Afterlife (2005–2006): Season 2, Episode 7 - Things Forgotten - full transcript

Alison investigates when a teenager who has been haunted by visions of a young boy claims the psychic he has been visiting is an impostor, but finds herself unable to connect with the spirit world. While Robert reassures his colleague that she still can use her insight into human emotions for the benefit of others, he struggles to find the right moment to tell her the news about his failing health.

It's... it's very close,

I can feel it.

Be calm. Let it know
you're not a threat.

Let it know you mean it no harm.

Yes, that's closer.

That's good, Harry, just relax.

What does it want?

I wish to speak with the spirit
who attends on this boy.

Reveal yourself to me.

He's here! He's here
in this room with us.

What do you want from this boy? What
holds you to this plain of being?



He has a message.

- A message for you, Harry.
- What's the message?

He's lost, he's lost his way, he
can't find where he should go.

You have to tell him, Harry.

He's here.

Yes. Speak to him, he's
right at your side.

No, he's not.

Harry... Harry, come back here.

No, leave him.

The power of the spirits,
it can be too much.

No!

Good, that's all for now.

You've lost some vision
in the right eye.

It's blurry when I'm reading.
Well, it comes and goes.



- The left one's fine now.
- That's to be expected.

- What else?
- Sometimes my left leg...

Lost of sensation? Not really,
no, it's just sometimes...

it feels lazy, like I have to
remind it what it's there for.

Again, that's to be expected.

These effects will
increase, of course.

Of course.

How are you feeling?
In yourself?

Actually, I feel good.

These past couple of weeks
everything's brighter, richer.

Things smell better,
I feel, I feel good.

I know its not real,
I know it's just...

Seriously, if it wasn't for the dying
part, I'd say everyone should try it.

- We're done for today.
- OK.

- Robert?
- Yes.

You've taken care of everything?
Everything you need to.

Yeah. Yeah, almost everything.

What do you think?

It's better.

- Your dad's gone back to Manchester?
- Mm-hm, last weekend.

- And your mother?
- Erm... she's gone.

For good, I think,
she's at peace.

And you, how are you?

I'm... I'm OK.

Actually, I'm more than OK.

- Did you hear that?
- No.

Me neither.

Since you went, there have been no
voices, there have been no whispers.

No little half glimpses
out the corner of my eye.

Congratulations.

There's, um... There's something
I've been meaning to tell you.

Oh, hang on.

There are a lot of Mundys in the book,
I had to go down the whole list.

My name's Harry.

Erm, this is my friend Robert.

Hi.

I saw you on stage
once, Mum took me.

You can sit down, you know.

Mum's got a picture of you in her scrap
book, she says you're one of the best.

Is there something I can
help you with, Harry?

I don't know.

I was wondering if you could
definitely get rid of

spirits that attach
themselves as human beings.

Why?

Mum says spirits can't hurt us.

Well, that's bollocks.

It's OK to be scared.

It's a boy, he won't
leave me alone.

I was wondering if
you could maybe

come round and, you
know, talk to him.

Have you tried talking to him?

Jennifer has.

- Who's Jennifer?
- She's a psychic too.

Mum knows her from our
spiritual church.

When all this started a few months
back, Mum asked her if she could help.

And has she helped?

She says that he's in the room
with us and she can see him

but I never see him when...

Harry?

Harry?

Harry!

You saw him, didn't you?

- Sometimes it takes me a while.
- But he was right there.

Does anybody want to talk to me?

Anyone at all?

I'm right here.

- Hi.
- Hello, can I come in?

Yeah, of course.

- Are you OK?
- I'm fine, I'm great.

Erm... Robert, there's... there's
no one there, it's all quiet.

You don't seem at all surprised.

Not entirely, no.

Now, your mother's gone...

What, now my mother's gone
that's it, it's over?

- I'm cured.
- You're ready to move on.

You always said it was a gift
that you never asked for,

it made you feel special for a
while but then it made you feel...

