Original subtitles

-- This programme contains strong language and scenes some viewers may find distressing

Being a carer is all about...

..acknowledging and, you know, preserving the residents' dignity.

You know, I've been told, I've been told before

that I'm very good at making people feel comfortable.

Very, you know, I'm very social,

very sociable person, very personable,

very personable...

..very personable.

Like to have a laugh, like to go... like to have a

Don't say you like have laugh.

She's not your mate.

Ow!

-- Hello. -- Hi. I'm Sarah Bain. I'm here for the interview.

DOOR ENTRY BUZZES

RADIO PLAYS

-- It's just down there, love.

-- Excuse me, I'm looking for Steve.

WHISPERING: -- Follow me. Be quick.

Go on, then.

We've been given the honour

of getting tea and that for the candidate.

-- You're the only candidate.

-- Er, tea, please, yeah.

Ta.

-- Milk and sugar? --One and a half, please.

-- You mean two. --No, she means one and a half.

-- That's not a number, is it?

-- Well, it is a number, it's one and a half.

I'm sorry. He's rude.

I'm Tony, by the way.

He's Kenny.

-- After Kenny Dalglish, easy.

Where he's named after milkman his mum used to play dominoes with.

-- Ask him how old he is, ask him when Dalglish made his debut.

-- My dad was a fortune teller.

A point to me. -- Tit.

-- Sarah, is it? -- Yeah.

-- Thank you, lads.

So what brings you to residential care?

-- Well, I've got me Level 1

in Preparing to Work in Adult Social Care... -- Going to stop you there.

This job is about treating people with dignity.

-- Of course. --This is their home that we work in.

So I'm not just employing any old knobby-knobstopper to wipe an arse.

-- Have I upset you?

-- You sent your CV and, well, your skills are joking

and your work's not much better.

-- You know, I just... I haven't found a good fit,

and I think, given the opportunity...

-- You think 53 hours of your Level 1 makes you ready for this?

-- Did I say that? -- Cos you might be trusted to pull a pint,

but sitting with a scared old man while he's trying to work out

what a fork is... --All right, Alan Sugar!

Yeah, you see me, but I see you as well.

-- Do you know how many people... -- You came in here absolutely certain...

-- ..with this precious Level 1... --..I was a waste of time.

-- ..and they last no more than I week. --Well, I won't even last that long.

Stick your job.

Do you know, me grandad had Alzheimer's and I was only young,

but I remember...I remember singing and dancing with him and I thought,

"Do you know, if I can help someone else like that,

"maybe I'll feel less like shit."

So I understand dignity.

But from the way that you've carried on, I'm not sure that you do.

-- You'll do fine.

You can start Monday. -- Whatever.

-- I was baiting you.

-- SHE EXHALES

ENGINE STARTS

ENGINE REVS

-- Stop!

You wanted tea.

I'm not supposed to be out here unsupervised,

but I learnt the door code

and I wrote it down.

-- OK. -- They'll change the code now.

That's all right. I'll risk that.

Cos I like you.

-- WHISPERS: Fucking hell.

-- Tony!

Tony, come on, lad.

In!

-- Ta-ra.

-- I'll see you Monday.

-- So?

-- I got it.

-- Look at you! -- What's that screaming? --She got the job, Bob.

-- I'll give her five minutes before she fucks it. -- Bob, don't.

-- I say it, you think it.

-- I won't mess up, not this time. --Did you take the car? -- Yeah.

-- She took the car today. It's my turn. -- Well, she had her interview.

-- Doesn't mean she can take my keys. --I paid for the car.

-- Car's for all the family. Messed up there, didn't you?

-- And what did you do today, Dad, eh?

Did you scratch your right bollock or left? -- I see you...

..even if she doesn't.

-- DOOR ENTRY BUZZES

-- Hello, love. You having a sad day?

-- Thelma?

Are you all right? Where are you going?

-- TV ON

QUIET CONVERSATION

-- You get nothing.

-- Don't I now?

-- Bill's just delivering the post, if you'll excuse us? -- Yeah.

-- Nothing for her. -- No, love, not yet.

-- Any for me, Bill?

I'll take that as a no.

Follow me to the office, please.

So what we have here is a one week induction...

..with two days training on the floor.

The first six weeks of probationary but I'll do my best by you.

Nights, you know, they're generally OK.

I've switched my shifts so I can be doing your induction,

so it's all joined up.

Right, uniform.

Me mum chose the colour.

Used to be hers, all this. -- OK.

-- I think it makes it look like you work in a tuck shop

or on Play School or whatever shit they watch these days,

I haven't got kids.

I'll let you get changed, then, and when I come back,

give you the guided tour, lay out a few don'ts and do's.

-- KNOCK ON DOOR

-- I need the phone. -- Oh, eh! --I need the phone. -- Yeah, yeah.

Yeah, you're OK.

HE DIALS

RINGING TONE

-- Er, police.

Hello, my name's Steve Frobisher.

I'm calling from Bright Sky Care Home.

One of our residents has gone missing.

His name is Tony Connell.

He's 47 years old.

He has young onset Alzheimer's.

Jeans and a blue jacket, I think.

Well, he hasn't been seen since tea.

Yeah, thank you. All right.

Well, someone will be here to answer this number.

-- CLICKS FINGERS --OK, thank you. OK, thank you. Bye.

You with me now. -- But... -- Come on.

-- Ooh!

-- I know where he'll probably be - he'll have gone to his mum's.

Have you got this? Cos I need her with me.

-- Well, there's only two of us. Are you kidding? -- We'll be quick.

-- My feet hurt.

-- Oh, that's because you've been walking over my heart all day, pal.

Come on, let's have a sit-down.

-- You'll know her...

..by her foot

The smallest gamboge hand

Fingers where the toes should be

Would more affront the sand.

-- That's beautiful.

This is his route.

I can't watch for him, you can, both windows.

You remember his face, right?

