Original subtitles

This programme contains some strong language from the start

and some scenes which some viewers may find upsetting.

HE SIGHS HEAVILY

DOG BARKS IN DISTANCE

RADIO: My heart goes out to the family, it really does.

It's such a difficult situation.

I suppose what the medics look at is the prospective recovery.

They don't want to make a decision, so they have to go to the court.

But they clearly feel that this is...

CAR ENGINE STARTS

RADIO: In the papers this morning, this makes the front page

on nearly every...

HE SIGHS

It's going to be OK. Yeah, yeah.

RADIO: When is it right for doctors to withdraw treatment from very

sick children and allow them to die?

Usually such decisions are made in partnership between doctors

and parents, but when they can't agree,

hospitals must seek permission from a judge.

JUMBLED SHOUTS FROM CROWD

Nicci! Nicci! Hey, Nicci!

SHOUTS CONTINUE

We're just going to go straight in, thank you very much.

Hi, Nicci, what would you say to mothers in your position?

I wouldn't need to say anything, because they'd understand.

Because they, like me, have spent their entire lives fighting.

TRAIN HORN BLASTS

Look, I know you've got the queen in your hand, play that!

Well, maybe I don't want to play the queen!

IMITATES GANGSTER You wanna play dangerous with me?

Whatever that is, I'm scared!

I'm being a mobster! We're on the train,

we're playing cards, it was an idea. It passed.

You'd have been my moll. Do cowboys have molls?

Not cowboys, mobsters! No!

You'd have been kept anyway. No.

I would have found someone much more powerful to keep me.

No-one more powerful than me would have wanted you!

Nonsense, I'd have been an accountant who mainly specialised

in fencing arrangements!

Er, I could have cleaned any money. I would have been known as Bagwash.

SHE LAUGHS

I know a game we can play.

Follow me, Bagwash.

What?

Come on!

What are you doing? Ooh, no.

No. No!

This is not comfortable.

Can we not just enjoy our last bit of freedom?

We are too old for...

Oh! OK. OK?

Yeah, well, you know, my knees are not great.

And this is a bit... No, it's nice. Just shush.

But... Shush! Will you stop shushing me?!

Oh! Ow! What? Fuck! I'm trying!

Ow! Fuck!

Race you!

Nicci! Come on! It's for fun! Not through the car park.

What's the matter with you?

Heaven's sake!

It's fine. What's fine?

If there were any problems, they would have called.

Yeah, I know.

HE LAUGHS

Hey!

On time! Very impressive.

Hey, a welcoming party! Hi. All right?

Good trip? Great trip! How were they?

Oh, both as good as gold.

Yeah, she had a bit of a turn at one point.

What? What kind of a turn?

But Alice gave her a cold compress and read her a story

and that sorted her out a little bit.

Right. Katie wasn't on her phone the whole time?

Oh, a bit. But she was good. Helpful. Helpful? Yeah.

Alice hardly slept. Kept checking on her every five minutes.

Well, the alarms work fine.

You think I didn't tell her that? Hey!

Hi! How are you?

Good! You look like you had a good time.

We did. Yeah? Yeah. They've been brilliant.

Well, we'd expect nothing less!

Right, we're off then.

You'll be OK getting back? Ha-ha!

It's only a full three streets away, mate, we're not that tired!

Listen, I can't tell you what this break has done for us.

Ah! Mwah! They are both such lovely girls.

Ah, thank you. See ya!

She was smiling.

Well, there's a lot to be smiling about, mate, right?

Yeah.

Listen, er...

I'll see you at work. You certainly will.

Hmm! And how were you?

Bored. At one point Frank told me

all about the internal workings of a combustion engine.

Ha, yeah. Well, he doesn't do wide ranging conversation.

But you like Alice, right?

Yeah, well, every time she talked, he interrupted her, so...

Well, thank you for trying to be polite.

NICCI: OK? Are you comfy? Yeah. Yeah?

Can I have my blanket?

WHISPERS: She's a bit sweaty.

Mum was telling me about the holiday.

Oh, it was great. She said you dried your socks

on the radiator and they stank.

Um, excuse me!

