Starfish Page #2

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I know, sweetie.

I know.

How you doing, son?

- Dad?

- Happy Birthday.

You remembered...

You always remember

your kid's birthdays.

They're the happiest days of your life...

This is fun, eh, kids?

Happy birthday to you

Happy birthday to you

Happy birthday, dear Tom

Happy birthday to you

Where would you like

the camera, sir?

Put it... Over there. Go on.

Everything okay, kids?

He's amazing.

He tells such great stories.

Everybody loves him.

It must be great

having him for a dad.

Are you having a nice birthday, Tom?

We have to go further.

Well, what's left?

Parts of his face are necrotic.

Gangrenous.

More sepsis.

I don't understand.

His face is dying.

Breathe.

What's happening?!

It'll be fine.

Don't worry about anything.

Just... just concentrate

on the baby, okay?

Please... please find out.

Say hello to your son.

I need you to think of a name.

Nothing stupid, okay?

I'm not having Bruce.

Or Lennon.

What do you think to Freddy?

I think Freddy's nice.

Do you like Freddy?

Knew you would.

God, I miss you...

I miss you so much.

Do you want a coffee

or something?

Oh, I can't stop.

I'm on a bit of a schedule.

Clients...

Yeah.

- Here you go.

- Thanks.

Enjoy.

It's only until

you get back on your feet.

Probably for the best.

Need to cut costs.

It'll be fine.

How's work?

Oh, you know. Clients.

Yeah.

Yeah...

Getting it ready.

You got the present, yeah?

Okay, let me just... one second.

Come on. Shh, shh, shh. Okay.

Am I going to see Daddy?

Maybe. We'll have to see how he is.

- Right...

- Oh, good girl. That's it.

Okay, just give me five minutes

with him on my own first.

I just need to make sure

this is going to work.

Are you sure about this?

It's been too long.

If I wait until after the reconstruction,

that's another three months.

Just keep her nice and calm

and no sweets, okay?

Mummy's gone

to go and get Daddy ready.

- Yay!

- Yes, that'll be nice.

Is that for Daddy?

Where's Nicola?

She's gone to get Tom ready.

Right, come on.

Let's go see Daddy-

No, no.

She said for us to wait here.

Do you want some sweeties?

No, no.

It's not a very good idea...

Well, that's a surprise.

She gets... excitable.

I don't think a bit of chocolate

is going to turn her into Godzilla.

Where's Daddy?

He's here, Gracie.

That's not my daddy.

Grace - wait!

Tom?

Can you hear me, Tom?

We're going to need to know

how you are coping.

So I'm going to check regularly

and when I do,

blink once if you're all right

twice if you're in pain.

Okay?

Ready?

Physiotherapy?

They must be pleased with you,

tough guy.

They've been showing me all the new

Tom models they've been working on.

He suggested a Pitt or a Clooney.

But I said I just wanted

something close to the original.

You may change your mind.

Never.

We'll get the new you home

get things sorted,

get back on track.

It'll be tough but we can do it.

We can.

I just...

I just want Grace back.

She'll come around.

You're her dad, she loves you.

I'm so worried.

Me too.

But we're strong.

We'll find a way.

And we'll have help -

my mum will help.

And my mum.

And your mum...

- Yeah.

- Good.

Right...

Hello?

Why don't you answer your phone?

Sorry, I was outside.

Are you ill?

- No, I'm fine.

- Well, when are you going in?

Usual time.

When you do, talk to the staff

about checking on him regularly.

I was there about an hour

before the nurse came in

and I didn't see-

Sh*t!

Can you read me a story tonight?

Not tonight, sweetheart.

Mummy's really tired.

Please?

No, not tonight, Grace.

I'm really done in.

Come on, eat your dinner.

Not hungry!

Eat your dinner, Grace!

Which one you doing first?

There we go.

You look exhausted.

Are you getting enough sleep?

Shouldn't think so.

I'm really worried about you.

I wish you wouldn't keep saying that.

You and the kids are all I have

to be worried about.

Right, why don't you go and get some books

and toys to put in your rucksack?

Okay?

And you need to spend more time

with her.

Mum. Don't...

This is the beginning

of the rest of her life.

- I know.

- And yours.

- Mum...

- How are you going to bring up a baby?

How are you going to live here

in this house if Tom...

- When Tom comes back?

- Mum, stop. Please...

If you don't, I don't think

I'm going to be able to keep it together.

And I have to keep it together. Okay?

I have to.

F*** off!

I can't do this, Tom... I can't do it.

I can't.

Do you want to show Daddy

your drawing?

- It's not done.

- Oh, okay.

Well, when it is.

Come on, come and sit here.

There's been a good response to the run.

- Yeah?

- Yeah, really good.

And the website's doing okay.

Yeah?

Maybe you could do something for it...

- Hey...

- Come on, you gonna eat that?

Nic...

I need the loo.

- Oh, okay.

- Now.

Okay.

Finished!

Just a minute.

Mummy!

Not right now, Grace.

I'm just helping Daddy up the stairs.

Freddy, stop it!

Mummy!

Grace?

Grace?

Now that was silly, wasn't it?

I was going to look at your picture,

I just had to help Daddy.

It's very nice. And very good.

Can I show it to Daddy?

It's for Daddy.

Is it?

Thank you.

He'll love that.

You know he loves you very much,

don't you?

And he's still your same Daddy.

Even though

he looks a little bit different.

But why does he have hooks?

Well, they're just to help him

for a little while

until we can get him

some better hands and arms.

Will you help us do that?

Good girl.

So, again, thank you for coming.

And let's get this show on the road.

On your marks...

get set... go!

- Yay! Go Mummy!

- Mummy!

Brilliant!

Go Mary!

Have we got enough money yet?

That's what I'm trying to work out.

Are those the runners?

How do you draw a cow?

Well...

you start with a big circle

for the body

and then you do a smaller circle

for the head

and then you add the horns,

and the tail, and the legs.

Mine aren't going to have any legs.

Why?

They're gonna be lying down

watching the runners.

Oh. Of course they are.

Honestly? If this had happened

to anybody else

I'm not sure the old me would have

responded to this kind of appeal.

Like you, I assumed

we lived in a caring society

that there are safeguards in place

to protect the victims

of such life-changing illnesses

from being forced to beg for help

from their friends and family.

But the truth is, there aren't.

If Tom was a serviceman

injured in the line of duty

or a rugby match, or if he was injured

in an industrial accident-

then yes, there would be systems

insurance policies and organizations

in place to help us.

But Tom did nothing

to put himself - or us - at risk.

He was Mr Normal.

His illness came out of nowhere.

And there is no legislation

for things that happen to Mr Normal

no safety net to support him

or his family

nothing to help us fight the battles

we are going to have to face

in the next ten, twenty,

or even fifty years ahead.

As far as the state is concerned

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