-- He's a bit young, isn't he, for all this?

-- It happens more than you think, you know.

Probably been ill for a while with the Alzheimer's,

but his mum was masking it.

Anyway, she dies and he sets fire to the back kitchen,

ends up walking down the street half naked. -- Shit.

-- Police pick him up and he's like, "Don't touch me, don't touch me!"

You know the sort of thing? -- No.

-- A few evaluations later and a brain scan or two and he moves in with us.

He's a lovely fellow...

..but can't keep him still for love nor money.

-- There.

There he is.

There. -- Good girl, good girl.

-- INDICATOR CLICKS

-- Tony, come on, mate.

Tony! Tony!

Come on. -- Going back to me ma.

-- Tony, come on, mate. -- Get your fucking hands off me, will ya?!

-- Tony, come on. You're going to get me into trouble

with the police again like last time.

-- Who the fuck are you to talk to me like that? -- Tony...

You're just confused, mate. --Do you want to go? -- Come on.

It's only Steve. --I was expecting a big hello here

and this is what you do.

One and a half sugars.

-- I've got to get back to me ma.

She needs me.

She worries about me when I'm not there.

-- Why, were you a naughty boy at school, was you?

-- Sometimes, yeah. -- Oh, she had a right to worry, then, didn't she?

SHE CHUCKLES

-- Well, do you want to come back to ours?

Me ma makes the best scouse in the world.

-- Oh, I love scouse, especially with a load of HP.

Can you tell me her recipe?

-- No, she'd rather die.

She is dead, isn't she?

-- HE SNIFFLES

-- I forgot me ma was dead.

-- We're going to take you home, Tony.

-- I'm going home. -- Somebody else lives there now, Tony.

The council, they've given that to someone else.

-- You have a bed in a home with us - Bright Sky Homes, do you remember?

Bright Sky.

-- Poster on me wall.

Bruce Grobbelaar, Alan Kennedy...

..Phil Neal...

Mark Lawrenson, Alan Hansen,

Sammy Lee, Ronnie Whelan, Craig Johnston...

..Ian Rush, Kenny Dalglish...

..Graeme Souness...

Fierce player, Souness, wasn't he? --Yeah.

-- He was me favourite.

-- HE EXHALES

Come on, Tony.

Hey, come and show me your poster.

Hmm?

ENGINE STARTS

You all right? -- Oh, hey.

So, we've got six breakfasts due, and we're behind on feeds.

-- How did we get behind on feeds?

-- Needed a hand with the meds order. We're behind.

Seniors are behind, we're behind.

Do you want to make a start on Gloria's pad change?

Then lead on to Hercules' breakfast?

-- Oh, yeah, I get pads, do I?

-- What, you think she'll let me do it?

-- OK, time for downstairs.

-- I know.

-- Oh, I've got a joke about that, actually.

-- About my bits? -- No!

But it is a bit naughty.

-- I like naughty. -- OK.

Now, there's this little boy called Liam, and he goes downstairs

in the middle of the night and he asks his dad for a cup of water...

-- Oh, they do that.

-- And his dad says, "Jesus, Liam, that's the 15th one

"you've asked for tonight."

-- Oh, it's difficult when they won't asleep.

-- And he says, "I know it's the 15th, Dad,

"but me room's still on fire."

It's not a great joke.

Are you ready for me to start downstairs now?

-- Will you tell me that joke again?

-- There's this little boy called Liam... -- Yes.

-- ..and he goes downstairs in the middle of the night,

and he asks his dad for a cup of water.

HERCULES MUTTERS INDISTINCTLY

OK, Hercules.

I need you to pop your teeth in before we do breakfast.

You don't like me doing it.

You bit me last time. Do you remember?

Come on, Herc, before we...

TRAY CLATTERS

Fuck's sake...!

HE MUTTERS

SARAH EXHALES

What? What are you pointing at? Eh?

What? Me hair?

SARAH LAUGHS

What about it?

Eh?

-- My mind to me a kingdom is,

therein such present joys I find,

that it excels all other bliss that Earth affords

or grows by kind.

Through much I want that most do have,

yet still my mind forbids to crave.

No princely pomp, no wealthy store,

no force to win the victory,

no wily wit to salve a sore,

no shape to feed a loving eye.

To none of these I yield as thrall.

For why?

My mind doth serve for all.

I see how plenty surfeits oft,

and hasty climbers soon do fall.

I see those that are aloft,

mischanche may threaten most of all.

They get with toil, they keep with fear.

Such cares my mind could never bear.

Content I live, this is my stay...

-- English teacher.

They always tell people to take the Christmas shift.

Not only is the pay better, but you actually have a good time.

-- Mm, it's nice.

-- And for some reason, at Christmas less people shit themselves.

-- Thank Santa for that. -- Yeah.

-- Lo, thus I triumph like a king,

content with what my mind doth bring.

-- That was beautiful, Polly.

-- What? -- I said, that was beautiful, Pol.

-- That was a young lady from Lancashire,

who succumbed to her lover's desire.

She said, "Oh, this is sin, but now that it's in,

"can you page push it a few inches higher?"

-- LAUGHTER AROUND ROOM

-- This is you and me when we went to the beach.

-- Get away! -- Dad, it's OK. --Go on, go on...

Get away from me. --Dad, it's me, Joan. It's OK.

-- Go. -- Herc?

OK, calm down, mate. --Just get her away from me.

-- Please, Dad, it's OK. --You're all right. It's all right.

-- Take her away, take her away. --It's Joan, it's your girl...

-- # Steal away, steal away.... #

-- SNACKS CRUNCHING

LAUGHTER FROM TV

GLORIA: -- She was out of her mind with grief,

and guilt, Catholic guilt...

It was all weird. But I just think she lived with the guilt.

-- No visitors?

-- Well, don't say that.

It's crowded enough in here with just me, myself and I.

You off home?

-- In a bit.

-- Do you know how to play Shithead?

