The Dark Room. (1988)

deaddogsdam

First broadcast 26th January 1988.  A reclusive couple live in a block of flats with their baby son in Scotland.  Susan Wooldridge - Deb Philip Jackson - Greg Julie Graham - Sandra Jacqueline Gilbride - Julia Edith Ruddick - Mrs. Blackie Irene Sunters - Woman at pram Belinda Adye - Reader in library Terry Cavers - Miss Keats (as Terri Cavers) Jean Bruce - Mrs. Keats Anne Maria McAuley - Mother with baby William Blair - First student Keith Neill - Second student Ian Briggs - Football supporter Andrew Celli - Football supporter Stewart G. Aitken - Football supporter Paul Samson - Football supporter Grace Glover - Mrs. McAlister Katy Hale - Art student Eliza Langland - Toyshop assistant Bridget McCann - Health visitor Sheila Greer Smith - Tour guide Gordon Kane - House agent

Transcript

00:00:28Transcribed by ESO, translated by —

00:00:30I don't know.

00:01:04I don't know.

00:01:40I'm just going out for some cigarettes.

00:01:42Anything else we need?

00:01:44No, I don't think so.

00:01:46Oh, maybe you should get another box of Kleenex.

00:01:49Kleenex, right.

00:01:50It shall be long.

00:02:24Oh, no.

00:02:26Oh, my God.

00:02:32Don't stop.

00:02:34Only Debbie.

00:02:57Oh, my God.

00:03:15Drake?

00:03:17Hmm?

00:03:19Who said, give me liberty or give me death?

00:03:24Patrick Henry, the American Revolutionary.

00:03:26Oh.

00:03:271736 to 1799.

00:03:30I thought it was John Wilkes.

00:03:54Greg, when you were down at your conference, I thought I might take a few days off just to see

00:03:59Edinburgh properly. I haven't had much time to myself lately.

00:04:04I could take Bobo down to Mar for the few days. He'd be quite happy with her.

00:04:10Bobo's too delicate to travel. You know that.

00:04:12What?

00:04:15Well, it's just an idea.

00:04:19But if you don't feel...

00:04:44And that's a deal.

00:04:46God.

00:04:52Oh, I'll go.

00:05:17Oh, dear. Oh, dear. Sock a little grey mole. Won't somebody help her out of the hole? Then a little

00:05:27grey rabbit popped out of the gorse. Not very strong, but I'll try, of course.

00:05:35Bye-bye, Bobo. Be a good boy.

00:05:45Here are the books to go back. And here is my new list.

00:05:50Yes, all right. But I don't think the new Murdoch will be in before next week.

00:05:54Oh, well. I'll see you get it first when he does come in. I don't think all this reading can

00:05:59be doing your eyes any good, can it?

00:06:02I haven't got a lot else to do all day, have I?

00:06:04OK. He'll wake from his nap at 3.15, remember? Don't take him out of this windy or raining. We

00:06:11don't want him catching cold or...

00:06:13Don't worry.

00:06:16Goodbye.

00:06:21Goodbye.

00:06:23Stop!

00:06:24Come on!

00:06:26What are you doing?

00:06:26What am I, Mr. Oxy? Top of the morning to me.

00:06:29OK.

00:06:31Whoo!

00:06:32Oh, I'm so sorry.

00:06:34Stop.

00:06:38Stop!

00:06:40Stop!

00:06:44I don't trust you like that.

00:07:16Just along here, there's a big stone construction.

00:07:48I don't trust you like that.

00:08:13I don't trust you, but I think that's a big stone.

00:08:23I don't trust you.

00:08:25I don't trust you.

00:08:27I don't trust you.

00:08:37I don't trust you.

00:08:47I don't trust you.

00:08:48I don't trust you.

00:08:53I don't trust you.

00:08:56I don't trust you.

00:09:00Hello.

00:09:02Hi, you.

00:09:04You're not too warm in there.

00:09:08Would you like me to open this up?

00:09:09I think you'd like that.

00:09:12No!

00:09:13No, no, don't!

00:09:50Yes, you see, this reference is to the second edition, whereas what you've got hold of here is the third

00:09:56revised edition, but I don't think there's much difference in the pagination.

00:10:01Ah, yes.

00:10:02Yes, here's the passage you want, I think.

00:10:03The meaning of miscegenation in mythology.

00:10:06Thank you very much.

00:10:07I'd like to be up.

00:10:10Let's take later.

00:10:11Help, excuse me.

00:10:11I'm fine.

00:10:21I'm fine.

00:10:27I don't know.

00:10:28I'm fine.

00:10:32I'm fine.

00:10:33I'm fine.

00:10:36I'm fine.

00:10:38I'm fine.

00:10:39I'm fine.

00:10:41Hello?

00:10:41Oh Greg, yes he's fine, he's just woken up.

00:10:48Yes, of course I'm alright.

00:10:54Okay, bye.

00:12:32Hello.

00:12:35I'm ringing about the notice in the tobacconist in Montgomery Street.

00:12:40You know it's not myself but my mother.

00:12:43And you understand the situation?

00:12:48Oh yes, she's done it all her life.

00:12:53Three mornings a week, just the cleaning.

00:12:58Well I'll have to ask her and she'll want to think it over.

00:13:03Can I ring you back tomorrow then?

00:13:07Goodbye.

00:13:07Bye.

00:13:19That's the beauty of it you see.

00:13:21We don't have to worry about her giving us away.

00:13:23She'll just be doing the cleaning so she won't have to know anything about Bobo.

00:13:27I'll just lock up his room and tell her that...

00:13:30Lock Bobo away?

00:13:31Well we couldn't have her popping in and out of his room, could we?

00:13:34No, we certainly could not.

00:13:35We can't have her in the house either.

