Original subtitles

Well, if that hasn't sent them into a coma, nothing will.

Well, I'll say one thing for this evening.

It's given us plenty of time to stop and think.

Yes, we must get trapped by escaped reptiles regularly.

How so?

No, you're right.

What's that outside?

Someone's got a bonfire.

In the street?

I want to watch. Now!

There must be something we can do. Let's stay back there. Let them do their job.

Rona says they're all in the kitchen.

Todd's telling something.

Maybe it's time for that.

I'm going to go inside and see the kids.

That's the idea.

Now, who wants a biscuit?

They're chocolate.

Oh, God.

I don't want either of you to move from this room where it's safe.

Oh, yes, we're very likely to run into a blazing inferno for fun.

It might not be safe here.

There could be a tremendous Bible that destroys the whole street.

If there's a background.

Shall I shut the back door?

Do you have to take such delight into our lives going up into flames?

I don't understand what's going on. Well, don't. No.

Let's get this into proportion.

Whatever happens, we're all right. It's only property.

Kitchen's gone up.

Kitchen!

Anyone want a sandwich?

I'm going back out. No, they want us to stay here.

How bad is it?

I couldn't see.

Cheese ready!

Who wants some?

Oh, so.

Plenty of sugar.

You too?

Thanks, Rona.

Where's yours?

I'm going to find the scotch.

They have to concentrate on putting out the fire, Jane. Don't worry.

It's a pity we didn't have the camcorder with us. Oh, no, the camcorder. It was

in the living room.

Where? Oh, in the cupboard under the stereo. The stereo!

We could have sold the pictures to the television. The television?

It might be all right. It was right over the other side of the room with the

video. The video.

What was the question with electronic equipment?

It was the top -of -the -range machine.

Tell only a device to play tape.

My tape!

Come on, it was irreplaceable.

That was what?

The Rhythm and Blues compilation I got from America.

Doesn't even play on a British machine. You'd never even seen it. Yet, but I had

it.

Will everything get burned? We don't know, love.

I suppose it's too much to hope for that that dress that Gran gave me goes up

into flames.

It's probably made from stretched asbestos.

At least we won't be able to hand in our homework.

You didn't do it.

Difficult to prove from the ashes.

That's a point.

The receipts for the taxman.

I'm afraid they were completely destroyed in the fire. I had to recreate

from memory.

This is not funny!

Surely you're hoping there's something that gets burnt? Don't be morbid.

quite a few firemen out there. They're just rolling back their hoses. Have they

put it out?

Sorry, I was miles away. What?

They're coming over.

Who? The fireman in the white hat. What's he called? Neil.

Probably. They usually are.

Could I have a word with the householders? We'll go in the front

Yeah.

You are hopeless, you know that?

It was ages ago.

You smell of scotch.

Would you like to taste it?

I, uh... I think we're going to be needing the spare room made up.

If this was a video, Mum would forbid us to watch it.

It started in the kitchen.

We got it out before it set into the main house.

Oh, thank God.

What started it? It looks like an electrical fault.

Nine times out of ten, it is.

It's just been rewired.

Overloaded socket.

Loose wire on one of the appliances.

Yes, well, we'll never know exactly what now, but there you are.

It happens.

Well, thanks for your cooperation.

I'll be on my way now.

Oh, there'll be some residual smoke for a while. Nothing to worry about.

Oh, is somebody else coming?

Somebody else?

To do something else?

No. That's it.

Bye.

your knitting patterns till things don't seem so blood.

It's not their fault.

We don't know it was the kettle.

It had a screw loose.

So did Margaret Thatcher and she birthed into flames regularly.

Right. I'm sorry if it was that and we're not sure it was the kettle but if

was I'm very, very sorry.

So now what?

I suppose we should go over and have a look at it.

Oh, you're there.

Oh, God.

Oh, there you are.

I'll leave this to you, shall I? Oh, thank you.

Leonard and I were frantic.

He was all for trying to put it out ourselves.

But the best we could find was carpet foam.

So I thought I'd best dial 999.

I'm sorry, Mrs. Grimes. Well, as luck would have it, it's all right on our

Just a few heat blisters in the kitchen fabulous.

And the cat won't come out of the airing cupboard.

Are you well?

Yes, the kids are in the back.

Oh, good.

bedrooms habitable? We don't know yet. Well, at times like this, we don't like

to ask help from our neighbours for fear of embarrassment.

So I thought I'd just come over to say that if you were wondering where you

could spend a few nights until you're straight again, we couldn't possibly do

it.

You see, Leonard was at Monte Cassino. He couldn't stand the noise.

To this day, he has to wear a balaclava on Guy Fawkes night.

I see. So, I thought I'd just set your mind at rest.

Goodbye, then.

Goodbye.

And I hope the cat wheeze on your towels.

