Two more days.
I hope it fits.
Don't forget to sanitise your hands.
What?
OK, fine.
Simon collected the rings yesterday,
they're perfect.
It's been call after call with the wedding planner.
Apparently, the florist only has
pink peonies not white, which's a
total clash with the table settings.
Don't even get me started on same-sex cake toppers.
Right.
How's the speech going?
Remember, it doesn't need to be as funny as the best man's.
But you should rehearse it aloud before the big day.
Can you believe that the guest
list's nearly 100 people now?
There's no need to be nervous.
Look, on the way to your appointment
I can take a look at it if you like.
Go over anything... It's not that.
What then?
I'm...
I'm not coming to the wedding.
All of it can go.
And once you've cleared the microwave
meals from the freezer, take it
all down the food bank, please. OK.
You don't think you're being a bit overboard, Mum?
Absolutely not.
It's Auntie Binita, it's not dinner
with King Charles.
Well, she certainly behaves like she's royalty.
Seriously, Mum we don't need all this fuss.
These need cutting for the shrine.
Quickly, time is of the essence.
Why do we do this every time?
Because that woman will never change.
You know she always looks down on me.
Judging my cooking, inspecting my spice rack,
going through the freezer.
I'll not be known as Ms Microwave,
thank you very much.
You know you're a reasonably sufficient cook?
Chop the stems on these flowers. OK.
Come on, chop, chop.
It's too risky, son.
I need to play it safe.
Dad, it's my wedding.
And we'll mark it another time.
Right now, I'm not hanging around
crowds indoors, no way.
You go out to the supermarket, what's the difference?
Actually, I shop online now.
Since when?
I've not been out for weeks.
Watch it, will you!
I don't understand.
I'm driving you to the doctors in a
minute, you'll be indoors for that.
But with less crowds.
Besides, my insulin review is essential.
And my wedding isn't?
Look, I think you're just worked up about the speech.
Come on, Dad, this is silly.
Let's just go and we can talk about it on the way.
Fine.
But I'm sitting in the back and I
want all the windows down.
Look, about Ollie last night.
Oh, it's OK.
He's been having a bit of a tough time lately,
still no excuse for rudeness.
Look, if it's going to be a problem,
I can find another place.
It's not necessary.
It was partly my fault for not
telling him you were staying.
He'll get over it.
If you're sure. I am.
Oh, and I'm going to go to the
cinema or something tonight, so...
Don't be silly. It's your home, you
shouldn't feel you need to hide away.
Rest up and take it easy tonight.
Ronnie Ramsey, I'm here to see Dr Reid.
Erm...
..Ramsey, yeah. If you just want to take a seat.
Yeah, I'm a little early. If you
don't mind I'll be outside with my son.
You're perfectly welcome... Now I've
checked in, you know where to find me.
I'm not being funny, but who knows
the last time that seating area had a good sanitising.
I recognise that voice. Hello, Ronnie.
Evening doc, I'll be outside.
Mr Ramsey thinks the waiting area
could do with a spring clean.
Yes, well I don't doubt it.
Ronnie and his wife were a cleaning
force to be reckoned with at the station.
See you shortly.
I was very sorry to hear about Sue, Ronnie.
We were very fond of her.
Yeah, I know he's not great with public speaking
but once he gets up there I'm sure he'll be fine.
Look, I've got to go.
Love you.
Once this is done, I want you to
drop me straight back.
You know you can't live your life
being stuck in the house day and night.
Says who? Covid hasn't gone away.
Sure, but you're fully vaccinated.
It makes no sense. Is that right?
Look, I can write the speech for you if it's that much...
Justin, the speech isn't the problem.
It's the hundred people breathing
germs everywhere, putting me at risk.
Are you being serious right now?
Deadly. The sooner you get that, the better.
But it's my wedding.
And I'm sorry but I'm not changing my mind.
Mr Ramsey, Doctor Reid's ready to see you now.
Dad?
What's up with you?
I've got to go back to Kirsty's and deal with Ollie.
Mm, what's he done?
