The Carer Page #6

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is there any living will just in case?

What did you just say?

[EKG BEEPING]

(SIR MICHAEL) God...

[MUMBLING]

I still don't understand.

The old man didn't have a word

about the b*tch kicking you out?

Well, apparently not.

I mean, he hasn't called,

he hasn't texted me.

Obviously, he doesn't want me back.

- He sounds like your boyfriend.

- No.

- Call him!

- No, I am not going to call him.

- Call him.

- No.

[CELL PHONE VIBRATING]

[BREATHING LABORIOUSLY]

[CELL PHONE CLATTERS]

Hello.

I usually do my own makeup.

[BOTH GIGGLING]

Good morning.

Just a little glycerin for your lips.

Good morning.

Oh! Good God, there's two of them.

You know, you really

don't need your monitor.

We can hear your snoring from

the other end of the ward.

Where's my gizmo?

Your mobile?

Ah!

You dropped it.

Don't worry, it didn't

break or anything,

but I've put it in the

nurses' room to recharge it.

You're welcome to borrow mine.

Unfortunately, the number I want is

in the phone's memory, not mine.

Well, they are bound

to ask you for another girl.

Maybe when she leaves

I could take her place here?

I'm afraid Sir Michael doesn't

need anyone for the time being.

But even if he is allowed

to go back home,

they'll no longer be requiring the

services of any of our girls.

Wait, wait, wait.

What do you mean by

"allowed to go back home"?

He's in hospital.

[SPEAKING IN HUNGARIAN]

Sir Michael had a heart attack.

[SPEAKING IN HUNGARIAN]

Do you have any numbers

of hospitals nearby?

They won't help you.

Not unless you are family.

[SPEAKING IN HUNGARIAN]

Yes, hello. This is

Allison Morley speaking.

(WOMAN ON PHONE) Hello.

I'm sorry, I can't hear you very well.

I'm on a satellite phone from Cambodia.

I can't hear you.

Hello?

Hello? Hello?

I'm trying to locate my grandfather,

Sir Michael Gifford.

Is he there?

Thank you very much.

Milly.

Milly. Milly.

Milly, where the hell are you?

[CELL PHONE BEEPING]

(SIR MICHAEL) "No harm. I have

done nothing but care of thee",

"Of thee, my dear one,

thee, my daughter."

[SOFT CHUCKLE]

[ENGINE SPUTTERING]

I've had heart attacks on film,

on stage, once on Radio 4.

But never any as realistic as this.

You scared the hell

out of Sophia and me.

Milly, please don't start again.

I have apologized.

I am profoundly sorry.

(DOROTTYA) And I'm sorry, too.

It was a foolish idea to suggest that

you should come to the

ceremony in the first place.

Foolish or selfish?

Stop f***ing quarrelling.

I have decided to go.

I have decided, period.

But you're not up to it.

The show must go on.

[CHUCKLES]

Oh! Another one of those wonderful

lines I have always wanted to say.

"The show must go on."

It's the most idiotic

thing I've ever heard.

After all the years with me,

Milly? It's just one of many.

But, Michael, you've had

hundreds of awards.

Twenty three.

But who's counting?

That's what I mean.

Why would you want to

jeopardize everything for just one more?

Because, my dear Milly,

this is the last one.

The last one.

There are two important ones in a

man's life, the first and the last.

Mmm...

And I don't just mean awards.

For God's sake, Michael, be

serious, just for one moment.

Are you certain that you're up to it?

Oh, wonderful, wonderful, wonderful day.

I've never been more certain

of anything in my life.

Help me. Please, Milly.

Of course I will.

Thank you.

And we mustn't tell Sophia.

She'd only try and stop me.

And she'd be right.

[SIGHS]

And now, my darling,

I'd like to have a word with

this young lady in private.

All right.

All right, but don't...

[SIGHS] Fine.

I want you to go with me

to the ceremony.

You don't need me.

Milly should go.

Oh, yes. Yes, of course.

But I need you, too.

All right. But first

we have to make sure

that you can manage a performance

without crapping yourself.

Mmm!

And how do we do that?

The day after tomorrow,

come to the care home

and give them a recital.

They've all got Alzheimer's.

So what?

They'll say they've never seen

anything like this before.

[CHUCKLES]

And if I sh*t myself?

I really think they're used to that.

- What's this?

- It's a car.

Really?

The steering is on the wrong side.

No, it's actually on the right side.

Which happens to be the left.

[LAUGHTER]

(SIR MICHAEL) You old bastard.

How the hell did you end up

here in the Garden of England?

You didn't tell me about him.

Because I didn't know

that you knew each other.

[SPEAKING IN OTHER LANGUAGE]

What a time.

What a time.

It's time to go.

Okay. On with the motley.

What is going on here?

Dorottya! I thought I told you...

You must be the admirable Mrs. Trudeau.

I am. And who...

Oh!

Sir Michael Gifford at

your disposal, ma'am.

I thought you were ill.

Quite so.

Quite so, but this young lady

has miraculously revived me.

Well, that is excellent.

She has also persuaded me that the

residents of your home will offer

the best possible audience for what

is likely to prove my farewell

and final performance as King Lear.

By all means, Sir Michael.

This is a great privilege.

Indeed it is.

How does my royal Lord?

How fares your Majesty?

You do me wrong

to take me out o' the grave.

Thou art a soul in bliss,

but I am bound upon a wheel of fire,

that mine own tears

do scald like molten lead.

Sir, do you know me?

You are a spirit, I know.

When did you die?

Still, still far wide!

Where have I been?

Where am I?

Fair daylight?

Oh, I am mightily abused.

I should even die with pity

to see another thus.

O, look upon me, sir,

and hold your hands

in benediction o'er me.

No, sir, you must not kneel.

I pray, do not mock me.

I am a very foolish fond old man,

fourscore and upward,

not an hour more nor less.

And to deal plainly with you

I fear I am not in my perfect mind.

Your sisters have, as I do

remember, done me wrong.

You have some cause

they have not.

(MAN) No cause.

No cause.

They rang from the academy to ask

if I was really tutoring you.

I didn't say anything. I...

I said I was.

Thank you.

But I'm not really sure

that I still want it.

You know, I think maybe it has been

enough to have acted with you.

To have played the good girl.

It was almost as if

my father had forgiven me.

Was he the one who

directed the Hamlet?

Yes.

- Where'd you get these?

- From the care home.

Mustard would have been nice.

Why did you need him to forgive you?

People think I lie all the time.

But I've only told one lie.

Which was...

I told people I did things for my

father when he was sick that I hadn't.

Life's like that.

Great deeds, if you're lucky.

And mistakes that make your

toes curl with embarrassment.

Now.

You must forgive yourself, and move on,

do better the next time.

Your father was right.

Acting isn't what we do,

it's what we are.

Now, Dorottya,

I'm sure your father would

be very proud of you.

That's the nicest thing

you've ever said to me.

Well, I always say,

"If the part demands it,"

"the setting is perfect,

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