No-one talks about this.
Ever.
I've advertised for a carer.
They're looking for two Irishmen, that's it.
Don't talk to Ellie like that. Well, she's not my mum.
Who is he, Violet? He was just asking for lodgings, Mam.
You really should have just paid up, Walter. Aagh!
Don't you think you've got into enough trouble gambling?
Is that Grandma Gracie?
Ellie takes after her a lot. Who's this?
I don't know.
Is that all you ever want? What?
Maybe we should just forget about all this baby stuff for a while.
Take the pressure off.
Are you still looking for a room?
Cause me any trouble
and you'll be sorry.
My name is Frank.
This is my family home, 32 Brinkburn Street.
It's 1931, the year before I was born, when the world was a very different place.
This is the story of my family, then and now.
Sorry, Nana, did I wake you? No, no, you're all right.
At my age,
the days are short and the nights are long.
You feeling all right?
You've been looking a bit peaky these past few days.
Bit off, that's all.
Down in one, then, go on.
Good girl.
Off you go to bed now.
Don't wake Nora.
Dad always used to give me hot milk when I was little.
It makes me feel safe.
Bring it back to bed, eh?
You know, there are some absolutely amazing IVF stories on here, Nick.
There's one couple from America,
and they'd been trying for years and years and everyone said it was hopeless.
And they went to this clinic, and it just all...
Ellie, it's the middle of the night.
I'm already tossing and turning worrying about how to salvage my business.
Can we just do this another time? I just want to be fully prepared before we go in.
In the meantime...
Hi, David, it's me. Where are you?
I have a little surprise for you.
I'll give you a call later. OK? Bye.
Ah! Joy, I presume? Yes, well, come in.
Mrs Ogilvie.
Is Walter in?
Come in.
Oh, what a nuisance. Sorry, Nana.
No, never mind. I'm sure next door's baby will still get its bonnet, pattern or no.
Can I get you a cup of tea, Mr Peters? No, thank you.
I'll have one. Ooh, teacups.
Is it union business?
You'll burn that board, Mrs Ogilvie, if you don't watch.
It's fine. It's asbestos.
Run upstairs and give this to your dad. Tell him to hurry himself up.
You, er, doing the rounds, then, Mr Peters?
Not exactly. Just this house.
Yes, and this is where the magic happens. Ellie, this is my new carer, Joy.
Joy, my daughter, Ellie. Lovely to meet you. Lovely to meet you, too.
So, where should I start?
Let me show you his pills.
Welcome to Frank's Pharmacy.
Tah-dah!
Right. We've got painkillers, blood pressure and cholesterol.
Blood thinners, vitamins and calcitonin.
You have bone problems?
It's OK, I know what I'm doing. That's great, OK.
My husband, Nick, should be around. His daughter, Poppy, lives in her room
and communicates via grunting or the internet.
PHONE RINGS Oh, excuse me.
Hello?
She drinks a lot of coffee in the morning.
Should I start with breakfast? Only if you'll join me and pretend to be interested while I talk too much.
I think you and I will get on very well, Frank.
Brilliant. So, 3:30, then.
Great, we'll see you then.
Bye.
Good news? The best.
Nick!
What can I say? My dad's a moron. 'You can say you'll meet me at the usual place. Half an hour?'
No way. What about your train?
'I'll get a later one. You cool to miss school?' Try and stop me.
I'm sure he'll be here as quickly as he can.
In '26, that man downstairs watched my back.
He took a few knocks for me in that strike.
If you ask me, union men are like undertakers.
They only turn up when it's bad news.
Ooh, watch it. Sorry.
KNOCK AT DOOR
I'd better get on.
I know what you're thinking, I won't play cricket again.
But it's not that bad, I won't be off long.
I may as well be straight with you, Walter. It's not good news.
You've got to help me while I'm off sick.
I've never missed me subs, you can check.
It's, er...
Your job's gone.
Gone?
How?
What do you mean, gone?
Bad times, Walter.
The company's looking for excuses to get rid of men,
and you handed them one.
But you can get me back in, though?
Can't do anything. No job, no union membership.
I'm sorry.
Mr Peters...
RADIO CRACKLES
Mr Peters.
You've got to get me back.
I've done everything I can, I put up the best argument I could.
I'm good at my job.
Every morning I get to work at 6:30.