-- LAUGHING: What?

-- It's a simple game, really.

You deal three card blind, three cards facing,

and you get three cards in your hand.

Right, the aim of the game is to get rid of all your cards.

Yeah? -- OK.

-- Highest card wins.

If you can't go higher, then you pick up from the pile.

Only cards that'll do you different is two - which means

you start again from two - or seven.

If I play a seven, you have to play lower then.

Or a ten, which is like a magic card, a ten clears the whole pile.

Capishe? --How do you remember all of that?

-- It's all right. Yeah, we'll pick up as we go along.

I never was a big fan of...

It'll come to me.

Christmas.

-- Well, why weren't you a fan?

-- Well, when my dad left, it was just me and Aunt Trisha.

We had to look after me mum.

That was hard.

Some days it was really messy.

And then after that doctor gave her her tablets, then...

..she never left the couch.

-- I remember one Christmas me Dad didn't get me anything.

No presents.

He says, "I told her

"if she weren't a good girl, she weren't going to get shit."

-- And were you?

Was you a good girl?

-- Well, I was in PRU at the time, so...

Oh, it's a pupil referral unit.

It's...it's basically where they put kids no school wants.

No! But I was 12!

Do you know what I mean? I was...

I think all 12-year-olds should get presents. Don't you?

-- Yeah. -- Yeah, well, the worst thing was me mum went along with it.

She's just as bad.

-- So you were a proper bad girl, then?

-- "Proper bad girl."

I did some damage.

-- Primary school, I'd lost me bouncy ball,

and the teacher couldn't find it, so I smashed every single light

in the classroom and got suspended for two weeks.

-- Oh, school disco, Sonia Sherbet.

Well, she called me a slag because I had boobs before her.

So I broke her nose. TONY LAUGHS

Yeah. Got moved schools for that.

-- GCSE, Maths.

I turned up late and I told my teacher I didn't have me...

..ne calculator, me ruler, and me, erm...

-- Pen. -- Pen, yeah, yeah.

So, erm... So he said to me I was too late

and he'd given them all out, so... I knocked him out.

I didn't get no GCSE though. --Neither did I.

THEY LAUGH

Third school they found me,

I remember nicking the keys off the caretaker,

and I let these mates of mine in...

..and they cleared out every computer they could find.

Yeah. They didn't know it was me.

Otherwise I probably would've been sent away. -- Yeah.

-- But I think the caretaker knew, but he didn't say anything, because...

Well, I mean, me mate was sucking him off at the time.

-- Fuck...! -- Yeah.

-- You win. --SARAH LAUGHS

Oh, I regret it all now.

-- What we playing?

-- Shithead.

-- Yeah.

A simple game, really.

You deal three cards blind,

then three cards facing,

then three cards in your hand.

Then the aim of the game is to clear all your cards, yeah?

-- Yeah, I know.

KEYS JANGLE

-- You're home late.

Hey, you missed a good one.

There's loads still to be cleaned there.

Your mam went to bed early.

Headache or something.

How were the old people?

-- Uh, really good.

Yeah.

-- I can smell them on you. Careful of that.

Sodium powder and piss.

That's what me dad smells of.

-- I think I smell fine, Dad.

-- Do they need anyone else there?

Do they need anyone? --Oh, fuck off.

You need to be able to lift them.

You know, and with your back...

-- You know, the food banks...

..they gave Christmas crackers this year.

Bloody proud of them they were, too.

"You like these crackers, don't you?" "Nice."

-- HE SCOFFS

-- Merry Christmas to them.

-- FURNITURE CLATTERS

CAR RADIO: --This is BBC Radio 5 Live.

Good morning, it's 6:36, it's Thursday, March 5.

A woman in her 70s has become the first person in the UK

to die after testing positive for coronavirus.

The Royal Berkshire Hospital, in Redding,

said she had underlying health issues.

The number of people infected in the UK has jumped again to 116...

-- SARAH CHANGES RADIO STATION

-- SHE SINGS ALONG TO MUSIC

Now, the secret with sheep is that they love easily,

and a way to make a sheep love you is to feed it.

So, my colleague there, Susan,

she's coming round with some feed to give you. So those of you

who are willing, get ready to be loved.

I can see you are, fella.

You're chomping at the bit like these are, aren't you?

Get ready. Three, two, one.

Go on! Spread some love.

That's it, straight in there.

That big one there, love, is Wonky.

Don't kiss him. He knows where you've been.

-- I can feel her heart.

-- Can you?

-- Very calming.

-- Hmm.

You can tell her a poem, if you like.

-- No, this is nice as it is.

-- Tickle him under his chin, he loves that, like me.

-- We've had word from the hospital,

we're going to be taking on a few more residents.

-- How many? -- Eight.

It's the virus thing.

They just need, you know, to make space,

get rid of a few long termers.

-- Well, is it safe, like? --They're doctors, love.

What, and you think I don't watch the news? I know.

This is us doing our bit.

Most of them should have been out years ago,

they're just blocking up beds.

We're being useful.

It's good. -- OK.

-- This is Stan, he's 85 years old.

-- Hiya, Stan.

-- Where's your mask?

-- Uh, I didn't knew we needed to wear them.

-- Who's your manager? --I'm the manager.

No masks unless you're around the infection, that's what we were told.

He's been tested, right? He's all clear?

-- It's above my station, that. Shall we get him in?

I've got five others to deliver today.

-- Yeah, let's get you somewhere comfortable, shall we, Stan?

AMBULANCE RADIO CHATTER

RADIO BEEPS

-- Right, I need to talk to you all about Covid-19 protocols.

-- We need more PPE. -- Let's not start out all aggressively, shall we?

-- We've got a box of this and a box of that

but mostly we've got a box of eff all.

-- Look, I am trying. I drove around every bloody chemist yesterday,

every one in the best part of Merseyside.

I couldn't get masks, I couldn't get alcohol wipes, couldn't get nothing.

