Play for Today (1970–1984): Season 9, Episode 21 - Don't Be Silly - full transcript

This programme contains some scenes

which some viewers may
find upsetting,

and discriminatory language
which some may find offensive.

Steps are coming up here.

OK? Yeah.

Just got to... Cut through there.

There's another flight coming up.

Step down.

Just pull you forward there.

Try and relax.

That's it, that's the way.



When you're ready, two, three, go.

Lovely.

It was a shitty evening...
Shitty party.

I quite enjoyed it. Shitty people.

Shitty house, shitty food.

Shitty.

I'm going to have a hangover.

A shitty hangover.

Thought you admired Naomi?

Which was Naomi?

Last time, you said her hair
shone like moonshine.

The albino negress with the dirndl
skirt and the cufflinks?

Last time I was drunk.

You suggested I brush mine
more often to achieve



the same scintillating magic.

You asked me why I try to look
like a mouse.

You, a mouse? It's impossible.

More like a tiger.... Grrr!

Thank you.

There's nothing morally wrong with
admitting that I hated a party.

Don't be silly.

What's all this boring
preoccupation with hair?

Couldn't we for once have a little
straightforward wifely sympathy?

"Sorry you had a bad time, Michael."

No, nicely, we couldn't.

I am sorry you had
a bad time, Michael.

Actually, I was trying
to cheer you up.

You're always trying to cheer me up.

It's a very bad habit.

Sometimes a man doesn't want
to cheer up.

What I want...

..is to go to sleep...

..as soon as possible in the arms
of my beautiful, raven-haired wife.

I married you for your dark beauty.

Let's go to sleep, then.

While you are easing
into the land of nod,

I just happened to mention
as casually as a shitty party

deserves that I hadn't
enjoyed myself.

I expected sympathy, even agreement.

I got a harangue about hair.

Hair!

What possible interest could I have
in hair at 2:30 in the morning?

I suppose if I'd said it was a hairy
party, you might have agreed.

I just don't agree.

It may not have been
a marvellous evening.

It wasn't marvellous, couldn't you
have stretched its non-marvellous

qualities a bit further
and agreed with me for a change?

Not in my nature to lie.

Your nature's taken up with
proving I'm wrong.

Let's go to sleep.

I'm not going to get to sleep now.

See if dawn can throw some
light on the proceedings.

Dawn doesn't come up until five.

That's another contradiction.

Take it as a symbolic dawn.
I'm sorry.

Being sorry doesn't
make you virtuous.

Makes you even more irritating.

I'm not sorry,
I agree with you, Michael.

Don't agree with me...
But you keep saying...

I do not want pretence agreement.

You're hurting me. Good.

You hurt me all the time.

I can't talk to you, you won't talk
to me, so what else can I do?

Don't be so silly. Don't call me
silly. You're drunk.

It's not the point.

Of course I'm drunk.

You made me drunk.

It's not what's irritating me.

I'm even more irritated
in the daytime.

More self-controlled.

If that isn't dawn, what is it?

A street lamp.

Moonshine.

I'm zonked.

You hurt me.

You shouldn't hurt me.

Hm? You hurt me!

I'm sorry, darling.

My queen of the night.

That's all right.

I know you don't mean to.

Hm?

I wish you wouldn't, though.

Harry, Amy, stop!

Harry, Amy, if you don't come here
I'll give you such a...

You mustn't do that.

You might get hurt.

Ow!

OW!

Ow! Harry hit me!

Mum, Harry hit me.

Harry knows this is mean.

He hurt me!

Harry, how often have I told you
not to hit your sister?

Big boys like you don't hit
little girls.

She is so annoying, I'm trying
to watch...

I know she's annoying, but that's
no reason to hit her.

I'm not annoying,
he won't play with me.

He's bigger than you, he doesn't
always want to do the same

things you do.
I hate him. I hate you too.

Harry!

He's so bloody to me.

If I wasn't as tough
and as desperate as I am

I'd have got rid of
him tout suite.

Even the greatest lovers
draw the line somewhere.

How is he bloody?

What does he do?

Well, he arranges to take me out
to dinner at 8:30,

rings up at nine to say
he's not coming till 9:30,

rings up at ten to say that
he's not coming till 10:30,

rings up at 11 to say
he's not coming at all.

Nothing special.

I don't think you can draw
the line there!

Oh, I won't. I'm the sort of woman
who wouldn't know the Maginot Line.

No pride!

Is it pride?

No instinct for
self-preservation either.

Although sometimes I think it's just
basic good manners he lacks.

Perhaps his mother never told him
that women are human beings too.

Perhaps he doesn't know
what it feels like to you.

Perhaps he doesn't know
he's hurting you.

Well, he could learn.

No-one at work would treat me
for a moment as he does.

Wouldn't dare.

