JIM: Misery.
Misery on steroids.
AVA: Oh, great.
Eleven, double word, so that's 22.
Oh. So how many points are you winning by?
Not many.
How many "not many"?
203.
What?
You're miles better than me.
Not miles. Meters, maybe.
[sighs] It's these new tablets I'm taking.
You know, for me bladder issues.
-Anti-something or others. -Anti-cholinergics.
Well, they can cause cognitive problems, apparently.
Confusion, wooly head. Daftness.
I'm usually better than this.
When me and your gran used to...
Tea?
Yes, love. Great. That would be nice.
Do you want a waffle?
-A waffle? -I bought a waffle maker from the shopping channel.
I can't cook, so, now your gran's gone,
I was hoping gadgets might save me.
You see them on the telly, magic things,
where you put the ingredients in one end
and food comes out the other.
-It's a bread maker? -Yes.
I made some of that yesterday.
It was very heavy. Very... dense.
Like a malt loaf married a breeze block.
[chuckling] Is that a chocolate fountain?
Yes. [chuckling] That was a definite mistake.
You get very sick of that after a few hours
of relentless Dairy Milk.
But the waffle maker I've not tried.
Well, you'd have to make a batter for the waffles, wouldn't you?
You see, they don't explain that to you, the people who demonstrate--
that thin woman and the bumptious fella with the fake tan.
I thought the batter would come with it.
I can get you some ready meals.
You just put them in the oven, no need to cook.
That is cooking, though, isn't it?
Not really, I mean...
oven on, food in, wait.
Oven off, eat.
Okay.
That sounds doable. Huh.
I really appreciate this, Ava.
I know you've been having a bit of a time of it yourself.
It helps me to help you.
There's a lot of things I can't fix.
But hopefully, I can make things easier for you
for the time that Granny's not here.
I don't think she's ever coming back, love.
-And I don't blame her. -She will.
I know it. Just give her time.
[percussive music playing]
-Hiya. -Oh, hello, love.
I'll get out your way.
No, stay there.
You're not in the way.
Well, I mean, stay there if you want.
I'm not ordering you to stay there. [chuckles]
Right. Is pasta okay for tonight?
Oh, don't mind me. I can just have a sandwich.
-It's no trouble, Jackie. -Or I can just have a few crackers or something.
-A boiled egg. -I'm making pasta anyway,
so it would actually be more trouble for you to have something different.
Oh. Well, thanks, love.
That would be nice.
-It's just-- -Oh.
-Sorry. -Oh.
Uh, I might go for a stroll.
Blow the cobwebs away.
Yeah, good idea.
-I'll see you later, then. -Yeah.
-Bye. -JACKIE: Mm-hmm.
[door opens and closes]
Ugh. That is not fucking clean. Fuck's sake.
You all right? Was that Mum?
Yeah. Uhh!
She's just, uh, gone for a walk.
She did that thing again with her mug...
-Mm-hmm. -...where she rinses it under the tap
and then she puts it with the clean stuff.
-[sighs] -I've not noticed her do that.
Well, I have. I have noticed it.
Well, she's trying not to get in the way.
No. No, I-- I know, but how she does it means
that she is absolutely, 100% in the way.
Right. Well, shall I ask her to leave then?
Don't be so melodramatic, Paul. Fucking hell.
It would just be nice to know what her plans are.
I don't think she's got any.
'Cause her world has just fallen apart, Ally.
Yeah, but ours isn't exactly glued together.
-Mm-hmm. -Is it?
And having a mother-in-law sharing a bedroom
with our depressed daughter probably isn't helping things.
Mm-hmm.
-Pasta okay for tonight? -Yeah, wicked.
[percussive music playing]
Are you cold, love?
AVA: I'm fine. I think.
I don't have the heating on as much without Jackie here.
She feels the cold.
Heh. Likes the heating to come on before we're awake.
-I like that, too. -I'm the only who can work out the timer, though.
It's very esoteric.
Jackie says if I die before I explain it to her,
she'd freeze to death and join me.
-[Jim chuckles] -Yeah.
Have you had today's pills?
Yes.
Or have I?
Oh, I don't remember.
I think so.
Or do I?
I'll check the dispenser.
Oh, thanks, sweetheart.
I'll tell you something.
This is the worst Advent calendar I've ever been given.
[Ava chuckles softly]
[soft piano music playing]
[chatter and laughter]
Can I get you gentlemen anything else?
-Uh, no, we're good. Thanks. -Enjoy.
-Thank you. -JACOB: So, I ordered just sashimi.
-No rice, no seaweed-- just raw fish. -But it's so expensive.
I mean, what we've ordered is madly expensive.
Oh, I got some birthday money from my dad's girlfriend.
She feels guilty about me leaving home,
so she gave me quite a lot.
Ready to try it?
Yeah.
Mmm.
-Oh, my God. -Heaven, isn't it?
It's amazing.
I thought it was gonna be...
Well, I don't know what I thought it was gonna be.
-[chuckles] -But it's incredible.
It's belly rather than back.
Wow.
[chuckles softly] I'm so glad we're friends again, Jacob.
Yeah, me too. Best friends.
Mm. [chuckles] He called us "gentlemen."
-[chuckling] I know. -"Gentlemen."
Never been called that.
[both laughing]
Sorry, I'm being a real downer.
-No, you're not. -I am a bit.
If this was 1968, I'd be called "a drag"
and get accused of spreading bad vibes.
You're not a drag, Darren. You're groovy.
Thanks. I shouldn't be complaining, really.
-Mm. -I'm comfortable enough spending Mother's money.
But I'm doing nothing with my life, and being redundant isn't a great feeling.
Tell me about it. Everyone needs to feel useful.
-[doorbell rings] -LUKE: I'll get it.
-Thanks, Luke! -[sighs]
-I-- I've not been prone to depression before now. -Hmm.
I'm a very positive guy.
I just get so horribly lonely in that big, empty house.
What, is-- has Karen got the twins?
No. But the nanny keeps them out of my way.
-[approaching footsteps] -Right.
That son of yours is very handsome, Ally.
-Hello, Darren. -Hiya.
You're very handsome, too.
Oh. Thank you.
Um, sorry. Your-- the cake tins are all in here with some other stuff.
Marvelous. We're having a big party on Friday for Alex's 65th.
The "bus pass" one. [chuckles]
-I've said I'd bake. -Which is virtually unheard of.
I used to be quite good, when I could be bothered.
But men like it, don't they? Little woman in the kitchen,
-all that shit. -Is Alex retiring?
Oh, no. He wants to keep working... so he doesn't want to feel
like a directionless spare prick.
Anyway, we've got a load of people coming on Friday.
Alex has invited every waif, stray, and mere acquaintance on Earth.
Actually, would you like to come, Darren?
Oh, delighted. I love a party.
LEAH: Splendid.
Can you give me a hand with that box?
-Oh, one sec. -Yes, of course.
-The final cake tin. -Oh, Ally...
I invited both Jackie and Jim.
I mean, I just didn't know what to do after...
No, Mum. No one really knows what to do.
[Leah sighs] Anyway, thanks.
-Thank you, Darren. -Yes, of course.
[harmonica music playing]
I'll be back.
[somber music playing]
JACKIE: You should talk to her, your friend.
Go and see her.
AVA: Grace doesn't want to see me.
But she means so much to you, love.
You can't just let it go.
I know.
I can't really bear not being her friend.
That's why I desperately wanted to go to the same school as her...
why I deliberately failed the exam.
'Cause I thought she'd fail.
And is that why she won't talk to you?
She completely blanks me if I see her.
It's like I... don't exist.
Have you talked to that lovely vicar about it at your church?
I haven't been to church for a week or so.
I'm angry at Jesus.
Oh... don't be angry with Jesus, Ava.
He's Jesus.
I've been good, Granny. I've...
I've sacrificed my future for love, and...
love's supposed to be everything, isn't it?