00:13:37I don't know what sort of person she is.

00:13:39She might be diseased.

00:13:40She might infect Bobo with anything.

00:13:42Oh stop a nonsense.

00:13:44I don't like the idea of people running in and out of the house half the day.

00:13:47But you want the house to be clean and decent and tidy, don't you?

00:13:49I don't care what it's like.

00:13:51I don't have to look do I?

00:13:52But what do you want then?

00:13:55I just want to be left alone.

00:13:59Alright Greg, I understand.

00:14:01I shan't bother you.

00:14:04But I want to get out for a bit.

00:14:08I want to do things, see things, poke about in the shops, go to the cinema, to a concert like

00:14:15we did on our honeymoon.

00:14:17But we're not on our honeymoon.

00:14:20No.

00:14:21We're happy here aren't we?

00:14:23Just the three of us?

00:14:27Yes Greg.

00:14:29What was the war?

00:14:31That bloke in Switzerland shooting the German Emperor.

00:14:35So, if that bloke had was not the Emperor, there wouldn't be no war.

00:14:41And there wouldn't be no logistics.

00:14:43And there would be a plane next door.

00:14:52Yes, of course we're happy.

00:15:03Haven't forgotten about the stairs have you?

00:15:08Your turn to watch them this week.

00:15:10Oh, yes.

00:15:13Then you'd better get dressed.

00:15:16I suppose so.

00:15:19I'll be back in time for tea.

00:15:24Get some muffins.

00:15:25Yes.

00:15:33Yes.

00:15:38Yes.

00:15:40I don't know.

00:16:10Look at the door!

00:16:12Come on, just go on.

00:16:13Come on, that one.

00:16:14Harry, please.

00:16:16Come on.

00:16:25Here we go!

00:16:28Here we go!

00:16:30Here we go!

00:16:32Here we go!

00:16:34Ah!

00:16:35Harry, Harry!

00:16:40Here we go!

00:17:04How do you hear the music if you've no earphones?

00:17:07Sorry, music?

00:17:10From your Walkman there.

00:17:12Oh, this.

00:17:13It's not a Walkman.

00:17:14It's a small tentacle.

00:17:17Why?

00:17:26What are you recording, then?

00:17:30Just the ordinary sounds of life around us.

00:17:33That's all.

00:17:46There's a story.

00:17:46So you're...

00:17:54You're a little slump.

00:17:56You're going to practice in Cairo during the war.

00:17:57And that was made here, too.

00:17:59Speak to them.

00:18:00We sent to all over the world.

00:18:01Just a little something.

00:18:02Good.

00:18:03They don't keep a record of where the man goes.

00:18:05Many might taste of no intrigue that they think like.

00:18:07I'll wait for a week just to see it once.

00:18:09No recollection of any of that particular afternoon?

00:18:12Yes.

00:18:12Well.

00:18:14I don't know, I think...

00:18:18I'm not really sure, but I can't ask him.

00:18:31Robbing?

00:18:32Sure.

00:18:32They won't be robbing her.

00:18:34It's going to be a swap room.

00:18:35If only you'd let me talk to that woman.

00:18:37I couldn't know.

00:18:38She was getting suspicious as it was.

00:18:41No.

00:18:42Ssss.

00:18:44Ssss.

00:18:47Ssss.

00:18:49Ssss.

00:18:50Ssss.

00:18:51Ssss.

00:18:52Ssss.

00:19:00Ssss.

00:19:09Ssss.

00:19:10Ssss.

00:19:13Ssss.

00:19:14Ssss.

00:19:17Ssss.

00:19:20Ssss.

00:19:21Ssss.

00:19:22Ssss.

00:19:23Ssss.

00:19:24Ssss.

00:19:25Ssss.

00:19:27Ssss.

00:19:28Ssss.

00:19:29Ssss.

00:19:30Ssss.

00:19:39What have you got here? A royal bloody Stuart!

00:19:47Give me back that scarf.

00:19:48Ah, bloody English!

00:19:50Bobby!

00:19:51Hey, Bobby!

00:19:52What are you?

00:19:53Go on, then.

00:19:54Come on, then.

00:19:55Get your scarf!

00:19:57Hey, Bobby!

00:19:57Come on!

00:19:59Come on!

00:20:00Come on!

00:20:01Come on!

00:20:01Come on, Bobby!

00:20:02Come on!

00:20:03Come on!

00:20:04There you go!

00:20:04Come on, then.

00:20:06There's your scarf.

00:20:07There you are.

00:20:08Come on!

00:20:09Whoa!

00:20:10Nice!

00:20:11Go on!

00:20:12Come on!

00:20:13Come on!

00:20:16Is that where you live?

00:20:19Oh, very nice.

00:20:20What?

00:20:21Bobby!

00:20:22Got it!

00:20:23Have a pound!

00:20:24Hey!

00:20:25What?

00:20:26Hey!

00:20:27Come on!

00:20:29Oh!

00:20:31What's that?

00:20:32Yeah, Roy!

00:20:33Get it tight!

00:20:34Ha, ha, ha, ha!

00:20:36You've got a pinball, you've got a pinball!

00:20:39Ha, ha, ha!

00:20:40That'll be a scarf bottle!

00:20:43Ha, ha, ha, ha!

00:20:46Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha!

00:20:51Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha!

00:20:54Ha, ha, ha!

00:20:58Oh,拓!

00:21:00Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha!

00:21:01Hmong!

00:21:01Oh, slow, please!

00:21:03дух!

00:21:07Little bastards!

