Patrick Melrose (2018): Season 1, Episode 2 - Never Mind - full transcript

-Hello.

Hello?

Patrick

Nicholas?

Patrick, I'm afraid
I have rather bad news.

I'm in New York.

It concerns your father.

Patrick?

Ah, Yvette!

It's you! Bonjour.

Monsieur Melrose.
I am making the table ready



-for this evening.
-Ah, yes.

A beautiful day.

I sense autumn...

..don't you?
Je sens l'automne.

-Oui, Monsieur Melrose.
-Any sign of my darling wife?

Has she risen, like the sun,
to cast her golden rays on us?

Not yet, Monsieur Melrose.

And my son. I hoped
to spend the day with him.

-He's playing, monsieur.

Everyone seems to be
hiding from me this morning.

Well...

You be careful
with my wife's china,

it's extremely valuable.

Oh! Oh, Christ, that hurts.



God! Hm!

Eleanor?

Patrick?

Where's everyone hiding?

Hm...

Anne!

Are you up yet? Aha-ha.

So. Who are you on?

Caligula, appropriately enough.

Well, come on.
Breakfast now.

Oh, darling, you shouldn't have.

-Have what?
-Made breakfast.

No, I mean...I'm... I'm...

I mean, I'm...
ready for breakfast.

You know it's a real turn-on,
you reaching for the clock
like that.

-What time's the taxi?
-You might help out here.

-Move around a little.
-If we miss our flight...

Oh, God,
what's the bloody point?

Ruined beauty.

It won't be long
before they say...

"He used to be so handsome."

-Oh, you still are.

Give over, luv, give over.

Eurgh! Don't do that, though.

Oh, Christ, there's the taxi.

Where are we going this time?

I told you.
The South of France!

Mm...

I just think it's a little rude.

We are his guests, after all.

Well, I'm sorry,
I'd no idea there'd be a test.

Well, with David Melrose
there's always a test.

It's a good idea to...

Well, to prepare
something intelligent to say.

Well, did you know
Caligula tortured his wife

to find out why
he was so devoted to her?

What's David's excuse, I wonder?

And what's in this for you,
Sir Victor?

If you're so scared of him,
why are we even here?

I'm not scared of him.

I'm just fascinated by him,
that's all.

At Eton he was an
extraordinarily gifted

young man,
very distinguished.

-Held in awe.
-When I was at college,

the football heroes got to sleep
with the cheerleaders.

At Eton, they got to beat young
boys for burning the toast.

He didn't beat me exactly.

The important thing is
we're friends now,

and also his guests.

I'm sure it's
very American of me,

but I fail to see what's so
glamorous about lost promise.

"Distinguished" for what?

For doing nothing for
a long time in the same place?

Please God, don't say that.

The only one I like is the boy.

At least he still has
a little life in him.

Where are you off to?

To pick up Nicholas
from the airport.

There are hours yet.

I wanted a drive. With Anne.

-Ah.
-I promised.

I see.

You'll leave Patrick here.

Of course.

-You remember our discussion?
-Of course.

Well. His flight lands at two.

Off you go.

Patrick, where on earth
have you been?

Your father's
been calling for you.

-Can we play now?
-Not now.

-But you said we could.
-Darling, I'm sorry.

I have to pick up Nicholas
from the airport.

There's absolutely nothing
I can do about it.

You promised!

Au revoir! A bientôt!

-Can I come with you, then?
-No!

Your father
wants you here with him.

I'll stay in the car,
I won't say a word.

I know it's strange...

..but your father gets jealous.

He thinks it's very important

that you're not
too dependent on me.

You mustn't prefer
my company to his.

-I do.

Well, you mustn't let on.

Be very nice to Daddy, yes?

And then you can come
find me before dinner.

Tell me about your day
and I'll tell you about mine.

And I promise...

I swear,
you will have my full attention.

Hello! Here you are!

Just in time.

I hope you're comfortable
in the cottage.

I'd have put you in the house

but you know how David hates
to share anything with anyone,

even air.

Of course at dinner,
he'll be all over you.

Patrick, are you gonna
come with us?

-I do hope so!
-No. No.

American girls only,
I'm afraid.

I'm sure we
can make an exception?

Victor, aren't you terribly hot?

How's the book coming?

