Breathe Page #16

soaked sheets.

She has her arms tight round herself and she’s shaking all

over. A silent disintegration.

136 EXT. WIDE ENGLISH VIEW -DAY 136

A slow-moving procession through the trees: Robin in hiswheelchair, Jonathan pushing him, Diana following behind.

An echo of the earlier scene when Jonathan as a child racedalong beside the wheelchair. Times have changed. They goslowly now.

Jonathan pushes Robin out into the open and turns him to

gaze out over the view. Diana joins them.

ON ROBIN -Looking at the view.

ROBIN:

I heard a story once, in Kenya...

about a group of Mau Mau

prisoners... sixty of them...

Their leader said to his men...

‘I give you permission to die’...

The next morning all sixty were

dead.

No one speaks.

ROBIN:

It’s just a matter of will...

I’ve gone on long enough.

Diana stares at him, guessing what he’s going to say.

ROBIN:

August is a good month. When

August comes... I’m going to let

myself go.

Diana moves round so that he can see her.

DIANAWhat about me?

ROBINYou’ll be free at last.

Suddenly Diana’s shouting

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DIANANo! NO! You stupid, stupid man!

What do you think I’ve been doingall these years? Your life is mylife too!

She turns away and stamps off across the open grass.

Jonathan makes a move to go after her.

ROBINLet her go.

They watch Diana as she circles away from them, and thenheads back. She starts shouting when she’s still somedistance away.

DIANAAll right! Have it your own way!

You always do.

She comes back to Robin and stands fiercely before him.

DIANAJust never, ever say you did itfor me.

137 EXT. FURLONGS -DAY 137

Colin Campbell has just arrived, and is heading into thehouse. Through the open window to Robin’s room he hearsRobin’s voice.

ROBIN (O.S.)

I want to arrange a funeral.

138 INT. ROBIN’S ROOM, FURLONGS -DAY 138

Robin has now become skilled at working his POSSUM machine.

He’s on the phone to an Oxford undertaker.

UNDERTAKER’S VOICEI can assure you of the bestservice in Oxfordshire, sir. We hadthe honour of handling all thearrangements for Sir WinstonChurchill’s funeral, Oxford end.

ROBINI just want to make it quite clearthat I want the cheapest coffinyou’ve got.

UNDERTAKER’S VOICEThe cheapest, sir?

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Colin Campbell comes in and stands waiting, unseen, as Robinfinishes his call.

ROBINThe cheapest.

UNDERTAKER’S VOICEIn respect for the deceased, sir

ROBINThe deceased doesn’t care. I shouldknow. I am the deceased.

UNDERTAKER’S VOICE

(now uncertain)

Ah, in that case... We prideourselves on providing a bespokeservice

ROBINYes, yes. Just send me the details.

Thank you.

He ends the call, working the POSSUM machine.

COLIN CAMPBELLThe deceased is very bossy, asusual.

Robin’s face lights up at the sight of Colin.

ROBINAh, Col! I’ve been waiting for you.

How kind of you to come.

COLIN CAMPBELLWhat’s this about a funeral?

ROBINI want you to organise the wake.

COLIN CAMPBELLNot for a few years yet, I hope.

ROBINBeginning of September.

COLIN CAMPBELLNo, no. I’m not listening to any ofthis. We’ve got a bit more life inus than that, you and I.

ROBINYou can hang around as long as youwant... I’m off in August.

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139

INT. KITCHEN, FURLONGS -NIGHT 139

Diana is clearing up. Colin Campbell is helping her.

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COLIN CAMPBELLWe must buck him up. Get him outof this morbid frame of mind.

Make him see how much his friendsneed him.

Diana works away in silence. Then

DIANAWe’re not going to keep Robinalive for the benefit of hisfriends.

COLIN CAMPBELL(startled)

No. Of course not.

DIANABut I expect they’d like to saygoodbye.

140 EXT. GARDEN, FURLONGS -DAY 140

WIDE -The house and garden are overflowing with hundreds ofRobin’s friends. Beyond the garden, above the interveningtrees, rises the square tower of the village church.

Robin lies in his bed, which has been brought out onto theterrace, where he’s surrounded as always by young women. Theatmosphere is noisy and cheerful. Several of the guests areother responauts in Cavendish chairs with their carers,

including Paddy with his carer, now wife, Nurse Margaret.

A queue of people are lined up to speak to Robin.

Bloggs and David Blacker look on.

BLOGGSYou know he’s telling everyone thisis a leaving party?

DAVIDWhat, even the girls?

BY ROBIN:

PAMELA HARRISRobin, I can’t bear this! What am Isupposed to say?

ROBINYou say, About bloody time.

PAMELA HARRISDo you have any idea how much we’regoing to miss you?

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Robin’s gaze is across the garden to where Jonathan stands,

with his arm round a pretty girl. Jonathan meets Robin’seyes and grins. He says something to his girl she looks roundand gives Robin a smile.

BY DIANA:

MARY DAWNAYIs this really serious?

DIANAIt’s what Robin wants.

MARY DAWNAYHow on earth are you coping?

DIANAI don’t really know. I feelstrange.

BY ROBIN:

Paddy is wheeled up to Robin by Margaret.

PADDYWhat’s this I’m hearing? You’replanning another great escape?

ROBINTime to go... For me, anyway.

PADDYJust like the last time. Notwaiting for your friends.

ROBINYou’re too slow for me, Paddy.

PADDYBut you’ll be back for me later,

right?

Robin smiles at him, moved.

ROBINNow that would be quite a trick.

PADDYIf anyone can do it, you can.

ROBINYou owe me £5.

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PADDY:

(to Nurse Margaret)

Maggie!

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Nurse Margaret has a five pound note ready. She hands it toPaddy, who gives it to Robin.

Teddy Hall comes to Robin’s side, cradling a bottle of wine.

Jonathan joins them, accompanied by his girlfriend.

Jonathan’s spotted the wine, and knows Teddy’s tastes.

JONATHANWhat have you got there, Teddy?

With a flourish Teddy holds up his bottle of claret.

TEDDY HALLIt’s a ’59 Saint-.milion. My lastbottle of one of the greatest winesever made. Jonathan -glasses.

Teddy takes out a corkscrew and opens the bottle. Jonathanfetches glasses.

Harry Tennyson comes and sits on the chair beside Robin.

HARRY TENNYSONRobin, we’ve known each other along time. I just wanted to say

The chair buckles under his weight, sending him toppling tothe floor. Robin’s face crumples up with laughter.

As he clambers to his feet, Teddy hands round glasses ofwine. He raises his own glass in a toast.

TEDDY HALL:

Here’s to you, Robin.

The others echo the toast.

ROBIN:

Jonathan...

Jonathan steps into his eyeline.

JONATHAN:

Here, Dad.

ROBINAbout my ashes... I’d like you toscatter them over the Ngonghills... They were the happiestdays of my life.

JONATHAN:

Of course, Dad.

ROBINI don’t mean I’ve not been happy...

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He’s embarrassed. Jonathan understands. He touches Robin’scheek to show affection the old way.

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