00:21:16what happened does he hurt

00:21:19those bloody hooligans

00:21:21and now they'll be breaking up the clothes

00:21:24is there anything we can do with Soxie

00:21:26no thank you we'll be alright

00:21:36I should have warned you about

00:21:38match

00:21:40Mrs. Blackie says they always behave like

00:22:04they're mad

00:22:06mad

00:22:24that's bad isn't it

00:22:52you left the front door open

00:22:53me

00:22:54me

00:22:55me

00:23:11me

00:23:12me

00:23:15Oh, Christ.

00:23:42...with Mavis Sigmund and Harriet Crawley and Fritz Spiegel joining the old guard along with me.

00:23:46All we need, in addition, as we have done for 17 years, is your company.

00:23:51Richard Pagan.

00:23:52There's a price on money matters with Louise Bossing at 10 o'clock,

00:23:55and a visit to Oxford with Brian Johnson for Down Your Way at 11.

00:23:59One of the letters, John Howard presents You and Yours.

00:24:03Consumer representatives from around the country met this weekend at the National Consumer Congress in Liverpool

00:24:08to discuss some of the problems which have been highest on the election agenda whenever it appears.

00:24:13Come on!

00:24:15Come on! Wait for me!

00:24:28Now, this is the kitchen.

00:24:31Kitchen's a bit of a mess, I'm afraid.

00:24:33Oh, would you like to take off your hat and coat?

00:24:37Would you like, um, a cup of tea?

00:24:40No.

00:24:41Um, well, let me hang you up and, er, then I'll show you round the flat.

00:24:58Now, er, this is the darkroom.

00:25:00We always keep it locked.

00:25:02Except when my husband's working in there, or rather, especially when he is working in there.

00:25:07Er, he's, er, a photographer, um, and he does his developing in there.

00:25:13Oh, well, anyway, along here is the living room.

00:25:19No.

00:25:26Er, Jif.

00:25:27Champs, size, Ajax, lemon, scent, fresh.

00:25:30No, frish.

00:25:31Munch and polish, but also Winderling, something silver polish.

00:25:36Goodness!

00:25:37All right, well, um, I can get these.

00:25:39I'll be, er, ten minutes.

00:25:41I'll be, er, ten minutes.

00:25:42I'll be, er, ten minutes.

00:25:49I'll be, er, ten minutes.

00:26:11My mouth.

00:26:20Uh-huh.

00:26:26Hay thing.

00:26:40There, the sim.

00:26:47Thank you, Mrs. Blackie.

00:26:57My mother always said I was a fearful slut about the house.

00:27:01I've just never been able to get on with it.

00:27:03I don't know why.

00:27:05My mother's an absolute fanatic about cleaning.

00:27:08So I suppose that's got something to do with it.

00:27:12But when I started going out with Greg, who worked together at the library, he was my boss.

00:27:19I knew I'd have to smarten things up a bit at home.

00:27:23Oh, I had this lovely little flat and pat me by then.

00:27:27With some money, Daddy left me after he died.

00:27:31The only fly in the ointment there was a sitting tenant downstairs, Mrs. Evelyn.

00:27:36Oh, nasty, nosy old thing.

00:27:38It was boring cups of rice and sugar so she could poke her nose in and see what a pigsty

00:27:43I lived in.

00:27:45It was a bit of a pigsty.

00:27:47It only made things worse.

00:27:49Of course, I didn't dare invite Greg over, which was ridiculous, because he only lived a stone's throw away in

00:27:54Hammersmith.

00:27:57Hammersmith.

00:28:02All strange names to you, I expect, Mrs. Keats.

00:28:06And they seem pretty far away to me too nowadays.

00:28:14Good heavens.

00:28:15It's almost eleven.

00:28:22Mrs. Keats, Mrs. Keats, would you like some tea now or, um, coffee?

00:28:32Tea?

00:28:39It's a nice view, isn't it?

00:28:43At the Putney flat, we looked over the back of a bus station.

00:28:48I was glad I did.

00:28:50Get a cleaning agency in, I mean, because Greg sets a lot of store by neatness and order.

00:28:57Well, his father was in the army.

00:29:01But I felt terribly guilty because, of course, it was all false pretence.

00:29:06Like having been married before and not letting on and pretending you're a virgin, which, of course, I wasn't.

00:29:11Married before, I mean.

00:29:14But I've always been really rather good at pretending.

00:29:19Deb's dreamland, Daddy called it.

00:29:22Marjorie said I was a clever little liar.

00:29:27I'm sure mothers are much nicer to sons.

00:29:31Although Greg's wasn't the poor darling.

00:29:34His mother ran away when he was three years old.

00:29:37And, of course, his father couldn't look after him because he was always being posted from one army camp to

00:29:42another.

00:29:44So poor old Greg got shipped off to an orphanage.

00:29:51He didn't see his father again until he was fourteen.

00:29:54By which time the old man had retired and got this catering job in Hammersmith, which is what he'd been

00:29:59doing before in the army.

00:30:02It's odd.

00:30:04But Greg isn't the least interested in food.

00:30:08Which is, um, a bit of a pity because if there's one thing I'm rather good at, it's cooking.

00:30:27Well, you'll have to go, then.

00:30:29After all, it's your flat.

00:30:31It's our flat.

00:30:33You chose it.

00:30:34You paid for it.

00:30:37All right, then.

00:30:39I'll just get myself tidied up.

00:30:42...claim practices and demand fair treatment for Britain's goods and services in the Japanese market.

00:30:47One of the main issues on his mind is access to British financial houses in Tokyo.

00:30:52Today, he saw his council market as a company in finance.

00:30:55Later, this is due to meet officials.

00:31:07Oh, you're Mrs. Oxey, aren't you?

00:31:09I'm Fiona McAllister.

00:31:11Hello.

00:31:11Come in.

00:31:12Won't you come in?

00:31:14How is your poor husband?

00:31:15That was a terrible thing to happen to him.