I think men often don't know
what they're doing.

They don't analyse themselves
the way women do.

That would be unmanly.

I used to ask Michael
what he was thinking.

I never do now.

One of the things I like about
Michael is his good humour.

You can rely on him to turn up
when he's expected, crack a joke,

even open a door or two.

That's a real man.

Not a... a toad.

THEY CHUCKLE

People talk a lot about motives,

but in the end it's what
a man actually does that counts.

You're lucky. I'm not jealous -
I mean, somebody's got to be lucky.

You're the last remaining
friend of mine

who's still married to the man
she first married.

How are the children?

Does Harry still like his
intellectual millionaire school?

He loves it.

They do quarrel, though -
Harry and Amy, I mean.

Well, all children quarrel.

Sometimes they sound
as if they hate each other.

It's just because
they don't hate each other

they can behave like that. Of course
they love each other, really.

It's just relaxation.

I bet they don't treat their
school friends like that. No.

They sound so brutal sometimes.

Amy screams and Harry...

It's nearly three, I must get back.

The secretaries never come back
at all if I don't.

I'm picking up Amy. Ah.

Why are boys more aggressive
than girls?

I can't believe it's something
in their nature.

More energy.

Sometimes I despair.

Sometimes you're a terrible old
fusser for one who looks so calm.

Tell Harry to direct his aggression
onto a cushion.

Did you have an injection today?

Ooh. Oh, hello. Hello.

Mummy. Bye-bye.

Ooh.

Did you have a nice day? Yeah.

I did a painting of the garden
and a fountain

and six Brussels sprouts.

Brussels sprouts?
What else did you do?

We called a teacher Miss Dirty.

SHE LAUGHS

TV BLARES

Do you think Harry

should be watching that?

Turn down that noise, Harry.

Your mother is trying
to communicate.

Don't you think it's too violent?

It'll teach him what
the world's about.

At his age?

At his age, I had the real thing.

The war was on. Boom, boom!

It's just cowboys and Indians, dear.

You didn't see real violence
in the war.

I saw bombs dropping.

Did you ever see one human being
hurting another?

I did my National Service,
I told you about that.

No, you haven't.

Well, I won't now.
I hated it. Isn't that enough?

What is this, an interrogation?

I just wondered.

And you get angry with me.

What are you talking about?

One minute we're discussing
Harry's TV viewing,

and the next minute I'm facing
some sort of accusation.

I know it's an accident.

You take this beer,
I need a whisky.

Think you're on your own too much?

Ellie came to lunch today.

Mm?

She's got a new man. Ah.

Marriage prospects?

LAUGHING: She called him a toad!

Ellie always had spirit.

She admires our marriage.

So she should.

I think I'll join Harry.

Vet the programme for you.

Don't get anxious.

How many women have their husbands
home on the dot of six?

AMBULANCE SIREN BLARES

DOORBELL RINGS

Can that be our doorbell?

I'm not expecting anyone.

We don't want anyone.

Don't answer it, they'll go away.

HE CHUCKLES

Heavily optimistic.

DOORBELL RINGS

I'll answer it.

Tell them they've
coitus interrupted.

They won't believe that.

No.

No, you're probably right.

Tell them I'm ill.

Why don't you go to the door?

How can I say I'm ill
if I go to the door?

All right, I'll go.

DOORBELL RINGS

Keep that look on your face -
they won't stay long.

Hello, Michael, how are you?
Ellie. Come in.

Not disturbing anything, are we?

No, no, no, we're just passing the
time with a little gentle bickering.

Come in.

We're thinking of changing houses.

I'm thinking of changing jobs. Oh?

He's joking.
He's doing terribly well.

There's no-one above him
this side of the Atlantic.

Why do you think I'm joking?

This side of the Atlantic!

Anyone for another drink?

Mm, please.

You know, Pammy's worst habit is
her refusal to believe bad news.

Everything has to be going
very well all the time.

I'm afraid I'm infuriatingly
optimistic.

If I broke my leg, she'd say
it was all for the best.

I probably say the rest
would do him good!

Well, it would do him good.

I'm the opposite -

delighted to have an excuse
for weeping and wailing.

Before I met Pamela I was
a very cheerful person.

That's what I liked about him.

That was fun, after all.

You weren't very nice to me.

What?

Did you enjoy this evening?

You were rude to me
in front of them.

What do you mean? I wasn't rude.

If anything, you were rude to me.

When I brought up
the extremely serious subject

about changing jobs, you laughed.

Laughed like a supercilious hyena.

You're not serious about that.

If I choose to appear to be serious
in front of other people,

then it's your job to support me.

Not to make fun of me.

Would you like me
to bind my feet, too?

A wife should support her husband.
It's basic loyalty.

I didn't mean to make fun of you.

As a matter of fact, I haven't much
sense of humour at the moment.

