Zee and Co. Page #7

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You keep your head above water.

I'm sick of serenity.

I'm sick of the way I'm expected to be.

I got short-changed too, you know.

I had a husband I loved.

We were happy.

E could do crossword puzzles

or paper a room together.

And when my children were babies...

...he knew he was going to die.

He had a cancer.

A slow one.

He told me things he would

like to have done...

...qualities he would like

his sons to have...

journeys he would like us to make.

The last thing he said was, "The front of

the house and the woodwork need painting".

Afterwards, I used to

turn my pillow sideways...

and pretend it was a man, in case

I woke up in the middle of the night.

So I'm sorry if I give the impression

of being in charge.

It's my mistake.

But if it's astrological,

people of my sign do.

Nevertheless...

...I will always be all right.

So will you.

(Thunder rumbles)

What is a nervous breakdown?

Is it when you can't make up your mind

or something like that?

Well, it's when you act out of context

with your environment.

Oh, stop, stop, stop.

Don't say anything.

I don't want any definitions.

Do men get it?

One of my friends did once.

He started ordering things by mail order.

He had this fetish

about having everything clean.

I don't seem to be able to come through

for either of them.

You're doing fine. Honestly.

Don't be so bloody cheerful. You sound

like my mother during the war- breezy.

That's what I need.

A war.

The trenches. Life and death.

Cold, hard, real facts.

Something to get hold of.

What's the matter?

Are you crying?

You are crying, aren't you?

Come and sit down. Sit down.

Relax, relax.

Did one of your boyfriends stand you up?

I'm sorry.

I'm sorry, I don't know what it is.

I mean, I have everything -

nice flat, central heating,

John comes every night.

And do you come every night?

You can tell me.

Go on. Confess.

(Chuckles) You can tell me

anything... any time...

provided I listen.

Someone asked me the other day,

my tailor I think it was,

he said, "If your wife and your mistress

were drowning, who would you save?"

And I said, "My wife...

because my mistress would understand".

You're wrong.

Neither of them would.

(Spits)

I'll plant them.

You never know. They might take.

You didn't know I liked gardening, did you?

Yes. He told me.

He never tells me anything about... you.

He slips up sometimes.

He calls me Stella.

You'll lend him to me, won't you?

He's your husband.

Oh, I just mean for a week

or so when I get out.

Going back to an empty house,

it frightens me.

I know.

Of course you do.

But youre lucky number's coming up.

It's your turn.

It's funny how one gets one's happiness

at the expense of someone else.

Me of you.

You of me, and so on.

I got expelled at school

because I fell in love with one of the nuns.

What a silly thing to be expelled for.

I...

I kissed her while she was picking me up

for one of the school plays.

I was expelled for eating altar breads,

or whatever they call them,

before they're blessed.

What part did you have in the play?

I was a boy.

Shall I peel you an orange?

Yes, thank you.

You know, I think I could get quite used

to having you as my personal slave.

Only available for limited engagements.

Had you planned it for long?

No.

It was a spur of the moment thing.

I was tired and a little drunk, I guess.

And I'd just heard from a friend that you

and Robert had leased a flat together.

I suppose that triggered it off.

It was all... getting a bit much of late.

Even before you arrived on the scene,

it was... a bit much.

I didn't know whether to talk

or be the silent type or what?

But you'll be all right.

You'll have a good time in the beginning.

The very beginning.

The way people do.

Maybe I can be your bridesmaid.

I was my mother's bridesmaid

when she married for the second time.

I was only eight at the time.

Of course, I didn't know

I wouldn't be with her anymore.

Why not?

Oh, well...

...the man she was marrying didn't want me.

We'd been so close up until then.

She was more like a playmate to me than...

mother.

Of course, you can't blame him.

Who wants a great big girl of eight around?

So I was packed off to school.

I don't...

...remember seeing her

many times after that.

I've never told that to anyone.

Not even him.

You're the only one who knows it.

What is this? Victorian or something?

STELLA:
Something.

I thought it was something.

- Shall we have a housewarming?

- Yes, if you like.

- We haven't any mutual friends.

- Oh, yes, we have.

We have your boys.

Do you know what Sean said to me

the other day?

He said, "Please indicate to Robert

that great favor is curried

with the material offerings

of a stepfather".

(Chuckles)Sean sounds like

a bit of a blackmailer to me.

Oh, he is. They both are.

And I've made lots of resolutions.

I shall be less extravagant.

I shan't talk in the mornings -

I'm an early riser.

Except on Sundays when I lie in bed

and eat toast and read the papers.

And I promise I shall never

have a head cold.

We'll be a party in ourselves, won't we?

Will we?

Eh?

Are you gonna stay tonight?

No. I can't.

Zee's invited some people over for dinner,

old friends.

It's my sort of... bowing out night.

She always manages to come between us...

some way or other.

It's my last evening. I could hardly say no.

I have things to pick up, anyway.

All right. I'll get on with the unpacking.

And then I'll go out and buy some food

and flowers and...

I'll get back as soon as I can.

? I hear thunder

? I see dirty skies

? I see my baby

? Walk a hundred miles

? And I hear the tale

? Of love and woe

? I'm on the bank

? Yeah, don't you know

? I see the people

? I hear what people say

? What people

? Yeah, people say

? Hey, people

? People

That's what mother birds do.

Yeah.

To feed their young.

Here, love,

what about that dance you promised me?

Super!

Hey, mate, what kind of a party is this?

It's a drinking party, given by my wife.

(Wind chimes)

(Whir of lift machinery)

(Whirring stops)

(Footsteps)

(Door closes)

? Soul music

I don't understand, I really don't.

It's a shame.

It is a shame

because you've always been such fun people.

Yes, we're great fun.

There aren't that many fun people around

these days.

I mean, look at this lot here.

It's taken us two weeks to

collect them together.

(Robert laughs)

Oh!

Hey, Bobby, it's my dance.

(Laughs)

(Giggles) Oh, my Bobby is drunk.

Come on, baby.

Oh! Come on, baby bunny.

- Come with Mummy!

- (Laughs)

There's a good boy.

Come on. Now, now.

There's a good baby.

(Wind chimes)

(Chatter)

Hang on just a minute.

(Knocks on door)

Zee?

(Whisper) Yes, what is it?

The party's over, dear.

I thought we'd say good night.

(Whispers) Good night.

Oh, my darling.

Oh, my baby. Come here, darling.

(Wind chimes)

(Rustling)

What are you doing?

You promised you'd stay with me

until Gordon could move in with me.

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