Original subtitles

She's beginning to wear a tongue.

You want to make the most of it. They're a nightmare when they find their feet.

Here we are.

Here she is.

Raji, be careful.

See what I mean? He's into everything.

He put a pizza in the video last night.

Let's do lunch.

You want to get a guard on it.

Oh, he's been through every make of God there is.

Not a bloody day at work. It's never ending.

God,

when people go on about working mothers, I think, oh, yeah, I won't mind sitting

at home with my feet up all day.

Well, get yourself a millionaire, then.

Morning, Levan. Morning, Tessa. The factory's from Bound Better on your

I bet you missed work in the morning.

How much have I missed your inkly sense of humour?

Still no sign?

I think you're outraged. I think you must have frightened him away.

He's gorgeous.

He looks just like that bloke on the jeans, Edward.

I never imagined Mr Wright would turn out to be a painter and decorator,

Could have been worse. Could have been a plumber. Oh, Tessie, you've got a...

Hello,

Frank.

Can I interest you in a bear?

A bear what?

I thought I'd take Alice out for the day.

Might run down to the coast where there's warmth.

You could have phoned.

I did.

You'd already left.

I leave early. You know what the traffic's like.

Yeah.

Lots of noise, fumes, buses, cars. Am I getting warm?

I don't know, Frank.

She's in the creche. She's settled.

Maybe we can arrange for something later in the week.

I have to make an appointment to see my own daughter now.

No.

But she needs a routine. You see her at the weekends.

Yeah, well, what about the week as well?

I am a father, you know. I can't deny it. There's a definite family

Because it's different now. We don't live together.

I need to know in advance if you're going to take her.

I thought we were going to be civilised about this.

I am.

Yeah, well, get your solicitor to work out access, will you?

Let my solicitor know.

Frank, does it have to be like this?

Apparently.

Would a guided tour of the factory compensate?

Well, for the thrills and spills of the Pleasure Beach, I'm bound to.

Where's the bum thing, Maxie?

Where's the balloons and flags?

You didn't tell me it was your birthday.

When it's my birthday, I wear a black armband and I mourn the passing of

year. No, it's your first day. I expected wild rejoicing.

Look, I'm just taking over from where Wesley left off. You know, business as

usual. Maxie, from today, you are the next limousines. Throw a party. Tell the

world. Listen, you must throw a launching party.

Invite your best customers. Invite your worst customers. Get to know them

better. Yeah.

All right.

Why not?

Here. The last time I threw a party, the riot squad moved in.

Leave this one for me.

I think taking a stand at the toy fair will pay big dividends.

Probably have to move over to shift work.

Overtime's too hidden, Mr. Tristan.

Hello, darling.

So this is where you call it? Oh,

Frank,

go on, take her. She'll love this.

No, no, you're all right.

Can't just walk in here and disrupt everything just because the sun's

You're not just trying to make me feel guilty, are you?

No. Not just.

Over here.

What do you do when doing deals isn't enough?

Well, when I wearied a promise, I ran off with a lady mud wrestler called

Andrea.

Yeah, the problem with having more than enough is that the deals aren't exciting

anymore.

It's like going hunting with a machine gun. Too easy.

Really?

Maybe I can offer you something to excite your jaded palate.

Like what?

Well, a friend from Cambridge phoned the other day.

He's selling high up in the civil service tree now, and he's rounding up

influential bods to join the home circle to his working group on youth and

crime. You know the sort of thing?

Well, I told him I was no use to him, being no longer a capital of industry.

Well, I wasn't all that careful, come to that.

I promised I'd speak to you.

Me?

You're joking. Why not you?

Doesn't becoming one of the great and good appeal?

Gain your friends in high places.

It's not my style, Malcolm.

We're still speaking.

Well, just about it.

We always used to disagree, but now... It's no fun. Sounds as if Frank's as

unhappy as you are. Looking on the bright side.

He's the one who wants this divorce.

Why don't you?

I don't know what I want anymore.

I ought to by now.

But whenever Frank's concerned... Have you thought about counselling?

Nothing would be on that.

He resents me too much.

He feels I don't respect him. Is he right?

No, yes, I don't know.

I don't know who he is anymore.

