Original subtitles

(FLIES BUZZING)

(BIRDS SQUAWKING)

(SCREECHING)

(BLOWS NOSE) Ugh.

In my nose!

Why would you want to be in there?

Oh.

(GRUNTS)

Oh, God.

Oh, look at you all...

- Flea-ridden. - (GROANS)

We'll have to have this party indoors.

What? No.

No, I've spent ages rigging up Gerry's rope ride.

(SIGHS)

I loath insects.

So unimaginative.

Gerry, nature is a disgrace.

Don't be mean to him on his birthday.

Maybe we can distract the bugs.

What, tell them there's a big, open pot of jam in Corfu town?

No. Start a fire, or...

You all think I'm an idiot, don't you?

I've been trying to think of anecdotes about Gerry's life.

And apart from ruddy animal stories, there aren't any.

Or photos.

Last child syndrome.

You know, it's not fair.

He's my little boy, and if we don't have any memories about him,

we'll have to make them up.

That's ridiculous.

There's nothing better than a children's birthday party, is there?

Gerry has changed.

Oh, good. Yes, we must all change.

Not change clothes.

She means he's growing up.

(INSECTS BUZZING)

Argh!

(THEME MUSIC PLAYING)

LOUISA: Gerry! Gerry, I've got a cake bowl for you to lick!

Yum-yum!

(BUZZING)

Leslie.

I told you we need to have the party indoors.

Oh, God, one's got in!

Just please come inside. This is hopeless.

No, no. It'll be amazing.

When Gerry comes down this, he'll feel like a bird.

But we've got pass the parcel.

He wants something more manly than that.

We're like three peculiar brides.

Oh, yes, I'm very hot in here.

Yes, this isn't going to work, is it?

No. No.

I hate being indoors.

Reminds me of being in Bournemouth.

So how is your Gerry anecdote coming along, Margo?

I'll do the time we were shopping and we lost him,

and we found in the sweet shop

telling the shopkeeper he was a lord and deserved more sweets.

Oh. I don't remember that.

MARGO: No, it didn't happen. You said make something up.

Yes.

MARGO: You do like to manage our lives, don't you?

Parties are much work.

Yes, pleasure often is.

Surprise yourself, Lugaretzia. Relax.

Wear a bloody colour.

I wonder if Gerry's little girlfriend is coming to the party.

He's not old enough for a girlfriend.

Daphne's well enough to come, I hope.

Of course.

Pregnancy isn't an illness.

Are you actually telling me, mother of four, what pregnancy is?

Well, you've probably forgotten.

What's happening with you and Daphne? I can't keep up.

She and I are good friends,

who through no fault of our own

are having a baby together.

It's all very modern.

Well, I'm intensely modern, but what's wrong with a bit of romance?

"Gerry says his first word."

"Tortoise."

Oh, have you wrapped the "pass the parcel" parcel?

The "pass the parcel" parcel.

Yes.

Well, I hope you put in it what I said.

- (CLEARS THROAT) - Not a French letter as you threatened.

We'll have to find out, won't we.

Spiros.

Drinks,

glasses, cutlery,

and Leslie's favourite little sausages.

Now it's a party.

Thank you, Spiros.

Do stay and relax.

Yes, hang up your stylish headwear.

(LAUGHING)

Uh, I'm sorry.

I will bring the rest in.

He's not his usual blithe and festive self, is he?

He, he hasn't been for a while.

Good. Can't stand people who are jolly all the time.

Well, I like them.

Ha! The birthday boy.

Are you looking forward to the fun and games?

Can we please not make a fuss?

But it's your birthday! We have to.

And it's not really about you.

Fine. But no speeches.

Or actual games.

But lots of people who love you are coming,

so, we may say a few words.

In between the games.

(GASPS) What's the matter with him?

Well, you know Gerry. Probably just missing his animals.

Yes, you're right. Let's bring some indoors.

(SPEAKS GREEK)

- (BRAYS) - LUGARETZIA: Oh.

(BLEATS)

(GOAT BLEATING)

Gerry!

Happy now, poppet?

Thank you?

No, you mustn't...

Ugh.

What the hell is wrong with Gerry?

It's his birthday.

He needs to have fun.

And I'm going to make sure he gets it.

(GOAT BLEATS)

WOMAN 1: (LAUGHS) WOMAN 2: It smells wonderful, yes?

You need to breed certain wild species in captivity.

Otherwise, they will just disappear.

The problem is that we need to find a way to help them

to adjust back to their natural environment.

And how are Gerry's studies going

since I had to give up tutoring him after he wrestled me to the ground?

Excellent.

Yes, his French is every bit as good as his arithmetic now.

Ah. And how good is that?

We're surprised by how good it is.

Ah!

Well, I had holidays in Scotland as a child,

so I'm used to plagues of midges.

Ah, the old Mac-midges.

Aye.

(IN SCOTTISH ACCENT) Buzzin' round the house.

Aye! (LAUGHS)

- We can do better than that. - Yes.

Have you met my niece, Nelly? She's 17.

Visiting from Batley.

Hello, I'm Larry.

As in "Happy as".

Happy as what?

(STUTTERS) Happy as Larry.

Oh, well.

Nelly's come to help look after the baby.

Hmm. How is that going?

Dreadful.

Oh. Sausages.

So, no help whatsoever.

But awash with northern charm.

Ah, I think you've found your look, Zoltan.

Are you all right, Spiros?

Yes.

No, this isn't you.

Where's the buoyant Spiros?

Dead.

I'm his miserable twin brother, Roy.

Bad things happened to me.

What bad things?

- Roy? - As you're here, Petrides,

my knee is doing odd things.

I'm afraid this evening I'm not a doctor.

Please. I can hear it in bed, creaking.

(MAKES CREAKING SOUNDS)

- Here. - No.

Darwin is interesting about the gender gap in relation to natural selection.

Yeah, but what did Darwin know?

Just an old bloke in a white beard.

(LAUGHS) Well, he evolved into the white beard

from a face like yours.

Time for some games.

THEO: Hurrah!

Apple bobbing contest!

(CHUCKLES)

Right.

- Now, Gerry... - I'll let someone else do it.

- Mr Kralefsky. - Oh, with pleasure.

I love to bob!

No. No, thank you. You'll never get up again.

- Oh, I'll have a go. - Leslie.

No, no, no. I'm a respectable policeman.

(KRALEFSKY MUMBLING)

- Go on then. - Oh.

Must be the highest average age for apple bobbers ever.

One minute,

no hands, imagine you're a goat.

- A goat? - (BLOWS WHISTLE)

Argh!

(WATER SPLASHING)

(BLOWS WHISTLE) Oh!

(LOUISA CLAPS)

Slightly, uh, less weirdly...

Who'd like to fly through the air like a bird?

On my thrilling birthday ride of death!

Well, that's not gonna attract people, is it?

KRALEFSKY: I would like to try again with bananas.

I am always much better with bananas.

Well, give someone else a go.

- Larry? - No, thank you.

(SIGHS)

(FLIES BUZZING)

Daphne! You came.

I slept all day to be lively now.

There you go.

Easy does it.

A glass of wine for the pregnant lady.

Here.

So, that's all... That's all fine.

I've been reading books about having a baby.

I see it may cause gas and bloating.

Yeah.

For me or for you?

- (LAUGHS) - Daphne!

DAPHNE: Hello, ladies.

Can anyone guess why Spiros is being moody?

Perhaps his children are annoying him.

Does that happen?

- Oh, Sven, Florence. - Yeah.

Why don't you come and have a go

on my thrilling aerial safety-trapeze as I'm now calling it?

Love to! But I want to live.

I've got water in my head.

All right, then. I'll demonstrate. Come on.

(CLAPS) Upstairs.

Spiros is sick and will not live.

Oh. Who did you hear that from?

No, you say,

"Guess what is wrong."

What?

Always remember to hold on tight.

Nobody else is going down, Leslie.

Also, always bend your knees as you make the...

You're letting in bugs.

Oh!

(GRUNTS)

(GUESTS LAUGHING)

You know, I've been having some

exotic dreams recently.

Oh!

What about?

(WHISPERS) You don't want to know.

Hmm?

Oh. Hmm.

You look horribly solemn.

I hate to interrupt the slightly subdued fun.

But we'd love to say a few words about Gerry on his birthday.

You only turn 12 once.

- Thirteen. - Isn't he 13?

That would be twice.

Oh, yeah. Right, sorry.

Anyway,

Gerald.

He loves an animal, as you're all already aware of.

(DONKEY BRAYS)

Yes, thank you.

But to us,

he'll always be the eternal baby of the family.

Though the youngest in a crowded family,

we have so many happy memories of him.

We really do.

Oh. Margo.

MARGO: Yes.

We were out shopping once.

Probably for gin, as it was mother's drinking years.

Yes, thank you.

And we looked around, and Gerry was lost.

But we found him in another shop.

Oh, crap. Did I miss something out?

LARRY: As Mark Twain said,

"There has never been as yet an uninteresting life."

He clearly hasn't met my uncle, Geoffrey.

(SNICKERS)

No, he's fine.

But picture this scene from Gerry's youth.

The Durrell family were at a civic unveiling...

Oh, I love this one, sweetie.

- This is... - Yes.

I'm just trying to do something special for him...

LARRY: Gerry looks the mayor in the eye,

and says, "Oh, I don't know what you call it,

"but that looks like an arse to me."

- THEO: Oh! - (LAUGHING)

LOUISA: Thank you, Larry.

(LAUGHS) Yes.

LOUISA: And now, if you'll all join me

in raising a glass to Gerry

- on his 12th birthday. - It's my 13th birthday.

I'm 13. Everyone knows except you.

Well, yes. Oops.

No, not "Oops."

You keep treating me like an infant. I knew you'd embarrass me.

Do you think I'm stupid?

I know all those stories are made up.

And you know I'm a vegetarian now,

and what do you do?

You cut ham into the shape of carrots for me.

Why won't you just let me grow up?

LARRY: Come on, Gerry.

Hopeless.

Gerry, it's all right.

And this "pass the parcel"...

Leave me alone!

What a lovely baby dog.

LOUISA: It's me.

(KNOCKING ON DOOR)

He hates me.

Little wretch.

How dare he not warm to our finely honed reminiscences?

Oh, I just want to hold him and squeeze him, like he's five again.

Well, that is his point.

He's leapt forward.

Haven't you noticed? The average age of his human friends

is about 50.

Yes, but that's another reason to treat him like a child.

He was so angry with me.

(SIGHS)

Look at these.

Gerry wrote this just after we arrived in Corfu.

And this one last week.

They're historical documents.

Gerry's going to be a really good writer.

I'm proud.

You're all just moving further away from me every year.

You know, the last time you let me brush your teeth for you,

or the last time you let me hold your hand

as we walked across the road.

And look what replaces that.

Living as equals, us helping you for once.

Holding your hand, helping you cross the road.

(SNIFFLES)

Right. Well, from now on,

I'm going to treat Gerry like a 13-year-old.

Or 14, to be on the safe side.

Hmm.

(FLIES BUZZING)

(SNORTS)

(KNOCKING ON DOOR)

(GUESTS LAUGHING)

Let's be miserable sons of the bitches together.

Gerrys.

You are sad because you are

at the start of your adult life,

and it can be hell.

And I am sad because,

suddenly, it feels

like I'm at the end of mine.

(STRUMS GUITAR)

(SINGING IN GREEK)

(ROGER BARKS)

So, the first person to pin the tail on the donkey...

Well, touch it, as it's alive,

- wins. - Yes.

Go!

- Go slow. - Left.

