We always said that he would
go mainstream local.
And how's that working out?
We're doing all this to get your Mark
back into mainstream.
Because that's what Mark wants.
I want you to come through this
because you're you.
And I want you to be there for me.
We've always needed other people.
You saw that before I did.
I know. I just...
I feel like I'm losing my boy.
She's worried about you.
Should she be?
Just for a moment, I felt more at home
with Sophie than I do with you.
I did the right thing, Alison!
I told you the truth.
And as for your actual feelings,
I'm just gonna have to guess, am I?
Why do you always have to
pick away at everything like that?
-I just wish...
-You just wish what?
We could leave things alone for a bit.
That's what we'll do.
[PANTING]
♪ No-one tells you nothing
Even when you know they know
♪ But they tell you
What you should do
♪ They don't like to see you grow ♪
MAURICE: All right, what have I missed?
-Just the ads and trailers?
-Dad, shush. Shush.
Alwaalis curry house.
-Just two minutes from this cinema.
-[ALISON SIGHS]
Can you start it again, Nicola?
You wanna get a dog,
or take up running.
-What?
-Walking on your own, nobody does that.
Unless they're up to no good.
Well...
[CLATTERING OVER TV]
[ALISON CHUCKLES]
I thought he was round here
watching Postman Pat with Emily.
-I had no idea you had him skivvying.
-He just likes doing it.
It's quite a contained behaviour.
I think it has to do with
order and predictability.
When did you film this?
Oh, just one of the times
he was around here.
Well, he's a grafter,
I'll give him that.
REBECCA: Joe?
Joe, look. Look at the pictures.
Look, all these people are
putting different pictures on...
-[CLATTERING OVER TV]
-REBECCA: D'you like playing with Emily?
JOE: I like playing with Emily.
NICOLA: What are your favourite games?
Don't Dictate.
What are your favourite games
that you like to play with Emily?
-Don't Dictate.
-I'm sorry, Joe, I don't know.
JOE: Penetration, 1978.
♪ Don't dictate, don't dictate
♪ Don't dictate
Dictate to me ♪
[SIGHS]
Emily is good.
[BIRDS CHIRPING]
[MUSIC PLAYING OVER TV]
[INDISTINCT CHATTER OVER TV]
It's no lethal w*apon,
but it does the trick.
What's it, what's it for again?
I'm presenting to
a small group of doctors,
health visitors and practice nurses.
I want to give them some idea
of the spectrum and Joe-type autism.
Joe-type autism?
He's a syndrome now, is he?
Most people think of autism
as one of two extremes,
either an non-speaking child in distress
or Rain Man.
-And Joe's a great example of...
-Yes, a great example.
Of autism that can get missed.
Because Joe's autism is hidden.
But nothing much hidden
on what we just watched.
I think you and me would've been helped
if our GP had seen something like this,
don't you?
I've written down
what I was going to say,
but I wanted you both to read it first.
-Thanks.
-The bits of Joe...
They're gonna stay the same, are they?
That's the stuff that you're gonna use?
Well, most of it, yes. That's the plan.
It captures the lad,
there's no doubt about that.
Yeah, yeah, it captures him, all right.
-You don't think it does?
-It does what you need it to do, Nicola.
That is clearly what is important.
I better get off, actually.
Louise has got, uh...
Well, it's a bathroom thing.
That nails him to his autism.
You do see that, don't ya?
-It just shoes Joe as he is.
-Listen.
Oh, as you see him.
Or as you want him to be seen
-by your colleagues.
-Yes.
To help them understand
more about all patients with autism
I mean, you knew
I was doing this presentation.
No, no, no. No. No.
Not like this, I didn't.
Probably a U-bend actually.
Hair and soap I should think.
If there's anything you want me
to take out, that upsets...
-[DOOR SHUTS]
-All of it, Nicola.
-How about all of it?
-ALISON: Paul.
I'm gonna be late. I'm picking him up.
-Hang on a second.
-[DOOR OPENING]
Hey. Hey.
Nicola's just trying to help.
I think her presentation will help.
I don't get why you're being like this.
She's turned our little boy
into a freak show.
No, she hasn't.
I would never let anybody do that.
Look, we can talk more about it
tonight, yeah?
I have to pack all of his stuff up
at Eddie's. I'll probably stay over.
-All right. Okay.
-Dad, I passed.
-My driving test, I passed.
-Good for you, love. Good for you.
What's up with Dad?
Well done.
[GRAVEL CRUNCHING]
[RAINING]
[ROCK MUSIC PLAYING]
So do you think it's all right?