Oh, nothing, he's just...
I don't know, he's just an idiot.
Well, you're welcome to come round to mine.
Seriously?
Yeah, I'm cooking a Thai green curry that's so good,
my mouths watering just thinking about it.
Yeah, sounds amazing.
Let me just get my stuff. OK.
DOORBELL RINGS
Binita, right on time.
So lovely to see you.
Oh, hello, dear.
Oh, my darling, Sunil!
Oh, oh, you look more and more like
Rahul every day.
You think so? Oh, yes, definitely.
I brought a gift.
Oh, really, there was no need.
Laddoos, your favourite.
Oh, thank you, Auntie. Well, you need fattening up.
I mean, you're all skin and bone.
Has your mother not been feeding you or something?
Why don't we get you a drink, Auntie?
Oh, if you don't mind.
Erm, my case is just outside.
So, how are you, Ronnie?
All due respect doc, do you mind
if we get this over and done with?
I'm not a fan of surgeries and what not.
Oh, why's that?
I'm just safer to stay at home, cleaner.
No offence.
But you're fully vaccinated.
And I've had my boosters!
Yes, you've had all your boosters.
I could still get Covid.
Well, that's true but...
..there's no need to live in fear, Ronnie.
I'm happy at home.
You know, I was thinking, knowing
that you were coming in...
..I was thinking about Sue and...
..how she would say how much she
loved going to The Botanical Gardens.
She loved that place.
She'd have us walking around for hours.
Do you not think that Sue might feel
it was a waste spending so much time inside?
No.
Right.
OK, well, why don't you show me
your blood sugar diary?
I've never seen him like this. It's OK.
We'll sort this all out, I promise.
You know, Mum would have known what to do.
Now after everything's that's
happened, Dad won't even be there.
He's grieving and still adjusting to
life without your mum.
I know that.
So let's take a minute and give him
a little space to calm down.
I wanted our day to be about
bringing friends and family together.
It will be.
Even if my parents won't be there.
We just have to be thankful your
parents have been so supportive of us.
We'll work this out.
He'll be there.
There's just so much to think about.
Who's going to give me away, who's going to...
Let's focus on your dad right now. OK?
PHONE RINGS
It's the wedding planner. I've got to take this.
You don't, darling, it can wait.
Hi, Justin speaking.
I'm telling you, Nikhil's just came
back from Singapore on business.
And of course, he stopped by duty free to get me a gift.
I couldn't ask for a better son.
A little something to whet the appetite.
Thank you, Mum.
And Rohan's doing very well.
It will not be long before we hear
the pitter patter of little feet running around,
I guarantee you.
Sounds like everyone's doing fantastically.
Would you like a glass of water?
I'm fine. Is there somewhere
we can go for a catch up?
Aren't we doing that now, Auntie?
I am sure that no-one would begrudge
me spending some alone time with my skinny Sunil.
Are there eggs in the shortbread?
I don't believe so.
I did check the label.
Oh.
Hmm.
Do you find these dry as well?
Erm, that's just the style, Auntie.
Oh.
They're famously crumbly and Mum gets the best in town.
I see, spending all her money on
little treats.
Well, actually, they were dad's favourites.
Isn't that right, Mum?
Some water, please.
Honestly, I'm just glad to have an
evening away from Sulky McSulkface.
Is it really that bad?
I appreciate Kirsty helping me out but...
..right now, I need an Ollie free zone.
So, sometimes when Emma's acting like a teenager
I have to send her to her room.
Thankfully, it's not that often.
But guess what? What?
You are going to love this curry.
I got it from a local in Koh Tao.
That island was absolutely stunning.
You know, your clear blue skies,
sandy white beaches...
This looks complicated?
It's says easy peasy lemon-grass squeezy.
You just chuck the spices in, bang
it on the hob, done.
I promise you, you're going to love it.
Justin's young, he can take the risks but
it could be one wedding and a funeral if I go.
Well, there is a risk, of course
but it's ever so small.
Staying indoors all the time, well,
that carries its own kind of suffering, as you know?
