[indistinct chatter on TV]
[pills rattling]
[TV sound growing distant]
[somber music]
JACKIE: It's good of Ava to check on Jim.
-It's two buses away. -ALLY: She's a good girl.
JACKIE: She's still very sad about her friend, you know.
PAUL: No, I know. Yeah.
JACKIE: And about you, Paul.
She feels she's let you down.
And she wants to make things right.
Fix everyone.
Like she's helping out Jim.
WOMAN: [on TV] It's getting busier and busier and busier.
Remember, you have, of course, got the opportunity
to order on our website, check everything out because...
[dramatic music rising]
PAUL: Okay, well, one way she can fix things with me
is by agreeing to retake that entrance exam.
-Paul! -Needs to be resolved.
-It has been resolved. -Has it? Brilliant.
And there's me, thinking it's still looming over our heads
like a fucking zeppelin.
More toast, Jackie?
Oh, no thanks, Love. No.
That is very filling bread, with all them bits in it.
Seeds.
Have you thought any more about what you might do next, Mum?
Where you might wanna live?
Well, I can't be here forever, love.
-Ava needs her privacy, I know. -Mm-hmm.
I was thinking about going to stay with Bob and Lynn.
Right. Lynn's got really bad dementia.
Well, I could help Bob out.
He might like the company of someone who's not demented.
[chuckling] Yeah, I suppose he would,
but it's not really a long-term plan, is it?
-Well, I'm not thinking long-term, am I? -Mm-hmm.
All I can think about now
is that I can't go back to your dad.
That's it.
-I'm sorry, Paul. -Mm.
-I'm gonna go for me walk. -All right, Mum.
[door opens and closes]
Right. Al, we need a plan for her.
This can't go on much longer.
No.
Ally, can we talk about all of this?
'Cause there's this, um... fog of tension? [chuckles]
And God knows whatever else between us.
I don't know how we're gonna get past this--
You could start by apologizing.
What for? Do you-- Is this about Gabby?
'Cause I told you we were mates.
-Yeah, bullshit! -LUKE: I'm so angry!
Jacob's found out that Ruby is in the band,
and he says I have to make a choice.
It's him or her.
Who the fuck does he think he is?
He can't tell you who to be friends with.
-Right. -Mm. Imagine that.
Are you two having an argument?
No, it's fine.
You know, the more I think about it, the angrier it makes me.
-I mean, who's Jacob to order me about? -Exactly.
Telling me what to do. You know what? Fuck him!
-PAUL: Oi, oi! Oi. -ALLY: Hey! Oi.
Look, I'll make you some breakfast,
and we can talk about it, yeah?
[sighs] Yes. Thank you.
Where's Granny and Ava?
Uh, Granny's out for a walk.
Ava's gone to check on Granddad.
[distant traffic noise]
[girls chattering, hip-hop music playing]
Have you been to see your grandad this morning?
Not yet.
He won't mind waiting, though.
[muffled hip-hop music playing]
I had to come and... talk to you.
I-I was really nervous, but...
...had to come to see you.
Well, here we are.
I am so incredibly sorry, Grace.
I just had to tell you that face to face.
And I have.
So... I will go.
Do you... think you'll retake the exam...
so you can get into St. Margaret's for Year Eight?
I don't know.
Maybe if I knew we could still be friends outside of school,
I might stay at Corfield.
You're a genius, so...
whichever school you go to, you'll do great.
Thanks.
And, yes, we can still be friends.
Really?
Well, you're still allowed to be a little bit angry with me.
Okay. I'll stay a bit angry with you.
I said he needs to come here and talk about it.
I was very unemotional and straight. No anger.
-Good. -Well done, love.
I'm just gonna pop on my headphones
-and practice for a bit, if that's okay. -Yeah, of course.
[doorbell rings]
LUKE: I'll get it.
Thanks.
PAUL: Hey. Hey, hey, hey, hey. Look.
-Al... -[dish clanks]
I'm sorry that I didn't tell you about Gabby.
Of course I can see how it might look.
How it might look or how it actually was?
-Ohh. Could we-- -DARREN: Hi.
Sorry. Just here for my phone.
Left it in the car last night like an idiot.
Here you go.
I hope you mooned the camera and sent it to all my contacts.
Of course. [chuckles] How was the rest of the party?
Great. Actually, um, do you remember Gabby?
-I remember Gabby. -Uh, well...
she and I went for a late drink afterwards at my club.
[chuckling] Did you? That's brilliant.
Just for an hour or so, but, wow, she is amazing.
I don't think I've met anyone quite like her.
I mean, she knocked me off my feet, to be honest.
Off your feet. Goodness.
Actually, I was wondering if you guys
had any intel on her.
