Original subtitles

My heart goes out to the family.

It really does.

It's such a difficult situation.

I suppose what the medics look at

is the prospective recovery.

They don't want to make a decision,

so they have to go to the court.

But they clearly feel that this is...

Looking at the papers

this morning, this makes the front page

on nearly every...

Ready?

Yeah.

-It's gonna be okay. -Yeah, yeah.

When is it right

for doctors to withdraw treatment

from very sick children and allow them to die?

Usually, such decisions are made

in partnership between doctors and parents.

But when they can't agree,

hospitals must seek permission from a judge.

-- Nicci! -- Nicci! Nicci!

Hey, Nicci!

We're just gonna go straight in. Thank you very much.

Hi, Nicci, what would you say to mothers in your position?

I wouldn't need to say anything because they'd understand.

Because they, like me, have spent their entire lives

fighting.

Look, I know you've got the queen

in your hand. Play that.

Well, maybe I don't wanna play the queen.

You wanna play dangerous with me?

Whatever that is, I'm scared.

I'm being a mobster.

We're on the train, we're playing cards.

It was an idea. It passed.

You'd have been my moll.

Do cowboys have molls?

-Not cowboys, mobsters. -No.

-You'd have been kept anyway. -No.

I would have found someone much more powerful to keep me.

No one more powerful than me would've wanted you.

Nonsense. I'd have been an accountant

who mainly specialised in fencing arrangements.

Er, I, I could've cleaned any money,

I would have been known as Bagwash.

I know a game we can play.

Follow me, Bagwash.

What?

Come on.

What are you doing?

Oh. Oh, no. No! No!

This is not comfortable.

Can we not just enjoy our last bit of freedom?

We are too old for...

No! Okay.

-Okay. -Yeah, well, you know,

my knees are not great and this is a bit...

-No, it's nice... -Just shush.

But...

-Shush... -Will you stop shushing me?

-Ah! Oh! -What?

-Fuck! -I'm trying.

Ow, fuck!

-Race you! -Nicci!

-Come on! It's for fun. -Not through the carpark.

What's, what's the matter with you?

Heaven's sake!

It's fine.

What's fine?

If there were any problems they would have called.

Yeah, I know.

What?

Hey!

On time. Very impressive.

-- Hey, a welcoming party. -- Hi.

-Good trip? -All right?

-Great trip! -Ah.

-How were they? -Oh, both as good as gold.

Yeah, she had a bit of a turn at one point.

What? What kind of a turn?

But Alice gave her a cold compress

and read her a story and that sorted her out a little bit.

Right. Katie wasn't on her phone the whole time?

Oh, a bit. But she was good. Helpful.

-Helpful? -Yeah.

Alice hardly slept.

Kept checking on her every five minutes.

Well, the alarms work fine.

You think I didn't tell her that?

Hey!

Hi!

-How are you? -Good.

You look like

-you had a good time. -We did.

-Yeah? -Yeah.

They've been brilliant.

Well, we'd expect nothing less.

Right, we're off then.

You be okay getting back?

Ha, ha. It's only a full three streets away, mate.

We're not that tired.

Listen, I can't tell you

what this break has done for us.

Ah!

They are both such lovely girls.

-Ah, thank you. -See ya.

Now, she was smiling.

Well, there's a lot to be smiling about, mate, right?

Yeah.

Listen, er, I'll see you at work.

You certainly will.

Ah! And how were you?

Bored.

At one point, Frank told me all about

the internal workings of a combustion engine.

Yeah, well, he doesn't do a wide-ranging conversation.

But you like Alice, right?

Yeah, well, every time she talked,

he interrupted her, so...

Well, thank you for trying to be polite.

Okay...

Yeah?

Can I have my blanket?

She's bit sweaty.

Mum was telling me about the holiday.

Ah, it was great.

She said you dried your socks

on the radiator and they stank.

Erm, excuse me, the hotel

was charging three pounds for washing socks,

so I did it myself.

Cheapskate.

Night, love.

