And When Did You Last See Your Father? Page #5

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I beg your pardon?

I'm surprised you didn't

ask her along on holiday.

- She goes every where else with us.

- Enough, Blake.

- I'm sure Mummy wouldn't mind.

- Blake.

And even if she does mind,

what do you care?

- "It's just a bit of fun."

- I said that's enough!

I love your mother very much.

I love all of you.

You mean the whole world to me.

You know that.

So why'd you do it, Dad? Why?

I don't know what

you're talking about.

Now come inside.

Hello, stranger.

So, what was it like then?

- All right for some.

- Meet nice girls when you were away?

Any holiday romance?

- Only for Dad.

- I just hope you weren't unfaithful.

If I found out you been seeing someone

else behind my back...

Blake, get off.

Blake?

Blake?

Won't be a minute.

He was trying to get up

to clear his lungs and...

And he was coughing a lot

and panicking,

so I gave him some morphine.

He... all he said was,

"Can I lie down now?"

He's better now, but...

...his breathing's very irregular.

What's he looking at?

Nothing.

Dad?

He's looking straight through me.

Please, Dad, stop breathing.

Please just stop.

If you can't come back

as you were, then go.

Thank God.

I thought he'd gone then.

Don't do that again. Silly old bugger.

- I hate him.

- Don't be daft.

- No one hates their dad, not really.

- Well, I do.

All I mean is...

...if there's a firing squad and

I had to choose between shooting you

or shooting my dad,

then I'd shoot my dad, that's all.

- What was that for? What?

- You know what.

- Don't you dare.

- I was trying to be nice...

Well it's not nice.

It's a wicked thing to say.

Don't you dare ever, ever say anything

like that again.

- Why not?

- It doesn't matter.

I wouldn't say that about my dad,

and he's a vicious bastard.

- All I meant...

- You should never wish anyone dead.

What if it came true?

- Blake? Blake, where are you?

- Sex police! Go!

- Arthur!

- Sandra! Sorry.

Why don't you knock?

You frightened the life out of me!

I didn't think you'd be in, sorry.

I was just looking

for Blake, that's all.

Oh, well, he's hardly likely to be here.

No, I suppose not.

But tell him...

Tell Blake I was looking for him. Sorry.

It's ten minutes now.

I think he's gone, Blake.

Should I cover his face?

No.

You'll be all right here?

Yeah, I thought I might just lie down

with him for a bit.

Do you think?

- Do you think that's all right?

- I'm sure it is.

Mom.

Mom?

The undertaker's here.

What?

The undertaker's here.

He's still warm.

That's why we like

to get in pretty sharpish,

before the rigor mortis. After 12 hours,

they get stiff as a board.

Hello, what's this?

Pacemaker.

- Cremation is it?

- I think so, yes.

Well, I'll have to remove that

I'm afraid.

Otherwise they explode.

I'll... I'll make a note of it.

Boom-boom. Boom-boom.

Boom-boom. Boom-boom.

Can you hear it?

Pumping away?

I was just passing, so I thought...

Not exactly

on your way home, though, is it?

Nope.

Poor old King Arthur.

Lent me the money for this house,

you know?

I won't half miss him.

You know, I used to think

you fancied him.

But I was shagging you.

I thought you were

with him on the sly.

Christ, Blake. What did you take me for?

Remember how he was always

trying to catch us?

Sex police? Never did though, did he?

Too fast for him.

He used to say,

"Leave two blokes in a room

long enough, they'll kill each other.

Leave a man and a woman,

and they'll screw each other."

Is that right?

You were my first love,

you know that, don't you?

Yeah, well...

...life's easier without.

It's funny, though, isn't it?

You and me. Alone together again.

I mean, he's not here to walk in on us.

Blake.

It's all right. Look at you.

Sorry. I'm sorry.

Hey, you want to see something?

- It's his pacemaker.

- Bloody hell, Blake!

The undertaker cut it out of his chest

with a scalpel.

I washed it.

Did you see him cut it out?

Nope.

I wanted to, though.

I wanted to see if I could take it,

watching him being cut open.

See if I could have been

a doctor too, I suppose.

- You think I've gone nuts, don't you?

- Yeah.

But then you always were

a wee bit nuts.

I'm back.

- Hello.

- Hello.

Oh, God, it's good to see you.

I'm so sorry.

I'm sorry.

This isn't working, is it?

It's OK.

You just lie still.

How are you feeling?

I don't know.

Cheated.

- Do you want to go into the car?

- Yes, come on.

- Oh, where'd you get that from?

- Dad's wardrobe.

- A bit loose around the belly.

- No, no, it's not that loose.

- You don't mind, do you?

- Not at all.

No, I'm sure he'd be delighted.

What's up?

Come on, you're meant to be bartending.

- I still can't see it.

- See what?

The resemblance.

Oh, for Christ's sake, Blake,

why can't you just let it go?

It's history.

Would you like a drink,

Aunty Beaty?

Oh, I don't think anyone's called me

"Aunty" in 20 years.

Look at you, Blake.

Goodness. Well, you look just like him.

I think Gill needs a hand, Mum.

Does she?

- All right, dear.

- You sound just like him too.

- Beaty, can I have a word?

- Yes, of course.

In private.

The thing is, I do know something

went on between you and Dad.

- I see.

- I know it was a long time ago.

I'm not angry.

I mean, I was angry.

For years, furious

with him mainly, but...

But I'm not anymore.

At least I don't think so.

But I would like to know the truth.

I need to know the truth.

I think I'll go mad otherwise.

You can't understand that, can you?

Well, yes. Yes, I suppose so.

Well, mine was never a very happy

marriage, Blake. And Arthur...

...patron saint of lost causes,

he saw that and he...

...consoled me, I suppose.

I was lonely, and he made me laugh.

I wouldn't have got

through the days without him.

It was consolation, Blake.

- But was it physical?

- Is that important?

Yes, I think it is.

Leave me something

of him please, Blake. It is mine.

Whatever sadness,

whatever hurt we caused you,

I am sorry for.

All I will say is this:

Arthur loved your mother more than

any human being on the whole earth.

And you too. You and Gill.

And he was proud of you.

So, so proud.

Even if he didn't always show it.

But what about Josie?

Do I have a sister?

Oh, there you are.

The taxi's been waiting, Mum.

- Sorry.

- We've got to go.

I'm gonna miss him so much.

Goodbye.

Blake!

- Sure you don't want me to drive you?

- No, Dad.

I can run you to the station

in ten minutes.

I prefer this way really.

How far are your digs at the other end?

Couple of miles.

- How you going to get there?

- I don't know.

- Bus, I suppose.

- Bus? With all this stuff?

- Or taxi.

- Oh, a taxi!

- Is that right, moneybags?

- Dad.

Once your allowance is gone, that's it.

Don't come running cap in hand.

- Doesn't grow on trees.

- Doesn't grow on trees. I know.

You're studying a proper subject,

like medicine or science,

guarantee you a job.

Dad, please.

Right then.

See you then.

See you, Dad.

TTFM.

I'll miss you.

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