Breathe (2017) - full transcript

Dear God!

Not a chance.

And why not?

She's a famous

heartbreaker.

Do you know her?

No,

but I know her brothers.

Don't. Just stop it.

I can't look at you.

She's gorgeous.

Sorry! My fault. Sorry.

So where are we going?

I thought Maidenhead.

I know a rather

jolly pub by the river.

This doesn't look like

a jolly pub by the river.

No, we seem to have

lost our way.

What a surprise.

You can't possibly

marry him, Diana.

He's practically a stranger.

Is he stranger than us,

do you think?

Not much in it?

- Has he got any money at all?

- No.

It's not as if you don't

have other options.

What about that Hugh?

Didn't he have a castle in Scotland?

Mind you, who wants

to live in Scotland?

Oh, do shut up.

She's talking about going

to live in Kenya,

for God's sake.

Don't tell me

to shut up.

Diana?

Please stop going round

and round and concentrate.

This is your future life

we're talking about.

It's your future happiness.

The thing is,

I just know this is it.

You all right?

I'm all right, darling.

Are you all right?

That's the Milima Estate.

More subtle fragrance,

but it hasn't got the depth.

Mmm. And what do you drink?

Oh, I drink Nairobi Chai.

But it's too black

for the home market.

Oh.

We don't usually get wives on these

buying trips, Mrs. Cavendish.

Oh, well,

it's Robin's business.

I want to know about it.

Oh!

What is it you

actually do out here, Robin?

Oh, um...

Well, I'm a tea broker.

Um, yes, I collect tea,

and then I broke it, and...

Well, it's very skilled work.

And what does Diana do

while you're off "broking"?

Well, she comes along.

My God,

that's almost indecent.

I like it. Really.

God gave men jobs to do

so women could have

a little time to themselves.

I like being with Robin.

He really is quite bearable.

Well,

I can't see it myself.

It's all

a complete mystery to me.

What Colin means is, how on earth

did Robin manage to nab Diana?

Ah! Yes, my God,

we'd all like to know that.

Yes, I don't know.

How did you, darling?

Do you hear that?

What?

I don't hear a thing.

Yes, exactly.

It's like

the dawn of creation.

You need faith to

survive out here.

Oh, how can you

say that, Don?

And you a doctor.

Well, I believe in

the power of the mind.

Did you hear about the

prisoners on Kome Island?

During the Mau Mau rebellion?

There were 60 of them, all

crammed into a small tin hut.

Prison officer

wouldn't let them out.

Mau Mau leader said, "Very well, I

give my men permission to die."

Next morning,

all 60 were dead.

How?

Mind power.

Hmm.

They chose to die.

They turned their faces

to the wall and died.

Well, I think I would have

chosen to live.

Oh, I've got news.

Oh, yeah?

Yes, it's a bit of

a bugger actually.

I'm never going to be

able to have fun again.

Well, what is it?

I'm going to have

a baby.

Somebody's pleased.

Yeah.

Very pleased?

Best news I ever had.

Well, since I proposed

and you said yes.

Well, you didn't propose,

though, did you?

Didn't I?

No.

You said you had to get married

before going out to Africa.

Otherwise, you'd go native.

Yeah, that's right.

Mmm.

You did say yes,

though, didn't you?

Apparently, I did.

Oh, dear.

Oh, dear.

Never, ever have a baby.

It's a blunder, Col.

- Thank you.

- Never.

Robin thrashing Colin again?

No.

No.

No?

Come on.

We're going to be late.

Yes! Game, Robin!

Oh! Well!

Colin!

Well done.

I never thought

I'd see the day.

Well. It might be

our time to break a sweat.

Oh, God, here we go.

I can't quite

believe it.

I can't quite

believe it, either.

Thank you, Victor.

See you at tea.

Lovely job, Victor.

You've been practicing while

I haven't been looking.

I have. It was the first set I think

I've ever had off you in my entire life.

Come on. Fancy another one?

Absolutely not.

I'm gonna quit while I'm

still vaguely standing.

God, I tell you what,

this feels rather good.

Now I know what it's been like

to be you all these years.

Oh, yeah, no.

It is rather lovely, isn't it?

Look at this.

What is going on over here?

Okay,

what are these contraptions?

Mary, you are extraordinary.

Goodness, Katherine.

Oh, Robin will be

a natural, you'll see.

Never seen you like this.

What is this?

What are you doing?

You just imagine

you're jiving.

And what's the purpose

of this?

Just to look foolish?

No, tone up the tummy.

Mary looks rather fantastic.

Move your hips, darling.

That's it.

This is all it is?

Is this the point of it?

You're just kind of

undulating for fun.

You don't want

a flabby tummy.

Without anyone else joining you.

Just solo undulation.

- Look at that.

- That's it.

That's it.

Are you all right?

Yes,

that's too much tennis.

You all right?

Just too much tennis. That's all.

You were rather good.

That's your fault.

Now the crown jester's

going to step in.

Need a drink.

It's all in the legs.

I'll have another go.

Let's have another go.

Go.

Are you all right?

Me? Yes, fine.

What's the plan?

Oh, um...

I've asked Thomas

to run me home

because Don's coming round

to prod me again.

That's good. He may want to give

me a prod while he's at it.

You sure

you're all right?

Yeah, it's the pregnancy,

isn't it?

It's just making my joints ache.

That's all.

Is it?

Oh, poor Robin.

