IT SPEAKS!
HOO! HA HA HA!
HO HO HO HO!
HO HO HO!
OH!
IT NOT ONLY UTTERS,
IT ASKS BLOODY
CHEEKY QUESTIONS.
IT SEEMED A FAIR QUESTION
TO ME.
IT WAS ALL THA LOVEY-DOVEY STUFF
THAT USED TO SICKEN ME.
THEY WERE A DEVOTED COUPLE.
THEY SHOWED IT.
SHE CONVINCED HIM
THAT SHE'D GO TO PIECES
IF HE STRAYED
AS FAR AS THE END
OF THE GARDEN
TO WIDDLE ON HIS OWN.
DOES THIS ONE CRY?
NOT AS FAR AS I KNOW.
PITY. I LIKE WATCHING
LITTLE BOYS CRY.
GOT ME ATTENDING SCHOOL
REGULAR, DID THAT.
GRANDMA USED TO SEE ME
TO THE GATE
WITH ME DINNER MONEY
EVERY MONDAY,
AND SHE'D SAY,
"SEE HOW MANY
YOU CAN UPSET,
AND DON'T BE LATE HOME!"
[CHUCKLING]
HA HA HA HA!
HADN'T YOU BETTER
FORGIVE HIM...
BEFORE HE DIES ON YOU
AND IT'S TOO LATE?
ALWAYS DID RECKON
YOU TOOK AFTER
YOUR MOTHER.
EVEN THOUGH I HAD HER
WORKED OUT ALL WRONG.
IT WEREN'T HER
THAT DIDN'T WANT KIDS.
IT WAS HIM.
COULDN'T BRING HIMSELF
TO POKE THE FIRE
PROPERLY.
SOMETHING TO DO
WITH THE WAR,
I DON'T KNOW.
WELL, THAT WOULD BE WHY
HE WAS ALWAYS
A BIT COOL WITH YOU.
...SEA
THERE'S A...
LOG IN A HOLE
IN THE BOTTOM
OF THE SEA
THERE'S A LOG
IN A HOLE IN THE
BOTTOM OF THE SEA
[GRAHAM JOINS IN]
THERE'S A LOG,
THERE'S A LOG
THERE'S A LOG
IN THE BOTTOM OF THE SEA
THERE'S A LIMB
ON A LOG
IN A HOLE IN THE BOTTOM
OF THE SEA
BAGS FIRST PEE!
[HUMMING]
[TOILET FLUSHES]
[JAMES SINGING]
I'LL JUST GIVE MY BIKE
A BIT OF EXERCISE, O.K.?
DON'T BE LONG.
I'LL PUT THE KETTLE ON.
YES!
[THUNDER]
[DOOR SLAMS]
[JAMES]
THERE'S A HOLE IN
THE BOTTOM OF THE SEA
HI!
[OUT OF BREATH]
TAKE A BREATH.
TAKE A BREATH
BEFORE YOU DRINK.
I HAVE A LETTER FOR YOU.
IT'S FROM YOUR FATHER.
[THUNDER]
HE WROTE TO ME, TOO.
HE WISHED US LUCK.
HE REFERRED
TO YOU AS JIMMY.
I DIDN'T THINK YOU'D WAN TO BE CALLED THAT.
[RAINING]
[SNIFFS]
YOU'LL WAN TO READ YOUR LETTER
IN PRIVATE, I EXPECT.
PERHAPS YOU'RE RIGHT.
WHY NOT READ I IN YOUR ROOM.
BERNARD SAID
I SHOULD BE WITH YOU
WHEN YOU READ IT.
I KNOW IT'S PRIVATE,
BUT IF IT UPSETS YOU,
I WANT TO BE CLOSE BY.
GET OUT OF MY WAY,
PLEASE.
DEAR JIMMY,
THEY TELL ME
THAT THERE'S SOMEONE
WHO WISHES
TO ADOPT YOU
AND THAT THEY
TRUST THIS MAN
AND YOU SEEM
TO GET ON WELL WITH HIM.
IN AN IDEAL WORLD,
JIMMY, MY LOVE,
WE WOULD BE TOGETHER.
NO ONE WOULD STOP ME
FROM BEING YOUR FATHER.
NEVER SHOW WEAKNESS,
JIMMY.
IF PEOPLE SENSE IT,
THEY JUST TAKE WHA THEY WANT FROM YOU,
AND THEY DISAPPEAR.
PLEASE, JIMMY,
YOU MUST UNDERSTAND
THAT NONE OF WHAT'S
HAPPENED IS YOUR FAULT.
YOU'RE NOT TO BLAME,
JIMMY.
PLEASE REMEMBER THAT.
I'M THE ONE AT FAULT,
THE ONE WHO HAS FAILED
HIS MOST SACRED DUTY
TO BE A GOOD FATHER.
ONE DAY,
WHEN YOU'RE OLD ENOUGH
TO UNDERSTAND
WHAT FORGIVENESS IS,
I WILL NEED
ALL YOU CAN SPARE.
I LOVE YOU MOST.
ALWAYS, JIMMY,
PROMISE. ALWAYS,
YOUR FATHER.
WILL YOU COME HOME NOW?
IT'S LATE.
COME INSIDE.
YOU CANNOT STAY OUT HERE
ALL NIGHT!
GET OFF ME!
GET OFF!
ANGER SCARES ME.
IT'S AN ILLNESS,
AND WE DON' HAVE TO LOOK FAR
TO SEE WHO
I'VE CAUGHT IT FROM.
[CLOCK CHIMES]
JEALOUSY CRIPPLES
PEOPLE, JAMIE.
IT MAKES THEM
BEHAVE BADLY,
BUT WE CAN' ALLOW EVERYTHING
TO FALL APAR JUST BECAUSE YOU'VE HEARD
FROM YOUR...
IF I SAY I UNDERSTAND
HOW YOU FEEL,
WELL, THAT'S JUST WORDS
BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW, DO I?
I HAVEN' READ YOUR LETTER,
BUT I WANT TO UNDERSTAND
WHAT YOU FEEL.
I WANT DESPERATELY TO KNOW
WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT.
ALL I CAN SAY IS, JAMIE,
UNLESS YOU CAN
SPEAK TO ME,
UNLESS YOU CAN SHARE
SOMETHING WITH ME,
I DON'T KNOW...
THERE'S FOOD
IF YOU'RE HUNGRY.
I--I COULD
MAKE YOU A SANDWICH.
TEA SEEMS RATHER
A LONG TIME AGO.
I HAVE A FATHER.
JUST BECAUSE...
HE'S IN PRISON
DOESN'T MAKE ANYONE ELSE
MY FATHER.
HIS LETTER DOESN'T SAY
ANYTHING ABOUT US
GOING TO SEE HIM
IN PRISON.
YOU CAN'T ADOPT ME
UNLESS I SEE HIM FIRST!
YOU KNOW THAT,
DON'T YOU?
I REALIZED THAT WAS
PART OF THE BARGAIN
YOU WERE WILLING TO MAKE.
THERE IS SOMETHING MORE
IN THIS ADOPTION FOR YOU
THAN THE VISI TO YOUR FATHER,
ISN'T THERE?
ARE YOU SURE
YOU WANT ME TO READ IT?
WOULDN'T I BE BEST TO WAI AND THINK ABOUT I FOR A WHILE?
IT'S ONLY FAIR
YOU SHOULD UNDERSTAND
WHY YOU CAN'T EVER...
TAKE HIS PLACE.
[PING-PONG GAME]
LITTLE BOYS
ARE CHEAP TODAY
CHEAPER
THAN YESTERDAY
SMALLER BOYS
ARE--
[HUMMING]
HA HA HA!
[SHEEP BLEATING]
[DOOR OPENS]
[DOOR CLOSES]
[FOOTSTEPS]
[DOOR SLAMS]
WHY DON'T YOU ASK
FOR THE BUTTER
IF YOU WANT IT?
THAT'S ENOUGH
OF THAT.
GO TO YOUR ROOM.
[RUNNING UPSTAIRS]
[DOOR SLAMS]
HE WON'T LOOK AT ME.
HE DOESN'T TALK.
I'VE INSISTED
HE SAYS THANK YOU.
HE SAYS I TO THE CEILING.
IT'S BEEN GOING ON
THREE WEEKS NOW.
I DON'T KNOW
WHY HE CONTINUES
WITH THE VISITS.
EVERY DAY
I EXPECT A PHONE CALL
FROM THE CHILDREN'S HOME
TO SAY HE'S DECIDED
HE DOESN' WANT TO GO ON
WITH THE ADOPTION.
DO YOU WANT TO
GO ON WITH IT?
I SUPPOSE I MUST.
OTHERWISE,
I'D PULL OUT MYSELF.
BUT YOU'RE NOT SURE.
WELL...
EVERYTHING WAS FINE
UNTIL THE LETTER.
WHAT DID
THE ONE YOU GOT SAY?
OH, NOTHING.
AND WHAT DID THE ONE
JAMIE GOT SAY?
HAH. EVERYTHING.
IT WAS A VERY FAIR,
VERY...
HONEST, VERY LOVING,
DEVASTATINGLY MOVING LETTER.
[TELEPHONE RINGS]
[RING RING]
YOU ANSWER IT.
HELLO.
PILETH POST OFFICE.
IT'S THE HOSPITAL.
MY FATHER DIED
ON THURSDAY MORNING.
AHEM.
SO I MAY NOT BE
VERY GOOD COMPANY.
I WASN'T SURE
WHETHER TO, UH...
ASK YOU TO GIVE
THIS WEEKEND A MISS.
PERHAPS I SHOULD HAVE.
I'M SORRY.
[CRYING]
[WAILING]
YOU'LL BE ALL RIGHT.
PROMISE.
IT WON'T BE LONG.
I WAS ALWAYS
A DISAPPOINTMENT TO HIM.
I DON'T THINK SO.
I NEVER KNEW...
WHAT THEY REALLY
WANTED OF ME.
WAS THERE NEVER A TIME,
EVER?
DEPENDS ON WHAT YOU MEAN
BY "A TIME."
DIDN'T YOU EVER
LOVE ANYONE?
I DON'T KNOW.
MAYBE.
HI.
WHATEVER IT WAS,
SHE WAS RIGH OUT OF MY CLASS.
IT WOULD NEVER
HAVE WORKED.
GO TO SLEEP NOW.
I'LL STILL BE HERE.
WHETHER THE ADOPTION
GOES THROUGH
DOESN'T DEPEND ON ME.
BUT MEANWHILE,
JAMES IS COMING UP FOR 11,
AND HE'LL BE CHANGING
SCHOOLS ANYWAY.
IF YOU ADOPT HIM,
HE'LL GO TO YOUR LOCAL SCHOOL.
SILLY TO MAKE
A NEW START TWICE.
SO WE'RE RECOMMENDING THAT,
IN THE MEANTIME,
YOU SHOULD FOSTER JAMES
WITH A VIEW TO ADOPTION.
WHICH MEANS?
[DEBBIE]
HE COMES TO LIVE WITH YOU.
OH!
LOOK. THERE'S THE NEW BOY.
[GIGGLING]
GERM WARFARE.
THAT'S WHY
THE CONSERVATIVE LOST.
HIS NAME WAS
JEREMY ANTHRAX.
I DON'T WAN TO INTERRUPT ANYONE.
WHO'D VOTE FOR A NAME
THAT SOUNDS LIKE
A COUGH SWEET?
I'M IN A TEENSY
BIT OF A HURRY.
IT'S THE DRY CLEANING,
IS IT?
I BELIEVE I DID TELL YOU,
MRS. HILLIARD,
DELIVERY'S
NOT TILL THURSDAY.
PLEASE DON'T APOLOGIZE.
IT'S QUITE ALL RIGHT.
WHEN ONE'S USED
TO A 24-HOUR SERVICE...
OH, I WAS GOING TO LOOK
AT SOME KNITTING WOOL,
BUT IF EVERYBODY'S
IN A RUSH...
OH, LIZZIE,
LOOK AT THE WOOL.
NO. I DON'T WANT ANYBODY
INCONVENIENCED.
I'LL COME BACK TOMORROW.
LIZZIE...
NO. YOU HAVEN' GOT TIME FOR IT.
HILLIARD...
HILLIARD DRY CLEANING.
[BELL RINGS]
BE WITH YOU IN A MOMENT.
I'M JIMMY'S FATHER.
YOU'D
BETTER COME INSIDE.
THEY'VE RELEASED
YOU EARLY?
IT'S JUST ONE LESS
DEATH CERTIFICATE
TO WRITE OUT.
WHERE'S JIMMY?
HE'S AT SCHOOL.
HE'LL BE BACK AT 4:30.
DOING WELL THERE,
IS HE?
PRETTY WELL.
JIMMY'S BEEN THERE
ONLY A MONTH.
BEEN TRYING
TO WORK OUT A WAY
TO GET A LOOK AT HIM
WITHOUT HIM SEEING ME.
[CLOCK CHIMES]
NO.
SORRY?
IT WON'T DO.
THAT'S NOT THE WAY.
WHAT, UM...
WHAT...IS IT?
IT'S AIDS.
[BELL RINGS]
DO YOU MIND WAITING HERE
TILL LUNCHTIME?
I'VE GOT THE SHOP
TO LOOK AFTER.
[SLURP]
I'VE MANAGED
TO KEEP JIMMY THINKING
I'VE BEEN IN PRISON
EVER SINCE.
YOU HID OU IN THE WOODS?
YEAH, BUT I'VE
BEEN IN AND OU THREE TIMES SINCE THEN.
YOU KNOW HOW IT IS.
PETTY OFFENSES...
BURGLARY, NICKING CARS,
RECEIVING, DRUGS--
YOU KNOW,
THAT KIND OF THING.
I'D LIKE
TO HAVE SEEN HIM,
BUT IT SEEMED FAIRER
NOT TO.
HE THOUGHT YOU WERE
A MERCENARY SOLDIER.
NOW YOU'D PROBABLY
LIKE TO KNOW HOW LONG
THEY'VE GIVEN ME.
I'VE GOT FOUR
OR FIVE MONTHS.
NOW, IF I COULD JUS HANG AROUND SOMEWHERE
OUTSIDE THE VILLAGE--
AND WHEN SOMEONE HAS TO
TELL HIM YOU'RE DEAD?
IF I THOUGH YOU WERE THAT SELFISH,
I'D TELL HIM THE TRUTH.
I'D TELL HIM
YOU COULD SEE HIM,
BUT YOU DIDN'T.
I'D MAKE SURE
HE RECOGNIZED YOU.
I'D MEET THE BUS AND
POINT YOU OUT TO HIM.
WHAT DOES IT FEEL LIKE,
HOLDING ALL THE CARDS?
NOW...
HERE'S WHAT WE'LL DO.
YOU'LL MOVE IN HERE.
WE'LL TELL JAMIE
WHAT YOUR ILLNESS IS
BECAUSE HE HAS
THE RIGHT TO KNOW...
THAT HIS FATHER ONLY HAS
A FEW MONTHS TO LIVE.
THE VILLAGE DOESN' HAVE TO KNOW,
THOUGH THEY MAY GUESS
OR FIND OUT.
ONLY THE DOCTOR
HAS TO KNOW...
AND THE HIPPOCRATIC OATH
SHOULD TAKE CARE OF HIM.
YOU ALWAYS LIKE THIS?
NO, NEVER. I'M NO THE MASTERFUL TYPE.
[DRIVER]
ALL RIGHT, YOU KIDS.
YOU'VE GO A BROODY EXPRESSION,
LIKE A HEN
WITH CONSTIPATION.
WELL, DON'T,
'CAUSE I GOT THE REMEDY.
WE'RE GOING CAMPING
THIS WEEKEND.
IT'LL BE GREAT!
NOT THIS WEEKEND.
WHY NOT?
WE HAVE A VISITOR.
WE NEVER
HAVE VISITORS.
HI, JIMMY.
WHO DO YOU LOVE?
THE LAST TIME I SAW YOU,
I SAID THE NEXT TIME
WE MEET WILL BE FOREVER.
THERE'S NOTHING FOREVER
FOR ME AND YOU, JIMMY.
I CAME TO FIND YOU
TO MAKE SURE
YOU WERE ALL RIGHT.
YOU'RE A CREDIT TO ME,
JIMMY.
YOU'RE A GROWN MAN,
ALMOST.
GRAHAM SAYS I SHOULD BE
HONEST WITH YOU
ABOUT MY ILLNESS.
HE SAID WE SHOULD SPEND
THE NEXT FEW MONTHS--
THE LAST FEW MONTHS--
GETTING TO KNOW
EACH OTHER AGAIN.
DON'T BE SCARED.
DON'T LOOK
SO FRIGHTENED OF ME.
AH, JESUS GOD.
PLEASE SAY YOU'RE NO FRIGHTENED OF ME, JIMMY.
PLEASE.
I'M SO SORRY.
[GRAHAM]
JOHN...
I'M REALLY SORRY.
I'M SORRY.
[JAMES SOBS]
JUST GIVE HIM TIME.
JIMMY...
[JOHN]
JIMMY.
[JOHN]
JIMMY!
[RUNS DOWNSTAIRS]
[DOOR OPENS]
[THUNDER]
[CLOCK CHIMES]
[BIRD CALLS]
[BIRD CALLS]
[CRYING]
YOU JUST NEED TO GIVE HIM
A LITTLE TIME, JOHN.
ALL HE NEEDS IS TIME.
JAMIE?
JAMIE.
JAMIE!
[DOG BARKS]
JAMIE!
[BIRD CALLS]
JAMIE!
IT WON'T TAKE LONG.
PLEASE PROMISE
YOU'LL BE A GOOD BOY.
JAMIE!
JIMMY, BE A GOOD BOY
SO WE CAN PLAY
OUR GAME.
HIDE THERE
FOR ME, BABY.
HIDE THERE
FOR ME, BABY.
STOP...WAIT.
DON'T RUSH. TAKE TIME.
[BIRD CALLS]
[SOBBING]
[DOOR CLOSES]
JAMIE!
[KNOCKING]
JAMIE?
JAMIE.
JAMIE.
JAMIE.
JAMIE.
JAMIE.
JAMIE...JAMIE...JAMIE...
JAMIE.
JAMIE.
JAMIE!
JAMIE!
I KNOW WHERE YOU'VE GONE.
I KNOW WHERE
YOU'RE HIDING.
TO HAVE NOTHING!
TO FEEL...
NOTHING!
TO BE NOTHING!
IT DOESN'T WORK.
I'VE TRIED IT.
WHY HIM...
AND NOT ME?
WE CAN START...
FROM DAY ONE.
AND WE CAN GO
FROM GOOD TO BETTER.
ANYTHING'S POSSIBLE,
JAMIE...
EXCEPT FEELING NOTHING.
THAT'S NEVER POSSIBLE.
[BIRDS SINGING]
I WON'T BE SECOND BEST,
JAMIE.
IF IT'S GOING TO WORK,
IT HAS TO BE
AS FATHER AND SON.
TAKE IT OR LEAVE IT.
IT'S UP TO YOU.
DAD!
[SOBBING]
SHH!
[THUNDER]
[WHISTLES]
YOU'RE NO GETTING MANY, HUH?
[WHISTLES]
FIVE SECONDS.
COLD?
HUNGRY.
I KNOW.
I KNOW.
I'LL TAKE YOU BACK.
WHO DO YOU
LOVE THE MOST IN
ALL THE WORLD, JIMMY?
YOU, DAD.
ALWAYS, JIMMY,
PROMISE? ALWAYS.
I PROMISE.
[JIMMY]
SO WE WENT BACK.
HE TOLD THE POLICE
WHERE TO FIND US.
HE SAID HE WANTED US TO
SPEND SOME TIME TOGETHER,
TO BE TOGETHER.
THEY PUT ME IN
ANOTHER CHILDREN'S HOME
AND SENT DAD
BACK TO PRISON.
WE COULD HAVE STAYED THERE
MORE THAN THOSE EIGHT DAYS.
I COULDN' BELIEVE MY EYES.