And PHE don't give a shit. -- No, it's rationing, pure and simple.

They want to protect the NHS and care homes can just go to hell.

-- The guidance is face masks should only be worn

when within two metres of the infected

and we don't have any infected yet so we don't need to wear them, OK?

Cleaning - when in doubt, scrub with every disinfectant you can find.

And residents are to be fed in their rooms exclusively from now on.

-- Where are we supposed to find time for that? -- The priority has to be

keeping the residents apart, so we have to do a lockdown

inside the home. --But we carry it between them.

-- Then we have to be dead careful not to carry it between them.

As soon as we know there's a case, barrier nursing, OK?

Washing hands, erm...

Happy Birthday twice, or two verses of Ferry Cross The Mersey.

-- New masks, new aprons? Oh, no, we can't do that, can we?

-- And I'm banning visits. --What? -- Just till we know.

-- Hold on, there's no advice on that. --No, that's me.

I'm saying it's happening, for the sake of everyone here.

-- What about Bill? He sleeps in the lounge. What am I supposed to do?

-- Tell him to sleep in his own bloody bed for once.

One last thing, the laundry service have said that they can only do half

of what they did before so can we please

try and keep the sheets on the beds a little bit longer.

-- Oh, Steve, come on. If people are sick they need new sheets.

Do they not know that? --It's Covid protocol.

It's there to keep their staff apart. It's...

I don't know. It's annoying. It's all just annoying.

From midday we implement, OK? And I will find you your PPE.

-- REPORTER: -- There have been 92 care homes

where an outbreak has been detected.

One of the things we want to do is to extend the amount

of testing of people in care homes and the ability to test...

-- Where have you been?

-- Out. Why? Looking to grass me up are you?

-- You're not supposed to be going out.

-- You can cut the holier than thou crap. You're going to work.

-- I'm supposed to be in work. I'm needed in work.

-- Yeah, and they've all got it, and you're bringing it here,

so what's the problem? -- Because your divvy mates could infect you,

which could infect me, which could then infect my residents.

-- It's such shit. I'm young. I need to live my life - do something with it.

-- Yeah, you're really doing something with your life, aren't you?

-- Hey, hey, hey. You sound like your dad.

-- It's her, saying I can't go out.

-- If he infects me and then I infect them.

-- Well, there's a solution to that, isn't there?

Don't look at me like that.

We've coped without your wage before, we can cope again.

Come on now. -- I like it, Mum.

Actually, I'm good at it.

-- # Steal away

# Steal away

# Steal away to Jesus

# Steal away

# Steal away home

# I ain't got long... #

-- Kenny, can you go back into your room for me, please?

I'll get you fed as soon as I can. --I don't want to be fed.

I want to watch telly. --The lounge is closed.

I need to get all these dinners out.

Can we get you in here? I'll get your tray and bring it in for you.

-- I need to come in. --You can't be here right now.

-- I'm not leaving my dad in there knowing what's going on.

-- We'll sort something out, OK? --I need to see him now. Let us in.

-- Maybe you can talk to him through the window.

It's for the best for everyone. --It's not for me, is it, Steve?

-- Why can't you come in? --We're just not allowed in.

They're not allowed to let us near you. -- What do you mean?

-- It's not allowed. -- In case we catch this silly Covid thing.

-- Let's open the window, yeah? --No, no, we can't...

We can't open the window. --Why can't we?

-- No, no, we can't.

-- # Steal away

# Steal away home... #

-- KNOCKING Hello.

-- Can I go out today?

-- No, I'm afraid not, no.

-- I can't do this.

I've had it with being here. I don't fucking want to be here.

-- WINDOW RATTLES Calm down, Tony.

You know what we do, take a deep breath...

Tony! -- You take a fucking deep breath, eh!

-- Tony, it's Sarah. --Everything OK here?

-- I'm your friend and I'm not scared of you. Steve, go away.

Come on.

Come on.

-- Are you doing your exercises? --I can lift a bus, me.

-- Are you eating?

-- You're not my mother.

What does it bloody look like?

-- THEY LAUGH

-- Well, you've got half of it down your top,

that's what I'm talking about. You must be starving.

You cheeky get.

What's this?

-- I'm breathing in.

-- THEY LAUGH

He was fine.

He just needed calming.

-- Good news and bad news.

The good news is, my mate Rob the builder has got us some dust masks.

-- Bad news?

-- Gloria's got a cough and a temperature.

Tim is with her in her room. --Is she OK?

-- For now.

-- Steve, there isn't no-one she hasn't been near.

-- The GP has said that there is no-one available to send out right now.

-- When they do, they'll just be on a screen.

-- RRAT have told us there's nothing down for us.

-- We don't even get a nurse?

-- All rapid response nurses available have been sent to local hospitals

or LA run care homes.

-- Did you know it would be like this?

-- How could I?

I followed all the advice. We did more.

No-one told us.

No-one.

My mum was in here too.

-- As a resident? -- Yeah. It felt right.

But wrong.

I always made sure I was the one who cleaned her up,

you know, gave her her dignity with the other members of staff,

cos they were her employees and they shouldn't be the ones

to have to wash her bottom.

I just wanted this place to...

I wanted it to be a good place to be.

-- COUGHING

-- I've got some water. If you want to have a sip, just let me know.

-- SEVERE COUGHING

-- I tell you what, you can have just a little bit.

-- OK, OK...

-- COUGHING

How can I help you, Gloria?

-- I'm quite unwell.

You may have to fetch a doctor.

-- OK.

Hercules, come on, love.

There you go.

SPLUTTERING

There you go.

Come on. OK, OK, OK.

-- Are you doing your exercises? -- Yes.

-- MUFFLED CHATTER

-- Is she going to be OK?

-- You should be in your room.

-- Am I going to be OK?

-- I promise you will.

KNOCKING --Sarah? Are you in here?

Herc's tripped over.

Sarah?

-- TOILET FLUSHES

Oh, Herc.