My joints are fine.

It's funny that, isn't it?

That's because I'm bearing most

of the weight in this pregnancy.

Yes, you are. It's true.

Look, will you come with me?

Oh, dear.

No, I have my, well...

I have my meeting tomorrow

first thing in the morning,

so I was going to bunk here.

Colin.

Colin.

Colin.

Colin. Sorry.

Sorry, old chap.

I'm not...

Sorry. I'm not feeling

too good.

Well, you look ghastly.

Arm's giving me some gyp.

Let me help you.

Lift your right arm.

Left arm.

Legs.

I can't move. I can't move.

What's going on?

Get ice now.

I can't breathe.

I can't breathe.

He's losing it! We have to

get him on a respirator!

Robin? We have to get

oxygen into you somehow.

Looks like we're gonna have

to smash our way in.

Don.

Diana.

How is he?

He's stable.

He's just coming round.

Here we are.

Hello, darling.

The air can't reach

the larynx anymore.

That's why he can't talk.

He says,

"Bit of a bugger."

You inhale the polio virus

from droplets in the air.

The same way

you catch a cold.

It passes into

the blood stream,

into the central

nervous system,

and attacks a big group of

cells in the spinal cord.

The result is

you become like a rag doll.

You can't move anything

from the neck down.

Can't even breathe

for yourself.

Right, and, um, how long

will he be like this?

The paralysis

is irreversible.

A good respiration system will

maintain life for a while.

We're talking

a matter of months.

Tell me what we can do.

Do you want to go home?

After the baby's born.

What about Robin?

Him, too.

You do know...

I have seen enough people

paralyzed by polio before.

The mercy of it is

they don't last long.

It's no kind of life, Diana.

Easy, now.

Careful with the respirators.

That's it. Keep slack in the

tubes at all times, okay?

Good. Very gently.

Very close now. Good.

Let me get round.

Lots of slack, gents.

Diana.

Oh, yes.

Mrs. Cavendish.

Yes.

I'm really sorry.

This isn't a good time.

We've had to medicate

your husband.

So perhaps you could

come back tomorrow.

I don't mind if he's asleep.

I'd just like to see him.

I don't think

that's a good idea.

Your husband is going through

a temporary depression.

But I'd still like

to see him.

I'm so sorry. He doesn't

want to see you.

Excuse me.

There we are.

Tid.

I can manage from now on.

It's not fair to

ask you to do this.

Well, I don't see why not.

All right.

I looked after you when you

were a baby, didn't I?

The thing is, we're not

very well off, I'm afraid.

We've got some savings,

but there's not a lot coming in.

Oh, you don't need to

worry about that.

Your family's

my family, really.

It's nice to be back.

Come on.

That's it.

Come on, little man.

Off we go. Come on.

Ma?

Moo?

Me?

Me. He said "me."

Eh.

"Eh." "Get."

Is the first word "get"?

Or "let"?

"Let me lie"?

Well, he is lying.

Sorry, Robin, you must think

we're awful chumps.

Let me die.

"Let me die."

Talking to Robin

was rather like playing one

of those ghastly party games

where you don't know

the rules.

It's very clever of you to get

him to say anything at all.

Well, what he said was...

What he said was,

"Let me die."

Well, we can't, can we?

You mean we can't even

think of such a thing

or we wouldn't know

how to do it?

Both, I suppose.

Well, it makes

no odds, really.

I had a sort of word with the consultant,

and he wouldn't hear of it.

It's not what they do.

It's not a good way

to go, apparently.

It's several minutes

of agony.

No. No, I don't

want that.

No, of course not.

You do have a life,

too, you know.

You are allowed to

think of yourself.

Chin up.

We're doing very well.

Well, Mrs. Cavendish, we do

have some progress to report.

Progress?

We're learning to swallow again.

We are?

It's more significant

than it sounds.

At present, we have an inflated

cuff round our tracheotomy tube

to stop food and drink

going down our windpipe.

If we can swallow again,

the cuff can be removed,

and air can get to the larynx.

Then we'll be able

to talk again.

Might there be

other progress, too?

This is about as good

as it's going to get, I'm afraid.

How are we this morning?

We wish we were dead.

Good, good.

Good morning to you, Paddy.

He couldn't go on

having no name,

so I decided to

call him Jonathan.

I hope that's all right.

He never

even looks at him.

He can't bear to

even look at him.

You don't know that.

Yes, I do.

I do. I know everything

he's thinking.

Every time I come here,

I hope he'll have changed.

Nearly there.

But he can't bear to

look at his own son.

Well done.

An old priest

I knew once, a very holy man,

he used to say,

"Those that God loves most,

He allows to suffer most."

We can't know the mind of God,

but we can be sure

that whatever happens to us

is somehow part of His plan.

I'm sorry. I didn't get that.

Move closer.

Closer. Yes, of course.

Yes, well...

I'll be on my way.

I'm thinking

you're not a believer.

Believer in what?

God's a joke.

Hmm. No, pal.

God's a joker.

Look at the pig's mickey

he's made of you and me.

How do you live like this?

Ah... You get used to it.

What if I don't?

Well, there's always

a way out.

Like Pete there got out.

In his own private box.

Robin.

Robin.

Robin.

Why do you

keep on coming here?

I don't really know.

I'm no use to you.

You really must

leave me here to rot now.

Well, it wouldn't look

very good.

And apparently,

I love you.