Okay, right. It's more to the right.

MARGO: Be careful with the animals, doctor.

Careful, careful.

MARGO: Sir, he's cheating. He has to go the other way.

(SPEAKING GREEK)

(KNOCKING ON DOOR)

Gerry threw me out of his room.

It smells of animals, and the sloth scares me.

- Right. - Larry,

I will teach you songs that will make you cry

hot tears of sorrow.

Where did you find my guitar?

- (PELICAN HONKS) - SPIROS: Gerry was hiding it.

- Because you are so bad. - LARRY: What?

MARGO: Leslie, what are you doing? You're cheating.

LESLIE: I'm not cheating. I'm protecting my unborn child.

MARGO: Turn around!

- MARGO: Fruity, fruity. - That's it Daphne, come on!

I can smell you.

Well, you've had practice with Leslie.

MARGO: Sven, you're cheating.

Gerry worships you, you know that.

He won't if I keep getting it wrong.

Well, I was a bit surprised you hadn't noticed.

Gerry's been the most mature person in your family for years.

(LESLIES LAUGHS)

- That's okay. - (SPEAKS GREEK)

LESLIE: Battle begins, men.

You're right.

Fine. Change of plan.

I found it.

- (CHEERING AND CLAPPING) - (DONKEY BRAYS)

(SQUEAKS)

(KNOCKING ON DOOR)

It's Theo.

How's the party?

- (GUESTS LAUGHING) - Lively.

Your outburst lit the touch paper on the evening.

I shouldn't have done it.

I just couldn't shut myself up.

Your mother can't always get it right. She loves you.

Love's easy.

It's not embarrassing me that's the hard part.

Embarrassment is temporary,

love is eternal.

I promise I didn't get that out of a Christmas cracker.

Make her feel less bad.

I don't know why,

but I've never been very good

with emotional words.

Hello.

Hello.

I'm sorry I miscalculated your age.

I brought you a beer.

Thank you.

Yup. Tastes good.

Ah. It's a shandy, actually,

but there's a lot of beer in it.

Do come join us.

- When you feel ready. - I will.

(GUESTS CHATTERING INDISTINCTLY)

Let's play.

- MARGO: Yes, perfect. - I love to see

knowledge being passed on.

Easy does it.

- Whoo! - MARGO: Ah, you got it.

I can't have it.

LESLIE: Come on, Zoltan, that's it.

- Oh! - It's okay.

Zoltan, what was that?

Squeeze harder, Pavlos.

LESLIE: That's it, Zoltan.

Come on, come on, come on. Pick up the pace.

Yes!

- Yes, we won. Even with a setback. - (LAUGHING)

(SPEAKING IN GREEK)

(SPIROS SINGING AND PLAYING GUITAR)

(SINGING IN GREEK)

(MUMBLING)

All right, I must just go.

- Now, I will translate. - Ah.

"I feel dead inside.

"I am crying all the time.

"We are in the...

(HUMS) "We are in the..."

- What is it? - In the way?

In the conservatory?

No. Er, "We are in..."

Wouldn't you prefer a cheerier song?

# I'm Henry the eighth, I am

# She wouldn't have a Willy or a Sam

# I'm a bit of a dope I am

# Dum-dum-da-da-dum #

(CLEARS THROAT)

Yes, now I can see that wouldn't work.

I should really be downstairs helping.

- One more, one more. - (SIGHS)

(STRUMMING)

(LAUGHING)

Yes.

Spiros says

divide the cube root of 64 in half,

and give the answer in your second language.

- Dyo! - Two!

Deux.

- Two. - Wait.

Spiros says,

shake your scaphoid bone in the air.

- Yay! - (LAUGHS)

Get down on the floor and roll over.

Yes.

- Bye, Margo. - He didn't say "Spiros says."

I'm not playing any more.

- Oh! - Margo...

Come on, Pavlos.

Yay, Gerry.

Gerry!

LOUISA: Ah, Gerry.

Have you met Florence's niece Nelly, properly?

Uh, no. Good evening.

How do?

Oh, why don't you two join me in the kitchen,

where it's quieter.

Leslie, I'm looking forward to...

Oh, busy here.

Ah, well, come through.

I'm looking...

(GOAT BLEATS)

(DOOR SHUTS)

- I'm looking forward... - (DOOR OPENS)

(EXHALES)

(CHUCKLES)

I'm looking forward to our baby's parties.

- (LAUGHS) - Right.

So, are you scared of having the baby?

Oh, no.

Why spoil the joy by being scared?

There. That's much nicer.

Now you can get to know each other quietly in here.

FLORENCE: No, come on. Don't be boring.

The party gets better and better.

(SIGHS)

I hope that's reassured you.

Although it looked angry, it's perfectly harmless.

(SPEAKS GREEK)

Are you sure, Pavlos?

- Yes. - (FLIES BUZZING)

(PRAYS IN GREEK)

(SCREAMS)

(WHIMPERING)

I'll get a ladder.

(DOORS SHUTS)

I hear Yorkshire has some stunning habitats for...

For birds of prey.

Does it?

Yes.

Mmm. It's a good beer.

I don't like beer.

Glad you said that. Nor do I.

Why am I sitting here with you?

I've no idea.

Thank you.

It was nice here,

with you, but I don't think we could ever be boyfriend and girlfriend.

What are you going on about?

You're a flaming kid, I'm a worldly-wise woman.

(SCOFFS)

Argh!

Stupid, embarrassing mother.

- So, you like me more now? - (CHUCKLES)

You know I always liked you.

Just, when this happened,

when you stopped being Daphne and became the mother of a child

I thought I didn't want.

And now?

Come here.

- (THUDDING) - (MUFFLED STRUMMING AND SINGING)

Goodbye.

It's important that men are sad together sometimes.

No, it isn't. And I wasn't sad

until you dragged me into your crucible of despair.

I'm starting to envy the bugs who knock themselves out on the window.

Sorry...

I'm going downstairs, on the off chance that anyone's still there.

Come on!

Apart from anything, mother is twice as happy whenever you're around.

But first, quickly, and without singing about it,

you have to tell me, what is the matter with you?

People change.

Sometimes you feel that you know someone.

But it turns out,

you don't.

Who are you talking about?

(BUZZING)

(PIANO MUSIC PLAYING)

Dancing and drinking!

- (LAUGHING) - (PARTY HORN BLOWS)

MAN: I'm not a very good dancer, so...

You need to talk to Spiros.

Oh, what's happened?

He said not to tell you, but...

His wife has left him.

WOMAN: Dance with me.

(GUESTS CLAMOURING)

(ROGER BARKS)

(KNOCKING ON DOOR)

Galini!

I wanted to come before, but I was looking after my little brother.

It's okay.

Happy birthday.

Oh, it is now you're here.

(CHUCKLES)

Oh, it's the dog worming powder I need.

Thank you so much.

Pa-pa-pa-pa-pa, hey!

(ALL SINGING)

Come on!

What's that?

This? Oh, nothing really.

"Do you understand me at all?

"No surprise the young fly the nest

"to make their own way in freedom

"without your suffocating embrass."

Gerry didn't mean it. He's just experimenting

- with verse... - It's all right.

Gerry's not the first angry adolescent, I just...

I just thought I was his friend, as well as his parent.

Come on. That never works.

Friendships are two-a-penny.

Why would you want that when you're his mother?

And, a stonking row is much more illuminating than civility.

(GUESTS SINGING AND LAUGHING)

It has never been the same

since I single-handedly defended an innocent postmistress

from an unruly mob.

- (GOAT BLEATS) - Oh.

There were a dozen of them

hell-bent on stealing postal orders.

No more doctoring. I'm here to enjoy myself!

Oh, wait!

LESLIE: Wait, wait, everyone come back.

We can't hear the music.

