Transcript: EastEnders 26 June 1995 The Television Transcript Project */EastEnders /* *Written by:* Jeff Povey 26 June 1995 British Air Date: Monday, 26 June 1995. This is very probably episode #199 (in the second numbering series--after the first 952 episodes). Transcript of the *previous* episode (previous Thursday) *Synopsis:* Nigel's finding it hard to cope with Debs' death; others are sorry about it and try to help; Mark and Ruth talk with his HIV counselor about the possibility of having a baby; David wants he and Carol to throw a birthday party for Bianca; Ricky and Bianca plan a night out; and Grant has a proposal for Sharon. In Cockney English: a "lorry" is a truck; to be "cut up" about something is to be upset about it; "ta" means thanks; "cheers" also means thanks but sometimes is a good-bye (and it can also be a toast); "telly" is TV; "to get shirty" means to take offense; a "cow" is like the american term, "bitch"; "crisps" are snack chips; a "mate" is a friend; and a "row" is an argument (rhymes with "wow"). Note: "eh" is usually pronounced "Ay," like the name of the letter A, especially when at end of a sentence/question. Eh? Braces {} enclose unclear speech. NIGE = NIGEL = NIGE TIFF = TIFFANY = TIFF CHELLE = MICHELLE = CHELLE Approx. 25 scenes. 21 characters: MARK, SANJAY, NIGEL, CLARE, GRANT, SHARON, MICHELLE, PEGGY, BLOSSOM, CAROL, DAVID, IAN, CINDY, PHIL, MAXINE, BIANCA, TIFFANY, STEVE, RICKY, COUNSELLOR (TIM), and RUTH. Cast list (cast.htm 3K) Notes: * Sharon and Grant had been meeting secretly. Sharon wants to muck him about but she's finding herself pulled in by her own lingering attraction to him. * Clare is about ten years old. * Maxine was Debbie's mother. * The only people who know that David is Bianca's natural father at this point are he, all of the Jacksons, and Ricky. When I printed this, it took 29 pages. Transcribed via VCR tape and microcassette tape. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ [*/EastEnders/ Intro* with theme music (time: 00:27). Intro theme: Save music (417kb mp3).] ------------------------------------------------------------------------ [Early morning, the milk delivery lorry is driving around the square and down the market street. MARK and SANJAY are the only people in the market. They're getting their stalls set up. MARK pleasantly smiles at the DRIVER that he'll buy some.] MARK [hands DRIVER coins] Lovely. DRIVER Ta. MARK Cheers, mate! SANJAY [as they help themselves from the back of the lorry] I usually save the cream for Gita. Not that she'll be all that interested today. MARK She a bit cut up, then. SANJAY Oh, more than a bit. Afraid I don't seem to have much helped her /ei/ther. [shaking his milk bottle] She /really/ liked her--Debbie. MARK Oh I think everyone did. They were a great couple. SANJAY Yeah. There'll be a lot of people there at the funeral.. MARK Nigel's gonna need us. SANJAY Yeah.. [The milk lorry is rolling past the Bates' place.] ------------------------------------------------------------------------ [Inside the Bates' living room, NIGEL and CLARE are sitting staring, sad, quiet. Debs' picture is right in front of them.] ------------------------------------------------------------------------ [In the Vic, downstairs, GRANT checks that he's alone and dials the phone. He's wearing a blue tank top and white shorts.] GRANT Hello, can you talk. [sigh] I been thinking.. I need to see you tonight.. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ [Just then at CHELLE's, SHARON is on the other end.] MICHELLE [calling] /Come/ on Vicki! SHARON [to phone, quiet, business-like] Only if you like. Where. Okay, but make it eight o'clock. I'll be there. MICHELLE [going upstairs] Who was that. SHARON Just some crank. MICHELLE Is that what you call the men these days. SHARON [amused] Mmm. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ [In the Vic, PEGGY's coming downstairs by GRANT. He was just heading up.] GRANT Morning Mum. PEGGY Oh! What're /you/ doing up? GRANT I just went out for a run. PEGGY Don't know /how/ you do it. GRANT Just put one foot in front of the other. PEGGY Mm, very amusing. Listen: when do you think we should go around to Nigel's? You know him best. GRANT Ohhh, I was going to go around there soon. You know--see how he /is/ today. You an' /Phil/ could call in later. PEGGY [pause] Oh I really feel for him. I don't know /how/ he's gonna cope. GRANT Well, he's got us: we'll get him through.. PEGGY Hope so.. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ [Meanwhile, in the Bates' living room, NIGE's gone and got drinks and comes back in. He hands CLARE a glass of milk and he has a mug of tea. (CLARE never drinks the milk, feels the glass rim while looking at the picture of her mother, can hardly take her eyes off of it.)] NIGE [handing her glass of milk] Here ya're. [she takes it] [sits, has a sip] [quiet, equal in grief] You sure you don't wanna go to school.. CLARE No, not today.. NIGE Okay.. CLARE Are you gonna go, an' open the Video shop.. NIGE No. Not today.. CLARE Okay.. NIGE [sigh] Maybe, you--you better get yourself dressed, all right--okay.. [CLARE gets up and goes, passing MAXINE, who's just coming in the room. (She's in a robe, clearly spent the night.)] NIGE [noticing her] Maxine.. Didn't realize you were awake. [gets up] MAXINE I've been awake nearly all the night. I just couldn't settle.. NIGE I'll make you a cup of tea-- MAXINE Nigel. Clare called for Debbie in her sleep. I didn't know /what/ to do.. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ [Later on, the market is busy, lots of people. GRANT is passing by.] MARK Oh, Grant. GRANT Yeah? MARK Have you seen Nigel today? GRANT I'm on my way around there now. MARK [awkward] Do you know if it's okay to go around to see him--I mean, I could come around with /you/ if you want. GRANT Don't know if he's /up/ to it just yet. Let's give him, a bit of time.. MARK Okay. I'll pop up when it's all calmed down a bit. SANJAY [comes up] Yeah, tell him we're thinkin' about him, that we're here if he needs us. Uh--Gita's devastated. GRANT Yeah. I'll let him know. [leaves] MARK [quiet] All right.. SANJAY {What to say to someone when /that/ happens, eh?} MARK It's not what you say, really.. it's just the fact that you're there to say it. That's all people want, really. SANJAY Yeah.. I still can't believe it. I'm not goin' to be able to go to the bettin' shop again, {what} without Debbie bein' there.. MARK That could be {do have again, then.} ------------------------------------------------------------------------ [The Bates', NIGEL's on the phone.] NIGE Yeah.. Yeah, I, I'm sorry too.. Well, perhaps I'll--I'll see you at the--uh, the funeral, then. Thursday, yeah.. Thank you.. Bye.. [hangs up] [He crosses that name off the phone list he's made. He has a whole list of people to call, and Liam Tyler is next. His pen points at it, then skips to the next name (Beryl Derfy). He dials. Someone's knocking at the door, so he stops.] NIGE I'll get it, Clare. [hangs up] [He goes to get the door. It's GRANT and he has flowers.] NIGE Oh, Grant. Come in. [trying to be light] Those for me. GRANT Ah, for you an' Clare, ah--me gran asked me to drop 'em off. Ah, Mum an' Phil might be around later.. NIGE Right.. Maxine's here, she's just havin' a bath. Come in. Here. I'll take them. [takes flowers, they go in the kitchen] GRANT So how is she? NIGE She's not so good. GRANT Wha'bout you? NIGE Uh, so-so. Uhhh, Debbie keeps a vase somewhere.. [it's upsetting, he drops the looking] GRANT Look, if there's anything I can do, anything you need. NIGE Yeah, I'll, put them in here. [puts flowers in the sink] Ya want a cup o' tea? GRANT [pause] I'll do it. NIGE All right, then. Cheers mate. [sitting, worn down] Uh! I didn't realize there was so much to do. GRANT [filling the teapot with water] How'd you mean? NIGE [distracted, worried, worn] {I've got} a whole--/whole/ list of people to phone an'.. I've gotta put the notice in the paper today, get in touch with the Coroner, check if, Debbie had a will, an'.. find out what happens at a Cremation.. GRANT Well I can do some o' that for you.. NIGE Nah, no, it.. it's not that bad, not really.. GRANT Sanjay an' Mark said they wanna call around later.. Well Gita's pretty cut up.. NIGE Yeah. Yeah, she rang earlier.. So what's it /like/ out there? GRANT Just a lot of sad faces. [sits, sad] People are gonna miss Debbie.. NIGE She was a great girl. GRANT Yeah, yeah the best. So is Clare all right? NIGE [appreciates him, struggles, concerned about Clare] Yeah. Yeah, she's tryin' hard. She's not sleepin'.. all that well so.. I think I'll, try an' get her, after that, to have a lie down later. She's just watching telly now. [sigh] [frustrated] I can't--I can't quite get it. GRANT Yeah. It's gonna take a bit of time, mate.. NIGE Yeah. [breathes out, struggling] I, fffound myself, wonderin' who was.. goin'o make the tea tonight: me or Debs--stupid, eh? GRANT [quiet] No.. NIGE [pause] I can't, quite get used to it. Thinkin' that way. But, uh, that's me, eh? Slow learner. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ [The Cafe. It's empty except for BLOSSOM making a sandwich and CAROL at a table by the far wall (by the phone). They're sad/struck about DEBBIE.] BLOSSOM I got to be very fond of Debbie. CAROL Yeah, me too.. What's it all about, eh, Blossom? Here we are, strivin' an' strugglin', gettin' nowhere fast. An' suddenly, that's it. /-Poof-/ You're gone. What's it all for, eh? BLOSSOM Ooohh, I like to think that nothin' is Final. "Life is just one /half/ of what's /still/ to come!" Ha, huh. CAROL [amused dread] Uh--do you mean there's /more/ o' this. You know I sometimes sit in that Laundrette watchin' the clothes spinnin' 'round, I think to myself, "Is this really happenin', am I really just sittin' here watchin' laundry?" You know, I--I try /really/ hard to think o' something else I can do with my hands apart from loading washing-- [DAVID comes in, rush, pretty good mood.] BLOSSOM Yes? DAVID Tea please, Blossom. And um, pffff [(that is blowing through teeth)], four round rolls, please. BLOSSOM /Four?/ DAVID Yes, it's just that Ricky's a bit of a failure when it comes to doing the shopping. [notices] Oh, Carol. Listen, I need to see you.. What's the matter, what have I said? [turns to BLOSSOM] BLOSSOM Debbie. DAVID [remembers] Oh, yeah. Yeah, terrible i'n't it, jus--ohh, [breathes in] ooo, poor Debbie. She had her whole life ahead of her, didn't she. Mind you, it's the little girl I feel sorry for. Pfff--I wouldn't wish that on anyone. [The order isn't ready yet. DAVID grabs a chair and sits by CAROL.] DAVID [quiet] I'm not bein' funny, I know this is not a very good time, but, uh, I was wonderin'-- BLOSSOM [putting the bag on table] Here. DAVID Oh. Cheers, Blossom. [B: "Here"] Here you go, ta. [B: "Ta."] CAROL [quiet] Wondering what. [DAVID pauses as BLOSSOM walks away. This is an intimate matter, a big deal for them.] DAVID I saw Bianca earlier. What are we gonna do for her eighteenth? CAROL We? DAVID Yeah, we're her parents. CAROL I don't know it's any of your business. DAVID Well we can't let it pass without a.. a little bit of a "do," can we. I feel I owe it to her. To do it properly, I mean. CAROL Oh you do, do you? DAVID Well, it's a big /day,/ comin' of age, i'n't it. CAROL [pause] No, twenty-one's when you come of age. DAVID Yeah, I know but, wh-h-well, you know, eighteen's when you, stop bein' a kid, i'n't it.. Come on, I think we should /do/ something.. CAROL Look, I'm not gonna start competin' wi' ya. It's no contest, so what's the point. DAVID Carol, I'm not tryin' 'o compete. You /al/ways take it the wrong way, /all/ I'm tryin' to-- CAROL [leaving] --All right, look, I got things to do with my time, David. See you later, Blossom. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ [IAN and CINDY at the chip shop. She's concerned, looking out the window from time to time. IAN is cooking behind the counter.] CINDY Well, I just think it's /wrong, that's/ all. Well it's not /nat/ural! When /I/ was Bianca's age, I might o' /look/ed at old men, but I didn't do anything a/bout/ it. IAN [dismayed] I don't know--I don't /blame/ him. CINDY Ian!? IAN Well, I /don't!/ I mean--if he reckons he can {deport} young girls, fair /play/ to him. CINDY Yeah, it's Bi/an/ca I feel sorry for--she's the one that's gonna get hurt. IAN Good. CINDY Ian!? IAN {I think} she de/serves/ it! CINDY She's, just got a lot to /learn, that's/ all. IAN Look. Bianca's the type o' girl who'll learn ex/act/ly what she wants to. Anyway, it's him I'd worry about. CINDY [pause] For what? IAN Well, he's got a bit o' /cash/ floatin' around, don't he. She's probably after that. CINDY Well, he wouldn't fall for that, would he? IAN Look--you're sure you haven't misread this? I mean I /can't/ see those two gettin' togetha: he's old enough to be her old /man!