You know, what's she likes, doesn't like, uh...
Does she enjoy the theater, sailing,
Rugby Union, Middle Eastern food?
I'd love to see her again.
-Paul... -Yeah?
-You got any intel on Gabby? -No.
She was saying you guys hung out quite a bit when you were at Leah's.
And I absolutely get what you see in her.
Not "see" in her. Saw in her.
Oh, no. That sounds wrong, too.
-Uh, it's not really a good time for all this, actually. -No? Really?
'Cause it feels like it's the optimum time to me, Paul.
[beeping]
[indistinct chatter on TV]
[door shuts]
It's just me, Granddad.
Sorry I'm late.
[TV chatter continues]
Is the TV meant to be on?
MAN: [on TV] It's so gentle. It's so, so gentle.
[man continues indistinctly]
I'll make you some tea!
Can you hear yourself?
Loud and fucking clear,
but can you hear me, Paul?
You fancy Gabby. Admit it.
-No, I don't. -Yes, you do.
Of course you do. She's exactly your type.
She's more your type than I am.
No, she's a laugh, Ally. She's just a laugh.
And we could all do with a laugh, couldn't we? Jesus.
Well, that is the other side of it, isn't it?
-What's that? -She's a laugh!
She's uncomplicated!
Your life back here is as complicated as all fuck
and pretty low on LOLs, but when you and Gabby
are up to your fucking Brief Encounterbullshit,
you're a thousand miles away!
-Shall I let myself out? -Sit down!
You have got this so wrong, Ally.
-Have I? -She's a friend! All right?
Just a frie-- Just like Darren is your friend.
I tell you what. If it makes it less weird for you,
the four of us can go out for a drink, and you will see--
Less weird?! Jesus fucking Christ, Paul!
You're tea's brewing, Granddad.
Granddad, are you okay?
[TV chatter continues]
[ominous music]
Granddad?
This Gabby thing is just a symptom
of you not fully wanting to be at home.
I ca-- I feel like I have been doing everything on my own.
-Oh, no, come on. Everything? -No, I have. I have. Yes.
So I've been doing nothing. Is that what you're saying?
I've just been sitting at home, pleasing myself?
'Cause it hasn't fucking felt like that.
I have lost control of everything.
Of my health, the kids, my job, my finances.
Everything! You didn't support me.
-I have been supporting you! -No, you haven't.
-Okay. -Not enough. You have not done enough.
Okay.
Well, what's the fucking point of us being together then?
[cell phone vibrating]
Leave it.
-It's Ava. -Okay, give it.
Hey.
What?
-Calm down. -What is it?
Cal-- All right, calm down. What's happened?
[lift whirring]
Can we call Jackie? Will she have her mobile with her?
I've just tried. She never turns the fucking thing on.
Only uses it for emergencies.
Presumably, she'll be close by. Could drive around and look for her.
Yeah, that would be great. Luke, can you stay here in case Granny comes home?
-Of course. Um, how ill is Granddad? -PAUL: Uh, we don't know.
It's hard to make sense of what Ava was saying. [exhales sharply]
He's unconscious, but he's still alive, all right?
Good luck.
[door closes]
[exhales]
[somber music playing]
-PAUL: Hey. -ALLY: Hey.
-[crying softly] -PAUL: Hey. It's all right.
-Come on. It's all right. -ALLY: Oh...
-It's all my fault. -Of course it isn't.
I was late. I went to go see Grace before going to Granddad's.
If he dies, it's my fault.
It's not your fault, Ava. Hey, listen to me.
It's really, really not. You rescued him.
You're the hero here, okay?
-Right. I'm gonna find out who we need to speak to, okay? -Yeah.
DARREN: Temperature okay for you, Jackie?
Yeah, nice and warm, thanks.
I like it pretty toasty in town,
but a fair bit cooler on the motorway.
Always a fear that you might drop off.
Yeah, you don't want that.
Mother's in Somerset, and there's sections of the M5
that feel like you're being read a bedtime story in a hammock.
[chuckles] By a hypnotist.
He's not dead, is he, Darren?
No. No.
Th-They would have called.
-They might have texted you. -No, my phone's set up
to read out texts through the car speakers, so...
-Mm. Clever. -[chuckles] Yeah.
Although I wouldn't really want
a computerized voice
suddenly telling me Jim's dead.
No.
Um, all right, let's get you to the hospital, shall we?
Listen, if you need to go to the hospital,
my dad can take you.
There's enough people there.
There's nothing I can do, really,
-so I'll just stay here. -Yeah. Holding the fort.
-I'm pretty angry at you, Jacob. -I know.
You do not have the right to tell me who I can be friends with.
I'm sorry. I know I'm being unreasonable.