Let's get you cleaned up, shall we?

-- Fuckin' hell.

-- I know I've used my five tests.

We've got it everywhere and I don't know who to separate.

-- STEVE COUGHS

-- But you're PAT. You're supposed to be supporting me.

-- COUGHING

SEVERE COUGHING

-- Don't put me on hold.

-- Don't you dare come in here dressed like that again.

We haven't got none of that. Not one of us.

You could give us your kit, eh?

Give us your kit, you rich gits.

Just a few pieces!

Give us your kit!

-- CAN HISSES

This programme contains scenes some viewers may find distressing.

Joan hasn't turned up, Steve.

OVER PHONE: -- Let me call her. --No, I've called her.

She's not answering. --OK, you stay on an hour or two.

-- Well, I... I don't have a choice, do I?

With you and Tim and everyone else on the 14 days, I-I'm it.

-- Look, I wish I could come in and help, but I'd infect them all.

-- HE COUGHS

COUGHING CONTINUES

Oh, all right - don't be dramatic about it!

HE CHUCKLES

-- Don't make me laugh!

Oh, it hurts to buggery.

Is Tori, er...? -- Tori's phone's off.

You know what her fella's like if she gets called in.

Is there nothing from the agencies?

-- I'll try.

CQC will kill the both of us if it's just you there alone.

You do your best, and I'll do mine.

-- SHE POURS WATER

You got a poem for me, Pol?

Yeah, well, I've got some pills for you.

Well, maybe I'll do a recital while I give you them, eh?

"I wanna be rich

"And I want lots of money

"I don't care about clever

"I don't care about funny

"I want loads of clothes

"And I want fuckloads of diamonds

"Though I hear people die while they're trying to find them

"And I'll take my clothes off and it will be shameless

"You know, because everyone knows that's how you get famous

"I'll look at The Sun and I'll look in The Mirror

"I'm on the right track

"Yeah, I'm on to a winner."

You're gonna be OK, Pol.

MAN COUGHING

HE WHEEZES

Kenny.

COUGHING CONTINUES

Jesus, Kenny, what's going on?!

Eh?

Gonna take your temperature, OK, love?

OK.

Oh, you're burning up.

Try and take two of these...

..and then I'm gonna call a doctor, OK?

HE WHEEZES

KEYPAD BEEPS

LINE RINGS

RECORDING: -- Hi. --Hello...

-- This emergency line is no longer in operation.

Please try Swinson Street practice for support.

-- KEYPAD BEEPS

LINE RINGS

RECORDING: -- Swinson Street practice offices are now closed.

Our working hours are from 8am to 6pm.

If your call is Covid related...

-- SHE SIGHS Bastard.

KEYPAD BEEPS

LINE RINGS

COUGHING ON LINE

-- Look, I tried a few people, and then I fell asleep.

-- Steve, Kenny's not well, and I can't get a doctor out.

-- Have you tried the out of hours number?

-- Nothing.

-- Shite. You've no choice. 111.

-- HE COUGHS

You're just on hold forever.

-- Look, I'm here, OK? Er...

Just let me know.

-- OK...

OK.

KEYPAD BEEPS

LINE RINGS

RECORDING: -- Welcome to NHS 111.

NHS 111 are experiencing an extremely high number of calls

at the moment, and may not be able to answer immediately...

-- OK, Kenny.

Come here, love.

HE WHEEZES

What I need you to do, Kenny, is to breathe deeply, OK?

That's it, deep breaths.

LOUD WHEEZING

OK.

OK. OK, love.

BEEP

That's it, Kenny, deep breaths.

RAPID BEEPING

Oh, fuck.

NHS 111 RECORDING: -- Please be aware that a short pause may follow

as you are connected to your local NHS service.

-- KEYPAD BEEPS

LINE RINGS

WOMAN ON PHONE: -- What service do you require, please?

-- A-Ambulance, please.

MAN ON PHONE: --What's the address of the emergency?

-- Bright Sky Homes. L64 9SD.

My name's Sarah Berner and I need urgent medical assistance

for a resident with Covid.

Hello? -- Is the patient breathing?

-- Yeah, his breathing's ragged, and he's got a temperature of 39.2.

-- Is the patient alert?

-- He's delirious.

-- How old is he?

-- He's 77.

-- Does he have a history of breathing problems?

-- No.

-- Is the patient coughing? --Continuously.

Look, I've given him paracetamol, it isn't going to be enough.

-- Have you been able to take his blood oxygen?

-- It's 84.

-- OK. That's low. -- Yeah. Yeah.

Yeah, I know! Look, no-one... Nobody's picking up.

Not 111, not the GP, nobody's helping me.

-- Unfortunately, all our ambulances are busy right now,

but we will be there as soon as possible. -- Mm.

What if I wasn't calling from a care home?

-- Sorry? -- Care homes, they don't matter.

They don't matter any more, do they?

Look, he needs you and he needs me, and you're not interested.

-- We will be with you as soon as we can. Let me talk to a clinician...

-- Yeah, and they're gonna tell you we're not high priority.

-- Stay with him, make him comfortable and monitor his breathing,

I'll get back to you as fast as I can.

-- SHE SIGHS

NHS 111 RECORDING CONTINUES

KENNY WHEEZES

I'm sorry, Kenny.

I'm so sorry, no-one's coming.

No-one's coming.

Kenny, I've seen forums online,

and it tells me what I need to do.

It says what may help is to move you over onto your front.

It's called proning, and it may ease...it may ease your pipes.

Does that make sense to you?

HE COUGHS HEAVILY

Oh, OK. Deep breaths.

Come on.

OK.

OK.

NHS 111 RECORDING CONTINUES

Oh...

Oh, I'm sorry...

OK, Kenny.

OK.

Three, two, one...

HE WHEEZES AND COUGHS

I'm sorry, Kenny.

PHONE RINGS

Kenny, I'll be one minute.