-About Joe, the footage?
-Yeah, it's good. Yeah.
So do you think it's all right
for Nicola to show it?
Dad was a bit upset by it.
Yeah, but if, you know, if it helps.
Yeah. You're right.
I'll sort it with Paul.
Let's just concentrate on you instead.
My brilliant girl.
Passed first time.
Just like your mum.
Don't think this means
we're buying you a car though.
Not till after uni anyway.
I wasn't thinking that, no.
Well, you'll have enough expense
with accommodation and fees...
Mum, I'm not going to university.
What?
I changed my mind.
It's a waste of money
and I can do drama here.
I'm already helping out with the kids'
end of term show
I could get a job, earn some money.
I'm not going to university.
Oh, Nicola's been trouble since day one.
Always picking away at stuff, but that's
doctors for you, I suppose.
Your waste pipe was clogged solid.
If someone had shown me a film
of Eddie at that age,
I'd have put him in a sack
and drowned him in the canal.
Get in, you bastard!
I put a new washer on it,
just to be on the safe side.
You get that baby double-threaded
and you'll never get it off.
I've had an idea.
What I'm thinking is...
Now you broke the back
of your treatment.
Well, what I'm thinking is...
This.
What do you think?
Be sure to send me a postcard.
Once you're done with all this malarkey,
take your pick.
Luxury villa,
hotel with award-winning breakfast bar.
I, I mean Ralph as well. I...
Or even the four of us if you want to
bring your girlfriend, eh, Ralph?
There are water parks nearby.
Who can...
Resist a water park.
No planning ahead, Maurice.
No jinxing it.
Right.
Louise? Do you want to come through.
[DOOR SHUTS]
Bloody hell, she's hard to please
sometimes, your mum, isn't she?
-Yeah.
-Good job we're here to cheer her up.
We make a good team, you and me,
don't we?
Yeah. For now.
Yeah. For now.
-What do you mean for now?
-You won't be here when she's better.
Why? Do you know something I don't?
Mum won't be ill.
She won't need you any more.
Has she said something? Your mum?
Is that what she said?
-Put yours there, shall I?
-Thanks.
[EXHALES]
Bit close to the edge like that?
-Are you all right?
-Me?
Yeah, fine. Fine. Yeah.
Well, can you stop jiggling around then?
[INDISTINCT CHATTER]
All right, superstar.
You made it. End of term.
-But not the end of me.
-Oh, I hope not.
Oops.
Right shall we... Come on then.
That's it.
Well, won't exactly be my
recreational drug of choice.
The new chemo drug, you know?
At least it don't give you
that prickling feeling like effect.
Just you I'm allergic to now.
Bye, Maurice.
Not coming in?
No, I've, uh, got to
get back to the brewery.
There's stuff going on there.
And, you'll want to get your feet up,
won't you?
Yeah, yeah. Um...
I'll give you a call tonight.
Let you know how I'm getting on.
Hello, Uncle Eddie.
Hiya, Joe.
Half an hour till tea time, Joe.
You don't mind if we stay over
tonight, do you?
It'll take forever
to pack up his stuff.
Cheers, mate.
I, uh, hear you're not happy
about Nicola's film.
Oh. She called you.
You know she was filming Joe
when he went around.
You know what Nicola's like
when she puts her mind to something.
She filmed me on a kids' bike.
Her intentions are good, you know.
If you're gonna talk shite, Eddie,
make yourself useful.
If Nicola can help people
get a bit more understanding,
then doesn't that help everybody?
Including Joe.
Well, that's easy for you to say.
Emily looks great in it.
So that's what this is all about?
The comparison?
'Cause that's just in your head, mate.
It's not something
that me or Nicola would ever do.
Wouldn't you?
I do.
And Alison does all the time.
I don't have a kid like Joe...
But I've still got a kid.
And I know it's different for you,
but every parent wonders if
their child's gonna turn out all right.
Every parent sees something
in their child that they worry about.
You've not got a monopoly
on sleepless nights.
Can we change the subject?
I'm hoping that Holly and I might
have sex for the first time tonight.
What? You did ask me
to change the subject.
You didn't have to change it that much.
I'm not going to let you throw away
the chance of a lifetime.
It doesn't feel like
the chance of a lifetime to me.
It feels like something I was gonna do
because everybody else was.
You, lady, are going to university.
You're too smart
not to go to university.
Too smart not to get into 50 grand
worth of debt more like.
We can help with the money.
It's still worth it.
I don't wanna go! I didn't tell you
'cause I knew you'd be like this.