Ruby broke my heart, and...
it just feels weird that you two are such close friends.
Well, we're not friends. More... well, colleagues, really.
I think I could just about stand it if you and Ruby
are only mates-- nothing else happening?
No, no, we're just-- We'll just be bandmates.
Okay. Cool.
So, you and me, still friends?
Yeah, of course.
-Coffee? -Yes, please.
I also brought some chocolate liqueurs,
-if I can tempt you. -Mmm.
Maybe take your mind off things.
I'd particularly recommend the cognac.
Oh, lovely.
[siren wailing]
We'll keep him under observation,
but for the moment he's stable.
He'll need his pajamas brung in.
Yeah, I can sort that.
Not the stripey ones. They gape.
Okay. Um, ab-- about what happened, what Dad did or didn't do,
can you tell us whether there's any--
Jim says, and we on the care team also feel,
that this was an act of confusion
rather than one of deliberate self-harm.
-And he didn't leave a note, so... -Nothing was found.
[Paul exhales]
Will there be someone able to be with Jim
once he's sent home?
PAUL: Uh...
-Yeah, we'll-- we'll sort something out. -Okay.
Thank you.
PAUL: Come on.
We don't wanna tire you out, Jim.
Oh, don't worry.
If I get too tired, I'll give the secret signal...
which is me falling fast asleep.
[laughter]
What time is it?
AVA: Oh...
7:15.
I'm all over the shop with the time.
Well, I'm not surprised, after what you've been through.
I must have done some mad pill-popping last night.
But I don't remember.
I was very confused.
It's scary to be that out of control.
Brain away with the fairies.
I must have thought I needed to take my pills,
took them, then I forgot,
so I took them again.
And on and on. [chuckles]
Okay, I'm gonna go and check in with Paul,
-and then I'm gonna get this one home. -Okay, love.
-All right, I'll see you in a bit. -Okay, bye.
I found your note, Granddad.
-I didn't leave a note. -I haven't told anyone.
'Cause... I thought Granny would be more likely
to come back to you if she thought...
this was an accident.
I don't know what you found, Ava,
but it wasn't a note.
Granddad, I know what you did.
I need to take some more blood, Jim.
NURSE: Sorry. Nurse Dracula back again.
There was a fair bit of garlic in that soup I had before,
so mind out.
I'm gonna go. See you later, Granddad.
[indistinct chatter]
-Um, excuse me. -Thanks.
Um, you're looking after Jim Worsley, aren't you?
Yeah, I'm heading up his care team.
Hi, I'm Ava, his granddaughter.
I think he took an overdose deliberately.
What makes you think that, Ava?
He left a note. I found it, and I haven't told anyone,
but I think I need to tell someone
just in case he tries it again.
Absolutely. Do you have the note with you?
Yes. I do.
These are instructions for how to set the timer
on a central heating boiler.
I know. And Granny's never learned how it works,
and Granddad's always saying he'll have to teach her
before he dies or she'll freeze to death.
You don't think he just wrote these down for his own benefit
because he felt confused?
No, I don't.
I think he didn't expect to wake up.
Okay.
Thank you for letting me know, Ava.
This was a big responsibility,
and you've done precisely the right thing.
Oh, hi. Um, Granny and Dad are gonna stay here,
-and I'm gonna take you home. -Okay.
Um, can I have a word with you?
Yeah, su-- One second.
[bass guitar playing]
RUBY: Hi.
[playing stops]
That's sounding great.
Thanks.
I knew it was you playing. I could hear it from the science block.
Oh, sometimes I get bored of headphones.
I wanna hear it out loud.
So your chest vibrates and your teeth feel funny.
Will you need to take your bass home this afternoon?
I was just gonna put it in the store cupboard
for rehearsals tomorrow. Why?
I just wondered if you wanted to go Westfield
and have a wander about and get some food or a coffee or something.
Um...
Or you don't have to.
Sorry. Stupid of me to ask.
No, no, it's just, well, I promised Jacob that I wouldn't.
Wouldn't what? Marry me?
[chuckling] Well... no. He basically just said
that I had to choose between him and you, so...
-Did he? -Yeah. Yeah.
-It's really complicated. -Is it?
[thunk]
Just gonna lock my bass away,
and then we can go and get the bus.
AVA: I still feel really guilty.
SUSIE: Well, Ava, you've come to the right place.
AVA: I feel like I make these things happen.
Whenever I'm happy, it causes problems for other people.
Does that make me sound mad?
SUSIE: It makes you sound... mistaken, Ava. Not mad.
AVA: I was happy that I did well on my marks.
And then it all went wrong.
And then I was happier than I have ever, ever been,
about being friends again with Grace.