The hotel was charging £3 for washing socks,

so I did them myself.

Cheapskate. Mwah! Night, love.

What? It was supposed to be romantic.

You told me it was going to be romantic.

Well, the socks didn't dilute the romance too badly.

THERMOMETER BEEPS

And if anything, they helped.

Turns out your mum likes stinky rooms! Hmm.

Now, what are we reading?

Please tell me we've finished that damn wizard.

SINGSONG: Goodnight, sleep tight.

I'll see you in the morning. You promised you'd stop that.

I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you.

Goodnight.

PLATES CLATTER

Hey. Hey. She go down OK? Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Bed? Er... Yeah, I'll be up in a bit.

If you come to bed we could, er...

finish what we started in that disgusting toilet. Ha-ha!

You know, if you wanted to. Right. Or...

Or, or we could... I think Katie's still awake.

No, she's not. She's not. Let's stay on holiday for a bit longer, eh?

You taste of peanut butter. Mm!

Alley-oop! Oh!

CUTLERY RATTLES

Ooh!

MUSIC: Fools Gold by The Stone Roses

NICCI: Andrew!

Andrew!

Andrew!

MARNIE BREATHES RAGGEDLY It's all right, pet.

I've got you. I've got you. It's all right.

It's OK. Just breathe.

Ambulance? Yeah. It's on its way. Her temperature's rocketing.

It's another fucking infection. It's all right, honey.

It's all right. It's all right. You ready?

OK. It's all right. It's all right.

OK. You're OK. OK.

That's it, just breathe.

SIREN WAILS

It's OK, darling, we're nearly there.

MARNIE BREATHS RAGGEDLY

It's going to be OK, sweetheart. Don't worry.

I'm right here, Marnie. Mum's here.

I'm going to send Katie a text.

Oxygen levels stabilised, blah, blah. Normal drill, go to sleep.

Temperature stable. Temperature checked.

What do you mean? I checked her temperature.

Right.

Bizarrely, I feel quite hungry.

Probably all that exercise. Hmm.

Um, can I get you...?

I can't buy crisps for one. I won't eat them.

You don't need to eat them. You just need to have them.

Having them means I can have them. Difference being, I'll eat mine.

Cheese and onion.

Cheese and onion.

Oh, money. I didn't bring money.

COINS RATTLE

I may need to buy a chocolate bar too.

KISSES

COINS RATTLE, DROP

MACHINE WHIRS, PRODUCT CLUNKS

We're going to have to forget about it for now.

We'll have another look when we get back.

Andrew, come on, we're going to be late.

OK, I'm sure we can get something when we're there. Andrew...

I couldn't find her bloody water. Did you hide your bottle again? No.

She can use mine. Just get her in the car.

In the car. I'm going to close the boot. You get in.

No, no, no, no, not today, Caitlin.

No, no, no. Come on. I want to drive. I want to drive.

Right, in you get. Not today. Come on.

In you get with your sister. That's it. I'm tired.

OK. Well, it's 11am. I think you'll survive.

Right.

OK. OK. Here, darling, take mine. Thanks.

IGNITION STARTS, "THE WHEELS ON THE BUS" PLAYS LOUDLY

Sorry. Sorry, Marnie.

Right. OK, everyone ready?

Yeah, yeah, I've got the letter I think.

Yeah. You go and get a seat.

Hi. Um, we've got an appointment at one...

Ah, we're a bit late for an appointment at 1.15

with Dr...Sendak? Am I saying that right?

I want Dad's phone. Why? Are you expecting a call?

KATIE GRIZZLES Ask him, don't ask me. Ask him.

Stop.

She wants your phone.

I've just... I've just got to do a few work things.

You got her started on it.

Here you go.

Don't be nervous.

Of course I'm nervous.

So, we've had all our tests back.

She's lovely, by the way.

Ah, who's this? A young doctor? Sure.

Do you want a challenge? Come with me.

I would like you to draw a family of faces on these,

so that by the time me and Mummy and Daddy have finished

our meeting, you can do us a puppet show, OK? OK. Fantastic.

Also lovely. Thank you.