I WROTE DOWN A SON, WHICH
MAY SEEM FLIPPANT TO YOU,
BUT IT REALLY
WAS IMPORTANT TO ME.
WALKING BY, I NOTICED--
HOW DOES YOUR WIFE
FEEL ABOUT THIS?
MY WIFE?
NO, I'M NOT MARRIED.
OH, I SEE.
DO YOU HAVE TO
BE MARRIED TO ADOPT?
NO, BUT IT'S USUAL.
IT'S USUAL,
BUT IT'S NOT, UH...
IT'S NOT OBLIGATORY.
OH, WELL...
YES, RIGHT, YES.
TAKE SOME
OF THESE LEAFLETS.
THEY COULD BE
OF HELP TO YOU.
[JACKHAMMER HAMMERING]
DO YOUR NEIGHBORS
KNOW ABOUT THIS
AMBITION OF YOURS?
WELL, I THOUGHT I'D WAI UNTIL I'VE
REACHED THE STAGE OF
BEING TAKEN SERIOUSLY.
DOES IT MATTER TO YOU
WHAT THEY MIGHT THINK?
WELL, THEY'LL
HAVE TO KNOW.
IF I'M SUCCESSFUL,
THEY'LL BE THE BOY'S
NEIGHBORS, TOO.
ON A SCALE
OF 1 TO 10,
WHAT WOULD YOU
ESTIMATE IS YOUR
DEGREE OF SECURITY
WITH YOUR
MASCULINE ROLE?
SORRY?
ARE YOU A "CUDDLER"
OR A "TOUCH-ME-NOT"?
YOU DO REALIZE
THAT AS A SINGLE MAN
YOU'LL ONLY BE
OFFERED THE OLDER,
MOST DIFFICULT TO PLACE,
EMOTIONALLY DISTURBED BOY?
VERY WELL.
THE DEPARTMENT WILL ALLO SOMEONE TO ASSESS YOU
IN YOUR OWN HOME.
SOMEONE?
ME, PROBABLY.
WE'RE A BI SHORT-STAFFED
AT THE MOMENT.
MY NAME IS
GRAHAM JOHN HOLT.
I AM A SINGLE MAN,
AGED 42,
ATTEMPTING TO ADOP A 10-YEAR-OLD BOY.
AND TO THIS END,
I'VE BEEN ASKED
TO WRITE ABOUT MYSELF
AS HONESTLY AS POSSIBLE.
SINCE MY MOTHER'S DEATH
18 MONTHS AGO,
I HAVE BEEN POSTMASTER
AT THIS VILLAGE
SUBPOST OFFICE,
WHERE I HAVE LIVED
ALL MY LIFE.
THE STROKE
MY FATHER SUFFERED
HAS BEEN MADE
MORE COMPLICATED
BY DEPRESSION
FOLLOWING MOTHER'S DEATH.
SHE WAS A LOCAL GIRL.
DAD CAME
FROM THE NORTH.
THEY WERE
A DEVOTED COUPLE,
WHO HAD HARDLY SPEN A NIGHT AWAY FROM EACH OTHER.
7:45, I TAKE DAD'S
BREAKFAST TO HIM.
I USUALLY TRY HIM
WITH A LITTLE CONVERSATION.
THEY SAID
AT THE HOSPITAL
I SHOULD KEEP DOING THA AND NOT GIVE UP.
IF THERE'S SOMEONE IN
THE PHONE BOX ACROSS THE ROAD,
I WILL NAME THE PERSON
AND SPECULATE ON WHOM
THE CALL MIGHT BE TO.
HE NEVER REPLIES.
CORNFLAKES.
8:59 ON THE DOT,
I TAKE UP POSITION
BEHIND THE REINFORCED
COUNTER SCREEN.
NO ONE HAS HELD ME
AT GUNPOINT AS YET.
GOOD MORNING.
LYNN,
MY PART-TIME HELPER,
LIVES IN A CARAVAN
WITH HER FOUR CHILDREN.
IS THA A HOT-WATER BOTTLE
YOU'VE GOT UNDER
YOUR COAT, ELSIE NEEDHAM,
OR HAS THAT EXCUSE
OF A HUSBAND OF YOURS
STILL NOT PERFECTED
THE ART OF SAFE SEX?
MARRIED BLISS.
DOESN'T IT MAKE YOU
WANT TO THROW UP?
HELLO, EDWARD.
HOW ARE
YOU TODAY?
IS THERE ANYTHING
WE CAN DO TO MAKE
YOU MORE COMFORTABLE?
DOES HE KNOW
WHERE HE IS?
I HAVE NO IDEA.
WOULD I BE
RIGHT IN THINKING
THAT THERE'S A FAIR
AMOUNT OF BITTERNESS
BETWEEN YOU TWO?
DEPENDS ON WHA YOU THINK CONSTITUTES
A FAIR AMOUNT.
I DON'T CONSIDER MYSELF
CRIPPLED BY IT.
JUST A LITTLE TOUCHY
ON THE SUBJECT.
I HOPE THE HOUSE ISN' ALWAYS AS TIDY AS THIS.
CAN I SEE I LOOKING MORE LIVED IN
NEXT TIME?
I'M NOT FROM THE HEALTH
AND SAFETY INSPECTORATE,
YOU KNOW.
AND IT IS
A 10-YEAR-OLD BOY
YOU'RE HOPING TO
HAVE LIVING HERE.
I'M NOT AS YOUNG AS
YOU THINK, BY THE WAY.
NOBODY'S ALLOWED TO
DO THIS JOB UNTIL THEIR
BALLS HAVE DROPPED.
WHICH REMINDS ME, YOU
NEED A SUPPORT SYSTEM.
SORRY?
ONE WHICH
THE ADOPTION PANEL
WILL CONSIDER VIABLE.
SUPPORT MEANS FRIENDS.
IF YOU HAVEN'T GOT ANY,
GET SOME FAST.
AND KIDS, YOU NEED
EXPERIENCE WITH KIDS.
BABYSITTING,
YOUTH CLUBS,
BOY SCOUTS,
DIB, DIB, DIB.
AHA.
WHAT HAVE WE HERE?
IT WAS MY MOTHER'S,
FOR HAIR CLIPS.
HAVE YOU EVER
HAD A GIRLFRIEND?
ELSIE BARTLETT.
AND WHAT HAPPENED?
WE NEVER SEEMED
TO FIND ANYTHING
TO SAY TO EACH OTHER.
SHE MARRIED
CHAMPION THE WONDER HORSE.
MMM, LUCKY GIRL.
NO, THAT--THA WAS HIS NICKNAME
WHEN WE WERE AT SCHOOL.
I NEED TO
KNOW WHAT HAPPENED
TO SEND YOU SCUTTLING
INSIDE YOUR SHELL.
I MEAN, FOR GOD'S SAKE,
WHAT HAVE YOU BEEN
DOING WITH YOURSELF
SEXUALLY
SINCE YOU WERE 15?
NO MORE THAN
WHAT'S USUAL
FOR A PERSON OF MY AGE
AND BACKGROUND.
D.I.Y?
IF THAT'S WHA YOU WANT TO CALL IT.
WHY DON'T YOU PU YOURSELF ABOUT A BIT?
MASTURBATION'S
SO UNFRIENDLY, GRAY.
EVEN IN
MY BUSY SCHEDULE,
I'VE MANAGED TO FIT IN
ONE GOOD SCREW
A FORTNIGHT.
I DO HAVE
A SMALL BIT OF NEWS,
IF YOU'RE INTERESTED.
SO, SHALL WE OPEN
YOUR LIFE STORY BOOK
AT THE
"MY THIRD YEAR" PAGE?
HMM?
TELL ME THE NEWS FIRST.
THEN WILL YOU TALK
ABOUT WHAT'S ON THAT PAGE?
I THOUGHT YOU DIDN' APPROVE OF BRIBERY?
OPEN THE BOOK, PLEASE,
AND LOOK AT THE PAGE.
I'M LOOKING.
WELL, WE THINK
WE MIGHT'VE FOUND OU THE NAME OF YOUR
MATERNAL GRANDPARENTS.
THAT'S YOUR
MOTHER'S PARENTS.
I KNOW WHA MATERNAL MEANS,
STRANGE AS IT MAY SEEM.
CAN I CLOSE THE BOOK?
NO. YOU HAVEN'T SAID
ANYTHING ABOUT THAT PAGE.
WHAT'S TO SAY?
YOU WANT ME TO
WRITE THEIR NAME--
READ WHAT'S
WRITTEN ON THE PAGE.
YOU'RE JOKING!
YOU DON'T WAN TO FACE THE PAST.
THAT WOULD
MEAN ADMITTING
WHAT HAPPENED.
YOU'RE NOWHERE NEAR
BEING READY TO STAR A NEW LIFE
WITH A NEW FAMILY,
ARE YOU?
WHO'S GOING
TO STOP ME?
YOU ARE.
DO YOU KNOW WHAT I SEE
WHEN I LOOK AT YOU?
I DON'T SEE
A 10-YEAR-OLD.
I SEE A 6-YEAR-OLD
WHO PISSED HIS PANTS
AND IS ABOUT TO
BURST INTO TEARS
SO THAT EVERYONE AROUND
WILL SAY, "OH, SHAME,
POOR LITTLE JAMIE."
YOU SAID THIS NEWS
CAME DIRECTLY FROM
THE HORSE'S MOUTH.
FROM A NEW SOCIAL WORKER
AT THE PRISON.
HE'S MANAGED TO
CONVINCE YOUR FATHER
THAT IF HE'S WILLING
TO GIVE HIS BLESSING
TO YOU BEING ADOPTED,
HE CAN'T REASONABLY
OBJECT ANY LONGER
TO YOU KNOWING
YOUR MOTHER'S NAME...
WHICH WAS CONNOLLY.
MARY CONNOLLY.
MAIDEN NAME.
LOOK, WOULD I BE POSSIBLE
FOR YOU TO BRING
THOSE EXPRESSIVE EYES
'ROUND THIS WAY
SO I GET THE PLEASURE
OF THEM FOR A MINUTE?
