Breathless (2013): Season 1, Episode 3 - Episode #1.3 - full transcript

I want to go ahead with the wedding.

You should be in a hospital.

Mr Powell, please.

I lost the baby.

- When did you lose it?
- On the morning of the wedding.

What you did for Jean...

I promise you, I'll show you one of
these days.

(KNOCKS AT DOOR)

Miss Mulligan?

What about my father? He'll be
looking for me.

- How did you find where I live?
- I followed you home.



Mr Powell...

..we're both married.

- Cyprus 1953.
- He gave you money. He paid you.

In your bedroom, Mrs Powell,

is a photograph of an American
airman.

I have not forgotten what Powell did

or Dr Enderbury. Not in nine years.

How could a man not want to share a
bed with you?

I want you to go, to leave me alone
or I will use this.

My colleagues at Scotland Yard
will not rest until you are on the
gallows.

Young Thomas's life will be
destroyed.

What happens is up to you.

Richard? Been a long time.

Margaret.



♪ JOHNNY KIDD & THE PIRATES: Shakin'
All Over

♪ When you move in right up close to
me

♪ That's when I get the shakes all
over me

♪ Quivers down the backbone

♪ I got the shakes down the knee bone

♪ Yeah, having tremors in the thigh
bone ♪

Hello, darling.

(LAUGHTER)

WOMAN: Hello, handsome.

MAN: Yeah, down there on the right.

(KNOCKS AT DOOR)

(TRUMPET BEING PLAYED)

Ah, Mr Powell. Come in.

Thank you.

Take five, Ernie, please.

Five bob a week, but they're lovely
boys.

So...here we are, then.

This is my niece.

Our Megan Grieves. And this is er...

I'm Otto.

May I call you Megan?

So, when do you think you conceived?

Do you mind?

Thank you.

Aah...
It's all right.

Ow.
Sssh, ssh.

It's OK.

(LAUGHTER)

(DISTANT MUSIC AND CHATTER)

♪ Peter Gunn

♪ Dah, dah, dah, dah, dah, dah...

Thanks, darling.

Nothing so headless as a young girl
coming to London for the first time.

Don't you count it?

Right. I need to get our young
friend to a hospital.

Hospital?

Jean, I'd like you with Megan.
Where's your telephone?

Hospital?

We might as well advertise why we're
here.

Some idiot gave her a chemical
douche.

That girl has nasty internal burns.
I wouldn't be surprised if she was
septic.

Otto, please. Charlie...

Go home.

I don't want Kathleen to come to
hospital. Then she won't.

Please don't leave me.

I promise you.

Have you had a baby, miss?

No. No, I haven't.

But you are married.

(BAND PLAYS JAZZ)

Hello. Are you all right? Are you
sure?

Richard Truscott!

Years go by
and then suddenly you're everywhere.

Margaret. What an amazing surprise!

Can I get you a...
Thank you.

..drink?

Well, if the walls could talk...
There'd barely be a marriage left in
London.

(BOTH CHUCKLE)

I don't like singles hovering at the
bar. It can give the wrong
impression.

Surely old friends get special
treatment. None that I can think of.

Besides, old friends don't just
vanish, do they?

What about your wife?
Hm.

I don't have a -
Oh, come on, Richie.

You're a doctor.

You're bound to have bagged yourself
a pretty little nurse. Babies.

I do have a nurse at home. No
babies.

And a terrible desire to undress
you.

Chin-chin.

Jeannie? Is everything all right?

I left Richard a note
saying I'd gone to the theatre.

Perhaps this isn't for you
after the miscarriage?

Go home. I can handle this.

And leave you without a nurse
carrying the can?

Sleep tight.

Well...good night, Mrs Powell.

Good night, Mrs J.

We have a friend. They should bloody
well arrest the aunt.

Let me sort this.
No. I'm not running away.

Never run away.

You all right? So what time was the
ambulance called?

Sir?

Thank you for your help.
Excuse me. Sir?

This gentleman was passing, enquired
whether there was anything he could
do.

Thank you. Very good.

If you'll excuse me,
my patient's in the back of that
ambulance.

Right. Good night, then. Hope it all
works out. Thank you.

But I need your name, sir.
Powell.