Oh, you know.

Identity,
it's a big subject.

Does Freud come into it?

No, no,
I'm not approaching it

from a psychoanalytical
point of view.

Perhaps I should drive.
-No.

No one else drives this car.

It's the one thing
that's still mine alone.

-But it is rather a long way.
-Not the way I drive.

Bye.

Well, young man...

..what have you been up to?

I know you're there.

Hello, Mr. Master Man.

Have they all gone?

Good.
We'll have our special day.

Do you recognize this?

You wrote it for me.

"What do you want to do
with your life?"

I didn't dare tell him
I wanted to compose music.

"I don't know, sir," I said.

-What did he say?
-"Better join the army."

Hm.

What will you do
with your life...I wonder?

I don't know, sir.

Now...

Shall I pick you up by the ears?

-No!
-Come here.

Ready?

-Now let go!
-No.

-Let go and I'll drop you.
-No!

Trust me. On three. Ready?

One, two, three!

Aaargh! Aaargh!

You've learnt
a very useful lesson today.

-Think for yourself.
-Aaargh!

Never let other people make
important decisions for you.

-Do you understand?
-Put me down!

-Do you understand?
-Yeah! Yes! Yes!

You lied to me!
You hurt me!

Don't whimper.
It's very unattractive.

Yaaaargh! Yaargh!

Yaaargh!

Patrick!

Okay.

-Up the stairs, Patrick.

So who are these Melroses?

David doesn't have a penny.

His terrible father cut him
off.

Left him nothing
but a pair of old pajamas.

What for?

For daring to defy him,
becoming a doctor.

Before that,
he wanted to be a composer.

Could have, too.

Eleanor, on the other hand,

comes from one of the richest
families in America.

All new money, of course,

from the patent
on a dry-cleaning fluid,

but completely loaded.

The house was the first thing
he persuaded her to buy.

First summer there, we were
all sitting on the terrace

and she complained about
the dreadful waste of figs

that fell from the tree onto
the ground and rotted there,

while there were people
starving in the world.

And David did
this amazing thing.

He told Eleanor
to get down on all fours

and eat every fig
off the ground...

-In front of you?
-Yes.

She didn't protest, though.
She just ate every single one.

Kinky.

Now that's a meaningful life.

Just like
a Red Indian or something.

Getting up with the sun...

..living off the land,
connected to the earth.

And if you want a chicken,

you have to go out,
and strangle it yourself.

Sounds idyllic.

This is so frustrating.

Attendez.

I wanted to stop for lunch.

So is Patrick looking forward
to going back to school?

Why do people
think they'll please me

by asking about Patrick?

I don't know how he is,
only he knows.

-I'm sorry, I thought--
-Look, you'll see him tonight.

He'll be lurking.

Oh, God. Tonight.

I need a drink.

No!

Ah, yes, here it is!
Lovely place.

There's Marcel!

Marcel, Marcel!

After the war the Nazis killed
every man in the village

except Marcel.

Which is lucky for us
because the food is wonderful.

Isn't this fun?

American...girls...

Hey.
Hey, wake up!

I'm awake.

You know what I need?
A cognac.

-That's not a good idea.
-Of course it is.

It's exactly what we need
after all this heavy food.

It's for my headache.

Marcel, deux cognacs!

May I speak frankly?

I do hate it
when people say that.

Do you think perhaps you're
drinking a little too much?

Too much for what?

Too much for lunch,
for your own good.

For Patrick's.

Obviously, it's never possible
to know exactly

-what goes on in a family--
-No, it's not.

Especially when
you are neither married

nor have children yourself.

Merci, Marcel.

Extraordinary remark.

Mm.

Seeing as you're so
concerned about my welfare...

you can drive.

Hello.

-Hello.

Oh, that stew was awfully rich.

-I feel better now.
-Good.

Oh, here it is!
"L'O.K. Corral."

-We have to go!
-Oh.

-It'll be like going home.
-But do we have time?

Of course! Please?

Please, please, please?

-Sure.

It's terrific!

Look!

A Ferris wheel!

Oh, there's your Cadillac!

You know,
I'm so glad we did this.

Girls' day out.

I'd... I'd like you
to understand something.

He wasn't always like he is now.

David?

When I first met him,
he played so brilliantly.