RINGING CONTINUES

DISPENSER ACTIVATES

Hello?

MAN ON LINE: -- Sarah? -- Yeah.

-- It's Martin from ambulance control.

-- Yeah. -- I've spoken to a clinician.

Kenny is still a priority to us,

but unfortunately we cannot allocate a vehicle right now.

We'll try and get one...

-- Fuck off!

NHS 111 RECORDING CONTINUES

DISPENSER ACTIVATES

Tony?

Tony, it's me.

HE GRUNTS

Tony, I'm sorry to wake you, love.

-- What? -- Tony, I needed to look at me.

-- What? Are you OK?

-- I need... I need help with your friend Kenny.

-- Eh? -- But it could put you in danger.

Tony, look at me.

I need you to be able to consent properly to that.

-- What time is it? -- Er...

It's 3:30. -- What, in the morning?

-- Tony, Tony, please, please, please concentrate.

-- Yeah... -- Look at me. --I'm looking, I'm looking.

-- Will you help me move Kenny onto his front?

-- What, is he a big lad, is he?

-- Well, he's your best friend.

Isn't he? -- That's right.

-- Tony, please, I need your help, OK?

I believe that you would give it...

..and whatever your state, I believe that you would give it, OK?

So, will you help me? -- To do what?

-- OK, love, I need you to... I need you to get out of bed. -- What for?

-- Because I need your help. Kenny needs our help. OK?

So I need you to get out of bed as soon as you can.

And I need you to wash your hands, please. -- All right, all right.

-- Wash your hands, please.

-- OK.

-- WATER RUNS Tony, with soap, come on.

Bit more, yeah?

OK, that's enough.

OK, I need you to put these on your hands.

That's it.

You need this on your face, OK?

OK.

-- So, are we robbing a bank?

-- No. I need you to keep them on no matter what.

Promise me.

Do you understand what we're doing?

-- Well, I don't understand why you're so upset.

-- I'm sorry, love. OK, follow me.

NHS 111 RECORDING CONTINUES

Do you understand what we're doing?

-- Yeah.

-- KENNY WHEEZES

Here are, Kenny. -- Kenny?

Kenny?

-- Kenny... -- Kenny?

-- Kenny's not very well. --He looks really bad.

-- He is really bad, but you know what's gonna make him feel better

is us helping him.

-- Well, he can't breathe.

-- I know, love, and we need to roll him over onto his front -

and guess what, I need your strength for that.

-- Kenny?

-- I need one hand here...

..and one hand there.

Not too... Not too tight, Tony.

Nice and gentle.

Tony, we need to move quickly, because you shouldn't be in here.

After three. -- Kenny...

-- One, two, three. -- OK.

Ken?

Kenny? -- That's it, love.

-- You're OK, Ken. --Let's make him nice and comfortable.

-- Kenny, it's OK.

-- There we go.

OK, love.

-- It's OK.

You're OK, Ken. -- OK, Kenny, we'll be back in one moment.

Tony, I need you with me.

Come on, love.

Now, please.

-- It's OK, Ken.

-- We'll be back.

Tony, can you move a bit quicker?

I need you to wash your hands.

-- My hands are a bit raw... --No, you can wash them with me.

-- What did you say? -- No, no, no, no! Don't touch your mask.

-- What? -- Do not touch your mask.

Tony, you know I'm not gonna hurt you. Stand here, please.

OK? I need your concentration. Look at me.

Pinch your glove...

That's right. ..and pull.

OK. Two fingers underneath, and push.

And here, wash your hands.

-- Is Kenny gonna be OK?

-- I think so, yeah.

Come on, Tony, wash them properly.

-- Why are you shouting at me? --I'm not shouting.

And again.

-- Why are you shouting?

-- I'm just angry with myself, that's all.

-- You're not angry at me, are you? -- No.

NHS 111 RECORDING CONTINUES

There we go.

Now we can take our masks off. Look at me.

OK. You can take yours off, and I'll...

..I'll swap mine.

OK, Tony, what I need you to do now, right, is I need you to take

all your clothes off and I'm gonna take them to be washed.

-- Yeah, but you'll see me naked, though.

-- And then I need you to get in the shower.

Be back in one minute. -- OK.

-- DISPENSER ACTIVATES

I'm gonna get you some clean clothes, Tony.

You can turn that off now.

Can you get yourself dressed?

-- Yeah. --I've got you some new pyjamas there.

-- Thanks, love.

-- Well, get dry first, eh?

-- OK.

-- MUFFLED SOBS

-- What time is it?

-- Oh, it's 3:30.

-- I feel quite tired.

-- SHE LAUGHS WEAKLY

Yeah, me, too.

Thank you for tonight.

-- Well, I didn't do anything.

-- No, you're me hero.

-- Some days I feel OK, you know?

Some days I feel like I'm aware, and what I should be.

And then some days I don't know where the fuck I am!

But if I helped, you know, that's nice.

Sorry.

-- Be back in a minute.

NHS 111 RECORDING CONTINUES

SHE SOBS

Oh...!

Oh...

-- ..available online through the NHS website, 111.nhs.uk.

In cases where you think emergency advice from a clinical expert

is not required, you can find advice

on self treatment on the NHS website.

You may also want to consider getting advice

from your pharmacy or GP.

You can find advice online on coronavirus and cold and flu...

-- SHE SOBS

Oh, fuck...

-- Please take into consideration that most patients

suffering from coronavirus may only display minor symptoms

and only require the same treatment as the normal cold and flu symptoms.

However, if you are displaying the symptoms,

you must also take measures to self isolate and protect others.

For patients who have not been specifically advised to seek advice,

you should only seek further assistance

if your symptoms are significantly limiting your capacity

to continue with everyday activities.

If this is the case and you still require consultation,

please continue to hold...

-- NHS 111 RECORDING CONTINUES

BEEP

SHE KNOCKS

-- Sarah.

Do you want to come outside?