(AMBULANCE BELL)

How old are you now, Richie?
30.

I'm old enough to be your mother.
(CHUCKLES)

I'd really rather not have her in my
mind, if you don't mind.

Ow!
Nearly there.

It hurts.
Sssh, sssh, sssh.

I have to go now.

Please, please don't leave me.

All right.

(TELEPHONE RINGS)

North Wing One?
Casualty admissions here.

We have a young woman.

Emergency admission, Sister. I'll
go.

Megan Grieves.

Possible pelvic infection and vaginal
bleeding after a potassium
permanganate douche.

Thank you. I'm Nurse Wilson.

We'll get you something for the
pain.

Consulting room, Nurse,
and prep an irrigation if you'd be
so kind.

Thank you.

Sorry. Coming here was not part of
the plan.

Forgotten how much I missed it.

Yes, well, make yourself scarce
before someone starts asking
questions.

Oh. How did you enjoy the theatre?

Always get your lies straight, Mrs
Truscott.

(DOOR OPENS AND CLOSES)

'Yuri Gagarin's single orbit of the
earth...'

(COMMENTARY CONTINUES ON TV)

Charlie, dear.
We had a late list in theatre.

(SIGHS) You are the worst possible
liar.

Why do you do it?
I tell you what, I am famished.

You and Otto will be struck off. And
in prison.

Seriously!
Lily...please!

No, you, please, stop.

We need the money.
(SIGHS)

I could go back to work, at least
until - Don't be ridiculous. You are
my wife!

Besides, Lil, if Otto and I don't do
it heaven help those poor girls.

"If Otto," "if Otto".

What about you, Charlie? What about
us?

(KEY IN LOCK)

(FOOTSTEP CREAKS)

I thought you'd be fast asleep.

Er...I was worried.
Where have you been, darling?

That junior consultants' dinner,
remember? You know how these things
drag on.

Mwah! How about you?

Er...the theatre.

Something jolly, I hope.

Yes. Very.

Jolly and long, darling. It is
rather late.

Working nights?

Sir.

I'll make sure Sister gets those in
the morning.

You have an odd habit of running
away from me whenever I approach.

It could be that whenever you
approach I have somewhere else I
really ought to be.

You and Jean - Mrs Truscott...

..know each other?

Yes, we worked together. Briefly.

But I was surprised to see her here
with one of your patients, sir.

(WHISPERS) The police are here to
see you, sir. Very good.

For you.

In here, sir.
Thank you.

Ah. Smoke?

Constable Weir here has it
that you summoned an ambulance to -

19 Lexington Mews, yes.
Why, Mr Powell?

That's entirely between me and my
patient...

I'm sorry. Detective Inspector
Thompson.

Yes, er...

Zealotry in the young can be tiresome
but er...train a constable on the
streets

and he reports what he sees.

For eg: you...carrying medical gas
bottles from the premises.

I'm not in the habit of
abandoning expensive equipment.

You are aware of Sections 58 and 59
of the Offences Against The Persons
Act?

Again, what transpires between my
patients and I is confidential by
law.

And by law it is illegal to
terminate -

I will give you this. The young
woman - my patient - is out of
danger now.

Oh. And her unborn baby...is also
well.

Good evening.

(BELL RINGS)

OTTO: It makes the lather light.

Daddy, it tickles.

Everything OK, Mrs J?

Yes, it's just the laundry, Mrs
Powell.

Now, I once knew a chap,

who was doing this when he had
the most almighty desire to sneeze.

Time for school, Thomas, darling.

Yeah, I haven't seen the chap!

I'm pretty sure he ran away to join
the circus.

(GIGGLES)
What have you been doing?

Daddy's been teaching me.

Well, I have a brand-new idea.

Thomas, why don't you stay with
Mummy? You too, Otto.

Well, this chap has school, you have
a bridge morning and I have half a
million patients.

That bus won't wait, Master Powell.

Otto, I...

Elizabeth, are you all right?

It's difficult, this.

Yes, it is sometimes, isn't it?

You haven't forgotten tonight? No
excuses, Otto - Jean and Richard are
taking us out.

Don't be late.

Cold! Cold!
All right.

I saw your parents yesterday at the
hospital.

Why not just let them know you're
all right? No.

