The Lost Language of Cranes

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(Traffic)

( Funk music playing)

(Men moaning)

Oh, yeah.

Oh, it's so good.

Oh, yeah.

Yeah!

(Whispers) Please, not here.

Please. Couldn't

we go somewhere else?

I live nearby.

We could go there.

(Men grunting on screen)

(Car horn hoots)

"Alex Meltra.

077- 737-2920.

Please call me. "

(Groaning)

It's five o'clock.

Mmm.

We slept all day.

(Clattering)

(Music box rendition of Greensleeves)

(American accent)

Come back to bed.

Mmm.

(Laughs) I've got to do the dishes.

What a stink.

Come here.

I think I've got

to do these dishes.

Philip.

Come back to bed.

(Laughs)

(Laughter)

(Chuckling)

Your face feets like Velcro.

Well, I'll shave

when we get back to my place.

Are you sure you want me

to stay with you tonight?

We can get some Indian food

and then I'll go back

to Ladbroke Grove later on.

What are you talking about?

I just don't want you

to get sick of me.

Oh, if I get sick of you, I'll tell you.

(Tires squeal)

(Squeaking)

They're lucky to have escaped.

Probably on their way to a Lab.

(Squeaking)

(Door unlocking)

Hello.

(Woman) Hi.

- Hi, Philip.

- Hi.

I suppose you've been

your usual productive self today.

Less of the sarc, you big fairy.

It's not my fault

if I'm an obsessive.

Your stepfather called.

Derek?

He isn't exactly my stepfather.

I never know what to call him.

Try Derek.

What are you writing about?

These famous twins

who invented their own language.

Little girls.

There was a big debate whether they should be

separated and forced to learn English

or kept together

so the Language could be studied.

The social workers won.

So the girls did learn English?

Yeah.

Can't be late for my hot date.

See you boys. Ciao.

- Bye.

- Bye.

Come on.

(TV) Margaret chose

to live on the street

not unlike this one...

(Birds wings flapping)

(David Attenborough)

After the coming of the rains

the middens seethe with awakening life.

(Attenborough) By devouring

and burying the fresh dung,

the beetles play a vital role

in recycling valuable nutrients.

- Hello!

- (Door closes)

Hello.

Did you walk all the way?

Practically to Baker Street.

Then I got a bus.

Ooh.

What?

Nothing.

Mm, Rose.

My Rose.

Owen...

you really must help me

to find somewhere for us to live.

I've got some details about flats.

Well, sometimes I think

we'll end up homeless.

Silly.

(Thinking) Rose.

My Rose.

I am skipping

on a sidewalk...

(Philip) I'm thinking of telling my parents...

about us.

Which means, of course,

telling them about me.

You think it's a good idea?

I don't really know your parents.

I don't think this is going

to be a big shock for them.

No?

But it's not enough just telling them

and then shutting up and never

talking about it again.

I feel I should let them

know what it's like.

Having my life.

Having you.

The fact is, that...

no matter how well you explain to your mother

that you like taking it up the bum...

she's not gonna be happy about it.

I'm not saying you shouldn't

tell her, I'm just...

suggesting that you think

about it...very carefully.

(Sighs)

- Elliot.

- Mm?

If I tell them...

would you come to meet them?

Would you come to dinner sometime?

Sure.

- Really?

- Mm-hm.

You can't sleep.

You want me to rub your back?

(American accent)

Oh, hi, Owen.

Winston. Oh. Well, well, well.

Forgive me. I was miles away.

Nothing wrong, I hope?

Good God, no.

And how are you?

- Settling in, I hope?

- Oh, I'm fine.

- My students are a bit strange.

- Oh, I'm sure you can handle them.

Hello, Pauline.

Uh, and have you, uh,

made any friends?

- I expect you're still a bit homesick.

- Oh, I'm getting by.

We must have dinner one night.

I mean, you should come home

and meet my wife, Rose.

- She's an excellent cook.

- Ah, that sounds terrific, Owen. Thanks.

- Can I interest you?

- No, thanks. I ate earlier.

- All right. Bye.

- OK. See you, Winston.

Nick, hello.

Hello, Rose. You look well.

Not bad.

- Do you fancy Lunch?

- Sorry, Rose. already booked.

Of course you are.

How about next week?

Yes? Next week.

Good. I'd like that.

- Rose?

- Yes?

It's nice to see you.

(Rose) "Today, his eyes seemed bluer

"than the azure of a Renaissance fresco.

"She gave herself totally

to the empty void

"that was her destiny."

So what are you doing here

in your lunch hour anyway?

I missed you.

Did I say something wrong?

I've got a surprise for you.

What?

Well, uh, Derek and Geoffrey

are flying in tomorrow...

and we can spend Sunday

with them if you like.

That's wonderful.

I'll have to read

all Derek's books again.

(Chuckles)

Listen, I can't see you for a few days.

It's this project.

They want it in by Friday.

(Coughs) Well, I've got

some work to take home.

Some manuscripts. Maybe I could

just do my editing while you do your drawing.

I really don't think so.

For the next few days,

I've got to buckle down.

Do I distract you?

(Both laugh)

I'm sorry.

I've got to push on.

OK.

(Woman) Hello?

Mum? Mum, it's me.

(Buzzer)

(Door unlocking)

Well, it's not often we get a spontaneous visit

from the likes of you.

- I had a free night so I thought I'd drop in.

- That's nice.

Your father's not here, I'm afraid.

The board of admissions

are having one of their meetings.

I'm not expecting him

back before 10:
00.

I wasn't planning

on anything for supper.

- Don't know what's in the fridge.

- A sandwich will be fine.

I, er, thought I'd go through

some of my old books.

- I thought tonight would be a good night.

- Tonight? Yeah, fine.

Mum?

What's the Latest on the flat?

Mr. Weisman returns in three months

and that's that. We're out.

You mean after 20 years,

just like that?

Oh, Let's leave it. I really

don't want to talk about it.

I'll get you your sandwich.

"For Elliot, if he wants it."

(Man) "What, you may ask,

is a wish portal?

A wish portal is a door

between places you thought were real

"and places you assumed

were imaginary.

"On one side

of every wish portal

"is someplace that seems ordinary.

"School, the back yard,

your bedroom.

"On the other side is

a gateway to an unknown world.

"Now, imagine a house

built right on the line

"between two time zones.

"This means that when

it's one o'clock in the bedroom

"it's two o'clock in the kitchen.

"Easy to miss lunch.

"What happens

to the hour you lose

"when you walk across the house

to get a sandwich?

"A house like that is

exactly the sort of place

"you should expect

to find a wish portal.

"A place where time is broken."

(Circular phone dial winding)

(Ringing tone)

Hello? Alex Meltra.

This is Owen Benjamin.

You gave me your number,

said I should call.

- I did?

- Yes. You left it for me?

In a note. Said to call.

I don't think so.

Where did I give you this note?

Cinema.

Cinema? Oh, no, no.

I haven't seen a film in ages.

- No time, dear.

- The Fantasy Cinema.

- The what?

- Fantasy.

A Fantasy?

The Fantasy.

What, you...you mean

a porno cinema?

On Christmas. Are you someone

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