[EVERYBODY’S HAPPY NOWADAYS
PLAYING ON HEADPHONES]
♪ I was so tired of being upset
♪ Always wanting something
I never could get
♪ Life's an illusion, love is a dream
♪ But I don't know what it is
♪ Everybody's happy nowadays
♪ Everybody's happy nowadays
[BELL DINGS]
Rick, number three.
-Here you go, a cappuccino.
-[MOBILE RINGING]
-MAN: Thank you, thank you.
-You all right?
[MOBILE CONTINUES RINGING]
Hello?
♪ Life's an illusion, love is a dream
[INDISTINCT TALKING]
I went up the ladder
but he started moving around
so we're keeping it calm and low-key.
Calm and low-key?
It's not a hostage negotiation.
What are his demands, a pizza
and a helicopter to Alton Towers?
-I'm here now. Fun time's over.
-We've rung his mum and dad
but we don't want to alarm him
in case he falls.
I've got it. Calm and low-key.
Joe! Joe.
Ground Control to Major Tom,
get down here now.
Not so close to the edge, Joe.
Hey, joke's over, son. Now get down.
I'm counting to three
and you're coming down.
One, two, three.
Has anybody got a big net
and a bag of crisps?
Why didn't you keep your eye on him?
I thought it was your job.
I'm his learning support. I'm not
with him every minute of the day.
Who was then, Buzz Lightyear?
Now come on, Joe. That's enough. Down!
Down!
All right, call off the SWAT team.
Batman and Robin have arrived.
Mr Joe's dad, it's Joe. It's Joe.
He's doing the Joe!
I can see. Thanks, Ramesh.
ELLIOT: Special needs
is all well and good, but...
WOMAN: That's enough, Mr Elliot.
Well, this is a thing, little man.
Everybody's Happy Nowadays, Buzzcocks,
1979, written by...
Come down now, Joe.
Everybody's Happy Nowadays,
Buzzcocks, 1979, written by?
Come down and I'll tell you.
-Written by...
-No! That's not what happens.
JOE: What happens?
What happens is you come down,
and I'll tell you.
Is baby Emily here?
Baby Emily's waiting in the playground.
Everybody's Happy Nowadays,
Buzzcocks, 1979, written by?
[SIGHS DEEPLY]
Hey, how did he get a hold
of your ladders?
I had to get a football off the roof.
Not, strictly speaking,
part of my job description,
but that's by the by.
You couldn't stop him? A seven-year-old?
I didn't see him!
And even if I had, I couldn't have,
you know, physically stopped him.
Well, not without filling out
a form in triplicate.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUDING]
Pete Shelley.
[EMILY COOING]
Well done.
Sorry, folks. Sorry.
As long as he's safe and sound.
Yeah, don't worry about it.
I'm sure you'd rather
he was sitting on the roof
than hitting his head on his desk, eh?
You're brilliant at handling it.
I can't think how it must be for you.
I've explained to my two
that he's different,
so, they're fine with it but maybe not
all the other kids are, you know?
Yeah, thanks, Linda, but, erm,
thanks, again, and sorry, folks.
We'll sort it.
RAMESH: Mr Joe's granddad,
is Joe really in trouble?
MAURICE: I doubt it, son.
They'll probably give him
a government grant for performing arts.
Grab hold... Grab hold of that.
[SUV ENGINE STOPS]
Did anything happen today
at school today, Joe, that made you sad?
Or upset?
Let me see now.
Why did you go up there, Joe?
Were you missing Terry this afternoon?
I was missing Terry this afternoon.
Was it your schoolwork,
something too hard for you?
-Was it my schoolwork?
-PAUL: Joe?
MAURICE:
Has someone been bullying you, Joe?
'Cause I tell you what,
if a lad gives you a dig,
you give him a dig back
but 10 times harder.
-Thanks, Maurice.
-Okay, let's try this.
You went on the roof because?
Because.
-Joe?
-Because?
I'm autistic.
I'm autistic. I'm autistic.
I'm autistic. Nobody wants that.
I told you it was bullying.
Maurice, go and tell Louise
that he won't be coming
for his uke lesson today.
Can't you phone her?
Look, we owe her two week's money
and he needs his music for next week.
Go on.
-Hello.
-Hiya.
Oh, hello, Emily.
I hope you've had a nice day
with Alison.
ALISON: It's all in the book, okay?
-Oh, okay, quick... Thank you!
-Pleasure.
NICOLA: Now then, young lady.
[GRUNTING]
[LAUGHING]
Right then, it's Wednesday
so it's pasta with tomato sauce
and banana for afters
GRACE: Nicola?
[EMILY COOING]
Oh, sh*t!
[BOTH LAUGHING]
NICOLA: Well, this is a surprise.
And you know I don't like surprises.
[LAUGHING] Well, we came to see you,
didn't we? Yes, we did!
Hasn't she grown!
And a lovely smile.
Yeah, though I think her
increasingly organised limb movements
are more remarkable
than a smile which has been
around since she was six weeks
and socially reinforced ever since.