So, how bad is it?

I think the best thing is if you don't go and look at it right now.

Bye now.

I switched it off.

I didn't imagine it'd be as bad as this.

You can't see anything.

I can smell it.

OK, shall we go now?

I want to go inside.

Don't do that. I want to see what it's like.

What for?

Is it safe?

So they said.

Well, might as well go in and see the worst.

Yep, I suppose so.

Shall we go back then?

Yes, you were right.

We really don't want to see this now.

Right.

Much better to get some rest and see to it in the light.

That's what I said.

Yes, we'll go back.

We're going back. It's black everywhere.

Where?

I can't see anything.

Of course you can't. It's black. This is hand colour, see?

And this is black.

Oh, I'm sorry.

It's just that half an hour ago everything was fine and now it's this.

It was a stupid idea coming to look at it. Well, I didn't want to.

Well, you didn't stop me. Why didn't you stop me? Because you... Because I...

I'm sorry.

things about you I just don't understand sometimes.

Why have they not to understand about me?

The snake men have arrived. I think we'd better give them the handbag.

joke, you know. I'm not cut out to be freaking Spider -Man.

Who's that?

Only person who's been ringing your bell since half past seven.

Look, it's a wonder the blood can get down there at all now.

We had to spend the night here.

I noticed that after 45 minutes waiting outside freezing my radiator nuts off.

Well, why didn't you ring my mobile?

I did.

All I got was that snotty tart from the Royal Shakespeare Company.

Try again.

Sorry, I've had a rough night.

Christine, we've had a fire at the house.

Do what?

A fire.

Didn't you notice the soot marks and the door nailed up with a padlock on it?

That's normal on my estate.

Mum, I can't stand that when we date a minute longer.

It's like sleeping with a dog in the bed.

At least they keep you warm.

What?

Where's Rona?

In her room.

I see.

We'll put the kettle on. We'll be through in a minute.

OK.

Do you mind if we get dressed now?

No.

Go in the other room.

I could have been at home now, turning on Robert Kilroy Silk.

That is a matter of opinion.

Did you sleep?

Not much.

Me neither.

I just kept drifting into these terrible dreams.

I just can't seem to take it all in. It's really happened.

Why? We know why. He told us.

I just keep thinking, if only I hadn't torn up that chain letter.

Bill, we went through all this last night. It was an electrical fault. I

Ben Porter, Central Heating Repairs.

Bet.

No, no, I'm not surprised.

Yes, well, it's not working at the moment.

Because...

Something's wrong.

Hello,

ma 'am.

What do you mean, what's happened?

No, well, you wouldn't get us on that. We've had a fire.

Very small fire.

Hardly anything at all, really.

Yes, I'm standing in our living room now, looking round. Everything's fine.

No, I'm sure we can manage.

Now, don't do that.

No, we can manage.

No, really.

Yes, we're all fine.

I'll ring you later. All right.

Bye, then.

Yeah, please, you'll be all right. How do you switch this thing off? I know

If I don't switch it off in two seconds... Oh, God, I knew it! What?

It's her!

Get rid of it! Not her!

Get rid of it!

That was a close one.

We don't have to go to school today, do we? I suppose not.

Excellent.

Just a minute. How long have you been wearing that underwear?

Well, I can't get any clean ones, can I?

Oh, no. The thought of those after another day is ten times worse than

we're going to find in the house. Come on.

I liked it better in the dark.

No line.

Did they have to make such a mess?

Yes, you're right. Next time we'll call the Gay Fire Brigade.

I know they have to put it out, but look at everywhere.

Table's all right now.

more than tidying up in here.

You did pay the insurance, didn't you? Yeah, relax. It's safe. It's in the

kitchen drawer.

We can get a replacement. It's all right. We just need the code number.

Where's that?

In the kitchen drawer.

There's stuff everywhere.

It was only really bad in the kitchen.

Oh, yes. This room's fit for Dame Barbara Cartland.

Electricity. I'll see if I can turn the power back on, if it's safe.

I'm going to check upstairs.

Now it's got everywhere.

Oh, I'm sorry.

You think I've still got this sofa bed? I used to have it in my room when my

mother was alive.

I'm surprised it stood up to the wear.

What's that supposed to mean?

I mean, it's getting on a bit.

Springs are... Yes?

Well, look at them.

It's had a lot of use.

Oh, yeah. Pushing it in and pulling it out.

The bed.

There we are, then.

Thanks.

I suppose I'd better go and pack my things, then.

Why?

Well, let's be realistic.

You could have people in the house for weeks.

You'll be helping them clean up their place for a few days. There's not going

be much time for getting pregnant.

No.

So there's no reason for me to stay then, really, is there?

No, I suppose not.

I'll go and make a start then, shall I?

Yeah.

Would you just hold down the button on the end there while I push this back?