/ [CINDY sighs with exasperation, looking out the window.] ------------------------------------------------------------------------ [The Bates', GRANT's getting the door and it's SHARON. She's dressed well.] GRANT Hi. SHARON Is Nigel around? GRANT Yeah, he's on the phone, you'd better come in. [GRANT's letting her in but there are voices approaching in the hall so they look. PEGGY and PHIL arrive, both with flowers.] PEGGY [deadpan, unfriendly] Oh. Are you arrivin' or leavin'? SHARON [to GRANT] Tell Nigel I'll see him later, an'.. give him my best for now. GRANT Yeah, sure.. [SHARON leaves and PEGGY and PHIL come in.] PHIL How is he, all right? GRANT Yeah, he's pretty shaky. PEGGY [subdued, reassuring] Well, we're here, now, we'll look after him. I'll put them flowers out. [takes PHIL's bouquet, too] PHIL {Yeah, don't be squee--sh--you'll be crushin'em.}-- PEGGY /I/ know what to do. [leaves] PHIL [long sigh] What's Sharon doin' here.. GRANT She's come to pay her respects.. PHIL That's the last thing Nigel needs, i'n't it, you two sittin' in the same room as him. GRANT Well she didn't know I was goin' 'o be here, did she.. [NIGEL comes over from living room.] PHIL You all right? NIGEL Yeah--hangin' in there--you know. [They all head toward the kitchen.] ------------------------------------------------------------------------ [Meanwhile, in the kitchen, PEGGY shuts the door. MAXINE's there, and CLARE is at the table.] PEGGY [to MAXINE] I'm Peggy. Phil an' Grant's mum. MAXINE [polite] I'm /sor/ry we're meeting in such awful circumstances. [NIGEL's coming in, PHIL and GRANT behind him.] PEGGY [sympathetic, esp. to NIGEL] /Ohh,/ I know, an' I'm /so sor/ry. I /real/ly am. [kisses NIGEL's cheek, turns, more perky, to CLARE] I got something /spec/ial for you, a little treat. I'll give it to you just as soon as I've made us all a /nice/ cup o' tea. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ [The Vic, BIANCA's at the bar, TIFF and STEVE working behind it.] BIANCA [nonchalant] Vodker an' orange when you're ready, please, Tiff? TIFF [business, not unfriendly] Are you eighteen or over? BIANCA What? TIFF Are you old enough to drink in a pub. BIANCA Of /course/ I am, daft cow. TIFF All right, I think I'm gonna need some identification. Have you got a full driver's license? BIANCA [shirty] You /know/ I ain't! Come on, Tiff, what is this. TIFF [quiet] It's about my /job,/ that's what it /is./ BIANCA Stop bein' a /prat/ an' just /serve/ me a /drink!/ STEVE [comes over] She can't do that. New rules for the Vic, you see. Peggy'd have {her guts for grass.} RICKY [just came in] Hi-ya? TIFF Hi, Ricky, what can I get ya? RICKY I'll have a pint, please. [to B] Want a drink? BIANCA I can't. RICKY Why not? TIFF {Here} she's not old enough, that's why. RICKY Eh? STEVE New Regime. RICKY What they /on/ about? BIANCA I don't know--Peggy's new rules. RICKY Well, what if /I/ were {to order, then,} it's not strictly serving Bianca, is it? TIFF Not strictly speaking, but-- RICKY [nice] It's all right--I'll take the rap for it. TIFF All right--you better--what'd you want. RICKY All right, I'll have a pint and uh, wha'd'ya want--a vodka orange? A vodka orange. And uh, two bags of crisps, please. TIFF [agreeable] Okay. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ [In the Bates' kitchen, PHIL, GRANT, and NIGEL are sitting at the table. MAXINE is there, too, standing by nervously, sort of anxious to serve.] NIGEL I'm off me food. MAXINE Uh. Me too.. GRANT Yeah, me mum made enough food for eight people, the amount of grub she's chucked at us. [sigh] PHIL [nice] Shame none of it's edible, i'n't it.. [They quietly chuckle.] NIGEL You sure your mum will be all right with Clare.. PHIL Oh, yeah, no problem. She'll talk anyone to sleep. Yeah, do you remember when she used to tell us all them stories about growin' up in the east end. How it was when it was the reeeal east end, of course. {You start to rah} how she did. Even I could o' fallen asleep.. MAXINE I'm sure there's something I should be doing.. NIGEL No, you should just--just try an take, take it easy, just try an' relax.. MAXINE If Clare can't sleep, I'll take her out for the day. NIGEL No. No, she'll be all right, fine. Just-- Anyway, I quite like having Clare around. [sigh] She's as good a reason as any for.. me to keep it all together. I can't very well /crack/ up when I need to be there for her.. PHIL She's lucky she's got you, mate. MAXINE So am I. [doorbell rings] Yeah--I'll go! I'll make myself useful somehow. [leaves] NIGEL [pause] You know.. you don't know what you've got 'til.. 