Every morning I fight my way past dozens of men.
You kept disappearing.
Your habits, Walter.
All your gambling.
I'm sorry,
it's done. I can't do any more.
So they had this cancellation and we're in at 3:30 today.
How good is that, eh? It's great.
The conception gods are on our side, I can feel it.
Dad, I need some cash. Oh, you're talking to me now?
Well, I think it's the least you can do after ruining my life.
What's it for? Lunch. I thought you had a study day.
I am studying, in the library. I still need to eat. I'm making lunch. What can I get you?
Come on, Dad. What did your mum used to give you for lunch? The money.
A fiver?
Thanks, Mr Generosity! Right, I'll see you later.
Hey, Poppy. This is Joy.
Hi. Bye.
Told you. Right, I've got to go, too.
So, Dad, will you be a good boy and use that chair?
Yes, sir. OK. See you.
3:30, and don't forget. I'll be there.
OK, bye. See you, love.
Bye.
Are you feeling better now, Violet?
I'm all right now, Nana.
Not sore any more? Tummy all right?
I'm fine. Good.
There's a lot of nasty things going round, you know.
Don't want you to catch something from one of the girls at work, or a boy.
Some boys have a nasty habit of leaving a girl very poorly.
Mrs Gill's washing.
Will you get yourself away?
If he sacks you for being late, don't cry to me.
Do you want a hand? Does it look like I need a hand?
Yeah.
Mr Peters left in a hurry.
KNOCK ON DOOR Oh, I'll go.
He came to say they've kept the job for me. Told you he was a good bloke, didn't I?
You told me they were cutting hours back.
Now they're keeping a job open for you?
I practically run the place.
When I'm back they'll get me extra shifts to make up for the shortfall. That's what he came to say.
There's nothing to worry about, promise. Nothing at all.
I don't suppose I could soak you up before you go?
Do you reckon I could fit in your bag?
Oh, yeah. Your dad'd love that!
He already thinks I'm corrupting you, why not add kidnapping to the list?
I'll have to make a calendar, so we can mark down those days.
It's only a few weeks till I'm back down for Dad's birthday.
Mikey, it feels like forever.
Mikey, do you know when you get back,
can I stay over?
"Stay over" stay over?
You sure you're ready?
I mean, it's totally what I want to do.
I mean, you still want do it too, right, yeah?
Right. 100%, right.
I just don't want you to do anything you're not ready for.
I love you.
I love you, too.
I've just been to the boat house.
It's empty.
I'll be very, very careful.
It's too late for that.
Your dad,
does he still work in the warehouse?
You won't starve, then, will you?
Hey, Sid!
You shouldn't be here. What if you're seen?
It's Seamus. They got him. Picked him up off the boat.
We might not have as long as we think, you know. Not here. Graveyard. Usual time.
Aah!
Here, here, let me.
Leave it.
Do you not think I could have done without this?
In future, Mr... Sid.
O'Sullivan. In future, Mr O'Sullivan, why don't you try to watch where you're walking?
Hello? Hello, my love. Joy? Who else?
How was the flight?
What time is it there?
This line is amazing. It sounds like you're in the next room. Not quite.
Listen, let me call you back. This must be costing you a fortune. David, I've not gone.
'I'm still in Manchester.
'David?'
Are you mad?
I mean, your visa's expired, you know you can't stay here.
Yeah, but who's going to find out? I have a new job...
So you've spoken to someone? Look, I'm staying. How good is that?
Great. 'It's cash in hand. Anyway, do you want to meet up later?'
Yeah, yeah, of course.
You are happy I'm staying, aren't you?
How can you ask me that?
So, my place, 8pm?
Yeah, yeah. I'll see you then.
OK.
INTERCOM: 'Dr Mitchell. Your 12:15's here.'
Yeah, send her in.
Please. Take a seat.
What can I do for you? I want to go on the pill.
I haven't got time to start cooking for you in the middle of the day. Thanks.
Your friend. He seemed a bit worried.
Who's this now?
The man you were talking to in the back lane.
You know, I grew up in a house full of women.
Five sisters, me aunt, me mum.
I'm not ashamed to say I was spoilt rotten, cos they were all brilliant cooks.
But if any of them met you, I think they'd have met their match.
Is that so? Certainly is. In that case, if you want me to cook for you... I do.
Get up on time!
BP 120/80.