WOULD YOU LIKE TO
WRITE HER NAME
IN YOUR LIFE STORY BOOK?
COME ON.
"THIS...IS A..."
"DRAWING..."
"I DID..."
"FROM MEMORY
"OF THE HOUSE WHERE
MY PARENTS LIVED
"WHEN...
"I...
"WAS BORN.
IT HAS..."
"FIVE WINDOWS
AT THE FRONT."
CATCH THE CUSHION.
THE CUSHION
IS CONCENTRATION.
MARGERY!
YES?
THE CUSHION
IS ATTENTION,
WILL TO SUCCEED.
NOW, SHOUT OU YOUR NAME
AND THROW THE CUSHION
TO SOMEONE ELSE.
TINA.
GRAHAM!
MARGERY!
I HATE THIS
KIND OF THING.
CAN'T HEAR YOU,
JANET.
SHE'LL BE WEARING
PINK PAJAMAS WHEN SHE COMES
SHE'LL BE WEARING
PINK PAJAMAS WHEN SHE COMES
SHE'LL BE
WEARING PINK PAJAMAS
WEARING PINK PAJAMAS
WEARING PINK PAJAMAS
WHEN SHE COMES
[PANTING]
ANY CHILDREN
WHO MIGHT,
I SAY, MIGH COME YOUR WAY,
WILL ALMOST CERTAINLY
HAVE BEEN PICKED ON.
AND BEFORE THESE
SESSIONS ARE THROUGH,
EVERY ONE OF YOU WILL HAVE
BEEN GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY
TO KNOW JUS WHAT THAT FEELS LIKE.
NOW, SOMETIMES, YOU
HAVE A CHILD OF 9 OR 10
WHO'S STUCK
EMOTIONALLY AT 2 OR 3
BECAUSE HE MAY HAVE BEEN
CAUGHT UP IN SOCIAL
SERVICES' FAVORITE GAME--
PASS THE PARCEL.
ALL RIGHT, SO YOU
CAN ACCEPT THE IDEA
OF A CHILD BEING EMOTIONALLY
STUCK AS AN IDEA...
BUT CAN YOU COPE
WITH A HEALTHY-LOOKING
10-YEAR-OLD
WHO'S WETTING, SOILING,
CRYING, BITING ONE MINUTE
AND GIGGLING
MANIACALLY THE NEXT?
EMPATHIZE.
FEEL AS THE CHILD FEELS.
REMEMBER,
THE IDEA OF PERMANENCE
IS TOO FRIGHTENING
FOR SOME CHILDREN,
LIKE STEPPING
INTO THE UNKNOWN.
THEY'VE NEVER, EVER
EXPERIENCED IT.
ALWAYS LOSE ONE.
IN FACT,
WE'VE LOST FOUR.
BUT NOT YOU?
NO SECOND THOUGHTS?
YOU STILL LIKE
CHILDREN, HMM?
VERY MUCH.
THOUGH I'M NOT SURE
I COULD EAT A WHOLE ONE.
I'VE SENT SOMEONE
TO FIND HIM.
DON'T EXPEC TOO MUCH, WILL YOU?
IF YOU AGREE...
I'D LIKE TO GIVE YOU
A PROPER HOME,
AND, UM,
LOOK AFTER YOU.
I THINK IT'S TIME YOUR
LIFE WAS A BIT EASIER...
AND A BIT HAPPIER.
DO YOU UNDERSTAND?
WE COULD, UH,
WE COULD THINK OF I AS A KIND
OF PARTNERSHIP.
I...I WANT A SON,
AND...YOU NEED A...
WHAT I MEAN IS,
YOU--YOU NEED SOMEBODY,
SOME ONE PERSON
TO CARE ABOUT YOU.
A PARTNERSHIP
WOULD ONLY WORK IF
IT'S WHAT YOU WANT, JAMES.
EXCUSE ME.
[WHISTLES]
WHO DO YOU LOVE MOS IN THE WORLD, JIMMY?
YOU, DAD.
ALWAYS, JIMMY,
PROMISE? ALWAYS.
NEVER BREAK IT.
PAIN OF DEATH.
I PROMISE.
I WAS BEGINNING
TO THINK YOU'D, UM,
WHAT IS IT THEY SAY?
DONE A RUNNER.
BUT YOU HADN'T,
HAD YOU?
WELL, UM,
I DIDN'T THINK YOU
WANTED MORE FOOD, SO I...
YOU DIDN'T EAT MUCH.
IS THAT BECAUSE
YOU'RE AS...
NERVOUS AS I AM?
I SEE.
I SUPPOSE THAT'S IT,
REALLY, ISN'T IT?
I'VE CHOSEN YOU,
BUT IN ORDER FOR IT TO
BE AN EQUAL PARTNERSHIP,
I'D HAVE TO BE THE PERSON
YOU WOULD CHOOSE.
I'D EXPECT YOU
TO LOOK AFTER ME
WHEN I'M
OLD AND DECREPIT.
YOU REALIZE THAT'S
THE ONLY REASON
I'M DOING THIS?
WHAT KEPT YOU
SO LONG IN THE TOILET?
CAN'T YOU GUESS?
THANK YOU.
COURTING?
ARE WE?
JUST A FRIEND,
MRS. HAWKINS.
YOU DON'T THINK
STANDING THERE
IN THAT CLEAN WHITE SHIR FOOLS ANYBODY?
YOU OUGHT TO BE
OUT WITH COMPANY
AND ENJOYING YOURSELF.
IT'S ONLY NATURAL.
SEE YOU TOMORROW,
MRS. HAWKINS.
YES, I HOPE SO.
WATCH YOUR STEP.
OH, I'M VERY CAREFUL
WITH STEPS, YOU KNOW.
IT'S A FUNNY THING.
I FELL DOWN SOMEWHERES.
YOU HAVEN' TOLD THEM YET.
WELL, IF YOU
LIVE IN A VILLAGE,
YOU DON'T TELL PEOPLE
THINGS TOO EARLY.
CAUTIOUS BUGGER.
I HAVE TO KNOW, UH...
BE SURE IT'LL HAPPEN.
NOTHING'S FOR SURE
IN THIS LIFE, GRAY.
RIGHT NOW, YOU'RE
NOT EVEN A CANDIDATE
TO ADOP MY STICK INSECT.
I WANT TO KNOW
ABOUT YOUR CHILDHOOD.
WELL...
I, UH, HAVE
THE RECKONING UP TO DO.
IT'S FIDDLY WORK.
I HAVE TO CONCENTRATE.
I'LL WAIT.
YOU'LL HAVE
TO BEAR WITH ME.
UM...
WELL, YOU--
THERE'S NO MUCH TO TELL.
I HAD A SPOTLESSLY
SANITIZED CHILDHOOD,
WITH A CHANGE OF
AIRTEX SUPPORT SYSTEMS
EVERY OTHER DAY.
LEAVE THE LIGHT RELIEF
TO ME, GRAY.
JUST THE FACTS.
YOUR MUM AND DAD,
FROM THE POINT OF VIEW
OF THEIR ONLY CHILD.
THEY WERE ALWAYS
TOUCHING EACH OTHER.
I CAN'T REMEMBER WHEN
I FIRST BEGAN TO NOTICE
THE LOOKS THEY EXCHANGED,
FULL OF A PRIVATE MEANING.
OR THE CONSTANT TOUCHING.
NOT THAT I--I LACKED...
I MEAN, THEY TOUCHED ME.
THEY TOUCHED ME, TOO.
I DON'T THINK I
LACKED PHYSICAL CONTACT.
WHEN?
WHAT?
WHEN DID
THEY TOUCH YOU?
WHENEVER
IT WAS NECESSARY.
WHENEVER...
THEY FELT LIKE IT.
NOT OFTEN, THEN?
AND AS A TEENAGER?
NOT AT ALL
WOULD BE MY GUESS.
I WAS RATHER
A DISAPPOINTMENT TO THEM.
MMM.
EVEN WHEN I
WENT DISCO DANCING
ON SATURDAY NIGHTS.
HE'S POLISHING HIS
BROTHEL CREEPERS.
THEY'RE JUS SHOES, DAD.
AH, HE'S A ONE,
OUR GRAHAM.
ISN'T HE
A ONE, DEAR?
HE'S ALWAYS
BEEN A ONE.
LET'S HAVE A LOOK
AT YOU, THEN.
HE'LL BREAK
A FEW HEARTS TONIGHT.
I WENT.
I DIDN'T DANCE.
MY PARENTS NEVER UNDERSTOOD
THAT ON SATURDAY NIGHTS
ONE HAD TO BE
PART OF A GROUP,
EITHER A COUPLE
OF OPPOSITE SEXES
OR A SMALL GROUP OF THE--
THE SAME SEX.
AFTER A WHILE, I STOPPED
GOING INSIDE THE DISCO.
I DID CROSSWORDS
IN THE CAR,
THEN ENDURED
A CROSS-EXAMINATION
WHEN I GOT HOME.
HI, MUM, DAD.
[ENID]
DID YOU SPEAK
TO ANYONE?
[EDWARD]
ANY NICE GIRL--
YOU COULD BRING
HOME TO MEET US?
DID YOU ENJOY YOURSELF?
YOU'RE ONLY
YOUNG ONCE.
WHEN I WAS IN MY 30s,
MY PARENTS DECIDED
THAT I'D MISSED MY MOMENT,
SO I WAS ALLOWED
TO STOP GOING...
TO TOWN ON
SATURDAY NIGHTS.
AND THEN SHE DIED.
YOU MAKE IT SOUND SUDDEN.
IT TOOK FIVE YEARS.
I SUPPOSE I GREW UP
DURING THAT TIME.
RATHER A DELAYED
GROWING UP.
I ARRANGED THE FUNERAL.
DAD...WASN' MAKING MUCH SENSE.
HIS HANDS WERE
LIKE INJURED BIRDS
LOOKING FOR
A SAFE PLACE TO ROOST.
SO, UM,
I TOOK HER PLACE...
IN THE KITCHEN,
BEHIND THE COUNTER.
MUM AND DAD HAD NEVER SEEMED
SEPARATED FROM EACH OTHER,
BUT HE AND I
WERE SEPARATED.
