I'll Be There Page #4

but I'm 43 years old.

I'd feel faintly ridiculous

being part of that world now.

Never thought I'd see the day.

Well, all right,

then why'd you move down here?

What's the best gig

we ever played?

Giants Stadium,

New York, 1989.

No, no.

Apart from that.

Ooh.

- Harpoon Louie's.

- Harpoon Louie's. Yeah, in Cardiff.

- 1987. It's a 20-minute

bike ride from here. - Yeah.

So what? You're not gonna

play there again, are you?

Yeah. I don't even think

it's there any more.

I've always liked this place. I like this

part of the world, and I like it here.

I get peace to write music.

Peace to isolate, more like.

Nobody to bug you...

as you slowly

drink yourself to death.

Absolutely right, my good

Australian friend. Cheers.

I don't touch it any more, mate.

Been sober eight years.

Oh, no.

You're not one of them, are you?

- What, a poof?

- You know what.

A.A., 12 steps,

and banging a tambourine for Jesus.

Yeah. I'm A.A. All right, mate.

Don't have much to do

with Jesus, as a rule.

You haven't come here to convert me

to some born-again cult, have you?

You believe what you like, mate.

I'm here to help you get off the booze.

- I don't wanna get off the booze.

- 'Course you do.

That's why you drove your bike

through a window.

Oh, and by the way...

I oughta kick your ass for

killing an innocent motorcycle.

All right, look.

I'm not stoppin'.

I'm havin' one later, okay?

That's the ticket.

One day at a time.

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Kum-ba-ya to you too.

Those who do not recover

are people who cannot...

or will not completely give themselves

to this simple programme...

usually men and women

who are...

Does anyone want to accept

a chip for 30 days sober?

You're showin' your age, mate.

Maybe it's time you started knittin'.

Yeah? Well, maybe it's time

you started the amends process, mate.

Hey, I got her pregnant and left her

to raise the kid on her own.

How do you make amends

for that, eh?

I don't know. A nice bunch of flowers,

box of chocolates.

A nice bunch of flowers and a box

of chocolates. What a fantastic idea!

Why didn't I think of that, eh?

Problem solved.

Look, mate, I'm not

an expert on the Shelias...

but I know you got to make it up to that

little girl for not being around her...

- when she was growin'up.

- Now, that wasn't my fault.

- I didn't know Olivia existed.

- "It's not my fault."

The mantra of the newly sober.

Yeah, you want to get drunk again?

- Yes.

- No, you don't.

Take that, you clanky metal bastard.

Hi.

Um, I got your number

from the phone book...

but Digger said I had to

come here in person.

- I don't know if you remember me, but I...

- Of course I remember you.

Oh, yeah. Of course.

Uh, I got you these.

Uh, the chocolates are for you...

and the flowers are for Rebecca,

your mum.

Unless you want the flowers,

then we could give her the chocolates.

Or you could have 'em both...

and we could get her

something else entirely.

You know,

like a nice bottle of wine...

or a fruit basket, some cheese.

They'll be lovely for both of us.

We'll fight over them later.

- She's not in.

- Oh.

- Do you want to come in?

- I don't know.

Mum said you wouldn't come,

but, uh, I thought you might.

I mean, it's not every day a man finds

a daughter he never knew about, right?

You can say that again.

It's been a few months since

the hospital, though. What kept you?

There were a few things

I had to sort out of my own life first.

But it has been you

that's been stalking me?

Yeah.

That's a relief, anyway.

- Sorry. I didn't mean to scare you.

- You didn't.

Look, I'm sorry about not being around

and not being a father for you...

and if there's anything

I can do to make it up...

you tell me and I'll do everything

I can to do it, okay?

You really mean that?

Actually, yes. Yes, I do.

I really mean it.

Okay. I'll think about it.

So, what are you into?

You musical?

I sing.

No way.

What do you sing?

Anything. I'm Welsh.

- Half Welsh.

- Yeah, well, the Welsh part sings.

- Sing with a band?

- No.

Mum doesn't really feel comfortable

with me around musicians and such.

No. Of course not.

How's your wife?

Oh, that. Oh.

Um, no, that was just

some friends dressing up...

you know, to get me out of

the, uh, mental hospital.

So you're not

married then?

No.

Uh, you know,

I think I better get going.

Are you sure you don't

wanna stay and see Mum?

- Your mum's a wee bit mad at me, I think.

- Gee. Now, I wonder why.

- Nice chocolates, were they?

- They were all right.

Is he coming back for another visit?

He hasn't called.

I don't want him breaking her heart

like he broke mine.

It's a bit different, isn't it?

- I mean, he's her father.

- I hated him for a long time.

You never hated him.

You just hated that he disappeared.

- It's the same thing.

- No, it isn't.

Can't you talk about something else?

God, you're like a stuck record.

There you go, princess.

Australian breakfast.

Kangaroo sandwiches.

So what was he like

when he was on the road?

A different girl every night?

Nah. Nah, he was too fond of the sauce,

your dad, to be much of a Romeo.

He'd be passed out drunk backstage

by the time all the girls got there.

- Me and the roadies had all the fun.

- I don't believe you.

Well, good.

At least you're not stupid.

- Was it fun?

- Yeah. Yeah, it was.

The music was fun.

He's a hell of a player, your dad.

Well, he used to be.

I'd watch him from behind the kit.

Nights when he was on form,

it was just... magic.

Morning.

Hi. Olivia rode over here on her moped

just to see you. Isn't that nice?

- How you doing?

- Fine, thanks.

Spend most of my time in here.

Nice, isn't it?

It's fantastic.

It's like a professional studio.

It is a professional studio.

You could do a version

of"Reach Out" in here.

- What, the old Four Tops number?

- Yeah.

Yeah, you could.

Why would you want to?

- It's my mother's favourite song.

- Ah.

- So what are you gonna do with it?

- I don't know.

Think I'll leave it.

I kinda like it.

It's arty, like an installation.

Yeah. You're right.

Leave it there.

I like it.

Shame, though. I would've

loved to have taken a ride on it.

- You like bikes?

- I love bikes.

Hmm. Daddy's got a surprise for you.

Oh, my God.

Where the hell have you been?

I've been worried sick.

I was with friends.

- Isn't your phone working?

- I had it switched off. Sorry.

I'm off to bed.

Wait a minute.

What?

I went into your room.

Why?

To see if you'd left a note for me

or something.

If I were to leave a note, I'd leave it

on the kitchen table like I always do.

- Look, I was worried, okay?

- You were worried so you broke into my room?

- I didn't break in. I went in.

- It's my room.

It's my house.

So what did you find that's

got your knickers in such a twist?

So?

I'm worried that you're waiting for a man

that'll never show any interest in you...

that you'll be hurt.

You worry too much.

He's a lot of fun and he likes me.

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