ALARM BEEPS
SHE MOANS
ALARM STOPS
SHE STRAINS
HORNS HONK
CAB BLASTS HORN
- Oi, put on a helmet! - Sod off!
- Delia. - Morning, Sister.
Er, Lilian Ashman?
Lilian Ashman? - Yes, darlin'?
Oh, hello, Lilian. Oh, dear, what have you...
What have we done here? - Oh, er... I don't know.
Oh, well, shall we get it cleaned up
and then you can see the doctor.
OK. Follow me.
You OK? Good. Come on, then.
NURSE 1: What you thinking? NURSE 2: Maybe the jumpsuit.
NURSE 3: Yeah, what are you gonna wear?
NURSE 2: Maybe the denim,
do you know the denim jumpsuit I got...
DOCTOR: Hello, everybody. NURSES: Hi!
- Bye, everyone. - NURSE 1: Oi!
Ooh, Peru. Now there's a place I would love to visit.
One day, eh, erm...? "Delia."
Oh, you're in there, Delia. You should make a move.
God, she's such an oddball.
What? It was joke.
Be nice, Imelda.
CHILDISH LAUGHTER
Fancy joining us for a drink?
Oh, I don't think the others would want me there.
It's not the others that's asking, is it?
MUSIC BOOMS
LIVELY CHATTER, LAUGHTER
- Another? - No. I've gotta go.
You wanna walk to the tube?
No. No. I'm gonna stay for a drink.
You be all right on your own?
- Yeah, sure. - OK.
- Good luck with that guy. - What guy?
Hm, you're a dark horse, Delia.
I want details on Monday.
INDISTINCT CHAT
You could do with a hand. What are you drinking?
Oh, uh, a pint of real ale, please.
Thank you. Let me give you some money.
It's all right, go on, I've got this.
- I'm John. - Delia.
Excuse me. Can I get a pint of real ale
and the same again for me. Thanks.
I'm a chippy, carpenter. Work all over. Germany mostly.
Money's good over there, you know.
I-I've never been to Germany. I love travelling.
I am a traveller. Not a tourist.
Very much a traveller.
Hot countries, though. I need sun and heat.
So, are you American?
No, no, I am not American.
No, I was born in Australia, then I spent
the first 13 years of my life in Ontario, Canada,
and then we moved to Detroit, Michigan.
When I was 19, I came over here
to live with my grandparents
in Scotland and then London.
I wanted to be a ballet dancer but, um...
..it-it didn't work out.
Why's that? You're a great dancer.
Ballet's very different. It's um...
it's very disciplined, very technical.
Ah, right. Well, maybe it just wasn't for you.
You're a bit of a free spirit, aren't yer?
I could tell that by the way you were moving.
MUFFLED MUSIC, DISTANT CHATTER
BELL RINGS BARMAID: Last orders.
Ladies and gentlemen, that is last orders.
Do you wanna come back to mine?
Sure.
SIREN WAILS IN DISTANCE
HEAVY THUMP AGAINST DOOR Oh, damn thing.
Looks like that frame's warped.
Is it?
- I'm a carpenter, I told you. - Oh, yeah.
That's right, you said. Come in.
These all from your travels?
Yeah. Oh, that's an incense holder.
It's in the shape of the Hindu OM sign.
I bought it in a holy Hindu town
on the banks of the River Ganges.
I made that. Yeah, I was in Mexico
walking along the beach and I found it. It's coral.
Yeah, you see. So erm, yeah, Israel, er, Sri Lanka...
- Mm-hm. - Er, Honduras,
Kenya, and...
..yeah, Mexico.
Oh, yeah! It's impressive, that.
I've only been to places in Europe.
Well, there's some beautiful places in Europe.
Have you been to Amsterdam?
That's the last place I was in.
It's interesting that city, you know.
- Haven't got much furniture, have you? - Exactly!
I wanna feel that I can leave any time I want.
You know, my wardrobe is a suitcase
and my bed is a sleeping-bag.
But, I mean, I like where I live to be nice, though.
I mean, when I moved in here,
I painted the whole place myself.
Oh, yeah? Done a good job, there, girl.
I love colourful things.
I bought this rug in Camden Market.
Yeah, it's colourful that. HE CHUCKLES
You should sit down. Your tea's getting cold.
Oh, yeah.
- Oh! - Sorry. Sorry.
It's all over my rug! I wanted to keep it nice!
It's all right, it's only a bit of tea.
- Sorry about that. - You should be more careful.
Pardon?
You should go. It's late.
Before I do any more damage?
Well, I'm sorry about your rug.
Do you wanna go out another time?
I won't have time. I'm very busy.
Sound.
DOOR CREAKS OPEN
He seemed nice, too. Different.
Did you get his number?
I doubt he has one. He lives in a squat.
Maybe you'll see him again at the pub.
Oh, no, I'd be too embarrassed to talk to him.
I think I might write him a letter.
- A letter? - Yeah.
Explaining that I didn't mean to be rude.
Then I could give it to him
and then he can decide what he wants to do.
DELIA: "John, I have been worried
"that I might have hurt your feelings...
"You asked me if I would like to meet again and I said no,
"because I was too busy..."
DOOR OPENS
"It is true that I am busy.
"Also, I tend to keep to myself.
"I have not been thinking about meeting anyone.
"But if you still want to meet
"I would like to meet you..."
STUCK DOOR BANGS
"Anyway, I just wanted you to know that,
"and that I didn't mean to be rude. Delia."
ANSWER MACHINE BEEPS WOMAN: 'Hi, Ma.
'It's Melissa.
'I just called to wish you Happy Birthday.
'Er, I'm gonna be getting a fax machine sometime soon
'so I'll call and be able to leave that number with you.
'Anyway, have a good time and take care of yourself.
'Goodbye. Love you.'
RECORDER CLICKS OFF
That's the last time any of us heard her voice.
I filed a missing person report
with you people a year ago.
I've called repeatedly, but it's always the same.
Nothing.
With respect, Mr Halstead, because there is nothing.
Because nobody here gives a damn!
That's Melissa seven years ago.
It's the most recent photograph we have.
She was a model. Travelled all over the world.
Then she went her way, and...
we lost touch with her.
SCOFFS SADLY
Melissa was a free spirit.
It's just not like her to vanish without a word.
DREAMY MUSIC IN SLO-MO
HEAVY METAL TRACK STARTS
MEN CHEER
This is for you.
You had me worried for a minute then.
Thought it might have been a cleaning bill for your rug.
Oh, I-I would never do that...
I'm joking.
Oh.
Do you wanna come back to mine this time?
Might be safer.
We've got the place to ourselves.
The lads I share with are working nights. Right.
SOFT MUSIC PLAYS
- What's that for? - Tara.
Me pet tarantula.
Ooh. Unusual pet.
Is it?
CHUCKLES It's cheaper than a dog.
You don't have to walk it.
You're an unconventional person.
Yeah. I've always gone my own way.
- Me too. - Yeah?
Not that it's made me happy, though.
What, being an outsider?
That's exactly how I feel. How I've felt...
all my fucking life.
How old are you?
Thirty-four. Why? How old are you?
- Forty. - No!
- Are you?! - Mm-hm.
THEY CHUCKLE
WHISPERS: Are you disgusted I'm so old?
No.
Forty's not old.
♪ If I can buy the remedy
♪ No, I don't want anything
♪ But you in my life
SHE STIRS SOFTLY
DOORBELL CHIMES
LIVELY MUSIC PLAYS
- Delia! Hello! - Hi, Janice. This is John.
All right? You must be the birthday girl.
Yeah. Come in.
- Make yourselves at home. - We brought you some wine.
Ooh! CHUCKLES
- This is gonna be a riot. - Oh, there's Leah.
Delia! You made it. LEAH LAUGHS
Oh, and this must be John. Finally!
All right, Leah? Yeah.
- Nice to meet yer. - Yeah, nice to meet you.
Er, this is Manuela. Manuela, Delia, John.
You all right?
- Were'd you get the drinks? - Oh, through there.
- Do you wanna drink? - Yeah.
She's a fast worker this one.
Pulled John in a pub the moment I turned my back.
I didn't "pull" him. Whatever that means.
Ignore her, Delia.
I love her, but she's a prat sometimes.
Oi! A little loyalty, you.
MAN: Right ladies, canapes.
I.E., crisps and sausages on a stick.
Yes! I'm starving.
And we have another punter. There we are.
- Oh, cheers, thanks. - Clearly, a vegetarian.
POLITE LAUGHTER
Give us a stick of celery next time.
That's a fantastic dress, Delia.
JOHN: "Clearly a vegetarian".
Clearly a posh twat.
- He fancies you. - No, he doesn't.
He does. My antenna are never wrong.
LIGHTER FLICKS OPEN
Leah seems all right. Is she a lesbian?
Yeah. I didn't know that about Leah.
You better watch yourself.
DOG BARKS IN DISTANCE Here.
Can you not. It's not that kind of party.
Why? Because they're a bunch of stiffs?
You care too much what people think.
Here y'are.
God, I'm dying for a piss.
JOHN GROANS, SIGHS
What are you doing?
TROUSERS UNZIP John!
URINE SLOSHES
John, don't do that. John?!
John, don't do that!
SPLOSHING CONTINUES All right, ladies?
HE CHUCKLES
It's her home. We were her guests.
It's all right for you, John, she's not your boss.
Wait, whoa, first off, she's not your boss.
You're an agency nurse. - No. No.
- And secondly... - John, she is.
..you don't have to be polite all the fucking time.
There'll be plenty of time to be a boring conformist later.
Fuck them, I say! Fuck them all!
METALLIC THUDS Fuck them all!
CAR ALARM BLARES, BOORISH LAUGHTER
BOTH LAUGH
SHE SCREAMS WITH LAUGHTER
I didn't appreciate John urinating on my plants, Delia.
The patio smelt like a pub toilet
the morning after. - Yeah. Sorry, Janice.
John had a lot to drink. Not that that's any excuse.
So...
You're not gonna tell the agency, are you?
No. Of course not. I just mention it to...
Maybe just have a word with John about his manners.
Yeah, thank you.
You just can't stand that I've got a boyfriend.
Yeah, Delia. Cos he's such a catch [!]
- You like John, don't you? - He's your boyfriend, Delia.
What's it matter what I think?
John says I care too much about what people think.
Does he, or does he not make you happy?
He makes me feel less alone. LEAH SCOFFS
You do realise that's not the greatest reason
in the world to be with someone?
If you don't like him, just say so.
I'm not saying that...
- Hello, Delia. - Hiya.
Hello, Mrs Wilson.
JOHN: Delia.
Hi!
I thought I could fix your door.
Oh, you really don't have to do that.
Oh, don't worry. I'll take that.
- Evening. - Hiya.
SANDPAPER SCRAPES
Try.
DELIA: Bye.
DOOR CLICKS OPEN
Come in.
Would you like to move in with me?
We'd have to share the bills.
Yes.
I'm gonna take such good care of you.
Astrid.
Inspecteur.
There you go. She'll be nice and warm there.
- See these. - Is that what you feed her?
Mm-hm. Their food's gotta be alive.
They're ambush predators, spiders.
They stay still for ages,
until the prey's forgotten that they're there
and then ... RAAAGH! HE LAUGHS
You didn't flinch.
I saw you coming. JOHN CHUCKLES
Well, do me a favour, don't forget to feed her
while I'm away.
I'm gonna be working in Germany, again. Did I...?
How long for?
Oh, about a month. Sorry. I thought I'd...
No. Oh.
Well, you could come with?
Oh, I can't. I've gotta work.
Oh, well.
I'll miss you... honey.
That's a very American thing to say. "Honey".
I picked that up from my last girlfriend.
She was American.
Do you wanna see a picture of her?
You drew that?
Yep.
She looks attractive.
She was a model.
Oh, she must be very beautiful.
Well, I only go out with beautiful women.
Beautiful and blonde.
I don't like the word "woman". I prefer "female".
What's her name?
Melissa.
Welcome to Skelmers-Hell. Come on.
- Oh, give us the bag. - Now you offer to take it?
Wanna look the gent, don't I, in front of me ma?
- Hello, you two. - Aw, Merry Christmas, Ma.
Merry Christmas, Mum. This is Delia.
- Hello Mrs Sweeney. - Oh, hello, Delia.
'Ere are, biscuits for you there, from Bavaria.
- Aww! - Me Dad in?
Come on in. He's through there.
- Oh, it is so lovely... - And you.
- ..to see yer. - Oh, it's lovely to be here
- This turkey's delicious, Ma. - You think so, love?
I think I left it in too long. It's dry.
It's really not, Mrs Sweeney. It's very succulent.
Delia's just being polite, Mum.
It's tough as an old boot.
SOFT CHUCKLES
So, er, where was it you went again?
Oberickelsheim. Have you been?
DELIA: It's so picturesque in the snow.
And they have a genuine Bavarian Christmas market.
FESTIVE MUSIC PLAYS, CUTTLERY CLINKS
John says you work as a nurse, Delia.
Mm.
Agency, though.
Which hospital do you work in?
St Paul's at the moment. Erm, surgical ward.
♪ Such a lovely time At Christmas ♪
What about that, er, Freddie Mercury fella,
dying of AIDS?
Fucking hell, what a conversation!
Eh?! LAUGHTER
Couldn't you have worn something good and clean,
you know, for Christmas?
You're joking?
What d'you mean? This is my Sunday best.
Even on the building site
I always wore something good and clean.
Well, that's not very sensible, is it?
Happy Christmas, one and all.
- Was Freddie Mercury gay? - How can you not know that?
Oh, I don't have a TV and I don't read newspapers.
Delia's American too, Brendan. There's that as well.
I-I'm not, actually, Mrs Sweeney,
I'm not American. Or Canadian.
I spent the first 13 years of my life in Ontario, Canada,
and then we moved to Detroit, Michigan.
I was born in Australia. I have an Australian passport
and a-a British one because of my grandparents,
I have dual nationality,
but I don't feel Australian or British,
or American or Canadian.
I don't really know where I feel I belong...
All right, sweetheart.
She didn't ask for your life story.
DELIA LAUGHS SHARPLY
John says I talk too much.
♪ The snow begins to fall Around us ♪
MUSIC, LOW CHATTER
From Alfred, the fella in the flat cap, at the bar.
Oh, who's Alfred?
Some local piss head.
They all seem really pleased to see you.
Yeah, it's cos fuck all ever happens here.
HE SIGHS HEAVILY
ROCK MUSIC PLAYS
Oh, I love this song.
Ah! Ah, I love this one!
SULTRILY: John...
will you dance with me?
HALF-LAUGH
Come and dance with me, John.
Come on, will you?
Yeah? Come and dance with me, lover.
Fucking sit down, everyone's looking at yer.
♪ Well, she's a good girl
♪ And we love her
♪ Cos she's a good girl
MUFFLED MUSIC
DOOR OPENS
Hi, it's the dancer! Love the get-up, love.
A girl's never too old to be a hippy.
Are you and John Sweeney an item, then?
He's my boyfriend. WATER TRICKLES
Hope you have better luck than his wife.
1979. I was 18.
But how long were you married?
I dunno, love - five years.
Though it felt a lot fucking longer.
Five years?! Do you have children?
Two.
Well, why didn't you tell me?
Didn't occur to me.
What, no, I have never wanted to be with a man
who has children with someone else.
It's a bit unrealistic at your age, in't it?
What the hell does that mean?
You're no spring chicken. Any bloke you end up with's
gonna have baggage. - Why are you being horrible?
- You wanna break up with me? - No.
No. I just I don't want to be lied to!
Will you stop being a fucking nag.
HE EXHALES SHARPLY
MAN SPEAKS:
RHYMIC SAWING
HEAVY THUD
SAWING CONTINUES
What's going on?
I'm sick of sleeping on the floor.
