Tim Page #4

They've written it themselves.

They've directed it.

They're playing all the parts.

They've made everything for it.

All the costumes

and the bits and pieces.

But the main thing,

is that it's their play.

They're the ones

who've made it happen.

You say you taught Tim to read?

Yes, a little.

And he was pleased about that?

Oh yes. He felt that he had

achieved something very important.

He's aware of his limits.

Incredible.

But you see, I'm not

sure of what his limits are.

I want to so know

what he's really thinking,

what he's feeling,

how he dreams.

The children will be going

back into school now.

Would you like to see

the rest of the school?

Oh, I'd like very much to.

- What does Tim do for a living?

- He's a labourer. A builder's labourer.

What are his

mother and father like?

I've never actually met them. I've

only spoken to them on the phone.

I'm sure they're not well educated.

They love him a lot.

They didn't know what to do

with him when he was a child.

When he couldn't manage at

school, they sent him off to work.

I'd pretty like to

meet Tim some time.

I'd think he'd like to meet you.

What's he like? Any speech

abnormality, any physical deformity?

No.

He's quite handsome, actually.

- Well, where mommy?

- Em, we're home. Em?

She must have go lie down.

Mom?

Dad! In here dad!

Dad!

Oh Jesus!

Oh Jesus Christ.

She's as cold as ice. Get a

cardigan, a blanket or something.

Hello, Dr Perkins,

it's Ron Melville here.

Doctor Tim, I think it's her heart.

But she's just lying here.

Alright, we'll wait for him.

Em, it's me, Ron.

Can you hear me?

Em! Em it's Ron.

Can you hear me?

Oh Ron, I'm so pleased to see you.

Thanks to yer.

- Where's Tim?

- He's here, love.

Mom, I'm here, mom.

Don't worry. The ambulance is

coming to take you to the hospital.

How do you feel?

Like something that can't...

Oh Ron, I wet the...

chair or something.

Back of a purpose chair.

Oh Em, don't let anything

happen to you love.

Hold on till we get

you to the hospital.

- Ron.

- I'm here, love.

We're at the hospital.

Soon have you fixed up.

- Ron.

- Yes, love.

Take good care of Tim.

Best thing for Tim.

Dad... dad!

- Is she alright?

- We got her here in time.

She's gonna be alright.

Come on Dawnie, sit down.

Take it easy.

You, okay?

Sorry, pop.

Why did I go to the pub?

Could have come straight home. I

could have come straight home for once.

- Don't blame yourself, dad.

- But I do.

Tim, don't worry about mom.

She's going to be alright.

But what if mom dies, Dawnie?

Mary told me about dying.

What if mom dies?

Talk to you a moment, Ron.

She's gone, mate.

We did all we could.

Gone?

How am I going

to tell Dawnie and Tim?

Do you want me to?

Could I see her?

- She's gone.

- Oh, Mick!

- Mick, you let Dawnie help me.

- Yeah, yeah.

Come on, son.

- We go for a walk, huh?

- Uh mm.

Well, she's gone Tim. We got to

learn to get along without her.

But it's gonna be awful hard.

Is she really and truly dead?

Yes, son.

Really and truly.

Mary told me about dying.

I know what dead is.

It's just like saying goodbye

and going away, isn't it?

That's about the size of it, son...

except we never got to say goodbye.

- Mary Horton.

- Ms Horton. It's Ron Melville here.

Sorry to ring you here at your office.

But my wife Em died last night.

Well, the early hours of this morning.

Really it was very sudden.

- I'm so sorry.

- Thank you.

Ms Horton, I know

you're real fond of Tim.

But I was wondering,

Emma's being buried tomorrow but

I don't think he ought to be there.

I'll come over as soon as I can.

I'll take him down to the beach.

Thanks, Ms Horton,

I appreciate that.

- Bye.

- Goodbye.

I'll get it.

- Yes.

- I'm Mary Horton.

Could you please tell

Mr Melville that I'm here?

Oh, yes, sure.

- Someone for you, Ron.

- Oh.

- Oh, Ms Horton?

- Yes, how's Tim?

Oh, he's taking it

all right, I suppose.

Sorry, I rang you at your office

but I didn't know what else to do.

I'll take him down to the beach.

Perhaps on Sunday you could

come down, stay for a while.

I just might take you up on that.

Come on inside.

- And this is Ms Horton, Tim's friend.

- Hello, Mary.

We're going down to my beach place.

- Hello Dawnie.

- Hell are you doing here?

- I've come for Tim.

- I can see that.

I wouldn't be surprised if you've

been having rough with him too.

- For Christ's sake Dawnie...

- Dad, would you shut up.

It's between me and her.

Why couldn't you find yourself

a man instead of my brother?

What in God's name has got into you?

You keep out of it, Dad.

Like him doing your garden,

you'd be doing his...

Well, you must have realised

what people are thinking,

I mean, a middle aged woman

with a young man, well.

You bloody creep, you

miserable puffed up bastard.

- I ought to knock your teeth in.

- Just hang on Ron.

You just watch it, Mick.

You take it easy, dad.

You don't let him get to you.

I don't know what's going on here.

Can I go and pack my bag now?

You do that, son.

- Hey, you're a beaut boy.

- You're alright too dad.

You're very, very wrong, my dear.

I'll show you out.

Don't you take no

notice of them, Ms Horton.

The only one who

matters now is Tim.

The last thing Em said was

do the best thing for Tim,

and I've got to do that because

she ain't here anymore.

Em and me had some

bloody good years together

and I'm going to

remember every one of them.

Maybe Dawnie and Mick

wouldn't understand but uh...

mom would be real disappointed

if I didn't raise a glass or

two every night at the pub.

You know what I mean?

Thanks.

I'm ready.

Yes, Tim.

Well, off you go.

- Bye, dad.

- Bye.

What's the matter with you, Mary?

Are you laughing or crying?

Well, I don't know.

Eternal God

It has come to think and keeping

there is shelter from the storm.

And in whose mercy and pity

there is shadow from the heat of life.

Hear now our prayer we pray Thee

for those who are mourning their dead.

Send Thy pity to

lighten their darkness.

In the sense of Thy presence and

sympathy to fill their loneliness.

Touch their wounds

with Thy hands of healing,

and help them to be still.

Amen.

Oh, hello, Mary.

- Good morning.

- Good morning.

You're up mighty early?

Oh, I'm a working lady.

I have to get back to town.

- Tim knows where everything is.

- We'll be fine.

- Good morning.

- Where are you going, Mary?

- The office.

- When will you be back? Tonight?

- No. The weekend.

- Oh.

- I'll see you both, Friday.

- Goodbye.

- Take good care of your dad.

- Oh, I will.

- I'll call you tonight.

- Promise.

Thank God, it's

the end of this week.

Would you like another drink?

I wouldn't mind.

You didn't really tell me what happened

after you picked Tim up last week.

Oh, nothing really.

- Oh, come on. Something went on.

- No, really.

Alright.

You haven't been

your usual self for a week.

- Sorry about that.

- Thank you.

We have known each other,

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