Ah, yeah.

We've had the test results back and, er, they do indicate

a problem with her muscles.

So, can you make a diagnosis?

Well, they showed abnormal muscle cells

suggestive of a muscular dystrophy.

Although genetic testing has been unable to identify a sub-type.

So she has muscular dystrophy, but you don't know what kind?

Yeah. This is true in a lot of patients, I'm afraid.

Ah...

What does this mean...

for her future, Doctor?

Well, that's where this is particularly difficult.

Looking at her test results and charting her progress,

I would say that a further deterioration

seems extremely likely.

She's unlikely to be able to walk unaided,

and she's likely to see other complications to key organs.

NICCI SOBS QUIETLY

What?

I think it's very important that you know this as quickly as possible.

I think you should prepare yourselves for the possibility

that Marnie's life will not be a full one.

Really?

I'm sorry, yes. In my professional opinion, yes.

Although science, of course, can do wonderful things.

Hey. How are you doing over there? Have you done me yet?

It's very important you get my nose right.

Perhaps we should be speaking to someone else?

I would recommend it. It frequently sets people's minds at rest.

And I can give you a list of doctors names, if you like? Yes. Thank you.

Please come and talk to me again, any time.

This is a number for me so we can set up a meeting,

perhaps when you haven't got the kids with you.

We had to bring them both because we both wanted to be here.

Of course. And I've loved having them both here.

There are many beautiful stories in this life.

Please don't assume that Marnie's story

is going to be any less beautiful.

It'll just be different, and you have to adapt to that difference.

And you'll find such joy if you do.

MUNCHES NOISILY

And you'll bring those out to me as soon as you have them? Right.

Hey.

So, Marnie has a severe chest infection.

She's on a ventilator and now stable.

We're not able to tell when she'll be well enough to extubate.

With the previous damage to her lungs and now this,

it may prove difficult.

We went away. We left her with friends.

Important to get away.

Yeah, but if we'd have been there, I'd have seen signs...

You didn't do anything wrong, Nicci.

You didn't do anything wrong. You're excellent parents.

Look, you've heard this enough times,

but the best thing to do now is go home and sleep.

We'll know more in the morning.

VENTILATOR HISSES

DISTANT SIRENS WAIL

Going away...

..it didn't cause this.

We've been here before. It'll be fine.

Apollo 11, this is Houston, the pitches are hot-firing,

and it's looking good.

Houston, this is Apollo 11, and this is some ride!

You are both idiots!

We are highly trained astronauts, I'll have you know!

I cannae hold her, Captain! She's breaking up!

THEY LAUGH

I thought I got everything. Hey.

Yeah. No, I saw you'd tidied. That was...

Thank you, that was kind.

I just wanted to help. Maybe I didn't.

No, you did. This is...

..this is just me, you know, taking my mind off things.

Yeah. You OK?

Yeah, yeah. Great.

Erm, do you want to do something this weekend?

When Marnie's back?

Well, I'm busy this weekend. All weekend?

Yeah. My orchestra has that thing... Oh, shit.

No, it's OK, it's just... No, no. It's not. It's not OK,

because, erm... Look, I didn't... Um... I, I didn't...

You don't need to show me. No, no, wait... I just...

Let me... Please don't show me. No, I want to show you.

It's fine. It's in the diary. There.

You don't need to come.

Of course I'm going to come.

I heard there's a big trumpet scout in town, OK?

Handing out trumpet scholarships. Ha-ha! Right.

Specifically looking for Grade 4 players who can parp out

Peter Rabbit's Got A Fly Upon His Nose.

Oh, you're a bitch. You're a bitch! Parp pa-pa-parp!

THEY LAUGH

She's going to be OK, right?

Of course she is.

This is all...this is just normal. It's absolutely normal. Yeah.

OK? It's just the usual.

Music?

Do you mind if we don't?

Radio 4?

Yeah, you can if you want.

Always seems like there's a complete lack of mystery here.

What? In the town? Yeah. Don't you think?

Like if you knocked on any door, you'd find exactly

what you'd expect to find.

I suppose that's what a home is. The expected.