He was so intelligent
and beautiful.

So different from
all the other English snobs.

We were going to do
wonderful things together...

Useful things.

Of course
he was a difficult man...

..even then.

But I thought
I could turn to him.

The idea of...
turning to him now...

..of being alone
in the same room with him...

Why have we stopped?

I'm sure it's only for a moment.

We're gonna be late
for Nicholas now.

-Oh, just a few minutes.
-And he'll tell David.

I'm sure he won't mind.
A few minutes.

-It's so high.
-There's nothing
to worry about.

Why have we stopped? You mustn't
tell David about any of this.

-Eleanor--
-I beg you.

Eleanor,
are you afraid of him?

You seem afraid.

Let's get off
this fucking thing!

-Eleanor,
you have to stay still.
-Hello!

Hello, down there!

-We wanna get off!
-Eleanor.

-Let us off!
-Eleanor!

Hello!

Bridge.

Bridge, is that you?

Barry! Thank God!

Ohhh! I was literally just
thinking about you this morning.

That is synchronicity, Bridget!

This fabric's amazing!

God, I'm stoned!

What are you doing here?

There's a jazz festival
in Arles.

We're all going! - Hey!

It's gonna be amazing!
You should come!

Oh, you should come.
Come, come, come, come!

I can't! I'm staying with
these Melrose people.

Oh, God.

Let me give you the number.

Nicholas!

-Ah.
-I'm so sorry.

We got caught on a Ferris wheel
and they wouldn't let us off.

Very like you, Eleanor, to get
more fun than you wanted.

Ha-ha. Oh, will you
excuse me just a minute?

What the hell
are you playing at?

I've been carrying
these fucking suitcases around

-looking for you!
-Just get a trolley, man.

-I'm Barry.
-Don't you ever do this again,
you stupid--

-Nicholas?
-And this is
Bridget Watson-Scott.

-Eleanor Melrose.
-And who's this?

He's no one. Shall we?

Patrick,
tu es en retard. Déjeuner!

Honey.

-I don't want any lunch.
-Tu as faim?

I don't want to be with
my father.

Qu'est-ce qu'il s'est passé?

I want my mother.

I want my mother!

Je suis désolée.
Ce n'est pas possible.

Don't you dare!

Don't you dare
ever do that again!

-What have I done?
-Come up to my room. Now!

Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars...

Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Pluto.

Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars...

Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus...

What have I done wrong?

Come over here.

-But what have I done wrong?
-You know perfectly well.

Closer.

Do you know who King Shaka was?

No.

King Shaka was a great
and mighty Zulu warrior...

..who made his troops stamp
thorn bushes into the ground

and march for days
across hot jagged rocks.

The soles of their feet
were slashed and burnt.

And though there was
resentment and pain at the time,

the calluses this created

meant that eventually
nothing would harm them.

They would feel no pain.

And what had felt like cruelty
at the time was actually a gift.

It was actually love.

I don't expect you
to thank me now

but I hope perhaps...

when you're older
you'll be grateful

for the skill of detachment
that I've instilled.

Go and close the door.

Do I have to close it myself?

Very well.

Take your trousers down.

Est-ce que Patrick
vient déjeuner?

Non, il n'a pas faim.

Merci.

Mm.

Eight o'clock.
Please don't be late.

And... And let's forget
about our little conversation

this afternoon, yes?

Oh, of course.

I'd almost forgotten
how wonderful it is here.

I've completely forgotten
and I live here.

Eleanor,
what a sad thing to say.

-Tell me it isn't true.
-Okay...it isn't true.

It's beautiful.

-I want one.
-That's what David said.

-And so I bought it for him.

We were going to do
marvelous things.

We were going to turn it
into a home for alcoholics.

Which, in a sense, we have.

Don't worry about your bags.

-Yvette will fetch them.
-I wonder where David is?

Perhaps he's drowned
in the bath!

I'll find Yvette.

She's really high.

Do you think
you might possibly buck up

and make a little
light conversation?

Something other than
how vivid the colors are.

Is this it

The fig tree.
Is it the same one?

Bridget. Bridget, no.

Get up!

I said, get up -
what if David sees you?

I said, get up!

-God!
-Mmm!

Bridget!

Why are you all
so scared of him?

What do you think he's
gonna do to you, Nicholas?