-What? -It was supposed to be romantic.

You told me it was going to be romantic.

Well...

The socks didn't dilute the romance

too badly.

And, if anything, they helped.

It turns out your mum likes stinky rooms.

Hmm.

Now, what we reading?

Please tell me we finished that damn wizard.

You promised you'd stop that.

I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you.

Good night.

-Hey. -Hey.

-She go down okay? -Yeah.

-Bed? -Er...

Yeah. I'll be up in a bit.

You know, if you come to bed, we could just

finish what we started in that disgusting toilet.

-You know, if you wanted to. -Right.

-Or... -Or, or we could...

-I think Katie's still awake. -No, she's not.

She's not. Let's stay on holiday for a bit longer, eh? Okay?

-You taste of peanut butter. -Mmm.

Alley-oop.

Oh.

Oh!

I've seen the light

And I'm moving up

Andrew!

Andrew!

It's all right, pet. I've got you.

I've got you. It's all right. It's okay.

It's okay.

-Ambulance? -Yeah, it's on its way.

Her temperature is rocketing!

It's another fucking infection.

It's all right, honey.

It's all right. It's all right.

- You ready? - Okay.

-It's all right. It's all right. -Okay.

-That's it. You're okay. -Okay.

That's it. Just breathe.

It's okay, darling. We're nearly there.

Okay. Shh, shh, shh.

It's gonna be okay, sweetheart. Don't worry.

I'm right here, Marnie. Mum's here.

I'm gonna send Katie a text.

Oxygen levels stabilised, blah, blah. Normal drill.

Go to sleep.

Temperature's stable.

Temperature checked.

What do you mean? I checked her temperature.

Right.

Bizarrely, I feel quite hungry.

It's probably all that exercise.

-Hmm. -Erm...

Can I get you...

-I can't buy crisps for one. -I won't eat them.

You don't need to eat them. You just need to have them.

Having them means I can have them.

Difference being, I'll eat mine.

Cheese and onion.

Cheese and onion.

Oh, money! I, I didn't bring money.

Hmm. I may need to buy a chocolate bar, too.

I checked her temperature.

We're gonna have to forget about it for now.

We'll have another look when I get back, okay?

Andrew, come on, we're gonna be late.

I'm sure we can get something

-when we're there. -Andrew.

I couldn't find her bloody water.

-Did you hide your bottle again? -No.

She can use mine. Just get her in the car.

In the car. I'm gonna close the boot. You get in.

No, no, no, no. Not today, Caitlyn.

No, no. Come on.

I want to drive. I want to drive.

-No, in you go. Not today. -I want to drive.

Come on. In you get with your sister.

-That's it. -I'm tired.

Okay, well, it's 11:00 am.

I think you'll survive, right.

-Okay. -Okay.

-Here darling, take mine. -Thanks.

Sorry... Sorry Marnie.

Right. Okay, everyone ready?

Yeah, yeah. Yeah, yeah. I've got the letter, I think.

Yeah, go on, you go and get a seat.

Hi, erm...

We've got an appointment at 1:00,

er, but we're a bit late for an appointment

at 1:15 with Dr Sendak...

Am I saying that right?

I want Dad's phone.

-Why? Are you expecting a call? -Mmm.

Ask him. Don't ask me. Ask Dad.

She wants your phone.

Erm, I've just got,

I've just got to do a few, er, work things.

You got her started on it.

Here you go.

Don't be nervous.

Of course I'm nervous.

So, we've had all our tests back.

She's lovely, by the way.

Oh, who's this? A young doctor?

Sure.

Do you want a challenge? Come with me.

I would like you to draw a family of faces on these...

so that by the time me and mummy and daddy

have finished our meeting,

you can do us a puppet show, okay?

-Okay. -Fantastic.

Also lovely.

Thank you.

Er, yeah, we've had the test results back,

and, er, they do indicate a problem with her muscles.

So, can you make a diagnosis?

Well, they showed abnormal muscle cells

suggestive of a muscular dystrophy.