Do you think Frank and I would still be together if we were running a shop like

you and Malcolm?

What? A little post office in the country? What do you think? I think we

have murdered each other long since.

Regular as clockwork.

Will she settle down again?

Not without a struggle.

At times like this, I really hate being a single parent.

I hate it all the time, actually.

Not again. Hey!

She had a knife.

She can only be about 14.

What's the world coming to, huh?

I tell you this, I don't want Alice growing up in a world where this sort of

behaviour is considered normal.

Someone should do something about this.

Someone else, you mean?

Hey, listen, I'm game. If I'd have caught them... Oh, you mean this home

working party, huh?

Hey, this wasn't all a set -up, was it?

If it had been a set -up, it would have been your stereo.

We've just had the Bristol Rover Supporters Club on the phone.

They want to know if we can supply teddies in the team strip.

They'd be better off playing the teddies, the results they've been

All right, I'll get back to them.

Yes, come in.

Another word, Mrs Carver?

Castle. Yes, of course, Tina.

It's about our overtime.

Well, once you get us working a new shift, we won't be doing all the

used to.

Yes, I realise, but that will be compensated for with productivity

Yeah, but we used to be guaranteed overtime. I mean, a lot of us relied on

It's just we're all a bit pissed off if you don't mind me saying so.

We just think you ought to have spoken to us about it first.

Well, I told them all I'd tell you.

Flexi -time, crash, subsidised canteen, and they're kicking up about overtime.

Well, maybe... You know how it is.

People get used to working in a certain way, even if it isn't necessarily a good

way, and then everything changes, and, well, maybe they're thinking, what about

the workers?

You didn't consult them.

Well, no, but... I didn't consult you either about leaving boundless, did I?

Just rang you up and told you to get over here.

Do you think I'd be here if I didn't want to be?

Anyway, I've got used to your bossy way of life, haven't I?

I'm not bossy, am I?

It's all right.

It's quite endearing, really.

Must be murder to live with, though.

Anyway, fair's fair to your factory.

Tea?

Coffee?

What do you mean it's your factory?

You own it. What do you think I mean?

I don't know.

When I was in Israel on the kibbutz, there seemed other ways to organise

better ways.

I haven't gone to kibbutz when I was a student.

Really? What was it like?

Dreadful.

The residents sat around putting the world to rights while we volunteers had

such glamorous jobs of giving hormone jabs to the poor chickens to make them

grow faster.

Have you any idea what a chicken does when you stick a needle up its bum?

It's a fan.

All over your shoes.

Please.

Are you going to join this working group, then?

No.

Maybe.

I used to think you couldn't change the way they work.

Always look after number one, no?

I'm not so sure.

What does Tessa think?

Oh, I haven't told her yet.

Still not communicating?

Well, we talk.

Communicate, no.

She wants to go to this family mediation.

Oh, well, that's something.

You're thinking of marriage guidance.

Mediation is where you divide up the spoils in a civilised way.

A couple of polite meetings, then it's all over.

Then you'll have the feel to yourself, then.

Frank, I am not buying you an ice cream.

The chance of getting you on the rebound.

I like you.

I'd like to see you happy.

Yay. Does that mean you don't fancy me?

No. That means the film doesn't start until the lights go down.

Excuse me.

May I have a word?

I won't keep you long. I want to get home too.

I just wanted to apologise for not consulting you before implementing the

changes here.

And I'd like to call a staff and management meeting on Thursday morning

discuss these changes.

Well, that's it.

Thanks. Bye.

Thanks, Tessa. The girls appreciated that.

How could you tell?

I'm just not used to dealing with a boss who's half -human.

Night. Night.

I didn't hear any cheering or stamping of feet.

No, but one of them called me half -human.

Ah, Graham, I wanted to greet the boss worker device. I thought being a

You might be a woman, but you're still the boss.

What about a worker's co -operative?

What? You're going to give up the fact that... Don't be silly.

All right, not a co -operative, but something better.

Different to how things are normally done in this country. Something that's

us and them.

The teddy bear keyboard.

I don't think the world's quite made it somehow.

Call it a partnership.

Consultation, workers on the board, shareholdings for long -term staff. Why?

What?

