The Broken Circle Breakdown Page #2

her own bone marrow

with more chemo and radiotherapy,

then we will replace it with

new stem cells from a donor.

A donor who is

as close to Maybelle as possible.

Unfortunately, parents can't

be considered as donors.

How did it go?

It was a difficult afternoon.

- How come?

Just after you'd gone

she was doing some drawing outside and

another bird flew into our terranda.

I came out and she was standing there

crying, with a dead bird in her hands.

That wouldn't happen with a veranda.

- It'd happen even more! Stupid birds!

You'd think that it would eventually

be written in their genes.

That it'd become a sort of instinct

passed on from mummy bird to chick,

that when they see a frame they realize

it's dangerous to try to fly through it.

But innumerable generations of birds

obviously need to

fly into that window

before it starts to get through to them.

Bye.

- Bye.

You should try explaining to a child

how come the bird isn't moving anymore.

It's difficult.

- I know.

You want to say people have come up with

all kinds of ways of dealing with it.

That some people believe

the bird has a soul

that doesn't die and goes up to heaven.

That it'll see it's mummy and daddy

again there and will fly around forever

in a place where the sun always shines

and there aren't any windows.

That other people believe

the bird is a martyr

in the fight against windows.

And after his death he'll be given lots

of female birds that have never mated

and he can do what he wants with them.

But Daddy doesn't believe in

any of that.

Daddy thinks that...

that everything just dies

and stays dead.

But...

But you can't say that.

- No, you can't say that, Didier.

Her natural resistance will be

destroyed completely first

and she'll be very weak.

Which is why we're putting her in

a sterile, pressurized room.

The new blood cells may attack her body.

That doesn't happen with

identical stem cells

but you only find those in the case of

identical twins or cloned embryos.

Unfortunately, science

hasn't got that far yet.

Her chances are very good.

She has a very good chance of

being completely cured.

Don't lose heart.

Thank you.

Daddy?

- Yes?

That birdie has become a star now.

OK, sweetie.

If you want to believe that

that birdie is a star now, then it is.

I'll tell you what, choose one.

That one.

That one?

That big shiny one up there?

That one? OK.

Bye-bye, birdie.

- Bye-bye, birdie.

I love you.

- I love you too.

Clever girl.

And that, that's blood.

The stem cells are in there.

Stem cells are little soldiers

who will march down that tube

into your blood.

And those little soldiers mean business.

Understand? Eh?

They are going to cure you.

Hey.

- Hello.

We're allowed to go home.

- Are you?

Milan's levels are perfect

- Great!

Congratulations.

Is it a plane? Is it a bird?

No, it's not.

- Maybelle...

It's Mega Mindy.

- It's too early. Get some more sleep.

You're far too lively for me.

- Is it a plane? Is it a bird?

No, it's not.

- How about getting some more sleep?

No, I'm 6, I was allowed to

wake you up early.

Oh yes, of course,

it's your birthday.

No, don't tickle me! Don't!

Don't, don't tickle me!

- Happy birthday!

6 years old! Happy birthday, sweetie.

- Happy birthday.

You look... You look lovely.

In your pink costume.

How about getting some more sleep?

- No.

Yes. Come on.

Right, have you almost finished?

Come on, sweetie.

Rinse your mouth.

That's it. Come on, put your shoes on.

Come on, sweetie, get a move on.

Now what? Get the other one. Come on.

- I'm tired, Mummy.

So am I, sweetie. We're all tired.

But we have to get a move on, eh?

Kiss.

- The bus is there. Come on.

Coat.

- You're bleeding round your teeth.

How often have I told you not to

scrub so hard with your toothbrush?

Rucksack.

- Right.

Let her go now.

- Alright.

Didier?

- Yes?

Just one.

I'll open the door in a minute.

- Yeah, yeah.

She's got more bruises on her arms.

- I know, I saw them.

Hi.

Hi.

Here.

Thanks.

Shall I light the stove?

No. No, it's OK.

Sweetheart...

Can we go and see my mum Sunday?

Yes... I think so.

It's... It's Mother's Day on Sunday.

She'll be pleased to see you.

F***! F***! You're going to

pull through, sweetheart. Goddammit!

Her heart has stopped.

Stop the ambulance.

What the f*** is happening now?

Adrenalin, OK?

- What's happening?

What's happening?

- We're losing her.

You're not losing her.

D'you hear me? You're not!

Don't let her go! D'you hear me?

Don't let her go.

- Move back and calm down, please.

We're going to shock her.

OK, shocking. Watch out.

Everyone stand clear.

Three, two, one.

Let's check. The monitor, please.

Thank you.

Take it easy, take it easy. Calm down.

Calm down, OK?

We'll just check.

She's back.

- OK, let's go.

Go go go.

Elise...

You need to do something, sweetheart.

Things can't go on like this.

Things... Things need to change.

You'd like things to be

like they used to be, eh?

Yes, of course.

Before we had Maybelle.

You never wanted the child, did you?

Elise, that...

That's not fair, sweetheart.

I should've listened to you.

You didn't want kids.

I did. You being pregnant just

took me by surprise, sweetheart.

I'd never given kids a thought.

But once she was there

I was the happiest man in the world.

So happy that you started drinking.

You just want to pick a fight.

- You were drunk when she was born.

And once she was there you had to head

for a bar with your pals to celebrate.

You were gone for ten days.

- You're exaggerating.

You only came home when you developed

jaundice from drinking.

That wasn't from drinking...

- It was from drinking.

And because of that

I had to stop breastfeeding.

I could only breastfeed her

for two weeks because you had jaundice

and it's full of antibodies that are

important for a little mite like that.

You can talk. For the first three months

you were pregnant...

Go on, say it. Say it.

It's true. It's true.

I smoked and drank

during the first three months

but I didn't know I was pregnant.

- It's not your fault, sweetheart.

A baby is formed

during the first three months.

The brain is already fully formed

after 6 weeks.

Stop it, Elise! Stop it!

- I didn't know.

Stop!

People die for the stupidest of reasons.

Maybe this place was too dirty for her.

Maybe she ate something

she shouldn't have done

or we should've changed her sheets more.

- What are you saying?

Who changed her sheets?

- I didn't mean anything.

Who fed her? Cooked for her?

Fresh food, organic food, every day.

I did. And who cleaned the place? I did!

I just said the first things that came

into my head, I could've said anything.

You're blaming me, aren't you?

I'm not.

- You're blaming me.

You're blaming me.

- I'm not!

I can have a go at you too.

- What?

There isn't any cancer in my family,

but there is in yours.

Two uncles and your dad.

F*** you, Elise!

Yeah... F*** you.

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