I see that you were offered grief
counselling after Sue passed.
More endless junk through my letterbox.
But you didn't take it up?
Why not?
If that's everything, I'm off.
Ronnie, please hang on a second.
I really want to talk to you about all this.
I'm concerned that you're suffering with anxiety.
Yeah, speak soon.
Of course, now that completely mucks
up our plans for the top table.
For goodness' sake!
Justin, can we please take a...
So Dad hadn't said anything to you about not coming?
Darling, I think I would've remembered that.
I just assumed he'd want to be there. I...
I didn't even check to ask.
Perhaps we should have checked in on him a bit more.
Is that a dig?
I call him every Sunday.
No, I just mean seeing him face-to-face.
Before today, when was the last time you...
..you know...
Go on. ..visited him?
Or gave him a hug? I'm...
I'm not sure.
I don't know. The funeral?
Since Mum, everything has kind of
rattled by whilst trying to organise the wedding.
It's been...
It's a lot to plan without her.
She'd been such a help.
She'd always wanted to see us married.
And I'm sure your dad does.
He's loves a wedding, he's a traditionalist.
That's what I thought.
Unless that's what this is really about.
What?
Well, Mum was always so supportive.
Maybe all these years Dad was just going along with it
because he couldn't say what he really thought.
But now she's not with us, his true feelings are coming out.
Your dad loves you.
That's the most important thing here.
I don't know any more.
Maybe men marrying men doesn't fit
with his traditional family values.
Seriously, what has gotten into you?
Ah, this one's my favourite.
Look at Rahul, the cheeky smile.
You've seen it right?
I don't think so.
Oh, I'll text it to you.
I'm sure Mum's got a copy.
Not a day goes by where I don't think about him.
You know the wonderful qualities that he had,
his work ethos, his smile,
I see it in you.
Oh, Auntie.
I know he was tough on the people that he loved
but that's only because he wanted to
do good by his family.
And as his sister, I want you to
know that I'll always be here to look out for you.
You know Mum's doing a good job
looking after me too?
Hmm.
How's your love life, hmm?
I bet you've got all the ladies
chasing you down the street.
That's why I've got so skinny, right?
I have a wonderful Indian girl
that I want to show you.
Auntie, I...
Her name's Chandrika,
she's a climate scientist. Hmm?
She's very pretty. Here, I'll show you.
Yeah, OK. Yes? Yes.
Ronnie, just have a little think
about what I said, all right?
I told you to wait outside.
What's he doing here?
Dad, is this about you not wanting
Simon and I to get married? What?
I thought you were happy for us? Justin, hang on a sec.
Are you ashamed of me? I just need...
Dad? Ronnie? Are you listening?
Is he OK? Dad?
None of you are even...
Ronnie, we just want you to be OK.
We're here for you, OK.
Stop crowding me! None of you are wearing masks.
I knew it wasn't safe to leave the house!
Right. Kirsty, can you show these
gentlemen to my room?
I'm just going to grab my coat.
So, that's the green beans done,
potatoes done, curry paste done.
Coconut milk? Is done.
Is that about right?
Yeah.
Then we let the milk bubble for a bit
and add two tablespoons of fish sauce.
Oh, smell that.
Ooh.
And then it's the Thai basil leaves.
OK, cool.
What's this one again?
Turmeric, I put it in the paste.
Have a sniff. Go on, it's all
part of the experience.
Oh.
OK, wow!
I said smell it, not snort it.
You OK? Yeah, I'm all right.
See? I knew you'd be into this.
We'll make a Nigella out of you yet.
Who?
Tell me you're joking. Obviously.
Come on then, Gordon, what's next?
Hmm.
It's all right Ronnie, I'm not
going to come any closer.
I just want to be left in peace.
Oh, Ronnie, look, it's clear you've
been struggling lately since Sue passed away.
I shouldn't have risked coming here in the first place.
All I wanted was a quick check-up.
No, no, you did the right thing to come in.
I'm fine.