DAD, PLEASE.
[SOBBING]
PLEASE...
DON'T.
IT'S ALL RIGHT, DAD.
IT'LL BE ALL RIGHT.
DAD!
DAD, I'M HERE.
IT'S A SCRAPBOOK
REALLY, ISN'T IT?
WELL, THAT'S ONE WAY
OF DESCRIBING IT,
BUT FOR OBVIOUS REASONS,
WE DON'T CALL WHAT, UH,
WITH A LITTLE HELP
FROM US,
THE CHILDREN PUT TOGETHER
ABOUT THEMSELVES...
SCRAPBOOKS.
OH, WELL, NO, NO.
MINE'S JUS A PHOTOGRAPH ALBUM.
THAT'S NOT EVEN
A SCRAPBOOK.
WHO TOOK THE PICTURES?
MY DAD HAD A TIMER.
HE'D SET I AND THEN RUN AROUND
AND JOIN US.
THIS ONE'S OVEREXPOSED.
YOU LOOK LIKE
THREE GHOSTS.
WE WERE A VERY
ORDINARY FAMILY.
I THINK
IT PROBABLY TAKES
FLAIR AND INITIATIVE
TO BE A GHOST.
YOU MIGHT HAVE BEEN
ORDINARY ONCE,
BUT YOU'RE NOT NOW.
NOT MANY UNMARRIED MEN
WANT TO ADOPT.
HAVE YOU ALWAYS LIVED
IN THE SAME HOUSE?
AFRAID SO.
AND GONE
TO THE SAME SCHOOL?
TWO SCHOOLS.
UM, PRIMARY
AND COMPREHENSIVE.
I WENT TO SIX SCHOOLS
SO FAR.
I'D HAVE THOUGH YOU WON A SCHOLARSHIP
TO A PRIVATE SCHOOL
OR SOMETHING.
I TOLD YOU NO FLAIR.
WHAT SORT OF THINGS
DID YOU DO
WHEN YOU WERE MY AGE?
I KEPT MY HEAD DOWN,
I SUPPOSE.
NOTHING VERY EXCITING.
IS WHAT'S IN THERE
EXCITING?
IT'S MORE DISTURBING
THAN EXCITING.
THAT'S WHAT THEY SAY I AM--
DISTURBED.
WHAT DO YOU SAY?
I LIKE THIS ONE.
IT'S YOU WHEN
YOU WERE MY AGE.
YOU WERE ON A BEACH.
YOU LOOK LIKE
A RIGHT TEARAWAY.
MAY I SEE IT?
I WAS ON HOLIDAY
ALONG WITH MY FATHER.
IT WAS THE ONLY TIME
HE AND I WERE EVER ALONE
FOR ANY LENGTH OF TIME.
ONLY TIME HE AND I
WERE EVER REALLY CLOSE.
I'M SORRY.
I'D FORGOTTEN
ABOUT THE PICTURE.
I REALLY AM VERY SORRY.
WE LAUGHED A LO THAT WEEK.
I SUPPOSE
IT WAS THE FEELING
WE WERE DOING
SOMETHING SECRE AND SLIGHTLY WICKED.
I FELT IMPORTANT...
ALMOST NEEDED.
LISTEN.
WEST INDIAN SEA.
WE'LL TAKE IT HOME
TO REMIND US
OF THE FUN WE HAD.
IT WAS THE BEST TIME
OF MY LIFE.
IT WAS THE HAPPIES I'VE EVER BEEN.
I CRIED.
SO I HEARD.
ISN'T IT USUAL TO PHONE
BEFORE YOU VISIT?
SOMETIMES I DO.
SOMETIMES I DON'T.
I LIKE TO CATCH
PEOPLE UNAWARES.
ANYWAY, THERE'S
NO POINT NOW.
WHY?
I TOLD YOU.
I CRIED
IN FRONT OF THE CHILD
I WAS HOPING TO ADOP AND HIS, WHAT'S IT CALLED,
HIS KEY WORKER.
BEST THING
YOU COULD HAVE DONE.
NOW THEY'RE BOTH
CRAZY ABOUT YOU,
WHICH THEY CERTAINLY
WEREN'T BEFORE.
BETTER STAR GETTING YOURSELF
PREPARED
FOR A WEEKEND VISIT.
IT'S BEEN SUGGESTED
THAT I PUT YOU
IN A HOME.
THEY SAY
THAT IF I'M RIGH ABOUT WHAT YOU FEEL
FOR ME,
IF YOU CAN STILL
FEEL EMOTIONS--
I DON'T KNOW.
I JUST DON'T KNOW--
BUT IF YOU CAN...
THE SENSE OF BEING
BEHOLDEN TO ME
MUST BE VERY PAINFUL
FOR YOU.
I JUST CAN'T BE SURE
ABOUT ANY OF THIS,
CAN I?
I DEARLY WISH
YOU HAD SOME WAY
OF GIVING ME
YOUR OPINION.
I'LL GET YOUR BREAKFAST.
[GROAN]
[THUMP]
CAN I HAVE A WORD?
HIS FATHER'S
HAD ANOTHER STROKE
AND BEEN TAKEN
INTO HOSPITAL.
YOUR FIRST VISIT'S
GOING TO BE DELAYED
FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS.
[EXHALING]
WAIT! WAIT!
I AM WAITING.
WE'VE STOPPED.
WE'RE HERE.
STAGE FRIGHT?
IF YOU LIKE.
I'VE BEEN HERE BEFORE.
I KNOW.
BUT THIS IS IMPORTANT,
JIMBO,
AND I THINK
IT'S WHAT YOU WANT.
LOOK, HE'S THERE
WAITING FOR YOU.
GET OUT OF THE CAR.
I'LL BE BACK
TO COLLECT YOU
AFTER TEA.
HELLO.
HELLO.
UM, FIRST OFF,
I THOUGHT WE'D, UM,
LOOK AROUND,
GET USED
TO THE GEOGRAPHY.
IN THERE
IS MY HOUSE,
BUT, UM...
ON THIS SIDE
IS THE POST OFFICE.
ALL RIGHT.
O.K., BYE.
HELLO, MRS. GEORGE.
HELLO.
THANK YOU.
UM, THIS IS LYNN...
MY HELPER.
LYNN, JAMES.
HELLO.
WE'LL GO
INTO THE HOUSE NOW.
IT'S NOT VERY BIG.
LIVING ROOM.
I THOUGHT WE'D HAVE TEA
IN HERE TODAY,
THOUGH THE KITCHEN'S
MORE USUAL.
LIVING ROOM.
SAID THAT.
AND, UH, KITCHEN.
YOU'LL BE SEEING
QUITE A LOT OF THAT.
WE CAN GO UPSTAIRS.
THERE MIGHT BE
SOMETHING UPSTAIRS
THAT WOULD INTEREST YOU.
WATCH YOUR STEP.
IT'S YOUR ROOM.
[BEDSPRINGS SQUEAK]
WHERE'S YOUR FATHER?
HE GOT SICKER
AND NEEDED TO BE SOMEWHERE
WHERE THEY COULD GIVE HIM
PROPER MEDICAL CARE.
IN A HOSPITAL?
WELL, YES, HOSPITAL, YES.
WAS HE SENT THERE
BECAUSE OF ME?
WOULD THEY HAVE
LET ME COME HERE
IF HE HADN'T BEEN
PUT AWAY?
POSSIBLY NOT...
ALTHOUGH THE NUMBER
OF SINGLE MEN
WHO APPLY TO ADOP CAN BE COUNTED
ON THE FINGERS OF ONE FOOT.
YOU ONLY HAVE TO LOOK
ACROSS THIS TABLE
TO SEE THEY MUST BE SCRAPING
THE BOTTOM OF THE BARREL.
OVERDONE IT, HAVEN'T I?
THEY CALL THIS
THE HONEYMOON PERIOD.
PAPER HATS?
NO.
PERHAPS NOT.
HAVE YOU THOUGHT YE WHAT YOU'D LIKE
TO CALL ME?
I THOUGHT GRAHAM
WOULD BE BES IF YOU FEEL
YOU CAN MANAGE THAT.
THERE IS A CHANCE.
YEAH, BUT, LOOK,
DON'T RAISE YOUR HOPES.
'ROUND AND 'ROUND
THE GARDEN
LIKE A TEDDY BEAR
'ROUND AND 'ROUND
THE GARDEN
LIKE A TEDDY BEAR
ONE STEP
TWO STEP
TICKLE YOU UNDER THERE
IT'S NOT MY FAULT.
WHEN DO YOU SPEND
ANY TIME AT ALL
WITH HIM?
I SEE HIM AS OFTEN
AS I CAN.
[RINGS DOORBELL]
MAUREEN, I'M, UH,
GRAHAM HOLT.
UM, WELL, JAMES
HAS DECIDED--ELECTED--
TO REMAIN IN THE CAR.
WE'VE HAD A BI OF A ROW, YOU SEE.
HE DOESN'T WANT ME
POKING AROUND
IN HIS PAS EVEN UNDER
HIS SUPERVISION.
SUPERVISION
HE'S NOW WITHHOLDING
BY SULKING IN THE CAR.
IT'S DIFFICULT TO KNOW
WHAT TO DO FOR THE BEST.
YOU WERE HIS KEY WORKER.
HIS HOUSEMOTHER.
EVER MENTION
HIS REAL MOTHER?
NO. AND I'VE BEEN WARNED
NOT TO ASK ABOUT HER YET.
OR EVER
WOULD BE MY ADVICE.
TOLD YOU ABOUT THE DAY
I HAD HIM PINNED
TO THE FLOOR
SCREAMING HIS HEAD OFF.
HE SPAT, HE BIT.
IF I'D BEEN
WEARING MAKEUP,
HE PROBABLY WOULD HAVE
DONE HIMSELF IN.
BEEN TOLD ABOU HIS CONSTAN RUNNING AWAY?
ALWAYS HIDING
IN DARK HOLES.
HE'S ATTEMPTED SUICIDE
TWICE.
YES. I'VE BEEN GIVEN
ALL THE DETAILS.