Good. Physically, obviously, no problem.
Age-wise, you're 15.
I'm not rushing into this. I'm sure you're not.
But I wouldn't be doing my job if I didn't ask you a few questions first, would I?
So, why have you decided to go on the pill?
Because I want to be safe. Are you already sexually active? No.
Have you told your parents about this? As if!
Well, I would advise you spoke to someone about it, OK?
OK. And use condoms too. You heard about STIs?
Yeah, there was this thing at school.
A thing? Excellent!
I'm glad to hear the education system is still as thorough as ever. I know what I'm doing.
I'm writing you a prescription for a 21-day combined contraceptive pill.
If you have any worries at all, come back and see me.
Thanks.
They're playing darts in the back room. Not for me.
New leaf, Walter?
Careful there, Wally, you don't want to hurt yourself.
You not stopping for another? My round. I've got to get back.
It wasn't a question, Walter. Stay.
It would help if you moved out of the way.
I hope you're not going to hang around the house all day.
If you haven't got a job why don't you go out like everybody else and look?
Let me do it.
What? Come on, let me do it.
I made you drop the washing, least I can do is put it right.
Hope you haven't mixed any colours in here.
My colours never run.
Yeah? You never know.
SHE GIGGLES
Sorry.
I'm glad I'm amusing you.
I just... I've never seen a man doing the washing before. Don't you worry.
I know what I'm doing.
It's better if I do it.
I have work.
Important work.
I don't know if you'd call it a job,
but I have got money.
But I paid you back!
I think you're forgetting quite how much you owe me, Walter.
Do you honestly think a few bob's going to cover it? You broke my arm.
I own you.
Don't ever forget that.
You a church man, Walter? No.
Oh, that's going to change. You and me, we're paying a little visit to St Mark's this afternoon.
You're going to be keeping the vicar occupied.
I'll be confiscating some of the Church's excess wealth.
What if I say no?
St Mark's.
3pm.
God Bless.
Yeah, that's fantastic.
What time?
Erm...
No, no, it's just I have another appointment at 3:30.
Yep, yeah, I'm sure we can sort it by then.
Erm, great, I'll see you shortly.
Thanks, bye.
What? What's wrong with this picture? Umm... No Michael?
Hilarious!
Why aren't you at the library? It was too noisy.
Right. And my fiver? Spent it. Sorry.
Right, keys.
You off out?
Ten out of ten for observation.
Possible new contract.
And when I get back, I think we should have a little chat.
Right, bye-bye then. Oh, don't. Oh...
I know you love me really.
Popsicle! What an unexpected pleasure. Seeing how cool you used to look.
What do you mean used to?
Did I already introduce you to Joy?
Yo. There you go, Joy.
Any time you want any dazzling repartee you know where to come.
I'll just make your bed. Yeah, OK, thank you.
Does it not feel weird?
What? Remembering that I was once young and dapper?
No, I mean always living here.
I mean, this has been like, my millionth house.
Millionth? Well, fourth.
Yeah, it must be nice just
staying in the same place for a while.
It is. You'll be happy here, Poppy.
I always have been.
Can I borrow some of these? Yeah, yeah, do. Knock yourself out. Thank you. All right.
Now, the train's at 8pm tonight. Once we get to London, there's people that'll put us up.
They'll be crawling all over the station. We'll keep our faces covered.
The air's so thick nobody'll take any notice. I think we should stay put. What?
If we panic we'll stand out more. We should just sit tight.
Sit it out. I mean, if they had anything on us we'd be dangling already.
I got a wireless, I listened to it this morning. There's nothing on it.
I hope you're right.
Erm, if I'm lucky enough to win your business today,
you'll not only be getting a full creative package,
I will also take care of everything from the metadata, SEO and Flash content to the smaller details.
I'm so sorry.
He's usually punctual to the point of obsession.
Well, we won't be able to wait around much longer, I'm afraid.
Maybe you can tell me what it is you wanted to discuss?
I want, er, well, we...
IVF. OK, OK. And you and your husband have been trying for how long?
Months. A year. Two years.
Any miscarriages? No. Have either of you had any tests?
Sperm analysis? Ultrasound? No.
He does already have a daughter, so it's probably
my bits that are broken.
I don't think it's useful to see it that way.
How much do you know about IVF on the NHS?
That they give it to anyone, no questions asked.
The recommendation here is that suitable couples receive up to three cycles of IVF on the NHS,
if you're between 27 and 39.
Well, that's great. Tick, tick. Where do I sign?
Well, it's not quite as simple as that, I'm afraid.
There's... There's a waiting list.
And there's all the exploratory work.
It's going to take time.
Have you thought about going private?
How much are we talking? ã4,000-ã5,000. Per cycle. I'm sorry.
If you're here to join the choir, you're rather late, I'm afraid.
No, it's you I want to speak to, vicar.
I'm in a bit of a hole. I see.
So, how can I help you?
Well, I, er... I don't know where to start, really.
I should've asked the wife, she'd have written me a list.
Still, if we were all perfect you'd be out of business, eh?
I am in trouble, though.
Seriously.
The sack was just sitting there, wasn't it?
I mean, maybe for a couple of days, maybe more.
So I took it.
How was I to know the ruddy coal was his? Shouldn't have left it in the back lane, should he?
CLATTERING
Did you hear something? Oh, it's my kids. Little villains.
I told them, "Sit down and be quiet."
I just need someone to pray with me.
I'm not a bad person, really, I swear.
Will you pray with me, vic, please? Help me ask for forgiveness?
Thank you.
'Some boys have a nasty habit of leaving a girl very poorly.'
Lay the table, Violet.
You shouldn't have been out for so long. I was worried. I went to the warehouse.
I needed to speak to the foreman to check about keeping me job open.
And? It's right enough.
Promised me overtime when I get back.
As much as I want! So we'll be sorted in no time.
Finally, some good news.
You don't get a contract like this every day.
It could be a real biggie.
And this... this company's got fingers in pies all over the place.
If I could do a good job on this, who knows?
I know. I said it's good.
Hey, it'll certainly take the pressure off for a while, that's for sure.
I said I was sorry.
What was I supposed to do?
I couldn't give up the chance of work, could I? Course not. I don't expect that.
You did spring it on me a bit.
I'll call the surgery first thing in the morning.
Get another appointment. It's fine.
If we both see him, together...
It's OK. You keep saying it's OK but I still feel like somehow it's my fault.
How... How am I supposed to look after a baby if there's no money coming in, eh?
I just...
I just... I want him to say, "Yes, OK, it's fine."
Well, he didn't say no.
But there are so many hurdles, Nick.
I mean, I didn't realise you've got to do a test for this and a test for that and then...
it's two years,
and I haven't got two years. It's not that long.
Well, it is for me, and it is for Dad,
because he might not be here in two years,
and that means he's not going to see his grandchild, and...
It makes me feel like a failure.
LOUD MUSIC STARTS UPSTAIRS
How about if we go private?
I think you'd have to get a lot more work. At least four grand more.
MUSIC CONTINUES
I can't concentrate with that racket. Poppy?
Poppy!
MUSIC STOPS
Right. I've got to go.
AA meeting. You're still going?
I have to, you know that.
Oh, yeah. Don't want to be late for that.
I know it's hard for her.
But what about me?
She looks at mothers with their kids, and I know it hurts.
But I look at fathers with their kids and I think...
Well, I should have been there, like that, with Poppy.
But I wasn't, was I? I was...
I was too busy drinking or thinking about drinking.
Thanks.
You're chewing on that like a cow on new grass, what's the matter with you? Nothing.
You do look a bit peaky.
KNOCK ON DOOR I'll go.
I think you look radiant, Violet. There's plenty young fellas that would tip their hat to that face.
You Irish, you're all the same.
Charm or bullets, no other tricks in the book.
So, got your little pass to heaven, then, Walter?
Going to leave a few things here if that's OK with you, Wally.
Nice little haul, all things considered. No, no, you can't.
Oh.
OK.
No, no.
Just going to have a quick word with your missus.
Tell her what a naughty boy her husband is.
Keep them safe.
Hey, and no helping yourself, I know how much is there.
Oh, I nearly forgot.
Your cut.
You can't say I'm not fair.
I'll be in touch.
KNOCK ON DOOR
Give us a sec.
Come in.
I'm going to bed soon. I was just wondering... There's still some hot water in the kettle.
Oh, I'm fine, thanks. I don't want to be making a trip in the middle of the night.
Do you need another blanket or anything?
No, I'm grand, thanks.
You should read this.
Yeats? Who's Yeats? It's pronounced Yates.
Well, it's spelt Yeats.
He's a poet and a politician
and he's a great lover of freedom.
Poems? I'm not big on poems.
If I get time I prefer a story.
Well, it is like a story.
Why don't you hold on to it for a few days,
and if you get a chance, well and good, and if you don't, you don't. Night.
Hi, Ellie. Hi.
I'm off. OK, thanks, Joy. How was your first day?
Was everything OK? Oh, it was fine.
Frank's a lovely man. Oh, doesn't he know it?
He had a dizzy spell earlier this afternoon, but other than that he was good as gold. Dizzy spell?
Nothing to worry about. Just a lack of sugar.
OK, OK. Thank you.
Oh, I rearranged the pill cabinet just to make things simpler.
I hope you don't mind. Mmm.
Bye. Bye.
And how do I know I'm going to be any different with a new baby?
And what about my business? Am I supposed to pour everything I own into IVF?
I've already got Frank and Poppy to worry about.
HE GROANS
"Take down this book and slowly read,
"and dream of the soft look your eyes had once,
"and of their shadows deep.
"How many loved your moments of glad grace...
"and loved your beauty with love false and true."
The wanderer! Where have you been? You know I had a meeting.
What, for four hours? I've missed you.
What? Wine.
I can taste it on you. Sorry.
What's this? Well, I thought, you know, wouldn't do any harm, be prepared.
What were you thinking?
It's only a babygro.
It's a bit crazy, Ellie.
It's too much, too fast.
If I'm going fast it's because going slow isn't an option. At least not for me anyway.
You know, Nick,
I've never really asked anything of you, have I?
I mean, I've stood by you through the drinking and the business and everything.
Oh. Oh. You poor thing!
I'm sorry I've been such a nightmare for you! Don't.
At least just talk to me about all this. We are talking about it!
All we ever do is talk about it!
Oh, that's fine. So what do you suggest we do then, eh, Nick?
I mean, do you actually even want another kid?
You know I do.
Then please act like you do.
I can't deal with this.
Can I have some milk? Bed, come on.
Violet, can you help your Nana upstairs?
Violet, love.
Come over here.
They're lovely and soft.
Well, they'll keep the frost from your toes, no doubt about it. Do you like the colour?
Yes. Very much.
And I've knitted a little pattern on the top here, but if you don't like it I can change it.
I like it.
I can knit any pattern you like.
Well, almost any.
And patterns can be changed, you know.
Just because something is knitted up it doesn't have to stay that way.
Things can be unravelled, you know.
Nothing has to stay the way it is.
Now, I know a woman,
and she's very clever at unravelling,
very clever.
And if you want to see her, now, if you do...
well, I think it should stay between me and you.
KNOCK ON DOOR
Oh, Popsicle, come in. Just come to say good night.
Oh, what you reading? Some poems by Yeats.
They were my mother's favourites.
Do you still miss her? Well, she's been dead for many years.
But yes. Every day.
I still miss mine.
Is that why you stay here, then? Why would I want to move?
Erm, to be somewhere where the wallpaper's from this century?
Point taken.
No, there was some talk of moving back in the '50s,
but nobody would touch it.
Why? Well, some local nonsense about it being cursed.
Cursed? What, like ghosts?
Well, ghost and ghouls and witches and trolls.
But don't worry, Pops, it's just some ridiculous rumour
that went round the neighbours 60, 70 years ago.
Mum really hated it up there. I used to tease her about it, but she never seemed to see the funny side.
It's not because there's ghosts, though, there's no such thing.
'I bet someone's died in your room.'
If you don't stop going on about ghosts, I'll dump you.
You better watch yourself, Paddy. Or what?
Or I'll murder you where you stand. I'd like to see you try.
I've got another job on tomorrow.
Tomorrow?
Maybe I should think about keeping the baby.
No. No, love.
I nearly had a heart attack when you walked in. Not stalking me, are you?
What right have you to give a 15-year-old the pill?
Now, tell the gaffer you're sick and I'll meet you at the gate.
The longer we stay here, the more dangerous it gets.
Here puss, puss, puss. Come on.
SHE SCREAMS
Why weren't you here? I wish I'd never married you.
The present I really want to give you is a grandchild.
I really hated Manchester at first, and now I don't want to leave.
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