What button?

Well, it releases the support. It's just down the inside of your arm.

What, here?

No, it's right in the corner.

Well, I can't feel anything.

What are you doing? Be careful!

Are you all

right?

I think so. What do you think you're playing at?

I'm sorry.

I slipped.

Can't you open it?

Hang on a minute.

Ow! Oh, oh dear.

It's stuck.

Can you breathe all right?

Yeah. The hessium's frayed at the side.

Good. Get me out of here!

Yeah.

Right. I'll just go and get someone to help.

Tony.

What?

You don't have... You have to leave if you don't want to.

You could stay.

Tony?

Do you want me to stay?

We seem to get on quite well together, don't we? Yeah.

We don't have to keep trying for a baby. If that's what's worrying you, we could

just see how things go. No promises.

I'd like to stay, Rona.

Would you? Yeah.

You know what I'm like? Yes.

I don't mind.

You're not just saying that because you're trapped in the sofa.

I'm beginning to really enjoy being with you.

bacon on the grill. It'll be ready for the cremation service in a minute. Oh,

God!

I could still force them down, though, if it's not too bad.

Rona?

to go be able to battle and...

Well, if only, Ben, I wished you... Ben?

We can make it right again.

Where do we start?

Just look at this place.

Just look at it.

Well, I didn't go through the blitz to be put off by something like this.

Mum!

Oh, this will certainly take more than a spot of flash on a cloth, won't it?

I told you not to come.

Well, I don't usually do anything on a Friday except go to Mark's food section

and read the cake labels.

me why do we

And mind this little table.

It goes over there by the window. It is the window.

Mind the chair.

Where's that coffee doing?

Oh, go and see.

Mind the window, Frank.

I'm going to whack her right in the face in a minute.

Good easy, Washington.

Put them over there with the rest.

This bit's clean.

Put your brother in there as well.

This whole room's going to need painting.

Oh, I like black.

Here's what I found upstairs.

What? Your homework book.

Undamaged. Oh, no, you've got it.

Don't slam your door!

Shall I chuck out the television?

What? Wasn't it ruined in the fire?

No, it still works.

Get a new one off the insurance.

That's dishonest. Well, we could.

No.

Windsor Castle burnt down just as she had to pay taxes.

Everybody does it. No.

Some people won't be helped. Some people are waiting to be helped. All right,

all right.

How are you getting on?

I'm gradually coming off.

Don't worry, it'll take a bit of time, but eventually everything will be all

right again.

Pity we can't do this with our lives.

A quick rub with a cloth, all our mistakes are wiped away, and there it

All ready to make him two.

Whatever we want.

Who said that we can't?

Maybe we need more things like this.

To give us the chance to start again.

You are not saying you think all this was a good thing?

Well, it has some good parts.

At least it forced me to sort things out with Tony.

He's saying... Are we?

Yes. I'm so pleased.

Where is he, by the way? Oh, he's...

him here last night.

being of use to you for years.

Oh, Mum.

We couldn't have done it without you.

I suppose it comes of living on your own. Never seeing anybody.

We see you.

Yes.

I think in time it makes you selfish.

I'm sorry, Bill. I'm just a selfish old woman.

No, you're not.

Kettle's boiling.

Shall I make it? No.

down to this place.

I think you'll have to rebuild all this section, won't you? Yes.

Oh, I feel for you, Bill. It's terrible.

Terrible. Don't get upset, Mum. It doesn't bear thinking about.

No, it doesn't.

But, um, as you are, have you ever thought of adding another bedroom on the

I'll take Benny's coffee.

She never misses a chance, does she? No.

You know, I've been thinking.

This place could do with a complete rethink.

How about doing this whole room in a sort of a western style?

We could have wagon wheel tables, a bar, saloon doors, guns on the walls.

Lynchings on the patio.

Yeah, well, you know, it could be different.

I think that's a bit too different.

Well, maybe I was getting a bit carried away.

We'll do it exactly the same as it was before.

No, that wouldn't be different enough.

You'd never know the fire had happened.

Have you ever thought how much of our lives we spend just trying to keep

everything the same?

What do you mean?

Painting, repairing,

tidying up, cleaning, refurbishing, rebuilding,

dieting, cutting our hair.

Everything to pretend that time isn't happening.

Well, we can't just let everything go to pot.

But it wants to.

The natural order is for everything to keep changing from what we want it to be

to something else.

So why don't we just give in?

Why do we kid ourselves we can hold it all back?

Because that's what we're here for.

To live in hope.

Hope for what?

That next time, we'll really get it right.

Come on.

We've got a lot to do.

Up on the left a bit.

Up there?

Yep, stop.

It's alright.

Well, what do you think?

I know.

Do you want?

What about the car?

Want to look at the colour chart again?

Yes.