Where's Eddie?
Eddie? [STAMMERING] Er,
what do you mean, "Where's Eddie?"
He's at work, of course.
Eddie's at work, why?
We'd just like to see
both of you together, that's all.
Are you all right?
Like I said, I don't like surprises.
And neither does Eddie.
[MOBILE RINGING AND VIBRATING]
[CONTINUES RINGING AND VIBRATING]
Eddie, erm,
there's a problem.
You need to get here right now.
Joe.
Come on.
Joe, you know that word you said?
"Autistic", do you remember?
Whole Wide World.
Wreckless Eric, 1977.
You know how you find some things a
bit more difficult than the other kids?
Let me see now.
No, Hong Kong Garden.
Siouxsie and the Banshees, 1978.
Today when you went up on the roof,
what did you go up there for,
do you remember?
Did somebody say something to you, Joe?
The Haribos.
What about the Haribos?
What about the Haribos?
You didn't find them, did you?
No.
Where didn't you find them?
Under the sink.
And where didn't you eat them?
In my bed.
Right.
Okay, right.
Is it me or did he
just do a number on us?
Paul, you were going to ask him
what he thinks "autistic" means.
PAUL: Well, I thought you were.
He clearly doesn't want
to talk about it, does he?
No, because he thinks it's bad.
Or wrong.
No, we don't know that.
Well, why else would he say,
"Nobody wants that"?
There's got to be something
on the internet about this.
Or we could talk to actual human beings
that have been through the same thing.
Please, not the parent support group.
How can you say that
when you've never been?
Three little words,
parent, support, and group.
Three more, narrow-minded and twat.
It's like I've never been away.
-[GASPS]
-Hey!
Oh!
Oh, there she is! Oh, you're back!
Aw, look at you!
Mm! My bay.
-You all right? [CLEARS THROAT]
-Yeah.
It's James.
-Alison.
-Oh, I think we met on FaceTime once.
Was that Uganda?
You were moving around in the background
in a very small towel.
I don't remember the country.
-[LAUGHS]
-Oh!
[DOOR OPENS]
Guess who's here.
Shrek.
Not this time.
[LAUGHS]
Hello, you.
You went away and you came back.
That's right.
-I've been back all the time.
-[LAUGHS]
That's right.
Something Better Change.
The Stranglers, 1977.
JOE: Correct.
Uh, Joe won't be here today
and he wanted you to have this.
Thank you.
He's not still on the school roof,
is he?
Ralph mentioned it.
No, no.
Wait there.
I've got next week's music for him.
Hiya.
-Difficult change from G to F.
-G to F, you say.
-G to F.
-Yes.
You all right? You keeping busy?
Yes, thank you.
Just children you're teaching now,
no adults, no men
or women at all?
No, not at the moment, but, er,
thanks for the interest.
[DOOR SLAMS SHUT]
[CAR HORN HONKS]
That was so close.
So close.
Give me a lift to the brewery,
have a look at that computer sh*t.
You put it in wrong.
Dad, it's you, not the program.
And I can't, Nicola needs me.
Light bulb needs changing, does it?
[CAR DOOR LATCH THUDDING]
[INHALES SHARPLY]
[EXHALES SHARPLY]
So, Uganda.
That must have been
quite an experience.
Yeah, yeah.
Before that I worked
on a conservation project in Zanzibar.
-Wow.
-Freeing dolphins from
tuna nets.
Really? [CHUCKLES]
Really?
That's fascinating.
-You into conservation?
-Yeah, yeah.
I do my bit.
I can't pass a worm on a path
without putting it
in the nearest flower bed.
[LAUGHS NERVOUSLY]
-Hiya, Eddie.
-[CAR DOOR CLOSES]
We were wondering when you'd be back.
-GRACE: Vincent!
-How was the drive?
Very, very fast.
-Just keep pretending.
-I am pretending.
MAURICE: Pretend you're still married?
What would I do that for?
EDDIE: Because I asked
and because everyone else
has agreed to go along with it.
But mainly because Nicola said so
and she's got your cock in a noose.
She just hasn't told her mum and dad yet
that we've split up
-and I've moved away.
-It's been two years.
I don't know why we didn't get you
christened soft touch
and have done with it.
-Dad, just behave yourself.
-I'm not making any promises.
Unlike you two on your wedding day.
PAUL: Right.
Okay, he started using
the word "autistic."
And we should have been
ready for that, but we weren't.
And worse than that,
he clearly thinks it's a bad thing.
So we tried talking to him about it,
he doesn't want to,
so I just... I don't really know
what we do next.
Well, maybe try talking to each other
about it first.
That's all we ever do.
No, I mean, one of you pretend to be Joe
and then the other explains it to Joe
so Joe understands.
-Okay, like role-play.
-Yeah.
Paul, two more beers down this end
when you're ready.
Any chance your family could role-play
as paying customers?
JAMES: Who would have thought
that offal
could find it's way into a salad?