We were on your own here last night?

-- Yeah.

Yeah, I ended up doing a double, you know?

I need to get the breakfast together.

-- Er, I'll do that.

You've just done a 20 hour shift.

-- Kenny's not well.

And... -- I can see that.

Why did you put him on his front?

-- Well, they said to make and comfortable, and...

-- So you thought you'd go rogue.

I admire the balls.

-- No-one would come.

-- Yeah, it's like they've forgot about us, innit?

-- No.

No, they haven't forgot.

-- No.

You're a good girl.

Whatever happened here last night,

you did well.

Get yourself home. I'll do the breakfast.

-- RADIO: -- This is Today at seven o'clock on Tuesday, 21st of April.

The body which represents NHS trusts in England

has warned against advising the public to wear masks,

saying it could jeopardise supplies for health workers

during the coronavirus pandemic.

-- MUFFLED FOOTSTEPS AND WALKING FRAME

ON PHONE: -- Hiya, Sarah, it's Tori.

I thought that you should know that Kenny passed five minutes ago.

-- OK, then.

OK. Er...

Have you called his lad? --No. That's Steve's job.

-- Well, Steve's sick, and, you know, I was with him, so...

-- Yeah, I've got, erm...his mobile.

Have you got a pen?

-- You OK?

-- Just need to make a call.

-- Can I get you some breakfast?

-- No. Can you leave me alone?

See you've laid out the bunting, then. -- Oh, you're back.

-- Oh, I'm back, baby. I've got some fine-looking PPE.

Proper aprons, good masks, great gloves.

All delivered from China to my door, say no more.

You both look shattered.

Is this the point where I say thank you?

It feels like this should be that point.

-- You were sick.

-- So, what needs doing?

-- We're behind on meds.

-- Then show me the way to Mandalay.

I've come to take charge now.

Been doing a lot of thinking.

I've come to take charge.

-- We need a rotation on the use of outside space. -- Good idea.

-- And inside. They can't be in their rooms all day. -- Good idea.

-- We need the system for visits.

I think with some simple rigging in the car park, we'll be...

-- HE LAUGHS

All right, bright spark, let me get my feet under the table, will you?

I've got it now.

AMBIENT OUTSIDE NOISE

HE MUTTERS UNDER BREATH

ALARM BLARES

Ah!

Stop, stop, stop, stop, stop.

KNOCKS AT DOOR

-- Morning.

I've come to change your bedding.

And then let's get you some breakfast, shall we?

Tony?

What's Tony on?

-- What do you mean? -- What the fuck have you put Tony on?

-- It's a new regime. It's prescribed. -- Yeah, but why?

-- Sarah, I know you're still quite new to this

and you've had a very hard time...

-- No, fuck off back home if you're just going to drug him!

-- He tried to escape again.

He's a constant flight risk, so we spoke with Dr McCavitt

and devised a new patient plan for Tony. -- We just need to watch him.

We've always watched him before. His brain is still good, Steve.

Can't be doing this. --I've seen this before.

Over-associating with patients.

-- They're not patients, they are residents.

And they're mostly fucking dead.

Right?

You are slowing him down when he needs his wits about him.

He's got a good head on him, Steve. You just leave him be.

-- You've been doing this, what, five months.

I've been pushing this rock up a hill for a little bit longer,

so watch out till you...

-- Please, take him off the drugs, no more needs to be said.

-- Why does he matter so much to you, eh?

-- Because he is a good man.

Which is really fucking rare.

-- And I'm a bad man, am I? -- I believe you care about them, Steve.

I really do.

And none of this is your fault.

But you do this, and you are just like the rest of them.

-- You're exhausted. --Yeah, I am, actually.

-- And the home can cope without you for a week or two, so go home,

have a rest, have a good think about whether this is what you want.

-- Sacking me? -- No, I'm simply letting you know that we don't have any hours for you next we

ek.

With a reduced number of residents, we have reduced income.

-- They are reduced cos they died, Steve.

-- Yeah, and I'm trying to keep this fucking place

going for the ones that are left, Sarah!

Finish your shift and then give me a call

when you had a little bit of think about the situation, will you?

-- Yeah. -- Put your mask back on.

CLATTERING

TROLLEY ROLLS ALONG

KNOCKS DOOR

-- Only me, Paul.

Tim?

Tim?

I'm not leaving you in here.

Hey.

Come on, love.

-- DOOR OPENS

-- OK.

Come on.

-- DISTANT CONVERSATION

-- Come on, Tony.

Wait there, Tony.

-- DOOR CLATTERS

Where are we going?

-- Your mum's.

-- ALARM BLARES

SHE LAUGHS

-- Woo!

Be careful, Tone.

It's really slippy.

Come on.

It's gorgeous, isn't it?

Ah!

Are you sure I didn't learn anything in school, eh?

Tony!

Tone! Come on.

-- Can you hear the birds? -- Yeah.

# My name is high

# Low

# Jack-alo

# Low

# High... # No.

# Jack-alo

# High... # High!

High. -- No, it's crap.

It's crap, you soft tomato. I've got a better one.

# Oh, when the Reds

# Go marching in... #

-- That's not a clap routine!

-- # Oh, when the Reds go marching in!

# I want to be in their number

# Oh, when the Reds go marching in

# Oh, when the Reds

# Go marching in... # -- Shush!

Shush! --# When the Reds go marching in... #

-- Look at that.

There's your paradise.

It's not so bad, is it?

-- You only asked today.

-- All right. No-one likes a know-it-all, you know?

-- BIRDS CAWING

SHE SIGHS

SHE SIGHS

-- Tony!

Tony! Tone!

Tony!

Tone!

Oi, you.

Hey.

Oi! -- I've got to get back to me ma.

-- But, Tony, it's me. -- No, it's me ma. Look, she needs me.

She worries about me when I'm not there.

-- Well, she's this way.

Hey, you're a little bit lost. Come on now. She's this way.

