The Sum of Us Page #8

---

other that last night,

Lying there in that

great old brass bed,

knowing that it was for the last time.

Knowing that they were never

going to see each other again.

Knowing that they were being taken away

To different places, to die.

I can't imagine what they would have said.

How do you say "thank you" for

forty years of love?

What words could you possibly find?

By then,

They were both as deaf as posts, so,

they'd lie there,

Shouting their love and their

good-byes to each other.

Did they find

comfort in the idea that they, uh,

might meet again soon, in the next world?

So, I don't know what I

would have said to Jeffrey

if I'd known the stroke

was going to happen.

I know I would have said something.

Only now, I'll never know what it was.

- Ok, Dad. Time for number twos.

I'll be back in a bit to wipe your bum.

Got the fish on for tea, right?

- I used to imagine, in my darker moments,

that it'd be the other way around.

That, you know, he'd catch

that dreadful disease, and

I'd be the one nursing him to the grave.

But not this.

Dear God.

Anything but this.

Ah.

Maybe in a few years' time, when

I'm gone, he'll find someone,

even if it's only out of

sheer, bloody loneliness.

But it won't be love,

because by then he'll have forgotten how.

I can't imagine anything worse

could happen to a human being, than that.

Sorry.

It always used to be a

very private thing to me,

going to the lav.

Not anymore.

- Ripper of a day, isn't it?

Weather report said it was going to rain.

They still don't get it

right very often, do they?

Might get an ice cream on the way home.

Do you fancy an ice cream?

Don't suppose you could

manage an ice block,

not unless I chopped it up for ya.

Might be a bit messy.

You need to wee or anything, Dad?

Well, I do.

You'll be all right, Dad. I won't be long.

- G'day.

- Fancy meeting you here.

- I'm planting.

- What?

- I'm...

- Yeah, I know. I saw you from over there.

Well, I wasn't actually sure it was you.

I was just having a perv.

Nice legs.

- You're looking pretty fit yourself.

- No, no, I need some sun.

At least you've got a tan.

- It's only my arms and legs.

The rest of me is as white as a ghost.

- Looks all right to me.

You didn't come and see Dad.

- Well, I didn't think you wanted me to.

- Yeah, look,

Sorry I was a bit off last

time I saw you, but...

I wasn't sure how you'd

react to Dad, you know.

It's not the most romantic

thing in the world, is it,

looking after your father

after he's had a stroke?

I thought you might think

it was too domestic.

Look, the thing is, um,

I'd really like to see you again.

You all right then, Dad?

I'll read to you for a bit, eh?

Do you want me to read to you?

No?

What do you want to do?

Sit here and listen to the flowers grow?

All right.

Sorry I was a while, but

I ran into young Greg.

You probably remember him best as Gary.

Could've knocked me down with a feather.

But I suppose it's only natural,

him being a gardener,

and this being a garden.

Couldn't help myself.

I asked him over for tea one night.

I was thinking he'd say, oh,

yeah, and that'd be that.

Could've knocked me down with a feather

when he said, would tomorrow be all right?

Yeah, ripper, I said.

I was a bit worried about you.

How he'd feel about you.

But he just shrugged and

said, that's life, isn't it?

And he said he'd bring his toothbrush.

That's making it fairly plain, isn't it?

He might even stay the night.

I'm not going to rush things, though.

Joe Cool this time, you just watch me.

Not too cool, though.

I don't want him to think

I'm not interested, y'know.

I'm just gonna...

Be me.

Whoever that is.

What's up, Dad?

What's the matter, mate? You're crying!

Hey? What's wrong?

Hey, come on.

It can't be that bad,

whatever it is. Come on.

It's all right, dry your eyes, come on.

Eh?

Oh, don't, Dad. Please.

It breaks me up to see you

like this, you know it does.

There's nothing to get upset about, mate.

I'm here.

I'll always be here.

Ok?

Is it Greg?

Don't you want him to come to tea?

I won't. I'll stop

him, if you want me to.

I've got his number.

Is that it?

Dad, come on, Dad.

Dad, Dad, Dad.

Come on, tell me.

One buzz is for 'yes',

two buzzes for 'no'.

Yes, you want me to cancel.

No, you don't want me to?

Yes.

That's what I thought.

You all right? You sure?

Huh?

Silly old bugger, getting

yourself worked up over things?

Nothing to worry about, Dad. I promise.

Not a worry in the world.

Turned out real nice after all, didn't it?

I wonder if he'll show up.

Somewhere deep inside

something's got a hold on you

And it's pushing me aside

so you stretch on forever

And I know I'm right for

the first time in my life

That's why I tell you

you'd better be home soon

Stripping back the cause

of lies and deception

Back to nothingness

like a week in the desert

And I know I'm for the

first time in my life

And that's why I tell you

you'd better be home soon

Don't say no don't say nothing's wrong

Cause when you get back

home maybe I'll be gone

It would cause me pain

if we were to end it

But I could start again

you can depend on it

And I know I'm right for

the first time in my life

And that's why I tell you

you'd better be home soon

That's why I tell you

you'd better be home soon

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes