Original subtitles

Love is like a butterfly, soft and gentle as a sigh. The

multicolored moods of love are like its satin wings.

Love makes your heart seem strange inside. It flutters like the winds in

Love is like a butterfly, a rare and gentle thing.

That's fantastic. When do you start? Tomorrow.

I'll come along with you. How about that? You'd be my navigator.

This

racket

instead of your guitar or am I to be subjected to both?

Sorry.

Aren't either of you interested in the news?

There's a world outside, you know, and things are happening in it. Oh, they're

all dumb things, then.

Oh, I see.

And because you're not interested in dumb things, I have to listen to the

with you driving an imaginary car all over the living room.

All right, everybody, laugh, drink, please.

Right on time, Mum. Come on, up you get.

Thanks.

Oh, boy, a chocolate one. Ah, too late, sunshine.

No, thanks, I would have preferred the chocolate one.

There are more.

Russell, go and get the biscuit tin. I would have preferred that one.

It's the same as the rest.

It isn't the same as the rest. It had chocolate on it. I mean the rest and the

tin. Russell, go and get the tin.

What I would have liked is to have had a choice.

I would like to have seen the chocolate biscuit at least before he descended

upon it.

Now, consideration isn't practiced in this house, it seems so.

There he sits, like a well -stocked hamster.

You're both very inconsiderate. I've already had to switch off the news.

He's already had to switch off the news.

And now he's got no chocolate on his biscuit.

And our son's left home, or got married.

Am I destined to look out for my paper one day and see two 50 -year -old men

skateboarding up and down the path?

It's better than anything the guy on the television had to say.

Right.

Well, go on, Adam.

Tell us your news.

And we can all go to bed in a fever of excitement.

I've got a job.

Far out, isn't it?

You mean work?

Actual, physical, moving about, doing something, work? Right. He lined the job

up last week, but he had to pass the test first.

He passed per day.

Test, pass, job?

What test?

What pass?

What job?

Well, go on. Tell them, Dumbo. I just don't like to talk about my triumphs.

It's been class one. He's got it. Class one? It sounds amazing.

It means I've got the job. What job?

Lorry driver.

Oh, how marvellous, Ben.

Isn't that marvellous? A lorry driver.

Brings in a lot of bread.

Money to heavens.

You mean you're going to be one of those hairy yobbos who chew gum and have

tattoos all over them?

Well, the hairy bit's going to be difficult.

I rather like lorry drivers.

I like watching them at the traffic light.

They look paltry and randy.

Well, this one's going to look anemic and shattered.

Have you any idea what this job entails?

Oh, it's tough, Dad. Everybody knows that.

Up early?

Loading?

Long hours of concentration, unloading, the journey back.

OK, OK, don't overcrowd me.

I disapprove.

Ben, you can't disapprove. Adam's a man.

And it's no use you checking him out, he is.

Look, does any of this crap matter?

It's a job, isn't it? Let's get a job, you said, so I got one, OK?

It's his life, Ben.

I'm disappointed.

It's a hard job. It'll do him good.

All that education, all that money. Oh, see you.

You'll have to learn a whole lot of new things, like staying awake.

It's not exactly the kind of thing a father would boast about, is it?

Oh, hello, Mr. Parkinson.

What are your two lads doing, then?

Oh, they're doing fine.

One's at home, painting his frisbee.

has met at the world in an intellectual frenzy and become a lorry driver.

Well, if it's your consultant frenzy you're worried about, you needn't be.

Bernard's boy's got mixed up with the Hare Krishna people and is running amok

with his tambourine.

And Gordon's daughter's gone all punk.

And every time Adrian tries to communicate with his son, he shaves his

I mean, we haven't got problems like that, have we?

Sorry.

Forgot the coffee.

To pee a cup.

It's a joke, isn't it? Yes.

It's me birthday today, so I've got to get home.

You know what it's like.

The family like to do something special on me birthday.

Instead of four for dinner, I'll have 34.

It's a joke, isn't it?

You got a family, love?

Yes, I've got two sons, two grown -up sons.

Yeah, I thought you might.

You look the homely sort.

Nothing to laugh about once you turn 40, is it?

Oh, I don't know. Doesn't really worry me, age.

Well, it sort of creeps up on you.

Like a burglar.

Nicks everything you've got and leaves you with the rubbish.

See them hands?

What beautiful they was.

All soft and fragile.

Nothing adverse.

You could stop a bleeding bus with them now.

Men, of course, are lucky.

They don't grow old, they grow rugged.

Women like rugged men, but men aren't keen on rugged women.

Next thing you know, it's teeth, glasses, rheumatism. It's all a joke.

Yes, well, it's been nice meeting you. Well, the kids don't help either.

They grow up and leave you.

You're left sitting there in a house that feels like an empty budgie cage.

Yes, well, I hope you have a happy birthday.

It's all one big bloody joke.

Bye.

One big bloody joke.

It's me again. I'm back.

You could have kept that woman away from me.

All you had to do was give her temporary amnesia until I'd finished my coffee.

Now, I feel old.

Teeth, glasses and rheumatism, she said.

What a merry little trio that is.

I don't understand.

Why do we have to wear out?

You could have put preservatives in us.

We do it, with jam.

You don't deserve those, you know.

It's a bit of a slope.

I've got you.

Thank you.

Damn it all, Thomas. All I'm asking is a little beep on the horn to attract her

attention. With apologies, sir, I find random horn blowing somewhat

The lady might conceivably panic, throw the whole town into confusion.

Overtaker, then. There are setbacks, sir.

Such as oncoming traffic.

And I get my license back.

You won't be able to run my life then, Thomas. I shall watch the newspapers

interest.

Hello!

Hello! Are you all right?

Yes, I'm fine. You look very smart.

Oh, does some silly cocktail do?

You look beautiful.

Sorry? Oh, nothing. I was just saying you look very smart.

You sure you're all right?

Yes, why?

You look tired.

Tired?

I'm not tired. I'm not at least tired. Do I look tired?

See you in the park tomorrow morning.

Don't forget!

What?

Yes. No.

What rubbish.

Well, that more or less covers everything.

How is it you can be in bed within three minutes and I have endless things to

do? Make -up to take off, night cream to put on.

By the time I've escaped from knickers, tights and bra, I feel like Houdini.

Do I look tired?

No, I do.

No matter what I do with this vase, it always wakes up looking like a quilted

cushion.

Ria, I'd like to get some sleep. I have an early morning and two dental

operations tomorrow.

Oh, I wish I had two dental operations to do tomorrow.

I'd much rather drag people's teeth out... Than drag that toy around the

supermarket, I know.

If I'm not dragging that, I'm dragging furniture, I'm dragging lawnmowers.

You don't drag lawnmowers, you push them.

Don't get me on the subject of pushing, because I am an expert.

When I lay in that labour ward having Ruffle and Adam, push, the nurse kept

saying, push!

And I've been pushing ever since.

Grounds, tricycles, swings, hoovers, floor mops.

And now, after years of devoted service, I get promotion.

I get two cars to push every morning.

You look like an advert for shaving cream.

What will we do when the boys go?

By the time they go, we'll be too old to do anything.

This job of Adam's, it's the beginning.

He'll never stick at it.

By the time he's changed gear twice, he'll be worn out.

And then it'll be Russell.

And then... And then...

It will be you and me.

No interruptions.

Go and wash your face.

Apparently it's five o 'clock.

I didn't particularly want to know that.

Neither did I.

Okay, man.

Just grab the world by the throat.

Adam, it's only five o 'clock.

Hi, Mum.

Yeah, I've got to get a load of timber to London and take another lot to

Scotland.

Scotland? That's 400 miles away.

I guess I won't be home for lunch.

Let me make you some breakfast.

Oh, just coffee, Mum. I'll have breakfast in a transport cab.

Transport cab?

I'm not having my son eating in a transport cab.

I'll make you a picnic.

Oh, look, Mum, I'm a lorry driver now, right?

Little eggs, sandwiches and serviettes are out. I have to eat with the boys.

Yes, of course.

You will phone me when you get to the hotel, won't you?

I won't be staying in a hotel, Mum. I'll be sleeping in the lorry.

And I won't be needing pyjamas either, OK?

Adam, it all sounds very uncivilised.

What about all those A -levels you've got? What I want, Mum.

Then you must do it, if it's what you want.

Oh, I have this mate. He's... We all got your alarm call this morning.

I'm sorry.

Ben, Adam's got to go to London with a load of timber, and then he's got to

reload with another load of timber and take it to Scotland.

I can't say I approve of this, but I don't. It's not what I planned for my

However, since you insist on sitting there looking like something that's been

woken from hibernation, I won't add to your dilemma.

Perhaps you will bear my original aspirations in mind.

Choose your company.

Try to keep a little refinement, a little of the groundwork your mother and

laid down for you.

We are eventually a reflection of those whose company we keep.

Got it, Dad.

Let's go.

This is my father, my mother.

This is Wally.

Hello. How do you do?

Yeah.

Um, Wally stayed the night. He's coming with me on the first couple of runs.

Wally, have some coffee.

Ta.

Well, sit down, mate. You look knackered.

Black and cold.

Have you been doing the job long?

Yeah.

Ever since I left home, like, you know.

That's a very big lorry out there. I hope Adam can see where he's going.

Well, I can always stand up.

I'm ready to hit the road. Oh, my God.

You too.

I'm just going along for the ride, Mum. Coffee?

Oh, fantastic.

Here's to you, mate.

Here's to you, mate.

You know, I can imagine the excitement of the open road.

The feeling of power.

The feeling of freedom.

A man and his lorry.

Poignant relationship.

Well, there's to it, then.

The perfect life.

A belly full of chips and beans, a woman to spend the night with, and a lorry to

spend the day with. Right on.

Peaceful, isn't it?

Yes.

Just like an empty budgie cage.

Your appointment's in 15 minutes, sir.

Thank you. Yes, I'm ready.

Trouble, sir?

Oh, just another note from the wife.

The third, if I remember correctly.

Yeah. I'm leaving, I'm back, I'm leaving.

Well, here's to the fourth, sir.

No, it wasn't working, Thomas, it wasn't working.

She'd only been back three days and I was in the spare room.

She took the lot, double bed, duvet, the tees made.

We used to plot around the flat, keeping to our own lanes. It was like living on

a bloody dual carriageway.

It must have been difficult for you, sir, with your driving record.

A tasteless joke, sir. I apologise.

Funny how things can change.

We used to have romantic little breakfast together.

She used to pour my coffee and butter my toast.

This morning she came charging towards the table like someone delivering a

karate chop.

That's the paradise, sir.

And now this.

Oh, my God, it's all such a mess.

Here I am, 45, successful, and not a single photograph on my desk. Not one,

Thomas. A woman...

Child or dog?

Perhaps one day, sir. One day, one day. I'm time for one day.

Will you be jogging in the park this morning, sir?

No, I will not be jogging in the park this morning, Thomas. Isn't that a

catastrophe? How disappointed the world will be.

The trees will fall down and die, the flowers will fade, and the ducks will

fling themselves off the edge of the pond.

Good, good, good.

My God, where is everybody?

Ria?

Yes, it's me.

I'm sorry. I didn't go to the park today.

The park?

Oh, I'd forgotten. No, I didn't go today either. I was busy.

Oh.

Well, how are you, anyway?

Adam just started a new job today, and, um, Russell went out with him, and Ben's

at surgery.

And it's wonderful. I've got the whole house to myself.

My wife left today.

Oh, Leonard, she's only just come back.

That shows how intolerable I am, doesn't it?

Oh, I don't know what to say.

Are you grieved?

Oh, yes, I'm grieved.

About one thing or the other.

It's the only thing I can do to help.

Oh.

Well, you could meet me in the park.

I'd like to take a photograph of you.

Oh, just a snapshot, that's all. Nothing ambitious.

If you like, although it seems silly.

Tomorrow, then?

Tomorrow.

I'm so glad to see you. You're late.

I thought you'd left.

Here, let me take your coat.

Adam got a job.

It's been a strange morning.

You read articles about when your children leave you, but you don't

And today, mine nearly left me. Well, they've begun to leave. Next it'll be

marriage, jobs abroad. Oh, Ruby, I'm so glad to see you.

I can smell cat's pee again.

I thought you weren't coming home today.

Want to come to London with me?

London? What for?

Fun.

Come on. We'll be back by midnight.

Oh, we'll never make it.

We will if we take the motorway. Come on.

I thought you might be feeling lonely. I was, yes.

Silly, isn't it?

It's all silly.

Adam and Russell are men, yet we tend to weave our lives around them.

Well, today, we think of no one but ourselves.

We just close the front door, get in the car, and go.

There's a long tailback on the eastbound carriageway of the M40 between Junction

6 and 4.

An articulated lorry has shed its load of timber.

We're still working to clear the carriageway, but those of you travelling

towards London must anticipate long delays.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.