RADIO: The UK national newspapers are calling on the Government

to protect the Freedom of Information Act

following criticism that the public are being unfairly obstructed...

RADIO AND ENGINE OFF

You don't need to come in. We know what they're going to say.

No. Look, you've taken four days off

and there may be a pile up of stuff. Frank can't handle it all.

IGNITION STARTS

SIRENS WAIL

Nicci!

I've got a new Jojo Moyes! Oh, that's nice.

Well, you liked her last one. Yeah, I did. She's great.

I'm just not really in a reading mood.

The Coopers have been back through. OK.

I think their little girl might be stage four now. Very sad.

Right. Well, be sure to tell them my kid's dying too.

Well, I, I... I'm sorry. Sorry.

I thought you'd care. No, I do... I was passing on.

I'm not a gossip. I-I know.

I'm sorry. I... Sorry. Sorry.

Have you finished with the one you last had from me?

The Anne Tyler? Yeah. Yeah.

Well, you should bring them back, when you've done with them,

the books you buy from me.

So I can sell them again.

And that way, everyone benefits.

Yeah, I'll do that, Gladys. I'm sorry.

Nicci? Can we just...? Yeah.

Fuck.

She's had a hard night, but she's responding to the antibiotics now.

Good. She's a fighter. Wilful. She's wilful.

Samantha would like Andrew to come in, to talk to you both.

About what? All I know is she wants to talk to you. Fine.

When? I think about four, if that's possible.

Hey. Hey, honey.

Hey, Marnie.

How's she doing? She's doing OK.

Shall we get that gorgeous hair brushed?

The doctors have you all in a tangle.

There you go.

Are you OK, boss?

Sure. It'll be fine.

I've told her to come at four, if you'd still like to see them then?

Yes. Yes, that's perfect.

I can be there. You'll be vital.

That bad, is it? You're always vital.

Are you still going to those sessions with Dr Stewart?

I don't have time. You look thinner.

Thank you, Doctor. I'm entirely fine.

I'm going to start bringing you in a sandwich.

If I start eating your sandwiches, then I really am in trouble.

You look thin. You can fuck off!

Hmm. Right, yes, I will.

Mm. But, in the meantime, let us admit young Anoushka.

Hey. 'Hi.' Eh, you're needed, after all.

They want to talk to us, at four, I think they said.

I think there might be something wrong.

Erm, just get here as quickly as you can, will you?

'OK. I'll be there.' Bye.

Are you all right? Hey. Yeah. You want to go straight up? Yeah.

Yeah? OK.

Hi. Hi. Hi.

Coffee? Or the brown sludge we call coffee around here. I'm fine.

I'll have a coffee. Oh, I always knew there'd be one.

Nicci, white, two sugars, isn't it? Er, yeah, OK.

Erm, it's one sugar. I'm cutting down.

Good on you. I can't.

It's fine. I've got those, thank you.

Sorry, have we met before? No. Hello, I'm Dr Nescott. Nicci.

Jeremy. Hi. Apologies.

He's one of our palliative care consultants.

Why are we meeting with someone from palliative care?

Erm, let's sit down and have a chat, shall we?

Please.

Marnie has a serious chest infection

and it seems that it's more severe than any she's ever had before.

Is it something we could have noticed earlier?

These infections are happening with increasing frequency and severity.

It has nothing to do with holidays.

You have done nothing wrong.

Um, so, we're going to need a timeframe -

when you're going to try to extubate,

when we can take her home.

I think before we try and take the breathing tube out again,

we need to review Marnie's advanced care plan,

to agree on what should or shouldn't happen, if she's not

able to breathe on her own. I thought we'd already made clear...

These chest infections are having an impact.

We call this stepwise deterioration.

Each time she's a little sicker, it takes longer to recover,

and she never gets back to where she was before.

She is a fighter.

She's wilful. Hmm.

The last year, as you know, has been extremely tough,

on you, on her. I've counted.

We've intubated her six times, and it's very unpleasant for her

to have to keep going back on the ventilator.

We have to question the costs of that.

The costs?

To Marnie.

We think it's time to discuss whether it's right to keep

treating her in this way.