I thought I heard
someone.

David!

How very nice to see you.

Uh...
This is Bridget Watson-Scott.

Hello, my dear.

You have the most
wonderful spot here!

Yes... Just think, with a single
machine gun mounted here

you could dominate
the whole valley.

Stay there, I'll come down.

We'll have tea
beneath the fig tree.

Tell me, are you
going to more weddings

or memorial services?

Oh, I still go to weddings,
but er...

I enjoy the memorials more.

Because you don't
have to bring a present.

One should only go
to an enemy's memorial service.

There's the pleasure
of outliving them,

but also the opportunity
for a truce.

Forgiveness is so important,
don't you think, Bridget?

Gosh, yes.

Especially getting
other people to forgive you.

But why would I need
anyone's forgiveness?

Oh, how can you all
sit out here? It's so bright!

Careful not to squash the figs.

Weird, isn't it?

The way their skin's purple
and white at the same time?

-Like a drunk with emphysema.

This one...

This one is perfect.

Goodness, look!
There's a strange little boy.

That's our son, Patrick.

You have kids? Wow!

Patrick! Darling!
Come on up, we're having tea.

Patrick, come and join us.

-Perhaps he can't hear you.
-Of course he can.

He's just being tiresome.

Perhaps you could
show me to my room,

so I can bath and unpack?

Oh, of course. Come, follow me.

"Only the best or go without."

Always, provided we...
don't have to go without.

She's very...vivacious.

Bridget? Hm.
She'll do for now.

Don't apologize, she's charming.

Sometimes I think
I should be done with it

and settle down with
a well-bred, well-educated,

well-informed woman
whose conversation I can bear.

And then I remember I've...
divorced two of them already.

-Patrick.

Where are you going?

Mummy wanted to see me.

Your mummy's tired
after her drive.

Come and say hello
to your godfather.

Hello, Patrick.

-Up to mischief, are you?
-Almost certainly.

That's what I like to hear.

Come closer.

Hm. Is everything alright?

Yes, Father.

Now we know
you didn't eat lunch.

Did you have tea?

No.

Well, that's
why you're so pale.

You must eat
if you want to grow up strong.

Go and see Yvette,
she'll find you something.

And leave Mummy be today.
Alright?

Dinner at eight.

Don't be late.

"I Only Have Eyes For You"

What the hell were you
playing at?

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

-That business with the figs!
-Oh, I thought it would turn
you on!

It did the first time.
You were practically dribbling.

And as to your conversation -
"Oh, what a perfect life you
have here!"

Oh, fuck off!

-"What a wonderful view!"
-Fuck off, Nicholas!

Or I'll elope with Barry.

Yeah, why give that yob
their phone number?

-He asked!
-

Patrick! Don't skulk!

Either enter a room or leave!

Oh, I'm sorry, darling.
You startled me, that's all.

Alright, I have to...
finish my writing.

What are you writing?

A check, for charity,
to Save The Children.

Because it's important,
when one has so much,

to give something back.

You'll remember that, won't you?

When Daddy and I
are no longer with you.

I have something for you too.

L'O.K. Corral.

Don't give me that look.

I had to make sure
it was suitable.

Handsome boy.

Now, you tell me
all about your day.

Hm

Did you have a walk?

Patrick

What is it?

Shall I take your glass down,
bring you another?

Such a thoughtful boy.

I'm so glad
you've turned out well.

I think the secret is...
not to interfere.

We'll speak to him at
dinner. I'm sure we can
make him agree.

Of course, with Victor,

the great question is
what will he be wearing.

A fisherman's sweater, perhaps,
or something in corduroy?

-And fruit stains...

The anticipation.
I can't wait.

I'll see you
downstairs shortly.

Merci, Yvette.

I'll take over now.

Hello, love.

Oh, sweetheart.

-Ouch!

Mommy sat on some glass.

Silly Mommy.
Serves me right, no doubt.

What happened?
Tell me.

It was an accident.
Don't tell Father.

Oh, I wouldn't dream of it.

You know what
I'm going to do instead?

Tomorrow morning I'm going
to take you to the O.K. Corral.

No excuses - first thing.

Just you and me.

Would you like that?

I want to go away.

-What do you mean?
-Leave here.

Yes.

