The Child in Time Page #4

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- All right.

He was so pleased to

hear you were coming.

He's changed.

So have you. Is that

a twinkle in your eye?

No. No, it's just conjunctivitis.

She's started to teach

me how to play the piano

and I'm finding myself

desperate to impress her.

Why is that, I wonder?

Who knows? What's your news?

Oh, reading mostly.

You know,

books I've always wanted

to read. Bit of writing...

... while, um, Charles

is off enjoying himself.

- How long is it going to be? His exile?

- I wish I knew.

Well, the PM no less wants to know.

The PM can go f*** himself!

It's none of his business.

They've been here snooping.

I've asked them not to.

Anything I can do?

You're here.

Charles!

Charles?

Charles?

Charles?

Hellooo?

- Over here!

- Oh?

- You walked straight past me!

- Didn't see you.

THEY GRUNT AND LAUGH

Well... Look at you, Boyz in the Woodz.

Do you want to see my place? My den.

What? You've got a den?

This way.

Keep up!

It's amazing! I've been

building it for weeks!

It could be worse. We could

easily say he was out jogging.

But he's not out

jogging, he's out playing.

Could be worse.

It could destroy the

report, if it continues.

Then put a stop to it.

Tell him he's grounded.

Oh, for... !

- You're not very good at this sort of thing, are you?

- I used to be.

We're here. Come on.

It's bigger on the

inside, like the thingy.

Come on.

Wow.

Yeah. It's got everything.

Cool box, tool box. There's a fool box.

"Fool box"?

Yeah. Games. Puzzles. Drink?

Er, no, thanks, I just had

a cup of tea with Thelma.

Try some. I made it myself.

OK.

Go on.

Guess what's in it?

- Lemons and piss, going by the taste.

- CHARLES LAUGHS

Half right.

(HE BELCHES) Oh, my God.

When the weather improves,

I'm going to sleep out.

- I should tell you I've written a book.

- Any good?

Not really.

Might even become a joke book.

Climb a tree?

In these shoes? No, thanks.

- You can see for miles.

- I'll give it a miss.

- You'll love it.

- No, I won't.

What, are you chicken?

Chicken. HE CLUCKS

- Chicken.

- What's going on?

What is it that you're doing here?

Just having fun.

I'm being myself here.

This is you?

Yeah, it's a part of me, yeah.

It's mixed up.

I mean, it's complicated.

At the same time, you know, it's

really easy. I understand it...

... and I expect you'll get it, easy.

I'm searching for a child...

... and he wasn't taken, I

mean, he was sort of... he...

... was forbidden.

He was denied and...

... I need to find him.

You understand that, don't you?

I haven't got a f***ing clue

what you're going on about.

- Are you angry with me?

- Can you even hear yourself?

Sitting there with your bottle of piss

and talking about

"searching for a child"?

Are you disgusted by me?

Yeah.

I am disgusted, I'm disappointed,

I'm disillusioned,

I'm every "dis-" under the sun.

- Why?

- Why do you think?!

You need a shave, Charles.

You have a man's stubble. Look

down the front of your pants

and you'll find you have

a hairy pair of bollocks.

Yeah, well, that is where

you're wrong, so there.

- BLOWS RASPBERRY

- Where are you going now?

To climb a tree.

Charles!

Charles, this is ridiculous!

Charles!

For f***'s sake! Be careful!

It's easy with practice!

Charles! Charles, that's high enough!

QUIETLY:
Wolves.

Where does all this

leave you, now, Thelma?

What are you? Are you his wife?

Yes, I'm his wife.

Of course I'm his wife.

That's why I'm still here.

Putting up with it.

Waiting.

Thank you.

Every day, I remind myself

that it's what he wants.

And he's out of time...

- ... and that's all.

- Not out of his mind?

Why can't it be real?

I mean, we all look older, but

how many of us actually grow up?

- Look at the books you write.

- He's a grown man.

He's a brilliant and sophisticated MAN.

And you want him back.

He'll be disappointed

that you won't stay longer.

SARCASTICALLY:
Oh, well,

I'm sure he'll get over it.

Sorry.

I really am being... an arsehole.

Yes. You are.

Well, you're right, I just...

I want him back and you.

I'm feeling very sorry for myself.

So, there you go, being childish.

Must be contagious.

I'm sorry.

I was, um...

... a bit of a bully to

him, out in the woods.

- I should tell him I'm sorry.

- Hmm, you are the grown-up.

HE CHUCKLES:

Charles?

Charles?

Busy.

Charles, look, I'm, I'm

sorry. When we were in the den,

and you were talking about

finding a missing child,

all I could do was think of Kate. And...

... and I thought you were comparing.

DOOR OPENS:

- I would never do that.

- I know. I know.

It's my fault. I'm sorry.

It's OK.

It's fine.

Shall I come in?

Um...

- I've betrayed you.

- What?

- No, you haven't.

- I have.

- You'll see.

- Bollocks!

Hairy or otherwise.

I should walk the plank.

Do you think you'll ever find Kate?

I... hope I will.

I'll never believe that

I'll never find her, so...

She'll have grown.

Yes.

And if you find her...

... ten years from now, she'll

be a young woman almost.

Yes, but she'll still be Kate.

She'll still be my little girl.

Will you want to take her to the park?

To the slide and swings and just...

... catch up on all

those things you missed?

- I'm not comparing, you understand.

- No, I understand.

And, um,

I'll try to understand.

I promise.

Thanks for coming, Stephen.

You're my best friend.

Charles...

What?

Night-night.

Night.

CHILDREN CHATTER

Stop the car.

- What?

- Stop the car!

I can't, mate. I'm on a Red Route.

SHOUTING:
Stop!

- Mate, it's cameras!

- Stop the car! Stop it!

BUSTLE OF VOICES

Too young, too young...

WOMAN:
Great. Show me this one?

And this one? And where

did we see this one?

ALL SPEAK AT ONCE

So, your creative-writing exercise

is to write about your day at the zoo.

So, if you can get to your tables

please. Thank you, everyone.

And you can do some pictures, too.

CHAIRS CLATTER:

Hello.

Do you know who I am?

Excuse me, can I help you?

- What are you doing?

- I'm saying hello.

Now's not the time or place.

No, I don't think you

understand. I'm her...

Sorry, can I speak to you in

private? Please, outside. Please?

Children, on with our work, please.

I might as well just say it.

The girl that I was

just talking to just now,

that girl sitting right

there, she's my daughter.

- Ruth?

- No, her name's Kate, her REAL name is Kate.

And... she's my daughter.

I think I should call the Head.

She's my daughter, and she

was abducted three years ago,

which is probably why, why

she doesn't recognise me,

but she will... she will! I

know she will because it's her...

HE GASPS:

It's Kate!

Mr Lewis, I do remember

your daughter going missing.

The girl you say is your

daughter, is Ruth Lyle.

If that's what they've called her, yes.

Can I say I know who they are?

I've known Ruth's father, Jason Lyle,

for many years, he's a parent-governor.

I know my daughter and I know

that, that little girl out there,

is my daughter.

Now, look, I'm not going to shout,

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