Why? What are you trying to prove?

Nothing.

I just don't want to be the sort of employer the staff mutter about behind

back. That's the only sort of employer there is, Tessa.

Anyway, you couldn't do it. It's not in your nature.

You always want to control everything, at work and at home.

You can't say that. This is going to be a democratic company. All right, all

right, all right. Maybe, just maybe, I'm too controlling.

I have a factory to run, a child to look after, a life to rebuild, and I feel

that it must... Lost, confused as if life had no meaning.

As if you were in a long, dark tunnel, searching for your soul.

Where did you get that?

Like in a cell blockade.

I'm only here for a check -up. What are you here for?

I'm hoping to have an unsightly lump removed.

Is that going to be the tone, then?

I've made a list of topics I think we ought to discuss.

What?

She's always got to be so organised, hasn't she?

Even in the mess like this.

OK, Frank, let's be spontaneous.

Aisha is a qualified family solicitor, and I'm a trained counsellor.

Thank you.

We hope we can enable you both to reach an agreement on the legal, the

financial, and the emotional problems of your separation.

We do realise this can be a very confusing and painful time, and we'd

assure you both we don't take sides.

We're just here to help you work out everything together.

Now, I usually begin by asking if there's any particular problem that you

to discuss.

Not really.

Nothing in particular?

You are Mr and Mrs Carver, the couple who wants to get divorced.

Well, this isn't a problem, as such.

No, it is.

I don't like you assuming you can take Alice out whenever you want to.

No, you made that quite clear yesterday.

Look, I don't like feeling that I have to make an appointment to see my

daughter.

I didn't know splitting up with my wife meant splitting up with my daughter.

The last thing I want to do is to damage Frank's relationship with Alice. It's

just that... Yeah, it's just that if I swan into your factory and cart her off

to the seaside, you'd feel guilty.

Because you could be doing that, instead of worrying about how much stuffing you

put in your teddy bears. So typical.

The discussion about access suddenly turns into an accusation that I'm a bad

mother. That's always how it seems to be with men, isn't it?

The access they want is for treats and fun.

Take Alice out, show her a good time, leave me to worry about sleepless nights

and teething pains.

I only wanted to take her to Brighton for a few hours.

God, I didn't know you had so much resentment stored up.

You sod! It's a joke, Tessa. Of course I knew about the resentment.

I don't resent you, Frank, just the situation.

It's always the same. A marriage breakdown, it's the woman left holding

baby. Hey, you don't want custody.

I'm a man of leisure. I don't mind staying at home with Alice for a few

You lying swine!

Yes, love.

Hello, mate.

It's good to see a familiar face.

This isn't a brown ale amuse -up, is it? No, worse luck. This is a make friends

and influence people party.

Shelley's idea, of course. I couldn't influence a pith up in a brewery. All

night. That and all.

Hey, you're looking terrific.

The question obviously suits me.

Frank here yet?

No, he's going for passionately late.

Can I get you a drink?

Can I be?

Go back to him.

I'd better go and have a word with her. We didn't part very good friends or

something. Well, who does part as good friends?

Never mind, I'll amuse myself with a passing volleyball.

I won't be long.

Nice turn, Heather.

Oh, hello, Frank. Yes.

I see you brought a playmate along.

Oh, yeah, that's Jeanette.

I must have mentioned her.

What did you?

Well, she's the wife of Jerry, that twit I was doing business with.

Jerry, my ex -wife, actually.

Was that before or after you did business?

She's just a friend, Tessa.

Nice person.

In contrast to me, you mean.

Look, Frank, we're getting a divorce.

You don't have to explain your new friend to me.

I've forgotten what a fast worker you are.

Excuse me, I've just spotted someone I'd much rather talk to.

For the first time in my life, I don't envy you, Frank Carver.

First time in my life, Max, I nearly envy you.

Remember what our old headmaster said?

You two will get your just rewards in life.

I don't think he really meant this, Max. I wish the old bastard was here to see

this.

Yeah, we've got everything now, haven't we?

Sorry, Frank.

Having fun?

We were just comparing rear legroom between the Mercedes and the Jag.

How many of those have you had?

What?

How many of those have you had? I've been watching. That must be your fifth

glass.

