A Short Stay in Switzerland Page #3

look, see what we can do with that.

It's the garden I'll

miss most about the house.

Me, who couldn't grow a daisy!

Cheer up, Edward,

you can do anything with a garden.

Come spring, who knows?

Might be thriving.

We'll need to make up a

rota - who stays when.

No, I don't

think that's going to work.

Look. What?

Look at her.

She doesn't want to live here.

She doesn't want to live.

Well, I want her to.

And so do you.

And we will help her.

Mrs Turner,

are you not frozen in that garden?

The year's turning quickly.

Come inside to the heat.

We're a right pair, Flora.

You really shouldn't go outside.

I know that, you know, but it's a

waste of breath telling you.

Yes, it is, I'm afraid.

Are you still going

to the coffee shop?

Clare has insisted.

I daren't cross her.

Here we go. Coffee looks dreadful.

Don't let me eat any of that cake.

Why did you buy it? Temptation.

I must resist. I must be good.

Oh, such willpower!

Share it. Oh, I daren't,

putting in weight as it is.

You must get back

on the tennis courts.

Shall I use this as a racket?

Really, Clare, my tennis days

are over. You needn't tell me.

I'm now partnered with

that dreadful Mrs Phelps.

You know, I pointed her out to you

one day - very tall woman,

voice like a parrot.

Vaguely resembles the

Duke of Edinburgh, yes.

Perfect! Slightly more hair.

Oh, God, Anne! What's going on?

And you can stop staring.

It's none of your bloody business.

Want to go home. Get me home.

Yes, of course, go home.

Just stay there.

Shall I give you a

hand into the house?

You do and I'll wallop

you with this stick.

That's the spirit! Mrs Savery.

You can lean on me if you like.

Thank you.

Sophie rang. She's coming down.

No, not today.

Not today, no.

Right, well, that's me

done and dusted.

Yes, I've left the money.

Collected, thank you.

Are you sure you have everything?

The medication - you

know exactly how much?

Thank you, Mrs Savery.

Shall I phone Sophie? No.

Thank you.

So I won't. Till tomorrow, then.

Tomorrow.

Damn! That article's useful.

Import...

I'm not a doctor any more.

I can't practise any more.

It's gone.

What is to become of us, Flora?

No more cat food, eh?

I won't even be able

to open the ruddy can.

We might starve to death, darling.

Come on,

come on.

That's it.

I thought it was all so well

planned out but it's not,

is it, little one?

It's not.

Oh.

It's now

or

never, Flora.

PHONE MESSAGE:
So no need to call,

having an early night.

Not that early, surely.

PHONE RINGS:

PHONE CONTINUES TO RING

Where are you, Mother?

Is she all right, Mrs Savery?

Why would she tell me not to come?

When?

OK.

CAT MIAOWS:

I can't pick you up, darling.

I might fall

and I'm so ruddy tired.

I really am.

Edward, it's me,

I'm coming to get you.

PHONE RINGS:

PHONE RINGING:

PHONE STOPS RINGING

PHONE RINGS AGAIN

I can't just leave work. No,

look, I don't care how busy you are.

Give me an hour at least.

No, Jessica. Something's wrong.

What is it?

Be ready in ten minutes. Edward!

PHONE RINGS:

PHONE STILL RINGING

PHONE STOPS RINGING

Jessica, come on, now!

I can't.

Mother?

Mother?

Jessica!

Oh, I want to die.

Oh, let me die...

Let me die.

It's all right. It's all right.

If I were a dog,

I'd put myself down.

I want to die.

Help me.

Should we call an ambulance?

Shhh.

Do you think we should wake her?

I don't think we should.

Why don't you get some sleep?

I can stay and watch her.

We have to face what's happened.

What exactly it means. Can't it wait?

I don't think it can.

I'm going to call Richard.

Just let her rest.

It'll be what she needs.

You'll have to spend a

few days looking after her.

Well, one of you will. Are

you surprised she's done it, Richard?

I'm surprised at

the way she's tried.

What do you mean?

It's not easy to kill

yourself with these.

They have built-in antidotes.

Did she not know that?

Maybe she was forgetful.

Maybe she was desperate.

We can never leave her alone again.

We can't be here morning,

noon and night, the three of us.

If we have to, we have to,

because this is a cry for help.

It isn't, Jessica.

You can't want her to die.

Jessica, it's not a question of

whether she lives or dies,

it's a question of making a choice

between a good death

and a bad death.

Do you want her to suffer or

not to suffer?

That's the choice she has to make.

So do we.

I quite understand you're all

furious with me,

causing such a fuss.

None of us are furious.

How could we be?

Did you want us to find you dead?

Why do what you did?

Why put yourself through all this?

There are people worse off.

Not when this disease

is finished with me.

I want to die.

I ask you not to stop me.

Don't ask that.

Do you know what you're saying?

I'd thought of a thousand

ways to tell the three of you,

but I don't know how to do it.

I've heard of this...

Oh... I can't think of the word,

my mind isn't entirely clear.

It's an organisation in Switzerland.

Based there.

What do they do?

They'd let you die if you want to.

They have the decency to do that.

Sophie, will you phone them for me?

I hate talking on the phone now.

I came across them when

your father was ill.

I wish to follow it up now.

At least talk to them

about what I can do.

Is this some kind of euthanasia?

Assisted dying.

You administer the drug yourself.

No!

Absolutely no.

I have no choice, Jessica.

I know what's coming.

I'm not afraid of dying.

But I am afraid of going through

what your father suffered.

Do you want me to end like that?

I'm sorry for all the bad news.

You cannot know

how sorry I am

for so many things.

But one thing I am not sorry for.

I have wonderful children.

And I need you now.

I need all three of you.

We're here.

Always.

So, you're asking me to phone

this Swiss organisation,

make a little appointment, and then

pack you off to Zurich

where you will die?

That's all I have to do, is it?

You do not know if I wish to

terminate my mother's life.

Stop being the blue-eyed boy, Edward!

Say something.

The disease is beating me.

It will only beat us if we let it.

If we can fight...

I am fighting a different battle.

I'll stand by you.

You could be prosecuted.

You could lose everything

you've worked for.

I don't give a damn about that.

You should.

I'll do what I decide and

I decide to be with you.

You do know what it

is I'm going to do?

Yes, Mother.

And no-one else can know.

You win.

Don't bully me, Sophie.

Just give me time.

I don't know how much time we have.

Jessica.

I'll look after her.

Yes, yes, I understand.

Provide a birth or a

marriage certificate, yes.

Meet your physician.

You do discuss

medical alternatives.

Tell them about Daddy.

Am I right in understanding

you only operate in Switzerland?

Tell them what he suffered.

And the waiting time?

What we saw him go through.

Control is with the

patient until the very end.

Thank you very much.

Why didn't you tell them about Daddy?

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes