Original subtitles

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

multicolored moods of love are like its saddened wings.

Love makes your heart feel strange inside. It flutters like soft wounds in

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

Can't he get his own lunch, for God's sake?

Oh, Ben.

I wish you didn't look at me in that strange, frightened way.

I've always loved you.

But I can't explain why I still want to see him coming through those trees.

This little lot costs droopy, and there isn't even a meal.

Oh, I'm not sleeping very well these days.

Everything's going so fast.

While I'm buying the food, my mind is cooking a meal.

While I'm cooking the meal, my mind is doing the washing.

While I'm doing the washing, my mind is doing the ironing.

While I'm lying in bed, my mind is getting up.

I thought of getting some sleeping tablets.

and then my body could get on with the cooking, washing and ironing, while my

mind does absolutely nothing at all.

Sleeping tablets aren't the answer, though, are they?

I was talking to that Mrs Roberts down our road.

Her old man died, and she started taking sleeping tablets.

I told her, it's no use, I said.

You can sleep the clock round, he won't be back.

I'm frightened of death, Ruby.

Oh, don't frighten me.

Lest I get a good lie in.

In the garden the other day, I saw a bird with a beetle.

It was bashing it up against the fence. Its little legs were thrashing about.

It all became so personal. I felt as though the beetle were Adam or Russell

being bashed against the fence. And I rushed out, waving my potato masher and

shouting something like, Murderer! And the bird dropped the beetle and fled

and... There it was in the soil.

Yes.

with its little legs thrashing about.

And I couldn't save it, and I couldn't kill it.

And I couldn't bring myself to mash the potatoes either.

Oh, when I die, I'll go quick.

I wouldn't like the idea of hanging about with me family sitting round me

arguing about who's going to take the dog out.

I'd hate to die in the supermarket, blocking up the aisle while somebody

the manager.

Sweet, it's so embarrassing.

I hope somebody would pull my dress down.

Electrical is the best.

In your own kitchen, with a nice cup of tea made, nice clean apron, everything

natural. Just press the button and go up with the toast.

I hope I'm not wearing an old nightie or rollers or doing something wrong. Oh,

it must be awful to die while you're doing something wrong.

I could never go to bed with anyone.

I don't know.

I think I'll take the risk.

It's a good way of assessing people, death.

Assessing them.

Whenever I want to judge how important someone is to me, I imagine what it

be like if they died.

And not counting your own family, Ruby, you'd be surprised how few really

important people there are.

I can think of one, perhaps.

What about you?

He's only me dog.

Ripple! Come in.

Hi.

I can't believe it.

It's all true.

Well, where is it?

He's grown.

Right. He's still a bit crumpled.

He'll smooth out.

Is he OK?

I mean, there's nothing missing?

Nothing.

Hi.

He's fantastic.

So, when are we going to talk?

Now, if you like.

Please, Russell, don't let it get over -emotional.

Whatever we have to say now has got to make sense.

OK.

Well, you know what I want? I want us to get married.

Oh, I know we can't do it now.

I haven't got anything to give you.

But I will have, eventually, and I thought that we... Russell, I don't want

be married. I've told you that.

Well, what then, Jeannie?

Nothing.

What I mean is I just want to be the way I am. I just want my life to continue

the way it is.

I have a child, that's all. We?

We have a child? We have a child.

That's all that's happened.

Oh, great.

That's all that's happened.

There's no mention of the word love, I notice.

No mention of the very thing he's going to need most.

He'll get the kind of love he needs, Russell.

But don't talk to me about the other kind.

I've seen the other kind. We'll all be better off without that.

So what about me?

Where do I fit in?

You're his father.

That's where you fit in.

Oh, if I make an appointment, I can come round and see my child? Is that what

you mean?

You can come round whenever you like.

You can do all the things a father would do.

As long as I'm not here when he goes to bed or when he wakes up in the morning,

your parents will do that, will they?

I need to go out to work, Russell.

I need my parents.

So, it's I want a child, but don't lumber me with the father.

Russell, you're deliberately making it all sound cold and cruel.

I don't believe in marriage. I don't believe a child needs marriage. I've

you that.

That's why I didn't see you.

What happens if you meet someone else?

I'm not planning to do that.

I've got the thing I wanted most.

We'll need your help, Russell.

It's all that stuff about loving me, about not wanting to spoil things. That

all bullshit, all lies. I told you from the beginning.

I told you.

What's happening?

He's eight days old, and already we're shouting at each other.

Right.

Well, I'm glad to have been of service, Miss Jameson.

I hope the end products are your liking.

If you don't mind, I'll just go and see what else the computer has lined up for

me.

Russell?

Adam, what are you staring at?

Nothing, nothing.

Well, I'm just looking at your soup, that's all.

I don't believe it, it's doing everything right.

It looks good, it smells good, it's mobile.

Are we dreaming, I ask myself?

You two have got all the vegetables.

OK, back we go.

Why didn't you put in enough vegetables for all of us?

I did, but for some reason they all wanted to be together.

Are you feeling all right, Russell?

Very quiet?

Oh, am I? Sorry.

I'm not hungry, actually.

Oh, Russell.

I've made you both a special vegetarian pie.

Carrots, nuts, grapes.

Not a cow in sight.

Sorry, Mum.

Don't you think that's being rather ungrateful?

Look, I've said I'm sorry.

Couldn't you try?

Try what?

To eat.

There's no point, is there?

The point is that your mother has spent a considerable time in the place she

hates most, doing the things she hates doing most.

And even if you hate the results, it would be nice if you showed some

appreciation.

Oh, boy.

That's all right, Tutu. Heavens, it's only a pie.

Adam can eat it all.

Mum's first vegetarian pie and I have to go it alone.

Sit at the table and show some interest.

How can I show interest when I'm not interested? Sit down.

Ben, let him go. Let him go? He can't stop me.

Now, come on, Ross. Not too heavy now. Look, I'm not a kid anymore. We've done

the eat your cabbage, speak when you're spoken to scene. I will not have my son

talk to me like this. This is my house and you will obey my rules.

Well, you can keep your lousy house and your lousy rules. I'll go somewhere

where I can eat when I want to.

He went to see Jeannie, Dad.

I think she gave him some grief.

What do you mean, gave him some grief? About what?

Oh, about the whole scene, you know.

She doesn't want to get married.

Doesn't even want a relationship.

Just wanted the baby.

You mean she used my son?

I think used is a bit strong. She, uh... She borrowed him, yeah.

What's the matter with him?

He spent years reading disgusting books and he still doesn't know anything.

Young people only take in the joy of sex, not the perils.

That's like learning to fly an aeroplane and not bothering to learn how to land.

Modern scene, Dad. He'll be OK.

Modern scene? What does that mean?

Is he hiring himself out selectively or is he going to father an entire new

generation?

Ben, try to understand. He needs our support.

I suppose you'll be next.

I'll look out of that window one day and see the pair of you living in stables

at the bottom of the garden.

No way. Not me, Dad.

I'm in full control of my aeroplane.

The fact is, Ben, there are girls today who do want babies but do not want a

husband. Young people are looking at life through a different eye.

Good. Then let's all look at it through the same eye and stop worrying about

Russell.

I'll go and talk to him. No, I'll go.

I'll be up shortly.

There's liver.

Very nice, thank you.

And onions.

What else?

Ben,

this could be described as a family crisis, couldn't it?

I mean, crashing their cars and smoking pot were one thing, but this?

Well, this is their best to date, yes.

But shouldn't we be united, you and I?

We should, yes.

But we're not.

Well, Ben, the world is changing.

There's been a huge tidal wave of new thought.

I just swim like hell to keep up with it, that's all.

Yes.

Well, it's left me lying on the shore with a surprised look on my face.

Oh, it's me. I'm getting old.

I'm getting nervous.

You're right, this is a family crisis. And here I sit in this modern world with

my modern sons and my modern wife with their modern ways.

Tell me what to think.

Well, we must think what we think.

But sometimes we mustn't say what we think. You and I, our life is not what

want. What do they want?

They want all the usual ties without... Being tied.

I don't know anything about this generation.

They spend half their lives making loud declarations about peace, philosophy and

sex. The other half wandering in and out of the house like stricken tomcats.

Nevertheless, their declarations have been heard.

We might have our ideals, our beliefs, but it's their world we live in. I liked

our world.

What?

Roses round the door and padlocks on our knickers?

Yes.

That's the world I like.

I'm coming in, Russ, OK?

I don't want to talk.

So who's talking?

Just passing through, that's all.

Boy, am I screwed up.

Don't like them big like that.

Wow, she is big.

Had any thoughts on that window -cleaning room we were talking about,

What's your dad, then? He's a window -cleaner.

Great. Oh, come on. He won't care what you do when he's bombing around on his

BMX bike, will he?

Well, come on, Ross. You caused this problem. It's time to face up to it now.

didn't cause it.

Well, you haven't heard of contraception, then?

You know, those little packets next to a chewing -gum stand in the supermarket.

I thought she was on the pill. Oh, come on, that's no excuse. You've got to

think things out.

Oh, you want to talk? What about Betty Cambridge?

She was only ten minutes late and you were down the emigration office.

Yeah, well, it was just a cruel trick of nature, that's all.

Well, what do you think this was, sweetheart?

I've got to get a job. I've got to get my life together.

I've told you, window cleaning is the answer.

Hey, don't turn your back on windows, sunshine. They're here to stay.

Because no matter how poor or how hungry or how naked the human being becomes,

he will always want to look out of his windows.

Isn't that philosophical garbage, Rob?

That's not philosophical garbage. That's called optimism.

Parkinson Brothers and Company Limited.

Architectural ophthalmics.

Ophthalmics? Yeah.

Eyes, sunshine.

Windows are eyes.

She is really big, though.

Russell, Adam, I have something to say.

I didn't mean it, Mum.

I hope when you go down to apologise, Russell, you will remember to mention

little fact.

Mum, do you want me here? Adam, please don't interrupt me when I'm about to go

into verbal orbit.

Now,

I know you have a problem.

I know it's proportion and I know it's effect, but I will not have you speaking

to your father like that.

Your father is a good man, a hard -working man, a thoughtful man. Russell?

I'm talking.

What does not seem to occur to either of you is that we, too, have our problems.

Being a dental surgeon has its own tension.

Being at the beck and call of people's teeth has its... well, its frustrations.

And my existence is not without some anguish.

I have to cook and clean and... and there are things I would like to do but

can't.

However... In spite of all this, your father and I do not deliberately disrupt

this house by losing our tempers and saying thoughtless things. If we can't

kind to each other, then there's no point in anything, is there?

Is there?

Sorry.

I haven't done anything.

All right, all right, have a sorry in advance.

I'm sure that you and Jeannie will sort things out, Russell.

We'll help you all we can.

Oh,

she's big, isn't she?

Hey, Mum, there's things you want to do. You know, you should just go out there

and do them.

Yeah, right.

Don't let your candle fizzle out now.

I could take you home for supper.

Have a little bit of roast leg. Oh, don't.

Barrett and Dunn?

Hello?

Hello, is Mr Dunn there, please?

No, I'm sorry, he's out of the office at the moment. Can I take a message for

him?

Thomas, is that you?

It's Mrs Parkinson.

Oh, Mrs Parkinson.

How are you? I'm fine, and you?

Oh, yes, fine, fine, thank you.

Um, Mr Dunn left his diary in my car. He must have dropped it.

Yes, he has missed it.

I will indeed, yes.

I don't expect it's important, but just in case.

Shall I ask him to call you?

No, no, I'll call him when I can, all right?

He'll be back quite shortly.

No, it's all right. Thank you, Thomas.

Bye, Mrs Parkinson.

Bye.

Ruby, there's a cup of tea here.

I'll tidy them boys' rooms best I can.

I sometimes think it would be easier to seal them off.

A bulldozer are coming, Andy.

Come and drink your tea. You deserve it.

Tom.

I got chatted up yesterday when I left here.

Really?

You like your thing?

Nice chap.

I'll see him off and walk in his dog.

He picked me groceries up once when the bag burst.

Nice chap.

I was chatted up once by a nice chap.