You don't love this.

You can't love this.

Apparently, I can.

Well, I don't

want you to.

Don't you understand that?

Makes it harder for me.

Yes, I can see that.

You'd rather just

pack it in, I know.

And bloody machine

that keeps on

breathing for me.

So it looks

as if you're going to have to stick

around for a while, doesn't it?

I'm sorry to say.

I'm not sorry.

I want Jonathan

to know you.

And maybe... Maybe I can make

life a little better for you.

Don't want your duty.

Yes, all right.

All right. All right.

We know all about that.

Everything's as bad

as it could possibly be.

But I can't go on

coming in here

and have you say

that you wish you were dead.

Because you're not dead,

and that's that.

Robin.

Robin.

Come on, there must be

something I can do

to make things

more bearable.

Get me out of here.

I'm afraid it's out of

the question. I'm sorry.

Well,

has anyone ever tried?

No one with your husband's

degree of disability

anywhere in the world

exists outside a hospital.

But I've watched

what the nurses do,

and if we had

a ventilator at home,

I just don't see

why it wouldn't work.

Allow me to explain.

Your husband is only alive because

a machine is breathing for him.

If that machine

should fail,

in under two minutes,

your husband would be dead.

Forgive me

if I speak plainly.

Do I make myself clear?

I'll be sad to go, of course,

after all these years.

But since Muriel died, I can't

seem to get on top of things.

Hmm.

Things can run away

from you, you know.

Yes.

It's a lot of work.

Is the roof sound?

Some of it.

Why are so many of

the windows bricked up?

Ah. Oh, yes,

those are my rooms.

Muriel said it saved such a

lot on the heating bills.

Did she?

Well, it's a lot of work,

but it might do.

The thing is,

I haven't got £12,000,

or anywhere

near that, really.

I'd take 11,

or even 10.

All I can manage is seven.

Seven?

Cash.

And then you'd be

rid of the place forever.

And Muriel.

Yes.

Really?

Yes. Yes.

Oh!

And how are

you this morning, Robin?

Did you sleep well?

You're looking good.

Good morning, darling.

Morning, Margaret.

Almost done,

Mrs. Cavendish.

Is that something

I could do?

I don't see why not.

It's just like

a Hoover, really.

Could I try?

Here.

Just...

Right.

Good.

Oh, no, sorry.

Let me.

Let me take it.

Once I got used to it,

I think I could manage.

Why would you want

to manage, Mrs. Cavendish?

Dr. Khan. Robin and I,

we wanted to ask you a question.

Didn't we, Robin?

Can machines like that ventilator

only work in hospitals?

Well, it's just

a machine, you know.

You plug it in,

and it goes.

Why do you ask?

Robin's going to

leave the hospital.

Do you have any idea

of the risks?

Yes. Yes, I do.

The risk is that

he might die.

Robin.

I either go on living here,

or leave here

and possibly die.

Yes.

Well, what are we

waiting for?

Up, up.

I thought we were going down.

No, lift your end up

so we can get the bed down.

Very heavy.

Left, left.

I am going left.

Sorry. Your right.

So, Robin goes in this bed?

Yeah.

And then Diana's bed

goes next to it?

That's what she wants, yeah.

But surely Robin will have

a nurse when he...

No nurse. Just Diana.

I mean, well...

She can't be with him every

minute of the day and night.

She's got to pee,

hasn't she?

She's got me.

£5 says

you'll never make it.

And what do I get

if I do?

You get £5, you t'ick.

You're on.

Ready?

- So long, chaps. So long.

- Best of luck, Robin.

So long, Paddy.

I'll be back for my fiver.

I'll miss you, pal.

Where do you

think you're going?

We're taking

my husband home.

You don't have my permission.

Is this a prison?

Am I your prisoner?

What do you think

you're doing?

It is the patient's

own wish, sir.

He's fully apprised

of the risks.

Take him back to

the ward at once.

Diana,

call the police.

Tell them I'm being

held against my will.

I'm sorry?

What did you say?

You have no right to...

To keep me in this place.

Of course. Be my guest.

Let's go.

Do as you please.

You'll be dead in two weeks.

Ready?

Yes.

Right, bag going on.

All right.

How's he coping?

So far, so good.

Right, ready to move?

- Lift, lift.

- Got it.

Are you

all right, Diana?

Yes.

Okay, gently put him down.

And up again.

Okay. Okay.

Come on. Let's clear the way.

Clear the way.

One, two, three. Lift.

Here we go.

- Keep him level.

- All right, Robin?

Easy.

- All right, all right. Gently, gently.

- You're clear.

We need to get him on the

bed over there, so turn him round.

All right, all right.

Yeah, just to the left.

Uh... Right, yes, that goes

on that table there,

and the cable needs to be

to the left-hand side.

Just leave it there.

Sorry, darling.

Harry.

No, no, Bengy.

Could you come here?

Bengy, get down.

Bengy.

Bengy, off the bed.

You need to do

what I'm doing.

He'll tell you.

Hold on to the cable.

Got it, got it, got it.

He'll tell you if

you're going too fast.

All right, Col, we need

to get him on the bed.

One, two, three. Lift.

There we go.

Got him.

It's okay. Okay.

Right. Right.

Bengy, off you go.

Just take

your shoes off, Robin.

Is it on?

Right...

We're going to change your tubes

right now, darling. Ready, Harry?

I've got your hand, Robin.