And now this happens.
You're allowed to be happy, Ava.
I don't know.
Feel like God punishes me for being happy.
I do try and fix things.
I pray really hard every night
just to make sure everyone's fixed and okay.
Sometimes I pray for over two hours.
To try and make it work. Try and make it stick.
Do you want my advice?
Okay.
Step away.
From?
The church.
You're becoming a little bit obsessed, and...
it's not healthy.
It's making you unhappy.
Stop praying. Leave Jesus alone for a little while and...
-he'll be here when you come back. -Really?
Stop trying to fix everyone else
and look after yourself.
Be confident in who you are, separate from the church.
Separate from your family.
Fix that and then come back.
Thanks.
So... where's Granddad now?
Well, I think they're planning on releasing him back home today.
Great.
Yeah. Yeah, it is.
[bag zipping]
Hey. Um, is this my charger?
Yeah. Mine's in the bedroom.
-Do you need towels, or-- -No, I've got towels, thanks.
I've got a pillow and a duvet for the sofa.
I suppose you've got no idea how long you're gonna be there.
Ah, God knows, really, uh...
Until we feel he can look after himself, I suppose.
You'll be staying away from home, though, for a while again?
Yeah, I know. It's bad timing.
Might be good timing.
-You reckon? -Maybe. Um, I don't know.
For better, for worse, well... [scoffs]
this is-- this is the worst we've ever been.
We never said "for better or worse," though, did we?
'Cause you thought it was old-fashioned,
so we said all that humanist shit about honoring each other.
Yeah, my point still stands, doesn't it?
-[door opens] -Hey.
Hi.
Thought I might have missed you.
Listen, do you want to come with me
-to take Granddad back home? -Yes, please.
All right, I'll just get my stuff.
Right, that's me done, I think, so yeah.
Yeah. Um...
Right.
-Bye. -Mm.
Yeah. Okay.
See ya.
[Paul sighs]
-Get that bag, would you? -Yep.
[siren wailing]
-AVA: I'll get the door. -PAUL: Thanks.
[Jim grunting]
-[Jim groans] -Mind your head.
JIM: Yeah.
PAUL: Thanks.
[Jim grunts]
PAUL: He regrets it.
I know he does, but... hmm.
What an enormous thing to do--
try to do.
Does Granny know he did it on purpose?
Yeah. Yeah, I-- I told her.
I think she suspected, anyway.
Dad, can we talk about schools?
Yeah. Sure. I've actually wanted to do that for a while.
Well, I've been talking to Susie, and...
I'm starting to feel more confident again
-about being me. -Mm.
So, I think it's a good time to talk to you.
Sure. Go ahead.
I know you're angry that I didn't get into St. Margaret's.
Yeah, because you deliberately failed the entrance exam.
Yes, but I think if I go to Corfield,
in the end, it will be better for me.
How?
I'm really clever, Dad.
Yeah, I know.
Unless I become a mad drug addict
or have a brain injury,
I'm gonna ace my GCSEs and A-levels.
All right. Calm down, big head.
-Agreed. -And the thing is,
someone from a non-selective,
-ordinary community school... -Mm-hmm.
...is now much more likely to get into a better university
than someone from a posh selective school.
-Okay. -So, if I go to Corfield,
and I get great grades,
then I am going to get into a better university.
Do you see?
[laughing]
Yeah, okay. Right. Um...
Yeah, that does make some sense.
[Jim groans]
Where am I?
[laughs] Heaven, Dad.
You died.
This is what Heaven is.
Just driving through Tooting on a Thursday afternoon.
Oh, Jesus. What's Hell, then?
Driving through Tooting on a Saturday afternoon.
-JIM: Oh. -[Paul laughs]
-This is very kind of you. -[Paul scoffs]
Well, I'll be sleeping here as long as is needed, Dad.
And I'll pop in after school.
PAUL: Yeah, and various medics will come and go,
-so you'll be in good hands. -[Jim grunts]
[cell phone chimes]
[Paul mutters]
-Hmm. -[front door opens]
JACKIE: Ohh! Stick the heating on, will you, Jim?
It's like a fridge in here.
I'll do it.
Hello. How long are you back for?
I don't know.
We'll see.
But you're ill.
You need taking care of.
And what sort of a person would I be
if I didn't look after you?
You want a tin of soup?
That would be nice.
Right.
Well, uh, so I suppose I won't be sleeping here then.
-No. -Right.
[Ally chuckles]
[rain pattering]
[trunk slams]
-[Paul sighs] -[phone chimes]
Ava says she's going to Grace's, but she'll be back for tea.
Right.
[engine starts]
[seatbelt latches]
[engine shuts off]
No, I don't know, either.
[jazz music playing]