OVER HERE!
CHRIST, LOOK A THE STATE OF HIM.
TELL HIM I'M DEEPLY HUR HE WOULDN' GET OUT OF THE CAR
AFTER ALL
WE WENT THROUGH.
IF HE'S ALLOWING YOU
TO STAND IN
FOR HIS REAL DAD,
YOU MUST BE SPECIAL.
STILL IN PRISON,
I SUPPOSE.
YES. BEFORE
EVERYTHING'S FINAL...
WE'LL BE GOING TO MEET HIM.
AND WHOSE IDEA WAS THAT?
WELL, JAMES'.
THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE.
BUT THE SOCIAL WORKER?
HOW OLD'S SHE, 14?
YOU'RE BEING USED...
BY A MANIPULATIVE
LITTLE BOY
WHO WANTS TO GE ANOTHER GLIMPSE
OF HIS DAD.
YOU'LL NEVER GE TO ADOPT HIM,
AND BELIEVE ME,
YOU'RE WELL
OUT OF IT.
THE MOMENT THOSE TWO
MEET AGAIN,
YOU'LL BE OU ON YOUR EAR.
[SOPRANO SINGING ON RADIO]
HOW COME YOU LIKED HER
WHEN WOMEN TEND NO TO BE YOUR CUP OF TEA?
PERHAPS SHE'S A BI OF A LEZ.
SORRY?
LESBIAN, BUTCH.
WASN'T SHE WEARING
LEATHER AND STUDS
AND LOOKING LIKE
SHE HADN'T SLEP FOR A WEEK?
NO. SHE WAS A BIT UNTIDY,
I SUPPOSE, BUT--
THERE YOU ARE, THEN,
AREN'T YOU?
NOT A PROPER WOMAN,
THAT'S WHY.
WHAT CONSTITUTES
A PROPER WOMAN, THEN?
LET ME OUT!
TITS AND SILK
AND FRILLS,
MAKEUP THAT STINKS,
AND LEGS
THAT SHOOT APAR THE MINUTE YOU TOUCH THEM
WITH YOUR LITTLE FINGER.
GET OFF!
[MUSIC STOPS]
YOU COULD HAVE TURNED
THE RADIO OFF
IF IT WAS BOTHERING YOU.
NOTHING BOTHERS ME.
IT'S YOUR RADIO.
[DOOR SLAMS]
SLOW DOWN.
DIDN'T THEY WARN YOU
WHAT BEING
A SUBSTITUTE PAREN WAS LIKE?
I SUPPOSE I NEED HELP.
WHO DOESN'T?
HONEYMOON'S OVER!
REALLY IS
VERY GOOD OF YOU.
I WAS GOING
TO DO IT MYSELF.
CENTER OF ATTRACTION
AT HARVEST FESTIVAL.
GERANIUMS,
CHRYSANTHEMUMS,
MICHAELMAS DAISIES.
LOOK. IT LOOKS BETTER.
I'VE BEEN GIVEN
THREE OPINIONS SO FAR
OF WHAT SHOULD BE DONE
WITH THAT YOUNG MAN.
WHAT WERE THEY?
NONE INCLUDED FOSTERING
WITH A VIEW TO ADOPTION.
WHERE IS HE NOW?
HE'S IN HIS ROOM.
HMM.
[EXHALING]
YOU SAID YOU HAD
HIS GRANDPARENTS'
ADDRESS.
THEY DON'T WAN TO BE KNOWN.
YOU SAID I HAD
TO SEE THE PEOPLE
IN HIS LIFE-STORY BOOK.
AS MANY AS WILL LET YOU
SEE THEM.
HE'LL NEED TO KNOW.
WHEN THAT TIME COMES,
I'LL NEED TO BE ABLE
TO TELL HIM.
GROWING UP, AREN'T YOU?
REMEMBER, HE'S YOUR
GREAT-GRANDFATHER.
HE DOESN'T KNOW
WE'RE COMING.
THAT'LL BE HIM.
I BETTER
TALK TO HIM FIRS AND THEN CALL YOU.
SHE CAME HERE TO STAY,
YOU KNOW, VERY OFTEN
WHEN SHE WAS
A LITTLE GIRL.
I NEVER SAW YOUR DAD,
JUST YOU, JUST THE ONCE.
YOU LOOK JUST LIKE HER.
SHE USED TO WRITE REGULAR.
NEVER MISSED.
I WROTE BACK...
UNTIL...
SUDDENLY SHE WASN'T KNOWN
AT THAT ADDRESS.
OH, WE WERE VERY CLOSE.
ALWAYS VERY CLOSE.
THAT TIME WHEN
SHE STOPPED WRITING,
I NEEDED SOMEONE TO--
I BLAMED HER.
I THOUGHT SHE DIDN' WANT TO BE BOTHERED.
UH, THINGS OF HERS, UM...
PHOTOS AND SUCH...
IN A BOX IN THAT BUREAU.
YOU CAN LOOK IF YOU LIKE.
[CRYING]
GO AND SEE
IF HE'S ALL RIGHT.
NEVER BREAK IT.
PAIN OF DEATH.
WANT THE RADIO?
O.K.
CAN WE SEE YOUR FATHER
NEXT WEEKEND?
IF YOU LIKE.
HE COULD HAVE
ANOTHER STROKE
ANY TIME.
IT'S MOST UNLIKELY
HE'LL EVER BE
ALLOWED HOME.
OH. WELL,
I AM SORRY.
THAT IS BAD NEWS.
AND HE DOESN'T SEEM
TOO UNHAPPY HERE
WITH US.
NO. HE SEEMS
AS HAPPY HERE
AS HE EVER WAS
AT HOME.
[CRYING]
I MISS YOU SO MUCH.
WE NEED A TENT,
A DOUBLE AND SINGLE
SLEEPING BAG,
AND COOKERY PANS.
WHAT DISCOUN DO YOU GIVE
FOR CASH?
MY UNCLE RUBIN USED
TO GO CAMPING A LO UNTIL HIS HERNIA
MADE RUBBING
LITTLE STICKS TOGETHER
TOO PAINFUL.
TIME YOU STARTED BEING
A BIT MORE MASTERFUL.
I'M NOT GOING
TO BE AROUND
TO NURSEMAID YOU
FOREVER, YOU KNOW.
I'D BETTER GO SEE
WHAT HE'S BUYING.
GRAY, IF HE GETS YOU
PRACTICING KNOTS,
JUST REMEMBER,
UNTYING THEM AGAIN
IS THE HARD PART.
IT'S GOOD.
COME IN.
YOU'RE FREEZING.
I'M NOT.
COME ON IN.
I DON'T WANT TO.
I'M COLD RIGHT HERE.
I'M GETTING FROZEN
JUST WATCHING YOU.
I DON'T.
ARE YOU SURE?
YEAH.
I THOUGHT YOU'D
LOSE YOUR TEMPER
WITH ME,
PARTICULARLY
OVER THAT MUDDLE
WITH THE LINING.
I'VE ALWAYS
BEEN CLUMSY.
EVERYONE'S
GOT TO LEARN.
IF YOU DON'T TURN
THAT SAUSAGE OVER,
IT'LL BE RAW
ON ONE SIDE
AND BURN ON THE OTHER.
FUNNY. I'VE
ALWAYS THOUGH OF TENT PEOPLE
AS BEING A BIT ODD,
WEIRD EVEN--
OVERGROWN BOY SCOUTS
OR LEFTOVER HIPPIES.
TENT PEOPLE AREN'T ODD.
YOU OUGH TO LEARN SURVIVAL,
ALL SORTS OF THINGS--
EAT WORMS
IF YOU HAVE TO.
[LAUGHING]
NO. REALLY?
THEN YOU GE YOUR NIGHT VISION
AND YOU CAN
GO ON AHEAD.
YOU KNOW
A LOT ABOUT IT.
I HAD A GOOD TEACHER.
THERE'S A HOLE
IN THE BOTTOM
OF THE SEA
THERE'S A HOLE
IN THE BOTTOM
OF THE SEA
THERE'S A HOLE
THERE'S A HOLE
THERE'S A HOLE
IN THE BOTTOM
OF THE SEA
[OCEAN SURF CRASHING]
IF YOU'D WAITED,
WE COULD ALL
HAVE GONE TOGETHER.
IT WAS HIS
SCHOOL HOLIDAYS.
I HAD TO DO
SOMETHING WITH HIM.
NO FUN FOR ME
HAVING HIM
FOR A FULL WEEK
ON ME OWN--
TERRIBLE ROOM,
HORRIBLE FOOD.
AND YOU KNOW
WHAT'S IT'S LIKE
TRYING TO KEEP HIM
AMUSED?
ARE YOU COLD?
YOU TALKED
IN YOUR SLEEP.
WHAT DID I SAY?
NOTHING SENSIBLE.
JUST WORDS.
[WHISTLING]
WHAT HAVE YOU
DONE TO YOURSELF?
A BRANCH HIT ME.
THAT LOOKS PAINFUL.
JUST MISSED YOUR EYE.
MUST HAVE GIVEN YOU
AN HELL OF A TWANG.
GET THE FIRST-AID KI FROM THE TEN AND PUT SOME
ANTISEPTIC CREAM ON IT.
KISS IT BETTER,
PLEASE.
DO IT PROPERLY.
HOW IS PROPERLY?
LONGER, HARDER.
GOT TO BE A LONG KISS
TO MAKE IT BETTER.
IS THAT BETTER?
DO YOU LOVE ME?
YES, VERY MUCH.
TOO MUCH FOR MY
OWN GOOD, I EXPECT.
WERE YOU TESTING ME?
I DO TEST PEOPLE
SOMETIMES.
OH.
NOW I KNOW WHY
THE SKYLARK SINGS
LIKE SHE DOES.
WHERE'S THE VILLAGE?
VILLAGE?
OVER THAT HILL.
DID YOU KNOW
THAT THE MOON
MOVES FURTHER AWAY
FROM THE EARTH
BY A FOO EVERY 20 YEARS?
IS IT SOMETHING
WE SAID?
HEY!
HA HA HA HA!
WHAT DOES
BIG BROTHER EDDIE SAY
ABOUT YOU INTERESTING
YOURSELF IN LITTLE BOYS?
IT'S NOT A QUESTION
OF LITTLE BOYS,
UNCLE TURPIN.
JAMIE CAME ON THE SCENE
AFTER DAD HAD
HIS FIRST STROKE,
SO DAD COULDN' VOICE AN OPINION.
HA HA HA HA!
WELL, YOU PICKED
A RIGHT SULKER.
A POUND
OF EVERTON MINTS
COULDN'T PUT A SMILE
ON THAT FIZZOG.
JAMIE WANTED TO MEET YOU.
HE'S CATCHING UP
ON MY FAMILY.
IS THAT RIGHT?
I'M SORRY
I DIDN'T GET DOWN TO
YOUR MOTHER'S FUNERAL.
I WAS A BIT INDISPOSED,
MESELF.
YOU WERE NEVER
VERY CLOSE.
COULDN' STAND THE WOMAN.
WHY NOT?
HEY! HA!
IT SPEAKS!
HOO! HA HA HA!
HO HO HO HO!
HO HO HO!
OH!
IT NOT ONLY UTTERS,
IT ASKS BLOODY
CHEEKY QUESTIONS.
IT SEEMED A FAIR QUESTION
TO ME.
IT WAS ALL THA LOVEY-DOVEY STUFF
THAT USED TO SICKEN ME.
THEY WERE A DEVOTED COUPLE.
THEY SHOWED IT.
SHE CONVINCED HIM
THAT SHE'D GO TO PIECES
IF HE STRAYED
AS FAR AS THE END
OF THE GARDEN
TO WIDDLE ON HIS OWN.
DOES THIS ONE CRY?
NOT AS FAR AS I KNOW.
PITY. I LIKE WATCHING
LITTLE BOYS CRY.
GOT ME ATTENDING SCHOOL
REGULAR, DID THAT.
GRANDMA USED TO SEE ME
TO THE GATE
WITH ME DINNER MONEY
EVERY MONDAY,
AND SHE'D SAY,
"SEE HOW MANY
YOU CAN UPSET,
AND DON'T BE LATE HOME!"
[CHUCKLING]
HA HA HA HA!
HADN'T YOU BETTER
FORGIVE HIM...
BEFORE HE DIES ON YOU
AND IT'S TOO LATE?
ALWAYS DID RECKON
YOU TOOK AFTER
YOUR MOTHER.
EVEN THOUGH I HAD HER
WORKED OUT ALL WRONG.
IT WEREN'T HER
THAT DIDN'T WANT KIDS.
IT WAS HIM.
COULDN'T BRING HIMSELF
TO POKE THE FIRE
PROPERLY.
SOMETHING TO DO
WITH THE WAR,
I DON'T KNOW.
WELL, THAT WOULD BE WHY
HE WAS ALWAYS
A BIT COOL WITH YOU.
...SEA
THERE'S A...
LOG IN A HOLE
IN THE BOTTOM
OF THE SEA
THERE'S A LOG
IN A HOLE IN THE
BOTTOM OF THE SEA
[GRAHAM JOINS IN]
THERE'S A LOG,
THERE'S A LOG
THERE'S A LOG
IN THE BOTTOM OF THE SEA
THERE'S A LIMB
ON A LOG
IN A HOLE IN THE BOTTOM
OF THE SEA
BAGS FIRST PEE!
[HUMMING]
[TOILET FLUSHES]
[JAMES SINGING]
I'LL JUST GIVE MY BIKE
A BIT OF EXERCISE, O.K.?
DON'T BE LONG.
I'LL PUT THE KETTLE ON.
YES!
[THUNDER]
[DOOR SLAMS]
[JAMES]
THERE'S A HOLE IN
THE BOTTOM OF THE SEA
HI!
[OUT OF BREATH]
TAKE A BREATH.
TAKE A BREATH
BEFORE YOU DRINK.
I HAVE A LETTER FOR YOU.
IT'S FROM YOUR FATHER.
[THUNDER]
HE WROTE TO ME, TOO.
HE WISHED US LUCK.
HE REFERRED
TO YOU AS JIMMY.
I DIDN'T THINK YOU'D WAN TO BE CALLED THAT.
[RAINING]
[SNIFFS]
YOU'LL WAN TO READ YOUR LETTER
IN PRIVATE, I EXPECT.
PERHAPS YOU'RE RIGHT.
WHY NOT READ I IN YOUR ROOM.
BERNARD SAID
I SHOULD BE WITH YOU
WHEN YOU READ IT.
I KNOW IT'S PRIVATE,
BUT IF IT UPSETS YOU,
I WANT TO BE CLOSE BY.
GET OUT OF MY WAY,
PLEASE.
DEAR JIMMY,
THEY TELL ME
THAT THERE'S SOMEONE
WHO WISHES
TO ADOPT YOU
AND THAT THEY
TRUST THIS MAN
AND YOU SEEM
TO GET ON WELL WITH HIM.
IN AN IDEAL WORLD,
JIMMY, MY LOVE,
WE WOULD BE TOGETHER.
NO ONE WOULD STOP ME
FROM BEING YOUR FATHER.
NEVER SHOW WEAKNESS,
JIMMY.
IF PEOPLE SENSE IT,
THEY JUST TAKE WHA THEY WANT FROM YOU,
AND THEY DISAPPEAR.
PLEASE, JIMMY,
YOU MUST UNDERSTAND
THAT NONE OF WHAT'S
HAPPENED IS YOUR FAULT.
YOU'RE NOT TO BLAME,
JIMMY.
PLEASE REMEMBER THAT.
I'M THE ONE AT FAULT,
THE ONE WHO HAS FAILED
HIS MOST SACRED DUTY
TO BE A GOOD FATHER.
ONE DAY,
WHEN YOU'RE OLD ENOUGH
TO UNDERSTAND
WHAT FORGIVENESS IS,
I WILL NEED
ALL YOU CAN SPARE.
I LOVE YOU MOST.
ALWAYS, JIMMY,
PROMISE. ALWAYS,
YOUR FATHER.
WILL YOU COME HOME NOW?
IT'S LATE.
COME INSIDE.
YOU CANNOT STAY OUT HERE
ALL NIGHT!
GET OFF ME!
GET OFF!
ANGER SCARES ME.
IT'S AN ILLNESS,
AND WE DON' HAVE TO LOOK FAR
TO SEE WHO
I'VE CAUGHT IT FROM.
[CLOCK CHIMES]
JEALOUSY CRIPPLES
PEOPLE, JAMIE.
IT MAKES THEM
BEHAVE BADLY,
BUT WE CAN' ALLOW EVERYTHING
TO FALL APAR JUST BECAUSE YOU'VE HEARD
FROM YOUR...
IF I SAY I UNDERSTAND
HOW YOU FEEL,
WELL, THAT'S JUST WORDS
BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW, DO I?
I HAVEN' READ YOUR LETTER,
BUT I WANT TO UNDERSTAND
WHAT YOU FEEL.
I WANT DESPERATELY TO KNOW
WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT.
ALL I CAN SAY IS, JAMIE,
UNLESS YOU CAN
SPEAK TO ME,
UNLESS YOU CAN SHARE
SOMETHING WITH ME,
I DON'T KNOW...
THERE'S FOOD
IF YOU'RE HUNGRY.
I--I COULD
MAKE YOU A SANDWICH.
TEA SEEMS RATHER
A LONG TIME AGO.
I HAVE A FATHER.
JUST BECAUSE...
HE'S IN PRISON
DOESN'T MAKE ANYONE ELSE
MY FATHER.
HIS LETTER DOESN'T SAY
ANYTHING ABOUT US
GOING TO SEE HIM
IN PRISON.
YOU CAN'T ADOPT ME
UNLESS I SEE HIM FIRST!
YOU KNOW THAT,
DON'T YOU?
I REALIZED THAT WAS
PART OF THE BARGAIN
YOU WERE WILLING TO MAKE.
THERE IS SOMETHING MORE
IN THIS ADOPTION FOR YOU
THAN THE VISI TO YOUR FATHER,
ISN'T THERE?
ARE YOU SURE
YOU WANT ME TO READ IT?
WOULDN'T I BE BEST TO WAI AND THINK ABOUT I FOR A WHILE?
IT'S ONLY FAIR
YOU SHOULD UNDERSTAND
WHY YOU CAN'T EVER...
TAKE HIS PLACE.
[PING-PONG GAME]
LITTLE BOYS
ARE CHEAP TODAY
CHEAPER
THAN YESTERDAY
SMALLER BOYS
ARE--
[HUMMING]
HA HA HA!
[SHEEP BLEATING]
[DOOR OPENS]
[DOOR CLOSES]
[FOOTSTEPS]
[DOOR SLAMS]
WHY DON'T YOU ASK
FOR THE BUTTER
IF YOU WANT IT?
THAT'S ENOUGH
OF THAT.
GO TO YOUR ROOM.
[RUNNING UPSTAIRS]
[DOOR SLAMS]
HE WON'T LOOK AT ME.
HE DOESN'T TALK.
I'VE INSISTED
HE SAYS THANK YOU.
HE SAYS I TO THE CEILING.
IT'S BEEN GOING ON
THREE WEEKS NOW.
I DON'T KNOW
WHY HE CONTINUES
WITH THE VISITS.
EVERY DAY
I EXPECT A PHONE CALL
FROM THE CHILDREN'S HOME
TO SAY HE'S DECIDED
HE DOESN' WANT TO GO ON
WITH THE ADOPTION.
DO YOU WANT TO
GO ON WITH IT?
I SUPPOSE I MUST.
OTHERWISE,
I'D PULL OUT MYSELF.
BUT YOU'RE NOT SURE.
WELL...
EVERYTHING WAS FINE
UNTIL THE LETTER.
WHAT DID
THE ONE YOU GOT SAY?
OH, NOTHING.
AND WHAT DID THE ONE
JAMIE GOT SAY?
HAH. EVERYTHING.
IT WAS A VERY FAIR,
VERY...
HONEST, VERY LOVING,
DEVASTATINGLY MOVING LETTER.