GRACE: This is wonderful.
You must know more than anybody
in your line of work
that marriages have
their ups and downs, right?
It's a long and winding road,
that's for sure. [CHUCKLES]
Amen to that.
Where's Emily?
There she is!
-[EMILY GIGGLES]
-Always full of beans,
lining things up.
Our Eddie was the same.
Except in his case
it was his mum's shoes, so...
We've all got our crosses to bear,
no offence.
None taken.
JAMES: Let me get this right,
Joe is the only who doesn't know
he's autistic?
It's a little bit more complicated
than that.
So it's like, what, a secret?
ALISON: No, no.
It's not a secret exactly.
If you were keeping it a secret, maybe
that's why he thinks it's a bad thing.
Told you he was smart, didn't I?
Way smarter than your last boyfriend.
It's not exactly a high bar though,
James.
VINCENT: You don't get to win
Hanwell lads welterweight three times
on the trot
without some steam in your helm.
MAURICE: Oh, you boxed, did you?
I didn't know that.
Do you like having a baby cousin, Joe?
Joe?
[MUSIC PLAYING
FROM HEADPHONES INDISTINCTLY]
Do you like baby Emily?
[EMILY LAUGHING]
I like baby Emily.
It's good practice for when you'll have
a baby sister or brother of your own
one day, eh?
We don't want another baby,
we have enough with me.
Oh?
I see.
Well, I like a man
who speaks his mind, eh, Vincent?
-[VINCENT LAUGHS HEARTILY]
-MAURICE: Well done, Joe.
[APPLAUDING AND LAUGHING]
ALISON: What if James has got a point?
-About what?
-That...
That we're cowards
for not talking to Joe about his autism.
-Are you sure that's what he said?
-He didn't have to.
I think he might be right.
What was it Nicola said
we should do again?
Try talking to each other
the way we would talk to Joe,
if he could understand.
[SIGHS] All right.
Well, you'd best start then.
I'll join in at the chorus.
All right. So, Joe,
you know that word you used...
-[RUMBLING IN DISTANCE]
-[SQUEAKING IN OTHER ROOM]
[BED FRAME CONTINUES SQUEAKING]
Is that what I think it is?
Yep.
I'm afraid to say out loud.
We should have got
that futon she wanted.
[SQUEAKING CONTINUES]
[SIGHS]
[GROANS]
[LOUD SQUEAKING IN OTHER ROOM]
[SQUEAKING CONTINUES]
[SQUEAKING]
She went straight off.
Good as gold.
[SIGHS] This is mad.
I realise it's a difficult situation
but I think now the subterfuge has begun
it'd be even worse
if we told them the truth.
So I have to cancel tai chi
and then humiliate myself
to save you
from feelings of embarrassment?
Thank you for understanding.
Strange, isn't it?
You've seen me undress 1,000 times,
and I've seen you undress 1,000 times,
but this feels uncomfortable
because a previous intimacy
has now been abandoned.
Just so we're clear, you saying
"undress" over and over
really isn't helping much.
[SCOFFS]
You even watched me defecate
whilst giving birth.
I pretty much think
we have nothing left to hide.
I saw you defecate. I didn't watch.
There's a crucial difference.
[FRIDGE DOOR OPENS]
I'll have to give you
bigger portions next time.
At the gastropub.
Still got an appetite?
For food, I meant.
No, just, erm, thirsty.
-Oh, I bet.
-Yeah?
Help yourself.
You don't have any, erm...
Any energy drinks,
or anything like that, do you?
No energy drinks, no.
Plenty of milk though.
Make yourself a horlicks if you like.
Although you might want to put
some clothes on before you do.
Hot milk and bell ends
are an accident waiting to happen.
[CHUCKLES]
Oh!
[INHALES AWKWARDLY]
[SIGHS]
[PAUL PANTING]
Anyone I know?
What are you doing?
It's 2:00 in the morning.
Nervous tension.
He's got a tattoo
with Becky's name on it.
Is it spelt right?
[GROANS AND EXHALES]
[PAUL BREATHING HEAVILY]
[SIGHS]
Don't think he's got much
of a sense of humour.
Because he didn't laugh at your jokes?
-No further questions, Your Honour.
-[LAUGHS]
-Mm.
-[SIGHS HAPPILY]
Sorry, you don't mind, do you?
No, of course not. 'Course not.
Are you awake?
Yeah.
When you said "autistic," Joe,
what do you think that word means?
What do you think it means?
-Come on, Paul, stop dicking around.
-I'm not.
I'm not, because that's what he's
going to say, isn't it?
-Because he doesn't know what it means.
-Okay.
-Neither does anybody.
-Okay, sorry. Fair enough. Fair enough.
Can you just say what...
What you think he might say?
Okay. [CLEARS THROAT]
Er...
I don't know what it means.
But people keep using it about me
so I think it's got something
to do with me
and it might mean I don't play football,
like the other boys.
And I'm go and play my music
anytime I can.
And I like remembering songs and bands.
Uh, sometimes you get annoyed with me
and you talk through your teeth
and you say, "I'm fine."
And that's how I know
you're annoyed with me.
And you love me.
And you think I'm the best boy
in the world.
And it's just a word.
It's just a word and I'm gonna have
to get used to it.
Is there anything
that you want to ask me now?
What do you think it means,
me being autistic?
-He'd never ask that.
-No, I know.
[SIGHS]
What do you see when you see me, huh?
Mum?
I see a puzzle that I love.
A boy I thought was one thing
but turned out to be another.
And I see a boy
that sometimes has difficulties
making himself understood.
Half in and half out of the world.
We all have secrets and...
And hidden feelings,
but yours are buried deeper, maybe.
I see a boy
we might look after all our lives.
A boy that's loved
but might never find love
with anybody else and that's...
Sometimes that's hard
for your mum and dad.
Maybe sometimes that makes it hard
for you because
sometimes you can see that in us. The...
[LAUGHS NERVOUSLY] That panic.
[EXHALES SHARPLY]
[SIGHS]
[THE WEDDING PRESENT
PLAYING ON HEADPHONES]
♪ But it's hard to be engaging
♪ When the things you love keep changing
♪ Brassneck
♪ Brassneck
♪ I just decided
I don't trust you any more
♪ I just decided
I don't trust you any more ♪
Vardy, Leicester City.
Vardy, Leicester City.
-Rashford, Manchester United.
-REBECCA: Do you really love me?
[REBECCA LAUGHING]
Rashford, Manchester United.
Who's your favourite player?
JAMES: You know what he's like.
PAUL: Hmm? Eh?
Sorry to interrupt, guys,
I just need to get to the kettle.
-Sorry.
-PAUL: What do you think, Joe?
Manchester United.
No, no, no, that's your favourite team.
Marcus Rashford's your favourite player.
Right, go and get your stuff
and I'll test you again on the way.
You said it last night,
the panic he feels in us.
He worries that he doesn't fit in
and this might be a way that he can.
-He doesn't like football.
-It doesn't matter.
Football cards, dates, stats,
it plays to his strengths.
It's all the other lads talk about.
It's got to be worth a try, isn't it?
I thought we were trying to work out
how to talk to him.
We are and we will.
But this is something
we can do right now.
Arms up.
Favourite player?
Marcus Rashford.
Stewed, apple for pudding.
No more sweet things.
EDDIE: Her or me?
-[LAUGHS] Both.
-[EMILY BABBLING]
Ooh, and according to my thermometer,
-Emily, should be having her breakfast.
-Oh!
[EDDIE CHUCKLES]
This is ridiculous
Really? I think it suits you.
EDDIE: We are adults.
I know your reasons for lying
to your mum and dad...
For not telling them the truth.
Shall we just settle on "misleading"?
Go on.
Whatever your reasons,
we can't go on like this.
Not least because this one
will soon be able to talk,
and when she does
she might just mention the fact
that Mummy and Daddy live
in separate houses
in separate cities.
She might be a late talker.
EDDIE: We sit down
and we tell them. Now.
Agreed?
Your mother and I,
we have some news for you.
[EXHALES SHARPLY] Typical.
How did you guess?
-Guess what?
-You both smiled as though you guessed.
-What's the news?
-VINCENT: Oh, you tell us,
you've clearly guessed.
Nobody's guessed.
The reason that Nicola was looking
at you like is that
-we have some news of our own...
-We're splitting up.
-A trial separation.
-It's permanent.
-It's mutual.
-I'm leaving him.
VINCENT: There's nobody else.
He had an affair.
-It's amicable.
-I hate him.
PAUL: All right.
Favourite player?
-Marcus Rashford.
-Who does he play for?
Manchester United.
Brilliant. Brilliant!
So if any of the lads ask about football
that's what you say. All right?
Top lad.
Top lad. Hair set to handsome.
Hair set to handsome.
[SCHOOL BELL RINGS]
Off you go, mucker.
[SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE]
[SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE]
Hmm. [CHUCKLES]
I can see Vincent might be
a bit of a handful,
but it's a big decision to make
at their age.
It's certainly surprising.
Has somebody thrown this?
Big decision to make at any age,
come to that.
Indeed. Which is why
I appreciate you being supportive
of my indecision over the years.
Is that what you call it?
You two have had more reunions
than Take That.
-No, more.
-Then why lie to her mum and dad?
Because last time she told them [SIGHS]
they gave her so much grief...
Wake up and smell the laundry.
Nicola doesn't want to admit to herself
that it's over.
Dad, I have a new life in Manchester.
New, maybe. I doubt it's a life.
Hello, Ralph, how are we doing?
Is the job still going?
Brewery assistant? Yeah.
Could I apply?
Of course you can. Of course you can.
I'll get the application form.
[FILING CABINET OPENS AND CLOSES]
No need to look so nervous.
Don't worry, Ralph,
he makes me nervous, too.
