Breathe Page #7

ROBIN:

I go on living here like this... Or

I leave here and die.

DIANA:

Yes.

ROBIN:

What are we waiting for?

Breathe -Blue Revision -26 June 2016 36.

56 SCENE DELETED 56

57 INT. FURLONGS -DAY 57

Bloggs and David stagger down the stairs with a bed.

BLOGGS (O.S.)

No, you halfwit! Up! I said up!

DAVID (O.S.)

But we’re going down.

BLOGGS (O.S.)

Lift your end UP to get the bloodything DOWN!

Breathe -Green Revision -8 July 2016 37.

They manoeuvre the bed into the study.

BLOGGSLeft! LEFT!

DAVIDI am going left!

BLOGGSThen go right!

They get the bed into the study.

BLOGGSFurther over. We have to leave roomfor Robin’s bed.

Once it’s in place, they both sit down on it, side by side,

and mop their brows.

Through the French windows little Jonathan can be seen out inthe garden with Tid. He’s playing with a terrier puppy,

BENJY.

DAVIDDiana sleeps in this bed?

BLOGGS:

Yes.

DAVIDAnd Robin’s bed comes here?

He indicates the space they’ve left beside it.

BLOGGSThat’s what she wants.

DAVIDSurely Robin’ll have a nurse.

BLOGGSNo nurse. Just Diana.

DAVIDWhat about -I mean -she can’t bewith him every minute of the dayand night. She has to pee.

Tid speaks from the doorway.

TID:

She’s got me.

58 SCENE DELETED 58

Breathe -Green Revision -8 July 2016 38.

59 SCENE DELETED 59

59A INT. WARD, OXFORD HOSPITAL -NIGHT 59A

The ward in darkness. The sounds of the respirators form a

weave of hissing in the wider silence.

ON ROBIN -His eyes are open, gazing up at nothing.

PADDYFive pounds says you’ll never makeit.

ROBINWhat do I get if I do?

PADDYYou get five.

ROBIN:

You’re on.

Other patients in the ward overhear them.

PATIENT 1Thinks he’s getting out.

PATIENT 2Some chance.

PATIENT 1Bloody nutter!

PATIENT 2Like taking candy from a baby.

Paddy whispers conspiratorially at Patient 2

PADDYHush up and I’ll cut you in on mywinnings.

Breathe -Pink Revision -28 June 2016 39.

59B INT. WARD, OXFORD HOSPITAL -DAY 59B

Dr Khan and Diana enter the ward, followed by Nurse Margaret.

They head for Robin’s bed. Dr Khan’s looking round nervously.

The other patients are all watching with interest.

DIANA(to Robin)

This is it.

DR KHAN:

(to Robin)

I’m only permitting this because

your wife has taken full

responsibility for the

consequences. You can still change

your mind.

ROBINI want to go.

DR KHAN:

Very well.

(to Nurse)

You ready?

Nurse Margaret nods. Dr Khan shifts Robin’s respirator to a

trolley. Nurse Margaret unlocks the bed’s wheels.

PADDYBest of luck, pal.

ROBIN:

So long, Paddy. I’ll be back for my

fiver.

Paddy watches as Robin’s bed is wheeled away.

PADDYI’ll miss you, pal.

60 INT. CORRIDOR, OXFORD HOSPITAL -DAY 60

A rumbling sound. Double doors open. Diana peeps out to seeif the coast is clear. The doors open wide to let ROBIN’SHOSPITAL BED through, pushed by Nurse Margaret. Beside himrolls the respirator on a trolley, pushed by Dr Khan. Dianawalks by the side of the bed, one hand on Robin’s arm.

Breathe -Green Revision -8 July 2016 39A.

The procession passes through another set of double doors.

There ahead a grim figure looms into view.

Dr Entwistle.

Breathe -Green Revision -8 July 2016 40.

The bed and the trolley come to a stop under his witheringstare.

DR ENTWISTLEWhere do you think you’re going?

DIANAWe’re taking my husband home.

DR ENTWISTLEYou don’t have my permission.