Although genetic testing

has been unable to identify a subtype.

So she, she has muscular dystrophy

but you don't know what kind?

No. This is true in a lot of patients, I'm afraid.

Er...

What does this mean, er, for her future, doctor?

Well, that's where this is particularly difficult.

Er, looking at her test results and charting her progress,

I would say that a further deterioration

seems extremely likely.

She's unlikely to be able to walk unaided.

And she's likely to see

other complications to key organs.

What?

I think it's very important that you know this

as quickly as possible.

I think you should prepare yourselves for the possibility

that Marnie's life will not be a full one.

Really?

I'm sorry. Yes. In my professional opinion, yes.

Although science, of course, can do wonderful things.

Hey, how're you doing over there?

Have you done me yet?

Very important you get my nose right.

Perhaps we should be speaking to someone else.

Well, I would recommend it.

It frequently sets people's minds at rest.

And I can give you a list of doctors' names, if you like.

Yes. Thank you.

Please come and talk to me again, any time.

This is a number for me so we can set up a meeting,

perhaps when you haven't got the kids with you.

We had to bring them both because we both

wanted to be here.

Of course,

and I've loved having them both here.

There are many beautiful stories in this life.

Please don't assume that Marnie's story

is gonna be any less beautiful.

It will just be different.

And you have to adapt to that difference.

And you'll find such joy if you do.

And you'll bring them up to me

as soon as you have them. Right.

Hey.

So, Marnie has a severe chest infection.

She is on a ventilator and now stable.

We're not able to tell

when she'll be well enough to extubate.

With the previous damage to her lungs and now this,

it may prove difficult.

We, we went away. We, we left her with friends.

Important to get away.

Yeah, but if we, if we'd have been there,

-I'd have seen signs... -You didn't do anything wrong.

Nicci, you didn't do anything wrong.

You're excellent parents.

Look, you've heard this enough times,

but the best thing to do now is go home and sleep.

We'll know more in the morning.

Going away,

it didn't cause this.

We've been here before. It'll be fine.

Apollo 11, this is Houston.

The pitches are hot-firing and it's looking good.

Houston this is Apollo 11 and this is some ride.

You are both idiots.

We are highly trained astronauts.

I cannee hold her captain...

she's breaking up...

-I thought I got everything. -Hey.

Yeah. Yeah. No, I saw you'd tidied.

That was... Thank you. That, that was kind.

I just wanted to help.

Maybe I didn't.

No, you did. This is...

It's just me,

you know, taking my mind off things.

Yeah.

You okay?

Yeah. Yeah. Great.

Erm, do you want to do something this weekend,

when, when Marnie's back?

Well, I'm busy this weekend.

All weekend?

Yeah. My, my orchestra has that thing...

-Oh shit... -No, it's okay, it's just...

No, no, it's not, it's not okay, because look, I, I didn't, erm,

-I, I didn't... -You don't need to show me.

No, no, wait... I just... just let me...

Please don't show me.

-No, I wanna show you. -It's fine.

It's in the diary, there.

You don't need to come.

Of course I'm gonna come.

I heard there's a big trumpet scout in town, okay,

handing out trumpet scholarships.

Ha-ha! Right.

Specifically looking for grade four players,

who can parp out "Peter Rabbit's got a fly upon his nose".

Oh... You're a bitch. You're a bitch.

Parp, parp, parp, pa!

Parp, parp, parp!

She's gonna be okay, right?

Of course she is.

This is all... This is just normal.

-Absolutely normal. -Yeah.

Okay?

It's just the usual.

-Music? -Do you mind if we don't?

-Radio 4? -Yeah, you can if you want.

Always seems like there's a complete lack of mystery here.

-What? In the town? -Yeah. Don't you think?

Like, if you knocked on any door

you'd find exactly what you'd expect to find.

I suppose that's what home is.

The expected.

The UK national newspapers

are calling on the Government

to protect the Freedom of Information Act

following criticism that the public

are being unfairly obstructed with...

You don't need to come in.