Well, if we are revisiting costs,

then maybe it's time to start thinking about fitting a trachy.

As I've said before, Nicci... I think you can explain again.

A tracheostomy is an intrusive procedure.

It requires intensive, painful, ongoing management,

and it is very unlikely, given the state of Marnie's lungs,

that she will be fit enough. There are cases. I mean,

there are a lot of cases where people have taken

their children home with trachys and, I think... It won't work.

I'm really sorry. Why don't you just say what you want to say, OK?

Because this dancing around, it's not helping anyone.

What exactly are you saying? She's saying that she wants her to die.

No. No, that's not...

We believe it's time to consider, just consider,

moving her to supportive care only.

And, yes, that is why I invited Dr Nescott.

We can make her comfort the top priority.

She still laughs.

She still loves.

She still...

I can still see so much inside her.

She's a smashing girl, but her body is failing her.

Right, well, then we start talking about more experimental treatments,

OK? Vamorolone has worked for Duchenne's,

erm, Zolgensma for SMA.

You know, something like that. One of those or something like that.

Nicci, she's deteriorating rapidly.

And increasing medical intervention will have less and less impact

on her life expectancy.

But more importantly, they will hurt her.

I am really sorry.

Yeah.

Yeah, you already said.

I don't need my fucking hand held, OK?

Not for this.

We asked you for a timeframe, so just give us a timeframe.

When can we take her home? I'll have a better idea

whether that's even possible in the next few days.

OK, then.

Please be careful.

Take your time.

Marnie, that's cheating.

Not so fast, Marnie.

Not so...not so fast!

Just stay under 8mph.

Nicci, we can see Marnie, then go on home and we'll talk properly then.

We are not leaving here without her.

They've saved her life countless times. Yeah, when they wanted to.

They wanted to before. They don't now.

You had no idea what she was building to in there, I knew.

I knew, I knew as soon as she wanted to pull us in.

I knew because I have seen how she looks at Marnie.

I want a different doctor now, OK? I want...

OK, let's... let's go home. Katie's expecting us.

We need to talk to her and explain what's happening.

No, you can go home to Katie. She doesn't need both of us.

I'm going to stay here, OK? Because I need to stay here.

I'm going to go to Marnie. Nicci? Nic, Nicci? Nic?

I believe that she has moments of great happiness.

Do you believe that?

Yes. I believe that she has moments where she sees the world,

and sees enormous beauty in it.

Yeah, I think so too.

I believe that she knows and that she feels love. Of course she does.

I know what you're thinking. And you are wrong.

You don't know what I'm thinking. They don't get to decide what to do.

She's our child! I love her too!

Do you think I don't fucking...

Then promise me that you will fight for her.

I will fight with everything I've got.

Now, there's nothing we can do here, please, let's...

..let's go home.

I thought you'd be bringing her home.

Er, no, no.

Where's mum?

How bad is she?

Pretty bad.

What does that mean?

Er, things have, erm...

..developed.

Developed, how?

Erm...

Is she going to die, Dad?

She's been dying for a long time, you know that.

Is she dying now?

Can you... Can you not? I've enough to cope with,

dealing with your mum, don't do this to me. OK.

Hey!

You still reading?

Where's your lamb? There he is.

Caitlin, we've something to tell you. Katie. It's Katie, remember.

Erm, yeah.

Your sister's very poorly.

What?

Your sister's going to be, er...

Your sister's very poorly.

Will she be OK?

Hey. Hey.

Did I hear you playing the trumpet? Er, no.

Oh, God, I'm hearing ghost trumpets again!

When did you get here?

Er, I'm just here for a change of knickers.

That's your catchphrase, do you know that?

Just here for a change of knickers.

Is it? Mm. God, that sounds moderately sexy.

KATIE LAUGHS

Did you sleep at all?

No. It's early though, isn't it?

Yeah, it's like, half-six.

Right. I'll see you later.

Try and get a little sleep before you go back. Katie.

I'm fine, Mum.

But, um...

Your dad told you what's happening?

He told me there'd been... developments,

and then he got pissed off.

Well, um...

the hospital said that they want to stop...

treatment.