That's true anyway.

Excuse me.

No.

For once, I bloody well
won't excuse you.

CUPS CLATTER,
SHE SCREAMS

Actually, it didn't hurt me at all.

I was just shocked.

You fainted.

It was the noise.

And Amy screaming.

I was frightened.

Now you're going over the top.

The truth is we were both trying
to push through the doorway.

Too much whisky makes children
of us all.

It was kind of you
to bring up breakfast.

And make the children theirs.

I love you.

You're my wife.

Don't cook a big supper.

I'll be back late, anyway.

If it's any consolation to you,
I've an almighty headache.

Poor you.

All right, then?

You're still a bit ashen.

Perhaps you're anaemic
or pregnant or something.

Why don't you go and see the doctor?

I'm just a malingerer.

Have a good day, darling.

MOANING

Hello, Sister, this is

the one that we told you about...

How long has she been like that for?

Well, it's been about... It's all
right, lie still, lie still now.

It's been about a quarter
of an hour, 20 minutes.

Well, there's nothing
wrong with you.

But you don't seem quite well.

Is there something
you haven't told me?

Are your periods regular?
Perhaps you're pregnant.

I'm not planning another child.

We faint for strange reasons.

You don't often faint, do you?

No.

I'm afraid I'm wasting your time.

I felt guilty when I saw all those
people out there with real problems.

It was Michael's idea I came.

How are the children getting on?
Oh, they're very well.

They do fight a lot.

More than children usually do?

Probably not.

But it worries you?

I've always been afraid of violence.

My mother never touched me.

I try not to hit the children.

I think my mother was
overreacting against my father.

Go on. What was it
about your father?

I find it very difficult to talk
about this sort of thing.

My mother didn't encourage it.

My father died when I was young.

But I have an image of him...

..as big and loud.

Look, if it would help,
I could talk to the children.

Or I could even recommend you
to a child psychiatrist.

No, it's not that bad.

Anyway, Michael would
never have that.

I just wanted to talk to someone
about it, I think.

I feel better already.

I'm sorry to be such a nuisance.

No, no, no, I'd like to see you
again in a month's time.

You let me know if anything happens.

Really, there's no need.

Please.

And bring Amy along as well.

Ask for an appointment
on the way out.

Try not to be so worried.

Children change from devils
to angels in the course of a day.

Thank you.

So?

She said you could climb every
mountain, follow every star.

She was very sympathetic.

Didn't make me feel
I was making a fuss.

Middle-class guilt syndrome.

It's not making a fuss to see
your doctor when you faint.

She wants to see me again
in a month's time.

I suppose she thinks
I'm a bit rundown.

She wants me to bring Amy.

Hardly call Amy rundown.

So, the little darlings
are the problem, then, are they?

No, not really.

They're out most of the day.

I don't know what it is, really.

I expect it is the kids.

How would you like to dump them
somewhere?

Come off for a dirty weekend?

Hotel by the sea.

Recreate our youth.

What's the point of being successful
if you don't spend the money?

It's years since
I've been to Brighton.

Good evening, madam. Good evening,
sir. Evening. Evening.

Here's your menu for dinner.
Thank you.

Thank you. Thank you.

There's so much here. Hmm.

Are you going to have a starter?

Yeah, not half!

Let's do the whole thing.
Come on. Erm...

That halibut, I'd like that.

Whitebait? Mm.
Have something different. Yes.

Am I going to make this?

You never do. Go on.

No!

THEY CHUCKLE

SHE LAUGHS LOUDLY

I don't know why you want to work.

It's sheer perversity.

Most people in the world
are longing not to work.

It's not a question of working
versus not working.

I work when I'm at home.

You'd have to pay someone
to clean if I didn't do it.

Oh, don't go all women's lib on me.
It doesn't suit you.

You're a beautiful, gentle,
sometimes efficient wife and mother.

If I had a job, I could pay someone
to clean the house.

I was a good teacher, I really was.

Yes, and you were pleased as hell to
throw it out when we got married.

And don't pretend it was a
sacrifice. You had more sense then.

I don't want to argue.

I don't want to argue.

Who started this argument?

I'm sorry.

I am, too.

Mm.

Big loudmouth, that's what I am.

If you want to join the rat race,
you go ahead and join it.

Come on. Let's go.

Carriage, milady, or feet?

Back along the seafront, please,
darling.

THEY CHAT INDISTINCTLY

Let's go down. Come on, then.

I love the sea when it's cold
and dark and wild.

SHE CHUCKLES

THEY MOAN SOFTLY

GENTLE KNOCKING

SHE CHUCKLES

It sounds as though someone's
planning to listen in!

Don't be silly.

GENTLE KNOCKING

It sounds as if he's got his ear
placed to the wall.

How do you know it's a man?

You're imagining things.