He'll show up here soon enough.

He's a police inspector.
They're...good at finding people.

When should we go to the station?
We're not going anywhere, Dad.

What about your mother?
(SIGHS)

You don't know what Father's like.

Ever since my brother Stewart
drowned, he...

It did him in, you know.

Anyway... Besides, I can look after
you, can't I, Monty?

And I look after her.

I can.

Well, that's all right, then.

NURSE: Miss Fairfax, please.

The GP said to pop in, so...here I
am.

Now, Miss...Fairfax.
Yes?

What seems to be the problem?

What can you feel?

Oh! Is this what they mean
by giving your body to science?

Diagnosis, gentlemen?

Why didn't you call trumps?

Just call trumps.
But I didn't think I'd need to!

I think sandwiches might be
preferable to blood on the carpet,
don't you?

Always call trumps, dear.
And, please, in future, don't think.

Elizabeth, I wonder if I might have
a little word.

Was Otto terribly late last night?
He's usually -

Charlie was in the most...
well, you know how he is.

Ah, Mrs J. You saint.
Oh, they do look smashing!

One day the police -
Lily, please, let's not always
expect the worst.

(CHATTER)

You received Miss Grieves, last
night?

Admitted for...?
Inflammation, burning.

An attempted termination with
potassium... Yes.

And is the subject of a police
enquiry.

Who brought her here?
Matron?

She came in an ambulance.
Oh, for pity's sake, child.

I don't know who you're trying to
protect.

A woman I did not know came with
her. And Mr Powell.

Off you go.

Thank you, Mrs J.

Chief Inspector Mulligan here.

No damage done, I'm pleased to
report.

But that stuff is neither effective
nor recommended.

Oh, Aunt Kathleen panicked.

Well, you're clearly feeling better.

Do you still want to go through with
it? No.

The moment he's born
I'm going to strap him to my back,

then we'll go to Provence in France
and paint!

What about the baby's father?

I haven't the foggiest idea where
I'd find him.

I've shocked you!

Haven't you ever done anything
simply out of desire?

Are you one of those blokes
who has it all in control?

Well, I...I wouldn't say that.

Oh, yes.

Everything thought through and
planned before you do anything.

(CHUCKLES)

Mr Powell?

Everything OK, sir?

Yes...I'm just trying to work out
what to say or do now...

..without thinking it through or
planning it.

What are you talking about?

It's impossible!

Mr Powell, I was interrogated
coming on shift about...

The police are involved.
So I keep hearing.

And the nurse involved, I wouldn't
want...

Well, as an ex-colleague
I wouldn't want anything bad to
happen to her.

Jean is a friend. I won't let
anything bad happen to her.

Trust me.

(MUSIC PLAYING FROM CLUB)

To Mr and Mrs Boss! Thank you.

For getting us two down the aisle,
like you did.

Well, this place isn't nearly as
depraved as the papers cut it out to
be.

You sound disappointed.
Richie!

Jeannie's taken to going to the
theatre. What was it you saw last
night?

The reviews for My Fair Lady
aren't all true, are they?

It was great, actually.

Dr Truscott. Margaret.

What a pleasure.
Ha-ha!

Otto Powell.
Hello.

My wife Elizabeth.
Hello.

And you must be Mrs Richard
Truscott? It's a pleasure.

Charmed, I'm sure.

I've known Margaret for years.
Haven't I, darling?

I'll find out what chef likes best
tonight, shall I?

Shall we dance?

♪ Dah-dah, dah-dah, dah, dah,
dah-dah...

What's Richard playing at?

He's playing at hurting you,
Jeannie, dear.

He's hurt and he's going to hurt you
back.

Dad's having his sleep. The last
thing I want is him waking up.

Maureen, would you mind?

That's a lovely scarf.
Mo, please.

If this is a lecture coming, Ange,
I can think of places -

I just want to know why.
Sounds like a lecture, Ange.

The police are onto it. Nothing
happened, all right? Nothing.

Jeannie, please.

I used to help Mr Powell and Dr
Enderbury.

When I stopped, I suggested you
so you could make a few quid.

But then you, all holier than thou,
refused to take their money

and now you seem frightfully worried
that I did help them.

I didn't do it often if that's what
you're thinking. You don't need the
money.

