The Holding

(Rustling, light thud)

(Branches snapping)

(Bang)

(Panting)

(Breathing heavily)

(Grunting)

(Panting)

(Breathing heavily)

(Panting)

(Planks thudding)

(Man grunting)

(Panting)

(Girl) What are you doing?

(Sheep bleating)

(Stereo playing music)

(Sighs)

(Turns stereo off)

You're not seeing anyone?

In town? A boy?

No.

If I was, I wouldn't tell you.

- (Engine starts)

- Everyone has secrets.

It's how the world works, isn't it?

Come on.

(Mooing)

(Moos, yelps)

- Won't be long now, lass.

- (Horn beeps)

Good girl.

Looks like weather.

Not till eight, I'd say, give or take.

History repeats itself.

Our Jack's birthday,

25 years ago today.

Born about eight.

Moment he screamed,

pissed it down.

How's our mother-to-be?

I reckon she'll drop that calf

next 24 hour.

I were going to Jack's for t'weekend,

but I could always...

No, we'll be fine.

I'll get the girls to help with the slurry.

(Motor whirring)

Ready?

Are you ready?

- You're not trying!

- Shut up!

I'm 16, I'm not supposed to be helping pump

- gallons of sh*t out the ground.

- Hannah. Hannah.

Supposed to have a life!

- (Engine off)

- (Thunder rumbles)

Coop.

I can wait on it.

Milk yields are down

and I'm being pressed on prices,

- next month should be...

- It's fine.

Guttering's blocked.

I can't get up there meself anymore.

See if I can get our Jack to come over

sometime next week.

Thank you.

For everything.

(Thunder rumbling)

Ten past eight. Be about right, eh?

(Creaking)

Don't you ever put anything away?

Hear Karsten's buying your place.

I'm not selling. To anybody.

(Beeping)

Put it on account.

If you like

- Karsten, was there something...

- Yes.

I've cash.

Give me the word and I'll pay you tomorrow.

You can't last another winter,

not with these prices.

This is my home.

Then I've an alternative proposition.

Marriage.

Karsten, I...

(Lighter clicks)

(Lighter clicks)

(Door slams)

Hannah?

Amy?

(Wind whistling)

(Birds tweeting)

- Broken glass, broken lies.

- What?

That's what Coop says.

- Broken glass...

- I heard.

Amy, Coop's a lovely man,

but that's just an old wives' tale.

And don't dare tell him I said that.

(Cow groaning)

- (Cassie) Hannah. Hannah!

- (Cow wailing)

Hannah, did you get through to the vet?

Hannah!

- Hannah, the vet!

- Another hour.

Sh*t! The calf's too big

- we'll lose them both.

You can't let them die.

- Fetch the biggest knife you can.

- What are you gonna do?

- We'll have to cut it out.

- You can't kill it!

I can't afford to lose the mother. Go!

Hello, sweetness.

Where's your mum?

(Strained groaning)

This is not good.

This calf has to come out now.

Easy, girl, easy.

Dystocia Did you call a vet?

An hour. We're going to get the calf out.

- We could save the cow.

- Do you want to save both?

Get some boiled water,

twine and a sacking needle.

- (Mooing)

- Sh, sh, sh. It's all right, girl.

(Rapid grunting)

- Whisper in her ear.

- What?

You Know the Three Blind Mice?

Whisper that,

- (Shrieking)

- Hold her steady, best you can.

- (Hannah) I've got her.

- Go on.

(Whispers) Three blind mice

Three blind mice

See how they run

- See how they run

- (Cow quietens)

They all run after the farmer's wife

Who cut off their tails

with a carving knife

Did you ever see

such a thing in your life

As three blind mice

- Again.

- Three blind mice

See how they run

- OK.

- See how they run

They all run after the farmer's wife

- (Pained lowing)

- Who cut off their tails with a carving knife

Three blind mice

Three blind mice

- Here we go.

- See how they run

See how they run

- (Squelching, mooing)

- They all run after the farmer's wife

I've got it.

Who cut off their tails

with a carving knife

(Grunts)

Did you ever see such a thing in your life?

(Man grunts, cow whimpers)

(Man) He's breathing.

(Man laughs)

(Lighter clicks)

(Door opens)

They both stand a fighting chance.

No small thanks to you...

Aden.

(Cassie) So, Aden, right?

What brings you here?

(Aden) Dean. Thought I'd look him up.

(Cassie) He left.

- (Lighter clicks)

- (Aden) Is that so?

- Where do you know him from?

- The rigs.

You can't have seen him for almost...

ten years.

In another life.

So...

why now?

I was passing.

He, erm...

He never mentioned you.

Is that dinner I smell in the oven?

- Oh, you must have, er...

- Places to go?

I'm in no hurry.

But if you rather I left, I understand.

No, of course.

It's the least we can do.

Mm. Mm.

This is good.

- So you run the place by yourself?

- Things are tight.

We can't afford to take on anyone else.

If I could, erm...

catch a night's sleep...

He saved the calf.

One night.

Thank you.

In the snap room.

It's not much, but...

(Aden) It's fine.

Shower and toilet next door.

Breakfast six-thirty.

(Mooing)

(Amy) What about...

Luke?

Yeah. It's a bit boring.

What about, like, Gabriel or something?

Gabriel's a good name.

It is. isn't Gabriel in the Bible?

Yeah.

- (Amy) I like Aden.

- You don't know him.

I think he's an angel.

Gemma takes her sister to see Take That.

And I get a God freak!

- Weirdo,

- (They laugh)

- (Dun mud)

- (Aden) Oh.

Morning.

What's your business?

There's no honey here.

Not for you.

(Exhales)

(Flies buzzing)

Token of his affection.

- Who is he?

- Karsten?

Owns the next holding.

He's harmless enough.

- As long as he thinks he's in with a chance.

- And is he?

What's it to you?

(Lighter clicks)

(Groans)

- What do you think you're doing?

- Helping.

(Sighs)

You're welcome.

(Rattling)

(Rattling continues)

- He have a name?

- Ivan.

Good blood.

His father sired half

the cattle in 50 miles.

Fetch a price, I'd say.

(Cassie) Enough to keep this place going

for a few months. If it ever came to it.

I thought you'd be gone.

A couple of weeks.

Food and lodgings.

You can work the hell out of me.

We'll be fine.

(Cattle mooing)

Is it Dean?

I just don't think it's a good idea.

A month.

No more.

The place needs work, and you know it.

Cass.

I thought I'd find thee here.

Today.

He'd be 38.

Well, it's bound to play on thee mind some.

He was their father. I...

He were no such thing, Cassie Naylor.

Not in any true sense of the word.

A father protects.

Bless you, Coop.

(Lighter clicks)

You're a natural.

I know why you're here.

You think if you can get me to like you,

you can get in my mum's knickers.

Any chance of that, you think?

Liking or knickers?

Either.

How about neither?

(Hannah) So, what is it? Luke or Gabriel?

(Amy) Gabriel.

(Hannah) That's cool for a calf.

(Girls screaming)

- (Flies buzzing)

- My God.

(Cows lowing)

- You did this.

- Yeah? Prove it.

Life and death on the farm.

People like to forget it,

but that's how it is.

- Leave.

- You heard the lady.

F*** you.

- (Choking)

- Put it down.

- Put it down. You're not gonna use it.

- Enough!

He leaves now. And I mean now.

That's not going to happen.

I'll close you down, Cassie.

(Wind whistling)

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