(SPEAKING IN GREEK)

FLORENCE: Oh, come on.

We have to go home.

- What? - Now, where did I leave the baby?

Oh, yes. Kitchen.

Nelly!

Ten years learning to become a doctor.

I should have followed my dream, become a dancer.

Yes, darling. Come on.

A dancer?

Oh, yes. A dancer.

(ALL SINGING)

(SNORTS)

(INSECTS BUZZING)

As Gerry's been making a fuss about being older,

let me round off the evening with this note of levity.

(DAPHNE LAUGHS)

Although, as a policeman, I should advise you

that vandalism can carry a sentence...

Oh, you shut up.

You look like you're finally in love.

Are you happy to be having a baby?

Well,

it's been a very emotional evening.

No, it's fine. I'll answer.

Yes, I am glad we're having a baby.

And I'm ashamed it took me this long to feel that way.

Blimey.

Excellent.

Since we're getting everything out in the open...

No, I'll only mess it up.

I have to go.

You can tell me anything. You know that, don't you?

Or any of us.

You're like the sixth Durrell.

Unless that's a depressing thought.

You already have the sixth Durrell.

Tell Gerrys

happy birthday.

Everyone's changing.

Except me, actually.

LESLIE: Come on, let's walk you home.

DAPHNE: Thank you. MARGO: And I'll walk you home.

Thank you.

I'm sorry, Frank.

You're the only young male available.

Do you mind me talking to you like this?

Everyone else seems to have a partner.

Well, except Larry, and God knows who he's got lined up.

And perhaps Spiros.

And he's gone.

(FRANK GRUNTS)

(DOOR OPENS)

Get some sleep.

I'll go downstairs and make up a bed for Galini.

No.

Stay.

Thank you for throwing me a birthday party.

I enjoyed it.

Oh, look, your pants are on fire.

(CHUCKLES)

Now, I feel like I'm always messing up and having to apologise to you,

but I won't apologise for wanting you to stay 12 forever.

Because I will always love you.

But you are especially perfect right now.

Or I was when I was 12.

Because I'm 13 now.

Oh, yes. Yes, so I gather.

And I'll always love you too.

I know you saw my

attempted poem,

but, that was a, well... Let's call it a first draft.

This is what I really mean.

- Oh, right. - Hmm.

"You understand me completely, with occasional lapses,

"and when I fly away, it will always be to return to your embrace,

"here, in this mad warm nest of love,

"where one day I will make you a zoo.

"It's what you've always wanted, trust me."

Thank you.

Two highly-strung writers in the house.

(SNIFFLES) No wonder I'm weeping.

Night-night.

(MUFFLED THUDDING)

(MUFFLED MOANING)

Dr Petrides?

Is that you?

I heard you're kindly,

giving discreet consultations in the cupboard.

(SCREAMS)

(CLEARS THROAT) Hello.

Thank you for a lovely party, Mrs Durrell.

(CHUCKLES SOFTLY)

Where did she spring from?

It is a party, isn't it?

(EXHALES)

LARRY: I'll walk you home. Well, part way home.

LARRY: Right, let's go.

(KNOCKING ON DOOR)

(DOOR CLOSES)

Mrs Durrells.

Spiros.

I think you know already.

My wife has left me.

Oh, Spiros.

And taken the children to her mother in Athens.

I couldn't tell you because...

I'm ashamed

that I, er...

I have let my family break apart.

No.

Why has she gone?

I don't know.

I lend money and I lose it.

I spend too much time with other people,

including you.

Ah...

Maybe we're different now.

And she...

She has just fallen out of love with me.

What do you feel about her?

I don't know.

I just can't bear not having

my children near me.

Anyway,

I'm glad I've told you.

It is not easy.

The house seems very quiet.

I'm sure.

I must go.

I saw several couples on the road walking home.

I should drive them.

If I can't be happy, at least they can.

You know, you can...

Be happy.

(DOOR SHUTS)

(THEME MUSIC PLAYING)