We know what they're gonna say.

No.

Look, you've taken four days off.

You know there may be a pile of stuff.

Frank can't handle it all.

Nicci!

I've got a new Jojo Moyes.

Oh, that's nice.

Well, you liked her last one.

Yeah, I do. She's great.

I'm just not really in a reading mood.

The Coopers have been back through.

Okay.

I think their little girl might be stage-4 now.

-Very sad. -Right.

Well, be sure to tell them my kid's dying, too.

Oh, well... I just try to...

I'm sorry... sorry...

-Look, I thought you cared. -No, I do.

I'm just passing on. I'm not a gossip...

I know. I'm sorry.

Sorry. Sorry.

Have you finished with the one you last had from me?

The Anne Tyler?

Yeah. Yeah.

You should bring them back, when you've done with them,

the books you buy from me,

so I can sell them again.

And, that way, everyone benefits.

Yeah, I'll, I'll do that. Gladys, I'm sorry.

-Nicci? Can we just... -Yeah.

Fuck.

She's had a hard night,

but she's responding to the antibiotics now.

-Good. -She's a fighter.

Wilful. She's wilful.

Samantha would like Andrew to come in. To talk to you both.

About what?

All I know is she wants to talk to you.

Right, when?

I think about 4:00, if that's possible.

Hey. Hey, honey.

Hey, Marnie.

How's she doing?

She's doing okay.

Shall we get that gorgeous hair brushed?

The doctors have you all entangled.

There you go.

You okay, boss?

Sure. It'll be fine.

I've told her to come at 4:00.

If you'd still like to see them then.

Yes. Yes, that's perfect.

-I can be there. -You'll be vital.

That bad, is it?

You're always vital.

Are you still going to those sessions with Dr Stewart?

I don't have time.

You look thinner.

Thank you, doctor.

I'm entirely fine.

I'm gonna start bringing you in a sandwich.

If I start eating your sandwiches,

then I really am in trouble.

-You look thin. -And you can fuck off.

-Mmm. Right, yes. I will. -Hmm.

But, in the meantime, let us admit young Anushka.

-Hey. -Hi.

Ah, you're needed after all.

They wanna talk to us at 4:00, I think they said.

I think there might be something wrong.

Erm, just get here as quickly as you can, will you?

-Okay. I'll be there. -Bye.

-Hey, you all right? -Hey. Yeah.

-You wanna go in? -Okay.

-Shall we go? -Okay.

Yeah, okay.

-- Hi. Hi. -- Hi.

Coffee? Or the brown sludge we call coffee around here.

-Ah... I'm fine. -I'd love a coffee.

Cool. I always knew there'd be one.

Nicci? White, two sugars, isn't it?

Ah, yeah, okay.

Erm, it's one sugar, I'm cutting down.

Good on you. I can't.

It's fine. I've got this. Thank you.

-Sorry, have we met before? -No.

-Nicci. -I'm Dr Nescott.

-Jeremy. Hi. -Apologies.

He's one of our palliative care consultants.

Why are we meeting with someone from palliative care?

Erm, let's sit down and have a chat, shall we?

Please.

Marnie has a serious chest infection,

and it seems that it's more severe

than any she's ever had before.

Is it something we could have noticed earlier?

These infections are happening

with increasing frequency and severity.

It has nothing to do with holidays.

You have done nothing wrong.

Erm, so, er, we're gonna need a time frame

when you're gonna try to extubate,

when we can take her home.

I think before we try and take the breathing tube out again,

we need to review Marnie's Advance Care Plan

to agree on what should or shouldn't happen

if she's not able to breathe on her own.

I thought we'd already made clear that...

These chest infections are having an impact.

We call this stepwise deterioration.

Each time she is a little sicker takes longer to recover

and she never gets back to where she was before.

She's a fighter.

She's wilful.

But the last year, as you know, has been extremely tough on you.

On her. I've counted. We've intubated her six times.

And it's very unpleasant for her

to have to keep going back on the ventilator.