Look, I missed out on university
because I had you.
-And I will always regret it.
-Thanks.
No, I didn't mean it like that.
I mean, look, all the reading,
and the time for yourself
just to grow up a bit,
figure out who you are.
And the choices it gives you
and the people you'll meet.
Mum, please, go to university.
You are clearly
so in love with the idea.
I'm in love with the idea for you.
Do you have a plan
for what you'll do instead?
-I'll work here full-time.
-And end up like me and Sophie?
No, I don't think so.
Rebecca, I know you.
This is not what you want.
How are you getting on?
Good. Yeah.
This is "All about me".
All about me.
'Cause that's what they want to know,
all about you.
What you'd like for yourself.
So just write that.
-Fine. So give me a job.
-No!
Seriously, I won't help you
waste your life.
-I'm going to Tom's.
-Your shift hasn't even started.
[SIGHS]
What did I do wrong?
-You took her seriously?
-I have to. It is serious.
She was engaged five minutes ago.
Is she engaged now?
Oh!
-[INDISTINCT CHATTER]
-MAN: Thanks.
[CHUCKLES]
Sorry. Nicola just sent me
a little, uh, film of Emily before bed.
It's fine. You don't have to apologise
for being a doting father.
No, I know. It's just... You know.
There. It's off.
You didn't have to
choose curry, you know.
You could have just said
you didn't want sex tonight.
-Sorry?
-Curry.
It's not... You know.
It's very bloating.
I see.
So you're implying I chose curry
to give me an excuse not to make love
for the first time in our relationship.
Yeah. It was a joke.
Not a very good one.
Because you think it's me
that doesn't want to make love.
So...
I suppose.
I find this stuff very difficult to say.
It took me four years
to leave the Scouts
and I hated it since
the first game of British Bulldog.
So is that what you're
finding hard to say?
That you hated Scouts?
I've wanted to
sleep with you for months.
And you always seem to be able
to find a reason why you can't.
So now I'm thinking
it's maybe you don't want to.
At least not... Not with me.
And that's fine.
Disappointing, but fine.
I don't want to sleep with you. Really?
That's a very interesting analysis.
Not as if the opportunity
hasn't risen, is it?
No, it isn't.
But you've managed
to come up with an excuse
not to sex with me at every turn.
-Me?
-You wanted to take things slow.
That's right.
I didn't want to pressurise you.
Then you thought
I wanted to take things slow.
You were tired.
You thought I looked tired.
You had a lecture to finish,
to deliver, to recover from.
You had to go back to the lakes,
-you had to work in the morning.
-That's a bit one-sided.
You had a cold
and you didn't want me to catch it.
There was even that time I pretended
I accidentally locked us in my flat
and you started looking up
emergency locksmiths on your phone.
Yep. Yep. I get the picture.
Uh, excuse me.
Could we get the bill, please?
You had Joe staying
and felt bad about leaving him
and Alison on their own.
-You were having a new sofa...
-Thank you, sir.
No. Um, I'll need to take
a nought off that.
I was distracted.
...'cause there were
roadworks on the M62.
You hadn't changed your sheets
and your tumble dryer was on the blink.
And my all time favourite,
your neighbour had his brother staying
and you could hear them on the Xbox
and it put you off.
So, now we've cleared the air...
-Shall we go back to yours?
-We're not in a relationship any more.
-It wouldn't be appropriate.
-Not in a relationship? Since when?
Think of it as a mercy k*lling, Eddie.
No. I just didn't realise how nervous
I was about committing to something new.
I appreciate you feel obliged to
go through the ritual
of begging me not do this,
but I'd rather you didn't.
You aren't here half the time, Eddie.
And the truth is when you are here,
you aren't really here either.
Well, I'd say no hard feelings,
but you might just accuse me
of coming up with another excuse.
MAN: Oh, don't worry about it.
[WOMAN SPEAKS INDISTINCTLY]
Hiya, Nicola. I was just wondering
if Emily's still up.
I wanted to say good night to her.
Is that okay?
Not disturbed you, have I?
No. Not much.
Just been for a walk. Yeah.
-[ROCK MUSIC PLAYING]
-[MOBILE VIBRATING]
Becca?
Becca!
ALISON: [OVER RECORDING]
Hey, it's Alison. Leave a message.
It's me.
I've been thinking.
I don't want Nicola
showing that film of Joe.
Just that.
All right?
It's just, um...
I'll see you tomorrow.
Robots can already
imitate emotional states.
At what stage will we say
they're expressing their own emotions?
