Dear Frankie Page #3

Does Frankie have any photographs

of his dad?

No.

You sure?

Yes, I'm sure.

Marie says you're only here for a week.

I sail next Monday.

Good, that's good. That fits in just right.

Um...

That must be some life,

seeing all those different places.

You should know.

You've been writing from them for years.

You must think I'm completely mad,

asking a total stranger to do this.

I don't know who the hell you are, but...

...I'm asking you if you'll do it.

I don't have much, but I'll pay you what I can.

What time do you want me to be there?

One day to go, Frankie boy.

# The midges, I'm no gonna kid yous

# The midges is really the limit

# With teeth like piranhas

# They'll drive you bananas

# If you let them get under your...

# Simmit

Hey, come on, you sing one now.

Oh, God, no, I can't sing.

Oh, go on.

# Da dum da-da dum...

Come on, you know it better than me.

# When I was a young girl

# I used to dream of a lover

# Who'd be my shining knight

of strength one day

# He'd carry me to a castle in the heavens

# And he'd battle all my dragons far away

# And he'd ride down

# On a great white horse

# And he'd bring me love

# I'd been longing for

# And he'd bring me joy

# And lasting peace

# And on a great white horse

# He'd ride away with me

Lizzie. For God's sake,

will you stop still for a minute and listen?

I can't, I've got to find him.

God knows where he is.

Well, I'll go. I'll find him.

He's due at ten, isn't he?

- The man?

- Yeah.

- Well, you'd better stay here in case.

- In case of what?

Just in case.

I'll find him. I promise.

I look at you sometimes and I swear

I don't know where you came from.

And this man?

- Who is this man that's coming?

- I told you. He's a friend of Marie's.

Oh, that's a comfort!

Jesus, Lizzie, we don't know anything

about this man.

He could be a...

We don't know anything about him.

We don't need to know anything.

- This is the end of it.

- Promise?

That's him.

Hey, Frankie.

Your mammy is worried about you.

It's good up here, isn't it?

This is my favourite place in the whole world.

See, when you come around the coner,

and the cranes appear out of nowhere...

With the hills behind them

and the water dancing round them.

Takes my breath away.

Every single time.

Right, if he's not back in five minutes,

I'm going to the docks myself.

How do you even know that's where he is?

Where would you go if it was you?

He won't go on that ship.

How do you know what he would do?

You've not even met him.

He doesn't want to spoil the surprise.

If I was a betting man,

which I'm not,

I'd put money on it.

Mother, do something useful

and put the kettle on.

Would you like a cup of tea?

- I'm sorry, I don't know your name.

- Jesus God!

What's Frankie's dad called?

Depends who's calling him.

Davey.

Call me Davey, then.

Don't ruin this for him, please.

Let him have this one day.

Have you got that money?

Oh, yeah, um...

That's half now, half later.

Look, there's no harm done.

He knows he shouldn't have done it.

So, um... everything all right?

- Yeah.

- Good

Right, I'd better go.

Hey, come in for chips after the football, OK?

Marie...

Thanks for bringing him.

Right.

No, leave that, Frankie. Do it later.

I want you to come in here for a minute.

You've got a visitor, Frankie.

This is your daddy.

Hello, Frankie.

You've got big.

I didn't tell you I was coming because...

I wasn't sure if I'd be here in time.

I hoped I would, but I wasn't sure.

I've got something for you.

Frankie wasnae looking for anything.

You didn't need to do that.

I know I didn't need to.

That's for you.

He wants to know how you knew.

I read it.

You... You'll have to look at him.

Sorry

I read it in your letters.

You'll have to get a move on, you'll be late.

Come on, slowcoach. Get your things together.

Here.

You'll want to remember the look

on Ricky Monroe's face.

Come on, now, boys, that's good.

Keep moving

Well done.

Come on.

- What are you doing, you bloody idiot?

- What?

- You gave me a crap pass.

- I didn't mean to. I slipped.

Well, a bet's a bet.

You won it fair and square.

Do you want to bring him for chips?

No? Another time maybe?

Come on, Frankie.

This is half an hour of my life

I am never going to get back.

Just have what you always have.

Chips.

Me too.

Can I have some fish with mine?

Er... Frankie is a vegetarian.

He's a vegetarian

that doesnae eat his vegetables.

Roll and butter?

Can I change my mind?

Sure.

No fish for me.

Right, is that it?

I know, Frankie.

Good? Yeah? Yeah?

It's going well.

Is it?

- What's the matter?

- Nothing.

I thought this is what you wanted.

Yeah, it is.

He's not going to take him away from you,

Lizzie.

Nobody could do that.

Where are they going now?

He wouldn't take him to the ship?

Lizzie, wait! Wait.

Lizzie!

Big, isn't she?

More than a match for any shark.

Want to go on?

It's up to you, Frankie.

Take a picture, then.

For later.

# Delicate

# We might kiss

# When we are alone

# When nobody's watching...

Too bumpy. Flat, so it skims.

# We might make out

# When nobody's there

# It's not that we're scared...

This is good, Frankie.

Frankie...

# So why do you fill my sorrow?

That is a champion skimmer.

# From the only place that you've known

# And why do you sing hallelujah

# If it means nothing to ya?

# Why do you sing...

Want to go for a race?

# With me at all?

# Why did you fill my sorrow

# With the words you've borrowed?

# Why do you sing with me at all?

You OK?

I've had an idea.

Oh!

- Have you not got a watch?

- Sorry. The time just flew.

Now, Frankie, say goodbye.

He's tired.

It's been a long day.

Aye, you can say that again.

Well, it's over now.

So, we'll just say cheerio,

and thanks very much.

Go on, Frankie, say cheerio.

Come on. It's late.

I think he wants to ask you something.

What do you think he wants to ask me?

I don't go back to my ship till Monday.

So?

So, I thought it might be nice to...

spend some more time with Frankie.

Did you, now?

Well, Frankie and you.

You know, the three of us.

No.

No!

Now see what you've done.

Mother, take Frankie inside now.

We had an arrangement. You broke it.

One more day. That's all.

No, no, no, I want you to go now.

It's over. Do you hear me? It's over.

My ship sails in one day.

There is only one more day.

Who the hell do you think you are?

Who gave you the right

to come in here and behave like this?

You did.

He's waited all this time.

You've waited all this time.

One o'clock, here.

One o'clock down at the quay.

- Right, that's it. Come on.

- I've got business down at the quay.

Be easier if you could meet me there.

Trust me.

You have to trust somebody someday.

One o'clock at the quay.

Come on, son.

You'll see him again tomorrow.

Did your daddy give you that?

It's a beauty.

That should really fly.

Is Frankie sleeping?

I doubt it. He's wound up like a spring.

Do you fancy a wee whisky, Ma?

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