00:31:17You're in the sitting room.

00:31:19I said I thought a linterphone was a marvellous idea.

00:31:22There'd be a code for the rest of them so we wouldn't have to bother about a stair door and

00:31:26a buzzer for each of the flats.

00:31:28It's not just the football crowd it would keep out, but drunks who wanted to sleep it off in the

00:31:33warm, and burglars, of course, and salesmen.

00:31:37Bob McAllister said he once found a young couple making love in the clothes at two o'clock in the

00:31:41morning.

00:31:42He was so funny about it.

00:31:45Porky, they call it.

00:31:47He's the one with the black beard.

00:31:49He's a solicitor, and Fiona, that's his wife, is a potter.

00:31:53And then there was old Mrs. Blackie, of course, wheezing away, and one of the students, Sandra.

00:31:58She is so nice.

00:32:01Her father actually owns that flat next door.

00:32:03She's studying anthropology, so I said...

00:32:05Mr. McAllister came into the library last week.

00:32:09Oh, did he?

00:32:10What did he want?

00:32:11He invited us down for drinks.

00:32:13Oh, how lovely.

00:32:15When?

00:32:16Well, I said we never go out in the evenings.

00:32:21Greg...

00:32:22It's true, isn't it?

00:32:25It wouldn't do any harm to leave Bobo for half an hour.

00:32:28I mean, we could just slip out.

00:32:30He took out Selkirk's history of Scottish monasticism in the Middle Ages.

00:32:36Oh, damn.

00:32:38Damn.

00:32:39Damn.

00:32:40Damn.

00:32:44Damn.

00:32:45Damn.

00:32:53Damn.

00:32:54Damn.

00:32:55Damn.

00:32:59Damn.

00:33:01Damn.

00:33:02Damn.

00:33:03Damn.

00:33:04Damn.

00:33:06Damn.

00:33:08Damn.

00:33:09Damn.

00:33:35What it seems to me, anyway, is that painters deliberately tried

00:33:40to set her apart from all the excitement surrounding the child.

00:33:43You know, she's standing, she's formally dressed.

00:33:47She's sort of set apart from the two women who are close to the baby and very animated.

00:33:53The mother herself recently shows very little obvious maternal instinct.

00:33:59It's all in the usual formal setting of the period,

00:34:02which of course makes no concession to Egyptian history and so on.

00:34:07Okay, that's fine. Thank you, Susie. Any comments?

00:34:10Greg never wanted a child, which was understandable after his own awful childhood.

00:34:16And my being pregnant really turned him off.

00:34:20He was jealous.

00:34:23Frightened that someone else would take my love away.

00:34:29But as soon as he saw Bobo, he began to smile.

00:34:33It was like a transformation.

00:34:36And Bobo, who'd been a bit fretful, became as quiet and as good as a mouse.

00:34:42They looked so perfect together, my heart turned over.

00:34:47Although I knew right then and there that somehow I would take second place.

00:34:53And Greg did sort of take over, but I didn't mind.

00:34:59After all, it was a gift I'd given him.

00:35:05Funny, the way men don't know how to do quite ordinary things.

00:35:10I mean, in some ways, Greg's terrifically clever.

00:35:16I've got an incredible memory and he plays the flute like an angel.

00:35:21I think that's when I fell in love with him.

00:35:24The first moment he played the flute for me.

00:35:27But when I met him, he didn't know how to kiss or dance or laugh properly or even talk.

00:35:34For good grief, once he started to talk, I mean.

00:35:39It's like a snowstorm of words, whisking, whirling and piling up.

00:35:44And when he ran out of his own, he'd read aloud to me for hours and hours.

00:35:52Now there he was, doting on the baby.

00:35:57Oh, Keatsy, it was just pure love.

00:36:02I don't think he saw anything else in the world just then, only Bobo.

00:36:06He'd rush back from the library and he and Bobo would have one of their cooing sessions.

00:36:14I almost, like, didn't like to interrupt.

00:36:17It was so private.

00:36:20And so beautiful.

00:36:28Then, one day, the river flooded.

00:36:31It was no more than a very high tide, really, but we got the wheels of the pram wet.

00:36:35And Greg decided the low-lying river air was bad for Bobo and started to look for a post outside

00:36:40London.

00:36:42When he got the job here, I was so excited.

00:36:45We'd spent our honeymoon in Edinburgh and loved it.

00:36:48He found us this flat and arranged for the installation of the central heating, and we planned the move for

00:36:54early in August.

00:36:56About a week before the actual date, he came up here just to check that everything had been done properly.

00:37:11Bobo was such an easy baby.

00:37:15Even at three months, he'd begun to sleep through his three o'clock feed.

00:37:20So, I didn't think anything of it when he didn't wake in the night, and when I went to wake

00:37:24him up in the morning, I wasn't worried.

00:37:26What a good baby, I thought.

00:37:30But he wasn't quiet because he was good.

00:37:33He was quiet because he was dead.

00:37:36He was a dead baby.

00:37:41Everyone was marvellous at the hospital.

00:37:44In 20 minutes, he was in intensive care, and the nurses were very kind, and the doctor so human and

00:37:51gentle explaining to me about cot deaths and how there might have to be an inquest, but I wasn't to

00:37:56worry.

00:37:59And all the time I sat there, waiting and listening, there was this awful thing.

00:38:09I wasn't thinking about Bobo.

00:38:12I was thinking about Greg.

00:38:15How was I going to tell him?

00:38:19Couldn't reach here.

00:38:20The phone wasn't on yet.

00:38:22So I waited.

00:38:24All day I waited for him to come home.

00:38:29Mrs. Evelyn from downstairs bought me cups of tea, and the health visitor came and sat with me for a

00:38:35bit.

00:38:37There was nothing I could do, Keatsy, nothing at all.

00:38:44And when at last he came, taking the stairs two at a time, whistling as he always did in those

00:38:50days, I told him.

00:38:55He stood there still as a monument, listening without saying a word.

00:39:00So I thought he hadn't heard, but he had.

00:39:04At least in a way he had, because he started explaining to me exactly what we were going to do.

00:39:11He would handle the inquest and see to the move and set everything up in Edinburgh, and I was to

00:39:16go directly down to Mar at the cottage, and he would send for me as soon as everything was ready

00:39:22here.

00:39:24And then, he hadn't even put down his overnight bag, he ran to Bobo's room, and put on a tape

00:39:34of their cooing session.

00:39:37Right from the start, he decided to tape Bobo's baby noises.

00:39:43He must be alert for his first word, he'd say.

00:39:50So a baby could talk at three months.

00:39:57And I remember listening to him while I packed my suitcase, and I thought, well, now, Bobo's yours at last.

00:40:13And I went off to Waterloo and got the train down to New Milton.

00:40:20He didn't kiss me goodbye, he wanted me to go, of course, he wanted me out of the way.

00:40:28And the dreadful thing was, I wanted to go, to get out of the way, to run, to run anywhere,

00:40:35even to Mar, to run and hide.

00:40:42Because I failed him.

00:40:50Well, you're going.

00:40:52I want your money, then.

00:40:55I want your money, then.

00:41:45I want your money, then.

00:41:54this evening see you Monday half the fun they have is taking the paper off

00:42:07little girl is it but no a boy oh he's one year old today

00:42:14well this would be just about as big as himself then it's a lovely age has he said his first

00:42:20words yet not yet but soon any day now

00:42:38Debra can I use your phone poor Mrs. Blackie's had an attack and dad said my phone cut off

00:42:42oh yes of course in there thanks

00:42:47poor old soul it's that asthma part that's really bad

00:42:51I was taking her in some jam tarts I just baked I know how she fancies them hot

00:42:55and already when she came to the door she was all blue and then she just collapsed on my arms

00:42:59lucky she's such a wee whisper of a thing to carry

00:43:03hello Dr. James please

00:43:05well it's about Mrs. Blackie on Montgomery Street

00:43:08well she's had a bad attack I think it's her asthma

00:43:11yes but could you tell them it's urgent thanks

00:43:36where's this is um they're in the door by the sink

00:43:42I've been rationalizing

00:43:46I've been rationalizing

00:44:09I've been rationalizing

00:44:15What's this?

00:44:19It's an oven glove.

00:44:20Yes, but who does it belong to?

00:44:23It's Sandra's, one of the students.

00:44:25The dark-haired one.

00:44:27She had to use the phone to call the doctor.

00:44:29Mrs. Blackie's had an attack.

00:44:30She came in here?

00:44:31She had to.

00:44:33Her phone's out of order and Mrs. Blackie doesn't have one,

00:44:36so of course she came to us.

00:44:40What's wrong with the phone box on the corner?

00:44:42Greg, it was an emergency.

00:44:44The old lady might have died.

00:44:46I couldn't say no.

00:44:47How could I?

00:44:49You shouldn't have answered the door.

00:45:13All right.

00:45:15Oh, hi.

00:45:18Good morning.

00:45:20Thank you, thank you, thank you.

00:46:02Thank you, thank you.

00:47:36Well, she's worried about her stare day.

00:47:39Look, perhaps if you don't mind, your daily woman could do it for her for a while.

00:47:43Oh, I'm sure she'd be delighted.

00:47:46She's an old quiet wee buddy, isn't she?

00:47:48Oh, you mustn't worry about her.

00:47:49She's a deaf mute, but she's incredibly capable.

00:47:54Oh, I must fly.

00:47:56I'd really like to drop in and see Mrs Blackley.

00:47:59Oh, no, no.

00:48:00You've got your hands full, you're being.

00:48:01I can see that.

00:48:02Yes, well, I have a bit.

00:48:03Anyway, bye-bye.

00:48:04And, oh, all right.

00:48:06Take care.

00:48:07See you.

00:48:15I'll pass it by.

00:48:18I'll pass it by.

00:48:36Okay.

00:48:41I'm gonna go.

00:48:44What's that?

00:48:57What's that?

00:48:59What's that?

00:49:03What's that?

00:49:05Baby, baby.

00:49:11That's a little bug.

00:49:13Little bug.

00:49:16Little bug.

00:49:35It's just the way the best hotels are supposed to be. Comfortable but discreet.

00:49:40I mean, they must have known they were honeymooners, but they were far too genteel to mention it.

00:49:45I've got a sort of feeling Greg's forgotten it's her anniversary, so as to be on the safe side, I've

00:49:50bought myself something.

00:49:53Look.

00:49:55Isn't that gorgeous?

00:49:58Do you think it will tempt him?

00:50:06Do you know Keatsy?

00:50:09He hasn't touched me once since Bobo died.

00:50:13Not even accidentally.

00:50:16Give it time, I say to myself.

00:50:20But it's so sad.

00:50:23I don't see how you can love someone properly without sex.

00:50:32We've been married five years today.

00:50:40Did I ever tell you, Keatsy, it was my secret ambition to be a ballerina?

00:50:44Oh, yes.

00:50:46When I was eleven, I was chief nymph in the school dancing class.

00:50:51And then Daddy took me to see Swan Lake and I was hooked.

00:50:57I remember one afternoon he invited the headmaster and his wife to tea.

00:51:01Very grand she was, Mrs Headmaster, with this great long nose.

00:51:06And what are you going to be when you grow up, my dear?

00:51:10And I piped up.

00:51:12I'm going to be a nymphomaniac.