All right.

It's on.

You all right, darling?

Yes, I think I am.

Thank God.

Can't believe

it actually works.

Yes, it works.

Could you get Jonathan?

Oh, yes, of course,

my dear.

So this is it.

Our new home.

How do you feel?

Much better.

Diana, what happens

if there's a power cut?

You work it

with a hand pump.

It's a nifty bit of kit.

Look who's here.

Hello.

There you go.

Oh...

Look, Jonathan.

It's Daddy.

Hello, Jonathan.

Hello, dear boy.

This is Bengy.

Night, darling.

Good night, my love.

Diana.

Diana.

Di. Di.

Had a bit of a bump, darling?

Oh, no.

What's the matter?

Has Mummy not been playing?

Shall we go and find Daddy?

Where's Daddy hiding?

Where's Daddy? He's in there.

Shall we go and find him?

What's that naughty Daddy doing?

Daddy?

Jonathan, Jonathan.

Daddy?

Robin?

Robin?

Oh, my God. Robin?

Robin? Robin? Robin?

Please, please, please.

Robin. Robin.

Oh, my God.

Please. Oh, my God.

That was interesting.

Oh...

Oh, my God.

Ah!

I've saved the best

till last.

This one spent the whole of the

war in my air-raid shelter.

Looks like

a good drop, Teddy.

It is a good drop.

And good wine

deserves good glasses.

This one is for

the lovely Diana.

That's me.

Mary. Katherine.

Bloggs. David.

Biggles.

There we are, darling.

And Tid?

No, no, not for me.

Tid only drinks

Dubonnet.

And only on my birthday.

Oh, I almost forgot.

He's sleeping.

To Jonathan.

Happy birthday,

Jonathan.

Yes, I had been wondering what it

might be like to... To get drunk.

Given that

I'm legless already.

What you have to do with mechanical

devices is stress-test them,

find their

breaking point, so...

It's rather good, Ted.

An interesting

experiment, Teddy.

Robin would die,

but you'd probably be able to

improve your machine probably.

All progress has its price.

It's the power supply that's

usually the weak link.

You know, power can fail.

Power frequently fails.

Oh, do stop it.

I'm only hypothesizing.

He's just doing

his job.

He doesn't have a job.

He's an Oxford professor.

There's nothing to worry about

because it can be worked by hand.

Well, what about

in the night?

Well, I'm here.

But you have to

sleep some time.

No, she doesn't.

She's a machine.

Well, if Robin needs me, he wakes me.

Don't you, darling?

Robin makes a noise.

Like a duck.

That's a chicken, Bloggs.

Can you do

a chicken, Robin?

I hate you so much, Bloggs.

Not much.

Hmm.

Much rather have

a bell or something.

What can you move?

Cover your eyes, everybody.

You can move your head.

Can I?

I've seen you do it.

All right, well, let's...

So move your head.

Oh, yes, I think I can have

some fun with that.

Teddy.

Yeah.

Oh, that's wonderful.

Darling?

Bottle?

Oh, why not? Yes.

Why not?

But listen.

Mmm-hmm?

You know those Marconi

shares that I bought?

Justin's hot tip, yeah?

Mmm-hmm?

They've almost

doubled in price.

Really?

Yeah.

Crikey. Well, I hope Justin

got something out of it.

Oh, yes, well, he gets a

very agreeable sensation of

helping someone far less

fortunate than himself.

Oh.

Poor Robin.

Paralyzed for life.

Oh...

Yes.

And his poor wife.

I hear she's a saint.

She is a saint.

A gorgeous saint.

Ah!

Darling, call Teddy Hall,

would you?

I've just had an idea.

- Robin.

- Oh, bloody hell.

Ladies and gentlemen,

boys and girls,

may I present

the Cavendish chair!

That is amazing.

Hooray!

Roll up, roll up.

There'll be no

stopping you now, old boy.

Not bad, eh?

It looks terrifying.

What if it breaks?

Unbelievable, Teddy.

Left, left, left!

We've lost the dog. Bengy.

Robin, how does it feel?

Bloody marvelous.

Really?

Is the ventilator

a little fast?

Well, maybe a little.

Yeah? Is that better?

Yeah, that's better.

How long does

the battery last, Teddy?

Up to three hours,

we think.

Isn't this a case

where a little more

certainty would

be appropriate?

Well, there's a mains lead

as well.

Teddy, you're a genius.

Well, to be honest, it all

turned out to be pretty basic.

I used a bicycle chain

and Sturmey-Archer gears.

I don't know why

no one's done it before.

I'll tell you why.

Because you're not a doctor.

There's no one to tell you

it can't be done.

Oh, hello, Matron.

Hello, Matron.

Oh, we've got an

appointment with Dr. Khan.

- Dr. Khan.

- Ah, hello, Dr. Khan.

Huh?

Paddy.

Oh.

Robin.

This really is

quite something.

Jammy bastard.

What in God's name

is that?

Did you give permission for this

contraption to be brought into my ward?

Well, actually, sir,

Mr. Cavend...

It's hard enough

for our patients

to accept the conditions

of their lives

without raising false hopes that can

only leave them more dissatisfied.

Now, where you come from,

it may be common practice to

play games with people's lives.

Here it is not.

Is that understood?

Good.

It was lovely to see you,

Dr. Entwistle.

Oh... That man's

a pompous idiot.

You must want to

smack him.