Look, let's have a piece of toast, OK? Let's...

We'll watch some breakfast TV, and...

Yeah, I've got time for toast.

Mum. Mum.

It's OK.

Go to bed. Go to sleep.

I'll just...talk to you later.

But she's going to be fine. Yeah. You'll see.

They're wrong about her. Yeah. Yeah.

OK.

This one is Katie the dog.

I mean, apparently, I wanted to give her my own name.

MARNIE GURGLES

This is Annabel.

Don't call your doll Annabel.

This is Norby.

I don't know where that name came from.

And this is Rosie, named after a girl I liked in reception.

But she turned out to be a bully,

which is why her face has been scrubbed out with permanent marker.

But Mum said you might want to play with them.

Katie the dog. You can keep her.

These are yours now.

Hey.

Hey.

Oh, you saved me one. Is that weird? It's a bit weird.

And it smells. What shit are you putting in your hair?

Shampoo. I don't know. It smells like musk.

Yeah, it's probably musk.

What the fuck is musk?

THEY LAUGH

I mean, the doctors are pretty sound, most of the time.

You know, the ones that I know. And they just think, like...

What is it? It's called grey death.

It'll have you in a deep coma within two hours.

Is my mum's clonazepam. She got deep into them during Covid.

So, will they? Stop it?

You know, your sister? No.

My mum will keep her alive as a sort of...

..breathing husk.

She thinks it's all her fault, that she was, like, selfish to have her.

Yeah, my mum thinks that, too.

Does she?

Look, don't have a go at me about it.

Your mum thinks she's selfish too.

What, so you'd...kill her?

That's how you're asking that? No, sorry, um, you'd...

let her go? No.

I mean, she's still... You saw her, she's still able to live a...

She still laughs.

How can you let go of someone who still laughs?

Because they're in pain, I guess?

Yeah, but she's not a...dog.

She's a human. Look, sure. I like her.

Your mum shouldn't say stuff like that. Mm.

Is the pill working?

How will I know when it is? Oh, you'll know.

No, then.

So, how's school? Yeah.

How's orchestra? Really? How's Natalie Crowmore? She still a bitch?

How's job-hunting? Oh, OK, yeah. Sure. Fair enough.

Well, my dad sent me an email with jobs he's found online.

He keeps saying, "Have you seen my email with the links?"

Well, um, I got a solo, and I can't do it.

And, yeah, Natalie is, yeah...

still a bitch.

Well...

why don't you just tell her to fuck off?

That pill's kicking in.

So, does Marnie get prescribed diazepam or chloral hydrate?

Hannah, don't be suggesting that... I'm just joking. Jesus.

Maybe.

Bug up your arse. Well, next time you tell a joke, wink.

Yeah? Yeah! So I actually know.

There's been a problem. She's had another, er..

OK, well, I'm coming.

She's in the best place. She's had an emergency in the hospital, Dad.

That means it's bad. I'm coming.

You smell of cigarettes.

VOICES, PHONES RING

DOOR BEEPS

What happened? One, two, three, four, five, six...

seven, eight, nine, ten, eleven...

Stop compressions, check pulse.

Good chest rise. And resume.

One, two, three, four...

Hey.

Marnie's had a cardiac arrest due to a collapsed lung.

She's had a heart attack? Do not let her die in there.

She's now stable, but it took extensive CPR.

And I want you to prepare yourselves for the very likely

possibility that she might have some brain damage as a result of this.

If she dies... She won't, she won't, Nicci.

She's now stable. They've got her.

We're doing all we can for her. You will do anything.

And everything.

Please.

She'll be fine.

She'll be fine.

PHONE RINGS

There's something about hospitals that makes me hungry for crisps.

I think there's something about everywhere that makes you

hungry for crisps. Nonsense. I'm the healthiest person I know.

COINS JINGLE

You OK?

Are you OK? I asked first.

I actually meant it.

SHE SIGHS

Brain damage and heart attacks.

Yeah, I know.

Now, can I interest you in a packet of crisps?

Um...

Dad.

Sandwiches.

I brought cheese and pickle sandwiches. Oh, thanks, Dad.