Don't tell my mum about this.
Fat chance of me having
a conversation with your mum.
All right, I won't do.
Not if you don't want me to.
Has she said she don't want
you working with me?
Has she said she's got
a problem with me, like?
No, but she's not good with change.
What?
"Has your mum said anything about me?
"Does she ever talk about me at all?"
♪ I want you back,
I want you back
-♪ Yeah, I want you back, for good ♪
-Oh, give over.
I was looking after Ralph.
Perhaps you just don't want
to admit to yourself that it's over.
First one to tell me the first sounds
they heard this morning.
-Maisie.
-MAISIE: A bird singing.
Very good. Maisie's table can go.
What sound did
you hear this morning, Joe?
Can you remember?
[CHILD SHOUTS IN DISTANCE]
-Ramesh?
-A car.
Probably diesel because of
the sound of the engine.
Very good. Ramesh's table can go.
Joe.
What sound did you hear, Joe?
Can you remember?
What did you hear, Joe?
Just tell Miss. Tell her.
Can you think of anything?
Miss! Miss!
Was it a lamb bleating, Joe?
TEACHER: Bleating? Good word, Ella!
Joe's table can go.
[BOYS TALKING INDISTINCTLY]
BOY 1: It's not Wayne Rooney...
BOY 2: It's Marcus Rashford.
BOY 2: I've got Theo Walcott,
Rob Snodgrass and John O'Shea.
-Boy 1: Have you got Peter Crouch?
-Boy 2: Yeah.
Yeah, my dad says he's just a beanpole.
Joe.
Joe, what have you got, eh?
-Got any swaps?
-Let me see now.
I don't think so.
Who's your favourite player?
BOY 1: Is it Aguero, Sterling?
Who's your favourite player, Joe?
BOY 3: Who does he play for,
Chelsea or Spurs?
BOY 1: You've got to have a favourite.
Marty.
Marty the Zebra, Madagascar.
-Eden Hazard.
-I gave that yesterday.
[THERE SHE GOES
PLAYING ON HEADPHONES]
♪ There she goes
♪ There she goes again
♪ Racing through my brain
♪ And I just can't contain it
♪ This feeling that remains ♪
Oi! Now could you keep an eye
on your ladders?
Don't blame me because
you can't control your own kid.
-What? What did you say?
-Paul. Ah...
I think you and I
need a word, Mr Elliot
ALISON: What were you thinking?
Joe's dad has
every right to be angry.
Are you all right? Did you touch
any moss up there or leaves?
-I'm so sorry, Sarah.
-He's never been good with heights.
I... I don't know how they let Joe
get up there again.
SARAH: I dare say he'll need
an antihistamine now.
What with all the excitement
and dust, of course.
That's not your concern.
ALISON: Aw, you're all right,
aren't you? What do you say?
I know you mean well, Alison.
He could have fallen and hit his head.
They both could. And...
I don't know how to say this
'cause Joe is a lovely boy, but...
-But what?
-When things like this happen,
it's always Joe that it happens to,
isn't it, really?
I see. I didn't know you felt like that.
No other parent will be different.
Sorry.
I know it's good up here, mate,
but this has got to stop.
[GULPS]
Marcus Rashford.
Manchester United.
I can only apologise that this
has been allowed to happen again.
PAUL: Well, at least Joe had a mate
up there with him this time.
It's kind of progress, innit?
I know we like to see the light side,
but he did set his mind on getting
up there again and found a way.
I worry what he might do next.
Hang on, he isn't the only kid
who's had an odd bad day.
Well, his bad days used to be
once a term, then once a week,
but now they're every other day.
I do think that some of the children
get upset by some of Joe's behaviours,
so that doesn't help him integrate.
Children have told you that, have they?
We've had feedback
from some of the parents.
I think I can guess which ones.
We love Joe. We can handle Joe.
The question is whether Joe can handle
this school any more.
ALISON: I'll come in
and talk to the parents,
reassure them that there's nothing
to worry about.
Paul and I are happy to do that.
Well, yeah.
What are we going to say to the parents?
I haven't a clue, which is why
we're going to talk to people
at the support group.
[SIGHS] I don't know
if I can get cover tonight.
Come on, they're just people
in the same boat as us.
People who have been through it.
PAUL: And not a Fred Perry T-shirt
between them.
ALISON: What?
PAUL: It's all a bit
-hand knitted and cords.
-ALISON: Are you serious?
PAUL: I'm sorry.
[STAMMERS] It's a group thing. I...
Right, but you're perfectly happy
to go to Old Trafford
with 65,000 strangers
and chant inanely for two hours.
I'll see you there, 7:30.
[SIGHS] All right.
NICOLA: It doesn't make any sense.
I just don't see
the point of you separating
at this stage of your lives.
Because we're so close to death,
you mean?
-Partly, yeah.
-[APPLE CRUNCHING]
We should have broken up years ago.
He's always been the same,
so serves me right, really.
