Off Piste Page #3

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It's a lovely place here.

You're a bit away from

civilization, it's nice.

- Yeah.

- You seem a bit startled.

Are you in a rush?

- Yeah.

I got someone to meet.

- No, wait.

Wait.

- STANLEY:
Are you okay?

- Do I look okay?

Ah, ah, my leg.

- STANLEY:
Relax a moment.

- My camera's broken.

- Can you walk?

- I think so.

(Well groans)

- You shouldn't

be up here alone.

This mountain is dangerous.

- Well, it's not my fault.

If you hadn't ignored

me in the first place

and skied off, I'd

never have fallen.

- Yeah, well, come

on, I'll help you up.

(Well groans)

- What are you doing?

- I'm gonna carry you.

- No, you're not.

- You got any better ideas?

My house is at the

foot of the mountain.

Come on.

Up.

(Well groans)

(gentle music)

Be right back.

Hold that in place.

- Would you like me

to take my boots off?

- No.

No, ifs fine.

- So you're in the army?

- That was a long time ago.

- How long exactly?

- Stanley, is that you?

- Yes, mother.

- I thought I heard

you talking to someone.

Were you talking

to yourself again?

- That would be me.

- On.

Oh, I'm sorry, you

gave me a fright there.

I didn't mean to intrude.

I didn't realize you

had company, Stanley.

- She had a fall on the slope.

She'll be on her way soon.

- A fall?

Are you hurt?

- Just my leg.

- Well, is it bad?

- It's a bit swollen.

- Well, you must get her

something for the swelling.

- She has something.

- Oh, that's good.

My goodness, what were

you doing out this far?

It's quite dangerous

up that mountain.

- I know.

I was up there taking photos.

So peaceful out there.

- Well, it is

lovely, I remember.

I wasn't always blind.

I used to ski myself.

- How is your knee feeling?

Would you like me

to call you a taxi?

- A taxi?

But you've only just arrived.

Surely you'll have a

tea or a coffee or.

- I'm sure the idea of talking

over a coffee sounds appealing

but I'm sure you have other

things you need to do.

Right?

- Nonsense, Stanley.

You must stay and

have something to eat.

I'm sorry I didn't

catch your name.

- It's Well.

- I'm Mary.

Are you hungry?

- I am a little.

- Mother.

- Then how about dinner?

We don't have guests very often.

I would love you

to stay for dinner.

Will you stay?

- If ifs not too much trouble.

- Not at all.

That's that then.

(muffled chattering)

- STANLEY:
It doesn't

matter, it doesn't matter.

(Well breathing heavily)

- Well.

- You frightened

the life out of me.

- I have that effect on people.

Sorry.

Could you come with

me for a second?

Would you be a treat and help

me pick a dress for dinner?

- Sorry?

- We must dress for dinner.

Like I said, we don't

have visitors very often.

This as a special occasion.

- NIAMH:
This is

a gorgeous color.

- Bring it to me.

Ah, the red silk.

The red silk dress.

- How do you know?

- I couldn't forget

this dress if I tried.

1985, the last time I wore it.

Oh, how we danced.

My husband and I.

Our wedding anniversary.

But it wouldn't fit me now.

Why don't you try it on?

- I couldn't.

- But it would look

wonderful on you.

- It's beautiful but what

would I wear on my feet?

- Shoes.

Have a look in the

bottom of the wardrobe.

There are some shoe

boxes in there.

There should be a little

black pair somewhere.

- Cool camera.

My dad had one years ago.

- Oh, that old thing.

That hasn't seen

the light in years.

- Polaroid.

Does it still work?

- I don't know, I

should think so.

You're into photography.

Why don't you have it?

It's no use to me

collecting dust here.

- Thank you.

- It's nice to have

another woman to talk to.

- It's very kind of

you to let me stay.

- It's me who should thank you.

Having you here is

good for Stanley too.

Stanley.

(soft piano music)

- You look beautiful, mother.

- Look to the stairs.

- NIAMH:
You got my things.

- And the other one is,

what is green, green, green,

red, green, red,

red, red, red, red?

- Um, I don't know.

- A frog in a blender.

- (laughs) That's horrible.

- MARY:
It's not

very nice, is it?

But those are the kind

of jokes George used

to tell me and I

said, "Please stop",

and he'd do it in

company all the time.

- So how long have

you lived here?

- Almost five years

now since the accident.

How quickly time goes by.

- I mean, it is beautiful but

there's not a lotto do here.

- It's where we came

when Stanley was a boy.

It was our second home.

His father loved to ski.

It just seemed the right

place to come back to.

- It's also quiet.

There's not many people around.

- Stanley isn't one for

crowds, as you can tell.

- Yeah, but it's very isolated.

Doesn't it worry you

being up here all alone?

Like what if something happened?

- She's not alone.

We can look after ourselves.

- I didn't mean it like that.

- Well was telling

me she's from Belfast.

You were stationed there,

weren't you, Stanley?

I've heard it's a

beautiful place.

- Yeah. it is.

- And do you have a

big family, Well?

- To be honest, I haven't

got much family left.

- Oh, that's a shame.

- What is the

reason you're here?

- Um, I'm having a bit of

a break from my boyfriend.

- On.

- We needed some time

apart and the Alps seemed

as good a place as

any to clear my head.

- Well, relationships

can be very tricky

to get right sometimes.

You can often feel

like running away.

- Oh, I'm not running.

I just needed some time.

- Looks like you're running.

- Stanley.

- No, he has a fair point.

I just needed some time alone.

- Well, would you

pop up and fetch

that camera we found

in the wardrobe?

- Yeah, of course I will, Mary.

- You make an old

lady very happy.

- Do you really have to do this?

- Stanley.

She's a young woman on her

own in a strange country

and she's obviously

been through a lot.

- Yeah, well, we all have.

- Why are you being so

hostile towards her?

- I'm just not ready

to make friends yet.

My mind is all over the place.

- Could you at least try?

This is a happy night.

Not everything

has to make sense.

- Got it.

- Oh, wonderful.

Let me show you.

Where are you now, Stanley?

- Here.

- Oh, there you are.

- Are you ready?

- Hang on, you've got

to be in this too.

- Well, I can't set it to

take an automatic photo.

It's too old.

- No, no, you just hold it

out and turn it towards us.

- Okay.

Great.

All smile.

(camera snaps)

- That's it.

Could I have it please?

- It will take a minute.

- MARY:
This is

where we'll put it.

How is it?

- It's perfect.

- Yes, it is.

(soft classical music)

Will you lead, son?

Today has been special.

I really wish your father

was hereto share it.

- So dol.

- I know how hard it's been

for you looking after me

when you have your own

life to worry about,

but I want you to know

there's never been

a moment when I

haven't appreciated it.

And out of everything,

if I could choose to

see anything again,

just once, I would

see your face.

My son.

My beautiful boy.

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