Believe me, I'm used to it.

Well...

You'd think he'd want to get chairs

like this for all his patients.

Well, Paddy, looks like

you owe me a fiver.

Not so quick, pal.

You could drop off

your perch tomorrow.

Aww.

Is it safe, Doctor?

I don't know, Paddy.

I've never seen

anything like this before.

Goes five miles an hour

with a strong wind

behind you.

I'd advise waiting a little while longer.

Test its limits.

Yes, quite right. Let me find

the breaking point for it.

No, we're not going to test

Robin until he breaks.

Well, actually, that's

exactly what we're doing.

You're doing better

than all his other patients.

That's what he said.

Poor old Paddy, though.

I wish we could

somehow break him out, too.

It isn't kind to let

them out like that.

On the street,

where everyone can see.

Believe me, ladies, my distress

is far greater than yours.

Bloggs told me

the other day

that all our friends were convinced

that I'd give up on you.

Apparently, they saw me as

some kind of pampered nitwit.

Well, you were

a pampered nitwit.

Oh, was I?

Well, it didn't stop you

running after me, did it?

Well, no, I've got

nothing against nitwits

as long as they're pretty.

Well, you're stuck

with me now.

Yeah, I suppose I am.

Mmm.

Just think, all those

affairs I could have had.

Oh.

And me.

It's not too late

for you.

Isn't it?

What, and come back and find

you've popped off while I was out?

That would rather spoil

the party, wouldn't it?

Yes, it would.

Hold on.

Look. I found Daddy.

That's Daddy

when he was a soldier.

Was he a soldier?

Yes, he was.

And then this is us

when we were in Africa.

That's where you were born.

And what are those?

Elephants.

They're elephants.

You saw elephants?

Yes, we did.

You're so lucky.

Yes, we were.

Can we go to

Africa one day, Daddy?

I'm so sorry.

Me, too.

Right, I'd better

sort out tea.

Can we go to Africa,

please, Daddy?

Wouldn't that be

an adventure?

I could push you.

Rather a long way

to push, J.

I don't mind.

- Are you clever?

- Yes.

Can you prove it?

Okay, maybe you are.

Do you know what?

Maybe you are strong enough.

Mummy.

Yes?

This chair-pushing business.

Mmm?

Is it quite hard to do

over long distances?

Well, it's harder than a pram,

I can tell you.

Oh...

Jonathan?

We're going to have to do some

thinking about this, aren't we?

Mmm-hmm.

As per your design,

Mr. Cavendish.

Be nice.

Takes up to 300 pounds.

My God.

Hydraulic lifting mechanism.

You won't see that

in a Bedford anywhere else.

What do you think?

What is it?

It's a little dark

in the back.

I feel rather like

luggage is the only thing.

I just thought...

Being as the wheelchair

has to be got in,

the back seemed...

Yes. Yes.

Have you sat in the back?

Me? Well, no.

But, then I'm not, um...

I'm not...

Uh...

You're not luggage, are you?

Please don't think I'm not grateful.

I truly am.

You want to sit in the front?

I don't think

that's possible, is it?

I suppose if I took out

the front seat...

Wait for me!

Wait for me!

Careful!

Hi, there, little one.

Ought to be shot.

Robin's amazing,

isn't he?

It's not a bore.

I feel I can

talk to you, Robin.

Mum, Mum,

I'm going in to bat.

Oh, are you? Brilliant.

You go get them.

Good luck, Jonathan.

Go on. Thanks, Mum.

Lucy walked out

a month ago now.

It's been a long time

coming, I suppose.

Oh...

Rory, I'm so sorry.

That's rather rough on you.

Life's a shitty business,

isn't it?

There you are, trying

to get on with life,

and then,

out of nowhere, crack,

everything comes

tumbling down.

Rory, grab my drink.

Let's have a toast.

What are we drinking to?

Hmm?

New dawns.

New dawns.

You've made a real

hash of that ham.

Rubbish, Bloggs. You did that.

I've done this. Beautifully.

Do you want it?

Yes. Thank you.

Look at Robin now.

Look at him.

- Unbelievable.

- How does he do that?

Well, he proposed

to me yesterday.

Of course he did.

Yeah. And I'm so fond

of him.

The only girl we've

got is you, Bloggs.

Oh, do shut up.

But he's no beauty.

It's not

just the pain...

Is he actually ugly?

Um... Well, yes.

No, no, no,

that's wonderful.

Why is that wonderful?

Well, because good-looking

men are bone idle.

Ugly men

will get things done.

So pointless. How do you

get over something like that?

Yep, you're right.

Lost in the darkness

and silence, but it hurts...

And I will get over it.

I know I will get over it,

but it's just

going to take time,

and at the moment,

I just need a bit of...

It's a six!

Yes! Yes!

Dad! Dad, did you see that?

- Well done, Jonathan!

- A six!

So?

Mmm?

Did you enjoy that?

Well...

You were surrounded

by admirers.

Yes, as were you.

Me?

Yeah.

Rory Stewart for one.

Oh, Rory.

Lucy's really

messed him about.

Hmm?

Mmm.

I feel so sorry

for him.

He says he spends his evenings

alone watching television.

I suppose he'd like you

to relieve his loneliness.

Well, I'm not going to.

You can

if you want to, darling.

Oh.

You're giving me

permission, are you?

I do sometimes

worry that, um,

you don't have enough fun.

Don't worry about me.

No?

Mmm-mmm.

I'm all right.

Are you sure?

I think so.

Mmm...

We manage, don't we?

That's easy for me.

I just sit here while

you do all the work.

Good old

selfish Robin.

Oh, I say, Diana.

Run away with me.

Where?

Spain.

Spain?

We can't. Robin.

Robin. Oh, you really

mean it, don't you?

Now how on Earth

do we go to Spain?

Well, by plane,

of course.

Darling, how do

we get you on a plane?

Oh, my God!

Whoa!

Are you all right, Jonathan?

Bloggs, are you all right?

Come on, then,

you start.

I spy

with my little eye...

The house

is on the beach,

and I brought

a long extension lead,

so in theory you can stay

out all day if you like.

Did you remember

to pack my parasol?

Yes, darling, and I also

brought pints of sun cream.

You're just an angel,

aren't you?

Darling, we should charge

the chair battery.

Oh, good idea. Uh...

- Bloggs.

- Yes?

Can you see a cable

down there on the floor?

Sorry. I can't take

my eyes off the road.

Yes, I can. London.

There's a plug board on the

side of the wheelchair.

Can you plug that into the

second socket for me?

Uh, yes, I see it.

Second socket?

Second socket.

Yeah.

Oh, God. Sorry.

Something's...

- I don't know.

- The ventilator.

It's burning! Mum!

What's happened

to the...

- Robin. Robin.

- I'm really sorry.

Just pull over. Jonathan,

are you all right?

- Yes, Mum.

- Get the hand pump.

We need to open

the door.

All right,

all right, all right.

- Bloggs, get Robin's door.

- Stop here.

I'm stopping.

I'm stopping. I'm stopping...

Robin.

Bloggs, the bag.

Jonathan, are you all right?

Yes, Mum.

Sorry, Robin.

Oh, God, I knew something like

this would happen. I just knew it.

What did I do?

I don't know.

The ventilator's broken.

Robin, are you all right?

I'm fine. I'm fine.

Jonathan.

Do you know

how to fix it?

No.

No, I don't.

Sorry, Diana. I just

don't know what I did.

Neither do I.

Oh, God.

Do you speak English?

Just a little.

We need a mechanic.

No, no, we don't. No, no.

What we need is a telephone.

A telephone.

Yes.

Uh...

I take for you to Torredembarra

to find for telephone.

Yes. Yes.

Is okay?

Yes, yes, yes. Jonathan, could

you get my handbag, darling?

Thank you, yes.

Yes, yes.

Bloggs, Bloggs, Bloggs, Bloggs.

It's rather fast.

You don't have to go so fast.

Sorry.

Don't go so fast.

I'm not a balloon.

- Bloggs.

- Yeah.

Can you go with this man,

find a telephone and call Teddy Hall?

He'll either be at home

or at the workshop.

That's the Littlemore number.

In England?

Yes. Just tell him

what's happened,

and that we'll

wait for him here.

Yeah. We'll wait for him to

fly out from England?

Yes. Can you just go, please?

Yeah.

Bloggs, just while

you're out, grab us a...

Pick up some sausage

and a nice bit of bread.

And a bottle of red wine.

Corkscrew.

Good luck.

Hola.

I'm not saying it.

- I hope you can hear me.

- Sorry!

Mmm-hmm?

A rather pleasant

temperature.

Reminds me of Nairobi.

You all right there,

Jonathan?

Yes, I'm fine.

It's quite easy, really.

Oh?

You really are doing

brilliantly, darling.

Truly.

You really are.

I'll take over in a moment.

I'm okay.

Really.

Oh, God. I wonder what it

is they think we're doing.

Why, we've just gone

on holiday in a lay-by.

It's perfectly normal.

Cheers.

Cheers.

Cheers, darling.

He say God makes a joke.

So we have party.

Sí. Sí.

Yeah... Well, that's quite

all right, isn't it?

Do you know

who'd love this?

Paddy.

- For heaven's sake.

- Teddy!

Teddy!

Hello, darling.

Oh, God.

You could at least have the decency

to be on the point of death.

What...

What the hell is this?

There. Now,

let's fire her up.

I'm glad someone's happy.

God knows how you managed to

make such a balls-up of this.

My fault, I'm afraid.

What are you all doing gallivanting

in Spain in the first place?

It's my fault,

I'm afraid.

Well, this isn't built for

trans-continental voyages.

I know, Ted. I'm sorry.

I wanted to see the sun

rise over the Med.

It rises over Drayton

St. Leonard's, too, you know.

Teddy?

Absolutely rather good

you're here.

I'm planning

an even greater escape.

Well, I'm not rescuing

you from anywhere else.

Oh, it's not

just me this time.

There's a good few more

that need rescuing.

Let's get this show

on the road!

Is that chair breathing?

Like a sleeping lion.

Glorious.

Is that Dr. Clement Aitken?

The same.

Very good, very good.

Teddy! Mind.

Hello.

This is Teddy Hall.

Oh, dear, dear, dear.

I have never, in all my career,

seen anything like this.

You just made this up?

Well, pretty much, yes.

Only way to get

anything done.

I like this man.

Is he a doctor?

Yes, and he's the Director of the

Disability Research Foundation.

Which he invented.

Yes, and made

himself director.

Well, if nobody else will do it,

you have to do it yourself.

Hello. What's this?

Oh, I'm having a go

at a Mark II version.