Then in the end, is it better
to struggle on in a relationship
or struggle on outside a relationship?
In the end it's all a struggle.
I mean, you know better than anyone.
Me?
Is that why you made me cake,
so you could tell me you
think I'm struggling?
I know it.
And you hide it like I hide it.
To be fair, I knew too.
Sorry. Sorry.
Welcome. Welcome, one and all.
Did you follow me?
VINCENT: I just wanted
to tell my daughter
that I don't want this.
You should have thought of that
before you slept
with half the congregation.
-Oh, Mum, please.
-What?
This explains so much.
And I want a word with you, Dr Graves.
Why are you pushing my daughter
all-hours when she has a baby at home?
Don't blame me. I have tried
to challenge her dedication
at every juncture
but it's almost
as if she enjoys the job.
REBECCA: Tomorrow.
JAMES: We said a few days.
-It's been a few...
-REBECCA: Two days.
-Why are you so keen to get away?
-Look at it.
And it smells of animals and rain.
-So does most of Africa.
-No, Africa had heat, had mystery.
There's a nightclub in Keswick
that's very mysterious.
Look, all I want is for us to get back
to what it was like when it was just us.
You know?
It was lovely.
It is lovely, but... [SIGHS]
I've not seen any of my schoolmates yet
and I've hardly spent any time with Joe.
JAMES: Joe won't mind.
Will you, Joe?
-See? He doesn't mind.
-Don't do that.
-Do what?
-You were making fun of him.
No, I wasn't.
It felt like you were.
Well, I wasn't.
Not the good suitcase,
haven't you put me through enough?
GRACE: After 30 years of marriage,
I think at least I deserve that.
NICOLA: Mum.
Look after yourself.
You, too.
Your dad's a liar. He can't help it.
I know.
[ENGINE STARTS]
So, do you want me to order you
your own taxi, Vincent,
or have you already arranged that?
No. No, I feel I should stay here
for a few days.
-What?
-Sorry, Dad, that's not convenient.
Why?
Because you and Eddie
will have to pretend
you're still together until I'm gone.
Is that what's bothering you?
I'm not stupid, Nicola.
[SIGHS]
[INDISTINCT CHATTERING]
Thanks for this, Alison.
My brain just goes to mush
when I have to fill in a form.
-[SIGHS]
-No problem. I actually enjoy it.
I was that girl at school
that used to colour code her notes.
Really? Never would have guessed.
Bet you ironed your pants as well.
[BOTH CHUCKLE]
I need to talk to Alison.
You sit here with Jan,
we have tea and biscuits,
we go home on the bus.
Me talk to Alison,
I sit here with Jan,
we have tea and biscuits,
we go home on the bus.
Yeah, correct. All right?
It's all right.
Okay?
Yeah, yeah. He'll be fine now.
Cool. Okay, so, this one is all done,
this one is all done...
[SIGHS]
SOPHIE: When I first told our Mark
he was autistic
he was relieved.
He said he thought he didn't have
any mates at school because he was ugly.
[LAUGHS] Oh, God.
When I told the other parents
they ran a mile.
Now, they were ugly.
Do you think I shouldn't bother
talking to the parents?
Just not sure
it's where you should be putting
your energies right now.
It's only if it helps Joe.
"If it helps Joe."
And how's that working out?
'Cause it doesn't seem to me
like the behaviour of a kid who's happy
-to be at the school he's at.
-Well...
We always said
that he would go mainstream local.
I mean, we're doing all this
to get your Mark back
in to mainstream.
Because that's what Mark wants.
That's what he tells us he wants.
And he's 16 and 6'3".
[LAUGHS]
[ALISON AND SOPHIE
LAUGHING AND TALKING INDISTINCTLY]
-PAUL: Sorry!
-Ah!
Sorry.
Sophie, this is my husband Paul.
-Oh, hi.
-Hello, how are you?
-Paul, this is Mark.
-Hello, Mark.
Hello, hello.
This is Sophie. She's your new waitress.
SOPHIE: What?
You need a part-time job.
And Paul needs the help,
because as you can see
he can't even make it
to a meeting on time.
[CHUCKLES NERVOUSLY]
Wow. Er, thanks. I mean,
I don't know what hours I can do...
Oh, Paul will sort that.
He's really flexible like that.
-She's a hard woman to say no to.
-Oh, I'm aware of that.
Also,
Sophie was looking for someone
to drive her and Mark
to gigs now and then,
so I thought you'd be up for that.
You don't have to if you don't want to.
Of course, he wants to.
-Mark's into indie.
-Is he?
Yeah.
What bands are you into, Mark?
I can't drive, you see, so it makes
things difficult, and then...
Yeah, Mark loves a live band.
How's your waitressing?
Worse than my driving.
[LAUGHING]
-Thank you.
-You're welcome.
Stay well and thank you for tonight.
-Safe home.
-Yeah, yeah.
-Nice meeting you.
-Bye, Mark.
-See you at work.
-See you soon.
It got mad at the Fellside
It really did. I was gonna try
and get away early, but I couldn't, I...
No, no, you didn't try, Paul.
You sat outside in the car
for two hours not coming in.
I saw you.
So that's what the Sophie thing
was about, was it?
Eh, stitching me up to give her a job?
No.
No, that was about helping her out
because she helped me.
It's called supporting each other.
It's what people do
when they're all in the same boat.
-Bringing up a child that's different.
-Well...
I couldn't, I'm sorry.
-Is that it?
-[CAR DOORS UNLOCK]
I couldn't go in. I don't know why.
I just couldn't, okay?
PAUL: Okay, let's just say
that Joe understands
what "autistic" means, except
that he doesn't, not really,
'cause none of us do,
but let's just say that...
That he sees some other kids
more, you know,
severely autistic than him.
Does he think
that's what "autistic" means?
Does he think that's how
the world sees him?
How we see him?
It's better that than
he thinks it's a bad thing.
It might at least give him a sense
of who he is, an identity.
[CLICKS TONGUE]
"Club Autistic."
I bet it's got quite the waiting list.
If it helps to give him a feeling
of belonging and support, why not?
Oh, what about our club, eh?
Me and you and Joe and Rebecca.
Isn't that enough?
Not any more, no.
We thought we were doing all right,
turns out we weren't.
We need other people.
We've always needed other people.
You saw that before I did.
I know, I just...
I want to be the one
with the magic touch.
With Joe. I just...
I could always handle him.
I could always get through to him.
In the end, and...
It was a struggle,
but I could always do it.
And it just... It felt better that way.
[SIGHING]
No, that's not true, is it?
It made me feel better that way.
[SNIFFLES]
It's just in the last few months
I feel like I'm losing him.
I feel like I'm losing my boy.
[SIGHS]
ALISON: First off, thanks.
Thanks to you and your kids
for doing your best to understand him.
Or at least trying to, and...
And for putting up with some
of the things he does that are a bit...
Well, just out of the ordinary.
I know he can be distracting
and from what I hear these days,
upsetting to some of your children.
I get that the roof,
and the head banging, and you...
And they are hard to deal with.
The running out of the classroom.
[CHUCKLES]
Yeah, mm-hmm. That too, yeah.
But I'm not apologising for Joe.
I know there are a lot of good reasons
for him to be here.
Nobody minds him being here at all.
Okay, well, another way
of thinking about that is that
it's good for your children
to have him here.
For them to be
around a child that's different.
That has a different way of looking at
the world,
that communicates differently,
that doesn't much care about,
you know, SSATs
or peer group approval,
or, God help us, the football cards.
That's a privilege.
So I reckon with the right level
of support and the right attitude
this school should do all right
by children like Joe
and be a better school for having him.
Thanks, Alison. That's lovely, but
can we get to specifics
about Joe and his behaviour
and what we can do about it.
We could, but we'd be wasting
our time because,
well, Joe's not going to be
coming here for very much longer.
We're going to find a school for him
that's a bit more specialist.
It's not going to be easy
but that's what we're going to do.
I don't understand.
When did you decide this?
When we realised we were getting
more out of the idea
of him being integrated than he was.
So what's this all about?
I thought you were gonna reassure
the parents.
I am reassuring the parents
about the next child like Joe
that comes here.
And the one after that.
MAURICE: Special school?
I thought you didn't want him
going to a special school?
Well, it... It's not a special school.
It's, er, an autism unit
in an ordinary school.
You're still taking him out
of the school he knows.
Well...
[SIGHS] Something needed to be done.
We've made the right decision.
Great. Good for you.
What are you talking to me about it for?
You always have an opinion
You've never asked to hear it before.
Well, I'm asking for it now.
[FOOTSTEPS APPROACHING]
I think my opinion giving days
are behind me, Paul.
This job that Ralph has
applied for with you...
Huh, what job?
He left the application form out,
Maurice, so don't mess about.
-Has he got any chance of getting it?
-Yeah.
He's a grafter,
he's got a good job record,
we get on.
That's good to hear.
He's got a good chance and, uh,
if he does get it,
he'll get it on merit.
That's great.
Just make sure he doesn't, all right?
-What?
-Let him do the interview,
but please, Maurice,
don't give him the job.
-Well, why not?
-I can't tell you that.
I just need you to promise me
that you'll let him come close
but not get the job in the end.
He's a grown man.
He makes his own decisions...
I've got my reasons.
I just don't want to
go in to them with you.
Oh, I get it.
Don't take it out on Ralph just
'cause you still got a problem with me.
A problem with you?
My God, the view from your ego
must be breathtaking.
Hard as it must be for you
to believe, Maurice,
this isn't about you, it's about me.
And if what we had,
or didn't have, means anything to you,
then that should be enough
for you to do what I ask.
Okay, okay, okay.
I get the message.
He won't get the job.
I promise.
Hiya.
[CHAIR DRAGS AND SQUEAKS]
[SPOON CLATTERING AGAINST MUG]
Where's James?