Like a freak.

- And it made you ill.
- Mad, you mean?

So that's it then, I'm...
I'm normal, just like that.

Not just like that, you've spent
your whole life getting here.

Is that what this
has been all about?

Finding a cure for Alison?

Fixing her.

You... You haven't
finished this.

I know.

Well, maybe now you can.

What is it?

You said you were going
to be back by six.

- I was worried, I thought something...
- No, it's fine. I was just finishing up.

I never thought it would
all fit in but it does.

You know you don't have to
do everything yourself.

No, it's fine.

I want to, actually, there's
a lot I have to do myself.

- Have you finished that?
- Nearly.

- What else is there to write?
- I'm not sure any more.

It was supposed to be a
book about a fake medium,

an investigation from a
psychological perspective.

Well, that's how it
started out anyway.

- And now?
- Now...

Now I think it was
just as much about me.

- Hi?
- Mrs Mundy.

Alison, please.

It's so wonderful, we
couldn't believe it when

Harry told us you were
going to come round.

- Mum?
- Come in. Come in.

Jennifer's already here, she
can't wait to meet you.

- Hello.
- Hi.

I'm... I'm Alison and...
this is Robert.

Pleasure.

Oh, yes, it's clear
you're an adept as well.

- An adept?
- These things can't be concealed.

And you are...?

He's, um... He's my biographer.

A biographer, how wonderful.

It must be very exciting for you
working with someone like Mrs Mundy.

I like to think of
it as a privilege.

You know about the spirit that's been
trying to communicate with Harry?

Have you found out
anything about it?

About him? Yes, of course.

He's a little boy. A very
troubled, sad little boy.

He's afraid and alone,
he's lost you see.

He can't find his way,
doesn't know where to turn.

And he's turned to Harry.

He senses in Harry someone
who can guide him.

I'm just trying to
help him find the way.

That's nice.

He's always here, sometimes
manifest, sometimes not.

He's always present,
can you feel him?

Um...

No.

Sometimes the spirits
can become confused

if more than one
medium calls on them.

It is difficult for them to focus,
they can become unsettled, resentful.

- Oh, dear.
- And Robert?

Yes?

There's something you're
keeping to yourself, a secret.

Everybody has secrets, why
should I be any different?

But you are different,
I can sense it.

Excuse me a sec.

- Is this your room?
- Yeah.

- Can I look round?
- Sure.

Can I hold your hand?

Can you feel anything?

What if that's me?
What do you mean?

Well, take away what I had and
that's all I can do, isn't it?

Lay out crystals,
rattle a few tables.

This has been my whole life,
what am I supposed to do now?

Get a job in Sainsbury's?

There are other ways
to help people.

I mean, maybe now you're able to
see your gift for it really was.

And what's that?

A psychological mechanism for
dealing with your mother's suicide.

That's what ghosts are, they're
our own pasts haunting us.

Our own fears and inadequacies.

If you can see that in what happened
to you, you can help others to see it

and what's happening to them,
you can still help people.

Hi, I'm Robert Bridge.

I found these on the net.

They're eco-friendly, they're made
from recycled stuff they're very...

- Can you get one of these?
- I'm sure we can.

Great, OK.

It said on your website that
you do humanist services.

Yes.

So, no religious music, no
religious symbols, none of that.

Erm, I burned a CD
with some music

and I've written some words

and if anyone brings
flowers, they should be

donated to St Mary's
hospital after the service.

And basically, that's about it.

Dr Bridge, I'm sure we can do exactly
what you want for the service

but let's start at the
beginning, shall we?

- What's the name of the deceased?
- Oh...

That's me.

It's for me.

Does anybody want to talk to me?

Anyone at all?

Does anybody want to talk to me?

Come on, I'm sitting right here.

I lit a candle for you.

For God's sake, talk to me!
Anyone!

I'm right here.

Where are you?