I know plenty of people
who could learn a thing or two
about expressing emotion from robots.
Maybe those people are robots too.
Who knows?
As you set off on your summer break
you may want to bear in mind that
some robots are warmer than some people.
But you are all young
and may not know that yet.
But one day you will.
One day [SIGHS] you will.
[EXHALES]
-DOCTOR: Side effects?
-Yeah.
-DOCTOR: From chemotherapy?
-Yeah.
But you're not having chemotherapy,
are you?
No. But I was just wondering.
Can it sometimes...
Can someone's judgement
get out of whack?
Is that a side effect?
Probably not expressed like that,
but it can be for sure.
-So, if someone...
-Someone?
Someone close, perhaps?
If you like.
I'm only being hypothetical.
Of course you are.
If someone said something, like,
hurtful, you know, depressing,
could that be, like, not them,
just the chemo dr*gs talking?
Maurice, if you want me to prescribe you
an anti-depressant, I will.
You don't have to talk
or open up about it.
Just ask.
If you want something more holistic,
I hear there's a herbalist in Kendal
with a sideline in hash brownies.
Joe?
Where's Rebecca?
She stayed at Tom's.
She's keeping out of my way.
PAUL: Why?
She said she didn't want to
go to university any more.
PAUL: What?
And then she said she wanted
a full-time job at the Fellside,
and I said that was out of the question
and she stormed out.
Well...
Why didn't you just go along with it?
Yeah, that's what Sophie said.
Maybe she had a point.
Maybe you overreacted.
That's good. Coming from Mr storm out.
Hey, except I stormed out
for good reason.
All right, look,
I did overreact with Rebecca.
I handled it clumsily.
But we've all been guilty of that.
-Can't we just talk...
-No, I'm not having Nicola use Joe
to get a foothold
in the autism industry.
She's giving a presentation to
half a dozen staff at the health centre.
Nicola's done something to help
because she likes Joe.
And because she knows how we struggled
trying to get Joe's autism recognised.
There's nothing on it
that he doesn't do.
And he comes across as a happy kid
that makes his own choices,
even if those choices are unusual.
So you're just gonna go ahead
and let her show it then, are you?
No, I'm not.
I thought about what you said,
and I'm going to go with Nicola
and I will answer
any questions about him
and I will stamp on any misconceptions.
You know what I'm like.
Does that help reassure you?
Sounds to me like
you care more about helping Nicola
than how Joe looks
to her roomful of strangers.
I care about how well informed
strangers are
when they meet Joe and kids like him.
If you don't want Nicola
to show the film, well then she won't.
But you'll have to tell her why,
because I don't understand.
And I am trying to understand, Paul.
Do what you want.
-Do what you want.
-Hey.
Fine. [SIGHS]
Then I'm gonna go and get ready
to help Nicola
get a foothold in the autism industry.
At least you got some fruit, I suppose.
-The chocolate's for Eddie.
-Right.
Well, I'm not here to judge.
-Do we need bleach, by the way?
-I don't know. Do you?
How are you feeling?
-Not bad. Not bad this time.
-Good.
-Not gonna give me a theory.
-About what?
Dosage, the treatment, my recovery.
I'm a bit pushed, to be honest.
Right.
-I rang last night.
-Did you?
I must have missed you.
I went to bed early.
I was a bit under the weather.
Oh, right. Well, I'm sorry to hear that.
Okay. Bye now.
It's good to see you up and about.
-You too.
-How'd you mean?
You were under the weather last night
when you went to bed early.
[POPPING]
Might have overdone the popcorn a bit.
Have you started without me?
Eh? What's happened so far?
All right.
That's it.
-[SLOW MUSIC PLAYING OVER TV]
-Go on.
[SHEEP BAAING]
♪ No one tells you nothing
Even when you know they know
♪ But they tell you... ♪
As you can see,
the child with autism may,
from moment to moment,
present a social face to the world
appropriate to his age and development.
And then when he feels the social
demands are getting too great,
he might retreat
to self-stimulating behaviours.
This serves two purposes.
Comfort and distance.
Joe, look. Look at the pictures.
Like, all these people...
NICOLA: These aren't so much choices
as ingrained patterns.
Self-defence mechanisms.
[SHEEP CHUCKLING]
[OWL HOOTS]
[PAUL CHUCKLES]
There you go.
So, here we see
that despite parental intervention
and attendance at a specialist school,
a child on the spectrum
will occasionally revert
to tried and trusted behaviours
from their early childhood.
[CHATTERING ON TV]
Come on, stop rocking.
Stop rocking for me, Joe, please.
Come on, have some popcorn.
[SHEEP BAAING]
Joe. Listen.
It's all right, just stop rocking.
Joe. Joe.
Just stop... Joe, just stop.
Just stop rocking.
No, no, no. Joe, that's all...
Hey, come here. Listen.
Give us that.
Hey. Come on. Joe.
Come back.
Hey. Listen, I'm sorry, Joe.
Joe?
That seemed to go all right, didn't it?
Yeah, seemed to.
I think Paul would have
felt better about it
if he'd seen how everyone responded.
Probably, yeah.
By eating sandwiches
and drinking coffee.
I'm sorry, it's their lunch break.
They've got to eat.
I know. I get it.
And it's their job. So...
-You okay?
-Yeah.
♪ Don't dictate, don't dictate
♪ Don't dictate, dictate to me ♪
It was harder than I thought.
Why?
Just to sit there
and watch Joe like that.
I was watching other people
watching him, you know.
It's not that they weren't
interested in him, but...
It was his behaviours
they were looking at, it wasn't Joe.
-Does that make sense?
-Yeah.
-Yeah, it does.
-Yeah.
I mean, I still think we were right
to show it,
I just didn't think
it would be that tough.
Right, so you admit that you're wrong
but you're glad you showed it.
Classic. [LAUGHS]
I'm saying that...
I'm saying that watching it
at the health centre made me get it.
-I get how you feel.
-No, you don't.
You don't. You don't get how I feel.
I know I'm supposed to embrace
Joe's autism and promote it
and, and claim that it's just...
A different way of being human.
It is a different way of being human.
And he's wonderful.
He is. And...
He's settled into his school
and he draws and he paints
and he writes stuff
and people like him.
But does that mean
that I have to pretend
that his autism isn't a burden?
Something that he is going to have to
carry through his life.
Does that mean that I wouldn't
wish it away if I could?
His autism isn't
an optional extra, Paul.
It's a part of Joe, a part of who he is.
And I hate it, Alison!
That's what Nicola's film
reminded me of.
I love Joe. I do.
But I hate his autism. I hate it.
So you hate part of Joe.
The part that makes his life harder.
But it's the part
that make him who he is.
It's Joe.
Your son.
[SNIFFLES]
[CAR HORN TOOTING]
Wow. That's quite a statement.
Yeah. Two fingers
would have been cheaper.
It's great, isn't it?
I take it this has
got something to do with Stuart.
Yeah, I'm gonna work for him.
He says I can keep it
or I can do it up and sell it.
And if I do a good job,
he's gonna put another one my way.
[STUTTERS]
You're gonna work for Stuart?
[CAR HORN TOOTS]
Oh!
-This just gets better.
-Paul.
Go on, Dad.
Stop being so negative.
Oh, it's everything
I've ever dreamed of.
What you've got there, Becky,
is an entry level vehicle.
It's got a couple of dents,
few miles on the clock,
but then again, haven't we all?
[LAUGHS]
[LAUGHS]
I had a blue Type II Danbury
on the lot last week.
Literally b*ating them off
with a shitty stick.
-Literally.
-It's like a car and a house
and a job all rolled into one.
I could go anywhere,
I could sleep in it, cook in it.
-Comes with a chef, does it?
-Ha-ha.
Could take mates to festivals.
Lose your life
going to fast on the way home.
-Is it insured?
-Fully comp.
Does that mean yes?
I think that's a yes.
I mean, it cost an arm and a leg
to insure it at her age,
but, uh, can't cut corners, eh, Paul,
-when it comes to family?
-No.
Specially if you put them
in a death trap in the first place.
It is mad, Rebecca.
You do understand that, don't you?
What your dad's saying
is that if it's what's you want for now,
go for it.
If you can't go mad at your age,
when can you?
-[MUTTERS]
-REBECCA: Come on, Joe, let's go.
You steer, I'll do the pedals.
-[STUART SNIGGERING]
-Joking.
She just needed something to do, Paul.
She looks a bit lost, to be honest.
Thanks for your parenting tip, Stuart.
-What? I've had some experience.
-You have, yeah.
How many is it now? Five? Six?
-Paul.
-No, no, it's fair enough.
I've always had high testosterone.
It's like a condition.
You know,
there's actually a word for it.
There is indeed.
I just thought she might need
a bit of a project to keep her occupied
while she works out
what she wants to do.
-She is going to university.
-Yeah, I know.
[SCOFFS]
You don't really think
she's going to stick at this, do you?