Is that any of your business? It is when you're looking after my daughter, yeah.

I know you, Tessie. You've got no head for champagne.

And you have.

I thought you handled that ever so well. I'm sorry.

I hope I haven't spoiled the party. You're joking. Highlight of the evening.

I think one or two people didn't notice.

Yeah, I must have.

I'm sorry.

Come on, let's go.

Well, that did it. Everybody's leaving.

Yeah. Me too.

Ah, you can leave all that till the morning. No, I mean, I'm really leaving.

Eh?

I'm going back to Israel.

No, no, no, no, no, no. See, the idea is any decisions made are made

collectively. We each have a say in how our company is run. That's how I want

you to look at it, our company.

But what about our overtime?

Yeah, I don't know whether I've got time for meetings and all that.

Listen, this is your chance actually to be in charge of your own workplace.

Yeah, but we're all right, really. I mean, it's only a job, innit? I mean, we

don't want to go getting involved in it.

It's your job, innit?

Quite a place, eh, Max?

Yeah, nice gaff.

You're on your own, though, aren't you?

Huh?

Well, like I said, you're on your own.

No Tessa, no Alice.

That wasn't part of the master plan, was it?

Is that why you came round here, to try and bring me down?

What? You invited me.

Anyway, I came round to talk to you about Shelley.

She's great.

Ask her to stay.

I can't.

We'll send her a Bon Voyage postcard.

She's got a life in Israel.

A flat, that yappy little dog of hers.

You're as good as a yappy little dog, Max, any day.

Cheers.

Anyway, I've got used to having her around.

Yeah.

Yeah, you do get used to having them around, don't you?

We've got another mediation session tonight.

Anyway, come on, let's go.

Got to go to the home office.

You don't need mediating. You need your heads banging together.

You'll never be happy without her. I know.

He didn't be white without other people, did he?

Andrew?

Here we go.

Oh, it's Andrew, my new driver.

Nice to meet you.

But lately, the belief that a section of British youth has become endemically

lawless has led to great unease amongst the general population.

Therefore, over the next 18 months, we shall be taking evidence from interested

groups. 18 months?

I can tell you the problem in 18 words.

Not enough money, not enough jobs, boredom, drugs, lack of discipline.

No one to give the kids a lead.

Tell a lie. Nineteen words.

With respect, Mr Carver, this working party has been set up to investigate,

pontificate.

Then you'll have to investigate without me.

Life's too short.

Look, there's another one. Look, lovely geese. Look.

See that?

I can throw some more bread to them. Watch.

I don't know why I get so angry around him.

I keep telling myself we should be looking for a path back.

But as soon as I see him these days... What was it this time, though, really?

Frank's comments about your drinking or your seeing him with other women?

I don't like playing second fiddle to some tartan... I don't like playing

fiddle. Christ, how old do you have to be before you really grow up?

The sooner we're divorced, the better.

Tessa, what are you talking about? It's so obvious. You're still in love with

Frank.

What's love got to do with it?

Well, they turn their beaks up at your homemade wholemeal, my love. What?

The pigeons must have passed the word.

He bakes bread?

Well, that's what he calls it.

Look, Alice.

You tell me, Graham, because I haven't got a clue.

What are they doing around the privileged kids in this area?

Well, unfortunately, we had to close the workhouse due to cutbacks, but it's

still the old bottle factory.

It's on.

All right, Frank, what is this?

He's setting up a private remand centre, Carver's Correctional. I'm serious.

Look, I've got to ask you, Frank.

What's in it for you?

Maybe I'm getting sentimental in my old age, Graham.

Really?

OK.

Free this evening?

Choose whatever you like. Money, no object.

You mean I can have starters and a pudding?

I love the way you enjoy your food.

No, I do.

It's like the way you enjoy life, you...

Go on, feed the menu.

I know what you like. It takes you half the evening to decide.

Okay, okay.

So, let's recap.

Briefly, you jointly own the house in Chiswick.

Frank, you have any number of interlinked companies?

Seventeen.

Tessa, you own the Ready Teddy factory outright.

Only until she manages the Tony Little commune. Why did the merest thought of

consulting one's employees bring out the total fascist in you?

Well, maybe it's because I'm working class.

As it happens, I may not be going ahead with the reorganisation plans.

Oh, the workforce have blanked them, have they? I'm not surprised.

You're never surprised, are you, Frank? You know everything.

I'm really at a loss as to know why you haven't been invited to form a

government.

Although I believe your political career is about to commence.

What are you going on about now?

Perhaps we can get back to the matter in hand. You in this Home Office

Committee. It'll be Lord Carver soon, I expect.

Front bench spokesman on everything under the sun.

I was thinking of having a bit of a holiday before you go back.

Maybe we could go off somewhere for a few days.

Maxie, I'm leaving tomorrow.

You know me, I'm all impulse. I booked the flight.

Unbook it.

Oh, say.

You can't just leave tomorrow.

I haven't got used to the idea.

As it happens, I'm not even on the bloody working party anymore.

18 months of chatter followed by a report and nobody reads. Who needs it?

Typical. You've never had the stomach for the long haul, have you? You have

concentration span of a nap.

No stomach for the long haul. My whole life's been a long haul.

Ha! The way you try to romanticise your life. You're not the man in the iron

mask, you know.

Maybe you two should think about why you're here.

I'm not sure you're ready for divorce. You're still too involved with each

other.

I was going to the estate agents tomorrow. You could help me find a new

I'm sorry, Max. You know I'd love to help you find a new flat and furnish it

decorate it.

And now I'll only be worrying for weeks that you're going to choose some

dreadful wallpaper that clashes horribly with the cushions. Don't go yet, then.

What's a few weeks?

You're a terrible tempter.

But the thing is, if I do stay now, I'll have to go eventually, so... Shelley,

wait.

There must be something I can say.

All right.

Why should I stay, Maxie?

For me.

All right, here goes.

I know I cocked it up before.

I'm probably cocking it up now, but I have to say it.

I want us to be more than mate.

You see, the thing is... I love you.

Come on, then, let's go to the opera.

Pretend I never spoke.

Max, I don't want to go to the opera now.

Well, what do you want?

You know, ever since our last time, I've been thinking, when's he going to try

again?

Why didn't you say something?

Wouldn't life be boring if people went round saying things to each other?

Frank, I warned you, and he's caught the whole thing.

Well, they threw them up here and made them, huh?

That's the idea.

Because the kids down here accept an achievement.

They think it's something they've built themselves rather than something they've

broken into.

But the local council can't go on funding the project.

There's no money for federal government until the end of the financial year. The

shutters go up.

No, they don't.

I'll see to that.

How's she been? She's been fretful. She's very hot. She's quiet now, but

been crying. I've given her some Calpol.

Come on. Come on, sweetheart.

What is it?

Yes, you're hot.

Come on.

Hello, Frank.

Hi.

I just popped into the Chinese takeaway.

They always give you too much for one.

This is quite something.

Am I being painfully obvious?

No.

No.

Is this what you want?

That's what Tessa would expect.

I'm sorry.

I'm sorry. I don't know why I said that.

I do.

Right, then.

Where do you keep the chopsticks?

Her temperature's 102.

She's had some carpal.

Yes, yes, if you could.

You won't be long, will you?

Good.

Get that for me, would you?

Hello?

Hello?

Oh, yes, it's here.

I'm just not sure where.

Oh, here he is.

Hello?

Frank, it's me, Alison. Well, the doctor's here.

Yes, he wants me to take her to the hospital. Well, I'm going now.

Well, I don't know.

They have to do tests.

Well, he said meningitis.

Frank, I can't really talk.

I'm... I'll see you there, OK?

Yeah, of course. Right away.

I'm going to have to give her a lumbar puncture to draw off a little bit of

spinal fluid to have examined.

But I'll start on antibiotics right away.

It might be better if you wait somewhere else. I want to stay with Alice. Yes, I

know, but the tests I have to do would be upsetting for you to watch.

And there isn't really anything more you can do.

Come on.

No.

Come on. No, I... Come on.

No.

I ought to be with her.

Doctor said we have to wait.

There's nothing we can do.

stop him putting that needle in her.

I wanted to stop him trying to help her because I knew it was going to hurt her.

Oh, Frank.