In the New Testament, yeah.
The Old is frogs falling out of the sky
and being ordered to stab your own kids.
But I've done everything right.
And I'm miserable.
And my dad hates me,
and I feel like everything's going wrong.
Why hasn't Jesus saved me?
Your dad doesn't hate you, Ava.
He was just angry about the exam.
Your dad loves you.
And... not presuming to speak for him,
but I think Jesus does, too.
Thanks, Granny.
We should get some sleep.
Yeah. Night.
Night-night. [clears throat]
How's Jim?
AVA: Okay... ish.
Missing you.
Right.
Sleep tight, love.
AVA: And you.
[distant sirens wailing]
PAUL: [over phone] So Ava will come again tomorrow
to sort your pills out and stuff.
And she'll be bringing some ready meals, okay?
[chuckles] She told me about the chocolate fountain.
-JIM: She's a lifesaver, that girl. -Mm.
-I'm not sure what I'd do without her. -It's Alex's party tonight.
-Do you reckon you might wanna go to that? -Oh, I don't know.
-Your mum's invited, isn't she? -Yeah, of course.
Well, I don't want to risk bumping into her.
Okay, well, see how you feel later, but I think it might be
a good place for you to see each other again.
[sniffles] You know, in a crowd.
Ah, maybe.
So what are you up to at the minute?
Uh, this precise minute, I'm waiting for Luke.
His band's auditioning singers.
Is he gonna be a pop star then?
[chuckling] Pop star, yeah. Uh, maybe.
He can use his millions to keep you in your old age.
Well, that can start as soon as he fuckin' likes, yeah.
-[rock music playing] -MIA: ♪ Statuette on the conso-ole ♪
♪ Never know just how to give control ♪
♪ Statuette on the conso-ole
-Great. -That was really good. Thanks, Mia.
-MIA: Thank you. -Uh, we'll let you know
when we've had a band discussion.
Okay. Cool.
-I think we found our singer. -KAI: She's good.
Just one more to see.
I'll go get her.
-Great playing, Luke. -LUKE: Really?
[chuckling] I hope I'm improving.
PAUL: So, how you feeling today, Dad?
Okay.
Yeah? Really?
Yeah. Not bad.
But don't you worry about me, son.
You've got enough on your plate.
Yeah, but I do worry, though, Dad.
About you and Mum... a-and me, frankly,
'cause this rock has disappeared.
I had this certainty in my life: you two together.
Which is suddenly gone.
And that feels weird.
I know. It's all gone skew-whiff.
But there'll be a way out.
A way through, you mean.
Yes, a way through. There's always a way through.
-[rock music playing] -♪ Living life with my platitudes ♪
♪ Statuette on the console
♪ Statuette on the conso-ole
♪ I never know just how to get control ♪
♪ Statuette on the conso-ole
You obviously know how good you are.
We would really like you in the band, Ruby.
-If you want to be. -I'd love to be.
-Then you are. -Great!
[Luke and Ruby chattering indistinctly]
RUBY: Great. So when's the next rehearsal?
-We start Monday. Next week. -Okay.
-See you then. -Okay. Bye.
Bye.
Hi, mate.
You all right, Luke?
Fuckin' dumbstruck.
-Hello. -Hello. Oi.
-Was that Ruby? -Yeah, she's going to be on our new singer.
Hey! That's great news. She good then?
-Oh, my God, Dad, she's amazing. -Ah.
She has the most incredible voice.
That's brilliant. I'm pleased for you.
-[seatbelts latching] -Fuck.
Sorry, I-- I just had a thought.
Jacob's gonna hate this. He'll hate me.
I've just gotten carried away. I didn't think.
Jacob needs to grow up, mate.
I mean, I know he acts like he's 45 anyway,
but emotionally, he's gotta grow up.
He can't control who else you're friends with, Luke.
You've gotta talk it through with Jacob, get it straight between you.
-I just won't tell him. -Or that.
That's another option, yeah.
[atmospheric jazz music playing]
[chatter and upbeat music playing]
Oh, yes, darling. Have this, right.
DARREN: Thanks again for the lift. Difficult to walk into a party on your own.
-You wouldn't think it, but I'm actually very, very shy. -No, I wouldn't think it.
Don't worry, Darren. You can always stick with us until--
-Hi. Darren. -ALLY: Oh, wow.
Couldn't help noticing you've got a scarf on indoors-- well done that, man.
-I've got a sore throat. -No, no, no. No explanation necessary.
That is a legitimate fashion statement.
-Uh, Merino wool? -Cashmere.
-Ha! Checkmate. Oh. -[man chuckling]
Bit of fizz. Love it. So, what do you do?
-For a living. Not everything you do. -MAN: Oh, well...
-Where's the champagne? -Um, why don't you go that way,
-I'll go this way, and-- yeah. -Like Scooby-Doo. [chuckles]
-GABBY: Hello, stranger. -Hey! Ha ha!
-You know, I wasn't sure if you'd be here tonight. -Oh, right.
So you didn't think Alex would invite me?
No, no. I-- no.
-I'm just saying-- -I'm toying with you.
-Like a cat. [laughing] -[chuckles] Thanks.
I mean, I'm-- I'm the cat.
I mean, if I were toying with a cat, I'd need to be,
-well, I don't know, a pit bull or something. -Right, yeah.
Which would be... weird.
So, how are you? You are looking... really well.
Fine. Good. Fine and... good.
-PAUL: Great. -And you-- are you fine and good?
Yeah. Yeah, well, maybe not completely...
fine and good, but, um...
Yeah. But better for seeing you.
So, are things all improved with your son?
-Yes, yes. Yeah. -Mm.
-Uh... yeah. Things are a lot better. -Yeah.
Thank you, we're in a much healthier place. Thank you for remembering.
-Good. -Thanks. Ah, thank you. Thank you.
Thank you, thank you. Thank you, thank you.
[indistinct chatter]
ALEX: Oh, that's a shame.
They were scared of bumping into each other,
so neither of them are gonna come tonight.
LEAH: 50 years married-- just goes to show,
you can't take anything for granted.
-ALLY: Mm. -[Gabby laughing loudly]
-Who's that? -That's Gabby,
-our lovely neighbor. -[Gabby laughing]
She and Paul really hit it off when he stayed at mine.
These cheese scones that your mother made.
They're... really out of this world, Ally.
-"Hit it off"? -Just as friends. Nothing inappropriate.
-Yeah, of course. -LEAH: I thought Paul would have mentioned it.
I mean, they just went to the cinema.
I think it's the mustard powder that, uh...
gives it a-- a real kick.
No, actually, no, he-- I think he probably did mention going to the cinema,
now that-- now that I think of it.
It was just a very hectic time.
[whispers] See you.
LEAH: What?
LEAH: That's the last time I make fucking scones.
[haunting music playing on TV]
MAN: [on TV] So we have a white female. She's...
This fella here was in that...
And she matches the description of the woman that has gone missing.
JACKIE: Oh, I know that actor.
[sighs] Can't think what from, though.
Ah, Jim would know.
[man on TV continues indistinctly]
-PAUL: I even looked him up online. -No, you did not.
Oh, yes, I did. Three different sites.
I kid you not. And I'm still none the fuckin' wiser.
-Hi! -Hi. Hey. Thank you.
-GABBY: Hi. -How lovely.
-Sorry, would you-- -No, no, I'm fine. Thank you very much.
Hi, I'm-- I'm Ally.
Sorry. Ally, Gabby. Gabby, Ally.
So, do you-- do you two know each other, or you just--
No, no, w-we met when I was staying at your mum's, when Luke was...
-Yeah, no, I remember that. -Yeah, his thing, you know, yah.
Yeah, our recycling cycles, uh, went in sync,
so we used to see each other by the bins. [laughs]
-ALLY: Right. -PAUL: Yeah. Bin buddies, yeah.
-Bin buddies. -Bin buddies. Wow.
[Gabby chuckles]
Wow. There are so many interesting people here.
I mean, I've already been asked to join a community choir,
and I haven't sung since college.
-I was a tenor, would you believe? -[Gabby laughs]
New face. Hello. I'm Darren.
-Gabby. -Great name.
Well done. Heh.
How's the shyness going, Darren?
Oh, doesn't last very long.
I've been burying all my feelings since prep school.
Very handy training. Brutal, but, uh...
Does the business. [chuckles]
You don't have a drink. Um, there's the lady--
woman, sorry-- with the champagne.
-Let's go and mug her. -PAUL: Um...
-DARREN: Watch your step. -GABBY: Yeah.
-[sighs] Ah, man. -Having fun?
Yeah. Yeah, it's all right, innit? Thanks, yeah.
She's cool, actually. She's good.
[somber music playing]
PAUL: Hey. Want a cup of tea?
-Uh, no. I'm fine. -Not herbal?
No, I'm fine. Thanks.
[Ally inhales and sighs]
Gabby seemed nice.
Uh, yeah. She is. She is nice, yes.
Mum said that you and Gabby went to the cinema together.
Yeah. Uh, actually, we bumped into each other,
and then... after lunch--
Oh, you went to lunch with her?
No. No. I mean, not with her.
I was with her, but we weren't with each other.
I see. Right, yeah. And was it--
-Was it just the one lunch? -Yeah. No. Sorry, no.
Uh, I did go to another lunch with her at her place.
-Her sister was there. -And was her sister at the other lunch or...
-at the cinema? -No. Come--
Ally, you're making this out to be like some weird...
thing or an affair or something. We just--
No, we just got on, you know, as-- as mates.
We had a lunch. Couple of lunches.
And saw a film, one film. And the adverts.
-Can you hear yourself? -What do you mean?
This is precisely what your dad did.
[laughing]
-ALLY: It is. -No, it's-- Don't be daft!
And that is exactly what he said to you. The very, very words.
-This is totally different. -Why didn't you tell me about it?
Because I just, I...
I didn't think it was important.
What, you going on a date with another woman isn't important?
-It wasn't a date. -Really?
No. Well, it-- We just... We just...
[approaching footsteps]
Sorry to disturb.
Just wanted to get me book for the morning.
ALLY: Did you have a nice night?
Oh, quiet, heh.
-Nice party? -Yeah.
Yeah. Do you want tea, Mum?
Uh, no, I'm fine. Thanks, love.
Just needed me book.
I'm waking up very early,
and reading's better than thinking.
-[Jackie chuckles] -ALLY: Hmm.
-Night. -Night, Jackie.
Night, Mum.
-JACKIE: Night. -Love you.
Right. I'm gonna get to bed.
Really? You don't wanna talk about this?
-You should call your dad. -Well, it's a bit late now.
-I'll call him in the morning. -Okay.
[mutters] Okay...
That's mental. It's...
WOMAN: [on TV] You've heard about air frying...
JIM: Fuck off with your fuckin' air fryer!
You don't fool me!
You can't fry food with air, you pricks.
The details are coming up on your screen right now.
[woman continues indistinctly]
[Jim groans]
Uh, so remember, of course, a big brand.
-[grunts] -Amazing value for money: £74.99.
You've got flexible payment options on this as well.
Indeed, you've got four flexi-pays and just one 99.
£18.75 to be able to get this home.
Great cooking, healthier cooking.
-"Friday." -Delicious cooking.
And, of course, we're gonna see loads more from Jack in just moments.
Let's just take a look at all of the features
we have on here this evening for you.
Five-liter capacity
-and 1500 watt power. -[exhales]
And cooking with little or no oil.
Touch control digital display.
Eight preset modes...
[woman continues indistinctly]
"Saturday."
[pills rattle]
[somber music playing]
[TV sound growing distant]
[sighs]
"Sunday."
The Sunday supplement.
[somber music continues]