Breathe Page #6

PADDY:

That was grand.

Robin can see Paddy out of the corner of his eye. He raisesone eyebrow.

PADDYI’m thinking you’re not a believer.

ROBINBeliever in what?... God’s a joke.

PADDYNo, pal. God’s a joker. Look at thepig’s mickey he’s made of you andme.

Robin grins at that.

Breathe -Double White -18 August 2016 31.

ROBINHow do you live like this?

PADDYYou get used to it.

ROBINWhat if I don’t?

PADDYThere’s always a way out.

He indicates the empty bed opposite.

PADDYLike Pete there got out. His ownprivate box.

48 SCENE DELETED 48

49 SCENE DELETED 49

50 INT. WARD, OXFORD HOSPITAL/ROBIN’S BEDROOM, GOVERNMENT 50

HOUSE -NIGHT

CLOSE UP ON ROBIN -In bed, apparently in Oxford Hospital.

PULL BACK TO REVEAL -Robin in the bedroom at Government

House where he became ill.

PULL BACK FURTHER -He has a tube running into a throat

tracheotomy. Robin awakes, looks confused, pulls out his

tube, leans forward and looks out, desperately in search of

Diana.

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51 SCENE DELETED 51 *

52 INT. WARD, OXFORD HOSPITAL -DAY 52

ROBIN’S POV -A window is curtain drawn back. Bright lightof day. Out of the brightness the image of Diana forms.

She’s come to visit him.

For a few moments he gazes at her in silence.

ROBINWhy do you keep on coming?

Diana doesn’t answer at once. It’s a fair question.

Breathe -Pink Revision -28 June 2016 31A.

DIANA:

I don’t really know.

Breathe -Blue Revision -26 June 2016 32.

ROBINI’m no damn use to you... Youshould leave me to rot.

DIANAIt wouldn’t look very good.

Robin twitches a smile at that.

DIANAAnd apparently I love you.

ROBINNot this... You can’t love this.

DIANA:

Apparently I can.

ROBINI don’t want you to... It makesit harder for me.

DIANAYes. I can see that. You’d ratherjust pack it in, I know.

ROBINBloody machine keeps on breathingfor me.

DIANASo it looks as if you’re going tohave to stick around for a while.

ROBIN:

Sorry about that.

DIANAI’m not sorry. I’d like Jonathanto know you.

His face twitches. She scratches the itch for him.

DIANAAnd maybe I can make life alittle better for you.

He looks at her. She strokes his face and head.

ROBIN:

It’s only duty.

DIANAYes, all right. We know all aboutthat. Everything is as bad as itcould be.

(MORE)

Breathe -Goldenrod Revision -11 July 2016 33

DIANA (CONT'D)

But I can’t go on coming in hereand have you saying you wish youwere dead. You’re not dead, andthat’s that.

Robin stares at her. This is a new Diana.

DIANAThere must be something I can doto make things more bearable.

Beat.

ROBINGet me out of here.

He knows it’s impossible as he says it.

But Diana’s thinking: Maybe that’s the only way...

53 EXT. FURLONGS -DAY 53

Diana stands outside a big crumbling house, gazing at it indismay. Beside her stands its owner, MR TOLLAND, an elderlyman as decrepit as the house.

MR TOLLANDI’ll be sad to go, of course, afterall these years. But since Murieldied I can’t seem to get on top ofthings. Things can run away withyou, you know.

DIANAIt needs a lot of work. Is the roofsound?

Mr Tolland casts a melancholy eye on the roof.

MR TOLLANDSome of it.

DIANAWhy are some of the windows brickedup?

MR TOLLANDAh,yes. Those are my rooms, yousee. Muriel said it saved so muchon the heating bills.

Diana gazes up at the unpromising prospect. Then she draws adeep breath.

DIANAIt’s a lot of work, but I think itmight just about do.

(MORE)

Breathe -Goldenrod Revision -11 July 2016 33

DIANA (CONT'D)

I can’t pay twelve thousand, ofcourse. Or anywhere near.

MR TOLLANDI’d take eleven. Or even ten.

DIANAAll I can manage is seven.

MR TOLLAND:

Seven?

DIANACash. And you’d be rid of the placefor ever. And Muriel.

Mr Tolland’s face creases into a slow smile.

53A SCENE DELETED 53A

Breathe -Goldenrod Revision -11 July 2016 33A.

54 INT. DR ENTWISTLE’S OFFICE, OXFORD HOSPITAL -DAY 54

Diana sits facing the Dr Entwistle, who is enthroned behind

his desk.

DR ENTWISTLE:

I’m afraid it’s out of the

question. I’m sorry.

DIANAHas anyone tried?

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DR ENTWISTLENo one with your husband’s degreeof disability, anywhere in theworld, exists outside a hospital.

Diana seems not to be taking this in.

DIANAI’ve watched what the nurses do.

If we can have a respirator athome I don’t see why it wouldn’twork.

Dr Entwistle tries to control his irritation.

DR ENTWISTLEAllow me to explain. Your husbandis only alive because a machineis breathing for him. If thatmachine should fail, in under twominutes your husband would bedead.

Silence.

DR ENTWISTLEForgive me if I speak plainly. HaveI made myself clear?

DIANA:

Yes.

55 INT. WARD, OXFORD HOSPITAL -DAY 55

Robin is speaking to Paddy in a low voice.

ROBINShe’s up to something... She’sscheming.

PADDYSo what’s her plan?... Dig a tunnelfor you to escape?

Dr Khan and Nurse Margaret enter. Robin and Paddy fallsilent. Nurse Margaret comes to Paddy’s bedside.

NURSE MARGARETHow are you, Paddy? Let’s make youcomfortable, shall we?

Breathe -Pink Revision -28 June 2016 35.

She places a urine bottle for him. He starts to pee. A lookof ecstasy on his face.

PADDYAah! Pissing... Best moment of theday.

Dr Khan checks Robin’s charts.

Diana enters and comes to Robin’s bedside. She gives Robin akiss on the cheek.

DIANA:

Morning, darling.

Dr Khan gives her a nod as he continues with his checks.

DR KHAN:

Mrs Cavendish.

Nurse Margaret is now preparing to suck the fluid fromRobin’s lungs. Diana looks on.

DIANA:

Do you think I could do that?

NURSE MARGARETI don’t see why not. It’s just likea Hoover, really.

Breathe -Green Revision -8 July 2016 35A.

Diana watches as Nurse Margaret switches off the respiratorpump, removes the breathing tube, and inserts the suctiontube.

NURSE MARGARETHere, give it a try. Hold it likethis.

Diana holds the tube. Nurse Margaret switches on the pump.

The tube gives a jerk, and fluid gloops out. Diana jumps,

unnerved.

DIANA:

Oh God! Please! Take it!

Dr Khan grins:
it’s as he expected. Nurse Margaret takesover. Diana watches the rest of the process closely.

DIANAOnce I got used to it, I think Icould manage.

DR KHANWhy would you want to manage, MrsCavendish?

DIANA:

Robin?

DIANARobin and I wanted to ask you, DrKhan. Can machines like that

(the respirator)

-only work in hospitals?

DR KHANWell, it’s just a machine, youknow. You plug it in and it goes.

Why do you ask?

DIANA:

Robin’s going to leave the

hospital.

Dr Khan is flabbergasted.

DR KHAN:

Impossible!

DIANAI think you mean inadvisable.

DR KHANYou do have any idea of the risk?

DIANAYes. The risk is he might die.

Breathe -Green Revision -8 July 2016 35AaA.

The sucking is completed. The breathing tube goes back in.

Robin can speak again. Diana turns to him.

Breathe -Pink Revision -28 June 2016 35AA.

DIANA:

Robin?

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