Jennifer is still
upset, you know.

I'm sorry.

Maybe Mrs Mundy wasn't
such a good idea.

I mean Jennifer's been
here right from the start.

She's the only one who
is seeing this spirit.

I thought this was supposed
to be about me, not Jennifer.

Go away!

No!

Harry? Harry, are you in there?

- Open the door, Harry.
- Open the door!

Open the door!

Harry!

What? Can I come in?

- Are you OK?
- Yeah.

What do you want?

Harry called me, he's been
trying to reach you but, um...

- He wants to see you.
- No, he doesn't.

- Something happened.
- I can't do anything.

Well, OK, but Harry's been calling
you and I thought you should know.

There's no one there, what can I do?
What can I do, Robert?

- Are you OK?
- Yeah, yeah.

Listen... Listen,
you go, please.

- OK, will you meet me there?
- Yeah, you sort it out.

Fix Harry liked you fixed me.

Your mum said you were here.

- Where's Alison?
- She's not feeling well.

What happened?

He hates me.

- Why? Why would he?
- I don't know.

Maybe he hates because I've got
his room and he wants it back.

- Do you believe that?
- I don't know.

Maybe he's hurting you
because you believe in him.

Maybe if you allow yourself
to become your own person,

you'll be strong enough that the
ghost won't be able to hurt you.

How do I do that?

You could start by
talking to your parents.

How do I do that?

You say something like,
"I respect your beliefs

but I'm growing up now.

"I've got to find my
own way in the world

but that doesn't mean
I don't love you."

- OK?
- Yeah.

I think.

Good. Good luck.

Will you come with me?

- A psychologist?
- Yes.

I thought you were a biographer? He
never mentioned he was a psychologist.

It doesn't matter, he's
just trying to help.

How can he help you?

How can someone who doesn't even
see, who doesn't even believe,

how can he possibly
offer you anything?

There are things that science
can't explain, matters of faith.

I just wanna take matters of
faith out of the argument

and open Harry up to thinking
about things in a different way.

That would leave him
very vulnerable.

Is this a bad moment?

Alison... You understand, tell him
how dangerous the spirits can be.

What are you so afraid of?

That he might actually be right?
That he might be able to help?

Why would that be so bad?

A sceptic is the last
thing Harry needs.

I would have thought you of all
people would understand that.

Why is this so important to you?

Harry's in pain. You can't
help him, you know that.

So why are you still here?

Because it's difficult to
leave the stage, isn't it?

And as long as Harry is in
trouble, you've got an audience.

And that means more
than anything.

I want him to leave.

Well, it doesn't
matter what you want.

Harry, what do you want?

I want Robert to help me.

Look at you, I don't know what you
are but you're not one of us.

Good.

Is it all right if I stay?

You were telling me what
happens when you see the boy.

As a balloon.

And then I hear rain
and then music.

Not nasty music, nice music.

Then I see the boy and... and
he just gets closer to me.

And I don't like it.

- I don't like it...
- It's OK, Harry, he's not here.

- Then he's closer to me and...
- Don't think about the boy,

I don't want you to
talk about the boy.

Tell me about something else, tell me...
tell me about the balloon.

- Someone left it.
- Where did they leave it?

Outside.

Why did they leave it outside?

It's purple, I want to
take it home with me.

Why did you leave it outside?

It's raining, that's why
we're inside and he's there.

Who? The boy?

- I can't see his face.
- Why not?

- It's paper.
- What's paper?

- He made it himself.
- A mask?

- Everybody makes them.
- Everybody, why?

Because the magician said so.

The magician told him to, and he made
it himself, painted it, coloured it?

- Yes.
- Whose party is it?

Andrew's.

- Lots of people, games, the magician?
- Yes.

Lots of friends. He's alone.

Harry? Harry?

If there are so many friends there,
why is he alone, why is he scared?

You're making him angry.

- What does he want?
- He wants to go home.