Working for me? What...
Kid her age, with her brains?
No chance.
-Well, you don't know that.
-Yeah, I do.
I may not have certificates,
but I'm a great judge of people.
I mean, uh, I chose Alison, didn't I?
If she doesn't go to university,
is it really the end of the world?
I mean, look at us three.
We turned out all right.
You fell out with her. That's why
she's out there now in a death trap.
You sort it out. I'm off to work.
What, right now? Hang on.
Stuart, it's lovely
to see you and everything, but...
Yeah, you too.
To go up, to go back.
You all right?
You and Paul seem a bit...
It's not great, no.
What did I used to do to cheer you up?
I don't think that's an option.
Last time you cheered me up,
we ended up with Rebecca.
Oh, yeah.
[LAUGHS]
Thanks for sticking up for her.
Sometimes it takes someone
outside the family
to point out the obvious, you know?
Yeah, I do.
-It's never been you before today.
-[STUART CHUCKLES]
Look, Rebecca's bound to
go to university.
You're her mum,
and you should have gone.
Thanks.
And I'm sorry that, you know, I...
Put the kibosh on all that
by getting you up the stick.
I can still go to university now.
You could, yeah.
Not right away,
but I've, I've volunteered
to help out at primary school
in Manchester next term.
So I'll see how that goes
and then maybe do a course.
Teacher training, you know, something.
Volunteering?
-I don't get it.
-Yeah, no, I didn't think you would.
If you're that keen on kids,
why don't you just have
a couple more of your own?
You're just about young enough.
Oh, thanks. Thanks.
No, I know you subscribed to
the old "Let's have another baby
and hope for the best model",
but I'm not sure that's really for me.
Is that why Paul's got a cob on,
because you're making career plans?
No, he doesn't know.
You're the only person I've told.
Oh. Right.
Right.
[MUTTERING]
Oh, if you're gonna give me
a blow by blow account
of last night's sex Olympics,
-I'm not in the mood.
-Just as well.
I got disqualified
after three false starts.
You know, Nicola showed
that f*cking film at the health centre.
That film? What film?
Oh, Joe's film.
Thanks for reminding me.
I'd forgotten you didn't like it.
[SIGHS]
Do you ever think
maybe you're just going mad?
And that you've got
about everything wrong?
I've got a bunch of students from
this morning who definitely think so.
Oh, and Rebecca
rocks up in a camper van.
Like I'm supposed to
just nod along with it.
Like I don't get a say.
There's a day in every man's life
when he realises
he's not his family's Michael Corleone.
Yeah?
Then there's a worse day
you realise you're Fredo.
The chocolate frog?
See, my problem is
I think of the right thing to say
about a day after
the conversation's happened.
By the time you get home tonight
you should have
a zinger of a speech ready.
For a film you hate you are
watching the life out of it.
It's not Joe, it's Rebecca.
Oh, look at her.
[CHUCKLES]
Just look at her.
Do you know how many hours we've got
of this girl of ours?
Oof. Hate to think.
Do you know how many hours
we've got of Joe?
It's different with the second child.
You never take as many photos,
you never do.
We just stopped filming him.
I mean, just... After the diagnosis
we just stopped filming him.
And I think we both know why that was.
Do we?
Because we hated his autism.
Except you didn't.
I was the one who had a problem with it.
It's taken me two years to get to
where you were with Joe, Paul.
Two years not to see it as a problem
that I had to take on and solve.
You were the accepting one.
I finally get to where I think you are
and you've moved.
I thought you didn't like
him being filmed.
This is different.
Does Mum know you've come around
to her point of view?
I haven't.
For what it's worth
I think you might be half right.
Half right? Really?
Don't know how much he'll like it
when he's 18, you know.
Exactly.
Problem is that I think
Mum might be half right too.
But then what do I know?
Okay, GP's letter,
teacher's report, old plan,
speech therapy reports.
We just need to finish that
and then we're good to go.
I'm sorry that I didn't get it all done.
Are you okay?
So, as long as we get the council to
agree to the changes in the HC plan,
Mark will go to the college he wants.
That sound good to you, Mark?
Thanks, Alison.
I just lost the will to live.
Come on, how far did you get?
Well, I know it's all supposed to be
Mark's words,
but I did write some of it myself.
You and every other parent
in the country.
He did write his own bit in the hopes,
dreams and ambitions section.
Great.
Oh, I'd like to hear that.
"I wish to be happy.
"I hope to be a drummer in a band.
"I hope to have friends.