We have to question the cost of that.

The costs?

To Marnie.

We think it's time to discuss

whether it's right to keep treating her in this way.

Well, if we are revisiting "costs"

then maybe it's time to start

thinking about fitting a trachy?

-As I've said before, Nicci... -I think you can explain again.

A tracheostomy is an intrusive procedure.

It requires intensive, painful, ongoing management,

and it is very unlikely,

given the state of Marnie's lungs,

-that she'll be fit enough. -There are cases.

I mean, there are a lot of cases where people

have taken their children home with trachys

-and I think... -It won't work.

-I am really sorry... -Why don't you just say

what you wanna say, okay?

Because this dancing around it's not helping anyone.

What, what exactly are you saying...

She's saying that she wants her to die.

No. No, that's not...

We believe it's time to consider,

just consider, moving her to supportive care only.

And, yes, that is why I invited Dr Nescott.

We can make her comfort the top priority.

She still laughs.

She still loves.

She still...

I can still see so much inside her...

She's a smashing girl, but her body is failing her.

Right. Well, then we start talking about

more experimental treatments.

Okay, Vamorolone has worked for Duchenne's,

erm, Zolgensma for SMA.

You know, something like that?

One of those or something like that?

Nicci, she's deteriorating rapidly

and increasing medical intervention

will have less and less impact on her life expectancy.

But, more importantly...

they will hurt her.

I am really sorry.

Yeah.

Yeah, you already said.

I don't need my fucking hand held, okay?

Not for this!

We asked you for a timeframe, so just give us a timeframe.

-When can we take her home? -I'll have a better idea

whether that's even possible in the next few days.

Okay, then.

You just be careful. Take your time.

Marnie, that's cheating!

Not so fast, Marnie!

Not so... Not so fast!

Just stay under eight miles an hour.

We're gonna go and see Marnie

and then we're going home and we'll talk properly then.

No, I'm not leaving here without her.

Well, they've saved her life countless times.

Yeah, but when they wanted to.

They wanted to before, they don't now.

You had no idea what she was building to in there.

I knew. I knew as soon as she wanted to pull us in.

I knew because I have seen how she looks at Marnie.

I want a different doctor, now. Okay. I want...

Okay, let's, let's go home. Katie's expecting us.

We need to talk to her and explain what's happening.

No, you can go home to Katie. She doesn't need both of us.

I'm gonna stay here, okay, because I need to stay here.

-I'm gonna go to Marnie. -Nicci! Nicci! Nic...

I believe that she has moments of great happiness.

Do you believe that?

Yes.

I believe that she has moments where she sees the world

and sees enormous beauty in it.

Yeah, I think so, too.

I believe that she knows, and that she feels love.

Of course she does.

I know what you're thinking.

And you're wrong.

You, you don't know what I'm thinking.

They don't get to decide what to do.

-She's our child. -I love her, too.

You think I don't fucking love her?

Then promise me that you will fight for her.

I will fight with everything I've got.

Now, there's nothing we can do here.

Please, let's, let's go home.

I thought you'd be bringing her home.

Er, no, no.

Where's Mum?

How bad is she?

Pretty bad.

What's that mean?

Er, things have, erm, developed.

Developed how?

Erm...

Is she gonna die, Dad?

She's been dying for a long time. You know that.

Is she dying now?

Okay. Can you... Can you not?

I've enough to cope with dealing with your mum.

Don't do this to me.

Okay.

Hey, you still reading?

Where's your lamb? There he is.

Caitlyn, we've something to tell you.

Katie.

It's Katie, remember?

Erm, yeah.

Your sister's very poorly.

What?

Your sister's gonna be, er...

Your sister's very poorly.

Will she be okay?

Hey.

Hey.

Did I hear you playing the trumpet?

Er, no.

Oh, God, I'm hearing ghost trumpets again.

When did you get home?

Er...

I'm just here for a change of knickers.

That's your catchphrase, do you know that?

"Just here for a change of knickers."

-Is it? -Mm-hmm.

