All language subtitles for Best.Interests.S01E01.1080p.iP.WEB-DL.AAC2.0.H.264-NioN_track4_[eng]

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... RADIO OFF.

HE SIGHS.

Ready? Yeah.

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!

THEY GIGGLE.

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.

What?

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.

Mm.

Ooh!

THEY GIGGLE.

MUSIC: Fools Gold
by The Stone Roses.

NICCI: Andrew!

Andrew!

Andrew!

ALARM PEALS.

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.

SUCTION WHOOSHES.

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.

OK. Sh, sh, sh.

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
- I checked her temperature.

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.

TURNS VOLUME DOWN.

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.

Parp parp parp!

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.