"I hope to have a girlfriend
"and I hope to have children.
"A good day for me is when I say things
and everybody knows what I mean.
"I would like to be cool,
"but my mum doesn't have the books.
"I would like the words to come slower
"from outside and inside.
"I would like to go to college
and hang out with other kids my age.
"I'd like them to be okay with
having a big autistic lad for a friend.
"I would like that very much indeed."
Amen to that.
Amen to that.
Morning, Maurice.
You thinkin' about
getting a dog after all?
[EXHALES]
Hey, Maurice, do us a favour.
-Give over.
-Give us Joe in one word.
I don't like playing games at Christmas.
I'm sure I don't wanna do it now.
Come on, first word that comes
to your head when you think of Joe?
That is lovely, Ella.
That's really coming on a treat.
Shall we think about
some music we could play
while you danced?
You're not really
thinking about becoming
a second hand car sales woman are you?
I have to do something.
-Mum and dad need me to stay.
-And do what?
I'll pick something up.
You will in that camper van,
that's for sure.
I can't go anywhere
when they're like this.
If something's wrong with them,
then something will be wrong with Joe.
And he can't sort them out, can he?
And you can? With your track record?
Do you know why we became friends
on the first day of secondary school?
Weakness for mascara.
Well, yes, that,
but because we both knew
we were gonna get away from this place.
-[ALL CLAPPING]
-Lovely.
Lovely, lovely.
Who would like to go next?
Ramesh.
And what will you be doing for us?
-It's a magic trick.
-Excellent.
Except we all know
there's no such thing as magic.
Well, I won't argue with that so far.
♪ Don't push too far
♪ Your dreams are
♪ China in your hands
♪ Don't wish too hard because...
You just have to stay around here
and you stand a high chance
of becoming dull.
Never the case for me, but for you...
I'll take that risk.
Engine.
-What?
-When I'm out with him.
He's got a good engine on him.
That word you wanted.
-Engine?
-Yeah.
It's taken you all day
to come up with that?
-Well has anybody else said it?
-No, surprisingly.
Engine.
-[DOOR CLOSES]
-What are you doing here?
University terms.
It's not what I meant.
Come on, Emily.
If I was a woman,
I'm not sure I'd be happy
about you having a key
to your ex-wife's house.
Sorry, I stopped listening after,
"If I was a woman." Give me a moment.
You know what I'm saying.
You still got ketchup on your chin
from last nights party barbecue.
I really, really
don't know what you're saying.
Holly! She must be pissed of with you
always running back here.
[SIGHS] What ever Holly feels
is no longer any concern of mine.
Oh, well. Welcome to the club.
-What?
-Louise.
-She's ended it.
-Ended it?
It's not official yet,
so don't go blabbing.
No, no.
She does know she's ended it,
doesn't she?
Let me get this right?
Ralph said something,
you didn't know what he meant.
And this was three days ago,
but you still haven't actually
rung Louise to ask her?
In 1876
a man called Alexander Graham Bell
invented the telephone,
so that years later
an emotionally repressed
58-year-old man
could use his invention
to phone his girlfriend and talk to her.
I can't very well ask her now, can I?
She's half way through chemo.
It wouldn't be fair.
Well, as excuses go,
that's got a nice
fake ring of nobility about it,
but it's still an excuse.
And she was off with me
in the supermarket.
What is this? Fifth form?
What're you gonna do next,
wheelies outside her house on your bike?
I've been thinking.
I suggested we book a holiday
after the chemo.
She shut that right down.
She probably doesn't want
to plan that far ahead.
It's a tricky time.
What was Mum like about that stuff?
You know what your Mum was like.
She always like to plan ahead.
She even wrote her own funeral plan.
[CHUCKLES]
Dad,
take it easy.
You both are going through an awful lot.
Everything's bound
to be blown right out of proportion.
-[EMILY COOING]
-Go round there calmly.
Think about what you're gonna say,
then listen.
Listen to what she's saying,
what she's really saying.
Not some half baked interpretation
of a throw away remark from Ralph.
And how about
breaking the habit of a lifetime?
Don't do anything rash.
Don't say anything rash.
You're right. I know, you're right.
I'm always right
about other people's relationships.
-You still here?
-People keep saying that.
It's Paul.
So it is.
The film.
Yep, the film?
You just needed to warn me.
Maybe, you know,
before I saw it.
Maybe the first time.
I didn't know I'd have to.
I thought you were okay with how Joe is.
I am okay.
-I am okay with Joe.
-Good, great.
That's all cleared up then.
You know, Paul, I care about Joe.