'til you lose it. Huh! Aaall those years I spent, looking for the perfect someone.. [sigh] I never thought.. I never thought I'd get that lucky. Not me, not Nigel Bates. But I /did../ When I met Debs, my lottery numbers came up.. GRANT You were lucky, mate. Not many people ever get close to that kind of love.. PHIL And even if they do, {half} of 'em run away {don't they.} GRANT What you had was special. MAXINE [comes in with nice flower arrangement, upset] They're from Mattie and Sandra at the bookie's. NIGEL [blows out] Don't know where I'm goin' to put all this stuff.. PHIL {No one's up to some} hayfever. MAXINE [tearing up] Nigel.. /All/ these flowers: I didn't know she was so well loved! Uh.. [She starts crying and NIGEL gets up and consoles and hugs her.] ------------------------------------------------------------------------ [At a booth table at the Vic, RICKY and BIANCA are having their crisps and drinks, talking.] BIANCA It's been really /bor/ing lately. RICKY I thought you'd be /club/bing it most nights. BIANCA No, I just been stayin' in. Growin' out o' that. RICKY But you couldn't /stand/ all that! You /hated/ it when /I/ did it! BIANCA Well I was /young/er then. RICKY Well I could do with a right good night out. Tell you, it's getting me /down/ livin' with David. [sigh] Not got anyone to go out with really, though. BIANCA Who have you asked? RICKY Well, no one, really. BIANCA No girls? RICKY No. BIANCA Well, /I'd/ go out wi' ya. RICKY Really. BIANCA /Yeah./ RICKY Well. Where? BIANCA Where ever you /like./ RICKY Well.. uh--come on--/you/ choose. BIANCA Well, there's a good film at the pictures I wouldn't mind seein'. RICKY W--what one. BIANCA W--I don't know what it's called, but it's meant to be good, though. RICKY All right--yeah, w--we'll go tonight if you want. BIANCA Oh I can't tonight. RICKY Oh. It was just a thought. BIANCA Well maybe we'll go tomorrow, I'm not doin' nothing tomorrow. RICKY Yeah! Yeah, that'd be f--that'd be good. BIANCA I could dress up! RICKY [happy] Yeah, me as well. Listen, I don't suppose I could borrow your iron, could I, 'cause uh, David /broke/ ours. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ [Back in the Bates', PHIL, GRANT, PEGGY and NIGEL are sitting with tea in the kitchen.] PHIL I wonder how uh, Tiffany's getting on back at the Vic, huh? PEGGY Mmm-mmm. PHIL [regretting] Look, I better get back to work.. [gets up] Listen, Nige, if you wanna have a chat, you just, ring me, yeah? Day or night. I mean it.. [shakes hands with him] NIGEL [quiet] Yeah, cheers.. [PHIL leaves.] PEGGY Afraid I'll have to make a move as well.. [getting up] Steven wasn't too happy about filling in for me.. [kisses NIGE's forehead, regretfully whispers] sweetheart.. [leaves] [GRANT and NIGEL are left sitting alone. GRANT's still drinking tea. Flowers in vases are all over the counters.] NIGEL You don't have to go, do you.. GRANT Not if you don't want me to.. NIGEL I don't know, prefer it if you didn't.. Don't fancy, bein' on me own, right now.. GRANT [breathes in, nonchalantly considerate] Right. Well I'll stay, then.. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ [In the Laundrette. Only CAROL is there, sitting, depressed, and DAVID comes in.] DAVID Carol, you got a minute. CAROL You're back, are ya.. DAVID [sad, subdued, respectful] Oh, what a welcome.. [sits] [pause, breathes in] I'm sorry about this mornin'.. I was forgettin' you knew her a lot better than I did. CAROL Yeah.. DAVID Makes you think, a bit, though--d'n't it? CAROL Too true.. DAVID If you /do/ only get one stab at this life.. you better make sure you get it right.. I was go--you know--I was thinkin' about things and.. all those years I weren't around. I missed out on so much.. CAROL Yeah. More than you can ever imagine.. DAVID If I'd o' known about Bianca, though, I'm sure things could have been different between us.. CAROL [pause] I doubt