Oh, that sounds

moderately sexy.

Did you sleep at all?

No. It's early though, isn't it?

Yeah. It's, like, half-six.

Right. I'll see you later.

Try to get a little sleep before you go back.

-Katie? -I'm fine, Mum.

But, erm,

your dad told you what's happening?

He told me there'd been developments,

and then he got pissed off.

Well, erm, the hospital said they wanna stop treatment.

Let's have piece of toast.

Okay. Let's, erm... we'll watch some breakfast TV, erm...

Yeah, I've got, I've got time for a toast.

Mum. Mum.

It's okay.

Go to bed. Go to sleep. I'll just talk to you later.

-But she's gonna be fine. -Yeah.

You'll see.

-They're wrong about her. -Yeah.

Yeah.

This was... is... Katie the dog.

I mean, apparently I wanted to give her my own name.

This is Annabelle.

Don't call your dolls Annabelle.

This is Norbie.

I don't know where that name came from.

And this is Rosie.

Named after a girl I liked in reception,

but she turned out to be a bully.

Which is why her face

has been scrubbed out with permanent marker.

Mum said you might want to play with them.

Katie the dog.

You can keep her. These are yours now.

Hey.

Hey.

Oh, you saved me one.

-Is that weird? -Yes, a bit weird.

And it smells.

What shit are you putting in your hair?

Shampoo. I don't know.

It smells like musk.

Yeah, it's probably musk.

What the fuck is musk?

I mean, the doctors are pretty sound most of the time.

And, you know, the ones that I know,

and they just think, like...

What is it?

It's called Gray Death.

It'll have you in a deep coma within two hours.

It's my mum's Clonazepam.

She got deep into them during COVID.

So, will they? Stop it? Your sister?

No.

My mum will keep her alive as a sort of breathing husk,

and she thinks it's all her fault.

That she was, like, selfish to have her.

Yeah, my mum thinks that, too.

Does she?

Look, don't have a go at me about it.

And your mum thinks she's selfish, too.

What, so you'd kill her?

That's how you're asking that?

No, sorry, erm, you'd, le... let her go?

No, I mean, she's still youthful,

she's still able to live a...

she still laughs.

How can you let go of someone who's still laughs?

Because they're in pain, I guess.

Yeah, but she's not a dog.

-She's a human. -No, sure. I, I like her.

Your mum shouldn't say stuff like that.

Hmm.

Is the pill working?

How will I know when it is?

Oh, you'll know.

No, then.

So, how's school?

-Yeah. -How's orchestra?

Really?

How's Natalie Crowmoor? She still a bitch?

How's job hunting?

Okay, yeah. Sure. Fair enough.

Well, my dad sent me an email with jobs he's found online.

He keeps saying, "Have you

-"seen my email with the links?" -Yeah.

Well, erm, I got a solo and I can't do it

and, yeah, Natalie is, yeah, still a bitch.

Well, why don't you just tell her to fuck off?

That pill's kicking in.

So, does Marnie get prescribed diazepam or chloral hydrate?

Hannah, don't be suggesting...

I'm not, I'm just joking. Jesus.

Maybe. Bug up your arse.

Yeah, well, next time you tell a joke, wink.

-Yeah? -Yeah.

So I actually know...

There's been a problem. She's had another, er...

Okay, well, I'm coming.

She's in the best place.

She's had an emergency in the hospital, Dad,

that means it's bad. I'm coming.

Okay.

You smell of cigarettes.

One, two, three, four, five,

six, seven, eight, nine, ten, eleven...

Stop compressions. Check pulse.

Good chest rise.

And resume.

One, two, three, four...

Okay, Marnie's had a cardiac arrest

-due to a collapsed lung. -She had a heart attack?

-Do not let her die in there... -She's now stable,

but it took extensive CPR,

and I want you to prepare yourselves

for the very likely possibility that

she might have some brain damage as a result of this.

-If she dies... -She won't. She won't, Nicci.

She's now stable. They've got it.