I don't like the idea of someone
listening to us.

It's not as if you made much noise!

Don't be vile.

Don't be bourgeois!

You're behaving
like a shrinking virgin.

If somebody's really listening,
let's give him his money's worth.

It's perfectly natural not
to like the idea of being spied on.

Sod off, you little bastard!
He'll hear!

I want him to hear. He's coming
between me and my wife!

It's embarrassing.

HE SIGHS

I just can't please you.

You can.

You know you can.

Let's forget about him.

Come here.

Typical. It is typical, isn't it?

You upset everything,
then you go all soft and sorry

and expect me to be able
to carry on where I left off.

What you see now is an abject
picture of detumescence.

I can't change what I feel.

Then you should try.

Why should I try?

You don't try to change yourself.

I don't try? Of course I bloody try.

Why do you think
I banged on the bloody wall?

Do you think I like
getting out of bed

and banging on bloody walls
in the middle of the night?

You are spoilt.

You've as much guts as a starfish.

You sit around all day at home
doing bloody nothing,

and then come whining
and moping to me

in the evening about being tired
and upset and a bit rundown.

That's all you are - a typical
spoiled, middle-class bitch.

If I am, that's what you made me.

I'm nothing!

I'm just a servant, a nanny,
a mistress in your house.

You don't care about me at all.
You don't know me!

Oh, violence, is it?
I thought you didn't like violence.

And now you're trying to hurt me.

I'm not, I'm just trying to make
you realise how miserable I am.

Miserable? Miserable, is it, now?

Miserable?

When I give you everything?
Miserable?

Don't I give you everything?

Yes, yes, I know you do.

It's probably my fault!

Typical, bloody typical,
now you're going to beat

your bloody dress together
like a bloody merry-go-round!

Oh, take your hands off your face
and stop crying. I can't!

Stop crying, stop crying!

You look revolting. I know I do.

Don't look at me like that.

It's OK, love.
Try and lie still, all right?

Just going to put something over
your head now,

lift your head for me.
Come on, up you come.

That's it.

OK, lovely.
Just try and lie still, OK?

It'll be all right in a minute.

I'm sorry, Pam.

I'm sorry.

Oh, God.

What have you done?

Hold on, I'll get a towel.

There.

Do you think it's broken?

I feel sick.

Shouldn't you lie on your back,

pinch the top of your nose
or something?

If I lie on my back,
I'll swallow the blood.

I see.

Should I get you a doctor?

I don't think it's broken.

Not that I can really feel anything.

Maybe it looks worse than it is?

It couldn't look worse
than it does.

What will the hotel think?

You're the first virgin bride
they've seen in years!

I think real drama suits you,
I just made a joke.

No.

Don't you need a doctor, then?

I don't think it's broken.

Have we got any aspirin?

I'll have a look.

Will Alka-Seltzer do?

If it doesn't spurt out of my nose!

Here.

We can't sleep in these sheets.

There is a night porter.

No, thank you.

Let's take them off.

Look, you lie on the floor.

Oh...

That's the first time I've ever
seen you make a bed.

You know, I didn't mean to hurt you.

That was self-defence.

You attacked me.

I'm sorry.

I hope it isn't broken.

KNOCKING

There he is.

Oh, thank you very much.

You can take them off now.

They must think we're cannibals.

Did the waiter look at you oddly?

I didn't give him a chance.

You must be the only person
capable of getting two shiners

for the price of one tiny tap
on the nose.

Your nose looks quite normal.

Lot of blood in that area.

If you'd hit me on the arm,
it wouldn't have happened.

I didn't hit you.

I was trying to stop you hitting me.

Never did like you in dark glasses.

Do you feel terrible?

Worse than terrible.

Perhaps we should go home.

Yeah.

Hard to pretend to be on
a second honeymoon

with you looking like this.

A quiet weekend at home
without the kids, you can rest.

Hope everyone doesn't think
I clonked you.

227, please.

We so enjoyed our stay,
but unfortunately,

my mother's not very ill.

I mean, not very well.

Sorry to hear that, sir.

My God, what cost £4?

That was the steak
you had for breakfast.

Thank you. Very good.

Right. Thank you.

Hope they don't find the sheets.

Should be proud of them.

You know, that steak cost £4!

We should have asked them to
cook it! A nice bit of meat, it was.

KIDS CHATTER

You look like a gangster.

Can I try them? Not just now.
How was school, interesting?

I want a go of the glasses!

No, come on, we'll be late for Amy.

Amy has dancing lessons on Monday.

Buy you an ice cream? Yeah!

Careful! All right, go on.

DOORBELL

Hello, darling. Hello, Liz.
Hello, Pamela.

What have you done, Mummy?
You look like a panda.

Silly, really,
I ran into a door. Poor you!

It does look painful.
Actually, I hit my nose.