-- Hey.

You'll make the colour run on me top like that.

-- That will stop you smelling like an elephant. Quiet your noise.

-- SHE SIGHS

RADIO: -- Good afternoon and welcome to Downing Street for the daily

coronavirus briefing.

I want to tell you what we've been doing to protect

people in care homes throughout the crisis.

Right from the start it's been clear that this horrible virus

affects older people most. So, right from the start we've tried to

throw a protective ring around our care homes.

We set out our first advice in February

and as the virus grew, we strengthened it throughout.

We made sure that care homes have the resources

they need to control the spread of infection.

Social care is a devolved matter...

-- It's lovely, that.

I've always said you can't beat bread and butter.

-- Yeah.

Dad, you can get out of here.

-- Now, don't get dramatic. -- Nah, I mean it. I mean it, Dad, just go.

-- You're quite the cover girl, do you know that? -- What?

-- Well, front page of the Echo you were last week. "Covid on the run."

-- You think you're the one who's going to fuck it up for me?

-- I remembered Nana took you caravanning round here once.

What did you...? Did you break into the vans? -- Please. Please go away.

-- Always with the fucking drama!

These are people's holidays, people's dreams.

Where is he?

-- We've done ten days.

We only need to do four more. -- What?

-- We just need to get to 14 days and then I'll make them put him

somewhere different.

-- This is quarantine?

-- Well, for 14 days, that's all that matters, isn't it?

That's what they say.

You know, they'll know he doesn't have it, then, and I think...

I'm sure he will be allowed to go...

He'll be allowed to go somewhere different.

-- You're a mad cow.

-- You always say that. --Because you fucking are!

-- We had 20 residents when this started.

Got given eight more.

We lost nine.

12 more had the bug.

They've been dying off, one by one, Dad.

No.

The thought of leaving him like that...

-- What do you need?

-- Money.

No... Uh, food. Just normal food.

-- Fucking hell.

-- Steady, all right?

-- What's going on? -- Right foot. Ooh! There you go.

Left foot down. Next step. Perfect.

Don't get your hopes up, all right?

But it's something, do you know what I mean?

-- Where are you taking me? To the firing squad or something?

-- Sit down.

-- What's going on? --Just wait, will you?

Woohoo-hoo!

Ta-da!

-- What is it you did?

-- The cards.

That'll be telling.

Now...

Do you know how to play shitter?

-- HE CHUCKLES

Is this me surprise?

-- Yeah. Do you like it? -- Yeah.

-- Do you know? I've never done much of this before.

To think the world we know and it's all over. Walking.

Seeing. Shift-free for one thing.

-- We went on holiday when I was a kid. --Oh. Where did you go?

-- Donegal.

-- Oh, Donegal. -- Donegal. Yeah. Yeah, me ma had a cousin.

Left us some money when she died and she just went, "Fuck it.

"We're going to Donegal." To this day, I don't know

why it was Donegal.

-- Were you there with Trish? -- Yeah.

You look like her a little bit, actually.

Softness.

Can always tell when someone's a bit soft.

-- I'm not soft. I'm not soft!

-- I'm saying you are, Sarah. You're soft. -- Oh, right.

Hang on a minute.

-- MUSIC: The Fields of Athenry

I like this one. -- Me, too.

-- This is Sarah's song. --Yeah, I know. -- Yeah.

Yeah, you're a blue, though.

You're Everton. You're Everton. --Nah! -- Yes, blue nose. "Meh!"

You're a blue nose.

You are a blue nose. --Yeah, I am. -- Yeah.

-- And what? How did you know that?

How did you know that? --Because I can smell it.

-- I thought I had you. -- No, you didn't.

Hasn't put me off you, though.

I love you, actually.

-- I love you, too.

-- # Our love was on the wing

# We had dreams and songs to sing

# It's so lonely round the fields of Athenry

# By a lonely prison wall

# I heard a young man calling... #

-- Shit. Tony, go inside.

-- Why? -- Go inside.

Look, can you just...? Just wait for one minute.

-- Come on now, love. Come here. -- No! No! No, you don't. No, you don't.

-- Where are you taking her? -- You're going to come with me for a minute.

-- I don't want to go with you. I want to go with Sarah.

-- You do not have to say anything. --Tony! -- Sarah!

-- Tony!

-- Harm your defence if you do not mention when questioned something

you later rely on in court. Anything you do say may be given in evidence.

Do you understand me? -- Please don't take him back there.

You don't understand. -- Sarah, you're in enough trouble as it is, love. -- Please.

Tony!

Tony, are you OK?

Come here, mate!

-- Calm down, love. -- Calm down. --Come on, Sarah.

-- Calm down! Leave him alone.

-- MUFFLED: Sarah. No, I'm going with Sarah.

SHE SNIFFS

-- Was it me dad who told you?

-- No, some walkers saw you. Do-gooders, you know.

-- Do-gooders. -- Well, they did good. Caught you.

-- I need your help. Listen to me. He's done 12 days. He's nearly safe. -- No.

-- No, I quarantined him, I did. -- No.

-- Just radio in and tell them not to take him back there.

Take him somewhere else, please.

Please! -- Are you listening to me? Are you listening to me?

-- Please. -- It's not my department, love.

-- No. No. No, it never is, is it? Eh?

No, never... Never is. Never is. It's always someone else.

It's the way this country works now.

You know, keep our eyes down to the rest of it.

You know, cos if we see people queueing up for food banks

and if we see people lying... Lying on the streets,

if we see disabled people being left to die, we'll feel sorry.

We can't cope. We can't cope with Tory. Not us.

Not any more. Underlying health conditions. What's in them?

When did our lives stop being worth the same, eh?

Eh?!

-- Come on, Tony.

-- Come on, mate.

Welcome home.

-- Where's Sarah?

-- You don't need to worry about her right now.

Come on. Let's just get you in. Have a nice cup of tea.

-- Subtitles by Red Bee Media