In a cafe. You forget what it's like to be fenced, don't you?

After being married for hundreds of years.

It's embarrassing, isn't it? You don't know what to say.

He asked me to meet him.

I told him I was married. He didn't even blink.

They don't today.

I said I'd have coffee with him sometime.

I don't suppose I will.

Silly, isn't it?

I mean, what harm is there in having coffee with a man?

Don't stop there, though, does he?

When dogs that have been kept on a lead get free, that...

Nice chap.

Well, I'm sure you'd handle it sensibly, Ruby.

You've got a nice husband.

Nice home, nice kids, a budgie, a dog.

I mean, what more could you need?

Then there's all them secret walks in the park.

Secret duck feeding.

Secret phone calls while the old man's in the bath.

Secret conversations on a park bench.

I've got to go now.

They'll be home for lunch.

I don't suppose I'll do anything about it.

No.

We never do.

And you?

Yes, I'm all right.

I've missed you.

I rang you a few days ago.

In the evening, a girl answered the phone.

Oh, yes, that would be Sophie.

Or Katie.

Or whoever.

Well, life goes on, doesn't it?

You cook your way through life, I... Bernard?

You're trying to hurt me.

Hurt you, Mrs. Parkinson? Why would I do that?

I don't know. Why are you calling me Mrs. Parkinson?

Because that's your name.

Look, don't give me that helpless stare routine.

If we're going to weigh up the damage, you better look in my direction.

Oh, my God.

I've done some foolish things in my time, but you... you were the most

I know how you feel, Leonard.

Felt, Mrs.

Parkinson, felt.

as a middle -aged child.

I suggest you go back to reading romantic novels instead of acting them

I've got your diary.

Thank you.

Bye, Mr. Dunn.

We're all going vegetarian tonight, aren't we?

Great. Hey, look down for me.

I know I told you to show some interest, but there's no need to overdo it.

Rattle, would you mind putting a potato back, please? We all live here.

Sorry.

Grab it while you can, Ben.

Oh, thank you.

Wine, everybody.

Oh!

Well,

this is somewhat more relaxed than lunch, don't you think? Oh.

I thought you two were going to fight.

I remember thinking, I hope Ben throws the first punch and then he can spend

afternoon being full of remorse and mending Russell's teeth.

No, I've got it all sorted, Anna. I've worked it out. I'm going to play it

let her do what she wants.

I'm going to be kind to her, see how the wind blows.

The trouble with that philosophy is while you're waiting to see which way

wind blows, it could suddenly turn into a hurricane and come straight in your

direction. It'll all sort out. Love sort...

Love? Is that what she calls it?

She was so cruel.

You're only cruel to people you care for.

Takes a lot of thinking out, being cruel.

Sometimes when I hear your mother's observations on love, I think she's

a double life.

Well, if she is, I hope he's honest, decent, sensitive, and a chef.

No, nothing. No, really, it's great.

Oh, fantastic.

Amazing. It's the pudding we're dreading.

Oh, that could be for me. Derek and I are going butterflying tomorrow.

Damn it, Thomas.

Will you let me handle my life my own way?

I made a ball for the last meeting. I'm trying to put it right now, all right?

Hello, Ria.

Hello?

Another success.

This meal's going to go down in history.

I'm putting it where you can see it.

And then if it doesn't taste good, at least you'll have enjoyed looking at it.

What's that, Derek?

No.

No, it was the wrong number. Oh.

Oh, Dad, by the way, that window cleaning round we were talking about,

glad of your help.

Oh, yeah.

Fine, we'll talk about it later.

Oh, we'll pay you back within a year.

We'll do your windows for free, ma 'am. Oh, thank you. And your father's

surgery.

And father's surgery.

And Auntie Marie's. And Cousin Julie's. And that chap down the road.

Better make it three years, Dan.

Well, here's to us. The family safe and well.

We may not have got life completely sorted out, but we're working on it.

Cheers. You're very quiet, Ben.

I'm not very hungry.

If you don't mind.

Have you got a mate, I wonder?

You'd better go and keep an eye on him, I think.

Love makes your heart feel strange inside.

It flutters like soft winds in flight.

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

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