The worst thing is, everybody always
assumes you've been plonked one.

I fell over once,
give myself a black eye.

My husband's reputation soared.

I suppose it feeds
the male virility complex.

Actually, it quite suits you.
Just as well, really.

I warn you, mine lasted for weeks.
Take care.

Let me kiss you better.
Oh, sweetheart.

I must say, they're two beauties.

I never would have thought
Michael had so much zing.

I told you, Ellie...
Yes, I know what you told me,

there's no need to be shy.

Only wish the toad cared as much
about me. I never liked violence.

I'm not talking about violence,
I'm talking about passion.

Then I don't like passion either!

I left my glasses off in the street
and a man looked at me

with positively lustful glee!

I'm not surprised.

I'm beginning to think that pale
Madonna face is only a facade.

Those black eyes make you look
really decadent.

Ah, the brute himself.

Ah! I've just been telling Pammy,
you ought to be ashamed of yourself.

I'm a man of peace.
Told her I ran into a door.

Some door.

Look, I hit my nose,
it always goes to the eyes.

You know how short-sighted
Pamela is.

And how like a door you are.

Now, cross over.

Oops, quickly.

Hello!

Oh, hello! Hello, Harry, hello, Amy.
Hello.

Are you all right?

Oh, these, you mean? It happened
ages ago. I'm fine, thank you.

No more fainting.

In fact, I'm planning to go back
to work. Sounds like a good idea.

Listen, let me give you
some cream for those eyes of yours.

Oh, not worth it now.

They're on the way out, aren't they?

Well, come and see me tomorrow
evening anyway. Six o'clock?

I'll try, it's difficult.

Try and bring that husband of yours
along as well, will you?

He's very well.

Bye-bye.

It's something I know I'm good at.

I was good at.

And it's something
that I can combine

with looking after the children.

I might even be able to do
a full day now.

Except that I'm not quite sure
I'm up to that yet!

You know, Mrs Redman,

that most of our children
come from poor backgrounds.

Sometimes quite rough backgrounds.

I did work in
a council school before.

But not in this area, I think.
No, but that doesn't put me off.

The truth is, Mrs Redman, I'm a bit
disturbed about Amy at the moment.

She seems very tense.

I wonder if it might be a mistake
for you to teach in the same school.

It could make for a complicated
division of loyalties.

You mean she's behaving badly?

Oh, I don't like to put it in those
kind of moralistic terms,

but her class teacher has said
that she's difficult.

She's alternately aggressive
and clinging.

It's the sort of thing
we would normally expect

from a child from a deprived home.

Of course, that's not the case
with you. No.

No.

But maybe there is some
little tension?

Children sense these things
amazingly quickly.

No, I can't think what it could be.

I am bored at home.

Which is why I wanted to take up
teaching again.

But I quite see that
you wouldn't want to

take on someone who would cause
more problems.

Oh, no, please,
don't take it like that.

Amy can be a charming,
outgoing child.

Then suddenly, she'll fly
at someone. Someone she likes.

Little girls go through
these phases.

I'm sure she'll grow out of it.

But for the moment, I'd advise you
not to restart your career.

Perhaps you should leave it for
a term or two.

If you're very keen, I'll have
another word with her class teacher.

Yes, I'll think about it.

You do that.

There's a great pressure on women
to go back to work now, you know,

and it's not always
the most sensible thing.

Have you got any pain anywhere?
Can you tell me?

Can you lift this leg up for me?

Lift this leg? OK.

Can you move the other leg?

All right.

OK. I'm just going to take
some blood from you now.

Saw Dr Monday in the street today.

She stopped her car.

Asked how I was.

Well, doctors generally will.

She wants to see you sometime.

What?

Dr Monday said she'd like
to see you sometime. Me?

The Great Garunda in person?

Nothing wrong with me.

Could always do with more
love and understanding

and 12 hours' sleep,
but then, who couldn't?

Why should I go and see her?

Don't know.

She saw my eyes.

Your eyes?

Did they go all bionic?

Why weren't you wearing
your dark glasses?

I'm bored of the Swedish winter.

You're not suggesting she thought
I did it?

Well, you did, didn't you?

That's not the point, you know
quite well it was an accident.

I'm not suggesting anything,
I'm just telling you what she said.

I do hate these women doctors
having a go at psychiatry.

I don't need that, thank you.

What I need is a bit of sympathy.

She was very sympathetic.

You know, you think about yourself
too much. Mmm.

Why don't you just get on
with living?

You'll find it wasn't so bad.
I haven't enough to do.

I went to the school today.

You did what?

I went to Amy's school.

Had a talk with the headmistress.

You seem to have been doing a lot
of talking to a lot of people today.

I told you I was going
to take up teaching again.

Oh, typical, that is typical
of a woman.