I have to get that, love.

I'll come back
and tuck you in, I promise.

It
looks like you bought it

from a stall
at Kensington Market.

I did buy it from
a stall at Kensington Market.

Oh, hello again,
strange little boy.

You look like a medieval witch.

And you look like an old fart.

A stuffy, conventional old fart!

Um... There's
a telephone call for you um...

Wow!

-Barry?
- Hi, baby.

Oh, thank God!
I don't think I've ever wanted

to speak to someone
so much in my life.

Don't ask people
what they do for a living.

And er...don't ask
the staff how they feel.

And don't provoke David.

Fine, but will you do
one thing for me tonight?

-Of course.
-Don't suck up to them.

Don't let them bully you.
Don't try to fit in.

Well, isn't that three things?

They're all connected.

You're as good as these people.
In fact, you're better.

You have warm blood.

-What an extraordinary chair.
-Ah.

It used to belong to some doge.

It really should be in a museum.

Of course
it's David's favorite.

He likes to rest
his cigars on the arm.

Well, I don't think he'll sit
in it if you're in it already.

I wouldn't be so sure.
He does like to get his own way.

-Well, hello.
-Hi!

For God's sake, Victor,
that suit.

Couldn't you have got Anne
to iron that for you?

-Well, I...
-Has it begun already?

We're barely through the door.

Let's have a pleasant evening,
shall we?

-Thank you.
-Thank you.

Let's drink to...

Let's drink.

Nothing a don likes more

than bashing
another man's discipline.

One can hardly call
psychoanalysis a discipline.

-But it helps people.
-Yes, yes, there's
the therapeutic promise.

Here he is - hah -
a real doctor!

Victor, Anne,
a pleasure to see you.

Eleanor...

I do like you in pink.

It matches your eyes.

Is that vodka I see?

Please don't take this
the wrong way

but I find it hard
to imagine you as a doctor.

So did I, my dear,

and I must confess
to stumbling a little

over the Hippocratic Oath.

Fortunately, my wife's money

removed the necessity
of my leading a useful life.

Her great gift.

I appreciate your escorting
my wife to the airport.

It was pure pleasure -
as was this.

Ah. So much pleasure in one day.

My cup runneth over...

I've had a very special day too.
Must be magic in the air.

Hey, Dave.

I love
those kinky yellow slippers.

Do you really like them?
I'm so pleased.

Vodka, my dear

Alcohol's such a crude high.

Let's have dinner.

Victor, you sit there.

No. No...

Anne, you sit next to...

No, that's not right.

Thank God we're only six.

While we wait for Eleanor
to solve the problem,

Anne, tell me, what did
you think of the Emperor Galba?

Oh, terrific.
A terrific character.

Anne was particularly
taken with Caligula.

Victor attempted
to make me feel sorry for him.

Bridget, you sit here with me.

But...Tiberius
killed his whole family.

It's only natural
that those who are terrified

become terrifying,
given the opportunity.

-Is that how it worked at Eton?

Anne takes a rather
satirical attitude

to the English
public school system.

-Does she now?
-And as to his obsession
with screwing his sisters--

Oh, well,
you know what they say.

Vice is nice,
but incest is best.

Now, I'm sure
I'd have liked the chap.

He did exactly
what he wanted to do

with no nonsense about ethics.

Why do you think
it's superior to be amoral?

it's a question of not
being a bore or a prig.

What one aims for is ennui.

Eleanor, what a
marvelous memory you have,

to be able to duplicate
the dinner we had last time.

She has that expression
she puts on

when she's thinking of
her dear, rich dead mother.

-I'm right, aren't I, darling?

Yes, David.

Once Eleanor's
dear father had been dismissed

for being too drunk,

Eleanor's mother decided
to purchase a human antique.

A "real, old aristocrat",

on the grounds that if
you're going to buy a husband,

he might as well be a duke.

And so the Duc de Valencay

was re-upholstered
with thick wads of dollars.

But you just can't treat
human beings like things.

-Definitely.
-You agree with me?

Definitely.

Maybe the human antique
wanted to be bought.

Oh, I've no doubt of that.

I'm sure
he was licking the windowpane.

What so shocked Eleanor's mother
was that he dared to rear up

on his Louis XV legs
and start giving orders.