We're doing all we can for her.

You will do anything...

and everything.

Please.

She'll be fine. She'll be fine.

There's something about hospitals

that makes me hungry for crisps.

I think there's something about everywhere

that makes you hungry for crisps.

Nonsense. I'm the healthiest person I know.

You okay?

-You okay? -I asked first.

I actually meant it.

Brain damage and heart attacks?

Yeah, I know.

Now, can I interest you in a packet of crisps?

Erm...

Dad?

Sandwiches. I bought cheese and pickle sandwiches.

Ah, thanks, Dad.

And a sausage roll for the boy here.

Ah, thanks, Eddie.

And a a vegan bread, whatever it is.

Oh, it's just gluten-free bread, Grandad, thank you.

I tried a bit with butter, when dicing and slicing.

Actually, it wasn't bad.

Tasted almost like bread.

-Yeah? -A bit, er, dry.

Yeah.

How's she doing?

Ah, we are waiting for a brain scan.

Right.

Right.

Okay. I need you to concentrate now,

because in a second the song's gonna kick in

-and I need you to hear it. -Okay.

-You'll know it. -With the beat. I'll do...

-Yeah. -That one? Okay.

-Yeah, here we go. -Okay, okay.

Three, two, one... go!

And then up.

And then twist...

And then, we improvise...

Whoo!

Hey.

You know you're 17

and out of the catchment area for The Dumping Ground.

How's she doing, Mum?

She's, er, you know, she's...

I'm just here for a change of knickers.

Good. That's good.

I'm not just here for a change of knickers.

I'm here to see you.

Okay.

Your dad's gonna stay at the hospital tonight as well.

You're gonna be on your own. Is that okay?

Yeah.

Or you could come, too.

To the hospital. If you like.

Hmm.

I'll be better here.

I like watching her shows, too.

I'm off, then. See you tomorrow.

See you tomorrow, twinkle toes.

Okay.

Let's go hard at some Adrian Mole then, shall we?

What do you think?

I know you're a bit old,

but thought you might like it anyway.

Always loved Adrian Mole.

Massively over-empathised, to be honest with you.

And, er, on the upside, it's not about wizards.

So, er...

Okay.

"Saturday, May the 9th.

"I was woken up at 8.30

"by a loud banging on the front door.

"It was an electricity board official.

"I was amazed to hear...

Thank you.

"...that he had come

"to turn off the electricity.

"Tuesday, May the 12th.

"Had a long talk with Mr Vann, the careers teacher, today.

"He said that if I wanna be a vet,

"I'll have to do physics, chemistry

"and biology for O Level.

"He said that art, woodwork

"and domestic science won't do much good.

"I am at the crossroads in my life.

"Wrong decision now could result

"in a tragic loss to the veterinary world.

"I'm hopeless at science."

Don't stop on my account.

Don't do that.

She can hear... Andrew.

Andrew, don't do that. She can hear you, Andrew.

I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry.

Did you see that?

Andrew, she moved.

She, she felt, she felt me, and she moved.

Marnie, honey, can you, can you do that again, please?

Can you squeeze my hand?

She's gonna get better.

Katie, it's time.

-Hi. -How are ya, kid?

Katie, now!

How are you doing?

I'm okay. Let's go.

And how are you doing?

I think we've all been better.

Nicci!

Nicci! Nicci!

Hey, Nicci!

We're just gonna go straight in.

-Thank you very much. -Excuse me. Sorry.

Hi, Nicci, what would you say to mothers in your position?

I wouldn't need to say anything because they'd understand.

Because they, like me,

have spent their entire lives

fighting...

for money, for wheelchairs,

for breathing equipment, for nighttime support,

for educational support. Because they, like me,

have had to swallow their tongues

while those in power have tried to cheat.

Tried to cheat them out of what their child needs.

I have fought for my daughter her entire life,

and the way it has worked every single time

is that those who have wanted to doubt her

have told me lie after lie.

The hospital wants my daughter to die,

and I, I believe, I believe she should live.