One minute you're complaining
about feeling ill,

passing out all over the place,
grousing to the doctor,

the next you're talking about
taking up a job.

Look, until you can brush your hair
before breakfast,

get a decent supper,
stay up after 10pm

without complaining
you're feeling tired...

I'm not complaining of feeling
tired, I haven't for ages.

Not since I was pregnant.

You don't exactly receive
my advances

with a welcome sign, do you?

Not always.

I'm not a machine.

What about our lovely honeymoon
weekend in Brighton?

Pretty well fixed that, didn't you?

I didn't do anything.

That's true.

It wasn't my fault.
Well, it certainly wasn't mine.

I wanted us to have a good time,
like we used to.

I took you to the best restaurant in
Brighton.

I'm tired.

There you are, tired!
What's the time? It's not even 11.

It's quarter past 11.

11, a quarter past,
what's the difference?

I thought you just said
you were tired?

I just want to read a page of this
and then I'll go to sleep.

Every night, it's the same.

If I wasn't a patient sort of man,
I'd be getting a bit fed up.

You don't want to go out,
you don't want people to come here.

If I could just have one night off.

12 hours' sleep,

no husband,

no children...

..I'd be all right.

You've got all day to sleep.

I should be the one who's tired!

I admire your energy, I really do.

If I could just go away for a while.

Take the children.

I could go to Mummy's.

I can't stand your mother.

She thinks you're marvellous.
Bully for her.

Look, I'm not asking you
to stand her...

Oh, here we go, argue, argue, argue.

I sometimes think,
if you weren't so energetic...

..I wouldn't be so tired.

You'll be more tired if you work.

AMY, WAILING: Mummy!

Mummy!

Mummy!

PAMELA COMFORTS AMY

Darling, what is it?
A nightmare? Aw.

Shall we go to the lavvy? Hmm?

Come on, then.

Lovely girl.

Good girl.

That's all right now, hmm?

TOILET FLUSHES

It's all right.

Now, those witches never
come after Mummy.

There's my girl.

Night-night.

You're awake enough
when it comes to Amy.

You have to be for a child.

You can't let a child cry.

But you can say no to your husband?

I haven't said no.

No, but you'd like to.

Can't we just try
and be nice to each other?

Hmm?

AMY FUSSES

Mummy!

All right, darling.

Mummy's here.

Whoa!

Come on, Amy!

Get hold of the spool.

That's it, right.

That's it, this way.

Hang onto it, Harry.

Hang onto it till we get through
the trees.

Right, let's see.

Wahey!

Can I have a go?

Right, Harry, you come and
take the spool.

Now, if you pull...

Keep pulling downwards, that's it.

Like that, against the wind.

That's it.

Bit more. Pull down.

Pull, like that, gently.

Now, there, that's better,
that's better.

Brilliant!

Let me have a go.

Come on, let her have a go, it's
all right. Look, both hands, Amy.

Both hands, that's it.

Pull.

Pull again, that's it.

Now let some more out, that's it.

Darling, I'm sure you're
exaggerating.

I knew no-one would believe it.

Not of Michael.

Everyone thinks he's
so attractive and charming.

Well, he is.

Oh, I don't know why
I tried to tell you.

Darling, have you thought...

I mean, there are men
who like this sort of...

You mustn't take it too seriously.

No, mother,
it's not a sexual thing.

I didn't really think...

He's quite gentle that way.

It's not that.

There's something about me
that irritates him.

He hits me instead of talking to me.

Perhaps he's unhappy himself,
I don't know.

I mean, he wouldn't bother to hit me
if he didn't love me!

I sometimes think it'd be better
if I fought back, but...

..I can't do that.
Of course you can't.

So I just take it and let him
pretend it was an accident

and say it didn't mean anything.

Didn't my black eyes mean anything?

Oh, dreadful, dear.

They must have been quite something.

Didn't you run for the steak? Yeah.

You're like everyone else,
think it's a joke.

But I'm frightened.

The children know.

Amy's upset.

Her headmistress says she's upset.

And Harry.

Harry's so rough!

Little boys are always rough.

No, it's not that sort of roughness,
he's mean.

It's something he's copied
from Michael's attitude to me.

And yet, he's so good
with the children.

Better than me, in some ways.

He's taken them out
flying kites now.

I never seem to have time for
that sort of thing any more.

Hello, darling!

What a nice surprise.

Did you have a good time?
Was there enough wind?

I can't stay long.

Don't let me drive you two apart.

You looked as though you were having
a very interesting conversation.

Ah...

About fertilisers, wasn't it, Pam?

Not very interesting, I'm afraid.

I really must go
and get the children their tea.

You must be starving too, Michael.
Are you saying, Mother?

Then you can continue your
not-very-interesting conversation.

About fertilisers.

No, I'll just say hello to the
children and then I must be off.