00:51:16And there was this terrible stony silence.

00:51:20And Pa started coughing into his hanky and Ma said,

00:51:24I'm sure you have plenty of homework to do, Deborah.

00:51:28And it wasn't till ages afterwards I realised what I'd said wrong.

00:51:33Of course, I'd got all mixed up between nymphs and ballotomains.

00:51:40Do you know, the funny thing is,

00:51:44that is exactly what Ma was afraid of.

00:51:47She always thought I was terrifically oversexed.

00:51:51But heaven knows why.

00:51:56I remember asking her about the facts of life.

00:52:01You can read all about that in books, Deborah.

00:52:04But I can assure you that what happens between the sheets is most uninteresting.

00:52:12Poor old Ma.

00:52:13She really is the most awful duffer in some ways.

00:52:18The first time Greg and I went to stay with her at the cottage after we were married,

00:52:23she gave us her room with the marital bed in it.

00:52:27Lovely old-fashioned affair with brass knobs and creaking springs and...

00:52:32Oh, golly, did it creak.

00:52:36Ma was absolutely outraged.

00:52:39Of course she couldn't say anything about it.

00:52:43Then one morning, I caught her coming out of her bedroom with an oil can in her hand.

00:52:51It was the only time I ever saw her blush.

00:52:57Oh, poor Ma.

00:53:05Do you know, Keatsy, I've got a sort of feeling...

00:53:12Daddy wasn't all that hot in bed.

00:53:17I'm really gonna get dressed up tonight.

00:53:22The nymph will out.

00:53:25You'll see.

00:53:30And then, who knows?

00:53:49See you on Monday, then.

00:53:51I'll be waiting.

00:53:52Cheerio.

00:54:07Heaven.

00:54:10I'm in heaven.

00:54:13And my heart beats so that I can hardly speak.

00:54:20And I seem to find the happiness I see.

00:54:26One, two, one, two, two, two.

00:54:29Back.

00:54:31Two, two, four.

00:54:33One, two, two, two, two.

00:54:36Ow!

00:54:37I'm in heaven.

00:54:39And the cares that hide around me through the week.

00:54:46Seemed to vanish like a gambler's lucky.

00:54:52Oh, good evening.

00:54:54I hope you not think I'm taking a liberty.

00:54:56But I'm the health visitor for this area.

00:54:58And I wonder, perhaps, if I couldn't be of some help to you.

00:55:01Help to me?

00:55:02Well, I've been visiting your neighbor, Mrs. Blackie, quite often recently.

00:55:06And I couldn't help seeing your notice.

00:55:09Oh, I see.

00:55:11Well, you know, if you have a handicapped child, there are services you can call on to help you with

00:55:17advice.

00:55:17Or to relieve the burden a wee bit.

00:55:20How old is your child?

00:55:22He's one.

00:55:24But I can assure you he's perfectly all right.

00:55:27There's nothing wrong with him.

00:55:28Now, Mrs. Oxy, I'm sure you wouldn't have put that notice on your door for nothing.

00:55:31You know, you don't have to be ashamed to ask for help.

00:55:36I'm lost.

00:55:36Talk it over with your husband.

00:55:39We're here to help.

00:55:41Who is it?

00:55:42It's me.

00:55:44Well, um, thank you.

00:55:47Thank you very much indeed.

00:55:49I'll certainly tell my husband.

00:55:51It's just that the neighbors next door make so much noise, so he feels they need reminding.

00:55:57All right.

00:55:58Well, if you do change your mind, you only have to call me at that number.

00:56:02Oh, thank you.

00:56:04Well, cheerio then.

00:56:05Goodbye.

00:56:13Goodbye.

00:56:13Good evening.

00:56:23Oh, Mrs. Oxy, Mrs. Blackie said to be sure and thank you for having your daily woman door stair day

00:56:28again.

00:56:29Well, bye-bye.

00:56:47I thought you'd be pleased if the house was nicely kept.

00:56:51Did you think I'd be pleased that you'd betrayed our trust?

00:56:55He goes.

00:56:56He took as though I were having lovers in.

00:56:58I know.

00:56:59I only wanted to lead a normal life.

00:57:02I wanted to lead a normal life.

00:57:02But you are leading a normal life.

00:57:04You've got a wonderful baby.

00:57:05A comfortable flat.

00:57:07You can do whatever.

00:57:07I can't go anywhere.

00:57:08I can't go anywhere.

00:57:09I have nothing to do except talk to Keatsy.

00:57:14Oh, you said she was deaf.

00:57:15That's why I talked to her.

00:57:17That's absurd.

00:57:18What's the point of talking to somebody you can't hear?

00:57:19Because I've got nobody else to talk to.

00:57:22You can talk to me.

00:57:23Me?

00:57:23You're even deafer than she is.

00:57:26What?

00:57:27You're deaf too.

00:57:33Oh, no.

00:57:34No, go.

00:57:35Please.

00:57:36I've made your favorite.

00:57:37I don't want any supper, thanks.

00:57:40You're too for the baby food, I suppose!

00:57:48And when the day dawned in the morning light, that little grey rabbit was shining white.

00:57:58I like a nice, mild English drizzle.

00:58:03Oh, Scottish.

00:58:06It's so soothing, don't you think?

00:58:08And I so want soothing just at the moment.

00:58:15Oh, Keatsy, what am I going to do without you?

00:58:19It's so silly to be jealous of a dead baby, but I am.

00:58:22I know I am.

00:58:25Sometimes I hate him.

00:58:28I actually hate him.

00:58:32I wanted to tell the health visitor everything yesterday.

00:58:36I wanted it to pass out of my hands.

00:58:40To absolve myself.

00:58:46But then what would happen to Greg?

00:58:49There'd be social workers and psychotherapists and he couldn't survive that.

00:58:54He's too fragile, you know.

00:58:56That's why he's so closed in seeming and buttoned up.

00:59:01He's protecting a kind of innocence.

00:59:05You do understand, don't you?

00:59:09It's all his joy.

00:59:12All his delight.

00:59:15Locked away now, hidden away in himself.

00:59:20Some kind of terrible, dark room of the soul.

00:59:26I used to be so kind.

00:59:29You know, so loving.

00:59:31Such a lovely lover.

00:59:36He still is kind.

00:59:39He's always been kind.

00:59:40But it's the sort of kindness you give to a pet hamster or a parrot.

00:59:48Buckle down and get on with it, my mother said.

00:59:51And I have.

00:59:52I do.

00:59:56It's a nightmare.

01:00:00And it's getting darker and darker.

01:00:04And there's nothing I can do.

01:00:08There's nothing anybody can do.

01:00:16I'm sorry.

01:00:18I expect you want more money.

01:00:35Oh, Keatsy.

01:00:37I'm going to cry.

01:01:17To this evening's main piece.

01:01:19The concerto we're about to hear is often said to be the most sublime of Mozart's works.

01:01:25Proposed at the height of his consider.

01:01:45Deb.

01:01:48Perhaps you're right.

01:01:49Perhaps it's time to make a change.

01:01:53Oh, Greg.

01:01:55Do you really mean it?

01:01:57I'm not against change.

01:01:59When it's necessary.

01:02:00Oh, yes.

01:02:01Yes.

01:02:03It's not that I'm just being difficult.

01:02:07It's been cooped up here day after day with...

01:02:11I was beginning to feel we were stuck in the same groove forever.

01:02:16Let's change the record then.

01:02:19Oh, I could hug you.

01:02:22Oh, no.

01:02:42Oh, no.

01:02:43I'm got some funk.

01:02:44No way.

01:02:44I got some funk on it.

01:02:45Oh, yeah.

01:02:46That's that couple of questions.

01:02:46Look at me.

01:02:47Okay.

01:02:47Back in a minute living,

01:02:48Okay?

01:02:56By the way, speaking of change, I think Bobo will be saying his first words any day now.

01:03:34Bye. Have a safe journey. Hi there. Have you enjoyed the view?

01:03:39It's just saying goodbye to Greg. He's got a conference in London this week. He's catching the sleeper.

01:03:45Oh, we have time for a coffee then? Or is the baby due for a feed?

01:03:49Oh, no. He's asleep. Great. Look, I'm just going to check Mrs. Blackie's settled for the night. Won't be two

01:03:54minutes.

01:03:54Yes, I'll just get my fags and my keys. OK, great.

01:04:01Mrs. Blackie? Has your flatmate gone to bed?

01:04:05Oh, they went to bed hours ago. Sunday's the one night in the week Jimmy's free.

01:04:11It's no fun being in love with a night worker. Poor Julia. Says she's not getting enough.

01:04:17I don't know how she feels.

01:04:21You know, you're looking a bit pale. You should get yourself out more. We'll take the bed into the park.

01:04:28Well, it's not so easy. The baby's not very...

01:04:32Do you know if you haven't even seen him? If he's got a good pair of lungs on him, I'll

01:04:34say that.

01:04:36Well, he hasn't actually got a good pair of lungs. They weren't properly developed when he was born, so he's

01:04:44terribly allergic to all kinds of things that asthmatics are, you know, um, pollen, petrol fumes, dust.

01:04:50So what about your cigarettes?

01:04:52Oh, well, not allowed in the nursery. Not when I'm smoking.

01:04:55Oh, Dave, I'm sorry. So with your husband away, you'll not be able to get out at all.

01:05:01Well...

01:05:01Yes, I shall. His grandmother's going to have him for a few days, so I'll get a little holiday.

01:05:08She's wonderful with babies, and she hasn't seen Bobo for such a long time.

01:05:12So we're going to fly down in the morning, and she's going to collect Bobo from the airport.

01:05:17Well, so where will you go?

01:05:19Me? Well, I'll come back here, of course. I mean, there's so much to see, isn't there?

01:05:24It would be wonderful. Three whole days to myself.

01:05:27Well, I'll be coming in your cheeks.

01:05:28And you and Julia must come to dinner. You'll be my first dinner guest.

01:05:32I'm quite a good cook, actually.

01:05:33Oh, I'm sure you are. We'd love to.

01:05:53Waverley Station, please. It's alright, it's only a doll.

01:06:07Bye-bye.

01:06:09Bye-bye.

01:06:37So, let's go.

01:06:47Ladies and gentlemen, go to the front of you, this is the chapel of St Margaret.

01:06:52St Margaret was also a good Margaret of Scotland, but when she and her family moved to the castle in

01:06:581070, she had this chapel built for her own private use.

01:07:01St Margaret was very good to have told her, but she was very true, so I'm going to be the

01:07:08same.

01:07:09She was recognized by Popeye's school, and became known as St Margaret.

01:07:15Margaret's school is only sister, and she was only recognized here in St Margaret.

01:07:21So, today, if you're a member of the forces...

01:07:23.

01:08:54Excuse me.

01:08:56Excuse me.

01:08:58You wouldn't happen to be Mrs. Oakesy, would you?

01:09:00Yes, I am. Why?

01:09:01Oh, terrific. I'm from McBurnie and Clough.

01:09:04I know you wouldn't expect me till next week, but I just happened to be in the neighbourhood,

01:09:07so I thought I'd pop round on the off chance that some...

01:09:09Sorry if you're selling something. I'm really not interested.

01:09:12Oh, well, it's you that's doing the selling, really, isn't it?

01:09:15Um, look, would it be convenient for me to do the measure not right now?