She was fine when I picked her up from the crash this afternoon. She was

I couldn't see that there was anything wrong.

Even at bedtime when she was crying. Well, she always cries at bedtime.

Well, didn't it sound different? I mean...

I mean, I know a cry doesn't sound like one. No, it didn't sound any different.

Do you think I'd have left her?

Oh, Alice has got meningitis. I'll just pop out to the pictures before I phone

the doctor.

You know I didn't mean it like that.

I think you meant it exactly like that. I think you think it's my fault.

Oh, don't be bloody ridiculous.

How could I think that?

Look, if you're feeling guilty, don't try and turn it on to me. I'm not

guilty. I'm feeling bloody destroyed. Can't you just sit there and want to

with me?

I don't believe you, Frank.

Don't you feel anything?

You sit there all calm and collected. We're all the time out.

Look, don't tell me how I feel, all right?

You haven't got a clue how I feel.

You never have done.

You've never stopped thinking about me as a jolly plumber who came to your flat

and charmed your knickers off.

You haven't got that first idea about me, have you?

I dare not show you how I bloody well feel.

Because I've... Look, everything I've done, I've done for us. For me, you,

Alice, all right?

Anything happened to her?

We didn't have a...

Hang on.

Hang on.

Do you?

Do you?

What do you think?

Everything's just fallen to bits since Israel.

Sorry.

I couldn't just sleep.

Are you hungry?

I'm starving.

Are you?

I'd kill for a smoked ham and bagel with cream cheese on the side.

Then I'd get on to room service.

What on this time of night?

If the future Mrs. Taplow wants a bedtime feast.

The future Mrs. Taplow's had a bedtime feast.

You still want to.

You haven't changed your mind.

Yes, I have.

I won't get crumbs in the bed.

Who about marrying you?

I've changed my mind.

I think you're crazy, though, you know.

But I'll stay.

You don't have to marry me, you know.

I know I don't have to.

I want to.

I don't want you saying after a year, well, I think I'll go back to Israel

Funny, you know.

I always thought I'd end my days in Tel Aviv.

I always dreaded I'd end mine in Battersea.

I never thought this could happen to me.

Great, isn't it?

Yes.

But are you prepared for the big Jewish wedding?

Yeah.

I won't have to be snickered, will I?

Circumcised?

No, Maxie.

You're safe in my hands.

I know.

It's getting late.

I'm trying to imagine life without her.

And I can't.

It's unimaginable.

I know.

All over the world, a kid gets killed every minute. It never gets to you.

Until it's your own.

It kicks you right in the pit of your stomach.

You're right.

It's okay.

It's not meningitis.

It's just one of a thousand nameless viruses children pick up.

We'll keep her in for what's left of tonight, and you can take her home in

morning.

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

Sorry?

You're bloody relieved.

So am I.

Can we go and see her? Of course.

Come on.

Come on.

I'll stay here till she wakes up. You can go.

Hey, hold on. I want to be here when she wakes up, too.

Anyway, we've got things to talk about.

What things?

Well, in a word, us. I mean, you and me.

Frank, I'm too tired.

The friars, haven't we talked enough?

Yeah.

We both talked a lot, but neither of us listened at all.

What do you want, Tess?

The antibiotics have knocked her out.

Coffee?

Petco.

I'm not going into work.

Laverne can hold the fort.

Yeah, well... I wanted to take out my checkbook in that hospital. I wanted to

say, I'll pay you anything you want.

Only make my baby well again.

Forget the others, save mine.

It's human nature.

I suppose it gave me an insight into how you think.

The Verne calls me a control freak, but I'm not, not, not, not, not compared to

you.

You want to control everything.

You want to make everything wonderful for everybody.

But you can't always do that, Frank.

It doesn't leave enough breathing space.

Yeah.

Frank?

Yes?

I don't know. I just don't want you to walk out that door.

Neither do I.

See you.

Sure?

Unless we can remember how to make this thing fun again.

You probably find this hard to believe.

I seem to have run out of coffee.

Love hurts.

It can lead to crying.

Love hurts.

It can turn you upside down. Oh, how love hurts.

So you'd better run and hide. But remember.

Love hurts you just the same

Love

hurts you just the same