Jeannie, are you all right?

Right as rain. Never better.

Mum used to do that.
What?

You know. "Right as rain. Never
better."

I don't know what's going on, I
really don't.

Richard didn't come back last night.

What do you mean?
Just that.

We were out with Mr and Mrs Powell,

and then suddenly he said
he had an emergency and he had to go.

There probably was an emergency
at the hospital and I'm just
imagining things.

I'm playing bridge now, Ange.

Tomorrow Mr and Mrs Truscott
are taking us to the evening races at
Newbury.

Next thing I know I'll be buried in
the family cemetery!

What, Ange?

I just wanted to warn you, that's
all.

There was no emergency, Jeannie.
I was working nights.

Richie didn't come to the hospital.

What are you going to do?

Hey.

Time to get back to the real world.
Will you do this up for me, darling?

Thank you.

You know, you are...

..everything I remember.

Oh, a little storm damaged?

God, no! More beautiful.

More ravishing.
(CHUCKLES)

What the hell are you doing?
Making love to you.

No, I mean last night.
Bringing them all to the restaurant.

Well, Richard? (CHUCKLES)

Do not make the mistake of thinking
you can play with me, or her.

We'll tear you to shreds.

(BOTH LAUGH)

I mean it, Richard.

I think we can release, Mrs Palmer,
don't you?

You shall miss the food, and we shall
miss you. (MRS PALMER LAUGHS)

I'm sorry, I've... I've changed my
mind about the operation.

Miss Fairfax, this is Mr Powell.

I can't...go ahead.

Madam, you should not be wasting
the consultant's time.

Sorry, I'm fine. I just...
I just don't want to be a bother.

Chaps, tell you what,
why don't you go and write up

exactly what we've decided to do
with Mrs Palmer?

Three minutes, gentlemen.
Yes, Doctor.

The op?

The general?

Look...you can, of course, leave
us...

..but I'd be much happier if we made
sure that polyp was nothing nasty,
wouldn't you?

We are all often frightened...

..but sometimes we have to face
what frightens us.

And, most usually, we get through.

It's all right.

Come on.

You promise, Dr Enderbury.

You return the money they gave
and you aren't guilty of anything.

Dr Enderbury?

Actually, I was looking for a
patient.

That's handy. I have 22 of them.

No er, er...Megan...was it? Yes?
Grieves.

She's just a friend of a friend.
The daughter of...

She left with her aunt,
five minutes ago.

Gosh, that is impressive.

I remember you.
You were at the house -

Would you please
give this back to your aunt?

You give it to her yourself.

This is for you.

I don't know what you're talking
about.

You gave me money to perform a
procedure. I did no such thing.

Come on, Megan, love.

It's the truth.

Not as I remember it.

Gentlemen, I am sorry to have kept
you.

I've questioned everyone
who was on duty that night

and, as yet, I can find no-one
who appears to be involved

in the attempted termination.

Thank you for coming, Chief
Inspector.

Can I get you...?

Well, to come to the point.

I telephoned and asked you to meet

because I have told Mr Powell - Otto

exactly what is happening.

He was shocked, naturally.

But clearly he - we...

have nothing to hide.

So I telephoned you and asked you to
meet...

..to tell you to get out of our
life.

It's outrageous what you've done...

creeping into our
home...threatening.

Oh.

You see, I do have photographs
of the scene in Cyprus.

And your statements. All the
evidence to destroy your lives.

Forensic science wasn't cutting-edge
back then.

I only let the matter rest
because of available resources.

Faced, as we were,
with policing a complicated and
troubled island,

a second-rate doctor like Otto
Powell with an affection for the
bottle

was not our first priority.

Seeing him now, still...

at best, contemptuous of the law,
well...

Hideous.

It's over for him, and you.

Over.

Please.

Chief Inspector.

Chief Inspector, please.

Please, all I'm trying to do -
all I've ever tried to do - is
protect...

Thomas.

We do everything to protect them,

but anything can happen to them
when they're out of our sight.

Why are you doing this to me?

Because I want you...and all that
Powell has.

I can't help myself.

Such a to-do yesterday morning, hm?

The police are interested in
the provenance of one of our
patients.

A girl who had attempted an abortion.