that. Anyway, the past is long gone, David.. You can't go back and get it--it just don't work like that.. DAVID Maybe not.. But things are different.. an' I'm here now.. So.. Anyway--look--what are we gonna do about her birthday. We /are/ her parents.. An' /I/ think it would be nice if we, sorted it out together and got her something really special.. CAROL I don't want to hear about this. DAVID Well /I/ think on an occasion like this it would be nice if we did it to/ge/ther-- CAROL [gets up] /Look./ I really can't think about this, I got other things on my mind. [heading for back room] DAVID Carol, all I want is a few /min/utes, love, I. /Come/ on, /please!/ It's a chance for me to be a real /fa/ther to her. CAROL [turns to him] Buying your way into her life won't work, David. It's gotta come from somewhere other than your wallet. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ [MARK and RUTH arrive at the HIV COUNSELLOR's (TIM). It's a relaxed yet somewhat business-like atmosphere.] TIM It's good to see you both again. Take your seats. [MARK shuts door, they all sit] So. How are you. MARK Pretty good, actually. RUTH Yeah, um.. we've been thinkin' a few things over an', one thing in par/ti/cular? MARK And uh.. basically we'd like to know how we might go about havin' a baby. RUTH I mean, we've been /think/in' about it for a /while/ now, an' we, just wanna know if it's possible? TIM Ahhh, well I think we got quite a bit to /talk/ about, then haven't we? A /ba/by, eh? [It's awkward and amused.] ------------------------------------------------------------------------ [SHARON's walking in the square and goes up to the Bates' door, knocking. NIGEL opens that outer door.] NIGEL Oh, Sharon-- SHARON /Ni/gel. I'm /sor/ry I'm a bit late--how /are/ ya? NIGEL Oh, not so bad, the--uh, not /now,/ seein' you. I was wonderin', if you'd come around. SHARON Well--can I come in? [(NIGE hesitates)] Ohhm--uh maybe you don't want visitors--I'll come back another time, yeah-- NIGEL No, no, of /course/ I did, no, come on /in/--sorry--I'm all, I'm all /o/ver the place right now. Come on in. SHARON Okay. [entering kitchen] Look--I won't stop long if you want 'o be alone-- NIGEL Actually, Sharon-- GRANT [coming from living room] Don't worry about it, Nige. SHARON Oh. NIGEL Sorry, I don't.. didn't know how to tell you. SHARON It's, all right, I'll come back another time-- GRANT Look, you don't have to go. We're all adults now, aren't we. [to NIGEL] Clare wanted me to read her some stories. [has a "Fairy Tales" book] SHARON Bit old for fairy tales, i'n't she? GRANT [pause, quiet] I think she was lookin' for a happy ending. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ [Meanwhile at the HIV counsellor's.] TIM You /know/ that it's a very difficult /jour/ney that you're thinking of under/ta/king.. MARK We didn't think it was goin' to be easy.. TIM An' I'm gonna have to /ask/ you a few questions.. RUTH Yeah, we thought you might.. We've got a few of our own.. TIM Good. That means you must be pretty committed to this. MARK We'd just like to know what our /chances/ are, really. RUTH {We'll} take it from there.. TIM Great.. RUTH Havin' a baby is possible, isn't it? TIM [breathes in] Well, put it this way, there /are/ a number of options. MARK Aren't there always? TIM [appreciative] You said it. Anyway, let me run through the available choices. /First/ off, you can try for a baby naturally. You can practice a form of Safer Sex whereby you work out Ruth's most /fer/tile day, and make that the /one/ day that you have unprotected sex. MARK Wouldn't that put Ruth at risk.. TIM Well, of course, but, there's always goin' to be a small risk. MARK How small? TIM Well, sta/ti/stically, it's a /ti/ny percentage, but--nevertheless--it--it /is/ a risk. MARK I wouldn't wanna /take/ that risk. However small. TIM Okay. Ahh, there's adoption.. which obviously avoids some o' those problems, or.. artificial insemination with donor sperm. [to the doubtful silence] Oh, but, before we can discuss those any further.. /you/ need to know whether you /really do/ want a /ba/by.. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ [In the Bates' kitchen, SHARON and GRANT are doing the dishes (he's drying) while NIGEL organizes plans at the table. GRANT and SHARON are liking the time together.] GRANT You missed a bit. SHARON Where? GRANT There. It's your lipstick. SHARON {Good to be with} [goes to NIGE] Uh, how you gettin' on, Nige.. [drying hands absently] NIGEL [concentration] I want everyone to be there, or at least /know/ about Debbie. That way I won't have to keep tellin' people--/uh/--there's only, so many ways you can say it.. SHARON Never been to a cremation before.. GRANT [how unimportant] No, me neither.. NIGEL It's what Debbie wanted.. She told me that once.. Uh, I don't know why, it's just.. one o' those silly, conver/sa/tions you have, now an' then.. never thought it'd become a reality, though.. GRANT {Mate..} Not so sure I could /cope,/ not as well as you.. SHARON You'd cope.. GRANT No. Not so sure I would.. NIGEL [wistful] It's nice to see you two gettin' on again.. SHARON Is it? NIGEL /Yeah../ I was worried you might have a row or something.. SHARON Well, we're /try/in' aren't we, Grant? GRANT Yeah. That's what we're doing. We're tryin'. NIGEL Yeah, you should try. /Don't/ let it go. Not if you got a chance to make it work. SHARON We'll do our best. [sighs, suddenly putting towel down] Look, Nigel uh, I gotta go, I.. I gotta pick Vicky up from school? An' you know where I am.. [NIGEL's still sitting and she affectionately gives his head a caring hug, and kisses his cheek. He holds onto her hand.] SHARON [to GRANT] I'll see ya. GRANT Yeah. See ya later. SHARON Bye. [lets herself out] ------------------------------------------------------------------------ [Back at the counsellor's, he's asking his questions and MARK and RUTH are holding hands, answering--they seem to be feeling a little odd and put out.] TIM Let me try another question. Has something happened between you. Is one of you per/haps/ pushing the other a little. MARK [looking at RUTH] No.. It was a /mu/tual decision.. TIM What if, /Ruth/ wakes up tomorrow morning, and decides that, /no,/ she /does/n't want to have a baby: what would you do then, Mark? RUTH I /do/ want a baby. MARK [struggles] I guess I'd respect Ruth's wishes. TIM Do you think your relationship would suffer? MARK Why would it? TIM You might feel that it's a big loss not having a child.. RUTH Well.. we've sort of pre/par/ed ourselves for disappointment.. I mean, we're not givin' in to some blind /hope,/ you know.. TIM Has there been any pressure from your families. RUTH Well, no.. As you know, I don't /talk/ to mine.. TIM Ha. Families. You should see the trouble I have with /my/ lot. MARK The idea of havin' a baby, was purely: Our Decision. TIM Do you know any other childless couples. RUTH What? That are H.I.V.? TIM Uh, not necessarily, no.. MARK /Mar/ried, couples, you mean.. TIM Couples that /can't/ have /chil/dren, for, whatever /rea/sons.. MARK I don't think I do.. RUTH An' I certainly don't.. TIM Do you know any /chil/dren who've lost a parent, or both parents.. MARK Oh.. /Yeah../ TIM An' can you be sure that you'd be able to provide the /same/ care that they're receiving.. MARK Of course.. TIM What if you couldn't.. What if, Ruth became ill or something /hap/pened to her.. [to the anxious silence] I'm afraid there's a lot to /think/ about, isn't there.. MARK [breathes in] So what do we do now? TIM [pause] I'd like you to go an' see a medical adviser. He will give you a /much/ better idea of the actual possibilities. [gets up] I've got a number here. [gets card, breathes out] I'd /like/ you to /think/ some more. [hands RUTH the card, sits, breathes out again] Maybe try an' answer these questions yourselves.. MARK What if we can't.. TIM Then we'll sit down an' /talk/ about it, try an' work something out.. MARK [pause] Is that all it's ever gonna be.. /Talk/in'. Do we ever get past that stage.. TIM That'sss, up to you an' Ruth.. [RUTH looks worried and MARK holds her hand.] ------------------------------------------------------------------------ [Back at the Bates' kitchen, GRANT's at the table with a paper and NIGEL comes in, more relaxed than before, happy in a distraction of getting Clare a sandwich.] NIGEL Clare wants a sandwich. GRANT Is she all right.. NIGEL At the moment.. [nodding absently] GRANT [pause] Right. Well, I might shove off in a minute now that she's awake. NIGEL Oh, sure.. Look: thanks for bein' here.. GRANT [gets up] I don't suppose I did much good, mate.. [putting on jacket] NIGEL No, no, I got, I couldn't o' got through the day without you. Look, um.. no one could give me what I really want.. Oh.. I suppose I'd better phone Liam.. GRANT Yeah, whatever you feel you gotta do.. NIGEL Wish I knew what that was.. GRANT Mate.. You didn't deserve this. NIGEL [frustrated, lost] I'm gonna get through this, aren't I, Grant? GRANT Yeah.. You've got to.. NIGEL For Clare, you mean.. GRANT For all of us. [NIGEL hugs GRANT, who's there for him like a big bear. After a brief moment, the embrace ends.] GRANT Look, ahh.. I'll see you tomorrow, all right.. NIGEL Yeah, right.. Cheers.. [GRANT's leaving, and NIGEL's staring, distracted, at the page with Liam's number on it.] ------------------------------------------------------------------------ [Late in the day, RUTH and MARK are slowly walking, hand in hand, through the near empty market. They're preoccupied with worry. MARK is more subdued.] RUTH He's tryin' to put you off our gettin' a baby.. MARK It made me think a bit, that's all.. RUTH We should go an see this medical advisor.. I mean, it's pretty obvious we hardly know /any/thing right now. MARK That's true.. RUTH I mean, I could phone him. I could phone him tomorrow. [MARK stops, holds her close, face to face.] MARK I love you. [RUTH chuckles.] MARK Nothing ever beats you that easy, does it. RUTH Well, there's no harm in knowing what you Can and Can't do. I mean, you said it yourself, you plan life for life's sake. Anyway, it could, all be some sort o' test.. I mean, they're probably tryin' to put you off so that only the most determined get through. MARK Sounds like Gladiators. RUTH This has got a better prize. [They kiss.] ------------------------------------------------------------------------ [NIGEL is in his living room, looking at the list. He picks up the phone, breathes in, starts dialing, and hangs up, putting aside the page.] ------------------------------------------------------------------------ [It's late but still daylight. A nice day out. SHARON is sitting at a table outside a restaurant in a well kept park. She's still nicely dressed. GRANT comes over, dressed in a suit, and sits. He doesn't lean back. He's sad and serious. (Side note: you can hear /distant/ cars and their occasional honking.)] SHARON I got you a drink.. GRANT Cheers.. [sigh] [drinks] Ahhh. Needed that.. It's been a long day.. SHARON Yeah it has.. GRANT I don't suppose I did much good.. SHARON At least you were there for him.. GRANT Yeah.. Bein' with Nige made me think a bit.. SHARON Yeah, I suppose it would.. GRANT I told him how good I thought him an' Debbie were together.. SHARON They were.. GRANT We were as good as that.. We were.. Maybe even better.. Just wish I'd tried to keep it goin'.. Didn't realize what we had.. I want to ask you somethin'.. SHARON [doubtful] Ask me what.. GRANT [sigh] I'm not sure that I can, now.. SHARON Try me.. GRANT [pause, serious] We can start again.. [puts ring case out to her, on the table] Somewhere else.. Somewhere new.. SHARON [pause, at a loss] What's this.. GRANT You an' me.. [opens case and puts case back out on table for her to see: quite a ring..] We can make it /work/ this time.. SHARON Grant.. GRANT We can do it.. Marry me.. [SHARON doesn't know what to think.] -boom- -boom- -boom-boom- ------------------------------------------------------------------------ [show's time: 27:00] [*Credit Roll* with theme music. Long version of exit theme: Save music (1mb mp3).] [time: 00:30; total with intro and credits: 27:57] ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Transcript of the *next* episode (the next day) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Return to the Television Transcript Project email Last Updated: 5 Feb 2000 This fan page is *for curiosity and fun* and is not intended to infringe on any copyright nor to encourage such. 1 [x] close This Page is an outdated, user-generated website brought to you by an archive.It was mirrored from Geocities at the end of October, 2009. For any questions concerning this page try to contact the respective author. (To report any malicious content send the URL to oocities(at gmail dot com). 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