The trouble with the Mark I is

the battery is pretty poor,

and the pump's very noisy,

so I'm having a go

at using a solenoid.

Fascinating. So what is

the battery life?

On the Mark II,

about six hours.

How long have you been living

with this condition?

Eleven years so far.

Incredible.

Well, if these chairs

of yours really work,

I'm gonna need

a lot of them.

How many?

Hundreds.

Oh, well, I've been financing

the work myself up to now.

It hasn't set me back

too much,

but if we're to go into production,

we'll need proper funding.

The Department has

to take into consideration

the question of

cost-effectiveness.

The life expectancy

of polio patients

is less than average,

shall we say.

I'm sorry. I can't see how

I can, in all fairness,

make a case for funding.

I have to follow

the rules.

Rules are so paralyzing,

aren't they?

Of course, I do sympathize

with your condition.

Oh, yes. Likewise.

Name?

Lady Jane Neville.

And good for?

Uh...

A thousand at least,

if she's in the mood.

Right. So are we

"plucky" or "pitiful"?

I think

definitely "plucky."

These old dowagers

are tough as nails.

Why does he make

that funny noise?

Well, that's

the wheelchair.

It does his breathing

for him.

Are you quite sure it's

safe for you to be out?

Seems to have worked

so far.

And what exactly is it

you want from me?

Well, we want more

of these chairs.

Yes, for people

like Robin.

At £200 a chair.

Yes, which really

is excellent value.

- Isn't it?

- Well...

It would be five

for £1,000.

£1,000?

Well, 10 for £2,000.

£2,000?

You see, we knew

we could count on you.

Because you're

so generous.

Yes.

I don't usually find it difficult

to say no to spongers.

But with you there,

wheezing away in front of me,

I suppose

I shall have to pay up.

So very kind of you.

So very kind.

So kind.

This is bloody marvelous.

Aww.

Do you feel safe?

I feel bloody terrified.

Ah...

Hello, everyone.

My name is

Dr. Clement Aitken.

I'm the Director of the

Disability Research Foundation.

In this country,

there are hundreds of

severely disabled patients

currently living their entire

lives in hospital beds.

Worldwide,

there are thousands.

Do you think they like that?

If you want to get out,

give me a shout!

How many

thousands worldwide?

Oh, tens of thousands,

maybe more.

No one's ever believed it's

possible to live as you do.

Well, we should show them.

What do you want now,

Robin, a world tour?

Well, there is a European

conference coming up in Germany

for severely disabled living.

All the so-called

key experts will be there.

Oh my giddy aunt!

If only they could see you...

I think he should be

in hospital. No?

You're quite right. No.

You did check

we'd be able to fit

the wheelchair in,

didn't you, Bloggs?

Yes, of course, I did.

What do you take me for?

Thank God for that.

I know.

I never thought we'd actually make it...

Oh, sorry.

Oh, sorry.

No, it was probably my fault.

Pull out, pull out.

Let's pull out, that's it.

Straight,

straight, straight...

- Straighten it up. In you go.

- Oh!

You're not gonna do it.

That's not gonna go through.

Right.

Whose fault's this, then?

I think we're

going to struggle here.

Sorry, I didn't know I was

supposed to measure the doors.

It's the wheels

that are the problem.

Yes, yes, yes, yes.

Good idea.

Drag him back.

- Listen, listen, listen.

- What?

We're gonna have to take

the inner door frame off.

Oh, well done, Clem.

Clem's done it,

Clem's done it.

Clem's bloody done it.

Clem,

that is looking good.

Quick. Go, go.

Get him in,

get him in, get him in.

Sorry.

Go on.

Brilliant.

I want you

to see this, Robin.

Let me go in first.

You may give them

something of a shock.

Dr. Aitken?

Yes.

It's an honor.

Erik Langdorf.

I'm the Director.

Aha! My associates.

I have heard so much about your

care for the severely disabled.

This hospital is famous.

Please.

Such excellent

modern machinery.

And everything so clean.

The chair has a respirator?

Mmm-hmm.

Sorry,

but he must leave.

Of course.

How stupid of me.

Please understand.

We are Department of the

Bundesministerium des Innern.

If anything were to happen...

The Ministry of

the Interior?

Yes.

Like our Home Office?

Yes.

Don't they run

the prisons, too?

I believe so, yes.

Thank you so much,

Dr. Langdorf,

for giving us so much

of your time.

May I begin by noting

an interesting fact.

At this conference

on Managing The Lives

Of The Severely Disabled,

there are no

disabled people present.

Dr. Aitken, forgive me,

but the severely disabled

are on life-support machines.

So how could

they be present?

Well, allow me to introduce

Mr. Robin Cavendish.

All right...

If I put that there, is it going to work?

Yeah, well done.

Robin, you have a question

to ask our hosts.

Yes, I do.

Why do you keep your

disabled people in prisons?

In prisons?

No. No.

We have some of

the finest facilities

in the world for

the severely disabled.

I know, but they're

run by prison guards.

No, not at all.

Well, patients are kept

out of sight.

Not treated as part

of healthy society.

I must ask

that you withdraw that.

Mr. Cavendish doesn't mean

to cause offense.

He's merely suggesting

that the severely disabled

can be better integrated

into society.

Absolutely. I can see

that you all care

very deeply about your disabled people.

I see that.

But let me ask you,

when you look at me,

what is it that you see?

Do you see a creature

that's barely alive?

Or do you see a man

that's escaped the confines

of the hospital walls?

Now, I have a machine

under this very seat

that breathes for me.

And at home, I have a

ventilator right by my bed.

I also have a remarkable

group of friends.

And, most vitally,

I have my wife.

But, as you see,

I can do nothing for myself.

And yet here I am.

Now, when I first became

paralyzed, I wanted to die.

Yeah, I wanted to die.

I did.

But my wife wouldn't let me.

She told me I had to live.

To see our son grow up.

So I went on living

because she told me to.

Because of her, really,

and with her and for her.

And every day since then,

I've accepted

the risk of dying

because I don't want

to just survive.

I want to truly live.

So I implore you,

go back to your hospitals,

and you tell

your disabled patients

that they too

can truly live.

You all have this power

to open the gates

and set them free.

Jonathan!

Jonathan!

Help me turn him

on his side.

Jonathan. Help me turn him

on his side.

That's it.

All right, love.

All right, darling.

It's all right.

All right, we can put him

on his back now. That's it.

All right, darling.

Robin?

Do what you can to clean

up the mess, darling.

It's all right.

It's all right.

It's all right, dear boy.

It's all right.

I'm afraid this is

what happens

after a number of years

on a respirator.

The lining of the lungs

becomes irritated.

You get small abrasions.

You get bleeding.

The fact is,

it's gonna get worse.

More bleeds.

Bigger bleeds.

And... Well, the risk is

you drown in your own blood.

Remember that story

in Kenya about

Mau Mau prisoners?

Yes.

Ah...

Their leader said,

"I give my men

permission to die."

And then by morning,

they just all passed away.

And I have decided

it's time for me, too.

I'm going to let myself go.

And what about me?

You're going to be free

at last.

I don't want...

No.

No.

God, you're a stupid,

stupid man.

What do you think I've been

doing all these years?

Hmm?

Your life is my life.

And...

I'm sorry, Jonathan.

Jonathan.

You should let her be.

All right. Fine.

Fine, have it your way.

You always do.

But don't you ever, ever say

that you did it for me.

You do know

that it's against the law.

Well, yes, but who's

going to know?

Well, if Diana or Jonathan

were to get involved,

could end up in prison.

They're not

going to be involved.

And what about you?

Me.

I've been breaking the rules

my whole life.

So promise me you know

what you're asking.

Oh, yes, I know

what I'm asking.

We must buck him up.

You know, get him out

of this morbid frame of mind.

Make him see how much

his friends need him.

Colin. We're not going to keep Robin

alive for the sake of his friends.

No, of course not.

But I expect they'd

like to say goodbye.

Oh...

Hi.

Toby.

He's telling everyone

it's his leaving party.

What, even the girls?

Trevor.

Watch the steps.

Drop coming up.

You're planning

another great escape.

Uh... It's time to go.

For me, anyway.

Just like

the last time.

Not waiting for your friends.

No, you're too slow

for me, Paddy.

You owe me £5.

Ah...

Well, this is

a Saint-Émilion '59.

My last bottle of one of the

greatest wines ever made.

Jonathan, glasses, hmm?

Teddy.

Robin.

Harry.

We've been friends

for many, many years.

I'd just like to say...

Harry.

Harry.

I broke a chair.

No, you didn't. You didn't.

You didn't.

Give him a drop of that.

This'll sort you out.

This'll put hairs

on your chest.

Robin, old man,

here's to you.

I'm drinking to each

and every one of you.

- Cheers, Robin.

- Cheers, old boy.

Goodbye-ee

Goodbye-ee

Wipe the tear,

baby dear, from your eye-ee

Though it's hard to part,

I know

I'll be tickled to death

to go

Don't cry-ee

Don't sigh-ee

There's a silver lining

in the sky-ee

Bonsoir, old thing

Cheerio, chin-chin

Napoo, toodle-oo, goodbye-ee

There's something

I have to say.

I want you to know what a

difference you've made to my life.

It's not always been

easy for me.

Every time I come here,

I go away stronger.

And it's not because

you're worse off than me.

No, no, no.

It's who you are, Robin.

Or who you've turned yourself into.

God knows how.

Thank you, Col.

I'm gonna miss you.

Robin.

I'm sorry.

Darling.

That's enough.

Yes.

I expect

you know this, but,

just in case...

No one could have loved you

as much as I've loved you.

I know.

My love.

And my life.

Me, too, Robin.

My love.

My life.

Clem.

Hello, Robin.

It's time.

All right.

When?

Today.

Now.

I'll be with you at 11:30.

It's like a military op, eh?

You can count on me.

Synchronize watches.

I'll be there.

Thank you, Clem.

See you soon.

Get Jonathan.

Jonathan.

I need you both to listen

very, very carefully.

Just before 11:30,

you're to leave the house.

And you're to come back

at 12:00 on the button.

Okay.

Promise me

I'll have time to say goodbye.

Yes, there'll be time.

Hello. I haven't

seen you in a while.

So what can I get you all today?

I'm fine, thanks. Mum?

I'm still here.

You go first, Jonathan.

Bye, Dad.

I love you.

My own son.

My boy.

You have given me

more than you can ever know.

Now, I don't have

a farewell speech.

You don't mind, do you?

No.

You've given me

a wonderful life.

It wasn't quite

what you expected.

No.

No, nor me.

Thank you.

For choosing to live.