You see,
I feel that so strongly.

That the problem with the world

is people treating
other people like things.

I so agree. That's something
else we have in common.

Things...should be treated
with great care.

Excuse me.

"What one aims for is ennui"!

-Hello, Patrick.
-I broke a glass.

Don't tell my father.

You look so grim.

What's up?

Can't you get to sleep?

Does it hurt?
Let me see if it's--

-No, I only wanted to--
-I'm fine.

You're shaking.

Do you want to tell me

Patrick?

I gather that Gerald Frogmore

shot more birds last year
than anyone in England.

Not bad
for a chap in a wheelchair.

Perhaps he resents
their freedom of movement.

I mean, what about your mother

Okay, I'll be right back.
I promise.

I don't believe you.

You say you will but you won't.

Patrick, I will.

Everyone
enjoyed themselves,

even the man
who was being hanged.

-Fun for all the family.
-I found Patrick on the stairs.

He wants to talk to you.

Darling. Eleanor

I thought we'd agreed that you
wouldn't rush to Patrick

each time
he whines and blubbers.

He fell earlier
so he... he may be hurt.

In that case
he may need a doctor.

He's not hurt. He just wants
to talk to his mother.

You see, darling?
He isn't hurt.

And so it's just
a question of sentiment.

Does one allow oneself
to be blackmailed or not?

If you sit, we can discuss it.

The proposition I'd like
to make is that education

"If I survived that,
I can survive anything."

Well, that's crazy and wrong
and you know it!

Well, I certainly think
a child should be challenged--

Oh, for goodness sakes, Victor!

Well, nobody wants anyone to be
miserable. We're just saying--

We! Because God forbid
you should ever contradict him.

..it doesn't do a child
any good to be molly-coddled.

I know it's an unfashionable
point of view,

but in my opinion,
nothing that happens to you

as a child really matters.

When it comes to things
that don't matter,

you're top of my list.

-Saying silly things
to sound less pompous--
-Oh, my word!

-and pompous things
to sound less silly.
-A ferocious backhand there

-from the young American lefty.
-It's pathetic.

Well, nothing that happened
in your childhood

did matter, Nicholas.

You just did exactly
what everyone expected.

Well, I refuse to apologize
for an uneventful childhood,

-big lawns, buckets and spades,
-What the fuck?

throwing coins into
the golden pool at the Ritz.

Would you like a fig? They're
at their best this time of year.

Go on -
I know how much you like them.

I'll need a knife.

I'm sorry,
I've really tried here,

but I can't do this anymore.

You... You are a pompous,
silly little sycophant.

And the only thing in your favor
is that you frighten him.

That aside, you're a failure.

And it's your son I feel sorry
for, and if I had my way then...

Victor, stay with your friends
by all means,

-but if you do then I never
want to see you again.
-No, no, I'm coming with you.

Must you leave so soon?

Yes, Eleanor,
I have to be up early

to er...make some...
some progress on my book.

Eleanor,
Patrick is in the hallway.

He is sad
and he's lonely and scared.

And I promised
I'd bring you with me.

Will you come and find out
what's happened?

Eleanor

Eleanor.

For someone so conventional,

Victor does love
an unconventional girlfriend.

Almost nothing
is as entertaining

as the contortions
of a clever Jewish snob.

Very broad-minded of you

to have one in the house at all.

Oh, do fuck off,
the pair of you.

-Thank you.
-No, you were right.

In the end
one must oppose cruelty,

even if only
by refusing to take part.

-Why are we whispering?
-I have no idea!

Oh, one moment.

Patrick?

Patrick? It's only me!

He must have gone to bed.

Oh, well.

-Barry, you are saving my life.
- Like I always do?

They're desperate
to get her into Country Life.

Mummy's keen on roses,
Daddy loves the gee-gees.

I took them up to Covent Garden
to see Le Nozze di Figaro,

and when the conductor
came on the podium,

Rodney Watson-Scott said,

"Look, they're under
starter's orders."

Oh... Barry.

You see?

It's not as easy as you think.

Can't sleep?

No, me neither.

Must be all the excitement.

All these people.

Here...

Is that better?

I'll leave you now.

But know one thing.

If you ever tell your mother...

..or anyone else, about today...

..I will snap you in two.

Johnny?

You can go now.