And a sausage roll for the boy here. Ah, thanks, Eddie.

And a...

A vegan bread, whatever it is.

It's just gluten-free bread, Grandad, thank you. Aye.

I tried a bit with butter when dicing and slicing.

Actually it wasn't bad. Tasted almost like bread.

Yeah? A bit...dry.

Yeah.

How's she doing?

Er, we're waiting for a brain scan.

Right.

Right.

OK, I need you to concentrate now,

because in a second the song's going to kick in,

and I need you to hear it. OK.

You'll know it. And then beats, I do...? That one. OK.

Yeah, here we go. OK, OK. Three, two, one...

# Let's let things come out of the woodwork

# I'll give you my best side, tell you all my best lies... #

And then up!

# Awesome, right? #

And then twist.

# Let things come out of the woodwork

# I'll give you my best side, tell you all my best lies

# Seeing me rolling, showing someone else love

# Dancing with our shoes off

# Know I think you're awesome, right?

# Our rules, our dreams, we're blind

# Blowing shit up

# With home-made d-d-d-dynamite

# Our friends, our drinks, we get inspired

# Blowing shit up

# With home-made d-d-d-dynamite

# Blowing shit up

# With home-made d-d-d... #

SHRIEK ON TV

LAUGHTER ON TV

Hey.

You know you're 17?

Out of the catchment area for The Dumping Ground.

How's she doing, Mum? She's, er...

You know, she's...

I'm just here for a change of knickers, and...

Good.

That's good. I'm not just here for a change of knickers.

I'm here to see you. OK.

Your dad's going to stay at the hospital tonight as well.

You're going to be on your own. Is that OK? Yeah.

Or you could come too.

To the hospital. If you like.

Um... I'll be better here.

I like watching her shows too.

I'm off, then. See you tomorrow.

See you tomorrow, twinkle toes.

OK.

Let's go hard at some Adrian Mole, then, shall we?

What do you think?

I know you're a bit old, but...

..thought you might like it anyway.

HE CLEARS HIS THROAT

Always loved Adrian Mole.

Massively over-empathised, to be honest with you.

And on the upside, it's not about wizards.

So, er...

PAGES TURN

Ahem. OK.

"Saturday, May the 9th.

"I was woken up at 8:30 by a loud banging on the front door.

"It was an electricity board official.

"I was amazed to hear..." Thank you.

"..that he had come to turn off the electricity.

"Tuesday, May the 12th.

"Had a long talk with Mr Vann, the careers teacher, today.

"He said that if I want to be a vet, I'll have to do physics,

"chemistry and biology for O-level.

"He said that art, woodwork and domestic science won't do much good.

"I am at the crossroads in my life."

VENTILATOR HISSES

"The wrong decision now could result in a tragic loss

"to the veterinary world.

"I'm hopeless at science."

Don't stop on my account.

ANDREW SOBS

Don't do that.

She can hear. Andrew!

Andrew, don't do that.

She can hear you, Andrew! I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry.

Did you see that? Andrew!

She moved. She...

She... She felt me and she moved.

Marnie, honey, can you do that again, please?

Can you squeeze my hand?

She's going to get better.

DOORBELL RINGS

Katie, it's time.

Hiya. Hiya, kid.

Katie, now!

How are you doing?

I'm OK. Let's go.

And how are you doing?

I think we've all been better.

MAN: Nicci!

WOMAN: Nicci! Nicci!

REPORTERS ALL SHOUT

We're just going to go straight in, thank you very much.

Excuse me, sorry, please...

Right, Nicci, what would you say to mothers in your position?

I wouldn't need to say anything, because they'd understand.

Because they, like me, have spent their entire lives fighting.

For money, for wheelchairs.

For breathing equipment, for night-time support,

for educational support,

because they, like me,

have had to swallow their tongues

while those in power have tried to cheat...

tried to cheat them out of what their child needs.

I have fought for my daughter her entire life,

and the way it has worked every single time

is that those who have wanted to doubt her

have told me lie after lie.

The hospital wants my daughter to die.

And I... I believe...

I believe she should live.