[TELEPHONE RINGS]
[RING RING]
YOU ANSWER IT.
HELLO.
PILETH POST OFFICE.
IT'S THE HOSPITAL.
MY FATHER DIED
ON THURSDAY MORNING.
AHEM.
SO I MAY NOT BE
VERY GOOD COMPANY.
I WASN'T SURE
WHETHER TO, UH...
ASK YOU TO GIVE
THIS WEEKEND A MISS.
PERHAPS I SHOULD HAVE.
I'M SORRY.
[CRYING]
[WAILING]
YOU'LL BE ALL RIGHT.
PROMISE.
IT WON'T BE LONG.
I WAS ALWAYS
A DISAPPOINTMENT TO HIM.
I DON'T THINK SO.
I NEVER KNEW...
WHAT THEY REALLY
WANTED OF ME.
WAS THERE NEVER A TIME,
EVER?
DEPENDS ON WHAT YOU MEAN
BY "A TIME."
DIDN'T YOU EVER
LOVE ANYONE?
I DON'T KNOW.
MAYBE.
HI.
WHATEVER IT WAS,
SHE WAS RIGH OUT OF MY CLASS.
IT WOULD NEVER
HAVE WORKED.
GO TO SLEEP NOW.
I'LL STILL BE HERE.
WHETHER THE ADOPTION
GOES THROUGH
DOESN'T DEPEND ON ME.
BUT MEANWHILE,
JAMES IS COMING UP FOR 11,
AND HE'LL BE CHANGING
SCHOOLS ANYWAY.
IF YOU ADOPT HIM,
HE'LL GO TO YOUR LOCAL SCHOOL.
SILLY TO MAKE
A NEW START TWICE.
SO WE'RE RECOMMENDING THAT,
IN THE MEANTIME,
YOU SHOULD FOSTER JAMES
WITH A VIEW TO ADOPTION.
WHICH MEANS?
[DEBBIE]
HE COMES TO LIVE WITH YOU.
OH!
LOOK. THERE'S THE NEW BOY.
[GIGGLING]
GERM WARFARE.
THAT'S WHY
THE CONSERVATIVE LOST.
HIS NAME WAS
JEREMY ANTHRAX.
I DON'T WAN TO INTERRUPT ANYONE.
WHO'D VOTE FOR A NAME
THAT SOUNDS LIKE
A COUGH SWEET?
I'M IN A TEENSY
BIT OF A HURRY.
IT'S THE DRY CLEANING,
IS IT?
I BELIEVE I DID TELL YOU,
MRS. HILLIARD,
DELIVERY'S
NOT TILL THURSDAY.
PLEASE DON'T APOLOGIZE.
IT'S QUITE ALL RIGHT.
WHEN ONE'S USED
TO A 24-HOUR SERVICE...
OH, I WAS GOING TO LOOK
AT SOME KNITTING WOOL,
BUT IF EVERYBODY'S
IN A RUSH...
OH, LIZZIE,
LOOK AT THE WOOL.
NO. I DON'T WANT ANYBODY
INCONVENIENCED.
I'LL COME BACK TOMORROW.
LIZZIE...
NO. YOU HAVEN' GOT TIME FOR IT.
HILLIARD...
HILLIARD DRY CLEANING.
[BELL RINGS]
BE WITH YOU IN A MOMENT.
I'M JIMMY'S FATHER.
YOU'D
BETTER COME INSIDE.
THEY'VE RELEASED
YOU EARLY?
IT'S JUST ONE LESS
DEATH CERTIFICATE
TO WRITE OUT.
WHERE'S JIMMY?
HE'S AT SCHOOL.
HE'LL BE BACK AT 4:30.
DOING WELL THERE,
IS HE?
PRETTY WELL.
JIMMY'S BEEN THERE
ONLY A MONTH.
BEEN TRYING
TO WORK OUT A WAY
TO GET A LOOK AT HIM
WITHOUT HIM SEEING ME.
[CLOCK CHIMES]
NO.
SORRY?
IT WON'T DO.
THAT'S NOT THE WAY.
WHAT, UM...
WHAT...IS IT?
IT'S AIDS.
[BELL RINGS]
DO YOU MIND WAITING HERE
TILL LUNCHTIME?
I'VE GOT THE SHOP
TO LOOK AFTER.
[SLURP]
I'VE MANAGED
TO KEEP JIMMY THINKING
I'VE BEEN IN PRISON
EVER SINCE.
YOU HID OU IN THE WOODS?
YEAH, BUT I'VE
BEEN IN AND OU THREE TIMES SINCE THEN.
YOU KNOW HOW IT IS.
PETTY OFFENSES...
BURGLARY, NICKING CARS,
RECEIVING, DRUGS--
YOU KNOW,
THAT KIND OF THING.
I'D LIKE
TO HAVE SEEN HIM,
BUT IT SEEMED FAIRER
NOT TO.
HE THOUGHT YOU WERE
A MERCENARY SOLDIER.
NOW YOU'D PROBABLY
LIKE TO KNOW HOW LONG
THEY'VE GIVEN ME.
I'VE GOT FOUR
OR FIVE MONTHS.
NOW, IF I COULD JUS HANG AROUND SOMEWHERE
OUTSIDE THE VILLAGE--
AND WHEN SOMEONE HAS TO
TELL HIM YOU'RE DEAD?
IF I THOUGH YOU WERE THAT SELFISH,
I'D TELL HIM THE TRUTH.
I'D TELL HIM
YOU COULD SEE HIM,
BUT YOU DIDN'T.
I'D MAKE SURE
HE RECOGNIZED YOU.
I'D MEET THE BUS AND
POINT YOU OUT TO HIM.
WHAT DOES IT FEEL LIKE,
HOLDING ALL THE CARDS?
NOW...
HERE'S WHAT WE'LL DO.
YOU'LL MOVE IN HERE.
WE'LL TELL JAMIE
WHAT YOUR ILLNESS IS
BECAUSE HE HAS
THE RIGHT TO KNOW...
THAT HIS FATHER ONLY HAS
A FEW MONTHS TO LIVE.
THE VILLAGE DOESN' HAVE TO KNOW,
THOUGH THEY MAY GUESS
OR FIND OUT.
ONLY THE DOCTOR
HAS TO KNOW...
AND THE HIPPOCRATIC OATH
SHOULD TAKE CARE OF HIM.
YOU ALWAYS LIKE THIS?
NO, NEVER. I'M NO THE MASTERFUL TYPE.
[DRIVER]
ALL RIGHT, YOU KIDS.
YOU'VE GO A BROODY EXPRESSION,
LIKE A HEN
WITH CONSTIPATION.
WELL, DON'T,
'CAUSE I GOT THE REMEDY.
WE'RE GOING CAMPING
THIS WEEKEND.
IT'LL BE GREAT!
NOT THIS WEEKEND.
WHY NOT?
WE HAVE A VISITOR.
WE NEVER
HAVE VISITORS.
HI, JIMMY.
WHO DO YOU LOVE?
THE LAST TIME I SAW YOU,
I SAID THE NEXT TIME
WE MEET WILL BE FOREVER.
THERE'S NOTHING FOREVER
FOR ME AND YOU, JIMMY.
I CAME TO FIND YOU
TO MAKE SURE
YOU WERE ALL RIGHT.
YOU'RE A CREDIT TO ME,
JIMMY.
YOU'RE A GROWN MAN,
ALMOST.
GRAHAM SAYS I SHOULD BE
HONEST WITH YOU
ABOUT MY ILLNESS.
HE SAID WE SHOULD SPEND
THE NEXT FEW MONTHS--
THE LAST FEW MONTHS--
GETTING TO KNOW
EACH OTHER AGAIN.
DON'T BE SCARED.
DON'T LOOK
SO FRIGHTENED OF ME.
AH, JESUS GOD.
PLEASE SAY YOU'RE NO FRIGHTENED OF ME, JIMMY.
PLEASE.
I'M SO SORRY.
[GRAHAM]
JOHN...
I'M REALLY SORRY.
I'M SORRY.
[JAMES SOBS]
JUST GIVE HIM TIME.
JIMMY...
[JOHN]
JIMMY.
[JOHN]
JIMMY!
[RUNS DOWNSTAIRS]
[DOOR OPENS]
[THUNDER]
[CLOCK CHIMES]
[BIRD CALLS]
[BIRD CALLS]
[CRYING]
YOU JUST NEED TO GIVE HIM
A LITTLE TIME, JOHN.
ALL HE NEEDS IS TIME.
JAMIE?
JAMIE.
JAMIE!
[DOG BARKS]
JAMIE!
[BIRD CALLS]
JAMIE!
IT WON'T TAKE LONG.
PLEASE PROMISE
YOU'LL BE A GOOD BOY.
JAMIE!
JIMMY, BE A GOOD BOY
SO WE CAN PLAY
OUR GAME.
HIDE THERE
FOR ME, BABY.
HIDE THERE
FOR ME, BABY.
STOP...WAIT.
DON'T RUSH. TAKE TIME.
[BIRD CALLS]
[SOBBING]
[DOOR CLOSES]
JAMIE!
[KNOCKING]
JAMIE?
JAMIE.
JAMIE.
JAMIE.
JAMIE.
JAMIE.
JAMIE...JAMIE...JAMIE...
JAMIE.
JAMIE.
JAMIE!
JAMIE!
I KNOW WHERE YOU'VE GONE.
I KNOW WHERE
YOU'RE HIDING.
TO HAVE NOTHING!
TO FEEL...
NOTHING!
TO BE NOTHING!
IT DOESN'T WORK.
I'VE TRIED IT.
WHY HIM...
AND NOT ME?
WE CAN START...
FROM DAY ONE.
AND WE CAN GO
FROM GOOD TO BETTER.
ANYTHING'S POSSIBLE,
JAMIE...
EXCEPT FEELING NOTHING.
THAT'S NEVER POSSIBLE.
[BIRDS SINGING]
I WON'T BE SECOND BEST,
JAMIE.
IF IT'S GOING TO WORK,
IT HAS TO BE
AS FATHER AND SON.
TAKE IT OR LEAVE IT.
IT'S UP TO YOU.