You obviously gave the children
a wonderful time.

Thought you wanted a quiet afternoon
gardening.

I didn't expect Mummy.

Don't you think you should cut off
the old rose heads?

Is that a subtle reference to Mummy?

It's a purely horticultural
question, I assure you.

It's on my list of things to do.

Somewhere below making tea
and above making love.

How's work?

You seem restless lately.

Bloody awful.

There's no security,
working for Americans.

It can't be that bad.

And it's no help to have you
rubbishing me behind my back.

I'm talking about the children.

You realise we haven't christened
either of our children?

If you don't want to know about
the job, why do you ask me?

I need a drink.

I certainly need a drink
at the end of the day.

I need one now.

You'd listen if I told you
the job was wonderful.

You don't like me being involved
in your work.

Did you say
I gave you those black eyes?

I suppose crying to Mummy
makes you feel better?

Sometimes I'm frightened.

Frightened? Of me?

You can't be frightened of someone
you've known for over ten years!

What's the matter with you,
are you heading for a breakdown?

I know it sounds silly,
but you seem to change.

What are you going on about?!
Don't, the children will hear.

If your mother can hear, I don't see
why our children shouldn't.

It's to do with them, isn't it?

Isn't it?

Isn't it?! Careful, this water's
boiling. You always have something.

Can't you stop making tea for the
children and talk to me? I'm sorry.

You know I hate that frozen junk.

When you've got all day,
can't you cook something fresh...?

SHE SCREAMS

Dad! Football results!

Don't look at me
with your stupid cow eyes.

Daddy, you hit Mummy! Shut up!
Grown-ups shouldn't...!

Shut up, all of you!

Mummy.

It's all right.

It's all right.

Just cooking you the peas you like.

Mummy, are you all right?

Is that sore, love?
All right, calm down.

We'll have a look
at her head injury.

PAMELA GASPS IN PAIN

OK, love, just keep still.

Bring your head forward for me.

Bring your head back,
come on, rest back for me.

That's it, come on, back you come.

Just lie still, lie still for us.

I feel ashamed of the way
I laughed about your eyes.

You've got to do something,
you know that.

I have tried to talk to him,

but it makes him angry
and I get frightened.

I really am pathetic.

I'm just pathetic as he says I am.
No, you're not.

It's so difficult to believe it
of Michael,

it's not as if he's mean,
like the toad.

He honestly thinks it's an accident.

In a way, it is.

Not his fault, anyway.

I just seem to antagonise him.

And I can feel myself doing it.

I put myself in situations
that are sure to go wrong.

It's like standing
by that pan of hot water.

Why was I backing near
that pan of hot water?

I must have wanted it to go over me.
That's just junior psychiatry.

The point is, you're burned.

I've been worried for ages,
you've got to make him understand.

I know, I'm a coward.

I told you, the only thing that
would make me is the children.

I don't want them to ever see
another scene like yesterday.

I don't know why you keep on
about the children,

you want to start
thinking about yourself.

Michael says I should stop thinking
about myself and start living.

I haven't been much fun lately.

That's no reason for him
to bash you up.

It's not like that.

He loves me.

Perhaps I should talk to him.
No, that would make it much worse.

Listen, you've got to do something.

Frighten him for a change, tell him
you're leaving if he keeps on.

I can't do that,
there's the children! A minute ago,

you were worried about the effect
he was having on the children.

And where would we go,
how would we live?

You could work again.

But I love him.

Look at your arm -
he could be had up for assault.

It was an accident.

Usually, he's had too much to drink.

At teatime?

Come on.

Come on.

You're taking it too seriously,
I wish I hadn't told you.

I give up, you're crazy.

Perhaps you really do like it.

No, I don't, I don't.

But what can I do?
He's my whole life.

Yep, well...

I'd better get back to work.

Did I tell you,
the school doesn't want me to teach?

They say it might upset Amy.

If I were you, I'd book an Easter
skiing holiday, on my own.

You're so strong!

Tell that to the toad!

VOICEOVER: Dear Dr Monday.

It was nice of you

to stop the other day.

Actually, I would like

to see you.

This isn't the sort of area

social workers usually visit.

DOOR OPENS

What a stunning outfit.

I can see you've made a real effort.

What do you mean?

We're going out to a party.

Remember?

The problem is how to stop
myself for an evening!

I suppose teaching is the only thing
I've ever felt inspired about.

Apart from a passion for ironing!

I had thought of going home.

Fine by me. But I don't want
to interrupt anything.

I must go myself.

Perhaps we can give you a lift?

No, we bloody well can't.

I like walking home after a party,
it clears my head.

What's that supposed to mean?

I apologise for my husband, he's not
usually this boorish. No, I'm not.

Neither does my wife usually spend
the entire evening

talking to a strange man.