They were asking questions,
looking under every stone,

quite like a thriller.

Otto... Charlie.

They cannot arrest you for helping
somebody into an ambulance. Get a
grip.

Old man...

(KEY RATTLES IN LOCK)

Jeannie darling?

Come on, Mum and Dad are about to
arrive. We're going to the races.

I'm not coming.

I don't think I feel like it.

Don't be daft. They'll be here in a
minute.

I do mean it, Jeannie.

Tell me the truth. Come on, old girl.
You know you're the tops.

Thanks for that.

But try, just for once, to tell me
the truth.

I love you. I'm certain of it.
That's the whole truth.

And? And?

Her?

Margaret? It was a long time ago.

You had lipstick on your collar,
Richard.

Did I?

Do not take me for an idiot.

I might just be a nurse,
and not from somewhere all
hoity-toity,

but I will not be made a fool.

You threw a plate.

You threw a plate.
(DOOR BUZZER)

Oh, bugger.

Jeannie?

I'll be no time at all.

But I mean it, Richard.

Sister.

I am leaving Nurse Wilson with you

to make sure that you don't run off

and fly in your aeroplane back to
Trinidad without me.

Thank you, Sister.

Stay with me, please, Nurse.
Miss Fairfax.

Counting down from ten.

Ten...nine...

..eight...seven...

All right, gentlemen.

This is a standard polyp removal and
D and C.

I will follow in with a dilatation
and then curettage.

Should take no more than ten
minutes.

Miss Fairfax has had occasional
bleeding between periods.

Could you ask yourselves what
histology I will be requesting of
the laboratory?

There we are.

Let's move on to the D and C.

Five more minutes, please, Dr
Enderbury.

Dr Enderbury?
I... I'm sorry?

Yes. Yes, of course.

Excuse me.

Excuse me.

Good afternoon, Mrs...
May I help you?

Yes. I'm looking for my son - Thomas
Powell. It's only 2.30, Mrs Powell.

Yes, of course it is. It's just,
well, I...

I want him home, you see.

Run along, Lower Nine.

Please, gentlemen. Chop-chop.

Powell? Yes. Righto.

He should be on the playing field.
So kind.

But, Mrs Powell...

Mrs Powell!

Catch it! Catch it, Simmons!

Stop play.

Excuse me. I'm looking for Thomas
Powell.

Tommy?

Tommy? Tommy, darling!

Tommy!

Powell.

Tommy!
Is that your mother?

Tommy!

Tommy!

Tommy!

Tommy, darling!
Yes.

Tommy! Tommy.

There we are.

Thank you, theatre.

Dr Enderbury?

Her BP is dropping. 70 over 50, Mr
Powell.

Can I help, Charlie?

Cardiac arrest!

Thank you.

Charlie... Charlie!

Thank you, theatre.

Sister.

Would you be so kind as to...ask my
House Surgeon to contact the
Coroner's Officer.

Thank you. Of course.

(BOYS GIGGLING)
Can we go home, please?

There's Tommy with his mum.
I'm sorry, Tommy.

I thought you had a match.
I wanted to...

Please. Start the car.

Please.

I think Mrs J might just have a
treat for you.

(ENGINE STARTS)

I don't know what happened.
I really don't.

Please, Dr Enderbury, go home.

I will inspect the machinery.

There will be an inquiry.

You can do no more.

It could have been something
undetected.

We'll find out with the post-mortem.

I encouraged her.

Against her fear.

I should be back to the ward, Mr
Powell. Life is an easy thing to
lose.

And to waste.

Dearest. Good day?

You? Super, actually.

I think I may have killed a patient.

That inspector came.

Again.

Asked me to give you this.

He said you would prefer it
if Mr Powell knew nothing.

Yes.

Yes, it's a silly business, really.

Can - Please, Mrs J.

A precision error, though
understandable,

but catastrophic. If there was any
error it was mine.

I'm afraid that one day he is going
to leave me hanging.

I wanted you to know just how much I
love you.

What happens here...

..is simply to do with pleasure.

What are you doing here? Seeing as
you didn't come home...

Yes, Chief Inspector Mulligan,
please.

I don't want to hurt you.

I will tell you when and where.

Do you think life is always like
this?

I think there's only ever today.