No, I-I don't wanna bed!
I told you, I don't want any big furniture.
Don't be so ungrateful.
Delia!
Come on. Get your kit off. We need to break this in.
JOHN GRUNTS LIGHTLY, DELIA GASPS
SHE GAGS, HE MUTTERS
John... John...
SHE GASPS, HE MUMBLES
John...! SHE WHIMPERS
John!
SHE PANTS
HE MOANS, SIGHS
SHE BREATHES HEAVILY
Did you have a bad dream last night?
YAWNING: Oh, I never remember my dreams. Why?
I woke up and you were strangling me.
You were asleep. And you were saying stuff.
Why, what was I saying?
Nothing much.
I'm sorry. That must've been, er,
that must've been scary for you.
Yeah, it was.
ALARM BEEPS
Delia, you're back.
Are you all right?
Er...
Oh.
He never tells me how long he's going to be away.
Or when he's going to be back.
He treats my flat like a doss-house.
Have you told him you're not happy about that?
Yeah, of course. I've told him more than once
I want him to move out.
- And? - Well, he...
..he says he will, but then he never does.
That's not right. It's your home.
I know that.
- Are you scared of him? - No.
I don't know. A little bit.
He, er, he has a very bad temper.
Is he violent?
No. He does say mean things.
And sometimes he looks at me like he hates me.
I've made some really bad boyfriend choices in the past.
Especially the last one. Patrick.
He was a violent, controlling arsehole.
Is that why you became a lesbian?
LEAH LAUGHS, DELIA GASPS
I thought that you and Manuela were...
- We are. She's my girlfriend. - Right.
Er, erm, I could never go with a female.
- Never say never. - No, I mean it. I could not.
OK, OK. I believe you.
I mean he was violent once.
- John, in a way, um... - What do you mean?
He tried to strangle me in his sleep.
He was having a bad dream.
Delia, you need to finish with him.
But how can I, if he won't leave?
- He's in Germany now, yeah? - Uh-uh...
And I take it he's got his own keys?
- Yeah. - Change the locks on him.
ROMANTIC MUSIC PLAYS
DOOR CLICKS SHUT
JOHN: Good day at the office?
Hope you like chilli con carne.
Oh, I've got a present for you.
PAN SIZZLES
It's a pin cushion.
That means "I love you".
I know what it means.
HE CHUCKLES LIGHTLY Come here.
Mmm. - No. No. John, no!
Have you been drinking?
Yeah, a couple of wines with Leah.
I'm back at the City of Westminster.
Why? Is she trying to get into your knickers?
No. Just friends. You haven't got any friends.
And you don't love me,
and I don't want a pin-cushion.
Fucking hell, what a spiteful thing to do.
HE SCOFFS
I want you to move out.
- This, again? - You use me.
You're rude to me.
- And you don't respect me. - Respect?
Has that dyke been putting ideas into your head?
This has nothing to do with her!
I don't wanna go out with you any more!
Have you eaten?
You're probably hungry. Is that it?
Look, let's... let's have our dinner
and... all right, if you still feel the same way afterwards,
then, fine, I'll fuck off. Yeah?
I've eaten. So...
You can go now, please?
One last thing.
No! No one-last-things, John...
Let me draw you.
Just so I've got something to remember you by, eh?
Now, sit there. Come on.
Take your coat off.
Sit down.
Smile, Delia. Smile.
What happened between you and Melissa?
- Why d'you ask me that? - Well...
you still love her.
Did she finish with you?
That's how I see you.
SHE SCOFFS Get out! Get out, of my home!
It's not your house!
It's a council house, you fucking...
Get out! Get out! Go away!
I'm going for a drink. Don't wait up.
SHE PANTS
Why you going through my things? That's private.
That's... HE GROWLS
You wanna know what happened with me and Melissa?
I killed her in Amsterdam.
I chopped her up and I put her in a fucking canal!
DELIA SCREAMS
- Delia not in yet? - No.
I'm sorry, sir. Bear with me a sec.
PHONE RINGS
RINGING CONTINUES
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