And I care about you, and Alison
and Rebecca.
There we are then,
misunderstanding over.
And every bit of progress
that has ever been made
about peoples attitude towards autism
has been made
because people talked about it.
Were open about it and explained it.
Paul came here to apologise, Nicola.
-No I didn't.
-And that's all I'm trying to do.
Move things on,
make it better understood.
-Right.
-It was only ever for that group.
I won't be showing it again.
I was never gonna be
showing it again.
-Right, thank you for that.
-NICOLA: Oh, God!
You don't have to thank me.
You just have to know
that I would never do anything
to further my career
if I thought it was at Joe's expense.
-[DOOR OPENS AND CLOSES]
-[EXHALES]
You know, for all your
tact and diplomacy
I thought it might have gone
either way there just now.
I think you could tell
the alpha male in the room.
-That'll be it.
-And I know
it's because he isn't okay with Joe.
Well, the film can't have helped
if he is having problems.
No, you're right. It probably didn't.
Hallelujah, she admits she's wrong.
-I didn't say that.
-So...
It wasn't right,
but it's not wrong either?
I was single minded, that's how I work.
I've always been
an eye on the end result kind of woman.
That would certainly explain
our sex life.
I don't go out of my way
to trample over everyone's feelings.
-It's just...
-A habit, I know.
Yes, like you turning up here
every time you're at a loose end.
Well, Emily's here.
I don't think
I need another reason, do I?
No, I don't mind.
Why don't you stay?
Well...
It would be hard to move now
that I've made myself comfy
in this Slough of Despond.
Got a late booking for a table of 10.
The beetroot starters all went
at lunch time.
Gary's in a state,
might involve fennel.
See you later.
All right.
Is that all you're gonna say?
Well, what else can you say
about beetroot and fennel.
Right.
Look... [EXHALES]
It's not like I just woke up one morning
and decided to feel this way.
Really, 'cause that's what
it feels like to me.
'Cause you never talked about it.
-We never talk about it.
-I don't want to talk about it.
I didn't even want to feel it.
I just want... I wanted to bury it.
Yeah, but...
And bury us along with it.
[EXHALES]
So, Ralph said
we wouldn't need you any more?
That's why you stopped talking to me?
Well, I was in a bit of a tailspin
to be honest.
-I could see that.
-So, why didn't you ask me what was up?
Because I thought you might say
that you'd had enough.
That you were only sticking around
out of a sense of duty.
So what did Ralph mean?
[EXHALES] Well, this has been
a big change for Ralph.
Me having this
and you being around.
And all we've ever said, was that you
were helping to look after me,
so why wouldn't he think
that once the chemo was over
we were over too.
So, are we sorted?
Almost.
Oh, right. What else?
You've gone very quiet.
It's never a good sign.
Well, it's obvious isn't it?
Not really.
I loved Sandra, you know.
I know.
A great marriage. Great...
You know, bedroom stuff.
Big reader.
Argued like I don't know what.
Good mum.
Very strong legs.
Good natured and smoothed things over
after I got everybody's back up.
Never forgot anybody's birthday.
Great dancer.
I loved her.
I loved her so much.
[INHALES]
So...
So?
Will you marry me?
What?
[DOOR OPENS AND CLOSES]
[EXHALES]
[SLOW MUSIC PLAYING OVER SPEAKERS]
PAUL: Scrub... Good lad.
Oh... All right.
Ha-ha, I know what you are doing.
[INDISTINCT CHATTER]
[SPEAKING INDISTINCTLY]
[INAUDABLE]
Headphones.
Hunk.
Neuroatypical.
Roof.
Local.
[EXHALES]
-One off.
-PAUL: That's two words.
You're supposed to be the clever one.
Engine.
Joe.
Son.
REBECCA: Welcome ladies and gentlemen
to the Millcross Primary
end of year show.
Right now,
he's me and your dad's responsibility
and we're fine with it.
REBECCA: What if you and dad
aren't fine with each other?
PAUL: Let's not blame Joe.
-ALISON: Who should we blame?
-PAUL: It's us, Alison.
We need to talk.
For the next five minutes I want you
to talk like me and not like you.
Brutally honest.
How much trouble are we in here?
-I just want to run away.
-From what?
From this, all this. From everything.
EDDIE: All I've got is this, Paul.
I can't imagine a world
where you and Alison would ever
not be together.
LOUISE: Can we leave off
the hide-and-seek now?
I'm running out of energy.
I feel like I've opened the door on us
and all the bad stuff is just...
It's pouring out.