Everybody else is happy, everybody
else is playing games, why isn't he?

- Where is he?
- Upstairs.

Only special friends
get to go upstairs.

Why Harry, what
happens upstairs?

- Something bad.
- Tell me.

- The balloon.
- All the other children are downstairs...

- With the magician, only special friends.
- Who tells him that, Harry?

What happens upstairs? Is he on his own?
Is he alone, Harry?

- No!
- Who's there? Who's there with him, Harry?

Andrew's daddy.

He makes him do things.
He just wants to go home.

- What's the boy's name?
- I'm not supposed to talk to strangers.

- Tell me his name.
- He won't stop it!

Tell me his name, he wants
to go home, doesn't he?

If he tells me his name
I can take him home.

I promise I can help him.

Who is he?

He's me.

We unlocked a great deal of
trauma from Harry's past

but on a positive note, he responded
extremely well to this type of therapy.

Now, my best advice will be to refer
him to a doctor friend of mine

who specialises in
this kind of case.

I've put them in touch
with someone I know

who has a lot of
experience in abuse cases.

In some ways confronting the
memory is only the start.

What?

That was really amazing.

But... what if all of this
facing up to our childhoods

and, um, confronting
and healing...

What if at the end of it,
there's nothing left?

That's just who we were
and now there's nothing.

We're just... ordinary.

What have you done
to me, Robert?

"This is the last will
and testament of me,

"Robert Bridge,

"of 16 Upper Colstone
Grove, Bristol...

".. declare this to be
my last will, to my

executors and trustees
to hold on trust,

"to pay my debts, taxes
and testamentary expenses

"and pay the residue to Jude
Bridge of 16 Upper Colstone..."

"I wish my body to be
cremated and my funeral

to be a simple
humanist ceremony.

"Signed, Robert Bridge."

Agh! Ah!

Well, we're ready.

- What's this all about?
- Wait and see.

Come on.

Ah, this is better than marking essays.
I'm gonna do this more often.

Yeah. Yeah, what,
what, what, what?

What?

I don't think I've
ever seen you so...

What? Happy? You can
say it, you know.

Just seems strange,
even when we were...

All the time I've known
you, you've always been...

I have a tumour that's
growing in my brain stem

and it's pressing on
collections of neurons

that make me feel
elated, I'm lucky.

Half an inch over and maybe I'd
be depressed about it all.

But actually I feel fine.

And when I die, when it kills me,
those same neurons are gonna fail.

And in failing, they're gonna put
on my own private light show

and I'm gonna fade
into the light

until I'm all gone and everything's
just whiteness and silence.

Hey, hey, hey.

It's gonna be all right.

And what then? What after that?

Remember when we first
came here with Josh.

He was, what, four?

And we spent all
afternoon making sand

aliens and spaceships
till the tide came in.

Yes.

You're always gonna
remember that.

As long as you remember that,
Josh isn't gone, is he?

As long as we're remembered with
love, that's enough for me.

Come on, come on, you wanna see something?
Do you wanna see something?

Come over here. Come on, then.

You see that? That is the sea.

That's the sea.

And what do we have here?
What do you think this is?

- Eh? Yeah.
- Hey.

- You look tired.
- Yeah.

- I have to go out.
- OK.

I won't be long.
Save a glass for me?

I'll do that.

What do you think
you're playing at?

Bloody hell, Robert.

You could have knocked.

What is it?

I fell down.

Oh, do you want a drink?

There's something I've
been meaning to tell you.

And...

I can't remember.

Maybe it doesn't
matter any more.

Is everything all right, Robert?

Don't be ordinary.

You make it sound like
I've got a choice.

I put something for you
on the passenger seat.

Yeah?

- Alison?
- What is it?

I'm not ready to go.

OK, well, stay for a
drink, I'm gonna have one.

I'm not ready to go.

Well, you don't
have to, you can...

Robert?

Robert?

Robert?