01:09:18If not, I can always come back next week.

01:09:19Measuring up?

01:09:21Inspection of the premises.

01:09:23We'll have to let the potential buyer know what to expect, eh?

01:09:25Otherwise we'll not get many potential buyers.

01:09:28You're on Mrs. Oakesy, aren't you?

01:09:30Mrs. Gregory Oakesy?

01:09:35Yes, I am.

01:09:36Um, I'm so sorry it's not convenient.

01:09:40Yeah, much.

01:09:41Oh, fine. Well, not to worry.

01:09:43I'll see you next week then, eh?

01:09:44Cheerio now.

01:10:02Cheerio now.

01:10:15Yes, I will.

01:10:17Hello, Deb.

01:10:19Greg.

01:10:20How was today?

01:10:21I'm fine.

01:10:22Did you give your paper?

01:10:24Yes, yes, it was all right.

01:10:25How's my word?

01:10:26He's fine.

01:10:28Well, perhaps a touch of the sniffles.

01:10:32What do you mean?

01:10:33You know, a sniffle's a bit of a cold.

01:10:35A cold?

01:10:37Well, perhaps I should come back.

01:10:39I could easily cut the last day.

01:10:42Oh, don't be silly, darling.

01:10:45Don't come back early.

01:10:46What would they think?

01:10:47I can easily cope.

01:10:49Are you sure?

01:10:50Of course I'm sure.

01:10:52Listen, talk tomorrow.

01:10:54All right then, take care.

01:10:56Bye.

01:11:13I'll have to be going.

01:11:15Oh, no, no.

01:11:15Have another brandy.

01:11:17Oh, no.

01:11:17I've got a bloody essie and Lorca to finish.

01:11:19I'll be up all night as it is.

01:11:21Oh, I should go too.

01:11:22And you have to be off early in the morning.

01:11:26Isn't it tomorrow you fetch Bobo back?

01:11:27Oh, yes.

01:11:29Yes, it is.

01:11:30Well, that was lovely.

01:11:32You're a wonderful cook, Deb.

01:11:34Well, it wasn't bad, was it?

01:11:36Come on, I'll give you a hand with the clearing up.

01:11:43You've gone very thoughtful.

01:11:46It's nothing serious.

01:11:49Well, it's just that I rang Ma earlier and Bobo's got a cold.

01:11:55Oh, Deb, I'm sorry.

01:11:57Is there anything I can do?

01:11:58No, really.

01:11:59It's just me being silly.

01:12:00And I mustn't keep you here talking all night.

01:12:03It's way past my bedtime.

01:12:05Thank you for doing that.

01:12:06Oh, not at all.

01:12:07And now, don't you talk to any strangers on your way home.

01:12:11I won't.

01:12:13Thanks.

01:12:14Take care.

01:13:05Bye-bye.

01:13:07Bye-bye.

01:13:17Bye-bye.

01:13:19Bye-bye.

01:13:26I don't know.

01:13:57Hehehehehe...

01:13:58Na na na na na!

01:14:02Na na na...

01:14:05Na na na!

01:14:06Na na na na!

01:14:09Yom!

01:14:12Ee-ee!

01:14:16Ee-ee!

01:14:18Aaaah!

01:14:26hello

01:14:29yes i will

01:14:31deb

01:14:32hi

01:14:33how's bobo

01:14:34fine much better

01:14:37because i could get back tonight

01:14:39what

01:14:40well if i skip the dinner

01:14:43it's just going to be speeches and toasts i could get the next train and be back

01:14:46now there's no need to do that

01:14:50come on

01:14:51i know you don't like those dues but they are so important

01:14:54yes i know

01:14:55and it wouldn't look good for one of their chief scottish representatives to duck out of the main event would

01:15:00it

01:15:01you think so

01:15:03yes i do

01:15:05no i suppose not

01:15:07all right then see you tomorrow

01:15:09yes okay

01:15:10have a good time

01:15:12bye

01:15:13bye

01:15:56Good night.

01:16:23Good night.

01:16:51Good night.

01:17:20Good night.

01:17:56Good night.

01:18:13Good night.

01:18:16Good night.

01:18:17Good night.

01:18:18Good night.

01:18:22Good night.

01:18:24Good night.

01:18:30Good night.

01:18:32Good night.

01:18:34Good night.

01:18:35Good night.

01:18:51Good night.

01:18:54Good night.

01:19:08Good night.

01:19:35Good night.

01:19:40What is it?

01:19:43Bobo is dead.

01:19:51What do you mean?

01:19:54It was just after you rang last night.

01:19:59I went into him and I knew at once there was something wrong.

01:20:03I told you he had a cold, but this time it was different.

01:20:08His breathing wasn't right at all.

01:20:13So I got a taxi and went straight round to emergency.

01:20:18They put him into intensive care at once.

01:20:22They were very good.

01:20:24They worked on him for hours and hours, all through the night.

01:20:30But his poor little lungs were so congested, it was all no use.

01:20:39He died early this morning.

01:20:46But he was really dead long before that, of course.

01:20:52I rested at the hospital for a bit and then I came home.

01:20:59Everyone was very kind.

01:21:01Mrs. Blackie Sandra Fiona McAllister.

01:21:07I can't tell you.

01:21:20He's dead.

01:21:28He's dead.

01:21:31how many days are over there.

01:21:33Are you going to school?

01:21:37Do you understand?

01:21:40My darling, baby's dead.

01:21:45Dad!

01:22:22Dad!

01:22:47Dad!

01:23:15Dad!

01:23:23It's all right.

01:23:37It's all right now, Dad.

01:24:12It's all right.

01:24:27My heart is all right.

01:24:28It's all right.

01:24:31It's all right.

01:24:34It's all right.

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