[LOUD THUDDING OUTSIDE]
[GATE SQUEAKS]
ALISON: Do you love him?
REBECCA: Of course, I love him.
We had tattoos done and everything.
We? Ah, wonderful.
ALISON: Paul.
Look, in fairness to James,
it must have been hard to come here
and meet your whole family
-in one go.
-[SIGHS]
-You had all that freedom...
-No, it isn't that. It isn't that.
Well, it is that, but it's more.
How do you mean?
I know Joe takes
a bit of getting used to.
It's like...
I dunno,
it's like he's almost afraid of him.
ALISON: Have you actually asked James
about any of this?
No, we're not speaking.
Clearly.
Look, stop trying to second guess
what James is feeling
and just go and talk to him
before it's too late.
Since when did you think talking
about feelings was a good idea?
Oh, I don't.
I just do it to annoy your dad.
-[CHUCKLES]
-ALISON: Go on, get after him.
He might be the love of your life,
or he might not.
But you need to find out.
And whatever happens,
we're here for you.
If you're happy we're happy.
You're becoming all right, you know.
Can I have that in writing?
[DOOR OPENS]
[DOOR CLOSES]
Just to be clear, that was the old,
"We want you to be happy,
but please, God, dump him"
tactic you just did then.
Correct.
Vincent, you're still here.
Not a rail strike
I don't know about, is there?
I just need a little time.
You've had a little time.
Won't your congregation be missing you?
VINCENT: I've got a new curate.
He's stepping in.
They won't even notice I'm gone.
You'll have to go back
and face the truth sometime.
Nicola's right, Vincent.
Perhaps I'll give it two years
like you two did.
I... I didn't lie,
by the way, about my marriage.
I just didn't tell you the truth.
You didn't feel like you could tell
your own mum and dad?
The last time I told you
I got nothing but judgement from you.
And I realise now that your response
was partly you projecting
your own guilt onto my adultery.
I'm your dad,
-if you don't mind.
-And I'm your ex-husband, so, you know,
we might want to be moving this along
to something slightly less incendiary.
[SIGHS] I'm sorry, Eddie,
but it needed to be said.
Again, really?
VINCENT: Okay, okay.
You might have a point, Nicola.
I've been thinking and praying
and this time
it's going to be different.
-I'm glad to hear it.
-I'm going to redeem myself
with you and God.
Just me would be a start.
I'm going to stay right here
and I'm not going to leave
until I've got you two
back together again.
James! James!
[REBECCA GROANS]
[PANTING AND SIGHS]
You didn't get on.
Wasn't my bus.
Came after me?
I was just going to the shops.
[CHUCKLES]
You know, we love you.
We love you.
Rolling Stones, 1967.
Sorry. Dad joke.
And you know you find
some things harder than other kids.
Lost weekend?
No, no, no,
you don't get to ask a question,
not until you've answered Mum.
What do you think "autistic" means?
Let me see now.
Well, it means...
It just means different, really.
[SIGHS]
I'm not the same.
Well, most of you is the same,
but maybe a bit of you is different.
The bit that makes
some things harder for you.
And some things easier
like you remember things better
than the other kids.
-And...
-And the good news is
that makes you Joe.
And Joe is an absolute belter.
And the good news is
we're landing immediately
and the bad news is we're crash landing.
Joe.
-Madagascar 2.
-Yeah, I know. I know.
I'm not the same.
PAUL: Well, no one's the same.
So I am the same.
Well, everybody is a bit different,
and the bit of you
that's different is autistic.
That's just what it's called.
I'm sorry. I'm very sorry.
No, no, no, hey.
No, no, no. You don't... No.
That's not what we mean.
No, it's not that you've...
That you've done anything wrong
or it's bad, no...
You never have to be sorry for this.
Never.
Because we've all got things.
We're all a bit broken.
You know?
-We are.
-And?
-Just one thing.
-Yes?
I have a choc ice in the freezer
-and it might be all mouldy.
-Oh, no it won't.
You know that.
And from time to time you might need
a bit more help.
-But that's okay.
-Yeah.
I don't want to talk
about "autistic" any more.
Me neither, love.
Me neither.
[SIGHS]
Guess what?
James is staying?
Erm, better than that.
We're engaged.
-Oh! [LAUGHS]
-Ah!
[ROCK MUSIC PLAYING
INDISTINCTLY OVER HEADPHONES]
MAURICE: First day at a special school?
It's not a special school.
It's a specialist base.
Can we just stop pretending
that it's not just a bit weird?
It's not the way to my school.
You can see how it is
with Joe at the moment.
They're going to need some help.
We're supposed to be going
down to London.
I've got a job lined up
in a recording studio.
No, you haven't.
VINCENT: You get on better
than couples that are together.
The reason being we aren't together.
You promised me.
Because I won't do your dirty work
without knowing why.
PAUL: Maybe it's just
too big a change for him.
-It's day one, Paul.
-Exactly.
Which means we can change our minds.