Ronnie, do you and Justin often
speak to each other like that?
Not always.
Justin and Simon are worried about you.
Why don't you come back in and
have a chat with us about things?
You want me back in there?
Yes, but only when you're ready.
I can't.
You know, something tells me
that Sue would want her husband and
her son to support each other at the moment.
I'll be in room one.
When you're ready.
Where is he? Is he coming? Justin.
Sorry, he's a bridezilla that just won't be told.
And who else is going to give
the father of the groom's speech?
You're not listening.
That really isn't our biggest worry right now.
What do you mean?
Look, I don't think any of this
is about you getting married.
Dad won't talk to me. I think...
He won't go near me! What we need to...
Justin, stop!
Your dad's not well, that's our priority.
Not everything is about you!
This isn't some kind of act of
defiance by your father.
And I am genuinely concerned about Ronnie.
Since the pandemic, we've seen a big
uptake in cases of mental health.
Particularly for people who were
vulnerable and they've been in lockdown
for nearly two years.
The isolation, the disconnect from loved ones.
I think...
..your father's fixation with being at home...
..well, I'm worried it's starting to
get out of control.
Without Sue there to keep him company,
that's got to have been a huge adjustment.
Exactly.
What your father need now is your support.
You're right.
He's, erm...
..he's been through a lot.
Here we go.
Oh, that smell is giving me major
night market flashbacks.
It doesn't look bad, you know.
Well, let's hope it tastes as good as it looks.
You try.
OK.
So?
Well, I've never had Thai Green curry before, so...
I mean, it's not bad. Really?
I don't know, something's not quite right.
It needs something.
Erm, pass us that.
I've been meaning to ask you something.
No, I don't think Nigella's out of a job just yet.
You're funny.
I was just wondering, what happened
between you and Jamie?
Oliver? No, your Jamie.
He's not really my Jamie but...
..I think, I got cold feet. Why?
Sorry.
You can tell me to mind my own business if you want.
No.
Things were moving too quickly...
..I freaked out and then...
..that was it.
I thought you really liked him.
Yeah, but...
..looking back, when I lost Billy...
..the risk of going through that again.
I just, I can't rush into something like that.
No, I get it.
I'm just sorry it didn't work out for you this time.
I tell you what,
I wish you'd hurry up with that, I'm starving.
All the planning, it's taken over everything.
She loved a big family occasion, didn't she?
It's just felt easier to keep busy than grieve.
Sue was the one that kept the pair of them in check.
She was the chief organiser.
She loved the planning, the decisions,
she loved to chat.
Oh, yes, I remember that.
KNOCK AT DOOR
Come in.
Hello, Ronnie.
I'm glad you decided to join us.
I bet that took a lot.
Well, it was doctor's orders.
I think it's important we get things out in the open.
What do you think? I...
..I'd like that.
It's a bit cramped in here, isn't it?
Why don't we go somewhere with a bit more space?
Come on, follow me.
We forgot to put in the Thai basil leaves.
Did we? Mm-hm.
That must be what it is.
At least it's edible, though.
It could be worse.
Could it? Yeah.
I just, I remember it tasting different.
Maybe I wrote it down wrong?
I can't imagine what Rob's going through right now. Mm.
He won't even know which way's up.
Thank you, like, for tonight.
We had fun, didn't we?
There's just been so much change lately.
Sometimes I feel like my brain can't quite keep up.
Yeah, but now you've found a place to crash,
things will start to feel a bit calmer.
Well, yeah.
If weird Ollie will leave me alone.
I should take him some of this, this will keep him quiet.
You know what? I think the coconut milk's off.
I do feel a bit sick, actually.
You're fine.
I don't know, you know...
Don't you dare throw up over
Emma's dinner table.
I'd love to be there...
..but there's no way I could sit in
the town hall all afternoon.
I just don't feel safe in places I don't know.
My mind can't settle.
Home...
..feels more comfortable.
I trust it.
It's like being closer to your mum.
I'm sorry.
No, this is all my fault.
I should have shown up more.
Not just been wrapped up planning this wedding.
I don't ever want to be a burden.
You're never a burden, you're my dad.
It's me who's not listened.
But worst of all, I've neglected you.
I'm sorry.
Whatever happens now, I'm going
to be here for you. OK?
I want to make this right.
I know I should get some help.
Your mum would probably want me out
and about visiting all our favourite places, right?
Ronnie, would you consider talking
to someone about how you're feeling?
How long's the waiting list for counselling?
Well, a few months, sometimes longer.
But there are quite a few NHS apps
that help with anxiety.
And well, you could go private if
that's an option.
What do you think?
Sitting in a tiny room all day
talking about the past isn't my style.
No, no, you can do it remotely Ronnie,
you don't even have to leave the house.
I'm not convinced, it's just not me.
Well, you have a think about it all right?
You know where I am.
I have to get back to work but
you take care of yourself, all right?
Thanks, doc.
I think at this stage, it's better
if we postpone the wedding.
Everything all right?
It is now.
This looks great, Mum.
Oh, did you make all of this yourself?
Auntie, you are in for a treat.
Mum's Chana Masala, it is the best.
Everything's made from scratch,
except the pakoras.
Good to know.
Careful, Auntie, you'll want to save
room for Mum's Aloo Gobi.
Oh would you like...
No, no, no I'll serve myself.
So Sunil, how is work?
Yeah, it's really good, I'm still
doing work at the hospital.
And the GP's been really interesting.
He's doing brilliantly.
You know, your father loved his work?
In fact, that is the key to success.
Being a surgeon was Rahul's life.
How else do you think he could have afforded you all this?
Well, actually...
He built all this for you so that
one day it could be yours.
Would you like a top up, Binita?
Unless of course your mother goes
and spends it all on her little hobbies.
No, thank you.
You do realise Auntie, The Mill isn't a hobby?
Did she tell you to say that?
Come on, come on eat up, it's getting cold.
Also, you're looking far too skinny.
Throwing all that money down the toilet?
There's not going to be a wedding
until you're well enough to be there.
I'm just not sure, hand on heart,
I'd feel safe being inside on your big day.
And I'm not going to force you.
It could be a year for all I know, before I'm ready.
But what if we took the wedding outside?
What?
Can you do that?
Of course.
What do you think, Dad?
A garden wedding.
I think I could manage that.
I always tell Justin, there's always
a sensible solution to most problems.
Oh, that boy never listens.
I take after Mum, she was the talker.
She certainly was.
And I think you also should
reconsider the counselling.
A garden wedding for some online sessions?
Fine, I'll do it.
Great.
Your mum would say that's a fair deal.
I think she'd say it was the perfect
way to honour her.
Well, you better get started on my speech then.
No chance, I've still got to call
the florist about the flowers.
You can write your own speech.
Pushing ahead to fulfil their quest,
That promise once made by the unlikely guest,
To protect and warm with their brightest shine,
With love from the past, still trapped in time.
Thank you. Stop, stop.
That's just my latest one.
I tell you, I have had so much fun
just digging into my creative side.
Poetry's such an underrated art,
don't you think? Hmm.
All right, then, just one more.
Erm, Auntie, usually we would,
but you know, it's late and we've
actually got a whole day of fun planned for you tomorrow.
Oh, really? Oh, bless you.
Isn't that right, Mum? Yes.
The itinerary's chockablock.
But right now, I can barely keep my eyes open.
Oh, such a shame. Mm.
Oh, well, next time.
Goodnight. Goodnight, Auntie.
Oh, you keep making your dad proud.
Goodnight.
And she's gone.
Poetry?
I know, she's getting worse.
And that's not the end of it.
We've got all day with her tomorrow,
listening to her poems and
pretending to like them.
Yeah.
What day is it?
And, where am I?
I am actually worried about Sunil.
He doesn't even know why he's a GP.
He's clearly just playing at it.
This is different. Put the kettle
on, I'll tell you all about it.
Look, you'll see I'm right.
Yeah, that's what it's really about, isn't it?