Sorry.

I'm going home.

I'll leave you to sort this one out.

I feel you don't like me any more.

How silly can you get?

I know we've been married
for ten years.

Is that all?

People don't usually change
after ten years.

But you have.

Just gradually.

Oh, I'm zonked.

If I can't even talk to you
in a perfectly ordinary way without

you losing your temper...

I've always been a pacifist.

I know.

Even went on the Aldermaston march.

Did I?

Oh, does anybody march today?

All that singing and comradeship.

Those badges with their
jolly little symbols,

like upside-down crow's feet.

Oh, it was very meaningful.

Perhaps I'm exaggerating.

Your problem is the understatement.

You think so? Mmm-hmm.

Maybe you're right.

That's why I want to work.

I'm just magnifying everything.

You're magnifying
the understatement.

Yes.

That's it.

Why did you turn the light off?

I'm tired.

Oh, you're tired?

So the light goes off.

We were just lying here, talking.

Suddenly, ping, the lights are out.

We were on the Aldermaston march,

reliving youthful idealism,

and then, ping, the lights go off.

I'm sorry, I'll switch it on.

I had quite forgotten you weren't
undressed. Typical.

Totally selfish.

Just wrapped up in
your own selfishness.

Bet it wouldn't have happened
if I'd been that man at the party.

The one you wanted to bring home.

What man?

The young man you were
snuggling up to on the sofa.

With the understanding,
sensitive face.

I didn't want to bring him home,

I simply suggested we might
give him a lift to his home.

Oh, and where might that be,
I wonder? Don't be childish.

Pretending not to care now, are you?

Go on, tell me what colour
his eyes were.

Bet you can remember that.

Tell me. I've no idea.

Come on, tell me what colour
his eyes were, tell me.

I didn't notice,
I think he was wearing glasses.

You think he was wearing glasses,
do you? You don't remember

what colours his eyes were, but you
think he was wearing glasses?

Yes, I think he was...
Michael, you're hurting.

Do you think I feel so good
about seeing you spend

the whole evening
with somebody else?

Obviously enjoying their company
a lot more than mine.

Even looking quite happy, which
you never look with me any more.

Do you think that doesn't hurt me?

It's not the same thing,
you're hurting me physically.

So your body is more important
than my mind, is it?

I didn't say that,
I just said that you were hurting!

I'll look and see if
the children are all right.

Are the children more
important than me?

I want to talk to my wife!

You think more about those bloody
little children than anything!

I can't think why you bothered
to marry me.

You should have had artificial
insemination, would have been just

as good and you would probably have
enjoyed it a lot more too.

The dried-up old stick
you've become.

No interests, nothing.

You don't even exist.

HE BANGS AGAINST THE BED

Ah! Don't, you'll wake the children.

I'll wake my own bloody children
if I want to! Shh!

Are those children more important
than me? What about my wife?

SHE SCREAMS

What about my wife?!

You don't have a clue about
my problems, have you?

You don't have a clue
about my problems! Let go!

No!

Get up! Get up, damn you!

Always lying down when I come home!

Lazing in bed!

You should be able to face me!

You stupid, ignorant, spoilt...!

Michael, no, please, no!

Mummy, Mummy!

And now they call for their mummy.

They think they're babies, not grown
children! Calling for their mummy!

No! And you encourage them!

No!

Put cold water on it.
Maybe cold water will shut you up.

No, Michael!

Have a shower, have a shower!

No! There!

Yes, there.

Please! Mummy, why don't you stop?

No!

SHE SCREAMS

SHE STOPS STRUGGLING

SHOWER STOPS

Where's Mummy? Daddy, where's Mummy?

Mummy, are you all right?

Mummy, why don't you say something?

Emergency, which service?

Ambulance.

It's my wife.

She's been hurt.

Mummy, what's the matter? Mummy!

Had a nice time?

Very good.

I'll save you a seat.

Mmm... It's OK, you'll be all right,
you're all right.

Oh, you're back.
Took your time, didn't you?

Did we get in a name in the end?

Thought you were going
to be all night.

Did we get a consent?

Any dentures or anything?
Do you know?

Do we have a name?

Redman, I think. Pamela.
Pamela, is it?

Hello, Pamela. Hello... Hello.

Don't think she's got
any dentures...

We're going to send you to sleep now
before your operation, all right?

Just going to give you an injection
in the arm, it won't hurt,

but it'll make you feel
a bit drowsy, all right?

I just want you to keep talking
to me while I'm doing it.

Can we have the thiopentone, please?

OK, just you keep talking
to me now, all right?

It's my fault.

It's all my fault.

I just couldn't help annoying him.

It's my fault.

I knew it would irritate him.

It's my fault.

It's my fault...

OK, can we give her
a few minutes of oxygen?

Some oxygen.

OK, fine.