Another Year Page #10

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Excuse me.

GERRI:

I'm really sorry about this.

Do you want your coats?

Yeah, I'm not surprised.

- Thank you for coming.

- Shall I drop you off?

- You're welcome.

- Yeah.

- Thanks.

- Is that... Can you do that, Frank?

Aye, aye. Give them a lift home.

Look after yourself, Ronnie.

Thanks for coming.

Sorry about this.

- One of those things.

- Aye, well, not to worry, duck.

- See you.

- Thanks.

- Take care. Ta-ta.

- Bye.

Bloody hell.

Are you all right, Ronnie?

I don't know what to do.

Ah, sod him.

He'll bugger off soon enough.

Tell you what.

Why don't you come back with us?

To London.

No, no. You're all right.

Well, why not?

Just for a few days, a week.

Whatever it takes.

Then we'll put you on the train back home.

I don't know.

Think about it.

What do you reckon?

You might as well,

until you feel a bit better.

- Are you sure?

- Yeah.

- OK.

- Good.

Chuck a few things in a bag.

We'll clear up.

- Yeah.

- Have you got a bag?

I think so.

Your dad's coming home with us

for a couple of days.

Is he now?

- I think there's one under the bed.

- Right.

How did she go?

Eh?

She were dead when I woke up.

Satisfied?

- Excuse me, Carl.

- I'll do that, Gerri.

- No, I'll do it.

- No, you leave it.

You sit yourself down.

(crockery clatters)

What am I doing this for?

Save my mam the trouble?

- She's f***ing dead now.

- Listen to me.

Nah, no, no, no, no.

I'm going to get a bottle of wine.

Carl, we've got loads of wine.

Carl.

He won't be back.

Pyjamas. Get some shirts.

- Are you going to change?

- Yeah.

- Do you want this?

- Yeah.

How you doing?

Are you all right?

Yeah, I'll be all right.

We'll be off soon.

(knock at door)

Oh, hi.

Is Gerri in?

No.

Oh.

- Is Tom here?

- No, they're out.

What's it about?

I... I... I just wanted to see them.

They didn't say nothing.

Oh... Oh, no, they don't.

I just came on the spur of the moment.

I'm a friend of Gerri's. I work with her.

Oh, have they gone to the allotment?

- Yeah.

- Yeah.

Can I come in?

Just to wait for them?

- I don't know.

- I'm really cold.

I'm here on my own.

Oh, I'm not going to burgle you

or anything.

I can give you a description of the house,

if you like?

When you go in the kitchen,

the cooker's on the right...

...and the sink's straight in front of you

and on the left is...

Yeah, yeah. Yeah, right.

Thanks.

I'm Mary.

What's your name?

Ronnie. Tom's my brother.

Oh, oh.

Is it your wife that's just passed away?

- Yeah.

- I'm really sorry.

That's all right.

Would you like me to make you

a cup of tea?

No, thank you.

Is it all right if I make one for myself?

I don't think Gerri and Tom would mind.

All right.

Have you come down for a few days?

- Yeah.

- Yeah.

I haven't had any breakfast.

Did you have breakfast?

Yeah.

- With Tom and Gerri?

- Yeah.

Do you want a cuddle?

You sure you don't want some tea?

- Aye, go on, then.

- Yeah.

Ooh, that's better.

It's really lovely to be here.

I haven't been for months.

They invite me a lot.

We're really old friends.

Are you sleeping in Joe's room?

Yeah.

Oh, yeah.

All his little bits and bobs.

Did he go to the funeral?

Yeah.

With his girlfriend?

- No.

- Oh.

They're coming round later.

Oh, are they?

Sorry I'm such a mess.

I didn't get to bed till five

and then I couldn't sleep.

I just got up and came straight here.

Does Gerri ever mention me?

No.

Mary.

No.

You look like Tom.

Oh, aye?

Yeah.

You've got a nice face.

Tom's got a nice face, too.

What was your wife's name?

- Linda.

- Oh.

Was she nice?

Did you have dinner last night?

- We had chicken.

- Oh, lovely.

- They're good cooks, aren't they?

- Yeah.

I can't cook.

- Can you cook?

- Nah.

I didn't really eat anything yesterday.

Do you want some toast?

No, I'm all right, thank you.

Wouldn't mind a cigarette, though.

- Do you smoke?

- Yeah.

Oh, good.

Oh, yeah. My friend used to roll her own.

Do you want one of these?

No, it's all right.

I'll have one of mine.

Oh, no, go on, then.

For old time's sake.

Yeah.

We have to go out there.

Oh, we can stay in here, can't we?

They won't know.

Ooh.

Takes me back.

Did you ever smoke dope?

Tried it a few times.

We used to.

Me and my best friend, Monica.

Don't see her any more.

Did you like the Beatles?

They were all right.

I was more Elvis. Jerry Lee Lewis.

Yeah.

# I'm all shook up

Heh.

Have you got any children?

Got a son.

Is he married?

Don't know.

You got kids?

No.

Unfortunately.

Have you got to go back soon?

Yeah. Got a few things to sort out.

I don't suppose your son will help you.

Nah.

I could come up and give you a hand,

if you like.

Have you got to move?

No.

I could take a few days off work.

Are you warm enough?

Oh, I'll be all right.

We'll just finish these.

Oh, do you know Ken?

Ken?

Yeah.

Yeah. Did he go to the funeral?

No.

He's a bit weird, isn't he?

Is he?

I don't really smoke.

I had too much to drink last night.

I had a bit of a bad day.

My car broke down.

It had to be towed away.

They said it wasn't worth repairing.

They gave me 20 quid for it.

- That's not much.

- No. What can you do with 20 quid?

I bought myself a bottle of champagne.

Yeah?

Yeah.

Did you finish it?

Yeah, I did.

Huh.

(Mary sniffles)

I might have to have a little bit of a lie down.

It's really lovely

to have someone to talk to.

Yeah.

It's peaceful here.

I might move away somewhere else.

Start again.

I used to work in Majorca.

They'll be back soon.

Oh, yeah.

- There you go.

- Thank you.

(low conversation, door opens)

(laughter)

- Hello, Ronnie.

- We're back.

Hi, Gerri.

- Hello, Mary.

- Bloody hell!

- Hi, Tom.

- What are you doing here?

Well, I just thought I'd...

Just get my boots off.

- Where'd she spring from?

- Bloody nuisance, especially today.

You're not kidding.

(sighs)

- Are you all right, Gerri?

- Yes, Mary, I'm fine.

Did you drive?

Oh, no. I came on the tube.

Did you?

It might have been nice

if you'd phoned first, Mary.

Oh, I'm really sorry.

- Joe and Katie are coming.

- Yeah, Ronnie said.

All righty.

TOM:
Tea, Ronnie?

- Yeah.

GERRI:
Come and sit yourself down, Mary,

and have a cup of tea.

(motor racing on TV)

(channels change)

How's it going?

Inexorably.

- I don't know what to do.

- Well, if you don't, I don't.

I can't just chuck her out.

- Can't you?

- No.

- Look at the state of her.

- I know. Poor woman.

Joe and Katie will be all right.

They can handle her.

I know. I've got enough food for her.

- That's all right, then.

- Oh, well, here goes.

(approaching footsteps)

- Do you want me to give you a hand?

- No, thank you, Mary.

Would you like to stay for a bite to eat?

No, it's OK. I don't want to be in the way.

You won't be. We've got plenty of food.

Are you still angry with me?

Mary, I wasn't angry with you.

I just felt you'd let me down.

Oh, Gerri.

I'd never want to do that.

I'm really sorry.

Yes, and I know you apologised.

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