ROBINIs this a prison?... Am I yourprisoner?

Dr Entwistle doesn’t register Robin at all. He addresses DrKhan.

DR ENTWISTLEWhat do you think you’re doing?

DR KHANIt’s the patient’s own wish, sir.

He’s fully apprised of the risks.

DR ENTWISTLEIs the patient medically qualified?

Take him back to the ward at once.

ROBINDiana. Call the police... Tellthem I’m being held against mywill.

Now Dr Entwistle takes in Robin’s living presence.

DR ENTWISTLE:

I’m sorry. What did you say?

ROBINI’m neither criminal norinsane... You have no right tostop me leaving this place.

A long beat. Dr Entwistle looks from Robin to Diana andback again. He’s very angry, but hides it under sarcasticcourtesy.

DR ENTWISTLEOf course. Be my guest. Do as youplease.

He stands aside. The procession rolls past.

DR ENTWISTLE:

You’ll be dead in two weeks.

Breathe -Yellow Revision -5 July 2016 41.

61 SCENE DELETED 61

62 EXT. FURLONGS -DAY 62

Benjy on a lead held by Tid, with little Jonathan by herside. Beside them, Colin Campbell, Bloggs Blacker and HarryTennyson. A welcome committee for the ambulance as it pullsup to Furlongs.

The ambulance men roll Robin out of the ambulance. Benjy

yaps. Jonathan watches eagerly.

BLOGGSHow’s Robin coping?

DIANASo far, so good.

Robin is disconnected from the respirator in the ambulanceand stretchered into the house. He looks round him as he

goes.

ROBIN’S POV -Grey stone walls. Glimpses of garden. LittleJonathan pointing at him, moving alongside him. Benjybouncing and yapping.

63 INT. FURLONGS -DAY 63

Robin is carried down the hall and into his new room. Herethe ambulance men lift him onto a hospital bed, now placedbeside the other bed.

Diana inserts the breathing tube attached to the newrespirator. Robin breathes again. A tense few moments isover.

DIANAAre you all right, darling?

ROBINYes... Yes.

BLOGGSIt actually works?

DIANA:

It works.

Bloggs and Harry shake hands.

Diana, Colin, Bloggs and Harry gather round the bed.

Breathe -Green Revision -8 July 2016 42.

DIANAThis is it. Our new home.

Robin looks round as best as he can, rolling his eyes.

DIANAHow do you feel?

ROBIN:

Better.

Colin is inspecting the respirator.

COLIN CAMPBELLWhat happens if there’s a powercut?

BLOGGSYou work it with a hand pump.

HARRYNifty bit of kit.

Tid, Jonathan and Benjy come in. Diana picks Jonathan up so

he can see Robin.

DIANAThere’s Daddy.

Little Jonathan gazes at Robin. Robin gazes back. The first

time he’s acknowledged his existence.

ROBINHello, Jonathan.

Benjy jumps up onto the bed. He sniffs at Robin, and givesa little bark. Robin ‘barks’ back. Jonathan bursts intolaughter.

Robin smiles. His first proper smile.

64 SCENE DELETED 64

Breathe -Blue Revision -26 June 2016 43.

65

INT. ROBIN’S ROOM, FURLONGS -NIGHT 65

Robin lies in the darkness with his eyes open. The wheezeand clank of the breathing machine.

WIDEN to see the second bed alongside his bed. Here Dianalies, settling down to sleep.

DIANAGood night, darling.

ROBINGood night.

Diana’s hand reaches out and feels its way to his face. Shestrokes his brow and cheeks and lips. He kisses her fingers.

She leans across and touches her lips to his.

66

SCENE DELETED 66

67

INT. ROBIN’S ROOM, FURLONGS -DAY 67

JONATHAN’S POV -Crossing the room towards his father’s bed,

looming above him. Peering at the fascinating machine by the

bed, that hisses to itself.

Jonathan mimics the machine’s wheezing sound.

Benjy comes trotting in. Jonathan tries to take Benjy in his

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes