The Child in Time Page #5

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I'm not going to make a fuss,

I just want her back.

If I bring Ruth into this office,

you're not going to make

a scene or interrupt.

I'd rather not involve the police.

By all means involve the police but, no,

I'm not going to make a fuss.

- KNOCK AT DOOR

- Come in, Mrs Forrester.

Come in, Ruth.

We won't keep you a moment and

then you can get back to class.

And if you could stay, Mrs Forrester.

Ruth, I wonder if you could

tell me your full name, please?

Ruth Elspeth Lyle.

And how old are you?

Eight, Miss.

And what's the name of your

older sister at this school?

Chloe. She's ten, Miss.

And when did you first

come to St Edwards?

To the school or to nursery?

Nursery.

When I was two.

- Mrs Forrester, and how long have you known Ruth?

- Since nursery.

No, no, no, that's not right,

that's... that's not right...

Thank you, Mrs Forrester.

Thank you, Ruth.

We have school records,

school photographs.

Would you like to see?

I'm good friends with Ruth's family.

I remember her mother, Jacqueline,

being pregnant with Ruthie,

that's what they call her...

... and have always called her.

Is there going to be

a problem, Mr Lewis?

No.

Sit here as long as you need.

No...

HE SOBS:

Oh, Kate!

HE SOBS:

KNOCK AT DOOR:

- MAN:
Taxi for Julie?

- Yes.

- Yeah, almost there.

- OK. No rush, I'm a bit early anyway.

Five minutes or more,

I thought I'd found her.

Five minutes at least of euphoria.

I thought, "I've done it."

And I thought of you and telling you.

Lucky I wasn't arrested.

I think she might have

to be the one to find us.

Can't give up?

Can't give up hope, no.

How certain are you that she's alive?

I know that if she wasn't, I'd feel it.

Yeah.

I would, too.

I know that she's out there.

I have no idea where or

where to begin looking.

It's hard to accept that

we're helpless, but we are.

And all we can do is be here, ready.

And sane.

You should know I'm going

away for a while. A few months.

Going where?

Undecided.

Somewhere warm.

Somewhere I can get to by train.

France? Not sure.

Why? Why now?

I want to.

What if I asked you to stay, a

while? A while longer, I mean.

I need to.

Want me to send a postcard?

You'd better.

Dinner's almost ready.

Just waiting on the potatoes.

Why don't you wait in the warm?

I am warm. Besides, I

need to tell you something.

Oh, ominous... !

I took a trip out to that pub... The Bell.

When?

A few weeks ago. I had to,

couldn't get it out of my head.

You have been there before.

In a way.

In what way?

You... were with me, love.

Very much with me.

I remember it so well,

because that was the day I

told your father I was pregnant.

You weren't planned and

you know we weren't married.

I was dreading telling him,

but it turned out to be a wonderful day.

It was the first time I saw you.

It's true.

I was sick with nerves,

I wasn't sure how your

father would react.

Being pregnant was bad news, really.

We'd made plans...

... and then,

I saw you.

This... beautiful child,

at the window, looking in, face.

I knew it was you.

That's why I remember.

I'm not mad

and it wasn't the lights,

- or hormones...

- No, no, no, no, no...

I believe you.

I do.

Oh!

Oh, I am glad. Because it made

me think, and this is important.

If it WAS you that I saw...

... if you were actually there,

before you were even born,

then Kate must be somewhere...

... and you have to keep on loving her.

Loving her is different to missing her.

It will find her.

She is...

... somewhere.

HE SIGHS SHARPLY

PIANO AND CELLO PLAYS

If you're in a book shop, do you

ever sneak a peek at your own books?

- Oh, yeah. Every time.

- Do you?

Yes, of course I do. If they're hidden,

I make them more visible

and cover up the competition.

SHE LAUGHS:

How long have you been a teacher?

I've already asked that

question. I'm sorry.

You have. Er, the answer is forever.

Sorry.

I am good at it.

I made the mistake of becoming Head

of Department a few years back...

- "Mistake"?

- Well, that can be hard work.

- The staff are more difficult than the children.

- I can believe it.

So, how's your boy who

wants to be a fish doing?

- How long can he hold his breath for now?

- 51 seconds.

SHE GIGGLES:

What's funny?

You're so certain!

It's a fact. Last bath-time, he

held his breath for 51 seconds.

I look forward to reading it.

If I ever finish it.

Do you not think you will?

Hopefully. But it can happen.

It's... train time.

It's been nice.

Yes. It has been nice.

I'll walk you.

I know the way, um...

I'll see you at the next meeting.

Yes.

Bye.

Bye.

VOICEOVER:
"What's your name?"

said the curly-haired

boy in the red T-shirt.

"Fish," said Fish.

"Cool!" said boy. "Why

Fish? What's it short for?"

"I forget," said Fish.

"I forget everything."

"Every day I wake up is

like a brand-new life!"

He was telling lies, of course.

Big, fat lies.

He wanted it to be true.

Fish had so many memories

that he wanted to forget...

even the good ones.

"That's f***ing perverse,"

said the almost middle-aged man...

... who wouldn't climb a tree

due to unsuitable footwear.

Are you working, Daddy?

Does it look like I'm working?

I want to remember everything about you.

Everything.

- Hi. I'm so sorry to be bothering you like this...

- You're bleeding!

- I'm sorry. Do you have a cloth, or a flannel?

- Yeah, of course, I do.

- Come in. What happened?

- Oh, I tripped and fell.

Not looking where I was going.

Useless on dancefloors and pavement.

- You might need a trip to A&E.

- No, no, no, no. No hospitals.

I'll reconsider in the morning.

- You weren't at the Committee meeting.

- Er, no, no.

Well, that's what I

came to see you about.

It's all a waste of time.

Well, probably.

No, no, it is. It's a sham!

It's already written.

The Authorised Childcare Handbook.

It doesn't matter what we

recommend, it's already been written!

- Authorised by who?

- Government.

- Not that we have a government, we have a politburo.

- Have you read it?

Oh, it's a love letter to the past.

It's impossible to implement.

I mean, pass it to the press,

they'll lap it up like

matrons on the ward.

Nothing will change,

it's a f***ing joke!

- I... I... I didn't know who else to come to.

- No.

Can I, um...

Can I use your bathroom?

- Yeah, sure, of course, it's just first on the left.

- Thank you.

I know it's not... it's not

Watergate, but it's still a sham.

And with children!

Oh, my Lord...

Why can't they get on with

doing something worthwhile

instead of all this posturing?

Why go into politics in the first place?

I'm not going mad.

It's just...

... something that got out of control.

I'm sorry, I... I saw the

lights and had to look,

- I shouldn't have.

- No, don't worry about it.

It's me...

self-harming.

It looks very lovely.

She'd have been ecstatic seeing this.

Yes, she would.

How long's it been?

Three years... just.

She'll be seven... somewhere.

"Somewhere".

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